NEW URL, FOLLOW HERE

It is with some sadness, and much elation, that I announce my semi successful transition to owning my own URL. That is right, Miss A owns the rights to http://thingsimakeinmykitchen.com/

NEW WEBPAGE URL 

That being said, many of you have probably seen the dismal state of my blog rencently. I have been trying to transition everything over to the new space smoothly and have hit a lot of road blocks. It is still a work in progress, as some things did not format over well. BUT... I implore you to please support and follow me on the new page.

I appreciate all of you who come to read my blog, and I promise you new recipes and a much more beautiful webpage. Thank you again.

Jam of the Day

You know those days when your Pandora radio is just playing EVERYTHING you want to hear...
Ya... its happening this morning as I clean my house after the rain thwarted by hiking plans. There are a few stations I turn to when I want to ensure a good dance session around my living room. Sister Nancy. Britney Spears. Gypsy Kings. Nsync (don't knock it till you try it)... and my favorite right now.... Destiny's Child.

Its a good day to be a girl. I love this video too. Reminds me of nights with wine and The Sweetest Thing in college with my roommates.

Destiny's Child "Girl"

The Foundry on Melrose

There are a few places in LA that hold me back from trying something new, simply because I know I will always get a fabulous meal. The Foundry, by Eric Greenspan, is one of those places. 

Last night, I got some fabulous news. I began an internship with Lakersnation.com a few weeks ago doing editorial pieces for their blog. I was told yesterday that I got bumped up, and am now a news aggregator, who will write news stories for the blog EVERY DAY. Talk about intense pressure... oh ya... and I start Thursday. GAH! The point is, I deserved to go out to a fabulous dinner, and after looking for a few new places to try, Cellar 55 being booked (I haven't been, and have wanted to for a long time), I went back to one of my first loves, The Foundry. 

I know what you are thinking; why eat the same food again? Ah ha!! Well let me tell you why last night was as exciting as my first night to eat at this wonderful place. The Foundry completely redid their menu. The only thing that remains is the Classics, most of which I have had, which leaves me to a whole 4/5 of a menu not tried. Mmmmm.... Another thing, the Foundry, even in the way it used to be, always changes it up. There are times you go, and they just start passing out samples of things they are testing in the kitchen. The "bread" you get at your table is always something new. Mini biscuits with honey butter. Puffed dough something or other. Last night, it was this delicious salted poppyseed thing that was a mix between a roll and a biscuit served simply with butter. It was divine.

Guinness Beer Bread with Scallion Cream Cheese

One of my favorite St. Patty's Day treats is the Guinness Chocolate Cake I make. A number of people in my office this year gave up sweets for Lent, so I had to come up with something else to treat them. Back in college, my old roommate showed me how to make beer bread for the first time and it was this crusty, hoppy delicious bread. How perfect! To keep up with the Irish theme, I opted to use Guinness for my beer and include some Cheddar. The one thing that was missing was the green... Ah ha! A spread.... I am thinking....Cream Cheese with scallions! Overall, a perfect breakfast treat for my office, and a perfect treat for your St. Patty's Day celebrations!

This bread is so simple. Essentially, you have 3 steps. Dry ingredients. Add Guinness. Add cheese. That's it. Well, and baking it... but I guess that is a given.

*Guinness can be an intense beer, so I looked up a recipe to make sure I was not over doing the flavor. The first time I made beer bread, it was with a Bud Light. My recipe is an adaptation of The Kitchn's Cheddar and Chive Guinness Bread.*

Bread
4 1/8 cups flour
6 tbs granulated sugar
1 1/2 tbs baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
18 ounces Guinness
1 cup grated Irish Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup melted butter

Spread
2, 8oz packages cream cheese
5-7 stalks green onion

Green Spinach Smoothie

Yes... I am pureeing vegetables. And drinking them. And I LOVE IT!

I have to admit, I am stealing this recipe from my dad. He started a whole bunch of smoothies and other health conscious items for the yoga-pant-wearing-but-I-never-work out- moms in Los Angeles for his cafe. I've mentioned it before, but I am going to hawk it again. Its called Cafe Midi and its so good. The green smoothie he makes though, is phenominal. I make it and drink it at least 2 times a week. And when you aren't feeling quiet yourself, this is what you need to drink.

1 cup ice
1 banana
1 1/2 cups spinach (baby spinach works best)
1 cup lemonade (not from concentrate)

This recipe is simple... throw it all in the blender. Well sort of. Place a whole banana into the bottom of your blender.

I Will Never Eat at Panda Express Again

Oh how I wish this photo said UCLA

After countless times just dealing with the TERRIBLE establishment that is Panda Express at UCLA, I have had enough. I wrote a lovely Yelp review, and wrote to the general manager. But I don't honestly think she will respond. The thing is, I know I am not the only person who can't stand the way these employees treat their customers. So Dear Ms. Royo... here is my "love letter" to you.

"That is the last time I get food at Panda. And I am going to recommend everyone in my office not to go either. After the countless times I have seen your employees not know how to do their job properly, today just took the cake.

There are 6 people in line... 6. And on days when the line reaches past 30, maybe I am more understandable. I stood there watching the woman behind the counter, not doing the rice and chow-mein, but scooping your food, be completely rude to everyone she interacted with. For one, this girl asked for a taste of something while she was waiting to get a bowl. I watched your employee give it to her, then neglect her as the girl stood there while she served 3 people. And when the girl finally spoke up, the server snapped "what?"... like her customer was inconveniencing her. This is the same lady that on a number of times has given me the wrong items. And every time she has gotten mad at me when I have told her about her mistake. The thing is, I get the EXACT SAME THING every single time, 2-3 times a week, so I know I am not the one being confusing.

The lady scooping rice today looked new. I asked her to try the Kobari Beef. Well, she pretty much man handled my sample, which already made me not want to eat it, and so poorly applied to the toothpick it instantly fell on me and the counter. She saw this happen, didn't care, and kept asking people what they wanted. I stood there, like she may say something. Maybe apologize and give me another sample. Nope. Honestly she could give a shit.

Leftover Reinvention: Roasted Vegetable and Chicken Pasta Bake

Its that time again. Where I show you what delicious things you can make from stuff laying around in your pantry. Honestly, this is my favorite thing to do. I love puzzles... in fact... I played chess extensively growing up. Google me; you will find my Chess Federation records. That is right; number one nerd.

"Pantry Shopping" as I like to call it is taking things you have laying around, and getting inventive. For me, when I shop, I buy certain staples that I like to eat a lot. I imagine that you do much of the same. But, sometimes I see something funky, something I haven't tried before, and I buy it. Eventually, I use it and most of the time its when I am Pantry Shopping. This post is a also leftover reinvention because I had chicken breast and roasted vegetables from my dad's cafe leftover. 

2 cooked chicken breasts (mine were grilled)
3 cups roasted vegetables
500 g dry pasta
1 carton/ can condensed cream of mushroom soup
12 ounces goat cheese
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil

The first thing to a pasta bake is to get the pasta going. You want to cook it to almost done. This is because you are baking it in a sauce in the oven, which will further cook the pasta. The last thing you want is mushy grains. Yuck.

Spicy Black Bean Tex Mex Pizza

Summer is coming, meaning more sun, beach, and barbeques. In anticipation of the bright weather we are about to have, I bring you my vegetarian Tex Mex pizza.

1 pizza crust
1 can black beans (I like to get a can of cuban style black beans)
2 tbs BBQ sauce
1 tbs minced garlic
1/4 cup corn kernels
1/4 a red onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, sliced into strips
1 jalapeno
12 ounces Mexican Cheese blend

To start, its important to let your pizza crust sit in the counter and rise. Once it has had time to rise a bit, place cornmeal on your pizza stone and work your crust into a circular shape. Place the crust on the stone, ready to add the toppings. Our base for this pizza is the black bean mixture. First, pour the beans out of the can into a bowl and crush them.

Next, add the BBQ sauce and the minced garlic.

Pac-12 Tourney Update

UCLA defeated USC yesterday, continuing us on into the Pac-12 Tournament.

We play Arizona today at 2:30pm. Luckily, one of their starters is suspended, Josiah Turner. All in all, it is going to be a tough matchup. If you want to watch it on TV, the tournament is being hosted by Fox Sports Network.

Its a good day to be a BRUIN!!!

Jam of the Day

A few months ago a friend of mine convinced me to get a Livingsocial deal with her to an introductory Burlesque dance workshop. I was, a bit nervous, but thought it could be great fun to try something new. And low and behold, it was amazing. Plus it was a great workout. Standing on my toes and doing isometrics really made my booty and legs hurt the next day.

My instructor Natasha was wonderful. I was super nervous going into the class, but by the end of it she had made us all feel really great about our dancing ability and our femininity. The last segment of dance we did was to this insane remix of "Whatever Lola Wants". It has been playing nonstop in my head for the past 2 days. Determined, I searched online until I found the song...

Here is "Whatever Lola Wants" Remix. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

For more information on Hells Belles Burlesque, click HERE.

Pac-12 Tournament 2012

It has begun... The month of MADNESS! This is my favorite time of the year, but also my busiest. Sorry about the post lag. I do have 2 recipes done and ready to post.... I just keep forgetting my darn camera cord to upload photos. I promise, end of this week. Promise Promise.

But back to March Madness. College Basketball, to me, had a hedge over the NBA. For one, the students, cheerleaders, and band add a dimension to college basketball you can't get in the NBA. Its the excitement of seeing a whole school all in their colors rallying behind a team. And trust me, these games would not be the same without the fans and students that come to support. Its the UCLA Den (student section) with their unique cheers, the Yell Crew holding up signs to get the crowd going, and the band playing traditional songs everyone can sing and dance to. Second, the players tend to play more with their hearts, as they don't have millions of dollars in the bank to fall back on. This adds to the elation of winning and the utter heart break of losing. Because you see, one loss in your division tournament means you are out. There are no 7 game play offs... you have ONLY. ONE. SHOT.

 The Pac-12 Tournament starts tomorrow with UCLA seeded #5 and playing USC. And man, what a way to start off our tournament than playing out rivals. This should definitely pump us up for the rest of the week and hopefully propel us to an awesome victory. This season stats against USC: Game #1, UCLA defeats USC 66 to 47. Game #2, UCLA defeats USC 64 to 54. The Bruins are without a doubt favored to win this game, but USC really has nothing to lose. And playing against a team like that, with the right motivation, can sometimes knock out top contenders. All in all though, I have faith in my Bruins. Lazeric Jones and David Wear received All Pac-12 honors this past week, and Lazeric was also named the Pac-12's Player of the Week last week. The Bruins have a lot to be proud about.

If you want to catch the Bruins on TV, all games will be broadcast on FSN.

Let's Go Bruins!!!

Jam of the Day

Happy Hump day everyone. This is the day we all look forward to the least... the middle of the work week... the weekend still far away... knee deep in papers, emails, phone calls....

But don't worry. I have the fix for you. Here is a little song that always puts me in a good mood, and gets me moving in my seat.

Pear and Gorgonzola Cheese Pizza

I did it again. Something sweet and salty! I'm sorry... I have SUCH AN ADDICTION! But let me also give my defense and say that Trader Joes stopped making (or supplying in my area??) their pear and Gorgonzola pizza. And I have been craving it for a longggg time. Other than CPK, I don't think I know of a place that makes a pear and Gorgonzola pizza anymore, which makes it really hard on me when I have cravings. So, I just made it myself.

1 pizza dough (homemade or store bought)
1 pear
1/2 pound or 8 ounces Gorgonzola Cheese
1 red onion slice
olive oil
Arugula (optional)

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lay corn meal on your pizza stone and stretch it out to the desired width and shape. I have begun to realize that "circle" doesn't really exist when making homemade pizza. Its more of an oblong round shape, but I think it gives it character.

Cornmeal is a must to prevent sticking

Turkey Bacon BLT with Mission Figs and Heirloom Tomato

I spent my morning treating my dog to an excursion at the dog park while I did homework. He was the cutest little pup running around and made another girlfriend named Kai. Such a ladies man. Deciding that I was #1 mommy this morning, lunch time was my treat time. I had already agreed upon busting out this applewood smoked turkey bacon I had got from Trader Joes. But, upon running out of mayo and having to get another jar from the cupboard, I saw them. My figs. My dried black mission figs. And then it hit me.

If you haven't noticed a theme by now, I ADORE (!!!!) salty and sweet together. It might be somewhat of a problem. But think about it; what better way to make your palette dance around in joy than to give it multiple sensations. Turkey bacon and figs? Cmon. It was a no brainer!

2 slices favorite bread, toasted
3 pieces Turkey Bacon
3 Dried Mission Figs
1 small- medium Heirloom Tomato
1 red onion round, sliced on the thinner side
1 tbs mayonnaise
1 handful arugula
2 toothpicks

Start by making sure yout bread is toasting and that your bacon has been crisped. I just turn my pan on medium high, place the turkey bacon in it for a minute or two on each side, and get it crispy.

Candied Mango and Mint Popcorn Squares

This is what happens when you come home and crave something sweet... you make popcorn bars. Trust me, they are worth it. And so delicious. But make sure you only eat one if you can.... oh k maybe two.... three??
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1/2 canola oil
1/2 cup dried candied mango, diced
1/4 cup roughly chopped mint
1 cup cornnuts, salted
4 tbs butter, unsalted
2 cups marshmallows
Start by making your popcorn. If you don't usually make popcorn from scratch, you should. Its really easy and a lot healthier for you. Take a medium sized pot and pour the oil into it. Next, add the corn kernels. Cover with a lid. Once the popping stops, your popcorn is done.

800 Degrees Pizza

My friend Desiree who works with me at UCLA, and has her own blog Bundts of Steel, has talked about this new pizza place that opened up in Westwood CA a number of times, and I finally went with her on Friday. It is amazing. Its sort of the concept of Subway, where you stand in line, pick you base, choose the add ons, and in a few short minutes get your meal. But instead of being low quality sandwiches, 800 Degrees Pizza is excellent quality, high end ingredient, pizza. PIZZA. Made to order and cooked in 60 seconds. Phenominal.

When you look at the menu, you notice things like prosciutto, rock shrimp, and truffles. Or how about a list of cheese that include Fontina, Smoked Provalone, and a Fresh Burrata Bar. The items to choose from are all high end. Something like mushrooms does not include your traditional Domino's white caps. Instead, you get a slightly marinated mixed group of mushrooms that have been wood fire roasted. They even have charred broccolini.

Short Rib Sliders with Mango Coleslaw

I had a dinner party on Friday and before the party, was seriously lacking some inspiration as to what to make. My invite said to make something sinful; a guilty pleasure you don't get to eat all the time. My go to item is usually my Macaroni and Cheese. Everyone loves it, everyone asks for it, but I have done it... a lot! So I began to think about what else I could make. Baked Brie? Fig Bread Pudding? Vanilla Rum Cake? Butter Cake?

And then it hit me... almost literally hit me.... Driving home around my neighbor hood the other day, the Kogi BBQ food truck almost rear ended me. And then I thought about it... sliders. Small, easy, DELICIOUS. Kogi has some of the best Asian inspired sliders in Los Angeles. Mine, however, were going to be a little bit different.

The reason this post is labeled easy entertaining is because it is semi homemade. Meat takes time to marinate and when you are having a party after work, you may be strapped for time. Like I was. But to make things that are semi homemade taste delicious, and not like they came from a store after sitting for hours, is to make it only part prepackaged and part you and your creative efforts. This is why everything else but the meat was homemade, giving the slider its freshness.

Playing with Cheese: Killer Baked Brie

Its a love affair that I am not ashamed to admit. Cheese is so good. You can eat it plain. You can melt it. You can shred it on top of things. You can broil it. you can fry it... It's just so versatile.... and delicious!

In July, I posted about how to make a simple Cheese Platter for easy entertaining. But cheese can also be doctored in other ways to make it even more exciting, and keep every dinner party fresh and new. Seeing as I have a dinner party coming up this weekend, I thought I would treat myself to a Valentine's Cheese filled dinner, and maybe give a few of my friends some inspiration.

Sidenote, I start Graduate School today! Super excited... and if you are reading this, wish me luck :)

1 wheel brie cheese (8 inch diameter)

1/4 cup fig jam or fig butter
1/4 cup crushed nuts (pecans and walnuts work best)
1 pie crust or puff pastry sheet
1 egg, beaten, with a little water added
crackers or bread to serve it with

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Using a sharp knife, cut the wheel of brie in half horizontally and separate the top half of the wheel from the bottom half. 

Chocolate Guinness Cake with Bailey's Whipped Cream

Kerry, my neighbor from downstairs I have mentioned before, is having a birthday this week. You must know what that means... time for a Birthday Cake! She loves chocolate, but she also loves a good beer. I remember eating a Guinness chocolate cake a year or so ago and fell in love with it. Today, I am recreating Nigella Lawsons recipe for Chocolate Guinness Cake. I opted to make a Bailey's whipped cream instead of the cream cheese frosting from Ms.Laweson's site. I thought a fluffy light cream would be better, plus its spiked with Bailey's. I think she is going to love it.

Cake
1 cup Guinness stout (NOT including foam. Make sure the beer liquid goes up to a cup)
10 tbs (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3/8 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups sugar
3/8 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 tbs vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tsps baking soda

Frosting
2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
1/3 cup Bailey's Irish Creme

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a cake pan or bundt pan. I like the look of tbe bundt pan so that is what I am using. You can also use a spring-form pan. In a large saucepan, melt the butter, but do not turn it on too high (you do not want the butter to brown). Once mostly melted, combine the Guinness by slowly pouring it into the saucepan. Once all the butter melts, remove the saucepan from heat.

Man's Perfect Dinner #1: The Perfect Steak

S T E A K

Five simple letters that when put together, get the attention of any man. I am not the biggest meat eater, but I have friends that could eat hunk of beef every day. My mother makes the best steak, and I wanted to share her recipe with you. I will post photos up hopefully this weekend, I just need a few volunteers for steak eating.

Pair this hunk of meat with potatoes and killer chocolate desert, and ladies, we have a winner. I hear a Valentine's Day dinner in your near future.... :)

The Meat
1 steak, thick cut
1 1/2 tbs butter
1 tbs rosemary
1 clove garlic, smashed
1 tbs olive oil
salt and pepper

You want to make sure you get a nice cut of beef. AND never get a lean cut... steak needs to be fatty so it stays juicy. This recipe is meant for a thick piece of meat. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Melt the butter and olive oil in pan on highest heat. Add the rosemary and garlic. Let the herbs and garlic infuse the butter. If you have a cast iron skillet, this would be good to use.

Jam of the Day

I know this is a food blog, but I love music. Sorry for half of my posts being about the songs currently stuck in my head. In Los Angeles, there has been this great song that just started playing on the radio. Its called "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye. Here is the video:

It is a stellar song, weird video. But then someone showed me this....

It is not often when I think a cover of a song is far more exceptional than the original, especially an original that is already really good. Not only does Walk Off The Earth sing it swimmingly, the music video they make is amazing. 5 people playing on 1 guitar?? Possible.

Check this out and enjoy :)

Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I start this recipe off by saying, it is not that healthy. But there are some days that call for a lot of cheese and butter. Monday was a long day at work. A long day in life. So I decided to make myself something... comforting.... delicious.... bad for me. I present to you, my Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Drool.

2 slices of your favorite bread
*something with a little of a tougher crust but soft on the inside works best for most grilled cheeses*
1 jalapeno
3 tbs cream cheese
2 ounces cheddar
1 ounce shredded mozzarella
2 tbs mayonnaise
2 tbs butter
1 cup crushed jalapeno kettle chips

To start, take your cheddar cheese and dice it up into chunks. In a bowl, add the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and the shredded mozzarella. Mix them together

Austin Texas Has Been Conquered!

So Austin Texas was a great city and I intend on going back. There is a Chick-filt-a and a Whataburger on every corner, the weirdest street names I have ever seen, and cowboy boots galore.

Thursday night, I headed downtown with my friends. I was so nervous I was not going to fit in with my LA clothes and shoes, etc... but it was quiet the opposite. Downtown is the mecca of college kids in Austin on a Thursday night, and kind of reminds me of Main street Santa Monica. The coolest part is that 6th street in downtown gets its streets blocked off so the people walking around can stay safe and have a cool going out environment that is kind of private from the rest of Austin. It is like a giant street fair, just every week. The drinks are typical, just a lot cheaper than LA, and the company was great. Everybody in Austin just sort of loves each other, which is so refreshing from people in LA who I feel just judge one another. And there wasn't an overload of country music, which was my immediate fear. Just regular old kids having fun, so I felt right at home.

Friday I got BBQ with my Great Uncle Eddie at the famous Rudy's. I had wanted to go to the Saltlick, but my Uncle Eddie insisted we try Rudy's. I should have listened to him in the first place because the food was INCREDIBLE. If you ever go, and do not try the Moist Brisket, you are just... doing yourself a disservice. The coolest part about Rudy's was the way they treat you on your first time there. Not only do they have great customer service, they insist you try a little bit of everything. So there I was, at the counter, with little morsels of all their meats, and some creamed corn in front of me, testing everything before I made a decision. My Uncle Eddie, being the smart man he is, told me to get the moist brisket, but I had to try everything just in case. And guess what I wound up with... the moist brisket! Second on my list would have been the smoked turkey which was insanely juicy. We also grabbed some banana puddings and potato salad. Oh, and let's not forget, they give you a stack of good old white bread so you can make your own sandwiches. Divine.

Texas & Jam of the Day

As I get ready to depart to Austin Texas, I promise you 2 things...
1) I will be eating a lot of good food
2) I will tell you about it

And with that I leave you with an old school Jam of the Day

Have a great beginning to February!!!

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

It is really nice when you are appreciated for what you do and what makes you an amazing person. Everyone is amazing at something, to someone, which makes everyone as equally of a special person. And people should be more appreciative of the great things we all do and are. Which is why I am so fortunate to have great people around me, like my neighbors that live downstairs, Kerry and Scott. For one, our dogs are in love. Brody gets two sweet little Yorkie girl friends named Barley and Keeper that are only a few feet away. What a lucky dog!

Scott and Kerry on their wedding day :)

Last night I got to bake for these incredible people who have always, ALWAYS been there for me. It goes beyond them walking my dog when I am out of town, but how about just taking him out on a walk when I am sick so I don't have to get out of bed? Or leaving my tulips at my door because I made excess pancakes that morning and brought them some over breakfast. Plus, they are just adorable with adorable dogs so you couldn't ask for neighbors. But back to my point. Being appreciated. Kerry texted me yesterday asking if I could make cupcakes for her brother in laws birthday. Why? Because they would be better than anything she could buy in a store. I mean, that is the biggest compliment I could have gotten as someone who cooks. After picking her brain a bit about what her brother in law would like, we came up with this cupcake. He loves chocolate, so how about a Dark Chocolate Cupcake with Vanilla Butter Cream frosting, topped with chocolate shavings? YUM!

Busy Bee

Sophie, Me and Katie watching the 49ers unfortunately lose

It has been a long few busy weeks! I apologize for not getting something food related on here in a while. Basketball season is intense, and with games every week it is hard for me to get home and get cooking! But I promise I will post something tomorrow or Thursday. At least that's my goal.

I did, however, go to a BBQ joint in Venice, CA that I have been dying to try. Because of 2 things... killer mac and cheese, and roasted corn on the cob topped with chipotle butter, cojita cheese, and lime. Does that not make you want to drive there right now? Ugh... I just finished lunch and am already getting hungry!