tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73168944611756646512010-06-25T00:30:38.262-07:00My quest for healthy, natural, and sustainable food.Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-16176023124669725822010-03-28T15:42:00.000-07:002010-03-28T15:42:23.352-07:00

I’m sure this will come at no surprise, but if you were to ask me what my favorite type of food is I would immediately answer soup. I’m crazy about all kinds of soups, but my favorites stem from my memories of giant pots of Portuguese soups simmering in my Mom’s kitchen when I was a kid. My Mom tells me that my first introduction to solid foods was her soups and I think it’s for this reason that

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-45193840200672879072010-03-10T18:45:00.000-08:002010-03-28T15:44:19.114-07:00

My mother and I had the pleasure of taking a cheesemaking class with Louella Hill last week at Brown University. It was every cheese lover’s dream come true. I’m not sure what I enjoyed more: pulling warm cheese curd into a variety of oddly shaped fresh mozzarella balls, or the opportunity to talk face to face with Louella Hill—someone whom I’ve admired for years. I‘m guessing that Louella is

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-11147831200805126862010-02-24T19:45:00.000-08:002010-03-11T19:03:24.171-08:00

In nearby Fall River, Massachusetts there’s a great little Lebanese commercial bakery called Sam’s Bakery that supplies many of the local supermarkets and delis with delicious pita bread, savory hand pies, and other Lebanese specialties. Only the locals know that they also have a hidden storefront right at the bakery that’s open to the public five days a week. Their prices are ridiculously cheap,

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-5352553003881614132010-02-16T16:41:00.000-08:002010-02-24T19:51:38.993-08:00

Here are a few of my favorite recipes for fun little tortilla-crust pizzas that couldn’t be quicker or simpler to make. Because of their super thin crusts, they’re not only crisp and delicious, but they have a fraction of the calories of traditional pizzas. The best part is, they come together in a flash. I made all three of these recipes for dinner and cleaned up, all in less than an hour. Quite

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-71026777634206124662010-02-16T16:12:00.000-08:002010-02-16T16:16:45.428-08:00

I live just minutes away from Providence, Rhode Island, home of the famous Alforno Restaurant. Legend has it that Alforno invented grilled pizza. I can’t say for sure if that’s true, but I do know that their grilled pizzas are absolutely incredible, and are hands down the best I have ever tried. The rest of their menu is outstanding too, but when James and I are in the mood for their pizza (which

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-58491387920911402252010-01-27T19:47:00.000-08:002010-03-13T20:23:32.841-08:00

When I was in high school I worked at a little meat market and deli that was just a short walk from my house. It was the perfect part-time job for me: I got paid to work with and talk about food while getting a very valuable education in a variety of different meats and their various cuts. The store’s offerings extended past meats, however, and one item that I enjoyed daily were the marinated

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-39555383895040144692010-01-19T19:22:00.000-08:002010-01-19T19:22:03.312-08:00

We ordered Thai food for lunch at work a few days ago and I was once again faced with an all-too-familiar decision to make: to be bad, or to be good? “Being bad” would mean that I’d order my favorite massaman curry, a succulent concoction of sweet potatoes, coconut milk, tofu, peanuts, and curry spices. If I was to “be good”, I’d order the ramayana garden, a steamed blend of assorted vegetables

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-82086859516157397492010-01-03T13:17:00.000-08:002010-01-19T19:24:51.567-08:00

Here’s a simple recipe for a yummy egg dish that I make anytime I’m in a pinch for a healthy and quick dinner. Aside from a few fresh bell peppers, which if I were smart I would have chopped and frozen when they were abundant in August, all the ingredients are probably in your pantry and refrigerator right now. This recipe is a simpler, healthier take on the traditional classic Mexican

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-75676082243489703122009-12-20T00:00:00.000-08:002009-12-21T00:03:47.945-08:00

PEPPERMINT PATTIE COOKIES My cookies won first place at the office charity cookie bake-off. They're the perfect treat for the holidays! Click here for the recipe.

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-84932239954709622612009-12-02T19:14:00.000-08:002010-01-03T13:27:00.572-08:00

Lemon-Ginger Carrot Soup It’s that time of year again when I’ve made a list of a hundred things I’d like to accomplish before December 24th and I’m realizing I only have a few weeks to do it all. Who has time to cook dinner when there’s decorating, baking, and shopping to do? It’s times like this when my everyday healthy meals can be easily substituted for Thai take-out, pizza, and other

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-32104116516789977432009-11-16T19:25:00.000-08:002010-01-03T13:28:31.121-08:00

I can vividly remember the first time I fell in love with wheat berry salad. It was a few years ago, James was on a business trip in London, and I had the opportunity to visit him for a long weekend. I had never been to London and was extremely excited to visit the famous Borough Farmers’ Market that I had been reading about for so many years. Now, often times reality does not live up to hype,

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-69028876347746281132009-11-03T16:00:00.000-08:002009-11-23T14:41:07.273-08:00

I love to play around with recipes for eggplant that don’t involve breaded and deep fried slices layered with cheese. Not that classic eggplant parmesan isn’t absolutely delicious, it’s just way too loaded with calories for me to enjoy without feeling completely guilty afterward. The problem with eggplant is that it is basically a sponge for whatever liquid you submerge it in. When deep-fried,

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-42525211028073350132009-10-28T18:47:00.000-07:002009-12-27T18:24:47.044-08:00

Here’s a simple recipe for a delicious and super healthy roasted sweet potato side dish. A few weeks back I bought Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything Vegetarian cookbook and ever since have been dying to make his chocolate laced meatless chili. I’ve been working on my own vegetarian chili recipe (hope to post it soon), and thought the chocolate in his recipe sounded quite interesting. I made

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-66934484593069456692009-10-18T18:22:00.000-07:002010-03-13T20:21:09.759-08:00

My coworkers and I share a small refrigerator in the hallway that adjoins our offices. It’s a handy place for us to store our lunches because we’re often too busy (or lazy) to walk the two flights stairs to the main kitchen in our office building. One morning a few weeks ago we all noticed a delicious garlicky aroma coming from the refrigerator every time it was opened. By mid morning I had to

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-48619438212519153662009-09-13T18:02:00.000-07:002010-03-13T20:22:34.914-08:00

My garden is finally producing lots and lots of tomatoes and I’ve been feverishly trying to meet the supply with clever ways to incorporate tomatoes into my meals. Nothing highlights fresh, beautiful garden tomatoes better than a tomato salsa. There are traditionally two types of tomato-based salsas: Roasted and Fresh, each with their own pros and cons. Roasted salsas have great depth of flavor

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-43083508201891521272009-09-07T19:44:00.000-07:002010-03-13T20:22:03.796-08:00

I was inspired to make this recipe after having a red quinoa studded panzanella salad at a friend’s house a couple weeks ago. I loved the way the crunch of the red quinoa paired with the flavors of the tomatoes and cucumbers in the panzanella and thought I could apply the same taste and texture profiles to a lower calorie tabbouleh. In traditional Labanese cuisine, tabbouleh is more typically

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-18418253485420363032009-08-30T18:09:00.000-07:002010-03-13T20:19:58.396-08:00

I had the honor and pleasure of dining at Blue Hill at Stone Barns a few weeks ago. It was wonderful! Bite after bite of seemingly simple food that erupted with flavor the moment it touched my tongue. Dan Barber and his chefs at Blue Hill are absolute geniuses. The restaurant is unique in that there is no menu at Blue Hill; instead its chefs create a series of tastings inspired by what was

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-80495400484429037952009-08-25T18:27:00.001-07:002010-03-13T20:19:13.175-08:00

HOW TO:ROASTED RED PEPPERS Sweet. Savory. Juicy. I can’t think of a more perfect celebration of the summer harvest than homemade roasted red pepper salad. When I was a kid my Mother used to make bowl after bowl of this simply perfect side dish throughout the months of August and September. My family and I always loved it, and always devoured every last bite. So comfortable was I with the

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-25030840480511783392009-08-10T18:26:00.000-07:002010-03-13T20:18:38.902-08:00

There’s a cute little cafe called New Boston Bakery in nearby Fall River that serves a creative offering of sandwiches, paninis, and wraps weekdays for lunch. Just 10 minutes away from my office, it’s a common lunch destination for my colleagues and me on those beautiful summer days when we’re all dying to get away from our air-conditioned offices to take in the warmth of the sunshine. New

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-7867104994357777282009-07-21T17:41:00.000-07:002010-03-13T20:17:42.594-08:00

James and I spent the day in Boston last Friday to celebrate our 5-year anniversary. When we happened upon a quaint farmer’s market downtown near Copley Place I couldn’t resist a peak. I’m one of those odd breeds of women that would pass up shoe or handbag shopping for a good farmer’s market any day. Needless to say, I was in heaven; nothing beats perusing the booths of a farmer’s market during

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-81724662723450253972009-07-21T17:35:00.000-07:002010-03-13T20:16:27.641-08:00

HOW TO: CHIPOTLE PEPPER PUREE Quite a few years ago I attended a lecture at Brown University given by cookbook author Katy Sparks. I was inspired by her philosophy on food and couldn’t wait to get my hands on her then new cookbook, Sparks in the Kitchen. I attribute that lecture for giving me my first intimate exposure to chipotle peppers. Katy did a short cooking demonstration highlighting one

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-18202339313673524462009-06-29T19:29:00.000-07:002010-03-13T20:15:51.437-08:00

If you’re a ginger lover like me, there’s nothing more refreshing than a big pitcher of my lemon ginger elixir on a hot summers day. Throughout the summer I almost always have a pitcher of lemon, lime, or cucumber scented water in the fridge, but on the weekends when I have a bit more time on my hands adding some extra ingredients makes me feel like I’m splurging. Who says a fancy cocktail needs

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-19266620015212857862009-06-09T18:08:00.001-07:002010-03-13T20:14:45.520-08:00

On my last visit to the Coastal Growers Farmers Market in Saunderstown I picked up one of Casey Farm’s pastured chickens. The only hassle about buying humane pasture-raised chickens here in the Providence area is that I have only been able to find them frozen whole which once defrosted yields me enough protein for a whole week’s worth of meals! When I commit to making an entire chicken I like to

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-68798999473477838262009-06-03T16:57:00.000-07:002010-03-13T20:13:42.169-08:00

For the past couple of weeks I had been craving Indian food, but with bathing suit season on the horizon I found myself reluctant to indulge in the high-calorie fare that my favorite local Indian restaurant serves. After all, what I love so much about Indian cuisine is the fragrant and exotic spice combinations, not the excess oils and carbohydrates (which inevitably leave me feeling guilty the

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316894461175664651.post-69964589036987811212009-05-26T19:07:00.000-07:002010-03-13T20:12:42.036-08:00

One of my favorite year-round indoor gardening activities, if it can be called gardening, is sprouting. Not only is it fun and inexpensive, but the results are amazing. In the middle of a long cold winter, there’s nothing more fun and satisfying then growing something crisp and fresh on your own countertop with no special equipment required. I think I was inspired to sprout this past week because

Ava Catauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08186735736690801102ava.catau@gmail.com1