pop color...

one of my favorite features on my new camera is the filters you can put on your pictures.  my very favorite one is "toy camera", but i also like the "pop color".  it takes a black and white photo but highlights certain colors, here are two examples...

music...alt j

alt j, "something good"

asain meatballs...

spaghetti and meatballs is my ultimate comfort food, especially my moms.  however, jarad is not a big pasta fan, so we rarely eat pasta, and if we do, its in the form of mac n cheese.  he still loves my classic italian meatballs, but i came up with a new twist on them, they are perfect served with a side of aspargus or brocolli for our low carb weeknight dinners.

ingredients:

1 1/2 lb ground turkey
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup soyaki marinade + 1/4 cup for glazing (teriyaki sauce can be substituted)
1 egg
1 T crushed garlic
1 large shallot diced
1 t red pepper flakes

how to:

combine all ingredients and form into one inch balls, bake on 350 degrees until golden brown and glaze with the remaining soyaki and put under broiler.

one year ago today...

exactly a year ago, jarad proposed to me on our teardrop camper adventure.  since then, we have gotten married and life is wonderful...

this is my "happily ever after"...

music...lana del rey

lana del rey, "summertime sadness"

new camera...

i got a new camera and i have the perfect subject (wilfred).  i am having fun learning how to use it and playing with the different settings, here are a few of my favs...

drunken pasta...

two of my favorite things; red wine and pasta, so what could be better than combining the two into a meal?!?!  it tastes good and looks beautiful!

ingredients:

1 lb spaghetti
1/4 cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic
1 large shallot
1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes
1 bottle of red wine (zinfandel or syrah)
1 T tomato paste
1 T butter
1/4 cup basil (or parsley can be substituted)
4 oz crumbled goat cheese
salt and pepper to taste

how to:

cook garlic, shallot and pepper flakes in olive oil, about 1-2 minutes.  then add your entire bottle of wine and tomato paste, cook over medium heat until it starts to simmer.  then turn down heat and let it cook off the alcohol for about 5-6 more minutes.

this is when you should put your pasta in the boiling water, and let it cook half way (about 6 minutes).  when the pasta has cooked for 6 minutes, put it in the  wine bath and let it finish cooking in the wine.  it will turn a beautiful purple color and absorb most of the liquid.

after it has finished cooking to al dente in the wine sauce (about 5 minutes) you can add your butter to thicken the sauce, basil and crumbled goat cheese.

 mix in the goat cheese so it starts to melt.

serve and enjoy!