My Food Truck Summer

 This was my first summer working in Minneapolis and I am lucky enough to work right on Nicollet Mall where most of the Food Trucks in the Twin Cities spend their lunch.  Thanks to Twitter it is easy to follow and find trucks when you need to get outside for lunch.  I tried a variety of trucks and all were amazing and unique.

Turkey to Go

Twitter: TurkeyToGo

Find them at: Nicollet Mall and 6th or 8th

Favorite Food: Turkey Sandwich (plain)



Turkey to Go was the first food truck I tried out since they are actually open all year long, spending the winter in the NorthStar building food court.  The turkey sandwich is absolutely amazing and jucier than anything you will ever try anywhere else!  In the winter they also have Turkey Wild Rice Soup which is so creamy and delicious.  The food here is simple and straightforward.  You won't find weird names or food that you can only guess what on earth it is.  It is true Minnesota comfort food - proof of which comes from the fact that they are the turkey guys from the Minnesota State Fair.

Dandelion Kitchen
Twitter: dandelionktchn
Find them at: Nicollet Mall between 8th and 7th in front of the IDS Center
Favorite Food: Grilled Ham & Brie

I call their food "fancy comfort food."  They take something like a ham and cheese sandwich and substitute brie for the cheddar, add a plum spread and homemade dijon mustard and that is about the time I start drooling.  All their food is a great combination of new and old flavors.  Every day they have a soda which takes a old flavor like lime and add a new flavor like mint and BOOM you have an amazing soda.  The truck usually has a long line so make sure you get out there early!

Chef Shack
Twitter: chefshack1 and shackattacks
Find them at: always moving, check twitter
Favorite Food: Mini Donuts

The Chef Shack has two trucks, Big Red (chefshack1) and the Donut Truck (shackattacks) which is usually the one close to me.  I am going to go ahead and just say it, their donuts are better than State Fair donuts.  No lie.  These mini donuts have indian spices and must be made from whole wheat flour because they are dark and delicious!  While you're there you have to try the Arnie Palmer (in a cup!) because they make that from scratch and it is fantastic.  I must admit though that I have never tried any of their other food.  The other food is stuff like "beef tongue tacos."  They do have a Bison burgers but it always seems to be sold out when I get there.  I have heard all their menu items are amazing, I just need to get the courage to try it.

Smack Shack
Twitter: Smack_Shack
Find them at: moving along Marquette
Favorite: Classic French Fries

The Smack Shack is the biggest truck I've seen!  They have 5 people working in the truck and two taking money out front.  They specialize in seafood - mostly lobster - which is why I haven't treid any of their main dishes.  I have heard though that the lobster rolls there are the best.  Someday when I bring Patrick there I can give you more info on the food.

Cupcake
Twitter: CupcakeOnTheGo
Find them at: Nicollet Mall and 10th
Favorite: Everything!

This truck is the greatest thing to happen to Nicollet Mall since Target.  Seriously, every cupcake they serve is amazing!  The flavors are always changing and the combinations are wonderful.  The people working are always super nice.  They also serve shots of frosting - which is awesomesauce.  If you follow Twitter closely you'll know when they are giving out free shots if you mention twitter.





Food Trucks on a Thursday when they are displaced by the Nicollet Mall Farmer's Market



A Coffee Community

I recently joined the corporate world doing a job I was made for - administrative assistant.  I love my job, but it definitely requires a cup of coffee every morning because you are constantly on your toes.  My 8:30 coffee run has become quite the ritual and I don't know what I would do without it.  I almost always make this coffee run with a coworker - which got me thinking about the social side effects of coffee. 

Coffee is the perfect drink to get while chatting.  You're expecting an energy buzz from the caffeine so you're already feeling better, and then add in the fact that you're socializing and boom!  Winning.  Your day has significantly improved before you even took the first sip. 

The act of getting the coffee is soothing to many in the corporate world I've found.  It is a chance to slip away from the desk for a moment and collect your thoughts - whether about work or home.  I like to get coffee because it makes me think through my day while not working on something else - multitasking doesn't always work best.  Getting coffee also makes you physically move around, unless of course your coffee is just in the other room.  I highly recommend going outside your office for a cup of Joe once in a while - it will do you wonders!

Some of us though, don't always have someone to get a cup of coffee with.  Well do not fear!  It just so happens that coffee houses are usually more sociable than the local bar!  I have struck up so many random conversations in a coffee house and I absolutely loved every one of them.  One morning I was preparing for an interview and some random guy in a suit asked me what I was doing and it just so happened that he worked in the same industry so he was able to give me some pointers.  As a barista I've been given the chance to hear so many interesting stories.

I guess what I'm trying to get to is that you should go out and socialize - and if you need some liquid courage, try coffee.  When you're hopped up on caffeine rather than liquor, you're less likely to make an ass of yourself.

Date Night

Our date nights are simple, not because I like simple things, but because I like dates and its a lot easier to have a lot of dates when they are simple.

Drink: Pinot Grigio by Black Swan
I have never been much of a wine person, but in the last couple years I have started to try more and more.  I've realized that I like white wines with a bit of citrus flavor.  You get this citrus flavor from wines made in Australia, which is where Black Swan is made.  This wine was only $6.99 and for the price I would say it was pretty good.  It was as exciting as some other Pinot Grigio wines I've had but I liked it enough to finish the bottle on my own.  Oh yeah, Patrick doesn't like wine so he got a Gatorade, which he likes, so it's all good.

Appetizer: Cheese Curds & Apples
If you didn't already know this, apples go really well with cheese.  I don't know why, I just know they do.  I really like cheese so I wanted to go with a fancy cheese, but this was not a fancy date night.  So I went for the good ol' Wisconsin Cheese Curds.  You just can't go wrong with cheese curds, especially when your date is with a Wisconsin man.

Dinner: Garlic Chicken Pizza with Alfredo Sauce
A white sauce pizza is my favorite especially with spinach and chicken.  I have yet to be able to make a decent pizza so all of ours come out of a box.  This was Culinary Circle brand which I highly recommend!  I have never had one of their pizzas that I didn't like.  The other part that makes our pizza so good is the Pampered Chef Pizza Stone!  Another thing that I would highly recommend if you like softer crust.  Our pizza was a thin crust which usually ends up too crispy for us, but with this pizza stone it cooks just right.

Dessert: Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies
For some reason I can't make cookies.  It's really stupid.  I can make truffles and intricate cakes, but I can't make a simple sugar cookie.  So we buy these too.  Which is alright because it means that for our Date Night I had hardly any cooking to do!

Our Date Nights are always paired with a movie.  We have decided to go through our "10 Must See Musicals" to make sure that we are really happy with what we have.  So we started with #10 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.  We had more time and nothing better to do so we also watched #9 The Phantom of the Opera.

It was a good night.

La Belle Crepe on Nicollet Mall

View of La Belle Crepe from Nicollet Mall

La Belle Crepe
825Nicollet Mall #100
Minneapolis, MN 55402
http://www.labellecrepe.com
Cuisine: Crepes and coffee
Attire: Casual
Cost of Drinks: $3
Cost of Food: $6

La Belle Crepe is closest I have ever come to seeing an actual hole-in-the-wall restaurant.  It's tough to find because the restaurant is maybe 10 feet wide and 20 feet long.  The eating area is a small bar inside the restaurant and then 5 tables out in the hallway.  It is connected to the skyway which is how I found it.  Once you walk inside though, you don't even notice how small the place is because the atmosphere is so big!

Inside La Belle Crepe

The room has tall vaulted ceilings which are decorated like a fancy European restaurant.  There are paintings on the wall and a beautiful chandelier hanging from the ceiling.  French music and the smell of fresh crepes fills the air.  The restaurant is owned by a very kind gentleman from France who you can see working often.  The other people working there are also a great bunch.  The food that is served is intended to be a healthy, but fast meal.  I take a more laid back approach though and spend my full lunch hour eating, drinking and reading.

There are a wide variety of crepes available in three different categories; Sweet, Savory, and Breakfast.  I can't speak for the breakfast crepes myself but I have been told by co-workers that they are quite good.  The savory crepes are served like a wrap and on a salad which makes it a very healthy and quick lunch.  The crepe is made of whole grains and the cheese they use is fabulous.  But in my opinion, the Sweet crepe conquers all others!

"The Elvis"

The sweet crepes feature fruits and nuts and are designed to be a dessert or an entrée - which is how I eat them.  My first one was the Berries & Crème which has a fresh mix of berries tucked inside a nice warm crepe with crème fraiche on top.  I basically melted in my seat it was so amazing!  Next I tried the Mango crepe with almond paste which was absolutely wonderful.  Then I decided I needed to try the Banana crepe which came with your choice of peanut butter or Nutella - I chose the Nutella and I never looked back!  The Nutella melts inside the crepe covering the bananas is chocolaty goodness.  To make matters even better there is a chocolate sauce on top with powdered sugar.  I basically went into a chocolate coma, and it was all good.  I also tried the caramel apple which was good but as I am not a huge fan of caramel apples, I didn't enjoy it as much as the others.  I have not tried the Orange Dream yet which features orange marmalade and crème fraiche.  Also for dessert they feature a selection of sorbet and gelato which is quite flavorful.

There is actually a fourth category and this one is always changing; the Specials.  Last time I went the special was "The Elvis."  It contains banana, bacon, honey, peanut butter, and whipped crème.  It was amazing!  Seriously it was so good I couldn't believe it!  All the flavors came together and balanced out quite well.  It was one of the greatest things I have eaten in my entire life.

"Sipping Cocoa"

La Belle Crepe also features a wonderful list of drinks.  The first is the authentic Italian Soda which they mix right there and that makes all the difference.  They also have a full coffee bar which I love.  They have everything from black coffee to authentic Italian Cappuccinos served with a small spoon so you can really enjoy the froth.  The final drink on their list is a true delicacy - Sipping Cocoa.  Sipping Cocoa is simply a small glass of warm chocolate.  No milk, no sugar, no additives, no powder - just chocolate.  It is so thick, rich, and smooth that you are going to think you have died and gone to heaven.

I hope this was enough to convince you to find La Belle Crepe.  It is a wonderful restaurant that I hope will continue to serve wonderful food.  I have also heard that soon they will be serving Panini's which I'm sure will be consistent with their other great foods.

Afternoon Tea: St. Paul Hotel

Afternoon Tea
The Saint Paul Hotel
350 Market St.
St. Paul, MN 55102
http://www.saintpaulhotel.com
Cuisine: Tea and hors d'oeuvres
Attire: Daytime formal or business casual
Cost: $30.00
Champagne (additional): $3.95

Afternoon Tea at The Saint Paul Hotel is an exquisite experience that everyone should enjoy at least once a year.  It was more relaxing than a day at the spa and the food tasted exponentially better.

A couple months ago I saw a tweet come through about the Afternoon Tea schedule at The Saint Paul Hotel and I immediately knew I had to attend.  I asked my friend Kris to join me because she is also a foodie and great for conversation.  As the day drew near we were both excited and nervous.  Having never been to something like this we didn't know what to expect or what was expected of us.  I even went as far to go to my Mom for help picking out an outfit!

Upon arrival we were greeted by everyone we crossed paths with.  Everyone was either in suits or traditional housecleaning uniforms.  There was even a gentleman outside with a top hat!  We checked our coats and the greeter was there, ready and waiting to bring us to our seats.  The tea took place in the lobby where there were sets of chairs and tables scattered around.  Even though the event was in the lobby, it felt private.  The décor was beautiful and elegant, but not pretentious.

Kris and I at first were very aware of every movement we made.  We didn't want to seem out of place, but I'm sure everyone could tell it was our first time.  At the table there was fine china and real silverware - I'm talking real silver here.  I had read on their website that The Saint Paul Hotel collects tea sets so they may have a variety used at every Afternoon Tea instead of having everyone match.  Immediately there was a waitress there to fill our cups with our first cup of tea.  It was a bold dark tea which tasted like an Earl Grey, but I can't be sure since I was having too much fun to ask.  There were sugar cubes, raw sugar cubes, lemon and cream at the table on an adorable silver petit fours stand.  I went for the raw sugar while Kris tried each - she is more adventurous than I and said all of them were good.

First Course: Ham & Dijon on Parmesan Short Bread, Dill Cream Cheese & Shrimp on Cucumber, and Egg Salad on Rye.
First I tried the Egg Salad on Rye because I'm the kind of eater who saves the best for last and usually I don't like any sort of salad that has the main ingredient of mayonnaise.  This however was amazing!  It had some sort of extra spice to it and the rye bread was the perfect touch.  Then I went for the Ham & Dijon on Parmesan Short Bread which was fantastic!  The ham was perfect with lots of flavor but not a lot of salt and complimented nicely by the Dijon.  The parmesan short bread was an incredible final touch making this little canapé absolutely divine.  I then passed on my shrimp and cucumber to Kris, because I don't do seafood and she said it was fantastic.

Second Course: Turkey Mushroom Spinach Roulade with Risotto & Sage Demi.

The second course was like a mini dinner.  The Turkey was very well cooked in that it was still moist and not dry.  The spinach roulade inside complimented the turkey well along with the mushroom gravy on top.  The risotto was wonderful and different than any risotto I had tasted before.  It seemed to be without the saffron flavor that is usually found in risotto but it was very rich, creamy, and delicious.

Third Course: Almond Poppy Seed Scone with Spiced Honey Butter.
After having tried almond poppy seed I will never again be able to eat lemon poppy seed because the almond was so pleasing.  The next thing you need to know about Kris and I is that we are constantly in a love affair with honey butter.  Seriously.  This honey butter did its part to deepen the love we have - for this butter was whipped!  The whipped honey butter on the scone basically melted in your mouth it was so delectable.  At one point Kris said, "I am so close to licking my plate clean."  Don't worry, she didn't lick her plate clean, but it was difficult since we adhere to the 'no honey butter left behind' act.  The third course was a perfect transition to the second half of our Afternoon Tea - dessert.

Fourth Course: Chocolate Cup with White Chocolate Coffee Cream, Mini Raspberry Cheese Cake, and Orange Mousse Tartlet & Chocolate Ganache.
I started with the mini raspberry cheesecake which was not only darling but delicious.  There was a single raspberry on top which was so bold and fresh that it was able to shine through the richness of the cheesecake.  The Orange Mouse Tartlet topped with Chocolate Ganache was just what I had been looking for.  I have been craving orange chocolate for weeks now and I am so glad I waited for this!  It may have been small, but it packed such a flavor punch that it soothed my cravings.  Again saving the best for last, I finished with the chocolate cup.  This luscious morsel shut us up and we both just sat there, taking in the flavor.  The coffee cream was so rich and smooth all you could do was savor the moment.

Fifth Course: Chocolate Truffle Cake with Red Currant & Raspberry Coulis with Peppermint Bark Garnish.
This cake was a wonderful finishing touch - an harmonious combination of textures and flavors.  Before today I would have told you that there is no way currant, raspberry and peppermint taste good together, but alas, I would have been wrong.  This cake was also the first item on our menu which wasn't hors d'oeuvres size - and there was no way I was finishing it after everything I just had, but I couldn't leave it behind.  Just as I was ready to push through this fullness I was feeling and clean my plate, a woman appears with Styrofoam take home boxes.  I think she had a halo floating above her head too.

As we finished our tea and got up to leave, both of us agreed that we were more relaxed than we had been in ages.  I must admit that I didn't see a single guy sipping tea but I would encourage guys to go.  There is no reason that a social gathering with tea has to be exclusive to women only.  I highly recommend that you attend an afternoon of tea at The Saint Paul Hotel - I promise you will enjoy every moment.

Coffee Cocktail Party

Now that Thanksgiving is over it is time to start thinking about the Christmas Cocktail Party.  One might think, why on earth is the barista talking about cocktail parties!?  Well I'll tell you why.  There are a lot of great cocktails and desserts out there that have the key ingredient of coffee!  Here are my favorites:

Espresso Martini
The Espresso Martini is a contemporary alternative to a classic drink.  The basic recipe for this drink is 1 shot of espresso, 1 shot of liqueur and 2 shots of vodka.  My favorite liqueurs to use are; Godiva liqueur, Kahlua, Bailey's Irish Crème, or Frangelico.  You can use any vodka plain or flavored.  I know that martinis are sometimes made with gin instead, but this is a bad idea - it will not taste good with espresso.  These can be shaken or stirred and taste best in a chilled glass.  It is greatest when topped off with a couple of chocolate covered espresso beans. 

Caribbean Coffee
For those of you who prefer a little more rum in your life, there is always the Caribbean Coffee.  You start with 5 ounces of coffee and add 1 tsp sugar, 1 ounce of rum and top it off with whipped cream.  This will be a little lighter on the alcohol but it is a perfect addition to a nice and rich dessert.  If you don't have a dessert planned, just add a little ice cream and voila - instant dessert.

Cloud 9
This one will send you straight to - you guessed it - Cloud 9!  First you must gather ingredients.  1 ounce Frangelico, 3 ounce Vodka, 1 ounce chocolate syrup, 4 cups coffee, 1 cup milk, 10 ice cubes and 2 tbsp sugar.  Mix it all together in a blender and when serving add some whipped cream on top.  This will put any future blended coffee drinks to shame.


Cafe Affogato
This little beauty is a dessert I first tasted at Macaroni Grill.  It is a scoop of vanilla gelato with fresh espresso and a shot of Frangelico liqueur poured over it.  It may just be the best thing I have ever tasted in my life!  Of course the gelato starts melting once you pour the hot espresso over it.  Once you eat what little gelato is left, you can then drink the melted gelato with the left over espresso and liqueur.  I did a home version where I used gelato, an espresso shot that I got from a local coffee shop and added some Crème de Cacao (since I ran out of Frangelico) and it was still amazing.

Tiramisu
When making a list of coffee desserts, one cannot leave out Tiramisu.  The key ingredients in Tiramisu are coffee, alcohol, cocoa, cream cheese and ladyfingers.  As Alan Jackson once said, "Too much of a good thing… is a good thing."  There are so many variations of this dessert and I suggest you try them all!  Here is a great recipe to get you started.  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Tiramisu-IV/Detail.aspx

Espresso Bark
If you're a simple person, you're going to love this simple dessert.  Espresso Bark is basically chocolate with coffee beans.  It's a great dessert that you can make any time and whip out when a party erupts.  It is also a great addition to hot coffee and It's a Wonderful Life.  Here is a recipe to start with but I suggest you try adding little things that you enjoy like nuts, sprinkles, etc.  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Espresso-Bark/Detail.aspx 

There you are.  Now you know how to feed the coffee addicts at a Christmas party.

Review: Paciugo Gelato & Caffe

Paciugo Gelato & Caffe
Mall of America
392 West Market
Bloomington, MN 55425
http://www.paciugo.com/

Cuisine: Gelato
Dress: Casual
Cost: $3-$6

I had recently heard a lot about Paciugo through all my food following on Twitter and decided that I really needed to get there.  It hasn’t been at the Mall of America for more than a month and it is already quite popular. 

It is a very open store right on the corner – it doesn’t even have any walls.  Once you’re in the mall it is easy to find, but getting to the mall isn’t always the easiest of tasks.

The first thing that happens is you are greeted by very happy (obviously sugar high) employees that encourage you to taste test any of the flavors you want!  No worries about sample abuse.

All of the Gelato is made fresh on a daily basis and the flavors are constantly changing.  Once you decide on your flavors (That’s right, its plural) they pack the gelato into your cup.  I went with Mocha, Café Hazelnut and Amaretto and they were so good together!  I didn’t get to try their drink menu but they have a nice and simple coffee selection along with some blended drinks.

This place was amazing and I can’t wait to go back and try a new combination.  Paciugo might actually be replacing Cold Stone for me.

Caffeine and I – an Affair to Remember

Caffeine and I – an Affair to Remember

I'm not addicted to caffeine. I could stop drinking whenever I want to. I just don't want to.

For as long as I can remember I’ve loved pop. My parents had to keep me to a one-a-day regimen because I really like the stuff. I especially like Coke. Coke is amazing! It goes with everything! You can even add, lime, cherry, vanilla or coconut to spice it up a bit. Or if you really want to spice it up, add some Captain. Once I started drinking alcohol, this became my drink of choice. The best part was that I never got caffeine headaches from drinking pop.

While most people were starting to get into coffee, I added energy drinks. This is partially due to water skiing at 5:00 AM before work on Fridays. The shock of cold water was enough to wake you up in the morning, but it was the energy drink that kept you going through the day. This was early in the Energy Drink days so the pickings were slim. I was partial to Monster because it tastes like Skittles. Red Bull of course is always a good way to go. Now I stick to Java Monster mocha flavored.

Finally one summer in college I had to bite-the-bullet and learn to love coffee. I picked up a summer job working at the local coffee shop – Mugby Junction. It wasn’t until then that I discovered there was more to coffee than Folgers and Starbucks. Mugby Junction made real coffee. All of the coffee was more Fair Trade than Fair Trade Certified coffees. Everything was created by hand instead of by automated machines. All the ingredients were fresh. It was a whole new experience for me and I jumped in head first! There is always something new to try with coffee; a new flavoring, a new method, a new combination, etc. These are my personal favorites which highlights how you can make a drink your very own.
• Small Cappuccino
• Medium Skim Milk Latte with Raw Sugar
• Small Americano with Amaretto and a little cool tap water (never ice)

Unfortunately every fairy tale has a bad guy. My Darth Vader is caffeine withdrawal. Up until this point I never understood why people got headaches from not getting their caffeine. I NEEDED my coffee by noon or there would be hell to pay. I would drink in the morning, I would drink at work and I would even drink late into the night. Luckily I have yet to have a problem falling asleep after taking an espresso shot.

I brought this up at work one day and one of the owners, Carew Halleck, mentioned that although tea has caffeine it isn't as harsh or addictive. So I started drinking the tea that we served at Mugby Junction. This was great! I could start my day with a coffee still, but then switch to tea later in the day and didn't have to worry about a crash. I could even go a few days without any caffeine! It was amazing. I started looking into tea more closely and have discovered that there is so much out there. All I ever knew about was Lipton. I found Fava Tea in Appleton and began my new obsession with loose leaf tea.

I recently read an article in National Geographic which states that when staying hydrated you are not strictly bound to water. University of Connecticut exercise physiologist Douglas Casa says, “The body’s need to keep fluid trumps the small influence caffeine might have on losing fluid.” So when you are thirsty, drink! Click here for article.

As Mugby Junction would say, “Drink to the Lees!”

Where is my milk from?

Ever been told you should buy local dairy?  Well punch in the code from your milk jug/carton and find out where your milk comes from!

http://whereismymilkfrom.com

New Logo

Here is the new logo for my baking and coffee stuff.

The Infamous Cake Balls

Today I shall share with you the recipe for my infamous chocolate covered cake balls. They are so easy, it is going to BLOW YOUR MIND! All of these items may be found at Target.

Ingredients:

• Box of cake mix, try not to use extra moist but sometimes that is all they have.
• Can of frosting, premade just adds to the simplicity.
• 1/2 pound coverture chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate works best.

How you do it:

1. Make the cake. Follow all directions on the box. When the cake is done and still warm, mix it by hand with the frosting. DO NOT USE A MIXER! Place it in the fridge overnight.
2. To melt the chocolate, boil water in a small sauce pan, over medium heat. Chop up chocolate into small pieces and place in a metal mixing bowl. Place that bowl over the boiling water and stir. This is the best way to melt chocolate without having to worry about it burning to the pan.
3. Scoop out cake mix with a small ice cream scoop (or a spoon works just fine) and place in small paper cups. Drizzle melted chocolate over the balls. Add sprinkles for extra goodness.
4. If you wish to make these more like a truffle, I would suggest scooping out the cake mix and placing the balls on a pan and freezing them. This way they will stay together better when you dip them in cholcoate. You will need closer to a pound of chocolate for this.

Chocolate:

I use good old Baker's brand chocolate that you can find at the grocery store. They come in 1/2 pound/8oz packages. It is decently priced and works well.

Here are my Christmas Cake Balls. I used white cake, vanilla frosting, semi-sweet chocolate and Christmas sprinkles!

Cranberry Appetizer Meatballs

Here is a great cold weather appetizer! Originlly from The Taste of Home Cookbook and revised a little by myself!

The Meatballs

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup dried bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup miched fresh parsley
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoon finely shopped onion
• 2 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 garlic gloves, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 pound ground beef

1. Mix everything except the meat together. Then mix in the meat, this works best by just getting your hands dirty and going for it! (hint: not a bad idea to defrost the meat so its not so cold on your hands.)
2. Shape mixture into 1-inch meatballs. Place in shallow baking pan and place in oven. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until no longer pink. Transfer meatballs to a slow cooker or chafing dish.

The Cranberry Sauce

• 1 can whole-berry Crnberry sauce (16 oz)
• 1 bottle chili saice (12 oz)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

1. Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occassionally. Pour over meatballs. Serve warm.

Mini Pies

Since Patrick & I have our first place I wanted to host some sort of holiday event. Unfortunately, the apartment is small and the kitchen even smaller. So we ended up just hosting Thanksgiving Dessert. I made mini pumpkin, cherry and french silk pies.

Pasta with Bacon

This is a variation on a recipe that I can never remember the name of.

Ingredients:
1 box of pasta
1 glove garlic, minced
2 tablespoon onion, minced
1 cup parmesan cheese
4 eggs
6 strips of bacon (chopped)
Parsley

Cook the pasta with the garlic and onions. Prepare the bacon separately. Beat eggs in a separate bowl. When pasta is done strain and return to pot. Use low heat. Add bacon, eggs, cheese and parsley to taste. When eggs are all cooked (will look like scrambled eggs) you are done! No toppings necessary, just dig in!

Note: be sure to time it so the pasta isn't sitting around waiting for the meat to finish cooking. It is mostly the heat from the pasta that will cook the eggs.

As a healthier alternative you can substitute chicken (cubed) for bacon and egg whites for whole eggs.

Onion Chip Dip

This weekend I made a dip that I want to share with the world.

Ingredients:
8oz. Sour Cream
1 package Cream Cheese
Minced garlic/ garlic powder
Minced onion
Dill

Soften the cream cheese and mix it with the sour cream. Add the onions and garlic as you like. I would recommend less garlic than onion. 1-2 tablespoons of fresh onion worked really well for me. Then add the dill! If you don't like dill you could always add parsley, oregano, any green herb or nothing at all! Plain onion dip is always a good thing. Then let it refrigerate until cold and EAT!

The fresh onion is the most important flavor here.