Caprese Pasta

I love cooking at home, but sometimes it is difficult when you have a busy schedule and a lot of recipes can be quite complicated to fit in your time schedule.  This recipe is super simple yet delicious! This caprese pasta was incredibly flavorful yet light and was so easy to make even my husband could have done it (hehe-sorry Jon).  I used this recipe but I served it warm and added marinated artichoke hearts in order to give it a little extra flavor. YUM!

Watermelon Avocado Salad

It has been hot in Los Angeles this week! So yesterday in the late afternoon, I turned off the air and opened the windows for a nice summer breeze, put on French Cafe music via Pandora and made this salad (recipe here) for my husband and I as a romantic surprise when he got off work.  Paired with a glass of Pinot Noir, it was delicious and so relaxing to have a cafe experience in our own home.

Penne with Spinach Sauce

Last week I had one free night of not working and had time to run to the store (our fridge was basically empty) and make this delicious recipe here.  The sauce had just enough flavor without being overbearing and it was pretty healthy as well.  I used whole 100% whole wheat penne with flax instead of enriched pasta and added fresh diced tomatoes to give that extra flavor and freshness.

After cutting up fresh spinach, add the hot pasta directly over it to slightly wilt it.
Use a little leftover pasta water to add to the sauce to thin it out
just a bit (Not too much)

Stir it all together, serve and top with fresh diced tomatoes
and fresh grated pecorino. 

Quinoa Beet Salad

I recently started training at another restaurant for yes...a THIRD serving job!  I'm crazy, I know.  Anyway, I got to try a special there of a quinoa and beet salad that was soooo delicious!!! So, I decided to make it at home alongside a pan-seared lemon-garlic-peppered cod.  The combination was delicious!!!

Here is how I made the salad:

1/2 cup dried quinoa (then cook it and let it cool)

While that is cooking, cut up 

1 peeled cucumber

handful of cherry tomatoes

2 celery stalks

1/2 container of marinated beets

let marinate in cider vinegar, olive oil, pepper and dill

Add quinoa and stir everything together and add a little beet juice to it. 

Let it chill in the fridge for about an hour

Serve chilled and top with arugula or watercress with a little balsamic vinegar drizzled over the top.

Daily Beauty Routines

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a fun, yet safe St. Patrick's Day weekend! I spent Saturday working a 10 hour shift at one of the restaurants I work at (yes, with no break and serving over 10 tables at a time on two floors!!).  I had to be there early that morning so amidst my sleepiness and the rain, I forgot to wear green and was reminded that by every single table. Anyway, I came home, took a long relaxing bath with Lavender and Epsom Salt, felt refreshed, and got ready for our night with friends.  Yesterday, we slept in, made breakfast at home and spent the day cleaning together--perhaps it sounds boring, but it was just what we needed.  It helped us feel relaxed and ready for this new week. 

When it comes to beauty and feeling confident, it is important to have a routine for both the outer (appearance) and the inner (body).  Here are some of my daily routines for both.

Hydration: It is so important to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
These pretty bottles make that possible on the go as well--and they are BPA free.

As much as I love wearing a color on my lips from time to time,
most days I wear chap stick only, and since high school, I have been
wearing Burt's Bees. 

Make sure you get plenty of beauty rest.  Everyone is different,
when I was 20, 6 hours was good. Now I need 7-8 hours in
order to function.

Balance out work with play. Make time for something
you love. For me, that is going for a walk somewhere
pretty--either due to nature or architecture.

Exercise at least 5 times a week and stretch everyday. I am not
even half this flexible, but I will keep trying! =)

St. Ives Apricot Scrub  (used at night only)
Make Up For Ever HD Primer in Neutral
Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer in Nude
Erase Paste by Benefit in No.2 Medium
Loreal True Match Powder in Nude Beige
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess
Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion in Black Brown
Tarte Blush in Blissful 

Weekend Libations

Happy Friday! Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day which for most people means corned beef and hash, green beers and Irish Car Bombs.  However, if you are having a get together at someones home or just making cocktails, here are some other great options--not everything has to be Irish themed, but there is a little green in all of them to assure you won't get pinched ;)

Moscow Mule
1/2 oz. lime juice
2 oz. vodka
4 oz. ginger beer

Black and Blue Mojito
3 blackberries
10 blueberries
7 mint leaves
1 oz. fresh lime juice
1 oz. simple syrup
2 oz. light rum
top with club soda

Strawberry-Jalapeno Margarita (with a sea salt and chile rim)
2 strawberries
2 slices jalapeño
1 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. agave nectar
1 1/2 oz. silver tequila of your choice
1 oz. Cointreau

Jameson and Pickle Juice

The last one was taken at Casey' Irish Pub downtown and is a MUST TRY. If not there, try it at home--so good!

Oh, and craving a healthy yet delicious green snack this weekend? Then make this easy recipe of Pan Roasted Brussel Sprouts with fresh squeezed lemon, ginger and cracked pepper.  

Lemon Garlic Cod

On Tuesday night, I made my first non-vegetarian item at home (we eat mostly vegetarian, but are not strict about it) and it was sooooooo good!!! My husband said it was the best thing I have made so far (yay)! =)  I made a lemon garlic thyme sauce and baked cod in it, served with spinach and chive linguini and steamed broccoli.  Super healthy yet super delicious!

p.s. I left a little sauce simmering in the pot while the fish was baking and added chopped red-bell peppers, then drizzled remainder of the sauce on the linguini!

Happy Lunar New Year!

Today begins the lunar new year which is celebrated in Asia and communities across the world. I was raised by Little Saigon in Westminster and am very familiar with the feasts and celebrations...and little red envelopes (as a child I was always so jealous of my friends). This year is the year of the dragon, which represents Ancient Emperors--and reminds me of Mulan :) I celebrated by working out at Pop Physique, having Cafe Sua Da, Imperial Rolls and Pho at Gingergrass and having a great friend filled morning!

Operation Get Back in Shape...

....is now in full effect! Since my wedding last May, I have gained 10 lbs and a couple inches on my waist and I am not happy about it. Now that we are getting back into a routine with having a set place to live, no more 3 hours of commuting and the holidays being over, we have decided it is time to take action and get back in shape. We started last week by grocery shopping more and cutting back on eating out. I also make sure I drink plenty of water and have stopped drinking so many cappuccinos and sweet holiday drinks-only black coffee and tea for me (which I enjoy anyway). I am also cutting back on my craft beer intake (so hard)! I am eating more fruit, veggies and eating vegetarian at home again. Also, I started the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and do Zumba and Spin. It feels so good to get back in the swing of things...but I am sore! You know what they say: no pain, no gain.