MARI NOT-SO-BLAND

Holiday Home Tour

2011-11-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we can set our sights on Christmas. Time to listen to that holiday playlist (I do my very best to leave my holiday playlist(s) alone until the day after Thanksgiving - any time before that and I'll be sick of it by Christmas Eve.), start thinking about gifts, and pull the holiday decor out of the attic. Each year I know I need a bit of inspiration before I dive into turning my home into a winter wonderland... and this year was no exception. But, instead of my usual internet scouring and magazine rifling, Mom and I decided to check out the Beaufort Holiday Tour of Homes in Habersham, South Carolina. We've always wanted to check out a holiday home tour, but keep missing them somehow. But, this time the start were aligned and we went. It was FABULOUS! The homes were stunning and the decor style in each house was different - offering many ideas for our own houses!

Now, I realize you are probably feeling a bit jealous at this point. Why weren't YOU invited to this holiday home tour? Well, count yourself lucky that you weren't there - it was very disorganized and confusing... and lots of wandering around aimlessly was required. So, we did it for you and I took photos of our favorite ideas to share with you! Enjoy!

The first house:

I'm in love... using old crates/boxes as planters
for Christmas greenery? Perfection...

Great entrance to one of the homes - very natural
and casual... yet, elegant. I love
the painted wood star attached to the balcony!

I was mildly obsessed with this entire house... not only the simple holiday decor,
but the furnishings and style as well.

I love the simplicity of adding a few pieces of greenery, a couple of giant pinecones,
and some votives. It really can change a space without cluttering it.

Again, simple and elegant. Love.

This candle was burning in a few of the homes and
it is quite possibly the best "Christmas Greenery" scented
candle I've EVER smelled in my life.
Too bad it's SO dang expensive.
But, here it is anyway: Aquiesse Monterey Pine Candle

Cool idea! :)

Onto the next home...

Why didn't I think of that?
Wrap a twig ball with ribbons to create a beautiful ribbon ball-like tassel!

Beautiful and modern arrangements at the door

Not sure where I could get a sleigh like that, but I want one...

Peacocks seem to be the new thing, but I think they can easily be too much.
This is just the right amount of peacock in my eyes.

I swear this looks like a table runner tied to a chair.
I love it.

A very Nell Hill display

This fireplace was outside on their screened porch.
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands...
(CLAPPING)

Again... Clapping.

The grand finale...

This house's theme was A Coastal Christmas.
So beautiful and beachy!

I love the use of the pine cone garland! So simple and effective!

Not a bad place to relax on the porch...
(notice the detail on the pillow... precious!)

One of these were one each side of the door.
Stunning!
(P.S. that greenery was FAKE!)

Perfect mix of glitter and coastal

Inside the house... sigh.
Can you imagine a more calming Christmas?

Lovely colors!

I love this idea for mistletoe!
Just glue some greenery and faux mistletoe to the top of a giant
pine cone and add ribbon to hang it!
(I especially love the little shells dangling from it as well)

Hanging ornaments from a chandelier using hemp cord.
Rustic meets sophisticated.

Stunning wreath above the stove!
(and how about the color of those cabinets?!)

A simple display in the kitchen with baskets and lit glass blocks.

This would be a great display for a party!
Can't you picture some Christmas cookies cascading out of the basket?

Add a touch of Christmas to the screened porch
with a teensy tree and some shells

I love this idea for on top of an armoire or cabinet

Simple and, of course, gorgeous!

Loved how they used plain brown paper with very elegant ribbon to dress up the package!
And how cute is that little guy on the right?
Burlap... oh the possibilities!

Wow! If you're not inspired by now to go decorate your home, I'm not sure what will do the trick! :) So, get decorating! I know I am...

~ Mari

Fake Thanksgiving

2011-11-20T13:07:00.001-08:00

Happy Fake Thanksgiving, everyone! It's a special time of year when you can't go home for Real Thanksgiving, so your parents meet you and you eat Thanksgiving food and think Thanksgiving thoughts... on November 18th (or really any day other than Thanksgiving itself).

Ryan and I just returned from Beaufort, SC where we celebrated this most joyous of newly-created holidays. Our tummies are full and we are oh so happy. It was a group effort and everyone pitched in to the feast! We had enough food for about 15 people, but, somehow the four of us managed. ;) (Leftovers are the best part of Real or Fake Thanksgiving)

So, without further ado, the menu:

Maple-Brined Turkey

(recipe here)

Roasted Fresh Ham

Stuffin' Muffins

Turnip Greens

Cranberry Relish

(recipe here)

Apple Chutney

Gravy

Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

(recipe here)

Black & White Cheesecake Bars

That's one moist, flavorful turkey...

Ohhhh yeah....

Best. Turkey. Ever.

Semi-Healthy Pecan Pie! (it exists)

So, there you have it! It was delicious and (kinda) nutritious! I would HIGHLY recommend brining your bird this Thanksgiving. It was moist and flavorful, without the cost (and danger) of deep-frying. Plus, it was SUPER easy! Don't be afraid of it. I followed the recipe to a T and it came out fabulous.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, be it real or fake. ;)

~ Mari

Thai Colada

2011-10-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since my last post, but I promise this will make up for it. Summer is over, which makes me so very glad because Fall is here! Yahoo! And this, my friends, is the perfect drink to toast to Fall. How is a Pina Colada the perfect Fall beverage? Because it is reminiscent of Summer (without it tasting light sunscreen smells), you can sip it outside where there's a cool breeze, and it's downright delicious.

Thai Colada

1 can coconut milk
1 stalk fresh lemongrass
1/2 fresh pineapple (peeled and cored)
1 frozen banana
1/3 cup simple syrup
1/2-3/4 clear rum (we used Bacardi)

In a small saucepan, heat the coconut milk on medium high heat. Chop the lemongrass into pieces (it doesn't matter what size - as long as they are large enough to strain out of the liquid) and add it into the pan. Turn down the heat and allow the liquid to cool. Dice the pineapple and put about 1/2 of it in a blender. Add some of the rum (the fruit will puree better with some liquid in there) and puree. Add the rest of the pineapple and puree. Next, slice the frozen banana and add it. Pour the simple syrup into the blender and add a few ice cubes. Puree until smooth. Finally, once the coconut milk has cooled, strain it and add it into the blender. Blend and pour into glasses to enjoy! We garnished ours with a piece of pineapple and a lemongrass stalk.

Enjoy! (We did!)

A Little Skirt Style

2011-08-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

I don't usually post about fashion or style here on my blog (mainly because I'm neither fashionable or stylish), but I found these little photo tutorials from Anthropologie to be quite helpful. I own some cute skirts for sure... I just am never quite sure what to pair them with. So, here is Anthropologie's solution:

Pencil Skirts:

According to Anthro, "Pair this belted-and-buttoned pencil with a tucked-in silk blouse, booties and a satchel for a sophisticated look." I think it's pretty cute. In fact, this, out of the six looks, is the one I would be most likely to wear. Too bad I can't afford any piece of this outfit...

Here's what they said about this little number: "A slim belt really accentuates the high waist, while a knit top and skimmers keep things demure." I'm not sure how "demure" this outfit is, but I do like it. Love all the pops of color... especially those shoes!

Mid-Length Skirts:

"To keep the outfit from being too saccharine, throw on a statement necklace and menswear-inspired brogues." Haha... don't want to look too saccharine, do we now? Gotta love marketing-speak. I don't hate this look, but I would be much more inclined to wear a cute gray flat or something like that rather than those "brogues."

There's the flats I was looking for. And dang... those are adorable. What they said: "An orange pullover and a stripy scarf add just enough color to complement black flats and a navy bag." I'm going to be honest... though I love the color combo of orange and eggplant as much as the next gal, I just don't think I would wear it.

Maxi Skirts:

I'm a wee bit short to pull off a maxi as it should be pulled off, but I definitely like this outfit. LOVE the necklace for sure. According to Anthro, "Long and lean, this skirt works well with form-fitting tops that counterbalance the voluminous waves of ombre. Rugged boots, while perhaps an unexpected pairing, help to toughen up the feminine silhouette." See... I am neither long nor lean.

Well, hello there blazer! This is quite quirky and I like it... but, where the heck would I wear this? It's a little glam for Kroger. Maybe I should get a life and then purchase some skirts. Le sigh. What they said: "For day, wear it with heeled boots and a comfy (but somewhat fitted) tee. For evening, a slouchy blazer is all you need to play up this piece’s drama."

So, there you have it. A little Skirt 101 from my favorite store in the universe. This makes me wish it was a bit cooler outside... and that I lived in a cool hip apartment in NYC and had cool hip places to go.

~ Mari

New Favorite Thing: Agua Fresca

2011-08-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

You may remember a previous post where I gave a recipe for cucumber, lime and mint agua fresca? Well, now I've found another: watermelon agua fresca. OH MY GOSH it's so delicious! I can't even tell you... you just have to try it. I like both of the recipes equally, so you should try them both. I just (literally about 4 minutes ago) made the watermelon agua fresca and am sipping it happily right now. Talk about refreshing!

So, here is the recipe, courtesy of the "Yummy Supper" blog:

Watermelon Agua Fresca with Fresh Mint and Lime

Ingredients:

4 cups watermelon puree ( approximately 1 medium watermelon)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (approximately 4-5 juicy limes)

1/3 cup chopped mint leaves

1/4 cup, plus 2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 cup water

Make a simple syrup. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a sauce pan. Heat until sugar has dissolved. Let cool. (Note: The simple syrup you don't use for this recipe can be refrigerated and and put to other uses in cocktails or to sweeten your iced coffee or tea.)

Next, Cut off watermelon rind and dice into large pieces. Place approximately 2 cups of watermelon flesh into your blender. Using a spoon, push down the watermelon chunks until they release a bunch of juice (this released liquid will help make the blending easier). Blend thoroughly. Do another batch until you have yielded 4 cups of pureed watermelon.

Juice limes and add lime juice to blender. Coarsely chop mint leaves. Crush mint with 2 teaspoons of sugar. Use a mortar and pestle if you have one, otherwise use a wooden spoon in a bowl to pulverize the mint and sugar. When you are done, you will have a well-integrated mint/sugar paste. Add paste into the blender.

Blend pureed watermelon and lime juice with the sugary mint). Add 2-3 tablespoons simple syrup. How much simple syrup you use will depend on the natural sugar content of your watermelon and your own personal preference for sweetness.

Served chilled. Always give the punch a stir before serving to integrate the ingredients.

P.S. If you want to transform this punch into a cocktail, I suggest adding 2 tablespoons rum to every cup of punch.

Hello lover.

If you're on the fence about this and just don't know if you'll like it... make it. It's the most refreshing, tasty, tangy, beverage that I've had all summer. Enjoy!

~ Mari

The Big Apple

2011-08-06T16:25:00.000-07:00

The Hubb-ster and I just returned from our vacation to NYC... and boy, did we have a great time! Usually, when we go somewhere for a while, we're looking a little forward to coming back home by the end of the trip. Not this time. We wanted to stay in the city where dreams are made of: New York. (Thanks Jay-Z and Alicia Keys).

Some of the highlights of our time in the Big Apple:

On the very first day of our trip we got to see history being made. How freaking cool is that? That's what I love about NYC! You're there for a few hours and you see something you can't see anywhere else: Pop-Up Wedding Chapels in Central Park in honor of NY's new law allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Holy guacamole, that's awesome!

Pop Up Chapel is an organization that provides FREE marriages to anyone wanting to get married. (I love that I can now type "anyone" and really mean it) According to their literature, "We provide the wedding! And the photographer! And the officiant! And witnesses! And cupcakes! And everything you’ve always dreamed of! A free and legal wedding, for anyone who wants to get married." So very cool. And we got to watch some of these long-awaited nuptials. Again, very cool.

One of the very nifty and artsy arches that couples could marry under...

After witnessing a bit of history... we strolled through Central Park and I snapped this adorable photo of Ryan and my great-aunt Ruth. She is the whole reason we went up there - to hang out with the coolest lady I know!

Ryan and the coolest lady we know ;)

Then we had some delicious lunch at our favorite sandwich place! (name is escaping me now...)

The best is their curried chicken salad sandwich

I'm so glad we're related ;)

Then we checked out the Museum of Art & Design (MAD) that's right there in Columbus Circle. At first, I felt kinda guilty... I knew that only I would enjoy the museum while Ryan sat on a bench near the door surfing the net on his iPhone. But, I wanted to go anyway. (Mwahaha) Turns out, this was the one museum exhibit that he liked! It was one of the coolest exhibits I've ever seen in a museum. It was called "Other worlds" and was an exhibit of dioramas and miniatures. Squeal! If you did not know this about me before, well... here it is: My name is Mari Bland Smith and I am obsessed with miniature things. Dollhouse furniture? Obsessed. Magnets of mini kitchen equipment? In love. So, this was so far up my alley that I could barely contain myself. The best part? I could take pictures and share them on my blog for the world (Ok... the 14 people that read this blog) to enjoy! So, here we go...

Check out this nifty diorama.

Now... check out the photo that the artist took of it HERE

Artist: Matthew Albanese

Oooo... what's in there?

Amazing! Each of those little roses was attached with tweezers!

Click HERE to see some of Patrick Jacob's other work.

This one had a pretty fantastic impact.

Click HERE to see how large the building is.

And this is what you saw when you look through the window!

Artists: David Lawrey and Jaki Middleton

Even if you're not obsessed with dioramas like myself, you have to admit that was pretty cool, right?

Ok... next on the agenda

Ohhhhh yeah. You know it.

We walked to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre to see that precious boy ~~wizard~~ wonder, Daniel Radcliffe in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

Ready to see ~~Mr. Potter~~ Mr. Radcliffe!

Inside the theatre
(shhhh... I wasn't supposed to take this photo!)

The show was HILARIOUS and fabulous: everything you want from a Broadway musical. John Larroquette and Daniel Radcliffe were funny just by standing next to each other (Radcliffe is a little short; Larroquette is quite tall). The sets were amazing... brought you back to the 1960s (whether you were alive then or not) and the costumes were great. Radcliffe was precious and he could sign, by golly! You could tell he loved every minute of it by the redness of his face, the sweat pouring off of his brow, and the goofy grin plastered to his face at the end of the high-energy musical numbers. Adorable. We all loved it and it was definitely worth every penny!

(I just had to throw this picture in... haha)
The quintessential New Yorker ;)

Ryan in the front seat of a NY cab

For lunch, we wanted to try Mario Batali's "Eataly."

It was a pretty intense experience... it's a huge marketplace full of all kinds of Italian produce, cheeses, pastas, etc.

Just a few tomatoes...

We wanted to sit down and eat (novel concept, right?), but it was going to be a 45 minute wait... at 2:30 in the afternoon! There were swarms of people everywhere and you could barely walk through the dang place.

Needless to say... we didn't eat there. Lol. We ate at a little cafe that was quite tasty... and there was no wait.

As we were walking down the streets, I noticed two people wearing "Pan Am" name tags. I just kept walking and then I thought to myself, "Hmmm... Pan Am hasn't been around for quite some time... why would people be wearing name tags for a defunct airline?"

They would be wearing Pan Am name tags if they were shooting a scene for the new ABC show "Pan Am!" And that's what they were doing!

Don't you love the 2011 cab next to the old cab?

They were powdering-up an actress (the one in green).
Even the bell-hops were in costume!

Love that car!

In the evening, we went to the famous Radio City Music hall to see "Zarkana" - the new Cirque Du Soleil show.

Radio City Music Hall

Inside the Radio City Music Hall

A pretty impressive stage!

The next day we went to the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Discovery Times Square Museum. Sadly, we couldn't take pictures inside, but it was so neat! All the props from the movies were there: everything from Harry's glasses to Buckbeak herself!

And there's the car!

After the exhibit, we went to "Junior's" for some BLT's and cheesecake (a very healthy lunch)...

(I did take some of that bacon off before I ate it...)

Times Square

Enjoying NYC

That night I met up with some of my Girls State friends who live in NYC at a very cool South African restaurant - Xai Xai. It was delish!

Ostrich Burgers!

Allison and her goat cheese stuffed pepperdews
YUM.

On our last day we hopped on the subway and headed to the South Street Seaport!

Waiting to board the subway...

We had a nice stroll through the seaport. There was a nice breeze and it wasn't too crowded - the perfect end of our trip! (not that we wanted it to end...)

View from the seaport

So, after lunch down by the Fulton Fish Market (or what was The Fulton Fish Market), we headed back to Columbus Circle.

The Time Warner Building

One of Ryan's goals for this trip was to have real NY pizza. And so we did:

It was delicious and tasted nothing like any pizza we could get in Kathleen, GA. Boooooooo. But, then what would be the fun of NY pizza if you could get it in Georgia, right?

So, we packed and left the next morning. :( Very sad day.

Aunt Ruth packed us QUITE the lunch for our trip home!

You can't really tell from this photo, but we were delayed in boarding our flight because they couldn't get the electronic walkway thingy hooked up to the plane. It was like watching someone try to kiss a wall blindfolded. (If that person's face and lips were faulty electronic equipment...)

"Yes! Right there... just hook the walkway up there and we'll hack through the
side of the plane with an axe. It will totally work."

Hilarious. We didn't even have the heart to be annoyed... it was so pathetic.

So, now we're back in Georgia where it's a billion degrees and there are no movies being shot on the street or boys marrying other boys. Boring. But, it's where we live and so we do!

Stay tuned for this coming week... I'll be getting another farmer's basket!

~ Mari

What To Do With Purple Hull Peas:

2011-07-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Remember how I asked for purple hull pea recipes in my last post? Well, I didn't get any responses (it's ok... I doubt anyone knew what to do with them)... so I made one up! (as a side note, I did find one recipe on the world wide interweb that called for "fat back." I did NOT make that recipe.) I hulled the little buggers and they looked a lot like black eyed peas... so I made a three- bean salsa that came out pretty dang good, I must say! You'd like to know how to make it, you say? Wish granted:

Three Bean Salsa

1.5 cups cooked purple hull peas or black eyed peas (to cook, just boil in salted water until tender)

1 can black beans

1 can white beans

1 large red bell pepper, cored and diced

1.5 cups frozen corn, cooked (according to package directions)

1 container salsa

3 tomatoes, diced

juice (and zest) of one lime

1 small handful of cilantro

Salt, to taste

Smoked paprika, to taste

Ground red pepper, to taste

Chili Powder, to taste

Onion powder, to taste (you can use a fresh onion, but raw onions are rough on my tummy... so I stay away)

Drain the canned beans and combine everything in a large bowl until it tastes how you want it to! It doesn't get much more simple than that! (Note: use half of the lime zest first and then taste it. If it's perfect, don't add the rest of the zest - it might be too overpowering, depending on the size of your lime)

Purple Hull Peas
(no longer in the shell)

Those are my preferred bean brands.

Spices!

Mix it all up and enjoy!

Ryan and I ate the heck out of this stuff! I used it as a side dish with some baked grouper and we also ate it with some blue corn chips (Frito-Lay brand, of course). But, I think it would be great with tacos or quesadillas or... well... in a spoon!

Hope you enjoy it!

~ Mari

New Project...

2011-07-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

I could barely contain my excitement when I picked up my very first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) bag yesterday evening... and can you blame me? Look at all the goodies I got for just $20!

(Clockwise from left)
Purple Hull Peas
White Hakurei Turnips
Bag of asian greens
Cucumbers
Baby Summer Squash
Yellow Peppers
Purple Eggplant
White Eggplant

To be honest, I've never worked with peas, turnips, or asian greens, so this will be an adventure! I will be getting one of these each week for the next 9 weeks and I plan to make some exciting new dishes with these exciting new ingredients! And please... if you have any suggestions, let me know! (Purple Hull Pea recipes anyone??)

Last night I did use those precious little summer squash on a yummy pasta dish. I just sauteed them with some shallots and added some (homemade) frozen pesto. Then I boiled some penne pasta and tossed it all together. I knew I could get Mr. Smith to eat squash! All I had to do was disguise it in pesto and pasta... two of his favorites!

So- keep checking back for the next 9 weeks for recipes (and, I'm sure, some epic recipe failures)!

~ Mari

P.S. If you're in the Macon/Warner Robins area, here is the website for the CSA baskets.

No Campfire Required

2011-07-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

Smore's are the quintessential summer dessert. Images of campfires and flaming marshmallows come to mind... and then that yummy flavor of crispy and sweet graham crackers with gooey warm chocolate and crunchy/fluffy marshmallows... it's pretty delicious. So, when my mom emailed me this recipe, I got quite excited: Smore's... no campfire required!

Individual Smore's Cups and Bars

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 cup butter or margarine, melted

16 snack size Hershey bars

4 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir together cookie mix and crumbs. Stir in melted butter until soft dough forms. Place cupcake liners in muffin tin. Press the dough into the bottom of each slot (should be 1/8 or ¼ inch thick). Take the rest of the dough and press into the bottom of an ungreased 8x8” pan.

Bake muffin tin for 10-15 minutes and the 8x8” pan 18-20 minutes or until set. Break the hershey’s bars in half and immediately put one in each of the cupcake liners. Once the 8x8” pan is out of the oven, do the same. Let stand 3 to 5 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt. (You can stick them back in the oven for 1-2 minutes if it isn’t melting)

Set oven control to broil. Sprinkle marshmallows over melted chocolate. Broil with top 4 to 5 inches from heat 20 to 30 seconds or until marshmallows are toasted. (Watch closely; marshmallows will brown quickly.) Cool 10 minutes. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Serve warm. Store any remaining bars/cups tightly covered.

Mise en Place

You can take out your frustration on the
graham crackers by pounding them
into oblivion...

After you add the butter to the dry mixture

Press the dough into the bottom of the cupcake liners

Press the dough into the baking pan

All baked!

Add the chocolate...

Nice and melty!

Do the same with the large pan

Add the marshmallows!

Ta-dah! :)

So, there you have it! The most yummy of smore's... and you don't have to be outside in the woods to eat them! Now, as a VERY IMPORTANT side note, do NOT stop watching them when they're under the broiler. I repeat: DO NOT take your eyes off of them. Why? This, my friends, is why:

Is it the surface of the moon? Nope. It's a lovely lava field of flame-broiled mini marshmallows. Don't do this. You'll be sad. Remember: only YOU can prevent marshmallow fires. :)

~ Mari

Thai Noodle Salad

2011-07-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

According to the radio, today we have a heat advisory here in Middle Georgia. The high is going to be 102 degrees, but it will feel like 110 degrees. Awesome. So, I wanted to share with you a very refreshing and cooling salad that can make that heat a bit more bearable.

I got the idea from this month's issue of Fine Cooking magazine (my favorite cooking mag). In it, there was a section on limes and what to do with them. (Just buy a big bag and make the agua fresca from my last post... and this salad. Yum!) One recipe that really stood out to me was the Vietnamese-Style Rice Noodle Salad. And so, I did what I do... and adapted. Here's what I came up with:

Thai Noodle Salad

1 bunch Japanese buckwheat noodles (I found them at Kroger)
1/2 tsp. sesame oil
2 cups shredded chinese cabbage (if you can't find this, use iceburg lettuce)
2.5 large handfuls of broccoli slaw mix
1 small cucumber, diced
3-4 medium radishes, thinly sliced
1 cup fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Dressing:
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
2 Tbsp. agave nectar
1 Tbsp. grated ginger
1 clove garlic, minced

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, combine all of the dressing ingredients in a large bowl and let sit. When the water is boiling, add the noodles and stir. Cook according to the package directions. Drain in a colander and toss with the sesame oil (if it isn't enough to coat the noodles, add a little canola or olive oil).

While the noodles cool, prep the other veggies. Combine everything (except the peanuts) in the bowl and toss. Serve cool and sprinkle peanuts on top (so they don't get soggy).

Cooked buckwheat noodles
(They look just like what's on the package!)

Chinese Cabbage

Mmmm...

I served the salad with Chicken Satay
and Peanut Sauce
(Courtesy of Tyler Florence)

Stay cool and enjoy! ;)

~ Mari

A Tall Drink of Agua Fresca

2011-07-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

Chances are, wherever you are right now, it's hot outside. And heat brings thirst... and I've honestly never had a more thirst-quenching and refreshing beverage than this one: Cucumber Lime Mint Agua Fresca. I realize it's a mouthfull (hah... I'm so punny), but it's so freaking fantastic! I don't usually post about beverages on this blog... in fact I don't think I ever have. But, this beverage deserved a post. It's from the site, Simply Recipes, and it is definitely simple to make and delicious to drink. Just make it. You'll be oh so glad and oh so cool.

Photo from Simply Recipes

Cucumber Lime Mint Agua Fresca
1 lb of cucumbers (about 2 good sized cucumbers), ends trimmed, but peel still on, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup lime juice from fresh limes (from about 1 pound of limes, or 5 to 10 limes, depending on how juicy they are)

1 1/4 cup packed mint leaves (about a large handful), woody stems removed

1/2 cup sugar (I used agave nectar to taste)

Approximately 1 1/4 cup of water

Put ingredients in blender, add enough water to fill 3/4 of blender. Hold the lid on the blender and purée until smooth. Place a fine mesh sieve over a bowl and pour the purée through it, pressing against the sieve with a rubber spatula or the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid out as possible. Fill a large pitcher halfway with ice cubes. Add the juice. Serve with sprigs of mint and slices of lime.

Easy peasy! Please make it... and tell me if you like it!

~ Mari

Eggplant & Zucchini Gratin

2011-07-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted a recipe, and I apologize. My job has gotten more intense (which is a good thing), and I've had less free time. But, that's really no excuse since we've still been eating meals every day... and I've been cooking them.

For instance, two nights ago I made this not-so-healthy-but-OMG-delicious gratin inspired by Ina Garten's Eggplant Gratin. (Though, her recipe makes It's a teensy bit time-consuming, but worth it in the end (and can be enjoyed for 3 nights...)! It tastes like eggplant Parmesan bought sexy lingerie to impress its significant other.

Eggplant & Zucchini Gratin

Olive oil, for frying

All purpose flour

Garlic Salt

3 small eggplant, peeled, sliced 1/4-inch thick

1 large zucchini, peeled, sliced 1/4-inch thick

15 oz. container low fat ricotta cheese

2 extra-large eggs

1 cup half-and-half

Grated Parmesan

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

3/4 jar tomato sauce

Shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Put some all purpose flour into a bag with a few pinches of garlic salt. Add a few pieces of eggplant & zucchini and toss to coat.

Heat about 1/8-inch of olive oil in a very large frying pan over medium heat. When the oil is almost smoking, add several slices of eggplant/zucchini and cook, turning once, until they are evenly browned on both sides and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Be careful, it splatters! Transfer the cooked eggplant & zucchini slices to paper towels to drain. Add more oil, heat, and add more eggplant & zucchini until all the slices are cooked.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the ricotta, eggs, half-and-half, teaspoon salt, and teaspoon pepper. Note: When using the lowfat ricotta, it will be harder to mix because it doesn't have as much moisture or fat in it. Just be patient and keep whisking! It will get there!

In a 9x13" baking pan, place a layer of eggplant & zucchini slices in the bottom, sprinkle with Parmesan, and spoon 1/2 of the tomato sauce over it evenly. Next, add a half of the ricotta mixture and spread evenly. Repeat the process by adding a second layer of eggplant & zucchini, more Parmesan, the other half the ricotta mixture, and finally grated Parmesan on top. As a finishing touch, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the entire top of the gratin.

Place the gratin in the oven on the middle rack and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the custard sets and the top is browned. Let cool 8-10 minutes. Serve!
And here are some photos to help you get through the process...

An eggplant still life

It's in the bag, yo.

Fryin' em' up!

Mmmm... crispy

Layered in the pan

Covered in sauce and cheese = how I want to die.

More cheese :)

Ta dah! Bellissimo!

Good grief this tastes good...

I hope you make this and enjoy it as much as I did! :)

Happy summer!

~ Mari

Jazz Fest 2011: A Culinary Escapade

2011-06-25T16:53:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA for a bit... apparently since Easter (I could have sworn I'd been dilligently blogging this whole time...). My apologies. I just got back from Girls State (that place I go for 10 days each year and can't ever seem to explain what the heck it is) and my soul got it's fill. Now, it's time for my tummy to get it's fill by making some yummy summer meals.

But, before I start taking photos of each meal Ryan and I gobble up this summer, I will give you a little Cajun food porn from our trip to Jazz Fest 2011 in New Orleans, LA. The music was great... but we all know what my favorite parts of the trip were:

The first night we ate at Nola (one of Emeril's restaurants)

Delicious arugula, watermelon, sliced almond, manchengo cheese salad
with mint vinaigrette

My meal: braised pork shank served atop goat cheese polenta.
It was big. Real big.

The Kitchen

Welcome to Jazz Fest!

Crawfish Monica

Fried Sweet Plantains

Sweet Potato Pone

Crawfish Sausage Po-Boy

Fried Green Tomatoes

California Benedict

Yep. It was all pretty dang delicious. Hope you enjoyed looking as much as I did eating!

~ Mari

Easter Lamb

2011-04-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

Remember Thanksgiving and Jamie Oliver's lamb my dad and I made? We decided to try Rachel Ray's version for Easter (it just seemed right to eat lamb after seeing all the cartoon lambs all over the place...haha). And, I can't believe I'm saying this, but Rachel's lamb was better than Jamie's. A LOT better. Like... "holy crap you need to make this for your next family par-tay" better.

herb-crusted leg o' lamb

It was soooo easy! Check out the recipe here. The coolest part? You wrap the whole thing in parchment paper, marinate it, and bake it for 3 hours - which creates the most moist, succulent, and flavorful lamb ever. Period.

While the lamb was marinating in it's little pouch (and the lemon, EVOO, and fresh herbs were permeating the meat), we all went out on Dad's boat for a little jaunt on Houston Lake. It was the perfect day to go - it was sunny, not sweltering, and no one was out!

The parents! :)

Rollin' down the River
(or lake, rather...)

Lily pads!

Soaking up some rays

Moi

Enough of the beautiful outdoors, right? Back to the meal...

After we baked it for 3 hours...

It's like opening an Easter present!

Ohhhh yeah...

I forgot to mention we did eat things other than lamb on Easter (lol): Mom's homemade tabbouli, sweet peas with sauteed shitake mushrooms, and fresh baked sourdough bread. Also- Rachel's recipe had a minty shallot sauce that one would serve with the lamb. I think I could have bathed in it. No joke.

I can't take this picture. I must look away.

I had to end on this picture. I'm literally laughing out loud right now at my father's face. :) I think it sums up the whole occasion! Happy eating, everyone!

~ Mari

Going Into the Closet

2011-04-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

You know what's very easy to NOT do? Take some super grim-looking before shots of a closet that you plan to overhaul. I totally forgot to take a picture of what this closet looked like behind those doors a few days ago. But, I'm sure you can picture it: lots of plastic boxes full of crap, piles of computer cables, and some art supplies scattered around. It is the office closet afterall - our catch-all closet that had everything but clothes in it.

So, since Mom was in town, I decided to take advantage of her great ideas and organizational skillz and put her to work! Hah. I'd had this idea brewing in my brain for a while now: I needed a desk. Not a computer desk or a work desk, but a Mari desk. One where I could create artwork, write letters, etc. But, most importantly, one that I would not have to clean each time I used it. A tall order, I know. That's probably why I have no before pictures - because I didn't think I could pull off my plan! I wanted to turn the office closet into a space where I could close the doors and hide the clutter that a creative space would surely have. And that, ladies and gents, is what we did!

It's a closet desk!

Basically, we took two nightstands (circa "I don't know when") with drawers and stuck them in the closet facing each other. Then my dad and Ryan went to Lowe's and bought a beautiful wooden "shelf" (for only $35). They cut it to fit and we stuck it on top of the tables. It ended up being a bit short, so we propped it up on some 2x4's and voila: desk in a closet!

Beautiful drawers (lol)

The perfect space for creating!

Paint Box

So, there you have it! It really was an incredible transformation (sorry you couldn't enjoy it as much without that darn before pic...). And I can't wait to get in there and start creating!

~ Mari

Blais-in' Through The ATL

2011-04-22T12:44:00.000-07:00

Photo from johnmariani.com

My mom is in town this week (yay!) and we went to Atlanta yesterday for some high-calibur shopping and eating. We also happen to be huge Top Chef fans - especially Top Chef All Stars. So, we went to the only logical place to go - Richard Blais's (he won TCAS) Flip Burger Boutique in Buckhead. We were EXCITED.

How cool is the inside of this burger place? Very modern and very spotless. Awesome.

Our meal

Candycane Beet Salad ($4)

The Local: local organic grass-fed beef, tomme cheese, lettuce, yellow tomato,
red onion, coca cola ketchup, picked peach & pecans
($14)

Nutella + Burnt Marshmallow Liquid Nitrogen Shake ($6)

The meal was incredible - hands down the best burger either of us had ever eaten. What a flavor combo! Pickled peaches? Coca cola ketchup? The man has an imagination. Also, that beet salad was to die for! And who would ever put a beet salad with arugula on a burger menu. Richard Blais would. I might start salivating if I start talking about the milkshake. Holy moley it was fantastic! It was unlike any milkshake I've ever had in my life - rich, creamy, chocolatey - and the best part? There was no air in it like most milk shakes. It was solid deliciousness. And the topping of burnt marshmallows? Perfection.

It made my mouth glad. :) So, if you're in the neighborhood, go. And if you're not, figure out a way to get there.

~ Mari

Spring Montage

2011-04-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

It's time for a montage (I'm channelling the amazing song from Team American, World Police). It's spring. I took photos. That is all.

Knock-Out Roses in front yard

I just had to bring some inside!

Easter Table

Trapped!

Baker's Rack

Springtime Goodies

End montage.

~ Mari

Cake Pops

2011-04-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went to the Girls State retreat (if you are a bit curious about what Girls State is, check out this post) and wanted to bring a special dessert that would be easy to eat. I've been eyeing these cake pops made by Bakerella for some time now, and just needed an excuse to make them. And here was my excuse! I didn't take photos throughout the whole process because it was my first time and I wasn't sure how they would come out, to be honest! But, they came out great and I plan to make them again!

So, I made two different ones: chocolate cake with raspberry coating (the 1st photo) and chocolate cake with chocolate coating. I decorated them with bright colored sprinkles and some butterfly wings and flowers that I made a while back for Ryan's sister's wedding shower.

So, here is what I did! I put some of them in a little flower pot and some in a basket! (The little bouquet was for the hostess of the retreat and her family.)

I will definitely be making these little cuties again! The ladies seemed to really enjoy them this weekend! :) How cute would they be for Easter? The possibilities are endless!

~ Mari

BLTA (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Avocado Salad)

2011-04-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

The BLT is arguably one of the best sandwiches ever. Let's face it: bacon is arguably one of the best things ever. So, I decided to make them for dinner last night. Then I started thinking... how could I make a healthy version of the classic sandwich? Now, I certainly can't take the fat out of the bacon, but I used low sodium bacon. Then I thought about creating a salad version of the tastiest of sandwiches. The majority of the meal is fresh and tasty boston lettuce and arugula and instead of two huge pieces of bread, I made croutons!

BLTA Salad

1 small head boston lettuce
A few handfuls of arugula
1 tomato
1 avocado
4 pieces low sodium bacon
3 slices bread (I used homemade sourdough, but any good stale bread will work)
1-2 Tbsp. EVOO
Salt & pepper
spices to taste
dressing of choice (I made a homemade honey mustard vinaigrette)

Put the bacon in a cold pan and turn up to medium-high heat. Once they are crispy and browned, remove them from the pan and place on a paper towel to cool and crisp-up. Wash, tear, and dry the lettuce. Dice the bread slices, tomato and avocado. Take the bread and toss it with EVOO, salt, pepper, and spices (I used dried italian herbs). Saute them in a pan or pop them in the oven (on 400) for about 10 minutes - until crispy. Now, assemble the salad! Toss everything together and add the dressing!

There it be! :) Enjoy this sandwich-turned-salad guilt-free!

~ Mari

One-Pan Meal: Broiled Salmon with Mango Salsa and Broccoli

2011-04-05T19:51:00.000-07:00

It's mango season, folks! Who's excited? The Smiths, that's who. I made this yummy (and easy) meal tonight and thought I'd share! The best part? It only uses one pan to cook in! (Ok - technically there is also a pyrex baking dish involved, but most of the cooking is done in one pan) The salsa is sweet and tangy, the salmon is moist inside and crispy on the outside, and the broccoli is fresh and crunchy. It's a good mix, I must say.

Mango Salsa

1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
1/4 cup salsa (I used the Publix brand... it's delish)
1/2 lime, juiced
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate until needed.

Have I mentioned how much I love mango?

Broiled Salmon

1 large salmon filet (with skin on one side)
1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
1 1/2 limes, juiced
1 1/2 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. frozen orange juice concentrate (I always keep a can of this in the freezer - it's great stuff!)

Combine all ingredients (except salmon, of course) in a gallon ziploc bag. Swish them around to mix. Put salmon in the bag, skin side up. Allow to marinate 10-15 minutes on the counter. For the next steps, look at the broccoli recipe below.

Let's make a marinade!

Just like a bubblebath...

Crispy Broccoli

1 large head broccoli, washed and cut into florets
salt & pepper to taste
extra virgin olive oil

Put broccoli in a microwaveable dish (I used an 8x8 pyrex). Put about 1/8 inch of water in the dish. Sprinkle with salt. Cover with cling wrap and microwave for about 1.5 minutes. The broccoli should be bright green and crunchy.

McSteamy

Prepare a sheet pan with two pieces of aluminum foil. Turn the edges up on all sides so that the flavors won't combine in the oven. Put the broccoli on one side and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Take the salmon out of the bag, slice it in half (lengthwise) and place it, skin-side down, on the aluminum foil.

It's almost like two mini sheet pans in one!

See? One pan?

Preheat the broiler (on high). Put the pan in the oven and check the broccoli after about 7 minutes (it's fast, I'm tellin' ya!). If it's browning nicely, just pull the mini aluminum foil pan out with the broccoli on it. Let the fish cook a few more minutes (maybe 3) and check it. When it's really browned on top, take it out and let it rest for a few minutes.

Browned tips = deliciousness

All that's left is to... eat it! Get that salsa out of the fridge and plate it up! I served mine with some crispy flour tortillas (I literally friend strips of flour tortillas) and we were happy campers!

I love making things that taste so good and aren't rough on the waistline! Speaking of waistlines... did you notice no starch in this meal? That's my new thing. I'm trying not to make a starch for dinner because I figure we get plenty during the day (cereal for breakfast...sandwich for lunch...granola bars for snacks... you get the idea).

Hope you enjoy it!

~ Mari

Spring Salad

2011-03-31T05:42:00.000-07:00

I was watching Giada at Home day before yesterday and the large-chested Italian wonder (sorry...it's true) made a California Chopped Salad that looked delicious. I was craving it all day yesterday and today, so after Zumba I went to Kroger to pick up some delicious romaine lettuce. If you look closely at the photo above, you will see NO delicious romaine lettuce. Nor will you see any romaine lettuce. That's because every bit of lettuce in the dang store was rotten (except for the boxed arugula and one head of boston red leaf...which are found in the photo above). Boooo. I think I'll be shopping at Publix from now on.

Anyway, back to the salad. It was pretty darn simple and so very tasty (even without the romaine)! I used me golden rule (except for the lettuce) and used what I had! I chopped up an avocado, a tomato, a mango, and a few strawberries. I put them in the salad bowl. There they be:

Then I added the lettuce and some leftover chicken breast and drizzled on some homemade dressing (fresh squeezed orange juice, balsamic vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, and EVOO).

Then I tossed it all together and topped it with some toasted slivered almonds! The avocado and chicken added protein and the fruit added vitamin C and other goodies! It was quite healthy and very delicious. The perfect spring salad!

Happy Spring everyone! :)

~ Mari

Homemade Granola Bars

2011-03-29T16:18:00.000-07:00

Granola bars are great. Quick, tasty, and very portable. You know what's not great about granola bars? They aren't the best things for you. Even if you get the 90 calorie kind (Ryan's personal favorite), they still have things like caramel color, corn syrup solids, and all kinds of other lovely things I can't pronounce. In other words, they are processed. Plus, they only have about 1 gram of fiber each! So, I decided to take a crack at making a healthier, more protein-filled granola bar that isn't too hard on the wallet either. I've made a few different versions, but I like this one best. Keep in mind you can substitute things to your liking. If you don't like almonds, use walnuts. If you don't like chocolate chips (you're an alien), use carob chips or dried fruit. Get the idea? Good.

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

1 cup organic rolled oats, toasted

1 cup crispy rice (that's Rice Krispies to you)

3/4 cup wheat germ (you can find this at health food stores and Publix)

1/2 cup toasted & chopped pecans

1/2 cup toasted & chopped almonds

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1 cup nonfat dry milk

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter

1/4 cup real maple syrup (you know how I feel about Mrs. Butterworth...)

1/2 cup no sugar added applesauce

3 eggs

1 egg white

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Stir to combine. Heat peanut butter and maple syrup (in a microwave safe bowl) in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir to combine. Add peanut butter mixture to dry ingredients. Beat eggs and egg white in bowl and add. Next, add applesauce. Stir to combine. Mixture should be moist, but not runny. Spray a 9x13" pan with cooking spray. Place a piece of parchment paper in the pan so that two sides (the 13 inch sides) of the parchment stick out over the sides. This will make is super simple to pick up the granola bars out of the pan and cut them. Now, bake them for 20-25 minutes (until set and lightly browned). Take them out and let them cool. Then lift them out of the pan using your parchment paper handles and place on a cutting board. Cut into rectangles and wrap individually with cling wrap. Refrigerate half and freeze half. Or don't. Whatever you want!

Hope you like them! :)

~ Mari

Herb Garden Transformation

2011-03-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

I'm back! I've been a bit on the busy side lately (catering in Atlanta, social media marketing, writing dessert articles, writing videography proposals, helping at an elementary school, working in the yard, etc.), but I've missed you! So, I thought I would post some transformation pics of the herb garden! Who doesn't like some good "before & after" shots? Exactly.

So... here is the herb garden from last year: mint, sage, and basil.
(Not pictured: parsley and oregano)

Here it is a bit later in the summer... I added some sunflowers that promptly died.
Awesome.

And here it is at the beginning of this Spring.
OMG Weeds.

Whew. No more weeds.
I also added a little mulch... because I only had one bag.
Clever, right?

Then I added a few little guys: basil (it's an annual, so it died at the first freeze), dill, and thyme
(Notice how ginormous the mint has gotten! Yay!)

And then.... there was pine straw. :)

So - there you have it! The above photo is what it looks like at this very moment (I literally took the picture about 8 minutes ago). I'm quite pleased with the transformation and I can't wait until the dill and basil get big enough to actually use them! Stay tuned for more yard updates...

Thanks for looking!

~ Mari

I'm Still At It...

2011-03-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

I haven't stopped writing articles for M Food & Culture Magazine, I've stopped posting about my articles. Oops! That's the only problem with doing a fun blog like this for myself - there's no one there giving me a deadline and telling me I must post! So, just like everything else in life, it sometimes falls by the wayside.

So- here is my newest article (page 62, of course) about Creme Brulee from The Downtown Grill in Macon, GA.

Thanks for looking and keep on cooking! (that could be the worst ending ever. but I like it.)

~ Mari

If You Can't Buy It, Make It

2011-03-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

Remember that Pottery Barn wreath I posted about a while back while dreaming of spring decor? I didn't buy it. But, I made my own version and I'm quite happy with it! And, in case your door is looking a little drab, here's a little how- to:

What you'll need:

Twig wreath ($6.99 from Hobby Lobby)

Glue Gun (heavy duty one from Home Depot)

Assorted Faux Eggs, Feathers, Bird Nest, Assorted Floral Stems, and inexpensive wire

First, hot glue some feathers and the eggs into the bird nest (remember to put only an odd number of eggs in the nest - it just looks better).

Next attach the nest to the twig wreath with the wire. Last, stick the floral stems into the wreath around the nest and any other place you think needs a little extra love. I just stuck the stems in and they stayed, but if you have trouble, you can wire them into the wreath or use hot glue to secure them. I only used greenery on my wreath (since that's what they did at PB), but if you want to use floral stems, go for it!

There it is hanging on our front door!

Just leave a comment if you have any questions! It really is THAT easy to get the Pottery Barn look... and it doesn't have to be as hard on your wallet! Hope you enjoyed this post, and happy crafting!

~ Mari

Just Another Reason to Love Google...

2011-02-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

Even though it's a little scary that Google is taking over the world... they're doing it so well that you really can't hate them for it. I recently heard about a new search mechanism they have: Google Recipe Search. You can see why I was excited. It's fairly simple, really, but us food folk out there can really stand to gain a lot from this new feature.

All you have to do is type any ingredient into the search box on the main Google homepage and as you type, some options will appear on the left. Just click "Recipes" (the photo above is artistically decorated to draw attention to it...) and it will filter your search for recipes only! The best part? You can filter your results by ingredients, cook time, or calories. Awesome opossum. Filtering by ingredients is super cool because you can check which ones you would like included and check which ones you don't. Hot dog.

Thanks for making searching for the perfect meal that much easier, Google... and happy recipe hunting, everyone!

~ Mari

I Love You This Much

2011-02-15T11:10:00.000-08:00

Happy belated Valentine's Day everyone! Mr. Smith and I don't tend to celebrate V-day very much - no gifts, chocolates, or flowers for us! But, I still wanted to do something sweet for him. Yesterday I got pretty ambitious and wanted to make a special meal for Valentine's eve. I found a recipe for Italian meatloaf that I've been wanting to try forever in this month's Fine Cooking Magazine. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but DANG that was good meatloaf. Definitely the best I've ever made (...or had, for that matter). I closed the meal with homemade chocolate lava cakes. Needless to say, it was a happy Valentine's Day!

Note: Fine Cooking has this awesome tool online where you can make your own meatloaf! That's all I did, but I didn't use their online tool, I just made it up as I went along. Check it out when you get a chance!

Italian Meatloaf

STEP 1 - The Aromatics:
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped carrots

3/4 cup white wine

Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add all ingredients except the wine and saute until softened and beginning to brown (6-8 minutes). Add the wine and simmer until almost dry (4-5 minutes). Transfer to a large bowl and let cool.

STEP 2 - Soak the Bread:

4 oz. sliced french bread

1 cup whole milk (if you don't have whole milk, any milk will work, but whole is better)

In a shallow dish (I used a 9x13" clear baking dish) soak the bread in the milk, flipping once, until soggy (10 minutes). Lightly squeeze a handful at a time and place on a cutting board. Finely chop and add to the bowl of aromatics.

- the aromatics & the soaked bread -

STEP 3 - Mix the Meatloaf:

2 lbs. ground bison

1/2 lb. lean ground pork

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp. fennel seeds

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

2 tsp. black pepper

1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning

1 Tbsp. dried thyme

1 handful fresh basil

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup shredded parmesean cheese

2 Tbs. honey

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line the bottom of a 9x13" baking pan with parchment paper. Add the meat and eggs into the bowl of aromatics & bread. Scatter all other ingredients (except honey) on top. Use your hands (I use disposable gloves) to gently mix ingredients until just combined.

Transfer the meatloaf mixture to the baking pan and form into a rectangular-ish block. Drizzle honey over the entire thing as evenly as possible.

- ready for the oven -

STEP 4 - Bake the Meatloaf:

Bake meatloaf until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the meatloaf registers 160 degrees F (about 1 and 1/2 hours). Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes.

- how delicious does that look? -

STEP 5 - Serve!

1 1/2 cups tomato sauce (I used jarred)

1/4 cup shredded parmesean cheese

Slice into 3/4 - 1 inch pieces.

- look at all that good stuff in there -

Put the slices on a plate (I did two per person) and spoon that tomato sauce over the meatloaf and sprinkle it with cheese! Voila!

- I served it with some blistered green beans... we were happy campers -

The meatloaf didn't even really taste like classic (kinda boring) meatloaf. It was like the best Italian meatball you've ever eaten, in loaf form. The honey carmelized on the outside and gave it a sweet, sticky crust and all of those spices and herbs in the meatloaf really gives it that fresh-from-Italy taste. YUM! I hope you enjoyed reading this recipe as much as we did eating it! Don't get bogged down with all the steps - just make it. I promise you'll be glad you did.

~ Mari

P.S. I made a mess. ;)

Cheddar & Pepper Turkey Burgers

2011-02-11T11:14:00.000-08:00

I love turkey burgers because they are much better for you than most other burgers, but they can sometimes be dry and flavorless. So, I consulted my healthy-cooking bible (Ellie Krieger's "The Food You Crave") and adapted a recipe of hers for stuffed turkey burgers.

Here is what I came up with:

Cheddar & Pepper Turkey Burgers

1 lb. 85/15 ground turkey
1 lb. 99% fat free ground turkey
3/4 cup chopped roasted red or yellow peppers
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 Tbsp. garlic salt
1 Tbsp. smoked paprika
2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 large egg

Preheat the broiler to high (or prepare the grill if it isn't cold and rainy outside like it is here!). In a large bowl, combine all ingredients with your hands. Divide the mixture into 10 patties (about 3-4 inches in diameter and 1/2-inch thick). Wrap the extra patties in plastic wrap and freeze. Put four (or however many you want to make) patties on a sheet pan (one with a lip on the side) and broil for 10-12 minutes (or until they are browned and the internal temperature is at 165 degrees F). Remove from the oven and cool.

- the spices & peppers -

- ready to be divided into patties! -

- yummy! -

- the finished product -
(on *homemade* buns - aren't I impressive? hah!)

I hope you enjoy these moist and delicious burgers as much as Ryan and I did! :)

~ Mari

Two Dinners, One Chicken Recipe

2011-02-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

I love killing two birds with one stone. Not literally, of course. I don't kill any birds with any stones (if you did want to kill a bird, though, would one really use a stone?). But, in the culinary realm, making one dish that can then become two dinners is pretty sweet.

I've mentioned the wonderfulness of Ellie Krieger before on this blog. She is a nutritionist-turned-cook that had her own show on Food Network. I own both of her cookbooks and use them probably twice a week. While browsing through her "The Food You Crave" cookbook, I came a cross a recipe for Crispy Chiken Fingers that looked easy, healthy, and delicious. Surprise! It was all of those things.

And here is what I came up with:

Crispy chicken fingers with homemade honey mustard dressing and steamed broccoli

Yum!

The chicken came out delicious! Moist on the inside and super crunchy on the outside - just how chicken fingers should be. Plus, the only ingredients were chicken breast, buttermilk, cornflakes and spices. So very simple.

Since I made the chicken fingers out of two huge chicken breasts, I had about half left over for the next night. I thought I could just heat them up in the toaster oven and have some salad to go with it. Then I had a revelation! Why not put the crispy chicken fingers ON the salad? Hot dog! (granted, it wasn't an original idea, but it was an exciting one) So, I made my version of my favorite salad that they serve at O'Charley's, T.G.I. Fridays, and a few other restaurants: Chicken Tender Salad with Mandarin Oranges, Candied Pecans, Dried Cranberries, and Gorgonzola Cheese. Of course I made a few adjustments...

First, I started with the lettuce: Boston Red Leaf & Radicchio. Next, I candied my own walnuts (they're a little better for you than pecans) and added them to the big bowl of lettuce. Then I crumbled some Gorgonzola cheese on top (on sale at Kroger - score!) and added some tangerine segments (instead of the canned ones). Then I made the salad dressing - a simple balsamic vinaigrette (balsamic vinegar, honey, mustard, and EVOO).

Lastly, I added the crispy chicken to my big bowl of yumminess and devoured it!

Mmmmm... it was so tasty!

As a side note, my wonderful husband isn't a fan of Gorgonzola or oranges... or balsamic vinaigrettes, so I made him his own ryan-friendly version:

For his, I just left off the ingredients he didn't like and made a honey mustard vinaigrette from the leftover dipping sauce from the night before! Fancy!

I hope everyone is having a great start to February!

~ Mari

Everyone's Talking about Chalkboards

2011-02-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

No- not the kind in your elementary school classroom. I'm talking about chalkboards used in home decor. I love how it looks and the idea that it can change with your mood. I'm thinking of using the chalkboard idea in our guest room on the HUGE wall we have to the left of the bed. Here are some inspiration photos:

photo from flickr

photo by Tim Evan-Cook

photo from Christine Lane Interiors

photo from Elle Decor

I found this stick-on chalkboard decal here. What do you think?

I want to put it here in the guest room:

Maybe instead of all the random goodies on the wall?

The problem is that it's such a HUGE wall... what do you think?

~ Mari

Oh Pottery Barn...

2011-01-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

... how I covet the beautiful things that you sell. For some reason my Pottery Barn catalog got lost in the mail. I'm not happy about it. But, luckily, the world wide web has helped me through my ordeal. Though it isn't the same as paging through the beauty that is a Pottery Barn catalog, their website has some great new goodies for Spring.

You know about my small obsession with birds, nests, and all things aviary.

Apparently Pottery Barn shares my feelings.

Pottery Barn's new thing is "found" items (aka "stuff that we found in estate sales or antique stores that we are now passing off as our own"). How awesome are these old pharmacy bottles?

Yeah. I love them.

Again - I love me some birdies.

I picture this on our coffee table.

Sigh. I love this stuff. Maybe one day I'll be able to afford it. :)

~ Mari

Mexican Pasta Bake

2011-01-27T16:04:00.000-08:00

The other night I was craving Mexican food... and pasta (as a side note, I'm almost always craving pasta, so it's really not that unusual) so I decided to take a recipe I saw in Martha Stewart Everyday Food Magazine and change it up a bit. Instead of corn tortillas, I used rotini pasta. Oh yeah - it's as if Italian food and Mexican food made sweet sweet love in a casserole dish. It's so easy, you'll say gracias/grazie!

Mexican Pasta Bake

1 Tbsp. olive oil

3/4 lb. Rotini Pasta, cooked and drained

1/2 large onion, sliced

15-20 baby bella mushrooms, sliced

1 tsp. chili powder

1 can seasoned chili beans (I used Bush's)

1 jar medium salsa

1 large tomato, sliced

1 cup shredded taco seasoned cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large saute pan, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute 8 minutes (or until transparent). Add mushrooms and saute until mushrooms are cooked through (about 8-10 minutes more). Stir in chili powder.

Pour cooked pasta into a 9x13" baking dish. Pour mushroom and onion mixture over the pasta and spread over the pasta. Next, pour beans and salsa over everything and spread as evenly as possible. Take the sliced tomatoes and arrange them on top so they aren't overlapping. Last, sprinkle the taco cheese over everything and cover with aluminum foil.

Bake for 20-25 minutes covered (until the center is hot), then uncover and and cook for 5-7 more minutes - until the cheese is bubbly.

Gettin' my mise en place together

Yummy sauteed veggies!

Spread over pasta!

Look at all those layers!

And there it be! YUM!

I must warn you, it falls apart just a bit because it's so warm and gooey, but I promise it will taste delicious!

Hope you enjoy it!

~ Mari

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

2011-01-20T10:53:00.000-08:00

Just as a warning... there will many photos in this post. Many. But, on the upside, they are all of THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER! Oh yeah - we went. And yeah, it was amazing!

We went with Ryan's family and we really had a blast. It was so detailed and well done... well, you'll just have to see for yourself!

Here we are posing in front of the Hogwarts Express - the first thing you see when you walk into the section of the park dedicated to Mr. Potter & Co.

Ta dah! There it is! Hogwarts - in all of her glory!

Butterbeer anyone? We got the frozen kind and it was delish!

(I'm pretty sure it's just frozen cream soda with vanilla and butter)

Hogsmeade!!

(How cute are those chimmneys?)

Where to go first!

It was so amazing to see in person what you'd only seen in movies!

Hermione's dress from the Yule Ball in The Goblet of Fire

We ate lunch at The Three Broomsticks!

Quite a feast!

Sweets, anyone?

I loved the colors inside!

Every flavour beans!

How cute is that?

I totally want to make these!

Hehe :)

Zonko's Joke Shop

Hilarious :)

Ready for The Dragon Challenge!

The lamest of all the signs for the Triwizard Tournament

(Go Fleur, maybe... but Go on? Kinda lame, right?)

Hagrid's Hut!

The poor car... after the Whomping Willow had a tift with it...

So very cool

The Goblet of Fire!

Which will you choose?

The Chinese Fireball or the Hungarian Horntail?

(I chose both, of course)

It was really a fabulous trip! I hope you enjoyed the photos! :)

Thanks for looking!

~ Mari

Pantry Raid Part II

2011-01-11T07:38:00.001-08:00

Time for another shelf inventory! This time, it's jars and cans and bottles. Get excited.

Cans: Light Organic Coconut Milk, Crushed Tomatoes, Organic Tomato Paste, Baby Clams, Chicken Soup, Pineapple, Pears, Chunk Light Tuna, Garbanzo Beans (Hummus, anyone?), Chili Beans, Green Beans
Jars: Artichoke Hearts (in water), Natural Peanut Butter, Pickles, Parsley In Oil, Pesto, Balsamic Onion Jam (I couldn't resist!)
Bottles: Balsamic Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Red Wine Vinegar, Sesame Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Truffle Oil, Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce, Marsala Wine, Lea & Perrins Steak Sauce, BBQ Sauce

So, there you have it! That's generally what I like to keep around on hand. How about you?

~ Mari

The Bleak Mid-Winter

2011-01-10T15:04:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's not so bleak for us here in Kathleen, GA. But, in Atlanta it's more than bleak. Luckily, I didn't have anywhere I had to go today, so I organized and such. But, I did manage to pop outside for a bit to take some pictures of the ice.

Icicles on Icicles?

Front yard

Back Porch Lights

Back Yard

A little goldfinch enjoying the suet :)

Hope it's warm where you are!

~ Mari

Pantry Raid

2011-01-09T14:21:00.000-08:00

I'm convinced that a person's pantry reflects her/his personality and mine is no exception. Just like everything else in my life, I get it organized to my liking and then, over time, I get lazy putting things back and it gets cluttered. Then I have to organize it to my liking again and so-on and so-forth. So, I'm curious: what's in your pantry?

Here's (the photo above) what's in mine. It's not the largest of pantries, but I can't complain considering I'm lucky I even have a pantry in my kitchen at all. It serves its purpose, but it does tend to burst at the seems when I get home from the Dekalb Co. Farmers Market.

Maybe this isn't interesting to anyone but me, but I'm always curious to know what staples people keep in their pantries. For instance, as soon as I'm out of organic light coconut milk, I have a little panicky moment, I write it on the ongoing fridge list, and I breathe again.

So, here it is. Shelf by shelf - what's in that crazy mess of jars and Snapware...?

Part I: The Baking Shelf

Sweeteners: Organic Unbleached Granulated Sugar, Dark Brown Sugar (I just don't see the point in light brown), Icing Sugar (10x), Honey, Molasses, Stevia (I don't use this to bake with, but it's good to sweeten tea and such)

Flours: All-Purpose Flour, White Unbleached Flour, Unbleached Bread Flour, Whole Wheat Flour, Semolina Flour (for pasta and pizza doughs)

Dried Fruit: Cranberries, Cherries, Grapes (haha... raisins)

Chocolate: 75% Cocoa bars, White Chocolate Bar (I'm not a fan of white chocolate (because it's not actually chocolate), but sometimes I find that I need it), Ghiradelli Large Semisweet Chocolate Chips, Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

Other Stuff: Homemade Vanilla Extract (it's just vodka and vanilla beans, folks...) Organic Cornmeal, Wheat Bran, Organic Rolled Oats, Butter-flavored Crisco

So, what's in your pantry?

~ Mari

Resolutions for 2011

2010-12-31T11:38:00.000-08:00

Even though I sometimes think that new years resolutions are a little silly (just because the year changes we have to re-evaluate our lives and fix stuff?), I'm still going to make some goals for myself for the coming year.

1. RELAX. This one is the same every year. In case you didn't know, I'm a little high strung. Just a bit. Hah! I need to relax and go with the flow. I give myself headaches and stomach aches stressing about every little thing in my life and if I did less of that I'm sure my life would be better. But, it's a difficult thing to do for a type A personality to do. So, I'll do my best, but I have a feeling this resolution will be back again for 2012...

2. Get involved with theater. Yep. That's me in Little Shop of Horrors my freshman year in high school. Can I tell you how much I miss it? I did theater throughout high school and college and then I just quit. Well, by golly, the drama queen is back and she longs for the stage! (told you I was a drama queen)

3. Eat less dessert. This is going to be more difficult than any other year because I just happen to be a dessert writer for a magazine. Clever, right? But, I figure I will try to limit myself on the sugar front. I find that when I eat lots of sugar, I crave lots of sugar. So, if I don't eat quite as much... maybe I won't want to eat dessert after each meal. My hips will thank me.

4. Create more art. Even if I just do a little 5x5" painting/collage a day, I think that will be enough to satisfy my artistic urges. If I spent half the time I spend watching TV (more specifically The Real Housewives 0f...well...anywhere) creating artwork, I bet I would also make much more progress on resolution #1.

Happy new year, everyone!

~ Mari

It's Magic Outside

2010-12-23T17:28:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are our Christmas lights at night (the best time to see Christmas lights, in my opinion):

Baby tree

Come on in!

Happy holidays everyone! I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

~ Mari

Christmas Card Curtains

2010-12-21T12:49:00.001-08:00

I love receiving Christmas cards in the mail. Seeing pictures of friends and family and opening cards with glittering snowflakes on them really ups my christmas spirit. And since the cards are usually quite lovely, I like to display them. But, putting a pile of them in a bowl somewhere doesn't quite do the trick. So, I had an idea involving some red tulle ribbon, clothespins, and a little imagination!

You could create this same affect on a window and it would be adorable, but I have a huge iron mirror in the living room that was looking a little empty. So, I decided to give it some Christmas card curtains

All you have to do is tie some tulle to the top of a mirror or window and allow it to fall down the sides. I also tied a piece from the top two corners to really frame the mirror.

Next, take clothespins and simply clip the card directly onto the tulle.

How easy is that? And now I can look at them each day as I walk by! Plus, it creates a pretty awesome frame for the Christmas tree from a certain angle...

Enjoy!

~ Mari

Candy Canes & Peppermint Sticks

2010-12-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

Get it... Mari & Ryan?

It's bloody freezing here! Ok, maybe not as cold as it is a lot of places, but it's uncharacteristically cold here in middle Georgia. Luckily, I have some Christmas decorations to keep it warm and bright in the Smith household.

Tah dah! I think we could still fit a few more ornaments on... hehe.

Coffee table centerpiece

Mantle

Vintage stocking

Happy holidays everyone!

~ Mari

Christmastime is Here

2010-12-06T11:22:00.000-08:00

... And things at the Smith house are looking glittery and bright! While my mom and our friend, Marilyn were here visiting, we dove right into decorating for the holidays. I thought I would share some of what we did with you!

Let's start with the great outdoors...

A vinyl-sided gingerbread house ;)

Come on in!

We picked these wreaths up at Michaels for $1.99 each!

(we made the bows out of outdoor ribbon from Lowes)

I made this wreath out of curly fabric bows from Hobby Lobby

Little Christmas Curls

On the front porch

(I found the wicker cabinet on the side of the road!)

A garden ornament with snowflakes and glittery stars

The nest of the elusive Peppermint Sparrow

Our little outdoor tree

(it lights up at night...that will have to wait for another post)

Happy holidays to everyone! Hope your decorating is going well!

~ Mari

A Not-So-Bland Thanksgiving

2010-12-05T10:35:00.001-08:00

Happy holidays, everyone! I've been looking forward to writing this post for a while, but haven't had a chance to do it! We've had company here at the Bland/Smith household since November 18th! It's been great, but it left little to no time for blogging. But, here it is!

~ Thanksgiving 2010 ~

We started the day off by putting up the Christmas tree!

And now... onto the FOOD!

(how stunning are those carrots, btw?)

Thanksgiving Menu

Fusilli Pasta with Creamy Pumpkin Pancetta Sauce

Roasted Leg of Lamb

and

Cornbread Stuffing with

olives, pinenuts, pancetta, and fresh herbs

with

Cranberry, Apple, and Mint Chutney

and

Roasted Jewel Carrots

Curried Parsnip & Apple Mash

Collard Greens

and

Roasted Baby Artichokes

Pecan Pie

Mini Chocolate Eclairs

Baby artichokes - soaking in lemon water

The cornbread stuffing - ready to go inside the leg!

Mmmmm....

Holy moley... that's a beautiful leg. :)

(Thanks, Jamie Oliver, for the recipe)

Are you salivating yet?

The pumpkin pancetta sauce

(Ryan and I had a similar dish in Italy - I wanted to recreate it)

Dad made his famous collard greens :)

Dad carved the lamb and we ate it. For a few days.

Cranberry, apple, and mint chutney

Mmmmm... stuffing

My plate!

( wish I had one in front of me RIGHT now...)

Hope you enjoyed checking out the pictures! It was a wonderful day of food, family, and 80 degree weather. ;) Hope everyone else has the happiest of holidays!

~ Mari

The Last Bite

2010-12-03T07:39:00.000-08:00

Here's the December issue of M Food & Culture Magazine - just in time for the holidays! My article (page 62) is about this amazing bread pudding I had in Macon at the Market City Cafe. If you check out the magazine - it takes a few minutes to load because it's hi-def. Enjoy!

P.S. I haven't forgotten to post pictures of the biggest food holiday of the year (Thanksgiving), I'm just waiting until I have a free moment!

Back from the Honeymoon : Part III : Seafood

2010-11-17T12:30:00.000-08:00

I had some of the best seafood I've ever eaten in my life on this trip... also some of the most unusual. Nothing like the crunch of an octopus tentacle to start your day off right...

Vernazza, Italy - Cinque Terre

Polpe e Patate

(Octopus and Potatoes)

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Mussels with fried Calamari

Venice, Italy
Rialto fish market

Venice, Italy

Octopus, Shrimp, Sea Snails, and Cuttlefish Roe

Murano, Italy
Fried baby shrimp, Scallop, white fish salad

How cute are those whole baby shrimp? It's the original popcorn shrimp!

~ Mari

Back from the Honeymoon : Part II : Pasta

2010-11-12T07:52:00.000-08:00

There's some pretty intense food pornography going on here... I hope you can handle it. ;)

Vernazza, Italy - Cinque Terre

Ligurian pesto and spaghetti

Capri, Italy

Homemade pasta with roasted tomatoes and clams

Capri, Italy

Tagliatelle pasta with lemon cream sauce

Corfu, Greece

Pastitsio

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Pasta with seafood

Murano, Italy

Homemade seafood ravioli

Murano, Italy

Spaghetti with shrimp

Venice, Italy

Lasagna

Venice, Italy
Tagliatelle with mushrooms

What did I tell you?

YUM!

~ Mari

Mari-Not-So-Bland Goes to Print

2010-11-09T08:23:00.000-08:00

I recently wrote an article for the Middle Georgia food magazine - "M Food & Culture" and it's published! Check it out here! (page 62) It takes a minute for the magazine to load, but it's pretty cool because you can look through the whole thing.

Look out world... here comes the not-so-bland!

~ Mari

Back from the Honeymoon : Part I : Pizza

2010-11-07T06:27:00.000-08:00

We're back! I bet you didn't even notice I was gone! Ryan and I finally went our honeymoon... and boy, was it worth the wait! We went on a two-week Mediterranean cruise and then spent four more days in Venice at the end of the cruise. Dang. It was awesome. We took a few (hundred) photos and I really want to post them all...but, don't worry. I shan't. I figured I would just stick to the food photos for right now. So, the first installment of pictures is...

PIZZA

Portofino, Italy

(left) mozzarella, pomodori, e rucola ~ mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and fresh arugula

(right) mozarella, pomodori, e prosciutto

Nice, France

Pizza Provencal ~ mozzarella, tomatoes, zucchini, olives, and anchovies

Florence, Italy
Pizza Quattro Stagione (Four Seasons): mozzarella, pomodori, funghi, carciofi, proscuitto, e olive - mozzarella, tomatoes, mushrooms, artichokes, proscuitto, and olives

Venice, Italy

Mozzarella, tomatoes, Bresaola (cured and salted horse meat), and parmasean cheese

Venice, Italy

Pizza Bianchi (White Pizza) - Artichoke cream sauce, proscuitto, and parmasean cheese

Venice, Italy

Pizza Gran Viale - tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, proscuitto, salami, sausage, eggplant, asparagus, artichokes, and tuna

Venice, Italy

Pizza Quattro Stagione - mozarella, tomatoes, mushrooms, artichockes, proscuitto, and grilled eggplant

Don't worry - I definitely plan on making some of these magnificent pizze and posting the recipe on here. But, for now, you can drool. ;) Hope you enjoyed looking at these amazing treats as much as I enjoyed eating them!

~ Mari

Quick Lunch Salad ... with Added Carbs

2010-10-13T16:18:00.001-07:00

I was talking to my friend on the phone telling her about how I had a salad for lunch. She congratulated me on my healthful habits... and then I lowered the blow: I added a whole lot of coconut rice to that salad and loved it. I made some coconut rice (recipe to follow at a later date) the other day and had some leftover and thought I would add it to my salad. I love salad without rice, don't get me wrong, but it just adds that extra yumminess of carbs that I so dearly love.

Looks delicious, right? It was. Just combine lettuce, fresh mint, sliced strawberries, toasted walnuts, and cold rice with oil and balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper and there you have it! Get creative - add rice to any salad and it makes it a little more enjoyable (in my opinion, anyway).

Mmmm... carbs are so good...

~ Mari

Panzanella

2010-10-03T18:04:00.000-07:00

I just got Ellie Krieger's cookbook, "So Easy," and I found a great-looking recipe for a dish we made in culinary school: Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad). Ellie's recipe is a bit different from the one we made in school, but it has the same basic ingredients - bread, cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions. So, I decided to combine the two recipes into my own version of the classic Italian salad!

Panzanella

3-4 cups of bread, cubed

1 English cucumber, seeded and diced

2 cups grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 of a small red onion, thinly slivered

1 avocado, peeled and diced

a few sprigs of fresh fennel (or any other fresh herb you have on hand)

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Salt & Pepper to taste

dried italian herbs to taste

3 links of chicken sausage

First, preheat the oven to 320 degrees F. Then put the cubed bread on a sheet pan.

Next, combine a few tablespoons of olive oil with salt, pepper, and dried italian herbs in a shallow bowl.

Dunk each bread cube into the olive oil mixture on two or three sides. Put them back on the sheet pan and toss them around a bit.

Stick the sheet pan in the oven on the bottom rack and allow them to cook for 15 - 20 minutes (until they're crispy). While they cook, combine all of the vegetables and herbs in a bowl. Sprinkle salt and pepper on them and toss.

Once the bread cubes are done, add them to the vegetable mixture.

Pour the rest of the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar over the vegetables and bread. Now toss it more. I added some black cooked lentils (from Trader Joe's) as a garnish - you can too if you have them. If not, it should be just fine! Then I cooked the sausage, sliced it, and served it alongside of the panzanella. That was Ellie Krieger's pairing idea - and it was perfect! I also plated the salad overtop of some mixed baby greens.

I hope you enjoy it! It was so simple to make - I couldn't even believe it! Plus, it was delicious and full of texture!

~ Mari

Georgia Peach Salad with Arugula, Avocado, and Grapefruit

2010-09-22T13:34:00.000-07:00

Before I moved to Georgia, I'd never eaten a peach before. I had eaten things that looked a lot like peaches, had fuzzy peach-like skin, and had that funky pit in the center. But, the flavor of these imposters was dull and the texture of the flesh was mealy. Nope. They couldn't have been peaches. I saw signs for Lane Farms (a peach orchard about 15-20 minutes from here in Fort Valley) that boasted fresh Georgia peaches and so I went - on a hunt for something that had flavor. And that, my friends is what I found. After eating one of their peaches, I knew that all the peaches I'd eaten before were faux fruit - peach imposters.

Since I got those peaches, I've put them on my cereal each morning, added them to salads for lunch, and eaten them with angel food cake for dessert. I was watching my favorite cooking show, Back to Basics with the Barefoot Contessa, and she made an avocado and grapefruit salad. It looked delicious, but I wanted to spice it up a bit (no offense, Ina. I love you.). I just made her recipe and added fresh baby arugula and some sliced Georgia peaches!

It was the perfect lunch - the acidity of the dressing and grapefruit went perfectly with the peppery flavor of the arugula and the sweet goodness of the peaches.

As you can see, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I encourage you to enjoy the last of this season's peaches... especially if they're Georgia peaches. The other ones in the grocery stores... well... we know all about them.

Enjoy!

~ Mari

Goat Cheese & Parsley Potato Salad

2010-09-20T18:50:00.000-07:00

I shan't tell a lie - I'm not a fan of potato salad. Actually, I'm just not a fan of the regular potato salad that shows up at most picnics and summer events. German potato salad is delicious, as is loaded baked potato salad. But, I was feeling a little adventurous, so I thought I would put my own little spin on tater salad.

Goat Cheese & Parsley Potato Salad

28 oz. Yukon Gold potatoes (2-bite size)

2 pinches kosher salt

2/3 cup reduced fat sour cream

1 Tbsp. mustard

1/4 cup creamy goat cheese

salt & pepper to taste

dried dill to taste

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1.5 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

1 tsp. fresh oregano, chopped

First, wash the potatoes and put them in a large sauce pot. Next, sprinkle some kosher salt over them.

Next, cover the potatoes with just enough water so that none of them are peeking out.

Put the cover on the potatoes and let them boil for about 15 minutes (until you can pierce the largest potato with a fork and it goes in like it would into chilled butter).

Now, mix the sour cream, mustard, and goat cheese in a bowl with a whisk. Then add the spices and taste the mixture. Remember that the cayenne pepper will intensify as it sits in the fridge, so put a little less than you actually want. Then add the olive oil and whisk that in.

Once the potatoes are done, drain them and allow them to cool. Slice them in half (or quarters, depending on their size).

Put the potatoes into the bowl with the sour cream mixture.

Now, stir it up with a large spoon - being careful not to smoosh the potatoes too much.

Now, chop the herbs!

Sprinkle the fresh herbs over the potatoes and stir a few times.

Next, cover the bowl with saran wrap and stick it in the fridge for a few hours (this allows the flavors to soak into the taters!). All that's left to do now is eat it! (Take it out about 30-45 minutes before you want to eat it if you want it a little creamier.)

I served it with a seared pork chop and warm apple slaw (courtesy of Ellie Krieger). Delish! It has a nice creaminess to it and a unique tang from the cayenne. The parsley and oregano add a great freshness and texture to it. I hope you like it as much as Ryan and I did!

~ Mari

Bison Bolognese

2010-09-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

Pasta is my favorite thing to eat. Period. Here at the Smith household, we eat a pasta dish once or twice a week. And none of that "whole wheat" grainy pasta crapola. We have real, carb-filled pasta goodness. The trick is to vary the sauces from week to week so we don't feel like we're eating the same thing each week. This week, I was in the mood for Bolognese sauce. If you're not sure what it is, basically it's an amazingly delicious meat sauce with wine and cream. How can you go wrong with vino and cream? But, it can clog those arteries... so, I thought I would go for a healthier version of this classic dish by using a very lean (and tasty) meat - Bison!

Bison Bolognese

2 slices raw bacon

1 yellow onion

2 carrots

2 cloves garlic

2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 sprig fresh rosemary (1 tsp. dried)

1 lb. ground bison meat

1 cup pureed sweet potatoes (optional)

1 cup dry red wine

1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes

1.5 cups chopped fresh tomato

salt & pepper to taste

1/2 cup half & half

First, get your ingredients prepped: chop the rosemary, chop the garlic, and... dice the onion.

Grate the carrots.

Chop the bacon.

Heat a large thick-bottomed sauce pot over medium high heat. Put the bacon in, and render it away!

Next, add the olive oil, onions, carrots, rosemary, and garlic. Saute until the onions become transparent.

Now, add the bison meat and saute until browned.

Now you're ready for some booze! Add the red wine and canned tomatoes. Reduce to low, cover, and allow to simmer for 40-50 minutes. Once the sauce has reduced and it smells amazing (it will... I promise), taste it. Add salt and pepper as you like it, and dump those yummy fresh tomatoes in there. Here is where one would add the sweet potato puree. If you don't have any sweet potatoes, don't worry. It just adds creaminess and body to the sauce.

Let the sauce cool in the pot for 10-15 minutes (stick your finger in there and if it's still hot... wait a bit longer for the next step). Pour 1/2 cup of half & half in your pot and stir it up.

Now, try it. YUM. If it's not the best pasta sauce you've ever had...add more half & half. Haha. But, it should be pretty amazing as it is.

Just add pasta, grated parmesan, and fresh basil and you've got a delicious (and not QUITE as bad for you) meal fit for any pasta lover!

Enjoy!

~ Mari

Flank Steak Tacos

2010-09-13T18:18:00.001-07:00

Tacos are kind of amazing. Especially when they're easy to make and good for you! I'm a huge fan of fish tacos and shrimp tacos, but I saw a lovely Flank steak at Kroger and decided that I would go that route. We rarely eat red meat, but it just seemed like one of those times. So, I turned the grill on and got to cookin'!

Flank Steak Tacos

For the steak:

Olive oil

Flank steak

Chili powder

Cinnamon

Cayenne pepper

Salt

2 cloves garlic

For the salsa:

1/2 cup pre-made salsa

1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced

1/2 small red onion, slivered

1 lime, juiced

1/4 cup fresh tomato, chopped

1 avocado, diced

1/2 cup red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, diced

For the slaw:

1/4 bag slaw mix

1/4 cup yellow bell pepper, cut into strips

1 lime, juiced

While the grill heats, rub the steak with olive oil (enough to coat it). Then sprinkle it with the spices. Put the garlic cloves through a garlic press and rub it around on both sides of the steak. Grill it for about 10-15 minutes (however you want it).

Here's Ryan - hanging out by the grill on our back porch. :)

Mmmmm... here's the steak! Let it rest for about 10 minutes.

After the meat has rested, slice it thinly. Yum.

For the slaw, simply mix the above ingredients together and toss.

For the salsa, again, mix all the ingredients and toss! I told you this was easy...

Now, all you have to do is pile it on a tortilla in whatever order you want. I wouldn't eat this with the new in-laws or anything... it definitely dribbled down my face. But, it was worth it!

Enjoy!

~ Mari

Late Summer Update

2010-09-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

After all those years of watching my mom and dad garden and do yard-work, I realized how much I didn't want to have any part in that world. The world of spiny plants, yellow jacket attacks, and rushing inside to take a shower to get the ticks off. Yeah. Not really appealing, right?

Wrong. Ok - so, the actual act of gardening isn't a super fun time, but the result of all that hard work is quite magnificent. Especially when you can eat the things you grow!

I started a little herb garden next to the garage. At first, I was dissapointed with my thumb and it's ability to grow healthy plants (the leaves were a little yellow and they were growing pretty slowly), but after a month, the garden is doing quite well!

I have mint, basil, sage, oregano, parsley and... sunflowers (just for color). I've been using herbs from my OWN garden and am quite proud of myself. :)

Here was my other project - the front flower bed. The rose bushes don't look so hot and they will probably be gone (by way of Ryan and a big shovel) by the fall, but they shall stay there for now. I planted some Gerber Daisies, Pink Vinca, Lantana, and a Butterfly bush. It looks so much better now that we've mulched it and planted a few things!

And there's the front porch - where I sit and watch the hummingbirds guard their feeder. :) I cannot tell you how GLAD I am that it's starting to cool off here. Yahoo!

Thanks for looking!

~ Mari

Avocado Goat Cheese Salad with Fried Egg

2010-08-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

You know how I like a good salad... especially one that will actually keep me full. The lettuce I bought at Costco (in the photo below) inspired me, and can you blame me? Look at those beautiful greens!

So, after I washed the lettuce, I remembered that I bought an avocado at Kroger. I really really really really love avocados...in case you were curious. If you love them too, but have a little trouble getting the green goodness out of them in one piece, here's a little how-to:

How-To Open an Avocado:

1. Insert the knife in the middle and cut (gingerly - there's a pit, remember) it completely in half - all the way around the avocado.

2. Hold the avocado so that one hand is one either side that you've cut into.

3. Turn the avocado with your hands and pull!

4. Stick your knife into the pit and turn it...

5. Ta dah! Now, just take a large spoon and scoop out the inside! And there you have it! :)

Now, back to the salad... I crumbled some goat cheese over the lettuce and added fresh tomato slices, toasted walnuts, the avocado and.... a fried egg! Surprise! It's so delicious!

So, here it is - the salad of my dreams! It's healthy, tasty, and will keep you full. I put a simple oil and balsamic vinegar dressing on it, but you can put whatever dressing you would like! Enjoy!

~ Mari

Chicken with Goat Cheese and Spanish Couscous

2010-08-22T18:12:00.000-07:00

I would be lying if I told you that Chicken is my favorite meat. It's definitely not. In fact, it can get pretty boring. But, they had some nice-looking organic chicken breasts on sale at Kroger and I figured I could come up with something tasty to make with them. So, I looked through Ina Garten's (she's pretty amazing) "Barefoot Contessa at Home" cookbook and she had a great recipe for Chicken stuffed with goat cheese that I decided to make. I made a few minor adjustments, but here it is:

Chicken with Goat Cheese and Basil

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3 heaping Tbsp. of goat cheese

6 fresh basil leaves

Extra virgin olive oil

kosher salt and ground pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Finely chop three of the basil leaves and mix it with the goat cheese in a small bowl with a fork. Then add some salt and pepper. Put a Tbsp. of the goat cheese mixture into each of the three basil leaves. Put the chicken breasts on a cutting board so that the tenderloin is facing up. Take the basil leaves with goat cheese inside and stuff each little basil "package" underneath the tenderloin on each breast. Next, rub each breast with extra virgin olive oil. If you have "Silpat" (a nonstick surface for cooking on), you can use that, but if not, put parchment paper down on a sheet pan. Then place the chicken breasts on the sheet pan and sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper. Put them in the oven and allow to bake for 35 minutes, basting them with olive oil (or spray with olive oil cooking spray) frequently.

After the 35 minutes, check that the internal temperature of the thickest part of the breasts is at 165 degrees F. Once it is, turn off the oven and turn the broiler on high. Watch the chicken closely as it will brown very quickly! Once the breasts are golden brown, take them out and allow them to cool.

While the chicken is cooking, you can make the couscous (it's so nice, they named it twice!):

Spanish Couscous

1 Tbsp. butter

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

3/4 cup chopped onion or shallots

3 cups chicken stock or broth

1.5 cups couscous

1 ear, grilled corn, off the cob

10-12 cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup frozen, chopped spinach

1.5 tsp. chili powder

Melt the butter in a large pot and add the olive oil once it's melted. Add the onions/shallots and saute them over medium-low heat for about three minutes - until they become translucent. Next, add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat, stir in the couscous, add the frozen spinach, cover the pan, and set aside for about 10 minutes. The couscous will soak up all that yummy liquid and the steam will cook the spinach.

In a smaller pan, saute the corn and tomatoes with a little olive oil and some chili powder. After the couscous has soaked up the liquid, add the corn and tomatoes and stir until mixed well.

Now that your chicken and couscous are perfection, plate, eat, and enjoy!

Here's what the inside looks like with the melty goat cheese and flavorful basil leaf:

Hope you like it! Happy eating and buon appetito!

~ Mari

Tarragon and Cheddar Frittata

2010-08-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

The incredible edible egg was calling my name today for lunch. Do you ever get in an egg mood? So, I decided to make a frittata (an Italian omlet thingy) with some fresh tarragon that I had in the fridge. If you are also feeling a bit eggish, here's the recipe:

Tarragon & Cheddar Frittata

1 large egg

1/2 cup liquid egg whites (or 2 egg whites)

1 Tbsp. fresh tarragon (1 tsp. dried)

1 tsp. dill

1.5 Tbsp. shredded cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

fat free greek yogurt (for garnish)

salsa (for garnish)

Whisk all the ingredients together (except for the garnishes, obviously) in a bowl until combined. Heat a small non-stick skillet to medium. Once the pan is heated, put about a tsp. of olive oil in and pour the egg mixture in as well. Then put a lid on it and allow it to cook for about 5-6 minutes (until you can slip a spatula underneath the frittata without it still being liquid-y). Flip the frittata over with the spatula and allow it to cook, uncovered, for about 3-4 minutes more. The frittata should be fluffy and set. Next, flip the frittata out onto a plate and garnish with a dollop of yougurt and salsa.

Now... eat it! I think you'll like it.

Thanks for looking!

~ Mari

MARI NOT-SO-BLAND

Holiday Home Tour

Fake Thanksgiving

Thai Colada

A Little Skirt Style

New Favorite Thing: Agua Fresca

The Big Apple

What To Do With Purple Hull Peas:

New Project...

No Campfire Required

Thai Noodle Salad

A Tall Drink of Agua Fresca

Eggplant & Zucchini Gratin

Jazz Fest 2011: A Culinary Escapade

Easter Lamb

Going Into the Closet

Blais-in' Through The ATL

Spring Montage

Cake Pops

BLTA (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Avocado Salad)

One-Pan Meal: Broiled Salmon with Mango Salsa and Broccoli

Spring Salad

Homemade Granola Bars

Herb Garden Transformation

I'm Still At It...

If You Can't Buy It, Make It

Just Another Reason to Love Google...

I Love You *This* Much

Cheddar & Pepper Turkey Burgers

Two Dinners, One Chicken Recipe

Everyone's Talking about Chalkboards

Oh Pottery Barn...

Mexican Pasta Bake

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Pantry Raid Part II

The Bleak Mid-Winter

Pantry Raid

Resolutions for 2011

It's Magic Outside

Christmas Card Curtains

Candy Canes & Peppermint Sticks

Christmastime is Here

A Not-So-Bland Thanksgiving

The Last Bite

Back from the Honeymoon : Part III : Seafood

Back from the Honeymoon : Part II : Pasta

Mari-Not-So-Bland Goes to Print

Back from the Honeymoon : Part I : Pizza

Quick Lunch Salad ... with Added Carbs

Panzanella

Georgia Peach Salad with Arugula, Avocado, and Grapefruit

Goat Cheese & Parsley Potato Salad

Bison Bolognese

Flank Steak Tacos

Late Summer Update

Avocado Goat Cheese Salad with Fried Egg

Chicken with Goat Cheese and Spanish Couscous

Tarragon and Cheddar Frittata

I Love You This Much