Watermelon and Arugula 4th of July Salad

As a child, 4th of July was always my favorite holiday. We would spend the month of July in Del Mar with friends and from the house we stayed at you could see the spectacular firework show the fairgrounds would put on each year.

My parents had a friend named Jack who knew all kinds of important people and had all kinds of connections. He was the super cool uncle who would always play with us and had a wife with a voice like a Disney princess.

One year Jack told us kids his friend down at the fairgrounds needed some help choosing the colors for the fireworks. So all us kids lined up, and we each got a turn to talk into the phone and tell this friend the colors we wanted.

Jack would say, “Ok, next is Angela.” And he would hold the phone up to my ear and I would say, “I want a firework that’s pink, yellow and green!” And so on…

Later that night while we all gathered outside watching the firework show you could hear us kids shouting, “That was my firework! Mom, did you see it!”

And I felt so special. [Read more…]

Food Day and a Roasted Baby Beet Salad with Arugula and Torn Mozzarella

What a week in the food world it has been! As many of you know October 24th is Food Day and there are events happening in communities all over the nation to raise awareness and address issues of hunger, health and nutrition, and sustainable farming practices. I’m so excited to have been a part of food day here on Oahu as eating healthy, real food is a top priority for myself and my family.

Want to take a quiz to find out if you eat real? Click here. I got a 94. Pretty good. They docked me for white rice and beer. Hey, no one’s perfect. Seriously though, white rice is a weakness of mine and I imagine it is for many who grew up in Hawaii. I’m going to work on making the switch over to brown rice. Except in the case of sushi, I’ll never do that. [Read more…]

White Sauce Pizzettas with Ribbon Zucchini, Arugula and Pine Nuts

Pizzettas with White Sauce and Zucchini

 

Turns out you don’t need a good reason to make fancy pizzettas! I thought you did, so sadly I have been depriving myself and my cravings for about a month now.

It’s not just the food. It’s the cute dress, the ballet flats, the special wine, the nice platter: what am I saving this stuff for?

Let’s redefine what a “good reason” is, shall we?

Here’s what I came up with. Life is short, it’s summer, I love to barbecue, I love Napa inspired cuisine of all sorts. You should always listen to your body and my instincts are telling me that eating miniature pizzas with big flavor in a cute dress with a delicious glass of wine is the right thing to do!

If that’s not good reason, I don’t know what is.

Make these and let me know what your “good reason” is! [Read more…]