Meet OAMM blog partner Alyssa of Everyday Maven. She shares real food recipes for real families with an international flare. I think many of us can relate to her story in which she covers everything from Weight Watchers to Whole30!
Original: Sesame Orange Beef with Bean Sprouts and Green Beans (Diet, GFDF, Whole Foods)
Freezable: Sesame Orange Beef with Bean Sprouts and Green Beans (log-in required)
Original: PB and J Smoothie (Traditional, Diet, Weight Watchers)
Freezable: PB and J Smoothie (log-in required)
Alyssa’s readers also rave about her Garlic Rubbed Roasted Cabbage Steaks (her number one recipe) and her Paleo Oven Fried Chicken. Connect with Alyssa on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for more wholesome and delicious recipes!
How long have you been blogging about food?
Since 2011.
Have you always loved cooking, or was it a skill that you learned to love? Who taught you to cook?
I have always been interested in food and healthy cooking. My mom, a classically trained chef, taught me to appreciate fresh food and explore new cuisines at a young age. While I did grow up with a fundamental knowledge of ingredients and cooking techniques, it wasn’t until I got married that I really started to dive deep into cooking. I haven’t stopped since!
What is your favorite meal to serve to family and friends?
Something exotic – I love to have theme dinners where all the ingredients or courses are from another culture. Not only is it a great way to try new foods and flavors but makes for great dinner conversation.
What is your favorite treat to make for yourself?
Since I have more of a savory palate than a sweet tooth, it has to be some type of decadent seafood dish with a variety of fresh shellfish. This is definitely a treat since high-quality shellfish are super expensive!
What is your favorite kitchen tool or gadget? Tell us a little about how you fell in love with it and how you use it in your kitchen.
Right now it is this mini wood cutting board. It is probably 4” x 6”, but it is so handy for everything like quickly cutting citrus or single vegetable without dirtying a whole huge cutting board. It comes in super handy during salad making and food prep!
When you are meal planning or looking for new recipes, what kind of guidelines do you follow for choosing them? Or what inspires you in the kitchen?
I am always thinking about trying new foods and new cooking techniques. Since I am a mom and have two sons (one is still a baby), I like to find recipes that are accessible enough for my older son to be interested in but different enough to continue to push his palate and understanding of food ingredients and other cultures food. Right now I am most inspired by the growing seasons. We just recently started an organic P-Patch (community garden) and have ambitious plans to eat many meals from it this summer!
What items are ALWAYS on your grocery list?
Green vegetables of all kinds, some type of potato or squash, citrus, seasonal fruit, eggs, butter, olives, canned fish, something fermented (sauerkraut, kombucha, kimchi, etc.), lots of fresh herbs (although we hope to grow our own this year!), onions, ginger, garlic, avocados, grape tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots and other fresh veggies for salads. We also seem to always be buying dog treats since our older son likes to be very, very generous with the treats and we are always running out. We get most of our meats from local farmers but also look for sales on pastured beef, pork, chicken and local seafood.
What items will you NEVER put on your grocery list?
Most packaged snack foods but especially anything with artificial colors, preservatives or GMO ingredients.
Tell us the best kitchen tip or trick that you’ve ever discovered.
To quickly peel fresh ginger root, take a small spoon (think teaspoon) and gently scrap at the skin with a downward motion. It works like a charm every single time!
What do you like to do when you aren’t cooking or blogging?
I have two small kids. Enough said right?! We love to explore the PNW (we are transplants so there is a lot to see!), walking or hiking with our dog, reading, new hobby is gardening and of course, eating out!
Have you ever freezer cooked? Share some of your favorite recipes or tips.
Yes! Just recently in preparation for the birth of our second son, we stocked the freezer with multiple soups, chilis, sauces, dinners and breakfast casseroles. My best tip is getting as prepared as possible. Definitely use a master shopping and prep list and making sure you have all the right freezer containers for when the food is done.
Interested in being a featured Blog Partner with OAMM? Fill out our application today!