My first Pittsburgh Edition

Daniel and I have been journeying back and forth to Pittsburgh every weekend for the past month and a half. While it is a lot of traveling, I really enjoy going back!

Some of our trips have been four-day weekends, which allows me time to cook. On one trip, I decided to make Orange Broccoli and Pepper Chicken. Basically, I marinated breasts of chicken in orange juice for about five hours. (Still, I used my technique of marinating in a glass bowl. I really think it covers the chicken better and in all, marinates better). Then, I placed the chicken in a Pyrex dish surrounded by broccoli heads and thinly sliced green pepper. I included fresh orange juice for baking. I think the orange juice from the marinade gets a little funky with chicken drippings!

I cooked for about 40 minutes at 350F and served with brown rice.

I made a sauce of about 2 c orange juice and 1/4 c corn starch, but you may have to play with it a bit to get to the consistency you like :-) I also added a bit of honey to this sauce...not a Bit-o-Honey!

For dessert, I used the recipe on the back of the Giant Eagle (!) White Rice to make Rice Pudding. Overall, this was a healthy version and it was yummy!

Bon appetit!

Mint and Onion Barley

I didn't cop out on dinner---I simply made a HUGE batch of chili for dinner tonight since I was headed to Pittsburgh the next day, I wanted Dan to have something to eat besides chips and dip. No matter how hard he tries to rationalize, I won't let him convince me that chips and salsa are a balance dinner.

So, I decided to make one new recipe with our chili. Mint and Onion Barley was actually good! It had a warm taste and I think next time, I just would add chopped fresh, garlic.

I made the plain barley as indicated on the package. For serving size of 2, I added about 1/2 tbsp mint, and 2 tbsp chopped shallot. I also added about 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1/2 tsp onion powder. I added a drop of olive oil so the spices and barley wouldn't stick to the pot. Stir, and enjoy!

Bon Appetit!

Sweet apricot glazed chicken and kugel

I can count the amount of days until I am married on two hands and a few toes. I don't know if this reflects from my love of cooking, but I love DIY projects. I mean, cooking is kind of like a DIY project: you need supplies, a crafting area and preparation time. Unless you take pictures, you have nothing to show for cooking DIY, but the DIY that I am working on now is for my wedding.

Here is a list of what I am doing/have done:

1) Type up program text
2) Buy 40 packets of certain, special paper at Joann Fabrics *This entailed me driving all over the DC/Baltimore/Eastern Shore area yesterday---120 miles! and My Mom driving all over the Pittsburgh metro area---but we did it! Sorry for depleting you, Joann Fabrics.
3) Working on our top, secret place cards
4) Typing up the menu---its done! Just needs to be printed tomorrow

I give a lot of credit to people who do ALL of their wedding projects by hand. Not only does it take a lot of cashola, it takes a lot of patience and creativity. Its not like making a cake---ONE cake, its making 183 programs, 183 menus... you got the idea!

I mean, I was given the option of just ordering programs from a professional crafter on Etsy, but I love crafting, so I figured, heck...why not! I trust my creativity!

Anyhow, that is where I stand. My goal for this week is to have the menu printed and then to finish the table place cards.

I'm so behind on blogging, its not even a remote bit funny, but I continue to take pictures, so I plan to update completely today and tomorrow.

I'm not sure of exactly when Shannon and I met, but we met at Chabad House and it has been love ever since :-) We've hung out often, but I wish more! We even went on a Birthright trip to Israel together. Israel is phenomenal...except for their schwarma, I ate so much when I was there, I haven't been able to eat it since.

Anyhow, along with a beautiful, special, personalized present, Shannon presented me with a recipe for Apricot Glazed Chicken. Okay, let me just say...this was DELICIOUS. After mixing up the glaze ingredients, I did my little trick of marinating the three breasts of chicken in a Pyrex bowl (rather than baking pan). I poked holes in the chicken with a fork, and submersed it in the apricot goodness. I marinated for about three hours and then followed the recipe and baked!



Daniel and I both loved this recipe. The taste was so good, and it was easy to make. I would suggest making it with a basmati rice OR... the Applesauce and Apricot Kugel recipe from Dan's Mom.

So, if it was normal and/or healthy to do so...I would have eaten the entire pan of kugel by myself before Dan even saw it. Let's just say this tastes like dessert for a side dish. Dan's Mom suggested this recipe for Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) because it is sweet and fruity...a sweet start to the New Year. This was so good!



Bon appetit!

Chinese Chicken

If you've read the subtitle description of my blog, it references the fact that I really don't like bringing home take-out. Really, the only take-out we would bring home is Chinese food take-out. This was often very easy when I was commuting back and forth to Baltimore and would arrive around 8-830pm, tired and hungry!

The place we order from is delicious, and even knows our order off by heart! Although it tastes good, each time I wake up in the middle of the night craving water, I vow "no more take-out!!!"

Being able to make homemade Chinese food is awesome! A big "thank you" to Aunt Karen (Dan's aunt) for sending her recipe for Chinese Chicken to me. This is a keeper recipe! The prep was easy and cooked in one pot! It tasted authentic, and if you use low-sodium soy sauce, you'll avoid the "thirsties" in the middle of the night.

So, three new ideas for my next blog food extravanga:

1) Dessert Extravaganza: After the wedding, my plan is to make two cakes, four types of cookies and some "candy".
2) Dairy Dinner Extravangza: Well, you get it, the opposite of a meat dinner that we had last time.
3) Ethnic Food Extravaganza: Chinese, Indian, and Irish

Bon Appetit!

Homemade...Pizza Pizza!

The recipe for pizza dough in this recipe comes from one of my neighbors back home in Pittsburgh! At my shower, Caroline presented me with an awesome themed gift---a pizza stone, pizza wheel and a recipe for homemade pizza dough!

Considering the last pizza we had was Papa John's...I knew I had to try my hand at homemade pizza! I even so much as ventured to make my own sauce...and it worked out.


First, I used Caroline's Homemade Pizza Dough recipe to make the dough. The recipe was simple to follow (much like making bread) and let me tell you...the dough was DELICIOUS! The crust and bottom crisped perfectly on the pizza stone and the dough had a wonderful taste. It had a sweet taste without being overpowering...I will most certainly be making this again.


My next blog dinner extravaganza is going to be a dairy dinner, so this will definitely be a main course!

After allowing the dough to rise for about two hours, I rolled out about a 16inch round circle of dough and filled with Michele's Homemade Pizza sauce, added slices of mozzarella, folded in the crust and put it into our stove pizza oven.

About 35-40 minutes later, we had delicious, piping hot pizza! Unlike our Papa John's pizza, we finished the entire thing!

Michele's Homemade Pizza Sauce

1 large (beefsteak) tomato cut into chunks
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil (you may need to add more based on consistency, you be the judge)
1 tbsp chopped basil
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tbsp onion powder

1) In a sauce pan, add chopped tomatoes and olive oil. Let stew for about five minutes, stir, then about five more minutes, stir...complete the cycle for about 30 minutes until the tomatoes are mushy...you may need to kind of push on them with a spoon.
2) Add the rest of the spices and simmer on low for about an hour.
3) Use as spaghetti sauce, or 'za sauce!

For a starter, I made a recipe from the Salad Recipe book given to me by our next door neighbor, Sandy R. Raspberry & Feta Salad with Couscous is what we had to start!

This was a great dish! It was refreshing, while being healthy. Topped with feta cheese and raspberries, this salad was very colorful! Also in the salad is fresh basil, zucchini, scallions and chicken/veggie stock. The Dressing consisted of white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and lemon juice. This was filling, yet healthy!

I am so thankful that Mrs. R gave this book to me. There are so many great recipes for salads that are not boring! I can't wait to try the others!

(Oh, if you're counting...that's four recipes in one night!)


Bon appetit!

Monday-Friday Chicken

For my bridal shower, invitees were encouraged to bring their favorite recipe to share with me. There is nothing I love more (besides cooking for others!) than trying out someone's recommended recipe.

The following is a recipe from my sister, Lauren, (well, Dan's sister to be technical for all of you thinking, waitttt, what?!).
Monday to Friday chicken was delicious! It was simple to prepare---one pot, baby! and it is healthy! There are many different variations that you could do---change the snow peas for carrots or string beans---add more veggies! Anyhow, we both loved the recipe Lauren shared with us! The only thing we'd do differently is marinate longer than the suggested time. If preparation allows, I'd marinate the chicken in orange juice over night. Still, this recipe is a keeper!


This is the recipe book where you can find this recipe!

On the side, I made Onion and Mint Bulgur. After following the directions on the package, for two servings, I mixed in about 1/2 tbsp olive oil, then added about 2 tbsp mint leaves and 3 tbsp of chopped red onion. I seasoned with garlic powder and onion powder! This was good! The mint added an extra kick, and the garlic powder and onion powder gave the bulgur a "warm" seasoned taste.





Bon appetit!