Grilled Portabella Burgers with Red Pepper Relish
Posted: July 30, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: balsamic vinegar, dinner, easy, grill, mushroom, onion, pepper, portabella, roasted pepper, spicy, vegetables 4 Comments »I used to think I didn’t like mushrooms. I didn’t like the look of them, I didn’t like the smell of them, and I knew that I definitely didn’t like the taste. I was so adamantly opposed to trying them that for years my mom made two trays of stuffing on Thanksgiving… one with mushrooms, and one without. If anyone made the “mistake” of eating mushrooms around me, I would make an obnoxious face and point out the fungus on their plate. I’m sure it was a real treat to eat with me.
Then one day, I accidentally ate one of the mushrooms from my chicken marsala…. And I liked it! In fact, I loved it! I realized that I had been sadly mistaken about the little fungi. For years, my stubbornness had been preventing me from enjoying these tasty morsels.
Since then, I have surely made up for lost time. I will eat anything with cooked mushrooms, and will try them in just about any dish. I’m a mushroom-holic and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
So when I saw this recipe for Grilled Portabella Burgers with Red Pepper Relish on Cooking with Aurora, it was impossible for me to resist trying them out (with a few small changes). Of course, you don’t have to be mushroom obsessed like me to enjoy these burgers… they are so delicious that even those that are moderate in their mushroom love will enjoy them!
Corn Chowder
Posted: July 28, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: chicken broth, chowder, corn, cornmeal, milk, onion, potato, soup 6 Comments »When I was in college, after a night of partying studying, I would always order the same thing from the dining hall: a hummus wrap with tomato and whatever creamy soup they had that day. To this day, I still crave that meal whenever I’m hungover exhausted from… ahem… studying.
It was always a good day when the soup being offered was corn chowder. There is just something comforting about a hot creamy corn soup. Sadly, I actually don’t think that I’ve had corn chowder since I’ve graduated. Now that I’m older and wiser (obviously from all the studying), I know that eating a big bowl of heavy cream soup whenever I crave it is not the healthiest option.
So when I saw this recipe on Opera Girl Cooks, I knew I had to try it. A creamy corn soup without the heavy cream and fat? Yes, please! I did make a few tweaks to the recipe to make it even more guilt free, but the basic premise is the same.
Strawberry, Feta, and Spinach Salad
Posted: July 27, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: balsamic, balsamic vinegar, feta, salad, spinach, strawberry 4 Comments »For some reason, I have a real issue scheduling my weekends. I try to cram in so much that I don’t have time to finish everything I need/want to do. I end up forgetting how long things take to do/not taking weekend traffic into account/promising to be in two places at one time/forgetting that I’m human and need to relax every once in a while, etc.
So a few Sunday afternoons ago, when I looked at my “to do” list for that weekend, I realized that there was no way I was going to finish everything on that list. I decided to pick out two last items to conquer and just concentrate on those. I chose to exercise and to go to Costco. And then it came to me: I would walk to Costco! Two birds. One stone… Brilliant!
I laced up my sneakers, grabbed my backpack, set the playlist on my iPod, and ventured out into the wild unknown. (Ok, maybe Queens isn’t quite the wild unknown, but I’m using some poetic license. It has a nice ring to it, no?)
Healthy Taco Salad
Posted: July 23, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: cheese, ethnic, healthy, lettuce, mexican, salad, salsa, sour cream, spicy, tacos, tomato 3 Comments »
I LOVE Mexican food. I mean, really, what’s not to love? Any cuisine that features cheese, fried tortillas, cheese, beans, cheese, rice, cheese, sour cream, cheese, avocado, cheese, and a whole lotta spice, gets a big fat A+ in my book. (Did I mention the CHEESE??)
But, let’s face it, while absolutely delicious, those ingredients aren’t exactly good for you (or your waistline). Needless to say, as much as I would like to eat a nice big plate of enchiladas or tacos a few times a week, I don’t. So when the craving hits for a Mexican meal, but I don’t want to consume a whole day’s worth of fat and calories in one sitting, I make my “go to” Taco Salad.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: Really, Dana? A salad? THAT’S supposed to fill me up when I want tacos?? Trust me. This salad is so big, flavorful and delicious, and uses such healthy and real ingredients, that it easily quells any Mexican food craving, and will leave you satisfied and guilt free.
Chocolate Chip Graham Cracker Chewy Bars
Posted: July 22, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: baking, bars, chewy, chocolate, chocolate chip, cinnamon, dessert, graham cracker 1 Comment »Sometimes a dessert just seems so delicious that you have to try it. There’s just something about it; the colors are bright, the texture looks just right, the smell is sugary sweet. You just know that one bite will take you to pasty nirvana. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or anything, it just seems right.
You know what I’m talking about. You pass by the bakery, and in the window is a chewy, gooey, perfect looking chocolate chip cookie. It makes you mouth water just thinking about taking one bite. So you decide to treat yourself. You walk into the bakery and the smell overwhelms you. It’s that classic baking smell – the perfect mixture of chocolate and sugar and cookie baking goodness. So you order one, just one, of those delicious cookies. You pay and impatiently wait for the cashier to give you your change and hand over the cookie. And as you walk out the door you take one bite and…
Nothing. It’s dry. Or too crunchy. Or too mushy. Or not chocolate chip-y enough. Or too chocolate chip-y. It’s just not right. Just plain disappointing.
The moral of this story, kids? Looks can be deceiving.
Enter these Chocolate Chip Graham Cracker Chewy bars. I’ll admit they don’t look like much. They are seemingly average chocolate chip bars. You look at them and you don’t have high expectations. They look decent, not bad, but nothing special.
But I assure you, they are special. They are so delicious. So chewy. With just the right amount of graham cracker. And chocolate chips. Try them. Just one bite. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.
Lemon Lime Marinated Chicken
Posted: July 20, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: chicken, dinner, easy, garlic, grill, lemon, lemon juice, lime 7 Comments »Have you ever heard someone say “it’s so hot you can fry an egg on the sidewalk”? I have. And I’ve always thought the people that said it were a little… off. I mean, come on. Cooking an egg on the sidewalk? That’s ridiculous.
… Or is it? I must admit, the recent heat wave in NYC has made me reconsider my stance. It is just SO hot and humid outside. Even with yesterday’s rain and “cold front” it only cooled down to 80°. I’m starting to think that I really could cook something on the sidewalk. Maybe. I don’t know.
But what I do know for sure is that it is too hot to cook anything inside. The thought of turning on my oven in this unrelenting heat and humidity is truly unbearable. So here’s a recipe that will keep your apartment cool and your stomach full… There’s no need to turn on the oven with this easy and delicious Lemon Lime Marinated Chicken recipe for the grill.
Banana Bread
Posted: July 15, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: baking, banana, bread, cinnamon, dessert 2 Comments »
This weekend, Jake and I visited my friend, Nicole, in Plattsburgh. It was a trek (a 5 ½ hour drive), but it was so worth it. Nicole is one of my best friends from college, and although we don’t get to see each other nearly enough, when we do get together, we always have a blast! This weekend was no exception… It was full of margaritas, Mexican food, lake houses, homemade pizza and banana bread, and, of course, great company!
After Jake and I arrived at the house (and after I got jumped on by Nicole’s huge dog and screamed like a baby), we dropped our stuff into the guest room and Nicole and I wasted no time getting caught up. We talked for a while, and she gave me the grand tour of her new house.
In the kitchen, I noticed a bunch of overripe bananas sitting on the counter. Instantly, memories of the yummy care packages we used to receive in college flooded my brain. Freshly baked apple bread, banana bread, rhubarb pie, and other delicious treats were not uncommon in our little dorm room mini fridge. I glanced from the bananas to Nicole, and I knew we were thinking the same thing…. We need to make Banana Bread with those bananas!
Sweet Potato Burritos
Posted: July 13, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: beans, burrito, cheese, dinner, garlic, kidney beans, mexican, onion, sweet potato, tortilla, vegetarian Leave a comment »When I saw this recipe for Sweet Potato Burritos on I’m Losing It Here (great blog name, right?), I knew I wanted to try it. So I added it to my ever-growing, ever-unorganized “Recipes to Try” list, which is filled with more meals than I could possibly make in a year.
To be honest, I thought this would be one of those recipes that I made “someday.” Not to say it didn’t look good, because it definitely did, but I had a feeling that when I mentioned it to Jake he would ask his standard “where’s the meat?” and the idea would be nixed. Of course I could just make it for myself and leave Jake to fend for himself for dinner, but apparently I’ve inherited the “food = love” philosophy from my grandma… And I could always make it for myself and make him something more… meaty… but even those that love to cook don’t want to get home from work and have to make two different meals.
So when I casually mentioned that I was thinking of making these for dinner at some point, I fully expected him to make a face or to have to try to convince him that meat is not a requirement for a well rounded dinner (beans are protein, too!). But, to my surprise, without any hesitation or convincing on my part, he said they sounded…. great! Not even good, great!!
I bought the ingredients right away and made these healthy and tasty Sweet Potato Burritos for dinner the next night, so he wouldn’t have any time to change his mind… and I’m glad I did!
Sweet Caramelized Onion Dip
Posted: July 9, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: appetizer, caramelized onion, cream cheese, dip, mayo, onion, parmesan, sour cream 1 Comment »
The next time you throw a party, make this amazingly delicious Sweet Caramelized Onion Dip. In fact, make it ASAP. Go!
What’s that, you say? You’re not throwing a party any time soon? Throw one anyway, just as an excuse to make this dip. Ok, ok, that may be a little overkill. If you need another reason (other than it’s so delicious and everyone around you will love you and praise you and ask you for more), try one of these:
- Bring it to someone else’s party/BBQ/gathering. Didn’t mom always tell you not to show up empty handed?
- You have extra crackers and need a reason to finish them. (Not that I’ve ever needed a reason to polish off a sleeve of Ritz crackers, but hey, maybe you’re one of those strange people that does.)
- It’s raining/snowing/too hot to go outside/too cold to go outside.
- You’re just plain bored. (I’m not really familiar with this feeling, as I try to cram so much into my days that I end up stressing myself out. But I hear it does happen to some people. Probably the same ones that need an excuse to eat the crackers. Weird breed.)
- It’s Tuesday. (Ok, maybe I’m stretching it here – I’m trying to give you a lot of options so you have no excuse not to make it ASAP.)
But in all seriousness, make this dip. It is so delicious you will be the hit of any party where it’s served.
Chicken Spinach Strudel
Posted: July 7, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: baking, chicken, dill, dinner, egg, garlic, lemon juice, onion, parsley, phyllo, spinach, vegetables 1 Comment »If you’ve been keeping up with my posts, you know that last week’s attempt at working with phyllo dough for the first time did not quite work out as planned. The fact that I was able to salvage the ingredients and create a yummy new dip did not help ease the feeling that I had been outmaneuvered by a pastry product.
I mean, I’m part Greek, people… I should have been born knowing how to make spanikopita and baklava. I should be a phyllo pro! But instead, I kept opening the fridge and seeing the phyllo sheets staring back at me. I’m pretty sure I could hear them mocking me every time I closed the refrigerator door… I decided to shut them up once and for all.
I sifted through countless recipes until I came across one recipe that piqued my interest. Chicken Mushroom Strudel…. sounds interesting, right? I thought so, but I wanted something a little lighter, and I knew Jake wouldn’t go for the mushrooms. So I made a few revisions and came up with a lighter version of Chicken Spinach Strudel.
