Whole Bowl

The hardest part about moving from Portland to Montana...the food. I miss all the amazing restaurants in PDX. One of my favorite was The Whole Bowl. It was perfect for a healthy and delicious lunch. They have two food cart locations and itty-bitty restaurants. Since I can't have their delicious bowls in MT, Joel and I have started created our very own sauce here (see below). It's definitely not perfect but it comes pretty close.  So what's exactly in a Whole Bowl? Well, the basic ingredients include rice, beans, black olives, cheese, avocado, cilantro, sour cream, salsa, and the sauce. The trick is nailing the sauce. We've also been throwing it into a tortilla with chicken and lettuce too. So check out the recipe below and give it a try. Enjoy.

// 1 // 2 //

Sauce
Add the following items in a blender and go:

1/4 cup almonds
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 garbanzo beans
3 garlic cloves
1/4 cup large flake nutritional yeast
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon each of following:
    curry powder
    onion powder
    tumeric
    chili powder
    cumin
    cayenne pepper
    salt
    mustard powder

Recipe was adopted from Zeste Blog

Food Styling

I'm hungry so I ventured over to foodgawker to find ideas for dinner. I got distracted by the beautiful food styling of dessert. Yumm, sweets.

// ginger roasted pear and chocolate cake //

// vegan berry buckwheat crumble //

// A little Piece of Heaven Chocolate Cake //

Sunday Tradition

I've started a new Sunday tradition of delicious breakfast. I've made some awesome scrambles and yummy french toast. Do you have any good breakfast ideas because I'm looking for ideas. Gosh, now I'm hungry for some french toast. hum, breakfast for dinner tomorrow?

Source: theglitterguide.com via Megan on Pinterest

Source: wholeliving.com via Earmark Social on Pinterest

Source: multiplydelicious.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: aprettycoollife.com via Megan on Pinterest

Date Night

It's date night in Portland tonight. Joel and I are trying to enjoy some of Portland's fabulous restaurants before we move to the mountains. I've already had the pleasure of enjoying the delicious pizza and drinks at Oven and Shaker and now Joel must taste it. If you're ever in Portland, I recommend checking out Oven and Shaker. I mean, who doesn't love pizza and cocktails? And these aren't just any cocktails and pizzas. I also love the simplicity of their logo and the interior design of the restaurant. I'm hoping to do a "best of Portland guide" in the next month or so. It will probably be after we deal with the joys of moving. Stay tuned. Portland is a great foodie town.

// Oven and Shaker //

Sunny LA

I have arrived back from the Design Bloggers Conference in LA. I won't go into too many details of the conference...I don't want you to get too jealous (as you should be). The Design Bloggers Conference was awesome though! I met some amazing people and learned loads of awesome information. Hopefully, some of my new fellow bloggers are reading this now. Hello!

I do want to discuss the delicious restaurant that I had the pleasure of going to on Monday. It is called Playa located at 7360 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles. If you are in LA then you MUST go. It was seriously unreal. The decor was pretty awesome too. Very swanky.

Please order the Papas Salsa Verde: kennebec potatoes, avocado, chiles,

serranos, micro cilantro.

sea urchin lighting?

tasty!

bonus: loads of great alcohol.

Thanks to Monika, Carla, Rachel, and Courtney for the great evening out on the town.

Photos #1 & #3 via. Photo #2 via.

Soup

I would love some toast with my soup.

via.

seersucker

Doesn't this restaurant have an awesome interior? How cares about the food when you have this as the design. (well, I do care if the food is delicious too). Yeah, check this place (Seersucker) out if you are in San Diego.

via.

Ratatouille

I need to spend more time in the kitchen...

(this looks delicious)

8 tablespoons olive oil

1 large red onion, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

3 sprigs fresh thyme

4 Italian eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch dice

6 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch dice

3 bell peppers (1 red, 1 yellow, 1 orange), cored and cut into strips

7 medium (about 2 pounds) tomatoes, cored and diced

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

2 tablespoons sherry vinegar

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. In a large flameproof casserole over medium heat, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes, or until softened. Add the garlic and thyme and continue cooking for 2 minutes.

2. Add the eggplant and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes (it will not be cooked through). Transfer to a bowl.

3. In the same pan, heat 3 more tablespoons olive oil. Add the zucchini and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Transfer to the bowl of eggplant.

4. Heat 2 more tablespoons olive oil. Add the bell peppers and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.

5. Return the eggplant and zucchini mixture to the pan. Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and add the oregano. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 1 1/2 hours or until all the vegetables are very tender.

6. Add the sherry vinegar 10 minutes before the end of cooking.

7. Discard the sprigs of thyme. Stir in the parsley. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper, if you like. (Set aside 4 cups ratatouille for the clafoutis.

via here and here

Chocolate

Delicious? Yep. Well, I am assuming it is delicious considering it is chocolate. If only this cake wasn't a picture.

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I love you and I hate you at the very same time

I sat here today while eating my delicious lunch.

(Sometimes life is bittersweet).

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Food Inc.

Just finished watching Food Inc. I am seriously considering becoming a vegetarian. I am buying local and organic from now on. I am so lucky I live in Oregon where this is easily a possibly. You seriously need to watch this movie! It is incredibly enlightening.

via.

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Clyde Common

I went to happy hour yesterday with my good friend and his dad (they have wonderful taste in food and alcohol). We went to Clyde Common. I highly recommend it! Its vibe is very Portland. The bartender, Jeff, has also been named one of the best bartenders in the US. His drinks were very good indeed!

via.

I Buy Based on Packaging

Trying to sell me cookie dough isn't that hard to do but with this packaging I am sold! Love it! It has that vintage feel that I love!via The Dieline

You look like you can cook...

These photos by Sheri Giblin are making me hungry! Confession: I am a terrible cook. You want to make all these for me?! Thanks. Oh, even better. You know a cute boy in Portland who can cook. Wonderful.
Sounds perfect.

I can bring the wine! I am good at that.

Sheri Giblin Photography!

rich

oh, the colors! These two pictures make me smile!
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Cinco de Mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!! I am ready for my margaritas, chips & salsa, and plenty of other delicious food! Have fun!

Craving.

Bruschetta

I might have to run to the store just so I can make some. 

oh so pretty

how is it possible that I have been to Paris twice and not had Laduree macaroons? They look so delicious! 

here. 

haunting of past haircuts

This billboard is everywhere down here in the desert. My younger sister use to have a lovely bowl cut as a child. This ad is just for her. Love you Erin. 

yes, please.

Aren't these so adorable?

On the table.