Chinese takeout is one of my guilty pleasures. But some days, I don’t feel like spending the money on takeout, or I only crave one thing that’s not worth placing an entire order. Surprisingly, it’s pretty easy to create your own take on your favorite takeout dish. I put a personal twist on my favorite Chinese food dish, sesame cold noodles. They’re chilled noodles in … Continue reading Spicy Asian Noodles
I could be rushing peach season a bit, but I was too excited about this salad not to post it. There’s a pizza restaurant near me with the biggest menu I’ve ever seen; it takes me forever to decide what to order. But one night when we wanted dinner from there, I told myself I would order a salad (I still enjoyed some tasty apps, … Continue reading Summer Peaches and Blue Cheese Salad with Honey Vinaigrette
I’ve always disliked scallops. They were always too fishy for me, and when I was younger, the texture weirded me out a bit. But if they’re cooked absolutely perfectly, I can eat a few and enjoy them. My family loves scallops; especially my mom, who orders a scallop dish almost every time we go to a seafood restaurant. I thought that maybe if I coated … Continue reading Grilled Scallops in Rosemary Garlic Cream Sauce
It’s hard to stray from my love of pasta, but I can’t forget to incorporate protein into my diet. I’ve been thinking a lot about a pasta dish that included both (but knew I couldn’t make another mac and cheese recipe…), so I thought some kind of Tex-Mex dish would be the way to go. I’m not a big fan of ground beef, so I … Continue reading Hearty Tex-Mex Chicken Casserole
For some reason, New Jersey’s March weather has been much worse than February. We’ve gotten hit with snowstorm after snowstorm, and to me, it calls for one thing—comfort food. I’ve probably shared my love for pasta more times than necessary, but I love this recipe because most people don’t realize how easy it is to make delicious vodka sauce. Whenever I make vodka sauce, I … Continue reading Simple Penne Alla Vodka
Growing up on the coast, seafood has always been a huge part of my diet. I’ve had a vacation home near the beach (down the shore, as we NJ natives call it) since I was young, and if I’m there, I’m digging into a crab cake sandwich or an order of oysters Rockefeller for any and all meals. Shrimp are such a versatile seafood. Grilled, … Continue reading Sweet Chili Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
Healthy eating in the new year is always a good thing—but it doesn’t have to be everything. It’s important to still allow yourself to indulge in your favorites. Otherwise, you’re starting off the year living miserably (because honestly, who is happy with salads every day of the week) and not treating yourself; that’s the perfect way to ruin your diet. I splurge on pasta. While … Continue reading fettuccine in roasted red pepper cream sauce
Mac & cheese has always been my favorite food. I remember feeling so empowered when I was little, whenever my mom would let me take the reins and stir the powdered cheese sauce into the perfectly cooked Kraft noodles. Yes, it’s pretty easy to make boxed mac & cheese, but when you’re young, cooking anything alone is an accomplishment. I’ve upped my cooking game a … Continue reading Chipotle cheddar macaroni and cheese
When I was in college, I worked in a pizza place—there is one every 500 feet in New Jersey. However, this wasn’t any kind of pizza place. It was actually an artisan, wood-fired pizza place. A high, high step above Pizza Hut (no offense, Pizza Hut). My boss went to Culinary Institute of America, and it was from watching these pizzas made every day that … Continue reading Spicy Soppressata Pizza
As much as I love to cook, I’m also a huge fan of takeout—and takeout Asian cuisine is no exception. I spend a lot of time at my beach house in the summer, and when I get home on Sunday evening, my first thought is, “What’s for dinner?” I’m usually not in the mood to get back in the car and venture to the … Continue reading honey teriyaki steak stir fry
simply delicious. 