If there’s one thing I don’t care about it’s the Super Bowl.

Just now, I even had to look up whether it was one word or two. That’s how not part of my consciousness it is.

I do, however, care a lot about party food—chips and dips, meat in blankets, etc. etc. And, since I figure some of you might be looking for something breathtaking to take to a Superbowl (darn it!) Super Bowl party, I’m sharing my should-be-famous Spicy Cheese Ball recipe with you.

Seriously, it’s the best in the world. The BEST! People go crazy for it.

It’s pieced together from the many cheese ball recipes I’ve followed over the years, plus a few of my own ideas. I did get the idea to use Gouda from Amy’s Sedaris’ Lil’ Smokey Cheese Ball recipe, but the rest of the credit, I’m holding onto.

Here’s what you need:

4 cups of Gouda cheese (about 1 lb)

2-3 Anaheim chiles (depending on your spice desires and tolerance)

2-3 jalapenos

1 heaping tbsp of cilantro

2 packages of cream cheese (room temperature)

4 stalks of green onion

2 tbsp of mayo (Weird, right? But trust me.)

2 cups of chopped nuts (I use 1 cup walnuts, 1 cup pecans)

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Though reasonably healthy and fit, my brother and I have fat kids inside us, and they are partners in crime. I’ve evidence this phenomenon before on this blog, during a certain chili dog outing that took us all the way to West Hollywood. This time, our carnal food desires lured us to Nick’s Cafe, an LA institution and cop hangout since 1948. And, oh, was there gluttony.

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I’ve heard great things about Proof Bakery but never the pleasure, so when a friend suggested lunch there, I said “Oooh! Sure.” I don’t get to see Atwater Village on weekdays or by sunlight too often, but since I started working from home (no more east-to-west commute!), I’ve been trying to squeeze in local lunch spots.

Proof Bakery doesn’t bowl you over on sight. The small, unassuming space is all clean lines, modern airiness and marble tables. The dessert case/counter doesn’t have Marie Antoinette-esque decadence of many bakeries these days, so there aren’t the stacks and piles of cakes and cobblers of, say, Huckleberry in Santa Monica. That said, the restrained set of offerings does hit the right sweet and savory notes—think chocolate chip cookies, cheese and chive biscuits, croissants, tarts and morning buns.

There are piles of sandwiches, however, because that’s the way Proof showcases their daily options. When I was there, there were three plates of as many varieties: prosciutto, bacon and beet. If I had it my way, I would have had the prosciutto, but pregnancy rules make it a no-no, especially since it had been sitting around at room temperature. I played it safe with the beet sandwich, but don’t feel sad for me.

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Life can’t be all wet burritos and pie, but you can have a chocolate breakfast smoothie pretty much every day. At least I have ever since my new blender came into my life. It’s nothing special (the blender, I mean, not the smoothie)—just a $40 machine, but it sure does make a mean breakfast smoothie.

Thus far, I’ve experimented with a couple of different concoctions. I’ve done the yogurt-oj-banana thing and the berry-banana-milk shuffle, but the one that I keep coming back to is a powerhouse blend of antioxidants, vitamin C, protein, calcium, Omega 3s, and most importantly…chocolate.

For breakfast.

Still, it’s not too sweet, and the granola I layer in gives it an earthy quality that makes you feel like you’re some health nut living in Santa Cruz or Berkeley or whatever ultra-liberal college town you’d like to imagine yourself.

Sound good? Well, here’s what you need for one smoothie:

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Wet Burrito Diaries: El Huarache Azteca in Highland Park

January 10, 2012

I’ve had a three prevalent/overwhelming cravings throughout my pregnancy: peanut butter, shredded wheat cereal and wet burritos. Of the food-obsessed trinity, the wet burrito urge is my favorite as it plays right into my blogging schemes, allowing me to “research” various versions around town. My latest and greatest discovery is the adobada burrito at Highland [...]

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Food for Thought: Favorite Food Writings of This Week (and Last)

January 6, 2012

I sift through ‘em all, so you don’t have to. Check out the food finds I loved this week (and last): Salty cheese goes better with sweat teas. I learned this and more from a new-to-me article from Cynthia Gold about “Inspired Cheese and Tea Parings” on Culture: The Word on Cheese. Joy the Baker [...]

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MacArthur Park: Langer’s Is Your LA Birthright

January 4, 2012

If you’re a Los Angeles native, eating at Langer’s is your birthright. If you’re a transplant, it’s still your responsibility. Basically, every Angeleno must visit this since-1947 Jewish delicatessen for two reasons—one, it serves up one of the best food experiences this city has to offer and, two, you need ammunition if some New Yorker [...]

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Happy New Year: Blueberry Pancakes in Ojai

January 2, 2012

I’m not superstitious about most things, but I think the first meal of the year is important.  What you eat on New Year’s Day should set a precedent for the next 364 days to come—and this year is a leap, so 365. With this in mind, I was a little skeptical yesterday when we stepped [...]

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Accursed Fruitcake: A Holiday Drink Recipe from Allston Yacht Club

December 24, 2011

Being pregnant at Christmas is a little harrowing. I really want to drink….many drinks! But, even if I can’t, I thought I’d be unselfish and share a great drink recipe from Allston Yacht Club in Echo Park with you. This Christmas/ Chanukah-ready concoction is called the Accursed Fruitcake, and it got the seal of approval [...]

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How to Eat a Buffet Brunch: A Plan of Action

December 20, 2011

A brunch buffet is serious business. Not windpocalypse or electromagnetic field attack serious, but you know, relatively important in the moment. Let’s face it: when a sushi station, charcuterie table and five-foot pastry platter are confronting you, you need a strategy. I realized as much when I was recently invited to sample the Sunday brunch [...]

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