Cream cheese pancakes with fruit salad

Last week Rachael, aka FujiMama, tweeted that it was a pancake week, which made me think of a recipe for Mascarpone Pancakes that I've made last year. Those pancakes were fluffy, slightly sweet, and super easy to make.

I usually don't make pancakes from scratch: a boxed mix with a few additions does the trick for me, but those Mascarpone pancakes were definitely worth the time it took to measure

Last week Rachael, aka FujiMama, tweeted that it was a pancake week, which made me think of a recipe for Mascarpone Pancakes that I've made last year. Those pancakes were fluffy, slightly sweet, and super easy to make.

I usually don't make pancakes from scratch: a boxed mix with a few additions does the trick for me, but those Mascarpone pancakes were definitely worth the time it took to measure

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

What to serve for an Oscars party

Sunday is a big day for movie lovers: Oscars!!! Are you going to be watching? Do you care more about the outfits, who the stars bring along as their dates or who actually wins the Golden Statue?

Regardless, what to serve for an Oscars party must be a question on your minds!

Recently I was contacted by Nevin Martell who writes for Express and asked if they could use my Eggplant & Tomato Dip

Sunday is a big day for movie lovers: Oscars!!! Are you going to be watching? Do you care more about the outfits, who the stars bring along as their dates or who actually wins the Golden Statue?

Regardless, what to serve for an Oscars party must be a question on your minds!

Recently I was contacted by Nevin Martell who writes for Express and asked if they could use my Eggplant & Tomato Dip

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

What do Puerto Ricans Eat?

Have you ever wondered what Puerto Ricans eat? Well, food, of course! But each country has its own specialties, and of course the cuisine differs from region to region, with each restaurant and family adding its own flavor to well known dishes.

Over the Presidents' Day weekend, I made my third trip to Puerto Rico. My friend Jenny and I left the winter weather of DC and New York to fly and spend

Have you ever wondered what Puerto Ricans eat? Well, food, of course! But each country has its own specialties, and of course the cuisine differs from region to region, with each restaurant and family adding its own flavor to well known dishes.

Over the Presidents' Day weekend, I made my third trip to Puerto Rico. My friend Jenny and I left the winter weather of DC and New York to fly and spend

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Sweet potato vegetarian chili

Let's get one thing straight: for me, chili must have beans. It can be chicken chili, black & white chili or even chili topped with cornbread...one ingredient remaining the same is beans. Of course there are a variety of beans to use: kidney, black, garbanzo or Navy beans.
This time around I decided to make a vegetarian chili, but needed something to take the place of beef or chicken. Why not

Let's get one thing straight: for me, chili must have beans. It can be chicken chili, black & white chili or even chili topped with cornbread...one ingredient remaining the same is beans. Of course there are a variety of beans to use: kidney, black, garbanzo or Navy beans.
This time around I decided to make a vegetarian chili, but needed something to take the place of beef or chicken. Why not

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Moroccan chicken

This recipe for Moroccan chicken came about partially because my mom made it in Seattle, and my sister and my dad liked it. There is nothing strange about my sister and mom liking Moroccan chicken. But the fact that my dad liked a dish with spices other than your typical salt/pepper/garlic/parsley, is really saying something!

Last weekend I decided to have a few of my friends over for dinner and

This recipe for Moroccan chicken came about partially because my mom made it in Seattle, and my sister and my dad liked it. There is nothing strange about my sister and mom liking Moroccan chicken. But the fact that my dad liked a dish with spices other than your typical salt/pepper/garlic/parsley, is really saying something!

Last weekend I decided to have a few of my friends over for dinner and

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Avocado, pistachio & arugula sandwich

Last month I was invited by Dusty Lockhart of ThreeLockharts to a dinner at Cork to check out the latest items on their menu with some of the other DC food bloggers. I was excited! First, I had a great time when I first met Dusty at Bar Pilar: we had so much in common {our love of Brussels sprouts, dance movies, etc...it was almost like a great first date}. Second, I've heard of Cork, but have

Last month I was invited by Dusty Lockhart of ThreeLockharts to a dinner at Cork to check out the latest items on their menu with some of the other DC food bloggers. I was excited! First, I had a great time when I first met Dusty at Bar Pilar: we had so much in common {our love of Brussels sprouts, dance movies, etc...it was almost like a great first date}. Second, I've heard of Cork, but have

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

How to make chocolate covered strawberries at home

Last Friday, my coworker (hi, Chris!) told me that he was going to buy a chocolate covered strawberry at Godiva for his fiance, but Godiva was going to charge him $7. SEVEN dollars for ONE strawberry!!! Can you believe that? Yes, I realize it's probably because of something called Valentine's Day, but that's just a robbery in my eyes, especially when making chocolate covered strawberries at home

Last Friday, my coworker (hi, Chris!) told me that he was going to buy a chocolate covered strawberry at Godiva for his fiance, but Godiva was going to charge him $7. SEVEN dollars for ONE strawberry!!! Can you believe that? Yes, I realize it's probably because of something called Valentine's Day, but that's just a robbery in my eyes, especially when making chocolate covered strawberries at home

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Photos of Domenica Marchetti

Last week I got a chance to do something really fun: take photos of Domenica Marchetti for her next cook book that will come out in the fall! It was a cold day, but Domenica braved the cold and posed for me.

Taking photographs of people is definitely not something I've done too often, but Domenica was a lovely and easy going model. After a quick consultation on what to wear, a bit of lip gloss

Last week I got a chance to do something really fun: take photos of Domenica Marchetti for her next cook book that will come out in the fall! It was a cold day, but Domenica braved the cold and posed for me.

Taking photographs of people is definitely not something I've done too often, but Domenica was a lovely and easy going model. After a quick consultation on what to wear, a bit of lip gloss

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Spicy sun dried tomato cream cheese

Did you know today is the National Bagel Day?? It appears to be so. What kind of bagels do you like? For me, the more "stuff," the better. Just today I had an everything bagel: love! I also really like the cheesy ones with jalapeno.

But bagels are sort of boring without cream cheese, right? And just like I'm not a fan of plain bagels, I don't typically like plain cream cheese. Remember the

Did you know today is the National Bagel Day?? It appears to be so. What kind of bagels do you like? For me, the more "stuff," the better. Just today I had an everything bagel: love! I also really like the cheesy ones with jalapeno.

But bagels are sort of boring without cream cheese, right? And just like I'm not a fan of plain bagels, I don't typically like plain cream cheese. Remember the

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

What to do with persimmons? Persimmon, avocado & pistachio salad

I grew up eating persimmons. I absolutely love these brightly colored orange fruit. From afar they look like orange tomatoes or miniature pumpkins. Don't be scared: pick them up next time you see them at your grocery store. But don't wait too long: they are typically only available during the winter months.

There are several shapes and varieties of persimmon. What matters most is that they are

I grew up eating persimmons. I absolutely love these brightly colored orange fruit. From afar they look like orange tomatoes or miniature pumpkins. Don't be scared: pick them up next time you see them at your grocery store. But don't wait too long: they are typically only available during the winter months.

There are several shapes and varieties of persimmon. What matters most is that they are

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

First time baking French bread at home

Oh the crazy things Robyn Webb makes me do ;) I've roasted a whole chicken, made several dishes with anchovies, cooked paella and even tested vegan recipes. She pushes my culinary repertoire and gives me a chance to cross many "I've never done this" things off of my list.

A few weekends ago for Fabulous Food Finds I baked a French Baguette. From scratch! Without a machine. And you know what? It

Oh the crazy things Robyn Webb makes me do ;) I've roasted a whole chicken, made several dishes with anchovies, cooked paella and even tested vegan recipes. She pushes my culinary repertoire and gives me a chance to cross many "I've never done this" things off of my list.

A few weekends ago for Fabulous Food Finds I baked a French Baguette. From scratch! Without a machine. And you know what? It

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Brunch at Coco Sala in DC

Sometimes it takes me forever to try something new. This includes getting a cell phone, cable TV, wireless Internet, and oh so many other things that I should just keep to myself. Same applied to trying out Co Co Sala in DC. I've heard about this chocolate-themed restaurant for quite a while, and although it's conveniently located in the Gallery Place/Chinatown Area, I haven't tried it...until

Sometimes it takes me forever to try something new. This includes getting a cell phone, cable TV, wireless Internet, and oh so many other things that I should just keep to myself. Same applied to trying out Co Co Sala in DC. I've heard about this chocolate-themed restaurant for quite a while, and although it's conveniently located in the Gallery Place/Chinatown Area, I haven't tried it...until

reade more... Résuméabuiyad