Because sometimes the best part of a date is the food...

The Hungry Dater

Healthy & Delicious Pesto

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I don’t know how old I was when I started my love affair with pesto. I think I must have been around 6. About that time we had a new restaurant move into our area called Skyline Cafe. They made great pizza. As a kid, though, I don’t know that I really understood that… Mostly because it wasn’t godfathers pizza, therefore it was “gross.”  But there was one kind of their pizza that I would eat pretty much any day of the week.  If my parents ever wanted to do something easy and close, we’d order that pizza probably once a week. That was pesto.

It was this wonderful puffy Parmesan crusted crust which was salty on the outside and fluffy and sweet on the inside. That was my first pesto experience. I’m not real sure when I realized pesto was actually a pasta sauce. But whenever I did, it was epic….

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The Best St. Paddy’s Day Traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage

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St. Paddy’s Day is actually pretty special to our family.  My Grammy made wonderful Corned Beef and Cabbage every year.  When I was almost 11, she passed away on St. Paddy’s Day, and from then on my mom took over cooking the traditional dinner in her honor.  We generally have the whole family over.

To say this is a “recipe” is sortof misguided and not really fair.  It’s mostly just cooking instructions seeing as corned beef is usually pre-cured.  But one way or another, this is an awesome way to have family dinner and celebrate an Irish heritage (even if you don’t really have one–LOL)….

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Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies

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When I first started learning to cook, I had a friend who was pretty much my baking hero.  She made epic sugar cookies and she was the one who regularly made me the most amazing lemon tarts for my birthday “cakes.”  But it was truly an amazing day for all of us when she discovered this recipe.  I want to say maybe four of us ate no less than two dozen of these cookies in a matter of two days the first time she made them.  And from then on, these cookies were requested many times over….

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Top 4 Green Food Recipes for March

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Anyone who knows me at all knows that I’m not a good “greens” eater.  I like the fact that Blossom’s BiFF (“BB” to you regulars) has us getting a weekly CSA box because it’s really the only way I’ll willingly eat greens on a regular basis.

So when I considered doing a “green food” roundup for March, I wouldn’t even have enough green recipes.  But here they are!  Mind you, there are only four, but I think they’ll speak for themselves.  And admittedly, there will be a couple more green recipes up this month.

So cheers to St. Patrick’s Day!  And hey, don’t forget to eat your green!

The Best Broccoli Salad

This recipe is from one of my cousins, and any time I have parties, my friends always request this.  It’s decadent, but there is definitely some green-y goodness too.

 

 

 

Key Lime White Chocolate Cheesecake

This one is sortof a cheat because it isn’t ACTUALLY green.  But hey, the garnish is green and the main component is green!  I made this on behalf of my best friend when she got married in Key West.  I hadn’t ever been, and honestly I didn’t even really know what Key Limes were all about.  Well, I figured it out and boy am I glad I did!  Not super “green” when it comes to “goodness,” but this cake sure is good!

 

Healthy and Delicious Pesto!

This Pesto, on the other hand, really is the epitome of health.  I got the recipe when I was doing a cleanse about a thousand years ago.  (Back when I actually did things like that…)  But even though I don’t do cleansing anymore, this recipe still makes it into the weekly rounds, because if I’m going to eat pasta, I like knowing that it’s at least healthy.  So here’s to some green pasta.  Healthy, green, and ACTUALLY delicious.  Lol.  (Hey, you know if I’m eating it that MUST be true.)

 

Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos

Hey, anything that’s Bacon Wrapped and stuffed with cheese can go on just about ANY favorites list of mine.  This is sortof a cheat like the cheesecake, but hey, Jalapenos are green!  And these are delicious!  And even though I usually make these in the summer on the grill, they’re actually great at this time of year because you can also make them in the oven.

So here’s to a great March!  The month of green shirts, green beer, and now…  GREEN FOOD!  Have an absolutely epic month, and …

Happy Cooking!

 

 

The Best EVER Raspberry Lemondrop Martini

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Over the years on THD, I’ve made no bones about the fact that I am a seasonal or “monthly” drinker.  This means I tend to have a different cocktail every month that’s my go-to.  And though March doesn’t always have a specific cocktail that’s the same every year, Vodka is usually the base and sweet is the taste.  In other words, I like my March drink to be the epitome of a “Welcome to Spring” drink.  This Raspberry Lemondrop absolutely fits the bill for the perfect March, welcome-to-spring, cocktail.

I really don’t remember exactly how I started drinking this.  But I definitely remember drinking lots of it right after college.  It’s sweet, stout, and easy-drinking.  All the exact things people (or maybe, to support a really bad stereotype, girls) want in the first drinking years of their lives.  Of course, in college I wasn’t drinking them like this.  The raspberry usually came from syrup or raspberry vodka (i.e., something cheap).  The lemon was likely lemonade.  And they were generally headache-er-iffic!

But once you realize that higher quality booze is worth feeling better the next day (even if it’s at the expense of a better buzz simply because you buy less–hey, actually a win-win!); you start focusing on the quality.

That’s when I discovered that some of these martinis I was ordering had Chambord and Lemon Juice in them, and some had cheap flavored vodka and dye.  I quickly realized what made the better Raspberry Lemondrop.

March is a strange month for us in Reno.  Sometimes it’s a blizzard, sometimes it’s beautiful.  Today it’s almost 70, they’re predicting snow for next week.  And because of this unpredictability, it can be difficult to choose just ONE favorite drink.  It’s not like the dead of winter where the only thing that sounds good is a toddy.  (See that recipe here).  Or bright summer where nothing hits the spot better than a red wine cooler.  (And that one here).  For March, I want something spring-y but maybe a bit heavier to make up for the winter-y potential. That way, I’m appreciating what the season is supposed to be while still admitting what is.  (i.e., impending blizzards.)  Hahaha.

 

Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini
 
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Serves: 1 Martini
Ingredients
  • 2 oz. Tahoe Blue Vodka
  • 1 oz. Chambord
  • ½ oz. Simple Syrup
  • Juice of 1 Lemon
Instructions
  1. Shake all ingredients in a martini shaker with ice.
  2. Strain into glass.
  3. Enjoy!

 

30 Days of Gratitude

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This post may contain affiliate links. When you click on the links provided, I may receive a commission, at no cost to you. See my full Disclosure Policy for more information.

Gratitude is a main component for utilizing the Law of Attraction.  But I have to admit, it isn’t always easy to remember to write down everything you’re grateful for every day.  Which is strange…  It should be the most natural thing in the world.

As a culture we tend to get caught up in the negative.  The news is full of it; we connect with people over it; and there are adages everywhere about how we need to survive it (or even take it) in order to succeed.  Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t take obstacles and surmount them…  But this is seriously one of the worst ways to live.  Constantly living in the negative keeps us just that:  Negative….

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Healthy and Delicious Ranch Dip

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I know that for a long time now I’ve been shouting from the rooftops how amazing CSA’s are (for more info, click here), but for all their awesomeness, I often still find myself struggling to actually eat all the veggies we get.  So in an attempt to widen my “veggie palate,” I’ve also come up with lots of great ways to make them taste even better for myself.  That’s how this Healthy Ranch Dip was born.

I love ranch.  I always have loved ranch, but for years as a child, my parents (who are fat-phobic–what can I say?  They’re products of the 80s/90s) told me how awful it is for you.  When I got to the age where I finally quit dieting and worrying so much about fat, I started allowing myself ranch again.  I figure the health benefits of the vegetables I’m putting it on (with the exception of french fries) far outweighs the extra fat I may get from 2 Tablespoons of ranch dressing I consume once a week.

But…  I have to admit, there’s always that stupid previously-diet-y voice in the back of my head that still says “Ranch is bad for you.”  Even while trying to shut that voice off, I also realized how many chemicals I’m likely consuming with the store bought stuff.  So I decided I’d rather make it than eat the chemically stuff, and I started my foray into making Ranch.

When I learned to make actual ranch, I have to say, I was fairly horrified at the amount of mayonnaise.  I don’t know what I was thinking was in ranch, but I can honestly say I wasn’t thinking that.  So I figured it was time to find a healthy-ER alternative so I could still eat my chosen dressing without feeling too awfully guilty.  Thus, this dip was born!

The replacement of plain Greek yogurt sounds horrible, but I promise it’s surprisingly delicious.  And with the addition of some nonfat milk for thinning, you have a completely fat free dip that not only tastes amazing, but makes you feel like you’re being downright angelic food-wise.  The only thing I don’t love is the packet of ranch seasoning I use for it.  But hey, it’s organic and all real ingredients (i.e. names I know, let alone those I can pronounce) so that helps.  Next stop, figuring the best homemade ranch mix!  That’ll hopefully be discovered and posted sometime soon!

In the meantime, enjoy this dip!  Happy cooking!

Healthy and Delicious Ranch Dip
 
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Ingredients
  • ½ C. Nonfat Greek Yogurt
  • 2 Tablespoons Organic Ranch Mix
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • ¼ - ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1-3 Tablespoons Nonfat Milk (depending on desired thickness)
  • ***1 Tablespoon Mayo (if you're feeling naughty. Lol)
Instructions
  1. Mix first 4 ingredients together with a whisk. (And Mayo if you're making the naughty version.)
  2. Add as much Milk as desired.
  3. Enjoy!!!

 

Inspiration for February

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It’s been a few months since I’ve posted my monthly inspiration.  The Law of Attraction is so simple.  But it’s not always easy.  Sometimes you just need an emotional boost or an attitude adjustment to get the inspiration you need to continue your LOA practice.  Only then can you really reap the benefits of the LOA.  I use these inspirational quotes for myself so that I can continue applying the LOA in my life every. Single. Day.

If you need more inspiration daily, make sure to check out my Instagram at @TheHungryDater!  Xoxox

Stay Hungry!  Happy Cooking!

 

When February gets warm, the tough celebrate Spring!  Al fresco charcuterie in the middle of February!!!  🙂

The Universe doesn’t want this life to be HARD for you.  “Hard Work” doesn’t necessarily mean accepting difficulty.  It means accepting that it’s difficult to sometimes accept that it’s supposed to be easy.

Goals need to be specific.  To get as specific as possible, come up with the goal and ask consistent questions to get things as specific as possible.

Even if your team loses (and I mean that in the loosest of terms), the food can still make the party.  😉

John Lennon.  Need I say more???

 

LOL.  Couldn’t help it.  Maybe not inspirational, but sometimes the best inspiration is a simple laugh.

 

Any way you can be positive…  Take it whenever you can!  Candy–DEFINITELY a reason.

Wow.  Intense–and TRUE.  You never know what you’re in for–until it actually hits you.  Good luck!  And I hope it hits you hard and fast (Pun intended).  😉

Not really inspirational…  Though when is wine NOT inspirational?!?  Find out the club you should partake in here.

Leave it to a four-year-old to show you exactly how you should be living on your birthday–even if it’s a school day!

You need those goals for the Universe to get you what you want/need.

GOOD LUCK!!!  And Happy February!

Brussels Sprout Salad with Pancetta and Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing

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These days, there’s this movement of “Meatless Mondays.”  The idea is, for the betterment of our health, our calorie intake and our planet, we should have one day a week of meatless meals.  I assume Monday was chosen for alliteration purposes.  And for a long time, I tried to jump on the bandwagon, but I sucked at it because “meatless” ended up being “veg forward, accented with meat.”  Lol.  Most of the time, some sort of bacon.  What can I say?  If there’s one way to get me to eat vegetables, it’s when they’re flavored with bacon and dripping in fat.  That’s what makes this particular Brussels Sprout Salad with Pancetta so amazingly appealing to me!
So “meatless” is slightly misleading.  But at the very least, “meatless* Mondays” have helped me explore the opportunities to consume more nutrients, add the color and flavors of fresh produce to our meals, and limit my red meat intake in general; in hopes of keeping our bodies in lovely working order while still keeping meals delicious.

…

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Pear, Prosciutto, and Blue Cheese Bite Appetizers

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Some friends and I used to try and have dinner together once every two weeks.  “Once every two weeks” turned into once every one or two months–if we’re diligent and lucky.  Nowadays, it seems like it’s closer to once a year.  Between big people jobs, significant others, dogs, houses, and babies; it’s just hard to make it happen.  But we try.  We all three know we’re happier in our lives after one of our dinner-and-a-movie nights where we can share our stories, frustrations, victories, and lessons.  And because these dinners often get few and far between, we always like to make them special.  That’s where these Pear, Prosciutto, and Blue Cheese Appetizers started….

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