1 Year Blogiversary

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Pas de Duex Blog

Pas de Deux is one year old today!

Celebrate with a slice of cake!

Casey posted our first post exactly one year ago today. It’s hard to believe that a year has already gone by, and fun to see all of the amazing meals we have cooked along the way. In honor of our birthday, we thought it would be fun to take a moment to appreciate all we have done by remembering some of our favorite posts from the past year.

Most Popular: {Vegan} Buckwheat Banana Bread

Lindsey

Buckweheat Banana Bread

This post is by far the most popular search term that brings readers to our blog! I made it again a few weeks ago, this time with half buckwheat flour and half spelt flour, and it is seriously delicious. I particularly enjoy a slice toasted, with sunflower butter smeared on top.

Most Simple (and Amazing): Homemade Pistachio Milk

Casey

First taste of Pistachio milk

Blogging provided Lindsey an impetus to start making her own nut milks. Shortly after she made almond milk, she told me about a pistachio milk latte. I was so inspired that I whipped up my own batch of pistachio milk! Lindsey has also dabbled in cashew milk, brazil nut milk, and hemp milk, but we both agree that pistachio milk is one of the best! Add some to your iced coffee–it will change your life.

Most Likely to Brighten Your Morning: Berry-Coconut Breakfast Polenta

Lindsey

Beautiful berries on top!

It’s no secret that I love breakfast. Of our 167 posts in the past year, 40 have been breakfast recipes! This particular bowl is perfect for summertime–I can’t wait to make it again when local berry season reaches its peak.

Most Likely to Please Cookie Monsters: Oatmeal Wheatgerm Chocolate Chip Cookies

Casey

Yum!

I have a serious weakness for chocolate. And cookies. And chocolate in cookies. This recipe is amazing because it totally satisfies my sweet tooth, while still letting me believe I’m eating something wholesome. Inspired by one of my favorite cookies at Specialty’s, this is a recipe I will make again and again.

Most Boozey: Kir Royale with Vanilla Cognac

Casey

Kir Royale with Vanilla Cognac

This easy cocktail is great for a group of girls! The flavor is remarkably complex for such an uncomplicated beverage! I’ve always enjoyed Kir Royales, and I love vanilla, so for me, this cocktail is heaven.

Most Healthy: Get Your Greens! (Wheat Berry and Kale Salad)

Casey

Wheat Berry and Kale Salad

This salad was my first wheat berry experience. I love them! I also really enjoyed how colorful this salad was. The combination of textures with the leafy kale, chewy wheat berries, and crisp peppers was quite a treat!

Most Traditional: The Science of Good Meatloaf

Lindsey

Classic Meatloaf, served with potatoes and green beans

I love to explore new recipes and try interesting flavor combinations (see below), but sometimes, simple and traditional is just plain good. For my husband’s birthday this year, I made a very “American” meal: meatloaf, potatoes, and green beans.

Most Unique: Savory Roasted Pear Oatmeal

Lindsey

Sweet and savory

I always love sweet and savory combinations. This date-sweetened oatmeal, studded with fresh rosemary and topped with roasted pears, a fried egg and a sprinkle of salty parmesan, is truly delicious.

This year has been full of new experiences for us, both in and out of the kitchen. We have loved having this blog to connect us not only to each other, but to all of you! Thank you for your support and inspiration!

–Lindsey and Casey

Pas de Deux Blog

Smoked Salmon and Wilted Greens Frittata

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Pas de Duex Blog

I usually cook with recipes. I often make changes, but I like having a plan… a starting point. Recently, I’ve been improvising more. Instead of buying ingredients for specific meals, I’ve been making meals based on the ingredients I have.

One of the dishes I threw together this week was a frittata with smoked salmon, wilted greens, and shallots. It was easy to make, tasted great, and was easy to reheat the next day at work!

Smoked Salmon and Wilted Greens Frittata

Serves 2

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 shallot, chopped

2 cups mized greens, coarsely chopped

1-2 ounces smoked salmon, coarsely chopped

4 eggs, beaten

salt and pepper, to taste

optional: cheese and/or fresh herbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium sautee pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add shallots and cook until softened, 3 minutes. Add greens and cook another 1-2 minutes, until the leaves begin to wilt. Toss in smoked salmon, and cook 1 minute. Pour in eggs and cook until eggs start to set, 3 minutes. Transfer pan to oven and cook 10-12 minutes, until eggs are fluffy and coked through. Season with salt and pepper, slice, and serve.

**I garnished my plate with slices from 1/4 of an avocado.

This week is Bay Area Dance Week, so in addition to my usual jobs and classes, I’ve had extra rehearsals and shows. Quick meals have been very much appreciated!

What are your favorite fast meals?

Happy eating!

-C

Brunch: Tiramisu Pancakes and Kale and Egg Scramble

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Pas de Duex Blog

Weeks ago, I got an email from VegNews containing a recipe for Vegan Tiramisu Pancakes. I immediately forwarded the email to Lindsey and a few girlfriends, and started planning when I could justify making such a decadent breakfast. I ended up scheduling two brunches, since, unsurprisingly, a lot of my friends were intrigued. The first of the two was last weekend. I can’t wait for round 2, scheduled for Cinco de Mayo!

Brunch. My favorite meal!

Obviously, I have a bit of a brunch obsession. My friend and I went all out. We poured some mimosas, mixed up a colorful fruit salad with pears, clementines, blueberries, and rasperries, and made eggs with some of the vegetables I had on hand. The resulting kale, onion, thyme, and egg scramble was delicious! It was a great, savory dish to balance out the sweet pancakes.

Fruit salad

Now about those pancakes…

I didn’t read the instructions thoroughly, so I overlooked the chill time in the whipped cream instructions. Our coconut cream ended up as more of a syrup replacement than whipped cream. While I recommend following the original instructions, our resulting cream tasted awesome, and added a bit of extra moisture to the pancakes. We made a few other modifications, just based on the ingredients we had. Some of them I will be repeating!

Pancakes and Eggs

Vegan Tiramisu Pancakes

Recipe by Chloe Coscarelli, slightly modified

For the Coconut Whipped Cream

13.5 ounce can full-fat coconut milk, chilled

2/3 cup powdered sugar, plus extra for dusting

For the Pancakes

1 cup flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon ground hazelnut coffee*

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup water

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1 tablespoon Malibu coconut rum**

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips (dairy-free), plus more for garnish

Canola oil, for greasing

*Original recipe: instant espresso powder

**Original recipe: dark rum

For the whipped cream, chill the bowl and whisk of a hand mixer in freezer for 10 minutes. Skim the solidified cream from the can of coconut milk, and transfer solids to the bowl. Do not include the coconut water. Add powdered sugar and whip until cream begins to stiffen. Chill whipped cream in an airtight container for 3 hours to 1 day before serving.

For the pancakes, whisk flour, baking powder, coffee/espresso, and salt in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk water, maple syrup, and rum. Add the wet mixture into the dry and mix until just combined. Gently fold in the chocolate chips. Do not overmix.

Lightly oil a large, nonstick skillet, and heat over medium-high heat. Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto skillet, and cook until bubbles appear in center. Flip with a spatula, and cook other side for about 1 minute, until golden-brown. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more oil when needed. If batter becomes too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water.

To serve, top pancakes with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of powdered sugar and chocolate chips.

So much to love

We ended up with a lot of leftover coconut cream. I threw some of it into the blender with fruit the next day for a tasty dessert smoothie. Yum!

While I’m not a vegan, I enjoy vegan recipes. I generally avoid dairy products, so vegan baking is usually safer for me. After making (and devouring) these pancakes, I can’t wait to pick up a copy of Chloe’s book, Chloe’s Vegan Desserts!

What are your favorite brunch recipes?

My new favorites

Happy eating!

-C

WIAW — Cleanse Continued

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Pas de Duex Blog

As I mentioned last week, I’ve been following a modified version of the Food Lover’s Cleanse from Bon Appetit. I’m now on Day 11 out of 14, and have gotten more flexible with my interpretation of the meal plan as time has gone by. Even so, I’ve been making better decisions, I’ve successfully cut back on my coffee intake, and I’ve felt generally more healthy.

Here are some of the highlights of the past week of my “cleanse”.

Day 4

Yogurt Chicken, Carrots, and Bulgur

For dinner last Wednesday, I made yogurt chicken with ginger-cilantro chutney and carrots with mint (both recipes on Day 3 on cleanse plan), and served them up with the last of my bulgur with parsley and lemon. The chicken was moist and full of flavor. I’ll definitely make it again!

Day 5

Thursday was a series of leftovers and repeat dishes, most of which were enjoyed whilst sitting at work.

Day 6

Applesauce with Walnuts

Friday, my afternoon snack of applesauce with walnuts was surprisingly enjoyable! I want to make my own applesauce, and make this a more frequent treat!

Chili and Salad

For dinner, I made white bean chili with winter vegetables (recipe from Day 5 on cleanse) and a spinach salad with clementines. I loved the avocado on top of the chili. It was a fresh and creamy addition to the complex flavors of the chili.

Day 7

Kale Salad

I had a long shift on Saturday, so I packed up a fruit salad and almond milk for breakfast and a big salad with kale, smoked salmon, tangerines, and radishes for lunch. I took a break from the plan that evening, and went out for a drink and dinner with one of my girlfriends.

Day 8

Blackberry Oatmeal

Sunday’s breakfast was a new twist on my usual bowl of oats. I cooked the oats in almond milk (nothing unusual), mixed in some berries while the oats were still cooking, and topped it off with fresh berries and a bit of chopped sage. The sage added an extra oomph to an otherwise basic bowl.

Mango Lassi

Afternoon smoothies are definitely going to become a more regular thing for me! Sunday I made a mango lassi with one mango, some Greek yogurt, a pinch of chile powder, and a dash of salt.

Radicchio Salad

I used up all of my leftover produce from the week in a giant dinner salad! Radicchio, pear, avocado, and dried cranberries were mixed in with sherry shallot vinaigrette and white beans. Yum!

Day 9

Chickpea Salad

Monday was another crazy workday, so I packed up smoked salmon and avocado on rye crackers, an apple, and a big salad with chickpeas, arugula, clementine slices, tahini dressing, and a leftover dollop of ginger-cilantro chutney.

Day 10

Oatmeal with Berries

I’ve enjoyed mixing up my breakfast routine, but I still always enjoy a nice bowl of oats in the morning! I kept the berry theme going with a smoothie later in the day, made with apple cider, half a banana, and frozen raspberries and blackberries.

Berry Smoothie

For lunch on the run, I had another “clean the icebox” type of salad, using pineapple, smoked salmon, arugula, tahini dressing, and the last bit of ginger-cilantro chutney.

Salmon and Pineapple Salad

Dinner, vegetable pot-au-feu and soft thyme-scented polenta, was listed on Day 11 of the cleanse. I am realizing how much I LOVE parsnips and carrots. I could eat them every day! I’m looking forward to the leftovers.

Vegetable Pot-Au-Feu

I love how many fruits and vegetables I’ve been eating! I intend to keep this trend going once my 14 days are up. Even though I haven’t followed the full cleanse, I feel as though I’ve cleaned up my act.

Thanks, Jenn for hosting this “What I Ate Wednesday” party!

Happy eating!

-C

WIAW — A Modified Food Lover’s Cleanse

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Pas de Duex Blog

Late in December, I received an email from Bon Appetit about a New Year’s Foodie Cleanse. I bookmarked the details, but was unable to do the “cleanse” at the time. Lately, I have not been listening to what my body needs, and instead have made unintelligent and unhealthy food decisions. I decided to jump-start my return to conscious eating by doing a modified Food Lover’s Cleanse. Based on my schedule, tastes, and single status, I have edited the meal plan.

I started on Sunday, and have enjoyed it so far! For today’s WIAW Party, hosted by Jenn, I’ll be showing you my meals from the first three days of the plan.

Day 1: Sunday

Oatmeal and tea

Sunday morning I topped a bowl of oatmeal with half a banana, berries, and chopped walnuts. I’m cutting back to just 1 cup of coffee while on the cleanse, so I paired my oatmeal with a cup of tea.

I indulged in my one cup of coffee for the day before heading into the grocery store. Limiting my coffee intake makes me savor it so much more!

Kale Salad

For lunch, I had a kale salad with tuna, white beans, and homemade sherry vinaigrette.

Apple-Blackberry Smoothie

I had an apple-blackberry smoothie, modified to use soy yogurt instead of normal Greek yogurt, as an afternoon snack. Yum!

Butternut Squash-Shiitake Ragout with Bulgur

Dinner the first night was delicious! I made butternut squash-shiitake ragout and bulgur with parsley and lemon zest. I ended the night with a dessert of fresh fruit.

Day 2: Monday

Raspberry Muesli

I had an early morning shift Monday, so I packed up breakfast and lunch the night before. Breakfast was a tasty bowl of muesli, made with oats, raspberries, half an apple, soy yogurt, fresh squeezed orange juice, and walnuts.

Spinach salad

Lunch was a spinach salad with lemon tahini dressing, topped with a hard boiled egg and some leftover grains. I love the lemon tahini dressing!

Leftovers

For dinner, I had a bowl of leftover ragout and bulgur. It was just as tasty the second time around. I enjoyed another dessert of fresh fruit before hitting the hay.

Day 3: Tuesday

Smoked Salmon and Avocado

I normally go for sweet breakfasts, rather than savory, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the breakfast for day 3! Mashed avocado and smoked salmon atop rye crackers made a very tasty meal.

I snacked on a hard boiled egg before a noon ballet class. Hard boiled eggs are another simple food that I often forget, but always enjoy!

Butter lettuce salad with ragout and radishes

I opted to combine the butternut squash ragout and butter lettuce salad in one big bowl, rather than serving them side by side. Topped with sliced radishes and lemon tahini dressing, this salad was filling and full of flavor.

I “cheated” on the cleanse for dinner, and instead went out with a friend to discuss her wedding plans! I’m thinking of this cleanse as the start to some permanent changes in my diet and lifestyle, so I am not being too rigid with the rules. I am eating mindfully, avoiding processed carbohydrates, cutting back on sugar, and decreasing my alcohol and caffeine intake. That sounds pretty clean to me!

Happy eating!

-C

Pas de Deux Blog

Category Archives: Casey

1 Year Blogiversary

Smoked Salmon and Wilted Greens Frittata

Brunch: Tiramisu Pancakes and Kale and Egg Scramble

WIAW — Cleanse Continued

WIAW — A Modified Food Lover’s Cleanse

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