Food

Sweet and Savory

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Without fail, after every meal I need to have something sweet. It doesn’t have to be a full on dessert and most of the time it’s not. Rather a stick of Pocky or a chocolate covered almond will do the trick. Soon after that I need to have something salty and the vicious cycle continues on and on!

But recently, I have taken to a liking of foods that have a mix of sweet and savory. I know a lot of people prefer to keep their main food salty and their desserts sweet, but I am all about mixing them (as long as they are within the realm of reason).

Here are my current favorites:

California Pizza Kitchen’s Pear and Gorgonzola Pizza

L: Pear and Gorgonzola R: Tostada Pizza

On my last trip to CPK, we decided to try the pear and gorgonzola pizza along with my all-time favorite, the tostada pizza. The pear added an unexpected sweetness and pleasant crunch to the pizza, which was balanced by the savory gorgonzola.

Another one of my new favorites is sweet potato fries. I don’t know what took me so long to try them, but I am never looking back now. Sweet potatoes have flown up high in the ranks of my favorite vegetables. Paired with ketchup and Sriracha, it puts plain old fries to shame.

Do you like mixing the sweet and salty or are you one of those that prefers to keep them separate? What are some of your favorite sweet and savory dishes?

Food Truckin’

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This past year, there has been a rise in food trucks in the Bay Area. The only two that I have had so far are: Tikka Bytes and Cupkates.

Tikka Bytes is like an Indian Chipotle. You can chose what type of style you want, the sauce, and the fillings.I tried the paneer tikka naanwich, which uses naan instead of bread.

My paneer tikka naanwich

I would rate Tikka Bytes at 3 out of 5.

I stumbled upon Cupkates, the Bay Area’s first mobile cupcakery, when I was in downtown Oakland for work one day. As soon as I heard about them, I followed them on Facebook to keep track of their ever changing location. As luck would have it, months later I checked my Facebook feed on my iPhone and found out that the Cupkates truck was only 3 blocks from me! I rushed over the pouring rain, which I think shows my true devotion to cupcakes.

The truck had just gotten there a few minutes prior but there was already a long line. The girl in front of me excitedly asked me what I was going to get. I told her it was my first time and she immediately rattled off flavors for me to try. Clearly they have a loyal fanbase of regulars!

Of course I had to get the red velvet, but I also picked up a s’mores, tiramisu, and chocolate cupcake.

I would rate the Cupkates truck a 4 out of 5. I am a huge cupcake fan (if that has not been made evident enough already) and these were great. Not too sweet and perfectly soft- exactly how I like them! I also enjoyed the novelty of a cupcake truck.

For those of you that reside in the Bay Area, I would suggest that you try the Tikka Bytes and Cupkates food truck if you ever get the chance! Still left on my list to try is Curry Up Now and The Chai Cart.

Do you enjoy going to food trucks? Why or why not? What is your favorite?

To be vegan or not?

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This weekend was spent in Seattle and Vancouver, visiting family. The weather was surprisingly great (it only rained at night) and a majority of the trip was spent eating, sleeping, and talking..pretty much the best kind of vacation!

One of the meals was spent at Araya’s Place. Araya’s is a vegan Thai place in downtown Seattle. We opted for the buffet instead of ordering off the menu..and let me tell you, the food was amazing! Thai is one of my favorite cuisines and if I lived in Seattle there’s no doubt that I would be at Araya’s every week. For those that eat meat, you won’t even feel like you are missing anything.

Thai iced coffee, pad thai, fried rice, and green curry.

Araya’s had a lot of pamphlets about the vegan lifestyle, which got me thinking: could I be a vegan? I am already a vegetarian, so it would just mean cutting all dairy products of out my diet. To be honest, I don’t really care much for eggs..I never really crave them. Since I’ve picked up Ener-G Egg Replacer (a boxed, non perishable powder that you can find at Whole Foods or ordered online) I don’t even use eggs when I bake. So really all that I would be giving up is cheese, which I love. Oh, and milk. That would be a big one.

I think I will make an effort to become vegan (or at least eat less dairy products) because the paraphernalia I read indicated that even cage free, free-range, and organic egg farms still engage in inhuman activities to the hens.

Have you gone (or thought about going) vegan? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

In case you are interested, here are some egg replacements for baking:

Energ E Egg Replacer  – My personal favorite choice for egg replacer. It works well with everything, except brownies.

Potato Starch = 2 Teaspoons + 1 Teaspoon water for 1 egg

Corn Starch = 2 teaspoons + I teaspoon water for egg

Soy Powder = 1 teaspoon + 2 teaspoons water for 1 egg

Ground Flax Seed = 1 Teaspoon + 3 teaspoon water for 1 egg

Banana = 1/2 banana for 1 egg

Applesauce = 1/4 cup applesauce for 1 egg

Summer Sundays

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I am probably in the minority, but I love Sundays. There is just something so relaxing and cozy about them that I enjoy. Today was no exception. We had falafels and hummus at our favorite place, opting to eat outdoors to enjoy the beautiful weather. When I got home, I immediately fell into a food/heat coma and awoke an hour later craving something cold.

I had tried Indian cold coffee many times before on trips to India. I even made it a few years ago and had the urge to make it again. I followed this recipe, because I like that it calls for vanilla extract. I also deviated from the recipe by adding whipped cream and cinnamon on top. I think it looks more appealing that way!

It’s a great summer drink to help beat the heat!
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I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!

Wedding Season

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This summer has definitely been the summer of weddings. I’ve always loved attending weddings because they are such a happy occasion and of course for the desserts! Indian weddings are so much fun to attend, because they are rich in traditions, colorful attire, and the celebrations last 2 to 3 days!

This summer, every wedding I have been to (4 so far) have added their own personal touches. Whether it was a unique dessert or references to the couple’s Alma mater (where they met), I made a mental note of everything I saw because we have a wedding coming up in the family..and well, it’s fun!

Here are a few pictures from weddings I have attended:

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The gorgeous wedding mandap that was filled with fresh flowers!

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The gondola vidai

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For dessert: there was freshly made donuts! So delicious, especially topped with the chocolate fondue and powdered sugar.

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Another wedding had a mixer: all the guests from the bride and groom’s side gathered in a park overlooking the beach to just hang out and socialize. For dinner and dessert, they called a taco truck (my first time trying a potato taco and it was yum!) and an ice cream truck. I love food trucks, so I was excited but I also wanted to have this at my wedding..Guess I’ll have to think of something else-for whenever it happens!

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The wedding took place in a stunning estate in the Malibu hills.

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The reception set up (in the same estate). It is originally a tennis court, but is unrecognizable with all the gorgeous decorations! At night, lights that were strung across were lit up. It looked like something out of a fairy tale.

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The cocktail hour took place by the pool, which had a great view of the ocean. The food was equally as good- Italian samosas and paneer tikka (my two favorites) and refreshing tropical drinks, personally named by the bride and groom.

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The desserts- Sprinkles cupcakes! How pretty are they? They also had chocolate covered strawberries and falooda.

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The head table where they bride and groom sat during the program. I like that it wasn’t a table table per say. The color scheme of purple and white was also lovely.

Have you been attending weddings this summer? What did you like about it? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Day trips

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This summer has been filled with thousands of engagements and weddings. But this long weekend, there was nothing of the sort. We took advantage of this free time and the amazing weather and headed to Sausalito.

I’ve been lucky enough to live in the Bay Area for most of my life, but I haven’t explored too many areas of it. One of those being the other side of San Francisco. As soon as we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, I was in love. Sausalito is a cute town on the water, with a main street that is filled with restaurants and shops. There were street performers as well, which I enjoy.

First we had dinner at Avatar’s. It’s a good place that serves a fusion of Indian, Mexican, and Italian. Then we walked on the main strip, enjoying the weather and the scenery around us. We spotted a Lapperts, an ice cream place where I picked up a mint chocolate chip in a cone to enjoy by the water.

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The next day we hung out in the other side of the Bay, Palo Alto. I had a coupon for the California Pizza Kitchen, where I happily ate my tostada pizza (sans the chicken). The night was so nice and we were stuffed from our meal, so we walked on University Ave while I ate my favorite frozen yogurt, Yogurtland. University Ave was so pretty- the trees were all light up (as pictured below).

What are some of the places near you that you enjoy making a day trip to?

Happy Friday!

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TGIF! The weekend is a mere hour and a half away for me. It’s been a long week and I am excited to unwind. Here’s why:

– It’s supposed to be in the mid-70s this weekend. In FEBRUARY. I love it. As much of the country was stuck in a snow storm this week, I am glad to live in not such an extreme climate. My parents always say “We pay for the weather” and it is so true!

– Our annual Super Bowl party: I am not a football fan at all, but this gives me an opportunity to bake. What’s on the agenda? Chocolate chip cookies and zucchini bread. Yes, zucchini bread..don’t knock it until you try it! It’s a recipe my mom got from way back when we used to live in the Midwest. It became a fast favorite with our family and my mom’s specialty, but she passed the torch to me. 🙂

We also have a lot savory goodness at the party, ranging from homemade salsa, seven layer dip, spinach dip, and of course our Indian favorites. So, while everyone is enjoying the game I will be sitting in the corner, happily enjoying all the food.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Good Vegetarian Food..it’s possible!

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When I inform someone that I am a vegetarian and have been for most of my life, I get a look of dismay, followed by the question (and one of my biggest pet peeves), “Well, what do you eat then? Steamed vegetables?” No, I do not eat steamed vegetables..who in their right mind would?

It is possible to be a vegetarian and eat good food. For instance, when I go out for Thai food, I substitute tofu for any sort of meat. In Mexican food, I order with black beans as those are most likely not cooked in lard. I even eat fast food..Subway has a veggie delight sandwich, Burger King has the veggie whopper, Taco Bell has the seven layer (you can also substitute meat with beans for any other item) and In N Out has a grilled cheese animal style. And of course we are forgetting the delicious sides that come with these kinds of meals: egg rolls, guacamole, salsa, chips, fries, and onion rings. The list can go on..

And don’t even get me started on the yummy desserts! (The number one reason I could never be a vegan. That, and cheese.)

I have also discovered that vegetarian sushi is possible, and pretty tasty to boot! (I don’t eat fish. Another one of my pet peeves is people thinking I do, despite knowing I am a vegetarian!) My first experience with sushi was a year and a half ago, on a girls’ weekend in San Francisco. I had always wanted to try it, but never knew what to order. Luckily my friend, who is a vegetarian herself and a huge sushi fan, was with me. Since then I was hooked.

This week I went again to a local sushi place and they were very accommodating! My friend and I were able to make our own roll with cucumbers and avocado, with bits of tempura inside. It was delicious. A side benefit: most of the rolls on the menu were $10..ours was only $5.50!

This is the roll we ordered:

Vegetarians do not survive on steamed vegetables alone–there are plenty of wonderful options out there!

Crepes

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Almost on a daily basis, I reminisce about the good times I had in undergrad at UC Davis. One thing I miss in particular is the amazing crepe place that I can’t seem to find back home.

I was a regular at Crepeville, eating their savory crepes and equally delicious strawberry and nutella crepe. This past weekend I was finally able to find a place close-by that resembles my favorite undergrad jaunt.

At Crepevine, I tried their California crepe, which consisted of bell peppers, onions, cheese, avocados (yum), salsa and sour cream with a side of salad and seasoned potatoes.

See the deliciousness for yourself:

I foresee many, many trips to Crepevine in my future, especially because I still need to try their strawberry and nutella crepe!

$1 million from baking? Not bad.

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Baking is one of my favorite things to do.  Whenever I have people over, I love to bake something for them. Whether it’s cookies, cupcakes, or a cake..I enjoy it! (Red velvet is my favorite, just so you know :-))

A good friend and I never pass up an opportunity to bake.  We’re always on the lookout for new, fun baked goods to experiment with.  Lucky for us, I came across exactly that today!

I caught the end of Oprah’s show, where she announced the winner of Pillsbury’s Bake Off. The grand prize being one million dollars. Can you imagine? That is pretty amazing. Who knew that my insatiable cravings for baked goods is worthy of a million dollar prize?

Anyways, the winner was a woman from New Jersey whose item was Mini Ice Cream Cookie Cups. They look amazing and not to mention delicious! It also looks pretty simple, with room for your own creativity.

I’m excited to try them soon..perhaps at the next party/get together? (Hint, hint friends! ;-))

Thanks, Oprah!

Here is the recipe:

Servings: Makes 24 tartlets

Ingredients:

Mini Ice Cream Cookie Cups

  • 1 package (16 ounces) Pillsbury® Ready to Bake! refrigerated sugar cookies (24 cookies)
  • 4 tsp. sugar
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped Fisher® Chef’s Naturals® chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup Hershey’s® semisweet chocolate baking chips
  • 1/4 cup Smucker’s® Seedless red raspberry jam
  • 1 1/2 cups vanilla bean ice cream , softened
  • 24 fresh raspberries

Directions:

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Start to Finish: 45 minutes

Heat oven to 350°. Spray 24 mini muffin cups with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray. Place 1 cookie dough round in each muffin cup. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Place 2 teaspoons of the sugar in small bowl. Dip end of wooden spoon handle in sugar; carefully press into center of each cookie to make 1-inch-wide indentation. Cool completely in pan, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix walnuts and remaining 2 teaspoons sugar; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds, stirring after 30 seconds, until smooth.

Run knife around edges of cups to loosen; gently remove from pan. Dip rim of each cup into melted chocolate, then into walnut mixture. Place walnut side up on cookie sheet with sides.

In another small microwavable bowl, microwave jam uncovered on high about 15 seconds until melted. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon jam into each cup. Freeze cups about 5 minutes or until chocolate is set.

Spoon ice cream into cups, using small cookie scoop or measuring tablespoon. Top each cup with fresh raspberry. Store in freezer; let stand at room temperature 5 minutes before serving.