Jan
2012

Lasagna with Cinnamon

categories: Recipes


The first time I made this lasagna was during the period where Jasper and I were dating long distance. He was living out here in NoVa, and I was in grad school in California. He invited some friends over to play rock band at his apartment so that we could all hang out, and I wanted to cook something for the party that would suit a crowd. I thought lasagna would be great, but I wanted to try something different from my usual. My favorite lasagna recipe came from an episode of Tyler’s Ultimate on Food Network, so I decided to try the other recipe from that episode. I found the recipe online and went to work, but things did not turn out as planned. (more…)


Jan
2012

Panjshir Afghan

categories: Reviews

A while back I tried afghan food for the first time and I LOVED it. I went to Faryab in Bethesda, which despite having no website and a hard to find location made it into the Washingtonian’s top 100 restaurants. That was a fantastic place to try afghan food for the first time, but certainly a tough act to follow. A recent Washingtonian article mentioned Panjshir in Falls Church, which is much closer to me, so I was really excited to try it. I ordered a selection of dishes (for take-out), and while the food was not as good as the food at Faryab, it was still pretty decent and certainly much more convenient for me. (more…)


Jan
2012

Salmon Cakes

categories: Recipes

I saw this recipe while watching the food network and thought that it would be perfect for my resolution (not the New Years variety) to add more fish (especially salmon) to our diet. This recipe looked light and fresh and fun, so I gave it a whirl. I liked it a lot, Jasper wasn’t as enthusiastic, and it was a little bit more work than other salmon recipes I have. So I will definitely hang onto it, but not as a weekly addition.

(more…)


Jan
2012

Carnitas!

categories: Recipes


I am a Texan at heart, and always will be. It’s hard to be far from the culture and food that I grew up with, so I love whenever I find a recipe that reminds me of home. I loved even more when I found a whole blog and cookbook dedicated to displaced Texans. I am talking about The Homesick Texan – I love this site so much. I will definitely be exploring it more in the future. The recipe that introduced me to The Homesick Texan was a FANTASTIC pork carnitas recipes. It is super easy and incredibly delicious, and is definitely going to be a staple for us from now on. We loved it so much that I went back to the store to get more pork so that I could make it again! (more…)


Jan
2012

Tips for Leftovers

categories: Recipes

We’ve all been there – you buy ingredients for a specific dish, but don’t know what to do with the remainder so they sit around until they go bad. Or you make too much of a side dish and don’t have anything left to pair with it so it gets thrown out. I’ve been guilty of this wastefulness, and I am trying to find ways to avoid it. So here are a few strategies that I have come up with. (more…)


Jan
2012

Quinoa-Stuffed Acorn Squash

categories: Recipes


When my friend Melissa and I get together it is usually to bake, or cook, or go out to eat – which is fitting for two food bloggers. We wanted to get together recently and cook up something satisfying and healthy. Melissa, who is a vegetarian, came up with a wonderful recipe for Quinoa-Stuffed Acorn Squash – and you can read all about her take on her blog, Smells like Brownies.

This recipe is full of delicious veggies, packed with flavor and texture, and super healthy! Quinoa is not quite in the popular lingo yet, so for those of you who are unfamiliar with it, here is a brief rundown. Quinoa is a grain, similar in use to rice or couscous, but it is better than either of those because it is both a whole grain and a protein! It’s basically a super food. (more…)


Dec
2011

Holiday Cookie Party

categories: Recipes

I am so sorry for the long hiatus, but it has been a busy month! Be comforted, though, for I will reward your patience with tasty cookies! One of the events that has kept us busy was the annual cookie party hosted by my friend over at Smells Like Brownies. She went all out, making a dozen different treats, and just look at that spread!

(more…)


Dec
2011

Ariana, Bend OR

categories: Reviews

We went to two Italian restaurants while we were in Bend for Thanksgiving. One of them was, unfortunately, pretty disappointing. But the other, Ariana, was fantastic!

The restaurant is inside what looks like an old house, so the dining room is small but cozy. The service was great, and the waiter liked Jasper’s request for Champagne with St Germain so much that he said he was going to add it to the cocktail menu.

We were so excited about our appetizers that I didn’t get a chance to take pictures! We ordered beef carpaccio with truffle oil and burrata with tomatoes; both were fantastic.


I ordered a decadent gnocchi carbonara, complete with a soft egg on top. (more…)


Dec
2011

Thanksgiving!

categories: Uncategorized

As a food blogger I must, of course, write about my Thanksgiving meal. Last year Jasper and I hosted both or our parents and siblings at our house in NoVa. This year, we were able to travel out to Bend, OR to spend the holiday with his family. (more…)


Nov
2011

Panko Crusted Salmon

categories: Recipes

Both Jasper and I would like to get in better shape, so we are thinking more about healthy options for dinner. I’ve decided that we should try to fit a fish dish in each week, which will most likely be salmon (it’s a super food, and heck – it’s delicious!).

I started this new routine off with an easy and solid recipe for Panko Crusted Salmon. Dijon mustard, lemon, and parsley are simple ingredients that give a ton of flavor. And the panko crumbs make for a perfect crunchy topping.

(more…)