All posts tagged: in the kitchen

you make heart skip a (sweet pickled) beet.

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You guys. The Valentine puns. 😘 Here’s a love day gift idea and activity: a sweet pickled beets kit! Preserved is amazing and they make it less scary to get into pickling and preserving via classes, the bounty of supplies in their shop, and these fun kits! The sweet pickled beets kit came with a recipe, a pickling jar, and a container of Preserved / Oaktown Spice Shop Sweet Pickling Spice. Oh my gosh, the spice mix smells so good! The process was simple. Boil the beets, peel and cut them. Fill the jar with beets and optional onions. Boil the pickling spice with apple cider vinegar, water, salt, and sugar, then pour into the jar. Seal and wait. The recipe recommends you wait at least one week before tasting your beets. Hubby and I ended up waiting three weeks (we both got sick and couldn’t taste anything for a bit…). Worth the wait, y’all! These were so easy to make and we’ve got the ingredients to make these again a few more times. The taste: sweet! …

kitchen things.

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Stumbled upon dejumo in Old Oakland. Nearly died. I mean, look! Bamboo, olive wood, recycled glass, … stoneware, marble, … seashell, horn, … teak, mango wood, acacia… gold things! OMG! This is what my kitchen dreams are made of. Can I giveaway everything in my kitchen and replace them with this store? I’m super-mega heart eyeing. Is this your cup of tea? Shall we take a trip to Oakland together to touch all the goodies? 

chocolate library.

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A store that sells chocolates and salts. Hm, ok! I’m into it! At The Meadow there is a wall of chocolate, stacks and stacks of salt rocks, and, if you’re lucky, some sample bowls filled with treats. On our visit, we tried a popcorn with the Meadow’s black truffle salt ~ yowza! And Savage, a new-to-me brand of chips locally made in Portland. Delightful! If you tell me I can climb the ladder you better not be joking because I will do it! Imagine having your own chocolate library like this! I grabbed a few locally made bars that I chose based on wrapper/packaging. Yes, I judge chocolate by the cover, but also if it’s quality made and preferably 72% cacao. Also, yes, I am a self-professed chocolate snob. What are some of your favorite artisanal chocolates or chocolate shops? Share please!

cooking with daddy, episode 002.

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My Dad and I were long overdue for a photo documented kitchen collaboration. This Christmas he taught me his method of making peanut brittle: using the microwave! I was surprised, too. This was just like the time I found out you could use the microwave to make cake (mugs cakes for the win!). Materials & tools: Baking sheet Brush Metal spatula + butter knife / another spatula Measuring cups and spoons Microwave safe mixing bowl Small bowl Ingredient list: 4 tspn vanilla 4 tbsn butter, melted, plus extra to grease the pan 2 tspn baking soda 2 c sugar 1/4 tpsn salt 1 c corn syrup 2 c peanuts, raw How to: Grease the pan with melted butter. Heat your pan in the oven at 200F. This will prevent the brittle from solidifying too quickly when you pour the mixture onto the pan. Mix together the vanilla, butter, and baking soda in one bowl. Set aside. In a large, microwave safe bowl, combine the sugar, salt and corn syrup. Mix ingredients together so that the sugar gets …

a pot of gold.

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It’s almost St. Patrick’s day, and whether you’re throwing a celebration or not, here is a super simple snack you can feel good about sharing with company or eating all by yourself. — Popcorn with homemade flavor dust. First up: Nutritional Yeast Popcorn None of that weird powdered cheese business, just that weird flakey yeast business. Nutritional yeast is all natural, great for the lactose intolerant, and tastes like cheese with a slight nuttiness. Pop your popcorn on the stove or with a popcorn machine. Toss with melted butter and sprinkle with nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper. It’s that easy. As a general rule of thumb use: 1/2 c popcorn kernels 4 tbsp unsweetened butter, melted 1/2 c nutritional yeast s & p to taste If nutritional yeast isn’t your style, go through your spice rack and pull out some of your favorite flavors. I mixed up some taco seasoning. Use the same recipe as above, but replace the nutritional yeast with 1/2 c taco spice. Taco seasoning: 1 tbsp chili powder, 1/4 tspn garlic powder, 1/4 …