The Ultimate Kid's Meal

Now, we know we aren't kids...but Chris and I like to eat like them sometimes. Last night, Chris and I enjoyed the quick and easy meal of "Hot Dogs and Mac and Cheese".

The "hot dogs" are Yves Jumbo Meatless Hot Dogs. Yves Veggie Cuisine has tons of meatless products but I've only tried their meatless dogs and jumbo meatless dogs. It is almost odd how much they taste like traditional hot dogs. I have found them at both Whole Foods and Wal Mart for decent prices.

Those "dogs" paired with a whole wheat bun, organic ketchup, organic sweet relish and vegenaise (yeah, I know that is gross to put on a hot dog but WHATEVER...I like it!)...YUM!

The shells and cheese is a Road's End Organics product and taste right on track with the real thing! Odds are, if you switched it up for the family, they would have no idea it is dairy free! I also found this product at  Whole Foods.

Now, I'm aware this isn't the healthiest or most fresh vegetarian dinner out there. But for an evening where we are a little strapped for time and need something simple and quick...this was perfect!

(DISCLAIMER: I didn't eat all of this!)

What is your quick dinner fix?

The Evolution of Smooth

In an effort to waste time on Sunday, Chris and I were puttering around Target when I stumbled across EOS Shave Cream. I recently ran out of my old product full of parabens, so I was definitely in the market for something new.

EOS, the evolution of smooth, is made of natural aloe, shea butter, and antioxidant vitamins E and C. It is a non-foaming cream that leaves your skin feeling moisturized and smooth...plus, it allows for a closer shave. It is also packaged in a recyclable bottle...gotta love that! Apparently, you can use it to wet or dry shave..dry shaving freaks me out, so have fun with that!

I purchased the pomegranate raspberry fragrance and loved using it this morning! My legs feel excellent and the smell made me smile! I am a little unsure about some of the ingredients listed on the website, but I know it is a step toward something better, so for the interim, I'm ok with it.

Ladies, what do you use to shave?

Working for the Weekend!

There is some fun stuff happening in Baton Rouge this weekend!

This evening, Chris and I are going to run to Duvic's for the monthly Friday Social for Student Life and Enrollment Management. I'm just an honorary member but Chris is the real deal so no one thinks it's too weird that I show up. Oh work parties!

I'll be up early on Saturday so I don't miss the Red Stick Farmer's Market! Tomorrow the Toyota Farm to Table Tour will be wrapping up and I'm pretty excited about it! Nine local chefs will be pairing with local farmers to showcase and promote locally grown food. How cool is that!?! It is from 8:00am to noon, so don't miss it!

Next, I'll be at the Mall of Louisiana selling raffle tickets for the Baton Rouge Junior League. If you are interested in supporting the League or you are interested in winning this Steel Grey 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport, let me know! Raffle tickets are only $5 each!

Lastly, Saturday evening is the 9th annual Taste of Tiger Tailgating. This is my first time to go and I am so excited! Apparently, there is tons of food, drinks and fun! Don't worry...I'll take tons of pictures!

That is what I'm up to...what do you have planned this weekend?

Watermelon Salad

Skip to my Lou recently sent me this recipe and I thought it sounded a little odd at first...but my goodness, it is refreshing! This Watermelon Salad, adapted from Paula Deen, is the perfect addition to any summer meal. Chris and I enjoyed it as a little snack before enjoying Uncorked Baton Rouge (which I'm going to post about later...so stay tuned!).

Watermelon Salad

8 cups cubed watermelon
1 small Vidalia or other sweet mild onion thinly sliced
1/8 cup red wine vinegar
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
2 - 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
mint sprigs for garnish



In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, salt, and pepper. Whisk until salt is dissolved then slowly whisk in the olive oil. Add in the chopped mint, taste, and adjust seasonings.

In a large bowl, combine the melon, onion, and feta. Pour the dressing over the melon mixture and toss gently until everything is coated and evenly mixed. Garnish with mint sprigs.

So easy yet so impressive...and tasty!

Let me know if you try it!

Farfalle with Zucchini

When some people hear that I am a vegetarian with vegan tendencies they tend to think I'm malnourished... which is odd because I have plenty of meat on my bones! My mother is the worst! She is always nagging me to give up my "liberal" ways and start eating chicken again. It is borderline hysterical. I can write all this because I know she is reading! =) Others just start shooting me any and all recipes they can find that don't have meat...it is these people that I am A-OK!

A friend of mine recently shot me this Farfalle with Zucchini and we tried it out last night. It is not a vegan dish by any means but it is pretty darn tasty! I have no idea where she got this from so I'm not sure who to credit. Anyway...I love, love, love zucchini and it is the star of this dish. Enjoy!

Farfalle with Zucchini

4 whole zucchini
1 whole medium onion
A handful or so of grape or cherry tomatoes
3 cloves of garlic
Farfalle (bowtie) pasta
2 tablespoons (or so) of Olive Oil
2/3 cups of white wine
1 tablespoon arrowroot
3/4 cup cream
Your choice of herbs (I like basil and thyme)
Parmesan Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste


Start off by bringing a pot of water to boil for your pasta.

Dice the onion, zucchini and garlic into small slices and set aside, but keep separate. Next, halve your tomatoes lengthwise and set aside.

Once your water is boiling, cook your pasta according to the directions on the package. Al dente is best!

Heat a couple tablespoons over medium high to high heat in a saucepan. When the oil is hot, throw in half of the zucchini and let brown. Once browned, toss it onto a plate and repeat with the second half of zucchini and set aside.

Next, throw the onions and garlic into the saucepan and let cook for a few minutes. When the onions have softened a bit, toss in your tomatoes and lower your heat to a medium low to medium.

Now, pour 1/3 cup of your white wine into the mix and, with a spoon or whisk, scrape the bottom of the pan so all the goodness can be released. While this party is going, pour another 1/3 of white wine into a small bowl, mix in your arrowroot and then pour over your onions and tomatoes. Once stirred, add in your 3/4 cup cream and turn off the heat. Lastly, add your zucchini and about a cup of pasta water to thin out your sauce (if needed). Salt and pepper to taste!

To serve, pour the drained pasta into a large serving bowl or platter. Add your choice of herbs and then pour your sauce over the top. Add some Parmesan and a final sprinkling of basil and...BAM, you have an excellent dinner!

Massaged Kale Salad

I was being lazy Sunday afternoon, flipping through the channels when I got all caught up in Aarti Party on Food Network. She is just adorable! I don't watch The Next Food Network Star, but apparently she won and I'm glad she did because she introduced me to an amazing new salad! When I was watching her make this Massaged Kale Salad, I kept thinking "I could do that and I could eat that! Perfect!" 

This salad combines the goodness of kale with the sweetness of mango and the crunch of toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds). She paired this dish with Sloppy Bombay Joes but since we don't eat meat and it was already pretty late....we had this dish solo. I could see it winning "best supportive cast member" next to some grilled portobellos or maybe a nice spicy pasta or rice dish...YUM!

Massaged Kale Salad

1 bunch kale (she suggests black kale but Whole Foods only had green...it was still tasty!)
1 lemon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
Kosher salt
2 teaspoons honey
Freshly ground black pepper
1 mango (diced small)
Small handful toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Discard the stems and thinly slice your kale then toss in a large serving bowl. Add 1/2 of the lemon juice and a drizzle of oil with a pinch or two of kosher salt. Then get ready to get your hands dirty! Massage until the kale starts to soften and wilt, around 2 to 3 minutes. This is really fun because your can feel the kale succumb to the lemon and olive oil. Plus the kale goes from a bright crunchy green to a darker smooth green.

(DISCLAIMER: Please make sure your hands are clean!)

Set that aside and start on your dressing. In a small bowl, whisk remaining lemon juice with the honey and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Stream in the 1/4 cup of oil while whisking until a dressing forms, and you like how it tastes.

Pour the dressing over the kale, and add the mango and pepitas. Toss and serve.

I hope you enjoy...we sure did! Kale is such an awesome leafy green!

If you try it, let me know what you served it with!

Taco de Paco

I'm not going to lie...ever since I heard of Taco de Paco, I've been anxiously awaiting for that orange truck to make its way closer to my office or home for lunch time. Yesterday was that day!

Their tweet came in around 10:30 am and my "so-so" day turned around when I read that they would be parked outside of 1699, a local hair salon near the Perkins Road Overpass...and spitting distance from my house. As soon as lunch time hit, we headed that way!

Immediately, I was impressed! These two guys are slinging it in the heat with great attitudes and smiles on there faces. You could tell they were suffering but their excitement to bring something different and trendy to Baton Rouge was obvious. I know they will be happy when it cools down a bit!


Although it was convenient for me, I don't know if the location was the best. The interstate was kicking it in high-gear and made it a little difficult to hear and think. However, there was plenty of parking around them so it made it easy for us to just pull up, order and leave. You take the good, you take the bad... I'm not sure how big their lunch crowd got because it isn't really close to any businesses but again, I'm so glad they ventured away from downtown for lunch so I could check them out!

Anyway...they flipped over the menu and my indecisiveness kicked in big time...so many choices...especially veggie choices! After much deliberation, I chose flour tortillas with grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, lettuce, black beans and corn salsa. Since I ordered the meal deal, I got two of them with chips and salsa wrapped up with a drink for $7.00.

We got back to my office and went to town on those tacos! They were delicious! The grilled mushrooms and onions had excellent flavors that mixed so well with the beans and corn salsa. They were a little messy but that is another reason when I loved them so much. The juices were like little shots of happiness!

I just wish they would have been a little bigger...I was still feeling the hunger monster after two of them. The chips and salsa was just ok...but it didn't stop me from finishing all of mine and Chris' left-overs.

All in all...EXCELLENT experience! It was neat to see something like this in Baton Rouge, the tacos were delicious and it was quick and easy for lunch. Keep in mind it's cash only!

They have only been on the roads for a few weeks so obviously they have little kinks to work out...but my goodness...can you imagine where they will be in a month or so!?! I'm really excited to watch this grow! You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook to see where they will be next! Enjoy!

Fresh Start!

Working on a college campus, I live my life on a semester calendar. SO, with today being the first day of Fall classes, I need to re-evaluate my summer to-do list and set one for the fall.

Let's see how I did:

1. Finally make our house a home! Still a work in progress.
2. Discover a love for cooking! Also, a work in progress.
3. Purchase a Cricut! DONE and CHECK!
4. Create more of a foundation for Bliss Events by Rachel! Definitely made some progress...
5. Go to yoga at least twice a week. Failed miserably...
6. Start a "girls only" book and wine club! I tried but my friends weren't so excited about it...
7. Have a garage sale! DONE AND CHECK!
8. Weekend trip to New Orleans! Failed miserably! Just never got the chance...ugh!
9. Volunteer more! Signed up for stuff but the events aren't until the Fall...in progress
10. Be a better friend! Definitely made progress...I've been having so much fun with people!
11. Improve on written correspondence! Ordered the stationery, just need to send it now!
12. Create an oasis of zen and beauty in the back yard!  Moving this to cooler times!
13. Ace the GRE! Failed miserably! Not the GRE, didn't even sign up for it...I'm rethinking grad school...
14. Take my LSU office up a notch! Well, I hung a painting and cleaned it up a bit...so progress!
15. Update the wardrobe! Definitely made progress but more shopping needed!

Now...here is my to-do list for this Fall:

 

1. Take a weekend trip to Phoenix! I'm planning this for a weekend in October and I couldn't be more excited! My friend has lived there for a few years and I can't wait to visit!

 
2. Finish our bedroom! We have all the necessary furniture, bedding and window treatments so we are so close to being done. Now we just need all the pretties and the trim painted, so it shouldn't be too hard.
 
3. Finish our dining room! Again, all the necessary furniture is placed we just need the little additions. I need to reupholster the dining room chairs, hang a few more items on the walls and paint the trim. Should be another simple fix!
 
4. Start working on the hall bathroom updates! This room is in BIG TIME need of help...it might not get finished this Fall but it definitely needs to get started! Poor Chris!
 

5. Take a weekend trip to Chicago! Chris has a work thing in Chicago in October so I'm going to tag along for a fun and romantic trip for the two of us...can't wait!
 
6. Survive football season with a smile! I love LSU football but it is very different when you work the games so I'm going to try to survive the season with a positive attitude and spirit!
 
7. Work on the curb appeal and back yard of the house! We tried to tackle this over the summer but it is WAY too hot so we are putting on hold until the Fall.
 
8. Kick some tail with my upcoming weddings! I'm so excited about Bliss Events by Rachel and the three weddings I have book for this Fall...stay tuned!
 
9. Have a few dinner parties! Once the dining room is finished, no excuses! This will give me the opportunity to show off the space and some excellent veggie dishes...stay tuned!
 
10. Get happy with my physical-ness! I have been pretty lazy since the wedding with working out, eating right and staying presentable, so this area needs a bit of work this Fall! People get confused when I say I haven't been eating right because I'm a vegetarian. That is an easy misgiving of eating a vegetarian diet...just because I can't eat meat doesn't mean I'm not filling up on bean burritos from Taco Bell...
 
These are just a few of things I need to get done this Fall. Fingers crossed I get more crossed off than I did with my summer list!
 

What are you hoping to get done this Fall?

Whirlwind Weekend!

TGIM...Thank Goodness Its Monday! I NEVER thought I would say that but this weekend was exhausting! The minute the clock hit 5pm on Friday, Chris and I have been movin' and shakin'.

After work on Friday, we headed to the Little Black Dress Event at the Camelot Club downtown. We recently joined and were excited about our first event there. It was bottomless martinis, so you know we had a good time! The only thing that I would have changed would have been labels for the food. The only items we knew didn't have meat were the desserts and fruit. Despite the fact that we were STARVING we were too nervous to try the dips or other food items. It was neat getting dressed up for a night on the town though, so we really enjoyed it!

Bright and early Saturday morning, I was moving tables and setting up for Dancin' in the Streets, which is the annual fundraiser for the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre. Although we weren't able to attend the big block party in Perkins Rowe, I know there was fun had by all! If you were able to go, let me know what you thought!

That evening I celebrated with 85 new members of my sorority during the Bid Day Pool Party! This is my first year being involved with the alumnae chapter and, of course, I can't just be a member I have to be in charge of something...so I chaired the party. WOW! Don't ever underestimate what heat and a full week of activities can do to the appetite of 18-22 year old girls! This pot-luck event was "catered" by the donations of alums. We had tons of food...lots of dips, desserts and snacks...all gone in minutes! Thanks to my house boy...aka husband...our donation included the easy and always delicious Garden Pasta Salad, adorable pick up cups of popcorn and M&Ms, cups of ranch, celery and carrots, 50 decorative cupcakes by Couture Cakes, LLC and a red and yellow candy bar. Since the girls were running way ahead of schedule, I wasn't able to take tons of pics but check out my party blog, Bliss Events by Rachel, this afternoon and there will be some posted!

You would think that Sunday would be our day of rest...think again! With the Fall semester beginning today, yesterday was the annual Chancellor's Welcome. This fun and spirited event truly kicks off the new semester with style...thanks to a few of our dear friends...The Golden Band from Tigerland, LSU Cheerleaders, and, of course, Mike the Tiger!

source

Although it was busy, we had a blast! Check back later, I'm going to evaluate my summer to-do-list and get one started for the Fall...I know you can't wait!

Dancin' in the Streets!

The Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre will be hosting an amazing night of fun this Saturday, August 21 from 7:00pm until 10:00pm in the Perkins Rowe Great Hall. Enjoy live music by Phat Hat and great food and drinks from area restaurants. For tickets visit batonrougeballet.org or call 225-766-8379

Zip Zip Zip A Roo!

There is a fabulous little Mexican joint on Perkins that is a staple for college students and others looking for fun on a budget...it is Zippy's.

I literally went here every Friday evening for a solid year...it was awesome. Living in the Hundred Oaks area, we still hit Zippy's up for a quick meal or to hang out with friends. When I was trying to explain Zippy's to my mother before her first visit, I told her it was a Mexican Subway, because to order you walk up to the counter, tell the guy what you are craving and then you watch him make it. Bing Bang Bongo! The atmosphere is really fun and laid back. The restaurant is definetly kid friendly and I've even brought the puppy to hang out on the patio...although we won't be doing that again anytime soon. Ollie just isn't ready...

A vegetarian can have a good ol' time here. Most of their entrees have veggie only options and since everything is pretty much made to go, you can customize almost everything. When I'm feeling naughty I consume the cheese enchiladas with a fierce determination...they are so yummy and are served with refried beans and rice. However, during my last visit, I behaved and ordered the Veggie Taco Salad.

I skipped the tortilla shell on the bottom and started with a nice bed of lettuce. I then added black beans and rice with tons of grilled veggies (onions, bell peppers and mushrooms). Next came the grilled corn, pico de gallo, salsa and guacamole. Lastly, since I was really in the mood for it...I added their avocado ranch. Delicious!

And, since no meal at Zippy's is complete without it...I ordered a Strawberry Margarita. My favorite!

They recently added Skinny frozen drinks to the menu. Not bad...at first you can tell there is no sugar added but after 10 it really doesn't matter anymore...mainly because nothing really matters anymore.

Whether you are looking for lunch, dinner or just a place to hang out and drink...Zippy's is a great option! Enjoy!

The Swheat Stuff!

This is my kitty Lola. She looks ashamed, because she is. She doesn't really care about the environment...let me share...

The blessing and curse of having a cat is the litter box. They make potty-training a piece of cake, you don't have to let them outside to do their business, you know exactly where to go to clean up after them...easy. My issue comes with the litter...traditional clay litter is incredibly toxic, made with fragrances and chemicals, and creates a dust that nearly kills me each time I empty or scoop. PLUS, more than 2 million tons of this non-biodegradable cat litter ends up in landfills each year. GROSS!

I have tried eco-friendly options to no avail! Lola is a bit of a diva...she lets me know when she isn't pleased and it is disgusting. I tried Yesterday's News, made from recycled newspapers. No dice! I tried Feline Pine, made from pine. No dice! Recently, however, I purchased Swheat Scoop...and so far, so good!

                            

Swheat Scoop is made from wheat, which is safe for both kitties and their humans. The litter's natural wheat enzymes safely neutralize odor. It is clay and chemical free, so no dust! I found it locally at Wal-Mart, so it is easy to find and the price isn't ridiculous. And, best of all, Lola hasn't noticed yet! Woo Hoo!

I have seen other reviews mentioning that it is difficult to scoop and that the cats are confused by the smell of wheat...do we pee in it or eat it??? We have been using it for about a week and no issues like that yet.

Now, those that know me know that we actually have two kitties. Mr. Kitty isn't as high-maintenance as Lola. He is a little older, a little wiser...but still adorable!

                        

Have you had similar issues? Let me know how you handle it!

     

Junior League Scavenger Hunt

On Saturday all of the Provisional members of the Baton Rouge Junior League got together for a Scavenger Hunt. We were split into teams and traveled around the BR learning about projects that the League has supported throughout the years.

We started at Magnolia Mound Plantation, whose mission is to illustrate and interpret the lifestyle of the French Creoles who formed the fascinating culture which still influences and pervades life in southern Louisiana. The mansion, once the center of a  900-acre plantation, is considered one of the city's oldest buildings. The historic house recently achieved reaccreditation - the highest honor a museum can receive - by the American Association of Museums. The BR Junior League assisted with renovations.

Our next stop was the Burden Center, which is one of the LSU AgCenter’s 20 research facilities across the state. Situated on a tract of 440 acres of open land in the heart of Baton Rouge, this station is home to a wide array of horticultural research projects. Research results help support the nursery and landscape industry and display gardens include roses, camellias, azaleas and crape myrtles.

Next, we headed to the McMains Children's Development Center. Named after Dr. Frank McMains, who offered his orthopedic services for over 33 years, the center helps children in the Greater Baton Rouge area with Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities such as sensory processing disorders, severe speech and learning disabilities, AD/HD, and autism AND is a community partner with the League.

Our last stop was the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Unfortunately, I did not get a photo at this location because we were racing the clock! This non-profit organization helps meet the short-term, unmet food needs of individuals in the greater Baton Rouge area through existing or social service providers, churches, synagogues and other organizations, like the League.
 
Although we had a BLAST running around town together, we all agreed that we learned so much about our community and opportunities of involvement! I hope you take advantage of the little information provided here and get involved in improving BR today! Woo Hoo!

Vegan Cupcakes...YUM!

I'm not a baker so you know that if I can make these cupcakes from scratch, you can too! Both of these recipes are from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero. I love these recipes because all of the ingredients are easily accessible and inexpensive! So yummy...you won't miss the dairy at all! Enjoy!

Golden Vanilla Cupcakes

1 cup soy milk

1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
¾ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt (increase salt to ½ teaspoon if you’re using oil instead of margarine)
½ cup non-hydrogenated margarine, softened, or ⅓ cup canola oil
¾ cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. almond extract, caramel extract, or more vanilla extract


1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2.Whisk the soy milk and vinegar in a measuring cup and set aside for a few minutes to get good and curdled.

3.If using margarine: Sift the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl and mix.

4.In a separate large bowl, use a handheld mixer at medium speed to cream the margarine and sugar for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy. (Don’t beat past 2 minutes.) Beat in the vanilla and other extract, if using, then alternate beating in the soy milk mixture and dry ingredients, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl a few times.

5.If using oil: Beat together the soy milk mixture, oil, sugar, vanilla, and other extracts, if using, in a large bowl. Sift in the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and mix until no large lumps remain.

6.Fill cupcake liners two-thirds of the way and bake for 20 to 22 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack, and let cool completely before frosting.
 

Vegan Fluffy Buttercream Frosting

½ cup nonhydrogenated shortening
½ cup nonhydrogenated margarine
3½ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1½ tsp. vanilla extract
¼ cup plain soy milk or soy creamer

1.Beat the shortening and margarine together until well-combined and fluffy. Add the sugar and beat for about 3 more minutes. Add the vanilla and soy milk and beat for another 5 to 7 minutes until fluffy.
 
 

I've made these twice and I LOVE THEM! They might not be the prettiest, but they are DANG good! Have a great Friday!

Happiness in a Bottle?

I am not what one would call a morning person...to the point that I am down right mean to anyone and everyone before 9:00am....or if I'm being honest...lunch. Also, I hate to clean bathrooms.

Why am I telling you these seemingly unrelated factoids about myself? Well, I have found a solution to BOTH!

There are few fragrances that instantly fill me with happy thoughts. Being a fatty, most are food related...obviously. However, I recently purchased a daily shower spray with ylang ylang...

Every morning, after my shower, I give the walls a little spritz and it literally fills the entire bathroom with this unbelievably wonderful fragrance. This smell makes me so relaxed that when Chris came in asking if I was ready to go...when obviously I wasn't since I had on no make-up and was only half-dressed...I didn't spiral out of control on him as usual. I simply answered and went about my business.

AND...my shower has never looked cleaner! I have the glass (ish?) doors on the shower that reveal instantly if I've been a good housewife or not. Now, it looks as if I scrub them daily...when all I do is give it a spray! DISCLAIMER: I still scrub them every other week, so it isn't like I've given up completely...this just prolongs that nasty, horrible task!

To add to my pleasure with this purchase, it is a naturally-derived, non-toxic, biodegradable product in a 100% recycled plastic package! Thanks Method!

You can purchase online...but I've found this product locally at Target and Lowe's for around $4. I've purchased Method hand soap and love that too, but this was the first cleaning product I bought. There are TONS of different cleaning products that I can't wait to try out. I recently purchased the dish washing detergent, and as soon as my other is completely gone, I'll actually be able to use it. I'll let you know how that goes.

Let me know if you use any product that you can't live without!

Digiulio Brothers

When we pulled up in the parking lot, it is obvious this Perkins Road restaurant is a bit of a treasure because there was a crowd waiting outside come dinner time! Once we made it into Digiulio Brothers, I was shocked at the amount of tables crammed into such a small space! I felt like I was on top of my neighbors...but once they put the food on the table...I couldn't have cared less! I tried to take pictures but it was rather dark in there so none of them came out! So try to just imagine...

I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan. There wasn't a ton of vegetarian options but I didn't mind because this is one of my favorite Italian dishes. They had an eggplant appetizer but we skipped out because the entrees come with salads. The house dressing on the salad....wow-zer! It was a balsamic vinaigrette on crack! So very yummy that I used the bread on the table to absorbed every last bit on the plate! The bread was down right amazing as well. When they set my entree in front of me, I almost passed out! It was pretty large portions...but I had no problem taking it all down. Some of the best Eggplant Parmesan I've ever tasted!

This restaurant would be perfect for date-night because it really gives off a romantic vibe...and it is borderline pricey. My suggestion...don't go during obvious rush-times. We have tried to go here for lunch and the line was just too long for our short lunch period. So plan ahead!

WARNING: They do have misters on the entrance. I was nervous about walking under them because I thought I was going to get wet and my hair would be a mess (yep...I'm vain) but it affected me none! So have no worries!

All in all...this is a great place to grab Italian! Enjoy!

My new favorite salsa!

As I have previously stated, I LOVE CHIPS AND SALSA! I could (and have) eaten just chips and salsa as an entire meal. This goes beyond a guilty pleasure...I just love it. When I came across the recipe for Blueberry Avocado Salsa on Manifest: Vegan, I'll admit, I was really nervous but I was determined to try it anyway...and I'm so glad I powered through because it is has now knocked mango salsa out of the running for my favorite salsa of all time! Enjoy!

Blueberry Avocado Salsa

1 1/2 cups fresh tomatoes, quartered
2 cups fresh blueberries
2 tbsp lime juice + extra for drizzling onto avocados
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp chopped jalapeno pepper
1 ripe avocado, cut into small chunks

Pulse all ingredients (except for avocado) a few times in a food processor.

Then, cut up your avocado and drizzle with lime juice. Stir in chopped avocado with the rest of your salsa ingredients. Add a touch more salt, if desired. Serve immediately.

Look how gorgeous that is! I just love all the great colors! Now, Chris and I thought we were being "smart" when we ignored the recipe that suggested only 1 tablespoon of jalapeno pepper. We just chopped up a giant one and tossed the entire thing in there, seeds and all. That was...dumb. It had a great kick to it but a little too much kick...so you might want to heed the advice of the recipe!

If you try this out, let me know what you think!

Happy Little Vegan's Fried Chickpea Salad

Another new recipe that Chris and I tried this week was Fried Chickpea Salad from Happy Little Vegans. I was pretty skeptical when it mentioned frying the chickpeas...but they are little pieces of heaven and you need to try them RIGHT NOW! Enjoy!

Fried Chickpea Salad

15 oz of cooked chickpeas (or 1 can of chickpeas)
2-3 tsp flour
2 tsp of yellow curry powder (we couldn't find it so we used a little red curry powder)
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
2-4 cups couscous (depending on how much you want, we were good with 2 cups)
6-8 Heirloom or Exotic tomatoes (we had Roma on hand, so that is what we used)
3-4 green onion stalks
1/4 cup fresh cut basil
Juice of 1 lemon
Your favorite leafy salad greens
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix the flour, curry powder, ground ginger, and Cajun seasoning and dust the mixture over the chickpeas. Saute in a bit of olive oil in a hot pan until nice and crispy. Sprinkle with a little salt while they are cooling and voila...hard part over!

Next, prepare your couscous. The brand that we use suggested one cup water to each cup couscous, so just pay attention to the instructions on the label. I boiled two cups of water, stirred in two cups of couscous and removed from heat. Let sit for 4-5 minutes and then fluff with a fork.

Finally, slice your veggies and begin to layer your salad. First, dump your favorite leafy salad greens in the bottom of your fabulous salad bowl. Then add your couscous and then your veggies. Top with your chickpeas, lemon juice, salt and pepper and finally, the basil.

Holy wow, this salad is fabulous! The chickpeas, the basil and the tomatoes...PERFECT combination! We had leftovers for lunch the next day and it was still delicious! This is a perfect summer meal, so enjoy soon!

VeganLoveLie's Asian Salad...YUM!

As I was planning the meals for this week, I did some blog-searching for recipes. I wanted to cook meals that were simple, colorful, healthy and of course, tasty! My first find was this amazing Asian Salad from VeganLovelie. We had this over the weekend for our "date night". So yummy...enjoy!

Asian Salad

Asian Stir-fry Noodles (boiled until soft then rinsed in cold water to prevent sticking)
(VeganLovelie used sweet potato noodles, but I couldn't find any!)
1 medium sized carrot (finely sliced with a vegetable peeler)
Mixed pepper slices (red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are perfect!)
1 frozen bag of snow peas (immersed in boiling water for 10 minutes, then drained)
4-5 radishes (sliced)
A handful or so of raw green beans (sliced)

Toss everything in a large salad bowl...then add:

Fruit Butter Asian Salad Dressing

1 tablespoon fruit butter (the recipe from yesterday is PERFECT!)
1 teaspoon wasabi paste
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) fine chili powder
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon fruit syrup (or maple syrup/agave nectar)
Salt to taste

Mix all ingredients together (a fork is easiest to break up the butter and wasabi paste) then pour over salad before serving.

Aren't all those colors just pretty! This was such a tasty meal and I really encourage all to try it!

This was part of our "date night" so we had a fun little set up:

For dessert, we had fresh pineapple and it complimented the salad so well. We also had a really tasty white wine. I love Riesling...mainly because I'm a big girly-girl and I love the fruitiness and sweetness. Oddly, this Riesling was a great pairing for the salad...light and refreshing...not to mention, made with organically grown grapes!

Move Over Nut Butters!

Apple butter, in my opinion, is in the ballpark of outstanding, amazing and ridiculously tasty. I had been purchasing this tasty condiment from Southside Produce and had never thought of making my own or even trying fruits other than apple. UNTIL, I stumbled across a recipe on VeganLovelie. Enjoy!

Apple and Pineapple Fruit Butter

First, chop 2 apples and 1/2 of a pineapple into small pieces. Then, you can either toss into a blender, food processor or even use a hand-blender to puree the fruit. (Just don't puree too much, like I did...you want it to be a little chunky still)

Next, add 2-3 tablespoons of sugar and move mixture to a thick-bottom pan. Cook on a low-setting for 30-45 minutues (basically, until thick enough to use as a spread).

and VOILA...your fruit butter is complete! Move into a small container and refrigerate. I love using this on toast in the morning for breakfast...so simple, easy and delicious!

BUT stay-tuned because tomorrow, I'm going to share a really tasty salad and dressing that will use this fruit butter! You won't want to miss!