Savour Fare

Five No-Fuss, No-Pasta Dinners For When You Don’t Really Want to Cook

Kate — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:25:05 +0000

So if you listen to as many food-related podcasts as I do, you may have noticed that lately there has been a lot of talk about cooking (I blame Michael Pollan)- about how it’s healthier, and better for society, and connects you with your humanity, etc. Which, hello? is great, and I’ve been saying for years! Yay cooking! We love it around these parts. I also, however, like to play the role of fairy godmother of the reality check. You know and I know that we would LOVE to make from-scratch, healthful dinners EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, but we also both know that sometimes that just isn’t happening. Before you call the delivery man, or open (yet another) box of pasta, I present you for five ideas for easy, quick, no-fuss dinners. They don’t require NO cooking, but they do require MINIMAL fuss and no thought whatsoever. I usually plan to have ingredients for at least one of these in the house at any given time, to account for traffic jams, late meetings, and general exhaustion.

(...)
Read the rest of Five No-Fuss, No-Pasta Dinners For When You Don’t Really Want to Cook (514 words)

The post Five No-Fuss, No-Pasta Dinners For When You Don’t Really Want to Cook appeared first on Savour Fare.

Broiled Flank Steak with Cheese

Kate — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:56:24 +0000

You guys. I’ve been holding out on you. I’ve been thinking about posting this recipes for – no joke – four years now. But I couldn’t get a pretty enough picture. I’ve tried. I’ve made it at all times of day, using all colors of plates. No dice. I came to a gut-wrenching realization.

This dish is just not that pretty.

I agonized. Should I post it? Should I make it just one more time, try one more plating? But in the end, I just couldn’t do that to you. I couldn’t deny you the joys of this recipe any longer.

Because, you see, it’s a recipe that kind of sums up everything my cooking is about. It’s EASY. It’s elegant. It’s something you could serve your kids for dinner on a Tuesday night or your in laws the first time you meet them. I got the recipe from my mom. The recipe features cheese. The ingredients are relatively easy to find. I have a huge rosemary plant in my garden. All these reasons are why this dish, this unpretty but incredibly delicious flank steak with cheese, should become part of your rotation. And so, prettiness aside, I am sharing it with you.

(...)
Read the rest of Broiled Flank Steak with Cheese (449 words)

The post Broiled Flank Steak with Cheese appeared first on Savour Fare.

Rhabarberkuchen or Rhubarb Coffee Cake

Kate — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:29:19 +0000

I am something of a rhubarb fiend. My great-grandparents had a big patch of it when I was growing up, and stewed rhubarb featured heavily in visits. I love that tart-sweet unique flavor, and the glorious PINK color. It fulfills all my girly food fantasies.

I haven’t been able to find rhubarb for most of this spring. I forlornly cross-examined the clerks at Whole Foods (“But WHEN will you have it in stock?”), fruitlessly haunted farmers’ markets and researched growing my own, so I would not be left rhubarb-less forever (Apparently, Los Angeles used to be a huge center for commercial rhubarb growing, but sadly, it’s impossible to get the varieties that grow well in the heat any more).
(...)
Read the rest of Rhabarberkuchen or Rhubarb Coffee Cake (407 words)

The post Rhabarberkuchen or Rhubarb Coffee Cake appeared first on Savour Fare.

Mama Needs Some Mommy Juice {Sponsored}

Kate — Tue, 07 May 2013 23:25:39 +0000

I think we’ve already established two important facts about me – 1) I like to drink wine and 2) I am not a snob about wine. When I was offered the chance to review MommyJuice wines – a new range of California wines, I was intrigued. The post is sponsored, but the opinions, photos, words, yada yada — that’s all me, baby. Oh, and please drink responsibly. And you probably shouldn’t read this if you’re under 21.
(...)
Read the rest of Mama Needs Some Mommy Juice {Sponsored} (655 words)

The post Mama Needs Some Mommy Juice {Sponsored} appeared first on Savour Fare.

My Dream Kitchen with Electrolux {Sponsored Post}

Kate — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:37:14 +0000

When we moved into our current house, it had a very nice kitchen. Quartz countertops, cherry wood cabinets, matching blinds, built-in banquette, built in desk. It works perfectly well, but it’s not exactly my style. It’s not in the budget right now, but a kitchen redesign is one of my top “wish-list” items for our house (I just wish I could get the husband on board. The kitchen is really my domain, of course). Daydreaming is one of my favorite ways to pass the time, so when Electrolux and the Clever Girls Collective asked me to write a sponsored post about my dream kitchen, I jumped at the chance.
(...)
Read the rest of My Dream Kitchen with Electrolux {Sponsored Post} (837 words)

The post My Dream Kitchen with Electrolux {Sponsored Post} appeared first on Savour Fare.

Friday Five: Links to Love (Cinco de Mayo Edition)

Kate — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:00:16 +0000

I should really call this Friday Cinco, since Sunday is Cinco de Mayo. Which is really an excuse to eat guacamole and drink margaritas. As if we need an excuse, right?

1. From the Archives:
Cinco of my favorite Mexican-themed recipes for your own Cince de Mayo celebration. Or you know, Tuesday.

Super Autentico Carne Asada
Not at all authentic but super delicious Pineapple Avocado Salsa
My mom’s amazing Easy Chicken Chilaquiles (like a casserole made with tortilla chips and cheese)
Shredded Chicken Tacos with Tomatillo Sauce
Super Spicy (don’t say I didn’t warn you!) Aztec Chocolate Cookies

So get in the kitchen, pop open a cerveza, and start the party.

2. Sustainable Scarves:

I am totally jonesing for one of these scarves from FashionaABLE. I heard Barrett Oliver, the founder, speak at Big Traveling Potluck, and it was so inspiring. Each scarf is made by hand in Ethiopia by a woman who is a former sex worker and has been given the opportunity to make scarves instead. And each one comes with the story of one of the women who made it, and how she can educate her children, or support her family because of your purchase. Isn’t that amazing? I think they would make a fantastic mother’s day gift, since they’re so supportive of women. I am eyeing the Frehiwot in Marigold. (Hint Hint husband who may read this)

3. La Dolce Vita

I was lucky enough to have lunch this week with the ladies of Vamoos Travel;. If I had some spare dough and some spare time, I would be waiting in line to sign up for one of their amazing luxury culinary tours of Italy. These ladies don’t just plop you in a tour bus and send you to eat pasta in some tourist establishment — they provide all sorts of fantastic experiences, like visiting a artisan who makes Parmigiano Reggiano, or learning to make gnocchi in the kitchen of an Italian grandma. Their next tour is in November, and they only take about 10 people, so they book up fast.

4. A Kick in the Booty

If there has been a little too much dolce in your vita lately, you have to check out the Virtual Bootcamp from my friend Karen at Balance Personal Fitness in Austin. I signed up for the first round (totally paid for, this is not a sponsored post!) and it’s been great. Karen sends me a workout 3 times a week, provides you tube videos to show me proper form, and answers questions and provides support in a special facebook group. It’s a total bargain. Now, if only I could stay healthy long enough to work out consistently (I live with the world’s cutest petri dishes).’

5. The Foodie Finish

One of the loveliest people I got to meet at the Potluck was Lillian of Chinese Grandma. She’s also a great cook – she brought this amazing Roasted Cauliflower to the potluck and I ate TWO helpings (and there was a lot of food). I’ve found during this year of living vegetally that cauliflower is one of the most versatile vegetables, but Lillian’s dish was a knockout.

The post Friday Five: Links to Love (Cinco de Mayo Edition) appeared first on Savour Fare.

Trader Joe’s Cheap Wine Pick: Seccola Italian Sparkling Wine

Kate — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:24:23 +0000

If you’ve been reading this blog for all of five second you will know that I’m a Trader Joe’s junkie. Part of it is hometown pride — the very first Trader Joe’s opened in Pasadena in 1967 (and that location is still one of my favorites). Part of it is a loyalty to their great dairy prices and fantastic, well-priced convenience foods, like shredded organic Tuscan kale, and almond flour. But part of it (and not a small part) is that Trader Joe’s has spoiled me for other wine merchants. Why spend $20 on a bottle of wine when you can spend $10? Or, let’s face it, $4? Everyone knows about Two Buck Chuck (not my favorite) but I thought I’d point you to some of the other ~~dirt cheap~~ well-priced wines I’ve found at Trader Joe’s.

Wine: Seccola Frizzante
Region: Italy
Style: Light and Sparkling White
Price: $3.99 a bottle

I mean, it’s sparkling wine for $4, and it’s not Andre (which I fondly remember drinking at my 18th birthday, held in my college dorm room, so no judgment, but still …) This is a light, sparkling wine with a hint of sweetness. If you’re familiar with champagne classifications, this isn’t as dry as a Brut (what most people think of when they think of champagne) but it’s not as sweet as a demi-sec. I don’t mind the sweetness — I like this as a pre-dinner aperitif on a warm night, when a little sweetness takes the edge off. It also plays very nicely with some of my favorite warm weather cuisines, like Mexican and Thai – anything with a bit of spice — and it would be great for brunch (I’d say in mimosas, but why ruin sparkling wine with orange juice? Still, if mimosas are your thing, this would make a great mimosa. Or a bellini.) The bubbles aren’t as fine as Dom Perignon, but it’s a definite bubbly – similar in style to many Proseccos. The genius of this particular bottle is that it comes with a screw top, so you can have just one glass with your guacamole, put the lid back on, and enjoy your bubbles the next day, too.

The post Trader Joe’s Cheap Wine Pick: Seccola Italian Sparkling Wine appeared first on Savour Fare.

On Creativity, Inspiration and a Big, Traveling Potluck

Kate — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:48:42 +0000

I have heard that if you spend a lot of time researching in a book, or staring at a computer screen, or focusing on what your hands are doing, you need to stop, frequently, and rest your eyes by gazing off into the distance. Looking at the horizon. Thinking big. Going long. Then you can return to your task with renewed focus and less eyestrain.

I like the metaphor.

Blogging (or “digital publishing” as I will now be calling it) is like this. It’s so easy to focus on the little things – the aperture of your photographs, how to title your posts to maximize SEO, whether Facebook or Google plus provides a greater social media benefit, the best time of day to Tweet. Plus, you’re literally staring at a computer screen. But it’s so important to stop, step away from the computer, and focus on the horizon.

Big Traveling Potluck, held this weekend in Murrieta, California, allowed me to do just that. We were in a beautiful place where the sky was bigger than normal, and you could literally see for miles. And we talked about the big things — motivation, inspiration, creativity, community. The mind’s horizon and the heart’s horizon.

But because the organizers (Maggy and Pam of Three Many Cooks and Erika of Ivory Hut) are, in fact, ~~bloggers~~ digital publishers, they also knocked it out of the park when it came to details.

(...)
Read the rest of On Creativity, Inspiration and a Big, Traveling Potluck (410 words)

The post On Creativity, Inspiration and a Big, Traveling Potluck appeared first on Savour Fare.

Broccoli Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Kate — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:06:00 +0000

I have discovered that one of the keys to eating more vegetables is having more vegetables available. And by “available” I do not mean sitting, happily dirt-encrusted, at the Farmer’s Market. Or even in the depths of my crisper drawer. I mean washed, prepped and ready to eat.

Crudites are the obvious answer, but it gets boring eating crudites. I mean, carrot sticks, in addition to winning the lifetime achievement award for “the only vegetable kids will reliably eat” have the unfortunate connotations of “diet food.” And even ranch dressing doesn’t help, as I’ve found my tolerance for bottled salad dressing has waned as I’ve gotten older. (Was that an unbearably Paltrow-esque and precious thing to say? I’m clearly channeling my inner GOOP. It’s just, well, goopy). We could (and have) roasted large amounts of vegetables on the weekend for snacking on the rest of the week, but that takes quite a bit of foresight. Salads are clearly another great answer, but lettuce can be a wee bit delicate for the depths of my crisper drawer, and don’t even think about dressing it in advance.

Broccoli salad, now, there’s the ticket. It has the advantages of sturdiness, and anything with broccoli imparts that aura of good health. My kids will sometimes eat it (though the Nuni’s BFF complained that it was “spicy”. Five year olds find currants to be “spicy.” Be warned.) I can make it one day and the leftovers are perfect for noshing the next day, and the next.
(...)
Read the rest of Broccoli Salad with Yogurt Dressing (355 words)

The post Broccoli Salad with Yogurt Dressing appeared first on Savour Fare.

Friday Five: Links to Love

Kate — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:40:23 +0000

What a week, right? My prayers are going out to the people of Boston and West, Texas. I hope the week can end with the succesful conclusion of the search going on in Boston right now (stay safe, Beantown peeps!). I’ve been trying (somewhat successfully) to distract myself.

First, you may have noticed (or not!) that Savour Fare is looking a little different. After nearly four years with the same header, I thought it was time for a bit of a refresh. I’m a one woman show – tech, design, writing, photography – so it’s all me. Let me know if you have any feedback!

Second, here are a few things I’ve found that I think you’d love, too.

From the Archives:

The weather is getting warm in LA which means I start craving Mexican food like nobody’s business. I stopped on my way home last night to pick up fish tacos for dinner (SO GOOD), and my meal plan for the week seems to be featuring cumin quite heavily. It should be warm enough to eat outside this weekend, and that means I’m going to make some of this classic guacamole. You should make some too!

News You Can Use:

I’ve stopped reading the news (except for opinion pieces about work-life balance, natch. And Jonathan Gold’s restaurant reviews) and this week is a perfect example of why. I can’t take the grimness, and the 24-hour news cycle puts enough pressure on the news outlets that we get a lot of both sensationalism and misreporting (I’m looking at you, CNN). I still want to be an informed person, though – don’t you? I can’t live entirely with my head in the sand. That’s why I was thrilled to learn about The Skimm. It sends a news summary to your inbox every day, so you know the basics of current events without the speculation and sensationalism. It’s written in a very chatty style, so easy to read, but it’s blessedly free of commentary.

Play by the Rules

I’m probably the last person on earth to write about this, but I loved the 100 Rules of Dinner over at Dinner: A Love Story. While some of them are clearly wrong (Really? I can think of lots of things worse than grilled vegetables) some of them are so, so, right. My favorite: “If you care about what other people think about you and your parenting abilities, it is important that your kids only ask for their water “on the rocks” at home.” It totally inspires me to write my own rules of dinner. Rules like “Parmesan cheese is almost always a good idea” and “If you have eggs in the house, you can always make dinner” and “When traffic is bad, there’s no shame in takeout.” What would yours be?

Keeping it together

Speaking of planning and list-making, I have to recommend the family calendar, Cozi. It’s an app and a web-based service, which means I can add things to the calendar even if my phone is out of batteries. You can color code activities for different members of the family, sync it with Outlook, and it even emails you your schedule at the beginning of the week. With the Nuni in Kindergarten this year, Bootsy in daycare across town, and both of us working, it’s a family salvation.

An App-o for the Teacher

And speaking of apps, I recently discovered the completely awesome site Appolearning. Both of my kids are all over both my iphone and the ipad all the time. I’m not averse to a little screen time (I mean, I write a BLOG. How hypocritical would that be?) but I want it to be educational. Now that the Nuni is in Kindergarten and reading, all those preschool apps seem babyish for her, but it’s hard to find age-appropriate apps that can actually help her learn things (that she wants to play). Appolearning is a Godsend. It has scores of educational apps, reviewed by experts (like teachers) with a numerical score and a detailed breakdown of what the app offers and the skills it teaches, with ratings on things like kid-appeal, clear instructions, value and safety/privacy. I know this is a resource I’m going to be using a lot as the Nuni grows and Bootsy gets to the point where he wants to do more with my phone than just eat it.

Have a fantastic weekend, chickadees!

The post Friday Five: Links to Love appeared first on Savour Fare.