I'm Back!!

Hi guys,

Sorry I have been MIA for the last....yeeeear.
I will hopefully be posting again shortly. =)

RikkiAnn

Basil Milkshake with Blackberries and a Balsamic Reduction

So, this was my first attempt at making ice cream. My friend/ tattoo artist suggested basil ice cream to me. Of course, I was intrigued. I had to try it.

Unfortunately, the ice cream was an epic fail and came out a little soupy, but still icey. So, I did the best I could to save it and created a milkshake instead. The taste was surprisingly good with the Blackberries and balsamic reduction. Enjoy!

Masterchef Audition Dishes

So, I posted these on the Facebook when I did my audition, but I forgot to post them here.

These were my final dishes for my Masterchef audition. Enjoy!

Pulled Pork, slow cooked in orange peel, cinnamon, and spices, with my signature corn salad.

Final audition dish: Chorizo and Roasted Poblano Stuffed Pork Loin atop Roasted Poblano Vinaigrette with my signature Corn Salad.

Photos: By Me

Alien Veggies

Sorry I have been slacking on posting my own creations lately. Here's some interesting looking fruits and veggies in the meantime. The first one reminds me of "Jerry" from Enemy Mine. Oh shit, did I just date myself??

Salak- Fruit native to Indonesia

Durian- Fruit native to Southeast Asia. Smells like rotten onions, but is supposed to be yummy. Still a little scared to try it myself.

Morel Mushrooms- Who doesn't like mushrooms? They are supposed to be poisonous raw and should only be eaten cooked.

Lychee- Fruit native to China. Makes amazing martinis.

Romanesco Broccoli- This geometrically beautiful veggie is native to Italy. Love it!

ANTM: CYCLE 11

Every weekend Oxygen channel shows marathons of ANTM (America's Next Top Model). I love to see the shoots. Today They are showing a cycle that has my favorite girls. I love the girl that won this cycle, Mckey. Here's my favorite shoot from that cycle with the top 4 girls.

Samantha

Marjorie

Analeigh

Winner: Mckey

Dinner Tonight: Hot and Spicy Chicken.....Cup of Soup

It's spicy, noodl-ey, and has enough sodium to mummify me.

Ramen Noodles in a Spicy Broth.....cuz even chefs get lazy

Halloumi: The Grilling Cheese

Halloumi. It's a cheese you can fry in a pan or grill. It becomes crispy on the outside and stays gooey in the inside. Mike described the taste of it like "eating a grilled cheese sandwich with out the bread." Yummm.

Halloumi Cheese being fried up in the pan.

This is a play on a Caprese Salad. It's a crostini on the bottom, topped with a fresh basil leaf, then tomato, finally the grilled halloumi with a balsamic reduction and olive oil drizzle. Heaven.

I recently came across a post on this fashion blog called Refinery29. It's one I frequent often. This post is their guide to "Become a Star Style Blogger." Let's see how I measure up...

1) Join Blogspot....check

2) Dress- Something Alexander Wang....well I designed an A. Wang style bag(that counts)....check

3) Mastered? Sure...but let's "take some tequila shots and try again" anyway....check

4) Is you're site showing growth? Well, I have followers that are not my Dad or immediate family....check

5) Take pics of food....check

6) You know you have made it when.....darn....back to the drawing board

Haha! =) Thanks everyone for following even though I have been slacking lately. Hopefully I will post more often soon.

Masterchef 2

On to round 2! Interview with producers on Tuesday!!!! One step closer.

I'm coming for you Gordon Ramsay!!!

Good Enough for me and my Bobby (Mc)Flay....

Killer Shoes

Nothing like shoes inspired by H.R. Giger

Shoes by A. McQueen

Chimichurri Steak with Roasted Potatoes and Grilled Onions

Not Your Grandmother's Tuna Fish Sandwich

I like tuna sandwiches, but thy tend to get old after a while.

The other weekend I made a roasted red pepper, feta and garlic dip for a baby shower. I had some extra, so I mixed that with tuna, and a homemade Chimichurri and it was amazing! Forget the mayo and mustard mix with tuna. Even Michael ate a sandwich, and he wouldn't normally touch a tuna sandwich with a ten foot pole.

Sev Puri

So, a couple weeks ago my good friend Kevin who moved away to Texas was visiting for the week. We decided to have an Indian night. I made the appetizer Sev Puai. It is a semolina puff topped with boiled potato, tomato, plain yogurt, sev, tamarind chutney and cilantro. I would call it an "Indian Nachos". Mike devoured most. Move over Aarti!

Chipotle Chicken Pizza on Whole Wheat Crust

Chipotle Beef Quesadilla Stack with Roasted Poblanos

Dominic Jones: Killing it Again

http://www.dominicjonesjewellery.com/

Asian Apps

So, this meal was inspired by my Trader Joe's spring rolls that were stolen from my work's refrigerator. Who steals someone's lunch? Anyway, instead of buying another expensive 2 pack of rolls, I hit up Ranch 99 for my own ingredients. While there I picked up some gyoza wrappers for some pork dumplings. Enjoy!

Spring roll ingredients (green onion is missing)

Finished rolls

Rolls and the Home made pork dumplings

And to sip, of course, a Red Geisha

Photos by: Me

Jewelry at Not Just A Label dot com

Mike's Hats

Hand painted hats by Michael Sebastian Venezia aka. Psez