Brannon Fam Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookies

Ok, yummy gluten free cookies are hard to come by for me. These my friends, are delish! You won't miss the flour and neither will your stomach :) Super easy and super yummy!

3/4 cup honey

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter

1/2 T. cinnamon

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla 

1 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

1 cup peanut butter

3 cups GF oats (trader joes :)

8.oz chocolate chips

4.oz raisins

1/3 cup sunflower seeds or other nuts

Preheat oven to 350. Combine honey, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter. Beat until creamy. Add eggs, vanilla, and baking soda and mix well. Add peanut butter and mix. Stir in oats, chocolate chips, raisins and nuts.  Place a teaspoon full of dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet (2 inches apart). Bake 10-12 minutes until golden around edges.

(inspired from a Trader Joe's recipe)

 Makes about 4 dozen.

Enjoy! 

Cj

too easy pumpkin cake

So this recipe is so easy I don't even know if I can call it a recipe?!

I found a ton of versions of this, some adding an egg or two. some adding sugar or cinnamon, which all may be yummy to add. But I made mine with these two ingredients alone! For a super quick fall dessert, it was pretty tasty! 

Just mix a box if spice cake mix with a 16.0z can of pumpkin in a bowl. Then pour into a well greased 9X13 baking dish (or 2 round) and bake @ 350 for 25-30 minutes!

Frost with cream cheese frosting or slice and add a dollop of whip cream! If you're a nut fan, chopped walnuts on top are delish!

Enjoying Fall!

Cj

(photo cred, cookinglight.com)

"stay-cation"

I really do think California is one of the most beautiful places on this earth. We've been on the coast and in the mountains all week, and it's all just so pretty. Maybe I'm a little bias, being from here and all :) But it really is beautiful! Where else can you ski and surf all in the same day? 

Enough of my love for California... 

Chad and I decided to have a little "stay-cation" this week. He was gone for 7 days last week, and we were needing some family hang time!  Since he still had work we couldn't go too far, so we decided to stay around town and enjoy this super fun place we live! We've been enjoying the beautiful coast and adventuring out to new places and new restaurants around town.  We also enjoyed the Camarillo Premium Outlets, that place has become quite the spot to shop! You name it they have it!

Also the rates at the "Brannon Hotel" are very reasonable this time of year :) It's kind of nice to be on vacation but still get to sleep in your own cozy bed!

Here's a few pics from our "stay-cation". Enjoying this lovely place! Cj

 Nothing like a dancing monkey at the Santa Monica Pier :)

watching the waves coming in under the pier 

Beautiful rooftop eating  @ Santa Monica Place : Dining 

If you haven't been here, you must go! Its awesome! Great place for a date or fun family outing!

Santa Monica Place has all been re-done. It now has great designer shops, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and is kind of like a more modern Grove or Americana.

, 

Thank you Mary for the amazing recommendation of 

Sonoma Wine Garden, a fab roof top spot!

The food was amazing, atmosphere was so cool and the view was beautiful! 

I'll take those lanterns for my patio :)

Live music and great lounge seating!

 This was another day @ ZuMA BeACH :)

Enjoying our vacation :)

Cj

valentines day party ideas

    
click on the link below
"valentines day party 2010"

Here's some cheap and simple Valentines Day decor and party ideas from our little gathering last Valentines Day:) 

enjoy, Cj

what she didn't tell you...

So I posted below, about a foodie friends favorite LA spots. Chad and I try to do date nights on Thursdays and so last night we thought we'd try the Oinkster in Eagle Rock. Sounds healthy huh! :) Sue's comment of best fries ever? really?? We were too curious and had to give it a try. Also I love Eagle Rock, I can get my Venice fix and I don't have to go far at all! 

Ok, so what she didn't tell you was... 

everything at this place is amazing!! We went thinking we'd grab a burger and try these rockin fries, and were quite pleasently surprised to eat some of the yummiest burgers and pastrami sandwiches we've ever had! She's totally right, the fries are pretty amazing, but I had to add the food is too!! Chad ordered the "Royal" a burger with grueyre cheese, caramelized onions, chili. He ate the whole thing. I ordered the "oinkster" pastrami which was THE BEST PASTRAMI sandwich I've ever had:) It's quite large too, I'm eating the other half as I type...

Also, the gal that rung us up told us about happy hour: Monday-Friday 3-6 p.m. they have half price burgers and fries, with the purchase of a drink!! oh, and inteligensia iced tea is an option :)

Some fun info on the owner and executive chef 

(also E. Chef of MAX and Senor Fred in my neck of the woods, this guy's legit :)

: The Oinkster Restaurant

It's a must try!! Enjoy! 

Cj
(pics were pulled of google, they're not mine:)

Sue's Spots

Sue and I met at church while serving on high school staff together. I was a little intimidated at first, she's super pretty, super smart and super godly, and spews wisdom. She was nice to be my friend, and became great friends instantly. What a blessing of a friend she was! Not to mention one of the most fun and cultured people I know. She is the daughter of resturant owners and was a pastry chef at the ever so yummy Clementine Bakery. She and her husband moved to Toronto, Canada this year back where he is originally from. 

I thought I'd share this post from her blog ,and pass along some yum spots for all you Cali peeps, or spots for all you out of towners to check out when you're in So-Cal!

Thanks Sue! Enjoy. CJ

Longings of a Foodie

When people ask me what I miss about living in California, 

my immediate response after

 1. The people, is 2. The food! 

We live about 25 minutes outside Toronto

 so it's pretty bare bones in terms 

of eating out options around here. It's mostly typical

 suburban restaurant chains and quite depressing 

for someone who likes

 a variety of unique foods. 

Teamed up with the fact that I just discovered 

"The Best Thing I Ever Ate" on the Food Network,

 it's got me thinking about some of the best

 things I've ever eaten in LA, 

so to all my Cali friends out there,

 please go check out these places 

and take a big, yummy bite for me:)

(in no particular order):

- Tito's Tacos: Culver City: The tacos! 

Served up with a side of thick and crunchy tortilla chips

 and delicious housemade salsa,

Tito's Tacos with cheese are simple yet oh so tasty. 

There is always typically a line up 

no matter what time of day you go

 but they move fast and the wait is worth it.

http://www.titostacos.com

- Kouraku: Little Tokyo (downtown): 

I always order one of two things at

 this little modest hole in the wall,

 1. The nikudango (sweet and sour meatballs,

 I know, sounds weird to have at a Japanese restaurant 

but they are SO good!) 

or 2. The kimchi ramen. 

The ramen is always piping hot and

 the kimchi adds a nice kick of flavor, 

I am almost always craving this when it rains.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/kouraku-restaurant-los-angeles-2

- Versailles: various locations: 

The Famoso Pollo Versailles! 

Served with a side of rice, black beans, 

and fried plantains, this garlic chicken dish is absolutely delicious.

http://www.versaillescuban.com

- The Oinkster: Eagle Rock: The belgian fries! 

These are the best french fries ever; 

I like to dip mine in regular Heinz ketchup 

(even though they have a house version)

 and/or their garlic aioli sauce, the best!

http://theoinkster.com

- Damon and Pythias: Westwood: 

The cheesesteak sandwich and onion rings! 

This winning combo is so good and 

the onion rings are the best I ever had.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/damon-and-pythias-food-for-the-gods-los-angeles

- Pho 999: Van Nuys: The pho with rare beef 

or the vermicelli noodle salad with grilled beef and egg rolls.

 Inexpensive, quickly served, and super tasty, 

this kitschy Vietnamese restaurant was always a go-to for Matt and me.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pho-999-restaurant-van-nuys

Bon appetit!

P.S. Suelynn always posts fabulous recipes! Check out her blog for yummy ideas!

The Sylvesters :)

Long Beach day and some great spots!

Our sweet friend Jill, who serves on High School Staff with us lives in Long Beach. Faithful is probably the best word to describe her. Jill works and lives in LB and commutes over an hour to come to Grace Community Church. She not only does that drive on Sunday mornings, but does anywhere from 2-4 times a week to serve and be with high school students and staff...thats faithfulness and commitment! And she never complains about it, she always does it with joy and a great attitude! 

So, all that to say... it was about time "the valley" came to Long Beach! Chad ended up going on a retreat weekend with the Bible study leaders, so the boys and I headed to Long Beach for a day in Jill's supper cute hood! Other friends Laura and Sarah joined us and we all had a blast! We enjoyed the Aquarium of the Pacific, a must see for people of all ages, the kids loved it and so did the adults!

we got to touch the sting rays!

hands on tide pools

me and the shark boy!

Hudson, Laura (lolo) and the LARA bar :) (lolo bar)

fordy getting a little sleepy

the cool big shark

shark face

After the aquarium.... we headed to lunch at the adorable and delicious Lucille's BBQ,  which is in a super cute area with great shops, just blocks from the beach! The biscuts and apple butter were rocking, the BBQ salads and sandwiches were SO good, and it had a great atmosphere!

And then if we weren't stuffed enough , a few hours later we went dinner at Jill's local spot Jongewaard’s Bake 'n Broil which had some of the tastiest homemade food! The soups are delicious and all the pies and cakes are baked in house. The red velvet cake was one of the best! I'm kind of craving this place right now :)
Also we went to My Sweet & Saucy the bake shop of a blogger I stumbled upon while poking on some blogs a while back, super cute shop and yum treats, I brought back to Chad. The vanilla lemon cupcake and peanut butter cupcakes were pretty yummy! Jill thank you for a wonderful day! We can't wait to come do it again soon! It was much enjoyed :) Cj

Elyse's Roca Brittle

Oh my goodness, this stuff is dangerous. Seriously dangerous. Beware! You will most likely eat the whole batch if you don't have an occasion your making them for or people you're bringing them to. I helped throw a shower for my sweet friend Julie and her new Baby Reese this week and one of her friends brought these and some other amazing baked treats to the party. Thanks for the fabulous recipe Elyse!

 Enjoying in moderation :)

 Cj

QUICK AND EASY ALMOND ROCA

-    jelly roll pan lined with foil (shiny side down)

-  Keebler Club crackers

-  2 1/2 sticks of butter

-  1 1/3 cups golden brown sugar

-  2 cups chocolate chips

-  chopped walnuts

Line the pan with crackers, salty side down.  You will need to break and piece together to cover the bottom of the pan. 

Melt the butter and brown sugar on the stovetop.  Cook until it begins to pull away from the sides of the pot and it is a creamy, bubbly consistency.

Pour over the crackers, spreading to the edges so they are completely covered.  Bake at 350 degrees for seven minutes.

Spread chocolate chips on top, again spreading so that when they melt, all areas are covered.  Sprinkle with chopped walnuts.

Set in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes until the bottom of the pan is cooled.  Break apart into serving pieces.

Homemade Fro-Yo :)

Well, it's kinda sorta homemade. Today Hud and I blended up this little mixture and created the tastiest treat! It was the perfect snack on this hot summer day. It totally tasted like a Humphrey Yogart creation, which is one of our favorite yogurt spots!

1 cup ice

1 trader joe's organic vanilla yogurt

3/4 cup trader joe's strawberry kifer 

3/4 cup frozen mango 

3/4 cup frozen blueberries

( you can totally eyeball it, no need to be exact! :)

Blend until all ingredients are smooth, add ice or liquid if needed:) You also can freeze this mixture on popsicle molds to make delish frozen treats! I froze the mixture in homemade baby food containers, so we can enjoy them throughout the week!

enjoy!

cj

ditch the tortillas :)

Here's a yum way to serve tacos :) Lettuce cups are a fun summer alternative to tortillas. These were delish, with a scoop of ground beef, salsa and a splash of Trader Joe's creamy cilantro dressing. 

Another idea my friend Lindsey does is, put sandwich ingredients or chicken salad in lettuce cups for an alternative to bread. Pretty yummy, too.

Give e'm a try I'm sure you'll enjoy!

 Cj

SweetSalt

Chad and I went to Sweetsalt in Toluca Lake today and had the tastiest lunch. It is the cutest little spot with yum food, wonderful coffee and desserts and a great atmosphere. I had driven by several weeks ago and the great logo caught my eye. Literally the next day my cousin Katie called me telling me I needed to try this place out :) 

You must try the Short Rib Sandwich, it is pretty fabulous and the salads are delish! The red velvet whoopie pies rock, who needs cupcakes when you can have these! They have a great selection of fun specialty drinks, sweets, and snacks too.  I have been told the hours to go during the week are before 12:30 and after 2:00, because it is a zoo for lunch! It's great for an early dinner too, they're open til' 8!

SweetSalt Food Shop

0218 Riverside Drive
Toluca Lake, CA 91602-2502
(818) 509-7790

We will be going back very soon! Go try it, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Cj

p.s. these are not my pics, i pulled them off the web :)

the farm box rox :)

 I love it! The Farm Fresh To You box was a success! The box arrived early this morning. I was SO excited to open it, it was like Christmas in March. The box I ordered was the "mostly fruit", because the gal who told me about it ordered this one. She liked it because all of the contents didn't have to be cooked. The veggies it does come with are edible raw, like carrots and lettuce. But I'm thinking of changing my order, not because I don't like this one :), but because I want MORE of the veggies.We have already have 3 citrus trees in our backyard. My other friend ordered the "small mixed" box which comes with more veggies and she got asparagus, cabbage, chard, broccoli, cauliflower, and potatoes! Plus she still got fruit: oranges, apples, tangelos, and strawberries! 

Also, I think I am going to order on a weekly basis. I'm going to challenge myself to try to cook more, learn to be creative with new veggies and EAT more FRESH and raw food! We'll see how it goes, I'm up for the challenge. The box contents are posted every Friday for you to see the next weeks delivery. So, I will get to plan over the weekend to find new recipes and I can grocery shop for all the extra ingredients I might need.

The box also come with a weekly letter filling you in with announcements and the latest news on the farm. The backside has several simple recipes helping you to figure out how to use something you may not be familiar with. This week the Spinach and Asparagus Frittata sounded yum! I will have to make it if I get asparagus next week :) There's also a recipe index on the website, which has TONS of ideas for you to steal. 

Also if you're interested in ordering Farm Fresh To You mention Carly Brannon( in the "other"box) and the coupon code #6164 and you will receive $5.00 off your delivery!

Enjoy!

Jillian and Ina's Orzo Salad :)

We were at our friends, Mike and Jillian's house last night for a little backyard dinner. Jillian made this amazing dish. I couldn't stop telling her how good the orzo was... It was quite ridiculous, it really was so good I couldn't stop talking about it. So here it is. This dish is the perfect summer salad and a great thing to accompany any meat on the grill or a yummy sandwich...

 and of course it's good, it's a Ina Garten recipe :)

Ina Garten's Orzo with Roasted Vegetables

1 small eggplant, peeled and ¾-inch diced
1 medium red bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 medium yellow bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 medium red onion, peeled and 1-inch diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup good olive oil
1½ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
½ lb orzo

FOR DRESSING:
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

TO ASSEMBLE:
4 whole scallions (white and green parts)
¼ cup pine nuts, toasted
¾ lb good feta, ½-inch diced (not crumbled)
15 fresh basil leaves, cut into chiffonade

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.

2. Toss eggplant, bell peppers, onion, and garlic with the olive oil, salt and pepper on a large baking sheet. Roast for 40 minutes, until browned, turning once with a spatula.

3. Meanwhile, cook the orzo in boiling salted water for 7 to 9 minutes, until tender. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl.

4. Add the roasted vegetables to the pasta, scraping all the liquid and seasonings from the roasting pan into the pasta bowl.

5. For the dressing, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and pour on the pasta and vegetables. Let cool to room temperature, then add the scallions, pine nuts, feta and basil. Check the seasonings and serve at room temperature.

Servings: 6

Cooking Tips
*Add the dressing when the orzo is still warm so it absorbs into the pasta.
**This dish is even better made in advance; just check the seasonings and add the pine nuts, feta and basil leaves at the last minute.

Recipe Source: Barefoot Contessa Parties!

Enjoy! cj

Fun Spots

It's been a while since I've posted about some of our spots around town. Here's some places we enjoy!

For Breakfast we are loving Kings Road Cafe 12401 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604, it had been in the works for a long time and just recently opened. We were so curious we had to give it a try. It has now become a regular spot! They are famous for their great coffee but, the whole wheat granola, blueberry, banana and pecan pancakes are my favorite! ... yes, you read that right... whole wheat  granola, blueberry, banana and pecan pancakes... they can fit all of that in a pancake! And they are wonderful! :) The fruit and nuts are so tasty, you almost don't even need the syrup.  Chad and I always want sweet AND savory, so we split the pancakes and the mixed veggie omelette. Yum!

For Lunch (or dinner) we discovered Tomato Pie 2457 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles (Silverlake), CA 90027  ... my oh my do we love tomato pie! This place has one of the tastiest pizzas I've ever had. They are famous for the "Grandma" pizza which consists of olive oil, crushed tomatoes, fresh garlic, 

fresh basil, romano cheese. This pizza is a must try! We also had the the "Works" which rocked! 

They have been voted "one of the best pizzas on earth" by GQ magazine and "best pizzas on the west coast" by Sunset magazine... some pretty good sources, eh! 

You can buy the pizza by the slice or by the whole pizza, so it's great for lunch for two or ten! And I love this area there's so many cool shops and spots i'll have to write about another day... but if you do go here, go to Alcove Cafe & Bakery 1929 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90027 for dessert! :)

For Dinner we have been craving Bamboo 14010 Ventura Blvd. • Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 

... not the plant the restraunt :) Wow, we love this place. It has fabulous food and a fun fine dining vibe with a totally average price menu! It's been voted "best chinese in the valley" by ZAGAT, not too shabby! We ordered the won-ton soup, Bamboo Chicken in Black Pepper Sauce (white meat chicken in a black hoisin sauce served with steamed broccoli) and the Singapore Style Fried Vermicelli (noodles with shrimp, chicken, beef, and egg, red and green peppers, sauteed in yellow curry...mmm) and were blown away! The next night I asked Chad what he wanted me to make for dinner and he replied "lets just go to bamboo!"... we did eat at home, but are looking forward to going back for some tasty chinese food soon!

Check these places out, I'm sure you will enjoy them! 

cj