B Star Bar, San Francisco

I traveled 400 miles for this salad.

Last weekend, I took a quick trip to San Francisco and was slated to go to Burma Super Star. (Unfortunately, Los Angeles doesn't have much Burmese food. I've been to the Golden Triangle in Whittier, but Burma Super Star is a lot better.) I was hungry when I got off the plane!

However, by the time my UCLA roomie, Diane and I arrived at Burma Super Star, there was a typical Saturday night 1 1/2 hour wait. Ugh. The hostess said Burma's sister restaurant was just down the street...B Star Bar.

We headed there and entered heaven. I'm not kidding! We were so fortunate...we walked in and got seated at the counter instantly. The place is cute and has a different menu than Burma with lots of Asian-inspired food...but with some of their favorites including the Rainbow and Tea Leaf Salad.

We split my favorite salad on the planet...Tea Leaf Salad (see above). A delicious combination of romaine lettuce, ginger, fried garlic, sunflower, sesame seeds, tomatoes, peanuts and tea leaves. Soooo good. $9

My friend, Diane ordered the Basil Chili Tofu. Pressed tofu, eggplant, bell pepper, asparagus...over coconut rice. Oh that rice! So delicious. The dish was pretty spicy. While I'm not a fan of the pressed tofu, Diane liked her dish. $11

Although I wanted to try a bunch of different items on the menu, I kept looking at the Ochazuke. This a Japanese comfort food that just says, "Mom." It's the equivalent of tomato soup and grilled cheese for me. Of course, my mom's is nowhere near this fancy.

Rice, salmon, poached egg, topped with an umeboshi (pickled plum) and surrounded by pickled greens and crunchy rice...all in a green tea broth. Delicious! If this dish were a person, I would hug it. $11

The Tea Leaf Salad is tossed and the green tea is poured over the ochazuke tableside. Here are my action shots!

If you are in San Francisco, head over to B Star Bar or Burma Super Star!

B Star Bar
127 Clement (between 2nd and 3rd)
San Francisco, CA 94118
They do take reservations (unlike Burma Super Star)
(415) 933-9900

Mini-Yogurt Cake with Strawberries

Mini-Yogurt Cakes with Strawberries and Yoplait Vanilla Yogurt

Today's my last day visiting my friends Racheal and Lee in the DC area. Yesterday, I made a light dessert with some ingredients we had on hand.

And yes, those are glass coasters! :)

Adapted from the Barefoot Contessa's Lemon Yogurt Cake
This is 1/4 of Ina's recipe, and it made 5 regular size cupcakes.

sift together (dry):
1/4 c + 2 T flour, 1/2 t baking powder, dash of salt

whisk together (wet):
1/4 c yogurt (I used French vanilla Yoplait yogurt), 1/4 c sugar, 1 egg, 1/2 t zest (I used orange because that is what we had on hand), 1/8 t vanilla

oil: 2 T oil (I used vegetable oil, but have also used olive oil)

1. Combine the wet and dry ingredients until smooth.
2. Fold in oil until combined.
3. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
4. This only makes 5 cupcakes...if you want the full recipe for a loaf or cake pan, click here.

Ina's recipe has a lovely lemon syrup, but I didn't have any lemons. I split the cupcake and spread some strawberry jam in the center with diced strawberries. I filled and topped one of them with the remaining Yoplait vanilla yogurt.

The lemon sauce would have been great on this, but luckily the fresh California strawberries were nice and tasty.

Since Racheal's big blowout California baby shower was postponed because she is now on modified bed rest for early contractions, I made a small breakfast shower to present her with gifts from friend and former neighbor, Diane and me. Yes, that's the Cinnamon Chocolate Bundt cake I love so much! :)

And if you think Racheal and I just sat around vegging out and eating for a week, you are wrong. We had a book discussion group too! Well, sorta. We watched both BBC's "Colin Firth in his glory" Pride and Prejudice as well as Bridget Jones's Diary. Then we had a lively discussion comparing the two movies that are based on Jane Austen's classic. Deep, in-depth discussions of Mr. Darcy's gaze at Elizabeth while she played the pianoforte, and when Mark Darcy looks at Bridget during her blue soup dinner! And, we discussed the latest issue of People...since we both read it cover-to-cover. Such an academic vacation, no?

If the mom is this cute in these hooded towels, the baby boy is going to be adorable. Before the trip, I took my mom with me to Babies R Us and she was amazed there was a whole wall dedicated to pacifiers...times have changed from cloth diapers!

Thanks Racheal and Lee for letting me stay at your new house! I enjoyed hanging out with you and your three other sons, cats Jake, Elwood and Samson! Can't wait to see you when you visit Los Angeles with your newest Baby Boy in October! Love, Auntie Mary

Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp with Cherries (Barefoot Contessa)

Barefoot Contessa's Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp with fresh cherries (and Jake, the cat)

I'm in DC visiting my friends Racheal and Lee who used to live in Los Angeles. She is on modified bed rest for her first pregnancy, her husband is on a business trip, and we are hanging out having a slumber party with pizza deliveries, take-out, naps, and lots of cable TV and movies (you know, all for the welfare of the baby...)

For dinner, I made a roast chicken with potatoes and carrots. Seriously, there is nothing better than potatoes roasted in chicken drippings. Yummmmmmy! However, the only problem was that I put the 4 pound chicken on the roasting pan upside down. When I tried to be cool and carve said chicken on Racheal's yet-to-be-used-but-received-three-years-ago-at-their-wedding meat cutting board (with "meat juice" border), my knife just keeps hitting bones. I mumble to myself, "This chicken is like me. No breasts." Luckily, I finally turned it over and found the hooters.

I used granny smith, braeburn, and gala apples in this crisp. I pitted and halved a few fresh cherries. This photo was taken before I realized I forgot the cinnamon and nutmeg! Next, I mixed in the missing spices. The topping is a mixture of butter, oatmeal, butter, flour, other stuff, and butter. Get the recipe on the Food Network website.

Apple & Cherry Crisp with baby boy a la mode

Racheal says, "I'm pregnant. I'm hungry. This is my share!"

Recipe: Adapted from Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp by the Barefoot Contessa. I added fresh pitted, halved cherries.

Georgetown Cupcake on M Street

Georgetown Cupcake

During my stay in the DC area, I went to Georgetown Cupcake on M Street. My preggers friend Racheal and her husband Lee both work at Georgetown. Before Lee left on his business trip, I went to M Street in Georgetown.

Racheal loves Georgetown Cupcake, and unlike Los Angeles where there is a cupcake shop on every corner, I believe this is the only cupcake place in DC.

The line was out the door (they often sell out) but it goes quickly because you can only fit 4 people in the store at one time! I met the nicest woman from Hawai'i in front of me who is taking her daughter on a college tour...this summer, they are going to visit UCLA and I hope it'll be her choice! :)

Georgetown Cupcake
their motto: pure bliss baked daily

From the top, clockwise:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl
Red Velvet
Carrot Cake
Chocolate Mint
Key Lime
Center: Chocolate^3

Our favorites...Chocolate Mint and Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl

They offered free gift wrapping for Mother's Day!

Georgetown Cupcake
1209 Potomac St NW (Corner of M Street)
Washington, DC (Historic Georgetown) 20007
$2.75 each, $15 half dozen, $29 dozen

Everyday Food Coconut Shrimp Soup (with added curry)

Coconut (and Curry) Shrimp Soup

Hi everyone,
I'm in the DC area this week helping my preggers friend Racheal who is on bed rest. We just finished watching 6 hours of Colin Firth in Pride & Prejudice - I can't believe my English major friend never saw it! Glad we can mark that movie off her list of the best RoCo movies of all time!

Anyway, I figure my friend can't eat dessert all day so I brought the book Everyday Food: Great Food Fast, and let Racheal bookmark some pages. First up, Coconut Shrimp Soup!

This was very simple to put together...once I figured out which way to cut the carrots! :)

Garlic and ginger are cooked, then the carrots, coconut milk, water, and cornstarch are added. You'll need to serve this immediately because the cornstarch and pasta soak up all the liquid if you let it sit...believe me on that!

I made the recipe exactly and when I tasted it, it had way too much coconut flavor. Way. too. much.

I added lots of curry powder and more red pepper flakes. And, we added in our left over Thai yellow curry from the previous day's take out! In addition, I squeezed a bunch of lime juice on top. I served it with Sriracha sauce (a staple in any house!) I probably won't make this recipe again, but at least I didn't let my friend starve! :)

Recipe: Coconut Shrimp Soup (I added lots of curry powder)

Later, I made a roast chicken, and apple & cherry crisp...coming up soon!

Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Bread and Gary Holt Pottery

Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Bread

I love baked good. I mean, I have a baking blog! I seriously love baked goods.

But I l-o-v-e pottery and ceramics.

And if I can combine the two, I'm there.

During my mini-break, I stopped in at Gary Holt's studio in Berkeley. He has some amazing stuff and he is able to do crossword puzzles in ink! My friend Sumi has a bunch of his pieces at her place.

It was a struggle to pick, but I finally decided on this piece. It is a beautiful platter that perfectly fits a loaf of bread! My photos don't do it justice at all...be sure to check out Gary Holt's website for professional photos of his work!

Pumpkin Bread from the Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook book. This is a great book to add to your collection. Great photos and OCD quality instructions.

My bread didn't turn out great and I don't blame Martha. I blame my flour...it was clumpy and I should have sifted it before using it. I ended up overmixing a quick bread. And overmixing...that's bad. I'll definitely try the recipe again in the future...as I need to keep loaves on this pretty piece of pottery!

Gary Holt Pottery Studio
1449 Fifth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 527-4183

If you are in the East Bay, check it out!

Also, a few doors down is Mary Law Pottery. I bought something from her too...that piece will be on the blog soon!