Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Just DANCE
Tonight I had the pleasure of watching my teenage God daughter compete in a regional dance competition. It was my first experience as an adult attending one of these events and unlike the movies filled with battling and drama, the competition was much more civil and controlled. All the participants seemed to have a genuine appreciation for each other and love of dance. However, just like the movies the loud routine music pounded the airwaves shaking not only the girls tushys but the bleachers as well. The outfits were fun to see with sequence here, glitter there, and perhaps a feather or two. Some of the dance moves of the younger competitors were cute but I didn't care much for their overly done faces and the all too typical plastered smiles. That part of the night felt a little too "Toddlers and Tiaras" for me. The Jr. and Sr. competitors had varied choreographed routines that incorporated the standard required moves. It was obvious that these young women worked very hard to make it to this "invitational" style of competition and were very dedicated to their art. What truly made the night special was seeing the look on my God daughter's face when her team took first place and received the coveted trophy, banner, and medals for their division. What I didn't know before tonight was that this is what she always dreamed of. Not so much winning competitions, although that's always a plus, but being on a dance team and competing against an equally talented group of her peers. Seeing the look on her face tonight it made me realize that whatever your dreams may be it's always a wonderful feeling to witness the dreams of someone you love come true. It was because of this experience that the next time I hear a funky little beat I will remember her joy and just DANCE.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Food Trucks
As of late I've been a bit obsessed about food trucks. Not the good old "roach coaches" but the gourmet type that you may have seen on "THE GREAT FOOD TRUCK RACE" on the Food Network. Every week they assemble at our neighborhood farmers market with all of their deliciousness and their sweet and savory aromas are difficult to resist. I've been telling all my friends about them and some have even ventured out to try their tempting tasty morsels for themselves and are now big fans.
These mobile eateries are very diverse in both appearance and cuisine. Some are decorated in cute and quirky designs and colors whereas other just scream "I'm here come and taste what I got for ya!". Whatever your in the mood for: Thai, Japanese, Mexican, American, French, Greek, and sweets to satisfy any Sweet-Aholic these trucks offer it all. What I love the most about these buffets on wheels is that it's a great way to try out different gourmet cuisine for not a lot of money. The fact that they are practically in my back yard is just the icing.
Each day of the week you can find several of these trucks huddled around various locations throughout L.A. and O.C. Due to the growing popularity with them most of the venues have become somewhat permanent locals with different trucks rotating each week, although some of them do maintain a weekly set schedule. Here's a link to help you on your hunt that shows who's where and when in both O.C. and L.A. The site also offers a live GPS map. http://thefoodtrucker.com/
These mobile eateries are very diverse in both appearance and cuisine. Some are decorated in cute and quirky designs and colors whereas other just scream "I'm here come and taste what I got for ya!". Whatever your in the mood for: Thai, Japanese, Mexican, American, French, Greek, and sweets to satisfy any Sweet-Aholic these trucks offer it all. What I love the most about these buffets on wheels is that it's a great way to try out different gourmet cuisine for not a lot of money. The fact that they are practically in my back yard is just the icing.
Each day of the week you can find several of these trucks huddled around various locations throughout L.A. and O.C. Due to the growing popularity with them most of the venues have become somewhat permanent locals with different trucks rotating each week, although some of them do maintain a weekly set schedule. Here's a link to help you on your hunt that shows who's where and when in both O.C. and L.A. The site also offers a live GPS map. http://thefoodtrucker.com/
If you haven't yet tried the modern day food truck yet I strongly urge you to. I assure you, you won't be disappointed. Bon appetit!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Food, food, and more food
Food is all I can think about these days. What to eat, what not to eat, how to eat it, when to eat it, and how I can make the good stuff taste like the bad stuff.
It's not entirely a bad thing that I'm thinking about food. I have made a decision to get serious about my overall health and food is a big part of that. I love food, ALL food and that's the problem. I wouldn't say that I'm a foodie just yet but I aspire to be. Lately, I have reassessed the food that I have allowed into my life, and I've noticed that my relationship with food can sometimes be compared to my past relationships. "Great but kinda bland", "delectable but soooo very bad for you", and finally "it looks great, makes you feel great, and it's healthy for you too".
For me food is more than just a means to fuel our bodies it's a passion. I love to read about it, talk about it, look at it, shop for it, research it, experiment with it, grow it, and of course consume it.
I didn't always have a love for food but once I discovered all the things that it could do I was hooked. I have to say that the Food Network Execs didn't help me either. Their clever way of putting on shows with cute and quirky chefs and cooks slicing and dicing, mincing and frying, sauteing and carmelizing, slow roasting, pan searing, braising, and incorporating lots of colorful, exotic, sweet, savory, sour, and spicy dishes just sucked me in. Not only did I want to taste their wonderful creations I wanted to do it like them with all the flair and ease in the same HiDef glory that leaped across my screen and into my kitchen.
Since being hooked on shows hosted by such celebs as Rachel Ray, Paula Deen, Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay, and Tyler Florence I had to experiment and perfect what little skills I had at the time. While I still have plenty to learn, my one time clumsy obsession with everything food is now becoming more of a refined passion. A passion that I hope to one day soon turn into something lucrative.
But for now, I will continue on my food journey of finding new and interesting ways that food can continue to move my soul.
It's not entirely a bad thing that I'm thinking about food. I have made a decision to get serious about my overall health and food is a big part of that. I love food, ALL food and that's the problem. I wouldn't say that I'm a foodie just yet but I aspire to be. Lately, I have reassessed the food that I have allowed into my life, and I've noticed that my relationship with food can sometimes be compared to my past relationships. "Great but kinda bland", "delectable but soooo very bad for you", and finally "it looks great, makes you feel great, and it's healthy for you too".
For me food is more than just a means to fuel our bodies it's a passion. I love to read about it, talk about it, look at it, shop for it, research it, experiment with it, grow it, and of course consume it.
I didn't always have a love for food but once I discovered all the things that it could do I was hooked. I have to say that the Food Network Execs didn't help me either. Their clever way of putting on shows with cute and quirky chefs and cooks slicing and dicing, mincing and frying, sauteing and carmelizing, slow roasting, pan searing, braising, and incorporating lots of colorful, exotic, sweet, savory, sour, and spicy dishes just sucked me in. Not only did I want to taste their wonderful creations I wanted to do it like them with all the flair and ease in the same HiDef glory that leaped across my screen and into my kitchen.
Since being hooked on shows hosted by such celebs as Rachel Ray, Paula Deen, Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay, and Tyler Florence I had to experiment and perfect what little skills I had at the time. While I still have plenty to learn, my one time clumsy obsession with everything food is now becoming more of a refined passion. A passion that I hope to one day soon turn into something lucrative.
But for now, I will continue on my food journey of finding new and interesting ways that food can continue to move my soul.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Back from the brink....I think
Well it's been a long while since I posted something new on here. A lot has happened since my last post and although not all of it has been pleasant I do think that it's been a big growing period for me. I won't go into all the details of my life's changes now but I will say that when you think that the bottom seems endless there's still always a bright light waiting for you at the end.
I hope that everyone had a nice and peaceful Holiday. I'm thankful that I did and look forward to the adventures that 2011 will bring me.
I hope that everyone had a nice and peaceful Holiday. I'm thankful that I did and look forward to the adventures that 2011 will bring me.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Pancakes for dinner?
Ever notice how kids love breakfast foods but usually make a fuss at dinner time? Instead of taking on that battle every night why not let them have something they love for dinner. Tonight I experimented with a variation of the basic store bought pancake mix and it turned out to be a win win for all so I thought I'd share it with you.
As some of my friends and family know I'm really into adding puréed fruits and veggies into our everyday meals to try and pack as many nutritional benefits into the meager food items my son will eat. Tonight I added sweet potato purée into the store bought pancake mix. My favorite is Bisquick Heart Healthy. I modified the directions on the box by only using 1 cup of mix, 1 egg white, and 1/4 cup of milk. To make it a bit more dinner like I then added 4 tbsp of the purée, 1 tsp of crushed garlic, 1 tsp of grated Ginger, and then I grated about a 1/4 of a yellow onion into the mix. After whisking it all up I cooked them just like regular pancakes. When spreading the batter onto your griddle it's best to make them a bit thin and as they will take a bit longer to firm up due to the purée. If your or your kids have a sensitive pallet you might want to add less of the stronger ingredients: garlic, Ginger, and onion or just omit what you think you or your kids won't eat. Top the pancakes with a good maple syrup, honey, chopped mango, or any of your favorite preserves for a sweet and savory taste. To keep with the dinner feel you could just top them with sour cream and chives.
As some of my friends and family know I'm really into adding puréed fruits and veggies into our everyday meals to try and pack as many nutritional benefits into the meager food items my son will eat. Tonight I added sweet potato purée into the store bought pancake mix. My favorite is Bisquick Heart Healthy. I modified the directions on the box by only using 1 cup of mix, 1 egg white, and 1/4 cup of milk. To make it a bit more dinner like I then added 4 tbsp of the purée, 1 tsp of crushed garlic, 1 tsp of grated Ginger, and then I grated about a 1/4 of a yellow onion into the mix. After whisking it all up I cooked them just like regular pancakes. When spreading the batter onto your griddle it's best to make them a bit thin and as they will take a bit longer to firm up due to the purée. If your or your kids have a sensitive pallet you might want to add less of the stronger ingredients: garlic, Ginger, and onion or just omit what you think you or your kids won't eat. Top the pancakes with a good maple syrup, honey, chopped mango, or any of your favorite preserves for a sweet and savory taste. To keep with the dinner feel you could just top them with sour cream and chives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)