Tasty Tuesdays-Apples!

Thanks to Alissa at 33 Shades of Green for continuing to do this blogging meme. I always enjoy participating in it every week. It gives me a great excuse to try new recipes that I've never made before.

Last night I decided to have a little fun with apples. I have a bunch that were pretty small I thought it would be neat to try a recipe that I've been hanging on to for awhile that involves baking red apples.

APPLES TO THE THIRD POWER

Ingredients:

4 large apples (I used 5 smallish ones)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 cup apple butter (I couldn't find this so I used regular butter and they turned out great)
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup apple cider (I decided to be adventurous and used sparkling apple cider)


Here's what you do:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Core the apples. Stir together sugar and cardamom, and put in 1 teaspoon in the cavity of each apple. Fill to the top with apple butter. Top each with a slice of butter and the remaining cardamom sugar.

Arrange the apples in a pie tin (or cookie sheet), and pour the cider all around them.
Bake 50 minutes, until soft. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the apples to serving plates. Transfer the pan juices to a saucepan and boil until reduced slightly, for about 2 minutes. Pour juice around the apples. (I didn't do this last step because the juice was already fairly thick and syrupy when it came out of the oven)

I was thrilled with the final results! We threw some vanilla ice cream on top of them and this really brought out all the yummy flavors. There's really nothing better than hot apples with cold ice cream! This is a super easy recipe so I definitely encourage you to try it out for yourself.

Tasty Tuesday

It's time for another fun Tasty Tuesday, originally created by Alicia at but now the new host is Alissa over at 33 Shades of Green.

For this week's cuisine, I decided to make Creamy Cauliflower Mac. I found the recipe in my latest Runners Magazine and thought it sounded good and pretty healthy too. It's another genius concoction from renown food writer, Mark Bittman. "Instead of using high-fat butter and cream, Bittman makes his healthier mac and cheese with pureed cauliflower, chicken stock, and a moderate amount of cheese."

Here's the recipe:

2 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
2 bay leaves
1 large cauliflower, cored and cut into pieces
8 ounces whole-wheat elbow macaroni
1/2 cup grated cheese (such as sharp cheddar, Gruyere, or Emmental, or a combination)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup whole-grain bread crumbs
salt and pepper


Heat oven to 400F. Boil a pot of salted water. In a saucepan, warm stock and bay leaves on medium-low heat for five minutes; turn off heat. Cook cauliflower in boiling water for 25 minutes. Put cauliflower in food processor or blender. Cook pasta in boiling water for five minutes. Drain and rinse to cool; put pasta in a greased, nine-inch square baking dish. Process cauliflower with stock (discard bay leaves), cheese, oil, mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper, working in batches. Pour sauce over pasta, toss, and spread evenly in dish. Top with Parmesan and bread crumbs. Bake 20 minutes. Serves four.

Calories Per Serving: 420 Carbs: 57G Protein: 20G Fat: 15G

Here it is!


While it turned out pretty good, I still will always prefer the traditional mac and cheese. This just wasn't exactly creamy enough for me... Wonder what I could have added to get that consistency? I also think that I might have had too much noodles and not enough of the cauliflower cheese sauce.

Tasty Soup Tuesday

Last Friday night, my roommate Swati and I were feeling adventurous in the kitchen so we decided to make dinner together and by make, I mean that we didn't quickly throw something into the microwave. No, we actually used the stove AND the oven AND the blender even too! Haha! Swati had the genius idea of using her frozen spinach to make renown food journalist's Mark Bittman's super easy Creamy Spinach Soup. When I say easy, I really mean EASY!
Check out the simple recipe below:

Creamy Spinach Soup

Put 1 chopped onion, 2 peeled garlic cloves, 3 cups water and salt and pepper in a pot over high heat. Boil, cover, lower the heat and simmer until the onion is tender, about 10 minutes. Add 10 ounces chopped spinach and 1/2 cup parsley leaves; cook until the spinach is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 cup Greek-style yogurt and purée. Garnish: A spoonful of Greek-style yogurt and chopped parsley.

Swati is lovin' our soup!

Two other easy similar recipes:

Squash-and-Ginger Soup
Substitute 1 tablespoon minced ginger for the garlic and 4 cups chopped butternut squash for the spinach (it will take longer to soften). Skip the parsley and substitute half-and-half or cream for the yogurt. Garnish: A spoonful of cream.

Curried Cauliflower Soup
Substitute 1 tablespoon minced ginger for the garlic, 2 cups cauliflower florets for the spinach (they will take longer to soften), 1 tablespoon curry powder for the parsley and coconut milk for the yogurt. Garnish: Chopped cilantro.

For more on these recipes go to this New York Times Page.

To go with the soup, we also made breaded Parmesan Tilapia fish, green beans and Parmesan couscous! Yummy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,

BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.
THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.
SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.
GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.
I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.
I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.
BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.
MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.
MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS

Happy Thanksgiving blogging world! I hope that you all enjoyed my 14 lists of blessings. I definitely learned that we all have so many more things to be grateful for in the world. I hope that you are able to spend today with your loved ones.

Top 5 best dinners of my life!

Last night I had an AMAZING dinner at Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills. It is one of LA's renown steak restaurants with a few other locations here in California and also in Arizona and Nevada. Mastro's boasts excellent service and incredible steaks of course. Well, they certainly delivered in every way. Seriously, it's on my list of the top 5 best dinners of.my.life!!

Our waiter quickly arrived to take drink orders and was very friendly and laid-back. He joked around with us throughout the night which caught me a little off guard. Usually at places like this, the staff acts kind of 'hoighty-toighty' which can be intimidating. It was refreshing to see how casual the waiters were with their customers given the type of establishment we were at. It definitely lightened the mood of the dark room. Actually it was so dark in the dining area that we were give a small flashlight to see the menu. Romantic, eh?

Apparently, the appetizers were amazing-raw oysters. I don't care for raw oysters so I missed out on those. Together the 6 of us chose 4 sides that we shared and then we all picked our own meat entrees. Our sides were seriously out of this world: creamed spinach, Gorgonzola mac and cheese, brussel sprouts and the incredibly delicious and our table's favorite dish of the night, black truffle gnocchi. This gnocchi dish had crab meat, Parmesan, breadcrumbs and white truffle oil in it. I really couldn't taste the crab meat. This side was mouthwatering. I urge you all to try this STAT! The picture below doesn't do it justice at all. Oh geez, I really want some right now!


For my entree, I ordered the 8oz. petite filet. It was sooo good. It's rich juicy flavors literally melted in my mouth. I just discovered that all their steaks are marinated in a 15-ingredient rub and cooked w/ butter. I think that I can go as far as saying that it is perhaps the best steak I have eaten in my life. It was a simple and elegant steak…the way it should be. I really cannot rave about this meal enough!
This wasn't my modest 8oz. petite filet but my friend's entree which I'm not sure exactly which one it was. I'll have to ask. He loved it and seriously looked like he was in heaven as he ate it. : )

By the time the dessert menu was passed around, we were all completely stuffed but our waiter urged us to share just one thing. He recommend Mastro's Signature Warm Butter Cake. We happily obliged. In a word it was, delightful. It was served with a side of freshly made whipped cream. Yum. This butter cake was a warm, smooth, rich dessert. It was strangely light and fluffy yet dense at the same time. Turns out, they use cream cheese as a secret ingredient to give the butter cake its texture. It was the perfect size for the 6 of us to share.


Despite how superb this dinner was, it was also superbly pricey so I definitely won't be making it a habit to eat dinner hear often. I read the following on a food blogger's website, "Mastro’s is a great steakhouse with fabulous service and even better food. A dinner here, though, will put a nice fat dent in your wallet. But it’s well worth it, I think." I couldn't agree more.

Tasty Tuesday

One of the many great things about living in a big city like LA is all the exposure you get to cultures of all over the world. I love being able to hop in my car and escape to a whole new country for awhile in one of these somewhat exotic neighborhoods. There's Little Ethiopia, Korea Town, Little Tokyo and so so many others.

Last Sunday my friend Tracy and I decided to take a trip to Little Ethiopia. We both LOVE Ethiopian food so we were in heaven. We headed over to Fairfax to eat at Messob. It has been rated the best Ethiopian restaurant in Little Ethiopia plus one of my roommates recommended it so we had to go there. I was very happy with the food and vowed to return very soon.

I found the following quote and thought it described the area so well. ''There's a block-long section of South Fairfax Avenue that transports passersby to a distant land. In Little Ethiopia, the lively conversations are in Amharic and the pungent smells are from spices uncommon to most American palates. Be ready to pass the injera bread.... "

Something else amazing that I ate this past weekend with Tracy was this delicious carrot and pecan cake. It was seriously the best thing I've tasted in forever!! It was at a nice restaurant next to the Kodak Theater in Hollywood so I don't have the recipe. If anyone has a recipe for carrot and pecan cake, then PLEASE send it my way! Thanks!

What I'm Loving Wednesdays

I am absolutely loving Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Power Berries-Antioxidants. They are amazing but highly addictive. My friend Mya introduced them to when we went wine tasting near Santa Barbara. They were the perfect snack with lots and lots of wine.

I just had to literally force myself to put the bag down and even now want to go back in for more. Ugh! I should put the bag back into the kitchen cupboard. If you haven't tried these yet, I highly recommend them but don't say I didn't warn you! : )

According to the Trader Joes website, "These dark chocolate covered powerberries start with centers of real fruit juice pieces made from the juices of Acai, Pomegranate, Cranberry and Blueberry, all known for their Natural Powerhouse Antioxidants and other nutrients. They are then enveloped in smooth dark chocolate, creating a flavorful confection that is a sweet, tart and rich taste sensation all at once. Powerberries make a great gluten-free, low sodium snack. Snack guilt-free!"

More Cooking...

If you've kept up with my blog at all, you'll know that I really enjoy cooking. I might not be the best at it but I still enjoy the process. While I may start out following a recipe, I seldom stick to it and most always find myself creating my own version of the meal. Last night was no exception to that.

I made Spanish Stuffed Red Peppers! Sounds fancy, huh? It was actually a lot easier than I expected. The recipe called for ground beef and white rice but instead I put chicken and brown rice and added several more spices to the mixture. I also added onions and way more green peppers than it called for. It was pretty good if I do say so myself! : )

Eat Your Way Gorgeous

I'm always on the lookout for ways to eat healthy and now that I live in LA, the quest to look and be healthy is apparent absolutely everywhere. I found this list awhile ago and I figured my blog would be a perfect way to share it since I want all my readers to eat healthy too. It's not always easy to eat all the right foods but when you know exactly how they will help your body, it certainly helps.

So here are 10 foods that are supposed to significantly give you glowing skin, shiny hair and whiter teeth.

1. Lobster- I rarely eat lobster but I do know there are many good things about it. It offers a good, low-fat source of protein, and shellfish also contains high amounts of zinc, a mineral which may help prevent acne and boost the immune function Lobster also has pentatonic acid, a B vitamin that makes hair look shinier. Also try clams, mussels and oysters.

2. Artichoke- It supplies 25% of an adults daily quota of fiber. It is super detoxifying because it helps rid the body of waste. This means clearer and more radiant skin. Artichokes also contain rutin, an antioxidant that reduces inflammation throughout the body so skin looks plumper and less red.

3. Chia Seeds- I've never even heard of these....These seeds are great sources of vitamin E and omega 3 which are essential fatty acids that make skin glow and hair shine. Unlike flax seeds, chia seeds don't need to be grounded up for their beneficial oils to be absorbed. Also try flax, sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

4. Strawberries- Yes, I love strawberries! This sweet fruit is loaded with vitamin C, an immune boosting antioxidant that stimulates collagen production and reduces damage from free radicals which are the nasty molecules that cause skin to age prematurely. Strawberries also contain malic acid, a natural astringent that can help remove discoloration from teeth. Also try blueberries, kiwis and oranges.

5. Sweet Potatoes- These tasty, orange complex carbs are full of fiber and are high in vitamin A, an antioxidant that keeps skin fresh, smooth and clear. The topical version of vitamin A-a derivative knows as tretinoin is the main ingredient in many prescription acne and anti-wrinkle creams. Also try carrots and tomatoes.

6. Acai- This is known as a super fruit, it is reddish purple Brazilian berry is full of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants (a couple of ounces have more free-radical fighting power than a glass of red wine). Though it's difficult to find the real fruit outside of Brazil, many companies sell acai capsules, sorbet and other products.

7. Wild Salmon- This is one of the best-known sources of skin-beautifying omega fatty acids, salmon reduces inflammation more effectively than almost any other food. It enhances radiance and reduces wrinkles and puffiness. Also try mackerel and sardines. I'm not a fan of either of those but I do love a good salmon. Lucky for me, Gina has shown exactly how to cook a tasty salmon.

8. Kale- This dark green, leafy vegetable offers lots of fiber which aids in clearing skin and plenty of vitamin A and C which helps reduce wrinkles and discoloration. Kale also has lutein, a nutrient that makes the whites of our eyes look brighter. This isn't a vegetable that I would necessarily pick up so it's nice to be alerted of all its benefits. Also try spinach.

9. Quinoa- Another unknown one. The B-complex vitamins in this nutty grain help skin glow and hair feel less dry. Unlike many starches, quinoa doesn't contain gluten, a common but often overlooked source of food allergies that can irritate the skin,

10. Kefir- Probiotics in this tangy drink cleanse the digestive tract, so skin appears clearer and more luminous. Studies show faster weight loss among people who drink kefir or eat yogurt. Too bad I don't like either..: (

In honor of my Mom

My mom really enjoyed baking. I think she just liked making us happy with her goodies. She was such a giver. Her chocolate chip cookies and banana bread were amazing! And we can't forget about her popular Chex mix. All of my friends loved it so much. Man, I would kill for some of that right about now! Seriously, it was incredible! So, today in honor of her, I decided to bake this afternoon. I'm sorry to my roommate and her friend if I was kinda loud in the kitchen with the blender, mixer and banging dishes.

First I made her infamous chocolate chip banana bread muffins. My roommates have come to really enjoy these so I like making them even more for them. I also whipped up an interesting orange and carrot sponge cake. Gina's family brought over a ton of oranges yesterday so I wanted to make something that I could use a few of them in. It turned out surprisingly well actually. It involved several steps so it was pretty fun to make. Not only did I have to steam carrots but I also had to puree them with fresh squeezed orange juice that I had to manually squeeze out. Whew! Then, I had to separate egg whites and egg yolks which I've never tried before. After several failed attempts, I can now do it! I know that my mom would have been impressed.

If you are lucky to live close by, then come on over for a piece!