May 25 2003

May 25 2003 is an awesome day. Guess what???? Giada got married!!! On May 25 2003, she married Todd Thompson. A designer for Anthropoligie. They were dating since July 1989. They had their first child, Jade Marie De Laurentiis-Thompson, On March 29 2008. Jade is named after her mom. "Giada" is "Jade" in Italian. Anything else about May 25 2003? Nope. Wait! Oh yeah, I was born on May 25 2003.

Yum.....Easy Casual Family Restaurant

Yesterday, I had 2 dress rehearsals for the show today. In between both rehearsals, Mama took me for lunch. We went to a nice, casual diner. Diner No. 1 in Steveston. (Right beside Steveston Bakery across the street from McDonalds.) We shared a fried haddock burger and a veggie burger. There was an oyster burger on the menu, after all me and Mama have been searching for the best oyster burger. So far we have had 2. One at Chewies Kitsilano, see blog post 'Chewies.' and the other one, at a food truck in downtown called 'The Kaboom Box'. Sadly they were out of oysters to make the oyster burger at Diner No. 1.
We asked for Crispy Onions on top of the veggie burger (Yum!) We each had fries and coleslaw. There is an easy family diner.

Who says Mama's day can't be THIS great?

Mother's day brunch...Now, that's something Mama will LOVE.

Here is a quick brunch menu Mama will look forward to every May.


Almond Pancakes

Buttermilk pancakes flavored with pure almond extract. Topped with whipped cream, sliced blanched almonds and quartered strawberries. 100% delicious.

Pancake mix (made according to package directions. Enough for 5 pancakes.)
2 teaspoons pure almond extract
3 tablespoons sliced blanched almonds plus 1 more tablespoon for serving
4 large strawberries, quartered for serving
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Whipped cream, for serving

Whisk the almond extract into the prepared pancake mix, fold in the 3 tablespoons of almonds. Melt the butter on med-high. Cook 1 pancake at a time. Make each pancake 1/4 cup. Flip when the top of the pancake is bubbling. Cook until golden brown on both sides. Top with whipped cream, the sliced almonds and strawberries.


Nectarine Mint Fruit Salad

A delicious blend of nectarine, strawberries, grapes and watermelon. Tossed with fresh mint. In fact, I'm eating some RIGHT NOW.

2 small nectarines, diced
1/2 a watermelon, cubed
10 large strawberries, quartered
20 red grapes, halved
10 mint leaves, cut into ribbons (see Nailah's Note on post "A great weeknight meal.")

Toss all ingredients together. (As easy as that!)

Finish brunch off with Mama's favorite coffee!

Happy Mama's Day!

A great weeknight meal.

After reading Giada's cookbook full of weeknight meals, sides and desserts, I decided to think up my own. This is a great weeknight meal.

Seafood Pasta

1 pound linguine pasta
1/2 a can tomato sauce
1 can roasted garlic alfredo sauce
2 fresh sole fillets all bones removed, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 1/2 cups Kani, (crab flavored pollock) cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 small white onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive or grapeseed oil
5 basil leaves, cut into ribbons (see Nailah's Note)

Boil water in a large pot add the pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain the pasta and set aside. Put the oil in a large saucepan and sweat the onions and garlic, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato and alfredo sauce, then the kani and sole. Simmer 10-15 min. Pour over pasta and garnish with basil ribbons. Serve and Enjoy!

Nailah's Note
To cut leafy herbs into ribbons, stack them on top of each other and tightly roll them. Then slice on the diagonal.


Tropical Punch

1 cup mango juice
1 cup lychee juice
2 cups ginger ale or sparkiling water

Mix together in a large pitcher. Pour the ginger ale slowly! Or it will fizz to high and spill.