Restaurant Review: Nong’s

As I mentioned in my Tuesday post, I am going to tell you about Nong’s Thai.

picture off Nong’s website

My sister Katy texted me Sunday morning asking for a restaurant suggestion to get some paid thai, which she was craving. She wanted to go somewhere different. So, I suggested a bunch of places, with her landing on Nong’s. She invited Steve and I, and my other sister Krissy and her boyfriend to meet up for lunch. How could I turn down lunch a) out with my sisters (who I don’t get to see nearly enough) b) Thai food (my favorite) c) going out = not cooking lunch.

picture off Nong’s website

Nong’s is located in Golden Valley, off Highway 169 and Medicine Lake Road, in a little strip mall. Which don’t be fooled by the outer appearance.  There is a McDonald’s on the corner across from the strip mall and an amazing bakery, Valley Pastries right next door. I will most definitely have to do a post about the bakery!!

Steve and I have been to Nong’s many times and absolutely love the food. The portions are large enough that you can save half for lunch the next day and the prices are perfect so you aren’t breaking the bank.

Whenever Steve and I go there just the two of us, we get four or five off their appitzers and just share them. We seem to like the apps slightly more than the entrees. And, we both like to try a variety of items, this offers us the opportunity to do so. However, this time, we shared an order of spring rolls and each had our own entree.

I am telling you guys, these spring rolls and peanut sauce are the best ever! I have eaten a good amount of spring rolls and I can’t seem to beat these.

The peanut sauce is the perfect combination of slightly sweet with a slight saltiness. And the spring rolls, are just so fresh tasting. It’s the right ratio of veggies, noodles and protein.

Then for my entree I ordered the Bean Thread Vermicelli with Tofu, no heat. Noodles sounded really good, so that narrowed down my choices. And, whenever I eat Thai, I get tofu. I don’t cook tofu at home simply cause I don’t have the experience to make it right and Steve doesn’t like it. This dish was so good! The vegetables were fresh, crispy, but slightly tender; the noodles had a slight sweetness to them, and the tofu, was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

And, of course when eating with my family, it’s round robin with your entree. Loved Katy’s paid thai, but a little to spicy for me (she got HOT- I am a weakling), Krissy got a supper yummy soup, that was super savory and perfect for a cold Minnesota day, lastly, Steve’s was my favorite it was similar to my dish, but a little more savory flavor.

Every time I go to Nong’s I leave completely satisfied with the food, the prices, and restaurant atmosphere. My only complaint is the service. There never seems to be enough staff working both in the front of the house or back of the house. I understand its hard to know how busy a restaurant is going to be at any given time and having people standing around is not good business, but the restaurant has been around for a few years now and I would imagine that they have a good handle on their customer flow. A couple more servers working would make attentiveness to tables better and a couple more cooks in the kitchen might make getting food to the tables quicker and easier all together.

Picture off Nong’s website

Picture off Nong’s website

Have you guys been to Nong’s before? If so, what are your thoughts? Or do you have any other Thai Restaurant recommendations? Would love to hear from you all.

The Ultimate Veggie Burger

It’s been a while since I have posted; life has been busy.

I am super excited to share with you all an awesome veggie burger that I made for Steve and I last night. I stumbled upon this recipe while playing on my phone trying to wake up Monday morning.

As soon, as I read that the burger used beets, I clicked away. If you have read some of my previous posts you will know that I have been loving beets this year. Once scrolling through the recipe, I was happy to read that I had most of the ingredients and just a short, quick trip to the store was necessary after work.

The Ultimate Veggie Burger is a recipe created by Ana from The Awesome Green. This was my first time visiting her blog and it is absolutely beautiful! I look forward to scrolling through her beautiful pictures and trying other fabulous recipes.

I followed this recipe to a “t” except for a couple tweaks:

– used Naan (Indian flat bread instead of whole wheat bun); I had Naan that needed to get eaten

-Omitted the coconut oil; didn’t have any on hand and my patties were moist

-instead of wholemeal bread crumbs used panko bread crumbs

-Instead of Himalayan salt used kosher salt

– Substituted 3 tbs chunky peanut butter + 1 tbs sesame seed oil instead of tahini.

– didn’t place the sweet potatoes on the burger; tossed the slices in olive oil, salt and pepper and baked at 350F for about 30 minutes or until tender

The burgers were flavorful just by themselves, but the avocado dressing is out of this world. It was creamy, salty, and fatty all at the same time.

The burgers were tender and moist, but held together nicely. I was a little worried when forming the patties that they were going to fall apart, but the baking process really helped hold them together.  The texture was perfect, the softness from the beets and quinoa matched perfectly with the crunch from the flax seed and onion.

Note: Make sure to spray baking pan generously with cooking spray to avoid sticking. I had some sticking on a couple, but the clean up was really easy.

I was really happy that Steve loved the burger and gave me the thumbs up to make it again. 🙂

This recipe is a definite try! I just wish my pictures were half as beautiful as Ana’s.

Enjoy! Let me know if you make it and what you think.

Sunshine and Warmth

Hello! Happy Tuesday!

I am happy to report that this weekend the sun finally showed it’s face and warmed Minneapolis creating a beautiful weekend!

Last, weekend, along with yesterday, Steve and I made sure to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather, cause as normal it won’t be around for long and we will be back to the frigid cold this weekend.

When looking for our house, we wanted something close to Minneapolis, and surrounded by parks, walking paths and bike trails. We were fortunate enough to get just that. We live off Theodore Wirth Parkway and near Theorde Wirth Golf Course in Minneapolis.

So, after celebrating my favorite day, National Peanut Butter Day, on Saturday with a some peanut butter toast, a grapefruit, and yogurt, we set out for a long walk down the Parkway.

White grapefruit picked in California by my parents

Have you tried the limited batch Chobani Green Tea yogurt? We tried it on Saturday. One vote yes, for me. One vote no, for Steve.

 

To be honest, we didn’t get a whole lot of green tea flavor. I thought it tasted like plain yogurt, just less sour and bitter and slightly sweeter. I don’t love plain yogurt and I think if I ate the green tea on a regular basis, it would help me transition easier to plain yogurt. I would purchase it again.

Next, we laced up our walking shoes, put the sun glasses on and headed for the Parkway.

We have lived in our house for almost three years, walked the same paths many times together and have never known about the rock below until at Christmas when reminiscing with my parents and my dad enlightened us with a cool geography fact.

We live right near the “45th parallel of the latitude, which is midway between the equator and the north pole”. How cool is that! So, naturally, I had to stop and take a picture. This was the best I could do, since the sun was shining right at me, which I was not complaining about.

Then as we contiuned down the path we witnessed a cross country ski event at Theodore Wirth Golf Course. And, this beautiful view of Minneapolis.

Once, we got home, Steve cooked a simple yet delicious chicken lunch, while I picked up the house and got ready to go shopping with my friend Meg (at mymonochromaticlife).

When, I got home after shopping, I didn’t realize how late it was, so I had leftover lunch and topped it off with a home brewed beer. Steve has made many batches of beer, but this one has been my favorite!  It’s a beautiful golden brown color, light flavor, not extremely hoppy and not bitter. Just perfect!!

Sunday, we had errands and dinner with my family. Then Monday, back to work followed by another long walk with Steve on the Parkway and grape yogurt.

This is the other Limited Edition flavor by Chobani. This one got 2 votes yes from Steve and I. I have to say the product was surprisingly good. I wasn’t sure what to think when I first read grape yogurt, but as always my interest was peaked so I had to try it. The yogurt wasn’t to sweet and had a slight fake grape flavor. When I first ate it I thought of grape laffy taffy, which didn’t last long and had a clean after taste. I would definitely buy this flavor again.

I hope everyone had a nice and relaxing weekend! Did you get outside and enjoy the warm weather? If so, I would love to hear about it.

Stop by Thursday, to read about the other Chobani Yogurts that I have been loving for breakfast these last couple weeks!

V8 & Cookies

Cheeseburger and fries go together like cereal and milk, but what about V8 and cookies? Yeaaahhhhh… maybe not. Instead, I will tell you about two different, new products that I found while strolling through the grocery store.

Last year, I started drinking V8 Original Tomato Juice as a way to get more vegetables in my diet. It’s not something that I have often, just every now and then. About a month ago, when I was standing in the juice isle looking for some V8, I noticed V8’s new products. See pictures below.

Then, I was flipping through the Sunday paper ad’s, a couple weeks ago and noticed some coupons for more new V8 products. I couldn’t believe it! Whenever I think about V8 I always go straight to tomato juice (even though they have had the fruit fusions for a while now too).  The coupons peaked my interest and I wanted to try them.

However, I didn’t want the big bottles, just in case I didn’t like the products. While at the grocery store on Tuesday, I found small bottles of the new V8 juices, so I was excited and picked them up.

I started with Purple Power. I was excited about this one, but quickly was not a fan. The color was pleasant, for many would probably be a problem. And, when pouring it looked thin, almost watery like. When tasting it, there was no flavor, I thought I was drinking colored water, very thin, and nothing there at all.  I would not buy this product again.

Second, I tried the carrot mango. Again, the product looked thin when pouring and the color was very bright, but not off putting. This product had flavor, unlike the purple power. I tasted the sweetness of the mango followed by the carrot flavor. As, I continued drinking, the carrot aftertaste continued to build and started to get a little bitter, which I didn’t love, but it didn’t stop me from finishing the product. I would give carrot mango another try.

Third, I tried the healthy greens. To be honest, I was nervous about trying this one, but I ended up being ok with it. The product smelled “green” and I could taste the spinach, but it wasn’t offensive. Like, I said about the carrot mango, this flavor would take some getting use to.

And, lastly, golden goodness. This one I did not care for. The sweet potato flavor came through very strongly and the watery texture didn’t help . The product smelled and tasted like baby food.

Overall, I was very disappointed in these products and was hoping to like them a lot more. I feel that V8 could make the juices thicker and optimize the flavors more. I am glad that I found the small bottles, otherwise I would be getting creative on how to use the big bottle of juices.

If I had to choose, two to purchase again, it would be the carrot mango and healthy greens. Both of these would take a little getting use to, but for the health benefits, I think it would be worth it.

Now, on to the cookies. Have you heard of Brownie Brittle? It’s a must try! So good! I will do a blog post about it sometime in the future.

I bring this up because when I saw Cookie Chips, I instantly thought about Brownie Brittle and had to try it. I mean, cookies, chips, what could be wrong?

These cookies reminded me of a gingersnap, only slightly lighter and more tender. The package advertised that they eat like chips, which I wouldn’t completely agree with nor disagree with. They weren’t thick and chewy like a normal cookie. But, not thin and super crunchy like a chip. I was satisfied with the texture. The cookies also had a nice classic cinnamon sugar flavor, that you can’t go wrong with. I would definitely try one of the other 5 flavors that is offered.

Do you have any new products that you are loving right now? If so, leave me a comment, I would love to know.

Restaurant Review: Quang

Do you love fresh ingredients, good portion sizes and easy on the wallet food? Then I have the place just for you!

On Sunday, Steve and I had a few errands to complete and decided we would window shop for a few things for the house. After a while, both of our stomachs started to rumble, so we started contemplating what we were in the mood for and where to go. Whenever, we are deciding what to eat when out, we always try and strive to try either a new restaurant, or eat something ethnic. Not always successful, but we try.

We decided that we both were in the mood for Vietnamese, so without hesitation we agreed on Quang. We have been to Quang multiple times, and everytime we leave satisfied with both our experience and the food.

As you walk into the restaurant the first thing you will notice is the expansive dinning area. There must be at least 80 tables in the dinning room, each one filled. (I tried to secretively capture a picture, but no luck) Then you will witness the hussel and bussel of the servers. You will see the smiles, hear the laughter and chatter of all the patrons. Many speaking Vietnamese, but there is definitely not a lack of English too. Lastly, once you are seated and receive your food, you will be tasting the fresh flavors, quality ingredients and just pure good food.

Whether it be Vietnamese food, Thai food, Chinese food, etc.it’s always a must for Steve and I to start with spring rolls and cream cheese wonton’s. We just love them!!

So, naturally, we ordered (picture 1) spring rolls- shrimp and pork with peanut sauce and (picture 2)  cream cheese wontons, and we also had (picture 1) skewer meatballs marinated in lemongrass and sweet soy with sweet and sour sauce.

All three of the appetizers were delicious!! 1)The spring rolls were so fresh and the meat inside was tender. 2) The meatballs were out of this world!  The meatballs were tender inside with a crispy exterior. The flavor was super simple; good quality meat with a light sweeter flavor. 3) The cream cheese wonton’s had this really nice balance of sweet and savory. The crust was tender and flaky, but thick so it didn’t break apart after the first bite. I loved the subtle sweetness of the crust combined with the creamy, savory mixture in the middle. These are the best cream cheese wonton’s that I have had in a long time.

 

Since Steve and I usually go heavier on the appetizers, we typically share an entree. We have tried all the entree’s at Quang so far, except for the Banh Mi Sandwiches. We choose the Shredded pork skin and julienne roast pork. This sandwich was awesome!

The French baguette was perfectly crusty so that everytime I bit into the sandwich, flakes of crust would go everywhere. The meat was tender, juice and had a delicate sweet flavor. I loved the toppings of pickled carrots, daikon, cilantro, jalapenos (Steve had mine), red onion and cucumbers; it made all the flavors pop, elevated the freshness and the sourness balanced out the sweet and fattiness from the meat.

I will definitely be ordering another another sandwich off the the menu!

And, lastly, our beverage. Bubble Tea!!! We were each going to have our own, but then decided to share.

We chose mango green tea with mango jellies and tapioca pearls. This hit the spot! It was cold and refreshing. Not to sweet, but not bitter, which I sometimes find with Green Tea. And, you can’t go wrong with the jellies and tapioca pearls, they are so much fun to drink out of the wide straw.

When going to Quang don’t expect your waiter(s) to be overly friendly and chatty. They are polite, but busy. The restaurant is focused on turning tables quickly, because there are more hungry customers waiting. Also, be patient when looking for parking. You might be lucky and get a space right away in their tiny lot, but if not keep trying or park on the street and walk over,

I give Quang 5 out 5 tables. Excellent food, great prices and food quantity and service polite and fast.

Have you been to Quang? If so, what do you think? Leave me a comment below.

Restaurant Review: The Third Bird

picture off The Third Bird website

Last night, I met up with my dear friend Nancy for dinner. We had been trying to meet up for about a month, but our schedules have been crazy. So, we finally put a date on the calendar and stuck with it.

Since, we both are foodies and work in the food industry, we always want to go to a new and trendy restaurant around the Twin Cities. Yesterday, we were at The Third Bird, located near The Basilica of St. Mary and Loring Park. If you are familiar with where Joe’s Garage use to be by Cafe Lurcat… it’s right there.

We parked our car, paid for parking, and headed to the door… as I opened the door, we read a decoy saying (not exact wording) “we would like you to please use our door in the alley”. I thought to myself, really, it’s cold, I am hungry and halfway into the restaurant and you want me to walk back outside and around the building just to go in another door… I don’t think so, in we went. Maybe when it’s not cold and the sun is shining I would be more willing to walk through the alley, because I am sure there is an aesthetic piece to it.

We were nicely greeted by the hostess, and she showed us to our table for two by the window.  Nancy and I stopped for a second, looked at eachother with the same thought, you want us to sit here? The table was cramped. On one side a couple was eating and the other side a pillar. So, I walked back to the hostess politely asking for the table two down, where there was clearly more room, she happy obliged.

(please forgive the picture quality, the restaurant was really dark and the lighting was making bad shadowing in all my pictures, so I did what I could)

Once seated, we took in the atmosphere and after a while were greeted by a cheerful waiter. The decor was industrial, with modern classic touches. And, we thought it was cool to see there was an upstairs.

On to the food…

We wanted to order a few items off the menu to get a good perspective of the menu, so we decided on an appetizer, two vegetable sides and an entree.

The bacon and cheddar popcorn came out first. I was disappointed by the presentation, but it was popcorn- which I am a huge fan of, so naturally I was excited!

My first bite, I was overwhelmed with smoked bacon fat flavor, which I didn’t care for, but as I kept eating the smoke flavor mellowed and the cheddar started to come through. The flavors built nicely together and I ended up being happy with the dish. The portions size was just the right amount too.

After a long while, our two vegetable sides and entree arrived.

Vanilla, burnt cinnamon, beets, orange,macadamia nuts

I was excited about the beets a)because I have gotten into beets this year, and looking for any excuses to try them b) the flavors sounded good to me- more on the sweet side which I thought would be nice with the bitterness beets can have sometimes.

We both were slightly disappointed. The menu described the dish as having burnt cinnamon, which was a little overwhelming, with the other flavors being underwhelming. The beets were nice and tender and beautifully presented.

roasted carrots, glazed with coffee, buttermilk curd, hazelnuts

This was the dish Nancy was excited about, me not so much because I wasn’t sure what to expect with the coffee glaze, but I am always open to try. I have to tell you, this was my favorite of the three! The carrots were tender, with a light sweetness and a hint of coffee flavor. The glaze wasn’t to thick, just a nice coating. The hazelnuts were a perfect texture crunch with the carrots. I would definitely order this dish again!

roasted mushroom, parsnip tortellini, hibiscus, grapefruit, sage

And, our entree… when the dish was place on our table, I couldn’t believe how small the portion was for a $12 entree. There were only 6 tortellini pieces. I took a tortellini piece and instantly was overwhelmed by salt. My second piece was better. The tortellini was tender and perfect bite size. When we got to the bottom of the plate the beautiful hibiscus color peeked through, which I would have loved to seen drizzled on the plate or on the tortellini themselves. Overall, I didn’t find this dish flavorful.

Yes, Nancy and I were excited about trying a new restaurant with trendy foods and we left slightly disappointed, but the main purpose for our night out, was to catch up and that’s exactly what we got to do.

I would give The Third Bird 3 out of 5 tables. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, company and conversation were great, but the food was ok and service was friendly, but slow.

Have you been to The Third Bird? Comment below and let me know what you thought.

busy weekend….

Hello!! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, whether it be you relaxed, caught up on house projects, hung out with family and/or friends… I hope it was good.

I had an awesome and busy weekend!!  I usually open up my life to you through food posts, but this post is going to be about my adventures out on the town, the outfits I was loving this weekend and the newest member to my immediate family.

Let’s start with Friday night shall we….

Steve and I went out with our friends to a concert called The Last Waltz at The Cabooze in Minneapolis. Our friend Meg (from mymonochromaticlife) invited us. So, we joined her husband, and her family for a fun and inexpensive night out. The tickets were $10 each and drinks were between $4-6 for a tallboy beer.

To sum up The Last Waltz quickly:

The Band (yes, that was the name of the band) performed their farewell concert back in 1976, featuring guests from throughout their career. This included artists like Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and the list goes on.

This is reenacted by top Minnesota entertainers, some got into costume and others just got up on stage and had a good time performing.

It was fun to see a wide range of ages enjoying some live music together till about 1 am.

I was loving my outfit on Friday. I was going for a little more of a rocker feel which was inspired by the top that I wore.
    

the final song

Saturday Night:

Saturday night we celebrated Meg’s birthday with a large group of our friends at The Libertine in Calhoun Square in Minneapolis. It was a restaurant that I had been interested in trying so I was excited when she chose it.

The atmosphere was luxurious and comfy all at the same time. Since our group was larger, we were seated in a lounge area, which was nice because we could move around freely and get a view of the whole restaurant.

The menu had a variety of food choices to please everyone and delicious and pretty cocktails.

A pear life cocktail with cheddarwurst burger and steak fries

I was loving my dress from Primp (a local boutique and a must checkout). And, if I do say so myself, Steve was looking mighty handsome too. He was wearing a red and black checkered button down with gray blazer. I love that he enjoys and puts the effort into looking nice when we go out together!!

After, The Libertine we headed up to the Republic for another drink and to continue chatting. We ended up closing the bar. 🙂

Lastly, Sunday:

Meet the newest member of our family… our nephew Jorge.

He was a week old on Saturday. He slept pretty much the whole time we were with him, except for when it was time to eat, which is when I was fortunate enough to capture him with his eyes open. It was so much fun to see and hold a new born. I forgot how small they are!

Steve and I are going to love being an aunt and uncle! Since he lives an hour away, we won’t get to see him super often, but I am already looking forward to seeing him again.

Well that was my weekend! I hope everyone had a good one too!

Healthy start in 2015

If you are likely me and ate one to many cookies this holiday season… or are still enjoying some… guilty here.

Or if you made a New Year’s resolution to eat healthier, than I have just the recipe for you.

I made this recipe right before Christmas and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since.

Last, Winter Steve and I learned to like Brussels sprouts, so much that we ate them a lot and got sick of them. So, this Winter I am trying to not over do it. This dish was our first time enjoying our new favorite vegetable.

When scouring through my library of cookbooks for Brussels sprout recipes, I landed on one that sounded interesting and I wasn’t sure what to think, so naturally I had to make it!

This recipe comes from Power Foods Cookbook written by Weight Watchers. I got this book free from work, and this was my first time trying a recipe from it.

Here it is:

Brussels Sprouts with Chickpeas and Grapes

1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 large shallot, minced ( I used 1/4 cup red onion)*

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

1 1/2 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained

4 strips bacon, cooked and chopped*

1 tablespoon dry sherry or white grape juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

*items either I changed or added

1. Place Brussels sprouts in steamer basket and set in large skillet over 1 inch of boiling water. Cover tightly and steam until tender, about 10 minutes.

For this step, I used my rice cooker that has a steamer basket. And, the Brussels sprouts were steamed in 10 minutes.

washed Brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts trimmed and cut in half

Brussels sprouts in rice cooker

Rice cooker

2. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add shallots (or red onion), garlic, and thyme and cook, stirring constantly, until shallot (or red onion) is softened, about 2 minutes. Add grapes and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 3 minutes.

grapes sauteing with red onion, garlic and thyme

3. Add Brussels sprouts, chickpeas, bacon, sherry (or white grape juice), and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until chickpeas are heated through, 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle with lemon zest.

grapes and chickpeas

fresh ingredients

Brussels sprouts, grapes, chickpeas and bacon sauteing together

Steve and I had a chicken breast on the side that was simply seasoned with salt and pepper. I have to tell you guys, both Steve and I were really pleasantly surprised with this dish!

The freshness and brightness of the grapes, combined with the salty and meatiness of the chickpeas and bacon, paired really nice with the bitterness of the Brussels sprouts. As I mentioned I can’t wait to make this dish again!! I literally ate all of the side dish before I even touched the chicken.

I hope you try it and if you do, please comment below telling me what you think.

 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I apologize for my absences the last couple weeks. I have been on vacation and don’t know where the time has gone.

This holiday season has been a busy one and a lot of fun! Steve and I started by celebrating with my family with a nice dinner out at Erte (read about our Holiday Tradition part one and part two) then we were at his family for Christmas Eve.

But now to New Year’s Eve….

Steve and I invited our friends to our house to ring in the New Year. I absolutely love throwing parties! Creating a vision for the party, shopping and preparing the food and activities and witnessing and being apart of the fun with people that you love is really rewarding for me.

This year we decided to do a themed New Year’s party… casino night!

Last Winter, Steve and I built a poker table and we received a poker chip set for Christmas this year, so a casino night seemed fitting. The Monday and Tuesday before I was busy prepping, looking for casino themed decorations, a roulette game, sparkly attire and appetizer ingredients.

I was so excited for everyone to come that as soon as everyone arrived I couldn’t contain my excitement!!  I felt like a toy that was wound up and finally let go.

We had a lot of food… which is ok, when you are partying and drinking… I mean celebrating, until 4 am. 🙂

I made…

Fruit skewers– blueberries, strawberries and pineapple layered on bamboo skewers

Black-eyed pea hummus– for good luck, with a variety of crackers

1-16 oz bag of dried black-eyed peas

1 head of garlic

1/2 cup olive oil, divided

Salt

Pepper

1 fresh lemon, juiced

2 tablespoons dried parsley

1 teaspoon chili pepper

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

3 green onions, chopped

1. Soak and cook beans according to package directions.

2. Preheat oven to 425F. Rub off papery skins from outside of garlic and trim 1/2″ off top. Place on sheet of foil, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Wrap up foil and place on oven rack. Roast until garlic cloves are tender, about 30 minutes; let cool slightly.

3. Squeeze garlic into food processor. Add black- eyed peas, lemon juice, parsley, chili pepper and paprika and pulse until coarse puree forms. With motor running, drizzle 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil.

4. Transfer hummus to a medium bowl and mix in 2 chopped green onions; season with salt and pepper.

5. When ready to serve drizzle 2 tablespoons live oil and 1 green onion on top.

Pepperoni bread with marinara– this is something my mom likes to make

1 can refrigerated pizza dough

2 tablespoons Italian Seseasoning (more if desired)

3 oz pepperoni

1 cup shredded pizza cheese

1/4 Parmesan cheese

Roll out pizza dough onto greased cookie sheet, sprinkle with Italian seasoning. On half the the dough layer pepperoni evenly, sprinkle cheeses on top of pepperoni. Starting with pepperoni side, roll dough evenly into log. Bake as directed on pizza crust package. Cut into slices and serve with a marinara sauce on the side.

Fruit snacks soaked in vodka 

I was at a golf tournament one year and a group of people were serving gummy bears soaked in vodka and they were sooo delicious and dangerous. I mean you couldn’t even taste the vodka. So, I really wanted to make them for my friends. The gummy bears need to soak for at least three days. Make a long story short…I kept forgetting to buy the gummy bears. So, instead I used fruit snacks lying around the house (Steve and I LOVE fruit snacks, so naturally we had a ton in the house). They were good, but because I forgot to buy the, sooner they only sat for 24 hours, so they could have been better if they sat for more than that. Believe me, I will be trying the gummy bears for one of our parties.;)

Champagne jello shots with pop rocks

While searching for fun party themed food inspiration, I found this idea. Jello shots infused with champagne and lemon lime soda topped with pop rocks. I loved the pop rock addition, it brought me back to my youth, was a fun conversation piece with the group and I think everyone had a fun time eating them. The jello shots were good, but next time, I will use a flavored jello instead of unflavored.

And, gingerbread cookies topped with homemade buttercream frosting.

My friend Meg (at My Monochromatic Life ) and her husband Derek brought her famous pasta salad along with champagne served in adorable champagne glasses. They also brought some fun photo props! See pictures below.

Cody and Amanda brought the most delicious variety of deviled eggs, buffalo chicken dip and chips. And, some chocolates.

And, our friend Andy, brought a variety of chips, that we dove into while enjoying our champagne after midnight.

I was really bad about taking photos, so I asked Meg to share some of her photo’s. Make sure to check out her New Year’s post for more fun photos from the evening!

A Big Bowl of Spaghetti…

On Sunday, I was craving a BIG bowl of spaghetti!! So, I went rummaging through my cabinets to see if I had any pasta and pasta sauce or if I would be back to the grocery store for a second time. Luckily, I was in luck! I had pasta, ground turkey and Parmesan cheese… but no pasta sauce. As I pushed the cereal boxes to the left, canned corn to the right, I spotted just what I needed- tomato sauce. So, off I went to the cutting board to make a homemade pasta sauce, to go with my pasta to satisfy my big bowl of pasta craving.

Pasta Sauce:

1 lb ground turkey

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 teaspoons garlic, chopped

1/4 cup red wine

2 roma tomatoes, chopped

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 tablespoon sugar

2 tsp fresh thyme

1/4 fresh parsley, chopped

2 can tomato sauce

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 package pasta

Parmesan cheese (optional)

In heavy bottom pan brown ground turkey. Remove turkey and place in a separate bowl.

In same heavy bottom pan, over medium heat; add olive oil, followed by onions, cook until soft and translucent; add garlic, cook 1 minute. Carefully, pour wine into pan, scraping bottom of pan. Allow wine to boil and reduce by half.

Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, sugar, thyme, and parsley.

Add tomato sauce and tomato paste.

Then add ground turkey, and heat till warm.

While the sauce and turkey is heating; heat a large pot of water to a boil. Once, boiling, salt water generously (this is important step; it flavors the pasta) and add pasta. Cook according to package directions.

Once both the pasta and meat sauce is heated, serve immediately, with Parmesan cheese.

I dished up my pasta, took my picture (of course), then kicked up my feet and enjoyed my large bowl of pasta with a glass of red wine, going into my happy food world. I am so thankful that I had everything I needed to satisfy my pasta craving! It was just what I needed after a busy Sunday in the kitchen.

Make sure to come back on Friday to read about the Vegetable and Cheddar Frittatta I also made on Sunday.