Be Something You Love and Understand

Blistered Shisito Peppers

I had forgotten just how delicious and light these smoky Shisito peppers can be and super easy to blister on a hot pan.

These went very well with a quick pantry turkey chili that came together quickly and easily with canned beans and tomatoes, along with the powdered spices and condiments.  It's chili, right? Anyone can make it.  But somehow, this very common dish can be highly satisfying with very little effort and should be celebrated as an American treasure.  Fresh green onions and cold pickles brightened up the flavors.

When I See You Kitten as a Cat

Baked Chicken with Roasted Cauliflower

Seeing Lefty fall asleep in his playhouse is about as relaxing as a chicken dinner.

Often times, especially when there is chaos, the simplest of dinners is the best choice.  Baked Chicken made to taste like fried with a side of roasted cauliflower served with a well-dressed green salad brings a false sense of security and sometimes, cosmic lies are perfectly acceptable in order to provide contentment vibes. 

I'd Have You Anytime

Pan grilled Asian Turkey Patties

Ginger, sesame oil, chili oil and garlic along with chopped green onions and soy, make the turkey in this burger sing out.  Lots of red chili flakes and a good browning on the first side make the flavors pop.  The avocado cools down the heat and the lettuce is a soft bed to land.  The snow peas made sense as a side using the same flavorings and a dusting of sesame seeds on top to finish. This comes together in less than 30 minutes.  If you're feeling energetic, mix a little Sriracha with mayo or yogurt to dip your bites because this begs a sauce.

Oh Yes, I'm the Great Pretender

Brown Sprouted Rice with Pork

The fact is that you can't eat poorly forever, so one must find ways to trick your brain into believing it's getting it's way by eating the foods it loves with tweaks that make the difference.  Instead of pork fried rice, I cut down on the oil by browning cubed pork in spices and then made a little sauce with Hoisin, soy and a slurry.  Then added that to the steamed vegetables and rice.  Also, my new friend, nutritional yeast!  So far, she's been great fun on popcorn as a cheese substitute and I look forward to hanging with her more often.  Carla Lalli Music, the chef spoke of her so often, I felt I needed to try some. 

The steamy dish above was not as instantly gratifying as a pork fried rice but the flavor punch was there in a slightly cleaner version.