Happy Oscars and Fancy Grilled Cheese.

I was excited to watch the Oscars this year due to the return of Billy Crystal. The first thing to do when planning for the big night is… What are you going to eat? Very important. Earlier in the day, I had been watching the Food Network. The show was about my favorite thing I have ever eaten. One of the segments was about the most Awesomeness Sandwiches ever. There was a Croque Monsieur that was jumping off the screen calling my name. So my options were 1.  buy a ticket to NY or 2. make my own spectacular version and share with you. I am going with option 2 and you!

I have never made a CM, but knew the ingredients….. Cheese, ham, bread, spread of some sort and of course my addition of Happy Hemp. In my opinion the cheese is the most important element in the dish. I realized that once I arrived to select the cheese, I had forgot to look up what was the best option. As it was Sunday, I have a new no cell phone rule and did not have my handy looker upper device at my finger tips. This posed a real problem due to the cheese selection at Central Market is a small grocery store within itself. The dazed look of being completely overwhelmed by all the choices must have been completely obvious. A cheese 911 staffer quickly saw the fear on my face and rushed to aid me in my selection. Whew…Disaster avoided!! He suggested a Comte which is the french version of Gruyere, the croque cheese of choice.

Warning: The following recipe is not the real deal French version. I do not claim it is in anyway shape or form. Nor am I French in anyway shape or form. This is simply a lazy Austin Sunday fancy grilled cheese recipe inspired by (insert French accent) Monsieur Croque.

My last big decision was finishing the night with popcorn or ice cream. I went with both clearly!

Shopping complete T minus 45 min to show time.

Ingredients:

• Wheat Bread
• Comte cut
• Sliced ham
• Mayo
• Happy Hemp

Directions:

1. Turn on the broiler.
2. Toast 2 slices of bread.
3. Spread mayo on both slices.
4. Layer on top ham, a pinch of Happy Hemp and cheese.
5. Place in oven until cheese on top is bubbly and lightly browned.
6. Server with a side salad or bowl of your favorite soup.
7. Enjoy!

Overall the food was yummy! The ice cream and popcorn were slightly over the top, but worth it!!

The Oscars on the other hand were less than thrilling and I found myself asleep on the couch half way through.

Happy Cooking Shows

Well y’all this has been a long time coming. I have been planning and plotting for months to start adding Happy Hemp video vignettes. Whew it is a million times harder than what I thought. There is really something to be said about TV magic. Hours and Hours of taping… to be edited down to only 2-ish wee little minutes.

My journey started with homework. Watching cooking shows and taking notes. How do they start the show? How do they end the show? How do they tell the story? Well watching someone else is far different than actually doing it yourself.

Preparing to start the bruschetta episode.

First thing to figure out is my intro and my closing. After watching several shows, I see how each show starts with same 3 things.

1. Introduce myself.

2. Explain the overall theme of the show. For example Rachel Ray cooks 30 min meals.

3. What you are making. I am going to make x dish in 30 minutes.

Ok I can do that. Wrong! I would expect having trouble in the beginning explaining my cooking objective until I got comfortable, but my name!?! When the camera is on and the lights are on you like you are being questioned by the police, even my name seemed to escape me. Good thing for TV magic… Cut! Bruschetta take 3.

Next problem…. I was beyond nervous and had about a pot of coffee that moring trying to get ready, with no food before they arrived.

Definition Nervous:

1. Highly excitable; unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive: to become nervous under stress. 

2. Of or pertaining to the nerves: nervous tension.

3. Affecting the nerves: nervous diseases.

4. Suffering from, characterized by, or originating in disordered nerves.

5. Characterized by or attended with acute uneasiness or apprehension: a nervous moment for us all.

I was experiencing #1 and #5 for sure. On scale of 1 to 10, I was about a 12 in the butterfly nerve department. Luckily I was working with professionals and they knew exactly what to do.

1. Eat something. I quickly woofed down a muffin and 2 TBSP of Happy Hemp right out of the bag.

2. Take a shot of Tequila. They did not recommend this, but I thought it was  good idea. Down the hatch!

After the second taping, I seemed to be getting into a groove or the tequila was working? Regardless my personality started to come out. Words were exiting my mouth in complete sentences. I did not cut or hurt myself during the filming. I started picturing the film crew in their underwear and thank goodness I was able to remember my name again.

So in just a couple of weeks, the next stage of Happy Hemp will begin. I am excited and hope you will love it! If not… I have a wonderful 4 part mini series documenting me making a baboon’s ass of myself for my friends and family to enjoy for years to come!!

Happy Butterflies. Happy Cooking. Happy Hemp.

Happy Cauliflower Mash

Could this truly be a healthy option for mashed potatoes? I am hopeful, but doubtful!!

I have known for years this secret magical alternative existed, but I refused to give up my mashed love!!

With the new me striving for healthy balance in life… I now am open to healthy balance of plate.

This is a great low carb option.

Here goes…

Ingredients:

• 1 Head of cauliflower cut up into bite size florets.
• 2 Whole cloves of garlic
• Olive oil
• 1/4 Cup of Happy Hemp
• Salt and Pepper

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
2. Add in florets and garlic cloves until tender about 10 min.
3. Drain water reserving 1/4 of the water.
4. place all ingredients into a food processor and blend or use a masher.
5. Lightly drizzle in 1 to 2 TBSP of olive oil.
6. Salt and Pepper and plate.
7. Enjoy!!!

Happy Kale and Pourchini Mushrooms

Simply perfect.

Kale cut. Pourchini mushrooms chopped.

Skillet heat medium with olive oil.

Add kale and mushrooms.

Plate sprinkle Happy Hemp on top and S&P.

Simply delicious. Simply made.

Enjoy!!

Happy Apple, Kale and Carrots for Me and Paw

Oliver my darling golden is pushing 11 years young.

This gentle giant is slowing down and his health is top concern.

When he started to have thyroid problems and IBS, I decided to take a real look at what he was eating.

Could a raw food diet be as good for mom as pup?

After some investigation, reading and chatting with my vet, it seemed so!!

I armed myself with a juicer and oliver and I embarked on the raw unknown together.

I feed him as if he is in the wild.

I start the morning giving him a raw meat of sorts.

Raw Chicken Wing: yes that is right. Cooked bone is bad. That is when the bone is dried out, thus splinters.

Raw Beef Ribs: Again the raw bone is excellent for cleaning their teeth and keeping the gums healthy.

All the stuff you would pass up is great for them and inexpensive… chicken feet, turkey neck, beef liver.

Next I prepare the veggies.

Today I am using red carrots, yellow golden apples and green kale to make the mixture and my juice.

All veggies are cleaned and chopped up ready for the Breville.

After juicing all the ingredients, I put the pulp in his bowl.

Next I mix into the veggie pulp a scoop of plain yogurt (great of digestion) and 2 TBSP of Happy Hemp.

Happy Hemp is great for his digestion, coat and overall well being.

I love not throwing away the pulp and making his meal.

For me I add in a nice chunk of ginger and my juice is complete. Yum!!

Keeping his health needs on track have helped me keep mine on track as well.

After 6 months of him on his new diet, I am happy to report…

He has lost 15lbs. No more thyroid issues and IBS is under control!

Bonus his blond locks are looking better than ever!!

Mom and pup living and loving life.

Happy Burger and Fries

Many of us grew up with the ole’ school food pyramid in school.

We also grew up in a time that your teachers could spank you (Mrs. Henderson 1st grade).

More and more thanks to our fast food nation epidemic the food chart is a little more like this…

Bottom of the chart cereal and breads: I totally ate 3 pcs of bread on my Big Mac.

Veggies 3 to 5 servings: Taco bell tostada has lettuce and tomatoes. Score!

Fruits: A juice box!! I get my fruit and pretty pictures

Dairy and cheese: Let’s just pay .10 cents extra on the Big Mac meal and get the milkshake and the dump truck of fries. Genius!

Meat, Poultry and Fish: Long John Silvers. Can’t get fresher than this!! It has a pirate seal of approval and they never lie.

Sweets: I am trying to lose weight… going to pass. I’ll just have a diet coke instead!

I am not saying you can’t have a burger and fries every once in a while… you can let’s just use fresh ingredients!!

1 lb Organic hamburger meat

1 Fresh Tomato, sliced

1 Crisp head of butter lettuce

6 Sprigs fresh Rosemary

2 Baking potatoes

1/4 cup of Happy Hemp

Olive Oil

Optional: Cheddar cheese

Preheat over to 425.

Chop the potatoes into wedges. Spread on a cookie sheet.

Drizzle olive oil over the top and the chopped fresh rosemary.

Every 15 min flip the wedges. Total cook time about 45 min or until crispy on the edges.

Place the meat in a large bowl. Mix in Happy Hemp and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Pat out into patties. Place in a skillet over medium heat.

Cook until desired doneness. I prefer medium about 3 min each side.

Place burger on the lettuce bun and add tomato slice on top.

Side of baked rosemary fries.

Enjoy!

Happy Romanesco Cauliflower Pasta

Romanesco cauliflower look like a flower bouquet a martian boyfriend might gift. You can’t help to stop and ask… What is that? The vibrant neon yellow green floret spirals twist and turn into wild inviting designs. When I bought my little prize at the Johnson’s Backyard Garden stand at the Farmers Market, I left puzzled. I had no idea what to do with my purchase let alone, what exactly is it?

Task 1 Identify the creature: Take snapshots on my Iphone and send out to my foodie friends. Identified: Romanesco Cauliflower.

Task 2 Research the origin: First originating historically in Italy, this veggie is prepared in most of the world like broccoli.

Task 3 Learn random detail: The number of spirals on the head is a fabonacci number sequence. Love Mother Nature!

Task 4 How to prepare: Seems like it is the perfect addition to a light veggie pasta. Thanks to a Happy Hemper suggestion.

I decide to go with a green theme in my pasta.

Place a pot of water on the stove to boil.

Cut the romanesco head into bite size pieces.

Cut the bunch of asparagus into 1 inch pieces.

Blanch together until brilliant green.

Place veggies in an ice bath.

Place a skillet on medium low heat with 2 TBSP of olive oil.

Add in a clove of chopped garlic and dried veggies.

Add to mix 2 TBSP of fresh lemon zest and for some heat red pepper flakes.

Cook your wheat pasta and drain.

Toss all together.

Serve in a bowl sprinkle with parmesan cheese and Happy Hemp.

Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top.

Enjoy!

Happy Apple Walnut Cake

My grandma (Obachan) came to the US in 1954. My grandmother was a war bride of a small town boy from Springfield, Missouri. She was the first Japanese woman to live in the community…. not exactly a good time to be of Asian decent. My grandmother adapted her graceful Japanese style with her new small town American life. When she arrived she could barely speak or write english, but that was not going to stop her.  I think I get my perseverance from her!

One of many things she was left to figure out was how to cook for her new meat and potato husband. There are few things she does not do without utter perfection, but cooking American cuisine is not her strong point. Tomato sauce is pretty much a ketchup base mess and she puts hot dogs in everything! Luckily my grandfather thinks Golden Coral is 5 star restaurant and peanuts are caviar. There is one dish she has mastered… that is beyond amazing!!  This Apple Walnut cake must have been the glue to keep them together for so long. This month they celebrate 58 years of marriage.

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine in a bowl with love:

1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1 1/2 cup sugar, 3 eggs,

2 tsp vanilla, 1 1/2 cup chop walnut,

3 cups apples cubed, 3 cup flour,

2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt and mix.

Next fold lovingly in apples and walnuts into batter.

Lightly coat the inside of the bunt cake pan with oil.

Add mixture and spread out evenly.

Place oven for 1 hour.

While the cake is cooking call a loved one.

Flip over the pan and remove your cake carefully.

Place on serving platter.

Take a toothpick and poke holes in the top of the cake.

Now for the love sauce….

In a saucepan over medium heat add together 1/4 cup butter,

1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup of cream.

Heat until the ingredients are combined into a creamy glaze.

Pour the gooey yum over the top of cake.

Sprinkle 1/4 cup of Happy Hemp over the top.

Let set for 15 minutes.

Enjoy a warm slice of cake with the one you love.