Gallo Pinto with Salsa Lizano

21 June, 2013 By Amanda Munden 1 Comment

As I perch myself on the veranda railing of our Costa Rican casita, the rumble of thunder, pitter patter of rain, and multifarious birdsongs harmoniously combine into a much-welcomed rainforest symphony. When mother nature dictates ones schedule (to surf or to siesta?), of one thing you can be sure: utter relaxation. From the very moment I landed in this little slice of paradise, an ineffable sense of peace and calm ensued and has yet to even slightly dissipate. Around here, the “Ticos” (Costa Rican people) have a name for this nirvana I speak of. They call it La Pura Vida. …

Read More »

The Nacho with Homemade Guacamole

10 June, 2013 By Amanda Munden 1 Comment

Dear Fellow Foodies, Idealess Home Cooks, Seasoned Culinary Veterans, and even People Who Hate Cooking,

This post is for all of you. For today, we are taking a little journey back to basics…

We repeatedly enjoy certain foods for a reason; they have withstood the test of time and they are just dang good. As is. No need to bang your head against the table trying to figure out how to incorporate that ground Iranian lime or white Marzuili truffle you just bought. Creating new recipes and experimenting with unexpected flavor combinations is definitely a blast, believe you me. And of course that is how “tried and true” recipes came to be in the first place. But there are times when we just need to throw our hands up and pay homage to, and in this case hug and kiss, the culinary pioneers who have already paved the way….

Salmon Burgers with Avocado Aïoli

31 May, 2013 By Amanda Munden 1 Comment

It’s burger season, y’all! As the temperatures climb and the days grow longer, dinnertime reclaims its significance in this household. More sunlight means more time to enjoy the outdoors, and with that comes more convivial gatherings. Well, that is at least until July when we Austinites wonder if we are indeed deranged to continue living here. (Don’t worry, these preposterous, heat-induced thoughts fade at the first drop of a leaf come September.) But no matter how hot our summers get, grilling is always a central part of outdoor entertainment….

Roasted Cauliflower and Garbanzos with Sun Dried Tomatoes

21 May, 2013 By Amanda Munden 1 Comment

I tend to be a stubborn type of person. Anyone resonate? Let’s take photography as an example. I used to foster a do-it-yourself, learn-as-you-go sort of mentality. I read some manuals. I watched some YouTube tutorials. But mostly I just practiced and my pictures would improve with time. However, there came a point in time where I felt the need to surrender to a higher power and acknowledge that I couldn’t learn it all on my own. Usually this is Jesus. In this case, the higher power is in the form of a middle-aged Chilango man who teaches me and 20 others about aperture, ISO, shutter speed, depth of field, etc. every Tuesday night for 3 hours, but I digress……

Soba Noodles with Peppers, Edamame, and Spicy Peanut Sauce

11 May, 2013 By Amanda Munden Leave a Comment

“The doctor of the future will give no mediation, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

-Thomas Edison

Over the past three years, I have spent my days observing and teaching in more than 10 different public elementary and middle schools here in Austin. In turn, I have also been endowed with the opportunity to see what goes on in these said schools’ dazzling lunch lines. For ages, a bad reputation has tarnished our schools’ cafeteria food: devoid of flavor. Minimally nutritious. And guess what? Nothing has changed. If I were a kid in this day and age….I would be choosing the pizza over the raw, flavorless broccoli too. Even if I knew better….

Chocolate Chip Coconut Delights

3 May, 2013 By Amanda Munden Leave a Comment

Hey Austinites! Tomorrow from 10am-2pm the Austin Food Bloggers Association (which I am a part of) is holding a city-wide bake sale to support AmeriCare relief efforts in West, Texas. We will have 8 different locations across town, so click the link find one near you! In addition to supporting a good cause, there will be an abundance of savory and sweet baked goods to tempt the eyes and taste buds alike. Knowing whose talented minds and hands are at work behind these culinary creations, I can confidently proclaim that this will not be your average bake sale. (Sorry Girl Scouts! I still love you and your crack samosas.) Yours truly will be contributing these gluten-free Chocolate Chip Coconut Delights (scheduled for Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew on N. Lamar), so get ‘em while they’re hot! Their crisp outside and soft, airy inside make for an impossibly delightful juxtaposition, (the antithesis of most chalky, gluten-free baked goods I’ve ever tasted.)…

Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Creamy Vinaigrette

25 April, 2013 By Amanda Munden Leave a Comment

Is it just me or does it seem like every other person I talk to is part of the Paleo diet craze? A few months ago, I wasn’t even sure what Paleo meant, so I wanted to do a bit of research before automatically discrediting it as a fad diet, which is something I am generally wary of. Anyhow, after further investigation, I now know that the basis of Paleo is pretty solid; it’s rich in whole fruits and vegetables, protein, and mono and polyunsaturated (good) fats. I am always trying to incorporate more plant-based food into my life and eliminate the processed junk. It can certainly pose a challenge, but the key is in the preparation. Let’s take this kale salad as an example. I used to think I hated kale. The word itself caused me to turn up my nose. Well, that’s no longer the case. This refreshing salad was a “kale game changer” for me, so to speak (which sounds like an oxymoron, but I am literally addicted.) Easy assembly and lasting freshness add extra bonus points to this healthy summer staple. It doesn’t wilt so you can eat it for days if you are so inclined! Who knew kale could taste so good? ¡Buen provecho!…

Crab Fried Rice

17 April, 2013 By Amanda Munden Leave a Comment

This crab fried rice (aka “vanishing rice”) has been a long time coming. Allow me to explain…

Rewind to July of last year. That’s when I made this for the very first time, and it has been on repeat mode around here ever since. Each time thereafter, I’ve intended to photograph and blog about it, you know, being a food blogger and all. Well, as you can see, that hasn’t been the case until now. It’s almost as if someone was playing a joke on me, because every time I would turn around with my camera… POOF! Vanishing rice. It made for some very happy bellies, of course, but it also resulted in one very despondent food blogger. Such a tragedy, I know! Well, the good news is, because I am now a “seasoned” fried rice maker, this recipe has endured the refining process and has ultimately been upgraded from its original, yet still tasty, version. I got a little creative and threw in some of my favorite Spanish spices, like pimentón and saffron, which marry beautifully with the traditional Thai spices. Served in my pretty Mexican bowl (in my American home), this crab fried rice is a trans-cultural delight!

¡Buen provecho! Or should I say ทานให้อร่อย!…

Melon, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad with Jamón

9 April, 2013 By Amanda Munden Leave a Comment

The first time I experienced the exquisite combination of cured pork and melon was while dining at a street side café in Oviedo, Spain. I can’t remember what course it was or the name of the restaurant, but I certainly recall how the unimaginably thin and salty slices of jamón iberico were draped over the sweet slices of piel de sapo melon. Perfection to the eyes and to the taste buds alike. My fiancé and I both laugh when we look back at pictures of ourselves in Spain because of how bloated we were due to the obscene amounts of jamón we consumed (well, it’s not all the jamón’s fault…)…

Sriracha Deviled Eggs

1 April, 2013 By Amanda Munden Leave a Comment

I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter weekend! Mine involved copious amounts of cooking, family dinners, church, and a bit of yoga to make amends for indulgent behavior. I intended to blog a recipe or two from my Easter menu before it actually came and went, but así es la vida! I tend to get a little caught up in the excitement that Easter involves. What a beautiful, blessed day. My heart (and my belly) are brimming with joy and gratitude.

…