Author Archives: Emily

Sushi Date

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I had a bunch of errands to run and yesterday somehow felt really busy.  No post because I never actually ate any meals, mostly I took random spoonfuls of cookie butter and stole salt and vinegar chips from the husband.

Instead of a recap I’ll share a few of the highlights –

#1 – I met up with a few friends and over coffee we finally figured out our room situation for FNCE – the AND’s yearly conference.  Three (maybe four!) of us are going and we managed to find something safe and affordable.

#2 – My easy errand took me to the mall.  I am loving the “birthday month” deals that have been rolling in.  I’ve wanted this Sugar lip duo from Fresh for years and Sephora just gave it to me for free!

#3 – While I was at the mall (see #2) I drank something that has changed my life forever.  Peanut butter frozen hot chocolate from Dairy Queen.

Since the first sip it’s basically been all I’ve been able to think about.  I’ve already started trying to figure out how to recreate it at home.

Today was fairly lame on the food fruit.  The things I ate were all great but I didn’t eat all that much.  Quality over quantity?

A small bun with ~1 Tbsp evoo for dipping.

Juicy green pear.

Bottle of Classic Green Tea from Honest Tea.

Dinner was extra exciting because we made a quick turnaround on a recent Groupon purchase and headed out to eat.

We were both impressed with Sakura Sushi.  The service, speed, and food were all good.  The menu boasted a bunch of fun rolls (like the “Buffalo Roll” with spicy fried tuna!) but Adam and I both stuck with what we knew.

I got a green salad with ginger dressing to start.

And a Spicy Crunch Salmon Roll.

Deep fried salmon / mango / tempura flakes / spicy sauce.

Yum!  It wasn’t the easiest thing to eat like a lady, but the taste was worth the mess.  I obviously could have gotten something healthier but this was a nice compromise between a plain roll and the cream cheese stuffed, whole roll tempura options that I was eyeing.

We had to spend a little bit more money to use up our Groupon so the husband and I split a dessert.

Coppa Mascarpone – a chocolate cream, followed by a smooth mascarpone cream, topped with amaretto cookie crumbs and chocolate curls.

It was fun way to end the date.

Adam and I have skin checks across town tomorrow morning and I am determined to get in bed so that our wake-up isn’t brutal.  I’ll be dreaming of peanut butter frozen hot chocolate!

Cookie Dough Truffles

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This recipe is pretty straightforward, though I do highly recommend it.

Truffles – good.  Cookie dough – better.  Cookie dough truffles – best.  Simple, right?

These truffles were inspired by my Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.  When I replaced the egg with toasted marshmallow I realized I made a tasty cookie dough that is safe to consume without baking.  So why not consume it, right?  And why stop there, when draping the cookie dough in chocolate is so easy?

P.S.  These could be vegan so easily.  Sub in Earth Balance, vegan marshmallows (I like Dandies), soy or almond milk, and dark chocolate chips.  Done.

Cookie Dough Truffles, yields 24 truffles

  • 5 marshmallows
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp skim milk
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 12 oz bag milk chocolate chips
  • (optional) sprinkles
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.  Prepare one cookie sheet with baking spray and another with aluminum foil.
  2. Place marshmallows on sprayed cookie sheet and bake for 2 – 3 minutes, until just beginning to brown.  Set aside to cool.
  3. Use a mixer to cream together butter and sugars.  Beat in vanilla and toasted marshmallows.
  4. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt.  Stir in milk.  Fold in mini chips.
  5. Roll dough into heaping Tbsp sized balls and place on foiled cookie sheet.  Put the balls in the freezer for at least 15 minutes.
  6. Melt milk chocolate chips using a double-boiler or microwave.  One by one, place cookie dough balls in the melted chocolate and roll to coat them completely.  Shake off any excess chocolate and return to cookie sheet.  If decorating, be sure to sprinkle the truffles while the chocolate is still wet.
  7. Return truffles to the freezer for 15 minutes so that the chocolate hardens.  I recommend serving the truffles at room or fridge temperature since the texture isn’t quite “cookie doughy” enough for me when frozen.

Window Shopping Wednesday

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I am not much of a shopper, much to my mother’s chagrin. The woman can spend days at the mall, while I start to feel itchy after just a few hours. It’s not that I’m not materialistic, I totally am, it’s just that the thought of adding more stuff to my life makes it hard to breathe. But I like the idea of things. So I’m an avid window shopper. I browse catalogs I’ll never buy from and hold my breathe when I pass the window at J.Crew. So while I’m stuck at school on Wednesdays, I thought we could have some fun via blog. Let’s window shop!

Here are the foods that are making my mouth water this week –

1. DRY Lavender Soda

I always complain – about sodas, teas, lemonades, etc – about the dearth of “low sugar” options.  As in not full of sugar, or especially not full of HFCS, and not fake sugar.  I am forever on the lookout for a product that uses just a little sugar.  Enter DRY Sodas.  The funky flavors are sweetened lightly with cane sugar and each bottle has 40 – 70 calories.  Plus, I’m pretty sure I’d pine for lavender soda with any type of sugar.  Vanilla Bean sounds pretty swoon-worthy too!

2.  Hint Fizz in Watermelon

Another beverage.  I’ve always been intrigued by Hint Water but I have a hard time getting excited about drinks that aren’t fizzy.  This new line is still free of calories and artificial sweeteners, but now it’s fizzy!  Watermelon sounds perfect for summer, especially if you managed to use it in a mojito.

3.  Zico Latte Coconut Water

And yet another!  I’m basically obsessed with the Chocolate Zico and I know that a coffee version would rock my world.  This new product seems to not be available in most locations yet but the reviews I read online were all positive.  From BEVNET – “The product, a blend of coconut water from concentrate, sugar, coconut cream, coffee and vanilla, weighs in at 120 calories and has 85 mg of caffeine.”

4.  Belgian Chocolate S’mores Ciao Bella Gelato

I don’t have much to say about this one because it’s obvious.  S’mores and gelato?  Gonna be good.  Ciao Bella’s Key Lime Pie Gelato is in my top ten favorites for frozen desserts so I trust them to do s’mores right.

5.  A Several Caramel and Marshmallow Crispycakes from The Crispery

First things first – The Crispery is a little business that specializes in crisp rice marshmallow treats.  Awesome name, awesome concept, awesome thing to specialize in.  They have a huge variety of crispy cakes, including several crispycake sandwiches.  Basically this is a sandwich of crispycake bread and caramel and marshmallow fluff filling.  Best idea ever?

Have you tried any new food products this summer that have rocked your world?

Monday Tuesday

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The post title is supposed to reference yesterday’s, and the fact that I am finding myself completely unable to write a blog post.  I just feel like I have a case of bloggers’ block.  There are two upcoming posts that I’ve promised to do and I am practically incapable of getting them done.  Both are on my to-do list for tomorrow and for today I’ll keep it quick.

Breakfast was a total success.

I stirred together Wegman’s Vanilla on the Bottom Super Yogurt with a biiiig dollop of 1% small curd cottage cheese.  Then I topped with sliced plum, sliced nectarine, and a chopped up cookie dough truffle.

I needed something that would keep me full through the early afternoon and this did the trick.

Lunch was snacky.  A GoGo Squeez Apple Strawberry pouch.

And a Peanut Honey Pretzel Luna Bar.

The first time I tried this bar I didn’t know my socks off but today I was much more impressed.  I could really taste each flavor; the peanuts, honey, and pretzels somehow all managed to stand out from within the mix of flavors.

Dinner was cheesy chicken and rice.

Plus 2 servings of potato chips (bacon cheddar, but not really, these were still vegetarian) a few hours later.

And that’s all she wrote (ha!).

Mac And Three Cheese Muffins

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I don’t recall my parents ever making mac and cheese at home, but when I was growing up baked mac and cheese from the grocery store was my favorite comfort food.  West Indian mac and cheese is different from what you are usually served stateside.  Back home it is always baked in a casserole (with a thick layer of cheese on top!); you would never serve West Indian mac and cheese with a spoon.  Most of the mac and cheese recipes I’ve created have the same sturdiness to them, though I have cut back a bit on the cheese.  This rendition is lighter (but definitely not light) and served in muffin form.

They were fun to eat and I found them to be nice and filling.  I went with a trio of cheeses – sharp cheddar, parmesan, and low-fat cottage cheese.  The cottage cheese gave a great flavor while upping the protein and lowering the fat; a three muffin serving has less than 500 calories.

I shared a bite with Webster the other day and I’ve been calling him “The Mac Doggy” ever since.  Divorce would be imminent if Adam didn’t think these muffins were so darn tasty.

Mac and Three Cheese Muffins, serves 4 – 6

  • 2 cups dry macaroni noodles
  • 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
  • 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 4 oz sharp cheddar, shredded
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.  Lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with baking spray.
  2. In a large pot, cook macaroni al dente according to package directions.  Then drain and return to pot.  It is best to rinse out the pot with cool water first so that the cooked pasta doesn’t stick.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients to the cooked macaroni and stir well to combine.
  4. Portion macaroni mixture evenly into the 12 muffin cups.  Bake for 30 minutes.

Monday Monday

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Uggh; how does “late” come so quickly every night?!  It’s not good, not good at all.  I had a whole list of to-do’s for today and the only one that got checked off was working out.  30 minutes on the stationary bike at level 7 random.

I didn’t even manage to cook today and since I was super hungry things got snacky real quick.  Here’s the recap – Lunch.

Soup.

Plus bread ends with Smart Balance Light.

Desserts.

A mac cup.

Bread with melted cheddar and olive oil.

A big bowl of fresh cherries.

Dinner ended up being seconds thirds on both the bread and the cherries.  I plan on grabbing something else before bad too, probably a bowl of cereal.  Sometimes you just have to do what you can!

I Swallowed (A Wine Tasting Recap)

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What a fun day!  It included booze, friends, and cookies, so you know it was a winner.  I didn’t do the best job photographing but today was one of those days when it is more important to live it than blog it.  I guess that’s true for all days really!

I have no excuse for the past two days because I think blogging a recap would have been my most exciting event, sadly.  I was lazy not busy.  But I do have two new recipes to share this week.  Two recipes for two days seems fair.

We had to do a major cleaning job on the apartment this morning but we did find time for a dog walk.  Breakfast on the go.

Adam and I split this Mango Noosa Yoghurt (there are two servings per package) and we were both big fans.  So thick and creamy!

I read up on the company and I really like their policies.  I just wish the ‘gurt was available in low-fat.

Today my friends and I cashed in a big group Living Social deal and hopped in two town-cars for a winery tour.  We got picked up at my place so every one came up for some sweet treats first.

We had (unphotographed) “virgin mimosas” of oj and vanilla club soda and I baked two treats.  How Sweet Eats’ Chocolate Drenched Coconut Oatmeal Squares.

And cookie dough truffles (recipes is one of the two promised for this week).

Both were big hits!  HSE is basically a genius; I subbed in unsweetened coconut but otherwise I left her recipe alone.  Adam complained about helping me bake on Saturday night but after he tasted the goods he shot me death-eyes when I tried to send friends home with leftovers!  I ate two of each all total for the day.

Then we were off for three hours of wine tasting.

We hit up three wineries, all of which had a great selection.  Between the seven of us there was a large range of preferences.  Rachel likes super dry and I like super sweet so the two of us ended up swapping glasses a couple of times.  I don’t really drink wine so it was nice to have little tastes to see what I like; I even tried a couple of reds!  The craziest ones were Schulze Wines’ crackling sweets.

I especially liked Niagara Landing’s Rosebud line and even came home with a bottle.

And I paid $2.50 extra at one spot for this mini glass of ice wine.

All total I had 13 tastes and I didn’t spit once!  I probably should have though, it wasn’t an insane amount of alcohol but all 13 were sweet and I felt pretty sick by the time I got home.

I ate a mac and cheese muffin (the 2nd recipe),

and then crashed hard on the couch.

When I forced myself up two hours later I knew there was no way I would be cooking the soup on my meal plan.  Instead we went to Moe’s.

My vegetarian burrito had rice, black beans, sautéed mushrooms/peppers/onions, cheese, corn salsa, and guacamole.  It was just what I needed.

I’m feeling loads better now.  But I am hoping to turn in early because I’ve got a busy to-do list for tomorrow.

Have you ever been to a wine tasting?  Did you spit?

Stone Soup

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Long time no blog.  I’m glad to be back, but my days away were glor-i-ous!  I spent 70% of Monday – Wednesday curled up in bed.  I ate pizza and lots of chocolate.  I watched the first season of “Flashpoint.”  And I read five (250+ page) murder-mystery novels.  Like I said, glorious.

Back-in-the-world-Thursday started with a trip to the gym.  40 minutes on the stationary bike at level 7 random.  Followed by stretching that was not enough because my right hip has been killing me all afternoon.

I ate half of this NuGo Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt bar on the walk home.

Summer is the only time when I could drive to the gym and park, but why get in a car when I can walk?  If I’m not in a time-crunch I’d rather move my legs.  And Buffalo State’s recent landscaping makes it a lovely walk indeed.

The 2nd half of breakfast used my new favorite smoothie ingredient.

This Vanilla Chai Vega was stupid good.  I haven’t had a chai latte in forever and I feel an iced one in my immediate future.  For my smoothie I blended the Vega packet with 1 cup of Silk Vanilla Almond Milk and a large frozen banana.

It didn’t taste green and the 15 grams of protein kept me full all morning.

I hurried through errands – Lexington Co-op, Goodwill, Wegmans – so I could meet a friend for a walking date this afternoon.  I picked her up on Elmwood and we set off for the (new) Buffalo Cakery.

I brought Adam a cupcake but went with ice cream myself.  A small cup of candied apple and salted caramel.

Sadly the flavors weren’t great together and I had to throw out my cup halfway through when things got melty.  The 4 miles of walking were hot-hot-hot but also just what I needed.

I cooled down with a Tusker when I got home.

And I was glad for ac this evening because my meal was hot and spicy.  I borrowed components from the rest of the week’s dinners for a stone soup of sorts.

In a small pot, I heated up 1 tsp chipotle oil.  I sautéed ~1.5 cups chopped bok choy and 2 sliced green onions with the juice from half a lime and 1 Tbsp fish sauce.  I added ~1 cup frozen corn and 1.5 cups chicken broth then covered and boiled for 5 minutes.  Then I took of the lid and stirred in 1 large egg, juice from another lime, and a big squeeze of Sriracha.

The end result was an odd mash-up of Thai and Mexican flavors but it worked.

I should have made dinner bigger though because it ended up being a 2 dessert evening.  The last Tbsp of so of Biscoff, straight from the jar.

And 5 marshmallows and 1 Tbsp chocolate chips, microwaved until gooey.

Tasty, but I would have been better off with an extra egg in my soup.

I’m off to watch more “Flashpoint,” but hopefully not for too long; we’ve been up past 2 am every day this week and I’m hoping to break that pattern.  Night!