Flavor favorites

A flavor combination that I love is chocolate and orange. Yesterday I made some chocolate and orange cookies. They were the perfect summer cookie. Light and flavorful are the perfect words to describe this flavor combination.

Next time your in the kitchen play around with flavors that enhance one another. I hope you enjoy these pictures!

Dark chocolate cocoa mix with orange zest.

Cookies cooling....it's always so hard not to devour one at this point.

Packed up to take to some friends!

Happy Cooking!

Little Chef-titian

Cooking Charleston

Recently I visited one of the infamous cities of the south...Charleston! The historic district was quaint, charming, and inviting. Among the cobblestone streets were beautiful dainty homes, neighborhood coffee shops, and hidden culinary gems! I found this place to be fascinating and cozy at the same time. I had heard from many that the cuisine in Charleston is exquisite so as you can imagine I was thrilled to explore all that it had to offer.

To my delight I enjoyed everything from a thin crusted pizza with fresh vegetables and a red table wine, french cuisine that offered a succulent fish dish that was buttery and delicious, and an organic lunch haven where the mixed greens were "green". Every flavor that you craved was met here and more! All of these were delicious but the dish that represents Charleston was a local favorite, Shrimp and Grits. I enjoyed this dish at 82 Queen. A restaurant that was the epitome of Charleston. From the menu, to the wait staff, and the outdoor garden dining area, the southern charm and elegance dripped from this restaurant.

As I remember this culinary experience, I can only think of the shrimp and grits that stole my heart. In wanting to recreate these flavors for my husband so he can get a taste of Charleston, I made shrimp and grits for dinner.

The flavors are rich from the barbecue shrimp, bacon, and Monterey jack cheese but balanced by the bright green onions and smooth grits. I found that the grits were the canvas for this dish. I didn't feel the need to overpower them with extra butter or salt.

Needless to say, I was pleased with the outcome. My house smelled of Charleston and my husband LOVED this dish!

Hope that you savor your memories from various parts of the country or world. Enjoy them again and again at home by recreating your favorite flavors!

Happy Cooking!

Little Chef-titian

Ending the Week Smart

Quiche of the week: Broccoli, Bell Pepper, Onion, and Paramsian Cheese

Have you found that when you do buy fresh vegetables it is hard to use them all or you have left overs from a previous recipe? Or if you like me when you shop at the Farmers Market you get excited and overstock your fridge. Well no worries, left over veggies can be incorporated into many end of the week meals that can save you money. Instead of going to the store to buy an entire meal, take those left over vegetables from the week and make a Quiche!

A quiche originates from French cuisine and is similar to a custard using eggs, cream or milk baked in a pastry crust. They are known for being high in fat and calories, but its possible to modify a recipe without losing the quality. Quiches are easy and can include anything from ham, sausage,tofu, vegetables, and various types of cheeses. They are a savory dinner that can work for all palates. I enjoy making a crustless quiche because its easy and fast.

This meal offers a mega punch for nutrition. It has lots of vitamins and minerals, protein, calcium, and moderate amounts of fat. You can round out this dinner with a whole grain baguette or piece of toast.

Remeber at the end of the week, most people are tired of cooking and grocery shopping. Take your left over ingredients and customize a quiche with your favorite flavors!

Tips for making a low fat/low calorie Quiche:

- Use lot of veggies.

- Use some egg whites and some whole eggs.

- Use non-fat or low fat milk verse cream.

- Add plain low fat yogurt or cottage cheese to add the creamy factor back

- Go crustless!

Happy Cooking!
Little Chef-titian

Color Coordinated Dinner

Orange and Green were the colors of the evening.




Steamed Broccoli and silver queen corn on the cob complimented the Carolina Mountain Trout at last nights dinner. The trout seared with Meyer Lemon and chives was a decadent treat. The flavors were bright and fresh with a hint of richness. The richness came from the touch of parmagain cheese that I added at the very end.





Do not be afraid to play with color while cooking. I love being in the kitchen because it allows me to explore my artistic side. It's hard to mess up a meal when you are using fresh quality ingredients.

Pull out your favorite dishes and allow your meal to make your night colorful!

Happy Cooking!
Little Chef-titian

New Wine Finds!

Ever since my summer in Italy I now appreciate a good red wine. One of my favorite things to do during my time in Italy was going to the a local wine shop and mulling over the various blends. The prices were so affordable and the quality was the best. I often chose a smooth chianti or a red table wine. Recently I have came across a few wines that I thought were tasty and affordable. FYI, these are not the top of the line by any means but for the price, it was a deal!

Top Pick: Cellar No.8 Pinot Noir ($10)


This California wine is smooth. I love that I could taste the hints of fruit without it being too sweet. This is one of my new favorites!















Second Pick: Smooking Loon Pinot Noir ($9)




It was still pretty smooth and embodied a decent balance of flavors. Definitly worth buying when watching your budget!












Third Pick: Jargon Pinot Noir ($8)



This was worth a shot, the label was cool (however they say never purchase for that reason) but probably wouldn't buy unless I wanted a cheap bottle. Still not bad for the price, but I would rather pay a few extra dollars for the top 2 picks!









All red wines offer some great health benefits. They provide antioxidants that help fight off free radicals (disease causing agents) as well as boost cardiovascular health. However, the recommendations for women are one 5 ounce glass and for men two 5 ounce glasses. It's important to note that if consumed in larger amounts the health benefits are outweighed by the negative health effects.

Heres a nutrition fact, alcohol is considered to have 7 calories per gram. Where carbohydrates and protein have 4 calories per gram and fat has 9 calories per gram.

Alcohol Calorie Calculation:
Calories = Oz of alcohol x Proof(25 for wine) x 0.8 kcal/proof/1 oz
Calories = 5 oz of wine x 25 x 0.8
Calories = 100

This equation will work for all types of alcohol. Just be sure to plug in the right proof.

Happy Sipping!
Little Chef-titian

Garlic and Chive Potatoes

Here are a few photos of the Garlic and Chive Potatoes. Hunter helped capture this process as I cooked!




Fresh cut chives out of my garden. They added a pop of color and depth of flavor along with the garlic.




Here is the finished product and they were scrumptious!

Happy cooking!
~Little Chef-titian

Time doesn't have to punish you!!

As I reflect on this stage of life (22 years old, student/PR Representative, and newlywed), I realize that I have time. Time to work out, time to enjoy grocery shopping, time to create new recipes and blog about them, and time to enjoy life! As I watch people transition from a young adult to an adult (mom, career woman, etc.) I am disheartened by what I see. Many women take on these "adult" roles and neglect themselves. What happened to the priority of caring for ones health. I am aware that a career and having children take much time and energy, but I hope that I do not lose sight of caring for my health when I enter into these roles.

I am aware that this may seem selfish to some but I view it differently. How can you teach your children what it means to eat healthy and stay active when it's not a priority? Children are said to be like sponges. They soak up everything, even the negative habits that parents try and hide. Modeling positive food behaviors and physical activity is a great way to teach healthy behaviors and attitudes to your children.

And for the career woman, how are you going to enjoy the benefits of all your hard work if you neglect yourself now? Prevention is key to a long healthy life. There are many things we can't control in our lives, but choosing to take time out of our day to care for our minds and bodies is something we do get to decide.

Go for a walk or run in the early morning before the demands of the day are knocking, do some sit ups or push ups before you go to bed at night, or take an hour at the gym a few days a week and do a total body workout.

Shopping at the farmers market is a great way to have fun with friends and family while stocking up on healthy ingredients for the week's meals. Incorporate bagged lunches a few days week instead of eating out (you'll be shocked at how many calories and dollars you can save). Challenge yourself to eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day. This will keep you full throughout the day.

These are just a few tips that you can try. If you identify with the busy mom, career woman, or young adult who has time, make caring for yourself a priority. You are an example to many people in your life, including your children. Being healthy is contagious and inspiring. Let's change the statistics that "Americans" possess regarding health.

For more information on eating 5 a day, check out this useful website: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/

Happy health!
~Little Chef-titian

Green Goddess Muffins and Classic Caprese

Taking advantage of seasonal produce is easy. Here are two favorites of mine!

Green Goddess Muffins



These were a hit last night with some friends! I created the name Green Goddess because these muffins have zucchinni, lime zest, chives, and avocado honey!


Caprese salad



This was light and refreshing. The small mozzarella pearls were on sale yesterday and I took advantage by making one of my all time favorite salads. Combining fresh basil, balsamic vinigariette, mozzarella, and tomatoes created this summer favorite.

I had to share these creations because they were delicious!

Happy cooking!
~Little Chef-titian

Simplicity at its finest!

When 3 or 4 pm rolls around, I am usually thinking about what I am going to cook for dinner. My kitchen stays stocked with seasonal fruits and vegetables and a few staple items. This allows me to be creative and construct a meal around fresh ingredients. I have found that some of the most delicious meals are the simpliest. For example last week I made a pasta dish that brought me right back to Italy! It was a whole grain spaghetti that was tossed with extra virgin olive oil, sauteed mustard greens, ripe juicy tomatoes, basil from my garden, fresh garlic, and grated parmagian cheese. This dish blew me away and it only took around 25 minutes. This is an example of what I call simple cooking.

Not only does simple cooking equal fresh but it also means healthy! Others may opt for fast processed food, but that is not what I am inferring to with simple.

I define simple as fresh, timely, cost efficient, and balanced. This is how I choose to cook at home and I continue to discover new meals that keep my taste buds dancing and my body healthy. I love being able to share these tips with others and hope that you too can incorporate the "simple cooking" approach in your culinary journey.

Farmers Market Way of Life

One of my all time favorite things to do is wake up on Saturday morning and go to the farmers market on county home road. The hustle and bustle of everyone buying the freshest vegetables and fruit gets my heart anxious and excited each time. I usually pull into the overcrowded parking lot around 10:30am and think "Oh no, I hope there is still something left!" To my delight, there is always PLENTY of produce waiting for me to purchase.

The farmers market offers the freshest produce around, seasonal products, and happy families that are willing to share their agriculture practices with you. Eating local is important to me because I know the supply is freshly picked and has not traveled thousands of miles. This not only ensures that the produce will hold up longer and most likley has no added chemicles to maintain freshness but its carbon footprint is low.

Another great reason to shop local is the cost. It is so much cheaper for me to go to the market and buy vegetables and fruit for the week verses the grocery store. I usually spend around $15 for: Blueberries, peaches, eggplant, squash, eggs, cuccumbers, peppers, and cantaloupe. If I were to buy equal amounts of all of these at the grocery store, I would spend at least 20 to 30 dollars.

The vegetables and fruits are readily available and cost efficent as well as meat and seafood. This is where you can get grass fed red meat and wild caught seafood.

Here is one dish Hunter and I love that is easy to make with my fresh produce from the market...Fajitas! Here are the peppers and onions that I make in addition to chicken for this recipe.



Have thought about where your food comes from? Have you tried a local farmers market? If not, give it a shot. Its a fun experience for all!

For more information on Greenville's Farmer's Market check out this link.
http://www.ncfarmfresh.com/FarmMarketDisplay.asp?FarmID=1515

For Raleigh's Farmer's Market: http://www.ncsfmr.com/

~Little Chef-titian