Chocolate Covered Strawberries Reinvented

Chocolate covered strawberries seems so cliche for Valentine's Day, but we all love them and use this day as excuse to enjoy them with someone we love.

So last year I decided to reinvent the chocolate covered strawberry for breakfast:

From scratch pancakes covered in fresh chopped strawberries, drizzled with homemade chocolate ganache, finished with fresh made vanilla whip cream and topped with crushed hazelnuts.

And what is breakfast without bacon???? Need to add a few slices for the perfect combo of sweet and savory. And don't forget the fresh pot of French Press coffee.

Of course this is not the romantic version of chocolate strawberries to shared in bed, but it is the perfect special breakfast for families(it has been kid tested and approved) or for the one you love.

Enjoy!

My New Kitchen is my Current Blank Canvas

The past year I made a few life changes and one of the being is buying my very first home. I must admit there are a lot of mix emotions that come with buying a home- anxiety, fear, excitement, frustration, patience and of course the pride of owning your own home.


But one of the most exciting aspects of my new home is that I am starting from scratch. I moved on from a relationship last year (also another BIG life change) and left everything behind except for my clothes and two dogs. I was told that is a typical female thing to do, where as men don’t care and will use whatever they have been left with. Whether that is true or not, I love the idea of making everything my own by starting fresh.

This includes my kitchen. It may be small, but it has brand new appliances, blank walls, empty drawers and cupboards. Meaning I need everything:

• plates

• silverware

• glasses

• coffee cups

• pans

• knives

• spices

• most importantly, wine opener and French Press

Those who know me well have already given me a wine glasses, wine opener and a French Press. I have purchased the knives after long consideration of what I need most on a small budget. The same will go for my pots and pans.

This has been my biggest challange what must haves that are quailty but in my small budget.

Then there is decorating! I have choosen my paint colors and a few ideas for the walls:


http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/making-a-pot-rack


http://www.sunset.com/home/decorating/great-ideas-for-home-shelves-00400000039111/page17.html

Once I am finished with my kitchen I will post what I put in as my must haves and how I made a small space fun.

Now all I need is to figure out which wall to paint Veuve Cliquet orange....

Junk Food, Beer and Funny Commercials....It Must Be Super Bowl Sunday!

First off, I must admit I am more of Boys of Summer fan than a football fan. I do have a favorite team, no matter how bad they are, but you wont find me sitting on a couch on Sunday with a beer watching football. Actually, that sentence almost doesn’t make sense because I could easily spend a Sunday afternoon on the couch with a beer.


Anyways, there are a few reasons I do enjoy Super Bowl Sunday and I think the biggest reason is that all gourmet, healthy and not-sure-if-that-is-food rules go out the door. It is the one day of the year I indulge in all of my favorite junk food- hot dogs, nachos, Twinkies (that’s right I said Twinkies), full sugar soda, chicken wings, just to name a few.

There is something comforting about big bowls of potato chips and popcorn that never goes empty no matter how much you eat. Or the never ending supply of bright orange nacho cheese for your chips or whatever you like to put it on...I'll admit I have drowned a few hot dogs in it.

Usually by half time, I am in a nacho cheese induced haze. Which is the perfect time for a break, especially since that is when the best commercials come on.

I have my sister and brother-in-law to thank for this tradition of junk food indulgence while enjoying a great time with family and friends. They started the tradition for us several years ago and still goes on today even it is just a few of us or full blown Super Bowl party.

So this Sunday enjoy your favorite junk foods reckless abandonment!

What is your dream junk food table for the Big Game?

Grilling Like Its Summer Time

Firing up the grill and enjoying a cold beer, love Spring weather. No, wait.... it's Winter in sunny California!

There are so many reasons I could never live outside of California and one of them is the weather. We have been so fortunate to have such amazing Spring like weather the past month (sorry East Coast).

While 1/3 of the Country is covered in snow and dealing with unbearable weather, we are basking in the sun. So why not fire up the grill and enjoy it!

Last week before I left for work I trimmed two pounds of skirt steak (be sure not to trim all of the fat) and created the following marinade for it bathe in while I was at work:

3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 a large or whole medium onion, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, smashed
2 rosemary sprigs
2 teaspoons of kosher salt
2 teaspoons of pepper

Simply mix all of the ingredients in a bowl except for rosemary. Place the steak, marinade and rosemary in large ziplock bag, remove as much air as possible, seal the bag and place in the fridge.

If you can,  rotate the bag through out the day.

When you get home, remove the steak from the fridge an hour before you are ready to grill (this insures an evenly cooked steak).

What I love about this marinade is that you can make it your own. Add whatever fresh herbs you have on hand or add pepper flakes for heat or extra garlic if you don't have a date.

So simple! You will have an amazing marinated steak waiting for you to grill when you get home from a long day. Enjoy any leftovers the following day in a sandwich or salad.

I like to take advantage of a hot grill for my veggies too. There are a lot of great winter veggies for the grill: squash, leeks, endive, just to name a few.

So get out there and grill!

P.S.- in honor of the 1/3 of the country stuck in the snow, I will post a yummy & easy chicken potpie recipe  soon.