My Lack of Motivation

Lately, I haven't been posting any posts on things I have actually made. I've been creating posts on my favorite places or favorite snacks, but I really haven't stuck to what I really planned to do with this blog.

There are two reasons why this is happening:

1.) Basketball- I have something to do every day after school, either til 5 or 7:30. By the time I get home, I really don't want to do anything, I just want to lay there and go to sleep.

2.) Grey's Anatomy- Recently, I have started watching Grey's Anatomy on Netflix, from the start. So far I'm on season two out of eleven, and once I get home from school and practice, there is nothing I want more than to just watch Meredith Grey and the gang do their thing. I know, it's pretty pathetic.

SO this is why I haven't been making any new recipes, BUT I guarantee that I will be helping my mom out in the kitchen during the break. So some more are to come.


Since this is a food blog, it would only be appropriate to actually post about food.

NUTELLA BRAIDED BREAD 

It's pretty simple actually.

All you need to do, is to roll out some bread dough (Either make your own or buy some premade)

Spread a thin layer of Nutella on the dough

then , starting an inch from the top, slice it and half. Then braid the pieces together and bake.

I know this isn't very detailed, but i'm posting a link to a video.

It tastes great so try it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMHNzJZblDM&edufilter=iMFvgtcNgqI3QYE_oAuoBA

My Favorite Christmas Treats

The holiday season is great for many things, but one of the best things are all the treats and goodies that you get to have that aren't made any other time of the year. My favorites range from desserts to just plain old snacks, but they all remind me of Christmas time and family.

3.) Peppermint Bark

 

This is a holiday favorite in my family. The only time it is made is between Thanksgiving and New Years, so it pretty much symbolizes Christmas for me. My aunt mastered the craft of peppermint bark, and it is the best thing to just snack on during the holidays. I'm not exactly sure how this is made but I'll post a recipe I found online, which I plan on trying.

Recipe : http://www.food.com/recipe/chocolate-peppermint-bark-christmas-394114

2.) Russian Tea Cakes

Russian Tea Cakes are my ABSOLUTE favorite Christmas dessert. They are cookie-like with a white powder on the outside. They are crunchy on the outside softer on the inside with some nuts in the center. They are the most unique-tasting cookie I have ever had. My uncle makes a ton of these around Christmas, and they are the dessert that I must have during the holidays. I'll post a recipe: 

Recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/russian-tea-cakes-recipe.html

1.) Pepperoni Dip

This is my favorite thing about the holidays. This dip is spicy, and creamy, and hearty and so good. It is a recipe that a friend gave my mom, and I haven't been able to find a similar one elsewhere. The only draw back is that this recipe is a LOT of work. My mom recommends making three or four at a time and then freezing them, because they can be placed in the oven to be cooked. They are great to bring to holiday parties too, because everyone seems to love them.

Ok, so in a food processor, you need to grind up a stick of pepperoni. (cut the pepperoni into smaller parts so it doesn't brake the processor)

Then, in a bowl, combine a bar of cream cheese, the pepperoni, a diced half of a green pepper, and two dollops of sour cream. Mix with an electric mixture until all combine, and place in a tin foil or glass pan. Sprinkle walnuts over the top and bake until the edges are bubbly. Best served with crackers and pretzels!! 

(I did not have the exact recipe on hand while typing this, but if anyone wants the recipe, ill get it from my mum.)

My Favorite Places to Eat Around Boston

Everyone has favorite restaurants, and these are some of my top favs, in Boston and around it, like in Quincy and Milton. Don't be surprised o find some chain restaurants, since I don't have the most refined palette. 

1.) Assembly : located in Quincy on Hancock street, Assembly is a sports bar that my parents used to always go to. I have only been there a couple of times, but it is already one of my favorites. The atmosphere is very factory-ish, and it used to be an old Irish pub, so the menu is inspired by the culture. I went there for my birthday this past summer and everyone in my family loved our meal. I strongly suggest the Spinach&Cheese Dip. My sister, the most pickiest eater ever, loved it. 

website: http://www.assemblybar.com/

2.) Panera Bread: I don't care what any of you say, I love Panera Bread. Whenever I am out with friends, this is our go to spot for a fast meal. There chicken caesar salads are my personal favorite. 

3.) The Fat Cat- This very small cafe in Quincy center is known for their colossal Mac&Cheese. But what most people don't know when they go their is that their wings are amazing. This past weekend, I went there with my mom and sister and we got an order of boneless BBQ tenders. These were the best chicken tenders I have ever had. There are so many other flavors to choose from too 

website: http://www.fatcatrestaurant.com/

4.) Tavolo: This nicer restaurant is right near Ashmont Station. It focuses mostly on pastas, and pizza. My family and I went there over the summer for my sister's birthday, and it was one of the best meals I have ever had. We all shared a caesar salad, and it was one of the bests. The dressing was very light but very flavorful. I had the four cheese pizza, and like the salad, it was one of the bests. 

website:http://www.tavolopizza.com/menus/

5.) Basta Pasta: To finish up this list is another Italian restaurant in Quincy. Italian food is one of my favorites, so that is probably why it is on this list. My absolute favorite is the Pasta bolognese with the homemade fusilli pasta. I am also a fan of the cheese ravioli and caesar salad. They also have take out, which lets me have an awesome meal while staying home. 

website: http://www.bastapastaenoteca.com/index.php

Apple Cinnamon White Cake Recreation

A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through Pinterest and I found a simple recipe for Apple Cinnamon White Cake. It looked easy enough and it needed things that were already lying around my kitchen.

The ingredients that were needed are:

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2/3 cup white sugar

1/2 cup butter (softened)

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1 apple, peeled and chopped

As you can see, these are all fairly common ingredients that mostly everyone will have in their kitchen.

1.) Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan

2.) mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl

3.) Beat white sugar and butter together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla

4.) Combine the flour and the baking powder together in a bowl. Then stir in the creamed butter mixture. Mix milk into batter until smooth. Pour half the batter in the loaf pan, add half of the apples and brown sugar mixture, pat it into the batter. Pour the remaining batter over the apple layer; top with remaining apple and brown sugar mixture. Swirl the brown sugar mixture using a spoon

5.) Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. It will take approximately 30-40 minutes. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This is how mine came out~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As you can see it is not as visually appealing as the one I found online, but it did taste pretty good if I do say so myself. 

One note is that my oven cooked this faster than 30-40 minutes. I am known to overcook my food so I was checking it constantly. It took around 25 minutes for it to be cooked perfectly.

ENJOY