recommendation: pinterest.com

Let me tell you about a website I was newly introduced to that I am now completely obsessed with. PINTEREST. My co-worker Lauren introduced me to it – she said its awesome and I must try it. I hadn’t had the chance to explore it yet when another friend Jenny mentioned on facebook that she’s obsessed with it. Between these too girl’s raves, I figured, mind as well check it out… fast forward to two weeks later, I literally get on this site every day. Pinterest.com.

Ok, so basically what it is, is you get to make virtual bulletin boards, you can label them anything – one for food, one for clothes, one for arts & crafts, etc. Then, whenever you see a great recipe on cookinglight.com or you find a skirt you really want on jcrew, or this really genius idea on how to organize something on your friends blog – instead of putting it as your status, or emailing yourself the link to look at later, or printing out the article, you PIN it to your bulletin board. You ‘add a pin’ which means you cut and paste the link, write a comment, it will automatically detect the picture or you can add one, and ta-da, you’ve virtually saved it to your board. The pin doesn’t have to come from a site, you can upload your own pictures, but it’s a great way to share all of your favorite resources for ideas and recipes.

I love pinterest because I am THE QUEEN of tearing pages out of magazines. And I save all of my magazines, I flip through dog-eared pages and am realizing that this just makes it so much easier to keep track of everything.

On top of this, your pins enter this virtual pool of ideas, so you can see everyone else’s pins, and ‘repin’ them to add them to your board! Add a new comment and tell people why you like it. You can follow your friends or random people that you like so that you can discover new thingsI am so drawn to pretty pictures – these days, if your blog or website doesn’t have a pictures along with it, you will loose people. People are drawn to what is aesthetically pleasing to them. So try it – pin away (and come follow my boards)!

recommendation: applesauce on the go

I am applesauce obsessed right now. It all started last Thanksgiving when my cousins adorable twin kids needed a snack and were given GoGo Squeez applesauce packets. They let us try one and it was surprisingly delicious! I didn't think much more about them until recently when I was nursing a hangover and my sister fed me one to get some food in me - it was an unexpected fix, a refreshing and natural treat. Since then, I've been a bit obsessed. Gogo Squeez packets are awesome but when I needed a quick fix, I popped into Trader Joes and tried their version, Fruit Crushers, which I actually preferred because it wasn't as sweet. If you prefer sweet vs natural applesauce, then you'd probably prefer GoGo Squeez - even though both are completely natural 100% fruit with no added anythings.

These squeezable applesauces are absolutely perfect when you feel like you are about to faint from hunger but are absolutely too busy to stop and eat at that moment. You need something small and with a little sugar to keep you going until you can actually break and eat a real meal. These packets aren't filling (I can practically eat it in two slurps) but they give you that little push you need. Today, I made a new discovery. I had that feeling at the grocery store, starving but didn't want to open the cheez-its and ruin my dinner, so I grabbed an apple sauce packet in the refridgerator fruit section. Buddy Fruits Apple & Banana flavor. I don't know if it was the flavor or the moment of hunger, but this has been my best squeezable applesauce experience to date!

If you aren't convinced to try these kids treats yet, let me give you some grown up benefits:
- source of antioxidents such as catechin, phloridzin, chlorogenic acid (all of which fight free radicals in the body to protect DNA and cells from oxidative damage that can lead to cancer)
- apples are high in fiber
- per Mott, the applesauce experts: Eating apple sauce as part of a diet low in saturated fat promotes heart health; Antioxidant vitamin C to help support a healthy immune system; Naturally fat- and cholesterol-free; Naturally sodium free
- article on the Health Benefits of Applesauce

recommendation: how to deal with temperamental fruit and veggies

I came home from work today to find my glorious, perfectly round, 20 lb (its seriously heavy) watermelon, hand picked by yours truly, FOAMING and drooling on the counter. My first reaction was to look up at the ceiling because I thought the unit above was leaking. Then I rolled it over and realized it was originating from the melon, which was then followed by a major freak out session as I thought it might explode (visions of it shooting like a rocket directly at my head (?!), spewing rotten melon everywhere). It also strangely smelled like beer, which I thought might be the Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar (try it, awesome) beer bottle sitting on the counter. Here’s what my research led me to find:

- My watermelon was rotting
- The liquid leaking from it was because it was fermenting
- This watermelon was NOT safe to eat

This got me curious about other fruit & veggies since mine tends to go bad quick, so I decided to do some fruit & veggie homework. Here are some of my reoccurring questions, answered (via other websites and blogs):

Is it OK to eat the nice looking lettuce if there was a slimy piece or two in the bag?
Most websites I found say if its slimy, its rotten, which means you either didn’t store it properly or its past its expiration date. If its past its expiration, don’t risk it, its there for a reason (rule follower). Here are some tips on how to store properly: 5 ways to keep your lettuce fresh

Are wrinkled bell peppers OK to eat?

As long as there is no mold or brown spots, its ok. If the seeds aren’t white then its probably gone bad. If its wrinkly or a little sunk in, most say its still ok. Just best to cook vs eating raw since won’t be very crunchy.

Are bruised apples OK to eat?
Normally just caused by oxidation so ok. But be cautious – if it’s a deep or dark bruise or has a lot of bruises, you might find something in there!

Is it OK to eat a tomato with a hole in it?
Couldn’t find many answers on this one, from what I see, try cutting it out, if it seems like it was just dented or poked by something then its alright. If it has discoloration around the hold, might be bugged, pitch it.

How long is chopped onion good for?
This very official looking site says after you chop it, store it in sealed container, good for 7-10 days. Love this clever onion storage tip, reusing an empty water bottle!

Is it OK to eat a potato if it has roots growing out of it?
As long as roots don’t have green spots or leaves and potato doesn’t have green or black spots, then yes. Just gouge roots out with knife and carry on.

How long can you keep garlic for?
6 months at room temperature is not abnormal. If you don’t use garlic quicker than that, I feel bad for your taste buds. Here is more than you ever wanted to know about garlic.

Is it OK to eat a brown banana?
Yes. Wanna know why they go from green to brown?

If you have a moldy berry in the box, is it OK to eat the ones that weren’t touching it?
Yes. Someone posts here what Whole Foods says so obvs we can trust this advice: when you buy berries, pick out moldy ones, wash the rest and put on paper plate with paper towel in fridge. Consume within 2 days. Will spoil at room temperature.

And, as long as we are on the topic of produce going bad, I’d like to sadly report this update that my radishes were attacked by Aphids (ew, ew, ew). I almost cried. I tried a home remedy (veggie oil, dish soap, hot water) which I sprayed onto the infested leaves. I don’t know if the bugs killed the radishes, the mixture, or the fact that I probably sprayed 20 times what I was supposed to onto them. Just to be safe. I’m still growing them all the way, even though they look dry, mangled and unhappy. One, just to say I grew radishes, and two, to see what they will look like full term. I noticed a few more nasty evil Aphids around my garden so I got professional Ortho Elementals spray from Home Depot, and its worked beautifully. My plants are all lovely and alive, and per the instruction label and home depot employee, its safe to eat any produce after spraying this stuff.

recommendation: five things for a hot weekend

i've got a huge to-do list - things to try/do/see/eat/blog about. slowly trying to tackle it and every weekend, trying to do something memorable! here are five things i want to try for this hot hot weekend.

1. as long as its hot, mind as well sweat it out and light up the grill... this S'Meach (S'More + Peach) sounds intriguing! i tried making a grilled peach once and it was pretty tasty but adding a marshmallow and some spices just take it to the next level...

2. i've got a long mane and in hot weather, i don't want to spend 10 minutes blowing hot air to drying my hair, no matter how amazing my chi blow dryer is. i was pumped to see all of these great hairstyles for the summer on InStyle

3. Ice cream mania. Here are three recipes I'm dying to try:

- Coconut & Watermelon Sorbet from July 2011 Martha Stewart:
1/4 c coconut flakes, 2 pints store-bought coconut sorbet, 2 c cubed (1/2-inch) watermelon, finely grated lime zest, for sprinkling
1. Preheat oven to 375^F. Bake coconut flakes in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet until roasted, c. 3 minutes. 2. Divide half the sorbet among 6 tall glasses using a 2 1/4–inch ice cream scoop. Top each with a layer of watermelon, another scoop of sorbet, and then more watermelon. Sprinkle with lime zest and toasted coconut. Serve immediately.
- Whipped Sorbet: sounds ridiculously easy
- David Burke's Primehouse Friday Ice Cream Pop-Up Shop, 3-5pm at JBar: today's flavors are Tiramasu and Chocolate Covered Strawberry!!

4. i'm not a huge beach person (don't like sand) but can appreciate going and sitting by the water. we live close to the lake so its a nice walk down and if i'm going, mind as well travel in style... love these beach bags on Refinery 29 - my fav is the beach bag to carry all year Ikat Cloth Tote by SR Squared by Sandra Roberts. So cute!

5. wear my new ann taylor LOFT sparkle tweed shorts. they had an amazing sale recently - 40% off (everything!) and I picked up a few great pairs of shorts. I'm normally not a shorts person but i am drawn to sparkly things so i couldn't resist these! they have a great selection this summer!

stay cool and enjoy the weekend!

recommendation: join a book club

I’m all for the arts, anything that is culture, that creates and cultivates… so when I got invited to a book club through work, I was excited. When I heard it would be discussed over wine…. I was double in. All of my ‘clubs’ involve wine… knitting club, crafting club, book club… it makes them cooler (maybe? kinda?).

We met at the Conrad, which has a delicious nut mix at their bar btw, and discussed our first book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot. Parts were hard to get through, other parts had me gripped and turning pages quickly… its on the New York Times Best Sellers list under paperback non-fiction, #3! Overall I’m happy I read it, its one of those books that you read and it betters you, its good to be aware of

all that's going on out there. As a Sociology major,anything that involves the study of people, cultures, times, social reproduction, etc., gives me a little thrill. Oprah is making a movie of this book too, so you know its good!

I recommend two things here. 1) Enjoying a nice glass of wine while exploring a hobby (might I recommend charles smith wines?) 2) actually joining a club to celebrate that hobby, in this case, a book club!

p.s. If you decide to read the book or start a book club, here are some resources:
- Discussion Questions for The Immortal Life...BookLust
- Oprah's Book Club
- NPR Book Club
- Local Chicago Resource - Gapers Block
- Amazon Book Club Picks

recommendation: chocolate coconut water

I was at TJ's last friday to do a quick pick up and bumped into an old co-worker who works there now and told me I MUST try this new product. She asked if I liked coconut water and I said kind of (as recently posted - pineapple coconut water - YES, most other flavors, no thank you). Then she presented me with a sample cup of Zico chocolate flavored coconut water. You'd think chocolate WATER would just be gross. Here's the thing. If you don't think of it as flavored water, and don't compare it to chocolate milk, because its just NOT, and just take it for what it is... a refreshing chocolate beverage... then its absolutely delicious. Make sure its super cold when you drink it. My first few sips were room temp and it doesn't have the same refreshing effect. If you need further motivation:

- has more potassium than one whole banana
- assures rapid hydration and replenishment
- 5 essential electrolytes, good sources of iron
- zero fat, zero cholesterol, zero added sugar, gluten free
- 110 cal, 2g fat, 23 carb, 18 sugars, 1 protein

Try it. Its different, and awesome.

recommendation: easy berry cobbler

I recently posted on taking a shortcut with a cookie recipe and how it was only semi-successful. Well, I took another shortcut on another baking recipe, and again, it was only semi-successful. I had happy bellies around the room but felt as though the recipe could be changed... and that's why I'm posting/recommending it, because I feel like with a few easy adjustments, it can be a successful shortcut recipe!

My hubby has been asking me to make cobbler with all of the great summertime fruit available but every time I look up a recipe, it either involves a lengthy ingredient list or something in the list that I don't keep in the house, so it stops me from making it. My in-laws, sister-in-law and her son came to visit this weekend and I really wanted to make them a special dessert. I was going to make

Krusteaz Cinnamon Coffee Cake one morning and got a boxed mix but decided it was a little too much work in the a.m. and wanted to do something easier...and then I noticed on the side of the box... a berry cobbler recipe! Using the boxed mix, all I had to provide was 4 cups frozen mixed berries, which I have been keeping stocked in the house (LOVE Trader Joes Fancy Berry Mix with blueberries, blackberries and raspberries), water, butter, and old fashioned oats. Done and done!

Revisions are, the recipe needed a little longer to bake, I'm thinking its because I didn't have the deep dish pie pan it called for. I'd also add more berries next time as the berry to streusel topping ratio was not even. Lastly, I'd maybe put less of the cinnamon mixture into it, was a little too cinnamon-y for me (maybe just me, as we've established that I'm not the biggest cinnamon fan...).

Overall though, this was such an easy recipe and satisfied the cobbler craving. The house smelled great and even with the extra time, it only took about 45 minutes to bake. Worth another try!

recommendation: grilled corn

Just in time for another beautiful weekend, I wanted to share a few corn recipes for you to try on the grill! since we’ve been grilling a lot this summer, as long as we have it fired up and ready to go, corn is an easy thing to throw on as a side. Everyone does theirs different but we shuck the corn, slather it with olive oil, and stick it on the grill, rotating after a few minutes on each side until it gets a little charred. I do not like all things grilled – asparagus for one, prefer mine sautéed. But corn is one of those things that is good any way – boiled, grilled, popped!, so these 4 recipes are worth trying out!

1. With Lawry Seasoning Salt – growing up, mom ate corn with butter and dad ate corn ‘indian style’. This means pouring a little lawry’s seasoning salt into a dish, cutting a lime in half, dipping the lime in the salt and squeeze while pressing it onto the corn. YUM. I don't know how my dad came up with this but it's awesome. This is a MUST TRY!

2. Grilled Corn with Tequila Lime Butter: found this recipe for liquor-infused themed supper club. made 1 version with cilantro, 1 without since I'm not a fan. I couldn't taste the tequila thaaat much so I would maybe add more but I just love the idea of it...

3. Corn and Avocado Salad:

new recipe I tried the other day as a side to our grilled quesadillas – only thing we did different was grill the corn:
3 ears corn, 1 avocado, pitted and chopped, 2 scallions, thinly sliced, 1 tablespoon olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper
Directions: Using a sharp knife, cut the kernels off the corn. In a medium bowl, toss the corn with the avocado, scallions, oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.

4. Grilled Corn with Roasted Jalepeno Butter: cooking light recipe that I haven't tried yet but am eager to because I'm intrigued by the lime rind and honey.

Enjoy and don't forget to watch the corn on the grill so it doesn't get too charred!

recommendation: martha stewart inspired 4th of July cookies

Martha is my mom's idol so in turn, she is mine too. She is the Queen of baking, sewing, craft projects, and everything domestic. I agree with all of the whoopla, of course with money and a whole team she can get anything accomplished and she makes her projects seem easy, not necessarily made for the everyday gal... so when I saw her July magazine issue with 4th of July Fireworks Cookies on the front, I KNEW I had to attempt to make them, but needed to revised the recipe a tiny bit! With a busy week's schedule, I didn't want to be unrealistic about this project, so I decided to get a bag of pre-made cookie mix. It just required you to add butter and 1 egg. I made them in different sizes just for fun and while they cooled, I made my the buttercream frosting my mom brought us up on - confectioners sugar, butter, milk and vanilla. Easy enough! (p.s. this is a great recipe for Christmas cookies too). I also got pre-made gel packets that came in a set of 4 colors. As I started decorating the cookies, I realized instantly that they wouldn't turn out the same as Martha's because my white frosting needed to be harder and more solid.

Martha used Royal Icing - big difference, my buttercream wasn't a great substitution, as I tried swirling the colored gel designs, it was just blending with my creamy buttermilk frosting - but honestly, it was quicker, I ended up just doing some fun and crazy decorations. Overall, they were deliciously sweet cookies, so worth it! I would still recommend taking the shortcut to get the project done, Martha's cookies are beautiful but mine were still fun for the holiday celebration.

Happy Independence Day!