Roadtripping on the Coast of Cali - Post 1

While there are those who cherish raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, I hold recycling on street corners and composting in restaurants in special favor.  As I become more and more steeped in food reform as a result of my current line of work, I am feeling captivated and intensely concerned about food waste and sustainability.  The whole recycling bit goes way back...since I was very young, if green bins were nowhere to be found, I would haul stacks of paper with me until I found an appropriate home for them. Unsurprisingly, I thought Al Gore was THE man.  More recently, on a trip to India, I was struck by a simple act of recycling - while visiting my mother's village, when I couldn't find the "dustbin" after lunch, I handed my plate to the servant and watched as he tossed the chicken bones and inedible stems of spices in the backyard.  Of course!  Was I ever a fool.  There was no sophisticated system of garbage disposal there.  Return what comes from the land to the land.  If you choose to bring in products wrapped in the likes of plastic from the city, then take it with you on your way out or risk "soiling" the pristine land - this observation made my own footprint so easy to understand.

A Salad for All Seasons

When you step away from your phone and come back to ten group text messages on the topic of making quinoa...you know you are in good company.  I am very proud of my friend, Saaam, who is making a conscious effort to revolutionize her diet and eat for good health.  To encourage her new "foodstyle", we are keeping a food diary via text message to inspire each other - and, let's get real - keep each other in check.  Accountability works wonders for motivation.  My sis and I did this food diary thing awhile ago and it was really useful.  Share what you're eating, inspire your friends to try something new and celebrate small successes - I'm sure there's an app for that :)

Chicken Tortilla Soup for a Chilly Night

Shame on us.  We didn't cook ALL week.  One weekend away and we were totally thrown off schedule!  Needless to say, I will be kicking off my Groundhog Day with a looong visit to the grocery store - at least I know what I want to make, that's always half (err, 3/4) of the battle.  The beauty of this recipe is that everything I needed was already in my kitchen - doesn't get better than that with the sound of the wind whipping outside.

Homemade chicken tortilla soup is suuuch a nice way to warm up amidst the resurgence of this wintry weather.  AND how come no one ever told me that boiling chicken makes life in the kitchen so much easier?  I feel like I am really late to this party, but I am loving this new method.

A Meal Fit for a Chef

Last night I cooked for a chef. It was time to bring my A-Game. 

Perfectly Plated by Chef Meera

The planning began on Wednesday night because everything would need to be prepared on Thursday night since I wouldn't be back home until 8:00 on Friday night. Make sense? Ok, good. Now, I wanted to experiment with some new items but also whip up something tried and true in case the newbies failed. Then again, the advantage of having a chef friend is that she can wave her magic wand hand and repair my blunders! So ahead I went...

Recipe for Healthy People 2020: Miso Soup

For the USofA, today is Election Day...but for me, it's THAT and my hubby's bday!  After multiple trips to the polling station (less crowded at 6:15 PM vs 6:15 AM --> totally missed the memo on that), we had adequately repped red, white, and blue and decided that for dinner, we would pay homage to his love of Japanese food.  We made our classic shiitake miso soup in the Vitamix - a very straightforward, healthy, and light recipe when you want to spend minimal time in the kitchen and maximum time planted in front of the TV rooting for your favorite candidate.  Don't worry, I'm not going to jip hubby.  Tomorrow I (not WE) am making his favorite dinner and dessert...shh, it's a surprise!

An Ogre Comes to Visit

I didn't necessarily intend on plating our dinner in the form of an ogre.  I think this is the direct result of being an aunt to three nieces ages 5 and under:

My husband seemed confused but delighted at our meal turned art project!  Here's the down low.   Details on how to make the individual parts to follow in other posts (too tired right now and have miles to go before I sleep) -

• 1 plum sliced and drizzled with honey
• chickpea + quinoa salad on a bed of arugula
• roasted brussel sprouts
• yogurt with dill, salt, pepper, and freshly squeezed lemon juice served on the side

On a mushy sidenote: in my mother tongue there is no word for nieces or nephews.  They're considered as your own daughters and sons.  Isn't that just so sweet?  And it's so fitting because that's exactly how I think of my little ones.  The natural born worrier that I am, I'm constantly fretting about them and when I see them, I'm consumed by how to make them feel happy.  I'm strict with them too, but I think this is what helps make them the polite little princesses that they are.  Oh yeah, and I guess their parents have some influence too :-D  My sister really is such a wonderful mother to them.  Patient, incredibly loving, teaches them to do the right thing and be confident (just to name a few).  I hope as their second mom, I am also doing a good job teaching them how to be their best selves.