After hearing about Martha White's flours and mixes I was excited about trying out this corn meal mix I happened upon at my local 99 cent store. Yes folks, the 99 cent store! For those of you who aren't familiar with this brand, Martha White originates from the South, Tennessee to be specific, and is rarely found here in the West Coast. So naturally, when I saw this product on the store shelf selling for less than one dollar, I quickly snatched it up. Well, I fin
ally gave the mix a try last night. I decided to use the "Southern Style" cornbread recipe which was on the back of the package. All I had to do was add buttermilk, an egg, and some melted shortening to two cups of the cornmeal mix, stir it up, pop it in the oven for about 25 minutes, and out came the cornbread. From the picture you can see it was a beautiful shade of light yellow, a little crisp on the edges with what looked like a very nice texture. Unfortunately, looks can be a little deceiving. The bread was surprisingly dry, and really had no taste to it. I think I was expecting some hint of sweetness or corniness even, but no, nothing like that. I wondered if maybe I did something wrong to make such a tasteless and unexciting bread. Did I miss an ingredient or a crucial step perhaps? Was the package of cornmeal mix expired? No to both of my questions. Is this the reason why I found the mix at the the 99 cent store in the first place? Maybe. Despite the disappointing cornbread outcome, I'm willing to try some of the other Martha White flour products.What are your experiences with Martha White? I would love to hear about them.
One of life's greatest pleasures is enjoying a leisurely meal on a lazy, Sunday morning. This is exactly what my boyfriend and I treated ourselves to this past Sunday at one of our favorite locales, Yahaira's Cafe in Pasadena. Located right on Colorado Boulevard, but away from the hustle and bustle of Old Town, Yahaira's is a cozy little place with both indoor and outdoor seating. Since it was a warm, crystal-clear spring morning we chose to sit outside. The food at Yahaira's is Mexican with a Yucatan twist with dishes like tostadas, breakfast burritos, and quesadillas, just to name a few. Also offered are the more traditional American style breakfasts such as omelets, French toast, and pancakes. This particular morning I chose to have the California omelet made with egg whites, tomatoes, jack cheese, ortega chiles, and avocado, while my BF ordered his usual: the grilled steak adobado quesadilla. This is a favorite of his and understandably so. It's a delicious compilation of tender, juicy marinated steak sandwiched between two green, flour tortillas and jack cheese, topped with guacamole and salsa. It's quite yummy!
Anybody who knows me well knows what a sucker I am for nostalgia. I love spending the weekends scouring flea markets, garage sales, and thrift shops for that special treasure that might remind me of something precious from childhood, or ignite in me some sort of emotional connection to the past. So when I spotted this sweet, 3-piece, vintage melamine plate setting at a neighborhood thrift store recently, I had the feeling that I may have owned such a set myself when I was a youngster. There was something comforting about these pieces. The dishes were made by a company called Lexington and were surprisingly still boxed up in the original packaging. It puts a smile on my face every time I look at that adorable lion. Just wanted to share.
I have been craving something chocolaty and sweet lately. Actually, this is not at all unusual for me. The problem is, this craving is never good for my waist line, especially as it's already May and bathing suit season is just around the corner!
