Fairytale Feasts

Fairytale Slow-Cooker Lamb Shanks with White Beans

2012-02-16T15:01:00.000-05:00

A snow storm is supposedly coming our way this weekend, which means it's the perfect time to break out your slow cooker and make something hearty and comforting! I never thought I'd say this, but I actually miss Nor'Easters. Mother Nature needs to decide if it's going to be beautiful and hot, or cold and snowy - instead of just RAINY AND COLD. One of the best parts, for me, of being snowed in

Fairytale Dark Chocolate Hershey's Kisses

2012-02-10T23:31:00.000-05:00

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Charles M. Schulz The most romantic day of the year is upon us and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that nothing says "I love you" quite like chocolate. I am a die hard lover of chocolate, specifically, dark chocolate. Nothing hits the spot or quenches a chocolate craving quite like these cookies made with

Fairytale Feasts - Savory, Fluffy Quiche

2012-01-21T13:43:00.001-05:00

Broccoli and Sweet Peppers Quiche There's something positively lovely and delicate about a quiche, a versatile egg dish that can be served for lunch or dinner. I love a nice fluffy, savory piece of quiche anytime of the year - but one piece of quiche could easily wreak havoc on any healthy diet. Here are two versions of easy quiches. The first super-healthy version is an adaptation of a recipe

Fairytale Whole Wheat Belgian Waffles

2012-01-17T13:26:00.000-05:00

Another one of my favorite breakfast dishes is a Belgian Waffle. There's nothing like a hot waffle with a crisp, buttery outside and moist, fluffy inside, with butter melting on top and maple syrup floating in the crevices. These waffles remind me of family vacations I used to take as a child to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware. I looked forward to the early morning walks past the Boardwalk Plaza

Fairytale Feasts Spinach, Mushroom and Feta Egg White Omelet

2012-01-12T19:23:00.001-05:00

After a much needed break, Fairytale Feasts is back for 2012!!! I have so many wonderful recipes and food photos that I can't wait to share with you all. Please let me know if you have any requests or would like to see some more or you'd like for me to test a certain product. I do all of this in my spare time, but am going to make an effort to update more frequently this year. Since it is

Fairytale Leftovers: Spicy Chipotle Turkey Paninis and Healthy Turkey Pot Pies

2011-11-23T09:00:00.002-05:00

If your family is anything like mine, you'll have a TON of food leftover from Thanksgiving because you went overboard just to make sure you have enough food. (We always have enough.) Here are some great things you can do with leftovers. I often see amazing recipes for leftover Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, potatoes, etc. but they require so much work - and who wants to spend all day in the

Fairytale Thanksgiving Favorites: Roasted Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Libby's Pumpkin Roll

2011-11-20T10:00:00.033-05:00

The concept of cooking a Thanksgiving meal can be very intimidating. During the past few years, I've been attempting to teach myself to cook through trial and error, and I promised myself that this would be the year that I finally made my favorite component of the Thanksgiving meal myself: a pumpkin roll. I've also been craving a REAL turkey sandwich (blog with recipe to follow), so I figured I

Fairytale French Apple Tart

2011-11-16T18:30:00.000-05:00

Te Deumby Charles Reznikoff Not because of victories, I sing,having none,but for the common sunshine, the breeze,the largess of the spring. Not for victory,but for the day's work doneas well as I was able;not for a seat upon the daisbut at the common table. In just a few days, people from all over the United States will celebrate Thanksgiving, a national holiday which symbolizes a time for

Fairytale Butternut Squash Dessert Ravioli

2011-11-16T18:24:00.000-05:00

I have always wanted to make a butternut squash dessert. I've seen Giada DiLaurentis make fried dessert ravioli on Everyday Italian before, so I came up with my own version using butternut squash and cream cheese. This is recipe really simple, but be warned, these little fried treats are absolutely addictive! They're also great for entertaining. FAIRYTALE BUTTERNUT SQUASH DESSERT RAVIOLI(

Fairytale Apple Harvest Steel Cut Oatmeal (Inspired by Kourtney Kardashian)

2011-10-25T13:32:00.000-04:00

After watching the Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami marathon on E! yesterday (in bed with a box of Godiva Dessert Truffles leftover from my birthday last week), I decided maybe it was time for me to do something different today, and take a positive step towards living a more healthful life. Inspired by favorite Kardashian sister, Kourtney, I decided to make steel cut oats for breakfast this morning

Fairytale Beef Barley Soup

2011-09-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." ~ Albert Camus Greetings everyone! With temperatures dipping into the 30s and 40s at night in Northeastern Pennsylvania, one thing is abundantly clear: autumn is here. This means it is time for me to start cooking and blogging again. I love autumn for so many reasons. Apple picking. Roasted Butternut Squash. Hooded Sweatshirts. Tailgating

Fairytale Feasts from the Pier House in Cape May, NJ

2011-09-18T12:00:00.001-04:00

As summer becomes a distant memory and the abundance of melons and summer squash come to an end, there is one salad and restaurant I am going to be dreaming about all winter. The watermelon and feta salad from the Pier House in Cape May, NJ. This restaurant claimed a spot in my heart as my favorite place at the Jersey Shore. Pier House Watermelon and Feta Salad. The watermelon and feta salad

Fairytale Feasts from the Greek Food Festival

2011-06-08T21:17:00.000-04:00

Today marked the opening of one of the most beloved ethnic festivals in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the annual Greek Food Festival. Originally scheduled to take place in June, the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church postponed their Greek Festival until September this year in accordance with the arrival of a new parish leader. The Festival is the sole fundraiser for the parish made up of a mere 100

Fairytale Feasts in Memory of Lady

2011-05-21T14:50:00.000-04:00

My Beloved Chow Chow That blue black tongue, That fluffy mane- The Chow Chow stands apart. Devoted, proud and loyal, Sure to win your heart. A dog that’s quick To give a hug, And often makes me grin- My Chow Chow means The world to me, My dog, my love, my friend. -Anonymous This month, my family lost our beloved dog, Lady. A fluffy and fiery red chow chow and sheltie mix, Lady was a

Fairytale Feasts for a Royal Wedding

2011-04-28T02:24:00.000-04:00

On Friday, April 29, 2011, over two billion people around the globe, myself included, are expected to tune in to watch Catherine Middleton marry Prince William of Wales, future King of England. Unlike the marriage of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, this is a union of two people who are genuinely and deeply in love - a modern fairytale that will unfold before our very own eyes.

Fairytale Italian Easter Pizza

2011-04-23T17:38:00.000-04:00

Every region of Italy has a different version of Easter Pie, or as my family calls it, Easter Pizza. These pizzas are traditionally made with a sweet homemade pie crust. Some families use ricotta cheese or vegetables. Others use sausage and rice. In my extended family, everyone makes their own version but they all include ham and some kind of cheese. This "pizza" is an easy, versatile dish

Fairytale Feasts from NEPA

2011-04-17T16:50:00.000-04:00

Recently I attended the 11th Annual Evening of Fine Food and Wine at the Scranton Cultural Center. This unique event showcased food and wine from fine dining establishments throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania and guests were treated to an in-depth tour of the beautiful Scranton Cultural Center. Here are some highlights of the dishes that I sampled throughout the night: Gazpacho by Chef

An Irish Fairytale Feast: Beef and Guinness Stew

2011-03-15T10:41:00.000-04:00

After a few weeks of being MIA, I am back with one of my favorite recipes for St. Patrick's Day! There are so many recipes out there for beef stew but this recipe from Cooking Light is AMAZING and so flavorful. This stew is made with everyone's favorite Irish stout, Guinness Draught. A stout is a strong, dark beer that originated in the British isles in the 18th century. Irish stouts, like

Fairytale Feasts EXCLUSIVE: Real Housewife of NJ Teresa Giudice

2011-01-27T23:07:00.004-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of meeting America's favorite Garden State housewife, Teresa Giudice. Teresa stars on hit Bravo TV show the Real Housewives of New Jersey and is the proud author of her own book of fairytale feasts, Skinny Italian, which landed itself on the New York Times bestseller list. The full name of Teresa's cookbook, co-written by Heather MacLean, is "Skinny Italian: Eat it

Fairytale Feasts for Foodies: Aurants in Duryea, PA

2011-01-14T21:35:00.001-05:00

As a child, one of my favorite activities was coloring. My father would take me on weekly trips to the grocery store and allow me to pick out a treat. I always picked out a box of Crayola crayons - and not just the box of the original 8 colors. Glitter crayons, metallic crayons, neon crayons, glow in the dark crayons, pastels, colored pencils, magic markers, I had them all. And I remember the

Fairytale Pan Seared Sea Scallops with Winter Fruit Salsa

2011-01-04T09:17:00.001-05:00

Now that you've eaten all of the Christmas cookies, here is a healthy recipe to help start your 2011 off right! Scallops are incredibly low in fat and calories and require five to six minutes of total cooking time in a pan. Scallops are one of my favorite types of shellfish. A scallop is a type of bivalve mollusk, which is a muscle tucked between two shells that are hinged together. Clams,

Fairytale Holiday Magic 5 Layer Bars and Red Velvet Trifle

2010-12-23T16:31:00.000-05:00

Fairytale 5 Layer Magic Bars(Yields 30 bars.) This recipe is adopted from the queen of Southern cuisine herself, Paula Deen. I like to make my magic bars jumbo size, because they look cuter and more festive for a special occasion! I used to make these bars when I was in law school and bring them to the library for a study break treat. Hope you enjoy! :-) Ingredients:2 cups of graham cracker

Fairytale Christmas Cookies

2010-12-22T22:30:00.060-05:00

"Think about what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for nap." ~ Robert Fulgham It's holiday cookie time. This tradition is deeply rooted in history as it originated in the Medieval period, when cooks baked sweet foods to mark special occasions. When ingredients and spices like dried

Fairytale Pomegranate Feasts

2010-12-21T10:57:00.001-05:00

“Let us go early to the vineyards to see… if the pomegranates are in bloom – there I will give you my love.” Song of Solomon 7:12 'Tis the season for one of the world's oldest and mythical fruits, the pomegranate. Dubbed "nature's most labor intensive fruit" by Barron's Food Lover's Dictionary, pomegranates are the perfect seasonal fruit to zest up your holiday dishes. Pomegranates are large

Fairytale French Onion Soup

2010-12-01T14:48:00.003-05:00

My French Onion Soup Haiku hot bubbling crockonions, beef broth, Gruyere cheesemelting down the sides ... When I am craving classic comfort food, a signature lunchtime staple comes to mind: French Onion Soup. The origin of onion soups can be traced all the way back to ancient Roman times. (Reinforcing my belief that all good food originates in Italy!) "French Onion Soup," the version that