Oh hi there! I’ve just returned from a trip to Los Angeles, mine and Andy’s first official weekend off since moving here in October of 2011. Hard to believe I got him away from the restaurant on a Saturday right? We got an early start on Saturday morning in hopes of “beating the LA traffic” which didn’t happen because there is ALWAYS traffic in LA! I can’t believe the amount of cars! Doesn’t anyone walk in LA? Apparently not, which is why someone wrote a song about it!
The weekend was awesome though and lived up to my expectations as a dirtier and bigger Chicago, minus the amazing lake but with smog… haha! Andy and I stayed with friends who moved out here from Chicago/ Indiana a couple of years back and they live in the heart of the Silverlake neighborhood. It’s like Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood, filled with hipsters and overpriced coffee shops but with good shopping!
While Andy and his buddies Todd, Troy and Ray went golfing in Pasadena on Sunday, I had the chance to hang out with a friend of mine since pre-school, Christine. We are, and will probably always be, very much alike. Both loud Italians with curly hair, lots of personality, dangling tons of Alex and Ani bracelets off our arms, it was like 20 years hadn’t gone by since the last time we hung out. Oh yes, I said 20 years! The year was actually 1994 and Christine, her cousin Melanie and I were sitting cross-legged in Christine’s bedroom learning the lyrics to some Mary J. Blige album, good times! Not much has changed expect we both shed our Italian last names and wicked bad Rhode Island accents (she more than me!).
She drove me all around the city, so much so that I felt like I was Woody Allen in Annie Hall, being giving a proper tour. We got out and shopped and walked through Venice, Santa Monica and Hollywood and I have never seen so many people out on the streets on a Sunday. One thing I miss most about Chicago is the brunch! San Luis Obispo could use a lesson or two in what constitutes a good brunch besides eggs! So we headed to her favorite, a.o.c. where we had an exceptionally good meal paired well with some yummy Rose. Cause like Christine said, “It’s not brunch without drinks!”
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Back to reality though and home cooked food! So here’s a little recipe I threw together the other night since I still had leftover produce from my Talley Harvest Box from over a week ago… what a great investment that box is! The carrots in the box were so dirty that I had to scrub them clean before chopping them- a sign of the freshest produce money can buy! This is a great low-calorie, healthy dinner that will help you detox if you’ve just returned from a weekend of FUN! Oh! And I tried Pinkberry for the first time ever this weekend- it’s a good thing we don’t have one in SLO because I can see myself there everyday!
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Pan Seared Salmon with Glazed Carrots- serves two
Ingredients:
-1 fresh salmon filet (large enough for 2 people)
-6 large carrots, quartered
-1 cup snap peas (peel off stem on ends)
-1 bunch scallions, chopped
-1 orange, juice and zest of
-1 T honey
-1 tsp brown sugar
-olive oil
-salt and pepper
-mustard (optional)
Directions:
1. Chop up the carrots and place in a large pan and submerge in water. Cover and bring to a boil and then cook carrots until they are almost soft.
2. Add the snap peas and the scallions. Then add the honey, orange juice, zest and sprinkle the brown sugar on top, mixing well. Place the cover on and let cook for another 3-5 minutes or so.
3. Cut the cartilage out of the middle of the filet using a long knife.
4. In a medium sized pan (I used a cast iron pan) add some olive oil and place on high heat until the pan begins to smoke. Place the salmon (seasoned with salt and pepper) skin side up in the pan and let cook for 2-3 minutes before flipping.
5. When the salmon is finished, place the veggies in a large bowl and half of the filet on top. I added some spicy mustard as a garnish. Clean eating, guilt free!
I paired this Salmon and Glazed Carrot dish with this crisp Rose from LaVielle Ferme that I picked up at the grocery store for $6.99! What a steal! I also had a lovely glass of Lucy Rose while in Los Olivos yesterday that was refreshing despite the high temps! Oh! And I just finished a wonderful book called Me Before You by JoJo Moyes, and I highly recommend it. Grab a tissue though!
