Recent Obsession

I like LOVE popcorn. For a different twist on your usual buttery popcorn try this...Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popcorn Mini Lime + Salt.  Not only does this come in a small snack bag, but it's such a nice, healthy, light snack! Try it, I doubt you'll go back to your regular popcorn!

It also comes in salt and pepper. But I'm partial to my lime and salt.

Try it, let me know what you think!!

Chicken Caesar Sandwich Recipe- Ina Garten

A normal day for Tony and I revolves around watching FoodNetwork. As we were watching today, I started to drool over this sandwich....although I haven't tried it yet, it was a simple recipe to follow, easy to assemble, and looked absolutely delicious.

CHICKEN CAESAR SANDWICH- Ina Garten

Ingredients

• 2 split (1 whole) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
• Good olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 ounces thinly sliced pancetta
• 1 large garlic clove, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste
• 1 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup good mayonnaise
• 1 large ciabatta bread
• 2 ounces baby arugula, washed and spun dry
• 12 sun-dried tomatoes, in oil
• 2 to 3 ounces Parmesan, shaved

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan skin side up. Rub the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until cooked through. Cool slightly, discard the skin and bones, and slice the meat thickly. Set aside.
Meanwhile, place the pancetta on another sheet pan in a single layer. Roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until crisp. Set aside to drain on paper towels.
Place the garlic and parsley in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until minced. Add the anchovy paste, mustard, lemon juice, and mayonnaise and process again to make a smooth dressing. (Refrigerate the Caesar dressing if not using it immediately.)
Slice the ciabatta in half horizontally and separate the top from the bottom. Toast the bread in the oven, cut side up, for 5 to 7 minutes; cool slightly. Spread the cut sides of each piece with the Caesar dressing. Place half the arugula on the bottom piece of bread and then layer in order: the sun-dried tomatoes, shaved Parmesan, crispy pancetta, and sliced chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and finish with another layer of arugula. Place the top slice of ciabatta on top and cut in thirds crosswise. Serve at room temperature.

I am sure there are tons of shortcuts you can take, roasted chicken, store dressing, etc, but doesn't it look good? Who is going to come over and help me eat this when I make it this week!?

<3 Jenn

11:55pm-my first TILT...do it- I won't you say?

I've noticed that most blogs do TILT's on thursdays or "Things I Love Thursday"...which I am now going to try and do in my last remaining minutes of my thursday....my very first TILT, how exciting!! Most of these loves I can share from my first half of my summer vacation.

LOVE
hot summer nights
strawberries
campfires
smores or "storms" as kenzie calls them
1000 Islands
summery drinks
backyard bbq's
Dinosaur BBQ with best friends from Florida!
swimming
hearing "i love you"
photography
bob marley
a clean car
family time
Sam Adams Summer Ale
ADK's
simplicity
LoveSpell
visits from faraway friends
the sun
happiness
clarity

What do you love??

The Black Olive...a MUST!

Although I love to cook, I equally love people who cook for me...it adds a different point of view to food that you might have eat million times before. One of those places that has taken Mediterranean cuisine to the next level is The Black Olive located in downtown Syracuse. I know, you must be thinking a second posting on a restaurant downtown? Well, one I am back to having a somewhat predictable life where I am able to finally go out and enjoy myself, and two I've never really experienced the downtown restaurants until now....and so far, I'm impressed!

The Black Olive is a small Mediterranean restaurant with a lot of charm. It feels although you are sitting at home, with friends and family as you are welcomed into their home. The staff was wonderful, courteous, and always smiling.

Now, onto the most important part....the food. I decided to go with a sure bet, the Chicken Souvlaki platter,....for me I always tend to order food I am already somewhat familiar with,... for two reasons, one I like to know what I am going to be eating, and two I know I'd most likely enjoy the meal,...what I wasn't ready for what a taste explosion in my mouth- that's right, I said it,...TASTE EXPLOSION! The chicken skewers were tender and so full of flavor, while the potato wedges were steamed to perfection with various Mediterranean flavors bursting in my mouth with each bite, I couldn't stop myself.

But,... my favorite of the night was a simple, yet traditional appetizer. The pita points and tzatiki sauce, a Mediterranean classic... was downright a-mazing. In fact, I couldn't get enough of it from the appetizer, I asked for an additional cup of this yogurty piece of heaven to accompany my main dish. The garlicky, lemon, cucumber yogurt sauce made me fall in love with Mediterranean food all-over-again.

It didn't take long for The Black Olive to become my new favorite restaurant. With it's reasonable prices, and homey atmosphere I recommend this venue for a nice evening out with friends or family. You will not be disappointed with all the big flavors you will be experiencing when you sit yourself down to an authentic Mediterranean meal......

<3 Jenn

Love is All You Need...

I can't get enough of Dwight...maybe it's his sparkling personality, witty charm, or seductive good looks, but I love him. No matter how tough my day has been, he always makes me smile =)

<3 Jenn

Inspiration of the Week

Follow your heart...and do what you know is right...it will never lead you wrong.

<3
Jenn

To damask or not damask...

It's always been a dream of mine to have one of those WOW bedrooms. One that has design, warmth, and comfort. Now that we own our own home, decoratingthe bedroom is my next job, scratch that, ADVENTURE! Luckily I have a husband who supports whatever design ideas I may have, so tackling this project makes it even more fun!

For weeks I've wanted a bold print...at first it was damask...With wall colors like this....

But then I fell in love with this print from JCPenney ... still has that bold black and white I was looking for, but more girly. Love the softness it brings to the room...

Then with some cool accents above the bed like this....

Tell me, am I crazy, or do I have something here....

<3
Jenn