Secrets to a Happy Marriage
They say the key to any successful relationship is communication. As new parents, Pea Daddy and I always made time to say those three little words: “It’s your turn.” So we decided to institute a daily email policy. Every single day, no matter what, we emailed each other a message containing three statements: 1. Today I feel _______. 2. I love you because ______. 3. [insert one question to ask your significant other] I kept every email... Read More
Cake On a Stick
Let’s just say I walked into Starbucks one morning last week. Better yet, let’s just say I never wrote this post bragging about how I gave up coffee. (Sometimes I should really keep my mouth shut.) So after getting up at 5 am to do a radio interview with someone in the Midwest who had unfairly already been up for hours and even more unfairly asked me on-air for a good gravy recipe, I needed a real cup of coffee. None of this weak sauce that... Read More
A Mighty Wind
Any time I have to go somewhere and leave Pea Daddy in charge, I get scared. I’m not scared the girls will get hurt, be underfed or even that they will walk around with mismatched clothes and unkempt hair. I’m not here, why should I care? My main concern now is what I will return home to. It’s happened before: A new tree. Not a bouquet of flowers in a subtle vase. An entire living, breathing tree that someone paid for with... Read More
Dinner Tonight: Cauliflower Cacciatore
I have to fill you in at some point on all that went down at the Vegan Vida Conference this weekend. About how star struck I was when I met Isa Chandra Moskowitz yesterday. And how embarrassed I was when the whole Pea family almost ran smack-dab into her when we came out of the bathroom today. Yes, all of us. In one bathroom. We were like clowns get out of a tiny car and trampling the coolest vegan cookbook author ever. About why for some reason,... Read More
Guest Post: YOU!
What a week. I need to wash my hair. Badly. I’m speaking on two panels at the Vida Vegan Conference this weekend. (If you see me at VVC, say hi! And don’t look at my hair.) I need to go school supply shopping. Both girls are in school this year. Make it stop. I’m taking Lulu to get her vaccinations for preschool tomorrow. Don’t tell. I finally took off the shellac polish I’d been wearing for the last month and a half. ... Read More
My Favorite Recipeas and Big News! (GIVEAWAY)
I have a little news to share with you. I’m dying to tell you. But as a part of this week’s festivities, I promised to share with you which of the recipeas on our site and in our book are my very personal favorites. News or no news, I keep my promises. Which also explains why today, I took my two children, as promised, to the absolute worst theme park in the history of theme parks. And they had a blast. I predict listing out my... Read More
Going Veg: The Why and The How
I intentionally don’t preach about our lifestyle. There are several reasons for this: 1. I don’t like being told what to do, so I feel like telling you what you should do is hypocritical. Tell me you agree with me. Do it now. 2. There are lots of fantastic resources already out there to point out the merits of a veg lifestyle. I can list them out for you. 3. I don’t like to play favorites among all the good reasons to give up eating... Read More
Lunchbox Secret Weapon: Sunflower Seed Butter
It’s allergy season around here. Lulu is allergic to bedtime. Not only does she have to say her prayers three times each night, but she has to say them in different voices for each of her stuffed animals. About ten minutes in, I usually end up praying myself: “Dear God, let this be over soon.” Gigi is still allergic to pants. This explains why she wore a frilly fuchsia sundress to a soccer game yesterday. At least there’s no... Read More
The One Where You Show Me Yours
Geez, you guys are adorable. I absolutely loved getting all of your photos these last few days as a part of our Appreciation Week! There were so many great photos, I’m going to try to upload all of them to our Facebook page so you all can drool and laugh over all of them as much as I did. But here are the winners of the $50 Visa gift cards and the Pea Packs. Peas and Thank You Photo Prizes What a good-looking bunch! (I hope... Read More
It Bears Repeating: Make My Man Eat Plants (GIVEAWAY)
I don’t speak for Pea Daddy, but I think he would say that he eats pretty well. Who am I kidding? I constantly speak for Pea Daddy. So I’ll say it, “He eats very well.” Even though you may have read the “meat” of this post before, I think it definitely bears repeating since the question I get asked almost daily is, “How do I get my boyfriend/husband/father to go along with a plant-based diet?” Before I get to that answer... Read More
How the Book Came to Be
Ever since I announced that we were writing a book, the requests came pouring in for me to explain how we got a book deal. And though I promised to write a post about it, I put it off. To be honest, I wasn’t sure the story was worth telling. An agent didn’t just stumble upon my blog, declare me a culinary genius and take me under her wing. A publishing house wasn’t scouring the internet for prospects, discovered my wacky anecdotes... Read More
Pea Sighting: KPTV Good Day Oregon (VIDEO)
Are you getting tired of seeing our TV clips? (Hush, Pea Daddy. No one asked you.) I hope not, because I’ve got this morning’s segment from KPTV 12’s Good Day Oregon to show you. And perhaps to entice you to pick up our book this weekend so you too can feel good about having margaritas for breakfast. Peas and Thank You I’ll be back this evening with our Fan Appreciation Week, Day 1 post, all about how we made the... Read More
A Week of Appreciation
The past three weeks have been crazy. The dishes are piling up. I’m so desperate to get them out of my sink that I’m doing moronic things like sticking my Vitamix in the dishwasher. It melted. It’s not pretty, but I’m still using it. Our dressers no longer serve a purpose, we are just getting dressed out of the basket. At least it’s the “clean” basket. I’ve worn the same mascara for three days in a row. It’s better for... Read More
Pea Sighting: Oregon Live, FOODday Interview (VIDEO)
Remember two weeks ago when The Oregonian reporter Grant Butler came over to cook with me and talk about our book? Well, he brought cameraman/videographer Thomas Boyd with him. And even though The Oregonian story won’t come out until next week, today they released our video that Tom shot and masterfully edited. (click below for video) A few disclaimers, before (or after) you press play: 1. As afraid as you might be that... Read More
Everyday Eats: Protein Trail Mix Cookies
I’m not a runner. I’m not even really an athlete anymore. You know I always stop doing pushups right before the workout DVD instructor says, “Three more!” She’s so bossy. But that doesn’t mean I’m not active. Especially after I’m done cheating on “girl pushups” and my day actually starts. Today, we went to the park. We jumped down from the jungle gym to run from a bee. Or a butterfly. Details, details. We wedged... Read More
Phoning It In
It was bound to happen–I’m sick. Logic would lead one to believe it was a result of the last few weeks, burning the candle at both ends coupled with far too few green vegetables during my Seattle trip. I, however, choose to blame Pea Daddy, as I usually do. Because while I was on my mini-Pacific Northwest book tour, he and the girls were on a full-blown, no-holds-barred Snot Tour. The carousel. (With greasy, smeary fingerprints up... Read More
Wannabe Recipea: Tater Tot Casserole
I’m not one to get worked up over details. That’s such a lie. I once had a Level 6 meltdown because Pea Daddy brought home chunky peanut butter instead of creamy. But I was the one who was going to have to serve Gigi a chunky sandwich. And it wasn’t just chunky, it was Super Chunky. She was Super Pissed. Still, I don’t get worked up over details when it comes to other people’s recipe requests. Need I remind you of Nour’s recipe... Read More
Pea Sighting: Meatless Meals on AM Northwest (VIDEO)
I was on AM Northwest this morning. I had only five short minutes. I wanted twenty-five. Hours. I kind of like being on TV. I really like making fun of pictures of myself being on TV. Which means for the second time this week, we’re going to play, “What Could I Possibly Be Asking the TV Assistant in This Picture?” a) “Where should I spit my chewing tobaccy?” b) “Think anyone would anyone notice if I swiped a meatball? ... Read More
Spectacular School Lunches
I don’t want summer to end. I’ll never be one of those moms that is counting down the days until school starts again. I like to have my children near me at all times so I can take undue credit for the wonderful little people everyone around us can’t help but notice that they are. (And since I’ve had three days away from them it’s very easy for me to say this.) But the other motivation for not wanting school to start comes from sheer... Read More
Meanwhile, Back at the Pod
I’ve been away from home for three days now. Pea Daddy has painstakingly taken steps to ensure life at the Pea Pod remains normal. Whatever that means. Lulu wore a lifejacket down the Slip N’ Slide. Safety first. Gigi practiced riding her bike around the cul-de-sac, with a jump rope tied with one end to her bike seat and one end to the little red wagon. With Lulu in the wagon. Wearing a life jacket. During our video chats, noses... Read More
Pea Sighting: New Day Northwest (VIDEO)
I was on New Day Northwest in Seattle this morning. Hello to you, new readers! You have no idea what you are in for. Deliciousness? Of course. Utter nonsense? Most likely. A good time? Always. Let’s play, “What Could I Possibly Be Asking the TV Producer in This Picture?” a) “Do you want fries with that?” b) “Is the Bachelor Pad premiere really three hours long tonight?” c) “Who do I have to talk to to get Ricky... Read More
Vegan Values: Saag Peaneer
If you are a connoisseur of Indian food, I owe you an apology. Actually, Gigi and Lulu owe you an apology. Good luck collecting that. I had every intention of making an authentic version of saag paneer. Well, except for the fact that I was not going to make my own carefully crafted blend of spices. Two year-old Costco bottle of cinnamon? Don’t mind if I do. And then there’s the tiny detail that my “authentic” saag paneer doesn’t... Read More
Recipea Reactions (GIVEAWAY)
Today was all about catch up. Not catching up on laundry, emails or removing dried condiments from the in-the-door shelves of the refrigerator. Goodness knows those all needed done. I think the soy sauce bottle is permanently stuck. Enjoy your plain rice tonight, family. Instead we caught up on cloud gazing. On teeter tottering at the park. On cooking something new. Can you take a raincheck on the recipea? How about Sunday, same time, same... Read More
A Spicy Interview
Food writer Grant Butler from The Oregonian came today to cook with me and do an interview about our book. I was jazzed. Even though he was the one asking the questions, while we were cooking, I fired right back. I found out his vote for the best veggie burger in Portland (DC Vegetarian Food Cart). I found out his favorite meal to cook up in his own kitchen (a homemade curry with brown basmati rice). I found out why he went vegan for a 30-day stint... Read More
Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner
The knives have been sharpened. The toys shoved in the playroom. There are fresh flowers on my counter for the first time since the last time Pea Daddy was a jerk. In other words, since never. Right now, I’m washing all of our silverware by hand to eliminate the proof Color-Stay lip color really does stay on everything. And I can’t come up with a good explanation for why the knife that we use for the almond butter jar permanently has... Read More
Eight Hours and Seven Links
Say hello to my little friend. I spent eight hours this morning on radio interviews across the nation to talk about our new book. It was a cruel joke that we scheduled our radio tour for 4 a.m., the night after The Bachelorette finale. I admit it, it was stupid to stay up ridiculously late to watch what will surely be long-lasting love between two complete strangers. I’d do it again. Therefore, say hello to my little friend. But it was... Read More
Dinner Tonight: Grilled Watermelon Salad
Pea Daddy has this uncanny knack for getting ideas stuck in his head and when he does, there’s no getting them out. He is the definition of tunnel vision. This explains so very, very much: Why he still hasn’t opened his Kindle. We are NOT getting an iPad. Unless, of course, one of us isn’t that attached to our kidneys. Why he has read at least five books on surfing in the last six months, even though he isn’t a strong swimmer.... Read More
