Tasteful Memory: Melange Creperie

I put on my scarf and cute boots, and walked down to the Mango's parking lot. The smell is so delicious, and Sean's cheerful smile is always there. Place your order and wait patiently for you food to be made just for you. You'll have a good conversation talking about art, weather, sports, and life. You'll pretend you're in Paris, but this is even better because Melange is not pure. Hence the name, lol! He will be inspired by local farms, dairies, and other cultures: china, texas, and of course, paris. My sunny day just got brighter as I lick the nutella off my lips and lovingly carry my warm crepe. This isn't fast food. This is food to be savored and enjoyed while walking on the sidewalk or sitting on the metro bus bench. Slow down and taste an experience.

Tasteful Memory: French Cooking Class @ Central Market

A lovely fall day at Central Market avec mon petit ami Jacob. An invitation to attend a cooking class. My inner (Julia) Child was hopping up and down excited to learn more and essayer et manger les cuisines de France, non? Too many guests waiting for their wine as the sommelier provided reds and whites. Avoided the wino traffic jam and had walked towards the cheerful woman ladling out generous bowls of soupe a l'oignion. Mon beau and I greedily grabbed a plate of Cassoulet St. Martin. Sign me up for some of that tasty seared pork shoulder, confit, and sausage topped with a slice of bacon. Paired with a good red wine on a cool day, le cassoulet est tres delicieux. Ah, c'est bon.

We savored these adorable dessert samplers: a fluffy mousse au chocolate, cinnamon flavored tarte tatin aux pommes, and claufoutis aux cerise. It was too decadent for me so I let Jacob eat my chocolate mousse because I wanted to enjoy the final course the best course of all: les fromages! J'adore fromage. A chef deftly sliced five different kinds of cheeses. She was cheery but very protective of the fancy cheese. Most of them were a softer consistency- smooth like butter and very pungent. Thankful the cheese expert knew to slice small slices because a little goes a long way.

I had a charming conversation with the president of FACC. Thanks FACC for the opportunity to celebrate fall, taste some amazing cuisine, and learn more about France. After a long day, this is definitely one of thes best ways to relax and unwind with a loved one. Merci beaucoup!

Tasteful Memory: Rainbow Lodge

Another sweaty and sultry evening in the 713. Donning a thoughtfully designed strapless sundress from a boutique Dutch label. Patiently waiting for my friends to valet or defiantly self park. Saw a bold yellow sports car arrive like a bolt of lightening. Realizing that my dinner party resembles a miniature United Nations. Having multiple conversations with a cultural melange of friends. Dining with royalty from Togo, Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Korea, British Canada, and French Canada. Taking in the rustic, ski lodge feel of the place. Feeling a little misplaced since I am not skiing and we are in the middle of an oppressive Houston heat wave. Counting the number of deer heads and decorative pieces from a hunting lifestyle persuasion. Delightfully looking over the Houston Restaurant Weeks menu. Savoring the sweetness of a grilled peach with arugula contrasted with the savory feta. C'est bon! Indulging in la piece de la resistance - pan roasted duck with pearl couscous. Discussing possible vacation locales: Cayman, Vancouver, Africa. Tasting the finale -a moderately refreshing trio of sorbets. Enviously wishing I ordered the bread pudding.

Tasteful Memory: Jacob's Basalmic-Marinated Pork Chops

There is just something so satisfying about a home-cooked meal. Growing up, my brother, sister, and I would read the November issue of Better Homes and Garden in anticipation of what we would cook. Looking at the glossy magazines with excitement as we figured out what dish we would complement our father's turkey. From the research to picking out our ingredients at the grocery store, and then finally seeing how our dishes turned out was a big deal to us kids.

This past week, Jacob wanted to cook something delightfully delish. So, I suggested looking at the recipes on Clean Eating Magazine. I've been trying to eat better, and I just learned more about what clean eating really means. He decided to try out the Balsamic-Marinated Pork Chops. Yummmmmy!

After doing a brick workout (ten mile bike ride and three mile run), I was starving and ready to eat these lovely chops. And, Jacob did not disappoint! He let the chops marinate for a day which I think really enriched the flavors. And, he added a little bit of a twist to the meal by adding in cherries and tomatoes. The grilled peaches were very delicious and the side veggies were roasted well too.

It was a thoughtful gesture and quite treat!

Cooking Ideas This Week

Tried making easy quiche cups for breakfast. Nice to have breakfast made ahead of time and is a great way to work in leftover veggies.



I am trying new things with fruits and veggies: putting in rhubarb in my smoothies, creating new salads like grilled nectarines with walnuts, blueberries, and spinach, and tried almond milk for the first time.



I am inspired by Clean Eating Magazine and the Stiletto Chef. Lots of fun and creative ways to work in healthy foods into my diet.

Taste The Texas Trio @ Canyon Creek

Meeting up with friends.
Sipping on ice cold lemonade and Lone Stars.
Relaxing on the deck as people unwind from a day of work.
Rewarding yourself with a post-workout drink.
It's summertime, and your waiter places a yummy basket of tortilla chips and
the yummy trio of goodness.
Queso...
Salsa...
and Guacamole!

Ole! Hooray! Yeehaw!

Good beverages, good friends, and good eatin'.

Mini Pitas Stuffed with Goodness

This snack is about 175 calories, and is quite tasty! Grill some mini pitas on the stove. Then, tear each of the pitas open. Stuff with herbed goat cheese, basil, baby tomato, pesto, and some parmasean cheese with olive oil. Enjoy!

Green Smoothies Yum!

One cup spinach, 1.5 cups of soymilk with vanilla flavor, 1 teaspoon of flaxseed, 1/4 cup of OJ, and 1/2 a banana. Mix it up in the blender, and enjoy!

Taste @ Eatsie Boys

So, wanting to try a new eating experience for lunchtime and decided that I'd try the Eatsie Boys food truck in the parking lot. It was hard for me to choose from their menu. So I went with the Da Bomb (a marinated Vietnamese style sandwich with chicken, roasted jalapenos, cucumber, carrots, and cilantro). I liked it. It had a little bit of a kick. I liked how I could stop inside Agora. I grabbed a sparkling water and was able to sit on the patio.

It was a nice way to chill out during the day. Relax, eat good food, and work on my writing for bit. The Vietnamese sandwich's chicken was nicely spiced, the carrots were tasting, and the green hot sauce was very delish.

Definitely stop by for a new way of dining. All the food that the Eatsie Boys prepare is fresh and local, too.

Taste @ Jeannine's Bistro

I don't come here often, but when I do visit, the moules frites are delicious and the service is always polite and helpful. Compared to the wimpy and uninspired moules mariniere I had in Paris last month, Jeannine's are much, much better. (Sometimes, everything in Texas is bigger and better.)

Last weekend, I shared the salade au roquefort and the large order of the moules mariniere with the frites. This is definitely enough food for two people! The mussels are plump and have a savory soup stock with onions and celery. And, I like the mustard/mayonaise dipping sauce that come with the french fries. My boyfriend had the Kwak amber beer. It's very delicious and is served in this very interesting shaped glass. (It will remind you of high school chemistry lab!) I paired my mussels with a nice sweet and refreshing Riesling wine.

We had such an enjoyable meal we decided to splurge and share the pistachio ice cream for dessert. It was served in this huge goblet and had a separate container of chocolate sauce! It was so indulgent and delicious.

It was a nice casual meal and from the looks of the other smiling patrons there that night, good meals were had by all.

(photo courtesy of happykatie - flickr)

Tasteful Memory : Girl Scout Cookies

What is it about Girl Scout cookies that I love? First off, as a former Girl Scout myself, I feel a bond with these current scouts peddling their cookies outside of Kroger. I remember putting on my uniform (with a green beret) and walking around knocking on doors for cookies. I also remember earning my badge for selling 100 boxes. Thanks to the help of my mother who helped sell them at her work.

After doing TWO workouts yesterday (one was hot yoga and one was a three-mile run), I just felt spent and worn out. I put on my nightgown and decided to put two lemon chalet creme cookies on a small plate and poured myself a glass of milk. Yum, carbs, dairy and protein. I slowly ate my two cookies and enjoyed each bite.

It made for a great post-workout snack, and it was a nice reward for a physically demanding day. :)

January Foodie Projects

So, we just finished a lovely three day weekend of relaxing and bliss. On Monday, I was inspired by comfy foods. So, I decided to make some King Ranch Chicken and bake some cupcakes. On cold and wet days, there is just something so luxurious about preparing a nice casserole.
A warm and fresh casserole reminds me of potlucks growing up. My parents didn't make these at all, but I did enjoy eating them when my friends' mother baked them. My all-time favorite is the king ranch!

King Ranch Chicken is like a lasagna style chicken enchilada, and it is oh so tasty! It consists of corn tortillas dipped in broth, chicken breast broken up into pieces, cheese, and a creamy mixture of chicken broth, cream of mushroom soup, and rotel tomoatoes. You know that a KRC is done when you see the brown cheese and the crispiness of the corn tortillas. I prepped mine in a big pan, and I left it in the oven on low heat while Jacob and I went to yoga class. When we returned, the apartment smelled delicious. We ate ours with a nice side salad with blueberries and spinach. Sooooo yummmy! And, the nice thing about casseroles is that they can be shared. So, Jacob and I now have leftovers for the next few days. Hooray!

I prefer to use the classic King Ranch Chicken recipe. It is so simple and easy to make! If you want to go fancy, here is a recipe you can experiment with in the kitchen.

Later in the evening, I wanted to bake cupcakes. After being robbed at Sprinkles, I've decided that old school cupcakes are still the best! Duncan Hines all the way, baby. I made devil's food chocolate cupcakes with a chocolate frosting. And, inspired by a cupcake my co-worker made, I added crushed Reese's peanut butter cups on them. They were a huge hit with the beau, and I brough the rest to work today. It's always nice to ease into the work week with treats.

I'll have to experiment some more since I'll be hosting a cupcakes and crafts party soon!