The Rookie Foodie

Toast to the Red Carpet

2012-02-21T07:30:00.001-07:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am a huge movie buff. Every year I try really hard to watch as many of the Oscar nominated movies as I can so that I can watch the big show and see who wins. I have to tell you that my favorite movie this year is Midnight in Paris!

I few weeks before the Oscars I like to plan my menu and select a signature cocktail. This year I'll be making Pear-Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients

1 package (16 oz.) white mushrooms

1/4 cup I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spread

1 large pear, peeled, cored and finely chopped

1 large shallot OR 1 small onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley (optional)

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°. Remove and finely chop mushroom stems (about 1-1/4 cups); reserve mushroom caps.
Melt I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!® Spread in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook chopped stems, pear and shallot, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in cheese, parsley, salt and pepper*.
Evenly stuff reserved mushroom caps with pear mixture, then arrange on baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes or until mushrooms are tender. Garnish, if desired, with Parmesan cheese shavings.

*TIP: Recipe can be made up to 1 day ahead up to this point. Refrigerate stuffing until ready to bake. Continue as above.

This year, on February 26th, I'll be watching the Toast to the Red Carpet – LIVE, presented by I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! On the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Facebook page from 3:00-4:30 PST.

They are hosting an online Red Carpet viewing party complete with insider access, an exclusive roundtable of Hollywood stars and best-picture themed recipes! I don't know what I"m more excited about? The fabulous outfits or the recipes.

I'm giving away a coupon for a few tub of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! to one lucky reader. All you have to do to win is tell me why you would like to watch the Toast to the Red Carpet. Contest ends at 11:59pm on February 26th.

Disclosure: The coupon is provided by I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.

Eye of Round with Horseradish Cream

2012-01-27T10:15:00.004-07:00

I've been trying to be good and eat little to no gluten. It's been tough. I should have never had the gluten free for all that was December. Getting back on track has been a little bit easier with a couple great recipes that I've found recently.

This is a new favorite!

I recommend using a Programmable Probe Thermometer. You can also find them at Target with the kitchen gadgets. The original recipe said to leave in the turned off oven for 2 hours....but because I was using the thermometer, I knew my roast was ready after only 35 minutes.

Eye of Round with Horseradish Cream
adapted from My Recipes

1 package of cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 cup dry red wine
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (4 pound) eye of round roast
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine the cream cheese, horseradish and mustard. Stir until smooth, cover and chill.

Combine wine and butter in large bowl or a zip lock bag. Add the roast. Cover the bowl with a lid or saran wrap and chill for 24 hours, turning occasionally.

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

Remove roast from the marinade and discard the marinade. Place the roast in a foil lined 13 X 9 pan. Combine the salt, pepper and garlic powder in bowl, then rub on the roast.

Bake uncovered at 500 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Turn the oven off and do not open the door until your roast reaches 145 degrees (for medium rare) or 160 degrees (for medium). This can take up to 2 hours but my roast only took 35 minutes.

Thinly slice meat, reserving pan juices and serve with horseradish cream.

Coffee Talk: Two Rivers Coffee

2012-01-24T10:52:00.003-07:00

One of my Foodie Resolutions for 2012 was to visit more coffee shops. And I don't mean Starbucks!

My friend Denise from Eat, Play, Love is always up for an adventure and I was thrilled when she agreed to check out a coffee shop in Arvada even though she was on day 20 of the Whole Living 21 Day Cleanse. She is a super trouper!

I did a little bit of research before going to Two Rivers Coffee. I knew that they had high quality small batch coffee offerings. This delighted me! I love trying new coffee and know that it all tastes different depending on how it's grown and where it comes from.

I really need to go to coffee school. Is there such a thing?

I started with the San Sebastian coffee from Colombia and what I think was a blackberry scone. I arrived early so that I could down a pastry before my detoxing friend showed up. I didn't want to eat it in front of her. I'm so considerate!

The coffee was full bodied and didn't need ANY cream. I loved the cup it was served in....with a high backside so that I could breath in the vapors. Each cup of coffee is brewed to order in a clover machine. They weigh the coffee beans instead of measuring them. It's very scientific and exact!

Denise arrived and went with a white tea so that she wouldn't cheat. She is has amazing willpower!

She started talking to Eric (who we later found out owned the place) about different coffee pots because she wanted to get a gift for her coffee-obsessed husband. Eric showed us some of what he has in the store and he offered to show us how the Siphon Coffee brewing works.

I was really excited about this because two years ago, I went to a Siphon Bar in Salt Lake City who shall remain nameless and had a fabulous cup of coffee there. The reason that I won't tell you where I went...is because the guy was condescending and rude.

Eric was so excited to show us the Siphon and let us take pictures. He explained each step...I felt like I was in coffee school!

Two Rivers coffee will be my new go-to place when I'm in Arvada ~~and need to escape from my children~~. It think I'll be coming up with excuses to go to Arvada now. Sunflower Market and Hobby Lobby are just steps away!

Two Rivers Coffee
7745 Wadsworth Blvd ste B
Arvada, CO 80003
303.424.1313
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Christmas Menu 2011

2011-12-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

Do you ever look at your family tree and wonder what Christmas used to be like before your great, great, great grandparents came to America?

My family came from Sweden and Norway, they settled in Northern Minnesota in the early 1900s. There is very little about the Christmas of my childhood that resembles what they would have had in the old country. Only lefse. I love lefse!

I decided that this year I would try to bring some of my background into our Christmas and I was very pleased with how everything turned out! Recipes will be posted tomorrow.

Scandinavian Christmas Eve

Gravlax on Rye Crisp Crackers with cream cheese, red onions and capers
Gravlax on roasted potato rounds with capers
Cucumber Salad
Lefse
Rise Pudding
Mulled Wine

rise pudding

Brie with Cherry Preserves and Walnuts

Christmas Day

Brie with Cherry Preserves and Walnuts
Spiral Sliced Ham
Scalloped Potatoes
Waldorf Salad
Bavarian Cream Torte from Rheinlanders Bakery

Cinnamon Rolls: Friends for Life

2011-12-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

If you got a pan of these Cinnamon Rolls from me today....then you know how I feel about you.

I think this will be our new Christmas Tradition. But next year I'll make them at my brother in laws house because my galley kitchen was much too small!

Cinnamon Roll Waffles

2011-12-20T17:10:00.000-07:00

If you want to see your kid with this look on their face.

You have to make these.

They only need to cook for a minute and a half. Fast, easy and delicious!

Hot Chocolate Balls

2011-12-05T15:53:00.000-07:00

It's time for another Pintervention Party post with Steph and Nicole! I've been looking high and low for things to put in the goodie bag for my son's Kindergarten Winter Party in two weeks.

I knew that I wanted to include my homemade marshmallows but I didn't know if I wanted to just put a stick in them with some frosting or......what.

Then....pinned Hot Chocolate Balls!


source

These Hot Chocolate Balls will be the perfect addition to the goodie bags with a chunk of marshmallow!

Truffle Hot Chocolate Balls
from melskitchencafe.com
*Makes about 10 hot chocolate balls

12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (about 2 cups)
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt

In a plastic bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Microwave for one minute intervals, stirring often, until the mixture is combined and very smooth and silky. Be extra careful not to overheat as the chocolate can seize. The trick is to stir often since the mixture will blend together even when it looks like the chocolate chips haven't melted completely.

Let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes at room temperature. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until the mixture is firm and scoopable, about 2-3 hours. Scoop out about 1/4-cup spoonfuls (I used a cookie scoop) of the mixture and place them on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. My cookie scoop is about 1 1/2 tablespoons. Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator and let the mounds harden slightly, about 15-20 minutes. Roll the chilled mounds into balls and place on squares of plastic wrap. Pull the sides of the plastic wrap over to cover the ball and place the balls in the freezer until ready to use.

To make the hot chocolate: pour 1 cup milk into a microwave-safe mug. Carefully drop one unwrapped truffle hot chocolate ball in the milk. Microwave for about 2 minutes. Stir well until the chocolate is combined with the milk.

Serve warm!

K Cup Review: Barista Prima Italian Roast

2011-11-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

I recently signed up for Green Mountains Cafe Express Coffee Club so that I never run out of K Cups again. I found their prices to be comparable to the cups I buy at Target and I'm hoping this will save me money in the long run because I won't run to Target for a $12 box of coffee and then spend $100.

I know this happens to people other than me. Target is a money suck!

I was really excited to see what all of the buzz was about with this new line of K Cups called Barista Prima. They are a little bit more expensive than my old standby but I don't mind for paying more for a really great cup of coffee. This will be my weekend coffee. Because I deserve it.

The website describes the Italian Roast as robust, heavy-bodies and very dark. The first thing that I noticed was that it is very smooth and even though I did add a little bit of half and half....it was really creamy. It makes me want to sit in front of a fireplace with a book. I'm telling you....it instantly gave me a homey feeling.

Coffee should make you feel good. I believe this is THE perfect cup of coffee.

**disclosure: Green Mountain and Barista Prima didn't pay me for this review. I just love coffee and sharing my finds with my friends and readers.

Pintervention: Chai Tea Concentrate

2011-11-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

I'm joining the Pintervention Party with Stephanie and Nicole because I think I have a problem. A Pinning Problem!

Follow me.

I have tried several things on Pinterest, a couple recipes and a scarf. The scarf didn't turn out well. It always surprises me when I'm craft challenged because I'm normally pretty crafty!

Last week....I had a sick little boy at home and in between cuddling him and checking on him while he slept, I spent time on pinterest. I must have pinned 500 things!

I saw the pin for Homemade Chai Tea and I thought to myself....SELF, I could really go for some CHAI right now!

I checked out the recipe and remembered that I'm a Martha Stewart Wannabe and realized that I had all of the ingredients. Yes, I had cardamon pods and star anise. I'm a foodie! I save jelly jars and they were the perfect containers because then they are easy to share with friends.

Homemade Chai Concentrate from Tasty Yummies
makes approximately 4 cups

4 1/2 cups water
8 bags black tea – I used orange pekoe
2 cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla bean, split in half (or 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract added at the very end)
1/2 cup raw cane sugar (you can add more or less depending on how sweet you like your chai)
1 – 3-inch section of fresh ginger, cut into pieces
10 whole cloves
8 cardamom pods
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
2 whole star anise pods
1/2 teaspoon of whole black peppercorns
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 tablespoon raw honey
1 small square section of cheesecloth, approximately 6″ square (if you don’t want to mess with cheesecloth, make sure you have a good strainer you can use at the end)
kitchen twine

Remove the tags from the teabags and tie them all together. Prepare the spices, vanilla bean and orange zest by laying them in your cheesecloth, Leave the cinnamon sticks out to make the little pouch of spices a bit more compact. Tie the cheesecloth pouch shut with a small piece of kitchen twine. If you leave the cinnamon sticks out, just tie them together with kitchen twine.

Add the water and sugar to a medium sized saucepan and bring to a boil over a medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and put in the tea bags, cheesecloth pouch and cinnamon sticks. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat strain the concentrate through a sieve. At this point if you want a bit more sweetness you can add a tablespoon of honey, stir to dissolve. I don’t always do this, but it is a really nice touch. Additionally, if you didn’t use a whole vanilla bean, add your vanilla extract now. Stir to combine.

Allow the mixture to cool before pouring it into an airtight jar or container. This amount fits perfectly into a 1-quart mason jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

** To serve, mix 1 part concentrate with 1 part milk of your choice. Heat for a warm beverage or serve over ice for a cold drink.

Are you addicted to Pinterest? Have you made something and want to share it? Join the party!

Match Made In Heaven

2011-11-07T15:48:00.000-07:00

I think these two wines should get married.

In other news....my husband kicked me out of the kitchen yesterday and made this. I don't have a recipe and it doesn't have a name....but it was amazing!

Starbucks Has K Cups!

2011-11-03T16:24:00.002-07:00

I am so freakin excited about this!

Homemade Marshmallows

2011-11-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone....and Shawn and Impulsive Addict.

You all really know me as Connie from The Young and The Relentless but today....I'm going to show another side of myself. My Martha Stewart inspired self. Except that ~~bitch~~ sometimes steers me a stray.

Several years ago, I tried her recipe for Marshmallows and it was a huge flop! I rarely have disasters in the kitchen but that was a huge one and it banged up my ego.

Two years ago, I was supposed to drive to the wilds of Utah to learn to make Marshmallows. I was so excited because I was going to be able to right a wrong.

Then if snowed. A LOT!

I was unable to attend Marshmallow Making 101 with Prairie Mama (also known as Kim).

So last week, I find myself in a meeting to plan my son's Kindergarten Winter Party and all of a sudden, my mouth is telling them that I will make homemade Marshmallows. My hand tried to cover my mouth but it was too late.

I raced home from this meeting and started searching for Kim's recipe and decided to make a test batch on Sunday to make sure that I could make them and not a fool of myself.

I think they turned out pretty great!

Homemade EASY Marshmallows
adapted from Brownie Points Blog

4 envelopes of gelatin
3/4 cup water
1 tablespoon Vanilla
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup water
1 1/4 corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
Confectioners Sugar

Line a 9X13 pan with parchment paper (or wax paper). Spray the paper with non-stick spray.

For the recipe you MUST have a stand mixer and a whisk attachment. In the mixing bowl, combine the water (3/4 cup) with the vanilla and then sprinkle the gelatin over...do not dump the gelatin in.

Heat a saucepan over medium high heat and add the sugar, salt, corn syrup and other 3/4 cup of water. Bring to a boil with the lid on and without stirring it. When the mixture is boiling, remove the lid and stick your candy thermometer on the pan and cook until it reaches the soft ball stage, 234-240 F.

With the mixer at medium speed, pour all of the syrup slowly into the mixing bowl. The syrup is very hot so be careful! When all of the syrup has been added....increase the speed to HIGH! Warning: Your mixer will sound like it's about to take off and you might think it's a bout to break.

Whip this mixture until it is very fluffy and stiff. This will take 8-10 minutes and will go by quickly because you're worried that your mixer is about to launch itself out the window. Pour the marshmallow into the waiting pan and smooth with an oiled up offset spatula. This mixture now has to sit, uncovered at room temperture, taunting your family for 10-12 hours.

When you are ready to cut your marshmallows, sprinkle a generous amount of confectioners sugar (also known as powdered sugar) over the marshmallows. Turn the slab out onto a cutting board, peel off the paper and sprinkly more sugar. Slice with a pizza cutter or a meat cleaver. The meat cleaver worked great for me! You can also use cookie cutters to make fun shapes. After cutting, dip the pieces in sugar and then tap off the excess.

This make a TON of marshmallows and will keep for several weeks in an airtight container.

Tips before making Marshmallows:

Make sure that your children are either entertained, or duct taped to the couch before starting this. You will not be able to leave the kitchen and if they start streaking around your home...you can't stop them.

Make sure you have used the restroom before starting this recipe because of the same reason above.

Realize that you will have powdered sugar everywhere.

Be prepared to threaten family members with their life if they touch your curing marshmallows before they are ready.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2011-10-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

I get really excited when the first snow falls in Colorado. It means boots, hats, gloves and SOUP! I love soup! This has to be one of my favorites and it's not kid friendly.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 pound, boneless chicken breasts, sliced into cutlets
1.5 tablespoons olive oil, separated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon chili powder (more to taste)
1 large onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 cloves of garlic, sliced thin
32 oz chicken broth
2 cups of water
2 (10oz) cans of Rotel with Green Chilies
3 cans black beans, drained
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt to taste
Corn Tortilla strips

Garnish:
1 lime, cut into wedges
Avocado, diced
Colby Jack Cheese, shredded

Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and chili powder. Add chicken to the pot and cook, turning only once, until brown on both sides and cooked through. Transfer to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, cut into chunks or shred.

Heat a tablespoon of oil in the now empty pot and add onion, green and red peppers and garlic. Saute for 5 minutes or until soft and fragrant. Add chicken broth, water, tomatoes, black beans and chicken. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium low. Add cumin and cayenne, salt to taste. Simmer for at least 20 minutes to meld the flavors. I like to simmer for a couple of hours.

Turn off heat 15 minutes before serving and add tortilla strips. Garnish with cheese, avocado and lime wedge.

Caffeine Crawl

2011-10-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

I need to go to the Caffeine Crawl.

It's in my DNA! (that's how much I drink)

photo credit

Who wants to go with me?

The One Where I Cry Over Popcorn

2011-10-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

I went to Whole Foods this morning for my new addiction.

This amazing Caramel Corn from Rocky Mountain Popcorn is my new favorite thing! It's gluten-free and just so tasty.

I was disappointed to see that Whole Foods (the one in Belmar) didn't have it and there wasn't a tag for it either. I almost cried!

How can you get me hooked on this little bag of heaven and then not have it anymore?

I decided to try a few other things instead. Reluctantly.

I just ate a couple small bowlfuls of 365 Kettle Corn and just realized that it's NOT gluten-free. CRAP! Well....it tastes good anyway.

The Way To His Heart....

2011-10-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

Italian Sausage!!

My marriage tip for the day.

Instead of sending your husband racy pictures of yourself while he's at work....

Send him pictures of the Italian Sausage Store!

This also guarantees that he'll make it home on time for dinner.

Connie's Meat Sauce

2011-09-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

I really can't stand sauce in a jar. It just doesn't taste right....but it's easy and convenient. I recently decided that I don't like eating food that tastes bad. So I decided to start making my own sauce.

We tried on this on julienned zucchini and spaghetti squash and we decided that we love the zucchini which works great because it doesn't need to be cooked!

Connie's Meat Sauce

1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound pork sausage
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 onion, chopped
1 cans diced tomatoes
1 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 cups of water

In a large stockpot cook the ground beef, sausage, garlic, onion. Cook until beef is no longer pink. Drain into a large colander to drain grease.

To the large sauce pot add tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaves, oregano, basil, black pepper, sugar and stir well. Pour the meat mixture into the pot. Bring to a boil, adding water as needed. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 2 hours. Season with salt to your taste.

New Favorite Tool

2011-09-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

I bought this 3 in 1 Peeler at Sur La Table a couple weeks ago and it's become my new favorite gadget in my Paleo kitchen.

My husband is a big fan of ribbons of Zucchini but he said he might like them more if they were julienned. I knew there had to be a tool for that.

Tomorrow's recipe: Meat Sauce with julienne zucchini instead of pasta!

Verde Shrimp Taco or Salad

2011-08-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

I love Shrimp Tacos! What am I saying....I love tacos! I decided to make one of my favorite dishes....but paleo it up. Yes. Paleo is a verb.

If I wasn't trying to be strict....I would go ahead and eat the corn tortilla but instead my serving will have a bed of chopped lettuce under it.

Shrimp

2 lb bag frozen shrimp
1/2 can Salsa Verde
1 tbsp cayenne
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt

Thaw the shrimp, remove shells and tail and throw into a bowl. Stir in Salsa Verde and let sit for 30 minutes. Add spices and stir. Heat a deep skillet to medium heat and add 1 tbsp coconut oil. Add Shrimp and cook, stirring around until the shrimp is pink and done.

Mango Salsa

1 ripe mange, peeled, chopped into small pieces.
1 orange bell pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno, diced (keep seeds if you like it hot)
1 small red onion, diced
The juice of one lime
3 tbsp cilantro, chopped
Salt to taste

Peel and chopped the mango, chop the orange bell pepper, dice the jalapeno and red onion. Place all of the ingredients into a bowl with a lid. Cut your lime in half and squeeze the juice in. Try to resist having a shot of tequila. Add salt and cilantro. Stir. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Assemble your shrimp on a corn tortilla or a bed of chopped lettuce (if you're paleo) and add Mango Salsa and slices of avocado.

This dish is very delicious and satisfying!

Dining Out Paleo

2011-08-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

We got out to eat most every weekend. I enjoy the break from our hot little galley kitchen and eating food I don't normally eat at home.

This has changed mostly. I'm trying to be very careful what I order but sometimes I don't notice that cheese comes on the food. Oops! I need to be more careful when reading the menu.

Fajitas

We like Mexican food so my go to item is chicken fajitas and extra guacamole!

Burger with a side of guacamole

Order a burger without the bun and will a size of veggies, mushrooms or avocado.See...I forgot to ask for no fries! This was a grass-fed burger from The Dillon Dam Brewery in Dillon Colorado. It was the best meat I've ever tasted!

Chicken Tikka Tandoori

This! Was my favorite meal so far. Chicken Tikka Tandoori from Little India in Belmar.

McDonald's Sausage & Eggs

My family wanted McDonald's one Saturday morning so I ordered the big breakfast and then gave the biscuit and potato cake to my husband.

I've turned eating out with my family into a challenge!

Beef Curry

2011-08-11T19:15:00.002-07:00

Two things that I love about the Paleo Diet.....Curry and Coconut Milk.

I have mixed these items together several times with great success. My husband really liked this and I can see it being a regular part of our meal plan. Make a lot. It makes great leftovers.

Beef Curry

1.5 pounds of ground beef (grass-fed if you're so inclined)
2 tablespoons Curry Powder
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 cup coconut milk

Brown your hamburger and drain off the grease if these is any. Add the spices, coconut milk and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve with a vegetable. I like sliced zucchini or microwaved sweet potato.

Linking up this dish with Primal Toad. I'm super excited to find other great recipes since I'm still a newbie!

Rock N Meat

2011-08-05T07:18:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, my son desperately wanted a Sorcerer's Stone so I googled ROCK STORE and found a cute little place a few blocks away called Red & Green Minerals. It had every rock under the sun and other cool things too. We were headed back to the car when something caught my eye.

An Italian Meat Market!

We walked into the small space and were amazed at all of the stuff they have. It was at this moment that I was regretting my gluten free lifestyle and wishing I could take some pasta home.

We stepped up to the deli counter and tried a few things. I was really excited to find Prosciutto and they gave us some sausage to cook at home. So nice of them! It was delicious by the way!

We love finding little hidden gems like this and I was super excited to share it with my Denver readers.

They have two locations. One in Lakewood and one in Aurora.

Carmine Lonardo's Meat Market and Deli
7585 W. Florida Ave
Lakewood, CO 80232
303.9985.3555

I'm doing great on the Paleo Diet and wanted to share one of my favorite snacks so far.

Prosciutto and Cantaloupe

Sweet and Salty!

Love!

Portobello Burgers with Egg

2011-07-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

So far the two dinners that I've made have been loved by my husband! I might be able to convert him afterall! YAY!

I saw this on a blog when I was researching Paleo recipes and I thought it sounded delicious. It really is.

It also only took about 20 minutes to make.

Portobello Burger with Egg

serves 2

2 Portobello Mushroom Caps
2 Hamburger Patties
2 eggs
Salt and Pepper to taste

Brush coconut oil on the mushroom caps and broil in the oven for 7 minutes on each side. Prepare hamburger patties. Grill them, fry them or throw them in the oven too. Fry the eggs...just the way you like them. I like mine with a little bit of runny yolk. Stack them up and serve them with a cup of sliced zucchini. I used the vegetable peeler and they turned out great!

Avocado and White Bean Wrap

2011-07-20T09:13:00.002-07:00

I've officially run out of no cook dinner recipes. And now I'm onto a new diet that I'll be focusing on and suffering through the heat to cook them.

I'm going Paleo. So...coming up will be a bunch of Paleo friendly recipes and restaurants. I'm pretty excited about it and really hope that it works for me.

Back to the wrap. This was awesome. Hubby loved it and said it was even better the next day in his lunch. It's a little spicy and super tasty.

Avocado & White Bean Wrap
adapted from Eating well

2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 teaspoons finely chopped canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups shredded red cabbage
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 15-ounce can white beans, rinsed
1 ripe avocado
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese
2 tablespoons minced red onion
4 8- to 10-inch whole-wheat wraps, or tortillas

Whisk vinegar, oil, chipotle chile and salt in a medium bowl. Add cabbage, carrot and cilantro; toss to combine.

Mash the beans and avocado in another medium bowl with a potato masher or fork. Stir in the cheese and onion.

To assemble the wraps, spread about 1/2 cup of the bean-avocado mixture onto a wrap (or tortilla) and top with about 2/3 cup of the cabbage-carrot slaw. Roll up. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Cut the wraps in half to serve, if desired.

Edited to Add:

I bunched the ingredients into the recipe thingy on My Fitness Pal and here is what the results are:

click to make bigger

Watermelon Gazpacho

2011-07-11T13:24:00.001-07:00

In my quest to find No Cook Dinner's....I've found several soup recipes.

I really enjoyed this one and I served it with half of a wrap made with turkey and Swiss cheese.

My husband didn't like the soup....his comment was that he felt like he was eating salsa. *Connie rolls her eyes*

He would prefer not to see this on our table again. Luckily, he's not in charge and I will be making it again. Soon.

Watermelon Gazpacho
Fitness magazine

8 cups finely diced seedless watermelon
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely diced
1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
2 tablespoons minced shallot
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt

Mix watermelon, cucumber, bell pepper, basil, parsley, vinegar, shallot, oil and salt in a large bowl. Puree 3 cups of the mixture at a time in a food processor to the desired smoothness; transfer to another large bowl. Puree another 3 cups and add to the bowl. Puree the remaining diced mixture. Serve at room temperature or chilled.