Girl's Night Recipes

Hey Guys, it's been a very, very, very ( did I say very??? :) long time since I last updated my blog.

Sometimes with the fast pace of life the things we love & enjoy the most end up taking a back seat ( Portia chimes in " I know that's right!)

Some of you have asked for the recipes from the recent Girl's Night In I hosted. I'm glad you enjoyed the nibbles and noshes we partook of, and you'll be happy to know they were a snap to throw together.

Entertaining doesn't have to be over the top. Simple dishes with BIG flavors is all you need to have a good time with friends and family.

Who wants to be tied up in the kitchen the whole time while everyone else is enjoying the party? These simple recipes allow you to prepare them before your guests arrive and sit back and enjoy the party when they do.

Hope you enjoy!

Mexican Layer Dip ( Tip: I skipped the salsa making step and just bought a jar of my favorite salsa)

http://www.womansday.com/Recipes/Favorite-Layered-Party-Dip-Recipe

Peach Bourbon Chicken Wing Recipe ( Tip: I used Puerto Rican Rum)

http://www.familycircle.com/recipe/game/peach-bourbon-wings/

Tangy Marinated Cheese ( Tip: Serve this with your favorite crackers or a freshly sliced baguette)

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001875873

Garlic Chive Dip (Tip: Serve this with an assortment of speciality potato chips for a fattening indulgence!)

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/garlic-and-chive-dip

Chocolate Covered Strawberries with some crunch! ( This food network recipe took your average chocolate covered strawberry and dressed it up with your choice of nutty or pretzel toppings!)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aaron-mccargo-jr/chocolate-covered-strawberries-recipe/index.html

* The cupcakes featured in the picture were courtesy of a Living Social Special from Elmwood Bakery in West Hartford. They were cream filled and come in an assortment of flavors and fillings. The cannolis were also from the bakery and I loved that they came in mini-size, perfect for us dainty girls!*

http://www.elmwoodpastryshop.com/Cupcakes.html

Real Texas BBQ

Hey Guys, I recently visited a new establishment in Farmington that claimed to specialize in authentic Texas BBQ.

Happy to say we were not disappointed!

I had the pleasure of sampling their ribs which I was advised by the owner were smoked 7hrs in an on site smoker.

They were so tender which is a definite must for ribs, definitely fell off the bone on contact. The BBQ sauce provided on the tables had just the right amount of sweetness and tang.

I also sampled the brisket which was very well seasoned, smoked for 13 hours and just as tender.

As a side dish I elected the cornbread and baked beans, the latter which reminded me of a slow cooked chili, not your typical sweet Boston baked beans. They were a nice surprise.

The owner hales from San Antonio and this unlikely addition to the Farmington foodie scene appears to be doing well.

Definitely recommend it to all you meat lovers.

Until next time!

http://www.flaggsteadsmokehouse.com

1085 Farmington Ave, Farmington, CT 06032 860-674-6028~860-674-6029

Taste of Hartford Dining Week

Hello, there will be Taste of Hartford Dining week January 18 to 24 with all inclusive menus at a fixed $20.10 price which typically includes an appetizer, entree and dessert per person.

Visit tastehartford.com to view the participating restaurants and their winter 2010 menus.
Enjoy!

Could still be eating this one!

Hello, I usually pick up the "Whole Deal" newsletter when making my Whole Foods run.

It's packed with recipes and other good food related articles.

How happy I am to have stumbled across their recipe for their version of shrimp & grits.

Maybe it's the scent of bacon the recipe left lingering in the air, or the creaminess of the grits, or the spiciness of the shrimp? I can't decide so I'll leave it up to you!

Please try this one, you will not be disappointed. The recipe is not hard at all! You can get the shrimp frozen and peeled at Whole foods for 8.99 per lb.

The link to the recipe has a picture! http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=2622

And We Won't Stop...Cuz We Can't Stop!

Okay, I don't know why all these hip hop flavored tag lines are the first ideas in my mind when deciding on a label for my post but just go along with me on this one :)

This is a very delicious and comforting soup recipe I tried a couple weeks ago when I wasn't feeling 100% and wanted to come home to a warm meal with zilcho effort required on my part.

I followed the crock pot variation and used dried black beans and pork neck bones which proved to be very meaty. I know...doesn't sound appetizing but the meat gets so tender and falls right off the bone.

My green vegetable of choice that I wilted in right before serving was fresh kale.

Be sure to read the directions closely when choosing which method to use when prepping your dried beans. I did the quick method and boiled mine.

This would go good with crusty bread, or corn bread for sopping up the goodness.

Enjoy!

RECIPE COURTESY - COUNTRY HOME MAGAZINE JAN/FEB 2009 ISSUE

Slackin on my Mackin

Hey Guys, I've been slackin on my recipe posting but definitely haven't slowed down in the kitchen! I just bought two new cookbooks tonite!! Anywho this recipe is a recent winner from the May/June issue of the Weight Watchers magazine.

I used boneless skinless chicken thighs and red skinned potatoes (they're healthier than white fleshed). On the side I roasted some green beans with olive oil, salt, pepper, during the last 10-15 minutes the chicken was cooking.

I really liked how much flavor the chicken and potatoes had. I also did the second step the recipe advised was optional, which was adding a navel orange the last few minutes of cooking.

Give it a try! If you click on the image of the recipe, you should be able to make it larger and printable.

Aimee

* Recipe, Courtesy Weight Watchers*

Taste of Hartford Week Extended to Sunday Aug 9th!

You may already be aware of the current promotion running in the Hartford restaurant scene.

A three course menu for $20.09 with several Hartford restaurants to choose from.

Check out the website for a list of spots and their special menus.

Myself and a group of friends went to Hot Tomatoes Sunday and were greatly disappointed so I would cross them off the list.
A good friend did try Morton's and shared that it was a great experience and value for the $20.09.

Hope you get a chance to sample one!

http://www.tastehartford.com/

Much Love!

Aimee

Next Food Net work Star Crowned!

Photo Credit: Food Network
Hey Guys, it's bittersweet that one of my favorite reality shows has come to an end for a season but the good news is the winning contestant has been added to the Food Network family and will be starring in her very own show which airs this Sunday. It is called Ten Dollar Dinners and premieres Sunday, August 9, at 12:30pm eastern time.

I am really happy with the choice, and Melissa is someone I definitely look forward to learning new tips from.

Below you will find a link to her pilot show that was the winning ticket for her on the finale episode of the show. It features her self created "4 step chicken" which I tried tonight with red peppers, onions, and garlic as my aromatics. It's a winner in my book!

Take a look at the video and enjoy!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/melissa's-pilot/41704.html

No go for Brio

Hey Guys, about a month ago me, my hubby, in laws and I tried the new Brio Tuscan Grille that just opened at West Farms Mall.

This was not a great experience. To recap here is a brief summary of why your dining out bucks are best spent elsewhere:

- Newbie quirks - Like any new spot that opens there is always a learning curve. What I hate is when they have so many staff on premises that you feel like your being circled by vultures. That was definitely the vibe on the Tuesday nite we visited in May
- What do you mean your out of it? Those are not the words a diner wants to hear when visiting a new spot for the first time. They were out of the polenta appetizer dish I was anxious to try as well as one other menu item we asked about that is fleeting my memory at the moment. C'mon, you just opened, sooooo not an excuse!
- The food was just alright. Hey I'm only a quarter Italian and I could have whipped up the dishes that we ordered and probably with a little bit more heart and soul than the mediocre effort they put into it.
- The vibe was sooo a chain restaurant feel rather than a little mom and pop feel where you know your getting real deal mama mia Italian!

Overall I would call it a "Glorified Olive Garden" your better off using the coupon in the Sunday paper to go get the tried and true standby for chain quality Italian Food.

Here's some pics of what we ordered anyway. I had the Pasta Brio, Mom-in-law had the lamb, hubby had a seafood pasta dish and father in law had the salmon which looked the most appetizing.

I think the funny pic of my hubby and father in law sums up the whole dining experience...he he!

P.S. - If you do want to experience it on your own, I recommend going to their website and joining their email club. They will send you a coupon for a free appetizer just for signing up.

Ta Ta!!

Try This!

I know sometimes it can be tough to have a healthy lunch on hand especially during the hectic work week.

I'm not a fan of frozen meals for lunch because typically they are packed with loads of sodium and other not so good for you stuff.

But, I recently had an opportunity to try the nutritious Kashi brand of frozen entrees for free with a coupon they sent me.

I admit I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied. Not only is it good for you and made with all natural fresh ingredients , they taste awesome as well!

I had the Sweet and Sour chicken and it was so tangy and yummy and the seven grain rice was loaded with protein which really filled me up and helped me make it through the afternoon.

I checked the website and it doesn't look like they are offering the coupon anymore but you can check it out to see the many varieties of entrees they have including vegetarian choices.

I picked up the Chicken Florentine today during my shopping trip.

I'm excited to try it!

If you try them, let me know what you think.



Ciao!

I' m back!!!

Hey Friends & Family, I was able to restore my blog! Yay!! I have a new schedule in place so as long as I make time for the important things in my life I can squeeze in time for my blogging hobby.

So stay tuned, I've had plenty of time to mill over some new ideas, recipes, and eating spots and I can't wait to share them with you.

My new favorite " food" blog, aside from my own of course, is one that helps you find out what's for dinner tonite. Check it out, they post a new recipe every day at noon.

http://dinnertonight.marthastewart.com/

Toodles!!!

Aimee

P.F. Changs Dining Offer

Hey, here is a special offer that just posted on dealcatcher.com.

Four course dinner for two at P.F. Changs for $39.95.

Can't beat that , especially during a recession!

Check it out asap, as it is a limited time offer.

On my way to work! Have a great weekend!



http://view.email.pfchangs.com/?j=fe871277726d017d73&m=fef5137277630c&ls=fdf316707363027e72167670&l=fec41c797d64067d&s=fe28127173670778761d73&ju=fe601275776c057f7214

My trip to NYC Part 1

Hello, I recently spent the weekend in NYC for a hiatus to Manhattan for my semi-annual hair escapade...in other words I got my hair did!

Also on the agenda was to sample some well known restaurants and that we did!

First stop was the famous Grimaldi's located under the Brooklyn bridge and a few blocks from the society's headquarters ( we even ran into some Bethelites on the way and they also gave it two thumbs up)!

I had seen the famous pizzeria featured on Food Network on an episode of Giada's weekend getaways and knew I had to try it!

Well we weren't disappointed! The line on a Saturday afternoon was out the door as you can see from the pics but the quick service once we were inside and the piping hot pizza helped to thaw any frostbite we may have acquired (joke). The owner even pinched my nose when he saw how cold it was... reminded me of my Noni!

We ordered a small pizza which was more than plenty for the two of us, half pepperoni (classic!) and half sausage and roasted peppers.

The sauce, to die for, a true Italiano delight, the cheese, so creamy, and the toppings authentic!

The price was very reasonable under $20 for a pizza and two sodas.

They only accept cash so hit the ATM on the way but don't get mugged in the process, it is Brooklyn after all!

Definitely give it a try when you go to NYC.

Stay tuned for part II of our NYC trip!


Ciao!

Quick & Easy

Hello!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I definitely have tons of recipes to share. Wanted to get this one out to you asap with more to follow!.

Here's a dish my friends that can be prepared in under 15 minutes start to finish and it's good for you and your family (the nutrition info can be viewed when you click the link). Hey, who needs a 30 minute meal when you can make one in half the time!

If your not a cous cous fan substitute white or yellow rice prepared in chicken broth as your liquid rather than water (instant flavor boost!)

Try using a chicken cutlet rather than a full chicken breast.

Give it a try!

Here's the link (Recipe courtesy Ellie Krieger):

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/balsamic-chicken-with-baby-spinach-recipe/index.html

January Item of the Month

I figured I would start this feature with a simple item most of us eat on a regular basis. Yogurt!

In particular I am a fan of the Trader Joes's yogurt six packs that come in the following two multi-packs:

Vanilla & Cream /Blueberries & Cream ( an equal variety of both flavors in each 6 pack)

Strawberries & Cream/Banana's & Cream ( an equal variety of both flavors in each 6 pack)

These are smaller yogurt cups at 140 calories a pop that give you just the boost you need in the morning or can help curb a late night sweet tooth.

Each six pack ( of yogurt my friends...lol) contains 3 of each variety.

My personal favorite is the vanilla & cream, it has a whipped texture and an excellent vanilla flavor that pairs perfectly with fresh berry mix-ins or my new favorite... frozen chocolate chip morsels (great when your craving a guilty ice cream fix).

Me & hubby go through these mighty quick during the work week so I stock up on 2 six packs to make it last!

Give them a try, you can find them in the dairy case at your local Trader Joes.


Secondly, you've probably heard of the Greek yogurt craze and have probably seen the different brands popping up at your local grocer. A recipe I recently made called for the speciality yogurt, so here's my verdict! Greek yogurt boasts more protein per serving and definitely has a richer taste than your regular yogurt varieties. It held up excellent as the main base for a chipotle cream sauce I used in a fish taco recipe ( recipe to post shortly:) . Eaten alone you will notice a creamy pudding like texture that is not overly sweet but a little tart. Definitely does well with mixing in flavor like the strawberry sauce from Ellie Krieger's whole wheat pancake recipe and a drizzle of honey.

The brand I tried was the Chobani nonfat plain yogurt and I found it right in the dairy aisle at my local Stop & Shop. They boast other varieties , plus being gluten free!

Check out their website and if you give it a try post your comments.

http://www.chobani.com/


Hope you enjoyed this yogurty review!

Nite Nite

Aimee



Enjoy!