Brunch of Champions: Avocado Benedict on Corn Griddlecakes

Last week was my dear friend and fellow foodie's birthday. We both gravitate toward plant-based, locally-sourced, and especially-delicious foods.  She however lives a predominantly gluten-free lifestyle. I really think I would be better off if I did too, so I am always glad for her influence away from white starches. In honor of her bday, I remade the brunch classic that we shared on her last visit, based on a recipe I found on How Sweet Eats.

Cooking Therapy: Homemade Stocks

Sometimes I feel like cooking, but I don't feel like eating.  Or I feel like cooking, but I have already cooked for eating.  Does that make sense?  I think I just need cooking therapy, which is how I zone out and decompress, and make my mind go quiet and just think about whatever I am doing right at that very moment.  My mom makes jewelry for the same reason.  So when I feel like that, making homemade stocks is just the cooking therapy I need.

Quick Meals Upon Landing: Green Garden Gazpacho

Tonight is one of those perfect stay-at-home nights.  I have no plans.  I have a clean house.  I had houseguests last weekend, traveled all week, will leave again Monday, and be out of town next weekend.  I have a bursting DVR.  I have a cute dog.  And I have a fridge full of random odds and ends that I was sure would add up to something.  I pulled out Yotam Ottolenghi's Plenty cookbook for inspiration, and sure enough, it looks like I have everything for my very own adaptation of Green Garden Gazpacho, inspired by Ottolenghi's Green Gazpacho.

Weekend Celebrations: Homemade Coffee Ice Cream Cake

A few weeks ago, the boyfriend turned 34.  It was a big day.  Only the best cake would do.  And that meant best according to him, which is a coffee ice cream cake. Since it was a cake for one (no coffee for me, thanks), I used a square 8x8 pan, made three thick layers, and decorated with chocolate and blue buttercream.  It turned out pretty great, even for those who don't prefer coffee ice cream, and the square pan made it a little different, and a little easier to frost. Because time is of the essence when frosting an ice cream cake, using a square pan works out really well.

Delicious Drinks: Watermelon Cucumber Margarita with Mint

To close out the weekend with my sister, we made one last margarita that had all of the things in it.  The basic strategy for the last night of her visit was to use all the leftover fresh ingredients in some way so that they wouldn't go bad when she returned to VA and I headed to NJ for the week.  What to do with watermelon, cucumber, limes, and mint?  Mix them with tequila, of course!

Summer Spice: Watermelon Ginger Guacamole

After the success of the Guacamole with Strawberries and Habanero, we were inspired to keep pushing through Rick Bayless' Frontera: Margaritas, Guacamoles, and Snacks.  Next up, Watermelon Ginger Guacamole.  This recipe gets its heat from fresh ginger and its sweet from juicy summer watermelon. Truth be told, this recipe was even better than the first. But I love ginger, so I might be biased. (Frequent conversation after eating anything with ginger: Me: "I love ginger so much." Boyfriend: "I know." Maybe he's jealous.)

Summer Spice: Guacamole with Strawberries and Habanero

To pair with the Cilantro-Jalapeño Margarita, we got to work making some of the guacamoles in Rick Bayless' Frontera: Margaritas, Guacamoles, and Snacks.  First up, celebrating summer sweet and heat with Guacamole with Strawberries and Habanero.  The best thing about this recipe is the addition of citrus zest, in addition to the typical juice.  It really made the citrus flavor pop.  The cookbook version doesn't call for salt, but I have included it in the version below (because, come on).

Delicious Drinks: Cilantro-Jalapeño Margarita

The unofficial theme of my sister's recent visit here was margaritas and guacamole.  We worked our way through the summer section of Rick Bayless' Frontera: Margaritas, Guacamoles, and Snacks cookbook.  Yes, I own a cookbook dedicated to margaritas and guacamoles.  I actually kept it on my nightstand for a while, and read it before bed, trying to set myself up for sweet dreams.  Anyway, we kicked off the weekend with the Cilantro-Jalapeño Margarita, which turned out to be my most favorite of them all.

Delicious Drinks: Michelada From Scratch

Micheladas and I have been on and off for a while.  Here is the thing about miches.  I have to make them at home.  If I order them out, I am almost always disappointed.  I like them so spicy they burn, so salty they satisfy, so citrusy they pucker, and so cold they quench.  I want them in a big glass (or better yet, Tervis tumbler) over ice, garnished with extra lime just in case.  And a couple of weeks ago in Austin, I got the perfect one.  My friend Denise made me the perfect michelada with her homemade mix, and I have been chasing that taste ever since.

Delicious Drinks: Good Old Fashioned Homemade Lemonade

It's best if I don't drink sangria all day.  Better plan to start with lemonade.  There is really no better way to quench a summer thirst than with a pitcher of good old fashioned homemade lemonade. No mixes please. Only four ingredients necessary.  And two are water and ice.  So you've got them.  You just need to take the time.

Delicious Drinks: Sunny Day Summer Sangria

Summer is a thirsty time.  And I have been on a summer drinks kick.  I didn't drink a lot of sangria when I lived in Spain, but I certainly have made up for that since I've been home.  I actually think the Houston climate is much better suited for sangria than Barcelona for most of the year.  Perhaps I'll start a campaign.  First step, share the perfect recipe.

Home Detox: Tropical Fish Tacos

This hot weather makes me want to eat lighter.  And riding my bike in it makes me want to eat now. Like right now.  I am so hungry I need to eat now.  Fish tacos accomplish both goals - light and urgent. From idea to table, these take less than thirty minutes.

Home Detox: Summer Garden Gazpacho

Two signs that summer is here in Houston: my hair expands to twice its normal volume when I take Luna out for a walk in the morning, and the lines at the airport are twice as long.  And summer time means summer vegetables.  Finally, tomatoes that taste like tomatoes!  My current favorite detox after a week of eating out on the road is a spicy gazpacho.  I adapted the Barefoot Contessa's recipe to better suit my tastes (carrots yes, red peppers no thanks) and spice preferences (burn me, please).

Cooking Therapy: Pasta, Pasta!

In undergrad at UT, my favorite weekday lunch spot was called Pasta, Pasta!  Patrons lined up, selected their style of pasta, chose a sauce, pointed at any add-ins they wanted included, and then the custom mixture was heated in a skillet with olive oil and served piping hot.  The whole process took less than three minutes if there was no line.  And it was delicious!

Cooking Class: Spicy Homemade Pickles

It's pickling season!  The time to start capturing all the best flavors of warm weather to enjoy when it's not warm anymore. I think in other parts of the country, that means preserving summer for when it gets cool.  In Houston, I think that canning might preserving the flavors of the warm season for when it is burning hot. 

Cooking Class: Homemade Ricotta

I read on The Kitchn that if you aren't already making your own ricotta, you should be.  And I suppose I agree, because it is just as easy as it as impressive. All is takes are the few ingredients pictured above: whole milk, white vinegar or lemon juice, and salt.  The only trick is cheesecloth, which you might not keep on hand, but it is cheap and small to store.  So go ahead and grab some extra!

Cooking Class: Learning Tapas in Houston

A couple of weeks ago, I got a break from travel and worked from home for three weeks.  It just so happened to coincide with my mom's visit back to the States.  It was glorious!  We had such a nice visit together, and one of the best things we did was round up two friends and take a tapas cooking class at Sur La Table.  The four of us made up more than half the class, and I really think had more advanced skills than the class was designed for, but we had a ball nonetheless.  We made simple Blue Cheese and Almond Stuffed Dates, Steamed Mussels with Fennel, Manchego and Piquillo Pepper Tortilla, and Patatas Bravas.  The dates and mussels were so simple, we wouldn't need a recipe to recreate, but the tortilla and potatoes were more complicated, so I'll share the recipes here.

Home Detox: Peanut Butter Sriracha Toast

I read about Peanut Butter Sriracha Toast in Bon Appetit, and my immediate reaction was "Y-E-S."  This is the kicking peanut butter sandwich I have been waiting for.  Peanut butter and jelly is too boring.  Peanut butter and bananas is too squishy unless I can make it on really crispy toast and eat it immediately with honey.  And I want everything I eat burning hot anyway.

Home Detox: Smoked Salmon and Avocado Toast

I usually leave on Monday mornings, but this week I'm heading out on Sunday midday.  It's not my favorite.  I made this quick lunch before heading to EWR, making good use of some leftover salmon and a very ripe avocado.  If I have to leave on Sunday, at least I'm eating well!

Edible Events: Pasta Throwdown Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce

What happens when three competitive business ladies discover they have the same pasta maker?  They plan a pasta challenge, obviously.  And in this case, two of them nominate their husbands as competitors. Then what happens when word gets out that a pasta throwdown is happening?  Fifteen hungry judges turn up.  And the pressure is on!  We ended up not having an actual competition, because the pasta was so good that it was clear everybody won, including the judges.  My worthy competitors made fettucine with pesto and fettucine alfredo, and I combined the three recipes below for ricotta ravioli with brown butter walnut sauce.