Asparagus, Tomato & Basil Couscous

 

About this gorgeous weather that we've started having...Thank you.  I am completely on board with Mother Nature doing a 180 and finally realizing what time of year it is.  And this "change of heart" is perfectly timed with the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.

Since spring is finally springing, I guess I should stop showing you recipes with chocolate, huh? (The correct answer is: No.) Never, ever fear.  There is chocolate in the quite immediate future, but for now, we will have fresh vegetables, mixed with some couscous and cheese.  Who can hate on that?

This quick and easy dish came to me from one of my favorite blogs, Shutterbean.  Tracy never fails to find just the right thing to make at the right time.  When I saw this post last week, I knew I had to get the ingredients and make it.  Here's a note, though.  I had very few of the ingredients already, but once I subbed out a few items, it turned out that all I needed was some asparagus.  

Me - 1, Dead zone where my perishable food goes to curl up and die - 0.

S'mores Cookies

I know I'm doing something that is just so rude.  Please don't despise me for it, Erin.

It's Secret Recipe Club time again and this month I was paired up with the Wholesome RD blog.  Hi, Erin!  Um, this is awkward, but I'm totally renaming your Campfire Cookies.  Let me tell you why.

Anytime I hear of a combination of chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallow, I immediately hone in on smore's.  I mean, it's only natural.  The entire time I was making these cookies, I kept referring to them as s'mores cookies.  I couldn't help it!  I finally stopped fighting it.  They will be called S'mores Cookies.  So sorry.

By the way, these are fluffy, delicious little things!  I may have taste tested quite a few of them.  It was necessary though.  Since my big move, I haven't yet realized exactly what I'm missing from my cooking/baking stash.  What I found out this weekend was that I lack a second baking sheet.  You may not think that is a problem, but when a recipe makes 3 dozen cookies and you can only bake 8 - 10 per baking sheet....you have a long afternoon ahead of you.  Alright, it wasn't that tragic, but you get my drift.

Back to the deliciousness. These cookies weren't as sweet as I thought they would be, which is probably a good thing given that I taste-tested 1-2 cookies per batch.  (If you don't want to do that math, I made 4 batches of these cookies, sooo...)  One thing that I would love to experiment with is doubling the amount of chocolate, graham crackers,and marshmallow mix-ins.  I know I just said I loved the taste, but as one of my favorite YouTubers always says "Why be subtle?"

Egg Salad Sandwich with Avocado

Remember when I said I had something "egg-y" for you?  Nope.  I didn't forget about it.  I just wanted to show you a good taco pasta time before cinco de mayo.  Cause you never know when taco pasta needs to happen.  Most likely it needs to happen sometime around a Mexican-themed holiday which is not really a Mexican holiday.  Think about it.

So now that I have your attention, let's talk about a breakfast/lunch/dinner sandwich situation that I think you should get into.  I'm usually not one to eat many eggs if they're not in a cookie or a cake.  I have been known to enjoy an omelet but usually only if someone else makes it for me.  If I have to make breakfast, then we're probably looking at a mug of coffee and maybe an avocado toast if I'm feeling fancy.

The other day, I figured I'd go out on a limb and try to expand my egg repertoire.  You have one of those too, right?  An egg repertoire.  I mean, who doesn't?  Let's expand together.  I present to you, an egg salad sandwich.  Oh, and make sure to throw some avocado on there for good measure.  All the cool kids are doing it nowadays.

Taco Pasta

When I moved to my new apartment, I knew I was moving across the street (literally!) from my favorite bar in Hoboken.  What I didn't know was that the N'Orleans-style restaurant next to my favorite bar was being renovated into a Mexican cantina!

Clearly, the gods know that Mexican food is one of my staple food groups.  I scoped out the details about the new restaurant from some inside sources.  There's supposed to be a tequila bar, amazing food, and an outdoor courtyard with a fireplace.  Obviously there will be margaritas.  Sign me up now.

I also found out it was supposed to open in April.  Hmmm....It's now May and from the boarded up front windows, it's not looking like this place will be open in time for one of the best holidays of the year: Cinco de Mayo!

I guess I'm just going to have to make my own Mexican food until my new favorite Mexican place decides to grace us with its presence.  I can wait.  (No I can't, but I don't really have a choice here, do I?)

Livin' the Life: 4/25/2013

Remember when I started this little series called Livin' the Life?  Well, as you can tell, I may have dropped the ball on this little gem.  Actually, I didn't drop the ball, I threw it out of the park if you want to know the truth.

After a short search, I searched and realized the last time I wrote one of these posts was end of October 2012.  You know, approximately 6 months ago.  Like, pre-Sandy.  That just won't do.  Let's fix this and fix this good.  I have tons of new photos for ya, so here it go!

I have a new love, and its name is TJ's Roasted Coconut Chips

Indian-Style Meatballs

Take a look at these pictures, please.

This would be the last set of food photos I took in my old apartment.  As I mentioned before, I had a few recipes backlogged so that I could seamlessly transition to my new apartment without interrupting my posting schedule.  What can I say?  I was obsessed with being organized for this move.  (Let's not speak about that rogue bookshelf that I accidentally left in my roommate's storage facility.  It's still too soon.)

I did manage to take a few test photos this past weekend in the new digs and I'm sort of in love.  I hope to whip something up this weekend to make sure that it wasn't just a fluke and that yes, I can take decent food shots in my new abode.  Crisis averted.

With all that jazz out of the way, I have to say that these meatballs came out fantastically!  I love ground meat (beef, chicken, pork, etc) but I sometimes struggle with ways to use it creatively.  Enter Bev's Indian-style meatballs.  Ta-da.  This, my friends, is the beginning of a beautiful meatball relationship.

Guacamole Grilled Cheese

Last month, I was assigned to Jenny's Cookbook for April's Secret Recipe Club.  I immediately pored over Jenny's recipes to see what new meal I could whip up this month.  Almost immediately, I ran into this Guacamole Grilled Cheese.  Pump the brakes.  Let's take a look at this again.  Avocado, melty cheese, and a croissant?  Be still my beating heart.

AND...did you know that April is National Grilled Cheese Month?  I didn't either, especially since I chose to make this recipe back in March.  I think I'm psychic.  (Suuuurrrrreee.)  I typically can't keep up with all the special food days, food months, and what have you.  But a whole month dedicated to grilled cheese?  I think I can do something about that.  That "something" is going to be this guacamole grilled cheese.  I can definitely make this happen.