Tropical Crescent Ring

During the summer I love to sit outside in the morning on the weekends and enjoy a nice cup of hot tea and something delicious for breakfast.  A great way to start the day off, in the quiet...before the world gets busy and hectic.  

So this morning that's exactly what MGG and I did.  Spend a few quite moments talking and eating breakfast outside...before the day gets started..and around here, before the scorching heat is upon us.  It's been humid, oh sooo humid, and around 100 degrees all week.  This weekend promises the same.

I do have a confession to make though, before telling you about this dish.  I tend to read a lot of recipes, blogs, cookbooks etc...Then I go out an buy ingredients to make that special something, and a week goes by and I read some more, and I forget what that special something was!  So then I have some great ingredients lying around and don't know what I intended them for...C'est la vie!  It's a bad habit of mine.  

The reason I'm telling you this it this ties to my creation of this mornings breakfast.  I wanted to make something like a pastry.  I knew, looking around I found some dried pineapple and some macadamia nuts but to be honest I don't remember what they were for...possibly oatmeal granola bars?  Anyway they gave me the idea to make a this Tropical Crescent Ring.  Now to find some shredded coconut, which I located in the freezer, and some type of dough (not wanting to make this from scratch today) so I found a can of Crescent Rolls in the frig.  Voila, I had my inspiration.  (Think I'm picking up the French language from a book I'm reading right now...but I digress)

This is a wonderful pastry to make.  Easy to put together, and similar to cinnamon rolls.  It takes about 35-40 min from start to finish, and the smell when it's baking...heaven!  Nothing too complicate here but oh so tasty!  It's really a semi-homemade version you can whip up easily and everyone will enjoy.

Kitchen Tip:  when working with this crescent dough, try to work quickly so the dough doesn't heat up.  If it does it makes the dough too pliable and it will be hard to roll and keep roll nice and intact.  (Not that I know this from experience of anything!)

So make this wonderful breakfast for you and your family...enjoy the moment, and the day ahead!

Tropical Crescent Ring
serves 4-6
time: 40 min

1 8 oz can crescent dinner rolls 
2 T butter softened or melted
2 T brown sugar 
1/4 c chopped dried pineapple
2 T sweetened shredded coconut
1/3 c chopped macadamia nuts

Glaze:
1/3 c powdered sugar
2 t milk
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place a piece of parchment paper on a large cookie sheet.  Unroll dough on the parchment paper in a rectangle and press all seams together.  

In a bowl, mix butter, brown sugar, pineapple, and coconut. Spread mixture over dough to within 1/2 inch from the edges.  Sprinkle nuts over the top. 

Starting with long side of rectangle, roll up the pastry into a long roll.  Pinch the the seam into the dough to seal when you've finished rolling.  Using a knife, cut the dough into 12 equal slices. Arrange the slices on the parchment paper almost cut side up, overlapping the pieces slightly so they touch, in a circle.  

Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes. Remove from pan to a cooling rack and cool completely.  If desired, make a glaze by mixing the powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl, making sure you add enough milk for a thin drizzle.  Drizzle over crescent ring and serve. 

La Costa Resort and Spa

With all that is going on in life you need to make some time for even a quick getaway.

That's just what we did, heading down to beautiful Carlsbad, CA to the La Costa Resort and Spa.  Noted as California's destination for Mind, Body + Sport.  A huge 400 acre resort with a golf course, tennis courts, multiple pools (as in 6), lush gardens, which all surround the Spanish Colonial styled resort.  Something to behold for sure!

We were so ready for some time away to refresh the mind.  Walking the grounds we found quite spots with hammocks to curl up in, small courtyards where you could sit and relax, and even an outdoor shopping area to buy to your hearts content.  

Being brilliant and in a rush to leave and relax....(I know, huh?) I didn't charge my camera, nor did I bring the charger.  And do you think my cell phone battery was charged by the time we got there?  Of course not...not my wonderful smartphone!  So needless to say the pics are far and few between.  But I got enough for memories, and to give you a flavor of the place.

The views were just beautiful. 

After exploring the resort we decided to unwind and have a nice lunch.  The restaurant, Bistro 65, overlooked the golf course.  A very serene experience.  

See the chef in the top window? 

The food while priced on the expensive side was wonderful.  The chef uses local, sustainable ingredients and seasons from the restaurants’ own herb garden wall.  A typical bistro menu included sandwiches, soups, salads, appetizers, and several nice entrees including some local fish to choose from.   We got a couple of sandwiches and some salad and fruit.  Nice, light, and refreshing!  Sorry, didn't get to snap a shot of the food.

After we walked around exploring the different sections.  Here is a wonderful fountain we found on the way to play tennis.  There were outdoor fire pits and fireplaces everywhere so you could sit in the evening and relax.

 
The rooms were very elegantly furnished.  There are quite of few buildings that have different housing.  Ours overlooked the lush gardens.  Oh, and don't forget about the enormous bathroom with the tub to die for!  Don't get me started on that tub!  It's gigantic, and there's heaven in that tub!

 Sorry, I had just bounced on the bed before I took this picture...do you do that?

On the way to dinner and some little nightlife that evening I spotted several bunny rabbits out in the garden.  Adorable!

We had a wonderful time there.  So much to do.  They have a Chopra Center where you can soothe your mind as well.  Several programs for kids, and all types of activities such as smore's nights around the fire pits and movies on the weekend under the stars.  

We were sad to go home.  We got to relax, but never enough right?   On the way home we went looking for a place for breakfast.  Found something online that had good rating and set off to find it.  Let me tell you, this was something out of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.  A small side of a country type road diner....loaded with people!  

What a pleasant surprise Bobby's Hideaway Cafe was.  We had picked a winner!  Full of people, the diner was tidy, and had an array of breakfast items to choose from.  We both picked a egg/potato/toast plate.  Great tasting food, I must say.  I chose a biscuit with mine that was so light and fluffy, I could have eaten just biscuits!  

We will definitely be back to La Costa Resort and Spa and to Bobby's Hideaway Cafe for more....relaxation and good food.  What more could you ask for?

Quick Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce

A quick and easy meal that is reminiscent of my vacation in Italy!  It's simple Italian pasta at it's finest!

Quick Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce 

Need a quick weeknight meal?

I've got just the thing for you.  How does a quick penne pasta with a tasty meat sauce sound?  Good? You bet it is!

This little dish is something I made up to remind me of our daily meals in Rome.  We often visited this family restaurant daily.  They were so friendly and we felt at home there.  The owner became a good friend and would visit with us telling stories of Italy, and in turn asking about California.  

Such complete different worlds.  He would have a daily dish that was made special by the chef.  Sometimes pasta, other days it was a wonderful chicken dish.  But the sauces were special.  Made with meat and tomatoes and garlic and onion.  Hearty yet light enough to not overwhelm.

So being in the mood, this is my successful attempt at Luigi's wonderful pasta sauce.  It's easy enough to make on a weeknight, but hearty enough for a complete meal with a side salad and don't forget the garlic bread.

I hope you enjoy this.  It brings back fond memories of Rome.

Quick Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce

Serves 4

 

1/2 pound penne pasta

Salt

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 cups chopped onion (about 1 large onion)

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Dash red pepper flakes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 pound ground sirloin

2 1/2 cups canned chunky tomato sauce 

3 T shredded mozzarella cheese

1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Heat to boiling a large pot with 4 quarts of water in it. Once the water is boiling, salt it with 1 Tbsp of salt. Once the water returns to a boil add the pasta to the pot. Cook on high heat with a vigorous boil 8-10 minutes.  Drain.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add onion, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened. Add the garlic, salt and pepper. Cook for an additional minute, until the garlic is fragrant. Add ground sirloin and stir to break up beef, browning.  

Add tomato sauce. Bring to a simmer on low heat, let cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes.  Stir in the cooked penne pasta. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and chopped parsley. Serve immediately.