tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85405889367969975052012-01-25T13:23:07.403-05:00I'm learning to cook the "new" fashioned way- with the help of cooking shows, food blogs, cookbooks and pretty much anything I can get my hands on. This blog will showcase the ups and downs of my attempts in the kitchen, and all my little foodie adventures in-between.Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.comBlogger891100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-39165196153113481212010-01-21T20:51:00.003-05:002010-01-21T20:55:42.040-05:00

Hi Everyone! Sorry I've been missing for months and months, but as you probably have guessed by now, I've decided to take a break from food blogging. I'm in my second trimester with our first little baby, and while I was very blessed to not have any of the nasty side effects that generally accompany pregnancy, I'm just doggone tired and have no energy to cook or blog. I'm so sorry that I haven't

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-82496909121405476142009-07-01T07:31:00.003-04:002009-07-01T07:36:20.848-04:00

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let ya'll know that the hubs and I are taking a little vacation down to Turks and Caicos and will be out of pocket for the next few weeks. I had meant to get a few things posted before we left, but the weather had miraculously turned sunny, and I just couldn't bring myself to sit inside. Hope everyone is enjoying the summer, and I will see you in a few!

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-49685368550959710792009-06-25T14:40:00.000-04:002009-06-25T14:43:42.662-04:00

People either love or hate grits, which is primarily based on which side of the Mason-Dixon line they call home. In the south, grits are an absolute staple and present at nearly every breakfast table. In the north, they are thought to be as bland as cardboard and are nearly impossible to find (yes, you will get weird looks from the grocery clerk if you ask for them). Personally, I love 'em. But I

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-9167533548787861322009-06-22T13:55:00.001-04:002009-06-22T13:55:01.564-04:00

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Although we've been battling the elements up here in the northeast, we did get in a few outdoor activities. I am lucky enough to volunteer for an amazing organization, Girls on the Run, in which we help young girls train to run a 5k at the end of their school semester. Their big race was this weekend, and I am thanking the heavens that the rain

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-58842349667268889442009-06-17T10:30:00.001-04:002009-06-17T10:30:00.708-04:00

Does the name alone have you swooning? Oh yes, they are just as good as they sound. Maybe even better. Grace, of A Southern Grace, made these a while back, and let me just send a big ole "Thank-You" her way, cause these babies rock! Cream cheese brownies were already one of my favorite desserts, but the mint in these took them to a whole nother level. Considering that the mint oreo balls I made

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-48135747713686826772009-06-15T07:05:00.002-04:002009-06-15T07:05:00.108-04:00

I decided to try and participate in the Daring Cooks challenge this month, which was to make homemade dumplings. The challenge was put together by Jen of Use Real Butter. She has an awesome site and I've been a loyal follower for quite some time now. I was pretty excited that she picked dumplings, but was curious as to how difficult the process was going to be. I'll let you know right from the

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-77134926890432681032009-06-11T09:30:00.008-04:002009-06-11T09:31:44.128-04:00

Every where I look these days, someone seems to be talking about grilling out. It's all over the blogs, magazines, even the tv. This would be fine and dandy, given it is summer and all, except for the fact that grilling is not so possible when you live in a high rise apartment complex. Not that this is reason enough to move out to the burbs or anything, but we all want what we don't have, and I

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-22568060262783742632009-06-08T11:50:00.001-04:002009-06-08T11:50:00.445-04:00

Does my title have you singing yet? I'll go ahead and apologize if the Bangles are stuck in your head all day. I don't know very many people that get excited for a Monday. Even though I'm not really working at the minute, Sunday nights are still filled with a little bit of dread over the coming day. It's just something about the world waking up from its mini vacation and heading back into the

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-833541865178550582009-06-04T13:00:00.002-04:002009-06-04T13:00:01.414-04:00

This post is going to be short and sweet today. Mainly because I have forfeited my life over to a series of books that have captured the hearts of teenage girls everywhere. Yes, I am slightly embarrassed to say that I have jumped on the Twilight bandwagon. I know I'm a little late to the party, but I'm sure making up for lost time. I simply cannot put these books down! They have me completely 

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-13231059127310801982009-05-31T07:42:00.001-04:002009-05-31T07:52:17.437-04:00

Today is my little blog's birthday (hence the cupcake)! I can't believe it's already been a year. Well, I can believe it when I think of how far I've come in my cooking skills - from the days where making scrambled eggs seemed challenging, to now making dishes I once thought of as strictly restaurant food. I have a long way to go, but find that each time I step into the kitchen I feel a little

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-37350378165045759692009-05-27T12:25:00.001-04:002009-05-27T12:25:00.476-04:00

Don't you just love culinary karma. You know, when you stumble upon a delicious recipe and just so happen to have practically everything in your kitchen already. You might even be struck with a great idea on how to jazz up said recipe. This is culinary karma. For the record I also believe in shopping karma - where you put the beautiful, but pricey dress back on the rack and return a week later to

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-40679450971798849662009-05-21T14:30:00.001-04:002009-05-21T14:30:00.806-04:00

For years, every birthday in our house has included the infamous Magnolia Bakery cupcakes. People line up around the block waiting to get into the itty bitty store in the west village to buy of box of these treasured cupcakes. Truth be told, I'm not the biggest fan of the traditional vanilla or chocolate. They are a little grainy and dry and the frosting makes my teeth hurt just thinking about it

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-22301524711302024082009-05-19T11:35:00.003-04:002009-05-19T11:36:56.765-04:00

This week is Brad's birthday week. I say birthday week because we literally do a week long celebration (sometimes month long, but that gets a little overplayed). We did a number of dinners this weekend with friends and also with Brad's parents, who were making a quick stop in nyc. One of Brad's favorite places to go in the city is Momofuku Noodle Bar, a small hipster hangout in the lower east

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-86537036594095598492009-05-14T17:05:00.001-04:002009-05-14T17:05:00.645-04:00

I do a little happy dance every time I open the mailbox to find the latest issue of Gourmet Magazine. My doormen and neighbors get a kick out of it, but they've become quite accustomed to it ever since I found this and this, and have since had many a wonderful presents waiting for me at home. After my little display, I hop on the elevator, balance the dog on one arm, water bottle and oversized

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-5919741324705011812009-05-11T17:40:00.002-04:002009-05-11T17:43:42.021-04:00

I've been a bad little blogger lately. We've been so busy enjoying the lovely change in weather, that there has been very little cooking going on. Instead we've been having dinner with friends, golfing, and just quickly grabbing things as we go. This on-the-go mentality is actually what lead me to these muffins. I'm not normally a muffin gal. If I'm going to go to the trouble to bake something

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-65711882207821685582009-05-05T16:45:00.002-04:002009-05-05T16:45:20.327-04:00

In my somewhat humble opinion, this is the BEST guacamole ever. I've tried just about every version under the sun, from the minimalist type they make in Cabo, to the elaborate types made table side at fancy NYC restaurants, and this one is by far my favorite. It's the roasted garlic and red peppers that add just a bit of a unique flavor and really separate this one from the pack.I've been making

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-27986047966473167452009-05-01T09:00:00.001-04:002009-05-01T09:00:01.513-04:00

Well that is out the door! Ladies, would you all back me up when I say that at certain times of the month (guys, don't squirm too much, this is as in depth as I'm going to go), we are simply slaves to our cravings. I mean all the good intentions in the world aren't going to fight off the chocolate, then salty, then sweet, then sour, and back to chocolate cravings. We might as well just throw up

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-8421097739262133742009-04-27T10:30:00.003-04:002009-05-14T17:10:06.250-04:00

Is anyone else enjoying the weather as much as me?? It has been absolutely beautiful in NYC! We spent this whole weekend outside, and I already started today off with a run through the park. Even little Suki seems energized by the weather change. With bathing suit season quickly approaching (or here!), I think we could all use a little healthy eating. I know everyone spent the whole winter eating

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-55049234571263796592009-04-22T23:30:00.002-04:002009-04-22T23:32:40.980-04:00

I'm back! My poor little blog, it has been so neglected the past few weeks. I was on vacation down in GA (at the Masters!), and then when I got home I just decided to enact a little no-computer time. You ever do that? I find that just simply not turning my computer on allows me to accomplish so much more in a day. The same goes for the tv, which I find just totally zaps my energy. I've now

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-69838100430939586282009-04-02T10:00:00.001-04:002009-04-02T10:00:00.801-04:00

For the past few weeks, I have been absolutely smitten with a new cookbook - The Cornbread Gospels. This lovely book is written by Crescent Dragonwagon, and is the result of years of research and just an all-out passion for cornbread. It is loaded with history, storytelling and of course, many wonderful recipes. This is one of those cookbooks that you read like a novel. By the end, you not only

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-56318328371337334132009-03-30T14:05:00.001-04:002009-03-30T14:06:25.982-04:00

Brad and I love to try new restaurants in the city. Our list of "to visits" is constantly growing, and I think we would probably have to eat out every night for the next month just to scratch off all the ones we currently have down. That being said, more often than not, we are constantly revisiting our favorites. We have our favorite brunch spot, local Italian, 24-hour diner and even our

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-66642510445893140052009-03-26T11:35:00.001-04:002009-03-26T11:35:00.834-04:00

This is going to be a real quick post today, because we are a house of sickies! Brad and me both have a bug, and even little Suki is sick. Taking care of sick dog when you yourself feel like your head is going to explode -- is this a prep course for kids, or what?! But on to the fun stuff - I've been saving this recipe for a while to show ya'll, and was hoping I would have a chance to make it

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-64898804766943618982009-03-24T08:20:00.002-04:002009-03-24T08:20:34.977-04:00

I will be the first to admit that I'm not exactly a huge chicken fan. I just think it's a bit bland, and would much rather be eating its red meat counterpart. That being said, I am currently in serious need of a detox. I visited one of my nearest and dearest in Nashville this weekend, and literally ate my way through the city. From BBQ and cheap and greasy Mexican to lots of gravy and late night

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-17494076722474531272009-03-19T12:30:00.001-04:002009-03-19T12:30:00.321-04:00

I'm pretty sure that everyone already has their favorite banana bread recipe. I know I do - my mom's. This is not a post for hers though, because see the thing about my mom's banana bread is, that it's simply hers. It's what she's known for and I'm pretty sure that if I ever tried to make it, there would be no chance of it tasting as good as when she does. Guess it just has that extra little "mom

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-37487447596837496752009-03-16T16:00:00.003-04:002009-03-17T16:34:19.410-04:00

We had a fantastic time at our little St. Pattie's Day/board game party this weekend. Every one enjoyed the food, company and hysterical games. If your old Taboo box is gathering dust, be sure to bust it out the next time you have company over.On to the menu! To start, I set out a plate of mini-shepard's pies, an Irish cheese plate (with green grapes, of course) and a zucchini carpacio. The

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-18382431449488726012009-03-13T12:55:00.001-04:002009-03-13T12:55:00.334-04:00

How fun and adorable are these?! I got this idea last year from Barkerella (I'm sure you all already love her site, but if you haven't visited, be sure to!), and thought they would be perfect for our little get together this weekend. They are made with mint Oreos (which taste just like thin mints), which are ground up and combined with cream cheese, then dipped in colored candy coating. You could

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-40014496264997984122009-03-11T11:15:00.002-04:002009-03-17T16:34:45.557-04:00

We are having a few friends over this weekend for a pre-St. Pattie's Day/board game night. I'm cooking up a bunch of Irish or green food and everyone else is required to bring a board game. There will be tons of food, Guinness and green punch. All that coupled with some corny games (and maybe a few Rock Band sessions) should make for quite the evening!I'm hoping to do most of the cooking before

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-65221459602320411812009-03-09T15:05:00.003-04:002009-03-17T17:22:58.805-04:00

Emily, over at Sugar Plum, always has the most creative and decadent looking goodies. She is constantly coming up with savory and sweet treats that I instantly want to try. This is exactly what happened the other morning when I strolled over to her site and saw these. Donuts! Bananas! Peanut butter glaze! OMG! Needless to say, 30 minutes later I was devouring these little bundles of deliciousness

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-33346831098833432062009-03-05T15:00:00.003-05:002009-03-17T16:44:38.865-04:00

As most of you who have been reading my blog for a while will know, I like to follow recipes. I make little tweaks here and there to fit my own personal tastes or for convenience sake, but in general, I'm a stick to the rules kinda gal. I think of cooking like playing the piano. It can be a wonderful, creative outlet for some people (my husband being one of those talented beings), but you gotta

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-46208986380720080882009-03-03T17:10:00.004-05:002009-03-17T16:42:03.600-04:00

Whenever I'm at the store and throw a bag of apples in my cart, I give myself a little mental pat on the back. I mean apples are loaded with fiber and nutrients, not to mention the whole "keep the Dr. away" thing. But, deep down, I know this is not the way the story is gonna play out. Inevitably, I cut them up and top them with cheese or peanut butter. Or I bake them in the oven with butter and

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-5646627068078229832009-03-01T18:05:00.004-05:002009-05-14T17:09:44.066-04:00

Recently, Brad and I had the pleasure of having dinner at Rao's of New York, a virtually impossible reservation to come by. Rao's, for those unfamiliar with the iconic East Harlem establishment, has been around for over a hundred years, serving out traditional Italian fare. The restaurant is tiny to say the least, with only 10 tables, all of which sit one party a night. When you get a reservation

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-89312921962517869262009-02-26T12:45:00.002-05:002009-03-17T16:37:23.882-04:00

I've been seeing a lot of cornbread recipes out there lately, and I have to tell you, I'm a big fan of the sweet versions. The savory ones that have a little kick to them just don't do it for me. Especially since I normally serve cornbread with soups and such that already have a bite to them, so the sweeter versions work to counteract a bit of that heat. Sorry, to all of you who think sweet

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-24956460074383971022009-02-24T07:40:00.002-05:002009-03-17T16:37:36.230-04:00

So the other day when I told you about the amazing fig cake, I neglected to mention the disaster that was the beginning of that meal. A little embarrassing considering we had company over (don't worry, they are good friends and are always given a fair warning that they will be used as guinea pigs). Most of my friends up here have never really had good southern cookin', so when given the chance, I

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-19675324649350268312009-02-20T05:00:00.004-05:002009-03-17T16:38:38.363-04:00

This cake rocks my world. It is sooooo good! This is the second time I've made it, and I'm telling you people, it is awesome. I'm surprised it even made it into the cake pan because I kept eating the batter! I made this one night when Pete and Dana came over for dinner, and they loved it as well. Between the four of us, this whole cake went up in smoke in less than a day. One day! Oh, my poor

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-87840304268561491012009-02-18T10:02:00.002-05:002009-03-17T16:39:05.083-04:00

The weather is so sneaky. It had just barely started to warm up here last week, and now it's back to freezing again. After spending a few days in sunny Orlando, I was beginning to think that winter might just be heading out the door. Ha! It doesn't look like the coldness will be leaving us anytime soon. Plus, we are headed back up to Toronto this coming weekend, so I have a feeling we will be

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-77000545316497121512009-02-13T10:15:00.002-05:002009-03-17T16:39:34.161-04:00

Being single on Valentine's Day, well, stinks. Everyone is all lovey dovey and on crazy sugar highs, and the single people are for the most part neglected in all the hooplah. Seeing as I have lots of beautiful, smart and just downright amazing single friends (oh, you know who you are!), I thought I would post something just for them for Valentine's Day.It is very rare for me to cook for just

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-10753790300670939602009-02-10T14:10:00.002-05:002009-03-17T16:39:57.460-04:00

People seem to feel very strongly about Valentine's Day. Either they love it and get totally into it Martha Stewart style, or they think it's just Hallmark propaganda and boycott the holiday entirely (and share these feelings with any one within yelling range). Personally, I think I fall somewhere in the middle. I appreciate the holiday as a day to express to the ones you love how much they mean

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-2697034790350636762009-02-08T21:00:00.002-05:002009-03-17T16:40:27.727-04:00

I love the canned Italian wedding soup you can find at any grocery store. The mini-meatballs, bits of pasta and flavorful blend of herbs are an awesome combination. So when I saw Giada making this soup, I knew I had to try it. I figured if the soup won me over coming out of a can, it would have to be amazing when made with my own two hands.Unfortunately, I made a few changes to this recipe that I

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-7164996778257124092009-02-04T15:40:00.003-05:002009-03-17T16:40:49.239-04:00

So, "what makes these the creamiest mashed potatoes ever," you might ask. Because they are very little potato and a boatload of cream! These are not for your typical Wednesday night. They are ridiculously rich and ridiculously good. In the end, there is no semblance of a potato left. They had the consistency of really great grits (you know, the ones loaded with cream and butter - seeing a trend

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-22280881340052063452009-02-02T10:47:00.001-05:002009-03-17T16:41:22.849-04:00

You probably know by now that I am a big fan of the slow cooker/ crockpot/ working woman's best friend. It's just the easiest thing to cook in and produces phenomenal results with minimum effort. There is nothing better than coming home after a long day to house that is filled with the smell of stewing meat and promises of a delicious dinner. I owe my mom for this little obsession, and I am on a

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-27873222903919979032009-01-29T10:40:00.002-05:002009-03-17T16:41:49.510-04:00

Uuummm... warm fruit and crunchy topping.... I mean is there really anything better on a snowy (i.e. gray slush) day? Ina has done it again! This crisp is so comforting and absolutely delicious. It has beautiful pieces of apple and pear, and tart little bits of dried cranberry. There is also a good deal of cinnamon, which gives it a real warmth, in addition to it being served piping hot out of

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-635029762992093532009-01-27T11:30:00.004-05:002009-03-17T06:53:29.949-04:00

I made this the other night when our friends came over for dinner (and some very intense Rock Band sessions!). It's been really cold in nyc for the past few weeks, so soup has never been more appropriate. I'm a big fan of this one because it is a take on a classical French onion soup, but instead the onions are braised in Guinness and the bread topper is smothered in melted Irish cheddar. The

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-56750890951159549972009-01-22T11:50:00.001-05:002009-03-17T16:42:29.602-04:00

I'm not a very big fan of salads as main courses, so when I have them they are usually served on the side of the main attraction or as a starter. This leads me to have some problems with most of the salad recipes out there. You see, there are salads that are ridiculously simple and lack any imagination (or flavor really), and then there are salads that have so much stuff in them that you will be

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-89609546311227116492009-01-20T08:00:00.003-05:002009-03-17T16:42:52.080-04:00

After too many nights of easy to prepare comfort food, I was feeling ready to tackle something a little bit more challenging this weekend. So I planned this lovely dinner for Brad and I, complete with all our fancy china and crystal (thank-you wedding guests!). The star was rack of lamb, served with roasted tomatoes and potatoes. It was delicious!! And really not hard at all, which totally

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-24573733998908960102009-01-14T19:34:00.002-05:002009-03-17T16:43:12.985-04:00

First off, I want to thank everyone so much for all of their well wishes. I am feeling much better and am excited to be rejoining the world outside our apartment! All of your cheers really helped and I appreciate everyone taking the time to leave a comment. Now on to my latest and greatest...I have yogurt, fruit and granola for breakfast almost every morning after my run. It's a hearty enough

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-34949530073824980042009-01-11T13:00:00.002-05:002009-03-17T16:45:21.020-04:00

So I underwent a a fun little surgery last week that has had me either tied to the bed or in a pain-killer-induced fog for what seems like forever now. What a way to ring in the new year! Since I haven't been able to stand for long and have no appetite there has been a sudden lack of home-cooked food coming from our kitchen. Brad has been taking good care of me and the man sure knows how to work

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-5316229877743151462009-01-06T13:30:00.003-05:002009-03-17T16:44:25.238-04:00

It seems like everyone is beginning their New Year's Resolutions and attempting to eat healthier, so I thought I would share this recipe for Eggplant Gratin. It's not necessarily healthy given all the cheese, but it doesn't have any meat, which is a start, right? I'm not the biggest "healthy" meat fan - chicken and pork are blah unless they are covered in some kind of yumminess like cheese or BBQ

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-44191432065704344742008-12-30T07:23:00.003-05:002009-03-17T16:45:49.063-04:00

Since everyone seems to be snowed in and cold (except for my parents - ya, ya, I know it's warm and sunny and I never should have moved above the Mason-Dixon line. I get it.). I thought I would share with ya'll my perfect accompaniment to the soup that we will all be inevitably making. This is like an amped-up version of cornbread. It's quick and easy, and doesn't even require you to pull out a

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-34162407701511411212008-12-23T14:30:00.001-05:002009-03-17T17:26:20.360-04:00

You know how sometimes you are introduced to something new, and then you see it just everywhere and wonder how you went so long without knowing it even existed? This is my experience with Panettone. Panettone is a beautiful Italian cake that I've seen many people blog about and is all over the grocery stores and bakeries, but up until about a month ago I didn't even know there was such a thing. 

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-63868113036287460682008-12-22T07:25:00.004-05:002009-03-17T17:26:47.228-04:00

We did our first round of Christmas this past weekend. Brad and I are off to Georgia for the actual day, and then to Toronto for New Year's (family is all over the place!), so we decided to do our gift giving to each other while we were still home. We made a whole day of it - complete with a Christmas-style breakfast and dinner. Which is great for all of ya'll because I have 2 recipes that will

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-63806076366136460522008-12-16T07:35:00.002-05:002009-03-17T17:26:59.950-04:00

On the off chance that your sweet tooth hasn't totally revolted and left for a healthier habitat, here's another one of the Christmas cookies I've been making this year. They are really simple and seem to be a huge hit with everyone. They are sweet and buttery and a great cookie to add to your repertoire. They are especially great because you only need 5 ingredients to make them. Perfect when you

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-18651166905845810872008-12-12T11:52:00.017-05:002009-03-17T17:27:20.433-04:00

I'm finally able to get out of bed and do some holiday baking - Wahoo!! Even though I'm battling the remains of a terrible cold, I'm not letting it keep me down and miss out on my favorite time of year. Plus, over the next few days I'm visiting some of those folks you don't see everyday, like my hair person and the piano tuner. So I'm being a tough girl and baking up some goodies. My mom makes

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-12002467250767548692008-12-09T12:40:00.005-05:002009-03-17T16:47:02.562-04:00

For the past few days I have been feeling a bit under the weather. It started like the usual, somewhat manageable, seasonal cold that I always get when it becomes chilly out. But after running outside in the snow for a few hours on Sunday morning at the GOTR event, my little cold has turned into a full fledged can't-get-out-of-bed illness. Yuck!Naturally I'm in no mood to really eat anything, let

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-54623403563464802332008-12-05T12:21:00.002-05:002009-03-17T16:47:38.536-04:00

For the past few months I've been volunteering as an assistant coach for a non-profit organization called Girls on the Run (GOTR). GOTR essentially partners with local schools and sets up after school running programs for young girls. They are taught about having a healthy body image, working as a team, being a good sport, etc., all while training to run a 1.5 mile or 5K race at the end of the

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-40655937282124297492008-12-01T12:01:00.001-05:002009-02-11T11:38:05.855-05:00

I don't know about ya'll, but I can't fit another bite of turkey, ham or potatoes into my mouth. We've eaten nothing but leftovers for days, and I find myself having cravings for something simple and healthy, like a salad -- I'm craving salad, something must really be wrong with me!! Thank goodness there is a month between Christmas and Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, with my mom

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-44729875017705574062008-11-24T16:45:00.005-05:002009-03-17T16:49:59.698-04:00

Every year the holidays seem to really sneak up on me, as it seems they do for most people. We spend so much time prepping for these big and exciting days that we don't really spend the time savoring how sweet this time of year really is. I applaud the many people who try and simplify their holidays a bit and concentrate on more important things than having the perfect gift or tree. That being

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-40336193564278163352008-11-21T12:01:00.002-05:002009-03-17T16:50:36.073-04:00

Just a quick post today to pass along the recipe to this hearty dish that would be great for the chilly weather. It has meatballs, mushrooms and thick egg noodles, all smothered in a gravy-like sauce. If there is such a thing as "man food," this is it. It's really quick and easy as well, which is always a plus in my book. My mom picked the recipe up while shopping at the grocery store, and I've

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-51073200277712137592008-11-18T15:25:00.009-05:002009-03-17T16:51:08.553-04:00

Everybody pull out your slow cookers yet again, I have a heck of a soup for you to try. It's hearty and warm and will give your house the most mouth watering smell. Forget lilac, I want a ribolita candle. It's also very quick to throw together and is fairly healthy considering it is totally meat-free and has lots of veggies and beans (you know how the song goes...).I made this the other day when

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-75533834186759633282008-11-13T17:20:00.006-05:002009-03-17T16:51:26.346-04:00

Continuing on with my theme of total winter avoidance, I made these adorable little pina colada madeleine cookies that I had seen Ingrid Hoffmann make way back this summer. I know they are totally out of place considering we are having cold and rainy weather here in NYC, but I just couldn't resist the temptation when I stumbled back over the recipe the other day. They are a great compliment to

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-38116642868919095292008-11-11T17:00:00.001-05:002009-03-17T16:51:44.749-04:00

Everyone seems to be all for the colder turn in weather but me. I am a Floridian living in NYC, and weather below 70 does nothing short of entice me to hibernate. I am not a fan of lots of layers, and am determined to keep my flip flops on until my toes fall off from frostbite (anyone who knows a Floridian, can verify that we wear flip flops year round, regardless of weather conditions).Luckily,

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-17494688162300165072008-11-04T15:40:00.006-05:002009-03-17T16:52:03.652-04:00

I would first like to give a major congrats to all finishers of the NYC Marathon this past weekend. Especially to Kara Goucher - the first US woman to stand on that podium in 14 years!! The weather was great, albeit chilly, and it looked like everyone had an amazing time. I always find it funny that in a city with so many different events, that this particular one seems to really touch so many

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-69586248309586428762008-10-31T10:57:00.021-04:002009-03-17T17:27:49.694-04:00

Happy Halloween!! I hope everyone is in store for some fun today and will be able to spend the rest of the weekend on a nice sugar-induced high. I just wanted to quickly share with you these pumpkin whoopie pies that I made to bring to a Halloween party tonight. These are two fluffy pumpkin cookies, sandwiched together with a huge smear of cream cheese frosting. The cookies are very moist and

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-28799164350282569212008-10-28T11:00:00.017-04:002009-03-17T17:12:06.829-04:00

I know I love mine! It's one of my favorite wedding gifts, and God's gift to busy (or lazy) cooks. Isn't it the greatest feeling to come home after a long day and for your house to be filled with yummy smells? Not to mention the fact that you haven't touched a pot in 8 hours. It's like someone lovingly came over and made you dinner and it was ready the second you walked through that door. Plus,

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-90511618889375751702008-10-24T13:00:00.009-04:002009-03-17T16:32:49.258-04:00

When I first started this blog a few months ago, I was hoping that it would inspire me to really learn some of the basics of cooking and become more familiar with our kitchen. It definitely has! I cook now more than ever, and after watching so many cooking shows I feel like I'm beginning to get the hang of things. I had decided to base my recipes off of those I saw on cooking shows because I

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-35906029378609290052008-10-21T18:00:00.004-04:002009-03-17T17:12:31.116-04:00

Sandra Lee takes a lot of heat for not necessarily being a "real" cook. Her Semi-Homemade method encompasses a majority of store-bought items paired with some fresh ingredients to create a full meal. I think she has definitely struck a cord with many a busy moms who are just working hard to get something on the table for their hungry families. But she is still under intense scrutiny from many

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-5297187498128069462008-10-15T07:03:00.020-04:002009-03-17T17:12:59.284-04:00

We made it through the wedding and honeymoon and everything was absolutely picture perfect! The weather was the absolute best for the wedding and we practically spent two weeks in paradise without a drop of rain. After being gone for 3 weeks though, I'm glad to be home and back to our puppy and "real lives."I'm also glad to not be eating any more restaurant food! After so many days of heavy food

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-6780722195086270792008-09-15T14:43:00.006-04:002009-03-17T17:13:19.230-04:00

Well folks I'm off to get married!! Please cross your fingers and send a little prayer up that we will have beautiful weather. We are getting married just outside Atlanta by the gorgeous lake here (weather permitting), and will then be heading here (Mexico!) and here (Bora Bora!) to kick-off our new life of marital bliss. So there will be no posting for the next 3 weeks, but please look forward

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-26622078293326606602008-09-09T16:00:00.004-04:002009-03-17T17:13:33.743-04:00

So after I went on and on ranting about how I could never ever give up carbs, and how I would go totally insane on one of those diets - remember that? Well, isn't life funny. No sooner had I gone off about the no-carb fad as my hubby-to-be announces that he wants to lose some weight before the wedding and that he was heading down the popular South Beach path with the rest of the skinny folk. He

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-23018998098743462292008-09-03T13:57:00.022-04:002009-03-17T17:14:09.869-04:00

It seems like everyone has a meatloaf recipe. Whether it's their grandmother's or even their own adaptation, meatloaf is just such a staple food and everyone has their own version they like to turn to. Well trust me when I tell you, that no matter how much you like your own meatloaf, you must make room for this Italian version in your repertoire. This is the most moist and flavorful meatloaf I

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-14373228740536479832008-08-23T12:40:00.015-04:002009-03-17T17:14:30.171-04:00

I'm a sucker for pasta. Just love it. Maybe it's the runner in me that feels like my efforts are totally deserving of a big plate of carbs, but I just couldn't live a full life without it. Oh I tried once. I jumped on one of those diets that promised rapid weight loss for the small price of forsaking my beloved carbs. That lasted all of two weeks before I realized I had turned into the most

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-42842506017180291262008-08-16T14:18:00.011-04:002009-03-17T17:14:52.090-04:00

These little desserts traumatized me. I mean really traumatized. As in, I must have made them months ago, and am just now feeling brave enough to tell you about them. Not to say that the end result wasn't delicious, cause it totally was, but sometimes it's more about the journey than the end result and this is a prime example.Usually I love to bake. People are always making baking out to be more

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-61747354180231248472008-08-07T17:20:00.007-04:002009-03-17T17:15:09.967-04:00

Last night, feeling a little bit more like my old self, I decided to whip up something new and impressive for the hubby-to-be to make up for my couch potato status the last few days. Now don't get too excited. Remember that I am in fact a culinary wannabe, and therefore, new and impressive is probably old and standard to most. So, what did I decide to make with my new found motivation and courage

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-2132815798077845532008-08-04T15:56:00.015-04:002009-03-17T17:15:29.376-04:00

Let me start this post off with a little disclaimer - I am hurtin' today. See, my bachelorette party was this past weekend. Combine a bunch of girls who go months at a time without seeing each other, a little (or a lot) of alcohol, a crazy reason to celebrate and no sleep and you will understand why I've had trouble getting out of bed today. We had an absolutely amazing time and now we must all

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-25530683622607198222008-07-30T17:10:00.009-04:002009-03-17T17:15:42.060-04:00

This salad caught my eye mainly because it's being whipped up by the Neelys. You know the Neelys - the Memphis couple who focuses just as much on their loveydoveyness as their barbecue. I still can't figure out if I like them or if they annoy the heck out of me. They dance around the kitchen all "honey you're the best" and "help me do this, that and the other" without even an ounce of frustration

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-3256080411223335172008-07-26T18:52:00.016-04:002009-03-17T17:15:55.707-04:00

I know, I know. I went on and on about being on a health kick in my last post, and here I am showing you a recipe for a very unhealthy dish. But let me explain - see, tomorrow I will be, on my own free will, running 13.1 miles. Yes, these are the kinds of things crazy people like me, i.e. runners, do for fun. Tomorrow is the NYC Half-Marathon, which is by far my favorite race of the year. It

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-45622749762115744972008-07-21T14:02:00.014-04:002009-03-17T17:16:14.125-04:00

As of yesterday, the soon-to-be-hubby and I are exactly 2 months away from our wedding. That means that not only is it time for me to crackdown on the last little details, but it's also time for us to switch into healthy eating mode - pronto. Neither of us are out of shape and I already run 5 days a week, but there is just something about a wedding that makes you want to look and feel your best.

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-64003793878815526992008-07-16T12:32:00.013-04:002009-03-17T17:16:33.747-04:00

Most of the time, I feel like me and Jamie Oliver are on total opposite ends of the planet. Not just physically, since he is just over the pond, but mainly because his cooking style is entirely different from anything I've ever seen or imagined before. For instance, he will use some old piece of wood on his lap as a cutting board and a little fire as a portable kitchen to be used anywhere on his

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-40227851117871040232008-07-09T13:15:00.015-04:002009-03-17T17:17:44.120-04:00

Robin Roberts, from Good Morning America, was on Emeril the other day whipping up a few of her favorite southern inspired dishes. This one mimics fried chicken with a crunchy crust, but is baked not fried. Don't get too excited though, cause this sucker falls a little short of healthy. First, each piece of chicken is dunked into a pool of melted butter and then liberally coated with smashed up

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-3060123387703684342008-07-03T08:17:00.013-04:002009-03-17T17:18:06.871-04:00

Let me start this post off by stating that I am totally and completely in awe of Mario Batali . The man is just brilliant and his food is truly inspiring. One of his restaurants here in NYC, Babbo, is nearly impossible to get into (I've only been once and the hubby-to-be had to pull some major strings to even make that happen), but oh-so-worth the 11 pm seating time that is the only option

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-22245090401321781202008-06-27T00:12:00.015-04:002009-03-17T17:18:28.518-04:00

I first saw this beautiful carpaccio a while back and have been dying to make it ever since, but could never find the right occasion. I finally got my chance when the lovely L&P stopped by for dinner one weekend night. L is an amazing and truly talented singer who comes over frequently to "jam" with the soon-to-be-hubby. The two of them are even doing a performance at our wedding! Normally, we

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-5137837163085466762008-06-20T11:47:00.014-04:002009-03-17T17:18:45.679-04:00

Every time I think of pork chops all I can picture are those tasteless, rubber-like pieces of shake 'n baked meat that I dreaded having for dinner as a kid. To this day I will never order a pork chop in a restaurant, and certainly never thought I would bring that kind of disaster into my own home. That is until my soon-to-be-hubby caught a glance of Giada making these little chops. "I want those!

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-22181182665921489992008-06-17T20:23:00.013-04:002009-03-17T17:19:08.270-04:00

As promised, here is the Broccoli Rabe with Sausage that I made the other night to go along with the Shallota Flavor Spaghetti. Although I thought it was a rather strange combination of foods at first, it was actually a pretty decent accompaniment to the spaghetti. It added a vegetable and a bit of protein to the meal which otherwise would have been lacking. Unfortunately, there were some mixed

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-51598827429385061532008-06-15T16:37:00.015-04:002009-02-11T11:28:10.411-05:00

Okay, so maybe this dish isn't really called the "stinging eye," but it sure as heck should be! This pasta uses 10 whole shallots - all sliced and diced by hand. My eyes are watering just thinking about it. I even lit a candle by the cutting board, which I'm pretty sure Martha Stewart told me was a surefire way to avoid any onion side effects. No good. It is times like this that make me really

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-68331395186911544222008-06-12T13:29:00.016-04:002009-03-17T17:19:24.250-04:00

If I had to pick one TV cook that I would most like to have the cooking abilities of it would definitely be Ina Garten. Her dishes range from fairly simple and straight forward to so complex that they have my head spinning before the oven is even pre-heated. Every dish is presented so beautifully and the whole experience of her show, from her gorgeously streamlined and fresh kitchen to her

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-2252812608232096162008-06-10T10:50:00.013-04:002009-03-17T17:19:44.441-04:00

I LOVE pancakes. I mean really love pancakes. As in this would be my last meal if I ever had to choose such a thing. I eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts - practically anytime I can in some way rationalize eating them (I have yet to come across a time when I couldn't). My mom used to make them for us for both dinner and breakfast and I think this is where my infatuation began

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-70772245916787487942008-06-06T14:59:00.024-04:002009-03-17T17:20:12.143-04:00

I find that I'm very partial to which tv cooks I decide to trust with my dinner, so when a new one shows up on the scene I'm always a bit skeptical. Enter Mary Nolan. As skeptical as I am, her title sold me on her show - Chic and Easy. This totally defines my personal style and the way I like things. Although I'm a bit uneasy about my abilities to produce anything "chic" in the kitchen, I was

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-4837831624546414712008-06-04T11:50:00.015-04:002009-03-17T17:20:44.576-04:00

I love Giada De Laurentiis. I mean this girl is just adorable and completely relatable - so much so, that I sometimes forget that we aren't actually friends! She also has this uncanny ability to make beautiful food appear effortless and is constantly convincing me to attempt one of her many recipes. I've had my ups and downs with some of these recipes though, as they are not necessarily as

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-40248210195369004132008-06-02T10:52:00.007-04:002009-03-17T17:21:02.100-04:00

You know it's finally summertime when the weather gets uncomfortably warm, you have a strange desire to go to work in your bathing suit and BBQ invites flood your inbox. Even though barbecuing in the city generally entails standing over a stove with a grill plate and turning the A/C off to imitate the "outside," New Yorkers will use any excuse to throw a party and socialize with friends, and

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8540588936796997505.post-85503240962056590012008-05-31T17:42:00.007-04:002009-03-17T17:21:17.488-04:00

I always feel like I've gotten a full body workout after watching a Tyler Florence show. That man moves a million miles an hour! He knows his food though, and his "ultimate" title sure does seem to fit. So even though he doesn't come off that beginner friendly, I decided I had to try something he's made. So what better to start off with than a grilled cheese? I mean grilled cheese is fairly

Culinary Wannabehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00208524536289963761noreply@blogger.com1