Eat Your Tart Out.

Beets and Cheese Wordless Post

mnoller — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:57:18 +0000

A Lesson on Pastrami

mnoller — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:21:28 +0000

This is what it looks like

and this is how you eat it.

Thanks, Canter’s!

Last of the summer salad: corn, zucchini and orzo

mnoller — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:38:57 +0000

Here in SoCal I was SURE summer was over when I had to get out the blankets and sweaters. We had a solid week of cool temps and it was amazing. It felt like LA was having a real fall. Everyone was talking about pumpkins and nutmeg and butternut squash and this time I could join in on the conversation because it wasn’t so hot that I could actually turn on the oven. My favorite time of year was finally here! …and then it got to record highs last week. 99 in downtown LA. 103 in the valley. Summer just took a short vacation, it’s not gone. So to try to stay in the summer mode here’s a salad made with summer goodness–sweet corn, zucchini, basil. All the good fresh stuff we are still enjoying. Even though I’d be happy roasting root vegetables and making squash soups this salad reminds me why summer is so great too. Everything is so fresh and delicious! Raw vegetables! No cooking! Why was I complaining again?

I’m living in a single household for most of the week while my other half is in Detroit working with Divas. No, literally. You know those snickers commercials with Aretha being a huge diva in the back of a car? He’ll basically be dealing with that. I wish him luck. In the mean time I’ve got to remember how to make meals for just one person. This salad was not a good example of that since I made about 12 cups worth. I’m trying to give it to my neighbor as I type. Yes, I’m that person. “I have extra lemons–TAKE THEM!” or “I made this cake–EAT IT ALL”. But I don’t hear many of you putting up a fuss. Well, those of you that are further than LA County. Sucks to be you.

Here’s the recipe. Enjoy it while you can. I hear fall is somewhere out there!

Get Well Smoothie

mnoller — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 23:59:30 +0000

The Sickness. Who needs it? Not me! I think I’m finally on the last day of this wretched cold and a mango-pineapple smoothie is just the thing to pump some sunshine into this dreary day. Hopefully I’m back to normal soon.

Flatbread Pesto Pizza

mnoller — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:09:04 +0000

I wanted this to be “wordless” and just let you enjoy the photos but I had to ask if you’ve seen the Trader Joe’s Spicy Spinach Pizza’s? They’re really just little flat breads with spinach cooked into them and about 6 inches in diameter. They’re kept in the refrigerated section with the salads and humus? Does this ring a bell? I hadn’t seen them before so I grabbed them because we’re always looking for something new to eat. TJ’s can get a little boring if you shop there all the time like we do. It just so easy to fall back on to known favorites. Or just buy baby carrots and humus. Don’t judge me. Anyway, I made this pizza a few times this week and it’s a great lunch. Even Andrew liked this meatless dish. Although he did say “it would be better with prosciutto” but who didn’t see that coming? And with the temps being as high as 107 it’s the prefect size for the toaster oven. Gotta love it!

Gin Help Us

mnoller — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:59:14 +0000

Colts are playing. Hopes aren’t high but we’re making in through the first quarter with some gin and Hansen’s Mandarin Lime soda. mmmmmm, it’s the best grown-up-juice ever.

Football = Sunday Chili

mnoller — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:15:35 +0000

Is there anything that screams FOOTBALL more than chili? Not in my brain. In this house football is king. Every Sunday is dedicated to watching every. single. game. Have you heard of the NFL Sunday ticket? If you havent and you have a significant other that loves football, don’t look it up. You can watch all the games at any time. It’s basically a football fest. So what do I do on Sundays? Get out of the house or use it to cook and bake and share it on here. Don’t tell anyone I’m saying this but it usually works out pretty well. I can’t believe I just said that…

We’re still die-hard Colts fans, no matter how good (or bad) our team is doing. So even though we’re 0-2, GO COLTS.

Happy footballing!

Football Sunday Recipe

Ingredients

2 teaspoons oil
2 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb lean ground beef
3/4 lb beef sirloin, cubed
1 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 can dark beer
1 cup strong coffee
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
1 can beef broth
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 1/2 tablespoons chili sauce
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon cocoa
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon salt
4 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans
4 chili peppers, chopped

Directions

Heat oil.
Cook onions, garlic and meat until brown.
Add tomatoes, beer, coffee, tomato paste and beef broth.
Add spices Stir in 2 cans of kidney beans and peppers.
Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
Add 2 remaining cans of kidney beans and simmer for another 30 minutes.

Beach, Carrot Cake and Coffee

mnoller — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 21:08:50 +0000

Ahh, Saturdays! Mine has consisted of taking the Porsche through the canyons, sitting on the beach eating baguettes with cheese and meat served with fresh strawberries, clapping for kids learning how to surf, driving back through the canyon roads, making coffee, eating carrot cake, taking a ride on the bike path. My life? It’s rough. Especially on Saturdays.

Malibu Beach was foggy but we still had a great beach morning. No wind, no crazy beach people and lots of cute kids learning how to surf. That’s the kind of beach I like.

Here’s the slice I was originally trying to photograph, only Andrew was trying to eat it at the same time…

So he stole it from me and left me with no cake and no coffee. Despicable!
Have a great Saturday!

Black Tea and Pumpkin Pinwheels

mnoller — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:19:10 +0000

I’m so ready for Fall. I’m surrounded by all things fall but am still unable to turn on my oven because it still gets above 90 during the day…

Burbank Farmer’s Market

mnoller — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 19:06:16 +0000

Happy Weekend! It’s a little sunny, a cool 65 degrees and farmer’s market day. Who doesn’t love Saturdays?! I tried a new market today in Burbank. We usually go to the Studio City market that is great–we love it–but it’s only on Sundays and now that Football is in season it interferes with our Sunday market adventures. I would usually start this off with complaining about how I can’t go to my usual market, how Andrew is working today and how I woke up and it was overall a crummy day. But I sucked it up and looked up Saturday markets and found one just 3 miles away. Almost as close as our usual one! And while yes, the three people I know in LA are all out-of-town or working, I went to the market anyway because I knew I would be glad later in the week to have AMAZING yellow peaches and beautiful heirloom tomatoes. Who cares if it’s just me, sometimes me time is needed anyway. Plus, the sun came out right as I was walking to the market so it felt like a sign. A sign from the food gods.I have evil plans for these tomatoes but in reality I’ll probably just end up slicing them, chopping up that basil its nestled on and drizzle some olive oil on it. Expect to see that on here later this week. Its boring but oh so delicious. Below you’ll find some of the largest, juiciest yellow peaches you’ve ever seen. They really are the best peaches I’ve had and I can’t wait to have them with some homemade granola, yogurt and a huge cup of coffee. Coffee and peaches and blueberries is one of my favorite combinations. Ugh, I need to find some blueberries to make my trifecta complete.But really, the whole reason for this post is to feature this next part. It’s cinnamon walnut bread with pear walnut goat cheese and raw honey drizzled on top. I sprinkled a few walnuts on top too to make it pretty but it would have been just as good without them. This, my friends, was the best after farmer’s market snack ever. The Soledad Goat Cheese stand is my favorite (next to the humus men, which you’ll see later this week). I was craving the lavender honey goat cheese they have but he only had two today and sold out before I got there. I was CRUSHED. So I got the pear walnut and, while it’s no lavender honey, it gave my taste buds the orgasm it was wanting. You can’t really go wrong with any of the ingredients but put them together and BAM (Emeril Style) you’re wondering how you ever went without. It’s a good thing Andrew isn’t home today–I don’t have a good history of sharing this goat cheese and if he’s going to be working late maybe I’ll just have it for dinner too. And later I’ll tell him all about how delicious it was and he’ll have missed out. It’s not very nice but I got his favorite humus and chips so with my faulty reasoning it works. Right??

Yeah, I took a few bites and then kept taking photos. I mean, it looked so good I couldn’t wait. If you ever want to come visit me I’ll make you some, too Have a GREAT weekend!