Escape to Tuscany

Last night turned out to be a late night at work, so I was thrilled to come home and make this Tuscan Baked Chicken and Beans because it is one of those meals you start and put in the oven and then forget about. You just brown the chicken and bacon quickly and then just pop in the oven for 40 minutes. 40 minutes in my world is like a day off! I was able to empty the dishwasher, change my clothes, relax on the couch with my feet up and make a salad while the dinner was cooking.

When I make a recipe I usually change a few things around and add things, but the 1 and only thing I changed on this one is I substituted Turkey Bacon for Regular Bacon. I thought the dinner over all was good, but it lacked....something.
I guess it was just lacking bold flavors. I got the recipe out of my new cookbook (which obviously doesn't have reviews in it), but when I was attaching it to this post just now I noticed most everyone loved the recipe but felt the same way I did.

Next time I think I need to add more tomatoes (maybe even another half or whole can), add more spinach, less beans, garlic and more spices. I don't know...I need to play around with it, but it needs something. Would be a great meal if you are cooking for kids or someone who likes more bland food. I plan on renovating this and making it again!
I think it is a good start and could be great!

My Salad: Romaine, Celery, Grape Tomatoes and Artichoke Hearts

Tuscan Chicken and Beans

Crazy for Kebabs!

I was really excited when I saw this recipe in my new cookbook my sis gave me because Brian and I both love Mediterranean inspired food and usually you can get really bold flavors that are healthy. The Chicken Kebabs with Creamy Pesto were extremely fast to prepare and tasted like I had been working on them for hours when it really only took 20 minutes. I also made a Greek Salad and toasted up some pita bread.

It was the perfect healthy, but still filling meal for the 3rd day of Brian's "No Ice Cream" Diet. Because I can't help but feel so sad inside when he goes to look for a "dessert" every night and there is nothing there...I also made a beautiful fruit salad so that he would have something to eat after dinner. It is like he thinks something is going to magically appear in the freezer, so he stands there with the door open looking into the abyss of ice, frozen bread and frozen peas! I guess if he gets really desperate he can defrost the top layer of our wedding cake, but now that I think of it, that would require way too much effort!!

Greek Salad:
2 Peeled and Chopped Cucumbers
1/2 Large Red Onion Chopped
4 oz Kalamata Olives sliced in half
1 Small basket Cherry or Grape Tomatoes sliced in half
4 Canned Artichoke Hearts quartered
8-10 Sun dried Tomatoes slivered
1 Chopped Yellow Bell Pepper
1/2 cup Fat Free Feta Cheese
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar
Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine everything except the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss gently. Add the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.

NOTE: I make this differently every time I do it. Use different variations on the vegetables (I use what I have on hand, sometimes use Celery instead of Bell Peppers...) and I am just guessing at the amount of Vinegar I use. The key is to chop everything the same size so when you take a forkful you get even amounts of flavor. It is really easy and tastes great! Keeps in the refrigerator for about 5 days.

Super Simple, but tasty, Creamy Pesto Sauce

Grilled Chicken Kabobs...the recipe says to bake them, but grilling them is better I think.

Complete meal! Great for leftovers!

Brian's New Dessert! Doesn't it look good??

The Expendables

Tuesday I was so excited to come home from work and relax! We had such a busy weekend and I am still trying to recover on sleep even though it is mid-week. I was hoping either to watch some mindless television on my DVR or rent The Expendables because my friend, Maynes, told me I would love it. That is a given if Sylvester Stallone is in it because I am a huge fan of both Rocky and Rambo. I know you wouldn't think that, but I had the kind of dad who taught me how to trip people in soccer and go fishing, so I have lots of fond memories of watching Rocky get his eye cut open by a razor blade when I think of my childhood.

The Expendables was pretty good. Full of action (stunts that are impossible in real life) and they had some pretty intense weapons. Lots of knives and rifles. Lots of blood, but only the bad guys get killed =) AND...the best part?
IVAN DRAGO (Dolph Lundgren from Rocky IV) makes a cameo. Loved it!


To compliment our movie, I made:

Maple- Mustard Chicken Breasts with Winter Squash Puree
Source: Cooking Light, March 2010

For Chicken Breasts:
ingredients:
4 Boneless, skinless Chicken Breasts
1/2 tsp. salt, divided
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
cooking spray
1 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. finely chopped shallots
1/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

instructions:
1. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with 1/4 tsp. salt and pepper.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until cooked through, but with a slight blush in the center. Remove from pan; keep warm.
3. Return pan to medium-high heat. Add butter to pan, swirling to coat. Add shallots; saute 3 minutes or until tender and translucent. Add broth; bring to a boil, and cook 1 minute. Stir in mustard, syrup, and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt; cook 1 minute or until slightly thick. Return chicken to pan. Cook chicken 1 minute on each side or until thoroughly heated (be careful not to overcook chicken). Serve chicken with sauce. Garnish each serving with 1 1/2 tsp. parsley.

For Winter Squash Puree:
ingredients:
1/3 cup fat-free, less sodium chicken broth
24 ounces cubed butternut squash
1 Tbsp. melted butter
1/2 tsp. grated orange rind
1 1/2 tsp. maple syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper

instructions:
1. Place squash on a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray. Roast in oven with 400 degree oven until soft and cooked through.

2. Place squash and broth in food processor and pulse till smooth. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.

Chicken pan roasting...

My finished dinner! I also made some Broccoli-Rabe (I usually blanch it first, put it in an ice bath, then saute it with a little garlic).

Did any of you see The Expendables? Did you like it?

No more Ice Cream

After the past few weeks of eating...A LOT more than usual...Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and just because, Brian decided that Monday he was going on a diet. He calls it a diet, but that is a little extreme, it is more like just not eating junk on top of our regular healthy food. I have also been feeling like a blob lately (couldn't work out for a week because of the flu and just feel like yuck), so I was all up for it.

What does this mean? I am not buying Brian's usual low calorie ice cream bars, sandwiches and cones. I am not buying anymore chips, chocolate snacks or frozen pasta things he likes. We are going back to having only good, healthy foods in the refrigerator and pantry. That is how it used to be, but it is hard for me to resist buying him the snacks and goodies he loves. Then I realize...this is how it starts, one ice cream here and there to him eating 4 ice cream treats in ONE night!! Can you imagine how many boxes of frozen dessert I have to buy a week??? A LOT! Yes, I know you don't see where it turns into fat on him because he is so lean, but it just isn't good. From now on he will be having a piece of fruit for dessert.
Then ice cream bars will be a treat.

What does all this have to do with the Monday night dinner? Nothing...except Brian couldn't find an ice cream to eat after we had dinner. HAHA.
He went searching but there was nothing left!

In light of our healthy start to Monday, I made this delicious Halibut with Caper Salsa Verde, Steamed Artichoke with my Creamy Garlic Mustard Sauce and some Spicy Penne. I wasn't planning on making the pasta, but having a dinner with no starch on the first day of Brian's diet with no ice cream just felt mean. Brian LOVED the Halibut and he voted it one of his favorite recipes! I chopped the salsa a little finer than they did in the recipe and I think it coated the fish better that way....


Creamy Garlic Mustard Sauce
2 tablespoons reduced fat mayonnaise
2 tablespoons reduced fat sour cream
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon crushed garlic
1/2 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon dill
salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Serve. Easy!

Chopped Ingredients for the Salsa

Pretty Artichoke

Finished Product!


I would definitely recommend this Halibut. I will be repeating this again soon! Do any of you ever feel like a blob?

Brooke's Birthday Brunch

The theme of this weekend was Brian and I driving up to and back home from LA twice as well as driving back to OC from the desert. Needless to say, I was EXHAUSTED.

Not to tired though to go to Brooke's 30th Birthday Brunch downtown at the very different J Restaurant and Lounge. Located right in the heart of the Fashion District on South Olive, you would never think this kind of place exists downtown. It was a beautiful day, 79 degrees and sunny in the middle of December! After you walked through the restaurant, there was a large open outside area with a view of the cityscape. It was perfect for a Sunday Brunch in the city...well, or whatever you call downtown LA.

The Birthday Girl...and her sunglasses!

Love the Cupcake Tower

Menu...what looks good to you?

My Egg White Omelet with Spinach, Raisins and Goat Cheese

Birthday Girl's Crepes

Brian's HUGE Breakfast Sandwich. I told him he wouldn't like it and shouldn't order it, but he did anyways and was sorry!! The baked French Fries were excellent though!

Excellent Cupcakes! The Red Velvet was my favorite...really put Sprinkles to shame!


What a fun afternoon visiting with Brooke's friends and family. I also got to see some long lost high school friends which was really nice. I am sure some of Brooke's guests thought I was ridiculous taking pictures of all the food instead of the people! Oh well...had fun anyways!

Then...we got to go SHOPPING on 3rd Street!! Woo Hoo!! Got my pink slippers (the ones I needed) and a very cute new dress!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Last night Brian and I were in the car driving home reminiscing about memories from our childhood, and as the holidays are approaching I couldn't help but think about my memories of Christmas time with my parents when I was younger.

When Thanksgiving passes and all the holly, wreaths, lights and trees start to pop up everywhere, most people think of fond Christmas memories with their family dinners and unwrapping presents under a tree, but I think of helping my parents in their store.

Every year during Christmas break it was our job to wrap presents when someone bought something so the salesperson could go on to help the next person. We would try to come up with faster ways as the years went on to get the gifts wrapped to increase our number of packages per hour. We organized ribbon and bows, tape, cut paper to pre-determined sizes and prepared for the lines of people that needed their gifts wrapped. We were wrapping machines! Now that I am writing this it sort of sounds like child-slave labor, but we had the best time!

Christmas is almost here and I was just sitting here thinking about how nice it was to spend that time with my parents and my sister working to help our business instead of sitting at home bored watching TV.



What is your favorite Holiday memory?

Happy Hanukkah!!

As I was looking through the new Holiday Cooking Light magazine a couple weeks ago, I had a revelation I wanted to have a small Hanukkah Party and try out some of these new recipes! I prepared my grocery list and planned all week, and I got so excited about my little party on Sunday. Unfortunately, the more excited I got, the more my throat started to hurt and the more my sinuses were plugging up. As much as I kept fighting it, this terrible flu/cold/whatever is going around was making a nice home in my body.

Sunday morning I woke up so sick, but still hell bent on having this party because I already had all the food, prepared all week, and was excited!! If it weren't for my amazing husband, I wouldn't have been able to have done everything to prepare. He really helped me in the kitchen when he saw me starting to feel really yucky and lose my energy. He fried all the potato latkes and helped me clean as I went along cooking. The mess he made frying the latkes is another story all together...potato EVERYWHERE!

By the time my guests came, I was totally exhausted and was ready to get in bed, but was so happy to see everyone! My menu was as follows:

Cheese and Chive Challa
Beer Braised Brisket with Honey Lime Glaze
Roasted Vegetables
Traditional Potato Latkes
Curried Butternut Squash Potato Latkes with Apple Salsa

Brisket and all the goodies. It is amazing how all of it literally MELTED
into the meat after 4 hours of baking!

I don't know how you make this big of a mess, but I didn't complain because I was able to rest a little before everyone came over


Even on the toaster!!

Cambert, Goat Cheese, Grapes and Crackers

Sweet Raisin Crackers and Mixed Olives

My Table

My Challah (I forgot to take a picture of it, but it was really beautiful!)

Menorah on the 5th night

Roasted Vegetables

Potato Latkes

Apple Salsa

Brisket


Me and My Sis


My sister's beautiful desserts...she is the best baker!!



Whew! It was so fun cooking for my friends and having a party with my wonderful husband! What are your plans for the holidays?

Korean Grilled Beef Lettuce Wraps

About a year ago my friend, Bridget, emailed me this recipe from the New York Times that we both thought looked really good. I made it, despite my lack of a grill, and we loved it! Last week, I decided to make it again and try it out with our new grill. Like I said in my previous post, we had a little change in plans so the meat ended up marinading for 24 hours instead of 30 minutes. It was a HUGE blessing. HUGE improvement on the first time I made it because you could really taste the marinade and the Asian Pear you grate into the beer/soy mixture.

Instead of the white rice, I used some whole wheat spaghetti, extra vegetables I had in the refrigerator, a little soy sauce and a little hoisin to make some "chow mein". I also made some Cucumber Salad because that is one of our favorites whenever we go to sushi. The whole meal is tastes light and fresh, but still is plenty filling.

My condiment platter: (from left to right) Bean sprouts, Cilantro,
Hot Sauce, Shredded Carrots, Hoisin Sauce



Cucumber Salad

Chow Mein

Koren Grilled Beef


Try this one! It is great and a sure winner!

Movie Night!

Last night I came home and was totally exhausted from work and feeling sick. I guess I caught that bug that is going around and it is really trying to kick me down! I usually have a lot of energy, but I have been waking up unable to go work out and barely able to make it through the day. I was SO happy when I came home to Brian who had the BEST plan! I was making his favorite dinner and he had downloaded Eat, Pray, Love on our AppleTV! We were on our honeymoon when this movie came out and missed it in the theater. I have been wanting to see it for some time now and it did not disappoint me one bit. We ate our Apricot Glazed Filets (I use filet mignon because I don't always see nice lamb chops), Roasted Carrots and Brussel Sprouts and Tomato Basil Bisque Soup on the couch while watching the movie! It was WONDERFUL!

The movie left us missing Italy so bad we could actually taste it...the food I mean and I was wishing I was in Bali in the warm sun instead of on the couch with blankets and the heat on! Well, I guess I can look forward to our trip to South Beach in February!

Apricot Glaze all ready for the meat to come off BBQ

My beautiful Carrots and Brussel Sprouts, I added a little Tarragon and Thyme also for a little change up on the traditional salt and pepper I usually do

Finished Meal minus the soup because I got it from Bristol Farms! What a relaxing night!

Change of Plans!

Wednesday night I ran home from work all ready to make Brian and I these Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps that we both like, but when I got home I realized he had left me a message saying he wouldn't be home till late. Lettuce wraps do not keep well AND the steak needed to be put on the BBQ and I don't know how to turn it on. =(

After preparing the marinade for the beef, I decided to switch gears and make the meal I had planned for the next night: Mustard Crusted Salmon, Tomato-Dill Cous Cous and Sauteed Green Beans! I put the beef to marinate in the refrigerator till the next day.



Mustard Crusted Salmon
2 large Salmon Fillets or 4 small ones
1/2 cup Reduced Fat Sour Cream
2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
1 teaspoon Lemon juice
pinch of salt and pepper

Preheat Broiler. Combine Sour Cream, Mustard and Lemon Juice in a bowl. Place Salmon on baking sheet with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top each piece evenly with Mustard Mixture. Broil till Salmon is nicely cooked, 5-10 minutes depending on thickness of fillets. Serve.


Tomato-Dill Cous Cous
1 cup Cous Cous
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup Chicken Broth (preferably the fat free kind)
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes quartered
2 tablespoons fresh dill
1/4 cup minced Red Onion

In a small pot heat olive oil and add cous cous. Saute for a minute or so just to brown the cous cous a bit, then add broth. Bring to a boil, cover and turn off heat. Let sit 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and gently stir in the tomatoes, red onion and dill. Serve!

My green beans sizzling away...I love the sound they make as they cook!

Finished product! I love the way the sour cream makes the fish stay so moist! SO easy and I usually have most of the ingredients on hand.

Trader Joe's Tuesday

I don't know if any of you were in Trader Joe's two weeks ago when they were sampling that Turkey Breast and Stuffing with the Cranberry Sauce, but I was there and I tasted it. It was basically a frozen turkey breast surrounded with some of their cornbread stuffing. I thought, "I will put this in my freezer for a rainy day and when I am too busy to make dinner I will use it!" That day was yesterday!

I have to say this: I LOVE HOMEGOODS. It is my favorite store. Well, for things for the home. We can get into where I like to shop another day.

I went there last night to pick up a few things we needed and by the time I got home and carried up all my new goodies it was already 8:15. I was exhausted, sweating and could not wait to put away all my new things before Brian got home so it would be perfect! I popped that Turkey thing in the oven and set to work unpacking. When the timer rang for the turkey I was done with my unpacking, so I made a salad and sauteed green beans while the turkey was resting. SO EASY! Healthy! Cheap! Yay!

Did anyone else buy that thing? Wasn't it decent?

Quick and Easy

I am not usually one to admit that I need a day off from work, but after working all week plus driving back and forth from the desert for one day for Thanksgiving, I was exhausted yesterday. Very happy to not have to go to work! Sadly, because of the holiday, I did not have too many shows to watch on my DVR and got bored quickly on my couch. I guess being a housewife isn't my thing....

I planned my weekly menu quickly, made a grocery list, and set out to do errands and grocery shopping. For last night's dinner I made Ginger-Soy Chicken with Scallion Rice and some spicy broccolini. It was SO quick, easy and tasted like I had been making it for hours, when in reality the whole thing (including making a salad) took 20 minutes from start to finish! I used Chicken Breasts instead of boneless thighs because I don't love dark meat, but it was really good. I usually buy the big full breasts and then cut them horizontally so i get four larger pieces rather than those weirdo tenders you can buy that are chewy. It looks like more, visually you think you are eating more, and they cook quicker.

The Chicken Sizzling Away...I just love that sound!

My finished dinner! SO easy and tasty! The best part...Brian helped with the dishes! Woo Hoo!!

More NEED than want!

Sometimes there are things that are more justified as a "need" rather than a "want". I was thinking today as I was trying to organize my recipes, that there are some holes in my cookbook collection. As my feet were freezing on the tile floor I was wishing I had Brian's ugly, but really warm, UGG slippers to keep my feet warm. So as I was barely waking up this morning I complied my "More need than want list"....
These are much cuter, probably would fit me better, but still warm!

I am really excited this is already out! Maybe one day when I have some free time to get to the bookstore I can go look at this!

THIS LOOKS AMAZING! I didn't even know "healthy" and "Jewish" and "cooking" could go in one sentence! I must have this!!!

Saw these the other day, but was in a rush. They are so cute! I knew if Brian saw me piling these in my arms he would say I don't need them, but don't you think I DO need them???


Those are my thoughts for the day...do you have a "More need than want" list??