Brunch!

Hi There! I thought I'd share a couple pics from a brunch I catered last weekend.  

Beautiful photographs by Shea McGuier

Maple Pecan Granola and Straus Yogurt in Jars

Green Bean Bundles and Herb Aioli

Eggs Baked in a Bread Bowl

Happy Day 4... To A New You!

Today was a whorl wind and it's only getting windier... I just got home from my client's house at 9pm having to write this post (scratch that) wanting to write this post and my camera is acting up... Anyway, today was a perfect example of the inspiration for todays topic...

How to have healthy food in your fridge all the time, that you only have to prep on Sunday, or whatever day works for you.  Making it super easy for you to just grab and reheat a healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner.
So, I had 3 hours between coming home from teaching classes at the gym and going to Marin to cook for clients in their home, to create, cook and photograph the 3 meals.

Not to mention I'm on 4 hours of sleep!  That Italian meetup happy hour I went to last night was a blast!  After 3 hours and 3 glasses of wine my Italian was flowin like a native and I ended up at an Italian restaurant in North Beach with 8 bello Italian men :) So far I'm  LOVIN meetup!

Savory Pie Bites

Blue Cheese, Skillet Red Potatoes, Pancetta, Caramelized Onion and Rosemary 

Herbed Goat Cheese, Zucchini, Parmesan and Thyme

Eggplant Cannelloni

ok, I get it, this is not really cannelloni.  The only true similarity between this and cannelloni is that tube shapes are stuffed and baked- plus lots of tomato sauce, parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Anyway, my version is healthier, vegetarian and gluten free! wooohooo!

Roasted Eggplant and Tomatoes

I feel as though the only recipes I post are sweet/dessert recipes...which is not a good representation of the foods I really love and enjoy.
So I am going to start making a conscious effort to post what I really eat, on the day-to-day, the healthy whole veggies and grains!
We'll start with a couple of eggplant dishes.  I love cooking with eggplant because there are a lot of different options, roast, stuff, puree...

Squeeze In One More Summer Lunch

Photo courtesy of Downtown Romantic

Oh, Honey!

Amaretto and Honey Grilled Bananas

 Amaretto is an Italian, sweet, smooth, almond liquor.  It is wonderful in cookies, and cakes or even savory dishes like lamb.  My dad is a retired Italian man, which mean the 3 liquors always on hand are: grappa, limoncello and amaretto.  A couple other kitchen staples of my parent's are bananas and plain Greek yogurt.  One morning I was staying at my parent's house and decide to throw these flavors together for breakfast.  This is shaping up to be a deliciously spiked Sunday....

The Amaretto and honey are so delicious together! Beware though, I kept making more and before I knew it I had the munchies :o)

Warm Avocado and Pesto Crostini

I feel so sorry for avocados.  They have such a short life.  Really, only one perfect day to be enjoyed at its best.  And once you cut in, there is no going back.  It's only downhill for the little lady from there.

Marinated Feta

Spread over warm crostini and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic

Spaghetti Squash Primavera

Ok, I promise, just 2 more squash recipes and then I'll stop with the squash overload!

Acorn Squash Risotto

I just read that It is possible to make risotto in a dutch oven! Wow, talk about much simpler and less hands on time.

Butternut Squash, Corn and Leek Gratin

I can't believe how long it takes me to post recipes.

Squash is already out of season, but it is my favorite vegetable (in all verities) so I figure why not share a few more as well share a few more wonderful squash recipes...

Eggplant Parmigiana

Eggplant Parmi-Yumma

I feel it's time I start posting more savory, salty, hot dinner dishes.

By the looks of my blog you may think I only eat sweets and vegetables. While that is mostly true, sadly, I do still enjoy cooking hearty meals for friends and family.

Egg Salad Sandwich

Here I've made a healthy twist to the otherwise not so healthy American staple sandwich.

Instead of Mayonnaise I use fat free plain yogurt (organic). Yogurt adds protein, where as mayo is purly fat- that's all- with absolutely no beneficial nutritional value.

Perfect Summer Salad

Serve as a bite size salad on skewers at a cocktail party,

or on pretty small plates at a dinner party.

Union Street's 15th Annual Sidewalk Sale at Dahlia Boutique

Fig & Blue Cheese Salad

At a dinner party I catered

Cornmeal Crust Pizza

I have always loved cornmeal crust pizzas and finally realized it was time I learn to make one. If you have never tried one, it’s time to indulge.

Packing For a Picnic

Greek CousCous Salad

Summer is here in San Francisco!

I can actually say it has been "hot" in the good ol' "Fog City"

Which means I can no longer get away with out shaving my legs for 2 weeks or not wearing deodorant, damn :o)

MexiCali Quinoa Soup

Everything you love about guacamole... in a hearty healthy soup!

This is just a simple quinoa and black bean soup with a little mexican spizzaz to it.

The fresh avocado, cilantro and lime are the key ingredients here...you're gonna love it!

Winter Citrus Salad

This Saturday at the Ferry Building Farmer's Market I saw something  I had never seen before.  Red Walnuts!  They are so pretty, almost too pretty to eat.