Great Grillin'

You know...handling a grill isn't really all that hard! I dunno why I didn't start doing this sooner - gives your food that great smoky flavor and can be a healthier option since you're not frying things up in a bunch of oil or butter...

I bought baby bok choy at the Davis Flea on Sunday and decided I wanted to grill it. I had some sweet potatoes that I needed to use up and stopped by the grocery store to grab some shrimp and I had me a little grillin' party:

The setup

Prep - I marinated the shrimp in lime juice, rice oil, and chili flakes before skewering them; I boiled the sweet potato circles in water (a trick I learned from my dad) first so they wouldn't take so long on the grill, then drizzled some honey over them; I mixed bean paste, rice vinegar, soy sauce, rice oil, fish sauce, and chili flakes and coated the bok choy. 

I then proceeded to grill everything (NOMS)

Doesn't that just look spectacular???

Finished product (and lunch for this week!)

Now...while I can be a grown up and handle a grill, my inner child still comes out. I couldn't resist picking up a box of one of my childhood favorites - chocolate graham crackers - and dunking them in cold milk :)

Any suggestions of other things I should try grilling? I'll definitely be using it more this summer!

Cheers,

-Em

em.in.europe.2013@gmail.com

Sunday Stroll, June 2nd

There's just something about Sunday mornings that I love - they're so refreshing! Like...the workweek is the workweek and Saturday mornings are for being lazy and sleeping in, but when a sunny Sunday morning hits, I feel energized and want to tackle the world and get my life in order!

I woke up at 8 am to sunlight streaming into my bedroom windows and decided that I'd throw on a sundress and head out to see what I could find...

Today marked the first Sunday of The Davis Flea

Vendors were all set up - lots of great furniture (I was reeeeeeeeally tempted by an easel and a table I saw), a few antiques, vintage clothes and jewelry, and some local produce and foodstuffs 

Tempting furniture

Had my eye on this shelving unit

I *wish* I had a space big enough for this handmade table - I can just picture it in my living room with a mint green couch and white accent pillows and yellow walls...

Dad - I thought of you! It's a Cobra record player - the little needle-thingy that plays the records looks like an actual snake head!

I then went on an excursion to 3 Little Figs, a cheerful coffee shop on Highland Ave.

NOMS - tasty-looking baked goodies

I loved the interior - bright pops of color, lots of white, and plenty of windows to let the sunshine in

I felt like I walked into an ad for Etsy

Gonna place my order...

I opted for the Egg Breakfast Sandwich (the only savory breakfast option) and the Apple Cider Donut Muffin along with an iced mocha

The sandwich was tasty, but I have to be honest - I was more in love with the colorful plate it was served on than the sandwich itself. Won't be ordering it again, but I'm glad I tried it...

Sugar to the max - I wasn't too impressed with the donut muffin either. It was really really dry and nothing to write home about. The one thing I *loved* was the iced mocha - not too sweet. I don't think it's worth going out of your way to try 3 Little Figs, but if you're in the area, you should definitely stop in for some great coffee (I'll be going back for more!).

Trying to get my tan on...I don't think it's working...

Successful Sunday - purchased some *freshly picked* (as in THAT MORNING) bok choy (no pesticides either!) from Dick's Market Garden at the flea market. I think I'll try grilling it! 

Soon I'll be writing up a Restaurant Rundown of Hana Sushi!

Cheers,

-Em

em.in.europe.2013@gmail.com