Turmeric Roasted Sweet Potatoes + Parsley Tahini Sauce

I know that talking about the weather is usually considered small talk. I’m well-versed in this practice. I’m the girl who will fill an awkward space in a conversation between a grocery store clerk and myself with phrases such as, “Wow! Some weather we’re having-eh?” or, “This sunshine is just bonkers, it’s just so hot,” or, “My golly! It’s raining like cats and dogs out there”. To answer your question, yes, I am probably indeed making the conversation awkward and yes, I do have the spirit of someone’s jokey grandfather. If it makes you feel better, I only wink at them sometimes.

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Roasted Kale Sprouts, Apricots & Bacon

It’s a sweaty August afternoon. And, yeah. You guessed it. I’m sweating.

I’m sitting here writing to you with an aggressive amount of coconut oil in my hair, dishes in my sink, and wearing last night’s pajamas. I really overshot things in the attempt to give my recently colored hair a much needed coconut oil moisture mask. Like, I can feel oil dripping down the sides of my face, and maybe down my back. I’ve tucked paper towels into the front of my sports bra in order to make a bib to catch the drippings. This is real life, my friends. This is real life. At any moment I could be mauled with an enthusiastic Golden Retriever tongue bath. Emma likes coconut oil a lot… so, I’m trying to type quietly as not to wake her from her power nap. My hair could become her afternoon snack. So, shhhhh. She’s dreaming little doggy dreams, her legs moving wildly trying to chase things. I wonder if she smells the oil. I wonder if she’s chasing me. Yikes! […]

Tropical Rock Shrimp Ceviche With Pineapple, Mango & Lime

So, Summer. It’s a thing that’s happening. Also, sweating. Schvitzing. Glistening. Whatever word we’re supposed to use to describe a sweaty mess with frizzy bangs. That’s happening. I’ve also managed to adopt a summery attitude–meaning, don’t make me turn on my oven when it’s 90 degrees outside, K-thaaanks. Let’s just eat cold stuff. Maybe only popsicles for the next three months? Sure, we’ll get malnourished, but gosh darnit if we won’t keep cool. Probably a bad idea. Back to the drawing board…

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Bacon & Apple Beef Liver Pâté

“What am I? Chopped liver?” 

This was a phrase commonly used in my childhood. I hugged one grandparent and the other would expectantly wait for their hug and exclaim something about being a piece of chopped liver. It was a phrase that popped up a lot. I’m sure you’ve heard it or used it, or had a Nana say it to you while squeezing your cheeks. The phrase was used to express a feeling of being left out. The visual of sad, grey, organ-meat-mush being neglected on the side of one’s plate is haunting. Until this past year, this was the only experience I had with liver. It was only a concept for loneliness and isolation. An expression. A visual symbol of exclusion.  So, in my brain it wasn’t meant for human consumption. I equated it on the same plane as drinking a tall glass of human tears. It’s just not done. Also, sad. Also, gross. […]