Vegetarian Quinoa Salad Recipe: Eating Healthy Doesn't Mean Bland

Happy almost three day weekend! I can't wait to get some sleep, get a bit organized, cook, photograph, blog and just chill {and I just found out a friend will be in town!!!}. What are your plans?

Before I wish you a happy weekend, I thought I'd share a quick dish with you: Vegetarian Quinoa Salad Recipe. I suppose this could also be considered a side.

This is a no-recipe recipe.

Take cooked

Happy almost three day weekend! I can't wait to get some sleep, get a bit organized, cook, photograph, blog and just chill {and I just found out a friend will be in town!!!}. What are your plans?

Before I wish you a happy weekend, I thought I'd share a quick dish with you: Vegetarian Quinoa Salad Recipe. I suppose this could also be considered a side.

This is a no-recipe recipe.

Take cooked

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Steak Salad with Mangoes & Black Pepper Cashews

Here's a thing. Sometimes I don't plan my meals. In fact, I rarely plan my meals. This Steak Salad with Mangoes & Black Pepper Cashews is a perfect example of how some of my recipes/meal ideas come about.

As I've mentioned earlier, recently I received a box of mangoes from Mango.org. I made Moonshine Mango Boozer Popsicles with a few of them, ate some as is, and had another one sitting

Here's a thing. Sometimes I don't plan my meals. In fact, I rarely plan my meals. This Steak Salad with Mangoes & Black Pepper Cashews is a perfect example of how some of my recipes/meal ideas come about.

As I've mentioned earlier, recently I received a box of mangoes from Mango.org. I made Moonshine Mango Boozer Popsicles with a few of them, ate some as is, and had another one sitting

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Sweet Potato & Corn Southwestern Soup: A Recipe For Any Season

This Sweet Potato & Corn Southwestern Soup: A Recipe For Any Season came about because of my laziness. I did not feel like going to the grocery store and opted to create a dish from the ingredients I already had in my refrigerator and freezer. Why is it perfect for any season? Well, right now you can use fresh corn, while in the winter frozen corn will be just fine. All you need to do is dice

This Sweet Potato & Corn Southwestern Soup: A Recipe For Any Season came about because of my laziness. I did not feel like going to the grocery store and opted to create a dish from the ingredients I already had in my refrigerator and freezer. Why is it perfect for any season? Well, right now you can use fresh corn, while in the winter frozen corn will be just fine. All you need to do is dice

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Smoked Salmon Breakfast Sandwich

Happy Friday!!! Are you ready for the weekend? I am. No major plans other than a visit to a museum, maybe working on my build-your-own-sofa-table project, and of course cooking.

Most of the weekends I make something with eggs for breakfast, but this past weekend I made a Smoked Salmon Breakfast Sandwich. This is more of a how-to than an actual recipe. So follow along and make this very soon!

Happy Friday!!! Are you ready for the weekend? I am. No major plans other than a visit to a museum, maybe working on my build-your-own-sofa-table project, and of course cooking.

Most of the weekends I make something with eggs for breakfast, but this past weekend I made a Smoked Salmon Breakfast Sandwich. This is more of a how-to than an actual recipe. So follow along and make this very soon!

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Potato Pesto Pizza Recipe & KitchenAid Food Processor Review

When you live alone in a condo, space is of importance: I try not to have too many kitchen appliances. The ones that I do have, I try to use to make sure they earn their keep {I'm talking about my ice cream maker and panini maker.}
My other favorite appliance is a dual blender and food processor. I bought it over five years ago because my mom told me to. Guess what? She was right: I love it. I

When you live alone in a condo, space is of importance: I try not to have too many kitchen appliances. The ones that I do have, I try to use to make sure they earn their keep {I'm talking about my ice cream maker and panini maker.}
My other favorite appliance is a dual blender and food processor. I bought it over five years ago because my mom told me to. Guess what? She was right: I love it. I

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Warm Cauliflower Salad

Do you ever forget about your favorite dress, or a pair of earrings, or maybe your most comfortable pair of flats, only to rediscover and fall in love with it all over again?

It happens to me quite often, and not just with clothing and accessories. This past weekend, I rediscovered how much I love cauliflower.

Growing up, my dad used to boil cauliflower florettes, put them into an egg wash,

Do you ever forget about your favorite dress, or a pair of earrings, or maybe your most comfortable pair of flats, only to rediscover and fall in love with it all over again?

It happens to me quite often, and not just with clothing and accessories. This past weekend, I rediscovered how much I love cauliflower.

Growing up, my dad used to boil cauliflower florettes, put them into an egg wash,

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Summer Cooking: Pasta Primavera Recipe (Sort Of)

This post is one of my no-recipes-posts. It's just an idea for you to use when you need a bit of inspiration. Basically, it's a pasta dish with some sauteed vegetables, some raw vegetables and fresh herbs. Feel free to use whatever produce you have. Not a fan of pasta? Use rice or even boiled potatoes.

When I visited Butler's Orchards earlier this month, they gave me a basket of zucchini,

This post is one of my no-recipes-posts. It's just an idea for you to use when you need a bit of inspiration. Basically, it's a pasta dish with some sauteed vegetables, some raw vegetables and fresh herbs. Feel free to use whatever produce you have. Not a fan of pasta? Use rice or even boiled potatoes.

When I visited Butler's Orchards earlier this month, they gave me a basket of zucchini,

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Easy Appetizer Idea: Nudo Olio D'Oliva Extra Vergine With Chillies Marinated Mozzarella Balls

Growing up, the only cooking oil my parents used was sunflower oil. It had a golden deep color with a rather fragrant scent. You are not going to find that type of sunflower oil at your local grocery store. Sorry. See if there is a Russian or Ukrainian store in your neighborhood and go there.

Although we had olives, which I used to hate as a little girl, we did not taste olive oil until we

Growing up, the only cooking oil my parents used was sunflower oil. It had a golden deep color with a rather fragrant scent. You are not going to find that type of sunflower oil at your local grocery store. Sorry. See if there is a Russian or Ukrainian store in your neighborhood and go there.

Although we had olives, which I used to hate as a little girl, we did not taste olive oil until we

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Omelet Inside a Pepper Ring: I've Succumbed to the Pinterest Peer Pressure

You guys! I have succumbed to the Pinterest peer pressure.

I'm not even kidding. You know those zillions of pins with eggs cooked inside the pepper rings?I've seen them everywhere. Even my twin sister made them.

Keep in mind, I've never even tried to smoke a cigarette. Not to mention I hardly drink and have never tried any illegal substances. I can say NO easily to many things that

You guys! I have succumbed to the Pinterest peer pressure.

I'm not even kidding. You know those zillions of pins with eggs cooked inside the pepper rings?I've seen them everywhere. Even my twin sister made them.

Keep in mind, I've never even tried to smoke a cigarette. Not to mention I hardly drink and have never tried any illegal substances. I can say NO easily to many things that

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Memories of Russia: What to do with Strawberries?

Happy Friday! Hope everyone has fun and relaxing plans for the weekend. It's a rainy day in DC and all I want is to stay in bed watching movies, but alas that's just not happening.

Instead, I wanted to share with you one of my childhood memories. As I've mentioned many times, I grew up in Moscow, Russia. My family cooked all the time, coming up with easy and filling combination of ingredients

Happy Friday! Hope everyone has fun and relaxing plans for the weekend. It's a rainy day in DC and all I want is to stay in bed watching movies, but alas that's just not happening.

Instead, I wanted to share with you one of my childhood memories. As I've mentioned many times, I grew up in Moscow, Russia. My family cooked all the time, coming up with easy and filling combination of ingredients

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Tour of Montgomery County Farms with GM Northeast Part 3: Butler's Orchard

This is another installment of my tour of Montgomery County Farms sponsored by the GM Northeast. See part 1 here.

One of the stops on our tour was Butler's Orchard. This was not my first time at Butler's Orchard. I've gone there for blueberry and sour cherry picking and have even made some of their recipes (muffins, crisp). I was excited to get a tour of the orchard and thrilled that they gave

This is another installment of my tour of Montgomery County Farms sponsored by the GM Northeast. See part 1 here.

One of the stops on our tour was Butler's Orchard. This was not my first time at Butler's Orchard. I've gone there for blueberry and sour cherry picking and have even made some of their recipes (muffins, crisp). I was excited to get a tour of the orchard and thrilled that they gave

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Easy Fun Frozen Drink: Moonshine Mango Boozer. Plus, a Boozy Popsicle

This past Friday I received an awesome present from Mango.org: a box of mangoes.

They must have figured out that I ♥ mangoes.

Of course that got me thinking about what I could get in the mail if I renamed my blog Diamonds and Platinum or Caviar and Lobster, etc.

But let's get back to the topic.
As I said, I love mangoes and have eaten them as is. I also like incorporating them into ice cream

This past Friday I received an awesome present from Mango.org: a box of mangoes.

They must have figured out that I ♥ mangoes.

Of course that got me thinking about what I could get in the mail if I renamed my blog Diamonds and Platinum or Caviar and Lobster, etc.

But let's get back to the topic.
As I said, I love mangoes and have eaten them as is. I also like incorporating them into ice cream

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Tour of Montgomery County Farms with GM Northeast Part 1: Rock Hill Orchard

This past Saturday I went on a tour of Montgomery County Farms sponsored by the GM Northeast. Not only did they plan the itinerary, but they also offered a few bloggers a chance to drive one of their cars for a week.

Since I don't really drive, I graciously declined, and instead was picked up by my friend Cecilia in the red shiny and sporty Chevy Sonic. How did they know we love the color red

This past Saturday I went on a tour of Montgomery County Farms sponsored by the GM Northeast. Not only did they plan the itinerary, but they also offered a few bloggers a chance to drive one of their cars for a week.

Since I don't really drive, I graciously declined, and instead was picked up by my friend Cecilia in the red shiny and sporty Chevy Sonic. How did they know we love the color red

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Strawberry, Tomato, Basil & Aged Cheddar Salad Recipe: Produce Directly From a Farm

How is it already August? I can't believe how quickly this summer is passing by. Soon, tomatoes will be out of season. Not to mention the sweet strawberries. Grab those in big quantities while you can!

Last Saturday I went on a fun adventure: I visited three Montgomery County farms. I will post about it later. For now, I'll share with you a super easy and gorgeous salad I made with some of

How is it already August? I can't believe how quickly this summer is passing by. Soon, tomatoes will be out of season. Not to mention the sweet strawberries. Grab those in big quantities while you can!

Last Saturday I went on a fun adventure: I visited three Montgomery County farms. I will post about it later. For now, I'll share with you a super easy and gorgeous salad I made with some of

reade more... Résuméabuiyad