Sunday, July 31, 2011

Sunday loving...

Hello everyone!

I hosted my sister's b-day get-together last night with some yummy food (will post about it later) and I am enjoying my sunday fun at The Hard Rock Hotel's Intervention pool party with my girlfriends. There will be playing a bunch of local San Diego DJs, hope they are good ;)

Don't forget to show me some love by following me on Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin' or/and, like my Facebook Fan Page for updates, pics and links to interesting things/topics.


Find Google Friend Connect and Bloglovin' links on the right side -->





I hope you keep enjoying my blog, as I am doing so!
You truly make my day with your comments. Thank you.

-Cass

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Insalata Caprese...

Another super easy recipe, delicious and popular.

"Insalata Caprese"

You will need
cutting board
chef's knife
small cup or container

Ingredients
° fresh mozzarella
° ripe tomatoes
° avocados
° fresh basil
° olive oil
° balsamic vinegar
° capers

Method
  1. Cut the tomatoes, mozzarella and avocados in slices.
  2. Place them as layers as followed: Tomatoes, basil leaf, mozzarella and avocado. Repeat.
  3. In a small cup or container mix olive oil and a bit of balsamic vinegar. Pour on top of the Caprese tower.
  4. Garnish with capers.


Enjoy!

-Cass



Friday, July 29, 2011

Spaghetti with Creamy Pesto Sauce and Prosciutto...


I was looking to make an easy but tasteful pasta and I came up with this...

"Spaghetti with Creamy Pesto Sauce and Prosciutto"



You will need
large frying pan
large saucepan

Ingredients
° 1/2 lb cream cheese
° 6 prosciutto slices
° pesto sauce
° 9 ounces fresh or dried spaghetti
° salt

Method
  1. Cook the pasta following the instructions on the package, until al dente.
  2. Meanwhile heat the pesto sauce in a large frying pan.
  3. Add the cream cheese to the pesto sauce and stir until mixed.
  4. Then cut 4 slices of prosciutto in tiny bits and mix in the creamy pesto sauce. Add salt to taste.
  5. Drain the pasta thoroughly and toss it together with sauce. Serve garnished with the remaining prosciutto.
*Serves 4


Enjoy!

-Cass

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Comic-Con 2010...

Comic-Con just happened this past weekend here in San Diego as it traditionally does every year,  I couldn't go this year :( ... but I went last year for the 1st time and it was a lot of fun. 
So I leave you with some pics from Comic-Con 2010.
San Diego Convention Center


At the Showtime: Dexter after Comic-Con party at The Ivy.

-Cass

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Things my dad…

 …Sends. I received recently a chain letter from my dad with home tips. I summed it up with the ones I thought were most helpful. Haven’t tried them all, I hope they work for you.


In The Kitchen:
*Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.
If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.


*Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil.
It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!


*Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.
Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.


*Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef.
It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.


*To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoons full of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them  up.


*Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.
*Reheat Pizza. 
Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. 
This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. 
*Easy Deviled Eggs. 
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up.  
Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. 
Just throw bag away when done, easy clean up. 



*Expanding Frosting. 
When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. 
You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving. 

*Reheating refrigerated bread. 
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in 
A microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food 
Moist and help it reheat faster.
*Measuring Cups. 
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. 
Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such 
as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out. 
Around The House: 
*Goodbye Fruit Flies. 
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever! 



*Get Rid of Ants. 
Put a small pile of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
*No More Mosquitoes. 
Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away. 
  
*Squirrel Away! To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
*Broken Glass. 
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip t o pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily. 
*Flexible vacuum. 
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift-wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
*Reducing Static Cling. 
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. 






*Foggy Windshield? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car when the windows fog, rub with the eraser!
*Re opening envelopes.  
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily.  



*Conditioner. 
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.  



*Clothes Dryers. The lint filter is made of a mesh material, even if you clean it out after each load of clothes, if you run hot water it will just seat on top of the mesh! Dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh burning out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free ... this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. Take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush at least every six months.

-Cass

(Happy B-day to my sister today! ;))

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Wandering Crate & Barrel...

Currently Crushing:

I was wandering around Crate & Barrel, as I love to “window” (store) shop for home décor. I don’t have a house yet, still live with my parents, but I sometimes can’t help but buy some good deals and things I think that when I get my house in a few years, they will not be available anymore and I will miss out. So I have a small growing storage in the top of my closet.
Well, as I was saying… my wandering eye caught my attention of these totally cool candle holders.


These science lab looking ones I completely hearted! 
All different ones together, by themselves or sets of two. 
The mix and match goes perfect. Find here.

I Love these lanterns for the patio, porch or front entrance.
The one in the middle looks so modern with a twist of sophistication, 

in my opinion. Find lanterns here and here.
This modern wall candleholder looks amazing. 
I would place it outdoors as it would look lovely 
lit while hosting a small get-together with 
friends and wine. Find here.


Like them?

-Cass

Monday, July 25, 2011

Local Eats: Tre Porcellini...

Tre Porcellini it’s a modern Italian food restaurant. I recently tried it out because I had bought some time ago a Groupon. The place is cute, our waiter was a little moody, the food was ok. I guess its one of those places you have to know what to order. Overall 3 stars.


Tre Porcellini
1417 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 294-9201

Open Daily:
Mon-Thu, Sun ~ 4-10pm
Fri-Sat ~ 11:30am-11pm



You can find their menu here!



As soon as you seat they bring out bread and this olive oil/tomato spread. Delicious.




I ordered the Beef Carpaccio and it was good.


  
~I had the Penne Carbonara and the creamy sauce had 
an overpowering taste, couldn’t finish it.
~My sis had the Pappardelle alla vodka, although the 
sauce was really good, it came with smoked and 
fresh salmon. A little too fishy.
~My friend had the Vitello Saltimbocca and it was pretty good, and the roasted rosemary potatoes were delish.

 I am not a coffee lover, but this Tiramisu was a O.K.
Loved that they had a 5KG Nutella jar!

Like I mentioned before I used my Groupon, 
so here is the process to redeem it on you smartphone.

-Cass

Sunday, July 24, 2011

1 Month B-day! :)

My Sane.Safe.Spot turns 1 month!

Thanks to all of you, my dear loyal readers. I am truly enjoying writing and sharing each post with you. If you have any requests or suggestions, please feel free to contact me and let me know. I am always pleased to hear from you. You can always find past posts on your right under “archives”, but here is a recap of the first month.

-The Pilot. 

Food & Recipes

Local Eats (San Diego, CA)

Fashion
-Rachel Zoe 

Music

Words & Quotes
-Pablo Picasso

Tech & News
-Photography Apps

Places

Home Décor

Miscellaneous




◊ most viewed.


Hope you keep enjoying my blog and remember sharing is caring ;).

-Cass

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Mirror mirror on the wall…

Currently Crushing:

These mirrors from Pier 1 Imports.



Capiz Inlay Mirror




Octagon Mirror




 

Mirrors & Circles Wall Décor




Blooming Garden Mirror




Ocean Mosaic Mirror




Champagne Mirror




-Cass

Friday, July 22, 2011

Baked Panzanella Caprese...

Happy Friday everyone!

 Remember how I posted about Giada de Laurentiis and I shared one of her recipes a little more than a week ago? Well, I recently made it and it was delish! My mom said that next time I have to make way more, and my brother said that now he has been introduced to it I have to make it often (only cooked for those two this time). I promised as soon as everyone was home on the weekend, I would.


Click above to follow recipe.
(My twist* I added Prosciutto)
Enjoy the pics!







-Cass

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Feel the hotness - Jalapeño Poppers...



This recipe is for all those fried, cheesy and spice lovers. I tried this recipe I found online (allrecipes.com) earlier in the year and it was delicious. I somehow missed adding the bacon bits, but let me assure you next time I make these poppers I will not forget them. They take a little more time with the preparation, but it is definitely worth it.

Jalapeño Poppers

You will need
medium bowl
2 small bowls
medium skillet

Ingredients
·      12 ounces cream cheese, softened
·      1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
·      1 tablespoon bacon bits
·      12 ounces jalapeño peppers, seeded and halved
·      1 cup milk
·      1 cup all-purpose flour
·      1 cup dry bread crumbs
·      2 quarts oil for frying

Directions
1.      In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, Cheddar cheese and bacon bits. Spoon this mixture into the jalapeño pepper halves.
2.      Put the milk and flour into two separate small bowls. Dip the stuffed jalapeños first into the milk then into the flour, making sure they are well coated with each. Allow the coated jalapeños to dry for about 10 minutes.
3.      Dip the jalapeños in milk again and roll them through the breadcrumbs. Allow them to dry, then repeat to ensure the entire surface of the jalapeño is coated.
4.      In a medium skillet, heat the oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C). Deep fry the coated jalapeños 2 to 3 minutes each, until golden brown. Remove and let drain on a paper towel.

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Find the same recipe here!



Enjoy!

-Cass

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