May 2012
1 post
3 tags
blk. Spring Water
First question: would you drink a refreshing glass of black water?
Strangely, it exists thanks to a company called blk. and according to reviews on Amazon, it really actually doesn’t taste like water. I can’t imagine how I would react to trying to find refreshment from something that is opaque black.
The water contains a plant-based mineral, fulvic minerals, that plays a vital...
April 2012
1 post
3 tags
A Lil' Strawberr-spiration
It’s strawberry season, y’all!
The peak time for strawberries lasts a few weeks between the months of May and June. Because of the warmer spring, it has come a little early. You can find strawberries on sale practically at any store right now and they’re all plump, red, sweet, and oh so delicious. I picked up a container at Wal Mart [bows head in embarrassment for a brief...
January 2012
3 posts
4 tags
Quick & Easy: Bacon Fried Rice
Bacon fried rice. Need I say more?
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
2 cups rice (white or brown)
4 slices of bacon
½ onion, finely diced
4 scallions, finely sliced
1 tbspn minced onion
2 garlic cloves
1 cup frozen peas
2 tbspn vegetable oil
3 tbspn soy sauce
chili garlic sauce (for spice; optional)
Optional Garnishes:
scallions
Directions:
Cook the rice according to directions (about...
3 tags
Quick & Easy: Shellchiladas
Who knew combining pasta and enchiladas would make such a good weeknight dinner?
It’s a small venture away from something you typically see. Jumbo shells, enchilada-style? As you may or may not know, my husband and brother-in-law are half Mexican so I could see why they were skeptical at first. After a few bites, I noticed head nods and soon enough, cleaned plates.
Credit for...
2 tags
A New Year's Resolution: Eat Better
Happy New Year!
What does this mean exactly?
Well…
1. A new year means trying to sweep under the rug all of the failed attempts in years prior to make exercising a habit. This is when we can all confidently say, again, that we will exercise and lose xx pounds without anyone remembering what we said last year.
2. It means that those who frequent the gym are more than likely...
December 2011
1 post
2 tags
Holiday Hostess with the Mostest!
Hosting a dinner isn’t easy and the nervous thoughts never fail to ring in your head while you’re preparing dinner. Rid yourself of the extra stress by preparing a few quick hors d’œuvres beforehand for your guests to pass around and snack on to keep them occupied. It’s always a good conversation starter, too.
1. Cranberry Brie Bites
2. Puff Pastry...
October 2011
2 posts
4 tags
The State Fair of Texas
By the State Fair of Texas, I mean the Mecca of Anything You’ve Ever Dreamt of in Fried Form.
I haven’t been in 6 years but since we’re now living in Texas again, it was worth the drive. It hasn’t changed much, or at all, besides the fried food offerings. Fried bubblegum, fried beer, fried moon pies, fried bacon, fried salsa, fried guacamole,.. you catch the drift.
I...
3 tags
Salsa Roundup: El Chile Salsa a la Charra
Where: Whole Foods Price: $6.99 Spice Level: None Rating:
Oh my joy! One of the first restaurants I tried in Austin on a visit here from SXSW was El Chile. I loved it! The free chips and salsa were delish and their prickly pear margaritas were addictive. Had I known then what I know now: they bottled and sold their own salsa.
I’ve mentioned before that I absolutely prefer local salsa...
September 2011
4 posts
5 tags
Monday Morning: Cheers to Fall
Apologies for the hiatus, I was away in Spain for a bit and came back to chaos. Since I’ve been gone, fall must have slowly rolled in. The early mornings and late evenings have been brisk and beautiful here in Austin. What better way to celebrate fall’s arrival than with a few fall cocktails?
1. Smoretini
2. Pumpkin Cheesecaketini
3. Spiked Apple Cider Floats
4. Comet...
2 tags
Ben & Jerry's 'Schweddy Balls'
Ben & Jerry just announced a new flavor, ‘Schweddy Balls’, adding on to the plethora of other unique flavors (and names), such as Jimmy Fallon’s creation for Ben & Jerry, ‘Late Night Snack’, which consisted of vanilla bean ice cream with a salty caramel swirl and chocolate-coated potato chip clusters.
‘Schweddy Balls’ is made with vanilla ice...
2 tags
“Deep Fried Texas Salsa™ - This spicy medley of jalapenos, roasted garlic, onion,...”
– Wow.
@ State Fair of Texas 2011
August 2011
5 posts
Quinoa Stuffed Poblano Pepper in a Tomato Sauce
My husband and I are on yet another diet, which limits our intake of carbs and junk food and to eat in small portions.
Since we’ve moved, it’s been challenging to cook every night when there’s something else always lingering. Like painting a room. It’s been a little over a month now and I’m trying to get back in to the swing of things.
I was craving stuffed...
3 tags
Salsa Roundup: Native Texan Fire Roasted Salsa
Where: Central Market Price: $5.99 Spice Level: Medium Rating:
Now here’s a mantra I can stand behind:
“Nothin’ but honest to goodness honest to goodnessness. That’s why Native Texan Brand Salsa is made with only the best of what Texas has to offer.”
Because of my affinity for local products, this salsa screamed at me from the shelf. I checked the consistency,...
2 tags
A Clean Erase
I painted a whole wall in my office with chalkboard paint last weekend. Barely writing on it, I noticed that when I erased the wall, it wasn’t clean and left a trail of chalk behind. I didn’t want to scrub it off too hard with the fear that it would scratch or erode the surface of the paint.
The solution: Use a rag or a lint-free cloth, dab it in a little Coke (Dr. Pepper works,...
2 tags
Monday Morning: It's a Wang Thang
I love me some chicken wings, especially the asian-inspired kind. I’ve tried various recipes and these are my top four.
They’re super easy and will make for a quick, albeit messy, weeknight meal. Or better yet, buy some beer, make ‘em all and invite some friends.
1. Spicy Baked Chicken Wings
2. Asian Glazed Drumsticks
3. Sriracha Sweet & Spicy Wings
4. Chicken...
1 tag
Monday Morning: Watermelon
Oh, delicious and sweet watermelon. Even though I don’t know how to pick a good one out of a bunch, that won’t deter me from loving you and wanting to devour you.
In the height of the heat, there’s nothing I ever want more while in the sun than a nice, cold watermelon. Or the product of a watermelon.
1. Watermelon and Feta Salad
2. Watermelon Jalapeno Margarita
3....
July 2011
1 post
The First Four
It’s been a week since we’ve moved in to our first house in the University Hills neighborhood (or is this Windsor Park?) after a long 3-day drive from Brooklyn, NY. The most exciting thing about living here is having a new pool of restaurants and bars to try out.
Understandably, it’s going to be tough not to compare my food experiences in New York to those that I will be...
June 2011
1 post
2 tags
We're movin' it to Austin!
Apologies for the hiatus.
After much thought and Googling, I am very excited to announce that this blog will soon be turning into a food blog based on my foodie adventures in Austin. Austin, the food truck capital of the world.
I’m VERY excited about the turn of events and I can’t wait to get started.
July 1st is the day, folks. July 1st.
March 2011
5 posts
Visiting home
I’m always ecstatic when I get to visit home because I know I’ll come back to New York ten pounds heavier from all of the delicious home cooked meals my mom made. At the rate of eating 5 times a day, who wouldn’t gain ten pounds?
There’s a routine to my visits home. My mom calls me a couple of days in advance to ask me if there’s anything particular that...
1 tag
Cozy Crock-pot Chili
Apologies for the iPhone photo.
Nothing beats a good pot of crock-pot chili on a cold Sunday night. I served this with a nice and warm jalapeno cornbread mini loaf (Jiffy-style).
Serves:
about 4
Ingredients:
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck beef, ground for chili
S+P
Half an onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and very finely chopped...
3 tags
Salsa Roundup: The Brooklyn Salsa Co.
Where: Whole Foods Market, Union Square Price: $5.00 Spice Level: Hot Rating:
I love anything that comes from Brooklyn and I love it more when I see that they also love using locally grown ingredients. With that said, I couldn’t wait to pop open the top on this one and dive right in. I even read the label on the subway back home.
“The locally sourced, organic produce in Brooklyn...
1 tag
Chips and Salsa
I live for chips and salsa. I could probably die eating chips and salsa. Over the years, I’ve tried so many different brands, I wouldn’t be able to recount which brands I’ve had and which of those I liked or disliked. Because of this, I decided to start documenting the ones I have tried recently and those I’ll be trying in the future.
Salsa is really all personal...
February 2011
2 posts
“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to...”
– Julia Child
Asian Glazed Drumsticks
I’ve recently stumbled across a wonderful recipe blog earlier this month and now I can’t fathom living without it. I haven’t had a chance to cook too many things from SkinnyTaste.com’s recipe log but after putting these Asian Glazed Drumsticks to the test, I’m determined to try every single recipe on there!
Not only are they healthy but they’re downright...
January 2011
1 post
1 tag
Chicken Tortilla Soup
I’ve always been picky about chicken tortilla soup, especially in New York where finding decent Mexican food is no easy task. The best place I’ve had it has been La Esquina and even then, it was only amazing once despite the multiple times I’ve ordered it.
I woke up one day with the idea that I would try to cook it myself. What perfect situation I was in–my sister-in-law...
November 2010
1 post
October 2010
3 posts
Lean Cuisine? Oh, Yes!
For the past week, I’ve been eating Lean Cuisine for lunch. I have my excuses, though. The biggest reason would be because my husband has been out of town so I have no desire to cook just for one.
I’ve underestimated the variety of frozen deliciousness, and being the designer I am, the attractive packaging and color palettes. I can’t forget to mention the nice light...
My Mother: The Super Chef
I grew up around food, a lot of it. It wasn’t anything eclectic such as Indian, Italian, Peruvian, Mongolian, French, Cuban, or Jamaican. It was good ol’ fashion home-cooked Vietnamese food.
My mom is an amazing cook and often times she gets asked why she doesn’t open up a restaurant for herself. Her answer is quite simple and very much understandable. She loves cooking too...
“I’ve been on a diet for two weeks and all I’ve lost is two weeks.”
– Totie Fields
March 2010
0 posts
