Almond Mandarin Cake

Super super delicious, this cake was tender & moist & the orange zest was the perfect bit of citrus-y goodness. I also learned about Almond Meal which is now going to be incorporated in EVERYTHING I cook! So yummy!

Yield: 1 - 8" cake

Ingredients
8 Mandarin Oranges - Zest & Juice
1 Cup Sour Cream
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
1 Cup Almond Meal
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1-2 cups Silvered Almonds (Sprinkled on top before baking)
1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar (Sprinkle on top when finished)

Bake @ 350 degrees until golden brown (approximately 30-40 mins)

The Tangerine Margarita: On Fire

I haven't been to Chaya in quite a while, but was pleasantly surprised to find that their amazing "industry happy hour" had been replaced by an upgraded menu, and still wallet friendly drinks. (Like the Cha, with a ya at the end.) Looking over their martini menu, I was debating between the pomegranate & the french inspired cocktail when I overheard the waitress dish out the "specials" to the guy behind me.

Tangerine Margarita, On Fire?

Excuse me? I quickly called over the bartender & asked him if the drink was really on fire? No, he replied, this isn't a college bar shot. It was a spicy sweet cocktail that made my mouth tingly & happy all at the same time. I have no idea what was in it, but I do know, I'll certainly be going back for seconds... and thirds.

Plus their bacon wrapped dates & mini sliders were really yummy & I want to try the French Goat Cheese & Honey Lavender Gelee next time.

What's the difference between a Cupcake & a Muffin?

A muffin is any quickbread (mixed by muffin mixing method & does NOT contain yeast) that is in the shape of a cupcake. A cupcake is any cake batter mixed with the straight method or creaming method made into the shape of a cup. Cupcakes (traditionally) have frosting on top, while muffins have no frosting, but muffins can have a glaze on top. Many people think that the difference is either frosting or no frosting, or that it's "in a paper liner" or not, but that is a common mistake. Either one can be made with or without a paper liner; it's just the baker's preference. A quickbread (or muffin) CANNOT be baked like a sheet cake or round layered cake because it won't bake properly. The same goes for a cupcake batter- a cake batter (or cupcake) cannot be baked in a loaf or bundt pan because it will not bake properly. But, since both can be baked into a smaller shape, everyone seems to want to declare that they're the same.

Thank you WikiAnswers.

IKEA for 1 please!

Ikea and all its Swedish grandness lacks one thing... a forgiving attitude towards the singleton.

In my newly minted "hipster adjacent" lifestyle with the beau, he's now found an excess of space in some areas, and a decrease in space in others. Finally having a breakfast nook, eating on the coffee table is no longer a necessity, and the hunt for the perfect dining room set begins. Within a realistic price range of course. However his downgrade from closet that could easily be converted into another bedroom, to merely a simple walk in requires a creative outlook on storage spaces.

In comes Ikea, the perfect place for penny pinching assistants, still waiting for their big break, yet finding a bit of extra cash in their pockets thanks to the move east (yet still JUST west of the 101).

Having watched 500 Days of Summer one too many times, the notion of running through the store & finding little Asian families in the bathroom makes the trek out to Burbank even more worth while... and the meatball sundaes seal the deal. (Granted, I would not partake in the running through the store, and I was accidentally the Asian in the bathroom, rather than the adorable couple on the bed.)

In looking for parking, I noticed something interesting. In front of the store was the loading & unloading zone, while the actual lot was a little further away. Big stones caged in the carts, so in reality, the only way to transfer your goods from your cart to your car (without carrying them) requires you to have a partner in crime. One to watch the stuff, while the other grabs the vehicle. This puzzled me, could one not come to Ikea alone?

As a weakling, this thought has never really hit me, because I know that my scrawny arms would never be able to get my Hagalund sofa bed into the cart in the first place, and I've also never suffered from the situation of being "new in town." But what would they do? Those "new in town" and "without a friend" people?

I suppose the easy answer is, have it shipped... But really IKEA, with your "couple necessary" parking, you're just making the lonely feel even more ostracized than they already are. Sad.

Conversation with my mother...

Me: Hey Mom, going to play a little tennis after work & then coming home. Also, have Hurt Locker for you to finish watching.

Mom: OK... now I love you again.

This would all be because the disk I had previously didn't play the second half of the movie. Which she blames me for entirely.

Lovely times.

Zero Is A Cat

Enjoy!
http://zeroisacat.blogspot.com/

Next Up on the Bacon Train: Bacon Smores

Toasted Marshmallows, Buttery Graham Crackers, Melted Chocolate.... and Grilled Bacon? This sounds like a match made in heaven. My main problem with smores has always been the same... they're just TOO sweet. Too much sugar condensed into a lumpy concoction that sends my brain into coma after every bite. But I think the addition of a crispy, salty strip is just the key to break up the monotony of the sugary sweet.

And then the key will be figuring out how to turn these into cupcake form. (Although a little on the cupcake front, I think I'm retired for a bit & switching to cake making, as they're much easier to bake in my screwy little toaster oven.)

Bacon Smores. Camping soon anyone?

Amazing Just Happened (Again!!)

And you thought one slow-mo dog video was enough to satiate my craving... didn't you?

Duck or Rabbit?

I think I'm obsessed with this website and am going to buy everything on it shortly. Duck or Rabbit? Which one are you?

match&munch

There are times I wish I had a kid... mostly so I could justify buying these ridiculous products. Maybe I'll just have to figure out a way I can infuse alcohol into sandwiches so it can become a grown-up toy as well!

Product Description
Moms … are you often puzzled on how to get your finicky little eaters to consume their sandwiches..crust and all? Here’s a super creative way to kill two birds with one cutter…eliminate pesky crusts while making sandwiches into an intriguing interlocking puzzle pieces your kids will want to eat. The cutter is higher than a regular cookie cutter so it easily cut through two pieces of bread without flattening the sandwich. You can create single sandwiches – pieces measure about 3.3 inches X 2 inches –or build an amazing interlocking puzzle with pieces measuring about 2 inches square. Dishwasher safe. Made of ABS, USFDA approved food-grade virgin plastic. BPA, Lead and Phalate Free. Both product and packaging are 100% recyclable.

You can buy it here.

Strand Brewing - 24th Street Pale Ale (aka Pot Beer)

While dinnering at one of my favorite beachside burger joints, and lamenting the fact that no one aside from me enjoyed their lychee beer on tap (a strange brew akin to a packet of sour patch kids being dumped in a vat of pilsner) I came across what I could only assume was a local brewery. Strand 24th Street Pale Ale. Intrigued and always wanting to help out socali businesses, I asked the waitress for her opinion. She assured me of it's nice grapefruit undertones and refreshingly crisp flavor, and moments later I was rewarded with one of the most interesting beer experiences of my life. ratebeer.com did a pretty good job of summarizing my thoughts...

Dark gold-orange in color with good lacing. Aroma is grassy, herbal, a bit of lime. Palate is very dry and light, keeps you coming back for additional sips. Flavor starts with aggressive grassy hops, grapefruit, minerals. Flavors fades into a pretty firm, clean bitterness. Great with food, and a good first offering from these folks.

"grassy, herbal" which equates to, this beer totally smelled & tasted like pot! Not being a stoner in the slightest, I can't say with utmost certainty that the flavors were the exact same, but it was seriously close enough to give me pause. And who knows, the south bay is full of surfers and hippies, I wouldn't put it past them to ingeniously discover a way to meld substances.

After all they now make Alcoholic Whip Cream.

Seriously Eastside... Why do you tempt me so?

I just heard about SweetSalt Food which sounds right up my alley. Except for the fact that it exists in Toluca Lake?! Not quite the hipsterville of the Silver & Echo variety, it's still just far enough to warrant a serious need to make the journey. And I think SaltySweets will actually do it for me.

There were two things that stood out on the menu, (which is also going to be added to "the list") the first being the Lavender Duck Confit Sandwich...


And the second being the sweetsalt blt, complete with applewood smoked bacon and a pear & chevre sweet spread!

Just thinking about this is making me hungry! Nom Nom!