Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

Does the Chicken Breast above look like Opie or the guy on Mad Magazine or a Sock Monkey, or is it just me?  This is the Chicken Rorschach Test, a psychological test you can eat. 

Kitchen Exercise: Pounding Chicken — It’s all the rage for even (and faster) cooking.

I’m learning it’s best not to over-attend to certain things.  Simple is truly best.

The Chicken was flipped once after turning golden brown — I cannot put forth the process better than A Sweet and Savory Life, who helped me really get the best stove-top method.

Why is it I’m compelled to push this Mini Shopping Cart down the aisle every time I see it at Cost Plus?  I ponder that.  It embarrasses my Mom when I do it.  Maybe that’s why, and it just makes me laugh.  I’ve promised to refrain from now on.  This time I had Chef Lexi of Kids in the Kitchen do it.  It’s double-mint cute now — Post title inspiration is here. 🙂

Dave’s Million Dollar Sauce Contest — The odds of winning are better than the lottery.  Do you have a special Sauce, Salsa, Dip or Spread that you make?  Why not enter here for a chance to win a million?!  Check out the rules and submit your recipe on or before December 31, 2011.  Good luck!  With such a prize, we’re contemplating a few saucy ideas too.  Pictured is our favorite Cocktail Sauce first had in Amsterdam.

We pause for a moment of branding — For information regarding Freelance Writing Services, please visit I Need Text Company or feel free to send an inquiry through Nibbles of Tidbits.  The special of the day will always be FOOD, but ANY TEXT can be served up hot.  Thank you.

Definitely not into mall traffic on so-called Black Friday — No way Jose, opt to eat on a beach.

The Beachcomber in Crystal Cove State Park Historic District.

Isn’t this better than a crowded mall, paleeez — It’ll always be a Blue Friday for us.

Turkey Skin, it’s not the healthiest of Thanksgiving Day appetizers, but oh-so-good when extra crispy, with a little Salt — It’s become a family tradition to graze a comely Turkey homely.  Happy Thanksgiving to all.  Count your blessings today and every day.  We sure do.

I grew up conducting neighborhood Pepsi vs. Coke Challenges and the results were always split down the middle — Each argued passionately for his/her choice.  I rarely drink either today, but clearly knew which I liked better back then.  At the time, I lobbied heavily for Pepsi.  I believed it to be less sweet and more carbonated, though current co-workers feel strongly otherwise in favor of Coke.  The Cola Wars continue.  Do you have a favorite?  With respect to the infografic, I found the acquisitions interesting.  The next challenged may be between Naked and Odwalla.  Credit: Business Insurance Blog.

Preparing for a Christmas Par-tay by shopping at my favorite store, Cost Plus World Market.

How old are you?  Did you ever have a metal Lunch Pail?  We love the variety and nostalgia at Cost Plus/CPWM.  Would you believe this girl (me) doesn’t like to shop, but it’s always fun and interesting shopping there.  This visit Chef Nieces, Bailee and Lexi of Kids in the Kitchen model a few goods.  Bailee liked the mini Tabasco Bottles — I do too and told her that I used to carry one with me all the time, until one leaked in my purse.  That was a bummer.

Some things just need Hot Sauce, but that’s another story.

We’re supposed to be shopping for a Par-tay, better than a Par-tee.

Too many cool, stylish things — Is it the models? 🙂

Today we set out for a Gift for the Christmas Par-tay exchange, plus 10 Prizes, 4 kinds of Beer, 4 Bottles of Champagne, 4 Bottles of Wine, Munchies, Candy and Wrapping Paper.

And former Miss Downey Contestant, mi Madre still has it — Sorry Mom for writing that, hahaha.

Stay tuned for more about my 17th Annual Christmas Par-tay.  It’s always the first Friday in December.  We filled two carts with unique prizes, beverages and snacks — Ready to dig in.

Our freshly dubbed Parade of Colorful Food series “gives new meaning to food coloring,” said Steven Woo, DC Contributor.  In contrast to the yellow, orange, green and purple food currently on display and linked here, not much in the food world is naturally blue.

Blue is otherwise a surrounding color in nature — In the oceans and wondrous sky, and it also seems to be the favorite color of most.  Mine will be in the spotlight next in the series.

We like the posted photos because they’re aesthetically pleasing, interesting, idealistic, unique, inspirational, educational and fun — Credit for all is linked throughout.

Learn about Five Ways to Raise Seafood here and above.

Does anyone eat Jellyfish?

If fried, would they disintegrate or crisp up?  I’ll look it up later.

I endlessly appreciate a fresh, well-prepared, handsome Macaron and more of them.

And couldn’t feature blue food without Blueberries, my preferred fresh Berry.

It’s blue and relates to food — Always had an interest in vintage documents and photographs.

The best Cookie Monster Cupcake I’ve seen.  It doesn’t look too difficult to prepare.

The photo below just trips me out, especially the Banana — Crazy for blue food perhaps?!

Food coloring as I know it and craft glue with eyes — Things should have eyes too. 🙂

The first to identify these blue eyes wins a prize, said the brown eyed girl.

Where the folks are fine and the world is mine on Blue Bayou with a BBQ.

At publishing time, there are 43 days, 23 hours, 52 minutes and 32 seconds until 2012.

And it’s time for another Block Party, though it seems last year’s was only yesterday.

We were impressed with the inaugural OC Fair New Year’s Eve Block Party in 2010/2011 and look forward to reporting about its 2011/2012 festivities starting at 7:30PM, December 31st.  Check back somewhere along the countdown as we may be giving away tickets.

Posted photos are from the 2010/2011 event — Between the Gourmet Food Trucks, Tribute Bands, Dancing, Rides, Comedy Shows, Dueling Pianos, Casino, Fireworks and more.  There’s plenty to do, see, eat and participate in before and after midnight.  Last year the crowd was fun, friendly, respectable, and varied in age.  The complementary Adult Chocolate Milk and food in the VIP Lounge was nice and the girls were sweet too.  Can you guess which is me?

I now hope to see The Cure and David Bowie Tribute Bands with a Slider and Champagne.

Visit the OC Fair New Year’s Eve Block Party website to learn more — Hope to see you there.

Fun choices on the final day of the year — A grand way to start the first day of the next one.

East is a good place to start from So Cal, or in my fridge to assemble a picnic for the next hill.  Hhmmm, contemplating as shown and doing nothing (yet) — Photo Credit on hump day.

We Wake And Bake Every Morning — Hhhmmmm, sounds a bit suspicious.  Pushing the envelope again I see, wink wink.  It’s sex, drugs and rock and roll in advertising.  How about some rock and roll, without a cow?  Okay, for now a FREE Biscuit will do.  Thanks Carl’s.

Line up Wednesday morning, November 16th for a FREE Hardee’s Made From Scratch Sausage Biscuit at Carl’s Jr.  During breakfast hours, walk into a Carl’s Jr. and ask for YOUR Biscuit.  No purchase necessary — Eat in or walk out, it’s all yours.  So, how many Carl’s can you hit in the morning?  Puddy says just ask the 8-Ball. 😉

The Best Meatballs in the World are Anna and Frankie’s Meatballs at Rao’s — I have Rao’s Cookbook and make ’em all the time.  No other Italian Meatball recipe will be necessary.  Rao’s all the way!  Also, instead of frying Meatballs, I always bake them, which is easier and they still turn out fantastic.  Pictured is Moroccan Kefta prepared for a food competition last year.

OC Foodies lists several places to dine out in Orange County on Thanksgiving — Might one of the ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’ feast at one of them, possibly but who cares.  Real OC housewives are most likely cooking and cleaning that day, and fakes are just big Turkeys.

I so want to see this bottle amongst the Wine on the shelf — I’d buy it in a heartbeat.  Why not tie its price around the bottle neck with a green leaf scarf.  It’s one of the coolest Wine bottle labels (or non-labels) I’ve seen.  No label needed here, it’s in the design.  Would you want to drink it?  You know, the outside doesn’t actually need to be made of dirt/earth. 😉

It’s parade day for yellow, in stride after orange, green and purple — And the band played on.

Continuing here with another pictorial post highlighting color, this of a highlighter, emphasized.

Medley of yellow food from the earth and some hand prepared — Photo credit here.

Yellow Tomato Carpaccio, more striking than red, to be featured before or after blue.

I like the Missing Tooth Emoticon and Invisible Emoticon above. 😉

Yellow Spotted Boxfish, admired and not eaten here — So much to see under the sea.

And above sea level there’s bountiful yellow food to view, get the hue, yes even some roux.

I’m in awe of the contest winning photo above — It’s so incredibly beautiful.

It’s reported… YELLOW FOOD is favored by Rock ‘N’ Rollers — By Korn, Corn, the Banana? 

And Yellow Squash like to dance — Get a pan will ya.

I didn’t see the pictured Hamburger on Yelp’s Burger Blitz or anywhere else for that matter, but did see others I’ve tried and some I’ll need to try on their “Most Wanted Patties In Town” list.  If you were to eat this monstrosity, you may turn into a Burger, as it probably weighs more than you.  Do you think it’s possible for one to finish it?  Do you think a giant fork would help?  It likely wouldn’t matter, but an extra stomach (or two+) would surely be in order.

Word.

Thanks go to LUCCA Cafe for recognizing our valuable Veterans this Veteran’s Day.

On November 11th at LUCCA Cafe in Irvine, active duty military personnel and Veterans may enjoy a FREE LUNCH.  It’s being offered in honor of Chef Cathy Pavlov’s father, late Corporal Robert L. Shellrecht, pictured above.  We would like to thank him and ALL those who came before and after for their service to our great country — No one is more deserving.

If you’re one of those special people, mark your calendar and claim your justified meal.

Note: Photos courtesy of LUCCA Cafe, Mediterranean dining (and more) in Orange County.

Continuing our celebration of food in every color, the majesty of purple food and life is evident.

An inedible purple tree that inspires play.

I’ve made a lot of Cole Slaw in my life and always appreciate having it around.

Which Eggplant do you like most?  Know yet?  I’m not sure.  Learn more here.

Are purple colored glasses better than rose colored glasses?

Do you think this Fish is scary, cute, funny, dorky, bucky, weird, sexy?  I’m not sure.

Purple Pepper exterior with a green interior — Green food is pictured here.

The Power of Purple Chart — Check out its benefits.

More about Potatoes and photo credits here — Purple ones can be mealy and bland, I think.

Have you tried Purple Carrots?  Purple food facts, Carrot and Pepper photo credits are here.

Another long road to walk down, though it looks far away from here.  Credit unknown.

Baby, baby, baby, what’s it gonna beeeee?  The post title muse is here and on Purple Rain, a delicious album.  Hope not to see the one-eyed, one-horned Flyin’ Purple People Eater.

My lovely Mom in front of PREP Kitchen Essentials — A Cooking School and specialty store.

It’s located in the Shops at Rossmoor in Seal Beach.

Take a Cooking Class or taste the Antica Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars.

We fell hard for Antica’s 18 year aged Balsamic Vinegars — They are staggeringly tasty.

Took home a bottle of Antica’s Dark Aged Espresso Balsamic Vinegar and can’t stop drinking it.

And left with a bottle of the Ultra Robust Frantolo/Leccino Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  We’re ready to return for more Balsamic Vinegar, oh my.  Once upon a time I lived within walking distance from this store, before it was ever conceived.  Didn’t take a Cooking Class but you might want to!?

Filet Mignon with Cognac Sauce — Each Steak was cooked beautifully by The Turnip Rose Elite Catering.  We recently attended a “Taste of Turnip Rose” at the Grand Newport Plaza and everything was over the top in the best ways possible.  We were almost paralyzed by the quality and perfection of food, style, hospitality, service, detail and coolness.  What an evening!  Will you marry us?  A full report of the event will soon be posted.  Thank you for all.

We stumbled upon the best wedding venues in town — Celebrations and more.

The stunning orange photographs credited to others inspired this post — Food in every color, I say.  Thank you Lord.  And this time it’s green food that starts up-close with Kiwi, partly because I invented The Kiwi Game and got close to New Zealand for doing so.

As for the others, Vibrant Green Pea Soup by Foodie House looks amazing and probably is, since it’s on one impressive food blog — Its writer is a Foodbuzz Featured Publisher, like me.

How about Green Lemonade?  Add a little green food coloring during October.

I wish to walk down this peaceful path for an Avocado, Apple, Grape and my Honeydew. 🙂

Chart of Green Fruit & Vegetables — Can you think of others?  There are more of course.

Green Tea Macaroons and the recipe — Will someday venture to make ’em.

Green Tea — I drink it often, without Mint, but it looks prettier with it.

And Green Beer sometimes on St. Patrick’s Day.

It looks like Kermit sipped the Green Beer.