Hello!

I don't know if I have mentioned it or not, but I am in love with my new job! I mean, really. Now I have time to do all the things I need to do around the house and lots of time for cooking! Yay! My running and yoga are going well. I'd probably be doing better at the running if it weren't 150 degrees outside, though. I have abandoned that "Couch to 5K" program, since I am able to run a little farther than what the program designates at this point...so I guess that's good! Today, I am getting ready for a party tonight. We are going over to the Beason's for a get-together with Justin's class. I am working on a cheesecake, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and a 7 layer salad. It has been quite a productive week...back to work tomorrow!

Here are some of the recipes I have made this past week:


Sauteed Tilapia with Lemon Caper Pan Sauce

Another Cooking Light success. This was very very similar to the chicken picatta I made not too long ago. I served it on top of some leftover risotto, and it was perfect. I love that lemony sauce. yum yum. Oh, and I used capers instead of the peppercorns that the recipe calls for, just cause that's what I had on hand!


Pasta with Asparagus, Pancetta, and Pine Nuts
Cooking Light

Simple, healthy supper!



Yesterday I got some beautiful fresh figs from the farmer's market. Plus, I found some steaks on sale at the grocery store. So, I decided we would have a fancy steak dinner!
I found this fig salad recipe from, where else?, Cooking Light. For the steaks, I use my go-to Ina Garten steakhouse steaks recipe. Here ya go!

Prosciutto, Fig, and Gorgonzola Salad
Cooking Light

I used goat cheese instead of gorgonzola, because I found the goat cheese for a great price at Kroger. This was an amazing salad...very fancy!



Steakhouse Steaks
Ina Garten

This recipe is more delicious every time, and you can use pretty much any cut you like. I had sirloin this time because it was on sale. I don't use quite as much salt as she suggests, and this time I let some goat cheese melt on the steaks while they rested...yummy! I served the steaks with smashed potatoes and green beans.

Ginger- soy glazed Mahi Mahi with broccoli slaw

Last night, I tried a new recipe from Coastal Living: Ginger-soy glazed Mahi Mahi. It turned out really good. I especially loved it because ginger is my favorite!! To sneak some veggies in, I made a dressing using the same ingredients in the glaze and tossed it with broccoli and carrot slaw. This was a perfect, light summer supper...

Ginger- soy glazed Mahi Mahi
(That's the link to the Coastal Living Recipe)

Broccoli Slaw with ginger soy dressing

1/2 package broccoli and carrot slaw
1 Tbs soy sauce
1 Tbs honey
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 tsp finely chopped shallot
1 tsp finely chopped garlic
1 tsp sesame oil
1 Tbs rice wine vinegar
1 tsp dijon mustard

Stir all but the slaw together in a medium bowl. Add slaw and toss to coat.



I had a sheet of puff pastry in the freezer that I needed to use, and yesterday I bought a big bag of granny smith apples...so I decided to try to make an apple tart. Cooking Light saved the day once again! I found this super easy and delicious recipe:

Tart aux Pommes

Instead of making the pastry, I just thawed out my puff pastry and used it...even easier! It turned out so pretty and delicious!

These are the Days...

Sugarland is one of my all time favorite country groups. Justin and I went to a concert in Shreveport for our anniversary this year. They were absolutely amazing...those guys know how to put on a show!! This song is one of my favorites, and I was listening to it this morning while I was walking. It kinda sums up how I'm feeling in my life at the moment. We are at a standstill with the baby thing. My doctor says we shouldn't try until April...ugh. But....I am trying to be positive and view this time as a blessing rather than dwell on the fact that I am NOT PREGNANT. In an effort to stay positive (and keep my mind occupied) I have decided to use the next 9 months to get healthy and do some things I won't be able to do when I finally do have a baby. These are the days!
Here are a few things on my list right now:

1. Try to eat better.
2. Yoga
3. Run a 5K, and maybe a 10K
4. Learn to play the piano...finally
5. Learn to speak some Italian

We'll see how many of these I cross off. So far, I have done yoga twice this week and I have started a running program called "Couch to 5K" (that sounds pathetic, right?). And, I ordered a piano book from Amazon and dusted off the old keyboard...

On to the eating better thing...I am trying to get more veggies and fruits in, not so much dieting (I love food too much for that, that's where the running comes in!). Here is what I made last night:

Risotto with sweet peas, broccolini, and mushrooms

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups broccolini (baby broccoli), steamed
1 1/2 cups shitake mushrooms, sauteed in EVOO
2 cups Arborio rice
1 cup dry white wine
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup grated Parmesan
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed


Heat the butter and oil together in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent. Add the rice and stir to coat in the oil and butter. Pour in the wine, stir until all the liquid is absorbed. Reduce heat to low. Add 1 cup of the broth and cook until absorbed, stirring occasionally. Add the remaining broth, 1/2 cup at a time, waiting until each portion of broth is absorbed before adding the next. Continue this process until all liquid is absorbed. Stir in the Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Puree 2 cups of the peas in a blender or food processor. Just before serving, stir in the pea puree until fully incorporated, then fold in the remaining whole peas, broccoli, and mushrooms.

Yummy, and loaded with veggies!

Playing Catch- up...

Yeah, I know. I realize I didn't post AT ALL in the entire month of June. There has been a lot going on at our house. Now that I am getting settled in my new job, there will be much more time for fun in the kitchen. (that makes me so happy)

A few weeks back, I bought two new food books. First, Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces by Gayla Trail.

I was totally inspired to grow some delicious grub in my small space! Well...that didn't work out so much. So far, I have ONE tomato! We did, however, start a compost bin. So, maybe next year the veggies will have a better chance...:)
The other book has proven much more beneficial: Barefoot Contessa at Home by none other than Ina Garten.

I have enjoyed this cookbook so much. It is open on the kitchen counter about as much as my Cooking Light these days. I wanted to share a couple of our favorites so far. Click the links for the recipe!

California BLT's

So yummy, and a perfect summer treat. If only I had fresh tomatoes from MY garden! ha!

Chicken Piccata

This was tonight's dinner. I totally stood over the saucepan after dinner and slurped up the sauce by the spoonful. This is incredible...and easy! I added the capers because I had some. (just throw them in with the wine and lemon juice when you make your sauce)

Have a nice evening!

ICE CREAM!!

Hey friends! Guess what? I got my Cuisinart ice cream/ frozen yogurt maker!! Let me tell you...this thing is amazing. It freezes 1 and 1/2 quarts in 15 minutes! OMG...I love it. My friends at Methodist Rehab gave me a gift card for my going away gift (more on that later) and this is what I used it for. I am so darn excited about this little gadget. In two weeks, I have made three different frozen treats!

First, as a thank- you to my sweet friends, I made Giada's Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato That's a link to the Food Network website's recipe. It was creamy, dreamy, chocolatey goodness. There's Nutella in it, so I was hooked. I think the girls liked it, too. Thanks, y' all!

Next up, two Cooking Light recipes caught my eye: Key Lime Pie Ice Cream and Strawberry Buttermilk Gelato... I know, right. These two were just as yummy as the first! The Key Lime is my new favorite (I realize I say that a lot when it comes to food, but seriously!) Mom and I decided it was on par with our beloved Daquiri Ice from Baskin Robbins. Check out those links for the recipes, and enjoy.

So...I told you the ice cream maker was a going away gift, right....Well I got a new job! YAY! I miss my girls at Methodist like crazy, but I am soo excited about this new opportunity. Now, I am the weekend coordinator at St. Dominic's. Once I get oriented and all that jazz, I will be working strictly weekends. I love my new job and my new friends and I am looking forward to having 4 days off every week to COOK!! Get ready, more frequent blog updates are to come!! :)