pancake tuesday at 123 house

I haven't celebrated Lent in a traditional way for many years now, but there are some rituals I must practice. One of them is observing Shrove Tuesday. Always the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and before Lent begins, it is often known as Pancake Tuesday and a day I have enjoyed since I was a child.

This year we made Bobby Flay's Lemon-Blueberry-Ricotta-Buttermilk Pancakes with Blueberry-Cassis Relish and Blueberry Maple Syrup...what a mouthful, the best mouthful of pancakes I have ever had in my life. As you can see below, we paired the cakes with thick-cut applewood smoked bacon.

Save this for the next time you are having breakfast for dinner or you're looking for an outstanding brunch recipe, truly outstanding.

Learn more about Shrove Tuesday here.

quinoa salad

A few weeks ago at an end of summer BBQ, I tried my friend's Quinoa Salad and immediately asked the recipe. It is so flavorful and packed full of super-foods, you just can't go wrong with this recipe.


{petite arugula salad, rotisserie chicken and quinoa salad}


Quinoa Salad

1-1/2 c. quinoa
1-1/2 c. canned black beans
1-1/2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1-1/2 c. cooked corn
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
4 scallions, chopped
1 tsp. garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 c. fresh cilantro
1/3 c. lime juice
1/2 tsp. salt
1-1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/3 c. olive oil

Rinse quinoa in fine sieve with cold water until it runs clear. Prepare quinoa, boil in 2-1/2 cups of water until all water is absorbed. Fluff quinoa with fork and place in large bowl to cool.

Meanwhile, toss black beans with vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix in red pepper, corn, scallions, garlic, cayenne pepper, and cilantro. Toss well and then add to quinoa.

In a small bowl whisk lime juice and cumin, add olive oil in a stream while whisking. drizzle over salad, toss well and season with salt and pepper.

Bring to room temperature before serving.

body and soul

In an effort to buy less of what we don't need, I have found more joy in shopping for groceries lately. This has resulted in almost daily trips to the market to browse, explore and buy, somehow there is a way to justify any purchase that comes from the market.

We have found some new favorites that you must try. We have come to love these products not only for the taste and quality of the food itself, but also the stories and people behind them...oh and the beautiful packaging too.

Finding joy in these little things has been nourishing to our bodies and souls.


{noosa finest yoghurt}


{justin's nut butter}

pop goes the chip

Have you tried Pop Chips? You must! Seriously tasty with seriously less calories. They also have the best tag line ever...

love. without the handles.

no more lonely pizza

At a pizza party we hosted last week we tried a new salad recipe from Food Network, the Feta, Black Olive and Oregano Salad is also known as Pizza Parlor Salad. It was fast, easy and the perfect pairing to pizza, a recipe we will make again. I couldn't begin to guess how many people asked for the recipe.

never met a dog i didn't like

Over the last few months, I have really been trying to watch what I eat. That means less of some of my favorite things which unfortunately includes hotdogs. Every trip to Costco was a sad day when I could not indulge.

Where there is a will, there is a way. Last week I discovered that Boar's Head Skinless Beef Frankfurters combined with a whole wheat high fiber hotdog bun, can be enjoyed for only 200 calories! I wasn't sure what to expect, sometimes it is better not to eat your favorite things at all then have to suffer through a tasteless substitute. These dogs are outstanding, reminiscent of being at a sporting event outstanding, make me want a cold beer outstanding and I don't even drink beer.

easter dinner

We had the most lovely Easter dinner this evening! The menu was outstanding and we were overjoyed to spend some with a couple dear friends.

Below is our menu, the recipes are linked below.

-Honey Blazed Ham
-Lemon Ginger Asparagus (big flavor, this recipe is a keeper)
-Two Cheese Scalloped Potatoes
-Honey Wheat bread



-Ginger Angel Food Cake with Coconut Frosting (definitely worth the time)

chocola-tea

I bought myself (and some of my tea loving sweethearts) this Strawberry Chocolate Red Tea for Valentines Day this year. It was a special edition tea that will likely be issued again next year, however, if you see it while you're out pick some up. You will not be disappointed.

chow down

For a couple years, I have pined for a gourmet food truck in Salt Lake City, one that would serve up complex combinations that I could enjoy on the curb. This Friday I realized that my dream has become a reality. The Chow Truck serves up California cuisine with an Asian twist for under $6. Josh and I visited the Chow Truck and enjoyed it at home while watching the Olympics. Everything we tried was excellent and suprisingly it travelled really well. If I make it through the week without a return visit, I will be suprised.

To find out where the Chow Truck is parked, follow them on Twitter or check out their website here.


{tacos}


{asian spiced root chips}

pasta night

Last Thursday we had our lovely friends, Jill and Aaron, over to eat dinner and watch one of our favorite shows. They brought their pasta maker, we kneaded and cranked, and delicately hung our pasta to dry...it was quite an adventure.

We had great fun and a great meal!


{josh's impromptu pasta drying rack}


{our beautiful pasta}


{henri begging for a bowl of wine}


{franklin entertaining us with the tales of his day}

holiday cheer

This year we got our act together and made gifts for our friends and neighbors again. We gave everyone cranberry scones and lemon curd accompanied by our handmade letterpress cards. We spread and received holiday cheer this weekend while we were doing our deliveries. What fun!


{packed up and ready to go}

a new friend- sloppy joe

Sloppy Joe and I have not been friends over the years. I thought he smelled bad and tasted even worse...frankly, he was a mess. I could never figure out why anyone would want chili on soggy bread.

Recently we met again, and I decided to give him a second chance. Since we've both matured a little, things are going much better. He is healthier, more sophisticated, lower maintenance and smells better than ever before.

Grown-up Sloppy Joes

1 lb. ground beef (low fat) or ground turkey
14-1/2 oz. diced tomatoes
1 small onion, chopped
3 tbsp. brown sugar, packed
2 tsp. worchestershire sauce
1-1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
dill pickle slices
focaccia bread

Brown meat, combine all remainng ingredients, put into slow cooker. Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.

Serve with dill pickle slices on toasted ciabatta.

Makes 6 servings.

Oh, and don't forget your veggies...a big colorful salad would be a perfect side.

h2oh!

Tonight I went to private holiday party at Nordstrom with a couple friends (fancy me!). They had lovely appetizers and cocktails galore.

While waiting in line for a drink I spotted the gorgeous bottles of Evian water they were pouring. Upon closer inspection I saw that it was a collectors edition bottle designed by Christian Lacroix. A visit to the Evian site revealed that Lacroix was not alone in this mission. Jean Paul Gaultier and my personal favorite, Paul Smith, have also contributed.

Wouldn't you just love to grace your table with these?


{christian lacroix}


{paul smith}


{jean paul gaultier}

new favorite

New holiday favorite over here, Carrot Souffle.

soups on!

A couple weeks ago when I knew I was getting sick, I was craving comfort foods. I found a recipe online for Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup and have changed it a little to suit our tastes. We like it so much, we've had it for dinner at least 4 times in the last couple of weeks...including tonight. This is excellent with a fresh loaf of bread.

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

8 c. chicken broth
1 finely chopped leek or 3 finely chopped green onions
3/4 c. uncooked orzo pasta or acini di pepe
salt
black pepper
2 large eggs
1 lemon, juice of
shredded chicken from half pre-cooked rotisserie chicken

Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a pot. Put leeks or green onions into pot and cook for 5 minutes. Add in the orzo and chicken; simmer uncovered until orzo is cooked (about 10 minutes).

In a medium heat-proof bowl whisk together eggs and lemon juice until frothy.

Remove a ladle of hot broth from the pot and slowly add the broth to the egg mixture whisking vigorously; pour the mixture back into the hot soup.

Remove immediately from the heat. Do not let boil.

Serve and enjoy.

gimme five

I am a fan of keeping things simple. The new Haagen Dazs Five ice cream has 5 ingredients, and I actually know what each of them are. That deserves a high five.

les gateaux

Our cakes for the wedding, all nine of them, were made by our favorite pastry chef, Romina, at Les Madeleines Patisserie. We had three different kinds of cake, the Madagascar (vanilla cake, cream cheese frosting with white chocolate sprinkles), the Jaipur (cardamom cake, rose syrup and pistachio buttercream), and the Rio (chocolate cake with passion fruit buttercream).

Les gâteaux étaient extraordinaires!


{click to enlarge}

flavors

While lunching at the Nordstrom today, I took a look at this amazing cookbook. There are so many recipes I would love to try.

pease porridge hot

Pease porridge hot,
Pease porridge cold,
Pease porridge in the pot
Nine days old

Not sure what all that means, but it turns out I like it.

I tried steel cut oatmeal for the first time in probably 25 years, and I quite enjoyed it. I can't seem to get enough now.



Image from Martha Stewart

Shredded Chicken and Mango Wraps

Walking is not easy today. Bootcamp is hard.

My trainer sent out some healthy recipes for us to try, and tonight I made Shredded Chicken and Mango Wraps. These are amazing...ridiculously easy, tasty and good for you.

Shredded Chicken and Mango Wraps

1 c. diced, peeled mango
1 c. diced tomatoes
1/4 c. diced red bell pepper
1/4 c. diced red onion
1/4 c. chopped cilantro
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste
8 flour tortillas
3 c. shredded, cooked chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
1/2 c. low fat sour cream
1 c. shredded red cabbage
1 sliced avacado

Combine mango, tomato, peppers, onion, cilantro, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Spread 1 tablespoon of sour cream on tortilla, top with mango mixture, cabbage and avacado. Roll up tortillas.

I was too busy eating to take a photo...oops.