tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52506240418701277952024-03-05T06:29:09.994-05:00Mango & Tomatooriginal recipes,<br>
restaurant reviews,<br>
and other food-related adventuresOlgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.comBlogger1727125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-35826953127441639562023-05-01T15:39:00.003-04:002023-05-01T15:39:26.131-04:00Meatless Monday: Israeli Cous Cous SaladIf you are looking for a fun side dish to bring to a potluck, I think you'll like my Israeli Cous Cous Salad. Quick shout out to my friend Lara for suggesting Israeli cous cous: I took it from there.This salad is great not only for a potluck, but also for a picnic because it doesn't have any mayonnaise (I know... you are shocked that something I make doesn't have mayonnaise).I brought this Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-79856471261886174662023-04-26T17:01:00.001-04:002023-04-26T17:01:10.233-04:00Lemon Yogurt Cake with Hibiscus GlazeAre you looking for a super fast dessert recipe that doesn't require any complicated ingredients or equipment? Well, let me tell you that this yogurt cake from Mon Petit Four fits the bill!To make it a bit more special, I found an incredibly gorgeous hibiscus glaze from Butter Be Ready that only requires two ingredients.I shared this cake with a few friends (and froze a few slices), and everyone Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-45300393098250294452023-03-30T17:41:00.003-04:002023-03-30T17:41:59.153-04:00Birthday Dessert: No Bake Mango CheesecakeThis year for my birthday I decided to make a dessert with mangoes (shocking) and pistachios (double shocking)!Lucky for me, I found a great looking (and easy to make) dessert on Every Little Crumb blog. I followed the recipe pretty closely, but did not (again, shockingly!) add cinnamon.What's not to like about graham cracker crust topped with a mixture of cream cheese, heavy cream, Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-57270761543934360372023-03-02T17:17:00.001-05:002023-03-02T17:17:06.681-05:00Vegetarian Three Beans Chili Vegetarian Three Beans ChiliSaute 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped green pepper, and 1/2 minced jalapeƱo until the vegetables have softened.Add 2 minced garlic cloves, salt, cumin, and chili powder to taste. Saute until you can smell the spices.Add 2 cups [each] of black beans, chickpeas, and navy beans, and 2 cans of diced tomatoes.Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 15 to 30 Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-88351271650786810672023-02-09T17:49:00.001-05:002023-02-09T17:49:11.514-05:00No Fake Meat: 2 Easy Meatless IdeasLet me start by saying that I hate fake things (plants/flowers) and fake people. I also hate fake meat: I would rather eat something plant based that's not pretending to be beef or chicken. Ok, phew, I feel better. (I hear my friend Laura say 'hate is a strong word' in my head...)This past week I made two meals using plant based ingredients as the base.The photo above is a double 'burger' with Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-37657233041461898282023-02-02T17:48:00.000-05:002023-02-02T17:48:40.474-05:00Cooking with Friends: Arepas Feast Two of my favorite people to cook (and eat with) are Sylvie and Jazmin. This past weekend Jazmin and I had an impromptu sleepover at Sylvie's *there were no pillow fights,* and in the morning had an Arepas Feast!I think this all started after Sylvie asked about the difference between arepas and pupusas. Because Jazmin is half Venezuelan, she offered to make us arepas (patties made from cornOlgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-45289599675478619312023-01-26T17:46:00.001-05:002023-01-26T17:46:27.688-05:00Let there be CAKE: Flourless Chocolate Cake with Cayenne You know what kinds of things I love in life? Those that are low effort and high reward! This Flourless Chocolate Cake with Cayenne is exactly that!Last weekend I went to visit my friend Laura and her family and was encouraged (ha!) to bring dessert. I asked if Laura wanted tres leches (I've never made one) or something chocolate'y, and she said definitely chocolate.Anna (my twin Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-46163693469166359482023-01-12T15:49:00.003-05:002023-01-12T15:49:59.883-05:00Russian Recipes Revisited: Pirozhki (Piroshki)Every cuisine has a dish of a filling stuffed into dough. Dumplings, pelmeni, empanadas, and then there are pirozhki or piroshki. The latest ones are these wonderful baked Russian pockets of thin dough stuffed with a variety of fillings.This past weekend my friend Jazmin and I got together to make them! This was the first time I made pirozhki, and the first time Jazmin made and tried them!For theOlgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-68853450015200051292023-01-03T16:11:00.002-05:002023-01-03T16:11:49.611-05:00New Year, New Recipe: Layered Pistachio Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting & Mango JamHappy 2023! Can you believe we are in a new year!? Here's to it being sweeter, more fun, and healthier than 2022, with many new opportunities and possibilities!Anna, my twin, suggested I start a tradition of making a new recipe for a new year and sent me a recipe for a pistachio cake she had at one of the restaurants in Chicago. That recipe was too complicated for me, so I asked Google to find meOlgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-75565610043377363502022-12-13T17:41:00.001-05:002022-12-13T17:41:26.805-05:00In Praise of Braised Lamb Shanks with Butternut Squash Oh let me count the reasons I absolutely loved this Red Wine Braised Lamb Shanks with Butternut Squash from Cooking With Cocktail Rings blog.There were hardly any hands on tasks in this recipe! You brown the lamb shanks, then brown butternut squash and carrots (I left out zucchini and celery), add in the wine, the broth (I used chicken instead of beef), and nest the lamb shanks in the Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-40579002051345694352022-11-29T17:48:00.002-05:002022-11-29T17:48:42.347-05:00Winter Dessert: Upside Down Cranberry CakeYou know how they say (whoever they are) not to make a new recipe for a dinner party? Well, I did just that when I went over to my friend Jazmin's house for Thanksgiving.I wanted to try a new recipe and happened to see a recipe for Upside Down Cranberry Cake on Simply Recipes website. The recipe could not have been easier to follow even though it was my first time making caramel (I know!). Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-33295285526204094832022-11-22T15:50:00.001-05:002022-11-22T16:03:06.280-05:00Italian Wedding Soup RecipeRemember me? I know it's been a while: I really should get back to regular blogging!Today, I'm sharing a recipe for Italian Wedding Soup I made with my friend Jenn a few weekends ago. This is the soup Jenn has been making for years using a recipe from her friend Anna, but it was my first time making and eating Italian Wedding Soup ever!I edited the original recipe. Italian Wedding Soup4-6 Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-45236893961187570462022-09-14T17:47:00.007-04:002022-09-14T17:54:56.015-04:00Mango & Raspberry PavlovaWhile in Seattle, I made my first full-sized pavlova using Mary Berry recipe under my twin Anna's supervision. I topped it with slightly sweetened homemade whipped cream and fresh raspberries and mango. A bit of powdered sugar was the final touch. Everyone, especially my mom, loved it!!Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-30528542210100567172022-08-04T14:46:00.002-04:002022-08-04T14:46:57.445-04:00TBT: Flower Arrangement ClassesDid you know that over the last 3 years I've taught more than ten private and group flower arrangement classes both in person and virtually? I love how much happiness flowers bring into my life and enjoy sharing the techniques I picked up over the years with others. Below are some of the arrangements I've made in the past. You can see even more of my love of flowers here or on instagramOlgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-67343779262710407332022-08-02T16:42:00.002-04:002022-08-02T16:42:45.569-04:00Travel Tuesday: Phoenix, Scottsdale & Sedona, ArizonaHi, friends.Can you believe I've not updated my blog since November 2021? No worries, I've still been cooking, eating out, taking photos of food, traveling, and sharing all these adventures on instagram.In honor of Travel Tuesday, however, I thought I'd share with you a fun (I hope) write up about my trip to Arizona with my twin and two of our friends in April.If you want to get away and discoverOlgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-39268602407546769082021-11-09T17:55:00.003-05:002021-11-09T17:55:33.171-05:00The Best Japanese Milk Bread RecipeMy discovery of The Best Japanese Milk Recipe** all started with me wanting to make Japanese egg salad sandwich with Japanese mayonnaise and a fun way of presenting the sandwich (when cut in half, you see a cross-section of an egg). Why not also bake Japanese Milk Bread then, I thought!? Never having even tried Japanese Milk Bread, but hearing quite a bit of praise for it, I googled forOlgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-20791646281786700402021-10-17T19:25:00.001-04:002021-10-17T19:25:36.235-04:00What To Do With Roasted Carrots: Hummus and Lentil Bowl with Feta and PistachiosA few months ago I went to Ann Arbor, Michigan and discovered Lafayette Avenue Ceramics in a cute store. I immediately bought one of their speckled plates and have been using it ever since.The other color of Lafayette Avenue Ceramics beautiful pieces I loved was dark blue. Today I'd like to share two recipes/ideas I created in collaboration with Lafayette Avenue Ceramics featuring roasted carrotsOlgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-65007849657103782782021-09-18T10:44:00.004-04:002021-09-18T10:44:38.576-04:00Cooking Inspirations: What I've Been Cooking and BakingAnd so it's the weekend again! I thought I'd share with you a few of my latest inspirations for cooking and baking.First up, Marnely's Vegan Tofu Bolognese: such an easy to follow and satisfying recipe. I had seconds and thirds the first time I made it. Bonus points: Marnely is a friend (and I really hope we meet in real life one day). The leftovers are great on top of white beans.Next up, Joan Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-53001336147611380242021-08-22T21:33:00.001-04:002021-08-22T21:33:06.913-04:00Quick And Easy Borsch RecipeLet's get one thing straight: there's no t in borsch.Ok, I feel better now :0Here's a Quick And Easy Borsch Recipe you can whip up in less than 45 minutes (all the while practicing your dicing skills) and eat either hot or cold because it's completely vegan (that is until you add mayonnaise or sour cream).Quick And Easy Borsch RecipeServes 4Ingredients1 tablespoon olive oil1/2 onion, Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-3080526698662370012021-08-08T21:03:00.001-04:002021-08-08T21:03:18.546-04:00Meatless Monday: Ricotta Toasts With Mango & Honeyed PistachiosRicotta Toasts With Mango & Honeyed Pistachios are perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack, and are especially great for Meatless Monday.I was inspired by an instagram post from Adeena Sussman, but changed a few things (as is pretty typical of me). Ricotta Toasts With Mango & Honeyed PistachiosServes 1Ingredients1/4 cup smoked honey (use 3 tablespoons for pistachios and the rest Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-43784159213245680382021-08-02T16:22:00.002-04:002021-08-02T16:22:22.168-04:00Avocado Toast With Roasted TomatoesIf your tomatoes aren't as ripe and sweet as you want them, roast them, and then top your avocado toast with them!Avocado Toast With Roasted Tomatoesolive oilcherry or grape tomatoessalttwo slices of bread, toasted1 avocado, smashed1) Preheat the oven to 425F with a baking sheet inside.2) Add tomatoes to the baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt. Roast for 25 minutes, Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-5493153091851467732021-07-29T14:39:00.002-04:002021-07-29T14:49:19.328-04:00Mango Tomato Cherry Salsa RecipeMango Tomato Cherry Salsa1 mango, peeled, diced2 Roma tomatoes, diced1 cup cherries, pitted, chopped1 tablespoon minced jalapeno (I used one I grew on my windowsill!)salt to taste1-2 tablespoons lime juice2-3 tablespoons chopped cilantrochips to serveShout out to my new Felt & Fat bowls I received as a gift from the company after being their super fan!!!Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-15951667520402866382021-07-25T09:23:00.005-04:002021-07-25T09:23:45.462-04:00Cherry Oat Bars With Frozen Yogurt And PistachiosCherry Oat Bars With Frozen Yogurt And Pistachios is a perfect dessert to bring to a last minute get together because one of the lessons my parents taught is to never show up empty handed.Last week I was invited to a get together with a few neighborhood girls, but had zero desire to go grocery shopping: I had cherries in the freezer and a large bag of oats, and so I searched for cherry and Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-32654741263172542772021-06-28T16:30:00.001-04:002021-06-28T19:18:17.470-04:00How To Make Creme Brulee In A Pressure CookerA few weekends ago I made my first ever dessert in a pressure cooker and my first ever creme brulee all thanks to a review copy of Lauren Keating's Instant Pot Cookbook For Beginners. I've had my pressure cooker for at least 3 years, but have only used it for savory recipes. The idea of making a dessert in a pressure cooker, especially in the hot summer months, was enticing. I was also Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250624041870127795.post-28101084059619855402021-06-14T19:06:00.005-04:002021-06-14T19:06:59.303-04:00How To Make Ricotta At Home: Naan & Ricotta This weekend I decided to bake a lemon cake with chocolate frosting and had about 3 cups of milk left. I stopped drinking coffee, and even when I did, I used half & half. I rarely drink milk, and wasn't inclined to drink whole milk the recipe called for. What to do....?Ricotta! That's what I should make with the milk, I decided. And so I did. And then I spread it on leftover toasted naan and Olgahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272849981052077296noreply@blogger.com0