To Start

Local Green Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette, Apples and Poached Pears with an Apple Cider Reduction

Main Course:

For Me: Wood-Fired Pizza with Duck Confit, Bacon Lardons, Caramelized Onion, Goat Cheese, Ricotta Cheese and topped with Arugula

For Him: Griddled Grafton Cheddar Sandwich with Puree of Squash Soup and Local Green Salad

Split Desserts:

Goat Cheesecake with Raspberry Puree and Balsamic Reduction

Chocolate Chip & Cherry Bread Pudding in Creme Anglaise and topped with Whipped Cream

This was such a treat. The perfect way to spend the afternoon.

Good Eats,

Nora

I always have such a peaceful night of sleep from Saturday to Sunday. I know that I don’t have anything pressing to do when I wake up. In fact I rarely even set an alarm. I just let it flow. Naturally, I still woke up around 7:30am today and played with Truffle for a few moments before making my way into the kitchen. It was cold and snowy out. I was looking forward to taking my sweet time to make some whipped banana-chia oats on the stove top. They always taste better on Sunday when I take my time to make and eat them.

After breakfast I did some work around my apartment and decided it was time to end my juicer’s dry spell.Yesterday I got into an intense cleaning spree and realized that I had not taken my Breville out of it’s box since graduating college in May! I also had a ton of parsley on hand and thought this was a good ways to use it up. 1 apple, 2 stalks of celery, 1 lemon, bunch of parsley, handful of cilantro and a few stalks of kale.

That’s a lot of produce!Would you believe that all of that only makes about 16 oz? I packaged it up in my favorite to-go cup for after yoga. I always CRAVE juice or a smoothie after class. There is something about yoga that makes you want a refreshing and healthy treat. This was super tangy and I liked it .Arugula, Roasted Fennel, Roasted Beet, Tangerine Salad with Basil Oil and Chocolate Balsamic. Walnut-Wheat Toast with Goat Cheese, Dried Black Mission Fig and Orange Blossom Honey.1/2 cup Chobani Greek Yogurt, Strawberry Jam, Roasted Almonds and Cinnamon.

I was STARVING when I got home. I threw together a very easy and satisfying lunch. I think my bread tasted even better today! I cut a thick slice off of the loaf, toasted it to perfection and while it was still warm spread on  chevre, sliced dried figs and a drizzle of orange blossom honey.DECISION: This is my favorite way to eat walnut bread. Heaven help me!

I have an extra special dinner planned for tonight! I’m already excited about this post stay tuned!

Sunday Special,

Nora

New Years celebrations left me feeling a bit groggy this morning. A late night with the ones I love paired with lots of rich food and wine were the cause so it was worth it . I wanted to start this year off right and couldn’t think of a better breakfast than my beloved banana oatmeal with peanut butter and jam. It’s just one of those meals that always satisfies and lifts my mood.Chicken Soup with Campanelle Pasta and Ciabatta Bread

Before I left my beautiful mother whipped me up a gigantic bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup with a slice of ciabatta baguette leftover from last night.I’m not sure that I’ve ever had campanelle pasta but it is my new favorite for soups. My mom accidentally bought a box of campanelle at the grocery store, thinking they were another variety. She tried it out and found that it was a perfect pasta for soup! I am so glad she discovered this. They are pillowy and fun to eat.I grabbed  a big apple for something sweet, packed up the Truffle Kitten and hit the road.

A few hours later I was back at my apartment. It was quiet…too quiet. Lonely. I started feeling home sick already. To my delight I had a package waiting for me from my friend and reader Alexia all the way from the UK!! I felt so lucky to receive such a wonderful, thoughtful package. It meant more to me than she will ever know, and was a delightful way to begin the year. THANK YOU ALEXIA!!!! I started feeling rather hungry and aside from a freezer full of soups was lacking in the snack department. I decided to have one of the healthy treats in her package that caught my eye: Nakd Apple Pie Bar.My favorite snacks are fruit and nut bars.   This bar was dense and very tasty. It is made with dates, oats, raisins, apples, peanuts, apple juice, almonds, walnuts, cinnamon and nutmeg.The package also brought a smile to my face. I kept finding little remarks all over it that made me laugh, such as:

“Gleefully made in Wales”

“Hello and thank you to all the Belgians, French, Dutch, Swedes (and Norwegians!) checking out this pack. We hope we spelt everything right!”

“Rumour has it, little green pixies stay up all night lovingly smooshing raw fruit, nuts and oats into these uber-healthy, yum-bombs to promote health, humour and helpfulness. Hope you love ‘em as much as we do.”

“Best Before: (your friend eats it!) See side of pack.”

**Picture of a little bee on top of package with a word bubble that reads, “Man I love being a bee. Does my bum look big in these stripes?”

I started laughing so much with my mouth full of apple pie bar. Truffle gave me funny looks.

I’m not really one for New Year’s Resolutions, however; there are a few things I want to do this year that I haven’t made time for in the past:

1. Yoga–Once upon a time (maybe about a year ago) I was very into Vinyasa yoga. It made me feel amazing. I stopped because I “didn’t have time”. Over the past few months, I haven’t done any form of exercise. I do not belong to a gym and the weather has been far too cold and dark to run outside. I miss movement, and yoga is my favorite. Not only does it make my body feel good, but it also gives me a piece of mind. I want to start doing pod-cast or online yoga classes so if anyone has suggestions, LET ME KNOW!
2. Travel–I can’t remember the last time I traveled. I want to plan more and save money so that I am able to. Along with “not having time” I tend to use money as an excuse. Life is too short not to see the world and explore. I want to take at least one big trip in 2011.

Off to do yoga! Happy 2011!

Nora

What is on your New Year To-Do List?

I woke up this morning and had a leisurely breakfast. I cooked in my pajamas and glasses (something I never do, as I usually have to be ready for work) and made a lovely bowl of whipped banana oats. This was the perfect way to start my Christmas vacation. I also had to brave the cold and scrape ice off of my car, so warm, cozy oats made that more bearable.  I went grocery shopping to retrieve cookie supplies and when I got home I fixed myself lunch. I usually have to pack a sandwich for lunch at work so it felt like a luxury to take time to cook and enjoy.First I roasted beets.And then I made a yummy salad dressing with Cosimano e Ferrari Cherry Balsamic and Basil Olive Oil.Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese, Walnuts, 1/2 chopped apple (half on the side), 1 carrot, 1 stalk of celery and 1 roasted beet in a basil olive oil and cherry balsamic vinaigrette.

This lunch was light and lovely. It powered me through a few batches of cookies, and then it was snack time. I wanted something refreshing and this really did the trick:1 cup Chobani Plain Greek Yogurt, 1 clementine, roasted almonds, wildflower honey and cinnamon.

I love citrus in the winter time. Crunchy toasted almonds, creamy Greek yogurt and honey make a for a perfect combination. It is one of those snacks that makes you feel happy.Since I was in the kitchen for the entire day, I only felt it proper to continue occupying the space into the evening. My brother came home for the holidays and I made our family Beef and Butternut Squash Stew with Garlic Cheese Toast and Cabernet Sauvignon. I think we all went back for seconds of everything. It was good to be back together again.

I’m currently eying a few cookies….or maybe some hot coco. I like the sound of that. Tis the season!

Happy Family Days,

Nora

What are your “family favorite” dishes?

The Melody grape is a hybrid that was created at Cornell University. It is a fairly sweet and floral wine. It was lovely with the garlic flavors and acidic lemon and tomato in this meal:Roasted Green Beans, Cherry Tomato and Garlic on Arugula with Israeli Feta. Lemon-Pepper Salmon.Israeli Feta is SO good! I love that it is creamy like a goat cheese but still has a subtle salty/briney bite! I’ve been topping my hummus sandwiches with this for lunch.Eel, Scallop and Tuna Nigiri. Tuna Maki Roll. Seaweed Salad. Melody Wine.

Melody was also a lovely wine with sushi.

2008 Sheldrake Point Cabernet Franc

I had this wine with a few dishes this week. The highlight was leftover 3 bean chili with sweet potato chips on a snowy night. Hey, when the weather outside is frightful I think it is necessary to get  comfy and cozy with a hearty bowl of chili and wine .

Dark Chocolate Almond Macaroons

I have had SO many of these in the past few days. They are delightful…I didn’t even take them to work to share. I wanted to eat them all and selfishly kept them to myself! I will be making these again in the coming weeks. My mom even requested I make them while I am home for Christmas!

Herb Baked Tofu, Feta Cheese, Steamed Broccoli, Kalamata Olives, Chickpeas, Edamame, Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, Sprouts, Almonds, Cashews, Sunflower Seeds. Gingerberry Kombucha.

Fact: I have been eating whole wheat pita sandwiches with hummus, feta, cherry tomatoes, arugula and sprouts and an apple every day for lunch this week.

Fact: I am getting sick of them.

While running errands I did something I never do. I bought lunch. I can’t even remember the last time I had a salad but this one is a keeper! (Truffle the Kitten approved..clearly.) I also randomly was craving Gingerberry Kombucha (Lindsay I have NO clue how you make this stuff yourself!) I haven’t had this beverage in a very long time. It was off the market for a while, but it is also a bit pricey to have every day. I figured as long as I was splurging on lunch I might as well satisfy all of my cravings. LOVED IT!

Although, I did have lunch out with co-workers earlier in the week. I felt so lucky to have the opportunity to indulge in a sit down lunch with good company. You will never believe this menu:Lobster SaladPan-Seared Sea Scallops with Truffle Oil Green BeansChocolate-Vanilla Twist with Rainbow Sprinkles.

And, I had one of my co-worker’s oyster on a half shell and some “zucchini fries”.  Yes, that was a lovely day.1/2 cup rolled oatmeal cooked in 1/2 cup vanilla soy milk 1 cup water, 2 tsp chia seeds, 1/2 banana, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger. Crunchy Peanut Butter, Cranberry Sauce, Honey. French Pressed Coffee.

I am beyond happy to have oatmeal back in my life. It has been freezing here! I wake up around 5:45am to shovel the snow off of my car and this is a perfect thing to come in for! I’ve had a few bowls with pumpkin in the base, a few  bowls with Bon Maman Cherry Preserves and Almond Butter and a few with Strawberry Jam and Peanut Butter..all delicious and warming.

I have a few more cookie recipes up the sleeve of my Holiday Sweater (my goal is to have 12 recipes by Christmas) and some unique weekend dinners to share. I went to the Farmers Market today and picked up some special goodies . We are supposed to have snow storms this week, so I plan to keep warm by way of cooking!

Happy Weekend,

Nora

What are your favorite ‘cold weather’ foods?

1/2 cup Rolled Oatmeal, 1/2 Cup Greek Yogurt, 1/2 Cup Pumpkin Puree, 1 Large Banana, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Ginger, Allspice, Raisins, 1 TBS Crunchy Peanut Butter, Apple-Orange Cranberry Sauce, Local Orange Blossom Honey.Dad’s extra foamy cappuccino while baking.

I refuse to do anything on an empty stomach. Especially baking. Trust me, from past experience I have learned that baking while hungry is NOT good. I end up eating half of the raw dough and then half of the finished product. Stomachache anyone? I filled up with an “overnight oats” of sorts. I  just made this in the morning and placed the bowl in the freezer to chill. I still haven’t been able to stomach hot oatmeal in the morning. We just had about a foot of snow, so I think that will change.Mexican Wedding Cakes with Pecans and Cherries

My mom is having a cookie exchange with “the girls” on Tuesday so I volunteered myself to bake all of her share of the cookies. Actually, I live for opportunities like this so I basically begged her to do it!  I made a ton of cookies and I currently smell like butter. I never want to shower again. Kidding….maybe. First up was a variation of the Mexican Wedding Cakes I made last week using pecans instead of pistachios. These are devilishly good.Hazelnut Linzer Cookies with Blackberry Jam

I found this recipe in a 2006 issue of Bon Appettit and had to make them. Oh. My….Seriously? I love the flavor combination. This recipe uses orange, lemon, cinnamon, ground hazelnuts and nutmeg in the base. I thought it was ‘fun’ on the palate. A twist for the holidays.I was very wrapped up in baking and didn’t realize how hungry I was until about 2 pm. I had a massive apple and a few plates of snacky foods. The cheese on my crackers is a tender Fontina that I found to be perfect for cracker “sandwiches” with hummus and tomatoes.Pecan Shortbread dipped in Chocolate

Last but not least, I made pecan shortbreads dipped in chocolate for my dad. As soon as the last one was dipped, I ran out the door and headed back to my apartment. It took an hour longer than normal due to insane weather conditions. I was terrified. There was one point where I was alone on the road, unable to see anything due to the blustery winds and snow. My heart was in my throat and Truffle was meowing from boredom. I didn’t know what to do and was driving approximately 20 MPH on the Thurway. Scary. When I finally made it home it was past dinner time. I knew I needed something easy with a glass….or a few glasses of wine.Sheldrake Point 2008 Cabernet FrancBoston Baked Beans (resurrected from the freezer), Spinach, Leftover Kabocha, Cranberries, Almonds, Feta Cheese.

Dessert was more wine, half of a linzer cookie (I had one bottom leftover in my batch) and two of these oatmeal cookies I froze eons ago.I firmly believe that it is necessary to maintain a freezer stash of cookies. You never know when you will need 3. Tonight was that night!

Calming Down,

Nora

The day started bright and early with a bit of a yogurt mess.

1/2 cup Greek Yogurt, 1/2 cup pumpkin, 1 banana, ~1/3 cup Great Grains Cereal, 1 TBS almond butter, Apple-Orange Cranberry Sauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger.Followed by an extra foamy cappuccino a la dad and a trip to the Farmers Market. In the afternoon, the festivities began.Pasta Fagioli Soup at Swedish Hill Winery.Corn and Roasted Pepper Chowder at Knapp Winery.Chai Spiced Mascarpone Honey Cake at Sheldrake Point (a personal favorite of the day!).“Americana Flat Bread” (garlic, onion, butternut squash, asiago cheese, sage, olive oil, pepper) at Americana Vineyards. Paired with…Mulled wine. I love mulled wine .We settled for a late lunch at The Crystal Lake Cafe at Americana. I had (aka devoured) the hummus, eggplant, red pepper, sprouts, and spinach sandwich on whole wheat with a glass of Americana Pinot Noir.Yes, it was very VERY satisfying. NOM.And then the eating continued. Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting at Lucas Vineyard.Red Pepper Hummus at Hosmer Winery.Brie with Cranberry Chutney at Cayuga Ridge.Cranberry Camembert Pizza at Buttonwood Grove Winery. (Another personal favorite of the day–delicious appetizer for the Holiday parties!)Pumpkin Moose at Goose Watch Winery.When we finally got home, I had a light dinner of sushi and seaweed salad. And an apple purchased earlier in the day at the Farmers Market.

Did I mention that all of these samples came with recipe cards, wine pairings AND ornaments!?! I already know a few I HAVE to make and have an entire tree dedicated to the Cayuga Wine Trail!I’m calling it a successful day. (The dog I found at Americana.)

Holly and Jolly,

Nora

I’m all turkey-ed out, but my love for brie, fruit and bread stands strong. Thank goodness!Romaine Lettuce. Carrots. Grape Tomatoes. Raisins. Pecans. Balsamic.

My crunchy, grainy toast made the perfect surface for a heaping amount of leftover apple-orange cranberry sauce and creamy brie. The brie I buy is strong. It almost the flavor of a true Camembert cheese. And yes, I leave the rind on. I love to pretend I am in France. *Le Sigh.* I had my toast with a sweet harvest salad. Twas the perfect light and luxurious lunch for a relaxing Sunday.

Say Cheese,

Nora

What are your favorite kinds of cheese?

**NOTE: I am a lover of all things cheese. Hard and soft. Cow, sheep and goat. Cave-aged and wash rind–the list goes on. This question is extremely difficult for me to answer, however; I once had Camembert de Normandie and it changed my life.

In the afternoon, I caught up with an old friend over a real, frothy cappuccino. The foam is my favorite part, and I forgot how much better whole milk tastes against the rich coffee. YUM. Why do I always ask for skim? I digress. For dinner, I knew that I wanted to create  a leftover masterpiece. I had been dreaming of this concoction all day and stopped at the grocery store on my way home from my coffee date for the goods.Toasted Multigrain Bread (fresh from the bakery) with Leftover Cranberry Sauce, Romaine, Leftover Turkey, Bartlett Pear Slices, Intense Brie. Ginger Maple Carrots.

Turkey and Brie. Wam. Bam. Thank you mam. One more.Yes.And of course, to round out my day, pie was served. I had a sliver of apple and pecan. I might write a love letter to The Pioneer Woman. Her recipe is amazing. And if you ever choose to make it, please make a pie crust from scratch!!

Turkey Tired,

Nora

How did you eat your leftovers today?

I had a light late lunch as this puppy baked. The smell of cinnamon was getting to me. I needed food.It took all of my will power to let it cool completely before slicing. Actually, it was still warm.My baking was inspired by a spontaneous purchase of Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese.I always feel obligated to eat the end piece. Not many people like the crunch end but I don’t mind . This recipe was a bit of an experiment, I used several different recipes as a guide. I couldn’t tell from the end piece if the bread was moist. I cut another thick slice with the intention of sampling the center. Just one bite.Just one bite…yea right. I devoured a second slice. This thing was good. I was nervous because the outside looked a little over done but the inside was cooked to perfection. It was rich and hearty, I literally couldn’t help myself. I think I’ve been bitten by the baking bug. This would make a lovely winter dessert with some fresh whipped cream.

Swooning,

Nora

]]> http://www.livelifeeatright.com/2010/10/31/baking-bug/feed/ 1