recipe#6

This winter I've been trying my hand at homemade soups. This one is a take off of one from Mamma Grazzi's. Some friends and I went Friday for dinner and I forgot how much I love their Minestrone soup. It's really the pesto that stands out for me. I decided I could make something similar.

ingredients:

-1 tbsp olive oil

-3 cloves of garlic; minced

-1 tsp of cornstarch (not sure if it really made a difference in thickness)

-1 can of red beans

-3 tbsp pesto (i cheated and used frozen pesto, but I would like to make my own next time)

-1 onion; diced

-1 stalk of celery; chopped

-1 carrot; diced

-1 box of stock (i happened to use chicken because it was on sale, i usually stick to vegetable stock but could not find any at my local grocery store)

ingredient fail - I forgot to include the stock and olive oil but there is a orange monkey peeler

instructions:

1. Add olive oil to large pot, saute onions, carrots and celery.
2. Once onions are slightly transparent add in garlic, beans, pesto and stock (this is also when I added the cornstarch).
3. Bring to a boil and than turn down stove and simmer for 20 minutes or so.
4. Optional - This is when I made my grilled cheese to go along with my soup for a perfect pairing.

dinner is served

soup!

amazing grilled cheese with olives, feta, kraft single on onion bread with garlic powder and red pepper flakes

There you have it my dinner from tonight.

Current playlist:
1.  LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yrself Clean
2.  The Clash - Death or Glory
3.  LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock you Out
4.  Matt and Kim - Cut Down
5.  The Strokes - Gratisfaction

I promise my next update will not be a month and a half away

recipe#5

***Sorry for the lack of updates! I wish I could say it was because I was super busy, but that is further from the truth. Anyways I'm going to do two updates tonight to compensate.

I've been following Bakerella for a longtime and for Christmas I received her book 'Cakepops'.

 This weekend for Earth Hour I finally decided to try my hand at them. I didn't take photos as I went because it became quite the endeavour. I must give her props for all her cute designs because I do not think I have the patience for it or the kitchen space. However the cakepops/cakeballs came out pretty cute and better tasting than the new Starbucks rip off ones, if I do say so myself.

Here is a photo of the finished product:

If you would like to make them yourself go here! You will not be sorry. They are a crowd pleaser and who doesn't love eating something off a stick?

recipe #4 - weekend scrambled eggs

Usually every Saturday morning I like to make egg sammies this way and watch a guilty pleasure show on my laptop.

Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 tsp creme cheese
1-2 tsp Sriracha sauce (dependent on how spicy you like it)

Mix together ingredients

I tend to like my eggs a little runny

I toasted some egg bread and added a kraft single. I usually mix it up cheesewise

BAM! You've got breakfast!

Weekend Playlist:

1. Beastie Boys - Girls
2. Ceo - Halo (Beyonce Cover)
3. Vancans - Pursuit of Happiness (Kid Cudi Cover)
4. Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in The Dark
5. Crystal Castles - Not In Love 
6. Cults - Go Outside
7. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
8. Talking Heads - This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) ***

***It's been recently pointed out to me that I put this song on every mix; however on the upside it is a great song

recipe #3 - goat cheese macaroni and cheese

I wish I had taken a photo of this, trust me it was amazing! I will be making again.

Ingredients:
-1/2 box of elbow macaroni
-1 head of cauliflower; chopped into small florets
-3 roasted red peppers; i usually buy a big jar at price club; chopped
-1/4 of large peppered goat cheese from pc
-2 cups of old cheddar
-1/4 tsp cayenne
-1/4 tsp nutmeg
-1/4 tsp pepper
-1/2 cup flour
-8 tbsp butter
-4/5 cups milk; judged as i made the sauce
-1/4 bread crumbs (i used italian pc)
-PAM

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Spray a glass casserole dish with PAM
2. Steam cauliflower in a pot and in another boil a pot of water for the macaroni (directions on the box).
3.  In a third pot, add butter; as butter is melted add in flour slowly; cook for 1 minute while whisking.
4. Add in spices, 1 1/2 cups old cheddar and goat cheese; continue whisking. Add in milk and keep whisking.
5. Strain macaroni and cauliflower. Add both together in the macaroni pot with the chopped red peppers.
6. Pour sauce on and mix together. Pour into casserole dish. Add bread crumbs and leftover cheese.
7. Bake between 30-45 mins; until the top is browned.

recipe #2 chicken burritos

I'm sick of pre-packaged dressings, mixes, etc. This past year I've been making my own dressings, soups and now spice mixes.  This meal was easy and cheap to make. I had mostly everything in my pantry.

Ingredients:
-1 pkg lean ground chicken
-1 onion; diced
-1 yellow pepper; diced
-3 bulbs garlic; minced
-1 jalapeno; diced
-1 tbsp cumin
-1 tbsp chili powder
-1/2 cup shredded cheese
-1 can of black beans
-1 can of corn
-2 green onions; chopped
-1 pkg of wraps; i choose pc's flaxseeed whole wheat wraps
-salsa 

start by browning the meat and preheat over to 400 F

all the other ingredients

once the meat is cooked add in spices, jalapeno, onions and pepper

when the onion is cooked add in beans and corn; add more spice as needed

add in meat/bean mixture and cover with cheese.

Fold in shape of burrito and place in a glass casserole dish. cover with cheese and cook for 40-60 mins depending on your oven. Sprinkle with green onions and place on a plate. Add salsa.

Current #1 jam
 Ducktales featuring Panda Bear - Killin The Vibe

pizza cones

I've been excited to go for pizza cones since I read about it on apt613 last april. I finally went two weeks ago with some friends. 

 Outside of the storefront, it doesn't look like much but the man working was super nice and they had a nice mix of 80's jams going on.

giant pizza cone decal

starting at $6.50 for another buck you can add as many toppings as you like

i got a real kick out of the glass coke bottles. *even coke zero*

toppings for miles

my amazing pizza cone

For around $10 you too can have as many toppings as you like with a drink. Perfect second date material here.  Ombrellina Pizza Cones is on 527 Bronson Avenue.

#3

i am a bad blogger. i have a delicious recipe for a chickpea curry i made last night but no photograph.  i borrowed the recipe from a website but changed it around a lot so i claim it as my own.

ingredients:

4 medium potatoes, cubed (what i would do next time is 1 potato and the rest cauliflower)
2 tbsps oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 tsp minced garlic
4 tsp curry powder
4 tsp garam masala
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp of chopped jalapeno pepper
1 can of tomato paste
1 can coconut milk
1 can chickpeas
1 block of tofu; cubed

instructions:

1. Cook the potatoes (& cauliflower) and put aside once finished
2.  Mix the spices together minus the garlic and divide by half. 
3.  Cream together 3-4 tbsp of coconut milk and 1 tbsp of tomato paste. add in half the spices and some of the jalapeno pepper.  Mix with cubed tofu and grill using an appropriate pan (i got mine at IKEA for $14.99).
4. At the same time in another pan, saute onions and minced garlic in oil. Once cooked, add spices and cook for 2 mins. Add the rest of the coconut milk and tomato paste. Aswell as chickpeas, potatoes and the cooked tofu). Stir and let simmer until ready to eat.

*May I suggest brown basmati rice. That's how we ate it.

current playlist:
kate nash - foundations
the knife - heartbeats
ceo - halo (beyonce cover)
black kids - i'm not going to teach your boyfriend how to dance with you
crystal castles - baptism
girl talk - steady shock
mia - bucky done gun
cults - go outside
ben folds - bitches ain't shit

***next post pizza cones y'all; with photos***