Lemon and Lace

ear cuff

2013-05-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

I love this swanky ear cuff. It reminds me of Gatsby style a little bit, but is also sort of edgy.

high protein quinoa with artichokes, chickpeas & spinach

2013-05-07T20:40:00.002-04:00

Getting ready for summer I've basically been living off fruit, veggies, granola and greek yogurt. But tonight I wanted a real dish... you know something off the stove that makes the whole house smell good. Something with lots of flavor.... and something with GARLIC. :)

This high protein quinoa dish was the perfect flavorful way to satisfy and stay on track.

You'll Need:
Quinoa- 1 cup
Broth/Water- 4 cups
Garlic- 3-4 cloves, minced
Artichoke Hearts- 1 cup, drained & chopped
Lentils- 1/2 cup
Garbanzo Beans/Chickpeas- 1 can 15 oz. drained & rinsed
Diced Tomatoes- 1 can 14 oz.
Fresh Spinach- 2 cups
Fresh Basil- chopped, to taste (about 1 tbsp.)
Red Pepper Flakes or Cayenne Pepper
Lemon Juice- to taste
Oregano- to taste

In a drizzle of olive oil, saute garlic for 3 minutes. Add broth/water and lentils, turn to high and cook 5 minutes.

Then add quinoa, fresh basil, artichokes, diced tomatoes and cook for 15 minutes or until lentils are tender. Season as it cooks with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, and oregano. Add garbanzo beans last- with about 5 minutes left to cook.

Once everything is cooked-add spinach and mix until leaves are wilted. (Ring will form around quinoa when done, but taste lentils to be sure they're not crunchy.)

Top with shredded Italian cheese for a little extra yumminess.

baked gnocchi with creamy butternut squash

2013-04-01T19:52:00.000-04:00

This baked gnocchi with creamy butternut squash is like an ooey gooey mac & cheese and is pretty guilt-free. You can add veggies like sautéed mushrooms or toss some spinach in with the pasta for about 45 seconds.

Stahlbush Farms frozen butternut squash is the easiest and fastest way to cook squash for a dish like this and then you don't have to worry about it being in season. I microwave it for a few minutes and when you stir it with a fork it basically mashes itself. I buy it at Giant Eagle.

Serves 6

You'll Need
Gnocchi- 16 oz.
Butternut Squash- 20 oz. (2 10 oz.frozen bags), cooked
1/3 Fat Cream Cheese- 4 oz. (half brick)
Minced Garlic- 2 tbsp.
Sage- 1 tsp.
Cayenne Pepper- dash
Garlic Powder- dash
Salt & Pepper- to taste
Sharp Italian Cheese like Asiago or Parmesan- 1/2 cup, shredded
Pasta water- 1/3 cup

Preheat oven to 375.

Boil water and cook gnocchi according to package directions. Reserve 1/3 cup of pasta water and drain.

Mix cooked butternut squash with cream cheese and pasta water in medium bowl. Stir in garlic and seasonings. Add gnocchi into bowl and toss to coat. Pour into casserole dish.

Top with cheese and bake 15 minutes.

no-bake high protein granola balls

2013-03-29T15:42:00.000-04:00

These no-bake granola bites are filling, healthy and easy to make. They're high in protein and taste great. The cinnamon helps tie everything together and the salt is a great sweet/salty contrast to the peanut butter. They're also vegan and gluten-free, so they please everyone!

When I made these I did not measure anything, but here are my best estimates (but they're usually pretty close) So add ingredients as you see fit until you get the texture/consistency you want.

Makes about 25 balls

You'll Need:
Oats- 2 cups
Peanut Butter- 1 1/2 cups (creamy or crunchy)
Flax Seed- 1/4 cup
Chopped Pecans or Walnuts- about 1/3 - 1/2 cup
Chocolate Chips- I prefer semi-sweet- about 1/2 cup
Honey- 1 tbsp.
Sea Salt or Kosher Salt- 1 tsp. or more to taste
Cinnamon- 1 tsp. or more to taste

Mix the oats and the peanut butter in medium bowl. I do this by smearing the peanut butter around into the oats using a spoon.

Then add the rest of the dry ingredients (flax seed, nuts, chocolate chips). Mix.

Add salt & cinnamon-mix. Add honey-mix well.

Refrigerate a few minutes if possible. Form into small balls and refrigerate 30 minutes to firm up.

swim suits faves

2013-03-22T13:40:00.000-04:00

I don't think it's any coincidence that with the rise of Nutella in the American market, one piece bathing suits are also back in style. But honestly, I love the look of a cute one-piece bathing suit, especially a retro style. A few months ago I searched everywhere for a high-waisted suit, and now of course, they're all over.

Here are my favorites so far for this season:

Betsey Johnson Red Red Rose Retro Swim Suit

Deep Blue Glee Navy One Piece

Hidden Cove One Piece

Lolli Mixed Floral Urban Outfitters High Waisted Two Piece

Beauty on the Shore Striped Peplum One Piece by Lolli Swim

edamame, cranberry + sprouts pinwheel wraps

2013-03-13T21:57:00.002-04:00

These healthy edamame, cranberry and sprouts pinwheel wraps are high in protein and have a nice combination of sweet and savory with the mix of cranberries and green onions. The edamame adds a nice crunch.

They're great for showers- women love them because they're flavorful, nutritious and pretty.

You can cut them in small pieces for an appetizer or in bigger sections as part of a main entree for a spring lunch.

Makes about 35 appetizer size bites or 20 half-wraps

You'll Need:
Large Whole Wheat or Flour Burrito Wraps- 7
Light Cream Cheese- 8 oz. (1 brick)
Shelled Edamame- 12 oz. (1 1/2 cups), cooked
Craisins- 1 cup
Green Onions- 1/3 cup, chopped
Sprouts- 1 cup
Optional- sunflower seeds
Optional- Feta- I did not use this time...

Mix together edamame, Craisins and green onions. Season with a bit of salt and pepper.

Spread cream cheese across first burrito.

Spoon edamame mix over wrap, putting more at the bottom. Top with sprouts.

Fold sides of burrito in. Then roll from bottom to top. Slice in sections as desired.

banoffee pie

2013-03-04T12:02:00.003-05:00

We just got back from our UK trip where I fell madly in love with banoffee pie. It's a delicious pie filled with bananas, cream and toffee/caramel sauce. I had never heard of it before going across the pond, but after a few bites I was already thinking about how I was going to recreate it at home.

The traditional recipe calls for heavy whipping cream, but this is my "healthier" (and easier) version.

You'll Need:
1 Premade Graham Cracker Crust- or make your own: mix 1 1/2 cups cookie crumbs, 10 tbsp. melted butter and bake 8 min. in pie tin at 350.
Dark Brown Sugar- 1/3 cup
Butter- 3 1/2 tbsp.
Carnation Condensed Milk- 1 can
Bananas- 4, sliced
Cool Whip- 1 8 oz. container

To make caramel sauce- melt 3 1/2 tbsp. butter and brown sugar over low heat stirring constantly. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the Carnation Condensed Milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly for 5-10 minutes until thick. You can probably substitute store bought caramel sauce, but it probably won't be as thick.

Spread the caramel sauce over the crust. Chill for 1 hour to firm up (or until ready to serve).

Place sliced bananas on top of caramel and top with Cool Whip. Smooth top- save a few banana slices for topping, if desired.

Serve with a side of vanilla ice cream.

looks that inspired

2013-02-07T09:52:00.001-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile... I've been busy, but I won't make excuses. :) For my first post in the 2013 I thought I'd share some looks that inspired me. These don't include all of the millions of bloggers I check out now and style inspiration photos I pin. These are looks I remember growing up that I think influence my overall style today.

Clueless. This one gets a few pictures, because I remember watching this and thinking every outfit was AWESOME. I still love the sheer long shirt over the skirt and the short sweater over a long button down.

Gwen Stefani in No Doubt. Her punk look made me want to pull on plaid pants and boots and be more bad ass.

Stevie Nicks. I love her bohemian look with all the layers, hats and scarves.... she is a cool witchy woman.

Audrey Hepburn. Not to be cliche, but what can I say? Audrey's classically chic all-black look in Funny Face totally inspired me. I love this clean look with the black skinnies and ballet flats.

Bianca Jagger. Studio 54 style.

Sofia Loren. I love the headscarf and the cat eyes.

I think Pocahontas and Jasmine might have also inspired me, but I won't include those pics...

creamy penne with spinach + mushrooms

2012-12-03T14:26:00.000-05:00

I'm always looking for ways to make Italian food a little healthier. One way I do that is to use cream cheese as a lighter option for a creamy alfredo-like sauce.

Add any veggies you like, I love the way the spinach mixes in to this one.

You'll Need
Penne/Ziti/Rigatoni- 8 oz.
Reduced Fat or Regular Cream Cheese- 4 oz. (half brick)
Fresh Spinach- 1 bag (about 6-9 oz. depending)
Olive Oil- 1-2 tbsp.
Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms- 8 oz.
Garlic- 3-4 cloves, minced
Oregano- optional
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to top- optional
Salt & Pepper- to taste

Bring salted water to boil and cook noodles according to directions.

Sauté mushrooms in a drizzle of olive oil (about 1 tbsp.) for 5 minutes. Then add garlic and sauté 3 minutes more.

When there is 1 minute left for the pasta to cook, add spinach to boiling water with the pasta and mix down into the water with a fork. Cook remaining 1 minute then drain pasta and cooked/wilted spinach into colander/strainer. Pour back in pot once drained.

Add 1 tbsp. olive oil to pasta and mix. Then add garlic & mushrooms to pasta and spinach. Add cream cheese and mix well to melt and cover all pasta.

Season with salt, pepper and any desired Italian herbs and garlic salt if you need more flavor. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top, if desired.

pear, caramelized onion + pine nut pizza

2012-11-26T20:51:00.002-05:00

This recipe was inspired by the Pear and Gorgonzola pizza from California Pizza Kitchen. I found gorgonzola cheese upsets my stomach, so I had to start passing on this favorite at CPK. But tonight I tried to create a milder version at home using Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese instead for that strong, aged cheese taste to complement the sweet pears and onions.
It. was. delicious.

I used Betty Crocker Instant Pizza Crust because I didn't have any of the refrigerated dough I usually get from an Italian deli, (so stop judging), but you can make your own dough if you like or any refrigerated/frozen dough will work!

Makes 4-6 slices, (depending how you roll out your dough)

You'll Need:
Pizza Crust-1 thawed and rolled out
Olive Oil- 1-2 tbsp.
Bosc Pear (the brown ones)- 1, thinly sliced
Medium White Onion- 1/2, sliced in long, thin strips
Brown Sugar- 1 tsp.
Salt- pinch
Garlic- 2 cloves, minced
Pine Nuts or de-shelled chopped Hazelnuts- 1/3 cup
Parmigiano-Reggiano (or Gorgonzola) Cheese- 1 cup, or as needed

Preheat oven according to crust directions- mine was 450°.

Saute onion over medium-low heat in a drizzle of olive oil about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want them to brown, but not burn. Sprikle with salt and brown sugar, cook 5 minutes more.

Add garlic to onions- cook 2-3 minutes more.

While onions are cooking, roll crust out onto greased pizza pan. Poke holes with fork to keep from bubbling. Drizzle 1 tbsp of olive oil. Spread with back of spoon or brush.

Yes, I suck at getting a perfect circle, but it tastes just as good in a crazy shape

Bake 7 minutes (or about half the cooking time as per your instructions.) If you put all your toppings on without baking the crust halfway, it will be soggy and not cook thoroughly.

After crust has cooked halfway, drizzle more olive oil, if needed, and spread. Then sprinkle cheese, onions and garlic and top with pears and pine nuts- going almost all the way to the edge.

Bake remaining time. Mine was ready in another 7 minutes.

creative gifts

2012-11-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

A good rule of thumb when thinking about buying gifts for others is simply, a gift should be something you wouldn't normally buy yourself.

Non-essentials. They're those little extras that you just might not want to spend the money on or something you never even thought to buy. Here are some of my favorite creative gift ideas for this holiday season, but most would work well for an anniversary or birthday.

Wood Block Photo
Have a photo blown up and put on a piece of wood. You can DIY or use this shop on Etsy for just $33. A photo of the whole family or all the kids is always appreciated by Mom and Grandma.

Designing Finch

Custom T-Shirt
Do they have a favorite funny saying or line from a TV show they like? Put it on a t-shirt using Zazzle's super easy t-shirt creator! You pick the words, the font, the colors, everything! (Or you can buy one of mine... a couple are shown below.)

Zazzle

Book
Cookbooks and how-tos are great for any age. Biographies on their favorite artists are always interesting too. Hint: most women 20-30 will love Tina Fey or Chelsea Handler's books.

Ornament
Personalized--or not. Great gift for a new niece or nephew, wife, or as a yearly tradition for your kids. Ornaments are always a smart gift for college kids and those 20-somethings who probably don't have a large collection yet.

YouNameItJewelry

ifiwerecards

Family Sign
Spell out their name in photos! These cool signs are both from Etsy.com.

Element 120

The Homespun Raven

Personalized Jewelry

Whether you get her initial, or multiple charms with all the kids initials on a necklace or bracelet, personalized jewelry is always special. Great for Christmas, Mother's Day or an Anniversary!

Petitor

thejewelrybar

PTinspires

Game
I don't mean a video game. Something like a handmade chess set is great for an artsy or cerebral family member or an interactive game they can play with their friends like, Catchphrase or What's Yours Like are a great idea, from teenagers to 30-somethings and couples.

Photo Collage
If Grandma has 12 grandkids, it can be hard to make room for all those frames! Make a photo collage of all your kids or all of your family's grandkids on Snapfish.com and frame it. These make great gifts for aunts & uncles too, and family members out of town. (And the photo prints usually cost less than $5!)

Tickets... what do you give a person who has everything? Experiences! Tickets to a play, concert or professional sports game are always an exciting gift. It gives them something to look forward to and it's quality time you can spend together.

Don't know where to start?

Listen to the people you buy for throughout the year. I keep a list in the back of my planner or on my iPhone, and if someone casually mentions they've been wanting a new___, I write that down and surprise them with it 6 months later. It's that easy. Just listen to them. And then write down what they say so you don't forget.

If you're really lost, check out their Likes on Facebook for inspiration. What are their favorite movies? Stores? Bands? Buy them their favorite band's latest CD or a Blu Ray you know they don't have. Then instead of a generic gift card, you could at least give one to their favorite small boutique or ice cream shop.

squash casserole

2012-11-19T13:13:00.003-05:00

As a vegetarian, I feel a lot of pressure to deliver a yummy dish on Thanksgiving, but I am confident in this Squash Casserole's deliciousness. It's the perfect veggie side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any holiday party. It's hearty, but not too heavy.

You can sub half of the sour cream for cream cheese if you like.

Serves a party of 15, double for large gathering

You'll Need
Squash- 5 cups (about 3 squash), sliced & quartered
Onion-chopped
Garlic- 3 cloves, minced
Sharp Shredded Cheddar- 1 cup, divided
Ritz Crackers- 1 1/2 cups, divided (I used Reduced Fat)
Eggs- 2
Lite Sour Cream or Plain Greek Yogurt- 1 cup
Butter- 2 tbsp. melted
Salt & Pepper- to taste
Garlic Powder- to taste (1 tsp?)
Cayenne Pepper- pinch, optional

Preheat oven to 375.

Cook squash and onion over medium heat in a drizzle of olive oil or a tbsp. of water until tender, about 5-6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 2 minutes more. Season with salt & pepper.

While squash cooks, mix eggs, sour cream and butter in a large bowl. Add cooked squash. Stir in 1/2 cup of cheddar and 1 cup of crushed Ritz (about 16 crackers). Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder (and cayenne if using) and mix well.

Pour into 9 x 13 baking pan or casserole dish. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar and 1/2 cup of crushed Ritz. You can even add a tbsp. of butter on top for good measure if you like.

Bake 25 minutes or until slightly golden on top.

stuffed mushrooms with white wine + cream cheese

2012-10-30T18:51:00.001-04:00

Stuffed mushrooms are one of my all-time favorite foods, but most have crab meat so I usually have to pass on them. These vegetarian stuffed mushrooms with white wine and cream cheese are full of flavor and have a great texture. I always get rave reviews when I bring them to parties!

Makes about 45

You'll Need
White Button Mushrooms- 32 oz.
Onion- 3/4 onion, finely diced
Garlic- 4 cloves, minced
Dry White Wine- 3 tbsp.
Cream Cheese- 8 oz.
Egg Yolk- 1
Shredded Parmesan/Italian Cheese- 3/4 cup
Breadcrumbs- 1/4 cup
Parsley or Oregano- to taste

Rinse mushrooms well and pat dry. Remove stems so the cavity is empty, (gills are okay). I simply push the stem to the side, tilting it, and it breaks clean almost every time.

Now that you have your mushroom caps and stems separated, chop your stems. Set aside.

Sauté onion in a drizzle of olive oil or 1 tbsp. of butter on medium-low heat 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 2 minutes more.

Add mushrooms & wine and turn up to high for a few minutes, stirring every minute or two until almost all the liquid has absorbed. Turn heat off and let cool.

In a separate bowl, mix cream cheese and egg yolk. Then stir in shredded cheese, bread crumbs and parsley.

Stir cooled stems, onion and garlic into cream cheese mix. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes (or more) to thicken.

Preheat oven to 350.

Put a spoonful of the cream cheese into each mushroom cap. Place in oven, cook 20-25 minutes.

Turn up to broil for 3-4 minutes until tops are slightly browned.

Let cool 5-10 minutes. Enjoy!

baked apples with greek yogurt whipped cream

2012-10-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

This was one of my proud creations on a day I was craving a dessert, but also felt like I didn't eat very much protein yet. I had some wonderful honey crisp apples and greek yogurt on hand and this creamy, yet healthy fall dessert really hit the spot.

It's not absolutely essential to bake the apples and pecans, but I prefer them cooked.

Serves 2

You'll Need
Apple- 1, chopped
Individual Plain Greek Yogurt- 6 oz. (Chobani)
Cool Whip- 1/2 cup or 4 oz.
Pecans- chopped, optional
Brown Sugar- 1 tbsp.
Cinnamon- to taste

Heat oven to 350.

Place apples and pecans on tinfoil and sprinkle with cinnamon & brown sugar. Top with 1 or 2 small slices of butter or spray with no-cal cooking spray. Bake apples and pecans 10-15 minutes.

Mix greek yogurt and Cool Whip with some more cinnamon.

Stir cooked apples and pecans into yogurt mix.

cornbread stuffing with butternut squash, sweet potatoes + apples

2012-10-06T18:50:00.001-04:00

I love Southern-style comfort food! This cornbread stuffing with butternut squash, sweet potatoes, peppers and apples adapted from Southern Living is the perfect vegetarian side for Thanksgiving.

I serve this stuffing with Quorn brand faux chicken or sausage. It's better for you than most stuffings because it isn't made with 2 sticks of butter, (the only tiny bit of butter is in the cornbread- because who uses shortening??)

A vegan note: I use non-flavored soy in my cornbread, but it also calls for 1 egg, leaving that as the only non-vegan ingredient. If you can prepare the cornbread without it, it's a vegan-friendly side dish!

You'll Need
Cornbread Mix- like Jiffy, 8 oz.
Butternut Squash- 1 1/2 lbs. or 3 cups, cubed in 1/4" pieces
Sweet Potatoes- 2, cubed in 1/4" pieces
Granny Smith Apple- skinned, cubed in 1/4" pieces
Green Pepper- 1/2 cup, chopped
Vegetable Broth- 2 cups
Onion- 1, chopped
Garlic- 3 cloves, minced
Olive Oil- as needed
Brown Sugar- 2 tbsp.
Seasonings: Thyme, Sage, Oregano, Basil, Cayenne Pepper, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Salt & Pepper- to taste
Pecans, 1/3 cup, chopped -optional

Saute onion and green pepper in drizzle of olive oil 3 minutes. Add garlic, saute 2-3 minutes more.

Add sweet potatoes, squash, apple and 1 cup broth. Simmer 15-20 minutes on med-low heat until tender, stirring often to prevent veggies from sticking. Season with brown sugar and about 1/2 of total seasonings (other 1/2 will go in after you add cornbread.)

Once cooked, let veggies cool 15 minutes.

Prepare cornbread mix according to directions and bake. Keep oven at 375 after.

Add remaining 1 cup of broth into vegetables. Fold cornbread into vegetable mix. Add more seasonings to taste. Mix softly.

Bake covered at 375 for 15 minutes. Top with pecans, uncover and bake 10 minutes more. (I only covered half of it with pecans because the husband doesn't care for them... I know, right?)

fall jackets

2012-09-14T14:13:00.003-04:00

Every girl needs a good fall jacket. I think Earthy and neutral colors are best because they work well with different colored boots, scarves and pants.

I have an olive green military jacket I wear almost everyday in the fall and a nice black fitted faux leather jacket for when I'm more dressed up... or just feel like a badass. Here are my favorite fall jackets....

Perfect for everyday.

H&M- Beige Trench Coat

Top Shop- Lightweight Hooded Swing Coat

Urban Outfitters- Staring at Stars Jacket- green canvas & faux leather sleeves

Modcloth- A Tale of Timelessness Jacket

Perfect for the outdoors.

H&M Canvas Jacket w/faux fur hood

Perfect for a dress.

H&M Belted Fabric Jacket

Perfect for a night out.

H&M Faux Leather Biker Jacket

Betsey Johnson - Bell Sleeve Capelet

iced pumpkin cookies

2012-09-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

Nothing like a pumpkin recipe to get us ready for fall! You can expect this to be the first of many more pumpkin recipes to come!

This iced pumpkin cookie recipe is from AllRecipes.com and is one of the few cookie recipes even a cook like me can take on. They are so yummy and are great with or without icing. Bring them to a fall gathering or Halloween party and they'll be gobbled up before you can say Oktoberfest.

Makes 36 delicious cookies

Ingredients:

Cookies
Flour- 2 1/2 cups

Butter- 1/2 cup, softened

White Sugar- 1 1/2 cup

Canned Pumpkin Puree- 1 cup

Egg- 1

Vanilla Extract- 1 tsp.

Baking Powder- 1 tsp.

Baking Soda- 1 tsp.

Cinnamon- 2 tsp.

Nutmeg- 1/2 tsp.

Cloves- 1/2 tsp.

Salt- 1/2 tsp

Icing Glaze

Powder Sugar- 2 cups

Milk- 3 tbsp.

Melted Butter- 1 tbsp.

Vanilla Extract- 1 tsp.

Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves & salt. Set aside.

In medium bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter & white sugar. Add pumpkin, egg & 1 tsp. vanilla to butter mixture and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients.

Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls & flatten slightly.

Bake 15-20 minutes and cool. Not necessary store in an air tight container. They are already very moist with the pumpkin. You don't want them to get soggy.

Glaze:

Combine all icing ingredients, adding milk until have good consistency. Drizzle glaze with fork.

*Add more flour if batter is too sticky or refrigerate dough for a few hours.

[fall cookies, fall recipes, pumpkin cookies, halloween party recipes, halloween party desserts, halloween cookies]

mexican shepherd's pie

2012-08-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

This yummy shepherd's pie combines my obsession with Mexican food and my husband's undying love for potatoes. All in one delicious, flavorful dish. Make it as mild or spicy as you like, and if you serve it without the cheese, it's vegan!

If you have a Dutch oven or any dish that can go on your stove top and oven- it is perfect for this. Sauté all your veggies in it - top it with cheese and potatoes- and then pop it right in the oven.

If you wanted to be super healthy, you could sub the potatoes for cauliflower, but it won't be as filling.

You'll Need:
Potatoes- 6
Diced Tomatoes- 1 can or 3-4 fresh
Mushrooms, 8 oz. sliced
Red and Green Peppers- 2, sliced or chopped
Corn- frozen 12 oz. bag, cooked
Black Beans- 1 can drained and rinsed
Chiles or Jalapenos- 1 can
Sharp Cheddar or Jack Cheese- 1/2 cup, shredded (or vegan sub.)
Green Onion/Onion- 1, chopped
Garlic- 3 cloves, minced
Cayenne Pepper or Hot Sauce- optional, to taste
Cooked Faux Meat like Boca Crumbles, Trader Joe's Veggie Chorizo or TVP- optional

Boil potatoes until tender and mash. Season with a little bit of lime juice, cilantro, salt and butter.

Meanwhile- sauté onion and peppers 5 minutes (also cook any faux meat if sautéing).

Preheat oven to 375.

Add garlic and mushrooms. Cook 4-5 minutes until tender. Add more olive oil or water if necessary.

Add diced tomatoes, corn and black beans. Bring to boil- then immediately turn down to simmer.

Season with cilantro, lime juice, cayenne pepper/hot sauce, salt & pepper. Simmer a few minutes to bring out all the flavors. (Be careful not to add too much additional heat if you already are adding a spicy chorizo or jalapenos.)

Layer tomato mix in a casserole dish if you aren't using the same dish for oven. Sprinkle a layer of cheddar or jack cheese on top.

Top with mashed potatoes. Spread to edge and smooth. Sprinkle additional cheese if you like. ;)

Bake 20-25 minutes.

baked zucchini layers with ricotta

2012-08-07T09:58:00.000-04:00

This baked zucchini is kind of like a zucchini lasagna or a ricotta stuffed zucchini parmesan...without the breading. I love anything with ricotta, it's nice and creamy and you can season it with yummy Italian herbs and garlic to add lots of flavor. Try serving with a side of spaghetti or faux meatballs or sausage.

PS I tried breading it first and it was a total waste of time (and calories). You can't taste the bread because it all gets absorbed by the ricotta and sauce, so don't try it. Already did. :)

You'll Need:
Zucchini- 2, cut in half and sliced fairly thin
Ricotta Cheese- 30 oz.
Shredded Parmesan Cheese- 1/2 cup
Garlic- 3-4 cloves, minced
Italian Herbs- Basil, Parlsey, Oregano- to taste
Garlic Powder- to taste
Egg- 1, optional
Spaghetti Sauce- 8 oz.

Cook sliced zucchini- you can bake it (15 min.) grill it (4 min. each side), sauté it (6-7 min.), or even boil it (2 min.)

While zucchini cooks- mix ricotta with egg, garlic, herbs, cheese, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Pour a little sauce in the bottom of your sprayed baking dish.

Layer cooked zucchini, ricotta then more zucchini. Cover in sauce and top with cheese if desired.

Bake 20 minutes.

easy thai yellow curry

2012-07-26T23:13:00.001-04:00

This was my first ever attempt at making Thai coconut curry, and I was really happy with it, although I admit it wasn't made exactly authentic. So don't hate on me you pro Thai cooks, and where were you when I wanted lessons anyway?

I couldn't find lemongrass, skipped the chillies and that fish seasoning. I also added garlic because I'm Italian and it basically runs in my veins. All that considered- it was still delish and pretty close to other ones I've had.

All of the Thai curry recipes I found online had you add a curry paste (that you premake) to coconut milk and veggies. But I wondered if it'd work if I just added the seasonings to the milk one by one, instead of creating a paste first. Result: it worked fine.

My one mistake was not pre-cooking the carrots at all, and they were super tough. So you can either leave them out, or braise/boil beforehand in some water for 5-6 minutes. You can add any other veggies you want- I recommend broccoli, zucchini or mushrooms.

Like all curries, this one is full of different flavors, and the spicy cayenne pepper is a great contrast to the sweet peanut butter. You can just add peanuts instead of peanut butter if you don't want it to be too sweet/peanuty, but I love that taste so this was perfect for me.

You'll Need:
Jasmine Rice- 2 cups
Lite Coconut Milk- 1 can 13.5 oz.
Onion- 1, chopped
Garlic- 3 cloves, minced
Veggies:bell peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini, carrots- 2 cups, sliced
Sweet Potatoes or Regular Potatoes- 2 or 3, cubed
Peanuts 1/2 cup OR Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter- 1 1/2 tbsp.
Brown Sugar- 1 tbsp. (can omit if using peanut butter)
Tofu- optional

Seasonings: to taste
Tumeric (what makes it yellow)
Cumin
Ginger
Cinnamon
Cayenne Pepper
Lime Juice
Basil
Salt & Pepper

Cook rice according to package directions.

Pre-braise or boil carrots if using.

Spray a wok with non-stick spray. Drizzle with olive oil. Saute onion, potatoes (and tofu if using) 5-7 minutes.

Add carrots, red pepper and garlic and saute 4 more minutes.

Shake coconut milk and add.

Immediately add all seasonings, mix well.

Bring to boil, then turn down to a simmer for 20-30 minutes, mixing very often. Taste carrots and potatoes to ensure that they are tender.

To serve- pour curry sauce and veggies over cooked rice. Or I like to mix all the rice right into the curry sauce.

ratatouille with pearled couscous

2012-07-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

I love the texture of pearled couscous and it's high in protein. When added to this ratatouille, it becomes hearty like a stew, full of fresh vegetables with a little kick of spice. And if you don't top it with cheese, it's vegan! It is one of my most favorite dishes.

Traditional ratatouille usually also has eggplant- but my husband doesn't care for it, and I know a lot of people don't either, so I left it out of this recipe. But you can add it in while you cook the zucchini and peppers if you want to use it. I recommend skinning it first.

You'll Need:
Pearl/Israeli Couscous- 1 1/3 cups dry (or a whole box)

Zucchini- 1, sliced & quartered into small pieces

Chopped Tomatoes- 2 cups or 1 can
Bell Pepper-1, chopped
Onion- 1 large, chopped
Garlic Cloves- 3, minced
Parsley- to taste
Oregano- to taste
Cayenne Pepper- dash or to taste
Pine Nuts- optional, to top

Prepare couscous according to package directions.

Meanwhile, saute onion 4 minutes over medium heat.

Add zucchini and bell pepper. After about 2 minutes, add garlic and cook until all vegetables are tender. (About another 5-6 minutes.)

Add tomatoes and seasonings and simmer 5-10 minutes to really bring out all the flavors. (Can add more tomato sauce to make saucier if you want.) Meanwhile pop pine nuts in oven for 5 minutes.

Add cooked couscous and pine nuts into ratatouille and mix well. Taste and season further if desired.

Top with shredded parmesan cheese, if desired.

ombre hair

2012-07-09T21:12:00.000-04:00

You might have heard the term "ombre" thrown around lately and not been sure what it was. Ombre nails. Ombre demin. Ombre cake. And the most popular trend now-ombre hair.

Ombre refers to a gradual transition of color- so in the case of ombre hair, it usually starts with darker roots and ends with blonde ends. Some are more drastic than others, but it's supposed to look somewhat natural, like you were out surfing all summer and then the blonde grew out over fall and winter. You've seen ombre hair rocked by stars like Khloe Kardashian and Giuliana Rancic. And has anyone else noticed that Miss Carrie Bradshaw herself might have been the original ombre sporter?

HairColorIdeas.com

loveforfashion.tumblr.com

Make sure the lighter part doesn't start above your jaw, or it could just look like actual roots or a botched dye job.

You can also try colorful combinations- like blonde hair with light pink ends.

grilled peaches with bourbon whipped cream

2012-06-19T08:58:00.002-04:00

These peaches are absolutely, amazingly delicious- almost like a light peach pie a la mode, but the crispy grilled edges are so much better. I was literally left licking the plate.

Anything is better on the grill- fruit is no exception. This grilled peaches with bourbon whipped cream are the perfect light dessert for summer--they're less than 100 calories per serving! You can even bake or sauté the peaches in non-grilling season.

Here I kept one half in tact and sliced up the other to show you both ways...

You can leave the bourbon out of the Cool Whip if you like. And the grilled peaches also taste delicious on their own!

Serves 4-6

You'll Need: - Amounts are very flexible
Peaches- 4, seeded & quartered or cut in half-see how
Cool Whip (I used Extra Creamy)- 1 cup or 2 scoops per peach
Bourbon- 1 tsp.
Melted Butter/Agave Nectar/Honey- to coat
Brown Sugar- 2 tbsp.
Cinnamon- 1 tsp.

Mix bourbon and brown sugar into Cool Whip until well blended. Refrigerate.

Brush peaches with melted butter/agave nectar/honey.

Place peaches on grill. Cook 4-6 minutes on each side, or until grill marks form.

Remove from grill. Sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar.

Top peach slices or fill halves' centers with whipped cream.

Sprinkle more cinnamon and brown sugar on top if desired.

work dresses

2012-06-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

I've been on the hunt for some nice, basic dresses I can wear to work. I have a ton of sundresses, but most of mine are strapless, too summery and possibly a little too short for work.

I want something a little more professional, that can possibly be worn year-round, maybe with some tights underneath in the fall/winter. Plus, I think a more professional dress will be a good addition to my wardrobe for other things like showers. (This is how I rationalize my shopping.)

Here are my favorite "work" dresses....

Gap Pure Ribbed Black Dress

Calvin Klein grey & black colorblock dress

ModCloth- I Dapple in Art Dress

Boden Knee Length Shirt Dress

6pm -Max and Cleo Dress

J.Crew Marielle Work Dress

ModCloth- Twinkle in Time Dress

Eliza J- Cap Sleeve Black & White Dress

Frankie's Shirt Dress- Khaki

Land's End Ponté Twist Waist Dress

ModCloth- Midnight Fizzle Dress

shells with artichokes, tomatoes + olives

2012-06-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

I love a light olive oil pasta like these shells with artichokes, tomatoes and olives. I had all of these things on hand and tossed them together with some fresh herbs from my ~~RIP garden~~ herb pots and it was delightful. I also added a Quorn Naked Chick'n Cutlet to mine for added protein.

Serve pasta immediately or let sit at room temperature for a pasta salad for a party. But if you refrigerate, be aware that the shells will soak up the olive oil and could dry out. I think it's best to serve without refrigerating.

You'll Need:
Medium Shells/Conchiglie- 8 oz.

Conchiglie means "shells"

Can of Artichokes (or fresh cooked), chopped

Cherry Tomatoes- 1 cup, sliced

Olives- 1 cup whole & pitted & rinsed
Garlic- 4 cloves, minced
Olive Oil- 4 tbsp. or as needed to coat
Parmesan Cheese- optional, 1/2 cup?
Fresh herbs- basil & oregano- to taste (about 1/4 cup?)
Salt & Pepper- to taste

Bring salted water to boil and cook pasta according to directions. Drain. Pour olive oil over pasta to coat and season with some salt.

For speed:
Spoon jarred garlic, artichokes, tomatoes and olives into pasta. Season with herbs, salt and pepper and add cheese.

For more flavor:
Sauté a chopped onion 4 minutes. Add fresh minced garlic & cook 3-4 more minutes. Add tomatoes and artichokes into pan to warm. Can alternatively roast all. Add to pasta along with olives. Season with herbs, salt and pepper and add cheese.