Loaded Potato "Chips"

Don't you just hate it when one of your favorite bloggers disappears for no good reason?

Obviously this is an attempt to compliment myself, but it must be done.  Truth be told, my mother and aunt were in town and we were busy gallivanting around the bay area, shopping and eating delicious things.

These loaded potato chip-like things came to my attention on pinterest, and as a non-potato eater I thought they might be worth a try, since they're so covered in stuff.

I boiled my potatoes about a minute too long and they started to fall apart, slightly, but it didn't hamper my determination to pile lots of stuff on them.  So pile I did.

And then I piled some more . . .

And then we ate.  And I wasn't a fan.  But my good 'ole midwestern, potato-loving F adored these, and his big appetite did not leave a chip on that baking stone or a drop of ranch in the bowl.  Next time I think I would add more stuff to them, spice them up a bit, but if you like loaded potatoes these are for you.

And since those are for you, these are for me!

Jimmy Choo via Bergdorf Goodman

It's only fair.

Jalapeno Popper Dip

All of my regular readers know that football season is big business around our house.  You can find us cheering for Notre Dame on Saturdays and for the Bears on Sunday (or the Raiders if you're the F, but that's not important).

Regular readers also know that we love our food spicy, so it should come as no surprise that I put a total of 10 large jalapenos in this dip.  From both a texture and a heat perspective, I think it was the right choice.

I based my recipe on this recipe, but I obviously used many more jalapenos and I substituted fat free sour cream for the mayo (a decision that I strongly recommend).  I also used substantially less of the topping than the recipe indicated, with great results.

The dip turned out great and I would definitely make it again.  I honestly didn't think it was spicy enough, but that's easy to remedy with additional jalapenos (or I may even add hot sauce).

I would also probably add more bacon because, really, who doesn't love more bacon.

I am worried that having such gorg wedding shoes is going to turn me into some sort of Fendi-aholic.

Fendi via Barneys

Between the wedding shoes and these, I'd say it's a totally reasonable and understandable addiction, wouldn't you?

Fabulous Frittata

I've often lamented that it is difficult to cook when one finds oneself standing in a kitchen with few ingredients and a miniscule desire to cook.  Luckily, frittatas exist for just such an occasion.

Did I have green pepper, bacon, and onions?  Yep.

Did I have eggs and tomato basil feta cheese, and a little garlic?  Sure did.

And did I also have a pan, a little olive oil, and a 350 degree oven in which to cook this quick, easy, and blissfully healthy meal?  Damn right I did.  It doesn't get much better than that, peeps.

Except for these:

Christian Louboutin via Saks

These are better than a frittata.

Let's Talk About the Oscars . . .

Yea, yea, yea.  I realize they happened over a month ago.  I also realize that I remember NOTHING from the actual show (other than this guy), but that seems inconsequential because I made some GREAT food.  Like, really great.  And an amazing cocktail, too. 

But back to the food.

I am of the belief  that crescent rolls can, and should, be used at every opportunity.  Side dishes, main dishes, appetizers, desserts . . . you name it, I can probably crescent it.  This particular appetizer involves rolling out a can of crescent roll dough, spreading it with a mixture of (fat free) cream cheese, bacon bits (I use the "real" bacon bits), and finely chopped onion, then baking.  But not before slicing it real pretty first.

Baked in the oven at 350 degrees for about 11 minutes, these puff up and become golden brown, and they are guaranteed to make your kitchen smell fabulous.

These are also great served as a starch-alternative at your next brunch of breakfast party.  They are DELICIOUS alongside eggs (and if you can make a fabulously fluffy scrambled egg, without adding anything to it, all the better with these treats).

Much like the delightful aroma of these pinwheels invigorates my nose, these invigorate my feet.

Christian Louboutin via Saks

Or they would, if I could afford them.  Truth be told, I spent about half an hour staring at these shoes before I decided that I like them.  But, in the end, I think they're the perfect mix of natural and outrageous.  And the high wedge heel doesn't hurt.

Grilled Cheese and Bacon Sandwiches

I am of the opinion that sometimes there is no better meal than a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup.  I am also of the (humble as it may be) opinion that I make a mean grilled cheese sandwich, because mine includes bacon.  And cheese with bacon flavor.  I am a grilled cheese and bacon master.

The perfect grilled cheese sandwich begins with sourdough bread (thinly sliced) and a layer of sharp, yellow cheddar cheese, followed by a thinly sliced layer of hickory smoked gruyere cheese (which tastes like a heavenly cheese and bacon hybrid), then another layer of cheddar, and then a slice or two of crispy, delicious bacon.  Then more cheese (of course), then another slice of sourdough.  And toasted to perfection.

Also important to this, the most divine of simplistic meals:  jazzed up soup.  Shock of all shocks, this soup is canned, BUT I added some things to it.  Campbell's tomato soup + sauteed, minced garlic + canellini beans + parmesan cheese and fresh cracked black pepper = THE PERFECT ACCOMPANIMENT TO THE SOUP.

As I said, I'm a master (even if part of my mastery involves canned foods).

And speaking of masters . . .

Christian Louboutin via Barneys

That is one helluva shoe.  I believe, of course, that you can never go wrong with Loubs.  So much so that I'm debating ordering a pair to wear in my engagement pictures.  If only it could be these . . .

Broccoli Salad

In my quest to incorporate more salads/vegetables/generally healthy foods into my diet (especially after the gorging that was done during the Food & Wine Festival), I thought I'd try making this broccoli salad.

There's not much to it:  broccoli, raisins, red onion, bacon, and a white wine vinegar/mayo vinaigrette to bring it all together.

I actually put TOO MUCH dressing on this salad, but it was tasty nonetheless, and certainly added more veggies to my day than I'm used to.

I wish I could say something enlightening about these:

Christian Louboutin via Barneys

But these shoes are called "Winter Trash."  So how could I possibly have anything more to say?  Really.

Quickie Friday: Sour Cream Bacon-Wrapped Chicken

This crockpot recipe is so easy and so tasty.  And bacon makes everything better.

Wrap chicken breasts in bacon (1 slice per chicken breast is sufficient) and place them in a crock pot.  In a separate bowl, mix 1 can cream of mushroom soup with 1 cup low fat sour cream, garlic salt, and onion powder, to taste.  Throw that mixture in the crockpot over the chicken breasts and cook on low for about 8 hours.  That's it!  So easy and SO GOOD.  This is awesome served with rice, biscuits, or pasta.

Did anybody manage to make an Missoni for Target purchases last week?  I managed to log on in between website crashes to pick up a cardigan and a milk crate.  I did not, however, get my hands on these:

via

Had these shoes been available, they would've made it in my cart, as well.  With the amount of black I wear, these would've made a great patterned addition to my wardrobe.  Maybe they'll come back in stock . . .