Gnocchi, a great alternative to pasta!

Some days I just sit at home and wish that I was of Italian heritage so badly. I mean, what's not to like about great food, women with great hair, and olive skin!? As I was daydreaming today (about being an exotic Italian goddess) I am going to prove that it doesn't take a real, bonafide Italian to make great Italian food! Today, my recipe is for Gnocchi. It's a great alternative to pasta and you can serve it a multitude of ways. I'll even give you some ideas later in the post!

Gnocchi


4 large russet potatoes, fork-pricked
1 large egg, beaten
2 Tbsp. freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
fine sea salt and fresh ground pepper
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour, plus more for dusting.

Bake the potatoes at 425F until tender, about 1 hour. Cool slightly, then halve and scoop the flesh into a medium size bowl. Mash the potatoes well with a fork. Add the egg, cheese, butter 1 tsp. salt, and pepper to taste; stir with fork until combined. Add the flour and stir to make a rough dough, then mix well with hands until smooth.
Gather the dough into a ball on a floured surface and divide into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a 12" long, 1/2" thick log with your hands. Cut the logs into 1" pieces.
These are able to be frozen and useable for up to a month in a sealed container.


When you are ready to use the gnocchi in a dish, you will need to boil them in a pot over medium heat. They should rise to the top when they are cooked through. Once cooked through, you can serve them with your favorite sauce: alfredo, traditional red, or a fabulous bolognese sauce.



Another option would be to bake the gnocchi. Set your oven to 350F. Toss the gnocchi with salt, pepper, and a little bit of olive oil. Lay them out on a cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with a marinara sauce for an appetizer.


Have a fabulous Saturday Gnocchi style! Ciao!!

Fun Friday!!

First of all I just have to share my latest happy customer. Is he not the cutest thing ever!?



His mommy said he was so proud of it that you would've thought that he had painted it himself! That's what I love about painting!

So in keeping with the fun things for this Friday I've got a great recipe for a fabulous GNO (Girls Night Out)!!

Cosmopolitan Cupcakes with Pink Lime Buttercream Icing!

Cupcakes
• 1 box SuperMoist Vanilla Cake Mix
• 3 egg whites
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1-1/4 cups ready-made Cosmo drink mixer

Make cupcakes according to box directions, swapping out 1-1/4 cups Cosmopolitan drink mix for the 1-1/4 cups water called for on the box.

Pink Lime Buttercream Icing
• 8 Tbsp butter, softened
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 2 Tbsp lime juice
• 2 Tbsp Cosmo drink mixer
• 1 tsp lime zest
• 5-1/2 cups powdered sugar
• Red or pink gel icing colors (a little red gel will make hot pink)
• Clear sugar sprinkles

In a large bowl: combine butter, cream cheese, lime juice, Cosmo mix, and lime zest. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and continue beating until smooth. If icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar, a couple tablespoons at a time. Tint icing with food coloring. (Gel icing colors enable you to tint icing without watering it down.)
Spread or pipe icing onto each (completely cooled) cupcake. Garnish with sprinkles, a lime twist, or a lime wedge.

Happy Friday!!

My first restaurant review!

I had a lunch with a girlfriend from high school that is vacationing with her family and her sweet little baby boy. We tried out a restaurant that I hadn't been to before and it inspired me to do restaurant reviews for local places here that vacationers can look up and try!

Today we went to Ciao Bella in Silver Sands.

I had heard nothing but great things about the food there and today was my day to try it out.

They have a very extensive and reasonable menu. And if you haven't gathered already, it is an Italian restaurant. They have many bistro-gourmet type pizzas as well as pastas and sandwiches. I would consider them average priced for the beach ($8-$20 per person). The portion sizes were large.

Today I had a calzone with procioutto, spinach, and onions. It was delicious.

So for all you outlet mall shoppers I would highly recommend Ciao Bella. It is a rather small establishment with self serve seating, so you will need to plan ahead. The peak eating times get packed fast. So for a convenient place with great food, good air conditioning, and a place to rest your weary feet, check them out!

Happy Thursday!

OMGosh!!!

If this little romper from Polka Dot Posh doesn't make you want to have a little girl or buy one for your little girl, I don't know what will!!! I love it!!!


You can find it at http://www.polkadotposh.com/product/toddler-lace-romper-pre-order

I love it!!

Another Drab to Fab moment!

I have this small obsession with pineapples after I saw a white ceramic one on this last season of The Biggest Loser. I want one so bad and have not been able to find one, so if anyone knows where one is, please fill me in!

Here's the back story on the pineapple:

Since the late 1700s, the pineapple has been used as a symbol of welcome and hospitality. Families whose homes are adorned with the fruit wish their guests a feeling of graciousness and inviting warmth.

I picked up these outdoor ornaments from Old Time Pottery (love that place!) last week when my parents were in town. I got both of them for less than $10!!! But who says you can't transform an outdoor ornament into indoor gloriousness??



I wanted to bring these lovely symbols of hospitality to life as well as to match the decor in my living room. The great thing about these are that you could go real funky with them, or you can mute them down to be subtle. I knew I wanted mine to be two toned. I want the pedestal part one color and the actual pineapple part to be a different color. So in order to do that, I used painter tape to tape off the bottom of the pineapple so that I didn't get paint all over the bottom.



Once they are taped off, I took spraypaint (color of your choice) and sprayed the top portion of the pineapple.




Once the paint dried, I took the tape off and got out my acrylic paint to paint the pedestal portion. Acrylic paint dries really quickly, that's why I like to use it. I love some instant gratification! :)


After a jif when the paint dries you've got a brand new, transformed, indoor/outdoor accent piece!


And while I'm on my pineapple kick today, the recipe for the day is Pineapple Cheesecake Squares!

Pineapple Cheesecake Squares


2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2/3 cup butter

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1/2 cup white sugar 2 eggs
2/3 cup unsweetened pineapple juice

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained with juice reserved
1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups flour, confectioners' sugar, and almonds. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20minutes.

While the crust is baking, prepare the cream cheese layer. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time. Blend in 2/3cup unsweetened pineapple juice. Pour over hot crust and bake for about 20 minutes more in preheated oven. Allow to cool completely.

Make the topping: In a saucepan, combine 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 cup reserved pineapple juice. Bring to a boil and stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in crushed pineapple. Cool completely. When cool, fold in whipped cream. Spread topping over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate 4 hours before cutting into squares and serving.

Happy Wednesday!

Creamy Lemon Pepper Chicken-- New Recipe!

I came up with this recipe on a fly one night at the request of my hubs. And to my surprise it turned out really yummy! So since it was so yummy, I'm going to share!

Creamy Lemon Pepper Chicken!


4 thin cut chicken breasts
lemon pepper seasoning
1 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

For Sauce:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. minced garlic
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1 tsp. dried parsley
salt to taste
1 tbsp. all purpose flour

Generously apply lemon pepper to the chicken and fry in olive oil over medium heat until cooked through. While the chicken is cooking, start the sauce.
To start the sauce you will need to make a rue with the butter and flour over medium-high heat. Once combined, add the garlic and heat for 2 minutes. Add the heavy whipping cream and heat for 2-3 minutes, whisking constantly. Add herbs and cook for 2-3 more minutes. Add more herbs for more seasoning. The sauce should thicken as you heat it. If you would like it thicker, add just a little bit more flour to the sauce. Once chicken is cooked through, top with sauce.

This recipe goes great with my mashed potatoes as well!! Shoot, everything goes well with my mashed potatoes! :) Happy Tuesday!

Dog Days of Summer!

I'm back in action and back to my normal routine this morning after a great week-long visit with my family! There's never a dull moment when they are around, especially my little brother! It has been ridiculously hot here in Florida, and when I mean ridiculous, I mean 100F plus!!! It makes it real hard to try to keep up this new tan that I'm sporting. :) So in honor of these Dog Days of Summer, today's post is in honor of my child, Halo. She has such a rough life. She has her own routine and when it gets out of whack, well... let's just say everyone pays dearly. :)

This is Halo.


She knows what she wants and she'll do anything in her power to get it, even if it includes being mischievious...


She listens intently when you have to say something. Especially if it includes any of the words "hungry, food, eat or ride."


She's a girly girl and loves her makeup. We ladies have to look good you know...


This is her rendition of a child falling asleep in a highchair.


She's definitely not modest!


Her favorite thing in the whole wide world is a Gatorade bottle.


And it wouldn't be fathomable to miss a naptime! She has a rough life huh?




So in honor of Halo, I'm posting a dog treat recipe!!

Dog Treats


½ cup Peanut Butter
½ cup Honey
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil (or Olive Oil)
1 cup Chicken Broth
1 cup Rolled Oats
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 cup All-purpose Flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Whisk together peanut butter, honey, oil and chicken broth.
In a separate bowl, combine flours and oatmeal. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Place dough on flour dusted surface. Roll or press dough out to about 1/4” inch thick. Use a small bone cookie cutter, or cutter of your choosing to cut out cookies. Roll out leftover scraps and cut out as many as possible.
Put cut out cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 14-16 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack.