Rosemary's Casserole

This is our family's recipe box.  It contains tried and true family recipes- the proof is in the splatters and stains.  I pulled out a longtime favorite recently and decided to make it.

Rosemary was a friend of my grandmother's and we would eat this growing up.  It's pure comfort food- hamburger meat, browned onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes.  You top it off with a generous grating of parmesan cheese and then wait for the edges of the noodles to crackle and crisp in the oven.  That's when you know it's just begging to be eaten.  

Recipe
1 1/2 lb. hamburger
1 1/2 lb. wide egg noodles
2-3 onions and 4-6 green bell peppers
garlic
1 large can tomato paste
1 can whole tomatoes, drained
1 large can tomato sauce
Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste


Boil noodles.  Separately, saute chopped onions and peppers, (garlic optional).  Saute meat.  Add all sauces together.  Mix everything in a baking dish.  Sprinkle with cheese.


Bake at 350 degrees F, for 30-45 minutes, or until cheese melts and noodles on top start to get nice crunchy edges.

Posh Palm Springs

I love the desert.  I love its diversity.  It's not just the sandy Sahara (though I was awestruck by that).  The California desert is beautiful in its own right.  And Palm Springs is a perfect introduction to this part of the state.  The first time I visited was on spring break in college five years ago.  My brother and I somehow thought it was a good idea to do Palm Springs as a day trip from LA.  Twice.  Now, don't get me wrong.  It's not far at all (especially if you avoid rush hour while pushing 80-85 on the CA-60 as I did this last week.  I don't advise that btw).  But it deserves to be savored slowly.  It's the desert after all.  And if you've ever been to a desert climate, you know that life moves a little differently.  For me, that means relaxing at a lovely bed and breakfast.  Sitting by the pool while reading a Swedish mystery.  Venturing out for a hike.  Playing mini golf at night.    

Well, Posh Palm Springs is the perfect place to do all of the above and more.

This was our room.  The owners, Suzy and Mike, completely renovated a gay men's hotel  (Palm Springs has a very large gay and lesbian community) that was falling apart, literally.  I saw the pictures.  It was pretty serious work- everything was in terrible condition.  But they must have seen its potential.

Because they transformed it into this.  Paradise.  

The filthy jacuzzi from the 70's was replaced with this beauty.  Every night, under the cold desert sky, we'd run out here in our robes for a quick soak.  

And every evening at 4pm (5pm in the warmer months), show up at the bar because it's happy hour.  

Suzy and her son will provide you with a new spread every night.  Platters of meat and cheeses.  Homemade artichoke and jalapeno dip.  Fruit.  Iced tea, wine, beer, cocktails.  Take as little or as much as you like.  They'll even get the fire pit started for you.  

Then they show you where the extra wood is since you show no sign of leaving the warmth, bake some fresh chocolate chip cookies and tell you they'll see you in the morning.

And this is what you wake up to.  A delicious buffet of home-cooked goodness.  The first morning, it's an egg omelet, home fries, bacon, yogurt and fruit.  All the coffee, tea, and juice you could ask for.  The second day featured French Toast Casserole.  It was even better than it sounds.  I'll have to share the recipe eventually.

Afternoon moon by the pool

So if you're not sure if the desert is your thing, dip your feet in Posh.  I guarantee you'll be coming back for more.

Posh is located at 530 East Mel Avenue in Palm Springs, just off of N Indian Canyon Drive.

Night + Market in LA

When I came down to LA, I knew I wanted to check out the pop-up Thai street food restaurant Night + Market.  Pull behind the curtain at the Talesai restaurant on Sunset, and you're there.  The room is sparsely decorated with a projector playing movies on the side wall.  The food?  Well, I would be tempted to eat here often if I lived in the area.   

Beef jerkey, veggies, egg

Nuoc mam chicken wings w/rooster sauce

My favorite dish of the night (on the dine LA menu)- grilled eggplant salad, boiled shrimp, shallots, lime juice, bird eye 

Pad kee mao

Beef grapow w/fried egg

Fried banana and coconut ice cream

Ice cream sandwich (sticky rice, coconut ice cream sandwiched between 2 rolls)

Night + Market is at 9043 Sunset Blvd. in LA.