Cantuccini aka Almond Biscotti

One thing you should know about me is I love coffee. Almost as much as I love chocolate (emphasis on the almost). I drink it at all times of the day, but I'm particularly fond of the afternoon coffee pick-me-up, and no such experience is truly complete without a crunchy biscotti to dunk in your caffeinated beverage. I am partial to almond, or sometimes a chocolate variation, if I'm feeling indulgent.

Four Weeks of Cookies: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

 I know it's slightly ridiculous, but I feel like I should finish my Four Weeks of Cookies series, albeit three months late. So here it is, the fourth and final cookie recipe of the series (not like I won't have a million more posts about cookies in the future, but whatever…) ­— oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Could you make this cookie during the holiday season for a party or cookie swap? Sure. But you can also make it at any other time during the year, because it is a classic. A cookie for all seasons.

This is my all-time favorite cookie recipe, my go-to, my signature. So it's kind of a big deal that I'm sharing it with you guys. It's originally adapted from the recipe for Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies printed inside the top of every container of Quaker Oats. Personally, I believe that some of the world's most tried and true baking recipes come from various ingredient packages, boxes, and bags. These recipes are simple, but they work. 

Dining Out in Chicago: Blackbird

I walked into Blackbird at 5:30 on a Saturday evening in early March. After several hours exploring the Art Institute with my sister, I had worked up quite the appetite and was ready to sit down and decompress. I was pleased with the scene that greeted us upon our arrival. The restaurant was relatively quiet, with only a handful of tables occupied. Soft light spilled in through the floor to ceiling glass facade as Beach House played in the background.

Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

I have a confession to make. I've really fallen off the healthy lifestyle wagon this year. I've been super busy and feeling totally unmotivated, which has resulted in a lot of ordering in and a lack of regular exercise. Consequently, I haven't been looking or feeling my best the last couple of months. BUT, I'm back on track! The past two weeks I've been eating healthy again (minus the occasional weekend treat) and have upped my workouts back to 5 times a week. I can't wait until the Chicago weather warms up enough for me to start running again, but until then I'm doing a combination of spin and barre classes at a local studio. (Quick plug: Fit Girl Studio in Lincoln Park is wonderful and I recommend it to all ladies in the area. They do spin, yoga, and barre, all of which are fantastic.)

Sizzling Shrimp

This shrimp dish is absolutely perfect. It's a simple preparation with minimal ingredients that is incredibly flavorful. Tender shrimp with just the tiniest hint of spice are bathed in a heavenly seafood broth and finished off with a spritz of fresh Italian parsley. The shrimp are delicious, but the real star here is the broth. Give me a fresh loaf of bread (or a spoon for that matter) and I could eat it all day.

Moroccan Lentil Soup

As I’ve mentioned before, soups are one of my favorite things to make when it’s cold outside. Apart from being hot and delicious, they’re hard to mess up and generally only involve a couple of dirty dishes. Plus they make a large number of servings that can be stored in the fridge for easy dinners or brown bag lunches. Also, soup is one of the easiest dishes to make both super healthy and tasty. I only wish I loved cold soups as much as I love hot ones, that way I could get my fix all year round. But alas, a big bowl of gazpacho just doesn’t do the trick. 

Four Weeks of Cookies: Red Velvet Black and White Cookies

"Red velvet black and white cookies? Is this real life?"

Those were my first thoughts when I stumbled upon the recipe for these magical cookies. They seemed too good to be true, like zero calorie ice cream or Hogwarts. But, lo and behold they do actually exist; in fact, they are the brainchild of one Mrs. Rachael Ray. I'm not a big RR fan and Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off may be one of the most ridiculous shows on television (Coolio was a finalist?!? Come on.), but I have to give the woman props for these cookies. They are sheer genius.