Meal plan: Week of 6/29-7/5

When this post goes live, I'll be sound asleep, enjoying a day off at my in-laws' house.

Ha ha ha!  Are you laughing, too?

Truth be told, at the time this post goes live, I'll have been wide awake for nearly two hours and reading in bed.  I took this month's book club pick with me this weekend, hoping to make a serious dent in it since I'd only read about 25 pages.  Though I regret lacking the ability to sleep past 6:30, I do enjoy staying curled up in bed and having a peaceful start to my day.

We're planning to depart Reading around lunchtime, putting us back in da 'burgh before dinnertime.  (Does anyone else use meals rather than the clock to indicate the time of day?)  I made and took a grocery list/meal plan with me, so we can stop at the store on the way home.  Though tonight's dinner will be a quick & easy one, I can guarantee it'll be healthy since we always end up craving lighter fare after weekend visits.

Hope your Monday is as un-"Monday" as possible!

Are there any (healthier) foods that you crave after an indulgent weekend and that make you feel back to normal?

Week of June 29th - July 5th

Sunday: Leftovers from Union Grill
Monday: Out to Lidia's (arugula pear salad, asparagus & ramp ravioli with shrimp)
Tuesday: Grilled chicken with avocado & strawberry salsa
Wednesday: Veggies (broccoli, peppers, zucchini) & hummus platter, watermelon
Thursday: Apricot-glazed bacon-wrapped chicken, green beans & peas
Friday: Salmon burgers with Old Bay sweet potato fries
Saturday: Cookout at friends' house

Food for thought: Chia seeds

Okay, friends, I've got a food question and I need your help.  For the past year or so, chia seeds have been everywhere.  I don't know if you're heard, but they're a super food!!!!!!!!!!!

Ha!  But really, from what I've read, they are chock full of good stuff.  People suggest adding them to smoothies, oatmeal, soups, baked goods, salads, and even meatballs.

Have you tried chia seeds or cooked with them?  I'd love to hear what you think before I venture out and buy some for myself.  Thanks! :)

Friday five: You-pick-it pumpkin recipe!

Friday!  I never thought I'd make it.  I could just kiss you right now.  The disbelief is so great that I've checked my planner and multiple calendars to confirm that it really is Friday and not Thursday or -- shudder - even Wednesday.  It wasn't exactly a slow week, judging by my to-do lists and evening plans, but certainly seemed like it.  Between you and me, I think it's because I'm still reminiscing about the excitement of last weekend.  Too much fun, I tell ya!

Speaking of last weekend, I've been on a mega apple kick lately, and realized I've only posted two pumpkin recipes so far this fall.  Eek!  Naturally, once I made sense of this, I went on a bit of a pumpkin brainstorming binge, jotting down no less than 20 ideas that I must make tomorrow, no, now!

Since indecision is my middle name (along with "kale" and "can'tsleepin"), it dawned on me that I should turn to you guys for a little help.  This week's Friday Five are a few of the pumpkin recipes near the top of that impulsive/hungry list.  Here goes:


1. Pumpkin spice snickerdoodles - The same soft and chewy cookie base you know from traditional snickerdoodles but amped up with pumpkin puree added to the cookie batter and then rolled in a mixture of sugar and pumpkin pie spices. 

2. Pumpkin pancakes - Exactly as they sound.  I'd love to say they'd be shaped like pumpkins, too, but that's TBD.

3. Pumpkin pudding cookies - Super soft and chewy cookies thanks to the addition of a package of pumpkin spice instant pudding to the batter. 
 
4. Pumpkin spice puppy chow - Again, another twist on a classic snack.  This time, think Chex cereal tossed with peanut butter, melted white chocolate, and pumpkin pie spices before being blanketed in confectioner's sugar.  I already can't keep my hand out of the imaginary bowl of this in my mind!

5. Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies - Mmm hmm.


Search your soul, listen to your stomach, and leave a comment with your votes for #1 and #2 picks as to what you'd like me to make and share next.  Please submit votes byWednesday, October 16th, to have your appetite heard.

Thank you, friends! :)  Have a fantastically autumnal weekend!

Friday five: Fridge edition

Hey, I've got a serious question for you: what day is today?  Seriously.  If you have a firm grasp on reality, would you please be kind enough to inform me?  I think my calendar is trying to trick me.

All week I've been suffering from a serious case of "what day is today?" and no end is in sight.  I'm placing 100% of the blame on the unreasonable weather patterns around these parts.  68 degrees and sunny one day, while the next is 38 and damp and gray.  I've got one thing to say about fluctuating weather in December: Bah humbug.

I want snow, darn it!

I also want to go to the grocery store for a big-time stocking up the pantry, fridge and freezer trip.  It's slim pickins' at our place right now, aside from ingredients to make an amaaaaaazing new pizza recipe tonight (to be shared with you next week!).  We're down to the essentials. 

I've always enjoyed reading interviews with people, from food personalities and chefs to celebrities and regular folks like ourselves, that include the question, "What are five items almost always found in your fridge?"  In other word, the essentials.  So, today I'm sharing with you my list:

1. Baby spinach - Without a doubt, one of my favorite goes-with-anything ingredients.  I'll add it to smoothies, eggs, pasta, soups, sandwiches, and of course salads.  Popeye was spot on!

Giveaway winner!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered the first ever giveaway contest!  The winner of three dozen cookies of his/her choice is...

Congratulations to comment #4, Alaine88!  I'll be contacting you today to obtain your cookie of choice and shipping information. Thanks again to everyone who entered!  I'd say this was quite a success, so look for more contests in the future :)

Happy November!

Trick or treat: Pumpkin recipes for everyone

**Today is the last day to enter to win 3 dozen cookies!**

Hi and a happy Halloween to you!  Now you can rest easy, knowing what I carved into my pumpkin this year.  Artistic I am most certainly not.  The response from one of them while we were carving them at last weekend's pumpkin party: "Aw, that's very Katy."  I'll take it :)

While my carving skills may not be anything to write home about, I'd say my pumpkin adventures in the kitchen are much more exciting and delicious.  Just because today is Halloween doesn't mean that it's the end of the road for pumpkin dishes.  As far as I'm concerned, pumpkin flavors are even more in season in November and around Thanksgiving.

Here is a collection of all of the pumpkin recipes I've posted over the years. Enjoy!

• Pumpkin bisque
• Pumpkin enchiladas
• Roasted pumpkin seeds
• Baked pumpkin pie oatmeal
• Pumpkin bread
• Pumpkin spice cheesecake brownies
• Pumpkin gingersnap cookies
• Pumpkin gooey butter cakes
• Pumpkin spice whoopie pies

Are there any pumpkin recipes you'd like me to make and feature in upcoming posts?  Sound off below!

Truthful Tuesday

I'm about to share with you something I learned about myself this weekend.  Make sure you're sitting down for this one. 

Regular Oreos no longer entice me.

Pick yourself up off the floor (hey, I warned you to sit down) and let me clarify.  I've only eaten Double Stuf Oreos for so long that the measly amount of cream filling in a regular Oreo no longer satisfies me.

I mean, look at this.  There is no comparison!  Regular Oreos:

Versus Double Stuf Oreos:

There's simply no comparison!  The cream filling in the Double Stuf Oreo is what I crave.  A regular Oreo has too much cookie to the small amount of filling.

I hope I'm not alone in my Oreo snobbery.  Maybe the recipe has changed over the last decade or two, or maybe the Oreo suffered a fate similar to the Cadbury egg, but I seem to remember regular Oreos having much more filling than they currently do.

It's also possible that this is a case of "was better when I was younger" syndrome.  That recently happened when I visited Idlewild Park over the 4th of July.  I raved about how great the park was and how much fun we had there during school picnics, only to find the current park fell short of my hype.


Have you had this happen recently with a certain snack or favorite place?  Seriously, make me feel better and like I'm not just an ornery (28 year) old Oreo crusader. :)


One year ago: Greek lamb burgers
Two years ago: Blueberry boy bait

"Nobody better lay a finger on my Butterfinger."

Do you guys remember those commercials?  I haven't seen one of those ads in years.  And now I feel old.

Pretty soon, I'm going to be that crazy lady chastising kids for not knowing who Zack Morris is (and his awesome pre-historic cell phone).  "You don't know what Full House is?  Get off my lawn!"

Yikes.  Take a deep breath, crazy lady.

Although I'm not pushing my 90s childhood memories on younger generations just yet, I have gone a little crazy for the past 48 hours.  Bonkers for Butterfingers.

How every weekend should start

Enjoying a summer sunset with a good book and cold beverage.  Matt's got the right idea, no?  (By the way, have you been watching or reading Game of Thrones?  I think I'm the only person left in the country that hasn't... yet.)

That was last night.  Tonight we're headed to Kennywood for some old-fashioned summer fun -- it just doesn't feel like summer until I've been there.  Phantom's Revenge and fried Oreos, here we come :)  Have a fantastic weekend!

Go big or go home!

 [images via Serious Eats]

...or just make your order a little more abbreviated.  But really, who on earth would do just a sane thing like that? :)  Someone recently went to Cold Stone Creamery -- you know, the ice cream shop known for outrageous creations and a sea of various toppings -- and ordered a creation with every single add-in in store.

Check it out:

In the mix, we've got:

• marshmallows
• chocolate chips
• white chocolate chips
• peanuts
• brownies
• M&Ms
• chocolate chip cookie dough
• gummy bears
• graham crackers
• sponge cake
• Butterfingers
• cherry topping
• Kit-Kats
• blueberries
• raspberries
• strawberries
• apple pie filling
• pineapple
• Reese's Cups
• fudge topping
• caramel topping
• (others unable to identify, probably from this list)

Whew!  Just typing all of that worked up an appetite (wishful thinking, perhaps?).   And I bet you're wondering what the grand total for that mess creation was.  If you guessed $28.90, you're correct!  That's right.  $0.69 per topping, people.  Insane!!

I was lucky enough to be treated to some Cold Stone as a belated birthday celebration this weekend.  I ordered the apple pie creation -- yum!  Graham crackers, apple pie filling, caramel sauce, and cinnamon ice cream.  Toooootally hit the spot.

Being that it's National Ice Cream month for a few more days, I must ask this question -- what is your favorite topping or mix-in for ice cream?  Mine has gotta be rainbow sprinkles, though a giant blob of peanut butter is a close second.

One Year Ago: Corn cakes with goat cheese

Wave that flag!

I swear that Matt has one reason and one reason alone for enjoying this upcoming holiday.  Hint: It's not merely the celebration of our country's independence.  All that boy thinks about is flag cake!  You know, one of these numbers:

[via Kraft]

Calendar be damned, he doesn't care what time of year it is.  His birthday?  He'll ask for flag cake.  A cold November weekend when I'm looking for baking inspiration?  "Flag cake, pleeeeease!"  So, there may be a flag cake at my parents' house this weekend.  But one of these other patriotic desserts may get some attention as well.  When there are so many cute options, how on earth will I be able to decide?  Here are some super easy and quick ways to make your party treats deliciously American!

[via Martha Stewart]

Flag cupcakes!  Actually made these a few years ago at a friend's 4th celebration, and they were a huge hit!  Very quick and easy: box of your favorite cake mix, tub of vanilla icing (or homemade!), and some Pull 'n Peel Twizzlers.  In place of the blue dots, we used a single fresh blueberry.

Too early for popsicles?

It may be a dreary day in the 50s here, but it's never too early for popsicles!  Especially these...

[via here]

Seeing these has me counting the days (5 to be exact) until I depart on a little spring adventure -- I'm going to Savannah, Georgia!  We're still gathering information on what to see and where to eat, so I ask, if you've been to Savannah, what do you recommend as a must-see/do?  Thanks! :)

Friday Five

Happy Friday!  I forgot how much I love to sleep past 6:15... but I'll get to that in a minute.  It's been a while since I've shared an end-of-the-week list, so here goes:

1. Weekly dinners with Laura resumed last night, and she knocked my socks off with this delicious tomato and goat cheese tart:

How gorgeous is that?  Laura adapted it from this recipe, and was smart to use canned tomatoes since fresh aren't in season yet.  I watched her put it together, and it couldn't have been any easier.  And oh, my friends, was it ever delicious!  Paired with fresh green beans, I could have sworn we were in Paris.  (Channeling spring 2014!)  You better believe we ate the whole darn thing.

Three is for Thursday

The calendar may say Thursday, but today is a bit of a surprise Friday for me!  Thanks to working last Saturday, I've got a day of comp time to use, so I'm giving myself a three day weekend.  And that means tomorrow's breakfast is going to be epic.  Be sure to check back tomorrow.  In the spirit of my personal lucky number, here are 3 things that I've been waiting to share with you:

1. Last night I made Ina Garten's recipe for baked shrimp scampi.  Due to some technical difficulties (i.e. I left my camera locked in my desk at the office, d'oh!), I didn't snap any pictures.  But trust me when I say this is so easy and delicious that you'll forget its stove-top origins.  Tender shrimp with a crunchy topping served over some pasta or green vegetables because it'd be a crime to waste the extra butter and garlic flavors that make scampi such a dinnertime favorite. 

2. From one decadent dish to another, Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday is just around the corner (next Tuesday, March 8th) and I'm considering making the quintessential king cake to bring to work.  Many of us are giving up sweets, in some form, so Tuesday is all about feasting.  Do any of you have a good recipe for king cake?  Or, if you're in the Pittsburgh area, do you recommend one from a local bakery?  Any suggestions are greatly appreciated :)

3. And because there is never a shortage of holidays to celebrate with food, St. Patrick's Day is two weeks out, and I want YOUR vote for what I should make to mark the occasion.  Last year I made Irish soda bread, so this year I've narrowed my list down to three Irish staples, and it's up to you what dish wins:

• Beef hand pies - think beef and potato stew tucked into flaky pastry crust.
• Irish lamb stew - a satisfying winter soup packed with vegetables and tender lamb shoulder
• Shepherd's pie - ground beef mixed with vegetables and topped with a hearty layer of mashed potatoes

Please submit your vote by Friday, March 11th for it to count.  Since I'm notoriously indecisive, this takes the pressure off me just a bit... can't wait to see what you pick!

You pick what I make next!

In the spirit giving this holiday season, I want to provide recipes that YOU want to make!   So, I've narrowed it down to three things I'd like to make next, perfect for holiday (or anytime) treat:

1. Peppermint bark -- white & dark chocolate swirled with crushed candy canes and peppermint flavor... makes for sweet snacking and gifts when wrapped in a glassine bag with a festive ribbon.  Warning: disappears quickly!

2. Meringue cookies -- light as air cookies... think the baked version of a soft meringue pie topping.  Can be fancied with dye, flavorings, or add-ins (nuts, chocolate chips, etc.).  These melt in your mouth, making it hard to stop at just one.

3. Cinnamon love knots -- sweet yeasted rolls perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack.  They're topped with melted butter and dipped in cinnamon sugar... absolutely to die for!

You can only pick one.  All you've got to do is leave a comment with your vote by Tuesday (tomorrow), December 7th at 11:59PM (Eastern standard time, sorry West coast folks!).  Thanks, friends! :)  Have a delightful Monday!

Christmas tree time!

You see, with two kids, my parents had to figure out a systematic way of deciding who gets to top the tree every year.  Since there are four letters in my name, I got the evenly-numbered years, while J-e-n-n-y (5) got the oddly-numbered years.  Did your family have any sort of rotating order for topping trees or lighting menorahs?

Oh, and someone got into the box of ornaments while we were busy faking a tree-topping photo shoot.  I think Stella is partial to the Snoopy decorations...

After the Christmas explosion at my parents' house, I brought my haul of decorations back to Pittsburgh and put up the tree and lights last night.  I had to stop myself because it was already past my bedtime, but tonight's when the real tree-trimming party will occur.  Here's my to-do list for a cozy evening inside when it's raining and dismal outside:

• Hang ornaments
• Place other holiday decorations around apartment
• Make chicken noodle soup
• Bake cookies
• Watch something holly and jolly on TV... there are many choices: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on CBS at 8:00; How the Grinch Stole Christmas on ABC at 8:00; followed by Shrek the Halls, also on ABC at 8:30... but, what about Glee?!  Decisions, decisions.

Two new recipes to look forward to this week!  Have a good one! :)

When do you put up your holiday decorations?  Before Thanksgiving or after?  Later in December?

Wizards and a self-made zombie

It seems like I was just walking out of a theater... oh wait, I was... about 5 hours ago.  Yep, I'm proud to admit that I joined friends at a midnight showing of some big movie last night this morning.  No spoilers, but the movie was awesome! and true to the books, win win.  (Totally worth the exhaustion and teensy bit of nausea I'm experiencing right now due to 3 hours of sleep.)

I love seeing movies in theaters and say that I don't do it often enough.  Even though the movie was a late one, that didn't stop me from satisfying my sweet tooth.  (Then again, what really could stop me from doing that?)  I was curious about snacking history and movies, so I did a little research...

Welcome back, fall (TV)!

It's the Monday morning after a fantastic weekend, filled with fun things like the Irish festival, shopping, book club, and great weather all-around... so why was I so sluggish getting out of bed this morning after a quality 8 hours of rest?  It's this thing going on with my head and nose, you see.  It could be a cold, but I'm thinking (read: praying) that it's merely allergies.  But let's be honest, regardless of the cause, I'm going to ignore it and go about my normal routine, hoping that denial is the best medicine :)

So, armed with a chipper self-imposed healthy disposition and a stomach full of a energy-packed breakfast sandwich, I ventured outside, only to be slapped with 50-degree air and drizzling rain!  No thank you!  (If I'm polite, does that mean it'll go away?)  May I go back inside, please?  And curl up in the papasan chair with a cup of hot chocolate?  Mmm... which reminds me, I must share the most amazing discovery of my weekend -- the salted caramel hot chocolate from Starbucks.  I'm not a coffee drinker and usually not a big fan of their regular hot chocolate (point me toward the peppermint and pumpkin flavors, thank you), but this drink was out of this world!  The salty sweet warm chocolate... you must try it!

Oh, so where was I?  Ah, yes, curling up with one of these on the couch.  And, wouldn't you know it, the season of absolutely nothing being on TV is finally behind us.  Bring on the autumn weather that rushed right in and the fall TV premieres...

I usually don't watch much TV during the summer months.  Primarily because, after months of being cooped up inside, I want nothing more than to be out in the fresh air until the sun goes down, getting my fill of Dave & Andy's and Razzy Fresh.  Oh, and it doesn't hurt that there is absolutely nothing worth watching.  Reruns are reruns, and I didn't really miss TV at all.  But this morning's walk to work had me thanking my lucky stars that the first of my shows returns tonight -- Gossip Girl!!!  I used to hang my head in shame when I'd publicly declare that I watched this, but I've learned that there are many closet GG watchers out there.  A guilty pleasure never hurt anyone :)

The rest of the fall premiere dates can be found here.  My other favorites include The Office, Community, Glee, and How I Met Your Mother.  Have you missed TV or do you watch in the summer as well?  What are you going to be watching in these coming weeks? 

Happy Monday!  I'm looking forward to some sitting and a tiny croissant that I have just to mark the Parisian premiere of GG :)

Friday musings

Happpppppppy Friday, friends!  Not just any Friday, but a surprise Friday!  I love my surprise Fridays, almost as much as I love planning events and trips.  Word to the wise -- I do not recommend reading the list of 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die after looking at pictures of one friend's cross-country road trip and another pal's vacation to Ireland.  It will make you stir crazy (at the beginning of September... isn't that more of a February thing?) and have you creating multiple Google documents with travel plans.  Where to go, where to go?  At least I can take comfort in the fact that, barring any big hiccups, I'll be seeing this sometime in spring of 2014 (gulp):

A Friday kind of list

Because it's Friday, and I just can't fathom constructing well-transitioned paragraphs, we'll all just have to settle for an enthusiastic list :)

1. Another good run this morning, and somehow my times are getting faster as my mileage increases.  I have no idea how this is possible, but I'm going to chalk today's road runner show up to the fact that I took a break yesterday.  Let it be known that rest can be good, though good luck trying to get this girl to slow down for too long.  Also can't hurt that getting to see a sunrise against this backdrop puts me in such a good mood:

2.I had my first experience with the web bargain phenomenon Groupon... and it was fantastic!  If you aren't familiar with Groupon, it's a website that features daily deals, be they for restaurants, salons, or goods for roughly half the price.  Example -- I bought a $35 Groupon for the Common Plea Restaurant in downtown Pittsburgh for $15... practically stealing!  Rock!  Groupon is available for many cities, and deals change each day, so start checking and welcome to this not-so-secret world of paying so much less for things.  Have you tried Groupon?  What deals have you scored?

3. Common Plea Restaurant downtown.  Didn't take any pictures, so no full review, but wow, super impressed.  Laura and I were saying that they spared no details, in serving, clearing, even seating.  Well done!  We each had a small plate, which consists of three appetizers of your choice in smaller portions one (rather large, actually) plate, for $15 each and another full size appetizer for $6.  I ordered the tomato basil bruschetta, pesto grilled vegetables, and crab cake.  Highlight of the meal was our full-sized appetizer the angel hair onion rings with a bleu cheese light dipping sauce.  Heavenly!  Thankfully we were seated in the back room so we could clean out the dish :)  Seriously, we cleaned it out completely.  No crumb in sight a la the Grinch.  A small dessert (pecan-crusted ice cream with chocolate sauce) and tip and we were looking at a total cost (including Groupon purchase) of $17 for a very swanky dinner.  Bonus -- I would've never ventured to Common Plea without the help of Groupon.

4. Heading home to my parents' house for the weekend to enjoy the suburbs and then a lovely bridal shower on Sunday.  Looking forward to this weekend and here's hoping yours is fantastic, too! :)

Update:
(sorry RSS readers!)

5. Dairy Queen now features mini Blizzards!!  MINI!  Or, should I say, mini. As seen in the bottom left of this picture.  Yep, this will definitely be happening tonight if I have anything to say about it :)

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Today is National Filet Mignon Day!