farro salad

remember when i said you could make an entire meal based on items purchased from the farmers market? here's proof:

farro salad (note: this is a very loose "recipe")


in a medium pot, place uncooked farro and cover completely with water. let the farro soak for at least a few hours, though longer is better. after soaking, turn the heat up to high and bring the farro and water to a boil. once boiling, cover pot and reduce heat to low/simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour, or until the liquid is absorbed and the farro is soft (yet still considerably chewy).

in a skillet, saute an onion (we used a walla walla onion) with some olive oil until it softens and becomes translucent. then add chopped garlic (1 clove) and mushrooms (we used oyster and crimini mushrooms) and saute for a few extra minutes. remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.

place salad greens at the bottom of a bowl, then add farro, chopped tomatoes, fresh basil, onion and mushroom mixture, and top with fresh smoked salmon.

dressing: lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, honey

i heart portland

the farmers market at portland state university is one of my favorite places to bring visitors. first, walk around -- sample all the treats, see what looks fresh. then, grab a coffee and sit on the green and listen to live bluegrass music while you dream up the shopping list for dinner. it's always a win-win-win: you save money by taking a night off from eating at a restaurant, support local farmers, and get to experience the satisfaction that comes from creating a completely farm-to-table meal.

friday

 

happy friday! one of my best friends from home is visiting this weekend. i can't wait for her to finally see where i've been living for the past two years!

also, if you're in portland, check out the eyes+edge launch party tonight at union/pine. tickets are $12 (you can pay ahead of time or at the door). there will be food, drinks, and lots of other awesome stuff going on!

eyes + edge

check out my first article as contributing writer for the online portland lifestyle publication, eyes + edge! i'm beyond excited to be working with the talented girls behind the site. there are so many wonderful aspects of portland that deserve to be celebrated and porch light is definitely one of them.

classic margaritas

we had big plans to go out friday night, but ultimately chose to watch the olympics with margaritas and tacos at our place instead. these margaritas are simple and fresh -- no processed sour mix needed!

classic margaritas (serves 4)

3/4 cup 100% agave silver tequila

1/2 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup triple sec*
1 tbsp raw agave nectar

ice

lime, salt for the rim

combine tequila, lime juice, triple sec, agave nectar and some ice cubes in a pitcher (we used a large glass bottle and then shook it vigorously once all ingredients were inside). rub rims of glasses with a lime wedge, dip in salt and add more ice to each glass. pour mixture into glasses and enjoy.

*we used a local, all-natural triple sec, but fresh orange juice is a good alternative.

friday

 

happy friday! we're going to a wedding this weekend at the crystal springs rhododendron garden, which i've never been to before. i'm sure it will be an absolutely perfect venue for a sunny portland day.

i heart portland

on friday, we took our friend to one of our favorite places. wolf and bear's is a vegetarian food cart that serves seriously delicious falafel -- two (gluten free) sprouted chickpea patties with hummus, caramelized onions, grilled eggplant, salad greens and tahini sauce. we sat at one of the little picnic tables in front of the cart and thoroughly enjoyed our (affordable) high-quality meals.