L.A. Baby!

POACHED EGGS

--with--

yogurt tomato sauce & bacon

 I cooked this recipe for my sisters when I went to L.A. to visit Luciana. Usually      when we cook we all take different roles at the kitchen. Off course every morning

 I'm in charge of breakfast, there is no doubt about it.

 Like always, Luciana is in responsible of the music or she just likes to “observe and learn” or “being lazy” as Florentina, my younger sister will say. But, I must add that she is responsible for cleaning… right??? hahaha

On the other hand Florentina, she does like cooking. Every time she is asking for new recipes, and looking online for new ideas. This morning we decided to have a big healthy breakfast to start our day full of energy!

 POACHED EGGS

--with--

yogurt tomato sauce & bacon

½ white onion, small diced

1 Idaho potato, small diced

1 garlic, chopped

1 heirloom tomato

1 cup spinach

Bacon

Chives

Parsley

3 whole eggs

3 tbsp. Greek yogurt

In a medium sauté pan at medium heat, add a little bit of oil and add the diced potatoes. When the potatoes are ½ way cooked add the chopped onions, garlic and bacon.

Let the vegetables cooked and season while cooking.

Add the spinach and let it sauté with the vegetables.

Add tomatoes.

When all the vegetables are cooked, cracked 3 eggs on top of the sauté pan and add three spoons of Greek yogurt.

Cover the sauté pan with a lid, so the eggs get poached. Add the herbs and seasons with pepper. Voila! Enjoy!!!=)

Vámonos a Mochis!

Mi México!

Relatos de un viaje exprés, aprende a festejar y bailar como Mexicano!

Te comparto mis momentos mas felices en mi pueblo natal Los Mochis, Sinaloa. Después de unos largos 6 meses de estar fuera de casa. Viviendo en DC, creo que me llego la hora de regresar a casita aunque sea por un suspiro de 4 días .En el cual espero aprovechar cada segundo para empaparme de amor, risas, comida y si muchas micheladas y mariscos por favor!. Cabe agregar que este fin de semana esta lleno de actividades. Festejar el “Día de las Madres” en el cual normalmente nos juntamos en familia a comer, y conoceré a mi adorada y fina ahijada Maia Covarrubias, hija de una de mis mejores amigas Myriam Ibarra. ... Pues que comience la fiesta no?

 

Jueves, Mayo 9 – La  Llegada

9:00 am

Como buena “jovenasa” trabajadora, me tuve que levantar muy tempranito para hacer la maleta, porque típico! todo al ultimo minuto.

Llegando “Aeropuerto Internacional de México”

Con la suerte que tuve me encontré una de mis mas queridas amigas “Andrea Compean”, desde que la vi de lejos con esa sonrisa y ganas de comernos el mundo con una platica nos fuimos a sentar a comernos una sopita de tortilla!... Las horas se nos fueron volando con tantos updates de nuestras vidas, que en un abrir y cerrar de ojos ya estábamos abordando el avión para Mochis!!!!... las dos emocionadas de regresar a casa, y al mismo tiempo ilusionadas por el fin de semana que nos esperaba.

unos carajillos antes del vuelo, porque no??

Mi compiri!!!! eres lo maximo amiga!

Al llegar a casa

Con ansias y emociones encontradas abrase a mi mama por un minuto sin dejarla ir. Hace rato que sonaba estar así, con ella. En ese momento en el que el mundo se para, y me siento por primera vez pequeña. Por el otro lado mi papa ya me estaba esperando con una sonrisa enorme por tenerme en casa, y diciéndome que me iban a secuestrar para que no me regrese a DC, hahha.

There is no one like her!!!

Bendición a Maia

Todas mis amigas tuvimos la oportunidad de reunirnos, ya nos hacia falta! Creo que todas nos quedamos sorprendidas de lo rápido que pasa el tiempo. YES, WE ARE GROWN UPS! Wow, Anilu Guzmán casada y embarazada, Myriam con Maia, y las que siguen???

Pues ya te imaginaras que las platicas estuvieron intensas, todas nos encontramos en momentos tan diferentes en nuestras vidas, pero al final seguimos siendo las mismas amigas de Mochis. La que crecimos juntas en la prepa. Las que no nos separábamos ni un momento y siempre en clases nos preguntábamos, Que ira a pasar en 5 anos? Que estaremos haciendo? ..

true friends last forever! las adoro!!

Happy trio!!=)

The meaning of the modern, and chic mother to be!

Maia, tienes a la tia mas cool del mundo!! que te quiere mucho mucho mucho!

Pool Party at my house!

Para festejar el día de las madres, y porque no mi estancia en Mochis mi mama invito a mi familia. Mis otros papas, mi tía santa y sus adorados hijos que todos son unos artistas, mi tío Rubén y sus galanes, mi neto.. en fin chorcha chorcha!.. pero me faltaron mis hermanas!

Yeiiii!!!

I became addicted! uff!

Home sweet home!

Al día siguiente llegue en vivo a DC, directo al trabajo y creo que aunque no pare ningún momento en México valió la pena totalmente! Adoro mi México, mi familia, mis amigas y mi Mochis! 

 Happy mother's day!!

 mira lo me que encontre!!! Amiga woow estas radiante y mas glowing que nunca!!! muchisimas felicidades!!!=) te quiero!

Jam-bur-guesa!

Ufff! Ahora que llega el calorcito, aprovecha y saca tos grilling skills!... El secreto de una buena hamburguesa??? La carne !!! escoge la carne fresca y recién molida del mercado, no te vallas por las tortitas de carne ya echas... nop nop! 

Con una buena cerveza o una coca!!! mmmm delux!!! .. ahi me platicas como te quedaron! mandame fotos!

Tortitas de Carne: 

100 gramos de carne molida (sirlon, aguja o paleta) 

1/2 mazo de Perejil 

1/2 cebolla blanca, picada finita 

Sal, Pimienta, y Cayena 

Mermelada de Cebolla 

1 cebolla morada en juliana 

1/4 taza de vino tinto 

1/4 taza de Balsamico 

1/4 taza de Oporto 

Yo no se que es con el Bar food pero me vuelve loca.. solo me pegunto y si pudiera comer así todos los dias??? Que delicia! Así que cada cuando que te des un lujo, aprovecha y que valga la pena!

Sweet Potato Fries

2 camotes 

1 diente de ajo 

Aceite para freir 

Cilantro picado finito 

Cebollin picado finito 

Sal

Si quieres paso a paso sobre estas deliciosas papas.... Buscalas en el link http://chefmariabalderrama.blogspot.com/2013/01/crispy-sweet-potato-fries.html

My Chicken Wings

Alitas de pollo cocinalas lentamente en un cas iron a temperatura media, arroga dos ramitos de romero, y un diente de ajo para darles sabor!... Ya que esten bien crispys, sazona las wings con un mix:

 ajo picado, sal, pimienta, cayena, lemon zest, perejil y poquita mantequilla derretida

Re-discover You!!!

Why not? should be the question you should be asking your self every time a new adventure comes into your life. Push your self to be different! following your own rules and ideas. Do what ever you want to do! Remember, the sky is the limit!! and there is only one life to take the risk and learn from it. Don’t worry if you don't fit in. Be different, be cool, that’s what makes you special! Unique! Open your windows at the morning, have late breakfast, watch the rain, have a glass of wine before bed, by local, learn to cook, learn to paint, learn to dance, explore, travel, get lost. Simple words and advices that have shown me become the COOL PERSON THAT I AM hahaha! I love you all!!! aaahhh SMILE! ALWAYS!=)

Always have fresh flowers and grow your own herbs, why not??... I not sure if is bad luck but I tell you that this spring two plants already die at my house. To prevent this from happening, please make sure you give them a lots lots of love!!! 

Ride with style, and go green!!!! This is how I roll, I just got it, is in it beautiful??? I feel like the happiest person riding it! 

My Green Vichyssoise!

As you can imagine Spring is one of my favorite seasons of the year. Just the color everywhere I go, getting my vitamin D by going for long runs in the morning, taking a big deep breath when I’m in the park and smelling the flowers and trees just makes me happy!!. It almost feels like I’m starting to live again. Long winters, mmm no! Just not for me! I come from the tropical climate of Mexico, and I cant tell you how exited I am to finally have nice weather in DC.  I already discovered a farmers market near my house=) and I’m getting a bicycle!!!=) With a lot of project coming up and some how uncertain of where or what I’m going to be doing next year I invite you to try this recipe which is very healthy and easy to make.

Lets welcome spring with this room temperature soup called Vichyssoise. Like Gazpacho, this soup can be served cold, hot or at room temperature. Vichyssoise is usually a potato based creamy soup. But I decided to make a twist out of it and replace the potatoes for celery root.

This soup was actually created in New York by chef Louis Diat at the Ritz Carton. Who would imagine?

Lets get our vegetables! ... Remember you dont have to follow this recipe, play with it and add any green vegetable you can find!

Ingredients!

  1 celery root

 3 leeks

1 jalapeño

 Chives

 1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp olive oil

  4 cups chicken stock

1 cup heavy cream

1.    In a large pot at medium heat add the olive oil and start sweating the vegetables. First add the celery root, then, the leeks and jalapeño.
2.    Let the vegetables sweat for at least 8 minutes.
3.    Once the vegetables have change color and are almost translucent. Add a little bit of the chicken stock and let the soup simmer for 20 min. At this point you can season the soup a little but be careful because the liquid is going to reduce and the flavors are going to be more intense. You can also add any herbs that you like.

My morning, view!!

•    After 20 minutes, pass the soup into the blender and a strainer.
•    Add the soup into another pot over medium heat and at this point add the cream and butter.
•    Season to taste, and Voila, you all ready made a delicious       Vichyssoise, now just let it cool down!

A beautiful house by Adams Morgan... I dont know why but sometimes I feel like a house hunter, I love finding unique houses and just imagine my self living there... Why not,  everything is possible no? =)

My Chicken Pot Pie!

When I start writing for a new post on my blog, I always get caught up trying not to repeat the same thoughts that I have in life. This entrance it’s about a New Me. I know I have said this in the past. But I feel that my life has been full of great chapters. Living in New York when I went to culinary school, moving to San Francisco to do my extern, living abroad in Nice, France when I was in high school and now living and working in DC. There has been definitely, ups and downs but so far during this exciting trip of my life, I have meet so many wonderful people, that bright my day with huge smiles and warm hugs that remind me of home.

This recipe, started because I was so excited to use my new cast iron that I got as a gift, from someone very special that I was dating. Memories come and go but one thing I got from this relationship is that I’m never going to forget our days of cooking together. Imagine two chefs in one kitchen? That’s a lot of love and flavor… But life goes on; reality and distance hit us… And now that we are not together, I guess I am trying to get to know me again=)

I Hope you like my chicken potpie!!! The most important thing for this beautiful and hearty recipe, is to add a lot of love, and patience, yessss a lot lot of patience!! Sounds easy no? try it=)

Chicken Potpie!

Ingredients for filling:

1 chicken breast or tights deboned

1 shallot, chopped

Fingerling potatoes

2 carrots diced

Parsley & thyme, chopped

Celery, small diced

Butternut squash, medium dice

Bacon fat, 2 spoons

½ cup heavy cream

¼ cup red or white wine

Ingredients!

1. Cut all the vegetables. Sear the chicken with bacon fat over medium heat to add a little bit of color. 
2. Remove the chicken add the vegetables to the pan and sweat them over the drippings of the chicken and bacon fat. 

Add the chicken back to the cast iron, deglaze with wine and let the alcohol evaporate, about 2 minutes.

Add the milk, and lower the heat.

When you are ready turn on the over to 255… Cover the cast iron with the dough and, brush the sides and the top of the crust with the egg to add color. 

Bake it for 45 minutes and enjoy it!!!

Balance in your life!

So simple and quick to start your day healthy “Granola with raspberries and crisp honey apples”… Life its all about balance, and this year 2013 its you chance to start all over again with the right attitude. I’m sure that under your new years resolution the words “health, diet and exercise” were present. Here are some tips that would help you to accomplish all your goals.

First, DON’T SKIP BREAKFAST!

I know sometimes how hard is to grab breakfast, maybe because we are running late to work or class. But, we must understand that breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day.

Skipping meals would just help us to have some problems with concentration, metabolism and weight.  And, with this bowl full of nutritious fruit and granola I’m sure you are going to have all the energy that you need to get your day started!!!

Second, EXERCISE

Did you know that if you do something regularly for the next 28 days it would become a habit. Suddenly, everything that took you a lot of effort to accomplish would just become natural. Set up simple goals. Try; to take at least a 20 min walk every day around a park. Forget your problems, relax while doing it, admire the trees and breath deeply and believe me you are going to feel more that great!

Here is the trick,..Do not starve yourself doing a difficult killing diets. What is better is changing your eating habits by avoiding bread, sodas, & sugars. You don’t even have to diet. Because as soon as I think of diet, all I want to do is eat everything, so just keep it simple and nutritious. “Remember you are what you eat”

 Where to take that walk? Botanical gardens in Brooklyn, Ny

Its just beautiful going there, get lost with nature!

Crispy sweet potato fries!!!=)

Since I move to DC, I must say that I have been craving one of my favorites NY restaurants “The Spotted Pig” I have been a big fan of chef April Bloomfield since I meet her in a charity event that I volunteer called "A second helping of life". What I really like about her style of cooking is that she doesn’t try to impress anybody, it is just comfort food and goood!!! But I mean so good that you are going to crave her fries, pork belly & hamburgers like I do!

2 Batonnet sweet potatoes

2 Garlic cloves sliced

4 Thyme spring (chopped)

4 Rosemary spring (chopped)

Grapeseed/ sunflower, or vegetable oil to fry!

How do I get them very crispy?

Here is the trick to get that doré-golden brown perfection. Wherever you are doing regular french fries or sweet potato fries, you always want to fry them twice. First, at a low temperature for “blanching” with the oil heat @300 for 15 min. At this point you just want to soft the potato fries. Note that we are not adding any color. Latter on, you transfer them to a plate with a paper towel to drain the excess fat.

Now you turn up the heat @400 and you add the potatoes again to you pot. At this time, you do want that sexy, golden doré style that makes you want to eat all your fries before you get them to the table! Remember always to season your fries with salt & cayene pepper!

For my aioli:

½ cup mayonnaise

2 garlic cloves chopped very finely

Cayenne pepper

Salt

Mix all the ingredients

If you are in NY, I strongly recommend to stop by, and have some pork belly for me =) 

Have a great weekend & enjoy all the delicious food!!!