sunday crafting

i spent the better part of sunday afternoon working on this little project. it was cold and drizzly outside, and i was glad to have something to keep my hands busy while my mind sorted through some heavy thoughts that have been looming lately (my 25th birthday is right around the corner, and like clockwork, i've been having a bit of a quarter-life crisis). painting these brightly-colored wooden spoons cheered me right up! another thing that eased my twenty-something existential woes? watching the latest episodes from season two of girls.

broiled grapefruit with coconut cardamom cream

this is one of those recipes that you could argue belongs in the dessert category, as it's supremely decadent, but it could also pass as breakfast. it tastes way more unhealthy than it actually is—always a good thing in my book!

broiled grapefruit with coconut cardamom cream adapted from here

1 grapefruit, sliced in half

1/2 tbsp raw turbinado sugar

1 can full-fat coconut milk, placed in the fridge overnight

1/4 tsp ground cardamom

preheat your oven to the broil setting. place the grapefruit halves, cut side up, on a baking sheet. distribute the sugar evenly over both halves and place under the broiler for 4-5 minutes. open the can of coconut milk and carefully scrape the "cream" off the top—be careful not to get any of the remaining liquid mixed in with it! put your muscles to the test and whisk the cream in a bowl for about five minutes, or until it resembles whipped cream. whisk in the cardamom and serve over the broiled grapefruit.

for an extra fancy step, garnish with some fresh mint or crushed pistachios. or both!

friday

happy friday! i know my friends and family back east are experiencing frigid temperatures right now, so i won't complain about the cold portland rain. i will say that i've discovered the perfect antidote: smitten kitchen's spicy chana masala over brown rice with a giant glass of reisling. listen to the new christopher owens (of girls) album, too, for good measure!

my recent eyes + edge posts:
>> maven collective 
<< streets of chrome photo contest 
>> local choice produce market

recent photos

1. my calendar from terrain

2. coffee and a flourless double chocolate cookie

3. soy latte

4. a favorite christmas present from drew

5. finally stuck out the long wait to eat at broder

6. brussels sprout, smoked salmon and swedish farmer's cheese scramble with a mimosa

7. the most thoughtful gift from a sweet friend

8. old portland building

9. sun! in january! celebratory walk to the grocery store

10. i heart you too, spinach

pasta with roasted cauliflower, hazelnuts and spinach

since i spend an inordinate amount of time reading food blogs, i'm always (subconsciously) aware of what is in season. perhaps that's why i came home from the grocery store the other day with a head of cauliflower, despite not having a clear recipe in mind. luckily, i had some roasted hazelnuts leftover from my quinoa flake breakfasts and a bag of baby spinach on hand. add in some garlic, onion, olive oil and throw it over pasta? you can't possibly go wrong with that.

pasta with roasted cauliflower, hazelnuts and spinach adapted from here

1 box (8 oz.) pasta
1 head cauliflower 
olive oil (about 2-3 tbsp)
salt
red pepper flakes
1 yellow onion, sliced thin
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup baby spinach
juice from 1 small lemon
1/2 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts
parmigiano cheese

preheat oven to 425 degrees f. wash and chop your cauliflower into florets and arrange on a baking sheet with a drizzle of olive oil, pinch of salt and a shake of red pepper flakes. roast for about 30 minutes, or until brown and crispy.

while the cauliflower is roasting, cook pasta until al dente. drain and set aside.

meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil over medium-low heat. add in the onion slices, stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes, or until the onions become slightly caramelized and extremely soft. turn the heat up to medium-high and add the garlic, cook for about one minute. next, add in spinach, the roasted cauliflower, the pasta and some fresh lemon juice, stirring to combine all ingredients and allow the spinach to wilt.

remove the skillet from heat, add in the chopped hazelnuts and stir to combine. serve pasta in bowls and top with parmigiano cheese.

friday

happy friday! i added a new tab up at the top with my portland favorites. there are plenty of spots that go unmentioned, but i wanted to create a guide based on personal experience, not buzz from others. i've never been to fan favorites like pokpok or schoolhouse electric, so i didn't feel it was right to add them to the list. tell me, what are you favorites? i'd love to hear!

por que no — for a house margarita, tacos and fresh tortilla chips

navarre — for french, italian and spanish small plates in the coziest candle-lit room

salt & straw — for the most innovative and delicious ice cream flavors

nedd ludd — for high-quality pacific northwest cuisine

tasty n sons — for a decadent brunch, served family style

little t american baker — for pastries, freshly baked (spelt!) bread and house-cured lox

screen door — for southern classics with a local, gourmet twist

pix patisserie — for french macarons, handmade chocolates and a glass of champagne

bamboo sushi — for sustainable seafood and impeccable service

firehouse — for wood-fired pizzas, salads and small bites in a gorgeous old firehouse

the bye and bye — for hip vegans and boozy cocktails in mason jars

sip juice cart (or canteen) — for fruit and vegetable juices and other healthy elixirs

townshend's tea — for a huge selection of loose leaf or a chai latte

heart roasters — for a cup of coffee made from a small micro-roasting company

cascade brewing barrel house — for sour beers aged in oak barrels

palace — for a well-curated selection of clothes, jewelry, perfume, linens, bags and more

maven collective — for vintage furniture and other goodies hand-selected by four local ladies

local choice produce market — for hyper-local produce and grocery items like jacobsen salt

the meadow — for exquisite salts, chocolates and cocktail bitters

nationale — for an art gallery that happens to sell beautiful books and fragrances

meet the locals and grab a bite to eat at the portland state university farmers market

take a hike!

see a live show at the wonder ballroom, the doug fir or the aladdin theater

make your own terrarium at artemesia

visit the portland art museum

see a movie at cinemagic or laurelhurst theater

pick up a new or used book for your trip home at powell's

taste wines from four local vineyards at the southeast wine collective

make your own cheese or soap at a portland homestead supply class

quick trip to the coast

i drove up to seaside, oregon this past saturday to visit my man (he was at a conference for school). before drew started his program, i'd only been to seaside in the summer and didn't really care for it; the beach was so crowded with tourists and the boardwalk reminded me of coney island (which i'm strangely terrified of). but, for the past two winters, i've lucked out with beautiful cold, sunny days and desolate beaches. i think that's enough to make me have a change of heart. i made sure to pay a visit to the pendleton outlet and got to spend some time with drew's classmates and professors—all such lovely, warm people. and how about that sunset view from the top of the hotel? pretty dreamy.

healthy start

you don't need me to tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. i'm always searching for something that has enough staying power to get me through the morning, so when i stumbled upon quinoa flakes at the grocery store, i knew i had to try them. they taste just like oatmeal or other hot cereals, but with more protein, thanks to the quinoa. i'm sure i'll dress up the flakes in all sorts of ways, but lately i've been doing a sweet variation.

quinoa flakes with toasted coconut and hazelnuts (serves 1)

1/3 cup dry quinoa flakes
1 cup water
pinch of salt

unsweetened coconut flakes
raw hazelnuts
splash of half + half
a generous sprinkle of ground cinnamon
drizzle of honey

mix quinoa flakes, water and salt in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for two and a half minutes. stir in cinnamon and set aside.

preheat oven to 375 degrees f. on a baking sheet, spread a thin layer of coconut flakes evenly and bake for 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently to make sure they don't burn. remove flakes and set aside, turn oven down to 350 degrees f. spread the hazelnuts out on the same baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes. immediately after removing hazelnuts from oven, wrap them in a dish towel and rub the skins off.

pour hot quinoa flakes into a bowl, top with toasted coconut and hazelnuts. drizzle half + half and honey right before eating.
  

friday

 

happy friday! besides heading to the oregon coast tomorrow, i'm excited to get back in the kitchen this weekend. between being a guest in other peoples' homes over the holidays and being on my cleanse, i haven't cooked as much as i would have liked to. it's time to put all of the wonderful cookbooks i got for christmas to good use!

my eyes + edge posts from this week:
>> american hipster presents
<< pizza for parkas

cleanse, day three

i finished! as excited as i am about eating solid food (and drinking coffee) again, i feel like i could have continued on with the cleanse, which is a testament to how good and balanced the juices were. the cleanse was the perfect way to have a fresh start for the new year, cleaning out any toxins that had built up, while also putting my eating habits back in check. over the holidays, i ate whenever food was around, instead of when i was actually hungry. now that the cleanse is over, i have a better handle on reading my hunger cues and i'm certainly more in tune with my cravings.

benefits—my skin cleared up and seems to be glowing, i got to bed early and slept like a rock every night on the cleanse (i'm usually a bit of an insomniac) and i feel more comfortable in my jeans. i also felt a sense of euphoria on the last day.

drawbacks—the only drawback i experienced was not being able to do much of anything social on the cleanse. maybe it's just a portland thing, but most activities revolve around food and alcohol here, so i usually retreated to my apartment after work and went to bed early.

would i do it again? absolutely. the benefits far outweigh any of the small negatives for me. i could see myself doing a cleanse once a year (it's actually recommended that you do four a year, with the seasons) around this time again. if you're in the portland area, i highly recommend portland juice press! i have a feeling i'll be going back plenty of times to get some more of that hazelnut "milk" that i'm now addicted to.


 

cleanse, day two

the second day of the cleanse was relatively painless! i slept a blissful nine hours the night prior, but woke up the next morning craving coffee and feeling hungry. after i drank the first juice (the grapefruit, mint and ginger), i felt satisfied. there was a point during the day when i felt lightheaded, but i realized that i didn't have enough water. one of the most important parts of the cleanse is to remain well-hydrated throughout, and as soon as i realized my mistake and drank more water, i felt fine. i found it was helpful to fill up the bottles with water once i finished a juice, and drink one or two of those between juices.

liz warned me that the first day is the hardest, and she was definitely right. on the second day, i felt more energized and less irritable than the first day (which i'm sure my coworkers appreciated). in a weird way, the day seemed to go by faster than usual. as someone who looks forward to and plans every meal meticulously, it's oddly freeing to not have to think about my food for once. working out a good schedule of when to drink each juice and knowing what to expect made the second day more manageable and enjoyable. i also dreamed about "the om" (the hazelnut "milk") all day long—it's so, so good.

everyone says the last day of the cleanse is the best, so i'm looking forward to it!

cleanse, day one

before i get in to the details of how i felt on my first day of the cleanse, i want to share the different flavors of the juices:

1. the shauca—grapefruit, ginger, mint
2. the guru—carrot, apple, beet
3. the dharma—kale, spinach, parsley, celery, apple, lemon
4. golden beet, apple, carrot, lemon
5. pineapple, coconut water, kale, spinach
6. the om—hazelnuts, cinnamon, dates, filtered water 

by far, my favorites were #1 and #6, which is fitting, because i started and ended my day with those. the grapefruit made me feel awake in the morning and the sweet hazelnut "milk" was creamy and held me over through the night. the only flavor i had a little trouble getting down was the dharma, due to my major aversion to celery. when i went to pick up my order, i had the opportunity to taste the different juices and switch out any ones that i wasn't keen on (i swapped a red pepper and cayenne one for the golden beet one). for some reason, i didn't realize there was celery in the dharma and bypassed trying it, so i was a little surprised when i took my first sip yesterday. other than that, the juices are really delicious.

i'll be honest, yesterday was rough. there were a lot of factors at play—i didn't wean myself off of coffee prior to this, i was still jet-lagged, it was my first day back at work, my tooth was still sore from my root canal, and our bathroom is a mini construction zone (we're getting a new sink) which has caused a lot of dust and congestion.

i didn't actually feel very hungry, but i definitely had some serious headaches. a little dizziness and irritability too. when i got home from work, i changed into my pajamas, did a little work on my computer and passed out (as in, before nine). i would definitely say that i was exhausted! excited to see what the second day has in store.

portland juice press cleanse

i'd never considered doing a juice cleanse, namely because i think of myself as a healthy eater, but i allowed myself to fully enjoy my long trip home, complete with multiple glasses of wine every night and indulging in foods i don't normally eat. this, along with the stress of travel, came at a price—i've been feeling lethargic and sick and my skin needs some clearing up.

i knew that if i was ever going to do a juice cleanse, i would go through portland juice press. i first heard about them through eyes + edge, but after emailing with liz, one of the owners, i was sold. liz answered all of my (seemingly) silly questions promptly and enthusiastically. she worked with me to adapt the juices to my tastes and preferences and had it ready for me within a few days of my inquiry. it's apparent that liz and ashley put customer service high on their list of priorities.

portland juice press uses organic and locally-sourced fruits and vegetables to create a diverse array of juices. the juice is pressed using a hydraulic pressure extraction system, meaning that it is completely raw and all of the nutrients are kept intact. liz and alyssa work with a naturopathic physician, ensuring that the juices are packed with vitamins and enzymes to allow for maximum energy while doing the cleanse. the juices are bottled within 24 hours of pressing and have a 72-hour shelf life. portland juice press delivers your daily juices before 8am, or if you have a work conflict (like me), you can pick them up yourself prior to the start of the cleanse and store them in your refrigerator.

the most important (and reassuring) thing i've learned in researching this cleanse is that it is not a fad diet to use as a tool to quickly drop weight. regardless of how well we try to feed our bodies with nutritious food, countless additives and toxins work their way inside of us. cleanses allow the body to take a break from processing all of these toxins and help to rebuild the immune system—it's a reboot for your entire body!

the benefits can range from clearer skin and improved sleeping patterns to increased energy levels and reduced aches and pains—all things i'm hoping to experience as a result of the cleanse. every person has different results and experiences, so i will be documenting mine over the course of the week. here are the logistics:

length: 3 days
cost: $120
juices per day: 6 (at 16 oz each)

note: i was not compensated in any way for this review. this blog is a space to share my interests and the things i love and i wanted to share my experience with you. all opinions are completely my own!

image via portland juice press

friday

today is my last full day at home, and unfortunately, i'll be spending a portion of it getting my first (and hopefully last) root canal. other than that, my trip home has been wonderful and relaxing. i ate well, didn't exercise, slept in, drank a lot of wine, wore pajamas all day and spent quality time with my loved ones. i love being home, but it always goes by much too fast!

ps — if you love elvis and ice cream, check out my writeup on the elvis tribute at salt & straw

terrain

my parents live dangerously close to the connecticut location of the home and garden heaven, terrain. mom and i spent the morning there, drooling over the beautiful jewelry, greenery and kitchen supplies. there's a cute cafe if you feel like shopping with a latte in hand, and an exquisite farm-to-table restaurant if you work up an appetite for lunch or dinner. i managed to walk out of there with only one thing—this linea carta linen wall calendar—that i'm praying will fit in my already overstuffed suitcase. i can't wait to hang it up in my kitchen in portland!

what are you reading (offline, that is)?

over on the equals record, drew and i shared some of our favorite reads as of late. click here to find out why i loved joan didion's we tell ourselves stories in order to live, why drew loved patrick dewitt's the sisters brothers and why we both loved elizabeth strout's olive kitteridge. it was so fun to team up and put our heads together for this one!

happy new year!

my only resolution this year is to love the hell out of portland. there's been talk of drew and i moving back to new england at the end of this coming summer, so i've been drafting a portland bucket list of sorts. since i'm a creature of comfort, i tend to go back to the same restaurants, do the same activities—but i'm hoping that this bucket list will ensure that whenever i leave portland, i'll feel that i experienced it fully. i may share the list here, or i may secretly chip away at it. regardless, the sentiment behind it is to pay homage to this strange, beautiful city that has captured my heart over the last few years.