The Fresh Factor: Going Bananas

This Fresh Factor article about bananas posted last week. And now the timing of the headline couldn't be more perfect. This, friends, is why we are going bananas this week:



Only five weeks until go time...

The Fresh Factor: Thai Papaya Salad

It's hard to believe that my trip to Thailand with Jen was almost a year ago. Thailand was a special trip for me in a number of ways, but here's a biggie. The whole premise of traveling to other places to learn how other people live and work and eat and sleep... the whole premise of traveling abroad is that you might learn something new... and that learning some new thing might somehow change you. Taking a cooking class in Thailand was the catalyst that changed the way I think about food... specifically, the sourcing of food. It's something I had always been aware of before, but it was not something I made an effort to act on prior to going to Thailand.

In taking action, I was able to pair a writing opportunity with this new passion for eating local, creating an opportunity to learn and even teach more about the food and farming available locally on Guam. My aim has been to encourage others to eat fresh, local produce and seafood, not just because it costs less or tastes better (it does!), but because it makes sense... for our families, our island, and our planet.

So this Guam Guide post is no ordinary Thai Papaya Salad recipe. This was a moment in time where everything changed. Who knew a simple green papaya from a small market in Chiang Mai harnessed so much power?

The Fresh Factor: Salute to the Fish Co-Op

The Fish Co-Op is one of my all-time favorite places on Guam. I go in there at least once a week and am fairly proud of the fact that the guys behind the counter know me by name. They also know I'm going to ask, "Is it fresh?" They almost always roll their eyes and say yes... but every once in a while they don't answer and instead go look in the back to see if something else just came in :)

For any Guammies who are reading, this is a great place to be a consistent tipper, as it has paid off in a number of ways.... like the employees' willingness to check the back for me (when they don't have out what I want). Sometimes they surprise me and throw in a free tray of poki, which is absolutely to die for. Oh, I am going to miss this little market.

Here's my write-up on the Guam Guide, accompanied by a lemongrass ginger marinade recipe that turned out to be pretty fantastic. Enjoy!

The Fresh Factor: Plumeria Leis

My friend Annie is on island visiting us this week! I can't wait to share pictures from her visit, but in the meantime, here's a Fresh Factor post I wrote up about the plumeria lei I made to meet her at the airport with. So fun having my friend here and showing her our beautiful island! Nice to have an excuse for a craft project too...

The Fresh Factor: Cilantro Solution!

This is the next stop on my farm tour of Guam... Marianne's Nursery, home of culantro, the magic secret to getting fresh cilantro flavor out here. Loving this gig! Check out this most recent article at The Guam Guide!

The Fresh Factor: Hydroponic Lettuce Farm

I certainly had no idea when I landed here (almost two years ago!) that one of the highlights for me on this island would be touring farms. I went to a hydroponic lettuce farm on Monday. Here's the write-up. I am still amazed at how absolutely perfect each head of lettuce is that comes out of the hydroponic system. Perfectly sculpted and packed with nutrients. Thanks to Grow Guam Hydroponic for the tour and to The Guam Guide for the opportunity to feature some of the awesome things taking place behind the scenes. Have a great weekend everyone!

The Fresh Factor: Watermelon!

Latest Fresh Factor post, including a recipe for watermelon salad... yum!

The Fresh Factor: Island Fruitfulness

Lots to love about summer produce around here. Enjoy the ginger mango salsa recipe. Pair it with fish or plantain chips (new at the Commissary!) and it's perfectly paleo :)

The Fresh Factor: No-Brainer Avocados

I am in that writer bind where I have more stories and pictures to share than I have capacity to organize them. So instead of China, here's a Fresh Factor filler. On Avocados :) China coming soon... I hope!

Fresh Factor: Everyday Island Bouquet

The Fresh Factor: Everyday Island Bouquets

And just as I once missed bringing home beautiful flowers from the grocery store, I know I am going to miss walking around my yard, clipping tropical flowers, and arranging them into beautiful displays on our kitchen table.

The Fresh Factor: Unlocking Boonie Bee Honey

Guam Lock & Key - Your one-stop shop for lock fixes, used books, and boonie bee honey! OOG!

Thanks to Abby at Seaweed and Sassafras for the awesome recipe idea and tips! 

The Fresh Factor: Farmer's Market Dinner Party

Farmer's Market Dinner Party

Featuring grilled yellowfin tuna, roasted veggies, and mango garden salad with calamansi poppyseed vinaigrette.

The Fresh Factor: Farmer's Market Q&A

The Fresh Factor: Farmer's Market Q & A

Pictures and stories from Manila coming soon!

Fresh Factor: Calamansi Paradise

The freshness continues...

The Fresh Factor: How To Start an Herb Jungle

Check out my latest Fresh Factor post on The Guam Guide

The Fresh Factor

A few months ago I was contacted by the owner of the Guam Guide. She had been following Peyt's Island and wondered if I would be interested in writing for them. Well, that was back in December when I was off island for several weeks. Once back on island, I hit the ground running with one thing after the next to get our Manila and Saipan trips going. Then we went to Palau. I also had two rounds of visitors and some major fundraisers at church. Given my desire to simplify this year, I couldn't justify adding a new commitment to my plate, even if sharing my zeal for exploring Guam did sound like fun.

This past week, with my major church commitments behind me, no visitors lined up to come, and no Facebook to distract me, I pitched an idea to the Guam Guide. I proposed doing a series of columns focusing on the fresh foods that are available here on island. This is something I have been passionate about ever since returning from Thailand, but I didn't know where to take it. Peyt's Island isn't really the right place, since my audience here is mostly Stateside, where it won't do you a bit of good to know what the Agat market has to offer. I didn't want to start a whole new blog and take the focus away from my original purpose of keeping in touch. So it dawned on me that the Guam Guide would be a perfect forum for exploring this new interest in my remaining months here. The right topic for the right audience... and finally, the right timing.

So, I'd like to introduce my new column, the Fresh Factor. My first post is boldly titled "How to Cook Local on Guam." I say boldly because this headline makes me sound like some sort of an expert, when I myself am still very much learning the "how" part of that statement. But I am really interested in this and have picked up some great information and ideas that could at least help other people get started. I will be linking the articles here as they appear, so feel free to take a look. But Peyt's Island will stay the same, sporadically recounting our adventures here. That, is, until September when it all comes to an end. That's right, we've got orders (yes, actual paper orders... crazy). But for now, I am excited about this new venture that will have me continuing to make the most of my time here by branching out into new local flavors. Let the deliciousness begin!