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Cumin Roasted Carrot & Avocado Salad
My favorite dish at popular NYC eatery ABC Kitchen is without a doubt their Cumin Roasted Carrot & Avocado Salad. This light yet satisfying starter is a diverse combination of bright colors, contrasting textures and bold flavors. The carrots are roasted in the oven with a spicy blend of cumin, garlic and fresh herbs and then plated with slices of fresh, ripe avocado. All of it is pulled together by a tangy drizzle of fresh orange and lemon juice. The finishing touch is a refreshing dollop of sour cream (I used plain Greek yogurt in my recipe) and a sprinkling of toasted sunflower seeds. I decided to recreate this masterpiece at home and am proud to share this memorable recipe. I made a few changes from the original to keep it healthy and use the ingredients I had on hand in my kitchen. Enjoy this little taste of NYC’s ABC Kitchen in your own kitchen!
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Lemon Dijon Herb-Crusted Grilled Pork Tenderloin
This is my second post this season on grilling (yes, summer hasn’t even started!) and I’m thrilled to share this recipe for marinated grilled pork tenderloin. With a hearty dose of fresh thyme and rosemary, this recipe takes on many flavors that all blend together perfectly. If you like mustard and tangy sauces, this one is for you. In order to fully flavor the pork, you have to prepare this marinade the night before and let the meat marinate in the refrigerator overnight. The marinade is somewhat thick and is loaded with fine herbs, creating a sort of “crust” on the pork. Tonight my boyfriend grilled the pork tenderloin we had marinated overnight and it came out tender and juicy, with a definite kick of dijon contrasting beautifully with the freshness of the herbs. Bon Appétit!
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Roman Stracciatella Soup
Considered a “peasant food” in Italy, Stracciatella soup has been around for ages and originates from Rome. Stracciatella is simply an Italian version of egg drop soup. In this recipe, I made a few small modifications from the traditional recipes, including adding escarole and orzo to make it a full, albeit light, meal. It’s simple, comforting, and supremely simple to make. Enjoy!
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Chocolate Chip Banana Bites
If you are looking for the perfect home-baked, bite-sized, sweet snack, you are in luck with these adorable Chocolate Chip Banana Bites. This is actually a Weight Watchers recipe that I tweaked and modified just a bit. Made in mini muffin pans, these banana bites are low in fat since they do not contain any oil or butter. The mashed ripe bananas provide moistness and bind the muffins together along with vanilla yogurt and oats for texture. The addition of mini chocolate chips makes you really feel like you are indulging, but without the guilt. Enjoy!
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Happy Easter!
Wishing all a very Happy Easter! I just baked this traditional Italian Easter pie and had to share. With layers of flaky, buttery phyllo surrounding a creamy ricotta center, flavored with fresh orange zest, vanilla and pine nuts.
Check out the recipe for this delicious pie here, courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis.
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Boneless Chicken Mole
A Mexican favorite, mole sauce is an explosion of vibrant flavors and textures. I have always found the addition of chocolate into this savory recipe fascinating so I had to try it out? I wanted to keep the ingredients as traditional as possible, but use boneless, skinless chicken breasts to keep the fat and calories down. There are many different variations on mole, but I decided to do one based on chipotle peppers and adobo sauce because I love the smoky flavor. After sauteing and simmering all of the ingredients, the last step is the addition of dark chocolate – pure delight for a baker like myself! The chocolate thickens the sauce beautifully and is the perfect contrast to the savory peppers and onions. In the end, the sauce doesn’t taste chocolately at all because the flavors mend together beautifully. It turned out to be authentic Mexican feast full of flavor and spiciness – I hope you enjoy!
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No Butter Fluffy Spring Vanilla Cupcakes
I wasn’t looking to reinvent the cupcake – after all, it is perfect the way it is. But being cupcake-obsessed and someone who watches her calories, I had to bake something to satisfy both. I had a couple of things in mind when setting out to bake a healthier version of a cupcake today – first off, I wanted to incorporate plain Greek yogurt, because every time I substitute yogurt in my baking, it comes out spectacular. Secondly,
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A Chocolate Chip Cookie Shake-up: Toll House Marble Squares
If you love chocolate chip cookies, you will go crazy for Nestle’s Toll House Marble Squares. With all the same ingredients you love in chocolate chip cookies –rich brown sugar and fudgy chocolate chips– these squares are essentially cookie batter baked in the form of a cake in a sheet pan. The squares are a bit thicker and chewier than their cookie form, but share the same chocolate chip cookie taste we have all grown to love. Once the “cake” is baked, you cut it into small squares for bite-sized treats. This recipe makes for a great gift – simply package up the squares in small boxes with decorative bows and you have a guaranteed hit. Keep reading for the full recipe!
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Sherry Cake
Sherry cake is one of my grandmother’s most delightful go-to cakes. It’s easy to make and bursting with the distinct taste of sherry wine. You start with a basic yellow cake mix and vanilla instant pudding mix and add eggs, oil, sherry and nutmeg. The result is a moist, dense pound cake-like cake that is sure to impress. It works really well baked in a bundt pan and sliced thin with dusted powdered sugar on top. You can make it in mini loaf pans as well if you wish.
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Coconut Macaroons
I have to admit, my boyfriend’s office has been growing increasingly jealous of the fresh baked goods I send my boyfriend into work with. One of the guys requested macaroons, so I gave it a try. This recipe is courtesy of the Barefoot Contessa and is truly the best coconut macaroon recipe around. The cookies are moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Not only are they beautiful, but the recipe is super easy as well. With only sweetened shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, egg whites and salt on the ingredient list, you can whip up these cookies in no time. Once baked and cooled, you can try dipping some in melted chocolate or leaving them plain. The best part is when you are baking, the sweet smell of coconut fills the house, making it smell like a tropical paradise!