Weekend Wishes

August 31, 2012 by Sarah

Go : shop those holiday sales

Have : a fabulous picnic

Eat : mint chocolate ice cream

Isn’t it crazy that Labor Day is here already? I hope you have some fun plans! Although it’s going to be a gorgeous weekend, I do hope to get some shopping in. After all, those holiday sales aren’t going to shop themselves. Picnicing seems to be a must for Labor Day, and I never tire of outdoor meals. Be sure to seize the opportunity to eat your favorite summer foods before the season ends. Summer to me is a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone (yes, the green version). What will you be eating?

2 Comments

Summer in the City: Desserts for Breakfast

August 30, 2012 by Sarah

This week, Stephanie, of Desserts for Breakfast, is here to share some Bay Area favorites. Her food photography and recipes with the most amazing flavor combinations make her blog one to remember. I love the premise of her site, since I am a big believer in eating dessert for breakfast!

I also want to mention that as summer comes to a close, it’s only fitting that our Summer in the City series ends as well. This will be the last installment, and we just want to give a huge thank you to all the participants! We hope you’ve discovered some great new blogs, and have started planning some trips to these great cities for next summer.

Favorite restaurant? This is such a difficult question, given how spoiled we are in the Bay Area by a plethora of excellent restaurants. Choosing one, I’d have to say Trattoria La Siciliana in Berkeley not only for its amazing Sicilian-inspired dishes that rival the food I had in Italy but also for its cozy, neighborhood atmosphere that makes you feel like part of one big Italian family.

Favorite savory dish? Salad to make and BBQ to eat. I’ve been particularly interested in non-traditional salads this summer made from whatever ingredients look best at the market on that day: last week, I made a to-die-for fresh corn, yellow nectarine, and Italian parsley salad–so refreshingly sweet, seasonal, and satisfyingly crunchy.

Favorite sweet? Ice cream! –actually, that might just be my never-changing favorite year-long sweet not specific to summer.

Drink of choice? Anything with lemon really gets me in the summer–lemonade, Arnold Palmers, ice water with a few slices of fresh lemon. My herb garden has been doing quite well this summer, so I’ve been making a variety of lemon-herb syrups (a favorite so far being lemon + mint) to mix with sparkling water for homemade sodas.

Favorite Bay Area summer activity? Watching the fog roll in from the Pacific over the hilltops at sunset. There’s something so romantic about that image that I can’t get tired of it.

A favorite summer recipe? Forcing me to pick favorites is just torture! but if I must… my favorite recipe this summer (so far!) has been peach frozen yogurt and basil snickerdoodle sandwiches. They’re a surprising twist on the nostalgic ice cream sandwich form–and peach frozen yogurt makes you feel so much less guilty when you’re licking every last drop off your fingers at the end!

Thanks, Stephanie!

Image Credits: Profile via Toni Gauthier, Trattoria, salad, ice cream, lemonade, fog

1 Comment

Coming to CC this fall…

August 29, 2012 by

You guys, we have been cooking up something big this summer, and I’m so excited to finally tell you all about it! A few months back I got coffee with Jen, a fellow event planner and blogger in NYC. We got to chatting, and started discussing potential collaborations. As an entertaining whiz, Jen is an expert when it comes to hosting amazing parties and gatherings- even in the tiniest of spaces. For a long time I have wanted to bring more of my event planning skills to the blog, but didn’t really have the time to do it on my own. But with two minds at it, everything seemed more possible!

Our goal was simple. We wanted to show people that you can host a great party even in the tiniest of spaces and on a small budget, and we wanted to show them exactly how to do it. We wanted to show a variety of spaces so folks could easily apply it to their own life (so you don’t only have to live in NYC), and give them the tools to make it happen- down to the recipes and event prep timeline! And lastly, we wanted to do it in a way that allowed people to truly work with what they had and not be forced to buy anything.

So we came up with four parties to hold and shoot.We’ll be sharing photos and downloadable planning tools for each party across the next four months. The first one goes up next Tuesday, September 4th, so get excited ! It’s gonna be awesome.

Now, let me introduce you to Jen so you can get to know her a bit better.

What’s your philosophy when it comes to entertaining? There are no rules. As a host it can be easy to get caught up in the details. I do my best to plan ahead, but as soon as the party begins I grab a glass of wine and try to set the tone for the evening. If I am relaxed and having a good time, so will my guests.

What do you want people to remember when they feel nervous or apprehensive about hosting a party? You don’t have to make everything from scratch. Keep it simple and focus on what you enjoy. If you love making desserts, order in dinner and make your favorite cookie recipe. Start out small, invite just one friend over for dinner after work and take the time to set the table. Just because you order in, doesn’t mean you can’t dress it up.

What’s your goal with this series? I hope to ease that initial anxiety people might have about entertaining at home. It doesn’t take a perfect set of dishes, or an actual dining room for that matter, to still feel comfortable entertaining your friends and family.

Isn’t she spot on? Be sure to check back here next Tuesday for the first edition of the series…small hint- it involves a rooftop!

Top photo by John Dolan

3 Comments

Pulled Chicken Tacos

August 27, 2012 by

I dream of the day I can make a true red or green chili sauce, or an actual molé. Until then, I’ll continue on in my faux Mexican food state. And besides, who can resist tacos, in any form?

When we spent the weekend in Rocky Point a few weeks back, and feasted on some of the best tacos of my life, I was reminded that it had been ages since I made tacos at home.  I don’t like to have to do a lot of work when it comes to tacos and the whole dry meat, pre-shredded cheese, and chopped up iceberg thing doesn’t really do it for me. So I came up with these- a super flavorful and hearty taco filling that fulfills that meaty craving but with the addition of black beans, corn straight from the cob, a ton of spices, and a little cream cheese and shredded jack  folded in to bring it all together. Confession- the filling is delicious, but I really just use my tacos as a vehicle to eat pickled jalapeños and sour cream (as if that wasn’t clear from these photos). Get on it!

Pulled Chicken Tacos

Makes 12 tacos

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 large chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • kernels from 2 cobs of corn
  • 3 jalapeños, minced (ribbing and seeds removed on just one if you like it spicy!)
  • 1 spanish onion, diced
  • 3 large cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 4 tablespoons cream cheese
  • 1 cup shredded jack cheese
  • 10 tacos shells
  • more cheese, hot sauce, pickled jalapenos, and sour cream for serving

Poach the chicken: Place the chicken in a large pot, cover by one inch with water or chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower to barely a simmer, and simmer- partially covered, for 10 minutes. Turn off heat, and let rest in water for 5 more minute. Remove from water, let cool, and shred into small pieces.

Set a large heavy bottomed pot to medium heat. Add in the vegetable oil and onion and sauté until slightly softened. Add in the garlic, jalapeños, and spices, and sauté until onions and jalapeños are very soft, stirring occasionally (total cooking time will be 15-20 minutes) . Stir in the beans, corn, tomatoes, the cilantro and chicken and cook until heated through and bubbling slightly. Fold in the cream cheese and jack cheese and remove from the heat.

Prepare taco shells according to package directions. Fill tacos shells with meat and desired toppings. Meat will last up to 5 days and fridge and can be frozen up to 1 month.

5 Comments

Weekend Wishes

August 25, 2012 by Sarah

Wear : this Madewell dress

Go : to the farmer’s market 

Eat : breakfast at the market (this means baklava for me!)

Happy Weekend! It doesn’t get any better than a perfect summer Saturday. Do you go to your local farmer’s market at all? I have to say, I love going to mine, and actually try to go every week. This weekend will be no different, and an extra incentive is that, in addition to produce, they have other vendors as well. This means I end up eating baklava and Turkish coffee for breakfast- definitely the best part! What are your plans this weekend?

Leave a Comment

Cape Cod Bound!

August 24, 2012 by

{Me circa early 1990s- rockin’ the bangs}

Happy Friday, friends! I haven’t been this excited for the end of  the week in a while. Tomorrow morning, bright and early, my mom and I are hitting the road for Cape Cod! For Mother’s Day this year I surprised her with a week long mother daughter beach vacay. We’ve been waiting anxiously since May and now the departure date has finally arrived. I’m so excited for a week of sun, swimming, tons of seafood, lots of reading, and some serious unplugging. On my current reading list- Gone Girl, Wild, and The Happiness Project. Have any other recs? Definitely send them my way.

I’ve left you with a few amusing pics of my family’s beach vacations as a kid. I’ll be stepping away from the blog next week, but have lots of great posts lined up. Have a great one and see you in September! xx

{From a previous trip to the Cape- strapped a snorkel mouthpiece to my brother’s head, buried his head in the sand, and proceeded to pour lemonade down the mask tube. We were creative kids.}

{My brother and mom- too cute not to include!}

2 Comments

Summer in the City: Vmac & Cheese

August 23, 2012 by Sarah

Victoria, and her lovely blog, Vmac & Cheese, are a constant source of inspiration, and we’re so happy to have her be a part of this series. She’s quite an expert on San Francisco, and even holds a culinary degree! Be sure to check out her blog for great lifestyle tips, and don’t miss her genius new series, ‘The Man Behind the Blog.’

Favorite restaurant? This is like asking me what my favorite color is — I can think of an answer, and then it almost immediately changes! For a nice meal out, I love going to Kokkari, which serves unbelievable Greek food (with fantastic service to boot). On a typical Friday night, you might find us atBistro Aix, a small neighborhood bistro we’ve come to adore, or at any number of Mexican restaurants in the city. Mexican is our fave! Who can say no to a good margarita?

Favorite savory dish? Anything with tomatoes. I eat them raw, with just a bit of olive oil and seasoning; in salads, tossed with cheese, cucumbers, and fresh basil; roasted, and served alongside meats and veggies… I just can’t get enough of them this time of year!

Favorite sweet? Ice cream. Preferably peach. Though you can never find it. Peach ice cream just reminds me of my childhood, when we’d make it fresh out on my grandma’s back patio in the summertime.

Drink of choice? I mean, no surprise here, but a margarita. I drink them year round, though. I also love to drink rose in the summer!

Favorite San Francisco summer activity? Well, summers in SF are notoriously chilly — in fact, they’re often colder than the winter months. But when the weather is nice, it’s always great to get out and see a baseball game, go for a hike in Muir Woods, or head up to Napa where (luckily!) the seasons are more regular, and you’re guaranteed some hot temps.

What is one of your go-to recipes? In the summer months, I love making ‘green chicken.’ It’s my fiance’s fave too. You simply chop a ton of basil and garlic together, then mix in olive oil and seasoning until the mixture is super thick. Smear it under the skin of a whole chicken — and all over the top too — then roast. It’s so fragrant, and delicious, and deceptively easy. I like to serve it with a salad made from fresh corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and kale. I also like making ratatouille; for me, it’s not summer until I’ve made a batch! Last year I made a baked version that’s especially delicious.

Thanks Victoria! A girl after my own heart with a love of Mexican food, and year-round margaritas. Yet another reason to go to San Francisco!

Image Credits: Bistro Aix, tomatoes, peach ice cream, margarita, Muir Woods

Leave a Comment

Plate to Pixel Part VI: Hard Light vs. Soft Light

August 22, 2012 by

Lighting is sort of my scary topic when it comes to taking photos of my food, so I’m going to be taking this part of the Plate to Pixel series nice and slow! I’m only just beginning to actually understand how it works. When I first started shooting, I thought all light was good. The brighter the better, right? Hmmm… so very wrong. Photos taken right next to the window on a bright sunny day would feel weird, but photos taken on cloudy days came out beautifully and had that soft glow I wanted. What was that about?

Hard light and soft light. On those really bright days, I was trying to shoot in direct sunlight- a common example of hard light. Hard light produces harsh shadows and high contrasts, as you can see in picture of the dough below. This was taken directly next to the window.

Soft light is generally indirect or diffused (more on diffusion later). In this second picture,  the bread was placed on the other side of the room ,much farther away from the window, allowing it to illuminate the subject much more gently. The light could have even been better diffused by placing a thin sheet across the window, but in comparison to the shot above, the lighting feels gentle and smooth.

Soft light isn’t necessarily better than hard and vice versa. The important thing (and the thing I need to get better at!) is to think about the feeling you want the food to project. Hard light can have a dramatic effect, reflecting a more moody feel, and soft light communicates a sense of comfort and warmth.   So the question becomes, what do you want the food to say?

As we shift into fall and the hours of daylight begin to shorten (agony for food bloggers!), I’m going to try to use this as an opportunity to not only get better at manipulating light, but start thinking about how to use the light to actually reflect the feeling of the food or meal. First step? Setting up a beginner’s ‘photo studio’ with some DIY light reflectors and diffusers. I’ll show you how I did it in September! In the mean time, if there are any other food photography topics you’re itching for me to cover in the series- I’d love to hear!  I’d like to be able to implement them into the series.

Oh and this bread? So, so good. Recipe here.

For all Plate to Pixel posts, I’ve referenced Helene Dujardin’s book Plate to Pixel.

7 Comments

Setting the Table: Garden Brunch

August 21, 2012 by Sarah

This past weekend, the fact that fall is coming finally hit me. The cool breezes, extra leaves on the ground, and even tiniest hint of color are all too much to ignore. Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you to embrace the changing seasons. If anything, I’m all for doing the opposite. It’s my first year not heading back to school at the end of August, which conveniently makes it that much easier to blissfully disregard what the calendar is implying. So, go on and start planning your next outdoor party, and cross a few more items off your summer bucket list, while you’re at it.

I love that brunch is the perfect low-stress way to entertain, and it comes with the best food and drinks. A dutch baby pancake with orange sugar is easy and impressive- all you need in a brunch dish. Grapefruit cocktails extend the citrus theme, and are a touch more original than the predictable mimosa. At least you can pretend that you’re dining in the middle of an orange grove.

1. chair, 2. plate, 3. pot, 4. glass, 5. votive holder

Image Credits: table, flowers, cocktail, pancake

Leave a Comment

Three Summer Mocktails and Cocktails!

August 20, 2012 by

When The Evergirl asked me last month for food feature topics for August, my mind immediately went to homemade summer beverages. I rarely drink regular soda, but love when I’m at a restaurant and there’s a zesty homemade soda. So I set out to create three homemade sodas and sparkling beverages.  That translated into a Sweet & Sour Peach Spritzer, a zesty Homemade Lemon Lime Soda, and a Rosé Sparkler. Yeah- this is gonna be good. You can hop over to The Evergirl to get the recipes for the Lemon Lime Soda and Rosé Sparkler. I’m gonna give ya the back story on this peach spritzer.

Back in July, Brandon and I got dinner at Pok Pok Wing (think Southeast Asian pub food). When we were ordering a noticed a handful of drinking vinegars on the menu. As someone who can’t resist a sweet and sour combo (never give me a bag of Sour Patch kids), I was seriously intrigued. We got the pomegranate one. It was amazing. I was determined to recreate the drink at home.

After a little research, I discovered that making drinking vinegars requires soaking fruit in rice wine vinegar for three to five days. This creates a syrup which you then add a bit of sugar and seltzer to. Simple enough, but I was hoping I could create a drink that didn’t take five days. So I experimented, and a little lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and peach nectar later- we had a winner! I’d still like to make the traditional version, but this recipe is great if you’re short on time and looking for a homemade beverage or cocktail (I’d recommend vodka) to entertain with. Enjoy!

Sweet & Sour Peach Spritzer

Serves 6

  • 2 cups peach nectar
  • 1 bottle sparkling water
  • 3 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 ripe peach, sliced
  • fresh mint for garnish

Fill each glass with 1/3 cup peach nectar, ½ cup sparkling water, ½ a teaspoon lemon juice, and ½ a teaspoon apple cider vinegar. Stir gently, garnish with fresh mint and 2 sliced peaches per glass. Serve immediately. Make it happy hour friendly and add 1 ounce of vodka in each glass!

6 Comments
«Older Posts