Rollin' with my Homies

When my friends from NJ came to visit I knew I HAD to take them to the Pacific Ocean.  I mean, total no brainer.   But there is just so much gorgeous coastline to see.  Enter in Ray's Rentals. 

I worked a little Google magic, scored some coupons, and ten dollars later we had bikes rented for the whole day! 

Seriously, if you come out to San Diego you must rent a bike!  We rode up through Mission Beach, into Pacific Beach, back down and around the bay area.  We covered at least 10 miles and it didn't take all day!

Here's a little video.  I don't know why, but the sound is messed up!!

Last time we had friends visit we went to Kono's Cafe.  Basically it was awesome-sauce.  So when my friends came out I knew I wanted to take them there. 

Now get this, I'm flipping through a San Diego Travel book that Nicole had bought for the trip.  Lo and behold, Kono's made it into their Top Ten Breakfast List!!!!!  Yes, I was so stoked.

   

Kono's has a cool, laid back, surfer vibe.  Perfect for a morning at the beach.

Kono's potatoes and biggest. burrito. ever.

Yummy!  All fueled up and ready to ride.

Cookies or Cupcakes?

...or dare I say both?

After perusing the internet I stumbled up these babies.  Oh, and those.  And oh my, look at this one!

And so the idea of a cookie dough/ cupcake combo was planted in my mind.  You would think after reading all these recipes I would do a little planning, gather ingredients, think the process through.  Nope, I tend to be a bit impulsive and I make no exception with my baking!  

Last Friday, (last day of my spring break, wahhhh) I spent the day on my hands and knees scrubbing our floors since we were expecting company on Saturday.  I also had whipped up an awesome dinner and by the time 6:00 rolled around the kitchen was finally clean.  I was tired. beat. ready to kick back and relax.  And then Shane calls with exciting news about his job. My mind flashes to the freezer and I know how we'll celebrate.  I have cookie dough frozen from the last batch I made.  I'll just pop them in the oven before he gets home.  Easy Peasy.

 *this is an old picture, don't mind the dates*

I putz around, watch some TV and look at the clock.  20 minutes to 7pm.  Shane gets home around 7:15, maybe I have time to bake something a little more special...? I can make cupcakes.  Oh me oh my, I can make vanilla cupcakes with a cookie dough surprise inside!

I literally ran to the bookcase and grabbed Hello, Cupcake! off the shelf, and flipped to the vanilla cupcake recipe.  Ran to the cabinets. Please let me have all the ingredients. Please  let me have all the ingredients. Phew, I got em!

In no time I had vanilla cupcake batter ready to be poured.  I spooned a tablespoon of batter, dropped in a cookie dough ball, and covered with another spoon of batter.  Then I stuck it in the oven and hoped for the best!

The recipe says bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes.  I baked it for closer to 30, since the dough wasn't turning into a cookie consistency like I expected.

uh oh

What about frosting?  I hadn't even thought about how to top these sweet concoctions.  With no butter in the fridge, my only option it seemed was a royal frosting.  I put powdered sugar and vanilla extract in my mixer and slowly added almond milk a tablespoon at a time.  Not your most conventional frosting, but I had to make due with what I had!

sweet success

  

The cookie dough never did really turn into a cookie per say. Instead it remained a chewy, dough ball surprise!

 These were not finished by the time Shane got home.  But that's okay.  He's used to walking in while I'm frantically in the kitchen whipping up my latest creation.  I don't even know why I try and impose this 7:15pm baking cut off time, since I almost always take longer than that!  

I'm happy to be an impulsive baker because these cookie dough cupcakes were a yummy way to say "You rock Shane" and  "Hi, welcome to San Diego friends"!

Tourist for a Weekend

I need to face the facts.  I love being a tourist in San Diego.  I may have lived here for almost a year, but I find that no matter how many times I go to the beach, or downtown, or any place here, I get giddy with excitement.   I want to read up on history, plan activities, pose and have random people take my picture. Yes, I am a tourist.  

But this touristy quality is great when I have friends visit!  I just can't get enough of America's Finest City.  Here are a few snapshots from this weekend.  I'll post on the specifics a little later, but for right now I'll give you a taste of our sight seeing adventures!

Strawberry Fields Forever

Spring has sprung.  I know this because of the abundance of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, boysenberries and you-name-it berries on supermarket shelves.

And these are not just any berries...these berries are IN SEASON! Strawberry fields don't last forever...well here in So Cal strawberries have a year round season, but the peak is 
April 30-June 30!

Which means I paid a mere .97 cents per package.

And would ya look at that? These strawberries only traveled about 40 minutes to my local grocery store!

.97 cent strawberries mean spring, but also...

No jelly, no problem.  PB & strawberry sandwich!

Banana strawberry soft serve with chocolate chips?  Yes please!

Strawberry-licious smoothies!

 Oh and let's not forget strawberry oatmeal bakes topped with more strawberries!

Spring  has also gotten me excited about another flavor.  Can you spot it sitting atop the oatmeal bake on the left?

 Oh yes I did!  Homemade coconut butter is scrumptious and super easy!

{ Process unsweetened shredded coconut  in a food processor until creamy} 

Ashley from the edible perspective has great tips here

 Mmm.

Coconut makes me think of  tropical islands.  If I'm on a tropical island you best believe I'm on the beach with a drink in hand, preferably a mojito.

 MOJITO!

But alas, I can see palm trees from my window, but I don't have a drink in hand.

But there is a drink in my....

COOKIE!

An awesome teacher friend brought these goodies into work!

Azucar is a little bakery in Ocean Beach that serves up Cuban inspired pastries, cakes, and cookies.

This my friends, is a mojito cookie.  Shane and I agree that we need to get to Azucar and get some more of these; delicioso!  Thanks Pierce!

 When you go to a bakery, or even out to eat, do you stick with what you love or try new things? When we go to Azucar, which we will, I'm tempted to get this cookie again!  I may have to get it along with something else!

What's your favorite way to eat fresh strawberries?  I like em plain, in smoothies, on/in oatmeal, yum!  I want to try some sort of strawberry cupcake!

Barrio Star: Mexican Soul Food

I seriously love Groupon!  Thanks to Groupon, Shane and I got to try out this little gem in Banker's Hill. 

As you walk inside you're greeted by Mexican skulls.  Why hello there!

 And the Dia de los Muertos theme does not end there.  Hi Mexican skulls, I see you!

Don't mind the pictures, I am aware we both look like goobers.  I am posting these pictures because you can see the decor in the background.  It was intimate, eclectic and cheerful.  I was digging the vibe.

Now onto the menu!

The concept of Barrio Star is "fresh, creative takes on traditional Mexican food".  They try and use fresh, local, organic ingredients whenever possible.  It was hard to decided what to choose, but the Soy Chorizo Taco was calling my name, and it did not disappoint!  I am not the biggest fan of corn tortillas, but this tortilla was different.  It tasted fresh...maybe because,  "All tortillas are housemade from freshly ground corn. All salsas made from scratch".

And the soy chorizo was delectable. I sort of wanted to order more to take home, it was that good.  It came with an avocado sauce and salsa fresca, both simple yet flavorful.  Shane got the Carnitas Torta- carnitas, avacado, cheese, jalapeno, lettuce, tomato, chips and salsa and was equally impressed.

Some reviewers on Yelp complained that the portions were too small.  I enjoyed the smaller portion size and left the restaurant feeling satisfied, not overly stuffed.    Although it is a bit pricey {problem solved by use of Groupon} you have to remember that you're paying for fresh, local and organic ingredients.  I think it's worth the extra cash!

Bye for now Barrio Star; until the next Groupon!

Barrio Star

2706 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92103


Breakfast & Lunch: 9am-3pm
Monday - Sunday
Dinner: 5pm-close Nightly

 

So Delicious, So Not Photogenic: Lentil Sloppy Joes

Pardon the picture.  They may look...unappetizing...but trust me that they are delicious!

It all started when Shane opened up a can Manwich brand something or other.  My brain jumped back to a memory of canned Sloppy Joe's.  Yes, remember them?  That sweet, tangy, beefy sandwich you used to eat as a kid? 

Did anyone else use the name Sloppy Joe as en excuse to throw all table manners to the wind?  I know I did; such a rebellious child!

Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joe's *click here for nutritional info*

loosely based on Vegan Dad and Mama Pea's recipes

• 1 1/3 cups Green Lentils
• 1 tsp Extra Light Olive Oil
• 1/2 medium  Yellow Onion
• 1 Whole Carrots
• 1 Celery Medium Stalk (7.5 - 8")
• 2 cups Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
• 1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar
• 15 oz Tomato Sauce, 15 Oz Can
• 1/4 cup Barbecue Sauce Original
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/2 tsp Oregano, Dried
• 1/2 tsp Chili Powder

Even while simmering, not photogenic...

- Rinse and drain lentils, set aside.

- Dice onion, carrot, and celery.

- Using 1 tsp of oil, saute vegetables until onions are soft, about 5-7 minutes.

- Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower heat to simmer and cover.

- Simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

- After 30 minutes, my lentils were not soft enough, so I added 1/4 cup of water and simmered about 15 more minutes. Lentils should be soft, but not falling apart.

- Put on sandwich bread, and enjoy!  Or you could put them in a salad...get wild!

"You're just not getting my good side"

No matter how you cut it, or angle it, these Lentil Sloppy Joe's are bad for your eyes, but good for the rest of your body!

Dreaded 12-miler

Hey there bloggy-boos! I have been such a bad blogger lately.  I take pictures and have so many post ideas, but then life just gets in the way!  

Just know my little hiatus is over and I have some yummy things in store for you!

First though, I want to tell you all that I finally got in a 12 mile training run!  I don't know why, but I have been d r e a d i n g this mileage.  Which makes no sense because this time last year I was running 15 and 18 milers.  The only *downside* to this run is that it was here, along Mission Beach:

 

Right now you must be thinking to yourself, that girl has let living in San Diego get to her head!  How dare she say that running along the gorgeous coastline isn't good enough!

whoa, whoa, whoaaaaa!

I'd be crazy not to know that I am super duper lucky to run in such an amazing place.  However, this gorgeous, scenic, makes you take off your headphones and listen to the ocean run was lacking one key training element.... hills <--- yes I am technology savvy

It was completely flat and I loved every minute of it.  Well, as many minutes as you can love a 12 mile run that is.

Yes, I chose to run here.  Yes, I knew it would be flat.  But I just needed to break through my 9 mile rut and score a 12 mile distance.  I'm {sort of} confident in my hill training thus far, and I think I'll be able to kick it up a notch race day.

La Jolla 1/2 Marathon here I come!

T-minus 11 days

(What does t-minus even mean??)

*Just Googled it.  Laziest Googler ever, from the website descriptions, it is something that Nasa and the military use!*

And being at the beach has other benifits.  Like the most amazing ice bath ever!

Dreaming about jumping in the ocean got me through some of spots that were lacking an ocean breeze.  It was sweat city!  And I have a nice little sports bra tan to boot!

I am so happy that my ghetto ice packs, water bottle with 1/2 ice and a plastic ziplock baggie of ice, kept my lunch cool.

"Cheezy" quinoa, lentil sloppy joes, and a banana.  How's that for protein and carbs?!

Be on the lookout for a Lentil Sloppy Joe recipe, they are yummy!

So Cali

I love how they California-fied this Jersey sign bros!  <3 Jersey Girl 4eva <3

...

Wait, one more thing!!!

MY NEW KICKS! I am so in love.

I took a risk and ordered them off Zappos.com.  I previously had Adidas so I ordered the same size and hallelujah, they fit!  And I broke them in with this 12-miler.  It could have been bad, but no blisters, no chaffing, no nothing!  

If you know your size, go with Zappos! It was super easy, and I think I may have saved some moolah.

Enjoy your Wednesday xo

***PS: head on over to Munch and Crunch for a super spring playlist giveaway!*** 

-AND-

***Julia is having her first giveaway here, and it involves Easter candy...just sayin!***