Spending My Lunchtime Watching The Chew Has Paid Off!

Are you sad that the longtime running soap opera, All My Children, has been replaced by The Chew? Well, I sure am not and I'm LOVING this new show with lots of laughter and fun recipes and tips! Today's show featured some Banana Cheerios Muffins that looked easy and perfect for breakfast so I decided to give them a try. I mean, who doesn't love the combination of bananas and Cheerios in the morning right? They came out amazing! Very moist and still had a bit of the crunch from the cereal. Perfect lil breakfast treats on the go!

My 2nd Christmas with Chilean Seabass!

Since my hubby goes home for Christmas, it means that we get a 2nd Christmas to ourselves where we open presents for each other. To celebrate, I made pan-fried Chilean Seabass with the easiest Hollandaise Sauce EVER! Are you ready? For a 2-person serving, all you do is add an egg yolk, a tsp lemon juice, a tsp Dijon mustard and a pinch of cayenne (optional but a must at our house!) to a blender and mix for a second. Then you add half a stick of melted butter in a thin stream while the blender is running and that's it! Just mix it until you get a thick buttery consistency and you have the easiest but very yummy Hollandaise Sauce! Ok now it's time for presents!

Not Ready for Christmas to be Over So Soon!

I get really depressed when Christmas is over so I always try and extend it a lil while longer. Since my hubby just got back this afternoon, I decided to make The Neely's Spicy Mac and Cheese with Chorizo from their Christmas Special. I already had all the ingredients so it was really simple to put together. Roasting the tomatoes really make SUCH a difference and gave them a really nice deep flavor. They also get so sweet and juicy that they literally pop when you bite into them! The Chorizo added a really nice smokey flavor to the dish and literally melted into the sauce. I also just love the crunchy fried onion on top! Leave it to the Neely's to make the ultimate comfort food even better! It's still Christmas time in my book!

A Long Recap of My Christmas Weekend!

I'm sad that Christmas is over but I sure had the best weekend with my family! As always, my hubby went home to SoCal to see his family and my mom came up to stay with me. Here's a picture of my welcome setup complete with homemade cookies, Godiva Dark Chocolates and Biscuits! I think my mom felt welcomed! We decided to eat out this year instead of me cooking up a storm like I've done in previous years cuz it's just more relaxing and gives my mom a chance to try out some places in the city. Nothing fancy but just yummy food and festive atmosphere.

Friday night we headed to Fuzio Bistro at the Embarcadero Center for some dinner and lights. My mom got the Shrimp Scampi and completely LOVED it!

Next up was Saturday's lunch at South Beach Cafe, where we enjoyed a yummy Shrimp Pizza and Tiramisu shipped STRAIGHT from Italy! It tasted AMAZING!

Saturday night we were off to Fisherman's Wharf and snapped a beautiful picture in front of their HUGE Christmas Tree!

Then it was dinner at Hard Rock Cafe, where we caught Michael Jackson's Thriller video, which is one of my favorite childhood memories!

Sunday, my cousin Dani and Sydney came up to join us for lunch at 70 Bar at the Hilton Hotel, which was one of the only places open on Christmas Day. We were totally surprised and blown away by their Christmas Special, which were these HUGE Crab-Stuffed Lobster Tails! OMG they were good!

At last it was back at my place and we tore open the Godiva Chocolates and homemade goodies! So there you have it, the BEST Christmas ever...at least until next year!

My Mom's Favorite Cookies!

The Barefoot Contessa's Pecan Shortbread Cookies are my mom's absolute favorites so since she's coming over for Christmas, I wanted to make them for her. The best part though was making these cookies together this year! Growing up, my mom didn't bake, not that she didn't want to, but it just wasn't an Asian thing. So I've always been envious of people who had those childhood memories, especially around the holidays. Then it finally dawned on me this year that it's not too late to create our own special tradition! Who says you can't bake cookies with your daughter when she's an adult? We had the best time rolling out the dough and cutting them into Christmas shapes! I swear they tasted better than any cookies I've ever made and I'm sure my mom agrees!

Yummy Herbed Lamb Chops!

I got some HUGE Lamb Loin Chops from Trader Joe's and decided to try these Herbed Lamb Chops. Man, did they turn out herby and totally delicious! Super fast and super easy served over some Couscous. A wonderful holiday meal!

Crab Cakes Benedict Dinner-Style!

My hubby LOVES Crab Cakes Benedict (and who doesn't?)but over the weekend he had some that he wasn't a fan of. Somehow, the yolk wasn't runny so they were more like hard-boiled eggs on top. Yuck! So tonight I wanted to make up for them by making Crab Cakes Benedict but dinner-style. Instead of serving them on traditional English Muffins, I served them over our favorite Cheese Grits. I did make fresh bread crumbs out of a Sourdough English Muffin though so the flavor was still there. AND my eggs were perfectly runny and yummy!

Holiday Baking Continues

These are my 4th batch of Holiday Cookies and the best ones yet! Why? Cuz they're See's Candy Chocolate Chip Cookies made with See's HUGE Chocolate Chips! Seriously, these chips are like chocolate chips on steroids and more than twice the size of normal ones! I first read about them from Foodgal and couldn't wait to get my hands on them! I'm always trying to find a new recipe for chocolate chip cookies cuz I can never get enough of them. These cookies are thin but still fairly soft and full of chocolate flavor. I can't wait to give them out!

Big Baller Lamb for the Holidays!

If you know me, you know I almost never pay full price for groceries cuz I know it'll eventually go on sale. During the holidays, though, I'm a bit different and that's why we're having $20 Lamb Chops for dinner! They were imported from New Zealand and totally worth every cent! I followed this recipe for Lamb Chops with Cognac Butter Sauce and they were the most succulent pieces of meat we've ever had! Happy Holidays!

Special Holiday Treat for my Mommy!

I've been so busy lately and don't get to see my mom as much as I used to. So when I do get the chance, I like to bake something special for her to take home. She came up to visit for a holiday brunch and I decided to whip up a batch of her favorite Blue Cheese and Walnut Crackers. They're more like savory shortbread cookies and have such a yummy buttery texture. Needless to say my mom loved them!

HUGE Lobsters for my Mommy!

My mom came up for Sunday brunch and we treated her to some lobsters at Sinbad's on the Pier. We've never been there so we were very pleasantly surprised by how big and juicy they were. They were also seasoned perfectly and served with a nice side of grilled veggies.

Happy mommy...

Happy couple...what more could you ask for?

Happy Bday to my Hubby!

With all of our busy lives, it's becoming harder every year to get everyone together. We finally got the gang to all come out for my hubby's bday and had the best time! We started off with drinks at Tony Niks Lounge and ended the night with a pizzalicious feast at Tony's Pizza Napoletana in North Beach. I just love these boys!

Holiday Biscotti!

It's been a while since I made Biscotti so as part of my holiday cookies, I made some Holiday Biscotti. What makes them "holiday"? Well, the cranberries and pistachios are just the perfect red and green! I can't wait to dip these in some hot chocolate!

Ingredients: (2 dozen cookies)


2 c all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 c sugar
1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs
3/4 c pistachios, coarsely chopped
2/3 c dried cranberries


Prep:


1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper.


2. Whisk the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, butter, lemon zest, and salt in a large bowl to blend. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time. Add the flour mixture and beat just until blended. Stir in the pistachios and cranberries.


3. Form the dough into a 13x3-inch log on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until light golden, about 30 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes.


4. Place the log on the cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the log on a diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Arrange the biscotti, cut side down, on the baking sheet. Bake the biscotti until they are pale golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer the biscotti to a rack and cool completely.

A Festive Plate of Goodies!

Nothing's more festive than a plate of Holiday Spritz Cookies and this recipe has cream cheese in it, so you KNOW it's gonna be good! I made mine into cute trees and wreaths and they disappeared FAST at the office! Happy Holiday severyone!

Chicken I mean Veal Cordon Bleu

Who doesn't love Chicken Cordon Bleu? I mean, meat wrapped around cheese and more meat, what's there not to love? Tonight though, I got creative and made Veal Cordon Bleu. It's the exact same concept except instead of thin pieces of chicken, I used Veal Scallopini. It was yumminess to the fullest and the buttery vermouth sauce was just the best!

Ingredients:


2 veal scaloppini, pounded to 1/4-inch thick
Salt and pepper
2 slices ham
2 slices Swiss cheese
1/4 c dry breadcrumbs
1 Tbsp oil
1 Tbsp butter
1/4 c onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 dry vermouth
Couscous, for serving


Prep:


1. Sprinkle veal with salt and pepper. Place a slice of ham and a slice of cheese on top of each scaloppini. Roll up into a tight roll and secure with toothpicks.


2. Place breadcrumbs on a plate and dredge rolls in the breadcrumbs.


3. Heat oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. When butter is melted, add the veal rolls brown on both sides until golden, 5 or 6 minutes. Remove from pan to warm platter.


4. Return skillet to heat and add the onion. Sauté until browned and add the garlic. Deglaze with vermouth and reduce to half. Pour sauce over veal rolls and serve with couscous.

Chocolate Goes with EVERYTHING!

I never thought the combination of Chocolate and Orange would work but since I love chocolate in just about everything, I thought I'd give these muffins a try. I decided to make mini muffins to take to work and ended up with 4 dozen. They were just the perfect bite-size treats and everyone loved them. I guess Chocolate just goes with everything!

Christmas Baking Continues with Super Easy Crinkle Cookies

I LOVE Crinkle Cookies around the holidays cuz they just look like yummy chocolate snowballs! I found recipe using Devil's Cake Mix and just had to give them a try. It really doesn't get any easier and they turned out so delicious! LOVE LOVE LOVE holiday baking!

Christmas Baking Starts Tonight!

Every year, I give a box of assorted cookies to my closest coworkers during he holidays. Everyone loves them and nothing beats a homemade gift! Since I like to give at least 3 or 4 different kinds of cookies, I have to plan ahead. My hubby was out of town so tonight seemed like the perfect night to start my holiday baking. First up are some M&M Cookie Bars. Super easy using cake mix and any flavor will work. I like to use a lighter color like white or yellow so the M&M's can really show off. Of course, any candy you like will work here so the sky is the limit! Happy Holidays!

Ingredients: (16 bars)


1 box cake mix (any light flavor)
1/3 c butter, melted
2 Tbsp water
2 eggs
1 bag M&M Candies (any flavor)


Prep:


1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper so that the sides hang over for easy lifting.


2. In large bowl, mix cake mix, butter, water and eggs with spoon until dough forms (some dry mix will remain). Stir in M&M Candies. Spread evenly in pan.


3. Bake 22 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Life out of pan and cut into 16 bars.

Early Christmas Celebration Neely Style!

I love watching the Neely's cuz they're always so lovey dovey and happy! I downloaded their Holiday Special and couldn't wait to make the Christmas Cornish Game Hens. I swear just seeing the Neely's happy family puts me in the holiday spirit! For a special Sunday treat, I made the Game Hens and they were so incredibly yummy! I really love the sweet and spicy "Christmas Rub" and the meat stayed perfectly moist and juicy. Happy Holidays everyone!

Holiday Party Time!

Our company is having its Holiday Party tonight so I decided to bake some Holiday M&M Cookies. These were adapted from Oprah's Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies, which are some of the most yummy cookies I've ever made! Instead of chocolate chips, I added a bag of Holiday M&M's. Yes, I said the entire bag! You can never have too much chocolate in your cookies! Creamy and super buttery, these cookies are disappearing fast!

15 Minute Dinner!

I LOVE the holidays but it also means lots of after-work get-togethers and errands. Since we're already eating a lot of goodies these days, I hate adding more takeout and fast food dinners to the mix. The solution? I keep lots of staples around for quick and easy dinners. Tonight we had a yummy Crabmeat and Tortelli Alfredo meal that came together in 15 minutes. It's just canned (but Premium!) Cabmeat and dry Tortellini in our favorite Ragu sauce with some Mozzarella Cheese stirred in at the end. It couldn't be more simple but SO satisfying on a busy weeknight!

My Second Crazy Cooking Challenge

This is my second Crazy Cooking Challenge and this month we made Fudge, which has always intimidated me. Well, that's why it's a challenge right? I decided to get over my fear of fudge and made this super easy recipe. I know it's a bit of a cheat but for my first try, it's definitely a winner! I used Pillsbury White Frosting and a combination of white and dark chips along with chopped walnuts. AND since it's the holidays, I added a few drops of Peppermint Extract. SO simple and SO yummy! Now I can't wait to make more fudge!

Apple Overload!

Someone brought in a TON of apples at work from their apple tree so I took some home to make these Apple Cranberry Spice Muffins. The sour cream kept them really moist and soft. They also weren't overly sweet and just a bit tart from the cranberries. I took these muffins to the office and they're a big hit! LOVE getting free fruit!

Fancy Shmancy Lobster Dinner at Home!

I think I've made Lobster Tails maybe twice in my life and have always been intimidated by them. Well, since they went on sale for $5, I just couldn't resist. I made these Lobster Tails in Vermouth Sauce and they came out amazing! If you thought Vermouth was only for Martinis, think again. It adds a really nice depth of flavor to your sauce and come on, we all have a bottle sitting in the liquor cabinet. This recipe is definitely a keeper and I can't wait to make more lobster tails!

I Finally Made It to Wayfare Tavern!

I LOVE Tyler Florence and finally got to check out his restaurant Wayfare Tavern. It's a really popular business lunch place and you have to make reservations way in advance for a table. Lucky for us, the restaurant is pretty empty on the weekends. My hubby's been here more than a few times and have tried just about everything on the menu including their famous fried chicken. He doesn't think it's worth the $22 but it's one of the few places that you can talk business over a plate of deep fried drumsticks!

Today we opted to share a dozen oysters and my hubby got the burger. Of course, the server first came out with their famous Popovers, which were perfectly light and golden on the outside. The burger came with a generous amount of caramelized red onions that were so yummy I couldn't stop stealing them! It was a great experience and I'm really glad I finally got to check this place out!

Crabby Mac and Cheese to Start the Weekend!

I've been saving this recipe for Crab Mac and Cheese for a while now and finally made it tonight. I used Imitation Crab, which we both love, for the crabmeat and it turned out really yummy! Total comfort food with LOTS of left-overs, the perfect way to start the weekend!

Gingerbread Just Smells Like The Holidays!

Now that it's December, I'm definitely in full Holiday Mode, so for Cookie Friday this week, I decided to bake these Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies. OMG how I LOVED the way my kitchen smelled! I don't think anything smells more like the holidays than Gingerbread Cookies! I remember the first time I ever made my very own Gingerbread House and even though my hands were a sticky mess, I LOVED it! Ah to be a kid again...(*sigh) but for now I'll just reminisce with these yummy cookies. :)

Turkey Weekend Recap!

We're back from another fun-filled Turkey Day Weekend and here's a lil recap. Here we are Wednesday after arriving in Ontario. We ate at a new hip restaurant (which I don't remember the name of) and had some really yummy Fushion food.

Here's mom with my muffins in Pringles Can!

My contribution to Turkey Day dinner, Paula Deen's Cranberry Sauce. VERY yummy and not too sweet!

I just had to take a picture of my pretty Cheese and Crackers platter for pre-dinner snacking!

Happy couple ready to be stuffed with TURKEY!

Dad with his turkey, Rotisserie-style!

Mom with her turkey, traditional-style. (BOTH were equally yummy!)

Gorgeous Thanksgiving table-setting!

Happy couple after being stuffed!

Hubby and Kanika with their birthday cupcakes! YEA!

I also had to take a picture of my pretty left-over sandwich plate on Friday night!

Saturday night dinner with my mommy at Macaroni Grill! (Don't judge!)