Blogging for (Cook)Books

So I got this email. An email about a company that lets bloggers have access to a range of books as long as they review and post about their book. I'm not a reader but thought this might be a good opportunity to get into reading again. That was until I discovered they had cookbooks to choose from. Say hello to Blogging for Books. 

B4B has an array of fiction, non-fiction, business, craft, faith, healthy living and cookbooks etc. to choose from. I selected Vibrant Food by Kimberly Hasselbrink. This book is filled with beautiful images of seasonal produce, and the recipes inspired by them. I kept the book on my night stand for a few days, browsing through it each night before bed. 

Monday night was the night to cook from the book. I was feeling adventurous and wanted to test my cooking skills. I used Kimberly's recipe for Millet Stuffed Peppers with Tomatillo Sauce. Per usual, I adapted it a bit. Millet is a grain, but I found it hard to come by in my little Norman grocery stores, so I subbed it with red quinoa. Below is my version of the recipe, but do yourself a favor and pick up Kimberly's beautiful book to find the exact recipe along with other wonderful ones like Turkey Burgers with Balsamic Figs, Summer Squash Pasta with Green Goddess Dressing and a Salmon Banh Mi.

Stuffed Mini Bell Peppers with Avocado Sauce
serves 2

Ingredients:
16 ounces small sweet peppers (about 6 per person)
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 cup of red quinoa, cooked,
1 small tomato, diced
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. chili powder
black pepper
feta, for serving

For the avocado sauce:
1/2 cup verde salsa
1/2 avocado
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 a jalapeΓ±o, seeds removed
1/4 cup chopped cilantro, extra for garnish
juice of 1 lime
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Cook your quinoa to the package directions. Once cooked, heat 1 tbsp. of oil in a sauce pan. Add the onion and saute until soft, about 3-5 minutes. Add the tomato and corn, and cook until the corn is heated through. 

Add your quinoa, cheese and spices to the veggies and let them all hang out together. Prep you peppers by cutting a slit from the stem to the end. Scrape out some of the membrane if needed. Using a small spoon, stuff a little bit of filling in each pepper (It's likely you will have leftover filling). Place them on a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. 

While the peppers are baking, combine all of your sauce ingredients in a food processor until combined. 

Serve your peppers laid out on a plate, pour sauce over your line of peppers then garnish with feta and cilantro! 

I am already a junky for good cookbooks but Blogging For Books just amped it up, I can't wait to request my next book! Check out their site to see how you can blog for books and see my full review on Vibrant Food here.

Annie

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.

A New Approach to Graphic Tees

Graphic t-shirts are back and not in the way we wore them in 6th grade. I used to get the Delia's catalog in the mail and open straight to the center fold where the double page spread of graphic tees were located. My favorite usually had Hello Kitty on them. I think I've mentioned my past Hello Kitty obsession, if not, it was a thing, I was obsessed. Annnnyway...you knew you were cool if you walked down the middle school halls with your Abercrombie boot cut jeans, Junk Food graphic tee, lace cami hanging out the bottom and either Uggs or Seychelles ballet flats!
The whole graphic tee thing has re-emerged in a chic way.  To veer away from the lace cami, Hello Kitty shirt look, I'd style my graphic tees today with cutoffs, patterned pants or under a jacket or vest. 
1) J.Crew Tout Va Bien 2) Zara Eyeliner 3) Old Navy Cest La Vie 4) Sincerely Jules Donut 5) Wildfox Tea Time 6) Old Navy Audrey Hepburn 7) Zara Printed V-Back 8) Old Navy You, Me, Oui! 
I kid you not, I tried a graphic T on in every store on M St. this weekend and came home with two (#1 and #2) in my suitcase. Thoughts on the reemergence of graphic tees? Hate it, love it or make you think too much of the awkward middle school years?
Annie

So Easy a Ramen-Grilled Cheese-Microwave Popcorn-Only Skilled Chef Could Make

Simple, easy, gourmet and delicious. These are the words I like to use when describing anything I'm cooking or eating. This recipe is just that. A gourmet tilapia dish so easy a ramen-grilled cheese-microwave popcorn-only skilled chef could make! You essentially place veggies, tilapia, and seasonings together in a package of foil then bake it up in the oven!

This is the ultimate "college-level" recipe that blows your average college meal away!

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Before the oven.  

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After the oven.

Tilapia Foil Packet
serves one

Ingredients:
1-fresh or frozen fillet of tilapia. (If using frozen make sure it is thawed).
Veggies of your choice, I used shaved brussels sprouts, frozen corn (it will thaw and cook in the oven) and sliced cherry tomatoes.
Dijon mustard
salt and pepper
butter or olive oil
aluminum foil 

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Cut a piece of foil and place a dab of olive oil or a pat of butter in the center. Place your tilapia over it in the center of the foil. Spread mustard over the top of your fish. Arrange chopped veggies around your fish on the foil. Sprinkle everything with fresh cracked black perpper and sea salt. Pull the sides up of your foil and fold down creating a packet with your fish inside. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Your fish should be cooked perfectly after 20. Take out of the oven and enjoy the easiest gourmet meal ever! 

I haven't experiment but I'm sure chicken or any other kind of fish would work as well! 

Try it, let me know how it goes, and I promise anyone can do it! 

Annie

D.C. Diary: The Sequel

My adventure with D.C. didn't end this summer. Before I left I had already booked a ticket to go back a month later. The excuse for my visit was to attend the 10th anniversary of Go Bo, an amazing night full of food, friends, fun and most importantly, giving back. More on Go Bo here.

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Friday morning included a much need visit with all of my SCOUT peeps, then that afternoon I got to hang out with the Georgetown University Grilling Society (GUGS). My friend I was staying with currently goes to Georgetown and talked all summer about how amazing these burgers are. The fact that they have a grilling club is legit, and their burgers are even more legit. I think I was the only there in a skirt, but I salted and sauced those burgers like a pro.

Took a darn big bite out of that GUGS burger and loved every minute of it. Full and happy, it was time to start primping for the party. 

The theme for Go BO this year was tacky wedding. From the Jordan almonds to ranch dressing fountain and numerous amounts of taffeta, everything was tacky to a T. My boss sure knows how to throw a party.

The whole event was held outside under a huge wedding tent. The fabulous band led to me dancing and sweating, and more dancing and sweating, for the majority of the night. 

'Twas the best night, with the best people, all for a great cause!

Now for some DC dining. I hadn't planned anything, very surprising, especially to myself. This summer I had reservations weeks in advance, but this time I was just so excited to get back I hadn't really thought about it. 

This doesn't mean I didn't treat myself to some fabulous district eats. Saturday brunch on 14th street with my girl Sav and Sunday brunch in Gtown with my little piece of home, Jillian. Savannah and I interned together and Jillian is my old family friend who is currently residing in D.C. 

Party-going on Friday and brunching on Saturday, left Sunday for an afternoon of exploring. My favorite part of D.C. is the scenery. I could walk the streets of Georgetown for hours snapping pictures of the beautiful row houses.

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I just can't get enough of these old, painted shuttered, brick homes. Please o' please let me live in one of you someday.

'Till next time D.C.

Annie

Bites of My Life

-Ready for fall, but holding on to summer by snacking on a big juicy watermelon.
-Can't wait to dig into this cookbook c/o Blogging for Books!
-A getaway weekend back to D.C. calls for nothing but SCOUT bags to help me pack!
-So Georgetown U. has this incredible grilling club; I'm tossing around the idea of bringing it to OU because it is just too wonderful. I pretended to be a Georgetown student on Friday so I could chow down on one of their incredible GUGS (Georgetown University Grilling Society) burgers. 
-One tacky bridesmaid coming up! I've always loved a good theme party. 
-#GOBO2014, the point of my trip back to D.C. Best night getting dressed up in ridiculous outfits, eating and drinking tacky themed wedding food, and dancing and sweating with the SCOUT team.
-My free birthday drink. LOL at the time I signed up to be a gold member a few Septembers ago and thought it would be convenient to get a free drink that week. Starbucks does not let you change when you say your birthday is, so now I celebrate in May and September.
-MASA 14 brunch. Favorite area of D.C. and favorite meal of the weekend. Curry potato pancake, sautΓ©ed spinach, poached egg and chipotle hollandaise. 
-Sunday brunch at a Cafe Bonaparte. A frenchie spot in Gtown I wanted to try all summer. My egg and sausage crepe was the perfect finale to my weekend in the district; followed by shopping on M St. and picking up goodies from Trader Joe's and Baked and Wired!
A weekend well spent in my favorite place. Now for a week of sticking my nose in my school books to get caught up!
Annie
p.s. A return of D.C. Diary is happening tomorrow!