Roasted Garlic White Bean Dip

April 5, 2013

Maybe you’ve got it together and can eat your fruits and veggies by the fistful without any trouble at all. Or, perhaps you’re like me and need a little coaxing. Something to make it fun, interesting, and, well, less of a chore. I hear ya. It’s in this spirit that I’ve been making so many smoothies lately, which have certainly been effective in helping me increase my fruit intake, but as for the vegetables, I find that having a flavorful dip on hand is key to healthy snacking success. I love that it’s easy to make, full of good-for-me ingredients, …

Parmesan-Crusted Ravioli with Easy Microwave Marinara

March 1, 2013

These nuggets of baked ravioli goodness take me back. It’s been 8-ish years since I frequented “Ernie’s,” the only cafeteria on the campus of the small engineering college I was attending at the time, and as I recall, there weren’t many things on the menu I enjoyed. Fried foods were a staple, and while they technically had a salad bar, the always-brown-and-wilting iceberg lettuce was kind of a turnoff. It wasn’t all bad, though. Call me crazy, but I loved when they’d serve up green, gloopy, definitely-from-a-box-and-not-made-with-actual-pistachios pistachio pudding. I didn’t care at the time that it wasn’t a nutritious …

White Chocolate Popcorn with Orange Zest, Cranberries, and Pistachios

December 16, 2012

In the midst of Seattle suburbia, I sit in my living room, the only sound being the hum of the furnace that warms my toes on these colder winter days. My belly is full from leftover black bean stew, tortilla chips, and an avocado that was at the peak of ripeness. Its flesh was perfectly soft under my fork as I mashed it, and it was without a single dark speck. It’s not often that I pick them so well. The children are sleeping now. Elijah has a fever today, yet Tylenol is keeping it at bay. If it persists …

Brie with Basil and Balsamic Syrup

November 7, 2012

In my last post, I shared the struggle I’ve had for years, this recurring tendency to overwork myself, burn out, and repeat. I talked about how going forward, the pressure’s going to be off and how I’m allowing myself the freedom to simply enjoy this blog, the food, and the community. What I didn’t mention, however, was the impetus for this change. I’ve been a Christian since the 3rd grade and while I’ve made references to my faith in this space, it hasn’t been a big point of discussion. Part of that has been due to the fact that this …

Pumpkin Butter Tart with Caramelized Onions and Smoked White Cheddar

October 26, 2012

My recent posts have included photos of Ohio’s fall foliage, snapshots from around the farm, and glimpses of pumpkin picking with the kids, and while our time in the Midwest won’t conclude for another week, this will be the last installment of things-we’re-doing-here pictures. This trip has been an adventure, a welcome rest from routine, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it, too. I’m uncertain whether I’m ready to go back to Seattle, though I’ve resolved to not think about that just yet. The anticipation started building the moment we booked our plane tickets. Every autumn we yearn to attend the …

Cornmeal-Crusted Fried Green Tomatoes

October 19, 2012

Yesterday, I told you of our adventures grinding meal from corn we gleaned in a nearby field. Today, I’ll share what we did with it. Originally, I was thinking of making a classic cornbread to see how the texture would compare to using store-bought meal, but bright green tomatoes at the farmer’s market changed that plan completely. Ever since seeing Fried Green Tomatoes in the mid nineties, I’ve wanted to try my hand at making my own, and I am so glad I did! The method is simple, just prep the tomatoes, apply the coating, then fry ‘em up. Dress them …

Black Pepper Shortbread Wedges

June 5, 2012

I suspect the title of my blog may have already given it away, but I must tell you there are few tastes I adore more than black pepper. Its subtle heat can breathe life into the blandest of foods, and I love the way it warms the palate on a cool day. As a child, I can scarcely remember an occasion when a dish containing potatoes or pasta wasn’t dusted with its coal-black grains. I recently had the thought to incorporate my favorite spice into a type of sweet and savory cookie, and in an instant, I knew it was …

Tostones (Twice-Fried Green Plantains) with Cilantro-Garlic Yogurt Sauce

May 22, 2012

There are times when I sit down to craft the creative writing portion of a blog post, and I’ve got nothing. Sentences are typed and then deleted in short order, and I find myself frustrated as a blank screen stares mockingly in my direction. My mind roars with self-criticism, deeming nothing I write to be acceptable; it’s too dull, too vague, too contrived, I tell myself. Start again; it needs to be perfect. Don’t give up, Christie, you’re not a quitter. Sometimes these words work to my advantage, driving me to pursue excellence and pushing the boundaries of what I …

BBQ Chicken Pizza Pinwheels

March 7, 2012

Despite growing up in a home in which the fare tended towards being quite plain, Dan has always been a good sport about trying the new and unusual dishes that I’ve prepared. Over the years, he and I have had some memorable moments exploring new cuisines together, but at the end of the day, one food reigns supreme for my husband. Whether it’s morning, noon, or night, he would never turn down a good slice of pizza. Scratch that – it doesn’t even really need to be that good…for him, pizza is pizza. In fact, Dan’s adoration of this savory …

Two by Four Trail Mix

March 1, 2012

Things have intensified on the home front this week with Dan starting a new job (including longer working hours and extended commute time) and Eowyn battling bronchiolitis which, as I learned yesterday, is a type of viral cold. It’s God’s grace to me that I am not left to navigate this period alone being that my mom has been here since Sunday. She’s staying with us through the end of the week, and while the practical help with the children and housework is wonderful, what I am most thankful for is her company and the stolen moments talking together in …

Pepper Lynn Loving people through food

Category Archives: Appetizers and Snacks

Roasted Garlic White Bean Dip

Parmesan-Crusted Ravioli with Easy Microwave Marinara

White Chocolate Popcorn with Orange Zest, Cranberries, and Pistachios

Brie with Basil and Balsamic Syrup

Pumpkin Butter Tart with Caramelized Onions and Smoked White Cheddar

Cornmeal-Crusted Fried Green Tomatoes

Tostones (Twice-Fried Green Plantains) with Cilantro-Garlic Yogurt Sauce

BBQ Chicken Pizza Pinwheels

Two by Four Trail Mix