AVOCADO TOAST WITH RADISH, CILANTRO + LIME | GLUTEN FREE | ARIZONA FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER Nicole Lee


Hello Friends, 

I’m tattling on myself to you that, we’ve had domino's pizza night one to many times these last 6 weeks. I know no big deal, BUT when it comes to home cooked meals I pride myself on them. I’m still learning the art of FOOD is FOOD, and enjoy that vs lets beat ourselves up for eating take out. Also, when you have sports that fill up six days of our week, sometimes take out is the “easiest” thing.

This year, I made a little promise to myself that I would get better at meal prep during these sports seasons. My weakness is I’m not a huge fan of the insta pot, or sitting there on a Sunday chopping all the veg for the week, or obsessively planning a meal list. Instead, I like to stock my cabinets and fridge with items I know I can whip up quickly. For instance, having a hardy sourdough bread on hand, fresh veggies, canned beans, tomatoes and even a pre-canned tomato sauce. Another thing I love is big batch cooking, which would be doubling or even tripling a recipe, that I can freeze or we eat later in the week. 

I’m still learning this whole kids in sports “juggle”, so we’ve got those “not so perfect” meal weeks in there and that's okay too!

When nights get late and I don’t order takeout, we’ll have “snack dinner” which includes, some sort of hummus and veg. Avocado toast, maybe even through a fried egg on top for good measure. It's simple and easy when you get home at 7:30 at night, feel me? 

Now, let's make some toast. 

Cheers friends,

Nicole 



Yet Another “AVOCADO TOAST” with radish, cilantro, lime and garlic (if you dare) RECIPE**

Ingredients :

  • 1 loaf of your favorite bread
  • 4 ripe enough avocados
  • 1 bunch of cilantro
  • 2 limes
  • 1 bunch baby radish
  • 1 bunch of watermelon radish
  • 1 tablespoon MCT OIL
  • Good quality Extra Virgin Olive oil for toast ( as needed)
  • Kosher Salt
  • Crushed red Pepper flakes
  • Pepper

Other items you’ll need: Large bowl to mash avocados, fork, toaster or oven.

DIRECTIONS:

  1. With a chef knife slice your avocado in half, stab the middle of the pit of the avocado with your knife and slowly twist the pit, it should come right out. With a spoon, spoon out both sides of the avocado into your bowl. Repeat this step with all of your avocados. Slice and squeeze 1 half of lime into your bowl. Add the MCT oil. Mix around a bit. Roughly chop your cilantro, excluding the stems, add about 2 tablespoons to your bowl. Set aside rest in case you’d like it.
  2. Thinly slice your garlic clove. Add to the bowl. Then with your fork mash your avocado mixture, add the salt and pepper to taste. This is the part where you can get creative, if you like more lime add it, or cilantro, even the garlic. Just be sure to taste before adding each ingredient.
  3. Prepare your radish, clean and remove the leaves. Which if you’d like to keep them wash and chop them to add to your toast later. Thinly slice both the red radish and watermelon.
  4. Make your toast. I like to heat the oven to 400 degrees and put all the toast on a large sheet pan, or you can toast using a toaster.
  5. When toast finishes, spread an even amount of olive oil all over the toasts. Then a good helping of your avocado mixture. Top with radish and a pinch of salt, and sprinkle of EVOO if desired.
  6. Enjoy.


STRAWBERRY RHUBARB CRUMBLE RECIPE || GLUTEN FREE + VEGAN | BY NICOLE LEE



Hi Friends,

When Rhubarb comes into season, I find myself terrified of it. I know dramatic right? I have this push pull relationship with it, I want to try it but I don’t... is it a fruit or a vegetable? Not sure if it’s the long stalks that resemble celery? Wait, it’s poisonous?

Lately, I have been trying to FACE the scary things in life and the kitchen. One of the most pressing fears I’ve been avoiding like the plague, is cooking with ingredients I’m unfamiliar with. The ingredients look scary or hard to work with, I tell myself that I can’t do it, and freeze up. That mentality has me stuck, and I don't want to be stuck anymore. HENCE facing The RHUBARB FEAR. It’s weird as it sounds that cooking could be fear based, but sometimes that’s how things comes up. These days I find I learn most about myself through cooking, can you relate?

Part of the journey in facing the scary thing, is to Acknowledge the FEAR - “RHUBARB scares the shit out of me!” Recognize, checking in with yourself and asking, is it a thought or Story I’m telling myself? What’s the truth here? My Truth, ‘I felt that If I fucked up cooking with rhubarb on the first try I would be a failure”. After sitting with those questions, I realized I told myself a STORY. WHAT a STORY I told myself indeed, and why do I need to put that pressure on myself?

NEW MONTRA, GIRL you’ve got this, COOK the damn thing and GET ON WITH IT.! You may fuck it up, but WHO cares it’s no big DEAL. Here is the thing, the best part of cooking is the failure, trying new things, it’s not about PERFECTION but the journey in getting to the destination (or final dish in this case) I realized that sometimes scary things aren't as scary as you thought they were. It’s that simple.

What are the stories you’re telling yourself right now about cooking? Or about life? Keep going friends. x

Now let's COOK!

X

Nicole



Tips for cooking with RHUBARB;**

-When picking your Rhubarb, don't skimp. Make the extra trip to the farmers market, they have the good stuff. Look for deep tones in the stalks, deep red + pink. If they are pale they were picked too soon, they won’t be rich in taste.

-DON'T eat the LEAVES, they are poisonous. Clean the stalks and discard the leaves.



STRAWBERRY RHUBARB CRUMBLE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

For the filling;

  • 2 cups chopped rhubarb, cleaned and leafs discarded
  • 2lbs cleaned and chopped strawberries
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ cup organic coconut sugar
  • 1 tsp organic vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg ( add one ½ tsp if like spicy)
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • pinch of pink salt

* For the topping;

  • 3 cups gf rolled oats
  • 1 stick of vegan cashew butter COLD (I use MiyoKo’s brand)
  • 1/4 cup coconut sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4th tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup gf flour

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED: Non stick spray, a 9x9 or 9x8 baking dish, bowls for mixing the topping.

DIRECTIONS;

  1. Chop your strawberries and rhubarb set aside. Measure out all your ingredients and set aside. Pre- heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium dutch oven or saucepan put over medium heat, then cook your rhubarb with ¼ cup sugar. Until they are tender, turn your stove off and add in your chopped strawberries, lemon juice, pinch of pink salt, spices and vanilla. Give it a good stir. Set aside.
  2. Prep a baking dish with non stick spray, (9x9 or 9x8 works great). Make sure its deep. Set aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl add all your topping ingredients EXCEPT the VEGAN BUTTER. Give a light mix with a spatula.
  4. With your hands break up the cold butter into your topping ingredients bowl. It doesn't have to be perfect, and you're looking for a small chunk type texture. Do this until all the butter is mixed in.
  5. Pour your filling into the baking pan. Then sprinkle your topping on top until it's coated evenly.
  6. Bake in the oven for 20-35 min at 350 degrees. Let cool on a cooling rack for 15-20 min and then serve with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, yogurt or creme fresh!


SPICED OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIE RECIPE | GLUTEN FREE | PHOTOS + RECIPE BY NICOLE LEE


hey dear ones,

Oatmeal raisin cookies are never going to live up to the ooey gooeyness of the chocolate chip cookie. That's just my opinion though. You may be scratching your head on why in the world I would be sharing this recipe? Well Grandma, that’s why. Which is ALL the reason to make, share and eat oatmeal raisin cookies.

Grandma was the center of my childhood, and played a large part in raising me. She was and is my person. Do you have someone like that? Most of my childhood, we spent on and off living with her. One year even, she took my sister and I in. While my parents were doing God knows what in another state. It was a special time, but I won't bore you with my childhood details. Grandma always had a stash of cookies or treats on hand. Or hidden away in secret spots around the house. She confessed to her "stashes" because her house was always bustling with people in and out. She especially didn't like to share with "said" people or family. (unless you were her granddaughter that is ;). )

By far her favorite treat was oatmeal raisin cookies. When I bite into the cookies, or even make them I cannot help but think of her. Do you have a food that when you eat it you think of someone you love? If not, I am now a crazy lady who associates food with people.

Either way, I’m not saying you have to fall in love with the oatmeal raisin cookie. Just commit to the raisin for what it is. Maybe, let’s stop trying to make the oatmeal raisin cookie into a chocolate chip? They might grow on you.

xo Nicole


gluten free oatmeal cookie recipe



gluten free oatmeal raisin cookie recipe

oatmeal raisin cookies allergy friendly

OATMEAL RAISN SPICE COOKIES:

Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup gf flour bob’s redmill ( 1 for 1 blue bag is what I used) or All purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • ¼ tsp fresh ground nutmeg
  • ¾ cup brown coconut sugar or dark brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (or turbinado )
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract or paste
  • 2 eggs room temp
  • 1 cup (227 g) melted salted grass fed butter or (melted coconut oil) slightly warm
  • 2 cups gf old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cups nuts if desired

DIRECTIONS:

NOTE: You will need a free standing mixer or hand held and Cooking spray.

TIP: POP your cookie dough in the fridge for 25 min, this will enhance flavors and the dough will settle. If you're feeling free with time, bake them the next day.

NOTE: make sure butter isn't too hot or will cook the eggs.

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, make sure your middle rack is in the oven.
  2. Measure out all your dry ingredients, whisk in a large bowl and set aside. Measure out all your wet ingredients and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl whisk your sugar, melted butter and vanilla. Whisk until well combined. Then Whisk in your eggs, mix for about a min.
  4. DON'T OVER MIX.
  5. Add in your dry ingredients to your wet. Mix until a dough forms.
  6. Pour in your oats, raisins and nuts.
  7. Once dough is finished let the dough sit in your fridge for 25 min, or freezer for 10-15.
  8. Bake cookies at 350F degrees for 10-16 min. ( TIP: at 8 min take out flatten and bake for another 8 min. If you want a chewier cookie bake for 10-12 min. ) ENJOY!

gluten free oatmeal raisin cookie recipe


oatmeal raisin cookie recipe

grandma small.jpg

VEGAN BULLETPROOF COFFEE || RECIPE | FOOD+ LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER NICOLE LEE


Hey friends,

My apologies on my abandonment towards you folks ( and my blog). I’ve been really focusing on getting my house back in order and doing lots and lots of projects over the weekends instead of recipe testing…(But that is changing soon).

Did I mention I’ve been drinking lots and lots of coffee to keep me going? A few years ago I discovered bulletproof coffee. I friend had shown it to me, but I am allergic to dairy… so I had to modify. I discovered if you put the same amount of MCT oil in, and use a dairy free nut milk it will get frothy just as if you use grass-fed butter. I also noticed no two dairy free milks are created equal. I am pretty picky when it comes down to the brands I use. Anyone agree??


Vegan Bullet Proof Coffee Recipe

Vegan Bullet Proof Coffee Recipe



Vegan Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

* Ingredients:

  • 8oz fresh coffee
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons MCT Oil
  • 1 tablespoon vegan nut milk ( almond, coconut are awesome!)
  • 1 oz 85-90% dark chocolate
  • 1 -2 tsp MACA powder
  • Cinnamon for top
  • Blender Notes: if you this is your first time with bulletproof coffee start with 1 tablespoon of MCT and work up to 2 tablespoons . Also High quality coffee beans, ground + brewed in french press or pour over method ( this will get it tasting top notch)

Directions: Brew coffee to directions. I prefer french press method. In your blender place all the ingredients. Measure out 8 oz of fresh hot coffee, blend on high for 30 seconds until frothy. Top with cinnamon And enjoy!!!

Some of my favorite brands:


CHEERS, 

-Nicole 

CHRISTMAS BRUNCH IN JULY || BRUNCH TIPS || FOOD+LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER NICOLE LEE



Hello Friends,

Can you believe it’s Wednesday already? In my last post I spoke about how we get to move back into our home this Friday. It’s been a wild journey with the storms of the house. Officially we have been out two months, and two-ish weeks. That would make us staying at 4 different airbnb. The last place we stayed at felt like we were living in a Wes Anderson Movie. Deserted hotel, we were the only ones on the grounds at times. Anyway, we are getting really excited to finally be moving back in. The status of the house, we have walls, and currently are doing some extra remodeling ourselves. Painting, bathrooms the kids rooms and a few odds and ends. The goal is to make it feel like home again. But after all that has happened it’s time to put on some fresh coats of paint and make new memories.

Best way to do that, make a big meal gather around the table and have some laughs. Our go to favorite meal  brunch. Sunday mornings, bacon, eggs, maybe some double chocolate muffins. Or just whatever we may have in the fridge at the moment works too. Here is how we usually brunch on Christmas morning…. 

“Team Lee” Brunch (Christmas Morning Style) : 

Put everything in the middle of the table and enjoy!

Cheers Friends,

Nicole



Sunday brunch tips


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