Seventy-Four

Thursday, August 26

Peach pizza.

This was an experiment gone right. Sliced peaches, Bulgarian feta and spring mix lettuce atop a balsamic vinegar/brown sugar glaze on a whole wheat crust. I thought it was really delicious, but would probably use a milder feta next time.

Seventy-Three

Wednesday, August 25

Grilled cheese sandwich.

Yes, that is a pool of cheese. Why go halfway when you can go all the way to your 2000 calorie intake limit? Joining the sharp cheddar are such notables as spicy brown mustard, sweet relish (I way prefer dill but I don't think we have any) and cracked black pepper, on whole wheat. Served with peaches.

Seventy-Two

Tuesday, August 24

Custard.

Problem: finding yourself with a lot of almost-expired milk. Solution: making custard. I won't pretend that I'm not an expert now. If making custard was a military activity, I would basically be a general at it. That's right....dairy AND combative pun.

This stuff is so good.

Seventy-One

Monday, August 23

Chips & salsa + guacamole.

Today's entry is thanks to Kelly, my awesome boss. This chick is a genius with tomatillos and avocados, among countless other ingredients.

I'm not just saying that because she pays me.

Seventy

Sunday, August 22

Huevos rancheros.

Went to the beach and stopped at Pete's Breakfast House in Ventura on the way. If you like a tasty breakfast, this is a good place to go.

Sixty-Nine

Saturday, August 21

Garlic chicken pizza.

Garlic & Herb pizza dough (thanks, Trader Joe's) topped with a garlic bechamel, sauteed chicken, caramelized sweet onions and aged white cheddar.

A really choice combination.

Sixty-Eight

Friday, August 20

Rigatoni alla Vecchia Bettola.

A rich, vodka and tomato-based sauce, tossed with plenty of oregano, parmesan cheese and pasta. Served with broccoli.

I imagine George Hamilton is pretty rich, which would be the second thing he has in common with this meal, along with color.

Sixty-Seven

Thursday, August 19

Spinach cheese casserole.

A classic Anderson dish (something we have in common), this casserole features sausage, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, croutons, tomato sauce, herbs, and possibly most importantly, more mozzarella cheese. I mean spinach.

Props to Michael for providing it.

Sixty-Six

Wednesday, August 18

Lembas bread.

Confession: I am a nerd.*

Light, fluffy, buttery...reminded me of buttermilk biscuits. Very simple to make and super versatile. And fortunately, one bite is not enough to fill my stomach. This is good because it's delicious.

*you win, Jon

Sixty-Five

Tuesday, August 17

Grilled salmon.

Thanks to Dad for the star of this meal; the man knows how to grill. I've never been a big fish fan, but salmon has always been the exception. And TY, Mom, for the broccoli and brown butter pasta. So good.

Sixty-Four

Monday, August 16

BLT.

Turkey bacon, some kind of lettuce, roma tomato. And also turkey. Oh, and ranch dressing. On toasted whole wheat pane. Yum.

Sixty-Three

Sunday, August 15

Tequila-lime wings.

Got these guys at Costco; not my favorite wings (AM I RIGHT, MIKE?!) but still pretty delicious. Served with grilled pepper jack quesadillas, diced tomato, fresh guacamole, sour cream and grilled peaches.

Sixty-Two

Saturday, August 14

Earl Grey tea.

I'm surprised I've gone this long without posting something I have almost every single day. Served with milk.

Sixty-One

Friday, August 13

Orange tart.

I took a basic lemon meringue pie recipe and switched it up a bit. Rather than lemon juice/zest, I used orange; instead of meringue, fresh whipped cream; and I used a really delicious pie dough but made it in a tart pan. Finished with a sprinkle of orange zest.

Sixty

Thursday, August 12

Hors d'oeuvres.

Went to the Ablers' home for some delicious snacks and wonderful company to close Jen's stay with us.

Mostly clockwise from bottom left: cucumber, gorgonzola crackers, Toscano cheese with black pepper, cheddar, grapes, fresh figs, tiny garlic potatoes (delicious, Jess!), cherry tomatoes, green beans with garlic vinaigrette, pimiento-stuffed green olive, jalepeno-stuffed green olive.

Fiddy-Nine

Wednesday, August 11

Chocolate chip cookies.

Jen and I made these, using a really great recipe I found on foodnetwork.com a couple years ago. Also good chipless.

(This is a shout-out to Matt Oakes. Holler at my boy.)

Fiddy-Eight

Tuesday, August 10

Dill pickles.

I'm glad to say pickles have played a large part in Jen's visit these past several days.

Compliments of Pasz & Krissy.

Fiddy-Seven

Monday, August 9

Burrito burger.

Mom's behind this mind-twister. It's ground beef, mixed with refried beans and spices, stuffed with pepper jack cheese, and grilled; then placed inside a tortilla with lettuce, tomato, avocado, green onions, cilantro, sour cream, salsa and hot sauce. One of the tastiest things I've ever known.

Fiddy-Six

Sunday, August 8

Crepes.

Thanks to Jen for this brilliant idea, and thanks to mah Mawmz for secretly being an expert crepe-maker. Filled with ricotta cheese, chocolate hazelnut spread and strawberries, sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Also, an honorable mention to my mother for showing me up:

Fiddy-Five

Saturday, August 7

Enchiladas.

Stacey Morgan whipped these up for her (and Ashley Scheck's) South America party this past weekend. Cheese, chicken, green enchilada sauce, and probably several other ingredients that I didn't take the time to find out. Regardless, Stacey is a remarkable cook and these were definitely up to her usual standard.

Thanks for a great party, ladies!

Fiddy-Four

Friday, August 6

Granola.

Plus vanilla yogurt and blueberries.

"It looks like vomit, I'm not gonna lie to you." - Jennifer Glen

Fiddy-Three

Thursday, August 5

Fajitas.

Thanks to Christa Keegan, Randall Fischer, Joshua Gilless and Jessica Abler for these incredible fajitas...steak, bell peppers, onions, refried beans, rice, salsa verde, cheddar, cilantro, sour cream and homemade guacamole. Simply delicious. Some of the best I've ever had.

Fiddy-Two

Wednesday, August 4

Iced tea.

Jen Glen is staying with us this week! We were about to start a series of movie marathons with Mike, but we needed a beverage before we felt we could fully commit. This is just one of several variations of sweet tea we've made so far.

Orange pekoe, granulated sugar, lemon, mint.

Fiddy-One

Tuesday, August 3

Tuna melts.

Parmesan & cheddar sourdough, tuna with mayonnaise and dill relish, sharp cheddar; lettuce & tomato salad with red wine vinegar, salt and pepper.

Fiddy

Monday, August 2

Nachos.

Ground beef, black and/or refried beans, cilantro, salsa, aged white cheddar, sour cream, tomatoes, green onions, hot sauce...my mom knows what nachos are all about.

[insert "dat's not cho cheese!" joke here]

Forty-Nine

Sunday, August 1

Vanilla soy iced coffee.

Enjoyed some Starbucks with the bridal party after good, old-fashioned mani/pedi time, made possible by #1 of 5 female Glandercampbell cousins, Meg Gates.

Thanks, Meg! We love you! :)

PS - Jen says hi.

Forty-Eight

Saturday, July 31

Parmesan chicken & pasta.

Dinner at Marcus & Melanie's wedding reception. Parmesan chicken, fettucini alfredo, Caesar salad and Myriah Pujat's signature pink penne. All lovingly prepared by the bride, bridesmaids and wedding coordinator!

Forty-Seven

Friday, July 30

Pear and gorgonzola pizza.

Dinner at the California Pizza(zz) Kitchen, following Marcus & Melanie Handy's wedding rehearsal. Really delicious, topped with fresh greens and a light bleu cheese dressing.

"It's like someone took a salad and a pizza and put them together. Or like someone took a pizza and put salad on top. Or like someone had a salad, and they just put it on their pizza." - Anthony Populo

Forty-Six

Thursday, July 29

Strawberry Pop Tart.

Spent some quality time with a community college vending machine, waiting for the BFF to get off work. I realized it had been several years since I had a really good Pop Tart, so, after ensuring I had the necessary 65 cents, I bought one (or two, as it turned out). I think I have a whole different level of appreciation for junk food since I didn't get too much when I was growing up (thanks, Mom and Dad!), so now it's something I really savor. Followed by regret...followed by salad.

Forty-Five

Wednesday, July 28

"Oreo" cake.

Went to Dave & Lola Todd's for dinner. After a deliciously massive (and massively delicious) meal, Lola provided us with an "Oreo" cake, so named because of the layer of vanilla cake between two layers of chocolate cake. In this picture, Janice Walsh was kind of enough to provide a sense of scale; to say this cake was huge would be some large kind of understatement.

I've formed a nasty habit of deliberately going to dinner parties without my camera...so I had to rely on my trusty phone for this shot. It won't happen again.

It probably will.

Forty-Four

Tuesday, July 27

Apple pie.

Yet another fantastic pie at my home away from home. Thanks to the talented Janice Walsh for this one. Streusel topping + cinnamon = yes.

Forty-Three

Monday, July 26

Honey Nut Cheerios.

Nothing like a cold bowl of grains after a long week of hard work.