Cilantro Limeade

I had a spectacular day! I was invited to the Beach Club in Santa Monica with some lovely ladies. We sat in beach chairs digging our toes in the sand. Mostly I listened to the words of wisdom that these ladies poured out and soaked in the sun. It was a glorious beach day. I don't know why I don't do this more often. This is my summer resolution- go to the beach more often! In the meantime, here is a delicious summer drink.

Cilantro Limeade

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup cilantro

1 cups seltzer water

1 cup fresh lime juice

Make a simple syrup with 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water. Heat until becomes clear.

Remove from heat and add cilantro.

Allow it to steep for 5 minutes. 

Strain cilantro from syrup.

Add lime juice to the syrup.

Stir in seltzer water. Taste and add more until you get your desired tartness.

Serve cold with lime wedges!

Brown Butter Tilapia with Basil Breadcrumbs

I have been so busy lately looking for a new apartment, that I have been neglecting the blog. It's been a long hard struggle looking for a place that is up to our (Jeffrey's) standards. I looked at my 13th place yesterday! The good news is, 13 was a lucky # for us and we liked it, now we wait and see if they like us....

Today was really fun as a close friend who moved away earlier in the year came in town for a visit. Krista, asked my friend Brook and I to lunch so we could catch up. I love when relationships can by pass distance. It seems I have a lot of those in my life and when we are reunited it is like old times! Here is a cute pic of us 3. PS: My hairstylist cut my hair too short yesterday, dang it!

Brown Butter Tilapia with Basil Breadcrumbs

2 Tilapia Filets

1 1/2 Tbsp coconut oil

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/3 cup panko bread crumbs

3 Tbsp butter

1 tsp minced garlic

1/4 tsp dried basil

Toast bread crumbs in a skillet until golden.

Heat butter in a small saucepan on medium. Stir until brown specks begin to form, then remove from heat.

Minced garlic.

Add minced garlic and basil to the bread crumbs, stir into the bread crumbs and remove from heat.

Remove from heat and set aside.

Season both sides of fish with salt and pepper. Heat coconut oil in a pan. Add fish to the pan and cook for 2-3 minute per side.

Remove fish from a pan. Drizzle brown butter onto fish.

Sprinkle with basil breadcrumbs.

Creamy Goat Cheese, Roasted Mushroom and Spinach Pasta

I found this recipe on 2 peas and their pod blog. It is really easy with a lot of flavor. I am a huge mushroom fan. But J...not so much! I made Chicken Marsala for him a few nights ago and then followed that with Champagne Shrimp Pasta, both have mushrooms as a main ingredient! He was like, "Mushrooms AGAIN!" He dutifully ate it, but I guess I should hold off on the mushrooms for a while.

Creamy Goat Cheese, Roasted Mushroom and Spinach Pasta

1 package of baby Crimini mushrooms

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp minced garlic

salt and pepper

1/2 pound pasta - your choice, I use bow tie

4 cups fresh spinach

6 ounces crumbled goat cheese

1/3 cup fresh basil

Preheat oven to 400.

Cut mushroom in half. Mince garlic.

In a bowl, mix together mushrooms, garlic, olive oil, balsamic, and salt and pepper.

Spread mushroom onto a greased baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes.

While mushrooms are cooking. Cook pasta according to package instructions.

Coarsely chop spinach.

Slice basil.

Drain pasta, reserving a few Tbsp of pasta water. Mix together pasta, spinach, basil and goat cheese.

Remove mushrooms from oven.

Stir into pasta and season with salt and pepper. Add pasta water to thin sauce.

YUM YUM!

Grilled Skirt Steak with Corn Salsa

It is summertime, no denying this heat! I am worried that it is going to be a rough summer because May Gray and June Gloom haven't been around. It is just hot! These trees though...they are my favorite part of the beginning of summer in SoCal. I can't remember their name, something starting with an A. Their purple leaves fall and it leaves a beautiful blanket around them. These pictures are from a walk we took the other day, it is the street right behind us.

 My hubby, doesn't he have a cute behind!?! PS he is out of town on business AGAIN! I am ready for him to come home and take me on a nice date. I don't know when we last went on a date. That is really sad considering we don't have kids....

I LOVE this recipe. It is from Gina's Weight Watcher Blog so it is extremely delicious without the guilt! It tastes really fresh, like summer in your mouth.

Grilled Skirt Steak with Corn Salsa

1 cup of corn (fresh or frozen)

1 tsp olive oil

salt and pepper

2 tomatoes, diced

2 Tbsp diced red onion

1 14oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

3 limes

1 skirt steak

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp cumin

Preheat oven to 375

Place skirt steak in a gallon bag. Add juice of 1 lime, cumin, garlic powder and 1/4 tsp of salt and pepper. Set aside allowing it to come marinate and come to room temperature for about 20-30 mins.

You do not have to roast your corn, but I like the added flavor that comes from roasting it. Place corn on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes.

Dice red onion and allow it to sit in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes in order to mild down the strong flavor of raw onion.

Mix diced tomatoes, black beans, red onion and cilantro in a bowl. Stir in the juice of 2 limes.

Remove corn from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

Mix corn in with the salsa. Season with salt to taste.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Heat your grill, or grill pan on high heat. Remove skirt steak from marinate. Grill for 2 minutes per side.

Remove from grill and allow meat to rest for 2 more minutes.

Slice steak against the grain.

Transfer steak to a serving platter and top with salsa.

Serve with extra salsa on the side and tortilla chips for scooping up the extra salsa!