30

Jan

B-A-N-A-N-A-S Pancakes

We haven’t talked about Pinterest* here, but we probably should. I adore it.

At first, I wasn’t sure how to use it, but decided it would work best for me if I used it to organize things I found online. As I come across recipes or items I like, I pin them, so that I won’t lose track of them later. While this is the way I primarily use it, I also like discovering what other people have pinned.

Every day, I discover new sources of inspiration with just a few clicks. Can you tell I’m addicted? Recently, I came across a pancake recipe mimicking bananas foster in my news feed. I couldn’t get it out of my head. It looked delicious. But instead of making the posted recipe, I did a twist on my go to pancake recipe using orange and cinnamon, two ingredients I had on hand. The flavor combination was inspired by this recipe from Melissa D’Arabian.

The hybrid of these two great recipes is a really special take on pancakes. Warm and filling, it’s perfect for a cozy night in. Continue reading →

121 days ago Short URL 1 Comment

Fancy Fake-Out/Food

25

Jan

Jicama, Almond and Orange Salad

Around Christmas, I ate at Blanc Burgers + Bottles in Leawood. Instead of my usual fries, I opted for a salad with my burger. The arugula + citrus caught my eye, and after I ate it, I couldn’t get it out of my head.

A week later, I was still thinking about it and thought I could make a similar version at home. My grocery store didn’t have blood oranges, and I didn’t want to invest in another expensive olive oil, so I used plain navel oranges instead. And, they worked just fine.

My version is delicious and simple to put together.  The most intimidating element might be the jicama. If you’ve never seen, eaten or cooked with a jicama, you’re in for a treat. Although not the prettiest person at the party, it’s a tasty ingredient. Jicama has basically, no flavor. It’s crunchy and porous, which means it will take on the flavors of other ingredients easily, while remaining firm. It looks like this.

To use a jicama, peel it and then, slice it. Here’s how the julienned slices looked.

Continue reading →

127 days ago Short URL 3 Comments

Fancy Fake-Out/Food/Vegan

24

Jan

Wild Rice Salad

I’ve had a big container of wild rice in my cupboards for longer than I’d care to admit. Inspired by a rice salad I saw here, I used ingredients I had on hand to create a dish perfect for lunch.

A tangy vinaigrette forms the basis of the salad with tart, dried cherries and spinach adding brightness. The ingredients are healthy and perfect for any New Year’s resolutions you might have made.

Continue reading →

128 days ago Short URL 1 Comment

Food

//////

20

Jan

Fashion Friday: Pastels

via Vogue

One of the huge trends for spring and summer this year is pastels. Designers around the globe marched whispy fabrics and structured silhouettes in mint, pale pick, soft orange, lilac and sky blue down the runway. The results are pretty, dreamy pieces that can best be described as either ladylike or womanly. Continue reading →

132 days ago Short URL Comments

Fashion

18

Jan

Confession

I can’t believe we haven’t talked about Downton Abbey here, because I am a woman obsessed.

A sucker for period dramas, the storylines and rich details had me hooked immediately. I first caught a reference to the show from the Fug Girls (I think). It was after the first season had ended, so I watched it on Netflix and was immediately swept away by the upstairs/downstairs residents of Downton.

The new season picked up two weeks ago on Sunday. It airs at 8:00 p.m. CST  on PBS and is a nice balance to the Jersey Shore.

133 days ago Short URL 2 Comments

Guilty Pleasures

///

12

Jan

Cookbook Review: Comfort Food Fix

This Christmas, I received a copy of Ellie Krieger’s newest cookbook, Comfort Food Fix. I’ve long been a fan of her healthy, delicious approach to cooking. Using fresh ingredients, she creates nutritious dishes that don’t involve a lot of swaps – just good, natural food. Some of her recipes from previous cookbooks have become staples at our house: Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup (I leave out the celery), Egg Salad (I omit the chives.) and Maple Mustard Chicken Thighs.

For those of you unfamiliar with Ms. Krieger, I first became “introduced” to her on the Food Network. Her show was great and a nice change from some of their more decadent programming (I like butter too, but no one should eat like that all the time.). Unfortunately, she is now on the Cooking Channel, a station I do not get.* Here’s a video clip I found of her on her Web site making something that looks lovely.

I’m happy to report the recipes in her new cookbook are wonderful. I made three after Christmas and loved them. These included her garden tuna melt, French bread pizza and blueberry muffins.

Continue reading →

140 days ago Short URL 1 Comment

Food

//

09

Jan

Pasta Bake

The second recipe from my kitchen clean out, a pasta bake, is not the most original, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t delicious. Tomatoes and onion form the basis of a simple sauce, while melted mozzarella and parmesan create a cheesy bubbling crust. Continue reading →

143 days ago Short URL 1 Comment

Food

////

04

Jan

Winter Movie Roundup

Over the last week, I have seen an obscene number of movies – five to be exact.* Two of which were on the same day. And I have to tell you, it was awesome.

Instead of keeping all of this hands-on research to myself, I thought you might like to know what I thought of each, so you can make an informed decision at the theater.

Sherlock Holmes – For me, it was fine. It was probably one of my least favorites of the week, but in all fairness, it had pretty stiff competition.

via imdb

Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – So, I haven’t read the book. I know I’m probably one of the only people that hasn’t read it. That being said, two of the people who went with me had, and they enjoyed it. Having never read the book, I have to tell you the movie was great. Disturbing and suspenseful, it stays with you awhile after you see it.

Mission Impossible – So, this wasn’t too bad, until they turned up the cheese volume towards the end. And, it gets a little long in the middle, but not too shabby if you’re looking for a little action.

The Descendents – I can see why this movie is getting Oscar buzz. Great performances all the way around. To give you a heads up, it is sad. I cried a little, but it was worth it.

via imdb

Young Adult – This movie takes a little bit to settle into. Charlize’s character is so selfish that it takes a while to get used to her. That being said, if you’re from a small town or attended high school, it’s pretty funny. Dark, but very funny.

*Actually, I just realized it was more than that, because those were just the ones we saw in the theater.

148 days ago Short URL 1 Comment

Guilty Pleasures

02

Jan

Orzo with Feta, Walnuts, Parsley, Lemon & Dried Apricots

In an effort to use up the ingredients filling our cabinets, I made a lovely pasta salad with orzo and a few other items I had on hand last week. Simple to put together, this recipe uses items I commonly have on hand in my kitchen and is a riff on a Rachael Ray dish I made a few weeks ago. Hers combines many of the same flavors: walnuts, parsley and feta. Mine has the addition of chopped dried apricots and lemon juice. Fairly virtuous, this easy dish works well for lunch with egg salad sandwiches or as a side dish at a potluck. Continue reading →

149 days ago Short URL 2 Comments

Food

////////

Blog at WordPress.com.
Theme: Esquire by Matthew Buchanan.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 31 other followers