Get Cookin'!

I have been so bad about keeping up with my New Year's resolution to try and cook a new and different recipe every week. 

I need to get my butt in the kitchen...

next week...

I made this box as an example for one of my ceramic classes. The lid warped in the kiln, so it doesn't fit quite right, but I still love seeing it on my shelf. It reminds me of my class and the funny conversations we used to have.

I miss you girls!

Move Over Cream Cheese!

Check out this awesome fetch!

My mom exposed me to this stuff, and we should always listen to our mothers, right!? 

It rocks.

Greek yogurt and + cream cheese deliciousness. 

Half the fat and twice the flavor.

Look for it, you won't regret it. 

Happy Monday Everyone!

HaPpY FrIDaY!

A girl's weekend is always sweeter with a Mojito or two!

I made these herbaceous gifts for a few of my girlfriend's when they came to visit last summer, but in going with the green-theme this week, I thought these would work perfectly for St. Patrick's Day!?

Green beer is so 1998.

Accompany with rum, seltzer, sugar cubes, and muddle away!

They can even double as a centerpiece

To make these I used simple mason jars that I picked up at the store, cleaned decorative rocks from the pet store (cheaper than buying the overpriced containers of decorative rocks from craft stores), and mint plants from the local farmer's market or grocery store.

The labels are homemade, but you can buy 

pre-made labels and just attach with ribbon or twine. The reverse side has the recipe for a traditional Mojito.

*Get herbs with roots attached and add water to keep them alive. If you clip them they will die before your guests arrive.

However, and especially with mint, these will live for awhile on your windowsill, or on your patio, as long as they have water. Also, you can always add soil to the mason jars, or replant them in planters so you can have mojitos all summer long!

Now that is the gift that keeps giving!

Have a great green weekend everyone!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Upstate Represent!

I normally make my own sauce, but in a pinch this upstate New York produced sauce trumps any other jar. 

I can never find it in the grocery store, but on a lucky day I can find it at Homegoods, Marshall's or TJ Maxx, and when I do, I clear the shelf.

 It is made in Liverpool though, so for my NY friends, you might have better luck at the stores up near the 'Cuse. 

For everyone else, keep your eyes out for this sauce. You won't be disappointed.

Oh, and Wegman's?! Another shout-out for upstate!

And ps. 'upstate' doesn't mean White Plains. There is actually an entire state on top of NYC.

The Little Paris Kitchen

One night my mom and I caught the tail end of a super-cute cooking show. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get the girl's name, and in this house at night the only shows running are Disney funded or Man-reality (think 'Pawn-Stars', 'Storage Wars'...etc...).

However, a month later, and to my great surprise, my mom showed up with her cookbook! 

Yay me! Thank you Mama!

This girl is adorably chic, and her recipes are simple, not fussy and approachable. 

I can't wait to cook!

Thanks Again Mom, I Love It!!
Great Fetch!

HaPpY MonDAY!

I hope you all had a great weekend and remembered to set your clocks ahead!

Why do we still adhere to this seemingly archaic government sanctioned shift?!

It seems silly in a day of factory farming and feed lots. 

Oh, and electricity. A lot of electricity.

News flash: people don't unplug when the sun goes up or down anymore. 

I apologize for the cynicism...I must need my coffee.

Here are some fun ceramic containers I made a few years back. 

I wish I had better glaze, but I still adore seeing them on my counter every morning.

Happy Monday y'all!

Those are supposed to be coffee beans on the lid...but they kind of look like deer poops, don't they?!

Coffee or Tea?

Let's fetch another cup of Joe!

Leprechaun Kicks

Make your girlfriends green with envy in these Saint Patrick's Day inspired kicks!

Oh Anthro How We Adore You

Zappos or BUST!

J Crew...So cute...But So Overpriced...

Toms for Us....
...And For Our Little Leprechauns





Happy Saint Patty's Day!
Put on Your Dancing Shoes and Kick up Those Irish-Inspired Feet!

Restaurant Bliss

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Not to brag, but this girl got to go out to dinner TWICE in one week without a toddler!

Can you imagine such bliss!?

Whooooooeee!

For my Pennsylvania people I had two great experiences at two very unsuspecting dines:

Marco Antonios and Le Persil Bistro.

And for cocktails and child's play?! 

Head to the 'Yard of Ale' on Main. The old 'Mollies,' they have transformed this old dig into a hip beer garden with an adult arcade in the basement.

Very few things are more fun than seeing your husband laugh like a child while racing cars. I mean, how can you go wrong with air hockey and red wine!?

If you are lucky enough to be like me, get out and try something different this weekend!

 Le Persil Bistro 

For those of you who think that French is stuffy, small portioned and unapproachable, this restaurant will prove you wrong on every account.

We had a beautifully delicious dinner there this week. The staff is friendly and inviting. The food was homey and comfortable. The decor is clean and simple to reflect the use of their ingredients, and a French testament to less is more, this restaurant is a charm. Plus, no corking fee!

We left pleasantly full and look forward to returning soon.

Check it out people, and thank you Le Persil for the great meal!

Bon Appetite!

http://www.facebook.com/lepersilbistro

Marco Antonio's Spanish and Portuguese Restaurant

All I have to say is grilled sardines, seafood paella, fried artichokes, good friends and again, no corking fee! 

'Nuff said.

Go!

http://www.marcoantonios.com/

Click on the links for more information or just go!

Just remember to bring your favorite wines because both restaurants are BYOB = saving money on ridiculous restaurant markups.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Dark Chocolate + Pistachio Truffles

I don't bake. 
For some reason I just can't do it well, no matter how hard I try. 

I even mess up Betty Crocker. 

And dare I attempt a pastry from scratch?! 
Forget it. 

I think my measuring cups and spoons are at fault, but I can't be sure.

Unfortunately for my husband and son, I keep trying, and I still act disappointed when they don't like my creations, even though I know they are crap.
Here is my most recent attempt, and my new recipe of the week:

"Chocolate Pistachio Truffles"

I had to adapt the coatings because they turned into little balls of super tart lead, and the pistachios wouldn't stick. 

I don't even think you can call them truffles.
I don't know what you would call them... 

Regardless, I encourage you to give them a go. 
Maybe someone can give me some insight on how I buggered this one up?!

Don't Let Their Looks Deceive You

Recipe from Clodagh McKenna's delightful cookbook "Homemade: Irresistible Recipes for Every Occassion"

Ingredients:

7 oz. good quality dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids), broken into pieces

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons heavy cream

1 1/4 cups of finely chopped pistachios

Directions:

1. Slowly melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl suspended over a saucepan until it is smooth and glossy

2. Gently heat the cream in a heavy-bottomed saucepan until warm

3. Pour the cream onto the melted chocolate and mix well until fully incorporated

4. Mix in 2/3 of the pistachios. Set aside to cool and firm up (you can refrigerate the mixture to speed up the process if desired)

5. Once firm, take teaspoons of the mixture and roll into walnut-sized balls, then leave to set on a tray lined with parchment paper.

6. Once set, roll the truffles in the remaining pistachio nuts to coat

*I rolled 1/3 in the pistachios, 1/3 in powdered sugar and 1/3 in cinnamon sugar to coat because 
I used 85% dark chocolate and I thought it needed a balance of sweet....
Also, I refrigerated them after I rolled them, which might have been my downfall....maybe they will soften before dessert-time?!

Here's hoping because I don't have another dessert!

Enjoy?!

Saint Patrick's Day Frocks

What will you be wearing to celebrate this Saint Patrick's Day?!

Be brave ladies and break away from the denim and the shamrock-gilded-green t-shirts, and celebrate being a girl!

Dresses all around!

Check out these three fetching green finds.

Fun, Funky + Slightly Sexy

Gorgeous Green Fabric

Figure Flattering + Kinda Green

It is not easy being Green!

But in these three fetches, it sort of is...

Just click on the links below each image to see the product details.

Top o' the mornin' to ya!

End of the Rainbow

What makes most ladies happy
(besides losing 20 pounds, unconditional love or world peace)?!

A pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, right?!

 Well, here are a few fetching jewels in honor of Saint Patrick's Day that you could don all summer long!

Stella and Dot
www.stelladot.com

J Crew
www.jcrew.com

Sundance
www.sundancecatalog.com

Emerald Gorgeousness
www.sundancecatalog.com

Ahh...

Now lets go and search for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow so we can afford this crap...

Happy Saint Patty's Day!
(for product information just click on the link below each image)
Enjoy!

Storm

"Storm"
2012
Oil and Collage on Canvas
24 x 56

Detail of Text by Nancy Woods

General Karra's Chicken, Broccoli and Mushrooms

These pictures do not give this dish credit.

I was so excited to eat that I just snapped a few quick shots, and didn't think to look at the quality of the photos until after my belly was full.

Oh well, you get the idea.

This homemade version of the Chinese take-out classic "General Tso's" is rich, hot and homey.

My husband started this recipe a few years back, and it has become a regular at our house. 

We have adapted it over time to make it slightly better for you by ditching the breading, cutting back on the sugar, adding vegetables and using lower sodium soy sauce. 

Surprisingly, the taste was never compromised.

For a vegetarian version you can just subtract the chicken, add more mushrooms and broccoli and it will be just as delicious. 

I suspect that it would also be good with shrimp?!?

Let me know what you guys think!

With Rice

As Lettuce Wraps

Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. of chicken thighs, deboned and cut into bite sized pieces (resist the temptation to use chicken breast; it works but is not nearly as good)
2 heads of broccoli, chopped
1/2 lb of mushrooms, cut into slices or quarters
4-8 thai chile peppers, sliced open but left whole (use less if you don't like spice)
2 cloves of garlic, chopped fine
+- 4 tablespoons of peanut oil or sesame oil

6 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons of rice vinegar
4 tablespoons of rice wine
4 tablespoons of sugar
3 tablespoons of cornstarch

Optional: whole grain rice, white rice, fried rice or lettuce for serving

Directions:
1. Prepare meat and vegetables by cutting them into bite sized pieces.
2. Prepare the sauce by combining soy sauce, rice vinegar, rice wine, sugar and cornstarch. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
3. Saute garlic in oil until fragrant and add the chicken. Saute chicken until brown and cooked through.
4. Remove from heat and drain juices. Set aside chicken.
5. Saute mushrooms until brown. Saute broccoli until bright green. Set aside.
6. Toss the thai chile peppers into the hot pan with 1 tablespoon of oil. Be careful not to inhale or you will burn your nostrils! Stir fry for about one minute.
7. Add chicken, garlic, mushrooms, and broccoli into the pan with the chile peppers and toss.
8. Stir the sauce well, pour it over the chicken/vegetable mix and stir constantly to coat. This will thicken almost instantaneously, so don't walk away! If it does not thicken, add a little more cornstarch.
9. Serve hot over rice and/or lettuce wraps.
10. Throw away your Chinese take-out menu because you'll never go back.

ENJOY!

HapPy FRiDaY!

After a week of starting my half marathon training, and trying to "juice," last night I totally caved and realized that I needed a big fat meal to compensate.

Ahhh, I got it out of my system.

Now, I'm ready to get back on track.

This tart-cherry juice isn't for everyone, but drinking 1/2 cup, cut with water every day makes me feel and sleep better.

Did somebody say "placebo"?!

I hope you all have a great weekend!