A Well-Rounded Meal

I thought my homemade lunch looked pretty good today so I decided to take a picture of it and share.  What’s for lunch this week you ask?  A small Satur Farms mesclun salad with cocktail tomatoes and Newman’s Light Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing, oven roasted deli turkey and smashed avocado on a whole wheat sandwich thin and a macintosh apple from my trip to Russell Orchards in Ipswich, MA.  YUM!

Easy Like Saturday Morning

For a quick, healthy weekend breakfast I love Cinnamon Raisin French Toast.  This recipe makes one serving but it is just as easy to double or triple the recipe for a crowd.  I make it healthy while adding flavor by using the Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin Bread (you can find it in the freezer section at your grocery store).

Ingredients:
2 slices Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin Bread, defrosted
2 whole eggs
Splash of milk
Vanilla extract
Salt & pepper to taste
1/2 TBSP buttery spread (or to taste)
2 TBSP pure maple syrup (or to taste)

Directions:
1. Beat together eggs, milk, vanilla extract salt and pepper in a shallow bowl
2. One piece at a time, dip both sides of bread in the egg mixture, allowing the bread to sop it all up
3. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet (or griddle if cooking for a crowd) over medium heat coated with cooking spray
4. Cook bread for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and the eggs are cooked through
5. Top with buttery spread and pure maple syrup and enjoy!

Stylecaster

This week I got the opportunity to write an article for Stylecaster, one of my all-time favorite fashion and lifestyle sites. It is focused on "5 Simple Fall Appetizers" and I had a great time putting it together.  So much so, that it inspired me to invite a group of friends over next week for "girls night in", giving me the perfect excuse to make them!  

Here is a peak at my article...

From pizzettes to truffle butter crostini, consider these the chicest apps in town.

It’s official. Fall is upon us and with the dip in temperatures we find ourselves spending more time in the cozy confines of our homes – perfect timing to invite some friends over for an impromptu gathering. Here is a list of some of my favorite seasonal appetizers that are sure to impress your guests but don’t require fancy ingredients or special gadgets. My belief is that entertaining should be fun and should not have you spending the entire evening behind the stove. Whip up a few of these nibbles, add some wine (or Oktoberfest beer) and you’ve got a party.

Read the full article from Stylecaster by clicking here and let me know your thoughts!

Italian Night In

I must admit I was a little late to the game on this one but finally got the chance to stop by the now famed Artichoke Basilles in the East Village.  I have heard stories of long lines and a soup-nazi-like atmosphere but must have hit it on a good day since I experienced neither.  What I did experience though was one of the most delicious versions of pizza I have ever tasted.

They have only four choices for slices or pies: Artichoke, Margarita, Sicilian and Crab.  I decided on the Sicilian and no matter that it was incredibly messy to eat and slightly burnt, I wanted to take my time eating it, to savor every last bite.   A deliciously dense, crispy crust was the perfect vehicle for the sweet marinara sauce and rich, salty cheese.  Yet another reason for why there is no excuse for eating bad pizza in New York.  I say pick up a sicilian pie to go, then grab a 6 pack of Moretti on your way home and voila! Italian Night In.

Click here to visit the Artichoke Basilles website and learn more about their "kick ass pizza"