Thanksgiving

Mom getting the turkey ready

Mom was able to snap one of me the night before baking away!

YUM!

2 nights later, London Ly was hosting girls night at her place.  She recreated the pulled pork mac and cheese grilled cheese sandwiches made by the grilled cheese truck...

Absolutely AMAZING!

Oh, and I had my regular from the grilled cheese truck on Tuesday.  Always delish.  Went for the tomato soup too, but it tasted more like marinara sauce.  I'd pass on that next time...

An introduction

I have a confession. I too photograph food. Yes it's shameful, we need a support group, but in the spirit of the season, why not talk some tacos?


Familia Diaz is a delightful Spanish restaurant in Santa Paula. I ventured there for a birthday dinner for the first time a few weeks ago after a recommendation from a friend. It's a tiny place that has been around for over 70 years; apparently a historical landmark! And the food... was... AWESOME. Well worth the drive to obscurity! The salsa was creamy and super tomatoe-y, the chips were hot and fresh, and the guacamole was fantastic.

Shrimp Fajitas

Steak Carnitas

http://www.familiadiazrestaurant.com/contact.html

Vegan Fruit and Nut Energy Bites

Another good one from Oh She Glows!
Preheat oven to 325.  Toast chopped walnuts/pecans in oven for about 10 minutes.  In the mean time....

Mix dry ingredients: brown sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon

I used pecans, dried cranberries, and chopped up figs.  You can add whatever kind of dried fruits you like!

Mix in dried fruit and nuts with dry mixture.  

Add flax egg, vanilla, and almond milk

Press mixture into square pan lined with parchment paper.  

Bake for 35 minutes at 325.  

Remove from pan and let cool for 20 minutes.

Cut into square with sharp knife!  Careful with the knife!

Enjoy!

Find the full recipe here

Vegetable Quinoa Soup

Got this lovely recipe from my fave, Oh She Glows.
This is her Holiday Soup for the Soul.  Delicious fresh vegetables with red quinoa.  Perfect for a chilly winter day!  Find her full detailed recipe here.  With much prettier pictures I might add!

Chop up 1 medium sweet onion, 1 large carrot, one medium zucchini, 2 garlic cloves

Cook onion in large pot with olive oil until onion is transparent.  Then add vegetables and sauté

Add dices tomatos, quinoa, and black beans.  Save the chopped spinach until the end!

Add water mixed with vegetable bouillon and simmer.  Add spinach and let it cook!

Enjoy!

Indian Buffet

My friend London Ly and I have somewhat of a habit of going on a great hike in griffith park and then blowing it all at the Indian buffet on Melrose.  Star of India is the best!  Love it!

Vegan Pumpkin Butter Oat Squares

Got this fabulous recipe from www.ohsheglows.com which has become my new favorite blog!  She also has reditions of this with apple butter and homemade jam!  So yummy!  Mine turned out a bit messy.  I think I overdid it a but on the pumpkin butter.  Still, they ended up delicious!

First, I made my OWN candied pecans.  Which I must admit are much better when you do it yourself!

Next, Mix all the dry ingredients.  I used whole wheat flour, brown sugar, oats, and baking soda

then add the wet ingredients.  Falx egg, vanilla, maple syrup, almond milk, and melter butter

Press mixture into a pan lines with parchment paper

Bake at 350 for 15 or so minutes.  I would keep in a bit longer next time

Oh She Glows makes her own pumpkin butter.  But I couldnt be bothered so I opted for trader joes!

Pour on a layer of pumpkin butter!

Top with your candied pecans and bake for another 10 minutes

Remove and let cool on the counter and then in the freezer or fridge for about an hour.  They really need to cool down before you cut.

Voila!  Like I said, mine were a bit messy.  They taste great if you keep them chilled and have with a big glass of milk!!  Enjoy!

here is the direct link to the recipe with all the detail I never include ;)

http://ohsheglows.com/2010/11/07/pumpkin-butter-oat-squares-with-candied-pecans/

Lardon

A couple months ago I was found the Lardon food truck from an UrbanDaddy email.  I immediately forwarded to our offices food truck scheduler.  She is a vegetarian so basically laughed in my face.  But I told her all the men who work at our office would die for this.  Literally every guy I know has an OBSESSION with bacon.  I dont get it, but fine.  Finally the day came when the Lardon truck made a visit.  I told myself I would order the craziest thing on the menu.  After actually looking at the menu I ended up with a BLT.  Oh and the guy talked me into a bacon cookie as well.  For the record, the bacon cookie had tiny bacon bits in it and pretty much tasted like a normal chocolate chip cookie.

http://getyourlardon.com/

Fathers Office: The Best Burger on the Westside?

Well its debatable I suppose.  But this one is pretty damn good!  Unfortunately, my date was devouring this burger, and I of course was busy chatting away!  I forgot to take a pic!  Here are the delightful spicy olives topped with sliced almonds.  So yummy!

Magic Castle

I randomly ended up at the Magic Castle Wednesday night.  Lots of choices for dinner.  I decided to have a re run of my lunch from the previous weekend.  Magic Castles lobster bisque and their baked mac and cheese.  I must have devoured the mac to quickly I forgot to take a photo!

Weekend of Tasty Treats!

Spent a lovely afternoon helping mom pick out some new clothes at the Americana in Glendale.  We had lunch at the lovely Granville Cafe.

Lobster Bisque with Parmesan Toast

Delicious Mac and Cheese

The following night it was Sunday dinner at the Whitlocks for my best friends birthday.  Jacks served a traditional English meal.  Roast beef with roasted vegetables and one of my favorites, yorkshire pudding!

Sauce!

Finally I was able to schedule some time with my grandma so she can teach me how to make our family sauce.  Some may call it gravy, marinara, pasta sauce.  But plain and simple its our family recipe for marinara sauce.

Ingredients
1 onion
4-5 garlic cloves, BAM!
olive oil
1 small can tomato paste
1 large can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatos
1/2 c. fresh basil, chopped
Italian seasoning, to taste
2 c. water(depends on how thick you want your sauce)
*sauce can be frozen for a few months, just take out and defrost*

Chop up onion and garlic

Heat up the onion and garlic with some olive oil in a large saucepan

Cook until garlic is slightly browned and onion becomes transparent

Mix in the tomato paste

Mix together

Add water and tomato puree, diced tomato's.  Or fresh if you can yourself

What is sauce without some fresh basil?

Simmer

Italian seasoning ofcourse!

Here is a pic of my pot, and grandmas.. cooking away!

We made the meatballs with ground beef, garlic, basil, Italian seasoning, Parmesan, and milk.  Lay them in a pan coated with olive oil

Italian sausages go in the broiler

One meatballs are baked they cook with the sauce for 30 or so minutes

Sausages are done!  Cut up and add to the sauce too!

Ta-Da!  Delicioso!  Pour on top of spaghetti, ravioli, use with lasagna!