Tag: dinner

This Spaghetti Squash Lasagna answers the question, “What’s for dinner tonight”?

I was craving a fall type lasagna the other day without all the heaviness of traditional lasagna. I am also trying to be on a restricted gluten and dairy diet for personal health benefits — I am constantly learning about healthy food alternatives & trying to incorporate that into my lifestyle as much as possible. SO, cooking at home is the easiest way to achieve that! 

healthy-spaghetti-squashI had some spaghetti squash, tomatoes and tofu at home — and fresh basil still growing outside despite the cold temps we’ve been having this week in Boston. I made sure to salvage the basil and utilize it in this recipe.

This lasagna happens to be gluten-free and vegan, but you can easily add (more…)

Wine and Pizza Night

Nico and I started a little routine of when we don’t feel like making dinner (uh clean up), we just put in a store-bought frozen pizza and open a bottle of wine and call it a night! Def not a bad thing – but how much better would it be if that frozen pizza was actually homemade by you — topped with ingredients that you personally put on it, with no hidden fillers?

So — I had my girlfriends over for Wine Wednesday and we did just that. We popped open some wine bottles (& beers) and made pizzas from scratch! My friend’s dad owns a pizza shop, called Amici’s and he was sweet enough to let his daughter bring over all the ingredients we needed – including a pizza stone for my oven! (I need to get one of those)

We had homemade dough, homemade sauce – and all the toppings you could want.Processed with VSCOcam with f2 presetGrowing up with a father who makes pizzas for a living, the girl sure knew how to toss that pizza dough!

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 presetWe learned how to make the perfect circle – because to be honest, whenever I make a pizza, it is usually in some weird shape that’s not presentation worthy.

Here is what you do:

  • Start with a ball of dough
  • Place the ball of dough into flour to keep it from sticking to your hands (I used to only flour the surface and not the dough so I would get pieces of the dough that would still stick)
  • Place your hand over the dough and work with your knuckles or the palm of your hand from the inside out while turning the dough 1/4 – the rotating creates a ridge, and will also flatten the ball.
  • Toss it! {watch some You-tube videos before you do}

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After the dough was prepped, we loaded up the ingredients, (as Freddy watched closely in case something might casually fall down …ohh that little cutie!) used some of the pizza cardboard box to slide it into the oven on the preheated pizza stone and 10-15 mins later.. a cheesy-bubbly-DELICIOUS pizza was ready.

 

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 presetServe with a side salad and avocados if you’re extra hungry.

*I was able to freeze one of the pizzas we made, so next time Nico and I don’t feel like cooking dinner, we can put in a home-made pizza!! Now I just need to learn how to make my own wine…

 **If you live in the Boston area – head north to North Andover and try out Amici’s Pizzeria! Tell Leo that Karina sent you =)

 

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Sun-dried Tomatoes with Feta Turkey Meatloaf

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 I don’t think my mom has ever made a “meatloaf” – so I guess that’s why I don’t understand the negative perception that comes with the food – I’m almost embarrassed to tell people I’m making meatloaf and I love it (okay, I’m not embarrassed – I tell people all the time) What I mean is, a lot of people instantly go back to when they were kids and the horrors when mom told them meatloaf was for dinner… at least that’s the consensus I’ve gathered!

Here is proof— when asked random people: Why do people hate Meatloaf?— here are some responses:

  • Probably because they were subjected to the same meatloaf I was in school; hamburger with onion soup mix in it and some ketchup on top. It ruined meatloaf for me until I learned to make it myself and found out how it should really taste.
  • I always thought I didn’t like meatloaf. At a church potluck, however, it was discovered that I did not like MY MOTHER’S meatloaf… To answer your question directly, I’d say that those who don’t like meatloaf haven’t tried the right kind yet.
  •  ….because when you add the word “loaf” to a food, it just makes it so much more….appetizing. Just think! “Cabbageloaf,” or, come down to McDonald’s for our new McLoaf! Many do not know how to make a good meatloaf. It’s the kind of thing that can be good when it’s made right, but can really, really go wrong when it’s not.

So, ever since I met my fiance and had him cringe at me when I said I’m making meatloaf for dinner – I have been determined to get him to like it! And… what do you know.. he gets himself seconds whenever I make it. If you make it right – it can be delicious (not to mention SO easy)  especially for kids a great way to hide some veggies in it! I have made some with chopped carrots, kale, spinach, mushrooms…etc.

Even the doodle likes his veggies =)

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 presetThis recipe here is by far, one of our favorites. Enjoy with a side of sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts!

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When your week off from work becomes more work than actual work!

I had this week off as I transition into my new job next Monday and I think I may of got a good dose of what it means to be a housewife! 

Being at home is work – a lot of work! You know, it could have something to do with the fact that I can’t help myself but over commit to everything or maybe you just do not realize how much your personal life is put on hold when you have a 8-5 work life or…. how can you just take a nap when the laundry has been piling up for weeks and well it’s right there and you’re right there!

Sleeping in on your week off is not really an option either….when you have a 5 month old puppy… I mean who doesn’t love getting woken up to a fluffy pup literally stretched out on the top of your head kissing your face so you wake up? (who let him on the bed?– maybe I did when I was asleep??)  I met my friend, Steph to pick up her wedding dress (yay!) the other day and she gave me this off leash dog book… Here are some pages from it…so appropriate for this post!

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So I’m up way earlier than I want to be – but its good. My fiance also got a new job which requires him to travel more – sigh— so he is leaving the same week I start my new job. {picture small bombs exploding in my head}  I need a day care for Fred now.. because who knows if I can come home on lunch anymore —defiantly not on my first week – I know I can figure that small detail out – the real reason is, I cringe every time he has to travel far and for more than 2 days. I know I should be excited for him that he gets to experience different places and better his career – and I am happy – deep deep down I am – but on the surface I guess I am a little selfish— is that what its called when you want him here and not there? Well, I’m working on it …. I am <3 as long as I get some souvenirs, it evens out? HA

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BUT!! I got the world done*[some] accomplishments: Freddy is eating his (dog) food again- on a schedule!, after seeing 5 different places – I found Fred a day care for next week, re-org the guest room (huge step), vacuumed and polished the whole house, repainted dining room table, nightly dinner made, Christmas returns done, laundry washed/folded/put away (3 loads), gave Fred a bath, Groomer appt sched, drug test (for new job), photography class HW done, 4 products under review for blog, created a video post for a new recipe!!(posting soon), caught up with 3 diff groups of friends (finally), found new gym, new bank account, bridal shower gift picked and wrapped, Fred started 1st grade, fixed modeling agency(for me), work on Fred’s 3rd modeling gig (hello J-crew, call me back =), security cam installed (well, yes if some stranger is picking up my precious pup)……..

That’s my little spiel – I’m not even going to go into FULL details because this post would take up half this site- but at 26, I am prepared for children and housewife duties one day{no joke}… Be it my first year owning a home with my fiance(still cant believe I’m engaged!) and owning a dog… some good preparation right there [get yourself those 3 things before you get married and have kids.. amazing practice!!] —a future husband, a furry child and a maintained home! oh and of course, a career!! duh

…and reservation is made for dinner — I am so not cooking tonight!

Happy Friday!!! This week flew by!

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Date Night

How important is date night? When you’re not home 7AM-6PM (M-F), your boyfriend is back in school getting his MBA, so not home till 10PM some nights, you just got a new puppy, you’re balancing living away from home for the first year (AKA:dinner planning, weekly lunch planning, where is all this laundry coming from!?, dishes galore, didn’t I just go grocery shopping?,maintaining the garden, forget about putting my clothes away, studying for Dental Admission Test( uhh?),training for the bike race, GYM? (why do I still pay for a membership?),blogging, keeping up with friends & some sort of social life, schedules, too many weddings, baby showers! (so happy for my BFF!), the list goes on and on. I may or may not over-commit story of my life -really!

So yes, the time for your significant other can be slim- even if its just cuddling in bed.. the puppy cries and we keep him in bed so cuddling and that minimal alone time we had together can be a challenge now!

Date night is VERY important. 

I’m excited to go out with my handsome guy tonight. I made a reservation via Open Table to an Italian restaurant in the North End… Think wine (bottle, please!), warm bread, Chix Marsala, fresh cannoli, …. Is the work day over yet?

I need to plan my outfit! Its chilly out so I’ll mix in some Fall-inspired items along with a pop of summer… Not ready to let it go fully!

Xo,

Happy Friday!

Oh, I found some fun, creative  date ideas (cheap too) on Boston.com! Once the pup gets older, I’ll have to plan a VT trip – my absolute favorite esp during Foliage season! – so soon!

Polish Beet Soup

Colder nights mean summer is winding down and the season for warm SOUP is upon us. I’d totally be lying if I said I didn’t eat soup even if its 90 degrees out! I grew up with soup being a part of almost every meal. My Babcia (grandmother) would ALWAYS be making some variety with whatever summer veggies were around, so I am used to eating soup in the summer… but for everyone else… Welcome to Soup Season!

Barszcz Czerwony (Polish Red Beet Borscht)

Copyright 2011-2012 European Market Deli & Cafe
Copyright 2011-2012 European Market Deli & Cafe

 

I had some extra beets and potatoes left over from the Farmers Market, and I feel like I haven’t had eggs in a while…. so as a result… I made Borscht for dins. Here is my recipe derived mostly from memory and taste. I don’t really like to follow recipes; so I kind of make it work until it tastes AMAZE.

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