Walu with warning

Kauai meal (Walu), originally uploaded by Derwyn.

The BEST fish you will EVER eat...but don't each too much.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escolar

Read about the "effects of consumption". Of course I typically eat less than the average American so experienced no ill effects.

Avocado and salsa with egg

Kauai meal, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

We only had one avocado in Kauai but it was good. Everything here was purchased at local farmers markets or co-ops. Friends told us to stop at Safeway to stock up because there were no good places to get food. They could not have been more wrong.

Kauai Fruit

Kauai Fruit, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

Breakfast in Kauai.

Raw fish (Tuna), seaweed, corn, rice and broccoli

Kauai meal, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

This wasn't quite home (it was Kauai) but we did cook at out temporary home...so it counts. We pretty much ate fresh (many times raw) fish daily. It was the best part about Hawaii...other than the sun and the ocean and the fruit and the.....

Grilled pork chop, grilled peaches and yes..grilled asparagus.

DSC_0006, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

We had an early summer so we grilled with friends.

Waffle

DSC_0062, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

So, I'm at a friends house and at some point it comes up that they have a waffle iron from about 10 years ago still in the box never opened. Um Helloooooo!

The next morning with my "new" waffle iron I whipped up some melt in your mouth waffles. I think I also figured out what makes good waffles.

1. Fluffy egg whites.
2. Butter
3. A waffle iron...duh...but actually I think it's because of the steam factor. I'm just guessing but the same batter with pancakes are much less fluffy and moist. I think it's the steam.

Home made yogurt

DSC_0070, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

How sweet it is. Purchased a yogurt maker (Seems it's just a glorified pot warmer with a cover). Anyhow, made my first batch. Ate with some of our fresh strawberries from the garden and a tiny bit of Maple Syrup...better than anything store bought fooooor suuuuuure.

Mixed greens with olive oil and balsamic. Pan seared tuna.

DSC_0288, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

Note on the pan seared tuna. It was sushi grade frozen from the farmers market. I rinsed and dried it. Added salt pepper and olive oil. With my cast iron skillet on high I seared all sides. Just before pulling it off I squeezed lemon on it. I only cooked each side for maybe 20-30 seconds. The more you cook it the worse it tastes.

Soup with greens, potatoes, beans, jarred tomatoes, garlic...anything really.

DSC_0280, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

Elk marinated in beer and soy sauce. Kale and Potatoes.

DSC_0275, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

Note on the greens. I think I've mentioned this. Boil water, throw greens in, wait 2-3 minutes, pull them out, add olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and a dash of lemon. Perfect every time.

Barley and mushrooms, squash and a mess o' greens.

DSC_0036, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

It is worth noting on this one that we have been doing our greens in a slightly different way. Instead of our traditional slow cook with oil and vinegar we now flash boil for only a minute or so, drain and then add olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper to coat. It tastes a bit fresher and still has a slight crunch.

Breaded elk with potatoes and red cabbage.

DSC_0033, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

That which makes up our daily shake.

DSC_0029, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

The bowl is carrot, beat, ginger, celery juice. The pear, orange, cucumber, yogurt, walnuts...what ever else is in season (berries) all go in whole. Rice milk or water is added if it's too thick. Flax seed oil is also added on occasion.

Buffalo burgers with caramelized onions, avocado etc. Baked, sliced potatoes on the side.

DSC_0023, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

Thai meatballs with bok choy and rice noodles

DSC_0020, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

So what makes up a Thai meatball? Well I'm not so sure but I did some experimenting with some ground buffalo and mixed it with fish sauce, chilies, soy sauce, lemon grass, cilantro, lime etc. In the end it worked out fairly well but could use some more experimentation.

Sort of a Thai style soup with buffalo and rice

DSC_0009, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

We've been on a soup kick. Basically every so often we cook a whole chicken and then I make a broth. Or I get some beef bones and make a broth. Either way this results in many jars of lovely broth which is really key to a good soup. (Oh, and I add some Chinese immune boosting herbs to the broth, Oh Yes!)

From here it's what ever strikes your fancy.

Vegetarian soup with polenta made from fresh ground corn (farmers market)

DSC_0001, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

I've always been only a warm fan of polenta. Whenever I make it I always add tons of parmesan, salt, pepper herbs etc. And still it's not that exciting. Last year in the fall I found at a local farmers market fresh ground corn. Cooking this with water and nothing else results in an incredibly flavorful polenta that I crave all year until fall rolls around again and I can re stock.

Chicken roasted in a romatoff with potatoes , carrots and lots of whole garlic cloves. Collards on the side

DSC_0004, originally uploaded by Derwyn.

Potatoes greens and rice on a tortilla

DSC_0008 (5), originally uploaded by Derwyn.

Chicken noodle soup

DSC_0031 (1), originally uploaded by Derwyn.