Paleo Recipe: "True Love" Blood Orange and Red Onion Salad with Kalamata Olives

I just love going to the farmer's market and buying whatever catches my eye. Last Sunday, it was blood oranges. Here's a quick salad that's completely Paleo using those that beautiful citrus I picked up!! This recipe serves 2 people as an appetizer or side dish.

Ingredients:

3 blood oranges, sliced widthwise

1 red onion, sliced into rings

10-12 Kalamata olives, sliced into rings

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (I used Gaea Laconia P.G.I., 

kindly sent to me by the reps at Gaea.)

Procedure:

Peel the oranges and slice them widthwise so the slices will look like the picture above. Lay one layer of them out on a plate and then slice the onion into rings and lay them over/on the oranges. Then arrange another bit of oranges around the onions. As you are doing this, you can squeeze a little of the juice over the onions and the plate. Then chop the olives into little rings and sprinkle over the onions and orange slices. To finish, drizzle the olive oil over the salad.

So unique, but simple to prepare, and beautiful on the plate. I named the recipe "true love" because of the ring shapes in the salad (the symbol of eternity), and all that red/orange color in the mix.

It might sound like an odd combination, but I hope you try it. :) 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Food & Drink Picks!!

Here are a few things I have tried lately that sort of fall into the Valentine's category, and since today happens to be Valentine's Day, I would like to share them with you.

Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa

This brand new liqueur combines Patrón Silver tequila, the light essence of coffee and the richness of chocolate.

Distilled at 60 proof, Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa is less sweet than many other coffee liqueurs, and a mix of coffee, chocolate and tequila.

The label and outer box for Patrón XO Cafe Dark Cocoa are dressed in red. You can find Patrón on Facebook here.

Xan Confections

Xan Confections was started by Susan Johnson and Kerry Johnson Anthony of Susan’s Healthy Gourmet. With the combination of chocolatiering creativity and Kerry and Susan’s vision of healthy, Xan created indulgent artisan chocolates, caramels, and other handcrafted treats using distinctive flavors with only the finest, all-natural ingredients. Many of the Xan products are gluten-free. I was sent a few of the CocoXan products to try, a line of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate European-style truffles paired with a selection of nutritionally enhanced ingredients.

The five new product lines include fortified ingredients targeting wellness, heart, brain, pre-natal and pre-menstrual health.

Nutritional enhancements in selected products include vegetarian Life’s DHA, Wellmune WGP, folic acid, a proprietary blend of Vitamins A, C, D3, and E, chasteberry, bilberry, CoQ10 and Kaneka QH.

You can find them on Facebook here and on twitter here.

Oren's Kitchen

Perhaps my favorite line of samples I have been sent lately is the nut packages from Oren's Kitchen. There are four different varieties: Rosemary Almonds, Smoked Paprika Pecans, Indian Ajwain Cashews, and Coconut Chili Macadamias. My favorite are the macadamias. The nut mix is a blend of toasted and shaved coconut, macadamia nuts, some honey for sweetness, and dried Full Belly Farms red chilies are added for a little flavor kick. They are so addictive I could probably eat 2 or 3 bags in one sitting. ;) To order, you can go to their website here.

You can find them on Facebook here and on twitter here.

Emanuel Andrén Chocolates

Emanuel Andrén Chocolates (www.emanuelandren.com) are crafted in the small town of Lilla Edet, located just southwest of Stockholm. The family-owned company has been producing confections since 1868, with recipes passed down from generation to generation. Emanuel Andrén, who has followed in his great-great-great-great-grandfather’s footsteps, transformed the family business since becoming CEO in 2002. Today, Emanuel Andrén Chocolates is recognized as some of the world’s most luxurious chocolates and truffles, each of which is deemed a work of art, with Andrén being named “Pastry Chef of The Year” in his country.

Red Carpet was featured at the 54th and 50th Grammy Awards. The Red Carpet collection makes your successes memorable with elegant chocolate creations that celebrate any occasion.

Rich and Robust is an extraordinary luscious sensory-provoking confection created from a selection of the finest spirits and tobacco with a taste of distinction.

Royal Tribute a Swedish inspired array of noble flavors reaching a new level of sophistication and designed in honor of Sweden Royalty.

Rustic Harmony offers chocolate lovers the creamy and delicious union of chocolate and cheese with a touch of sweet fruit marmalade.

Swedish Strawberries offer fresh aromatic summer berries captured in their purest form to seduce every palate.

You can like Emanuel Andrén on Facebook here, and follow on twitter here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, Sacramento!!

I think Valentine's Day is arguably the most loved and hated holiday of all time. I kind of love it, single or not. All the red, pink, purple, flowers, candy, cards...

Perhaps it is silly to spend money on sweets that aren't really good for us or plants that will die in 3 or 4 days, but the frivolity of it reminds me of grade school--buying Valentine cards (with whatever cartoon character that was popular that year printed on them) and filling them out for all my classmates--and reminders of my childhood make me happy.


We would tape a brown paper bag to our desks and the go around and drop our cards in each bag so that everyone got one from everyone else. I recall waiting until I got home to read each and every one of them. Naïve as it sounds, I felt truly loved by everyone on Valentine's Day! :) Maybe I was just high on red lollipops and cupcakes with pink frosting.

This holiday still makes me smile, and being single there is actually less pressure on a day like today. I can just pick a few friends for whom to do something nice, and I will definitely by a present for myself. No one will be let down by my gift and I don't have to kill myself to impress anyone this year. I was at the market this morning and saw so many people in line with their arms full of bundles of flowers and boxes of candy. I sure hope their loved one appreciates them, even if their gifts were purchased last minute.

Today, I did send out a Valentine's card to my Grandpa (who is an 80-something year old veteran living in Kentucky). I know he'll get it a little late, but I also know he will be elated to receive it. I must say, it was bizarre to get a $100 dollar check from him in the mail a few days ago. I was sort of stunned because I rarely talk to him--last saw him two years ago. Also, he has been ill (and perhaps not all in the game mentally). didn't even think he remembered me much less that I am living in California and my address.

My friend SVH surprised me with flowers last night. I forget how much I really need to interact with other people. It was so fun to see her and send her home with a bunch of cupcakes!!

Her gift to me.

My gift to her!! Thanks to Seattle Chocolates for the candy extras. :)

So this is a cake I did for delivery today... I am sharing it with you for two reasons...
1. It was ordered by someone in Oregon for delivery for her son here in Sacramento. So sweet!
2. I used some products that were sent for me to try and I would like to endorse/recommend them.

The cake was a red velvet with cream cheese filling and raspberry/strawberry buttercream (alternating between the layers), all layers brushed with raspberry syrup, iced in buttercream and covered in fondant.

 

 Started as a 10-inch 4 layer circle...then I carved the shape I wanted.

Then iced it in buttercream so that the fondant would adhere...

I went the extra mile with the cake because I had some products to try out kindly sent to me by Duff Goldman and Gartner Studios.

I used the red and white fondants, to make a tie-dye pattern.
(Because this cake was intended for a guy and we don't want to be too girly!!)

 

 

Rolled it out and placed in on the cake, smoothing it all out.

 

 

 Then I used the graffiti spray to make the cake shine!

Delivering this cake made me happier than I would be receiving it. Of course, I was paid to make it, but there is nothing I can compare to the feeling I get when someone is happy with something I've made with my own two hands. If you are creative and sell or give away what you make, you know exactly what I mean.

Happy Valentine's Day, to my readers, family
and friends whom I love very much!!

Even More Romance & Chocolate! OMG!

Over at cakegrrl headquarters, I am just TEEMING with information to help a brother and sister out! Today I would like to plug two more gift ideas for those still struggling with what to gift for Valentine's Day! Remember, I am here to help!


Suggestion #1:
SEND A PANTYGRAM!
First, have you heard about The Pantygram?!?
Yes, I said Pantygram. It's "the ultimate gift experience he'll never forget"!

Here's how it works:
Your intended gets a black envelope with a red pair of very skimpy undergarments inside. Attached to the underwear is a message that you get to personalize, but he has to go online to reveal what the message is. The cool thing is that it is as anonymous as you want to be, so you can say anything you have been dying to tell him!


When he reads your message, you will get an email telling you he has opened and read the message. Ryan Seacrest recently featured the Pantygram on his show. Listen here!


I know you can't wait to do this now for your special someone, so order here now! The cool thing is that you don't have to send one only on Valentine's Day. If you can send on your anniversary or on a birthday, or just whenever you want someone to know they have a secret admirer!


So, here's the one I got yesterday. Yes, someone actually sent even ME, panties. :) Here's the message I got:

So what are you waiting for? A suggestive suggestion you want him to be your Valentine is only a click away.... ;) You can "like" Send a Pantygram on Facebook here, and follow the talk on twitter here.

                                                                                                 

Suggestion #2:

COCOA DULCE
AND! You could also go down the caloric route and choose candy. If you do choose candy, go with Cocoa Dulce. OMG. It's some of the best and prettiest candy I have ever tried!

Beth Tully makes these artisan chocolates with true passion, as her calling to be a chocolatier began in the early 2000's.  She founded Cocoa Dulce in 2005, in pursuit of the ultimate chocolate experience. She makes each chocolate by hand without preservatives. They use high-quality Belgian chocolate with extremely high butter fat (providing a more velvety texture).


One of the collections, (Cocktails in a Box) includes Stout (as in Guinness), Champagne (Cava), Margarita, Zinfandel, Piña Colada (with fresh Pineapple), Port, Amaretto, Irish Cream, and Scotch flavors.

You can choose from something as small as a 3 favor box, but why would you? I'm telling you, live large, it'll be worth it. Check out the 36 piece Cocoa Dolce collection!!


They also sell chocolate bars of 70% Bittersweet, 57% Bittersweet, Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate, and Sugar Free, as well as specialty tasting kits. 


And this pretty package perfect for Valentine's Day called Love & Chocolates which contains: 

Brandied Raspberry-Frambroise soaked raspberries in a 57% bittersweet ganache. Cherry Cordial-Brandy-soaked cherries in a liquefied center...not your Grandma's chocolate-covered cherry!! Sinful Mint-70% bittersweet ganache infused with organic essential oil of peppermint. Cinnamon-Essential oil of cinnamon in a white chocolate ganache. Strawberry Balsamic-Aged balsamic vinegar and Early Glow strawberry preserved in a white chocolate butter ganache. Blackberry- Fresh, locally grown blackberries in a 57% bittersweet ganache. Oh yum.

For more information call 316-866-2906 or 866-505-9214 or email them at info at cocoadulce dot com! Their facebook page is here.

Valentine's Day Gift Roundup!!

Just because I don't have a Valentine doesn't mean I am going to hold out on sharing some great ideas. I know some of you like to wait until the last minute, so here are a few things I have found around town and on the web that I really thought were great deals, Valentine's must-haves, or just extremely romantic/cool!!

OK, we'll start with alcohol! It's a bottle of Domaine Chandon's Sparkling Rose!
The people at Domaine Chandon were kind enough to send me a bottle of their sparkling wine so that I could make their Love Potion. I don't need a love potion, do I? :) (Recipe below).

Love Potion
Rim a chilled martini glass with red sugar. In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine one ounce cranberry simple syrup (recipe below) and ½ ounce fresh-squeezed orange juice. Shake until chilled, strain into glass, and top with three ounces Chandon Sparkling Rosé. Enjoy and repeat!

Cranberry Simple Syrup:
1 cup unsweetened cranberry juice
1 cup sugar of choice
Combine in a heavy saucepan on low heat.
Stir until sugar is dissolved, and some of the liquid has reduced.
Store in glass jar in the fridge. (Yields 1 1/4 cup.)


Be sure to check out chandon.com/valentine for other great cocktails with food pairings.

Gift Certificates at Restaurant.com
All the ladies love to be taken out to eat on Valentine's Day! On Restaurant.com, you can get $25 gift certificates redeemable at many local restaurants for just $2, by entering the promo code "LOVE" when you checkout.

Desserts from cakegrrl.com!

Free delivery within a ten mile radius of Sacramento and just in time for Valentine's Day!  

Here is a link to a list of my February specials!

Dinner at Piatti
I just peeked at their Valentine's Menu, and it looks fantastic. It's a pre fixe dinner and here's what they'll be featuring: Valentine's Day 2011. Click here for more information.

ANTIPASTI: “Insalata di Granchio” Shaved Celery Root & Fennel w. Dungeness Crab,
Soft Herbs, Crème Fraiche & Champagne-Orange Vinaigrette

PRIMI: “Gnocchi di Zucca” Winter Squash Gnocchi w. Brown Butter, Crisp Sage
& Crushed Amaretti
 
SECONDI: (choose one) “Agnello” Red Wine Braised Local Lamb Shank
w. Ceci Bean Panelle, Tuscan Kale & Parsley-Lemon Gremolata
 or
“Caccuicco” Tomato & Saffron Seafood Stew w. Manila Clams,
Tomales Pt. Mussels, Dungeness Crab, Prawns, Local Squid & Rockfish & Garlic Crostini
 or
“Quaglia” Wood Roasted Sausage Stuffed Quail w. Parmesan Polenta,
Sherry Braised Cipollini Onion Mustard Greens & Natural Jus
 
DOLCI: “Budino” Grand Marnier & Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse Tart
w. Candied Orange & Fior di Sale Caramel 

Tickets to the 2011 Celebrity Chef Challenge
If you have never been to the Celebrity Chef Challenge, you're missing out. It's so much fun, and also another great gift idea. Every year, six professional chefs battle it out to see "whose cuisine reigns supreme." It's our own "Iron Chef" competition right here in Sacramento, and all to benefit InAlliance! Here are the 2011 Celebrity Chef Challengers:
From the Black Sheep Butchery, Executive Chef Mark Liberman,
From Table 260, Executive Chef Richard Pannell
From Colusa Casino Resort, Executive Chef Keith Erickson
From Evan’s Kitchen, Executive Chef Evan Elsberry
Jim Turknett, From the Vizcaya Pavilion and Mansion, Executive Chef Jim Turknett
From the Tequila Museo Mayahuel, Executive Chef Ramiro Alarcon

For more information, or to order tickets click here.

OMG Rocklin Frozen Yogurt
On February 14th, there will be a Groupon on sale for OMG Yogurt in Rocklin. Be on the lookout for it! OMG is pretty much my favorite place for yogurt. They have such a wide selection of flavors and toppings, including sugar free!!

Lange Twins 2010 Sangiovese Rosé

It is worth swirling our soft crimson Sangiovese Rosé because the aromatics are amazing! A refreshing wild strawberry bouquet gives a wonderful beginning and the taste is just as flavorful. Crisp and bright strawberries join elegant raspberry notes through the finish. A beautifully balanced wine to drink anytime, but especially on warm days! Click here to learn more about Lange Twins Wines.
You can also follow them on twitter here.

Taste this wine and MANY more at Lodi's Wine and Chocolate weekend. Taste delicious Lodi wines and decadent chocolates at over 40 wineries in the Lodi appellation. Be the lucky one to unwrap the “Golden Ticket” at any participating winery and win a Wine Country Getaway or one of over 100 other prizes! February 12th & 13th from 11am-4pm both days!


Tickets: $45 in advance – $55 at the door (at any participating winery). Tickets are valid both Sat & Sun. Tickets include… An event wine glass, a commemorative chocolate tin, an event map and guide, wine tasting and admission to 40+ participating wineries. BUY TICKETS HERE!

Big Little Fudge

Fudge is about the most decadent dessert I can think of besides truffles. I think of it as plain comfort food and a food of love because my mom always made it for us growing up.

The kind I have pictured has cranberries, walnuts, and chocolate. It has a lovely sweet-tart taste and looks like Valentine's to me! Here's a full list of their flavors. They even have them broken down by occasion. You can like them on facebook here and follow on twitter here.

Story Winery 2011 Wedding Proposal Package
OK, now this is romantic! :) And, since we began with alcohol, let's end it with alcohol! :) 

The Story Winery's Wedding Package proposal includes a secluded picnic table, a bottle of Story Raspberry Champagne, 2 glasses, and a bouquet of flowers. They will even set the table with some appetizers. The table is yours for an hour and the perfect setting to tell your Valentine "I love you" and to pose the most important question of your lives! 

The package is only $65 and is available on Sat February 12 through Monday February 14th! The bookings begin at 11am and go until 4pm all three days. Also, all couples who get engaged at Story will receive an invite to the Story Winery & Bridal Faire on Sunday, February 27th.

Contact the winery at 209-245-6208 for more info! Or you can email them at storyinfo at zin dot com!

Ooh La La, Another Giveaway!

So maybe cupcakes are on the way out, but candy never gets old! Ooh La La Candy is reinventing the cupcake by filling its shape with candy.  The candy cupcakes are couture, flavor and fun, all in one chic package.

Check out these cute Valentine's themed "cupcakes":

The "Valentine Cupcake" contains: Contains 3.4 oz. coated chocolate candy balls, topped with a chocolate heart.

The "Red Hot Cupcake" contains: Contains 3.4 oz.  red hot candy and a chocolate heart.

Both of these candy cupcakes retail for $6.95 each.

If you miss out on Valentine's Day, the company also has a line of spring-themed candy cupcakes, and choices for almost any occasion.

Want to try the Valentine's Day Candy Cupcakes? Win all four and have them sent directly to you!

All you have to do is "like" cakegrrl.com on Facebook and "like" Ooh La La on Facebook. At the end of the week, I will make a list of the names in common and pick one at random! Good luck!

A Special Brut Rosé for Valentine's Day

  Sparkling wine is the ultimate celebration drink! We drink bubbly to celebrate a job, promotion, marriage, love...  I have none of those right now, but I will drink to the one thing I do have: my health! ;)

This Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé (Cuvée de la Pompadour), is one of my favorite wines. So many favorable qualities: elegant, crisp, festive, and pink!

It was Madame de Pompadour (the great courtesan and mistress of Louis XV) who first introduced sparkling wine to the court at Versailles, and who is quoted as saying, “Champagne is the only wine a woman can drink and remain beautiful.”

This Rosé is a balance of 58% pinot noir and 42% chardonnay. Domaine Carneros obtains their Rosé's color and flavor using two methods: first, by allowing part of the pinot juice to spend several days in contact with the grape skins. (This is how many other non-sparkling rosés are made.) Secondly, a small amount of pinot noir is added back to adjust color and flavor.

Although it is pink in color, this Brut Rosé is not sweet. It pairs very nicely with salmon, duck, brunch foods like quiche, brie en croute, and even fresh berries.

Thank you to Kobrand Wine & Spirits and their portfolio of wines for sending out this wine to me.

Tomorrow I will choose a winner of the Divine Delights Petit Fours Giveaway (shown below). Just to let you know, there are a few in that box that would be delicious with the Domaine Carneros Rosé! 

They are assorted flavors of amaretto, vanilla, and chocolate. If you haven't seen the contest, click here for more information! You can be anywhere in the US, and they will send the above petit fours right to your door. You have one day left to enter!

Divine Delights Petit Fours: Giveaway! More from the SF Fancy Food Show

Another company with whom I connected at the San Francisco Fancy Food Show is Divine Delights. They're a company specializing in mail order treats.

And that's just in time for Valentine's Day! So Divine Delights and I have collaborated to send one of you a little token of appreciation for continuing to read and making this website grow over the past 6 years!

Yes, the prize will be a Divine Delights Small Valentine Heart Box -- filled with 9 oz. of delicious and beautiful petit fours. (picture below)

All you have to do is "like" cakegrrl.com on Facebook, and "like" Divine Delights on Facebook. I will pick a winner at random next week. I will give you a bonus entry if you leave a comment on my Facebook page and tell me what kind of Valentine treat is your favorite gift. (stay classy, OK?)

A little bit about Divine Delights: The company began as a small family bakery in San Rafael, California in 1985. Among their first customers were caterers whom they supplied with petits fours, cookies and decorated cakes. As the demand grew, they moved to larger facilities in a neighboring town.

Their mail order business debuted in 1987 and has been featured in “The New York Times”, Gourmet, Bon Appétit, Brides, In Style, and Victoria Magazines. Angelique & Bill Fry think their treats are truly "A Taste of Heaven" and hope you will, too!

Love is in the Air… a Valentine's Dinner by Chefs Pajo Bruich & Mark Lieberman

Pssst...So... have you made plans for the big day? 

You know, it's only a few weeks away... are you really going to do what you did last year and wait until everything is all booked and look like a total screw up...Again!?

Are you looking for a special/unique/romantic idea that doesn't involve chain restaurants with a red blinky buzzer and a cattle herd line out the door?

I can help you with a suggestion. A delicious answer to your amorous culinary prayers...
If you were my Valentine and wanted to impress me, I would suggest the "Love is in the air…" dinner.

Why? Well, duh...because Chef Pajo Bruich is ONLY on the cover of the February Sacramento Magazine...and Chef Mark Lieberman is only moments away from opening his meaty Sacramento dining establishment, Black Sheep Butchery!

Not enough reason? OK, well... have you seen how pretty the food is on the plate? Each course is like a valentine. Also, not only is the food Pajo creates pleasing to the eye, but an experience to the palette. Oh yeah, and he just happens to work with closely with the Sommelier formerly of The French Laundry, Anani Lawson.


Anyway, Pajo's newest venture is called The Private Table. Check out the website's trailer here. Pretty sweet, huh?

Alright, then…
If you are still not convinced to take your sweetie (or me) to the "Love is in the air…" dinner, here's the menu:

First:
-32 Degrees Smoked Salmon Mousse
American Sturgeon Caviar, Champagne, Creme Fraiche Pearls
Optional Wine Pairing: 2009 Spoto Chardonnay                                                  

Soup of Del Rio Purple Sweet Potato
Black Trumpet Mushroom, Chicken Wings Dusted In Nuts & Seeds

or

Foie Gras Au Torchon
Red Beet and Tea Cure, Pickled Beets, Blood Orange ($20 supplement)
Optional Wine Pairing: 2008 Spoto Syrah                                                        
 

Second:
Twice Cooked Dayboat Scallop
Piquillo Pepper, Medjool Date, Meyer Lemon Confit, Marcona Almonds

or

Acquerello Carnaroli  Risotto
Shaved Perigord Truffles, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Red Wine Jus ($15 supplement)
Optional Wine Pairing: 2008 Spoto Cuvee Arianna                                              
 


Third:
Calotte De Beouf Cuit Sous Vide
Black Garlic, Spinach, Oxtail Marmalade, Capers & Chervil
Optional Wine Pairing:  2007 Spoto Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon        


Dessert:                   
Pave of Valrhona Dark Chocolate
Espresso Ice Cream, Caramelized White Chocolate, Cocoa Nib, Goats Milk Caramel

The meal is $75 per person, exclusive of gratuity.

Optional Spoto Wine Tasting $40 per person.

Dinner will be served at:
Steel Magnolia Kitchen
701 16th Street
Sacramento, Ca 95814
916-532-7178

on Saturday February 12th & Sunday February 13th
5:30 pm - 1st Seating
8:30 pm - 2nd Seating

$75 per person, 4 courses 


You can reserve your tables here. I would do it sooner than later because since the Chef is on the cover of Sac Mag, it will probably sell out completely. You heard it here first! Roses not included, but preferred. ;)

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!!