Homemade Maple Applesauce

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2016 has been an interesting year for this food blogger. I just looked back on my previous post from January that said my New Years goal was to get back into the Forks & Rec game...oops. Well, we are over halfway through 2016, but there's still time. There is a reason why you haven't heard much from me the past few months. At the beginning of March, I travelled to a lake in central Zambia with a group of friends. We had a blast at the lake, but also got lost, got a truck stuck in the mud, and got soaked by thunderstorms during the course of the day. Legend has it that this lake is cursed, and if the preceding list of difficulties didn't prove it, I did. While we were packing up, I tripped on a rock and fell [Read more]

Homemade Hummus

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Happy New Year! I know we've all been thinking about our goals for 2016. Goals depend on accountability, so I'll tell you one of mine: get back in my Forks & Rec game. I cringed when I saw that the last post had been on October 4, 2015, more than three months ago. Here's to being better in 2016! What better thing to dip back into the blogosphere with than my favorite homemade hummus recipe?  I first tried my hand at homemade hummus when I was doing an internship in Bamako, Mali in the summer of 2014. I was seriously craving hummus, but couldn't find it in the (one or two) grocery stores in the city. I found the ingredients, made it in a blender, and reveled in the glory of familiar tastes. When you live away [Read more]

Cauliflower Cheddar Quiche

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Let me start off by apologizing for the long time since the last post on Forks & Recreation. I've been getting settled into my new life in Lusaka, Zambia. It has been a lot of adjustments these past few weeks learning a new job, learning a new city (not to mention a new continent), and learning the new grocery stores. That, combined with the fact that the sun sets at 6pm here, means that it has been hard to time to photograph meals (got to get that natural lighting!).  Luckily, I had some time this weekend to photograph a meal that is very illustrative of my time here so far: the load-shedding approved cauliflower cheddar quiche. "What's load shedding and why is this quiche load shedding approved?" is [Read more]

Two berry compotes: blackberry-mint and strawberry-rhubarb

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Blackberry_mint_compote

I have a berry, berry good post for you today. Last week I was trying to decide what recipe to share with you all before I left for Zambia. I wanted to share a recipe that used ingredients from the Pacific Northwest where I spent the summer back at home. I also wanted it to be a food that I was going to miss, mostly because I wanted a last hurrah with a favorite food. I knew I’d miss fresh summer berries, and what better berry to showcase the blackberries bursting in the PNW?  And we have a gorgeous rhubarb plant growing in our backyard and a big box of strawberries in the fridge that were on the verge of funkiness. This led to an aha moment: I would do a post on compotes! Blackberry mint compote and strawberry rhubarb compotes to [Read more]

Greek Night Dinner: Chicken Kale Salad, Tzatziki, and Pita Chips

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I'll tell you the story of how this lovely "Greek Night Dinner" came together with chicken kale salad, tzatziki, and pita chips: it all started with a cucumber. I was walking through the grocery store, looking at all the vegetables, and pondering which ones I had not picked up in awhile. I saw  the cucumbers and tossed one into the grocery cart. As I was driving home, I had a flashback to an awesome cucumber greek yogurt salad that a friend had made for a dinner party one night. Next thing I knew, I was Googling recipes for cucumber salads when it struck me: tzatziki. That awesome white sauce/dip that comes with your shawarma or on your Greek platter. It's base is cucumbers, greek yogurt, lemon, olive oil, garlic, dill and/or [Read more]

Chipotle Turkey Burgers

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I am so excited to be sharing this recipe for chipotle turkey burgers! It has been on my list for a long time to post, but since it is such a quick and easy meal, I kept making these late in the evenings after I got home from school. Late night turkey burgers photographed under artificial light are not the prettiest sight...I finally made these chipotle turkey burgers in the daylight yesterday evening, which means I am writing the post first thing this morning!  I have made at least five or six batches of these chipotle turkey burgers in the past couple of months. They are a wonderful thing to meal prep and have in the fridge for lunches or dinners. Surprisingly, last night was actually the first time I had one on an [Read more]

Energy Bites

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I am a snacker. I always find myself reaching for the fridge door, peering inside, and reaching for something to munch on. I also have a sweet tooth. This could be a dangerous combination. Luckily, I started making these energy bites that satisfy all my cravings and are packed with good-for-you foods. Tucked away in my fridge, they are a lifesaver.  The base of these bites are dates. I used to hate dates with a fiery passion when I was younger, but now I cannot get enough of them. Whenever we were in Palm Springs visiting family, my mom would get a date milkshake. I'd try it, stick out my tongue and push it away...and then reach for my chocolate shake, obviously. But things changed. Dates are sweet and can be stuffed with wonderful [Read more]

Homemade Pesto

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I was introduced to homemade pesto when I worked at a gardening day camp in Louisville, Kentucky. After the kids left for the day, the executive director of the camp walked to the back of the garden where the big, beautiful basil plants were. We pinched the tops off all the basil plants to prevent early flowering and filled two grocery bags with leaves. We walked back to his house to debrief the day and headed into the kitchen. I asked what he was going to do with all that basil. "Pesto!," he replied. I watched as he started throwing basil, garlic, salt, parmesan, and walnuts into a food processor and drizzle a little lemon on top without measuring anything. He turned on the food processor and seconds later, viola, pesto! My mind was [Read more]

Healthy Homemade Granola

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I can think of few things more lovely than the smell of homemade granola in the oven. Well, except maybe that comforting feeling of eating granola first thing in the morning, either with yogurt, cereal, or on its own. Both are absolute delights.  If you are new to the kitchen, I highly recommend you start out your kitchen exploration with this healthy homemade granola. It's easy, delicious, and sure to impress your friends. Each time you reach for the granola jar, you feel satisfied that you made something so wonderful on your own. Plus, granola is stupid expensive when you buy it from the grocery store, but totally affordable to make on your own. That's reason enough.  However, you have to be careful about granola. It [Read more]

Shrimp Asparagus Feta Summer Salad

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Looking for a light, refreshing summer meal? Look no further than this super simple dish: shrimp, asparagus, and feta seasoned with a little salt, pepper, and lemon.  This dish comes together in mere minutes, making it a quick, easy meal. It is light when you don't want to be weighed down on those summer days. It is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at the next cook out or picnic!  I have not cooked with shrimp much before, but I have recently started buying pre-cooked shrimp from the grocery store. All you have to do is heat it up and add it to your favorite salad or pasta. So simple, so delicious!