Yummy Love for the Tummy

In a couple of hours, we will be celebrating my man's birthday. His friends made reservations for Buca di Beppo. Carbs galore!

Whether out with friends or cooking at home, I tend to eat well. I have been mindful of eating whole foods, like raw fruits and vegetables to cooking vegetarian and vegan to indulging with my crock pot making pulled pork and beef stew.

Last night I made vegan creamy curried soup. Not only this is delicious but it is so good for you; tumeric from the curry is for anti-inflammatory properties; coconut oil/milk has laurine acid which has anti-viral properties when your body converts it; and of course carrots for your vitamin A.

And it is all easy to make.

Another night, I made hasselback potatoes. Put two chopsticks in the bottom and then slice down so that it stops before cutting all the way through. This will give you that nice accordian affect. I sprinkle it with EVOO, California garlic powder, Himalayan salt and baked it. I like this way better than a regular baked potato! I added a small side of marcona almond pesto and dinner is served.

 I also made creamy cauliflower soup with parmesan crisp. Now milk needed for this recipe. The vegetable broth and food processor gives it this texture. Baked Parmesan cheese in the oven til they are crisp.. Did I mention this was gluten-free?

On Monday, I was able to get reservations for Bouchon's Ad Hoc fried chicken night. Ad Hoc is one of Thomas Keller's restaurants in Yountville and their fried chicken grew increasingly popular. Luckily Bouchon in Beverly Hills serves it once a month. Reservations are so hard to come by. In fact, I could only get a very early slot which made it difficult for many of my friends to go. Luckily I found one friend who is just a big a foodie as I am (blame it on the Food Network.)

Now I don't normally go around paying that much for fried chicken but I am paying for a master chef's rendition of an American classic. Crispy on the outside, not greasy but still juicy in the inside. And rather it be salted out, you can actually taste the herbs. Oh my, it was heavenly. Definitely worth  the whole experience. 

Soup for the Soul

I got busy in the kitchen once again, this time with soup recipes. Went over to the local market and checked out what was on special and what was in season. I was craving a roasted pepper soup. I found one that uses potatoes, which was perfect because it stretched the flavor of the red peppers.

Roasted Red Pepper Potato Soup

Roasted four peppers over the range until the skin is blackened. Put the peppers into a sealed bag or container and allow them to steam.

Sautee the onions in butter. Then add a chopped Russet potato, and then the peppers (after you peel the skin, remove the seeds and chop them.) Add the chicken or vegetable broth and let it simmer. 

Put it in the food processor and process until it is smooth. Continue to do so and then return to the pot. Add the heavy cream. Add Cayenne pepper and salt and pepper and waaaah-laah!

  

And because my friend from Maui asked me to share the base recipe, here it is!

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/roasted_red_pepper_potato_soup/

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

The market had broccoli on special - 68 cents a pound! So not only am I steaming, stir frying and making it into a salad, I bought some cheddar cheese and made this soup:

and here is the base recipe I used for this dish:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/broccoli-and-cheddar-soup/

This is my current fun find: smoked sea salt from Trader Joe's. It gives certain dishes the needed smokey touch. This is great with marinating meats and soups. Next in my list, Himalayan pink salt.