Posts in quick and easy
lemon caesar salad

as a kid, i was not an adventurous eater. i had a very standard order at every restaurant we ever went to. caesar salad, a diet coke and cheesecake for dessert. everywhere i went. it wasn't that i didn't want to try new things, it was that i never wanted to be disappointed. and even though i can't remember the last time i ordered a diet coke or a caesar salad at a restaurant, homemade caesar salad was the first thing i ever learned to make. it was the only thing i wanted to learn to make because then i could snack on it while i was preparing it. 

this recipe is the salad i grew up eating for most special occasions and family dinners at our house. my absolute favorite. the cheese and croutons have gotten a bit fancier but it is still the same old salad. a salad so good that my former roommate lish often serves it at her holiday table. it's a winner.

lemon caesar salad serves: 2 prep time: 5 minutes active time: 5 minutes total time: 10 minutes ingredients: 4 cups mixed greens or romaine lettuce (you want a lettuce mix that has some good crunch to it). .25 cup fresh grated parmesan. 2 garlic cloves, minced. 1 egg. 1 tbs worcestershire sauce. 2 tbs lemon juice. .25 cup olive oil. 1 cup seasoned croutons. pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. 

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start by getting your garlic and oil soaking together for the dressing. 

in a bowl or jar, combine the minced garlic and olive oil. set it aside until right before it's time to dress the salad. you can do this step up to a day in advance. i often keep garlic olive oil on hand in the kitchen to use for all kinds of dishes. 

when you are ready to eat, toss your lettuce with a pinch of salt in a large bowl. 

top the lettuce with the parmesan and croutons. 

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to finish the dressing, combine the egg with the olive oil garlic mixture, the worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. 

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whisk or shake until completely combined. 

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lightly dress your salad to your taste. toss, season with fresh pepper and serve. 

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xo, a

lemon caesar salad
serves: 2
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 5 minutes
total time: 10 minutes
ingredients: 4 cups mixed greens or romaine lettuce (you want a lettuce mix that has some good crunch to it). .25 cup fresh grated parmesan. 2 garlic cloves, minced. 1 egg. 1 tbs worcestershire sauce. 2 tbs lemon juice. .25 cup olive oil. 1 cup seasoned croutons. pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
start by getting your garlic and oil soaking together for the dressing. in a bowl or jar, combine the minced garlic and olive oil. set it aside until right before it's time to dress the salad. you can do this step up to a day in advance. i often keep garlic olive oil on hand in the kitchen to use for all kinds of dishes. when you are ready to eat, toss your lettuce with a pinch of salt in a large bowl. top the lettuce with the parmesan and croutons. to finish the dressing, combine the egg with the olive oil garlic mixture, the worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice. whisk or shake until completely combined. lightly dress your salad to your taste. toss, season with fresh pepper and serve. 

friyay happy hour: rosemary westini

it is feeling pretty springing over here at la casita costa mesa (yes we named our home, don't you?). it's currently seventy-five and sunny in orange county and change is in the air. wes and i have spent the week digging deep into some spring cleaning. hunkering down and getting prepared for...

wesley's new job!!! that's right. my mr. is under new employment. for the last few years, he has been managing a popular lunch spot at a very busy outdoor shopping center. but now that our own business calendar is filling up, he needs something with more flexibility and more importantly, more moola. and he found the perfect place. not only is it a high end, global restaurant chain, his new employer is opening a brand new restaurant about a mile from our house. he will be a part of the opening team at the new nobu newport beach.

to say we are excited for the amazing learning opportunity would be an understatement. and i have to say, i couldn't be prouder of my man. to celebrate him, i'm whipping up one of his favorite cocktails that now bares his name. 

rosemary westini
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 1 minute
active time: 1 minute
total time: 2 minutes.
ingredients: 2.5 oz your favorite vodka. .5 oz club soda. 1 splash - .5 oz olive juice (depending on how dirty you like it). 1 rosemary sprig & 1 olive for garnish. a few ice cubes. martini glass for serving. start by tearing away most of the rosemary leaves from your sprig so that there is just a bit left at the tip and it is basically a long twig. use the rosemary to skewer your olive and set it aside. 

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fill your martini glass with your ice. pour in the vodka. 

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then the olive juice. 

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finally, pour in the club soda.

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use your rosemary olive skewer to stir your martini gently. garnish with the olive rosemary skewer and serve. 

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xo, a

rosemary westini
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 1 minute
active time: 1 minute
total time: 2 minutes.
ingredients: 2.5 oz your favorite vodka. .5 oz club soda. 1 splash - .5 oz olive juice (depending on how dirty you like it). 1 rosemary sprig & 1 olive for garnish. a few ice cubes. martini glass for serving.
start by tearing away most of the rosemary leaves from your sprig so that there is just a bit left at the tip and it is basically a long twig. use the rosemary to skewer your olive and set it aside. fill your martini glass with your ice. pour in the vodka. then the olive juice. finally top it off with the club soda. use your rosemary olive skewer to stir your martini gently. garnish with the olive rosemary skewer and serve.