Lindsay: January 2008 Archives

Last night I went to visit a friend who works at Kaddo, a massive Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles. She insisted I try this new dish on the menu ... Salmon Belly Pate on crostini with chopped Kalamata olives and olive oil. While I may have had salmon belly at some point in the past, I had never eaten it as pate before, thus, it was perfect for new food #5.

TASTE: Mild in flavor. Not at all fishy, slightly salty, fresh salmon flavor mixed with the taste of cream. (The fishy flavor would of course vary depending on the salmon the pate is made with.)

TEXTURE: Very similar to a creamy tuna salad ... different from the mousse like texture of other pate I've had.

PRO: Satisfying to eat and the mild flavor allows other flavors to shine while adding a nice texture to the overall dish.

CON: Must be made with very fresh salmon or runs the risk of being fishy.

USES: Appetizers mainly or possibly in a salad. It would be delish in radicchio leaves topped with capers.

YUM FACTOR: My favorite pate to date and I'm not a huge pate fan in general.

This morning I made the best little breakfast sandwich of sorts. I took half of a whole wheat pita, toasted it, then filled the pocket with Philly cream cheese, peanut butter, and strawberry jam. The pita became crispy and the sweetness inside was absolutely creamy and DeLuscious! I'm always discovering new ways to use cream cheese :) Philly has 2 neat new tools to help you think of creative ways to enjoy the wonderfully

scrumptious spread. One helps you create custom cheesecake recipes and the other makes party planning easier than ever! Click the pictures to try them out!

Click here to see one of the custom made cheesecake recipes!

It’s February 2008 and you’re one of the lucky people flying on JetBlue. Seemingly out of nowhere, a breakfast filled box lands in your lap, but no one is asking you to fork over twelve bucks. This, my jet set friends, is the Breakfast from Heaven and guess what? It’s FREE! In February, the good folks at Philly will treat 500,000 JetBlue passengers to the excellence that is their New 1/3 Less Fat PHILLY. These scrumptious boxes of goodness will be given out on selected flights, while en route to many major cities such as New York, Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, Chicago and Vegas! Complimentary breakfast that includes a delicious, lower fat version of Philly … sounds heavenly to me!

THE BEST of TJ'S
1. Golden Yolk Eggs ~ Cheap and fresh off the farm taste.
2. Chocolate Chips ~ they are as good or better than some of the most $$$ chocolate chips available.
3. Pre-packaged, peeled garlic cloves ~ so convenient.
4. Salt Body Scrub ~ very cheap and smells great!
5. Pre-made pizza dough balls for $.99
6. Hot & Sweet Mustard

THE WORST of TJ'S
7. Most bread items including loaves, pita, and English muffins ~ they mold very fast and are often stale by day three.
8. Mojito Mix ~ 100% watery and gross
9. Salsa ~ many of them are in serious need of salt
10.The liquid automatic dish washing detergent ~ leaves major water spots.
11. Cheese Puffs ~ might as well eat cardboard and cheese powder
12. Pre-made sushi ~ rice mush with cheap fake fish

BEST & WORST
12.5 The meat/fish selection ~ some days it looks fresh, plentiful and is a great bargain, other days the options are dismal and everything looks like it's been sitting there for way too long. GROSS

What do you think is the best/worst at TJ'S?

Ah the heady scent of truffles ... those rare, peculiarly divine, highly sought after mushrooms. In truth, they are quite ugly to the eye, but somehow, despite the fact that they are lumps of fungus uprooted in Europe by hogs and dogs, they sell for hundreds and thousands of dollars per pound. For truffle newbies, just venturing into the addicting world of these outrageously expensive tubers, you may wonder what type is "the best" and why White truffles are devastatingly more pricey than Black truffles. (FYI, you may come across gray truffles, or Chinese truffles ... avoid these as they are still very expensive but not worth your money.) The short story: White Truffles are the more expensive of the two, selling for up to $5000 per pound. This is because they are more scarce and cannot be cultivated. They have a sharper, more complex flavor than their black counter parts, thus to some people, are considered more desirable. Black Truffles have a slightly softer, smoother earthy flavor and will only run you between $300 and $900 dollars per pound. What a deal! For more in depth truffle info click the link below. 

So, thanks again to YumSugar (we love them) I found this lovely blog Never Bashful with Butter with 2 recipes for cupcakes I feel are worthy of high praise! Caramel Apple Pie Cupcakes complete with a flaky round of crust on top and Cherry Limeade Cupcakes. Test these out if you want to start living the DeLusciousLife!

Ever worry that your toothbrush collects germs while your not using it? Well, apparently the moist bristles are a breeding ground for germs that can be unhealthy. VIOlight Countertop Toothbrush Sanitzer can solve this problem so you'll be brushing with a truly clean toothbrush every time. The famed designer Philippe Stark designed the modern looking unit and Time magazine named it one of the coolest inventions of the year (2007). Sounds good to me!

wants to know!

There are so many different yoga styles and being a "beginning-yogi" I decided I wanted to learn the differences between the most common types offered in Western culture. Hatha, Bikram, Ashtanga, Iyengar ... I was lost until today. Hatha yoga, actually describes any physical form of yoga. A teacher who teaches Hatha most likely uses yoga techniques from a variety of styles. Click the link below for a bite size description of 3 common types of yoga.

This fruit ... Feijoa, is by far my favorite new food tried in 2008! I was wandering around in produce, looking for a new food to try, so I headed over to the exotic fruit section. I decided upon this green, kiwi shaped fruit and went on my way. I wasn't sure if I'd picked out a ripe one or a rotting one since I knew nothing about the little buggers (it was a bit too ripe, see pic left). When I got home, I looked  online to see how people eat them. Most said to slice the fruit in half and scoop out the inside with a spoon, so that's what I did and the results were truly DeLuscious! They are also known as Pineapple-Guava or Guavasteen and originated in South America. They are now grown commonly in New Zealand. A perfectly ripe Feijoa has a clear, jelly-like center. Click the link below for taste profile and more pictures. By the way, they taste better than they look!

I throw a lot of dinner parties ... in my small apartment, using my tiny kitchen, often planned only a day or so in advance. I call them "Everyday" dinner parties and I make sure to K-I-S-&-F, KEEP IT SIMPLE & FABULOUS! These casual and delicious gatherings are far less stressful than hosting an elaborate dinner party that takes two weeks to plan, so it's the perfect concept for a novice host, or for anyone who wants to entertain their friends more often. Click the link below to find out how to throw an Everyday Dinner Party that's simply fabulous.

"Why won't my chocolate re-harden after I melt it?"  I used to get so annoyed that I had to put chocolate covered cookies, strawberries, etc. in the refrigerator to make the chocolate hard again and even then it still produced a matte, not glossy finish. If this is a problem for you I have a solution.Guittard Molding Chocolate. In order for chocolate to re-harden and become shiny on its own, it must be tempered. This process is a major pain for most home chefs. This molding chocolate re-hardens on its own, almost instantly. 

Yup ... I really went crazy this week and tried beef tongue for the first time. Few things make me squeamish but tongue is definitely one of them. I was reviewing a restaurant and the chef presented us with slow braised beef tongue, a specialty of his. How could I offend him and say no? So I took a few bites ...
TASTE: Very much like beef brisket, meaty, salty, and tender.
TEXTURE: Again, similar to brisket that's been cooked all day long, but even more tender.
PRO: Very tender and flavorful.
CON: Hard to get over the idea you're tasting tongue with your tongue.
USES: Grill it, sandwich meat, braise it.
YUM FACTOR: Quite good if you can get over the idea of eating tongue. Not sure why I can't ... I eat flank, rump, ribs etc. 

Place Mats: Choose a neutral color that will compliment your dishes. Mine are dark brown and made from wood so I can just rinse them off after each use. Fabric gets stained and is a pain to wash.
Flatware: Spend a little money on a decent set of flatware so it won't rust. Choose something that expresses your style ... modern, classic, etc. Costco has some good deals. Make sure to buy at least 6 place settings worth. I buy enough for 8 place settings, in case a few pieces get lost. The basic flatware set should have a salad fork, dinner fork, dinner knife, soup spoon, and teaspoon. You may want a 6 piece steak knife set too. Don't forget about serving ware: a few extra large spoons, forks, and salad servers. Click here for a formal table setting diagram.

Click the link below to continue reading ...

You may expect to find a great hole-in-the-wall taco shop in a little strip mall, but the freshest sushi in Los Angeles? In a strip mall in the valley? Really? Really. Sushi Nozawa has built it's excellent reputation and cult like following on one thing and one thing alone ... the food. There is no ambiance, no attentive, doting waiters, you don't even get to choose what you order if you sit at the bar. But, you do get to experience sushi in its purest form; as simple, fresh, raw fish with delicate, warm white rice. There are signs everywhere they read "Trust Me." That's the Chef Nozawa's motto and many Hollywood heavy weights have made "Trust Me" signs as gifts for the chef, known sometimes as the Sushi Natzi. DO NOT expect a California roll here. Instead you'll indulge in fish so sweet and buttery you'll be certain you've never had it before. "What is this?" I asked the chefs assistant. "Yellowtail" he said. "What ?$#*$#@%&*?" "It's better fresh huh?" Chef nozawa pipes in. Wow! I have had yellowtail many times, but it never tasted like heaven floating on my tongue. Today I ate lunch at Nozawa and Ray Romano (of Everybody Loves Raymond) was enjoying his lunch there as well. Go with an open mind and do not dunk the precious fish in soy sauce whatever you do. Use your ginger to "paint" soy on top of the fish ever so lightly and trust me, if you trust him, you'll be hooked on the best sushi in LA. By the way, they're closed on Sat. and Sun. when the fish markets are closed. That's how committed the chef is to fresh fish.

Sushi Nozawa
11288 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City, 91604
(818) 508-7017
Mon-Fri 12pm-2pm, 5:30pm-10pm
Closed Sat-Sun

Croutons can make or break a salad. If they're stale and hard, they just get in the way. Too tiny and flaky, there's no point adding them at all. Store bought? Well ... some brands are ok, but many taste like salted card board. Homemade croutons are so easy to make and the perfect solution for slightly stale bread. My favorite are corn bread croutons! They're sweet, savory, crunchy and chewy all at the same time. Click the link below for my recipe and a salad that pairs with them wonderfully.

If you A: live in LA or NYC, and B: crave coffee, coffee yogurt that is, head to the nearest Pinkberry. Just yesterday they debuted their new coffee flavored yogurt to commemorate their 3rd year anniversary and say thanks to Pinkberry (aka crackberry) customers. With it, they've introduced chestnuts as a new topping. How's it taste? Think the tang from their original flavor blended with coffee. You can get the cool caffeine inspired concoction alone or swirled with their plain yogurt. It's kind of funny they would choose coffee when they're supposed to be "so health conscience," but they already have (green) tea so ... I guess coffee was a natural progression.

Over at Savvy Sugar there are reports on the ups, downs and changes of the the caffeine giant Starbucks. Are you a devotee of the "on-every-corner coffee shop" or have you gone elsewhere in recent years? I go to Starbucks quite often since the locations are convenient and I know what I'll be getting. It's not that I LOVE their coffee really, it often tastes burnt, but after getting a few BAD cafe au laits at small, indie coffee cafes (that I would rather support) I've returned to the Bucks. Click here to find out why the founder has returned as CEO to the company and here to read why they will no longer offer organic milk after Feb. 26th. BTW, if you always think Starbucks coffee is a little too strong (or too smoky) for your taste, ask for the light roast. They do have one and it's much better if you like a smoother flavor.

Crayon, Holy Water, Bonfire, Dirt, and Funeral Home ... each word conjures up a very different image, thought, or memory, but most likely you aren't thinking "perfume flavors!" Well, thanks (I think) to perfumers at Demeter who think outside the fragrance box, these are all scents you can spray on your body at will. I've actually smelled Dirt and liked it. Think of an earthy, damp forest floor right after a rain. I wore it around for a week and got quit a few compliments. Scents are something that can vividly bring us back to a certain time in our lives or make us feel a particular way if we  connect the scent to a person or memory. I love the smell of a newly opened can of tennis balls ... it reminds me of summer and being with my dad on the court.The newest Demeter collection is inspired by the little Necco Sweetheart conversation candies we love to share around Valentines Day. They also have a Jelly Belly Collection and a Natural Attraction collection with scents such as Always Calm and Always Sexy. Now that's what I call DeLuscious!  Click the link below for more scents and info on where to buy your most unique fragrance ever!

It seems we're living in a time where everyone and everything desperately wants to look younger, cooler, sexier, and more modern ... but are the updated versions always better than the original? Apparently not, in the case of the famous culinary magazine, Bon Appetite's new look and logo. After reading many opinions on blogs and foodie sites, it appears faithful readers of the magazine are in an uproar about the change that's been made. At first, I attributed their feelings to the fact that people inherently do not like change, but after receiving my own copy of the "fresher, younger bon appetite," I had to agree. The magazine that built it's reputation on being elegant, classic and rich with culinary color, is now a much thinner skeleton of it's former, more opulent self. Click the link below to check out what other readers had to say and read the editor's letter about the change. By the way, this is not the first time the Bon Ap changed it's look. I found this picture from a 1981 edition. At least they didn't revert. Leave a comment ... I'd love to know you're opinion. 

I'll just throw it out there ...  I cannot tell you a single thing about football,  but I can tell you how to throw a seriously DeLuscious Super Bowl party without ruining your "eat healthy" New Year'sresolution. Typically at a football party, the host offers things like wings, chips n' dip, beer, soda, pizza, and every other artery clogging snack you can think of. Well,guess what girls (and healthy conscience boys)? There is another way to indulge in football fare, without spending the rest of the week at the gym burning off chicken wings and Cheetos. Click the link below for tips on how to host a "Skinny Super Bowl Soirée." 

What's for dinner tonight? The ubiquitous question that pops into our heads each day. If you're bored of your usual recipes, you may want to think about becoming and international eater. This doesn't mean you have to jet set to Paris for dinner reservations. While that would be ideal, most people can't afford such things. All you need to do is visit the Recipe Atlas, then point and click on the continent of your choice. Countries will appear with recipe links. Want to make food from Africa? Head on over to Egypt and try Palace Bread. Neat isn't it? While many countries are without recipe links, you can still experience many ethnic foods from the comfort of your own kitchen. Also, feel free to submit your own global recipe!

So, LA is stereotypically the land of the "healthy" aka "skinny" where no one eats carbs and everyone lives on lettuce.
Hmmm ... then why has Sprinkles Cupcakes been able to make killing? The cupcakes-only store did so well, that tons of other boutique treat-shops are opening around LA LA Land in hopes that the right celeb will be snapped by the paparazzi eating their cookie, brownie, or truffle, send some to Oprah and the result will be major money in the bank. Curious isn't it? Maybe we'll see "The Cupcake Diet," debut next in Hollywood. In any case, I'm happy to know my fellow Angelenos do eat sweets and these are just a few of the new sugar havens that have recently opened or are opening soon. Click the link below for the list.

Yes, my new food of the week is hominy. It's fluffy, cheap, under appreciated by most and far better than the dried dragon fruit I tried last week. Wondering how I can compare the two? Hominy will now be a staple in my pantry ... dragon fruit, not so much. Hominy is maize (corn) that's been soaked in a solution to remove the hull and germ making it a more palatable food that's easier to digest.
TASTE: Delicate, nutty, earthy.
TEXTURE: The best thing about hominy in my humble opinion is the unique texture. It's soft and slightly chewy.
PRO: Versatility, low-fat, fiber source.
CON: None to speak of.
USES: It can be used to make hominy grits, masa (dough for tamales ), hot cereal or soup. I just tossed some in a frying pan with butter, salt and pepper and it was simply delicious.
YUM FACTOR: Very high! It's a healthy comfort food with great texture and flavor, that gets extra YUM points for tasting wonderful with melted cheese.

I stumbled upon this sinfully decadent picture on Smitten Kitchen and instantly called off my "no sugar for 2 weeks" New Years resolution. A photo this scrumptious looking should be illegal to post in January when people are trying to lose their Christmas Cookie weight. This was actually posted on Dec 30 so I can't really be mad and honestly anyone who looks at this picture and still sticks to their salad/soup diet is not a true foodie :) Recipe here.

When it's cold and dreary out in the winter months, a shock of bright, perfuming bulb flowers can really make the gray days more bearable. It's not hard to force or "trick" bulbs into blooming during the winter. Paperwhites smell amazing and amaryllis will pop some color into your home. To learn how to enjoy those gorgeous fresh flowers all year long click here. 

Over at Slash Foods, Marisa McClellan posted this recipe for Oatmeal Macadamia Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies along with a super cute story about just how these cookies became "the best in the galaxy." Click here for the recipe.

Great Guac ... very few things compare and everyone seems think they know "the very best way" to make guacamole. So ... I'd like to ask DeLusciousLifers to submit their most addicting guac recipes. I'll test out recipes submitted for the next 2 weeks or so. My foodie friends will dip chips in the various avocado concoctions and on January 22, we'll declare a winner, post their recipe here complete with pictures, and pay homage to the GUACAMOLE MASTER! Rules: The recipe must contain avocado. 

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup skim milk or soy milk
2 green tea bags
2 tsp tablespoon matcha green tea latte powder (Trader Joe's is good)
1/2 pack splenda

Pour water and milk into mug and microwave for about 2 minutes or a little less. Add tea bags, matcha powder, and splenda and stir until powder dissolves. Let tea bags steep for 3-5 minutes then remove and enjoy! Approx 80 Calories and 0 fat grams.

" The Toast of LA" ~ Healthy French toast that still cures the craving!

Serving Size  : 4    
2  eggs
4  egg whites
1/4 cup  sugar
1/2 teaspoon  salt
1/2 teaspoon  cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
spray oil
8 slices  whole wheat bread

In medium shallow mixing bowl whisk eggs, egg whites, sugar, salt, and cinnamon and cloves. Set aside. In large skillet, spray oil to coat and heat on high, then turn down to medium high heat to cook bread. Dip each slice of bread into egg mixture and pierce bread with fork 4-5 times to let some egg soak in. Do not let bread soak up too much egg batter or it will be soggy when cooked. Let excess egg drip off and place
battered bread in hot skillet. Cook about 2 minutes per side or until golden brown. Add more spray oil to coat pan as needed. Serve hot with sugar free syrup.

Skinny Mini Smoothie
Healthy smoothie ~ low in sugar, packs some protein, rich in taste!

Serving Size  : 2    
1 cup  mixed berries, frozen
1/2 banana
2 ice cubes
1 cup  vanilla soy milk
1/2 cup  light or diet cranberry or apple juice
1 pack  splenda (about 1/2 tsp)
1/4 teaspoon  vanilla extract (optional)

Winter is definitely here. It's cold outside and a big bowl of steaming soup is something I crave as soon as the temp drops below 50 degrees. (I know, that may not seem cold to some but I'm an LA lady... aka weather wuss.) Last night I made this super easy, hearty, healthy, satisfying soup using ingredients that are in season this month. While this does call for cabbage do not run away ... cooked cabbage is delicious ... just TRY IT! Click the link below for recipe.

They are the world’s largest foreign exchange company and make it easier than ever before to obtain the cash you need before you start your travels. Be a better jet setter and think ahead!

It's a lot easier to eat foods that are in season, if you know what is in fact in or out of season. Here's a quick list for January:

• Scallops
• Pears
• Carrots
• Celery
• Turnips
• Goose
• Leeks
• Squash
• Cabbage
• Parsnip
• Shallots
• Lobster

Tomorrow I'll be posting recipes using these ingredients so check back!

• TASTE: Not a strong flavor really. Mildly sweet, slightly tangy.
  
• TEXTURE: A little chewier than a fruit roll up, crunchy due to the black seeds in it.
  
• PRO: Good source of vitamin C and fiber.
  
• CON: Like most dried fruit, just a few pieces racks up 150 calories and 25 grams of sugar ... fructose yes, but still sugar.
  
• USES: Good for a portable snack, baking, salads.
  
• YUM FACTOR: Just OK really. Major malfunction: too little flavor  ... I will try to get my hands on a fresh dragon fruit since I've heard they are more flavorful!
  

New fashion trends appear every year, but it's not only on the runway that things are constantly changing. The world of fine, fashionable food has become a true object of affection thanks to The Food Network, celebrity chefs, Trader Joe's etc. What culinary creations will be hot in 2008? One major theme: Green food. No, not the color green, the concept of green. Buying local, fair trade, organic, and unprocessed. Click the link below for other top food trends for the New Year so you can be sure to eat-in-style. 

How much are you willing to spend when splurging on dessert in a fine restaurant? $16, $20, $14,500? Um, what? That's not a typo, but rather the price of the most expensive dessert in the world known as "The Fortress Aquamarine." Interested in indulging? Travel to Galle, Sri Lanka and dine at Wine3 at The Fortress. The sweet creation comes complete with an 80-carat aquamarine gem (non-edible by the way). You'll enjoy this money depleting treat with handmade glass utensils, which you cannot take home. However, when you're done eating, that big blue jewel is all yours. Forbes was kind enough to make us all drool with a slide show of the top 10 most expensive desserts on the planet.  Thanks a lot!

If your New Years resolution is "give to charity" in 2008, this is a good way to start. Cartier has created these clever little bracelets that look good and give back. Each color band represents a different charity and $100 of each purchase goes to the charity that corresponds with that color bracelet. Each piece also has a celebrity ambassador.
The goodwill accessories are not cheap ... they'll set you back $475.00 each, but remember, $100 does go to charity. They are part of their Love collection and made from 18kt white gold and silk. Buy them at any Cartier store or online .

Every year certain destinations come in to and go out of style, just like fashion. In 2008 it's been predicted that Asia will be the hot spot, replacing Europe (possibly due to the weak US dollar). The Lonely Planet listed China as the number one spot to visit in 2008 and China placed first representing the best value for the dollar. In terms of packaged travel, Southeast Asia was touted as the hottest up-and-coming  location (according to the U.S.T.O.A.). China, India, and Croatia tied for second place. Thailand and Singapore have become more popular, also due to the weakness of the dollar. European river cruises are becoming popular in since the boats are more intimate than a large cruise ship and can access inland areas of countries in the Baltics, and Germany, and France, that larger ships can't get to. In the U.S. Hawaii will remain a favorite, New Orleans will be popluar, as will New York Cities Brooklyn for arts and restaurants. Also on the Lonely Planet hot spot list: Morocco, Argentina, Brazil, Turkey, Nicaragua, Spain and Greece, followed by Cuba, Mexico and India tying for 10th place. There are also new passport rules you should know before we head into January. Click the link below to read more.