a sense of community
In my first post I described how the vision for the alley beautification project came into being. But before I got too far ahead of myself, the next step was to put together an outline and see whether the neighbors thought it was as good of an idea as I did. This...
blank canvas granola
I call this homemade granola recipe "blank canvas granola" because really it's just a suggestion and totally adaptable to your tastes...or what you have in the cupboard. Really you don't even need a recipe for it. All you really need What you do need is your favorite...
foodie first aid kit
I eat lunch at my desk almost every day. Yes... I know that's not the way that you're suppose to do it. That it's supposedly better to go for a walk, get together with friends or do something to get away from your desk, but the way I see it, if I spend lunch at my...
the alley beautification project
It all started about this time last year. I was just looking for a home for some blackberries and the best solution happened to be along the garage in the alley. You can read all about that fateful project here. What came out of that has grown much bigger than the...
kung pao popcorn
It started in art school where there wasn't on-campus living, social activities or even a cafeteria. I lived alone in a small studio apartment on the edge of downtown Portland where the winter evenings were bone chillingly cold and shiny black with rain. This is when...
idaho potato palooza
For the last two years, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has sponsored an event in the Los Angeles area called Idaho Potato Palooza which is a celebration of all things potatoes and a cozy little tie in with Potato Lover's Month. I'd heard nothing but...
how to clean the juicer less
I may be the last person to the fresh juice party but now that I'm there I'm kicking up my heels. It all started when I was in California visiting a friend and we pulled out her very cool juicer and made a pitcher of the most delicious mix of practically everything in...
chai pumpkin smoothie
Smoothies are just milkshakes with a better reputation. Or at least they can be. Sure, they carry this yoga-pant-wearing, Whole-Food-shopping, healthier-than-thou connotation but often include sugar-laden yogurt (regular or frozen), lots of fruit (more sugar) and some...
homemade herbal chai
When the days are gray and cold nothing warms up both me and the house like a batch of caffeine free, homemade herbal chai. There's something so comforting about having a pot simmering on the stove, infusing the air with the rich scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger,...
the you’ll-never-buy-crackers-again crackers
I may never buy crackers again. It's just that simple. These are so easy to make. So easy to modify with different seasonings. Crispy and crunchy and perfect for transporting dip (as shown in my last post). Even my husband, who is suspect of anything "healthy", was...
No Bean Spiced Carrot Hummus
I'm alway a proponent of trying to find more ways to work vegetables into my diet and trying to keep foods as whole and clean as possible. Crackers are one of my favorite things – crispy, crunchy and a perfect carrier for other yummy things. They also tend to be...
Smoky Cheater
The title of the book jumped out at me from the bookstore shelf. One-Hour Cheese. I've been learning how to make cheese now for over a year and besides a very few – ricotta, mozzarella and goat cheese – most endeavors are whole evening affairs – if not longer – so a...