Posts by Amari

Ginger Shrimp and Chard Stir Fry 00

Ginger Shrimp and Chard Stir Fry

Ginger Shrimp and Chard Stir Fry

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Monday night I had a lot on my plate (no pun intended) and needed a quick dinner. I had planned to make Ginger Shrimp and Chard Stir Fry over brown rice, but last minute changed my mind and used Tasty Bite Asian Kung Pao Noodles instead! This was the first time I ever bought this pre-made microwaveable pouch of fresh cooked noodles and vegetables tossed with peanuts in a Kung Pao sauce and I have...

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa Tacos 00

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa Tacos

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa Tacos

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On a busy day, my best friend is my crockpot. Nothing is better than coming home to a dinner that has been cooking itself while you’ve been away! After seeing Rick Bayless at the Good Food Festival last month, I grabbed one of his Frontera Seasoning Sauces at the grocery store last week to give it a try! I went with the Red Chile Barbacoa Slow Cook Sauce, a roasted tomato and ancho chile sauce...

The Biggest Loser Casting in Chicago, May 4th! 00

The Biggest Loser Casting in Chicago, May 4th!

The Biggest Loser Casting in Chicago, May 4th!

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I have some exciting news! The Biggest Loser is casting here in Chicago for Season 15! When and Where? Saturday, May 4th @ 10AM-6PM Planet Fitness 3120 N. Pulaski Road (Pulaski and Belmont) Chicago, IL60641   What do I need to know ahead of time? Come Prepared: Visit www.thebiggestlosercasting.com to apply. Although you have the option of submitting a video, The Biggest Loser...

Quinoa Oat and Pecan Veggie Burger 00

Quinoa Oat and Pecan Veggie Burger

Quinoa Oat and Pecan Veggie Burger

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I’m always on the search for new and innovative ideas for veggie burgers! This one features red quinoa giving it a fabulous chewy and crunchy texture that I absolutely loved. However, with the added bun, it felt a little carbohydrate heavy, so next time I would be perfectly happy crumbling it over a salad instead!        Print Recipe     Quinoa...

Saturday Fresh Picks! 00

Saturday Fresh Picks!

Saturday Fresh Picks!

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Good morning! The rain has finally stopped and the sun is shining! After returning from crossfit yesterday morning, my second order from Irv and Shelly’s Fresh Picks had arrived! We nearly used up all of the produce from the last order, so I went ahead and ordered another fruit and veggie box! I am loving having this little surprise arrive every weekend! Here is what we got: 1 bunch Swiss...

Good Food Festival 2013 00

Good Food Festival 2013

Good Food Festival 2013

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Back in March over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, I took my mom to the Good Food Festival at the UIC Forum! We spent all day walking around, consuming countless samples, and learning as much as we could from local farmers and vendors. While we arrived early to beat the crowds, the UIC forum quickly became a busy and happening place! We stopped by to see the Chefs at Play Demos and caught a...

Halibut with Garlic Almond and Caper Sauce 00

Halibut with Garlic Almond and Caper Sauce

Halibut with Garlic Almond and Caper Sauce

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Halibut was on crazy sale last weekend at Whole Foods, so I couldn’t help but cook some up for dinner last Sunday night! Instead of brown rice, I made a quick salad with Boston lettuce, watercress, radish, and avocado to serve the fish over. The weather in Chicago was finally a beautiful spring 60 degrees, so Will and I went for a quick 30 minute run out by the lake to enjoy it before enjoying...

Sage French Toast with Apples and Maple Chicken Sausage 00

Sage French Toast with Apples and Maple Chicken Sausage

Sage French Toast with Apples and Maple Chicken Sausage

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Friday night’s Crossfit workout really beat me up. 21 Overhead Squats (@ 65#) 42 Pull-ups 15 Overhead Squats (@ 65#) 30 Pull-ups 9 Overhead Squats (@ 65#) 18 Pull-ups All in under 15 minutes… So it’s no wonder why I haven’t been able to move my arms all weekend. I even slept in until noon on Sunday…quite unlike me. So Sunday brunch was a little later in the afternoon than...

Urbio 00

Urbio

Urbio

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It’s been a long time coming…the official reveal of our Urbio vertical garden! We bought the materials for this project in January, hung the components in February, and just a couple weeks ago, in honor of the first day of spring, finally planted it! There were two things we had to consider when deciding on plants for our garden – light and water. With our west facing windows, we get a ton...

Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Picks 00

Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Picks

Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Picks

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I’ve been wanting to join a CSA for a while now, but the logistics of it (cost, amount of food, product predictability, etc.) have been holding us back for years. Until last week. When a friend of mine recommended Irv and Shelly’s Fresh Picks! I actually spoke with a Fresh Picks at the Good Food Festival about my concerns (delivery to someone living in a high rise, produce substitution...

St. Patrick’s Day Weekend 00

St. Patrick’s Day Weekend

St. Patrick’s Day Weekend

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My mom was in town last weekend for St. Patrick’s Day! While most Chicagoans were out boozing at local Irish bars, we were out shopping, dining, and enjoying the theater. On Friday afternoon, we lunched at Atwood Cafe on State and Washington. We’d been wanting to try this restaurant for years and finally got around to making reservations for lunch! We made it inside just before the rain...

Beef Stir Fry with Cauliflower Rice 00

Beef Stir Fry with Cauliflower Rice

Beef Stir Fry with Cauliflower Rice

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Yesterday was yet another crazy day of travel for work – from Tinley Park and Wrigleyville to Gold Coast and back to the South Loop. By the time I got home I was exhausted, so dinner needed to be quick. Enter Beef Stir Fry with Cauliflower Rice.        Print Recipe     Beef Stir Fry with Cauliflower Rice Ingredients: 1 Tbsp olive oil 1/2 red...