Quick & Easy Homemade Guacamole

Who’s in the mood for a little storytelling? I’m going to give you the origin story of how I learned to make the worlds easiest guacamole. But, mostly this is an in memoriam to the kitchens of college past.

When I went off to college I was armed with an arsenal of low cut tops, chunky platform flip-flops and a handful of recipes that I had learned from my mother. The first year of school was spent in a crowded dorm room with two other girls. The microwave was attached the the refrigerator, creating this for-rent contraption called a “Microfridge”. Like any good Hawaiian girl, I brought along a rice pot. My Filipino roommate moved in with the largest bag of rice I’d ever seen, and a Costco pack of Vienna Sausage stored on the upper tier of our closet, above the coats. These things made up our “kitchen”. Cooking that year didn’t resemble cooking. I ate a lot of frozen burritos, and whatever suspicious “maybe it’s chicken, or is this fish?” they served us in the cafeteria. Our Microfridge only caught on fire three times that year, burning whatever questionable food we were trying to nuke at the time. I suppose this was a regular occurrence in other dorm rooms as well. Sometimes when walking the halls, it would smell like a Chicken Chow Mein electrical fire–wafting the scents of takeout mixed with dangerous university issued appliances from under the doors. I missed being able to cook my own food. I missed having personal space. I missed not falling asleep to the sound of one of my roommates smacking lips with her new boyfriend.  […]

Crispy Old Bay French Fries With Sweet Onion Cashew Dip

It’s pouring rain outside. My lawn has liquefied into a swampy and unfriendly puddle. My grandmother (one of my absolute favorite humans on this earth) has been in the hospital for days. It’s Monday. I have a 101 degree fever…again. Life is happening. It’s swift and rough and sometimes lovely despite its discomfort. There have been moments through the uncertainty and sadness that have felt light and necessary. Being able to hug my mom. Telling jokes in a hospital room with my family–and feeling the blanketed weight of our situation lift in between the breath of laughter. Holding my grandmother’s soft hand as she falls asleep and mumbles bits and pieces of her Watercress Soup recipe. Hanging out with my cousins and meeting their sweet puppy Moose. But, if we’re honest, I’d really like to crank some sappy ballads, turn on the fireplace, hide under a blanket and sing at the top of my lungs. Does anyone else process emotion this way? Also, french fries with crispy edges and something good to dip them in.  Ballads and fries. All day.  […]

Grain-Free Cookies & Cream Trifle With Berries

I’ve managed to convince the resident cookie monster / husband of the house to write this post. It wasn’t hard, I just had to feed him cookies. Enjoy a little post from Peter! 🙂 

As my beautiful wife has created an increasing number of gluten-free desserts over the years, almond flour become one of my favorite ingredients. Almond flour has a richness normal flour can’t match, and when combined with simple sweeteners like maple syrup or honey, the results are delicious. […]

Lemon Roasted Brussels Sprouts

I’m continuing on with my crusade to make your Valentines Day one for the culinary books! I’m sure you’ve seen my Perfect Pan Seared Filet Mignon and my deliciously decadent Creamy Goat Cheese & Lobster Mashed Potatoes– but, what about veggies? We’ve all been to a steakhouse and then received a beautiful plate of steak, a baked potato and the saddest pile of wilted green beans or sweaty, droopy-looking carrots. It’s depressing. Let’s stop the madness and make a simple and delicious vegetable side dish that doesn’t make you feel like crying.  There’s no crying in vegetables! That’s a famous movie quote, right? Something like that. Just imagine I’m Tom Hanks. […]