We're in a little bit of a pickle, Dick.

What's my pickle? Chanticleer forgot to wake up the darn sun, and that's spelling bad news for my activity level.

Needless to say, I'm bored. 

And with summer playing a hilarious game of hide-and-go-seek, my vitals..are...droppingggg...... 


Lucky for this blog, that means I've been cooking non-stop. Oh, which also means eating non-stop. Isn't that what we do when we're bored? Could someone please remind me that, no, that's not what we do?

Not a moment too soon, I snapped out of it and realized that it was time to whip my booty into shape-- the treadmill had to become my new best friend. Scratch that, the treadmill will never be my best friend. Let's say, newest frenemy. It's a complicated love-hate thing, you wouldn't understand.

But, then again, you probably would.

Completely unrepresentative of the week I had (err, ate), I'm posting one of the recipes that did not involve cheese or sugar. Scratch that, there was sugar. But I swear that it's all worth it in the name of a pickle. A homemade pickle. Your homemade pickle.


Homemade Pickles
Lightly adapted from Lottie+Doof
Makes 1 jar

[2] mason jars

[4] baby cukes
[1] tbsp Kosher salt
[1] tbsp raw sugar
[3/4] cup distilled white vinegar
[1] tsp ground coriander
[1] tsp mustard seed
[3-4] garlic cloves, halved
[1/2] cup fresh dill

Thinly slice the baby cukes into rounds. (You could also make a batch of spears!) Pack them into one mason jar.

In the other mason jar, combine salt, sugar, spices, garlic and vinegar. Cover tightly, then shake until the salt and sugar have dissolved.

Pour over the cucumber slices.

Lastly, jam the dill sprigs in between the cukes. If there's room a the top, fill with water until the soon-to-be pickles are completely submerged. Cover and shake again so that the dill, garlic, and spices are completely dispersed.

Refrigerate overnight.

I got a pickle, I got a pickle. I got a pickle, hey, hey, hey, HEY!



The mustard seeds gave some serious spice to these sour little guys! I, personally, am a pickle fanatic [insert joke here]. I loved making my own, and I'm pretty excited that I finally know how! Usually, making your own pickles requires cooking and heating and technical know-how that I have the slightest desire to explore.

So, I'm sending my sincerest thanks to Lottie + Doof for making this easy on us. Your name is silly, but your pickles mean bu'ness.

I'm also going to give a quick shout out to my iPhone 4, who was responsible for taking all of these photos after my Fugi ran out of batteries. That was strike three, Fugi. 

Memorial Day Trifecta: Food, friends, fun (and THREE recipes)

Memorial Day was fun. A lot of fun.

As promised, there was food... (A lot of food). There was wine, there was merriment.   

In fact, our Memorial Day barbeque marked one of the most enjoyable cooking adventures I've had in a while. 

Why you ask?

For one, the food was good. Okay, the food was freaking fantastic, but that's not the whole story.

I know what I'm about to say is really corny, but cooking with the famjam and sharing the whole experience with some of my closest friends is exactly why I enjoy doing this so much. Great food, even better company. It's a combination that just can't lose. 

Imagine the delight in being able to put a smile on someone's face using a simple, yet devilish combination of flour, sugar, and (coconut) butter.... Now that's what I call fun. 

The entertaining, the socializing, the noshing-- about as good as it can get. It was fabulous. 

These recipes seriously exceeded my expectations. I hope you all enjoy them as much as we did. In case there was any doubt, the damage we did on this summer holiday feast pretty much confirms it. Sadly, most of the photographs were taken after the carnage.

-----------------

Homemade BBQ Sauce on Seitan Sandwiches

Makes a lot of sauce, approximately 4-5 cups 

Barbeque Pit Masters, here I come. This was my first attempt at making my own barbeque sauce. I'm not going to lie, I was nervous (people can be pretty picky about what goes on their pork), but my BBQ obsessed sister raved that mine was to die for. Phew. Success.

[1] small onion

[1] tbsp olive oil

[2 1/2] tsp salt

fresh cracked pepper

[2] 6 oz cans tomato paste

[1 3/4] cups water

[1/4] cup light brown sugar, packed

[1/3] cup molasses

[1/3] cup apple cider vinegar

[1/2 to 1] tsp cayenne pepper (depending on desired level of spice)

[1] tsp garlic powder

[1] tsp smoked paprika

[1/4] cup Worcestershire made without anchovies 

[1/4] cup ketchup (cop out? Debatable)

[1] package seitan

[4] whole wheat hamburger buns

Heat a medium sauce pan to low/medium. Add the olive oil and sauté the onions with a teaspoon of salt and a few cracks of black pepper until translucent and soft. 

Mix in the tomato paste and allow to cook with the onions before adding water. After a few minutes, whisk in water, brown sugar, molasses, apple cider vinegar, spices, worcestershire and ketchup. Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes then slather it over your desired smoky staple. I had seitan (it tastes like chicken) and served them on whole wheat sandwich rolls. De-lish. 

Personal tastes for barbeque sauce vary as greatly as one's preference for perfumes or colognes, and I'm sure some BBQ aficionados would dab a little of their favorite sauce under their chin if they could. 

This is how I like mine. It's sweet, spicy and rich. If you like yours more acidic, add more vinegar. If you like yours spicy, add the full teaspoon (plus some) of cayenne. And if molasses isn't quite your speed, use a dark brown sugar instead.

 -----------------

Vegan Broccoli Slaw

Serves a crowd, with leftovers

[2] packages shredded broccoli slaw

[2] heads fresh broccoli

[3] heaping tbsp non-dairy mayonnaise 

[2] tbsp course ground mustard

[1] tbsp dijon mustard

[2] tbsp red wine vinegar

[2] tbsp agave nectar

[1] tsp salt

[1/2] tsp horseradish 

Rinse and cut broccoli florets into smaller bites, then blanch in boiling water until bright green. Remove with a slotted spoon and shock with cold water until completely cool. 

In a large serving dish, mix the broccoli with the broccoli slaw.

In a separate medium sized bowl, whisk vegan mayo, mustard, red wine vinegar, agave, salt and horseradish. Pour over the slaw and toss to combine. 

A crunchy, tangy barbeque staple... and you'd never know it was lactose free. 

-----------------

This final recipe for my Blueberry Banana Cake was the coup d'etat of the night. I made an entire cake, yet there wasn't a single crumb that lived to tell the tale. It's so moist, so banana-y, and so addicting.

My inspiration came from a non-vegan recipe that I found on Real Mom Kitchen. So, using a similar recipe from Oh She Glows, I made one of the best desserts I've ever had. And that's sayin' a lot. I'm slightly afraid, now, knowing that I won't be able to resist making it again. Continue at your own risk, but don't say I didn't warn you...

Blueberry Banana Cake with Lemon "Cream Cheese" Frosting

Adapted from Oh She Glows and Real Mom Kitchen

Makes about 15 servings (depending on how big you slice it)

For the cake:

[1 3/4] cups spelt flour

[1 1/2] tsp baking soda

[1/2] tsp baking powder

[1/2] tsp salt

[1/2] tsp cinnamon

[1] tbsp chia seeds

[4 1/2] very ripe bananas

[2] tbsp softened coconut butter

[3] tbsp olive oil

[1/2] cup agave nectar

[1] tsp vanilla extract

[1/2] lemon, juiced

[1] pint of fresh blueberries

For the Frosting:
[2] 8oz containers vegan cream cheese
[3] cups powdered sugar
[1] tsp vanilla
[2] tbsp lemon zest
[3] lemons, juiced
[2] tbsp melted coconut butter
[1] tbsp corn starch

To garnish:

[1-2] tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes

handful of blueberries and crushed raw almonds

Preheat oven to 325. Spray a baking dish (9x13) liberally with nonstick cooking spray. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients (spelt flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and chia seeds). Make sure everything is well incorporated. 

In a small microwave-safe bowl, heat the coconut butter for about 15 seconds. Mix it up so that it's smooth and clump-less.  

In a medium mixing bowl, mash up 4 very ripe bananas with a metal fork. Add the coconut butter, olive oil, agave, lemon juice, and vanilla. Whisk like a fiend. Lastly, stir in the blueberries. 

Make a well (aka hole, or landing spot) in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the wet ingredients and fold them in with a rubber spatula. Once everything is incorporated, stop! As with most batters, don't overmix. Tough cookies have a time and a place... and it's not here. 

Pour into a greased baking dish and top with a blue extra blueberries. Pop it in the oven for 40 minutes. Once it's golden brown, and you've passed the toothpick test, remove from the oven. 

Cool next to an open window and watch all the boys come to the yard.  

-----------------

For the frosting, combine all ingredients in an electric mixer on low to medium speed. Pour over the cake (there will be extra for added drizzling pleasures) and top with blueberries, coconut and chopped almonds. You could definitely halve the recipe and still have enough to cover the cake, but who doesn't love a little extra sugar? FYI, the frosting becomes so much thicker after spending a couple hours in the fridge. 

Slice the cake as big as you like and serve alongside a couple big juicy strawberries or a healthy scoop of ice cream. 

Now, ascend to heaven. 

Happy June, everyone! 

I Put the "Pea" in Potato Salad

Memoooooorial Day is coming up! (That was my Oprah voice, FYI).

You know what that means for me? Food, parties, more food, and ice cold beers.

Kidding. I don't drink beer. At least not until the 28th of June. Oh, the trials of a 20-and-11-month-year-old.

But since it is a holiday, technically, it means we're obliged to celebrate. We wouldn't want to disappoint the vets, now would we?

It should come as no surprise to you that I've already planned the complete menu for our Memorial Day Cook Out...for which I have yet to get an official parental go-ahead... I should probably do that soon...

In any case, here's an incredible summer salad that will compel you to throw a party no matter what the occasion. Woke up before 9 a.m.? Celebrate! Kept your bank account above -$1.14 this week? Celebrate! Got dressed in your workout gear with full intention to hit the gym? Mhmm, you bet.

If you had any doubts, I put the "P" in party, too.

Not only is this potato salad recipe light and healthy, it uses NO dairy, so it's 100% picnic-approved. The magic? It tastes so creamy and decadent! The starch from the potatoes combined with the olive oil vinaigrette combine to make a rich dressing that only feels like a splurge.

In reality, each serving is less than 170 calories! Compare that to your average mayo-based potato salad that can rack in a whopping 400 calories or more, with over 30 grams of fat! Tell me, would you want to slip into your American flag bikini after that? Oh...you don't have an American flag bikini? Right, no, me neither...

Whether you've got big party plans this weekend or you're in search of a great, go-to summer recipe, you simply must try this. I swear, you'll never reach for the Hellmann's again.

Summer Potato & Pea Salad 
Makes 6 servings

[1 1/2 to 2] lbs variety small potatoes (baby dutch, red bliss, new, etc.)
[1/2] lb or [10] oz english peas
[2] tbsp chopped basil
[1] tbsp chopped mint
[1/2] cup pea shoots
[2] tbsp olive oil
[1/2] tsp dijon mustard
[1] tsp lemon zest
[1] tbsp lemon juice
[1] garlic clove
salt
pepper

First, give all your little potatoes a good scrub until they're squeaky clean. If some are much larger than others (which will most likely be the case), cut the larger ones down so that they're all relatively equal in size. This will ensure even cooking.

Drop them in a large saucepan so that they spread into one even layer, then fill with cold water until the potatoes are just covered. Heavily salt the water using a heaping tablespoon and bring to a boil. Continue boiling for about 15 minutes until all the potatoes are fork tender. The potatoes will be done when you can easily pierce them with a fork. If you have some especially small ones, remove them from the boiling water at around 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Salt the water and slowly add the peas. Allow the water to return to a boil, then cook for about 2 minutes.

Drain both the potatoes and the peas, and immediately shock both in a bowl of ice water. Let them cool completely in the ice bath, then remove with a slotted spoon.

Cut the potatoes into quarters, so that (again) they're all the same size. Transfer to a large mixing bowl along with the blanched peas and pea shoots.

For the dressing, whisk olive oil, dijon, garlic, lemon juice and zest in a small bowl. I used a 2:1 ratio of pepper to salt for the dressing, but season to your liking.

Pour the dressing over the potatoes and add the chopped mint and basil. Gently combine with a big wooden spoon, being careful not to break any of the potatoes. Finish with another couple cracks of black pepper and a sprinkling of salt, if needed.

The crisp and springy english peas and pea shoots coupled with a touch of mint make it the perfect, fresh side dish, (not to mention, effortlessly elegant).

Perfect for your next garden party...

or backyard BBQ party,

and, yes, even the party with guest count: Y-o-u. 

Grilled Shiitake Mushrooms with Fennel Frond Pesto

Smmmmmm ahhhhh! Smell that?

Love is in the air!

Oops! Did I say love? I meant spring. But that's still a reason to be excited!

With an unremitting forecast of weather hovering around 80 degrees, the only one who's not in good spirits is my new afro. Alas, no amount of product will keep these waves at bay. 

And if you're on campus, you've probably noticed that the fauna has reached neon levels of exceptionality. This school must keep their plant food recipe under lock and key, because grass this green has only previously been seen in dream sequences. You know the saying, "The grass is always greener"? Yeah, they were talking about Elon. 

I think it's safe to say that we can pack away our skinny jeans and cable knit sweaters for good, now. That's right, because from here on out, it's short hem-lined sundresses (wishful thinking) lax pinnies all day, every day. Definitely no complaints from this girl.

Well, maybe one. 

I have no doubt that every student can relate to this-- the productivity degeneration that occurs every time the sun shines. While going to school in the south gives us shorter winters and and year-round tans, it also makes doing work that much harder. An 85 degree SURF day celebration just doesn't look as fun on the flip side of a library window. 

And with final exams marching in like the Hun army just as we bust out the SPF, I feel doomed for deadbeat city. 

While I can't offer any solutions yet, (I'm still trying to figure out a plan of attack for these last few projects) I can offer some recipes that provide temporary liberation from that daunting workload. At the very least, trying one of these healthy meals may trick your brain into thinking that you're being productive. And maybe then, you can open up Word. 

Fennel Frond Pesto 

Makes about 1 cup

[2] cups fennel fronds, plus [1] tsp
[3/4] cup chopped fennel stalk
[3] tbsp raw almonds, whole
[1] garlic clove
[1] lemon, juice
[2] tbsp olive oil
[1] tsp salt
[1] tsp cracked black pepper
[1/4] cup water

Place fennel fronds and chopped stalk, almonds, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper in a food processor (or blender) and puree until well combined. If the mixture is too thick, add up to [1/4] cup of water. You could also add more olive oil, but to keep it light, stick with water. When the pesto reaches a thick and even consistency, transfer to a small serving dish.

For the mushrooms:

[3.5] oz Shiitake mushrooms

non-stick cooking spray

salt

pepper

Start by preheating a grill pan to high. Remove stems from the mushrooms, then season them with salt and pepper. Once the grill is hot, spray it with the non-stick cooking spray and arrange the mushrooms around the grill, cap side down. Cook for about 5 minutes, then flip and continue cooking for another couple minutes.

To plate, arrange mushrooms on a dish and top with about a couple tablespoons of the pesto. Garnish the plate with a teaspoon of fresh chopped fennel fronds and a drizzling of olive oil.

The fennel, lemon and almond combo make a really unique pesto that's not too overpowering. And come on, grilled mushrooms really are just the greatest. 

A springtime recipe so gratifying, Peter Rabbit himself would forgo his carrot addiction. But he'd probably never admit that... 

Simple Thai

Have you ever noticed the absurd amount of restaurants in Burlington? I mean like, actually realized how many options there are?

With such a mind blowing variety, you'd almost mistake this whistle-stop for being culturally diverse. We can thank them for broadening our dining horizons. I, for one, don't know what I'd do without La Fiesta, La Cocina, Mar Y Sol, Pancheros, Moe's, Qdoba, Cancun or even Taco Bell.

And thank goodness that whenever I'm cravin' asian, I can choose between Red Bowl, China Gate, Simply Thai, Hibachi, Hong Kong, Anna's Thai Sushi, Panda Express, China Inn Buffet, Harusaki or Tokyo Express.

Nowadays, that tiny drawer I once chose to store menus has become so stuffed, it barely even closes. I'm lookin' at you, China Gate. Slipping six copies of your menu under my door still doesn't make me like you.

Ordering take-out around here quickly goes from being the perfect lazyman's solution, to being the most complicated decision process of the day. Kind of counteracts the whole reason why you're ordering take-out in the first place...

Unfortunately we know, it's inescapably necessary-- there's nothing worse than diner's remorse. Or as my roommate Danielle calls it, food regret. And no, I'm not talking about the side order of guilt that comes free with your hush puppies. Food regret occurs when you don't take adequate time to consider each option, and suddenly your Greek salad with chicken looks pitiful next to your friend's pepperoni calzone. Shit.

So, in the 30 minutes (or hour if it's Mike's Deli) that it usually takes for the delivery guy to track down your address, you can make this delicious rice dish and save yourself the $8.74 plus tip. I guarantee, it's a whole lot better than the stuff you get in styrofoam.

Thai Coconut Curry Sauce with Brown Basmati Rice
Makes 1.5 cups of sauce or about 6 servings 
*For serving, use 1/4 cup of sauce for every 2 cups of cooked rice


Organic Brown Basmati Rice
[1] tsp canola oil
[1/2] tbsp minced garlic
[1] small red chili pepper, minced
[1] tbsp minced ginger
[1] can organic light coconut milk (13.5 fl oz)
[1/2] tsp curry powder
Dash of cayenne pepper
[1/2] tbsp soy sauce
[1] tbsp chopped basil
Juice of 1 lime
Black sesame seeds
[1] tbsp chopped scallions for garnish

Start by heating a small sauce pan to medium/low heat. Drizzle in 1 teaspoon of canola oil and heat for about a minute. Drop in the garlic and sauté until it just starts to tan. Then bring the ginger and red chili pepper to the party, turn up the heat to medium, and cook for about 3 minutes. 


Next, stir in the coconut milk. Add the curry powder, soy sauce, and as much cayenne pepper as you can handle and whisk it all together. Turn up the heat to medium and let it cook until simmering. 


When the sauce is bubbling, take off the heat and stir in lime juice and chopped basil. 


Cook rice according to package instructions. I actually used a 90 second rice-in-a-bag because I couldn't find a boxed rice that I liked, so this step took no time at all. It made 2 servings (1 cup each). 


Finally, combine the rice, sauce, and black sesame seeds in a bowl. The hot rice will absorb the creamy, zesty sauce. For garnish, top each serving with a bundle of chopped scallions. 


So, the next time you're looking for a fast and easy dinner solution, put away your take-out menus and consider making this savory version of a thai classic. 


*This recipe obviously makes a lot of sauce, so either cook a lot of rice reserve the rest for later! Click here to find out what I did with the leftovers!

Moroccan Wheat Berry Salad

In case you found a way to dodge my steady stream of social media abuse this past weekend, you know that I recently journeyed back to my homeland of Red Sox Nation to cross a few things off my checklist. While in Boston, I was lucky enough to:

1. Celebrate my dear mother's 30th birthday 
2. Visit my long-lost-best-friend and supermodel, Catherine Way
3. Land an internship (er, kind of)
4. Guzzle down enough carbs to fuel an oil tanker
5. Take part in a life changing seminar by the Four-Time James Beard Award Winning food writer, David Leite 

I swear none of that was exaggerated...


Okay, fine, some of it was. Hush. But after my weekend of merriment, I can't stop doing this:

In fact, last weekend's activities soared so far beyond my expectations, I could have flown home on my own Cloud Nine. I had, so naively, assumed that I would walk out of the Boston University seminar with just a few helpful hints on how to get people to read about what I slap up here. 

I had no idea that someone as marvelously reputable as David would be catering our discussion to questions that I asked... like, little old me! 

I relished in every possible second of his golden wit. And yeah, I kind of want to be him. 

David versed us on everything from creating recipes, to submitting proposals, to the art of food blogging. And he was hilarious, to boot. Please check out his website so you can understand what I'm talking about! 

I found that there was but one downside to his lecture, and I hesitate to even say it... 

Apparently, my Ralph Lauren Superman (aka the illustrious Ina Garten) has a serious 'tude when it comes to writing about her recipes. I know, I know. It's practically sacrilege to tarnish my guru's Teflon reputation. But don't let her impeccably ironed button-down and loyalty to fabulosity fool you; this Hampton queen is apparently quite the hardass. 

Let's move on, I'm currently trying to repress this in my memory. 

I'm pretty jazzed about this next recipe. I've been holding on to the idea for a while now, and after making it, I have no idea why. I thought that I'd need a substantial chunk of time to cook the wheat berries, but they took less than 20 minutes. And in the meantime, you can prepare everything you need for the finished product.

The flavors are definitely different. I used three ingredients for the first time, here, and I'm happy to say it turned out great. See what can happen with a little experimentation? Beautiful things, people. 

I can now confidently say that wheat berries, dried currants, and Meyer lemon hold a place among my novelty food vanquishes. I get that the ingredients in this salad may not be terribly approachable to a palette tuned to Sunset Strips, but just give 'em a chance...

Because Brian Williams said so.

Moroccan Wheat Berry Salad

Serves 4

           

[1] cup dry wheat berries 

     (makes 2+ cups cooked)

[1/3] cup chopped fresh mint

[1] cup dried currants

[1/2] cup shredded carrot

[1/4] cup Meyer Lemon Curry vinaigrette (recipe as follows)

For the vinaigrette:

[2] Meyer lemons, juiced*

[1] tsp olive oil

[1] tsp curry powder

[1] tbsp course ground Dijon mustard

[1] tbsp rice wine vinegar

[1] tsp agave nectar

Start by lightly toasting wheat berries in a dry medium saucepan. Remember to keep an eye on them, shaking the pan occasionally... I let my A.D.D. get the best of me and some of these suckers burned. After about 2-3 minutes, pour in the water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes covered. Package directions may vary so check the instructions on the back.


Place chopped mint, dried currants and shredded carrots in a large bowl. 

Once the wheat berries are cooked (they should be chewy), drain and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking. If you add the hot wheat berries to the fresh mint, the mint will turn brown. And it will be ugly. After the wheat berries have cooled, dump them in the bowl with the rest of the crew. 


To make the vinaigrette, whisk lemon juice, olive oil, curry powder, dijon, vinegar, and agave together in a small bowl, then pour over the mixture and combine. The resulting dressing will be a beautiful golden yellow. 

You're going to want to eat this right away, not only because it's irresistibly flavorful, but because the colors become muted after some time. And you know how much I love color.

But somehow, I doubt that advising you to devour with haste is the worst suggestion I could make.

*Meyer lemons are sort of a mix between and orange and a lemon. They're much sweeter and add great flavor without being too sour. 

On a Roll!

Between my last post (Feb.8... yikes) and now, a lot of stuff has happened.

Blogging, clearly, has not been one of them. Sorry.


I'm sensing a pattern developing, here. I get on a serious roll, then... uhhh... I don't even want to know when the last entry was. And the busier I get, the more often it tends to happen. At least I'm consistent?

But enough of that, today is a new day. And April is (about to be) a new month. Being a better blogger is still on my radar, and what's the harm in having a long-term goal.

One thing that hasn't fallen to the wayside-- my cooking. I've got tons of recipes to share and I promise, sooner or later, I'll get 'em up here.

So, let's see how many posts I can get in before the next dry spell. Chances are pretty good that consistency will get the best of me once again, but for the sake of everyone who reads my blog, I'll remain optimistic.

Here's a phenomenal recipe for Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. I don't know many people who don't like hummus, and I'm telling you, this is honestly the best hummus I've made so far.* This recipe literally could not be easier.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
[1] can organic chickpeas
[2] tbsp sesame tahini
[2] lemons, juiced
[1 1/2] whole roasted red peppers, chopped
[1] garlic clove (use more... if you like more garlic)
[1] tsp paprika
[1/4--1/3] cup water to thin. (I use water in place of olive oil but you could use either, or both!)
salt
pepper

Blend chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and a little water in the food processor until smooth. Add water until you've reached desired consistency. When smooth, add salt and pepper to taste, chopped peppers, and paprika. Blend once more until combined. I kept the consistency pretty chunky (I hate that word) so that it was more like a dip. Sprinkle the top with paprika and add a sprig of parsley for presentation and color. Bring it to a party, serve it with pita, then watch it dis-ap-pear.

I'm going to go eat this now and pretend that Spring Break hasn't ended.

You're gunna be sahooo pOpuLaR

*In my latest attempt to avoid preservatives, I've been making my own hummus. It's so much cheaper (hummus at the grocery store can cost up to $5.00 compared to a can of chickpeas for like, $0.80), plus you can control the flavors and consistency. Basically, after you make your own hummus, you'll never buy it from the store again. 

Simple Mediterranean Salad & A Tale from Tuscany

I have to admit something. It wasn't long ago that I couldn't tell you the difference between a Pinot Grigio and a Pinot Noir, even if my favorite heels depended on it.


Now, I'm no expert by any means, but spending a semester in the wine capital of the world helped my odds a little... or at least taught me a thing or two.


I won't get into what I've learned about wine so far because, frankly, it's not a whole lot. This post is about something slightly less trendy-- olive oil.

What many people don't know is that olive oils can vary just as widely as wines can. The Filippo Berio that you buy in a typical grocery store has a completely different color, flavor and use than a Californian olive oil straight off a vineyard. 

But it's the olive oil that I tasted in Chianti [insert eye roll here] that hails from a different world altogether. 

While I was abroad, I had opportunities that had previously only lived in my dreams or in the movies. When I traveled to Florence, I had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to go to a tiny village in Tuscany where... brace yourselves... an Italian duo, who spoke zero english, cooked us an authentic Italian meal paired with wine made right there at the private villa. It's okay, I'd hate me, too.

The first course was a simple bruschetta (toasted bread) drizzled with the most beguiling olive oil that I'd ever tasted. It was slightly spicy, lustrously bright in flavor, yet it was light enough to dispel any anxieties over fat content. I wanted to lick the plate, and if no one were watching, I probably would have.

An olive in its purest form is the culprit in donning out a healthy dose of attitude. I innocently volunteered to taste the small, green bud after it was freshly picked from a nearby tree, and I soon realized my ill fate. 

I had expected to be met with the tender and salty snack that I love so dearly. What I actually got was nothing short of offensive-- a hard, bitter, horrifically spicy nugget of ew!


I made the mistake of thinking that the black ones tasted different, and you can probably guess how that turned out-- I digressed from any lady-like manners I had to spit it out asap...twice. How could such a tiny berry so aggressively my palate? My mouth burned until lunch.


Oh, but lunch? For once, words escape me. 


Except that I had seconds, and thirds, and I think fourths. Hands down, it was the best pasta I'd ever had in my life, with a basil pesto sent from the Italian gods. The experience was unforgettable. 

I'm not about to claim that this recipe for Simple Mediterranean Salad will be the best lunch of your life, but it brought my right back to my time in Tuscany. I bought two bottles of the olive oil and gave two bottles of the Chianti wine as Christmas gifts to my family. I kept one bottle of the olive oil for myself and cherish it as if it were liquid gold.


The best thing I recommend to you, if you've never ventured past the stuff on your grocer's shelves, is to find a specialty food store and ask about the oils they carry. Prices range with quality, but a good olive oil just may change the way you cook.


Simple Mediterranean Salad

[1] tbsp finishing olive oil (a flavorful oil that doesn't need to be cooked)
[1] tbsp fresh lemon juice
[1] tsp lemon zest
[1/2] tsp dried mint; more if you use fresh
[1] small zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch half-moon shapes
[1/2] tbsp pine nuts, toasted
[1/4] cup mixed olives, chopped; use whatever varieties you like best
a couple leaves of fresh basil; chopped
fresh cracked pepper


First, mix the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, mint, and pepper in a bowl with a metal fork or whisk. Then add the chopped olives, zucchini, basil, and pine nuts. Combine all ingredients and top with a little more fresh basil.

Then close your eyes and imagine yourself on a villa in Tuscany.

View from the villa in Chianti

View from the top of Montefioralle (named the most beautiful village in Italy)