Yes, I admit it. I’m one of those people who loves kale. I put it in smoothies, I make kale chips, I throw it in soups, and salads. And this is my most recent kale obsession – a kale salad with beets and a tasty avocado dressing.
Monthly Archives: November 2013
Baked Apples
So this post goes really well with my post from earlier this week – the roast chicken. Both these dishes are so easy and are perfect for late fall/early winter. They’re warm and make your kitchen smell delicious. We also used to have these all the time as kids so they remind me of fun filled childhood days spent playing games in front of a fire (not sure how often that happened, but I seem to remember it).
My Favorite Meal of the Week – Roast Chicken
This is one of those dishes that I just always assumed was super hard. So let me be the first to say, I was totally wrong. It’s so easy to make. And it’s great to have in the winter, when you could use a little warming up and the smell of rosemary filling the kitchen.
Bourbon and Orange Pecan Pie
So in honor of Thanksgiving, which is right around the corner, I wanted to share a pecan pie recipe with you. But not just your average pecan pie. I chose to make one with a few extra special flavors – orange and bourbon. This pie will make a great addition to the dessert course on Thanksgiving! So if you feel like impressing your family, volunteer to bring a dessert. No really, I know what you’re thinking, ugh the last thing I want to do on Thanksgiving is bake. I just want to watch my parents do all the hard work, and sit around working up my appetite. But this is really REALLY easy. Yes, even for you novice bakers. I PROMISE!
My Favorite Meal of the Week – Chicken Farro Soup
In the winter, you really can’t have enough recipes for hearty soups. Hearty soups and warm breads are about all I want to eat when the temperature drops. This soup takes a bit to cook (probably 1.5 hours on the stove), but it involves very little involvement. So if you have time this weekend, cook up a big batch to get you through next week!
Chocolate Coffee Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
Who doesn’t love chocolate? No, really, who doesn’t? I may have been guilty of growing up without an appreciation for chocolate, but I’ve come around and now truly appreciate all that is holy about chocolate. So when I see chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting, my brain gets excited.
I don’t normally participate in the cupcake craze. I judge the people I see waiting hours in line for a Georgetown Cupcake in DC. But sometimes, for parties, cupcakes are kind of handy because people can just grab one and eat it while standing without any silverware. Plus, sometimes I think people are intimidated by cake, but not cupcakes. So anyways, I made these double chocolate cupcakes for the June birthday party I threw, and well, all I can tell you is I only got to taste the dough and frosting because these were gone before I even got to eat one. So I’m hoping that means they were good. Plus they are super fun to decorate if you go the extra mile and create the chocolate toppings (it’s a lot easier than it seems, I promise!!).
My Favorite Meal of the Week – Crockpot Minestrone
So it’s that time of year where we really have to accept that winter is upon us and we won’t see sun for quite some time. And how do we cope with this? We eat warm, hearty foods sitting in front of the fire. This is a really easy crock pot dish that is perfect to come home to after a long day at work or school and then a commute back home in the rain. I actually doubled the recipe and have an additional 4 servings sitting in the freezer to get me through finals in the coming weeks.
English Muffins
So Dave and my original life partner, Kelsey, have eaten enough of my baked goods over the years to no longer be impressed. I mean they always compliment things, but it takes something truly amazing to impress them these days. And for some reason, it was something as simple as an English muffin that got their attention recently. I think it comes down to the fact that these actually looked just like an English muffin should, as in what the Thomas brand ones look like. I’ve loved having these around. I immediately froze them, and have just been randomly defrosting them and toasting them when I feel like a little something extra in the morning.
the petite croissant 