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On the Menu for the Week

03. July 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Cooking, Gluten-Free, On the Menu, Vegetarian · Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s the beginning of July, which means I can crack my Cooking Light: Annual Recipes cookbook open to a new month! I picked this cookbook up for $2-$3 at the thrift store and it was the best find. It catalogues every single recipe from a year’s worth of Cooking Light magazine into one hardback book. Though it’s from 2004, it doesn’t really matter because food is timeless icon smile On the Menu for the Week  The July section features recipes based around tomatoes, peaches and dinner at dusk, which will undoubtedly make appearances in my On the Menu posts for July!
On the Menu for the Week On the Menu for the WeekTraditional & buffalo chicken gluten-free pizza bites {recipe to come}

Cool as a cucumber salad

Tuna and white bean salad {update: not blown away; will post recipe if I can adapt it!}

Salad with Asian ginger dressing

Potato salad

Rice noodles with peanut lime chicken

Chicken salad

And something with my big flat of peaches!

What are you cooking this week? Any great tomato or peach recipes?

corn quinoa black bean salad

28. July 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Cooking, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian · Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I mentioned earlier this week that I was going to make this corn-rice salad from BHG. I just whipped  up my own version and let me tell you- woww. Might be the best salad I’ve ever had…and it’s perfect for summer. And I bet it would be great if you made it ahead of time too.

My version

In a bowl, combine cooked quinoa (cooled to room temperature), black beans, several pieces of chopped jalapenos, sliced cherry or grape tomatoes, slices of red onion and avocado, several planks of corn (or a handful of canned corn), and a dash each of sea salt, pepper, olive oil, and rice vinegar. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro. Serve at room temperature.

Confession: I put in about 10 dashes of rice vinegar and a dash or two of Crystal hot sauce! Yum.

Note: To cut planks, place an ear on its side on a cutting board. Holding the corn firmly with fingers away from the blade, cut off a side of the corn. Rotate and repeat until all sides are removed. Use a spatula to gently move planks to salad.

*I didn’t list measurements; get inspired and play it by ear (no pun intended…ear of corn? Get it?). Salads are very difficult to mess up!

corn quinoa black bean salad

beginnings of the salad

corn quinoa black bean salad

fiddling with aperture settings icon smile corn quinoa black bean salad

corn quinoa black bean salad

working lunch- twitter, v8 juice, water, and salad!

coffee cubes

22. July 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Food & Drink, Tips · Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Just settling in for a morning of work with a post-run smoothie, a big bottle of cold water, and iced coffee. The temperature is supposed to be triple digits today, so hydrating is uber-important. I know coffee isn’t hydrating, but I’m trying to combat that with my other drinks icon smile coffee cubes You know it’s hot when your window unit is set at 81 degrees and it feels like an icebox in comparison to outside!

I thought I’d share a super simple summer tip- brew coffee, let cool, then pour into ice cube trays. When you’re ready to have your iced coffee, just drop in a few coffee cubes to make it cold without watering it down. And I just realized another perk this morning: when I leave the gym in the morning, my leftover coffee cubes have partially melted, leaving me with a delicious post-work out “coffee shot.” Refreshing icon smile coffee cubes

coffee cubes

cucumber dill summer salad

20. July 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Cooking · Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Remember how I wrote this morning about creative salad mixes? Immediately afterward, I was browsing Martha Stewart Living (at 5:45am before my 6:00am Pilates class, eek!) and was inspired by the spread on zucchini, which featured a zucchini dill salad. I decided to make an adjustment and use cucumber instead!

I’m currently sitting at Weaver Street in Carrboro, enjoying the dregs of my salad marinade.

persian tomato cucumber salad recipe cucumber dill summer salad Photo credit

Coarsely chop cherry or grape tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion if you’d like. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Sprinkle on sea salt, pepper, and plenty of dill. Let sit for several hours before eating so that vegetables fully absorb the juices. Enjoy chilled or at room temperature.

So refreshing! And fantastic enjoyed with an almond iced coffee, mango peach applesauce, half of a hummus London broil sandwich, and baby carrots. Or you know, whatever… icon smile cucumber dill summer salad

the summer to come

02. June 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Life Updates & Recaps, Raleigh, North Carolina · Tags: , , , ,

So it’s Wednesday morning(ish), but I’m still rehashing the amazing Memorial Day weekend I had- out in Raleigh, Durham Bulls game, and the best part- boating all day Monday. For $20, I spent the entire day relaxing, floating, tanning, playing games, and having fun with 9 other awesome people! We already have our next boat trip planned…plus another one during my birthday weekend!

I also looked at my calendar and realized how crazy the rest of the summer will be. We literally do not have a free weekend until the end of July.

In order: my brother’s wedding weekend at The Tides Inn in Virginia, Susan B Komen 5K run, Jordan Lake clean up event (RSVP here!), Rascal Flatts concert, boating, DC for 4th of July, Toby Keith concert, my birthday weekend (packed with events already!), and the Tim McGraw concert. Whew! Definitely NOT a boring summer!

Back from hiatus!

24. April 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Family, Life Updates & Recaps, Raleigh, North Carolina · Tags: , , ,

So after several months on hiatus from blogging, I have decided to give it a shot again! There’s no particular reason that prompted me to begin again, but I’m excited to keep documenting my endeavors!

In just over 2 weeks, I will be back in North Carolina for the summer. My sister and I just signed the lease on our (her?) amazing townhouse, which is close to both downtown Raleigh and Glenwood. Most importantly, the cost of the whole place is less than a studio in DC!

Things I’m looking forward to this summer (in no particular order): Watching Friends every day. My brother’s wedding in VA. My 21st birthday. Country concerts- with cowboy boots and cowgirl hats. Babysitting for my amazing family (I love those girls!). Continuing to intern with Social Enterprise Associates. Spontaneous beach road trip. Sunday morning recaps of Saturday nights.

And mostly- spending every waking minute with my sister. We haven’t lived together in 7 years, but I am bubbling with the excitement at the thought of being reunited! As we like to say “Watch out, Raleigh. The Roman sisters are reunited!” When we’re together, the most mundane activities are suddenly fun- even just going to Target. And there is no one else in the world I laugh with as much as her!!

We’ve developed a new technique for when we get in little fights- we simply say “Let’s start over,” and then literally reenact the situation in a healthy, non-argumentative way. Genius, isn’t it? I’m pretty sure it will solve most, if not all, of our problems MUCH quicker than usual.

But before I head back to NC, I’ve been thinking about the past semester and how much has happened. I met Thomas Friedman, saw Bill Drayton, attended Ashoka events, came up with three business plans, interned….and that’s only on the professional side of life! Although I’ve absolutely loved all of those experiences, I’m really looking to taking a break from DC life to pursue other interests- like having fun icon smile Back from hiatus! I’ve been thinking a lot about the necessity of having balance in life lately, and I think having a chill summer will restore some balance to my life.

Those are all the deep thoughts I have at the moment icon smile Back from hiatus!  I plan to keep this blog updated now though, so stay tuned!

 

Back from hiatus!

Chilling with David Bornstein, no big deal...

 

pixel Back from hiatus!
+Cristina Roman