Tag: photography

culinary institute

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Last night my friend Erin and I took a wine, cheese, and meats of Italy class at the Institute of Culinary Education…it was so. much. fun.  We learned all about the different grapes, regions of Italy, the different textures, flavors, and aromas of not only the wine, but cheese and salumi.  We had a great time pairing the wine with the food (obviously), and learning at the same time!

Here are some pictures from our amazing class:

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(did you know all salami is salumi, but not all salumi is salami?!)

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(we had 10 different wines!)

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I would recommend this class to anyone!  I want to take so many more now! Thanks so much M&D for this great gift.

xo-j

Busy bee

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As always, we have been running around.  Here are some pictures from life lately…

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(spring)

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(city view from cab)

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(night in with my loves jac & char)

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(my amazing homemade turkey burger. i brought the leftovers to work and here is the result.  thank you so much kitchen jerk whoever you are)

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(the annual  festival of tom)

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(even rondo had a case of the mondays)

xo-j

chicken pasta

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My Mom is an amazing cook…but much to her annoyance, all of our favorite meals she makes take her 20 minutes.  She can spend hours and hours making a meal, and we will all love it just about the same as the simple things.  Having been cooking on my own for a while now, I understand why this makes her nuts.  To spend hours on a cake when everyone would rather eat the Shop Rite cookies…ugh!

Anyway, she gave me this recipe for chicken pasta and it has become a staple in our apartment.  Jay’s #1 request…so I thought I would share since, at the end of the work day, who has 4 hours to make the food network version of recipes with 984 ingredients, when everyone loves the simple recipe just as much, if not more!

CHICKEN PASTA

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WHAT YOU NEED:

1 lb chicken breast
2 cans cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup (i use one of each)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup parm
1 box ziti
Frozen broccoli (or frozen mix)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Brown and dice the chicken in a deep pan (that has a lid)with a little oil & butter.  I put some red pepper flakes on mine in the pan, let it brown, then dice in the pan.

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2. While the chicken is browning, bring a pot of water to a boil for the ziti.

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3. Once the chicken is browned, add the milk, parm, and soup.  Stir it up, bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer.

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4. Cover the chicken mix and let it simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

5. Cook the pasta for the recommended time on the box (normally 10 minutes).  The last 3 minutes of the pasta cooking, add your frozen broc or frozen mix to the boiling pasta.

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(so if it is 10 minute pasta time, after 7 minutes add the broc, return to boil for the remaining 3 minutes)

6. Drain the pasta/veg mix, and add to the simmering chicken/soup mix that has been cooking for 10 minutes (it’s ok if it has been longer)…

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7. Now stir it alllllll up!

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8. Top with the cheddar.  The recipe says 1/2 cup…both my Mom and I are cheese liberal, I use at least a cup…probably more.  Then cover so it melts on top (about 1 minute) and you are done! Look how delicious!!

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That is it!  Easy, delicious, happy.  In an effort to be healthy I served ours with a little salad that I made (arugula, strawberries, parm, and homemade dressing)…

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Beware, making this recipe will result in you making this recipe thousands of times because everyone loves it!  Thanks Mom!

xo-j

 

tub

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Thank God for Jay…last night I brought Rondo back from daycare and didn’t notice anything weird on the walk home.  But as soon as he ran in the door Jay immediately stopped him before he could jump all over our bed.  Rondo rolled in I don’t even want to know what at daycare yesterday and he stunk! Before my jacket was even off we had him in the tub for a bath…look at the face…

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If that isn’t the face of a dog who knows he did something wrong, I don’t know what is.

cookie time

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On Sunday I thought I was going to go nuts if I didn’t eat a cookie!  I was too tired (ok, lazy) to bundle up and go buy cookies at the store…then I realized, I had everything I needed to make cookies at home.  They were so easy, ready in about 20 minutes, and delicious!!  You can find the easy recipe here.  I skipped the nuts and added some cinnamon. Mmm…

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I then ate at least 11 of these and had a tummy ache…oh well, it was worth it!

xo-j

 

the 60th!

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This weekend was Dad’s 60th birthday dinner!  We had a great time seeing friends that are more like family, and celebrating with him.  Jay and I traveled home early Saturday morning and within 5 hours ate two huge meals out with my family…nothing like home!  I wish we could have stayed longer, but the short time we had there was a blast (rondo was loving life too with his bff kitty caesar).  Here are some fun party pics of the family, and then of course, food!

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(part of the party crew & then the late night party crew!)

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(only in nj can you get porkroll like this…mmm)

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(even rondo was tired when we got home)

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We need to sleep ours off, but no rest…tonight we go see D’angelo at Brooklyn Bowl!!

xo-j

that escalated quickly…

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Last night we went to dinner with friends to Patrizia‘s and man oh man, did we eat, and drink…so much…got a little wild fast.  We did family style and they just kept on bringing food…we had at least 8 appetizers, chicken parm, steak, pasta, salad, and then a huge dessert plate.  Oh yea, and the wine was included…

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(btw, those are magnum bottles)

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(dinner cuties)

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(the white is mozzarella stuffed with ricotta imported from italy…oh. my. god)

This morning we are licking our wounds, but it was worth it.  If you are ever in the area, go to Patrizia’s, it’s amazing.

(jaybub, thanks for loving me even when i yell and tell gross stories in public. love you)

xo-j

Hot Chocolate Day

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I never know when hot chocolate day is going to come…but when it does, I lose my cool.  I’m basically Stanley Hudson! Once or twice a year 30 Rock does a hot chocolate tasting where all the best places (godiva, potbelly, bouchon) give away free hc…and oh man, is it magnificent.  I know, I know, it’s only hot chocolate, but anything to help make work feel a little happier right?IMG_6267
(my first two cups)

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On top of free hc day, look at these two besties hanging out…

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Tonight and tomorrow we have dinner with friends, and then home for the weekend to celebrate my Dad’s birthday!

xo-j

Rondo & The Mouse (video)

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Yesterday I was home with a sore throat and Jay had his work from home day…the video below was by far the best part of the day (though dinner was a close second)…

Not sure who was more amused here…probably us.  The end is the best, notice what has happened to the computer haha…

Man, does he crack us up.

xo-j