I have an absolute obsession with burrata. If you haven't had it, it's basically mozzarella cheese stuffed with cream. It is SO delicious and I could honestly eat it every single day. Most of the time, if you order burrata at a restaurant, it comes simply with some toast points. I wanted to jazz it up a little bit, so I decided to create a few different types of fun toasts to eat with the burrata. Here are the 4 kinds I chose: -Maple Bacon Brussels Sprout -Strawberry Honey ... [ Read More ]
Cumin Roasted Carrots w/ Honey Greek Yogurt & Pistachios
Fall is peak time for carrots and I have an amazing (and super simple) recipe that will probably make you want to buy out the entire grocery store. I make these at least once a week and they're my go-to side dish whenever I have company over for dinner. Everyone who eats them always thinks that I spent hours on them! In reality, they only take about 5 minutes of prep and about 40 minutes to cook. I guess my secret is out... For this recipe, you will need bunched baby carrots. By “baby” ... [ Read More ]
EASY Homemade Pop-Tarts
You guys, these homemade pop-tarts are the perfect morning time treat. They're super sweet, very easy, and absolutely delicious! Lately I've been so busy with the baby, I am constantly trying to create quick but yummy recipes and this one totally fits the bill. If my baby girl Elia could eat, I can bet she would love these (for now she's on a milk diet!) These beauties are also the perfect party snack or a fun way a treat yourself to some nostalgic eats. There are so many different ways you ... [ Read More ]
Easy Asian Chicken Wontons
Every once in a while, I just want to eat appetizers for dinner. Well, these Asian chicken wontons are perfect for that occasion (and perfect for you next party.) Plus, they’re fun to make. Not only are they super light and fresh, they are satisfying enough to help you forget they are actually pretty healthy. So, let the wonton making, begin! This recipe makes 50 wontons + extra filling for next time! </br> Place one wonton wrapper in the palm of your hand. Scoop about a ... [ Read More ]
Avocado Berry Smoothie Bowl
With Chicago summer in full swing, we all need something to cool down with. This smoothie bowl is the perfect (and easiest) way to help you wake up on the right side of the bed! If you haven't tried avocado in a smoothie before, you're missing out (even if you think you don't like them!) It adds a beautiful creaminess to the smoothie bowl that makes it even more delectable. Obviously, this recipe is very flexible. You can use whatever berries you like and you can arrange your toppings to your ... [ Read More ]
Sweet and Tangy Watermelon and Pear Slaw
Supposedly, spring is right around the corner (although I'm still waiting to see some signs of it here in Chicago)! Since warmer weather brings happy people wanting to BBQ, there is going to be a desperate need for a fresh and light salad to accompany all your yummy meat! Make sure you’re prepared for your next BBQ with this insanely easy and tasty side dish. I promise you will impress all your friends with this unique looking salad and once they give it a try, they’ll be even more ... [ Read More ]
Lemon Butter Chicken & Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Pasta (as seen on Windy City Live)
Yesterday I had the most amazing time on Windy City Live! If you missed the segment, no worries! I'm going to tell you how it all went down here (and even share a video of the final presentation). At the top of the show, they gave me a bag of 4 mystery ingredients plus a protein and I had to create a dish in 30 minutes that incorporated each of them. My ingredients were: Caperberries Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Spaghetti Balsamic Vinegar Chicken Breast I didn't have much ... [ Read More ]
Truffle Chicken Salad with Grapes
Simple recipes are my go-to when I have crazy busy weeks and just don’t have the time or energy to whip something up in the kitchen. Even when I'm in a rush, I'm such a foodie and always need something tasty to eat. This Chicken Salad Sandwich recipe is perfect for those hectic times because you can prep it at the start of your week in under and 20 minutes and use it throughout the week for on-the-go meals. Score! Not only is this recipe delicious, it's super flexible, so you can add any ... [ Read More ]
Goat Cheese & Onion Jam Crostini
I've partnered with my friends at Learn to Cook to share the PERFECT recipe just in time for New Years. This goat cheese & onion jam crostini isn't just easy to make, it will knock the pants off your guest! A special surprise this week... It's a video recipe!! Check it out. https://youtu.be/najsSBzxlAo Goat Cheese & Onion Jam Crostini This goat cheese & onion jam crostini isn’t just easy to make, it will knock the pants off your guest! Crostini 8 oz Goat ... [ Read More ]
Jamie Otis: Chicken Meatballs Over Celeriac Mash
Hey Guys! My name is Jamie Otis. Some of you may know me from 'The Bachelor' and/or 'Married At First Sight.' I've been married to my amazing man for almost two years now. (Yes, we were married at first sight. Yikes!) When I first met him he claimed he enjoyed cooking and cooked "a lot." That "a lot" turned into a handful of times when we were first married - and I think he only cooked those few times just because he wanted to impress me. ;-) It worked, too! But anyway, ... [ Read More ]