Classic French Toast

Posted in Breakfast by
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French Toast – a breakfast classic

If you couldn’t tell already by browsing through this blog, we’re big breakfast fans! From omelets and breakfast casseroles, to pancakes and waffles, we’ve covered all of my favorite classics with the exception of French toast. French toast is one of my favorite breakfast treats, and probably the easiest to make and the hardest to mess up.

To me, great french toast is fluffy, lightly sweet, thick but not dense, and can stand all on its own (syrup and whipped cream optional)! To make this possible, the bread (which should be fresh, soft, and thickly cut), and the egg mixture are both very important. But don’t despair! I have just the perfect recipe you need to pull together simply delicious french toast! Continue reading →

Sausage! Sausage! Sausage!

Posted in Travel by
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Yummy Sausage

Last week, we went to Toronto for a 5-day vacation. We visited Toronto many years ago with our parents and did not remember much about the grand Canadian city. However, there was one thing we did remember: The street cart sausages. It’s kind of funny that the only thing that really stuck in our memory was the large, juicy, sausage. Thick meat wedged between a large “sausage bun” and garnished with different toppings. I couldn’t remember much about that trip we took years ago, but I did remember the magical feeling in my mouth after taking a bite from the sausage.

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Asian Inspired Fried Rice

Posted in Lunch/Dinner by

20140420_135458Have you ever tried Fried Rice? I’m sure everyone I know has eaten Fried Rice. It’s probably the most popular dish at any Chinese (or Asian) restaurant and one choice that can’t really go wrong.

So this week, I decided to make my own version of Fried Rice, inspired by the famous Chinese cuisine.  I wanted it to be flavorful, a bit spicy, and packed with protein. With cooked rice already in my fridge, this dish was very quick and easy.

Even without fresh onions and garlic (I ran out of these 2 essential items. Under normal circumstances, I would have included them in the ingredient list below.), the dish was amazing. The rice was not mushy (because it was cooked and chilled) and the chicken was well marinated. Here’s what I used:

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Zesty Turkey Chili

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DSCN1541Chili is typically a dish that I’ll think about during the cold, winter months. When it’s snowy, cold, and all you can think about is getting inside a toasty place and eating warm, comfort food, you think about Chili.

But last week was the beginning of summer- it was hot, humid, and uncomfortable. I was sweating profusely and could feel the dampness of my shirt from the sweat. Any cool room felt like a taste of paradise. Yet, I still wanted Chili. Despite the heat and dense humidity, I was in the mood for one of my favorite comfort foods.

The spicy and zesty stew, filled with red beans, tomatoes, and tender ground turkey, was a perfect choice for my healthy eating plan as well.  Continue reading →

Garlic & Herb Chicken and Broccoli with Gnocchi

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Aaaah, Sunday afternoons. Perfect for reading, napping, brunching with friends and family, and, of course, creating new recipes!

On this particular Sunday summery afternoon, I had chicken breast and broccoli on hand, as well as a package of gnocchi I picked up the day before while grocery shopping at my favorite supermarket, Aldi’s. Side note: if you’ve never been to Aldi’s, you need to find the closest one and make a trip over there! They have rock-bottom prices for excellent quality.

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Quick and Easy (Frozen!) Roti and Chickpeas

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Flaky Roti and Flavorful Chickpeas

Flaky Roti and Flavorful Chickpeas

I absolutely love roti, my favorite kind being the Southeast Asian variety (such as Malaysian roti canai). According to Wikipedia,”Many different variations of flat breads are found in many cultures across the globe, from South Asia to the Americas. The traditional flat bread originating from the South Asia is known as roti; pronounced “rho tee”. It is normally eaten with cooked vegetables or curries; it can be called a carrier for curries or cooked vegetables.”

One sunny afternoon, after finishing lunch at a Malaysian restaurant on 8th Ave in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn (also known as Brooklyn’s Chinatown), and of course having roti canai as an appetizer, I decided that I had to find an easy way to make roti myself at home! I had tried a package of frozen roti several years ago that was absolutely amazing, so I was on a hunt to find it again. And what better place to look for it than in Brooklyn’s Chinatown.

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Coconut Curry Fried Rice

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While I really enjoy finding new recipes, I have even more fun creating my own! Below is my recipe for coconut curry fried rice with chickpeas, a recipe I recently came up with. I plan on experimenting more with this recipe in the future by including chicken, pork, or cashews. Check out my past post about cooking with coconut rice, a favorite of mine!

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Rotini Pasta with Chorizo

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During our trip to Monterey, CA in April to visit our older sister, we ate plenty of home cooked meals. Our sister can certainly cook too! One particular dish she made was exceptionally delicious. It had to be one of the best pasta dishes I’ve tasted. The sauce was savory, meat was tender, and the pasta was cheesy.

I was inspired to replicate the dish. I didn’t use the exact same ingredients as she did (she used Rigatoni pasta, string cheese, and wine in the sauce), but my pasta turned out rather amazing too. Next time, I’ll add red wine for an added, rich flavor. Continue reading →