hot and saucy

after a recent visit to the awesome papa grande's with my bestie and her hubs, i was inspired to recreate the AH-MAZING vinegar based hot sauce on our table. what could i be!? we wondered, as we slathered it on everything in sight. upon further investigation, we learned it was puerto rican style hot sauce (pique). immediately i googled it and found this very similar recipe. stopped by the local kitchen store to pick up the appropriate glass containers and about thirty minutes later had my first batch. 

i played around with the portions because my containers are much smaller, so i'll let you know how the end result turns out. as far as i'm concerned, the hotter the better ;)

easy as 2, 3, 4

i had the pleasure of changed plans on monday night. tacos and time with some of my favorite little people, then to yoga. except it snowed, AGAIN, and yoga was cancelled. but that's okay when you learn the most delicious and simple brownie recipe instead. melissa is one of the most amazing women ever, and a little extra time spent with her is always sweet. 

so, i give you melissa's 2,3,4 one-bowl brownies!

2 sticks of butter - melt

3 cups sugar (2 cups brown, 1 cup white) - stir

4 eggs - one at a time

1 t vanilla (we used double dutch!) - overpour

1 cup good dutch processed cocoa - mix

1 1/2 cups of flour & 1 cup chocolate chips - stir until flour is combined

line 9x13 pan with parchment paper

bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes

(don't cut until ready to serve so they stay moist!)

or you can just follow the pictures above.

told you. easy peasy. 

food files

i stopped at the store last night to pick up a few things, mainly the last few ingredients for tomato soup (more on that later). but they had broccoli rabe again. i LOVE broccoli rabe, mostly on my pizza. but, omg, this recipe for pasta with garlicky broccoli rabe by smitten kitchen is now in regular rotation. i rarely make pasta for myself, but there something so deliciously addicting about the broccoli/garlic/red pepper flake combination i found myself throwing caution to the wind and whipping up and entire pound (insert gasp of horror!) of pasta last night. 

plus it was, like, lightening fast to make. i raced against the clock to get it done before yoga and i smelled like garlic made it! with enough time to spare to eat an entire bowl of it oops. 

now the rest is packaged up for lunch and sitting in freezer to grab and go over the next few weeks. yes i have some self control when it comes to consuming a pound of pasta. 

anyway, i think this is a crowd pleaser and just the thing to whip up for the neighbors for dinner or for when the entire fam is together. it's quick, painless and delicious and not that bad for you. (i cut back on the oil, cheese and salt.)

make it this weekend, let me know what you think! bon appetit!

Chill Out

Today we welcomed a very much needed break from the heat and I finally felt as though I could take a break at lunch and go outside without melting. I ran home for a bite to eat, and in less time than I took me to post this, I made the most yummy and refreshing chilled avocado soup (no cooking required!). I improvised a little since there was no crab in the house and I only was feeding one. So if you want the real deal (which I plan to incorporate into Taco Tuesdays as an appetizer) visit Bon Appetit; my improvised version below!

Chilled Avocado Soup
1 avocado - halved and scooped out
vegetable broth - about one cup
water - about a 1/2 cup
chobani yogurt (fat free) - two spoonfuls
kosher salt - a dash
cholula hot sauce - your preference
fresh cilantro - a few springs

Combine avocado, vegetable broth, water, yogurt and salt in blender/food processor until smooth. I used my Magic Bullet blender, and it worked perfectly. Pour into bowl and top with hot sauce and cilantro. Mine made about two servings.

Wednesday Blues

a tart taste of what i did last evening...

my lovely friend robin let me in on her blueberry picking secret location..

she taught me about the different berry types, who knew!?..these are patriots

and here are beautiful blue crops..

the master pickers hard at work..they even helped little old me fill my container!

what a heavenly way to spend a hot and hazy summer evening..enjoying sunset and picking berries with friends.

and then i got treated to robin's infamous blueberry salad! asolutely scrumptious - can't wait to make my own.

robin's righteous blueberry salad

here's what you need:
blueberries
yellow/green beans
red onion
pecans
feta
lite caesar dressing
spring mix (or any greens you have on hand)

here's what you do: cook the beans (these are fresh from their garden!). plate the spring mix, top with ingreidents listed above and drizzle with lite caesar dressing. your tatebuds and tummy will thank you! bon appetit!