In a Pickle?

I don't eat a lot of pickles at home so I almost never have a jar hanging out in the fridge. The good news is that I almost always have a fresh cucumber. Problem Solved. 

Garlic Pickles 

1 large cucumber, peeled and sliced thinly
1/4 cup white vinegar
3 tablespoons chopped onion1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 cloves garlic, minced

Place the cucumber slices in a medium bowl. Heat 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan with the vinegar, onions, salt, sugar, red pepper flakes and garlic, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil 1 to 2 minutes, stirring. Remove from the heat and pour over the cucumbers and stir to coat the slices well. Place in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes and serve. (recipe from Melissa d'Arabian via Food Network )


Slap these pickles on your homemade Tampa Cuban and you got yourself one heck of a sandwich! Your friends and family should be impressed! 

(unless you have a husband like mine who devours sandwiches and doesn't really think about what he is eating...)

Chicky Chick Peas

Its hard to have great snacks around the house that are not only finger food but figure friendly. Chickpeas are in the legume family. They are high in protein and fiber plus they can be used in salads, stews, hummus.... Why can't they be roasted?

beans, beans good for your heart...

I suggest having this snack when you would usually have popcorn, potato chips or the like. 

Simple Roasted Chickpeas

• 1 15-ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
• 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (or other coarse salt like kosher salt)

Preheat oven to 400˚ F. Drain and rinse chickpeas. Spread the chickpeas on paper towels and soak up the water until thoroughly dry. Place the dried chickpeas in a medium bowl. Drizzle in the olive oil and toss gently with a large spoon. Sprinkle with sea salt. Toss again. Spread chickpeas on baking sheet in a single layer. Bake 30 – 40 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden brown and crunchy. Add additional sea salt if needed. Serve.

Usually I make one batch, split it into two snack sized Ziploc bags and eat this as an afternoon snack instead of chips from the vending machine or leftover bagels in the break room. The best part is that you can never get bored because you can flavor them different each time.

Suggested Roasted Chickpea flavors:

Cilantro & Lime

Rosemary & Roasted Garlic

Your Favorite Cajun Seasoning

Lemon Pepper

Cinnamon & Sugar

Curry & Red pepper 

Jalapeno & Cumin 

Old Bay...

Rosemary & Sea Salt

 Get creative and experiment! 

Dine Tampa Bay 2012!

It's here! Tampa Bay's Restaurant Week 2012 started August 3rd and goes through August 17 (which is actually 15 days).


Many well known restaurants, pricey and non-pricey alike, are participating: 717, Mise En Place, Datz, 400 Beach, Side Bern's- just to name a few. This is the perfect time to go to that restaurant that you have been wanting to try! Throughout my "research" (which includes trying to find the best deals and putting a plan together of how I can convince my husband to go to as many of these establishments as possible) I discovered some of these prix fixe menus are better deals than others... Check out the menu before you go! Dine Tampa Bay

Here is how I ranked some the deals I ran across.

No Beuno

 Donatello, Sono Cafe, The V- Crave Sushi

Good

 Red Mesa fair, 400 Beach, Datz, Catch Twenty Three, Seasons 52

Great 

717, Mise En Place

For me, I have been wanting to give Wimauma (it's relativity new) a try for a few months now and have never made it to Side Bern's... also I would be completely happy to dine at any of the establishments in the good to great categories above.

Don't miss your chance; Happy Dinning Tampa!

Hyde Park's BOCA: my review

There is this little spot on the corner of Platt and S. Boulevard that just got a whole lot cooler.

For the last few years the restaurant Smoke, an upscale BBQ joint, has been inhabiting this location. Smoke was reviewed pretty well; won some awards... But lets be honest  BBQ  + upscale prices doesn't = a BBQ joint to frequent (or in my case ever go back too).  I noticed last summer that it was closed up, signs outside said "closed for the summer". But it seems this was not the case. Looks like the BBQ idea went up in smoke but foodies like me were rewarded with something much better. 

With Boca, the Owner, Gordon Davis completely renovated the open air building into a chic wooden framed Florida room! This stylish and airy atmosphere reiterates the Boca idea of "local, fresh, seasonal".

Russian Summer Punch

Huckleberry Hound

Whiskey Menu

On a Thursday night I suggested Boca to a close friend I was meeting for dinner and drinks.  After valeting (which is a pain and unwanted- its a fact of life down here in South Tampa) I stepped into this cozy restaurant and immediately started to dread the decision based on the crowded patrons in the lobby. The hostess replied that the wait was an hour and a half- on a Thursday?? - but quickly mentioned sitting outside (it was raining) or at the bar which was first come first serve. I sat at the bar.

Waiting for my girlfriend I was able to peruse the menu and rejoiced over not only the beer & wine list but also the fabulously tempting cocktails. I am not usually the girl to get a cocktail at a restaurant because I am always disappointed and happen to love a glass of red wine or craft beer. Some of the featured drinks included a Russian Summer Punch: champagne, russian standard vodka, fresh berries, crushed ice or a Huckleberry Hound: blueberries, ginger, lime, tito’s vodka- with these promising descriptions who wouldn't give it a try? (While one of these craft cocktails will set you back about $10-$12, please keep in mind that most chains will sell you an $8 drink full of syrup.) The best part of sitting at the bar is getting to watch the bartenders make your cocktail from scratch: hand juicing limes, measuring, and muddling whole, natural ingredients right before your eyes. They are also great about chatting with you, answering all of your annoying questions about what kind of drink they are making the others guests- Best seat in the house!

Fire Roasted Mussels

I only ordered a salad and an appetizer but these two were both expertly prepared. My salad was a mixture of fresh and grilled vegetables lightly dressed with a vinaigrette. The mussels were swimming in a creamy garlic wine sauce topped with an accent of greens and grilled bread. Everything on my plate was perfection; my inner foodie even asked for more bread- which they happily brought.

BKBM (Boca Kitchen Bar Market) Chopped Salad

Give it a try but make reservations unless you want to sit at the bar. Don't forget to check out the Whiskey Menu or just get a shot of the pecan infused bourbon. 

Parking: Valet (at least on Thursdays for dinner)
Price: Mid priced. Items range from $6-$26, a meal for under $20 w/o drinks.
Food: quality drinks instead of quantity, light but rich food.
Service: Chatty & Friendly.
Website: http://www.bocatampa.com/

2012: TO DO list

It's SUMMERTIME and the year is more than halfway over! **I am pretty sure there is more fun to be had out there but since we bought a house back in December our focus has been more on decorating/maintenance.** #joysofhomownership

Every few months I sit down to stake out fun things to do with either my honey or girlfriends...So I think its about time to get back in the swing of things. Can't wait to cross everything off this list!


Summer

• Visit the Aquarium ($5 off if you use your Summertime Savings Card)
• Summertime Classics Series @ the Tampa Theater
• Boating &/or Beaching with Friends (at least two more times before the end of summer)
• Attempt Rocking Climbing
• Tampa History Museum followed by lunch at the Columbia Cafe
• Ghost Tour in Ybor
• Hyde Park Sunday Morning Market & HP Village Live Music Series

Before the end of the year

• Run my first 5K
• Urban Bike Tour of Tampa 
• Visit the Dali Museum 
• Rock in the Park (when it gets cooler) 
• Camping
• Attend a Hockey game before the season ends
• 1st Friday in St. Pete

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.  ~James Dent

Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies?

Who doesn't love a REALLY good Peanut Butter Cookie? Cookies in general are one of my weaknesses.  I have used a low-cal, sugar-free, healthier ingredient as much as possible... of course I haven't found a substitute for butter yet. 

Here is my slimmed down version:

1 cup Jiffy Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter

1/2 cups Butter
1/2 cups Splenda, Sugar
1/2 cups Splenda, Brown Sugar
1/4 cups Egg Beaters
3 tablespoons Skim Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
3/4 cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1/2 cups All-purpose Flour
3/4 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoons Salt, Table

 Preheat oven to 375

In a large bowl, cream together the peanut butter, butter, Splenda, and brown sugar until well blended. Beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla one at a time. Combine both flours, baking powder, and salt; stir into creamed mixture.

I find it easiest to get consistently perfect
 sized cookies by using a 2' ice cream scoop.

Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Press each ball once with fork tines, then do a cross hatch.. (If desired sprinkle regular white sugar or top with a few mini Chocolate chips- this will of course change nutrition content- but well worth it.)

Here is the progression: Scoop, Roll, Press
with fork in one direction and then the other. 

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are lightly browned.

Better Than Take out Pizza

Its the weekend after Thanksgiving; I think its time for something besides Turkey with all the fixin's. 


My husband has really been craving some pizza- so much that I had to break down and make it at home so we wouldn't completely ruin all of those hours at the gym with just once slice of takeout. I am sure there are a good number of people out there that make their own pizza at home rather than getting delivery so my recipes are not going to be ground breaking... just good. 

Ham, Black Olives, Red Onion, Heart of Palm, Mushrooms

Pizza Crust (straight out of the Betty Crocker: Heart Health Edition, with my healthi-er adjustments) **The recipe calls for all All-Purpose flour so if you don't have the WW Pastry Flour than just go with what you have.


2 cups All-Purpose Flour**
1/2 to 1 cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1 tbsp. Splenda
1 tsp. Salt
1 package regular or quick Active Dry Yeast
3 tbsp. Olive Oil
1 cup very warm Water

Mix 1 cup of flour, the sugar, salt and yeast. Add oil and warm water. Beat with electric mixer on medium for 3 minutes, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough remaining flour until the dough is soft and leaves the sides of bowl. Place dough on a lightly floured surface. (for best results use your Silpat mat) Knead 5 to 8 minutes or until dough is smooth and springy. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes.

I find it best to use a standard pizza pan with the holes in the bottom to cook pizza at home. Of course I don't have two pizza pans at home and this recipe makes two pizza crusts- so I have found that I can use my oven proof cookie cooling rack and it works just as well. Instead of rolling the dough out in a circle you can roll it in a rectangle just make sure that the dough doesn't fall through. 


Heat oven to 425 degrees. Spray your pan with Pam. Divide dough in half. Roll out each half into a 12 inch circle (again use your Silpat mat and a rolling pin for super thin crust). Partially bake 7 to 8 minutes or until crust just begins to brown. Add toppings and bake for another 8 to 10 minutes. 


Basic Pizza Sauce
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
Red pepper flakes (optional)
1-15oz. can of tomato sauce
1- 6oz. can of tomato paste
1/2 tsp. marjoram
1/2 tsp. basil
salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste


Over medium heat, heat oil in saucepan until hot. Add garlic and red pepper flakes until fragrant. Add remaining ingredients, bring to boil. Lower heat and allow to simmer for 30 minutes. 

Herbed Ricotta, sliced Tomato, chopped Spinach, Mozzarella

Herbed Ricotta
 1  tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped parsley
salt & pepper, to taste


Mix. Use on pizza in lasagna, pasta or eggplant roll ups, on top of chicken before baking in the oven.... 



The great thing about pizza is you can plan for it or it can just be the vehicle that you use to get rid of some vegetables in your fridge. We have had all kinds of pizzas over the years and they usually consisted of left over... spinach, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, chicken, hearts of palm, artichokes, garlic, olives, broccoli, zucchini and of course pepperoni. 


Tonight's pizzas didn't happen to have pepperoni but everything else I came across in the fridge or pantry. Pizza #1: Ham (Lunchmeat), Black Olives, Red Onion, Heart of Palm slices, Jarred Mushrooms, Mozzarella. Pizza #2: Herbed Ricotta, sliced Tomato, chopped Spinach (drained), Mozzarella.