Nibbles | theclothesmakethegirl

Current category: 'Nibbles.'

Dec 31, 2012 Posted by Mel

Savory Paleo Granola

You know what says “New Year’s Eve”? Chex Mix! You know what I’m not eating on New Year’s Eve? Chex Mix! Need something spicy, crispy, crunchy, flavorful, and totally snackable for a special occasion or, ya know, a random Wednesday? Let me introduce you to Serundeng Katjang, or what I like to call Savory Granola. Traditionally, serundeng katjang is an Indonesian condiment made... read more

Apr 18, 2012 Posted by Mel

Casa Muy Grande Plantains

As much as I enjoy playing in the kitchen, I like to balance “project recipes” (I’m looking at you, Paleo Chicken Bastila.) and dead-simple dishes that require almost no work with a big flavor payoff. This Tropical Chopped Salad is part of my series of Super Simple recipes that are made with minimal fuss and just a few ingredients. When we arrived in Costa Rica a few days ago, our first... read more

Mar 29, 2012 Posted by Mel

Paleo Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmas)

I’ve probably eaten hundreds (if not thousands) of stuffed grape leaves in my life. And about 99% of them were made by my dad. We always called them “stuffed grape leaves,” never dolmas, and they were pretty straight forward: white rice, lamb, minimal seasonings, and a light coating of lemon-egg sauce. We’d soak the leaves in the sink (never in a bowl), then my dad and I would... read more

Sep 5, 2011 Posted by Mel

Spicy Almond Butter

It’s hormone-poisoning week once again, so my appetite and my hormones are all over the place. Inspired by another food blogger’s experiment with savory almond butter, I got to wondering… what would happen if I made almond butter seasoned with the spices from my favorite spiced nut recipe? The answer: Danger, Will Robinson! Its salty-sweet nuttiness means it’s the answer to the... read more

Jul 15, 2011 Posted by Mel

Spiced Cantaloupe

I’ve never liked cantaloupe. The texture always seems off – either too hard and flavorless, or too soft and sickeningly sweet. Blame our conventional produce production cycle, but, frankly, I’ve never understood the appeal of this melon-colored melon. When it shows up on a restaurant fruit plate, I eat around it or force it on Dave. But last week, our Farmhouse Delivery included a... read more

Jun 29, 2011 Posted by Mel

Summer Potluck? Gotcha Covered

Summer is about to jump off the hook. We’re just a few days away from the numero uno, all-American, let’s-have-a-giant-food-fest-in-the-name-of-patriotism holiday. I’m joining in the new Whole30 that starts on July 1, so I’m shoring up my commitment to help me navigate our social calendar, which is currently bursting at the seams with get-togethers, travel, cookbook... read more

Jun 13, 2011 Posted by Mel

Caramelized Coconut Chips

This is barely a recipe, but my kitchen experiment – Man! I really want something salty-crispy right now. I wonder what would happen if I toasted these things then sprinkled them with salt? – yielded such surprisingly irresistible results, I feel compelled to share. I’m not sure if you’ll compliment or curse me after you’ve tried these. I’m ready for either response (and... read more

Feb 27, 2011 Posted by Mel

Smoky Pear Bites

I can’t tell you how desperately I wished this morning that I could just order a pizza for us to nosh on while we watch the Academy Awards tonight. But I didn’t do it! Instead, as I lounge on the couch in my ridiculously cute leopard-and-pink-rose print pajamas (with ruffles on the sleeve and pant cuffs, no less), we’ll be enjoying delicious dino-chow snacks. On our menu: Applegate Farms... read more

Feb 22, 2011 Posted by Mel

Homemade Coconut Butter. F Yeah.

You know what this is? That is coconut butter waiting to be released from its constricting flake form. Like most of the Whole30, dino-chow, paleo people I know, I’ve been gradually falling more and more deeply in love with coconut products. It started with the aforementioned coconut flakes as a snack, evolved into coconut oil as the fat of choice in all of my sauté pans, reached a fever pitch with... read more

Dec 30, 2010 Posted by Mel

Dino-Chow New Year’s Eve Nibbles

What’s the difference between everyday dino-chow and special occasion dino-chow? The size, shape, and presentation of your food. Make your favorite foods in a tiny, individual serving or roll ‘em into a ball or impale ‘em on a stick or cut ‘em into a fun shape, and suddenly, it’s a party! I’ve had this little hors d’oeuvre cookbook for ages, and flipping through... read more

Jul 1, 2010 Posted by Mel

Paleo Picnic: Treat Yourself Right

If you’re like me, the Fourth of July means hot, sticky weather and a big ol’ cookout. In our family, the Fourth was also our family reunion… all the Stramaras would gather at the Happy Holidays Pavilion where we could swim in the pool, explore the marshes behind the picnic area, and eat eat eat at splintery wooden picnic tables that buckled under the load of homemade Italian food. My dad... read more

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Reading right now...

The Redbreast: A Harry Hole Novel
I'm about two-thirds of the way through this detective thriller, and I'm hooked. It's set in modern Norway with flashbacks to WWII (catnip for me!) and features a somewhat grim hero that engenders empathy. I can't help pulling for the guy as I watch him struggle with his case and his life. The cast of characters is a realistic but motley crew, and it reminds me of other favorites set in cold, snowy climes: the Millenium Trilogy and Smila's Sense of Snow.
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I picked up this book after reading an interview with Lee Child (author of the Jack Reacher thrillers). He referred to The Lost as "the book of the century" and since I devour as much as I can about the Holocaust to try to make sense of it all, I decided I needed to read it immediately. Part memoir, part detective tale, this book was thoroughly engrossing. It's intelligent, annoying, moving, frustrating, and ultimately, rewarding and beautifully written. It challenged me in ways I didn't expect, and I was sad when it was finished.