White Chili

The weather has, once again, cooled down a bit here in Florida (into the 30s at night!  30s!) so I felt a chili post would be appropriate. 

The recipe:

2 poblano peppers, diced
1 medium onion, diced
3 heads of garlic
Olive oil
1 pound ground turkey
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
1 16 oz. jar salsa verde
2 cans great northern beans

Cut 1/4 inch off the tops of the three heads of garlic and peel off all of the excess peel, leaving the individual cloves peeled.  Drizzle with olive oil and roast, covered, at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes, then set aside to cool.

In the meantime, saute the peppers and onion until translucent, then add the ground turkey and spices.

Let the turkey mixture simmer away while you squeeze the garlic cloves (which are hopefully cooled, now) onto a plate.  I use a pastry cutter to mush up my garlic . . . works like a dream!

Bad picture.  Looks gross.  Tastes great.

Add the garlic, salsa, and beans to the turkey mixture and let all of the flavors get busy.  I usually leave mine on the stove for about an hour and a half, on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

I like to serve the whole thing with some "Mexican 4-cheese blend" and (more) salsa (red, this time, for variety).  It is perfect for a cold day!

The BF and I are going to a pirate party this weekend (pirates are huge here, they get their own festival) so I'm in the mood for pirate-y footwear.

Givenchy via Barneys


These feel pirate-y to me.  Maybe it's the grommets?

Crunchy Granola

I have something to share today, people, something serious.  (You can tell how serious I am by the fact that I said "people" . . . not "peeps."  SERIOUS.)  This morning, I walked into my kitchen, and I saw the BF standing over a bowl of . . .

Granola.

I am not kidding.  Granola.  This granola, to be exact.

I added vanilla and cinnamon to the mix, eliminated the cashews (yuck) and added extra raisins (because I love them).

Obviously, from the previous description above, the BF loved it.  When I told him I was going to make granola he informed me that he had no idea what it was. (No granola in Iowa?  Is that possible?)  I was thrilled that he liked it but, more important, thrilled that I liked it!  It's the perfect mid-morning snack.

These would also be a great mid-morning snack . . .

Brian Atwood via Intermix

. . . for my eyes.

Angel Chicken

Another day, another crockpot recipe. This is from last week )aka the week where I did as little cooking as humanly possible) and I tweaked this recipe for an easy (and tasty) supper!

I added a teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper to the recipe to kick it up a bit, as well as using fat free cream cheese and light Italian dressing.

After two hours in the crockpot, on high, the chicken was cooked to perfection and ready to go.  I'm definitely holding onto this recipe for those days when I remember, at 4:00, that I have nothing planned for supper.  It couldn't be easier!

(Sorry for the poor picture quality . . . I'm working on it.)  I made a little bit of extra sauce (for the BF, as any of you who read this blog regularly already know) and it was creamy and delicious.  And with the light dressing and fat-free cream cheese, not too hard-hitting in the calorie department!

Jeffrey Campbell is really doing it for me these days, and these are no exception.

Image via Solestruck.

If only my new business venture would take off so I could afford a pair.  Just one.  *sigh*

January Contributions

Hey peeps!  Today you can find me at

 

We're taking a break at Cookin' in Heels, mourning the loss of our beloved Bears to the stupid Green Bay Packers.  So check me out at JC's Loft and I'll see you tomorrow!

Cheesy Crockpot Chicken

I'm not going to lie, all I've wanted to do since I got home from the arctic is snuggle with my little buddy . . .

That little mug is irresistible, especially when I've been away for 6 days!  Since I've been spending so much time snuggling (and doing homework, and even *gasp* working) my cooking hasn't been of its usual caliber. 

It has, however, been delicious.  This cheesy crockpot chicken is one of the BF's favorite things, and it couldn't be easier.  I just combine one can of cheddar cheese soup, one can of cream of chicken soup, and whatever seasonings I have handy (this time I went with the 'ole garlic pepper standby, but I've used a mixture of thyme, rosemary, and garlic in the past that is also fabulous, as is Italian seasoning) and four chicken breasts in the crockpot.  Since I always start with frozen chicken breasts, I put the crockpot on low for 8-10 hours, and by the time I'm ready for supper the chicken is basically falling apart it's so tender.

The BF and I love this over biscuits.  And if I have it in the freezer, I'll throw frozen corn in the crockpot, too, to add some vegetables to my meal!  YUM!

Speaking of yum:

Burberry via Zappos.

I don't wear a lot of brown.  But if these lovelies found their way into my closet, I would make an exception FOR SURE.

Variations on a Theme: Stuffed Pork

Well, peeps, I am happy to report that I officially have my fill of everything the arctic tundra has to offer:  snow, cold, and Papa Murphy's Chicken Bacon Artichoke De-Lite pizza (well, I can't get enough of the pizza, let's be honest).  And I am officially thawed out (and thankful to have returned home to 70 degree temperatures . . . gotta love Florida)!

Because the BF and I were away for so long, I didn't have much in the apartment to cook with when we returned for our adventure.  So I went the easy route and changed this recipe to suit what I had in the pantry.

I pounded the pork loin super thin, sprinkled it with garlic pepper seasoning, then layered a slice of provolone, a slice of ham, and red onions on top before I rolled the whole thing up and skewered them.

I baked these babies at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 40 minutes, and they turned out AWESOME!

I served my stuffed pork with a side of biscuits (made with whole wheat flour, this time, instead of all purpose) and veggies, and I couldn't have been happier with myself.

I got an email from Saks, this week, alerting me to the presence of these:

Alexander Wang via Saks

They look like they might make my feet a little hot in the Florida sunshine, but I think my feet would be ok with that.  I know my eyes would be, every time I looked down!

Defrosting

I'm spending the day defrosting, peeps, and will be back with new posts soon!

My Dream Kitchen: Cabinets and Floors

I didn't have to think twice (or look too hard) to find pictures of my dream cabinets (cherry) and floors (hand-scraped bamboo).  I like the cherry because it's dark and modern, yet still classic, and the bamboo floors are good for the environment!

I love these cabinets:

Images here and here.

And these floors are perfect, if you ask me:

Image here.

What do you think, peeps?  Do you like the cherry/bamboo combo?

My Dream Kitchen: Countertops

I am well aware of the fact that granite is supposed to be the thing to use for kitchen counter tops.  And for bathroom counter tops.  And for any other counter top you may have, perhaps?  I don't really know.  But what I DO know is that I watch a LOT of Divine Design on HGTV and Candice Olson uses a LOT of quartz for her counter tops and I love it . . . a LOT. 

Since I like a dark cabinet, and a dark(ish) backsplash (I think, anyway), I think a nice light quartz counter top would suit me just fine.  I also love the idea of doing a different counter top on the island and on the perimeter of the kitchen, to add some visual interest.

Images here, here, and here.

My Dream Kitchen: Backsplash

Much like my choice to start this series with the kitchen sink, I'm sure that some of you are thinking she really thinks this much about a backsplash?  REALLY?  But I think that backsplashes are not only essential for messy cooks like myself, but they can change the entire tone of a kitchen.

My inspiration kitchens are all modern and relatively simple, and I love the idea of adding a pebbled backsplash to make the space more earthy and non-traditional.  These are some of my favorites that I've found!

Images here and here.


Whaddya think, peeps?

My Dream Kitchen: Sinks

I have no idea why, of all places, I decided to start my dream kitchen off with the sink, but it's as good a place as any.  I spend a lot of time doing dishes and my current sink sucks.  It is shallow, it is small, and it is old and gross.  Since I rent, I have no say in my sink but, if I did, it would look something like this:

I like the more utilitarian look of these sinks (images here and here) and I know they would be totally functional for any- and every- thing I have to do in the kitchen.

On the other hand, these are stunning:

And they would certainly satisfy my requirement for a deep sink (images here).  And I think I would like the contrast of the old farmhouse-style sink in my more modern kitchen.

Which type do you prefer?  Or am I the only person who dreams about everything and the kitchen sink?!

My Dream Kitchen: Inspiration

Well, peeps, the BF and I are headed back up to the arctic for the week, so I thought it was time for a little something different here at Cookin' in Heels.  Living in an apartment with a kitchen that is over-flowing with SO MUCH STUFF has left me longing for a gorgeous dream kitchen of my own.  This week, I'm going to share all of the things that would be in MY dream kitchen, should the day come when it is mine.

So, to start my dream kitchen week off on the right note, here are some of my favorite kitchens, fetched from around the internet, that will (someday, I hope) inspire my dream kitchen!

Images one, two, three, and four.

Variations on a Theme: Baked Pasta

As I see it, there comes a time (or twenty) in every girl's life (or month) where she must make a recipe that she's already made before, but with a twist.  I found myself doing just that last week.  You see, the BF and I are trying VERY hard to stick to a post-New Year, sort-of-related-to-resolutions-but-not-really diet (which is funny since, as I write this, the BF has just brought me a plate full of pizza rolls.  No judging, peeps.), and there really isn't a lot of room for my usual favorite things (macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, and pizza bread, anyone?).  So, with that in mind, I ended up doing a variation on this recipe.

I started by boiling EXACTLY 4 servings of mastaccioli, browning 1/2 a pound of ground beef with red pepper, oregano, salt, and pepper, and sauteing 1 bag of baby spinach with one large white onion and two cloves of garlic.  I combined the whole thing into a 9x9 square baker with one can of spicy red pepper marinara, 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkling of parmesan.

After being baked at 325 degrees for about 20 minutes, the dish was hot, bubbly, and only about 500 calories for one HUGE serving (this recipe makes 4 servings).

Two of my favorite pairs of shoes are by Michael Kors.  While I'm not crazy about his clothes, his shoes are among the most comfortable I've ever worn, and that includes the pair in my closet with the 5 and 1/2 inch heel.  I would like to add these to my collection, I think:

Michael Kors via Nordstrom.


Hopefully they won't be a disappointment in the comfort department, because they sure are the perfect pair for me!

Lovin' Leftovers: Turkey and Dumplings

I have never met a dumpling I didn't like, but dumplings don't really fit into the weekday diet that the BF and I "enjoy."  (I use the term enjoy very loosely).  When I came across this recipe for chicken and dumplings from his royal sparkliness, Richard Simmons, I knew I had to give it a try.

I've made this recipe a few times before, but never this way.  In place of all of the veggies that the recipe calls for, I used a cup and a half of onions, one cup of celery, and one cup of carrots. 

I also substituted whole wheat flour for all purpose flour, and used leftover turkey in place of the chicken.

 The BF actually liked this version, with the whole wheat dumplings, better than the original, and I have a feeling it's going to become a dinner staple in the Cookin' in Heels home!

I'm loving these, for their chic twist on the traditionally sweet mary jane.

Dior via Bergdorf Goodman.

The color and the teeny tiny strap, combined with the peep toe, make these the perfect, sassy version, in my opinion!

Yorkshire Pudding

Before Christmas, I sat down to watch The Best Thing I Ever Ate, on the Food Network, and Alex Guarnaschelli made a prime rib and yorkshire pudding that looked REALLY good.  I had seen yorkshire pudding before, but thought it looked weird and not like anything I'd want to try, but I decided to bite the bullet and give it a shot with Tyler Florence's herbed yorkshire pudding recipe by my side.

The yorkshire pudding process is a quick one.  Once you pour the butter (or beef drippings, as the case my be) into the baking dish, you'd better bust a move to get your batter in the dish, too.

When I pulled the yorkshire pudding out of the oven, after its allotted baking time, the BF took one look at it and said "that can't be healthy."

Obviously, he was right.

I think I overcooked it just a bit, and it probably would've been better served with prime rib (which is more traditional) so that the pudding can be used to sop up the juices, but it tasted pretty good.


I wouldn't make it again, but it was pretty good.  There's bound to be a failure in the kitchen from time to time I suppose, right?!

These shoes, I think, would fulfill my current desires for open toes BUT I could wear them up in the arctic, with tights, because the platforms are high enough that the snow won't hit my toes.  I think.  I hope.

Joes via Solestruck.