My New Toy!...A Vitamix Blender!

I have been going back and forth for a few months about buying one of these guys.  I had heard nothing but good things about them, but the price point is a little crazy for a blender.  I had finally settled in on buying a refurbished one for my Christmas present to myself since it still had a 7 year warranty on it.  BUT THEN, Carlinhos and I happened to go to Costco to stock up on some stuff and low and behold! they were having a sale on them for just about the same price as the refurbished joint.  So I had to do it!  And I am SO happy I did.  I have made so many tasty and healthy smoothies with it.  I am doing a Paleo nutritional challenge right now through my Crossfit gym, so this has really helped me get through the first week of that.  I would definitely recommend getting a Vitamix if you are thinking about it or are in need of a blender.  Here is a picture of one of my smoothies (before smooth-i-fication).

My new toy!

I have been trying to decide which dutch oven to keep - the big cobalt blue one or the slightly smaller one in cassis. I finally went with the smaller one because I love the color and I think the size is just right! I am excited to make lots of one-pot meals in it!

My Inaugural Wok Session

For Christmas this past year, Shauna & Jimmy gave us a wok. I hadn't used it prior to moving because our last apartment had an electric stove and I wanted to wait to season and use it properly. Yesterday I decided to give it a go. I began by the wok. First I scrubbed it with soap and water to get off all the oil that it is packaged in. Then I heated it to burn off any excess packaging oil. I added a couple tablespoons of peanut oil to the hot wok, and then added sliced ginger with the skin on and scallions. I stir-fried them for about 10 minutes, using the back of the spatula to press them into the sides of the wok. When the ginger and scallions were nice and browned, I discarded them, rinsed the wok with hot water, wiped it lightly with the soft side of a sponge, and then heated it again until no water was left on the wok.

Seasoning is done so that food does not stick to the wok and so that rust doesn't set in. And after using a wok, you should never scrub your wok - the patina that builds up imparts flavor to your food each time you use it.

As my first attempt at cooking with the wok, I decided to make Pork Lettuce Wraps. And as Shauna stated in a previous post, it is all about the mis en place. Stir-frying happens so fast that it is necessary to have everything ready to go.

And the finished product....

They were SO good and SO easy, and I will definitely be making them again!

A friendly mushroom living in our kitchen plant

Jimmy is totally grossed out by it - I think it's neat.

Pretty

The broken rose branch I rescued from the park, currently brightening up our kitchen.

New Digs!

Well folks, this is where all the magic is going to happen! I just moved into a new apartment and the kitchen is quite roomy and has lots of charm. I am really excited to get cookin' in here!

Welcome to our food blog!