April 2019: The Month of Cin
I’m not good at challenges and changing comfortable behavior patterns for periods of time. However… a good friend–a vegetarian knitrix extraordinaire–has been living with Essential Thrombocythemia, a rare form of chronic blood cancer. I wanted to do something as a show of solidarity. Something a little longer and a little more involved. Thus… April of 2019 is now The Month of Cin. During this timeframe, I’ll be following a clean (no processed or fast foods) ovo-lacto vegetarian diet.
I love a project. So let’s get started, shall we?
Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
I returned from a trip to northern Minnesota with a huge bag of native wild rice and thoughts of...
Read More
Chicken Holy Basil (Keto, Paleo)
Chicken Holy Basil This is a Thai-inspired dish that I look forward to making when fresh basil is...
Read More
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken (Keto, Paleo)
If you’re not familiar with Indian food, Butter Chicken is an excellent entree to start with. Tasty and comforting, it is a regular in my rotation.
Read More
Prosciutto-Wrapped Stuffed Dates (Paleo)
This is a quick recipe that marries sweet with salty for a lovely starter or snack.
Read More
Keto Lunch Box: Ginger-Braised Pork Meatballs in Coconut Broth
This is leftovers from last night’s truly excellent dinner. It is hard to believe that such a short simmer would lead to such a flavorful broth. Served with cauliflower rice and blackberries, this was the envy of the lunchroom.
Read More
Ginger-Braised Pork Meatballs in Coconut Broth (Keto, Paleo)
I came across this recipe on the Smitten Kitchen blog and saw that it was adapted from this Food & Wine recipe. I saw that it could be adapted to being keto-friendly quite easily and gave it a go.
Read MoreConcluding the Month of Cin
Oh my. The Month of Cin was tough. Much tougher than I had anticipated.
Read More
Vegetable Pizza
This is a good recipe to make for office potlucks and get-togethers. Feel free to customize the kinds of veggies you use as toppings.
Read More
Low Carb/Keto: Getting Back on Track
Let me tell you something. I’ve really enjoyed food the last few weeks. Pasta. Polenta. Pad Thai. Real bread and rolls. Homey, comforting goodness.
Read More
Feel the Beet!
Happy Easter! Instead of doing a big dinner, I took my mother out to the Pennant here in Topeka. I had the Feel the Beet burger, one of their vegetarian options.
Read More
Peanut Noodles
This is a quick and tasty vegetarian entree.
Read More
Vegan Fish Sauce
The original recipe from Cook’s Illustrated calls for dried shiitake mushrooms. I happened to have dried porcini on hand.
Read MoreJust shy of two weeks and…
Still in!
Read More
Ava’s Peanut Butter Bacon Dog Biscuits
The Avalanche comes running for these treats!
Read More
Tomato Soup Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Part of the fun of this recipe is the ingredient list. The tomato soup is such an unexpected ingredient but it makes a lovely spice cake.
Read More
Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash
This was a Month of Cin dinner which was enjoyed by all.
Read More
Pizza Beans!
I’ve been wanting to make Smitten Kitchen’s recipe for Pizza Beans for ages and the Month of Cin seemed like the perfect time.
Read More
Southern-Style Mac & Cheese
This is a decadent take on a classic mac and cheese. I like to use cavatappi (corkscrew) pasta but feel free to use classic mac if you’d like. I’ve also subbed other smoked cheeses for the topping with good results.
Read More
Aunt Kathy’s Calico Baked Beans
This is a recipe that comes from my Aunt Kathy. Calico Beans. They’re really delicious… rich and lush with a bit of smoke from the bacon. They’d make an excellent side dish to bring to a summer cookout or heaped in a bowl on their own on a chilly night.
Read More
Orange Cornmeal Muffins with Olive Oil & White Wine
This is a fantastic muffin to whip out for a brunch or a breakfast pot luck at the office. They pull together in a hurry and make an elegant morning bite with a bit of whipped butter.
Read More
Gingersnap Pear Tart
This is a lovely tart to serve when pears are in season.
Read More
Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispies Treats
This is a minor riff off of Deb Perelman’s Smitten Kitchen recipe. Here, I’ve reduced the amount of Krispies. I find the Krispies to mallows ratio to be a bit more gratifying!
Read More
Sean’s Favorite Cole Slaw
My friend Sean is a cole slaw fiend. This is his proclaimed favorite. You can, of course, use whatever brand of mayo and vinegar you like. I’ve settled on Duke’s Mayo and Salata vinegar as my own personal faves.
Read More
Beef Pepperoncini
This… is NOT Mississippi Pot Roast. A lot of people swear by that recipe. Myself, I just love this crock pot staple so much that I’ve never tried the other. This is quick and easy and people love it.
Read More
The Impossible Burger at the Burger Stand
Just a little vegetarian food porn! This is the Black & Blue burger (blue cheese, granny smith apple chutney & assorted seasonal greens) from The Burger Stand in Topeka, KS. The twist? I requested that it be made with an Impossible Burger, making it a vegetarian option worthy of the Month of Cin.
Read More
Super Awesome Snack Mix
This is one that I break out for gathering and office get-togethers.
Read MoreWelcome to the Month of Cin
Essential Thrombocythemia. It is a mouthful. Tough to pronounce, tougher to live with. And a dear...
Read More
Gratin of Brussels Sprouts, Gruyère, and Prosciutto (Keto)
I came across this recipe in a Facebook group and realized right away that it could be easily adapted to a low carb/keto dish. It is really tasty and got raves all around my table.
Read More
Egg Salad with Urfa Biber (Keto, Paleo)
I’ve had consistently good results with hard boiling eggs in the Instant Pot… but use whatever method you’d like for your eggs.
Read More
Chèvre with Cocoa Nibs and Urfa Biber (Keto)
This is a quick and elegant addition to a holiday charcuterie board or just on its own with some crackers.
Read More