A Caramelized Conversation with Lisa Lillien

Lisa Lillien is the energizer bunny -- take my word for it. Ever since beginning the food blog era with her brilliant Hungry Girl site, she travels cross-country for bestselling book tours, runs Hungryland (Hungry Girl Headquarters) in Los Angeles and envisions the healthy trends for Cooking Channel, People Magazine, etc. After a lively breakfast and Hungryland tour with Lisa and her Nickelodeon writer husband Dan Schneider in Los Angeles, I decided I needed to share a taste of her vivacious personality with all of you. I hope you, too, view Lisa's ALL CAPS and exclamation points as the perfect illustration of this woman's charismatic energy. Let's converse with Lisa Lillien. . .AKA Hungry Girl!

FAVORITE STOP SO FAR ON THE LATEST BOOK TOUR?

Wow-- good question -- and a hard one. I like them all for different reasons. On this tour, Kansas City may have been the most special. Jack Pullan, who draws the Hungry Girl cartoon character, lives in Kansas City, and he was there sketching little Hungry Girl faces in everyone's books -- so that was totally different and amazing. And the BBQ in in Kansas City is AWESOME!!!! (That definitely didn't hurt.)

GO-TO SUMMER ENTERTAINING RECIPE?

My frozen slushie HG-approved cocktails, of course! I have so many! The margarita may be the most popular... Tequila, sugar free lemonade drink mix, key lime juice, diet lemon lime soda, and LOTS of ice!

YOUR MOST UNFORGETTABLE RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE?

WOW-- another great Q. There are so many! One of the most memorable and impressive meals I ever had was in Carmel, CA at Pacific's Edge. Everything was PERFECT! They had an awesome salad with kale and butternut squash and grapes -- and I ate the BEST scallops on the planet there, too. The view was amazing as well.

Another incredibly memorable experience was at Jack Stack in Kansas City. The BBQ there is so perfect -- sweet and smoky -- it gives you chills (This is a good thing! And I apologize for telling this to a Memphis girl, but it's the best BBQ I've ever had).

And, any time I have a chance to stick a fork into the butter cake at Mastro's in Los Angeles it becomes THE BEST NIGHT EVER...

LET US IN ON YOUR DAILY ROUTINE IN HUNGRY GIRL HQ.

There's always a lot of food tasting at Hungryland. We're constantly testing out and creating new recipes and sampling new food products as well. I'd say we get around 20 boxes of stuff to try each week. . . and we develop about 5-10 new recipes a week as well these days. I am always writing and editing, too -- and meeting with clients, HG staffers, etc. And, I often will have my dog Lolly there with me, so that adds an element of whimsy and also relaxation and to my daily routine.

EVERY HOME COOK NEEDS. . .

A magic bullet. (Sorry to get all "As Seen On TV" on you...)

THOUGHTS ON BEING A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR (Since you basically started the blogging world?!)

Launching Hungry Girl was the best thing I ever did! I love running my own business and I really enjoy being an entrepreneur. I encourage people to be entrepreneurial if they are truly passionate about something, fully committed to it, and prepared to work nonstop!

HOW DO YOU BEST BALANCE YOUR WORK AND PERSONAL LIVES?

A lot of times they are one and the same. I love what I do, so it doesn't feel like work to me. . .so working is playing and playing is often working. Not sure that even makes sense, but it is true!

image via food network

---

WHAT I WORE (in first photo) :: Alberto Fermani Bootie |  J Brand Jeans | Nordstrom Lush Tee

Havana Beach Club (Rosemary Beach)

Rosemary Beach has literally found "The Pearl" of its oyster. The luxury hotel, opened just this past year, has the most exquisite architecture (see featured image on the home page) and atmosphere.

Havana Beach Club, one of The Pearl's three dining options, is inspired by Cuba with gorgeous greenery, eclectic seating, and beautiful patio views. Alex and I stepped in on Sunday morning for the brunch, which frankly made us feel as though we were vacationing in the Caribbean. I'll take that feeling any day!

With an extra hot cappuccino in hand (although the mimosas looked wonderful), I ordered the smoked salmon bagel. The plate arrived like an art piece. I am all about presentation, and this one pleased me much. The rose-shaped salmon was a generous helping, and the sliced tomatoes with capers draped the bottom right corner of the plate. I only wish I could have applied the whipped cream cheese myself, since I prefer a light spread! Luckily, the bagel was perfectly toasted and still warm when served. Delicious.

Alex went with a traditional "Eggs Your Way;" not only was a cheesy scramble served, but also a platter of extra crispy bacon, a housemade biscuit (with whipped butter and strawberry jam on the side), country potatoes, and breakfast sausage. Oh, and two tiny roasted yellow tomatoes! It was a beautiful spread -- my only criticism being the slightly undercooked potatoes (we wanted more crisp!).

You'll be very pleased with Havana's Sunday brunch, and I have heard that their dinner menu knocks it out of the park as well. Thank you for a fabulous finale to my Fourth of July weekend!

Avocado and Roasted Corn Salsa

IMG_7626

How was your Fourth of July?! Mine was very well spent in Watercolor, Florida with my boyfriend Alex, whose birthday on Saturday added an even greater reason to celebrate every moment of the long weekend. We spent too many hours on the beach (resulting in lobster-like sunburns), ate delicious seafood meals at Cafe Thirty-A and Great Southern, and cooled off with summer cocktails and brews at the numerous Seaside hang out spots. I was clearly spoiled in great company, and I'm already longing for the next reunion.

Saturday, while drinking an ice-cold margarita (on the rocks) on the Bud & Alley's balcony, I longed for a a light appetizer with hints of Mexican flavor and reflections of the latest farmers market gems. The yellow heirloom tomato and white corn called my name from the beach house kitchen counter; and soon enough, a "salsa" was born. Only five ingredients (including the always-necessary avocado) are required to make a festive, colorful dip that can be spooned onto Stacy's pita chips or enjoyed simply naked. Heck, you can even add some spring mix and call it a summer salad. Whatever you make of it, I hope you enjoy! Have a great week, y'all.

IMG_7629

Makes 2 servings

1 avocado, sliced and cubed
2 yellow tomatoes, sliced and cubed
1 ear of corn kernels
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons feta, crumbled
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and pepper

1. In a small saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add corn and roast until bright yellow and slightly charred, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat to cool.

2. Meanwhile, add avocado and tomatoes to a small bowl. Squeeze lemon juice over avocado to keep green and bright. Add corn to bowl. Sprinkle with feta, salt and pepper. Serve with tortilla chips for a great party app!

IMG_7631

At the Table - Nautical Beach Picnic

You may recall Caramelized's latest styling series with my fave San Diego blogger, Conni Jespersen of Art in the Find. Our Tartine Affair collaboration was featured on West Elm's Front + Main blog, and we are so excited to share our latest summertime (outdoor) table scene! Conni and I jumped at the idea to celebrate the new month with an emphasis on a breezy, beachy feel and light menu. If you ever find yourself beachside (or simply in your backyard) this summer, take notes on these dreamy tips for a modern nautical beach picnic.

Conni masters the perfect palette of blue hues and whites, which beautifully reflect the sandy shores and crystal waters on the horizon. I'm a huge fan of her dreamy linen dress. . . this stylist clearly knows how to dress the part!

Don't you wish you could bask on a simple plissé throw by the water with a darling champagne bucket this weekend? I surely do. You can see more of Conni's expert styling details on Art in the Find. . .go, go, go check it out. She has listed every thing you'll need to pack in your basket, from pillows to petals!

And, since this is a picnic after all, I've brainstormed (with Conni's similar sweet tooth assistance) and crafted a seasonal dessert and trendy, on-the-go entree to bring along in your picnic basket. Mason jar layered salads allow combinations of seasonal ingredients with no mess, no soggy lettuce, and reliable transportation! Not to mention. . .this set-up looks absolutely adorable. After munching on those veggies, a light fruit tart can be staged right on your picnic blanket for a sweet ending. Keep scrolling for the recipe for my raspberry tart and list of ingredients for mason jar salads. But, of course, you can layer your mason jar with whatever salad ingredients you desire.

WATERMELON + FETA SALAD (shown above) :: Watermelon, feta, spinach, mint CAPRESE SALAD :: Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, balsamic reduction, arugula FRUIT SALAD :: Peaches, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries

**Note: I do not recommend adding dressing to the salads, unless you pour dressing on the bottom layer and keep lettuce at the very top. We don't need any soggy salads at this beach picnic party!

Raspberry Tart

1 frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed 1 cup raspberries 1 1/2 cups light cream cheese icing

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll pastry onto a baking sheet and bake until puffed and golden, about 12 minutes. Remove and cool for 15 minutes.

2. Evenly spread icing over pastry, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle raspberries generously over tart, and serve immediately.

Thank you to Kevin Falk of XOXO Wedding Studio photographing the scene, to Claudia of La Belle Bloom for the lovely blooms, of course, Sheli from the Incidental Spoon for providing the fun jars/ribbon from her birthday bash here, DeAnna of Simple Peace for the awesome beach tote bags which you can find here, and check out Milled for their amazing hand milled cheese boards.  Finally, West Elm for their usual goodness!

Starred and Striped :: Fourth of July Sweets

Happy July, y'all! Three days until we pull out our red, white, and blue (I'll be sporting these with my white chinos) and use every excuse to bask in the sun for almost all twenty-four hours. The Fourth of July is an opportunity to show off our patriotism in all forms and fashions -- food obviously being one of those forms.

Below are the two best Fourth of July desserts for all ages. Simple and summery berries serve as refreshing pops of color, and the prep is easy as ever! If you happen to make one of these holiday desserts, email or Instagram your photo (tagging @cara_melized!). Time to celebrate!

Summer Berries & Sweet Cream

1 pint strawberries, hulled and halved 1 pint blueberries 1 cup heavy whipping cream 2 tablespoons sugar Orange zest (optional)

1. In a small mixing bowl, blend whipping cream and sugar on medium high speed until frothy and high-peaked.

2. Serve whipped cream over strawberries and blueberries in individual bowls with a sprinkle of orange zest on top. These napkins are super adorable on the side, too!

American Flag Tart

1 frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed 1 cup bluberries 1 cup strawberries, hulled and halved 1 cup vanilla (or cream cheese) icing

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll pastry onto a baking sheet and bake until puffed and golden, about 12 minutes. Remove and cool for 15 minutes.

2. Evenly spread icing over pastry, leaving a 1-inch border. Place blueberries in a square in the top left corner. Then, line strawberries across pastry with 1 inch in between stripes.

Feeling Crabby

I'm feeling a bit crabby this morning. And, no, not because it's Monday (surprisingly!). I just came across the most fantastic, messy, and delicious dinner concept. Whether there are two of you or ten, all that's required is this past Sunday's newspaper, a hammer, wine, and a hunger for my most beloved crustacean: crab.

You'd be shocked at the deal your local grocery can give you on crab legs (we're talking a quarter of the price at a restaurant) and the relatively easy set-up and clean-up for family and friends. No dirty dishes! In fact, I just spooned some cocktail sauce and spicy mustard right on the newspaper "tablecloth"at my seat.

Last week in Watercolor, my adopted Fogelman family and I dined on these for almost an hour. We loved it so much, we're doing it again this week with more guests! And while I am not advocating ditching a burger cookout for Fourth of July, a crab cookout could be a perfectly seasonal alternative that actually requires sitting around a table for the entirety of the meal.

I highly encourage this foolproof concept, especially during the upcoming month of July. You'll be feeling crabby soon enough!

top and featured image via katie evans