Author: Wild Skillet

Monday Night Dinner

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Palo Alto’s best kept secret is nestled in one of it’s sweetest neighborhoods. Every Monday night, approximately 75 people come together for one of the most delicious and healthy meals on the Peninsula. It started 30 years ago with a group of committed individuals who wanted to form a community around macrobiotics and cooking for a healthy body and planet.
 Every Monday night you are served a healthy 5 star meal prepared by rotating chefs (Gary Alinder and James Holloway). The gourmet vegetarian meals are created with seasonal ingredients and truly inspirational flavor profiles inspired by simple Japanese foods. A traditional meal consists of tea, soup, grain, beans/tofu, veggies and a dessert (see menu and details http://www.peninsulamacro.org). People come for the food but stay for the community. Seating is communal, with an emphasis of making newcomers feel welcomed. It brings together people from every generation, ages range from 0-100. However, the true magic happens in the kitchen. This crew of committed volunteers and team members are guided by their fearless chef who goes to the market …

Lemon Miso Vinaigrette

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Spring is in the air, stew season is finally over and fresh salads are ready to take center stage. As you all know, a salad is only as good as its dressing and your dressing is only as good as your ingredients. I have often stocked my kitchen with various cold pressed oils and bowls of fresh lemons but it wasn’t until my visit to Esalen that I starting incorporating miso paste. What is this delightfully tasty concoction? It’s a mixture of fermented soybeans, salt and koji. Miso outranks many other flavorful ingredients in nutrition as it is high in protein, vitamins and minerals. It is a secret ingredient used to add depth and balance to your meals. The video, at the beginning of this article, is of Esalen Institute’s Chef. Phillip Burrus teaching us how to create a simple, but umami inspired vinagrette in the garden. We hope you enjoy!   Recipe: 6 tablespoons of almond oil or olive oil 2 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon 1 teaspoon of miso (maybe a dash more if the miso is mild) …

Preserved Lemons w/ Chef Phillip Burrus

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The Wild Skillet team had the amazing opportunity to visit with one of our favorite chefs, Phillip Burrus, executive chef at Esalen Institute located in Big Sur, CA. The food at Esalen is world-renowned. People come from all over to enjoy the flavors of fresh-picked ingredients aligned with a synergy of ancient & modern cooking techniques. In Esalen’s gorgeous garden, between the rows of leafy green crops and perennial flowers, Chef Phillip taught us one of his favorite techniques, lemon preservation. A Moroccan delicacy, mellow but bold in flavor with a heightened essence of vibrant lemon zest. Preserved lemons are an affordable and a practical method of enjoying lemons long after they have been harvested. There’s something very instinctual about food preservation, as it has permeated almost every culture and helped humans survive extreme climates. Although preserved lemons are usually associated with Mediterranean cooking, after a little digging, we’ve found out that they’ve been used in recipes all around the world from the Greeks to Russians, and even in early 19th Century English cookbooks! When …

Feed your Face w/ SuperFoods

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Skin care products make bold promises. But, the truth about chemicals and other hard to pronounce ingredients are rather blurred. Here at Wild Skillet, we only showcase REAL (delicious) foods that contain nutrients and anti-aging properties which help promote healthy, radiant skin. Kim Sevy, our friend and founder of Alkim Me, shows us how easy it is to pamper and heal your skin with natural ingredients found in your home. Save that overly ripe avocado that’s been sitting in your pantry! Kim Sevy’s Avocado Cocoa Facial is a beautiful reason to save that trip to the esthetician! Avocado Cocoa Facial made with Avocado, Honey, Cocoa Powder and Yogurt Ingredients 1 Large Ripe Avocado 1 tsp of raw organic cocoa powder 2 TBSP Raw Organic Honey 2 TBSP organic plain yogurt Directions Remove the pit from the avocado and scoop the flesh of the avocado into a bowl or place in a blender. Add the Honey, Cocoa and Yogurt and blend or mash with a mortal and pestle until smooth and creamy. Apply the mask to freshly washed and warm skin, …

Winter Tonic with Ginger and Turmeric

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It’s positively bone chilling out there! While your first instinct might be to go for a cup of fatty-rich hot cocoa or caffeine-riddled coffee, why not give this option a try? It’s dairy free, aromatic, and LOADED with immune system boosters. It contains ginger, a spicy holiday flavor that has anti-inflammatory and digestion aiding properties. Plus, this tonic has a heavy hit of marigold-colored turmeric which has been shown to help arthritis, upset stomach, and even fight some types of cancer. Add some sweet honey and rich coconut milk, and you will be hoping that winter lasts all year long.  Wild Winter Tonic Ingredients 1/2 teaspoon Tumeric 2 1/4 – inch peeled slice of Ginger Tea leaves (any preference: we used an herbal blend of floral tea) 1 teaspoon Honey Coconut Milk (added to taste) 1 1/2 cup hot water Add the above ingredients into a mug and stir until all the ingredients have been infused into your mixture. The sliced ginger can be removed before drinking or finely grated to taste. Our winter tonic is a great way to …

Hangover Begone!

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Your inbox is overflowing with holiday party invitations and caroling soirees. Yet, with each fete, the chances of getting a hangover increases. It’s the perfect storm of too many parties, family gatherings, and flutes of champagne on pretty silver platters floating around you. Now, how do you survive the holiday season hangover free? First, start the day with lots of healthy food, water, your vitamins (especially Vit B) and perhaps even a run or yoga class before the shindig starts. As a bonus, these steps make your skin glow as well as prepping your body for a night of festivities that won’t have you reaching for a painkiller the morning after. Full-proof ways to avoid a hang over 1. Start the party with a glass a water, then alternate between glasses of water and alcohol. Your host/ waiters/ friends probably likes to see a full glass in everyone’s hand, it means that guests are taken care of and the party is a success. It’s psychological, but even a glass filled with water will put everyone …

Horseradish

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There are some things that, when experienced, ruin you forever. Your first expensive watch. Flying business class. And, of course, freshly grated horseradish. Once you taste freshly grated horseradish you will never go back to buying store bought. It can be added to  anything mashed potatoes to grown-up baked mac and cheese to a quick jus. Making your own horseradish is super easy; in fact we turned it into a completely ridiculous 2 minute video just to prove how simple it is: [vimeo https://vimeo.com/112146839] Vibrant Health Benefits: Not only is horseradish a perfect low-calorie, non-fat way to boost the flavor of your food & cocktails, it’s also nutritious. It has powerful antioxidant properties that can alleviate sinus discomfort and sinus infections by ridding our bodies of excess mucus. It also hosts antibacterial properties which can destroy the harmful bacteria in the throat and reduce the chances of bronchitis and coughs, as well as increasing blood flow to the infected area and help rapidly remove waste products from the body. The glucosinolates in horseradish have the potential to increase human resistance to cancer and environmental …

2014 Thanksgiving Food Trends

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Everyone loves Thanksgiving. It’s non-denominational, totally appropriate to have friends at the table, and it’s focused around FOOD! What could be better? How about a Thanksgiving that doesn’t also require a gallon of Pepto Bismol and a Coscto-sized tub of antacids. This years trends are centered around flavor, adding new unexpected spices and more fresh organic ingredients. Take a look at the trends that pay homage to the past with a modern, tasty, and wholesome twist. Organic Turkey You guessed it, the trend continues to center around organic, free range, Heritage turkey.  Not only does free range/organic turkey taste better but its healthier. Who needs more hormones, chemicals and antibiotics in their body? Turkey is high in protein and low in fat. Even the dark meat isn’t too bad for you as long as you don’t eat the skin. It may come as a surprise but turkey meat is actually the healthier option when compared to chicken. Dark turkey meat is comparable in nutrients and calories to white chicken breast, but it’s tastier. However, chicken thighs have 3 times the fat as a …

The Half Shell

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Everyone has heard the old adage “the world is your oyster” by Sir William Shakespeare. But, the real question is…why haven’t you made the oyster your world. This handheld, portable food has captivated foodies for centuries with its elegant appearance, unique taste, and mysterious aphrodisiac properties. Most people fall into the category of lovers or “shruggers” of raw oysters. It took me at least a dozen oyster tries over the course of 15 years to finally fall in love with these gorgeous salty treats. As with all infatuations, I have become obsessed with the history, healthy benefits and yummy recipes. In 1870’s, most San Francisco residents ate oysters daily from successful gold miners to the local street vendors straight out of the bay. Today, 98% of the oysters we eat are farmed/sustainable and delicious. They provide a source of protein and minerals, low in cholesterol and carbohydrates. Basically, every foodie dieter’s dream. They are high in omega-3 fatty acids, great for your skin, heart and helps lower cholesterol. These important fatty acids also improve brain function which helps release …