The Daily Dish

This Friday

2012-01-27T10:51:00.003-06:00

I am literally counting down the hours until this work week is over. It has been such a hectic week that I can't wait to do nothing but relax this weekend. There are no plans on my agenda, and sometimes that's the best plan of all. I have to be honest and let you all know that the only foodie related thing I'm thinking about on this Foodie Friday, is the giant glass of wine waiting for me when I get home. In keeping with the i'm-in-major-need-of-a-drink theme, I came across this yummy sounding concoction that I thought I would share.

A Moscato Spritzer

(moscato, sprite, and raspberries)

Sounds like my kind of drink.

And with that, I am off. Happy Friday friends!

Who Doesn't Like Pasta?

2012-01-26T12:50:00.001-06:00

So there is one thing that I think I have neglected to mention on the blog before. I have a deep love for pasta! As in I could eat it every day with a different sauce, addition, etc., and it would NEVER grow old. I never thought I was alone in feeling that way. Pasta is usually the one food that everyone can agree on. Well, it's not true. My boyfriend actually does not care for it, and has mentioned on multiple occasions that pasta is just not his favorite, and he would prefer rice (or really anything else). Of course the first thought that came to mind when I heard this was - "who is this guy I fell in love with?" Can we really be compatible if one of my most loved foods is not his? Clearly the answer is still yes, but I will tell you it has been (well, it was) a secret mission of mine to get him to love pasta the way I do. I don't think we are quite there yet, but I will say that this recipe for Creamy Jambalaya Pasta may have gotten me a few steps closer. So thank you, Kendall! If there is one thing my boyfriend does love, it's anything with Cajun seasonings. He likes to add Cajun spices to everything, and would if I didn't stop him from time to time. I can't fault him for liking what he likes, but thankfully this recipe was one we both enjoyed and I can't wait to make it again. Hooray for another pasta dish we can both agree on!

Creamy Cajun Pasta

(original recipe found here)

Ingredients:

- 1/2 box of bowtie pasta, cooked

- 1 tbsp of olive oil

- 1 (12.8 oz) package of andouille sausage (I used chicken sausage), sliced

- 1 cup of half & half

- 2 cloves of garlic, minced

- 1/2 of a medium sized white onion, chopped

- 1 1/2 tsp of Cajun seasoning (I subbed out 1/4 of a tsp here for extra hot Cajun seasoning, but I would only recommend doing this if you are a fan of spicy. We are in my house!)

- 1 1/2 tsp of Paprika

- Salt & Pepper, to taste

- 1/2 cup of white wine (I went with Chardonnay - specifically a bottle of "two-buck-chuck" from Trader Joe's. These cheap bottles are perfect for cooking with.)

- 4 tbsp of tomato sauce

- 1 1/2 tsp fresh Parsley, chopped (plus a little extra for topping at the end)

- Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Method:

1. Set your cooked pasta to the side.

2. In a medium to large sized skillet, place the tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and brown.

3. Add the onion and saute with the sausage for about two minutes.

4. Then add the garlic and stir together with the onion and sausage mixture, until the garlic becomes fragrant (about 30 seconds).

5. Add the white wine to the pan, and let it reduce (it should reduce by half) for about two minutes.

6. Once reduced, add in the Cajun seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper, tomato sauce, and the half & half.

7. Heat the half & half until it starts to slightly bubble, and then reduce the heat to low.

8. Cook the mixture for about 5 minutes, and then add the pasta.

9. Toss in the fresh Parsley (saving a little for topping at the end).

10. Serve with the leftover fresh Parsley and some Parmesan on top!

Dreaming...

2012-01-26T06:30:00.007-06:00

Lately my work schedule has been totally crazy. Ever since my promotion I have taken on two jobs - my old job (which I am in the process of training a new employee to do) and my new job (that I haven't had too much time for). With hectic work days filled with meetings that go all day and assignments that I never seem to get caught up on, the only thing I'm thinking about is a vacation. The boyfriend and I have talked about taking one this year (just the two of us) for quite some time. Believe it or not, after two plus years of dating we have never taken a vacation that was all about us. Since my family is in Florida, and our friends are scattered all over the country, the only trips we have taken together are to visit with the people who mean the most to us, or for special occasions (i.e. weddings, weddings, and more weddings). Don't get me wrong, I LOVE taking these trips, but it would be nice to get away and spend some quality time just us. Who doesn't love a trip where there is absolutely nothing on the agenda but some R&R? Here is one of the places I'm currently ~~obsessing~~ dreaming about - Napa Valley (for the wine of course)!

Some day we'll get there.

What are some of the vacation spots you're dreaming about?

Sweet Tooth

2012-01-25T06:00:00.001-06:00

For some reason over the last few weeks my sweet tooth has been out of control. Thankfully I have not given into it every.single.time I am in the mood for something sweet, or else my weekday healthy eating plan would be a huge failure. Since I haven't whipped up a bunch of sweet treats as I have wanted, I did what any girl would do...search Pinterest for some ideas (for when I finally do give in of course). And, I'm not sure if it worked. In fact, I think it has made my problem worse. But, at least it was worth it. I of course had to share what I found, because what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't? So here you have it, the sweets i'm swooning over. I hope you enjoy looking at these beauties as much as I have.

No Bake Vanilla Cake Batter Chocolate Truffles

Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars

Since it is girl scout cookie season..Thin Mint Truffles

Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Cookie Bars

Banana Split Bites

Hot Chocolate Popovers

Salted Caramel Pudding

Raspberry French Silk Pie Bars

Do you have a sweet tooth?

What are your go-to sweets of choice?

A Different Kind Of Pasta Salad

2012-01-24T16:55:00.000-06:00

I try to bring my lunch every day. Not only does it save me quite a bit of money, but it also allows me to be in-the-know about what exactly i'm putting into my body. With that said, eating the same thing week after week can get boring, so I am constantly trying new ideas to make lunch time a bit more exciting. Last week I stumbled upon a recipe for a lentils and couscous salad that looked to die for. After giving it a try for myself I can say it most definitely is!

And, the best part. I have enough to last me for the whole week. All I have to do is scoop out one portion per day and I'm set. Now that's my kind of lunch.

Lentil & Couscous Salad

(Original recipe found here, serves 4)

Ingredients:

For the salad:

- 1 cup of Israeli couscous, cooked (according to the packaging instructions)

- 1 1/3 cup of lentils, cooked

- 1 1/2 cups of chopped Roma tomatoes

- 1 1/2 cup of green onions, chopped

- 1/3 cup of fresh mint, chopped (using the chiffonade method)

- Feta cheese, for topping (optional)

For the dressing:

- 4 tbsp red wine vinegar

- 2 tbsp olive oil

- 2 tbsp horseradish mustard

- Salt & Pepper, to taste

- Zest from one lemon

Method:

1. Place the (already cooked) couscous and lentils in a large mixing bowl.

2. Add the fresh ingredients - tomatoes, green onions, mint, and mix together.

3. In a smaller bowl, combine the ingredients for the dressing (red wine vinegar, olive oil, mustard, salt & pepper, and the lemon zest). Stir together.

4. Slowly add the dressing over top of the couscous and lentil mixture, continuing to mix add you pour it in.

5. Optional: Garnish with feta cheese over top, and serve. (Note: If you are making this ahead as I do, I have waited to add the cheese until the day I am taking it for lunch.)

This is another great meatless option, but I also think the addition of some shrimp would work wonderfully.

A few other additions/subtractions I may make in the future:

- I think substituting some lemon juice for the mustard would also be delicious and make the dish a bit more citrus-y (not sure if that's a word, but I just made it one).

- When making ahead for the week, I may leave out the fresh mint and try a different dried herb in its place (i'm thinking oregano). The mint gets a little soggy as the week goes on and I don't think it would be a big deal to change it out.

- Swapping out the feta for some goat cheese, because everything is better with goat cheese. Yum!

Successful Plan

2012-01-24T06:30:00.002-06:00

A few weeks ago I let you all in on my new plan to start incorporating Meatless Mondays into my household. I am proud to report that it has been quite the success so far. Last night's meatless meal included one I never thought I would get my guy to eat. I had seen a few recipes with the idea of incorporating chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) into Mexican food (i.e. here and here). I have to say this boy is quite picky when it comes to Mexican cuisine, so when I brought up the idea of chickpea tacos for this week's meatless meal he immediately turned his nose up at it. Well, after a few bites the only thing he was complaining about was that there were not enough tacos on his plate.

Chickpea Tacos

(Adapted from here and here, makes 8 tacos)

Ingredients:

For the tacos:

- 1 (15 oz) can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained

- 2 tsp chili powder

- 1/2 tsp garlic powder

- 1/4 tsp onion powder

- 1/4 tsp dried oregano

- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

- Sprinkle of salt & pepper

- Juice of 1/2 of a lime

- 2 tbsp water

- 8 hard taco shells

- Cooking Spray

Additional ingredients for toppings:

- Shredded green cabbage

- Chopped tomatoes

- Chopped onion

- Homemade guacamole

- Shredded Mexican cheese

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cumin, salt & pepper, lime juice, and water.

3. Add in the chickpeas and mix together until the chickpeas are fully coated.

4. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray to prevent the chickpeas from sticking and place them on top.

5. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes (stirring once during cooking), until the chickpeas are slightly crispy.

6. Prepare the taco shells according to the box instructions and fill with the crispy chickpeas and toppings of your choice.

For those of you meat eaters, I realize these may sound a little strange, but I promise once you add the toppings you won't miss the meat one bit. Enjoy!

Piccolo Sogno

2012-01-23T06:30:00.002-06:00

After a lazy Saturday spent on the couch, the boyfriend and I met up with some friends for dinner at Piccolo Sogno, an Italian restaurant I'd been dying to try! All I have to say is that all of the rave reviews I had heard were correct. This place was delicious!

Restaurant: Piccolo Sogno (which means "Little Dream")

Cuisine: Italian

Neighborhood: River West

Ambiance: Elegant and romantic, without being stuffy.

Things You Should Know:

1) They take reservations through Open Table, and I would definitely recommend making them for weekend dining.
2) They offer valet parking.
3) In the summer they have an outdoor patio which is supposed to make the experience that much better.
4) They offer daily specials in addition to their regular menu.
My Menu Picks:

We all were starved so we started with an appetizer, the Burrata con Culatello (hand stuffed Mozarella served with artisan style prosciutto).

This item was recommended online and I can definitely see why. The cheese was awesome, and the prosciutto was some of the best I have ever had! For my main course I was in the mood for pasta so I went with one of the server's recommendations - Tortelli alla Bolognese (Saffron pasta stuffed with potato and fennel seed, tossed with a meat and tomato ragu).

The saffron pasta was a nice addition, and the entire dish was delicious. My boyfriend went with the Maiale Al Latte (milk braised Berkshire pork shank with mashed potatoes, Tuscan kale, and pancetta).

I of course tried a bite, and the meat was so tender and juicy, it's no wonder he finished the whole thing.

Favorite Bite: My dinner was so tasty that I have been thinking about it ever since. The server made a fabulous recommendation and I would definitely recommend it to all of you.

Final Thoughts: My dining experience at Piccolo Sogno was great. The food was delicious, the service was great, and the feel of the restaurant was perfect. I will definitely be back!

Piccolo Sogno

464 N. Halsted St.

Chicago, IL 60622

http://piccolosognorestaurant.com

Overall Rating: CCC

Price Range: $$$

Movie Night

2012-01-22T10:31:00.000-06:00

I spent my Friday night in with Danielle + Taylor.

We rented the movie Midnight in Paris, ate a bunch of cheese, crackers, and other snacks, and had some French wine. It was a lovely night after an intense snow day. Of course I had to make SOME thing to snack on during the movie and after seeing this on Pinterest, I knew it would be perfect. I give to you Cookies & Cream popcorn.

Cookies & Cream Popcorn

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 bags of popcorn, popped, making sure all excess kernels are removed (I used butter flavored)

- 20 oreos, crushed (method shown here)

- 10 oz of almond bark

Method:

1. Place a sheet of wax paper down on a baking sheet. Spread out the already popped popcorn along the wax paper, and add the crushed oreos over top (saving a few handfuls for topping at the end).

2. Put the almond bark into a microwave safe bowl and heat for 90 seconds. Take the bark out of the microwave and stir, placing it back in for 30 second intervals until it is fully melted, making sure you continue to stir each time.

3. With a spoon, drizzle the almond bark over top the popcorn & oreos and let it cool.

4. Place the cooled mixture into a large serving bowl and sprinkle the oreos you set aside on top.

5. Sit down with a movie and enjoy!

This is one snack both men & women will love.

Who can resist the salty-sweet combo?

Foodie Friday: Soup Roundup

2012-01-20T09:30:00.000-06:00

Last week I called on all of you for some of the links to your favorite soup recipes. I thought it would be fun to compile a list of your favorites and my must-makes for this week's Foodie Friday.

Starting from the top left and moving clockwise:

- Broccoli, Cheese, & Potato

- Chicken & Wild Rice

- Butternut Squash

- Baked Potato & Leek

- Spaghetti & Meatball

- Mushroom Barley

- Spinach, Tomato, & Orzo

- Tomato Tortellini

- Beef, Potato, & Quinoa

- Artichoke

- Spicy Sweet Potato

- French Onion

Did I miss anything? I would love for anyone who did not get a chance to share a link yet to do so below. Happy Friday friends!

Baked Herb & Parmesan Potato Crisps

2012-01-19T12:30:00.001-06:00

As if the main course wasn't enough for dinner last night, I of course had to make something delicious to accompany it. These potatoes were the perfect addition, and I definitely plan on making them again in the near future. There is nothing better than a simple, yet flavorful side dish that is sure to be a hit every time.

Baked Herb & Parmesan Potato Crisps

(serves 2, adapted from here)

Ingredients:

- 2 small red potatoes, thinly sliced

- 2 small russet potatoes, thinly sliced

- 2 tbsp of olive oil

- 3 sprigs of fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)

- 1/2 tsp of dried rosemary

- 1/2 tsp of garlic powder

- 1/2 tsp of onion powder

- Salt & pepper, to taste

- 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Place your potato slices in a medium-sized mixing bowl.

3. Add the thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese to the bowl.

4. Then add the olive oil and mix all of the ingredients together.

5. Lay the seasoned potato slices flat on a cookie sheet (as flat as possible, a little overlapping is fine.)

6. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes (or until golden brown). Serve, and enjoy!

You CAN Judge A Book By Its Cover

2012-01-19T06:30:00.010-06:00

I think the photo on the cover of my newest cookbook may have been the selling point for my boyfriend, and apparently it lead him in the right direction when choosing the perfect gift. Recipe attempt #1 from Williams-Sonoma's Weeknight Fresh + Fast was quite the success. In fact, I believe the words that came out of my boyfriend's mouth were "I could eat this meal every night." It really was delicious, and definitely has me excited to try out more of my bookmarked recipes from this book. Now, on to the recipe.

Chicken Saute with Sugar Snaps & Shitake Mushrooms

(serves 2)

Ingredients:

- 4 chicken breast tenderloins, cut into pieces

- All-purpose flour, for dredging

- 2 tbsp of olive oil, divided

- 1 1/2 cups of shitake mushrooms

- 2 cups of sugar snap peas, strings removed

- 1 cup of low-sodium chicken stock

- 1 tbsp of fresh thyme, minced, plus additional for garnish

- 1 tbsp of fresh chives, minced, plus additional for garnish

- Juice of 1 lemon (or 2 tbsp)

- Zest of 1 lemon (optional, for garnish)

- Salt & pepper, to taste

Method:

1. Take the chicken (which should already be cut into pieces), season with salt and pepper, and then dredge them in flour.

2. Place a large, nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat and heat up 1 tbsp of olive oil.

3. Once hot, add the chicken to the pan and saute until cooked through (about 5 minutes).

4. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and place on a plate to the side.

5. Add the remaining tbsp of olive oil to the pan along with the shitake mushrooms, and saute for one minute.

6. Then add in the sugar snap peas and raise the heat just a bit. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper, and saute together for one minute.

7. Add the chicken broth to the vegetables, and bring to a boil. (Making sure sure to stir in order to combine the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.)

8. Then cover the pan and continue to boil until the vegetables are tender-crisp (about 3 minutes).

9. Return the chicken to the pan at this point, and add the thyme, chives, and lemon juice.

10. Simmer uncovered until the sauce begins to thicken (and coat the chicken). Continue stirring constantly for about 2 minutes.

11. Taste the dish, and season as necessary. (Mine did not need anything additional for this step.)

12. Divide the chicken and veggies between 2 plates and garnish with thyme, chives, and lemon zest (if you so choose). Serve, and enjoy!

A few things to note:

- As I mentioned yesterday, this cookbook is separated into seasonal recipes, and this particular recipe fell under Spring. While I realize it is still Winter, this recipe looked too good to not give it a try, and so I went with it. Unfortunately, I was unable to find asparagus and I had to improvise (with the shitake mushrooms). I have to say I loved how my vegetable swap turned out and I don't know that I missed the asparagus one bit.

- In addition to my swap, there were a few other things I did differently than the original recipe, but nothing too drastic.

- This recipe can easily be doubled if you are cooking for four instead of two, and next time I definitely think I will do this even if it is just the too of us. It was that good!

So, what do you think? Is this recipe one you are interested in trying? If you aren't convinced yet.. stay tuned for my delicious side dish I made to go along with it later this afternoon. I promise you won't be disappointed.

New Resource

2012-01-18T16:39:00.001-06:00

A few different cookbooks made it on my Chrismukkah list this year, and I was lucky enough to receive one of the ones I requested. My boyfriend bought me Williams-Sonoma's Weeknight Fresh + Fast. That boy must listen (who knew?) because I am always looking for a new variety of quick, easy, and healthy recipes to add to my weekly, weeknight rotation, and as it turns out that is just the book he decided to pick off my ~~long~~ list. While I love exploring other blogs and foodie sites on the internet, there is something about an actual cookbook that I really love. Sitting down, going through it, and bookmarking my favorites is so much fun. Tonight will be my first experiment with this new book (actually I am making my own version of the photo that made the cover) and I am very excited! I will have to report back on how it turns out, but there is one thing I can tell you that I already love about this cookbook, and that is the way it is broken up into seasonal recipes. How awesome is that?

What are you having for dinner tonight?

Red + Pink

2012-01-18T06:30:00.001-06:00

With February being just a few weeks away, I have two colors on my mind - red and pink. I absolutely love these colors together, so bright and cheery. Today I bring to you some of my favorite Valentine's Day ideas I found around Pinterest that incorporate this color combo. I think I may just attempt a few of these fabulous ideas.

via

Do you usually decorate/make something special for Valentine's Day?

Every Cook Needs...

2012-01-17T15:38:00.000-06:00

A good pair of mixing bowls. Believe it or not, before this weekend I was using a hodge podge arrangement of anything around the kitchen I could find to help me get dinner ready. This was not working for so long that I finally gave in and got myself a new set. These beauties from C&B.

These bowls not only make everything look prettier, but they are super convenient for any and all tasks. They will be a game changer for sure. I used five out of the ten of my new bowls last night while prepping for one of my favorite dinners (aka this pizza), and they made my prep SO much easier!

Not a fan of glass? Here are a few other sets that I've had my eyes on.

via

Sunday Brunch

2012-01-17T06:30:00.002-06:00

I have been to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba quite a few times before, but I was unaware that they offered brunch. After it coming highly recommended by one of my friends, I just had to give it a try.

Restaurant: Cafe Ba Ba Reeba

Cuisine: Spanish Tapas

Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

Ambiance: The perfect Spanish tapas decor and feel.

Things You Should Know:

1) They take reservations. A HUGE perk!
2) For those of you Bloody Mary lovers, they offer a Bloody Mary Bar at brunch. They even offer gazpacho as one of the possible additions.
3) Their brunch menu offers a bunch of different tapas and pinxtos (bite-sized tapas).
My Menu Picks:

Since I had Monday off, I decided to start my brunch with a cocktail. I am not a Bloody Mary fan (believe it or not) and so I went with a glass of their Peach Sangria which is always delicious.

One of the girls I went with was my friend who recommended this brunch spot, so she ordered a few pinxtos for us to start out with that she said were must-haves.

Deviled Eggs (we opted for no bacon)

Short Stack of Pancakes (aka one of the cutest things I've ever seen)

Waffle-Battered Chicken Stick

Potato & Egg Bite

French Toast

And after one small bite a piece of each of these, we ordered a few more tapas to share.

Sausage Fried Paella Rice with Poached Egg

And lastly...

Brick Egg, Crispy Crepe with Cheese and Tomato

Favorite Bite: Everything was delicious, but two of the things I can't get out of my head are the waffle-battered chicken stick and the crepe. They were both SO good, and I loved that they were a little different from what you would usually find on a brunch menu.
Final Thoughts: I would absolutely recommend Ba Ba Reeba for anyone looking for a new spot to brunch in the Chicago area. The food was great, and I love the idea of small plates/bites for brunch. It's always nice to try a little bit of everything. Check it out!

Cafe Ba Ba Reeba

2024 N. Halsted

Chicago, IL 60614

http://www.cafebabareeba.com

Overall Rating: CC

Price Range: $$

A New Kind Of Truffle

2012-01-16T09:59:00.000-06:00

My weekend was filled with lots of time with girlfriends, yummy food, and a bit of relaxation. Thank goodness I have one more day off of work (in honor of MLK) and will have plenty of time to do the necessary cleaning of my apartment, laundry, and to stock up on groceries for the week. Before I get to that for the rest of the day, I just HAD to share with you a new appetizer I made this past weekend for a blogger get together at Jillian's. Remember when I asked you all for appetizer advice a few Foodie Fridays ago? Well, I took one of the ones from that list and made it my own.

Grape, Goat Cheese, & Pistachio "Truffles"

(makes 20)

Ingredients:

- 1 cup of Pistachios, removed from their shells

- 1 (8 oz) log of goat cheese, at room temperature

- 20 grapes, washed with stems removed

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and toast your Pistachios on an ungreased baking sheet for 7 minutes.

2. Allow the nuts to cool for a few minutes, and then place in a food processor to finely chop.

3. Place the chopped Pistachios in a small bowl that you will use for coating. (I set up an assembly line with the goat cheese, grapes, and nuts to make this process pretty easy.)

4. Take 1/2 a tbsp of goat cheese and place in the palm of your hand.

5. Place a grape in the goat cheese in your hand and coat the grape.

6. Then roll the coated grape in the nut bowl until it is covered with the chopped Pistachios, and place it on a baking sheet.

7. Repeat the process with all of the grapes, and allow them to set for about 15 minutes.

8. Then place them in the refrigerator to cool for about 15 minutes before serving.

I definitely plan on making these again, they were quite the hit!

For a few other tasty treats from the get together, check out these from two of my favorite ladies. Lesley's Mexican Wontons and Lara's 8 Layer Dip. They were both delicious!

This AM

2012-01-14T10:39:00.000-06:00

For Christmas, I got my boyfriend's sister a subscription to Cooking Light magazine. I have loved their recipes for years, and so I also decided to order a subscription for myself. I finally received my first issue in the mail this week and I have been dying to go through it. That is just what I am going to do this AM. Curl up on the couch (as I am right now), under a warm blanket, with a hot cup of coffee, and get some new inspiration/recipe ideas. Thank goodness it's Saturday!

This Week

2012-01-13T10:28:00.000-06:00

First of all, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who gave their soup suggestions yesterday. If you did not get a chance to chime in yet, please do. I'm hoping for a few more links/recipes. Now on to Foodie Friday. Here are a few of the recipes that have caught my eye this week.

Citrus Crusted Tilapia with Blood Orange Salsa

Lightened Up Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Roasted Chickpea Fajitas

Asiago Chicken Pasta

Lentil Salad with Smoked Almonds & Goat Cheese

Shrimp Stuffed Shells & Creamed Spinach

Philly Cheese Steak Pizza

Happy Friday!

Snow = Soup

2012-01-12T13:51:00.000-06:00

With the snow coming down outside (we are expected to get anywhere from 3 to 6 inches here in Chicago), there is only one thing on my mind. A BIG bowl of soup.

I'm so glad that was exactly what I had brought for lunch today. It definitely hit the spot, and well my lunch got me to thinking. What are some of your favorite soups (recipes/links would also be much appreciated) to get you through the cold, winter months? I thought it would be fun to compile a list of my readers favorites for everyone to see. So do tell, what is your go-to soup of choice?

Neapolitan Cupcakes

2012-01-12T08:48:00.000-06:00

When I was a kid, I always loved it when my mom would bring home Neapolitan ice cream. I loved all three flavors, especially when eaten together in one bite. Once I saw this photo on Pinterest, I immediately was intrigued. I thought I would put my new mixer to work and whip up a batch of double layer cupcakes. One layer of strawberry cake, one layer of chocolate cake, and some vanilla frosting. This combination was amazing, and the best part... I used the soda method for the cupcakes to make them a bit on the lighter side, and as usual it worked like a charm! Make these for your next get together, and I promise they'll be a hit!

Neapolitan Cupcakes

(makes 24 cupcakes)

Ingredients:

- 1 box of devils food cake mix

- 1 (12 oz) can of diet coke

- 1 box of strawberry cake mix

- 1 (12 oz) can of sprite zero

- 1 bottle of Pillsbury easy frost in vanilla

- Pink sprinkles for topping (optional)

Tools:

- 2 cupcake tins

- 24 cupcake liners

Note: Each cake mix box can make up to 24 cupcakes alone, I only used about half of each of the cake batters. Feel free to make more or less depending on how many people you are serving.

Method:

1. Take out your cupcake tins with the liners and set aside.

2. With an electric mixer, mix together the devil's food cake mix with the can of diet coke in a large mixing bowl until smooth.

3. Once smooth, fill up each cupcake liner about 1/3 of the way with the devil's food mixture.

4. Move on to the strawberry..in a separate large mixing bowl, mix together the strawberry food cake mix with a can of sprite zero until smooth.

5. Place the strawberry mixture on top of each of the chocolate layers so that the liners are filled about 2/3 of the way.

6. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until cooked all the way through.

7. Let cool (about 8 to 10 minutes) and top the cupcakes with the vanilla frosting, and sprinkles (if you so choose).

Recent Read

2012-01-11T12:00:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I have done a book review on the blog. There are a few reasons for this, but one of the main ones being that I have been so busy that it has taken me forever just to finish a book (no matter how much I was into it). Thankfully over the holiday break I actually had some time where I was able to sit down and do nothing but read. This time definitely reminded me of how much I enjoy finishing a book in a fairly quick turnaround period, and has really got me back on the reading bandwagon. My most recent read that I just have to recommend is Angelina's Bachelors by Brian O'Reilly.

To give you a little information about the book (from Amazon):

"Far too young to be a widow, Angelina D’Angelo suddenly finds herself facing a life without her beloved husband, Frank. Late one night shortly after the funeral, she makes her way down to the kitchen and pours all of her grief and anger into the only outlet she has left—her passion for cooking. In a frenzy of concentration and swift precision, she builds layer upon layer of thick, rich lasagna, braids loaves of yeasty bread, roasts plump herb-rubbed chicken; she makes so much food that she winds up delivering the spoils to the neighbors in her tight-knit Italian community in South Philadelphia. Retiree Basil Cupertino, who has just moved in with his kindly sister across the street, is positively smitten with Angelina’s food. In a stroke of good fortune, Basil offers Angelina (not only husbandless but unemployed) a job cooking for him—two meals a day, six days a week, in exchange for a handsome salary. Soon, word of her irresistible culinary prowess spreads and she finds herself cooking for seven bachelors—and in the process discovers the magical power of food to heal, to bring people together . . . and maybe even to provide a second chance at love."

This book was intriguing right from the beginning. The characters, the story, the food. I loved it all. It is the perfect light read that will leave you with a few mouth watering recipes. What's better than that?

I give this one...

Some Day

2012-01-11T06:30:00.001-06:00

After spending the entire night in my kitchen last night (cooking and baking), I once again began dreaming of what my someday kitchen will be like. Beauty + lots of space are what I hope for, and Pinterest is the perfect place for my inspiration. So here are a few of my latest must-have spaces.

via

So, what do you think?

Turkey & Carrot Meatloaf

2012-01-10T12:00:00.001-06:00

Meatloaf is one of those meals that I have to be in the mood for. The 50 minute cook time makes it a little less appealing for a weeknight meal, and sometimes the taste can be a little (let's be honest) boring. Well, not anymore. The addition of carrots, onions, and parsley make the flavors of this particular meatloaf outstanding. I love hidden veggies in anything. Not only does it add some nutritional value, but they usually add quite a bit of flavor as well. This is one dish both the kiddos and the men in your life will be sure to love.

(Sorry for the taste test marks in the above photo, just pretend you don't see those.)

Turkey & Carrot Meatloaf

(Recipe found here)

Ingredients:

- 1 cup of chopped onions

- 1 cup of shredded carrots

- 1 tbsp of olive oil

- 1/3 cup of chopped fresh parsley

- 1/2 cup of ketchup (plus an additional 3 tbsp for the topping)

- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

- 1 1/4 lb ground turkey

- 1/2 cup of bread crumbs

- 1/3 cup of skim milk

- 1 egg

- Salt & Pepper, to taste

- Cooking spray

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Place a large saute pan on medium heat and add the tbsp of olive oil.

3. Once the oil has heated up, add in the carrots and onions and saute for 8 to 10 minutes (or until tender).

4. Remove the veggies from the heat once they are tender and add in the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and parsley.

5. Stir until the mixture is combined and transfer to a large mixing bowl.

6. Add in your turkey, bread crumbs, milk, egg, and salt & pepper, mixing together until all of the ingredients are combined.

7. Set the mixture to the side while you spray the bottom (and sides) of a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.

8. Then place the turkey mixture into the pan, and brush 3 tbsp of ketchup over top.

9. Bake at 400 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes (or until cooked through).

10. Remove from the oven - slice, and serve.

Serve along side some garlic mashed potatoes and a veggie of your choice (I went with a side salad) and you have yourself one fairly healthy, delicious meal.

2012 Goals

2012-01-10T06:30:00.000-06:00

While I am not big on New Years resolutions (mostly because I don't think people stick to them), moving into a new year does cause me to reflect on some things I would like to do differently in the year ahead. So, for today's Top 3, I thought I would give you a few of my goals I hope to stick to throughout 2012 and for many years to come.

Top 3 Goals for 2012 (& beyond...)

1. Meatless Mondays. Over the last few months, I have been trying to incorporate more meatless meals into my diet. This isn't because I am trying to go vegetarian (I'm not sure I could ever do that permanently), but more-so because I like giving my body a break from meat every now and then. I think it's good for you. With that said, I thought it would be a fun challenge to try and stick with Meatless Mondays in my house starting in 2012. This way I am scheduling one day a week (at least) where I will have nothing but meatless meals. I honestly am pretty excited about it.

2. Start to recycle at home. Don't hate me. Before I moved to Chicago, I ALWAYS recycled. I never really knew any other way to be. Once I moved here, I was not aware of there being any type of recycling available to me in my apartment building. I recently discovered that I was wrong. My building does offer recycling bins on-site. The only downside is that they are kind of a pain to get to due to the fact that they are located in the basement (which means I will have to ride the elevator down 30 plus flights of stairs with bags filled with recyclables), but I am going to do it. I cook too much, and go through too many reusable things to not recycle.

3. Stick to a morning gym session. In the past 2.5 years, I have gone back and forth with my gym routine. What I have realized is that when I get up early to work out, I am much more successful. And by that, I don't just mean with sticking to the workout plan, but also with feeling rejuvenated for the day ahead. There is nothing quite like an AM workout to keep you going throughout the day.

What are some of your goals for 2012 (& beyond)?

Let's motivate each other!

Life Saver

2012-01-09T11:53:00.000-06:00

This little guy has seriously changed my life. Even if you have a large food processor as I do, this baby is a necessity in your kitchen. (And, if you don't have a large food processor, all the more reason to make this purchase.) The mini food prep is perfect for all of those smaller tasks. No more cutting onions (which also means no more teary eyes) or garlic, chopping herbs, grinding nuts, or whatever else you may need assistance with. Not only does this machine help me cut down on my food prep time, but it also is compact in size, making it easy to both store and clean. I promise you won't regret this purchase.

*Please note: My opinions are completely my own. I can't help but share my thoughts on life changing kitchen gadgets like this one.