Twitter is magical. It can bring together people with similar interests and with a lil bit of creativity, can generate some wonderful ideas. Hence the case for Pizza Rustica, Victorian Truffles, Gino Rocco, and me. What began as an innocent … Continue reading
Lagunitas Beer Circus is the kick-off to a summer of lovin’ (drinking) All I do is win! On social media. Seriously, over the past few years, I have been so lucky and winning on Twitter and Facebook. My most recent … Continue reading
As many of my friends know, I’m a food aficionado. No. Joke. I’m a mix between a Food Network star and an 8 year old. From whipping up fun, new creative dinners to delicious desserts to eating Lucky Charms cereal, potato chips and a Bloody Mary…I cover it all.
That being said, I can also be quite picky and lazy when it comes to preparing food (reference the Lucky Charms for dinner comment above). Quick, easy, yummy meals – um, yes please!
**Blog Update: Relished Foods has been rebranded to Home Chef even better… now have a larger selection of meals than ever before (8 to choose from every week), with options to satisfy a range of dietary preferences like gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian. Check out their latest menu!
Enter Relished Foods. ***read through the entire post to receive a special offer!
As their website states: Fresh Ingredients and Recipes Delivered to Your Door. No confusion there, nope, none at all.Their Director of Product & Growth recently contacted me, offering me the opportunity to try it out! Sure thing.
I was impressed with his responsiveness and when I mentioned that I don’t eat red meat, they accommodated! Fast forward to last week, I find a box outside my door.
Opened to find (padding and ice packs) and 3 paper bags with clear labeling, 3 individual meats (vacuumed sealed and frozen), and 3 separate recipe cards.
Talk about making things easy! Literally, everything was pre-portioned/measured, garlic cloves were peeled, all ingredients were clearly labeled. Insert happy dance here!
The first night, I made the Panko Crusted Cod. Simple, fresh, delicious. Cod is usually not my first choice, but I was craving more!
A day later, I made the Quinoa and Roasted Vegetable Salad with Pan Seared Chicken. Quinoa, you’ve won my heart.
I’m a checklist person by nature so here is a recap of the PROS and ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
PROS:
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
Excuse me while I go prepare the Lamb Meatballs with Creamy Polenta and Tomato Ragout (who wants to join me?!)
Ok, so I’ll enjoy the yumminess by my lonesome, but that doesn’t mean you too can’t relish (see what I did there?!) in this. You can save 50% on your first order by using discount code ‘Wits&Pieces‘ at checkout (only valid for 1 week from today). Come on, get going…you know you want to. Guys and gals, easy way to impress your significant other!
If my blog doesn’t wet your palate, go ahead, check ’em out on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, or on their blog. Happy cooking and eating!
DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional photographer. The images were taken with my cell, very hastily, I might add, as I was starving!
First – I apologize for my major delays in blog posts. Hard to believe that I am actually busy these days!
Let me back-track to the weekend of September 27th. I hopped a flight on American Airlines to Minneapolis. Instead of going directly to the hotel in the ‘burbs (the remainder of my immediate family were driving) I met up with a dear college friend/sorority sister Sara. Some drinks and food downtown.
A lesson in regional drinking delicacies….
I ordered a Bloody Mary. As the waiter brings it out to me, there’s this small side glass with what looks like beer. Strange – that doesn’t happen in Chicago! I thought, “oh THAT’S awesome, a free lil sidekick drink here”. Annnnndd I was wrong. I ended up pouring it directly into the BM, because I am all about efficiency folks. Sara then informs me it is a typical thing, called a ‘snit’ (insert mental image of me whipping out my iPhone to google that). Go figure, those Minnesoooootans serve this ‘snit’ along side with a BM.
Laura in Minneapolis – 1
Laura in Chicago – 0
And a few hours later – I get picked up from my family. Drive to the hotel in the ‘burbs and proceeded to the hotel bar (obviously). Arriving at 9:20 and supposedly being told the bar closes at 10, I made great use of those 40 minutes. I walked to the bar with determination, ordered my Whiskey Sour and I don’t think the bartender knew how to handle me. Didn’t get carded, didn’t ask any questions. After downing the first and returning for the 2nd within 19 minutes, he remembered my drinks. Finally after 3 quick refills, the bartender asked me why I was so determined and quick. I said it closes at 10!
He said it does not. Thus…we became friends.
I closed out my tab – and thought it was about 1/3 of what it should be but hey, I’m not complaining.
Time for beauty sleep and prepare for my cousin Michelle’s wedding.
It was supposed to be an outside wedding, but inclement weather moved it inside. It was a beautiful ceremony and wish Michelle and her new hubby Eric a lifetime of happiness.
Eating, drinking, dancing, mingling with my relatives = a good time!
After the wedding, I proceeded to the hotel bar to meet up with my bartender friend the who makes me my whiskey sours. I was THAT girl at the bar – making friends, drinking drinks.
I close out that tab andddd $5 mixed drinks.
New plan: wedding crash to go to hotel bars for cheap drinks.
Thank you Michelle and Eric for an excellent weekend. Until the next nuptials…
Recently, I had a house (condo/apartment) warming party. Granted, it was 6 months after I moved in, but hey…better late than never! Me and my OCD self planned and prepped for a good month prior to the shin-dig (insert single jokes here). Menu, color scheme, drinks, oh my! Over all, the party was a success – bringing together all different groups of friends.
Back to my menu and color scheme and drinks. I opted to do a black/white/silver/zebra theme. Plates, napkins, silverware, displays, candy, labels, even my outfit. (insert second round of single jokes here).
I’ll apologize now – I forgot to take photos of EVERYTHING (too busy being a hostess!)
Apple Bars. Can you say ‘only 3 ingredients’?!
Caprese Skewers. Italians do it best.
Lemon Mousse. Lemon Mouse in mini martini glasses. Lemon Mousse in mini martini glasses with chalkboard label.
Just a sampling of alcoholic beverages available.
The bloggers (and longest lasting party guests!)
I also had homemade pulled pork sliders, warm corn dip, orange glazed turkey meatballs, homemade chicken nugs, homemade cheese sticks, mint cheesecake brownies, peanut butter cookies, trio of dips and chips, vodka soaked gummy bears (and you KNOW the gummy bears were black and white. Ok not really black – but grape and black cherry), pumpkin dip, ham salsa pickle roll-ups (for my friend Raine…not sure anyone else was able to try any!), and a mojito bar! I was worried I didn’t have enough food or drinks.
To all of those who attended, ate, drank and warmed my house (condo/apartment) – I THANK YOU!
Until my next soiree…cheers!
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