Little Man, Lady Killer

My Nephew Rowan

To my nephew Rowan,

I met you once before you were born.  I'm not gonna lie.  You looked like an alien.  But don’t worry, your mommy once told me that I was from Mars, so you're not alone.  I remember seeing your little webbed toes on the ultrasound machine and looking forward to the day when I'd get to introduce you to This Little Piggy.  And that one.

Goodbye 2011. Hello Adventure.

This is me getting into trouble.

It's been four months since my last post, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed because I have so many stories to tell you.  Right now, you may be asking yourself, “Wait, isn't this a food blog?!”  I’ve been asking myself the same question for the past few days.  The only answer I’ve come up with is that sometimes in life you have to get out of the kitchen and into the world.  Cheesy, I know.  But more like a spicy jalapeno jack than a mild cheddar.

My recent adventures beyond the kitchen began on New Years Day.  I woke up in the morning and said to my roommate, "Today we are going to get into trouble".  Since she's a good sport, she helped me drag our Christmas tree out of the apartment and tie it to the roof of my car.   After a quick supply run, we drove to the beach...  The one with the fire pits.

Things I'll Tell You When You're Older

Maybe it's a little early to be giving my nephew advice, especially since he's not even born yet. But in the midst of planning my big sister's baby shower, I've written down a few things I don't want to forget to tell him...

Lydia's Eggs Benedict

Lydia's Eggs Benedict

When my godmother Lydia announced that she was going to make Eggs Benedict on Sunday morning, I set my alarm clock to wake up early.  If you've ever had Lydia's Eggs Benedict, you'd be up early on a Sunday morning too.

Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Sweet Potato Enchiladas

My love for sweet potatoes is unbounded.  I love them roasted.  I love them fried and dipped in ranch dressing.  I love them pureed and topped with jumbo marshmallows.  I love them curried.  And I especially love them mashed with black beans, corn, cilantro and lime, rolled into corn tortillas, and smothered in homemade enchilada sauce.

I am posting this recipe for my friend Diane.  Diane raves about these enchiladas and even brings them to dinner parties.  Her support means a lot to this little blogger.

Acorn Squash Stuffed with Quinoa and Sausage

Acorn Squash Stuffed with Quinoa (keen-wah) and Sausage

A few months ago, my friend Jen gave me this advice: “You better find yourself a guy who works out, has skinny genes, or both.” The more time you spend with me, the more I’ll try to feed you. My roommate can attest to this fact. Cooking for people makes me happy.

"Winter" Gardening

Working in the garden

Winter gardening in Southern California feels like cheating.  You don't have to worry about frost or freezing temperatures.  You also don’t have to worry about frostbite or snow boots or heavy coats.  I love complaining about how cold it is when it’s 65 degrees outside.  After surviving four winters in Boston during college, I feel like I’ve earned the right to whine.