UnRecipe: I LOVE FUNGUS

Seriously, I do. The fungal sponge-y growth that someone, somewhere, some time ago, thought it would be okay to eat, is one of my favorite ingredients. Especially the wild varieties, like oyster, chanterelle, lobster -- all the names that don't evoke the idea of mushroom. They're fun ingredients to work with, and while each type of mushroom has its own level of earthy flavor, it's never so overwhelming that you'll ruin a dish in the name of experimentation. So here's to mushrooms, an easygoing, fun guy to cook with. Har har.

Holy Shiitake! It's mushrooms - Photo by Wasabi Prime

Mixed Plate: Summer's Last Rites and Just Letting Life Happen

Er...mah....gurd. Yes, I'm alive. And yes, I realize it's been freakin' FOREVER since I posted. Well, almost two months. I took an unscheduled break from blogging because of work and a much-needed vacation. But I'm back! Well, at least for this post. I admit, it's been nice to just enjoy life, live in the moment, and not concern myself with photographing and taking notes on every. little. detail. So that's what this post is all about -- enjoying the moment, carpe diem-ing it, and remembering the sunny summer that was.

Summer's Last Supper, chevre-stuffed squash blossoms with pasta carbonara - Photo by Wasabi Prime

OMG a Recipe: Adventures in Backyard Camping

There's camping. There's Glamping. And now there's Backyard Camping, or what some may consider Misanthropic Glamping. We offered up our backyard over a month ago to a friend who wanted her little brother's first camping trip to be as worry-free as possible. With easy access to bathrooms and an XBox. Because... really, Nature's not all it's cracked up to be when fancy yogurt parfaits are in play. AMIRITE?

The Great Outdoors ain't got nuthin' on yogurt parfaits, dawg - Photo by Wasabi Prime

UnRecipe: Put 'Em On the Grill!

Yes, this latest post title is inspired by 90's classic, Sir Mix's "Put 'Em on the Glass," but of course this is far less boobtastic and way less sexist. Rant = Over. This sometimes joyous, sometimes way-too-flippin'-hot summer is a constant challenge when it comes to meal prep. While I admit to eating salads nearly every day, not everything can be eaten raw. Scratch that -- not everything can be ENJOYED raw. But is dinner worth heating up an already sweltering kitchen by turning on the stove? Absofreakin'-lutely NOT. Solution: Put 'Em On the Grill. (food, not boobs)

Majestic UnRecipe Grilled Salad - Photo by Wasabi Prime