Browsing Tag

RECIPES

Food: Canned Soup Made Better

While I’ve been known to whip up delicious homemade soup from scratch, time doesn’t always permit such fabulousness. So, when I’m short on time and a craving strikes for warm, hearty soup, I turn to a favorite boxed or canned variety and add a few simple ingredients to tailor it more to my tastes. My favorite trick? Taking butternut squash soup or sweet potato soup and thickening it with a few spoonfuls of 100% canned pumpkin. Then, I toss in a little cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. The end result is a rich, hearty soup that tastes almost homemade! Try this with Annie’s Reduced Sodium Butternut Squash Soup, or Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Bisque and let me know what you think!

For more of my recipes, click here.

BOSTON, RECIPES, RESTAURANTS

On The Town: Panzanella Salad at Trattoria Newbury in Boston

Just an opinion, but every warm-ish fall day should be treated as though it might be the last, especially with daylight savings time hitting this weekend. From taking long strolls, to patio dining, I’ve been enjoying Boston as much as possible. Recently, I celebrated a warm day by snagging a prime patio table at Trattoria Newbury for lunch and couldn’t resist sharing a photo of my amazing Panzanella Salad.

Panzanella is an Italian bread salad that typically includes tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and beans. The version at Trattoria Newbury ($11.95) features a mix of bread, grilled chicken, fresh tomato, cannellini beans, arugula, basil, fresh mozzarella and red wine vinegar. The flavors worked very well together, though I’m not sure the cannellini beans were needed with the massive portion of grilled chicken.

The best part of this salad? It would be so easy to make at home for a dinner party! For color and a little more crunch, I might swap lima beans for cannellini beans and add a splash of balsamic vinegar to the dressing. But, that’s just me…

Trattoria Newbury is located at 264 Newbury Street in Boston’s Back Bay.

RECIPES

Home Cookin’: Vegan Pumpkin Pie Brownie Cupcakes via Oh She Glows Blog

You may not know this, but the most-read blog entry on my blog is how to use canned pumpkin as a lower calorie baking swap. Simply add canned pumpkin to your favorite boxed brownie mix et voilà – delicious, moist, reduced guilt brownies. While the end result is amazing, you cannot taste the pumpkin. So, when I discovered a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Brownie Cupcakes on one of my favorite vegan food blogs, Oh She Glows, a lightbulb went on. The flavors of pumpkin pie and brownies together!? I simply had to try this recipe!

ENTERTAINING, RECIPES

Easy Entertaining: Three Colorful and Delicious Dinner Party Salads

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, or planning a special at home dinner, a delicious salad can leave a lasting impression. To truly wow your dinner companions, think beyond the traditional “house salad” of lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and carrots and seek inspiration from vibrant fruit, crunchy vegetables, flavorful cheese and tangy dressing. Here are three colorful and delicious salad ideas to get you started!

ENTERTAINING, RECIPES

Easy Entertaining: Hosting an Elegant At-Home Bridal Shower

Editor’s Note: It must be wedding season, because this useful blog entry I wrote two years ago is getting a lot of hits lately. In the spirit of sharing, I’m re-publishing for new blog readers. Enjoy!

The prospect of throwing an at-home bridal shower can seem daunting – and rightfully so, as it is a lot of work. The sooner you accept that it’s far more significant and detail-oriented than your average dinner party, the better. It’s (hopefully) a once-in-a-lifetime event for the bride and it should come off as flawless. No pressure, right?

English Tea Themed Bridal Shower Treats

Reality check aside, if you love to entertain, hosting an at-home bridal shower is also very rewarding. It’s incredibly fun to pick a theme, design a menu, decorate and celebrate your friend or family member’s upcoming wedding.

Here are 7 tips on hosting an elegant event to remember:

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