Amazed

 

Beautiful. 

Buon appetito!

I had a tasty meal at a place called Bella Vita Brick Oven Pizza and Italian Restaurant in NYC. It is a small place with enormous charm. 

I had the II Classico which had grilled chicken breast, sun-dried tomato, arugula, fresh mozzarella and roasted peppers for only $7.10. Add a glass of wine and you have yourself a pretty good meal.

"Bella Vita, which means "beutiful life" in Italian, gives New Yorkers a chance to taste a truly rustic, Naples-style pizza without leaving Manhattan. A descendent of several generations of Neapolitan pizziolli (pizza makers), Charles Toufos sought to carry on the tradition of his mother's Old World Italian Valvano family recipes by bringing them to the New World." -bellavitanyc.com

Skip the big chain restaurants and try some the food that is true to New York City, you will not regret it. Great wine and unbelievable Italian cuisine.  Check it out if you are in the area. 

Take me to NYC, I want to go back for more! Alla Salute!

What are you listening to?

If you are looking for a new and upcoming local artist...you've found one. 

Check it out at music by Kara Laudon

My favorite summer appetizer....spring rolls!

I love going to my favorite Thai restaurant, sipping on fresh made ginger ale & eating spring rolls with my mom. It's a great time to relax, have a fun conversation & taste some amazing flavors.

Thai Vegetable Spring Rolls

-1 carrot, peeled 
-1 green pepper
-1 red pepper
-1 cucumber
       ** All veggies should be cut into long matchsticks
-Romaine lettuce leaves
-6 ounces Asian rice vermicelli noodles
-Round rice sheets
-Sprigs Thai basil
-Mint

1. Chop all of the veggies & set aside.
2. Boil and drain noodles per package instructions. Cool under water. Set aside.
3.  One at a time, soak rice sheets into warm water to soften. Use a shallow dish. Lay a rice sheet on a towel covered work surface. Working quickly, place some noodles, vegetables, lettuce, & a few Thai basil and mint sprigs on the near side of the rice round. Roll mixture forward (in egg roll fashion) one turn then add additional vegetables.  Tuck ends inward and finish the roll.

Repeat steps 1-3 then serve with your favorite peanut dipping sauce.

Savor these little treats. They're fresh, light & delicious!

It's the simple things

It's one of those "I can't wait until lunchtime days." 

Quick snack to hold me over. Cracked Pepper & Olive Oil Triscuits with a slice of tomato and mozzarella cheese. 

Just delicious!

Nap time...

Mama Mia!

Lately, my favorite thing to eat is PITA PIZZA!

I made this for dinner last night paired with a glass of red wine. Sitting outside in the warm sun with my shoes off & a good meal. I felt like I was in Italy!

Quick & Easy Pita Pizza

1. Take a whole wheat pita

2. Spread some hummus, avocado, pasta sauce, roasted garlic or pesto over the pita

3. Top with your favorite toppings (my favorites are cherry tomatoes from the garden, Greek olives, sliced pepperoncinis, hearts of palm or sauteed zucchini)

4. Cover with cheese (fresh mozzarella, goat or feta)

5. Pop in the microwve for 90 seconds

6. Sprinkle fresh basil over warm pita pizza and you have yourself a delicious meal!

Have fun with it & enjoy! 

XX,

K

To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did...

So true. 

Red, White & Blue

Looking forward to a wonderful 4th of July weekend!

Here are a few yummy treats I am making this year:

Patriotic Flag Cake- This will put everyone in the spirit. Made with fresh raspberries and blueberries, this cake is the perfect end to a beach cookout.

Mini Watermelon Slices (Made with Jell-O)- Kids love these! Take a lime, cut in half, scoop out the fruit. Make red Jell-O and fill the peels. Stick mini chocolate chips in for the seeds. They are cute and delicious on a hot day.

Sparkling Mango with Mint Cocktails- Mix together pure mango nectar, fresh like juice, and Moscsato d' Asti sparkling wine and a few fresh mint leaves. Garnish with fresh cucumber spear. Yummy! 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with friends, family, love & fireworks! 

XX,

K

Potatoes!!!

 A few facts....

• In 1995, the potato was the first vegetable grown in space.
• The potato is the world's 4th most important food crop after rice, wheat and corn.
• The potato is grown in more countries than any crop but corn.
• Potatoes are grown in all 50 states of the USA and in about 125 countries throughout the world.
• The U.S. is the fifth largest producer of potatoes in the world.
• More than one in ten potatoes produced in the U.S. is exported.
• The Russet is the most common potato found in your grocery store.
• Europeans consume twice as many potatoes as Americans per year.
• Potatoes are second only to milk as the most consumed food in America.
• At least in the U.S. "spud" is slang for potato.

* Facts from Best Potato Recipes Collection, 2010

Warm Dijon Potato Salad

5 medium red or gold potatoes
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1 green onion, sliced
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper  

Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover 

Bring to a boil 

Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender

In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients

Drain potatoes and cut into cubes; add to the mayonnaise mixture (Mayo, cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, S & P) and gently toss to coat

Serve immediately 

Yummy! 

xx,
K

Guilty Pleasure

My all-time favorite spot to get a little pizza and relax is the Grotto in The Golden Nugget, Las Vegas.

I start off with a small Grotto chopped salad. It is zesty and fresh. Then I make the difficult, and sometimes impossible, decision between the Margherita & the Capriciosa pizzas. Both are delicious! If you ever get a chance stop by this place, take it. They also have a great happy hour with unbeatable prices.

Cin Cin, 
K

Fiesta!

Happy Wednesday! Out boating with some friends this afternoon & need a snack to take along. Making this simple & delicious guacamole. One bite and you won't be able to stop. Yummy! 

Perfect Party Guacamole

Pile onto cutting board:

1/4 c chopped onion

2 chopped Serrano chiles

1 finely diced jalapeno

1 cup torn cilantro 

big pinch of kosher salt 

pinch of cumin

1. Chop, then mash into a paste with the flat side of a large knife

2. Transfer to a bowl, add 3 diced avocados & the juice from one lime
3. Mash with a wooden spoon until combined but still chunky 
4. Stir in 1 medium diced tomato

5. Top with more tomato, cilantro and onion

Served with tortilla chips or on top of your favorite sandwich. 

¡provecho! 

xx,

K

Beautiful.

                                                       Summer at its finest.

Tired of your boring lunch?

This is salad I sometimes make when I am tired of the same old. Yams are a super food! Low in calories and no fat! They pack a punch of beta-carotene & have five times the daily dose of Vitamin A in one sweet potato. They are also loaded with potassium. These nutrients help to protect against heart attack and stroke. The potassium helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body cells, as well as normal heart function and blood pressure. All around a good thing. The beans are nice for some extra protein. This meal will fill you up without filling you out.

Yam & Black Bean Salad over Crisp Romaine

2 medium size yams/sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into cubes)
1 can black beans (drained & rinsed)

1 large tomato (seeded and diced)
1 cup cilantro (finely chopped)

1. In a skillet add 1/4 c of water & yams

2. Bring water to a boil, once boiling turn to low heat and cover for 20-25 min. (until soft)
3. Drain water & remove yams from skillet to let cool

Dressing:
1 tbsp water

1/2 c olive oil

1/2 c vinegar

1 c sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1. Mix together & boil for 2-3 minutes to dissolve sugar
2. Let cool

Salad:
1. Mix together yams, black beans, tomatoes, cilantro & dressing in large bowl

Tah-dah! Serve over chopped romaine & ENJOY!

xx,

K