How I Am Spending Valentine's Day

Seeing as I have no boyfriend I am spending Valentine's Day with my girlfriends! We are going to see the V-Day movie "Valentine's Day" (even though everyone says it's awful I'm still curious) and go to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner! We figured no one is going on a date at Buffalo Wild Wings, and if they are, well, that's just sad. Since there is no one I'm even interested in this year, I really am excited for this time with my friends. Normally on this day there is someone I'm at least crushing on. Even if I knew I wouldn't be spending the day with the person, I still enjoyed that "crush" feeling on Valentine's Day. I thought this year I'd be depressed that there was no one, but actually it's been really nice. Better than last year. I can definitely admit to that. Although, funnily enough, I will end up at the same movie theater. Hmm... it's about time to go eat some deliciously unromantic wings!

Mozzarella with Crazy Gremolata

Mozzarella with Crazy Gremolata

I adapted this recipe from one of Nigella Lawson’s. I made a few tweaks and I’m warning this has VERY strong flavors, but I find it delicious!

2 balls Buffalo Mozzarella

1 tsp. Red Chili Pepper Flakes

Zest of 1 Whole Lemon

1 Garlic Clove minced

4 Large Pitted Green Olives, finely chopped

2 tbs. Parsley

Olive Oil

¼ tsp. table salt

Cut mozzarella into ¼ inch slices. In a bowl mix the pepper flakes, lemon zest, garlic, and olives. Add the parsley, olive oil, and salt and mix again. Layer mozzarella on a plate and then spoon gremolata over the mozzarella. Yummy and colorful!

All my yummy ingredients

The finished product! I put mine in a tupperware container so I can pull out just a few slices at a time, but it would be a great appetizer for a party!

Deviled Eggs

I love deviled eggs. I have since I was little. Until lately they have always been a "special occasion food", eaten only on Easter or Fourth of July, but now that I am not allowed carbs I've started making them as a snack. I must say, they are a great snack that feels somewhat decadent to eat. Plus, I love the slightly retro feel of deviled eggs. At this point I make them so often I'm thinking about getting one of those cute egg trays! I take 2 halves to work as a nice, healthy, and filling afternoon snack. Below is my recipe for yummy, perfectly snack-portioned deviled eggs.

Ingredients: 3 Hard-boiled eggs

2 Tbls. Mayonaise

1/2 Tsp. Yellow Mustard

3 drops Worchestershire sauce

Dash each of salt and pepper

Paprika

Cut eggs in half and empty yokes into a bowl. Add remaining ingredients except paprika. Mash and stir together. Spoon back into empty eggs. Sprinkle VERY lightly with paprika Ta-da! You're done! So simple!

My half-mixed filling.

Fully mixed, and ready to fill the eggs!

The finished product!

Goals for the week

So, I had a couple of goals set this year that were supposed to be done weekly and 3 1/2 weeks in, well let's just say I'm at a satisfactory level. I didn't do yoga at all this week. Hopefully I will today, but even still it's just once for the week. And as for cooking once a week, I am counting the chicken I baked and then turned into Curry Chicken Salad. I also made egg salad today and am going to make this mozzarella meal later on. No cooking involved in the last one, but I'm still counting it! I'll try and post pictures soon! Still, the good thing about goals is even when you fail you can pick yourself up and try again. This next week will be better!

Places to Try in L.A. in 2010

I don’t know if I’ve ever really said it, but I love Los Angeles. Though I talk about moving every now and then, I really do love this city and all the craziness it contains. There is always something new to try, somewhere new to go. So with that, I present my list of things I want to try in Los Angeles in 2010:

· The Tar Pit-there has already been so many write-ups on this restaurant and I believe it’s only been open a few weeks!

· Griffith Park Hike-Last year I did Runyon, this year it’s time for Griffith. I should probably start working out so when I do it, it doesn’t kill me.

· Umami Burger-apparently this is the new place to get a hamburger. Hmmm… I might try this one next week. I’ll let you know.

· Lucques-For crying out loud, I’ve lived here five years and still haven’t tried this establishment. It’s time.

· Bazaar at SLS-because who doesn’t want to try a philly cheesesteak made of air?

· Stefan’s at L.A. Farm-so it’s clear I watch “Top Chef”. He might have been a jerk on the show, but his food was always rated highly.

· Bigfoot Lodge-the original one. It just looks like a fun place to have a drink.

· Kogi Truck-I still haven’t been, but I’m dying to try their tacos. Their restaurant is opening down the street from work, so I’m sure I’ll go sometime, but I still want the truck experience.

· Yogaworks-I want to take a real yoga class. Simple enough.

· Golden State Cafe-another new burger place, but they are popular for their sweet potato “fries” and Guiness Floats. I will not be trying the latter, but I have a friend who definitely will.

· Brunch at Bouchon-I’ve had quite the memorable experience at the Vegas location, but have never been for brunch and they are known for brunch! I really am looking forward to this one.

· Explore Downtown-it’s seriously becoming so hip. I really want to go hang out one night and try all the cool bars and look in shops.

Okay, so that’s it for now. I know there are ones I’m forgetting. I’m sure there will be another list. What do you want to try this year?

Learning to Cook

Cooking is one of those things I've never really learned how to do properly and have vowed for 3 years that I would finally learn. This is the year it is going to happen. I've set a goal to cook once a week and I actually have cooked the last 3 days straight. Some hits, some major misses. I made a steak today that was inedible. It was supposed to marinate in balsamic vinegar, pepper, and garlic cloves overnight. It just ended up tasting like balsamic vinegar. Disgusting. Way too strong.

On the other hand, I made some pretty decent items too. My chicken stock came out well (pictures below), and my balsamic onions and brussel sprouts with pancetta and garlic came out nicely.

I also learned a lesson about roasting chicken-5 minutes too long in the oven can make a HUGE difference. I made this amazing, velvety red wine reduction sauce and poured it over the roast chicken to discover the chicken was tough and rubbery. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. So far it's been a good learning experience.

This is the chicken stock simmering. Doesn't it look pretty?

My Roasted Balsamic Onions! So yummy!

My velvety red wine sauce!

A snack size portion of my brussel sprouts and pancetta. I realized I'm not a huge fan of the way brussel sprouts taste, but I think they look gorgeous!

The mess I got to clean up after it was all done!

So, what kitchen mess-ups have you had? Also, what do you think I need to learn to cook?

Happy New Year Everyone!

Happy New Year! I spent my New Year's Day writing down goals, cooking, napping and watching "House" DVDs. What did you do?

Thought I'd share with you some of my goals to get you brainstorming about your own:

• Pay off credit card
• Become a bone marrow donor
• Yoga 2x a week
• Go to Solvang (I've never been)
• Cook one meal a week

I had many more since I used the goal template I showed you in the earlier post, but I thought I'd share just a few to get you started. I think your goals should be a mix of fun and serious. What would you like to change about yourself? What experience have you just put off but always wanted? I see my goal sheet as basically a huge to-do list. I love checking stuff off!