sparkareno's Profile
Mint coming out my ears!!!!
So many great ideas...thank you all. I will be trying many of these.
Happy accident - keeping salad greens fresh
Omg...the metal bowl changed my life. I have not had the same luck with plastic bags. Now I always have a big SS bowl topped with foil & crispy lettuce.
Grease splatters on All Clad stainless---how do I get them off?
So just pour some straight ammonia in there & let it sit for a while? It will stink up the house but will be worth it.
BF is getting banned from many things in the kitchen-lol.
Grease splatters on All Clad stainless---how do I get them off?
My boyfriend used my All Clad skillet to fry corn tortillas in grapeseed oil. Now I have brownish grease spatter marks all over the sides of the pan that won't come off. I have tried Bar Keeper's Friend, Magic Eraser and general elbow grease with SOS. They are a little lighter but still not clean. Does anyone have any tips on how to remove them and also (other than not using that pan) how to avoid burned on grease spatters stains in the future?
Mint coming out my ears!!!!
After many years of measly mint in my yard, I finally have a huge mint farm.....tons of it. And I mean tons. I use it in pestos, drinks & salads. Does anyone have any other ideas to use this stuff up or to perserve it?
Southwest menu planning help
Are you saying to cook the jicama? I have only had it raw.
I thought of grilled asparagus but it just didn't seem to go with southwest flavors. Maybe it does.
Southwest menu planning help
I am going to make a pork tenderloin on the grill tomorrow night with either a southwest spice rub or a apricot/chile glaze and serve it with a bourbon chile sauce. I will also make cornbread and make maple pecan butter for it. I am making a green salad (ingredients TBD) with probably some kind of cilantro lime dressing. I always like to have some green (or other) vegetable with dinner. We don't like squash. Any ideas for a veggie or veggie type side dish? I don't have all day to cook either--lol.
Cilantro recipes
If you are trying to ease into it, mix it with another herb in your pesto. Cilantro plays very nicely with both mint and basil. I do in the mini chopper: cilantro, mint, basil, garlic, red pepper flakes, splash of oil & some seasoned rice vinegar. So yummy---I use it as a dip for grilled or steamed shrimp, put it on grilled chicken or beef.
What's For Easter Dinner?
I made the scroppino and it was the bomb!! I put a frozen strawberry in the glass for color and a mint sprig as a stirrer. I served it in old fashion glasses over ice as I don't like slurpee type drinks. Anyway it was delicious and so refreshing. I can't wait to get more proseco to make it again.
Need Asparagus Recipe Help
Roasting or grilling. Brown some butter (if allowed) or non-dairy spread. Take skillet off the heat & add equal amounts of soy & balsamic. It is sweet, salty and nutty and pure heaven. Pour over the asparagus & sprinkle with fleur de sel & black pepper.
What's For Easter Dinner?
I have some homemade limoncello in the freezer so maybe that over ice with club soda & a little blackberry liqueur floated on top..garnish with a strawberry. I think one of my guests is bringing proseco so I might doctor that up with mango puree or something. Or I might go hard core and make blackberry martinis or pineapple margaritas. lol
What's For Easter Dinner?
Starter will be scallop ceviche. w/pita chips. then either rack of lamb (if I am feeling rich) or lamb chops (yea Costco!!) on the grill with a honey mint vinaigrette, grilled asparagus with goat cheese & bacon, grilled cheesy polenta. Can you guess....I love to grill. My boyfriend is picking up some kind of dessert. I will have to think of some Spring cocktail too.
Breakfast strata or egg casserole without cheese?
I always use goat cheese for my lactose intolerant friends. I was under the impression that lactose was only from cows so sheeps milk & goat's milk cheeses are ok. At least they are for them.
Can I freeze goat cheese?
Costco had an unbelievable price on goat cheese logs so I sucumbed. Can I freeze some of it?
What to do with orange marmalade?
Besides using a lot of it in marinades I use it in salad dressing...add a little hot dijon mustard, sherry or rice vinegar, oil & sometimes smoked paprika or shallots.
amazing salad or salad dressing made with fresh basil?
When I can get nice tomatoes from the farmer's market, I slice them and put a slice of goat cheese on each one and then a dollop of black olive tapenade on top of that. I made a dressing with red wine vinegar, dijon, olive oil, honey & basil (whip it up in the mini food processor) and drizzle it over the tomatoes. Then I sprinkle some more fresh basil over the top & if I am feeling wealthy I might even sprinkle some toasted pine nuts on top. The colors look really pretty plus the honey is good with the peppery basil.
Authentic French bistro/brasserie (not fine dining) Westside to South Bay preferred
Aimee in Redondo Beach. The owner (Aimee) is French and always comes around to the tables. I have had French speaking waiters there in the past but haven't been in a while.
Great places to grab lunch/dinner on the road from LAX to Palm Springs on I-10
I always stop @ In-n-Out Burger on the way to Palm Springs. The one in Baldwin Park has the company store too.
New Place in Hermosa Beach
Well we finally went there a couple weeks ago only it was ME treating the boyfriend for his birthday. It is much smaller than it appears on the website but still a very cool looking interior. I had called and made reservations telling them that it was a special occasion so I was promised a booth (even though there were only 2 of us) but I don't think I would have been happy at one of the tables as they are quite packed in. The booth was so comfy I could have slept in it. The margaritas were excellent-had the pineapple/serrano/cilantro one. The food was very, very good but not outstanding for the prices. The service was excellent which is something that I don't say often. Also I had brought some cheesecake as a special birthday dessert and they plated it beautifully and even added whipped cream. I would go back for sure and if I was with a few people might even try sitting outside on the patio. Bad news is that it is very NOISY.
Carbonara
Cinnamon??? Seriously? Giada adding cinnamon blows my mind. It kind of makes the whole bacon vs. guanciale issue seem silly now. Cinnamon----shaking my head.
Corned Beef in the oven @ 215* for 8 hours....Very Tender
I always braise mine in beer.....comes out super tender & tasty.
Corned beef in the South Bay?
None of this weeks grocery ads had corned beef. I suspect next Tuesday's will though. And then it is a race to find them in stock. FYI, they freeze pretty nicely--I always buy a couple as it is great to have a corned beef dinner in June or later.
Help me better my Spicy Shrimp Pasta recipe
I think I would use bucatini or fusilli. And I think the sausage would be great in there but use it sparingly. Technically, one shouldn't use cheese with seafood but I say -go for it. I put cheese on scampi all the time & love it. But then I am a big believer in doing what tastes good to you & to hell with the rules. I am not sure what type of fresh herb would work except maybe parsley. I don't see basil with cajun flavors.
Caramel Sauce Substitution--will this work?
Ok, I just took inventory & it turns out that I have full fat evaporated milk and fat free 1/2 & 1/2....which would yield the better tasting caramel sauce?
Caramel Sauce Substitution--will this work?
LOL...yes, he deserves it. But then he complains that he has gained about 10 lbs since dating me!
Caramel Sauce Substitution--will this work?
It is 6 TBS of butter & 1/2 cup cream. I could stop & get it but we don't need the calories & I don't want to have leftover cream. But it is for the boyfriend's birthday so maybe I should splurge.
Caramel Sauce Substitution--will this work?
I don't remember what I have at home but I suspect that my evaporated milk is Fat Free also. Does anyone know if that works?
