Deviled Eggs
Honolulu was the place to be this weekend. With the Pro Bowl coming into town, everything was buzzing. Friday night, I worked a buy out at Morimoto that was hosted by the NFL! Dave Mathews from DMB was even there! Even though I was in the kitchen all night, I felt very cool and important. In the spirit of football and the super bowl, I have a Super Bowl party recipe for you today.
Featured Foodie Friday: Oblique Rays
It is Friday, the weekend right?! For me, that doesn’t mean relaxing, far from. It means two crazy nights at work. I have been working mostly nights at Morimoto Waikiki, with the exception of a couple morning shift this week. It amazes me the difference in the type of shift I have when I work a lunch versus a night. Lunch shifts at Morimoto are mostly about setting up and prepping out food. Night shift are about putting out food, and lots of it. I am excited to be working nights after working lunches all fall at SALT, but it is a pretty crazy experience. Morimoto is a high-volume fine dining restaurant, which means go time all the time at night. The good thing is, I am LOVING it! The kitchen at Morimoto runs much more smoothly than my last job, which makes busy nights feel less chaotic. I love the excitement of the kitchen at night, not to mention the fact that time flies by when you are busy. What are your weekend plans? If you have some free time I have just the recipe for you. Rujuta over at Oblique Rays is our featured blogger for today with a delicious recipe for you to make on your days off! I know you are going to love this one. Have a great weekend!
Tiramisu Cupcakes
Wild Rice & Vegetable Stew
I know it may seem weird, but I have still eaten quite a bit of soup here in Hawaii. I love making soups and stews because I feel like it gives me room to be creative. I can throw whatever I want into a soup/stew and whip it up pretty quickly. Because of that, soups are a great way to use up leftover ingredients in your kitchen. Also, they are great if you don’t have time to stand over your stove while making dinner. You can be getting ready, taking care of the kids or just kicking back watching Top Chef while your soup works its magic.
Pear, Goat Cheese & Pistachio Pizza
Do any of you have that one (or two or three) food that you crave CONSTANTLY?! I have two, pizza and cheese. I could eat pizza anytime, anywhere. Lately all I have been thinking about it pizza, but for some odd reason I went a really long time without having any. As you could imagine, I was stoked when I walked into Morimoto a few days ago for work to find out that staff meal that day was focaccia pizza! Even after eating more than my fair share of staff meal, I still am craving pizza, so naturally I want to share one of my newest pizza creations with you to feed my craving.
Chocolate Brownie Oatmeal by The Picky Eater
Do you ever stop and think about how it is kind of absurd how much your life revolves around food? For me, every single thing I do pretty much has to do with food. I work in a kitchen, I cook at home, I eat ALL the time, I am going to culinary school, I write a food blog, I constantly read food blogs, I look at food porn, I am constantly thinking about food. But even the people who are not as immersed in the food world as me have a special spot for food. What is it about food that is so enticing?
Yeah it tastes good, that is a given… well I guess most of the time (I would hope). What I think it is is the memories and atmosphere that can be created by food. Food can take to back to your home growing up or into a completely different place you have never visited. That is one thing I think that I love most about food (not to mention eating it). Our guest blogger today really hits home for me with this subject because I grew up eating oatmeal, but always ate the exact same kind as a kid- maple and brown sugar instant packets. Now as an adult (ha) I love trying “fancier” versions of my childhood favorites, which is why I love this recipe. Though I have to say kids would love this too! With that I give you Anjali from The Picky Eater:
Chocolate Brownie Oatmeal
Detox Green Machine Soup
I got rained on for the first time the other day riding my bike to the beach. Definitely the first of many I think. I guess there are prices to pay when you live in Paradise! I only have a bike, so I ride it everywhere, including to and from work. Luckily I work in a kitchen with a bunch of sweaty guys anyway so it is OK that I show up drenched in sweat… Riding my bike has been a great workout for me though! I forces me to workout, which is perfect for my type of personality… 🙂 I know if that is not your case, it can be hard to find time or motivation to workout, I had the same problem. If that is how you feel, this is a recipe for you!
Featured Foodie Friday: QlinArt
Just a quick Hawaii update before I introduce our awesome guest blogger for today. I have finally moved in and (I think) got everything I need- i.e. bedding, my sweet air mattress, a bike, a surfboard, staples- after spending almost all the money I had to get me on my feet. Keep your fingers crossed for my stage at Morimoto Waikiki tomorrow night! It is so great here, everyone seems super nice and the weather WAY beats Colorado’s freezing winter! Although I will admit I’ve got quite the sunburn at the moment, that’s OK though. As for our guest blogger today, I would like to introduce you to Quynh from QlinArt whose blog is perfect for today, because much of the food here in Hawaii also has a lot of Asian influence. She has quite a cool background and not-to-mention awesome photography, so check her out:
Spicy, Creamy Green Lentil Casserole
Detox Cran-Blueberry Banana Fruit Smoothie
I don’t necessarily think that New Years means that you HAVE to immediately start dieting, but I feel like it is a good time to start out fresh. I like to refine my eating and exercising habits after the holiday bingeing is over. I recently did a cleanse to start out fresh before my move. One key component to a cleanse is flushing out your system and getting detoxifying nutrients, which makes this smoothie perfect for a cleanse.
Bleu Cheese Chicken Tartlets
January 9, 2012
**This giveaway is now closed**
Life is good. I was sick when I left Colorado, but for some reason being sick in Hawaii does not feel as bad as being sick in Colorado; I think it’s because of the humidity. My friends greeted me with a lei and champagne at the airport, not too shabby! I have a few interviews at restaurants around the area this week, one of which is Morimoto’s restaurant in Waikiki! Wish me luck! Since I am having so much fun, I figured you all deserve some fun as well, so I am happy to announce a cheese giveaway from Ile de France cheese! This giveaway is extra exciting because there is not one, but FIVE winners!
Featured Foodie Friday: Badger Girl Learns to Cook
So it has finally sunk in that I am moving to Hawaii… As your are reading this I am probably flying to San Francisco or from there to Hawaii! Packing for eight months in one big suitcase and one carry on is mortifying. Thank god I had my friend there for moral support and to help me actually get things from my floor into the suitcases!
I couldn’t be happier to introduce our guest blogger today, Kimberly from Badger Girl Learns to Cook. When she sent me this recipe I literally turned around and made it within five minutes. I used A1 steak sauce because I didn’t have any BBQ but it was still SO good! I also dipped chicken in it and WOW, so amazing. I think it would be awesome to use as a spread for a chicken sandwich too! With that said, I give you Kimberly:
Buffalo Wing Hummus
