I always enjoy my trips to California. This time I brought my camera and had some fun with it. My awesome hosts (Evis and Jeff) from AWESOMETOWN took such great care of me. We did all kinds of fun stuff… here’s a peek into my lovely week in California. My favorite memories from the trip:

• Lunch at Lucques in Melrose Place
• Best iced mocha ever – at Intelligentsia
• Awesome finds at hipster shops on Abbot Kinney
• Taking random photos with Evis all over LA, inside shops, on the pier, on the beach….
• Getting sand between my toes at Santa Monica and walking on the pier
• Lovely 4th of July celebration with good friends
• Photo session in Filmore, then Santa Paula
• Overdosing on In-N-Out and Yum Yum donuts
• Seeing ol’ friends
• Smelling the air in Newhall. Yes – there is a distinctness to it and i’ve missed it.

Thank you everyone who came out and spent time with me. You know who you are.

Here’s a yummy recipe i concocted last night. It was so yummy I thought i’d share.

Salad dressing:

EVOO
roasted garlic hummus
lemon juice
sea salt
ground pepper

Veggies and protein:

Broiled/grilled:

broiled/grilled large shrimp or chicken (seasoned with what u like)
eggplant (sliced into thin wedges)
asparagus (cut to 1.5 inches)
zucchini and squash (cut into strips)
haloumi cheese (2 thin slices)
raw:
cucumber (sliced into thin slices)
avocado (cubed)
iceberg lettuce (cut into squares)
grape tomatoes

Method:

• Broil all the ingredients then set aside.
• Mix all the raw veggies with dressing
• When everything is mixed, spoon grilled veggies, cheese and shrimp/chicken on top of raw veggies.

Enjoy!

It was my first time in Chicago. There was nothing i didn’t like about it.