Summer Salutations!

Can you believe it's June? It feels like spring. We haven't had a super hot day yet and everything is in bloom. The only true spring to summer transition has been in our house, where the moss baskets give way to stars and stripes. P and I truly love summer just for the fact that there are 3 sequential patriotic holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Fourth of July. P, being a history major and overall enthusiast always proposes we watch the John Adams miniseries and "Our American Presidents" documentaries in June. That one has lofty goals. We are just a normal Midwestern couple who truly loves our country. A few weeks ago our Sunday supper was appeared super patriotic:

A beautiful panzanella and bibb lettuces with buttermilk ranch. The colors! The stars and stripes table linens! My heart!

Last year I even stumbled across some amazing things at Jonathan Adler. Right now, when you walk into our house, George Washington will stare you down from this platter I have fashioned as a piece of art.

Don't worry, I got the matching salad serving set and condiment bowls too.

Today, I am here to share a super summer dessert (that is red/white/blue to boot!). Everyone knows pie, some people love it and some people don't. What I am here to share with you is a CROSTATA. I am really having a crostata moment right now. I would say it's an excellent first step to making pie. It allows you to make dough and roll it out, but not so far that really requires skill. However, a free-form rustic pie is exactly my aesthetic, and the fact the one I made last night uses all berries is just a plus. I found this dough recipe in Ina Garten's cookbook, but have created a truly amazing filling combination, it had to be shared. And it is super simple. 

SUMMER BERRY CROSTATA

CRUST:

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

1/2 t Salt

2 Sticks Cold Unsalted Butter, diced

6 Tablespoons Ice Water

Mix the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add the butter cubes and pulse until the butter is the size of peas. Add the cold water and keep pulsing until the dough starts to form a ball. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, divide into two balls, make into discs and wrap in plastic wrap. This recipe makes enough for two crostatas, so freeze one for later, or get enough fruit to make two!

If you do not have a food processor, a fun trick I learned was to freeze your butter, then grate it with a box grater. Place back in the freezer. Mix the dry ingredients in a regular bowl, and toss in the grated butter. Mix with a pastry blender. Add the water until a ball forms.

Let the dough chill for a few hours.

FILLING:

1/2 Cup Blueberries

1/2 Cup Raspberries

1/2 Cup Strawberries, hulled and cut in half

1/4 Cup Sugar

1/4 Cornstarch

1 lemon, juiced

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Allow to sit for 10  minutes while you roll the dough.

Preheat the oven to 375F.

Remove the dough from the fridge and place disc on well-floured surface. Roll disc into a 12-inch round with rolling pin. You may have to do this two or three times (at least I do), so get a workable dough, but do not work it too much; you'll lose the tenderness in the crust. Once you have a flat round, fold in half, then fold in half again. Place triangle on the top of a prepared baking sheet, unfold your disc completely to reveal the full round. Spoon your berry mixture onto the middle of the dough, leaving a large border. Roll the edges of the dough into the center, creating an overlapping crust around the berries.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the dough turns a nice golden brown. If you want to serve out of the oven, wait about 20 minutes for the juices to cool down and thicken.

When I made this last night, P was almost afraid to tell me how good it was because he framed it as: "it's way better than the last one you made." Gee thanks. Another gem from last night; "you burned the brussels sprouts perfectly." We love the char. 

After the month of May, we are completely caked out. Two birthdays and a wedding anniversary will do that to you. Also, we went to Summer House Santa Monica Saturday night, which was superb. Especially their cookie bar. So, Sunday family Supper called for a light and delicious fruit dessert. I'm glad my husband is branching out into new foods. He was one of those "only chocolate desserts" kind of guys. The worst. It took almost 5 years, but he's come over to my side now and really appreciating food as being multidimensional. Instead of it being "good" and in "mass quantities," we like to focus on "seasonal" and "substance." I like making my own pies because rather than eating "glop with fruit," you get to eat fruit and crust, and maybe if you're lucky... with ice cream. Therefore completing the red/white/blue trifecta.

My Top 5 Costco Obsessions

God don't you just love buying bulk? I'm not talking toilet paper and bleach (though those do prove useful). I am talking high-quality, delicious food! Costco is seemingly the premium club warehouse. Average incomes of club members skew higher than its competitors and quality and customer satisfaction are pillars of the brand. Costco is not paying me for this post. I had to do a large amount of research on the retailer when it was relevant to a large case we had at the firm last year. And it only made me love it more!

Costco in Paradise

 I love the discount on magazines. P and I linger around the magazine stand, deciding which ones to add to our stack. We even made a point to stop at the Costco on Kauai before our flight back home to stock up. This is where our relationship with Costco has taken us.

The produce is probably my favorite part, and we buy a lot of it there. 80% of our cart ends up being produce, and I have been known to pop in the store when I only need berries or greens. It's just not the same elsewhere. There have been a few staples in our cart the past few weeks, and I MUST rave about them. We consistently enjoy these yummy treats and restock immediately upon running out.

1. Power Greens

I know I've pumped these up before, but we can't get enough! It is a delicious salad mix, an excellent add-in to smoothies, a veggie addition to soup, and a wonderful pizza or pasta topper. And since I try to find any opportunity to add some greens, we usually go through a tub a week. After eating a lot of mixed greens, I found myself graduating to the darker, more bitter leaves. I think it adds another layer of flavor to an otherwise mainstream dish. Oh yeah... it's also really good for you.

2. Pesto

Holy Moly. This stuff is good. I love a good homemade pesto, but (a) I do not live in a warm climate where basil abounds everywhere, (b) I am not made of money and cannot buy 4 giant tubs of basil at Whole Foods for $6.99 a pop, and (c) my homemade concoctions seem to turn brown within hours of leaving my food processor. Kirkland Pesto for the win! It is perfectly balanced; not too oily, not too nutty, not too cheesy. And it goes with everything. Everything. I put it on caprese paninis, finish off soups with it, make a yummy salad dressing with it, throw it on pizza crust or baguette. If I knew of this stuff at the time, I probably would have made it my prom date.

3. PopChips Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips

I can't even deal with these. I am a PopChips fanatic. They got me through law school. No matter how many times I overdosed on barbecue PopChips after coming home from class and swore them off, I would return the next day only to overindulge again. I'm pretty sure my textbooks were filled with the barbecue residue (you're welcome, current students buying used!). I only found out about these nacho cheese tortilla chips last month, and I am addicted. It's great that you can buy a bazillion at once, because that's how many I ate. These are now my go-to's in that insufferable period between getting home from the gym and eating dinner. I'm pretty sure the residue of these chips now end up on whatever I serve P for dinner. He would be so lucky; to have everything he eats nacho cheese-flavored.

4. Cuties Juice.

Tangerine juice > Orange juice. Sourced from those adorable little citrus fruits, this juice is beyond. It tastes exactly like the fruit, except you don't have to go through the motions of peeling a million little oranges to curb your craving. I am an advocate for diluting juice with sparkling water, and this juice receives extra credit points for pairing with LaCroix Pamplemousse so well. 

5. Dark Chocolate Pretzel Crisps.

Those delicious pretzel chips now come in dessert form. And I am all for that. Add that to the fact that I inherited my grandmother's preference for dark chocolate over any other, and I am one happy puppy. You know something is good when you think the Costco pack isn't big enough to curb your craving. Buy two.

You're Gonna Make It After All...

LAW here again. It's been awhile and the world is beginning to thaw. I have decided to make a conscious effort to rejoin society and enjoy life! I am attempting to take up the fms photo a day challenge, which makes you stop and try to find the little things in life and share them with your friends. I also am going to attempt to get back into the kitchen like I used to. I also plan to share those recipes on this blog! (I have some recipes in the queue to make AND they look amazing!) I have been in a major funk this winter, and am going to shift my focus to things I love and enjoy to do.It may have been a long, hard winter. But we're going to make it, guys!

What better way to begin with an "icebreaker?" My friend Jenny tagged me to blog about myself and I accept her challenge! I have to list 11 random facts about myself and answer the 11 questions Jenny wants to know.

1. I am addicted to buying glass decorative accents. Domes. Candy Jars. Candle holders. Vases. You name it. I'm pretty sure Pat realized there was a problem when I brought home a third candy jar. I don't know what it is. It's shiny? We have a whole hall closet filled with this stuff because I enjoy how light reflects off of it.

2. I have an unhealthy addiction to almond M&Ms. I think of almonds as the fiber-rich, less greasy cousin of the peanut. And because of this, I allow myself to enjoy more than I should.

3. I have very bizarre, vivid dreams. I have a lot of train dreams, which I've been told means that I'm on a journey where l I haven't arrived at my destination yet. The worst involved Justin Bieber chasing me throughout my middle school (which was juxtaposed on a train) from traincar to traincar asking me to be Mrs. Bieber. My most recent was me getting into a fight on game night with Bill Murray at my friend's Emma's house (which was my childhood house, but backwards), alleging he was cheating. The game consisted of pulling a 90s CD out of Emma's freezer, which were hidden under layers of appetizers and the opponent had to list three songs on the album. I pulled the abridged version of the Les Miserables soundtrack and was upset that someone whispered the songs to Bill.  This is my burden. I try to wake up and tell Pat immediately, but it's getting to a point where I'm starting to feel judged by how weird my dreams are.

4. I've never seen Star Wars, E.T., or Indiana Jones. I am a movie fanatic, but for some reason have never quite gotten around to these. And we own them too.

5. I clap very loudly. I don't know how. It could be the engineering of my hands; the shape of them with the placement of the fat pockets. It really embarrasses Pat, which makes me clap longer than a person should. By the time applause is dying down, I'm still smacking my palms. Cut to Pat's eyes darting around the room checking to see who's annoyed as he is.

6. I. Love. Watermelon. Everything about it. I love buying them, toting them up the stairs to our kitchen, cutting them, and eating a whole melon in one sitting. Cutting them is like a puzzle to me. It's very calming. I also will down a whole watermelon for dinner. It's not the healthiest life decision, but it makes me super happy, and I end up having to get up multiple times during the night because... it's mostly water.

7. I met my husband in second grade. I thought he was funny, but didn't feel Cupid's arrow hit. Flash forward to sophomore year in high school, and ZING! He has made me laugh ever since and is the greatest partner to go through life with.

8. I love Starbucks. Actually, it's at a point where I don't know if I love it or simply need it. Multiple Starbucks know my "order" and if Pat goes to the Starbucks in our building without the me, the baristas ask where I am. I have even gotten to a point where I try to take funny selfies with my cup:

9. My spirit animal is Tami Taylor from Friday Night Lights. I consider myself a no-nonsense, sassy woman with a completely supportive husband who doesn't question her love for wine. I also have hair aspiration and love a pair of Ray-Ban aviators. I'm also trying to learn her hands-up hip sway from the opening credits.

10. When I get mad, I get silent. Pat says a silent Laurel is the scariest Laurel.

11. I love giraffes. Probably more than people can understand. They are just so graceful, are generally peaceful animals, and are tall. I at least identify with the tall thing. I own a lot of clothing and accessories depicting giraffes. Because isn't that what you want in an attorney? You go visit your lawyer, who is wearing a giraffe sweater?

And now to Jenny's questions!!

1. What are your favorite pair of shoes you own? It's a boring choice, but I really love my nude pumps. I keep them at work, and they go with everything. They are actually starting to show some wear and tear, but can't seem to replace them.

2. If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would it be? PIZZA! I joke about my addictions to Starbucks and almond M&Ms, but it's not a true addiction. I am actually addicted to pizza. It started in law school, where my bestie Molly and I had standing Thursday night dates at Pitch in Omaha. After moving to Oak Park, I had to fill the void. If I don't have it, I start to have withdrawal symptoms. There is a great place about a block from our place that has the best pizza we've ever had. I get the arugula pizza at least once a week (more if it's the dead of winter). We have a coupon every time, and it's gotten to a point where they see Pat coming and have the pizza out and the bill ready to go. If I don't have it in a week, or if I'm out of town, I HAVE to find a place where you can get a sauceless thin crust pizza with prosciutto, topped with a bed of arugula, finished with a halo of Parmesan cheese. I have been known to eat a whole pizza with a glass of wine on a Thursday night. So, I would elect to have my arugula pizza as my endless supply because it is really close to reality anyway.

3. What was your favorite toy as a child? I was a Barbie fanatic. I loved the outfits, the hair, and the makeup. I loved that you could make stories about best girlfriends hanging out and being sassy. My parents never got me Ken dolls, so it was always a female-centered plot. In hindsight, I appreciate this decision my parents made, because it allowed me to be fulfilled with strictly positive female interaction. My Barbies never fought or judged each other. It really set the scene for my super positive girl power mindset as an adult.

4. What's the best vacation you've ever been on? Pat and I drove from Omaha to Albuquerque a few months before we got married. We went to visit my parents, have our engagement photos taken, and enjoy some time off before going back to my second semester of law school. We love our roadtrips, and this was the first opportunity to really have a road adventure. This trip really set the scene for how our relationship would end up. We love talking in movie quotes, reading Vanity Fair articles to each other, and discuss the questions of life. This trip really affirmed my decision to marry him and reminded me how much I love him, Ella, and the state of Nebraska!

5. Are you a morning person or a night owl? I am an absolute morning person. There is no way I could ever be described as a night owl. Lately, I've been falling asleep earlier and earlier. I get up the next day and Pat lists everything he accomplished after I passed our the night before. This has included cleaning bathrooms, watching multiple episodes of a television show, and eating a whole meal.

6. What was the last book you read? What's a book? If it's a collection of tens of thousands of pages of agreements and disclosures, then the last book I read was today! I have been working on "Dearie," the biography of Julia Child. A woman I admire and try to be more like. I took it with me to Hawaii in October, and I am almost halfway done with it as of March! Add this to the list of enjoyable things to do.

7. Were you named after anyone? Yes. I have been told I was named after the woman who gave my family the land in Nebraska that we still farm today. I was actually expected to be male, because my parents had already had a daughter, and a son would just round things out. Because that's how life works. I was going to be Alexander, which ended up being the influence for my middle name Alexandra.

8. What's your favorite cereal? Reese's Puffs!Who can resist chocolate/peanut butter combo? I was never allowed to have it as a kid, and could only get it when I worked the system. I actually buy it now twice a year to enjoy as dessert. It's actually a pretty sensible dessert!

9. What's your biggest pet peeve? Rudeness. I have no patience for it. If we all have to exist on this planet together, we should at least be civil to each other. How people behave to one another is alarming at times. Also, I have found that people are more likely to help you and get you what you want when you are kind and gracious.

10. What's the best gift you've ever received? Two years ago, Pat got me monogrammed pajamas. I love pajamas, and the fact that they were personalized made it even better. I had just got sworn in to the Illinois bar, and really felt like I made it when I had a law license and monogrammed PJs. Last summer, the movie "The Heat" came out, and Sandra Bullock's character had my same pajamas, which ended up being a running joke in the movie. And in our house. I just really enjoy going to bed in my blue, monogrammed tuxedo.

11. Lastly, what was your AOL Instant Messenger screen name in middle/high school, and what did it mean?

 luciepinky515

Lucie- my name in my three years of french class

pinky- I really loved the color pink

515- my birthdate

Also, we didn't have AOL. I wasn't allowed to be cool. I had AIM.

I am supposed to to tag 11 other bloggers and ask 11 additional questions. My online presence and connectivity is rather sparse, so I will skip this step.

Cheers to a new found devotion to all the fun things in life! I can't wait to starting doing things I enjoy and sharing them with you all.



Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas with Avocado Cream and Feta

It's still winter, right? Mmmk. Great.

It's horribly embarrassing how long it has been since my last post, but working and trying to sleep through the dead of winter takes a lot out of a girl. On another cold day in late January, however, a sign of hope arrived at our house: I didn't need takeout pizza after the gym, but wanted to cook a hot meal myself. Don't despair, readers, we got takeout pizza the next night and the world was right again.

I honestly feel like enchiladas are the best food. It has a great combo of salt and spice and has the most wonderful texture of cheese with tortilla. I think this cheese and tortilla combo will take off in our culture...

A few years ago, I completely changed my eating habits. I was raised in the 80s and 90s, where prepackaged foods were a staple and pop ran through the streets like water. Don't get me wrong, I had a mom who loved to cook beautiful homemade meals, but she had other things to do most days (like work and raise two annoying children). I always struggled with my weight as a teenager/young adult, and found out I had some health issues that made it more difficult for me to lose weight AND maintain a healthy weight. I have been to countless doctors who have given me all different kinds of treatment. I have been thin and have been very overweight just in the past ten years. When I was in law school, I finally found a doctor who clicked with me. She showed me how I was completely focusing on the wrong things (i.e. weight) and should start focusing on healthy positive life decisions. The world we live in is completely focused on quick fixes and fleeting resolutions, and it definitely was sending me the wrong message. It took me a year and a half to lose 90 pounds and I never felt sad or deprived.

When people ask how I did it, I almost smirk at them. There is no "diet" that will effectively get you to a healthy weight and stay at the healthy weight. And my response to them almost seems snarky. But, the answer is: eat for your health, not for your weight. My doctor got me to focus on the contents of food rather than the calories. For a few months, I would focus on getting my 25 grams of fiber in one day. You can't eat much junk if you need to get to that benchmark. Also, if something you are putting in your body has zero vitamins or nutrients, why is it even going in there? It happens to be that most junk foods (high fat, white flour, etc.) won't even make it in your body if you hold yourself accountable to only eating foods useful to your body. Most of the meals I make for P and I now meet these criteria. Not all of them will, and that is the right thing to do! Treat yourself! There is no reason to deprive yourself if you have gotten your vitamins and fiber for the day. We eat pizza more than most individuals, but my favorite pizza is one with lean meats and gigantic pile of greens on top, so I know my vitamins A and C are taken care of along with calcium and protein, and if I have kept the gluten to a minimum for the day, there is no reason I shouldn't enjoy some delicious crust.

Beware: there are side effects to eating for health!! You may start to wake up feeling more refreshed than you used to. You may have the energy to work out after a long day of work or school. If you suffer from depression, you may notice your symptoms decline. Your skin might clear up, and you may notice a glow (perhaps from all the Vitamin A?). You may also be less moody and snap at your husband less. Also, the feelings of guilt you used to have while eating sweets may diminish.

I started toying with this recipe in law school, and think I finally perfected it last month. Boy, was it good! Sweet potatoes are miracle foods in themselves, black beans are a superfood as well. Corn tortillas started being my new best friend, and you of course have to have delicious cheese. These actually do not take a lot of time, and if you can prep before, all the better. Having your sweet potatoes cooked ahead will make this a fast weeknight meal. I am also a huge feta cheese fan, and find it paired with Mexican food to be a revelation. If you don't feel the same way, you can always put your cheddar or jack cheese on top.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas with Avocado Cream and Feta

2 sweet potatoes, diced
1/2 onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 can of black beans (low sodium), drained and rinsed
1 jar of your favorite salsa
1 cup of monterey jack or cheddar cheese
1 package of corn tortillas
1 avocado
1/2 cup sour cream
the juice of one lime
1/2 cup feta cheese

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Boil salted water in a large pot. Add sweet potatoes, allowing to cook through (about 15 minutes). Drain when cooked.

In a large skillet, heat 1 T. canola oil, add minced garlic and let soften. Add onions and let cook through. (I like my onions almost on the caramelized side. This could take 10-15 minutes to accomplish). Add beans. Stir to warm. Add sweet potatoes to skillet, stir. Season with salt and pepper.

While your veggies are cooking, make your sauce! In a small food processor, blend the avocado, sour cream, lime juice, and salt until smooth. You may have to add more sour cream, depending on our ripe (or un-ripe) your avocado is.

Then, you are going to create an assembly line! Have your cheese and salsa ready along with your sweet potato mixture. Have a casserole dish greased close by.

In a small frying pan on low, add one tortilla at a time to soften. Remove tortilla from pan, place a small scoop of potato and bean mixture onto the center, spoon some salsa on top, and sprinkle some of your cheese on top. Roll the tortilla, and place seam-side down into the pan. Continue until your pan is full or your mixture is gone. Spread your avocado mixture on top of the prepared enchiladas. Sprinkle a handful of feta cheese on top of the cream.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is gooey and warmed through.

Eat right away to take advantage of the gooey-ness! Your body will thank you (in many more ways than one!)

Winter Blues

You guys, it's cold. Like... beyond cold. Some people prefer to look at the world positively and see this kind of winter as a way to eat comfort foods (which is right up my alley), wear comfortable sweaters, and stay in to enjoy reading a book (or in my case, binge-watch tv), I do not. I shut down.

Shut. It. Down.

Hence the lack of blog posting recently. Have I mentioned that 25 minutes of my 40 minute commute is walking outside? No? Have I mentioned that my job does not allow me to be absent when the rest of the world shuts down due to a polar vortex? No? Have I mentioned that I love my job? No? Ok.

My life has basically been a game of survival lately. Wearing three pairs of pants, two pairs of gloves, and almost crying myself to sleep because my new heated mattress pad (trumpets!!!!) thaws me out every night. So, after walking home through cold, wind, snow, and slush, who wants to cook? Last night I cancelled gym plans AND proceeded to eat a whole pizza while I watched American Idol and Nashville. I told Pat to put the M&Ms on the dining room table so it would force me to get off the couch so I could fold the laundry. That he had put right in front of me. Woof.

Last Friday, I came home in the cold AND had a fantastic gym session AND did not eat take out. It's about the little victories, and this one should be celebrated. I ended up making tomato/mozzarella paninis (which we probably do about once a week), but I upgraded that shizz this time, and it was delicious. This sandwich is totally good for you and super easy to make; even when you are about to shut down. In fact, I would say this sandwich is exactly what should be consumed after a long, cold day or week.

I have a real obsession with salads. I love salads. I love finding new combos. I also love figuring out ways to add greens to anything and make it delicious. I found the most amazing product at Whole Foods last week, and had to share:

TA DA!!!!!!!

Power Greens! I decided to not buy my weekly tub of mixed greens, and decided on POWER greens. This eats just like mixed greens, except you get the way-better-for-you kale, swiss chard, and spinach. We ate it as a salad for a few nights, dressed in a lovely mustard vinaigrette (Salad dressings will come later. I believe bottled dressings are a Ponzi scheme and refuse to use them. I am a securities attorney and I can make that statement). But this week, I decided to add them to our tomato mozz paninis. Lordy, it was good! I sauteed the greens with some garlic and balsamic vinegar to save the step of seasoning the bread. The greens with the melty cheese was amazing! Of course, you can leave any part of the sandwich you don't like behind. The cheese with the greens would be a revelation on its own. You could also saute strips of eggplant in the balsamic and add. The world is your oyster.

Tomato Mozzarella Paninis with Balsamic Greens (makes two sandwiches)

Four slices of country bread or sourdough bread

Three tomatoes, sliced

4 oz. fresh mozzarella, sliced into discs

1 T Olive Oil

2 cloves of garlic, pressed or minced

3 handfuls of POWER GREENS (or as much as you want-- remember greens cook down a lot!!)

1 T balsamic vinegar

Preheat panini press or skillet. Let sliced tomatoes sit for a few minutes with salt on them. This will allow some of the moisture to be extracted, and you won't end up with soggy bread. Place tomatoes and mozzarella on bread. Season with pepper.

Heat olive oil in another skillet on medium, add garlic, let cook for 30 seconds to a minute (until fragrant, but not burned). Toss greens into skillet and allow to wilt for 1-2 minutes. Pour balsamic over the greens, give a good stir. Remove from heat. Place warm greens over mozzarella cheese on bread. Top with unused slices of bread. Spray outside pieces of bread with cooking spray. Place on panini press or skillet. Allow to cook until heated through and melted. You want the bread crisp and toasty, and the ingredients hot. If using a skillet, flip halfway through cooking time. 

Remove sandwich from grill. Let sit for 1-2 minutes. Slice in half and serve!

I hope this sandwich makes you feel good on a cold winter's night. It really lifted our spirits!

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken

Well, this was delicious. And beyond easy.

In our home, we are definitely honey mustard people. The tangy/sweet combo is perfect with ANYTHING. Veggies, french fries, sandwiches, heck... I could probably find a way to make it taste delicious as a cupcake filling. My husband has an unusual affinity for chicken, however. It's chicken all the time. If we go out to dinner with my parents, and Pat does not order chicken, they think that something is wrong. I did my husband a solid last weekend by making this chicken after laboring through a rough weekend of blizzards followed by the **POLAR VORTEX**.

This dish is basically perfect. You can also pair it with sublimely simple sides. I just made roasted sweet potato wedges and paired it with a mixed green salad dressed in a basic mustard vinaigrette. Followed by er... a chocolate chip cookie cake and Downton Abbey premier. Ok, we have to slip in some guilty pleasures sometimes.

The original recipe was found via pinterest (http://www.goodlifeeats.com/2013/03/easy-honey-mustard-baked-chicken.html#_a5y_p=1124097), but of course I had to tweak it for our taste buds. This recipe calls for chicken tenderloins, which I used, but kind of wish I had used whole chicken breasts pounded down. Also, since we are not onion people, I used a shallot to give it a similar flair. We had no rosemary, and I was not going to trek out into the snow just for that, but we had some thyme left over. In the end, I think the thyme suited the dish better, but feel free to use any herb you prefer. I also downsized the recipe to serve 2 (no leftovers here!), but kept the amount of sauce the same, since... you know... we'll just dip stuff in it all night. In our case, it served as a delicious dipping sauce for the sweet potato wedges.

Sauce:
1/4 C. grain mustard
1/4 C. Dijon mustard
1/2 C. honey
2 t. olive oil

Whisk all four ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Chicken:
2 shallots, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
olive oil
1 lb. chicken tenderloins, or two breasts
sprigs of thyme (or rosemary, or any herbacious goodness you prefer)
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In an oven-proof saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add shallots and cook almost until translucent. Add garlic, and cook until fragrant, but not burnt (1 minute). Place the chicken on top of the shallot/garlic mixture. Pour the sauce over the chicken, ensuring every nook and cranny is filled (if sauce is your thing). Save some for dipping after the chicken is cooked. Season with salt and pep. Toss your herbs into the pan, surrounding the chicken.

Place pan into preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes. If you use small tenderloins like I did, your chicken will be done now (but check to be safe!). If you are using whole breasts, baste the chicken with the sauce and pop back in the oven to another 10-15 minutes.

Make this immediately! It really will put a pep in your step. I mean... it's honey mustard.

Quatro Formaggi Pasta

Gooey. Cheese. Sauce. There is nothing more satisfying on a cold winter's day than such a sauce. I made this pasta a few weeks ago and (of course) shared the finished dish on Instagram. My friends' responses actually spurred the creation of this blog, so I think it is only fitting that this dish christen LAW in the kitchen.

As I sit here, the current temperature is -14 degrees Fahrenheit, -38 degree windchill. My office is probably a whopping 50 degrees, so I decided to blog this dish as a warming mechanism. Situated under my Snuggie, I will demonstrate how to make an ultimate comfort pasta dish.

I adapted this recipe from Bon Appetit's Fettuccine Quattro Formaggi. Our home only had farfalle, and I had to add a green vegetable to the mix. I also halved the recipe to feed two people and give Pat leftovers for lunch the next day, and replaced the cheeses with what our fridge had. Mix up the cheese you use! Particularly if you have random wedges in your fridge (as I tend to do). Cheddar would be a good one, and make it a bit more mac-and-cheesy. Brie would add some fancy flair too. 

Four Cheese Pasta with Spinach (makes 3 large servings)

1/4 cup pine nuts

8 oz. farfalle (or whatever noodle you prefer)

Salt

1 cup whipping cream

4 Tbs. butter

1/3 cup blue cheese, crumbled

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/3 cup goat cheese, crumbled

1/3 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated

dried crush red pepper

nutmeg

spinach

Place pine nuts in skillet over low heat. Toast for 5-6 minutes, or until fragrant and remnants of the oil can be seen in the pan.

Fill small pot with water for pasta. Add 1-2 Tbs. salt to water. (adding this much salt to the pasta water is key to delicious flavor when the dish comes together). Boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente (chewy, but not hard).

While pasta is cooking, add butter and cream to a large skillet over medium heat. Let butter melt into cream as it warms. While cream is warming, add cheeses to pan. Stir every so often as cheese melts into a sauce. Add as much red pepper as your tastebuds allow. Grate nutmeg into sauce. Give it a good stir.

Add drained pasta to sauce. Stir to coat. Season with salt and pep. Turn heat to low. Add handfuls of spinach to pasta. Give the leaves a second to wilt from the heat of the pasta, then stir spinach into the pasta. Turn heat off. Sprinkle pine nuts over the pasta. Continue to stir. 

Once the pasts has gotten into whatever serving receptacle you prefer, give it another dusting of grated Parmesan. Serve warm! Your tummy and your broken cold spirit will thank you.