Puppy Chow Treats

chocolate chips, nutella, and
peanut butter = the trifecta of decadence 

shake, shake, shake!

Don't let the name of this tasty treat deceive you! Puppy chow is a mixture of chocolate and peanut butter drenched pieces of Chex cereal, coated with powdered sugar. If that doesn't make your mouth water, then I don't know what will. It's a crowd pleaser, simple to make, and sure to satisfy the sweetest of sweet tooths...or teeth. I usually make puppy chow with semi-sweet chocolate chips, but I decided to mix things up and also use Nutella...because let's face it - Nutella makes everything taste better. Check out the super easy recipe here. For my version: substitute the 2 cups of milk chocolate for 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate and 1 cup Nutella; milk chocolate chips with Nutella will result in an overly sweet mix.

nom, nom, nom. i dare you to try eating only one. 

Happy Halloween!

Boo!

Delish Deluca

the almond macaron (far left) is a must. espresso was very pungent, but perfect for true coffee fanatics (like myself). 

soft, hard, mild, sharp, spreadable, bitter. you name it. they have cheese (though limited to a small open fridge).

I try to avoid the Americana. I prefer to dine out and shop in peace without weaving through crowds and elbowing people out of my way. Though the Americana is the antithesis of a peaceful experience, today was an exception. My sister's office is centrally located across from the Americana, so we took an afternoon stroll to Deluca's, one of our usual lunch spots. We noshed on a sandwich and soup duo and it was anything but boring. The tomato soup was perfectly mild and I was pleasantly surprised to find red cabbage instead of generic lettuce accompanying the usual veggies in my chicken panino.

 

soup du jour: tomato

chicken panino with avocado, tomato and red cabbage

Din Din A-Go-Go: Lake Street Creamery

If you like food trucks and live anywhere near Los Feliz, start clearing out your Monday night dinner plans. Located on an empty church lot, Din Din A-Go-Go is a food truck mecca that attracts zealous food truck followers every Monday night for some good grub. Check out the weekly truck schedule here and be sure to save room for dessert at Lake Street Creamery.

The 411: Din Din A-Go-Go, Mondays, 5:30-9pm, 2060 Vermont Ave. (see link above for additional locations) 

no boring flavors (or descriptions) here. the special of the day was the "don draper" - bourbon, smoke, and caramel concoction.

the california zephyr. lemon and mint infused vanilla bean ice cream served in a waffle bowl that actually holds up. 

At the moment...craving

the european melt: halva and nutella spread on toasted sweet bread. topped with sliced bananas, vanilla bean ice cream and macerated strawberries. from Recess Eatery.

Pumpkin Muffins

homemade pumpkin spice mix - cinnamon,
fresh ground nutmeg.

Nothing says autumn like pumpkin flavored muffins, lattes, and pies. As always, I kicked off the start of my favorite season by celebrating Starbucks' yearly revival of pumpkin spice lattes. To continue the celebration, I made these pumpkin (chocolate chip) muffins which pack some major spicy warmth and make your kitchen smell like fall on steroids. I gave these muffins an extra little oomph by making my own custom pumpkin spice mix: 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon + 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground nutmeg = spice perfection. Next up on my list - pumpkin pie and pumpkin carving. 

divide batter evenly. sprinkle tops with
cinnamon sugar.(i added some chocolate chips to
a few of the muffins for a surprise).

warm out of the oven.

Back to Square One

soup du jour: english sweet pea soup. 

Square One is one of my favorite brunch spots for lazy Sundays. It's a cozy little restaurant that makes great use of a small indoor space - egg cartons line the ceiling, a long strip of chalkboard details the daily specials (which varies based on farmer's market selections), and a big communal table (always decorated with fresh flowers) sits smack dab in the middle of the room. The location is unsuspecting since it's a drive from its fellow hipster hangouts in Los Feliz, but this place is always packed. This is usually our pre-library weekend spot, but the torrential weather today put us in the mood for some warm comfort food. 

delicious pressed ham sandwich with honey mustard, aioli, and gruyere cheese. roasted, caramelized potatoes. 

the high quality deluxe version of an IHOP breakfast: super thick slabs of bacon with the usual suspects (sausage, eggs, toast, potatoes).

4854 Fountain Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90029