The Golden Nugget Gourmet

Ikko Sushi

2013-05-17T09:59:00.000-04:00

Ikko Sushi has become my family's favorite local restaurant. You can find Scott, Morgan, and I parked in front of the sushi bar almost every Friday night. Hands down Ikko provides the freshest sushi in the DC area. For us it is not just about the food but the experience, especially as local customers. Ikko was Morgie's first restaurant outing (at just one week old) and now almost three years later he is always greeted by the head sushi chef with a "Sushi Boy"shout out and big smiles from the owner Stacy and her waitstaff.

As South Silver Spring residents we desperately wanted this business to succeed hoping that it would bring more restaurants and retail towards our end of the city. Over the years we have fostered a relationship with Stacy and her husband Leo, as Scott developed their website and continues to work on it when needed.

Not many start up restaurants could survive in Ikko's location, especially four years ago, but their success is a testament to the owners commitment to hiring top notch sushi chefs, serving the freshest fish possible, and going far out of their way to make sure all customers leave their restaurant happy (just ask for Stacy if you have any concerns).

While many restaurants are nickeling and diming you for condiments and substitutions, Ikko has remained very generous as to what customers get "on the house." Everyone starts out with a complimentary miso soup and house salad that is often followed by a surprise appetizer. We almost always start out with an order...or two... of Ikko's fire mussels.

Fire Mussels

Scott's "go to" is the purist's tuna and salmon rolls while mine are the more creative Red Skin, 007, and Tiger rolls.

Tuna, Spicy Crab, Redskin, Tiger

If you like eel than I highly recommend trying the Spider Roll.

Spider Roll

It has been a pleasure to support this local restaurant from the beginning and watch it become a thriving business that is helping to anchor our neighborhood. It's exciting to hear that two more restaurants are opening up at 1200 East West Highway!

Stacy and Morgan (7months)

I thinks she has a customer for life :)

Korean Spicy Pork Belly (Dwaejibulgogi)

2013-05-03T19:03:00.001-04:00

Spicy Pork Belly (Dwaejibulgogi) and Bulgogi (Photo Courtesy of Chirocky6)

If you are looking for authentic Korean BBQ recipes to make at home here is a "spot on" recipe for Korean Spicy Pork Belly from Maangchi. I go to my local H-Mart to pick up all of the necessary ingredients like gochujang.

If you haven't been to a Korean BBQ you are missing out, on not only great food but a fun experience. I highly recommend visiting a Honey Pig in the DC area. The food is tasty, they are open 24hrs a day (except for Mondays) and prices are beyond reasonable. $9.99 for a lunch special that includes a side? Um... yes please! In fact, right now they are offering a 50% off deal on groupon. " Get it while you can, I already grabbed mine :)

Last week my high school BFF Nancy flew out from Chicago to run the Inaugural Nike Women's Half-Marathon in DC. She is always up for foodie adventures so we ventured out to the Honey Pig in Ellicott, City Maryland. Here are a few pics...

Spicy Seafood Tofu Soup

Cold Spicy Buckwheat Soup (Photo Courtesy of Chirocky6)

I Remember U Bears

2013-03-06T12:54:00.000-05:00

I often refer to my mom as the original Martha Stewart. When she does something, she does it well... more like perfectly. In kindergarden and first grade I was decked out in intricate dresses that she had sewn together from McCall's and Butterick patterns. I grew up eating three homemade meals a day that were accompanied by handmade cloth napkins and individual butter molds in shapes of sea shells and such. For holidays she would always bring something in for my class. For instance, on Christmas she would arrive with a popcorn and marshmallow Christmas tree decorated with healthy snacks. At home she would always add a touch of creativity, like making our mashed potatoes and milk green for St. Patrick's Day. Basically, I grew up in a world of Pinterest... literally.

Right before my freshman year of high school my family moved to the Chicago area... Orland Park, IL to be exact. It was a transformative time for everyone, including my mom. She decided to go back to school, starting at Morraine Valley Community College where she worked in the academic advising office. She moved on to Purdue University where she received a B.A. in Clinical Psychology and was inducted as a member of Alpha Chi National College Scholarship Society. After college my mom spent many years in the mental health field where her hard work, strong ethic and compassion left an unforgettable impression on the hearts of those she worked with. Once she started working outside of the home... all of the intricacies that once went into every meal, load of laundry, dust bunny in the corner yadah yadah yadah... went out the window. As she likes to say, something had to give.

And now what seemed like two separate career paths... domestic goddess and mental health professional...have come together into her creation of iRememberUbears. These are custom-made teddy bears made out of cherished articles of clothing. My mom knows that every article of clothing she receives has a special meaning to someone (sometimes it is the only personal article that remains)... and she does not take that responsibility lightly. It is amazing to see how these bears, who become tangible stories, take on a personality of their own. Below are a few examples of how these bears bring comfort to others.

A few years ago my parent's attended a benefit for a coworker's 6-year-old daughter that was battling cancer. They bought a t-shirt to support the fundraising efforts and mom decided to make the t-shirt into a bear and gave it to the family as a gift. The little girl loved that bear so much that when she passed away the family decided to send the bear to heaven with her. The following Christmas, the family sent out their Christmas card that included a picture of the bear and the story of its significance to their family. As time passed they missed seeing the bear and sent more Live Well t-shirts to Mom to have an identical bear made. In addition they sent her bathrobe that had become a main staple during her illness, to have another bear made. This past Christmas she received another Christmas card with a picture of the children (and the bear). It really touched my mom to see that the bear was again part of their Christmas card and to know it continued to bring the family comfort.

Everytime I hear on the news about a service person that is killed in the line of duty and is leaving behind loved ones, especially kids, I wish I had a way to reach out and let them know about iRememberUbears. Turning a military, police, or fireman uniform into a bear is a unique way to honor them and a tangible way for their kids to feel like they are still with them.

When Scott and I were dating I made him a Hawaiian quilt. After several years it was starting to show some wear and tear, so my mom made a bear of it for our son Morgan on his first birthday.

Golden Nugget Gourmet and www.irememberubears.com are offering one free gift certificate (valued at $150) for a custom made bear from irememberubears.com. Here's how you can enter to win.

Each option = 1 entry into the giveaway.

1. Share this post on facebook. Everytime you share you get an additional chance to win.
2. Tweet about this post using #irememberubears
3. Subscribe by email to www.goldennuggetgourmet.com
4. Leave a comment below that you would like a chance to win.

A winner will be announced on Friday, March 15, 2013 at 12:01 p.m. EST. Good luck!

UPDATE: Congratulations Michelle Nickerson Moro! You are the winner of the irememberubears giveaway. Please contact me at januaryroberts@gmail.com within the next 48 hours to claim your gift certificate. Thank you to everyone that participated and helped spread the love :)

Crock-Pot Tikka Masala

2013-02-12T21:24:00.000-05:00

Whether you love going to your local Indian restaurant for Tikka Masala or you have been curious to try Indian food in general, then you definitely want this recipe from Kindra at Meal Planning 101. It's restaurant quality, and my husband Scott would argue it's better.

For those of you in the DC area, GNG recommends when you are not in the mood to cook that you head on over to Tiffin in East Takoma Park, MD. I was first introduced to this restaurant by one of Scott's mentors (from UMD) and his wife. I immediately thought that this was a local golden nugget and I love it so much that Morgan and I often frequent the extensive lunch buffet on our way home from preschool on Thursdays. The food and service are topnotch. Morgie would like to recommend it especially for the house mango juice.

Portabella Pizzas

2013-02-10T08:36:00.000-05:00

Are you trying to cut back on carbs, gluten, or maybe a little bit of both? Portabella pizzas are a healthy alternative to the traditional pizza that can satisfy all of those needs without sacrificing the taste. The only thing this dish is lacking is calories. The possibilities of various toppings are endless. I started with homemade marinara sauce from Budget Bytes and topped with mozzarella, peppers, onions, and some phenomenal Sobrasada from Three Little Pigs in DC.

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Valentine's Day Twice Baked Potatoes

2013-02-08T20:37:00.000-05:00

Last year I came up with this last minute idea for a unique twist on my presentation of twice baked potatoes. As you have heard me say before "love is in the effort." Now that being said, it took me five minutes to make the hearts but the effort was in thinking out of the box on how to make my husband's dinner extra special. Sure you can buy a Hallmark card or a dozen roses (which will cost you more than these gourmet potatoes) but how creative is that? You get what you give so give your heart on a platter this Valentine's Day.

These Valentine's Day twice baked potatoes are extremely easy to make. Just shape the potato mixture into a heart, place cheese on top, and bake as usual.

Happy Valentine's Day! I would love to get a pic of your Valentine's potatoes.

Pineapple-Mango Salsa

2013-02-04T18:07:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday night we went iceskating downtown with good friends and then we all headed home for a Chipotle inspired feast. Since we were coming straight from skating I wasn't going to have time to prep dinner so I made Barbacoa in the crockpot that morning and assembled my salsas, guacamole, and other accompaniments the night before. It was awesome to walk in from the cold snowy night and be greeted by the savory scent of the hot dinner that was readily awaiting our return.

The combination of this sweet pineapple-mango salsa on a salty tortilla chip is absolutely addicting. Making it the night before allows for all of the flavors to really meld together.

Gypsy Sweetheart's Mexican Eggs

2013-01-06T15:11:00.000-05:00

Starting freshmen year, I spent my high school summers in Ogunquit, Maine nannying for family friends who also happen to be the owners of Gypsy Sweethearts. Back then Gypsy's used to be open for breakfast and my absolute favorite thing to order was their Mexican Eggs. Just thinking about this piping hot dish with a dollop of cool sour cream makes my mouth water.

If you find yourself in Ogunquit, I highly recommend stopping by Gypsy's for dinner. They still have my all time favorite on the menu: Almond Crusted Baked Fillet of Haddock. In the mood for a cocktail? Gypsy's has the best lounge in town!

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Happy New Year 2013!

2013-01-03T13:56:00.000-05:00

I woke up New Year's morning to find this in my inbox. The two golden nuggets I can't live without. It's hard to find the words to describe what this means to me. Thankfully no words are really needed... just watch and you'll feel it too :)

Thank you Scott!

Aunt Peg's Wicked Good Cranberry Relish

2012-12-29T16:20:00.001-05:00

Don't get me wrong, I still love my canned Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce but I also love my mom's cranberry relish. That's why I always serve both. Grammie Jackie used to make this cranberry relish for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. The freshly chopped cranberries and orange may make this recipe an acquired taste for some. The orange rind really gives it a zing and it will definitely kick it up a notch for your next holiday feast.

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Hot Turkey Sandwich

2012-11-24T20:20:00.000-05:00

I love making hot turkey sandwiches the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Traditionally I have used Texas Toast but this year I used fresh Challah bread... and oh my... it was to die for! For my DC area friends look for Parisers Challah in your local Giant.

First I lightly toasted the buttered slices on the griddle and started with a layer of incredible oyster stuffing that my brother-in-law Andrew made.

Next I piled on the turkey and drizzled with hot gravy.

Done. Gourmet is that easy.

Now if Carlty Bryer were making these sandwiches he would drizzle gravy on top of the sandwich. In that case, you are going to want to grab a fork and knife...and maybe an extra napkin :)

Aunt Peg's Wicked Good Deviled Eggs

2012-11-23T19:47:00.001-05:00

Hands down my favorite deviled eggs are my mom's. Done correctly, deviled eggs can create a sense of elegance to any holiday spread. Make a few extra and you have a simple breakfast the next day. I had three this morning :)

FYI- The recipe calls for hot dog relish. In case you interpret this as just the relish you put on your hotdogs that's not what I mean. Click here to see what I'm talking about.

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Oyster Stuffing

2012-11-20T21:46:00.002-05:00

For my husband Scott, Thanksgiving and Christmas are not complete without several servings of his mom's oyster stuffing. The first time that he asked me to try to make oyster stuffing the thought of oysters in stuffing kind of turned my stomach but it was a fond family tradition for him so I gave it a shot. I'm not going to lie, my first attempt involved pulling a random recipe off of the internet and left me with less than desirable results. Scott liked it but I think that he was desperate and I knew I could do better. First, I needed his mom's recipe and then I needed to watch the master herself put this dish together.

During Thanksgiving '07 Alicia and Ernesto came to visit for Thanksgiving and our wish came true, she made her famous oyster stuffing. Wow! It was incredible. I need an actual picture of the stuffing but wanted to get this recipe up for those of you that would like to try it this Thanksgiving. The original recipe is from River Road Recipes II "A Second Helping" with slight adaptations from her good friend Ann Guillory, a New Orleans native.

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Make a double batch...trust me... it's not going to last :)

For my DC area friends, I have been going to a local Phillips Seafood to get freshly packed oysters. If you love fresh seafood and have the time to travel downtown I highly recommend visiting the Maine Avenue Fish Market, an open air fish market on DC's Southwest waterfront. There are several vendors to choose from but I have been going to Captain White's Seafood City ever since our friends Sam and Nadya have been using them for their annual lobster/crabfest.

El Rey de las Fritas (Miami)

2012-11-11T10:32:00.000-05:00

There is a reason why the locals... and visitors with inside info (thanks to 3 Guys from Miami)... flock to an unassuming strip mall on Callee Ocho in Little Havana. And that reason is the fritas (Cuban hamburger) from El Rey de las Fritas (The King of the Fritas). Whether it's first frita ever (like me) or you frequent various frita joints often, one bite of their Original Frita and you will be hooked. Surprised by the infusion of a secret seasoning in their 100% beef patty our delighted taste buds went into overdrive.

The Original Frita from El Rey de las Fritas

If it's your first visit I highly recommend getting the frita that made this place famous and then dive into other tasty options on their menu like the pan con bistec (steak sandwich).

Whether you are a foodie adventurer or dining on a tight budget, check out El Rey de las Fritas, your taste buds and wallet won't be disappointed.

Where is your favorite frita joint?

The Cuban Sandwich

2012-11-10T09:47:00.000-05:00

Ok, here's an example of where I don't have the perfect shot but the recipe is too good to wait. And besides, those perfect shots miss what is really going on in the background... leaving out the love, effort, and balancing act of life that goes into these recipes. As you can see, Koa is waiting for a chance to reenact the Bumpus' dogs famous dinner disaster scene from A Christmas Story and that's one of Morgan's newborn toys making an appearance in the upper right-hand corner.

Traditionally we make a huge Puerco Asado con Frijoles Negro and the following day we use the leftover roasted pork for Cuban sandwiches. I haven't found traditional Cuban bread out here in the DC area so I use Giant's club rolls. My sandwiches have yet to disapoint even the most distinguished Cuban palates.

This is how I assemble my Cuban sandwiches.

1. Drizzle a little mojo on the roasted pork, cover, and warm up in the oven.
2. Preaheat George Foreman or Paninini Press.
3. Slice bread and spread mustard on both sides (optional).
4. Place a generous portion of roasted pork on bottom slice. If you have any left over crispy skin you can chop it up and sprinkle it on top of the pork.
5. Add sliced dill pickles, ham, swiss cheese, and top piece of roll.
6. Place one sandwich at a time in the grill and press down for several minutes. I really press down on my George Foreman to get the sandwich nice and crunchy. This is somewhat of an art because you don't want the fillings to squeeze out of bread... keep an eye on that.
7. I keep the oven at 200 degrees to keep sandwiches warm until ready to serve.

FYI: If you are lactose intolerant use Boar's Head Imported Swiss Cheese.

Boston's Flour Bakery Banana Bread

2012-11-04T14:18:00.001-05:00

I love banana bread! I have tried several recipes but my favorite traditional banana bread recipe is from Boston's Flour Bakery. You know who else loves this bread? Morgan. Here are a few shots of him scarfing down a piece.

And sharing a piece with his best buddy.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

2012-11-03T10:43:00.000-04:00

This is a soft and chewy oatmeal raisin recipe that reminds my husband Scott of Stew Leonard's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Any Stew Leonard's fans out there? If you are familiar with them, then you know this recipe is a keeper. If you are not a fan of raisins swap them out for chocolate chips.

Here is a quick trick that allows you to bake the cookies off as you need them in a hurry: After you prepare the dough, place it on a sheet of saran wrap, form into a log, and tightly wrap it. I like to make two logs per recipe.

Slice as many cookies as needed, bake, wrap the remaining dough and store in your fridge for future use. Halloween was a hectic day for us, especially after several days of hunkering down for Frankenstorm. I made the dough a few days ahead and then popped them in the oven right before our Halloween party.

Note: Due to the dough being chilled, you may need to bake the cookies for a few more minutes than the original recipe.

Guy Fieri's Morgan Burger

2012-11-01T20:27:00.000-04:00

My friend Michelle recommended Guy Fieri's vegetarian burgers and raved about how fabulous they taste, that they're freezer friendly and even grill well. Although I'm not a vegetarian, I have to say I love them. Here are a few tips that Michelle passed along...

Use low-salt beans to make the burgers healthier
Really squish the beans so they hold together
They are freezer friendly so double or triple the recipe and enjoy them as needed
These are awesome with Chipotle Mayo!

I found that Bobby Flay's Chipotle Mayo on FoodNetwork was very flavorful and super easy... I threw the five ingredients into my Magic Bullet and BAM! I had Chipotle Mayo... and she was right.

Whether you are a full-blown vegetarian or a newbie experimenting with meatless Mondays this is definitely a burger recipe that you'll want to hang on to. Or better yet, take it and pass it on!

Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring

2012-10-30T20:35:00.001-04:00

With help from The Grocery Game I was able to make this quick and easy Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring from The Jones Way and All Things Delicious for two dollars! I made two of these this week, one for a group play date and another for an impromptu Frankenstorm brunch. Two dollars and twenty minutes...need I say more?

We don't eat a lot of prepackaged foods so I'm eager to try this recipe using my Aunt Nita's famous Bakewell Cream biscuits.

Hey DC friends, this is a great time to give The Grocery Game a try because livingsocial is offering 52 weeks of Sunday home delivery of the Washington Post for $26 (that's $70 off)!

Egg in the Nest

2012-10-24T08:22:00.000-04:00

I found this seemingly fanciful presentation idea on pinterest from the Fifteen Spatulas blog. Make this for your next brunch and your guests will think Martha Stewart and her team must have dropped in your kitchen during twilight hours to put these together. Truth is, these are so quick and easy to make that you can whip them up on a weekday morning for an everyday breakfast. Ok, I know some of you are saying "yeah right," but I promise it's true.

My mom taught me a trick for cooking perfect bacon a few years ago that will significantly cut down on your cooking time.

The Best Cooking Method for Bacon

2012-10-24T08:21:00.000-04:00

My husband Scott loves his bacon extra crispy. His preference lies ever so delicately between the line of crispy and burnt. And unfortunately I have crossed that line too many times while trying to fry my way to this perfection. Also if you are serving a crowd, frying small batches of bacon can be time consuming... and let's not forget messy.

A few years ago my mom taught me a new trick that not only guarantees perfectly cooked bacon, it is time efficient, and you don't have to worry about bacon grease splattering all of your stove. Rather than frying your bacon, preheat your oven to 350 and bake it on lined baking sheet for 20-30 minutes (depending on how crispy you like it).

For a huge timesaver, partially bake a large batch for 15 minutes, take out of the oven to cool, and then freeze individual servings for future use. When ready to use, bake bacon on a lined cookie sheet for 10-15 minutes at 350. Having partially cooked bacon in the freezer makes it wicked easy for me to whip up my egg in the nest breakfast on a busy weekday morning.

Red Velvet Cupcakes (Vegan)

2012-09-29T09:06:00.001-04:00

These vegan red velvet cupcakes were my first attempt at vegan cooking, and thanks to a recipe from Sticky Fingers baker Doron Petersan, I am a believer that vegan, gluten and lactose free foods can taste just as delicious.

I don't have any dietary restrictions in my family but I have several friends who do, so I am on a mission to find delicious recipes for every type of tummy. Vegan cooking can be quite expensive but all too often turns out tasting like cardboard, so let GNG be your tastester. I'll never post a recipe just because it fits a dietary constraint... only if it passes the "do I enjoy eating this" test will I pass the golden nugget on to you.

This recipe definitely passed the GNG test so go ahead, preheat your oven, and make a batch of these tasty treats this weekend!

Pumpkin Bread (gluten and lactose free)

2012-09-27T20:42:00.001-04:00

Every time we go to visit our friend Chris' family in Virginia Beach it's a given that his mom, Barb, has this pumpkin loaf just waiting for us on the stove (as well as her chocolate chip bars, coming soon to GNG). Scott loves this pumpkin bread so much that sometimes I wonder if he really wants to see Chris or just hang out in Barb's kitchen. He begged me to get the recipe and try it at home... success!

I use these brands of vanilla, flour, baking soda, and baking powder to make a gluten-free version that tastes identical to the original recipe.

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Homemade Pita Chips

2012-09-26T21:49:00.000-04:00

Pita Chips sprinkled with Parmesan Cheese

I can make a bag of pita chips disappear pretty quickly, how about you? Although Stacy's is my go to brand at the grocery store it turns out that I can make them for 1/3 of the price at home....and in 20 minutes. Paired with this low-fat homemade hummus recipe, you are well on your way to fattening your wallet and slimming your waistline. That's a win win combination!

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Homemade Hummus

2012-09-21T17:33:00.001-04:00

Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food. Hippocrates (c.460 - 400 BC)

Ever since Morgan was born people have asked how do I have the time... and energy... to cook as much as I do? Well, 1) I love to cook. 2) I started cooking before I entered kindergarden so I'm kinda used to it. 3) Providing my family with home-cooked food (packed with nutrients) rather than processed food (packed with additives) is for me, a top priority, so I find a way to fit it into my day.

For me, it's all about moderation and balance. Do I have days when I just don't feel like cooking? Absolutely! Sometimes even a few days in a row. So we order out or I open a can of ravioli for Morgan. (I like Annie's for prepackaged organic meals and Ella's Kitchen for organic on the go snacks). Do I feel bad? Absolutely not, because I know the majority of the time my family is getting healthy, home cooked meals. AND I know that if I hold myself to unrealtistic standards with no room for rest, I will burn out...and probably not be very fun to be around.

I recently watched a very compelling documentary on Netflix, Forks Over Knives, that argues that eating a plant based and whole foods diet and eliminating all animal products from our diet can reverse several serious health problems such as obsesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Now as a girl who loves her steak well marbled and mediums rare, I'm not ready to hop on the vegetarian bandwagon, but I do believe in the benefits of limiting the amount of meat and processed foods we eat on a daily basis. Let's get started!

Making your own hummus is simple, cheap, and very healthy. Here is a great hummus recipe to get you started and then you can experiment with different seasonings to create a variety of options. Don't forget the homemade pita chips!