in my kitchen

loaded baked potato rounds

May 20, 2013

This weekend was a busy one. So busy that I almost fell asleep on the subway on my way to Brooklyn…at 4pm. Yes. Yesterday was the day of cleaning and catching up and all I wanted to eat was some bar food, but it rained cats and dogs all day in NYC. So what does a girl do? She makes her own. Enter the loaded baked potato rounds. Sort of like potato skins with a lot less commitment.

Also, if you make these for lunch you will have one happy boyfriend on your hands. That is a fact.

I mean, how good does that look?

LOADED BAKED POTATO ROUNDS – serves 6 (or 2 if you’re making it a meal)

3 russet potatoes cut into 1/2 inch rounds
3 tablespoons butter
cheddar cheese (or whatever cheese you want)
bacon (not optional)
sour cream
chives
1. Preheat oven to 425º.
2. Please wash your potatoes. We’re keeping the skin on folks, this step is important. Cut potatoes into 1/2″ rounds.
3. Line baking sheets (I needed two, we have a small oven…it’s NYC) with foil and spread each with 1/2 tablespoon butter
4. Melt reserved 2 tablespoons of butter. Place rounds on baking sheets and brush with melted butter. Generously salt and pepper them bad boys.
5. Bake for 30 minutes or until the bottom of the rounds is nice and golden brown. Flip over and cook for about 10 more minutes.
6. Meanwhile cook your bacon. PLEASE, I beg you, do not use bacon bits. That is disgusting.
7. When the tots are done, immediately cheese them and put them back in the oven (while it’s still warm) to get the cheese all nice and melty. Garnish with whatever you like. We used bacon, sour cream and chives.

in my kitchen 16

tea time

May 6, 2013

I’ll admit it, I’m a wee bit obsessed with tea and have become a bit of a tea snob. If what they say is true, admitting you have a problem is the first step, so I’m on the right path. But I’m not just obsessed with any tea, no sir. I basically live for David’s Tea. And no, they haven’t compensated me at all for this post, I’m just that into them.

Word on the street is that lots of other people like tea too, so I thought I’d share my current favorites.

I praise the day Kathy recommended North African Mint. I love this tea and I drink it everyday. Green tea and mint is an amazing combination. Normally, green tea makes me feel the slightest bit nauseous but this doesn’t. It’s the best green tea I’ve ever tried and it’s organic. Huge plus!

Forever Nuts is a caffeine free favorite of mine that just tastes amazing. Now, if you’re allergic to nuts, it’s probably not a good choice. But I think it tastes like apple cinnamon nut muffins aka heaven.

This Cinnamon Roobios Chai is a new one in the rotation. If you like cinnamon, you’ll love this tea and it’s also organic and caffeine free. It’s perfectly sweet with the slightest touches of orange and lemon. It’s what I drink when I want a cookie around 3pm.

When it’s time for bed, I like to unwind with Sweet Dreams. It’s a perfect blend of chamomile, lemongrass, hibiscus, licorice, lemon, orange and rose petals. I secretly love how the rose petals color the tea. I drink my tea in this mug, so I can watch the tea steep. It’s one of my favorite parts. I know, I need help.

Do you like tea? What are some of your favorites?

in my kitchen 13

chocolate popcorn

April 29, 2013

Some of the best recipes are born out of necessity. This is one of them. A few weeks ago I wanted a treat, but we had no treats. We had chocolate chips and popcorn. What I really wanted were some rolo’s or M&Ms to throw in with my popcorn, but then I had an epiphany. What if I actually just straight up poured chocolate onto the popcorn? And I did. I’ll never look back.

Never.

It’s the perfect combination of salty and sweet. Oh, you hate that? Then use unsalted butter and don’t add salt. Then it’s just sweet. Either way, you’ll make this and then want to send me presents. That’s okay, you can send me presents. I love presents.

CHOCOLATE COVERED POPCORN (serves 1 but easily scaled)

1/4 cup popcorn (organic or else)
1/4 chocolate chips (I use enjoy life brand)
3 tablespoons butter (grass-fed)
Salt

1. Get excited.
2. Make popcorn on the stove, not in the microwave. Okay, you can make it in the microwave. I make it like this.
3. Whilst the popcorn is popping, melt butter in a small saucepan. When melted add chocolate chips off heat and stir to combine. If it’s too thick, add more butter. Yes.
4. Pour chocolate mixture over the popcorn and use two forks to evenly mix it, simiarly to how you would dress a salad. This is the best method, trust me.
5. If you want to, like I did, add some fancy salt. Or regular salt. Or sugar. Or extra chocolate chips. I did all of the above.

in my kitchen 8

recipes on deck

April 22, 2013

Did everyone have a good weekend? We spent the whole of Saturday at the racetrack, bettin’ on the ponies which is always a spectacle. Always. Sunday we recovered from all the excitement and I got in some work on a little side project I’ve got going on that I can’t wait to share with you all. It’s a lot of fun.

I was so shocked at the reactions to this post. You guys are seriously awesome. Let me know if there is anything in particular you’d like to see in the future!

Sorry for the rabbit trails I hopped down above, let’s get down to business for today. There is a method to my madness, if you can believe that. We do eat mostly paleo around here which is largely due to the fact that I’m just a more pleasant person to be around when I’m doing so. Northern European Wheat Disease is a real thing and I have it; it is not fun. But every once in a while, homegirl wants some pizza, or fries, or pasta and she’ll eat it.

Below are four culinary delights that I’ve been eyeing on my pinboards. Do you follow me on Pinterest? If you don’t, you definitely should. I’d love to be your fren on there.