Black and White Cookies

Reasons why I need a cookie:

1) Two tests

2) The death of my spatula and utter disarray of my kitchen

The spatula before its tumultuous fall to its death

4) The unintentional murder of my microwave

It has been a hell of a week.

Black and White Cookies

For the Cookies:

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2/3 cup shaken buttermilk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup butter

2 eggs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk and vanilla. Cream together the sugar and butter until the mixture is fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, blend until incorporated. Alternately, add the buttermilk mixture and flour mixture.

Use a 1/4 cup measure and scoop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheet, 2 inches part. These do spread so make sure to put enough room between them. Bake for 15-17 minutes, until the tops spring back when touched.

Let cool with bottoms facing up and prepare the white and black glaze.

White glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp light corn syrup

2 tbsp hot water

Chocolate glaze:

4 oz semi-sweet chocolate

3 tbsp butter

1 tbsp light corn syrup

Directions for glazes:

Simply combine the ingredients for the white glaze. For the chocolate, combine the chocolate and butter and microwave until it is melted. Add the corn syrup.

Frost the bottom of the cookies, one side black and the other white. Let chill in the refrigerator to allow the glaze to set.

Meatless Meat-Sauce Pasta

Last night, I had dinner with Paul Newman.

And he made me do all the cooking.

Anyhoo, it was one of those nights where I didn't feel like cooking but there was nothing that I could just zap in the microwave. I considered a salad but the bag of lettuce I bought a week back had started procreating. So, I went for the next best thing. Pasta.

The recipe below is for one serving but you could easily double or triple it.

Meatless Meat-Sauce Pasta

Ingredients:

1/3 cup pasta

1/2 cup marinara sauce

1/4 cup protein crumbles

Directions:

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Meanwhile, combine the marinara sauce and protein crumbles in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for one minute. Take out and stir.

Once the pasta is cooked, add to the bowl and toss to coat.

For the spinach on the side: heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a saute pan and add spinach. Cook until wilted.

It's Halloween!!!

It's Halloween, y'all!!

My Halloween weekend was pretty amazing. There was candy. Dancing. And general frivolity.

That's me in the middle...getting my Rachel Berry on :D

What were you guys for Halloween?! I can't wait to hear all of your costumes!!

Costumes and Halloween Candy Bark

I lloooovvveee Halloween. Yes, I may be 20. And does this mean I should be a bit more mature? Sure. But I am still dressing up!

The costumes?

Well, since I am terrible at keeping secrets I'll just let it slip:

Rachel Berry (Glee)

AND Lucy Ricardo

Two costumes for a weekend of spook-tastic entertainment ;-)

My original idea was Rachel Berry but I went costume shopping with a friend and when I saw the Lucy costume I just couldn't say no. I mean, it has a red wig that will completely clash with my brown eyebrows. How could I say no?

Anyway, since I am in the Halloween spirit I wanted to make some treats to bring to my friends and I found the perfect thing!

Halloween Candy Bark

Ingredients:

1 lb semisweet chocolate

4 Butterfingers coarsely chopped

4 Heath bars coarsely chopped

8 Reeses Peanut Butter Cups chopped

3 oz Peanut M&Ms

Directions:

Line a baking sheet with foil. In a microwave safe bowl melt the chocolate in 20 second increments. Makes sure to watch it so that it doesn't burn!

Pour the chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet and smooth out with a spoon. Sprinkle the chopped candy over the chocolate, pressing it down gently so it will adhere.

Put in the refrigerator and let it set for at least one hour. When it is hardened peel off the foil and break into irregular pieces. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Question: What are you going as for Halloween?? I want to hear all of your costume ideas!

Chicken Florentine

Chicago is supposed to be hit with a storm being heralded as the worse in 70 years. Right now, though, all I am seeing are blue skies. Some clouds. I think they are cumulous. I could be wrong. (Probably am).

I'm not too worried about the whole storm thing, though.

You see, I've got some chicken. Some wine. And a whole season of Glee waiting for me to sing along with it. So, epic storm, bring it on. I'm ready for you.

Chicken Florentine

Ingredients:

4 chicken breast halves

salt/pepper

flour (for dredging)

2 tbsp chopped shallots

2 cloves minced garlic

1 1/2 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup heavy cream

6 tbsp butter

2 10 oz boxes of frozen spinach (defrosted and drained)

Directions:

Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Next, put flour into a shallow bowl and dredge the chicken in it. Make sure to get an even coating, shaking off the excess.

In a large saute pan, melt 2 tbsp of butter and add the chicken. Cook for five minutes on each side until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and add another 2 tbsp of butter and the shallots and garlic. Cook until the shallots are translucent-about one minute.

Add the white wine and bring to a boil, cooking until the liquid is reduced by half-about three minutes. Next, add the cream and cook until the liquid reduces again by half-about three minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the cooked chicken breasts and coat in the sauce.

Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in a separate saute pan and add the spinach, cooking until it is heated. Season with salt and pepper.

Place the spinach on a serving platter and lay the chicken on top. Mangia!

Typical

Being in college has taught me something about eating and exercising--it is difficult around those who do not practice the same things you do. (This conversation suddenly sounds religious...) Fortunately, I feel I'm pretty lucky to have my friend Christina also known as CC, participate in a healthy lifestyle as well. I think having a friend is extremely important especially because they will push you.

So while pursuing my healthy lifestyle my meals have been pretty much consisting of the following:

Breakfast:

Lately I've been loving anything that resemble oatmeal products like Live Laugh Eat's Oatmeal Pancakes as well as greek yogurt with a sandwich thin slabbed in almond butter with topped with some form of fruit.

Lunch has been everything from wraps to salads.

Dinner has fortunately consisted of a little bit of cooking; a little bit of pasta tossed with some

vegetables, a homemade pizza from the book, Hungry Girl. As well as veggie burgers with sweet potato fries and veggies. Simple, healthy and easy. Perfect on an on the go college girl.

Hopefully today I'll be able to post one more time :)

Byeeee for now.

Warm Apple Crisp

It is a Saturday night and my roommate and I are sitting watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding while eating homemade Apple Crisp.

And before that we watched When Harry Met Sally...

We are so cool.

Baked Apple Crisp

Ingredients:

4 red apples peeled, cored, and sliced

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup flour

3/4 cup white sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

3 tbsp butter

1 egg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Prepare the apples and then mix them in the baking dish with the brown sugar. In a separate bowl mix the sugar, salt, flour, and cinnamon together. Add the wet ingredients and then pour over the apples.

Bake for 30 minutes or until the top turns golden brown.

In honor of my romantic comedy filled night: What's your favorite romantic comedy? Mine is definitely When Harry Met Sally... It gets me every time!