Movin’ Blogs

I’ve had SO much fun writing Pastries & Bacon but am having MORE fun writing a new blog, Dreaming of Islands (which is a lil more up my alley). Come visit me there! Hooooyah!

Lakers Win + Best Ahi Tuna Burger Ever

I know I’m more than a few days late on this but last week I got to celebrate the Lakers win over the best ahi tuna burger we’ve ever made.

On a side note, I’ve started another blog as an ode to the island life that I yearn for (someday it will happen, I keep telling myself.) I’m also throwing in other random things on there, too, if anyone wants to check it out: Dreaming of Islands

Roasted Pepper Aioli…Continued

Remember that roasted pepper aioli I made over the weekend for the crab cakes? I used it again in my shrimp tacos, amazing…

La Tortilla Factory white corn tortillas (the BEST!)

Shrimp seasoned with salt and pepper, then sauteed for about four minutes a side

Grated cheddar cheese

Shredded lettuce

ROASTED PEPPER AIOLI SAUCE DRIZZLED ON TOP

Crab Cakes + Roasted Pepper Aioli

Saturday. I had spent the whole day running errands from the time I woke up til the time I started prepping dinner: selling clothes at a thrift store, getting a pedicure, buying groceries, cleaning the house (that alone took a few hours), walking the dogs, going to the bank, driving back and forth on the freeway, sheesh! The list goes on and on. Yet despite all the crazed running around I was determined to make a lil something fancy shmancy for dinner. Ah ha…crab cakes! I also whipped up a hella delicious roasted pepper aioli which can be used on just about anything from sandwiches to tacos (versatile sauces are the best!) Chris had come home from golfing all day and after mopping up his entire plate, he announced that it was “one of the best dinners” he’s ever had. Bon appetit!

Roasted Pepper Aioli (makes about 1 cup)

• 2 large roasted bell peppers
• 1 tablespoon dried dill
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon capers
• 2 tablespoon nonfat FAGE yogurt
• 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
• salt and pepper to taste

*Puree the peppers, dill, parsley and capers in a food processor so that it’s all mixed yet a little pulpy (not too watery)

*Transfer the mixture to a bowl and add the nonfat yogurt, mayo, salt and pepper. Stir to combine evenly.

*Let it chill in the fridge and bring to room temp when you’re about to serve

Crab Cakes (serves two as a main – you get three each)

• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 tablespoon dried dill
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste
• 8oz fresh crab meat (claw, because it’s cheaper at Whole Foods)
• 3/4 cup of breadcrumbs
• panko for dredging
• canola oil for frying

*Beat eggs and add the parsley, mustard, worcestershire, mayo, lemon juice, chili powder, dill, salt and pepper and mix well to combine

*Gently fold in the crab meat and bread crumbs until combined

*Divide it into six portions using an ice cream scoop and flatten into thick patties

*Lightly coat each side with the panko

*Chill it in fridge for at least 30 minutes

*Heat skillet over medium high heat with the canola oil

*Fry on both sides at about 4 minutes per side, then pat the grease off on a paper towel

Meet: LuaLosangeles

I’d like to introduce you to fellow blogger and buddy, Jess, who has a blog called LuaLosangeles and comes up with these brilliant, mouth-watering recipes. What I love about LuaLosangeles is that it perfectly mixes great fashion and hearty food. Even though Jess lives in Los Angeles (home to the super diet and workout buffs) and works in fashion, you won’t find her preaching rabbit food recipes like plain chicken on lettuce with no dressing (yuck!). She’s all about satisfying bites from beer battered fish tacos to macadamia nut pancakes because, in her words, “good food never goes out of style.” Bring it on!

1. Hi Jessica! Thanks so much for doing this. Where are you from and where did you grow up? I grew up in a small town in Knoxville, Tennessee . My mother married an Italian from Brooklyn, NY and it was in there in my hometown where they opened an Italian restaurant called Savelli’s, which is where my love of food was cultivated.

2. When did you start getting into cooking at home? Have you always been into food since you were little? Well, considering I grew up in the family restaurant business I was always around food and cooking. I have spent 90% of my life in kitchens. I hated coming home to cook after being surrounded by food and it wasn’t until I moved to Los Angeles that I really started to get busy in the kitchen myself. I always had my mother around cooking these incredible meals and I would never dare compete with her. It wasn’t until I moved out on my own and began buying the proper utensils and really perusing the local farmer’s market that I really began to become passionate.

3. I’m planning a romantic dinner with my boyfriend…what should I make? This is a good one. The first meal I made for a first date with my boyfriend was blackened salmon with a blue cheese white wine cream sauce, with asparagus and white truffle garlic mashed potatoes. Needless to say, we have been together ever since. There was something so rich and decadent about these flavors , almost romantic if you will. And yet, very easy. I don’t think most boyfriends would enjoy fussy food.

4. How do you spend your weekends and your downtime? I’m pretty much at the beach, in Santa Barbara or trekking up to Solvang for some wine tasting most weekends . I am such an explorer and I have to be constantly exploring new haunts. I’m a big fan of flea markets, too.

5. You have so many great recipes and I love the fact that you’re not afraid of posting some really amazing, decadent, yummy food. What’s your inspiration behind the recipes? I like to eat what tastes good. Oh and I am quite the short order cook. I tend to make what I want, when I want.  I have a huge sweet tooth and I think this definitely reflects in my blog. Don’t get me wrong, I still eat healthily. I love fresh carrot, ginger and apple juice and I plan on only juicing for at least a week in the very near future. Should make for a challenging and interesting week on my blog.  The juicing keeps me in line. And I love all fish, fresh fruit and veggies, too.

6. Speaking of yummy decadent food, how do you eat all that stuff and stay skinny? Do you workout or follow any kind of diet regimen? I try and hike several times a week to clear my head. Oh and the juicing definitely helps. But I am a firm believer in everything in moderation. One slice of pizza, one cookie, etc. Small portions. I believe that indulging every once is healthy.  Ands lots and lots of water!

7. Who are some of your favorite designers? My favorite designers are always the ones you’ve never heard of. I love vintage pieces that you’d never see on anyone else and good quality basics like James Perse. Trends come and go and at the end of every season it’s a shame to look at your closet like a giant heap of cash you blew through. There is a designer from New Zealand, Ruby, that I am loving at the moment. But, yes, it looks vintage. Oh and Miu Miu and Alexander Wang has been staples in my wardrobe.

8. Describe your fashion style and a typical daily uniform. I tend to wear what I like. If it looks good, I’ll buy it. I tend to swing more towards a bohemian, seventies, part gypsy look. But sometimes I love the whole parisian nautical chic. Or a 50′s housewife look. See, I just like it all!! No, it really just depends on my mood. I embrace it all. That’s what fashion is all about. Not conforming to one particular look.

As for my daily uniform, I’d say my JBrand doll jeans or ripped cutoffs , one of my father’s shirts that he wore when he was my age, and my Marni wooden platforms. Oh and lots of bracelets, lol. Yes, I love bell bottomed jeans and I feel they are so refreshing to see instead of the typical skinny jeans that you see everywhere. As for my father’s shirt, it’s this beautiful faded blue , truly vintage and the softest shirt ever. It’s nice and soft and drapes perfectly over my body. The shoes are amazing and I tend to wear them with everything. I get a whole 5 1/2 inches from them ! Now, on a weekend night, maybe a Balenciaga dress, my Herve Leger black tank dress or vintage tops with black skinny jeans. Oh, and I have an amazing shoe collection!

9. What would be your ultimate dream job? Owning a quaint , established restaurant in a beautiful locale, surrounded by friends and family with overflowing good wine:)

Cream Cheese Muffins

These muffins were crazy easy to make, but came out more savory than sweet. They tasted very much like Thanksgiving biscuits! So to sweeten them up, I drizzled a little bit of condensed milk over it and ate it with a spoon…delish! The recipe makes 6 mini muffins. Use silicon muffin cups – those are the best.

4 oz. Philly cream cheese – softened
1/8 cup soft butter
1/2 egg, beaten
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cups flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1.5 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese and butter together; add egg and milk and mix well. Mixture does not have to be smooth. Add the vanilla extract and beat some more.

Combine the dry ingredients and fold in just until moistened.

Fill muffin tins about 3/4 full, then bake for 20 minutes in a preheated 400 degree oven.

What’s For Dinner, Baby?

Portobello mushroom burger inspired by LuaLosangeles.com. I took one portobello mushroom cap and rubbed it generously with olive oil, chopped garlic, celtic sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, stuck it in a 375 degree oven and let it roast for 10 minutes. While it was roasting, I made a burger “spread” with 1/2 cup mayo, 1/8 cup cream cheese, chili powder, minced garlic and mixed it all together. Then, I toasted a yummy “everything” burger bun from Bristol Farms. I only toasted one half of a normal bun…I kinda like my burgers open faced.

When the mushroom is done cooking and the bun is all toasty and ready, spread the sauce on the bun, then layer the mushroom and some sliced tomato and guacamole on top. The perfect dinner to a great Lakers vs. Celtics game tonight

Stuffed Peppers

Mmmm…what’s a good way to use leftover bell peppers from a giant bag you got at Costco? Stuffed peppers, of course! I sauteed garlic, olive oil and red onion until it became translucent.  Then, I added cooked basmati rice (about 1 cup), and crumbled leftover salmon (you can use whatever meat you want at this point), then added some chopped sundried tomato, 2 oz of smoked mozzarella cheese, cracked black pepper, and a tiny dab of butter. In the meantime, I baked four bell peppers for 30 minutes in a 400 degree oven until the edges became a little brown in a tinfoil packet. Once softened, I put my rice and salmon mixture into the bell peppers (which, by the way, should have the tops cut off and the insides cleaned out) and topped it with some grated pecorino. Bake for ten minutes in the oven – ta da!

Marley & Me

Well, looks like someone fell asleep while reading Marley & Me…

Platanos Asados (Grilled Bananas)

Mmmm….have you ever tried Platanos Asados (Grilled Bananas)? We were watching one of Bobby Flay’s many cooking shows and they featured Platanos Asados (Grilled Bananas). All it calls for are three simple ingredients so WHY NOT?! Sweet, mushy, spicy, and a perfect end to dinner

Platanos Asados (Grilled Bananas)

3 ripe bananas, unpeeled
1 can sweetened condensed milk
Ground cinnamon, to taste

Stick whole bananas inside grill at any temperature, and grill until very brown and soft, anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes depending on the grill temperature.

Slice bananas, through the peel, from end to end. Squeeze open like you would a baked potato. Put a little bit of condensed milk over the banana and sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon.

Almond Crusted Cod

I went home determined to make almond crusted cod with vegetables for dinner today. So, while I waited for Chris to get home from work, I did some laundry, put the dishes away, poured myself a glass of Kim Crawford wine, and played a game of solo croquet out on the front lawn. In the meantime, I had prepped the cod with a super simple recipe. I poured some wheat flour (I didn’t have all purpose) into one dish, broke an egg into a bowl and added a small dash of coconut milk, and threw some sliced almonds into a plastic ziploc bag and beat it with a mallet. I had a nice portion of ling cod from Costco left over from the weekend, and this made a great healthy dinner.

- 8 oz cod (or any other white fish that isn’t super flaky)

- flour

- 1 egg

- 1.5 cups of almonds, smashed with a mallet in a ziploc bag

- salt and pepper

Take your cod (or whatever fish you are using) and dredge it in the flour and shake any excess. Dip it into the beaten egg, then roll it in the almonds. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on top. Chill the fish in the fridge for 30 minutes in a plate with saran wrap over it. Heat a skillet with oil over medium heat and when you see a little smoke come from the pan, drop your almond crusted fish into the skillet and heat for 3 minutes on each side. I served mine with leftover grilled veggies from the weekend.

Baby’s First Beach Day

What better time to bring Kihei to the beach than this past Memorial Day weekend with our gorgeous 80 degree weather? We packed up our towels and dog toys and drove down to the famous Huntington Dog Beach in Orange County, CA where pals and pooches freely roam the sand and sea. Other than getting lost on the way there (thanks, stupid directions on YELP.com) and all the dogs peeing on our beach tote, it was way too much fun in the sun for our furry kids and ourselves. I thought Kihei would immediately take to the ocean since she’s got the labrador retriever in her plus those signature webbed paws but she was freaked out from all the dogs and super timid of the (freezing) water. Oh well, I’m going to keep on encouraging her…I’m sure she’ll like it sooner or later

My Idea of Fun

I don’t know about you, but going out to bars and clubs just ain’t my thang anymore. I prefer staying at home with the dogs, going on a little hike, hitting up the grocery store, and just hanging out doing not a damn thing. Recently, Chris adopted a lone little ping pong table that had been abandoned on the street. He polished it up, fixed one of the legs, and bought the parts and accessories for it and voila…we have home entertainment. We played ping pong in the sun out on the front yard for a few hours this past weekend with bloody mary drinks in tow and it was so much fun. I felt like a college frat boy, holding my red plastic cup full of booze and standing barefoot on the lawn in little board shorts and a tank. Classy, right?

We also adopted a brand new croquet set, and I’m determined to become a master at this game. It’s like a mix of pool and golf and is THE perfect thing to play on a lazy weekend with friends. Of course, Chris totally beat me at our last game of croquet (4 games to 2 – pooh) but I blame it on his advanced level of pool and golf.

Skin On Fire

For the first time in my life, I actually felt my skin burn from a jalapeno pepper. I had been chopping a small jalapeno pepper the other night, and then somehow managed to touch my nose before I washed my hands with soap. Within five minutes, my nose started to feel like it was on fire. It was an awful burning sensation, and it brought tears to my eyes. “AAAAAAH!!!!” I was screaming, running around the house throwing water and soap at it. No matter how much cold water I ran over my nose, the burning heat got hotter…and hotter…and HOTTER. After some uber quick research online, I found that I was not the only one who had ever experienced this problem. Here’s what I did to stop the burn (and you should do this, too, if you ever have this happen to you):

• Just like you should drink milk to cool and soothe your mouth when you eat something super spicy (don’t drink water!), you can do the same to skin. I actually took a spoon and put some vanilla bean ice cream on my nose to stop the flaming pain. And it worked.
• Apply olive oil to the burning skin, and leave it on there for five to ten minutes. I did this…and the pain went away.
• Or you can just wash your hands IMMEDIATELY after handling peppers (unlike silly me)

Home Is Where My Heart Is

We’ve been putting a lot of hard work into the backyard and vegetable garden so that we can enjoy it during sunny days such as that of this weekend…with the banana leaves, birds of paradise, hibiscus flowers, plumeria, passionfruit, and queen palms we have scattered about, the house is definitely oozing a hawaiian plantation style vibe.

Quote of the Day

A Q&A With Dr. Susanne Bennett

Los Angeles has been experiencing a rather cold and gloomy spring/start of summer and I’m not too thrilled. I like to play in the sunshine so this 68 degree weather kind of sucks. But this past weekend, we’ve been getting TONS of sun and warm weather (just in time for my birthday) and who better to kick off another round of my Q&A than Dr. Susanne Bennett – holistic chiropractor, founder of PURIGENEX skin care and an avid water sportswoman.

Hi Susanne. Can you tell our readers a little bit about what you do? I am a holistic chiropractor specializing in environmental and lifestyle medicine, antiaging, allergy treatments, clinical nutrition, and chronic immune system disorders. Specific areas of focus include heavy metal and chemical detoxification, anti-aging and weight loss, digestive, respiratory, and hormonal disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, and candidiasis. My office is located at 1821 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 300, Santa Monica, California. I practice integrated health care, combining aspects of Eastern and Western medicine. I use kinesiology testing to evaluate the dynamics of the body and pinpoint any disturbances that may exist, in a unique methodology developed over 20 years of clinical experience and advanced study. I seek the root of illness in order to activate healing at the cellular level, with resulting, comprehensive treatments that are effectively tailored to people’s highly individualized biochemical needs. This approach incorporates physical medicine along with subtle immune system modulation and attention to toxic emotional and mental disturbances that can manifest as physical symptoms.

I believe strongly that the human body has the innate capability to heal. I work to release all blockages, which could have a detrimental effect on the physiological and biochemical body, and cause illness. My technique is both iterative and cumulative, building the body’s strength and eliminating toxins, step by step, using the momentum of healing to bring about positive, permanent transformation. It is my mission to help restore patients to their natural and optimal state of health and well being on every level – emotional, metabolic, and physical.

Born in Seoul, Korea, I moved to Monterey, California when I was twelve years old. Following my lifelong participation in athletics, I attended UCLA and graduated with a degree in Kinesiology in 1984. In 1988, I graduated Summa Cum Laude and received my Doctorate in Chiropractic from Los Angeles College of Chiropractic. My initial private practice focused on sports medicine and rehabilitation.

Through my choice of chiropractic over traditional allopathic medicine, my training has always emphasized the natural recuperative powers of the human body. In 1995, prompted by the severe allergic illness of my newborn son, Cody and my own subsequent autoimmune illness, I was guided into serious investigation of energetic medicine, immunology, nutrition, and deep organ/tissue detoxification. My mastery of techniques such as NAET, Loomis Enzyme Therapy, JMT, NMT, EFT, and the Yuen method contributed to my complete recovery and that of my son. Today, these modalities form the foundation of my holistic and integrative practice; enabling gentle, safe, profound healing that is tolerated by even the most sensitive patients, infants, and children.

I lecture frequently on topics relating to chronic immune system dysfunction, heavy metal toxicity, organ cleansing, mold toxicity and antiaging skin care.

I am also the CEO and Founder of PURIGENEX, a skin care company dedicated to advanced dermal technologies. PURIGENEX has been catering only to the medical doctors, plastic surgeons and laser centers the past two years. PurGlo is my new consumer line that was just launched this February. PURGLO by PURIGENEX introduces an all-natural, non- invasive facelift treatment without surgery or injections. The negatively Ionized Collagen Mask and Intensive Collagen Serum will increase cell regeneration; leave your skin plumper, tighter and more youthful looking! Previously sold only through doctors, medispas and aesthetic professionals, PurGlo is now available direct to the public for home use.

PurGlo also has a full facial skin care and body care line. The Hydrating Body Butter is made in Maui with an “Aloha” essence and smell that is absolutely heavenly! My Element Protection Stick (EPS) is a must for all outdoor activity. It is a sun, snow, water, and windscreen, and will prevent wrinkles and discolorations. Water just rolls off your skin!

I started PURIGENEX with an agenda of helping my own skin! I am always in the sun and very active outdoors, my skin was weathered with deep wrinkles, dehydration, discolorations and sagging. I was desperate to reduce my own wrinkles and restore my skin. I was lucky to find the tissue engineering doctors that developed the cutting edge collagen from Korea and now PURIGENEX is the only global distributor for this state of the art collagen!

You can go directly to my websites for more information: www.drsusannebennett.com or www.purglo.com

What is your fitness routine? Most of my activities are outdoors: Stand Up Paddling and Surfing, Biking, Hiking, Snorkeling, Swimming and Interval Training. On cold days, I practice Qi Gong and Yoga indoors. About how many times a week do you exercise/workout/play a sport? 3x/week, I do not believe in over exercising. Too much exercise can be detrimental to your Adrenal Glands and Nervous System. We are already over stressed by work, family and day to day life. Unless you are a professional athlete, daily exercise is unnecessary. Interval Training optimizes time and intensity to keep you in great shape!

What is your typical diet like? My diet is free of : gluten, dairy including goat’s milk and cheese and yeast (bread). At least 98% of the time I am very clean. Shop only at the CoOp, Whole Foods and Pacific Palisades Farmers Market. Mostly organic and farmer’s market veggies. Love the Paleolithic Diet but with beans and sweet potatoes included.

Can you run down a day’s worth of food?

Wake up: Greens drink with all my supplements

Breakfast: 2 organic eggs over easy, with 3 slices of turkey bacon or a super protein cleansing shake

Dnack @ 11:00am: My JingJing powder drink I formulated for my patients: includes black sesame, black rice, black bean, Ho Sho Wu, Shilajite etc. (Excellent for the adrenals and kidneys-to promote strength and endurance)

Lunch: Large Chicken and Veggie Soup, sauteed Kale and Raw Granola (free of Oats- with seeds and nuts which are high protein, fats and moderate carbs), more supplements

Snack @ 4:00: greens drink with glutamine powder

Dinner: 5-6 oz. organic beef filet, 1 whole sweet potato, asparagus, beets, carrots or organic brown rice pasta with bolognese sauce made with ground organic sirloin tip, green salad, and sauteed brocolli rabe

Bedtime: Chamomile tea for relaxing and good night sleep

You previously mentioned that you have been SUP for about a year…how has this new activity impacted your physical appearance as well as your strength and stamina? SUP has been such an amazing exercise for my body but also for my spirit. I am a super advocate for the ocean and SUP allows me to connect to it and honor it. I am most comfortable in water and “on the water”. I have developed a great deal of strength in my core muscles, back and legs. I really love SUP surfing too. It is so much more difficult that I thought, I have so much respect for surfers. They are a breed all on their own!

What muscles do you feel are working the hardest when you are SUP? Arms, Back and Core (Abs)

What type of SUP board do you have? I have 2 boards, one at my Mexico House in La Paz and one here in LA. Both are 10 ft Lairds made by SurfTech . La Paz, Mexico is a perfect place to paddle because of it’s flat and smooth water- no waves. Excellent for long distance exercise. There are whale sharks off my beach and can be as large as 45 ft long! Very docile and beautiful. They are plankton eaters and will not attack. I have kayaked with them and hopefully when I go down in a couple of weeks, I will be able to SUP with them!

Any plans on investing in another and if so, what kind? I am looking for a longer board by Naish that is for racing long distance. The Laird is for surfing and paddling around recreationally, not for fast paddling. I want to start racing this summer and would love to get a better board for it!

Where do you usually stand up paddle board? Paradise Cove is my spot for paddling and surfing in Los Angeles County because of the break and also the ocean is the cleanest there. You can see 30-40 ft deep with clear visibility- tons of fish- bigggg fish!!  Sharks included!! Always check the Heal the Bay site to look at the ocean rating from A-F.  In Mexico- off my beach- El Mogote or around the coves off the island- Espiritu Santos. It is one hour away on boat ride but is probably the most beautiful place I have ever been to. I have attached a photo of me paddling in the turquoise blue waters!

If you could choose any destination in the world to SUP, where would it be? I would love to SUP in Bora Bora! I have never been to Polynesia and am really excited to go one day.  I would take my snorkel while I am paddling so that if I see any big turtles, dolphins or amazing sea life I could just jump right in and play with them!

Getting Big, Getting Beautiful

Sorry, I’m an obsessed dog owner. GUILTY!!!

What To Do With Leftover Mushrooms

…make stuffed mushrooms, of course! I had so many little button mushrooms leftover from a barbecue on Saturday and I didn’t want to waste them. Stuffed mushrooms are super easy to make, especially the Giada de Laurentiis way.

• 1/2 cup Italian-style dried bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 28 large (2 1/2-inch-diameter) white mushrooms, stemmed

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Stir the bread crumbs, Pecorino Romano, garlic, parsley, mint, salt and pepper, to taste, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium bowl to blend.

Drizzle a heavy large baking sheet with about 1 tablespoon olive oil, to coat. Spoon the filling into the mushroom cavities and arrange on the baking sheet, cavity side up. Drizzle remaining oil over the filling in each mushroom. Bake until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is heated through and golden on top, about 25 minutes. Serve.

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza

A pizza craving hit me tonight but instead of ordering takeout from our local pizza place, I decided to make the lazy man’s version using naan bread. Naan is great as pizza crust and it saves time and cleanup. I made two kinds: 1) smoked mozzarella with red onion, olive oil and fresh basil and 2) feta, kalamata olives, sundried tomato and truffle oil. My favorite was the first version because I had one too many strong flavors in the second. If I were to do it again (which I will since these pizzas came out amazing), I’ll probably omit the sundried tomatoes.

Smoked Mozzarella, Red Onion, Basil Pizza

- One slice of Fabulous Flats Garlic Naan Bread (there are two slices in one package)

- 4 oz of smoked mozzarella, cut into medium slices

- a few VERY THIN slices of red onion

- a few pieces of fresh basil (more if you like the taste)

- salt and pepper

- olive oil

Place the smoked mozzarella slices on top of the garlic naan, layer the basil and onion on top, and drizzle some olive oil over all the ingredients. Crack some freshly ground pepper and lightly sprinkle a tiny bit of sea salt. Bake for 10 minutes in a 450 degree oven.

Greek Pizza

- one slice of Fabulous Flats Garlic Naan

- 3 oz of greek feta cheese

- a few THIN slices of red onion

- 4 sundried tomatoes, minced into tiny pieces

- a small handful of kalamata olives, cut into halves

- truffle oil

- salt and pepper

Layer the feta cheese, olives, sundried tomato, and onion over the naan. Drizzle with truffle oil, then with freshly ground black pepper, and finally a small dash of sea salt. Bake for 10 minutes in a 450 degree oven.

Hard At Work

Hawaiian French Toast

I woke up this morning craving Hawaiian French Toast, one of THE easiest recipes to make since, well, it’s all about the hawaiian bread. Instead of serving it with maple syrup, I substituted agave syrup and also added a side dish of mascarpone cheese and blueberry preserves. Oh, and a few slices of bacon for my better half.

Hawaiian French Toast

- Kings Hawaiian bread. You can use ANY loaf size of Kings Hawaiian bread AS LONG AS IT IS Kings Hawaiian bread. I use the mini loaves.

- 2 eggs

- 1 tsp vanilla extract

- butter

- 2 tbs white sugar

- agave syrup to taste

- 2 tbs each of mascarpone cheese and preserves

- Beat two eggs and add the vanilla extract and sugar. Soak the bread into the mixture and coat on both sides. You can fit about six halves on a plate. Heat up the butter (about one tablespoon) on a hot skillet and set the loaves on there to cook until golden brown on each side. Dab some butter and dust with powdered sugar.

Pancake Muffins

I’ve been battling the worst allergies all week thanks to our gnarly wind and already filthy air. My asthma has kicked up a thousand notches and it’s been nothing but sleepless nights…boo. Needless to say, I’m pooped and exhausted and it’s only Wednesday. After dinner with my parents tonight at California Fish Grill, I headed home longing for sweatpants and something sweet to sink my teeth into. I was a little too lazy to whip up cookie batter from scratch so decided to do something with the leftover pancake batter we had sitting in the fridge from earlier this morning (yup, Chris got pancakes for breakfast this morning.) I made white chocolate macadamia nut pancake muffins but you can really add ANYTHING you want to pancake batter. I also added two more tablespoons of melted butter and three tablespoons of sugar to make it extra buttery and moist and sweet. To make it even more decadent, I had it with a bowl of Haagen Dazs Vanilla Bean ice cream….mmmmm.

Just A Baby

I just found these pictures of Kihei as a little baby on the CANON camera that I have not used in forever!! One word. Precious.

New Blog, New Meal

I have found a new favorite blog that I’m in love with. It belongs to a lovely girl named Jessica who I used to work with, and her blog is filled with fashion, food and great recipes. Her recipes look so good that I decided to try one out tonight at the last minute: Bang Bang Shrimp. Tonight is Tuesday, which usually consists of something picked up at the market or take-out from a local eatery. But instead of the expected I thought I would do something special since A) the Lakers are playing and B) it’s the first Tuesday in awhile that LOST is not on TV (did anyone catch the finale, by the way?) You can check out Jessica’s blog, LUALOSANGELES, here. I love her photography and genius recipes. It makes my mouth water all the time!

Jessica’s recipe for Bang Bang Shrimp is creamy, spicy and so flavorful (thanks mayo!) It borders Chinese tasting without the salt and MSG side effects you would normally get at a Chinese restaurant. So here you go, courtesy of LUALOSANGELES.

• 16 Medium Shrimp, peeled and deveined (the market only had 13 shrimp left – oh well)
• 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
• 6 tsp Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
• 3 tsp Sriracha sauce
• 2 tsp Rice vinegar
• 1 Cup Milk (I used Coconut Milk instead that I got from Whole Foods)
• 1 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs (I eyeballed this and added more towards the end)
• 1/2 Cup Corn Starch

In a bowl combine mayonnaise, sweet thai chili sauce, sriracha chili sauce and rice vinegar. Whisk together until will combined, set aside.

Soak shrimp in bowl with milk. Prepare a bowl with panko bread crumbs and another with corn starch.  Dredge the shrimp in the corn starch, then again in the milk and finally in the panko bread crumbs, set aside.

Heat a large skillet of oil until it reaches 300 degrees. Drop shrimp in and fry until golden brown. By the way, watch out for the hot oil that may splatter around. I got resourceful and grabbed my sunglasses to protect my eyes. Remove from oil with a slotted spoon.  Drain fried shrimp on plate lined with paper towels. In a large bowl combine fried shrimp with prepared sauce until evenly coated.

I served this alongside an asian style salad I made with green beans fresh from our garden, 1/4 avocado, 1/2 sliced cucumber, and leftover brown rice. I then made a dressing of rice vinegar, olive oil, soy sauce, and agave syrup. I made it this morning so the salad marinated well over 10 hours and was a crisp refreshing side to the creamy spicy shrimp.

HI.

Jesus, how long has it been since I’ve last posted anything? Sorry everyone, time just got away from me and one day of non-blogging turned into three days, which turned into two weeks, which eventually turned into…yeah. You get the point. Anyways, here is what’s new:

Chris and I went on our annual cinco de mayo camping trip to Leo Carrillo in Malibu, CA.

I have discovered a new favorite fresh juice: watermelon and strawberries. Perfectly sweet, so refreshing, and a great cleanser and detoxifying beverage.

I have found a new favorite wine: Maui Blanc from Cost Plus. It’s “pineapple wine” from some vineyard on Maui. LOVE.

Kihei is getting bigger…she is as big as Guido now and weighs almost 24 lbs. She also got the last of her vaccinations and can now join us on our morning and evening walks with Guido. We let them run around the park

Oh, and I got new shoes from ShoeDazzle! They kind of look like the YSL Tribute sandals only they cost like a mini fraction of the price. For any of you ladies who LOVE shoes, I highly recommend joining ShoeDazzle. It’s such a cool shoe-of-the-month club type deal except you get five different styles recommended to you by a stylist every month. And their shoes are CHEAP – $39.95/pair – and most of all, SOOO comfy. These shoes did not need breaking in at all. I wore them going up and down cobble-stoned streets and I felt like I was walking on air cushions. ShoeDazzle is also Kim Kardashian’s little baby, so for any Kim Kardashian fans, you might want to check this out if you haven’t already Excuse this silly picture of me. Chris was playing photographer and wanted to capture the essence of his backyard. Here I am before going out for a friend’s birthday in downtown LA.

There you go. My past month in a nutshell. See you soon!

Tapas Style Dinner

I made a tapas style dinner the other night that I would like to share. I haven’t done one of these in quite awhile and it was fun to present the food on my favorite rectangle plate from Cost Plus. I get all my dishes there, by the way. That place is amazing. Anyways, I bought a box of French green lentils from the farmers market and after eating these, I will never go back to regular lentils. The difference? Well, French green lentils are supposedly the best of the best of lentils. They retain their shape very nicely even after cooking it forever, and they have a naturally buttery and nutty taste. Holy moly! Delicious.

From left to right: French green lentils bathed in a little bit of melted butter, roasted roma tomato topped with a hint of olive oil, sea salt, basil, and parmesan cheese, and oven roasted carrots glistening with a smidge of olive oil and sea salt. And now…the close-up shots.

On a side note, I have been incredibly busy at work lately. I have been taking my work home with me (tsk tsk such a bad habit) and working after dinner, too. UGH! This won’t last long, though. And it better not. My ass is going to get so big from sitting all freakin’ day and I’m going to go blind from all the pixel pushing I do. Anyway, to take a break from all the graphic design work I’m doing, I’ve been having lots of fun superimposing heads on bodies HAHAHA! Below are pics of my two friends and the men they are SOOOO in love with. The top picture features my friend, Jenn, and her crush, Bill Schulz (writer and panelist) from Red Eye on Fox News. The second picture is her sister and my other pal, Nicole, and her dream honey, Ian Somerhalder from LOST and Vampire Diaries. HAHAHA! Looks pretty real, doesn’t it? By the way, Nicole would really kill me if she found out I posted this. Eh, she doesn’t read my blog anyway

Let’s Get Healthy

Time to get healthy! Ding ding ding! I spent $75 this week for Chris and I and stocked up on veggies, fruits, nuts, and more veggies from the farmers market. So what have I been eating and drinking?

Green juices! Lots of them! Daily! Cucumber, spinach, lemon, ginger, apple, and pear. God after a week of cheese and bread, I was LOVING my juice.

Salads galore! I have been adding avocado, hemp seeds, dulse, seaweed, walnuts, and even banana to mine.

Fruit! Here, pineapple chunks that I had for breakfast.

Smoothies. All day, everyday. Here is an avocado lime shake I made. Super easy and tasted just like key lime pie.

Asian inspired meals. I bought a big jar of kim chi, which isn’t exactly ideal to eat all the time since it’s quite salty but it adds so much spice and flavor to your dish. I’ve been eating alot of wakame seaweed and sauteed spinach, too. The plate above has squash that had been baked in the oven and in the dish right below, I added soba noodles to the mix. My only “dressing” is a couple dashes of Braggs Amino Acid, which tastes like soy sauce but is far superior.

So how have I been feeling? Seriously, I have been feeling GREAT. So much more energy, I’m not passing out super early, I am clear headed and focused at work, and I only need half a cup of coffee now. I really do believe in the power of green juices and eating raw and even though I fell off the wagon awhile ago, I’d really like to get back on and pursue a semi-raw lifestyle again. I say semi-raw because 100% raw is impossible for me and I wouldn’t want that. But 50% raw maybe? Now you’re talkin!

Low Budget, A Little Low on Energy

So my week’s challenge of eating food for only $5 a day + anything in the pantry is over and thank god. Unfortunately, in Los Angeles especially since it’s so expensive to live here, sometimes the cheapest foods are the unhealthiest. And even though I made a conscious effort last week not to buy junk food (like chips, frozen foods, sweets, etc), a week’s worth of bagels (whole grain, mind you), eggs, and cheese is enough to make anyone’s health plummet a little bit. My wallet may have thanked me last week but my digestion nor my energy did not! I was fatigued the whole time, my focus at work was fuzzy, I was yawning every two hours, and my skin was turning dry and flaky and a little pale. Not good. So what did I learn?

Of course, there is a learning lesson behind everything and making myself do this food challenge taught me to really think carefully about all my food purchases and what I spend my money on. It made me realize that the afternoon hot chocolate from across the street is absolutely unnecessary and the $15 salad with goat cheese from next door is absurd. I learned to plan carefully, not let anything go to waste, and monitor my mindless spending when it came to things like packs of $2.99 Juicy Fruit gum, $1.75 coffee at night, a cup of $4.95 gelato from the market….it adds up!

Anyways, as much as I’d like to only spend five measly dollars a day on food, my body was begging me to cleanse a little from all the dense foods I had been ingesting. Here is a little rundown on some of the things I’ve been noshing on. It’s soooo nice to be back on a healthy kick, by the way. I think I’m going to juice in the mornings for a little bit to get my organs back into gear, followed by my usual cup of joe (because I’ve accepted the fact that I’m a coffee addict and nothing will come between me and that little cup of steaming hot caffeine.) I’m going to try and go raw until dinner, too, but don’t be surprised if I sneak in some cooked foods every now and then for my nooner meal.

Before I go through a reel of my healthy foods this past week, let’s take a look at what I did with pantry items to save some money.

Ah, the good old tuna sandwich. I found a can of tuna in the pantry (zero dollars for me to spend) and had some Ezekiel bread in the freezer, which I toasted and then proceeded to cut off the edges. How elementary school of me, no? I melted string cheese (zero dollars yet again because we have a HUUUGE pack from Costco), some lettuce from the garden and paprika and chili powder.

FAGE greek yogurt is my favorite. I get a large container of 2% yogurt and it’s $4.99 a container, and it lasts me for a good four to five days. I found a really old ruby grapefruit in our fridge (I know, ewww…) but it was still good! No mold or defects. So I drizzled honey over the whole thing and called it a day.

Ha, this was my gourmet lunch. We always have sweet onions lying around so I sauteed a giant onion with some sundried tomatoes I found in our pantry in melted butter, olive oil, and garlic. Then, I pulled out some frozen fish from Costco (I HATE eating farm raised fish but then again, I was on a budget) and baked it in tin foil in olive oil, herbs, and spices. Mmmmm! Very tasty although the thought of ingesting farm raised fish really grossed me out the whole time. Farm raised is BAD! Unless you’re saving money and need to have fish, always go for fresh.

Mmmm pizza. I had frozen cornmeal pizza crust in the freezer from decades ago and poured a container of pesto sauce over it, then layered string cheese and red pepper flakes on top. Baked in the oven for about 15 minutes at 375 degrees. It came out super oily (what was I thinking with all that pesto) and the crust tasted stale. BLAH! That’s what I get for eating a thousand year old crust from the freezer!

So there you go. I may have saved some good money but my energy completely plummeted! Onto the healthy foods….

Wallet Friendly Foods

This challenge of living on $5 a day for food (but can use any pantry items already in the kitchen) is actually fun. It’s making me think twice about what I purchase at the grocery store and how to wisely use my food. It also makes me realize how MUCH I was spending on food for just one person! I checked my bank statement and in one day last week I spent $50!!! I grabbed a breakfast sandwich ($8), then I got an expensive chicken salad for lunch ($14) since I work in Pacific Palisades and everything there is pricey grrrr, and then I got a hot chocolate ($3) as a snack, and then for dinner I went to Whole Foods and blew $25 getting organic this and that for dinner. UGH!!! Shame on me. Oh well, live and learn, right?

I found this great article called “The 20 Healthiest Foods Under $1″ by Brie Cadman on DivineCaroline.com but keep in mind that where you live and where you grocery shop really matters. Even though I am on a budget, I still make myself shop at Whole Foods or Trader Joes for their quality so I know some of the items below are definitely NOT under $1. But it’s a good guide so read on! I’m already planning next week’s grocery list, which will include lentils and some sort of reasonably priced meat so I can make a huge stew.

1. Oats
High in fiber and complex carbohydrates, oats have also been shown to lower cholesterol. And they sure are cheap—a dollar will buy you more than a week’s worth of hearty breakfasts.

Serving suggestions: Sprinkle with nuts and fruit in the morning, make oatmeal cookies for dessert.

2. Eggs
You can get about a half dozen of eggs for a dollar, making them one of the cheapest and most versatile sources of protein. They are also a good source of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which may ward off age-related eye problems.

Serving suggestions: Huevos rancheros for breakfast, egg salad sandwiches for lunch, and frittatas for dinner.

3. Kale
This dark, leafy green is loaded with vitamin C, carotenoids, and calcium. Like most greens, it is usually a dollar a bunch.

Serving suggestions: Chop up some kale and add to your favorite stir-fry; try German-Style Kale or traditional Irish Colcannon.

4. Potatoes
Because we often see potatoes at their unhealthiest—as fries or chips—we don’t think of them as nutritious, but they definitely are. Eaten with the skin on, potatoes contain almost half a day’s worth of Vitamin C, and are a good source of potassium. If you opt for sweet potatoes or yams, you’ll also get a good wallop of beta carotene. Plus, they’re dirt cheap and have almost endless culinary possibilities.

Serving suggestions: In the a.m., try Easy Breakfast Potatoes; for lunch, make potato salad; for dinner, have them with sour cream and chives.

5. Apples
I’m fond of apples because they’re inexpensive, easy to find, come in portion-controlled packaging, and taste good. They are a good source of pectin—a fiber that may help reduce cholesterol—and they have the antioxidant Vitamin C, which keeps your blood vessels healthy.

Serving suggestions: Plain; as applesauce; or in baked goods like Pumpkin-Apple Breakfast Bread.

6. Nuts
Though nuts have a high fat content, they’re packed with the good-for-you fats—unsaturated and monounsaturated. They’re also good sources of essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, and protein. And because they’re so nutrient-dense, you only need to eat a little to get the nutritional benefits. Although some nuts, like pecans and macadamias, can be costly, peanuts, walnuts, and almonds, especially when bought in the shell, are low in cost.

Serving suggestions: Raw; roasted and salted; sprinkled in salads.

7. Bananas
At a local Trader Joe’s, I found bananas for about 19¢ apiece; a dollar gets you a banana a day for the workweek. High in potassium and fiber (9 grams for one), bananas are a no-brainer when it comes to eating your five a day quotient of fruits and veggies.

Serving suggestions: In smoothies, by themselves, in cereal and yogurt.

8. Garbanzo Beans
With beans, you’re getting your money’s worth and then some. Not only are they a great source of protein and fiber, but ’bonzos are also high in fiber, iron, folate, and manganese, and may help reduce cholesterol levels. And if you don’t like one type, try another—black, lima, lentils … the varieties are endless. Though they require soaking and cooking, the most inexpensive way to purchase these beans is in dried form; a precooked can will still only run you around a buck.

Serving suggestions: In salads, curries, and Orange Hummus.

9. Broccoli
Broccoli contains tons of nice nutrients—calcium, vitamins A and C, potassium, folate, and fiber. As if that isn’t enough, broccoli is also packed with phytonutrients, compounds that may help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Plus, it’s low in calories and cost.

Serving suggestions: Throw it in salads, stir fries, or served as an accompaniment to meat in this Steamed Ginger Chicken with Asian Greens recipe.

10. Watermelon
Though you may not be able to buy an entire watermelon for a dollar, your per serving cost isn’t more than a few dimes. This summertime fruit is over 90 percent water, making it an easy way to hydrate, and gives a healthy does of Vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene, an antioxidant that may ward off cancer.

Serving suggestions: Freeze chunks for popsicles; eat straight from the rind; squeeze to make watermelon margaritas (may negate the hydrating effect!).

11. Wild Rice
It won’t cost you much more than white rice, but wild rice is much better for you. Low in fat and high in protein and fiber, this gluten-free rice is a great source of complex carbohydrates. It packs a powerful potassium punch and is loaded with B vitamins. Plus, it has a nutty, robust flavor.

Serving suggestions: Mix with nuts and veggies for a cold rice salad; blend with brown rice for a side dish.

12. Beets
Beets are my kind of vegetable—their natural sugars make them sweet to the palate while their rich flavor and color make them nutritious for the body. They’re powerhouses of folate, iron, and antioxidants.

Serving suggestions: Shred into salads, slice with goat cheese. If you buy your beets with the greens on, you can braise them in olive oil like you would other greens.

13. Butternut Squash
This beautiful gourd swings both ways: sometimes savory, sometimes sweet. However you prepare the butternut, it will not only add color and texture, but also five grams of fiber per half cup and chunks and chunks of Vitamin A and C. When in season, butternut squash and related gourds are usually less than a dollar a pound.

Serving suggestions: Try Pear and Squash Bruschetta; cook and dot with butter and salt.

14. Whole Grain Pasta
In the days of Atkins, pasta was wrongly convicted, for there is nothing harmful about a complex carbohydrate source that is high in protein and B vitamins. Plus, it’s one of the cheapest staples you can buy.

Serving suggestions: Mix clams and white wine with linguine; top orzo with tomatoes and garlic; eat coldFarfalle Salad on a picnic.

15. Sardines
As a kid, I used to hate it when my dad would order sardines on our communal pizzas, but since then I’ve acquired a taste for them. Because not everyone has, you can still get a can of sardines for relatively cheap. And the little fish come with big benefits: calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins. And, because they’re low on the food chain, they don’t accumulate mercury.

Serving suggestions: Mash them with parsley, lemon juice, and olive oil for a spread; eat them plain on crackers; enjoy as a pizza topping (adults only).

16. Spinach
Spinach is perhaps one of the best green leafies out there—it has lots of Vitamin C, iron, and trace minerals. Plus, you can usually find it year round for less than a dollar.

Serving suggestions: Sautéed with eggs, as a salad, or a Spinach Frittata.

17. Tofu
Not just for vegetarians anymore, tofu is an inexpensive protein source that can be used in both savory and sweet recipes. It’s high in B vitamins and iron, but low in fat and sodium, making it a healthful addition to many dishes.

Serving suggestions: Use silken varieties in Tofu Cheesecake; add to smoothies for a protein boost; cube and marinate for barbecue kebobs.

18. Lowfat Milk
Yes, the price of a gallon of milk is rising, but per serving, it’s still under a dollar; single serving milk products, like yogurt, are usually less than a dollar, too. Plus, you’ll get a lot of benefit for a small investment. Milk is rich in protein, vitamins A and D, potassium, and niacin, and is one of the easiest ways to get bone-strengthening calcium.

Serving suggestions: In smoothies, hot chocolate, or coffee; milk products like low fat cottage cheese and yogurt.

19. Pumpkin Seeds
When it’s time to carve your pumpkin this October, don’t shovel those seeds into the trash—they’re a goldmine of magnesium, protein, and trace minerals. Plus, they come free with the purchase of a pumpkin.

Serving suggestions: Salt, roast, and eat plain; toss in salads.

20. Coffee
The old cup-o-joe has been thrown on the stands for many a corporeal crime—heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis—but exonerated on all counts. In fact, coffee, which is derived from a bean, contains beneficial antioxidants that protect against free radicals and may actually help thwart heart disease and cancer. While it’s not going to fill you up like the other items on this list, it might make you a lot perkier. When made at home, coffee runs less than 50¢ cents a cup.

Serving suggestions: Just drink it.

Although that bag of 99¢ Cheetos may look like a bargain, knowing that you’re not getting much in the way of nutrition or sustenance makes it seem less like a deal and more like a dupe. Choosing one of these twenty items, or the countless number of similarly nutritious ones, might just stretch that dollar from a snack into a meal.