Farro Salad!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/farro-salad-with-tomatoes-and-herbs-recipe/index.html

Alright, so i just ordered takeout at UNO's Chicago Grill (I LOVE THEM!) they were recently voted healthiest chain restaurant in the U.S. yumm! 

So, I got baked stuffed chicken, with farro salad and french fries! And honestly, the farro salad is like GOD! 

SOOO GOOOD. 

I can't get enough farro salad now! Then I thought, wait..... why am I going to Uno's for this!?? So I went to food network and found a yummy farro salad by Giada De Laurentiis! (Who I also LOVE!) The recipe is so easy too! 

Such a nice summer side! 

YUMMY. 

Join me on Facebook!

Join me on Facebook for more exclusive "Facebook User" recipes that will not be posted on the blog!


http://www.facebook.com/Yummfoodie <-----Yummy recipes! And tons of fun!

Fruit Pizza. YUM!

Summer desert, you ask? YAY!
I love eating out by the pool with friends, but preparing deserts indoors while your friends are inside is annoying!

FRUIT PIZZA! <---- This sound so yummy right?

The kids love it because its like desert pizza, and its bright colors!

All you do is make a giant cookie (I use store-bought sugar cookie dough, and make one giant cookie instead of small ones) or, use a home-made cookie dough recipe for the giant cookie.
For the fourth of july I make a star shaped cookie with blueberries, bananas, and strawberries (red, white and blue!)

Then spread cool whip on the cookie after it is completely cooled, and spread fruit over cookie!

Cut into pizza shaped slices, and serve!

YUMMY!


This is the pizza I do when it is not the fourth of july! (:

Raspberries, peaches (or mangos are good too!) and kiwi

Sometimes I add blueberries and blackberries!

Chicken Florentine Pasta!

I just went out and bought Pioneer Woman's new cookbook! <3 I'M IN LOVE.

I'm in love with her....

And I'm in love with her recipes! <3

OMG.

I also get Pioneer Woman email updates, and this one came today! (:

CHICKEN FLORENTINE PASTA! <--- sounds so good!

YUM!!!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/04/chicken-florentine-pasta/


LOVE PIONEER WOMAN <3 

Caprese Salad!

Earlier today I was craving basil! So I decided to share with you one of my favorite summer salads! 

Caprese Salad! YUM. 

HOW GOOD DOES THIS LOOK!? 

I am so hungry now. 

This is such a yummy, and easy dish! 

Mozzarella slices, Fresh Basil, and Fresh tomatoes! 

Drizzle olive oil and add pepper to the top of the dish, and you're going to be craving more! 

I really can't wait to eat this.... Saturday maybe? We'll see. Hopefully it's warm out! So distracted...... 

OH BOY. 

Broiled Grapefruit!

Its raining out today! If it were a nice day in April, I would have cut myself a grapefruit this morning and ate it on the porch with my coffee.... but it's raining.
So I tried something new that I saw on Pinterest the other day!
A Broiled Grapefruit!! <---- this sounds weird at first, and I was totally skeptical. BUT IT IS SO GOOD.

It's also really simple!

Ingredients:
1 Grapefruit (I use red, you could use any kind)
3 Tbsp brown sugar
4 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla (optional)

So... all you do is cut the grapefruit in half!
Melt the butter in a small bowl, and mix in brown sugar and vanilla. After all ingredients are mixed, pour over both halves of grapefruit and broil for about five minutes. (You may want to put the grapefruit on a cookie sheet so the sugar doesn't make a mess!)

The sugars in the grapefruit caramelize and you can just scoop out each slice of grapefruit. YUMMY!

It looks weird.... I KNOW.

But just trust me on this!! It is now my favorite breakfast, and snack!

Antipasto Kabob

We have company coming over tonight for an appetizer and cocktail party! The theme is summer (of course!) I've been planning and preparing all day, but the first thing I made was Antipasto kabobs! THEY LOOK SOO GOOD!
I was making them, and I could not stop eating the green olives! yum.
They are so easy to make, and they are a really yummy appetizer for warmer weather!

Ingredients:

Black Olives
Tortellini pasta
Green Olives
Plum tomatoes
Salami
Pepperoni
Marinated Mozzarella cheese balls

Cook tortellini following package directions, drain and let cool.
(I usually cute large skewers in half, or buy small skewers)

Add ingredients to skewers in any order.
I finished these and decided that they needed an extra kick to be the hit of the party! ;) So I made a balsamic vinaigrette for dipping the skewers in.

Mix together 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, 1/2 cup olive oil, and 1 clove garlic (minced.) Add a little black pepper for some extra taste!

I'm so excited for the party tonight!
Be ready for updates!

Yummy Marinated Mushrooms!

We all love mushrooms, but I'm sick of making them the same way every time! 

I made these mushrooms about a month ago, and I'm craving them again! When I made them, everyone LOVED them, because they are so different and good!!

Ingredients: 

1 pound mushrooms (brown or white) 

4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

2 cloves of garlic (minced) 

1/4 cup red onions (finely chopped) 

2 tablespoons of fresh oregano (finely chopped) 

2 tablespoons fresh thyme (finely chopped) 

1/2 teaspoon of salt 

1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns

1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds

Wash mushrooms, and remove stems. Boil mushrooms in salted water for about 10 minutes, drain and let cool. 

Combine all other ingredients in a mason jar, close lid and shake so that all ingredients are mixed together. Add mushrooms, close lid and refrigerate overnight. 

*Shake the jar once in a while, or add a little vegetable oil to the mix so that the olive oil does not harden. 

*pinkbites.com*

They look so yummy! And they are really addictive, so watch out! 

Dutch Oven

Okay, let's be honest.... how much do I want a dutch oven?!

SO MUCH.

<--- blue would match so great with my kitchen!

I love William's Sonoma! All of their products are top quality, and they are all very stylish!
My wedding registry..... ALL WILLIAM'S SONOMA. duh.

Soup in a dutch oven tastes heartier (is that a word?)
But it's soooo good!
Really.

I think that dutch ovens remind me of old homes, and cooking in a fire! like cooking with a real heavy dutch oven over an open fire for dinner! how yummy does that sound!? OMG.
I can't wait for this dutch oven to be mine!
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/le-creuset-signature-oval-dutch-oven/?pkey=cdutch-ovens-braisers     <----- The link for the blue dutch oven! It's Le Creuset! And they have so many colors to choose from, and different sizes too!


I really want to go on a William's Sonoma rant for a second.....
I'm so obsessed. I think that the number one thing I love about William's Sonoma is the weekend classes on Sunday mornings! Most of them are free, and they teach me so much! I love around Christmas time when they have holiday classes, and fun Christmas cookies! <3 Completely my favorite store. Hands down.

Pico de Gallo!

Pico de Gallo sounds like a Mexican vacation! yummy. (I could use a Pina Colada.)

Fresh ripe tomatoes and cilantro are growing in the garden right now! I can't wait!


This is such a quick easy recipe for a summer dip, as opposed to a thick salsa.

Ingredients:
3 medium tomatoes (about 2 cups) (diced)
1 small onion (chopped)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 jalapeno (seeded and chopped)

Combine tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime juice and jalapeno in a medium bowl and serve.



I love making this with fresh tortilla chips!
Cut multiple tortillas into pizza shaped slices, sprinkle with salt and bake in the oven until edges are golden brown.
YUM.

This picture is making me so hungry. I can't wait until my garden is fully grown and I can have fresh veggies for breakfast, lunch and dinner! AHHH.

Reusable Ziploc Bags

I am so obsessed with etsy.com, and I keep finding amazing things to buy, like this REUSABLE ZIPLOC BAG! 








<----- HOW CUTE IS THIS!?!?!











This is so environmentally healthy! Think about how many Ziploc bags we use!

And not to mention, this bag is so cute. I would defiantly take a sandwich to work in this!

Pickled Green Beans!

Who LOVES pickles!?! I do.
During the summer when my garden produces too many green beans to eat, I pickle them! They are such a great snack in the fall, and winter, and even into the next spring.
I absolutely can't wait for my green beans to grow this year, so I had to share this with you!

YUM.

So here is my recipe for pickled green beans, (I usually do about five jars a year!) Many people cook their beans before pickling them, but I LOVE raw beans, so I do not cook them before canning them.

I use wide mouth Ball jars for my beans.

I add to the jar as many green beans as fits,
2 cloves of garlic
Fresh Dill
4 teaspoons of salt
and equal parts white vinegar/water to fill up the jar

Spicy Mac & Cheese

Alright, so I made this for lunch today and I'm so excited to share it with you!
I was really sick of box mac & cheese so I decided to make my own, and I added a healthy twist by using whole wheat products and low-fat Parmesan cheese! Don't get me wrong...... this recipe would also be GREAT with white wheat products, and fatty cheese! ;) yummy.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups skim milk
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 package whole wheat pasta (I used
     shells)
2 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup butter
A few drops Tabasco Sauce (or other
       hot sauce!)

WAY healthier than boxed mac & cheese!




Okay, so....

1. Cook pasta as directed on package.

2. Drain pasta in a separate colander (so you can use the pan for a rue.)

3. Melt butter in the same pan that you used to cook the pasta. (medium high heat)

 4. When butter is completely melted, add milk and flour to the pan, and whisk together. Reduce heat to medium low, and wait for the mixture to bubble and thicken (whisk frequently)

* If you are using whole wheat flour, you will be able to see small pieces of flour in your mixture.

5. Add cheese, and hot sauce to the mixture and whisk well. (use how ever much hot sauce you think that you are going to want! some people will not add it, and others will dump the whole bottle in!)    ;)

I bought slices of Parmesan cheese, as well as grated cheese. YUM.











6. Mix the drained pasta back into the pan with the cheese sauce!

This recipe is a definite keeper! My boyfriend and I both enjoyed the spice of the Tabasco sauce, and it was a bit lighter than other home-made mac & cheese recipes that we have tried! 

Basil Lemonade

This is my favorite lemonade recipe! It is very different, and a very spicy (healthier) lemonade.

Funny story..... I'm obsessed with lemons!

Sparkling Basil Lemonade


4 Cups water
2 1-liter bottles club soda
2 Cups lemon juice
3 Cups sugar
2 Cups fresh basil leaves (YUM!)
1 small jalepeno chile pepper (sliced)
A few extra basil leaves for garnish

1. Basil Syrup: Combine water, sugar and 2 cups basil leaves in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil on medium high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Discard the basil leaves after the syrup is done. Cover the syrup and chill for 2+ hours.
2. Lemonade: Combine chilled syrup, club soda, and lemon juice in a large punch bowl. Serve over ice, and garnish with fresh basil leaves and jalepeno slices.
Makes 16 servings (8oz. each)

Pioneer Woman!

Okay. If you haven't heard of Pioneer Woman.... then GET ON IT! Ree Drummond is my IDOL! She is a down to earth cowgirl who lives on a farm with her beautiful family, and not to mention she is an amazing cook!!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/    <------ Pioneer Woman's website!

I have made so many of her recipes and ALL of them are AMAZING!
Since summer is on its way, I have been so excited lately to make bruschetta! (one of my favorite summer appetizers, and a great poolside food!)

I was going through Ree's recipes the other day, and I found what I think is going to be my FAVORITE bruschetta recipe yet!

<--- HOW GOOD DO THOSE TOMATOES LOOK!!??!?











Tomato and basil is one of my favorite summer combos!

Here's the recipe for all of you! Since you know you want to make it!!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/01/bruschetta/

YUM!

Wheat Grass

Sooo.... WHEAT GRASS?

I want to try this so bad!

Apparently drinking wheat grass juice is beneficial in the following ways....
- Cleanses blood
- Improves skin and hair
- Lowers blood pressure
- Fights infections
- Acts as an appetite suppressant
- Builds muscle and endurance

Sounds pretty goood to me!
I'm going to go buy wheat grass seed!!

<---- This looks awkward...

Like..... a spinach smoothie??

Yep.

But..... I love her ring! <3

Juicer!

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/breville-ikon-juice-fountain-elite/?pkey=cblenders-juicers

Alright, I'm usually not a fan of such heavy appliances around, (I still use the old blender we have had for ten years now!) But I think with summer coming up, this is the PERFECT time for a new juicer (and maybe a new blender too!)

Lately I have become OBSESSED with juicing things! ;) i generally use every edible thing in smoothies and homemade juice! Strawberry smoothies get spinach, and acai berries! (added nutrients that you can't taste!)

BUT! fresh orange juice is my goal! Fresh orange juice every morning would be amazing! although.... a big orange tree in my back yard would also be impressive..... and easier. thanks new england. "NO ORANGE TREE FOR YOU!" not cool.

Whatever.

This morning I was craving fresh juice, and I'm going to end up buying this juicer!
Review to follow.... I'll let you all know how that orange tree goes too.... ;)

How perfect is this!!?  And only $199.95!
I LOVE WILLIAMS SONOMA! <3


.....

I can't wait for fresh juice! <3