Pie Stories

This could be you.  Diane baked her first pie ever last year.

Diane's first time

And it was delicious, she remembers every bite. Penny and Mr. Finley created a delicious apple pie, and had so much fun, they came back to make chocolates for Valentines day.

This lady, whose name eludes me, showed up when the doors opened and baked a few nice and early.

And of course, Mimi was Virginal.

How will your pie turn out?  Come and find out November 22nd.

Halloween Hoopla

The winds are blowing, the dogs are howling and the day of the dead is hours away.  Time for caramel apples. Let’s make some.

I’ll be re – visting the clown this year. We’re throwing a party for a high profile client who makes cute tops for skinny girls.  She knows how to party. This is her wedding day…

Have fun this weekend~ be safe, eat some candy, and celebrate the dead.

Really Delicious Sesame Salmon

For my friend Michael with the World Wide Mind

Ingredients

Soy, sugar or honey, ginger, garlic,  cornstarch, rice vinegar,  sesame seeds, sesame oil and wild caught salmon.

Recipe for the Sauce:  Make a nice teriyaki by combining 2 parts Soy Sauce to 1 part sugar or honey.  Throw in some grated ginger and garlic -  I like alot but it’s up to you.  simmer on a low heat till flavors are blended -  about 15 minutes or  longer. Make a slurry by combining a bit of cornstarch in a little water till the cornstarch dissolve.  Whisk it into the teriyaki.   Adjust the sauce  with a little splash  of lemon or rice vinegar if it needs a little tart.  Feel free to strain out the ginger and garlic, or leave it in – chef’s prerogative.

Then – stand at the stove and  brown a generous portion of sesame seeds on a medium flame in a saute pan.  Once you can smell them all toasty, pour in enough sesame oil to bind it all together, add equal parts of the teriyaki (the leftover sauce will keep indefinitely in the refrigerator).  That’s the sauce.

For the fish: preheat oven to 450. Cut your salmon into portions. coat the tops (inside, not the skin side) sear in a hot pan on  the tops only, place on a baking sheet, top with a generous portion of the sesame sauce and bake till flaky. (internal temp 120 to 140)   Alternatively, it can be finished in the pan, but the oven baking makes for a nicer finish.

fresh salmon talking to the baby

Serve with rice and seared vegetables.  There is a delicious version of this sauce called SOY VAY if you’re feeling lazy ( but mine’s better).

How to set 1 table for 50 guests

beautiful party table

Six 8-foot tables pushed together to make a long wide table ( 3 on each side).  Drape each table separately then push them together (make sure you check  the length of the drape so all the seams match up). Create a grand centerpiece to pull it all together.

Big centerpiece with candles, pumpkins and branches

And if you have room for a stylist in the budget, give Stephanie a call at Motif in Pasadena – she’s the genius visionary for this incredibly beautiful event.

Party Favors for the Fall

This clever hostess created a little burlap ditty bag with the bride and groom to be’s favorite candy,  a cracker, pick and bib for the lobster bake and of course,  a few fresh wipes.  It looked fantastic on the table and every guest got into the candy before the party ended.

fab favor

What the Simpsons are having on break today

Root beer floats are making a comeback. Marge and the gang are having a few on break today after their delicious lunch from yours truly.

Break time at the recording studio for the Simpsons

UPDATE:  the producer was SO excited about the floats, he grabbed it off the tray and they went flying.  Whipped cream in his hair and float foam everywhere – kicking off the season with a crash… oy. Sheila was a trooper though and took full responsibility for the  swampy mess.

Best Caterer for these Troubled Times

Thank you L.A. Weekly and and especially Jenn Garbee for naming me and the fab chefs at the shoppe ” the best caterer in L.A. for these troubled times.” What can I say? It’s true! We’re geniuses with a shoe string budget and know all the tricks to make your event sparkle and sing. Just like my happy chefs and service staff. We are here for you Los Angeles! Check out the Plug here.

Patio Party time

Happy Anniversary Historic LA

It was a beautiful evening in the courtyard of the Historic Resource Group.

Ready for mingling.

Celebrating their anniversary with cocktails and hors D’ oeuvrerie.

Stationary Antipasto and Charcuterie

Everyone came and a good time was had by all.

Cocktails and comraderie in the Courtyard

Thanks for  celebrating and preserving our beautiful city!

Fire happens.

I have friends in the hills.

I was on  the freeway when I took this picture headed toward Shelley’s.

210 North

I tried to drop by her house to see if she needed help, but the streets were already closed.

La Canada

They were evacuated and  their house was untouched, thankfully. God Bless the Firefighters. After the fire during  a bike ride 2 weeks ago, these pictures were taken by Steve Elkins.  Upper Arroyo Trail

I like to remember that fire occurs naturally.  It still makes me sad to see our hills on fire.

Echo Park Timebank Rules!

The  Square Dance  a fabulous night of delicious food by Howie, and crazy good home made beer from the East Side Brewers -  and the music by Triple Chicken Foot was Great!

Check out the latest article here about alternative currency in this new world economy. Works for me!