Whiskey Hound Dog

To continue our Valentines celebration this weekend, I took my boyfriend to a few new bars that were out of his usual norm. Both places MAYSVILLE and FLATIRON ROOM (written about HERE), cater to whiskey drinkers with over 800 different whiskeys available. Being an avid margarita drinker, I decided to steer away from my usual orders and go out on a whim and try something new. Luckily the bartender was very knowledgeable and pointed me in the right direction towards a whiskey cocktail. With a little bite to start, I actually ended up really liking it. And lucky for you, it's easy to make at home!

Whiskey Hound Dog

Ingredients:

• 2 oz fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 1/2 oz whiskey (or bourbon if you prefer)
• 1/4 oz honey
• 1/4 oz fresh lime juice
• Mint leaf

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Pour into glass and garnish with mint leaf.

No-Bake Energy Bites

While perusing recipes on a recent snow day, I stumbled across this simple batch of NO-BAKE ENERGY BITES. Luckily I had all the ingredients on hand and in less than an hour, I had a delicious snack. I also found these perfect to grab and eat with my morning coffee/tea at work. Simple snack and simple breakfast. A win-win for me!

Plated

After hearing great things from friends about similar services, my boyfriend and I decided to give PLATED a try and we couldn't have been happier. For those of you unfamiliar with PLATED, they send you fresh ingredients each week to make chef-approved recipes. The service alleviates the constant issue of buying too much and seeing it go to waste a week later because you can't use it quick enough. It is the perfect solution for those who want to learn how to cook, those who are looking to have delicious meals with everything readily available, and those who hate (NYC) grocery stores. A dream come true for me!

Spaghetti Aglio E Olio

The grocery stores in NYC are the bane of my existence. It's one of the things about living in NYC that I hate. They're tiny, everything is overpriced, there is one cashier open and the line is 20 people deep, and you're stuck behind an old lady complaining about chicken being $4. Inevitably, I come home angry and missing half of the things I set out to purchase. Seeing as how that is the state of affairs, often times my boyfriend and I find ourselves with the bare minimum in our refrigerator. So what do you do when the last thing you'd rather brave is the grocery store checkout line? Stick to one of Ina's old standby recipes or, according to my Mom, my Nonny's recipe "because she's older."

Super Bowl Recipes

Link to recipe below.

Even if your team isn't in the Super Bowl, it's still fun to hang out, watch the game (or maybe just the halftime show), and pig out. I've rounded up a few recipes that are simple to make and don't sacrifice on taste or calories. Because after one indulgent weekend, one more isn't really going to do that much damage to your waistline. So eat up and enjoy the game!

Warm Spinach Salad

When I made this warm spinach salad last week, it was gone in a heartbeat. For containing so few ingredients, I couldn't believe how delicious it was. This is another great recipe to have on hand for weeknights when you get home and are so ravenous you'll eat anything in sight. In less than 20 minutes, you can satisfy the hangry (hungry + angry) mess you've become with this healthy dinner.

White Bean Chipotle Dip

When I found THIS RECIPE I knew it was one I needed to make sooner rather than later and NYE was just the occasion to test it out. In 5 minutes (I kid you not) you have have a healthy appetizer that packs some serious heat. Paired with tortilla chips or crackers, this spread would go great on a pita with some veggies for a nice, light lunch.

Chicken Noodle Soup

It seems as though everyone decided yesterday that they were going to post their Chicken Noodle Soup recipes, but I missed the memo. So here's the recipe I whipped up Sunday afternoon. This was perfect to come home to last night as the wind picked up here in NYC. Nothing better than a nice hot bowl of soup. Ok, maybe a mug of hot chocolate. But I took care of that too LAST NIGHT! Enjoy the soup recipe below - quick and easy!

Pumpkin Pecan Baked Brie

When I stumbled upon this recipe for PUMPKIN PECAN BAKED BRIE I knew instantly it was one to try. Thanksgiving was the perfect occasion to test this recipe and boy am I glad I did. It was so easy and so delicious - I've never seen anything eaten as quickly as this baked brie. It will definitely be making a reappearance on Christmas. Get the recipe below.

Make: Pecan Pie

While Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie are certainly staples for Thanksgiving, another popular pie in my family is Pecan Pie. Over the past few years I've tried a few recipes that include molasses, chocolate, bourbon, but the one I keep coming back to is a simple recipe that doesn't sacrifice on taste and certainly sugar. When I make this, it always goes very quickly in my family.

Make: Tortellini Soup

It's getting colder out which sucks, but what's better than coming home on a chilly day and having a hot, delicious soup waiting to warm you up? With simple prep-work required this recipe is great for a weeknight with enough leftovers to get you through the week.

Make: Dinner

A few weeks ago, (part of my dinner is seen in THIS PIC), I took a cooking class and made the most delicious and filling dinner. I thoroughly enjoyed the class as I picked up a few skills - how to cut a tomato properly, a chiffonade, and many more - and I had a lot of fun. If you're new to cooking and desperate for help or even a more experienced cook looking to brush up on your techniques, this is a great way to learn in a fun environment. And of course, the end result is quite tasty! I've included all the recipes I made in my class below for you to try yourselves. I know I'll certainly be making these again. Enjoy!

Make: Homemade Mozzarella

A couple weekends ago, while having dinner at my boyfriends house, his Dad taught us how to make homemade mozzarella. All it is is pounds of curd and hot water and after patiently mixing in hot water and working it with your hands, you're left with a delicious result. And what's better than homemade cheese?

Make: Gazpacho

Image is from HERE, I forgot to take my own.

GAZPACHO is one of my favorite recipes to make in the summer. A very refreshing meal to have for lunch or dinner, it's almost like eating salsa...but better! So, when I pulled some tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers from THIS GARDEN I immediately knew what I was going to make.

Make: Banana Streusel Muffins

I found the recipe for these Banana Streusel Muffins from HOW SWEET IT IS last week and was dying to make them since then. So a long weekend and a day off from work (wahoo!) made Monday the perfect occasion to give them a try.  

Make: Goat Cheese and Zucchini Frittata

Yes, it does sort of look like a pizza, but it's actually a tasty GOAT CHEESE AND ZUCCHINI FRITTATA. I made this for a late lunch this past Sunday and couldn't have been happier. It will definitely be a recipe I go back to for say, a boozy brunch? Give the recipe a try below.

Make: Quick and Light Quinoa Bowls

Tight on time? This is a quick recipe to whip up for a delicious, light meal.

Make: Fried Eggplant Stacks

On my mission this summer to cook more and eat healthy, eggplant has been one of my go-to's. Yes, fried anything isn't the best, but this dish is an essentially carb-free, light meal. I could eat this all the time! My recipe is below. Eat up!

Make: Teriyaki Chicken

This TERIYAKI CHICKEN was one of the easiest recipes and certainly didn't lack in flavor. I swapped the honey with MIKE'S HOT HONEY and oh. my. God that definitely gave it an extra kick. Served over vegetable fried rice, this was a delicious weeknight meal for my BF and I. Enjoy the adapted recipe from CHOW below.

Make: Avocado Club Pasta Salad

On my quest to cook more I whipped up this simple pasta salad the other night and got some rave reviews from my boyfriend and his friend. Cheese, bacon, avocado - need I go on? Give it a try, in less than 30 minutes you'll have a delicious meal.