Lemon Ricotta Blackberry Muffins

Lemon Ricotta Blackberry Muffins

Maria of Two Peas and Their Pod (who has a pea in the oven right now!) loves ricotta. She has a bunch of recipes using ricotta cheese. When I saw these muffins on her blog, I knew I had to make them.

My local store had a sale on blackberries so I bought a bunch...some for the muffins and more for me to eat with yogurt, oatmeal and just straight out the box. This recipe places a bit of batter in the muffin tin, then place the blackberries on top, followed by more batter. Brilliant technique as it avoids crushing your blackberries when folding them into the batter. A sprinkling of sugar in the raw or turbinado sugar makes a nice crunchy top.

Easy, delicious, moist and perfect for any breakfast or bunch! And if you have leftover ricotta, check out the recipes on Maria's blog :)

Recipe:
Mom-to-be Maria's Two Peas and their Pod blog
Lemon Ricotta Blackberry Muffins

CoCo Ichibanya Japanese Curry House Restaurant, Los Angeles

CoCo Ichibanya Curry House

When I want Japanese Curry, I head to the multiple locations of the Curry House. Or, I open the pantry and pull out a block of Curry. Those were my choices... until now!

CoCo Ichibanya Curry House just opened their first restaurant on mainland* United States (there are restaurants in Hawaii *updated)! And it is in Torrance in Southern California. Whoo hoo!

My friend Jun and I went to feed her baby. The baby in her tummy. Friend Socrates and I have decided to be Jun's Food Doula....or just make up any excuse to get together to eat before and after the baby comes!

Jun has been to CoCo Ichibanya at their Japanese locations, and even went there on her honeymoon! :)

Be prepared for the menu...it's all about building your own curry. You can change the size of your curry, the amount of spicyness, and add on everything under the sun. Both Jun and I agree that we will downsize our rice next time (I think that'll save you a few cents).

Jun's Eggplant Curry, made with Japanese eggplant. The base curry is $3.99 and the topping of eggplant is $2.00.

My Vegetable Curry. The base curry is $3.99 and the topping of vegetable is $2.00.

Be sure to add the pickled daikon (radish) fukujinzuke to your curry. It adds a great texture and taste. Extra curry powder is available.

We ordered the lunch set which includes a small salad and drink for $1.50 extra. The salad dressing choices are a sesame or a ponzu/soy dressing. I loved the sesame dressing!! The total bill for the two of us was $15.48 plus tax and tip.

I definitely want to visit again and try some of the other toppings. And I think I should visit both the Curry House and this restaurant in the same week to compare! You know, I'm a librarian. It's all about research, research. ;)

Restaurant:
CoCo Ichibanya Curry House
Yelp  ::  Los Angeles Times
2455 Sepulveda Blvd, Ste C (Corner of Sepulveda & Crenshaw Blvd)
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 294-5315

Cornmeal Shortbread Cookies - Tuesdays with Dorie

Cornmeal Shortbread Cookies

For this week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection, Valerie of Une Gamine dans la Cuisine chose Cornmeal Shortbread Cookies on page 130 of Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours.

This is an egg-less shortbread cookie with a bit of cornmeal. Super easy to throw together, roll out and let chill overnight. Cut into squares, prick twice with a fork and 25 minutes later...cookies!

Check out the other Tuesdays with Dorie bakers and see their creations!

Recipe:
Valerie of Une Gamine dans la Cuisine blog,
or, Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours (page 130)

National Library Week 2011 Winners!

Congrats to the winners of my National Library Week giveaways! Winner were picked at random. Thanks for entering and celebrating National Library Week with me! :)

Day #1: Ann (entry #95) won Sarabeth’s Bakery cookbook
Day #2: Spike (entry #77) won the 4 Crate & Barrel ramekins
Day #3: Susan (entry #71) won the Everyday Food subscription
Day #4: Jen (entry #56) won the Silpat
Day #5: Frannie (entry #35) won the Dorie Greenspan Around my French Table cookbook
Library staff giveaway: Erin (entry #30) won the Amazon gift card

Mo-Chica Peruvian Restaurant, Los Angeles

 Mo-Chica Peruvian Restaurant

UCLA Library school pals Jun, Socrates and I went to Mo-Chica, Modern Peruvian Restaurant near the other school (aka USC) yesterday. OMG! Totally deliciousness. Both Jun and Socrates have been in the past, but it was my first visit...and not my last!

Mo-Chica is known for their ceviche and all the reviews are right. Their ceviche is the best! The potato salad was wonderful too...crab meat with potato, avocado and tomato.
Causa Del Dia peruvian potato salad of the day, $5.00; Ceviche Del Dia, $12.00

Oh yes. Mary had a little lamb. ;) This was my favorite dish. The lamb falls off the bone and all the flavors are rich and perfectly spiced. Our entrees all came with a small bowl of white rice. We shared the dishes family style. 
Seco De Cordero lamb shank, canario beans, salsa criolla, cilantoro beer sauce, $13.00

The fish of the day was red snapper...under quinoa risotto. Perfectly cooked fish!  
Fish of the Day, $14.00

I love the combo of french fries with beef in Peruvian food. Well, let's be honest, I can pretty much eat french fries with anything.
Lomo Saltado beef filet, salsa criolla, fried potatoes, $13.00

Yeah...we killed it. Everything was delicious!

1) Inca Kola   2) Cebada barley ice tea with herbs and ginger root  3) Chicha Morada purple corn
Drinks $2.00 each

My pals Jun and Socrates.... And, the big news is that Jun and her husband, David are expecting!!! (Remember the beautiful wedding and the crazy dessert bar?!) Congratulations Jun!!! She's due in October and I'm so excited!

Mo-Chica Peruvian
Located in the Mercado La Paloma
(Casual mall food court environment, but Mo-Chica has very nice wait staff)
3655 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90007
213.747.2141

A Tourtely Apple Tart - Tuesdays with Dorie

A Tourtely Apple Tart   

For this week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection, Jeanette of The Whimsical Cupcake chose A Tourtely Apple Tart on pages 306 and 307 of Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours.

For a bunch of crazy reasons, I didn't have access to my mini tart pans so I did these free form hand pie thingies. With a knife, I cut two steam holes in the center...but when they came out of the oven, they look like a little heart. Ahhh...tart/pie love.

An apple, raisin, nut and spice applesauce is cooked on the stove and cooled. I skipped the nuts in the filling and tart dough, but didn't miss it. I could eat this applesauce all day long. I made the crust dough by hand...yes, those white pieces are butter. I made 1/2 the tart dough so that made two little tarty pies.


This is like a grown up and much more delicious version of a McDonald's apple pie! :)

Check out the other Tuesdays with Dorie bakers and see their creations...and to see how it is supposed to be made in a tart shell!

Recipe:
Jeanette of  The Whimsical Cupcake blog,
or, Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours (page 306)

American Airlines Fortune Cookie Promotion

American Airline's stupid and annoying Fortune Cookie

My co-worker and I went across the street to a local Chinese restaurant for the $5.99 lunch special. After my cup of hot and sour soup and chicken chow mein...the waitress brought the check and two fortune cookies. (BTW, did you know that fortune cookies were developed in California? It's disputed who invented them but they were definitely popularized in America.)

I opened it and get this message.

WTH?!

The other side of American Airline's stupid and annoying Fortune Cookie

Then I flip it over thinking my fortune would be on the other side and get this stupid message!

WTH?!

Where's my fortune? How am I supposed to plan my day?! ;) I need to know my winning lotto numbers (never play, but I want to know what could bring me riches) and if "you will see a long lost friend today." I felt totally ripped off.

And, yes, I went to the AA website and typed in my code. I wasn't a winner and still didn't get a fortune.

Hey, American Airlines, this promotion? It sucks.

I tweeted this cell phone picture and learned that several others got this message (I think this might be a Los Angeles thing because they are promoting flights from LAX). And, we all don't have tender feelings for you, American Airlines for stealing our fortunes (Oops, I was almost used the word hijacked but that would have been bad.)

Thanks for listening to me vent...I'm going back to baking now. ;) - mary the food librarian