About Morgan Wood

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Hugh Grant and Beet Ravioli

photo by Bon Appetit

photo by Bon Appetit

Living in downtown Toronto was a great adventure. If a city can be credited for expanding my taste buds, this was it. For four and a half years we explored a few of its many Chinatowns, the Greek district, Little Portugal and the melting pot that was Queen Street. All within walking distance or a subway ride from our condo.

We ate out a LOT. Husband jokes that every maitre’d in the city knew us a “the couple without a kitchen.” The cooking bug had yet to take hold, but I like to think of this as my “research” phase. Continue Reading →

Red Lentil & Sweet Potato Stew

snowshoe day

When they say we’re going to get a “break” in the winter weather in Minnesota, they mean that the temperature will rise to at least a balmy 20 degrees.  With a new coat of snow this morning, that makes for a perfect snowshoeing day.  So a friend and I took a midday trek – 3 miles in fresh snow.

I’d started a stew before we headed out — one of the recipes from the (modified!) cleanse we’re doing, and the house smelled fabulous!  It was the perfect post-trek lunch. Continue Reading →

{Meatless Monday} Roasted Portobellos with Kale

roasted portobellos with kale

This is tonight’s experiment (Husband is SUCH a great guinea pig!).

We’re trying to add more “meatless mains” to our repertoire, and this looks like it might have potential.

The recipe is part of the Whole Living Action Plan for 2013 that I mentioned in an earlier post.  While we’re not following the plan exactly, I’m going to try as many of the recipes I can over the next few weeks. Continue Reading →

Stock Up :: Game Day Posole

posole

I meant to post this earlier… but there was a power outage during the Superbowl. *

Anyhoo… I’m sure a disproportionate number of households prepared game-day feasts that included Velveeta, tortilla chips, wings, and any number of dips that aren’t exactly artery or waistline friendly.

At the Wood house, we’re about to launch a (modified) cleanse, and didn’t feel like taking ten steps backward before we’d even started.  So I pulled out one of my most tried-and-true dishes that is super easy and super healthy — perfect for this Superbowl Sunday. Continue Reading →

Let the cleanse begin!

cleansing broth ingredients

We’ve put it off as long as we could… that post-holidays, post-vacation resolution to shock the system back to healthier habits.

Last year, Husband and I did the 2-week, Bon Appetit Food Lovers’ Cleanse.  It was great — a LOT of work, but we found some new favorite dishes, which we continue to make.  We were never hungry – much to our surprise.

This year, we’re trying the Whole Living Action Plan, a 3-week program that detoxes your organs, by eliminating all the naughty stuff (dang!) and starting with a simple base of lentils, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds.  If we survive that, we get to add in fish and gluten-free grains.

Let me say right up front, there WILL be some modifications to this plan… Continue Reading →

Memorable Meals :: Thank you, Chef Carlos

casiano collage

Husband and I are blessed to have experienced some of the best restaurants in the US – and beyond.  So the bar is set pretty high.  But on a return trip to a hidden little gem in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Mexico, we had a knock-your-socks off (and wear elastic-pants) meal.

Continue Reading →

The Best Guacamole on the Planet

photo from foodrepublic.com

There’s been some competition between my neighbors over the years.  It involves guacamole, and whose is best. We’re told it’s a tie between mine and my friend Doug’s.  Well that makes sense — he and I use the same recipe!

Continue Reading →

Did you hear the one about the couple that needed a new dishwasher?

View of high end kitchen showing white cabinets and dark wood island

That was us, 10 months and tens of thousands of dollars ago.

Our 16-year-old dishwasher was showing its age, so we decided to quit on it before it quit on us. Off to a local appliance store we went, in search of the latest and greatest dishwasher technology.

Can you say “kid in a candy store”? I went from vignette to vignette, exploring cooktops, ovens, refrigerators, beverage centers, warming drawers… and finally, dishwashers. Earth to Morgan! Continue Reading →

Memorable Meals :: The Mission in Scottsdale

From The Mission :: Pork Shoulder Tacospork shoulder + pineapple glaze + cilantro + red onions + hand made corn tortillas

From The Mission :: Pork Shoulder Tacos
pork shoulder + pineapple glaze + cilantro + red onions + hand made corn tortillas

 

Scottsdale is a great restaurant town!

So it’s with a little sheepishness that I confess to visiting the same restaurant multiple times in one visit. And a short visit, at that.  And, I do it almost every time I’m there.

Several years ago, Husband and I stumbled upon The Mission in Old Town Scottsdale.  And we were immediately hooked.  Sure, they do the tableside guacamole… and it IS terrific.  But their signature dish is their pork taco with handmade corn tortillas.  I think you’re supposed to share it.  Yeah, right.   Continue Reading →

“Hello, my name is Morgan, and I’m addicted to food magazinesŠ…”

magazine mania

It could be worse. I could be addicted to cigarettes or heroin.

When I reach inside my mailbox and find that one (or more) of my food periodicals has found it’s way there, I am giddy.

But do I read it immediately? Oh no!

Like the meals they highlight, these gems are meant to be savored. Slowly. And with wine. I save them up for an evening I’m alone (either literally, or because Husband is catching up on sports on TV). I pour a glass of Pinot Noir, and slowly open the cover. Continue Reading →