Garlic & Cheese Zucchini Quinoa

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade…or so the saying goes.  Today is a high of 6 degrees in Chicago, and thus a perfect day to stay inside and tryout new recipes.  Today’s recipe was actually supposed to be zucchini and quinoa fritters, not a fried rice-like concoction.  Don’t get me wrong, this still tastes damn good, but every recipe doesn’t always turn out the way it is supposed to turn out.  Despite the setback, I did some quick thinking and just decided to stir it all together…appetizer turned to side dish.  Enjoy!

Rosemary and Sea Salt Sweet Potato Chips

This week’s recipe was inspired by the fact that I had one sweet potato in the fridge and I needed to use it before it went bad.  Additionally I didn’t really have much else in ways of ingredients, so I had to be crafty.  Thankfully I stumbled across this recipe that turned out pretty awesome!  Such a great way to satisfy a craving. Enjoy!

Elote

I love when inspiration hits!  After a Cubs game outing last week I joined some friends at Moe’s Cantina for a drink and dinner.  We ordered a bunch of food to share and one of the dishes was called Elote.  Oh, my, goodness, it was DELICIOUS!  We couldn’t get enough…corn in a cheesy, creamy, spicy Mexican dish.  So, I set out to find a recipe to try and found this one.  I am definitely making this again and bring it to an upcoming air & water show party – it is sure to be a crowd pleaser!  Summer is still here and it is prime corn season, so I would strike while the iron is hot! 

Ricotta & Orzo Stuffed Tomatoes

Well, life has been a little busy lately and I have grown very delinquent on posting.  I guess when most of your pots and pans are packed for a month it makes it a bit hard to cook.  This is officially my first post in my new place.  Most of my weekends since moving in have involved some sort of home improvement project and multiple trips to Home Depot – I believe my house is putting me through a little new home buyer hazing (I hope it ends soon). 

Buttermilk Herb Vinaigrette

 Don’t you just love when you order a meal at a restaurant that hits the nail on the head?  A few weeks ago I transitioned to a new role at PepsiCo and a few of my new teammates took me out for lunch at a place called Sepia.  Being that this was the Monday after my sister’s bachelorette party I figured I should choose something in the salad section after a weekend of indulging.  My taste buds were so blown away it inspired me to try and replicate it at home.  A major aspect of it was the dressing, but another unique part of the salad was that it had shaved fennel on it.  I would definitely recommend adding it in for a subtle but unique twist. 

Classic Macaroni Salad

Two of my favorite people came to town to visit…one of my greatest friends, Katherine, and my boyfriend (even though he doesn’t know it) Justin Timberlake came in for his concert.  With Katherine being a former Chicagoan, it was an easy weekend, touring some of our favorite hangout places, finding some new cute (and reasonably priced boutiques), and probably indulging a little too much in wine, but hey…that’s what you do with friends.  

Portobella Mushroom Burger with Oven Fries

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s out there!!  Seeing as Dad’s usually own the title “Master Of The Grill” I thought I would share a scrumptious (and a little healthier I might add) substitute for the tried and true burger.  Whether Mom is taking over the cooking duties tonight or you just don’t feel like firing up the grill, this recipe is a crowd pleaser and super easy.  I also loved the oven fries…so good and a healthier spin fries.  I will say that I left the fries in a little longer and put it under the broiler a few minutes to really crisp them up, but feel free to cook them according to the directions for a less crispy. 

Roasted Broccoli

This week I was inspired by a friend’s Facebook post of what she was having for dinner…well, as a side for dinner…roasted broccoli.  When cooking broccoli I usually do the standard (okay maybe a little boring) steamed with a little butter and salt – quick easy and to the point.  As I started looking up roasted broccoli recipes I began to understand why people rave about it. I loved it when I tasted the end product.  It was an explosion of flavor in each bite with a combination of garlic, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and of course, broccoli.  This is a great side dish that will spice up any dinner plate. 

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Super Bowl XLVII is two days away and PepsiCo is the official sponsor of the halftime show!  Unfortunately the Falcons blew it in the playoffs, so I am not really rooting for anyone, but I am excited to watch a good game, great commercials, and eat even better food! Do you have your menu planned yet?  If not, this buffalo chicken dip is a WONDERFUL option.  One of my greatest friends, Katherine Riethman, graciously passed along her highly requested recipe.  Literally every event we had, whether it was a Super Bowl party, birthday gathering, watching the Oscars, or just having a fun night in with friends, we always requested that she bring her fabulous buffalo chicken dip…so much so that she probably got sick of making it. 

Cranberry Relish

Each year when cleaning up after Thanksgiving dinner, I always seem to notice the cranberry side dish usually isn't touched much.  Does this sound familiar?  Well, Susan Crawford, one of my dearest friends, passed along a recipe that her family SWEARS by.  I haven’t posted any recipes that I haven’t tried myself, but since she is a close friend (and lover of cooking), I trust her judgment and taste buds.  Below is a fun recipe to try if you are looking for a new cranberry recipe!

Cornbread Pudding

A few weeks ago Quaker (where I work) had their annual Chili-Mac-Cornbread cook-off.  Unfortunately this is the second year I haven’t been able to participate.  I had originally entered this year, but it was being held the Friday I was heading out of town for Tamara’s Baby shower, and didn't have enough hands to carry everything while navigating to work on public transportation.   All I kept seeing was me losing my balance on the bus and the pan of cornbread pudding being flung all over innocent bystanders.  Thus I accepted my role as taster/judger, which isn't a bad gig!  There were so many amazing entries (even a chili that tasted like buffalo chicken dip – won most creative chili and I am trying to get my hands on the recipe).  The one I am sharing with you today will be a great addition to your Thanksgiving menu.  It was made by my co-worker, Katie Ciepierski and she passed along her recipe to share.  I have seen many variations of this recipe online.  If you want it creamier, decrease the amount of Jiffy corn bread mix and increase the amount of corn to your liking!