Taco Time!

I'm trying this summer to not only shop my closet, but also to shop my pantry/refrigerator. After spending quite some time organizing the pantry and my spices this summer, I realized that it's all too easy, especially when only cooking for two most of the time, to let food go to waste. I've resolved to try to make recipes based on what's available, as opposed to running out to the grocery store and getting specifics items and then letting them go to waste.

Today I realized I had everything for chicken tacos: a few left over chicken breasts, lettuce, tomato, corn tortillas, and a can of green chilies. The only thing missing was the chicken taco seasoning, but have no fear, the solution to that issue proved to be just a click away thanks to the miracle of the Internet. The recipe below happens to be a mishmash of things I discovered online from researching various recipes and combined together to make my dish.

So here's how I made it these chicken tacos, just in case you happen to have these ingredients lying around too! 

First is the seasoning. I have a plethora of spices, which I have collected for various recipes. I am the spice queen. For the seasoning for chicken tacos you will need the following:

    3 tsp. chili powder
    2 1/2 tsp. paprika
    2 1/4 tsp. cumin
    1 1/4 tsp. onion powder
    1/4 garlic powder

If you don't have these spices, use what you have. You can also use some cayenne pepper too in place of the paprika. When you all of the spices together into a jar of your choice it will end up looking like some sand art project (see picture below), so make sure you mix it all up good. 

Next, dice your chicken into bite-sized pieces. I suppose you can also cook a whole breast and then shred it, but I found that this way worked best. Here I am using about 1 1/2 pounds of chicken breast, which was left over from dinner last night. You can use more or less depending on the size of your party. I mostly cook for two, so this worked out to be the perfect amount for six medium tacos.

When the chicken is fully cooked, add the seasoning and about 1/3 cup of water. Bring the sauce to a boil and then cook on low for about five minutes. The amount of seasoning you use with the chicken will depend on the amount of chicken you are cooking. I used about 1/4 of the seasoning to cook this amount of meat. It all really depends on the level of spice you like. Make sure you taste as you go; a good cook always tastes and checks the level of seasoning! 

For a little more heat I added some mild diced green chilies. Add these after you have seasoned the chicken with the spices. The green chilies will add just a touch more heat to the chicken for a more complex flavor. I happened to have these lying around, which is why I threw them in. Shop that pantry!

I didn't show the last step, which is to scoop the chicken mixture into a corn tortilla and then fry the tortilla in some canola oil. The reason I didn't show this was because it was a mess and I partially burned my finger in this last step with the hot oil! (Hopefully this doesn't stop you from trying the recipe!) Anyway, here's how this process is done if you are brave enough: Heat canola oil until sizzling hot over medium high heat. Take a corn tortilla filled with chicken mixture and fold in half. Use metal tongs to lay the folded taco into the oil until it holds it shape. Let it fry for about 30-45 seconds and then flip with the tongs. When the taco is fried, place on a paper towel to absorb the grease.

When your tacos are done frying, carefully add your toppings, which can include lettuce, tomato, cheese (please!) and sour cream.  If you want to be healthier you can also use soft flour tortillas and skip both the health and burn danger of frying the tacos.

As a side I made a corn salad. All you do is heat up about 30 oz. of frozen corn (or you can half the recipe if it is for two). Add in two to three chopped scallions (green onions) and 2 tbs. of olive oil and 3 tbs. of white wine vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste. Bring salad to room temperature or put into the fridge for up to one day. This makes an excellent and refreshing side to your tacos! 

Mind the Gap

Let me preface this post by saying that these pink grid pattern pants from the Gap were $10. While these might not be something that I would normally gravitate to, the $10 price tag and the possibilities of trying something a little funky lured me in like a siren.

I guess these pants are dubbed the "skinny mini" khakis by Gap and feature a pink windowpane grid pattern in a baby pink. They only had a size 4 available and I would have preferred a 2, but for the price I figured I could wash them and they would probably be just right. Plus, I've been eating out a lot lately, so I guess I'll grow into them!

 

The only thing louder than my pants and my neon necklace form J. Crew is this couch from IKEA. If you didn't already know, I love IKEA. While I love their Swedish meatballs and reasonably priced minimalist furniture, this couch I am sitting on below is a little garish for my taste, although I feel that, given my necklace and pants, might be like the pot calling the kettle black.

This neon necklace I am sporting was a pretty good steal from J. Crew. I used the magic of the iPhone to get it for $20, as it was on sale on the website but not in the store. If you show the fine people at J. Crew the item you want to buy on sale on their website using your phone, they'll do a price adjustment. It would be nice if J. Crew could simply match the online prices to the store prices and visa versa, but that's a whole other story. Anyhow, they gave it to me for the website price, plus 40% off and my additional 15% educator's discount so it wound up as $20 as opposed to $58.

Outfit: Khakis: Gap, Shirt: J. Crew Chambray "Keeper", Shoes: J. Crew Ballet Flats in Mirror, Bag: J. Crew Tartine, Necklace: J. Crew "Crystal Feather"

Sky High

While I am not always a fan of wobbling around in sky high heels, I am a fan of being up high in the Sky Room, a restaurant in Long Beach, CA. The Sky Room is situated atop the Breakers Hotel which dates back to the 1920s. The restaurant offers its guest a bird's eye view of the city, one which was enjoyed by celebrities such Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne and Cary Grant among numerous others.

While I am not a celebrity by any means, I love having a good meal with a good view. Throwing a little live music, in this case a melodious pianist, doesn't hurt either. These are all the things that the Sky Room has to offer its patrons, which might make you feel a little bit like a celebrity for a moment. 

I wore my new Kate Spade Matty dress (another great find from Marshalls), which features fans that form a somewhat art deco pattern in my opinion. Actually the fan design was created by Australian artist Florence Broadhurst. Her creation was the perfect complement for the art deco ambiance of the Sky Room.

On your way to the elevator, which whisks you to the top of the building, you will find a hall lined with display cases, strewn with a random hodgepodge of memorabilia associated with either the restaurant or the decades in which the building was in its heyday. Here you will see some jazz records and blues records circa 1940s.

Once you get to the top of the restaurant, it's time to take in the views. We were seated by the window (all tables have good views), which was perfect for observing the sunset. While the downtown Long Beach coast is pretty, it's not the most breathtaking view I've seen, yet it still provides a great deal of ambiance. You'll see a smattering of cranes, shipping containers and other industrial "stuff". Regardless, the ocean, lights and Shoreline Village, part of which is an homage to the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, are all enjoyable to see.

If you want to get even higher, there is a truly "open" bar at the very top of the building. You need to take the stairs to get there, so if you have vertigo, beware! We went after dinner just to get a better view of Long Beach at night and it was quite fun to gaze down the winding staircase on our way up. 

At the end of the evening you can relax and wait for the valet to bring your car around while you stand on the red carpet, perhaps feeling a little bit like Elizabeth Taylor.

Outfit: Dress: Kate Spade, Shoes: J. Crew "Lillian",  Bag: LV Alma in Citron, Belt: J. Crew, Necklace: J. Crew "Water Droplet", Watch: Breguet Reine de Naples

Silver, Gold and Noir

If you're a fan of noir film and/or literature, you might have observed Raymond Chandler's 125 birthday this past Tuesday. Raymond Chandler's gritty crime novels, such as The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye, primarily focus on the hard-boiled private detective Philip Marlowe. Through Marlowe's biting commentary and razor wit, readers are given a cynical glimpse into the Los Angeles of the 1930s-50s and its all too troubled inhabitants. Chandler's novels are always gripping to read as his cast of devious characters and their sordid lives and secrets make for numerous twists and turns in the plot of each intricately spun mystery.

The archetypal femme fatale always makes her appearance in Chandler's fiction. While I'm not really the femme fetale type, I tried to wear something I thought might look period appropriate and the red gives a little femme fetale flair. My silver clutch features a car that I suppose could be a Packard driven by one of Chandler's characters, or at least the well-heeled ones.

The pictures above were taken at the Oviatt building, which has a starring role in the first chapter of Chandler's novel The Lady in the Lake. The Oviatt building, which was the vision of entrepreneur James Oviatt, originally housed an opulent men's store on the bottom floors, professional offices on the upper floors, and Oviatt's personal penthouse at the top. The swanky Cicada Club, where you can dine, drink and dance the night away,  now occupies the bottom floors, professional offices still occupy the upper floors, and the penthouse is available to rent for special events weddings. In the first couple pages of The Lady in the Lake, Chandler describes the decadent exterior and the lavish perfume store contained within the Oviatt, although in the novel the building is called the Treloar.

While you may not know the Oviatt building by name, I guarantee that you've seen something featuring it, be it a music video, television show, or motion picture. The building's art deco exterior and interior seem to pop up everywhere. For example, scenes from the The Sopranos, Mad Men, and the motion picture The Artist were filmed there. The music video for Let Me Blow Your Mind by Eve and Gwen Steffani takes place primarily at the Oviatt as well.

Below are pictures of another prominent building in the life of Raymond Chandler, the Los Angeles Athletic Club.  The building turned 100 years old last year. The club is situated across the street from the Oviatt and we attended an event there to celebrate Chandler's birthday. Since Chandler worked at the Dabney Oil Company, which was a stones throw away from The Los Angeles Athletic Club, he often frequent the club after work (or during work) to play cards or have a drink (or several). I wish I could do that during work, although after becoming a vice president of the oil company Chandler was fired within a year due to slacking off and his alcoholism. Below you will see the picture of the Athletic Club's gorgeous upper floor indoor pool and one of its rooms.

Perhaps the ghost of Chandler still haunts the club and the other landmarks associated with his life and work? I certainly enjoyed visiting these landmarks, which played a pivotal role in the life and work of Raymond Chandler.

Outfit: Dress: J. Crew (old), Car Applique Clutch: Prada, Belt: Forever 21

Polly Want a Cracker?

I've never had a pet parrot, nor do I want one (how can you cuddle with a parrot?). Thus the J. Crew parrot pendant is probably the closest I'll come to having one as a pet, unless I become a pirate. Something I can't explain inside of me was drawn to this parrot pendant when it first came out from J.Crew. It looks like something you might discover in your grandma's costume jewelry box and play dress up with or something you might find at a flea market, which makes the piece sort of vintage cool. I wasn't going to pay full price for the thrill of owning this parrot, so when it came up as $15 during the J. Crew extra 40% off sale, I thought I could shell out that amount to take home by new feathered friend. 

I would assume that parrots also love melons, so this J. Crew no. 2 pencil skirt in Melon is the perfect pairing. The whole ensemble makes me feel very fresh and tropical, which is perfect for summer!

While the photos below are basically the same, the one difference would be the blowing wind creating a Botticelli-esque effect with my hair. I actually really need to get a hair cut (many split ends), as it's been almost a year since my last one.

Outfit: Shirt: J. Crew Raindrop Lace top, Skirt: J. Crew no. 2 pencil skirt in Melon, Shoes: CL Simple pumps in nude, Necklace and bracelets: J.Crew, Bag: J. Crew Edie in Casablanca Blue, Belt: J.Crew Factory in Rose Gold ($7!)

Prime Paisley

I'm naturally primed to find a deal. Lately Marshalls has served as the source of many of these deals. Every once in a while I like to peruse their racks for discounted home goods, gifts and possibly a little something for myself. Recently, I was looking at Marshalls' selection of dresses and I found this Kate Spade Alanis Paisley dress on clearance for $65 (originally $500). Staring at the red clearance price tag was like a Kate Spade mirage, but once I got over my disbelief I knew that this dress was going to have to come home with me. 

Last night I wore this Kate Spade bargain to Lawry's the Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. In the photo below I am standing next to a modern water fountain outside of the entrance. In case you are wondering why all the steak and eating out lately, the city of LA is currently endorsing an event called "Dine LA" in which local restaurants feature prie fix menus for a reduced price. It's a great time to go out and try new places or visit old favorites for a deal. I guess both the dress and my dinners lately are incredible bargains.

The morning before we went to Lawry's, I came across an article here on the 12 best classic Los Angeles restaurants. One of these classic restaurants was Lawry's, which originally opened in Beverly Hills in 1938. After reading the article I discovered that I've been to 7 of the 12 restaurants, so I only have 6 more to go! (I'm adding them to my to do list, which is rapidly growing.)

The unique thing about Lawry's isn't really the cuisine, but rather the way they serve the cuisine (primarily prime rib) table side. The founder designed these gigantic stainless steel "silver" carts, which weigh 900 lbs when full and cost as much as a Cadillac, both then and now. (I spent some time reading the fact booklet they give you at the restaurant.) Just like in 1938, a carver comes to your table and cuts you off a piece of their succulent prime rib, cooked to your liking.  They also spin a salad before your eyes and construct an ice cream sundae at the table. I didn't take any pictures of the pageantry of our waiter performing these tasks, but below you will see a glimpse of what it looked like back in the day.

The current restaurant isn't much to look at from the outside; it looks like a typical "tilt up" style, big box building. I prefer to think about the way the establishment used to look, hearkening back to a time when people actually wore something other than jeans and a t-shirt to go out to dinner in (of which there was plenty of last night, much to my horror) and everything just seemed to be a bit more stylish. The interior, however, is nice with reproduction paintings and tapestries.

Because these vintage  photos of the restaurant are all in sepia, I manipulated the photo of my dinner to sepia as well to keep it consistent and to play up the idea of traveling back in time to classic LA. While the food may not come across as a visual masterpiece (as is the aim of many high end restaurants today), it's good, rich decadent food which allows you to travel back to a more elegant time in the history of Los Angeles.

Outfit: Dress: Kate Spade, Shoes: Kate Spade, Bag: J. Crew Factory Vero Clutch, Belt: J. Crew, Necklace: J. Crew Crystal Droplets

Pop Art

I am a sucker for anything that is inspired by art and the Kate Spade Mondrian "Barry" skirt definitely fits the bill. In fact, the artist's name is right in the product title. While Mondrian worked in primary colors, Kate Spade used her artistic licence to add a pop art spin to the skirt, infusing it with pinks and a pastel mint color.

This skirt was on my "must buy" list for the last few months, but I was a bit dismayed to find that the skirt was made of viscose as opposed to silk or organic fabric. (I guess that adds a little bit of a futuristic feel to it?) Well, when I found the skirt on eBay for a price that was cheaper than the Kate Spade "pop up" sale price, I decided to pull the trigger. While the skirt came new with tags, in the original KS packaging, it was stuffed into a teeny tiny envelope. Needless to say it was one wrinkled Mondrian.

I read online that if you don't have a steamer (which strangely enough I had in college, but not now) you can create your own steamer by taking a hot shower and hanging the article of clothing in the bathroom. I tried this and it worked wonders for my skirt. Sadly, it did get a little wrinkled on the car ride to Downtown LA and then even more so during dinner. It was back in the shower for my Mondrian the next day!

If you couldn't tell from the staircase, I am actually at Disney Hall in these photos. Disney Hall was designed by architect Frank Gehry and it's where you will hear the LA Phil play their melodic melodies. 

I feel like the pop of silver in my J. Crew Lillian wedges in "Mirror" aka silver suited the massive chrome structure that is Disney Hall. I'm sort of on the fence about how I feel about Disney Hall aesthetically speaking. It is both beautiful and hideous at the same time. The acoustics are great though, and that is what counts most.

It's not the season yet for the LA Phil as they take a hiatus during summer months and instead play at the Hollywood Bowl. Instead of taking in a concert, our real motive for venturing again to Downtown LA was to dine at Patina restaurant, which is located in Disney Hall.

While it sounds crass to say, the food at Patina was yummy and a visual feast for the eyes, truly works of art you can eat. My favorite dish, aesthetically speaking, was my husbands appetizer which was Hawaiian Kampachi. I don't eat fish, so I don't know how it tasted, but he said it was very good.

I opted for the "pigs in the blanket" appetizer. I've never had traditional pigs in a blanket because I don't like hot dogs, but this wasn't your typical pig in a blanket. Instead it consisted of a chicken sausage wrapped in brioche with a miso sauce. Somehow the combination of disparate flavors and these tiny mushrooms was absolutely delightful! Our main courses, Kobe beef for me and salmon for my husband, were also very good, but less visually interesting so I've decided not to include pictures of them.

Outfit: Skirt: Kate Spade, T-shirt: Forever 21, Bow Belt: Kate Spade, Shoes: J. Crew, Bag: Chanel