The Daily Dish

Lately

2013-05-13T12:05:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the silence lately, but things have been crazy around here and since I'm off to FL this afternoon, the silence will likely continue. I had a fabulous birthday with my guy and a great weekend continuing the birthday celebrations with my girlfriends. Here are a few photos from the weekend so I don't leave you with absolutely nothing before my vacation where I definitely plan on checking out. There will be lots of best friend time and also some quality time with their babes (one of which is brand new and I cannot wait to meet the little guy!). Feel free to follow along on Facebook & Instagram (links are off to the right). Have a great week!

Today

2013-05-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

Today is my birthday. Another year has come and gone and I'm another year older. I really don't know where the time has gone. I'm off to a tasty birthday dinner with my guy tonight to celebrate and I cannot wait. There's no one else I'd rather be spending my evening with. And of course it isn't a birthday unless there are multiple days of celebrating. I have more planned in the days to come with a girls night this weekend and a week with two of my best friends in FL next week. I'm a lucky girl and feel blessed to have everything I have. Here's to another year of health and happiness in my life!

Bistronomic

2013-05-07T08:20:00.001-05:00

Last week my guy planned a surprise date night at one of our neighborhoods spots I had been eyeing for a while. After a few rave reviews from one of his friends, he finally decided it was time for us to try it and turned errand running into a romantic dinner for two. Gotta love that.

Restaurant: Bistronomic
Cuisine: French

Neighborhood: Gold Coast
Ambiance: Low lit and romantic. Just lovely.
Things You Should Know:

1. They do take reservations.

2. The service was great.

3. Their menu has three different options - small plates, medium plates, and large plates. I really liked that this allowed the option to order your own meal or share with the table.

4. They offer outdoor seating in the warm weather months.

5. I've heard they have a fantastic brunch with bottomless mimosas. Yum!

My Menu Picks: We decided that we were going to share the meal so we ordered two medium sized plates and one large plate. It was the perfect amount of food for the two of us (especially when you have a guy that can really eat like mine).

For our medium plates:

PEI Mussels

(Basil Puree, Piquillo Peppers, Brioche)

Parmesan Gnocchi

(with Braised Chicken, Parmesan, and a Mushroom Reduction)

For our large plate, we went with the Steak Frites (Hanger Steak, Red Wine Sauce, & Parmesan Truffle Fries).

All three dishes were SO good, it's hard to choose which was my favorite. I literally would go back and order this exact meal, which is always a great sign.

Final Thoughts: Bistronomic is awesome. I seriously could not recommend it more. I can't wait to go back, and definitely plan on trying their brunch in the very near future.

Bistronomic

840 N. Wabash

Chicago, IL 60611

http://bistronomic.net/hostalt/

Overall Rating: CCC
Price Range: $$

Weekend Recap

2013-05-06T07:23:00.000-05:00

It's Monday again, and for once I don't mind because it's my birthday week! The month of May is usually a great one for me not only because of my birthday, but because the weather starts warming up here in Chicago and with that comes lots of fun packed weekends. This past weekend did not disappoint, and definitely kicked things off right.

Friday night: stayed in with my guy and cooked up some tasty Philly cheesesteaks together. Serious perfection.

Saturday: headed out early to participate in a crawfish boil and watch a bit of the derby. Later that evening, I attended the wine riot (for the 3rd year in a row!). For those of you that have this event in your city, I highly recommend you check it out.

Sunday: spent the day at the outlets with some of my girlfriends and managed to stock up on some much needed summer apparel - shorts! A huge success in my book. In honor of cinco de mayo, my guy cooked up some tasty Mexican food which was all ready for me when I returned from my day of shopping. I spent the rest of the evening relaxing on my couch staring at the gorgeous warm night view from my window. It seriously can't get any better than that.

Cinco de Mayo Inspiration

2013-05-03T06:30:00.000-05:00

Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner and we all know what that means - margaritas (for those of us of age of course) and lots of Mexican food. Two of my absolute favorite combinations. Today I've compiled a bunch of goodies for you to make (or just look at and drool over) for this coming Sunday.

Short Rib Tacos / Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars / Chorizo Queso Fundido

Fruit Salsa & Cinnamon Chips / Mango Jalapeno Margaritas / Black Bean, Corn, & Mango Salad

Salsa Verde Chicken Tostadas / Churro Cupcakes / Baked Jalapeno Poppers

Don't they all look amazing? I would take any one of these right this very minute.

For a few of my personal favorites, try these:

Black Bean & Enchilada "Cupcakes"

Enchilada Stuffed Mushrooms

Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

Southwestern Eggrolls

Mexican Wedding Cakes

Have a wonderful weekend!

Warm Weather Craving

2013-05-01T06:30:00.000-05:00

Every year I forget how much my wine tastes and cravings change with the weather. This past weekend the boyfriend and I dug into our first bottle (or two) of white wine of the season together. Warm weather + cold white wine = perfection. While I usually stay around the $5 mark with most of my Trader Joe's picks (I've found a ton of winners in this price range), I decided to try something different and pick up two bottles at $7.99 a piece. I have to be honest. One was a total win and the other not so much.

So which one was the winner you ask? The Chenin Blanc Viognier from Goats In Villages (I love that name by the way) was both of our favorites. It was the perfect amount of sweet and refreshing. I definitely think I may have found my go to warm weather wine for entertaining. It's sure to be a hit. Give it a try for yourselves! As for the Sauvignon Blanc (which I was sure was going to be my favorite of the two), it turned out to be sort of a disappointment. It was probably one of my least favorite wines I've ever tried from Trader Joe's, which I hate to say but I had to be honest with you guys. Maybe someone somewhere will disagree, but we were just not fans of this wine. Moral of the story? Try the bottle with the cute goats on the label, and forget about the other.

Book Review

2013-04-30T06:30:00.000-05:00

This past month's book club read was by an author I had never read in the past and I must say after reading this book, I'm definitely interested in reading more from her.

A snippet about the book (from Amazon):

"In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the 'coolest girl in the world' moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable."

This book goes through the story of two girls through years of friendship with ups and downs, and everything in between. I really enjoyed the story line and the fact that this book kept me entertained throughout the whole way. I would definitely recommend Firefly Lane if you're in the market for a new book. I can't wait read to more by Kristin Hannah.

Have you read any Kristin Hannah books? If so, please share your favorites!

Orzo Skillet Dinner

2013-04-29T06:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday! My apologies for a bit of silence at the end of last week, but things were hectic at work with deadlines and such, and by the time I came home all I wanted to do was stay away from the computer. That being said, this weekend was much needed and I definitely enjoyed some necessary relaxation. Of course I managed to get a bit of cooking in as well which is always a huge plus. The recipe I have for you today is one from an old Cooking Light magazine page I had torn out with a few tweaks. This meal was part of their "budget cooking section", so it's meant to be inexpensive and in addition to that it was a very easy recipe to throw together. The perfect weeknight meal in my opinion.

Orzo Skillet
(Serves 4)

Ingredients:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken tenderloins, cut into cubes
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 12 oz uncooked orzo
- 1/4 cup reserved cooking water (from the orzo)
- 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tsp tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 cups of baby spinach
- 1/2 cup white wine
- juice of 1 lemon
- feta cheese crumbles, for topping
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- salt & pepper, to taste

Method:
1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, & garlic powder.
3. Add the olive oil and chicken, and saute until the chicken is brown on all sides (about 6 minutes).
4. Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the pan.
5. While the chicken is cooking, begin cooking the orzo according to the packaging instructions.
6. Before draining the orzo, set aside 1/4 cup of the starchy cooking water.
7. In the same skillet the chicken was cooked in, add the reserved cooking water, tomatoes, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt & pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes on medium-high heat.
8. Add the chicken, orzo, wine, and spinach to the skillet and stir until all of the spinach has wilted.
9. Add the lemon juice to the skillet and stir in before serving.
10. Sprinkle the feta cheese crumbles over top, serve and enjoy.

I can absolutely see substituting the meat in this recipe with more vegetables (mushrooms, onions, etc.) for a completely meatless meal. Shrimp also would work really nicely here. This recipe has it all - it's healthy, low in cost, and has a fairly short cook time.

Eye Candy: Lemon Fresh

2013-04-24T11:25:00.003-05:00

Ever since making my brussels sprouts salad earlier this week, I'm craving all things lemon. It's that time of year where the bright fresh flavors are all that I want all of the time. Now if only the weather in Chicago would get on board with this bright theme things would be perfect. For today's eye candy, it's all about lemon focused recipes. Enjoy!

Meyer Lemon Pizza / Meyer Lemon Fettucine / Lemon Feta Chicken with Oregano / Basil Prosecco & Limoncello

Which one would you choose?

Brussels Sprouts Salad

2013-04-23T06:30:00.000-05:00

I have mentioned a few times now that I'm trying a lower carb lifestyle and that especially includes dinner. I'm not getting rid of carbs all together. I enjoy eating them too much. But, I am trying to cut corners where I can and so I've been forced to get a little creative with dinner options to make sure my guy and I are fully satisfied. I saw this idea for a brussels sprouts salad a few weeks back and I immediately knew it would make for a perfect low-carb side dish. One of my favorite vegetables combined with cheese. Really, how can you go wrong? The answer is you can't.

Brussels Sprouts Salad

(Adapted from here)

Ingredients:

- 3 cups of shaved brussels sprouts (I bought a bag of them from Trader Joe's)

- 1 medium sized red onion, sliced thin

- 1 tsp of honey

- 1 tsp dijon mustard

- Juice of 1 lemon

- 1 1/4 tbsp olive oil

- Salt & pepper, to taste

- Shaved Parmesan cheese, to taste

Method:

1. Whisk together the ingredients for your dressing - honey, dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, salt & pepper. Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, add the brussels sprouts and red onion, and mix to combine.

3. Pour the dressing over top an using tongs to make sure the brussels sprouts are fully covered.

4. Sprinkle the shaved Parmesan cheese over top before serving.

Not only will this salad make a tasty addition in the warmer months ahead, but it will be perfect in the Fall too. I can totally see this being a new side dish at my family's Thanksgiving table. It really is that tasty. I paired this salad along side a piece of salmon, but I really think it will be a fantastic side dish for most proteins. Enjoy!

Food Life Balance

2013-04-22T10:23:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday! I hope you all enjoyed your weekends. Mine was great filled with lots of time with friends and my guy. I couldn't ask for anything more. Now let's get to today's post. If you've been reading my blog for a while you know fitness is just as important to me as my food. It's been a while since I've dedicated a post solely to my fitness routines, but I'm hoping to bring more of these back going forward because they are a big part of my daily routine. After all, the reason why I do indulge on the foods I enjoy when I do is because of the fact that I have this balance between food and exercise. The focus of today's routine is all about getting those arms toned. I've gone through this set of exercises multiple times and I can tell you my arms definitely felt the burn, and yours will too.

Doing this workout three times through takes roughly about 30 minutes. We all have 30 minutes to spare and after those 30 minutes I promise you'll be feeling great. I alternate between lighter and heavy weights depending on what the exercise is, and at the end of it my arms are exhausted in the best way possible. Give it a try for yourselves and tell me what you think.

New Toy

2013-04-18T08:29:00.002-05:00

I've mentioned quite a few times before that my company is pretty awesome. One of the many perks of my job is our rewards program where we get points that we can cash in for some great stuff. Over the last year I've been saving up my points and finally decided to redeem them for an iPad mini. Cool, right?

It arrived yesterday and I'm loving my new toy. I'm especially excited for it to help me in the kitchen. Lugging my computer in with recipe inspiration was getting to be too much. The computer itself took up a ton of my counter space (which is very limited in my small city apartment). The iPad will definitely make a world of a difference there. Now I know many of my readers and fellow bloggers are all about the Apple products and so I ask you, what type of apps must I download? I know you guys will definitely have some awesome tips. Of course if any of them are food related, that's an extra bonus for me.

Sapori Trattoria

2013-04-17T06:30:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned earlier this week, my guy and I had a double date with one of his best friend's and his wife on Saturday night. We are all big fans of Italian and so I did a bit of research for a new spot to try. I came across Sapori Trattoria and based on the reviews decided it sounded very promising. I am happy to report I really enjoyed it.

Restaurant: Sapori Trattoria
Cuisine: Italian

Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Ambiance: The restaurant had a very cozy and romantic feel.
Things You Should Know:

1. I would highly recommend making a reservation as there is not a whole lot of room to wait inside of the restaurant.

2. Our server was quite knowledgeable with the menu and helped run through some of her favorites to help narrow down my menu choices. That's the kind of service I like.

3. They have a variety of options on their menu which I liked. As I said, I really had a hard time choosing and took the server's advice.

My Menu Picks:

We decided to start with an appetizer for the table. My friend who had been there recommended the grilled calamari (with roasted red peppers and a touch of balsamic) which had already caught my eye on the menu.

It was really yummy and definitely a great start to the meal. For my main course, I went with one of the server's recommendations for the Shrimp Pasta (she had said it was her favorite) which had a bunch of vegetables mixed in with a white wine sauce. It not only tasted good, but it had a pretty presentation as well.

Here's what the rest of the table ordered:

Gnocchi al Brivido

(with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts in a basil pesto sauce)

Lasagna Di Antonio

(which apparently is one of their specialties)

And, the Pasta Carbonara

For dessert we split an Italian classic, the tiramisu. It was delicious!

Final Thoughts: This restaurant was really good and definitely one that deserves a return visit. Yummy food, good service, and a cozy atmosphere. I'd recommend it.

Sapori Trattoria

2701 N. Halsted St.

Chicago, IL 60614

http://www.saporitrattoria.net

Overall Rating: CC

Price Range: $$

Boston

2013-04-16T10:01:00.000-05:00

Today I have a heavy heart as I'm sure many of us do. Boston was the city I called home prior to my moving to Chicago. It is a city I love and a city that in a way represents a big piece of my life. I may not have lived there for a long period of time, but it is the place where I took that scary step of leaving my Florida comfort zone and trying something new. It is definitely a huge part of who I am and I'm deeply saddened with the events of yesterday. My thoughts are with the victims and their families, along with everyone in the city of Boston. The world is a scary place and it is one that I will never fully understand. So for today a few photos of one of my favorite cities in the world.

Boston is strong and will remain strong, despite this tragedy.

Weekend Recap

2013-04-15T06:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday friends! Another weekend has come and gone, and as always it was never long enough.

Friday: I spent the evening in catching up with Danielle & Gina.

Saturday AM: I ventured over to Michigan Avenue for what was supposed to be some online shopping returning, and of course I ended up picking up a few things. I really scored some great finds - 2 pairs of ballet flats, 2 scarves, a cross-body bag, earrings, and a chambray shirt all for under $100. Warm weather clothes shopping is way too fun.

Saturday PM: My guy and I had a double date at Sapori Trattoria in Lincoln Park with one of his best friend's and his wife. (Review to come soon.) It was really yummy. Then my guy and I met up with another couple after dinner for a few cocktails. Such a fun night.

Sunday: Made a dent in my latest book club read, did my meal planning and grocery shopping for the week, and spent the remainder of the day relaxing.

Friends, shopping, dining out, and some relaxation. I'd say my weekend was pretty perfect.

What did you do?

Fashion Friday: OOTD

2013-04-12T12:35:00.002-05:00

Happy Friday! Hooray for the weekend finally being here. It's felt like the longest week ever. Since I've enjoyed putting together fashion posts lately, I thought I'd share my OOTD (outfit of the day for those of you who are not familiar). If you follow me on instagram, you've already seen this photo. If you don't follow me already, you totally should.

Shirt: Old Navy

Scarf: Winter Lennon (currently on sale!)

Boots: Franco Sarto

Earrings (not captured): Kate Spade

Watch (not captured): Michael Kors

Have a wonderful weekend!

Warmer Weather Cravings

2013-04-11T10:35:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week, I put together a post about one of my warm(er) weather cravings for salads. We haven't quite hit Spring yet here in Chicago, but as soon as the temps reach mid 40's to low 50's, my food wants immediately change. Since there are quite a few of you that are new around here, I thought I'd bring back some of my must-try warm weather meals. I definitely plan on making some (if not all) of these in the near future. Lots of bright colors, fresh produce, and tasty flavor combinations. I promise you won't be disappointed with any of these recipes.

Hawaiian Beef & Pineapple Kabobs / Portobello Fajitas / Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa / Panko & Parmesan Fish Sticks with Spicy Tartar Sauce / Huevos Rancheros / Shrimp with Spanish Style Yellow Rice /Cuban Style Pork Chunks / Black Bean Burgers with Spicy Chipotle Aioli /Pork Milanese

Another Winning Bottle of Wine

2013-04-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've done a wine review, and well that's probably because I rotate through a couple of my favorites (like this one, or this one) at Trader Joe's. I realized in writing this post there still are quite a few I haven't shared, and I'll have to change that. I like to buy my vino on the cheap (without it tasting cheap), and Trader Joe's is definitely the best spot to do so. I've worked my way through plenty of their wines but every once in a while I try and check out a new one that catches my eye on their shelves

La Ferme Julien (Rouge 2011) is an easy drinking wine (which is my new thing lately) from France. It is delicious when had on its own and also can pair easily with most dishes. It rings in at $5.99, so it's affordable too. What's better? Give it a try for yourselves and tell me what you think. And, if you're looking for something to cook while sipping on a glass, I think this would pair perfectly with my Coq Au Vin for Two. Enjoy!

Eye Candy: Summer Salads

2013-04-09T10:56:00.002-05:00

I don't know about you, but the warmer weather has me craving salads like crazy. I figured I can't be alone here so I thought that they'd be the perfect subject for today's Eye Candy. There's nothing better to me than a bunch of fresh ingredients (which don't always have to include lettuce) piled high with a tasty salad dressing. If you've never made your own from scratch before you definitely should give it a try. It's really easy and makes all the difference.

California Club Chopped Salad / Mexican Corn Salad / Chicken Chickpea Chopped Salad / Cherry Tomato Salad with Buttermilk Basil Dressing

For other salad ideas, check out some of my own personal favorites:

- Crab Cobb with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

- Shades of Green Summer Salad with Garlic Lime Dressing

- Shrimp Taco Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing

- Spinach Pasta Salad with Garlic Vinaigrette

What salad combinations do you love?

Kanela Breakfast Club

2013-04-08T10:29:00.003-05:00

I hope you had a lovely weekend! Mine was just perfect. Lots of friends, food, relaxation, and a bit of warmer weather - just the way I like it. On Saturday morning, I met a group of girls for brunch and got to try a new spot that was a big win in my book. So of course being the good blogger I am, I just had to share. If you live in the Chicago area, and haven't checked out Kanela yet, you definitely should!

Restaurant: Kanela Breakfast Club
Cuisine: American (with a good mix of other cuisines).

Neighborhood: There are two locations. One in Old Town (which is the one I went to) & the other is in Lakeview.
Ambiance: A perfect brunch environment.
Things You Should Know:

1. They do not take reservations.

2. There is parking available at both locations.

3. They offer delivery (which is kind of amazing for breakfast items).

4. Their menu has both breakfast and lunch options.

5. They are BYOB, but do have a $10 corkage fee. We brought a few bottles of champagne and it was still just one fee.

6. The Old Town location will have some outdoor seating once the weather warms up.

7. I loved how patient the server was with us. Let's face it, a group of girls can really talk and our server never made us feel rushed. That's was I call great service.

My Menu Picks:

Everything on this menu sounded so good it was really hard for me to narrow it down. I usually take this as a good sign for a brunch spot so I didn't mind too much. We started with the Monkey Bread, which was a nice sweet bite to get things started. Sorry for the blurry photo, but you get the idea. It's small, it's sweet, it's really tasty.

For my main course I went with the salmon benedict (smoked salmon + saute spinach + pickled red onion + poached eggs + house hollandaise over top an english muffin) which was served along side herb roasted red potatoes.

It was really good, and I love that they offer a variety of eggs benedict which is one of my favorite meals to order for brunch. Definitely reason enough to go back. While some of us ordered the same thing, I managed to capture the other girls meals as well. Two of the girls both ordered the chorizo (eggs over easy + avocado + chihuahua cheese + salsa + jalapeño + cilantro) which looked delicious. It is served with a side of toast and potatoes (which you can substitute for fruit for an additional fee).

And lastly, the other item I almost ordered myself since it was recommended by our server - the fried egg (peppered bacon + aged cheddar + spinach + tomato + nyc bagel + chili aioli). I may have to get this one next time. Yum.

Final Thoughts: Kanela was great. I will definitely be back, and I highly recommend you check it out for yourselves.

Kanela Breakfast Club

Multiple Locations

http://kanelacafe.com/

Overall Rating: CC

(which does mean great)

Price Range: $$

Spicy Basil Chicken

2013-04-04T06:30:00.000-05:00

Last night there was a change in roles in my house. I'm usually the chef in our apartment during the week (as I'm sure you may have already guessed), but last night my man cooked for me, and let me tell you...he did GOOD! The recipe he used was one from one of my old issues of Cooking Light that I had torn out. He made some of his own tweaks of course, but I couldn't get enough and just had to share the recipe with all of you. So today I bring to you Spicy Basil Chicken courtesy of my sweet boyfriend.

Spicy Basil Chicken

(adapted from here)

Ingredients:

- 2 tsp olive oil

- 1/4 cup shallots, minced

- 3 garlic cloves, minced

- 1 package of 6 (4 oz) skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces

- 2 tsp low sodium soy sauce

- 1 tsp sriracha (or more depending on how spicy you like it)

- 1 tsp water

- 1/2 tsp cornstarch

- 1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, sliced

- Pinch of red pepper flakes

- Salt & pepper, to taste

- Optional: Sesame seeds, for topping

Method:

1. Place a large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat.

2. Pour the olive oil to the pan (swirl to coat), and add the shallots and garlic. Cook until fragrant.

3. Season the chicken with a pinch of red pepper flakes and salt & pepper to taste, and add the chicken to the pan.

4. Cook for about 13 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

5. Combine the soy sauce, sriracha, water, and cornstarch to the chicken and stir until mixed well.

6. Cook for another minute or so and remove from the heat.

7. Top each dish with a bit of fresh basil and sesame seeds (optional). Serve and enjoy.

Notes:

- The original recipe was served with brown rice and vegetables. We paired ours with a vegetable saute (in just a little bit of sesame oil) of red peppers, mushrooms, and snow peas. It was perfect.

- The level of heat in this dish can definitely be controlled if you're not a fan of spicy. I would say to add just a drop of some type of hot sauce (if you can tolerate it) to help bring a different level of flavors, but I didn't find mine too spicy at all.

And of course this post wouldn't be complete without a photo of the chef. Thank you my love. It was a hit!

Mexique

2013-04-03T06:30:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to get back out to experience the Chicago weekend brunch scene again. I was slacking the last few months due to the cold weather, but now that it's a bit warmer there's no excuse. Good food and socializing with friends are a must. This past weekend I ventured out with my friend Anna to a new-to-me spot in Noble Square (which is where one of my favorite Cuban restaurants in the city is), and it was fantastic.

Restaurant: Mexique
Cuisine: Mexican (with a bit of French fusion for some of their menu items).

Neighborhood: Noble Square
Ambiance: The restaurant had a laid back environment with modern touches that made it look and feel different than a normal neighborhood spot.
Things You Should Know:

1. They do take reservations which is always a bonus for weekend brunch. But, we went early and didn't have a problem.

2. Cool fact: Mexique has received a Michelin star.

3. There is street parking available directly in front of the restaurant (if you want to drive).

My Menu Picks: Since we each ordered one main course I thought I'd share both with you. The presentation of both of our dishes was way too good not to. I ordered the Huarache de Asada (Oval Shaped Corn Masa, Fried Black Beans, Spinach, Flank Steak and Goat Cheese Fondue).

It was SO good! The oval shaped masa was thicker than a tortilla, but thinner than a flatbread. It was different from anything I've ever ordered before in all of the best ways possible. All of the ingredients were incredibly fresh and came together to create one really delicious dish. My friend Anna ordered the Cazuela de Jaiba (Skillet with Crab Cakes, Corn, Potatoes, Red Peppers, Bacon, Spinach and Chipotle Bearnaise, Scrambled Eggs).

I of course had to have a bite and this dish was also really tasty.

Favorite Bite: Since I only ordered one thing for myself, this obviously is an easy choice, but I would recommend either one of our dishes as they were really good.

Final Thoughts: I can't speak to how this place is for dinner, but if it's anything like the brunch I'd say you won't be disappointed. Fresh food, beautiful presentations, and tasty flavors - you can't go wrong!

Mexique

1529 W. Chicago Ave.

Chicago, IL 60642

http://www.mexiquechicago.com/

Overall Rating: CC

Price Range: $$

Eye Candy: Leafy Greens

2013-04-02T06:30:00.000-05:00

Since I shared a not-so-good-for-you cookie recipe with you yesterday, I thought the focus of today's eye candy should be a bit healthier to balance things out. Everything in moderation, right? The best way to bring things back to healthy is with one of the most popular leafy green vegetables as of late - kale. Not only is kale delicious, but it's jam packed with vitamins and nutrients making it really good for you. And the best part? It can easily be thrown into a variety of recipes and completely transform the dish. If you haven't given kale a try yet, I suggest you do!

Sweet Potato, Black Bean, & Kale Quesadillas / Kale & Brussels Sprouts Salad with Tahini Maple Dressing / Portabella & Kale Pizza with Roasted Garlic Sauce / Gnocchi with Sausage & Kale

P.S. For those of you kale fans in Chicago, I HIGHLY recommend you check out Bar Toma and order the kale salad. My bestie and I went a few weeks back when she was visiting and neither one of us can stop talking about it. Check it out for yourselves!

Easter Cookie Bars

2013-04-01T07:19:00.000-05:00

For those of you who celebrated, I hope you had a lovely Easter Sunday. I know I did. Good food, quality time with family, and some relaxation was a great way to spend the day. I have a ridiculously yummy (and easy) recipe for you today. I was asked to make the dessert for our family gathering and I decided to go with a simple cookie bar that I knew would be a hit. If you've never made cookies from scratch before and feel intimidated, I promise you don't need to be. These are just as simple as a box mix, and I guarantee you may even have most (if not all) of the ingredients in your house already.

Easter Cookie Bars

(makes 24 bars,

adapted from here)

Ingredients:

- 2 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 12 tbsp butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips

- 1 cup Easter M&M's, plus extra for topping
- Sea salt, for sprinkling over top

- Cooking spray

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2. Spray the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

3. Place your dry ingredients - flour, salt, and baking soda in a medium sized mixing bowl, and whisk together. Set aside.

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large mixing bowl if you don't have one). Mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until well combined.

5. Then add the egg, additional egg yolk, and vanilla extract, and mix until smooth.

6. Add the dry ingredients in batches and mix on low to combine.

7. Stir in the chocolate chips and Easter M&M's, and continue to mix on low until they are evenly distributed.

8. Pour the dough into the 9x13 baking dish and smooth down the top using your hands (or a spatula if you don't want to get messy).

9. Add additional M&M's over top of the dough, and sprinkle lightly with sea salt.

10. Bake the bars at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes (or until the top of the bars turn a light golden brown color).

11. Cool bars for about 10 minutes before serving.

12. Cut into squares and enjoy!

These can easily be made for any occasion with regular M&M's or other seasonal varieties. I promise you'll love them. They're a classic recipe that definitely won't disappoint.

Saturday Shopping: The Satchel

2013-03-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Saturday! For the last few months I've been on the hunt for a new purse. I already have an everyday bag for work, but I want something new for the weekends (and of course nights out). I'm a big fan of the satchel style purse, and today I've compiled a few of the bags I've had my eye on.

Coach Legacy Haley Leather Satchel / Michael Kors Hamilton East/West Satchel / Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Baby Groovee / Kate Spade Cobble Hill Small Leslie / J. Crew Biennial Medium Satchel / Tory Burch Amanda Middy Satchel

Which one would you choose?