New Features!!!

Hey guys,

I want to let ya'll know about what I plan to do with the blog over the next six months. Firstly, I really want to get more How-Tos up and start my video blogging. The How-Tos are designed to instruct those who may not have the skills to begin cooking for themselves. Hopefully this will open doors for them to be able to cook for themselves and others.

Homemade Tomato Sauce

Ever wonder what REAL tomato sauce tastes like? I guarantee you it's well worth it. It's also really easy: chop, drop, walk away. I made this the first time on Valentine's Day with Brad. We poured it over some fettucine for an easy side dish. Homemade makes such a difference so at least try it. You can make double and keep the extra in the fridge for a yummy fast dinner.

How-To Chop Garlic!

I made this video for those of you who may not have the skills to begin cooking. I hope that through my videos you can learn the basics and become a master!



Enjoy my friends!

Super Easy Food

I've had some suggestions to put up recipes for super duper easy food. My friends are college kids, waiters and waitresses, touring musicians and the rest. These are the people that I am going to try and make recipes for. The first of these is the post just behind this one called The Potential of Frozen Pizza. In these posts I'm going to talk about easy shortcuts you can take to have a cheap and yummy meal.

I hope you guys enjoy the recipes to come!!!

Lauren, the BV

The Potential of Frozen Pizza

So this isn't exactly a recipe. This is an easy shortcut for making a meal. Amy's and Central Market frozen pizzas are my favorite especially the one's with spinach on top. There are lots of ways you can make an interesting, fast and healthy pizza that you don't have to feel guilty about. here are some things I put on my frozen pizzas.

Hangover Breakfast

Dad and I made this together one morning. It is a dish of farro (an ancient grain that is the ultimate in satisfaction) in a tomato sauce. You poach two eggs on top of the farro-tomato mixture in a pan. It is amazing how filling and hearty this is. This is a lumberjacks breakfast for sure. Eat this with a hot-ass cup of coffee and you're ready to go.

I stole the idea out of a magazine. The reason I'm posting it is because the magazine didn't have measurements or steps. It said farro in tomato paste with eggs poached on top. So, I feel like because I took some artistic liberties with filling out the middle that I get to pass it along to you guys. Also, because its freaking great. You're gonna love it.

Super Easy Vegetable Curry

I found this curry recipe in an Indian Cookbook my Dad has had lying around for a long time. The recipe had alot more steps that I found unnecessary. All of the essential ingredients are there but the preparation makes all of the difference. This is choc-full of delicious veggies and spices that will make your mouth water.

Starbuck's isn't evil, I promise

I've talked about coffee before in my post on how to make a great cup of joe. However I've got some advice on good organic, fair trade and shade grown varieties. All coffees I talk about are 100% Arabica beans (the good stuff). Arabica can only be grown at high altitudes and are not high yielding. However, they produce the best product. The other varieties are Robusta and Liberica are high yielding, plains-growing plants and are resistant to disease. However they have a harsh flavor that is undesirable. So go Arabica!!! (Source: Bald Mountain Coffee)

Hot Salad with Garlic and Rice Wine Vinegar

Mm, this hot salad is delicious and nutritious. It's basically the best new way to have salad. Sauteed baby greens with red onion, garlic and rice wine vinegar for a little oomph. I made this with my spanish potatoes and let me tell you, it's an awesome combination.

Spiced Up Spanish Potatoes

Oh dear god, these potatoes make me want to cream myself. They're so good. This is my take on the Spanish classic of Patatas Bravas. The name means Brave Potatoes, duh, and implies that you must be very manly to eat these potatoes because they are so hot (temperature-wise, although you could turn up the chili heat). I made them tonight and they were so effing good I have to share them, not matter how much I would like to be greedy and keep them for myself. Here you are!

Going Gluten Free

If you are or think you may be gluten intolerant (or have the more serious form called Celiac's Disease) then you need to adhere to a strict gluten free diet. I recently spent a week gluten free. I thought that I might be gluten intolerant and so I did the diet. It's not as simple as it might sound. That's why I'm making this post to inform those about what I learned through my own research.

Sorry for the long absence!

Hey guys, sorry for the long absence.

I seem to have hit the cooks version of "writers block" I have become bored or uninspired and need to expand my gaze to new horizons. In the future I am going to be learning to make bread. I have so many ideas for things to put in bread: pumpkin, squash, ginger, zucchini, carrots, garlic. Also, if you make it yourself you'll always know what's in it.

This month I'm going gluten-free as well and will be uploading some gluten free recipes. I found a brownie recipe on WholeFoods.com that I have modified to dark chocolate :) Mm, yum. As well, I will be exploring new types of grains (like farro and quino) and new ways to prepare vegetables. I hope to become reinspired very soon!!!

In the meantime, be a badass!

-Lauren