I have a handful of sites that I regularly visit when looking for new recipes, but today I found out about a new one. Continue reading New Recipe Site
Category Archives: Food & Wine
New Article Up!
I am now writing food and wine articles for HubPages and my first one is up! Last night I made a great Shrimp Scampi recipe. It was so tasty, and so easy. I also tried to reduce the amount a butter and oil to make it slightly healthier (though how healthy can Shrimp Scampi really be?).
Please check it out: Quick Shrimp Scampi Recipe! And feel free to leave comments over there,too !
The Vanilla Bean
This might be my first named cocktail since college. I actually don’t remember (and thus, it is likely I have named countless other cocktails). A shot or so of Smirnoff Vanilla vodka (my preferred brand when it comes to vanilla vodkas — trust me on this one), twice as much vanilla seltzer, and about a shot of coffee liqueur. Pour on ice, stir, enjoy. Now, I eyeballed everything so your results may vary.
I’m no mixologist — just a thirsty girl. But I have to say this is pretty refreshing; kind of like a sparkling iced coffee.
The Kind of Day It’s Been
Let me put it this way: Jake is on school vacation this week. Noah has been renamed “Captain Destructo.” It’s raining. It’s cold. It has been a long day. But there’s really no excuse for this, I know. This is what it’s come down to: White Zinfindel and stale Peeps. I have a feeling I won’t live this one down.
Asian chicken soup
I meant to post this yesterday and then promptly forgot about it. Christina, I think you’ll especially like this one. The recipe is from the April 2007 issue of Everyday Food. Ginger, garlic, chicken stock, chili flakes, peapods, scallions, red pepper, chicken, lime juice, whole wheat spaghetti (though you could also use soba noodles). A nice, light soup for the spring. I think it would be equally as good if you used tofu instead of chicken. I added some more chili flakes when I served it because I wanted it a little spicier. The only caveat is that it is best eaten shortly after it’s made. I ate a bowl of leftover soup for lunch today and I really missed the crispness of the vegetables. Just something to keep in mind. I found the entire April issue of EF good, so if you’re interested in the recipe, it’s worth picking up the whole magazine.
I ::Heart:: Target
I love finding random stuff at Target that I just have to have. Yesterday was good for that. First, I found these limited edition, cocktail-flavored Jell-O mixes! This has got three of my favorite things going for it:
1) It’s Jell-O (one of my dirty little secrets is that I really, really love Jell-O).
2) Limited Edition – I’m a sucker for any flavor of anything that won’t be around permanantly
3) Pina Colada, Margarita, and Strawberry Daquari!!!
I haven’t made Jell-O shots in about 12 years, but these kind of call out for it. And I think the pina colada is just calling for me to whip out my Jell-O mold pan.
I also have a penchant for divided containers and found this one at Target yesterday. I think it has a great design with the divider that flips up a different way to separate everything. And while *technically* the large spot is for a sandwich, there’s no reason to limit oneself. I’m really excited for work this week so I can use it!
I Blame Cheap Wine
My original plan for last night was to cast on for my Flower Basket Shawl. During Noah’s nap I got everything out, wound up my yarn, and was set to go. Of course, around dinner time I decided to have a glass of wine and pulled the Crane Lake out of the fridge (I legitimately needed to taste it for work, to see if we might want to bring it it in as the lone cheap Chardonnay).
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by their Cab in the past, and I was likewise surprised by their Chardonnay. I smelled apple, pear, cinnamon, and a hint of vanilla on the nose. I kept smelling my glass, wishing I could make a perfume out of it! (Clearly, if you didn’t already think I was nuts you do now. My God, the woman wants to smell like cheap white wine – what’s wrong with her?). Anyway, continuing with my notes… The wine is slightly creamy and easy to drink, light tannins, not terribly complex, but a good value to be sure.
My original glass carried me through the kids’ dinner, baths, and bedtimes (about an hour and a half), and then it was time for me to make myself dinner and kick back. And… well… I almost kicked back the whole bottle. Ooops! Luckily I remembered that I needed to leave at least a bit for Drew. And even though I’m not really a lightweight, I hadn’t eaten much all day, so I didn’t think it would be a good idea to mix cheap white wine with sharp pointy objects.
And that’s why I didn’t start my shawl. But if you’re looking for dirt cheap chardonnay that isn’t completely terrible? Go with the Crane Lake.
Free Starbucks, Anyone?
In case you’re interested in free coffee, this was in the Hungry Girl newsletter over the weekend:
Free Coffee at The ‘Bucks – Do NOT miss the “Starbucks Coffee Break” and your big chance to get a FREE Tall (12-oz.) coffee this Thursday, March 15th, from 10am ’til noon at Starbucks locations all over the U.S., Canada, Asia and Australia. While you’re there, check out their brewing sale and get a great deal on your very own brewer. Yee-haaa!
Drink up if you’re near one (and even if you have issues with Starbucks, I say free coffee is still free coffee).
Maybe It Really *IS* Rotted Grape Juice
I found this to be very interesting:
Wines sold as rare may be fake
And an article from the local paper:
Scarsdale wine seller subpoenaed in federal probe
Should be interesting over the next couple days hearing what people have to say about it.
Compare Brands Before You Buy
I’ve been trying really hard to keep the clutter out of our house and this has mainly meant that I’ve held back from buying various kitchen gadgets. Continue reading Compare Brands Before You Buy