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

Mikky of My Finds has tagged me for a meme called 6 Quirky Things I Do.

Here are the guidelines to the meme:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you – that’s me.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the blogger’s blogs letting them know they have been tagged.

Hmmm… Let me see…  I’ve done several similar memes, which you can find here, but I’ll try to come up with some more quirky things for you.  

1-  I like to face my dollar bills according to its color — black side or green side.  

2-  I prefer to use only black ink pens.

3-  I’ve started talking to the birds.  In the morning, I wish them good morning.  

4-  I can’t get rid of my books (except for school books). 

5- I like to eat french fries with ketchup and mayo.  

6-  I still like to watch Little House on the Prarie and it still makes me teary-eyed.  

I tag anyone interested in participating in this meme.  Please let me know that you’re doing it, so that I can read it.  Thanks Mikky for the tag!

Paz

Yellow Cupcakes

I love how the yellow roses compliment the Yellow Cupcakes in this photo.

Kat of Our Adventures in Japan has tagged me for this latest meme called 10. 

Here are the rules:
1. Post 10 of your own favorite food shots.
2. Pass the opportunity on to others by leaving a message on their comments page just so they’re aware of it.

I had a hard time choosing just 10 photos but here’s what I came up with.

Paz

Roasted Baby Roma Tomato and Feta Tart

This photo brings back good memories of making my very first (and only) tart.  It was delicious, too! 

Tiramisù

My very first blog photo of the very first dessert I prepared.  I still get excited thinking about it.

Salad à la Paz

I love colorful food and I love how the photo is full of color.

Oven-Roasted, Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus

This photo reminds me of how much I love prosciutto and asparagus — oven-roasted!

Fried Yellow Plantain (Kelewele)

This is my all-time favorite comfort food — plantain.  The photo has me salivating.

Peaches in Red Wine

 Another earlier dessert I learned to prepare.  Very simple.  Very good.

Oven-roasted Carrots

This photo reminds me of the best-tasting carrots I ever had.  Yum!  And so easy to prepare.

Hot Meatball Salad

I love this salad.  The meatballs give it an extra punch.  I’m glad the photo came out well.  The tomatoes entice me, too. 

Carrot and Peanut Salad

I like carrots and peanuts and this was an interesting salad.  Crunchy!  I think I got lucky with this photo, which I like. 

So, there you have it — my ten favorite food shots.       

 
There‘s no set number of people to tag, so I’m tagging 10 bloggers.  You can do the same — tag 10 bloggers or less.  On the other hand, you don’t have to tag anyone.  This meme is NOT obligatory.  You DON’T have to participate if you don’t want.  It’s totally optional.  With that in mind, I tag the following:

1- Courtney from Coco Cooks

2- Pretty Baker from Pretty Baking in Israel

3- Sra from When My Soup Came Alive

4- Rosa from Rosa’s Yummy Yums

5- Elizabeth from Blog from Our Kitchen

6- Rebecca from From Argentina with Love

7- Tanna from My Kitchen in Half Cups

8- Laylita from Laylita’s Recipes

9-Paul and Mike from Eat Me

10-Anyone else who would like to participate.  Let me know you’re doing it, so that I can check it out on your blog.

Rebecca of From Argentina with Love tagged me for this Tag, You’re It! (Meme!). I’m supposed to write 5 facts about myself.  Gee, folks.  This is hard.  There’s not much to write but here it goes… 

1.  There’s the time I majored in Classical Studies (and Romance languages) in undergrad college.  I wanted to be an archeologist — a female Indiana Jones.  

2.  There’s the time that I took tango lessons after seeing the 1997 movie The Tango Lesson.  I thought I’d get a hot, handsome, Latino dance teacher and fall in love, like the movie.  Instead I got this grumpy, unhappy, blonde-haired female American teacher.  Plus I sucked at the tango.  I am NOT a dancer.  I love to watch tango dancers, though. 

3.  There’s the time I used to watch Saturday morning cartoons.  Actually, I still do.  I especially enjoyed the  1992-1995 Batman TV (cartoon) series and the 1996-2000 Superman TV (cartoon) series  They don’t show it anymore.  They’re showing a 2004 Batman TV cartoon version.  It’s okay. I’m not crazy about it.  The cartoons they show today, pretty much suck, in my opinion.  I love the 2005 TV series Avator: The Last Airbender.  That’s a cool cartoon, although I haven’t seen that in a long while.  They show it on a cable station.  I don’t have cable.  ;-(

4.  There’s the time when while walking on the streets of NYC, I passed by the likes of Michael Jackson, Brooke Shields, Alec Baldwin, Liam Neeson, Natsha Richardson, the Icelandic singer, Björk (who wore the famous swan dress to the 2001 Oscars awards show) and more.  In the city, I see a lot of celebrities all the time — practically bump into them.  However, I’m not star struck.  I really don’t care if I see them or not.  They put on their pants/skirts one leg at a time, like me.  So, I take look at them but keep walking.  No biggie.

5.  There’s the time, when I was in Egypt,  a very persistent fellow wanted my hand in marriage.  He told me that he’d offer many horses to my family, including a white stallion.  Too bad for him, I don’t know much about horses. 

Thanks for the tag, Rebecca. 

Oh, by the way, I’ve done similar memes.  If you’re interested in reading more,  you can find them here.

I tag the following:

1. Mari – Cha no ma-ri

2.  Britt-Arnhild – The Blue Café

3.  Kat – Our Adventures in Japan

4.  Megan – Pennypincher’s Pantry

5.  Dorit – PrettyBaking in Israel

Here are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their Blogs.

Megan of Pennypincher’s Pantry tagged me for this Christmas Meme.  Thanks, Megan!

Christmas Meme Rules:

1)  Provide a link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

2) Share Christmas facts about yourself.

3) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.

4) Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1.  Wrapping or gift bags?  Either or.  They’re both nice.  There are some very nice wrapping papers and creative gift bags out there.

2.  Real or artificial tree?  Artificial.  That’s the only type I’ve every had. 

3.  When do you put up the tree? Normally Christmas Eve.  Don’t have time do it earlier.  This year my sister put it up and did it a week earlier.

4.  When do you take the tree down?  A few months later.  Seriously. 

5.  Do you like eggnog?  Umm… Not really.

6.  Favorite gift received as a child? I can’t really recall.  I just know I’ve liked all my gifts.

7.  Do you have a nativity scene? This year no.  But we’ve had it before.

8.  Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  I don’t think I’ve received a "worst" gift.  Once,  one of my brother’s friends wrapped up a dead mouse and put it under the tree for him.  My brother did NOT find it funny when he unwrapped his gift.  LOL!  I’m glad no one has ever decided to give me a gift like that — prank or no.

9.  Mail or email Christmas cards?  I’ve done both but I prefer to mail cards.  Although I didn’t get a chance to mail cards last year (or the year before or the year before) and I don’t think I’ll have a chance to send them out this year.  *sigh*  Maybe New Year’s cards?

10.  Favorite Christmas movie? It’s a Wonderful Life; Scrooge (All versions); Christmas Story are a few that come to mind.

11.  When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever.  I hate to shop, though.  I’m shopping-challenged.

12.  Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Anything.

13.  Clear lights or colored?  Either or.  Depends on how I’m feeling at the time.

14.  Favorite Christmas song?  All

15.  Travel at Christmas or stay at home?  STAY HOME! 

16.  Can you name all of Santas reindeer? No.  Oh –  Rudolph.  Yeah.  That’s right, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  

17.  Angel or star on the top of your tree?   Either or.  Like the lights in #13 and Angel or Star in #17, it depends on what/how I’m feeling at the time.  This year, since my sister decorated the tree, she put a white dove on the top.  So our tree top always differs.

18.  Open your presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?   Christmas morning. 

19.  Most annoying thing about this time of year? Those who forget about the true spirit and meaning of Christmas.

20.  What do you leave for Santa?  Nothing.  I should leave something for him now, since I’ve started to cook and bake, huh?  Maybe I will this year.

21.  Least favorite holiday song?  None that I can think of.  I like them all.

22.  Specific theme or color? Hate to sound really boring here but… Uhh… I don’t usually have a theme or color.  One year, I decorated the tree in all white — white lights, ornaments, etc…

23.  Favorite ornament?  Dont’ have one, really. 

Okay.  So, I’m tagging:

1.  Anyone

2.  Reading

3.  Who

4.  Would

5.  Like

6.  To

7.  Participate

Go for it!  And let me know if you do, so that I can go read it. 

Paz