erica danielle

I'm working through the recipes in my How Not To Die cookbook, and this one is another winner!** We love hummus at our house, and I love that I can make this, and know that these ingredients are all whole, and fresh and healthy. This hummus is so good- and every ingredient I almost always have on hand. Lemony Hummus: makes about 2 cups. 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 Tbls lemon 1/4 cup tahini 15 oz garbanzo (chickpeas) beans, drained 1/2 tsp cumin 1/4 tsp smoked paprika 2 Tbls chopped fresh parsley, or cilantro Throw it all in your food processor until smooth. Add water, 1 Tbls at a time if a thinner texture is desired. **The Black Bean Burgers were not a winner.... I will spare you from trying them :) Lucy just about gagged when trying them, saying "these are....." and Olle finished her sentence with ".....ah-sgusting?" (disgusting) LOL! Enjoy the hummus with your fav veggies, or if you're like me as your salad dressing for added protein! X...

Can't believe it's Monday and Sten's at work... We had a great weekend! Highlights included: - lots of yard work - deck time - bonfire with the neighbors - getting ready for my mom's party - Sten preaching at church - celebrating my mom's 60th Birthday with family! Jessica and I had lots of fun planning the menu and came up with a Mexican BBQ theme. Our menu included: Apps : Summer Corn and Cheese Dip (recipe below!) Chips and Salsa Veggies and dip Main : Chipotle Sliders Mexican Rice Black beans with queso fresco PW corn/pepper salsa Guacamole Dessert : Sopapilla Cheesecake Chocolate Amaretto Cake The party (which was supposed to be a surprise) was a blast! I think my mom was somewhat surprised??!! haha I got a few blurry pics (photo credit: Sten) I found the corn dip recipe on Iowa Girl Eats "Friday Favorites " and thought that would be PERFECT for this party- and it was! The recipe is from Minimalist Baker, and...

Homemade Pico is like, the best thing ever. It takes a long time and LOTS of chopping, but the finished product is totally worth it. Even if you end up getting a couple blisters along the way (improper knife skills). My Uncle Bruce is a gardener extraordinaire. His city backyard is something to see! He even has Honeycrisp Apples - JEALOUS! I couldn't even grown Zucchini in Colorado which is the equivalent of growing weeds in a park. I am destined not to be a gardener.... Sten and I went to my aunt and uncles for dinner and returned with a bag full of tomatoes and peppers-- #lucky :)   so so so good.  doesn't that look so fresh and organic?  tomatoes, onion, garlic, peppers, cilantro, lime, salt, cumin DONE. The best thing about pico de gallo is that you can put whatever you want in it and it still turns out great. Key ingredients: cilantro and lime.  Sten and I could have eaten the whole bowl of this in one sitting. Thank you Bruce and Cheryl! ...

Phew, weekend. almost. over. It was a GREAT one I: Went to a new restaurant in Logan Square with Sten on Friday night. Dinner reservation at 6:30pm. CHECK. Slept in on Saturday. Ate Banana Chocolate Chip muffins , and drank coffee and enjoyed a rainy morning with Sten Found my new favorite grocery store. Made fresh sweet corn and avocado salsa . Went for a run in the heat Saw HP 7! Went to Pete and Anne's with my corn salsa- and it was a hit! Got up earlier this morning and went to Willow Creek Church, where we were inspired and excited about living our lives more fully. Made brunch with Sten Re-arranged our bedroom and laughed at how hard we were trying to fit something under our bed that just realllllly wasn't fitting. Walked to Lincoln Square and shared Gelato. Stopped at the Johnsons' for a quick weekend update on their lives. Talked to my sissy, and found out her and Mike are coming to town Labor Day Weekend. Let the count down begin! Was gifted 13 garden fresh tomatoe...

Ahhhhh..... Saturday. Oh how I love today. Slept in, made muffins, explored a new grocery store, made this delicious salsa, and saw HARRY POTTER 7! We are off to our next engagement of the evening at the Anderson's for a "Burb-B-Q", and that is the reason for my recipe today. This is super easy and extremely delicious. Sten and I made sure to give it a taste test before we brought it to the gathering tonight. Here is the finished product. Fresh, light, crunchy, sweet, salty and decadent. I LOVE this. When I said I explored a new grocery store I wasn't lying. I have been hearing about "Harvest Time Foods" for a while now, but have yet to venture down Lawrence to check it out for myself. I HAVE BEEN MISSING OUT! This grocery store is wonderful. While there you almost feel as though you've transformed into a little European market *almost*... Such great prices too, Sten and I have decided this is our new store. We are in love. We bought LOTS of items and ...