June: Homespun Pot Pie (Moosewood New Classics)

Posted on June 1, 2018 by

“The pie is an English institution which, planted on American soil, forthwith ran rampant.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe

It can be tough to find vegetarian savory pies because meat has been the filling of choice for several thousand years. Pies were eaten by nobles and commoners alike: live birds baked into pies topped with elaborate decorations showed that you could afford skilled cooks and host large feasts. Laborers enjoyed pies because it could be made with a few scraps of whatever ingredients were available, and they could be cooked over open flames instead of in a stone oven. Savory pies are found all over the world, and I wanted to try making my own!

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May Bonus Recipe: Glazed Pineapple Cake

Posted on May 16, 2018 by

“Love is like a pineapple, sweet and undefinable.” – Piet Hein

I love pineapple, I would put it in everything if I could. This delicious recipe is called a poke cake – “poke” meaning to jab, not “poke” like the raw fish salad. The name comes from the process of baking the cake, poking holes into it and letting the glaze soak into it so that when you serve it, every bite has a ton of pineapple flavor.

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May: Pescado al Mojo de Ajo (Authentic Mexican)

Posted on April 30, 2018 by

“Barriga llena, corazón contento.” – Mexican proverb

Translation: “Full belly, happy heart.”

I would estimate that over 90% of my diet is vegetarian, with the notable exception of the delicious, wild-caught seafood that is so abundant and accessible in the Pacific Northwest. While the majority of the recipes I’m exploring are entirely plant-based, there will be a few fish and shellfish dishes making surprise appearances.

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April Bonus Recipe: Key Lime Bars

Posted on April 17, 2018 by

“You know what they say: Why sit at a table that doesn’t have key lime pie on it if you don’t have to?” – Sloane Crosley

Now that spring is on the way, I can’t wait to pack away my heavy sweaters, throw open the doors and let the sunlight in! One of my favorite ways to get a jump start on summer is with our annual Miami Party: inflate a couple of palm trees, fly a Conch Republic flag, and eat Florida-themed food like Cubano sandwiches. The key lime pie is the official pie of the state of Florida, so this seems this recipe is perfect for our event.

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April: Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burgers (The Bold Vegetarian Chef)

Posted on April 2, 2018 by

“No one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.” – Julia Child

I have been a vegetarian since 2005, with the exception of deliciously fresh Pacific Northwest seafood. When I go to a new restaurant that has a veggie burger on the menu, it’s usually what I’ll end up getting. Ordering something simple and universal at a variety of places makes it easier to find new twists that each chef has added to make it their own. Are the patties made in-house from scratch? What kind of bread is it served on, and what garnishes and sauces come with it? But despite sampling nearly every veggie burger that crosses my path, I’ve never tried to make my own – until now!

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March Bonus Recipe: Pi Day π

Posted on March 13, 2018 by

“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” – Carl Sagan

Pi Day was first explained to me in my high school calculus class. My teacher Ms. Hall was the sweetest little old lady who was we saw as a surrogate grandmother; she ran the student knitting club and the junior prom committee, and always found a way to make math fun. Pi Day comes from the first several digits of the never-ending Greek letter used to measure a circle, and so 3.14159 transformed into 3/14 and Pi Day was born. Every year, Ms. Hall would order for several dozen apple pies, load up her little Volvo wagon, and drive very slowly and carefully to school on March 14 to inspire a bunch of girls with math.

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Clark University: a History of Challenging Convention

Posted on March 2, 2018 by

Last Friday, Clark University was just one of many colleges across the United States to publicly announce that students who are involved in protests against gun violence will not be penalized for their actions, and it will not impact their admission or enrollment status. From the school’s Twitter:

“A statement to future Clarkies from President David Angel: We’re aware many high school students around the U.S. plan to engage in peaceful walkouts over the coming weeks to protest gun violence. Some high schools indicate students may face disciplinary action for doing so. Working toward meaningful change on issues of consequence is central to who we are as a community, as expressed by our motto, “Challenge Convention. Change Our World.” If you’re considering Clark, we doubt you’re waiting for our permission to stand up for your beliefs.”

But this certainly isn’t the first time – nor the last – that Clark students and professors have been intent on disrupting the status quo.

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