Author: Amanda

Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles

- Amanda

It’s been a while since I posted and with only ten days left of summer,  I’m going to try and share as many of our favorite recipes from these last couple months as I can.

Ok, I know what you might be thinking.  Pickles, really?  Or, why make pickles?  There are so many good ones out there to buy…Have you tried making your own pickles?  If you haven’t, I recommend giving it a go.  They’re super easy to make and taste pretty darn delicious and you can totally tailor the spices to your hearts desire.  Now, I’ll admit, my interest in making them came about from a need, more than an initial desire.  In my quest for organic pickles here in Istanbul, I only found one option over at Eataly (I love that place.)  I was so excited to bring them home and open them up.  Unfortunately, we weren’t fans.  The flavor was quite different than we were used to.  And during the warmer days of summer, a crisp cold pickle sometimes just hits the spot whether it’s for snacking straight out of the jar or complimenting a sandwich or juicy burger.  So, I turned to making my own.  Man, was I so glad I did. Read more

How to Keep Fresh Strawberries Lasting Longer

- Amanda

Ever bring home a gorgeous basket of fresh strawberries, pop them in the fridge and then have them go bad before you’ve had a chance to finish them?  It’s definitely something we’ve been guilty of over here.  And not just with strawberries, unfortunately other fruits and vegetables too.

When Spring came in full bloom and deliciously sweet strawberries started showing up at the organic bazaar, I happily brought home two large baskets with each weekly visit.  And since organic fruit here, perhaps everywhere, is quite a bit more expensive than the conventional variety, I try to get the most out of all the produce we buy.  Strawberries are no exception.  So after a bit of research and trial and error, I found the method that really works wonders at keeping them lasting a week, maybe even a few days longer than that and even longer in the freezer. Read more

Black Bean & Mango Quinoa Salad

- Amanda

This quinoa salad is super quick to throw together and such a great meal option.  It’s perfectly satisfying as a quick lunch throughout the week or a light and healthy dinner on top of some greens with a little extra drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lime juice.  It also packs beautifully to bring to your next summer BBQ or picnic.  The extra bonus of it being vegan, dairy free, gluten free, and nut free makes it a true crowd pleaser.  Read more

Welcome World and Hello Summer!

- Amanda

 

So here it goes.  My first blog post here on A Treat Life.  Welcome and thanks for stopping by.  I’ve gotta admit I’ve been putting this off.  Taking that first leap is always the hardest part, isn’t it?  It is for me at least.  Stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something new or new again was a little scary.  But I’m excited to share some recipes again and see where this goes.  I hope you’ll enjoy along with me.  Read more