food

Holiday Detox Tea

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The holidays are upon us. As such, some of us may experience occasional instances of slight overconsumption*. No judgment here! I’m usually feeling rather gouty by the time Jan 1 rolls around, myself.

If you do overeat/drink and feel gross, I recommend this tea. It’s my take on a few different variations of detox tea I’ve seen around, including one found at Seattle’s most delightful tea shop, Remedy. I usually start stress eating to warm up for the holidays by mid October, so I’ve been drinking this shit for months.

SO ARTSY

SO ARTSY

Here is how I make it. This stains like a mofo so be careful.

*Roman emperor style binges that seem to last for days on end.

Detox Tea

This is full of good shit. Lemons are a diuretic (aka they will debloat you), turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, cinnamon does something good I am now forgetting, and ginger settles your stomach and aids digestion. You can also make this in larger batches to mix with your choice warm or cold milk product, kinda like chai.

Serves 1-2

  • ½ to 1 inch ish fresh ginger, grated or thinly sliced
  • Cinnamon, 1-2 sticks or a vigorous shaking’s worth (1 tsp ish I would guess)
  • Turmeric, about the same amount as cinnamon
  • Juice o’ one lemon
  • Optional: dash or so cayenne depending on how much of a spiciness badass you are

Pour some v. hot water over the ingredients and let steep for about 5 minutes, then strain into a mug. Stir in some honey to taste.

Recipe Roundup

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I haven’t been feeling very inspired to write as of late, but I HAVE been feeling inspired to eat (thanks shitty weather and 5pm darkness). So, here are links to some fall-ish recipes that resulted in deliciousness. Some are healthy, some are fatty mcfatterson.

This is totally irrelevant but I am still finding it hilarious (via the Safeway pastry dept.)

This is totally irrelevant but I am still finding it hilarious (via the Safeway pastry dept.)

  • Jalapeno Mac and Cheese Holy shit was this good. And easy to make! I am planning to save this and reuse about a million times with other ingredients.
  • Roasted Potato and Paprika Chickpea Salad Simple, healthy fall salad. Roasted chickpeas are a delightful snack, too, if you make extra.
  • Apple Crumble So damn easy and so damn tasty. I may have made this twice last weekend, don’t judge me.
  • Crockpot Chicken Chili This is relatively healthy and seriously soooo delicious. I kind of ruined my nonstick skillet browning the peppers but I think it was worth it (just be careful during this step). Also of note, I only had vegan cream cheese and that worked fine.

An Ode to Costco

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Costco, you may annoy the crap out of me at times with your slow moving minivans, hordes of shoppers, and shrieking children, but I just can’t quit you. For me, a small twinge of excitement precedes each Costco trip. This tells me that my love will endure, no matter how many times a tiny yet fiercely determined elderly woman rams my ankle with her cart en route to the pretzel dog sample station.

I definitely have my issues with car culture and rampant consumerism, which obviously makes me a bit conflicted about Costco and its big box ilk. However, as a native Arizonan I learned to drive on AZ’s broad, gridlike streets in AZ’s broad, gridlike, parking lot dominated cities. Parallel parking isn’t really a thing there; I wasn’t even required to parallel park in order to receive my driver’s license. Hence, I cannot deny that I do love me a parking lot. And not some Trader Joe’s parking garage of death bullshit: a good parking lot = wide lanes, wide spaces, two-way traffic allowed everywhere at all times. Costco’s parking lot, though admittedly road rage inducing at times, delivers.

Now that is what I call a parking space

Now that is what I call a parking space

In addition to the parking lot and the obvious shit like paper products and cheap liquor, a brief list of glorious things to be found and experienced at Costco:

Samples: OK this is obvious, but Costco’s sample bounty is amazing and I have to call it out. You can easily make a lunch of samples, if you aren’t trying to save room for pizza, fro yo, or the ever-mysterious Chicken Bake offered up for cheap at the Costco Café/Chez Costco/whatever it’s called. Insider tip: the samples are not just around on weekends, when the crowds make me want to shank someone. I was just at Costco on a Tuesday afternoon and there were delicious samples galore.

Socks: The clothing items are usually fairly atrocious but my favorite lounging socks ever are from Costco. I don’t remember what brand they are, but refer to the photo and if you see these, scoop them up by the bushel. Oh so warm and cozy.

Buy these immediately

Buy these immediately

Healthy food items: Of course there are fatty treats galore, like the horrifying frozen cheeseburgers my mom used to ply me and my sister with, but there are good deals on healthier, less processed stuff too. I always look for Amy’s and other organic frozen meal options, an organic frozen berry blend that I put in smoothies, Laughing Cow cheese, organic whole-wheat pasta, and organic nut butter.

Kale/quinoa/almond. So trendy! Processed but the ingredients are minimal and non chemical.

Organic, kale/quinoa/almond. So trendy! Processed but no weird chemicals.

Walla Walla ing

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Oh how I love a weekend visit to Walla Walla. I was there recently for the nuptial celebration of some close friends and good times were had by all. Below are my recommendations for a truly delightful weekend in the Wallas.

Lodging

If you are going with friends, there are a bounty of nice but affordable house rental options available on VRBO. Get something within walking distance of downtown. Otherwise, the best hotel in town would be the Marcus Whitman, or there should be some inns/B&Bs that are probably worth seeking out (like the Inn at Abeja).

Food

Breakfast

Bacon and Eggs

Bacon and Eggs YUM

Bacon and Eggs YUM

Delicious. Trendy (i.e. their website uses the word “locavore” and they serve Stumptown coffee). The menu is huge and they have glorious AM booze options.

Tommy’s

Greasy spoon style diner with cheap, classic breakfast combos and 75 cent cups of coffee (what? Where else is that still a thing?). Definitely a locals’ joint. It’s near the Washington State Penitentiary, yay.

Lunch

I highly recommend that you taco, torta or burrito it up at a taco truck (La Monarca on Rose and 11th is dank) or Taqueria Yungapeti which is brick and mortar with a larger but still taco truck-esque menu and a salsa bar.

I usually go for the Walla Walla tacos or burrito, which come with your choice of meat, sautéed Walla Walla sweet onions and avocado.

Dinner

Brasserie Four downtown is great. Whitehouse Crawford is the schmanciest joint in town and I think the food can be a little overrated but service is top notch and the dining room is beautiful. People also really like Saffron but I haven’t been there.

WINE

What you really came for. There are so many good options that it can get overwhelming, but it’s hard to go wrong. Hire a driver and bring a giant water bottle. Remember that there is no shame in dumping/spitting.

Amavi Cellars

Gorgeous, modern tasting room with a stunning view of the Walla Walla area’s rolling pastoral hilliness. Great wine, too.

El Corazon

Their downtown tasting room is always a good time. They play good tunes.

Downtown Walla Walla

Walk around, taste wine at a few of the 30+ tasting rooms located downtown, check out Hot Poop record store and the various boutiques. Tasting rooms downtown that I like: K Vintners, Maison Bleue, Rotie, Trust.

Gramercy Cellars

This winery was founded by a Master Sommelier, which is super rare and cool and stuff. Amazing wines.

Airport area

This area is industrial and sort of an eyesore but there is a cluster of good wineries here, making it worth a stop if efficiency is your thing. Also there might be tractors around you can drunkenly pose in front of, not that I speak from experience. On this trip we stopped at, and liked, Buty, Tempus, Tamarack, Revelry and Adamant.