Superb Spinach Patties

Here’s something I did a little while ago but have decided I might share with you out of the kindness of my heart. We loved this recipe so much for its tastiness, versatility, and simplicity that I intend to use it over and over again.  I’ve already thought of a few new combinations and presentations for it actually.  This recipe came up because I was making shrimp and didn’t want to serve it alongside some basic starch—I try to make rice only once a week, and I lost a lot of weight curbing my bread intake so eating pastas or pita breads/rotis/naans all the time isn’t on my agenda either.  I don’t mind warming some up for the husband but even he wants to explore healthy alternatives occasionally.

So what about something that seems like a tostada, has a solidity that combines well with saucy shrimp, and utilizes the random ingredients in my fridge?  That sounded good to me, so I decided to dream up Spinach Patties.

New Year Sweet and Sour Shrimp

The holiday season, or really any holiday for that matter, screams tradition, whether or not you celebrate Christmas. One non-Christian friend of mine always gorges on Chinese take-out with her family and hits up Disneyland on Christmas Eve, for example.  And yet, despite living here all my life, my family never really established any traditions for the holidays–definitely not for Christmas at least.  It has always been just another day… New year’s Eve, on the other hand, had a decent run.  For a good many years, we would invite a couple of my aunts and cousins over, pop open Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider, and force all the uninterested boys to watch the ball drop on TV.  ‘Twas good times.

D+ weekend: a rambler

This weekend, my sister in law related to us an article she read about how the majority of our society was severely lacking in vitamin P.  I’ll let you fumble in mystery over what that is for a moment, but I can definitely say I had an overabundance of it this weekend.

If weekends earned grades, I would without a moment’s hesitation give this past one a D.

Go Bananas for this Sweet and Creamy Bagel

Oh Sweet Morning. A year ago—nay, just a few months ago—I was woefully unfamiliar with the goings-on of the day before 9 am, if even that. But life offers so many change-ups (as close to a World Series reference as I’m ever going to get) that I had to adjust, and was quite happy to as well (life and love and everything in between make you do funny things sometimes)… so now I welcome the dawning sun, the brisk air, and most importantly, the food.

I love waking up and thinking about what scrumdiddlyumptious delight will be gracing my tummy first thing each morning, just like Mr. G. There’s something about breakfast goodies that warms my heart more than anything else. And I’ve become a firm believer in cherishing the morning meal and giving it its due respect. Treat it lovingly and it will bestow on you an energized and fruitful day. Yes that’s right, I’m attributing Karmic powers to breakfast time – don’t laugh, else suffer the consequences of a scorned bowl of cereal tomorrow.

These days I typically conjure up simple and berry delicious fruit smoothies, but that isn’t enough of sustenance! Just an appetizer to tide me over an hour or so until I decide to wander into the realm of substantial goodliness.  But what? Naturally, I have familiarized myself with Mr. G’s simple and marvelous touch with eggs, but I can’t have that every day. Occasionally I venture into my own groomed tastes, including cottage cheese, honey, and (when I allow myself the indulgence) something truly and heartily bready! Let’s venture forth then, my friend, into the delectable world of the dressed up bagel!

Eggs and Sunrise

Ah, the joy of a new morning. Waking up from bed, dragging your feet across the floor with eyes half shut, secretly thinking about the first delicious thing that is going to reside in your tummy. Sshh! It’s OK, we all do this… No? It’s just me then? Drat.

There was a time when I would always wonder how to make the simplest things grand. Why would I want to do that? I don’t know — it’s just understood that the simplest things are always the most pleasurable. Like rubbing noses with your loved one, sharing a good meal together, getting excited on a roller coaster even before it takes off. The list is endless.

But hey, I digress… let’s dive into welcoming today with some fantastically dressed boiled eggs. Picture this: sitting on your balcony at 7:30 AM, looking at the beautiful sky, with birds chirping around, your cat twisting herself around your legs in a sweet figure eight position, and around you dances the smell of fresh coffee and the aroma of roasted cumin and coarsely ground black pepper on perfectly cooked eggs. Eeeeyumm!