dinner & dessert thanks to Lidia

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dinner recipe, lidia's italy, Pan Seared Steak with Pizzaiola Sauce, ricotta cookies, roasted potato wedges, steak pizzaiola

Today was one of those days I’m going to miss dearly once I start student teaching in a couple of weeks. Life has been so enjoyable lately– so much time to cook, bake, read, spend time with the kids, and fully enjoy life. I’m really not looking forward to reality at all.  Today is what I would call a good food day. I spent most of the afternoon and night in the kitchen, and whipped up a fantastic dinner and cookies for dessert. There aren’t many times I watch food shows and try the recipes, but this was one menu plan I couldn’t pass up. All of tonight’s recipes are Lidia’s and can be found on her website. You can also catch Lidia making each dish on Lidia’s Italy on PBS. Everything was fantastic! The potato wedges are definitely a keeper!! I plan to make them again next week with tilapia.

Buon Appetito!

Ricotta Cookies

Roasted Potato Wedges

Pan Seared Steak with Pizzaiola Sauce

 

Cooking…

Final Dish~

 

blueberry crumb cake

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barefoot contessa, blueberry crumb cake, ina garten, what to make with blueberries

I made the most delicious blueberry crumb cake the other day, and just have to share the recipe with you guys. It was divine… O. M. G. It didn’t lack in anything, and wasn’t rich in anything either; it was just perfect. Thanks to Ina Garten for creating a truly fabulous recipe. This blueberry crumb cake is something your guests would love served for breakfast or brunch. My husband and I couldn’t get enough. Try the recipe and tell me what you think!

Ingredients

For the streusel:

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

For the cake:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature (3/4 stick)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• Confectioners’ sugar for sprinkling

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch round baking pan.

For the streusel:

Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Stir in the melted butter and then the flour. Mix well and set aside.

For the cake:

Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed for 4 to 5 minutes, until light. Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla, lemon zest, and sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Fold in the blueberries and stir with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out with a knife. With your fingers,

crumble the topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool completely and serve sprinkled with confectioners’ sugar.

Recipe taken from Food Network

Military Green

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coat, espirit, espirit coat, jacket, macys, military green coat, shopping

We’ve been pretty lucky thus far in NYC, but our time is up, and the weather’s getting pretty frigid. Got this ESPIRT jacket @ Macy’s over the weekend for $100.  Feeling extremely warm and fitted in it. the jacket is extremely flattering so I couldn’t be happier. I’m kind of done with constantly wearing black. I’m loving the look it gives me.

Right on Target

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kathan heeled oxfords, keeley heeled boots, massimo shoes, riding boots, shoes, shop target, slouchy heeled boots, target, target shoes

You’d be surprised at how many cute shoes you can find at Target.com.
Not sure what kind of promotions they are running now, but I snagged 4 pairs of shoes (pictured below) for $100 during their buy one, get one 50% off. That’s a deal that can’t be beat.

Women's Mossimo® Keeley Heeled Boots - Taupe

 

 

Women's Merona® Madelia Slouchy Heeled Boots -Gray

Women's Mossimo® Kathan Heeled Oxfords - Gray

Womens Mossimo Supply Co. Kayanna Riding Boots - Brown

Shop our Outfits

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mod cloth, shop mod cloth, shopping, vintage clothes

I’ve fallen in love with Mod Cloth’s shop our outfits option. It’s sometimes hard to tell if Mod Cloth’s clothes will be the right fit for you, so this option is definitely helpful for the average gal. Oh, and, I absolutely love this outfit! Check out the killer wedges! Kind of refreshing, too, to see chic outfits on ladies shorter than 6 feet tall.

What’s on the Menu?

Food shopping is my least favorite type of shopping. It really isn’t my thing at all, and I’m so thankful my husband usually takes over in that department. I’m trying to write out a list at the moment, but I could think of a million other things I could be doing.  Anyway, in an attempt to become better organized we are also trying to plan out our meals. This is what’s on the menu this week:

Monday: Broiled Tilapia Parmesan and Mashed Potatoes

Tuesday: Chicken Cutlets and Stuffed Artichokes

Wednesday: Lentil Soup and Spinach Corn Bread

Thursday: Korean Style Short Ribs with White Rice

Friday: Chicken Enchiladas and Guacamole Chicken Ceasar Salad

Now if only all the ingredients could magically appear in my kitchen! Cheers!

Bookstore to Public Library

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book lover, books, bookstore, library, new moon, queens public library, shelfari, twilight

The card that gives

I love bookstores. I love buying books and placing them on my bookshelf. There’s something about creating a library in my home that makes me feel so good inside. Seriously I was elated to fill a bookshelf and realize it was maybe time to purchase another one. As I was adding the books on my bookshelf to my shelfari account, I realized I have spent more money on books than I’d care to admit. I also realized there are so many books on my bookshelf that I haven’t read yet. That’s much harder to admit. Recently I’ve thought about giving Stephenie Meyer’s, Twilight another chance, as I wasn’t into it at all the first time around. This time I promised I wouldn’t buy it because it probably would sit unread on my bookshelf anyway.  I took a trip to the library and borrowed it. Afterall I own more books than shoes. More bags that shoes. Probably more books than outfits. More books when I can easily borrow them and return them. I can basically request any book that I’d like to read and then return it in a few short weeks. Sheesh, I can’t do that with bags or shoes! Maybe it really is time for me to make the switch from bookstore to public library. Back to Twilight… the book was fantastic as I’m sure you all know. I could not put it down. What a terrific book. The suspense and relationship between Edward and Bella were electrifying. I am actually rushing through this post so I can open New Moon. It felt good to return one book today and replace it with another one. Maybe this is the secret to actually reading the books that come into my possession.

back to school gift for mom

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back to school, bags, fashion, handbags, kids, michael kors, michael kors black python bag, new bag, winter vacation

Yesterday was the last day of winter vacation for the kids. My kids seem so much more full of life when they’re home on vacation. I truly consider home-schooling them at times…some times… not many times. Although it was hard for me to say, ” bye, have a good day,” as they rushed into the building this morning; it wasn’t as hard for me to rev up my engine and set off to do some discount shopping. I didn’t come home with bags upon bags of stuff, but I did come home with one bag, and i absolutely love it.

 

                                              Michael Kors

woot woot for these gorgeous hoots

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2011 shoes, aldo, aldo blue suede hoots, aldo blue suede shoes, aldo hoots, fashion, hoots, pumps, shoes

Don’t you love making an exciting purchase? I know I do! I can hardly contain my excitement. It was definitely love at first sight with these gorgeous blue suede shoes. I finally purchased these Aldo hoots I’ve been dying to own!! They are just FAB! Omigosh, let’s hope they come fast. Ah, the possibilities. I love shoes that serve to dress up, but also dress down when necessary. These seem like the perfect shoe for that.

Happy New Year

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2012, fashion blog, food blog, mommy blog, new year, new year's resolution

I hope you enjoy all that I have to post. I seem to make frivolous new year’s resolutions each year, but this year I’ve decided to make a much more meaningful resolution: I want this new year to reflect all that I am. I want to go beyond the pounds that I wish to shed, and the house that I wish to keep cleaner, and make this year a time to grow and explore. Who says I can’t cook in a fantastic pair of pumps? Who says I can’t juggle it all? Who says I can’t be a glitzy mom? Who says I can’t encompass fashion on a budget? Who says I can’t become the writer that I’ve always wished to become? Who says I can’t make it through this last semester unscathed? Who says my two bedroom apartment can’t look fabulous with two active little boys running through it?
No one, really. So it’s time I understood that. This is my year.