Breakfast in Sevilla

Breakfast in Sevilla was the best I had anywhere in Spain. Unfortunately, we were only there for two nights. But picture this- FRESH squeezed orange juice (when i mean fresh, I mean they have a little machine behind the counter for squeezing oranges. So let's just say when you take it to your table, it was probably squeezed 20 secs. ago.), vibrant orange, almost like it was glowing. Little bit of pulp, and a strong, but pure flavor. Then the gave you sandwiches on really good bread. On the bread you could have butter, smushied tomatoes and olive oil, or meat; called jamon. It was so so so so so so so good!

Gelato...

...the most popular type of store in Spain.  We went out for gelato three or four times in twelve days. Lemon, bubble gum, chocolate, hazelnut, coffee, orange, chocolate orange, Nutella, caramel peanut, watermelon, pineapple, and many more flavors. Our favorite gelato place was in Granada, we called it the "chunka chunka" gelato place, because in the gelato, they had big chunks of food advertising the flavors. In the watermelon, they had a half a watermelon carved-and it looked like a flower! In the coffee, they had huge, dark chocolate covered coffee beans. Sticks of vanilla, orange slices, chunks of chocolate, mango, hazelnuts... Yaaaaaaay!!!!

Dried Fruit and Spice Markets

Yummy yummy yum yum yummy!!!!  The fruit and spice markets were definitely one of the perks of Granada. From dried mango and kiwi and pineapple and melon to all sorts of spices i've never heard about to honey and eucalyptus candies, they had it all. My family got a little baggie of dried melon, mango, strawberries, and french jelly candy thingies. My favorite was the mango. Note- Trader Joe's dried mango is also very very very good. Yummy yummy yum yum yummy!!!!

Mango

Ok, it's a (very cute) clothing store, but it is called Mango!!!! It has amazingly cute clothes!!!! Colored scarves, dresses, flats, heels, shawls, jeans, skirts, bangles, tees, jackets, socks, leggings, purses, clutches, hats, wraparound belts. Yaaaaaaaaaaay!!!! Unfortunatly, it's all the way in Spain, but i can give you the link!!!!  
                          http://www.mango.com/

Tapas

In Spain, there is this wonderful little thingie, called "tapas"(also, there is a wonderful little thingie called "zapatería", meaning shoe store, but back to tapas...). When you go to almost any bar or restaurant, when you order a drink, you get a small free plate of food, a tapa. Some reastaurants have tapas menus, where others will just bring you a tapa.  Taps can be anything- from fried calamari, to dressed tomatoes, to grilled goat cheese with honey (my favorite tapa!!!!). Because of "siesta" which can be anywhere from 2-7 hours, most tapas places don't even open until 9:00 p.m. At about 5:00 p.m., it's a ghost town there, and then at 10:30,  you see three year olds tottering around with gelato! But it's worth it to stay up for tapas- free food!

Lemonade!

Soon it will be summer! Lemonade is a refreshing, sweet drink, perfect for summer, but are there different versions than classic lemonade? YES! This post will help you to make fresh, sweet, and sour lemonade that everyone will love!


Coconut Lemonade- This uses very little lemon and very little sugar, but tastes good all the same! FYI, I find it easier to make by the glasses, not in pitchers
You will need...

• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 2/3 a glass of coconut water (my family uses Zico)
• half a lemon

You make it almost like any other lemonade- you mix the coconut water and the sugar first. Then squeeze in as much lemon as you like! I found about 2 teaspoons is good, but you can do more (or less) lemon.

Pink Lemonade- I found this recipe in a book and tried it a while ago- it's pretty good! Instead of sugar, you use ripe strawberries to sweeten it and to make it pink!
You will need...

• glass of water
• half a lemon (although I don't use ALL the juice)
• 2 or 3 ripe strawberries

In a micorwave safe bowl, put the strawberries and a little bit of lemon juice in the micorwave for about 35 seconds; until they start to turn mushyish. Using a fork, mush and strain the juice out into the glass. Put more lemon juice in the glass with the water and strawberry juice. What to do with the extra strawberry mush? Put it in the refridgerator- it makes a great breakfast. 

Try this- plop a few strawberries in a bag and put them in the freezer for a couple hours. The juice will freeze, and you are left with strawberry ice cubes.

Super Easy Fudge!

I got this recipe from the All Recipes website (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fudge/Detail.aspx)I have never made it before, but it looks really good! In my science fair project I used this to demonstrate how crystallization occurs, and some of my friends wanted to see it; so i put it up on my blog! I am going to test it- i will add to this post to tell you how it is! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Place chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and butter or margarine in large microwaveable bowl. Zap in microwave on medium until chips are melted, about 3-5 minute, stirring once or twice during cooking. Stir in nuts, if desired.
2. Pour into well-greased 8x8-inch glass baking dish. Refrigerate until set.

Homemade Naan Pizza

Totally yum! This is a pizza that my family has made for birthdays, movie nights, and more. You can choose what to put on, and they are soooooooo easy to make! My family always make our own special pizzas, on individual slices of naan.

You will need...

• an oven preheated to 350 degrees (Farenheight) 
• one piece of naan for each person (our family likes Whole Food's naan)
• tomato sauce, pesto OR olive oil with minced garlic
• toppings- my favorites are toasted pine nuts, sauteed mushrooms, carmelized onions, and goat cheese

Put the sauce and toppings on the naan (let every family member do their own!), and put the pizzas (you can do two at a time) into the oven on a cookie sheet. Toast until the cheese melts and the crust turns golden brown. Enjoy!

"Daddy Cookies"

These are defiantly a family favorite. Their actual name is "peanut fudge cookies" but we call them Daddy Cookies because my dad goes crazy for them. Actually, more like my whole family goes crazy for them. Anyway, NEVER have these around peanut allergy people. Peanuts, peanut butter and chocolate inhabit these tasty no-bake cookies.


You will need...

• 1/4 lb. butter
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups uncooked oats
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts (or use crunchy peanut butter)

Boil the butter, cocoa powder, milk and sugar for one minute. While hot, add peanut butter, peanuts, vanilla and oats. Fold over the mixture (it doesn't affect the taste or texture, but helps you combine) and stir.  

Drop by spoonfuls (notice I said SPOONfuls, it is very hot!) on to waxed paper and let it cool. Sometimes we just do it on our kitchen counter, and let it harden there (use a metal spatula to get it off). But always clean your work surface well to get rid of the peanut traces. 

Mexican hot chocolate cookies

These look like ginger molasses cookies, but they're not. These chocolate cookies are pretty basic, except you add some chile powder. It's not exactly spicy, but it has a "warmth" on your tongue.
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/mexican-hot-chocolate-cookies

Chocolate Banana Bread muffins

I LOVE this recipe. It is pretty simple, and they are quick to make. I made them with my friend, and she wasn't going to leave without one! You have to mash the bananas really well, or else there's chunks. And, if you overcook the muffins, they will get, well, overcooked. They are an awesome dessert, and can make a yummy breakfast. Happy baking!


5 eggs
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups mashed banana
3 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3 1/3 cups sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl; in another bowl, combine eggs and oil. Stir in the bananas, then gently mix with the dry ingredients to combine. Fill a greased muffin tin (1/2 cup capacity) and bake at 350 til done. Nancy Silverton* likes to put chopped toasted pecans over the top.



*This is Nancy Silverton's recipe from La Brea Bakery

Okonomiyaki

This cabbage "Japanese Pizza" is relatively easy to make and is a great appetizer.

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/japanese-pizza-recipe.html

Green Smoothie

Healthy, cleansing, and good, green smoothies are just AWESOME! My family has them every day, they are a great way to start your morning.


In a blender, blend...

• 2-3 handfulls of spinach (it depends on how big your blender is)
• 1 apple, cut in twelveish pieces
• lots of water
• 1/2 a bananna

Those are just the basics. Optional...

• chia seeds
• papaya
• blackberries and mint
• kale instead of spinach
• coconut water

The frothy part may rise to the top- just stir it.


Comment and tell me if you like it :)

Corn and Bean Salad

A simple, quick and flavorfull salad that is the perfect accent for summer meals, fish and meat.
You will need...

• One can of sweet corn
• One can of black beans
• 1-2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt 
• pepper

Just mix everything together!

World Peace Cookies

My mom showed me Smitten Kitchen, which is an awesome food site/blog. World Peace Cookies is one of those (egg free) chocolate cookies that disappear as quickly as they appear. 

http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/01/in-which-world-peace-eludes-me/

Sweet Basil

Such a good Thai place! They have really good variaty, from chicken coconut soup to sautee, 
and there's nothing more I can say except GO THERE!

Flatbread

I love Flatbread pizza. They have the most unique flavors- the squash and cranberry is awesome.

Their drinks are pretty good too. Who had the idea that maple syrup would taste good in lemonade?

Genius! You can always go there for good pizza!

Smoothies

Smoothies make me feel happy, relaxed, and are the perfect cool off drink.

I don't measure ingreedients, but I am very particular about the flavor.

Here are some of my favorite combos...

• raspberrys, lime juice, very little honey, orange juice, just a little ice
• blueberries, yogurt, lemon juice
• pineapple, pomegranate