Hummus Served Hot

There are really no words to express how excited I am to tell you about this creation of mine.  This week's recipe for The Food Matters Project was Hummus Served Hot chosen by Erin from Naturally Ella.  It was a great choice!  So far I have seen some wonderful white bean hummus blends, served in all kinds of ways, including as a pasta sauce!  Very unique - and I'm planning on trying it ASAP!

The Food Matters Project: Seared Bean Sprouts with Beef and Sesame Orange Sauce

I decided to join the Food Matters Project several weeks ago and I am so so excited to be a part of this group.  I share almost the exact food philosophies with this group and I really need this challenge to help me with my creativity and originality in the kitchen.  I also love that I get to see how many different people interpret the same recipes.  I really encourage you to check it out and see all the different ways you can adapt just one recipe!

Disney Princess Half Marathon

I am very proud and excited to say that my best friend and I completed the Disney Princess Half Marathon!  It was the most fun I have ever had running - a total girl power event with everyone dressed up (next year we have vowed to get tutus!).  I just wanted to show a couple of photos before I head off and I promise I will post a real post with recipes when I get back next!

We went to the Magic Kingdom first to visit Cinderella.

This is the first thing we saw when we walked to the Expo to pick up our race packets!

4:15 AM, morning of.

We finished and received medals in the shape of a tiara!

Lookin' good boys!

The victory picture with Mickey and Minnie!

Completing this race really makes me feel amazing.  Even if you're not a competitive runner it's worth checking out next year!  Everyone is very encouraging and it's a great way to force yourself into a healthy routine while having a blast!

Garbage Disposal Pasta

Ladies and gentlemen the time as come: I am going to Disney World with my best friend tomorrow to run in our very first Disney Princess Half Marathon.  There are no words for how excited we are.  I doubt I'll be able to sleep tonight!  Now you may be wondering why in the world I titled this dish with such a gross name... but seriously, I used a lot of random stuff.  Two leftover pastas, in fact.  AND a butternut squash from October.  If you don't have a root cellar (I'm still looking for an apartment in Chicago that comes with one), you can get one of these lovely racks and hang it in your home!

It's true, root veggies and potatoes probably shouldn't be hanging in a window with sun, but I am doing what I can here!  Now I am not really carb-loading, but I am eating a lot of whole grains and lean proteins this week.  This recipe is an attempt at using my leftovers and creating a nutritious meal.  It is loosely based on this Giada recipe which is amazing, especially when basil is in season.

Preheat the oven to 425 and peel and chop a butternut squash and an onion.  Cover with olive oil and season with salt and pepper and roast until tender (about 30 minutes).

Now for the random acts of tossing...

This pot is a mix of a pesto pasta dish that I made and froze awhile ago with some gorgeous mushrooms and leftover noodles and chicken from a homemade chicken noodle soup several days ago.  I heated it up with a little bit of water in order to get some moisture for a sauce.  Then I added goat cheese to make a smooth sauce and the butternut squash on top.  It was absolutely delicious and filling!  Perfect for just days before a race.

I'm sure that everyone has created some odd but incredible dishes out there and this is mine!  I'll try to post from Florida, but it may just be pictures.  Wish us luck as we embark on this quest. :)  What are your favorite dishes that you've thrown together at the last minute?

Garbage Disposal Pasta (Based off of Giada's Penne with Butternut Squash)

1 butternut squash
1 onion
whole wheat pasta
a couple of spoonfuls of goat cheese
mushrooms
leftover chicken
pesto
water
olive oil
salt and pepper

Whole Wheat Flatbread

Do you ever have one of those days when you literally drop EVERYTHING.  Mine was today.  I shattered a plate at work and dropped everything I picked up.  Ridiculous!  

My First Roast Chicken

I have always wanted to roast a chicken, but I always find reasons not to do it.  For example, why roast a chicken for one or two?  Why not just cook the pieces that are already dismantled and save the time?  The thing is though, I really really like roast chicken.  Every time my dad makes it, it melts in my mouth it's so moist and tender.  My best friend and I were at the farmers market discussing the pros and cons of roasting a chicken: pro - food for several days with infinite possibilities; con - do either one of us own a roasting pan?  Anyway, we split the cost of a chicken that I hope lived a very happy life eating and hopping around in the grass.  I can't stand the thought of eating one of those crowded up with 1,000 of its chicken housemates chickens.

Phillips Crab Cakes

I am usually very open to trying variations on recipes of all kinds, but there are some that I am absolutely unwilling to budge on.  Phillips crab cakes is one of them.  I was born in Maryland and there is a Phillips restaurant in the Baltimore harbor that catches and makes the best crab cakes of all time.  My dad has the recipe for these crab cakes (which is available on the Phillips crab can) and he makes them as a special treat every once in awhile.  They are filled with huge meaty pieces of crab which are the bulk of the cake instead of breading and other flavorings.  And they are delicious.  And healthy, which as you well know, are crucial pieces of my eating process.