Monthly Archive for July, 2011

Grilled Peach Salad with Pecans, Goat Cheese & Mint

Published on July 14, 2011 in Salad and Vegetarian. 2 Comments

As you’d probably guess, the Food Network is one of my favorite channels. Sure, I have my favorite shows/hosts (Giada, Barefoot, Bobby), but I’ll pretty much watch anything. A few weekends ago I was watching Melissa d’Arabian make pavlova with berries and she said, “…if fruit isn’t cheap, you shouldn’t be using it.” Well, I’d expect her to say that considering her show is Ten Dollar Dinners. But on second thought, she makes a good point. If fruit is cheap, it’s probably in season. And if it’s in season, it’s probably pretty darn good .

Here’s a tip – right now, peaches are cheap. I’m talkin’ 99 cents per lb. cheap, and that works for me. So what do you do when you have a bizzilion peaches and you just can’t eat one more plain? Grill those babies and put them in a salad! Below is a recipe for what I promise will be one of the best salads of your life – sweet grilled peaches, toasty pecans, creamy goat cheese and fresh mint. There are a few steps, but its easy nonetheless. So head to your Stop & Shop, Shaws or farmer’s market – you now have a plan for those cheap peaches .

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4 peaches, cut into slices
3/4 cup pecans
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
1 head green leaf lettuce or 2 hearts of romaine lettuce, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoon chopped mint

Dressing:

3 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
4 grinds of the pepper mill (so scientific )
1/3 cup and 1 tablespoon EVOO

Directions:

Heat a grill pan to medium heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spray and grill the peaches for 1.5 min on each side (you want nice grill marks).
Meanwhile, heat a small skillet to low heat and toast the pecans for 2 min. Pay attention because these will burn if you leave them. Once cooled, chop into large pieces.
In a small bowl, combine the first 4 ingredients of the dressing, then stream in the EVOO until emulsified.
In a large salad bowl, layer the chopped lettuce, toasted pecans, crumbled goat cheese, peaches and mint. Drizzle with the dressing, toss and serve.

Bon appetit!

- Christina

Berry Shortcake with Limoncello-Spiked Whipped Cream

Published on July 11, 2011 in Dessert. 5 Comments

One of the best things about living in my new digs are the weekly dinner parties! It’s been great to see friends and family, make a nice meal and enjoy a fun evening without spending a fortune in the city. These weekly gatherings ensure our place is always clean and tidy – great for living but time consuming for sure. So on the nights when I’m cleaning the kitchen, chopping vegetables and marinating the main dish, it’s great to have a tasty but easy dessert at the ready.

I love strawberry shortcake. The way the sweet fruit mixes with the whipped cream and crumbly shortcake is divine. A perfect summer indulgence that comes together in a snap. To make this dessert extra special (and semi-homemade), I combine store-bought shortcake with strawberries and blueberries, then top it off with limoncello-spiked whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Store-bought shortcakes
1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 pint blueberries
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons limoncello (more or less to taste)

Directions:

In a medium bowl, mix the strawberries and blueberries with the sugar. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (I prep this in advance).
When ready to serve, whip the heavy whipping cream and limoncello in a medium bowl with an electric hand mixer. Stop once medium peaks form (approx. 2 minutes).
Split the shortcakes length-wise. Layer a half with the berry mixture, whipped cream and more berries.

Bon appetit!

-Christina

Anthropologie Love

Published on July 7, 2011 in Lifestyle. 2 Comments

Woa – what a whirlwind (extended) weekend! From birthday dinners to beach-side bago, I’ve had a fun yet busy few days. Stay tuned for a line up of restaurant reviews and some fresh new dishes for summer!

As I put the finishing touches on the posts, I’ve compiled a list of my recent kitchenware favs from Anthropologie. Typically, I only like to use white serveware with clean lines. I think that food should speak for itself and the best dishes are enticing both to your taste buds and your eyes. However, as I make my monthly perusal of Anthropologie’s online site, I just can’t help but envision some of these charming and colorful pieces in my kitchen.

Do you have Anthro-kitchenware in your house?

L’Epice Jar:

Into the Jungle Trivet:

Plate Presentation Apron:

Dining Room Measuring Spoons:

Atom Art Bowls:

Monogrammed Mugs:

Amazon Dreams Pitcher:

Mina Round Tablecloth:

Fourth of July Crowd Pleasers

Published on July 1, 2011 in Appetizer, Chicken, Dessert, Holiday, Salad, Seafood and Soup. 1 Comment

It’s almost time to set off those fireworks! The 4th is by far one of my favorite holidays – there’ nothing like the smell of the grill, warm sunshine on my skin and being surrounded by family and friends. I’ll be bopping around this weekend – cooking (of course) and hoping to get in a little beach time as well.
With BBQ’s and parties right around the corner, I’ve put together a tasty compilation of celebratory treats. What are you up to for the holiday? Any special dishes you’re planning to make?

Enjoy!