Food Buzz Festival Recap

No recipes this time. Just photos and fun. Two weekends ago I fulfilled my promise to Debby from A Feast For The Eyes to attend the Food Buzz Festival in San Francisco. What a fun time?! Not to mention one of the best weekends of weather in SF I've ever witnessed. My plate was never empty!

The weekend began with a cocktail party full of networking and appetizers.

Sarah from Meals Matter and Debby from A Feast For The Eyes

Duck Breast with Li Hing Chutney on Rice Cracker

(Not-So-Skinny) Skinny Artichoke Dip

What makes all things better? So many ways to answer that. For me I think of sweet family, cherished friends and hot dishes.

Family: I'm very passionate about family. I happen to love mine. We really do have a lot of fun together. While there may have been a screaming war or two from time to time, we really do all love each other- the hard kind of crazy love. Where forgiveness abounds, maybe not immediately but it will. Where we would give our lives or at least organs for one another. Where even our arguments stem out of love because we want what's best for the relationship. Family love makes me think of my relationship with my sister... our relationship was exemplified by my mother's relationship with her sisters. Even from a distance, or email- love, late night phone calls and prayer have been exchanged.  The Marks sisters remind me of my Aunt Cheryl who is battling a challenging form of Leukemia in Seattle. We patiently await further treatment recommendations and a possible family bone marrow transfusion. My earliest memory of my Aunt Cheryl is when she came to visit us from Alaska and brought nearly an entire suitcase of artichokes back with her. Something I can really respect now- going to the extremes for seasonal ingredients. I LOVE YOU AUNTIE CHERYL. Keep fighting! You've got a niece in Cali who thinks of you every time she cook with artichokes!

Photography by Tyler Yates

Perfect Guacamole

Now I understand we all have our reasons for why we think our guacamole is best. Open your mind for a minute and let me present my case. And if you are still not convinced after my argument then... well... I'm pregnant and craving Mexican and you don't want to argue with this cook! Okay, okay... I welcome comments :-) I apologize for my feistiness.

So about these cravings- I've made guac about 8 times this month. Breakfast burritos in the morning, taco salad for lunch, enchiladas and tortilla soup for dinner! I can't get enough! And we have been celebrating avocados this week because Baby Ritter is the size of an avocado.

Also, it's football season! And when your team is not playing well, it's time to focus on the food at hand, (Cowboys, let's pick it up!) and good guac is a staple game day food.

Oxtail and Barley Soup to Welcome Fall

I was giddy walking to my car yesterday. I was cold. Yes, cold. Funny how you can forget that sensation during the summer. Cold is so welcomed in the Fall and then so disdained come late March.

So in celebration of fleeces, uggs, and waaaaaay too many Pinterest Fall decor and craft ideas... I give you one of my most comforting soups. Perfect to come home to after a Sunday drive through the country, after waiting in the cold for your kid's coach to wrap up practice, or after an afternoon of apple picking.

Lentil Salad with Grapes, Chile and Cilantro

My last lentil salad recipe was quite the hit. I've made it a dozen times over, so yum. Is it possible to top it?

Well, let's just say you can't compare the perfections of Spring to the majesty of Fall. The only thing this salad has in comparison to the last one is LENTILS as an ingredient. Other than that, these lentils are dressed with a completely different and delicious ensemble.

Baked Salmon with Garden Goodies

Gaaaasp! I'm back. 14 weeks of pregnancy behind me. Time for some FOOD! How does Salmon sound?

We are on the tail of a massive Fall heat stroke, so it was time to enjoy the last of my garden goodies.

This recipe is inspired by Giada De Laurentiis. I used the last of my fresh tomatoes along with thyme and oregano from my garden.

It's a kid friendly meal too... I mean, who can't throw a bunch of items in foil and roll it up like a tootsie roll?  My kind of fun.