Chicken and Yogurt! - it’s DREAMY

I’ve been indulging in some chicken the last few months - I gave it up for a few years but find myself having cravings now and then. I’m conscious of what I buy - doing the best I can to know the chicken lived a full life. It affects your karma - really! 

Chicken and Yogurt is HEAVEN I tell you! I have two recipes to share that are not only super easy but also guilt free and loaded with taste. Bon Appetit is my favorite source for new dishes. Click the titles for the recipes. 

Roast Chicken Breast with Garbanzo Beans, Tomatoes and Paprika

I have made this more than once and the left overs are even better. It has so much taste and it only takes like 15 minutes to prepare. The chicken and beans equal protein and fiber - a perfectly guilt-free meal. The dipping yogurt is the best part. 

Before and after baking.

Pan-Roasted Chicken with Carrots and Almonds

I made this on a Friday night for Jersey and I and the carrots are roasted with honey and almonds. It’s so so so good. The chicken breasts with bones start on the stove top then make their way to the oven. Greek yogurt is served on the side. This will not disappoint - and Friday nights are cocktail nights - so it’s quick and easy too. 

As a Friday night appetizer I made my first tart a couple weekends ago. Geez the puff pastry sheets are like impossible to work with! I ended up throwing most of it out. LOL.

Artichoke and Feta Tarts but they also gave other options like black olives, thyme and roasted red peppers -  so I did half and half. Light and crispy. 

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Daft Punk - Get Lucky - ft. Pharrell Williams

Kanye West - Touch the Sky

Sun Kil Moon - Among the Leaves

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TOPS!

I’ve become obsessed with onekingslane.com. I got all this stuff for my kitchen for $60! Don’t you just love the colors?!

RUBBISH!

Salmonella in ground turkey. Meat is not safe and I wanted some turkey burgers this weekend!

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“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” - Mr. Rogers

A pasta for me, a pasta for him and Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr?

My diet plan resented finding Bon Appetit’s pasta issue in the mailbox this month but my taste buds were elated. Jersey and I flipped through the pasta recipes and found one pleasing to our individual palate. Cooking pasta for him is daunting with his mother and sister’s secret Italian sauce recipes. I guess it was a good sign though when he continued to eat it over the weekend and it’s all gone now! 

Rigatoni with spicy Calabrese-style Pork Ragu

I have not had beef or pork in almost 8 years now but the smell of the sausage frying up in the pan was definitely tempting. There is some work with this recipe and the sauce needs to simmer for about 4 hours. Click the link above for the recipe. 

Orecchiette with Kale and Breadcrumbs

This dish has so much taste with garlic and anchovies and the kale made me feel a bit less guilty. This recipe is easier than the rigatoni but de-stemming and boiling a pound of kale is not for the faint of heart.  We found the orecchiette pasta at an Italian deli. They are small cups and get their name from the Italian word for ear - orecchio. Click the link above for the recipe.

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I came across Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. while listening to Pandora. Funny name but brilliant music. Check it out.

Simple Girl

We Almost Lost Detroit

Morning Thought

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TOPS!

Madge is on Instagram! “Cheers motherf***ers!  I’m on Instagram!”

RUBBISH!

I learned this week while reading one of the blogs I follow that over the years our  military have been shooting, stabbing, and dismembering a variety of different animals for a crude “wound lab” to teach military personnel how to treat traumatic injuries.  Thirty years ago it was live dogs and an animal advocate group put a stop to it. Still today they use this technique and their latest victims are live goats. Help put a stop to it by signing this petition.

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“I want to go on adventures, I think. Not get stuck in one place.”  - Moonrise Kingdom

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It’s Cold Outside let’s make some Soup!

Late Summer Recipes and some new music

It’s cold outside … let’s make some soup!

It’s been almost 15 years since we have seen a cold snap like we saw last week in the southwest. I could actually where a scarf and mittens and not look silly and there was ice sightings everywhere! But even better I made soup and it actually felt “in season”. The soups I made fall in line with my 2013 focus to eat more beans. Live long, protein and fiber are the inspiration of these soups.  The soups are also vegetarian and can be vegan with very little modifications. See the links for the recipes. Happy Friday!

These recipes are from Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook. 

White Bean Soup - French Onion Style!

This soup is super easy to make, has minimal ingredients and yes - REALLY GOOD. The french onion spin on it makes it even better the next day and the cheesy bread is a guilty pleasure. The Kale version makes it vegan and looks appealing too. Next time!

Vegetarian Chili

I served this chili last year for 12 women and it was hit. With all the spicy flavor you won’t miss the meat. Again, this recipe is super simple, inexpensive and is something you can keep in your fridge for the week. It’s vegan until I put the yogurt on top which is so so good. 

Miso Soup

This recipe is easy but finding the ingredients - not so much. Most grocery stores do not carry seaweed and Miso paste. Sprouts & Whole Foods do but we also frequent the local Asian market which I highly recommend. Keeping with my bean theme, Miso is made from soybeans and there are so many health benefits that I’ll only list a few.

• It contains all essential amino acids, making it a complete protein.
• Stimulates the secretion of digestive fluids in the stomach.
• Reduces risk for breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers.
• High in antioxidants that protects against free radicals responsible for aging and tissue damage.
  

TOPS!

It’s my favorite time of the year for movies! I have only seen 4 out of the 9 best picture nominees and I’m racing to see them all before the awards show.

RUBBISH!

“Anything that you resent and strongly react to in another, is also in you.” - Eckhart Tolle

Check out the 2012 Archives!

Recipes perfect for Holiday Entertaining!

I’m sharing my Friday blog post early this week with hopes that if you are looking for the perfect holiday recipe you find it right here. The last couple years I’ve been inspired to learn to cook so I can share my home with my family and friends. I got lucky this last week and entertained in my home twice! I made all new recipes that I hadn’t even tried myself first and they were a hit.

Here are the dishes we enjoyed with links to the recipes! Happy Holidays.

The first night I hosted the 11 ladies for our holiday bunco party. 

Caramelized Onion & Shallot Dip

Arugula, Grape and Almond Salad with Saba Vinaigrette

The picture is not the final product - it has yummy Pecorina cheese too!

Squash and Broccoli Rabe Lasagne

This is such a sweet, rich lasagna they won’t miss the meat!

I ended the night with personalized cupcakes made by AJ’s Fine Foods and some ice cream.

My family holiday dinner party was the second night. Jersey said this was the best meal I’ve ever made. I had left over onion dip and salad fixings from the bunco party so they were part of this feast too.

Turkey Osso Bucco

Jersey snubbed this recipe because Osso Bucco is veal and it’s one of his favorites. He definitely ate his words - literally!

Winter Greens Gratin

This is not only healthy but rich with cheese and breadcrumbs. It was perfect. 

Mini Herbed Pommes Anna

Garlic-Oregano Knots

“Sharing the holiday with other people, and feeling that you’re giving of yourself, gets you past all the commercialism.” - Caroline Kennedy 

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A Summer Party for the Girls