Lamb Meatballs over Zucchini Noodles with Mint Pesto (now that’s a mouthful)

lamb meatball - zuch noodles - mint pesto

Today as I was heating up my dinner leftovers for lunch in the office microwave – one of the sales lady’s walked by and said that my lunch smelled so good that she was tempted to steal it right out of the nuker.

I am very glad she resisted temptation – because I would have punched her in the face.

And mind you I am very much a lover NOT a fighter.

But last night’s dinner was (excuse my french) effing delicious and I knew the leftovers were going to be just as good and there was no way in hell I was going to share.

I even like this lady a fair amount!  She compliments my hair when it’s down and outfits when they merit mention – but my belly would hear nothing of such niceties! It wanted to eat!

So maybe I didn’t share my lunch with the sales lady… and perhaps I mentally threatened to punch her face… not my finest moment I’ll admit it.  But it’s all good because now I’m going to share the recipe!  So all is forgiven!  Right?

Lamb Meatballs over Zucchini Noodles with Mint Pesto 

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Filed under Lamb, Paleo, Uncategorized

Stuffed Bell Peppers (like no Caveman made them before)

paleo stuffed peppers

The latest health  craze has made its way into the little kitchen of Sweets and I.

Inspired by the way cave-folks ate – Paleo – is meant to include foods that Tarzan ate.  Lots of meats, fish, eggs and veggies and all the spices your heart can dream of and a big fat NO to most of that white fluffy stuff – pasta, bread, sugar, pastries.   And a very tragic no to dairy… sweet delicious dairy… in all the cheesy goodness forms it comes.

At this very moment there is a montage playing of me enjoying cheese in various states… the song Secret Lovers by Atlantic Starr is playing.  It’s a beautiful moment.

So that’s a pretty simplified and maybe slightly uneducated description of what Paleo means but you can find a fancier explanation here.

paleo stuffed peppers

Most meals you make at home can be modified in some shape or form to meet Paleo standards – replace bread with butter lettuce or cabbage – sub cheese for avocado – instead of ice cream blend up a frozen banana with some coconut milk – don’t eat a bag of Cheetos.

paleo stuffed peppers

And for this meal in the kitchen of Sweetie and Kneez – sub couscous for Cauliflower “rice.”  And yes I know what you’re thinking – chances are cavemen did not dust off their food processor to “rice” a head of Cauliflower.

But alas it’s 2013 and that’s just want these cave-lovebirds did.

If rice-rice is more your thang than cauli-rice (or couscous) – have at it – carb this sucker up.  But one day you should try to sub rice with cauliflower – just to switch things up or try something new – it’s quite delicious!

Spicy (paleo) Stuffed Bell Peppers

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Filed under Beef, Healthy, Paleo, Uncategorized

Almost-Paleo Pad Thai Spaghetti

almost-paleo pad thai

I’m sensing a trend… in my kitchen.

A trend that’s rubbing off on my blog.

And by rubbing off I mean on the heels of one Spaghetti Squash recipe, you’re about to get another.

It’s also another recipe I hadn’t really planned on blogging – but I feel like I’d be a real cheenchster if I didn’t – which means you’ll be getting another less than awesome food photo but it comes attached to  DELICIOUS recipe so it’s OK, right?

Pale-OH Spaghetti Squash Chicken Pad Thai

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Spaghetti Squash with Basil & Arugula Pesto

Spaghetti Squash Pesto

As ya’ll have noticed… I’ve recently fallen trap to being a lazy blogger.  And given that when I decide on something (i.e. being a lazy blogger) I like to go all out – I usually don’t plan on blogging our meals – which means I don’t take any photos of the cooking process.

But then the dish is complete, and it’s effing amazing and I really want to share it with you!  And then I realize I have a green pesto dish piled into a green bowl, and the photo kind of sucks.  But I have a hunch you don’t read this blog for my mad photography skillz… so I go ahead and snap a photo for the sake of having at least one picture and I’ll tell myself: “Don’t forget to blog this recipe.”

But I forget.

And then a few weeks go  by and I’m purging my 600 plus iPhone photos and see that green-on-green dish and remember my promise and log into to your very favorite cooking blog (right?) and start this post.

Side Note: We’ve been cutting carbs and sugar out of our home-diet and Spaghetti Squash has to be one of the best vessels for anything we may have made with pasta/rice/quinoa before.   I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to discover it!

Side-Side Note: As of Saturday I started an 8-week Paleo Challenge, which along with carbs and sugars means no dairy (SAY WHAT?!?!?!) so as much as I loved the cheese in this dish you can certainly leave it out, which I will be doing next time I whip this gem up.

Basil & Arugula Pesto over Spaghetti Squash “Noodles”

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Sweet V-Day Chocolate Torte

flourless mini chocolate tortes

It’s Valentine’s Day!

You love it or you hate it.  And sometimes  you’re in between.  Either way at some point you’re probably gonna find some chocolate in your life… or… ergh… mouth.

And in my opinion – it should be some really good chocolate – not some lame heart shaped-box chocolate (not to hate on any of your gifts!  It’s the thought that counts!  Even if that thought tastes kind of waxy).

Single or coupled you should really make the best of that chocolate in your mouth!  And with that being said, I think you should make these.  Because they are really REALLY delicious.  And incredibly decadent.  And even a little sexy ;)

flourless mini chocolate tortes

Mini Flour-less Chocolate Tortes topped with Chocolate Ganache & Salted Whip Cream
Adapted from Baker Bettie

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Blue Sky Bakery Bran Muffins

Blue Sky Bakery.

Brookyln, NY. Park Slope to be exact. 5th Avenue between St. Marks and Bergen to be really exact. And about one block from my apartment above that noisy Cuban place to be even more really exact.

The coffee was really good – and strong. Iced in the summer and hot in the winter.

But I didn’t go there for the coffee.

Photo Courtesy: The New York Times

Photo Courtesy: The New York Times

I went there for the muffins. The bran muffins filled with an endless variety of fruity concoctions.

There are plenty of things I miss about living in Brooklyn and working in New York City. But for the most part I miss those muffins. I’m not alone in saying that they’re probably some of the very best muffins around.

Seriously, Google it.

Blue Sky Bakery, Brooklyn NY

You’ll find yourself plenty of 5 star reviews and people saying things like:
I don’t like muffins, but I love these muffins.
“Best muffins ever”
“So delicious I could cry”
And finally…
“I usually only like a muffin top, but these are good on the top and on bottom”
You see these muffins turn even a strict top, into a bottom too! Make of that what you will ;)

I left Brooklyn about four years ago and for about that long I’ve been searching the entire WORLD WIDE WEB for “Blue Sky Bakery, Brooklyn NY Bran Muffin RECIPE.”

Nothing.

I even called the place. And left a message. Not a text message people… an actual voice message. Begging for the recipe.

Nothing.

But then last week I gave the old Google another try and Voila! There it was! Google Books hooked me up! Or I guess the cookbook “Table of Contents: From Breakfast with Anita Diamant to Dessert with James Patterson” hooked me up. Because they had the recipe, courtesy of Blue Sky Bakery – for none other than my beloved muffin.

bran muffin

I’ve made bran muffins before, and they were no doubt good. But they were not these.

Blue Sky Bakery’s Bran Muffins

I made these last weekend and they were every bit as delicious as if they were eaten fresh from Blue Sky Bakery with a small to-go coffee, right of a the brown paper bag while strolling along 5th avenue.

Although I think they were even better last weekend because they were fresh from my oven, eaten on a small rose-glass plate, paired with coffee from my little stove-top Bialetti and I was eating them with my most wonderful Sweets in our cozy home. And it was Sunday and I love Sundays.

bran muffin

And on a tad less romantic note, these muffins are some serious movers if you know what I mean.  My friend Amanda has dubbed them Colon Cleansers Muffins – just a little tit-for-tat.

OK, OK enough mushy stuff. Now to the muffins.

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Tacos (in a Salad)

tacosalad6

I love tacos.  Like really love them.  Like I’d maybe consider marrying them.

And while I’m not quite ready to say I love tacos more than pizza at this exact moment, I’m sure there are times when such a proclamation might be made.

tacosalad3

I love the crispy shells.  The soft shells.  The spiced ground beef.  Tacos with cilantro lime marinated chicken.  Shrimp tacos with fruit salsa.  The taco truck tacos.  The overpriced restaurant tacos.  The Taco Bell tacos.  Tacos in foil.  Tacos on plates.  Tacos with sides of beans and rice.  Tacos with sides of lime wedges and cabbage.  Tacos with salsa.  Tacos with sour cream.  Tacos with avocado.  Tacos in my mouth.

tacosalad4

I am an equal-opportunity taco eater and lover.

But you see the thing is… tacos… well much like pizza… I can’t exactly justify eating them on the regular.  Because according to my hips, they’re not the healthiest thing in the world.  And according to Shakira, “Hips Don’t Lie.”  Jerks.

Although just a few months ago I was visiting my lovely friend Paloma, who is also an avid lover of tacos, and her wonderful Momma introduced me to a whole new world of tacos.

tacosalad5

Taco Salads!

And before you tsk, tsk, tsk… I should forewarn you there is no taco shell involved and the dressing isn’t creamy.

These are basically a deconstructed taco and can be as healthy or unhealthy for that matter, as you want them to be.  And since I’m getting all fixed to get married and stuff, this recipe errs on the side of healthy.

tacosalad

Sweets and I throw this easy dinner together probably once a week.  It’s become one of our favorite go-to quick and easy dinners.  It’s also the perfect thing to make when we have friends over for din-din.  I can think of at least three pals who’ve enjoyed this particular meal at Casa de Krajewski-Sharpe.

A few of those dinner guests have actually reported checking S&K for the recipe… and I’ve failed them!  And failed you!  But not for long!  I’m redeeming myself right NOW!

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Filed under Healthy, Salad, Sunny Mexico, Veggies