a happy foodie weekend :)

Friday was Girls Christmas Celebration... each year we get together and exchange small presents, drink vino, and enjoy each others company! This year we stepped it up a notch and we hired a private chef to come! Gino was amazing and he taught us how to make homemade ravioli and risotto! Not only was it delicious but it was very fun!!!! We love our girl time and sleepovers!! 

Saffron Risotto with a Blueberry Balsamic Glaze

Spinach and Ricotta Raviolis in a butter/sage sauce with raisins

Saturday was a lazy day, it felt great though! When it came to dinner, we needed something quick but filling. We had 2 ramen noodle packets in the cabinet...  I cooked them per the instructions but once it was done I added some chopped mushrooms and spinach. I gave it a few minutes to cook and then I made a well in the middle of the soup and turned the heat down to low. I dropped an egg in the middle and let it poach. Served it nice and hot with Sriracha of course :)

Sunday was a productive at home day. We did a MAJOR clean in the apt and hung some things and moved other things around.. it was needed and it felt great!!!! However, we needed yummy filling meals to keep us moving but nothing time consuming. To start the morning off, we made a pseudo breakfast pizza. We heated some naan bread on the stove to get it nice and warm. We mashed avocados and added some fresh lemon juice to the mixture. We put this avocado mixture on top of the warm naan bread as the base. Topped it with 2 over easy eggs & side of cholula..... so delicious!!!

For dinner we made philly cheesesteaks... I was really nervous because I had deli roast beef to work with and I just wasn't sure... We cut the rolls in half, placed 2 pieces of provolone down on the bottom. We sautéed onions in butter, then added the thinly sliced chopped roast beef to the onion mixture. We mixed that together and let it cook for a few minutes. That mixture went onto the bread and was topped with more provolone cheese. We put it in the oven to bake for about 5 minutes just to get the cheese melted and the bread toasted. It was surprisingly fantastic!!!! Definitely would make again... as well as the other 2 recipes too!!  

mmm Broccoli mmmm

Another reason to love Pinterest, an amazing new broccoli recipe. I am definitely a broccoli lover and this hit the spot :)

It is easy and just adds a few new kicks to the traditional roasting broccoli recipe!!!! I dare you to try it, Greg and I gobbled it up faster than the chicken on our plate :) Honestly, I could have just eaten a bowl of this with rice or a potato!!!!!!! MMMMM! 

Ingredients:

Broccoli cut up into florets

olive oil (couple tablespoons, I just eye ball it)

salt/pepper to taste

fresh garlic- sliced (I did 1 clove but that was because I only had a smaller amount of broccoli)

1 lemon

Parmesan cheese- grated 

Directions:

Preheat oven at 425. Spread the broccoli on a sheet or casserole dish. Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic. Toss together until thoroughly mixed. Roast in oven for about 20-25 minutes.

Zest some of the lemon onto the broccoli and also squeeze some lemon juice onto the broccoli. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and mix well. All that is left to do is mangia mangia! 

PICKLES!!!!

Homemade pickles that is!! Went to Alemany Farmer's market one weekend to get some fresh produce, ps amazing farmer's market, and bought some pickling cucumbers. I googled a pickle recipe and got to work :) 6 weeks later I gave them a try, but I let them sit a few more weeks and now they are perfect.. mmm! Crunchy, vinegary, and delicious!!! The cucumbers were roughly $2 and I had everything else in the house so it was a pretty inexpensive treat :)

Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 quart water

1 quart white vinegar

1/2 cup non-iodized salt

Few sprigs dill weed

1/2 head garlic- sliced

1 tablespoon peppercorns

6 pickling cucumbers (sliced or whole)

Directions:

Combine water, vinegar, and salt in a pot and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, add dill, garlic, peppercorns and cucumbers to sterilized jars. Pour liquid over cucumbers and fill jars. Seal the jars and refrigerate for at least 6 weeks. Like I said I did a few extra. 

Produce at the Farmer's Market

Pickles in the jar :)

Woah, it has been a while... Apologies! 

Well needless to say I have been one busy bee! After we got engaged, (which was all the way back in May), things just got nuts!... in a good way tho :) Greg had finished law school and we had about 2 weeks together before he was off studying for the bar! So we tried to see all our friends AND just have fun/relax together :) I can't even comprehend that it is already August, and that August is half over! Greg has taken the bar (now we just wait for the results), my sister in law gave birth to my beautiful niece Ava, and I have switched jobs! However, one thing DID NOT change... cooking and eating yummy food!!!! 

Greg and I found our love for German over a year ago (maybe two?) and have made up for that lost time easily with how much we have eaten it! I however wanted to take it a step further and MAKE some German food! I had made Spaetzle before but I really wanted to make the Kasespaetzle, which is cheese spaetzle. My friend Jenny turned me on to this. We went to Suppenkuche in SF and shared the cheese spaetzle... I have NOT stopped thinking about that... every German place we try I need to get the Kasespaeztle as my meal or at least a side :) There is a number of good German restaurants in the city but only Suppenkuche has impressed me with their cheese spaetzle. Friday, I decided to re-create it.. or attempt to!

It is actually really easy, the only part that can be frustrating is making the spaetzle... this is why I just splurged and bought a spaetzle maker. It is like $10 and well worth it! I have seen some youtube videos where people make it without the maker but I am just not that good ha! I also love to make spaetzle so having this tool is useful! 

The dough is super simple, you most likely have all the ingredients in your house right now! 

Spaetzle Dough:

2 cups flours, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, 4 eggs, 1/2 cup fat free milk. 

Beat eggs. Mix all dry ingredients in a small bowl. Alternatley add the dry ingredients and milk into the egg bowl. Dough should be thicker than pancake batter. Once dough is mixed, let it sit for 30 minutes for the gluten to relax. 

At this point I would put a pot of water on the stove to boil and start the onions.... add butter to a skillet, slice the onion and let it simmer for about 20-30 mins until caramelized. Once these are almost done, the batter will be ready as well. 

Put the spaetzle maker ontop of the pot of boiling water... Fill the spaetzle maker with some of the dough. (I also recommend adding pam or olive oil to the spaetzle maker so the dough doesn't stick). Slide it back and forth and the dough will fall through into the boiling pot of water! It takes about 10 seconds for the dough to cook. You will see it sink and float. Remove spaetzle each time with a slotted spoon and put in a bowl. Repeat until batter is done!

Once spaetzle is done, add it to the onions and mix. Add 2 cups of shredded swiss cheese. I would be picky with the cheese since this could make or break it. I used really good swiss cheese, Emmentaler and Gruyere :) You can add more or less, whatever you like! Then serve as a main dish or as a side dish!!! SO GOOD! Greg, my Fiance, had 3 servings and this was a side dish ;) hahah! 

Spaetzle Maker

Cheeses I bought 

Finish product :)

Yes.... I am engaged!!!!!!!!!!!

It was brought to my attention yesterday, from Greg's cousin Kelsey, that I should post about my engagement... especially since we had such a delicious celebration meal :)

I do not want to get TOO cheesy on everyone so I won't get into all the details ;) but May 4th was one of the most amazing days of my life!!!!!! My boyfriend had finished law school- yay babes- and he decided to wait no longer and propose that night! He planned an elaborate surprise, which I was completely oblivious too, and we had a great evening out afterwards. I should mention, the setting was Half Moon Bay-- gorgeous beach town about 20-30 minutes from San Francisco. Here is the view from our B&B.

Greg had done his research on dinner spots... he knows I love my food & he did well!! We went to Cetrella, which was Mediterranean. The food was AH-mazing! The service was even better... and the ambiance was my ultimate fav. Open kitchen... beautiful windows.. live music.. AND a fireplace .. IM SOLD! Overall- Greg completely out did himself and made that whole day/night feel like a dream!!!! Hopefully this is just a hint of what our future holds :) xoxo

Truffle Focaccia 

Scallops

Lamb Shank

Celebrating :)

Kale & Brussels Sprout Salad

We have some good friends, Erin and Zadri, that recently moved to San Francisco and invited us over for dinner! Erin and I had spoken about what she was going to make and we decided on a healthy but of course delicious meal. I think this is the first time Erin has ever cooked for me... and as a long time friend, I was very excited knowing her cooking past... or lack therefore ;)

Erin and Zadri could NOT have made a more delicious meal and to know that it was healthy was just a bonus. I have to say my very very favorite of the night, including Greg's, was the Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad. I just made it again tonight and bought enough ingredients to make it again later in the week. Something about the mixture of flavors make this salad amazing!!! 

Recipe Bon Appetit: kale and brussels sprout salad

The other 2 recipes Erin and Zadri made. BOTH excellent as well :) :)

Guy Fieri: turkey burger patty melts

Bon Appetit: three greens soup with spinach gremolata

La Bistecca

I thoroughly enjoy steak out at good quality restaurants.... The meat comes out cooked to perfection and melts in your mouth mmmm! What I do not enjoy is craving steak at home but too afraid to attempt to make it. The meat could get overcooked, turn out tough.... and then it is just a waste! Bad meat is like cold eggs! 

I opened up to my good friend Emily about my concerns after she had sent me a picture of a BEAUTIFUL steak she had made for dinner. As she consoled me, she gave me the courage to go to the store and make steak for dinner! Thanks Em... I wouldn't have conquered this fear without you ;)

For my sides: I roasted mushrooms, zucchini, and squash with some oil, salt, pepper, and fresh garlic cloves. I also roasted small red and white potatoes with oil, salt, pepper, and FRESH rosemary from my parents garden! 

I decided to keep the steak simple and just season it with salt, pepper, and a little olive oil. I was SO excited to sear the steak in my cast iron skillet .... with a little oil at the bottom of the pan. I allowed the pan to get extremely hot before I added the steak. I seared each side about 2 1/2 - 3 minutes and then put a few chunks of butter on top and placed it in the oven! I checked the steak every 5 minutes feeling for the doneness level. The Finger Test- Great way to go by! Hope that link helps you out! I believe our steak was in the oven for about 13 minutes before we pulled it. We also had it more on the red side- Greg's preference and I am indifferent as long as it is juicy! I have to say though, Greg and I were IMPRESSED. The steak was NOT tough, was NOT dry, but was juicy and flavorful!! Check out the pics below and I recommend trying this recipe. I bought a Chateaubriand style steak, which the Whole Foods Meat Counter man helped me pick out.. I was looking for a good cut and quality meat without the huge price tag :) The steak was on sale and we have enough leftovers for another night- BONUS! 

Searing the steak- Side 1

Freshly cut and ready to eat :)

The Whole Meal mmmm!

More reasons why I LOVE food!!

Enjoy some of my latest and greatest foodie adventures :)


A few weekends ago, SF had beautiful weather on Sunday... a bit windy... but nonetheless lovely! My parents came up for the day for a brunch and museum excursion. Down the street from my apartment is a restaurant called Baker and Banker. They have a restaurant portion and ALSO a bakery side. I have been to the bakery side numerous times for coffee, pastries, and paninis. Buonissimo! The restaurant side was just as detailed in their cuisine. Everyone's dishes were dreamy.... check out the pics to see for yourself :) After all that food, we X'ed the museum and decided to walk around the presidio, Palace of Fine Arts, and Lucas Films Campus to enjoy the views and the sun :)

Blood Orange Mimosa 

French Toast Bread Pudding mmmm!

Banana Fritters! 

Potato Latke with Smoked Trout & Beets 

Eggs in Purgatory: Spicy Tomato Sauce, Homemade Sausage with Mascarpone Brown Butter Polenta 

Eggs Benedict 

Brisket Hash... look at those pieces of meat!

Park by Palace of Fine Arts

such a gorgeous area :)

My next adventure is a home cooked meal :) Hawaiian Crunch Halibut. When in Hawaii, fish is one of the main food attractions. Pineapple coming in 1st possibly? The fish is SO fresh and delicate!! Naturally when I saw this recipe, I just had to make it, hoping to relive my Hawaiian Vacations! 


Ingredients:


1. Skinless Boneless Halibut Fillets.
2. Flour
3. 1-2 eggs beaten until frothy. (1 egg for 2-3 fillets, 2 eggs for 4-6 fillets)
4. Pistachio or Macadamia Nuts- crushed. I used pistachios. 
5. Panko Breadcrumbs
6. Saltine Crackers- crushed
7. Olive oil and Butter
8. Any seasoning you would like to add to the fish. 


Directions:


Rinse the fillets and place on a paper towel. Pat dry. Chop the nuts. Place the saltines in a ziploc bag and crush them using a rolling pin. Combine the panko crumbs, saltines and nuts in the same ziploc. Mix it together. Add any seasoning you want on your fish to the bag. 


Place fillets in the flour coating both sides. Shake off excess. Then place fillets in the egg wash and coat both sides. Please fillet on top of crumbs and coat each side diligently for a good crispy crust. 


In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat- coat the bottom of the pan. When the oil is ready add about 1 tablespoon of butter. Brown all sides of the fillets-- about 3-4 minutes depending on the size of your fillet. Halibut should ideally fall apart when the fork hits it. 


This recipe was fabulous.. I would make it again in a heart beat. I was shocked how well the crumbs stayed on the fish and really enjoyed the flavor. I also made a quick sauce for the fish.. just a little extra flavor since I love to dip!!!! 


Lemon Butter Sauce


In a small saucepan melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir in 2 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon parsley flakes, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Mix well and slowly add 1 1/2 cups of milk or half & half. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Add the juice of one lemon and stir for another minute. Serve sauce on top of fish or on the side. *may have to adjust measurements on how thick or thin you want the sauce. 

Halibut + Sauce

Last post for this blog will end with sauce, cheese, and bread... can you guess? PIZZA! Not your typical pizza though... definitely Italian style BUT some fabulous topping combos! Pizette 211 is the name of the restaurant which includes the address number. It is one of the smallest restaurants I have ever been too and because the reviews noted that I got there RIGHT at noon when they opened... I wanted to avoid waiting too long- especially when I'm hungry! The pizza portion of their menu consists of three consistent pizzas and then three special pizzas that change each week. I definitely enjoyed the week I went :) This comes highly recommended along with Baker and Banker :)!

Margherita

House Made Sausage, Fresh Farm Egg, Onion Confit, Kale 

Bacon, Braised Cabbage, Fingerling Potatoes, Horseradish Creme Fraiche Sauce- If you twisted my arm, I would pick this one as my favorite :)!