Sweets for my Sweet

My husband and I celebrated 6 months of marriage yesterday (yes, I'm still counting in months, give me a few years). Time really flies when you're having fun.  To celebrate we went to Sweet Lady Jane, a bakery that just opened up the street from us. They specialize in delicious and beautiful cakes but also offer a large assortment of baked goods, pies, along with lunch fare like sandwiches and soup.  While I have historically loved their cake I was not all that impressed with their pie or cupcakes.  I think there are better cupcake shops out there like Yummy Cupcakes for example.  One suggestion I would have for Sweet Lady Jane is to offer some vegan options for us uppity LA folk.  I do have to give the Sweet Lady props for atmosphere.  While the days of the ice-cream shop where one would sip a smoothie through a straw with their sweetheart are long gone, the bakery evokes old fashioned romance.  Many of the customers were just that, young couples, hand in hand looking for a sweet treat.  The ambiance may well be what keeps me coming back (along with their raspberry marzipan cake).  

Pictures of Apple Pie and Baby Cupcake from Sweet Lady Jane

Fresh and Fabulous

There's something about the freshest ingredients that add so much depth and flavor to any recipe.  My Aunt and Uncle in Connecticut have a beautiful and plentiful (knock on wood) vegetable garden and frequently cook with what crops up. I have been fortunate enough to try a few of their dishes and there's nothing like it.  The closest I can get living in an apartment in Los Angeles is the Santa Monica Farmers' Market.  I have written of its splendor before but I am continually amazed at how much buying food from a local farmers' market improves my dishes!!  Last night was no exception.  I bought asparagus, new potatoes, freshly cut herbs and strawberries (even though its not quite strawberry season).  First of all, if you ever happen to be able to shop at a Los Angeles Farmers' Market and want the sweetest, best, (albeit expensive) strawberries buy them from Harry's Berry's.  They are so sweet, they almost taste like they're coated in sugar.


For last night's dinner I tried two new interesting recipes along with one old reliable.  The menu was:


Sweet Tomato Barbeque Chicken (for the hubby) and Sweet Tomato BBQ Salmon for me
Panko-Crusted Asparagus Spears
Herb New Potatoes
Crispy Peanut Butter Treats with Chocolate Chips


The Grilled BBQ Chicken/Salmon recipe I got from a magazine called Clean Eating, a magazine I'm tempted to subscribe to. The recipe has you make your own BBQ sauce, which I think really makes the dish special. I think I might use the bbq sauce recipe for other dishes in the future.  The recipe is as follows:


Sauce: 
1/4 cup no-salt-added tomato paste
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar (again I recommend Bistro Blends Heirloom Balsamic Vinegar)
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/8 to 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil


In a med. saucepan, whisk together 1/2 cup water, tomato paste, vinegar, maple syrup, Worcestershire, garlic, onion powder, salt and pepper flakes.  Bring sauce to a boil on med-high; continue boiling for 3 to 4 minutes or until mixture reduces to 1/2 cup.  Remove from heat, stir in oil, divide sauce between 2 small bowls and let cool completely.


Chicken:
Sprinkle black pepper on both sides of boneless skinless chicken breasts.  Place chicken on grill or grill pan and cook for 3 minutes on med-high.  Flip chicken over, brush 2 tbsp sauce over top and cook for 3 minutes. Again flip chicken over, brush with 2 tbsp sauce and cook for 1 minute.  Finally, flip chicken over and spoon remaining 1/4 cup sauce over top.  Cook for 1 more minute or until no longer pink in center. 

Image Courtesy of Clean Eating Magazine. 

The Panko-Crusted Asparagus Spears recipe came from another magazine called Eating Well.  Another mag I might subscribe to.  Here's the recipe.  A big hit.  The one wonky ingredient you might have to go out an buy (besides the Panko) would be the white miso, but it lasts a long time and is used in a number of healthy recipes.  Also, make sure you buy thick large asparagus spears.  I bought the think ones and the tips burnt a little bit.  

Image Courtesy of Eating Well

In an effort to eat cleaner and healthier I look to two books as excellent resources: Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet and The Skinny Bitch Ultimate Everyday Cookbook.  While both books call for the reader to try to eliminate all meat, dairy and fish from their diets, its not that realistic in my household with a carnivorous husband.  That said I still pull a number of great recipes from the books.  The Crispy Peanut Butter Treats with Chocolate Chips recipe is originally from The Kind Diet and repeated again in the Skinny Bitch.  It is a healthier way of making rice crispy treats and I think tastier too.  I found the recipe on Rachel Ray's website, here.  

image courtesy of Rachel Ray Show

Websites and Blogs

Admittedly I haven't been cooking much.  When the MIL (mother in-law) comes home (from her 10 day skiing trips) she tends to take up the slotted spoon (so to speak) and I take full advantage.  She left two days ago on another adventure and I plan to take full advantage of the kitchen time, but until then I thought I might share some of my favorite cooking resources.  If you do not use an RSS reader I highly recommend it, it makes compiling all the different web resources you use so easy and efficient.  As always, feel free to email me if you have any questions about setting up an RSS reader.  


A list of the cooking blogs I follow:


1.  http://doriegreenspan.com/
2.  http://mattbites.com/
3.  http://chezpim.com/
4.  http://www.thewednesdaychef.com
5.  http://thisweekfordinner.com
6.  http://steamykitchen.com
7.  http://www.101cookbooks.com
8.  http://blog.fatfreevegan.com
9.  http://www.thekitchn.com


Some other favorite food websites:


1. www.marthastewartliving.com
2. www.epicurious.com
3. www.foodtv.com