Avocado and Camembert

December 24, 2013

I am an absolute fiend for avocados. You probably know that by now. I literally can't get enough of them. Apparently they were my favorite food when I first started eating solid foods as a baby, and I might like them even better now. It doesn't hurt that I live in California, where avocados are inexpensive and plentiful, year round. The one year I lived in Denver I literally mourned for avocados every day. Now that I'm back home in sunny L.A., I eat a half an avocado almost every day. Yes, they are full of fat. But it's good fat. Really good fat. Avocados are delicious in salads, and on omelets and so many other ways, but the easiest thing is to mash them up and spread them on toast. Even better if you use a crusty bread and add a slice of soft camembert cheese first. Then a dash of pink Himalayan salt, and voila! - instant breakfast. It's so delicious I can hardly stand it.

Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Hollandaise Sauce

March 14, 2013

Best Blender Hollandaise

3 egg yolks dash of salt dash of cayenne 2+ tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice one stick of butter

Put all the ingredients except for the butter into your blender and blend for a couple of seconds until they are combined. Then melt your butter in the microwave just until it is fully melted. Take the small cover off of the hole in your blender lid, and with the blender blades running, slowly pour the melted butter into the blender in a thin stream. The hollandaise will fly back up at you during this process, so I find it's best to hold a piece of paper towel over the hole with my left hand, just leaving enough space to pour the butter in with my right hand. As soon as the butter has been incorporated, taste-test to see if you need to add more salt, cayenne or lemon juice. Voila!

Image | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Avocado Breakfast

March 7, 2013

We have had no shortage of avocados lately as our "neighborhood" avocado tree is producing more than we can possibly consume. But I still try to eat as many as possible, partially because I L-O-V-E avocados and partially because I don't want the neighborhood racoons and skunks to get them! Sliced avocado on toasted English muffins with poached eggs on top is one of the most simple and delicious breakfasts around.

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Breakfast at Los Feliz Cafe

February 28, 2013

Although I am always up for lemon ricotta pancakes or beignets with Madagascar vanilla dipping cream, occasionally I'll find myself in the mood for a solid, no-muss, no-fuss breakfast. Los Feliz Cafe is the perfect destination when that sort of craving hits: good coffee, eggs cooked perfectly any way you want them, traditional pancakes or french toast, crispy bacon or savory sausage. A meal that will stick with you even if you're about to spend the day at Disneyland.

Los Feliz Cafe 3207 Los Feliz Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90039 -323-661-2355

Images by Lauryl Lane.

Christmas Brunch

January 8, 2013

This morning I consumed the last of the holiday apricot rolls (our family's traditional christmas pastry), and reminisced about Christmas morning. Christmas morn has always been one of my favorite moments of the year, since I was quite young. When I was growing up, my family always slept in and then gathered in the kitchen to prepare ourselves a grand Christmas brunch. Not until we'd all eaten did we congregate in the living room to read Christmas stories, open presents and dig through stockings. Today, my husband and I continue that tradition. We sleep in as late as we can, and then we make ourselves a scrumptious morning feast. Many people tell me that Christmas morning is chaotic for them as kids and adults alike get up early and rush to see what Santa delivered. But not so for my family, and I am so grateful that I was raised in a family where the emphasis was on having fun and spending time together instead of on material things. It sort of puts everything into perspective to take some time to just enjoy being with the ones you love on such a special holiday.

Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

walnut coffee cake

September 28, 2012

This has got to be the easiest + yummiest coffee cake ever. In fact, I may just have to whip up a batch this weekend! I keep a package of walnuts in my freezer so I can make this coffee cake at a moment's notice if we decide to be spontaneous and invite a friend or neighbor to drop by for brunch (clearly our favorite meal!).

1-1/2 cups flour, whole wheat and/or unbleached white 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup butter 1/2 cup milk 2 unbeaten eggs

Sift flower with baking powder and salt, and blend in sugar. Add butter and milk and beat 300 strokes. Add eggs and beat two minutes.

Topping: 2 Tablespoons melted butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 cup walnuts, cut up 1 Tablespoon flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine butter and sugar and add walnuts, flour and cinnamon. Mix well.

Spread half of batter on bottom of 9" square greased pan and cover with half of topping mixture, then repeat.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 4-6.

perfect breakfast

September 27, 2012

I am slowly but surely getting back into the swing of things as I settle into my new home in L.A. and pick up with work. Part of the process of getting "settled" includes setting routines: especially important for those of us who work from home, and perhaps even more important for those of us who are "creatives." My natural inclination is to approach my day willy-nilly, but as that usually means that I don't accomplish everything that needs to be done, I try to stick to a routine as much as possible. My morning routine involves a run around the Silver Lake reservoir, followed by some mellow time for eating breakfast, reading the paper, and considering the day that lies before me. I'm not a morning person, so taking the time to "be" each morning is essential for me to get into the right head space.

Image | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

the most important meal of the day

May 31, 2012

Breakfast continues to be my favorite meal of the day. I eat after my morning run, and I love the ritual of making my breakfast and sitting down to eat before I turn on the computer and let the momentum of the day envelope me. My go-to breakfast of late is Trader Joe's Hot Cereal (farina), with sliced fruit, a generous dollop of greek yogurt, some dried cranberries, and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. I always start my week-day mornings with a cup of earl gray tea, too. Don't you just love the Bunnykins dishes? This set was my "baby china," and my mother recently gave it to me to keep (!!!). Although the mug is rather small, I love drinking from it- I have such clear memories of drinking from it as a child! Don't tell my husband, but I think I might start collecting Bunnykins china...

Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.