In The Kitchen Now: Roasted Eggplant and Pickled Beet Sandwich / April 8, 2016 by Cynthia Raub

Eggplant. Does that word entice you or does it make you shudder and gag? What about pickled beets? Is that sexy-talk or nightmare city? Eggplant doesn't regularly show up in my shopping basket at the market, but when I saw this recipe on my Facebook feed, my interest was piqued and I began to crave it. I picked up a few small, taut and shiny aubergines and headed home to my multiple jars of pickled beets. Yes, multiple (very large) jars of pickled beets- courtesy of Costco and my BUY ALL THE PICKLES! tic that acts up for every shopping trip. This sandwich is complex in flavor but not in preparation or cooking. The roasted eggplant is deeply luscious and sweet; the beets and herbs are bright and merry, and the sherry-garlic mayonnaise is a punchy creamy spread that deliciously pools in the crannies of the bread. This messy and loose vegetable sandwich delivers so much flavor despite it's very humble ingredients.

Roasted Eggplant and Pickled Beet Sandwich

In the Kitchen Now - Mango and Coconut Sticky Rice / February 24, 2016 by Amy Cantu

There's nothing quite like watching a class of enthusiastic preschoolers gobbling up mango and sticky rice, which is exactly what happened today when Grandpa Audy made an appearance at school. I don't know why I was surprised - what's not to like about sweet and tangy mango with coconut-infused sweet rice? My 4-year-old is learning about Asia this month in school, so his teachers asked if we could bring something to share with the class. Grandpa Audy whipped up a batch of his Thai Mango and Coconut Sticky Rice and brought a picture book about fruits found in Thailand to share with the class! Lucky kids (and lucky me left with the extras)!

Mango and Coconut Sticky Rice

In the Kitchen Now - Lemon-Berry Muffins / February 20, 2016 by Amy Cantu

Obviously not all the food that Cynthia and I cook are together or for this blog, and sometimes we have people ask us, "Hey, is THIS going to be posted on your blog?" So, we're trying out this idea to post some of the things that we casually cook in our kitchens during the week, and doing a "quick post" with just one photo and a recipe. These posts will always be something we've made super recently. We hope you enjoy our mini-posts!

My kids love berries - particularly the 1-year-old who has entered the picky eater phase. So even though they are *gasp* NOT in-season, we eat them anyway. I had berries in the fridge that were getting past their prime, so I figured I'd make some mixed berry muffins this morning. It's a simple recipe, and my 4-year-old was happy to help!

Lemon-Berry Muffins