Bizzie LivingFood | Bizzie Living

New Year’s Eve Festive Holiday Drink Mashup

Stephanie Elie — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:00:55 +0000

8 Places to Find Festive New Year’s Eve and Holiday Drinks
For me this holiday has been all about trying new things. Christmas dinner was filled with all new recipes except for the one. New Year’s Eve I’ll be trying some great new appetizers, so it only makes since to try some new drinks as well. With so many options out there I can’t narrow it down – here is my mash-up of some really fun and creative options, can you help me decide. I would hate to stick to my staple the apple martini after one or two of those I’ll miss the countdown!

There are so many fun holiday drinks, I still can’t decide which one I’ll try but here are some great options if you are looking to try something new as well.

What’s your favorite New Year’s drink staple?

10 Festive New Year’s Eve Appetizers

Stephanie Elie — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:30:35 +0000

Ring in the New Year with these Tasty Appetizers
Are you planning on ringing in the New Year with a festive event with friends and family? We are planning a family (including the youngest little ones) New Years Party with appetizers and some adult drinking.

With New Year’s Eve just days away it’s time to start thinking about how you are going to ring in the New Year. As usual we have to finalize our own plans but I imagine they will include having a small group of friends over that are also blessed with kids and no babysitter. So I thought I should start thinking about a menu that can be munched on throughout the evening. Pinterest helped me plan out Christmas dinner so I thought I would give it another try with some New Year’s Eve Appetizers.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy New Year’s Eve and remember a designated driver is just a phone call away. Stay safe!

Are you planning a party? What will you be cooking?

*Images provided by source recipes.

Udi’s Gluten Free Cookies Exceed Expectations

Stephanie Elie — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:56:08 +0000

Great tasting gluten free cookies you don’t have to slave over

I normally didn’t make a fuss over food on BizzieMommy.com, but since we rebranded I’m going to start incorporating everything “living”, which includes food. I first was introduced to Udi’s cookies at BlogHer this summer and had no interest in sampling a gluten-free cookie. I thought to myself, how could they be good and healthy at the same time.

But I took a bite anyway and at first I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t a “holy sh– balls” moment but it was close. I tried the Snickerdoodle cookies first, then tried a sample of the chocolate chip and they were both equally pleasant to eat. I was at an event party and happy to find a sample package in my gift bag to enjoy at home.

However, once my daughter sampled one of the cookies they quickly disappeared. So I got online to replenish my stash only to discover they weren’t available in stores yet. I twitted Udi’s and they were able to send me more samples to try.

This time I’ve hidden them from the kids (Shhhhh, don’t tell them)!

Udi’s Gluten Free Cookies are available in three flavors, chocolate chip, oatmeal raison and snickerdoodle. You can purchase them online on udisglutenfree.com for $5 for an eight ounce package. If you need them now and can’t wait to order online, check there website for a location near you.

Udi’s Gluten Free cookies are soft and chewy and perfect for everyone!

food revolution – are you up for the challenge?

Stephanie Elie — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 22:37:29 +0000

I’m sure you’ve all seen the promotions, and if you’re in Los Angeles you’ve even heard Ryan Seacrest talk about the Food Revolution with Jamie Oliver on his morning radio show.

I’ve been drawn to the show partly because I’m a mother getting ready to put her youngest into the public school system and also because I have wanted to improve our own eating habits at home. To be honest we aren’t horrible, but we do eat out more than we should, even if we are trying to select the healthiest of options…

remember when wednesday. cooking?

Stephanie Elie — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:08:30 +0000

So remember when I said that I wanted to start cooking this year and eat out less. Remember when I said I wanted to work out more and sit on the couch less oh and remember when I said I was going to work less! Um yeah, well, what had happened was…

So I decided to start a new theme for Wednesday’s taking a look back about something I said I was going to do, but still haven’t gotten to yet. Today’s focus is cooking, because frankly, I’m sick of eating out. I can barely stand the thought of getting another chicken bowl from Chipotle or kung pao chicken from Panda Express or pizza, I don’t even want to look at another pizza.

So last week, I received a cool new recipe book based on the products found at Trader Joes. Who doesn’t love Trader Joes right? But to be honest, in can be a bit intimidating. I find things like Pancetta, couscous, goat cheese and a slew of other things that I don’t know what to do with. Let me first explain that cooking is not a skill I really posses, I mean the title of the category “Bizzie Non-Cook Guide” should have clued you in. When I look at Ree Drummond’s blog thepioneerwoman.com and her pictures and recipes, I’m in awe. How does she do that? How does she have the time?

So this weekend, well Monday, because I’m not cooking on Mother’s Day I’m going to try it again. I’m going to try and cook more days out of the week then ordering takeout, which means at least 4 times a week.

So follow along with me and my cooking adventures as I will be posting pictures of the recipes that I try and hopefully capturing the family’s reactions as I develop my skills. Sorry in advance guys.

Next week I will be trying some recipes from the Cooking with All Things Trader Joe’s recipe book by Deana Gunn and Wona Miniata. To get your copy just go to www.cookingwithtraderjoes.com.

chipotle style chicken – day 13

Stephanie Elie — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:09:50 +0000

Could it be, does this make three? Yes it does. I’ve cooked three days in a row. I’m starting to go through junk food withdrawals. This little dish is something I created myself that was inspired by one of my favorite places to eat, Chipotle. I don’t know what it is but I could eat Chipotle every day if the Hubs wasn’t so sick of it.

Ingredients:
1 package of thinly sliced chicken breast
2 cups fresh pico de gallo (estimate)
1 cup of shredded cheese – I like to use the packaged Mexican style cheeses
Fresh Cilantro
Olive Oil
Seasoning

We live in a condo so getting to the grill is a pain, so I used the Foreman Grill to cook the chicken. It’s quick and easy. I marinated the chicken with Sazonador para Pollo chicken seasoning.

While the chicken is marinating I put the rice on in the rice cooker. When the chicken was finished I diced it up.

To make the rice similar to Chipotle I added 1 tbs of olive oil and some chopped up cilantro to test. Prepare the dish with the rice, chicken, pico de gallo and cheese.

My daughter loves this dish. The Hubs claims he likes it more than Chipotle (whatever). I’m still a fan!

spaghetti with ground turkey – day 12

Stephanie Elie — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:06:48 +0000

Second day in a row that I cooked, I so deserve an award! I didn’t take any pictures of this one because we all know what Spaghetti looks like right. I like to add a little red pepper in while cooking the meat to give the spaghetti and extra kick.

I love making spaghetti because it’s quick and easy and BP loves it!

chinese style tilapia – day 11

Stephanie Elie — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:04:51 +0000

s many people know I decided to make a commitment to try and cook more for the new year. If you know me, me and the kitchen never got along. But the economy tight and my wallet is light so it’s time to give it a shot.

I’m starting a little late in the game because I was out of town for the holidays. Here is my first attempt at “cooking” and I have to say it turned out great.

We had a little trouble figuring out what Srirachas chili sauce (the red bottle you find at Chinese restaurants) was, but once I Googled it and say the pictures I knew exactly what it was.

Another problem was when I flipped out the fish it broke apart – so I either cooked it too much before the flip or a need a bigger spatula.

Chinese Tilapia and Fried Rice

1 pound tilapia fillets
3 Tbsp rice cooking wine
2-3 scallions, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 1/2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1/2 Tbsp Sriracha chili sauce
2 cloves of garlic, diced
1/4 tsp dried ginger powder
1 tsp olive oil

In a medium sized skillet, heat olive oil over low-medium heat. Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine rice cooking wine, soy sauce, Sriracha chili sauce, garlic powder & ginger powder. Add fish to skillet, allowing to cook for a minute. Flip fish and add soy sauce mixture to skillet. Add green onion. Allow fish to simmer over low heat until cooked thoroughly, and most of the sauce has cooked off. Serve immediately.

I found the recipe on Delish Food and will be cooking it again very soon. Seems the Hubs loves the recipe.

first cooked dinner of the new year

Stephanie Elie — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:00:52 +0000

One of our last Super Supper meals – Asian Salmon. It is so delicious, I’m so going to miss it. I first started by making my famous and oh so simple Fried Rice. I cheat and use the Sun-Bird fried rice seasoning mix.

The rice only takes 10 minutes to cook. I always cook the plain rice the day before. Fried rice always cooks better with cold rice.

Now the salmon. I don’t have the recipe for this but if I did I would probably cook it at least once a week. We picked the salmon up from Super Suppers.

A few minutes later, dinner is served. And best of all BP loves it.

non-cooks guide to cooking – introduction

Stephanie Elie — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:04:18 +0000

My idea of cooking usually starts with take-out menu. It’s not that I don’t like cooking, it’s that by the time I leave work and get home I’m already hungry and once my daughter gets home I have about three minutes before she starts complaining. So its the time factor oh and the fact that I’m just not good at it.

Don’t get me wrong I can cook an awesome plate of spaghetti and hmm, did I mention I cook some spaghetti really swell.

So I’m not all that good at cooking so this coming year, meaning 2009, I need to learn. We are canceling our food service. YES WE HAD A FOOD SERVICE, what! No I’m not rich, if I was why would I be canceling?

We only started the food service because we would go grocery shopping with recipes in hand, buy the food, get home after work and see the food in the fridge and then order something out because we were too hungry or tired to cook. We would have great meal while our groceries sat alone in fridge to spoil.

Oh and CAKE, I can make good, yummy and moist cakes!

So we have decided 2009 will be our cooking year, by “our” I really mean “mine” because the hubs will of course find an excuse as to why he can’t cook. Probably go on about how he burned his fingers as a child wanting to make pancakes.

I thought to myself we are going to either lose a ton of weight during this experiment and probably have a lot of laughs as well. So I thought I would share my adventures so you can get a good laugh too! Aren’t I nice.

If you have some great quick “busy mom” recipes I would love to hear about them. Email your recipes or leave them in the comments and I’ll try and make them plus give you a shout out too!