2020 and Evolving Traditions

Building Traditions Traditions are the foundation of a society hopeful in a string of ‘tomorrows’. Creating an event with a group of cherished family or friends, meant to come back to time after time speaks of consistency, dependability, glorious expectation. While I don’t recall many specific traditions growing up other than heading to Nana’s every…

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today’s KITCHEN | Flavored Sauerkraut

What’s in a Sauerkraut? I confess that I’ve not had a lot of experience with Sauerkraut, even with a European background (from a few generations ago…). It was my Czech friend who started talking about it in her favorite dishes, and I was immediately intrigued! Other than cabbage, I didn’t know much else, and relied…

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BASICS | Knife Skills

Welcome to the BASICS!Today we’re going to talk Knife Skills. Got ’em? Want ’em?! the KNIFE While most people who have been cooking for some time probably already know how to hold a knife, a refresher is never a bad idea. Especially since a good knife grip will earn you efficiency in your work, and…

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RECIPE FREE | Cooking with the Senses

WHAT is Recipe-Free Cooking? I was first introduced to a free-style kind of cooking by my younger brother when I was about 22. He could go into my sad excuse for a fridge holding whatever groceries I had mustered at some point in the week but that had now gone bad, and miraculously make a…

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Cooking School with La Peetch

While I’m not necessarily trying to fill all this ‘free’ time during Quarantine, pressuring myself to use every moment, it has been a great time to do some quality learning in the Kitchen –  especially with all the guinea pigs – I mean kids – stuck here having to try everything I make! Pretty much…

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today’s KITCHEN | Failure + Baking Flatbread

Are you afraid of FAILURE? Personally, I’m friends with it. Whether in the Kitchen or just in life, it’s inevitable, but it also means you’re LEARNING, you’re  T R Y I N G , you’re getting out of the box – and isn’t that what counts?! If you play life safe, you MAY never fail…

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today’s KITCHEN | Spring Detox 5-day Juice Cleanse

I’m already asking myself WHY oh WHY did I sign up for this?! The kit arrives tomorrow, and ‘2 days prior’ to starting – so, NOW – I’m supposed to give up red meat (on Steak night?!), luscious mounds of Burrata cheese, coffee and alcohol… THERE IS ALCOHOL IN WINE! Oh, the horrors… But, I’ve…

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today’s KITCHEN | 12 Days of Family Meal Planning

It’s another quarantine-induced quandry… How to feed a larger household 3 squares a day without killing myself – or someone else – but also to recognize and be grateful that food does bring us together… To treat it all in a way that the work of food and eating won’t turn us into tired, hungry,…

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15 Best (+ Tasty!) Ways to Cook with Food Waste

With just a few easy tips and tricks introduced into your everyday cooking habits, you can reduce ACTUAL food waste by a LOT! I’ve been shocked to see how much of my ‘garbage’ during cooking can actually be re-purposed or used later. Most of the steps (15 ++!) below have become part of my everyday…

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today’s KITCHEN | Mindful Cooking

This past Saturday began innocently enough, but then SO MUCH FOOD ensued LOL. To be fair, though, I had planned SOME of it ahead. I’m trying my best to focus on MINDFUL COOKING as much as possible, especially as we stare down another month of quarantine – using leftovers, saving bits for a whole other…

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today’s KITCHEN | Best Green Beans EVER!

I’m always looking for new side dish recipes – or new ways to amp up old ones. Usually green beans get a bit of butter, topped with some parm and done – quick and easy. But I had a few extra bits laying around last time, and the tasted so good we I N H…

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today’s KITCHEN | Liver ‘n Beets

Some days you just KNOW you need as much iron as possible, and this was one of those days. I’ve learned over the years to listen to my body – to when it’s extra EXTRA fatigued and tired, especially. I tend to be low in two things – hydration (DUH) and iron (also duh). I…

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today’s KITCHEN | My Nemesis – Quail Eggs

NEMESIS! ‘An inescapable agent of one’s downfall’. Quail eggs – and my obsessive desire to master them – will ultimately be my downfall, as I can’t see how I’ll possibly ever succeed against these maniacal little beasts… *sigh* I’m not even sure how I was introduced to these insufferable little ovals of madness, but now…

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today’s KITCHEN | Fresh Local Dungeness Crab (or “Dunnies”!)

A real treat, personally and foodily!!Yeah, ok – that’s not a word… This photo of my elder son, Kid Tt, just watching the Ocean go by as he waits for his crabby catch of the day makes me SO VERY HAPPY! This boy has loved oceans, sharks, fish etc since he was a wee lad.…

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today’s KITCHEN | All Stocked Up!

Do you love to make Stocks? I freeze food bits for months, then do a “stock day”. It’s the best for great Pho!

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TRAVEL diaries | Food Treasures!

Love travel? Love looking back at your souvenirs and reminiscing? ME, TOO! I just tend to COOK all my souvenirs 😉

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today’s KITCHEN | Doesn’t EVERYONE #tacotuesday?!

We LIVE for Taco Tuesdays – somehow my family never tires of it, although perhaps that’s because I switch up the ingredients often?

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today’s KITCHEN | Cranberries + Pumpkin Seeds

It might sound weird, but I tend to “inherit” food. Friends come by with home grown or salvaged goodies and a quick “can’t wait to see what you do!” Check out this round!

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kitchen DESIGN | Commercial vs Residential

I’m starting the design of my new Kitchen, and can’t wait to explore the intersection of Commercial and Residential Kitchens!!

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kitchen DESIGN | Out with the old…

A new Kitchen is SOVERY exciting, but there are things I’m definitely going to miss, and things I’ll absolutely do again…

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