Monthly Archives: July 2012

The Ultimate Veggie Sandwich

July 31, 2012

Friendship is a special gift and one that I am only now, at 27 years of age, beginning to understand. As a child, my family moved often, and while this lifestyle had some advantages, I’ve come to realize that one downside was that I never learned how to be a faithful friend. Perpetually the new kid in school, my freckled nose and skinny legs made me an easy target socially, but even when genuine relationships did develop, they were rarely required to withstand the test of time. It was never more than a few years before another move would happen, …

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My Week in Food

July 29, 2012

Hey guys! It’s the weekend, and here at the Ellis house, we are doing our best to make the most of it. Dan had the day off from work on Friday so we used the time to get a number of indoor and outdoor home projects completed, then yesterday included a trip to the farmer’s market, grocery shopping, and lots of cooking. Our fridge is now well stocked, which hopefully will result in less stress and more nutritious meals in the coming week. After two intense at home work days, we are planning to take it easy today, resting and …

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A Simple Summer Picnic

July 26, 2012

I don’t know about you, but so far, this has been the best summer I’ve had in a long time. Our family has had so much transition and trial over the last couple of years, and while things aren’t perfect, my heart is again swelling with joy. It’s easy for me to sometimes feel that these precious little people are a burden. What foolishness those thoughts are. Their smiles help put it all in perspective, and I’m grateful for the days when I can see that clearly. I’m finding lately that special moments together are often less about the what …

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Arugula Salad with Fresh Raspberry Vinaigrette

July 24, 2012

Wow, is it Tuesday already?! Time has been flying these last few days, and I’m loving it! At times, the challenges of the postpartum phase seem to stretch on without end, but this week, another layer of clouds is lifting. The world is a more beautiful place to me today, and I am so blessed to have this blog, this space to share and connect with you all. Food is something I love, yes, but the reason I love it is because of the people that surround it. To me, “loving people through food” is about nurturing the bodies and …

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Garlic Purslane Salad

July 21, 2012

Earlier this week, I told you about a trip east to Remlinger Farms that had us up to our elbows in glorious Rainier cherries, but what I didn’t mention is that while we were there, we also purchased an oversized bunch of purslane. At the time, I wasn’t yet familiar with this plant’s waxy leaves and pungent flavor, but I’ve been feeling like a culinary renegade lately, so I was more than willing to give it a try. Once home, my wheels began to turn for how I might transform it into something delicious. Its appearance was similar to spinach, …

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Grilled Chicken with Ginger Cherry Compote

July 17, 2012

There’s something about vibrant, abundant produce that fills my heart with joy. It reminds me of God’s goodness, provision, and generosity, and I am continually in awe that such beauty grows from the dirt. On Saturday, Dan and I decided to load up the kids and head east to Remlinger Farms in Carnation, WA, and while our sights were set on procuring fruit on the cheap, our expectations were quickly exceeded. Twenty dollars was all that was needed to take home a whopping 15 pound box of local Rainier cherries; we had no thought as to what we’d actually do …

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Homemade Baby Food

July 14, 2012

Time has flown, and in just a few more weeks, our sweet Elijah will be halfway to his first birthday. What a joy this boy is with his wide grin and bright eyes and snuggly disposition. Markedly different from his reserved sister, he is tenacious, active, and…hungry. We started solid food as a trial last week, and it was instantly a hit. The first day he ate half a cup of pureed sweet potatoes, then just a few days later, an entire mashed banana was consumed in a single sitting. With Eowyn, we relied heavily on store-bought baby food, mostly …

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Rustic Champagne Grape Galette

July 10, 2012

One of my favorite things about food is that there is always more to learn. I’ve been an avid eater for as long as I can recall, yet still, I discover new foods continually. Last week, my husband’s side of the family was in town, so we headed over to Seattle’s Pike Place Market to play tourist for an afternoon. Naturally, I was drawn to the vast array of produce and was gleeful when I spotted something I’d never seen before. Miniature Champagne grapes were there for the taking as long as one could pony up the cash. $5.99 a …

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Curried Yellow Squash with Mint Yogurt Sauce

July 6, 2012

A few weeks ago, I mentioned the struggle I’d been having with vegetables. Our relationship had been splintered for some time, and as I think back, it was probably close to a year ago that they began to feel tepid on my tongue. When pregnancy came, my normal proclivity for nutritious foods was replaced by a powerful urge to eat cheesy nachos, Klondike bars, and nearly every other processed food available. I was thankful for my prenatal vitamins, which helped bridge the gap, but I was not at all satisfied with what I was eating. Though I bounced back rather …

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Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova with Coconut and Cacao Nibs

July 3, 2012

Our recent foray into fruit-studded sweets has proved to be educational and delicious, and today I am delighted to share with you the final recipe in this unofficial series. If you’ve never had the pleasure of eating pavlova, I implore to make plans for this dessert as soon as you can. It’s about as good as it gets for a meringue-lover like me, and with fresh berries abounding in our midst, there’s never been a better time to indulge. There are several flavors and textures going on here, yet they all come together harmoniously. The base is composed of a …

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