Month: November 2017

Must Have Apple Not-so-Pie For Thanksgiving or Just Anytime

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If I am to order dessert, believe it or not I opt for apple tart everywhere I go. And the best ones are the ones I buy ready made at Trader Joe. But for Thanksgiving this year, I decided to make something from scratch – So for dessert number two,  I am going with his recipe: INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon, plus 2 teaspoons, unsalted butter 2 cups sugar 1 tablespoon light corn syrup 1 tablespoon water 8 large (3 to 4 pounds) firm, tart apples, peeled 1/2 (17-ounce) package puff pastry sheets Flour {more}

Thanksgiving Menu: Sweet Potato in Variation

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Let’s star the week off right – shall we? Sweet Potatoes have become a norm – offered up in restaurants past the holidays. My first exposure to sweet potato fries was in 2009 when I was working in Los Angeles and on my birthday I treated myself to the W Hotel in Westwood-Los Angeles poolside restaurant. I loved the sweet potato fries so much with a side of three dipping sauces, that I ordered another batch to go along with my cocktails. Fast forward to 2017, and sweet potatoes are a thing of the norm, and if you are planning on a new twist for this Thanksgiving holiday dinner, than consider these ideas: And this for sweet potato casserole: For that cinnamon Swirl Sweet Potato – this is what you want to try If Sweet Potato Mash is your thing – go here:

Thanksgiving: Easy Casserole Side Dishes and Other Ideas

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Casseroles are the easiest of side dishes – and here’s a list of recipes to include some of the traditional favorites with a twist – naturally – because that is how I roll 🙂 And then there is this dressing: Okay, okay – don’t panic – here’s a easy to make menu for that first Thanksgiving dinner party attempt And here’s where I got side-tracked to pies:

So You’re Incharge of Bringing Dessert or That Appetizer For Thanksgiving

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Some of us are fortunate enough to get invited to that wonderful relative’s house for Thanksgiving or even a group of friends if you happen to be far away from family. The only upside or down, is having to bring either a dessert or an appetizer to contribute to one of the most important meals in the U.S. – Thanksgiving dinner. Here’s a list of suggestion for the chef and not-so-much on how to proceed: If baking is not your thing – then consider ordering a ready made dessert from here And if you’re curious as to what I am planning to surprise my family with for dessert this year –

Holiday Fashion: Stand Out In Your Style

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I totally admire those who stand out tastefully in their fashion sense, mix-matching various blends and patterns to create an outfit that is perfectly defining of their personality. So that’s what I am attempting to do for this holiday season, picking out outfits that define who I am, without creating the wrong kind of buzz at a party or two or three – for work and play. Here’s what I mean:

A Girl Can Dream…

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Once in a while I swoon over the idea of doing something extraordinary for myself. I imagine it, consider it, then talk myself out of it. Recent events being buying a much-needed new car, or an upgraded smart phone.  Even pampering myself. But I decided this morning, while struggling with my hair to cooperate the style I chose, thinking I may need a trim for it to stay properly in place – I vowed at that I would do something spectacular for myself every other month or so in 2018. Well, in light of this topic, here’s a far-fetched wishful thinking of mine – to spend a day at…   Has that ever happened to you? Where or what is it that you wish you could do?

Lifestyle: Keeping Healthy This Holiday Season

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While discussing Thanksgiving with my mother a few days ago, I expressed my concern for keeping the menu healthy enough to continue my efforts to stay on track in my eating habits, which by the way I keep pushing on her, and my extended family. They may hate me now, but will thank me long-term when they see the results for a healthier living. Anyway, if you understand my struggle to keep it healthy this holiday season, here’s some helpful reminders to keep in mind and preach – hahaha – to the rest of your clan.

Travel: Gifting An African Safari

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Everyone needs to experience an African Safari at least once in their lifetime. And with that believe I share with you the idea of gifting an African Safari – to celebrate a wedding anniversary, or a special birthday or even as a honeymoon destination. Put the idea (that came to me while watching The Crown)  in a box under the Christmas tree this year and see a loved one’s eyes well-up… in a good way hopefully 🙂 Check out the hottest African Safari Camps to consider –

Food: Wild Rice, Mushroom and Cream Soup

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Oh it rained so hard last night in San Francisco, that it woke me up, when I heard some sort of dripping happening somewhere over the bathroom. Yikes! Not looking forward to what that could mean. Anyway, I normally announce what I plan to cook for dinner the day before – just to get everyone excited about the menu. But sometimes I decide mid-day the day of, what I’ll be making for dinner – kind of like this soup – I am going to make less the slow cooker (since I don’t own one) INGREDIENTS 1 cup dry wild rice 1/2 sweet onion, diced 6 carrots, chopped 5 cups low-sodium veggie or chicken broth 1 cup dry white wine 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme + 3 thyme sprigs 2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 parmesan rind + 1/2 cup grated parmesan, plus more for serving 1 cup whole milk or heavy cream kosher salt and pepper 2 pounds mixed mushrooms, roughly torn 4 cloves garlic, smashed 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter zest from 1 lemon (more)