Life on Food

Seven

2012-02-25T15:29:00.001-05:00

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Happy Weekend! Do you have any fabulous plans? I am excited for two days of nothing and another rendition of Zumba. I hope I don't blow away because it is windy outside. Describe yourself in 7 wordsDriven, Exacting, Nurturing, Organized, Clean,

Friday's Five: Confessions Of A Food Blogger

2012-02-24T06:55:00.001-05:00

Today's Friday Five is a bit of a confession. I have a few tendencies that for some seem a bit odd for a food blogger. 1. Although I love my kitchen gadgets and probably have my fair share of random tools I resist the specialty pans. The only one I have is the Madeleine cookie pan. It took a few years to use but I loved the cookies so much I am not rethinking the whole necessity of a

All American Meatloaf

2012-02-23T06:00:00.016-05:00

You all probably remember my loaf of meat story. Well, I am glad to announce that I made meatloaf for the second time in my life. I ate it too. This was an abbreviated version from Ann over at Healthy Cooking For Me. The only difference is I added 1 carrot and 2 garlic cloves. The carrots added an extra bit of sweetness and made me feel better for eating all of the meat. This recipe was a

Pretzel Rolls

2012-02-22T06:00:00.005-05:00

I wasn't the best this week either for What I Ate Wednesday, especially the veggie part. I lacked veggies. Even my good intentions were foiled by the trails of eating on the road. Breakfast consisted of a coffee with chocolate soy milk before I left for the airport at 6:30am. Around 9am I had a strawberry banana smoothie which I promptly downed before taking a photo. Around 11am mid my

Coconut Cupcakes for Two

2012-02-21T06:00:00.027-05:00

I needed something sweet tonight. In fact I needed two something sweets. When I travel for work I miss my husband dearly. When I come home it is always a good thing. However, when you are gone from the office so much you get used to it. Days back in the office can be the busiest and most stressful. Today was one of those days. Good thing there is string of recipes floating around the

Bar Americain

2012-02-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

After being apart for a solid 8 days Mr. J and I finally reunited late Thursday night. It was too long to be apart. We were able to make it through Friday and enjoyed a much needed date night on Saturday. It was really just a night out but we called it our belated Valentine's Day treat. We went to Mohegan Sun Casino and ate at Bobby Flay's Bar Americain. We don't gamble but after our

Weekend Edition: The Green Stuff They Call Kale

2012-02-19T06:39:00.000-05:00

Oh how the weekends go by too fast. It always seems like I should have one more day to relax. Mr. J and I celebrated Valentine's Day on Saturday night at Bobby Flay's Bar Americain restaurant. It was so good. More on that to come tomorrow. I also got a gift certificate for a 30 day pass to a local gym to try out 15 of their group classes. Saturday I checked out Zumba for the first time. It

Friday's Five Favorites V

2012-02-17T06:33:00.031-05:00

Let's see some color love with this Friday's favorite list. I got through stages when I am very much a "black" person, especially in the gloomy winter season. Lately though I cannot get enough of color. I tend to lean towards pinks and blues but this list is of items is all over the place. Eggcup Bedding from Garnet Hill. I think this is the prettiest shower curtain. The flowers are a

Half and Half Bread

2012-02-16T06:31:00.000-05:00

I don't make bread nearly enough. One of my goals this year...yes remember those "resolutions"...was to make homemade bread more often. I am not scared of using yeast I just find it a bit too time consuming. Even on the weekends it seems that the time I am ready to make bread the day is already winding down. Whenever I do get around to it I have a very lovely time. There is something

Ithaca, New York and WIAW

2012-02-15T06:42:00.000-05:00

I am in Ithaca, New York this week. Ithaca is gorges. I never really understood this. I think it is hilly but I have yet to see any of the gorges. Maybe I am in the wrong spot. Have you ever seen the movie, I don't know how She Does it? with Sarah Jessica Parker. Well, in it she travels for work and at one point her husband asks her how was a trip. Her response was, Airport, Taxi,

Sweet, Sweet Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T05:53:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! It is the one day a year that I don't find public displays of affection completely 100% annoying. Mr. J and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day. I only really ask for a card. In the past we have had some gigantic fails when it comes to celebrating on the actual day. Way back in college when we were still dating we waited a very, very long time in a restaurant

Madeleines

2012-02-13T05:59:00.000-05:00

I would have to say these cookies were baked about 1 minute more than they should have been. I set the timer to 10 minutes which is 1 minute shorter than the short end of the baking time. I still lost. It doesn't matter though because these little beauties were delicious. The recipe makes 12. I had 3 before I knew what hit me. My dad got me a Madeleine pan a couple of years ago and I

Weekend Edition: Getting Things Done

2012-02-12T11:57:00.000-05:00

This weekend was something else. I thought long and hard about what I should write. This could have been a very long post...plus it would have been boring with no pictures. Instead I decided to keep it short and sweet, but still no pictures. Friday night I was in a car accident. A young girl came out of a one-way road going the wrong direction. She didn't stop and pulled out into a main

Valentine's Day Gifts

2012-02-11T07:42:00.000-05:00

I wouldn't say I am particularly fond of Valentine's Day. I only really ever want a card, which I suppose is very Hallmark of me. I will take any excuse to have an extra dose of chocolate. This year though I seem to be struck by some very cute heart things. I cannot help but smile. Alder & Co. Heart Pottery from Etsy.com Love Letter cookies from Pink Pistachio Note cards

Friday's Five: Hot Chocolate

2012-02-10T06:35:00.007-05:00

I love hot chocolate. In college I would make hot chocolate early every morning before heading to breakfast. I think I might need to get back in that routine. Chocolate in the morning only leads to a very good day. For today's Friday's Five I am sharing my favorite hot chocolates. Hot Chocolate by Emily Morris Prep Time: 2 Cook Time: 5 Keywords: beverage Chocolate 6016707

Rules of Civility

2012-02-09T07:43:00.000-05:00

I love the library. I think going to the library is a lost art form. I am lucky to live in a town that has a great library. They typically have a huge selection of books and DVDs, many new releases. If they don't have what I am looking for or if it is already checked out I can simply request it and they search all of the other public libraries in Connecticut. Normally within a week or two

Chocolate Love

2012-02-08T06:38:00.000-05:00

Turns out I don't have a bundt pan. I really swear I have one but I spent about 30 minutes trying to find one in the kitchen, closet, and pantry yesterday with no luck. When this happens I normally think that I do have one I just got in back when I lived with my parents and magically it is still at there house and not with me in Connecticut. Not helpful. Mom...you will be getting a phone

Sausage, Kale and Sweet Potato Soup

2012-02-07T06:10:00.005-05:00

This trip I learned... I really would have enjoyed that Jetta I dreamed of driving at age 16. My silver little coupe was quite fun the last few days. Always remember to let your loved ones know you arrived at the car rental facility. When you can't find your phone, you don't have far to look in the car. Making a meal before you leave is a great way to come home. Sunday before I left

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

2012-02-06T06:10:00.045-05:00

It is a rare occasion when I have bananas that turn brown. I buy bananas every week. Sometimes multiple times a week. I like them when they are just starting to turn yellow. When there are bunches of green bananas in the store I get excited, if they are already yellow I try to pick the most unripe bunch and only get a few. Those are the weeks when I go back for more later in the week.

Weekend Edition: Super Bowl Sunday

2012-02-05T05:59:00.027-05:00

I find all of the excitement over the Super Bowl a bit crazy. I don't remember it being this out of control in the past. I will say though if I were home I would be watching it. Of all of the teams, I would have to say that the Patriots would be who I would be cheering on. This weekend went by way too fast. I got so many errands done on Saturday I felt like Superwoman. I will never understand

Friday Five: Super Bowl Snacks

2012-02-04T12:25:00.000-05:00

I am flying to Chicago for work on Sunday afternoon so there will be no Super Bowl party for me. Instead I am making a few things on Saturday and then just dreaming of the snacks I am going to miss. With all of the other delicious postings out there I know I will be dreaming well. Cheddar PopcornThe homemade Smart Food I made the other day is my new favorite thing to eat. I cannot get enough.

Beans and Rice...Rice and Beans

2012-02-01T05:58:00.021-05:00

The other week I saw one of those recipe that hit me as "I have to make this." It was booked marked and saved. My usual MO is to do this and then months later realize that I haven't given said recipe a second thought. I broke that trend this week when I made the recipe less than one week after spying it on Roxana's blog or guest post I should say. I have been on the search for some

Other Uses for Coconut Oil & WIAW

2012-02-01T05:53:00.000-05:00

It has been about every week for a year that I have tried to participate in What I Ate Wednesday. And every week for a year I have failed. Come Wednesday and I had no documentation of what I actually ate. Well that all changed yesterday and I managed to photograph all three of my meals as well as a snack. Lunch was by far my favorite with a roasted veggie panini with goat cheese. I

Le Cordon Bleu, Paris

2012-01-31T06:11:00.022-05:00

If you ever go to Paris, you must stop by Le Cordon Bleu. In fact you must do some advance research and sign up for one of their courses. You can do a week long intensive training session, a day long instruction and kitchen work, or you can do a mini demonstration. Way back too many years ago I studied abroad in Paris. It was the most wonderful experience ever. I dream about going back

Cookie Fail

2012-01-30T05:55:00.043-05:00

Cookies normally look something like this right? Little plump circles you just cannot wait to get your hands on... The first pan came out something like this. They were flat little pancakes that although smelled delicious did not bring on the "must have" feelings a typical cookies stirs within me. See the difference? And it was all my fault. The recipe was for peanut butter but I had

Weekend Edition: Sunday Funday

2012-01-29T16:43:00.000-05:00

Things are finally slowing down and I feel like I can catch my breath a bit. My parents came down for the weekend and we had a great time exploring on Saturday. Have you ever been in a submarine? If your interested check out the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Connecticut. It is pretty cool. We got to go in the Nautilus. Aboard NAUTILUS, experience first-hand the thrill of being a

Friday's Five: Favorites x4

2012-01-27T08:45:00.000-05:00

So let me tell you about this little thing called Pinterest. It's a website that allows you to collect, sort, and save images from the Internet. Think of a gigantic cork board of lovely photos chosen by you. When I started this a few months ago I was drawn to collecting food photos of recipes I am someday, someday hoping to make. Since then I have branched out with fashion, bags, home ideas,

10 Thoughts on Whole Living: February

2012-01-26T14:20:00.011-05:00

1/ Nourish your mind as carefully as you nourish your body. 2/ BRISK, CRISP INVIGORATING - REMEMBER THE POSITIVE SIDES OF WINTER 3/ Finding BALANCE in your RELATIONSHIP requires all your SENSES. 4/ If you feel the need to be critical, be sure the urge is coming from a place of kindness. 5/ When you break a small bad habit, you teach yourself that you can change anything. 6/ PROSPERITY

Snacking Deliciousness

2012-01-25T06:34:00.000-05:00

Way back to a few years ago, Mr. J and I took a long weekend up to Vermont. We explored lots of little towns and saw Lake Champlain. It was a great time. My favorite part of the trip was our jaunt to Cabot's Factory and Store. Cabot is the only block cheese I will just. Seeing where it was made and the mass production line was fascinating. We also enjoyed the store that had many

Healthy Carrot Cake

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

By Sunday, things were pretty much back to running like normal. We are still being very, very careful about what ingredients we are using and how much is being eaten at once. However, I was up for some baking. Fat is no good right now so it was important to find something extremely healthy yet delicious for our Sunday night dessert. I googled "Healthy Carrot Cake" and came up with quite a few

Chicken and Mushroom Stroganoff

2012-01-23T06:10:00.000-05:00

I guess I owe a bit more of an explanation. Last week was a bad week for many, many reasons. I thought it best not to blog this weekend as I had nothing but complaints and negativity to post. It was a bad week. We don't have a true diagnosis for Mr. J. He has to go to another doctor this week. The good news is he is doing much better and is almost back to his normal self. I think he would

You know it's love when...

2012-01-20T05:30:00.000-05:00

You know it's love when in the midst of a long weekend vacation in another state you would rather stay in than explore because your one and only is not feeling well. You know it's love when you sit in the middle seat of an airplane twice always so your one and only has more room since they don't feel well. You know it's love when you wake up early stay up all night when your one and only cannot

Mellow Mushroom

2012-01-19T06:29:00.009-05:00

This is the last post of our Charlotte visit. We had a great time in the South and it was good see a new city. I was a bit disappointed in the southern accents though. I know a couple of hours further South everyone is speaking with a twang. I guess Charlotte is a bit more refined. I was hoping for more accents. After eating so well during our other meals, we decided that we wanted a

BLT Charlotte

2012-01-18T06:28:00.025-05:00

What did I learn this weekend in Charlotte? They have lots and lots of good restaurants to check out. So many that we had trouble picking which ones we should check out with such a short time see them all. One of the restaurants we chose was the steakhouse BLT. Although not unique to Charlotte this restaurant was a place we definitely wanted to check out. The building itself was just cool

Charlotte, NC

2012-01-17T06:27:00.033-05:00

This weekend we took a little trip to Charlotte, NC. Sadly, when we arrive a cold front came through and we were there during their coldest day of the year thus far. We weren't so lucky with the temperatures but the sun was shining brightly. We were able to get out and see a lot. Our first night in town we ate at The King's Kitchen. They are a not for profit restaurant that serves a

Roasted: A photo study

2012-01-16T06:06:00.019-05:00

There are some sights in the kitchen I would rather not see...ever...like a sink full of dishes or a spot on the floor of something gooey and gross that you don't know what it is. Other sights could happen over and over again and never get old. Sunday's dinner was full of wonderful things that I couldn't help but snap away. Note to self: If Mr. J is making dinner, try not to get in the way

Dark Chocolate Walnut Cookies

2012-01-13T05:24:00.002-05:00

There is nothing like a good cookie to make a bad week end on the right note. This week wasn't really bad it just dragged on....and on. Each time something got crossed off my list ten more things were added. I couldn't seem to get ahead. On top of the busyness, I was incredibly tired. It was just one of those weeks. I find these weeks can be easily remedied with two things...coffee and

Grilled Thai Beef Salad

2012-01-12T06:53:00.022-05:00

This is delicious! I was looking for some new recipes this past week and found this on Ellie Krieger's website. I used to love watching her show on the Food Network and even met her once at the NYC Food and Wine festival. I admit I was a bit start struck. I don't watch nearly enough TV on Saturday mornings but the website is always available. I posted the recipe below exactly from the

Baby Food Please

2012-01-11T05:46:00.046-05:00

Do you ever have a recipe that you have been meaning to make...that you have plans to make... and then the time comes and something goes horribly wrong? Well, that is what happened to this soup, although horribly wrong might just be the overstatement of the year. And what went wrong was clearly my fault. This is the recipe I was planning on making:Butternut Squash SoupIngredients4 leeks (

Crock Pot Coconut Curry Chicken

2012-01-10T06:28:00.056-05:00

There ares some days where it seems like I just cannot get ahead. Those are the days when I feel like I should just give up and start again tomorrow. That is just what I did last night when at 8:30pm I called it quits and promptly went to bed. I needed to pack. I needed to finish my Christmas thank you notes. I had emails to write, dishes to wash, and blogging to do. Instead I just gave

Blueberry Shortcake Cookies

2012-01-09T06:25:00.029-05:00

Sometimes you make a recipe expecting something very specific. Everyone knows how a brownie is suppose to turn out. I got a new cookbook for Christmas that I was excited to try out. In my mind the shortcake recipe was going to be more like shortbread. It was after all labeled as a cookie. Shortbread this is not. Blueberry Shortcake Cookies From Stonyfield Organics Yogurt Cookbook

Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie

2012-01-06T07:52:00.001-05:00

Although I don't make resolutions, there are some goals that I would like to achieve in 2012. Most of them have to do with making my life easier with the things and tools I already have accessible. One of those tools is the Crock pot. Last winter I got into the habit of making one Crock pot meal a week and it was glorious. Not only did it make a great meal, but it gave Mr. J a week night

3 Things Thursday

2012-01-05T06:34:00.003-05:00

1. If you thought yesterday's smoothie looked a bit off (as my husband did), I am sure you will have no idea what to do with this one. I promise the banana makes the spinach taste go away. You just have to get over the idea of drinking something green. It is good; I swear. Mango Green Monster Ingredients: 1 banana 1 C fresh baby spinach 1 Tbsp chia seeds 1/2 C coconut milk 1/2 C nonfat, plain

Berry Green Monster

2012-01-04T06:12:00.033-05:00

When I get sick my body goes into random spasms. Nothing seems to work right. It is miserable. I am happy to report that 7 days after waking up with the worst sore throat in the history of the world (seriously), I am feeling almost back to normal. I pride myself on being relatively healthy so it is always a blow to abilities when I get sick. I completely dropped the ball with my vitamin

French Onion Soup

2012-01-03T12:35:00.000-05:00

I think this is a record for nights in a row for soup. I could eat soup every day all winter long. I have even been known to have soup in the summer. I think it is one of my favorite things to eat. I got a gifted a mandoline for Christmas from my parents. Mr. J refused to get me one because he thinks they are dangerous. I agree but I promise to be careful. This little gadget is life

Mexican Taco Stew

2012-01-02T06:05:00.046-05:00

The first day back is always the hardest. Unfortunately the company I work for decided the best holiday to close the office was Friday, December 30th. Thus, this morning I had to get back into the routine of going to work while millions of other Americans had one more day off. It was rough. I am starting to feel better but it is slow going. Being sick and having to go back to work after a

Welcome 2012!

2012-01-01T06:53:00.005-05:00

I am not a resolution kind of gal. I do set goals and am always looking for ways to change, improve and learn. I do this all year long though. Instead I leave you with this... I am working on keeping calm more often. And I am always happy to eat a cupcake. Here is to all of the things that may come in 2012.

Friday's Five: Top 5 Recipes of the Year

2011-12-30T15:30:00.000-05:00

I don't know if it is a good or bad thing that its Friday's 5 and not 12 or 20 or 52. I had quite a hard time going through each month and only coming up with 5 recipes to pick. I actually only got through 1/2 the year. I basically have enough meals to remake to cover all dinners for the whole month of January. I am not going to mention the desserts. I wasn't really even taking those into

Daddy's Clam Chowder

2011-12-29T06:16:00.038-05:00

Leave it to me to get sick during my break. I woke up yesterday morning with a stuffed nose and a very sore throat. Lucky for me, regardless of how old I am, I have two parents that will do just about anything to make me feel better. Years ago I got my dad a cookbook called Dad's Own Cookbook. It came with blue apron, spoon and of course the cookbook. Although somewhat below my dad's skill

Keep the Festivities Going

2011-12-28T06:04:00.038-05:00

Are you up yet? I was thinking before this break that I would be able to sleep through till 7am. For me this would be extremely late. I have proceeded to wake up before 6am everyday. I think something might be wrong with my internal clock. Do you know how to fix it? Christmas morning was one thing; I was ready for the presents. Now I would like to be able to sleep a bit later. On the bright

Getting Boozy with Rum Cake

2011-12-27T14:06:00.000-05:00

I am on vacation till next Monday. That means for me the treats are going to keep on coming till then. If you are looking for something savory, healthy, you might want to check back next week. I am sure by then I will have had my full of sweet desserts. Come January the return of meatless Mondays and no wine with dinner will have arrived. This week though Rum Cake is on the menu. We first

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T06:20:00.051-05:00

Advent calendars are one of my most favorite parts of Christmas. I have never gotten the candy kind but instead opt for the story of baby Jesus. In case you got caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and baking, here is what it is really all about... The Angel Gabriel was sent from God unto...Nazareth, to a virgin. LUKE 1:26-27 The angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for

December Foodzie Box

2011-12-23T06:20:00.050-05:00

One of the coolest things I have ever received was a subscription to Foodzie.com. You can order monthly food sampling boxes or one of their special selections featuring local artisan food purveyors across the country. I got my first try at this last Valentine's Day from Mr. J. For a few months we got a box in the mail with 5 or 6 samples of food ranging from sweets to savory and everything in

Peppermint Bark: A Tradition Which Never Ends

2011-12-22T06:19:00.024-05:00

Yesterday was the shortest day of the year. It was dark when I left for work in the morning and dark at night when I returned home. I hate the dark. We made some super hot nachos for dinner. I had a glass of wine. I settled in for a movie. There was no cell phone, no email, and no internet. Although I love blogging and checking out what everyone else is doing after a week of 10 hour work

Meatballs Bringing Comfort

2011-12-21T05:52:00.000-05:00

This weekend was one big moment of indecisiveness. Normally I make a decision and go with it. Some times that works out better than other times. I feel like even if I have a wrong decision, I know what I am dealing with and can work towards a solution. Not having a direction/answer/progress is incredibly frustrating. For meal options I was torn for several reasons: I wanted to clean out the

Crescent Roll Creations

2011-12-20T06:00:00.002-05:00

Last week I had a Christmas party to attend and it was requested that I bring an appetizer. This was during the same time I was up to my ears in cookies. Nothing sounded better than something savory. I am was still super busy at work and needed something that I could be proud to share but would not take up much of my precious Saturday free time. I had collected my fair share of holiday

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

2011-12-19T06:15:00.048-05:00

Having a husband is hard work. Just when you think you are doing a good job he throws something at you like Chocolate Crinkle Cookies. It was shortly after Thanksgiving that we were discussing food possibilities for Christmas dinner as well as the annual Christmas cookie bake off. We had a list of about 15 different cookies going and we were just about to end when Mr. J spoke of these Chocolate

Weekend Edition: Christmas Preparations

2011-12-17T06:36:00.040-05:00

This is a first weekend in a long time that we had absolutely no plans. It was marvelous. On top of that I have no work trips this week. Christmas is a mere 7 days away. My first celebration is slated for December 24th and I am getting more and more anxious for it by the second hour. I may have even convinced Mr. J that a present or two should be opened before then. In my down time this

Things I am LOVING Take 3

2011-12-15T06:33:00.024-05:00

These are a few of my favorite things... Imagine the song from Sound of Music, because that is what is going on in my head right now. I am also happily skipping around the apartment, wishing that somewhere someone is out there still looking for a Christmas gift for me. If so these are some options. Owl Cookie Jar I love cookies and have come to the conclusion that I need a suitable storage

M&M Cookies Christmas-Style

2011-12-14T06:32:00.031-05:00

Nothing more than all of the posts on Monday about The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap showed me that these cookies are lame. Completely unimaginative. But you know what? I am OK with that. I love M&M cookies. They put a smile on my face. I cannot really explain with any more reasoning other than I just simply enjoy them. For me they are like the classic chocolate chip cookie. You don't need

Fort Kent, Maine

2011-12-13T05:47:00.023-05:00

I am going to Fort Kent, Maine today. It was a long 10 hour drive yesterday. We have about an hour left. There is snow. Who ever said travel was glamorous did not travel to Fort Kent. Parts of the drive were beautiful but there is snow and I would rather be in my own bed. The big meal of the week was Sunday's lunch of salmon. It was the most wonderful cut from Whole Foods. I tend to do

The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2011 Recap

2011-12-12T06:00:00.052-05:00

The official end of the 2011 cookie swap has come but I am still up to my ears in cookies and loving every second of it. This past week I received three separate packages containing three very different kinds of cookies (1 dozen each). A very special THANK YOU to Damn Delicious, Patricia's PattiCakes, and The Cooking Vent. They were wonderful! As for my recipe, I had some trouble deciding

Happenings Lately

2011-12-10T06:24:00.028-05:00

A pulled pulled pork sandwich is not the smartest idea before entering a small conference room for three hours to give three separate presentations. Dinosaur BBQ - Troy, NY When restaurants run out of real glasses they revert to plastic, and then smaller plastic. You get a sense of the three little bears going on and way too much diet coke. You can find gourmet meals in Clemson, SC at the

Friday's Five: Christmas traditions

2011-12-09T06:12:00.065-05:00

First and foremost congratulations to Kelly @ Eat Yourself Skinny. Your delicious treat box will be shipping out soon from Salt of the Earth Bakery. I hope you enjoy. Now on to the list. It is certainly December now. Christmastime is upon us and I for one and ridiculously happy. I know people stress during this time of year but I am not one of those people. I love every little part of it.

Butter

2011-12-07T05:53:00.020-05:00

Whenever I have a chance to get into the city I research the hottest, most noteworthy restaurants to see the options. Lots of things come into play before the final decision is made like price, location and dress code. We don't typically get all gussied up for a day of walking the city, thus certain restaurants don't like our sneaker wearing feet in their restaurants. For the most part, we can

Boursin and Spinach Stuffed Chicken

2011-12-06T06:48:00.000-05:00

I like simple, good meals. But that doesn’t always mean plain meals. Between my hectic work schedule and holiday activities and the increasing intake of rich holiday our meals have reverted to the meat, starch, vegetable scenario. Lately it has gotten so bad as to having grilled chicken, no marinade, plain steams broccoli and roasted potatoes. Don’t get me wrong. I like all of these things,

Christmas in NYC!

2011-12-05T06:39:00.023-05:00

Merry Christmas! It has come somewhat of a tradition for us to trudge to the city during December to see the famous Rockefeller Center tree. This weekend we did just that. It was a beautiful sunny day and I think everyone had the same idea. It was packed down there. We didn't dare brave the area again at night. It is about 100 million times worst at night. Either way you could still

Friday's Five: Best Places for Food Gifts

2011-12-03T06:40:00.000-05:00

I have a bit of a skewed idea of what is priority in our household expenses. Things that I actually need...car expenses and utilities, I don't really like paying for. In fact I get in a bad mood whenever it is time to pay the bill. If one of our month utilities increases unexpectedly I become frustrated. I know these are important but I really just don't like to pay for them. On the other

The Most Wonderful Thing

2011-12-01T06:11:00.063-05:00

I am a big fan of cookies. In my little lifetime I would say I have sampled more than my fair share. I make a batch at least once a week. I worked in two different bakeries and always did quality control. I make it a point to pick one up whenever I am near a bakery. My nose does the shopping. I might go so far as to confess I have a cookie addiction. Now rewind to early October when Mr.

December's Thoughts On Whole Living

2011-11-29T06:14:00.000-05:00

You gals and guys seemed to like the 10 Thoughts On Whole Living so much from the November issue of Whole Living magazine I thought I would share the December list as well. Of all months this seems to be the one jammed packed with activities and to-do lists. 1. Warm you Soul: Savor a hot drink. 2. Be aware of the difference between anticipating and living. Joy is rooted in the present. 3. Let

Beef Stir Fry with Parpadelle Noodles

2011-11-28T06:35:00.037-05:00

I am a super huge fan of Thanksgiving leftovers but here is my thing. I like them exactly as they are on Thanksgiving. No fancy, new recipe for making the leftovers into some creative dish. I want the turkey, cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole, and stuffing the same way as I had the original. And that is exactly what I did this year. In fact I did it two times over. It was wonderful.

Weekend Edition: Thanksgiving Style

2011-11-27T17:50:00.000-05:00

Oh man, I don't know where the time went. It seems like only yesterday I was dealing with this... This was the lovely view outside my parents house Wednesday morning. I was completely unprepared both mentally and in what I packed. Clearly snow boots were not on my mind when coming home for Thanksgiving. Now I married a Mainer and you would think that 12 inches of snow would not be a

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T05:58:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing you and all of those near and dear to you the very best!

A Break From All Things Pumpkin

2011-11-23T06:00:00.031-05:00

I think mother nature decided to play a sick joke on all the folks in New England. It is the day BEFORE Thanksgiving and I have already lived through two, yes TWO snowstorms. This morning this is the view outside my parent's house. 8 to 12 inches are expected. Yuck! Lucky for us we were able to drive up last night with no weather troubles or traffic issues. Things to be thankful for...

Pumpkin Pie

2011-11-22T05:52:00.018-05:00

For someone who does not like pumpkin pie I must say this is one outstanding recipe. I first made this as the dessert featured at a buffet Thanksgiving meal at the fancy restaurant at Bryn Mawr College. Then, I brought the recipe home and everyone raved about it. I will take chocolate every day over pumpkin pie but with this recipe I will be having my yearly little sliver just to make sure it is

Fancy Green Bean Almond Saute

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday! Or maybe not so much. I hope everyone has a great couple of days before the holiday officially kicks off. I certainly cannot wait and wish that these days fly by. I am ready for some turkey. I made these green beans for a side dish for our mini, quickie Thanksgiving meal a couple of weeks ago. As I already mentioned I cannot stand green bean casserole. It makes its appearance

Weekend Edition: Mohegan Sun

2011-11-20T11:53:00.000-05:00

Let's just say I am not gambler and I do not smoke. Lucky for me there were plenty of good eats to be had... We also ended up at Bobby's Burger Place... Let's just say that a burger with queso cheese, jalapenos, and crushed blue corn chips is a marvelous thing. Add some sweet potato fries and I am in heaven. Mr. J had the burger of the month "the Brunch". It is the best name ever for

Top Five: Baking Finds

2011-11-18T05:43:00.028-05:00

It is Friday and I don't think anyone could be as happy as I am that this week is over. Now, please don't get mad at me. I know it is not yet Thanksgiving and I don't believe in anything Christmas till Thanksgiving has come and gone but I have one tendancy I just cannot break. I am constantly on the look out for new fancy things I want. I start Christmas shopping early. And as I am shopping

Cranberry Chutney

2011-11-17T05:44:00.004-05:00

I am not a huge fan of cranberries but there is one thing that I absolutely love...the cranberry relish that my mom makes for Thanksgiving. This recipe was passed down from my dad's mom. My grandmother was a good Midwesterner that like all things with jello. It was one of those things that my mom inherited when she became a member of the family. Getting the recipe meant that she was required

Sweet Potato Goodness

2011-11-15T05:47:00.017-05:00

Don’t get me wrong, I love all of the traditional Thanksgiving sides. Well, not the Green Bean Casserole, that just freaks me out in so many ways. But all the rest of them…cranberry salad, stuffing, sweet potatoes, yep I love them. I probably love the side dishes way more the main showcase of the Turkey. Thanksgiving just would not be the same with all of those yummy dishes. However, with

Simply Roasted Carrots

2011-11-14T06:28:00.022-05:00