Summertime Favorites!

Check out these summertime favorites!

Delicious Sweet Potato Fries are a savory side dish which offers a large dose of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and phytochemicals to boost your health. Try these verses store bought french fries.

Slice sweet potatoes, toss in olive oil, salt, pepper, and a dash of cinnamon and back till tender.

Shrimp are high in protein and low in fat. These are a great addition to any diet!

For an easy and healthy dinner, pick up some peeled and devained shrimp from your local grocery and steam in boiling water for a few minutes. Remove from water when shrimp turn pink. Sprinkle Old Bay seasoning and serve with some fresh steamed vegetables.

Happy Cooking!

Little Chef-titian

Smart Solutions for Saving Money

Here are some tips for maximizing your groceries and saving money.

Lettuce ~

Over the last 6 months I have made the switch from packaged lettuce to purchasing a head of lettuce. Since switching, I have realized how much better the head of lettuce taste. It is much crisper and last a lot longer. In the past I bought a box of the organic lettuce and it would last at the most a week. With the unpackaged lettuce, I have found that it last more than a week and sometimes longer. You will loose some of the crunch if you wait too long but it is definitely a smarter purchase.

Box of lettuce: ~ $4

Head of Lettuce: ~ $1.80

Tomatoes ~

Sometimes I am tempted to buy the cheapest tomatoes I find because they can be pricey, but I have found that buying the smaller tomatoes is more cost efficient and practical for my style of cooking. I often use a tomato for a small salad or some sort of topping. Therefore if I purchase a large tomato, only half is used and the other half usually gets thrown away. Tomatoes do not stay fresh long once they are cut.

Depending on your need for tomatoes, it may be more cost efficient to purchase smaller tomatoes that will last longer and not go to waste.

Ground Meats ~

If you are cooking for one or two people, do not be afraid of purchasing a pound of ground meat. I buy ground meat and store it in the freezer until I am ready to cook it. My husband and I do not need to have a whole pound of meat at one meal so my solution to this is simple. Cook the meat in the pan without putting any seasoning on it. Once the meat is cooked use half for one meal and place the other half in a freezer safe container and place back in freezer for a quick fix dinner later. This allows the meat to stay fresh and is already cooked for the next time you need it. This will save on cost because you are making multiple meals out of one package of meat.

Fruits ~

When you see your fruits getting too ripe, do not worry. There are many recipes you can utilize to use your fruits. Use your fruit to make muffins. This is one of my favorite things to do and everyone usually loves a fresh baked muffin. You could also make a fruit crisp for dessert or chop of your fruits and freeze them for smoothies.

These are a few of my food solutions for saving money. Utilize these tips and be amazed at how much you can save.

Happy Saving!

Little Chef-titian

Sweet Treats!

Here are some photos of banana walnut chocolate chip cookies and Vanilla Cupcakes!

These are drop cookies that are amazing. I decided to add banana into this cookie to add a nice flavor and natural sweetness. This may be my new favorite cookie!!

These were delicious and healthy! A good guilt free sweet treat.

I wanted to take some shots of these cupcakes I made for a friends wedding. I piped the icing out and was excited how they turned out. I had to take a few shots of these cute cupcakes.

I hope you enjoyed these photos.

Happy Baking!

Little Chef-titian

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