Patty-Thai

My favorite food in the world is steamed clams. My Grandma and I used to get them at the Pike Place Market during her yearly visit from the east coast. We also used to do a cracked crab feast. These are some of my favorite memories of summers growing up. Oh, and horse camp. My first kiss was with "Tom from Boston" after the barn dance. Well, that is not really relevant to my story. Oh, well. 

These days my favorite food is Pad Thai with Tofu, 3 stars. I'm a little boring to take out to dinner to Thai restaurants. I pretty much order the same thing every time. I also love the veggie burger. My new Attic staple. 

Today, I started to think about what if I combined the two? Below find my creation for a Pad Thai Veggie Burger. Truly delicious! 

* Ingredients * 
2 cups cooke jasmine rice
1/4 block extra firm tofu
1 egg
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped peanuts 
2 green onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced 
1 tablespoons chili flakes 
Juice of 1 Lime 
Olive or Peanut Oil 
Shredded Carrot 
Shredded Cabbage 
Lime wedge 
Peanut Sauce


* Instructions * 
1. Combine first 9 ingredients in food processor.Pulse until well combined. 
2. Form mixture into 9 small patties. 
3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil into a frying pan. Brown each patty at approximately 3 minutes a side. 
4. Serve with carrot, cabbage, lime and spicy peanut sauce. 

Girls Love Pink, Hearts and Sparkles.

Happy (almost) Hearts Day! My valentine this year is a little black dog name Zeuggie. I'm pretty sure he is going to get me something small and sparkly tomorrow. Rule for all boys, men and doggies out there - you can never go wrong with small and sparkly for your valentine.  Wait I take that back, I'd rather have a new flash for my camera or a new pair of ski boots.
 
Since most girls love pink, hearts, sparkles and bubbles, I hosted group yesterday for a little crafting and champagne. Ribbons, stamps, fun papers and glitter provided the activity and was an outlet for everyone to express there one "Tarte and Parcel-esque" creativity.

The menu was equally whimsical. Based on the theme: "Love is sweet and a little savory" snacks included:

* My Heart "Beets" for You Hummus
* Shot of Love Shrimp
* Apple of My Eye Ravioli 
* Be(ef) Tender to my Loins Bruchetta
* Making Whoopie Pies
* Cupid Cakes 

My favorite of the bunch was the"Shot of Love Shrimp" inspired from a Bloody Mary. Here are the instructions! 


Shot of Love Shrimp

* Ingredients * 
1 lb cooked prawns
1/2 lb cherry tomatoes 
1 14 oz can of tomato sauce 
1 cup Absolut Pepper Vodka 
3 tablespoons Tabasco 
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
Pepperoncinis
Celery 
Coronichons (I love mini pickles!) 

* Instructions *  
1. Marinate shrimp and cherry tomatoes in next 5 ingredients overnight. 
2. Alternate shrimp and tomatoes on skewers with celery, pepperoncinis and coronichons.


As an aside, the marathon is at long last finally a commitment. I am running the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon in June. To help with the training I have joined, Team in In Training and raising money for cancer research. If you have a need for dessert or apps for your next shower, luncheon, dinner or party I would be happy to exchange any culinary skills  for a donation. Fight cancer and eat well... I'd say it's a double win. :) 

Haute Dogs... Finger Food Style

My biggest accomplishment for the week is that I taught Zeuggie how to walk on a treadmill. Not the easiest thing for someone who has no patience. All it took was a week,  a package of hot dogs and a cup of peanut butter. For me, all I would need is a cornichon.  What the world needs more of is mini pickles. Well, I guess I am just a sucker for anything mini.

Examples... Sliders. The mini hamburger. Why hasn't the mini hot dog caught on? These are the questions girls ask when they are watching a semi-boring football game and the people-watching at the bar is well... more boring than the game.


So while I had mini and hot dogs on my mind, I decided to do a little experimentation in kitchen. Playoffs and the Super Bowl are coming up and really I think the mini hot dog could l take center stage at any party.  

Cream cheese and jalenpeno, chilli dogs with cheese and onion and spicy corn dogs. 

Homemade dogs, homemade buns, corn dogs and Skyline Chili style  - a tribute to my Grandma Jane. Mustard dipping sauce on the side! Try these options for your next event! 

Eleven things that I learned in 2011.

Now that Christmas is almost wrapped up, I'd like to share that 2011 was a very educational year for me. Here is what I got for the eleven things I learned in '11...

I learned... (#1) I am passionate about three things in life. I challenge everyone to think about the 3 things in life that they are passionate about outside of friends and family. It's a harder question than you think. Also, don't pay much mind to the hand motion comments below - it's just a reference to the San Diego *lawyer* (a.k.a. I think that was his line) who told me that he only loved three things and illustrated with hand motions. This is where I am a little quirky. :) 

(A) - dogs. (Point one finger to the sky.) 2011 brought me Flugzeug... aka Zeuggie... aka Z. He is the love of my life. I also love the people in my life who treat the dog as if he was my family. I know its not the same, but just watch Game of Thrones and you'll understand he is my dyer wolf. (Yes, I am a nerd that watches Sci-Fi...) 2011 also met Haas with a lot of pain and illness. Please everyone keep him in your prayers. Although he doesn't live everyday with me, he still is my first baby. 

(B) - Skiing. (Point 2 fingers straight ahead, perpendicular to the ground.) Mammoth girls weekend in 2011 and a repeat in 2012. Can.not.wait. Plus, I have learned to drop a cornice without crying. Geishas are gonna treat me well this year. Would love to hit up Kitzbuehel and Jackson also in 2012, but Austria may be a stretch. 


(C) - Throwing Parties. (Point 3 fingers to the ground.) My idol is Chef Roble. Anyone who wants to commission me for a party next year -- IN. I threw my personal best parties ever this year (yes, biased and bragging a little). Got asked to do center pieces and 2 weddings next year. Culmination of my party planning abilities was the 12 bars of Madison Park. Sorry, I was cranky that day and took no pictures. Need to learn how to be less emotional. Note for 2012. 

I learned... (#2) My parents are still the best people I know. Sometimes when I think about my parents, I think about the poem "Footprints." In the toughest times of my life, my parents carried me. 

I learned... (#3)  The driving etiquette of Madison Park. For those of you who don't know... Gardners yield for runners. Runners yield for old people. Old people yield for people with kids. Everyone yields for anyone leaving the tennis club in their fancy cars. Dude. More than 10 times that I have almost been hit this year. 

I learned... (#4) Don't leave things on the floor when you have a puppy. 

I learned... (#5) Text conversations between men and women should be limited to "when are we meeting?" -- at least mine should.

I learned... (#6) To be thankful for wonderful friends. I have more good friends now than ever before in my life. I started to name all of you, but then thought you know who you are. I love you guys.

I learned... (#7) Every woman needs a closet room and professional photos. My closet room is my club house. I have slept on the fainting couch many times this year. Makes me feel safe. Also, from a girl who wore uniforms all her life, I am happy surrounded by my party dresses. There are few bad days that can't be solved with Fendi purse or a Herve Leger dress. On the photo side, doesn't matter how much you have pay, every girl should have something that she can look at and always feel beautiful.  I recommend Nicole Raine and Lawrence Kim for photos. 

I learned... (#8) I can still cook. I make a mean Mac and Cheese.  For the Christmas party, I did individual Mac and Cheeses. Really you can make anything into an appetizer. 


* Ingredients * 

1 pound pasta, cooked

* Topping* 

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 cups panko* (Japanese bread crumbs) or coarse dry bread crumbs
• 1 cup coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar (about 4 ounces)
  

* Sauce *

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 
• 3 cups whole milk
• 3/4 cups heavy cream
• 4 cups coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar (about 1 pound)
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup medium, fresh salsa
  
  

* Instructions *

• Cook pasta for 20 minutes. 
• Mix together panko, melted butter and 1 cup cheese. Set aside. 
• Heat butter and flour into a roux, constantly stirring in sauce pan for 3 minutes. Add milk, pepper and pepper flakes. Bring to boil and simmer for 6 minutes until reduced to 1/2 of volume.  
• Stir in cream, 4 cups cheese, mustard, salt and pepper.
• Mix sauce, salsa and noodles together. 
• Divide between 30 mini Ramekins.
• Sprinkle with topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Broil on High for 2 minutes.  

I learned... (#9) I have great instincts on boys. My biggest issue is that I don't listen to them. 

I learned... (#10) Forgiveness is paramount in life. Don't hold grudges. Don't be too proud to say you are are sorry. Nothing wrong with humbling yourself. 

I learned... (#11) Great things happen when least expected. Onto 2012.

Laisser les bons temps rouler!

I love a good party. Who doesn't? Better than attending a party, I love to throw a party. Really, there is nothing I like more than setting the perfect scene for people to mingle and have a good time. If I had one wish it might very well be to have a career as a professional party planner. This summer I did 2 parties with a N'awlins menu and theme. The first was an afternoon baby shower for my sister-in-law inspired by HWTM's "Fete Du Bebe" and the second was a dinner party for friends.

Why two events with the same theme? Maybe it was just because I couldn't stand to put all the feathers away. Maybe it was because I am obsessed with True Blood and the New Orleans, "blue-sy" soundtracks. Maybe it was because the Cajungrocer.com requires a five pound minium order on crawfish and I didn't want to let any of it go to waste. Maybe, I am just insane and there is a third party with the Cajun theme around the corner. :) 

* Shower Decor *
So first of all a recap of the baby shower... My sister-in-law is one of the sweetest people I know. Also, she is going to make the best mother and me for an aunt for the first time (any day now...). When her and my brother got married, Loni *really* wanted a tent. Unfortunately, their wedding day was full of showers. Good luck, right? But, for the shower, we definitely needed a big top. Hung from the tent top were 48 Chinese lanterns in different shades of blue and orange. The tables were done with feather accents, custom zebra tablecloths and orange runners. Blue and orange cocktail monkeys hung from the glasses and customized cards were used for the favors.


* Baby Shower Menu * 

• Cajun-spiced Popcorn (served in decorative paper cones... of course!)
• Tangy Cucumber and Grapefruit Salsa with crackers
• Spicy Shrimp with brown sugar glazed andouille over Cheesy Grits 
• Mini Crawfish Gratins 
• Petite Gateau du Sirop 
• Blue Monkeys (Champagne with Blue Curacao)  
• Orange and Mint infused Water

* Dinner Party Decor *
Now as I mentioned, the feathers were really, really fun and for the dinner party I wanted to carry more of the feather accents through. Pier One helped me out with that task, because really what girl that lives in a Barbie Dream Home doesn't need peacock placemats? The orange runner was re-used from the shower. Black and white napkins finished the classy-French quarter themed look.
What did I serve at this dinner party? Crawfish Etouffee, of course!

* Crawfish Etouffee Recipe * 

Ingredients 
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon paprika 
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped celery 
2 pounds crawfish meat
1/4 cup flour
2 cups seafood stock
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 
Chopped Italian Parsley 

Instructions 
1. Melt butter in large skillet. Add seasonings, onions, green pepper and celery. Sautee until vegetables are translucent. 
2. Add crawfish and cook for 5 minutes. Add stock and flour stirring constantly until it is a thick gravy. 
3. Add tomatoes, tabasco, fresh time and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for 20-30 minutes.   
4. Serve over jasmine rice. Sprinkle with fresh parsley. 

Pizzer: The Ultimate Comfort Food.

I guess I have *writer's block.* I don't really have any cute stories to tell, deep thoughts on life or another such silliness. Thank GOD I don't have *chef's block* however. The past few weeks, I have discovered grilling pizza the the BBQ and have to share with everyone how wonderful it is. (Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm a little late to the party on this one.)

Pizza is a wonderful comfort food. With the right toppings, it is the best combo of sweet and savory. And whether you worry about what shoes go with your new DVF dress, will you ever meet Mr. Right or about the European debt crisis and its effect on the US recovery - face it... we ALL need a little comfort food.

So what do you need to grill pizza?

• BBQ
• Pasty Brush with Olive Oil 
• Pizza Dough  
• Pizza Toppings 

To get going, heat up your grill to a medium-high temp. You're going to want to grill the dough on the grill over direct heat. To stop the dough from sticking, use your pasty brush to baste the dough and grill with olive oil.

Roll out your dough (make your own or pick up some from Trader Joe's) on a floured surface. Place dough on grill for 2-3 minutes until dough begins to bubble. Flip using a spatula and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes.

What's next? Toppings! Here are some of my favorites so far...

1. Shrimp, Pesto, Fresh Tomato, Onion with shaved Parmesan and Pine Nuts. 
Secret: Grill the shrimp with lemon on the BBQ before putting on the pizza to add a citrus zest. Don't forget to toast the pine nuts!

2. Proscuitto, Chevre, Crimini Mushroom, Arugula and Fig Sauce.
Secret: Saute the mushrooms in a large pan beforehad. Use a double boiler to melt fig jam into a sauce. Toss Arugula in lemon juice.

3. Chicken, Spiced Pear, Onion, Gorgonzola and Walnut.  
Secret: Cook chopped pear in 2 tablespoons brown sugar and nutmeg. Don't forget the onion and the walnuts - it helps to balance the sweetness of the pear!

Corks and Dorks

Firstly, I am not calling my friends “dorks.” I’m the dork. Zeuggie is the other dork – he likes to watch 60 Minutes  and Fringe with me. Though with Fringe, he is not nearly as taken with Joshua Jasckson as I am.

Today, I did afternoon cocktails with the ladies. The theme for the menu was spring and light to accompany white wine. Z and I just added the dorks to the corks. J

Menu  -

·        Meat and Cheese Plate

·        Lime and Mint infused Shrimp with Pea Puree

·        Chilled Cucumber Soup

·        Champagne Zabaglione with Strawberry Compote

I’m a big fan of the meat and cheese plate, so we have to save that for another post. The hit of the evening was the Zab… so here is the recipe.

Champagne Zabaglione with Strawberry Compote

* Ingredients *

1 cup champagne

3/4 cup powdered sugar

5 egg yolks

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

6 tablespoons whipping cream

1/2 pound strawberries, chopped

* Instructions *

1. Whisk together champagne, sugar, eggs and corn syrup in metal bowl. Place metal bowl on top of sauce pan with boiling water.

2. Heat mixture to 160 degrees. Remove from heat.

3. Using an electric mixer, beat till cooled.

4. Whip cream until soft peaks form.  Fold into egg mixture..

5. Serve in glasses, alternative fruit and custard mixture.

Be Very, Very Quiet...

... we are hunting for rabbits! Happy Easter.

Here are 5 chance facts about me, rabbits and Easter: 

1) My oldest dog is named Haasenpfeffer. In German that means "Rabbit Stew."

2) As a child, my friend's mom used to use the phrase "quick, quick like a bunny" when she wanted Kristen and I to hurry along. I still use this today. Sometimes, I get strange looks at work. 

3) A kid in 4th grade brought in rabbit bones to look at. He said it was for science. Mrs. Fraley (the teacher) was not impressed. 

4) Back to the dogs. My boys used to love to chase the bunnies at Woodland Park. There are no more bunnies for them to chase. Thank you hippies. 

5) Lapin is rabbit in French. Pâques is Easter in French.

I love bunnies and I love France. A few people have asked why I love France so much. I don't know - memories of great times in Paris, Nice, Chamonix? Watching Amelie one too many times? Or maybe it is how good the Parisians are to their dogs? I gotta love any city that will sit a pooch at a table in a 5-star restaurant. I can't even get Zeuggie into The Attic.

For this years Easter dinner, I opted for a feast devoted to France. 

Decor: 

• For France, the Eiffel Tower.  A Marshall's $5.99 find. 
• For Easter, Stargazer Lilies. One of my faves.Instead of a large bouquet, I opt'd for small glasses with blossoms closers to the table.  
• A green table cloth - said fresh and spring! 

Menu:  

• Baguette
• Salade verte a la vinaigrette aux noix et echalotes (Salad with Walnut Shallot Vinaigrette)
• Daube d'agneau printanier au champange et aux fevres (Spring Lamb Daube with Champange and Fava Beans) 
• Gallette des Pommes (Apple Gallette)

Since I had limited time, I wanted to put my focus on the lamb. Baguette was from the local bakery, salad green from a bag and in a move that would for sure get me kicked off Top Chef, I used puff pastry for the gallette. 


Spring Lamb Daube 


* Ingredients *
4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon peanut oil
3 pounds lamb shoulder, cubed
2 cloves garlic, shooped
2 cups Champagne 
12 small, red potatoes
1 14.5 ounce can beef broth
4 small turnips, peeled quarted
12 ounces baby carrots
3 cups fresh or frozen lima beans 
2 tablespoons flour
2 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh tarragon 


* Instructions *    
1. Heat 2 tablespoons and peanut oil in Dutch oven. Brown lamb with garlic for 5 minutes. 
2. Add Champagne. Braise for 60 minutes 
3. Add potatoes and beef broth. Simmer for 30 minutes. 
4. Add turnips and carrots. Cook for 15 minutes.  
5. Add lima beans. Cook for 15 minutes. 
6. Stir in flour. Cook for 10 minutes. 
7. Sprinkle with fresh tarragon. 

Carrrots are Orange

So... I looked around the web about interesting facts about carrots that I could work into a story. There are no intersting facts about carrots. The best I could come up with is that China is the world's leading producer of carrots. Take that one to your next cocktail party. Also, carrots are orange.

I can say something interesting about soup. Well, at least a question - why does a cup of soup cost $6? Dude. Soup is one of the cheapest things to make.

I have eaten great carrot soup around the world - from Galway to Paris to Seattle. A good, creamy carrot soup would make a great appetizer to your upcoming Easter dinner. For me, I was opting for this as a full meal after running. To balance the sweetness (and to boost the carbs!),  I added a parsley, bacon dumpling. Enjoy!

* Ingredients *
For the soup...
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
6 cups chicken borth
2 pounds carrots, chopped
3 tablespoons freshly grated ginger root
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 cup whipping cream
Salt and Pepper
Sour Cream

For the dumpling...
3 strips bacon, cooked
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 tableshortening
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup parsley, chopped


* Instructions *
1. Add butter to stock pot. Melt over medium heat. Add onions. Cook until translucent.
2. Add carrots, brother, ginger and  cayenne pepper. Bring to boil and simmer until carrots are tender. About 10 minutes.
3. Transfer broth and carrots to blender or food processor. Pureee until smooth.
4. Transfer back to stock pot and fold in cream. Bring to boil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
5. For the dumpling, mix all ingredients. Spoon batter on to greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  
6. Serve soup with a dollop of sour cream, dumpling and chopped fresh parsely.

Dessert Drink: The 6-legged Spider

This story took me a little while to post. I have a broken heart and well, it is hard enough to get up – let alone expose yourself via a blog. I guess maybe this story speaks to being tough, but when do I get to stop having to be tough and start getting to be happy?

A note: If you're not into booze, you won't like this recipe. If you're not into quirky, you won't like this post. 

When I was 7 or so, my mother took me to the doctor for what she believed were the measles. Head-to-toe, I had about 50 red bumps all over my body with 4 to 5 new spots appearing daily. Alas, it was not measles... Although my mother is one of the best housekeepers I know and has always maintained a house of museum-quality cleanliness, three spiders had built a nest under my bed. Each night - they feasted.

To this day, arachnids can send me into a panic ala Ronald Weasley. I have been known to jump out of bed from a deep sleep screaming about spiders in the bed, even at 30. I won't watch "Fear Factor" when they bring out the tarantulas. Plastic spider rings at Halloween... yeah, you can keep those to yourself. Brown recluse? I'd rather take on a Great White. Well, maybe let's agree those are just equally scary.

I only learned to kill spiders by myself a little while ago. Living alone, you can't really point and scream until someone else smushes the creepy crawly. I tried for a little while to just capture them in an overturned bowl, but then I was throwing away a lot of bowls. I am equally scared of anything that might have spider germs.

Fast forward to last Saturday morning. I noticed a tiny green spider on the wall above my bed. I winced and gathered some tissue to be rid of the pest. As I went in for the kill, I  noticed that the spider had lost it's 2 back left legs and was making due with 6 instead of 8. This spider has had a tough life.

I couldn't do it. I’ve been kicked when down too many times. This spider and I had something in common. I’m still waiting for someone to choose me. I’m tired of things that I think are "too good to be true" ending…I couldn’t “end it” for this spider.

Instead I named him Elliot. We shared some laughs as Elliot was very self-effacing about his lack of limbs. We joked about his clumsiness - a characteristic we both share and after a day he moved on to the attic or a nearby heat vent. (Yes, I definitely checked he didn't move under the bed.)

In honor of my first act of mercy on spiders and in hopes karma will someday return the favor, I give you the 6-legged spider, surely everyone's new favorite desert drink.

6-Legged Spider
* Ingredients *
1 oz Vodka
2 oz lemon lime soda
2 small scoops lime sherbet
Six lime garnishes

* Instructions *
1. Pour vodka into martini glass. Add soda.
2. Top with sherbet and garnishes 

PS I am not crazy nor drunk on 6-legged spiders. Life is just better with a little imagination. Cheers to Elliot, where ever you are.     

25 min, $25, Dinner for 2 – Oktoberfest

I love a great dinner -- eating out or entertaining at home. Frankly, the second worst part of being single is eating alone. Eating out every night can add up and my challenge in hosting friends for dinner is time. After working a 9 or 10 hour day, the last thing I feel like sometimes is spending hours preparing meal.

For folks short on time, but BIG on socializing, here are some of my ideas for hosting tasty, fun dinners without spending a lot of time or money. Tonight’s challenge… cooking dinner for 2 in 25 minutes for under $25.

I spent the weekend at an Oktoberfest festival and wanted to continue to the party. Themed cooking can be festive and allow you to express your creativity without a lot of time.

Menu

·        Green Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

·        Bratwurst and Onions

·        “Pretzel” Breadsticks

·        Assorted German Beers

The short cuts… buy bagged field greens for the salad. Pre-cook the brats by steaming before throwing them on the grill with the onions. Pick up Pillsbury Breadstick dough, fold into a pretzel shape, and bake. Need tips on the salad dressing? Mix olive oil, white vinegar, honey, lemon juice and stone ground mustard to create your own vinaigrette. The dressing also makes a great dipping option for your pretzels.

If you have extra time, decorate your table in blue and white linens and add fresh flowers àlà Bavaria such as geraniums or lobelia. And the music  - let’s just say it’s hard to go wrong with polka! Enjoy!

P.S. Mom and Dad, en route to Garmisch, hope you are enjoying food just as good!