Author Archives: Mindy

Pop-Up Holiday Boutique

We are excited to be playing hostess for a special holiday pop-up!  Come shop a curated group including some of our favorite local vendors.  Enjoy sips & snacks and a gift for the first 30 shoppers.

The event is December 8th (6-8pm), and will be held at a private residence in Seal Beach.  Fill out the contact form below if you are interested in joining and we will provide you with the address.

Can’t wait to see you there!

Pop-Up Holiday Boutique

 

Peanut Sauce // The dip of all dips!

By popular demand, we’re sharing our in house peanut sauce recipe.  If you can resist simply eating it by the spoonful, we suggest serving this as a dipping sauce for homemade spring rolls, or as a great way to switch up your usual veggie and dip routine.   It makes a great dressing for a chilled noodle salad, and goes great with chicken, beef, pork or (especially) shrimp.

This is one of those recipes with a fairly long list of ingredients, and for that…we apologize in advance, but assure you that it’s totally worth the work. Skip to the end of this post if you’re looking for a shortcut version.

Spoon & Skillet Peanut Sauce (makes approx 3/4 cup)

1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp coconut oil
1/8 tsp five-spice powder
2 tbsp red miso
2 tbsp honey (we like wildflower honey, but any variety will work)
1 1/2 tsp rice vinegar
1/4 cup organic peanut butter, creamy
3 tbsp water
1 tbsp lime juice
1 1/2 tsp tamari

Saute garlic and five-spice in the coconut oil over med-low heat.   Add miso, honey, rice vinegar and simmer until slightly thickened, then remove from heat. When cool, stir in remaining ingredients, adding more water if needed.

chicken spring rolls / roasted carrots / edamame with wild ginger salt

Substitutions & Modifications:

  • This recipe can be made using any nut butter in place of peanut butter.  So whether you are accommodating and allergy, or just don’t happen to have it on hand, don’t be afraid to experiment.
  • If you can’t find five spice powder at your local grocery store – just omit it this time.  Or instead, add a tiny pinch of ground cloves and/or cinnamon if you happen to have those on hand.
  • Our from-scratch-recipe avoids preservatives, processed ingredients and refined sugar, but if you’re looking for the ultimate short cut (or this list of ingredients makes you feel overwhelmed) simply purchase a jar of hoisin sauce, mix with equal parts of peanut butter, and thin with water as needed.

 

Feasts from the Heart

The Ronald McDonald house serves as a home away from home for families of critically-ill children.  A place to sleep, to eat, to shower, and to seek comfort during a difficult time.

NEW_RMHC_LOGO_ColorWe’ve had the pleasure of volunteering at the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House as part of their Feasts from the Heart Program, and we’d love to share this experience with our clients and followers on social media.  Join us as we prepare and serve a meal to the families at the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House. Our team will plan the menu and provide ingredients, and as volunteers you’ll cook and serve a home-style meal onsite at the RMDH.

Fill out the form below and let us know if there are typically good days/times for you.  The calendar books out weeks or even months in advance, so it’s important that we can be flexible with our time. Thank you – and we look forward to cooking together!

Spring Roll Tutorial

Chicken, Kale & Brussels Sprout Salad

During Week 4 of our 28-Day Refresh, we reintroduce dairy.  One of our favorite recipes features a creamy yogurt-tahini dressing that is so good you’ll want to make a double batch.  Healthy, simple and so delicious!   The recipe suggests adding almonds and raisins; however the salad will work with any combo of nuts and fruit that suits you — try hazelnuts & golden raisins, walnut & apple, pecan & cranberry….the sky’s the limit!

Chicken, Kale, and Brussels Sprout Salad

Download the recipe HERE.

Rosemary Chickpea Patties Recipe

One of our favorite recipes from Week 3 of our 28-Day Refresh program is Rosemary Chickpea Patties.  Paired with Lemon-Roasted Tomatoes and a simple arugula salad, this meal is versatile enough to be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

Rosemary Chickpea Patties.  Lemon-Roasted Tomatoes.  Arugula Salad

Download the recipe HERE.

Planks + Pushups with TDM Newport Beach

The truth is….I eat pretty well most of the time (it’s an obvious perk of running this business).  So while the 28-Day Refresh has been great, it’s nice to challenge myself beyond my comfort zone.  This month I set a personal goal to shake up my exercise routine.  Long hours in the kitchen, days spent sitting at a desk, and the stress of being BUSY-BUSY-BUSY can all take their toll.

Dailey Method ClassMegan and I took a class at the Dailey Method in Newport Beach last weekend.  We love the location (right near Fashion Island) because it’s close to our kitchen — and the view of the ocean out the window doesn’t hurt either!  We asked Taryn Fishermann, owner of TDM Newport Beach for a few tips for keeping our bodies strong on the days we cant make it to the gym or a class.  Check out her video and learn about keeping yourself in proper form doing planks and pushups at home…and then drop and give me 20!

Planks + Pushups from Taryn Fischermann on Vimeo.

Turkey-Stuffed Portobellos Recipe

Week 1 of our 28-Day Refresh is in full swing.  If you’re looking for some healthy recipe inspiration, try our Turkey-Stuffed Portobellos.  Topped with a refreshing tomato-basil checca, this one is sure to please!

turkey stuffed portobello with tomato checca / sautéed green beans / simple salad

Download the recipe HERE.

If you’re looking for more healthy recipe inspiration, it’s not too late to join our program.  Click to learn more, and enter your email to join our 28-Day Refresh mailing list.