Long Live The Art of Brunch

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This is a season of re-adjustment for me, as we have moved to a completely new city and I have begun a new season of my career. 

Part of my adjustment, thank God, has involved lots and lots of brunch.

When we were living in Chicago and life was a lot more hectic, brunch was undoubtedly a 'thing.' Warm or cold, we would venture out to some of our favorite brunch spots and take our seats to be served a delicious meal. It was always a highlight of the weekend.

But, as I am growing into my new life, I am learning something.

 There is something incredibly intimate about a leisurely brunch at home, 

whether it is just you and your significant other, 

or you are hosting for family and friends.

I love it...

...the silverware and bowls that are uniquely yours, gifts from loved ones and significant people in your life

...the prosecco cork still sitting on the table, adding to the experience of knowing you are in a comfortable and private place 

...the bacon that is prepared just the way your loved ones like it (...hopefully)

...the coaster with your monogram on it

...the entire bottle of bubbly sitting at your table, allowing you to serve yourself - or choose not to - without fanfare, and without finding a server to place an order

...the ability to completely disregard time, to talk about whatever you want without having strangers nearby, to have intimate conversations uninterrupted by a water refill or being handed the check

I don't want the art of brunch to die. 

The art of hosting, of creating an experience for the people you love. 

The time invested in a delicious table full of food, 

and the leisurely experience of taking as long as you freaking want to eat it. 

Cheers to that.

The Ultimate Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe List

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Thanksgiving is almost upon us! Many of you are anxiously awaiting the family celebration, including the delicious meal that often accompanies it. Don't worry: the holidays don't have to be an accidental excuse to gain five pounds (but if you do, let's be real, you'll work it off later...).

Looking for that special recipe to impress your friends and family this Thanksgiving?
Looking for some healthy recipes to bring to a family gathering?
Just plain tired of making the same thing every year?

Never fear. The Ultimate Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe List is here...

P.S. For last year's Thanksgiving recipe roundup, click here!

(Caribbean Barbeque Pumpkin Seeds)

(Apricot Brie Bites with Crispy Sage via Recipe Girl)

Appetizers

1. Caribbean Barbeque Pumpkin Seeds
2. Baked Honey and Basil Brie Pastry with Reduced Kahlua
3. Apricot Brie Bites with Crispy Sage via Recipe Girl
4. Warm Cheesy Spinach Dip vs Dashing Dish
5. Healthy Cornbread with Quinoa via Pamela Salzman
6. Potato Bruschetta via Potato Goodness
7. Kale Chips via KathEats
8. Slow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes via Pinch My Salt

(Brussels Sprouts Saute via Bev Cooks)

(Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad with Browned Butter)

Sides

1. Proscuitto Cotto Brussels Sprouts
2. Skinny Vegetarian Stuffing
3. Herbed Two Potato Homefry Hash
4. Gluten Free Quinoa Stuffing via Family Fresh Cooking
5. Brussels Sprouts Saute via Bev Cooks
6. Sweet Potato Casserole via The Kittchen
7. Caramelized Broccoli via Family Circle
8. Apple Bacon Coleslaw via Dashing Dish
9. Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad with Browned Butter
10. Pan-Seared Carrots with Maple and Thyme via People
11. Basil, Ginger, and Cinnamon Cranberry Jam
12. Pomegranate, Kale, and Wild Rice Salad with Walnuts and Feta via Pinch of Yum
13. Hearty Autumn Salad with Roasted Root Vegetables via Heather Pierce Inc
14. Cauliflower CousCous via Integrative Nutrition
15. Spicy Broccoli via Counting My Cupcakes
16. Herring Potato Salad via Sensual Appeal
17. Autumn Salad with Horseradish Vinaigrette via Sprouted Kitchen

(Pomegranate, Kale, and Wild Rice Salad with Walnuts and Feta via Pinch of Yum)

(Pan-Seared Carrots with Maple and Thyme via People)

(Basil, Ginger, and Cinnamon Cranberry Jam)

Meats

1. Roasted Turkey via The Kitchn
2. Applewood Smoked Turkey with Cider Bourbon Gravy via How Sweet It Is
3. Apple Rosemary Cornish Game Hens via Integrative Nutrition
4. Marmalade Glazed Ham via Good Housekeeping
5. Balsamic Roasted Turkey with Apple Stuffing via Elena's Pantry

(Gluten Free Upside Down Apple Pie)

(No Bake Pumpkin Pie via Dashing Dish)

Desserts

1. Balsamic Grilled Pears and Figs
2. Paleo Chocolate Candy
3. Cranberry Delight White Chocolate Bark
4. Gluten Free Upside Down Apple Pie
5. No Bake Pumpkin Pie via Dashing Dish
6. Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffles
7. Kahlua Cupcakes
8. Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars via Ambitious Kitchen
9. Mini Blackberry Pies
10. Low Fat Chocolate Pie via The Kittchen
11. Vegan Pumpkin Pie Squares with Gluten Free Graham Cracker Crust via Oh She Glows

(Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oat Bars via Ambitious Kitchen)

(Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffles)

(Vodka Hot Chocolate)

Cocktails

1. Whiskey Apple Cider
2. Juiced Apple and Whiskey Cocktail
3. Vodka Hot Chocolate
4. Smirnoff Honey Nut Cake Cocktail via Have Sippy Will Travel
5. Sparkling Apple Cider Cocktail via Purely Elizabeth
6. Fresh Cranberry Ginger Vanilla Margaritas via How Sweet It Is

(Fresh Cranberry Ginger Vanilla Margaritas via How Sweet It Is)

(Sparkling Apple Cider Cocktail via Purely Elizabeth)

(Turkey and Brie Panini with Cranberry Chutney via MenuMusings)

Leftovers

1. Turkey and Brie Panini with Cranberry Chutney via MenuMusings
2. Turkey Stuffed Cabbage Rolls via Eat, Live, Run

Breakfast

1. Healthy Crock Pot French Toast Casserole via Kelly The Culinarian
2. Oatmeal Protein Pancakes via Bites and Balance
3. Peppermint Mocha Protein Pancakes via Sensual Appeal

A Weekend of Wedding Progress

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The past week has been filled with wedding progress. The good kind. The kind where you don't even have to argue with anyone, because everyone pretty much just agrees.

Hallelujah. That's my kind of wedding progress.

On Thursday night, we met my parents at our catering company for a menu tasting. Without going into too much detail (come on now, can't spoil the fun before the wedding), let me just say that everything was amazing. I thought wedding food was typically not that great? So wrong.

Fiance was a fan. Two huge hunks of meat for him to taste? Nothing better.

Afterward, we met up with fiance's parents downtown. They were having dinner at our Rehearsal Dinner spot, so we were excited to scope it out. We had a few drinks and then got to see the room we'll have that night.

No, those are not our flowers - just some pictures
the florist was showing us and the center piece she had sitting out.
Don't get too excited!

Saturday, I went to the florists with my mother and sister. We are using Ashland-Addison Florists, and Meagan is so extremely competent that she made me feel right at home and it was totally stress-free.

Full day of wedding planning appointments means
cute shoes are necessary.

We also stopped at our ceremony and reception venue in Bridgeport, just to check it out again and make sure the expectation matched reality. We did a walk through and chatted a bit more about where we will put things and such.

Then, on Monday, we got a call from our printer for our invitation suites, letting us know that the invites are DONE and ready for pick up!

And today? Today, I've got my first dress fitting appointment! :) Ready to see my wedding gown?

1....

2......

3........

Just kidding!

Six days of pure progress? I'll take it!

What about you?

• Do you have any events or deadlines looming ahead?

Hello Moto... Part 1

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Hello Moto Part 1, The Overall Experience
Hello Moto Part 2, The Food - You're reading it!
Hello Moto Part 3, The Wine 

I've been intrigued by Moto for about a year and a half now, and when my fiance sneakily (and far in advance, what a good man) booked us there for Valentine's Day, I was happy ecstatic.

After last night, I've got so many things to say about this place... so, to spare you a total brain (and photo) dump, I'll break it up.

First... the overall experience.




I worked from home yesterday, so public transportation time didn't get its normal chance to cut into my day (I'm really needlessly complaining -- it usually takes me 15 to 20 minutes). That meant I could hop in the shower earlier and let my hair air dry before curling it a bit.

By 6:30 or 7:00, I was prepped and ready. I'm wearing a cowl neck dress that I don't particularly love, but it was my fiance's favorite, and after all, it was Valentine's Day, so I wore the darn thing. I'm also wearing the shoes I wore for my Engagement Pics and toting my new Sam Edelman bag (Oh my gosh, you can fit so many things in there!).




Before we left, we snapped this pic in our huge, 7+foot tall Uber Mirror. Actually, we took 3, but this was the only decent one in which my fiance's eyes aren't closed.



When we arrived, we thought we were early. Our reservation was for 7:30 and it was about 7:10 (my fiance thought it would take longer to catch a cab, I guess). To our delight, Moto had us down for 7:00, so we were seated immediately.

Our table was in view of these chefs, who were hard at work plating our "tasting menu." They were using piping bags, scientific looking tweezers, etc. Seriously, it looked like they were doing food surgery over there.
  
A few minutes after we sat, after we'd had just the right amount of time to look around, the server arrived with the "tasting menu." Instead of giving you a real menu, they give you a small bite that is meant to tease you for the taste to come. These aren't just a smaller version of the larger plates - they're actually a bit different than what we would later taste. It was very exciting to get a taste of what was to come.

I absolutely loved what tasted like a carmelized onion jam. Onion is one of my favorite flavors, and this bite really brought it out. There was also a Cauliflower Panna Cotta, which my fiance thought tasted like sea food, but I thought was pretty delish.



After we tasted the tasting menu (ha), the wine director brought out our wine tasting menu. The sommelier at Moto put together this list of wines to accompany the courses.



I'm not going to go into all the details yet -- because the wines, themselves, deserve a post of their own. Which they will get. Trust me.

Buttt, I will tell you that we started out with some yummy pink champagne, and it was the perfect toast to start the night.



The restaurant really does go with their "sciencey" food theme. Check out the wall to my left - complete with tiles that are science inspired, test tubes and various items that look as though they belong in a laboratory.

Let's just say that food was had, drinks were ... drank? drunk?

And the night closed with a perfect, heart-shaped dessert (trust me, there were 3 desserts, this one was the best... more to come on that).



SOMEBODY devoured it :)

Don't worry, a real, picture-laden run-down of the food and wine is on its way to you soon!

16 Holiday Recipes You'll Die For & A Thanksgiving Menu

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It's not just about the turkey, folks. It's about giving thanks and loving each other... and the appetizers, side dishes, and desserts, of course. Here's a Thanksgiving Menu filled with delicious, creative dishes. Pick your favorites and find the recipe links at the bottom.

I know, you're drooling right now. And you're also thinking, "How on earth could I even eat all of those things in one sitting?" The answer is two-fold: Tiny bites, big pants.

Here are the recipes:

Appetizers:
Baked Honey and Basil Brie Pastry with Reduced Kahlua
Pretzel Rolls with Beer Cheese Dipping Sauce
Baked Apples with Savory Pork Stuffing
Spicy Curry Pumpkin Fries

Sides:
Skinny Vegetarian Stuffing
Roasted Cranberry Sauce (Here are 7 more Cranberry Sauce recipes)
Kahlua Brown Sugar and Walnut Whipped Sweet Potato 
Thai-Style Brussels Sprouts

Main:
Roasted Turkey

Dessert:
Dark Chocolate Cheesecake With Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache, Toasted Hazelnuts, and Sea Salt
Cherry Pomegranate Mini Pies
Homemade Peppermint Patties

Cocktails:
Whiskey Sweet N Sour Cocktail
Vodka Cake Cocktail
Whiskey Apple Cider
Rumon Ale Cocktail

Enjoy!