My Kitchen Must Haves

I love to cook and bake and spend a ton of time in the kitchen. Even on the weekends, I like to be in the kitchen trying new recipes. Most people are short on space but I think these items are worth every penny. These are my Kitchen Must Haves.

1. Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker - When I bought this, my mom thought that I would never use it. I use it all the time and love to come up with creative flavors. It is so easy to make your own ice cream and the results are better than anything you have ever tasted. I've made lime sorbet in the summertime and cinnamon ice cream to serve over apple pie at Thanksgiving. I definitely recommend getting one and trying out any of David Lebovitz's recipes from "The Perfect Scoop".

2. Pyrex 10 Piece Set with Lids - I received this set as part of my wedding registry and I love it. I use the large glass dish to cook almost anything including vegetables, lasagna, roasts, cakes, and brownies. The best part are that it comes with lids. When you have leftovers or need to bring something to someone's house, just cover it and go! No need to dirty more pans and tupperware. I hate washing dishes. The smaller dishes are also great for storage because you can see what's inside in the fridge and it's safer to reheat in the microwave than a plastic container.

3. Le Creuset 5 1/2 Quart Round French Ovens - The Le Creuset dutch ovens are expensive but worth it. You will have it forever and you can use it for so many meals. You can make chilis, soups, brown meat, boil pasta, make risotto, put it in the oven and even serve with it because it comes in so many fun and vibrant colors. Be on the lookout for sales or use a 20% off Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupon for big savings.

4. Global 8" Chef's Knife - A sharp knife is an essential tool in the kitchen. Once you have one, you will wonder how you ever cooked without a good, quality knife. They are expensive but worth the investment. Go to the store and ask to hold a variety of knives to see how they feel in your hand. I like Global knives because they are light and I have very small hands. Be sure to keep your knives sharp by sharpening them yourself or have it professional done for a few dollars.

5. Barefoot Contessa Cookbooks - Ina Garten is always my go to for recipes. Her recipes are so flavorful, use simple ingredients, and easy to make, yet impressive to serve. I use her recipes in my everyday life and to serve my guests for the holidays.

6. Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick 10- and 12-Inch Omelet Pans - I like to use nonstick pans so I can make my meals healthier by using less oil. These are easy to clean and make cooking a breeze.

What are your kitchen must haves?

Bathroom Inspiration

My husband and I (well, mostly me) are looking forward to our bathroom renovation this spring. Right now, we are trying to pull together ideas for the room. It's not a huge room but it does have a lot of storage which we want to keep. The vanity, shower, and toilet will all stay in the same place but we will be changing everything. We will be getting an espresso colored wood vanity with a white top, and a white tub with a white subway tile surround. As of right now, we are unsure about the paint colors, floor tile, lighting, and hardware. Our home was built in the 1920s so we are going to be staying true to the home's history and going with a traditional look.

Here are some inspiring bathrooms:


I love the color of the vanity with the white accessories and photography


Again, I love the brown and white color combination. The navy wall color looks luxurious.




via ApartmentTherapy.com




This renovation from 7th House On The Left is phenomenal. I love the soothing colors and the graphic rugs.


I love Brooklyn Limestone's bathroom renovation where she and her husband created this bathroom that stayed true to their home's roots.


Brooklyn Limestone's Master Bathroom renovation is another beautiful example of keeping the history of a home but still giving it modern touches

I can't wait to get started!

Our Home's To Do List for 2012

How great is this wall calendar made from chalkboard paint on MarthaStewart.com?

One of my goals for 2012 is to do more improvements to our home. We moved into our first house in June of 2010 and we have already done a lot of cosmetic work to our home. We got a new roof, siding, shutters, gutters, re-landscaped the front and backyards, painted the garage doors, refinished the hardwood floors, ripped up carpet, tore down the 70s wallpaper and wood paneling, and painted almost every room in the house. We made a huge improvement from the 70s bachelor pad that we purchased a year and a half ago. However, we have not done any major renovations which I would like to do this year.

This year, we are planning to renovate our upstairs bathroom. The bathroom is an explosion of baby blue. The tile, tub, floor, vanity, and even the sink are baby blue. The tile and tub are actually in good condition but the room drives me crazy. I'm hoping to get this done sooner rather than later.

This year, I would like to accomplish the following home projects:

1. Renovate the bathroom
2. Install wood blinds on the first floor
3. Install a new floor in the kitchen
4. Rip up the carpet and install hardwood floors, paint, and install a new closet door in one of the bedrooms
5. Get a mirror for the guest bedroom
6. Get a proper closet organizing system for our bedroom
7. Get a new chandelier for the dining room
8. Install a paver patio (very ambitious)
9. Get urns with boxwoods for our front steps
10. Get blow-in insulation for the kitchen and "Rug Room". These rooms are freezing!

A little too ambitious? Maybe... but I love making lists and crossing things off so I am determined to complete these projects by 2013.

Lemon Dill Chicken Green Beans

When I came home from work the other night, I was so hungry but I wanted to make something light. I made this Lemon-Dill Chicken with green beans that was quick, delicious, and most importantly, healthy. I love the refreshing taste of lemon and dill in the sauce. It's the perfect weeknight meal.

Lemon-Dill Chicken with Green Beans
Serves 4; Weight Watchers Points Plus: 4
Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, (1-1 1/4 pounds)
Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, or canola oil, divided
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons flour
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, divided
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 pound French green beans, ends removed

Instructions:
1. Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until well browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil.

2. Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to the pan. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk broth, flour, 1 tablespoon dill and lemon juice in a measuring cup and add to pan. Cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.

3. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan. Add the green beans to the pan. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer the chicken and green beans to a warmed platter. Season sauce with salt and pepper and spoon over the chicken and green beans. Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!



I hope you had a wonderful night celebrating the new year. My husband and I went to my best friend's place to celebrate her birthday and the new year with her and her fiance. They cooked a fantastic dinner for us consisting of skirt steak, mashed potatoes, and salad along with some great wine. My best friend and I have been friends since we were freshmen in high school and I love that we are still so close. Whenever the four of us get together, we always have a fun time with tons of laughs and last night was no exception. I can't wait for her wedding in a month!

Everyone makes New Years Resolutions and there are a few things I want to accomplish this year. Here they are (and everyone knows I love making lists!):

1. I have lost 10% of my body weight since July 5th through a lot of hard work. I work out about 5-6 days a week, plan my meals, and measure everything I eat. I want to keep it up and lose just a little bit more and maintain it. The holidays have been tough but I know I can do it.

2. Organize my clothes/closet. I love shopping and buying new clothes and accessories. Lately, I've noticed that I have a lot of pieces that are similar. I feel that if I had a better system, I would be more aware of what I do own and save a lot more time planning my outfits. Not to mention, save money which brings me to my next resolution...

3. Save money! I spend a lot of money on clothes and I need to settle down and save money. I created a new savings plan to help me accomplish this goal.

4. Bathroom Renovation. Our master bathroom is right out of the 70s and exploding with baby blue! The tiles, floor, countertop, and even the sink is blue. It's time for a new look. My husband and I have come up with a savings plan and you know I already have a ton of ideas ready. Hopefully we'll be able to start this spring.

Overall, I want to create a better, happier, and healthy home for my husband and I. What are your resolutions? How do you plan to accomplish them?