Homefries

Homemade homefries!

Salmon and Broccoli Din

Not a bad job, eh?

This salmon and broccoli dinner was made very simply with seasoning and lemon juice.

Just Beet It

I like beets and I'm not afraid of saying that out loud. With beets, you're either in, or your out. People are either offended by them or love them. I don't have one problem with them.

I like them even more because they go well with goat cheese. And I really really love goat cheese. This beet salad consists of beets, green apples, walnuts and goat cheese (as you may have just guessed from the pictures) with a minimal dressing of olive oil, honey and lemon juice.

Good stuff!

Scallops and Asparagus

I made dinner, and not half bad :)

Sack Lunch: Good Ol Turkey

The truth is most of my meals are not as chic as this blog leads you to believe. It's usually fruit for breakfast and veggies for dinner, but that wouldn't make much of a food blog now would it? But in an effort to keep it real...

This morning I packed a lunch. Like for real. Like mom used to do. I often eat at my desk because I'm too busy at work or I'll use my break to run a few errands. So maybe I'll get takeout, or run across the street to the grocery store to pick up something to assemble. But I'm trying to switch it up, and trying to eat more protein.

I'm a carnivore that generally doesn't eat meat. Not that I'm opposed to it, just sometimes it creeps me out. But I'm protein and iron deficient so it's time to step it up. Last week in the office I made a PBJ and it so hit the spot. If only I had a lunchbox.

I Love Breakfast Burritos

I love breakfast and I love burritos. And we lived happily ever after.

Philly Cheesesteaks

The Amuuurrrican kids got a piece of home. F yeah!

The great part about this meal is that I had everything I needed already in my kitchen. Don't you love it when that happens?

The other super duper part about this meal is that it's less than 400 calories per serving. Thanks Cooking Light!

Sunday Nite Jam with a side of Cornbread

 

My flat is roughly the size of my previous bedroom in the US, and that's with more closet space. Since I've lived here I haven't properly hosted anyone and I miss those days. I decided that small apartment living is a fact of life here and it's time to move on.

Cang and Pierce came over for chili night. Cora made cornbread too. It was a perfect evening. With homemade honey butter!

 

They brought the guitar, I have the keyboard and harmonica, and we digested over jam.

 

 

Game Day C Flashback

Hosted by Team Oleykoski

Check out this amazing Colleseum cake by Joanna. I'm not gonna lie, I had seconds.

I've been gone since the end of 2007. That means I missed the first two Oleykoski-sponsored Game Days. As luck would have it, I was able to attend Game Day C.

Football is played. Then we feast.

You will never go hungry in the Oleykoski house. E & The Lady are gracious hosts, and like good eats. So it should have been no surprise that we ordered too much pizza. Way too much. And on top of that, there were salads, appetizers, chips n dip. I hope we earned our feed.

10 Costco pizzas! The other 3 were already in the dining room.


Cookies for every occasion!


Super evil, super good buffalo dip


What's life without mac n cheese?

Heroes Season 4 Premiere

Hosted by Joel and Ting

Heroes may have died after season 1, but Joel and I have stuck to it til the end... which is probably this season.

Joel and Ting enjoy cooking and entertaining, and I am often a recipient of their talents. This particular dinner: spinach pasta with veggies, duck with peanuts, and garlic bread.

Year of the Tiger: Chinese New Year Homecooked

Hosted by Ailin

It's the year of the Tiger and I need to step up my foodie blog game. Chinese New Year is winding down, and over the long weekend there was lots of Chinese food to be had. First stop is a homecooked meal by my friend Ailin.


Veggies, veggies, lots of veggies and tofu. Life is easier with vegetarian friends. They won't judge me if I don't eat the meat.


Mushrooms and vegetarian abalone.


Pork, chicken, and duck, I think.

It was a nice evening IN, which is a rare thing in Hongkers. When you live in teeny apartments, one must make it out as often as possible to not go crazy. But having a traditional homemade meal was great. We watched the CNY parade on TV and wrapped up the night playing poker.

Neiman Marcus Cookies

I was in the mood to make cookies for Chinese New Year and hand them out to my laundry lady, doormen, and friends. I returned to a recipe that was used many times over as a kiddo.

NEIMAN-MARCUS COOKIES

Note - Recipe may be halved
2 cups butter
24 oz. chocolate chips
4 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
1 (8 oz.) Hershey Bar (grated)
5 cups blended oatmeal
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups chopped nuts (your choice)

Measure oatmeal, and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream
the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix together with
flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder, and soda. Add chocolate chips,
Hershey Bar, and nuts. Roll into balls, and place two inches apart on
a cookie sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.
Makes 112 cookies.

Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

For my co-worker Christy's birthday, I wanted to make a special dessert. Hongkies are inclined to buy a cake from somewhere... nobody cooks. Kitchens are too small. In general people don't have ovens. And if someone does cook, it's your mama cause you live at home.

I think the desserts here (the Chinese take on Western desserts) is gross. They should stick to what they know. I have come across decent desserts from "western" restaurants, but I thought a home made goody would be a special treat for all of us in the office. Everyone was shocked by my abilities.

Sorry I don't have a recipe for this. I'm not one to read instructions, nor am I one to follow a recipe. I like to look for inspiration and then take my own twist on things.

Basically, take any cheesecake recipe. Instead of making a cake, put it in to muffin tins or wrappers. I threw some fresh CALIFORNIA strawberries on there cause Christy loves strawberries.

Yum!