Grilled Steak with Arugula, Parsley-Parmesan Salad

From time-to-time I cook steak for Chris. It’s true. I do. I found this recipe in Bon Appetit magazine & thought that it was a good marriage between the steak Chris likes to eat & the greens I’d like him to eat. I also think it’s a lighter option for steak eaters than a heavy creamed spinach side dish for steak - while yes it has greens it also has a ton of cream amongst other heavy ingredients. I amped up the original salad in this recipe with some arugula.  This salad is also great on top of chicken (how I ate it).

PS: We also had these potatoes, because if you have steak & you really should have potatoes!
PPS: Happy birthday to my beautiful friend Ashley!!! I love you :)

Grilled Eggplant Stacks with Lemon-Basil Ricotta

I found some adorable baby eggplants walking through a local farmers market with Chris this past weekend (as seen on my instagram feed).   I made these grilled eggplant stacks that give a tiny nod to eggplant parmesan but lighter for this end of summer version with my new found favorite chimichurri sauce.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Quinoa

Ask anyone at my office where I'm going for lunch & they'll usually say one of three places. The first would most likely be Pret A Manger.  I love Pret because they offer fresh food that's satisfying but doesn't make me feel stuffed to the brim after I eat it.  They also offer a lot of organic ingredients which is important to me.  One of my favorite go-to Pret items (besides coffee) is the quinoa pot they have available during breakfast. I could eat it at any time of day - I think it would make a great breakfast, lunch or dinner.  On that note I recreated it for brunch this past weekend.

What's your favorite versatile meal that works for breakfast, lunch or dinner?

Zucchini Noodles with Tomato, Garlic & Parmesan

I have this veggie peeler that makes me look like I have chef-like knife skills. It can be used like a regular vegetable peeler & in minutes you have finely julienned (fancy world for thinly sliced) vegetables. I use it to make zucchini noodles (read: thin strips of zucchini that look like spaghetti noodles). If you don't have this particular peeler you can use a regular peeler & call make wide noodles or call them fettuccine or pappardelle if you like - it will still make for a delicious dish.

I tossed mine with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil & parmesan cheese but they're great with pesto or even just a light drizzle of olive oil with salt & pepper. What's even better about zucchini noodles is you don't have to cook them. Nope, no cooking. 

Tzatziki Sauce

I love greek yogurt, cucumber & garlic, so it's only natural that I love tzatziki sauce which has all of these delicious ingredients in it.  It's great to dip pita in or to add to a sandwich instead of mustard or mayo. You can make it with 5 ingredients (7 if you include salt & pepper!).

PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM & little baby Evie! I love you both.

Refreshing Israeli Salad

Living in Hoboken & working in NYC I am spoiled by food inspiration.  One of my guiltiest pleasures is the Taim Mobile that dangerously close to my lunchtime neighborhood. It's a ritual, I always order the falafel sandwich with everything on it in a whole wheat pita - because that makes it healthier!  On their amazing menu tacked to the side of the truck is a wide variety to sides & other dishes, one of which is Israeli salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley & a lemon mint dressing.  Sounded easy & spring enough for me to make it, so I did. It's great by itself of in a wrap (more on that later). Make sure to click through to get this super simple recipe.

PS: a special welcome to the world to little baby Jonathan! I can not wait to meet you!!

Bird in a Nest Breakfast: Made with Love

Truth be told I'm not a huge Valentine's Day fan, but I do love incorporating graphic design elements into my daily life & food. This weekend I whipped up some birds in a nest (an oldie but goodie) but jazzed it up with some heart shaped cutouts.

If you are keen on Valentine's Day this is a great way to start your romantic day.

Make this recipe for your valentine with my easy recipe after the jump.

Green Beans Gremolata

I've been putting Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa FoolProof recipes to good use lately. I will definitely be making different renditions of these green beans gremolata  again. Next time maybe with asparagus instead of green beans or for a fun summer twist change up the gremolata combo with lime, cilantro & manchego cheese.

These beans are easy to make & great for a crowd because you can prep all of the stuff before you serve them & heat them up right before you want to serve.

Get the recipe & peep more photos after the jump!

Tomato, Cheese & Egg Crêpe Squares

I love finding inspiration from fellow bloggers, mostly because I like to think they're just like me, a real person who probably lives, eats, dresses & sleeps in an apartment. I've had the pleasure of meeting the creative mind behind Downtown Romantic in the past through my friend Christine. Although I haven't seen Laney in quite some time I enjoy checking in on her blog & chic lifestyle every now & then. Besides her luxe taste in clothes, the girl knows how to eat & everything seems so decadent.  So this past weekend I tried my hand at the crepes recipe on her blog with my own twist with some spicy sriracha salt my sister-in-law gifted me for Christmas.

Click through for my version of Downtown Romantic's crepe squares recipe & photos of how I did it.

Tomato, Beet, Avocado, Arugula & Walnut Salad

Sometimes it's a sandwich & salad kind of night at our house. Last night we dined on tuna sandwiches (courtesy of the hubs tuna salad) & this salad which was equally parts creamy, crunchy & tasty.

Since this salad is so easy to make, take the time to make it pretty when you plate it.  You eat with your eyes first, so make sure to feed them with a pretty feast.

Ingredients:

• 1 large heirloom tomato
• 2 avocados
• 1 large (cooked) beet
• 5 leaves fresh basil
• handful of walnuts
• 2 handfuls of arugula (or other lettuce of your choice)
• 1 tablespoon walnut oil
• sea salt & pepper

Make it!

1. Slice tomato, beet & avocados into equal sized slices (this may vary on the size of your fruits/veggies but closest to uniform size is ideal).
2. Coarsely chop walnuts & heat them in a pan over low heat for a few minutes until toasted (but not burned). As soon as you smell them take them off the heat.
3. In a separate bowl tear basil & mix with arugula.
4. Arrange the slices of tomato, beet & avocado in a pretty order on your plate, I like to alternate the colors like tomato, avocado, beet.
5. Top with arugula/basil mixture & toasted walnuts.
6. Drizzle walnut oil over all ingredients & season with sea salt & pepper.

PS: Happy Birthday Aunt Rosemary :) xx

Fresh Guacamole

Everything I learned about guacamole roots back to Trader Joe's & table side restaurant guac prep.  Trader Joe's sells a great little kit with everything you need to make your very own fresh guacamole at home.  After you've used that kit enough you don't even need a recipe & you're able to fly on your own at other grocery stores to buy the ingredients for fresh guacamole all by yourself.

The one & only ingredient that can really make or break your guac is (clearly) the avocados.  Avocados need to be firm yet impressionable (so when you press your thumb into the side of it it should have a little give -not be rock hard or super mushy but just right).  So if your avocados are too hard no amount of mashing is going to make a great guacamole, post pone it or go on a hunt for some more avocados & in the mean time leave your avocados to ripen in a brown paper bag. If they're the other end of the spectrum & are super mushy use them fast before they brown.

Ingredients:

• 1 large (or 2 small) avocado(s)
• 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
• 1 shallot (chopped)
• 1 jalapeno pepper (ribs & seeds removed, chopped finely)
• 1 lime (zest & juice)
• 2 tomatoes (or 1 large) (seeded & chopped)
• salt & pepper
• red pepper flakes (optional)

Make it!

1. Cut the avocado(s) in half & scoop out the yummy goodness, discard the seed & shell/skin.
2. Mash avocado, garlic, shallot, jalepeno, lime zest & juice together (use whatever works for you, I used a fork, but a spoon for muddler will work too).
3. Stir in the tomatoes.
4. Season with salt, pepper & red pepper flakes.
5. Eat this with everything & on anything. Store in an airtight container (if there is any left).

Crab Salad & Mango Sandwich

Summer maybe coming to a close & Labor Day looming,  I'm still craving summer seafood like this crab salad & mango sandwich.  I made these for dinner the other night when I came home late from work.  Luckily, they're super easy to mix together (ahem, no cooking ok a little if you count toasting bread) & even easier to eat so they're perfect for dinner in a pinch.

Happy Labor Day to you all & especially to those who made it possible. Ciao ciao summer.

What are you making for your Labor Day barbecue or picnic, maybe a crab salad & mango sandwich?  Just in case I jotted down the recipe for you below.

Crab Salad & Mango Sandwich Ingredients

• 2 cups crab meat (I used the stuff from a can!)
• 1 tablespoon mayo
• 1 shallot (finely chopped)
• 1 lemon (zest & juice)
• 2-4 whole wheat rolls (depending no the size & portion control you're after)
• salt & pepper
• 2 cups baby field greens
• 1/2 mango sliced (do yourself a favor & get the pre-sliced container at your deli it can cost more than a whole one but if you haven't mastered cutting a mango yet (like me) you'll save more money this way!)

Make it!

1. Combine crab, mayo, shallot, lemon zest & juice of half a lemon.  Season with salt & pepper.
2. Cut rolls in half & toast under the broiler (or skip this step all together).
3. In a separate bowl toss the baby field greens with the rest of the lemon juice & season with salt & pepper.
4. To create each sandwich cover the bottom half of the roll with slices of mango, top with a heap of crab salad.  Then pile the greens high & cover with the top of the roll, squish it down & cut it in half. Serve & enjoy.

Parsnip Puree

"Let's talk about parsnips" - I believe those were the exact words that came from my friend Kara's mouth when I saw her a few weeks ago.  I can always count on Kara for a good conversation about how yummy veggies really are.  It's no secret I'd chose a veggie over meat any day, they just taste better to me.

Parsnips, if you've never had them, look like white carrots but are a little spicier & sweeter.  Turns out parsnips are packed with good-for-you-things like vitamins C, E, K, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese & tons of other things to make my mom proud that I eat them.

I like to eat parsnips mashed or pureed (think mashed potatoes, mmmmmm mashed potatoes - but with parsnips instead). Check out my recipe after the jump.

Lemon Herb Pistachio Pesto

If you follow me on instagram you already know that I spent Sunday with the hubs in search of a farmers market.  I was eager to find some farm fresh produce to cook with for the week.  Luckily, after a quick search Chris found some great farmers markets in Northern Jersey, more specifically Ridgewood (my new favorite town).  That night we ate an early dinner with some of our farmers market finds that consisted of (store bought) sliced roasted chicken, green beans & potatoes all topped with this lemon herb pistachio pesto, quickly quick & tasty.

Read on to learn how to make my lemon herb pistachio pesto that is delicious on poultry, veggies, potatoes, bread, pasta... & pretty much anything.

Garlic & Lime Grilled Shrimp

When it's as hot as it's been the only way to cook is on the grill & then run back inside to the air conditioning to eat.  Shrimp is so quick to make I feel I could make it every day, Chris wouldn't mind, believe me.  I served up this shrimp along side a tomato panzanella salad for a fresh summer dinner.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb shrimp  (peeled, deveined, with tails on)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 8 cloves garlic (minced)
• salt & pepper
• 3 limes (cut into wedges)

Make it!

1. Add shrimp, olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper to an air tight container (use a plastic food storage bag or container) & chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (over night will work too & it will definitely keep the vampires away when all of the garlic flavor is absorbed).
2. Skewer shrimp & lime wedges.  I used metal skewers but if you have the wooden ones just be sure to soak them in some water for at least 15-20 minutes so they'll burn less.
3. Grill over medium-high heat, for about 7-10 minutes.  Be sure to flip the skewers with tongs at least half way through so they cook evenly on both sides.
4. Shrimp are cooked when they turn opaque (white) & slightly pink.
5. Remove from grill & skewers. Squeeze the grilled limes over the shrimp & enjoy.

 

Heirloom Tomato Panzanella Salad

Mary, my mother-in-law, makes this fabulous panzanella salad that I just can not eat enough of. I love salad - but add chunks of crusty bread to it & I love it more!

I found some amazing green zebra heirloom tomatoes at the grocery store & couldn't wait to make them the star of a simple dinner.  I didn't have all the ingredients for the salad that Mary makes so I made the simple tomato salad my mom always makes but I added yummy chunks of bread! 

Click through for the recipe & make this salad tonight!

Sweet & Spicy Party Nuts

The great thing about these nuts besides being addictively sweet, spicy & crunchy all at once, is that they are uber easy to whip up, clean up an & keep on hand.  Yep these only require FIVE ingredients.  If you bake them on parchment paper it makes cleanup almost non-existent.  Make large batches & freeze them for later.

During the holidays I jar these nuts as little gifts.  In the summer I chop them up & add them to salads. Most often I serve them in small bowls for a little nosh at cocktail parties.

Tangy Hot Chickpea Salad

Change up your salad routine with this hearty chickpea salad that's equal parts refreshing, healthy & hot! Simply combine all the ingredients in a large serving bowl.

Make it!
Mix the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl.  Toss it all together. This salad is great served right away & only gets better the longer it sits in the dressing & chills in the fridge. 

Ingredients:

• 2-8oz cans of chickpeas (rinse & drain)
• 1 jalapeno pepper (seed & dice)
• 1 cup baby spinach (chiffonade)
• 1 cup arugula (rough chop)
• 2 tomatoes (seed & chop)

Dressing:

• 1 tablespoon agave (or honey)
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 limes (juice & zest)
• 1 tablespoon hot pepper flakes

Heirloom Tomato Quinoa Salad

Warm spring/summer nights make me want to eat healthfully. For dinner last night I served up this salmon with this quick filling quinoa salad.  Quinoa is so versatile you can literally add anything to it & it tastes good & will fill you up (read: Chris wasn't reaching for snacks after dinner). Last night I took advantage of some tasty heirloom tomatoes & other fresh spring veggies to jazz up my quinoa.

Click through for more pics & my quick recipe!

Goat Cheese Flatbread

Ingredients:

• 2 large onions
• 3 shallots
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup fresh goat cheese
• 2 cups arugula
• 4 pieces trader joe's whole wheat tandori naan bread

Dressing:

• 1 lemon (juice + zest)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• salt & pepper

Jane is one of my favorite places in NYC to eat. They have killer bloody marys & excellent bites. I basically took this flatbread right off their menu. It's so simple but so so tasty & holds a special place in my memory book.

There are two distinct times in my life when I remember savoring this at Jane. The first time was with my mom, right after we had finalize THE fabric that my wedding dress would be made from. The second was the day before my rehearsal dinner for my wedding, with my sister. This flatbread makes my heart & belly warm & of course it helps that you-know-who (my hubby!) likes it too!

Make sure to click through to learn how you can serve it up at home yourself!