Kitchen fun.

I have been obsessed with accessorizing my kitchen lately. There are just so many adorable items to be had! And practical items too, of course. I’m especially interested in getting a dutch oven, only right now I simply don’t have the funds! Recently, while in NY, I discovered Sur la Table. Oh heavens. I think I could spend the night in that store. A nice little sleepover with all the cookware.
As far as accessories go, I’ve been adding small touches here and there with items from anthropologie. I’ve also found some really cute things at Marshalls/Home Goods. What a great store that Marshalls is.

For Christmas Meg wanted to give me this:


Only anthropologie messed up the order and this came instead:


It’s fun, except for I already have this:

You like, right? Me too.

So I returned the mix-up butterdish and got myself the cutest little measuring cups I ever did see:


Did you follow me through all that? Oh good. I hoped you would. And do you like the measuring cups?? I had a feeling you might like those too. If you come visit me, I’ll make you a delicious dinner and maybe use the measuring cups. OR maybe we could bake cookies and then we would definitely use the measuring cups. Just let me know when you’re coming. I’ll be ready.

Fingers (and toes) crossed.


How awesome would it be if I won one of these Le Creuset dutch ovens?
OMG I would freak out.
I would be so overjoyed.
I might faint.
Please, please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top let me win.

The Quarter-Life Cooks

Do you know Phoebe and Cara, the Quarter-Life Cooks?
They’re 2 twenty-something ladies living in New York, cooking in their kitchens, and writing a great food blog about their adventures. The two friends post all sorts of recipes from cooking for one to cooking for many all from their teeny tiny NY kitchens. They give all the details of their gatherings: the party size, ingredients, special tips, and always a recap of the event itself. I just love these girls. I wish I was their friend so I could attend one of their Park Slope parties! (Beck and Bails, maybe you could get the in with these girls?) Looks delicious and so much fun.
Check out their blog and see for yourself: Big Girls, Small Kitchen. Whether your in your quarter-life or not there’s something for everyone.

a Real Simple dinner.

Decided to make a chicken stroganoff recipe from Real Simple last night. It was really simple, and it was really tasty too!


There are a lot of ingredients, but most I already had lying around. Went to Whole Foods to pick up some fresh veggies and had some chicken in my freezer I laid out in the am to defrost. I followed the recipe pretty accurately (not super confident with my cooking skills yet), and the dish came out great and is definitely something I will make again.


Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced into rings

1 green pepper, seeded and thinly sliced

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

8 ounces (15 medium) button mushrooms, thinly sliced

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch-thick strips

1 cup dry white wine

1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoons barbecue sauce

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon hot sauce

1/2 cup sour cream

Served over: egg noodles


Here’s the easy-peasy recipe:

To start, gather your ingredients for a group picture

Chop the onions into rings

Get the green pepper ready

Chop those into small strips

The chicken also gets cut into small strips

Cook the onions for about 8 minutes in a tablespoon of olive oil (until softened)

Add peppers and mushrooms
(and 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. of pepper)
Cook approx 6 minutes, until mushrooms give up liquid and are tender

Remove veggies and place in collander (save the liquid)
Cook chicken (seasoned w/ 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper)
Pour the wine, chicken broth and veggie liquid into pan and bring to a boil

Add the BBQ sauce, mustard, Worcestershire, and hot sauce
Whisk until smooth
Bring to a boil and let the liquid reduce by half

Reduce heat and whisk in the sour cream

Return chicken and veggie to pan
Simmer until heated through

I put this dish over egg noodles
(but you can choose any type of pasta or rice)
YUM!