Monday, January 30, 2012

Black Bean and Corn Salad


I've recently decided to start using beans more in my cooking. I haven't really made many dishes with them and I tended to stay away because they just weren't a part of my normal style. In my effort to bring new things to the dinner table and create healthier meals though, I added beans to my last grocery list. I just had the urge to buy some and thought they'd be a great addition to our everyday menus. I bought some garbanzo, white northern and black beans. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the other two yet, but the plan for the black beans was already set in my mind when I reached the check out.


Saturday, January 28, 2012

Rosemary Grape Foccacia with Sea Salt


I recently tried my hand at homemade foccacia bread. A friend gave me a recipe years ago but I was reluctant to have a go at it because I had this preconceived notion that it would be too difficult to make. Boy, was I wrong. Making foccacia bread turned out to be much easier than I ever imagined! It takes a little time to complete the final recipe, but in terms of actual steps involved, they are really simple.


Friday, January 27, 2012

Egg Drop Soup


I have a new obsession.

I've always been a fan of egg drop soup but don't have it very often. I only get it when we order Chinese food from our local restaurant but the cost can get pretty pricey so it's only a once-in-a-while type of food. Well, we ordered some Chinese a few weeks ago and as I was eating my soup I thought out loud, "I can make this!" It shouldn't only be reserved for special occasions, right? I dissected each bite of the soup and came up with my own recipe that is just as good, if not better, than the restaurant versions.


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Curried Coconut Chicken


I was on a kick a couple months ago where I was just making whatever I could with coconut milk. One of the dishes I wanted to try was Chicken Curry. I've never had it before, so I honestly have nothing to compare it to, but I was very pleased with the final outcome. It was an easy meal to make because it's all cooked in one pot in a small amount of time. The chicken was very tender and spicy with just a hint of coconut.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Work/Life Balance: Does It Exist?

My friend. My enemy.

I've been going a little crazy on the business side of life lately. My design business is picking up which is fantastic, but some of the other aspects in my life have been neglected a bit. I'm not a fan of that, but it just has to happen. Work has pretty much taken over this past month and it's been hard on my personal life as well as those around me...specifically my little guy.


Friday, January 13, 2012

A Mango Mimosa Makes Everything Better


I haven't posted anything in a few days and I feel like I've been going through blog withdrawal! I've been so busy with work that my little side hobby has taken a back seat and I'm not happy about it. Don't get me wrong, I love the four websites, two brochures, email newsletter, and wedding invitations I've been working on, but there's just something about my passion for cooking and sharing it with everyone that fuels my creativity in the kitchen.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Pumpkin Spice Latte


After Thanksgiving, there was some extra canned pumpkin left over from a pie my mom made. I stole it. I figured it would be a good time to try out a pumpkin spiced coffee drink because I'd been craving one ever since the pumpkin pie aroma filled the air. And I'm always trying to come up with new ideas for drinks, whether they're hot or cold, because beverages can be just as exciting as food! I don't like to pay a bunch of money for a simple drink at one of those coffee shops either so I'll sometimes whip up my own versions.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Best Ever Vegetable Beef Barley Soup


If you've never had beef barley soup, you're missing out. It's one of the best soups out there because it's full of so many flavors. I've bought it in a can at the grocery store before, but nothing compares to a homemade version. The canned soups are lacking in flavor and substance and if you're lucky, you'll get a few pieces of meat along with a tiny portion of vegetables. The vegetables in soup are my favorite part so making my own soup has pretty much become a staple around here if I want to be able to actually taste them.


French Onion Soup


Ahhh...French Onion Soup. You either love it or hate it - there's no middle ground when it comes to this onion-y concoction. I happened to be one of those people that adores onions so this soup is right up my alley.   Plus, the fact that I grew up on it kind of helps. I remember my dad used to make this soup when I was younger and it was always a treat. I've since gone on to make my own version and it's just as good. It takes some time to make because you have to carmelize the onions for optimal flavor, but it's definitely worth it.