Fancy Deli Style Egg Salad

an egg is just an egg 

and egg salad can be pretty ho hum

this is an adaptation of egg salad that is velvety and rich 

It can be served for brunch or packed for a picnic when you want to splurge 

....wonderful with an ice cold beer too

Hard-boil 6 eggs and cook 4 (actually 5 because I always eat a slice:) 

slices 

of good quality thick bacon

 finely mince a nice shallot, about 2 tablespoons

 combine 1/4 cup mayonnaise 

1 Tbl dijon mustard

1 Tsp dried tarragon

1 Tsp vinegar

pepper to taste...salt is optional because the bacon is salty

 dice up 6 lovely hard cooked eggs and add to your mayonnaise mixture 

along with the diced bacon bits

  add a few shots of tabasco if that sounds good

 your salad should be chunky and not overly dressed 

 this is great in a wrap

 but use what you have

 finely slice some crisp iceberg lettuce and top with about 1/2 cup of egg salad

 I topped the salad with fresh pea shoots too

 roll up and enjoy!!!!

iced coffee for me please

(I drink waaaayyyy to much caffeine)

xo 

Lemon Herb Gremolata

Well all-righty then....it's time to get the grill out!  

Here is a great little condiment for roast chicken, fish or grilled veggies 

The ingredients could not be simpler and the prep time is about 10 minutes

here's what you need:

2 lemons

a small bunch of fresh parsley (about 1 cup)

a small handful of fresh basil (about 1/4 cup)

your favorite olive oil

5 cloves of garlic

kosher salt

 a quick note on olive oil:

I have tested and tasted many 

and have finally found a grocery store product I love

California Olive Ranch

The regular Olive Oil is really great and I use regularly for cooking

but for a slightly more peppery rich flavor  or for dipping 

try the 

Millers blend

(first cold press, extra virgin)

Nice price and even nicer taste!

I use the small baby leaves of my basil plants for this...I top the plants when they start to bud and cut off just enough to use in salad or for a condiment like this

 for the parsley...I pull off the nice smaller leaves and discard anything that feels hard or stem like

 you will need a couple of nice big lemons.... a quick note on lemons:

I wash mine in really hot water

The hot water gets them super clean but also opens up the cells of the rind and 

then releases the oils in the lemon skin

 here is my herb pile

(pile:  a unique culinary term known only to me)

finely chop with a sharp knife and add to a small mixing bowl

 use a small grater and zest 

or finely grate the lemons over top

 squeeze in the juice of one lemon

 lightly blend...now on to the garlic

 the garlic needs to be smooshed 

(another gem in my kitchen vocabulary) 

in a mortar 

or really finely minced with a knife

 if you're using a mortar and pestle you will get a much smoother (smooshed) garlic paste...

I add a pinch of salt to help with the blending 

 work the garlic into a smooth paste...you will have about 1 tbl 

 add the garlic to your herbs

 this recipe makes about 1/2 cup of gremolata...

but a little goes a really long way

cover and refrigerate for about 4 hours 

this is a knock off of a really great Italian version and 

this is wonderful with grilled shrimp or even bruschetta and some goat cheese

have a lovely weekend!

xo

kelley

Kelley's Klassic Summertime Lemonade

 Start with about a dozen lemons...I have Meyer lemons and Eureka lemons in my orchard

 The Meyer's are so delicious and can be found in most supermarkets...I've seen bags at my local Trader Joe's too!  The difference in the size and color of the lemons is really funny!  Meyers tend to have lots of seeds but yield a lot of juice

 Get out you juicer and juice away....

 You will need about 2 cups of juice 

for a nice large quart pitcher

 Add 2 cups of cold water to your lemon juice

 make a simple syrup by adding 1/2 to 3/4 cup of superfine sugar 

to 

 1 cup of water

regular granulated sugar is fine too

 I usually heat up the sugar water in the microwave

 to get the sugar to dissolve faster

 Add the syrup water to your lemonade mixture and test for sweetness...we like it pretty tart and the Meyer lemons are incredibly sweet as it is

 Add some lemon slices to your pitcher 

and garnish your glasses with lemon slices

Fill glasses with lots of ice 

And last but not least...have a seat in your favorite chair and sip away!

A summertime Classic

Cheers!

Kelley

Summertime food: The Balboa Bar

This is a what came first...

the chicken or the egg 

or

the banana or the bar 

 Almost everybody who comes to Southern California for a visit 

usually ends up spending an afternoon strolling down the sunny streets 

of Balboa Island

Well it should be sunny but it's June, 

so we typically never see the sun during "June Gloom"

Ahh who cares about sun...lets eat!

  No visit would be complete without a treat like an ice cream....

 or maybe a frozen banana

 first stop

"Dads" 

 "Dads" has been around since the 60s and claims 

that they were the first to sell the frozen banana

 "Dads" is really cute and kitschy and sells donuts and cookies 

and bread sandwiches....?

They sure seem to know their bananas though

 They also sell the  Balboa bar which locals say 

was invented here in the early 50s

 A balboa bar is a square vanilla ice cream bar 

dipped in chocolate 

and then rolled into your favorite topping,

 like nuts or sprinkles

 But right down the street from "Dads"

 is "Sugar and Spice"

 "Sugar and Spice" claims to have invented 

both the Balboa Bar and the frozen banana too

 Well that's some serious bragging rights...

Two wonderful treats invented right here on little old Balboa?

Who would think this up...putting a banana in the freezer 

and then dipping it in chocolate?

 Sugar and Spice is really cute too 

 Sugar and spice has a few more toppings than dads

Hmmm....which one  

 I love happy dancing desserts...don't you?

 I think I'm heading back to "Dads"

and I know I'm not in the mood for a banana

 I want a big giant Balboa Bar please...

 And could you please roll that around in the butter brickle 

then put it back in the chocolate for an extra swim?

 I haven't had one of these for years...

but yummy good stuff like this never goes out of style

Hopefully this post didn't make you too hungry....

Stop by soon and enjoy a summertime treat!

I'll be sitting here in front of "Dads"

enjoying a little piece of history

~kelley~