Mandarin Cucumber Couscous Salad Recipe

Waking up to dark mornings again is a reminder that winter in Seattle is coming, so I decided to make a summer salad and cherish whatever afternoon sunshine that is left. I initially had this salad at a work event and adopted it at home. This is a fresh salad that will brighten your taste buds for sure… and it’s super easy!

Makes 3-4 servings

• 1 cup dried couscous
• 1 1/4 cup of water
• 1/2 of a medium red onion, minced
• 1 can/1 cup of mandarin oranges, minced
• 1/2 cucumber, minced
• 1/4 cup of cilantro, chopped (add more if desired!)

Directions

1. Add the dried couscous to 1 1/4 cup boiling water. Cook until fluffy and set aside to cool.
2. Mix the onion, mandarin oranges, cucumber, cilantro, and couscous.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste.

That’s it! 3 easy steps, and so delicious! Eat it with some protein or veggies and you’ve got yourself a quick meal.

King Crab in Juneau, Alaska

Crab Shack Combo (King Crab Leg, Crab Cakes and Crab Bisque) @ Tracy’s King Crab Shack in Juneau, AK

A friend took me on a day trip to Juneau, and it is such a beautiful place. Our first stop was Tracy’s King Crab Shack, and for $38 (tax included!), I had fresh king crab legs the size of my head and the best crab bisque I’ve ever had in my life! Not to mention 4 crab cakes on the side too… what a deal!

More to come on my trip to Alaska!

Chicken and Rice, Thai Style

Khao Man Gai (Chicken and Rice) @ Nong’s Khao Man Gai in Portland, OR

Nong’s food cart is an American Dream story. She moved to the States from Thailand and saved up to open her food cart, and it has been a huge success. She only has one thing on her menu - khao man gai, which is the Thai version of Hainan Chicken and Rice. I totally did not expect this in Portland, let alone at a food cart, and it was super delicious!

Visiting the Redwoods with Patree

If you ever happen to stop by or pass through Crescent City, you have to meet Patree. She is the sweet, hip, and smart grandmother you wish you had. She is also super knowledgeable about the Redwoods (she goes every day!). So if you’re there to visit, you need to call her.

Jonathan and I stumbled across Patree’s place on AirBnB when we were planning our road trip. It was by far one of the best decisions we made. She made us fresh homemade pizza and quick breads, took us on a personal tour of the Jedediah Smith State Park, and treated us like family.

The white sourdough pizza was so good that we took the leftovers for the road. It was a combination of pineapple, banana peppers, and white cheddar, now my new favorite combo of pizza toppings. The sourdough crust was made from scratch with a sourdough starter over a hundred years old! It was so cool. She was SO cool.

But her house is what stands out the most. At the dead end of a dull street, the road opens up to an expanse of grass and hydrangeas silhouetting the bright orange and red paint of her house. Patree is obsessed with lips, and the house is decorated with lips all over - my favorite being a cookie cutter in her kitchen (you’ll just have to look for it when you’re there).

Pan Dulce: A Reminder of My Childhood

When Jonathan and I were in San Francisco, we stayed in the Mission District. I loved it. It felt just like home. The graffiti, the Spanish, and the small panaderias, it all reminded me of LA so much.

Growing up, my mom would treat me to pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread) in the supermarket if I behaved. It was Jonathan’s first pan dulce, and I was super excited to share a little bit of my childhood with him.