eat – Raising Jordans

Chipotle Chicken and Rice Soup

January 29, 2016

Our friend Aaron arrives tonight to visit us for the weekend. Before trekking out Boston to pursue his dreams, all the boys use to spend nearly every evening in our apartment. They always made sure to come just before dinner. So I had to make sure I scrounged up a good, home cooked meal for his arrival. I opted for a healthy, hearty Chiptole Chicken and Rice soup that is an excellent way to use up leftover chicken in your fridge. This dish is flavorful and rich; it’s perfect for a chilly January evening. Continue reading “Chipotle Chicken and Rice Soup”

Get out of Town: The Catskills

March 10, 2015

We have been MIA the past number of weeks. Truth be told our last month and a bit has been pure insanity. Jameson is traversing time zones and racking up airmiles like a crazy person- not that this is anything new. But between his 90 hours work weeks and flight delays we have also been wrangling some work on our house in Victoria, prepping for the US work visa lottery and grieving the very big loss of my grandpa. We have been having all the big conversations about what comes next for us if I win or if lose the US visa lottery in April. Needless to say our plates have been full.

In the middle of it though we have managed to sneak away with two of our favourite people for the weekend. This group of NYC fam jam is who we do all our travels with, and all we wanted from the weekend was to set time aside to connect with our most cherished. In very un-Renée fashion I had zero plans for our escape other than locating a cabin on AirBnB. Our only goal was to simply press pause for a few brief moments and regain some sanity. We managed to accomplish just that by barely leaving the cabin the entity of the weekend. Instead, we built fires, cozied in under warm blankets and sipped at a glass of wine while we read books. We did switch it up a bit by watching old VHS tapes of 90s rom coms but the climax of our days were long naps, hot baths and home cooked dinners. It was perfection in the truest sense. Continue reading “Get out of Town: The Catskills”

Vegetable and Mango Curry with Basil-Ginger Quinoa

September 8, 2014

The new job is keeping me quite busy (and I am loving every second). The work is challenging and stimulating and exciting all at the same time. I am however still getting into a new life rhythm that juggles career, meal prep, exercise and cherished time with those who make my world go round. That being said by the end of my work day I am ravenous, thus resulting in a mad rush to prep, cook and get a healthy, mindful meal on the dinner table pronto. This curry accomplished just that. On top of the efficiency of this dish, is the added bonus there is still enough left over after dinner to pack up for lunch the following day (even for Jay and I who are notoriously large eaters). That being said, the hands down best aspect of this meal is it’s versatility. So regardless of the dietary restriction you adhere to you will be able to whip up a version that will leave you satisfied (and your house smelling simply delicious). So put away your seamless order, this curry is something you can handle yourself.

Continue reading “Vegetable and Mango Curry with Basil-Ginger Quinoa”

Banana White Chocolate Chip Muffins

September 7, 2014

Remember when this used to be a food blog and not just a chronicling of our city life? My apologies for the lack of posts (specifically food related musings) we have had a busy, full summer filled with weekends away, road trips and a new, amazing career for me. It has been such a blast. Jameson and I are both feel so recharged and refreshed after our first summer in NYC. I will get to documenting all of that soon, but for now here is some proof that I have in fact been whimsically whipping up new creations in my kitchen. Since Jameson is in Vegas at the moment celebrating the pending marriage of two very dear friends, these muffins come with the sign of approval from three very trustworthy young men. Not only that but they are super quick to make, and only requires dirtying a single bowl (so it’s perfect for you urban readers whose kitchen real estate is less than robust). Enjoy. Continue reading “Banana White Chocolate Chip Muffins”

Our Easter Weekend and a Nanaimo Bar Recipe

April 21, 2014

Some moments are for life. This weekend was one of those moments. We filled our days with good Friday services at Hillsong, coffee dates in Greenwich Village, Easter Sunday services, bocce in Fort Green park, potlucks in Brooklyn and the most exceptional, imperfectly perfect people. So although this was our first major holiday without family (and we missed them bundles), we consider ourselves truly blessed to be able to spend it the way we did and with whom we did.

My contribution to our Easter potluck was Cilantro Lime Bean Salad, peanut butter cookies and Naniamo Bars (get excited fellow Canadians). Being from Vancouver Island, Naniamo bars to me are ubiquitous with cupcakes, cookies and brownies. So naturally upon moving to NYC I figured everyone had been enlightened to their awesomeness. I was shocked, no, I was horrified to learn that even my fellow Torontonians had no idea what I was babbling about. So this Easter potluck I set out to rectify that atrocity by trying my hand at what for me I had always considered a super complex dessert (I prefer simple, no fuss no muss baking that reaps rewards quickly).

My dear friend Alyssa, filled me in on her little tip that if you place each layer in the freezer for 30 minutes it makes the processes a little more seamless. So with that in mind I decided to stick to the basics and took the recipe right off the city of the Naniamo website (although I couldn’t help but throw in a few of my own twists), and after one batch of burnt chocolate and a forgotten egg in the first crust I alas mastered these delicious treats. However, my sincerest apologies because in terms of food photography this post gets a below failing grade, only because we were having too much fun enjoying our company to craft a pretty picture (and Jay had to cut the bars with a spoon because I forgot a knife. Opps.). So regardless of the aesthetic, enjoy as you soak in the amazing Canadian-ness that are Naniamo Bars. Continue reading “Our Easter Weekend and a Nanaimo Bar Recipe”

Best Places to Wine and Dine in NYC

March 24, 2014

Jay’s parents have been in the city for the past week with Jay’s aunt and uncle, and we have been so glad to have them. They have been a welcome break from graduate school papers, cover letters and job search databases (anyone want to hire me?!). It has been such a treat to take a break and show off our favorite spots, where we do life and the excitement our new city has to offer. Together we have taken in the arts….

Savored time with family..

and sipped and nibbled our way through the great foodie culture NYC has to offer. Below you will find a detailing of the exceptional establishments we frequented regularly and had the pleasure to share with Jay’s family over the course of the past week. So if you’re looking for a great glass of wine, exquisite italian or simply just an undeniably great craft brew to accompany your gourmet burger -look no further. What follows are some of our favorites in Manhattan.

Continue reading “Best Places to Wine and Dine in NYC”

Boston: A Love Story

February 10, 2014

This Valentine’s day tale isn’t about a boy. I have only ever loved one man, who I have been in love with since eighteen. That is old news. No, this love story is about falling madly, and recklessly in love with a city. This is the account of how and why I fell for Boston.

I really didn’t expect such a grand, overwhelming response to Boston. Jay had a business trip, that preceded the Valentine’s season, so we thought we would make a small, romantic getaway out of it. Contrary to my normal disposition, little planning went into our venture. We have dear friends who now inhabit the much warmer (and humane) climate of Newport Beach, but grew up in the Boston area. So before we boarded the train, we picked their brains on what to do, see and experience. The combination of their expertise and the beauty, this big-small town eludes, left us in love. The well maintained, colonial architecture is stunning, the earth mindedness left it feeling like home and the excess bikers (even in below freezing temperatures) is reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest. Add to that that the people were exceptionally, over the top friendly and I never want to go home.

This is my kind of city (perhaps I will have to expand my September job search to include the greater Boston area). I do love New York, but Boston is way more my speed. Here is a summary of our highlights: Continue reading “Boston: A Love Story”

Cobb Salad with a Tangy Oil Free Garlic-Mustard Vinaigrette

January 31, 2014

You may have noticed the onslaught of new delectable recipes up over the past month. Classes didn’t start again until last week so I have had a little more time to putter around in the kitchen. It has been fun, but now I am back in full swing of grad school madness so the numbers may dwindle in the coming weeks.

On Thursday nights my classes don’t start until late, so my truly wonderful friend Vanessa came over for dinner to help me kill some time. I kept it simple with this filling, substantial salad that is packed with just the right proteins and nutrition that your brain needs to sit through two hour evening courses. The best part is that it is simple to accommodate all dietary restraints and still leave your diners happy. Vegan? Skip the meat, egg and cheese and the yams and avocado still taste divine. Vegetarian? forgo the meat and the resulting salad will leave you just as satisfied. Strict Paleo? set aside the cheese and yams and what you have left is more or less pure protein for your carnivorous needs.

So however you elect to eat-enjoy. Continue reading “Cobb Salad with a Tangy Oil Free Garlic-Mustard Vinaigrette”

Eating our way through Chicago

August 26, 2013

It seems that Jay and I really love to eat and our time spent in Chicago was no exception. I knew Chicago had a few famous dishes, pizza and popcorn for example, but I wasn’t prepared for just the depth and variety of the foodie culture that would present in this midwest town. I was eager to try some of the Chicago classics but in my preconceived notions of the USA I had not added Chicago to the ranks of San Fran, NYC or D.C. when it came to their panoply of offerings of culinary prowess. Here are a few of the highlights and surprises that left us salivating in Chicago: Continue reading “Eating our way through Chicago”

Salt Lake City

August 20, 2013

If Salt Lake City isn’t in your to visit list stop reading and go add it. Jay and I fell completely in love with the desert heat, friendly people, clean streets and crisp architecture that SLC had to offer.

We cruised into the city with country music blaring (because when in the southwest do as southerns do) on a Sunday afternoon and stayed in the Temple Square area. With the high Mormon population in SLC we arrived to find the entire city was more or less closed. I am talking even H&M and Macy’s close their doors on Sundays and if a store goes against the grain like Starbucks it’s closed by 7pm. We have no complaints though. The streets were vacant and the downtown core was quiet which left a lovely, peaceful feel to the city and we can’t help but be in total awe of a city that is so ardently committed to their beliefs that even mega stores that move into the area have to abide by the status quo. Even with very little open we managed to have a whole lot of fun. So here are our top highlights for Salt Lake…

Continue reading “Salt Lake City”