Young Coconut

I've never bought one of these before, though I always wanted to! I went online to see how to open it, and thought for sure I knew what I was doing!

I had the idea, and the people on YouTube made it look really simple, which it would have been (I guess), IF I had the right tools.

They said you should use a heavy knife, well....that's the first place I went wrong.  My knives aren't heavy enough!!

After hacking at it a bit, I finally got it open.  I really wanted to have that nice pretty little round lid to pop up!!! ;-)

Long story short, the coconut meat was nice and tender and it was FULL of coconut water, which was delicious!!!

I should tell you that I'm not a big coconut fan, at least not the chewy kind! I found out that I actually LOVE the tender version!!

Seafood Pasta

It's been a while since I made this, so I had to try and remember what the ingredients were..lol!!

In the first pic is the seafood, and other ingredients.  In the pan are seared sea scallops, sauteed shrimp, imitation crab meat (I don't know why, but I like the imitation crab meat in this dish better than real crab...don't judge me!! haha), fresh parsley, capers, tomatoes, sauteed fresh garlic and orange olive oil.

I boiled some bow-tie pasta, drained it and tossed it with the seafood mixture.  I add more orange olive oil as needed, add season salt and top it with grated Parmesan.

I love this dish!!! :-)

Insalata di Salmone Alla Griglia - Luna Ristorante

Luna Ristorante has one of my all time favorite salads!! Their salmon salad is off the charts good!!!

I've eaten a lot of salads, but none has come close to this one!! They have the right blend of everything, plus the way they plate it is very appetizing!!!

YUMMY!!!

Teriyaki Pineapple Burgers - Made by Rashida

This is HUGE!!!!! I can't even stress what a monumental moment in time this was!! My youngest daughter does NOT like touching raw meat, and swore she never would touch it (I secretly knew the day would come..lol)!!

For her hubby's Birthday, she actually did this!!!! It was the funniest thing I've ever witnessed though, because she was in my kitchen going through all kinds of theatrics while molding the patties by hand!!

In the first pic are the burgers all seasoned, with the pineapple slices on top, ready for the George Foreman grill.  In the second pic are the burgers after they were grilled (just beautiful!!!).  In the last pic is my burger, which is topped with provolone and wasabi-mayo that she made.  Also in the pic are some homemade french fries.  Best flavored, juiciest burgers EVER!!!

The meal was a HUGE success!!! Great job Rashida!!!!

Noodle Bowl - Simply Asia

I found this noodle bowl in a local grocery store and decided to give it a try.  I didn't know what to expect, because I've never seen the brand before.

Let me tell you, this was one of THE best noodle bowls that I have ever eaten that didn't come from a Restaurant!!!

I loved their version of spicy kung pao!! I will definitely buy this again, IF I can find it.  Turns out that this particular flavor is really hard to come by in my area. 

Frozen Yogurt - Tuttmelon

I was sitting at the house and craving something sweet.  I wanted something light, so me and the girls headed out to Tuttimelon for yogurt!

I got the pineapple yogurt and topped it with kiwi fruit, peaches, strawberries and a cherry!

The pineapple yogurt almost reminded me of the frozen yogurt we got at Dole when I was in Hawaii.  Sooooooooooooo good, but it was almost too much to eat!  :-)

Veggie Saute - Made by Ty

Here is a pic of a delicious, healthy veggie saute made by my daughter Ty.  The pasta that she used for this dish is veggie based, and she topped off the dish with Parmesan.

It was very yummy!!!!

Stuffed Squash - Made by Ty

Ty made this recipe using rice, Asiago cheese, cream cheese, vodka pasta sauce and Parmesan cheese.

The combo is so good!!! I really liked this dish, because it is packed full of flavor, with just the right balance of creaminess!!

Yummy!!!!! :-)

Cupcakes - Kara's

Outside of my daughter's homemade cupcakes, Kara's has the BEST cupcakes around!!

It was love at first bite!! My sister introduced me to Kara's a while back, and I've loved their cupcakes since that time.  If it is a warm day, you'd better eat your cupcakes fast, or the frosting will melt off the top because they are that fresh!!

In this pic are Banana, Banana Caramel, Neapolitan, and Red Velvet cupcakes! You may have noticed the bite out of one of them...that was mine!! lol  I couldn't wait to take a bite before I could even take a pic.

DELICIOUS!!!!

Fresh Fruit

There is nothing better than fresh, sweet delicious fruit!  In this pic is a combo of fruits.

All of the fruits shown are some of my top favs. Delicious strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and green grapes with some cool whipped cream!!  So yummy!!

Shrimp Fest - Red Lobster

My daughter and a friend of hers had the nerve to eat at Red Lobster recently! lol  This beautiful plate of shrimp was what her friend ate for dinner.

I only got to look at the pic that was sent to my daughter by her friend for my blog.  I'm not complaining too much, at least that thought to share the pic right?? ;-)

In the pic is some coconut shrimp, tempura shrimp, shrimp scampi and I believe that is one of Red Lobster's signature cheddar biscuits on the plate as well.

Maybe they'll invite me next time!! :-)

Turkey Bacon Breakfast Sandwich

So, for this one, I fried a large egg, fried my turkey bacon and browned my toast in the oil left in the pan from the turkey bacon.

This was a nice, crunchy early morning bite that I absolutely loved!! When I brown my bread in the pan, it always tastes much better than dry toast to me.

Enjoyed this to the last bite!!

Indonesian Peanut Saute - Noodles Company

While visiting one of my sisters, we decided to go out and get something to eat. We couldn't decide on what to eat before we left her house, so while driving, she mentioned a new place she had seen called Noodles Company.

Neither of us really knew what they were about, but the one thing we did know is that noodles were on the menu!!

They had a great selection of noodles, but the place was packed with no available seating.  We decided to get our food to go.

I plated mine when I returned to her house so I could get a good pic of the food.  My dish was really good!! It had just the right amount of spiciness too!!

In this dish was a spicy peanut sauce, rice noodles, broccoli, carrots, sprouts, cabbage, cilantro, crushed peanuts and lime.  Yummy!!! 

Six Grapes Port - Graham's

Winemaker's Notes

Six Grapes has a seductive, rich aroma of ripe plums, cherries and dark chocolate notes. On the palate it's complex, with an excellent structure and a long, lingering finish. Six Grapes is one of Graham's original Port blends--it is a very full-bodied, luscious wine drawn from the same vineyards as Graham's Vintage Ports. Blended from two or three years' harvests, the wine is an average of five to six years old when it is lightly filtered and bottled.

Serving and pairing suggestions
Six Grapes is bottled ready to drink after about five years of cask aging. It has a t-cap closure, which means that you don't need a corkscrew to open it and that it should stay fresh for up to two months if stored in a cool, dark place or the refrigerator. Serve it in a glass with at least a six ounce capacity so that you may appreciate the wine's aromas. Six Grapes pairs particularly well with dark chocolate, but is also fantastic on its own as a luscious dessert in a glass.

I couldn't agree more with the above!!! VERY good!!!

Tempura Green Beans - The Habit

These unassuming looking little green beans are deceiving!! lol  My niece told me and my girls about these, and we can't stop eating them!!

They are The Habit's Tempura green beans, and they are SO addicting!!  Me and my daughter actually drove back to The Habit twice in one day.

I was really hoping the same cashier wasn't at the window, because I didn't want her to see us coming back again...haha

My niece told me that she parked after going through the drive through, ate some very hot green beans, then drove back through to get more!!  Okay, she has me beat!! lol

Seriously though, these are some of the best tempura green beans that I have ever tasted!!  I might make a trip today!!! :-)

Roasted Potatoes with Boiled Egg

I was having a food meltdown when I came up with this dish!! lol  I don't know what else to call it, because I was hungry at the wrong time (kind of late in the evening).

I was thinking what can I eat that won't be too heavy, so I decided to roast two small potatoes with fresh garlic.  The boiled egg idea came about because I saw some boiled eggs when I opened the fridge. :-)

End result, food satisfaction!!  I sprinkled a little paprika on top.  A very tasty last minute idea!! 

Black Olive Hummus Wrap - Made by Ty

In this pic is a delicious black olive hummus wrap, which my daughter Ty made. She put her homemade black olive hummus (REALLY good) in the wrap, along with cucumbers and sharp cheddar cheese.  

This wrap was yummy!!!!! After she learned how to make her own hummus, she added a new variety, which is the black olive version.  It is SO good!!!

Oh yeah, the fresh strawberries were delicious too!! :-)

Watermelon-Mint Detox Water - Made by Rashida

I was being a kind of skeptical when my youngest daughter was telling me about this water, but I was SO wrong.

This watermelon-mint detox water that she made was just a delicious as it was refreshing!!!

She put just the right amount of mint in, so that it didn't overpower the watermelon taste.

Sooooo good!!!!

Mexican Style Corn

If you have never had Mexican style corn, you are missing a real treat.  The corn is grilled, then topped with mayo, sour cream, Parmesan, red chili powder and lime.

Just thinking about this makes me want to run out and buy some more fresh corn to make more!!

Mouth watering good!! This is a family favorite. :-)

Super Shrimp Burrito - Baldo's

I can't stress enough how much I love burritos!! I could eat them every day!! lol

In this pic is a delicious super shrimp burrito from Baldo's.  This burrito is stuffed with everything possible (well, everything that goes well with shrimp). You definitely get your money's worth with Baldo's burritos!  Yummy!!

Cuban Style Black Beans - Made by Janice

My sister made this wonderful Cuban style black bean dish!! She brought some to my house to try, and I was blown away!!

They were so tasty!!! I don't have words to describe, you'll just have to find a recipe for Cuban style black beans and give it a try!! lol

She paired hers with rice.  Just a simple awesome dish!!! 

Spaghetti with Tilapia

Call me weird, but I like to shake up the norm from time to time.  I was making spaghetti and decided to go with fish instead of meatballs, and hot links like I usually do.

I grilled the tilapia on my George Foreman grill until it was flaky, I added it after my spaghetti was ready because I didn't want to overcook it.

I love spaghetti like this!! Okay, I don't know who I'm trying to fool...I love spaghetti no matter how it's made!!

My youngest daughter likes it best with fish!! Who knew!! ;-)

Dutch Oven Beef Stew - Made by Leomar

Here is another inspiring dish made by Leomar! This is her dutch oven beef stew with beer.

A very tasty looking dish!!! Stew is always perfect for the cold days that we've been having!!  Yummy!!!!

Dutch Oven Chicken - Made by Leomar

In this pic is a beautiful dish made by Leomar! This is her dutch oven chicken with balsamic vinegar, honey, tomato paste, and green onion garnish.

It looks SO tasty!!!!  It makes you want to grab a plate and dig in!!  You may not even want to share!! ;-)

Pumpkin Curry Fritters - Made by Ty

The first time I had curry was when I was growing up at home.  My sister decided to make a dish that called for curry.  I'll put it this way, from that day until now, I have avoided it completely!! Even though, as an adult, I know there are many varieties of curry. haha

My daughter found a recipe for pumpkin fritters that are seasoned with curry, so you know what my first reaction was.  I'm not a "stick in the mud," so I told her that I would try them.

OMG!!!! They were savory and delicious!!!! Who knows, maybe I'll put curry back in my diet!!

For the second batch, she added a little brown sugar, which gave them a new sweet twist!  I absolutely loved both versions!!! :-)

Mediterranean Inspired Open Faced Veggie Omelet - Made by Ty

Since my daughter has changed her diet to a veggie diet, she's been cooking a lot more, and I don't have a problem with that!! :-)

In the first pic is her veggie Mediterranean inspired open faced egg white omelet.  In the second pic is the omelet plated, and topped with sour cream, Frank's Red Hot sauce, olives and avocados.

It was REALLY, REEEEEAAAAALLLY GOOD!!!!! :-)

Hummus - Made by Ty

My daughter has loved hummus since the first time she ate it.  We have always bought hummus already made from a store, but she got the idea to make it herself, after I bought her a kitchen Ninja.

In the first pic, you can see the ingredients that she used for the hummus. The hardest thing to find was the Tahini (which is a sesame seed paste). We finally found it at Whole Foods.  A store associate had to help us, because we were totally frustrated.  She took us right to it! it was in the only aisle we didn't go down!! lol

In the bottom pic is the finished product.  I must say that it was better than the store bought version, because it was fresh!!

It's safe to say we won't be buying hummus from the store anymore!!

Great job Ty!!!

Belgian Waffles

I'm a lot like most people, because I buy kitchen appliances and don't use them as much as I should!! 

I bought a nice waffle iron a long time ago, and I can count on one hand how many times I've actually used it.  I'll blame it on my work schedule, and just being lazy about it. ;-)

In the pic below is my version of the Belgian Waffle!  I had a hard time getting them browned.  I'm not sure what I was doing wrong.  They were still tasty, but not as brown as I like them to be.

I topped them with some bananas, whipped cream and Hershey's chocolate syrup!  This was my face after eating them :-))

Whole Wheat Bagel with Peanut Butter and Bananas

A neighbor of mine gave me a jar of natural peanut butter, which I can only recall eating once while growing up.  My dad was a big fan of natural peanut butter, but when you are a kid, you want all the sugar and salt you can get!  So back then, I wasn't having it!! lol

I decided to give it a try, and I actually like it now.  Once you stir the oils and peanut butter together, and store it in the fridge, it has a nice creamy consistency.

In this pick, I toasted the bagel and topped it with the peanut butter (as you can see, it was literally dripping off the sides of the bagel), and then added the bananas.

I have never tried this combo, but I was pleasantly surprised!! I REALLY loved it! I would say this is a must try, IF you love peanut butter and bananas. :-)

Veggie Shepherd's Pie - Made by Ty

This veggie Shepherd's Pie was made by my daughter Ty.  In a word AWESOME!!

Ty used veggie sausage instead of meat, and topped it with mashed potatoes and feta cheese!  This was a finger licking good dish!!

DELICIOUS!!!!!

Mac and Cheese with Mushrooms

This was one of those times that I just didn't want your ordinary mac and cheese.  I added cream of mushroom soup, and sauteed mushrooms to my mac and cheese.  I topped it with provolone and it came out wonderful.

I love mushrooms, so this mac and cheese was right up my alley!!  The family loved it to, which as a cook is always an added bonus.  It makes me happy to make them happy!

In the background is a veggie stir fry that my daughter was cooking (awesome!!).  :-)

Veggie Breakfast Scramble - Made by Ty

This veggie breakfast scramble made by my daughter Ty, was so on point!! I mean I can't even describe to you how delicious it was.  You're just going to have to take my word for it!!

For this dish, she used spinach, red beans, egg whites, garbanzo beans, black olive and mushrooms.

Yummy combo for sure!!! :-)

Fried Rice Balls

My sister was in the city recently, and asked how to locate a bakery that we always go to when we are there.  I couldn't remember the name of the street, but I do remember how to get there.

She found it, and brought me back some fried rice balls with red bean paste. If you've never eaten them, you are missing out on a delicious sweet treat!!  I absolutely love these!!!  They are so yummy!!!

Cajun Rice - Popeyes

Popeyes has some really tasty things to offer.  One of those items is their Cajun rice.

My all time favorite from Popeyes (outside of the chicken) is the red beans and rice, but the Cajun rice is awesome too!!

Here is a pic of that wonderful rice!!

Chicken & Seafood Gumbo - By Adia

My niece Adia made this delicious looking pot of gumbo for her family!  I heard all about it, and I heard it was scrumptious!!

I asked her to send this pic to me so that I could share it with all of you!! :-)

Veggie Stir Fry - By Ty

For this veggie stir fry, my daughter found a veggie based pasta!! I'm learning something new every day! haha

She used a homemade butter sauce for this very tasty veggie stir fry.  It was delicious!!!

Petit Fours - Nugget

I was really craving some Petit Fours, and there is only one place I knew of that would most likely carry them, and that is the Nugget Market.

My sisters and I made a road trip out of it, and brought along my nieces as well! I was right!!! They had them, not a lot of them, but that didn't matter.  They had enough for me!!

These little beauties had an amaretti center!! Craving satisfied!!! :-)

Loaded Baked Potato - By Ty

This beautiful loaded baked potato was made by my daughter Ty.  She put a lot on top of this one.

She's eating vegetarian these days, so what looks like meat on this potato is veggie sausage.

I tasted the veggie sausage, and honestly, I wouldn't know it wasn't real meat!! This was an awesome baked potato!! :-)

Sesame Beef Stir Fry - By Rashida

It's always a good day when we can get my youngest daughter to cook!! ;-)

In the top pic is the beginning of her delicious dish. She marinates her beef for a while so that it is flavorful and tender.

In the pic at the bottom is the finished product, which is served over rice. I wish you could taste this dish right through your screen.  It is SO yummy!!!

Machaca Burrito - Adalberto's

My family teases me about my love of all things burrito!! If we are out and about, and someone says "what do you want to eat," my answer is most likely going to be a burrito!

One of my favorite places is Adalberto's.  I just love that place, because I haven't eaten anything there that wasn't good.

This is a burrito that my sister introduced me to years ago.  I had never heard of a Machaca burrito, but I loved it from the first time I ate one.

SO good!!!

Minestrone Soup, Salmon Patties - By Janice

My sister Janice KNOWS how to make soup!!! In the pic below is her delicious homemade minestrone soup, along with some yummy salmon patties!

One of the patties is coated with Panko crumbs, and the other is coated with cornmeal.

I'm always happy when I can taste her home cooking, unfortunately, that wasn't the case here...lol!!

Hoppin John, Ham Croquettes

My sister made the traditional New Years day meal of Hoppin John, which my mom would cook for us growing up.

Eating black eyed peas on New Years Day is supposed to bring good luck for the year!

Janice also made some corn bread and some ham croquettes to go along with hers!!

Delicious!!!

Dinner Plate - By Marina

My son called and said that his wife had made a ton of food and that I should come over.  Well, he didn't have to tell me twice!! lol

I have to say that she cooks VERY well!! Everything that was on my plate was full of flavor and absolutely delicious!!

On the plate below is some collard greens, lemon garlic herb shrimp, hot water corn bread, candied sweet potatoes, BBQ ribs, and peach crisp.  I felt like I was at a buffet!!! :-)

Egg Salad Sandwich

When you want something really bad, but you don't know where to get a really good version, you make it yourself...right??

That's what I decided to do! It's been so long since I had a fresh egg salad sandwich, that I didn't know where to get one.

My egg salad consists of mayo, a little mustard, pickle relish, onion power and eggs.  I use onion powder to trick my youngest daughter into eating it!! Shhh!! Don't let her know!! She does NOT like onions. ;-)

Speaking of my youngest daughter, she not only ate the egg salad, she loved it!!