Slices of my life

My travel buddy Jen and I headed down to NYC via Megabus on Friday. After arriving at my cousins apartment, we wanted to find lunch fast! We decided that Candle Cafe would be a good choice. I ordered the Mediterranean Wrap. (hummus, tofu feta, roasted red peppers, chopped romaine and sprouts wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla. served with a side of kalamata olive aioli and mesclun salad drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette). I was a little irked by the thought of tofu feta- but everything tasted great!

Ever get an itch to bake something you have never made before?

I was a bakin’ mood last night and had my sights set on pound cake

Lemon Pound Cake

Whatcha Need:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure lemon extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

How to do it:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 6-cup (8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch) loaf pan; set aside.
2. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; add lemon extract and salt. With mixer on low, gradually add flour, beating just until combined (do not overmix).
3. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 1 hour (tent with aluminum foil if browning too quickly). Let cool in pan 15 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack, and turn upright to cool completely.

Beans & Greens! This hearty dish is filling and can be altered for specific diets.

Did I mention that it makes a LOT of food for very little money?

Whatcha Need:

• 1 Bag Frozen Spinach
• 1 Can cannellini beans
• 1 (or more) clove garlic
• Salt & Pepper
• 2 Whole roasted Red Peppers
• 1 Italian sausage — Pre cooked!! (You can brown the sausage in the same pan prior to adding the spinach!)
• Gnocchi

How to do it:

1. Sauté spinach and garlic until fragrant
2. Add cannellini beans, sausage & roasted red peppers
3. Continue cooking, about 5 minutes.
4. Serve over cooked gnocchi, or any other pasta.

Enjoy! Have a wonderful weekend.