Cheesecake Fix

Well, my first attempt at making cheesecake went well! It was actually was super easy and I highly recommend it for anyone if they are trying a recipe for the first time.  


From the kitchen of Rachael Ray: 

CHOCOLATE CHIP-PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE BITES

INGREDIENTS

1 cup crushed chocolate wafer cookies

4 tbsp. melted butter

1/2 tsp. gelatin

8 oz. room-temperature cream cheese

7 oz. condensed milk

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

Mix cookie crumbs with butter; press into 8-by-8- inch baking pan. Combine gelatin with 1 tbsp. water; let sit 5 minutes. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, condensed milk and peanut butter. Microwave gelatin 20 to 30 seconds to melt; beat into cream cheese mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Fill pan and freeze 20 minutes. Cut into bite-size squares.

The only thing I did differently was doubled the recipe and filled it for a 13x9 pan. I also refrigerated the cheesecake all day instead of freezing it.  Turned out great! Oh yeah, and I used Oreos for the crust. 

Only problem was that am still on my no chocolate month and couldn't try it.  

This really happened

I get out of work at 11:00 p.m. starving, tired, and throbbing (standing on my feet too long).  I stumble off the metro, dreading the last 4 blocks that I have to walk in my uncomfortable nylons and dress and then I see a 7/11.  

I am not proud of this next part, but I was starving.  

I walk in and see these hotdogs....ok they were corndogs.  YES JUDGE ME :)  and I ask for one.  The guy gets out the little baggie it slides into and puts the corn dog in.  He turns around and BOOM, the bag drops to the ground.  He picks up the bag and rings me up. 

 I look at him and say.  Sir, did that just fall on the ground? 

And he stares at me shaking his head "No, no".

"Ok Sir, what just fell then"

Barely able to speak english " Yes, the bag, but it ok"

"Sir, I do not want that one.  I am not paying for it.  It just fell onto the ground."

He gives me the evil eye, turns around and grabs another.  

After I pay and head to the door I notice him taking the bag that fell, taking out the corndog and putting it back on the hot dog roller.  GROSS!!!!!!

Yes, he really did that. 

TFG: Banana Nut Muffin

I love reading the Token Fat Girl's Blog. She understand larger women who are struggling with weight loss like myself.  Yesterday she posted an amazingly delicious recipe for Banana Muffins.  I can't wait to try these.  Once she makes them, she individually wraps them and puts it in the freezer.  Great idea!!

Kid in a candy store

You should have seen me this weekend. I was like a kid in a candy store for the first time.  Now that lent is over, so is my separation from soda, fried foods, and dessert.  Talk about sugar overload.  I had been away from these products so long that I couldn't wait to dive back in.  The only problem was, I went into sugar overload and felt extremely sick from the massive amounts of sugar and fried foods.  Lesson from this weekend, I need to cut them out of my life again to regain back the strength I had before.

Food Truck Monday

 Today I was in a good mood.  

I had the best weekend with friends from out of town.  

I drove in the beautiful weather yesterday up the Pennsylvania countryside for a bridal shower, and then I hung out with my ex for a little and hit some balls at a batting cage.  

Today I woke up in a fantastic mood and to my surprise 

the Lobster Truck was only going to be a few blocks from my work.  

When I arrived, the line was about 100 people deep.  Nothing was stopping me from getting this meal.  I had wanted to try it forever. I texted a friend who worked nearby and had him stand in line with me while I waited.

45 minutes went by....

We were still in line.  

 Finally, it was our turn! 

  

I got the traditional roll with a lemonade and chips. 

$18...but it was packed with meat.  

We grabbed the nearest park bench and 

I opened up the container to reveal the goodness inside. 

 

It was delicious...but of course now I am curious as to what the hot butter one tastes like. 

Two food trucks down, many more to go!

No, those aren't butterflies in my stomach

Lately, I have been trying really hard to eat healthy.  Since lent began, I gave up dessert, which has significantly cut out sugar from my diet.  I also gave up fried foods and soda.  I have been feeling good lately and although I really miss those treats, I am happy to have them out of my life for a little bit and really hope to keep it up after Easter.  I jumped on the scale this morning and noticed I lost 4 lbs in the last week.  Its kind of hard to tell 4 lbs when you are significantly overweight, however, I have to start somewhere and it gave me motivation to keep up the good work.

The bad part is, I was at a educational/networking event last night and because it ran through dinner I had to snack on some of the appetizers there.  Unfortunately, they did some damage on my stomach and because I ate some things I am allergic to, I am paying for it all day long today.  My stomach is doing flips and not so happy with me right now...thank goodness for an excessive amount of restrooms at work! I think I learned my lesson to stick with the healthier living style with foods I can eat.

Ten on Tuesday

Its Tuesday and today I am copying fellow bloggers on the Ten on Tuesday Challenge.  The challenge involves answering a set of 10 questions about yourself.  Theme for this week is FOOD. 


1. What is a food that you never thought you would try, but then tried and liked?


Calamari.  I remember as a kid my family was always ordering it and since at the time I thought  I hated seafood I would never try it.  One night while out with the family, our meals were taking forever in the kitchen and all we had at the table was a plate of calamari and bread.  I decided that my stomach needed to be filled immediately and filled up my appetizer plate with a few rings of calamari.  It was heaven.  Since then, I have been in love with the appetizer, sometimes even ordering it for my meal.

2. Do you subscribe to any foodie publications? If so, which ones?  


Rachael Ray's Magazine.  I am obsessed with it.  I have been a subscriber for years and always find myself riping pages from the magazine to put in my "food binder" I never want my subscriptions to end.

3. What ingredient do you find yourself reaching for the most when you cook?


Garlic, Garlic, Garlic.  I would love to put Garlic in everything I make.  I can't live without it.  (sorry for the garlic breath)

4. Are there any foods that you hated as a child, but then learned to like as an adult?

Besides Calamari, I would have to say tomatoes.  I never liked tomatoes and am still a little hesitant about eating them, but have added them more and more to recopies that I am making.  

5. What do you like to eat that others may consider weird?


I absolutely love pumpkin flower.  My grandmother used to make these fried pancake looking items that were made from pumpkin flowers and they were to die for.  As soon as I began writing this post I immediately called up my grandmother for the recipe.  Its one of the things I will make this summer to remind me of my childhood.

6. What is the weirdest ingredient you’ve ever cooked with?


I would  say that the pumpkin flower was the weirdest thing I have ever cooked with.

7. Do you have any major food allergies?


I actually do have food allergies to alot of foods.  Its surprising to most people because I still tend to eat those foods even though I know I have the allergy.  I have been better at limiting wheat, barley, potatoes, milk products etc.  However, my list of food allergies is longer than ones I am not allergic to, so I will save you from writing them all down.

8. Is there an ingredient that you would like to cook with, but are intimidated to try?

I would love to cook a cornish hen.  I have Julia Child's cookbook but am intimidated to try many of the recipes.  I would love this year to make a meal with a cornish hen.  I know of my best friends has recently attempted it, so I should get up the courage to try it myself.  

9. Do you bake?


I do love to bake but I have to admit I am not much of a baker.  My best products thus far in baking have been cake pops.  I need to improve on my baking skills.

10.  If you could go on any “foodie” show to compete, which one would it be, and why?


I would love to go on Top Chef.  I have actually been a taster on Top Chef before, so I have been able to see the judges in real life, eat the food that the competitors have made during a restaurant war and experienced the TV reality show.  But I would love to be so good that I am on the show to compete.  

Easy Slow Cooker Dinner

My new must buy of the week is William and Sonoma's sauces and starters.  I am obsessed with the options they have to offer from Indian food to sandwich spreads. Naturally, I thought I had to be a super chef to pull off using one of their ingredients, however, I have to say, I was pretty impressed.

This week when I had little motivation to cook, I decided to create a meal from what I had in my pantry. Although, this is not a brisket, it did make a sweet and savory beef dinner. 

Ingredients:
1 pkg egg noodles (cook as directed)
1 jar of W&S Brisket Starter
1 Pot Roast
1/4 cup of flour
1/4 cup of beef broth
salt and pepper
olive oil

Cooking Instructions

On a piece of foil roll the pot roast in flour coating all sides.  

Sprinkle salt and pepper generously on the meat

In a saucepan pour enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan (don't go overboard).  

Place the floured beef into the saucepan. 

Pour 1/8 of a cup of beef broth in the bottom of the pan.

Stay close to the beef rotating it when one side is browned. (you do not want it to be burnt)

Once you have browned all sides equally transfer the beef into a crockpot.

Pour the remaining beef broth in on the meat. 

Top the meat with the entire jar of brisket starter on the beef.  

Cook on high for 5 hours in the crockpot.

Using a meat thermometer make sure the beef is thoroughly cooked.  

Remove the beef from the crockpot onto a cutting board.  

Your beef will easily fall apart,
however, gently shred up the meat and transfer back into the crockpot and sauce.  

Keep on warm until ready to serve

Cook the egg noodles as directed on the package (takes approximately 8-10 minutes)

To eat, fill a bowl with egg noodles and top with beef/sauce

Enjoy!!!

No Meat?!? What will I eat?!?!

Its the First Friday of Lent and I need to make something for dinner that does not include meat but it also filling. I rummaged through my pantry and realized I had some:

fresh basil

crab meat

brown rice pasta 

Combine these with some butter and its a delicious meal ! Although I am trying to cut back on butter and grains in my meals, I figured I might as well use them up instead of wasting money I spend previously on groceries.  I also realized its sort of easy  to make a meal out of leftovers and pantry items.  

One Friday down! This meatless thing isn't so hard.

Help! Attack of the chocolate cravings

Its 12:33 and all I can think about is chocolate.  I am driving myself insane.  

I had a bad morning...lost my metro card (with $210 on it), forgot my lunch on the kitchen counter, and then came to work to find out someone had leaked out information that was not to be made public yet.  Immediately I though, I need a piece of chocolate and then I realized, lent started at midnight.  

This is going to be a long Lenten season...

Sacrifices

Lent. 

 Its something I look forward to and dread each year. 

Lent is a preparation of the believer through prayer, almsgiving, penitence, and self-denial.  I think of Lent as a cleansing for the mind, body and soul.  

I decided over the weekend I would give myself a "final meal" of junk food before I began the lent cleanse.  As I indulged in a meal of Peruvian chicken and cheesecake I began to wonder why I even put the junk in my body.  Although very tasty, its not as satisfying as I would hope it would be.  

Ok, I started with the cheesecake first since it was a treat.  But I only ate half..

If you are looking for the best Peruvian chicken in the DC area, head to El Pollo Rico in Arlington, VA.   Its worth the wait in line (and in the parking lot)

So, I am sure you are wondering what I am giving up for the next 45 days...here it is:

1. Sweets 

(candy, chocolate, ice cream, pies, cake)

2. Soda 

(Even gingerale.  I guess if I am sick my fall back will be water and OJ)

3. Fried foods 

(french fries, onion rings, calamari, anything deep fried)

4. Working out 30 minutes a day

(Ok, so this isn't giving something up, its putting something into my life)

Although you do not need to observe lent on the Sundays leading up to Easter (because they are considered mini-Easters) I am going to try and go all 45 days according to plan.  

Here I go...Head first...oy vey

Fat Tuesday...Today I'm not the only Fatty

Today is Fat Tuesday!! I learned something today when researching this famous "holiday".  Mardi Gras' literal translation means Fat Tuesday in French. I always just assumed it had two names, not that one meant the other.


This year my baby sister is celebrating her spring break in New Orleans and although I hope she isn't earning beads by flashing skin, she is getting to experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where it all began, which makes me a little jealous.

Although many people think Mardi Gras is just an excuse for people to party before Saint Pattys Day, its roots began through Catholicism.  Its the "last hurrah" before Lent begins.  Fat Tuesday marks 46 days till Easter and because Easter falls on a different day each year it can range from being a tuesday in February or March.  So enjoy your king cakes, drinks and partying, tomorrow marks the first day of lent, where I will say goodbye to some of my guilty pleasures for 45 days.


Oh yes, and tomorrow I will be one of those individuals walking around with dirt on my forehead...

Snacking before Dinner (Is it a Do or a Don't?)

Growing up my mother would always yell at us as we quietly opened up the snack cabinet or fridge, when she wasn't looking, to grab a snack before dinner. She must have had eyes in the back of her head to see us, however, immediately the lecture on how eating before dinner would ruin our appetite would begin.  Now that I am on my own schedule and only cooking for one, I am free to snack and eat as I please, which could be the reason I am not 50 lbs overweight.  


For all of you pre-dinner snackers, check out Real Simple's 9 Healthy pre-dinner snacks to curb your appetite, while cooking.  I have to say after reading these I immediately rewrote my grocery list so that I could start preparing these amazing snack.  My personal  favorite is number #2! What a great idea.


1. Cashew Strawberry Crunch
Think of this as a gourmet cook's PB & J. Spread 1 tablespoon of cashew butter on a slice of Ryvita Fruit Crunch. (Or substitute peanut butter and Triscuits.) Drizzle with ½ tablespoon honey and top with sliced strawberries. 


2. One Minute Antipasto Plate
Roll a thin slice of prosciutto or ham around a part-skim mozzarella string cheese. Eat with a few olives and grapes, or add roasted bell peppers (from a jar) drizzled with balsamic vinegar. 


3. Pineapples and Pistachios
Combine about ¼ cup dried pineapple pieces with about 25 pistachio nuts. (For a treat, use chile-lime pistachio nuts, available at specialty stores.) Other winning dried-fruit-and-nut combos: raisins and peanuts, apricots and almonds, cherries and hazelnuts.


4. Cottage Cheese and Apples
Slice an apple, such as Fuji or Granny Smith, and top with ½ cup of low-fat cottage cheese (look for 4-ounce four-packs from Breakstone). Or replace the fresh apple with two drained cinnamon-spiced apple rings, such as Musselman's (which can be found in the canned-fruit aisle).


5. Cheese Melt
Spread ½ teaspoon of spicy mustard on a cocktail-size slice of thin whole-grain rye bread. Add a thin square of sharp Cheddar (about the same size as the bread) and broil until the cheese melts, then top with a slice of tomato and a sprinkling of caraway seeds. 


6. Parmesan Pita Chips
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan evenly over a 4-inch whole-wheat pita. Dust pita with ¼ teaspoon dried oregano and broil until the cheese browns. Cut into quarters


7. Creamy Feta-Walnut Dip
Place 2 cups plain nonfat yogurt in a sieve lined with a coffee filter. Let stand in the refrigerator for 1 hour or overnight. Discard the liquid and spoon the thickened yogurt into a small bowl. Add ¾ cup (3 ounces) crumbled Feta cheese, 2 cloves minced garlic, 2 tablespoons finely chopped toasted walnuts, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon hot sauce. Mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to blend. Makes 1½ cups. 


8. Edamame
You can buy these in your frozen food section.  Just heat in the microwave.  Sprinkle with a little salt and enjoy!



9. Fresh Veggies and Dressing
Slice a cucumber into strips and place on a plate with baby carrots or baby corn. Dip in a lower-fat dressing, such as Annie's Naturals Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette or Trader Joe's Carrot-Ginger.

(Photo and recipes courtesy of RealSimple.com) 

The Best I've Ever Had

Have you every had such an amazing meal that it stays with you forever? I love watching the Food Network's Best I Ever Ate episodes where celebrity chef's feature their favorite meals from all over the U.S. Just like them, there are certain meals from restaurants that have left a lasting impression on my taste buds. To highlight a few of my favorite menu items and the best spots to find them I have created the Best of the Best list below.

Best Chicken and Waffles

Founding Farmers - Washington, DC

Best Filet Mignon 

Paris Hotel - Las Vegas, NV

Best Half Smoke

Ben's Chili Bowl - Washington, DC

Best Ice Cream

Graeter's Ice Cream - Cincinnati, OH

Best Cheesesteak
Pat's - Philadelphia, PA


Best Cobb Salad
Sweetiepie - New York City


Best Buffalo Wing Pizza
Dave's Pizza Post - Emporium, PA


Best Hamburger
(Smokehouse Burger) Good Stuff Eatery - Washington, DC

Best Chili
Skyline - Cincinnati,OH


Best Banana Cream Pie
Oscar's - Columbus, OH
(my mom and I had this over 12 years ago and we have never forgotten it,
we have to get back there soon)


Best Hot Chocolate
ACKC - Arlington, VA

What are your favorite menu items?

Juices: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

While sitting at home recovering from an awful stomach virus, I decided to start looking up healthy food and drink options.  Today I couldn't help but laugh as I thought back to the quote in the movie The Devil Wears Prada when she says "I am just one stomach virus away from my goal weight".   There are only 37 days left before my first weight check in and I still need to lose 10-15 lbs, so I figured I might as well use today to start changing my diet.

On the WebMD website today they featured the best and worst juice drinks.  I am not much of a juice drinker,but I do occasionally grab an OJ or Lemonade on the way to work.  The line up included:

Worst:
Juice Cocktails
100% Juice -- Can still have a lot of sugar in it

Best:
Vegetable Juice
Pomegranate Juice
Cranberry Juice -- packed with vitamin C; However, drink unsweetened cranberry juice
Blueberry Juice
Acai Berry Juice
Cherry Juice -- It is said to drink this before and after a work out to reduce workout pain
Red Grape Juice -- Good for the heart
Prune Juice -- high in fiber, reduces constipation
Orange Juice 

Cosmic...SONIC

A food guru friend of mine recently pointed out to me that I am a fast food virgin.  I have to admit, growing up in the middle of no where PA, limited me on fast food options in the area.  When I arrived in DC 4 years ago, I began to realize there was a whole other world of fast food restaurants out there beyond the standard Micky D's, Wendy's and Burger King I had grown up with.  Just recently I was driving with a friend and we came upon a Sonic.  After watching commercials for Sonic restaurants for years I was overcome with joy to dive into a greasy burger and tator tots.  


My reaction... AMAZING! Any nearby diners would have known I was a Sonic Virgin as I spilled mustard on my jacket and my entire container of tater tots toppled over within 5 minutes of receiving my food. 


I wish there were more closer to DC, however, I might regain the Freshman 15 if there was one within driving distance. 


I can't wait to try it again.  

Breath of Fresh Air

Sometimes in life you just need to get out of the city and clear your mind, body and soul in the peaceful countryside.  This weekend I met up with my college roommates in northern New Jersey.  It was so nice to be with the girls who know me best.  After a LONG and exhausting bus ride to Philadelphia I was greeted with a delicious home cooked meal.  It was the first time in a long time that I had shared a  meal with one of my oldest friends. I need to tell her more how much I appreciated this small act of kindness.


Chicken, Rissoto, Cauliflower and Brussel Sprouts! YUMMY! 


Although we talked for hours and wore each other out, we were so excited to wake up in the morning to head out on the road to Jersey.

After a fun drive through the countryside, jamming out to my dear friend's creative road trip playlist, we finally arrived in the dirty JERZ! Walking in the front door of that New Jersey apartment, immediately filled me with so much happiness.  After having a rough past year with some personal issues, its always good to meet up with these girls to relax and forget about life's problems.   It was so nice to laugh, and share a wonderful 24 hours with some of the most beautiful, loving, strong and intelligent women that I know.  I don't know where I would be without them. 

It was once said that:

"A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are." 


Its crazy to think that I have known these girls for 9 years, and even though we don't live down the hall from each other anymore, we are closer than ever. What these girls don't know is its the little things like sharing a homemade meal together and dancing around in the room to zumba is what keeps me smiling each day.  I love these girls and hope they know that I am positive God put them in my life 9 years ago to be my guardian angels for the next 70 years. 

Packing up the car Sunday morning I was immediately overcome with "sleepover feeling".  You know that feeling of sadness you experience after everyone has gone their separate way after a great sleepover.  I am already counting down the days until I see them again.  

Thank you, to the loves of my life for accepting me for who I am, laughing with me when I make a complete idiot out of myself, finishing my thoughts when I stumble over what to say, and picking me up when I am down. I love you all.   

At War with the Vending Machine

It only seemed fitting that today I have a guest blogger.  This weekend I am heading out of town to visit my best friends in Philly/NJ.  My good friend was having a bad week and she sent me an email describing her no good, horrible, awful day.  I had to share it with you all..


Today was just one of those days. Everything that anyone said and did, every phone call, almost every moment of this day made me want to cry or punch something in a fit of rage. The mail machine didn't work (not that it ever does). The copier ate my paper. My boss was being extra grouchy and unapproachable. I ripped a brand new pair of stocking before noon. Flo arrived. Need I say more?

I could go on but the funniest of all my mishaps had to be my fight with the vending machine. After Flo showed her face, I convinced myself that I was a fat cow who didn't deserve to or need to eat lunch (I tend to get emotional and overly dramatic on days like this). That was short-lived. Not thirty minutes later I decided that I would punish myself and Flo by eating chocolate for lunch. I'm still not sure how I justified that as "punishment," but I had justification at the time. I scrounged up $1 in change which isn't an easy feat as I pay for almost everything with my debit card and NEVER have cash or change handy. I snuck downstairs, careful not to let anyone see me heading for the frowned-upon vending machine to select my poison. A Mounds bar, to be specific. It's one of my personal favorites but the name weirds me out a little bit - not sure why. Why can't it be called a Coconut Dream bar? Or Coconut Creme Bar? Anyway... I digress.

I put my precious dollar in the machine, selected B6 and watched the spiral metal holder go ALMOST all the way around. Just shy of releasing the creamy, dreamy, chocolaty, coconut treat into the tray at the bottom. Yes, the machine ate my dollar and my Mounds bar refused to drop the 6 inches it needed to for me to retrieve it. I stood there staring at it thinking, "I can leave a note on the machine for the nice old man who fills it just like everyone else.... But NO! Then everyone will know I was going to eat JUNK FOOD! Me. Healthy, fit, always-pestering-people-to-be-active me. F*&%. Now what?" So instead, I decide to shamelessly shake the machine in an attempt to shake the mounds bar free. I suddenly hear the crinkle of plastic and a thud. A mini-bag of 94% fat free popcorn dropped into the tray. Fantastic. I want 300+ calories of nothing but sugar and it gives me fat free popcorn, which ended up being my lunch.

I suppose this was all a blessing in disguise as I I certainly don't need the extra calories, fat, sugar, carbs and all things bad for one who watches their weight. It would have tasted good, I'm sure, but ultimately would have left me feeling bloated and guilty.

Thankfully, by the (almost) end of the day I'm laughing about it all. And, let's face it, the fact that I have almost no obligations to fulfil this evening and that a martini (or two) is in sight doesn't hurt. ;)


--Wild Irish Rose

Dinner with Friends

One of my recent new years resolution was to begin sharing a meal once a week with a friend.   This week I was lucky enough to share two different meals with some close friends.  On Tuesday I went to Carmines a NYC Italian restaurant that is all family style.  Trust me, when they say the portions are huge, they aren't kidding...Look at the size of these meatballs!

Tonight, I met up with two of my college friends for dinner at a local restaurant in Northern Virginia, Eventide.  Little did I know that there were two levels to this restaurant, the Lounge and the 2nd floor dining room.  To our surprise we had made the reservation for the 2nd floor dinning room by accident, a little fancier than expected.  However, this accidental reservation turned out to be one of the best meals I have had this winter. I had the rich and delicious Lobster and Winter Squash Gnocchi which was TO DIE for.  On a side note, its a perfect place for a date.  The large chandeliers that hang from the ceiling in between modern light fixtures create not only a romantic ambiance but also add a touch of class to the space. 

 I thought I was completely stuffed, but when Ann suggested walking to Crumbs for dessert we all agreed.  Wait to you see what we ordered...

 Ann ordered the Peanut butter and Chocolate cupcake and I opted for the Vanilla filled with Raspberries. Erica was the smart one who sampled a little of each.

 Had to show you the raspberry filling...I could only eat a few bites because it was so sweet, but it was the perfect ending to a fulfilling dinner. 

Now that I consumed approximately 8,000 calories in comfort food this week I need to squeeze in a longer workout over the weekend.