Foodie Fridays: The Glorious Pasta of Italy

This post is inspired by Geeky Blogger Book Blog's Foodie Friday's meme.  The actual meme was discontinued but I'd still love to share some amazing cookbook finds.  With the popularity of food blogs and Pinterest, you rarely find a need to actually purchase a cookbook.  BUT there are some that are still work the purchase.

You can find some of my previous Foodie Friday posts here.

The Glorious Pasta of Italy by Domenica Marchetti
Amazon | Kindle

Let's talk pasta!!  Let me just admit that I was afraid of the stuff for quite a while.  I mean, everyone knows that too much pasta = carb overload = bad news.  But then I went to Italy.

This book is more than a cookbook.  It instructs you on the different types of pasta,  sauce pairings, and of course, how to make various pasta and sauce on your own.  A pasta maker is not a must but the hubby and I did buy one.

Let me just say that making pasta is the perfect date night.  You need very few ingredients, it's quite easy, and you have the perfect excuse to drink wine!!

This one is a cooking class in book form.  Loves it!!

P.S.  There are pictures!!

Foodie Fridays: Chicken Tortilla Soup & Avocado BLT

I'm back again participating in the Geeky Blogger Book Blog's new Foodie Friday's meme.  She started this meme to combine her two faves--books and cooking.  Seeing as how I share those loves AND cooking decreases my stress, I couldn't contain my excitement.  I could kill two birds with one stone. It will be the perfect addition to Reflections of a Bookaholic as other content will slow and I can document my cooking.

I've picked my next cookbook for case study!  I'm excited for a number of reasons.  In case you forgot (because it has been awhile), I cook and review 3 or 4 recipes out of a cookbook each Foodie Friday and end the study with a review on the cookbook.

Our next book up is:

Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast 24/7: 5 Ingredient, 15 minute recipes

 

This particular cookbook advertises 5 ingredient recipes (but this is a little misleading) that can be cooked in less than 15 minutes.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients


Olive oil
chopped onion
Garlic clove
Fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
Water
Shredded cooked chicken
Fresh Lime Juice
Chipotle Chile Powder
Diced tomatoes and green chiles
Tortilla strips

My thoughts:
First, I think the 5 ingredient refers to 5 main ingredients or something.  Clearly, there are more than five ingredients here.

Second, this recipe was a disaster.  It was not good for me but I think it is because I have a different idea of chicken tortilla soup and I should have known that this wouldn't work for me.  It was very watery and the tortilla strips kind of sunk quickly to the bottom.  Not what I'm accustomed to!

So.... I wanted to present a second recipe because it didn't sit well with me.


Avocado BLT

Ingredients

Creamy Avocado Spread
Thin-sliced 15-grain bread
Gourmet salad greens
Tomato Slices
Center-cut bacon slices, cooked

My thoughts:
First, this book sly gets around the 5 ingredient thing by creating a different recipe for the creamy avocado spread.  I didn't follow it because I had ideas for my own.  But I LOVED the idea.  I've heard of adding avocados to a sandwich but I'm not a fan.  But I am a big fan of adding a healthy avocado spread to my sandwich.

Second, the recipe included helpful information about different types of bacon and I discovered that center-cut bacon is healthier than other cuts.  I might have known this but I enjoyed the reminder.

Lastly, this was quite simple and I'm not sure you would even call it a recipe, but I absolutely loved it.  It was a fresh idea for me.  My lunch was fantastic this week.

That's it for this week!  Ya'll don't judge me on that chicken tortilla soup.  I promise I can cook :)

Foodie Fridays... New Cookbook Up

I'm back again participating in the Geeky Blogger Book Blog's new Foodie Friday's meme.  She started this meme to combine her two faves--books and cooking.  Seeing as how I share those loves AND cooking decreases my stress, I couldn't contain my excitement.  I could kill two birds with one stone. It will be the perfect addition to Reflections of a Bookaholic as other content will slow and I can document my cooking.

I've picked my next cookbook for case study!  I'm excited for a number of reasons.  In case you forgot (because it has been awhile), I cook and review 3 or 4 recipes out of a cookbook each Foodie Friday and end the study with a review on the cookbook.

Our next book up is:

Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast 24/7: 5 Ingredient, 15 minute recipes

 

We'll get started with this one next week.  Until then, don't forget to answer the poll.  I want to make sure I prioritize the things you guys care about when reviewing.

 

Foodie Fridays... Poll: What do you look for in a recipe/cookbook?

I'm back again participating in the Geeky Blogger Book Blog's new Foodie Friday's meme.  She started this meme to combine her two faves--books and cooking.  Seeing as how I share those loves AND cooking decreases my stress, I couldn't contain my excitement.  I could kill two birds with one stone. It will be the perfect addition to Reflections of a Bookaholic as other content will slow and I can document my cooking.

This week's Foodie Friday post asks about you!! I want to get an idea of what people look for in cookbooks or recipes.  So please tell me what you think by answering the poll below.  I hope to use the results to make my reviews more helpful in the future.  If you choose "other" as an answer choice, please tell me why in the comments.

P.S.  I'm participating in a giveaway hop this week and answering this poll is an entry.  Although the giveaway isn't up yet, check back by the end of the night to enter the giveaway.

Foodie Fridays... Hungry Girl Supermarket Survival (Review)

Hungry Girl Supermarket Survival: Aisle by Aisle by Lisa Lillien
Genre: Cooking
Pages: 256 (paperback)
Source: Purchase
Hungry Girl |  Twitter
Buy it: Amazon | Kindle | B&N

Description:
Finally . . . a real-world guide that will help you navigate the supermarket and stock up on guilt-free foods, from mealtime must-haves to snack finds and more! It’s Hungry Girl’s ultimate resource for grocery-store survival---a must-own manual that makes shopping for better-for-you foods easy and fun! Inside you’ll find:

Hungry Girl’s amazingly comprehensive supermarket guide is your key to guilt-free shopping, eating, and living!

If you don't like to cook or don't have time to cook, never fear!  This is the Foodie Friday post for everyone.  Read on and I'll explain why.

My Review:

No Foodie Fridays BUT...

Fourth of July really threw me a bit off schedule.  I didn't realize today was Friday!  Anywho...there is no Foodie Fridays this week, but don't forget to check out my first ever Cookbook Review here.  First cookbook review ever!!

I really want to know the types of things you look for in a cookbook so that I can write helpful reviews.  Plus...of course, I love when you read my posts.  AND it is one cookbook that I'm really excited about.

Come on... you want to check it out :)

Foodie Fridays: Review of The Complete Quick Cook

The Complete Quick Cook from Cooking Light
Genre: Cookbook
Pages: 352
Source: Gift
Buy it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depo

Short Description:
The Top Ten Secrets of a Quick Cook Over 200 recipes that can be prepared in under 30 minutes
Even Faster: easy tips within the recipes for making that particular recipe even faster!
On the Side: short sentence recipes for super-quick side dish ideas
Savvy in a Snap: ingredient spotlights of where to find certain ingredients and how to use them

My Rating:

My Review:

Foodie Fridays: Chinese Five Spice Steak with Rice Noodles

I'm back again participating in the Geeky Blogger Book Blog's new Foodie Friday's meme.  She started this meme to combine her two faves--books and cooking.  Seeing as how I share those loves AND cooking decreases my stress, I couldn't contain my excitement.  I could kill two birds with one stone. It will be the perfect addition to Reflections of a Bookaholic as other content will slow and I can document the cooking I will do as I attempt to decrease the stress of bar prep.

First Cookbook up?

Chinese Five Spice Steak with Rice Noodles

Ingredients

4 ounces uncooked wide rice stick noodles
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon five-spice powder
1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed and cut into 1/4-inch strips
2 teaspoons canola oil
2 tablespoons minced green onions
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
2 medium tomatoes, each cut into 6 wedges
2 green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil


Preparation:


Cook noodles according to package directions. While noodles cook, combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, five-spice powder, and steak in a large bowl. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced green onions and garlic; saute 30 seconds. Add beef mixture; cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in tomato wedges, green onion pieces, and chopped basil; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Review:

Oh this one is oh so yummy!

I loved... how tender the meat is.  I usually don't get meat this tender without marinating it for a couple of hours.  The recipe didn't call for marinating and it certainly wasn't needed.

I loved... that there weren't that many ingredients and I had everything except the noodles and the spice around the house.  Well I had to buy the flank steak but you know what I mean.

I loved... that this was a pretty quick meal.  I had the store cut the steak for me so all I had to do here was throw everything together and boil the noodles (which I didn't eat).

I didn't actually eat the noodles.  I put them on my plate for pictures, but I think I would have preferred brown rice with this one.  My only complaint (and this is a minor one) is the sodium.   I can ingest a lot of sodium just like the next person.  I do eat processed foods after all.  But for some reason, I really noticed the sodium in the taste here.  Next time, I'll cut down the low sodium soy sauce to one tablespoon and cut the hoisin sauce just a bit too.

I cooked this one just to spice it up a bit.  I don't eat red meat much because I don't digest it well.  So what did you think?  Would you try this one?  


Coming up next week... one more recipe on this cookbook and a review on the cookbook as a whole.

Previous Recipes from Cooking Light: The Complete Quick Cook
Hunan Lamb 
Barbecued Chicken Pizza
Chicken Chilaquiles

Foodie Fridays: Chicken Chilaquiles

I'm back again participating in the Geeky Blogger Book Blog's new Foodie Friday's meme.  She started this meme to combine her two faves--books and cooking.  Seeing as how I share those loves AND cooking decreases my stress, I couldn't contain my excitement.  I could kill two birds with one stone. It will be the perfect addition to Reflections of a Bookaholic as other content will slow and I can document the cooking I will do as I attempt to decrease the stress of bar prep.

First Cookbook up?

Chicken Chilaquiles

Ingredients


Makes 4 servings (I made mine into 8)


2 cups shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers, divided 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 cup 1% low-fat milk
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 (11-ounce) can tomatillos, drained
1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
12 (6-inch) corn tortillas
Cooking spray


For step-by-step instructions, please visit here.

My Review:

Foodie Fridays: Barbecued Chicken Pizza

I'm back again participating in the Geeky Blogger Book Blog's new Foodie Friday's meme.  She started this meme to combine her two faves--books and cooking.  Seeing as how I share those loves AND cooking decreases my stress, I couldn't contain my excitement.  I could kill two birds with one stone. It will be the perfect addition to Reflections of a Bookaholic as other content will slow and I can document the cooking I will do as I attempt to decrease the stress of bar prep.

First Cookbook up?

Barbecued Chicken Pizza


Ingredients


1 (10 oz) whole-wheat thin Italian pizza crust
6 tablespoons bottled barbecue sauce
1 cup shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast
3/4 coup (3 ounce) shredded smoked Gouda cheese
1/2 cup diced red onion
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 cup (1 ounce) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese


1.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2.  Place crust on a large baking sheet.  Spread barbecue sauce over crust to within 1/2 inch of edge.  Sprinkle with chicken, Gouda, onion, oregano, crushed red pepper, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
3.  Bake at 450 degrees for 16 minutes or until cheese melts and crust is golden.  Cool for 5 minutes.


Yields 6 servings, but I cut mine into 4.

Review:

Foodie Fridays: Hunan Lamb

There are going to be some changes around here (more about that later), one of which is my new participation in Felicia's (from the Geeky Blogger Book Blog) new Foodie Friday's meme.  She started this meme to combine her two faves--books and cooking.  Seeing as how I share those loves AND cooking decreases my stress, I couldn't contain my excitement.  I could kill two birds with one stone. It will be the perfect addition to Reflections of a Bookaholic as other content will slow and I can document the cooking I will do as I attempt to decrease the stress of bar prep.

First Cookbook up?

Hunan Lamb

INGREDIENTS
1/4 C. of fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth, divided
2 tsp. cornstarch
1/4 c. lower-sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp. rice vinegar
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. chile paste w/ garlic
1 tbsp. peanut oil
3 tbsp. peeled fresh ginger
6 dried Thai chiles (Note: I only used 3 because I was toooo scared to put in 6.)
4 garlic cloves, slivered
1 lb. of leg of lamb, cut into thin strips
2 cups sliced shiitake mushroom caps
2 cups sliced red bell pepper

1.  Combine 1 tablespoon chicken broth and cornstarch in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk.

Combine remaining 3 tablespoons chicken borth, soy sauce, and next 3 ingredients (through chile paste) in another bowl.

2.  Heat a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add oil.  Add ginger, chiles, and garlic.  Stir-fry 30 seconds or until fragrant.

3.  Add lamb; stir fry 3 minutes.  Add mushrooms and bell pepper; stir-fry 2 minutes or until crisp-tender.  Stir in soy sauce mixture.  Bring to a simmer; cook 1 minute.  Sir cornstarch mixtures with whisk; add to lamb mixture.  Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds or until thick.

Yield 4 servings (1/14 cups/serving)

Review:

Foodie Friday with Geeky Blogger...

There are going to be some changes around here (more about that later), one of which is my new participation in Felicia's (from the Geeky Blogger Book Blog) new Foodie Friday's meme.  She started this meme to combine her two faves--books and cooking.  Seeing as how I share those loves AND cooking decreases my stress, I couldn't contain my excitement.  I could kill two birds with one stone. It will be the perfect addition to Reflections of a Bookaholic as other content will slow and I can document the cooking I will do as I attempt to decrease the stress of bar prep.

Here's MY plan...
I've wanted to review cookbooks for sometime but I never quite knew how to accomplish it.  I'm going to try 1 to 2 new recipes a week (for a month) from a cookbook and end the month with a review of the cookbook.  This way I hope to give a more balance review after trying a few recipes.

I'm so excited because I'll be cooking and talking about books at the same time.  Yess!

First Cookbook up?

Are you excited?  I hope so... Just in case you can't wait, here's a recipe for No bake Nutella Cheesecakes that I stumbled on top on on Pinterest and I just love it!!!  Mel from Mel's Kitchen Cafe adapted this recipe from My Baking Addiction.

I made them during during finals when I was on a study break and all my friends loved them.  They went so fast that I had to bake another batch so the hubby could give them a try.

NUTELLA CHEESECAKES
6 Servings (Note: I stretched this to extra mini cheesecakes and it made 12 servings)


INGREDIENTS:
Crust: 18 Oreo cookies, (Note: I definitely used more.  I wanted my crust a little thicker)
crushed into crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted


Cheesecake:
12 ounces cream cheese, (Note: I actually used 1/3 fat free cream cheese)
1 cup nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread)
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar


Garnish:
Extra sweetened whipped cream, optional
Crushed oreos or chocolate curls, optional