on the dinner table

I've been getting tired of my own cooking! These days my dinner menu has been blah. The same ole things showing up on my table.
I began looking through new cookbooks, blogs, and this month's food magazines.

 David Chang's scallion & ginger soba with grilled trumpet mushrooms & tofu.

love this new book by Jenny Rosenstrach

I made this salmon salad from Dinner a Love Story

I didn't have any green beans so I threw in some broccoli

My Martha Stewart magazine came with a little Everday Foods insert

so I made this healthy version of mac and cheese with broccoli except I used all 

full fat dairy product...I didn't have any lowfat milk or cheese on hand.

I tried Lemon Poppyseed muffin's from Dorie Greenspan...sad to report they weren't that good.

I wanted to make cream cheese brownies, but changed my mind and made these.

They were a hit with my daughter and my nieces!

On Saturday some friends came over so my sister and I baked

this lemon cake from the most recent Bon Appetit magazine.

It had a great crust and was very moist. Warning...it has a lot of butter,

sugar, and eggs!

weekend fun

Then early the next day my sisters and I left for SF to help her move. I don't recommend this at all...spending all day at Disneyland and then driving for 7 hours early the next morning.

almost there!

Then we spend the next 24 hours helping her get settled in, shopping and EATING!

Have you ever been to Ike's? You need to go NOW!

Paul Reubens

Nacho Boy

We ordered both sandwiches on dutch crunch bread

lobster roll

fresh mochi

I won't even try to count all the calories I consumed within 24 hours or how many cups of coffee I drank. It made me really miss SF. I'm already planning my next trip up there!

For Valentine's Day A and I made heart sugar cookies.

getaway

E had a week business trip to Vegas so I decided to go for a couple of days sans child. This was the first time in a long time where we didn't take A with us. We've taken some mini trips when she was a toddler, but E and I usually take separate trips where one of us stays behind with her. I was nervous, but when I talked with her on the phone she said that she didn't miss me and told me that she liked "hanging out" at my sister's place. I guess she is growing up.

We tried the new buffet at Caesars...I won't tell you that we stayed there for 2 hours.

The lobby at the Wynn, we stayed next door at the Encore. 

I won't tell  you how many croissants I had while I was there...you might not believe me.

These were hands down the BEST pretzel bread I've ever eaten and I've had my share.  I am on the hunt for the recipe.

Society Cafe at the Encore