Foodie Wannabe

Barley Risotto with Shrimp and Peas

Did you miss me?

I am very aware that it's been about a month since my last post, and I'm very sorry. However, I'm pretty sure my dad is the only one who's been crushed by my hiatus. I know that you're dying to know what I've been doing since late December.  Here it is:

1. We took a trip to St. Lucia. The food was so uninspiring that I worked out every day and took to a much healthier diet.

2. Husband and I have been glued to our workplaces since our return from the trip though I've also stuck to working out and cooking nearly every night (meaning that we haven't had time for much else). I sit down on Sunday, find a few recipes, and shop for the week.

But sometimes, the planning isn't so awesome, and I'm left saying, "Well, I have frozen shrimp and some barley... what can I make?" Thank goodness for Google because instead of turning to GrubHub on Saturday night, I made this great dish!

Top Posts of 2011

Happy New Year (almost)! I wanted to wrap up 2011 like I did last year with a year in review, featuring the top posts of the year. These are the top posts by page views, posted in 2011 and viewed in 2011. Behold...

9. Restaurant Martin Stein: Vienna (88 views)

Chicken, Artichoke, and Spinach Calzone

I know that a calzone with lots of cheese isn't the healthiest option available, but darn, it's so good, warm, and gooey. And for once, Husband thinks that I made something great for dinner. Let's just say that the spinach in this chicken, artichoke, and spinach calzone (with lots and lots of cheese) makes it ok?

Providence: Los Angeles

Husband and I are lucky enough to have the freedom and frequent flier miles to take quick weekend trips when we're not working or feeling too attached to our cats. Such was the case a few weekends ago when we had the opportunity to visit my father-in-law out in LA. After a fun day of sightseeing and a Kings/Canadiens hockey game, we geared up for a schmancy dinner at Providence, which received two Michelin stars in 2009. They have a killer-looking tasting menu, but being on Pacific time and starting dinner at 9:30 pm, meant that Husband and I would have had to essentially pull an all-nighter. Taking in two courses was not disappointing at all and just means we'll have to go back one day for the full shebang. We first received a few amuse bouches, a soup (with a straw!) and a cute box of salmon skin topped with roe and a little seafood puff pastry.

 

Chicken and Chickpea Noodle Soup

I live and work in the city of Chicago, and one of the things I love most about living here is that I can get to work using public transportation, meaning I get to read, listen to music, or tweet all the way to work without fear of crashing a car. The only drawback is the walk to the train and from the train each morning and evening. In the spring, summer, and fall, the walk is certainly welcome, but in the winter? Not so much. After fighting the wind and stepping into work in the morning or home at night, I need soup. All I want is soup. Breakfast, lunch, dinner = soup. Husband, who commutes by car, can't relate, and I know that he gets frustrated by constant need for soup. The best one I've made lately is this heavenly recipe from Food Network. I doubled the recipe so that I could eat it for every meal for a week.

Turkey and Vegetable Chow Fun

The fun thing about this blog is that I can post some really awesome looking food, and because it looks good, you probably assume that it tasted good. Not always the case. And then, once in awhile I make something that looks less than ideal, but it's absolutely delicious. This Turkey Chow Fun fits into that latter category. Close your eyes, take a bite, and you won't be disappointed.

Foreign Cinema: San Francisco

Our final meal together for the girls' wine-tasting weekend was brunch back in San Francisco at Foreign Cinema. This restaurant also shows movies on the concrete walls at night, but since we were there on a sunny Sunday morning, it was just a relaxed, high-ceilinged sight to see.

In-N-Out Burger: Mill Valley, California

Anyone whose been to an In-N-Out Burger knows that the beauty of the quick-service chain is in its simplicity; there's very few things on the menu (hamburger, cheeseburger, double-double, fries, shakes). And it's all quite tasty.

The Girl + the Fig: Sonoma, California

I'm beginning a three-part series highlighting some Bay Area restaurants that I was lucky enough to chow down at during a recent wine-tasting, bachelorette-partying, friend-reunioning weekend. After a really intense day of touring the area wineries in Sonoma (and a four-hour couch break watching wedding movies), the five of us headed out to The Girl and the Fig in downtown Sonoma.

Herb-Roasted Chicken

Another day, another yummy Food Network Magazine recipe. I happen to like roast chicken because they are really quite easy. If you have a little extra cooking time (not time you'll actually be doing anything), I think a whole chicken is an excellent option. You do have to tuck the wings behind its head, but I believe that you can do it - just ignore that cracking sound. I served this beauty on top of a polenta square and with a little salad on the side.