German Chocolate Cupcakes

15 Wednesday May 2013

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It was my Fiance’s birthday on Monday and I had to make him treats that would prevent any cold feet before our upcoming wedding. These babies definitely did the trick. They also served an unexpected secondary purpose of giving me a good arm workout as you have to stir the caramel base for the frosting for a full fifteen minutes non-stop. P90x has nothing on the barefoot contessa! The cupcake itself is not super sweet which is why I like them, but don’t worry if you are a sugar fanatic, there is more than enough in the frosting. These aren’t the quickest treats to whip up, there are a good amount of steps but if you have a little patience (and maybe a nice glass of wine to help pass the time), they are totally worth the effort. Continue reading »

Baby Beet & Blood Orange Salad

26 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by in Healthy, Salads, Vegetarian

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Punxsutawney Phil is full of you know what! It hailed in San Diego Wednesday night – hailed!! I didn’t know it was even scientifically possible to hail in Southern California. Where in the Sam Hill is Spring?! I have mint colored jeans, neon tank tops and wedges all sitting in my closet with their tags on waiting patiently to be worn. My wardrobe is not happy and neither am I. So, I’ve decided to perform something called a “Spring Eat”. It’s similar to a rain dance except there’s no dancing and no hoping for rain. Instead, I will wear bright-colored, fresh, spring time foods in the hope the weather will get the memo and start changing. Oh and I’m very sorry if I’m boring you with all this talk about the weather. I turned 30 a few weeks ago and that’s what old people do.

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Lucky Charm Cupcakes

14 Thursday Mar 2013

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My favorite holiday is almost here!! I have corned beef and cabbage cooking in the crock pot as I write this and I’ve been eating extra healthy all week to make up for the absurd amount of beer I plan to drink this weekend. And I’m not even Irish….   I don’t know why I love St. Patrick’s Day so much but as long as I can remember it’s been such a fun holiday for me. Maybe it’s because I look good in green? Or maybe it’s because it’s the one holiday where drinking is not only common but required. I usually love to make car bomb cupcakes but I figured I would try something new this year and a little more appropriate to bring into the office.  These lucky charms cupcakes were a huge hit.  Just remember to be careful with the green food coloring –  at least three of my fingers have had a greenish tint for the last few days.

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Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

23 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by in Breads, Breakfast, Healthy, Vegetarian

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This was the first weekend morning in a long time that I didn’t have to wake up to an alarm clock.  I had big plans to sleep until 11:00am.  But, come 8:00am I was wide awake. Ugh. I guess this means I am becoming a grown up? Guess this also means I better stock up on the antioxidants to keep the wrinkles at bay.  Luckily, these muffins are jam packed with fresh blueberries, which is supposedly an anti-aging wonder food. Plus, they make waking up early on a Saturday much more enjoyable. Continue reading »

Pan Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Pecans

18 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by in Healthy, Side Dishes/Veggies, Vegetarian

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I pride myself on the fact that I am not, nor have I ever been, a picky eater. For the most part, I will try anything once, even weird things like alligator (tastes like chewy chicken).  As a kid, I was a pretty good eater as well.  No one ever had to tell me twice to finish all the food on my plate, and around age seven I started begging to be able to order off the grown up menu at restaurants, because my young mind already knew lobster tail was far better than chicken fingers. But, there were a few things I hated as a child that I have now grown to love and Brussel sprouts is definitely one of them.  I remember absolutely despising Brussel sprouts as a kid.  My parents steamed them and I could smell them cooking from up in my room and would get filled with anxiety about having to eat such a wretched food.  Now, I absolutely love them and could eat them every day.  I think what changed is not so much my palette, but the cooking style.  Brussel sprouts have made a come back recently because some genius person decided to try roasting them – a bazillion times better than steaming them! It turns it into a whole different vegetable! Continue reading »

Skinny Roast Chicken with Root Vegetables

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Chicken, Healthy, Main Course, Uncategorized

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So even though I was super excited my 49ers were finally in the Superbowl this weekend, I was even more excited not to have to go to a Superbowl party.  Call me a boring party pooper, but sometimes you just need a weekend that isn’t packed non-stop with places to be and people to see.  After many busy weekends in a row, I was very excited about my quiet Superbowl Sunday in my pajamas.  I was also very excited about my first attempt to roast a whole chicken, and, unlike my 49ers, I succeeded!  I even managed to make it low-fat and healthy, something that never would have happened at a Superbowl party. My next mission is to learn how to properly carve a chicken – you will notice there are no pictures of the chicken post-carving as it pretty much looked like a wild animal attacked it.  But taste is much more important that aesthetics so I still call this a winner!   Continue reading »

Eggplant Pizzas

25 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by in Healthy, Main Course, Side Dishes/Veggies, Vegetarian

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Do you know that Julia Child lived to be just 2 days shy of 92. That’s pretty impressive for a woman known for saying, “If you’re afraid of butter, use cream.” Have we been lied to all these years by being told butter and bacon and other deliciously fatty foods are bad for us? Is butter actually the secret to making it to your 90s? Perhaps I’ve discovered a great conspiracy. Although, more likely, Ms. Child is just evidence of my theory that people who cook tend to be healthier. And I don’t just mean healthy cooks, I mean people who cook anything as opposed to heating up a preservative filled frozen dinner. There’s also my second theory that Julia didn’t actually eat the butter and cream ridden dishes she’s famous for every day. Maybe it was these delicious and healthy eggplant pizzas that kept her going all those years.  I can’t think of a better reason to get in your kitchen and make these adorable, tasty pizzas! Continue reading »

Classic Baked Mac & Cheese

16 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by in Main Course, Pasta, Vegetarian

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I know it’s only mid-January and everyone is still staying strong with their new year’s resolutions. Therefore, homemade mac and cheese may not be your go to dish at this time, well, at least it won’t be if you have more will power than me. But, everyone needs a cheat meal every now and then. Life was meant to be lived! What if the Mayans were just off by a month and the world is ending in a few days? Won’t you be happy you had some delicious mac and cheese as your last meal instead of a plate of broccoli? As you can see I really put that law school education to good use when it comes to negotiating food choices. Go delicious or go home – that’s my new motto. Continue reading »

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

17 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by in Cookies, Dessert

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It’s almost Christmas!! Just 8 more days.  I can tell its right around the corner because my pants are starting to get a little tight. But who cares, that’s what new year’s resolutions are for right? In our family, Christmas Eve has always been the big day. We have a big dinner and my Aunt makes about a million cookies that we all gorge ourselves on while opening presents.  These cookies are one of the classics that we’ve had as long as I can remember and they never fail to satisfy. They are so simple to make yet so adorable to look at and absolutely delicious.  I’ve eaten four in the past 24 hours. Whoops

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Baked Brie Bites

16 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by in Appetizers, Vegetarian

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Sometimes I wonder how I lived my life before Pinterest.  How did I plan my wardrobe, pick out paint colors, organize the bathroom, find cute pictures of puppies or discover inspirational witty quotes before the wonder that is Pinterest?  And most importantly, how did I keep track of all the amazing recipes I wanted to try that I found on the internet? Life must have been quite chaotic back in 2011 and I guess my brain blocked out the stressful memories. I made these bite size treats for my book club Christmas party and got rave reviews. Whenever anyone complimented me on them I said “pinterest!” Merry Christmas Pinterest.  I love you almost as much as I love brie baked in a flaky pastry with a delicious sweet topping all washed down with a glass of wine. Ahhh Heaven. Continue reading »

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