Green Powder: Good, Bad, or just plain UGLY!

It's not pretty, but when you're up at 5 am and you've got to get your Monday morning going.  Drink this!!!

Ice, nonfat milk, a scoop of vanilla whey protein, frozen banana, a scoop of Very Green...blitz!

Add berries if you want them, I usually throw a few fresh blueberries or dried goji berries in, but when I am in a rush, I usually forget.

HAPPY MONDAY!!!

Sweet Treats: Top Pot Doughnuts

 What's in the bag? 
The winner of the Super Bowl 2011!!!

 So, Top Pot Doughnuts came up with the clever idea to make Steelers and Packers doughnuts. 

Like they needed help getting more people to come in on a Sunday.

 OK, this isn't the first time I've been to Top Pot Doughnuts, but I don't go there often.  If I did, I would be the size of Cowboys Stadium!!!  I didn't get the usual dozen at this visit, just 2 cake doughnuts with sprinkles,

Packers and Steelers.

GO PACKERS!!!

 The cake doughnut isn't my first choice, but I'll eat any doughnut with frosting and sprinkles.  If you haven't had a doughnut at Top Pot, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???

I have to admit, I am glad I spent at least a half an hour on the rowing machine this morning, or I would have BIG guilt right now for having a doughnut.  By the way, I split both doughnuts with my husband.  We don't care who wins the Super Bowl, but we didn't want to jinx either teams.

GO STEELERS!!!

He Cooks! Vegetable Curry

I'm always curious when John and I are at the store and he starts looking for items other than bread, butter, steak, broccoli, and wine.  On a recent visit, John was looking for fresh ginger, garam masala, tomato paste, cauliflower, and chick peas.  Hmmm...what's he up to?  Finally, I had to ask, "What are you making?"His response, "They were making Vegetable Curry on America's Test Kitchen the other day. Does Vegetable Curry sound good?"

I said, "YES!"

OK, we don't make Indian Food at home often, especially since there are so many Indian restaurants in the area to choose from.  Anyway, I do love to cook, so let's get started!





First warm a small pan and toast (2) tablespoons curry powder and (1.5) tablespoons garam masala.  The spices will become fragrant in about 1 minute, then remove from heat.

On medium-high, heat 1/4 cup canola oil in a large dutch oven and add (2) cups finely chopped onions and (2) cups chopped baby red potatoes.  Stir for about 10 minutes.

When the onions and potatoes start to caramelize, add (3) garlic cloves, minced, (1) tablespoon finely grated ginger, (1) large serrano chile, seeded and minced and (1) tablespoon tomato paste.  Mix all the ingredients, then add toasted spices.

 Add (1/2) head of cauliflower, cut in 1 inch florets, stir until the cauliflower is coated.  Add (1) 14.5oz. can of tomato puree, (1 1/4) cup water, (1) 15 oz can chick peas and (1) teaspoon salt.  Cover and reduce heat to medium.  Simmer for 10-12 minutes.

Add (1 1/2) cups frozen peas and 1/4 cup cream or coconut milk.  Heat through about 2 minutes.

Serve with basmati rice, cucumber raita, mint sauce, naan and mango chutney.



Eastside Eats: Azteca

It's been years, but I recently had dinner at Azteca.  For many years, Azteca was the place to go for family dinners, workday lunches and Happy Hour on the Eastside.  Now that downtown Bellevue has grown and many Seattle eateries have opened Bellevue locations, we seem to have forgotten about Azteca.

Nothing has changed.  The menu looked about the same to me.  Kid Friendly and a good place to watch sports.  Another plus, Negra Modello is on draft!!!

I decided to get something other than combo A, B or C, like every Mexican restuarant menu has.  I had the Molcajete.  I was hoping it was the entree my friend had at Guadalajara in Tucson, AZ, that looked so GOOD!  The Molcajete is a stew of both chicken and beef sauteed in a spicy sauce with mushrooms, onions and tomato sauce.

The stew is topped with cheese, fresh green onion, jalepeno and served with either corn or flour tortilla, rice, beans, and avocado.

The food is pretty good, just the way I remembered.  Azteca isn't one of those super authentic or new edgy Mexican places.  Just good food, friendly service, comfortable place. and the pricing isn't ridiculous.  You know what I mean.  If you haven't been there in awhile and you don't feel like cooking tonight, give it another visit.

Night Bites in Seattle: Bistro Turkuaz

I don't know why Bistro Turkuaz hasn't been on my radar, but I LOVE this place. 

My husband tells me that he thought of going here about a year ago, but forgot about it...OMG, Bistro Turkuaz is so great!!!

Turkish Beer

Bistro Turkuaz has turkish beer.  Yippee!  I have been interested in beers more lately and I love it when I can have beer from the area that the food I am eating is from.  Hmmm, the beer was ok.  I still have a lot to learn about beers, so maybe I should stick to my favorites, a good IPA.


Great Starters

So, we started with the Mediterranean Platter with hummus, feta, olives, pita, and a bunch of other YUMMY stuff.

The Grilled Lamb

Beef Kabob

I ordered the Kofte Kebab.  All the entrees come with a salad and rice or tabouli.  I chose the tabouli.  The best tabouli I have ever had.  Fresh, great texture, a little tart, a little salty, a lot PERFECT. 



My Favorite: Kofte Kebab

I had a little nibble of the Beef Kebab, Grilled Lamb and my Kofte Kebab.  All three entrees were so good, but I think my entree was the best.  The meat on the Kofte Kebab are marinated in the perfect blend of "Oh so good!!!"  I didn't like the little carrot salad, but I don't like carrots.  My husband, carrot lover, said the carrot salad was DELICIOUS. 

Baklava

Which dessert is better?  I don't know.  I say Baklava.  For those of you who don't like rosewater in rice pudding, you'll like this.  There was a touch of spices, no cardamom that I could notice, but I am comparing Turkish rice pudding to Indian rice pudding.  Regardless, the texture was creamy, but maybe a little bland.

mmmmm...Rice Pudding

Winger's...a little game watchin' in Moscow

 I'm not gonna lie, I am not a fan of "sports viewing" establishments.  I am not a football fan, but I always like a good Super Bowl party...for the trashy food!  OK, our beloved Seahawks were playing the Saints for a spot in the playoffs, I think.  Whatever!  We were visiting our son at WSU and HAD TO WATCH THE GAME!!!  Destination: Winger's in Moscow, Idaho.

 A couple good things: Winger's had their own microbrew (thumbs up), several plasmas, trashy food!!!

 I have to say, "Not Bad".  My beer was freezing cold and they bring popcorn to the table...good idea!  Also, there is a little galvanized tub on the table.  Ice bucket?  No, garbage can.  Isn't that funny?
I didn't even bother trying to get something healthy, so I ordered the Wings and Things Sampler.  Why not?  OK, the wings were fine - a little too sweet & sticky for me, loaded potatoes, and Stick Fingers - breaded chicken strips.  I have a feeling the chicken was frozen processed stuff, but I could be wrong.  The potatoes were fine.  I kinda didn't care that I didn't care for the food...we were there to watch the game.

Good place to watch a game.  The service was pretty good.  The crowd was rowdy, just the way it should be.  Trash talking...YES.  If you happen to be in The Palouse and need good cold beer and a place to watch the game, Wingers.

Cafe Moro

Right when I was about to brand Pullman as a "no character" college town, I found Cafe Moro.

I had the same snobby attitude towards Pullman as I did many years ago when I was a student at University of San Diego.  "This place" I thought, "is no city!"  Many years ago when Starbucks wasn't an overcommercialized, retail coffee chain, I use to brag to my friends in college about the cool coffee places in Seattle.  I was talking about places like B&O Espresso and the Starbucks in the market.

These days, Starbucks is never my first choice, unless I am in a rush, need one of their overpriced snacks or don't have a choice.  I prefer the cafes that don't feel like McDonalds.  B&O Espresso however, I still love, these days mostly for their desserts...YUMMY!

Cafe Cubano: Espresso, caramelized sugar and steamed milk

Anyway, Cafe Moro has that real cafe feel, toasty smell of coffee and a random selection of sweets, that aren't really the focus.  The barista WAS a real barista, not a button pusher, you know what I mean?  The layout was a little wierd and divided, but I loved it.  I think it's great that Cafe Moro was able to take a chopped up space and make it a great place for conversation, reading, people watching, or just sitting.  It reminded me of the days when I lived in Lower Haight in San Francisco.

I can't wait fo the next visit to Pullman.



Flyboy: Chai, espresso, vanilla and steamed milk

I kissed my cup "Hello" and "Goodbye" until next time!