Walnut and Avocado Salad with Warm Mustard Vinaigrette

September 12, 2011 | Filed Under Avocado, Foods I Never Liked Before Until I Started to Cook, Salad, Walnuts | 6 Comments

When I was younger, I guess, way back in fifth grade, I never liked avocados and tomatoes. I tried to avoid them if possible. Today, I can get enough of either, especially avocado. Can’t get enough, I tell you.

The other day, I had some walnuts and avocado and decided to make this salad. Looking at the overabundance of avocado in my plate, you can see that I now love avocado. I loved the warm mustard vinaigrette over the salad. The entire salad recipe was easy to put together and delicious! Try it! Oh, the recipe calls for sun dried tomatoes and arugula. I didn’t have those two ingredients and used fresh tomatoes and leafy green salad. Still tasted terrific.

Paz

Walnut and avocado salad with warm mustard vinaigrette

Sweet Paul

serves 4

3 avocados, peeled and sliced

small bunch of arugula, washed

1/2 cup toasted walnuts

1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, sliced

1/2 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons grainy mustard

1 tablespoon maple syrup

salt

pepper

Place avocado slices, arugula, walnuts and sun dried tomatoes on plates.

In a small saucepan heat up oil, mustard and maple syrup.

Whisk well so you get a thick vinaigrette.

Season with salt and pepper.

Pour the warm dressing over the salad and serve.

New York Monday: Sunday Brunch

September 12, 2011 | Filed Under New York Monday | 6 Comments

Sunday morning, walking on Amsterdam avenue, I noticed that all the eating establishments were crowded.

All the outside seating areas were occupied with diners.

There were even lines to get into some food places.

Have a wonderful new week, everyone!

Paz xoxo

Ten-Questions Meme

September 6, 2011 | Filed Under Memes | 8 Comments

Sweet Baked Plantain with Cheese

Some time ago (okay, last year), Sophie of Sophies Foodiefiles tagged me for this meme. I’m only now able to get to it. It’s been a while since I’ve participated in a meme here. Here we go:

1. What is your most memorable meal that you ate in your life & why?
Kind of sad but I can’t think of a most memorable meal right now… Oh, I got one: It was eating moules (mussels) for the first time when I was in Brussels. It was moules season and the restaurants served it as specials. Mine was prepared in white wine and to my surprise, I found it very tasty. I even learned to eat it using the shells as cutlery. It was a meal that I ended up enjoying very much and shared with in good company with friends. There’s nothing like eating a good meal with good friends. Yes, memorable.

2. Why did you started blogging?
I was excited about the fact that I was actually cooking – making edible food. I wanted to talk about my cooking experiences – the good and the bad. However, neither my friends nor family cared to listen. So, I figured I’d start a blog about it – like a journal of sorts. That way, I could also record what I prepared and experienced. Up until then, I’d never seen any other food blogs around, so I thought I was going to be the first food blogger. You can imagine my surprise when I’d discovered so many wonderful food blogs out there.

3. What is your favorite restaurant, where & why?
Ummm… I don’t have a favorite restaurant at the moment. I don’t eat out much anymore. Got any recommendations? Wanna take me there for a treat? ;-)

4. Which are your 3 most favorite chefs in the whole world and why?
Me, myself and I… Because I’m fabulous, dahling! LOL!

5. What is your favorite recipe on your own blog and why?
Hmmm… I don’t think I have just one favorite. I love a lot of the recipes on my blog. The first one that comes to mind is Christine’s Sunday Night Whole Roasted Chicken (there are other roasted chicken recipes that I love, too — see here, here and here.). Long-time readers know I super puffy heart plantain, so any recipe that involves plantain is my absolute fave (see here). What else… I love Ilva’s recipes because they are, mainly, very simple for someone like me to prepare and I don’t have to go to the ends of the world to buy exotic ingredients. Oh! And I can’t move on without mentioning another fave recipe – tiramisu – This one is a top favorite because after successfully making it, it was the catalyst that got me started on my cooking journey and food blogging (You can read the story here.).

6. To which music do you listen to when you cook and bake & why?

I listen to any type of music. If the radio is on then it is probably Latin music. If my iPod is playing then it is a mix of music from classical to pop to show tunes to country, to… you name it… I listen to it.

7. What is the strangest food that you have ever eaten and did you like it or not?
Hmm… Strangest food? Let me think about that some more and get back to you…

8. What is your most lovely food destination in the world & why?
Oh, I don’t know. Why are you asking me this question? I’m not a foodie? I know nothing. But I’ll say New York, where you can find almost any kind of cuisine – Russian, French, Italian, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Senegalese, etc…

9. What is your most favorite food shop in the world & why?
Unfortunately, I don’t have a favorite food shop… There are a lot of grocery shops in my neighborhood and I shop there but they are not my favorite. They are expensive… If I ever find a favorite food shop, I’ll come back and tell you.

10. Which kitchen gadget do you love the most & why?

Well, at the moment, I don’t have a favorite kitchen gadget, but when I first started to cook/when I’d first started my blog, the microplane grater was my absolute favorite kitchen gadget. I just loved that I could grate lemons and oranges so easily for their zest. I just like the way it felt in my hand. It is nice long, sturdy and doesn’t feel clumsy. I guess, it still is my favorite kitchen gadget.

Thanks, Sophie for tagging me. If anyone is interested, you can find other memes in which I participated here.

I tag ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEME.

Paz