Labor Day Weekend!

This long weekend my family and I went to the city! We went to an amazing Italian restaurant, a Sprinkles cupcake shop, and a wonderful bakery with homemade bread and pastries!

First we went to a restaurant called Quartino! It was a very traditional Italian restaurant! The food was meant for family style eating! We ordered the Salumeria Tasting to start. It came with two types of salami, two types of cheese, apricot puree, beet salad, eggplant salad, baby artichokes, and tons of olives! It was so delicious, I loved making different combonations! Second we had the Margherita Pizza! It was made with homemade mozzarella, sweet basil, and ripe tomatoes! So good!!! Then the risotto and lasagna came! The risotto was a shrimp risotto with zucchini and sun-dried tomatoes! The lasagna was so different but still delicious! It had ricotta and a meat ragu in it. The different part about it was that there were carrots mixed into it as one of the layers! It made the lasagna sweet! This lasagna was thick and not as wet as some of the other lasagnas I have eaten before! But it was on of the best! 

The next day we spotted a Sprinkles Cupcake Shop! We stopped inside and each grabbed a cupcake! They had dozens of flavors but the one that I got was a cinnamon and sugar cupcake! I love cinnamon, and it was perfect in this cupcake! the rest of my family got an almond and dark chocolate cupcake, a red velvet, and a chocolate marshmallow cupcake! They were all fluffy, sweet, and amazing! 

Right after we indulged ourselves, with cupcake goodness, we went to another bakery called Hendrickx Belgian Bread  Crafter! We got croissants, apple turner overs, country bread, and brioche! This morning we heated up the croissant and turn overs and ate them for breakfast! They were the perfect breakfast and I wished I had more the second they were eaten! As for the brioche and country bread, I think a sandwich and french toast sounds perfect!

-Emma Lou:-)

Which Came First the Chicken or the Picnic?

Easy recipes are my favorite! I love when you don't have to spend all day making something! Last night I got to use one of my favorite easy recipes! My family and I were going to a concert at a park called Ravinia and we decided to pack a picnic to eat there. I made a Honey-Jalapeno Chicken with Sesame Soba Noodles and Pretzel Bread Sandwiches. It was so easy to make! The picnic was wonderful! We refrigerated the noodles and had them cold which tasted just as good as having them warm! The spice from the pepper with  the sweetness of the honey was wonderful! The Pretzel Bread Sandwiches tasted fantastic. I made 2 different types of sandwiches I made Chicken and Ham! Both were amazing! I had a great time at the concert and I am excited to go to my next one!

Honey-Jalapeno Chicken with Sesame Soba Noodles

Prep Time: 15 Min.
Cook Time: 10 Min.
Serves: 4 Servings

Ingredients

• 12 ounces soba noodles
• 1 jalapeno, seeds removed
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 to 3 tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 rotisserie chicken, shredded or sliced
• 3 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions, green part only
• 2 tablespoons pickled ginger, minced

Directions
Cook soba noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside (or refrigerate until later in the week).

In a blender or food processor, combine jalapenos, honey, cilantro, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and puree until smooth. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water to the mixture until desired consistency is achieved. Pour the 2 teaspoons of olive oil into a preheated skillet. Add the shredded chicken and the blended sauce and cook until heated through.

In a medium bowl, combine cooked soba noodles, soy sauce, sesame oil, scallions, and pickled ginger. Toss and them transfer to serving bowl. Pour heated chicken and sauce over noodles. Plate and Enjoy!

  -Emma Lou:-)