Braised Pork Belly Tacos (my first Pigsgiving!)

First off, Happy Birthday to my Father-in-Law, John! I’m spoiled by having totally normal and highly lovable in-laws. They’re the best, and super supportive in everything we do. Love them. Second: Turkey. Schmurkey. That’s right, I said it. Every year, knowing that most everyone has a turkey dinner in their plans for Thanksgiving, my mom’s side of the family gets together for a decidedly Turkey-less holiday lunch. We’ve done a Chinese potluck with black bean spareribs and sticky rice. We’ve done an Italian feast with lasagne, piccata and fluffy desserts. We’ve even done an entirely Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving where we … Read More

Recipe: Roasted kale pesto

It’s been a bit of a hectic Saturday around here, but I’ve been somewhat lacking on the posts lately, so amidst errand running, actual running, baby showering (which we are running late to as I write this — sorry Em!) and mountain biking expeditions, here is a quick post of one of the recipes I created for Full Circle Farms’ Good Food Life blog a few weeks ago. (By the way, we’re still still receiving our Full Circle shipments, and they continue to impress. This week’s delivery: kale, zucchini, carrots, apples, and pears  — all beautiful and all organic.) Make … Read More

Recipe: Mesquite-spiced quinoa with sausage & black beans

I actually whipped together this recipe last weekend, so this post is long overdue. Turns out I’m still playing a bit of catch up from being on the road for business this past week — and with another stint away from home coming up shortly, I better get my feet under me right quick. Any and all avoidance of a Pig Faceplant is a good thing… So, this meal came about while browsing my total fave grocery spot in the whole world — Trader Joe’s, no doi —  for meal ideas that I could make for Chris in advance of … Read More

Recipe: Spicy garlic noodles (with peas)

Wow, sorry it’s been a while. I seem to have stumbled upon a series of social opportunities this week that took my usual routine of EatCleanBlogBed and chucked it out the window. Happy news is that, while absent, I was off lunching at one of my favorite spots in Sacramento, Magpie (home of the carrot cake cookie!); enjoying course after course of handmade Italian fare at Osteria Coppa with some of my favorite ladies; and enjoying the original jazz tunes of the smokin’ hot Adam Walter Band at the aptly named The Cats tavern in Los Gatos. Who knew there was … Read More

Recipe: Soft-scrambled tofu with oyster sauce, Thai basil and egg

When Chris is out of the house for mealtime, a couple of things happen: 1) I catch up on DVR’d episodes of Real Housewives of ____________ and 2) I whip up a two big portions of a simple, unfussy meal full of comforting flavors — and then eat them both. Tonight was no exception. Tofu is one of those things I always have in the fridge. With sweet and salty oyster sauce and fresh, aromatic basil, this is tofu at its dressed-down best. Soft-scrambled Tofu with Oyster Sauce, Thai Basil and Egg By Emily Stoffel Cooking time: 10 minutes | … Read More