Archive for the ‘Daily Delish’ Category

Daily Delish – Appearances can be decieving

This might not look like much, but let me introduce you to one of my favorite healthy, delicious take-out options:

Stunning specimens aren’t they? I really should be a food artist, my skillz are off the hook! To be honest, I was *tempted* to not post the photos, or simply scour the web for more attractive versions, but I like to keep things honest here on The Daily Balance. Plus, I think this is a good lesson to us all. Amazing tasting food isn’t always the most attractive.

These two ugly ducklings were from one of my favorite places here in Cleveland - Aladdin’s. (See my other fave dish, The Grilled Turkey Salad)

The glop – i.e. soup was my favorite, Len-Chili, a delightful combo of Aladdin’s Lentil and Chili soups. The chili on its own has quite a kick, but when paired with a more toned-down lentil, it tastes juuuust right. And I’m always on board with adding more lentils!

All-in-all a satisfying, healthy and tasty meal!

What foods have you eaten lately that taste much better than they look?

Daily Delish – Kitchen Shortcuts

Who says that taking the long way has it’s rewards? Clearly they’ve never encounter pre-cooked chicken sausage.

Don’t get me wrong, the scenic route is great and making homemade food provides a real sense of accomplishment and added happiness when you eat your dishes. People, this is not one of those times.

This next recipe requires 6 ingredients and makes a complete, delicious meal.

You’ll need (serves two hungry people):

1 package of mushrooms (I used baby bellas – pre-washed and sliced, of course!)

1 package of chicken sausage

Your favorite pasta sauce – about 1 1/2 cups – go with the jarred, people! Save the homemade stuff for a long, winter/fall afternoon.

2 slices of bread

Butter

Parmesan Cheese

First, place a saute pan on medium heat and mist with cooking spray. Add your mushrooms and brown on both sides.

Now that things are getting hot and steamy, add the chicken sausage (make sure to slice it before hand). Since it’s already cooked, you shouldn’t have to cook it long.

Add the pasta sauce an mix, reducing the heat to low/med.

While this is simmering, turn your broiler on to low/med and microwave a few tablespoons of butter. Add Parmesan cheese and stir — keep adding cheese until the butter thickens, resembling a paste (but not too thick). Spread on top of bread and place in the broiler for about 3 minutes.

Remove sausages/sauce/shrooms from stove top and transfer into bowls. Top with Parmesan cheese and serve along side garlic bread, the perfect “dipper!”

Rub your belly and thank yourself for taking the shortcuts ;)

What are your favorite kitchen shortcuts?

Daily Delish – Whole Foods

Sometimes cooking is the very last thing I want to do. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE cooking, trying out new recipes and spending time in the kitchen. But sometimes, especially after a long day at work, I just want to be fed a delicious meal and be done with it.

On those particular nights, I often rely on one of my favorite go-to spots, Whole Foods. Known primarily for the cold and hot bars, Whole Foods often offers a gourmet in-store restaurant, serving delicious, fresh meals.

I went with the pan-seared salmon, which was served with mango and black bean salsa and a mixed greens salad.

Did I mention all dishes are served with freshly baked bread (including seeduction!) and olive oil? Yea. Sometimes it’s totally worth being lazy — and when there’s healthy options like Whole Foods around, maybe I should really “relax” more often ;)

Where do you go for quick, inexpensive and healthy meals when you don’t feel like cooking?

Daily Delish – Leave the gun…

To the (Mister’s) client who provided me with a box of pleasure (stop it you sickos, this is clearly a dessert we’re talking about),

I hate your guts.

I was doing juuuuuust fine without knowing about the flaky, sugary treats filled to the brim with decadent cream filling. Just fine. Now they’re all I think about. They consume my every thought, every wish, every desire. At least you were courteous enough to give me two of them, which I ate in one sitting, licking my fingers clean and praying the Mister wouldn’t ask for “one bite” (which is really more like a giant gobble). I tried to eat them slowly, to savor every sweet bite, but the deliciousness consumed me, turning me into a monster who could only be stopped by cream filling.

If you know what’s good for you, you’ll provide me with another (unmarked- we don’t need people knowing my secret) box filled to the brim with the cream-filled delights. Until then, I shall curse your name and rue the day you ever showed me what I’ve been missing.

Also — in case you haven’t heard, I’m a pretty big fan of cupcakes. Just sayin’

Daily Delish – Sugar and buttah make my heart flutter

… what with my increased blood pressure and cholesterol ;) Just kidding… kind of. Everything in moderation — even moderation.

Our pizza lineup wasn’t the only only thing that improved after our NYC trip, our CUPCAKE “best-of” list also expanded!

Known mostly for their incredible, famous Black and White cookies, William Greenberg desserts also claims they have the “best” red velvet cupcake. Always looking for an excuse to make myself sick on frosting, I knew I had to make sure they weren’t making false marketing claims ;)

This was some of the best cream cheese frosting I’ve had. While the cake was incredibly moist and ever-so-sweet, my focus was on the frosting. Diiiiivine. Devouring this bad boy almost felt sinful. I’ll admit, I didn’t finish the “cake” part of it, but aren’t cupcakes just a big excuse to eat frosting anyway?

So I’ve gotta ask — how many of you prefer the CAKE part of a cupcake? Anyone? Bueller? I myself couldn’t imagine not focusing on the frosting, but I’m sure we have some cake-lovers out there, too!

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