Homemade ham and cheese McMuffin (vegan style)
get some english muffins, soy roll (ham flavor), daiya pepper jack cheese, and a saute pan. heat ham (available at asian markets in the freezer) and cheese in a non stick pan at the same time (as seen in the pix) in a lil oil. the cheese doesn’t stick and it gets nice and brown, almost crispy on the outside. that’s how you know when to flip it! toast the muffin and assemble. as easy as it sounds. DO IT!!!! you won’t be sorry.
helpful hint—make 2, cos the minute you are done with it, you’ll want another..
**click on pix to see ‘em BIG!
tofu sashimi. make this!
so, i made my new favorite lunch last week. it is both simple and delicious, both beautiful and intimidating, and you need to make it…thinly slice cold, firm tofu into slices and layer on plate. drizzle with a touch of soy sauce. heat a non stick saute pan and grill sliced shallots til soft in oil and they have color. toss over plate. use the same pan to saute asparagus and add beside tofu. add salt. slice avocado and place each piece on each slice of tofu. sprinkle with togarashi and sesame seeds. drizzle sesame oil on top (just a bit). done. you won’t need anything else. it’s perfect, i promise…
jackfruit tuna melt? yes, please! turns out, it was a really really really good sandwich…
Sage bistro in echo park, again i know, with my friend christine. My jackfruit “tuna” melt was SO good. Her salad could have been better, but you know, it’s a healthy, lite salad.
Banzai Bowls..i can’t wait to try every bowl on their menu. YUM!
I went to HB last weekend and I had the perfect lunch for a hot day (that felt like summer) at Banzai Bowls. There are other locations in OC, but this one is in downtown HB near the pier. The 2 bowls shown are acai bowls: the OG and the Maui Sunrise… totally delicious and refreshing and covered in granola and fruit.
Horchata Cinnamon Rolls? …uh, yes please!
i have been hearing about the vegan horchata cinnamon rolls at the Long Beach/Seal Beach Whole Foods for a long time from my friend Allison, but i’m just never down that way. She was nice enough to bring me one a few weeks ago and it was ooey-gooey and cinnamon-sugary, just the way i expected. It gives me ideas too, to make these myself instead of paying 3 bucks for 1. All in all, it was good and inspirational, so you can’t beat that!
M cafe, i love you..
especially having lunch on your patio with friends..
this post features jen sandoval, yours truly, a big macro burger, and the M chopped salad.
A lesson in Gnocchi (in pictures)…
Not too long ago, my friend and fabulous chef, Brandon Eldridge gave me a lesson in Gnocchi. He showed me how to make a butternut squash gnocchi in sage “butter” and it was damn good! I have not tried this at home but it doesn’t seem too intimidating anymore. Have a look and be inspired..
a couple hot days in a row and i already want it to be summer, so i can eat stuff like this all day long…nectarines and loquats and mexican feasts.
Sunday Brunch @ Sage..
If you live in LA (or within and hour of it) and you haven’t been over to Sage Bistro in Echo Park yet for brunch, what is your problem? You are blowing it..ESPECIALLY if you are veggie or vegan. WOW, this place sets the bar high for vegan brunch..
I went with my favorite brunch buddy, miss allison dill, and we split 2 things-chia coconut french toast (on special) that was encrusted with granola and served with fresh strawberries and bananas on top, and the spinach avocado walnut-sausage florentine. daaang. that is all i have to say, dang! Both were amazing, a little sweet, a little savory. Perfect. the french toast was mind-blowing and i wanted another order the minute i took my last bite, and the walnut sausage on the florentine was incredible and so hearty and inventive. i loved that it wasn’t just tempeh or some soy product. allison also got some massive caramel latte that looks like it was served out of a planter from IKEA.
i’m already planning when we can go again..
**click on pix to make BIG!
A banana bread and milky tea kinda morning…
I had my friend Ashley Thayer over a few weeks ago for tea and i used it as an excuse to make banana bread. It was so good and warm on a chilly morning. Ashley owns Maricolous , a hand-dyed and woven textiles company and she is an overall rad human. Check out her stuff after you scope these pix of yummy treats and my cute mug!
