Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Elizabeth, of  The Lawyer's Cookbook ,  is hosting this month's  Food'N'Flix  event. We watched, or rewatched as the case may be,  Lady and the Tramp.  Click to see  Elizabeth's invitation . This post contains an affiliate link for the DVD at the bottom.  On the Screen... Four words: this is a classic. I had no idea that this movie was originally made in 1955. "It's almost as old as Nonna," noted my little one. True! She's a classic, too. If you haven't seen this, here's the gist - it's a love story where Lady, a pampered cocker spaniel, meets and falls for Tramp, a roguish mutt from the wrong side of the tracks. There are, as with all good love stories, complications. But, in the end, Lady's humans - Dear and Darling - invite Tramp to stay. That's all I'll say. If you haven't seen it, do! On the Plate... How could I not make pasta? I mean, it's even on the cover of the DVD, right?? So, I had one o...

Earlier this month I hosted an 8-day online event celebrating food and romance - #TripleSBites. Along with 19 other bloggers, we shared over 130 recipes. I wanted to give my readers an easy way to view the recipes from each sponsor. Here are the recipes posted using  Mekenita Mexican Grille 's   Salsa de Casa . Thanks, again, for sending product to the bloggers and for providing a wonderful prize package for our readers! Check out everything from ceviche to risotto. These recipes are listed in alphabetical not chronological posting order. Enjoy! All  of the  Mekenita Mexican Grille   Recipes... Ceviche de Pescado with Crisped Garbanzo Beans by Culinary Adventures with Camilla Dairy-Free Chicken Burritos by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen Mekenita Tex Mex Twice Baked Potatoes by Famished Fish, Finicky Shark Roasted Chickpea Tostadas by Amy’s Cooking Adventures Shrimp Enchiladas Frescas and Brown Rice Risotto by Famished Fish, Finicky Shark Smok...

No story, really. I was craving something sweet and had ingredients to whip up these green-hued treats. I also love that it's a one pot, one bowl, and one baking dish creation. Ingredients 1 C organic granulated sugar 1/2 C butter, melted  2 eggs, lightly beaten 1-1/2 C flour (I used a whole wheat pastry flour) 1/2 t baking powder 3/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips 3/4 C chopped raw pecans 1 T matcha green tea powder Procedure Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, butter, and eggs just until blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, and matcha; add to sugar mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Spoon into a greased 8" x 8" baking pan and spread with a spatula to reach the edges of the pan. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares.

Earlier this month I hosted an 8-day online event celebrating food and romance - #TripleSBites. Along with 19 other bloggers, we shared over 130 recipes. I wanted to give my readers an easy way to view the recipes from each sponsor. Here are the 10 recipes posted using  Pirate Jonny's  Syrena's Seduction Sauce. Thanks, again, for sending product to the bloggers and for providing a wonderful prize package for our readers! Check out everything from tostadas to kimchi. These recipes are listed in alphabetical not chronological posting order. Enjoy! All  of the  Pirate Jonny's   Recipes... Caribbean Beans & Rice by Dancing Veggies Dairy-Free Chicken Burritos by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen Date Worthy Beef and Cheddar Sliders by Famished Fish, Finicky Shark Roasted Chickpea Tostadas by Amy's Cooking Adventures Seared Tri Tip Bites with Smoky Date Sauce by Famished Fish, Finicky Shark Seductive Tossed Salad by Amy's Cooking Adventures Smo...

Tara of Tara's Multicultural Table is having   had a baby! Congratulations,  Mamma  ! Both are happy and healthy though the baby did decide to come a wee bit early. In typical foodie fashion, her virtual baby shower is all about food - biscotti to be exact. Thanks for hosting, Lauren of Sew You Think You Can Cook . I've done a fair share of sweet biscotti - Spiced Chestnut Biscotti , Birthday Biscotti , Chocolate-Dipped Pumpkin Biscotti , and even a Chocolate-Kalamata Cantucci . But, given my bent for experimenting and my decided lack of a sweet tooth, I opted to go savory. No real surprise there, right? Biscotti, in Italian, simply means 'twice-cooked.' The second baking gives these savory biscotti a beautiful crisp texture while the parmesan adds a richness and the peppercorns lend a piquant bite. Yum. Ingredients 1/3 C melted butter 3 eggs 1 C whole milk ricotta 3-1/2 C white whole wheat flour 1 T baking powder 2 C shredded parm...

Earlier this month I hosted an 8-day online event celebrating food and romance - #TripleSBites. Along with 19 other bloggers, we shared over 130 recipes. I wanted to give my readers an easy way to view the recipes from each sponsor. Here are the recipes posted using  Out of the Weeds 's  Beet Vinaigrette. Thanks, again, for sending product to the bloggers and for providing a wonderful prize package for our readers! Check out everything from roasted ahi to salad. These recipes are listed in alphabetical not chronological posting order. Enjoy! All  of the  Out of the Weeds   Recipes... Beet Vinaigrette-Marinated Ahi with Cocoa-Dusted Asparagus by Culinary Adventures with Camilla Bulgur Wheat Beet Salad by Dancing Veggies Dressed in Vinaigrette Asparagus and Arugula Salad with Candied Bacon and Gorgonzola by Famished Fish Finicky Shark Seductive Tossed Salad by Amy's Cooking Adventures Slow Cooker Chicken Salad Sandwiches by The Spiffy Cookie ...

Earlier this month I hosted an 8-day online event celebrating food and romance - #TripleSBites. Along with 19 other bloggers, we shared over 130 recipes. I wanted to give my readers an easy way to view the recipes from each sponsor. Here are the 10 recipes posted using  Kitchen IQ 's  V-Etched Spice Grinder. Thanks, again, for sending product to the bloggers and for providing a wonderful prize package for our readers! Check out everything from dumplings to rice bowls. These recipes are listed in alphabetical not chronological posting order. Enjoy! All  of the  Kitchen IQ   Recipes... Apple Dumplings by Debbi Does Dinner Chai Chocolate Apricots with Pistachios by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures Cilantro Chicken Rice Bowls by Making Miracles Cocktail Meatballs with Spicy Blueberry Sauce by Eliot’s Eats Crumb Top Apple Pie by The Pajama Chef Mimosa Floats by Amy's Cooking Adventures Seductive Tossed Salad by Amy's Cooking Adventures ...

I had some leftover sausages from the dish I was going to make for Carnevale. And I wanted to try something new (to us). I remember seeing a photo of Toad in the Hole and decided to give it a go. The origin on the dish's name - Toad in the Hole - is somewhat disputed. The explanation that resonates with me: it resembles a toad sticking its head out of a hole. This was a hit for seventy-five percent of the family. The Enthusiastic Kitchen Elf said: "It's too eggy - and there isn't enough flavor." But, heck, it was easy. And, for the record, I thought it had plenty of flavor. I read several different version of this recipe before coming up with this process. Note: this is my variation; it's not ultra-traditional. Ingredients cooked sausages (ours were chicken andouille - remember...I wrote non-traditional!) butter for greasing pan 1¼ C milk (I used whole milk) 3 eggs, lightly beaten 1 C flour (I used a white whole wheat) freshly ground salt fr...

Earlier this month I hosted an 8-day online event celebrating food and romance - #TripleSBites. Along with 19 other bloggers, we shared over 130 recipes. I wanted to give my readers an easy way to view the recipes from each sponsor. Here are the 10 recipes, or mentions, posted using  Spicely Organics  goodies. Thanks, again, for sending product to the bloggers and for providing a wonderful prize package for our readers! Check out everything from chicken mole to blondies and lip balm to creme brulee. These recipes are listed in alphabetical not chronological posting order. Enjoy! All  of the  Spicely Organics   Recipes... Chicken Mole Skewers with Cilantro Pesto by Famished Fish, Finicky Shark Chocolate Mousse with a Kiss of Honey by A Day in the Life on the Farm Crumb Top Apple Pie by The Pajama Chef Homemade Lip Balm by The Spiffy Cookie Lapsang Souchong Blondies by Culinary Adventure with Camilla Mimosa Floats by Amy’s Cooking Ad...

This round  Deb, of  Kahakai Kitchen ,  selected  Comfort Me With Apples: More Adventures at the Table  by Ruth Reichl  for our February-March 2015  Cook the Books   project. Click to see  her invitation . And you have plenty of time to join the party, if you wish. Submissions aren't due till March 30th. On the Page... I certainly know who Ruth Reichl is; she's a culinary powerhouse who headed the editorial desk - for years - at one of my favorite magazines in the world, Gourmet.  I did not, however, read her first memoir Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table . Though this book picks up where that one leaves off, I'm told, I don't think you need to read that before this. It stands alone. Let me set the scene. Ruth is just launching into her life as a restaurant critic, living in a commune of sorts on Channing Way in Berkeley and married to an artist who travels a lot. I'll admit - I almost put this book down several times...

Tequila and I are not actually very good friends. Maybe I need to buy more expensive tequila. But I am a fan of cooking with it! Still when I saw an invitation from my blogging pal Heather at girlichef   to make something for #NationalMargaritaDay, I jumped right in. Last year I made Top Shelf Truffles . I considered doing something savory this year, but opted for a margarita shortbread cookie kissed with a tequila drizzle. Salud! Ingredients Shortbread 3 C white whole wheat flour 1-1/4 C organic granulated sugar 1 T tequila zest from 1 organic lemon (you can use a lime, but we have a Meyer lemon tree in our yard - and I like to use what I have) 1/2 t fleur de sel  1 C olive oil Glaze 1 C organic powdered sugar 1 T freshly squeezed lemon juice (or lime juice) 1 T tequila salt (I used a green-hued smoked salt) Procedure Shortbread Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.  In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, tequila...

I had never heard of monkfish till I read Confessions of a Culinary Diva 's most recent #winePW post:  Boulud and Bubbles . Though her dish wasn't a complete success, I was intrigued by her characterization of it as 'poor man's lobster.' I just had to try it. Additionally, monkfish is listed as a good alternative on Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch. So, when I saw some at the fish  market, I scooped up four pieces for lunch. En papillote is a method of cooking that involves making an envelope out of parchment paper and roasting the fish in the package. I love it! The steam produced in the packet keeps the fish moist, and it's a fun presentation to open the fish packet at the table. Ingredients serves 4 4 monkfish filets 1 thinly sliced lemon (I used a mandolin slicer for more uniform thickness) freshly chopped herbs (I used a mixture of cilantro, parsley, and other greens) olive oil freshly ground pepper Also needed: 4 p...

Most Friday evenings all I want to do is come home from work, slip into comfy clothes, whip up a filling dinner, and lounge with my boys, playing games or watching a movie. But every now and then, Jake and I ditch the kids for uninterrupted conversation and a little romance. After seventeen years, I now know the formula for the perfect Friday night: art, libations, and food. And it fell into my lap when I saw the announcement for  Carmel Belle 's Pop-Up dinner at the  Monterey Museum of Art , La Mirada. One week late for a Valentines' celebration...but, hey, romance happens all year long, right? No need to stick to February 14th. And thank goodness I didn't hesitate, the tickets sold out in less than a day for this inaugural event. So, along with 58 other people, we lined up, checked in, and were ushered down the corridor to a cocktail reception with drinks from the elegantly effervescent and lovely Lauren of Lauren De Vine Beverages . I had seen her post on facebo...