Warm Goat Cheese, Beet, and Pink Grapefruit Salad

This baby can be considered an Inna Garten meets Jaleo meets necessity. At Knaus Berry Farm, the Amish sold these absolutely beautiful red beets and some truly succulent butter lettuce. Having recently been introduced to the goodness of beets by my friend Jaime, I had to try and make them for my family at home. We are not by nature a beet-eating people, but we are goat cheese and grapefruit eaters. I whipped this up as a healthy lunch for my mom and dad and it was delish and relatively simple (but totally worth it).

1. Peel and dice beets, season with salt, pepper and olive oil. Place in a foil covered baking dish for about 45 minutes. (This you can do ahead)

2. Peel and section a pink grapefruit reserving some of the juice to make the vineagrette.

3. Crack an egg and beat it. Dip slices of soft goat cheese and then coat in seasoned bread crumbs. (We had to use crushed saltines, not having had bread crumbs in the house, but I would go with the bread crumbs if you have the option). Sautee the breaded slices in a skillet with a bit of olive oil until golden and soft inside.

4. Prepare the viniagrette. 1/4 cup pink grapefruit juice, 1/2 cup olive oil (really good quality stuff) and salt and pepper to taste.

5. Break up the butter lettuce. Toss with the beets, grapefruit and dressing and top with a piece of the warm goat cheese.

Mmmm, mmmm! Healthy, colorful and delicious!

Babyweight, Inc.: A little sisterly PR

Hey there, everyone! Yesterday was a cold, wet, dreary day. Thank goodness it was Friday! Today I got a boost from the sun and from my sister's awesome blog. My sister, Luly, is an amazing woman. She has a doctorate in physical therapy, two kids, and is starting her own business to help women get back in shape post-baby. The name and the logo say it all: BABYWEIGHT: Use it to lose it. It's all about bonding with your baby and using that cute little munchkin to get your body back in shape. She has the practical experience plus the clinical know-how that makes her blog a must read for anyone struggling with some post-partum pounds. I know there are some mommas-to-be who read this blog, and you should definitely check out hers for fitness tips and stress management. She is coming up with a couple of products that will be awesome for the post-natal crowd! Plus, she has lots of posts that even non-mommys can relate to, like trying to get into a pair of skinny jeans or running through puddles.

Check out her website: http://www.babyweightinc.com/HOME.html

Or her blog: http://babyweightinc.blogspot.com/

She also has some really cute pics of her kids!!! They are just delicious!

Coming soon!

These pictures are long overdue on the blog. I actually took them while I was down in Miami for Blizzard 2010 part II. When I got back, there was sooooo much snow around I felt bad posting pics of vine ripening tomatos and juicy strawberries. It just seemed wrong, but now that the sun and the 70s have returned it seems perfect for a preview. These lovely tomatos and strawberries are growing at Knaus Berry Farm in the Redlands. The farm is run by snow-bird Mennonites, who are the highlight of many a South Florida celebration with their excellent sticky buns, fresh produce and outstanding strawberry shakes.

How could the shakes not be awesome with berries like this growing in their back yard?

This little tomato was just too cute to resist!

New Blog discovered!

Hey everyone, I had a little break today to troll the internet and explore some new blogs and I found one I love!

Cara's Cravings

I found it while reading the comments here. Cara has some really great healthy spins on foods you already love. Plus she's not afraid to use big flavors and try something new, like these spicy thai fishcakes or crock-pot Mongolian beef. She also has great recipes for Jewish favorites, which would also be a great addition to any Easter dinner!

Enjoy the sun, Arlingtonians, Marylanders, and Districters!

Sausage, Green Pepper and Onion Pasta

My favorite pizza topping combination usually involves thinly sliced green peppers and sweet onions, add sausage to the mix and you have a winner. This week, I thought I would bring the same flavors to a pasta dinner that would be both quick and delicious. So here's the run down:

I cooked up some Italian sausages (4) in the oven, 350 for 25 minutes in a foil covered pan. As they cooled, I sliced up the 1 green bell pepper and one medium yellow onion, and I minced 2 cloves of garlic as well. Once the sausage had cooled enough to handle, I sliced them diagonally and tossed them into a frying pan with about 2 tbsps of olive oil. Once they browned in went the green peppers, onions, garlic, and a dash of red pepper flakes for heat.

In the meantime, I boiled some water and poured in about 1/2 a pound of whole wheat spaghetti. Once this was al dente and the peppers and onions were softened and a little browned I mixed it all together and added about a 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese.

Super yummy, satisfying and a great way to take the pizzeria into the kitchen.

Shopping list:
Whole wheat pasta
1 green bell pepper
1 yellow onion (medium)
Garlic
Red pepper flakes
Parmesan cheese
(Salt and pepper, but who doesn't have these at home?)

The Gibson

We finally made it! After weeks, no months of thinking about classic cocktails and hidden entrances, Vince and I casually walked up U Street, turned on 14th and knocked on the big black door next to Marvin. It was Thursday night, before 10 and we felt so cool when the door man answered and whisked us up to the second floor bar, much to the amazement of our fellow pedestrians (I'm not sure that we would have such luck on the weekend). The interior is just what you would imagine, dark and cozy with a hint of Prohibition-era glam to it. The cocktails on the menu are enticing, even if I hadn't heard of half of the liquors used, but what's even better is that the bar-tenders will chat you up and make you something original based on your preferences. We went one for one, Vince ordered the Royal off the menu and it was ruby red and deliciously smoky. I asked for something citrusy and not too sweet and got a mojito inspired cocktail with a gorgeous mint leaf floating on top.

On our way out, we got a peak at the downstairs bar and it is sensuous, stunning and more lively than the upstairs. Plus, we got a glance at the fabled black leather bar. Very cool.

Definitely a great place to hang out or go for a date!