Sunday Soup

I spent Sunday morning making my lunch for the day (and hopefully the week). I found a recipe for Creamy Chickpea Soup that sounded simple and delicious. I ate a big bowl for lunch and enjoyed it so much that I figured I should share it with the world. It’s not the most aesthetically appealing soup and looks like a runny peanut butter (which I don’t think is so bad), but it is filling, creamy, and most importantly awesome (because I made it). Recipe is included after the jump.

Step 1. Boil / Simmer

Step 2. Blend

Step 3. Serve

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Thanksgiving

Cheeses:  Manchego (I forgot the specific brand, but I’m sure my roommate will remember), Cowgirl Creamery Mt Tam, and Colston Basset Stilton.

And Mimosas.

Delicious.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! :)

Ikea Swedish Meatballs

A few weeks ago (I am that behind in posts), my boyfriend and I were shopping at Ikea. I was on a decorating high and was able to ignore the hundreds of rugrats (and their preoccupied parents), stupid cart pushers, and just overall mayhem that is what makes Ikea one of the least fun weekend trips. (Seriously, the weekend crowd at Ikea makes Target’s on Sunday look deserted in comparison). My boyfriend was very reluctant to be there. In fact, he felt tricked into it because I had not mentioned the idea of Ikea until we were already in Burbank. It wasn’t just the environment that frustrated him, but it was more of me. I had no clue what exactly I was looking for - I could come up with no name nor were my descriptions elaborate. At one point, my boyfriend told me “I don’t think they make what you want….anywhere.” I did not give up though and found something resembling my drawer concept. More on that later….

One of the reasons I got my boyfriend to turn into the Ikea parking lot was with one sentence: “If we go to Ikea I will buy you lunch… at Ikea.” It worked. My boyfriend’s food tastes are not similar to mine in anyway. Only he would be persuaded by the idea of ordering food cafeteria style. This is no surprise to me though considering Koo Koo Roo is always a dinner option he pushes (and always an option I veto). So we fought our way through the high traffic showrooms to the cafe. First thought: Kind of gross. Second thought: At least it’s cheap. We got our plastic trays and stood in line. Although the pre-made food was in neat Ikea compartments, the shrink wrapped food was not enticing enough for me to touch or really look at for very long. We moved on towards the “lunch ladies” to order our meatballs. My boyfriend opted against ordering the gravy, and I applaud him on that decision because the gravy looked nasty. In the end, this is what we were given. I think the flag is a cute touch, albeit very wasteful.

Perfectly bite sized. A wonderful combination of savory bread and meat. Although I was only allowed to have 2 meatballs from his plate, I found them delicious. The potatoes were not so bad either. So, if you’re hungry at Ikea or have a grumpy boyfriend at Ikea, check out the meatballs. I don’t know about the frozen ones though. I kind of think you should keep the Ikea meatballs at Ikea.

(Sadly, I didn’t get the $1 frozen yogurt cone on the way out because the line was ridiculous.)

Ikea
600 N. San Fernando Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 842-4532

Brentwood Farmer’s Market

In the past 2 years, I have never walked down the road to the Brentwood Farmer’s Market on San Vincente (and Gretna Green) on Sunday. I have definitely ran past it quite a few times, but never thought to myself what a great idea it would be to stop in. Last Sunday, I made a point to wake up extra early on my day off to beat the crowd, heat, and find some good vegetables. I noticed I was falling into quite the stereotype as I made my journey there:

1. Apple product in tow
2. North Face hooded sweatshirt  - (outdoor performance clothes)
3. The fact that I was going to a Farmer’s Market
4. Searching for organic food

And I’m sure many others…

I got there at 9:15, but the place was already filling up with the yoga pant wearing yuppy moms and their children common to Santa Monica. Since it was early, everything went swimmingly. I came home with these goods:

I’ve only tried one of the eggplants and it was a little too ripe, but I have hope that the others will be better. The broccoli is good. I loved these bell peppers, but am afraid they might not be organic (they look too good to believe they are organic :P). I am used to getting apples from Whole Foods and for the most part they are much bigger than the ones I have been seeing at Farmer’s Market, but I took a chance with a few of these and they seem okay. I was only able to find fuji and pink lady apples, which is great because I enjoy both (especially the latter). However, I wish I could find some that are in better condition. I might have to continue shopping for apples at WF (although that can be expensive), I’m not sure though - I’m still searching for more local options.

One stand that I fortunately was able to try samples from was the Moon Pillow stand. Moonpillows are mochi truffles -  rice pastries with chocolate ganache centers. Exactly like mochi ice cream, but not with ice cream in the middle - but chocolate (the mochi exterior is a little softer). I was able to try the Chocolate Peanut Butter and it was amazing. They are handmade in small batches, so you won’t be seeing these sold at Starbucks anytime soon. In fact, I think the only place you can get them in Los Angeles is at the Brentwood Farmer’s Market (or you could order them online). The flavors rotate. Right now their website states there are Thanksgiving flavors (French Roast, Maple-Pecan, Passion Fruit, and Pumpkin Spice) which will be around until December 2nd. The picture is of the Maple-Pecan.

If I had had more cash on me that day, I probably would have bought some because they are fluffy, chewy, and delicious. Sadly, I had only planned ahead for vegetables and good chocolate is never cheap: $23 for a box of twelve, $12 for a box of six, $6 for a box of three. If you get a chance - check them out, buy a box, and then come over to my apartment to share.

Brentwood Farmer’s Market: 9am - 1pm

Mike’s Holiday Mopishrout

Since Thanksgiving is coming up, I have heard a lot of talk about Turducken - a dish made by stuffing a turkey with a duck that has been stuffed with chicken. However, a friend from work gave me a copy of his recipe for the ultimate holiday dish: Mopishrout. I can’t wait to make it in my kitchen!

Ingredients:
(1) moose, medium
(1) pig
(1) sheep (sheared)
(1) rabbit, large
(1) trout
(1) shrimp (in season)

Take moose, rub with butter.
Insert pig into moose.
Insert sheep into pig.
Insert rabbit into sheep.
Insert trout into rabbit.
Insert shrimp into trout (be sure to remove shrimp tail)

Add pinch of garlic, and Cajun spice, if desired.
Salt to taste.

Cook at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.
Serve with corn and mashed potatoes.

Serves 6

Happy Holidays

Funnel Mill Coffee

It was a Friday night many weeks ago, but both my boyfriend and my roommate were not available to hang out. I wanted to do something social, but didn’t really want to go drinking by myself. Instead, I drove to Funnel Mill Coffee in Santa Monica. Let me tell you that I have lived on this side of town for over 2 years and had never noticed Funnel Mill. I found out about it through a friend this past year and actually found out where it was located on Yelp that Friday night. I was surprised to find it so covertly close to Bodega Wine Bar; how could I have missed it? Surely I have walked past it. When I talked to the owners it was obvious that this place was meant for true coffee and tea drinkers who want the best quality product. (They don’t want it to be like the hustle and bustle of a Starbucks). The atmosphere is chilllaxed to the ten, spacious, and a wide selection of different seats (chairs, stools, sofas, etc.).

Their coffee is made using the siphon method (vacuum pot / Turkish preparation) - one of the most entertaining  and elaborate coffee “makers.” Out of shyness, I did not take a picture - but here is one of what they look like. But, it consists of 2 jars. One jar is metal and is used to heat water. The other jar is glass for the actual brewing. There is a small alcohol burner that sits under the metal jar, and the two jars are also connected by a slim pipe. You place the ground coffee in the glass jar, boil the water in the metal jar, and light the alcohol burner to continue heating the water. As the water boils, it will begin to flow through the pipe into the jar with the coffee grounds. The water is just below boiling when it reaches the coffee (which is key is coffee in good coffee making). When the metal jar is empty and all the water has relocated to the glass jar for brewing, a balanced lever will tip the jar and put out the burner. When the metal jar cools, it creates a vacuum and the finished coffee is sucked back through the slim pipe from the glass jar. Usually there is a spigot at the bottom of the metal jar, where you pour your finished coffee. The machine looks like it should be in a chemistry lab (for wonderful coffee). It is able to create an amazing cup because there are no filters to alter the flavor and the use of long water contact at specific temperatures produces a smoother coffee.

Funnel Mill also offers one type of bean I have never tried in my life, but have heard so much about: Kopi Luwak (Kopi stands for coffee, Luwak stands for Asian Palm Civet) coffee. You might have seen the CSI episode where it is mentioned. If not, you might have heard about it because it is the most expensive coffee in the world. If you haven’t heard anything about it, that is okay too. Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee is coffee made from berries which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet. The civets eat the berries, but the beans inside the berries pass through their system undigested. This process only happens in Sumatra (Java), Sulawesi (Philippines), and East Timor. However, Vietnam has a similar type of coffee called weasel coffee, which is coffee berries that have been regurgitated by local weasels (local version of the Asian Palm Civet). Apparently, the berries are a part of the A. P. Civet’s diet. It is proposed that the stomach enzymes add to the coffee’s flavor by breaking down the proteins that give coffee the bitter taste. The beans are defecated still covered in some inner layers of the berry. The beans are washed (hopefully) and lightly roasted to maintain the complex flavor. Kopi Luwak sells between $120-$600 per pound. Sold mainly in Japan and the U.S. It’s limited though, with only 1,000 pounds making it to the world market each year. In 2004, when the big SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) scare, many of the civets in China were exterminated. The night I was at Funnel Mill, I think the price was around 70 dollars for a cup of the Kopi Luwak. I asked the owner how many times a week someone orders it and they said around 4 people a month order it.

Since it was a Friday night and I was alone, I decided it was not the best idea to get caffeinated up and ordered some Chrysanthemum tea (known to relax the body and calm the mind). Even though there was no siphoning machine involved, it was still a beautiful presentation. I sat back, relaxed, and enjoyed. Although I did not write any notes, I do recall this being one of the best herbal teas I have ever had.

I am happy to report that the owners are very friendly, informative, kind, considerate, and thoughtful people. I have also met some other people who work there that aren’t the owners and they are also very friendly and informative. This place is truly a hidden gem that I am happy I found. Free parking. Free wifi. And great people, coffee, and tea.

Funnel Mill
930 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 597-4395

Lies & Regifts

My boyfriend recently was given a bottle of red wine (Kono Báru 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon) and some candles from a friend for his birthday. Although it sounds like a sweet and innocent gift, it is not. First, who gives their friends candles for their birthday or ever? (Bizarro). Second, everyone that is friends with my boyfriend knows that he does not like red wine. To add to this shadiness, his friend claims the wine came from Mel and Rose’s and was worth thirty dollars. However, I accidently found this upside down label selling at Trader Joe’s for $3.99! I also called Mel and Rose’s to confirm the price, but they told me they had never heard of the brand and did not sell it. Thus, confirming the sketchiness of the story. Even though all signs point to regifting and lying, it did work out to my benefit: I got a free bottle of wine.

The wine was better than expected. It was low complexity and sweet. It had a medium body, monotone flavor, and a short finish. No notes of dryness. It was inoffensive and uninteresting, but still palatable. Overall, a good buy lie.