Hollandaise Sauce

Best Blender Hollandaise

3 egg yolks dash of  salt dash of cayenne 2+ tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice one stick of butter

Put all the ingredients except for the butter into your blender and blend for a couple of seconds until they are combined. Then melt your butter in the microwave just until it is fully melted. Take the small cover off of the hole in your blender lid, and with the blender blades running, slowly pour the melted butter into the blender in a thin stream. The hollandaise will fly back up at you during this process, so I find it's best to hold a piece of paper towel over the hole with my left hand, just leaving enough space to pour the butter in with my right hand. As soon as the butter has been incorporated, taste-test to see if you need to add more salt, cayenne or lemon juice. Voila!

Image | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Breakfast at Los Feliz Cafe

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Although I am always up for lemon ricotta pancakes or beignets with Madagascar vanilla dipping cream, occasionally I'll find myself in the mood for a solid, no-muss, no-fuss breakfast. Los Feliz Cafe is the perfect destination when that sort of craving hits: good coffee, eggs cooked perfectly any way you want them, traditional pancakes or french toast, crispy bacon or savory sausage. A meal that will stick with you even if you're about to spend the day at Disneyland.

Los Feliz Cafe 3207 Los Feliz Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90039 -323-661-2355

Images by Lauryl Lane.

Christmas Brunch

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This morning I consumed the last of the holiday apricot rolls (our family's traditional christmas pastry), and reminisced about Christmas morning. Christmas morn has always been one of my favorite moments of the year, since I was quite young. When I was growing up, my family always slept in and then gathered in the kitchen to prepare ourselves a grand Christmas brunch. Not until we'd all eaten did we congregate in the living room to read Christmas stories, open presents and dig through stockings. Today, my husband and I continue that tradition. We sleep in as late as we can, and then we make ourselves a scrumptious morning feast. Many people tell me that Christmas morning is chaotic for them as kids and adults alike get up early and rush to see what Santa delivered. But not so for my family, and I am so grateful that I was raised in a family where the emphasis was on having fun and spending time together instead of on material things. It sort of puts everything into perspective to take some time to just enjoy being with the ones you love on such a special holiday.

Images | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

foreign cinema

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The last time I was in the Bay Area to see my family, I also spent an afternoon with my dear friend Bonnie at a restaurant in San Francisco's Mission district called Foreign Cinema. We feasted on mussels, croque monsieur, carpaccio, a granita for dessert and some delicious artisan cocktails. I wish I'd taken more photos of the space and the inspired decor (especially the stunning lighting installations), but I guess I was too focused on the incredible food. I'd read great reviews of this restaurant online, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it exceeded my expectations. Everything I tasted was full of exceptional flavor.

Foreign Cinema 2534 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415-648-7600

Images by Lauryl Lane.

walnut coffee cake

This has got to be the easiest + yummiest coffee cake ever. In fact, I may just have to whip up a batch this weekend! I keep a package of walnuts in my freezer so I can make this coffee cake at a moment's notice if we decide to be spontaneous and invite a friend or neighbor to drop by for brunch (clearly our favorite meal!).

1-1/2 cups flour, whole wheat and/or unbleached white 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup butter 1/2 cup milk 2 unbeaten eggs

Sift flower with baking powder and salt, and blend in sugar. Add butter and milk and beat 300 strokes. Add eggs and beat two minutes.

Topping: 2 Tablespoons melted butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 cup walnuts, cut up 1 Tablespoon flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine butter and sugar and add walnuts, flour and cinnamon. Mix well.

Spread half of batter on bottom of 9" square greased pan and cover with half of topping mixture, then repeat.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 4-6.