Fun and Fearless in Beantown

Spicy Almond Tofu Stir-Fry

2012-02-01T08:56:00.000-05:00

I probably make a stir-fry dish at least twice a month. It is my go-to weeknight meal because I always have some vegetables and protein on hand. I typically whisk together a soy sauce-based sauce to tie the entire dish together but this week, I decided to try something different. I was really craving a good Thai-style peanut sauce but when it came time to dinnertime, I found that I only had almond butter on hand. So, I did a substitution and found that almond sauce is pretty fantastic too.

First, I gathered my stir-fry ingredients. Obviously you can use whatever vegetables and proteins you would like, but I used:

1 block firm tofu, drained (or in my case, pressed) and cubed
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 habanero pepper, mostly de-seeded and finely chopped
1 package of baby button mushrooms, cleaned and patted dry
1/2 cup of frozen zucchini slices
1 cup of frozen broccoli
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can of sliced water chestnuts, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup of peanuts, toasted
1/8 cup vegetable oil (not pictured)

For the almond sauce, I used:

1/4 cup almond butter
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 teaspoon spicy red pepper flakes (Thanks, Bianca!)
1/4 cup water (not pictured)

After I prepped all of my stir-fry ingredients, I started out by warming up the wok on high heat with the vegetable oil. Once the wok and the oil were very hot, I added the tofu to get a nice browned crust on the tofu.

While the tofu was cooking, I whisked together the ingredients for my almond sauce.

When the tofu was done, I transferred the tofu to a plate and then added the chopped onion and habanero pepper to the wok.

After a few minutes, I added the mushrooms.

Then, I added the zucchini, broccoli, and garlic, along with some salt and pepper.

Finally, I added the tofu and almond sauce back to the pan and gave everything a good mix to make sure the almond sauce coated all of the stir-fry.

I then threw my peanuts into the oven at about 400 degrees to get them roasted. While the peanuts were roasting, I added the water chestnuts to the stir-fry and gave everything a final mix.

I served the tofu stir-fry in a shallow bowl and topped with the roasted peanuts. You can serve the stir-fry over noodles or rice, or eat it plain like we did.

The habanero pepper and red pepper flakes added a lot of heat, but it contrasted nicely with the sweet creaminess of the almond butter. I also loved that there were softer mushrooms, onions, and tofu but also crunchy broccoli, water chestnuts and peanuts.

This impromptu almond sauce will definitely be making a regular appearance in my stir-fry rotation. Tell me, what is your go-to weeknight dish? What dishes make regular appearances in your kitchen?

Chicken Sausage With Beans And Okra

2012-01-29T21:15:00.000-05:00

I have two huge recipe binders in my kitchen that are filled with clipped recipes. Between emails, magazines and recipes shared between friends and family, I have quite the collection. This past weekend, I decided to sort through them to find some new recipes to try out. I found a really simple recipe from Everyday Food (November 2009) for Red Beans with Andouille Sausage. I liked the concept of the dish but I didn't have all of the ingredients and I was too impatient to soak the dried red beans overnight. So, I adapted the recipe to make a healthier version with chicken sausage, red and black beans and okra.

First, I gathered my ingredients:

1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 package (12 ounces) of sweet Italian-style chicken sausage, cut into 1-inch slices
1 medium yellow onion, diced small
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can black beans
1 can red kidney beans
2 cups water
Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
1 cup frozen chopped okra
Salt and pepper, to taste

In my Dutch oven, I warmed the oil over medium heat. I added the chicken sausage and cooked until the sausages were browned.

Using a slotted spoon, I transferred the sausages to plate. I then added the onion and garlic to the pan and cooked until softened.

I then added the two cans of beans in with the canned bean juices, along with the two cups of water and a generous pinch of the red pepper flakes. I brought the entire mixture to a boil and then reduced it to a simmer.

I let the beans cook for about half an hour before I stirred in the frozen okra and the chicken sausage.

I let the entire mixture simmer for another thirty minutes and seasoned with salt and pepper, to taste. The liquid thickened up into a wonderful sauce with a lot of flavor from the beans, chicken sausage drippings, and garlic. The okra added texture and crunch.

If there was more of this liquid, it would have made this dish into a really thick and hearty soup. Instead, this wasn't quite a soup but filling nonetheless. Bret and I each had a huge bowl of this dish and it warmed us right up during this cold weekend.

In addition to this recipe, I pulled out a few different clipped recipes to try during the coming weeks. Tell me, where do you usually find inspiration for new dishes?

Wedding Whirlwind

2012-01-26T10:44:00.001-05:00

While I normally have food on my mind, lately I've been distracted with two different things that start with the letter "W" - work and wedding! When I'm not at work, I've been doing a lot of wedding planning. After all, the wedding is only eight months away!

This past month, we've gotten a lot of wedding-related tasks done. We started (and mostly finished) our wedding registries, designed and purchased our Save the Dates, put a deposit down with our wedding invitation designer, and I've set up bridesmaid dress appointments. I've also started the dialogues with a local business for our wedding favors and possible hair and make-up stylists. I'm not kidding when I say that I've had wedding planning on my mind.

But the most exciting thing I've done this month is purchase a few accessories for the big day, including my wedding ceremony shoes!

Since we're planning on having our wedding ceremony outdoors, I'm nervous about walking in heels in the gravel and grass. I've been eyeing these Kate Spade flat satin sandals for awhile and when I found them on sale at Nordstrom Rack this weekend, I couldn't resist! I'm definitely purchasing a pair of kitten heels for the reception also but I'm excited to find these for the wedding ceremony!

Tell me, what has been keeping you busy lately?

Buffalo Tofu Lettuce Wraps

2012-01-24T17:25:00.000-05:00

I have been in love with my new tofu press. It drains so much water out of tofu, which helps get a really wonderful texture on my tofu after baking or pan-frying. It has really inspired me to make a lot of interesting tofu dishes lately, including buffalo tofu lettuce wraps, which Bret and I made together this past weekend.

The ingredients were simple:

1 package of extra firm tofu
1/8 cup of hot buffalo sauce, plus more to taste
1/4 cup of cashews, chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1 small head of Boston bibb lettuce, leaves separated
Blue cheese dressing to taste

First, we pressed the tofu for about six hours and intermittently drained the excess water. Once the moisture was really drained from the tofu, we marinated the tofu block in about an 1/8 cup of hot buffalo sauce.

We let the tofu marinate for about a half hour on each side before cubing it and letting it marinate some more.

Meanwhile, we toasted the chopped cashews in the oven. You can smell a beautiful nutty aroma from the cashews when they are toasting but you've got to keep an eye on them and stir often. Trust me, you'll know when they've toasted too long and have burnt!

In addition, we rinsed a small head of Boston bibb lettuce and gave it quite a few spins in our salad spinner.

Finally, we warmed up the wok with some cooking spray. Once the pan was hot, we cooked the tofu with the minced garlic until there was a beautiful crust on the tofu.

And just like that, dinner was ready! We made lettuce wraps with tofu, toasted cashews and blue cheese dressing. Bret also used a little extra buffalo sauce in his wraps but I, for once in my life, didn't need the extra heat!

My tofu press has me cooking with tofu way more than I used to. Tell me, what is your favorite way to cook or eat tofu?

Charlotte Au Chocolat

2012-01-22T14:29:00.000-05:00

I am having one of the most relaxing weekends in a long time. I've slept in every morning, gotten in great workouts and had time to cook leisurely breakfasts. Sure, we've been running errands, seeing family, and even a movie double date last night, but the theme of this weekend is pure relaxation. It feels long overdue.

When I have free time, I love curling up on the couch with a good book. I recently received an advance reading copy of Charlotte Au Chocolat: Memories of a Restaurant Girlhood by Charlotte Silver, and I loved curling up with it this weekend.

Photo Credit

Charlotte Silver is the daughter of Deborah Hughes, the co-owner of Upstairs on the Square and the now-defunct Upstairs at the Pudding. Charlotte writes about her experiences growing up in the restaurant industry and her two worlds in both the front of the house and in the kitchen of her mother's restaurant. I easily devoured Charlotte's beautiful descriptions of food (especially her namesake Charlotte Au Chocolat!) and a nostalgic look at a Harvard Square that no longer exists. But what I loved most was Charlotte's honest look back at her relationship with her mother. From the book, I gather that we are about the same age and I could relate to her struggles with wanting to please her mother but also just trying to figure out what her mother really is all about.

The book officially hits bookstores on February 16th. If you read it, I highly recommend that you enjoy it while snuggling up in a big throw blanket with a cup of chocolate mint tea, as I did. And make sure you have a pastry or two on hand. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Do you enjoy reading novels and short stories about food as much as I do? If so, what are some of your favorite food-related reads?

Birthday Cupcakes At Cakeology

2012-01-18T22:20:00.000-05:00

After our late lunch and early dinner at Scholars American Bistro, Bret and I attempted to make a beeline back to the hotel since it was freezing out! We got a little derailed when we saw the storefront for Cakeology, which was just about halfway between the restaurant and the hotel.

I swear we didn't drink my contact solution in the background!

I've seen Cakology's presence on Twitter as a mobile cupcake truck, but I didn't realize that they had opened up an actual store. We picked up four of their mini-cupcakes to enjoy back at the hotel.

My choices were a vanilla cupcake with chocolate buttercream frosting and a chocolate cupcake also with chocolate buttercream frosting. Bret also had a vanilla cupcake with chocolate buttercream frosting and a red velvet cupcake.

The vanilla mini-cupcakes were a little dry but the chocolate and red velvet cakes were super moist. The buttercream frosting was absolutely perfect. I rarely like frosting but I could have had a spoonful of the chocolate buttercream! These mini cupcakes were the perfect little bite of sweetness for a small birthday treat.

In addition to its food truck, Cakeology is located at 45 Province Street, Boston, MA.

Scholars Boston Bistro

2012-01-16T21:30:00.000-05:00

First of all, thanks everyone for the kind birthday wishes! I am still recovering from my 30th birthday weekend. It started out with a lovely bouquet of flowers from my office...

..to a massage and manicure at Indra Salon....

...to waking up on Saturday morning to the most beautiful pair of earrings from Bret....

...and then heading to Boston to celebrate the big 3-0 with some of my nearest and dearest at Silvertone. I have to thank Bret for planning such a memorable evening with wonderful friends and way too much bubbly!

After checking into the Omni Parker House on Saturday before the party, Bret and I decided to grab a late lunch and early dinner down the street at Scholars Boston Bistro. I have heard really great things about Scholars and I was eager to check it out. I didn't take any photos of the interior but the place is gorgeous! It is hard to believe that this used to be a Talbot's clothing store before!

Bret ordered the fried pickles to start and I stole a few of the pickle chips. The pickles were really awesome but sliced way too thick. The thick pickle chips had a hard time holding onto the breading, so the whole thing came apart and just ended up being a big greasy mess. This was a bit of a disappointment!

There were quite a few different sandwiches to choose from their lunch menu and I went with the cranberry cashew chicken salad wrap. The chicken salad was light on the mayo and I loved the addition of cranberries and cashews. Although it sounded strange on the menu, the wrap also included avocado, pepper jack cheese, balsamic mixed greens and tomato. The creaminess of the avocado and the mild heat from the cheese really gave this sandwich some depth. It was definitely a big hit!

The sandwich also came with a few onion rings and way too many Parmesan steak fries. I was already pretty stuffed so I barely made a dent in them but I loved the saltiness of the Parmesan cheese. If we weren't going back to a hotel, I totally would have brought the excess fries home for a late night birthday snack!

Scholars was a great place to grab a bite before my birthday party. I'm looking forward to heading back there again to check out their beer menu.
Scholars Boston Bistro is located at 25 School Street, Boston, MA.

Final 30 By 30 Update

2012-01-13T20:42:00.002-05:00

How quickly a year flies by. I can't believe that I turn the big 3-0 tomorrow! This year has been one filled with lots of changes and I'm ready to embrace everything that this coming year will bring.

This will be my final 30 by 30 update...I got almost halfway through the list. While I didn't get through all the items, I'm hoping to keep working on the list in the coming year.

1. ~~Run a 5K.~~

2. Go camping, like real camping...overnight...in a tent.

3. Pay off all of my credit card debt.

4. ~~Attend a live WWE event (don't judge).~~

5. ~~Make Gordon Hamersley's roast chicken.~~

6. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge.

7. Go out to dinner and a movie by myself.

8. ~~Watch all three of the original Star Wars movies~~. (Thanks, Karen!)

9. ~~Boil a lobster by myself for the first time~~.

10. ~~Write my will.~~

11. Write a letter of apology to someone that I have wronged and send it.

12. Experiment with molecular gastronomy.

13. Learn to drive stick shift.

14. Learn to make my own kimchi.

15. Learn how to change a car tire.

16. Go to a shooting range.

17. ~~Redesign "Fun and Fearless in Beantown"~~

18. ~~Launch a wedding website.~~

19. Cook a three-course vegan dinner for my vegan friends.

20. Make turducken for the first time.

21. ~~Climb a mountain.~~

22. Complete thirty (30) hours of community service or volunteering.

Completed four hours at the Greater Boston Food Bank.

23. ~~Finish an entire plate of Hell Pasta from East Coast Grill.~~
24. ~~Floss every day.~~ (I only missed four days!)
25. Take a self-defense course.

26. ~~Make homemade ice cream for the first time.~~

27. ~~Make gnocchi for the first time.~~
28. ~~Fly a kite.~~
29. Milk a cow.
30. Participate in a city dinner crawl, which means having cocktails, appetizer, dinner, dessert and post-dinner cocktails each at a different place in one city in one night.

Thanks to everyone for supporting me on my 30 by 30 list. It has been a lot of fun working on this list...and trying new things and gaining new experiences.

Tell me, what are you hoping to accomplish in 2012?

Frozen Fenway

2012-01-08T20:55:00.000-05:00

Between late hours in the office on Friday night and a full day in the office today, I was happy to spend Saturday outdoors cheering on my alma mater at Fenway Park for the UMass-UVM hockey game. When I bought the tickets months ago, I was anticipating shivering at Fenway Park on a cold January afternoon. But the weather was unseasonably warm and we had a blast.

Here are some photos of Frozen Fenway:

Sam the Minuteman

UMass for the win in overtime!

Watching UMass hockey at Frozen Fenway was definitely the highlight of my weekend. Tell me, how was your weekend?

Crispy Chocolate-Cherry Treats

2012-01-05T19:52:00.000-05:00

Around the holidays, I received a complimentary copy of America's Test Kitchen's Holiday Cookies 2010 issue. Sure, it was last year's issue but I still loved perusing through the recipes. I flagged the recipe for Crispy Chocolate-Cherry Treats because I thought they would be a fun little dessert for our New Year's Eve feast!

First, I gathered the ingredients for these grown-up Rice Krispies treats:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 (10 ounce) bag marshmallows
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 cup dried cherries, chopped
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips melted

I haven't made Rice Krispies treats in over a decade and I forgot how much fun they are to make:

Line a baking pan with aluminum foil and allow the excess foil to hang over the pan edges.
Grease the aluminum foil.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the marshmallows, white chocolate chips, and salt and cook until smooth.
Once smooth, stir in the vanilla extract.
Remove the marshmallow mixture from the heat and mix in the cereal and dried cherries.
Scrape the entire mixture into the aluminum foil-lined baking pan. Spread the mixture evenly and press into the bottoms and corners with a greased spatula.
Let the treat mixture cool for about an hour before drizzling the melt chocolate.
After the chocolate has cooled, use the foil overhang to lift the treats onto a cutting board and cut into squares.

I made these Crispy Chocolate-Cherry Treats first thing on Saturday and we definitely had a square with some champagne at midnight!

My friends also enjoyed some of these treats on New Year's Day, along with the leftover chicken and sausage gumbo, salsa and chips, and lots of cheese and crackers! These treats were a big hit and I'm definitely going to experiment in the future with different ingredients like peanut butter chips, dried cranberries or melted Nutella!

What sweet treats did you enjoy on New Year's Eve?

Southern Biscuits

2012-01-03T21:50:00.000-05:00

When I decided to make Chicken and Sausage Gumbo for New Year's Eve dinner, Bret suggested that we make biscuits to eat with the gumbo. This seemed like a simple enough request and we found an easy Food Network recipe for Southern Biscuits.

First, we gathered the ingredients:

2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons shortening
1 cup buttermilk, chilled

The biscuits were super easy to make:

Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
Using your fingertips, rub the butter and shortening into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles a crumbly dough.
Make a well in the center and pour in the chilled buttermilk. Stir just until the dough comes together. The dough will become very sticky.
Turn dough onto a floured surface. Dust the biscuit dough with flour and gently fold the dough over five or six times.
Press the dough into a one-inch thickness and cut out the biscuits with a two-inch cutter. We didn't have a cutter so we used a wine glass instead.
Place the biscuits on the baking sheet until they just touch and bake for about fifteen minutes, until the biscuits are tall and golden on top.

This simple recipe did not fail us and were awesome with a pat of butter and used to sop up the gumbo!

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

2012-01-02T18:10:00.000-05:00

After our hearty and filling first course of Coconut-Curry Mussels, Bret and I leisurely cooked a wonderful Chicken and Sausage Gumbo for our New Year's Eve dinner. I flagged this recipe from my most recent issue of Bon Appetit. Since this dish takes about three hours to prep and cook, I knew that this would be perfect for our New Year's Eve night in.

First, I gathered our ingredients:

1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1/2 cup (or more) vegetable oil
1 pound andouille sausage, cut into 1/2" rounds
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 medium onions, finely chopped
4 scallions, thinly sliced (white and pale parts separated from dark)
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
2 green bell peppers, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped garlic (this was about six cloves for me)
8 cups low-salt chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
2 cups 1/2”-thick slices frozen okra, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce
Steamed rice

After prepping the ingredients, there were still a lot of steps to this recipe. As you may have noticed from my previous blog post, I didn't take photos of the cooking process because I wanted to just enjoy the time in the kitchen with Bret. Sometime you just need to shut the camera off, turn up the music, pour a glass of wine and enjoy the actual act of cooking:

I combined the salt, freshly ground black pepper, paprika and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. I then sprinkled the spice mixture all over the chicken thighs.
I warmed up the 1/2 cup of vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Working in two batches, I seared the chicken until golden brown, about five minutes per side.
I then transferred the browned chicken to a plate and then added the sausage to the pot. Again, I cooked the sausage until browned, about four minutes per side. I transferred the browned sausage to another plate.
I then strained the drippings from the Dutch oven through a fine-mesh sieve into a multi-cup heatproof measuring cup. I reserved one cup of the strained drippings. Since my drippings were less than a cup, I added more vegetable oil to measure one cup.
Bret wiped the Dutch oven clean and I returned the drippings to pot.
I warmed the drippings over medium heat.
I whisked flour into drippings. Bret and I took turns whisking constantly until the roux was the color of milk chocolate. This took about fifteen minutes for us.
I reduced the heat to low heat. I then added the onions and cooked until soft.
Next, I stirred in the white and pale-green parts of scallions, celery stalks, green bell peppers, and garlic cloves and cooked those vegetables until soft.
I then slowly whisked in the broth.
I next added the bay leaves, thyme, and reserved chicken and sausage.
I brought the gumbo to a boil. Once it was boiling, I reduced the heat to low and let the gumbo simmer gently. I skimmed a lot of fat from the surface while it was simmering and stirred occasionally.
I let the gumbo simmer for about forty-five minutes and then I stirred in one cup of okra, the Worcestershire sauce, and the hot sauce.
I let the gumbo simmer for another forty-five minutes until the chicken was very tender and falling apart in the gumbo.
I stirred in the remaining one cup of okra and simmered until the most recently-added okra was crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
I removed the gumbo from the heat.
I served the gumbo over rice and garnished the gumbo with the chopped dark-green parts of the scallions.

This gumbo took a lot of time but was worth all of the effort. The gumbo had a thick gravy-like consistency. The chicken was tender and the sausage added the perfect amount of kick to the dish.

The gumbo is also wonderful re-heated. I served it to my girlfriends the next day while we watched the Pats game. We froze about half of the gumbo but I'm looking forward to eating the other half of the leftovers for the next day or so.

This chicken and sausage gumbo was probably one of the more labor-intensive dishes I've made (next to Gordon Hamersley's Roast Chicken).

Tell me, what is the most labor-intensive dish you've made? Was it worth it?

Coconut-Curry Mussels

2012-01-01T18:57:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! I hope everyone closed out 2011 and welcomed 2012 in style. After a whirlwind year, Bret and I were happy to ring in the new year together quietly at home. We spent the afternoon and evening trying out new recipes and I'm looking forward to sharing these dishes on the blog this week.

We started the evening with Coconut-Curry Mussels, which I flagged from Everyday Food Magazine (June 2011). I'm a huge fan of seafood and Bret is a slow convert. He, however, does enjoy mussels so I knew this would be a big hit on New Year's Eve.

First, I gathered my ingredients:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 can unsweetened coconut milk
3 tablespoons red Thai curry paste (the original recipe called for green or yellow Thai curry paste)
2 pounds mussels, rinsed and scrubbed (the original recipe called for 3 pounds mussels)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

The recipe was really easy and straightforward:

In a large pot with a lid, melt butter over medium-high heat.
Add the garlic and ginger, and cook until fragrant.
Whisk in coconut milk and curry paste, and bring the broth to a simmer over high heat.
Add the mussels and stir to combine. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to medium-high heat. Cook until the mussels have opened, which is about three to five minutes.
Remove the pot from heat and stir in the lime juice and cilantro.

The mussels were plump and juicy. We sopped up some of this lovely coconut-curry broth with slices of crusty French bread.

This simply but lovely dish was a great way to start our New Year's Eve meal and one that can easily be repeated for a weeknight dinner.

Tell me, did you stay in or go out for New Year's Eve? Either way, what did you eat?`

My Newest Obsession: TofuXpress

2011-12-28T23:03:00.000-05:00

I have been wanting a tofu press for the longest time. I cook with tofu pretty frequently and I'm always finding creative ways to squeeze out the excess water from tofu before baking or stir-frying it.

Pressing Tofu For My Marinated Baked Tofu Stir-Fry

No matter what my method, I never feel like I have quite gotten all of the water out and the tofu never ends up having quite the crispy texture that I'm looking for.

I saw a few product reviews for the TofuXpress on some of my favorite blogs and I put it on my Amazon wishlist in 2010. Almost two years later, I finally got it as a Christmas gift from my sister (thanks, Jessica)!

The tofu press is everything that it says it will be. It helps easily squeeze out the excess water and without excess water (and a really hot pan), you can get an awesome crust on the tofu.

We made a simple tofu stir-fry tonight for dinner and the tofu texture was really meaty.

The TofuXpress was one of many food-related items I received for Christmas and Hanukkah, including cookbooks, food-themed fiction, and a new rice cooker.

Tell me, what are your favorite food-related gifts to give or receive?

Brown Sugar Cookies

2011-12-27T19:48:00.000-05:00

In addition to my Salted Toffee-Chocolate Squares, I also baked up a batch of Brown Sugar Cookies for Christmas. This Cook's Illustrated recipe is very similar to their Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, which I made for the Boston Blogger Cookie Challenge.

First, I gathered my ingredients:

14 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg plus 1 large yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

I started out by browning ten tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. I melted the butter and swirled the pan occasionally until the butter turned dark golden brown and had the most wonderful nutty aroma.

I poured the browned butter in a large bowl and then added the remaining four tablespoons of butter to the melted butter. I stirred the butter until it was completely cooled and set it aside.

I then preheated the oven to 350 degrees and lined two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a shallow bowl, I mixed 1/4 cup brown sugar and the granulated sugar and set aside.

I also whisked the flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl and set aside.

I then added the remaining 1 3/4 cups of brown sugar and salt to the bowl of melted browned butter. The sugar and salt were mixed in until there were no sugar lumps remaining.

I then stirred in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla.

I finally added in the flour mixture until the dough was just combined.

I rolled two tablespoons of dough at a time into balls and then pressed half the dough ball into the sugar mixture. The dough balls were placed two inches apart on the baking sheets.

I baked the cookies one sheet at a time on the middle rack for six minutes before rotating the sheet and baking for another six minutes. The cookies cooled on the tray for about ten minutes before I transferred them to a serving platter.

These cookies were simply lovely. They had the perfect soft and chewy texture. The brown sugar really elevated these sugar cookies by adding a nice depth of flavor.

These might have been my favorite cookies of the holiday season!

What have been your favorite cookies this holiday season?

Salted Toffee-Chocolate Squares

2011-12-25T23:45:00.000-05:00

When I asked my mom what she wanted me to make for Christmas dinner, she asked me to bake some cookies to go along with her other dessert dishes. I had just baked nine dozen cookies the weekend before so I wasn't exactly thrilled with this assignment. I did perk up pretty quickly when I realized that it gave me an excuse to make super decadent Salted Toffee-Chocolate Squares, which I had clipped from Everyday Food in May of 2010.

First I gathered my ingredients:

12 graham crackers (the original recipe calls for 13 but I went for an even dozen)
1 bag toffee bits
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped toasted natural almonds
1/2 cup sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter
3/4 cup (4 ounces) bittersweet chocolate, chopped (you can also use bittersweet chocolate chips)
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt

I preheated the oven to 350 degrees. I lined a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. I placed the graham crackers in a single layer with the edges touching. I sprinkled the toffee bits and almonds over the graham crackers. (Thanks Bret for chopping up the almonds!)

In a small saucepan, I brought the sugar and butter to a boil over medium-high. I reduced the heat and cook the butter-sugar mixture at a rapid simmer, stirred occasionally, until the mixture was thick and syrupy.

Once the butter-sugar mixture was ready, I spooned it over the graham crackers.

The graham crackers went into the oven for twelve minutes until the sugar topping was bubbling. I immediately sprinkled the chopped chocolate and salt over graham crackers. Since the squares were right out of the oven, the heat helped melt the chocolate down.

With a sharp knife, Bret cut the graham crackers into two-inch squares. I let the salted-toffee chocolate squares cool completely before moving them to a serving platter.

While these were a bit messy to eat, these were a big hit on Christmas! Everyone love the salty and sweetness of these squares. And the squares had the perfect crunchy texture. Since they were super easy to make, I'll definitely be making these squares again in the future.

If you celebrate Christmas, did you bake or make anything for the holidays?

Dave & Buster's (Braintree, MA)

2011-12-22T21:30:00.000-05:00

Before it opened, I recently received an invitation for a media preview of the new Dave & Buster's in Braintree. I've seen so many commercials for this place and have passed by the one in Providence so many times but I've never actually been inside Dave & Buster's. Since this is the first Massachusetts location, I definitely wanted to check it out but I unfortunately couldn't make the media preview because of my schedule.

Since I couldn't make the media preview, the kind folks at Schneider Associates asked if I'd like to come down after work one night to check it out. Since Bret and I are just big kids at heart, we were both excited to have a fun date night that involved food, drinks and, of course, games!

We started the evening by splitting a few appetizers for dinner. One of the dishes was the Buffalo Bar Chicks, which were four mini buffalo chicken sliders and fries.

Our second appetizer was the Philly Steak Rolls, which were ridiculously addictive. We both loved the spicy ketchup and queso that came with the rolls.

And we also munched on some tortilla chips with queso and salsa. There was also an option for a "loaded" queso which came with ground beef, sour cream and guacamole but we were pretty happy with the unloaded version.

The food was pretty standard bar food but we weren't there for the food. After we finished our meal, we spent over an hour playing a ridiculous amount of arcade games. Since Wednesday night is half-priced game night, we got to play a lot of different games - from Connect Four to basketball to race cars. It was a total blast and a really fun dining experience. I was glad we finally got to check Dave & Buster's out!

Full disclosure: Dave & Buster's provided me with a complimentary $40 gift card but as always, my opinion is honest and completely my own.

Dave & Buster's has over 50 locations nationwide. We went to the one at 250 Granite Street, Braintree, MA.

Happy Hanukkah!

2011-12-20T19:48:00.000-05:00

Although it is a holiday that is new to me, I always look forward to celebrating Hanukkah with Bret. We take a quiet moment to light the candles, say a prayer, and just reflect on the things that are important to us - family, friends, love, health and happiness. Amidst all of the holiday chaos this time of year, I always appreciate these quiet moments.

Since Bret is off of work until next year, he has been doing a lot of heavy lifting for us. This include running last minute errands, wrapping gifts, doing laundry, and basically running our household. I'm incredibly grateful. Among his never-ending list of things to do, Bret cooked a wonderful Hanukkah dinner tonight. He chose a recipe from Slow Cooker Revolution, which I recently received, as a Hanukkah gift from Bret's parents.

Photo Credit

Bret adapted a recipe for beer-braised chicken thighs and served it with steamed green beans and twice-baked potatoes.

It was absolutely fabulous. It may not have been a traditional Hanukkah meal but Bret and I are all about making our own traditions.

To those who celebrate, Happy Hanukkah!

The Weekend in Numbers

2011-12-19T08:59:00.003-05:00

This blog post is lovingly borrowed from Melissa! After a whirlwind weekend, I thought there is only one way to sum it all up - weekend in numbers.

10 - The number of songs I sang and danced to like a fool on Saturday night. Cover bands are the best. Cover bands + vodka tonics are even better.

9 - Dozen cookies baked for Hanukkah, the Floozies' Party and Sunday's holiday cookie swap.

8 - Number of red lights we hit from Charlestown to West Roxbury on Sunday. Worst google directions ever!

7 - Number of times my nephew and niece made me laugh out loud at Hanukkah. Little kids crack me up!

6 - The approximate number of hours I barely slept on Saturday night. Thanks, Kim, for the sleepover!

5 - Number of latkes I ate at Hanukkah dinner. I love latkes.

4 - The number of cookies I brought home on Sunday from the cookie swap. My co-workers are enjoying them as we speak!

3 - The number of homemade cranberry vodka spritzers I indulged in (thanks Anna!)

2 - Number of pounds I probably gained this weekend.
Um, this is exactly why I keep my "fat" jeans around for!

1 - The number of Hanukkah gifts I bought for Bret.

Somehow I knew that the iPad would be just enough.

I have no idea how I survived this whirlwind weekend....but I'd do it all over again!

How was your weekend?

A Few Of My Favorite Things

2011-12-14T21:34:00.001-05:00

This is the time of year when people are often writing about holiday wishlists. My wishlist is pretty simple - to spend more time with my friends and family, really get motivated with wedding planning (nine months away!), and be grateful for the wonderful people and things in my life right now. Since I'm not really wishing for a whole lately, I thought I'd write instead about some of my favorite things right now...

First, I've been loving the show Homeland. I adore Claire Danes and she has been phenomenal as the star of this show. This show deals with themes of terrorism and conspiracy, all tied up with a lot of drama and action. If you liked (or in my case, loved) 24, you'll love this show.

Photo Credit

I fell in love with these blue peacock pillowcases from West Elm this summer and purchased them immediately for my three small throw pillows. I also have two larger throw pillows and couldn't find any pillowcases that would compliment the blue peacock pillowcases. On Black Friday, I found these pillowcases at Pottery Barn and thought they matched perfectly (without being too matchy-matchy).

I've also been loving this velvet-lined Aunt Sadie's candle. I've been a big fan of Aunt Sadie's candles for quite some time. I could find them in so many different stores when I lived in Boston and I would buy them regularly. I was planning on stocking up the next time I was in the city but I was thrilled to find that a small gift boutique (Simply Smashing) in downtown Andover carries them. The owner was so excited about my enthusiasm when I discovered that her store carried them that she gave me a discount and a coupon for future use. I will definitely be a regular customer, if not for the candles alone!

Even though it is chilly outside, I've definitely been enjoying Stonyfield "Gotta Have Vanilla" Frozen Yogurt lately. I got a free coupon at the Boston Brunchers' birthday brunch and I finally picked up a pint. The frozen yogurt is so creamy and has a slightly nutty flavor. It has definitely been my guilty pleasure this week.

I've also been loving Trop50 Farmstand Apple. I recently received a coupon for a complimentary bottle of Trop50. While I don't drink juice regularly, I've been indulging in a glass of Trop50 every morning. There are only 50 calories in an 8-ounce glass but what really has me hooked is that it isn't super thick or overly sweet.

Speaking of apples, my new favorite beer is Shipyard Applehead. If Pumpkinhead is my fall beer, Applehead is my new winter love. If you love beer and apple cider, you will love this beer as much as I do.

These are just a few of the things that I've been loving lately. What has you smiling these days?

Hearty Lentil Sausage Soup

2011-12-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

Doesn't December always feel like the busiest month in the year? Every weekend is always jam-packed with fun plans and activities. This weekend was no different. On Friday night, Bret and I strolled around downtown Andover for the Andover's Holiday Happenings. On Saturday, we drove down to Connecticut to visit my friends Gen, Matt and their adorable baby daughter before heading to MGM Grand at Foxwoods for dinner at Craftsteak and to see Jerry Seinfeld perform. By the time we came home on Sunday, after a long walk and an afternoon of football, I was ready to seriously unwind. Thankfully my hearty lentil sausage soup was worth slowing down for.

I had planned on making this soup before we left on Saturday so I took out a package of mild Italian sausage from the freezer and soaked two cups of lentils overnight. On Sunday afternoon, I gathered the rest of my ingredients:

5 mild Italian pork sausages
1 yellow onion, chopped
6-7 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups of lentils, soaked overnight
32 oz of chicken broth
1 can of crushed tomatoes with basil
Cayenne, to taste
Chili powder, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste

I started out by browning my sausages in a nonstick pan with a splash of vegetable oil and half a cup of water.

While the sausages were cooking, I warmed up the Dutch oven with a splash of olive oil and cooked the chopped onion and minced garlic until the onion was soft and the garlic was browned.

By this time, the sausages had a gorgeous brown color and I set them aside to cool before slicing them up.

While the sausages were cooling, I drained and rinsed the soaked lentils.

I added the lentils along with a cup of chicken broth to the pan and let all of the great flavors come together.

After about fifteen minutes, I added the crushed tomatoes and the rest of the chicken broth to the pot.

I sliced up the sausages and added them to the soup.

I seasoned the soup with salt, pepper, cayenne and chili powder and let the soup simmer for two hours on low. During this time, the lentils softened and broke down, which made the soup wonderfully thick and hearty.

Bret and I slowly indulged in a bowl (or two) of this soup while we unwound from the weekend. This soup also helped cut down on our meal prep for the rest of the week. This batch of soup was enough for several lunches and dinners.

Tell me, what hearty dishes did you cook up this past weekend?

Shortcuts With Sukhi's Gourmet Indian Food

2011-12-09T21:03:00.001-05:00

When life gets busy, I'm not ashamed to take a shortcut or two in the kitchen as long as it doesn't sacrifice on flavor and taste. I recently received a generous package of Sukhi's Gourmet Indian Foods cooking sauces, spice mixes and chutneys. These products are meant to be starter kits to help cut down meal prep time. After a particularly long day at work recently, I decided to finally try two of these products out.

I started out by warming up my Dutch oven on the stove on medium-high heat with a splash of vegetable oil. I added a chopped shallot, drained and rinsed can of chickpeas and two cubed chicken breasts to the pan. I then added the Vindaloo Curry Sauce, which was more like a curry paste, to the pot, along with a cup of water.

I let all of these ingredients continue cooking until the chicken was cooked through and the sauce began thickening up.

I served this curry with whole wheat naan, which was baked with garlic butter, along with some Mango Chutney.

I was also excited to eat Indian food on the place mats that Bret's parents purchased for us during their recent trip to India. I know, I'm a dork.

While I do enjoy cooking from scratch, it is cannot always be a reality with my work schedule. I liked that these are meal starters and not just re-heating a frozen meal. The meal starter seriously made the meal prep so minimal. I mean, it took only minutes to chop a shallot, drain and rinse a can of chickpeas and cut up two chicken breasts. Even though the cooking is minimal, using the meal starter didn't sacrifice in taste. I thought that the vindaloo curry tasted fairly authentic (although I would have preferred that the curry be a little bit spicier). The mango chutney was equally good and I'm looking forward to eating more of it with a creamy cheese and crackers.

As things continue to get busy both at and outside of work, I'm always looking for more time-saving ideas. Tell me, what shortcuts do you take in the kitchen when you're in a time crunch?

Full disclosure: The Sukhi's products were complimentary, but as always, my opinion is honest and completely my own.

Happy Birthday!

2011-12-08T08:10:00.000-05:00

Sending out big birthday wishes to my sister today! I tried to find some cute photos of us together and instead stumbled upon some adorable photos of her as a child that I have to share. Some of these were even taken before I was born!

Adorableness.

Happy Birthday, Stinky! xo

Pineapple Habanero Rum Cocktail

2011-12-07T08:08:00.000-05:00

It's a long name for a cocktail but it is worth every syllable. Imagine a subtle sweetness of pineapple with the spicy kick of habanero combined with a clean, crisp rum.

What to know more? Then head over to Bianca's blog - Confessions of a Chocoholic to read my guest blog post today!

Lamb Pizza with Peppers and Arugula

2011-12-05T22:31:00.000-05:00

Last week, I received a generous package from the Tri Lamb Group, a collaborative initiative of lamb producer organizations from the U.S., New Zealand and Australia, which focuses on educating Americans about lamb. They have launched a "Lean on Lamb" supper club series to help educate Americans about lamb and the Tri Lamb Group sent me a package to have my own supper club this past weekend!

I got all of the ingredients to make a super easy recipe for Lamb Pizza with Peppers and Arugula. While I eat lamb on occasion and make homemade pizza regularly, I have never cooked with lamb at home or eaten lamb on a pizza. Thus, this was definitely a new experience for me on a few different levels.

First, I gathered my ingredients:

1 package pre-made whole grain pizza dough (about 1-pound), thawed if frozen
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound ground lamb
1 medium shallot, chopped,
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
3/4 cup goat cheese crumbles
2 cups (about 2 ounces) arugula

I turned on my oven to 450 degrees. I brushed a rimmed baking sheet with one teaspoon of olive oil with a pastry brush. Bret spread the dough over the length of the baking sheet and pushed the dough to the edge of the pan. I put the pizza dough in the oven to bake for five minutes, took it out of the oven and then set it aside.

While the pizza dough was baking, I got the rest of the ingredients ready. I warmed up a tablespoon of olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. I added the lamb, shallot, garlic, tomato paste, oregano, salt and pepper to the skillet and cooked until the lamb was completely browned.

I then brush the par-baked pizza crust with a teaspoon of olive oil. I evenly topped the pizza with the cooked lamb mixture, pepperoncini and crumbled goat cheese.

The pizza baked for about fifteen minutes until the cheese was slightly melted and the edges of the pizza crust were golden brown.

Bret tossed the arugula with the remaining teaspoon of olive oil. We topped the pizza with the dressed arugula and the pizza was ready for serving!

The lamb pizza was served with a side salad of arugula, goat cheese, toasted walnuts and homemade vinaigrette.

I also served a supper bright Mediterranean orzo salad filled with cherry tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, red onion, black olives and spinach.

And no party is complete without wine. This was the first bottle of many that evening!

I would say that my first time cooking with lamb was definitely a success! In addition to providing all of the ingredients for the lamb pizza, the Tri Lamb Group helped me learn a lot about this lean protein. For instance, I discovered that on average, a 3-ounce portion of lamb contains:

Only 175 calories and 8 grams of fat
Greater than 20% of the daily value of zinc, vitamin B-12, niacin, making lamb a nutrient-dense food
47% of your daily value of protein, essential for adequate growth, immune function, muscle maintenance and healing wounds
30% of your daily zinc, which contributes to growth and development and is necessary for wounds to heal
25% of the daily value of niacin, necessary for processing nutrients and proper enzyme function
Approximately 40% of the daily value of vitamin B-12, which functions as a co-enzyme for many important metabolic reactions

Eating a healthy protein like lamb made us less guilty about eating more than one cupcake later that evening!

Thanks to the Tri Lamb Group for providing the complimentary ingredients for the Lamb Pizza with Peppers and Arugula!

Happy Monday!

2011-12-05T08:54:00.001-05:00

I cannot stop smiling today because I just had one of the most relaxing weekends in a long time. My weekend involved my firm holiday party, picking out and decorating our Christmas tree, cooking and baking up a storm, entertaining with lots of vino, lazy football Sunday, and lots of laughter. I've got a lot of great blog posts to come this week (once I get all of the photos uploaded) but in the meantime, I have to share a photo of our Christmas tree!

How was your weekend?

Vegetarian Pizza Monkey Bread

2011-11-30T21:43:00.000-05:00

When I was searching for a third dish to make for our friends this past Saturday, I immediately thought of my friend Elina's blog post about Pizza Monkey Bread. I adapted the recipe by replacing the pepperoni with chopped basil to make this a vegetarian-friendly dish for our friends.

First, I gathered my ingredients:

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
4 tablespoons butter
2 pounds pizza dough (I used pre-made dough from Whole Foods when I discovered too late that I had thrown out my frozen pizza dough when we lost power during the storm last month)
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
Handful of basil, chopped
2-3 cups of marinara sauce, warmed, for serving

We got to working prepping our ingredients. First, I let the pizza dough rest on a cutting board.

Meanwhile, Bret cut the mozzarella cheese into cubes.

I thinly sliced the garlic and chopped up the basil.

I then warmed the garlic and butter over medium heat until the garlic began to brown. I poured the garlic butter into a bowl and let it sit.

The next steps were easy. I lightly brushed the inside of a bundt pan with garlic butter. (Thanks Mom for letting me borrow the bundt pan!) Bret and I then had fun putting the monkey bread together. We took off chunks of dough (probably the size of two large marble-sized balls) and flattened them. We stuffed the dough with chopped basil and a cube of mozzarella cheese. We wrapped the dough up into a bowl and pinched the edges tightly to seal. The final step was to brush the dough ball with garlic bread before putting it in the bundt pan.

The basil stuck to our hands and the dough a bit because of the garlic butter but I thought this made the monkey bread look more colorful. I let the monkey bread dough rest for about an hour before baking it at 400 degrees for thirty-five minutes. I only let the dough rest for so long to time it with the arrival of our guests.

When I took it out, the monkey bread looked fabulous! Some of the balls had opened up a little bit for some beautiful baked cheese bits. I let the monkey bread rest in the bundt pan for about ten minutes before flipping it onto a platter.

The monkey bread was a big hit! Everyone kept going back for more and it was so fun to pull pieces of the monkey bread and dip it into the marinara sauce. This was so easy to make and I can't wait to make this again!

What are some of your fun and favorite appetizer dishes?

Creamy Horseradish Dip

2011-11-29T20:29:00.000-05:00

In addition to the Sweet and Salty Pecans, I wanted to make a nice vegetable dip for our friends on Saturday night. I asked Bret to browse through the Cook's Illustrated Cookbook (another gift from the Boston Brunchers' Birthday Brunch) to see if any of the dip recipes looked appealing to him. He pointed out the Creamy Horseradish Dip recipe, which sounded like it would be pretty flavorful.

First, I gathered the ingredients:

3/4 cup light mayonnaise (original recipe calls for regular mayo)
3/4 cup sour cream
2 scallions, sliced thin
1/4 cup prepared horseradish, squeezed of excess liquid
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1/8 teaspoon pepper

I combined all of the ingredients in a plastic container until the dip was smooth and creamy.

I put the dip in the refrigerator to chill and to let the flavors blend together. The recipe says that the dip should be chilled for at least one hour but can be refrigerated for up to two days. I just kept it in the refrigerator for about six hours.

Before our guests arrived, Bret and I cut up some celery sticks and cucumber slices. I transferred the dip to a serving platter with baby carrots, celery sticks and cucumber slices.

Overall, the dip had a great flavor because of the horseradish. However, I felt like the mayo flavor was way too strong. Bret disagreed and our friends seemed to enjoy the dip a lot. I think I would love to make this creamy horseradish dip again with sour cream and Greek yogurt.

As the holiday season approaches, I'm looking forward to discovering new dip recipes. Tell me, what is your go-to dip recipe?

Sweet and Salty Pecans

2011-11-28T17:07:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, we had some of Bret's friends over to finally see our new place. I'm embarrassed to admit that we've been living in Andover since August and that some of our good friends still haven't seen our place! Since Bret's friends are vegetarians so I thought this was a good opportunity to try out some new meat-free recipes that would still be pretty flavorful!

My plan was to make a few different dishes that would be easy to nibble on. I browsed through the complimentary Salty Sweets cookbook that I received at the Boston Brunchers' Birthday Brunch and the recipe for Sweet and Salty Pecans quickly caught my eye.

First, I gathered the ingredients. Since I had about two cups of pecans, I decided to double the recipe:

4 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon iodized salt (original recipe calls for fine sea salt)
4 tablespoons water
2 cups pecan pieces

I combined the brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt and water in a small bowl and whisked to dissolve the sugars.

Since we purchased whole pecans, Bret helped roughly chop the pecans into pecan pieces.

I placed the pecans in a non-stick skillet over medium heat.

I pour the sugar mixture over the pecans and stirred the nuts to make sure they were evenly coated.

I continued stirring as the sugar mixture heated up and started to bubble. I let the pecans cook until the moisture was almost gone. This took me about six minutes. Per the recipe's instructions, I didn't let the water cook off completely.

I removed the pecans from the skillet onto a parchment-lined baking sheet to cool.

The pecans were mostly sweet and had a nice hint of saltiness. While the cookbook recommends eating these as a snack or as a dessert topping, the sugar coating made the pecans sticky and a bit messy to eat with your hands as a snack. However, I'm sure they will make a perfect topping for a pumpkin ice cream sundae!

What is your favorite food that incorporates both salty and sweet flavors?

Thanksgiving Recovery at Den Rock Park

2011-11-27T11:54:00.000-05:00

After running a 5K in the morning, you feel like you've really earned your Thanksgiving day feast. But after Thanksgiving, I still felt a little guilty from overindulging on my favorite carb-filled dishes. As a result, on Friday morning, I pushed myself for an hour-long indoor bike ride. My legs were tired but I definitely a little better as I made myself a Thanksgiving-leftover sandwich!

After sleeping in yesterday morning, Bret and I decided to get some exercise and fresh air by checking out a hiking trail at Den Rock Park in Lawrence.

Den Rock Park is less than five minutes away from our home and right across the street from where I regularly do our grocery shopping. However, I never heard of it before until my dad mentioned it to me a month or two ago. Saturday was filled with sunshine and warm temperatures, which made it a perfect opportunity to go for a hike and work off our Thanksgiving leftovers!

Here are some photos from our hike:

What did you do to enjoy some of this beautiful New England weather this weekend?

Feaster Five Re-Cap

2011-11-25T17:31:00.000-05:00

For me, Thanksgiving is about spending time with family, drinking lots of wine and eating fabulous food. Thus, it was pretty surprising when I did something this Thanksgiving that I never thought I'd do...run a road race! In Andover, the Feaster Five is a major road race that takes place every Thanksgiving morning. When a co-worker mentioned it to me, I thought I'd sign up for it, especially since the runners pass right by our house. I managed to convince Bret to do it as well.

It was a beautiful but chilly morning on Thursday. We were bundled up and ready to go!

I've run the course a handful of times on my own and it is a bit challenging. There is a pretty steep hill in the first mile. The rest of the course is mostly flat but after the third mile, the home stretch is another steep hill. The first hill actually went really well. I think I was encouraged by all of the runners around me and they helped push me faster than I would have run on my own. The last hill was a bit challenging. I was definitely tired but I probably could have pushed myself a little more.

Overall, I thought I ran at a pretty good pace even though the race was a bit of a mess. Walkers, runners with strollers, runners with dogs, families running four or five across made it an obstacle course to tuck in and out around them. Parts of the course were really narrow to make room for the 5-mile race so it got a bit hectic. Still, I was happy with my end time of 35:04, especially since I was running 36-37 minutes on my own. I wish that I had pushed myself a little harder to get under 35 minutes, but I guess this just gives me a goal for next year!

Bret's bib unfortunately tore during his run and as a result, his time never got recorded. He was definitely bummed, especially since this was his first 5K. He faithfully ran with me the entire time but I know that he could have easily run faster than me if he wanted to.

I originally ran my first 5K in April because it was an item to cross off on my 30 by 30 list. I never thought that I would keep signing up for more. I definitely never thought that I would have run three 5Ks in a year, or that Bret and I would ever run a race together! While I still wouldn't call myself a runner, I've definitely started enjoying challenging and pushing myself with each race. Bret and I are already talking about doing another one in Andover in April.

For Bret and I, running the 5K together might be a new Thanksgiving tradition. Tell me, how was your Thanksgiving? Was it filled with old traditions or are did you start any new traditions?

Spicy Glazed Chicken Thighs

2011-11-23T18:56:00.000-05:00

While I had my Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Pineapple in the oven, I decided to whip together a quick and easy glaze to make Spicy Glazed Chicken Thighs.

In a small roasting pan, I mixed together the following ingredients:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
Few shakes of crushed red pepper flakes
6 small garlic cloves, minced
1 habanero pepper, finely chopped with seeds in

I added four small boneless chicken thighs to the pan and turned the chicken thighs several times to get a nice coating of the glaze.

I put the roasting pan in the oven on the top rack at 450 degrees while my sweet potatoes and pineapple roasted on the lower rack. I let the chicken bake for about twelve minutes on the top rack. I then turned the chicken thighs over, continued baking for ten minutes on the lower rack, and then broiled on high for about five minutes. And then dinner was done!

The spicy glaze helped give the chicken thighs a nice crispy exterior while keeping the meat juicy and tender. The red pepper flakes and habanero pepper made the chicken really spicy and it went perfectly with the milder and sweeter roasted sweet potatoes and pineapple.

The spicy glazed chicken thighs came together pretty quickly with all of the ingredients in my pantry and freezer. Tell me, what was the last dish that you threw together with ingredients on hand?

Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Pineapple

2011-11-22T19:37:00.000-05:00

When I was flipping through my most recent issue of Everyday Food, I automatically tore out the recipe for Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Pineapple. I have been obsessed with roasted sweet potatoes lately and I loved that this recipe played on sweet and spicy flavors.

I pre-heated the oven at 450 degrees while I got the ingredients together. There were only a few ingredients but I couldn't help myself and modified the recipe a little bit:

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (I left the skin on)
1 medium pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces (I cheated and purchased a contained of already peeled and cored pineapple already cut into chunks)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I used about a 3/4 teaspoon)
Salt, to taste (I also seasoned with fresh-cracked peppercorns)

I lined a baking sheet with aluminum foil and sprayed the foil with cooking spray. I tossed all of the ingredients together on the baking sheet.

I roasted the sweet potatoes and pineapple for about twenty minutes on the lower rack of the oven, gave them a stir and finished roasting on the top rack for about ten minutes. I basically roasted the sweet potatoes and pineapple until they were both tender to the touch and had a beautiful roasted color.

These cayenne added a nice level of heat to the sweet potatoes and the even sweeter pineapples.

We ate these with spicy glazed chicken thighs (recipe to come).

I've never thought of roasting pineapple before but now I know I'll try roasting pineapple with cayenne and other root vegetables in the future!

Mediocre Pub Fare at Grumpy Doyle's

2011-11-21T21:24:00.001-05:00

On Sunday evening, Bret and I found ourselves absolutely wiped. While babysitting our nephew was a lot of fun, he is a bundle of energy and he wore us out! I originally had dinner plans with some friends and wasn't planning on cooking dinner. But when my dinner plans fell through, we both felt too lazy to cook and ended up grabbing a bite to eat at Grumpy Doyle's.

When we arrived at Grumpy Doyle's around 5:30 PM, the restaurant and bar were both relatively full. There was an Irish band singing live music and the place felt lively, despite the early dining time. To start, Bret and I both ordered seasonal winter warmer beers. I went for the Sam Adams and Bret went for the Harpoon. At my insistence, we switched beers because the Harpoon had a nutmeg-flavor that was more to my liking.

We were both famished and decided to order an appetizer of grilled chicken nachos. I loved that none of the tortilla chips were soggy and that there was a generous presence of melted cheese.

Bret and I tried to order several different dishes for our entrees but were told that a lot of our choice dishes weren't available. We both ended up ordering dishes that really weren't our first choices. I chose the chicken and pear sandwich - grilled chicken, brie, caramelized pears, arugula, tomato and herb aioli on a ciabatta bread.

I over-indulged on the nachos and only ate a quarter of my sandwich. There was way too much herb aioli on my sandwich, which made it a bit soggy both on Sunday night and for leftovers at lunch today.

Bret ordered the pulled chicken sandwich and was disappointed when chunks of chicken was served instead of actually pulled chicken. He found the sandwich lacking in sauce and the brioche bun that it was served on was cold. The sandwich was supposed to come with a fried pickle spear, but none was to be found on his plate. Bret was just so disappointed in his entire dinner, especially since this sandwich was not really his first choice either.

We've heard really great things about Grumpy Doyle's so were pretty surprised at our experience. Perhaps it was an off night or a lack of items on the menu that lead to such a disappointing meal.

Have you eaten somewhere recently that was a total letdown?

Grumpy Doyle's is located at 530 Main Street, Reading, MA.

30 By 30: Go Fly A Kite

2011-11-20T20:04:00.001-05:00

This past weekend, Bret and I offered to babysit Bret's four-year old nephew. I know that I'm biased, but Noah has to be the most hysterical, contemplative, and bright four-year old in the world. Like I said, I know I'm biased. We did lots of things together in a short span of twenty-four hours, including crossing another item off my 30 by 30 list.

I've got to say that I have never had as much fun working on my 30 by 30 list than I did flying a kite with the little guy.

1. ~~Run a 5K.~~

2. Go camping, like real camping...overnight...in a tent.

3. Pay off all of my credit card debt.

4. ~~Attend a live WWE event (don't judge).~~

5. ~~Make Gordon Hamersley's roast chicken.~~

6. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge.

7. Go out to dinner and a movie by myself.

8. Watch all three of the original Star Wars movies.

9. ~~Boil a lobster by myself for the first time~~.

10. ~~Write my will.~~

11. Write a letter of apology to someone that I have wronged and send it.

12. Experiment with molecular gastronomy.

13. Learn to drive stick shift.

14. Learn to make my own kimchi.

15. Learn how to change a car tire.

16. Go to a shooting range.

17. ~~Redesign "Fun and Fearless in Beantown"~~

18. ~~Launch a wedding website.~~

19. Cook a three-course vegan dinner for my vegan friends.

20. Make turducken for the first time.

21. ~~Climb a mountain.~~

22. Complete thirty (30) hours of community service or volunteering.

Completed four hours at the Greater Boston Food Bank.

23. ~~Finish an entire plate of Hell Pasta from East Coast Grill.~~
24. Floss every day.

So far I've only missed four days of flossing since January 14th!

25. Take a self-defense course.

26. ~~Make homemade ice cream for the first time.~~

There is nothing more rewarding than a child's amazement and joy at something as simple as flying a kite.

30 By 30: Wrestling?

2011-11-18T09:00:00.001-05:00

For some strange reason, I have always loved watching wrestling. Next to my deep love for Neil Diamond, a lot of people are often surprised at my knowledge of wrestling from the late 80s into mid-90s. Favorite wrestler of all time? Bret "the Hitman" Hart. He truly is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. If you get enough cocktails in me, I will do the Ric Flair "Wooooo!" without hesitation. I sometimes get misty-eyed when I discuss the deaths of wrestlers like "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Owen Hart, or the "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith.

People always wonder what I could like about this "sport" (or should I say, sports entertainment). I think it is the same reason that I love reality television. There is over-the-top drama, twists and turns, and characters to love (or love to hate). While my parents never had a problem with me watching wrestling, they definitely never would take me to a match. I stopped watching wrestling regularly towards the end of high school and now I only occasionally watch it whenever ~~Bret isn't home~~ nothing else is on.

Still, my childhood love of wrestling is what encourage me to put attending a live WWE event on my 30 by 30 list. And I was beyond excited to cross this one off the list on Monday at Monday Night Raw Supershow. This was actually aired live on Monday night with a return visit from the Rock, who hasn't wrestled in quite some time!

Bret was slightly embarrassed to go with me....but I think he had fun in the end! Here are some more photos from Monday night:

Commentator Jim Ross

John Cena and Mick Foley

Mark Henry and the Big Show

Kevin Nash!!!

Randy Orton

The Return of the Rock!

Did I mention that I met him once at my old gym?

"Boots to Asses!"

This was definitely a fun item to complete on my 30 by 30 list. I now have finished one-third of my 30 by 30 list. I can't wait to knock a few other items off my list in the next two months before this turns into a 30 while 30 list!

1. ~~Run a 5K.~~

2. Go camping, like real camping...overnight...in a tent.

3. Pay off all of my credit card debt.

4. ~~Attend a live WWE event (don't judge).~~

5. ~~Make Gordon Hamersley's roast chicken.~~

6. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge.

7. Go out to dinner and a movie by myself.

8. Watch all three of the original Star Wars movies.

9. ~~Boil a lobster by myself for the first time~~.

10. ~~Write my will.~~

11. Write a letter of apology to someone that I have wronged and send it.

12. Experiment with molecular gastronomy.

13. Learn to drive stick shift.

14. Learn to make my own kimchi.

15. Learn how to change a car tire.

16. Go to a shooting range.

17. ~~Redesign "Fun and Fearless in Beantown"~~

18. ~~Launch a wedding website.~~

19. Cook a three-course vegan dinner for my vegan friends.

20. Make turducken for the first time.

21. ~~Climb a mountain.~~

22. Complete thirty (30) hours of community service or volunteering.

Completed four hours at the Greater Boston Food Bank.

23. ~~Finish an entire plate of Hell Pasta from East Coast Grill.~~
24. Floss every day.

So far I've only missed four days of flossing since January 14th!

25. Take a self-defense course.

~~26. Make homemade ice cream for the first time.~~

27. ~~Make gnocchi for the first time.~~
28. Fly a kite.
29. Milk a cow.
30. Participate in a city dinner crawl, which means having cocktails, appetizer, dinner, dessert and post-dinner cocktails each at a different place in one city in one night.

My not-so-secret vice is my love for wrestling. Tell me, what are some of your quirky vices?

Restaurant Week at Black Trumpet Bistro

2011-11-15T19:27:00.000-05:00

After spending the day wandering around Portsmouth on Saturday, we definitely worked up an appetite for our dinner at Black Trumpet Bistro.

We had an early 5:30 PM dinner reservation but we arrived even earlier for a drink at the cozy wine bar upstairs. We decided to split a few pitchers of a white Autumn Sangria.

We had a few glasses of sangria before we settled down to the cozy wine cellar-like dining room downstairs.

I was really excited for our dinner at Black Trumpet Bistro because I had the opportunity to meet Chef Evan Mallet and taste his cooking at the Hood New England Chef's Challenge last year. When I discovered that the restaurant was also offering a Restaurant Week menu, I thought it would give me a good opportunity to try several of the chef's dishes at an affordable price.

Before our meals arrived, we nibbled on slices of black trumpet and ciabatta breads with an addictive sweet butter.

For my first course, I decided to start with the sea cod salad with heirloom squash, pancetta and Brussels sprouts with a sherry-apple vinaigrette.

The sea cod and pancetta added a subtle saltiness to this warm salad, which contrasted nicely with the sweetness of the heirloom squash. I was a big fan of this salad!

For my entree, I selected the truffled squash risotto cake with poached lobster and salsa verde. While the presentation was beautiful, this dish was a bit of a disappointment. The risotto cake was severely under-seasoned and I found bits of lobster shell in my poached lobster.

Luckily, I got to steal bites of Kristen's entree, which was the other entree option on the Restaurant Week menu. The coq au vin with porcini-cocoa pappardelle, cob smoked bacon and mushrooms was a perfect dish for this late autumn dinner. The chicken was incredibly moist and the pappardelle had the most intriguing earthy flavor!

While my entree was a bit of a letdown, my dessert made up for it. The chocolate beet brownie with milk chocolate frosting, beet whip and candied orange peel. I'm normally not a big chocolate dessert fan, especially not something this rich, but the beets added a different kind of sweetness to the dessert.

I shared bites of my dessert with Kristen while I stole bites of her Indian pudding with whipped vanilla custard and golden raisin sauce.

Despite the letdown of my entree, overall, I enjoyed my meal. I had a fun time with the ladies and our dinner was a great way to end a wonderful day in Portsmouth.

Black Trumpet Bistro is located at 29 Ceres Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Tofu with Habanero-Peanut Sauce

2011-11-14T15:36:00.001-05:00

When I was in Amherst recently, I had a fantastic spicy tofu dish one night for dinner. This dish actually reminded me that it has been awhile since I've cooked with tofu at home, which is what inspired this dish on Sunday night. I didn't know what I'd really make but after a busy weekend, I knew that I wanted to make something that was quick and easy.

I started out by quickly preparing some rice in my rice cooker. While the rice was cooking, I started making a sauce using some ingredients that I had on hand:

4 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons ginger powder (I thought I had ginger root in the freezer but realized I threw it out during the aftermath of cleaning out the freezer after losing electricity a few weeks ago)
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 habanero, chopped

The sauce looked a little thick so I added a splash of water to help thin it out.

I then drained and patted dry a package of extra-firm, cubed tofu.

I tossed the tofu with a sprinkling of cornstarch before pan-frying it in a nonstick skillet over high heat with vegetable oil.

When the tofu was done cooking, I removed the tofu from the pan. In my Dutch oven, I added some vegetable oil, along with some green beans.

I let the green beans cook for about 2-3 minutes before I added chopped butternut squash and cauliflower florets to the pan. I let all of the vegetables cook for another few minutes.

Finally, I added the tofu and the habanero-peanut sauce to the vegetable mixture. I gave everything a stir and let it simmer in the Dutch oven.

The tofu with habanero-peanut sauce had a nice mellow heat to it. I loved the sweetness of the butternut squash and the crunchiness of the green beans.

This quick and easy dish definitely satisfied my tofu craving and made for fantastic leftovers for lunch on Monday.

What have you recently eaten at a restaurant that has inspired you in your own kitchen?

Girls' Day in Portsmouth, NH

2011-11-13T16:57:00.000-05:00

If you are a long-time reader of this blog, you know that I am a huge fan of Portland, Maine. I try to go up there several times a year because there are so many great little restaurants and shops. Whenever I mention my trips to Portland, people always ask me if I've ever checked out Portsmouth, New Hampshire before. I'm sure that I've been there when I was younger but I've sadly never taken the day trip there....until this past weekend.

A group of us (Bianca, Bridget, Elina, Elizabeth, Emily, Jen, Kristen, Megan, and Meghan) took a day trip up to the Portsmouth area on Saturday. We started out at Redhook Brewery, where we indulged in beers and appetizers for lunch at Cataqua Public House.

Redhook Brewery Beer Sampler

Warm Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Grilled Chicken Tenders

Fried Artichoke Hearts

Hummus Platter

Basket of Sweet Potato Fries

After lunch, we took the Redhook Brewery tour. Our tour guide was hysterical and this short tour was a lot of fun.

After purchasing some six-packs to take home, we then headed into downtown Portsmouth where we wandered around downtown.

I sipped on a Gingerbread Chai Latte at Breaking New Grounds

I picked up a bottle of Cheddar Ale Mustard at Stonewall Kitchen

Bianca snapped some photos...

...as did Kristen!

Group photo!

We browsed in shops, took lots of photos, and had a relaxing time catching up with each other. It was a perfect way to work up an appetite for our dinner at Black Trumpet Bistro (blog post to come)!

I can't believe that I've never visited Portsmouth before but I'm definitely going to make a return trip during the spring to check out some more shops and restaurants.

How did you spend your weekend?

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Casa Blanca

2011-11-11T21:50:00.000-05:00

One of the best parts about settling into our new home is discovering our new neighborhood. We've only been here for about four months but we already have a few spots that we like to dine at regularly. Recently, we stopped in for an early dinner at one of our favorite neighborhood spots - Casa Blanca.

Casa Blanca has a few locations in the area but the one closest to our home (and my office) is located in downtown Andover. In our experience, the service can be a little spotty but the food is always consistently solid.

We started the meal with a complimentary trio of salsas and a basked of tortilla chips that are so light, crispy and not greasy.

I washed this down with a cold bottle of Pacifico.

For my meal, I perused the menu and finally settled on the pollo pepe. This dish consisted of slow-cooked and grilled chicken breast marinated with guajillo peppers and Mexican spices. This dish is served with warm corn tortillas, lettuce, pico de gallo and avocado. You also get to choose two sides. I went with the Mexican rice and the charro beans.

This was a ginormous piece of thinly pounded chicken breast and I could only manage to eat about half of it. The chicken was moist and flavorful but lacked the spice I was anticipating. This was my first time trying the charro beans and they were a little too salty for me.

Bret had the baja chimichanga with chicken and red enchilada sauce. He opted for the Mexican rice and black beans.

Like usual, the service was a bit spotty. It took awhile to get our beverages and my tortillas were definitely an afterthought. Our server disappeared once our plates hit the table and didn't return until he brought the check. Still, the food was solid and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Casa Blanca remains in our local neighborhood restaurant roster.

Casa Blanca has several locations. We dined at 10 Main Street, Andover, MA.

Masa (Woburn, MA)

2011-11-09T22:20:00.000-05:00

One of the things that I miss the most about working in the city is all of the fun lunch dates I would have with my friends. While we may all lead such busy lives, everyone has time for a lunch date here or there to catch up on each other's lives. My friend Abby was definitely one of my regular lunch companions and I have desperately missed her company. After several failed attempts to get together in the past few months, we finally had dinner this week at Masa in Woburn.

Abby and I hadn't seen each other in awhile so we caught up over a lot of laughter and conversation. This kind of conversation requires beverages. Abby started out with a seasonal spiced apple and cranberry margarita. I opted for a glass of sauvignon blanc. We noshed on the house bread basket, as we eagerly anticipated our meal.

We started by splitting the spicy tuna tartare with soy ginger cilantro vinaigrette.

The tuna melted like butter in your mouth and was topped with a chunky avocado puree and crispy totopos. This dish had a good amount of heat in it, which contrasted nicely with the tuna and avocado.

For my entree, I went with another seafood dish - the grilled mahi mahi with papaya slaw. This spicy dish was served with banana mole, green beans and a sweet potato puree. I seriously started to sweat a little because of the heat in the dish, which only made me love the dish even more.

Abby went with a roasted pork loin, which was served with an adorable potato torta.

Since we were also celebrating Abby's belated birthday, we couldn't resist ordering dessert. The caramelized banana diavlo bread pudding caught our eye with the spicy burnt sugar ice cream and the caramelized bananas. Divine.

I have been to the Boston location several times before but this was my first visit to Masa in Woburn. I was definitely impressed with the attentive service from both our server and the manager, who didn't hesitate to fill our water glasses when he noticed they were low. But the food is what impressed me the most. I loved the heat in the dishes that didn't overpower the unique flavors in each dish. Since this location is so much closer to where I live, I'll definitely be making a return visit to Masa in Woburn again!

Masa is located at 350 Cambridge Road, Woburn, MA.

Whirlwind Weekend Re-cap

2011-11-07T20:55:00.001-05:00

When we came home last Sunday after our fantastic trip to Stowe, we came home to no power. Yup, like a lot of other folks in the area, we lost our electricity. Although it seemed like an eternity, we finally got it back late Monday night. Once we got our electricity restored, we hosted Bret's sister and brother-in-law for the next two days and nights until they got their electricity back. By the time Bret and I finally felt like we got our lives in order on Thursday, we were back on the road for another whirlwind weekend.

First stop, was homecoming weekend at UMass Amherst. It was great catching up with some old friends and visiting my sorority house for an alumnae brunch!

After two nights in Amherst, we headed straight to Boston to celebrate my dear friend Emily's wedding. The ceremony was just as beautiful as the bride. The wedding band was so much fun and I've never danced so much at a wedding before!

Bret and I stayed in the city and took Monday morning off. We refueled with a leisurely breakfast at Miel before spending the morning shopping, walking around the city and finally getting the hair cut I so badly needed!

I had the Open-Faced Tomato and Basil Omelet with Olive Oil Crostini

Bret had the Banana Bread French Toast

While the weekend wiped me out, I wouldn't trade anything for all of the laughter and love I experienced with old friends this past weekend.

Tell me, how did you enjoy your weekend?

30 By 30: Climbing Mount Elmore

2011-11-03T07:40:00.000-04:00

This year has been filled with so many changes. Between leaving my old firm, starting at my new firm, and a big move out of the city, my 30 by 30 list has been very much neglected. I've made peace with it though because I'm looking forward to completing the rest of the items as a 30 while 30 list!

This past weekend, Bret and I took a relaxing long weekend to Stowe, Vermont.

We stayed at the lovely Stowe Meadows Lodge, where Bret arranged a romantic surprise or two waiting for us!

We had some fantastic food, drank lots of wine by the fire, and just enjoyed our time together.

Since climbing a mountain is on my 30 by 30 list, Bret did some research and found a great hike for us up Mount Elmore to complete last weekend. Since the Elmore State Park was closed, we actually had to do a pretty steep walk up to the trail. From there, the hike was about five miles in total.

We climbed to a beautiful peak and took in the scenic views.

We kept going to the very top of the mountain to a really cool open fire tower. It was definitely chilly, steep and a bit icy up top, but it was definitely worth the view!

Between running 5Ks and climbing a mountain for the first time, I feel really proud of the physical activities I've pushed myself with this year. If you know me at all, you'll know that I'm more of a spa day kind of girl but I realize how great it feels to push yourself to do something that is physically tough for you.

I'm hoping to knock five more items off my list so that I can at least have finished half of my list but in the meantime, here's my latest 30 by 30 update!

1. ~~Run a 5K.~~

2. Go camping, like real camping...overnight...in a tent.

3. Pay off all of my credit card debt.

4. Attend a live WWE event (don't judge).

5. ~~Make Gordon Hamersley's roast chicken.~~

6. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge.

7. Go out to dinner and a movie by myself.

8. Watch all three of the original Star Wars movies.

9. ~~Boil a lobster by myself for the first time~~.

10. ~~Write my will.~~

11. Write a letter of apology to someone that I have wronged and send it.

12. Experiment with molecular gastronomy.

13. Learn to drive stick shift.

14. Learn to make my own kimchi.

15. Learn how to change a car tire.

16. Go to a shooting range.

17. ~~Redesign "Fun and Fearless in Beantown"~~

18. ~~Launch a wedding website.~~

19. Cook a three-course vegan dinner for my vegan friends.

20. Make turducken for the first time.

21. ~~Climb a mountain.~~

22. Complete thirty (30) hours of community service or volunteering.

Completed four hours at the Greater Boston Food Bank.

23. ~~Finish an entire plate of Hell Pasta from East Coast Grill.~~
24. Floss every day.

So far I've only missed four days of flossing since January 14th!

25. Take a self-defense course.

~~26. Make homemade ice cream for the first time.~~

Harrison's Restaurant (Stowe, Vermont)

2011-11-01T18:36:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, Bret and I decided to take the Friday off of work and have a wonderful long weekend in Stowe, Vermont. While we were there, we had some really memorable meals, including a satisfying late lunch at Jaime's on Main and a wonderful three-course tasting menu at Michael's on the Hill. I was too caught up in the moment and didn't photograph either of those meals. I did, however, remember to take some photos of dinner Friday night at Harrison's Restaurant.

After grabbing a pre-dinner cocktail (or two) at the Whip Bar and Grill, Bret and I were both famished for our 8:30 PM dinner reservation. The restaurant was incredibly cozy with a roaring fireplace and intimate tables and booths.

I was ready to celebrate a weekend of relaxation, so I started out with a glass of bubbly.

Bret and I perused the menu and decided to split an appetizer of fried calamari. While I adored the fried banana peppers, the calamari weren't really crispy and seemed almost soggy. I was definitely a little disappointed.

Our entrees, however, were a lot better. We both ordered the house cheese burger with fries. I ordered mine medium and Bret ordered his medium-rare. Mine came as medium-rare and Bret's was a bit more medium. Bret said he didn't mind his burger being a little over-cooked though because the beef was still so juicy and flavorful.

The fries were pretty crispy and nicely not heavily salted. The coleslaw, however, lacked definite seasoning and needed a heavier hand with the salt!

Our dinner was really simple but it definitely left us feeling content and satiated.

Harrison's Restaurant is located at 25 Main Street, Stowe, Vermont.

Fall Flavors at Turner Fisheries

2011-10-29T08:34:00.000-04:00

I've had the pleasure of dining at Turner Fisheries several times over the past few years. I've sipped on their creative Bloody Mary cocktails during the summer and I've warmed up with their seafood risotto during the winter. Thus, it is no surprise that I happily accepted an invitation to try out new fall menu this past week for a special blogger dinner.

I had a lovely evening with Rachel, Meghan and Monika, the Director of Food and Beverages. We chatted together for several hours while we dined our way through several courses. I have to say that I am always consistently impressed with the dishes and service at Turner Fisheries. I have found that this kind of consistency isn't all that common, which is why it makes such a lasting impression on me.

Some of the standouts from the evening included the following:

Dirty Martini With Blue Cheese-Stuffed Olives

These grilled Island Creek oysters with maitaki mushrooms
and reisling cream was the best thing I've eaten in months!

Crispy Calamari with Pappadew Peppers, Capers and Roasted Garlic Aioli

I loved the delicate flavors of this Golden Beet Salad with
the creamiest goat cheese and basil oil.

Thank you Monika for ordering this Jonah Crab Cake
with Apple Slaw and Tamarind Reduction!

The Grilled Salmon was perfectly grilled and buttery in my mouth.

I loved this version of Bok Choy Kimchi!

We were too stuffed to really indulge in the dessert sampler,
but I loved, loved, loved the butternut squash ice cream!

It was wonderful to dine at Turner Fisheries and enjoy their seasonal fall dishes. I'm definitely looking forward to returning there soon for some more of those delightful grilled oysters!

Full disclosure: The dinner was complimentary, but as always, my opinion is honest and completely my own.

Turner Fisheries is located in the Westin Copley Place at 10 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA.

Hawaiian-Style Short Ribs

2011-10-27T06:34:00.000-04:00

It seems like overnight the temperatures have dropped and fall has officially arrived. The cold weather has me leaning towards hearty warm dishes and of course, my slow cooker, for easy weekday meals. I recently flagged this easy recipe from Everyday Food magazine for Hawaiian-Style Short Ribs, and I couldn’t wait to give it a try.

The ingredients were simple:

• 2 red onions, cut into 1-inch wedges, root ends left intact
• 4 garlic cloves, smashed
• 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 4 pounds bone-in beef short ribs (about 6) in 3 ½ inch pieces
• 1 ½ cups dark-brown sugar
• 1 cup soy sauce
• 6 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce
• 3 cups 1-inch cubed pineapple (1 pound)
• Cooked white rice, chopped scallion greens and sesame seeds, for serving

On Monday night, Bret prepared the onions, garlic and ginger and put them in a plastic bag in the fridge for the next day.

Meanwhile, I whisked together the brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar and Sriracha sauce in a plastic container and placed the sauce in the fridge overnight.

On Tuesday morning, I placed the onions, garlic and ginger in the slow cooker. I topped the vegetables with the short ribs in a tight layer. I poured the sauce on top of the beef and vegetables.

The recipe tells you to cook the short-ribs on high for four hours. Instead, I cooked the short-ribs on low for ten hours to cook while I was at work.. When I returned home on Tuesday night, I quickly made some rice in my rice cooker. While the rice was cooking, I added the pineapple to the slow cooker and let it cook until the pineapple was tender. I also steamed some broccoli and chopped up some scallion greens while everything was cooking.

With a slotted spoon, I transferred the ribs, pineapple, onions and ginger to a platter and tented it with foil to keep it warm. Using a ladle, I skimmed the fat from the cooking liquid and then the meal was ready to go.

I served the ribs and pineapple mixture on top of the white rice. I also added the steamed broccoli for some crunch. I drizzled some of the cooking liquid as a sauce. Finally, I sprinkled some chopped scallion greens and sesame seeds for both presentation and texture.

I loved the sweetness of the pineapple contrasting with the spicy cooking liquid. The garlic had liquefied, but the onions and ginger caramelized during the cooking process. And the slow cooker approach helped make the beef so tender that it fell off the bone.

The slow cooker is definitely one of my favorite toys in the kitchen because it helps me make really easy meals, especially for busy weekdays.

Tell me, do you enjoy using the slow cooker? If not, how do you make quick and easy meals during the week?

Slow-Cooker Spanish Meatballs

2011-10-25T07:34:00.001-04:00

On Saturday, my friend Kim and her boyfriend Mike came up to Andover for a visit. Our plan was to go for a late morning hike and then come home to a late lunch. I knew that we would be famished by the time we came home so I decided that this would be a great idea to try out Everyday Food's recipe for Slow-Cooker Spanish Meatballs. Since the meatballs cook for about five hours, I got to work on them first thing Saturday morning so that they would be ready by the time we came home from our hike.

First, I gathered my ingredients. I adapted the recipe a bit based on what I had on had:

2 pounds ground pork
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
5 tablespoons plain dried breadcrumbs
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Coarse salt and fresh-cracked pepper
Extra virgin olive oil
2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes
1/2 jar leftover tomato and basil marinara sauce

In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon, I combined the pork, 1/4 cup onion, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika, breadcrumbs, eggs, and parsley. I also seasoned the meatball mixture with salt and pepper.

Using our hands, we rolled about thirty-seven meatballs (about 1 1/2 inches wide each).

In two large nonstick skillet, we warmed up a few tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high and browned the meatballs on all side.

When the meatballs were browned, I placed them all into the slow cooker. I then sauteed the rest of the chopped onion in the skillet with some olive oil and the pork bits.

I added the onion to the slow cooker, along with the remaining cayenne and sweet paprika, the two cans of diced tomatoes and the leftover marinara sauce. I also seasoned the mixture with salt and pepper.

The meatballs cooked on low for five hours in the slow cooker while we enjoyed our morning, including our hike at Harold Parker State Forest. (Thanks to Kim for the adorable photos!)

When we returned home, Bret quickly cooked up some egg noodles to enjoy with our meatballs!

The cayenne added a lot of heat but thankfully everyone loved the spicy meatballs. I especially loved the strong cumin flavors, which added a nice flavor to the dish.

This slow cooker recipe really helped make a great meal while still enjoying our time with our friends. Tell me, what tricks do you use to enjoy company while still pulling together a great meal?

Sunday Brunch at Island Creek Oyster Bar

2011-10-23T10:38:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday, I was lucky enough to attend a complimentary brunch at the Island Creek Oyster Bar. This fantastic brunch was hosted by the Boston Brunchers in celebration of the Boston Brunchers' first birthday.

I've been lucky enough to have breakfast at Island Creek Oyster Bar before, so I knew that we were in for a great meal.

Freshly Baked Pastry Basket - Blueberry Muffin, Doughnut Muffin,
Cinnamon Roll, Butter Croissant, Raspberry Coffee Cake and Citrus Scone

Extra Spicy Bloody Mary

Ethel's Lobster Roll With Kettle Chips and Cole Slaw

The lobster filling was mixed with celery and red onion.
It was tossed in mayo and creme fraiche and served on a rosemary roll.

These house kettle chips were so thin and crispy!

But even better than the food was the fantastic company. I was lucky enough to sit at a table with some of my favorite Boston food bloggers.

Photo Credit: Megan Chromik

Thanks you to Renee for planning this wonderful brunch! We also walked away with some fantastic swag, including coupons, cookbooks and snacks, so I must also say a big thank you to all of the brunch sponsors. I can't wait to dig into them all!

Island Creek Oyster Bar is located at 500 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA.

Full disclosure: The brunch was complimentary, but as always, my opinion is honest and completely my own.

Clam Box (Ipswich, MA)

2011-10-21T07:24:00.000-04:00

After our fun and informative tour of Privateer International Distillery, Bret and I had definitely worked up an appetite. Since we would be passing the Clam Box on our way home, we knew that we had to stop in for an early dinner.

Even in October, there was a long line that went out the door. Still, I have heard that this is nothing compared to what it is like during the summer. Of course, I couldn't resist ordering fried native clams with french fries.

The french fries were a little lackluster but the fried clams were amazing. There was a nice crunchy breading that wasn't too greasy. In contrast, the clams were creamy and delightful.

Even on a chilly October day, these fried clams hit the spot and made for the perfect New England meal.

The Clam Box is located at 246 High Street, Ipswich, MA.

A Tour of Privateer Rum Distillery

2011-10-19T07:39:00.000-04:00

Last month, I received an email notifying me that Privateer International recently opened a rum distillery in Ipswich, along with an invitation for a private tour of the distillery. Since Bret and I both enjoy rum, we decided to check it out this past Saturday.

Before the tour, I learned that rum has a long history in this country. Apparently, it was an economic instigator during the American Revolution. And prior to the Revolutionary War, the average American consumed three gallons of it per year.

Andrew Cabot (1750-1791) was associated with the manufacture of one of the earliest rums ever made on American shores. Cabot, along with his business partners, owned a rum distillery in Beverly, Massachusetts. They smuggled their molasses into the country in defiance of British tariffs and laws. Today, the namesake Andrew Cabot, six generations removed from the original, and his childhood friend, Nelse Clark, are handcrafting American rum in Ipswich, MA. Interesting stuff, right?

It was such a pleasure meeting the present-day Andrew Cabot. I felt like I learned so much about how Privateer makes their rum. While science is not my strong suit, Andrew helped me understand how their rum is made. There are actually some strong similarities to a beer brewery.

We also got a chance to try some of this fantastic rum in comparison to some other brands of rum. I discovered that there are some really unique flavors to white rum. In some, the flavors of molasses or sugar cane were evident. These were the kinds of rum that I would heavily mix with fruit juices. In contrast, I can only describe Privateer rum as tasting clean and straightforward. I envisioned drinking the rum with fresh ingredients, like basil, rosemary or ginger.

Andrew talked about some of his favorite ways to drink Privateer rum. His preference is to drink it neat. I would never imagine drinking rum neat but after trying Privateer rum, I could see the appeal.

Bret and I had a blast learning about Privateer rum, and it was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Andrew generously gifted us with a bottle, which we can't wait to break into! We see some Light and Stormies in our future!

Privateer International is located 28 Mitchell Road, Ipswich, MA.

Full disclosure: The distillery tour was complimentary, but as always, my opinion is honest and completely my own. A special thank you to Kate Shamon of Shamon PR for arranging this wonderful tour!

Blue Ribbon BBQ (Arlington, MA)

2011-10-17T07:28:00.000-04:00

Growing up, my parents made a huge point of always eating our dinners together during the week. It didn't matter if my dad was coming home late or if my sister or I had after-school activities. No matter what, we waited until we were all home and ate dinner together. At the time, this rule seemed a little annoying, especially as I entered my teenage years. But now, I really appreciate the sentiment and even try to establish a similar rule in our household. Sure, it is a small household with just the two of us, but no matter what, Bret and I always make plans for the two of us on Friday evenings. It is a time for us to unwind and reconnect after a usually long workweek.

This past Friday night was no different. We actually decided to go out for dinner and decided to head to Blue Ribbon BBQ. Bret adores a good barbecue, and he is a big fan of Blue Ribbon. I like eating barbecued foods but I definitely don't love it as much as he does. As a result, I've never been to Blue Ribbon before and I was ready for my inaugural visit.

Despite the pouring rain, there was a line out the door at Blue Ribbon. Bret got there early enough to snag a seat and I saved the table while he waited in line to order. While we were waiting for our food to come up, we grabbed a myriad of sauces, which included sweet barbecue, gold barbecue, chipotle and hot barbecue. Of course, we also grabbed some pickles too.

I ordered a platter meal, which included your choice of meat, two sides and a slice of cornbread. I opted for burnt ends as my meat. I've never tried it before. Bret said that my burnt ends didn't have as many burnt ends as usual but it was still pretty delicious.

For my sides, I ordered the collard greens and the mashed potatoes. It was all so delicious but I barely made dents in either of my side dishes.

The cornbread was good but a little dry. Still, it provided relief when I used a little too much of the hot barbecue sauce.

My first trip to Blue Ribbon was definitely a filling one but a fun Friday date night.

Blue Ribbon BBQ has two locations. We dined at 908 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA.

Mustard-Glazed Carrots

2011-10-15T08:34:00.000-04:00

Now that things are starting to calm down for me at work, I have really been enjoying my time in the kitchen. I forgot how wonderful it is to try new recipes and de-stress as I get lost in the world of cooking. I have loads of great recipes clipped from food magazines and I've been enjoying trying them out as I unwind in the kitchen.

This past week, I decided to try an adapted version of Everyday Food's Mustard-Glazed Shallots and Carrots from the December 2010 issue. I didn't have any shallots but I had purchased plenty of carrots for my Cottage Pie, so I adapted the recipe to make Mustard-Glazed Carrots.

First, I gathered my ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (I used complimentary samples of California Olive Ranch EVOO)
3 tablespoons horseradish mustard (original recipe calls for any grainy mustard)
3 tablespoons packed light-brown sugar
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 pound medium carrots, cut into 2 1/2 inch pieces (I cut my carrots on a bias)
Coarse salt and fresh-cracked pepper to taste
2 tablespoons salted butter (original recipe calls for unsalted butter)

I preheated the oven to 450 degrees with an oven rack in the middle. While the oven was warming up, I whisked together the olive oil, horseradish mustard, light-brown sugar and vinegar in a large bowl.

I tossed the carrots with the mustard mixture in the bowl.

I lined a small roasting pan with aluminum foil and gave it a quick spray of baking spray. I arranged the carrots in a single layer in the roasting pan and seasoned the carrots with salt and pepper.

I let the carrots roast for about forty minutes, but stirred the carrots through about halfway through. When the carrots were brown and tender, I placed them in a bowl, stirred in the butter, and served the carrots warm.

These carrots were a great side dish to some simple baked boneless chicken thighs that had been marinated with my homemade pesto and a finely diced habanero pepper.

I love roasting vegetables in the fall. It is such an easy way to cook root vegetables while bringing out all of their great natural flavors. Tell me, what are some of your favorite ways to cook carrots or other root vegetables?

Steamed Mussels in White Wine

2011-10-13T07:34:00.000-04:00

While I have eaten mussels countless times in my life, I have actually never tried preparing mussels at home. When I flipped through the most recent issue of Bon Appetit, I paused when I saw a really simple recipe for Steamed Mussels in White Wine. I decided to broaden my horizons and attempt cooking mussels at home on my own.

First, I gathered my ingredients:

1 large shallot, finely chopped
1/4 white onion, finely chopped (about 1/3 cup)
1/4 cup dry white wine
4 tablespoons salted butter, cut into 1/2 cubes (the original recipe calls for 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter)
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
4 pounds Moosabec Maine mussels, scrubbed, debearded (the original recipe calls for 4 1/2 pounds mussels)
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley (I use two squeezes from my parsley tube instead of fresh parsley)

I placed the shallot, onion, wine, butter and vinegar in my Dutch oven on medium heat.

I added the mussels and covered the pot while bringing the liquid to a boil. While the mussels were cooking, I gently shaked the pot a few times.

The mussels cooked for about five minutes in the pot until they began to open. I removed the unopened mussels.

I removed the mussels using a slotted spoon into a large bowl. I poured the cooking liquid into a strainer lined with a double layer of cheesecloth over a bowl. I seasoned the broth with pepper and poured it over the mussels.

I sprinkled the chopped parsley over the mussels before serving.

I decided to serve the mussels with some spaghetti tossed with home-made pesto and some free samples of California Olive Ranch extra-virgin olive oil.

This was definitely a simple rustic meal but perfect for a Monday night. I made way too many mussels and we had to throw some out. Still, I was proud of this dish and was really surprised at how easy it was to make!

Have you ever cooked mussels at home? What is your favorite way to prepare (or eat) mussels?

Upside-Down One-Bowl Apple Cake

2011-10-11T07:36:00.000-04:00

Three years ago, my sister made a phenomenal upside-down apple cake for Thanksgiving. My entire family fell in love with it and I insisted that she give me the recipe. Since then, I have made this cake every year and usually after our fall apple picking. This past Saturday, despite the glorious summer-like weather, Bret and I went wine tasting and apple picking with our friends, Adam and Sarah, at Nashoba Valley Winery.

We came home with lots of apples and like clockwork, I got to work on the Upside-Down One-Bowl Apple Cake on Sunday morning.

First, I gathered my ingredients:

1/3 cup butter, cut up
6 very small red cooking apples (1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pound total) (I used 6 small Cortland apples)
1/3 cup packed brown sugar (I used dark brown sugar)
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2/3 cup milk (I used skim milk)
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla (I omitted this ingredient since I was all out!)

I preheated the oven to 350 degrees. Placed the 1/3 cup butter in a rectangular baking pan.

I put the butter in the oven for about three minutes, until the butter was melted. While the butter was melting, I halved, de-stemmed and cored all of the apples.

I took the pan out of the even and sprinkled the brown sugar over the melted butter. I stirred to combine it. I then arranged nine of the apple halves, cut side down, in the butter mixture.

I let the apples bake for about fifteen minutes until the butter mixture was bubbling.

While the apples were baking, I peeled and finely chopped the remaining three apple halves. The original recipe calls for shredding the apples but over the years, I've found that chopping the apples works just fine and is a lot easier.

In a large bowl, I mixed all of the remaining dry ingredients together. I then added the chopped apple, milk, softened butter and egg to the bowl. I beat the batter with a hand mixer for about a minute until the ingredients were combined.

I spooned the batter into the pan and spread it evenly over the apple halves. Some of the apple halves were still exposed and some of the butter mixture came to the surface.

I baked the cake for thirty-five minutes and toothpick-tested the cake. I let the cake cool for about five minutes in the pan.

Using a sharp knife, I loosened the cake edges from the sides of the baking pan. I inverted the cake onto a large cutting board. I let the cake cool down for over an hour while Bret and I went for a Sunday morning hike at Harold Parker State Forest. When we came back, the cake was definitely cool!

I gently wrapped the cake with plastic wrap and brought it along for a day on Meghan and Eric's boat. The cake was super moist and not too sweet. While this cake is great served warm with ice cream, we all definitely enjoyed it on an unusually warm October day out on the water.

I'm looking forward to baking up some more delicious treats with our fresh-picked apples! Tell me, what are some of your favorite fall apple dishes?

Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Bacon

2011-10-09T07:38:00.000-04:00

I have been having a serious addiction with sweet potatoes lately. Bret and I have gotten in the habit of splitting a baked sweet potato as a quick and easy side dish with dinner. So it should come as no surprise when I flagged a recipe for Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Bacon in my most recent issue of Everyday Food.

The recipe was simple. I simply cut two sweet potatoes into 1 1/2 inch pieces. The original recipe calls for peeling the potato skin but for me, the potato skin is my favorite part!

I tossed the sweet potatoes with five slices of coarsely chopped bacon, five sprigs of thyme, salt and pepper. I was lucky to have both leftover bacon and thyme on hand, which made this dish so easy to throw together.

I roasted all of these ingredients on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet at 400 degrees for about thirty minutes. I periodically checked on the sweet potatoes and bacon to stir them up.

The end result was a lovely sweet and salty side dish. It was so simple to make but so flavorful!

I served the sweet potatoes with Korean-style boneless chicken thighs I had in the freezer, and the sweet potatoes contrasted nicely with the spicy chicken.

Do you like sweet potatoes? What is your favorite way to prepare sweet potatoes?

Love Is...

2011-10-07T07:43:00.000-04:00

...something as simple as receiving flowers at your office for no reason at all.

We've been together for almost four years and he still manages to take my breath away.

Happy Friday to you all!