Spinach and Artichoke Mac & Cheese

You know when you go out to dinner and you are SO hungry that you are convinced if you don't get an appetizer you won't make it?

And there is one appetizer out there I am pretty much CERTAIN that EVERYBODY loves.

Not everyone likes buffalo wings. And not everyone can scarf down fried calamari the way I can (I accept this. It is ok).

But let's all agree that pretty much everyone out there loves a good spinach and artichoke dip.

Cream cheese. Sour cream. Parmesan cheese. Spinach. Artichokes. Maybe you bake it with mozzerella cheese on top. So wrong, but so entirely 100% right.

I started thinking about "spin-dip" randomly a few days ago. Weird, yes. But I digress.

I felt like I couldn't just whip up a batch of spin-dip and eat it with greasy pita chips on my couch while watching The Devil Wears Prada (I should have just done this). I came to a quick conclusion that it would, on the other hand, be completely ok to whip up a dinner inspired by spin-dip and then sit on my couch watching The Devil Wears Prada.

So I made Spinach and Artichoke Mac & Cheese.

And I don't want to be pushy or anything. But it is time for you to go to the grocery store, pick up whatever ingredients below you don't have, and make this. Nobody will be mad. Everyone will be happy (and in a very euphoric comfort food coma).

Honey Balsamic Glazed Asparagus

Can we all agree that when it is not raining here in New England, the weather has been just beautiful recently?

Boston, MA

I wanted to take some time with the windows open and the breeze pouring through the share a quick but yummy side dish I made recently.

If you check out my last post, you can get more of an idea as to why I have been slightly MIA from the blog world, and when you can expect me back in full swing!

One of my favorite veggies is asparagus. It has such great flavor and pairs well with so many different meals. I usually will just roast up a bunch of full spears with lots of salt, cracked black pepper and a little lemon juice drizzled on top. Sprinkle that with Parmesan cheese and we are totally in business.

I decided to try something a little different this weekend and I was quite pleased with the results.

I roughly chopped the asparagus and sauteed in a little bit of lemon olive oil (O brand), then tossed it all in honey and balsamic vinegar until a lovely glaze formed. I balanced the sweetness of the honey and the bite of the balsamic with just a dash of chili powder and some salt and pepper to taste.

 The end result was tender and flavorful asparagus that paired beautiful with roasted red potatoes (recipe here) and a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.

While I'm Out...

Hello out there!

I know what you're thinking. "Where have you been, Jess?!" "I AM STARVING HERE." "I don't know what to make for dinner EVER!"

Ok, alright. I know I am not inspiring your every waking meal. And I know there are thousands of wonderful food blogs and recipes out there to keep our kitchens bustling for days.

I just wanted to stop by and say hello. I haven't forgotten about my blog here. The problem is, it's exam season right now and life is full of math equations and number 2 pencils and financial calculators.

And in between word problems and seminar videos, I'm trying to do some fun things. Fun things like Ziplining and going to New York Giants games!

I am not spending much time in the kitchen. And, when I am cooking, it's a quick meal that can come together in a matter of minutes (look, honestly, to give you some perspective a few nights ago I had a Lean Cuisine for dinner. Why do people do that to themselves? Those things are snacks, at most. But, I mean, the 5 minute prep time is what I'd needed).

After November 1, I promise to be back in full swing with new recipes (inspired by the Fall season!) and new stories.

If there are any dishes you'd like me to experiment with next month, leave a comment here and I'll see what I can pull together!
Otherwise, keep cooking. But don't forget about me!

Beef Barley 'Stoup'

There are few things I love more than a big blanket, a comfy couch, the Food Network, and a warm bowl of soup. If it were socially acceptable to do this every day, I would. I'd be really good at it, too.

I'm pretty much an expert couch potato. Not to say I don't stay active, because I do. I'm just saying that my delusional fantasy would be kicking back and relaxing from morning to night.

In any couch-slouching situation, one must have a heart-warming bowl of goodness on hand. I just love soups. Tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, potato leek soup...for me, no food is more comforting.

This week, my soup of choice turned into more of a stew because it is quite rich and hearty. It wasn't as thick as a stew, however. So, as Rachel Ray says, this mixture of a stew and a soup can affectionately be known as a "stoup."

Beef Barley Stoup is a great marriage of beef barley soup and a traditional beef stew. With a little help from the grocery store, the stoup tastes like it's been simmering all day (even though it comes together in about 60 minutes!) Whenever you feel like you need a big bear hug, try pulling together a pot of this stoup--it'll have you warm and comforted in no time!

Turkey Pumpkin Chili

Pumpkin is so hip. It’s like the chambray of the food world. Everyone wants to get on the pumpkin bandwagon.

Hey, I won’t lie. I’m on it too. I’m loving it.

Last week I went all sweet on myself and made dark chocolate and walnut pumpkin cookies. I brought them to work and they were gone in a flash. Whether people were just being nice or if they really enjoyed them is a mystery, but I think it was the latter. They were super yummy. I’m being a good daughter and bringing my mother home some of these treats this weekend…go me!

Well, a few nights ago, I wanted to go all pumpkin overload again but I also didn’t want to bake. My poor Crock Pot has been collecting dust the past few months…the dog days of summer didn’t have me craving stew or chili or anything of that nature.

So, are you ready for the kicker? We are going to bring our love of pumpkin together with our love of our Crock Pots, and we are going to call it Pumpkin Chili.

I decided that a Turkey Pumpkin chili would work best…turkey is more mild than ground beef and so I was able to get a little crazy with the other flavors that went into the dish.

Because this is a Crock Pot meal, you can guarantee this is super simple and also super delicious. If the reality of fall hasn’t hit you yet, give this chili a try—it will have you dreaming of foliage and jack-o-laterns!

Dark Chocolate and Walnut Pumpkin Cookies

I want to talk about cookies. I think now is as good a time as ever to have such a talk.

Cookies are so necessary. Always. That’s really all I have to say on the matter.

Ok, well really, there is more. I’m completely guilty of loving Oreos way more than a person should, particularly the double-stuffed peanut butter variety. I’m also guilty of feeling immense joy during Girl Scout cookie season. 18 boxes of thin mints, 20 boxes of samoas, and a tag along or 12 while you’re at it. I love a good store bought cookie. Who doesn’t?!

I also have a fear of baking. See my post on pink lemonade cupcakes for more on why…

I love, however, an easy recipe that takes some of that immense stress off of the baker (namely, me) and still yields a delicious sweet treat.

Enter boxed cake mixes (have all the real bakers of the world given up hope on me?!). These things are a good place to start for the not-so-advanced, burn savvy baker (again…me). Doctor them up a bit and, as long as you make your sweet treat with love, I don’t think anyone will object.

Fall flavors are in full swing – I can tell, because a LOT more people are walking around with Starbucks cups. I KNOW you have a pumpkin spice latte in there. I know this because I do, too. No reason to be ashamed. Pumpkin is delicious. So I wanted to make something with pumpkin.

The secret is definitely out on how to make an easy yet delicious pumpkin cookie.

I’m going to add dark chocolate chunks and walnuts to mine. That brings the total number of ingredients to 5.

Fearful bakers of the world: let’s do this thing!

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers

Things just got a little out of hand in my kitchen. I'm not upset about it. I don't think you will be either.

I took Philly Cheesesteak. And I stuffed a pepper with it. Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers.

Oh my god.

OK, so here's the back story.

A couple of weekends ago, I went out to Philadelphia to visit my friend Lauren. We went to college together and continue to keep in touch despite the fact that our work took us to two different cities 6 hours away.

After much discussion about a Philadelphia trip, we finally manned up and made it happen. It's SO easy to procrastinate planning and use the excuse of "I'm too dang busy." Well, my challenge for you is to stop SAYING you're going to go on this vacation, go visit this old friend, or travel to some cool landmark and JUST DO IT. You'll be so much happier after you do.

Now, despite the fact that it was 1 million degrees and rising this weekend, we had an awesome weekend. I requested that we do some super touristy things because I had never been to Philly. We went to the Rocky steps at the art museum, visited the Liberty Bell, took way too many pictures outside old City Hall, and we even went to a Phillies game!

But there was one request I DEMANDED be met.

I had to have one authentic, delicious, gut-busting Philly Cheesesteak.

Lauren oblidged handsomely to this request. I have come to consider her the "Tour Guide of the Year."

We went to her personal favorite cheese steak location, and I can totally see why it tops the list. The name of the spot is Dalessandro's. It was a cute little hole in the wall that held the secret to all my Philly Cheesesteak needs.They have a bunch of different hoagies, but I knew I had to go with a traditional Cheesesteak. Shaved steak, American cheese (this apparently is not necessarily the norm for every cheesesteak...provolone is more common), grilled peppers, grilled onions, and mushrooms on a hoagie roll. It's perfection in a sandwich.

The Sandwich that changed my life...

So the trip to Philly was awesome, and I came home wishing I had regular access to a Dalessandro Cheesesteak. A week ago, it hit me as I was enjoying a stuffed pepper that this was it. This would be the vessel that would satisfy this cheesey, gooey, warm, delicious craving.