After an incredible Thanksgiving weekend it was back to life and reality for us. But that didn't mean we couldn't put together a new recipe on a Monday night. I've been really struggling for inspiration. I've cooked a lot of the things I love most steak, hamburgers, tacos, and pasta. And so as I continue this journey of finding new things to cook and master it's hard to choose. I spend far more time then I'm willing to admit researching new recipes. 

Even though we don't live in Fashion Island anymore we still try to go back as much as possible. It still feels like home. Jenn found a new hair stylist at Fashion Island before our recent trip and so I met her after her most recent hair appointment for dinner at a new burger place called Hopdoddy. 

I wish I could write more of these posts. Every once in a while I will work from home and Jenn and I will have a day where our schedules align and we get to have lunch together. This past week was one of those weeks and we decided not to go with our normal lunch spot, The Melt, but instead went to Kabuki Japanese Restaurant. 

The last couple of weekends have been busy. With the holidays fast approaching and Jenn I both relatively new to our current jobs we haven't had a ton of time to enjoy the weekends. This past weekend (before Thanksgiving) has been the first one that we've actually been able to relax and enjoy. 

And we're back. I didn't expect us to be able to do another Chef Joel & Jenn until after Thanksgiving but I was able to take the stuff we had in the kitchen and do another new recipe. This is a slight variation on our last meal, the Chicken Parmesan. Instead we made a new recipe of just the Parmesan Chicken.

Along with cooking new dishes Jenn and I want to start trying new places to eat. We love our staples like Chipotle, Champagnes, El Ranchito and the like. But its time to branch out and expand our palette. Will we be successful in that endeavor? I have no idea but its absolutely worth a shot. After going to our normal 5PM service at Mariners Church we went up Newport Coast Dr to a new burger restaurant called Krave Kobe Burger Grill.