Brooklyn's (Jazz Restaurant)- Dallas, TX

How lucky was I to run into my friend Corbin from Los Angeles, in Dallas, at the gym of all places. Whew! He invited me to one the hottest spots in Dallas. I haven't had this much fun in years. The band was playing all the classics from Bobby Caldwell, Michael Jackson, John Legend and the list goes on. To be honest I don't remember the food, not because it was unforgettable but because there isn't too many good jazz clubs/restaurants in Los Angeles. I enjoyed seeing people dressed up and everyone dancing the night away. No one was shy and I loved it! The band was awesome!!! The Drinks were Awesome!!!!

I wish I could pick this place up and put it in the HEART of Los Angeles.

I give this place two thumbs up!!

Houston's- Dallas, TX

I decided to dine at a place that is all too familiar at home, Houston's.
I was so sad when they turned Houston's in Woodland Hills to Kate Mantalini's.
I was also sad when they took the "Peel & Shrimp" off the menu several years ago. That is when I stopped dining there. I was hoping, wishing and praying that it was on the menu here in Dallas. I guess people are lazy and don't want to smell like shrimp after they eat. I have a solution to that problem... lemons and warm wet towels. Honestly, it was the best thing on their menu. It had a fantastic basil dipping sauce. Well I guess I will have to make it at home.

So I ordered a Hawaiian style Rib Eye. Not sure what I was thinking because I am not a fan of meat that is sweet. I ordered it medium rare. For some reason it was chewy. I don't think this meat was aged properly or at all.
I mostly enjoy savory meat unless it's Japanese style BBQ short ribs and even that I have to eat in moderation.

If you are looking for a nice after work dinner place Houston's is your place. They have a decent wine and cocktail list.

The Waffle House- Carrollton, TX

I know I know....lots of food for two people. I had to go to at least one "Waffle House" before I left. It's like seeing Denny's here in Cali or Perkins in Minnesota.
The great thing about this place is that they give you a whole lot of food for cheap and I even had a 20% coupon from the hair salon across the street. Not many places here in California serve grits for breakfast and I was all too please to replace my hash browns for grits. I didn't get all too fancy with my waffles I just wanted them plain. However, you could order your waffles with strawberries, bananas and pears. The people here were extremely hospitable and made sure you were satisfied before leaving. This place definitely hit the spot after running 4 miles.

Cosmic Cafe- Dallas, TX

Sorry people! I had better pictures of this place but my disk was corrupted on my camera and I wasn't able to retrieve my photos. So we'll just have to settle for camera phone pictures.

After driving around Dallas I realized my options were limited unless I wanted to eat Ribs or fried food everyday. As I was driving from the gym I saw this cute restaurant called Cosmic Cafe. I was mesmerized by the blue colors from afar. I decided to look it up online and realized it was Vegetarian. HALLELUJAH!!! I never thought that I could get sick of eating meat.

Cosmic Cafe is a peaceful quaint restaurant. Not only can you get great Vegetarian food, you can nourish the mind, body and spirit by attending their yoga classes upstairs. All of its food at the Cosmic Cafe is Indian Inspired with a twist of modernity.

I ordered the Portabello Mushroom burger served on naan bread. It had goat cheese and sauteed onions. I also ordered a yummy mango shake and the "vegetable of the day" which was spinach with garbanzo beans and sun dried tomatoes. Since I am not a sun dried tomato fan I was quite surprised how delicious it turned out.

I am going to label this place a "Breath of Fresh Air to Dallas"

Sonny Brian's Smoke House since 1910- Dallas, TX

This place looks like its been here since 1910. I was driving through Dallas on my way to Wholefoods when I spotted Sonny Brian's Smoke House. Well my Salmon Gazpacho dinner was out the window when I saw this little charming place. I broke the law and made an illegal U-turn to get back here.
I think the photos speak a lot for themselves. This place brings in people from all walks of life. Of course I asked if they had any type of vegetables and they just laughed and said, "We have coleslaw!" I was feeling quite guilty for eating all this bbq and nothing remotely healthy on my plate.
If you like a vinegary type bbq this is your place.

This place gets a thumbs up :p

Pappadeaux- Dallas, TX

Hey Yall! I'm in Dallas for a few weeks and will eat my way through this little town where bbq is a staple and seafood is plentiful!
Pappadeaux is my best friend Marlyn's favorite restaurant. Pappadeaux is a seafood restaurant chain that has some pretty southern food items on its menu. I tried fried crocodile for the first time and honestly it taste just like chicken. Everywhere I go I order oysters on the half shell and can't help but not order those little ocean crown jewels.
Pappadeaux's isn't too shabby. I loved the look of the restaurant and had a great time connecting with friends that I haven't seen in a while.


my rating 3 out of 5 stars

Warming Tip on Pre Cooked Meat

The other day I spent time with friends and family watching the first football game of the season. I wanted to prepare my classic bruschetta pastrami hoagies for kick off! This will insure that you will not lose any flavor.

Directions:

Add about an inch water to a pot and bring to a boil. Place the steamer above the boiling water then place meat inside the steamer. Steam for about 3-5 minutes depending on the thickness and cut of meat.

Time Saver Tip: No Boil Lasagna Noddles

I remember years ago boiling noodles for my lasagna and shredding them to pieces trying to get them out the pot. One day I was in the grocery store and discovered No Boil Lasagna Noodles and couldn't believe my eyes. "How could this be!?" Well... I took the risk and glad that I did it. Lasagna is not a cheap meal to make and can be time consuming. Now I have cut my time by 20 minutes. No boiling, no accidental shredding... makes a happy cook!
There are two brands that I recommend: Wholefoods 365 everyday value and American Beauty (red box) where you can find in any grcoery store.
For more about this recipe please email: jasmineskitchen@gmail.com
Meal was prepared for my husband before I left for Dallas.

Modern Huevos Rancheros-Breakfast for 2

This is what I had for breakfast after visiting my local farmers market this morning. I thought I would share the recipe with you. Bon Appetit!

Ingredients:

2 eggs cooked over medium
2 breakfast sausage links (kielbasa)
2 tostada chips
1/4 bell pepper sliced
1/4 sweet onion sliced
1 tbsp cotija mexican cheese crumbled

Salsa:

1 ripe tomato cut in quarters
1 garlic clove
1 green onion
5 fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 tsp lime juice
1 tbsp olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

In food processor place all items inside and pulse on low 6-8 times. Do not overpulse or it will be too watery.

Directions:
Add 1 tbsp of butter to skillet. Saute bell peppers and onions for 5 minutes on medium low heat. Then add breakfast sausage and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

In a separate skillet cook your over medium egg on medium heat for 4 1/2 minutes. Make sure your pan is buttered.

Assemble:

Place tostada chip on plate first, then place your breakfast sausage and bell pepper & onions on top of chip. Next, place your egg on top. Cover with salsa. Last, sprinkle cotija cheese on top.

King's Fish House- Calabasas

I love King's Fish House! If you're looking for a place to eat that always has the freshest catch of the season, come here. The last few times I have visited I have tried 4 different types of oysters and was fortunate enough to eat fried soft shell crab this time around. Another great thing about this place is that you can have your fish prepared any way even if its not on the menu. (Ask for fried catfish, yummm). My favorite side dish is the macaroni and cheese which is creamy and has a nice crust on the outside. I believe its panko bread crumbs to be exact.

I had to take a photo of the key lime pie because it was the best tasting key lime pie that you can imagine. This is how it is suppose to taste, HEAVENLY!!!!

I love the Calabasas location because the weather is always perfect during the evening and there is outdoor seating. I would also suggest eating at the bar. You can sit and watch oyster shucking and drink great beer on tap. The staff is always pleasant and can't imagine anyone not enjoying their experience.

This place gets two thumbs up!!!

Grilled Bratwurst

Bratwurst aka "Brats" is a sausage constructed of beef, pork or veal. Brats derive from Germany and are usually grilled or cooked in beer. I never heard of a bratwurst until I moved to Minnesota when I was 9 years old. Since then I serve them at every bbq. The best way to eat a "brat" is to have it with plain mustard and no bun.
In the future I will attempt to make them from scratch and keep you posted. Until then, Johnsonville is the way to go.
Grilling tip: Grill on high heat to get nice char all the way around without overcooking the middle.

Thelma's Morning Cafe- Santa Clarita

Let it be known that Chef Luiz cooked under one of the greatest Chef's ever for 20 years... Wolfgang Puck. Thelma's Morning Cafe is one of Santa Clarita's hidden jewels. Thelma's serves a fantastic breakfast and lunch menu.
Unfortunately for Santa Clarita residences Santa Clarita's cuisine is saturated by corporate food chains. However, if you are a real foodie you will undeniably enjoy eating here.
I frequent Thelma's on a regular basis and can say that every breakfast and lunch dish has been exquisite. Chef Luiz has a modern chic twist to his seafood eggs Benedict and a new uptempo huevos rancheros. Everything is gourmet and delicious and I have yet to find a cafe in Los Angeles like Thelma's.

This place gets a thumbs up and much more!

Julie & Julia

I finally went to go see the movie! I was waiting on a few friends to see it together but I had to go all by my lonesome. I'm not a movie goer but I was really excited about seeing Julie & Julia and was afraid if I waited one more week I would be out of luck.
My Thoughts:
I thought the movie mirrored a lot of aspects when it came down to my own personal path to cooking. Its funny when I meet people and they tell me how much they hate grocery shopping and cooking. Grocery shopping to me is like going into Gucci or a vintage store and finding something that makes me feel really pretty. Cooking takes a lot of love and patience. It is the most rewarding thing in the world to me. Call it crazy but its therapeutic.
Its funny when the character Julie becomes frustrated in the kitchen because something didn't turn out. I react the same way after I've spent hours working on a technique or accidentally fell asleep and the house smells like wood chips. It happens to the best of us. I love how she started her blog and wondered, who was reading it? I often wonder the same thing. Who is out there reading my blog or watching my videos? Is this all in vain? Of course I have to answer myself and say, "No, its not all in vain because I love cooking and eating."
Many occasions I have spent half my paycheck on special ingredients just like Julie in the movie. Once you start using fresh ingredients and your palate opens up its hard going back to eating ordinary food.
Okay back to the movie... I really liked the movie. I was hoping that the movie would go deeper into Julia Childs personal life. It only touched the surface. Apart of me understands how she just loved eating and felt she was French. She had the most adorable personality. It was genuine, authentic and refreshing. I know I will buy one of her cookbooks and most likely enjoy quite a few recipes from her. I will keep you all updated.

Bon Appetit!

Sirloin & Chuck Burger Recipe

This is one of my favorite recipes from Alton Brown from the food network. I guarantee you will not want a burger prepared another way! Every time I think about hamburgers I think of Eddie Murphy making a joke during his stand up comedy about burgers. After eating this burger you will become a true "Burger Snob". The video is hilarious!!!! Here is the link to the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvoBCr7E5qo

I attached a photo of the burger I prepared and ate last night.
If you are nervous about pulsing the meat yourself, an alternative is to have your butcher grind the meat for you. Do not let them tell you they have their own mix because they can get lazy sometimes and it's not going to taste the same. Trust me!

I suggest going to your local Albertson's, Wholefoods or Henry's in the west part of valley.

Enjoy!



Ingredients
8 ounces chuck, trimmed, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
8 ounces sirloin, trimmed, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
In separate batches, pulse the chuck and the sirloin in a food processor 10 times. Combine the chuck, sirloin, and kosher salt in a large bowl. Form the meat into 5-ounce patties.

Heat a cast iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Place the hamburger patties in the pan. For medium-rare burgers, cook the patties for 4 minutes on each side. For medium burgers, cook the patties for 5 minutes on each side. Flip the burgers only once during cooking.

Labor Day- (Farr-b-que) Weekend

Like most of you I enjoyed my holiday with friends and family. Every year my dear friends celebrate their anniversary and throw a "Farr-b-que. Ribs are placed on the smoker and lots of southern home cooking is prepared. On this special day we listened to music, played cards, and enjoyed each others company. Here are a few pics from that day.