treats - salted double-chocolate cookies

i was first introduced to these delicious specimens when i stumbled upon momofuku milk bar in manhattan. not only did i fall in love with these cookies, but i was blown away by their entire menu of unique creations. cookies, pies, cake truffles, cereal milk pana cotta and so many other whacky sweets.

i was also delighted when i discovered the milk bar cook book by christina tosi. i've tried a few of the cookies and i still can't decide which one is my favorite. these salted double-chocolate cookies are definitely fighting for the number one spot.

the goods:
the crumb
- 2/3 cup flour
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 6 tbl butter (melted)
the cookies
- 16 tbl butter (room temp)
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup glucose (or 2 tbl corn syrup)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 2 oz 55% chocolate (melted)
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 3/4 cup cocoa powder
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 recipe of chocolate crumb

the equipment:
standup mixer, sheet pans, plastic wrap

the how to:
the crumb
- preheat oven to 300F
- combine flour, cornstarch, sugar, cocoa powder, salt into bowl
- add melted butter and mix together until small clusters form
- spread clusters onto sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes, breaking them up occasionally
- allow crumb to cool before using in other recipes

*store crumb in tupperware in fridge for up to 1 month

the cookies
- combine butter, sugar and glucose (or corn syrup) on medium-high for 2-3 minutes
- add egg, vanilla and melted chocolate and beat on medium for 7-8 minutes
- on low, add flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt and mix until dough just comes together for about 1 minute

batter should feel fluffy and creamy, like icing

- add in chocolate crumb until incorporated, for about 30 seconds
- measure out 1/4 cup of dough and place onto parchment-lined sheet pan
- tightly wrap pan(s) with plastic wrap and store in fridge for 1 hour to 1 week (i recommend 24 hours)
- preheat oven to 375F
- set dough onto parchment-lined sheet pan and bake for approximately 18 minutes

set cookies 2-3 inches apart before baking

yes, it's a bit of work but the results are amazing! and i promise you'll impress your friends and family with these brownie-like cookies. enjoy!

trails - betty b dearing

also off mulholland, the betty b dearing trail starts from the nancy hoover pohl overlook. parking is free in the lot. this trail leads you down the mountain to a jungle ravine. if you keep on trekking, you'll end up at the base of fryman canyon trail.

the trek:

- from the parking lot, walk down trail about 30 feet
- at the fork, stay to the left and go down the hill into the trees
- keep heading down until you get to a T
- hang a left to go towards the "jungle"
- the "jungle" area is complete with a small creek and fallen trees
- if you keep following the trail out of the jungle, you will reach base fryman canyon in .7 miles

inside the jungle

total distance: 4+ miles

travel time: 1h15m
gain: 400 ft

difficulty: easy to moderate

wilacre park - betty b dearing trail

the tips:

- dog-friendly trail
- there's a lot of tree coverage and trail get get a bit chilly

trails - franklin canyon

just southwest of the mulholland and coldwater canyon intersection is franklin canyon, a beautiful park hidden in the middle of los angeles. the park has a duck pond, a few trails and park spaces you can rent for private parties. there's a lot of tree coverage before you hit the trails and plenty to explore without making a climb. we wandered around the park for a bit before we got to hastain trail.

the trek:

- from the parking lot, walk down the main road until you reach the pond
- walk around the pond, keeping it on your left
- after you circle the pond, get back on the main road and follow the signs to beverly drive
- turn left onto lake drive
- hastain trail entrance on your left
- once you reach the peak, head back the way you came
- about 1/4 mile back down, you'll see an unmarked trail sign straight ahead of you
- take the trail to head back down and you'll end in a park
- stay to the right as you walk through the park and you'll end up back on lake drive

duck pond

view of west LA from hastain trail peak

total distance: 5.5 miles

travel time: 2h00m
gain: 680 ft

difficulty: moderate

franklin canyon - hastain trail

the tips:

- park in the main lot, to the left of the entrance sign
- wear a hat, as the trail offers no shade
- the trail gets steep in some areas, so bring plenty of water
- the trail is mostly gravel and sand with steep areas so wear proper shoes to avoid slipping

trails - will rogers

on the west side of town and right off sunset blvd sits will rogers park. there are 3 trails to explore in the park, including the popular inspiration point trail below. this trail offers beautiful views of the palisades and the pacific ocean.

the trek:

- head up to the visitors center, near the bathrooms

- climb the stairs to the trail and you'll see the marker for inspiration point 30 feet ahead

- turn left up the trail

- when you get to the end of the trail, turn around and go back up and over to get a 4+ mile hike

panoramic view from peak of inspiration point

total distance: 4.4 miles

travel time: 1h15m
gain: 515 ft

difficulty: easy to moderate

will rogers - inspiration point trail

the tips:

- skip the $12 parking lot fee and park along the side of the road before you get to the entrance

- bring picnic supplies to lounge in the grassy park after your hike

- come back to the park for a polo match

tunes - live picks (may)

as snow continues to cover the mid-west, the temperature in southern california continues to rise. that's good news for all of the bands migrating this direction for may. there's a wide variety of concerts to check out this spring.

may concert calendar below:

5/1 - old crow medicine @ el rey
5/2 - maps & atlases @ the echo
5/2 - metallica @ club nokia
5/2 - the killers @ la memorial sports arena
5/3 - the rolling stones @ staples center*
5/4 - matt costa @ the observatory (santa ana)
5/6 - iron & wine @ grammy museum
5/7 - prince @ city national grove (anaheim)
5/8 - prince @ city national grove (anaheim)
5/9 - of montreal @ the echo
5/9 - yo la tengo @ fonda theatre
5/10 - delta spirit @ playboy mansion
5/11 - jim james @ the fonda
5/11 - the egg + sophie barker @ the glass house (pomona)
5/14 - sara bareilles @ el rey
5/16 - dale earnhardt jr jr @ el rey
5/17 - digitalism @ troubadour
5/17 - sea wolf @ the glass house (pomona)
5/18 - kroq weenie roast @ verizon wireless amphitheatre (irvine)*
5/18 - the black angels @ the glass house (pomona)
5/19 - primus @ fox theatre (pomona)
5/21 - the black angels @ the mayan
5/22 - arctic monkeys @ majestic theatre (ventura)
5/22 - the presidents of the united states of america @ the observatory (santa ana)
5/24 - cold war kids @ fonda theatre*
5/25 - fleetwood mac @ hollywood bowl
5/30 - tame impala @ fox theatre (pomona)
5/31 - chvrches @ fonda theatre

*top live picks:

5/3 - the rolling stones @ staples center
the rolling stones are celebrating their 50th anniversary of their first ever live concert with a world-wide tour. there are a few select dates around the US and the LA show kicks off the festivities. i cannot wait for this show!!

5/18 - kroq weenie roast @ verizon wireless amphitheatre (irvine)
LA's iconic rock station KROQ is celebrating their 21st annual weenie roast with a huge lineup including the black keys, vampire weekend, jimmy eat world, of monsters and men and atlas genius. ticket proceeds benefit heal the bay and surfrider foundation so if you can make the drive out to orange county, i suggest you go.

5/24 - cold war kids @ fonda theatre
cold war kids have been touring their new album "dear miss lonleyhearts" since it's release in april. i caught a sneak peek of a few of their new tracks during their sxsw performance and am looking forward to hearing more of the album later this month.

treats - juice cleanse (day 5)

day five has become the most difficult. i was hoping to go a full seven days, but i don't think i'll make it. i'm very ready to chew. i also want to ease back into eating a regular meat diet and know i'll need a few days before i can become a carnivore again.

don't get me wrong, the juices are very tasty! i hope you enjoy them.

christmas juice
*i was inspired by holiday colors for the ingredients in this juice
the goods:
- 1 apple
- 1 cucumber
- 1 basket strawberries
- 1 bunch kale (i used 2 different kinds of kale for this juice)

christmas-colored produce

the how to:
- juice berries on low
- increase to high and add kale on top of cucumber
- finish with apple

the results:
a very tasty green juice! the strawberries really stand out among the leafy greens. delicious!

purple juice
the goods:
- 1 beet
- 1 cucumber
- 1 apple
- 1 basket strawberries

the how to:
- wash beet thoroughly and cut off ends
- juice strawberries on low
- add remaining ingredients and juice on high

the results:
a rich purple juice. the beet definitely adds a rustic flavor, but the strawberries mix very well with the beet and fool your brain into thinking it's mostly berries.

purple juice

treats - juice cleanse (day 4)

day four was interesting because i let myself out of the house and went to the movies. luckily the smell of hot, fresh, buttery popcorn wasn't very tempting. unfortunately i did have to turn down a social invite to a post-movie dinner. i knew i wouldn't hold up very well in there.

i do feel like i'm not juicing as much as i should be, but i think it's because i'm waiting until i'm very hungry before i make a juice. my chompers are ready to start chewing!

orange veggie blend
the goods:
- 3 carrots
- 1/2 sweet potato
- 2 blood oranges (or regular oranges)
- 1 bunch spinach

the how to:
- peel the oranges and juice on low
- speed up to high and add spinach in with carrots
- finish with sweet potato

the results:
the spinach turns it a bit brown, but it's still very tasty. the oranges help add a hint of sweetness.

orange veggie blend

mean green (alt 3)
the goods:
- 1/2 bunch spinach
- 1 cucumber
- 1 bunch bok choy
- 1/2 bunch kale
- 2 apples

3 different leafy greens

the how to:
- cut end off bok choy so all leaves are separated
- mix leafy greens with cucumber and apples when inserting into juicer
- juice all ingredients on high

the results:
a very tasty green alternative. the bok choy has a bitter taste when it's raw, but the cucumber and apple reduce the bitterness drastically in the juice.

banana yellow
the goods:
- 1/4 pineapple
- 1 bunch green grapes
- 2 bananas

the how to:
- remove grapes from stem and juice on low with pineapple
- in a food processor, blend banana until smooth
- add juice mixture to food processor to incorporate banana

the results:
more like a smoothie. the pineapple is the dominant taste, so add extra bananas or ripe bananas to downplay pineapple.

banana yellow smoothie