Pasta al Pomodoro

After a long weekend traveling, I was really craving a homemade dinner. I wanted something easy to pull together and I'm always drawn to recipes with short ingredient lists (they usually equate to quick and simple). When I came across this recipe I knew it would be perfect. I know that it's so tempting to reach for a jar of store bought tomato sauce but it's so worth taking the extra 20 minutes to make it from scratch. It might sound intimidating at first, but it's very easy. The added effort was evident in every bite of this yummy pasta dish.

I used this recipe, featured on the May 2011 cover Bon Appetit. I followed the recipe exactly and I got the approval from yt, who originally thought it would taste "boring and plain". I followed the recipe exactly and it didn't disappoint. I definitely recommend this one!

Sin City

I was very pleasantly surprised with Las Vegas. I wasn't sure if I would like it or hate it, but I wound up loving this crazy city (for three days). By the end of our time there, I was pretty ready to leave but I'm so happy that we visited.

We walked down the strip and stopped at almost every hotel along the way. I loved all of the opulent decorations like the ceilings in The Bellagio, The Venetian and Caesar's Palace. The people watching in Vegas is incredible - so many interesting people.

We indulged in some pool time (and some breakfast pina coladas!). The 110 degree weather made it necessary to stay in the water. We also saw the most amazing show - Le Reve. This Cirque du Soleil show features incredibly impressive diving and acrobatic stunts all over a large pool of water as the stage.

We of course did a little bit of gambling too. I initially thought I would stick to the penny slots, but they didn't really pay off (my first winnings, shown below, are one lousy nickel!). I moved on to roulette and became slightly addicted. Such a fun game - when you're winning. We had some very lucky games (and some not so lucky ones). 13 was a very lucky number for us. We came back to Chicago with a little extra change. Perhaps that's why I love Las Vegas!

{In the top middle picture I'm getting credit for being the first chip on 13 - yay me!}

I'm planning on buying a new camera with our winnings! I've wanted to ditch my Canon point and shoot and upgrade to an SLR for quite some time, but they do not come cheap. I'm so happy to have a little extra cash to splurge on one. Since I know nothing about cameras, I'm open to any and all recommendations. What are the best cameras out there? Canon or Nikon?

Foodie Friday: Corn and Zucchini Pancakes

I caught the cooking bug earlier this week. I usually cook dinner 4 or 5 times a week, depending on my work schedule and what I have going on socially; but this past weekend, all I wanted to do was cook! Every single picture on tastespotting and foodgawker was making my mouth water so I gave in and cooked up a storm. After my Sunday morning run on the lake, I made Zucchini & Corn Pancakes. I cut the recipe in half and made smaller pancakes. I wound up with 7 medium sized pancakes and they we're delicious. Serve them up with sour cream or salsa.

{Pancake Batter}

{On the griddle}

{Piled high and ready to eat!}

Fall Must Haves: Lakeshore Style

Today Katie, my friend and fashionista, is brining you her list of fall must haves. 


Well hello, fellow lovers of Simply Irresistible! I'm so excited to share some of my favorite Fall finds with you! I spend my days scouring local shops along West Michigan's lakeshore to provide locals with daily updates on new merchandise arrivals, sales, and events on Lakeshore Shoppers and Lakeshore Brides. After a few summers interning in New York City with Nicole Miller and Thread Social, years as a Buyer for a local surf shop, and consulting on multiple boutique openings, I developed Lakeshore Shoppers as a resource for other local shoppers keep updated on all their favorite shops and support shopping locally! So for all you followers of Simply Irresistible I did the same thing for convenient shopping for YOU - scoured the internet for this season's newest arrivals at affordable prices. Enjoy!


1. Explore tones of natural, earthy elements this Fall

{Dress: Topshop, Shoe: Piperlime, Clutch: modekungen, Ring: Max & Cleo, Shades: Asos}

2. No Fall wardrobe is complete without Hunter boots

{Jacket: BB Dakota, Jean: Rag & Bone, Boot: Hunter, Wallet: Tory Burch, Watch: Michael Kors, Ring: Max & Cleo}

3. Mustard yellow is a must have for Fall accessories

{Jacket: Scotch & Soda, Boot: Delia's, Bag: Asos, Rings: Ariella Collection, Earrings: Kendra Scott}

Check out Katie's daily finds on Lakeshore Shoppers. When she hits 200 likes she's giving away a free stand up paddle board to one of her followers! I'll be sharing my list of fall must haves next week. 

Missoni For Target

I'm counting down the days until the Missoni for Target collection hits shelves on September 13th. While the clothes are truly fabulous and mirror the more expensive pieces with their colorful patterns, zigzags and abstract florals, I'm most excited about the home decor and kitchenware part of the collection. The entire look book is available for your viewing pleasure here, but I've pulled out a few of my favorites below.

Target date on September 13th anyone?!

Tomato & Goat Cheese Tart

I'm always looking for new side dishes to pair with summer dinners on the grill. This week I made Ina's tomato and goat cheese tarts. I love anything that can be made in individual portions (it's perfect for entertaining) and really anything with puff pastry, tomato and cheese cannot be bad. While this is a great summer side dish, I would make it in any season. This week I paired it with grilled flank steaks and a glass of red wine - it was a lovely summer dinner!

{The finished product}

Not Just For Kids

Every time I turn on the television I see a commercial for back to school supplies. The lists (as I remember) usually included notebooks, binders, markers, pens, pencils, glue, etc. I'm not going to lie - going shopping for new school supplies was probably just as exciting for me as going shopping for new fall clothing... if not more. Without a doubt I would ask for the notebooks that came in fun colors/patterns and the metallic gel pens and all the various labeling accessories. Now that I work in an office where supplies are provided, I rarely treat myself to new and fun office accessories. I think this fall I might just splurge. Kids shouldn't get to have all the fun!

1. Anthropologie notebooks (here, here & here)

2. CB2 WTF Stamp ... I would get carried away with this one!

3. Crate and Barrel Splatter Paint Tape

4. Anthropologie Banderole Pencil Set

5. Crate and Barrel Organizer Tray with Clips

6. CB2 Chalkboard Office Accessories

And if you haven't checked out Poppin I suggest you do. Poppin houses a collection of modern and fun office supplies in fun bright colors or classic and clean black and white.

Destination Wedding - Bodrum, Turkey

Today I'm linking up with Jillian at Cornflake Dreams and Joelle from Where We Love Is Home to share my dream destination wedding. I'm actually getting married in Chicago next May and I'm in the midst of wedding planning. While we decided that Chicago would be the ideal location for us due to ease of planning, we did throw out the idea of a destination wedding many times when we first got engaged.

With my fiance's family being from Turkey, I think that a Turkish town on the Mediterranean would be the ideal location for a destination wedding. We visited a couple summers ago, and it is such an amazing place. The culture, the weather, the architecure, the blue waters and the amazing food make it feel like a true island getaway. In the summertime especially, the weather cannot be beat. I would opt to get married on a boat with our closest family and friends. There is something about getting married on the water that screams romance. I would trade the traditional long wedding gown that I'll be wearing next Spring for something short and sweet (it's hot in Turkey!). I'd love to wine and dine my guests with traditional Turkish cuisine, refreshing beverages and some light music to listen to out on the seas.

Black and White Cookies

This Saturday I spent a lot of time relaxing and trying to recuperate from a cold. Who gets a head cold in August? Apparently me.

Sunday was much more productive. I ran on the lake in the morning (dodging tourists who were setting up for the Air and Water Show was like an added workout!), picked out my bridesmaids dresses after much deliberation, made a few purchases from the J.Crew fall collection and made a couple awesome new recipes.

To help myself feel a little better on Saturday, I made black and white cookies. Black and white cookies are one of those treats that look a lot harder to pull together than they really are. The cookies are extremely cake like in their consistency and are a New York City favorite. I make these a couple times of year and am happy to share my go to recipe. I use this recipe and do not make a single change.

Foodie Friday: Guest Chef

Today I'm bringing in a guest chef. Her recipes make me drool on a weekly basis and I have made featured recipes from her blog numerous times. I have not once been disappointed. I also like laughing at her pup, Lola. I hope you enjoy! There's also my Foodie Friday recipe's over on her blog - In the Pink and Green!

Greetings from Colorado and happy weekend to all you lovely Simply Irresistible readers! I'm so thrilled that Lara and I decided to swap blogs for Foodie Friday, and I'm really excited to share a couple culinary discoveries with all of you! Just to give you a quick background on me, I write a blog called In the Pink and Green, which basically chronicles my travels and adventures with my hubby and our puppy as we move around the country, as well as my attempts to try and balance my desire to be healthy, fit, and eco-friendly with my need to shop, collect beauty products (Sephora is my weakness), follow celebrity gossip, and consume sugar in massive quantities. Speaking of food, I love to cook and bake and talk about food quite a bit on my blog, however I rarely come up with my own recipes. I prefer to peruse the web (foodgawker is an obsession of mine) as well as my collection of cookbooks for interesting-looking dishes and then let y'all know which ones are actually worth trying. So now that you've got the dish on me, let's get cooking! 

Oh yeah, that's my boxer-lab mix puppy Lola...she likes to relax why I cook...you can read more about her here.

August is that time of year when autumn is just around the corner, and while I'm looking forward for pulling out my boots and sweaters and baking some cozy apple crisps and creamy butternut squash soups, I want to use the next few weeks to soak up what's left of summer. Earlier this week, I tried two new recipes that fit the bill perfectly--Chicken Chorizo Burgers with Avocado Mayonnaise and Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake. Yum. 

I found the recipe for the burgers over at Heat Oven to 350, and was intrigued by the avocado mayo. (I have a slight major obsession with all things avocado) I pretty much followed the recipe exactly as it's listed on the website, with a few minor exceptions. First off, I omitted the cilantro in the mayo (my hubby hates it), but I thought it still came out really well, nice and creamy with a zip to it.

As for the burgers, I stuck everything in our full size food processor, and while I did use chicken breast, I think that using ground chicken or turkey breast would work just as well and save you from having to cut up the breasts. Oh, and I substituted a whole wheat hot dog bun for the tortillas...why you ask? Because when I planned to make this recipe I remembered I had some leftover tortillas from when we made tacos not too long ago, so I didn't bother to buy any at the store. Cut to actually making the burgers, I pull out the tortillas from the back of the fridge and they are starting to mold. so. disgusting. (Sorry if that's TMI, but I'm hoping that I'm not only one that buys stuff and then forgets how much time has passed...oh I am and you guys are totally grossed out? Cool.)

My hubby and I cooked the burgers on the grill and I thought they came out super tasty, although I think adding an egg to the burger mixture might help make them a little more moist. Also, the recipe makes about 8-9 patties, so they're perfect for leftovers or lunches or re-purposing into something like an omelet. I served the burgers with whole wheat buns, avocado mayo, red onion, and a tomato from our garden (and by garden I mean the single pot of tomato plants on our apartment patio...same diff), and accompanied by some sweet corn, this dinner just screams summer!

For dessert, I stumbled across what might my new favorite recipe because it's SO. SO. GOOD. One of my husband's favorite desserts is Strawberry Shortcake, and while it's a perfectly summer dish, I was just really in the mood for something chocolate-y, plus sometimes I feel like shortcakes can be a little bland. But if marriage has taught me anything about compromise, I knew there must be a way to make us both happy. Enter this recipe. (Again thank you foodgawker!) Sweet summer strawberries, fluffy homemade whipped cream, and dense, chocolate-y shortcakes, a new spin on a classic that I actually like a lot better than the original. I followed the recipe, and I used Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder, which gave the shortbreads a very dark, almost black, color.

 The one error I did make, which didn't seem to affect the recipe, was I put in a hot cup of coffee instead of a cold one, and while I was concerned it was going to melt the butter and mess up the shortcakes, the recipe seemed to come out fine.

I also didn't add the lemon juice to the strawberries, as sometimes I think even a slight bit of citrus in certain desserts can be overpowering, but that's just personal preference. The recipe makes about 8 shortcakes, however, I would double or even triple the amount of strawberries and whipped cream you prepare if you're going to serve it to a group. Also, don't over beat the whipping cream as it can quickly go from light and fluffy to thick and clumpy...it doesn't taste bad, I just let my Kitchen-Aid go for a little too long and it got a little overbeaten the first night we had this dessert. We had leftover shortcakes, so we enjoyed those last night and my second batch of whipped cream came out much better. (I did have to go to the store and get more strawberries though!) This dish is light and summery, while at the same time being rich and satisfying, and I think it could easily be made at any point throughout the year, especially if you're looking for a great dessert to wow company.

So there you have it, a perfect meal to soak up what's left of summer. Make it this weekend, you'll be happy you did! Thanks again for Lara for letting me share this with you, and I hope you'll check out my blog at In the Pink and Green! xoxo

Ps: I promise there will lots of pictures of my adorably awkward, cute, crazy dog Lola :)

Wedding Venue: The Ivy Room

It's been a while since I've shared something about our wedding planning. I realized that between the flowers and the dresses and the invitations, I forgot to disclose one of the more important aspects - the venue! This is probably the part I'm most excited about. It's really a hidden gem within the streets of downtown Chicago. I cannot wait to see everything come together here.

When searching for a wedding venue I wanted to try and steer clear of hotels or reception halls. I wanted to be able to pick and choose every aspect of the decor, and with the Ivy Room, we get to do just that! I'll be praying for good weather until our wedding day so we can take advantage of the beautiful courtyard. Here are a few pictures.

Sun-dried Tomato Pesto

I love pesto. Its the perfect topping not only for pasta, but also great for sandwiches and pizza. Pesto is such an adaptable ingredient. It doesn't always have to always consist of basil, pine nuts and Parmesan, but can really be a combination of whatever you have on hand. In the past I've subbed in walnuts, pistachios, or almonds for the pine nuts and have used asiago in place of Parmesan depending on what's in my refrigerator/cabinets.

This particular time, I used Giada's recipe for Sun-dried Tomato Pesto. The only addition I made was to add a 1/4 cup of walnuts to the food processor. I also processed the cheese with the rest of the ingredients to make the pesto nice and smooth. Like most of my food posts, my favorite part about this recipe is that it's fast and easy!

Small Snacking

Sometimes bigger isn't better. Especially when it comes to snacks! I'm always on the hunt for products that aid me in my tendency to eat an entire box of Oreo's portion control issues. My favorites below are the 100 calorie packs of guacamole & individually packaged cups of hummus because, let's be honest, I could easily eat six or seven portions of the normal sized packages.

August Travels

This August I'm a busy bee. Two weekends ago I spent a couple days visiting a friend on the Michigan coast for a little girl time at the beach.  This past weekend, I made my way to New York to surprise my [not so] little sister for a graduation/farewell party that my parents threw for her before she leaves for college. Lastly, at the end of the month, I'm headed to Las Vegas with my fiance for my first Vegas experience (I don't count the five minute drive through the city while en route to the Grand Canyon at the age of 16).

Lots of traveling means lots of packing... and lots of packing means careful wardrobe selections. Below are a few outfits I've put together for the above itineraries.

{Perfect for a family affair. Casual but chic and can transcend from daytime to evening}

{Jean shorts and a tank can easily be pulled over a swimsuit. 
A lightweight sweatshirt is perfect for chilly nights by the bonfire}

{I'm not really the Vegas type of girl, so I'm not sure how to put together a Vegas outfit, but I think this does the trick. Flirty and fun without being over the top!}

Family

This past weekend I was in New York visiting my family. I grew up on Long Island and lived in the same town from the day I was born until the day I left for college. We moved into the house my family currently lives in when I was six, and I have so many wonderful memories of this home.

I remember the summer days before I left for college. I was nervous and excited and so very fearful of how things would change. My younger sister is currently experiencing the same thing as she leaves for college. Entering the unknown so far from home is a scary thing. But I wouldn't have had it any other way.

It never gets easier saying goodbye. 

In the weeks leading up to my departure for college I cried almost daily. During college, when I came home for vacations and summer breaks, leaving my family never became easier. There would always be a moment, whether it was in the car on the way to the airport, or at the gate in the airport, where a wave of sadness would come over me and I would have an overwhelming feeling that something was missing.

Now, in my mid twenties, the feelings have become less intense but they are still there. My family members are my best friends and its so difficult living across the country from them. I long for the days where I can grab lunch with my mom without having to first book a flight and I'm sure that these days are somewhere in my future. But, I love my life here in Chicago so moving back to New York is not the answer.

We do the best we can with what we have. We see each other as much as possible. We call to tell each other funny stories or to share recipes or to complain about an awful day. Despite the miles between us, we are still exceptionally close.

And I am so very lucky to have Y and to be embarking on starting our own little family.

Family is just the greatest.

{Sisters}

{Alex, Amanda, Mom, Jamie, Me, Dad}

{xo}

Toffee Biscotti

I'll be traveling tomorrow and through the weekend... so this week, Foodie Friday is on Thursday!

I love making biscotti on a Sunday night and then eating it for breakfast and snacks throughout the week. It's the perfect compliment to a morning up of coffee. I've tried a ton of biscotti recipes, but the one I turn to time and time again is this Toffee Biscotti recipe. It's so easy and it's a Cooking Light recipe so I don't feel bad about myself when I can't stop munching on these yummy treats.

What you'll need...
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup almond toffee bits (such as Hershey's Health Bits O' Brickle)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
cooking spray

What to do...
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine the flour, granulated sugar, toffee bits, brown sugar and baking powder in large bowl (or stand mixer). Combine vegetable oil, vanilla and eggs; add to flour mixture, stirring until well-blended (dough will be dry and crumbly). Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly 7-8 times. Divide dough in half. Shape each portion into an 8-inch long roll. Place rolls 6 inches apart on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray and flatten each roll into 1-inch thickness.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove rolls from baking sheet; cool 10 minutes on a wire rack. Cute each roll into 15 (1/2 inch) slice. Place slides, cut side down, on baking sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees; bake ten minutes. Turn cookies over; bake an additional 10 minutes. Remove from baking sheet & cool.

Favorite Fall Flats

I'll take advantage of any opportunity to look at, write on, talk about or buy - shoes! While I love heels (and tend to roll my eyes when I see girls who cannot walk correctly in them), I must say that my go to shoes have become flats. I love that my toes are not screaming for help by the end of the day and they are perfect to pair with jeans on the weekend. This fall, I plan on treating myself to each and every one or two of the beautiful flats below.

Which are your favorites? Are you a heel girl or do you and your feet prefer flats?

Mac & Cheese My Way

Even though it's summer and most of my meals are on the lighter side, there are still some rainy and gloomy days when I really crave some comfort food. This week, my macaroni and cheese did the trick. I realize that nothing is easier than the boxed stuff, but this is pretty close. This is my mom's recipe and I promise she knows what she's doing in the kitchen.

I also ate my macaroni out of this fun Anthropologie mug. So much more fun than a standard bowl!

What you'll need... 
1 box of pasta (cavatappi or elbow)
4 cups of milk
1 stick sharp cheddar (Cracker Barrel red label)
1 stick white cheddar (Cracker Barrel green label)
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup bread crumbs

What to do...
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cook macaroni until almost done, but still firm
Shred cheeses, combine the two kinds and set aside 1 cup
While pasta is cooking, melt butter in pan. Add flour and stir a few minutes. Add milk, stirring until lumps are gone and milk is heated through. Add pepper to taste. Add shredded cheeses and stir until melted.  Pour over cooked pasta and add to casserole dish (9x13)
Top with remaining cheeses and bread crumbs
Cover tightly and bake 20 minutes, or until bubbly. Remove foil and return to oven for 5 additional minutes to brown top.