Chopped Challenge #1

The hubs and I enjoy watching the show Chopped on Foodnetwork, where the contestants get a basket of 3 ingredients that they have to use in creating a dish.  So we came up with the idea of a Chopped Challenge for dinner.  So he went to the grocery the other morning and when I got home I had this, each of which I had to include in our dinner that evening

A large MahiMahi filet, a head of radicchio and 2 packages of crackers (from which I could choose one), oh and my lovely assistant Ralph

So Excited!

I had an extremely fun wedding weekend.  Unfortunately this is the one picture I have of me and my true love...I hate that it is blurry & dark because I feel like otherwise it would be so cute...oh well!

On a more exciting note - The hubs went to the grocery today.  He bought one meat and two other "secret ingredients."  We are having dinner "Chopped" Style like the show on TV...I can't wait to get home and see what is in my basket.  I will let you know how it all turns out.  I hope he didn't buy cucumbers; I hate those things!
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

Food Dreams

Do you ever think about dish you had while on vacation and wonder if you will ever have anything that good again?  I do.  Specifically right now this gnocchi covered in delicious alfredo sauce and walnuts!

YUM - I had this delicious dish while on Spring Break with my Mom and Sister back in April.  NYC - what's up!  As I am sitting at my desk today, nearly 2 months later, wondering where to go to lunch, I am dreaming of the light and soft potato pillows, covered with cheese sauce of the just right consistency and walnuts that give the dish the perfect salty texture.  OVER THE TOP!  Oh and a in house made cannoli for dessert wouldn't be bad either.

Granted, I got that at a different restaurant in NYC, but while I am dreaming I might as well go all out.

And now I am still wondering, where to go to lunch, my stomach is growling...

Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

1 year!

Yesterday was my one year wedding anniversary!  We made it!  Here we are all dressed and ready to go out, trying to get Ralph to corporate for a picture

Since it was a Monday it was a little low key, we went to our favorite restaurant with an awesome patio and had some great food and beer and enjoyed the lovely evening.

And we ate some one year old pound cake that has been taking up room in our freezer, and it was surprisingly delicious - although  not as cute as it once was.

I hope you had a lovely day!
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

For a Crowd or 2: Deviled Egg Chicken Salad

A few weeks ago we were headed to a wedding at 6pm with some dear friends.  I know we would probably all have a cocktail or two while we were getting ready so I thought it would be nice to have a little snack to go along...it was just starting to get warm out and Easter had just past and I couldn't get the idea of Deviled Eggs out of my head...but I had 2 left over chicken breasts in the fridge.  So, I thought...why not mix chicken salad and deviled eggs...I have to say it turned out rather well!

Here is how I made it, but feel free to increase or decrease the proportions to your liking!
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

For 2: Cumin Chopped Salad

When it gets hot out I like to eat a HUGE salad for dinner because it makes me feel like I will look good in a bikini since it is a healthy choice and it keeps the AC bill down since I don't have to turn the oven on.  If I put LOTS of toppings on it read between the lines - meat the hubs will jump on board with salad for dinner.  Here was our first salad of Summer 2012, ok I know its not quite summer yet, but it was 88 degrees...

This one had mixed baby greens, 1/2 a pint of cherry tomatoes (halved), 1/2 can of black beans (drained and rinsed), 1/2 can of kernel corn (drained and rinsed), some chopped cilantro and about 18-20 shrimp that were sauteed in butter and cumin (the pic is my half and not pictured is the hubs  half).  The dressing was the juice of 2 limes, about 4 tblsps of extra virgin olive oil, a dash of salt, pepper, cumin and paprika and about 2 tblsps of red wine vinegar put in a mason jar with the lid on, shaken, not stirred, then poured over the top - SO Easy and SO Good!  Oh and the beverage it totally goes because it is a Heineken LIGHT so the LIGHT part makes it healthy....at least that is what I told myself...

Have you made any good entree salads lately?  What was in them?  Do you like to make your own dressing or use the bottled kind?
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

All abuot me!

I loved reading this survey at A Foodie Stays Fit and learning all kinds of facts about the author, so I thought I would give it a whirl myself.  I hope you enjoy and if you blog, please do it to so I can learn about you!

A is for age: 28
B is for breakfast today: Chiobani Strawberry yogurt and an apple
C is for currently craving: salt and vinegar potato chips (obviously the lean cuisine ravoli at lunch really filled me up today…)
D is for dinner tonight: can’t decide; chorizo, potato andmushroom tacos or meatball casserole, thoughts?
E is for favorite type of exercise: tennis
F is for an irrational fear: being kidnapped (yes, at the age of 28)
G is for gross food: cucumbers
H is for hometown: Cartersville, GA
I is for something important: paying the mortgage
J is for current favorite jam: my Mom’s homemade peach
K is for kids: 1 – Ralph (the dog)
L is for current location: work, woops!
M is for the most recent way you spent money: at the grocery store
N is for something you need: salt and vinegar chips, didn’t we just talk about this…
O is for occupation: Financial Planner
P is for pet peeve: people calling to see if you got their e-mail
Q is for a quote: “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller
R is for random fact about you: I love salt and vinegar potato chips!
S is for favorite healthy snack: I don’t really like health snacks – I guess carrots, but prefer salt and vinegar potato chips (see a trend here?)
T is for favorite treat: um hello, I feel like this survey isn’t getting me – salt and vinegar potato chips
U is for something that makes you unique: I graduated from Georgia Tech in three and a half years
V is for favorite vegetable: broccoli
W is for today’s workout: walk Ralph
X is for X-rays you’ve had: face (they thought I broke my jaw, but I didn't woo...)
Y is for yesterday’s highlight: winning my tennis match in 2 sets!
Z is for your time zone: EST