Gotta love those useful things!

So I'm watching the Today Show this a.m. and there is a segment on using kitchen things for multiple uses like a pair of tongs.  Christopher Kimball (editor of Cooks Illustrated and host of America's Test Kitchen on PBS) is demonstrating how a regular pair of tongs can be used like a reamer as well as a bottle opener...just in case you are using your tongs to turn some steaks and have the sudden urge to drink a beer but (GADS!) you can't find the bottle opener then you flip the steaks again and, in case your reamer or juice squeezer is dirty and in the dishwasher, you use the tongs to quickly squeeze some lemons to make a salad dressing. (Tremendous! You will look like a fab-u-lous culinary super hero moving from task to task as you wield your trusty tongs.)  Kimball now moves on to a couple other kitchen tools that can be used for other purposes, but they are lame and I can't even recall what they were; probably because I kinda l-o-v-e using tongs when I cook so this is the only part that actually interested me...uh-oh...Matt Lauer just looks bewildered and cracks a joke about using tongs not thongs...ugh.

Of course I am being snarky (huh?). There is something to be said for having the proper tools in your kitchen, much like a mechanic or doctor would need to do their jobs. Besides my love of the tong t-tong tong tong, I own a lot of them in different sizes and various price ranges, it is uber important to have a really good knife. Don't know how Kimball and Lauer missed this one. Can't stress it enough...ya gotta have a good, sturdy and SHARP chef knife. Just like my tongs, I have knives in a variety of price ranges so expensive isn't always better. That said, obviously if you are a chef, caterer, or other kitchen professional, you will need to get the best because you are using it constantly, but most of us in the "home" kitchen stadium do not need to spend a bunch of $$$; what is important is that your knives are sturdy and sharp (did I say this already? Sorry for the repetition). I have a Wustof chef knife that is very sharp and my current favorite. It came in a set from Sur la Table. It wasn't very expensive for the 16 piece set (about $150) but out of all the pieces I really only use the chef knife every day. I also have a $15 santoku knife by Martha Stewart that I picked up in the clearance bin at Macys. It is a very good knife, and was my fav until I got the Wustof set. Knives can cost a few dollars or be thousands of dollars and you can buy them at Target or Williams-Sonoma and all points in between...heck you might even find a great one at a garage sale.  I once saw a show that featured handmade chef knives for $5,000.00...why is this necessary unless you are maybe Thomas Keller.  Just practice slicing and dicing...and learn to use proper technique (that's what YouTube and the Food Network is for people) you will find that you won't be using that garlic press, or food processor, or slap-chop, or magic bullet as much.  Your cutting skills and confidence will make your knife a multipurpose tool...just remember to keep it sharp...p.s. how many times did I say "sharp"...again sorry for the repetition.

Ok so now you are a superhero with those tongs...click click click...and a ninja with that chef knife, what would be another kitchen tool with more than one use???? Well how about a good sauté pan. Get one that can go from the stove top to the oven so you can cook like a pro. I have used mine for frying, boiling, and baking (yes Virginia if it is oven safe you can bake a yummy cake in it!) plus you can use it to smash croutons for breadcrumbs or crush nuts or ice, or even flatten meats for cutlets. Go ahead and bash away...you can take out any aggression you might be feelin'...just sayin'.  Some of the best ones I ever bought were from Home Goods so you never know where you'll find one.

I'm sure you have some kitchen things you use for more than its intended purpose.  I would love to hear from you and get any suggestions...bring 'em on ladies and gents.  Adiós All!

Spring is bustin' out all over!

I love spring time. The days are starting to get longer, the sun is shining, leaves and flowers are appearing everywhere....and there is more and more available in the produce section or farmer's market.

My hubby love, love, loves fruits and veggies and it is always harder in the winter time (of course) to find a variety of fresh eats, even here in California. He gets cranky by the time February rolls around because he is tired of the same old same old things.  So when spring rolls around, I try to stock up with a large variety of fruits and veggies each week for munching on or making salads, etc.  We are trying to go to many of the farmer's markets in our area so we can buy direct from the local growers, artisans, and small businesses. If you haven't been to one you should definitely make a plan to go. They are around in most communities, but if you live in an area that doesn't have a farmer's market  then find a way to organize one.  Some of them have a few produce stands and maybe a couple of flower vendors or craftspeople and some can be much larger and resemble a street fair with live music and food booths in addition to the produce, crafts, etc.  Exploring farmer's markets can be a good way to find new things to eat and enjoy, not to mention a having a good time just being out and about.  I wish we would have gone to the farmer's markets when the "kids" were younger and still at home...it would have been a fun (and cheap) way for us to spend time together as a family.

So it has been over a week since I lasted posted though I have been cooking a lot. I will be sitting down at the ol' computer this weekend so I can add a bunch of recipes as promised. I have had writer's block lately...or writer's distraction...or whatever.  How do authors do it??? I mean have the discipline to put pen to paper or finger to keyboard or speak into the whatchamacallit that transfers your spoken words directly in the computer?  (BTW I cannot use the whatchamacallit software how about you??? No matter how my hubby tries to set it up for me it ends in frustration cause it seems to think I am speaking some kind of jibberish and inserts words I KNOW I didn't say kind of like my cellphone when I am texting....I know you know what I'm talking about).  I have written my notes on scraps of paper, envelopes, and a receipt, with ideas and subjects to write about, not to mention a whole scrapbook of recipes cards that needs to be typed.  It is time for me to buckle up and get to it.

Anyway busy week ahead with Easter fast approaching and family coming in from out of town. The hubby and I are going to the farmer's market on Monday to stock up on healthy eats. I hope the beautiful weather continues because having all this sunshine really does a lot to energize and lift the spirits right?  In fact I am going to the beach tomorrow with RL to have a little picnic....and fill a couple of ziplocs with sand for my candleholders.  Besides the recent spring cleaning, I have been wanting to spruce up the homestead and I noticed that the catalogs I receive lately are showing "beachy" looks and since I live  close to the beach...I might as well jump on the design bandwagon by adding a few new touches here and there. 

Time to get it in gear and get ready to start a new day...

Is it really Easy Breezy by the Sea?

Okay, so I posted the first recipe (roast chicken) for my son's benefit because I figured chicken is usually a good go-to dish when entertaining new people and don't their likes and dislikes.  Now I figure I should probably go with a seafood something or other since my "handle" is Easy-Breezy ya da ya da ya da.

So yesterday I decide to make some crab cakes for dinner.  I start getting out all of the ingredients and assemble my mise en place (fancy French cooking term...thanks Wikipedia and endless hours watching the Food Network) and realize I don't have bread crumbs...or anything bread-like to make bread crumbs. What to do?  I rummage through and find some club crackers I bought to make the Pioneer Woman's bacon appetizer, which is delicious I might add.  Do I have enough I think?  Ugh hope so because now I am really craving crab cakes and I dont feel like putting on makeup and changing out of my housecleaning outfit (translation: pajamas).  Commence the crushing of the crackers and....yeah!...just enough.  Finally time to get cooking.

Well now I'm in the zone and inspired to do more---whhaaatt?  I take out the cream cheese, google cheesecake for two, and lo and behold recipe heaven.  But again, I am out of any ingredient...graham crackers.  Hmmm, oh look, a sleeve of Trefoils!  Bless those little girl scouts.  I crush those babies up to make the crust, mix the filling and voila...dessert.  Now you're probably thinking this was a rich meal, and it would have been, except we didn't eat it. Well, we only ate the cheesecake because, er um uh, we weren't all that hungry so go for the sweets right?  It was delicious, and the bonus is I have half my dinner ready for tonight!  I'm going to serve the crab cakes with some pea/potato puree and a lemony aioli.

Since I was energized yesterday, I took advantage of that energy and not only cooked I cleaned the house top to bottom...except the guest room.  It is still a shambles from SC's visit.  I am going to redecorate it and the master as well.  Nothing really big...changing the bedding around mostly. I finally found my inspiration pillow at Pottery Barn (don't ask...ok ask...it sold out immediately weeks ago but I stopped in the local PB on Monday and they randomly got one in from somewhere...score for me...maybe that explains my burst of energy this week???). Today is my shopping day for a coordinating quilt.

So it's off to Target and Walmart...au revoir mes amis.

. . . And it begins

I was thinking the other day (as my son SC was asking "what should I make for dinner for this girl I just met?") I really need a way to keep connected to my family, and maybe sharing recipes with them might be a good way to accomplish this...food is a great way to express yourself, keep traditions alive, and make your loved ones happy. 

Since I get asked for recipes all the time, I thought create a place to post all the recipes I have been collecting over the years.  Anyone could access them anytime or place and share them with people they care about as well.   Hubby's shrimp pilaf, Grandma R's beef soup and mandu, PI's oven fried chicken, CB's Spanish tortilla, or TM's wonderful pepper and tomato appetizer are just a few of the delicious recipes I have made throughout the years and get requests for all the time. 

So set up a blog like millions of others right?   Unfortunately I am one of those tech-challenged folks who don't know a widget from an app so bear with me as I have a learning curve to conquer.  But there's no time like the present so, while visiting JS for the weekend, I begin to set it up as the sun starts to rise and I see the beautiful Pacific from my guest room window...I am inspired!

Okay, here it goes loved ones. . .