Quattro Goes To Mystic!

Like his Mom, Quattro thoroughly enjoys adventures. Exploring a new place, seeing new things, investigating new smells...it really makes for the perfect day. When it was decided to take a trip down to Mystic, we went back and forth on whether to bring the beast along for the ride. Having him tag along would hold us back just a bit but we decided it would be much better to have him with us for the day.

Mascarpone Chocolate Toffee Bars

I came across these delectable treats on one of the Giada at Home episodes. While salivating over the TV screen,  I noticed that the ingredients were pretty standard and the recipe was extremely simple. I actually had almost all of the ingredients on hand too! So I decided to give them a try. And let me tell you, they taste as good as they look. Maybe better!

USA Food Tour: Connecticut

This past Friday was Nick's birthday. When I had asked him what he wanted to do he had said, "Why don't we start your USA Food Tour and hit up one of the states?" I thought that was a great idea! I had come up with the idea a few weeks ago so I was eager to get the ball rolling. I mean, I do have 50 states to conquer so time is of the essence, right?

USA Food Tour

I have recently become slightly obsessed with a particular travel blog, Alex in Wanderland. This girl is living the high life. She travels around the globe and writes about all of her experiences while sharing advice with her readers. What makes it even more interesting is that she is from my hometown. This particular blog has become a topic of conversation amongst myself and a few of my friends. Reading about all of her adventures gave me a wonderful idea. Why don't we travel around the US, exploring each state's cuisine. You have probably figured out by now that I Love Food. My life essentially revolves around it. Therefore I feel that this is a great way to try new things and see new places.

I have created a list of all 50 states and started compiling research to illustrate all of the different foods known to each region. So stay tuned for my new series of USA Food Tour stops.

Blueberry-Cherry Pie

There is nothing that speaks Summer like pie does. Strawberry rhubarb, raspberry, peach, blueberry, cherry...pretty much any fruit that you can pick up at the farmers market and turn into a delicious dessert. When I wanted to make a tasty treat for the 4th, blueberry and cherry pie jumped out at me. The colors speak for themselves, festiveness in a pie plate. I took it one step further by cutting little stars in the crust.

S'More Brownies Please!

S'mores are probably the most quintessential summertime treat. There is nothing better than sitting by the camp fire, toasting up some marshmallows, and sandwiching them between chocolate and graham crackers. I personally am a huge fan of s'mores. I believe my record in one sitting is over ten; a few of my cousins  and siblings can attest to that. 

With all of that being said, when I cam across a picture of s'mores brownie I was very intrigued. A brownie all by itself is delicious. Layer it with a graham cracker crust and top them off with toasted marshmallows and you have yourself an oozy-gooey, decadent dessert. I just know you are as excited right now as I was. So please be sure to whip up a batch of these fudgey delights and enjoy! 

Quattro's on Instagram!

I have become an avid Instagram user. I follow my friends and various celebrity chefs who all provide beautiful and sometimes mouthwatering posts. I must admit though, most of my favorite photos are those of my canine friends. There are quite a few posts out there devoted entirely to the furry little cuties. It was after some time of viewing them that a light bulb went off; Quattro should have an Instagram page! A place where his fans can view pictures of his oh-so-handsome face daily. It would also be a perfect "album" of sorts for my own personal use.

After only a week in the Instagram world, Quattro and I have already been featured on a page that posts various pictures from around the globe. Pretty exciting! Not to mention a great way to gain more followers.

Feel free to follow Quattro's new page where you will find several handsome and sometimes silly pictures of our furry little beast. Just search for the user name @smilingmalamute. Pretty fitting don't you think? 

My Week of Dinners

This last week was extremely hectic. I had one obligation or another every single night. This in turn made for a great week to document my week of dinners.

Monday was the monthly dinner date with Joyce, Jamie, and Sabrina. We had originally planned to go to a different restaurant. However, the day turned out to be absolutely gorgeous. After a week of rain we all agreed it would be great to sit outside. So we switched to another restaurant in Saratoga Springs that has great outside seating. This worked out well too because I had been meaning to try Druthers since they opened. Everything was delicious. From the beer, to the pretzels, to my chicken burger. Everyone was satisfied to the last bite. The company was great as well, but that goes without saying.

Bridesmaids Revisited

A few months ago Sarah, Theresa, and I decided we were overdue for a get together. The last time the three of us had seen each other was for the St. Patrick's Day festivities. So we settled on a weekend in June that worked for all of us. Sarah and I set out Saturday morning to spend the day together. 

We knew going in that it was going to be a wedding filled weekend. Theresa wanted to show us the church where she will be married next year, as well as the venue where the reception will be. Then we were going to meet some of her friends from home. Little did we know, Theresa had an exciting surprise in store. After we arrived at the house, the three of us sat down to chat and catch up before meeting up with the others. Right away Theresa jumped into a story which ended up with her asking Sarah and I to be two of her bridesmaids! She even wrote out these really sweet letters, personalized to each of us, telling us why she wants us to be apart of her special day. Of course, we said Yes! 

Happy Father's Day

Since my parents purchased their camp up in the Adirondack's, there have been very few weekends Dad has not spent up there relaxing. He loves the peacefulness and fresh air the Adirondack's are known for. With that being said, we could not think of a better way to spend Father's Day than up North with the family.

We started with a game of golf at a small course about twenty minutes from camp. Though I personally ended with one of the worst rounds since my first swing, we still have a good time. 

Linguini with Shrimp, Asparagus, & Cherry Tomatoes

This was my round for Girl's Night. I really wanted to cook on the grill and eat outside. However, the weather prevented me from doing so. So I turned to my cookbooks and found a delicious recipe from Giada's Feel Good Food. It was so easy to make and incredibly delicious! Paired with a nice, crisp glass of white wine and a side Caesar salad...we were ready for a fabulous Girl's Night!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

I learned something pretty amazing today. Fudge came up in conversation in the break room, as various foods typically do, and I was told that Fluff could be used to make it. I was very intrigued by this idea and decided to give it a try. I could have made a simple chocolate fudge, however I came across this chocolate peanut butter fudge recipe on Pinterest from Recipe Girl.  This recipe was so simple and quick, I had it in the fridge to set within 20 minutes. It was delicious! 

A Sisterly Weekend

About a week ago the twins and I were discussing our Memorial Day Weekend plans. All three of us were shocked that this long weekend had come upon us so quickly. Melissa and I quickly realized we had zero plans and decided it would be a great idea to spend it together. She drove in Friday night which worked out perfectly, allowing us to really spend all of Saturday together. 

After enjoying a stack of blueberry pancakes and doing a few chores around the house, we hit the fairways and played a short round of golf. The weather was shotty looking however during our time out the sun kept on shining. It wasn't until we finished our last hole that the rain started to come down. 

My Week of Dinners

Another hectic week behind me. Of course I had to document all of my tasty meals along the way. 

Monday
This week I enjoyed the company of my monthly dinner-date crew. We dined at one of my favorite restaurants in Albany, New World Bistro. The creativity and freshness the chef puts into every dish is amazing. You really cannot go wrong with any choice. We decided to share a bunch of smaller plates, and let me tell you, we had an explosion of flavors on our table. Here was the line up:
- "Cage" blackened string beans, one of my favorites!
- Warm curried cashews
- Hummus with flat bread and olives
- "Toscano" flat bread: fig jam, arugula, Gorgonzola, and topped off with truffle oil. Devinne!
- Fiddle head salad, which was on special that night. 
- Calamari 
And for dessert:
- Italian Ricotta Cheesecake
- Cookie Sandwich OTD: Vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two very large and warm chocolate chip cookies. Drizzled with chocolate sauce and sprinkled with chocolate chips.

Sweetwater Bar & Grill

I am not much of a restaurant reviewer. In fact, I do not know that I have ever written an official review ever (Yelp does not really count). However, I feel that it is my duty to portray my experience at Sweetwater Bar & Grill located in Boynton Beach, Florida. I visited Sweetwater while on my mini vacation a few weeks ago. Ryan had been wanting to try this little gem ever since his coworkers recommended it. So, on my last night in Florida we decided to see what it was all about.

Happy Mother's Day

Today we celebrate the most special woman in our lives. The person who brought us into the world, our Moms. It is a day to give back for the hundreds of other days that they have given to us. It is a day to remind them just how grateful we are for everything they have done for us and will continue to do throughout our lives. 

A Weekend in Florida

About three years ago, two of my dearest friends moved to Florida. I was extremely saddened by this endeavor...it meant no more family dinners, no more golf outings, no more Sunday night football. However I was also very excited for them and the new chapter in their life. This past weekend I was able to pay them a visit for an extended weekend. It was an amazing trip! 

Life is Short, Eat Dessert First

This week was my turn for Girl's Night. I figured I would change it up a bit and have a dessert night! I thought this would a fun, different way to enjoy each other's company. Not to mention I have a ridiculous attraction to sweets. So here was the line up.

A Broadway Adventure

This past weekend my mom, friend Sabrina, and her aunt Karen took a day trip down to New York City. My mom and I have been going to see various Broadway musicals for a few years now. She and Karen thought it would be fun for the four of us to take a trip and see a show on Broadway! We went back and forth on which to see and decided on Rock of Ages. Let me tell you, it was a great choice!

We took the train into Grand Central and walked to Bryant Park for lunch. They have a few food stands there to chose from. We settled on grilled cheese from, you guessed it, the Grilled Cheese and Soup stand. So simple, but so good!

Couldn't help but take a shot of this little lady. 

My Week of Dinners

Sunday

This was one of the first Sundays in awhile where I didn't have a million things to do. I took advantage of this and concocted a recipe I had been wanting to try. I saw the original Baked Manicotti with Sausage and Peas recipe on Giada at Home. I decided to change it up just a tiny bit from her original recipe. It was pretty delicious. You can find my version here. 

Baked Manicotti with Sausage and Peas

I got the idea for this Sunday night dinner from Giada's Baked Manicotti with Sausage and Peas recipes. Unfortunately, I was unable to find manicotti shells without a filling. Therefore I decided to turn the filling into a sauce to pour over the shells. This is a delicious, cheesy dish that anyone is sure to enjoy. 

A New York City Getaway

Nick and I just celebrated our three year dating anniversary. We decided to take a little weekend getaway as a gift to each other. We toyed around with different locations but settled on New York City. Neither of us had ever spent the night in the Big Apple so we figured this would be a great opportunity. I came across the Grand Hyatt hotel which is located right next to Grand Central Station. This was perfect since we would be taking the train right into Grand Central. The Grand Hyatt ended up being the perfect location for all of our planned destinations. 

 

Spring is Here!

It's finally here! The first day of Spring. Though it may not feel like it just yet, we all can get excited for the upcoming warmer weather, the beautiful colors of the blooming flowers, and just the overall rebirth of nature. It feels like Spring took forever to grace us this year, after experiencing one of the worst winters we've seen in quite some time. But have no fear my friends, Spring has sprung and before you know it the sun will be shining, the birds will be chirping, and the flowers will be in bloom. 

I took a poll amongst some of my friends and family, asking them what they like most about Spring. Here is how they responded.
1. The smell in the air just after it rains
2. Tulips and flowers in general
3. Smells
4. Warmer weather
5. Baby birds
6. Longer days
7. Easter candy
8. The clothes
9. Long walks
10. Being able to open the windows and doors

Parade Day!

The St. Patrick's Day Parade has been a tradition in my family well before I was even thought of. My Mom's parents have been active members of the committee for years. Along the way several members in my family have played an important role in the days events, myself included. This year was especially exciting as my Mom was one of the Co-Grand Marshalls of the parade!

We started the day with brunch at Dianna's parents' house. This has become a tradition over the past few years. It's a great way to get psyched up for the events ahead, plus it doesn't hurt to load up on carbs as well. Several people brought food to share on top of the mounds of food her dad prepared. I contributed Irish Soda Bread, baked fresh that morning!

"St. Patrick's Day" Girl's Night

I always love when my rotation of Girl's Night falls during a holiday week. It gives me a chance to create a fun theme for the meal. Being that St. Patrick's Day is Monday and the parade was this weekend, what better than to have an Irish meal? I decorated the house with the few decorations I had. A few tea towels, shamrock wreaths on each door, and a little bit of garland to add some sparkle to the windows. I also purchased some green shamrock plates and napkins for our meal to be a little bit more festive!

 

Pulled Pork

The last Girl's Night that Tara hosted she made this delicious pulled pork. It was so tender, so sweet...it was perfect. I asked her to share the recipe. Now she said she received the recipe from Deirdre's husband Dan. I am not sure if he received it from someone else or if he came up with this wonderful recipe himself...either way I wanted to share with all of you to enjoy. Place the pork in a soft taco shell or on a Kaiser roll. No matter how you eat it you will enjoy every last bite! 

My Week of Dinners

Another busy week behind me. I enjoyed a few dinners out, some home cooked meals, and some delicious treats as well.

Sunday

I believe I have mentioned before how my mom and I like to see various shows and enjoy a nice dinner out together. Typically I have bought tickets to some show for a gift. This time though my mom bought them just for fun. We saw Sister Act the musical. It was very good! Entertaining, funny, and all of the actors had great voices. After the show we decided to try an Irish pub near the theatre to get ourselves into the St. Patrick's Day spirit! I enjoyed a pastrami-corned beef sandwich. It was very similar to a Reuben, though it had pastrami and Cole slaw. Tasty!

Blueberry Banana Bread

This week's cook book recipe is again, from Giada at Home. Banana bread is something that can be enjoyed any time of the day. This recipe intrigued me mostly because of the addition of the blueberries. The buttery banana bread really pops with the juicy, sweet blueberries. 

Turkey Chili

The slow cooker is really an amazing appliance that I feel everyone should own. It is the perfect way to get a heads start on your dinner plans. You can prep everything the night before, turn the cooker on in the morning, and just let it take care of business while you're off on your busy day. By the time you get home your kitchen will be filled with the aromas of your upcoming meal. 

One of my favorite one pot dishes to prep in the slow cooker is Turkey Chili. Chili is one of my favorite comfort foods. The best part about it is you can really throw anything you want into it. Switch up the meat with beef or chicken or even go vegetarian! There are loads of different beans and veggies that can be added as well. Below is my favorite version. Pair it with a big chunk of corn bread and you have yourself a delicious meal. 

Let's Get Fit

Image found on Pinterest. Original source unknown.

As I have previously mentioned in my "Year of Me" post, I have been focusing on becoming more lean and toned. This all started back in September prior to my friends wedding and our Florida vacation. I had a goal of losing 8 pounds in 4 weeks. This turned out to be a lot easier than I thought! Mostly because the first week I lost about 7 pounds of water weight; though it gave me motivation to continue. I cut back on my excessive snacking, cut out the 3-4 Lindt truffles I was eating a day (insert face of shame here), and was just more conscious about what I was eating. I took advantage of the myfitnesspal app on my phone to keep track of what I was eating each day. You are also able to add in your exercise to calculate your allotted net calorie intake. I'll admit this was tough, especially during the holiday season. I did allow myself a cookie here and there, but overall I feel I created a normal routine for myself.  To date I have lost 17 pounds and dropped a full pant size! I never thought I would see this early high school weight again. I was able to conquer each milestone by making an overall "lifestyle change." People laugh at me when I say this, but I swear it works! Changing your overall lifestyle and way of eating has better long term results than crash dieting. There are loads of articles, books, and websites out there that can help each and every person get started. You just have to do it, jump right in!

Richie & Cassie's Wedding

Last weekend we celebrated the union between two of our good friends, Richie and Cassie. These two have been together for a number of years. Richie proposed last year over the holidays. Since then, I have helped Cassie with a lot of the little details being sure she had everything taken care of for their big day. The couple had also asked Nick to photograph the wedding. So between the two of us, we were able to get some really beautiful shots. The snowy white back drop was perfect!

Strawberry & Rosemary Scones

Nothing tastes better than a cup of hot tea and a scone. It really just gives you a chance to sit back and relax for a few minutes letting your worries and stresses of the day pass you by just for a moment. I found this recipe in the Giada at Home cookbook by, you guessed it, Giada De Laurentiis. Sticking with my goal of creating a recipe from my cookbooks, I thought this would be perfect for the upcoming holiday. The scones can be cut into cut little heart shapes to give to your sweetheart. These scones are a great mix of sweet and savory, allowing them to be a great treat any time of the day.

Giada's Cinnamon Kettle Corn

I have quite a few cook books with dozens of delicious recipes. However, since the creation of Pinterest I have found myself turning towards the web rather than the hardcover. I decided to give myself a challenge and utilize my books by creating a recipe from them at least once a week. 

My favorite Food Network star has to be Giada De Laurentiis. She creates dishes that are fun, creative, and most of the time healthy. This past November her cookbook Feel Good Food was released. I received it as a Christmas gift. She created healthy, delicious recipes for any meal. One recipe that caught my eye (mostly because I seemed to have all of the ingredients) was her Cinnamon Kettle Corn. I decided to give it try for a delicious after dinner snack. 

QMBOGP

 

Did you ever wonder how someone comes up with a new recipe? What get's their creative juices flowing to figure out how to combine a few ingredients into a delicious dish? Well today my sister Michele and I did just that. Now I could just describe the recipe to you all per usual but I really think it would be more fun for you to see how we came up with it. Keep in mind that Michele and I work for the same company. So, we are able to communicate easily throughout the day via IM.

Happy Birthday Twins!

Today my darling twin sisters turn 23 years old! It is crazy to think how fast time has gone. High school and college have both come and gone with the blink of an eye. Now they are both beautiful, professional young woman taking on the world by force. I wish them both a fabulous birthday. I know they are going to have a wonderful time together this weekend celebrating. Love you both! 

Happy Birthday Loves! 

Girl's Night Fettuccine

It's crazy to think that five weeks has gone by already...five weeks since the last time I hosted Girl's Night! Deciding what to make is always a challenge. We've had a lot of delicious and different meals over the past month so I want to keep up the trend. I toyed around with a few different ideas and finally settled on Fettuccine Alfredo. It is something we have never enjoyed before over the past, however many years. I have not made this from scratch since Culinary School so I'm a little rusty. I wanted to find a good recipe so I perused pinterest, per usual. One of my favorite food blogs had a "skinny" version which was perfect because I had almost all of the ingredients in my arsenal. Gimme Some Oven makes an appearance at Girl's Night often. We find their recipes fun and delcious, and usually very simple!

National Peanut Butter Day

Image found off google.com. Original source unknown.

Peanut butter has to be one of my staples in life. Creamy or chunky...I love them both. It is such a versatile ingredient as well. You can create sweet or savory dishes or have as a quick snack. Plus it's packed with protein! Well, today we pay homage to our beloved childhood favorite.