The Economical Eater

50 Cent Dumplings at The Ginger Exchange

2012-01-27T08:58:00.002-05:00

On Tuesdays, dumplings only cost $0.50 at The Ginger Exchange in Inman Square (if you spend at least $6 on drinks). Guess where I was this past Tuesday?

My friend, Amy, lives right in Inman Square, and invited me out for drinks and cheap dumplings at this Japanese sushi bar and restaurant. I happily obliged, met her at the bar, and quickly ordered a Southern Tier "Unearthly" IPA ($6).

The Ginger Exchange serves pork and vegetable versions of their MaMa's Dumplings. I went with the vegetable; Amy went with the pork.

The dumplings were cooked perfectly; I fell in love with the crispy exterior. The vegetable filling, however, could have used some more spices, but, thankfully, the soy sauce helped to bring the dumplings to life.

Since I had been having craving sushi all week, I also decided to order some Avo-cucumber makimono ($4.75) to wash down my dumplings with.

This sushi definitely fulfilled my week-long craving. The avocado, cucumber and wasabi were incredibly fresh, and the sprinkling of black and white sesame seeds added a necessary nuttiness to the maki.

Although we only sat at the bar, I enjoyed the vibe at The Ginger Exchange. A surprising number of younger patrons were also sitting down and enjoying a later dinner (and probably $0.50 dumplings), and our waitress/bartender was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I'll definitely go back for some fresh Japanese fare - and not just on a Tuesday.

Simple Food and Winter Brews at Beer Works in Salem

2012-01-26T08:56:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, the simplest of places can consistently fill your belly with a satisfying meal and a few cold beers. For me, Beer Works is one such place.

I've been to the Beer Works' locations in Boston, Lowell and Salem, and for some reason, the Boston spot has fallen flat for me. The other locations, however, have always delivered decent pub grub and brews - nothing outstanding, but affordable and tasty. On Saturday night, I met up with two of my cousins for dinner and drinks at the Salem location.

I started with the Beantown Nut Brown Ale (12 oz., $4.50), which was surprisingly light, and full of toasted nut flavor.

I can never go to Beer Works without starting my meal with their Fried Pickles ($6.95), which are served with a zesty ranch dipping sauce (please excuse the terrible photo).

The fried pickles at Beer Works are consistently crunchy on the outside with a still-snappy, juicy pickle on the inside. The crispy exterior also clings to the pickle, preventing a messy, greasy disaster.

Beer Works unfortunately does not have too many vegetarian options (pizza and a portobello sandwich are just two of the few other choices), so I went with the Garden Burger ($9.95). This burger usually comes garnished with mushrooms, honey Dijon mustard, lettuce and tomato (and served with a garden salad), but I changed my order completely. At Beer Works, you can pick from a variety of sides and toppings for your burgers, which makes the ordering process a little more fun (for the customer, at least) - and only slightly more expensive ($1 for each topping and $1 for some of the sides choices).

I ended up topping my garden burger with avocado, sauteed onions and Cheddar jack cheese. I also got sweet potato fries on the side.

Served on a fluffy, buttery, slightly sweet roll, this burger was downright enjoyable. The toppings were also generous, and complemented the veggie and grain burger quite well. The bun was so big, though, that I ended up eating the second half of my burger sans bread. The sweet potato fries were simply seasoned with salt, and were beautifully crispy without being overly greasy.

To end the meal, I drank my dessert - and enjoyed a Black Bat Stout (12 oz., $4.75).

Beer Works' stout was smooth and creamy, and had flecks of oatmeal, coffee and chocolate flavors. This was a great way to end the meal.

Many of Beer Works' brews are seasonal and vary by location, but you can find the full menu for each location right on their website.

All in all, I had another successful meal at Beer Works - that was also extremely affordable. My two cousins are part of the Beer Works' VIP program, which took $30 off our entire bill. Score!

Have you ever been to a Beer Works? What's your review?

Baking to End Cancer with Nutella Brownies

2012-01-24T08:50:00.002-05:00

Remember these puppies?

Well, now you have a chance to get one dozen of these gems, all to yourself (or, to share...but that's up to you). Just head on over to Amanda's (a.k.a. Tales from a Kitchen Misfit's) virtual Bake Sale, and bid on these Nutella Brownies. Oh, and did I mention the bake sale is to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? Amanda is running the Boston Marathon, and her goal is to raise $4,000 for this great cause.

Let's help Amanda reach her goal, shall we?

Happy bidding!

Thai-Style Tofu and Chickpea Curry

2012-01-23T08:45:00.003-05:00

Now that the temperatures have dropped in Boston - and seem to be staying that way through the near future - I'm craving nothing but warm, spicy foods that tantalize my palate and fill my belly. One night after work last week, when I was particularly chilly and hungry, I found this Thai-style Green Curry spice blend in our pantry that my parents had given to us a few months ago.

We had a block of tofu in the fridge, along with a can of chickpeas in the cabinet, so I decided to whip up a comforting, spicy dish to warm both of our bellies.

Thai-Style Tofu and Chickpea Curry

Yields: 4 servings

-2 tbsp. olive oil

-1/2 an onion, minced

-1 tsp. minced garlic

-1 green pepper, chopped

-1 block (14 oz.) extra firm tofu, drained and cubed

-7-8 jarred jalapeno slices, minced

-1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

-2 tbsp. Thai Style Green Curry spice blend

-Palmful of cumin

-Coriander

-Turmeric

-Salt and black pepper, to taste

-1 cup vegetable broth

-1 cup cooked Jasmine rice

-Naan, for serving (optional)

Directions:

1.) Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; add onion, and cook until soft and translucent (about 4 to 5 minutes). Add garlic, and let cook for 30 seconds; add pepper, and cook until just about soft.

2.) Add tofu to the pepper and onion mixture; stir, and let cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add jalapenos and chickpeas; season with Thai curry spice blend, cumin, coriander, turmeric, salt and pepper. Add broth, then stir.

3.) Reduce heat to a simmer, and cover the saucepan. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes; serve over Jasmine rice.

This was one hearty, satisfying meal. It was also nice to experiment with Thai curry, since we almost always use traditional curry powder in dishes like these.

What spices have you experimented with lately?

Giveaway Winner!

2012-01-20T19:19:00.001-05:00

As I'm sitting here, drinking my dirty martini, I remember that I forgot to pick a winner for my Freixenet giveaway! Forgive me....

Without further ado, the winner is...Frederick Wright!

Frederick was the first to answer this question correctly: What are the three traditional cava grapes?

The answer is: Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada.

Congrats, Frederick! Please email me to claim your prize.

Have a great weekend!

Spicy Jasmine Rice

2012-01-19T08:48:00.005-05:00

Enchiladas, burritos, tacos - they just don't taste the same without rice. That's why, when I was making my Baked Chipotle Chimichangas, I knew I had to make rice to go alongside them.

And not just any rice, because, well, let's be honest - plain rice is nothing but bland and chewy without some flavor added to it.

Spicy Jasmine Rice

Yields: 4 servings

-1 cup Jasmine rice

-1 1/2 cups water

-1 tbsp. butter

-Cumin

-Chili powder

-Dried parsley

-Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1.) Bring rice and water to a soft boil in a large saucepan; let simmer, covered, for 20 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Take pan off heat and let cool for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

2.) Add butter and spices (to taste), then stir. Serve alongside Baked Chipotle Chimichangas.

The butter and flavorful seasonings used in this dish really helped kick this otherwise plain-tasting rice up a few delicious notches. The fluffy, slightly sticky rice also complemented my smoky chimichangas beautifully.

What ingredients or spices do you add to rice to give it some extra flavor?

Side note: Don't forget to enter my sparkling wine giveaway! I'm picking a winner tomorrow morning....

Baked Chipotle Chimichangas

2012-01-17T12:08:00.000-05:00

After I got home Sunday night from a fun – albeit short – snowboarding trip in New Hampshire, I was famished; and oddly in the mood to cook. I had received a new cookbook from Betty Crocker (just for being their fan on Facebook – woot woot), so I decide to flip to the “Vegetarian” tab and get some inspiration for dinner. There is where I found a recipe for baked chimichangas.

I had barely any of the same ingredients Betty used in her chimichangas, so I just improvised with what I had in my own kitchen (including finally opening a grinder of tex-mex chipotle seasoning my mom gave us a while ago).

The end result was a smoky, spicy chimichanga that was crispy on the outside without the typical fried-chimichanga grease. The vibrant filling I whipped together was also incredibly flavorful, and nutritious to boot.

Baked Chipotle Chimichangas
-1 tbsp. olive oil
-1/4 white onion, diced
-1 tsp. minced garlic
-1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
-1 cup frozen corn
-6-7 jarred jalapeno slices, minced
-Tex-Mex Chipotle seasoning (or chipotle powder)
-Dried parsley
-Salt and black pepper, to taste
-Squirt of lime juice
-1/2 cup chipotle salsa (plus extra for serving)
-4 whole wheat tortillas
-1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Directions:
1.) Heat olive oil on medium to low heat in a large frying pan; add onion, and cook until soft and translucent (about 3-4 minutes). Add garlic, and stir; let cook for an additional 30 seconds.
2.) Add beans, corn and jalapeno slices; season with Tex-Mex Chipotle seasoning, parsley, salt and pepper. Stir, and let cook for 2-3 minutes.
3.) Squirt lime juice over the bean mixture, and add salsa. Stir, and let cook for an additional minute on low heat.
4.) Spoon 1/4 of the mixture into each tortilla; top with 1/4 part of the shredded cheese. Fold tortillas, and place seam-side down onto a greased baking dish. Cook at 475 degrees for 6-8 minutes, or until tortillas are lightly browned.
5.) Serve with Spicy Rice (recipe to come!) and extra chipotle salsa.

Now, don’t get me wrong – I love just about anything deep-fried. But after a weekend of being out on the slopes, it was really nice to have a satisfying meal that was also light and good for me.

What substitutions or techniques have you incorporated to make a not-so-healthy meal healthier?

Freixenet 'Friday' + a Giveaway!

2012-01-16T11:50:00.005-05:00

I realize it’s not actually Friday – but it’s Monday. To help us all get through the day, let’s just pretend it is Friday, OK?

And there's really no better way to celebrate "Friday" than with a glass of chilled champagne (or sparkling wine).

I'm not normally a sparkling wine girl - I tend to love my non-bubbly vino or beer. But sometimes, it's nice to dramatically pop open a bottle of the bubbly stuff and raise a glass with friends. There's something elegant and refreshing about enjoying a glass of it.

So, when the folks at Freixenet asked me to try some of their sparkling wines from Spain, I happily obliged. Freixenet sent me a bottle of their Cordon Negro Brut ($12) and Cordon Negro Extra Dry ($12) to sample. We popped open the extra dry one night when Z had some friends over - the flavor was ultra fizzy, wonderfully citrus-y, and slightly fruity. I was a big fan (as was Z and his friends).

We decided to use the Brut (Freixenet's most popular cava, and the number one imported sparkling wine in the world) in cocktails - Z simply mixed it with lemonade, orange juice and lime juice. The end result was a bubbly, fruity cocktail that was delightfully refreshing. The dry Brut also helped to cut some of the sweetness from the juices, making this an easily drinkable beverage.

Overall, I am a big fan of these two Freixenet sparkling wines, and I'm eager to try some of their other varieties. For only $12 a bottle, the quality and flavor of these wines alone are worth every penny.

As a bonus, Freixenet has also offered to do a giveaway for EE readers! Here's what you could win:

The “Freixenet Friday” package includes six elegant Freixenet fluted glasses as well as The Freixenet Social Survival Guide, a pocket reference guide for social situations. This savvy little red book is filled with common sense advice including: Ten Commandments the perfect guest or host should live by, the sophisticate’s guide to tipping, ordering wine with confidence, quick fix-its on the fly: stains, fallen hems and broken heels, from work to play: 18 hours of style for those working from “nine to wine."

To enter, we're doing some cava trivia. The first person to answer this question correctly wins (I'll announce the winner Friday morning): What are the three traditional cava grapes?

Good luck!

Roasted Vegetables & Herb Goat Cheese in Puff Pastry

2012-01-12T09:18:00.001-05:00

I haven’t cooked a “real” dinner in a long time. Z and I have been eating a lot on-the-go or fending for ourselves for dinner, so I’ve been consuming a lot of veggie burgers and egg sandwiches these past few weeks.

Last night, however, I was determined to make us a real meal – but it had to be quick, as Z had to be somewhere at 7:15 (I get home around 6:30). We had a sheet of puff pastry in the freezer, and I had picked up some peppers and an onion at the market near my work earlier that day. With those ingredients, dinner was born.

First, I roasted the peppers and onions with some olive oil, salt and pepper.

While the vegetables were roasting, I sliced up some grape tomatoes and thawed the puff pastry.

Then, I opened up the star of the meal: Garlic and herb goat cheese from Trader Joe’s.

Within 20 minutes, we had a simple, healthy and satisfying dinner.

Roasted Vegetables & Herb Goat Cheese in Puff Pastry

Yields: 4 servings

-1 onion, chopped

-1 green bell pepper, chopped

-Salt and black pepper, to taste

-1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

-1 tsp. minced garlic

-Splash white wine

-Butter, for baking dish

-1 sheet of packaged frozen puff pastry, thawed

-1/4 cup grape tomatoes, halved

-1 oz. Garlic & Herb goat cheese, crumbled

-Crushed red pepper, to taste

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, toss peppers and onions in olive oil, salt and pepper; spread evenly on a baking sheet, and roast in oven for 10 minutes.

2.) When the vegetables are tender, remove from the oven. Toss peppers and onions with garlic and white wine. Butter a pie baking dish, and place puff pastry in the middle of the dish. Pour vegetables over the pastry.

3.) Sprinkle the tomatoes over the roasted vegetables, and top with the crumbled goat cheese. Season with crushed red pepper and a bit more salt and black pepper. Folder puff pastry over the vegetables and cheese, and dab (or brush) the pastry with olive oil, to help it brown.

4.) Cook the pastry in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown. Serve immediately, while puff pastry is still crisp.

The end result was a crispy, flaky, buttery pastry filled with sweet, flavorful vegetables and tangy goat cheese.

Despite how simple this was to make, it ended up being a rather elegant dinner. Even though we ate this quickly by itself, this pastry would pair well with a side salad for a well-rounded, nutritious (and affordable!) weeknight meal.

What quick-and-delicious meals have you made lately?

My Current Obsession

2012-01-10T09:31:00.002-05:00

Until recently, I didn't eat buffalo sauce for four years. Back when I was a poor, meat-eating college student, I lived off of the free buffalo wings at Side Street Grille in Hamden, Conn. I ate an inhumane amount of them during my four years of college - I literally got sick of them, along with buffalo sauce.

About a month ago, Z and I went to Christopher's in Cambridge for dinner, and he convinced me to share the Buffalo Tofu ($6.95) with him. After some serious hesitation, I finally caved - and had my first bite of buffalo sauce in almost four years. After eating a whole slab of the buffalo tofu to my face, my obsession with the spicy condiment was back...with a vengeance. Now, I'm a reborn buffalo sauce addict.

My most recent meal with buffalo sauce was last night's dinner: An egg burrito with avocado, baby spinach, caramelized onions and mozzarella cheese on a whole wheat wrap. The buffalo sauce added a fantastic spice and flavor to this simple yet satisfying meal.

If it were normal to put buffalo sauce on everything, I'd do it.

What's your current obsession?

Pitchers and Pizza at Newtowne Grille

2012-01-05T20:40:00.000-05:00

Some people laugh at me when I say I love Newtowne Grille in Cambridge.

Isn't that the dive bar on Mass. Ave.?

Oh, it's a bit dive-y. But the drinks and food are cheap, the staff is friendly, and every paying customer eventually becomes your friend.

Newtowne Grille - which has a second location in Billerica - was opened in 1966 by Socrates, the father/grandfather of the current owners. The restaurant is named after the town that used to combine both Cambridge and Newton many years ago.

I've only been to Newtowne Grille a few times so far, but I plan to be back many, many times in the future - especially since we live only a few blocks away, and, well, they have Keno. The best part about Newtowne Grille, though, is their pizza and pitcher special. Any night of the week, you can get a pitcher - of any beer - plus a large cheese pizza for $4 or more. And the pizza is good.

The exterior of Newtowne Grille in Cambridge is nothing impressive, but trust me when I say that the affordable prices, delicious pizza, and fun, friendly atmosphere are worth paying them a visit.

What's your favorite no-frills restaurant in Boston?

Acitron Mexican Bistro in Arlington

2012-01-03T20:25:00.001-05:00

Last week, Z and I decided to use our Eversave coupon for Acitron Mexican Bistro, one of the latest culinary additions to Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington. I had been hearing quite a bit of buzz around this new Mexican eatery, so I was eager to give it a try (for half price, of course).

Our meal started with fresh, chunky salsa and salty tortilla chips.

Clearly, the chips and salsa were good...

Then, we ordered a round of drinks: Acitron Margaritas ($8 each), made with Acitron's homemade margarita mix.

These margaritas reminded me of Skinny Girl Margaritas - meaning, not weighed down with a sugary sour mix. They were crisp, light, refreshing and perfectly strong (we both ended up ordering one more with our dinners).

For an appetizer, we split the Aguacate Frito ($7.95), which consisted of avocado slices dipped in a chipotle beer batter and lightly friend. The fried avocado was served with a cilantro-jalapeno sour cream.

While I could have easily drank the cilantro-jalapeno sour cream, the fried avocado left much to be desired. There was nothing really outstanding about it, and it lacked flavor. It was nothing more than just fried avocado.

For our entrees, I went with the Tortitas de Zucchini Con Nopales ($15.95), which was two zucchini patties topped with grilled nopales, grilled red onions, and tomato with salsa verde...

....which came with my choice of two sides. I went with the grilled vegetable medley (but got "elote," or corn on the cob, instead) as well as the black beans, which were the beans of the day.

For his entree, Z ordered the Crepas de Rajas Poblanas ($15.95), homemade crepes stuffed with grilled poblano strips, corn, yellow squash, zucchini, and sour cream.

Although my zucchini patties don't look that pretty, they were pretty darn awesome. Packed with flavor and well seasoned, these discs of deliciousness were also surprisingly filling. I ended up eating one, and taking the second home for lunch the next day. Z's crepe was also very tasty - and rich - and the zesty sauce his crepe was smothered in really made the dish.

Overall, our dinner at Acitron Mexican Bistro was a successful one, but it didn't blow us away. If we didn't have an Eversave coupon with us, this meal would have been really expensive, for our budgets. The margaritas were tasty, though, so I'd go back just to have another one of those.

Have you tried Acitron Mexican Bistro yet? If so, what's your review?

Second Helping: Brownies with Rum, Amaretto & Ricotta Swirl

2012-01-02T22:27:00.000-05:00

Booze + Chocolate = Happiness.

First off: Happy 2012! I hope you all had a safe and fun New Year's.

And speaking of New Year's...let's talk booze, shall we?

After making butternut squash lasagna for my family's Christmas dinner, I was left with half a tub of ricotta cheese. I took most of last week off, so I had plenty of time to research a few ricotta recipes on the Internet, in hopes of making use of my leftovers. When I stumbled upon this recipe for spiked ricotta brownies - which I had most of the ingredients for - I immediately decided to make my own version of them.

Brownies with Rum, Amaretto & Ricotta Swirl
Yields: One dozen large brownies
Adapted from lifesafeast.blogspot.com
-1 box chocolate fudge brownie mix, prepared via directions on the package
-1 cup ricotta cheese
-2 tsp. dark rum
-1 tsp. Amaretto
-3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
-3 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
-1/3 cup sugar
-1 large egg
-4 tsp. whole wheat flour
-1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1.) In a small bowl (separate from the brownie batter), mix ricotta, rum, Amaretto, cinnamon, butter, sugar, egg and flour. Add chocolate chips to brownie batter.
2.) Pour 2/3 of the brownie batter into a greased 8-inch square brownie pan and spread evenly. Pour the rum-Amaretto-ricotta mixture evenly over the layer of brownie batter. Pour the remaining brownie batter over the ricotta mixture, and carefully spread evenly (try to avoid mixing the ricotta with the brownie batter).
3.) Marble the brownies by cutting through the batter with a sharp knife quickly from side to side (creating a "swirl" design).
4.) Bake the brownies for about 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven (my oven took about 60 minutes to fully bake the brownies - but just check them often). Once a toothpick comes out clean in the center, the brownies are done.

The end result was an incredibly moist, decadent brownie with a very subtle "booze-y" flavor. The ricotta and chocolate chips only helped to make these brownies wonderfully indulgent and rich. You can't go wrong with a brownie mix!

What are you looking forward to in 2012?

Five Horses Tavern in Somerville

2011-12-30T08:43:00.000-05:00

Tuesday was my only day of work this week. I had plenty of vacation days left, so I decided to make Wednesday through Sunday my very own staycation. And what better way to kick off staycation than with a happy hour?

After work on Tuesday, I met my cousin, Carolan, and my friend, Christine, at Five Horses Tavern on Highland Avenue in Somerville for some beers and appetizers. I had been to Five Horses Tavern - a new craft beer bar - once before, but only for a quick bite and a brew. I was excited to go back and enjoy the atmosphere for a relaxing bite to eat.

Five Horses Tavern has a really impressive draft and bottled beer menu (not to mention some awesome-sounding cocktails). After some tough deliberation, I finally ordered my first brew: Dark Horse Too Cream Stout.

This beer ended up being a great choice on a cold, rainy day - it was thick, creamy, and packed with rich chocolate flavor.

As I sipped, I perused the very-vegetarian-friendly (and meat-friendly!) menu, as well as the unique, beer-loving decor.

Carolan and I weren't super hungry, so we decided to split a few appetizers: The Popeye pizza ($12), topped with spinach, black olives, arugula, and goat's milk ricotta...

...as well as the White Bean Hummus ($6), made with cannellini beans, herbs, chilis, and garlic, and served with baguette crisps.

The pizza was phenomenal. The large globs of creamy, fresh goat cheese complemented the peppery arugula and salty black olives beautifully. The hummus, yet simple, was surprisingly impressive - well seasoned, and drizzled with a subtle (yet obvious) amount of olive oil.

I ended my meal with one more brew: Sam Adams Chocolate Cherry Bock. A creamy, ice cold dessert in a glass. I highly recommend this seasonal beer.

Despite the beer being various and the food being delicious, there's another aspect of Five Horses Tavern that I fell in love with: The menu labeling. Throughout, certain menu items are clearly labeled as being either vegetarian or vegan, where applicable. And this joint isn't just offering up pasta and veggie burgers - I'm eager to go back and try the Pumpkin Pie pizza ($11), made with pumpkin, tofu, kale, and garlic. The Tavern's menu is also primarily locally-sourced, so dishes tend to change with the seasons.

Have you tried Five Horses Tavern yet? What's your review?

Leftover Sage Pesto

2011-12-28T10:50:00.000-05:00

When you have leftover fresh herbs and/or greens, you just have to make pesto. Or, at least I do. Over the years, I've turned plenty of different greens and herbs into pestos, and have loved every single one of them. So, when I found myself with a handful of sage leaves leftover from my butternut squash lasagna, I decided to improvise.

Leftover Sage Pesto

Yields: about 1/2 cup

-1/2 cup loosely packed sage leaves

-1/2 tbsp. dried parsley

-1/8 cup chopped walnuts

-1/8 cup Parmesan cheese

-Olive oil

-Lemon juice, to taste

-Salt and black pepper, to taste

-Pinch of cayenne pepper

Directions:

1.) Add sage leaves, parsley, walnuts, and Parmesan cheese to a food processor. Add a little bit of olive oil, and pulse. Keep adding olive oil until you reach desired consistency (smooth, but not too oily).

2.) Add lemon juice, salt, pepper, and cayenne; pulse ingredients again, and taste. Add more lemon juice and spices as needed.

Sage leaves can be rather bitter on their own - and are typically not meant to be consumed raw because of it - but the parsley helped to offset the bitterness. The end result was a slightly bitter, brightly-flavored pesto that went perfectly on a grilled cheese and tomato sandwich.

How have you incorporated holiday leftovers into new meals?

Latkes, Cheese and Julia Child

2011-12-26T11:06:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Z is half Jewish, so we spent the season celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas. This is our first year celebrating both holidays in the same house together, so we took full advantage of the festivities. On the first night of Hanukkah, we made potato latkes (I used this recipe, but used frozen hashbrowns in place of potatoes, and cayenne and cumin in place of the cajun seasoning) and vegetable kugel - and then I kicked Z's butt in dreidel. It was a good first night.

As the week went on, we opened the advent calendar each morning, and we lit the menorah each night. We are very lucky people to get to celebrate two wonderful holidays together.

On Christmas Eve, Z came with me to my parents' house in New Hampshire. There, we enjoyed my parents' lavishly decorated home as well as about 800 kinds of cheese. My family loves cheese.

On Christmas morning, after opening gifts, Z made his way to his family's Christmas celebration, and I stayed in New Hampshire to see my niece and older sister. We spent the day cooking (I made butternut squash lasagna), drinking wine, eating our faces off, and watching old episodes of "The French Chef" on television. I'm pretty sure this was the best Christmas yet.

My brother and niece.

Butternut Squash Lasagna.

How did you celebrate the holidays this year?

Last Minute Gift: Organic Jams and Spreads

2011-12-23T07:20:00.001-05:00

USDA Organic Certified. Gluten free. Great source of fiber, calcium and phosphorus. Now that's what I call a healthy product.

A few weeks ago, the kind folks at Slater Public Relations sent me a few samples of Rigoni di Asiago's jams to try - along with their Nocciolata hazelnut-cocoa spread. Earlier this week, Z and I sat down with a loaf of challah bread and sampled each one (our lives are really rough).

Among the flavors of jam we tried were strawberry, seville orange, wild blueberry, and wild berries (Rigoni di Asiago also makes flavors like pomegranate and fig, which I'm eager to try). Each jam was bursting with fresh-fruit flavor, and after comparing the ingredients with store-bought jams in our refrigerator, it was clear as to why.

Let's just say Rigoni di Asiago's jams have very short, legible ingredient lists. A 8.82 oz. jar of their jam contains 3 lbs. of 100% organic fruit, as well as 100% fruit juice and fruit pectin. The jams are also naturally sweetened with apple juice, instead of high fructose corn syrup or other, bad-for-you additives.

I enjoyed every flavor of the jams, especially the wild blueberry and strawberry. I have toast almost every morning with my breakfast, and I plan to slather quite a bit of the leftover jams (with some peanut butter) on each slice over the next few weeks.

In addition to the jams, Z and I also tried Rigoni di Asiago's Nocciolata - a spread that may remind of you Nutella. Made with Italian hazelnuts (from the Rome region), cocoa, cocoa butter, sunflower oil, naturally flavored vanilla, raw cane sugar and skim milk, this spread is just as natural and organic as the jams. Similar to the jams, I loved how the Nocciolata was not overly sweet - the natural flavors of the hazelnuts and cocoa were apparent, but were obviously not weighed down with any added sugars. This spread also had a stronger hazelnut flavor than Nutella, which I enjoyed.

Rigoni di Asiago's products can be purchased online (most products are currently on sale for just $5-$6) or at several local shoppes, such as Savenor's Market in Cambridge.

As a result of their natural, healthy ingredients, "real" flavor, and reasonable prices, I definitely plan to buy Rigoni di Asiago's products in the future.

Are you done with your holiday shopping? I just have a few more things to pick up!

Disclaimer: I received Rigoni di Asiago's products to sample free of charge, courtesy of Slater Public Relations. Despite their generosity, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Smoothies and Omelettes at Zoe's in Cambridge

2011-12-21T07:52:00.001-05:00

I am terrible at making bets. Well…that’s a lie. I make a LOT of bets, but never win any of them. This past weekend included another bet I had made and lost – this time with Z. The deal was, whoever lost had to buy breakfast the next morning. Thankfully for me, the place we chose was delicious and affordable.

When we were looking for a place to have brunch on our iPhones, Z and I had a hard time deciding where to go. Darwin’s, per usual? Lord Hobo, assuming they still serve brunch? Brave the lines at The Friendly Toast? It was a hard decision, until we finally stumbled upon Zoe’s right outside Harvard Square.

Parking isn’t fun down by Zoe’s, but we finally found a spot, and hurried into the warm, diner-like restaurant. An older, friendly man greeted us and took our name, letting us know it would be about a 20 minute wait. While we waited, we observed how much of a well-oiled machine Zoe’s was – the host quickly greeted guests, said goodbye to patrons who were leaving, and cleaned tables as soon as they were clear, ensuring anyone who was waiting was quickly seated.

After about 25 minutes, Z and I were seated at a table. I grabbed a menu and was quickly impressed at the various, healthy breakfast options – including a slew of smoothies and fun drinks. I was really in the mood for hot coffee on this chilly Sunday morning, but I opted for a Coffeelicious ($4.99), made with non-fat vanilla frozen yogurt, banana and coffee.

The smoothie was extra thick and absolutely delicious, without being overly sweet or filling. As “dessert-y” as it sounds, it didn’t taste like I was drinking dessert at all, which I loved.

For my entrée, I went with the Veggie Omelette ($8.29), chocked full of peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, asparagus, and cheddar cheese. My omelette came with home fries and toast – I went with the cinnamon raisin toast.

Everything on this plate was fantastic; especially the potatoes. The omelette was also bursting with vegetables and cheese, and the toast was thick-cut and not drowning in butter. It was a fantastic, diner-style breakfast without the added grease.

Overall, we loved Zoe’s and plan to be back soon. For the portions you get, the friendly service, affordable prices, and the vegetarian-friendly, healthy options (they even have veggie sausage!), Zoe’s gets two thumbs up in my book.

What's your favorite breakfast spot in the Boston area?

Cookies of Christmas Past

2011-12-20T07:13:00.003-05:00

My Aunt Susie always made the holidays feel special. Her house would be over-the-top decorated with hokey Christmas decorations; every candy dish would be filled with green and red M&Ms; and every gift she gave to my siblings and me was beautifully wrapped, and topped with a bow. The best part about celebrating Christmas with my Aunt Susie, however, was her giant, chocolate-chip-and-M&M Christmas cookies. These suckers were HUGE, perfectly cooked in the middle, and insanely sweet. As a kid, my siblings and I lived for them.

Over the last few years, we stopped hearing from my Aunt Susie. To be honest, she basically fell off the face of the earth - no one can get in contact with her.

I miss her most at Christmas time. And her cookies. The size-of-your-head, candy-filled cookies just made Christmas. So, this year, I tried to recreate them - and failed miserably.

I mean, they came out decent enough. They taste great, but they ended up coming out more like M&M biscuits than the flat cookies my Aunt Susie used to make. Despite not being close to the original, one bite of these cookies still caused me to reminisce about Christmases celebrated with my aunt. That alone was worth the effort of baking them. I'll try again next year to get them perfect.

Do you have a dish/recipe/etc. that just "makes" your holiday? If so, what is it, and why is it special?

Special Delivery

2011-12-18T16:23:00.001-05:00

Last week, I had the pleasure of trying out Foodler.com, a restaurant delivery service. I'll admit: I'm usually skeptical about sites like this. How can I trust that the restaurant I'm ordering from is paying attention? Will it be any faster than just calling the restaurant up to order my food? It's always a gamble.

Foodler, however, proved me wrong. Despite the fact that it's not the prettiest website out there, Foodler.com is incredibly easy to use and to navigate.

I started out by narrowing my search to restaurants near my home address. Foodler then created a long list of nearby eateries, categorized by type of cuisine, including a "best bets" section. I could search the list of restaurants by rating, cost, distance or delivery fee. There was even a list dedicated to vegetarian-friendly restaurants!

Z and I were in the mood for Thai food, so we stuck to that section of the list. We clicked on each restaurant name, and were able to view their menu right on Foodler.com. Each restaurant page also lists their delivery and takeout hours, delivery fees (if applicable), and delivery minimums.

We finally settled on Thai Hut in Somerville. We viewed their menu, added the items we wanted to our "cart," and then checked out. I received a confirmation email from Foodler within minutes, and they even gave us an estimated time of arrival as well as a recap of our order. Before we knew it, Thai Hut was knocking at our door with our dinner.

I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth the whole system was, and I loved how easy Foodler's site was to navigate. I will definitely be using Foodler.com the next time we want to order delivery.

Have you ever used a restaurant delivery service? What's your review?

Disclaimer: I received a $15 credit to try out Foodler.com. Despite the company's generosity, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Thumbprint Cookies with Cranberry Chocolate Jam

2011-12-13T22:15:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, I had to bake a dessert for our friend's holiday dinner that evening. I wanted to prepare something festive and delicious, and I remembered that I had a jar of homemade Cranberry Chocolate Jam from Doves & Figs - which was in my goodie bag from a recent Blogger Brunch.

After giving the jam a quick taste, I knew what I wanted to make: Thumbprint cookies. Per usual, I found a recipe online and modified it according to the ingredients in my kitchen.

Thumbprint Cookies

Yields: 2 dozen cookies

Adapted from SimplyRecipes.com

-1 cup of Melt, room temperature
-1/2 cup of sugar
-2 eggs, room temperature
-1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
-Pinch of salt
-2 cups of whole wheat flour
-3/4 cup of Cranberry Chocolate jam (or your favorite jam)

Directions:

1.) Cream the butter and sugar together for about 3 minutes.
2.) Separate the eggs. Add the yolks and vanilla extract to the butter mixture.
3.) Add the flour and salt. Mix until just combined. Place the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
4.) Roll the dough into balls about 1 inch in diameter. Place the balls on greased or parchment lined cookie sheets.
5.) Press down with your thumb to make a small well in the center of the cookie. Do not press too hard or the cookie will fall apart. Fill with 1/2 teaspoon of jam.
6.) Bake for 12-15 minutes or until slightly firm. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet to firm up before moving them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

The end result was a buttery, thick, soft cookie and the rich cranberry jam really made these something special. The jam itself had a hint of cocoa, which complemented the tang from the cranberries quite well.

What's your favorite holiday cookie?

Thai Red Curry and Tofu Stir-Fry

2011-12-11T14:21:00.001-05:00

A meal this good deserves a much better photo….

Once I piled my bowl high with this spicy stir-fry, there was only one thing between me and a forkful of it in my mouth: my camera. I knew I had to take a few photos for the blog, so I snapped away frantically - and walked away with one mediocre photo that was somewhat post-worthy. Despite the photo, this meal is a keeper – the aromas, Thai and Indian flavors, and varying textures made for one delightful meal. Dig in.

Thai Red Curry and Tofu Stir-Fry
Yields: 4-5 servings
-1 cup Trader Joe's Thai Red Curry sauce, divided
-1 16 oz. package extra-firm tofu, drained and cut into bite-size cubes
-1 box Asian rice noodles, cooked according to directions on box
-2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
-1 medium yellow onion, diced
-1 green bell pepper, chopped
-6-7 button mushrooms, chopped
-1 bay leaf
-Cumin
-Garam masala
-Cayenne
-Tandoori seasoning
-Salt and black pepper, to taste
-Squirt lemon juice

Directions:
1.) In a large bowl, marinate tofu with 1/2 cup Thai red curry sauce for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator, covered.
2.) In a large wok (or frying pan), heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, and cook 5-6 minutes or until mostly soft/translucent. Add tofu, and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the green pepper, mushrooms and bay leaf, and let cook for an additional 2 minutes. Season with cumin, garam masala, cayenne, tandoori, salt and pepper and lemon juice. Stir, and lower heat slightly.
3.) Pour the remaining 1/2 cup Thai red curry sauce over the tofu and vegetable mixture. Add the cooked noodles and stir. Let cook on medium to low heat for a final 5-6 minutes, or until noodles are al dente.

What's a recent recipe you created that has become a "keeper"?

Banana Bread Beer Banana Bread

2011-12-09T07:43:00.001-05:00

It's Friday. Put some beer in your banana bread.

Yes. I went there. We had a bottle of Wells Banana Bread Beer in our fridge, and a package of Trader Joe's banana bread mix in our pantry. I made the mix according to the directions on the package, and after the bread was done baking, I poured about 1/4 cup of the beer over the top. The beer fizzled down into each nook and cranny of the bread - the end result being an incredibly moist bread with just a hint of banana beer flavor.

Happy Friday!

Better Butter

2011-12-08T07:35:00.001-05:00

Butter makes everything better. Popcorn, cookies, toast - where would they be without butter?

One of the downsides to the dairy product, however, is its fat content. It's really not that not good for us - although, everything is good in moderation. I won't even go into the story about how, when I was little, I literally ate butter by the spoonfuls....

Regardless, there's now a healthier butter substitute that is rich, creamy and full of flavor: Melt.

The kind folks at Melt offered to send me two tubs of their better-for-you butter, and I've since sampled their product in several different ways.

The main differences between Melt and real butter: Melt is organic and consists of virgin coconut oil, flax seed oil, palm fruit oil and canola oil. I first tried Melt in one of the most traditional ways possible - spread on my toast at breakfast, alongside some scrambled eggs.

I then tried Melt in my roasted broccoli. I simply roasted the broccoli with some extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper; while it was roasting, I melted some Melt with minced garlic and lemon juice. When the broccoli was done roasting, I poured the Melt over it and sprinkled some sunflower seeds over the dish.

When I took the first bite of my toast, one flavor was more apparent than the others: coconut. The coconut oil, especially when melting Melt, is potent. However, I will say that initial punch of coconut flavor dissipated as I ate, and by the end of my meal, I completely forgot that I wasn't eating real butter.

Over the broccoli, the Melt was fantastic. It wasn't overly heavy or greasy, and it added a slightly sweet flavor to the otherwise bitter broccoli. I also loved the texture of Melt, pre-melted - it almost has a whipped consistency, and it's incredibly rich and smooth.

Melt is available at several stores, and you can also buy Melt online here (two tubs cost $7.98).

For a healthier alternative to butter - with great added flavor - I could definitely see myself buying Melt again. I'm excited to use the remaining Melt I have in cookies for the holidays. I'm sure the slight coconut flavor will go really well with chocolate!

Would you trade up real butter for Melt? Why or why not?

Disclaimer: Despite Melt's generosity in letting me try their product free of charge, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

How to Become a Healthworks Member Without Going Broke

2011-12-06T07:15:00.001-05:00

Source: blog.nj.com

After paying only $10 a month at Planet Fitness for several years, I finally decided to take the plunge and sign up for a membership at Healthworks. One of the top fitness centers in the United States for women, Healthworks is a spa-like gym complete with a variety of fitness classes, equipment and more. It also costs a pretty penny - up to $98 per month, on average. Here's how I justified paying $88 more a month for a gym membership:

-I signed up for their emails. Without being obnoxious, Healthworks consistently sends out current promotions and discounts to non-members, including open houses and free classes. By being on this list, I was able to take advantage of a few free classes and trips to their fitness center without having to pay a dime. These visits also helped me make an educated decision on whether or not this gym was for me.

-I did my research. Before signing up, I looked at Healthworks' class schedule online, at the location I would be going to. I made sure that there were classes that intrigued me at times that I could actually go. What would be the point of paying more for a gym if I can't even attend any of their classes?

-I took advantage of discounts. One of the most recent emails I received from Healthworks said that, through November, they were offering $0 enrollment - and the month of December was free. In addition, if you signed up before November 30th, you received a massage and a personal training session. I ended up signing up right before they closed on November 30th.

-I inquired about my health insurance. Most health insurance programs offer discounts for a variety of gyms. When signing up with Healthworks, I asked if my health insurance offered a discount - which it does. All I have to do is go onto my insurance's website, print out a fitness reimbursement form, and $150 goes back into my pocket. Obviously, all health insurance programs will differ, but this is what mine offers.

-Some things are just worth the money. After thinking it over for a few weeks, I knew that attending this gym would motivate me to work out more and be healthier overall. Some things, such as my health, hair products and good food, are just worth the extra money.

What's the maximum amount of money you would pay for a gym membership?

Avocado & Olive Oil Cupcakes

2011-12-05T07:38:00.001-05:00

When I made my spicy slow cooker chili last weekend, I knew I needed to make something to go alongside it. Last year for Christmas, my little sister had given me a cookbook called Cupcake Heaven, and I had yet to try a recipe from it. After flipping through the pages, I eventually came across a recipe for Avocado & Olive Oil Cupcakes. Improvising a little, based on what I had in my kitchen, I whipped up a batch.

Avocado & Olive Oil Cupcakes
Yields: 1 dozen
Adapted from Cupcake Heaven
-2 medium hass avocados, peeled and roughly chopped
-1 tsp. lemon juice
-2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
-Pinch of salt
-1 tbsp. baking powder
-2 lightly beaten extra large eggs
-1 cup soy milk
-4 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
-4 tbsp. butter, melted
-1 1/2 tbsp. lemon zest
-1 tsp. black pepper

Directions:
1.) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan.
2.) Place the avocados in a small bowl with the lemon juice. Crush lightly with a fork.
3.) In a medium, bowl, mix the flour, salt, and baking powder. Beat the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add the flour mixture, stirring until nearly combined. Fold in the avocados. Do not over-mix.
4.) Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cool for 5 minutes.Then, remove the cupcakes and cool on a rack. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

The end result was a tasty, fluffy “cupcake” that was perfect for scooping up the chili. The cooling avocado was also a great complement to the spicy chili. I didn’t mash up my avocados to a smooth consistency, but I enjoyed the added texture – if you prefer “smoother” cupcakes, I suggest mashing the avocados more.

Are you a fan of savory cupcakes? What’s a recent flavor you’ve tried?

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

2011-11-30T21:49:00.001-05:00

Football, beer and chili. They’re just meant to be together.

On Sunday, after our Cape trip and Indian dinner, Z and I wanted nothing more than to relax at home with friends. The Patriots were on in the afternoon, so we spent the morning cleaning, cooking and getting things done around the house. Since we were going to be home all day, I wanted the house to smell of something delicious cooking – which is when I decided to get my crockpot out of the pantry and full of something tasty.

We had several cans of beans in our pantry and veggie sausage that needed to be used up, so I decided to whip up my own recipe for vegetarian chili. The end result was spicy, flavorful, and full of varying textures. Topped with some shredded cheddar cheese, it was a big hit with all of our football- (and chili-) loving friends.

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
Yields: 8 servings
-2 15 oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed
-1 15 oz. can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
-1 15 oz. can vegetarian baked beans
-1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
-1 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
-1 onion, chopped
-1 green bell pepper, chopped
-2 tbsp. minced garlic
-10 jarred jalapeno slices, chopped (or 1 fresh jalapeno, seeded and chopped)
-2 vegetarian sausage links, chopped
-1 cup beer (I used Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest)
-1 tbsp. chili powder
-1 tsp. cumin
-1 tbsp. dried parsley
-1/4 tsp. cayenne
-Salt and pepper, to taste
-Shredded cheddar cheese, for garnish

Directions:
1.) Place above ingredients in a slow cooker and stir. Cook on high for 4 hours (I cooked it an extra 2 hours on low).

On the side (and for dipping), I also made some avocado olive oil “cupcakes.” Recipe to come!

Do you own/use a crockpot? If so, what's your favorite thing to make in it?

The Kebab Factory in Somerville

2011-11-30T07:41:00.001-05:00

Rated the #4 best Indian restaurant in the Boston area by Yelp, The Kebab Factory in Somerville is a tiny authentic eatery tucked away in the same building as the highly acclaimed Bergamot. After a relaxing mini vacation on the Cape, Z and I were in no mood to cook once we arrived home – so we took a quick bike ride over to The Kebab Factory for dinner Saturday night.

Z had dined here once a few years ago, but I had never been, so we were both excited to try the place out. We started with a round of drinks – Z went with a Taj Mahal, and I ordered a glass of pinot grigio ($6).

For an appetizer, we ordered the Factory’s Combo Vegetarian Platter ($7.95), which consisted of samosas, pakoras and Aloo Tikki (spicy, deep fried potato patties). We also asked for some accompanying sauces, which included a spicy chutney.

All of the items on this plate were crispy and delicious without being overly greasy. Even without the sauces, each piece was flavorful and well-spiced.

For my entree, I decided on the Gobi Charchari ($12.95), which is a Bengali dish chocked full of peas and cauliflower, tossed in a five spice mixture (and served with Basmati rice).

This dish was beautifully seasoned – the smoky cumin and pungent fennel seeds were most apparent – and the cauliflower was cooked perfectly. Scooped up with some warm, airy Chapathi ($3.50), and this was a very satisfying dish. (Z and I both went home with leftovers, too!)

Overall, our meal at The Kebab Factory was a successful one. Their use of Indian spices and flavors, intimate atmosphere and reasonable prices will encourage us to return for another meal.

Are you a fan of Indian food?

Scenes from Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-28T07:40:00.001-05:00

My Thanksgiving on the Cape looked a little something like this:

Z’s parents rented a beautiful home in Wood’s Hole, and many family members and friends joined us throughout the holiday weekend.

Our Thanksgiving meal was very non-traditional. Z’s dad and brother made three different kinds of homemade pasta: butternut squash gnocchi with pistachio pesto; buckwheat pasta with caviar; and pumpkin-goat cheese cannelloni (not pictured).

All in all, it was a heartwarming holiday filled with delicious eats, great people and beautiful scenery.

How was your Thanksgiving?

Leftovers: Cheese Fondue and Pumpkin Pancakes

2011-11-23T10:02:00.001-05:00

My recipe for Pumpkin Mac and Cheese somehow left me with quite a few leftovers - not only of the mac and cheese itself, but also several of its ingredients. I especially did not want the Gruyere and canned pumpkin to go to waste, so I incorporated both ingredients into two delicious meals.

Using up the Gruyere for fondue was a no-brainer. My older sister and brother had given Z and I a mini-crockpot set, perfect for keeping fondues and hot dips warm. I melted the Gruyere with some cheddar, Brooklyn Lager and spices to make a gooey, satisfying fondue - perfect for dipping with mushrooms, roasted Brussels sprouts, red peppers, apples, cauliflower, Tofu Pups and baguette slices, to name a few.

Gruyere, Cheddar & Beer Fondue
Yields: 4 servings
Adapted from FoodNetwork.com
-1 1/2 cups, shredded sharp cheddar
-1 cup Gruyere, shredded
-1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
-1 cup Brooklyn Lager
-2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
-A few drops hot sauce
-Salt and pepper, to taste
-Cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions:
1.) Combine cheeses in a bowl with flour. Add beer to a small saucepan over medium heat. Reduce the heat to simmer and add cheese in handfuls. Stir constantly, melting the cheese in batches.
2.) When the cheese has been incorporated fully. Stir in the mustard, hot sauce and spices. Transfer fondue to small crockpot or fondue pot.
3.) Serve with your favorite dippings.

I sadly didn't get a good picture of the fondue itself, but trust me when I say, it was good, and slightly spicy, which I loved. Plus, it's pretty hard to go wrong when your melting cheese in beer. Just sayin'.

The other ingredient I had leftover from the mac and cheese was canned pumpkin, which I just used this morning for Z and I's breakfast.

Pumpkin Pancakes
Yields: 8-10 pancakes
Adapted from MarthaStewart.com
-1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
-2 tbsp. sugar
-2 tsp. baking powder
-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
-1/2 tsp. ground ginger
-1/2 tsp. salt
-Generous pinch of grated fresh nutmeg
-1 cup milk
-6 tbsp. canned pumpkin
-2 tbsp. melted butter (and extra butter for cooking)
-1 egg

Directions:
1.) In a large bowl, stir together the dry ingredients.
2.) In a separate bowl, stir together milk, pumpkin, melted butter, and 1 egg; fold mixture into dry ingredients.
3.) Melt some butter in a skillet over medium heat; pour in 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Cook pancakes about 3 minutes per side; serve with butter and syrup.

They might not look the prettiest, but these seasonal pancakes were a fantastic way to start my day off. The fluffy cakes were packed with nutmeg and cinnamon flavor, with subtle - yet appreciated - hints of pumpkin and fresh nutmeg.

They were also extremely easy to make. I can see a few more batches of these in my near future.

Z and I are off to the Cape until Sunday to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. Until then, I hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year?

Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

2011-11-20T18:25:00.001-05:00

I just discovered - late in the game, apparently - how to make cheese tasted even better this time of year. Enter: Pumpkin.

After work on Friday evening, I wanted nothing but a comforting, home-cooked meal. I had recently seen some of my fellow bloggers posting recipes for pumpkin macaroni and cheese, so I decided to improvise and make my own version of this seasonal, delicious-sounding dish. (Please be advised that measurements for spices aren't exact - I just eyeballed them as I was cooking. Just be sure to taste as you go to ensure the dish is seasoned to your liking).

Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Yields: 8 servings

-1 box whole wheat pasta, cooked (I used penne)

-3 tbsp. butter

-3 tbsp. flour

-3-4 cups soy milk, divided

-2 heaping cups grated Gruyere cheese

-1/2 15 oz. can pumpkin

-1/2 tsp. dried rosemary

-1 tbsp. garam masala

-1/4 tsp. cayenne

-Salt and black pepper, to taste

-1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs

-1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2.) In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter and add the flour. Whisk together and cook for about 30 seconds. Add 2 cups of the soy milk and dried rosemary, and whisk until smooth. Add another cup of the milk and continue to whisk. Cook for four minutes while whisking, allowing the mixture to thicken.

3.) Add Gruyere cheese and stir well, allowing the cheese to melt. Add the garam masala, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Add more milk if necessary, if the sauce is too thick for your liking (I added about another 1/2 cup of milk). Then, add the canned pumpkin.

4.) Once the cheese sauce is smooth, add the cooked pasta and toss. Pour into a casserole pan and top with bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.

5.) Bake for 25 minutes until golden brown and bubbling.

The salty, gooey cheese, rich pumpkin and unique spices (i.e., garam masala) made this one incredible fall dish. The garam masala I used - which consists of black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin and coriander - added that "wow factor" that really rounded out the dish. Let's just say I've never been more excited about having leftovers.

Have the flavors of fall inspired you to make any new recipes in your kitchen lately?

Eat Hummus Enjoy Life

2011-11-17T22:58:00.001-05:00

Holy. Hummus.

The folks at Eat Well Enjoy Life sent me "some" of their hummus to sample. A small enough amount to have Z and I eating hummus until 2012. Luckily for us, it is by far the best hummus we've ever tasted.

The flavors we received are:

-Edamame Hummus
-Edamame Hummus with roasted red pepper and toasted sesame seeds
-Edamame Hummus with yellow peppers, black sesame and ginger
-Tuscan White Bean Hummus with roasted garlic tapenade
-Tuscan White Bean Hummus with roasted pine nuts and herbs
-Spicy Yellow Lentil Hummus with sunflower seeds and apricot

To be completely honest, I have no idea where to begin. Each and every flavor we tried was unique and flavorful. The combination of innovative tastes (example: yellow lentils with apricot) was surprising and satisfying. The texture of each hummus was also beautifully thick and creamy. We tried each hummus with pita chips, pita bread, pretzel chips - I could have dipped a shoe in this product, and it still would have been good.

Eat Well Enjoy Life's hummus just recently hit supermarket shelves in Boston. One of the co-founders, John Kincaid, is even a Boston area native. Their products are sold at several stores throughout Massachusetts (and New England, for that matter), including Shaw's, the Harvest Co-op, and Omni Foods, to name a few. All of their products are gluten-free, kosher and cholesterol free.

After trying Eat Well Enjoy Life’s hummus, I think I will have a hard time buying another brand again. I’m not sure the exact retail price per tub, but I know it’s worth every penny. And, if Z and I haven’t gotten sick of hummus yet – they have to be doing something right.

Have you ever tried Eat Well Enjoy Life’s hummus? If not, do you plan to?

Disclaimer: Eat Well Enjoy Life sent me this hummus to sample free of charge. Despite their generosity, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Brunch at AKA Bistro in Lincoln

2011-11-16T07:44:00.001-05:00

On Saturday morning, Z and I enjoyed the beautiful fall weather by taking a drive into the countryside to have brunch at AKA Bistro in Lincoln. Lincoln – which is less than 30 minutes from Somerville – is a beautiful, historic town with very little to it besides gorgeous colonial houses and lush forests. AKA Bistro is definitely a hidden gem tucked away in this small town – a hidden gem we were so grateful to try.

The interior of this Bistro is modern yet welcoming, with a chalkboard behind the bar showcasing their passion for local produce (thanks to the colorful drawings of vibrant vegetables). We were immediately seated at a table in the almost-empty restaurant, which got busier as the afternoon wore on.

Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about that day’s menu, and she recommended several dishes for us to try. Before we could even think about food, however, we both decided to order a mimosa, which had the perfect ratio of champagne to orange juice (i.e., mostly champagne).

For our “appetizer,” we went with the waitress’s suggestion and ordered the Petit Dejeuner ($12) – a basket full of homemade pastries, which are made in-house daily by the Bistro’s pastry chef. Served with their homemade rhubarb and apricot jams, the basket included plain and chocolate croissants, a slice of cinnamon raisin bread, and a madeleine cookie.

As if the pastry basket didn’t provide enough carbs, we also got to enjoy some complimentary rolls with butter, too.

For our entrees, Z got the omelette with fresh fall vegetables with goat cheese ($12)…

…And I had an egg over easy atop crispy potatoes and a medley of mushrooms ($10) (I clearly can't remember the actual name for this dish).

Both dishes were exquisite and seasoned perfectly – I even commented that my dish was the first in a while I didn’t have to add any salt or pepper to. There were obvious granules of sea salt throughout, and the crispy, peppery potatoes were the perfect complement to the oily mushrooms and runny egg.

Overall, our meal at AKA Bistro was a fantastic one. Between the dedication to local, fresh ingredients, helpful staff, and delicious food, we definitely plan to make another trip to Lincoln sometime soon.

Where have you had a great brunch lately?

Disclaimer: Z and I enjoyed this brunch free of charge thanks to Chris Lyons Communications (the PR company for AKA Bistro). Despite their generosity, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

An Economical Housewarming

2011-11-14T21:45:00.001-05:00

On Sunday, Z and I hosted about 20 of our closest family members for our housewarming party. We provided all of the drinks and food (with the exception of dessert, which other people provided). Our mission: To make it as "special" and economical as possible. Thankfully, we succeeded.

On the menu: Roasted veggie and tofu kabobs; bruschetta with caramelized onions, blue cheese and walnuts (courtesy of the Cook's Illustrated Cookbook); baked Brie with raspberry jam; and some of the best hummus you'll ever try (review to come in a future post).

Despite the variety of finger foods we offered, we kept things as simple as possible - and we made everything before our guests even arrived. To keep it inexpensive, we also took an inventory of what we already had in our kitchen, and built the menu from there. Thanks to Trader Joe's, we also got plenty of beer and wine for a decent price. Our guests had a great time, and everyone left with smiles and full stomachs.

It was so nice to host our families in our new home, enjoy great food and wine, and not spend a fortune doing it.

Are you hosting any holiday parties this year? How do you plan to keep things economical?

White Bean Soup with Pasta

2011-11-10T08:53:00.001-05:00

Whether you're a vegetarian or not, I encourage you to buy this book. It's basically a bible for delicious, flavorful, meat-free recipes that anyone who eats can enjoy. I've shared one recipe with you guys already from this book, and last week, I made another one - which was just as successful. I only changed a few things about the recipe, mainly to make it less time consuming and more economical for me (i.e., using canned beans versus dried).

White Bean Soup with Pasta
Adapted from "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone"
Yields: 8-10 servings
-2 cups canned cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
-2 tbsp. olive oil
-2 tsp. dried rosemary
-1 onion, finely diced
-2 carrots, finely diced
-1 celery stalk, finely diced
-5 garlic cloves, sliced
-1/3 cup chopped parsley
-1 cup diced canned tomatoes, with their juices
-Salt and black pepper, to taste
-1 cup dried fusilli pasta (or any pasta you prefer)
-Grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1.) Heat the oil with rosemary in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until the onion is softened and starting to color, about 10 minutes.
2.) Stir in the garlic and parsley and cook for a few minutes more. Add cannellini beans to the pot along with the tomatoes and 3 quarts water. Bring to a boil, lower heat, then simmer, covered, about 30 minutes.
3.) Season soup with salt and pepper, and let cook for 15-20 minutes more (or longer, if desired).
4.) Puree half the soup to give it some body (or leave it thin - I pureed half of mine, because I like my soups a little thicker). For a thicker, smooth soup, puree all of it.
5.) Cook the pasta in boiling salted water, then drain. Ladle the soup into bowls and add some pasta to each. Sprinkle Parmesan over each bowl and serve (we enjoyed ours with some When Pigs Fly bread).

This soup is perfect for a cold night - the broth was silky and flavorful, and I loved the varying textures in every single bite. Soups usually don't fill me up, but between the pasta, beans and load of vegetables, this ended up being one satisfying bowl of soup.

I need to start making more soups! What are some of your favorites to make once the weather turns cold?

Lavender Cookies

2011-11-09T08:58:00.001-05:00

On Sunday, I was trying to delay having to paint our pantry for as long as possible. Our pantry is a glorious, large, open-to-the-kitchen pantry, and it desperately needed painting...but I wasn't feeling having to start that project as soon as I woke up. To stall time, I decided to make use of the lavender extract I bought at Sur La Table over the summer. And since I knew Z's Mom was a fan of lavender, I decided to bake her something special as a belated birthday gift.

Lavender Cookies
Adapted from yummly.com
Yields: About 20 cookies
-1/2 cup butter, softened
-1 cup sugar
-2 eggs
-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
-1 tsp. lavender extract
-1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
-2 tsp. baking powder

Directions:
1.) Preheat oven to 375*F.
2.) In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3.) Beat in the eggs, vanilla and lavender and mix well.
4.) Combine the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl; add to the lavender mixture. Stir until well blended.
5.) Drop by teaspoons onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake in the oven 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges.
6.) Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a minute or two before transferring to a cooling rack.

The end result was a light, fluffy cookie that was chocked full of lavender flavor (without being too potent). I also loved how the sweet, calming vanilla extract helped to tone down the flowery lavender a bit, without totally masking its floral taste.

Have you tried any new baking recipes lately?

Three Little Figs in Somerville

2011-11-07T08:23:00.003-05:00

Last week, Z came across a new cafe/bakery on Highland Avenue in Somerville - Three Little Figs - which has an obvious focus on utilizing local sources in an effort to create quality, delicious food.

Three Little Figs is, in one word, adorable. The place itself is tiny, with just a few tables, and the fig theme throughout only adds to its charm. The bakery display is chocked full of fresh baked goods that are inspired by Greek family recipes and are made with natural, organic and local ingredients. The abundant number of staff members cleaning tables, slinging baked goods and taking sandwich orders were also a friendly bunch who made you want to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee.

Since the sandwich menu is small (on this day, there were four options), it didn't take Z and I long to decide on what we wanted to eat. For a drink, I went with the Carrot Beet Celery juice, which was nothing but vegetables. It was surprisingly tasty, and provided a very healthy way to start my day.

For breakfast, Z and I both went for the egg, spinach and feta sandwich. Three Little Figs' menu changes frequently, but I'm glad we had a chance to try this - I loved the combination of the "stinky" feta with the egg. The clearly-homemade bun was also wonderfully light and airy, preventing this sandwich from being overwhelmingly filling.

It was so light, that Z and I were still a little hungry after we finished eating. Since all of the baked goods looked appealing, we decided to split an avocado muffin. The muffin was incredibly moist and delicious, with an obvious avocado flavor.

I really love Three Little Figs' adorable decor, friendly staff and dedication to delicious, quality food. I'll definitely be back there for an iced coffee and another baked good (or two) soon.

Did you try any new (to you) cafes or restaurants this weekend?

Cupcakes for Kambiri

2011-11-04T10:17:00.000-04:00

If you’re anything like me, you probably realize that cupcakes are essential to making life great. I rarely bake, but when I do, I almost always bake cupcakes. But sometimes, it’s also nice to indulge in a moist, delightfully sweet creation from a local bakery – a local bakery like Sweet.

Awarded Boston's Best Cupcakes 2009 by the Improper Bostonian, Sweet’s handcrafted cupcakes are made fresh daily with innovative cake and buttercream flavors. But the amount of buttercream loaded on top of their cakes is not the only generous thing about the masterminds behind Sweet – they’re also generous when it comes to donating to a worthy business.

Sweet has teamed up with Franklin Park Zoo to build a cupcake in honor of Kambiri’s first birthday.

Courtesy of Robert Klein

The cupcake is a dark chocolate cake topped with banana buttercream and a toasted banana chip. $1.00 from the sale of each “Bananas for the Zoo” cupcakes sold between November 5th to 11th at all four Sweet locations will be donated to Zoo New England.

Courtesy of Marlo Marketing/Communications

In honor of Kambiri's birthday and this limited edition confection, Franklin Park Zoo will be throwing a celebration on Saturday, November 5th. The zoo’s Tropical Forest will be showcasing the gorilla exhibit, allowing on-lookers to watch as Kambiri and the gorillas enjoy birthday treats made especially for them. The first 250 visitors will receive complimentary treats of their own - delicious miniature versions of Sweet’s Bananas for the Zoo cupcakes. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and tickets cost $16 for adults.

I hope some of you can make it to this event - have a great weekend!

Buona Vita in Arlington

2011-11-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

A few months back, I bought an Eversave coupon for Buona Vita in Arlington - and last week, Z and I finally had a chance to use it.

I'd heard a lot of great things about Buona Vita, despite it's unimpressive exterior and tiny dining space (the restaurant only has about 12 tables). But the biggest thing I heard about was their authentic Italian fare - so I was excited to check it out.

We started with fresh bread, served with quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar (a fantastic combination).

Don't mind Z's fingers in this photo...

I wanted to just relax and enjoy the meal without writing every little thing down, so unfortunately, I don't have the actual names and prices for these dishes. I fail as a blogger.

The appetizer we split was asparagus served with cheesy polenta and a balsamic drizzle. This dish was simple, yet wonderfully flavorful, and the asparagus was cooked to "snappy" perfection.

For my entree, I went with the seasonal ravioli - which changed my life forever. It was fig ravioli with gorgonzola cream sauce (and more balsamic). Unreal. Besides how innovative this dish is, the flavor was also spot on, and the combination of the sweet fig with the salty cheese was borderline magical.

Z went for the gnocchi for his entree, with obviously-homemade marinara sauce and fresh mozzarella and basil.

I can't say for sure, but both of our pastas tasted like they were made right at the restaurant. Everything was incredibly fresh, authentic and full of flavor.

Our Italian waiter was also welcoming, knowledgeable about the menu (he even made some recommendations for vegetarians) and attentive. The prices were also very reasonable - our Eversave voucher covered just about all of the food - and, as a bonus, Buona Vita gave every patron that night a $25 gift certificate for their return visit. We'll definitely be returning!

What's your favorite restaurant in Boston to get authentic Italian food?

Eggland's Best Giveaway Winner

2011-11-01T08:46:00.002-04:00

Thank you to everyone who entered my Eggland's Best giveaway! You all left some really inspirational comments about how you raise awareness for breast cancer. Unfortunately, though, there can only be one winner (chosen by using Random.org). As a quick reminder, this winner will receive:

-2 free EB dozen coupons
-1 free EB hard cooked and peeled variety coupon
-4 EB ramekins
-1 EB apron
-1 EB whisk
-1 EB spatula
-1 EB egg timer
-1 EB eco bag
-1 EB plush egg

Without further ado, the winner is....Renee!

"I think spreading the word about examining yourself is the best way to promote awareness :)"

Congratulations, Renee! Please email me within 48 hours to claim your prize.

I hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

Sweet and Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Dip

2011-10-31T09:15:00.002-04:00

Remember last week when I promised you the recipe for the roasted red pepper dip I made for my Eggland's Best dinner? Well...a promise is a promise!

I found this recipe in the Cook's Illustrated Cookbook which I received in my goodie bag at the Boston Brunchers' one year anniversary party. Based off how this dip came out, I have a feeling I'll be getting a lot of use out of this cookbook.

Sweet and Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Adapted slightly from Cook's Illustrated Cookbook
Yields: about 2 cups
-3 red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, ribs removed, and cut to lie flat
-6 tbsp. olive oil
-1 small onion, coarsely chopped
-1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
-1 tbsp. ground cumin
-1 small garlic clove, minced
-1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
-Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
1.) Turn on broiler. Spread peppers out over aluminum foil-lined baking sheet and broil until skin is charred and puffed but flesh is still firm - about 8 to 10 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through cooking.
2.) Transfer peppers to medium bowl, cover with foil, and let steam until skin peels off easily, about 10 to 15 minutes. Peel and discard skin; set peppers aside.
3.) Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add jalapeno, cumin and garlic; saute until garlic softens, about 1 minute longer.
4.) Transfer mixture to food processor. Ad peppers and parsley; process until very smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve. (Dip can be refrigerated for up to 1 week).

The end result was a spicy, slightly sweet dip that was perfectly light for a healthy, tasty appetizer. Served with Stacy's pita chips, it was a fantastic start to the meal - and our friends seemed to really enjoy it.

Side note: Today's your last chance to enter my Eggland's Best giveaway! Ramekins, an apron, free eggs, and more are up for grabs.

My First Burger at R.F. O'Sullivan's

2011-10-28T08:40:00.000-04:00

Before I made the decision to become a vegetarian, I honestly considered trying a burger at R.F. O'Sullivan's first. After all, their burgers have been acclaimed "the best" in Boston several years in a row. It was worth considering.

I never ended up making it to R.F. O'Sullivan's as an omnivore, but the other night, I went as my current vegetarian self - and left well beyond satisfied.

That, my friends, is a burger.

R.F. O'Sullivan's has a slew of meat-based burgers on their menu, ranging from traditional to creative (Chinatown Burger, anyone?), and none cost over $10. The restaurant only has one vegetarian burger on the menu, but you can dress it up any way you like. I got mine piled high with jalapeno slices, avocado, tomato and lettuce. All burgers are served with your choice of Sullie's fries (giant, thick-cut, beautifully seasoned steak fries) and/or onion rings.

Washed down with an ice cold draft of Sam Adams' Octoberfest, this made for an almost-perfect meal.

The only bad thing? I can literally smell R.F. O'Sullivan's from our new house. It's that close. This could be dangerous....

Have you ever been to R.F. O'Sullivan's? If so, what's your review?

Dinner for a Cause + a Giveaway!

2011-10-26T14:01:00.000-04:00

This is what I look like after cooking dinner for more than just two people:

Not a pretty sight, is it? But when cooking a big dinner like this is for a good cause, it's worth it. Especially when that cause is for breast cancer research.

A few months back, Eggland's Best reached out to me and asked me if I'd be interested in hosting a dinner party. In return, I had to use their products, and Eggland's would donate $100 in my name to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Clearly, I was on board.

For the second year in a row, Eggland's Best (EB) will be pledging a donation of $50,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and through November 15th, the company will have the Komen for the Cure ribbon on their eggs in place of their signature red EB stamp.

In addition to their generous donation, in return for the dinner, EB also provided me with coupons for free EB eggs, four ramekins, an apron, a whisk, a spatula, an egg timer, a tote bag, and a plush egg. Eggland's Best coupons for my guests were also provided, as well as a $100 Visa gift card for me to buy extra groceries with.

For the appetizer, I made Roasted Red Pepper Dip (recipe to come in a future post), served with Stacy's Pita Chips.

For the entree, I made two different kinds of quiches: Mushroom with fontina and tomato, mozzarella and basil.

On the side, I served simply-prepared asparagus, which was cooked in a 350 degree oven for about 7 minutes. The asparagus was lightly dressed (by Z) with olive oil, lemon juice, crushed red pepper and salt and black pepper.

I also served slices of warmed sourdough baguette with butter.

The end result was a delicious, satisfying meal that was surprisingly quick and easy to prepare. It was also really nice having two different kinds of quiches for my guests to try.

For dessert, my friend Christine prepared some meringue cookies for the group. The meringue held up beautifully - not sure if it was the eggs themselves or Christine's "beating" method, but the cookies turned out wonderful and elegant.

Overall, Eggland's Best's eggs helped me prepare a well-rounded, delicious dinner for my guests - while also raising awareness for a great cause.

In addition to being able to host this dinner, Eggland's Best is also giving away a sweet prize to one lucky EE reader! Just comment on this post regarding how you contribute to raising awareness or funding for breast cancer, and you could win the following:

-2 free EB Dozen coupons
-1 free EB hard cooked and peeled variety coupon
-4 EB ramekins
-1 EB apron
-1 EB whisk
-1 EB spatula
-1 EB egg timer
-1 EB eco bag
-1 EB plush egg

For an extra entry, "like" Eggland's Best on Facebook here, and leave a separate comment saying you did so.

The giveaway will end on Monday (10/31) at 11:59 p.m. EST. I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, November 1st.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: Despite Eggland's Best's generosity in providing me with a gift card, coupons and materials for this dinner, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Local Libations

2011-10-25T08:46:00.000-04:00

We all I know I love beer. Especially craft, locally-made beer.

Because of my passion for local brews, I've recently launched a new column on Local in Season called "Local Libations." Each month, I'll talk about a local, seasonal brew that's worth sipping on.

My first piece for this series was a recap of the Cambridge Brewing Co. beer dinner, held at Cambridge Common. You can read the full review here.

Are you a beer fan? If so, what's your favorite style/brewery?

Boston Brunchers' One Year Anniversary Party

2011-10-24T09:14:00.003-04:00

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of partaking in the Boston Brunchers one year anniversary party at Island Creek Oyster Bar. The Boston Brunchers was started by Renee and a group of bloggers who met at a blogger dinner, where they discovered their shared love for brunch. Now, the Brunchers meet up at least once a month to catch up, network and enjoy delicious food at restaurants all over the Boston area.

This particular brunch had about 40 people in attendance and a slew of sponsors (many of them local businesses) - and every bruncher left with a hefty goodie bag filled with coupons, cookbooks and culinary samples.

The meal started with a freshly baked pastry basket for the table. The basket consisted of a blueberry muffin, doughnut muffin, cinnamon roll, butter croissant, raspberry coffee cake and a citrus scone. I went for the scone, which was perfectly flaky and packed with fresh citrus flavor.

As I waited for my meal, I sipped on a Bloody Mary, which came with extra fixings (hot sauce, horseradish, etc.). I added some Sriracha to mine, which made it wonderfully spicy (without this addition, the Bloody Mary was pretty tame).

For my entree, I went with the Cinnamon French Toast, which was piled high with caramelized apples and toasted walnuts. I'm not a big sweets-for-breakfast kind of person, and feared this might be a little too much for me - but it was a surprisingly savory dish. The toast was cut thick and grilled enough to withstand the weight of the apples, which was quite an impressive feat. I would definitely order this dish again.

Island Creek Oyster Bar served us Brunchers a fantastic meal. Thanks to them, Renee and the sponsors below for such a fabulous brunch! (And thanks to Megan for the list below).

America's Test Kitchen
Barefoot Wine
Biba
Biltmore Bar and Grill
Boston Ballet
Boston Center for Adult Education
Boston Food Finds
Cow and Crumb
Cumberland Farms
Dorado Tacos & Cemitas
Dore Creperie
Doves and Figs Kitchen
Eversave Boston
Foodies of New England
The Four Seasons Boston
Haircuttery
Harvard Common Press
iParty
Klout
KO Catering & Pies
Langham Hotel Boston
Phillips Candy House
Pinkberry
Pretzel Crisps
Popchips
Stages of Beauty
Stonyfield
USA Pears

Disclaimer: The Boston Brunchers received this meal free of charge. Despite Island Creek Oyster Bar's generosity, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Vegetarian Ventures: Tofu Parmigiana

2011-10-21T08:59:00.000-04:00

We finally have a kitchen, which means I can start posting recipes can. Good recipes. Like this one!

An old friend from high school - and fellow vegetarian - has been kind enough these last few months to send me new vegetarian recipes she's tried and loved. All of the ones she's sent me have tasted/looked great, but this last one is in a league of its own. It also happened to be the first meal we cooked in our new place.

Oh, and for the omnivores - you won't miss the chicken with this dish. I promise you.

Tofu Parmigiana
Yields: 4 servings
Original source: Unknown
-1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
-1 tsp Italian seasoning
-1 14-ounce package extra-firm tofu, drained
-1/4 tsp garlic powder
-Salt and pepper, to taste
-2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
-1 small onion, chopped
-8 ounces white mushrooms, thinly sliced
-1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
-3/4 cup prepared marinara sauce
-Crushed red pepper flakes
-1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1.) Combine breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning in a shallow dish. Cut tofu lengthwise into four "steaks" and pat dry. Sprinkle both sides of the tofu with garlic powder, salt and pepper, and then dredge in the breadcrumb mixture.

2.) Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until they release their juices and begin to brown, 4 minutes more. Transfer to a bowl.

3.) Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pan. Add the tofu steaks and cook until browned on one side, about 3 minutes. Turn over and sprinkle with Parmesan. Spoon the mushroom mixture over the tofu, pour marinara over the mushrooms, add crushed red pepper, and scatter mozzarella on top. Cover and cook until the sauce is hot and the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes. Serve (preferably with garlic bread and whole wheat pasta).

The end result tasted exactly like chicken parmigiana, but without the added grease chicken can bring to the dish. The texture of the tofu also held up surprisingly well - it wasn't mushy, although it did crumble a bit when I was dredging it in the bread crumbs.

Overall, this was a comforting, delicious first meal in our new home.

On a side note, I picked a winner for the Stonyfield giveaway using Random.org. The winner is...Julie!

"My son Andrew loves yogurt-I think he would really like to try the blueberry."

Congrats, Julie! Please email me to claim your prize.

Have a great weekend!

How We Celebrated (So Far)

2011-10-19T08:52:00.000-04:00

We're slowly but surely moving into our new home...

Who knew we had so much stuff? The move actually went surprisingly smooth on Saturday, thanks to some great friends of our's, but by Sunday night, we were ready for a break. We had brought home two bottles of wine from our Italy trip last year - and had saved one for this occasion. Sunday night, we popped it open...and let's just say, it was well worth the wait.

Lacking the desire to cook, we put together a spread of fontina, sliced baguette, marinated olives, peppadews, sesame seitan and mushrooms, courtesy of Whole Foods.

It was a simple dinner, yet relaxing - and a great way to celebrate being in our new home.

Stonyfield Oikos Greek Yogurt + a Giveaway!

2011-10-18T08:05:00.001-04:00

I've never been a huge yogurt fan. The tangy, almost-sour flavor has just never meshed well with me.

This past year, however, I discovered Greek yogurt - still a bit "tangy," but chocked full of protein - and most brands that make Greek yogurt pack it with "real" fruit (versus the artificial "fruit at the bottom" varieties).

So, when Stonyfield Farm asked me to review their Oikos Greek yogurt, I was immediately on board. I purchased three different flavors: blueberry, vanilla and plain.

The blueberry flavor tasted like it was made with fresh blueberries, and the creamy, thick texture was almost indulgent. Packed with 13 grams of protein, this cup also helped my stomach stay satisfied for the rest of the afternoon.

On a different day, I tried the vanilla for breakfast, and mixed in some frozen blueberries and Crispix cereal. The vanilla flavor wasn't incredibly apparent, but that could have been because of what I topped my yogurt with. Either way, the texture was still spot-on - and I loved how this cup had 15 grams of protein in it.

The plain yogurt was - well, plain - but I still appreciated the texture and flavor. This (along with the vanilla flavor) could go well with just about anything. Next time I purchase it, I plan to spoon it over some waffles with sliced bananas for breakfast.

In addition to letting me try three flavors of my choosing, Stonyfield has also generously offered to give one EE reader five coupons for five free single servings of their Oikos yogurt.

To enter, leave a comment on this post about what flavor of Oikos single serving yogurt you'd like to try and why. For an extra entry, tweet: "I just entered to win free @Stonyfield yogurt from @MichellePC!" I'll pick a winner Friday morning. Good luck!

Disclaimer: Stonyfield provided me with three coupons for three single servings of their Oikos yogurt. Despite their generosity, my opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Finally

2011-10-14T08:55:00.003-04:00

Four months ago: We closed on the house.

Two months ago: I moved out of my apartment, and into Zach’s old house.

A month and a half ago: Zach and I moved into his parents’ house.

Tomorrow: We FINALLY move into our home!!!!

Moving day is finally here. The two month wait was well worth it – despite how stressful it was at times. Our house now has a brand new bathroom, brand new walls, brand new ceilings, and brand new basement stairs and windows. It definitely ended up being more of a fixer-upper than we initially thought, but now we have a beautiful home to move into.

Hope you all have a great weekend! Next time, I'll be blogging from my house!

Local, Innovative Eats at Russell House Tavern

2011-10-12T09:18:00.000-04:00

I've heard a lot of good things about Russell House Tavern's food - and how must of it contains some form of meat. But on Sunday evening, when Z and I popped into Russell House to catch a beer and the end of the Patriots game, we were pleasantly surprised to find a few vegetarian-friendly dishes on the innovative, practically-genius menu (I can still appreciate a good meat dish when I see one!).

We sat at the bar, and Z ordered an Opa Opa Milk Stout (we both tasted a sample before he ordered a glass), and I got the BBC Oktoberfest. To eat, we split the Warm Verrill Farms Pumpkin ($10), which was a salad comprised of fresh pumpkin chunks, Cremont cheese, spicy Holliston honey and toasted walnuts.

We also had the Melted Cambozola Cheese ($9), which was thyme garlic flatbread served with warm, gooey cheese, caramelized onions and mushrooms.

Despite the simplicity of these dishes, both were bursting with spot-on flavors. It's always obvious when high quality, fresh (and here, mostly local) ingredients are used in a dish. We were both impressed with the attention to detail, flavor and quality, even in these fairly "safe" dishes.

Although the price tags are a little high for the portion sizes at Russell House Tavern, I appreciate immensely Chef Michael Scelfo's dedication to local, quality food and his creativity with it (beef heart ravioli, anyone?).

Have you ever been to Russell House Tavern? What's your review?

Sopes and Margaritas

2011-10-10T08:42:00.001-04:00

There was one day last week where I worked from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and I just needed tequila as soon as I left the office. Z also had had a busy day, and was on board for some liquor. I'd been eager for a while to try out Jose's Mexican Restaurant in Cambridge, so we decided to meet there for some (strong) margaritas and Mexican food.

Jose's is a family-owned Mexican restaurant serving up authentic cuisine (many of them family recipes). We started with some complimentary spicy salsa and warm, crispy tortilla chips.

Then came the margaritas. Jose's offers an impressive array of these popular Mexican beverages, but Z and I both went for the original (please note I'm not listing prices in this post since I'm going by the prices on their website, which seems to have an outdated menu).

The margaritas were strong, wonderfully portioned (i.e., large) and had the perfect ratio of lime/citrus flavor and higher shelf tequila.

For my entree, I went with the vegetarian Sopes, which were piled high with grilled vegetables, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. On the side, my dish came with black beans (I also had the choice of refried) and rice (their rice and beans are 100 percent vegetarian).

I also ordered a side of guacamole for Z and I had to have with our dishes. The guacamole was obviously fresh and wonderfully traditional.

I had never had sopes before, but I was very impressed with Jose's dish. The vegetables themselves were wonderfully seasoned, and I got my dish "spicy" - which it was, without being overwhelming.

For Z's entree, he ordered a veggie-filled burrito (also "spicy") that came with a delicious mole sauce. The menu on Jose's website doesn't list it - so I can't give you many more details - but trust me when I say that it was filling and delightfully tasty. The sauce was also beautifully silky and packed with the flavors of pepper and cocoa.

Overall, our meal at Jose's was well executed and enjoyable - and we ended it with one more margarita each. Because of their lengthy menu, I am excited to go back there soon to try some more dishes that I'm not that familiar with.

Where's your favorite place to go for Mexican food in the Boston area?

Curry-Spiced Red Lentil Burgers

2011-10-05T08:30:00.000-04:00

One thing I love about cooking is the ability to take a recipe and make it your own based off what you have in your own kitchen and what your preferences are - even if that original recipe was written by the masterminds over at Food & Wine.

Last week, Z and I did just that. Most of our spices are in storage, so we had little to choose from - and we also don't have the money to go out and buy all new spices for one single recipe. So, we took this recipe and made it our own - and saved a whole lot of money doing so.

Curry-Spiced Red Lentil Burgers

Adapted from Food & Wine

Yields: 5 servings

-1 1/2 cups red lentils
-1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
-1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
-3 medium carrots, roughly chopped (although I recommend "finely" chopped)
-3 tbsp. minced garlic
-1 1/2 teaspoons red curry powder
-1/4 teaspoon chili powder
-3/4 cup plain, dry bread crumbs
-1/4 cup coarsely chopped parsley leaves
-2 large eggs, lightly beaten
-Salt and black pepper, to taste
-1 cup plain low-fat greek yogurt
-1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

1.) In a large saucepan, cover the lentils with cold water by 2 inches and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to moderate and simmer the lentils until they are very tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the lentils well.

2.) Preheat the broiler. In a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the onion and cook over moderately high heat, stirring frequently, until golden, about 6 minutes. Add the carrots and two-thirds of the garlic and cook until the carrots begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Stir in the curry and chili powder and remove from the heat. Mix in the bread crumbs, 3 tablespoons of the parsley, the eggs, salt and pepper. Form the mixture into 5 patties.

3.) Line a baking sheet with foil. Brush the foil and both sides of the burgers with the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil. Broil until golden, about 3 minutes per side.

4.) Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the yogurt with the lemon juice and the remaining garlic and 1 tablespoon of parsley. Serve the burgers hot and bun-less, with the yogurt sauce on the side.

On the side, we had oven baked potatoes flavored with dried rosemary, salt and pepper.

And we washed it all down with some Ommegang Abbey Ale.

The end result was a spicy, almost exotic-flavored burger that was nutritious and economical to boot. The yogurt dressing helped to cool down the spice of the burger, too, while the crispy, flavorful potatoes and the full-bodied Belgian beer rounded out the meal beautifully.

Do you follow recipes to a T or do you improvise when necessary?

Bagels and Weddings

2011-10-03T09:17:00.000-04:00

Only in New Jersey would you see something like this:

Yes, that's a Christmas tree decorated with blinking string lights, pumpkins and other Halloween decorations...inside a local coffee and bagel shop.

Z and I were in New Jersey this weekend to see one of my best guy friends from college get married. It was a beautiful, incredibly fun wedding. In fact, the wedding was so much fun that Z and I didn't even eat "breakfast" the next day until almost 2 p.m. We were both craving bagels, and after a quick Internet search, I stumbled upon Coffee Grinder Cafe and Bagel Shop, which was right up the road from our hotel (which was located in Bridgewater).

With a 5+ hours drive ahead of us, we both went for a quick yet satisfying breakfast: two fried eggs, pepperjack cheese, and tomato on toasted bagels. I went for the spinach bagel, while Z opted for the everything.

Both of our sandwiches were basically perfect - both in flavor and for curing our hangovers - and both sandwiches plus an iced coffee and juice cost us just over $13. I love finding hidden gems like this one when I'm traveling!

Every time I find a bagel shop like Coffee Grinder Cafe in New Jersey or New York, I always wish Boston had a locally-owned place like it. Does anyone know of any local cafes that make their own bagels?

Healthy Habits Kitchen in Wellesley

2011-09-30T09:46:00.002-04:00

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of attending a cooking demonstration and dinner at Healthy Habits Kitchen in Wellesley. Hidden in a corporate office building off Washington Street, this meal prep facility was founded by Susan Schochet in an effort to get healthy meals on the table in next to no time. At Healthy Habits, you can assemble your own meal or buy it already assembled for you.

“It’s home cooking without the time-consuming chopping, meal planning and grocery shopping, and superior restaurant flavors without the high cost, caloric content and fat.”

On this particular evening, I joined a small group of Boston Brunchers to meet Susan and learn about her Kitchen. We were invited to bring the wine of our choosing, and we all sat around, sipped our vino and had an open conversation about our blogs and Healthy Habits.

Susan even showed us a typical small and large meal kit – complete with all the ingredients needed to make that particular recipe (and with all the chopping, etc. already done for you). A half-sized kit usually serves 2-3 people, and a full kit serves about 4-6 - both at $5 per serving.

From there, Susan explained what was on the menu that evening – Cranberry Salsa Chicken (half, $17.99; full, $26.99), Cocoa-Coffee Rubbed Pork with Root Beer Cream Sauce (half, $16.99; full, $25.99) and Quinoa Salad for the vegetarians. For the demo that evening, Susan showed us how easy it is to prepare the Cranberry Salsa Chicken.

Then, we sat down to dinner. The quinoa salad was chocked full of fresh vegetables and balsamic vinegar – it was wonderfully fresh and surprisingly filling.

For dessert, Susan served us two types of her homemade cookies: Dark Chocolate Cherry ($6/dozen; $3/half dozen)...

...And Cranberry Oatmeal (same price as above).

Overall, it was a great evening with some fabulous bloggers, and Susan was extremely informative (and clearly very passionate) about her business. From just eating the quinoa salad and a few cookies, I can’t vouch for her food 100 percent – but I will say what I ate was clearly made with high quality, healthy ingredients.

To try out Healthy Habits Kitchen for yourself, you can visit the facility, catch them at a local Farmers' Market, or even have their meals delivered to your home (delivery charges range from $15-$30, depending on where you live).

What do you think about meal prep services? Have you ever used one? If so, what's your review?

Disclaimer: The Brunchers and I were fortunate enough to try out Healthy Habits Kitchen's food free of charge. Despite HHK's generosity, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Cooking Matters in Charlestown

2011-09-29T09:11:00.000-04:00

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a cooking class at Cooking Matters in Charlestown. Cooking Matters, which was founded in 1993, is a Share Our Strength program dedicated to empowering low-income families with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to make healthy and affordable meals. The program is nationally sponsored by ConAgra and Walmart.

Cooking Matters courses are made up of six weekly, two-hour sessions, chocked full of hands-on cooking lessons as well as nutrition information and money-saving tips. The class I attended last Thursday evening was the second in this particular series, and the focus was on whole grains, fruits and vegetables. There were about 15 participants in attendance, and a translator was on-hand for those that did not speak English (which was the majority of the class).

At the beginning of the session, each new participant had to sign a waiver and put on a name tag. Once everyone was settled, a Boston University Master's student studying to become a Registered Dietitian spoke to the group for about 30 minutes about the importance of whole grains and how to read nutrition labels effectively.

Finally, it was time to cook. On the menu: Fruit Salad, Brown Rice and Orange Salad, and Pumpkin Soup. A graduate of the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts led the demonstration while the class was standing around a large table, complete with cutting boards, knives and the ingredients needed for that night's meal. Each member of the class was given a duty, whether it be squeezing lemons, chopping onions, or slicing up fruit.

After all the prep work was done, the aspiring chef had us walk over to the stove where she cooked the meal. Each and every one of the class members' eyes were wide and glued to the pots and pans, clearly trying to obtain everything the cook was saying and doing.

Once all of the food was cooked, we all sat down and ate together at several round plastic tables. The conversation flowed, and everyone clearly enjoyed their meals.

In order to ensure the participants use what they learned in class back at home, Cooking Matters sends everyone home with a grocery bag - filled with all the ingredients needed to make the dishes prepared that evening - as well as the corresponding recipes.

As an observer of the program, one thing was clear: The class was eager to learn about nutrition and how to cook a healthy meal. It was very heart-warming to experience a program that provides hungry people with a free way to learn how to cook, grocery shop, and save money while doing both. At Cooking Matters, these participants are literally learning skills that they can apply in everyday life to ensure their eating habits are successful and affordable moving forward.

Brews and Billiards at Flat Top Johnny's

2011-09-27T10:09:00.001-04:00

On Friday night, Z and I were in the mood to grab a casual dinner and some brews. We had several Eversaves and Groupons to use, and we finally decided on Flat Top Johnny's – dinner, brews AND billiards? Sounded like the perfect Friday night!

Flat Top Johnny’s, located in Kendall Square, is a dimly lit, always bustling pool hall and bar. There are only a few high top dining tables in the place, complete with a bar and about 10 pool tables.

Z and I started our meal with the some CBC Pumpkin Ale and 9 Ball Nachos ($7), which looked as if they were piled high with jalapenos black olives, cheddar jack cheese, salsa and sour cream.

The beer was tasty, but the nachos unfortunately lacked proper “layering” of toppings, so it was mostly plain tortilla chips with some jarred salsa and cheese.

For our meals, Z and I split two entrees. I ordered the Veggie Sliders (six for $12 - you could also order three for $7), made with grilled squash patties, cole slaw and cajun aioli.

Z got the Vegetarian Stuffed Ciabatta ($6), made with peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheddar cheese and house sauce.

I loved how creative the sliders were – I never thought of using grilled squash as a “burger” patty – and with the zesty coleslaw, these were quite the satisfying cold sandwiches (I just don’t recommend going for the cole slaw on the side – it is possible to eat too much cole slaw. Blech).

Z’s ciabatta, on the other hand, was warm, cheesy and chocked full of varying vegetables, flavors and textures. I also stole several bites of his side of creamy potato salad, which my arteries aren’t thanking me for – but my taste buds still are.

Overall, I didn’t expect a mind-blowing dining experience at Flat Top Johnny’s, but the food was better than I initially anticipated. The prices and portions are also fantastic, and the craft beer list is ever-changing (and supports the local brewers, too). Plus, I beat Z in several games of pool after, so – it was a successful evening all around.

What’s your favorite local place for simple food and cold beers?

What the Fluff? 2011 Fluff Festival

2011-09-26T09:24:00.002-04:00

Did you know that Fluff was invented in Union Square by Archibald Query in 1917?

Did you also know that the Somerville Arts Council and Massachusetts Cultural Council pay homeage to this man and his invention in Union Square each year?

Oh yes, people - an entire festival devoted to Fluff. Z and I attended the event in its 6th year on Saturday. Let's just say when people eat that much Fluff...things get fluffed up.

The What the Fluff? Festival is full of Fluff-loving characters – there were people in costumes, local residents dancing to live music and a crowd of hungry people mowing down on everything Fluff.

The festival was complete with a recipe contest, where the contestants had to make an innovative recipe using Fluff (we didn’t stick around to see who won, though – but there were some interesting displays on the table!).

Although admission to the festival was free, you had to pay (in cash) for anything you wanted to sample. Z and I tried a few things, including some Teddie Peanut Butter with Flax, Taza Chocolate, and a Fluff, chocolate and peanut butter truffle from the Holiday Inn.

We also tried a Fluffernutter cupcake from Kickass Cupcakes – a chocolate cake filled with salted peanut butter and topped with marshmallow frosting and Fluff drizzle. The cupcake cost $3, but I easily would have paid $30 for it.

The star of the festival, however, was the Fluffelmousse: a Pretty Things beer float with malted Fluff (instead of ice cream).

I have to say, the combination of Fluff with beer was not as bad as I was expecting. It definitely wasn’t great, but it was a fun drink to try, and I liked the creativity of it.

All in all, the 6th Annual What the Fluff? Festival was quite an experience. We’ll definitely be at next year’s!

Are you a Fluff fan? Why or why not?

Renovations and Burritos

2011-09-22T08:56:00.001-04:00

My last few dinners have been eaten in my car and on the front steps of our in-the-midst-of-being-renovated home. All my meals, in general, over the last few weeks have been anything but creative, and have been wolfed down within minutes. Our house was supposed to be ready this weekend, and now it looks like another 2+ weeks of renovating are ahead of us. Needless to say, I’ve been stressed and unexcited about food.

Until I finally made a trip to Anna’s Taqueria in Porter Square, which is right up the road from us.

All of my friends (and Z) rave about Anna’s, but I’ve never tried it before two nights ago – and ended up having it for dinner two nights in a row. The first time, I had worked out at Healthworks (for free – details to come in a later post) and stopped in for a quick dinner. I ordered the veggie burrito - which cost me under $6 – and which was chocked full of grilled vegetables, veggie rice, fresh salsa, cheese and guacamole.

The burrito was filling and unexpectedly well-seasoned, without being unnecessarily greasy. I finally discovered what all my friends had been talking about!

So, when the next night rolled around and Z and I were rushing around to get paint supplies, he suggested grabbing a quick dinner to-go at Anna’s. I couldn’t pass up that offer, and Z ordered us quesadillas filled with the same grilled vegetables, veggie rice, jalapenos, hot sauce, beans, cheese, salsa, and guacamole. The quesadilla was a little more greasy than the burrito, which was expected (it was grilled and involved more cheese), but it was still satisfying, delicious and flavorful.

Although I won't be having Anna’s again for dinner tonight, I must say it will be dangerous living so close to them. I love how you can add as many toppings as you want to a burrito, taco or quesadilla (to name a few), and the homemade touches (i.e., their salsa) help to make a world of difference in every single bite. Their inexpensive prices don't hurt, either.

Have you ever eaten at Anna's Taqueria? What's your review?

Exploring Salem, Massachusetts

2011-09-20T09:08:00.002-04:00

On Sunday, my parents, Z and I took advantage of the beautiful, almost-Fall day by walking around Salem, Mass. My mother has always expressed interest in visiting some of the museums there, so we visited three on our "field trip."

Witch House.

Salem Witch Museum.

The House of Seven Gables.

Each of the museums were extremely interesting - especially The House of Seven Gables. Admission to each was, on average, about $10, and well worth the money. It was so interesting to be reminded of the witch trials' era, as well as to see how people lived back in the 1600 and 1700's.

It also didn't hurt that Salem is a beautiful waterfront town, and is easily enjoyed on a clear, sunny day like Sunday was.

After all of that walking around, we were famished, and stumbled upon Victoria Station. A few of the restaurants we checked out had few impressive vegetarian options, but Victoria Station had quite a few that stood out, so we went inside and were seated right away.

To start, I ordered a Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale.

We split several appetizers amongst the table, including the Wharf Rat Ale Battered Artichoke Hearts ($8.29), which were served with a tangy bistro sauce...

...As well as the Beet Goat Cheese Stack ($7.59), which was served on a bed of field greens and lightly dressed with a citrus vinaigrette.

The fried artichokes were plump, juicy and perfectly crispy - and made for a perfect pairing with the slightly spicy sauce. The beet and goat cheese salad was simple yet obviously fresh and generous on the portion size.

For my meal, I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan Burger ($8.99), which, at first glance, looked like nothing put a slab of eggplant lasagna inside a hamburger bun.

Surprisingly, though, this sandwich worked - the thin layers of breaded eggplant and ricotta cheese were easy to bite into, and tasted delicious with the buttery roll and crispy French fries. My only warning: This is one filling dish. I ended up eating half, and taking the rest home for lunch the next day.

It was so wonderful to bask in the beautiful day, learn about some local history and enjoy a delicious meal. It was a very relaxing day trip, and was a welcome break from painting and furniture shopping for the new house.

How did you enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend?

For the Love of Gin

2011-09-16T09:33:00.003-04:00

It's Friday. We could all use a cocktail.

On Wednesday night, Z and I enjoyed dinner and drinks at The Elephant Walk in Cambridge. I don’t normally order the more expensive, “fancier” drinks when I got out to dinner (I’m more of a beer or wine girl), but it had been a long week – and I wanted gin.

The Elephant Walk has a pretty diverse and innovative list of cocktails, so I went for the gin-heavy Hendrick’s Heaven ($9.25). The Hendrick's Heaven, as described by The Elephant Walk, is "the ultimate gin martini," made with juniper, coriander, cucumber, and rose petals with splash of St. Germaine Elderflower liqueur. Garnished with a cucumber and a green olive, this cocktail was smooth, exotically sweet, and perfectly strong.

What local restaurant/bar serves your favorite cocktail?

The First Frittata

2011-09-15T09:06:00.000-04:00

Five eggs. A splash of soy milk. A slew of veggies and cheese. And a wicked cool pan that could make or break the dish.

This was our challenge. Our frittata challenge.

Z’s parents have the traditional two frittata pans – one for starting the cooking process, and one to help flip the frittata and cook it on the other side (action photos to come shortly). Since Z and I both love eggs (and protein), we decided to be brave and make our very first homemade frittata – in these very intimidating pans.

I am one of those people that suck at carefully taking a loaf of bread out of the bread pan, or a bundt cake out of the cake pan and setting it perfectly on a serving plate. No – my breads, cakes, etc. usually come out of their respective pans with at least one deformity each. I am not careful or graceful, by any means…which is why Z was the one flipping the frittata pan.

First, I cooked up some chopped mushrooms, tomatoes and rocket arugula with some olive oil in our first frittata pan. While the veggies were sautéing, Z mixed five eggs with a splash of soy milk, and seasoned the eggs with salt and pepper. Once the veggies were mostly cooked through, Z added the eggs to the pan and I further seasoned them with a little bit of cardamom, a lot of chili powder and some red pepper flakes.

Z continuously lifted the bottom of the egg batter with a spatula, to prevent it from sticking to the pan. Then, once the egg mixture was mostly cooked through (i.e., wasn’t runny anywhere), we added some crumbled feta and then Z attempted the flip.

It was a quick, hold-your-breath kind of moment.

Although the frittata didn’t stay together 100 percent, we still considered the flip a success.

We let the bottom of the frittata cook through (about 4-5 minutes), and then we cut the frittata into four pieces. We served ours with some toasted pita bread and salsa (a weird combo, but hey – we’re working with what we’ve got).

The end result might not look like a perfectly fluffy frittata, but for our first attempt, it was successful. We both loved the combination of the veggies with the tangy feta, although I will change up the spices next time – the frittata was a little too “breakfast-y” and not as savory as we had hoped.

Have you ever made a frittata? What spices/ingredients do you like to use in your's?

Quality Over Cost

2011-09-14T08:57:00.000-04:00

Since painting and moving are my new hobbies, I’ve had little time to cook or go out to eat these days. (But, on the bright side, painting is coming along quite nicely!).

Because I have little food content to share with you, I was interested in picking your economical brains. Last night, I was thinking how my cheap self would rarely ever purchase items like cereal, chips and wine if they weren’t on sale (because there are plenty of their counterparts that are), but I’d always pay full price for these things:

-LUNA Bars

-Beer (specifically, microbrews/craft beer)

-Avocados (because I love them and they’re hardly ever on sale)

-Bread (I eat too much of it to not buy the good stuff!)

-Cheese

Although I'm economical at heart, there are just some foods/drinks I love that are worth buying despite the price tag. In certain cases, quality is more important than cost.

Now, it’s your turn: What foods/beverages would you always pay full price for?

Easy Mediterranean Salad

2011-09-12T08:53:00.001-04:00

This Mediterranean salad makes a perfectly light, simple and fairly economical side dish for any gathering. This vibrant dish is chocked full of tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, crumbled feta, red onions and red peppers - and dressed simply with olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper and fresh oregano. Z made this dish for a family party we attended on Saturday, and it was a huge hit - especially with me. I had about ~~five~~ three servings of it!

What simple side dishes do love making for get togethers?

Indian-style Chickpeas and Potatoes

2011-09-09T09:02:00.006-04:00

Due to our temporary move, cooking in has basically been a nonexistent activity. We’ve been having lots of meals out, or quick, on-the-run dishes (frozen veggie burgers anyone?) for the last few weeks. So, when Z and I found ourselves with a free night and his parents’ open kitchen, we decided to make a real, long overdue homemade meal.

The weather outside was wet and dreary, so we went for some warm, comforting cuisine: Indian food. His parents have a lot of great Middle Eastern spices, so we decided to prepare this dish differently than we do most (thanks to some cooking techniques I saw on "Aarti Party") – we flavored the olive oil with the spices, and built the dish from there.

The end result was an intensely flavorful, spicy dish with a ton of varying textures – the meaty, slightly al dente potatoes with the soft chickpeas and juicy tomatoes, blended with the exotic spices, made the wait for a home cooked meal well worth it.

Indian-style Chickpeas and Potatoes

Yields: 4 servings

-2 tbsp. olive oil

-Cumin seeds

-Curry powder

-Turmeric

-Chili powder

-Dried ginger

-Salt and black pepper

-1 small yellow onion, diced

-1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

-1 (heaping) tbsp. minced jarred jalapenos

-2 medium potatoes, rinsed and peeled

-2 medium tomatoes, chopped

-1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice

Directions:

1.) Place potatoes in a large pot, and cover with about 1 inch of water. Season the water with salt, and bring water to a boil. Boil potatoes for about 20-25 minutes, or until tender in the middle (test with a fork or knife).

2.) While potatoes are boiling, heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Once warm, season the oil with the cumin seeds, curry powder, turmeric and chili powder. Let cook for 10 seconds, then pour in onions. Add ginger, salt and pepper, and cook until onions are mostly translucent (about 6 to 7 minutes).

3.) Add chickpeas and jalapenos, then stir. Taste for seasoning, and add more as needed. At the same time, remove cooked potatoes from water and let cool slightly before chopping into 1-inch thick pieces. Add potatoes to chickpea and onion mixture. Stir well.

4.) Add tomatoes, stir mixture and taste again for seasonings. Add lemon juice, stir again, and let simmer for about 3 minutes.

5.) Serve in a bowl with some warm whole wheat naan.

Warm, comforting, satisfying and spicy. Just about everything a home cooked meal should be.

What cold weather dishes are you looking forward to making?

Big Breakfasts and Swan Chocolates

2011-09-07T09:32:00.000-04:00

During my weekend in New Hampshire, I consumed a lot of delicious food. Too much, actually – but that’s besides the point. In my family, when we’re all together, having a big breakfast is basically a requirement – and we normally have it at home, to save some money (and to prevent my one year old niece from making a scene in public).

This past weekend, my mother made a beautiful vegetable quiche (as well as a cheese quiche), some breakfast potatoes and bacon (for the omnivores).

She also had a spread of baked goods to go along with our breakfasts, including Thomas bagels, English muffins and blueberry muffins.

To make things healthy, she also served some fresh cut strawberries.

The meal was satisfying and delicious, and it was so nice to wake up Sunday morning to the smells of breakfast cooking downstairs.

On Monday, after having leftovers of this meal, I decided to stop in at one of my favorite bakeries in my hometown: Swan Chocolates. Swan Chocolates sells handmade Belgium chocolates, creamy gelato and monstrous baked goods (their eclairs must weigh at least 10 lbs. each). I ordered a medium iced caramel latte ($3.50) and a chocolate chip cookie ($3.50) - that just happened to be dipped in dark chocolate.

I don’t normally pay $7 for a little coffee and a cookie, but Swan Chocolates is worth every penny. Anybody can dip a cookie in chocolate, but the homemade, high quality chocolate they use makes a world of difference.

What restaurant or bakery/cafe do you love to visit when you go back home?

Family Dinner at The Homestead

2011-09-06T10:34:00.000-04:00

On Friday evening, my family and I took my brother out for his 29th birthday. We decided to try a new (to us) restaurant in Merrimack, N.H. (where my parents live/where I grew up) – The Homestead - that my parents had been to once before and enjoyed.

The Homestead took over the spot that used to be Silo’s Steakhouse, a former restaurant staple in Merrimack. The owners totally renovated the place, making the former red, barn-like structure into a bright, inviting space.

Upon walking inside, I was immediately impressed with the homey, cottage-like décor. Complete with dim lighting, the restaurant had a lower level dining room as well as an upstairs lounge area, which is where we chose to sit. The wood plank ceilings and cozy atmosphere made me immediately comfortable and ready for a warm, satisfying meal.

My brother spotted Shipyard Pumpkinhead on tap, so we both ordered a pint while we ate the complimentary crackers and dip, as well as the warm rolls (slices of sweet bread were also in the basket).

The menu at The Homestead is chocked full of classic dishes, ranging from Chicken Cordon Bleu ($17.99) to Baked Stuffed Haddock ($19.99) to Home-style Meatloaf ($15.99). Despite the meat-focused menu, The Homestead is also conscious of vegetarian diets, with dishes like Goat Cheese and Sun-dried Tomato Flatbread ($9.99) as well as Vegetarian Ravioli ($15.99), which is what I ordered for dinner.

The ravioli came piled high with asparagus, portabella mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, artichoke hearts, and tomatoes, sautéed with garlic, fresh herbs, and white wine. The ravioli itself was filled with grilled vegetables. This dish could have easily been simple and bland, but it was the complete opposite. The amount of vegetables in the dish was outstanding, and the white wine sauce was addictive – I literally lapped up the remains with a spoon. This dish was also really hearty, and washed down with a glass of pinot grigio - it was just about perfect.

My pasta dish also came with one side, so I ordered more asparagus.

Our meal at The Homestead was a great one, and my brother really enjoyed having his birthday dinner there. I’d like to also note that our waitress was very friendly, attentive and accommodating. I’d love to go back there for some drinks and appetizers on their outdoor patio before it gets too cold!

What are some culinary highlights from your long weekend?

Late Night Dinner at Stone Hearth Pizza Co.

2011-09-02T09:16:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday evening, me and Z’s cousin (who also happened to be his roommate at the time) helped Z pack and move his belongings, as the new tenants were scheduled to move in the next day. As we packed, taped, and brought boxes down to the basement, Z got a call from our tenants at the new house – saying our toilet was overflowing. Good times.

Once 9 o’clock rolled around, we were all tired, stressed and starving. Z had a Groupon for Stone Hearth Pizza Co. in Porter Square, so I went and got us some food while the boys cleaned up after the bathroom fiasco.

I had yet to try Stone Hearth’s food, but have always heard rave reviews about it. Craft brews, local sources, and delicious pizza? All those things always sound good to me.

We decided to get a few things and split them between the three of us. We opted for the Spinach and Avocado salad ($6.95), Veggie Medley Stromboli ($7.25), and a create-your-own pizza topped with caramelized onions and spinach ($15.05).

The prices may seem a little high for what we ordered, but the attention to quality, fresh ingredients is always worth the few extras dollars for me. I particularly loved the veggie Stromboli, which was chocked full of broccoli, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, ricotta and mushrooms, to name a few.

This weekend, I am looking forward to a weekend away in New Hampshire to see my family and some of my best friends from grade school. What do you have planned for holiday weekend?

The Move: Part II

2011-09-01T09:32:00.001-04:00

Well, The Move Part II (out of III) is well underway. I helped Z move a bunch of his stuff last night, as he needs to be out of his current house today to let the new tenants move in. Since our house is still at least two weeks away from being done – much later than we initially thought – we’ll be moving into his parents’ home in Cambridge, as they have been gracious enough to take us in temporarily.

Despite the high stress level of being “homeless” and having to move several times in a few months, Z and I have been making the most of the situation – and even took some time these last few days to reminisce about all of the good times we had in his current house. That’s really where Z and I’s relationship blossomed and where new (and life-long) friendships were made. Although we’ll only live a street away from this house, it is kind of bittersweet to be moving out of it.

The group!

Z and our friend Josh, in the basement.

Z, Z's cousin/roommate, and me on Halloween 2011.

My birthday cake (made by Z) at my surprise party!

I am confident that the next chapter of our lives will produce more good memories and new friends – but, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s so fulfilling to know that the memories and friends from the old house will still be there as we move forward.

Shameless plug: Would you mind taking a moment to vote for The Economical Eater? The EE was nominated for CBS Boston's Most Valuable Boston Blogger in the Dining/Entertainment category. No sign-up required - just a click! Thanks in advance!

Good Nachos and Slow Service at Tommy Doyle's

2011-08-30T08:50:00.000-04:00

I’ve been to Tommy Doyle’s in Kendall Square several times before – mainly just for drinks. I love the Irish pub vibe, proximity to the other bars and restaurants in Kendall, and the economical prices. However, I never had dinner (or a full meal, for that matter) at Tommy Doyle’s until Friday night – and I have to say, I was pretty disappointed.

Let me start off by saying I didn’t expect a mind-blowing meal at this place – but I did expect decent pub grub and service.

We started off our meal on a high note with the Nachos Grande ($8.99), which were actually very good.

The cheese and toppings were generous and well layered throughout, and the side of homemade guacamole ($2.50) was fresh and tasty. I washed my nachos down with a pint of Sam Adams Octoberfest, which was good, but tasted like the keg line might have been a little dirty.

I wasn’t super hungry, so for my meal, I ordered the Paddy the Greek salad ($9.99), which was a bit overpriced for what it was.

The olives, feta and cherry tomatoes were abundant throughout, but the salad was dripping with dressing. Next time, I’ll be asking for it on the side.

Overall, our meal wasn’t terrible, and we ended up staying for a few more beers and met up with some more friends who were in the area. Again, I like the vibe at Tommy Doyle’s. The real bummer, though, was the service – although it was friendly, it was painfuily slow, and we had about five waiters total throughout the evening. The place also wasn’t crowded, so there was no real excuse as to why the service was so slow and disorganized. I had to go up to the bar twice just to get someone to come to our table (quick side note: we weren’t sitting in the dining room – we were at a high top table in the bar area).

Tommy Doyle’s is definitely a fun place to grab a drink or two and enjoy a quick snack (I’d definitely go back for the nachos), but just be warned that you might be waiting a while to get anybody to come to your table.

A Feast Fit For Irene

2011-08-29T09:24:00.000-04:00

The only destruction Hurricane Irene caused for me this weekend was stripping away my girls’ night out in Boston Saturday night and preventing my sister and niece from driving down from Maine on Sunday. Despite the change of plans, however, I ended up having a relaxing weekend that was pretty damn blissful.

Because my Saturday night plans were cancelled, Z and I decided to invite some friends over and make an Italian feast. To make our dinner in even more economical, we had each of our friends bring something for the meal. Two of our friends brought some great cheeses (goat, Manchego and Brie) with crackers and white wine, and another brought homemade crepes with fresh peaches, hot fudge and a bottle of red wine for dessert. Z and I took care of the main course: sliced bread with homemade dipping oil and whole wheat fusilli with homemade cilantro pesto and chopped grape tomatoes.

The end result was a simple, cozy, relaxing dinner shared amongst friends in the comfort of Z’s home. It was the perfect way to spend a hurricane-ridden Saturday night!

What did you eat/cook during the hurricane?

Drinkin' Skinny

2011-08-26T08:58:00.002-04:00

Tequila just makes thing better.

When tequila is mixed with an all-natural, good-tasting, good-for-you product – things get awesome.

Bethenny Frankel may have created the Skinnygirl Margarita (with tequila mixed in), but Drink Skinny LLC, based in Tilton, N.H., took their idea a step further. With non-alcoholic drink mixes in Original Margarita and Pineapple Mango flavors (and soon, a Pomegranate-Blueberry flavor), the husband and wife duo behind Drink Skinny knows what it takes to make a good cocktail.

The days of calorie-ridden sour mixes are long gone – thank goodness. Drink Skinny is made with Agave Nectar and natural Stevia (at only 20-30 calories a pop), and doesn’t include the high fructose corn syrup that most margarita mixes do.

Christy Cegelski, the “wife” behind Drink Skinny, even uses her mixes in cocktails like mojitos and tropical breezes. Because the mixes don’t already contain alcohol, they’re extremely versatile. And trust me when I tell you – they’re tasty. I tried the original mix with tequila (naturally), and it was almost dangerous – the mix was slightly sweet, yet ultra refreshing – and not a hint of sourness was detected. It went down easy. Too easy.

The Pineapple Mango flavor I mixed with vodka and seltzer, which was also a light and refreshing cocktail. The mix was so flavorful, I actually had a second glass with just seltzer – a combination I’ve literally been thinking about ever since.

Drink Skinny is available at several stores throughout New Hampshire and New England. Each bottle is priced at $14.00, and shipping is free if you purchase two or more. And since there’s no alcohol in the mix – you can easily have them shipped to you here in Boston.

If you could make any cocktail with these Drink Skinny mixers, what cocktail would you make and why?

Disclaimer: Drink Skinny LLC sent me samples of their mixers to try, free of charge. Despite their generosity, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Making the Most of It

2011-08-24T09:17:00.000-04:00

Our new house currently looks like this:

Hence why we’re still a few weeks away from moving in.

Z and I have been making the most of our “transition phase,” and our new social life consists of picking out paint colors, ripping down walls and deconstructing ceilings. It’s fun, exciting, and a little challenging at times – but the final outcome (i.e., our home!) will be worth all of our hard work in the end.

Since there is so much going on with the house, we have rarely taken the time to partake in one of our favorite shared passions: cooking. But even with limited time to spare, we have managed to enjoy some simple yet homemade meals together. Last night, for instance, we made pizza.

I picked up some store bought whole wheat crust, and we topped the pizzas with sauce, fresh vegetables and mozzarella cheese.

Z’s not a huge fan of zucchini on pizza, but with only a few weeks left of summer, I had a zucchini craving. We decided to make two pizzas – the first, topped with mushrooms and zucchini; the second, topped with veggie sausage and sliced grape tomatoes.

The end result was…well, pizza – you know how it tastes. But being able to cook a quick dinner and enjoy it together made a world of difference – the pizza tasted fresher and more satisfying – despite the fact that we were eating at 10 p.m. in front of the television.

Someday soon, we’ll have a table and chairs. And a house. :)

What has inspired or motivated you to get cooking in your kitchen lately?

Weekend Getaway in Old Saybrook, Connecticut

2011-08-22T08:58:00.000-04:00

This weekend, Z and I visited a bunch of my college friends at my friends’ parents’ beach house in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. I spent a lot of time relaxing – and seeing nothing but this:

My friend, Bryan, also bought a raft meant for four to six people (and a couple hundred beers).

The weekend was chocked full of friends, drinks, sun, sand and fun – not to mention a whole lot of food. My friends Bryan and Lisa went over the top, and served the group homemade chili, pulled chicken, pasta salad, veggie burgers and more.

Our friend Tanya even brought fresh bagels from New Jersey as well as vegetables from her parents’ garden.

After all of our good times and eats at the beach house, Z and I slowly made our way back to Boston Sunday morning. We knew we needed a substantial breakfast, so we could start working on the house when we got back, so when we stumbled upon Turtle Café, we immediately parked and went in.

Turtle Café was a narrow, diner-style breakfast joint that was bustling on this Sunday morning. We decided to take our food to go, and Z ordered a frittata with goat cheese, caramelized onions, and spinach, while I went with the make-your-own-omelette, which comes with your choice of four fillings. I opted for the spinach, mushrooms, cheddar cheese and onions (my plate also came with home fries and wheat toast - toast not pictured).

Despite the fact that we ate these meals with plastic cutlery in the car, this was by far the best breakfast from a restaurant either of us have had in a long, long time. Both dishes were well seasoned and packed with flavor and fresh ingredients. We were both beyond impressed.

After a stressful few weeks, it was really wonderful to just relax on the beach, cocktail in hand, reminiscing with some of the best people in my life. It's weekends like these that bring me back down to earth and remind me what life is all about.

What did you do this weekend?

Summer Squash Burger

2011-08-19T10:02:00.000-04:00

Making burgers at home is economical, simple and – well, an all-around great idea. Burgers, whether they are vegetarian or not, are extremely versatile – I love the endless possibilities of toppings, fillings, cheeses and condiments.

With all that being said, you can imagine how excited I was when the folks at Dalyn Miller Public Relations contacted me about reviewing The Best Vegetarian Burgers on the Planet cookbook. Why did they even bother asking?

I’ve had this book in my possession for a few months now, so I was ecstatic when I found myself with some time last night to finally try one of the innovative recipes from the book. Priced at $19.99, The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet is chocked full of creative burger (and sauce/condiment) recipes, including a Jalapeno Cornbread Burger, Fire-Roasted Red Pepper Burger, and Deli-Style No-Tuna Melts. In the spirit of the season, I decided to make their Summer Squash Burger, which sounded light and satisfying. I only changed a few things from the original recipe, and my revisions are marked below.

Summer Squash Burger

Yields: 4 burgers

-1 cup shredded yellow zucchini

-1 cup shredded green zucchini

-2 cups all-purpose flour

-6 ounces plain soy or other non-dairy yogurt (I used 5.3 ounces of Oikos Greek Yogurt)

-1/4 cup canola oil, plus more for frying (I used olive oil)

-1/4 cup soy or other non-dairy milk (I used Lactaid)

-1/4 tsp. paprika (I used chili powder, and also added cumin)

-Salt and pepper

-Oil, for frying

Directions:

1.) In a mixing bowl, combine the zucchinis, flour, yogurt, 1/4 cup oil, milk chili powder, cumin, and salt and pepper, mashing it together with your hands until you get a nice uniform mixture.

2.) Form into 4 patties. Line a plate with paper towels.

3.) Preheat 1/4 inch oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. The oil is ready when a piece of dough dropped into it sizzles immediately. Carefully add the patties, and fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden and crispy.

4.) Transfer to the plate to absorb the excess oil.

The end result was a moist, fresh-tasting burger that – when served with a simple side salad - was perfectly light (yet filling) after my post-work workout. Next time, though, I will definitely add some more spices, as the flavor fell a little flat. The greek yogurt was a welcome change from the original recipe, however, as it added an extra punch of flavor that otherwise would have been lacking.

Are you a burger person? What are your favorite burger toppings/condiments?

Disclaimer: I received this cookbook for free from Dalyn Miller Public Relations. Despite their generosity, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Vegetarian Ventures: LUNA vs. LARA

2011-08-18T09:30:00.001-04:00

After becoming a vegetarian, my protein intake quickly became a top priority. I’ve heard horror stories of new vegetarians getting drastically sick from lack of nutrients and protein, and I knew I did not want to go down that path. I also knew that I didn’t want to get my daily dose of protein in weird, highly-processed ways.

Soon after I made the crossover to no-meat-land, I discovered LUNA Bars.

Source: www.lunabar.com.

Luna Bars have about 8-10 grams of protein in each bar, and are made for women. The flavors range from Chocolate Chunk to White Chocolate Macadamia to Lemon Zest, and all are tasty and satisfying. I ate one everyday for a long time – until I read the ingredient list.

Well, to be honest, I couldn’t even read half of the ingredient list. Despite its unnecessary length, most of the ingredients are illegible and foreign (to me). As soon as I noticed that, LUNA Bars started to taste as artificial as they are, and I could barely stomach most of the flavors.

But then, I discovered LARABARS.

Source: www.pickyeaterblog.com.

LARABARS also offer women a decent amount of protein (about 4-5 grams per bar, on average), and the ingredient list is shockingly short and 100 percent legible. The flavors I’ve tried to date are Chocolate Chip Brownie and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and both were insanely delicious (and 10 for $10 at the Shaw's in Porter Square). The ingredients for the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip flavor, for instance, are as follows:

Dates, peanuts, chocolate chips (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla), salt.

That’s it.

Although I still love a few flavors of the LUNA Bars (Blueberry Bliss, for instance, tastes like a Pop-Tart), I think I’ve found my new, natural source of protein.

Whether you're a vegetarian or not, what is your opinion of protein bars, or protein-fueled foods/powders?

Moving Made Cheap (and Easy)

2011-08-16T09:04:00.001-04:00

Moving is fun. For no one.

On Sunday, I was fortunate enough to have five friends plus Z help me move into Z’s current house for my two-week temporary stay there. Their help made the move smooth, quick and much less stressful, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of their time and assistance. My Dad and brother also came down on Saturday to carry away a few of my bigger pieces of furniture that we won't need in the new house. To them, I am also grateful.

Although friends and family helped to make my move less stressful, I took the liberty of making my move less expensive. Since it is a very popular time of the year for moving, I thought you all might like these three tips that made my move as cheap as possible:

1.) Sell your stuff – The initial thought of trying to sell my unwanted things online seemed overwhelming to me. The thought of a stranger coming to my home to pick up a large piece of furniture just didn’t sit right with me, and it just seemed easier to put all my junk out on the curb and hope other people take it. But after I gained some motivation, I am so glad I put a few of my items on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace – specifically, my queen-sized mattress and box spring. I got a few hits within the first day, and ended up selling the two pieces to a really nice girl from Somerville (and her boyfriend Zach – weird!) for just under $500 in cash. That money can now go towards things for the new house!

2.) Feed your movers – I almost always thank people in food. But when you have eight lovely people who helped you move, feeding them all can get pricey. To make it cheaper, for instance, I bought lunch from the grocery store for my omnivorous father and brother on Saturday. I purchased some sliced ham, cheese, rolls, and pickles, and we all ate together on paper plates in my kitchen (I had a grilled cheese). I also had some potato chips and plenty of condiments, so they were happy and left satisfied. On Sunday, my friends and I decided to get dinner at Red Bones, so instead of buying them food, I bought everybody some beers and sodas to not only celebrate Z and I’s new “chapter,” but to also thank them for their hard work.

3.) Don’t hire movers – This might seem obvious, and I know hiring movers can make every penny worth the stress-free move, but having so many helpers (each with cars) made my move just as easy and stress-free – and, besides feeding them food and beer, it was basically free.

How have you made moving less stressful and/or less expensive? I'd love to hear your tips, since I'll be moving again in a few weeks!

At-home Beer Dinner for Half the Price

2011-08-15T10:55:00.000-04:00

Last week, Z and I couldn't make it to the Cambridge Common Berkshire Brewing Co. beer dinner - I was selling my mattress, and we would have ended up being much too late to fully enjoy the experience. However, we didn't want to totally miss out on the fun, so we decided to have our own beer dinner - which ended up being more economical, and just as delicious.

Cambridge Common's beer dinners include a pre-dinner beer and three or four courses paired with delicious brews. We created our menu and beer choices around the menu Cambridge Common had put together for their guests (except for our pre-dinner beer, a Shipyard Pumpkin - 'tis the season!).

We sipped our Shipyard Pumpkins while we prepared our appetizer - homemade, fresh gazpacho.

We used Ina Garten's recipe, but tweaked it a bit. For instance, I added some jarred jalapenos to give the soup a little kick, and I also halved the recipe. We also served our gazpacho with avocado slices, to help cut some of the spiciness.

We paired our gazpacho with Berkshire Brewing Co.'s Traditional Pale Ale. Like the avocado, the Pale Ale helped to cut some of the heat from the jalapenos, and, as a whole, really complemented the fresh flavors of the gazpacho well.

For our salad course, we made an arugula and strawberry salad. We used this recipe, and I also added some crumbled goat cheese.

We paired the salad with BBC's Hefeweizen Ale.

This would have been a great pairing if it weren't for the overpowering goat cheese. Lesson learned.

For our entree, we made a Thai curry tofu stir fry. While we enjoyed our first few courses, we let the tofu marinate in Trader Joe's Thai curry sauce, and then pan fried the tofu.

In a separate pan, we sauteed some chopped veggies: mushrooms, red peppers, baby corn, and onions. After both the tofu and veggies were cooked through, we added the veggies to the tofu pan, stirred, and let simmer for a few minutes before serving. We also flavored the stir fry with some cayenne, cumin and salt and pepper.

This spicy, flavorful stir fry was served with BBC's Private Stock "Shabadoo" - an amazingly delicious brew.

Despite it's dark, heavy appearance, this black and tan brew was fairly light on the tongue, with a mix of unique and tantalizing flavors. With the tofu, it wasn't a particularly exceptional pairing, but both were so delicious on their own that it really didn't offend my tastebuds too much.

For dessert, CC had tiramisu on the menu, paired with Coffeehouse Porter (a favorite in our house). Z and I aren't big dessert people, and since we always have Coffeehouse Porter, we changed the dessert to liquid form only. We both enjoyed a glass of BBC's Russian Imperial Stout.

BBC doesn't mess around with their stouts (or porters, for that matter). With hints of chocolate, coffee, fruit and licorice, this creamy, well-balanced stout was the perfect way to end our homemade beer dinner.

CC's Berkshire Brewing Co. beer dinner cost $49 per person, not including gratuity. Z and I spent about that much total, without having to tip anyone. Although we love CC and their beer dinners, it was nice to cook together and enjoy the dinner on our own, while cutting the price tag in half.

How have you saved some money in the kitchen lately?

Refocusing

2011-08-12T09:29:00.001-04:00

These past few weeks, my life has looked a lot like this:

Chaos. (Source: marysirmonarts.com).

Between traveling to San Diego for a week for work, preparing for moving into our new house, and adjusting to all of the new responsibilities given to me at my day job, I’ve been losing sight of what’s important to me in life. I’ve been doing a lot less of this:

Source: rankinwriting.wordpress.com

And this.

Source: theweboutside.com

I have not spent nearly enough time with family or friends, and have been terrible at calling/emailing/Facebooking any of them.

My niece and nephew.

My older sister and I.

Z and our friends at his birthday party last year.

Some of my best guy friends from college.

My college girlfriends and I ate the "Rachael Ray Show."

And even though I have been spending time with Z, my mind has been so crazed that I’m sure I haven’t been that much fun to be around.

The purpose of this post is to put things in perspective, especially before the weekend begins (as does a new chapter in my life). I’m moving in with Z this weekend, and while it’s a little scary (aren’t all new ventures?), it’s also extremely exciting and heartwarming. I am a lucky lady, and even though I’ve let life’s stresses bring out the worst in me lately, I know what matters most to me (and in life). And I plan to start focusing on those things moving forward.

Are there things/people in your life that you'd like to start focusing more on? If so, what/who are they and why?