It’s My Birthday and I’ll Give YOU presents if I want to

Giveaway, Grub. | August 26, 2011 | By

 

Yes sir, today is my birthday. Well, that’s a white lie. It was actually on August 24th but due to the state of health in my household, I spent 6 hours in the ER with my little angels on my birthday. Everyone is finally feeling healthy again. So, I say today is my birthday because we are finally going to celebrate my birthday tonight. Good friends, good food, healthy kids and….cocktails. I was fine skipping my birthday this year but Ryan insists I get one year older. Meanie.

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Red Potato and Goat Cheese Stack with Basil Balsamic Drizzle

Dinner | August 23, 2011 | By


Last night I posted my recipe for Filet Mignon with Whiskey Cream Sauce. So far two of the comments on the steak refer to the potato stack next to the steak. I felt bad about not getting yesterdays post up until late so I am giving you another recipe today. When I made it for the first time, I didn’t dip the potato slices in the vinaigrette before assembling and that is a MUST.

My sweet girls are sick as sick can be so this post has to be short. I barely got any sleep last night and I would love to catch some shut eye before my angels wake up from their naps.

But get ready for tomorrow! It’s my birthday and the start of another fabulous giveaway!!!

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Filet Mignon with Whiskey Cream Sauce

Dinner, Grub. | August 22, 2011 | By

This past weekend I had my first mommy getaway in almost a year. My brother in law is getting married in October and I went on the bachelorette party for my soon to be mini sister-in-law. I say mini because she’s a beautiful petite woman. I was so excited to spend the weekend with her, her friends and of course my other sister in law, Kellie.

I don’t know what it is about when Mom’s go out of town but Murphy and his damn law inevitably show their faces and the children get sick. Here I am sitting on Descanso beach in Catalina with 12 really fabulous ladies and my brand new iphone gives its legendary ring of a new text message. Excited to see a picture of my darling girls, I am instead greeted with, “Buggies has a fever of 102.” Ugh. Really? 102??? Several hours and several text messages later, I’ve decided to stay on the island rather than helicopter myself for a bazillion dollars to my doorstep. As the night goes on, she’s not feeling better and my guilt level starts to rise. My downright out of this world husband insists he’s got everything under control through the cries from the girls and the panic in his voice.

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Fire Roasted Artichokes

Dinner | August 19, 2011 | By

Here in Los Angeles, we have this restaurant called Houston’s. Or Hillstone. It depends on the time of day and what the current California law is regarding calories being listed on menus. Anyways, Ry and I fell in love with this place so many years ago I feel like it really wasn’t THAT long ago. I mean really, why do I still feel 24 but get carded at the grocery store with TWO kids and feel like a champion when they ask for my ID? Probably because my 32nd birthday is coming on strong on August 24th. Sigh….

Ryan and I have loved artichokes forever and I have spent a lot of time trying to master the Houston artichoke. It’s sweet, but savory and smoky and fire roasted and perfect. And! Alas! I duplicated that tricky little sucker. Ready?

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Lovely Lady Cilantro Corn

Dinner | August 17, 2011 | By

I’m guessing I have your attention. In 2005, I was going in for my 6th round of Iodine Radiation treatment. I swear this story is good. Not depressing. But I will tell you this. I had 100% Follicular Thyroid Cancer at the age of 4. I spent 2 years in the hospital and I was diagnosed cancer free just before my 6th birthday. (Yay!) I went on to regular schooling, made friends, graduated high school, graduated UCLA, met my husband and then….In 2003, a week before my wedding I got THE news…the cancer was back. I went through a round of Iodine treatment in March of 2004 and then again in December of 2005. I’ll have you know that I have now been cancer free for the 2nd time for 5 years (holllllla!!!!!!)

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Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Salmon

Dinner | August 15, 2011 | By

We recently spent some time in Oregon with really amazing friends. It was a much needed Mommy and Daddy getaway. As well as a much needed catching up with friends and enjoying time together getaway. After a weekend of relaxing, touring the cities and wine tasting; I insisted on making our friends dinner. Not to mention their kitchen is made of the things I dream about. I found a few empty drawers and actually contemplated trying to fit myself inside of them to just live in this kitchen. I know that sounds weird, right? Trust me. This kitchen makes my heart swoon and my knees buckle.

The Pacific Northwest is known for their amazingly fresh killer seafood so I chose to make a Brown Sugar Mustard Glazed Salmon. Our tour guides led us to this fantastic local store that I would call a cross between Whole Foods and Bristol Farms. But here’s the kicker – it only sells local items from Oregon. How freaking cool is that? It of course had other staples that you could find at any high end grocery store. But if there was a local Oregonian product – that would be the first one on the shelves.

Alongside this salmon, I made cilantro corn and my mango salad. Since it was a side dish, I just left out the chicken and pumped up the avocado and mango. It turned out quite delish, so here we go!

Hubby’s Note: This salmon needs to be grilled. My wife prepares it and I grill it. I recommend two things to help this process. First, I recommend Grill Grates. Go to Amazon.com to find them. I found them courtesy of Craig Goldwyn at Amazingribs.com. Second, any time you’re grilling you MUST have a timer and a thermometer. Fish is one of the rare cases, where i don’t use a thermometer. I only use a timer. Specifically the Weber Grilling app, “On The Grill”. I love this app. Use it all the time. It’s got a timer as well as temperatures to look for. Both the USDA and the Chef’s temps. For a 1 inch filet of Salmon, i went ten minutes, flipping once. It was perfect. So healthy, and so good.

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Parents Magazine Best Food Blog Nominee!

Oh friends….

I’m speechless.

Best Food Blog nominee?? I honestly do not know what to say. I mean, I won’t lie. I totally broke out in my best 80’s dance moves in my kitchen. Granted the music to Rapunzel was on and well, that always gets me movin’.

If you would (pretty please with sugar on top) go to

http://blog-awards.parents.com/blog-awards/mom_blogs/432-mommy-bistro

and vote for Mommy Bistro!!!

Oh and keep your peepers open cause the next giveaway is just around the corner!!

Grilled Nectarines with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Le Petit BonBon | August 12, 2011 | By

Grilled fruit is such a light and delicious dessert. It gives you that satisfying sweetness you need at the end of a meal (or at least us girls need it) without going crazy on calories or heaviness. And here’s the bonus! You can give this to kids and they don’t realize they are actually eating something healthy. Shhh…..don’t tell them! It’s our secret. When I made this last, our good friends and my parents were over for Cuban Garlic Chicken. My dad’s nectarine turned out the prettiest for a picture so the poor guy had to wait, staring at it longingly, while I paparazzied his poor dessert.

PS…Serve this with Tobin James Charisma.

PSS….Love ya!

Hubby’s Note: Tobin James is our favorite winery. The Charisma my wife is referring to is a sweet dessert wine they offer. It works really well with the dish. But a nice port or late harvest Zinfandel would go really well too. As for the Grilled Nectarines…mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Is there anything better than something hot and succulent served with cold vanilla ice cream? Actually, yes, there is. There’s a lot that’s better. But it’s still REALLY good. BTW honey, PSS? Post Super Script? Post Spaghetti Script? And I hope it was directed at me.

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Chicken Parmigiana Arrabiatta

Dinner, Grub. | August 10, 2011 | By

I LOVE Chicken Parmigiana. I know, I know, I’ve said before that I’m not a fan of chicken breast but seriously? When you bread it, fry it, cover it in delicious arrabiatta sauce and mozzarella; it makes my heart swoon. It’s kind of my standby plan when I’m not exactly sure what to do for dinner. It doesn’t take much time, it’s GREAT for leftovers and my family digs it. Nuff said.

Oh and because we all have busy lives, I’ve also included a shortcut version with store bought sauce.

Hubby’s note: For the record, anything is good when you fry it. Just ask the Chinese. (ducks feet anyone?) I don’t share my wife’s boredom for chicken. Especially when it’s on culinary steroids like this one is. This chicken is REALLY good. I can only guess that “Arrabiatta” is italian for “Kick-Ass”. I’m always the envy of my co-workers come lunch time as my delicious leftovers waft through the air. And this dish gets me more glances than usual.

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Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Parmesan Polenta and an Herb Cream Sauce

Dinner, Grub. | August 7, 2011 | By

I go through these kicks where I want to literally empty everything in my fridge and freezer and start anew. By that I mean, cook everything we’ve got. I HATE wasting food – especially produce – so I try to be very conscious of what we have lying around to make. One night I said to Ryan, “Choices are: Potstickers with fried rice, Ramen Pad Thai (I got VERY creative in college) or pork and polenta.” He chose the pork and polenta and… alas! A new recipe was born.

Hubby’s Note: Herb Cream Sauce! Herb Cream Sauce! I want to bathe in it!

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