Tasty Tuesday :: Carrot Cake Cookie

Hands down, this is my favorite cookie. I have always been a fan of vegetables in my baked goods: zucchini bread, carrot cake, tomato scones, etc. In fact, I wanted a carrot cake for my wedding cake -- but decided against it, having it served at our rehearsal dinner instead. But I digress...

While doing some "research" for our blog, I came across the "Inside Out Carrot Cake Cookie" from Magpie Caterers, located in Sacramento, CA. Made with only organic ingredients, many have called these delectable cookies "epic" and "legendary" -- I call them "magical." Why? Because no matter my mood (stressed, sad, ambivalent), they always seem to magically make me feel better. Because of their pure cream cheese goodness, they can be found in the refrigerated section of Magpie Caterers. Make sure to come by and get your share...it truly is happiness in a cookie.

Magpie Caterers
1409 R Street, Suite 102
Sacramento, CA 95811

Tasty Tuesday | Green Eggs and Ham

Recently, our daughter celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday with her class on March 2nd. The festivities surrounding the party was made even more special because her favorite book, Green Eggs and Ham, was among those read aloud during story time. Needless to say, she was all smiles!

But things did not end there. As a budding foodie herself, she insisted that we take a trip out to the Napa Valley to visit Boon Fly Cafe and order one of their signature dishes, Green Eggs and Ham. Boon Fly's take on the colorful combination consists of two poached eggs atop a petite pile of hash brown potatoes and three slices of honey-cured ham, and it's all brought together with a decadent lemon leek cream sauce.

So, feel free to eat them here and there. Feel free to eat them ANYWHERE! We do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am!

Tasty Tuesday :: Marion's Pancakes

We are not really sure who Marion is, but we absolutely love her pancakes. We found them at Park Chow in San Francisco. They can also be found in other Chow locations in the Bay Area. A lemony pancake made with raspberry preserves and ricotta, it is the best way to jump start your day. Each order comes with two pancakes that are cooked to perfection. Everyone at our table ordered other things off the menu, but we were so intrigued with Marion's pancakes that we decided to get an order to share. We were not disappointed. The pancakes were moist, fluffy and packed with flavor that there was no need to add any syrup. Now...that is a pancake we can get on board with!

Park Chow
1240 9th Ave (between Lincoln and Irving)
San Francisco, CA 94122

Chow Lafayette
53 Lafayette Circle
Lafayettte, CA 94549

Chow Danville
445 Railroad Ave.
Danville, CA 94526

Tasty Tuesday :: Chilaquiles

A Mexican favorite of ours is chilaquiles. Made with crispy corn tortilla triangles, called "totopos," this dish incorporates green or red salsa, a scrambled or fried egg, and pulled chicken. The mixture is then simmered until the tortillas start to soften, and it is topped with queso fresco, sour cream, or crema before serving. What you end up with is a culinary staple that warms the heart, and because chilaquiles is made with such simple ingredients, it is a popular dish for many households that carry these items in their refrigerators and pantries. Ours included.

And although chilaquiles is a satisfying meal during any part of the day, it is typically served during breakfast for one good reason: it is said to be cure for the common hangover. Why? It is believed that spicy foods, like chilaquiles, help in the body's recovery process as it reacts to capsicum, a potent and well documented pain relieving chemical found in most chiles.

In this picture: Chilaquiles from Antigua Bakery located in the Highland Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, CA.

Tasty Tuesday :: Smac 'N Cheese | Nickel Diner

For this Tasty Tuesday, we wanted to highlight comfort food. Comfort food, simply stated, is a meal that gives one a sense of well being. It is food that often reminds us of our childhood or just plain happy times. Mac and cheese is just one of those dishes that cries "comfort." This version of mac and cheese, aptly named "Smac and Cheese," hails from the Nickel Diner in Los Angeles. Made with four different types of cheese, noodles, roasted tomatoes and topped with a crispy bread crumbs, this dish left everyone at the table smiling, satiated...and yes...comforted.

Nickel Diner

524 S. Main Street

Los Angeles, CA 90013

Tasty Tuesday :: Hobee's Coffee Cake

For those of you who have visited the San Francisco Bay area, you may have already tasted the coffee cake at Hobee's. If you haven't, it is definitely worth a trip.

Hobee's piping hot, streusel-topped, blueberry coffee cake is a meal onto its own. Many who live in the area consider this a fundamental part of their diet, and rightly so. Legend has it that it is considered the Official Coffee Cake of Mountain View, CA. This may be fiction...but what is fact is the epic portion of a single order. One order is enough to feed a small family or a very hungry Stanford or San Jose State student.

For those who are just visiting and don't have a Hobee's nearby, don't fret...Hobee's sells them by the panful for you to take home and share.

Hobee's has restaurants in various locations in the Bay Area:

Campbell

Cupertino

Los Gatos

Mountain View

Palo Alto

Redwood Shores

Sunnyvale

Tasty Tuesday :: French Toast at the Tower Cafe

The Tower Cafe's award-winning breakfast menu is highlighted by its one-of-a-kind Famous French Toast. A secret recipe that has most Sacramentans flocking to its location on Broadway near the historic Tower Theatre and voting it as Best Breakfast and Best Sunday Brunch in Sacramento Magazine. It is made with giant slices of french bread soaked overnight in the cafe's own homemade custard and baked in the oven to create a crispy exterior that gives way to a velvety smooth interior. Unless you are extremely hungry or want to nosh on leftovers as a midnight snack, a half order is usually plenty. On our last visit, we had our order topped with the seasonal fruit compote (also made in-house at the cafe).

Tower Cafe

1518 Broadway

Sacramento, CA 95818