For a Diet: Romaine Shrimp Salad

Last night I had a salad for dinner…yeah its that get in shape for the wedding thing, but I am actually really excited about this salad. It had a ton of flavor and was really healthy.

Romaine lettuce topped with pan seared shrimp, sliced roasted red peppers, a little parmesan cheese and these snapea crisps.  I seasoned the shrimp with a little salt, pepper and grill seasoning and cooked them in a tiny bit of olive oil for about 5 minutes and used peppers from a jar.  Perfect quick cooking for a long Monday!

I found the snapea crisps at Trader Joe’s and they are awesome! They fill that need for crunch, but are way better for you than the traditional crouton. Highly recommended! And I used Kraft’s Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette OMG! If you haven’t tried this dressing and you like tomatoes you have to give it a whirl.
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

All I think about is food!

A few weeks ago I was reading one if my favorite blogs, for the love, and the writer was listing 7 things that cross her mind a lot. Number four said, “I probably think about food 37 times a day…I’m never not thinking about food. Teenage boys probably don’t think about sex as often as I think about food.” I almost screamed out loud, me too I think about food all the time; obviously I do write a blog about it. Well right now, that obsession has been escalated to a whole new level. I am planning events for the immediate future and semi-distant future and concentrating on the food:

1. What am I going to make for the tailgate tomorrow? GT plays Middle Tennessee (never even heard of it) so the game is sort of a yawner, the food has to be great!
2. Next week is my best friend’s birthday and I am throwing a dinner party for her…I am super excited and working on the menu.
3. Oh, yeah I’m getting married in May and deciding on the menu for the reception, no big deal right?

Basically, I think about those things along with my normal, what’s for dinner thoughts almost all the time. Some people get stressed out about stuff like this but I love it. I almost love the menu planning part of an event as much as the event itself. What about you, what do you obsess about? Do you enjoy menu planning or see it as a pain?
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

For 2: Roasted Broccoli

The other day I “freaked my mom out,” I texted her and told her my sister was eating broccoli and liked it! My sister has hated broccoli her whole life, like make a gagging noise, ugly face, don’t even want to see it kind of hate. I dry roasted broccoli and begged her to try it; she did and she said, “humm, its not mushy its crunchy, actually pretty good.” So if you have a child or boyfriend or sister or whatever who doesn’t like broccoli, make it this way (it’s super easy!) and I feel the chances are good they will like it!
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

For a Crowd: Chili + Fritos = Frito Pie

For me fall really begins with the first pot of chili. There is something about the smell of chili simmering in the crock pot that screams, “HEY, I’m autumn and I’m here now.” On Friday I made my “quick and easy chili” for the Saturday tailgate. We used the chili for Frito pie, which if you’ve never heard of: one - You are missing out and two - You must not have ever been to a Sonic Drive-in. Frito pie is the perfect tailgate food: a layer of Fritos topped with a good helping of chili, sprinkled with cheese, sour cream and green onions if you so desire. Does it get any better than that? I am kicking myself for not taking a picture, but it just got gone too fast. So if you want to see it make the chili below and then create a Frito pie with whatever toppings you like; believe me you won’t regret it!  What is your favorite tailgate food?  What signals the start of fall for you?
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

Appetizer in a box!

Last night I had some girlfriends coming over so I picked up these little guys:

and they were awesome!  I didn't have a ton of time so when I saw them in the freezer section, with a coupon I couldn't resist.  I really liked the mozzarella & pepperoni ones, they were like little mini pizzas!  Give them a try!
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

Remix: Cheesy Chicken Casserole with CRUNCH!

My sister made my favorite Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole last night with one small change, which made a HUGE FLAVOR DIFFERENCE! She didn’t sprinkle the extra cheese on top before baking like I did. She put it in to bake with no cheese on top, in the mean time she mixed up some shredded cheese and a can of French fried onions (oh, yeah those are good!) and then when the casserole had about 5 minutes left to cook she took it out of the oven and covered the top with the onion and cheese mixture. Then, she put it back in the oven to finish cooking and let the onions brown and the cheese melt. HOLY MOLY!!! This was delicious! Such a great addition! Healthy, not so much but FLAVORFUL and added a nice crunch texture!!! And let’s be honest this is a casserole, so it’s not like it is super waist line friendly to begin with, but that’s why they taste so good! What is your favorite casserole?  Or are you an anti-casserole person?  (which I don't even pretend to understand by the way, but I know you are out there...)

And one other little thing, sorry for the lack of posts lately.  I got engaged last week so my life has been exciting and hectic!  I will have some new exciting stuff for you soon.  I am having a hard time with one thing though, I have always called my boyfriend the bf on the blog...now he is my fiance.  I don't think I should call him the f.  Anyone have any ideas?
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

For a Crowd: Bacon and Cheese Biscuits again!

There is nothing wrong with a do over, when the recipe was good the first time!  Last week the Jackets had another noon kick off, so it was another breakfast tailgate.  I made the bacon and cheese biscuits, that I made for breakfast club a couple of months ago.  Last time I didn't make them thick enough so this time I was careful to not have flat biscuits and I succeeded! 
Biscuits in my handy Built bag:

Luckily this week we finally get a 3:30 kickoff, so I can make a normal tailgate, not that I don't love breakfast but let's be honest those 7am wake up calls on a Saturday were getting old!
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey