Clean Eating Adventures

With the wedding a short 32 days away and FCAT over, we decided to start hitting the gym harder and change our consumption habits. We are newbies at this, so errors will be made, we know that, but we're trying and it's a huge life change for us, so that's really what matters at this point. We're going to the gym for 45-60 minutes every morning at 5:15 or 5:30ish. I can't explain the relief I feel when I leave school in the afternoon and I don't feel the pressure of having to go to the gym or guilty if my day was too rough and I want to relax. I actually feel less tired getting up at 5 than when we sleep in until 6:30. It would be wonderful if that is something that sticks :)

Yesterday was day 1 and it was certainly a challenge. I didn't realize how much sugar I unconsciously consume throughout the day. A little candy here and there.. just one of the dangers of being a teacher! Yesterday, I managed to completely refrain, and it was rough. I was definitely having withdrawals and I was pretty cranky. I'm hoping day 2 is better.

Here's what's on the food agenda today:
I had a chocolate whey protein shake for breakfast, mixed with unsweetened almond milk (suggested by my very healthy friend, Katie). It was actually really good. We wanted to start moderately priced on the whey, so we got the Publix Greenwise and it's pretty good. We'll probably start exploring more options if the protein shakes stick.

I've realized a big part of eating clean is commitment and planning. "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!" This seems especially difficult for me considering I'm in a classroom all day with no refrigerator.. talk about challenging.. so I've have to plan ahead. Here is today's lunchbox...
Clockwise from L to R: nonfat greek yogurt with cut strawberries and honey; apples with 1 tsp of natural ground peanut butter; 1 tbl sun-dried tomato hummus with 1/4 cup organic carrot sticks; leftover chicken from last night's dinner.

I'm not sure in which order I'll consume or if I'll be able to even eat everything, but I like having options!

Also, I'm drinking Dr. Oz's Weight-orade, which is basically green tea with tangerine slices, instead of coffee this morning and water is the plan for the rest of the day. luckily I make the switch from Diet Coke to water in January.. Can you imagine, sugar and white starch withdrawal AND a Diet Coke withdrawal? Yikes!

Wish me luck!

Chicken and Potatoes

This was our dinner tonight.. just one of a million Pinterest inspirations.

The potatoes in the background were pinned from Pioneer Woman.. her recipes are no-fail and always delicious. That recipe can be found here.

The chicken began as an Pinspired recipe, but turned into something I made up. The recipe I was originally going to use was for a lemon chicken. Unfortunately, I started it a bit late and had no time for a 2 hour marinade as the recipe called for. Instead, I decided to experiment a little. Goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, lemon, and bacon has to be one of my favorite flavor combinations... also, includes artichokes when I have them; they would've been included tonight if I had 'em!

Here's what I did..

I mixed up about 3 ounces of crumbled goat cheese, 2 tablespoons of sun-dried tomatoes, a tablespoon of crumbled bacon, the zest/juice of a medium lemon, 2 cloves of crushed garlic, and 2 tablespoons of butter. I lifted the skin from the chicken leg quarters (3), and stuffed the chicken with the mixture. I then brushed on a coat of olive oil mixed with some lemon juice and a sprinkle of garlic powder, onion powder, and an Italian seasoning mixture. I popped it in the oven for about 25 minutes on 425˚. Then, I moved them to the bottom shelf and popped the potatoes in on the top. Finished off for 20 minutes at 450˚. I pulled them out and let them rest for about 5 minutes. We enjoyed with a nice fresh salad mix!

Perfect way to end President's Day!

Chicken Sausage and Brussels Sprouts over Orrechiette

I got this recipe inspiration from Pinterest.. surprise, surprise.

It's been a particularly stressful week at school and preparing this tonight was the perfect outlet for stress relief.

I used this recipe (click here), except I made a few changes..

1) I roasted the fresh brussels sprouts for about 15 minutes, while the chicken sausage cooked. Once the sausage was done, I removed it from the pan to rest and threw the brussels sprouts in the pan with the little bit of grease they produced and a small handful of bacon pieces.

2)I topped with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes instead of the parmesan. I felt it needed a bit of a tang!

This was really delicious and at the end of the day, pretty healthy!

If you need it, my pesto recipe is here!

Stuffed Zucchini Boats..

Don't let the zucchini fool you.. this is not exactly healthy :)


Weelllll, maybe a little... It does have tomatoes involved...

I've found this no fail delicousness via my tomato pie creations.. It involved Dukes mayonnaise (is there any other kind? no. stop buying Kraft and Hellman's and light mayo in general, esp if you're in the south.. it's like the one thing I don't buy light), an Italian blend of cheese, a squirt of lemon juice and a squirt of hot sauce. I generally used Crystals, but we were out so I went Siracha on this and was not disappointed! I have no idea what I used, so I'm going to ballpark this!

Stuffed Zucchini Boats
1 decent sized zucc
2 Roma tomatoes
2-3 heaping tablespoons of Duke's mayo
1/3-1/2 cup of Italian blend cheese (I used reduced fat)
little squirt of lemon juice
hot sauce to taste
little bit of fresh basil (if you're in a bind, fresh will do
Parmesan cheese block

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400
- slice the tomatoes into about 1/4 inch slices then halve slices, arrange flat on a paper towel, and sprinkle with a little salt... This help to get as much moisture out as possible.. between the zucc and toms, you'll need to do this..
- mix up the mayo, cheese, lemon juice, and hot sauce.
- halve the zucc... scrape out the seeded area. Be careful not to take too much out.. leave at least 1/3 inch thickness.
- chop basil (hoping you're using fresh!)
- spread a thin layer of mayo-cheese mixture on the bottom of the zucc
- arrange the half moon shaped tom slices alternating, so no area is left exposed
- cover with the remaining mayo-cheese mixture
- grate fresh parm on top
- bake 15-25 mins (I have a convection over, so my cooking times are different than conventional - I suggest setting a timer and checking ever 5 minutes or so..

I have used this mixture in so many variations, I wonder what I can't use the tomato pie angle on! If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Crock Pot Baked Potato Soup

I, as well as a bajillion others, are currently pinspired. It's called Pinterest. If you don't know what it is, ask me, but make sure you have some available space on your calendar because you will only resurface for bathroom and food breaks for at least 3 days. It is incredible. It makes me feel inspired in all facets of life while very much making me feel dumb for not coming up with the simple, yet incredibly genius, ideas some of these people have! I currently pin yummy things, yummy light things, gameday ideas, holiday ideas, inspiring quotes, teacher ideas, and several different boards for our May wedding's details. Seriously, if you don't know, ask me... it will change your life.

I have made about a dozen recipes from Pinterest and have yet to be disappointed by a single one. The most recent recipe I've made and been prompted for is this Baked Potato Soup made in a crock pot. The original recipe is here.

In my opinion, the original recipe would create waaay too much food for 2 people, or 3, or 4, or 5. I don't believe my crockpot could've successfully held this recipe as a whole, so I halved the entire recipe. The amounts you see here are exactly what I used.

Ingredients:
- 2.5lbs Russet Potatoes, washed but NOT peeled. Diced into 1/2 inch(ish) cubes
- 1/2 medium to large yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves of garlic, whole *I used my garlic press
- 9 cups chicken stock (or more if necessary, depending on your crock pot)
- 8 oz cream cheese *I used 1/3 less fat
- 1/2 TBS seasoned salt
- 8oz light sour cream (I added this and I think it made a big delicious difference)

Garnishes:
- Crumbled bacon
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- sour cream

Directions:
- Add potatoes, onion, garlic, seasoning and chicken stock to slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 10 hours.
- Stir in the cream cheese, and sour cream, allow to melt.
- Remove and puree the garlic cloves along with 1/2 to 1/3rd of the soup, and then reintroduce to the remainder in the crock pot. *Since I crushed the garlic I didn't have to remove anything. I used an immersion blender for a little bit until it looked about half way blended, so I didn't have to deal with a blender or food processor
- Top with your choice of garnishes & serve!

Yields about 6-8 servings.

Tada!

Tomato Pie 2.0

[Disclaimer: I've searched every where for the pictures, but I guess in the transition to the new computer, they're missing...

....Well, they probably aren't missing.. they're probably on the storage drive and I'm just too lazy to get them.. Coffee and Ellen is way too important.]

So, since my last blog post about tom pie, I've made about 4394304.

Give or take.

Here's my latest, and most successful recipe:

Adapted from Bobby Lightens Up. Adaptations in black.

Ingredients

1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated rolled pie crust
2/3 cup reduced-fat shredded four-cheese Italian blend
4 large plum tomatoes (about 1 pound), cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
2 - 4 drops hot pepper sauce (I use Crystals)

fresh grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg yolk, mixed with a little water, and beaten

1/2 tsp of lemon juice

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to an 11-inch round. Gently ease the dough into a 9-inch glass pie plate. Trim the dough edge, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang; crimp the edge. Brush with egg mixture. Bake until lightly browned, 5-7 minutes. Transfer the crust to a wire rack to cool.

Arrange tomato slices on a paper towel, sprinkle with salt and chopped fresh basil. The paper towel soaks up a lot of the moisture from the tomatoes, which I've found reduces the chances of a runny pie.

Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F.

Sprinkle 1/3 cup cheese blend evenly on the bottom of the cooled crust; top with the tomato slices, overlapping to fit.

Combine the mayonnaise, hot pepper sauce, lemon juice, and the remaining cup cheese blend in a medium bowl until blended; spread over the tomatoes, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Sprinkle evenly with the Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, until the filling is hot and the top is browned and bubbly, 30 – 35 minutes.

Test Kitchen Tip:
Plum tomatoes are meatier and contain less water than regular tomatoes. For a delicious smoky flavor, sprinkle the tomatoes with 2 slices of cooked, crumbled turkey bacon before baking. Two slices will increase the nutritional value by 20 calories and 2 grams of fat per serving.

Having a party? I've finally figured out the best party friendly version (read: less cutting and serving; more grab and go). It is the same recipe as above, with a few minor alterations. Unroll the pie crust. Use a biscuit cutter (or a wine glass) to punch out circles. Roll over the circles a little with a rolling pin or wine bottle. Give the muffin tin a spray of canola and then line with the pie crust circles. (This recipe does not require pre cooking the crust). Add a small sprinkle of cheese in the bottom of each muffin, a tomato slice, and some of the mayo-cheese mixture. Top each with parmesan cheese. Bake for about 20 minutes. Keep an eye on it, as with all recipes. Ovens are weird and different.. Honestly, I check things in the oven obsessively. I have a convection oven which is always different. Few things are more anti-climatic and disappointing than ruining a dish by burning it.

Seems as if wine drinking goes well with this recipe... and/or all recipes.

Tomato Pie

I've been busy (every negligent blog writer's excuse). This new job has certainly eliminated quite a bit of my free time, but luckily I've still had some time to play in the kitchen. It's actually almost a necessity for me.. it's therapeutic after a long, challenging day in the classroom. One thing I prepare often is tomato pie. I put my own twist on a Paula Deen recipe, well, actually, I use a form of the Bobby lightens up recipe. That original recipe can be found here.

This is a friend favorite. This is something they request. This is something they show up to a BBQ for, even if they are sick. I have prepared this in a couple ways, but the classic is always the best. Here'a couple photos of my prepared tomato pies:

Original:





Mini versions:
With pie crust..


With puff pastry...



When I prepare the original pie, I do not pre-cook the crust as Bobby directs you to in the recipe.. I, personally, think it's better. Also, I use a little extra of everything and even add in a little lemon juice.. I think it gives it an extra layer of fresh! Another thing I insist on is fresh grated parmesan and I generally use enough to cover the top of the pie, which is usually more than the tablespoon called for in the recipe. I often say that Christina Lightens Up is the midpoint between original Paula D and Bobby D recipes.

As far as the mini versions are concerned, I like them both. The pies prepared with pie crust are very time consuming and I actually think it was too much pie crust. The puff pastry was not so much a success.. I happened to have some in the fridge, so I gave it a shot.. I actually think, between the grease of the cheese/mayo mixture and the flakiness of the puff pastry made these a little too greasy for me. The next time I cook this up in a mini version, I'll probably go with the pie crust, in muffin tins, with only a pie crust on the bottom in a fashion more like the original.

Pie is so often associated with sweet desserts. The 2 words tomato and pie together often have people asking if it's a pizza. People are often confused when they hear Tomato Pie. My favorite part about this pie is how unexpectedly delicious it is. No one knows what they're in for when being served their 1st piece and are often hesitant. Their reaction, in and of itself, is worth your time to make this. I highly suggest giving this pie a shot - it is always a hit.

Weekly Meals

Tomorrow my newest full-time job adventure begins. By full-time job adventure, I mean my career - weird. I anticipate being home fairly late every day this week. That anticipation had led to worrying about dinner.. that worrying has developed into a plan of attack. A dear friend of mine, Danielle, has recently been posting on Facebook about spending Sunday prepping casseroles and dinner for the week with her 2 adorable girls. We've decided to share some recipes and, in a way, split the planning duties for the week. Because of Valentine's, our menus differ a little bit (she's preparing some fab sounding Maple glazed cornish game hens, but I just anticipate having that time).. Here's what's on the dinner agenda for the week:

Fondue (definitely Monday for Valentine's)
Pizza stuffed Chicken (courtesy of Danielle & Paula Deen mag)
Mix & Match Baked Pasta
Pesto Pasta (That recipe is here)

Other than fondue on Monday, I'm not sure what days we'll have which. The last time I had a full-time job, I used to plan per day, but found ourselves unhappy. I like to buy what we need for these dinners, do as much prep work as possible on Sunday, and then cook whichever we're in the mood for on the day.

I am excited for our Valentine's meal of fondue. We love fondue, but are tired of paying an exorbitant amount for melty cheese, so I've found a few wonderful recipes and am having trouble deciding which to use. I know a lot of people say they aren't fans of V-day because they aren't in relationships, but I'll be honest, I love it... Always have, even when I wasn't in a relationship. I'm not necessarily on board with all of the commercialism hoopla, but I do appreciate that there is a specific day set aside to appreciate love. I believe that love can be any type of love: individual love of oneself, friendship with gal pals, platonic with opposite sex, relationship, and family. I also believe the best way to celebrate whichever type of love you choose to, is to cook (I have a Pavlovian aversion to eating out on Valentine's)! Cook a fabulous meal for yourself or loved one(s) and celebrate the love you have in your life!

Last year's Vday meal:


It was a skinny chicken cacciatore, over veggie tortellini, and a stuffed zucchini.. ya ya ya, we were in a healthy eating phase, but contrary to what you might think about healthy eating, this meal was delicious. Needless to say, fondue this year will be slightly less healthy ;)

My last bit is about the Mix & Match baked pasta. This sounds generic, I understand that. If you don't get the Food Network Mag, I highly, highly suggest you do. It is jam packed with recipes. Are all of them awesome, no. Is there a good amount of fantastic recipes, absolutely. The best part of the magazine is how it inspires me! This month's is an Italian issue and it is chock full of delicious-sounding recipes, paired with amazing photography. I aspire to one day have one of my photographs in this mag. My favorite part of this month's issue is the Mix & Match page. It's broken up into 6 categories: Pick a Pasta, Make the Sauce, Choose your Mix-Ins, Flavor the Sauce, Pick your Cheese, and Bake the Casserole. Between all of these options, the magazine says there's "thousands of possibilities". I'm going to give one of these a shot this week. I'll let you know what combination I pick and how it turns out. In the mean time, have a great St. Valentine's Day; hopefully, you're spending it filled with love ♥.

Wednesday Cooking Adventures

I stopped at Nelson's veggie stand and picked up all sorts of things. The thing I find about having these veggies, is that I'm more inclined to cook with them if I've got them. Every time I go, I try to get something new.. this time I got portabello mushrooms. Right when I got home, I sauteed one in a little EVOO (I dislike Rachael Ray and her annoying phrases, but EVOO is just so much easier than extra virgin olive oil!). I threw on some shredded mozz and a little balsamic and had a delicious, healthy lunch!

For dinner, I wanted to make up a veggie sauce. I sauteed some EVOO, shallots, garlic, basil, s&p, yellow bell pepper, zucchini, broccoli, and roma tomatoes. I let them simmer and it created this delicious sauce. I cooked up some veggie rotini noodles and sauteed some flour-eggwash-breadcrumbed chicken cutlets in a pan. Here's how it came out:



It was delicious and such an easy way to get in a bunch of veggies without any preservatives or anything. I'm not opposed to jarred sauce on nights when I'm exhausted, but I also like to take the time to prepare fresh - when I have the time of course.

Pick up some of your favorite veggies and try something new!

Twice Baked Potatoes

We love 'em in this household, there's no doubt about that. They take a little time, but are generally worth the process. Did I say a little time? Everyone knows, potatoes take forever to cook! Don't have an hour for roasting? Cheat! Par-cook the potatoes in the microwave for a few minutes... this will shave quite a bit of time off the oven process. I decided to use the twice baked potato as a platform for some creativity lately. Here's what I've come up with:

This is my version of a BLT potato. This big guy holds a yummy mixture of spinach, tomatoes, pancetta, and goat cheese.. baked until browned. This was definitely a highlight of this meal.


This, my friends, is one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. This is my buffalo style potato! I followed a recipe I used for buffalo dip and mixed in the potato and loaded it back up. It was, seriously, delicious.

Steven talked about this potato for almost 2 weeks. That's a major accomplishment in my book. Not to self: recreate ASAP.

Use the potato as your basis of creativity. Load it up with your favorite things and enjoy!

Dinner!

I wanted to cook us up a delicious, but low key, healthy dinner. I had about .75lbs of shrimp, a box of couscous and some veggies that needed to be used up. There is no recipe for tonight's dinner. I was totally winging it. The veggies I had were acorn squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots. I generally roast acorn squash with some cinnamon, vanilla extract, sprinkle of brown sugar.. so I wanted to use those flavors, but add in a savory element of some herbs and cayenne. I knew it would be a thin line between delicious and take out, but I gave it a shot. The results were worth the risk! It was the perfect balance of savory and sweet; all of the elements combined in delicious harmony. Here's dinner:

Pesto- Hooray!

Pesto seems fancy. It's something those unexposed are often intimidated by. Last time I brought pesto crostinis to a party, I actually heard someone say, "What's that green stuff?" I of course answered with "...a gift from God." Needless to say, he tried and loved! Shockingly, pesto is simple. This recipe calls for a food processor, but if you don't have one, I'm willing to bet a blender and some spoonage between pulses would work just fine.

So, let's start with the recipe. I use a basic one from Food Network with some alterations:

• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 cloves garlic *1
  
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese *2

*3 - additions


Directions

Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese. *4

1. I generally start with 2 and taste. Garlic clove size is never consistent. The best way to know if you have enough is to taste!
2. I use parmigiano reggiano. I always have it on hand, so I'm not going out of my way for Pecorino. They're both salty and work well with this recipe.
3. I like to add a squirt of fresh lemon juice to this. I think it makes it taste a little fresher and helps it to keep it's bright green color.
4. I add the cheese right into the food processor. I like to make sure everything is equally blended.

The most important thing to remember, when making basil, is to not over-process it. Just enough so the bits are similar sizes and everything is well blended. After you add something, take a small sample.. this will ensure the best pesto possible!

Here's a couple things I've created with pesto:

This is my pesto crostini.

I sliced that sourdough french bread (I have a small obsession with sourdough) thinly and toasted for a few mins in a 350° oven. I topped with the pesto, a little crumble of goat cheese and a couple chops of sun dried tomato. We are lucky enough to have an amazing vegetable market very close by, which is where I purchase fresh goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes. As I mentioned, we are lucky. Do with what you've got. I know Publix sells goat cheese, that's just fine and I'm sure there's sun dried tomatoes somewhere in those aisles... just remember, if they're in oil.. drain that off before chopping and topping. I served these at a Christmas party, perfect with the red and green! Super easy and very fancy!

Here's my version of a pesto pasta, with parmesan roasted tomatoes and some goat cheese:



Steven loves Pesto, but other than crostini I wasn't sure how to serve it to him... until I saw an episode of Barefoot Contessa in which she prepared a pesto pasta, so I decided to give it a go. I sliced a tomato or 2. Threw them on a baking sheet, topped with some olive oil, salt and pepper, and into a 350° oven while I prepped the rest (keeping an eye on them). Once the toms were ready, I pulled them out, gave them a few mins to cool, and chopped 'em up. I layered penne (not whole wheat, but a healthier blend), the roasted tomatoes, some of the pesto, and finally some goat cheese. After a couple pictures, we mixed this pasta up and divulged. The goat cheese added some tang and creaminess, the tomatoes roasted were a perfect complement to the zesty pesto. This dish was a simple example of flavor layering. It doesn't always have to be difficult to be delicious!

I've got the flu!

Yes, it's true. I'm 3 days deep into the flu and I am miserable. I know that one day (probably in about 3 weeks) I will regret saying this, but I am beyond tired of resting. I managed to get myself off the couch today and cook some dinner. Prior to doing so, I did a little recipe hunting. I think that finding a decent recipe that includes ingredients I like and either have or can easily get (read: Steven picks up on his way home), is half the battle. Once I found something that fits all of these requirements, I think about recipe alterations: what substitutions I'll make, what ingredients I'll omit, what procedures I'll skip/add.

Today I wanted to make a soup... like soul food for the flu-ridden gal. With this congestion, I knew it couldn't be anything creamy. I've yet to make a Paula Deen recipe that disappoints, so I generally start there. If I want to make something that she doesn't have, I move to the Food Network website, and from there, just to the general internet-google search, if I can't find anything there, I make it up! I headed to www.pauladeen.com and typed in soup in her recipe search. I weeded through the creamy and weird sounding soups and came across one that I had most of the ingredients for - I decided to give it a shot. I picked Tastes Like Lasagna Soup - the Bobby lightens up version. In all honesty, it's been Christina Lightens Up for years. Anyone who knows me in the kitchen, knows I always take little shortcuts to lighten things up.. low fat here, light there.. it all adds up to a lot of saved calories, so I'm on board with Bobby's versions of Paula's dishes. The recipe is as follows (the asterisks and numbers will indicate changes I made):

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 pound Italian turkey sausage, casings removed *1
1 onion, chopped *2
1 green bell pepper, chopped *3
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (32-ounce) container chicken broth
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
4 ounces broken whole-wheat lasagna noodles (about 4 noodles) *4
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil *5
3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup reduced-fat shredded mozzarella cheese
8 Whole-wheat breadsticks or grissini (optional) *6
additions *7

1. I had ground turkey, so I used that instead. I actually liked being in control of the seasoning, instead of at the mercy of whatever was added to the sausage.
2. I used 2 shallots. I love 'em and they're basically the only onion I use!
3. I (even we) dislike how overpowering green peppers are. I used a yellow one for this recipe.
4. I didn't have lasagna noodles.. what I did have was manicotti, so I crushed those up and used them instead!
5. My basil plant is still recovering from my last batch of pesto - worth it! I have an Italian seasoning mixture from good ole Publix. I substituted a couple shakes of this for the basil. Would fresh basil have been nice? Probably. Did Steven eat this and say, "Hmm could use some fresh basil"? No.
6. Whole wheat breadsticks aren't something I want to spend money on. What we do have is a sourdough french bread loaf. We used a couple thin slices with a little butter.
7. What I added in was a zucchini, some banana peppers (from the jar) chopped, and about a tbl of lemon juice. I had a zucc and I knew it wouldn't be good for much longer, so I decided to add it in - what could it hurt? We could use the extra veggies anyways. I chopped it the same size as the shallots and bell pepper and cooked it right along with those guys, since they were all cut the same size, they cooked nice and evenly. I threw the banana peppers and lemon juice in after I sampled it and thought it was missing a little zing. They gave it the perfect little tang.

Here's the directions:

Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick saucepot or Dutch oven. Add the sausage, onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is crumbled and browned, 8 – 10 minutes.

Add the broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, salt, and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the flavors are blended, about 20 minutes. Add the noodles; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the soup thickens slightly and the noodles are tender, 10 – 12 minutes. Serve with the breadsticks, if using. (whole-wheat lasagna noodles take a little longer to cook.)

I followed these directions, minus the breadstick stuff.

Here's how mine came out, ooey-gooey melty cheese topping and all:




The original recipe, in its entirety, can be found here: http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/bobbys_lighter_tastes_like_lasagna_soup/



Quite a few of my friends have been expressing how hesitant they are to cook. I wanted to break down this recipe in a way that reflected the things I modified. Recipes are nothing more than starting points.. and if you mess up, there's always take-out!

I have recently really dreaded writing recipes, which is the reason for my lack of posting. It's difficult for me to keep track while I cook and the anxiety of someone preparing a dish based off a recipe I created and having it be unsuccessful because I forgot something was too much, so I've decided to try out a new format. I'm going to review places we eat and recipes I (we) try. Along the way, I'll post some of the things I've made up on my own and if you'd like the recipe, I'd be more than happy to type it up for you. So, expect more blogs, but in a new format. Yay!

12A Buoy

12A Buoy used to be this to locals:


A couple years ago, locals' idea of 12A Buoy changed. A new place opened in what was the ghost of restaurants past: Ramp Raw Bar (they moved on the island), Black Pearl (which we affectionately called Yak Hurl), etc. The new place was called 12A Buoy:


This is a locals' kinda place. Its owners and workers are all locals (I attended school with a couple of the employees and we're friends with another couple). One of our friends, Ben Lewis, is the chef there. He is, of course, not the only chef, but I know for certain that he the chef who creates my favorite thing to order: THE SPECIAL! The special is nothing specific, it changes twice a day, everyday! It is always a culinary display of Ben's skills. The dishes come to the table as first a treat to the eyes and then to the taste buds. Here are a couple samples of things we've had that I've photographed:

This is a grilled swordfish filet, atop creamed spinach and a potato pancake in a beurre blanc sauce, topped with a roasted red pepper. Hands down one of the best seafood dishes of my life (and Steven's as well!)


What you're looking at here is Chilean sea bass cheeks prepared coconut crusted and served with atop a pineapple salsa, drizzled with cilantro sour cream and a sweet chili sauce. Chilean sea bass is not very common, let alone the cheeks. Probably seems odd to those unaccustomed to seafood, but the cheeks are one of the most tender parts of a bigger fish and generally a rarity on menus so I jumped at the opportunity to order!



Here is a traditional southern fish fry, complete with collards and slaw (peeking in the background). The fish was flaky and complemented perfectly by the caribbean sauce served with it.


This is the beautifully plated ahi tuna served with pickled ginger, soy sauce, and a wonderful wasabi sauce. The best part of this dish is it tasted as amazing as it looked!


This was a special I ordered at lunch. Talk about a hearty entrée! What you're looking at here is a roasted vegetable couscous, serving as a delectable bed for a healthy cut of grouper, prepared blackened.


I try my best to end every meal at 12A with a slice of their key lime pie. This tall, white slice is, in fact, key lime pie. I know it's not the traditional, but it has changed my life. It is always sold out, so I take it when I can get it.. even if I'm stuffed full, if a slice is available, I'm taking it to go!


I have had several opportunities to try their other dishes, and have yet to try one I didn't tell everyone about. They have a new addition to the menu, fried shrimp served smothered in a sweet chile sauce. An old favorite is a lobster mac and cheese served in a personal cast iron skillet with big chunks of lobster - the perfect ratio of noodles to cheese to lobster - which I often order as my entrée. Their clam chowder is in fact a thick chowder, which several unmentioned restaurants have been lacking lately. They also have a roasted vegetable flatbread pizza, which offers the tang of goat cheese amongst the veggies.

Prior to writing this post, I poked around the internet and did some review reading. It is blatantly obvious to me that several people, who are not locals and/or are pretentious diners, took the time to write how they feel. Does 12 A have the best service? Not always, but I'll admit attending school with a waitress or 2 and knowing a chef doesn't hurt. Does 12A run out of things? Absolutely, all restaurants do. Do I blame them? No! I know how small that kitchen is and I know the capabilities for keeping fresh seafood in stock, especially in questionable weather. Also, I've been there during an hour and a half wait - you can't predict that sort of rush and always stocking enough for that kind of thing would probably mean a lot of food goes to waste.

If you are a servers in ties, martini with dinner, and/or eat in a rush kinda person then this is not the place for you. Server wear t-shirts. They only serves beer and wine. The atmosphere is relaxed and I can guarantee you will not be able to enjoy it if you are not also relaxed.

12A is located at 22 Fishermans Wharf Fort Pierce, FL 34950 and can be reached at (772) 672-4524. When I say that they are located at fisherman's wharf, it is in fact, fisherman's warf. 12A shares a parking lot with a local boat ramp. This makes it one of the ideal lunch spots for post-boating - we'll fish early, pull the boat out and park right back in our spot to grab lunch. As a local, my only request is that if you eat here PLEASE do NOT park in the long parking spots; they are intended for trucks with boat trailers! Also, 12A is closed on Tuesday - random, but true!

If you're on the Treasure Coast and interested in delicious seafood and a relaxed atmosphere, definitely give 12A a try.

Mini Brie en Croûte with Apple Shallot Chutney

This one is fairly simple and pretty fancy! An easy way to provide your guests with the fancy brie en croûte, but in a more convenient bite size version.

Here's what you'll need:
1 sheet of puff pastry
1 wheel of brie, free of the rind (why? because it's gross.)
2 granny smith apples, chopped
2 shallots, chopped
1 tbs brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
egg, beat with some water
1/4 stick of butter

Here's what to do:
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Pull pastry out of the freezer to begin to defrost.
3. Heat butter, chopped apples, shallots, sugar, vanilla, and pinch of salt over medium heat. After a few minutes, reduce to med-low. Allow to simmer until it reaches a consistency you like.. It took mine about 15-20 minutes.
4. While apple mixture is simmering down, it's time to prepare the pastry. Unfold the pastry and cut down the 2 creases. Also add 3 cuts, perpendicular to the previous cuts, so that you've produced 12 rectangles.
5. Take a rectangle, a chunk of brie (as much as you desire), and a spoonful of the apple mixture and wrap it up in the pastry. Don't expect to use all of the brie.. I used a little more than half. The remaining amount was perfect for the Thanksgiving pie. You will probably have to stretch the pastry and you will definitely have to twist the tops together. It will probably take you a couple to figure out how much will work and the best system to do this... or maybe it only took me a couple? :)
Here's what mine looked like at this phase, to give you an idea..

6. Brush with egg mixture and bake for about 20-30 mins, depending on your oven. Keep checking on it every couple minutes.
7. I'm not sure if it made a difference, but after I pulled the minis out of the oven, I put them on a wire cooling rack. Here's a shot of that...


Here's some of the final product and presentation...


Like I said, delicious and super cute! They were a huge hit.. almost made me wish I had made a double batch! Feel free to customize, but be sure to enjoy!!

Thanksgiving Pie

It's that time of year... it's post Thanksgiving and we've got leftovers. Everyone has leftovers. Everyone makes sandwiches. Everyone is bored!

So, I decided to go a route, not yet ventured. I took the idea of a turkey pot pie and made it my own. I essentially made a turkey pot pie/shepherd's pie hybrid. The beauty of it is, you can use what you have and do what you'd like. The most important thing, is to read this recipe all the way through, prior to preparing:

Ingredients:
stick of butter (I used light)
1-2 shallots (depending on size and amount desired)
1 tsp chopped thyme
1 tsp chopped rosemary
1/3 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped leftover turkey
1 cup stuffing
2-3 cups of mashed potatoes (either leftover, from scratch, or from a packet)
1/2 cup cheese (I used brie, but I imagine mozz or provolone working well)
pie crust
salt
Optional: 1 egg, whisked with a tiny bit of water (for shiny pretty pie crust)

What to do:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Prepare mashed potatoes, if necessary (I made from scratch, but you don't have to)
3. Make sure you have your pie crust out and resting.. a pie crust just below room temperature is much easier to handle. (for sake of time, I use the kind in the refrigerator)
4. Sautée 1/2 stick butter and shallot over medium heat in moderate sized pan. Once translucent, add herbs. Once they are aromatic, add pecans. Once sautéed and smelling delicious, add carrots and turkey.
5. Time to start building the pie! Prepare the pie crust, by rolling out just enough so that it will be big enough to spread in a pie pan. Load up with the mashed potatoes.. as much as you'd like! Add in the pan ingredients and then top with your chosen cheese. Fold over the crust and brush with the egg mixture (if desired).
6. Bake for about 25 minutes. I say about because I have a convection oven, so that times may vary. Do yourself, and whomever else is eating this pie, check on it occasionally. Set a timer for 10 mins, and check. Then 5 and check. Then 5 and check. If it's getting close then set for 2 minutes and check. Seems annoying, but a perfect pie it totally worth it.
7. Slice and enjoy!!


The most important thing is to trust your gut. Pans, ovens, stoves, taste buds are all different. Just because something worked for me, doesn't necessarily mean it will work for you. If it's looking a little dry, add some more butter. If the temp seems too hot, lower it and vice versa. It is of utmost importance that you make decisions about your preferences first! This is your meal.. I'm only providing you with what I've done, a skeleton if you will :)

Here's photos of my product:

My favorite dessert lately..

I am mildly obsessed with these apples! It's the perfect season for them around here and the topping just enhances the deliciousness.

Baked Apples topped with Havarti



Ingredients (serves 2)
1 granny smith apple (or apple of your choice)
A couple slices of havarti cheese
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 tsp of vanilla
2 tablespoons of marscapone
1/2 tsp cinnamon

- Preheat oven to 350°
- Slice apples in half
- Split the ingredients amongst the apple halves
- Bake for about 20-30 minutes (depending on the size of your apples)

That's it! So simple, so delicious!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

I made this last night for dinner. It was delicious, simple, quick to make, and surprisingly pretty healthy.

Ingredients:
- 2 flour or 4 corn soft tortillas, cut into 1-by-2-inch strips
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, trimmed of fat and diced
- 2 cups bell peppers, diced - I used red and orange
- 1 cup diced onion, I used shallots
- 1/2 a regular can of corn, or a small can
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 (14-ounce) can reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
- couple dollops of sour cream, if desired
- couple shakes of hot sauce, if desired (I used Cholula)

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread tortillas strips in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned and crisp, 5-7 for flour, 10-12 for corn.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. (Don't have a dutch oven? No big deal, use a moderately sized pot)
- Add peppers, onions and cumin to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned, about 4 minutes.
- Add broth, tomatoes, pepper and lime juice; bring to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender. Continue stirring, until heated through. Remove from the heat.
- Serve topped with the toasted tortilla strips, a little sour cream, and some cheese.

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This recipe makes about 2-4 servings. I doubled it. We were able to both eat a portion, refrigerate a portion for our lunches, and freeze the rest for a later date. I've been trying to do this a lot recently. We've got a jam-packed fall and I feel like there will be a lot of days where we're going to need something very easy, sans cooking. We'll be able to pull this out of the freezer, put it in a saucepan, and heat it up and enjoy... again!

Meatloaf, chantilly potatoes, and glazed carrots.

Most of the time, when people compliment my cooking I deflect with mention of recipes. This meal, compliments were accepted. I created each portion of this meal. I used knowledge from things learned and just cooked. No recipe to continuously refer to. It was up to me to create a flavor profile and I can't believe how well it turned out. Not to toot my own horn, but I couldn't have been more proud.

Let's start with the meatloaf. Pay mind, that this is not your mama's meatloaf. It was loaded up and very flavorful. It was crumbly, but only because it was so moist.

Meatloaf



1lb of ground beef (I used a 1/2 -1/2 sirloin/chuck to decrease fat content)
1 egg
1 large shallot, diced
2 tbl A-1
1 tbl worcestershire
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup ketchup + extra for topping loaf
1/4-1/3 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
3 tbl whipped cream cheese
3 tbl sour cream
6 slices of bacon, (4 chopped up tiny)
1/3 + 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (Steven loves sharp, so that's what I used)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

1. Getcha hands in there! Mix everything together, except the 2 whole bacon slices, and 1/4 cup of cheese.
2. Roll it into a big ball. I find it's easier to form into a meatloaf shape that way. Put the loaf into a pan; I used one a little larger to give it some room to breathe.
3. I topped the meatloaf with the remaining 2 slices of bacon (cut them into thirds and arranged on the top of it). I also sprinkled the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese on the top. I also topped with ketchup - made for the crispy crunchy top you see in the picture above.
3. Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes. Check it as it cooks for desired doneness.


Glazed Carrots



Sounds kinda fancy huh? They were simple and delicious! Most importantly, they just simmered while I prepared the rest of the meal which is always time appreciated.

5 large carrots, with a quick peel (doesn't have to be perfect) and angled chop
1 can of diet orange soda
1 tbl butter
1 1in piece of ginger
1 tbl soy
2 tsp rice vinegar

Add everything together and simmer on med-low (might be medium depending on your stove), until carrots attain desired tenderness. Think about 30-45 minutes.


Chantilly Potatoes



Sounds fancy, huh? Not as difficult as you might think :) I've only read chantilly recipes, and I totally made this one up.. in a healthier (less fat) way.

3lbs of potatoes, peeled and chopped into small 1in cubes
1 shallot
3 slices of bacon, chopped small
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup fat free half and half
1tbl sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2-1 cup havarti (or desired cheese)
1/4 cup parmesean cheese (shredded)

1. Boil the potatoes as if you were making traditional mashed potatoes.
2. Whip the vanilla, sugar, heavy cream and half and half together - it will not whip up as the heavy cream usually does, but it will becoming bubbly and fluffy.
2. Combine remaining ingredients (except bacon) and fold in the cream/half-half mixture.
3. Once the potatoes are tender enough, mash them!
4. Fold everything together.
5. Sprinkle bacon on the top, and broil. Broiling times of ovens vary, so you will have to keep a close eye on this one.


Here's the finished product:


Here's a tiny tip.. utilize foil! Anytime I know we won't be up for a ton of dishes I line the pans with foil. I can hear you hippies saying that's not the best for the environment, but I use recycled foil and that's less damaging to the earth than the water it would take to clean the pans :) Time saving and earth conscious? Yes, please!

Enjoy!