Summer Salads and a $25 Panera Bread Gift Card Giveaway!

So I have a bit of a foodie confession... I LOVE Panera Bread. I know, I know, in a land of gourmet and gastopubs I admire what some consider to be "fast food". I just want to clear that up... it's NOT fast food. Panera is fresh food, fast. Do they use that in their marketing already? If not, they should! 

I recently got word that there are new items on the menu for summer. Some old favorites and some soon to be staples are back on the boards at Panera Bread. Their ever-popular Strawberry Poppyseed and Chicken Salad is back after much demand. The fresh strawberries and blueberries compliment the yummy Mandarin oranges and pineapple, oh, and those good old pecans for a bit of crunch, topped with all-natural, antibiotic-free chicken and a drizzle of their fat-free poppyseed dressing. I mean that's pretty much summer in a bowl! 

This summer they are also introducing a new salad offering, the Chilled Shrimp and Soba Noodle Salad. Combine soba noodles tossed with Napa cabbage and peanut sauce alongside fresh baby spinach tossed with orange miso dressing and top it off with tender cooked shrimp and sesame seeds for a new favorite! Panera’s farm raised white shrimp is natural and free of additives. It is cooked with the shell on for best flavor, before being peeled and cut.  \

Cool off with two new sweet sippers too! Try the new Frozen Cherry Limeade or the Tropical Hibiscus Iced Tea. 

*NEW LOCATION OPENING*
Panera Bread is celebrating the grand opening of its newest bakery café in Sherman Oaks on Tuesday, May 28 from 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. and you are invited! The first 100 guests will receive certificates for free loaves of bread for one year!

14708 Ventura Blvd 

Sherman Oaks, CA 91403  
  

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A Foodie Fantasy: My Time at Food Blog Forum 2013 [Part 1]

See all my Instagram Photos by searching the # above!

Once upon a time in a far away land filled with fancy cars and shining stars lived a girl who had a food blog. She would whip up recipes with a dash of this and a bit of that, creating magical spells for your taste buds.

One day, she opened up her trusty MacBook Spell Book and asked, "Google, Google on my Mac, show me events that of food, will not lack". In an instant, the perfect event was revealed, the Food Blog Forum Conference was being held in Walt Disney World. Now this was quite the perfect combination for this young lady for she has been in love with the "Happiest Place on Earth" for as long as she could remember. She thought to herself, "If this event doesn't scream, 'ME', then I don't know what does!?"

With that she set multiple alarms to insure she did not miss out on registration. When the fateful day came, she propped up her laptop to the event page in anticipation and the minutes were counting down... 3...2... Then, a beckoning call from afar, "Kasey, can you come help me with something?" her colleague exclaimed. She rushed through the task only to return to her computer and see the dreaded words, "SOLD OUT". Her heart was crushed and tears came to her eyes. "I never cry! What is wrong with me?" she thought to herself.
With her fingers crossed, she added her name to the wait list and carried on her day, feeling more deflated than a Macy's Parade balloon on Black Friday.

A few weeks later, a cartoon bird flew to her window...ok, it was an email... With a notice that a spot had opened up and it was here's if she wanted it!

Ok, now back to reality!

Morningstar Mediterranean Giveaway!

Want to try MorningStar's newest veggie burger?? Inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean, this flavorful and versitile burger is a "must-try" especially as we head into grilling season!

Enter below to win the following prize pack from MorningStar including:

• 1 Package of MorningStar Farm's Mediterranean Chickpea Veggie Burgers
• Greek-Inspired Apron
• Chickpea Tote Bag
• Mediterranean Cookbook

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Give Mom The Day Off!

Mother’s Day is this weekend (in case you forgot) and a bunch of LA’s hot-spots are taking the time to celebrate Mom! Here’s a list of some of places where you can spoil the woman who gave you life. Choose wisely... she brought you into this world, she can take you out! :-)

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce from Cupcake Provocateur

A simple and tasty version that is simple and easy to make even on a busy
weeknight. Allot of recipes out there include chicken broth and other ingredients but
I feel it waters this sauce down, I prefer the heartiness and full flavor of this
version. You can certainly add to this to make it your own, such as sautéed onions
and garlic or crushed red pepper flakes for a new take on fra diavolo.

Ingredients
6-8 large red peppers
olive oil
alt and pepper

Preparation
1. set your oven to broil on high

2. place peppers on a broiler pan (be careful not to crowd your pan other wise they
will steam more than roast)

3. brush olive oil on peppers

4. sprinkle salt and pepper on peppers

Roasting
Place pan with peppers on top rack in oven, leave oven open slightly to let a little
heat escape. broil till skin on pepper starts to char, turning till most of peppers have
a nice char on them.

Peeling and Processing
Take out of oven and place in a pepper bag to steam for about 10 minutes (this will
help to peel them much easier). Be sure to peel them while they are still a little
warm, if you let them cool completely the skin will be much more difficult to peel.
On a cutting board gently peel the skin off peppers, then cut in half, while using a
paring knife gently scrape the seeds and membranes away from you on the cutting
board. Reserve any liquid on the board and place in food processor with peppers
and puree.

Finishing
add pureed sauce to a sauce pan on med heat, heat until hot adding any additional
salt and pepper to taste.

Don't forget to check out Cupcake Provocateur for adorable aprons and other kitchen accessories!