Dinner Snacks + The Weekend

Happy Friday! Is anybody else as ready for the weekend as I am? So I don't really have any recipes or food stories to regale you with since I haven't been at home any nights this week. In fact, last night I had a pick dinner (you know, picking at a few different things to comprise a full stomach, but not quite feeling fulfilled like dinner). A plate of cheese and crackers, followed by fresh popcorn for dinner. Possibly even a few scoops of snickerdoodle dip too. Shaun was out, so whenever it's just one for dinner, I find myself picking on a multitude of things, rather than preparing a real meal. Not exactly what you call healthy. This weekend it's my mission to get back on track!

So since Valentine's Day falls on Monday, Shaun and I have some things planned for the weekend to celebrate. If you remember this post from just over a year ago, we like to use V-day as a reason to stop with the craziness going on in our lives and simply spend some time together. Nothing fancy, but a day of giving up chores to relax and even go on a date together. This year, we're celebrating on Sunday.

While last year we took a trip to Bobby's Burger Palace...

...and snacked on Valentine's Day whoopie pies from Whole Foods...

...this year, we're staying local with brunch at Lighthorse Tavern (my favorite Jersey City restaurant), a trip to the movies and topping off the day with a nice dinner at home and watching TV on the couch. A fun-filled day without breaking the bank. Sign me up! Oh and you know that Shaun got me a pretty sweet gift this year...

So I have a few tricks up my sleeve to surprise him. Aside from Sunday's fun, I'll be spending some time tomorrow with this little cutie...

...while I clean out my old bedroom at my parents house (a task that I've been putting off for about 2 years...sorry mom!).

So that's my weekend plan. What do you have planned for the weekend? And bonus question, do you ever have a pick dinner for one (as I did last night) or do you always cook, even for one?

Thing that make you go 'Mmmm': Whoopie Pies

After a romantic evening at Bobby's Burger Palace in Paramus on Saturday evening (another one crossed off the list, so stay tuned!), Shaun and I stopped off at Whole Foods in the Bergen Center Mall. No, this is not a place that we frequent, but after learning that not only is BBP and Whole Foods on tap, but they also have a Nordstrom Rack, it's pretty much destined to become a serious weekend hang out spot. Since we were so stuffed from burgers and fries, milkshakes were just not in the cards. And being one to never let dessert pass me by, we picked up a little treat for later that night at home. If you've been to Whole Foods (especially one as enormous as the Paramus locale) you know that they have a mighty fine dessert section. Oversized glass cases filled with tartlets, cheesecakes and cupcakes, oh my. But on this night, we discovered a special Valentine's Day dessert - the whoopie pie, decorated in all of its pink glory. After one bite, all I could say was 'Mmmmm...'

I mean, really, don't they look truly delish? I sampled the pink, while Shaun had the white. While they were the same flavor of vanilla buttercream, for some reason, Shaun's was a bit drier than mine. Is it the pink food coloring? Was there more cream? Was the package left slightly ajar on one side, causing his to dry out? These are questions that I need answers to.

Anyhow, they were a fabulous post-burger dinner (yeah, we hit up the gym hardcore that weekend and the days following). My question for all of you is, what's your favorite dessert? Is it something chocolatey? Something with frosting? Something of the fruit pie variety? Something holiday themed? And don't name just one...personally I have a long list of favorite desserts, and they don't all include cupcakes!

Just Call Me Sweetie

Valentine's week continues, and this time we're talking sweets. Sugar cookies, to be exact. And these are pink, heart-shaped, oversized, and beyond easy to boot. There's just something about a giant sugary cookie, don't you think? Whether you're spending the day with a loved one, with friends, or even solo, these cookies are a simple treat for all to enjoy, even beyond the big V...and everyone can make them. Let's get down to it...

Easy Sugar Cookies - Valentine's Day Edition
*Adapted from Giada DeLaurentiis
1 tube Pillsbury cookie dough (I used sugar, but any kind you like will work)
1/4 C+ all purpose flour
Red food coloring
Sprinkles, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or any other flavor you want to add

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cookie dough and flour. I used my trusty stand mixer (I rave about this little baby here), but my gut tells me mixing it in a bowl with a good old wooden spoon will work just as well. Add 4-5 drops of food coloring, depending on how 'red' you want it. I wanted a soft pink so 4-5 drops worked just fine. Next, add any other extras that you'd like. I split my dough into thirds; one for semi-sweet chocolate chips, one for white chocolate chips, and one for coconut. Take your dough and roll out onto a wooden board or counter top that is generously floured. Flour your rolling pin and roll out the dough. Using a cookie cutter (I just so happen to have a heart one), cut out your cookies. You know the drill: roll up the scraps, repeat.

Place on baking sheet and sprinkle with sprinkles if you so choose. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until they look done. This isn't an exact science. Depending on how thinly I rolled the dough, the cookies browned at different rates - which is also why some of my gorgeous pink confections have brown undertones. Just a note of caution: I made the mistake of thinking sugar cookies would be similar to butter cookies, where they don't really puff up or take up any additional space other than what the initial dough occupies. I was wrong. On the first batch, I placed them too close together and they ended up looking like this: Let sit on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. If done properly, they should look like this: Isn't she pretty? To make these even more decadent, try topping them with a bit o'frosting. I will likely freeze some of these and frost them on Sunday for a fresh taste. I'm trying out pomegranate cream cheese frosting...say it with me, 'mmmmm'. So what kind of sweets do you look forward to on Vday? Cookies? Cakes? Chocolate truffles? Hershey's Kisses? 

Psst - if you missed any of Vday week thus far, check out It's a Date and Gorgonzola Fig Crostini!