Broccoli Pesto

Want to know a secret?

Good. Because I'm going to tell you anyways.

This pesto is better than the real pesto...for real.

And it's healthier. So you can eat,like, the whole thing instead of two teaspoons.

Broccoli Pesto
Adapted from Everyday Food

1 bunch of broccoli cut into pieces (about 4 cups)
1/2 c. packed parsley or basil
1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese
the juice of 1 lemon juice
1/4 c. olive oil
1 clove of garlic
Salt and pepper
1 can (15.5) Cannelloni beans
10 oz. of cooked pasta


In a large pot of boiling water cook broccoli until very tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a food processor. Refill pan with water and return to stove to cook the pasta.


Meanwhile, add the remaining ingredients and half of the beans to the processor. Puree until smooth. 


Mix the pesto along with the remaining beans into the pasta or serve it on top of the pasta and top it off with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

Work to Play

Dress & Belt: Calvin Klein

Tights: Target

Flats: Cole Haan

Heels: Shoe Dazzle (Temptress style)

Sweater:Charlotte Russe

Jacket: Forever 21

Clutch: Vintage

My schedule as of late has been one giant modge podge of a jumbled mess. 

It's hard for me to keep a lot of things straight, including my clothes and possibly my brain.

Work earrings                        >>>>                                  Play earrings                                                                             

Actually it's really quite hysterical the amount of things I'm trying to jungle. Yes I wrote jungle when really I meant juggle....go ahead and laugh.

With everything to do, I have learned to become a pro at taking outfits from day to night. At any given time you will probably find me with an extra pair of shoes, a clutch stuffed inside my handbag in which  there may or may not be jewelry, possibly two scarves around my neck and I don't know, maybe a jar of cookie butter because you never know when you might get hungry on the run.

You can never be too prepared...

The Cooking Couple-Stuffed Acorn Squash

One of my absolute favorite things to do is to cook with Mr. Runway Chef. We both find it to be so enjoyable and relaxing.

For that reason, I decided to start a new section on the blog, appropriately titled the "The Cooking Couple". It will include recipes that are just enough for two and are more fun to make as a couple then they are alone....aka you give directions and make him do all the work :)

We had bought a turkey around Thanksgiving  and last night we finally got around to cooking it (only 3 months too late...oops!).

To make it more fun we decided to recreate a mini thanksgiving meal but with simpler and healthier side dishes (trying to remember those new years resolutions....emphasis on trying!). 

Acorn squash is not only incredibly healthy but it just so happens to be the perfect amount for two people. Combining it with a few other ingredients helped make it extra special for our Sunday night dinner.

Stuffed Acorn Squash
1 acorn squash
1/4 c. onion,chopped
4 slices of (turkey) bacon,chopped
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp. of maple syrup
Olive oil
Italian Bread crumbs

Heat your oven to 350 degrees. Cut the acorn squash in half and place each half face down in a glass baking dish. Fill with about an inch of water, then baking until soft, about 30-45 minutes.

In a medium skillet, heat a splash of olive oil then saute the bacon and onions. Scoop out the insides of the squash and add that to the pan along with the cheese and syrup. Stir to combine.

Stuff each shell with the filling and top with a sprinkling of bread crumbs. Bake for 10 more minutes.

Chili Cheese Hummus Crackers

Since I ruined your diet so soon after the new years with some goodies, I figured I would redeem myself with these crackers.

I'm not much of a believer in diets of any sort but instead I like to eat sensible portions (except for maybe ice cream) clean foods ( again except for maybe ice cream...oops!) and as much home made as is feasible.

That aside it is still quite frequently that I will get cravings for various things (yessss ice cream!) that aren't quite so bad if made from scratch.

These have a similar taste to cheez-its but because of the chickpeas they are much more nutritious (lots of fiber to keep you full!) and are too easy to make to even think about buying them.

Chili Cheese Hummus Crackers 
Inspired by a recipe from Everyday Food


1 can (15.5 oz) of Chickpeas
1 1/2 c. flour
3/4 tsp. Salt
1 1/2 tsp. Chili powder
A dash of pepper
1/2 c. Cheddar cheese,grated
6 tbsp. of water
5 tbsp. of butter

 In a food processor puree chickpeas. Add in spices,butter and cheese and continue mixing. Lastly mix in the flour and enough water to make a dough (you may find you need more than 6 tablespoons). Divide dough in half and on a lightly floured surface roll out each half one at a time to an 1/8" thick. Cut into strips or whatever shape you desire. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake just until golden brown about 20 minutes. Immediately remove from the pan and cool on a rack. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Samoa Cookie Bars

Yeah, I said Samoa Cookie Bars.

Ohhhhh...did you go stock up on fruits and veggies...and join a gym..and throw out all remaining holiday goodies??

Leave it to me to ruin all your hard work.

Actually, you can thank Pinterest for this one. Of course I had to browse through the recipes and of course I had to see Samoa Cupcakes so of course I had to think up a Samoa concoction. Who can say no to Girl Scout cookies??

These are very easy, require simple ingredients (no lengthy Carmel sauce making here), are ridiculously delicious (let's just say you will never have to spend $5 on a box of cookies again) and, just in case we haven't established this already, very much a sabatoger (I'm not sure if this is a word....but it is now!) of all things diet.

Happy...dieting??

Samoa Bars

1 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter,softened
A pinch of salt
3/4 c. condensed milk
3/4 c. butterscotch chips

1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. coconut, toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 x 8 pan and set aside.

In a mixing bowl (or kitchen aid) beat together first four ingredients until well combined. Press firmly into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 12 minutes (it will not be completely baked). Remove from oven and pour on the condensed milk, then the butterscotch chips followed by the coconut and lastly the chocolate chips. Continue baking until set,about 20 more minutes. Cool and cut into squares.



(This can easily be doubled and baked in a 9 x 13 pan for about 10 minutes longer)

2012

I'm a little late in saying this but Happy New Years (the holidays really messed up my schedule)!

We brought  in the new year in a casual but very fun way by spending the weekend at our friend's lake house in New Hampshire. It was full of good food (like brie wrapped in phyllo with Carmel sauce...thank you Carrie!!!) yummy drinks (champagne jello shots), pretty scenery and some fancy jewels (even if you don't go out it's still fun to dress up!).

2011 wasn't the greatest of years so I am glad that it is finally behind me. Lots of upcoming changes and projects will be happening, including right here on the blog (so make sure to check back often...perhaps another contest will be coming your way?!).

In the meantime you can keep up with me/like me/follow me/stalk me via Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin', Pinterest, Instagram (under Runway Chef) and of course I would love getting a good ol' fashioned comment on any of my posts :)

Thank you again as always to all who take them time to read what I have to write. I wish you all the best in 2012!

Christmas

Dress, belt, and coat: thrifted from Rag-O-Rama (coat was last years find; dress is originally Target Mossimo), Earrings:KT Collection, Gloves:Duffy's, Shoes:Steve Madden, Bag:Chanel

Yes, I know Christmas was on Sunday. 

No, I am not stupid. 

And yes, I like to do things backwards.... Or wait til the last minute. 

 I had envisioned my Christmas outfit for quite sometime (OK,like a week) based all around these shoes. I liked the idea of using bows as the theme because of presents with...OK,OK you get it. I mean I'm so cliche it's disturbing, I know. 

 Anywho, I envisioned this but my vision had yet to materialize. I hurriedly packed for Indy and hoped that I threw something together for an outfit.Once in Indy, I hurriedly rushed out the door for some last minute gifts and realized I had probably forgotten the half of an outfit I had almost forgotten when packing. 

We managed to squeeze in a quick stop at my absolute favorite vintage store,Rag-o-Rama, and as luck would have it they had the exact outfit I had envisioned. And for only $18. It was a Christmas miracle. 

 Sometimes, it really is the little things in life....