Review: Pizzanista!

Downtown Los Angeles, we can agree, is a place coming into its own. Once alive with the hustle and bustle of industry, then increasingly destitute and abandoned for the surrounding suburbs, we're officially entering into a new kind of cultural Renaissance. It's exciting. For us residents who live here now, we are a vital part of this reconstruction. We get to help create the kind of world we want to live in, starting with the kinds of businesses we want to patron.

That said, we're still figuring ourselves out. I look around at the empty storefronts and boarded up windows and fantasize about all the things I dream of them becoming something anything, a Whole Foods, . An abandoned warehouse now a Whole Foods. One area where we are still sorely lacking, as anyone who's lived in a big city can tell you, is food that comes to us. Yes, I'm talking about delivery. At the end of a busy day when we're cozily gazing out at the sparkling skyline, we want the option of laying down our hard-earned cash for the luxury of on-call deliciousness. The most obvious and perhaps most important delivery staple is pizza.

I don't care about "New York" pizza. I've been to New York and eaten pizza. I still don't care about it. I'm a Californian. I don't need to fold pizza in half to make me feel like my life means something. Give me a toothsome crust--not too crispy not too chewy--and quality cheese, and I'm in..

Have you ever wanted a delicious pizza delivered to your door without having to wait in line or make a phone call? Well, with the rise of delivery services such as Pizzanista, you can have that and more. Here’s why this service is perfect for young Americans who love pizza.

The pizza that arrived was actually as close to pizza heaven as I have ever come. A thin yet pillowy crust, the smooth and satiny grana parmesan, fresh arugula and perfectly salty prosciutto

Pizzanista is an online ordering platform that offers quick, easy and convenient access to your favorite pizza joints. With just a few clicks on their website, users can order their favorite pizzas from any participating restaurant in their area and have it delivered right to their doorstep. The best part about this service is that there are no hidden fees or additional costs associated with using Pizzanista - all you have to do is pay for the cost of the pizza itself. That makes it perfect for young Americans who are looking for a fast and affordable way to get their pizza fix! 

In addition to being convenient and affordable, Pizzanista also offers users access to some great deals and discounts. They regularly run promotional campaigns offering discounts on select orders, which makes it even easier for young Americans to save money while enjoying delicious food. On top of that, they offer special rewards programs where customers can earn points every time they order through Pizzanista - these points can then be redeemed for free items such as free drinks, desserts or even entire pizzas! 

Pizzanista also takes customer feedback seriously - they take all feedback into account when making decisions about what kind of restaurants they partner with, what kinds of promotions they offer and how they can improve the customer experience overall. This means that when you use Pizzanista for your pizza needs, you know that your voice will be heard and taken into account by the people behind the scenes. 

So if you’re a young American who loves pizza but doesn’t necessarily want to deal with the hassle of waiting in line or calling up your local pizzeria for delivery, then consider giving Pizzanista a try today! With its convenient ordering platform, great deals and discounts, rewards program and commitment to customer satisfaction, this service is sure to make it easy (and delicious) for you to get your hands on some truly amazing pies in no time at all!

Healthy Eating for Busy Millennials

Blog Title: Healthy Eating for Busy Millennials 

Blog Introduction: As a busy millennial, it can be hard to find the time to cook healthy meals. We are constantly on the go and don't always have the energy or resources to make sure we're eating properly. But it doesn't have to be this way! With the right recipes and a little bit of planning, you can easily create delicious and nutritious meals that will help you stay energized all day long.

Meal Prep Strategies 

The key to eating healthy as a busy millennial is meal prep. Taking the time on Sunday night or Monday morning to plan out your meals for the week makes it easier to make sure you get enough veggies and protein in your diet. Not only that, but having meals planned ahead of time means less time spent deciding what to eat when hunger sets in after a long day. Here are some tips for getting started with meal prepping: 

• Choose simple recipes that can easily be made in bulk. This way, you won't have to spend hours in the kitchen making complicated dishes for each meal. 

• If possible, try to cook one big batch of food at once so that you can have leftovers throughout the week. This will save you both time and money! 

• Utilize slow cookers and Instant Pots – these kitchen appliances make cooking effortless! All you need to do is put all your ingredients into one pot and let it do all the work while you focus on other tasks.  

• Don’t forget about snacks! Planning out your snacks ahead of time will help prevent unhealthy snacking when hunger strikes between meals.

Healthy Recipe Ideas 

Now that we know how best to meal prep for busy millennials, let’s look at some easy-to-make recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and perfect for any budget. 

• Quinoa Bowls – Start by cooking 1-2 cups of quinoa according to package instructions (this takes about 20 minutes). Once cooked, add in any veggies or proteins of your choice (think roasted vegetables, grilled chicken, etc.) along with some seasonings like garlic powder or turmeric for extra flavor. You can also top off your bowl with avocado or nuts for an added crunch!  

• Veggie Wraps – For this recipe, start by heating up tortillas in a pan over medium heat until lightly browned (about 1 minute per side). Next add whatever veggies you like (try bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes) along with some hummus or tzatziki sauce as a spread inside each wrap before rolling them up and enjoy!  

• Smoothie Bowls – This is an easy go-to snack that's both delicious and nutritious! Start by blending together your favorite fruits (strawberries, bananas) with almond milk until smooth then pour into a bowl before topping off with chia seeds or granola for crunchiness. Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to eat!  

Eating healthy doesn't have to be hard or expensive—all it takes is a little bit of planning and creativity! Meal prepping is key when it comes to eating well as a busy millennial because it allows you to create wholesome meals without spending too much time in the kitchen. With these easy recipe ideas plus some helpful tips on how best to meal prep effectively ,you'll be enjoying healthy meals all week long in no time at all . So why wait? Get started now creating tasty dishes that will keep your body fueled throughout any hectic day !

Summer Fruit Spelt Cake

When your farmers' market haul is on the brink of too-ripe...its time to make a cake wholesome enough that you can eat it for breakfast with plain yogurt, or dress it up with lightly sweetened whipped cream for a late summer dessert.

1/2 cup (6 ounces or 170 grams) melted butter, plus additional for greasing pan
1 1/2 cups (6 3/4 ounces or 190 grams) spelt flour
2 teaspoons (9 grams) baking powder
3/4 teaspoon (4 grams) salt
Pinch of allspice or cinnamon (optional)
1 cup (7 ounces or 200 grams) sugar
2 eggs
2/3 cup whole milk yogurt
1 1/2 pounds peaches/nectarines/plums/strawberries/etc
Cut into 1/2-inch thick wedges (about 4 cups)
1 tablespoon lemon juice


Prepare you pan: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a 10-inch round springform pan parchment paper and butter the paper and rest of the pan generously

Make the cake: Whisk flour, baking powder, salt and allspice in medium bowl to blend. In a large bowl, whisk together butter (set aside remaining 1/4 cup for topping), sugar and then eggs, one at a time. Stir in yogurt. Stir dry ingredients into this wet mixture; mix until just combined and spread batter in prepared pan. Toss nectarine wedges with lemon juice and arrange them in a single layer on top of the batter.

Bake until top is golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs, about 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing from pan. 

Zojirushi Whole Wheat Flax & Oat Bread

Sometimes you run out of bread three days before a scheduled trip to the grocery store. Your two year old is standing at your feet saying "Toast. Toast. Toast," while the dulcet tones of Dwayne Johnson sing "You're Welcome" in the background for the umpteenth time this morning m. So what do you do? Throw that toddler atop a step-stool, let him help dump ingredients into the bread machine and tell him he can have toast after his nap. And yes, we can listen to Moana again then, too. You can't win 'em all, but you can definitely have bread.

1 1/4 cups lukewarm water
2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 1/2 cups  Whole Wheat Flour
1/4 cup flax meal
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

To make bread in the bread machine: Put all of the ingredients into the bread pan in the order listed. Program for basic white bread (or for whole wheat bread, if your machine has a whole wheat setting), and press Start. Keep in the machine until it stops flashing "keep warm" so that it does not deflate. Then remove, put in some ear plugs, and enjoy.

Dirt Cake

Six years and two kids later I'm back with the perfect cake for a two year old's birthday party.

Malted Milk Dirt
3/4 cup (60 g.) milk powder, divided
1/4 cup (40 g.) flour
2 tablespoons  (12 g.) cornstarch
2 tablespoons (25 g.) sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
6 ounces white chocolate, chopped, divided
3/4 cup (60 g.) malt-flavored Ovaltine

Fudge Sauce
1 ounce bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons Maple syrup
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream


Chocolate Cake
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups (300 g.) sugar
3 eggs, room temperature
1/2 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. refined coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup Fudge Sauce
1 1/4 cups (155 g.) cake flour
1/2 cup (70 g.) unsweetened cocoa powder (sifted)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

Frosting
2 ounces (55 grams) unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1 1/2 cups (180 grams) powdered sugar (sifted if lumpy)
1/2 cup (4 ounces or 115 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
Pinch of fine sea salt (optional)
1 tablespoons cream or whole milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Make the fudge sauce:
Place the chopped chocolate, cocoa powder and salt in the bowl of your mixer. Over high heat, bring the maple syrup, sugar and heavy cream to a boil, stirring occasionally. Immediately pour over the chocolate and let sit for 1 minute.

Using the whisk attachment, whisk on low speed till ingredients are combined. Increase speed to medium and whisk till sauce is glossy and smooth. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. If you have any leftover that is...you probably won't.

Clean and dry the mixer bowl and whisk attachment.

Make the chocolate cake:
Pre-heat oven to 350. Spray two round 9in cake pans with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper and set aside. I also have two tiny 3 in cake pans that I used to make the mound of dirt, but the batter could have easily just filled the two normal pans.

In the bowl of your mixer, combine butter and sugar. Using the paddle attachment, beat on medium-high  for 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides, add the eggs and beat on medium-high for 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides.

On low speed, add the buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 3-5 minutes. Scrape down the sides. Add the fudge sauce and mix on low speed till fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides.

Add cake flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Beat on low speed for about a minute, scrape down the sides and beat again for just another minute.

Pour the batter into your prepared pans and spread evenly, using a small angled spatula.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or till cake bounces back when lightly pressed and is no longer jiggly in the center.

Cool cake in pans on a wire rack. Remove from pan and use immediately, or wrap in plastic wrap and store in fridge for up to 5 days.

Clean and dry the mixer bowl and whisk attachment.

Make the malted milk dirt:
Pre-heat oven to 250. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

Combine 1/2 cup (40 g.) of the milk powder, flour, cornstarch, sugar and salt in a medium blow. Toss to mix. Add the melted butter and toss till the mixture starts to come together and form small clusters.

Spread clusters on your prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Cool completely.

Crumble any clusters that are larger than 1/2″ in diameter and place in a medium bowl. Add the remaining 1/4 cup (20 g.) milk powder and toss till it is evenly distributed.

Melt 3 ounces of the white chocolate in a bowl set over barely simmering water. Pour over the crumbs and toss till the clusters are completely coated. Continue tossing every 5 minutes, until the white chocolate hardens and the clusters are no longer sticky.

Add the Ovaltine and toss till evenly coated. Melt the remaining 3 ounces white chocolate and pour over crumbs, tossing till clusters are completely coated. Continue tossing every 5 minutes, until the white chocolate hardens and the clusters are no longer sticky. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for up to 1 month.

Make the frosting: Place frosting ingredients in a food processor and run machine to to mix. Scrape down bowl then process just until smooth and somewhat fluffed. [Don’t have a food processor? Beat butter, powdered sugar and salt, if using, in a large bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Pour in chocolate, milk and vanilla, beat until combined, then one more minute to whip it further.]
Assemble the cake:

Turn first layer out onto your cake stand, top with half of the fudge and then a layer of frosting  then sprinkle a couple tablespoons of the dirt before topping with the second layer. More fudge, more frosting, finishing the sides. Then create your dirt heap and decorate with your favorite trucks. Your two year old will thank you.

Meyer Lemon Tart

If you've never had a Meyer lemon...I'm sorry. I was lucky enough to grow up with a tree in my backyard and it took several years before I realized not all lemons were as sweet and perfumey as these. If you love lemon desserts, I suggest doubling the curd.

Meyer Lemon Tart

For the crust

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup walnuts (or cashews, pecans...whatever nut you have on hand)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla 
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 

Blend oats, nuts, salt, flour together in a food processor. Meanwhile in a heavy saucepan melt the butter over low heat until it becomes just browned. (beurre noisette) Remove from heat and stir in honey while still hot. Pour hot butter mixture into heatproof bowl, add vanilla. Dump flour mixture into the hot butter-honey and stir until just combined in a big wet clump. Grease a 9" tart pan with a little butter and drop the dough into the center of the pan, pressing it down evenly. Prick 10 times or so with a fork and bake at 400F for 10-15 minutes until just golden and fragrant.

For the curd

• 1/2 cup Meyer lemon juice
• grated zest of one Meyer lemon
• 1/2 granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into bits
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks

Whisk together eggs and yolks in a small bowl and set aside. Melt sugar, butter, lemon juice, zest in heavy saucepan over low heat until butter is melted. Whisk a little of the warm mixture into the eggs to warm them, then dump the eggs into the saucepan and heat over low heat stirring constantly until it begins to bubble around the edges and thicken. Pour through mesh strainer directly into the pre-baked crust. Bake for 5 minutes at 350F until the curd sets. Decorate with raspberries, et voila!

Mulligatawny Soup

We've been on a real soup kick lately. And it hasn't even been cold. In fact, I'm sure it hit the triple digits outside at least once while we ladled soup into bowls. But I'd like to think we can will a little more winter weather by cooking up a pot of spicy and delicious Mulligatawny soup. Some of us native Californians actually do like a little cold now and then.

Typically I make a very basic chicken and rice soup. It's completely satisfying, easy to throw together and I'm sure I'll get around to posting the recipe one of these days. But having recently undertaken a systematic re-watching of all nine seasons of Seinfeld, the amazing Soup Nazi episode was fresh in my mind. It's a classic for a reason.

Jerry: You will be stunned.

Elaine: Stunned by soup?

Jerry:  You can't eat this soup standing up. Your knees buckle.

While Jerry pines for the crab bisque, Elaine gets the Mulligatawny on Kramer's recommendation and her knees do, in fact, buckle. Being a fan of most Indian flavor profiles, I adapted this recipe for Mulligatawny soup based on what I happened to have on hand. If you have the time to make your own stock, obviously this is superior. It doesn't take much in the way of skill and will ultimately taste better. But I'm a working woman with limited time on Sunday evenings and I stand by this method 100%.

While I don't normally eat soup standing up, after tasting this I really doubt it would have been possible. Consider me stunned.

Mulligatawny Soup

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 small yellow onions, diced
• 2 red jalapenos, diced
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 32 oz low sodium chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon powdered turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon ground brown mustard seeds
•  1/4 teaspoon ground chile powder
•  2 lemons, juiced, about 1/4 cup
•  2 teaspoons salt

Salt chicken breasts liberally, cover with cold water, bring to a boil. cook 20-30 minutes until cooked through. Shred chicken and set aside.

Sauté onions and jalapenos with olive oil in heavy bottomed pot until onions start to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and carrots and sauté another 5 minutes. Add chicken stock and spices, simmer until carrots are tender, about 30 minutes. Return chicken to pot, add lemon juice and salt. Serve in bowls with short-grain brown rice and a dollop of nonfat greek yogurt.

Onion & Cheese Bread

I knew as soon as I saw something called "Onion and Swiss Rye Bread" on this month's Kitchen Play menu I would have no choice but to participate in this amazing contest brought to us by the National Onion Association. What really appealed to me about this recipe, is it seemed like I could recreate it using things I always have in the house. Onions, some kind of Swiss cheese, whole wheat flour, yeast. All I have to do is make sure I get a few extra onions to caramelize. Easy, right?

Yeah, well. Not so fast. Turns out, for a household of only two people, we go through about a pound of onions every day. I am not exaggerating when I say that I actually went out and bought "extra onions" on four separate occasions, each time thinking, "now these are for the bread." But then I wanted to make guacamole. And roast a chicken. Cook an omelet. Whisk up a little salad dressing. Turns out everything we eat in this family begins with onions. The lesson here? Buy in bulk and buy often. This bread is worth it.

Onion & Cheese Bread (adapted from Cookistry)

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten
  
• 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
• 1/2 cup caramelized onions
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Olive oil

In a large bowl combine water, yeast and sugar. Stir to combine and let proof for about 5 minutes.

Add flour, gluten, cheese, and onions. Work with wooden spoon until the dough is elastic. It should come together fairly quickly, though the dough will be quite wet and sticky. Incorporate salt and butter.

Form dough into a ball, drizzle olive oil in your bowl and rotate the dough a few times until fully coated with oil. Cover your bowl with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place for about an hour, or until doubled in size.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Flour your work surface and knead the dough just enough to get it formed into a ball. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and evenly press the dough into the pan. Let rise again for about 30 minutes.

Bake at 350 degrees until the top is golden, about 40 minutes. Cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes, then let cool on rack completely.

Blackberry Crumble Pie

In my second year of boarding school, on the coldest day of the coldest spring Northern Michigan had to offer, I sat on the floor of my dorm room eating a mediocre cherry pie with my bare hands. No, I was not a burgeoning competitive eater. Nor was this part of a misty-eyed break-up montage. I was suffering from a severe lack of pie, and the summery warmth it provides.

Let's face it, pie is the best dessert. It's simply the most delicious taste in the whole world. I eat it on my birthday instead of cake. And at my wedding, well, let's just say I hope the structural integrity of the crumble is somehow better than its name suggests.

And, yes, I know I'd be a better person if everything I ate was locally sourced and seasonally appropriate. My life could be a satisfying series of soft-focus sepia-toned facebook albums. In the winter, I'd make swiss chard soup in vintage crockery. In the spring, I'd roast asparagus with homegrown herbs. And in the summer, there'd be self-brewed beer and handspun picnic blankets. But, folks, blackberries are available only a couple months a year. And without them, there is no blackberry pie. And without that, there really isn't much reason to do anything at all.

So before you ride off on your European bike to the artisanal cheese shop, allow me to make a case for frozen berries in April.

Though they're far from being the ideal berry, glowing in little baskets at your weekend farmer's market, the frozen ones are really the next best thing. Think about it this way, frozen berries were plucked from the vine in their succulent prime and quickly preserved to provide you with year round tastiness. So, grab your re-usable grocery bag, head to Whole Foods, buy yourself the biggest bag of organic blackberries imaginable, and pat yourself on the back. Job well done. You don't have to feel bad about the impact to the environment or your gylcemic index. Utilizing oats, agave, and whole wheat flour, this probably comes out to just 180 calories/serving. Unless your serving is the size of a pie pan. In that case, be civilized. Use a fork.

Blackberry Crumble Pie

For the topping:

• 1 cup oats
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, loosely packed
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
  
• 1/4 cup (half stick) butter, melted

For the filling:

• 4 cups frozen blackberries
  
• 1/4 cup agave syrup
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour

Heat oven to 350. Toss fruit with agave, flour, cornstarch, and lemon juice and zest. When fruit is coated, pour into ungreased pie dish.

Combine oats, flour, sugar, and baking powder in medium bowl. Pour in egg and mix until combined. Topping will be somewhat dry and crumbly.

Sprinkle topping evenly over berries, then drizzle with melted butter. Bake about 40 minutes, or until topping is toasted and fruit is bubbling and tender.

Banana Bread

Some people have it in their minds that banana bread is some kind of dumping ground for unused, overripe bananas, like the threat of wasted produce is what drives them to get in the kitchen and bake.

"I just don't know what I'll do with all these leftover bananas, guess I have to make bread."

And while my struggle for dominance in the produce aisle is far from over, I, like anyone else with an oversize sweet tooth, have learned something important.

Bananas are not the boss of me.

You see, I no longer let my rotting fruit strong-arm me into anything. I have taken a stand. When I go to the grocery store I assertively buy bananas for one reason and one reason alone. And that is banana freaking bread.

Even if that means slapping a half-eaten banana from a loved one's hand and screaming, "I need those!", I remain vigilant and ready to defend. Sorry, Nathan.

Bottom line, banana bread is not happenstance, it is a treat. A delicious, creamy, on-purpose treat that should be honored as such. That said, there's no need to get gluttonous about it. Have your sweets and mind your waistline, folks. This here's the healthiest and most decadent banana bread you'll ever taste. So don't worry if you eat half a loaf. Like we did immediately after this picture was taken.

Banana Bread

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
  
• 1 cup almonds, coarsely chopped
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 large, overripe bananas, mashed well
• 1/2 cup agave syrup
• 1/4 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt
• 2 large eggs
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
• 1-2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Wipe a 9 by 5 inch loaf pan with olive oil and dust with flour.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, almonds, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine the mashed bananas, agave syrup, yogurt, eggs, applesauce, and vanilla extract. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix until just combined. Don't mind the lumps, those are tasty!

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake about 60 minutes, but check it with a toothpick at 45. When the toothpick comes out clean, take it out of the oven. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack.

Now, I like a slice of piping hot banana bread as much as the next girl but trust me when I say, once this baby is cool, put it in a ziplock bag and leave it alone overnight. In the morning, the sweetness of the bananas will have intensified and it will be about one million times better.