I chose to do “Fresh + Frozen”, fresh vegetables paired with frozen pasta as salads or side dishes.  Surprisingly, Foodbuzz selected my proposal and I received 10 shiny coupons in the mail to purchase my pasta.  Now all I had to do was get my party scheduled, stock my kitchen, and get the party started!

The golden tickets! Coupons for Buitoni Frozen Meals for Two.

Knowing Butoni’s other products but not being familiar with their frozen line, I decided to hit the market blind. I was thinking that cooking this meal would be like an episode of the Food Network show, “Chopped”.  I would open my basket to see what I had and then whip up something phenomenal.  Yikes!

I picked up a variety of fresh veggies to give me lots of options on the “Fresh” side: white peaches, baby squash, red peppers, sweet corn, zucchini, egg plant, and a variety of tomatoes.  Farmers market shopping in the summer is heaven!  I rounded things out with a big box of organic mixed greens.

Veggies on my counter waiting to be chopped and skewed!

At the grocery store, I checked out the entrees in the freezer section.  My local Ralph’s only had a few varieties so I grabbed those and then jetted to Albertson’s where I found the same ones plus a few more. I ended up with five entrees that I knew would pair nicely with my fresh veggies in one way or another.  I left one free agent — a meat lasagna — to sample with all of the sides.

With veggies on deck, and pasta in hand, it was time to get cooking.  Check out the pairings I came up with!

Chicken & Mushroom Ravioli with Three Tomato Salad

Braised Beef & Sausage Ravioli with Fried Sweet Corn and Red Peppers

Shrimp & Lobster Ravioli with Steamed Baby Squash

Grilled Chicken & Spinach Cannelloni with Spring Mix, White Peaches, and White Balsamic Dressing

Four Cheese & Spinach Ravioli with Grilled Veggie (and Chicken) Skewers

In my original proposal, I proposed fresh vegetable side dishes that could be made in the time that it took to cook the pasta.  Of course I made that assumption without knowing how fast these pastas cook!  For the raviolis, they’re ready to plate within 5 minutes from being added to boiling water.  For the cannelloni and lasagna, baking time is upwards of an hour but the microwave option gets these dishes to the table in about 20 minutes.

With that knowledge, I started prepping my skewers first; I knew they would be the long pole in the tent.  Lots of slicing, dicing, and skewering was involved to get them ready for the grill!

Prepping the Skewers with red peppers, yellow peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and chicken.

Chicken and veggie skewers on the grill.

The other dishes were quick and easy, just as I had hoped.  I purposely opted for salads and sides that were simple yet elegant so I could focus on cooking the pasta and grilling the skewers.

Its getting hot in here!

At the height of cooking, things did get a little hectic.  The microwave was whirring and beeping, flames were coming from the grill, and steam was coming from several bubbling pots and pans on the stove.  I kept a cool head, though, and everything came together nicely and just in time.  Which was good because hungry guests were showing up to eat!

We're hungry and we're here to eat some pasta!

I put each pasta out with its paired side dish and the box the pasta came in.  I wanted folks to be able to be able to read the caloric contents, cooking directions, and other information as they fixed their plates.  Although everyone was hungry, they waited for a few moments, giving me the chance to do my foodie work and take a few snapshots.

Southern Italian Style Meat Lasagna next to the box with all the info!

After I explained the pairings and everyone fixed their plates, we settled in for some great conversation and good times.  I put together some pics of each dish and the reactions they produced from me and my tasters.  The names have been omitted to protect the guilty.  Enjoy!

Chicken & Mushroom Ravioli with Three Tomato Salad

Chicken & Mushroom Ravioli with Three Tomato Salad: Heirloom, Roma, and Green tomotoes with salt, pepper, and celery seed.

This sauce is great!  It came with the pasta!?

I don’t like mushrooms.

I like the texture of the mushrooms.  They’re not soggy.  This one goes well with the wine I brought, too.

I don’t like tomatoes.

This tomato salad is good!  What kinds of tomatoes are in here? (Answer: Heirloom, Roma, and “Green”!)

Braised Beef & Sausage Ravioli with Fried Sweet Corn and Red Peppers

Braised Beef & Sausage Ravioli with Fried Sweet Corn and Red Peppers

So easy to make! Get chopped sweet corn, diced red peppers, salt, black pepper, herbs, and olive oil. Saute in a hot skillet until the corn is tender. Done!

I wish this sauce was a little bit thicker.  Its kind of light, like a vodka sauce.

Hey, there’s no stuffing in my ravioli!  Can I have some more?

This corn is delicious!  Its so sweet I could eat it raw, right off the cob.

Shrimp & Lobster Ravioli with Steamed Baby Squash

Shrimp & Lobster Ravioli with Steamed Baby Squash

This ravioli was the best in show! Awesome sauce and texture with big chunks of lobster!

WOW! This sauce is amazing.  It really completes the dish.  Tastes like something I would get in an Italian restaurant.

I like this one.  I just got a big piece of lobster in that last bite.

(To the kids:) YES you have to eat your squash!  I only gave you one little piece.  If you want more ravioli you have to get more squash too!

Grilled Chicken & Spinach Cannelloni with Spring Mix, White Peaches, and White Balsamic Dressing

Grilled Chicken & Spinach Cannelloni with Spring Mix, White Peaches, and White Balsamic Dressing

I really liked the Alfredo sauce on this one.  It wasn’t what I was expecting from a frozen pasta.

Yeah, I liked the sauce and the texture of the filling.  I thought it was going to be mushy but it was firm.

This salad is tasty!  The peaches on top are a nice touch.

(Kid) I’m not gonna eat this one.  I like chicken but I don’t like spinach.

Four Cheese & Spinach Ravioli with Grilled Veggie (and Chicken) Skewers

Four Cheese & Spinach Ravioli with Grilled Chicken and Veggie Skewers

Wait.  Wasn’t this supposed to be veggies and pasta?

Yeah, this one was meatless so I decided to add some chicken to the skewer.  I don’t see any problems with that!

(Kid) I’m not gonna eat this one either.  Spinach.

I really like the eggplant, it soaked up the flavor of the marinade like a sponge!

The sauce on this ravioli is just OK but this marinade is delicious.  I should put some on my pasta! (LOL) Seriously: Can I have some marinade to put on my pasta? (Answer: No!)

Wrapping Up

Wow!  I had a great time sampling all of these pastas. The friends and family that I shared everything with seemed pretty satisfied too.

Thanks, Foodbuzz and Buitoni, for the support and opportunity to put on this pasta party.  It was a treat and a challenge to match each pasta with a fresh veggie side dish that was delicious and easy to make.  I’ll be serving these up again soon.

Arrivederci!

Sadly, I nailed it on the head with a prediction on Twitter.  Why did I have to be correct!?

Watch out, Nostradamus. South Bay Foodies for the win!

When given the opportunity to get an ice cold bottle of tea for $1, only 75% of people interacting with the unmanned store paid.

I made my guess based on Angelenos and their stereotypical mentality of “what can you do for me?”.  With a mind like that, you’re more likely to take than give.  Sad!

With this score, LA falls into last place compared to ALL of the other cities put to the test including Boston (93%), New York (89%), and Chicago (78%).

I am glad, though, that at least 75% of the folks taking tea shelled out 100 pennies for each bottle they took.  Watch the video below to get more info on this project!

This Wednesday, Hotel Maya is hosting their signature “Mojitos and Mutts” happy hour.  Well trained and leashed canines — along with their respective humans — are invited to visit the waterfront hotel to mix and mingle for a barking good time.

While the two legged folks sample mojitos made with 10 Cane Rum, puppies will be pampered with complimentary goodie bags with doggy snacks.

Event sponsor i Love Dogs has partnered with Hotel Maya to theme the event and promote social awareness.  The theme for July is “L.A. for LA”, “benefiting dogs and their owners in Louisiana who have been affected by the [Gulf of Mexico] oil disaster”.  Future themes include a fashion show and a Halloween party.

Mojitos and Mutts at Hotel Maya
6:30 to 8:30 PM on the last Wednesday of the month from now until October.

http://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/losangeles/maya

700 Queensway Dr.
Long Beach, CA, 90802
562.435.7676

i Love Dogs

http://www.ilovedogs.com

This event features a line up of trucks that looks like a who’s who of the popular meals-on-wheels scene. You’ll see Buttermilk Truck, Lomo Arigato, Cool Haus, Don Chow, and many more.  There will also be live music to entertain you as you enjoy your buttermilk biscuit, lomo saltado, and ice cream sammie!

Brought to us by the Long Beach Junior Chamber of Commerce Charitable Foundation, proceeds from ticket sales will support the Adopt-a-Teacher program and Long Beach City College scholarships.

Advance tickets can be purchased online until 6 PM on Friday, July 23 for $6.  Tickets can be purchased at the gate the day of the event for $8, cash only.

LONG BEACH STREET FOOD FEST

http://www.lbstreetfoodfest.com

https://twitter.com/LBStreetfood

Saturday, July 24, 2010 10:30 – 5:00 PM

Rainbow Lagoon Park (map)
Long Beach, CA

Website: http://nomnomtruck.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/nomnomtruck

The Truck:

The Food:

It was pure serendipity that I was able to get a sample of their Vietnamese cuisine.   Just that morning I was commenting on a post by Veggie 101 that had me waxing nostalgic for a banh mi sandiwch from the Eat Phamish truck.  Turns out I wasn’t able to get one from Phammish, but Nom Nom was a close substitute.

Of the four or five trucks present on the lot that day, Nom Nom had the longest line.  Fortunately, they moved through the orders quickly, serving up sandwiches and tacos with smiles.

I ordered the 12″ pork banh mi ($5) and Annalise ordered a combo ($8) that included a 6″ banh mi, two tacos, and a soda.

The pork was tasty and sated my craving for that unique combination of grilled meat, fresh veggies, and crispy bread.  But I’ll admit, I like Eat Phamish’s bread better.  Its more buttery or crispy or something.  Nom Nom’s bread was classic French but Eat Phamish is putting crack or something in their bread, making me crave it more.

I think I’m going to have to go head-to-head with both sammies to see who’s the winner Iron-Chef style, judging on presentation, taste, and orginality.

Thanks, Nom Nom, for coming to our neck of the woods!

Have you ever wondered "what's a banh mi"!?

Foodbuzz is a leader in foodie social networking and content aggregation.  I’ve been working with them as a Featured Publisher and Taste Maker since starting South Bay Foodies back in 2008.

For the Family Bites feature, Foodbuzz partnered with Newman’s Own and 50 Featured Publishers.  Each publisher was asked to share recipes that included products from the Newman’s Own line of sauces and salad dressings.

With some help from Margaret and Nicole, I put together nine recipes using Sockarooni Sauce, Balsamic Vinaigrette, and other Newman’s Own products.  You’ll have to try them!  Be sure to look at the Family Bites entries from other featured publishers too for great family focused recipes.

Check out my Family Bites page on Foodbuzz or view the recipes one by one using the links below.  Thanks again to Foodbuzz, Newman’s Own, and my South Bay Foodies friends!

• Chicken Pasta Salad
• Cajun Seafood Pasta
• Marinated Tofu and Mixed Greens Salad
• Sockarooni Cream Cheese Dip (My fave!  and so easy to make!)
• Grilled Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich
• Spinach and Red Pepper Salad
• Sweet and Savory Meatloaf (This is an awesome meatloaf recipe….if i do say so myself. Ha!)
• Spinach Stuffed Chicken
• Beef and Spinach Lasagna Rolls (A nice “spin” on traditional stacked lasagna. Roll it up!)

Well known for its Chardonnay, Grgich Hills also produces several other wines all of which are made from estate grown, certified organic grapes.

Take a peek at the menu that Whole Foods has prepared to compliment the wine!

MENU:
First course
Seared sea scallops with fresh peaches, lemon fillets, Live Gourmet butter lettuce and champagne vinaigrette. Paired with Grgich Hills Fume Blanc

Second course
Smoked salmon pizza with Whole Catch smoked salmon, Cypress Grove “Purple Haze” goat cheese, Bellwether Farms crème fraiche and chives. Paired with Grgich Hills Chardonnay

Third course
Smoked and glazed babyback ribs, fresh shucked and buttered corn and sweet potato fries. Paired with Grgich Hills Zinfandel

Main Course
Filet of beef stuffed with Borough Market Stilton, wrapped with 365 center cut bacon, cabernet sauvignon reduction and sautéed spinach. Paired with Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

Dessert Course
Cow Girl Creamery Organic Triple Cream, with cherry merlot reduction, fresh cherries and raisin-walnut toast. Paired with Grgich Hills Merlot

To reserve a spot for this event, send your RSVP to kylethornton@wholefoods.com or call 310-333-1900. The five-course meal — including wine — is $70 per person.

Wine Dinner with Grgich Hills Estate
Whole Foods Market at Plaza El Segundo

Saturday, July 24th at 6pm

760 South Sepulveda Blvd.
El Segundo, CA 90245

Thank you for paying $1!

Today and tomorrow, Honest Tea is putting up unmanned “Honest Stores” throughout LA with bottles of tea for sale on the honor system.  Patrons are asked to leave $1 for each bottle of tea that they take. While there won’t be anyone there to pressure folks into paying, cameras will monitor all transactions.

Other cities that have already been put to the test include Boston, Chicago, and New York.  At the high end, Boston leads with a 93.3% honesty rating.  New York is second with 89%.  Chicago trails the pack with only 78% honest.

How will LA stack up?  Will Angelenos go for the five-finger-discount or will they hand over four-quarters for a bottle of tea?

Oh, if something other than conscience is needed for participants, it might help to know that all proceeds from the Honest Store will be donated to City Year, a non-profit that “unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them skills and opportunities to change the world”.

Visit an Honest Store near you!

Thursday, July 15, 2010
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at The Grove

Friday, July 16, 2010
9 a.m. – 10 p.m. at Runyon Canyon
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. at Hollywood & Highland
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.Santa Monica Pier
3:45 p.m. – 5 p.m. Venice Beach

Honest Tea

http://www.honesttea.com

Peaches for the win!

Well, I finally got a good dose of sun and a long cook out so it was about time.  Time, for my World Famous Peach Salad.

Nicole had been asking for it and I had secretly been wanting soon.   The price of peaches fell just about right at the market so I picked some up and whipped up a batch of this simple yet elegant salad last night.  Instead of eating it right away like I usually do, I let it chill over night in the refrigerator.  Heaven!

Peaches, the next time you are in season I promise not to wait too long to make your own special salad!

Follow this link for the recipe for World Famous Peach Salad.

We’re fans of the TV show The Amazing Race, the show where contestants race all over the world solving puzzles and doing stunts to win prizes.  Nicole decided she wanted to try something similar and signed us up for The Amazing Los Angeles Race.  Same concept except this race is based right here in LA.  We picked a couple team mates based on their skills and their potential for victory.  We were in it to win it!

We enlisted Kelvin — a math major — for his numerical-analytical-puzzle-solving skills, and Margaret for her native-Angeleno-ness.  We know LA well but we’re transplants and figured we might need someone with a bit more LA experience.

After picking up some “designer” shirts from The Alley in LA’s fashion district we named our team: The Autobots.

I can summarize our LA Race experience by saying we had an absolute great time!  I’m not going to reveal any details (can’t make it easy for you if you try!) but I will say that I enjoyed seeing parts of LA that I hadn’t before and getting a new appreciation for our public transportation system.

We worked hard to solve our puzzles and even broke out sweating as we dashed from one location to the next.  The other teams put up a good fight….but we came out on top.  AUTOBOTS FOR THE WIN!!!!!

Autobots for the win!

During the awards ceremony (ha!), we toasted with beers provided by the folks who put on the race.  Then we headed out for our own celebratory feast.  We ended up at The Original Thai Barbecue in Culver City, one of Nicole’s favorite places to get Thai food.

Margaret scored the Crispy Turkey, a fried turkey leg served with a sweet sauce.

Crispy Turkey

Kelvin went for the Shrimp Pad Thai, a classic noodle dish with shrimp grilled to perfection.

Shrimp Pad Thai

Nicole shunned all untensils and went for the Thai BBQ Ribs.  Finger licking good!

Thai BBQ Ribs

I went for the signature dish, the Thai BBQ chicken.  I try to get other dishes at Thai BBQ but always come back to this well seasoned and nicely cooked quarter chicken served with fried rice.

Thai BBQ Chicken

At the end of our meal we were completely satisfied.  Our bellies were full and our championship egos were bigger than the Staples Center*.  It was a great birthday celebration for Nicole!

The Amazing LA Race

http://www.amazinglarace.com

You can also get discount tickets from Gold Star!

The Orginal Thai Barbeque
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-original-thai-bbq-restaurant-culver-city

10036 Venice Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-9711

* Not a clue for the race! LOL