blog tip...

Someone recently posted a blog on their site with tips for the home blogger. . .


The thing that stuck with me about her tips was that you should write your posts as if you're talking to your sister.


Well, I have a problem... I don't have a sister.


So, then I thought about talking with my close girlfriend.

But I think that poses another problem...

My blog would sound something like this, if it's anything like our phone calls...



Me: "Hey - did you see the weather report for the next few days?"
Her: "Yes! I'm so OVER this heat! When can we welcome Fall?!"

Me: "Do you want anything from Trader Joe's? I'm stopping by there on the way home."
Her: "Um... I just went a few days ago. Beat ya!"


::: break for her children screaming in the back ground :::


Me: "When do we get to hang out next?!"
Her: "Child of mine - when is your FATHER coming home?! He needs to keep me from strangling you!"

Me: "Like I said... when do we get to hang out next?!"
Her: "I'm not sure. It depends on whether or not you'll have to bail me out of jail."


So, I'm going to instead just keep going the way I've been going... maybe a little tweak here and there.

And that's all I've got for now... no cooking blog tonight. I didn't stop by TJ's on the way home afterall.



enjoy your time in the kitchen...

An Easy Panini...

Another quick and yummy summer lunch... Bruschetta Panini.


4 ingredients, 5 minutes, 6x more goodness than a plain ol' sandwich...


But don't take my word for it... try it for yourself!

You'll need a cast iron grill pan and a cast iron panini press. And then, honestly, it can't get much easier than this.

Set the heat on the cast iron grill pan on medium-high heat. And then layer your bread with your favorite ingredients. I used pesto, mozzarella cheese and tomatoes. First, take two fresh slices of good sourdough bread... and slathered on some pesto.



You can find my preferred pesto at Trader Joe's. (While I'm thinking of it, a shout out to TJ's: THANK YOU for making my life so easy!)



Then I added cheese on both sides ... putting it on both sides helps to hold the sandwich together (like a really yummy glue holding it all together).



Next, I layered the tomatoes on one side...



And that's all...



There's no real need to add butter (as if you'd do on a grilled cheese sandwich)... just place that sandwich in the hot grill pan and put the panini press on top.



Make sure to press down pretty hard on the panini press... (if you don't want to buy a panini press you could always use a garden brick, or two, wrapped in aluminum foil). Paninis are meant to be smushed together... like my technical terminology?



In about 1 1/2 - 2 minutes, it will be time to turn the sandwich over to grill the other side. See?



Put the panini press back on and press down hard...



1 1/2 - 2 minutes later... you have an easy panini! I could tell mine was just about ready because I heard some sizzling. The cheese was oozing out of one corner and hitting the hot grill pan... oh yeah, baby!



Hungry?!





So, there's no real recipe here... just an idea. And maybe my idea will inspire you to use your own ingredients. What are YOUR favorite panini ingredients?



enjoy your time in the kitchen...

freshening up for summer...

With the official start to summer just over a week away (June 21 is fast approaching) it suddenly dawned on me that I just wasn't ready for summer to be here.

During the hot months it usually gets up over 100 degrees F for several weeks - and that just makes me cranky. And you don't want me cranky... I've been known to "close the kitchen" and go on strike for several days. And you know what that means for my hero-of-a-hubby... he's bound to lose a few pounds! ;-)


And then I snapped back to reality and realized I needed an attitude adjustment. So I gave myself a pep talk...


"Get over it... life isn't all that bad... you can handle some heat. Suck it up, girl... you're going to survive! You're a tough girl..."


And what do the tough do when the going gets tough?!


Come on... you know the answer...


THEY GO SHOPPING!
(of course!)


Today I hit up a few stores for some necessary household items, and while I was out I found a few inspirational items that will help me deal with the impending heat wave that's getting ready to land upon our Hidden Valley (Escondido, Ca).






This tablecloth and this colander...


They would brighten anyone's day... wouldn't they?



Now, I need to ask someone to commit to doing me a favor... when I start complaining about the incessant heat just remind me of my prized new tablecloth and colander. And I'll chill out... k? Who is up for the task... ???



enjoy your time in the kitchen...

the PERFECT (yummy and quick) summer lunch...

It hit 90 degrees F here this weekend (which doesn't make me very happy - I'm more of a cold-weather gal)... in fact, let me ask: am I the only one who plans my summer meals around how long it would require me to stand in front of a hot stove? I CANNOT stand the heat!

So on to more positive things... I took the opportunity to make a yummy, quick summer lunch.


(Um, have I said yet how yummy and quick this was?! )


First, asparagus in my (NEW) cast iron grill pan... drizzle with a lil' bit of olive oil and garlic salt.

Next, panko-crusted shrimp. But this isn't just any ol' plain panko crust... to the panko I added onion powder, garlic salt and chili powder. Just adds a few layers of flavor ... they aren't over-powering flavors, just a background of flavor.

Quick steps for panko-crusted anything...

1) One egg, beaten. Place shrimp (or anything else, for that matter) in egg and thoroughly coat it. 2) Transfer to separate bowl that has panko in it (don't forget to season it for some extra flavor). 3) Toss shrimp in the panko a few times to ensure it is completely covered.
4) Transfer shrimp to medium-hot saute pan with a bit of olive oil in it so it fries up nicely.
And last ...
5) Once fried on both sides, transfer shrimp to paper towel to drain off excess oil.

And voila...



Aren't those beautiful!

Quick sprinkle of kosher salt (not too much - just a touch)... and it's ready to plate!

So let's take another look at it...



You could sprinkle some lemon juice over the top ... but I didn't have any lemons on hand. So I hit it with a few sprinkles of orange zest.

Wow... I'm a genius! (baa haa haa!!!) What a great flavor layer! Try it for yourself...




enjoy your time in the kitchen...

Ode to summer... my version of bruschetta...

This is a picture of beauty... just a couple ingredients, usually a glass of wine, and memories of good times...

So, I believe that it was Debbie who came up with this idea... and it stuck. This is our version of bruschetta... it's not fancy, but it's perfect for us.

Slice up the bread... and I highly recommend fresh sourdough...

Turn on the broiler... and drizzle olive oil and sprinkle kosher salt/black pepper over your bread...

While it's heating up and while your bread is toasting, dice up the mozzarella cheese and roma tomates...

Find a nice little bowl, stir it all together and make your mix... there's no right or wrong answer to the proper amount of tomatoes vs. cheese. Just make it yours...

And once your bread is nice and toasted... we're ready to start assembling our bruschetta...



First, take a spoon full of this wonderful basil pesto (from Trader Joe's)...

... and plop it onto a half-slice of toasted bread...

... and spread it around to cover your toast...

... and top it with your tomato and cheese mix...

... doesn't that look pretty?!

oh, yeah... and it tastes good too! now kick back and enjoy... it maybe February, but summer's a-comin'!!! And in the summer, it's tradition, we eat bruschetta...

And, for a quick close-up of the star of the show...

Debbie - if we had a $1 for every time we've enjoyed bruschetta together, laughed together and cried together... well ... all I know is, I so appreciate your friendship! I cannot imagine what life would be like without you in it...

enjoy your time in the kitchen...