Baked French Toast

Hello Fall even though it feels like Summer in Asia. Seriously... Los Angeles needs to get it together! I can't stand it. I need to get toasty, and snuggly, and watch the rain pour from my window, while cooking something with cinnamon with the coffee brewing all day, with the coffee beans left out all night to perfume the living space.

That is what I call comfort living.

But no. We are heading into October with 90 something degree days, and rain in the forecast next Sunday? Oh joy! but what? It's still going to be in the 80s? What the hell am I supposed to do with that information? I went shopping recently ok? and bought a lot of cute snuggly coffee drinking looking clothes. So LA, I don't know what's up but you need to stop.

I'm in withdrawal from the cold. So this morning, I was up around 6AM (yes on a Sunday Funday), contemplating in bed about how I'm going to make my French Toast. I have a whole loaf of Brioche Bread that I bought from Fresh and Easy the other day (around $5), and a new Le Creuset casserole dish that I still need to break in. After much thought, I've decided to make baked french toast to kill all the birds you can think of with one slug.

Recipe:

1.  8 Eggs - I use "Happy Eggs"
2. 1 and a 1/4 cup of whole milk - I used Lactaid Milk.
3. 3 tablespoons of sugar - granulated
4. A pinch of salt
5. 1/4 Teaspoon of nutmeg - I used pre-ground from Trader Joe's (I believe it was $1.99-$2.99)
6. 1/4 Teaspoon of Cinnamon - also from Trader Joe's
7. A teaspoon SPLASH of Vanilla Extract
8. 1 Loaf of Brioche Bread

The loaf of bread I got was already pre-sliced. I had 3 layers of 4 making a total of 12 slices used. With everything else, I mixed in a large bowl before pouring in on top of the bread. It soaked up pretty quick and easy.

The oven was preheated at 325 with my Breville convectional oven (Click HERE the best thing you can buy). The french toast was baked for 40-45 minutes. The top may get a little dark due to the sugar, but once you top it with your syrup it will be ALL GOOD.

All Good in the Hood syrup.

Recipe:

1. 1/2 a stick of butter
2. 1/4 cup of light brown sugar
3. 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
4. 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
5. pinch of salt
6. 1/2 a cup of toasted pecans

Everything you see above minus the pecans, heat in the microwave until the butter has melted and your sugar is syrupy. Mix the sauce until everything has combined, then add the pecans and fold.

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Baked French Toast with butter brown sugar pecan sauce

After drizzling the Pecan sauce, I drizzled a little of maple syrup (Aunt Jemima, Duh) to balance the dish (it helps).

Lastly, don't forget the BACON.

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Bacon, you're a star!

This will definitely be a crowd pleaser. For a second, everything felt okay. I forgot about the weather, and all the errands that I needed to make (and it was a lot). The bacon, the sweet sauce with the nutmeg and cinnamon singing the holidays to me 'Tis the Season'. Enjoy this recipe with hot black coffee. You'll need something to wake you up right after.

As always, happy eating.

Daiisies

Fogata Mexicana

I've drove by this place a few times within a week. And every time I would check the reviews, it would remind me that they have a $1 fish taco deal every Wednesday. I was feeling a bit under last week and decided to stay home to rest (conveniently on a Wednesday). Being pretty hungry and wanted to stay local, I remembered this place, finally.

2123 San Gabriel Blvd
Rosemead, CA 91770

Pulling in, I had high hopes that this was going to be one of those "hole in the wall" gems that people rave about. Honestly, I am sick of people raving about how great a joint is because it's small, cheap, family owned, friendly service, in a ghetto neighborhood where you shouldn't be bringing your Chanel, the best secret find. Yeah, I'm sure you can tell where I'm going with this place.

When pulling into the small cramped parking lot shared with the donut shop, you kind of think to yourself "Ooo, donuts sound amazing right now" but then you remembered, "Oh that's right! $1 fish tacos!", and you think you are winning because this was going to be a gem in the neighborhood where nobody knows about.

Once we stepped in, all you can smell was oil and bad insulation. You know, when you are frying up some chicken or potatoes at home and you realize the oil is too hot creating a whole mushroom cloud of smoke that you are fighting to open all the windows and doors to air out your house? That's what we walked into. And there was definitely no chance of escaping from it. It made me skeptical. Doubt my judgements. Maybe the donut route was the better choice. But I am a sucker. Just give me that smile and you can just take my money.

Just take my money.

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Fish Tacos

The batter for the fish tasted like it was soaked in oil for a long time. Oh, by the way, it took a while for these tacos to come out. Yes, it looks beautiful and delicious, which it kind of is if you like the flavor of burnt oil, but the flavors could've elevated if the oil that was used didn't taste old, cooked at the right temp (one of my fishes were burnt on the bottom), and added some more flavors and seasoning to the fish and salsa.

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Eggs and Chorizo

Was overcooked and the chorizo had no flavor. This was a safe dish to order, but I've had dirt cheap chorizo eggs that tasted a lot better (even the samples they make at Costco are tasty!).

Maybe it's just a bad day? There was only one chef and one guy running the whole place. He was very kind and hard working. I would come back just to show support for their dedication to serve the community.

Next time I go back, I'll try their meat tacos, their fish tacos again, and this giant taco called Old California. Just imagine a giant taco that's deep fried.

There are also a lot of other joints in Montebello/Whittier/East LA has a TON of $1 fish taco Wednesdays that are AMAZING. I'll venture off on that soon, just for you.

Daiisies

Hashbrown Breakfast

Here I go again. OK, so watching Homeland till like 2-3 in the morning has not been the best thing for me. I am groggy during the day and my blood pressure has possibly gone up from all the stress that has been going on from seasons 1-3. Now that I've completed season 3, I can relax for a bit, because there wasn't really a cliffhanger that begs me to start season 4.

Don't tell me I don't have a life. I have a life, and that involves watching whatever I want, eating whatever I want, and basically doing whatever I want. Don't you want this life too?

Breakfast was simple this morning. It consisted of Eggs, Bacon, and homemade Hash browns.

The video was shot on my iPhone 5S so please forgive the quality.

Everything is pretty much self explanatory. Eggs and bacon.  For the Hash Browns, I got one large russet potato which feeds 2 people and sometimes even 3 depending on how large it actually is. I scrubbed the potato under some running water making sure that it is clean. I didn't peel my potato, but you can always do so.

I grated the potato on the coarse side with a standard box grater (I used OXO < click for reference). A quick rinse will help relieve the starchiness of the potato. Make sure the potatoes are dried with a towel to relieve the moisture. On medium high heat with your choice of oil, layer on your hashes. I let it go for about 3 minutes before deciding to flip. You will know it's read to flip when the hash browns become a sheet from crisping on the bottom.

One important rule! Don't forget to salt your hash browns! I'd rather have NO hash browns than to have bland ones. AND! A nonstick pan was also used.

I sliced up a Spanish (Yellow) onion and sauteed it to pour over the hash browns. The dish is served with ketchup and hot sauce.

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Daiisies breakfast plate

This face was inspired by all of you. Because this is how you make me feel. I don't even know how to explain the way it looks. Kind of like the cookie monster right? Gosh I feel so freaking creative right now. Give me a moment....

I am forever turned to home making hash browns. If you are going to make a big batch, use a food processor. I decided to use a hand grater instead since I didn't feel like washing an appliance for one potato.

Good Morning ;P

Daiisies

Pop's Cafe - Hangover post #1

It was one of those mornings. One of those 'I know my body is not going to cooperate with me' type of days. It was a hot humid Sunday, and I felt like I was crawling in my own guilt. Dehydration.  My Jameson rendezvous from the night before. Those 2 thoughts just circled my head all day and I would think about how I am just going to stop, and never drink again. And then, I started thinking 'wow, I'm really hungry'. Like, really hungry. So hungry I drank some soup my dad made me that has been sitting in my fridge for a whole week.

After a short glimpse of what's in the hood, we ended up somewhere a little stretched away from the hood. Because the food looked like it was going to be bad for me. And my body needs more bad, to counter out the other bad that is making me upset. Yes that makes a lot of sense to me.

Pop's Cafe is in Downey going South of the 5 freeway. 12 miles away from my nest.

 7840 Florence Ave Downey, CA 90240

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Pop's Country Breakfast: Sausage Biscuit and Sausage Gravy. Served with Irish potatoes and egg.

This was what brought me here. This is the ultimate hang over cure. A heart stopper that will put you out of your misery. A day like this, coffee is not your friend (even though I did have coffee). I've been to a few diners, and for some reason, they don't serve gravy with sausage in it. Why? WHY?

“Tell me why, Ain’t nothin’ but a heartache
Tell me why, Ain’t nothin’ but a mistake
Tell me why, I never wanna hear you say
I want it that way”

— BackStreet Boys

Sorry, when I happen to say a phrase that's in lyrics I know, I submerge myself in the moment.

Pop's do carry their biscuits and gravy in real sausage gravy. The consistency of the gravy was a little thick, but it was the perfect choice for my current state. John as you can see there, ordered the 2 stack with hashbrowns and 4 slices of bacon. No, he was not hungover.

Irish potatoes here, are hashbrowns with sauteed onions and green peppers on top. I chose a sunny side up egg because I want the rich yolk with the rich gravy. I'm telling you, I am going all in. But that's not the reason why I chose this dish.

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sausage

A sausage patty between the biscuit. That's it. That's why I chose it. I wanted the sausage patty and thought it sounded ridiculously satisfying for my painfully twisted body with a throbbing head. I ate as much as I could before feeling a dark cloud closing in. Like my body was ready to go into a deep sleep.

That is when you know what the term Hangover Cure means. You need something that will take you down. Because trust me when I say sleep is what you need. I went home after this, and knocked out. Woke up in sweat thinking my hair was still wet from the shower this morning. I felt so freaking amazing! Well not 100%, but at least I'm not feeling like I'm rocking in a boat anymore.

The rest of the day consisted of watching more Homeland with John and doing laundry. There were a few intermissions where I would contemplate about how I survived. And how much I appreciated life. And how I love everyone and everything. The couch, my water, being able to watch Homeland, awaiting dinner, going to work the next day. My hangovers are pretty serious.

So to recap. Hydrate with water. Eat crappy, comforting food that puts you in a coma. Drink more water. Pee a lot. Take a nap. And be a couch potato.

What's your hangover cure? If it's drinking more, we definitely cannot be friends.

daiisies

Antojitos Guerrero - Highland Park

Address: 5623 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042, United States

Celebrating the last of the 3 day Hoorah, we've decided to go to one of our favorite places in Highland Park. Nothing fancy, nothing stressful, and definitely nothing that will break your wallet. But, it's definitely something that is delicious.

Antojitos Guerrero is a small hole in the wall that you will probably miss driving down York blvd. My heart is set on a few of their dishes, but their tostadas is definitely on top of my list.

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chips and salsa

It was hot in Los Angeles today. Really hot. So sitting outdoors, closing my eyes pretending like I'm in Mexico wasn't so luxurious anymore after over 30 minutes of waiting for our food. There was a huge part of me that said I would never come back, NEVER! Especially because the table behind us got their food first even though we ordered before they even got there (don't you HATE that?). I didn't feel hungry, but my temper sure made me feel like I was. I was giving them the benefit of the doubt, that maybe they have to marinade the seafood. Over 30 minutes later, with sweat dripping down my back, shoving chips and spicy salsa down my throat, this baby and the others started flying out.

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Tostada Mixta -  $7.99

This is their tostada mixta. Their fish ceviche is one of my favorites and it's definitely something we order every time with extra avocados. But today, I wanted something with shrimp. Noticing their Mixta consisted of Shrimp, octopus and imitation crab meat, we've decided to go for it with their success of making a legit fish ceviche. What a treat this was to see fish mixed in. I am assuming they didn't have any imitation crab meat today. EVERY SINGLE seafood you see here, is executed to perfection. The octopus was tender, the shrimp had a snap, and the fish was plump and slightly tart from the lime. The cucumber and the avocado helps balance the citrus. From this day forward, I will always order this. And, this saved them because now I must return in the near future to devour. By the way, the best part of this tostada is how every ingredient is kept to it's integrity. A lot of tostadas I've had, is extremely finely minced where you can't appreciate texture and the full flavors of the seafood. You definitely know what's in your mouth with Antojitos tostadas.

Their handmade tortillas are to die for. Go ahead and get ready to die. I love the thickness, the chewiness, and how it soaks up all the juices and salsa that you load in. (If you want to find a similar tortilla, go to Trader Joes. They have a corn tortilla that is similar to this). My favorites from this place is their lengua and their adobada. The first time I had adobada was from Antojitos. Not knowing what it was of course. Adobada, here, is pork marinaded and cooked in a red chile (not spicy). The other you see is lengua (Beef tongue) which is also one of my favorite cuts stewed to perfection. Their handmade tortillas run for $1.99 each, and they are worth it. Like why wouldn't you go for handmade tortillas?

If you decide to come, be ready to wait for your food and don't blame me for it either. Not sure what magic happens in the kitchen, but I highly recommend their ceviche/tostadas which seems to be made to order. They have other items, but it's a hit or miss. I'm definitely going back again to try their Molcajete.

Eat well!

#Foodwithinreach

Daiisies