Can we have a heart to heart? I know you're not going to like me very much for telling you this, but that Shamrock Shake you're drinking from McDonalds has enough sugar, calories and fat in it to destroy any diet. If the 660 calories, 19 grams of fat and 93 grams of sugar don't scare you, how about the list of 54 (yes 54) ingredients and obscure additives? What about the fact that a 16oz of this green shake has about the same amount of calories as a Big Mac and a small french fry? Nutty ... [ Read More ]
Restaurant Review: Crīo
Last week, I got the chance to finally check out Crīo after months of drooling over their delicious (and hilariously funny) photos on Instagram. To be honest, since I'm surrounded by great food all the time, it's very rare that a restaurant's Instagram will lure me in. Well, I'm glad it did. If you haven't had the chance to try Crīo in Chicago yet, then consider this your wake-up call. Although this place says it has "The Best Latin American food in Chicago", I'd go as far as saying it's one ... [ Read More ]
Honey Soy Crunch Chicken
Real talk...this honey soy crunch chicken taste even better than it looks (if that's even possible). This ooey gooey, crunchy masterpiece is my new go-to recipe any night of the week. I developed this last week when I wanted to make dinner for my friend Chloe. It was her birthday, and a home-cooked meal is one of her favorite things on earth. I decided it was time to invent a new chicken dish. I was in the mood for something different and have been tired of the same old recipes lately. Since ... [ Read More ]
Erica’s Magic Mac and Cheese
Did you know that in the time it takes to make a box of mac and cheese, you can actually make a homemade one (and it will taste a whole lot better)? For those of you who know me (or follow along with my blog), you know I'm not a huge fan of store bought boxed products. The problem is, they usually have so many gross additives, colorings and preservatives, that you end up not knowing what you're eating. Mac and cheese is a prime example of this major issue. Today, I'm going to help you rid ... [ Read More ]
Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month has Arrived!
Last night, I was driving home from O'Hare airport after a long trip and I was starving. The traffic was awful (what's new?), so I decided to jump off the highway and find a restaurant nearby before I got super "hangry" and did something I would regret. Let's face it; we've all been there. When I took to Google to research somewhere nearby, I saw that Chicago's North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau was putting on a restaurant month during February. I noticed that they were featuring ... [ Read More ]
100 Calorie S’mores Dessert
I'll admit it...I have a huge sweet tooth. While most people make their new years resolutions to cut out desserts, this year, I made one to always finish my meal with something sweet. Why not? Enjoying sweets in moderation is ALWAYS a good thing. That's why, this year, I've made it my mission to create satisfying desserts with less than 100 calories. The first one I perfected is my microwave (or oven if you're patient) s'mores. This dessert is super simple, very inexpensive and you won't ... [ Read More ]
How Chicken Riggies Came to Chicago
Over the last few days, many of you have been asking me how I was able to get chicken riggies to a restaurant in Chicago. Well...here is my story... Last week, I was having dinner at The Pasta Bowl on Clark Street in Lincoln Park. As I was enjoying my dinner, the owner came by to check-in and we started chatting about my food blog. He asked me how I grew so quickly and I gave him a quick, two word answer, "chicken riggies". "What's a riggie?" he said. You may be asking yourself the ... [ Read More ]
ARTango Bistro: Great Food with a Side of Tango Dancing
I love going to out to dinner! The problem is, I always end up eating so much, that any subsequent plans I have after dinner usually don't happen because I have no energy to make it to the next spot. A few weeks ago, I heard about this really cool restaurant called ARTango Bistro in Lakeview. I was told that it's a great place for dinner and dancing all in one (no re-locating necessary)! Now I'm not much of a tango dancer (let alone a dancer of any sort), but this sounded like fun! I liked ... [ Read More ]
Inside Everything Erica’s Bridal Shower
As I sit here and reflect on this last weekend, I can't help but feel overcome with love, a warm heart and amazing memories. As some of you know (if you follow me on social media), this weekend I had my first bridal shower (a champagne brunch) at Mistral restaurant in Boston. I feel so blessed. My shower was thrown by 3 of my fiancé's amazing aunts, Patty, Cathy and Dana and his grandmother, Ellie. Not only did they make it a special event for all the guests, but they took the time to create ... [ Read More ]
Fake Shack — A Shake Shack Burger Copy Cat Recipe
With all the hype over Shake Shack lately, I thought it was necessary to create an at home version (a fake shack) that you can make any night of the week. While I'll agree that Shake Shack has something special, it is actually really easy to recreate at home (and since you know exactly what's going in it, you're probably saving yourself a few calories). The 3 key components you need to create a copy cat version of this burger are: -The sauce -The size/shape/cooking method of the burger ... [ Read More ]
