Zucchini Parmesean

My little personal zucchini parmesan. I was kinda starving while making this and I didn't have time to make my own tomato sauce, instead I used canned crushed tomatoes and sprinkled in onions, garlic, and spices between the layers. So I sliced up a zucchini and and made layers with the sauce and some parmesean and mozzarella. Then just stuck it in the oven for maybe half an hour, basically until it was melted and looked done.

(Fun fact: All the forks were in the dishwasher while it was running so I was forced to eat my meal with a knife and a teaspoon)

I should leave smoothies to Kelley

I just don't think smoothies are for me.
1) I don't find them satisfying, I rather eat my food
2) I can't make a good smoothie...

I tried to make one for breakfast with iced coffee, banana, and vanilla greek yogurt. It wasn't all that good. I tried to save it with some vanilla extract and sugar but still it was a lost cause. From now on smoothies will be Kelley's domain, I can't compete.

Quick "Cooking"

These are two simple go to meals. First one is putting pesto on slives of bread (I used an english muffin) some tomato slices and top it with mozzerella. Then the other is just scrambled eggs with lots of yummy sauteed veggies, cheese, and with either toast or a tortilla. Nothing exceptional about either of these but it still feels home cooked which means its fresh and still comforting and tasty.

Chicken and Potatoes

Mustard chicken with spicy roasted sweet potato, peppers, and onions
Minimal effort and pretty straightforward. Slathered the chicken breast with dijon mustard and cooked it up. Roasted the rest in the oven for 45 min and covered them with paprika, chili powder, and honey. That's it :)

Thursday Lunch

Easy quick lunch on a Thursday

More Tortillas

Really can't get enough tortillas. This is how I used up the leftover avocado from my tortilla soup. Toasted up some tortillas, heated refried beans, avocado, onions, fire roasted tomatoes, queso frijolero, and a good squeeze of lime. Nothing fancy but totally my find of meal.

Italian obsession 2: espresso

In the last post I told you about my love of wine, well here is my other Italian obsession: espresso. When I came back to the states and moved into my new apartment, this was one of my first purchases. Admittedly I make more of a strong cup of coffee than a little shot of espresso. I fill it completely with water but only use half of the ground coffee it can take. There is something so much more special about using this little espresso maker than a big clunky coffee machine.
Also it just works cooler. The water is filled in the bottom, then the middle piece (which was little whole on the bottom) is filled with the ground beans and finally the top is screwed on. When the water on the bottom is heated it turns into steam, goes up through the middle, and ends up in the top all lovely and ready to drink.


Espresso in Italy, actually after a wine tasting. Now let me tell you that was one of the best meals I have ever had. I'll save that story for another day.

Wine Tasting

I spent last summer in Italy and came back to the states with a new obsession with espresso and wine. Now I'm not very knowledgeable about wine, I'm a "If it tastes good then it is good" kind of gal. Well anyways, this love of wine has become well known and my lovely friend Andrea gave me a wine journal. So this is the first bottle to make its way onto the cream colored fresh pages and of course what better way to drink Italian wine with an Italian Nutella cup?


(drinking wine in Positano, Italy)

Tortilla Soup

I adore tortilla soup. Actually I adore anything tortilla even the blog is even named after tortillas. So of course a soup version is truly a favorite of mine and probably the only way I'll eat avocado besides guacamole. This summer especially it was all I wanted to eat. Here is my version and I'm really happy with how it turned out. Full of flavor, a little kick, and not too heavy.

I sauteed onions and orange bell pepper then added a little flour and let it cook down a bit (to thicken the stock usually cream is used so do whatever floats your boat). Then added fire roasted tomatoes, chicken stock, cumin, paprika, and red pepper flakes. After letting it simmer for a while, I blended it, returned it to the stove and added the already cooked chicken. Finally topped it with crispy tortillas, avocado, and quesillo.

Tornado Warning Baking

Tornadoes make me nervous and tonight we had a tornado warning. So instead of sitting and worrying, I decided to bake some cookies. I used this cookie recipe and added almonds and crasins. Personally, I love this cookie (dough) and have made it several time. Sadly most people don't seem to be as fond of the recipe. Admittedly it isn't a killer sweet cookie, it has a bittter edge but that's why I like it. Anyways it turned out to be a chill night of reading to the rain and enjoying a yummy treat.

Coffee Break

I love a coffee + pastry break and Europe was no exception.

Euro re cap

These are just some pictures I never posted from my trip to Europe this summer.
There is gelato from Grom in Milan. Grom was a favorite gelato place of mine while I was in Florence last summer. A plate of prosciutto because you really can never go wrong with prosciutto. Fried bread in Prague. Greasy carbs and oh so yummy. Also another great Prague find, we bought this lovely plate on the side of the street and it may have been one of the tastiest meals of the trip. And of course enjoying a liter of beer and a giant pretzel in Germany.