Back in February, my husband and I went to a new-to-us Italian restaurant with one of our favorite friend couples. Our Valentine’s Day meal was one for the books. As the night progressed, each course came out seemingly better than the last. Not only was the meal one for the books, but it was also the night I met the meatball of my tastebuds’ dreams!
It’s not a secret – I’ve always loved being creative in the kitchen, and cooking delicious food for the people I love. When my husband and I started dating, we quickly discovered a partner in trying food that the average person would stick their nose up to. While I’d always been a fan of sushi, it wasn’t until I met Jason that I really spread my proverbial sushi wings and discovered a love of fish eggs of all kinds (aka roe, ikura, tobikko, etc.).
It’s no secret that I like food – more specifically GOOD food. I admit it; I am a self-professed foodie. I am that girl that takes pictures of her food and labors over what to order at a restaurant because SO MANY THINGS SOUND DELICIOUS! That being said, when my husband and I can’t agree on where to go for dinner, an easy compromise for us is the Mexican restaurant down the street. Not only is their food to. die. for., but even picky eaters can usually find something on the menu they like.
Hi all! Long time no see. Sorry for the lack of recipe posting lately; I was traveling for work and preoccupied with my glamorous day job in compliance. 🙂 For this adventure, I was lucky enough to travel to the beautiful state of Maryland, see a few sights (I see you, beautiful cherry blossoms), and eat crab cakes to my little heart’s content. (If you follow my blog, you know I am OBSESSED with all things crab.)
Until recently, mussels were a food item I strictly ordered ONLY in restaurants, mostly because the little-shelled, protein-packed beauties were intimidating and I had no idea how to cook them. What I didn’t realize was how gosh darn easy (and affordable!) they are to cook at home.
Being married to a farmer comes with its perks. Summer = endless supplies of fresh herbs and more tomatoes, garlic, and shallots than I know what to do with! It isn’t QUITE spring in Wisconsin, but I’ve been craving fresh, healthy food in hopes it will encourage the warmer weather to come soon.
One of my favorite go-to, no cooking required meals is my delicious basil bruschetta. You’ll need a few veggies, a heap each of garlic and basil, and a fresh baguette. Optional, but I suggest adding a sprinkle of freshly crumbled feta and some tart balsamic vinegar and you’ve got a delicious snack in no time.
Who likes spicy food? If so, this is the dish for you! Creole Cajun shrimp deliciousness from kitchen to table in no time flat.
I’ve been trying to post a recipe every Tuesday and Thursday, but yesterday got away from me. A full day of work plus errands and a climbing gym date with one of my bests left me one tired Beth. I was out for the count by 9:30. 9:30! For those that know me, I’m a night owl (probably due to the copious amounts of caffeine I drink) but sometimes, you just need to listen to your body and give it a rest, gosh darn it! 🙂
ANYWAY, you’re here for the FOOD, not a diatribe about my routine lack of sleep. 🙂
This week’s motto: Life is too short not to indulge in delicious risotto. And wine. And crusty bread. And quality seestor time. Sigh. My heart is full. 🙂
For those that know me, I’m not a planner. Instead I’m more of a natural improvisor go-with-the-flow-er (that’s a technical term). I take forever to decide what to order at restaurants, I overpack for vacations because I never know what kind of clothes I’m going to need (because I have no specific plans in mind), and I crave spontaneity but never know what I want to do.
After planning a last minute trip to visit my sister (aka my best friend in the universe) in Chicago, I knew that I wanted to cook her something she might not normally treat herself to in exchange for hosting my crazy self for a shenanigans-filled weekend. That, of course, required a trip to the grocery store for staples – bread, cheese, and wine. Thanks for being a trooper, Anna, and being willing to try something new.
Note to self: NEVER grocery shop when hungry. This SHOULD be my personal mantra, but I’m still working on that.
If you can picture this… a marathon day at work, no time for lunch; my stomach is growling and I wish I’d had more than a latte for breakfast. Wandering through the grocery store aisles with no particular destination or recipe in mind. Craving comfort food. Can you relate?
For those of you who know (and love) me, I’m a true carbavore at heart. Give me all the bread and pasta in the universe, and I’m a happy girl. After the gym the other night (gotta work those carbs off SOMEhow) I did NOT want to go to the grocery store, so I did a quick inventory of my fridge and cupboards and created Italian Baked Gnocchi.