All posts filed under: Misc.

Golden Globes 2015 Menu!

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The 72nd Golden Globes are tomorrow and today I am giving you a peak at what the stars will be served (notice I didn’t say eating!) during the event.  The Beverly Hilton will play host again to the event and the chefs at the hotel have come up with a very “golden” menu. The executive chef, Troy N. Thompson, says the menu is a reflection of the state’s abundance of fresh produce.  The roughly 1300 guests will have a choice between a meat or vegetarian three-course meal. The appetizer served will be a modern take on a waldorf salad with lemon emulsion. For the meat eater, the main entrée is a duo of slow roasted Arctic char and onion marinated filet tenderloin.  It will be served with a red wine sauce, an heirloom tomato compote, and a potato croquette in the middle, topped with a black Tuscan kale chip. For the vegetarians, the main entrée is a handmade ricotta and basil cannoli served on tomato sauce and topped with Parmesan cheese and fresh thinly sliced California vegetables. For dessert, the stars will be served a trio of …

Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Week!!

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Today marks the beginning of a week long celebration of the chocolate chip cookie!  Today until March 20th is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Week!!  Usually foods or drinks get days, but this cookie is such a staple and so important that it gets an entire week!  Celebrate the week with the below chocolate chip cookie recipe from my mom! Mom’s Chocolate Chip Cookies: 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup shortening or crisco 1 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup roughly chopped toasted walnuts or pecans 1 12-oz bag of chocolate chips Cream butter, shortening, and sugars until light and fluffy Add eggs, one at a time Add baking soda, salt, and flour in 3-4 additions Add vanilla Stir in nuts and chocolate chips Chill dough for 30 minutes (don’t skip this step!  I think it makes for the best cookies!) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a parchment lined cookie sheet Bake …

Enjoy Life Foods Decadent Bars

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Since I can no longer find my favorite protein/food Good to Go bars, made by the South Beach Diet company, I have been on the hunt for their replacements!  These bars were easy to throw into my workout bag, a great quick snack, kept me full, and had a great taste!  I have tried numerous food bars, only to be disappointed by the taste, texture, or nutritional information.  So, I was beyond excited when Enjoy Life Foods announced their new line of Decadent Bars, and even more excited when I tried the four flavors offered because they are my new favorite protein/food bars!  Each of the bars (S’mores, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate SunButter, and Cinnamon Bum) are gluten free, free from the top 8 allergens (Wheat Free, Dairy Free, Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Egg Free, Soy Free, Fish Free, Shellfish Free.) , and verified by the Non-GMO project.  They are decadent because they are topped with a melt-in-your-mouth white or dark drizzle, depending on the flavor.  Below I give you a little information on each of the flavors! Cherry …

Tuesday’s Tip-How To Peel Ginger

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When I use ginger my recipes or juice it, I don’t like using the skin so I cut it off.  But, I always think that I cut off and waste too much.  Well, I finally found out how to minimize the amount thrown away.  Today’s Tuesday’s Tip is how to peel ginger! Using a spoon, simply “scratch” the skin of the ginger off Continue process until entire skin is removed Stay hungry…

Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival

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On Thursday and Saturday, I had the privilege of attending the 3rd Annual Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival in Downtown LA.  I had such a great experience at last year’s event, I was beyond excited for this year.  I was looking forward to seeing the growth of the festival and taste food from chefs I had never before tasted. Thursday was opening night “Festa Italiana” hosted by Giada De Laurentiis, and Saturday, Curtis Stone played host to the ‘LEXUS Live on Grand’ and Gavin Degraw serenaded the crowd for about an hour.  Just a few chefs who were in attendance included Jonathan Grahm (Compartes Chocolatier), Fabio Viviani (Firenze Osteria and Cafe Firenze), Bart Vandaele (Belga Cafe and B Too), Steve Samson (Sotto Restaurant), Antonia Lofaso (Black Market Liquor Bar), Scott Conant (Scarpetta), Thomas Keller (The French Laundry, Per Se, and Bouchon), and Duff Goldman (Charm City Cakes).  Also in attendance were Waylynn Lucas, Brenda Urban, Kat Odell, and Jessica Miller from the new Bravo TV show, Eat Drink Love. The celebs who were in attendance …

Happy National Donut Day!

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Happy Friday and more importantly, Happy National Donut Day!  I wanted to share a few deals with you for today!  I would visit all today if I could or if it wasn’t bathing suit season, but if I had a choice, I would definitely go to Dunkin Donuts.  It is my favorite coffee place, and The Coffee Bean and Starbucks have nothing on it! Print your Tim Hortons coupon from HERE Entenmanns: The Salvation Army has been a part of National Donut Day since it was created in the 1930′s to honor the women who served donuts to WWI soldiers. Through June 15th, Entenmanns baked goods company will donate $1 to the Salvation Army for every person who “likes” the Entenmann’s Facebook Page.  Also, enter the National Donut Day Sweepstakes by June 30th for your chance to win free Entenmann’s donuts for a year! Dunkin Donuts: Like on Facebook HERE Follow on Twitter HERE Krispy Kreme: Like on Facebook HERE Follow on Twitter HERE Tim Hortons: Like on Facebook HERE Follow on Twitter HERE Entenmanns Like on Facebook …

Opening of PCH Rock and Brews Restaurant with KISS Co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons

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On May 8th, KISS Co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons opened their second Rock and Brews location on the Pacific Coast Highway.  This opening marks the duo’s second L.A. location.  Including Los Cabos, another newly opened Rock & Brews , they have 97 to go in their Rock & Brews roll-out plans.  To celebrate, Paul and Gene hosted and personally served returning vets and Wounded Warriors at a special luncheon in honor of these military heroes.  They also presented a check for $25,000 to Torrance Education Foundation President Tom Brewer at the end of the evening.  Here are a few images from the event! Make sure you check the Rock and Brews website for a location coming soon near you! Stay hungry…

Sur la Table Macaron Class

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Until I went to Paris this past June, I only liked to look at macaron cookies.  But, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity (or many opportunities) to taste the cookie where it was perfected.  I fell in love with these tiny delights after my first bite and have not had anything back in the States that has even remotely compared to the Parisian ones I tasted.  But, when I saw that Sur la Table was offering a macaron class, I knew I had to learn the technique so I could create this little treat on my own. Chef Colette Christian taught the class and told us that the recipe was brought over from France on a napkin, but now it is an art form, so much so that it has its own language, such as the below terms! Macroannage:  the technique of mixing flour and meringue to make macarons Macronner:  the technique of mixing the batter until it is firm and drops slowly when scooped Pied:  the “foot” or small frills that form along the …

Tuesday’s Tip-Pep Up Your Popcorn!

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Today’s post (NUMBER 200!!!) is an ode to my mother’s favorite food…popcorn!  An easy-to-make, snack for your Superbowl party is popcorn!  But, don’t just pop the popcorn and leave it at that…pep your popcorn up by adding different spices and toppings.  You can add cayenne pepper for a kick, grated Parmesan cheese that melts into the hot popcorn, or different salts such as garlic salt and Truffle salt.  Make a sign for each of your pepped up popcorn and watch as your guests devour the snack! Take the below poll to tell me which pepped up popcorn you would try first!  Stay hungry…

Plentils Chips

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Awhile ago I got a very spirited and fun box from the people of Plentils.  Inside the box and under multi-colored confetti was four bags of  “chips with beneFITS”.  I knew just by the packaging that Plentils were going to be a fun treat. These chips are made with high-protein lentils, are gluten free, and are free of the 8 common allergens (milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts {such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts], fish, shellfish, and soy).  They also do not contain ANYTHING artificial and have 40% less fat than the leading potato chip!  How much more convincing do you need to try them?! The chips come in 4 flavors, Sea Salt, Margherita Pizza, Garlic and Parmesan, and Dill and Sour Cream.  I decided to try the flavoring I typically like the best first…Sea Salt.  Compared to a typical chip, the salt flavoring isn’t overwhelming, but the chips were crunchy, airy, and delicious, and when I read the label, I was ecstatic to only see 5 ingredients!  Definitely a lot better than your ordinary …