Pesto, Spinach, and Mushrooms!

Thanks to so much Italian in my life, I've discovered a late-blooming love for spinach and mushrooms. I liked them before just fine, but now find myself absolutely devoted. Pesto has always been a favorite of mine, but only homemade! Store-bought pesto is atrocious. I'm also really into whole wheat pasta, more and more. The color is pleasing (as well as natural!) and tends to have more of a bite to it, something I appreciate as a total al dente fan. Last night I made a simple pesto (basil, pine nuts, walnuts, lemon juice, garlic, Parmesan, salt, pepper) and tossed it with whole wheat mini shells (conchiglie). I sauteed sliced white mushrooms in butter and olive oil until tender and wilted a big bunch of fresh spinach with it. I mixed everything together, sprinkled Parmesan on top, and voilà! Dinner is served :)

Made on 03/19/2012.

Baked Risotto and Bridal Cupcakes!

I love Joy the Baker's blog, I love her pictures, the way she writes, her recipes, everything! When I saw she had managed to successfully BAKE risotto (with one stir no less!) I knew I had to make it very soon. I haven't yet made risotto but I figure since it is it's time-consuming stir-ness that intimidates me, why not try Joy's baking method? It was a definite success and the flavors of Parmesan, lemon, thyme, and red pepper flakes really came through, giving it a mild spicy bite. Delicious!

Baked Risotto!

Made on 03/17/2012.

One of my friends is getting married next month and for her birthday celebration this evening, I choose to take yet another page out of Annie Eats' book with these chocolate Kahlua cupcakes. This is simply the best chocolate base cupcake recipe you will ever need. I substituted sour cream for buttermilk and the cake is delicious - moist, chocolatey (more so with the espresso powder - yum!). After I took the cupcakes out of the oven, I brushed them with Frangelico liquor instead of Kahlua (coffee liquor). I added White Chocolate Godiva liquor to the frosting (as well as some pink food coloring), and topped them with pearl sprinkles and little brides and grooms! :)

Chocolate Cupcakes with Kahlua Buttercream Frosting!

Made on 03/18/2012.

Parisian Pastry!

One of my good friends is visiting Paris and came across this delicious-looking pastry in a bakery! So lovely.

Cupcake Jewlery!

Thanks to Cupcake Project (one of my favorite blogs to follow), I discovered Sarita's store on the lovely website Etsy. She is a genius and has several different necklaces and earring sets with various little cooking-related charms. This one stole my heart:

I have several cupcake things including an apron (Anthropologie), earrings (Forever 21), t-shirt (Forever 21), planner (Amazon), but this piece is definitely my new favorite. You can visit her lovely store here!

Spaghetti All Aglio e Olio!

This dish has to be one of the simplest, yet it is so delicious! Using fresh ingredients and letting their flavors shine in a basic plate is key. I sauteed white mushrooms in butter and olive oil, then added 5 minced garlic cloves and a bit more oil. I then added 9 oz of baby spinach leaves and cooked it down with the juice of 1 lemon. I cooked spaghetti until al dente, and then added 1/3 cup of pine nuts to the spinach-garlic mixture. Before draining the spaghetti, I reserved two tablespoons of the starchy cooking water and added it to my veggie mix (it keeps everything together!). I dropped the spaghetti in the pot and added a touch of white wine and cream, and stirred it all together. Topped with grated Parmesan and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, this was one of the best dinners I've had in awhile!

Vanilla "Doctor" Cupcakes!

My very good friend just finished his Ph.D (yay!) so a group of us went out to dinner last night to celebrate. In his honor, I made simple cupcakes with a twist - little chocolate "Dr"s on top! It was my first time doing it and it was so easy. Melt a bar of bittersweet chocolate and when cooled, pour into a small ziplock bag and snip one of the corners off. Then 'draw' the word, letters, or design you want on wax paper over baking sheets. Put them in the freezer to harden and the peel them off and top your cupcakes! Super cute and easy!

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Cinnamon Frosting!
 
Made on 03/12/12.

Baked Squash Mac & Cheese!

Baked Squash Mac & Cheese!

Made on 03/11/12.

Variations: I used sour cream instead of Greek yogurt, and my three cheeses were Pecorino Romano, Parmesan, and Cheddar. I used whole wheat rotini for the pasta, and Italian breadcrumbs instead of Panko. Delish!

The squash is great - not only is it a healthy addition to the mac & cheese, but it provides a wonderful creamy texture and gorgeous color! I was apprehensive about this flavor combination, but everything melts together very well :)

Cookie and Cake Sandwiches

My lovely blogging friend Ann has a fantastic blog, At The Patisserie and another one discussing her amazing 11 week service trip to Ghana, Serving in Saboba. I decided to make her recipe for Mocha Choc Chip Cookies and turn them into cookie sandwiches with some leftover whipped cream from my Victoria Sandwich-inspired cake (see below).

Made on 03/10/12.

Variations: I halved the recipe (as I tend to do). To make the filling, I whipped 1 cup of heavy cream with 2 tbsp white sugar, 1 tbsp confectioner's sugar, and 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract. Delicious! 

Vanilla Rum Cake Sandwich! From The Pioneer Woman! Made on 03/10/12.

Variations: I made this cake in two pans so as to be able to sandwich them together. The cake halves are vanilla rum flavor, and they are sandwiched with cherry jam. The frosting is whipped cream and topped with blackberries!

One afternoon's worth of baking! Whew!

Cherry Cheesecake Swirls!

Cheesecake Swirl Bars!

Variations: I didn't have any Nutella and am deathly afraid of owning any since when I first discovered it freshman year in college, I had an immediate 5 pound weight gain! Anyway, I substituted the dangerous chocolatey-hazelnut spread with cherry jam and the ensuing red swirls made me very happy indeed!

Made on 03/06/12.

Spain & Portugal ... a Food Diary!

Fresh off a 10-day road trip through Spain and Portugal, I have now sufficiently recovered from both the jetlag I picked up and the nasty cold I brought back with me. Ten days of tinto de verano, Rioja, tapas, tiny pastries, puddings, fish, potatoes, and warm bread have left me happy and sated, with renewed love for the cusine of two incredibly unique countries. Here are some of the best bites from my trip:

Tapas....

Tortilla Española (potato omelet)

Croquetas de Jamón (ham croquettes) 

Huevos Estrellados con Jamón Ibérico (fried eggs with Iberian ham)

Pastries!

Macarons in Madrid...

Mini treats...

Gorgeous spread...

Pasteis de nata (egg tart pastries)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! The man and I celebrated with a little midnight dessert (is there a better time to eat dessert?!)...

And I love this :)

Pizza, Chili and Chocolate Cupcakes!

I LOVE making pizza. Once you have a staple pizza crust recipe, making pizza inevitably becomes one of the easiest and most versatile dishes to whip up in very little time. I'm going to Spain and Portugal at the end of this week so I was on a mission to cook and bake with the intention of using up plenty of my fridge/freezer items. With an abundance of cheeses (ricotta, mascarpone, parmiggiano, mozzarella) and some leftover pesto, I made a simple and satisfying lunch. My favorite go-to recipe is definitely Katie's pizza crust!

Pizza con Pesto e Quattro Formaggi! I think naming it in Italian sounds so much better, don't you? ;) I was very happy to successfully use my new clay pizza stone too!

Made on 02/12/12.

Here it is, in all it's four cheese bubbly goodness.

Next up I decided to attempt chili from AmyBites which never lets me down with her awesome and healthy recipe recommendations!

Variations: I used ground beef instead of turkey, and made the dish on the stove instead of in the slow-cooker, letting it cook at low-heat for a total of 2 1/2 hours. I didn't add any chili powder or cayenne since the flavor from the stewed tomatoes (which already had spices) was delicious enough on it's own!

Chili!
Made on 02/12/12.

Top with a scoop of low-fat sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.

Last but not least, double chocolate cupcakes with mascarpone and cream cheese frosting! These were made for a special friend of mine's birthday and since her birthday is also on Valentine's Day, I topped them with some little cinnamon candy hearts! :)

Chocolate and Mascarpone Cupcakes!

Made on 02/12/12.

Chocolatey deliciousness!

Thanks to Kirbie's Cravings!

Words of Wisdom....

Chicken Piccata and Couscous!

One of my favorite chefs is Giada De Laurentiis, who never steers me wrong! The woman is beautiful and can cook, is there a better combination? Last night I made Giada's Chicken Piccata!

Made on 02/07/12.

I also ventured out of my comfort zone and made my own accompanying side. I've had a bag of Israeli couscous in my pantry for longer than I care to admit, and finally decided to make it last night. First I sauteed two diced shallots with three minced garlic cloves in olive oil over medium heat, and then added two diced zucchinis. After cooking the couscous in boiling, salted water and fluffing it with a fork, I added the veggie mix and topped with sea salt, black pepper, and lemon zest. The dish was bright and fresh, and went great with the lemony/garlicky Chicken Piccata. :)

Exam De-Stressing!

Exams are coming up so I am taking plenty of cooking breaks in between :)

Starting with Giada's Turkey Meatballs!

Variation: I baked the meatballs instead of cooking them on the stove. For the sauce, I roasted some tomatoes in olive oil and then pureed them with cream, garlic, and red wine. Simple and delicious!

Made on 02/04/12.

I saw these on My Baking Addiction and knew I had to make them very very soon,  Chocolate Chip Muffins!

Made on 02/04/12.

Chicken Tortilla Soup and Garlic Corn Muffins!

Annie's Chicken Tortilla Soup!

Made on 02/03/12.

Served with Giada's Garlic Corn Muffins!

Made on 02/03/12.

Dinner Photography....

I am lucky enough to have a lovely man who also happens to be an amazing chef. We love to cook together and we've made some amazing meals thus far...or sometimes he cooks while I watch and drink wine :)

11/17/2011 
Scallops with maple-glazed bacon with roasted asparagus, zucchini, and squash platter.

12/01/2011 
Garlic bread, lobster tails, breaded veal cutlets, mussels, creamed spinach, crab ragu.

12/15/2011 
Garlic bread, breaded shrimp, flounder française, portabella mushrooms in marsala wine.

01/30/2012 
Filet mignon, roasted asparagus, steamed mussels, breaded shrimp, garlic bread, portabella mushrooms with creamy spinach.

Sparkling wine and strawberries for the birthday boy :)

02/02/2012 
Roasted bell peppers and asparagus, breaded flounder filets, garlic rice, crab mix shells, shrimp with peach, orange, and wine sauce.
 

Yay!

Chickpea Burgers!

Chickpea Burgers!

Made on 02/01/12.

Variations: I added 1/4 tsp lemon juice, 2 tsp lemon zest, half a small yellow onion, 1/4 tsp curry powder, and 1/4 tsp paprika (in place of chili powder and cayenne).

I used whole grain sandwich thins as the "buns" and topped the patty with shredded cheddar, mozzarella cheese and iceberg lettuce.

Serving suggestion: serve with a side of Cupcake Red Velvet wine! :)

Berries & Cream!

Inspired by my über-healthy ladyfriend, I put together a work snack last night with no recipe (gasp!). It is healthy, yummy, colorful, simple, etc. Mix blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and 2-3 tablespoons of white sugar in a bowl and add 1/4 cup mascarpone, 2 (6 oz) containers of fat-free plain yogurt, 2/3 cup rolled oats, and a 1/4 teaspoon of fresh squeezed lemon juice.

Made on 01/31/2012.

Not particularly lovely photos, but true deliciousness inside! :)

Black Bean Burgers ... take 1!

Black Bean Patties with Corn Relish and Avocado Cream!

Made on 01/31/12.

Variations: I made the relish with corn, cucumber, and lime juice, and used whole wheat sandwich thins for bread. I used half greek yogurt and half nonfat plain yogurt to cut the tartness in the avocado cream.

Thanks Annie's Eats!

Triple Berry Cupcakes!

Berry Cupcakes!

Made on 01/28/12

Thanks to Cupcakes Take The Cake :)

The BF Edition!

My boyfriend, killer chef, happens to make the best midnight-breakfast-sandwiches ever! Here are some he has made for me so far :)

White Chocolate Godiva Liqueur Cupcakes!

Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur Cupcakes!
 
Made on 01/25/12.

The cake part dyed pink ... can you tell I love food coloring? :)

Thanks to Foodies Kitchen! :)

Homemade Tagliatelle al Ragù (Bolognese)!

My biggest challenge yet: handmade pasta! Made on 01/23/12.

First off: 6 large eggs, 5 cups of all-purpose flour, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil.

Make a well 6 inches across inside the mounds of flour and crack the eggs into it, along with the olive oil.

Whisk together the eggs with a fork, slowly incorporating the flour.

The mixture slowly forms a paste.

Keep whisking away.....

Eventually it forms a ball of dough, so set it aside to rise at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Roll out the dough, reflouring the surface often, until it is very thin.

Using a pizza cutter, slice off the edges to form a perfect square.

Slice thin strips.

Put all the tagliatelle together on a floured tray and leave to dry for 30 minutes at room temperature.

Yay!

Drying out a little...

Bring a pot of salted water to boil and drop the pasta in for 2-5 minutes. (My boyfriend does a good job) :)

Dropping it in!

All done! Serve with Ragu alla Bolognese! and a bottle of merlot ;)

The finished plate!

Thanks to Joy The Baker! :)

Brownie Peanut Butter Cups!

Peanut Butter Brownie Cups!

Made on 01/21/12

Thanks to Bake or Break! :)

What I Have Made Thus Far .... Yes I Want Cake Edition!

Three Chip Oatmeal Cookies!
Made on 01/21/12

Spinach, Zucchini, and Eggplant Pesto Pizza!  
Using this Pizza Crust recipe! It's a "Green Pizza" :)
Made on 01/21/12

Thanks to Yes I Want Cake! :)

Lemon Cupcakes!

Lemon Cupcakes!

My love affair with food coloring continues .....

Made on 01/11/12.

Thanks to My Baking Addiction!

Happy Anniversary!

Last night it was my parents 27th wedding anniversary. In honor of this, my boyfriend and I made dinner and here is the result: :)

Lobster tails in butter and white wine, garlic cheddar biscuits, garlic bread, green beans in olive oil, sea salt, and balsamic vinegar, portabella mushrooms in marsala wine, rib eye steaks, grilled oregano eggplant slices, and of course a lovely Italian red!

And dessert (of course!) - Mini fruit tarts and brownies.

And some Italian cakes ...

Congrats Mom & Dad!