Throwback Thursday: Running my First Half Marathon

It seems like yesterday that a friend and I committed to running a half marathon. Now mind you running was never really my favorite pastime, I was much more interested in tennis or volleyball where quick sprints were just fine. However, given my athletic (and competitive) nature, I liked the idea of the challenge and committed to doing it! With the date on my calendar and a running schedule prepared, we hit the pavement logging numerous miles every week. The marathon was a success but given it was in San Francisco, Nike Women’s Half, my only regret was not training on more hills! From here I went on to run 4 more half marathons…I suppose I had what they call, “the runners high!”

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Cookbook Recommendation: Junior League of Seattle Celebrating the Rain

As a member of the Junior League, I am constantly amazed at just how incredible this organization is. From their countless philanthropic partnerships within communities around the world in which they serve to building leaders from within, they are a tremendous organization of women! Beside their philanthropic efforts, they also sell cookbooks! Most leagues (cities) have their own cookbook whose recipes are from their members each offering a unique voice and theme.  Regardless of what city you choose, they each offer a wonderful collection of treasured recipes from its members. Plus, they are fun to collect during your travels offering a taste of the local culture and cuisine!

However wonderful they all are, this week’s featured cookbook goes to Seattle’s Celebrating the Rain – and not because I am partial to The Emerald City! From excellent Northwest inspired appetizers, salads, soups, mains and sweets to choose from, you cannot go wrong with whichever recipe you choose. And, for those looking for a great gift idea, order your guest a book as a “welcome” to your beautiful city! Whether new to the city or on their way out, gifting a glimpse of the cities finest recipes is one sure way to make anyone happy! 

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Red White and Blue Angel Food Cake

If you are looking for a festive way to celebrate Fourth of July that is on the healthier side, check out my Red White and Blue Angel Food Cake!

Easy to prepare and popular among kids and adults alike, this recipe will no doubt be a winner at your Fourth of July celebration!

For other great recipes that are perfect for sharing around The Table Together, check out the “recipe” tab at thetabletogether.com.

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Weekend Happenings! Fourth of July

Dressed in red white and blue, this weekend is dedicated to celebrating our country’s independence. Whether that includes some quality beach time, BBQ-ing or simply saluting with a large slice of my famous red white and blue angel’s food cake (recipe can be found tomorrow at my website, The Table Together), I will be celebrating!!!

However you are celebrating Fourth of July tomorrow, I hope that you find time to gather your friends and family around The Table Together.

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Throwback Thursday: Artistry at Age 5

You may not think it from the picture above, but my days of artistry started at age 5. I may not have won any awards for my work, but you have to give me credit for at least trying! And, as I tell my friends that are just learning how to cook, you have to start somewhere.

Regardless of where you are on your journey to where you want to be, no day is better than today!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Cookbook Recommendation: "Cooking with Trader Joe's"

My sister is known for her cakes, especially the ones she makes for our birthdays. Her specialty, if we were to pick one, is her oreo crusted chocolate number compliments to Trader Joe’s. Easy to prepare and beneficial when made the day before (so it fully sets), it’s an excellent choice!!!

Cakes aren’t your thing? Cooking with Trader Joe’s Cookbook has numerous appetizers, salads and sides from which to choose.  Best of all, recipes are simple and easy to prepare – a winning combination when it comes to weeknight cooking!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

The Fundamentals to Making Perfect Vinaigrettes

Making a vinaigrette is one of the best ways to control the amount of calories added to your salad. From controlling your own salt, fat, sugar and flavor profiles, you can quickly make a delicious and healthy vinaigrette to your exact liking.

When making a vinaigrette, understanding the ratio of acid to oil is a key ingredient – pun intended – to a perfectly balanced vinaigrette. The amount of “zip” or “punch” in your vinaigrette is completely up to you but the general rule of thumb is 3:1. That is, 3 parts oil to 1 part acid.

Acid can come in many ways from traditional vinegar like balsamic, champagne (and all the fruit varieties like raspberry champagne vinegar) to lemon and lime juice, orange juice (freshly squeezed or store bought), and even lemonade. Your oil can include coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil, cashew and avocado oil, or even walnut oil, my personal favorite.

Add-ins can include anything from fresh herbs to shallots, poppy seeds, cumin, cayenne, paprika, garlic, ginger, lemon or lime zest, or even goat cheese. Adding a creamy goat cheese to your salad dressing is a nice way to add a little texture and creaminess. Heck, you can even puree some strawberries for a little extravagance.

As you can see, your options are limitless so play around and have fun, after all it’s your salad and you should do as you please!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Sunday Supper Recommendation: Mango Chutney

When thinking about what to serve your family and friends for Sunday supper tomorrow, think about incorporating a delicious and easy mango chutney. Whether topped on a scoop of vanilla ice cream or gelato, adorning tacos or serving on the side of pork chops, mango chutney is a sweet and tasty accompaniment.

Whatever you plan on gathering to tomorrow evening, I hope that you find time to gather your friends and family around The Table Together.

For this recipe and many more, visit the “recipe” tab at the The Table Together.

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Weekend Happenings: Building Content for my New You Tube Channel

After the Alt Summit conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, I am beyond excited to start building out my new You Tube channel. 

For those of you that don’t know about You Tube, it’s a free online video sharing platform that offers content on everything from making tomatillos and dim sum to applying makeup, fishtail braiding, jewelry making, and DIY holiday decorations.

My You Tube channel will be called The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis and will offer all of the content I already share but in a visual context. From cutting onions without tears, peeling ginger, making pie dough, smoothies and my famous whole roasted chicken, there will be something for everyone. It’s a way for me to bring all of my recipes and blogs to life and an opportunity to really connect with you.

I could not be more excited to invite you into my kitchen as we learn how to cook at our best and share a home-cooked meal with our family and friends around The Table Together.

Stay tuned for more to come but meanwhile, prepare yourselves to become more confident and empowered in your kitchen!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Throwback Thursday: "The Table Together" Photo-shoot

Last September, I invited the beautiful and extremely talented Tania from Azzura Photography into my home to capture images for my newly launched website, The Table Together. I had met Tania from shooting my sister’s wedding and whose images brought tears to all of our eyes. To find someone that can capture moments through a lens with such emotion and meaning is a talent I am so appreciative of.  It’s Tania’s images that allow me the opportunity to bring my brand to life in such a beautiful way!

Thank you Tania for capturing my pure essence and for portraying me as the person that I am. Your images have captivated audiences and continue to be a driving force to my website and brand.

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

"Newlyweds" by Sarah Copeland

One of my favorite cookbooks is one that you might find strange to see in my cookbook collection. Why? Well, for starters, I am single! However, that being said, I frequently use Newlyweds for tips on entertaining, inspiration, delicious recipes and just to gaze and marvel.

Regardless of where you are in your relationship status, Newlyweds is an incredible collection of recipes featuring something for everyone. And if recipes don’t excite you, then simply placing it on your coffee table is another wonderful alternative as it is just that beautiful!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Properly Resting Burgers

With our grills firing up for the summer, it’s important to understand how to properly rest your meat for ultimate flavor and outcome. General rule of thumb is that meat should rest half the amount of its’ cooking time. However, that being said, a 2 hour turkey come Thanksgiving only needs to rest 15 – 20 minutes before carving.

When grilling burgers, I usually find that resting my burgers for 5 minutes after grilling retains all the delicious juices keeping it at its’ prime. For fish, like my favorite cedar plank salmon, I find that also resting it 5 minutes before serving allows the juices an opportunity to redistribute back into the protein. One thing you must always remember is that juice = flavor so adding a few minutes of rest after grilling is to your absolute advantage!

For other great recipes, including wonderful sides to accompany your burgers, check out my website The Table Together.

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Sunday Supper Recommendation: Halibut Tacos with Avocado and Spicy Crema

As we near the hottest days of summer, finding ways to eat fresh and healthy meals is a great way to keep on track while feeding your family a delicious and nutritious meal.

For Sunday supper tomorrow, consider making halibut tacos for your family and friends.  Healthy and light tacos make for a great supper served around The Table Together.

Whatever it is that you are gathering to tomorrow night for Sunday supper, I hope that you find time to gather around The Table Together with family and friends.

For the recipe, visit the “recipe” tab from The Table Together.

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Weekend Happenings! Relaxing and Staycation

This weekend I plan on relaxing, cleaning my apartment, organizing my desk and maybe even hitting the beach with a good book.

Whatever it is that you are getting into this weekend, I hope that you find time to gather around The Table Together.

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Throwback Thursday: Bread Making Class at Le Pain Quotidien

A few months ago, I took a bread making class at Le Pain Quotidien resulting in a new found love for fresh bread and a dozen loaves to find homes for. I may have upped my workouts that week but boy, it was worth it.

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Avocado

Come summertime I cannot wait to get my hands on fresh California grown avocados! At their prime, avocados are creamy and almost buttery making for a perfect accompaniment to chips, burgers, tacos, salads, burritos and even smoothies. There really is nothing like a perfectly ripe avocado and I make the most of them by finding ways in which I can incorporate them into my daily diet. Besides being absolutely delectable, here are a few other reasons you may want to stop at the store on your way home.

Avocados are native to Mexico and Central America but here in the United States are grown in abundance in California. Rich in vitamin C, K, E, B, and potassium, avocados are an excellent nutritional additional to your diet. Yes, avocados are higher in fat than other fruits, but like anything, everything in moderation.

Throughout the week I will provide more information around avocados from tips on purchasing and cooking with them to a simple way to pit them, but until then, keep your eye out for fresh avocados on your next trip to the market and get ready for a delectable treat!

Cheers to the arrival of summer and to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Sunday Supper Recommendation: Crab Cakes

Crab cakes might possibly be one of my favorite dishes so when it comes to preparing them, I take my recipe very seriously. The one thing I cannot stand is a heavily breaded variety overemphasizing breadcrumbs and not crabmeat. I asked for crab cakes after all!

My recipe offers a hefty ratio of crab to breading and sour cream instead of mayo. They are terrific as a quick appetizer or even for a main entrée – regardless which way you go, they are absolutely incredible It’s a winner, trust me!

To whatever you are gathering to for Sunday supper tomorrow, I hope that you find time to gather your friends and family around The Table Together.

For the recipe, visit the “recipe” tab from the The Table Together.

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Weekend Happenings! Unpacking from Alt Summit Conference

This past week my mom and I attended Alt Summit Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Alt Summit is a huge blogging conference held twice a year uniting bloggers from all across the country. What an incredible experience with a new rolodex of contacts from which to build relationships. The most important thing about blogging are the relationships you build with others whether bloggers, businesses or people of influence.

I am thrilled to get back in the kitchen and to start executing on lessons learned from my time at Alt Summit.

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Throwback Thursday! My First Custom Apron

Last summer I spent a few months in Seattle working on building out my brand, website and business plan for The Table Together. We accomplished a lot that summer, including an entire archive of recipes that we developed, wrote, tested, re-tested and edited. You can the imagine the amount of food that came from our kitchen. Not to mention all the grocery shopping!!!

As my mom and I were heading back to California with my car, we decided to stop in Carmel for a few days of relaxation, and eating of course! While we were there, my mom surprised me with a custom apron showcasing my spanking new logo. This was the moment that it really hit me. After months of planning and hundreds of “tastes” later, The Table Together is alive and well!

I can’t wait to see these aprons multiply and ship across the country and world. Why not go big, right?

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Sunday Supper Recommendation: Pizza Night!

In celebration of my birthday tomorrow, consider gathering your friends and family together and making handcrafted pizzas to be shared around The Table Together!

To whatever it is that you are gathering to for Sunday supper tomorrow, I hope that you find time to gather your friends and family around The Table Together!

For the recipe, visit the “recipe” tab from thetabletogether.com.

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!