Recently Ms. Marife asked me to help out with Bunco appetizers. She hosts a Bunco gathering every few months and wanted me to share any easy appetizer. Apparently Trader Joes and Costco appetizers in the Pacific Northwest have become overdone in her circle and she wanted something flashy.

It is The Cheese Plate, to the rescue.

Assembling a cheese plate requires no cooking honey!  Hooray.  Follow a few key principles, so it looks clean and delish, and you’ll be the star of the Bunco hosting show.

With so many cheeses to choose from, what should you put on your plate? Some say to serve no more than three at a time.  I tend to break that rule.   I’d be inclined to serve up to six. The more the better is how I roll.  Many cheeses run $20 to $40 a pound, but because you needn’t serve a lot, you needn’t spend a lot.

Take them home, refrigerate them, and then bring them to room temperature a few hours before serving.

Be sure to have a plate that is flat and large enough to hold the cheeses without crowding them. Choose a variety of cheeses— from hard, to soft. I also like to add unique additions such as blue cheese stuffed olives, salami, and smoked cashews. Next to the cheese plate, there is a basket of rustic bread and a variety of crackers.

If you were to select four cheeses, consider two hard and two soft. To share what I serve here at Ksugarandspice basecamp:

Beemster XO – Aged Gouda is simply unrivaled for that perfect balance of salty and sweet. It is my personal favorite. (Hard)

Cambozola Triple Cream Blue Veined – This is very much a blue-brie. The light creamy texture and flavor is delicately offset with the pungent blue. A true crowd pleaser. (Soft)

Purple Haze From California’s Cypress Grove - Fresh goat’s milk cheese with lavender buds mixed with wild harvested fennel pollen give it a sweet addicting flavor. From California’s Cypress Grove. (Soft)

English Cheddar with Caramlized Onions - Creamy, buttery cheddar is perfectly blended with tangy, caramelized onions (Hard)

Locally, I buy cheese from Vin Goat in Corona del Mar or The Brewery in Old Town Orange. Online, I use igourmet.com or chefswarehouse.com.

Good luck with those dice Marife. Let me know how your cheese plate turns out. Can’t wait to laugh with you again very soon.

Happy Friday to ya on this President’s Day Weekend. Shopping has been obsessing me as of late. For many many many reasons.  I have news for you, which I REALLY wish to share. But alas, I must wait to tell you. Meanwhile, I will be sitting on my fingers until I get the green light to let the Kat out of the bag. For today let’s talk about a few favorite finds:

After loosing my teal Ruffled Scarf from The Pleated Poppy (online), in the Chicago O’hare Airport, I became overly depressed. These jersey scarves are super comfy and bouncy, and are a great topper to any outfit. You can wear both sides down, or wrap one side over your shoulder, or loop it twice around your neck and tie it in a tiny knot.  Measures approximately 13″ x 44″ and comes in a variety of colors to choose from. I bought a second one, hot pink, and guard it with my life. $20 to $28.  Free shipping on orders over $50. Here is the website link – THE PLEATED POPPY

For 6 Chic Ways to Tie a Scarf, I urge you to check out my girl Sarah’s video over HERE at Style United. Great job girl and prefect White Tee from Loft.

Oh Joy a JCrew Sale. Additional 30% OFF on J.Crew Sale online items. HURRY, today only! Offer valid through Friday, February 17, 2012, 11:59pm ET. Free shipping on orders over $100. Savings are applied at checkout with code SHOPNOW. Know your sizes because the deal with this discount is FINAL SALE. {NoReturnies} For me the pants tend to run large while the tops tend to run small.

Here was my day-to-night spring pick me up shopping cart:

*Capri’s were NOT final sale – yee ha.

Finally, I’m swooning and obsessing over this spring DIANE von FURSTENBERG one Shoulder Liluye Dress from her new Spring Collection. The drape, the single shoulder – oh me oh my. Paired with a chunky bracelet and nude wedges, you are good to go, any where at any time. I cannot choose between the Neon Coral or Printed

If you find my teal scarf let me know.

Have a great weekend friends.

Let’s pick up at Day 11 for #FEBphotoaday.  Some days I posted more than one pic for the prompt. Hi, my name is Kathleen and I over share. The titles below the pic are the prompts given, which you are set out to ‘capture’.

Here is the latest iPhone recap, the big girl camera is getting lonely.

Off we go ….

Makes you happy (times 2)

Inside Your Closet and Blue

Blue (numero dos) and Heart

Phone and Something New

Two beyond the prompt bonus pics, see I told you I over share,

Swinging and Dog ball.

I’m thinking about an instagram weekly recap linky on the site. Whadya think friends? For other bloggers who wish to share their creativity for everyone to see. Hmmm, I think I’ll look into that.

Oh, one more thing. Instagram is having a Worldwide InstaMeet: Photowalk. Lindsey and I have been poked and prodded about heading up one for Orange County. She took the reigns and got the ball rolling.  Yeah Girl.  If you would like to join the meet up Click HERE.  We would love to see ya!

Take care friends,

Merle Norman. Stop it. Yes, they are still around.

From this old school company, there is a product you need to know about.

Super-Lube. {umm – for the face, friends}

The middle man, who really does not care for chapped skin around the nose.  Who does?  Was in need.  During a play date, the caring Ms. Ally, offered up her magic Merle Norman Super-Lube to soothe his uncomfortable chafing situation. It was an epidermis miracle. Driving home, the middle man demanded this product be available at his basecamp.

It protects dry skin against extreme dryness with this super-emoliency. The magic is in the barrier it provides to the skin’s surface to prevent moisture loss. It delivers soothing relief to face, but it’s also great for super dry-prone areas like hands, cuticles, knees and elbows.

I think of it as clear, odorless Destin.

And with that, I believe there is nothing more to say.

We thank you profusely Ms. Ally.

I now have three of these in the ole medicine cabinet. I vow never to run out.

You can find it HERE at Merle Norman.

Last year Project 365 kept me busy with photographic captures to post. The ole iPhone and Big Girl camera where my worthy assistants. Loved it.

2012 arrived with the intention of a non-diary style photographic sharing.  Then Instagram began to woo me. #JANphotoaday drew me in with its daily prompts.  Friends pleaded with me to join the daily photo sharing pool.  Maybe next month, was the response. Finally I broke down, when #FEBphotoaday arrived, I took the Nestea Plunge. To my surprise I joined, not one, but TWO photo projects. Both feature iPhone pics only. I am a purist, Intagram is for my iPhone captures only, no big girl camera here:

Here is the recap from @fatmumslim:

My View Today {COSTCO} and Words

Hands and A Stranger

10am and Dinner

Buttons and Sun

Front Door and Self Portrait

For an added bonus, here are two favorite iPhone pics that did not follow the prompts.

Beagle Selfie and a night at the Standard in Downtown LA {the very same pool Russell Brand, in Get Him To The Greek, jumped in next to One Wilshire}.

Come join the creativity fun. The iphone app is instagram, my handle is Ksugarandspice. The hashtag for @Fatmumslim’s project is #FEBphotoaday while the hashtag for instafa.me is #febphotoskill. I would love to see your pics! Or sit back and enjoy the pics, either way, its all groovy.

Have a great weekend friends,

Are you wondering where to go for dinner tonight or this weekend?  Well, I’ve found an absolutely delicious and delightful place.  An Italian kitchen and wine shop; CUCINA enoteca.  Today’s post is about this new Irvine Spectrum restaurant, it would make for a fantastic dinner any night of the week.

Think of a modern Italian kitchen-meets-historic farmhouse with a retail wine shop on the side.  How about that Orange County?  After enjoying a tasty meal with perfectly paired wines, you can buy those lovely bottles at retail prices to take home.  A super cool addition to any home wine collection.  I boldly walked out with no less than 3 bottles the last time I was there.  It was a good night.

Executive Chef Joe Magnanelli’s menu features California-inspired Italian classics. They are prepared with Farm-to-Table and sustainable, whenever possible, ingredients.  I like that, you really can taste the difference.

At the helm of the kitchen, Lauren “Lulu” De Rouen, CUCINA enoteca’s chef de cuisine, adds her own creative touches to the menu.  She draws her inspiration from seasonal ingredients and her roots in French cuisine.  She would do Julia proud with her culinary Ooo La La.

One of her Ooo La La menu items is the Vasi.  A Vasi is a mini mason jars filled with creations to be slathered atop warm rustic bread.  The Gorgonzola Walnut Mousse with Poached Pear is my go-to.  A little slice of heaven friends.  You can also choose Chicken Pate, Burrata with E.V.O.O or any other Chef Specials.  Yes.  I did say Burrata.  To get the word out on the street, CUCINA enoteca’s Burrata is divine. Divine with a capital D.  Are you hungry yet?  Well wait, there is more.

The antipasti, insalate, pizza, pasta, boards, piatti and some mighty fine dolce’s are all highlights of this Italian Kitchen.  Check it out:

Hold onto your seats for the grand finale:

SWOON – This is my CUCINA enoteca pick.

• sicilian cannoli | orange chocolate ricotta crema {By far the best fresh and crispy cannoli I have ever had}
• bittersweet chocolate budino | cocoa chantilly + salted chocolate cookie {nuf said}
• zeppole | italian style donut holes vanilla crema + dulce de leche + sugared cinnamon {I’ll take a dozen to go}

Remember when I traveled to Indiana last week?  The truffle mushroom mac + cheese was my CUCINA enoteca Plane Picnic choice.  Next time, along with those zeppole, I plan to include:

Formagi+Salumi: A serving of 4 types of salami, 4 cheeses, persimmon (persimmon, how I love thee – especially roasted), and mustard seed spread made in-house.  Paired with that same warm rustic bread mentioned above.

Such a shame I wouldn’t be able to get the Tiramisu, served in those ingenious mason Jars, through TSA.  I need to consult the management about that.

From 3 to 6 p.m, a daily specials menu is available:

Meatball Monday: Half-price meatballs and meatball pizza

Take-Out Tuesday: 20% discount off a pizza, insalate and bottle of vino

Wild Wednesday: Burger and beer for $14

Thrifty Thursday: 1/2 price on all pizza and 10% off all retail wine purchases

Formaggi + Salumi Friday: 3 for $8, 4 for $11 or 5 for $14

Social Saturday: $5 infusion per person, 1 Social Saturday per table

CUCINA enoteca is way ahead of the game when it comes to social media.  Go like their Facebook page or follow Cucina Enoteca on Twitter to see for yourself.  Each week there is a secret password to mention for Social Saturday VIP treatment.  Here was last weeks:

Sinful Sunday: No corkage on all bottles from our wine shop over $20 all night long

Happy hour is comprised of $5 Sangria, $5 well cocktails, $3 Moretti draft beer and a select $5 white and red wine by the glass.  I hear the Tequila Mule with a subtle infusion of chile pepper is quite worthy of a try.

Wine: Ben Kephart, myself, Director of Operations: Mike Rutherford and Executive Chef: Joe Magnanelli.

Thanks Fellas for an amazing dining experience.  From your authentic cozy decor, locally foraged ingredients, delectable dishes, wine savants (psst -10% discount on a case of wine) and winning attitude; CUCINA enoteca is delicious all around.  I guess it is pretty clear your Cucina is something all of Orange County needs to know about.

I’ll see you there friends,

CUCINA enoteca is situated on the northwest side of the Irvine Spectrum Center, just across from the Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21. Lunch and dinner is served from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

31 Fortune Drive, Ste. 306 | Irvine, CA 92618

For more information call (949) 861-2222 or visit
www.CUCINAenoteca.com.

Photo credit http://www.zakkalife.blogspot.com

Shhh. Here is what we are working on at base camp for all of our “Super Friends” come Feb 14th.  You can too, if you dig it. Here is the pattern.

Conca D Oro is a family owned Italian restaurant here in the OC since 1960. It’s a little hard to find, but worth the effort. The service is friendly and always accommodating. As soon as your sit down, garlic bread arrives promptly.  It is severed warm to your table and never runs out.  Everything is home-made including the spaghetti meat sauce. It is by far the best I’ve ever had. Their authentic Italian dishes make this our go-to restaurant many Friday nights. It has been a family favorite for years. Oh I have one more thing to add.

Confession Time: When I’m in a pinch to get dinner on the table in under 15 minutes. (It happens) I always have in the ole freezer, zip lock bags of Conca D Oro’s meat sauce. I buy it by the Quart for $7 a container. My order usually consists of 6 1-quart containers. When I arrive home, I let them cool, then pour them into freezer storage bags. Off to the deep freeze they go; to be ready at any late night soccer practice moment.

When those crazy nights arrive, the water is set to boil while a frozen bag of Conca D Oro meat sauce hits the skillet to reheat. The meat sauce is usually done before the pasta. Throw some lettuce together for salad. If I’m lucky I’ll have some kind of bread on hand.

Dinner is served.

Give them a try! Last time I order their meat balls to add to the meat sauce.  Two meat balls would fill an adult, they are that big. One meat balls rests atop the pasta pic above. They are delicious.

Thank you Conca D Oro for being so darn tasty and helping me make dinner time easier.

Conca D Oro

776 North Tustin St., Orange, CA 92867

Phone 1 714.532.2070

Tue – Thu:4:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Fri – Sat: 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Sun: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Bon Appetite

Just in case you are wondering, this is not a sponsored post. Conca D Oro does know me, but they have NO IDEA I’M AN OC BLOGGER. The End.