blood orange upside down cake {v+gf}

blood orange upside down cake {v+gf}

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

We had our friend Jack over for dinner the other night, and this cake was such a hit, we all had seconds (excluding the pieces we had earlier that day when recipe testing). This blood orange upside down cake is one of my favorite recipes of the year—yes it’s only February, but still, I’m really excited about it. You can throw it all together in about 15 minutes, plus baking and cooling time. The color of the blood oranges is festive enough to make for your sweetie on Valentine’s Day (perhaps a romantic date night in to beat the restaurant crowd)…but you never really need a reason to bake a cake, do yah?

quick curried chickpea salad

quick curried chickpea salad

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

This curried chickpea salad has been my go-to lunch as of late. I like to spoon it on top of an avocado half or eat it with sliced cherry tomatoes (they still have great tomatoes at the market here in London). It would also be delicious in a sandwich with some micro-greens, or stuffed inside pita bread (I just haven’t found any gluten-free versions yet). It takes no longer than five minutes to throw together and is a healthy alternative to the traditional mayo-laden comfort food. For at least 20 years I’ve abstained from any sort of creamy, chilled salad—I dislike mayonnaise with a passion. However, time and distance has allowed me to revisit the concept of a cold-salad sandwich, and create a modern take on it.

easy homemade tomato soup {v+gf}

easy homemade tomato soup {v+gf}

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

It’s been so cold here in Los Angeles the past couple weeks, although nothing compared to most places experiencing winter, I’m sure. Alas, we are wimps in southern California and anything below 60 F is pretty much considered FREEZING. This easy homemade tomato soup will warm you up wherever you are, takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and is packed with bright, refreshing flavors from the vibrant tomatoes and sherry vinegar. For those of us trying to detox from the holidays, it’s a healthy and satisfying dinner or lunch option too.

cuzco top 10

cuzco top 10

Mary Bell
Travel

I’ve been meaning to post this itinerary for about a year now, since Joshua and I took a trip to South America for my best friend’s wedding, but with some distance, I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the experience through photos and personal notes. With it’s dramatic landscape, narrow cobblestone streets, brightly-clad-llama-toting women, and proximity to Machu Picchu, the Ancient Incan capital of Cuzco (also spelled Cusco) is a once in a lifetime, perhaps more if you’re lucky, destination that appears on many bucket lists. There are endless day trips, adventures and experiences to be had—here are my top 10.

easy tahini cookies {v+gf}

easy tahini cookies {v+gf}

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

These grain-free tahini cookies are the perfect holiday treat, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamon and topped with sea salt, crushed pistachios and dried rose petals. The cookies are delicately sweetened with maple syrup and have a savory note from the tahini and sea salt flakes. They take about ten minutes to throw together and you can swap out the toppings for anything you like—sesame seeds, pecans or dried cranberries.

greek baked beans in tomato sauce

greek baked beans in tomato sauce

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

This cozy, vibrant dish is easy to put together and packed with layers of flavor from the rich tomato sauce to the zesty parsley oil. I stumbled across this recipe for Greek baked beans in tomato sauce a couple months ago from one of my favorite food blogs, Bojon Gourmet. Since then, I’ve been making them every week. This dish is perfect for a dinner party as you can prepare everything ahead of time. Serve the Greek baked beans alongside a light salad and crusty sourdough.

cornbread stuffing {v+gf}

cornbread stuffing {v+gf}

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

I’ve been making a variation of this recipe, from one of my favorite food blogs, Feasting at Home, for a couple years now as a meat-free alternative for Thanksgiving. I finally got around to writing the down recipe as a few people have asked me for it. This time, I made a gluten-free and vegan skillet cornbread rather than a store-bought GF baguette and it was sooo delicious! It does add an extra step to this recipe, but I enjoy spending time in the kitchen with family and friends especially on a day practically devoted to cooking and feasting.

easy skillet cornbread {v+gf}

easy skillet cornbread {v+gf}

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

This cornbread is fluffy and moist, with crispy edges and a warm and savory taste. It takes about five minutes to prepare and the rest of the magic happens in the oven. I made it for a vegetarian stuffing and figured I just had to share the recipe. It’s the perfect gluten-free and vegan accompaniment to a holiday feast, warm soup, a hearty salad, chili—or a flavorful alternative to bread for your holiday stuffing.

meal plan, 11.14.18

meal plan, 11.14.18

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

I’m not a big meal planner per se—I like going to the farmer’s market with an open-mind, talking to the vendors about what’s good and finding new or different ingredients to cook with. Some of my best dishes were created without any recipes, just intuitive cooking. Friends and family ask what I cook during the week or when I’m not documenting my recipes, so I thought I’d share! Here’s what I bought at the market this week and how I plan to use the ingredients.

easy 10-ingredient apple galette

easy 10-ingredient apple galette

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

Delicately sweet, warm cinnamon and apples wrapped up in a savory crust with flakes of sea salt. Sometimes you just need a little something to warm the heart. This 10-ingredient vegan and gluten-free apple galette is easy to prepare and will permeate your house with the scent of fall.

48 hours in prague

48 hours in prague

Mary Bell
Travel

Prague is a picturesque city centered on either side of the Vltava River. Its charming cobblestone streets and cozy vibe make it the perfect place to explore by foot. Ideally you will have more than two days in this romantic city, but any time spent here will leave you wishing you had more.

butternut squash mac and cheese {v+gf}

butternut squash mac and cheese {v+gf}

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

This butternut squash mac and cheese recipe is cozy, comforting, rich, “cheesy” and healthy-ish?? Well, it is filled with tons of disguised veggies blended together into deliciousness. The breaded top adds a nice crunchy texture that is oh-so-yummy when combined with the creaminess of the mac n' cheese. I have been waiting for fall just so I could share this recipe with you, and am so excited for you to try it!

simple creamy-miso lentil pasta {v+gf}

simple creamy-miso lentil pasta {v+gf}

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

This simple creamy-miso lentil pasta is one of my go-to weeknight recipes that comes together with items you probably already have in your pantry, save maybe the miso…but don’t leave it out, it’s the star ingredient here, and gives the dish that nice umami flavor. The pasta is relatively bright for the fall, brought on by the citrus notes from the lemon and peppery arugula, not to mention packed with protein and healthy fats from the lentil pasta, olives and cashews. Californians will definitely want to add an avocado to the dish (I do, and you should!), but it’s not necessary.

pomegranate and pistachio breakfast toast

pomegranate and pistachio breakfast toast

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

Fall’s here and just like that, berries and peaches are gone from the markets and pomegranates, apples and grapes are a plenty. Although I’ll miss the vibrant summer produce, here’s a little piece of heaven that comes together with five ingredients—two pieces of toasted bread, a slab of nut butter, a sprinkling of pistachios and pomegranate seeds, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Badda-bing, badda-boom.

homemade almond butter

homemade almond butter

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

Spoon it. Spread it. Dip it.

There are many ways to consume almond butter and I participate in ALL OF THEM. It’s no longer recreational; I’m addicted. And, like many things, once you go homemade you’ll never go back. Almond butter is the perfect addition to overnight oats, this nut & seed bread or perhaps a rice cake with sea salt flakes…you can eat a spoonful as a snack or spread some on an apple or celery stick—the possibilities are limitless! Add in any additional ingredients you fancy—sea salt, maple syrup, honey or cinnamon. But it’s nice to keep it simple, and add the other stuff later depending on what you feel like. Do you want something savory or sweet? That may change from day to day so it’s nice to keep your options open.

healthy breakfast muffins {v+gf}

healthy breakfast muffins {v+gf}

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

You know when you want to impress others by baking something yummy but just don’t feel like putting forth too much effort? Or you want something warm and cozy for breakfast but also healthy-ish? Or if you’re like me and stocked up on the last peaches of the season and are wondering how to implement them into yet another recipe—this one’s for you kid! These peach and almond breakfast muffins are easy to make, subtlety sweet, nutty and downright delightful. Eat them straight out of the oven or with a little “butter” or butter. Perhaps drizzle some honey or maple syrup over the top for some added sweetness?!

easy homemade hummus

easy homemade hummus

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

This hummus is creamy, smooth and delicious. Plus, it takes less than five minutes to prepare without the additives found in store-bought hummus. Just toss all the ingredients into a food processor or blender, pulse on high-speed and voila—you’ve got yourself some homemade hummus. So easy, yet others will be impressed.

fig crumble bars

fig crumble bars

Mary Bell
Food & Libations

Soft, slightly sweet crumble bars with golden, lightly crisped edges (for those who like the corner pieces!). Kind of like cookies, but with more depth and less guilt. Eat these bars for breakfast, an afternoon delight or post-dinner treat a la mode. Sub any ripened fruit you like!

tokyo city guide

tokyo city guide

Mary Bell
Travel

There are two sides of Tokyo: the bright lights of Shinjuki and Shibuya, and the cozy side, nestled in back allies and hidden nooks throughout the city.  People here tend to find a craft and master it to perfection. Whether it be making coffee, sushi or glass blowing--everything is done with precision and care.  You could spend years in Tokyo and hardly scratch the surface.  Here are some tips as well as my favorites places, but by no means even close to a comprehensive guide, merely things I skimmed off the top.

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