I have been spending quite a bit of time in the kitchen lately. I think since I have so many weekends away coming up, I am just enjoying hanging around the house and cooking up a storm. Earlier this week, I had the bright idea to make homemade ravioli, perhaps a lofty goal for a weeknight after a day of work, a run, and some blogging, but it turned out okay.
I looked at a bunch of random online recipes and got the gist of the ingredients involved. Since we only had wheat flour in the house (I will remedy that soon!) I was stuck making wheat pasta.
I used three cups of flour, two large eggs and enough water to turn it into dough. It was a messy mess.
I used my fanciest of rolling pins, an empty wine bottle, to roll out the dough. I do have a pasta maker, but I didn’t set it up for this venture. Probably a bad idea. . .
I let the dough sit for awhile while I mixed up a quick, simple filling of goat cheese, shrimp, and garlic powder.
I added scoops of filling along the dough, placed the other layer of dough on top, and used a glass to cut the ravioli out. Finally, I used a fork to seal the ravioli, making sure the filling didn’t fall out.
Totally rustic, right? My dough was a little too thick, and I will most definitely use the pasta maker next time and probably more water. It kept ripping when I tried to get it thinner 
I planned on making a homemade heirloom tomato sauce for the ravioli, but by the time I was done rolling out the pasta dough and all, I decided to use another of the samples that Lucini sent me, Spicy Tuscan Tomato Sauce. It ended up being the perfect choice. Once the ravioli were cut open, the goat cheese and spicy sauce sort of combined to make a nice, creamy sauce.
As we get closer to the holiday weekend, I will be taking a break from my kitchen adventures. I am exhausted!
I am going to a wedding in the Berkshires for our friends’ wedding this weekend, and I can not wait to break out of the office Friday at 2. It has been quite the week!
What are you up to for this unofficial last weekend of summer?
Technorati Tags: cooking, pasta, ravioli, recipe
      
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One thing I've learned about having a blog is that after awhile, it starts to feel like your readers are your friends.
Because they do all the things that friends do.
They say things to reassure you when your baby starts Kindergarten.
Or they tell you that they made one of your recipes and loved it.
Every now and again, they tell you to get better if you say you're under the weather.
And over time, this friendship forms in your mind. A friendship with these faceless readers and commenters.
They become your blog friends.
And the thing about blog friends, is that they have no flaws. They pop in once a day to tell you that they like what you do.
That's it.
So what I want to say to you today is this: In my mind, you are all wonderfully, fabulously perfect.
Because you are here.
And maybe you're one of those people who likes to pronounce words all weird to try to seem cool.
Or maybe you borrow books or dvds from your friends and never return them.
Perhaps you're that one person who always drinks a little too much on girl's night and your friends have to spend the evening taking care of you.
Maybe you've never baked a cookie in your life and you only come here because you like to look at food.
Or maybe you're totally obsessed with Twilight and you wear "I Heart Vampires" shirts every day and have a weird Edward shrine in your house. And you have Bella's face on a dart board in your living room and you throw poison tipped darts at it every night before bed.
Whoever you are, whatever habits you have, I don't know about them. I just know I'm glad you're here.
And I love that you're my blog friend.
And being my blog friend, you should know that I really like junk food.
Like, a lot.
So what I'm sharing with you today is one of my favorite things to eat.
Nachos.
What I love about these, is that they are so versatile. They're great for dinner, but they also make an awesome football snack or even a quick lunch.
Here's what you need:
Colby and Monterey Jack cheese. Of course, you could totally buy the pre-shredded Colby Jack mixture in a bag, but I prefer to grate my own if I have the time. It just melts so much better. But let's be real--you're feeding your family melted cheese on chips. So if you use the bagged stuff, noone is going to complain.
Can o' chili. This is another thing that I love about these--it's a great way to use what you have in your pantry or left over in your fridge. Instead of chili you could use leftover chicken, ground beef, or even chopped up steak. If you have some leftover pinto beans, just add a little taco seasoning, mash them up a bit with a potato masher and it's all good.
Corn tortillas, cut in half. I prefer white corn but yellow is just fine.
Heat about a 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a frying pan. Let the oil warm up on medium heat for about 10 minutes. You want the oil to sizzle right away when you drop a small piece of tortilla in.
Once the oil is ready, slide a few tortilla halves in. Let each side cook for a couple of minutes. You want the tortilla to crisp up just a bit, but keep in mind that it will get crispier as it sits and cools. Remove the chips from the oil with tongs and let drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with plenty of salt.
Be sure to check the first couple of chips you made, to see if they are the right amount of crispiness. If not, adjust the amount of time you are leaving them in the oil.
Once you get going with the chips, it goes by very quickly and you'll soon have a plate of them piled up. When you have enough, place a small pile of grated cheese in the center of a dinner plate.
Arrange the chips around the plate. Make sure the ends of the chips are inserted in the pile of cheese in the middle. This will keep them from sliding around. Spoon chili, beans, or meat on each chip evenly. Cover chips with more cheese and microwave on high for about a minute, or until the cheese is melted.
If your plate is oven safe, you could also place it in a hot oven to melt the cheese. Just be very careful because your plate will be hot.
When you're done, your nachos will look like this:
And everyone will love you and they'll do all the dishes and wipe the kitchen counters down while you go hide in your room and watch Jersey Shore.
But we all know that trashy tv is no good unless you can eat dessert while you watch it. So here's a recipe for super yummy and super easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars from The Cake Mix Doctor.
INGREDIENTS
1 package (18.25 oz) plain yellow cake mix
1 cup smooth or crunchy peanut butter
1 stick of butter, melted
2 large eggs
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350. Line a 13x9 inch pan with foil so that it hangs over the edges.
Place the cake mix, peanut butter, butter, and eggs in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are incorporated, 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula. The mixture will be thick. Measure about 1 1/2 cups of this mixture and set it aside for the topping. Place the remaining cake mix mixture in the pan, pressing it over the bottom of the pan so it reaches all sides and is even. Set the pan aside.
Place the chocolate chips and condensed milk in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir in the vanilla and continue stirring until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour the chocolate over the crust and spread it evenly to the edges. Crumble the reseverved topping over the chocolate evenly.
Bake the bars until they are golden brown on top, 30-35 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire cooling rack and let cool for 20 minutes before cutting and serving.
These bars are so yummy and are not only great for dessert, but they make an awesome lunch box treat too.
Thanks for coming by and visiting me, and I hope you have an awesome Thursday!
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 Photo by Joe Anslow Showing your appreciation never has to be expensive.
Baby showers, celebrations, spa brunches, tea parties….most hosts or hostesses like to give their guests something to remember them by as they leave with full bellies and great memories. Many of those entertaining feel that they have to get something extravagant or luxurious to offer their guests. The truth is, as a guest, I never expect anything. But as a host, I want to give, give, give. I never feel bad about it, though.
1. Baked Goods. Anything homemade is always cheaper (and healthier) than buying the alternative. Cookies, muffins, scones, brownies…all of these can be cheaply made in big batches and put in cellophane bags. To make them more special, you can personalize the goods with your guest’s initials.
2. Dried Herb, Spice, or Flower Infusions. You can buy big canisters of two or three dried herbs or spices and place a bit of each in coffee filters. Or, you can give a small bag of dried rose petals or potpourri to each guest for their next soak in the tub. Combinations are endless. Some popular herbs and spices that can be found in large amounts are chamomile, cinnamon, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Feel free to mix flowers and herbs together for an even more luxurious infusion.
3. Body Scrubs. To me, an even greater luxury than an bath infusion is a body scrub. There’s nothing better than being able to rejuvenate your skin from head to toe. My favorite works like magic and if extremely simple to make. Make the recipe below and hand them out in small plastic containers.
OLIVE OIL, SUGAR, and HONEY BODY SCRUB
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
Mix it all together and scrub over face, body, hands, and feet using warm water.
4. Sugared / Honeyed Nuts. Instead of frilly favors, nuts can be enjoyed by all. They are a great idea for sports gatherings. You can find a big bag of nuts, mixed or single, at your local food discount store or on sale during the holidays anyway. Add enough honey or sugar to coat, a pinch of cinnamon, and bake them until they are toasted or melted together.
5. Build Your Own! The biggest hit I’ve had was giving my guests a bag filled with everything they need for a great cup of cocoa, tea, or a pair of s’mores. They are appropriate for every season and would be a nice unexpected surprise. Who said a cup of hot chocolate has to only be had when its freezing outside? Ever had a hot chocolate on a breezy summer’s night? Go ahead, step out of the box.
For s’mores, bundle mini Hershey bars, graham crackers, and marshmallows together.
For cocoa, you can pair an instant hot chocolate packet with a peppermint stick, cinnamon stick, marshmallows.
For tea, you can make your own tea bags and pair with a strip of lemon peel or orange peel.
WANT A CRAZIER IDEA?? Give your guests a packet of hot chocolate with a tea bag and dare them to try them together! Hot Cocoa-Tea is the newest trend in the cafe. See what combinations you can come up with!
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 As expected, the truth behind some of New York's fanciest restaurants is coming to light, thanks to the DOH's new restaurant grading system. And the city's #1 restaurant is one of the first victims! World-renowned chef and Top Chef judge Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin got 32 demerits, just four points above a C grade, at its last inspection. Perhaps the Michelin starred joint needs to take a trip to LIC for some tips.
The restaurant was busted for holding cold food items above 41 degrees, improperly stored utensils and "Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan." There were also smaller violations for improperly installed plumbing, "Non-food contact surface improperly constructed," and improper sanitation for utensil washing. Though none of that sounds as bad as the evidence of mice found in B-graded DiFara's food prep areas.
No letter grade will be posted until the restaurant gets reinspected, and General Manager David Mancini told Grub Street, “As aggressive as the inspection was, I don’t want to make any comment until they come back and reinspect us, and then I’ll probably have a great deal of comment." [Via Grub Street]
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Happy September, everybody! I’ve always found September to be a pretty dull month overall. Besides Labor Day, there’s nothing exciting going on. But there is one relatively new holiday that I will be celebrating this month: my boyfriend’s and my 1 1/2 yr anniversary! (Yes, it’s still new enough that we celebrate the halves!) I have decided that I want to cook a meal to celebrate- help me pick my menu after the jump!
I found the perfect collection of recipes on Recipe4Living called “Elegantly Easy Meals for You and a Significant Other.” Elegant AND easy? I couldn’t imagine anything better.
I picked out two meals that I like the sound of the best, so I just need help in deciding which one is best. Here are the candidates:
Meal One:
Green Beans, Toasted Pecans and Blue Cheese: This couldn’t sound any better if it tried! Vegetables are always better when they have delicious cheese all over them, and it sounds pretty easy to make!
Broiled Herb Butter Chicken: This meal is in and out of the oven in 15 minutes and the herb butter is bound to give it some great flavor. And who doesn’t like chicken?
Chocolate Silk Pie: The perfect romantic and tasty dessert. You don’t even need to bake it!
Meal Two:
Moroccan Lentil Salad: Fresh veggies, lentils, and chickpeas make this a delicious and awesomely healthy way to start the meal.
Maple-Garlic Marinated Pork Tenderloin: Grilling is probably the simplest way to cook food, so this main course would be EASY! The combination of maple and garlic is really intriguing, too.
Crustless Cranberry Pie: The person who added this recipe described it as “Light, super simple, and delicious dessert. Great with vanilla ice cream.” Enough said.
Now here’s where you come in: let me know which one you like the sound of. I think I’m leaning towards meal #1, but I’m not sure. They both sound yummy!
If you want to see ALL of the elegantly easy meals for two, click here!
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