(photo via Fork and Vine)

Since it’s Friday and all I thought I would post about my new favorite drink, the Moscow Mule. It was invented in the 40s in NY  but was most popular here in LA. My favorite one I’ve had so far was at Ink where it came in the copper mug and all (what it’s supposed to go in). Here is a recipe to recreate your own, I also like little mint in mine as well. Happy Friday!

1 half lime

2 oz of Vodka

4-6oz of Ginger beer, preferably homemade or Cock’n Bull or D&G Old Jamaica brands

Squeeze lime into Collins glass (or copper mug) and drop in half lime. Add 2 or 3 large ice cubes, then pour in the vodka and fill with cold ginger beer. Serve with a stirring rod.

(Dinner from last week: Trader Joe’s Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup with toast and creme fraiche +  healthy salad)

I’ve been enjoying fabulous salads at home lately and I felt the need to share with you all how to step up your salad game. I broke it down into steps so that you too can enjoy a wonderful (nutrient packed) salad at home. After all, we’re all trying to eat a little healthier since it’s the new year right? Enjoy! (if food or healthy food isn’t your thing just click “outfits” over there —> for your fashion pleasure).

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(photo from Yelp)

My favorite pass time is going out to eat. I love the experience of tasting new food, trying new cocktails, the art of cooking, and the overall ambiance of a restaurant. I also love hearing about new places to try and adding places to try to my Bookmark’s list on Yelp (no, they didn’t pay me to write this). I thought It’d be fun to share what I have bookmarked. A lot of them have been open for a while now but I haven’t been able to make it to them yet. Enjoy and feel free to share your own!

1. Yatai Asian Tapas Bar ($$): Forgetting that I went here for my friends birthday a few years ago, I bookmarked this restaurant recently. I still want to go back to try it again now that I like more foods than I did when I went for the birthday. This restaurant is exactly what it says: an Asian tapas bar with sushi, lobster, steak…you name it…it’s in tapas form with delicious flavors.

2. Picca ($$$): I found this one from Cupcakes and Cashemere. Picca is a Peruvian Cantina with a Japanese flair. The menu makes my mouth water every time I read it, such as tiradito de atun: tuna, soy ceviche dressing, sweet potato paste. Picca means “to nibble” which is the perfect way to describe the way they serve their food.

3. The Bazaar ($$$$): This one is for that time where I’m a millionaire and can casually spend bank on a meal. Orrrrr for an anniversary or birthday. José Andrés is an amazing Spanish chef who brought his love for nuclear gastronomy to the states and took us by storm. I’ve eaten at his more casual restaurant in the Cosmo in Vegas called Jaleo and if it’s anything like that restaurant sign me up.

4. Son of a Gun + Animal ($$$): Both of these restaurants are owned by the same people. Animal has been around for a little while now and Son of a Gun opened last year. Both the small plate type of place, Animal is meat based and Son of a Gun is seafood based. I want both.

5. Salt’s Cure ($$): Why Salt’s Cure? The sentence on their homepage says it all “every meal at salt’s cure proudly sources ingredients grown & raised in california, all of which are carefully butchered & crafted in house.”

6. Cleo ($$$): Cleo is inside the newly established hotel, The Redbury on Vine. It’s vast menu has me wanting to try one of each, Not to mention the inside is filled with deep woods and dark tones which makes for a relaxing meal.

7. The Varnish ($$): The Varnish is a bar located in downtown with a speakeasy vibe and yummy cocktails made from fresh ingredients. It was opened by 213 Nightlife who are also responsible for 7 Grand (a whiskey bar) and The Golden Gopher (a fun bar with a jukebox and games), so you know it’s a good time.

My favorite day of the year is, surprisingly, not my birthday or Christmas but the day when I receive the Thanksgiving issue of Bon Appetit magazine. I sit on the couch, light a candle,  sip on coffee, tea or wine (whichever I’m feeling) and read that sucker page by page. After I’ve studied it, I make my menu. It usually combines old recipes with new because I’ve found a few winners that I just can’t let go of (cough..my turkey….cough). This year I have so much going on I found myself not getting as excited as I usually do but low and behold this week I got into it. I kept my menu super simple this year (as stated in my last post) because my family all has to leave early and my week is filled with Penelope’s Vintage photo shoots. As they aways say on the cooking competition shows..simple is better so I used that as my inspiration this year. I decided to take simple recipes i.e. mashed potatoes and perfect them. I’m also keeping dessert a little light this year by poaching apples in red wine and laying them atop a pillow of creamy vanilla yogurt. yum. Here is my menu for this year….

Appetizer

a cheese board with olives and fig spread with crackers

Warm spiced apple cider

The Main Event

Turkey with bacon herb butter (my tradition)

Homemade cranberry sauce

Wild mushroom and spinach stuffing (my secret ingredient: mushroom broth instead of chicken broth)

Mashed potatoes with Gruyere cheese (I’m keeping it simple this year and trying to achieve the simplicity of the fluffiest taters imaginable)

Gravy (again, keeping it simple but instead of using flour im going to puree the veggies that roasted with the turkey and add it to stock with a little bit of white wine. Idea courtesy of Anne Burrell)

Roasted brussel sprouts (I usually make a hash but I’m trying to make things easy on myself so I’m roasting these pups with nutmeg, olive oil,and a little bit of brown sugar)

Sweet Potatoes (the aunt’s bringing this one)

Dessert

Poached apples with vanilla yogurt  

Pumpkin banana mousse tart with Bourbon whipped cream

coffee (of course)

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! Feel free to share any recipes you have made as well! <3

Member how I was talking about my new favorite show, Simply Baking with Lorraine Pascale? Well here is another winner from her recipe collection. They are called Cookies and Cream brownies and they could not be any more scrumptious. They are a different type of brownie, more of a fudge like texture but lighter than any other brownies I’ve had. They are rich in flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. I highly suggest you try them because you won’t be disappointed. Here is the recipe. Happy Monday!