As noted in my previous post, quinoa can be steamed and mixed with a variety of ingredients to create a quinoa salad. Or the quinoa can even to be incorporated into my favorite: faux fried rice. Steaming this grain is a bit of work: between the rinsing, draining and rinsing again and moving the strainer... Continue Reading →
There’s no better feeling in the world than a warm pizza box on your lap
Living within walking distance of Hillcrest, I can't help but notice trends. For example there is either a hairstylist, a florist or bar on every block. If there's a combination of all three, the foot traffic increases geometrically. As for restaurants, there has been an overabundance of sushi or Thai places in the past. But... Continue Reading →
Quin-WOW
Most days, I bring my lunch to work. Last year I was really into avocados smashed onto whole wheat toast with a sprinkling of salt. The year before that was soup. For 2011, I'm into quinoa. Quinoa is an edible seed and has been identified as a superfood. It's a complete plant-based protein but without... Continue Reading →
Television! Teacher, mother, secret lover.
At the end of 2010, we decided to cut the cord with cable television. In looking at many ways to trim the fat financially, we saw that COX Cablevision was easily our largest monthly utility bill. Our regular outlay for DVR/cable box rental, expanded service, digital cable service, DVR service, franchise fee, FCC fee, taxes... Continue Reading →
And Bacon was His Name-O
Bingo conjures up images of blue-haired ladies in large church cafeterias with lucky troll dolls trying to win it big. But what if it's bingo that involves bacon? You get BACON BINGO! Every Wednesday in January, North Park's El Take It Easy holds a Bacon Bingo with a chance to win a pound of bacon... Continue Reading →
The Proof is in the (Bread) Pudding
Last year, we had this grand plan to spend Thanksgiving at Disneyland. We had it all set up. One of Paul's Cool Jerk long-time readers, Caroline "Carob Sue," generously offered up two passes to Disneyland for us to use. There were a few conditions that came with the tickets: we take a photo at Disneyland... Continue Reading →
I’m all over it like a fat kid on a cupcake
If you haven't heard of Sprinkles Cupcakes you are either not into cupcakes, or never heard of Paris Hilton (and numerous other celebrities) proclaim their love for these little baked delights, or not following food trends... or dead*. Sprinkles Cupcakes is the Prada of cupcakes for the West Coast as Magnolia Bakery is for New... Continue Reading →
I’d stop drinking coffee, but I’m no quitter
One of my resolutions for 2011 was to start drinking coffee black. Straight up. No cream. No sugar. No flavored anything. Drink coffee like I meant it. Ever since I've been drinking coffee, my morning brew of choice is Folgers. Unfortunately, drinking Folgers sans sugar and flavored creamer has revealed some fatal flaws -- namely... Continue Reading →
A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.
Another year has come and gone. While I've been away from my computer, I certainly have not stopped eating. Here's a few things of note that have happened while I've been on pseudo-sabbatical: I did bit of guest inking for Paul at CoolJerk.com. Influenced by the thick, lush eyelashes inked by Vince Colletta on many... Continue Reading →
A story of a man and his bundt pan
Sit down and read a yarn about how Paul used to leave me slices of bundt cake at my desk when we used to work together. Yes, bundt cake. As it goes, I would be sitting at my desk in the business news department during the holidays, minding my own business and suddenly a hand... Continue Reading →
My Burning Kitchen... on the road 