Virtually Homemade

Blueberry Mint Margaritas

2013-06-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Hands down, a margarita is my favorite cocktail any time of year. Now that summer is upon us and the grocery stores and farmer's markets are bursting with berries, I decided to pop a few in my margarita. Last summer I featured a blueberry mint granita on my blog and decided to take that flavor combo and apply it to my yummy cocktail. Read more »

Grilled Corn with Ancho Chili Butter and Fresh Lime

2013-06-10T10:42:00.001-07:00

There is no surer sign of summer than corn on the cob. Have you ever tried grilling it? Grilling adds layers of flavors while boiling seems to drain flavor away.

Over the weekend, I felt compelled to show off my grilling skills (especially since it was sunny and about 72 degrees). So the corn went on the barbecue. The flames gently charred the corn kernels and caramelized this yummy sweet vegetable.
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Spicy Pork Fried Rice

2013-06-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

It amazes me that I only have one or two recipes on this blog for stir fries. Honestly, I make this dish almost two times a week. It is a fantastic way to use up leftover meat, vegetables, etc. Throw in some rice, noodles or quinoa and you’ve got yourself a meal. It’s always a hit with my family. There is never the complaint – stir fry again! There are so many ways to change it up and is a perfect venue for your personal creativity – your stir fry can be an expression of yourself (that sounds really corny!).

The following are staples of my stir fry:

toasted sesame oil

soy sauce

sriracha

chili garlic sauce (sister of sriracha with the rooster on front and green lid)

seasoned rice vinegar

sometimes - green onions, cilantro, toasted sesame seeds

As well, Kikkoman makes a Sweet Soy Sauce that makes a lovely caramelized glaze – especially if you are adding noodles.

5 Top Ethnic Food Blogs

2013-05-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

These are five of my favorite and most original food blogs featuring regional and global cuisine. It's completely subjective (not based on stats or Alexa scores), however I am sure you will enjoy reading and viewing each one. All the original pictures featured are taken from the blog.

Sweet Life - sweetlifebake.com

Sweet Life, written by Vianney Rodriguez, is a captivating and unbelievable collection of Mexican recipes. Living in San Diego, I have become extremely fond of authentic Mexican food and Vianney helps guide me to traditional yet innovative fare.

Caprese Pasta Salad with Burrata Cheese

2013-05-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had Burrata cheese? I think this cheese is made by the Gods. I’m not sure why I haven’t discovered this decadent creation until recently.

Burrata is a fresh Italian cheese, made from mozzarella and cream. The outer shell is solid mozzarella while the inside contains both mozzarella and cream, giving it an unusually soft texture. It’s like cutting into a molten chocolate cake. The creamy center spills out slowly and luxuriously, tempting your taste buds with the promise of pure decadence.

Heath Bar Crunch Banana Bread

2013-05-22T18:58:00.006-07:00

I realize that just a couple of weeks ago I posted a recipe for mini banana chocolate chip muffins. Therefore, this recipe may seem redundant, but I promise it isn’t. The fact is, if you have overripe bananas you have to make banana bread in some way, shape or form. They are too mushy to eat, but just perfect for that baked confection that we thoroughly enjoy at breakfast or any time of day.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

2013-05-14T12:40:00.002-07:00

OK - I know I just posted about enchiladas. However, I wanted to share the recipe for the beautiful enchilada sauce pictured there and here. You can easily substitute this sauce in for any canned version. It's super easy to make and so much better than the grocery store version. You will have extra, so just pop it in a jar and it should stay fresh for at least two weeks. Read more »

Easy Cheesy Enchiladas - Gluten Free

2013-05-13T18:44:00.001-07:00

Cheese enchiladas are one of my absolute favorite foods. Growing up in Manhattan, my family's favorite Mexican restaurant, Cantina, was on the corner of 70th street and Columbus Ave. Without fail most of us ordered the cheese enchiladas that came accompanied with a pile of yellow rice and absolutely perfect refried beans. The entree was topped by shredded iceberg lettuce which lent a refreshing crunch to the rich combination. The gooey cheddar cheese almost melted in your mouth while the spicy red sauce gave it a zesty kick. On several occasions, I have tried to replicate this amazing experience. It's never quite worked. Usually the enchiladas come out kind of soggy, with cheese oozing everywhere. They are messy, fall apart and are very disappointing. However, I ran across a blog, Amy's Cooking Adventure, that had a secret technique to make simple, restaurant style, perfect enchiladas with three basic ingredients - cheese, tortillas, enchilada sauce. Here's the trick - don't bathe the stuffed tortillas in the sauce, simply dredge the tortilla. Place it on a flat surface and add cheese down the middle. Roll up, place seam side down and done. You end up with crispy flavorful tortillas and a nice interior of melted cheese that stays in the tortilla! Read more »

Dark Chocolate Cherry Brownie Bites

2013-05-08T10:06:00.002-07:00

All I can say is thank you San Diego! The preliminary numbers suggest that "America's Finest City" is one of the top contenders for most revenue made this past Saturday at the Annual Food Bloggers Bake Sale. As of Monday, we were only a couple hundred dollars behind Atlanta, the largest money maker last year. Marie Tran-McCaslin of Meandering Eats, is our fearless leader and should be very proud of herself.

Money raised goes directly to Share Our Strength. No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day.

Food Blogger Bake Sale for Share Our Strength

2013-05-03T12:39:00.001-07:00

This Saturday Great News! kitchen store will be hosting the food bloggers national bake sale representing the San Diego chapter.

Virtually Homemade will be baking Dark Chocolate Cherry Brownie Bites.

If you are in the area come check it out!

Great News!

1788 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109

Mini Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

2013-04-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves a great muffin and what's better than popping a mini one in your mouth and devouring it in a single bite? Not much. Load it with bananas, chocolate chips, chocolate milk and brown sugar and you've got a winning recipe for anyone who wants a sweet kick to their morning breakfast. Read more »

Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes with Three Onions

2013-04-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

I know that brown butter is the "it" ingredient and perhaps a bit over done. However, I couldn’t help myself – mashed potatoes with brown butter and a trio of onions – heaven!

Since these spuds have more butter than I usually put in my regular recipe, I decided to lighten up on some other ingredients. I’ve used low fat/low sodium chicken broth as part of the liquid and removed any extra high fat components such as sour cream, cream and mascarpone.

Black Bottom Parfait - NYT Cookbook

2013-04-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

I am always searching for, and trying to create, original recipes. As soon as an idea pops into my head, I Google it and am extremely disappointed when it pops up on my screen. I mean really – who else would think of couscous with apples and bacon in a citrus vinaigrette? Trust me, someone has.

Therefore, I was extremely happy when I Googled “Black Bottom Parfait” and found not a mention of it on the World Wide Web! This recipe is from my trusted New York Times cookbook – another fantastic retro recipe from Mr. Craig Claiborne. I have found so many classic gems in this book that are completely timeless.

Spring Couscous Salad with a Citrus Vinaigrette

2013-04-09T09:04:00.000-07:00

My kids are on spring break! I love these days off because as a family, we are usually very much in need of them. Both of my children are teenagers now and they have very hectic schedules. Their academic load is quite hefty and they both pursue passions for specific sports. My son Jake focuses completely on high school basketball and my daughter Eva plays softball, soccer and field hockey. It’s nice seeing them have basically nothing to do and to sleep in.

Grilled Rosemary Garlic Potatoes

2013-04-02T14:17:00.001-07:00

I have been extremely busy with freelance recipe writing and developing for the past couple of weeks and feel as if my blog has been neglected. Although it may be odd to miss a blog, I have really missed mine. Developing a recipe on my own terms, photographing the result and sharing the creation with you and my family is truly gratifying. I also enjoy the feeling of producing something I’m proud of and receiving your feedback, compliments and constructive criticism.

Smitten Kitchen Brownies + Powdered Sugar Designs

2013-03-25T14:14:00.000-07:00

This Sunday ends a long week of birthday celebrations for my beautiful daughter Eva. She turned 13 on March 19th; I now have two teenagers in the house. We'll see how it goes. My daughter's birthday celebrations do tend to go on for at least a few days. But she's pretty and sweet, so who cares! Read more »

Martha Stewart's Asparagus Custard Tart - Reduced Calorie

2013-03-19T14:28:00.002-07:00

Spring is almost here - I'm talking in just a few hours! How better to celebrate the arrival of this promising season than with a beautiful Asparagus tart. The tender green stalks of this unique vegetable are flavorful, light, grassy and perfect for your Easter or Passover celebration. I discovered this tart in the April issue of Martha Stewart Living. The original recipe called for 1 cup of heavy cream. Although I am not opposed to consuming cream, my problem is when I'm cooking with it. Knowing how much I added and the calories associated with it, make me cringe. Ignorance is bliss! Therefore I substituted the cream with evaporated whole milk. As well, instead of using Gruyere cheese, I used lowfat Swiss. Read more »

Coffee Cake Muffins with Chocolate Chips and Toasted Pecans

2013-03-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

I am in lens heaven. I finally bit the bullet and bought myself the AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G lens for my Nikon DSLR. With a fast maximum aperture it's great for low lighting and produces a beautiful background blur. It makes me giddy just thinking about it and I'm not kidding. I've been like a kid in a candy shop; taking pictures of everything I cook. All of a sudden I feel like a certified food photographer! (Amazon link at bottom of post). Read more »

Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese with Crisp Bacon

2013-03-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

Comfort food – we seek it in times of need to soothe our souls, warm our hearts and fill our tummies. Like slipping under a warm blanket it brings reassurance, calm and relief. We should take comfort where it’s given and if it appears in the form of food - seize the moment and placate your complicated life. This is the last week of Food Network's Comfort Food Feast (http://blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/) and I love ending it Macaroni and Cheese.

Grilled Cheddar, Pear and Arugula Sandwich

2013-03-05T12:36:00.000-08:00

I love arugula! I mean obsessive love. The peppery flavor and delicate texture inspire me to include it in all possible recipes. I've even taught my kids to enjoy this healthy green. I've slowly added it into salads and pasta dishes until they've developed a taste for it. My son is a complete convert and my daughter is almost there. Read more »

Strawberry Tangerine Shortcakes with Bisquick Biscuits

2013-02-26T14:13:00.000-08:00

I love Bisquick. I mean this stuff is really versatile. There are so many dishes and items you can make with it and the process is super easy. For instance, when my kids were little and dinnertime was a chore, my favorite dish was Bisquick Cheeseburger Pie. It’s not the most gourmet dish around, but it hit the spot. Instead of hamburger I used ground turkey and then I threw in a bit of fresh rosemary from my backyard.

Furthermore, growing up, my Mom swore on Bisquick pancakes (much better than your average pancake mix) and biscuits. The biscuits were specifically used for strawberry shortcake. These crumbly, buttery baked goods are perfect to stack with macerated strawberries and delicate whipped cream. It is probably one of the simplest classic recipes out there. I decided to tie in tangy tangerines to give the dessert an added dimension and fresh citrusy punch.

Cinnamon Sugar Toast Latte and Starbucks Secret Menu

2013-02-22T12:15:00.000-08:00

I was driving my son to school this morning and I mentioned my idea of making a homemade latte for my blog. I asked him about a few flavor profiles and then he commented on his discovery of the Starbuck's secret menu. " Starbucks has a secret menu?!" I exclaimed. I knew Jamba Juice and In and Out did, but not Starbucks.

Needless to say, I drove home quickly and started researching. What I found was simply amazing; Captain Crunch and Thin Mint Frappucinos, Dirty Chai and Nutella Lattes. You can also order a drink in secret sizes! I did not know about the short size, which would come in really handy when you just want a quick pick me up.
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Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf with a Spicy Sweet Ketchup Glaze (Gluten Free)

2013-02-19T12:33:00.000-08:00

Meatloaf is truly a comfort food. It brings back pleasant memories of childhood and baked ground meat wrapped in crispy, salty bacon and coated in gooey sweet ketchup. Yes, I did say bacon. If you have never wrapped your meatloaf in bacon before, you must start now! The richness and flavor soaks into the loaf, creating a decadent mouth sensation.

Winter Vegetable Stew with Edamame

2013-02-12T11:29:00.001-08:00

February in San Diego can be chilly... Of course we didn't get umpteen feet of snow dumped on us last week or twisters racing through our backyards. I really consider myself lucky since weather events are almost nonexistent here.Read more »

Craig Claiborne's Flourless Chocolate Mousse Cake

2013-02-08T13:37:00.000-08:00

I viewed Craig Claiborne as a culinary God growing up in Manhattan. I mean, he was the New York Times food guru. What he wrote about restaurants resounded across our fair city with authority and expertise. His recipes were household staples and to this day I consult my New York Times Cook Book for the ultimate word in kitchen cuisine. I grew up with this teal and gold book. As my first cooking partner, it held so many possibilities - light and fluffy birthday cakes, rich and hearty stews and perfect salads.

For Valentines day, I decided on a "redoux" of Mr. Claiborne's decadent and silky flourless chocolate cake. As a collaboration with Pierre Franey, it was a certain home run. There is nothing like the satiny feel and taste of butter and chocolate, slowly melting in your mouth. The mere mention of chocolate can cause American's to salivate. The name alone provokes thoughts of seductive sweets , dark and sultry, bitter or delicate.
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