A Little Taste of Summer: Lemon Curd Cupcakes

21 Jul

Do you like the look of my lemons?

It’s been a while since I baked, and The Husband’s office was having a potluck, which is always a great excuse for me to get the Kitchen Aid out. The Husband requested my pudding-filled lemon cupcakes, and I decided to tweak it a little for the barbeque. Mainly because the ones he likes are the vegan ones, and for once I needed to make a huge batch, so off to Martha Stewart‘s cupcake cookbook I went. She doesn’t have a recipe that makes less than two dozen. I guess her usual market is not a married couple without children, and there’s only so many cupcakes that The Husband can eat! Continue reading →

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Today is My Blog-aversary!

18 Jul

I can’t believe it’s been a year already since The Husband’s needling me about starting my own blog finally sunk in, and Tiny Kitchen Stories was born. And thanks to all of you who have nicknamed it “TKS” and read, like and comment often. It is truly, deeply appreciated.

So instead of a round-up of the year, I thought I’d round up my little jaunt up to Santa Barbara and Los Angeles for my birthday, which was full of fun, lots of eating and friends old and new. I was eating for gold that week, as I knew when I returned I was going to do a seven-day raw food cleanse and then change my diet. Right now I’m off gluten, corn, grains, potatoes, eggs, soy, dairy….yes, some of you may ask—What the hell is left? What will happen to TKS? Continue reading →

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Happy Independence Day!

4 Jul

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Scary thing is, one of these guys fell over right after the shot. We aren’t sure if he had a heart attack or what! Poor guy. That’s patriotism for you!

Thanks to all our Americans in service. We appreciate all you do!

Our Fave Restaurant: Julienne

1 Jul

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Justin West is a genius, pure and simple. His food is incredible, and he runs the restaurant with his wife, Emma. There is soon to be a little West, keeping the lovely cooking skills in the family. Continue reading →

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Woohoo-Santa Barbara!

29 Jun

20120629-162217.jpgHit Santa Barbara today for a well-deserved vacation. As always, we get off on Cabrillo Blvd. and head straight to Brophy Bros for a few beers, some awesome seafood and a few Patron shots, plus connecting with the locals, like Cappy. Continue reading →

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The Father, The Husband and the Holy Carnitas

24 Jun

The finished product. Mmmm….pork.

It’s no secret: The Husband is a huge fan of pork. He seriously can’t get enough, and will eat it any chance he gets.

We used to drive three cities away to San Clemente to get carnitas at La Siesta. Their carnitas are seriously good, and the restaurant itself is quite cool. No outside seating, but inside it’s like a Baja beach shack with margaritas. We fell a little out of love with it when Carmen, our favorite waitress—seriously, she was the best waitress in the world—was fired because the other girls were jealous that every customer wanted to sit in her section if she was working. Continue reading →

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Egg and Cheese Baked Fondue

10 Jun

First of all, don’t ask me why this is called a “fondue”. It’s got cheese and bread in it, so I guess that’s why, but I don’t really think it qualifies. But either way, it’s darn delicious.

I’ve modified a recipe from my childhood, one that was a favorite of mine. Although I now make it any time of year I feel like it, it’s a dish that conjures up memories of Christmas morning and my mother. Continue reading →

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Food on a Stick: Kofte

2 Jun

I love to break up the meat and stuff it in the pita with some of the salad. Find your own favorite way to eat the kofte!

Luckily I didn’t try this recipe last night, especially with the long metal pointy sticks I was using. Even though I managed to cook dinner for four last night after three martinis (many thanks to The Husband’s grilling wizardry), it was bison burgers and we’ve made those several times before. I’m not sure if successfully cooking while intoxicated is really a skill I should shout about on my blog, but it’s a fact of life. So there.

The night before I used the pointy sticks, and there were no injuries to report. These minced-meat-on-a-stick idea came from me wandering around Whole Foods with no clue for dinner. I was not feeling overly creative, and we’d already had chicken twice that week. The Husband doesn’t like lamb too often, I can only eat bison (not beef, as they seem to lie about the “grass fed” part and it kills my stomach), and now we’ve been hearing about radioactive fish I figured he’d not like me bringing home fish either. So, how can I get something on the grill for dinner, I thought? Continue reading →

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Mother’s Day Brunch: Chorizo and Egg-Topped Polenta

20 May

I know that Mother’s Day was last weekend for most of you (and a few months ago for those who celebrate “Mothering Sunday“), but I didn’t have time with all that was happening last weekend to post this recipe.

And, technically, it’s still Mother’s Day in our house, as we served this meal to my lovely step-mother last weekend (and my Dad—he was invited too, naturally), and we had another brunch for The Husband’s mother this weekend, as she just moved back in to town. Continue reading →

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Potato, Edamame and Mushroom Caribbean Curry

12 May

I was starting to get a little worried about keeping up with the Virtual Vegan Potluck (the brainchild of the wonderful Ann, a fellow blogger with a site “An Unrefined Vegan”. Brilliant idea!). When was I going to have time to whip up a new vegan recipe? And one that isn’t full of gluten, which I’m trying to avoid right now, plus one that The Husband was going to like. He’s not that fussy, but there are a few ingredients I need to work around.

And then I happened to make a mushroom risotto and a curry two nights in a row, both vegan, both delicious—well, that’s the opinion of yours truly and The Husband. I can’t vouch for anyone else’s tastebuds!

I’ve decided to post the curry because frankly, I’m a little obsessed. I’d probably eat just about anything if it was curried. My 11 years in London got me well and truly addicted to those spices and flavors that make up “curry”. I get a little annoyed—okay, A LOT annoyed—with people who say they “don’t like curry”. Continue reading →

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