It is hard to get back into the swing of life after a long holiday weekend! Do you have leftover hamburgers, pulled beef or pork, or maybe some grilled chicken or shrimp?
I have a quick, easy dinner recipe for you!! Dinner in less than one hour!
Get rid of the lingering leftovers and be on top of dinner!!
Cookout Leftovers Taco Soup
Ingredients:
2-3 cups of leftover beef, pork, shrimp
1 35 oz. can whole, crushed, or chopped tomatoes
1 15.5 oz. can black beans
1 16 oz. bag frozen corn
4 cups water
1/4 cup taco seasoning (Note: you can sub chili powder if you are out of taco seasoning!)
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: If you have an onion and/or a pepper you can chop and throw them in. Not necessary!
Directions:
Shred, chop or dice your leftover meat or fish.
Add all ingredients to a stock pot on medium heat and stir.
Cook until hot!
Serve with a dollop of sour cream and shredded cheese. Maybe even some leftover tortilla chips!!
I am always looking for healthy, delicious, easy snacks for my family! Lots of chia seeds, kale, Greek yogurt, sweet potatoes…Anything that is really healthy and tastes great! We are not into the hold-your-nose-and-drink bitter green juices!!
Throw in the chia when baking anything!! Chia seeds are tasteless and have enormous health benefits!
Here is a great healthy snack recipe! Definitely not a chewy gooey, rich chocolate chip cookie recipe. Kid and mommy approved! Packed with chia seeds, fiber and a bonus, they are gluten free!
Just can’t get enough!
Super Chocolate Chip Snack Cookies
Recipe makes 24
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups oat flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup chocolate chips
2 tbsp. chia seeds
1/4 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 cup Almond milk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix all dry ingredients, except chocolate chips, in a mixing bowl.
Add Greek yogurt and mix well.
Add Almond milk little by little and mix thoroughly with each addition until a dough forms.
Make sure the dough is forming, but that it is not too sticky or wet! If so, it can easily be fixed! Add some more flour, a little bit at a time, until the dough loses its shine.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Scoop tablespoon-sized scoops onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
Space them about 1-2inches apart!
Bake for 12 mins.turning cookie sheet at 6 mins. for even baking.
I hope I love it, too! My stylist: Darien!I waited two long, excruciating days to open my first Stitch Fix so I could share this fun, new experience with some girlfriends!
Here are the basics:
What is Stitch Fix? Stitch Fix is an online personal styling company for women!
1. You fill out your style profile online.
2. Your personal stylist sends you an assortment of items.
3. You try on at home and keep what you like and send back the rest!
What does it cost? $20 styling fee.
If you buy anything the fee is removed! Plus, there are no shipping or return charges.
Keep the entire fix and get 25% off the total!!
I will use any excuse to have wine, good cheese, try new recipes, and laugh with the girls!
My first Stitch Fix was the perfect excuse to try some new recipes!! I made a garlic kale tomato white pizza, feta and onion mini fillos, and asparagus and bacon quiche!And of course a spectacular cheese platter of Parmesan Reggiano and Parrano!
I have never had a stylist or anyone for that matter choose clothing/accessories for me. I style myself. I love to shop, especially a great sale!
So my expectation for Stitch Fix is to have someone choose clothes for me that I would never pick for myself and wow me!! My goal is to keep the entire box and take 25%off!!
I couldn’t wait to hear everyone’s opinions!!So I opened the box!
[caption id="attachment_1241" align="alignnone" width="243"] We couldn’t believe the box was so small!! 5 items including accessories!
Item #1
Kut From The Kloth
Marquis Striped French Terry Dolman Sweater
I have to admit I was totally bummed! A sweatshirt-y looking, big looking, jail looking striped top was NOT what I had in mind!!!
So I tried it on…
Super cute! I was totally surprised! I asked the girls “how much how much is it?” They decided not to tell me to make this more interesting. They asked me to make decisions to keep or send back with cost out of the equation! Ok, fun!
I put this top on the keep pile!
Item #2
Liverpool
Carolyn Colored Cuffed Denim Short
Pastel purple shorts? Oh, Darien… I would only wear pastel purple at Easter, but I haven’t since the late 80’s.Of course the girls loved the shorts! I couldn’t get over the pastel purple.
Love this blouse! I love this style of blouse so much I have 5 more just like it!!
I put the printed blouse on the keep pile because if it is inexpensive…I want it!
Item #5
Pomelo
Lydia Faceted Stones Long Necklace
Nope, nope, nope…no photo needed. Brassy yellow gold with big fake blue stones. I think my camera would have broken!
The Price Reveal:
My entire merchandise total is $240.00.
If I keep everything? $165.00
My keep pile?
$68 tulip printed blouse
$38 striped sweater
$106!! Just for those two items?
I didn’t LOVE them and LOVE the price so I sent the entire box back!!!
This experience cost me $20. It was so fun!
What we loved…
EVERYTHING FIT ME PERFECTLY! This is bizarre, right?
Stitch Fix included this cute styling card to give ideas to dress up and dress down the items! To see them in outfits!
What we hated…
The items didn’t go together. No outfits were created with these items.
The box is really only worth the money if you keep the whole fix and get the 25% off!
I hope you enjoyed sharing my first Stitch Fix experience with me! I will get another!! Darien figured me out! He sent me 2 items I already have in my closet!
I encourage you to totally try it! Why not? Worst case scenario is $20!
Here is the link:
Http://stitchfix.com/sign_up?reffer_id=3691311
Please share your experience, too!
The kids and I were shopping at H&M Saturday and look what I found for $17.95 What a coinkydink ; )
Ciao!
This Stitch Fix post was entirely the opinions of ParmesanPrincess and friends! Stitch Fix did not reimburse me or give me any free clothes for writing about their company!
The boho chic Coachella style channels a modern Woodstock vibe with cutoff jean shorts, crop tops, floral and braided headbands. For those of you who don’t know, the Coachella Music and Art Festival is held annually in Indo, CA, and consists of two weekend-long concert line ups! Celebrities flock to the hip collision of music, art and food!!
Kendall Jenner, Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber Coachella- ing their own personal ways. Photo courtesy of peoplestylewatch.Bella loves Coachella style! Ruffle bottom pants, halter tops and head wraps are her favorites!
Ok, What about the food? Well, I hope you aren’t thinking all hotdogs, hamburgers and funnel cake! Coachella food style is also chic, and like the fashion, trend-setting. “Foodie heaven” is the term used by the LA Times. The food vendors cover everything from vegan, kosher and gluten free to pop-up restaurant fare, fine dining and international staples.
Fried vegan, anyone? Photo courtesy of latimesblog.
Papaya salad! Photo courtesy of latimesblog.
The Coachella food trend we will see on hip and trendy dining menus are Arepas! Eaten daily in South American cuisine, arepas are a flat bread made with ground corn flour and are eaten as bread or stuffed with cheese, avocado, jelly or jam. The Coachella favorite? An arepa stuffed with mozzarella and grilled…a Venezuelan grilled cheese!
Arepas are already finding their place on high end restaurant menus in San Francisco, New Orleans and New York City! Bobby Flay likes his stuffed with octopus and lobster salad! Ok, let’s start simple.
Here is an arepa recipe adapted from Tyler Florence’s Food network recipe! I like this one because it is simple with only 4 ingredients and other than being lightly browned in a pan, the Arepas are baked!
Arepas are stuffed with meats and cheeses! The most popular filling in cafés and food trucks? Pork with avocado and salsa!
Coachella Mozzarella Arepas
Makes 4
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups Arepa flour (Precooked corn flour found in Latin American grocery stores or sub white cornmeal)
1-1/2 cups warm water
1 tsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. olive oil, for pan when cooking
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix flour and salt in a mixing bowl.
Slowly add water and tsp. oil and mix until dough forms.
Cover and let rest for 5 minutes.
Remove dough and knead, make sure the surface and your hands are moist with water.
The dough should be moist and easily malleable, but not sticky.
Separate dough into 4 balls.
Form flat round cakes 3-4 inches in diameter and 3/4 inch thick.
Add oil to the pan on medium heat and lightly brown both sides.
Place Arepas on a foil lined cookie sheet and bake 15-20 minutes or “until they make a hollow sound when tapped.”
Slice in half or cut a slit in one side and stuff with mozzarella while hot!
Meet the baker! Enrico Biscotti’s own Jonathan Polley! A 28-year-old husband and father, Jonathan stumbled upon a job that has become his true passion in life.
Meet Jonathan! “Bread is made from four ingredients- flour, water, yeast and salt. It’s not hard to make when you figure it out.”Jonathan’s mark! Did you know the baker’s mark dates back to the birth of bread making! Jonathan explained that one town square had one oven and the townspeople marked the bread to show ownership! Every baker at Enrico Biscotti marks his own loaves!
Not really sure what he wanted to be when he grew up, but technically an Economics major, Jonathan started his career at Enrico Biscotti as a dish washer.
Under the instruction of the great Larry Lagattuta, Enrico Biscotti’s proprietor, Jonathan has developed a love for mixing dough and found his calling as a baker.
Working at a good pace and being very precise, Jonathan exudes a contagious positive baking environment. The music was on and it didn’t feel like 5am! Time to create something special!
He became immersed in an apprenticeship over the past six years centering on his desire to learn, quest for perfection, and a dedication to see the company grow and flourish. I was and am so impressed by his confidence and knowledge.
My first meeting was at Enrico’s café nestled in a small brick alley lined with white lights next to the bakery’s store front. (How have I never noticed the café? )
Jonathan never skipped a beat while slicing fresh mozzarella and roma tomatoes as I endlessly questioned him about Erico’s history, his boss, his development as a baker, his future goals, and of course his personal life!
The story of how Enrico Biscotti came to be is no fairy tale but a twist of fate for a man who had a love for baking. Jonathan explained how Larry Lagattuta switched from the corporate world to the baking world. It is no wonder that Larry sees the potential in employees like Jonathan and a few others I met like him, Adam and Ryan for sure. Larry teaches them his art, his process. He let’s them mess up and come into their own, to become great.
The second time I caught up with Jonathan it was 5am on a Saturday morning for bread making. Jonathan was in his element, I saw something glowing in him that day.
Whether he listens to the thumping rhythm of the dough hitting the mixer or the moist crackling of the dough, Jonathan walked away and instinctually “felt” the mixing time.
Effortlessly, he mixed the dough, explained the humidity challenges of a baker, rolled out perfect loaves atop a cornmeal lined table, and raved about the brick exposed wood-fired oven. The bread is baked the morning after the oven was used and is still very hot!
The bread is cooked from the heat retained by the wood-fired oven! It takes days to really cool down.Sneak peek inside the oven!! Almost done! Jonathan taps the loaves to check their progress!
As I opened the door to the café, where 1500lbs. of flour is mixed and transformed each week, I smelled and saw the enormous freshly baked scones! Ryan was adding a beautiful finishing drizzle. Enrico’s pastries are gorgeously presented and super huge!!!
The drizzle adds a beautiful finish to the scones!! Look how big!!Even the biscotti are gigantic!
Biscotti translated means “twice baked cookie” and it is the obvious top seller. Jonathan says the macaroons are a close second, but everything is delicious!
Enrico Biscotti offers both first and last Friday dinners and Bread making class with Larry one Sunday per month!
Warm, fresh bread right out of the oven with butter! Heaven!
Using the freshest ingredients, and Larry’s grandmother’s recipe, Enrico Biscotti is built on a biscotti but held together with the love and passion of its people!
I wish Larry, Jonathan and the Enrico Biscotti family the best as the company prepares for its near future production facility expansion. I can’t wait to hear what’s next!
To schedule first/ last Friday dinners or to enroll in a bread class head to www.enricobiscotti.com
2022 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412-281-2602
Nothing beats grilling outside in the warm air! Yay, it’s that time of year again!! I have been grilling for the past few weeks and trying new Spring side dishes!
This sauté is amazing ! The sunflower seeds add a nutty flavor to the mix!
Have you ever tried cooking with sunflower seeds? Like pine nuts, sunflower seeds have incredible health benefits! They are a great source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants!
Here is one of my family’s favorites!
Be careful not to overcook the broccoli! Keep the crunch!
Sautéed Broccoli with Sunflower Seeds
Ingredients:
1 lb. broccoli, peeled and chopped
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 garlic cloves pressed
1 small onion chopped
1/4 cup raw, shelled sunflower seeds
Salt and pepper
Directions:
Warm oil over low/medium heat.
Add garlic and stir. Be careful not to burn! No brown!
I think I use garlic in every recipe!!
Add onions and cook until tender.
Add broccoli and sunflower seed.
Mix well to coat all.
Make sure your heat is at a low/medium temperature! You don’t want to brown the broccoli just heat through and mix the flavors together.
Add sunflower seeds salt and pepper to taste and mix well again.
Let it cook 10 minutes or until broccoli is hot but crisp!
Serve with your favorite grilled entree! Enjoy!
B.C. (Before Children) this day meant big azz margaritas for all at Mad Mex!! Maybe a few tequila shots, too! A.D. (After Developing No Alcohol Tolerance) We still love to go out for this holiday, but on a Monday? Skinnygirl Margarita on the rocks at home for me, thank you.
Skinnygirl Margarita is Bethenny Frankel’s classic cocktail! Open and serve! That’s my kind of drink!
If you are staying in too, because it is a Monday, I have a quick and easy Cinco de Mayo dinner for you!
We love Mexican food!! And it is so easy! Try my chicken or pork crockpot tacos recipes! Just throw it in and cook all day! Shhhhh! They will never know dinner was that easy ; )
Lately, I have been experimenting with spices. My perfect storm right now is cinnamon, with cayenne pepper and cumin.
A little sweet, some spice, and the exotic flavor of cumin adds a jolt to any base, in this case, chili powder!
Orange Pepper Grilled Shrimp Skewers
For Skewers:
2 1/2 cups raw shrimp, thawed and peeled.
1 cup onion cubes
2 cups bell pepper cubes
2 cups orange slices
1 lime sliced or lime juice
Seasoning:
1/4 cup chili powder
2 tbsp. cumin
1 tbsp. garlic salt
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. cayenne pepper
Directions:
Heat your grill to medium heat.
Add peppers, onions, shrimp and oranges to the skewers in any pattern.
Don’t have skewers? Throw everything in a mesh grill pan or on foil! Just make sure you spray the foil with a nonstick spray first.
Sprinkle both sides with seasoning.
Add skewers to the grill.
I was in a wind storm while grilling this evening! My seasoning blew right out of the bowl!!!
Grill 5-8 minutes then flip.
Cook until shrimp are no longer transparent.
Dinner was ready in 30 mins! What an easy, quick, healthy and delicious meal!!
Serve with a squeeze of lime juice! Great idea, Angela!!
I grilled corn on the cob and steamed brown rice. This is so easy and delicious!
Tiny baby green peppers! Awww so cute but I don’t want to find them inside my pepper!
Lately, many peppers I have cut open contain tiny baby peppers growing inside of them! I just throw them away while cleaning out the seeds! Do people eat these little peppers? What are they? Are peppers safe if they have these parasitic twins inside?
Apparently, the scientific term is “internal proliferation.” The way it is formed is called “parthenocarpy” the formation of fruit without fertilization. Botanists have seen these abnormalities since 1891!
Image from “Bite-sized Biology” as this issue was discovered in the 1891 “Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club.”I have seen green and yellow mini peppers inside of red, orange, yellow and green peppers! Even in jalapeños!
As for its safety, nobody really knows! Some say they are perfectly safe to eat and others say they are alien babies placed in peppers to attack our brains…what??????
Plant breeders and USDA researchers consider this abnormal mini pepper undesirable, so I do, too. Throw them out! For now!
My grandma always has cookie sheets of hard bread in her oven. It’s just the way it is and always has been for as long as I can remember at my grandparents’ house. Empty the oven before use or, as grandma says, “Oh my God, Oh my God,” you might smell a little something burning!! Breadcrumbs are never on the grocery list.
Why do we buy breadcrumbs? If you are lucky, your store bought plain jane breadcrumbs contain less than 30 ingredients. 30??? Hmmmmm, basic bread contains flour, yeast, salt and sugar…ok that’s 4?
What a great habit to start!! I like knowing exactly what I’m eating even down to the crumbs.The store shelves are lined with such a big variety!Progresso plain breadcrumbs ingredients list…high fructose corn syrup? Why?
Mary Ann Esposito, creator and star of the best cooking show ever Ciao Italia ( I might be a superfan) posed this exact question on her blog and I had to ask her…what about Panko? See her blog and her response to me in the comments section…
Stale days old or frozen country bread.
Bake in 300 degree oven until hard and brittle.
Roll with a rolling pin.
In a recent New York Times article “Left with the Crumbs? Lucky You,” Melissa Clark discusses the importance of homemade breadcrumbs and her personal method! She uses a food processor to make very fine breadcrumbs. Do the breadcrumbs change the taste of the food? You bet!
I had a BreadWorks baguette from Easter! It sat in my oven and I used my grinder to make homemade breadcrumbs!
For starters, Throw your bread ends in a cloth on your counter or on a cookie sheet in your oven. Have a few ends? Bake them and have fresh breadcrumbs on hand! Experiment with different types of bread at different stages.
Experiment with flavors. Add dried oregano, thyme, basil, garlic powder.
Bread some chicken and taste test!
My favorite tasting breadcrumbs are made from slices of fresh bread baked until hard, and then ground. You lose the stale taste that we have become accustomed to with the preservatives added to processed breadcrumbs. They are more crisp and fresh!
I realize daily how much I have learned from my grandma, and I am so grateful for the time I spent with her throughout my childhood. I wish we lived closer so my kids could have even more of her influence.
