Bahamas

I'm already missing the beautiful clear blue water, the warm weather and laying on the beach sipping on tropical cocktails, the sea, the sun and sand.

I woke up to a few very friendly sea gulls that flew into our room one morning too - literally they were in the bed with me!!!!  

the view from our room at The Atlantis

 

This is the view from The One and Only Ocean Club on our way to breakfast at Dune

This is where they filmed one of the beach scene in Casino Royale - no Daniel Craig sighting though

we are pretty happy campers too, a romantic dinner on the last night at Cafe Martinique



 xx,

Katherine

I Pinned It - I made it! Baby Quiche!!

We have a great rule at work - If you are late for the sales meeting you bring food the next time. Of course we always request homemade goodies and Donna makes the best baby quiche! However she does not seem to want to share her recipe. Thank you Pinterest for coming to the rescue!

Several pins later and I've concocted Spinach Bacon Baby Quiche

Ingredients -

• 1 package refrigerated pie crust
• 5 eggs
• 1 cup chopped spinach (I used frozen)
• 1 shallot diced
• 2 tsp garlic minced
• 3 strips of bacon. chopped
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/3 cup shredded cheese ( I used sharp cheddar)
• flour
• salt
• pepper
• non-stick cooking spray

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and spray cooking spray in your muffin tins
Roll out the pie dough onto a lightly floured surface, then take a round cookie cutter (or a glass will work just fine) and cut out 12 circles and place them into your muffin tins
Bake your pie shells for 10 min, set aside when finished and let cool slightly

While your shells are baking defrost the spinach in the microwave (about 1 min) and set aside to drain - wringing all the water out of your spinach with paper towels if necessary

Chop the bacon and fry until browned, transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain when done
Wipe most of the bacon grease out of the pan then add in the chopped shallot and garlic, saute until translucent over medium-low heat, about 3 min.

Whisk  the eggs, milk, cheese, spinach, bacon, shallots, and garlic in a bowl, then season with salt and pepper

Ladle the egg mixture into each pie crust and bake for 15-20 min.

Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan then ENJOY.

I think these would be wonderful with mimosas and fruit for a Sunday brunch

(and I wish I had taken some better pictures!)

Let me know if you make these, how they turned out.

xxKatherine

adapted from Mini Spinach Quiche from www.makeaheadmealsforbusymoms.com

Beach Bound

This 40 degrees and rainy weather has been missing my days by the pool. My beach vacation can not get here fast enough. I'm so excited I can't stand it!

ToDo-

Mani/Pedi - check 

Spray tan (I'm ghostly) - check 

packed - not even started!

thank you Pinterest for some beach style inspiration!

 
        

found this one on Pinterest too, doesn't she look like she's having the best day!

....great beach picks on her blog too!

                     

Only a few days left!!!!!

 

and I HAVE to swim with the dolphins :)
my fellow Tri-Deltas get it

xx, Katherine

Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce - Delizioso!

Keeping with my New Years Resolutions to try at least one new recipe every week, one of the first I wanted to knock off my list was a Vodka Cream Sauce. Back in October Rob and I went to Chicago and dined at Pizano's  - Oprah's favorite pizza place in Chitown and I can see why! The Pasta Vodka A “La” Strauss was amazing, Rob has asked me to search for this recipe ever since. So I found, via Pinterest of course, Rachael Ray's "You Won’t Be Single For Long" Vodka Cream Pasta . This was featured on  the Oprah and Dr OZ shows and it is suppose to be outstanding!

Here's what you'll need -

Ingredients
Makes 4 Servings
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, once around the pan in a slow stream
1 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 cup vodka
1 cup chicken stock
1 32 oz can crushed tomatoes
Coarse salt and pepper
red pepper flakes (optional)
16 oz pasta, such as penne rigate
1/2 cup heavy cream
20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn

Directions

Heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Add in the olive oil, butter, garlic and shallots. Gently sauté the shallots for 3-5 minutes to develop their sweetness. Add the vodka to the pan and reduce the vodka by half, about 2 or 3 minutes.

Then add the chicken stock and the tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble and reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper to taste, I also added in red pepper flakes.

While the sauce simmers, cook the pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente (not quite cooked all the way, 1-2 less then time suggested on box) and chop the fresh basil

Stir the cream into the sauce. When the sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from the heat. Drain the pasta. Toss the hot pasta with the sauce and the basil leaves

Pour yourself a glass of vino and enjoy! Homemade pasta sauce like this one is so easy and so much better then the stuff out of a jar. This makes alot of sauce so invite over some friends or enjoy the leftovers.
The name suits it well, you wouldn't be single for long with this homemade dish (yep, Rob gave it a thumbs up too).
Let me know if you try this!

xx
Katherine

Happy New Year!!

So long 2011 and Hello 2012!!

Looking back it's been a great year, lots to be thankful for. Thinking about all the good, the bad and the ugly of last year, I am very blessed. Very lucky to have the friends and family that I do.

There's so many exciting things to look forward to, friends weddings and babies, traveling and more.

New Years Eve was one of the best ever! The UK Wildcats beat Louisville

and we had a fabulous low key dinner party for six.

I wish I had taken a few pictures of our dinner. But really we were too busy toasting to 2012!

My last minute recipe of choice was a big hit. According to Google, this is the worlds best Lasagna.

Since one of our guest has Sicilian roots, and he went back for seconds, then Cheers!! I was a success :)

Worlds Best Lasagna

..and nothing like several glasses of Champagne later and a Just Dance party to ring in the new year!

New Years Resolutions, mine are the usual,

• Find a workout routine and stick with it
• Make some of the stuff I found on Pinterest
• Learn to cook one new meal a week
• #1 Be thanksful for the great life I have

Speaking of Pinterest, I saw this the other day, what a sweet idea!

via http://inchmark.squarespace.com/

Throughout the year, write down memories that make you smile. On New Year's Eve, open it up and reread all of the good stuff that made the year wonderful! Love this idea!

xx, Katherine