Sunshine Girl

recipe box: think spring

my kitchen has been craving a little action, ok, a lot of action. i'm thinking these spring recipes will make the cut. i better get to work. my roommates and my stomach are both excited to taste test. simplicity seems to be the theme, which is perfect for the spring and summer. the less i have to do, the more time i have to enjoy the food..and the wine. (of course) there's definitely something to be said for using better, in-season ingredients in the spring and summer though. things taste fresher with in-season tomatoes, asparagus, cucumbers, etc. and through local csa programs and the great greenmarkets offered in nyc, it's nice to know where much of your food comes from. bon appetit!

grilled polenta cakes, via two peas and their pod

japanese potato salad, via tokyo terrace

tortellini & spring vegetable salad, via the kitchn

simple sardine pasta, via the kitchenist

taste test

so, on friday, i was in the mood for a lighter dinner and i've been wanting to try this recipe from the kitchn for awhile now. i finally tested it out, and i think it will become a new go-to dinner option. it's made with less than 8 ingredients and tastes fresh, filling and is really simple to make. plus, anything with bacon in it has me sold. find the recipe below (with some of my noted modifications), and test it out this week. you won't be disappointed.

via here

Roasted Potatoes with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
serves 4

1 tablespoon olive oil (feel free to add a little more olive oil)
1 tablespoon whole grain mustard (i used yellow mustard and honey mustard, more like 2 tablespoons)
3 to 4 medium yukon gold potatoes, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1 shallot, thinly sliced (i used red onion instead)
3 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
10 to 12 medium brussels sprouts (about 1/2 pound), trimmed and quartered

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil and mustard. Toss the potatoes, shallot/onion, and bacon in the bowl until evenly coated with the mustard and oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt and a few grinds of fresh pepper.

Spread the potato mixture in a baking dish (a 9-inch square pan works) and roast for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Add the brussels sprouts to the pan and stir so that they are coated in some of the rendered bacon fat. Continue roasting for about 20 more minutes (stirring once), until the potatoes are cooked through and the bacon is getting crispy. Salt to taste.

Enjoy with your favorite bottle of wine. In my case, a Lambrusco from Trader Joe's.

recipe infographics

i love love love these clever recipe infographics by katie shelly. cute and useful, they show the whole cooking process, often lost in text-heavy recipes (which are still useful, but simply not quite as fun). katie brings a fun, visual element to cooking that lets you see the whole thing through. so smart! now, onto pesto, sweet potato fries and eggplant parm!

images via here, found here

fontina, spinach and bacon shells

it's cold cold cold outside baby, and all i want to eat is this semi-healthy (thanks spinach), semi-not (thanks bacon) version of mac and cheese. maybe my diet can turn a blind eye to this. maybe not. with miami less than 50 days away, it's time to get even more serious. but still, i'm going to put this dish from good life eats on my post-miami recipe list. to be enjoyed...

via here

not so average asparagus

this recipe from steamy kitchen combines three of my favorite foods. how could i not love it? not to mention, it looks so easy and beautiful when plated too. this is definitely next on my list of go-to recipes. perfectly cooked asparagus, a fried, but still runny egg, a dash of salt and pepper and salty shavings of parmesean cheese. sounds like perfection to me.

find the recipe here

chop chop

the coolest cutting boards in the country might have to be the ones below from aheirloom. i found out about it through thrillist and they make cutting boards shaped like each state in the country, and the best part? you can customize a heart on your favorite part of the board. how cute would these be for a dinner party as an appetizer plate?

i'm partial to new jersey and new york, but had to throw in a little massachusetts love since i'm headed to boston tomorrow for a road trip with some girlfriends. it's a much needed day off and getaway and i can't wait to explore! adios 'til monday!

buy them here

roast chicken

happy november all! so i had some free time last night, and decided to tinker around in the kitchen. i saw this rosemary and lemon chicken on sparkling ink, and decided to give it a try. it looked easy enough and was exactly what i needed in the chilly weather. about an hour later, i had a delicious chicken roast coming out of the oven which also made my apartment smell amazing. highly recommend this dish if you're looking for an easy, hearty but healthy dish. and the best part--i think it actually tastes better on day 2.

sweet chili baby back ribs

i would like this to be my dinner tonight. unfortunately, i don't have 4+ hours to spare, so i'll have to file the recipe away for a rainy day, because i'm pretty sure these sweet chili baby back ribs will hit the spot. they are reminding me of the asian zing buffalo wings at buffalo wild wings, which my friends heran and misa introduced me to, but if i could make those suckers at home on my own, i'd be one happy camper. seriously, tell me you didn't just get really hungry...

 

via steamy kitchen

puzzleboard party

i laid eyes on this and now i must have it. puzzle pieces, another thing near and dear to my heart, as a cutting board? i'm sold. except i wouldn't use it for chopping on, oh no, only for admiring from afar and eating yummy snacks off of. really, i can't think of a more stylish party tray--can you? buy it here!

 

 

via a cup of jo

portable grills

i want one this summer. i definitely don't have space for a big grill this summer, but with the thought of potential cookouts, camping trips and impromptu grilled dinners, i think a mini-portable grill would be a good investment for me. some options i'm considering below. the first is a gas grill that looks attractive enough, the second is a cool folding charcoal grill and the last one is charcoal, but too cute for words. obviously, i'm partial to the super cute green one. obviously gas would be cleaner and more convenient than charcoal..still, for the sheer color of it, green may have to be mine.

 

buy it here

 

buy it here

 

buy it here!