Cooking

One of my very favorite places to eat at Fashion Island in Newport Beach is Le Pain Quotidien. So, when I heard they were offering OC baking classes at their restaurant and wanted to partner with Tiny Oranges to give one of our readers and a guest a free bakery class in a special giveaway, I jumped at the chance to learn more about their program and share my findings with all of you.

Le Pain Quotidien’s hands-on bakery classes are taught at their Newport Beach restaurant and cater to both novice and seasoned bakers.

The intimate classes are kept small, between 6 and 8 people, and are designed to be fun as well as informative.

During the 2.5 – 3 hour class students learn key baking techniques (and a few special tricks) from Le Pain Quotidien’s own skilled bakers. After the hard work is done, everyone gets to kick back with their fellow classmates and enjoy the fruits of their labor at one of Le Pain Quotidien’s communal tables.

Types of OC Bakery Classes

Classes range from Bread Baking Basics I & II to Biscuits, Scones and Shortbread Cookies and each class teaches both the science and the art of creating delicious baked goods from scratch. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always thought there is something so gratifying about starting with flour, adding a handful of key ingredients and creating something delicious you can’t wait to share with your friends and family around the table.

Click here for a complete list of bakery classes at Le Pain Quotidien Newport Beach

So, if you’re like me, and love learning something new, or getting better at something old, grab a friend and head over to Le Pain Quotidien. You’ll finally unleash the magic of how they get those amazing sweet breads both rich and decadent yet wonderfully light and delicate all at the same time.

And, if you’d rather cut out the baking and just eat, I urge you to stop by Le Pain Quotidien for lunch or dinner. My husband swears by their Mozzarella di Bufala & Plum Tomatoes, but I’m pretty certain you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu – I know I haven’t.

Le Pain Quotidien
Fashion Island
1103 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.287.5592

One lucky winner will win a free Le Pain Quotidien Bakery Class for you and a friend at their Newport Beach location in Fashion Island.

To enter, please subscribe to their mailing list by entering your information in the form below.  After you do so, leave a comment on this post telling me you subscribed along with what you love to bake the most. Contest runs through Wednesday, 2/27/13 at 5pm PST. Please leave your email in your blog comment below so I can contact you if you are the winner. Prize expires on 06/30/13 and participants must be 12 years of age and older. Good luck and happy baking!

This easy BBQ pulled pork crock pot recipe to put on hawaiian rolls with tangy coleslaw is a family-friendly weeknight dinner and would also make a great Superbowl party meal.

A friend gave me this recipe several years ago and I’ve since tweaked it a bit and passed it around to more friends. Double (or triple) it for your next party, always a crowd pleaser!

If you have leftovers, re-purpose the pulled pork for some southwest style tacos or grab a pizza crust at the store + your fave cheese for a bbq style pizza.  (When you pull it out of the oven, drizzle with a little of your favorite ranch and sprinkle with green onion + cilantro-yum!)  The opportunities are endless!

There’s a recipe for a delish/quick homemade BBQ sauce but if you’re in a hurry just grab a bottle of your favorite.

Oh, and another thing- this creamy slaw packs some tang…have some fun & try with a bag of broccoli slaw if you feel so inclined!?!

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For the Pork

1 cup low sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup worchestershire sauce

1/8 cup brown sugar

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/8 tsp dried crushed pepper

4lb pork butt (shoulder) roast (this can be separate smaller roasts)

Season the pork butt with a little salt and pepper.  Grab a large saute pan and brown the pork on all sides.

Put all ingredients in crock pot & mix.  Place pork in sauce.  Cover & turn on low for at least 8 hours.  Turn roast over halfway through.  When 8 hours is up, remove meat & let it cool.  Remove meat from bone & shred.

Discard most of the cooking liquid, adding a little back to the meat once it’s shredded.

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1/2 cup mayo

1 tbsp sour cream

1 tbsp grated onion

1 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp vinegar

1/2 tbsp dry mustard

1 tsp celery salt

1 bag cole slaw
Mix dressing & toss with cole slaw.

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Sandwich

1 package Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls

I like to put the pulled pork on the roll, drizzle with a bit of warm BBQ sauce and top with the creamy cole slaw.  And now my mouth is watering…

(If serving for a party, let the guests assemble their own for an interactive, low maintenance main course, and that way the sandos won’t get soggy.)

Enjoy!

XO

Your Sus Chef

Most of you know by now that I am a little challenged in the kitchen, so when I heard about Fresh Dish home-cooked meal delivery, a service that delivers everything you need to prepare an easy family meal to your doorstep, I thought, I have GOT to try this.

You can too, and save with a special buy one get one free meal kit with Fresh Dish discount code FRESHXTINYO [super deal.]

Fresh Dish is also giving away 5 meals this week, so make sure to enter below!

Here is how it works:

First you create an account online (or quickly log in via Facebook) and select the meals you would like to receive. The meals offer whole food ingredients, not processed or pre-packaged foods, and are all designed to be prepared in 30 minutes or less. What mom doesn’t love that?

After placing your order, you will receive your meal(s) via FedEx in a temperature-controlled container.  The meal kits are pre-measured, sliced, diced, washed, and ready to cook with simple-to-follow instructions. So simple even I could do it.

I went to Susanne’s house recently to make one of the Fresh Dish meals:  Sweet & Sour Chicken. Since she is the chef, I thought it best to prepare it together just in case I needed help. However, the instructions were so easy, even a person like me could make it. I didn’t even need Susanne’s help, except to be the photographer!

Our Sweet & Sour Chicken Meal Kit: 

I felt so happy cooking a fresh meal for my family.  One that didn’t leave the kitchen a mess or make me feel frazzled. Dare I say, this cooking experience was actually pleasant? It was!

When I was done, we had this beautiful family dinner. One that even my daughters liked! My husband was also very happy to come home from work on a Friday night to a delicious meal of sweet & sour chicken over a bed of basmati rice with peppers and onions. YUM!

They sent two meal kits for review, and the second one was just as tasty as the first.  Plus, it is something I would have never made on my own, very nice to add something different into the family meal rotation.

Meals can be bought in a 2 or 4 servings and whenever you buy two meals, shipping is free, and again, with the Fresh Dish discount code FRESHXTINYO you can buy one meal, get one free!

There are vegetarian and organic meals on the way, stay tuned.

You can also follow Fresh Dish on Facebook for the latest news and meal inspiration.

Want to try it out for yourself?

Visit www.FreshDish.com to learn more and to check if they deliver to your area! Enter to win a free meal (to qualifying areas!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[Disclosure: Fresh Dish is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor]

“Wine anchors good memories.” ~ David Mirassou

Give me a good glass of wine and some good company to share it with and I am one happy mama.  So when a representative from Mirassou Winery invited Susanne and I to attend an exclusive wine tasting event the evening before Bloggy Boot Camp in Las Vegas last weekend the answer was a very enthusiastic YES! This post is all about our experience tasting a selection of various Mirassou wines and my personal favorites.

The event was hosted by David Mirassou himself at the exclusive Foundation Room at the top of Mandalay Bay Resort.

Susanne and I broke out our cocktail attire and as we were enjoying the breathtaking view of the Strip while sipping on a glass of chilled Mirassou Moscato, we thought, “Just our typical Friday night…” Yeah right!

The experience started with a brief story about the history of Mirassou winery as told by David and passed down through the generations. The genesis of Mirassou wines was based on a love story between his great-great-great-great-grandfather who sailed from France with his bride and his prized grape cuttings to start a winery in the sun-drenched hills of California.

As David told the story, I was struck by his love for his family and his enthusiasm for what they have created in the world of wine-making over the last 150 years.

Over the course of our evening, we were able to sample a taste of each of six different vintages.

We started off with the Moscato, a little taste of summer in a bottle.  It was sweet and a refreshing mix of peach, tangerine, melon and honeysuckle.  With a lower alcohol content, this is a perfect start to a summer evening of entertaining.

Next we moved on to the Sauvignon Blanc, which was paired delightfully with grilled asparagus.  Crisp, tropical and balanced with hints of grapefruit, melon and pear, if you love a refreshing white wine, but not quite as sweet as the Moscato, this might be the right choice for you.

The Pinot Grigio was reminiscent of the prior, but with toned down acidity making it what some would find to be a more approachable white selection with hints of ripe apple, peach and citrus.

And then we were introduced to the Chardonnay.

I just LOVE a great chardonnay and their vintage, with its kiss of oak green apple and pineapple from Monterey, was the type of wine that immediately makes you want a second glass.

Immediately I proclaimed the Chardonnay to be my favorite (I am a white wine kind of gal when given the choice)  however, that was before I met the Pinot Noir.

I don’t drink red wine that often, but one smooth sip of the Pinot Noir, and I might have been swayed to the other side.

With flavors of cherries, strawberries and red currants, the Pinot Noir was extremely silky with no bitter lingering taste.

Whereas a good chardonnay is my summer wine, the Mirassou Pinot Noir will be my new fall/winter selection.

Furthermore, if you have to bring a bottle of wine to a party, this is the perfect choice because it is so mild and versatile.

Best part?  I picked up a bottle at my local OC Ralphs this week to serve at dinner with my in-laws and with my club card, the price came to $7.99!

Just goes to show you a quality wine doesn’t have to break the bank. Mirassou: I love you.

That is also why the Mirassou Pinot Noir is the #1 best selling Pinot Noir!

Next we were on to the Cabernet Sauvignon, deeper and richer, with hints of vanilla and brown spice.  Even though it was a heavier wine than the Pinot Noir, I still found it to be extremely smooth and tasty.

We then ended with the Merlot, a sweet vintage that has had to work hard to overcome a bad rap given to it by a certain movie years ago. I know you know the one…!

And I adored this full-bodied Merlot ~ the perfect complement to a pot roast or chocolate lava cake.  Yum, can we go to dinner now?!

Wine tasting is a very personal choice, and as David so accurately stated, when it comes to wine, the most important thing is to “Drink what you like!”

I can guaranteed you will find one or more Mirassou selections to fall in love with.

Click here to see where to buy Mirassou wine in Orange County.  Lucky for us, they can be found in most major grocery stores and other beverage stores throughout OC.

A very special thanks to David Mirassou for proving us with an evening that anchored many good memories!

[Disclosure: We attended the dinner and wine tasting complimentary. 100% of these opinions are my honest ones. I would love to hear your favorite Mirassou selections! Weigh in below...] 

Photo credits: Group  photos above compliments of Minnesota Girl in LA. Wine images via Mirassou.

Jen and I just spent an entire morning perusing the new Whole Foods Market Newport Beach wonderland (the word market just doesn’t seem to do it justice) and WHOLEY MOLY, if it weren’t for a looming preschool pick-up, both of us could have spent the whole day there!

Upon entering the store we were greeted by an inviting rainbow of colorful, perfectly ripened produce, stands and stands of it.  This might sound silly but it felt like happy food: Heirloom tomatoes, Bartlett pears, Honeycrisp apples, golden beets, turnips, endive, swiss chard, cabbage.

The care they put into their produce was subliminally saying: Eat these beautiful whole foods and you will feel happy.

It was a little bit of sensory overload because we wanted to take it all in and enjoy but we weren’t sure where to begin (in a good way).

We worked our way through the produce and noticed some bins of sprouted grain trail mixes and porridges (ooooooohhh) next we found ourselves in front with large vats of different types of olive oils to taste and bottles you can fill yourself  to take home (aaaaaahhh), and behind that were a bunch of empty little honey bear bottles begging you to choose your flavor and fill (I chose a sage flavored selection).

Then the seafood department!  Beautiful selection, amazing whole fish in front packed on ice, the prepped and ready to grill lobster tails and the oysters! Only 99 cents each- what a fun family night, to shuck and eat oysters at home!

As we strolled a little further we encountered the friendliest of helpers in the meat department.  Everyone wanted to be sure we were helped and the employees in every department asked if they could answer any questions. Here’s our new BFF Ryan the butcher…

We were quite enamored by a find in the center cooler for a quick grab: a few different types of pre-packaged dinner kits.  Each prepped complete with the meat and vegetables in an oven proof container. All you have to do is unwrap, season and throw it in a 300 degree oven for about 3 hours for a delicious dinner! And a great deal- priced about $15.99 for about 5 lbs of food (before cooking).

Ryan shared that their meat department also boasts an in-store smoker and they will smoke smaller cuts as you shop or with 24 hours notice they will smoke a larger cut to order. We tasted one of their smoked Texas burgers- loads of flavor!

Our next stop was the cheese department. We were given a sample of this goat cheese called Mitica Capricho De Cabra (he simply called it Mitica) which put the other pre-crumbled stuff to shame.  It had the distinct goat cheese flavor, but was smoother and creamier, Jen and I were dying over it! We couldn’t leave the store without a round of this- and this high quality goat cheese was just $4.65 for about 5 ounces, about the same price you pay for the mediocre stuff.

Here’s another new BFF, George from the cheese section. The employees all made us feel like celebrities! Everyone had such a passion for the products. Their enthusiam was contagious.

Just behind the cheese is the Back Bay Tavern a gastro pub featuring a cozy atmosphere, 24 beers on tap, cocktails and a nice wine selection plus a playful menu of exciting comfort foods.  This could make for a fun “Oh Babe, I didn’t have time to run to the store so I’m just going to run to the market really quick…” and meet up with a girl friend for a bite, a glass of wine and some groceries!

We were rounding out our visit and headed back to the front of the store to The Tea Hive featuring frozen tea drinks, a mixologist’s version of an iced tea and a selection of hot teas.  They even have two kinds of iced tea on tap so you can grab one while you shop and swing back around for a free refill on your way out!

As we were shopping and chatting we made plans for Jen and her family to come over for dinner.  I’ll be preparing a classic slow cooked Beef Short Ribs paired with a Celery Root Puree.  Stay tuned for a post with the photos and recipes for this delicious and easy Fall-feeling feast!  I was inspired when I spotted this gorgeous celery root…

I think the next time my girls and I have an open afternoon I’d like to just take them over to Whole Foods Newport Beach to introduce them to new food items in a fun show & tell sort of way.  Such a great opportunity to talk to them about eating a rainbow of colors and tasting exciting new healthy whole foods.

As we headed out the doors with our shopping bags, we were greeted by a shuttle attendant that offered us a free ride to our car. She helped us with our bags and we rode off into the sunset…

Incidentally, they also offer free valet if you prefer. There is nothing they haven’t thought of! PLEASE do yourself a favor and make a visit to this stellar location. It is an experience you will never forget. But trust us and block out a nice amount of time to take it all in. Once you step foot into the doors, you too, will be taken away into the Whole Foods Wonderland!

www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/newport

Follow Whole Foods Market Newport Beach on Facebook ~ And @WholeFoodsNB on Twitter
Click here for the weekly sales flyer

[Disclosure: We participated in a sponsored campaign by Whole Foods Market to help spread the word about this new location and were provided with a gift card to shop and share. Opinions are 100% our own!]