Arugula Salad with Caramelized Onions, Goat Cheese & Candied Walnuts
We enjoyed this hearty salad for dinner tonight! It was soooooo tasty! There's a little bit of prep involved, but the best part is that you can do all of it in advance! I worked on the onions, croutons & nuts late this morning so we could have it for dinner at 6pm. It was my first time making caramelized onions and it definitely won't be my last. You will be delighted at how easy each step of this salad is!
Let's talk about the taste! Oh boy! The sweetness of the onions & candied walnuts pairs nicely with the tangy goat cheese and the peppery arugula. The croutons were pretty darn good, and I don't really need to get into how much I love croutons. It's just obscene and we will leave it at that. Look at that glazed walnut teasing my fork. Sexy huh?
Pasta with Braised Kale
I spend most of my commute home thinking about food. It's no joke. I try to remember everything I have in our pantry & fridge and make up recipes in my head while I'm cruising down the freeway. During tonight's commute, I thought I'd make more Kale Chips since I had 2 bunches of kale in the fridge but quickly abandoned that idea because Casey wouldn't be happy eating kale chips for dinner. Me? I could do it. No problem. Then I thought about making the Spaghetti with Braised Kale recipe I saw in Bon Appetit recently. The sheer simplicity of the recipe made that idea the winner. It is a Monday night after all. The last thing I wanna do is spend hours in the kitchen. A half hour after I got home, a very satisfying dinner was served.
Honey Nut Squares
The second I saw Dana's recent post for Honey Nut Squares, I died.
Honey + Roasted Nuts+ Buttery Crumb Crust= YES PLEASE!!
I just finished cutting up squares and have packed some up for my neighbors. I seriously need to get them out of my sight. I've eaten three so far and I can hear them calling my name from the kitchen counter. "Traaaaacy!! Eat us! We are crunchy and sweet and slightly salty. You know how you love that combo TRACY! We are waaaaaiting! Look at the golden roasted cashew hanging off the edge. Just pull that off Tracy. Take a nibble!"
Continue reading→
Baked Kale Chips
I am totally jumping on the band wagon here and I really think you should too! Have you been seeing baked kale chips all over the internet like I have? There's definitely a good reason for the buzz. I finally made some today and I have to say that kale chips are exceptional! They are healthy AND crunchy, which equates to a guiltless snack.
Ever had broccoli rabe? Do you like the taste of dried toasted seaweed? You are in luck!
Totally disgusted? Don't make them! Go away!
Intrigued? DO IT. Come on! Continue reading→
Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits
I am not going to get wordy on this post. Just let the pictures speak for themselves.
Biscuits this good should be illegal. The addition of cheddar to the dough makes them utterly amazing.
The flavor? All I can say that it reminds me of a Cheez-It crossed with a buttery flaky biscuit.
Tangy, flaky, buttery goodness marbled with shreds of cheddar. Best when served hot!
I can't wait until you taste the bottom edge. You will thank me & Ina Garten for bringing this to your attention.
Take a look at the three stars of this recipe! Buttermilk, sharp cheddar and butter! Continue reading→
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Vegans & vegetarians please divert your eyes. In fact, you might as well skip this post since it's all about meat. There's a lovely shot of coleslaw though! And that recipe is pretty awesome!
I don't really eat much meat anymore. It adds a huge weight to our grocery bill so I've been supplementing with beans and the like. Every now and then I get a craving for meat so I give in; this always makes the boys I feed SUPER happy.
Custard Filled Corn Bread
I just finished reading A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from my Kitchen Table, by Molly Wizenburg. Wow...just wow! What a lovely food memoir. I devoured it whole and it's haunted me in such a good way. Every recipe has a story behind it. A tradition. It makes me think of all of the recipes that I hold so dear. The ones that came from the women of my family...and the ones that I hope to impart on my children some day. Food has the power to bring people closer together and because I am half Italian I live by that.
I had a good laugh at the tale of her husband and his maple syrup loving habits. Mine looooves anything maple syrup related. You would be surprised at how fast he can polish off a box of maple candies. It's the New England gene in him. He was born to love it. He doesn't go as far as Buddy the Elf...but if I was gone for the weekend, I am pretty sure he'd be putting syrup on everything. Continue reading→
Nutty Cranberry Granola
Every time I make granola I think "Why did I ever buy this at the store?" It's insanely simple to make at home and it is amazingly rewarding. I have to mention the smell that fills your house. Oh wow!! Casey asked me if I was making cinnamon rolls (which I wasn't...but I will soon!). It's ridiculously addictive to eat and totally therapeutic to make. I find so much comfort in the process of making granola. It's something I enjoy doing at night when the house is nice and quiet. Continue reading→
