Sunday, April 3, 2011

Farmer's Market Ooh La La

I have been wanting to hit up the Little Italy Farmers Market for a long time and I finally got the chance when my neighbor invited me this Saturday.
Parking was a bitch...I think we arrived there around 11-ish? There were a sea of people...farmers, dogs, babies, musicians, etc. It was friggin' awesome. And oh my holy heck...the smells of every exotic spice and herb from here to Never Never Land was thick in the air. I think the market extended 3 blocks or something. Most, if not all things the merchants were peddling were organic and/or pesticide free. There were stands with local fruits and veggies to organic raw white cheddar sage cheese...which by the way was a total foodgasm in your mouth. I have never tasted anything quite like that. Olive oils from different regions , hummus, meats, fish, eggs, jewelry and cutting boards made of sustainably harvested wood. It was so awesome, I literally could have stayed there the entire time they open (every Saturday 9-1, rain or shine).
I talked to a local farmer about his CSA, since the one we belonged to ended up closing up shop and the farmer went on to other good things.
After strolling through the market we hit up Princess Pub and Grill. That place is way cool, nestled right smack dab in the middle of the whole market. after developing quite a thirst the girls and I went in for some grub and much needed drink. I ordered a portobello shroom burger and it was fantastic! Swiss cheese and grilled onions. I mean really? You could have a piece of wood smothered and grilled onions and it would be tasty! It is the closest you will find in San Diego to an authentic British Pub....they even have Whiskey on tap!
So heres to a fabulous neighbor inviting me to go and also, the dude selling the jerky that encouraged my mister to come next time! Sa-weet!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Screw you McDonald's, McMom's is way better!

Mornings are always crappy. Well at my house anyway. Justin has the alarm set for like some ungodly hour around 5 something. He drags his sorry ass to the shower and then I hear the little footsteps of a zombie- like 6 year old that seems to ALWAYS wake up on the wrong side of the bed...He follows suit and takes a shower too. Time for the girl-child. I see her silhouette by my door, scratching her bird nest like hair and grumbling something to the likes of...'whats for breakfast? Can I have some coffee? Mom? Ma? MOOOOOOM!"My turn to roll out of my bed and wipe the sleep out of my eyes and take a second to figure out what is going on and who I am. I can't really be of any help to anyone until the first sip of hot coffee hits my lips.After having a cup I look around and wow, guess its cereal, again.....sometimes waffles, but that actually requires me getting out the toaster and shit..You know, effort. Once in a great while I will whip up some eggs, sausage and even some toast if I am feeling frisky.
Everyone loves those McDonalds breakfast Mcmuffin thingies with the sausage, egg and cheese. Those are the bomb. Then I bought some of the frozen
ones...Jimmy Dean me thinks..?? And ehh those are pretty good...but has a crapload of ingredients and we wont even talk about the sodium content...
ughh...
I decided to make my own...in fact I had seen someone else do this and thought that was bloody brilliant! So I spent the entire afternoon making these kick ass morning bites. I made alot..like 24! And on those busy mornings when you can barely open your eyes due to too many cocktails the night before
watching American Idol, or you just need 5 more minutes of zzz's but your offspring refuses to grant
you that wish....drag your butt to the freezer, nuke it for one
minute..check it after 30 seconds....and then
continue heating...and presto....by the time you take your morning pee, breakfast will be done. I know. you can thank me
later. Here's the pictures...

First get this stuff...
I used 20 organic brown eggs, whisk them up real good:

Pour them in a long-ish glass pan like this..not sure the size,
and bake on 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until eggs are not
jiggly in the middle...then cut up into 24 squares..I forgot to get that picture...oh well, it was boring anyway.

Next cut up the sausage (24 pieces) and put them on a sheet pan
...and bake on same temp as eggs, but for 20 minutes..

Get some cheddar cheese and fold each slice in half, then half again...

Toast you english muffins for a few
Add a pat o' butter
Lay 2 of the pieces of cheddar on on piece of muffin
Next up add the egg
Then the sausage
Top with the other half of muffin..... and viola!


It was so good, I had to eat one....

And see, look how many it makes.....


Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Pork Eggrolls

As I was strolling along the produce aisle at the store yesterday I saw some egg roll wrappers. I thought it a grand idea to get some and try my hand at making some egg rolls. I have never made these before, and generally I am not that fond of a bunch of greasy, fried food.
Here's what I did
Diced two carrots...half of a green and purple cabbage, a crapload of scallions, a few Anaheim peppers, one green pepper and 2 stalks of celery. I used my handy pampered chef cutting/dicing contraption..makes things so much easier and in half the time.
Then I cooked up about a half pound or so of ground pork sausage then drained.. Then I added the vegetables and cooked until soft. I added a bunch of freshly ground pepper and about a teaspoon of soy sauce. After tasting it, I felt it needed something else...Chinese five spice? Nah...fish oil..nope...besides I didn't have any of that o n hand. So I went digging through the pantry. We had a pack or 'oriental' flavor top ramen noodles. I don't remember why we had this..we don't normally eat this. I think it was from awhile back when I made a Chinese cabbage salad...?? Anyway..I thought I would use the spice packet in there. Then decide to smash up the noodles really small and add those as well. Mix pork and veggie/noodle concoction together.

Using canola oil, fill a skillet..maybe 1/3 of the way up the side..I don't know I didn't measure..just dumped it in there...and turn the heat up.
Next I took one wrapper and set it out. Put about 2 tablespoons on top.
Then fold the edges first..and sealed it with an egg wash. Folded the rest and did another coating of egg wash.
Carefully place in hot oil..these cook super quickly...were talking like 20 seconds each side.
Lay them on a paper towel to drain and cool..maybe 5 minutes.
Being a first time egg roll maker..these were the bomb! Everyone scarfed them up..It was weird to see the kids using ranch and ketchup to dip them though instead of the sweet and sour sauce..but whatever....they're kids...they would stick a straw in the ranch and gulp it down if I'd let them...

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Spaghetti Squash with tomato fresca...sorta

Usually when I make spaghetti squash I use butter and fresh grated Parmesan. But a few weeks ago I decided to make a chunky red sauce to go with it. However I forgot to snap some pics, so today I did it again..since we got a squash in our CSA box.
First you just cut the squash in half and scrape out the seeds and such..as you would any pumpkin and toss..
I put fresh ground pepper and organic oregano on top and threw it in the over at maybe 350 degrees for like an hour or so.
Next up..I cut up a heirloom tomato, bell pepper..some garlic and some red onion and chive and threw it in the food processor..also I added half a can or organic diced tomatoes....
Did this for a few seconds until coarsely chopped.After the squash is done..let it cool for maybe 5 minutes or so and scrape it outta the shell.
Load it up with the sauce and top with some more parmie if ever so inclined.

This is so good and fresh tasting. I had made squash before and Justin was never a fan..so I was left with piles of spaghetti squash 'noodles' to eat solo. However when I made it this way a few weeks over when our friend Stella was over..he loved it and since has eaten it every time. He also dumps extra chunks of tomato and onion over the top and mixes it in. =)



Visit to our CSA Farm....

We have joined a CSA awhile back..(for those of you who aren't familiar with CSA it is a community supported agriculture..which basically means we support our local farmers and buy directly from them.) Usually we have it delivered twice a month, but today we had the opportunity to go and see the farm firsthand.
Our CSA is Callaloo Farm in Ramona...just a 20 minute or so drive away.
Jack was the only one who accompanied us on this sojourn..Lily was away at a friends house. It was great to have him see where food really comes from(not the grocery store).
It was a nice plot of land. CJ..(the farmer) does this mostly by himself...occasionally having help from family. There was a green house that he had built..he also had pigs...and chickens....Rhode Island Red..is what I think he said they were. Jack was excited to see them and he also got to feed them and they ate directly out of his hand.
We decided to do some harvesting and that was really exciting. There is something so wholesome and good about the growing and harvesting process...Unfortunately I think our society has forgotten the most basic connection with the land..and the farm to table concept has been long since put along the wayside....
CJ had Jack help and had him get involved with the choosing and the picking. Tomatoes, peppers, onions, squash and watermelons were collected...oh and carrots too I am so fascinated with gardening and only wish I had a green thumb. We are however going to try again in the spring, but this time Justin is going to build me planter boxes....
Eventually I would like 3 hens....but one thing at a time! Off to make some salsa with our fresh, organic goods from Callaloo Farms!