Not-yo Nachos!

I love Nachos!

Growing up when my Aunt visited us in Florida she would take me to the mall and my one request was to have nachos at the food court. I dream about the creamy yumminess of the cheese dip! When I saw a restaurant in downtown LA had creamy cheese Nachos I had to try it!

Bar Amá is located at 118 West 4th Street in Downtown Los Angeles. There was plenty of street parking and we ever scored a free spot 3 blocks away! What initially caught my eye about Bar Amá was their advertisement for their Super Nacho Hour, the restaurants take on happy hour.

Margaritas are $9 and beer, Pacifico or Modelo are $4. There is about 10 items on the Nacho Hour menu, Super Nachos being one of them at the cost of only $8!!! Even offer a vegan option of Super Nachos, so Cali of them!

Thick crispy tortilla chips topped with avocado, crema, salmorejo salsa and melted cheese! Cheese was on point! Enjoyed these nachos very much, next time I would ask for the salsa on the side. There was so much melted cheese that after we finished the dish we needed more chips to finish off the cheese!  

Bar Amá has (or had) a secret menu item of puffy shrimp taco. This was different, shrimp was good however, again the salsa was a little different yet good. I'd like all the melted cheese added next time. Cheese on everything next time! haha! 

All in all this experience was delicious and I'd go back for some margaritas and nachos during the Super Nacho Hour or even to try their Dinner! 

If you happen to be downtown in Los Angeles, stop by 5:30pm - 7pm or 10pm - close on weekdays for the specials. 

Enjoy! 

Pudding Cookies!

Yup! Added some pudding mix to a homemade cookie recipe! Makes for some deliciously soft cookies!

It has been a while since I've really baked, the gluten-free cake doesn't count! With the holiday season upon us (first draft was published 11/2016) guess there is no time than now to get back to it! First up, pudding cookies! M&Ms were on sale at Target this past week so thought I'd make some chocolate & chocolate candy cookies.

You'll Need:
1 stick of unsalted butter
1/2 cup of light brown sugar
1/4 cup of granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup of all purpose flour 

1/4 cup of instant vanilla pudding mix (I use the natural jello one)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon of salt

3/4 cup of M&Ms (I use dark chocolate)

1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix together the butter, sugars, egg and vanilla - beat on medium about 4 minutes until mixed and creamed together. 

Add the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, salt and beat on low until combined about 1 minute. 

Add the M&Ms and the chocolate chips and beat on low about 30 seconds. 

Using a large scoop or 1/4 measure cup or hands form approximately 11 - 15 mounds of dough into balls. 

Can place some additional M&Ms / chocolate chips on top for a nice top. 

Cover and place in fridge for at least 3 hours. 

Preheat oven at 350 and bake about 11 - 13 minutes. Take the cookies out of the oven and let them cook a little more on the cookie sheet before taking them off to cool. You don't want the cookies to brown, once the edges have set and top is set they are done. 

Enjoy!

Some Spring / Easter Cookies

It's a simple Yellow Cake w/ Figs & Honey!

Need a simple yet delicious treat? You must try this Yellow cake with Figs and drizzled honey!

Was heading to a friends for a pumpkin carving gathering and knew the host had a preference for something gluten free, so I decided I was going to make a gluten free cake with fruit. Worked ended up being crazy that week so I wasn't sure I'd have time to make a cake from scratch... I ran to Target to see what I could find to my surprise I found Pillsbury makes a gluten free yellow cake mix - I must say I haven't been in the baking isle in quite some time so I am sure this isn't a new product. Either way, I felt in luck! Baked the cake and added the Fig and drizzled with my Farmer's Market honey and turned out delicious! Super simple, fresh and just enough sweetness!


I adjusted the instructions as I usually do not use veggie oil nor have any on hand... I suggest using applesauce!






Super simple instructions:

Pour the boxed cake mix into a bowl.
Add a 4 oz single serve of Applesauce, 3 eggs and 1 cup of water.
Mix.
Divide batter in half and pout into 2 9-inch cake pans.
Bake @ 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Place single layer baked cake on a plate.
Cut Figs in quarters and place on top of cake.
Drizzle with honey.

Enjoy!

It's a Summer Salad

Watermelon is a staple in America for summer. Eating it by itself, with cool-whip, in a juice or smoothies, as a pizza and in salads... there are many ways to eat a watermelon.

This summer I decided to try Watermelon and Feta salad. Purchased a big block of Feta from Whole Foods and only needed about 3/4 of it for some Feta "crack" appetizer so I searched for recipes with feta and a watermelon pizza topped with feta came up. Luckily it was National Watermelon day so I went to Whole Foods that evening and got myself a nice red watermelon and then this salad was made...

You'll need for one serving:

Watermelon

Block Feta

Mint

Balsamic Vinegar

Olive Oil

Cut about a cup of watermelon into cubes. Place in a bowl. Dice up the block feta into tiny pieces. Add as much feta as you'd prefer, about two spoons full. Slice up some fresh mint and add to bowl with watermelon and feta. Give the bowl ingredients a good stir. Sprinkle a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top. Then pick up a fork and enjoy this refreshing salad! Yumms!!!

It's my way, making pasta salad

Roasted Corn Pasta Salad

During the summer BBQs are filled with Pasta Salads, Macaroni Salad being the staple. I've gone through many recipes, healthy not so healthy. My latest take is Roasted Corn Pasta Salad with organic mayo prepared with NYC Hot Sauce. Result... deliciousness!

What you will need:

Medium Avocado 

1/2 Bunch of Cilantro

1 Lime

1/2 Lemon

Handful of Cherry Tomatoes

1/4 of Jalapeno chopped

2 cups Frozen Roasted Corn (TJs, Corn necessarily doesn't have to be organic)

1 cup Black Beans (I used dried beans and cooked them, but box black beans work just as well)

4 slices of Smoked Bacon (Nitrate Free!)

1 cup Organic Mayo (TJs Organic Mayo)

1 tsp to 1 tbl NYC Hot Sauce

2 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Paprika

1 tsp Cayenne Pepper

Pinch of Salt and Pepper

Additional:

Lemon Pasta form Trader Joes

Kelp Noodles

Zucchini Noodles

Mixed Greens

 If you decided to use dried black beans, soak them over night then simmer them on the stove with 2 cloves of garlic for an hour to an hour and half. I wanted my beans to have a bite and not be mushy, took about an hour and fifteen minutes. Place cooked beans in a dish and set aside to cool. If you used boxed black beans, rinse and set aside.

Take your bag of roasted corn from the freezer and thaw about 2 cups and set aside.

If you are going the pasta/noodle path, you will need to cook your pasta according to the directions. Once cooked cool and let the pasta dry. If using kelp or zucchini, cook in a slow boil for 3 - 5 minutes and set aside to cool and dry as well.

While the pasta/veggies noodles are cooking start chapping the cherry tomatoes in half. Chop up your cilantro, do not need to finely chop cilantro. Chop the jalapeno as well. Jalapeno is optional, if you like spice go ahead and add! Cut the avocado into small squares.

Slice up the bacon and cook on the stove top. Once bacon is crispy place on a paper towel to soak up some of the grease and let cool.

While the pasta/ veggie noodles are drying start to make the sauce. In a bowl add about 1 cup of organic mayo. squeeze both the lime and lemon into the mayo. Add the cumin, paprika and cayenne pepper. Mix those ingredients. While mixing add in NYC Hot Sauce (you can use your favorite hot sauce or sriracha). Add salt and pepper to taste.

Once beans, corn and pasta/ veggies noodles are dry and cool add all into a big dish with bacon, tomatoes, cilantro, and jalapeno. I like to use a dish that I have a lid, so I can give it a good shake to mix. Add the cut avocado and about half of the mayo sauce. Either stir the mixture or put the lid on and shake (que the song Shake Senora).

If you wanted to go low carb - skip adding the pasta and just mix beans, corn, tomato, etc with sauce then place on top of mixed greens. Healthy and delicious!

You can eat the pasta salad warm, but the flavor really comes out if you let it sit in the fridge for an hour or so!

Enjoy! xoxo 

Farmers Market Inspiration

Farmers Market Inspiration

Today, just like any other Sunday, I bopped over to the Brentwood Farmers Market in need of some veggies and inspiration for what to cook for dinner. I was not disappointed, I found some summer zucchini squash. I do not think I've used zucchini in any other way but as a pasta substitute in a long while and the summer squash was just the right shape to kick me out of my routine!


Stuffed Zucchini

To complete this meal I also picked up some grass fed ground beef along with onions, celery, yellow and red sweet peppers and jalapeno peppers. I also used left over cilantro, an heirloom tomato, and avocado that I had from making guacamole yesterday.

First cook the ground beef in a sauté pan until a little pink. Remove from the pan and set aside. Do not wipe grease from the pan, you will add the veggies to the pan shortly.

And shortly is here :) Dice up two stalks of celery, about 1/4 of a yellow onion and 1/4 cup of sweet peppers and add to the sauté pan. Let those veggies saute for about 2 to 3 minutes then add in about 3 slivers of a spicy jalapeno!

While celery, onions and peppers saute wash and hallow out the summer zucchini squash. First, slice off the top (stem side) of the zucchini. Then, I personally used a butter knife to cut a circle out then scooped the center with a spoon, leaving about 1cm of zucchini inside. Dice up the scooped out zucchini and add to sautéed veggies.

Add crumbled ground beef and sauté for 3 minutes. While the ground beef is heating up some more, take an oven safe dish and sprinkle with oil, I used Avocado Oil - my new favorite oil! Yummy! You can also sprinkle some oil inside hallowed zucchini. Dice up some fresh tomato and cilantro and mix into veggie and meat mixture on the stove.

Then scoop veggie and meat into the zucchini, I used a teaspoon and every spoonful I pushed the veggies and meat down so I could stuff it to the max. 

Once zucchini is stuff to the max place zucchini in the oven at 350 degree for 60 minutes. Place a piece of foil over the dish for the first 45 minutes. After 60 minutes take zucchini out of the oven and serve with side of white beans seasoned with cumin and fresh avocado. You can even top your Stuffed Zucchini with hot sauce. Yumms! 

 Slice open that Stuffed Zucchini and Enjoy!!

Also, if you want to taste a hot sauce that is beyond delicious with a kick then you must try NYC Hot Sauce Co. - ingredients are filled with veggies!

www.nychotsauceco.com

Beach n' Wine

It's beach time and why not add some wine!

A recent trip up the pacific coast highway for fish tacos turned into having a bottle of wine beach side with some live acoustic music! Oh don't worry, we had some fish tacos too - see post on Reel Inn! 

Rosenthal Malibu Estate Wine has a tasting room and patio right off the pacific coast highway. A great little find in Malibu, CA!

On the weekend, I believe on Friday as well, they have live music on the patio. The weekend I was there was a solo acoustic guy playing covers from the 90s to now. My friend and I decided to grab a bottle and enjoy the view of mountains and the ocean air. We decided on the Surfrider Hang Ten Red... people who know me know I love my reds a little chilled... well people I didn't even need an ice cube for this red, it was smooth and medium dry blend of reds.

You are allowed to bring in your own food to snack on while enjoying your glass or bottle of wine! If we had only known! A food truck is there and if you like fish next door is Reel Inn! There was a great mix of groups on a saturday afternoon. Couples, people celebrating brides-to-be and birthdays, and groups of people just there to enjoy some wine!

If you need an escape from the busy LA scene and enjoy local wine stop by the Rosenthal Malibu Estate Wine Bar & Patio - but don't forget to bring some food/snacks with you!!! Can find some pairing recipes here: http://rosenthalestatewines.com/wines/wine-pairing-recipes/category/surfrider-red-dessert-wine/2


Cheers!! xoxo

Spiral those veggies!

Adding Veggies in a fun and delicious way! 

Healthier version of spaghetti where I can have more than one helping... yes please!

If you haven't seen or heard of the new trend of gluten/carb free pasta well here you go... to get these delicious veggie into spaghetti strips you can use a spiralizer (found at bed bath & beyond) and slice most veggies... I mainly use any type of squash for spaghetti but can also spiralize carrots, eggplant, cucumbers and more!

Once you get the veggies sliced there are three ways I suggest making your pasta: (1) raw, this mean you slice and add uncooked sauces such as pureed tomatoes and garlic; (2) boiled, slice and place in boiling water for about 3 minutes or less (depending on thickness of 'pasta') drain and add sauce of choice; lastly (3) sauteed, toss sliced veggie into sauce on stove.

The following pictures are just a few of the probably 20 ways I've made 'spaghetti' ~

Sauteed

Baked 'Spaghetti'

Sauteed 'pasta' in some olive oil and added garlic, mushroom and tomatoes (pictured left). Added 'pasta' to meat sauce in casserole dish and topped with mozzarella cheese and baked (pictured right). Boiled 'pasta' then added to homemade shrimp scampi sauce (pictured below)!  

Shrimp Scampi

With so many ways to spiral veggies there is endless healthy meals that can be made! Grab your own spiralizer and start cooking this healthy alternative!

Mmmmm now I may have to cook 'pasta' for dinner after writing this post!

Enjoy! xoxo

California Strawberry Festival!

Strawberry Time!

Back home in Florida I love to go pick my own strawberries! I have not done that here in LA, however, I found out about the California Strawberry Festival which is held in Oxnard, CA. Oxnard is about an hour north from West LA. California Strawberry Festival, held in May, was the perfect summer kick off! The festival not only had everything strawberries but live music, crafts and fair games.

I decided to use the free shuttle services and avoid the traffic and parking at the festival grounds. I parked at the Palms Shopping Center, once parked a shuttle pulled up and was ready to head out to the festival. The shuttle too about 15 minutes and dropped us off right at the gate! Arrived to the festival around 2pm, just in time to grab a drink (strawberry beer of course!) and go listen to some live music. I enjoyed the irish band - Young Dubliners!



After listening to some music I walked around to see what I wanted to try... strawberry pizza, chocolate strawberries, strawberry popcorn, strawberry shortcake, strawberry nachos, and more! I decided on the strawberry nachos since lately I've been a sucker for anything nacho related!

The strawberry nachos were AMAZING! The chips were flour based with cinnamon and sugar. One top of the chips were mashed strawberries, then cool whip and on top of that were whole strawberries!! Yumms!

After I ate the whole plate of nachos I walked around to see what else the festival had... the craft area reminded me of all the craft shows my mother and I have attended since I was young. There was a section of fair rides and even a section just for the kiddies... all who had strawberries all over their faces, so cute! As the festival was wrapping up I decided to check out the strawberry farm stands. It was probably 30 minutes to closing and I got a flat for about $11!! I will be eating strawberries everyday for 2 weeks but who cares so good!

Within the week I started making random strawberry dishes, here are a few... Strawberries Mashed on Cinnamon Toast, Wild Rice with Strawberries and Balsamic Glaze (pictured below), Strawberry Salsa (pictured below).

more photos of festival: 

Young Dubliners

 


Check more out here: http://strawberry-fest.org/

Enjoy! xoxo

Purple People Eater... or Purple Food Eater!?!

Do not let your eyes fool you, all the food... okay not the meat... is purple! Yes, purple!! My favorite color!

I happen to go to the farmers market the week before Easter and saw the prettiest colorful brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots. My first thoughts was not to make all in one meal, I mean when do you see purple brussel sprouts?!? This was a first for me. Purple cauliflower was also new to me when I first moved to the LA area,  in Florida we've only ever been exposed to the usual white cauliflower, but here in LA there are many more. There is cauliflower that is orange in color, also there is romanesco which looks like cauliflower that is green with spikes... so cool and delicious! Anyways, I digress. 

How to cook purple veggies for an all purple, again minus the meat, meal? This is how...

Cauliflower Horseradish Mash, grilled Buttered Rosemary Carrots, and grilled Brussel Sprouts and of course some added protein dry-rub Steak!

For mash cauliflower you basically follow the same recipe you do for mashed potatoes.

You will need:

1 Head of Cauliflower
Pot filled with water or stock
Garlic
additional ~ horseradish, onions, milk/non-dairy milk

Wash and cut the cauliflower into medium sized pieces and place in water or stock to boil until tender. Once cauliflower is tender remove and drain (if used water, if used stock drain and set aside the stock) and place in blender. First blend the cauliflower until finely chopped. Next, add liquid of choice - I normally use chicken stock, you can use milk or non-dairy milk even can use some of the liquid from boiling cauliflower. Then add in seasoning: garlic, horseradish, salt & pepper, cayenne pepper, or whatever your heart desires. Top with some chopped green onions.

That is all... super simple and delicious!

Roasted Vegetables are super simple and deliciously fresh tasting as well. For this meal I placed carrots on foil and grilled them with lemon, butter and rosemary. The brussel sprouts were grilled and drizzled with olive oil and salt & pepper. Viola!

What colorful meal can I make next?

xoxo Enjoy!

Nacho average nacho!

nacho average nacho!

I love cheese! I love avocado! I love salsa! I love nachos! However, as time goes by I have finally noticed I cannot just eat any and all I want these days and well as you know California is known for its healthy twist on fatty delicious comfort food! Nachos was not much of a task to turn into a healthy snack. Why, you ask well the healthy alternative to any carb... Zucchini! 

Want to make a healthy nacho alternative?! This is how I made zucchini nachos ~ 

Will need: 

Zucchini

Cheese of choice

Tomato

Jalapeno

Onions

Guacamole

Plus additional toppings: beans, meat, peppers, bacon, etc. 

Slice fresh zucchini at a diagonal - this makes the 'chips' longer, especially if you have tiny zucchini - and brush lightly with olive oil. Place each slice on the grill, grill on each side for about five minutes on high, giving the grilling marks to each slice of zucchini. Flip each slice over and add choice of cheese and let cheese melt.  

While zucchini is grilling this is a great time to chop up and get your toppings ready. Since nachos can get messy chopping your toppings finely will make them stay on top of each slice. Grab your chopping knife and get to work. I finely chopped up cilantro, tomato, peppers, and jalapenos. There is so many fun toppings you can add... beans (cooked my own black beans shown in pictures), chicken (shown in pictures too), steak, avocado, and plenty more.

Once cheese is melted, remove each slice of zucchini from grill with tongs onto serving plate. Grab toppings and sprinkle on top of platter of zucchini. 

This snack is very versatile... you can bake the zucchini and add cheese and even add the toppings and bake - that makes for sum warm fresh just-out-of-the-oven nachos! Add a splash of lime juice right before you take a bite and enjoy the flavors!! Yumm!!!

A healthy snack I can enjoy every day... okay every week! 

xoxo Enjoy!