Rum Cake

Thanks to Creole American and one of my besties Alex Boling (who I hope to be neighbors with in the afterlife according to a religious belief I think is cool but don't totally understand), we have Ronny's favorite dessert.  The rum cake comes out once a year, for Ron's birthday.  Giddy'up.

NCAA Championship Meal 2011

I lost my yahoo final fantasy NCAA pool to that darn Eric Olson! I had Florida going all the way.  But they didn't even make it to the final four.  #3 Uconn faced off with #8 Butler.  UConn won.  Butler fell apart.  Charles Barkley said it was the worst finals he'd ever seen.   But all was not sour.  Because we had a guest and I made wings and things.  I had to make a healthy meal because Ron requested it.  And our guest Dr. Meth is a training client so we were trying to eat lean.  (Dr. Meth sure did look like Butler's coach.)

First up: carrot apple ginger curry soup.

main organic ingredients: baby carrots, ginger and a fuji apple

chop and simmer in stock

add seasoning.  curry and red pepper is key.

once spices marry with the soup and veges are tender, time to soupify

also made chicken wings for the game

my chicken wings brings all the boys to the bar and they're like, it's better than yours.  damn right.  it's better than yours. i can teach you.  but i have to charge.  

finally some balsamic sauteed spinach and lean grilled chicken.  because ron's trying to be all popeye on me later

Ron's favorite: Meat in a cast iron skillet

T-bone steak with some rosemary

Blueberry Crisp

Fruity desserts are my summertime favorites.  Cobblers can be kind of heavy, so I like to do a crisp with rolled oats.  Some brown sugar, spices, fresh organic sweet California grown blueberries...delicious.

Banana Bread

Everybody likes banana bread.

Kitchen Sink Turkey Soup

When you only have time for a one pot meal.  Turkey leg and breast bone-in for stock.  Bay leaves.  Carrots.  Turnips.  Leeks.  Leftover black rice.  S&P and herbs de Provence.  Voila!

FIFA BURGER

Goalllllllll.  The world cup came around and that gave us an excuse to create a new burger.  The cheese and chives bun at Viktor Benes Bakery inside Gelson were the inspiration for our burger.

Sexy, like Cristiano Ronaldo.

Corny, like one of Ronaldo's flops.