The New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!! 

So far it’s been a pretty relaxing long weekend!  I took off New Years eve to relax and get stuff done around the house, as well as make a couple things for the New Years party my friend was throwing!

But first my new years breakfast :)  Nothing fancy, which is fine by me…I just love eating a relaxing breakfast at home.  So much better than at work!!

Starting with a delicious cappuccino!

A juicy red grapefruit

And one of my latest banana muffins with raw almond butter.

The almond butter goes perfectly with the muffins!

New Years Eve!!

My friend threw a party at her and her husband’s condo in the North End.  The building has a great roof deck where we watched the fire works!

She made lots of amazing appetizers along with some homemade meatballs and stuffed shells! 

I didn’t get as many pictures as I would of liked but here are a few…

I made that salad.  It’s a recipe my mom got from a former co-worker a looong time ago and has been a favorite ever since!

A few hours before serving combine:

• chopped tomatoes (I used 4-5 tomatoes)
• 3 cloves garlic (chopped or I used a press)
• drizzle olive oil
  Let this tomato mixture sit at room temp until ready to serve
• 2 heads Romaine, broken into pieces or chopped
• freshly shredded Romano cheese (I bought a small wedge and used the whole thing)
  Dressing:
• 1/2 c. olive oil
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• S&P

When ready to eat, toss everything together and enjoy!

My other contribution was a Barefoot Contessa recipe I saw on her show once:  Ham and Cheese in Puff Pastry

This was a SUPER easy recipe!
Before going in the oven:

And after…golden, flake, and delicious!!!

One of my friend’s friend is an owner of a local Bakery
She brought an ADORABLE NYE cake!!! 

 

It was a white cake with a new filling they are trying out…white chocolate, cranberry, rum mousse (at least I think that was it).  AMAZING!

She also brought along some other goodies…

     

I’d like to highlight those middle cookies… marzipan, apricot jam, a square of hazelnut nougat, and chocolate…. Oh.my.god. 

Been inside all day, cleaning, laundry, 2 rounds of shoveling!!  It’s time to get out…meeting a friend and her fiancé for dinner :)

Taco Night and Banana Muffins

Why do so many guys LOVE tacos? I mean, I love tacos, but Brian LOOOOOVES tacos!! So he was way excited when I mentioned we make tacos the other night with the ground turkey we had in the freezer!

It must be all the fun toppings and things you can add! I new I was going to make mine into a kickass taco salad…and kickass it was!

It all started with the salad spinner. Seriously what did I do before I had this baby? I know, I would use like 1/4 roll of paper towels to dry my lettuce!

washed, dried, and chopped Green leaf lettuce into my bowl.

The rest into the bag for use throughout the week.

The spinner used again for the cilantro! I LOVE cilantro and I love when I can add it fresh to a meal, but I hate having to buy a big bunch of it to use just a little.

This is my salad prepped before adding the “taco”

I cooked a package of ground turkey breast with a little olive oil (it was very lean), then added:

• a package of taco seasoning (I found the McCormick brand to have the least “crap” in it)
• 1 can black beans
• and some green pepper strips

After simmering for about 5min, it was done and we started building our dinners.

To my prepped salad I added:

• turkey/bean/pepper mixture
• grated cheese
• sour cream
• salsa
• hot sauce
• fresh cilantro
• some crushed tortilla chips

This salad was AWESOME!!!!!!!!

While making my salad I also made another for lunch the next day…perfect!

Brian wants “taco night” added to the frequent rotation :)

I decided after dinner, it was about time for some muffins seeing as I had 4 lovely over-ripe bananas just hanging around

Banana Muffins 12-27-09

In a large mixing bowl combine:

• 1 1/2 c. White Whole Wheat Flour
• 1/2 c. Oat Bran
• 1/3 c. Hazelnut Meal
• 1/4 c. APF
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1.5 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• shakes of Cinnamon and Nutmeg
  
  
  In a Separate Bowl Combine:
  
• 1 egg
• 4 very ripe Bananas – mashed (if you have less banana you may need to increase the agave/sugar and oil a little)
• 1 cup Buttermilk
• 1/3 c. Apple Sauce
• 2 T Canola Oil
• 3 T Agave Nectar (might add 1 more Tbsp next time)
• 1 tsp vanilla
  
  (p.s. this powdered buttermilk is GREAT to keep on hand when needing to bake with it. No more buying a carton of buttermilk just for that 1 cup.)
  
  Add wet ingredients to dry and add:
  
• Chocolate Chips – approx. 1/4 cup
• Chopped Walnuts – approx. 1/3 cup
  
  Mix until just combined (don’t over-mix!)
  Spray muffin tin with canola oil spray (or other cooking spray), and fill with batter.
  
  
• Top muffins with Raw sugar and/or dry oats
• Bake for 18min at 375 degrees

I had extra batter and made a mini loaf:

As usual these are not super sweet like muffins from a bakery, but they are moist and banana-y and perfect for breakfast. If your used to traditional sweet baked goods, add more agave or a little sugar.

I like my muffins to taste like breakfast not dessert :)

Merry Christmas!!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas morning (those who celebrate it anyways :)  Was Santa good to you???

I’ve had a whole week full of festivities, so we’ll have a short short re-cap so I can get to the goods from Christmas and Christmas Eve.

First…my fun Forever 21 ensemble for the cocktail party last weekend.

I didn’t really want to buy a new dress but I wanted some more “fun” than “fancy” and this white strapless dress with silver floral motif was perfect and festive, especially with the “fur” shrug ;)

Love using the timer on the camera

Before the party we (me, Brian, and Jocy), had a little dinner at this new restaurant, Post 390, in the city.  It was awesome and deserves its own post….so that will have to wait for now.

 

Some of the girls…

a few boys… (they were all in the wedding too!)

Oh the boys…

Moving along… Monday night, Brian, my Mom, and I went to Symphony Hall to see the Boston Pops Holiday show!!

I haven’t been to Symphony Hall since I was maybe 7?  It’s so pretty inside.

The music was fantastic and you could tell everyone in there was in the holiday spirit!  At the end they even had a sing-along complete with the words on a screen to follow along!

Now to the loot…

Brian and I did our gifts Christmas Eve morning since it was going to be our only alone time for a while.

He went all out…what a great husband:)

• Grey fleece Welly Socks for my Wellies
• Cropped pants from LuLu Lemon!!!  (I was hoping for these)
• Lulu Lemon running gloves and neck warmer

Then he goes upstairs to the big closet which has had an “Off Limits” sign on it for a couple weeks.

He comes down with something wrapped in my old pink comforter:

What the???

 

It’s a nice outdoor umbrella for our patio!!!  Awesome!!! 

with a nice sturdy base!  I can’t wait to put this up outside!!

Un pictured was a base for the new cappuccino machine, but right the base + machine doesn’t fit under our cabinets…hmmm.

Then the biggie…oh yes!

 

My very own 7 1/4 qt Le Creuset Dutch Oven!!

Don’t worry the husband made out as well!  I got him:

• a tool belt
• drill bit set
• an electric Orbital Sander
• a huge Craftsman Tool storage chest

Can you tell there was a theme?  Can you tell we have a house now hahah!?

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning at Mom’s. 

She, um, downsized the tree this year haha… its still cute though.

Willow’s Stocking :)    Mom’s stocking, with the over flow wrapped next to it.

 

Then my ginourmous stocking hehe

and my “overflow”…yeah she went crazy with the stocking stuffers this year.

 

Thanks mom!!!! 

I also received:

• another pair of Welly socks haha, I guess every time I walked by them in Nordstrom I dropped hints to her and Brian. 
• a pink Cashmere sweater.
• new Christmas PJ’s!
• and mom got Brian and I an escape ladder thing to keep in our bedroom since it’s on the 2nd floor.  Such a mom gift…now she “doesn’t have to worry”.

Willow loved her new toy.

I really want to run, but it’s COLD…we’ll see if that happens.  This afternoon we’re off to my aunts for Christmas dinner!

Then tomorrow it’s Day after shopping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Love the day after…oh yes!

Christmastime Craziness Dinners

It was the week before Christmas…and there are just not enough hours in the day!!

However, that doesn’t mean I haven’t found the time to make a few delicious dinners. Here’s a little recap of the week in food. 2 fairly quick and easy dinners and 1 longer.

Sometime last week we new we were going to have the pork chops we were letting thaw out, but didn’t know exactly how we were going to make them. I knew I had some red and green peppers so I wanted some sort of Italian dish.

Dinner #1: Cue Mario Batali and his Zingara!

I had never heard of it but it sounded easy and delicious!

My pork chops were on the thicker side than what the recipe called for but it was fine. They were seasoned and dredged in flour, then browned on both sides in a pan with some olive oil.

After taking them out, and deglazing with some white wine, the peppers and onions were added, as well as the rest of the ingredients (minus olives, didn't have any).

Then the pork chops were added back

This simmered for a few, then served over brown rice (easy Trader Joes microwavable pack of brown rice…those things are awesome!!), as well as some Brussels we roasted.

That night I also figured out how to fix a cookie craving. I frequently want a HOT chocolate chip cookie and it never happens haha.

So I toasted up a Kashi Heart 2 Heart waffle, added a few choc. chips after, and dipped in Maple Syrup!

This TOTALLY satisfied that craving and then some with the syrup….I LOVE real maple syrup!

Dinner #2: Veggie Lasagna! (using the “wing-it” method :)

I have been wanting to make a pan of lasagna for a while and when I took off Tuesday from work to get some Christmas shopping done I knew that would be the day.

I roasted some zucchini, red peppers, and onion with some olive oil, S&P.

Roasted at 400 for about 30min.

I made a quick sauce, somewhat based off this recipe which is an awesome fast sauce!

However I realized I had a can of crushed tomatoes with Basil. Doesn’t sound like a bad thing but I think the pre-basiled tomatoes made this ending up tasting more like a jarred sauce than homemade. Not bad by any means just not exactly what I was hoping for.

I also added some frozen spinach to get more veggies in there!

To the ricotta, I added a mix of sundried tomatoes and fresh basil chopped in the food processor.

Part-skim ricotta with tomato and basil mixture.

Layer it up! I had no rhyme or reason to this layering. I also used uncooked noodles…I like it better when they just absorb the liquid from the other ingredients and I knew there would be enough between the sauce and the veggies.

I added a little shredded mozzarella in the layering too.

Side salad of mixed greens, tomato, and mixed olives with a dressing of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Mmmm melty.

The roasted vegetables really made this dish! It was really good and provided leftovers for lunches many days this week :) I was definitely missing the tomato-y garlicky sauce I wanted but oh well.

Dinner #3: Compliments of Trader Joes…

Brian bought this Mandarin Orange Chicken once and LOVED it. So we got it again and I decided to cook it up last night and since I was home first I wanted it all ready by the time he got home.

I also steamed some broccoli to add to the chicken…gotta add veggies!

And once again some TJ’s brown rice. Note: I like TJ’s brown rice that comes in the little bowl packs better than this one, but this worked.

I used the oven method instead of frying to keep it as healthy as I could.

Sauce packets…heated in the microwave and added at the end.

I added the sauce to the cooked chicken and steamed broccoli.

Served on brown rice! SO EASY and really flavorful! This is great when you have a Chinese Food craving but don't want all the greasy calories that come with it.

P.S. Still LOVING Body Combat and Body Pump!! My friend who I go with even said she’s noticed a little more tone in my arms….SCORE!!

Also made it to Hot Yoga last weekend…every time I go I wonder why I don’t go more often, I love it!! I really want to get there again before Christmas.

Fun Christmas Cocktail party tonight!! Picked up a fun dress at Forever 21 ;) Gotta love that place for awesome party dresses under $30!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!! Last Minute shopping?? Anyone have good $20 Yankee Swap ideas??

Snowy Sick Day

Yeah I’m lounging at home today.  Felt like crap last night, not exactly sure what but I thought it best to take today off to fully recover. 

And I picked a great day to stay inside!!!

I also took this opportunity for a lazy morning to make stovetop oats and a yummy cappuccino.

Let me introduce you to the newest member of the family

Yay for a new wedding present!!!

 

It’s definitely an art/science to making a good cappuccino and I’m still working on it!  I finally have been able to make some foam though!!

Mmmmm

My oats were a simple mix:

• 1/3 c. oats, 1/3 c. water, 1/3 c. milk
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 banana
• vanilla

Toppings:
A crumbled piece of an Oats ‘N Honey bar

A little dollop of these guys…

A few piece from this bag…a couple chocolate chips, PB chips, dried cherries, and nuts

Sliced strawberries.

  

Perfect cold weather breakfast

  

Definitely feeling better, and good thing too because I still have to go to a class tonight for work and I didn’t want to miss it. 

Winter Wonderland Weekend

This weekend had so many fun Christmas-y moments to it!

It helps waking up to this outside today :)

This is pretty much one of the few times of the year I actually enjoy snow…the time leading up to Christmas.  Once mid January hits I’m usually done with it but for now we can just enjoy the beauty. 

Yesterday Brian and I went out and searched for the perfect first Christmas tree!

First I started with a warm bowl of steel cut oats!

For 2 servings

• 1/2 c. oats
• 3/4 c. milk
• 3/4 c. water
• pinch salt
  towards the end add
• approx. 1T apricot preserves
• sprinkle of walnuts
• golden raisins
• chopped dried cherries
• chopped dried apricots
• drizzle with a little maple syrup before eating

After heading out into the elements (unfortunately it was raining Saturday), we found it!

Here it is ready to be netted up to take home

We set it up in the stand to let it gradually open more during the day

Later that night I had to head into the city for my Dance Repertory show!  This is the same one I did last year which you can read about here and here.  Both Friday and Saturday shows went great!  We did an old Anita Baker song this year…hopefully someone will send me a picture :).  I am still so grateful I have this opportunity to perform still!

Today was more errands, including a search for a Christmas Tree star!!  Did not find one unfortunately :(  Anyone know where to find a nice star!?

I was excited to get home to make Chili with Thanksgiving leftover turkey that I had frozen!

Key ingredients:

      

First I sautéed some garlic and 1 jalapeño:

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then added onion, bell peppers and a poblano pepper

Then there was tomato paste, beans (dark kidney, black, and garbanzo), crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes,

and some of this:
 

While I was cooking, Brian was busy working on some outdoor lights!!!  SO EXCITED to have a house to decorate :)  we also bought a beautiful wreath with the tree which you can sort of see on the front door.  I’ll have to get a better pic of the wreath.

you can also sort of see our tree in the window on the left.

Back to the Chili

Lots of spices/seasoning…basically I just add them until I like how it tastes:  chili powder, cumin, chipotle chili powder, oregano, paprika, salt, pepper, some garlic powder, and little bit of cocoa powder.

 

Garnishes/toppings included fresh cilantro and scallions, along with cheese and sour cream.

of course corn bread…LOVE corn bread!  I made two mini loaves.  This is 1 mini cut up for us to share.  I had 2 slices, he had 3.

Table with soup tureen.  So if we were having any guests for said Chili I would had used my lovely soup tureen which matches my bowls but for tonight I just added it for looks haha!

The table decor is still in progress but here’s what I have going right now:

 

I still need a runner, and possibly this awesome little gold Christmas tree I saw at Crate and barrel :)

After dinner we decorated the tree and watched A Christmas Story!

Now it just needs the star…and presents ;)

The Sweet Stuff

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family :)  I know I did!

Back to my friends-Thanksgiving!

Let’s get to the goods…the desserts!  Because I don’t like to change up my classic Thanksgiving side dishes, the desserts are where I can get creative each year. 

I may have disappointed a few with the lack of a chocolate pecan pie…BUT I had other plans :)

I’ll just start with my favorite this year…this recipe came from the wonderful Giada!

Profiteroles with Ricotta Mascarpone

Thank you Giada!

I started with wanting to make a cream puff but when I read this recipe I knew it was a winner. 

Puff pastry always sounded like it would be hard to make but I’ve heard it was easy and easy it was!!

I made the filling Saturday:

Ricotta+Mascarpone+sugar+vanilla:

The next morning I baked the pastry puffs before the Turkey needed to go in.  Profiteroles/Cream Puffs are actually very easy to make.

Basic Ingredients:  Water, butter, flour, sugar, salt, eggs

All ingredients except the eggs are cooked together on the stove.

Then each egg is added 1 at a time and beat in until the dough is smooth and sticky.

Spoon onto sheet pan, lined with sil pat or parchment

 

I smoothed out the tops with a finger dipped in water, then gave each an egg wash for shine

Puffs (in sunlight)

.

Later on I got out the filling, sliced the top off each puff, and filled the profiteroles

The recipe called for a topping of Nutella + cream, heated together.  For me, the cream and Nutella were just NOT getting along well, so I heated up straight Nutella for my topping.  Just as good or better in my opinion!

YUMMMM the filling tasted just like a cannoli!!!

 

With my extra Ricotta, I was reminded of another simple Giada recipe I wanted to try…

The Ricotta Cappuccino

I had all the ingredients on hand:

The process couldn’t of been simpler…

And I finally got to use my cute set of espresso cups!

Delicious…I am so making these again in the summer!

My final dessert was Mini Pies!!  I love all miniature desserts :) 

Basic pie crust recipe my fam always uses:  flour, shortening, water, salt.

I chilled, and was ready to roll it out Saturday:

Rolled out discs, placed into muffin tin, lined each with foil and filled with dry beans to use for weight so the crust doesn’t puff up!

Brian requested banana cream and I was thinking coconut cream since I’ve never made it before.  Luckily they are VERY similar and I was able to make 1 filling for both pies. 

I ended up with an Emeril recipe for Coconut Cream Pie

Basic vanilla custardy pie filling…

Just before I added any coconut, I filled half of the pie crusts with a little filling, topped with some sliced banana, and filled to the top.

Then added some sweetened coconut as well as some I had toasted earlier.  P.S. Toasted coconut is AWESOME in yogurt!!!!

Then I filled the remaining shells with the coconut filling.

Later on, these got topped with meringue and toasted with my torch!

I dusted the tops of the coconut creams with more toasted coconut

Others brought apple crisp and pumpkin pie!

Hope everyone is having a great little vacation :)  Now we’re off to the in-laws for Thanksgiving #3 tomorrow!