Endive and Bulgur Salad With Poached Eggs
Posted: February 16, 2012 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: balsamic vinegar, bulgur, cooking, easy, egg, endive, foodblog, garlic, mushroom, olive oil, parmesan, pepper, poach, recipe, salad, scallion 12 Comments »
Now, I’m not one to brag.
Ahem. Please, no comments from the peanut gallery.
As I was saying. I’m not one to brag. But this year I had not one. But two. Yes, two Valentines.
The first, of course, was my wonderful fiancé, Jake. He treated me to a delicious pre-Vday brunch at Norma’s at Le Parker Meridien on Sunday, and surprised me with beautiful pale pink roses on Valentine’s Day itself! I certainly am a lucky girl ;)
(Side note: anyone looking for brunch in the NYC area, I highly recommend Norma’s.)
And my second Valentine was California Vegetable Specialties!
Ok. I know that’s not a person, per se, but I still count it. After all, they did send me a Valentine! A beautiful bouquet, in fact. Of endives!
Now anyone that knows me knows that I love presents. Especially surprise ones. And especially ones related to food.
So when the box unexpectedly arrived at my office, full of beautiful, fresh endives arranged in a charming bouquet? Well, let’s just say it was love at first sight.
I knew the only way to truly honor my new Valentine was to make something delicious out of the colorful veggies.
So I searched high and low, and finally found the perfect recipe to showcase the beauties in all their glory.
Tortilla Soup
Posted: January 30, 2012 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: avocado, cheese, chicken, chicken broth, cooking, corn, cumin, dinner, easy, ethnic, foodblog, jalapeno, lime juice, mexican, paprika, pepper, recipe, rice, salsa, soup, spicy, tomato, tortilla, vegetables, zucchini 19 Comments »
I, for one, was thrilled that the temperature was well above freezing this weekend.
And not just because I hate the winter. But because it precluded any chance of snow. And for that I was thankful.
You see, last weekend we had snow. The first snowfall of the season, in fact. Unless, of course, you include Halloween weekend as part of the “season.” I don’t. So in my book, it was the first.
And unlike most people, who are excited about the first snowfall and celebrate by building snowmen, making hot chocolate, and cuddling by the fireplace, I did none of those things.
Instead, I took the opportunity to carry my friend on my back, slip on the slush, fall, rip my tights, skin my knees, and bruise both knees and a shin.
I blame the snow.
So when I learned that this weekend would be snow free, I celebrated in a more responsible manner: I made soup.
Yes, delicious Tortilla Soup. Much less dangerous. Much more tasty. I’d say it was a good decision all around.
Asian Style Garlic Sesame Pasta Salad
Posted: September 20, 2011 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: asian, broccoli, cooking, exotic, foodblog, garlic, pasta, pepper, recipe, salad, scallions, sesame, tomato 8 Comments »
See that picture above?
It’s Asian Style Garlic Sesame Pasta Salad. It’s also delicious. And easy to make.
You want some. Trust me.
Well, good news! You too can have a taste of this goodness!
I am currently the newest member of the ShopRite Blogger Panel, and will be creating recipes like this one for their blog, Potluck. Just head on over for the recipe for this Asian Style Garlic Sesame Pasta Salad.
And don’t forget to keep an eye out… I have some more tasty ShopRite creations in the works that you don’t want to miss!
Turkey Potpie with Baby Vegetables
Posted: April 7, 2011 Filed under: Food | Tags: artichoke hearts, basil, carrot, chicken broth, cooking, cornmeal, dill, edamame, foodblog, garlic, honey, mushroom, mustard, olive oil, onion, peas, pepper, potpie, recipe, salt, sour cream, soy milk, tomato, turkey, vegetables 31 Comments »
For my 100th blog post, I knew that I wanted to feature something great. The topic for this post had to be something really special, because Food for Thought is so special.
It’s certainly special to me, because I love cooking/photographing/writing and sharing with all of you. And it must be something special to you, too, because there’s no reason that I can think of why you’d keep coming back to read my ridiculous musings otherwise.
So, when Jake called me on my way home from a work dinner on Monday night, and said “That potpie stuff that you left for me was literally the best thing you have ever made, hands down, and that includes the Smores Cookies! It. is. so. good.” I knew I had found “the one”. I mean, we all know how Jake feels about those cookies.
I couldn’t help but smile at how easy it had been to choose my honorary 100th post recipe.
But when I got home I realized there was a problem. Not with the recipe. Not with the pictures. And certainly not with the food.
No, the problem was with the fact that I had already posted my 100th post…. that morning.
Oops.
So, ladies and gentlemen, this Turkey Potpie with Baby Vegetables recipe marks my 101st post. But don’t let the fact that it is posted on such an unceremoniously ordinary day fool you… it is something truly special.
Sweet Potato and Caramelized Onion Quesadillas
Posted: March 14, 2011 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: cheese, contests, cooking, foodblog, garlic, herb, mexican, olive oil, onion, pepper, recipe, red pepper, sweet potato, tortilla, wrap 30 Comments »
Last weekend, when I was in Boston competing in the New England Country Soup Challenge (pictures and more to come on that soon!), I was bitten by a bug. I was having so much fun cooking in the professional kitchen, creating my Chicken and Veggie Corn Chowder, minding my own business, when I felt it.
Immediately I could feel the effects. My mind started racing. I couldn’t sit still. I was infected.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a bedbug (despite my deepest fears), a tick, or even a mosquito. No, it was something else entirely. It was the OBSESSION bug!
You see, the Soup Challenge is only one of many food related contests and competitions that occurs each year. Of course, I always knew that they were out there, but actually participating in one is a whole different story. While I was competing, all I could think about was what other fun contests I was missing out on!
I learned from some of the other contestants that there are websites dedicated solely to compiling food and cooking related contests for people who become obsessed with want to find them. Most notably there is Contest Cook (free) and Cooking Contest Central (membership based).
On the ride home from Boston, I was already searching the sites to see what other contest I could enter!
Thai Tofu Vegetable Soup with Rice Noodles
Posted: February 9, 2011 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: carrot, challenge, chicken broth, cooking, dinner, ethnic, foodblog, garlic, ginger, lime, lime juice, mushroom, olive oil, pepper, portabella, recipe, red pepper, rice noodles, soup, soy sauce, thai, tofu, vegetable broth, vegetables, vegetarian 12 Comments »
When people ask me where I went to college, I answer with a mildly vague “upstate NY,” hoping that it’s enough to satisfy them. It’s not that I’m embarrassed or anything. I would answer more specifically, but I know it’s useless. Of the ten million times I have answered with “Potsdam,” a total 2 people have ever heard of it.
So instead I give my vague answer, and I wish that it’s sufficient. It never is. It would be really great if it was one time, because it would save me from having the following conversation. Again.
So, where did you go to college?
Upstate NY.
Oh, me too! Where?
Potsdam.
Never heard of it… where’s that?
It’s way upstate. Like as far as you can go.
Oh, like Buffalo?
No, farther north than that but in the other direction.
Like near Syracuse?
No, 2 ½ hours north of that. About 20 minutes from the Canadian border.
Oh.
And it’s true. The closest landmark that anyone not from upstate NY can relate to Potsdam is Canada. In fact, we were so nearby to Canada, that we would travel over the border to take advantage of the lower drinking age there was a lot of Canadian influence around campus.
It was not uncommon to see Canadian flags being flown from dorm room windows, to hear people adding “eh?” to the end of their sentences, or to be offered Labatt Blue at a party.
Ancho Chile Chicken and Hominy Stew
Posted: January 20, 2011 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: chicken, chicken broth, chili powder, chilie, cooking, cumin, ethnic, foodblog, garlic, hominy, mexican, oregano, paprika, pepper, recipe, soup, spicy, stew, tomato 23 Comments »
You know those compatibility quizzes in Cosmo? The ones that rate if you and your partner have the same preferences? If you like the same things? If you have the same tastes?
Sadly, I know that if I took one, Jake and I would get a big fat F.
Why?
Because I like it hot. Like super hot. Make you sweat hot. Make you gasp hot. I really like to spice things up.
And Jake? Well, not so much. He likes it more on the mild side. He’s more of a traditionalist, if you will. Content with the same bland things.
Um, excuse me. Why are you snickering? I’m talking about FOOD here. Such dirty minds…
Lemon Pepper Oven Fried Chicken Fingers and a Giveaway!
Posted: November 1, 2010 Filed under: Events, Food, Giveaways | Tags: baking, chicken, dinner, easy, egg, fried, giveaway, lemon, oven, panko, pepper 49 Comments »November is here! You know what that means?
Thanksgiving? Election Day?? Cookie Monster’s Birthday??? No, no, and no!
Well, actually, yes, yes, and yes…. But there’s something even better! Something you’ve been waiting for your whole life!… or at least since October 22…
It’s Reader Appreciation Month on Food for Thought! Brace yourself for a month full of giveaways, FFT’s first ever guest post, and magic!
That’s right… magic. Something truly impossible. Something you never even imagined in your wildest dreams: something easy, healthy, crispy, flavorful and delicious… all in one recipe!
What is this magical recipe, you ask?? Oven Fried Chicken Fingers!
Spicy Zucchini Soup
Posted: September 7, 2010 Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: basil, bread, cheese, chicken broth, dinner, garlic, jalapeno, lemon juice, lunch, onion, parmesan, pepper, soup, spicy, zucchini 26 Comments »I’ve been hearing a lot of people complaining about how it’s still so hot outside. They are asking for the cooler weather. They are wishing summer would just end already. They are ready for the fall.
If you are one of those people, listen up, because I’m only going to ask nicely this one time: Please stop. (See? Wasn’t that nice? I even said please. Next time I won’t be so polite.)
If you are one of those crazy people wishing for the fall, I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt. Because even I, someone who is such a summer loving person, can see why wishing for fall might seem tempting. The temperature is a little less extreme, the leaves turn beautiful colors, and pumpkin pie is abundant. Sounds good so far.
The problem is that you’re being shortsighted. (Sorry, I don’t usually like to call names, but this is an extreme situation.) You see a season filled with football, Halloween candy, and apple picking. But you know what you’re forgetting? Fall leads to winter.
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!
