Remembering a good friend

Breakfast at the Coffee Cup

Taco Mesa

One of the best things Orange County has to offer. They got a paint job recently, I hardly recognized it in ballet-slipper Pink. Worth going to 19th Street in Costa Mesa just for this gourmet taco shop. 

 I was so hungry, I only took one pic of the food. Next time.. mañana...

They know how to do hot carrots.
There's even cauliflower in there!

Christmas Enchiladas

Bueller?

Holiday party on the boat

Cider Pork Roast with Apple-Thyme Gravy

with cheesy mashed red potatoes. Made in the crock pot, easy and delicious. And bonus, now I have Calvados in my cabinet for future use. This recipe is from MyRecipes.com.

Stolen Mojo

Wine in then 'hood

So glad there's a quaint little wine tasting room in my 'hood! And they serve Estrella draft for when you're all wined out. Will need to make this a regular stop.

Willmore

Delicious porter, because it's winter!

When it gets cold outside, my beer preference changes significantly to something heartier and more flavorful. Lately, holiday "celebration" ales, porters and stouts just taste so good!

This pic just makes me thirsty

Old weeknight favorite

Rosemary Pork with Roasted Brussels

NYC Queens

We stayed with our friends in Queens for a couple days after Sandy. Glad we got to know their hood a bit, there's a little India closeby.

late night sammy's at Sammy's

NYC more secret bars

Employees Only. There's a good chance you won't find this one, even if you know what you're looking for.

NYC eats drinks

NYC 2012

New York City! I different kind of a vacation than I had planned (thanks Hurricane Sandy). But we were safe, so were friends and family. So we made the best of it!
At Dutch Kills in Queens.

Fall

It's decorative gourd season

gumbo

Green beans partially cooked and done for the day!

One down, one to go

Sent from my iPhone

I'm at..

Apple Crisp

Well, I've lost my edge. Apple crisp is a deceptively easy recipe, that I have now botched for a second time. I used to make this all the time with ease, but I guess not baking often means I forgot some techniques/definitions, etc. BUT at least I think I know the problem... While mixing together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and butter, I didn't let the butter get soft enough to really coat all the dry bits before throwing it in the oven. Instead I used cold hard butter (what you would use to make a nice flaky quiche crust), but not a lovely crumble. The apple crisp turned out very dry on the crumble top part leaving it a crispy, less flavorful crunchy "crust." Bummer.
I will try again this fall though, because it's just too shameful for me to make a so-so dessert. Anyway check out the neat pictures!

Before

After

LBC urban day hike

Chicken pizzaiola with fresh basil and roasted cauliflower

by the way, what the heck is this sticking/curling out of the interior of the bell pepper?

Making salsa with peppers from the Nicolle's garden

Barbecued smoked brisket