Shrimp Salad

Light, easy, yummy, simple, healthy and looks pretty too!

Ingredients:

Salad greens

Cooked shrimp

Tomatoes 

Thousand Island dressing

Chopped chive for decoration

How To:

Layer ingredients in wine glass or cute bowl. See images for help. Enjoy! 

(Told you it was simple) 

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Lake Murray Cafe

He had the pancakes! I had the eggs and bacon with home fries!

I enjoyed my breakfast, he enjoyed his, I also enjoyed his pancakes with a few little bites!

I'd like to go back and try some of their other menu items, including the Belgium waffles!

Here are their many locations:

www.sandiegohomecooking.com

Lake Murray Cafe
5465 Lake Murray Blvd La Mesa, CA 91942-1549
(619) 433-0180

Centre City Cafe
2680 S Escondido Blvd Escondido, CA 92025-7336
760-489-6011 

Lakeside Cafe
12212 Woodside Ave Lakeside, CA 92040-3014
(619) 749-4923

Cafe 56
13211 Black Mountain Rd San Diego, CA 92129-2658
858-484-5789 

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Fine Dining With The Art Institute of San Diego

Last week I took part in the Art Institute of San Diego's class final. For twenty five dollars (that went to charity) we dined on a seven course meal. Each course was based on a different countries. The meals were small but ever so tasty... hence the fine dining part.
I tried everything from the fissssh to the blue cheese spread, there wasn't anything I didn't like and my favorite was dessert plate.

The Menu

The first course a soup shooter with three layers at different temperatures.

1st. lima beans (hot), 2nd. butternut squash (Medium), 3rd. sweet corn whip (cold)

The Salad

The Walnut was amazing! It also included a fig, kumquat, a sherry vinaigrette, and blue cheese whip inside of a crouton cone.

Ground nut soup

This was served with sort of like a peanut butter whip in the center of the bowl and then the servers came around and poured chicken broth over the top,
give it a little stir and enjoy.

The Fissssh!

I'm not a big fish eater but I did enjoy this. The fish and rice were cooked perfect and I loved the red bell pepper it was paired with.

Limoncello sorbet and blood orange granita

This was a nice palette cleanser.

Pork Entree

This was my favorite!

I loved the spiciness of the spiced-rubbed pork paired with the habanero salsa, It had just the right amount of spice. It was served over a very yummy black bean rice.

Also there was a shreaded pork in a lovely marinade, served with plantain chips.

Dessert

1. Brittle eclair and peach sauce

2. Shortbread cookie with blue berry reduction 

3. Chocolate mousse cookie with my favorite raspberry sauce

Pink Peppercorn And Thyme Soda!

Excellent table settings and center pieces!

Thank you Pat & Morgan for the invite!
Thank you to Morgan, Patty and Tim for the great company!

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Simply Smash-A-Licious!!!

So delicious, "fresh-not frozen"!

This evening I was invited to the soft opening of Smashburger! 

Simply Smash-a-licious! (yes, I just did that! hee hee)

Located in the heart of La Jolla right near the sea and the ocean breeze is the newest and only southern California Smashburger. With their grand opening scheduled for March 23, 2010, they are ready and organized for any hungry customers. 

Everyone I met from the fabulous Elle staff to the owners and staffers of Smashburger were extremely helpful and outgoing.  Ready to answer any questions I may have on the menu we were about to devour! And yes, we did devour! 

I ordered the San Diego Burger, as I was standing in line I was told that it was "the best" and that "this was the best idea I've had all day" (so true!). But even if I hadn't received that insiders tip, I still would have ordered it... The description sounded amazing!

San Diego Smashburger = 100% certified Angus beef patty, fresh avocado (yum!), fresh cilantro and red onion, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and chipotle mayo all piled on a torta roll. Served with a wedge of lime.

So basically, depending on your city location the menu is customized and will have a special burger for that area...

Yes! I know yummy! Right?!

P.S. The chicken I tasted was great too, the marinade was awesome it had a little spice to it.

BUT there's more...

They also have add on's for your burger, salads, shakes, hot dogs, kids meals, lots of Smashsides, sodas, beer and wine, etc..

 Picture from - http://www.smashburger.com/

But my favorite, were these...

Sweet Potato Smashfries

Sweet potato shoe string fries tossed in olive oil, garlic, (and my favorite) rosemary!

They tasted amazing! I really look forward to going there again not only for a smashburger, but just for those fries alone, amazing!

So anyways, you must check out this fabulous San Diego, Smashburger!

Here's the info - Check out the website too, its perfect, easy to browse.

Smashburger

1000 Prospect Street
La Jolla, CA 92037 
 (858) 750-2531

Smashburger - http://www.smashburger.com/

Smashburger - Twitter - http://twitter.com/SmashburgerSD
Smashburger - Yelp - http://www.yelp.com/biz/smashburger-la-jolla

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Mousse Slice Dumping On The Table Fiasco!

Tonight I made Lemon-Blackberry Mousse!

Everything was okay until I tried to transfer it! Luck-ally I had Morgan to capture the whole slice dumping on the table fiasco! 

I got April Food Network Magazine and flipping through it came to a picture and a recipe Lemon Raspberry Mousse Squares.

Making it for dessert was easy, serving it not so easy. Maybe it hadn't set right, or maybe it was because I put it in a round form spring pan instead of a square pan, but it might be because I made it with all fat free ingredients...

Ahhh, We will never know!

But even though it was a mess it still was yummy! It was very delicious, creamy and it had a lovely array of fresh fruit! The fat free ingredients made it healthy which is always a good thing. Yep, I'll be making it again.

Also its not a typo I made it with blackberry jam even though it asked for raspberry, I was out of raspberry.

Photos...

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Lemon-Raspberry Mousse Squares link here

prep time - 15 min

total time - 4 hr 15 min

makes -12 servings

recipe by - kraft

What You Need!

48 NILLA Wafers, divided

3/4 cup boiling water

1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Lemon Flavor Gelatin

1 cup ice cubes

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp. lemon zest

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

1/3 cup raspberry preserves

1-1/2 cups fresh fruit

Make It!

STAND 16 wafers around edge of plastic wrap-lined 8-inch square pan. Add boiling water to gelatin mix; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in ice until melted.

BEAT next 3 ingredients in large bowl with mixer until blended. Gradually beat in gelatin. Whisk in 2 cups COOL WHIP.

POUR half the gelatin mixture into prepared pan; cover with 16 wafers. Microwave preserves on HIGH 15 sec. or until melted; brush onto wafers. Top with remaining gelatin mixture and wafers.

REFRIGERATE 4 hours or until firm. Invert dessert onto plate; top with remaining COOL WHIP and fruit.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Size-Wise

Cool off with a 1/2-cup serving of this creamy dessert.

Variation

Prepare as directed, using JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin and strawberry jam. Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries.

And The Winner Is!!!

Finally, I took 5 minutes to pick out the winner for my 100th post!

Thanks to everyone who submitted a idea!

And even though I could only pick one 100th post winner, I'm pretty sure I will  blog about some of the other entry's!

Matt is my witness (and the camera guy) I did put most all the entry's in there.

Sorry, there were a couple that weren't feasible at this time.

About the winning pick:

So about a month ago I received a email for a promotion of a new restaurant opening in North Park. URBN Coal Fired Pizza is scheduled to open April 2010. The email is enticing with words like "authentic coal fired oven", "laid-back atmosphere", and "award-winning, thin-crust New Haven style pizza"! 

 The Email also included beautiful pictures like...

Looks So Delicious!

So anyways,

I forwarded the email to Matt...

About a 2 weeks later the 100th post idea came up...

Calling Matt a week into posting the 100th idea saying...

"Please comment! What if nobody does!" :) hee hee

And the URBN Pizza email was the idea he posted.

Then I got more and more ideas... got to my 95th post, picked one, and here we are!

Again thanks to all the entry's! I had a fabulous time reading all the entry's!

LINKIES:

http://urbnpizza.com/

http://www.urbnnorthpark.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Diego-CA/Urbn-Coal-Fired-Pizza/317492240864

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Herb Gardening .com

Hello everyone!

Sorry I've been gone from my blog for a bit! I haven't forgotten about Dine & Devour! Just been a bit busy and I have also been braving myself up for my drawing of the 100th post winner! I'm planing to pick the suggestion in the next couple of days!

But in the mean time devour this website...

While planting my new basil the other day,

Yes! My other plant died! But it was only for the best because while browsing for a new basil plant I came across a three packer of basil. It came with Sweet Basil, Boxwood Basil, and Thai Basil! They all smell and taste amazing but the Thai smells and taste really amazing and I can't wait to make a Thai dish with it!

And trying to avoid the last fiasco of a plant dying :( I decided this time I would research the internet for tids and tid bits on keeping my herb garden healthy and yummy as long as I could. Like did you know, with a sweet basil plant you are supposed to pinch off the flowers to help the plant grow... I just thought they were pretty little flowers growing from my plant, I had no idea I was keeping it from growing by leaving them there!

Of course there are tones of websites that jump out at you and sometimes too much information is over load which is why I loved this site http://herbgardening.com/ . 

It has a list of most of the herbs found in my garden and each section talks about:
the herb, Growing Guide, and all these other helpful tips...

Growing Cultures
Plant Height
Plant Spacing
Preferred pH Range
Propagation
Seed Germination Period
Seeds Per Gram (Approximate)
Soil Requirements
Alternative Growing Media
Time From Seed to Saleable Plant
Sun & Lighting Requirements
USDA Hardiness
Water Requirements
Potential Pests & Diseases
Special Notes

The website is easy to read and extremely helpful it also has photos to help. If you have a herb garden or plan to start one I hope you too find helpful research to guide you with health herbs!

♥

Update:

Update: OK so I will be picking the 100th post in the next couple of days!
Also I have a couple of big posts coming up next week which I'm really looking forward too. Please stay tuned I haven't gone MIA! :) <3 ♥

100th Post???

Hi Fans,

Thanks for all your support!

I'm almost at my 100th post and I was thinking, why don't I let one of YOU pick an idea  for 100th post.

This is how it works:

Leave a comment below with your idea.

A recipe, a restaurant, a foodie idea, grocery store, etc...

When I get to my 95th post I'll jot them all on little pieces of papers, Throw 'em in a pot shake 'em around and pick out the winning idea!

But please...

- It must be capable and affordable, (as much as I'd love to travel to somewhere like Italy for a yummy diner, It won't happen!)

- Be sure to use the drop down and include your name/url.

- You don't need a Google Id to leave a comment just use the drop down.

- Non-appropriate ideas won't be used sorry.

Pick your favorite idea and comment below, I can't wait to see what you come up with!

♥

Pho

Pho King

4658 El Cajon Boulevard

San Diego, CA 92115-4403

(619) 285-1111

Phở is served in a bowl with white rice noodles (called bánh phở') in clear beef broth, with thin cuts of beef (steak, fatty flank, lean flank, brisket). Variations feature tendon, tripe, meatballs, chicken leg, chicken breast, or other chicken organs. "With the lot" (made with chicken broth and all or most of the shop's chicken and cattle offerings, including chicken hearts and livers and beef tripe and tendons) is known as phở đặc biệt (specialty phở).

 

Matt had Chicken Pho. Yummy - he added lots of Sriracha!

I had the rice vermicelli with egg roll and chicken. 

This too was yummy, light and fresh.

Included lettuce, cucumber, carrots, bean sprouts.

I think I was supposed to mix it all together but not to sure.

 

Try this place out, If you like Pho you love this place!


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