You must read "The Fault in our Stars" and my fresh ink.

OK, So I have fallen head over heels with John Green's writing.  What a genius!  "The Fault in our Stars" was quite easily one of the best books I have ever read.  Paper Towns was also fabulous.  I did something a little crazy today, and I could not be happier that I did!  My ode to Looking for Alaska....

Yep, I'm STILL reading!

Here are a few more books for your consideration!


1.  "Flat-Out Love" by Jessica Park....ok, LOVE this author. LOVE LOVE LOVE.  The dialogue and banter between the characters is outstanding, the story is heart warming, and funny.  And sad.  And cute.  and kick ass.  AND the author, Jessica Park, is hilarious and really has a way with words. (and much better than Jodi Picoult, I may add).  Are you buying it yet??  You should be!

2.  "Hana" by Lauren Oliver.....this is a short story, about 50 pages I think.  If you are a fan of her Delirium series (you should be!) this is a MUST read.  It is from her best friends POV, and, for me, put a new spin on things.  Trust me, it puts Hana in a new light, good or bad, I won't tell!

3.  "Eden" by Jamie McGuire....The final installment of the "Providence" series does NOT disappoint!  I loved every second of it, even though I am sad to say goodbye to Nina and Jared (especially Jared!) I am pleased with the ending....maybe they could continue in a series about Claire and Ryan??  hint hint.   This is a trilogy that you definitely need to read if you haven't started already.

4.  "Gabriel's Inferno" by Sylvain Reynard....ok, I have to admit that since I read 50 Shades I have kind of become a romance fan....and I found this book really exciting, kind of dangerous...just a great late night read.  I really fell for the characters by the end.  So if you like a little romance, this is a book for you!

"Insurgent" by Veronica Roth.....WOW!

SO, I don't know if I have to say again that DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth is one of my favorite books.  Today INSURGENT was released (book 2 of the trilogy) and OMG it is amazing (I finished it in 6 hours)!  Sometimes I find that the second book in a trilogy is the weakest as it is just the catalyst to the end of the story and usually isn't as exciting as the beginning or end.  BUT not this one!  It was amazing from page 1 until the final page.  Now I just cannot believe I have to wait probably a year for the next book.  UGH.

"Looking for Alaska" by John Green

I can honestly, and whole-heartedly state that this book is in my top 3 books OF ALL TIME.  It affected me.  It had me laughing out loud, crying, smiling, man it was so incredible.  The story felt so real, I felt a part of their lives, I felt their pain, I felt their laughter, I felt everything.  John Green seriously changed my life with his writing here.  I say how much I love books a lot, but every so often one comes around that just changes the way you are, forever.  This is one of those moments.  man oh man, you NEED to read this book, now.  I firmly believe that all teenagers should read this book, I think all humans should read this book.

"How will we ever get out of this labyrinth!"

I, too, hope I find this answer in my lifetime.

MORE new must reads!

SO, I have clearly been on a reading KICK!  I just can't seem to put my Kindle down, much to my families dismay.  I have been trying to pass the time until May 1st when "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth and "Eden" by Jamie McGuire are released...and I have found some WONDERFUL books along the way.

"On the Island" by Tracey Garvis-Graves....What an amazing book!  I was surprised actually at my reaction to this book, I fell in love with these characters so much, I absolutely am telling you to get it immediately and read it.   I was actually heart broken when it ended, I wanted it to go on forever.

"The Marriage Bargain" by Jennifer Probst....This was a darling book, you pretty much know how it will end, with some twists and turns but it is so good.  It is an easy read, a great beach read!  She really made you feel the sexual tension between the characters, which is hard to do!

"Summer of Skinny Dipping" by Amanda Howells....Oh man, this book had me SOBBING loudly last night.  I was worried that I wouldn't like this because it is about teenagers, but OMG.  It is a great story about growing up, falling in love, heartbreak.  I do not want to give too much away so I can't say much, but please read it.  Trust me, it will make you happy, sad, and hopeful all at once.

Happy Reading!!

Caramelized Black Pepper Chicken

This is an easy, go to dish for us if we are craving Asian cuisine.  It can get rather spicy though, so please vary the peppers for your own tastes.  Depending on our mood, I sometimes leave all the seeds in, or take seeds out of one pepper and leave the other.  If you cannot find Thai chiles, Serrano chiles are a good substitute.  Also, I always keep fresh ginger in my freezer, it makes it SO much easier to grate.

2lbs skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into 1inch chunks
1/3c rice vinegar
2T low sodium soy sauce
1t fresh ground black pepper
1-2 fresh Thai chiles, cut in half (with or without seeds-to your taste)
2/3c dark brown sugar
1/2c water
1T fresh grated ginger
1T crushed garlic
2T vegetable oil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
2T chopped up cilantro

In a small bowl, combine the sugar, vinegar, soy, black pepper, chiles, water, ginger, and garlic and whisk gently to combine.  Set aside.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, heat the oil.  Add the shallots and cook until soft, about 3 minutes.

Add the chicken and stir fry until browned all over, about 4 minutes.  Pour the sugar mixture over the chicken and stir to coat.  At a high temp, stir fry until mixture begins to caramelize on chicken, about 5 more minutes.  Stir frequently.

Stir in cilantro.

Serve over jasmine rice and enjoy!

Harissa Marinated Steak Tips

If you have not tried Harissa before, you should try it at once!  It is a Spicy chile sauce from North Africa. I have found it at Fresh Market, and I'm sure Whole Foods carries it as well.  I also have seen recipes for it on websites so google it if you can't find it at your grocer.  I use a mild version, so it is not so spicy.  It is delicious, and I could probably put this sauce on anything!

1.5-2lbs top sirloin steak, fat trimmed and cut into 2" pieces

2T extra virgin olive oil

6 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

2T packed brown sugar

2T low sodium soy sauce

1T fresh thyme leaves

4T Harissa

combine the olive oil, garlic, brown sugar, soy, thyme, and Harissa in a medium bowl and mix well.  Add the steak, turning to coat.  cover and place in fridge for at least 2 hours, as long as a day.  If you are home, mix the marinading meat a couple times.

When it's time to cook...

Brush a skillet with olive oil.  Cook the meat on med-high browning on each side until cooked through (medium is best), about 10 minutes (depends really on the thickness of your meat).

You can serve with more Harissa on the side.

I served this with a wild rice pilaf and a fresh steamed veggie.

Delicious!

Some new reads...

In the past 2 weeks I have read A LOT!  Here is a list of recommendations that I have, I LOVED all of these books and I insist you try them out.

Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy by EL James.....a little disclaimer here:  It is very very sexual, if this makes you uncomfortable, don't read it.  I adored the story and the characters.  The sex did not bother me, and if it made me cringe I just skimmed over those parts.  Otherwise, I highly recommend these books.  The third was my favorite.

Love Unscripted by Tina Reber....This was a lighthearted, easy read.  It's about a small town girl who catches the eye of the world's most famous actor.  It's every girls dream, and I loved it.  It is a LONG book, and that is one of the things that made it SO great, I did not want it to end.  Luckily the 2nd in the series should be out soon!

If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman...These two books tug your heart strings.  The first one had me sobbing at 1am by myself on the couch.  But they both are excellent.  And I thank God that she wrote the second one because the first leaves you begging for more.

And now, I have found a new author to add to my favorites list.  Jamie McGuire.  In three nights I read "Beautiful Disaster" "Providence" and "Requiem".  The last two are part of a trilogy, with "Eden" being released May 1st.  Let me tell you, the girl can write a story!  I implore you to read her books, NOW!

Zuppa Toscana (aka Olive Garden goodness)

This is a copycat recipe for Olive Gardens Zuppa Toscana.  Seriously, you can't tell the difference.  It is SO delicious.

1lb. spicy italian sausage
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2lbs yukon gold potatoes, sliced in 1/4" slices
4 c chicken stock
2 c water
6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped up
2 c chopped kale
1 c heavy whipping cream
1T olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cook the bacon and chop.  Set aside.

In a skillet over med-high heat, brown the sausage, breaking it up as it cooks.  Drain the extra grease, and set sausage aside.

In a large stock pot, heat the olive oil.  Add garlic and onions and cook for 2-4 minutes until translucent but not browned.

Add potatoes, stock, water, sausage and bacon.  Simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the Kale, and simmer for another 15 minutes, or until the potatoes have softened.

Add the cream last, and season to taste with salt and pepper.  Serve and Enjoy!

Creamy Tortellini Primavera

I always feel slightly better about indulging in pasta when it is loaded with veggies.  So here is my quick and easy weeknight creation that even the kids will like!

1 small head broccoli, cut up
1 small zucchini, sliced into half moons
10 asparagus stalks, sliced into inch long pieces
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small sweet yellow onion, chopped
1 red pepper sliced
1 yellow pepper sliced
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1c chopped fresh basil
1 container regular Philadelphia cooking creme (unflavored)
1/4c grated parmesan
1tsp Italian seasoning
2T olive oil
1/4c water
salt and pepper to taste
12oz spinach & cheese tortellini (I used barilla)

Put a large pot of salted water on to boil.
In the meantime, chop all of your veggies and the garlic and basil.   Reserve the tomatoes and basil in their own bowl, as they are added at the end.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil.  Add the garlic and sauté for one minute.  Add all of the chopped veggies, except the tomatoes and the basil.  Stirring and flipping often, sauté the vegetables for 8-10 minutes or until crisp-tender.  Add salt and pepper and Italian seasoning.  In the meantime, cook the tortellini according to directions.  

When vegetables are cooked, add the cooking creme and water.  Stir until well combined.  Add the tomatoes, the basil and the parmesan and stir.  

Drain the tortellini.  In a large bowl gently combine the veggie sauce mixture and tortellini.  Serve immediately and Enjoy!

The I'm-not-from-the-Caribbean-but-I-created-this Jerk Rub

I am sure this rub would go well on pork too, but tonight I put it on Chicken.  This is slightly sweet, slightly spicy, very delicious!  You can grill the meat, but I was iffy on the amount of propane we had so I sautéed the chicken breasts (I also served with the roasted butternut squash recipe I have below...they pair VERY well together!)

This recipe is for 3-4 breasts

2Tbl brown sugar
1Tbl onion powder
2tsp dried thyme
1/2tsp ground cinnamon
1/2tsp cayenne pepper
2tsp ground allspice
1/2tsp kosher salt
2tsp ground black pepper
dash of ground ginger
dash of chili powder
2Tbl vegetable oil  (enough to make it a pasty rub)

combine in a small bowl.

spread this on both sides of the chicken breasts, or pork...whatever you choose.  Make sure you push it down on to it so it creates a crust and sticks.

I sautéed mine in a bit of olive oil, it creates a crust that is so good!

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

If you've never had a fingerling potato, you must try them now!  They are the BEST little yummy things! I prefer Russian Fingerlings, I get those at The Fresh Market usually but they ran out of them this week so I bought a bag of multi-colored fingerlings at Jewel.  Still tasted delicious.  It's very simple to make these potatoes taste like heaven.

Preheat oven to 375˚
Take a bag (or 2, my husband could eat these every night) of fingerlings and wash them.  Put them in a large bowl with a generous amount of olive oil (around 1/4c to 1/2c).  Add a very generous amount of coarse kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.  Add more than you think is normal, seriously.  Mix them to coat.

Spread potatoes on a shallow pan in a single layer.   Bake for 35-40mins, moving them around with a spatula once or twice during baking time.  They are done when easily pierced with a fork.  SO yummy!

Key West Chicken

Here is a very tasty, very quick marinade for chicken.  We eat this often in the summer, it is a great way to cook chicken breasts on the grill.

Here's what you'll need:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 heaping Tbl soy sauce ( I always use low sodium)
1Tbl honey
1Tbl vegetable oil
1tsp fresh squeezed lime juice
1tsp chopped garlic
1Tbl brown sugar
fresh ground black pepper
dash of red pepper flakes

mix everything (besides the chicken) in a bowl with a whisk...pour over chicken and turn to coat.  Marinade in the fridge for at least an hour, I try for all day.  Put them on a preheated grill for 5-8 minutes a side, I use Perdue perfect portions so the breasts are thinner (trying to shed the winter weight!) and it only takes about 3-5mins a side with those.  So, basically cook yours according to your chickens thickness.

"The Hunger Games" movie, my little review.

First of all, this was the best book to movie adaptation I have seen....I think that was largely due to the fact that Suzanne Collins co-wrote the screenplay.  The acting was superb, Jennifer Lawrence is definitely going somewhere good with her career.  I had my doubts about Josh Hutcherson as Peeta....not how I pictured him but he won me over.  On that note, there are things that I wish could have been included.

They needed to develop Haymitch a bit more, they barely touched on his alcoholism and why he was that way.

They changed where she got the mockingjay pin from...completely cut out the mayor's daughter.  I understand why they had to do it but I think her slight friendship with that girl made Katniss not seem so harsh.

They did not put Katniss's relationship with her father in at all, and that disappointed me.  They did not talk about him at all really, except that he was dead.  Same thing for why she had a hard relationship with her mother.  I think that all needed to be touched on more to develop her relationship with Prim.

Peeta and Katniss.  The cave seen was the most disappointing to me.  They did not develop their relationship enough at all.  They cut out all of the moments between them at the capitol before the games began pretty much.  They cut out the long conversations between them in the cave.  For the people who are seeing the movie and have not read the books, they just won't "get" it.  They won't understand Katniss's conflicted feelings.  Maybe she loves him, maybe she doesn't.  They just make it seem like she doesn't.

In the end, the film was GREAT, casting was GREAT, acting was GREAT. The way it was filmed was GREAT.  But the book is better.  

White House (or the world's easiest breakfast)

This isn't really a recipe, most people (I hope) know how to make this. My mother called this a "white house". Some call it "egg in a hole". whatever you call it one thing stays the same, its simple, delicious and, in my case, brings back memories of my childhood.

1 egg
1 slice bread
1Tbl butter
salt & pepper

Take those ingredients, and do this...
(if you don't like runny yolk, break up the yolk with a spatula or fork as it is cooking)
 

Designer, maybe.

Although the main focus of my blog is my love for cooking and reading, I also thought I would put up some of my "day" job.  I am a graphic designer by day, wannabe chef (the stay at home mom, my family likes my food kind, not the restaurant kind) by night.

Better for you Strawberry Banana Bread

I was bored and I had some (just about to get slightly soft) strawberries that I know my daughter would find "under par" for her tastes so I decided to make something with them.  I also had some aging bananas.  Viola! Strawberry banana bread!  I substituted light sour cream for oil, in my attempt to make this healthier.

1 3/4c sliced strawberries
1/4c sliced banana (cut into half moon shape)
1 mashed banana
1/2c light sour cream
1 egg
2c all purpose flour
1/2tsp baking soda
1/2tsp baking powder
1/2tsp cinnamon
1/2c light brown sugar
1 1/2tsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 325˚.  Spray a 8"x4" loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.  In a large bowl, mash 1 banana and add the sour cream, mix well.  In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and powder, and cinnamon.  Add the egg, vanilla to the mashed banana/sour cream mixture.  Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet, mixing well.  Fold in the sliced strawberries and sliced banana carefully.  Pour mix into pan.  Bake on middle rack for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.  This will make your house smell heavenly!  Enjoy.

Best ever flank steak marinade

This marinade makes the BEST fajitas!  And we love our fajitas around here!  It's best to marinade this for at least 4-6 hours, so give yourself time.  This will make the flank steak, which tends to be tough, nice and tender.

1 1/2lbs flank steak
1/2c vegetable oil
1/3c soy sauce (I use low sodium)
1/4c red wine vinegar
juice of 1 lime
2Tbl worcestershire sauce
1Tbl dijon mustard
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1tsp black pepper
2Tbl chopped cilantro

combine ingredients, cover and marinade in the fridge for at least 4-6 hours.  Then pop the steak on the grill, or into a pan on the stove and cook approx 5 minutes per side on high, depending on the thickness of your steak.  You want the steak medium-medium rare ideally.  Then slice into strips and use for fajitas, on salads, however you'd like!  I am making fajitas on the grill tonight with mine.  Enjoy!

Brown Sugar Roasted Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is one of those vegetables that I could eat every day.  It's smooth, buttery, and good for you!  It is super easy to make this quick and delicious side dish on the grill or in the oven.

Take one of these...

If you are cooking it in the oven, preheat to 350˚.  If you are grilling, make sure you have either grill baskets or a roasting pan for the grill ready to go.

Next, peel it.

Then, cut the ends off and slice it in half.  Remove the seeds and stringy stuff.
Finally, cube it.

Put it in a big bowl with:

olive oil (approx 3/4c....just enough to coat it)

salt

pepper

brown sugar (approx 1c...you will develop your own taste after you make it the first time so you can alter the level of sweetness)

*I have also added a dash of cinnamon from time to time...just wasn't in the mood tonight.

mix well to coat, put it in a shallow sided pan and cook for about 30 minutes, or until easily pierced with fork.  Yum!  Tonight I served this with Greek style pork kabobs and fresh pineapple.

Go buy this.

Here's a deal to help you get those books I told you to read....DO IT! (limited time offer, so hurry!)

$10 Amazon Gift Card for $5

Kindle love affair.

My Kindle.  My most prized possession.  While I love "real" books, there is something so satisfying about carrying 1,000 books in my purse.  Let me start off by warning you that I LOVE dystopian novels.  Maybe it's that alternate world I get transported to.  Or maybe its that today's world is scary enough, and the future worlds in these novels make it seem less frightening?  I am not sure, but the fact is that I love them.  For my first post I am going to list my recent reads, and tell you why you MUST read them.  :)


1.  The Hunger Games (as well as Catching Fire and Mockingjay) by Suzanne Collins (my hero) - DUH.  I am not even going to elaborate on why.


2.  Divergent by Veronica Roth- Trust me, this series IS the next "Hunger Games".  I am counting down the minutes until book #2 (Insurgent) is released on May 1st.  AND I love that she is from Chicago, the story is set in Chicago and vicinity (where I live), oh I just love the whole thing.  Go ahead.  Read it.  Try to tell me you could put it down for a second.  


3.  Delirium (and Pandemonium) by Lauren Oliver - Book #3 of this series will not be released until February 2013. Oh. My. God.  That is TOO long to wait.  This book took me a few chapters to get hooked, but then it took me less than 24 hours to finish both.  Yes, my husband and kids were on their own once again while I entered another world.  That happened with The Hunger Games as well.  No one speak to me, feed and bathe yourselves, mom isn't here.  


I just started "Legend" by Marie Lu...so more on that later.