A Quick Escape to Maria’s Italian Kitchen

I have been slammed with work lately. Our team is in the middle of launching a major initiative in June and all of us are working non-stop to make it happen. It’s way past midnight now (hello Jimmy Fallon) and I still have loads of stuff to do for tomorrow! It’s hard work but nothing rewards me more professionally than having the opportunity to learn something new every day.  I’m incredibly blessed to be working with some of the most talented people in the industry who is willing to share their knowledge and work truly as a team.

My boyfriend came to rescue me and took me out to dinner tonight. We were both craving some hearty starchy food (probably from stress) so we decided to check out a neighborhood Italian restaurant, Maria’s Kitchen, for some pasta dishes. I wasn’t too sure about eating Italian at a chain restaurant inside a strip mall but the buy-one-get-one-free coupon he had convinced me to give this place a chance.

The interior of the restaurant reminded me of a trattoria I dined at when I was in Manhattan – an atmosphere warm, cozy, colorful and tasteful. The place was packed with family and regulars enjoying a Thursday night Italian supper!

Maria’s had everything I look for in a nice Italian restaurant. Reasonably-priced food – check. Good selection of table wines (Robert Mondavi, Clos Du Bois, Blackstone, Wild Horse) – check. My favorite Caprese Salad – check (Maria calls it Capri Salad). Robust dessert menu – check. Handsome Italian waiter named Roberto – check (okay, he’s name was probably Chuck but he was dark and handsome).

We started out with the usual – the Capri Salad.

I had the full portion of spaghetti with Bolognese sauce (you can order half too if you’re not stressed). The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the sauce had a slight sweetness that I enjoyed. The sauce was a little on the oily side but it had a wonderful flavor and reminded me of spaghetti served in Japanese coffee shops (I must say that Japanese really know how to cook Italian – who knew, right?)

My boyfriend ordered the spaghetti with meatballs. Meatballs were very satisfying and I loved the tanginess of the tomato sauce!

We shared the Tiramisu for dessert (or should I say I ordered it and ate it?). The mascapone cheese in the middle had a unique flavor and texture, like it was mixed with cream cheese to add the umph or something. It was a little too sweet and dense for me as I usually like my tiramisu light and airy. But it still hit the spot nonetheless.  Nothing relieves stress like a piece of rich dessert.  I knew I didn’t have enough Weight Watchers point left for this, but the rule goes out the window when you’ve worked 12 straight hous!

I’m really glad I found this place. Maria’s kitchen will definitely make many appearances in our future dining endeavors. And they gave us another coupon for free entrée — another reason why we’ll be coming back real soon!

(It’s time to stop blogging and go back to work!)

Maria’s Italian Kitchen
23331 Mulholland Dr., Woodland Hills CA, 91364 (and several other locations)
★★★★☆

Congratulations, Noelle!

My dear friend Noelle completed the Los Angeles Marathon this afternoon and I cannot be any prouder!  Here is me, Noelle and our buddy G smiling at the camera after she crossed the finish line!

It is truly amazing what we humans are capable of achieving, as long as we let our minds believe that life has no limitation.  She certainly proved us that today as she tackled the 26.2-mile journey.

Marathon is such an honest sport that you get back whatever you put in during training, and her hard work and dedication over the last 16-weeks carried her through the journey.  Running and walking the 26.2 miles is just a tip of the iceberg – what she accomplished today is the realization that anything in life is possible.

Congratulations, Noelle! And thank you for the inspiration!  Now, have your lovely husband massage your tired feet!

Baked Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta: Ellie Krieger

I found a wonderful shrimp recipe from Ellie Krieger’s The Food You Crave and decided to give it a try (“Baked Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta,” page 234). Not only do I have a total girl crush on Ellie, I love her cookbook because it contains nutritional facts like calories, total fat, protein, carbohydrates, and other helpful information in each recipe. This is extremely helpful as I’m starting to be more aware of what I put in my mouth. I substituted feta cheese with goat cheese (I just love the tanginess of goat cheese), increased the amount of onion (from one to two) and added handfuls of green beans (not in the recipe) but the calories should not differ much at 295 per serving (1-1/2 cups). And for Weight Watchers point counters, it’s 4 points per serving. I loved this dish and I will definitely make it again.

I also made a salad to satisfy my smoked salmon / goat cheese / capers / dill addiction, and a side of spaghetti, which were enjoyed with a glass of red wine.

Dinner was served on the placemats I made using Amy Butler’s fabric  for Thanksgiving last year.  I’m glad I was able to use them again!

By the way, Ellie is coming out with a new cookbook titled, So Easy. I cannot wait for it to come out so I can try her always-so-delicious recipes!

Simple Vanilla and Agave Nectar Cupcakes

I must admit that I have felt slightly guilty at times when I baked sweets for special occasions, whether it be someone’s birthday or a baby shower — slightly guilty for serving desserts that tasted delicious but contained unbelievable amounts of butter, granulated sugar and other unhealthy ingredients that I may not necessarily consume myself or serve to my family.

I love sweets and decadent desserts just like anyone else, I do, but I no longer believe that tossing in unhealthy and unnatural ingredients is the right way to go – however wonderful the end products may taste. I would rather bake and eat something less perfect that is natural, than a perfect unhealthy one.

I think it’s really easy to make anything tastes delicious if you put in refined sugar, butter, cream and eggs (or mayonnaise or bacon or lard … the works). What tests the real talent of a chef is the ability to create an equally delicious or even superior product with unconventional ingredients.

This is why I have huge respects for Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, authors of Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, who created so many wonderful cupcake recipes that are dairy free and uses alternative ingredients like agave nectar, soy milk and tofu. They admit that their recipes are not necessarily low fat or super healthy but their versions are far better – something I am proud to serve to my loved ones.

I baked Simple Vanilla and Agave Nectar Cupcakes from the cookbook for my friend and colleague M’s birthday tomorrow. I am not going to post the recipe here because I want you to go buy the book (trust me, it’s worth it even if you’re not vegan) but just to show you how awesome they are, these lovely cakes contain no animal products.  Instead, there are agave nectar and soy milk. I was a little afraid at first, not knowing if the cakes will rise properly without eggs working as the binding agent, but they came out gorgeous and fluffy just like the conventional cupcakes. I made two versions – vanilla and chocolate – using the same, basic recipe.

What is most intriguing about it all is that the chocolate frosting is made out of tofu! Yes, tofu, those soy bean curd found in Asian dishes! The extra firm tofu is blended until silky and mixed with melted chocolate, maple syrup and vanilla extract to create this velvety frosting! You can barely find the trace of soy in it so this is recommended even for the pickiest eaters!

I tried both cupcakes and absolutely loved them! I must say that they are different from the ones you may be accustomed to but I think these are amazing – not too sweet, not too greasy, and just … perfect.

Update: The vegan cupcakes were a hit! M loved them and so did his friends! All of them couldn’t believe that the cupcake didn’t contain any BS (butter and sugar) and that the frosting was made out of tofu! I was not sure how others would receive the  non-conventional version of the old favorite but they seem to really enjoy them! I’m now known in the office as “that girl that made healthy cupcakes.” Happy birthday, M!

Eaters Beware!

Please allow me to vent a little …

I went to Corner Bakery, a little neighborhood bakery that serves sandwiches and salads, for lunch the other day. I ordered a Trio Salad of Greek, Tomato Caprese and Edamame, but Edamame had unfortunately run out so I ordered a DC chicken salad instead although I wasn’t really in the mood for it. I ate it anyway … and it wasn’t all that great. When I returned to the office and checked the nutrition information on the Calorie King site, it turned out a scoop of that mediocre salad contained a whopping 560 calories and 46 grams of fat (and 14 Weight Watcher points)! I almost fainted when I saw this!

I went to Koo Koo Roo for lunch today. Determined not to make the same mistake I made at Corner Bakery, I ordered an innocent-looking Original Chicken Sandwich – a rotisserie white meat chicken sandwiched in lettuce, tomato and wheat breads. I thought I was making a pretty good choice. I asked them to omit the mayo, the dressing and any condiments that came with it, except for mustard. I even ordered a plain tomato salad on the side. Little that I knew, the sandwich that I just ate contained 661 calories and 28.6 grams of fat! What the #@*@%! How can a chicken, vegetable and two pieces of bread contain that much evil?

I seriously wanted to cry. First time, shame on them. The second time … well, you know the rest. All I could say is that looks can be very, very deceiving when it comes to food and I have to be super careful from now because the calorie mines are hidden everywhere!

I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be hating on some of your favorite eateries but I was just surprised and a bit disappointed how restaurants that pride themselves in providing “better options” can offer such aweful selections!  600-plus calories in one sandwich?  That’s ridiculous.

In Search of Dream Kitchen

While people went to amusement parks to escape the heat and let their inner-child come out and play, my friends and I went to model homes over the weekend.  I really enjoy checking out dream kitchens and imagine myself standing there and cooking fabulous meals for the love ones! This is definitely my version of the happiest place on earth

There were a few houses that we fell in love with but each one had their fair share of pros and cons. More and more I looked at those houses, more and more I’m realizing what I absolutely need and what I can do without.

One thing I can never live without is a spacious kitchen with wonderful natural lights coming in from windows.  An island would be wonderful, a space roomy enough that I can knead bread and doughs directly onto the granite surface.  I like the idea of having a counter that is open so I can see people in the living room and the dining room even while I stand in the kitchen … so many possibilities!

Now if only I can win a lottery …

“Less Scary” Banana Bread

I’m starting to realize that a healthy diet has less to do with eating low-calorie or low-fat foods and more to do with making decisions. If you don’t believe it, just take a look at the ratio between overweight people and the so-called “healthy” foods on the supermarket shelves! There are still plenty of both and numbers are constantly rising! (I’m also a believer that processed food, chemical-laden products and sugar alternatives like saccharin and aspartame disguised as “healthy” options are the the ultimate devil — but that discussion is for another time).

I think the road to wellness is all about making choices that you can live with and stand by your decision. Because really, if you’re going to spend the entire day regretting what you just ate, you’re probably better off not eating it at all in the first place. The stress from that regret often triggers you to eat more and more and more – and starts the vicious cycle. I know this because I do this all the time!

Today, I decided to eat a banana bread. I decided. I know that a piece of banana bread would cost me a hefty chunk of Weight Watcher points and I won’t have any points left over for a glass of wine I was thinking about having for dinner, but I decided to go for it and I wasn’t going to whine about it afterward.

All the banana bread recipes I searched for had loads of butter and granulated sugar. Here’s a little something about me – butter and granulated sugar scare me. As an aspiring home baker, I know that these are two ingredients I just cannot cut my ties with, but that doesn’t change the fact that they scare the life out of me. I know they taste wonderful and they make any food 10 times better, but the idea of consuming them and having them clog my arteries (and ultimately my butt) terrifies me.

I know this was a risk as one should never mess with the baking recipe but I decided to take a chance and substitute sugar with agave nectar and butter with canola oil for more fluffy, healthy version to the recipe I found online. And the result? A surprisingly moist and delicious version of the old classic, with beautiful accents on spicy ground cinnamon aroma and the sweet ripe bananas! Agave Nectar is a master in creating a lovely harmony among all the ingredients!  I guess it pays off to be adventurous sometimes!

Banana Bread with Agave Nectar
I got the basic idea from Joy of Baking but altered significantly from the original recipe.

Ingredients (8 servings):

1-3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/3 cup agave nectar (I used Madhava Raw Pure Organic Agave Nectar, from Whole Foods)
1 teaspoon baking power
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup canola oil
3 ripe bananas, mashed (I like to leave little chunks in for texture)
1 teaspoon vanilla

①　Preheat the oven to 350 degree (F).

②　Grease the 9×5x3 loaf pan with canola oil and place parchment paper inside.

③　Shift flour, salt, baking soda and baking power in a bowl and put aside.

④　In a separate bowl, mash bananas. Add vanilla, ground cinnamon, agave nectar, canola oil and eggs and mix them together.

⑤ Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. The important thing to keep in mind here is not to over-mix as it will result in tough bread (so all you KichenAid lovers, put those stand mixers away and grab a spatula). Fold the wet ingredients gently into dry just until they mix evenly.  Pour the mixture into the loaf pan.

⑥ Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes (in the middle rack), or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

⑦　Remove the loaf from the pan and let it rest on a wire rack.  Serve at room temperature or cooled. I personally LOVE it served slightly warm!

Be aware that this is not a low-fat or low-calorie version as there are still oil in it but it’s a little healthy version than the original. I would like to think of it as a “less scary” version of banana bread

Calories per serving: 238
Weight Watcher Points: 5

Amazing Race: Santa Monica Classic

On a totally non food-related topic, my sister and I completed the Santa Monica Classic, a Nike-sponsored 10k run on May 3, 2009! This race is our yearly running ritual and we have so much fun every year! Our friend C joined us this time and we had an absolute blast!

Last year, I ran the same race in 1:12:57 (11:46 min / mile pace). I know I’m slow but what the heck!  This year, my time was 1:12:36 (11:43 min / mile pace). These times are virtually identical, separated only by mere 20 seconds! Isn’t that crazy? I don’t think I can repeat this even if I tried! This race made me realize how fascinating human body truly is.

After the race, we walked down to the Farmer’s Market and I had a mouth-watering corn on the cob (with lots of cayenne pepper!) and a decadent baked sweet potato with cinnamon sprinkles! To top it all, we did all this before noon! Talk about a productive morning.

(P.S.  Don’t you love it that I’m wearing an Adidas shirt to a Nike event?)

Missing My Baby … Sawtelle Kitchen

I think Sawtelle Kitchen is the Jennifer Grey of restaurants. Let me explain.

Jennifer Grey was the cute little actress in the 80s (best known for playing “Baby” in Dirty Dancing) with an adorable nose.  Then she got a rhinoplasty to “upgrade” her look, which completely altered her face. Her acting career went south as a result because she become virtually unrecognizable and lost the charm that made her unique. The procedure that was meant to boost her career ended up killing it. What an irony.

I remember when Sawtelle Kitchen was a little, crooked-nosed restaurant on the emerging Sawtelle restaurant row, so small that customers had to go outside to use the detached restroom. Tables were crammed so tightly in a small space that we couldn’t walk without bumping into a nearby table. There was no alcohol served, no real fancy items on the menu — just a simple collection of Westernized version of Japanese staples like wafu meatloaf and curry rice. The restaurant was far from fancy, but I loved its welcoming charm.

My boyfriend and I were in the neighborhood the other day so we decided to stop by Sawtelle Kitchen for late lunch. It had been years since my last visit and it was time for a good old Japanese comfort food. I was also excited to show him this hidden gem of a restaurant since he had never been here before. But when I walked in to the restaurant and saw the robust collection of wine displayed at the bar and beautifully painted walls topped with dangling chandeliers, I had to double take to make sure that I walked into the right restaurant. Although the name remained the same, I realized quickly what this place was not the place I once knew and loved.

The newer, upgraded, post-facelift version of Sawtelle Kitchen is beautiful, no doubt, and I was thankful that I no longer needed to walk to the rear parking lot to wash my hands, but the charm that made this place so special was no longer there.  There was really no resemblance to the dinky but sweet friend I remember from the yesteryear …

The food had changed as well. I ordered the grilled red snapper with citcus-soy sauce and my boyfriend ordered the grilled boneless half chicken, both from the lunch menu, and they were mediocre, at best. The price point had gone up too to match the sophisticated exterior, which didn’t add to our already disappointing visit.

I won’t dismiss Sawtelle Kitchen altogether though. I am confident that other items on the menu are still delicious and I am sure I’ll return someday to enjoy the meal with a glass of red wine it now offers, but it would be a lie if I said that I don’t miss the old “Baby.”

Sawtelle Kitchen
2024 Sawtelle Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90025
★★★☆☆

Bittersweet Farewell (and lots of cupcakes)

Thanks a million to my friends in the Portland office for sending my favorite cupcakes over on my last day at work! (You can read about my obsession over these cupcakes here).

In addition, I received two tubes of Sprinkle’s Cupcake mixes (vanilla and of course, my favorite, red velvet), dragon pearl tea leaves, and a gorgeous bouquet of spring flowers. They certainly know exactly what I love!

It was really difficult to bid farewell to my wonderful friends and colleagues at Yahoo! but I know our friendship will last beyond the purple-colored walls. Thank you so much for the amazing memories