Shaved Asparagus Pizza

I realized that my promise of seasonal goodies from the last post may have had you in the mind frame of something sweet.  If that's what you were looking forward to, I am sorry. The seasonal ingredient (asparagus) is not in the form of dessert.  But it has cheese. Which is something I often crave more than desserts. 

I never really turn down pizza and I get extra brownie bites because this is somewhat of a healthy pizza.  Well as far as pizza goes, this one is healthy since I used trader joes whole wheat pizza dough and the topping is shaved asparagus.  

That's right. Shaved asparagus.  It's new to me too.  But apparently very popular these days.  I have seen so many recent posts on my blog roll with the ingredient of shaved asparagus.  Here (inspiration for this recipe), here, here and finally here (with a pictorial how-to).  All of which led me to jump on the bandwagon and want to explore this unique way of preparing this veggie.

I've always liked asparagus.  Usually steaming it, sauteing it and most recently grilling it.  Always trimming the tough ends to make the stalks more edible and enjoyable.  But with the discovery of shaving it, I don't even have to break out a pot or a pan to cook it because it is absolutely delicious RAW!  I never thought about eating asparagus raw because...well...it just never appealed to me.  Didn't really think it was possible.  But using my handy dandy veggie peeler to create beautiful thin ribbons of asparagus, tossing it with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt & pepper...Yummy.

Now the husband and I have something new to nosh on the next time we do a raw foods diet.

Then add it on top of dough with  fresh mozzarella cheese and a bit of cream sauce. It was pure delight.

Oh and what's the yellow looking sauce in the bottom of the photo you ask.

An egg! Because sometimes an egg just makes it better.

The husband was doubtful of the egg at first, so I only added eggs to half of the pizza. Honestly, he was doubtful of the entire shaved asparagus pizza idea.  So being the good new wife that I am learning to be, I gently *wink wink* reminded him who runs this kitchen.

Needless to say it was music to my ears when he said, You're Right! Win, Win!!!

Avocado Toast with Egg

In case you have some leftover avocado from that salad you made recently

Toast + Avocado + Egg = quick, easy and healthy breakfast

Drizzle a little olive oil on your bread of choice (I've used whole wheat bread & English muffins), toast bread to desired doneness, mash half an avocado onto toast, top with fried egg, eat, savor, go forth and concur the work week.

Fyi, it's just as scrumptious without the egg.  I don't know why you would do such a thing but you could forgo the egg if eggs just aren't your thing.

With only a 5 minute prep time, it just doesn't get much simpler than that.

I'll be back this week with some seasonal goodies!!

Mango, Avocado & Chicken Cobb Salad

Summer has officially begun. 

I hope you all enjoyed your three day weekend. I'm sure it was full of parties, festivals, grilling out and hopefully some rest somewhere in between.

The husband and I stayed close to home and did none of the above, lol.  We went to the movies and saw The Hangover 2 (hilarious, just as good as the first one so we were pleasantly surprised), ate at Delia's Chicken Sausage Stand (cute concept, very tasty and extremely filling) and then did some home improvement stuff.  Well to be honest, he did the home improvement stuff and I read (finished this and started this).  I'm not really one for manual labor around the house but luckily, he knew that before we got married. Plus he does such a great job on his own (our deck now looks like a mini forest/summer oasis) I don't want to interrupt his flow.  Just like he loves to leave the kitchen to me.  Hey, we know what works for us.

Plus when he gets salads like this for lunch, any inkling of a desire to ask me to pick up a paintbrush diminishes. 

Let me tell you, that salad is just as tasty as it looks.  When I made this for our lunch last week, I asked him if his co-workers get lunch envy.  I know I would.

Since the weather is on full HOT mode and I'm sure you might be on meat and cook-out food overload, I thought this would be a good time to share this salad with you.  It is such a refreshing combination (similar to this) with the addition of diced mango and the creaminess of the avocado that your tastebuds will not get enough of it.  I made this for lunch two days in a row but then I had some leftover toppings so I made it with shrimp and Wow!...this salad is definitely a keeper. 

Mango, Avocado & Chicken Cobb Salad

Printable Recipe

1 head of sliced/chopped romaine lettuce

1 mango, peeled and diced

1 avocado, seeded, peeled and diced

1 granny smith apple, sliced

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, seasoned, oven baked or grilled and diced

dried cranberries

Simply vinaigrette or your favorite salad dressing

Arrange lettuce in a bowl or on a plate.  Arrange the remaining ingredients in sections on top of the salad.  Drizzle with your favorite salad dressing.  Enjoy

adapted from Simply Recipes

I'zzz Married Now!

The wait is finally over. Three weeks ago today, Mr. Foodie made me an honest woman and I can now proudly call myself Mrs. Foodie!!! YAY!!

We tied the knot two weeks ago and it was absolutely the most beautiful wedding (I'm sure every bride says that) and the happiest day of my life (I'm sure every bride says that too, but now its my turn).  I could not have asked for the day to go any better. We are both so grateful to all our friends and family that came from far and wide to celebrate with us.  The whole occasion was definitely one filled with love.

We are even more grateful that the incomparable Shawna Herring was able to come along and photograph the entire thing.  I really could go on and on about how much we loved our photographer. You can check out her work here and what she did for us here.  If you ever want an occasion captured on film, she is the person to call.  And she travels too, so no destination is too far.

After our nuptials and all that partying in Las Vegas, we went for complete R&R for our honeymoon and traveled to Belize.  We flew into Belize City and took a small, very small, charter plane to San Pedro, on a small island off of the coast.  After taking the first couple of days to catch up on our rest (much needed), we did a lot of eating and laying out by the pool.  So of course with this being a food blog and all, I can't go without sharing pics of the delicious food we had.  A mixture of Mexican and Caribbean cuisine with fresh seafood, we were in food heaven.

(top row: curried shrimp with rice and peas, chicken enchilada with black beans, pan seared salmon topped with shrimp served with rice and roasted Parmesan vegetables;  middle row: seafood papusas, rum punch, fish (grouper) fritters; bottom row: curried chicken with roasted potatos, shrimp tacos, margarita & belikin, locally brewed beer)

We are now back. Getting back into our routine and enjoying being husband and wife.  I'll admit that we are in newlywed bliss and I am loving it. 

But that also means that I am getting back into my kitchen to cook some fabulous meals for my husband. And the plus side to that is you get to reap the benefits because I will share them with you.  So make sure you follow the blog (look to the right hand side to subscribe), get signed up to receive them via email and share with your friends.  Mrs. Foodie is getting ready to burn!!

Showered with Love

Last weekend started my unofficial countdown to the Big Day.  I traveled to Los Angeles, my hometown, where some of my oldest and dearest friends threw my first Bridal Shower.  To say the sentiments felt at the shower were overwhelming would be a gross understatement. I'm not really an emotional person and my personality doesn't lend itself to being the center of attention; so this whole showering you and honoring you thing can really get to a person if you are not prepared.  And nothing could have prepared me for the thoughtfulness and creativity of my childhood friends.

The shower was held at Hipcooks, where we had a private cooking class.  Now tell me how perfect is that for a self-proclaimed foodie that loves to cook and landed her fiance' through her surprising cooking skills.

Needless to say, when I received the invitation a few weeks back I was very excited about it.  When I walked into the kitchen studio, I was even more blown away by the set-up.

the beautifully decorated dining table (the middle of the table is glass, simply gorgeous!) to feast on our freshly prepared meal

and the instruction area where we did food prep

But tears came to my eyes and I completely succumb to my emotions when my dear friends insisted I open this one gift before we got started.

please excuse the "ugly" cry

a little blurry but you get the idea

Mrs. Foodie!!!! How could I not cry at this.  Not only am I about to become the Mrs. Foodie to my Mr. Foodie but I was just so touched at my friends attention to detail and getting me...knowing me.  I'm getting all emotional just coming up with the words to write about this so I'll stop and get on to the class and the food.

The class was so much fun.  There were only a handful of us and our mothers.  We have all known each other for a very, very long time so it was definitely like family getting together.  Our instructor and her sous chef were very patient because we were a pretty difficult group to maintain some sort of control over.  The mothers and myself were probably the only ones who were into the class and trying to learn something. 

Everyone else, not so much.  God bless them, they were all so busy taking pictures, drinking wine and washing their hands. A requirement of the class was that you need to wash your hands every time you touched something that was not food related so needless to say, they spent a lot of time at the kitchen sink.

On the menu: New Potato, Green Bean, Basil and Pine Nut Salad (not pictured), Moroccan Chicken with Pearl Barley and Warm Chocolate Tartlets with Raspberry Cream for dessert.

After the cooking, it was time to eat and the fun continued at the dining table.  We were such a talkative bunch, going through multiple bottles of wine.  And when everyone began sharing memories of when we met, those pesky emotions started up again. They have all warned me that I need to get all the crying out now, before the wedding, so I can actually make it through the day.

But on this day, I just felt so much love and such gratitude for the people in my life.

All in all, it was a wonderful shower.  Good times were had, memories were made, great food was consumed and we all got a few recipes out of it.  Although I am a little curious to see how many of my friends will actually use them...heehee.

Oh! Of course I didn't forget my readers.  I've shared one of them with you guys too ;)