All posts filed under: Gourmet Cooking & Recipes

Travel: San Francisco’s North Beach Restaurant Guide

Published by

I love living in San Francisco and exploring through the different neighborhoods to find the new it place to dine or a store to check out. But one thing I appreciate is the familiarity and consistency of North Beach, the traditional Italian neighborhood that always puts a smile on face, for staying the way it is for decades and hopefully not getting sucked into the modern take or transition to the city that is taking place in the last five plus years. Knowing October is the best time to visit my city, I found this helpful site that lists the best eateries in North Beach for the wonderful tourists that are planning a trip here. {featured photo credit}

Food: Chicken and Cauliflower Rice

Published by

I bought a package of cauliflower Rice at Trader Joe’s over the weekend, determined  to make a spectacular dish out of it. Because the last time I bought the rice variation, it didn’t turn out so well when I sautéed it with a bit of olive oil. So naturally, I turned to my favorite foody site here, and found the best recipe imaginable for Apricot (my favorite) chicken and cauliflower rice dish…and folks, I am on it. In the meantime, I figured I better share it with all of you, just in case we are all on the same page about the apricots, chicken, and cauliflower rice, and wine of course 🙂 {photo and recipe credit click here}

Food: Fresh Fruit Delight

Published by

I eat summer fruits in abundance, and although I enjoy every bite of the fresh ones, I sometimes crave the cooked version. To me cooked tastes better than the ripened ones. Just yesterday I bought fresh peaches from Trader Joe, and sliced up two for a snack while I watched a film I planned to review. My face soured at the thought of them being so flavorless. So I told the hubs I planned to cook the rest of them and he gave me the side eye. Wait until he comes home tonight and sees me indulging in this bit of fresh fruit cooked to perfection plus pecans (my favorite), and oh the Crème fraîche, which the recipe recommends, and of course I won’t argue about as an advocate for healthy eating ;). But if you insist, you can replace the creme for plain yogurt of course. I simply won’t be doing that in this case (I have a weakness for Crème fraîche) and know this particular dessert would taste best that way. Here is the recipe, …

Food: Cauliflower Tacos…Need I Brag More

Published by

Cauliflower, something I’ve eaten in variation all my life,  has become a trend in recent years for those seeking health conscious diets.  And yes, I use cauliflower as a replacement for rice as a side dish, sandwich fill instead of the salami I used to devour at least once a week, and as a snack with yogurt dip. And now….as filing for tacos… summer or not, this is added to my menu. Check out the recipe here. And you know what is the best part. It’s so easy to make.

Cocktails, Board Games and Comfy Sweats

Published by

This year we’ve decided to stay home for New Year’s Eve. Actually, let me re-state. We will drive up to near Tahoe and stay indoors with family and friends. Mostly in our sweats, experimenting with a variety of drinks each one of us were asked to make this year for the group. Board games a must, trying to stay away from all things electronic as much as possible. (Let’s see if it will work) The part about staying off our smart-phones. Anyway, I found a list of drinks I’d like to make and just in case you are planning the same sort of celebration, mostly welcoming the new year within the comfort of your own home – then feel free to explore these and many more options:  

Food: Anytime Swedish Meatballs

Published by

I know you are wondering what am I doing posting a recipe for Swedish Meatballs two days before the Thanksgiving Feast most of us Americans will embark on – controversial or not – the holiday has now become a day to give thanks for family and friends. Besides that bit of information, I wanted to bring an unusual dish to the family gathering two hours drive inland from  San Francisco, where I will be spending the weekend with my family. This recipe caught my attention, and I figured why not Swedish meatballs, for that in-between the hearty breakfast and the wholesome dinner snack, or a meal by itself. {photo and recipe credit-click here}    

Recipe: Zucchini Oat Cake For Breakfast

Published by

This the season I crave more substance, not feeling salads or just boiled eggs, a slice of chicken. I need comfort food mostly saturday mornings,  a piece of toast perfectly spread with Mascarpone and Cherry Jam, a slice of lemon cake from Starbucks paired with a warm cup of tea, while I type away my next novel. In light of my craving, I stumbled upon this cake, surely including many healthy ingredients, so I don’t feel so guilty devouring a slice and yes with my favorite English breakfast tea infused with a cinnamon stick.

healthy eats: lentil, yogurt and prosciutto

Published by

Some night, well mostly Friday nights, I prefer an array of appetizer-sort eats  paired with a bottle of my favorite cab, than a full meal. It’s my way of winding down. I pick a film or two on Netflix, organize the appetizers and uncork the bottle…and I have to tell you I couldn’t ask for a better evening. Here’s a recipe of one appetizer I have put together way before finding it online. Except, I keep the yogurt in a separate bowl, drizzle it with olive oil and mint, the prosciutto on a platter with olives and cheese, and the lentil I buy pre-cooked, and shrink-wrapped from Trader Joe, seasoning it exactly as it says here. It’s funny how great chefs think alike. 🙂 How do you wind down? What is your favorite fun appetizer recipe?   {source credit}