Batter Licker

When I first discovered Bob Red Mill’s new line of whole wheat pearl couscous at the BlogHer Food Conference in Atlanta, I was instantly hooked by the nutty flavor. I even smuggled a few sample bags back to San Francisco, and couldn’t wait to play around with the wholesome, round bites of pasta. Except that I actually did wait quite a bit – two entire months – before finding the perfect opportunity to use these precious samples.

… Read the rest of whole wheat pearl couscous salad with pistachio-broccoli pesto on BatterLicker.com!

Over the three-day weekend, I partook in no less than three barbecues. Barbecuing being the most quintessentially American method of food preparation, I figured it was the least I could do to honor U.S. servicemen who make sacrifices so much braver and more meaningful than me clumsily sacrificing a pineapple slice to the ground while using wonky tongs to transfer fruit from grill to plate.

Sole pineapple loss aside, I enjoyed celebrating my freedom in the company of beloved friends and family as we stuffed ourselves full of charred food and chilled booze.

… Read the rest of grilled pineapple with cinnamon-bourbon glaze on BatterLicker.com!

After whipping up a spontaneous batch of Green Garlic Walnut Pesto in less than five minutes, I found myself adding it to everything I could think of. Smearing a knifeful onto bruschetta; mixing a forkful into scrambled eggs; tossing a heaping spoonful into pasta … Peering into my fridge to find another pestoed possibility, a friendly bouquet of asparagus waved back at me, and I contemplated a twist on the traditional asparagus with poached egg.

… Read the rest of green garlic pestoed asparagus noodles with poached egg on BatterLicker.com!

After stalking green garlic at the market for a couple weeks, I finally approached it with the understanding that, this time, I was taking it home. It didn’t matter that we weren’t familiar with each other, or that I had forgotten to research what others before me had done with this green onion look-alike. I simply knew that I had to experience the younger, milder version of garlic while springtime was still offering it.

Lest I sound like a garlic pervert, I’ll take this opportunity to explain:

… Read the rest of green garlic walnut pesto on BatterLicker.com!

Whether you count yourself among those who work hard or hardly work in the kitchen, a fresh pesto sauce that comes together after one minute of chopping and one minute of blending is something you have no excuse not to make. What I love most about pesto, beyond its fresh flavor and minimalist prep time, is its unlimited versatility, which extends not only to its uses but also to its ingredients.

… Read the rest of parsley, almond and sunflower seed pesto on BatterLicker.com!