Chicken Meatballs

These are a great meatballs to serve with your favorite pasta and sauce. I usually grate parmesan cheese on top, but that's optional.

• 1 1/2 lbs ground chicken
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan reggiano cheese
• 1 tsp chopped parsley
• salt and pepper (based on your taste preferences, you can always make a small meatball to cook up quick to check your seasoning)
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1/2 tsp rosemary
• 1 tsp italian seasoning

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Combine all ingredients till all mixed and combined, if a little too wet to form into balls add a little more bread crumbs.
3. Form mixture into balls and place on baking sheet
4. Bake 15-25 minutes (depends on the size meatball you made)
5. Once done serve with your favorite pasta and sauce

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

I picked up Cherry flavored M&M's at Target in the Valentine section and figured they'd be good in chocolate chip cookies. Definitely was a great addition to the cookies.

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 stick butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup cherry M&M's
• 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Cream butter and sugars till combined
3. Add eggs, one at a time.
4. Add vanilla
5. Combine flour, salt and baking powder and slowly mix into butter mixture
6. Stir in m&m's and chocolate chips.
7. Drop by tablespoonfuls on cookie sheet
8. Bake 8-10 minutes until set.

N.Y.C. Favorite Places for Dessert

Since I get asked often what my favorite places are for dessert in the city I figured I'd share it on my blog so it would be easy for me to refer back to. I love checking out new places in the city and discovering new favorites.

1. Prohibition Bakery - This bakery mixes two of my favorites - alcohol and cupcakes. They have such wonderful varieties and I've picked up some from here to take to parties and they've always been a hit. My favorites are the Pretzels & Beer and the White Russian. They also have non alcoholic cupcakes that are really good.

2. Baked - This one is located in Brooklyn. Definitely grab a coffee here while you get your baked goods. Wish this one was closer to me because everything I've tried I've loved. They now have mixes of some of their items at Williams Sonoma, but nothing beats getting this in person. They also have  a few cookbooks out that share their amazing recipes. If you stop here you definetely need to get a brownie, the sweet and salty is my favorite. The banana and red velvet whoopie pies are amazing and worth a try. The apple pie and sweet and salty tart are also big hits. I don't think you could go wrong with whatever you pick here.

3. La Maison du Macaron - amazing french macarons, my favorite flavors are Vanilla, Champagne and Caramel. If you are a fan of these cookies, or even't if you haven't had them ever and you are in the neighborhood check this place out.

4. Mo Gelato - this place is located in Little Italy and as you can tell by the name they specialize in Gelato. The coffee and mint flavors are my favorite

5. Junior's - you have to try their famous cheesecake, Red Velvet, Black Forest and plain are my favorites. When we have company visiting from out of state we try to pick up one of their amazing cheesecakes for the house.

6. Jacques Torres - amazing chocolate, if you come in the cold weather you need to get a hot chocolate here. They have a few locations in the city and would be great to pick up some chocolate here to take home. Pick up a few chocolate chip cookies here and some truffles. I love picking up holiday chocolates and lollipops here.

7. Wafels and Dinges - this one is a food truck, discovered them thanks to Bobby Flay who did a throwdown with them. The throwdown one is my favorite with the spekuloos spread. If you are looking for savory they also have a pulled pork waffle that's wonderful.

8. Doughnut Plant - So many amazing flavors here you can't go wrong. Pick up some coffee while you get your donut.

Scrapbook Pages

Here are some of the layouts I did this week. I've been trying to catch up on my pile of photos and I know once the warm weather gets here I won't be scrapping as much.

My Favorite Beauty Products

I figured I'd share some of my current favorite beauty products, I love hearing what products people love and sometimes I find great new products from what people share. I get birchbox each month, which is a monthly beauty sample kit which has helped me discover a bunch of new products. I'm obsessed with trying new products and love browsing Sephora and Ulta.

 

1.OPI Liquid Sand Nailpolish - I love this latest collection OPI released, this is the color I have on now, but I found the picture online since I never seem to get a good picture of my nail color. I have a huge stash of nail polish and I bought one color of this to try it out and now I have all of the colors in this line.

 

2. Stila Primer - I use this every morning and love how it blends in to my face and it's great under my makeup

3. Michael Kors Hollywood Perfume- I love the smell of this

4. Urban Decay Cannonball Waterproof Mascara - love how this makes my lashes stand out, doesn't smudge and lasts a long time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Smashbox Waterproof Shadow Liner

6. Philosophy Lip Gloss

7. Soap and Glory Heel Genius - I've been dealing with dry heals this winter and usually don't have them this bad, I bought this and it works amazing

8. Pomegranate Moisturizer - I put this on at night before bed, it's light on my skin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Garlic Potato Wedges

These were quick and easy and a great compliment to any meal. I made these with steak, you can change up the seasoning to whatever you like

• 4-5 of your favorite potatoes
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp rosemary
• 1/2 tsp basil
• 1/2 tsp onion salt
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt

1. Chop the potatoes into wedges and place in bowl.
2. Coat with olive oil and pour seasoning on top. Stir till each wedge is coated
3. Place on baking sheet covered with aluminum foil, skin side down.
4. Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes (keep an eye on them as they bake)

Valentine Gift Ideas

So my husband thinks Valentine's is a hallmark holiday, he sends flowers to work and gets me a gift, so this year to get him in the spirit I decided to do an idea I found on pinterest. I'm doing 14 days of valentines starting February 1st and each will have a cheesy saying with them. Then on the 14th will be a gift bag full of things I know he will love. Here are some ideas with the items I'm doing. I wrapped the items, you don't have to I had this wrap and the bags for awhile got them on clearance years ago.

I found these hot cocoa stirrers at Target and thought they'd be perfect. Made the tags all on kraft cardstock and used rub ons and handwriting for the lettering.



Wrapped up the gum in Valentine tissue paper

 This one is hard to see, it's mini cupcakes in a push pop container

 

 Bananas 4 U