Dangerous Chocolate Bars

How is everyone’s Sunday going today? Mine has been pretty fabulous. Slept in late, went to the gym, visited Trader Joe’s and Wholefoods and making a steak and potatoes dinner for myself. I always get myself into trouble when I go to Trader Joe’s. They always have something new that I always have to try. Like these chocolate bars for instance. I’m in the middle of cooking dinner and watching the 49ers vs. Giants and figured I’d hop online real quick and write a post out about chocolate. haha

Dark chocolate with speculoos and dark chocolate with chocolate buttercream. Do I need to say any more? I thought the jar of cookie butter was dangerous but now I actually have a chocolate bar with the cookie butter in the middle. They are good and I’ll still eat it, but I was expecting the middle to be a lot more creamier and kind of messy. Instead it was just tasty and not messy at all. You still get the slight ginger cookie crunch from the speculoos that makes it so addicting. They did have a milk chocolate and caramel bar that I did not pick it up. I am now wondering if that would of been messier? Lord help me!

 

Dangerous.

Fallon

Enchilada Casserole from Cooking Light

This is a recipe I’ve had saved from forever ago. The printed date on the copied recipe is 2007 and I’ve never once attempted to make it! I know I’m not the only one that does that, or am I? I knew this past weekend would be the perfect time to make this dish. It has been very cold in Las Vegas and I’m looking for a meal to warm me right up.

What I love about this recipe is the use of corn bread as the topping! I don’t know if you know but I love corn bread. I could eat it everyday if I could. Which in reality I can ;). I used my favorite gluten free mix from Bob’s Red Mill.

I made a minor mistake of not reading the directions because once I started I noticed this is suppose to be done in the SLOW COOKER!! Doh! So I improvised and cooked it on 375 degrees for about 35 minutes. I’m sure it be real tasty from the slow cooker because the corn bread would be a lot more crumbly and moist. Other then that the flavors were spot on and this dish had a good kick. I added pepper jack cheese to the top along with cheddar and mozzarella. I didn’t miss the fact that there was no beef or chicken in this dish. It was a really hearty meal with the black beans and roasted corn.

When I make this again I’m going to try the slow cooker method and see how it turns out. I’m usually really good about following directions.

To get the recipe for Enchilada Casserole please visit Cooking Light.

  

Enjoy,
Fallon

Hummus Burgers

Let me tell you, 50+ hours a week of work is rough. Thank goodness I have a great habit of packing my own lunch for work. The airport location for rental cars has no restaurants, not even a Starbucks. Just a little concession stand that sells popcorn and pre-made sandwiches. Gross! On Sunday, I’ll make a couple of things that I can bring to work during the week. My mom will cook up a ton of chicken and I’ll add that to a salad or wrap for work. I’ve been lacking in the veggie department, so I figure making homemade veggie burgers is a good way to get in more vegetables.

I found this delicious recipe for Chickpea Hummus Burgers at the Daily Garnish. It is so easy to make a homemade veggie burger because all the work is done in a food processor. I had to make some substitutes to the original recipe but other then that, these are amazing! I made 7 burgers and had one for work each day.

    

Hummus Veggie Burgers
Adapted from the Daily Garnish

Ingredients
1/4 cup spelt flour
1/8 cup sunflower seeds
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup green onion
1 medium carrot (10-12 little carrots), shredded/finely chopped
1/2 cup dried parsley
1 tablespoon tahini
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions
In your food processor add the carrots and pulse till finely chopped. Add the flour and sunflower seeds. Add the rest of the ingredients- green onion, parsley, tahini, lemon juice, oil garlic and salt.

Pulse until everything is combined and smooth. Don’t over process or the mixture will be too gummy. Wet hands and form 6-7 patties.

Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium-heat and coat with a little olive oil. Cook patties till browned on both sides.

I ate my hummus burgers over a salad or in a wrap. It was delicious and kept me completely satisfied!

Enjoy,
Fallon

Goat Cheese, Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread Salad

My favorite food items I eat daily are goat cheese, prosciutto, gluten free tortillas, red bell peppers, almond butter, red wine and dark chocolate. That is all that EVER sounds good. Weird huh? I mean it not a terrible thing right? Wine and chocolate? Goat cheese and prosciutto?

My favorite brand!

Adds great flavor to everything. That is why I eat it with almost everything. haha

I had a few Facebook recommendations on what I should make this weekend. Appetizers or bacon jam were my choices. Bacon jam is dangerous. Appetizers not so much. I decided to take my favorite food items (well certain ones) and make a delicious flatbread pizza topped with salad. It is delicious and also great with wine ;)

Goat Cheese, Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread Salad
By Fallon

Ingredients
1 brown rice tortilla (these crisp up perfectly!)
2 tablespoon goat cheese, softened
1 tablespoon fig butter or preserves
1/4 cup red bell peppers, diced
1 tablespoon shallot, sliced
Handful baby spinach, chopped
1-2 slices prosciutto
1/2 tablespoon sliced blanched almonds
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and Pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Find a small baking sheet that is big enough to fit a large sized brown rice tortilla. Flip it around and use the bottom of the pan. This will create an even layer for a crispy flatbread.

While the oven is preheating, cut the bell peppers and shallots. Chop the baby spinach and set aside. Place the plain tortilla in the oven to warm up for about 5 minutes. Flip around half way through, it should start to bubble/crisp up. Take out and spread goat cheese and fig butter. Top with bell peppers and shallots. Place back into the oven for another 5 minutes or until you can smell the peppers and shallots. Take out and top with spinach, sliced bell peppers, almonds, prosciutto and a drizzle of oil.

My favorite extra virgin olive oil!

Season with salt and pepper. I cut it into 6 pieces. Now if I didn’t have to go into work I would of had a nice glass of red wine to go with it. ;)

       

The plus of this flatbread is that it is gluten free! The crunch from the almonds is a nice surprise and goes well with the prosciutto and fig butter. I love fancy finger foods like this and was so simple to throw together. The only downside is, that it can get messy with the spinach and stuff falling off if you are trying to serve this at a cocktail party!

Fallon

Looking Forward to a New Year

What a year this has been. Started off full of excitement, life changing and with love. Which slowly ended abruptly, somewhat unsure with what went wrong and a lost for love. I've had a few months to be back home with my family and friends, newly single and you know what I'm kind of liking it! I feel the love and appreciation from everyone I know. It is really comforting and is what keeps me happy.

I'm so glad 2012 is going to be here tomorrow. I don't know what it will bring but all I know is it will be a great year. For once I'm not setting any goals. Somewhere in 2011 my goals were lost and I didn't stay true to my roots. In 2012, I want to just go with my heart and do what I want, when I want, where I want. I'm trying to find who I am again and working on myself.

The best thing that happen to me in 2011 was finding a new job that is full-time. I love my new job so much. Yes, it keeps me busy (hence blogging has been slow) but keeps me on my toes. I believe you should be happy with everything you do and having a job you can enjoy daily without bickering about is one of them.

I hope to get back to blogging soon. I'm thinking I need to come up with a schedule so I'm at least posting once or twice a week. I want to thank all my readers and followers for staying around and supporting me these last few months. You guys are awesome!

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! 2012 will be the year for unexpected things. Okay I'm just saying that because I really want something cool to happen!

Wishing good health, wealth and happiness.

Love,
Fallon

Merry Christmas + A Cookie Party!

Good morning bloggers! I’m sure everyone is already in the kitchen getting together a fantastic Christmas Eve meal and baking up all those last minute sweets. I wish I was as festive this year. I haven’t baked any cookies and since I have nothing to show for it, (I’m naughty, I know!) Amanda from The Secret Recipe Club decided to have a cookie party. She is linking up past entries that are cookies from The Secret Recipe club members. I figured if I’m not baking, I might as well show off other people’s cookies! Hope you guys have a great weekend. I’ll be drinking plenty of wine I decided. Must numb the un-festiveness in me. ;)

Fallon

Just click the button above to check out all the cookies!! I wonder what Santa would like?