Grape & Goat Cheese Truffles

Grape & Goat Cheese Truffles

Does anyone else dream in cheese?

A sweet triple cream brie, silky soft, spread on a buttery cracker. The kind of melt-in-your-mouth goodness that can only be enhanced by the perfect glass of wine. A certain dimly lit ambiance that lulls you into a perfect indulgence laden euphoria. . .

Hmm. Is that just me? Well, now you know my creepy fromagerie fantasies. Don't judge.

Anyway when I'm looking to satisfy my cheesiest urges, I head over to a local restaurant called Roy. It hits every single point delineated above. It's got a cool 60's lounge vibe, a great price point, and is seriously delicious. Did I mention they sell awesome funky art that really breaks up the whole "Santa Barbara landscapes" monotony that we call an art scene up here? But I digress. . . most importantly it's where I discovered my newest love: grape & goat cheese truffles!

Now normally I would never take on the task of "I tasted this in a restaurant and shall use my uber skills to recreate it at home".

Believe me, I know I'm not that good. But something about these little bursts of sweet cheesy crunchy goodness gave me this motivational push to say "yes I can!"

So here you go, my at home version of Roy's grape & goat cheese truffles. They are seriously impressive, and seriously easy.

Which we all know is the best combination ever!

Adapted from What's Cooking America

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds pistachio nuts, shelled, chopped rough (about 1 cup)*
8 ounces goat cheese, room temperature
24 seedless red grapes, stems removed and wiped clean

* Your favorite nuts (such as walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pecans) may be substituted for the pistachio nuts.

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread nuts on an ungreased baking sheet and toast in the oven for 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. In blender or food processor, process nuts until finely chopped.

Put one 1/2 tablespoon of the goat cheese in the palm of one hand and in it roll a grape, shaping the mixture around the grape to coat. Repeat process with remaining grapes and chill on a sheet pan for 15 minutes.

Roll the cheese-coated grapes in the nut mixture to cover completely and chill for 30 minutes or until

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Preparing for Flight

Preparing for Flight

Paris is oh-so-quickly approaching.
Despite all my planning, I feel completely ill-prepared.

Operation learn French in one month: fail.
My list of restaurants to visit is far longer than my stomach capacity is wide.
Sadly. **sigh**
And as the primary planner in our household I feel all the pressure of creating a successful trip full of wonderful memories.
The bf's only plan revolves around stuffing his face full of crepes.
Oh, and the daily bottle of wine and block of cheese he's been moo-ing about for weeks now.lol
( if you've never met the guy, he's real skinny, so i'm allowed to be bitter and crap-talk about his eating habits!)

I've been distracted lately with my graphic design class.
We've been learning a lot about the importance of having a strong concept for a project.

It's really had me thinking about this here little blog, and how I really need to focus in on a concept.
As you can tell by my ever changing decor around here, my ideas change with each shift in the wind and turn of my mood.
And Little Girl Shiny World, as cute as I think it sounds, well its a little long. and it might give the idea that I am a little girl, which my dears I am definitely not. I will share with you here that I am 24 years old. I don't play with dolls, and my view of the world can sometimes be quite cynical.. I wouldn't say the world is shiny all the time, some days it's barely a sheen for me.

The point is I've been doing some re-thinking about this blog. I would never abandon it. I love all the interesting blogs I've found and inspiration I encounter daily because of my outlet. But it needs some re-tooling. To be decisively me. Or decisively what I'd like to be, and share. A little cleaner, less scattered. More of me doing things that I love and searching out what those things are.

I think I'm having a kind of "Reality Bites" moment in life, and that extends into this realm as well. 
(if you don't get the reference, Google it. 2 hours of 90's angst perfected).

So I'll be back--Paris beckons after all.
But don't be surprised if I've changed.
Perhaps a little wiser, most unavoidably older.

Or maybe just fatter. From all the damn good food I've eaten.
Stay tuned!

From Pa Design

**oh and I just had to share this. it's a tripod that can mount onto a water bottle. no more cutting each others heads off or long arm shots of you and your honey! if it actually works its genius**

Oysters Rockefeller, Yes Please.

Oysters Rockefeller, Yes Please.

Dear Brophy Brothers Santa Barbara,


You have cursed me to a life of wanting.
Wanting oysters rockefeller.
The most delicious thing ever,
next to your clam chowder that is.
Seriously, I am going to have to make this.