5.04.2009
Belgian Waffles
4.27.2009
Red Curry

Here's another asian dish that I was inspired to make after returning from Bali. I'm starting out basic, and maybe I'll expand later. This is just a simple beef red curry that you can make with virtually any meat and/or vegetable. My mom bought me a new wok over christmas that came in handy with this. It allows you to saute the veggies and meat super fast. This dish is incredibly easy and very quick to make on a weeknight after work.
Hope everyone's enjoying the scorching HOT weather...I for one love it!!!
See Recipe!
4.19.2009
Steak Au Poivre with Potatoes Gratin
4.12.2009
Goat Cheese Tart

I love tarts and I love goat cheese! I rarely ever get to make this because of Neil's strong aversion to goat cheese. It's all in his head! I've snuck in goat cheese on occasion, and he never noticed. Little by little I'm weening him in. But, he's not ready for this tart yet. Anyways, when I was asked to bring an item to my friend's party, I jumped at the opportunity. This is incredible for goat cheese lovers, and the presentation is really pretty for a spring party. Speaking of, the winter is still lingering way longer than it should be :( I had to bust out my winter gloves last week!
See Recipe!
3.30.2009
Asian Corn Fritters
3.23.2009
Muhammara Dip- Spicy Turkish Nut Dip

We had a blast this past weekend with my cousins visiting from NY. The first day of Spring proved to be a beautiful beginning to a great weekend....sunshine all around, and noticeably warmer temperatures!! In celebration, we thought it would be the perfect time to fire up the grill. On Saturday evening, we treated them to the Turkish feast that we've been enjoying since our return from Turkey last July. So, I'm posting this Turkish nut dip, Muhammara, that I became obsessed with in Turkey. This recipe comes the closest to what I had there. It's great with pita wedges, and even better slathered on grilled meats. Happy Spring!!
See Recipe!
3.16.2009
White Bean Bruschetta

Spring was definitely in the air after returning from Bali...the days are getting longer, the clocks moved forward. However, this last weekend things took a bad turn with the nasty rain and frigid temperatures :( I'm not discouraged just yet. It looks like the weather will be improving very nicely this week. I've noticed the tulips starting to peek out in my backyard too, a true sign of beautiful days to come. The brief preview of spring had me craving bruschetta and crostinis. I don't know why my mind relates those to nice weather. I love this particular white bean bruschetta. I first had it at Po restaurant in NY, and immediately looked up Mario Batali's recipe. This is absolutely delicious, light, and very healthy too. It just screams "Spring" to me :)
See Recipe!
3.04.2009
Bali
We spent the last two weeks in the beautiful island of Bali, Indonesia. Bali is very small in size. It's easy enough to drive around the entire coast in one day. We stayed in the areas of Kuta/Legian, Ubud and Seminyak. The Balinese culture is very rich and from my observation is defined in large part by religion. They are predominately Hindu, while Indonesia as a whole is Muslim. The Balinese practice of Hinduism is can be seen in their temple ceremonies, dance performances, and daily prayers/offerings to the Gods. Every Balinese native we met throughout our trip made a mention of their rituals and ceremonies.2.17.2009
Pork Tenderloin with Port Wine Fig Sauce
I hope everyone had a Happy Valentines and got to enjoy a long weekend! I did :) I should have posted this recipe last week since it would have been the perfect Valentine at home meal. But, you don't need an occasion for this one.
It's simple enough to make on a weeknight, while being oh so "gourmet".
I made it with bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, but the port-fig sauce would be even better with duck breast. I had trouble finding duck breast that day, and didn't feel like buying the whole duckling. The pork was a great substitute and a hell of a lot more economical.
Anyways, I absolutely love fig (and port), and it's the sauce that makes this dish so delicious. I served it with balsamic glazed cippoline onions and creamy polenta. Hope you try this one!
See Recipe!
2.08.2009
Fluffy Chocolate Chip Pancakes
2.02.2009
Creamy Roasted Vegetable Pasta


What a night!!! We ended up going to a friend's super bowl party, and Neil handled it just fine :) He found his spot on the couch and barely moved all night. I didn't watch much of the game, and spent most of the time eating. But, I did catch the last 5 minutes, which were incredibly intense. I really thought it was over for the Steelers, and I'd end up having to take home a zombie. The final play was a godsend! I think the whole block heard Neil when Pitt finally scored the winning touchdown. He's on top of the world, and I'm just happy that this will be a good week :) So, that's that...I will no longer be writing about football in the near future. It's finally over!
Now, on to the reason for this blog...this roasted vegetable pasta is one of my favorite weeknight meals. I usually make it on a Monday or Tuesday and it lasts throughout the most of the week. I've never been one for leftovers, but this is one of the few dishes that I think tastes even better the next day. The recipe as I posted is vegetarian, but sometimes I add cooked italian sausage to it. This is definitely one where you can experiment to your own tastes. Play around with the vegetables, types of cheese, etc.
See Recipe!
1.25.2009
Cookies n Cream Cheesecake
I'll post those aforementioned recipes eventually. Today's cheesecake recipe is one that I made for the super bowl last year. I hosted since the Steelers weren't playing, of course :) This is the creamiest, most decadent cheesecake I've ever had. It's extremely rich and heavy, so make it for a crowd or you'll end up eating it all on your own! Trust me, all my self control was lost when this hit my tongue. My internal dialogue kept telling me that "another tiny sliver won't hurt". Tiny slivers add up, and it most definitely hurt!!! I'll never learn to follow what I preach :) Anyways, this is for you, Neil...Happy Birthday and Go Steelers!!!!!!!!!!!!
1.12.2009
Stromboli

I know I should be writing about Inauguration day, but the media is doing plenty of that. So, on to the next big event....the Super Bowl is only a couple weeks away now! Very stressful time for the hubby, as the Steelers beat the Ravens on Sunday night and our now playing in the Super Bowl. I'm definitely NOT hosting anything this year. Neil doesn't want distractions. I wouldn't be surprised if he watches it in our basement in complete solitude...you know so he can "concentrate".
I'm sure many of you "normal" fans that realize you aren't actually playing the game, and simply enjoy this festive tradition will be hosting. Need help with game food? Well, try this Stromboli recipe that will definitely satisfy a group of hungry fans. Consisting of Italian meats, cheese, and bread, I think it's the perfect game food. It's gourmet enough for the females because of the ingredients, while still being manly for the men. Also, no forks/knives required.
Btw, don't forget about the spicy wings I posted a while back. These are a must for any football party! So, I'll end on a quick note for my sanity.... "Here we go Steelers....Here we go !!!"
Here's the vegetarian version of the stromboli
See Recipe!
Potato Crusted Rockfish over Mushroom Risotto

With the recent economic conditions, we've been eating more gourmet at home. Creamy mushroom risotto topped with rockfish in a crispy potato crust...absolutely delicous. Enough said! You'll need a mandolin for the potato crust. And remember to save any leftover risotto for arancini!
See Potato Crusted Rockfish Recipe!
See Mushroom Risotto Recipe!
1.04.2009
Bread Pudding w/ White Chocolate Creme Anglaise
Anyways, I'm nowhere near ending this eating frenzy. Yes, I know that most people go on rigorous diets at the turn of the year, but that's never been my thing. They don't work. Just eat in moderation, people! Plus it's still winter, and I need food to warm and comfort me. So, that brings me to my next recipe. This bread pudding with strawberry preserves and white chocolate creme anglaise will provide pure comfort for the even colder months ahead. Enjoy, and don't give up indulging in 2009!
See Recipe!12.22.2008
Pecan Pie
Happy Holidays and happy eating!! Pecan pie is one of the easiest holiday desserts to make, yet it's also the easiest to ruin. I remember my first pecan pie...the recipe had minimal ingredients that were just mixed together and thrown into a pie crust. I thought there was no way I could ruin it. Well, it was a runny mess of goop. I ended up attempting 3 different pies into the late late night, and none turned out right! I learned from my mistakes and came up with some true tips along the way. Pecan pie requires more care and patience than what you may have read in the majority of recipes out there. I haven't ruined a single pie since, so I hope these tips posted in the recipe work out the same for you.
I made my own crust, but a store bought crust works out fine for this. Also, many swear by certain syrups for making pecan pie. I'm partial to Lyle's golden syrup, but if you can get your hands on some sugar syrup from New Orleans, go for it. If you can't find either, corn syrup is acceptable.
12.15.2008
Holiday Sugar Cookies
The holidays are near and that means celebrating and indulging in holiday treats. I love spending a day making loads of festive holiday cookies. I haven't always been a fan of sugar cookies in the past. Some are too buttery, too sweet, too crunchy, or too dense. My aunt, and head chef of my family gave me the recipe that I'm posting. These are hands down, the best I've ever had. They aren't overly sweet, and have a really nice soft texture. The addition of lemon zest also gives them a nice twist. The first time I made these, I didn't have any cutouts, so I used the top of my Pam spray can to cut the cookies. Neil was thoughtful enough to surprise me with some cookie cutters as a stocking stuffer that year :) I use the same base recipe to make raspberry thumbprints as well. You'll feel so warm inside making these on a cold winter day. I hope you try these to kick start your holiday indulging!

See Recipe!
12.08.2008
Tilapia w/ Lemon Butter Caper Sauce

Here's another easy weeknight recipe for those of you that need to unwind before the holiday food frenzy starts up again. This takes no time to make at all, and you feel good eating it :) It's light, fresh, and simple. I served it with breaded zucchini and cauliflower mash. The zucchini is equally simple to make. I dip sliced zucchini in egg and then coat with a mixture of panko crumbs, parmesan, herbs, salt/pepper. Then I bake them until golden. The cauliflower mash is made by steaming cauliflower florets and then pureeing with whatever you have on hand (i.e., garlic, buttermilk, cream, sour cream, cheese, herbs, etc. )
See Recipe!
12.01.2008
Braised Chicken with Apples
So, I guess it's back to work and life today :( I just got back late last night from spending a wonderful Thanksgiving with family in NY. The city is already gorgeous and decked out for the holiday season. Most of us spent the days following Thanksgiving walking around the city enjoying the beautiful holiday markets, spiked cider, mulled wine, and more food :) Neil spent it watching football of course. Only he would find a Hokie bar in the middle of NY city!
Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday, and this year was no exception. We stuffed ourselves beyond belief till the very end of the weekend. The insane amount of food we make every year just gets more and more out of hand. My family has way too many phenomenal cooks in the kitchen :) I can't even begin to list off our Thanksgiving menu without being disgusted with how much I consumed. I'm sure all of you would like to forget that as well! So, instead of posting the pies I made for Thanksgiving, I figured that a simple seasonal recipe is more suitable. It's one that's easy enough to whip up on a weeknight after work and warms the heart to keep that holiday spirit going strong.
11.24.2008
Black & White Birthday Cake

My dad's 60th birthday just passed a few weeks ago! I can't believe how fast time flies. He turned 60 this year and I turned 30...ugh!!!! Anyways, we decided against throwing a party, b/c parties start and end before you know it. I wanted to give him something more memorable. So, my sister and I bought him a trip to Vegas! He'll be going with my mom later in the year. We still had a small celebration for his actual 60th. We went out to eat Turkish at Kazan's in Mclean, and came back to my place for some cake and a movie:) Neil spent a lot of time installing an awesome projector in our basement. Movie nights are the best down there, and it was so nice to be able to share it with my family. We don't have enough time together like that anymore :(
Here's a pic I took of them. From the left, Neil, bro in law, sis, bro, Mom, and Dad. Dad's cheesin' big time!
Back to the cake...I hadn't made a cake in such a long time, so this was the perfect opportunity, and I wanted to find the perfect birthday cake. I ran across this Black & White Cake on the Smitten Kitchen blog. I had so much fun making this, so I think another excuse to bake a cake is right around the corner!
The recipe calls butter cake having a dark chocolate cream filling alternated with white chocolate cream. I had to make some modifications. Half my family likes dark chocolate, and the other half only likes milk. So, I made the dark chocolate cream a little "milkier" than the recipe calls for. The cream is actually just a decadent chocolate pudding, and Neil was definitely eating it as such :) If you don't want to attempt the cake, please at least try the pudding part. We were licking it out of the bowl!! The cake turned out beautiful, and both creams were delicious. However, I wasn't that thrilled with the actual butter cake layers. It was a little dry for my taste. I'll be sticking to my normal, moister butter cake the next time I make this. Btw, I apologize for the lack of quality in the pictures. I'm a terrible photographer, and my camera is super old. The pictures just don't do the cake justice!

See Recipe!















