A Perfect Dinner

This is one of my favorite dinners:

2+ years ago I went to my parents hours for dinner. That dinner was and still is one of my favorite meals I have ever eaten. It was light, but so filling and most of all satisfying. I have made this salmon recipe twice since that first dinner but I make the rice salad a few times a year. Enjoy it and have a wonderful weekend!

Friendly Friday: week Febuary 18th to 25th

Hello friends! I am so excited that this week CKK got lots of new friends coming  in from FTLOB's awesome article about yours truly.  My favorite part of the article was meeting Ashley though our tons of emails. She is a hoot! I love her blog, her chocolate pecan pie and her adorable family. 


I am so excited about today.  I can't believe how many awesome comments came in this week.  All I can say is you all put me to work last night to get this post ready. I loved it all. 
You all rock, thanks for visiting this week! 

PS Yesterday CKK turned 6 months old. Wow time flys when you are having a blast!

Also please vote for Chrissy to be Aprils blog of the month at FTLOB cause she is awesome and absolutely deserves the love!

The Best Biscuits: Weight Watcher Aproved

     I had some extra time yesturday morning before my friend T and I went to shop and have lunch in Brookston. So I whipped together these awesome Sweet Potato Biscuits. I love sweet potatoes and I always have them in my pantry. 
     I did suprise T with the sweet potato biscuits. She loved them, which is for a girl who doesn't like sweet potatoes. We had so much fun yesterday. Lunch at Klein Brot Haus and a quick stop at at Two Cookin' Sisters for awesome jam. We also toured my new apartment complex. I can't wait for May 30th!
     I loved how soft and delicate the dough was but it was so easy to work with. It will be so much easier if you let the dough sit and rest for 5 minutes after you roll it out. I did cover the tops with butter but I added a sprinkle of kosher salt to jazz up the flaver. It really was much better with more salt and of course butter (like bacon) makes everything better!
     These biscuits are WW friendly. If you make 15 to 18 biscuits they are 2 points plus apiece. If you make 26 biscuits they are 2 for 1 point plus. 

Weight Watchers... Week #4

Week 4. I skiped Weight Watchers last week so I could cook a family Valentines dinner. But I have not been that good this week. I have a really bad habbit of finding something super easy to make for dinner and I will eat it all week.I soon will be turning a lovely shade of orange, for almost every night this week I have eatten a baked sweet potato. Oy, but I am so close to losing a total of 5lbs so I went to weigh in today. 

Sky High Soufflé

Amazingly enough, this was the first soufflé  that I have ever made. And surprisingly I chose a WW recipe, so  I took a leap of faith making this Weight Watchers Citrus Soufflé.  The last minute I changed the recipe from lemon to blood orange. I really haven't used blood oranges before, they are hard to find in Indiana. However, on a trip to a local market I found not only tons of blood oranges but Meyer lemons (also rare in Indiana). I was am so thrilled with this 3 points plus Soufflé that it will be put into my keepers file and hopefully I can make it again soon. 

Friendly Friday: week Febuary 11th to 18th

  Good Morning everyone! 

Spring is in the air! The heat is finally off and fresh air is pouring in the open windows.  Most of the snow is gone and I have seen 2 robins. Its only February, how crazy is this weather. 

I am sharing some pictures of beautiful hydrangeas to celebrate the arrival of early spring and to rejoice in the fact that my trip to Nantucket is exactly 6 months away! These pictures were taken on a trip to Sconset Beach 2 years ago, my first trip to Nantucket.

Good Neighbors and Good Food

I just ordered this  cookbook and I couldn't help myself from sneaking a peak and copying this recipe.  I love the idea of brown butter baked goods, but I have never tried any recipe that calls for brown butter. But butter and blueberries are one of my favorite things, so this recipe was a must try!  

Pink Champange Cupcakes Take 2

Happy Valentines day! 

With one pink champagne cupcake left I thought it was time to show you the pictures I forgot to put into yesterdays post. I felt horrible when I got across town and the email came through with not a single pink champagne cupcake. I was in such a hurry to do errands and get to my parents house to prepare our family valentines day dinner. 

Popping the Cork

Happy Happy Valentines Day! 

I am loving my life right now and I am loving being single! So today I thought I would share a few things I do love with you. I hope today, whether you are single, dating, engaged or married that you also take some time to spoil yourself on this sweet day of love.  

What do you love today?

photo © 2009 samantha celera | more info (via: Wylio)

Love is in the Air

Happy Valentines Day! I wanted to share some of the funniest valentines I have ever seen. I found them all through Wylio.com. I couldn't stop laughing when I found these awesome (food) valentines! 
Enjoy and Happy V-day!

photo © 2009 hyoin min | more info (via: Wylio)

photo © 2009 Dave | more info (via: Wylio)

photo © 2009 Dave | more info (via: Wylio)

photo © 2011 Karen Horton | more info (via: Wylio)

Friendly Friday: week Febuary 4th to 11th

I know this cold and snow is getting to everyone, so cuddle in, grab some cocoa and stay warm!  

photo © 2010 Tambako The Jaguar | more info (via: Wylio)

You are all ROCK!

High Above Chicago

Good Morning! It looks like I have some explaining to do!  I have had quite a few comments on this picture of me. The most recent comment came from Kimberly at Under the Umbrella Network. She totally awesome (as is her blog) and I received the most   unbelievable welcome upon joining Under the Umbrella Network. 

 This is one of my favorite pictures, no one can figure out where I am!  But this picture was taken at the Willis/Sears tower in Chicago. I hope you enjoy both the pictures and the awesomeness of Under the Umbrella Network. 

Kate on Skydeck, 103 floors above Chicago, 2010

Winter Chills

I am so sick of winter. The snow/sleet/ice need to stop. I can't wait for spring. But one of the things I love about winter is the great comfort foods. Of course I crave lasagna, mashed potatoes, meat loaf, soup and brownies.  But one of my favorite winter foods is sorbet. I crave fruit during these cold, icy, dark months and sorbet combines my fruit craving and my favorite food, ice cream. I have made some amazing sorbets and ice creams recently, but this is one of my favorites, I have made it twice. 

Weight Watchers... Week #3

Week 3/4 at Weight Watchers. Last week I got so nervous about getting to my parents home before the ice and snow storm was in full swing. So I packed up Sookie and drove across town. Of course I was way to worried about power outages and icy roads that I skipped Weight Watchers. 

Banana Bread: An Oldie but Goodie

This is the perfect breakfast for your valentine!

Friendly Friday: week January 28th to Febuary 4th

I love to meet new people! I have been thrilled with the new friends, followers and comments I have been getting every day. I will showcase my new friends, followers and commenters. I can't believe that yesterday I hit 60 followers. I was hoping that by my birthday (April 13th) I could get 100 followers. I am so excited we have already hit half way and still going strong! Yay everyone!

This is a celebration of how awesome you guys really are! 

photo © 2009 Beverly | more info (via: Wylio)

Faith from In the Kitchen with Butters: Faith made a totally tiramsu with nutella! My mouth is watering!


KT from KT's Refinishing School: Check out KT's totally awesome Thai Shrimp Bisque


Ashley from The Cook with a Book: check out Ashley's hysterical Morning and Afternoon


By TexaGermaNadian: if you like Groundhog Day you will love this


Laura from A Goddess of Frugality: check out this great giveaway


Misadventures in Cooking: Lazy Lasagna looks amazing!


Sarah the Writer from This Writer's Journey: check out the cutest pink mouse!


Roberta from More Thyme than Dough: get ready for Valentines Day!


Monica from Lick the Bowl Good: Oh yeah I want this pie and I don't want to share!


Chrissy from Chrissy in America: check out Chrissy's icy cold snow day pictures


Reeni from Desert Wars and Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice: smores are nice but smores bread pudding bars are nicer!


Donna Rumbletiger


Heather from Girlichef: check out the awesome "Corn"y bread round up, more corn bread please!


Sylvie from Gourmande in the Kitchen: creamy dreamy chocolate gelato is a must


Mrs. Mix-it from Cooking Underwriter: Check out Mrs. Mix-it's Awesome Grey Hound at Sunset, it looks so delicious


MANDY83

Ikea Day!

I took Saturday off to hang with my friend, D and my brother J. The plan was to hit IKEA and  then to one of my favorite Chicago restaurants, La Scarola. The best Italian restaurant I have ever been to, it is crazy awesome!

Lunch with D at Portillos!