The BEST Chicken…Weight Watchers Recipe…Pies and Pints Review

New recipe for me….sooooo good. 4 ingredients and George liked this dish!!!

Mexican Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:
1 (1 1/4 ounce) package of taco seasoning
16 oz. of boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup salsa
1/4 c. of fat-free salsa

Directions:
1. Place chicken breasts and taco seasoning in a plastic bag…shake to coat well.
2. Spray casserole dish with Pam.
3. Place breasts in casserole.
4. Bake 30 minutes fat 375.
5. Top with salsa about 5 minutes before breasts are done.
6. Top with sour cream before serving.

We also tried Pies and Pints Saturday…

Location is in Worthington Place…formerly known as Worthington Square Mall.
I had heard so many good things…My experience was just ok…Service was excellent, pizza just ok, of course large selection of beers, very noisy.
If you haven’t been to Worthington Place, stop by…changing everyday.

Getting very excited to see not just one but both of our daughters in the month of March! Also pulled off a great surprise for George on Valentines Day…Tee Time at Pebble Beach with Caddie.

Busy trying to get ready to leave…good thing about Real Estate…easy to take care of business when out of town…and never fails…always the busiest when traveling.
Biggest obstacle right now…low inventory! If you are thinking of listing your property now is the time. Very few resales and not many new builds completed…pickings are slim!

Living in Columbus, Ohio Area…101 Beer Kitchen

                           Kitchen

7509 Sawmill Road, Dublin, Ohio

 

“Rustic Food in an Industrial Setting”

No reservations…George and I went on a Friday night at 7:00…2 hour wait, yes we left and ended up at Easy Street in Powell, Ohio with no wait.  We went last night, Tuesday, met at 6:00, no wait but got very crowded…..so plan accordingly.  The Harvest Pizza (butternut squash, herb oil, smoked gouda, figs, prosciutto, roasted grapes, arugula and balsamic drizzle) excellent.  Butternut squash Perogies…not as good as Mama Yanok back in Canton, Ohio but good and very different.  (Brown butter, sage, sherry vinegar, wilted spinach, butternut squash)   Enjoy!

 

Just got the latest catalog for Westerville Parks and Rec…..so many class offerings…sign up on December 9-10 to make sure you don’t get closed out of a class.  Yoga and Pilates seems to alway fill fast.  Don’t forget a class I am teaching on “How to Get Close to your List Price”.    Our Parks and Rec Dept, Uptown Area, Otterbein College, Westerville Schools, Westerville Area Chamber…Westerville is a great place to live, raise a family, and work!    Of course I am a little biased!

And the countdown begins until the Yanok sisters return to the “Ville”.  Can’t wait…the time always goes so fast…but yes, they will return for Christmas.  Happy Turkey Day to all and to all BEAT MICHIGAN!

 

 

 

Tuesday Again…I Vote for Pumpkin Pasta & Inexpensive Centerpieces!

So in looking at my stats for my blog…you seem to love recipes…This one I tested last week and The Food Critic, George, loved it.

Pasta with Creamy Pumpkin Sauce

1 lb. of Whole-Wheat Penne or other short tubular pasta

1 T. Olive Oil

1 Shallot, minced

1 T. Fresh Rosemary

1 Garlic Clove, minced

Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes

1 (can) 15 ounces of Canned Pumpkin

1/2 Cream

1/2 cup of Grated Parmesan

Ground Black Pepper

Salt

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until almost tender but still firm to bite.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat.  Add shallot. Cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes.  Add rosemary, garlic and red pepper flakes.  Stir until frangrant.  Add pumpkin and cream.  Stir to combine.

Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid.

Add pasta to skillet with pumpkin sauce.  Toss over medium heat, adding some of the cooking liquid, until pasta is tender and sauce is desired consistency.  Stir in half of the Parmesan.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Transfer pasta to a large bowl.  Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and serve.

George suggested adding some spicey Italian sausage for a variation.

I found the recipe in the Columbus Dispatch, DispatchKitchen Section.

Making Centerpieces for Concord Counseling (NON PROFIT) Wine Tasting Event…Gave this same idea to Andi, YOUNG LIFE, in California.  Easy, fast, and inexpensive.  Trees with photos of past events, participants, donors…etc.

Container from $ Store, Gravel to weight down the pot, Burlap and Glue Gun to cover pot.

Calking…$2.50 at Hardware.  This foam like substance will hold anything in place.  WEAR GLOVES.

Tree branch from woods is here to stay.

Black and white photos, tied on branches with twine, calking covered with shredded, brown, grocery bags……mason jars with candles that can be used over and over all year, all seasons, inside and out…good investment.

NEW PLACE IN Columbus, OHIO …Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant located in Easton Town Center right across from Nordstroms…Just walked by yesterday…looks very interesting.

EASY STREET in Powell…Had a celebration dinner last week with buyers and my BEST lender…White PIZZA fantastic, PUB atmosphere, relaxing and great prices.

VOTE…We have the FREEDOM to VOTE…Got to go to the polls!  Have a great Tuesday!

Cupcakes…and Shots…Great Day

Emily being home for 48 hours…we had to make a trip to The Bungalow and The Collection in Powell, Ohio…great stuff…and at half the cost of Scottsdale.  So as we are chatting on the way to the car…a sign appeared..”Pink Moon Cupcake Bakery“.  What to do…and with Jeni’s Ice Cream in sight too.  Pink Moon won…so inviting, an adorable little building and within steps of our pathway.

Emily had Snickerdoodle and I chose German Chocolate Cake…and we took home for George, Red Velvet and Keylime…The cakes were so light, but rich with flavor…..and the frosting…sugary, buttery, with crystals of crunchy sugar…and that is where the shot came in…  Frosting has always been my favorite part of the cupcake…At the Pink Moon you can purchase a shot of frosting…yes a shot of frosting…better than cleaning the mixing bowl with a spatula.  We had a great conversation with the owner…a civil engineer that with the encouragement of his wife, started this business 5 years ago.  Columbus Parent Magazine has voted the Pink Moon as the NO. 1 Cupcake Bakery in town…I bet most parents don’t buy their children a shot of frosting.

Emily and the owner had conversation about Sprinkles, a cupcake store that is located in several locations now…Much more pricey but not as good in flavor as the Cupcakes we enjoyed at Pink Moon.  Sprinkles now have ATM locations…Cupcakes anytime…but not frosting shots.

Chef Michael Symon…Lola, Lolita,B Spot…PORK, BACON, LARD

Just back from a weekend in Cleveland…visit with former O.S.U. roommate…always so much fun.  And of course we packed as much fun as possible…shopping, golf, restaurants, new casino, baseball game, fireworks, and visiting her 92 year old mother.  Still catching up on sleep…..just not the same as those days of all nighters on 16th Ave.

George, being a Food Network/Cooking Channel fan, enjoyed checking out Lola’s.  So Michael Symon and my Uncle Tom, a pig farmer, would be good friends…..hog heaven.  Pork, bacon, and/or lard in almost every dish.  French Fries…cooked in lard…very good!  Lentil soup…creamy…and a little bacon…great start to the meal.

Lola’s located in the East Fourth Area…Walking distance to so many other food choices..and a few blocks from the new Horse Shoe Casino…

George’s Treat…6 AM Dessert…Fried French Toast with Maple and Bacon Ice Cream.  Interesting Ice Cream!

 

B Spot…Burgers, Brats, Beer, and Bourbon…..Michael is a Cleveland boy…Won season 1 of The Next Iron Chef…When in Cleveland check out his restaurants…worth a trip!

Restaurant Week in Columbus, Ohio

It’s not too late…Restaurant Week in Columbus, Ohio.  January 16-January 21  All proceeds go to The Mid-Ohio Food Bank.  To all my friends that are foodies …you can select three courses from a select menu for $15-$35 dollars.  Check out the list of Restaurants!  What a great time to try some new places!  Reservations are recommended.

Enjoy!  We have narrowed the choice down to 3…still trying to convince George to go somewhere we have never tried.

Lunch at Yabo’s…Good Food…Good Prices…Good Company

Yabo’s Tacos  in Westerville, Ohio…just a little North of Uptown.  I joined a former student and now a client too for lunch…and of course she wanted to treat me to lunch.  In return for getting the bill first, I promised the hostess that I would include Yabo’s in my “Blog”.  I am so glad my friend suggested we try this new spot.  Food was so fresh and a great variety on the menu.  Service was quick!  5 Forks  in this type of category.  Bon Appetit !

Apportez votre vin…What a great idea!

Good ideas from Quebec…Our cab driver suggested we go to Dennis Street in Montreal.  He explained that 2 streets of restaurants encouraged diners to buy their own wine at a corner store and bring what you like to the restaurant.  The restaurant charges only an “uncorking fee”.  That certainly helps reduce the cost of dining.  Just today, I was talking to a client that is from Quebec and he explained that a liquor license is very expensive and that these corner stores are owned by the government.  It was still a savings to the consumer as the SAQ (Government Store) carried all prices and brands…much better than 12 plus per glass.   Government control…I like this better than their healthcare system…oh..back to dining.

   The convenient “state store.”

Does this look familiar…not in Grandview.

So many great restaurants for us foodies!

 

So you didn’t bring your bike?

Put your money in the meter,

hop on your bike, and return

at your destination…very

convenient.

 

Did I mention…I was working…REMAX SIGNS were all in French. ( A vendre )  Can’t seem to get away from the balloon!    Au Revoir….

The Blue Turtle Tea and Spice Co.

The Blue Turtle Tea and Spice Co.  Located in Uptown Westerville….2 S. State Street open for lunch.

Wow…had no idea of the variety they offer and they do ship.  They also offer classes on weekends…Met Development Director of Concord Counseling for Lunch Meeting…I have passed this place so many times and had no idea of what was inside.  Stop by…you will be surprised!

Picking up my Mother’s Bday Cake…O.S.U. Stadium at Piece of Cake.  I will take photos…so excited to see her face.  As my nephew turns 30 today … they share the same birthday…the Scoreboard on the cake will say…Clara Belle 88    J.P. 30.

I am BACK to MY BLOG…so busy working and having fun with daughter no. 2

Wow the time does fly by!  Emily left last week after a week’s vacation.  I am tired from having too much fun and of course trying to be the world’s BEST MOM.  Just remembered back in the day, I used to pride myself on being the world’s Meanest Mom when they wanted a later curfew or to go somewhere not so good.  The week went fast and she and Henry (cutest grand dog ever) were glad to return to the desert…too humid and hot here.

Emily and I enjoyed several nights of good food, good conversation, and good vino.  We are Foodies…the entire family…got on the topic of what is your favorite food…Emily’s a moist, white cake with cream cheese frosting…and moi…carrot cake with raisins, nuts, and cream cheese frosting.  So as you would never guess, we are traveling down to the Short North Area…actually she noticed something of mine that she liked…and wanted to purchase for her friends for Christmas…she and Andi are getting these too…little side bar)   AND we saw Piece of Cake and stopped ……. and the rest is history…ohhhhh so good.  So as we sat there we saw this cake:

Perfect for my mother’s 88th birthday, August 5.  Remember she is the NO. 1 FAN…reads the paper, knows all the Buckeye News…cheering on the Bucks no matter who is the coach…

Moving down the street on a sugar high…   saw these decorative corks…so easy to make…glue, buttons, old jewelry, Buckeyes…

Stopped at the Candle Lab…of course we bought some favorites…but Emily learned that you can have candles made for a shower/wedding making up your own scent, story, photos and shipped anywhere for very little…  I will keep you posted…planning on using these as favors…baby powder scent named Sophie…for a little girl arriving soon.

ARE YOU looking for a property with 2.3 acres of beautiful woods, ravine, your own stream that is 12 minutes from O.S.U. Hospital, Columbus taxes, and Worthington Schools…Check out 6900 Linworth Road, Columbus, Ohio … Country Living with NO Commute.  So quiet but so close…spent yesterday morning there waiting on Phone Company…just beautiful…You cannot see any other neighbors…only green and hear the stream…pretty cool!  OPEN HOUSE This Sunday 1-3