Toppings

Sunday Sprinkles

02.22.15

IMG_1195.JPG 1. I am completely convinced that the ONLY reason to watch the Oscars is for Neil Patrick Harris.  I love the way he thinks he's hilarious… It reminds me of me.  hahahahahahha.  He is my fave and definitely the only reason I'm watching tonight.  (other than to get some movie suggestions)

2. I'm obsessed with the xbox one.  It's only slightly embarrassing because honestly… its SO COOL.  

3. I roasted a chicken tonight and experienced all the things I talked about in this post.  You should absolutely experience them too.  

4. Have you seen this little girl?  I will absolutely vote for her.  

5. So I can't remember if I told you guys or not, but one of my New Years' Resolutions was to give up soda.  I haven't had a soda since January 4th which is pretty awesome.  I'm telling you now because (a) I want to be accountable and (b) I feel like I'm running out of options for drinks.  WHAT DO YOU GUYS DRINK ON THE REG?  I'm not talking about alcoholic stuff [but that doesn't mean don't send me suggestions, because I want those too], I'm talking about when you want something cool and refreshing.  Tell me your ideas.

6. THIS.

7.  AHHHH TV.  | Scandal | STEPHENNNNNNNN.  That literally blew my mind and was an amazing twist.  I loved it.  And him.  I wish he had been like “Oh sure, I'll go back to DC with you Liv.” because I want him around always.  Sigh.  Also, I loved Liv ripping Fitz a new one.  Then again, I always do.  Part of me thinks I'm fully team Jake now… but then something happens and I'm like I KNOW THEY'RE SOUL MATES and I hate myself.   | HTGAWM | holy. crap.  HOLY. CRAP.  HOLY CRAPPPP.  Did Rebecca do it?!  I've always had a weird feeling about her.  I think she's super conniving and I'm scared about whatever she's going to do to Wes now.  also, those stupid scratch marks weird me out.  

8. Sour patch kids are the best candy eva.  EVA, EVA.  

9. this was super cute also.  

10. Crispy M&Ms are back and I feel like a kid again.  it's wonderful.

11.  OH AND HOUSE OF CARDS IS COMING BACK SOON!  

p.s. I learned how to use my ollo clip macro lens.  yay me.  

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Dairy Free / Diet Specific / Poultry / Recipes / Soups/Stews

Roasted Chicken Noodle Soup

02.18.15

It's been COLD in New York.

It's been snowing.  Snowing in all of the north east really.  

So let's warm up today! Chicken Soup-6 Let's roast a chicken and make some soup!  Because apparently the “near future” really meant practically six months later… HAHAHAHAH.  oops.

I truly believe learning how to roast a chicken changed. my. life.  I owe it all to the Doyles and Jessica [I adapted this recipe using hers as a starting point for a smaller version]!

It's not as scary as you'd think.  It's actually super easy and SOOOOO worth it.  It takes minimal effort on your part and you pretty much have to TRY your hardest to mess it up.  Maybe I'll do a post on how I roast my chickens later, because it's definitely something you should have in your arsenal.  

Every time I roast a chicken I literally just want to stand in my kitchen and smell the smells.  too much?  I DON'T CARE, IT SMELLS WONDERFUL.  It smells delicious.  It smells like home. Chicken Soup-3 Um do you even KNOW how easy it is to make soup after you've already roasted the chicken?  DO YOU?  

It's like the easiest thing in the whole fah-reak-ing world.  It basically makes itself at that point.  You don't even have to do anything.

Just kidding, you do.  but like it's really easy and quick and just tah-rust me okay?   Chicken Soup-5 And, um.  you should definitely keep the skin because it is by far the best part of the chicken.  It's no contest.  It's so delicious and crispy and textured and seasoned and – on second thought, don't keep the skin… mail it to me.  I'll dispose of it… properly… for you…

No, I'm not trying to con you into giving me the best part of the chicken!  Why would you EVER think that.  

You're weird.   Chicken Soup Collage  If you haven't completely lost faith in me yet, I do have one serious suggestion.  Please, please, PUH-LEASEEEEEEE don't omit the dark meat from this soup.  because… FLAVOR.

ugh.  the dark meat makes this soup.  MAKES IT.  just do it.  

Apparently, a lot of people don't like the dark meat… I don't have that problem because I think it's pretty close up there with sliced bread.  (in awesome-ness, not actual similarities between the two foods.  i'm not insane)

Chicken Soup-2  The funny thing is that I used to HATE soup.  Now I think it's one of my favorite things, especially when I'm sick.  I realized I had two issues with soup:  (1) i hate cream based soups and (2) I HATE when noodles are already in the soup and get soggy.

Add the noodles in right when you're about to serve the soup.  Avoid the pure evil of soggy noodles at all costs.  

Print

Roasted Chicken Soup

  • Author: Ashley Renee
  • Prep Time: 30
  • Cook Time: 180
  • Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 3 1/2 pound roasting chicken + fresh thyme, grapeseed oil, white pepper, garlic salt, kosher salt, and black pepper to season the chicken
  • 64 ounces chicken broth (I used 32 ounces reduce sodium & 32 ounces regular)
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup chopped carrots
  • 1 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 2 medium onions (one sliced, and one chopped)
  • 1 pound cooked pasta
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage

Instructions

To roast the chicken

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Remove the chicken from the packaging and clean if necessary. Rub the bird with grapeseed oil and sprinkle the thyme, pepper(s), and salt(s).
  2. Place the sliced onion at the bottom of a baking dish. Set the chicken on top of the onion, breast side up, and roast for approximately 60-70 minutes. The chicken is done when a meat thermometer reads at least 165 degrees, or if the juices by the thigh run clear.
  3. Allow the chicken to cool completely and remove skin and set aside. Remove all white and dark meat from the bird and chop into bite size pieces.

For the soup

  1. Fill a large pot with the chicken broth and water. Add in the chicken carcass, fresh thyme, rosemary, and sage to the pot and bring to a bubbling simmer. Allow to cook for one hour.
  2. Drain the broth through a mesh strainer twice to remove the bones and herbs & get it really clear.
  3. Return the broth to the pot and add in the celery, chopped onion, and carrots. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
  4. Add in the chicken and black pepper and cook for one hour.
  5. Add the pasta to the soup when ready to serve.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 4509
  • Sugar: 6
  • Sodium: 198607
  • Fat: 305
  • Saturated Fat: 40
  • Unsaturated Fat: 249
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 386
  • Protein: 134
  • Cholesterol: 225

Chicken Soup

OH OH OH.  Throw in some chia seeds and sub rice for the pasta and all of a sudden you have roasted chicken stew.  do it.  it's wond-ah-ful.  especially with some extra pepper.  love me ALL the cracked black pepper. 

Toppings

my life as a new yorker: week 2

02.17.15

IMG_1119 1 The majority of my second week in New York has still been spent un-packing.

I don't know if I just have too much crap or if I'm the worst procrastinator on the planet or if there are elves that come out at night and undo all the work I get done, but this seems NEVER ENDING.  I feel like it's going to keep going on FOREVER.  I finally got most of the boxes out of the apartment, which is a huge deal because even if everything doesn't have a place yet it feels a little more “lived in” without all those boxes in my way.  

The hardest part so far, has been trying to make sure I leave Frankie enough space in the closets and everything for when he actually gets here.  I have to be conscious of it or I'll just take over all the space.  oops. 

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 Don't worry though, we're living the good life with our skittles machine.  This was a gift I bought for Frankie in college [I think for Christmas?] and it was filled MAYBE twice.  Frankie would get mad because everyone would eat the skittles on him so he didn't fill it out of spite.  

I had the genius idea, while eating “orchards” skittles, to fill it will all different types of skittles and mix them all together so you never really know what you'll get.

It's amazing and I'm basically a genius.  

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I know it's weird, but I LOVE the sound of my radiator.  when the steam comes out it's just the most soothing noise ever.  It makes me feel like I'm in one of those rain forrest exhibits in a zoo and it's lovely.  

But I rarely ever actually have the radiator on because the apartment is like a SAUNA.  I don't know what we'll do when it's summer time.  I'm a little bit scared for the blistering heat.

Is filling my bathtub with ice an option?  why am I thinking so far ahead?  I don't know.  I DON'T KNOW.

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I started cooking [actual] food!  I've unpacked enough of my kitchen to be able to make my way through a few basic recipes.  The first thing I made?  Just a plain homemade whipped cream recipe.  casual.  NBD.  Frankie had never had whipped cream from scratch!  Ugh it's so easy, but it might warrant a recipe down the line because I LOVED photographing it.

I just HAD to break out my kitchen aid, because… swoon.  I love the baby blueeeeee.  I could just look at it forever.

I made Frankie and I a DIY waffle bar for v-day brunch.  I'm so cute.  

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Obviously we couldn't let things STAY cute… and so it quickly became competitive.

Let me lay it all out for you:  HIS LOOKED LIKE COMPLETE CRAP WHEN HE WAS MAKING IT.  I'm talking, he was smushing whipped cream everywhere and we were both giggling because his looked so awful.  and then he threw that weird BLOB of chocolate sauce on the plate like he was trying to be artistic or something and tells me I HAVE to take a picture and post it on facebook and see which ones the rest of the world likes better.  

wouldn't you know, EVERYONE [except two people, thank god] picked his freaking waffles!!!! he was practically crying laughing.  it was ridiculous.  I'm still bitter about it.

Mine are the ones on the right, btw.  

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I may or may not have threatened a few times not to let him have any of the dinner I made for us.  Which was a big deal because I made pulled pork, which is possibly his favorite thing that I make.

I was vicious.

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We popped a bottle of champagne though and all was well in the world again.  

Oh and we took a quick, casual trip to buy an xbox one.  That's what we got each other for valentines day.  apparently we're really into joint gifts this year, which makes my life slightly easier so I can't complain about it yet.  

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I will say, one weird thing that I can't get over about cooking in this apartment is my gas stove anxiety.  I've never had a gas stove before and EVERY time I try to use it I'm convinced the apartment is just going to burst into flames.  Is this a normal thing?  Do others feel this?  

It's starting to become a serious issue because the other morning I tried making bacon and was completely convinced a grease fire would erupt and burn down the building.  not even kidding.

How does one get over this?

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I did manage to have the girls night date with my former Florence roommates that I talked about last week and it was DELISH.  

We went to a place called sauce and everything from the bread [with pickled veggies and olive oil] to “the plank” [pictured above] was completely wonderful.  Oh and the wine [I'm pretty sure we were drinking the montepulciano, but don't quote me].  THE WINE WAS GREAT GUYS.  everyone should have a little wine in their lives.  For dinner I ordered the beef bolognese and it was out of this world.  

That's pretty much everything that's happening in my neck of the woods!  Next week I move into actual work in my new office [last week was primarily administrative stuff] so wish me luck & check back tomorrow for a nice warm recipe.

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Toppings

Sunday Sprinkles

02.15.15

(null) 1. Happppyyy sunday!  And belated Valentine's Day.  I really missed these posts!  The random crap that I talk about and the links I make you all look at… yeah I've missed this.  You hate me.  I know.  It's okay.

2. Speaking of random crap I make you look at… you ABSOLUTELY need this in your life right now.  andddddd this.

3. Frankie and I have a few additions to our apartment that we're VERY excited for.  We bought an xbox one and a huge tv and it is so cold that I see absolutely NO reason to ever leave this apartment ever again.  ever.  I want to stay cocooned in a blanket on the couch for the rest of my life.  pleaseeeee.  playing rayman.  because its back to 2000 and I'm obsessed.  I'm also SERIOUSLY considering buying zoo tycoon because I can't help myself and I'm 10 years old again.  {it's inevitable.  I'm deff buying it.  it just makes me feel better to say i'm considering it.}

4. Can I eat my way through these burgers along with the NYC restaurants I posted about a few weeks ago?  Is that excessive?  Do I care?  meh….

5. I'm SO ashamed about the fact that I'm ONLY half way through the second season of friends.  It's really pathetic and I hate myself.  ugh.  I'm going to buckle down.  I really am.  Frankie hasn't seen them all either so this weekend I started him on it.  I'm trying to get him caught up to where I am so that we can watch together.  awwwww.

6. I forgot how absolutely delicious eggo waffles are.  WHY HAVEN'T I BEEN EATING THEM FOR BREAKFAST ALL THE DAYS?  I bought mini waffles and blueberry ones and it's like I'm a kid in a candy shop.  I regret nothing.

7.| Scandal | Liv  you REALLY can't be surprised that things didn't go your way with that plan… can you?  that dude was CRAZY.  I'm scared Huck will go into the deep end now… and like where do things go from here?  WHERE?  | HTGAWM | I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE ANNALISE.  WHATTTTTT?!?  I just.  can't.  how can she do that?  Also, Sam's sister really weirded me out.  a lot. |

8. I think Chris Pratt is the best human in the world.  I love him.  I LOVE HIM.  in everything.  I can not wait for the new jurassic park.  ugh.

9. Also, I haven't seen it yet, but this made me laugh for a good ten minutes. 

10. Caps lock and hyperlinks on fleek today.  did i use that right?  what is twenty four years old?  who am i?

(null)

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Appetizer / Dips, Dressings, Sauces & Spreads / Recipes

My Fave [Arugula Basil] Pesto

02.11.15

Before we start:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEB I LOVE YOU!

B-A Pesto

Okay, now we can do this. 

Wahh.  I didn't want to do this because I feel like we JUST talked pesto.   But really that was about a month ago AND things have been crazy AND these were the only pictures I had edited already AND its really really good.  just forgive me okay?  forgive me for over using my food processor.  It's my best friend.  It's all I have.  

Just kidding, I couldn't even locate it right now if my life depended on it. Pesto Collage 3

But in all seriousness.  this pesto is SOOO different from the last one we made.  Because, um, hello(!) it's not cilantro.  its arugula AND basil.  my two favorite things (besides bacon and pepperoni and cookies and skittles and… garlic and…you get the point).  

It's fresh and crisp and tastes amazing on top of a nice crusty piece of bread. B-A Pesto-3

LOOK HOW GOOD MY NAILS LOOK!  wait don't look.  they don't look that good.  but like they're not super chipped and kind of look put together.  my mom won't absolutely hate these pictures.  not that I'm trying to impress anyone.

Speaking of impressing… what are your valentines day planssss?  Impress your date with this!  Last year I made cookies for the holiday, this year I went a more… romantic route.  I'm telling you to load yourself up with garlic.  oh yeah.  

No… but seriously. Pesto Collage

You should definitely get a loaf of french bread, drizzle it with olive oil, toast that sucker up, rub it with a clove of garlic, and spread this green goodness all over it.  It takes MAYBE five minutes.  and it looks like you planned everything to the last detail.

Serve it with a glass of red wine (or four) and no one will be the wiser that you're serving them take out for the actual dinner.  WHAT?  YOU'RE A BUSY PERSON.  YOU HAVE THINGS TO DO.  PLUS YOU CAN'T FIND ANYTHING IN YOUR KITCHEN.  oh wait that's me. B-A Pesto-2

BUT YOU.  YOUUUUU should make this.  or these.  or better yet just go for the gold and make this.  

yeah, definitely do that.  

and mail me some.  puhlease? Pesto Collage 2

On normal days [when love isn't floating around in the air being shot out of arrows that belong to little flying half naked babies] I like to use this stuff on sandwiches.  I've been such a sandwich girl lately.  I can't figure it out, but they're SO GOOD. 

You could also just eat it off a spoon!  No?  Not a thing?  okay. nevermind.  whatever, put it on pasta or something.  stop thinking about me eating pesto from a spoon, it's rude.

B-A Pesto-5

Print

[Toasted Walnut & Half Roasted Garlic] Arugula Basil Pesto

  • Author: Ashley Renee
  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 5
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 1 1x
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 cup basil
  • 1 cup arugula
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup walnuts
  • 2 peeled cloves of garlic
  • pinch of kosher salt, cracked black pepper, and garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Pour olive oil into a small ramekin or oven safe dish. Chop garlic into small chunks or slices and place them into the olive oil (you want them to be fully covered/submerged in the oil). Cover the ramekin/dish with tin foil and place on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 10-15 minutes. (If you're one of those crazy kids who is patient enough to fully roast it go for it – I was too impatient but I'm sure its DELISH.) Remove from the oven and allow to cool. The cloves should be just turning translucent, but will still be semi-crisp. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
  3. Heat a pan to medium high. Add walnuts to the hot, dry pan and toast for approximately 5 minutes, watch and stir constantly. You'll know they're toasted when they start to brown and smell nutty.
  4. Place all of the ingredients (including the olive oil, garlic, and walnuts) into a food processor and grind until smooth. Scrape down the sides as necessary.

Nutrition

  • Calories: 824
  • Sugar: 2
  • Sodium: 208
  • Fat: 73
  • Saturated Fat: 11
  • Unsaturated Fat: 60
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 41
  • Protein: 21
  • Cholesterol: 0

B-A Pesto-4 OH JUST GO TAKE A BATH IN THE ROASTED GARLIC OLIVE OIL ALREADY.  YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.

As always, if you make it? Lemme see it! Hashtag it: #thepikeplacekitchen

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