We were lucky to be invited to our friends Sara + Juan’s house for dinner tonight. We haven’t seen them since Christmas and we missed them!
What’s super cool is that we became friends because they rented our rental Craftsman after us, so tonight was like going home for dinner!
I offered to bring a pot of brown rice to go with Sara’s salmon + salad. Of course I had to jump at the chance to use the new rice cooker!
I didn’t know how long it would take to cook, but I put 2 cups of Lundburg Short Grain Brown Rice (my favorite of all kinds) in and set the time so it would be ready at 5:30. That timer feature is priceless! I saw that it had turned on around 3:45, so it definitely took ages to cook.
But when it finally sung a song to tell me it was ready, I checked the results. Perfect sticky brown rice!
I also made a batch of Mmmm Sauce to go with! Having it at Hillary’s last week hooked me on the sauce over rice. I rarely make sauces in my Vita-mix. I have a fear of contaminating my smoothie maker with garlic and oil. I washed it extra sudsy, but I’m still scared my next smoothie is going to taste like curry…
When we got to Sara + Juan’s, Sara had put out this lovely spread of pita chips and dips.
We could not keep from munching – I probably ate a full cup of that olive cream cheese spread in the front she got at whole foods. Soooo good! (And we were hungry!)
We tested out Sara + Juan’s 3D TV – cool stuff!!
We also sipped coconut drinks – I forgot the brand, but it was a coconut fizzy probiotic drink Sara got to whole foods as well. I have to hunt this down!
Dinner was excellent.
Salmon lightly poached in Dr. Pete’s Praline Mustard Glaze. Mmmmm!
Plus a goat cheese + walnut salad with Sara’s homemade Magic Bullet balsamic. I will get this recipe from her soon! Might have to contaminate the blender for that one too…
Unfortunately something was off in the Mmmm Sauce. It only gets two Mms. I think my almonds might have been stale, or perhaps the roasted garlic oil I used (a free sample) threw off my palate. Hillary’s was better! I blame the cook (ahem, me).
To end our night, Matt and I brought a smuggled Chocolate Bliss cookie from the bakery. We only made 18 of these today in a test batch and they were sold in no time. Luckily Matt swiped one for us. It was INCREDIBLE!!!!!! Like a brownie batter cookie. I can’t wait to have it again! We’ll be making them everyday in February. I had my own cookie piece, but Matt and I shared some milk. Haven’t had cookies n milk in ages!
Tucked into our new house now (which we like for totally different reasons from our dear Craftsman)
Lynn @ the actor's diet says
I don’t know anyone w a 3d tv in LA!!!
KathEats says
LOL!
Kristin says
WOW! Everything looks amazing! I love all the different dips you made. And that mustard glaze must have made the salmon taste even better. I hope you enjoyed dinner.
Sana says
Hahaha, now a curry smoothie would not be too bad, would it? I<3 curry!
Mai says
Looks like a great dinner!
I make mmm sauce in my Vitamix all the time and it doesn’t affect my smoothies at all. 🙂
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
That dinner looks so good!! I’ve been wanting salmon for awhile; I should probably just buckle down and buy some. Your dinner sure beats my peanut butter sandwich for dinner… 😉
Erin Motz says
That cookie! Yum!
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! says
Dinner with friends….so fun!
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
how fun! we know the new owners of our last condo and it’s so funny to go back and see how they are living in “our” space.
that whole dinner looks just amazing! i have yet to try the mmmmm sauce… but it gets rave reviews from everyone i see!
mama says
do you think maybe you left out the cilantro? I know it is in mama pea’s recipe and just in looking what you wrote down it’s not in the ingredient list, just a thought…
KathEats says
I did because I didn’t have any, but that probably wasn’t the off taste. i think it was one of my ingredients
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
I just love mmmm sauce but I’m not sure how it would be on rice. We just like to cook our brown rice in the rice cooker in veggie broth instead of water.
Keri says
Your dinner looks amazing….And I might have missed it in an earlier post, but what kind of rice cooker did you get? Looks much more advanced than my old one–which may need replacing soon! Brown rice does take ages, but the taste is so worth it 🙂
Wish I could try your dessert!
KathEats says
I got this one as recommended by Daily Garnish: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MAERM0/ref=oh_o01_s00_i00_details
Khushboo says
Luckily my blender has detachable heads so I bought one which is just designated for garlic/onions!
Maria @ Sinfully Nutritious says
I use my vitamix for sauce, smoothies, hummus, soup, and I have never had any taste from prior concoctions. I also have a bullet with extra cups, which is very convenient if you want to keep the smoothies separate. I guess it is kind of like the cutting board, I hate when I forget I cut an onion prior to my apple, YUK! I always say I am going to keep two on the counter, one fruit and one veggies. It never happens. 🙂 I am so lazy.
Kelly @ Vegolosophy says
Cookies+Milk is the perfect match and way to end the night 🙂
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
I’ve made Mmm sauce a bunch of times but never put it on rice. That’s a great idea!
Catherine says
I make Mmmm Peanut sauce all the time, I use an emersion blender and it works amazingly! In fact, it is my favorite kitchen gadget, highly recommended 🙂
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
Looks like a great cookie and the homemade Magic Bullet balsamic – yum! Sorry to hear the MMm sauce wasn’t quite right.
I laughed when I read the garlic/curry possibly contaminating your smoothie maker…Lol. I don’t cook with garlic or curry much, if ever, so that’s not an issue for me but I feel that way about my silpat liners when I roast veggies on them..and then go to make cookies on them. Like are these cookies going to taste like roasted cauliflower…ha!
Karen says
Ha…I feel very protective toward my silpats too, Averie 🙂
Liz says
The short grain brown rice from Lungberg is my favorite rice, too 🙂
Melissa says
yum! looking forward to the Magic Bullet recipe. always looking for good uses for that thing!
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl says
Had to come over and catch up on your posts…. now milk and cookies sounds so yum. All I have is coconut milk at the moment. Ya, that would go with a chocolate cookie. 😉
hillary b says
Ha! Thanks for the shout-out! 🙂 when I first made the mmm sauce, it was a bit thick for my taste and a little too garlicky, so I thinned it with water, a dash of tamari, more fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. That may account for the slight difference in taste! Also I used dry-roasted almonds, so mine might have had more salt in it than yours. Hope that helps if you attempt it again! Lost night again soon!!
KathEats says
I bet the roasted almonds made a big difference! And tamari! Good idea!
KathEats says
PS. We’re in the middle of the S1 Finale!
Gillian G. @ When Bread Is Broken says
I know EXACTLY what olive cheese dip to which you are referring…*drool.* It’s in our fridge right now. I have no idea how it has lasted so long.
And that coconut probiotic drink you mentioned is called Kevita. I tried it not so long ago myself (much cheaper than Kombucha!).
[I’m a Whole Foods addict…can you tell? 😉 ]
KathEats says
Haha. Yes, love that olive dip! And Kevita was it!
Docia says
I don’t think the Vitamix will get contaminated, I have never found the smells to linger. Looks like a fun evening!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama says
I’m always hesitant to cook with curry not because it will contaminate my blender but my whole house smells like it for days!
The new bakery cookies sound amazing!
Chloe @ munchforhealth says
Those cookies look amazing, sounds like a fun evening!
Simply Life says
Oh I can tell how good that cookie is just from the picture!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I’m scared of making hummus in my food processor for the same reason! I was thinking of getting a second food processor so that I can have one for savory foods and one for sweet foods! 😛
Karen says
I have been a long time fan of Lundberg’s rice too, and generally cook it in veggie broth on the stovetop for a flavor boost. A relatively recent discovery: Lotus Foods rices. There are all sorts of exotic blends, but my favorite is the black rice and the pink rice, though I have not been disappointed with any of the varieties I’ve tried…their frangrance is devine! (Whole Foods, International aisle, along with the other packaged rices.)
Cait's Plate says
That chocolate bliss cookie looks like just that…bliss. I love that you ended the day with cookies and milk!
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
Sounds like a lovely evening! I’m sure it does feel strange going back to your old house. I had a friend who moved into an apartment after I lived there and it was strange to go back. I understand.
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
I hope your vitamix is fine! If so many other people use it for many purposes, I’m sure it will be. I have that problem with water bottles though – can’t put anything but water in it or the taste will linger!
Angel7 says
Your rice looks perfect!
A cookie and milk right about now sounds excellent!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Maggie @ Say Yes to Salad says
I bet the fizzy drink was KeVita. I love that stuff.
Jodi @ jodeexi writes says
I have the same fear when using containers for things like curry or coffee… Always think the smell stays! Oh well..dinner looked great!
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning says
I’ve got at try that Mmm sauce! I was just looking that the recipe on Friday. Right now, I feel like my “to make” lists from fantastic blog recipes is so long that I need to stop adding to it for a while!
If you want something absolutely amazing (and different!) for dinner soon, check out the recipe on Amanda’s (Pickles n Honey) blog for Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie. My hubby and I made it last night and I can’t stop raving about it! http://www.picklesnhoney.com/2012/01/25/sweet-potato-shepherds-pie/
KathEats says
Looks delicious!
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
Great food…great friends…creating great memories…priceless!
Kel@The Kel Show says
Now I need to go to Etsy to find a chalkboard like that. Love the idea!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
What a tasty looking evening! Haha 😀
Becca says
We got a 3D TV this month; very cool.
Also, best dinner ever. Everything sounds so delicious: coconut cocktail (please let us know the brand when you find out), salmon, Lundenberg short brown rice (also my favorite type!), balsamic-dressed salad, brownie cookies, mmm sauce, pita chips… *drools*
Chantal says
I was wondering if Mmm sauce is based off of Yumm sauce from Cafe Yumm and it looks like it is. You’ve got to come out the northwest and try the real thing! (or I could just send you some…)
KathEats says
I’m pretty sure it is!
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles says
Mmmm! I need more salmon & Mmmm Sauce in my life!
Kelly Kurcina says
Kath, I think it might have been Kevita brand coconut probiotic drink~I LOVE IT!!
Lindsay @ Salt, Sun & Sanity says
That cookie sounds incredible! Tastes like brownie batter?! I like all my baked goods the best in batter form 😉
Lindsay says
Great idea on the sauce for rice! I’m trying to incorporate more brown rice into our diet, but it can seem so boring to me at times…going to have to try Mmmm sauce soon!
Robin says
Just curious- do you know where you got your beige jacket with the pleats? I love it!
KathEats says
It’s actually a purple-gray and it’s from LOFT!
~Christy says
So glad to hear you like the Chocolate Bliss (I mean, come on…how can you not) — this is one of our inventions 🙂 Super duper yummy!!!
Katherina says
Kevita is the coconut drink. The plain one tastes like yogurt! They’re pretty popular now.