I haven't been able to blog in a while and have the feeling that I won't get the chance for at least another week or so. School is starting to get crazy and so is life! It's my last semester of college and I feel like I have no motivation at all. Most of my classes go over the same principles that I learned in freshman year and it's getting very repetitive and boring. I am taking an Airport Management class that is actually pretty interesting but other than that, I am not feeling school at all. Two and a half more months to go and then it's off to the real world!
Anyway, this past weekend I went to Chicago to visit my brother, Joao, for his birthday (and to get away for a weekend). It was amazing, I love Chicago. Unfortunately, all of my work had to be put on hold so that I could relax for the weekend so I will be full force this week. I'll add pictures of my trip once they're edited (basically, once I find the time to edit them). Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!!

Xoxo

Happy V-Day

"Love; it will not betray you, dismay or enslave you, it will set you free"

Happy Valentines Day!  I will be spending mine with friends and family and I don't think I'd want to spend it any other way.

Xo

Butter Chicken

 Today's blog post was inspired by my BFF, Aman. He's from India but he doesn't know how to cook Indian food. Actually, I'm not sure if he knows how to cook any kind of food. He also doesn't eat vegetables and he sleeps in until 2pm everyday. And he's single. Ladies? ;)

On a more serious note, he is the one who introduced me to butter chicken (or "murgh makhani"). It has now become my favorite Indian dish and it's also really easy to make. I got the recipe from Closet Cooking (amazing blog, by the way!) but I couldn't find fenugreek leaves or almond butter so I had to leave them out. It still tasted really good without them so if you don't have those ingredients or can't find them in the store, don't panic like I did.

Butter Chicken
Serves: 4-5

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 cloves
• 1 teaspoon cumin, toasted and ground
• 1 teaspoon coriander, toasted and ground
• 2 cups tomato (fresh or canned), pureed
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • Salt
  • cilantro, chopped
  • 
    
  • For the chicken:
  • 1 pound chicken
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1tsp coriander
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • olive oil
  
  

  Directions

  1. Marinate the chicken with the cream, coriander, garam masala, cumin, garlic and cayenne pepper for at least one hour. 
  2. Grill or saute chicken with olive oil over medium-high heat until cooked.
  3. Dice cooked chicken and set aside
  4. Melt  butter in a pan over medium heat.
  5. Add the cinnamon, cloves, cumin and coriander and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
  6. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and cayenne, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the sauce starts to thicken, about 10-15 minutes.
  
  7. Add the chicken, honey, and cream and simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
  8. Add the garam masala and salt and remove from heat.
  9. Serve over basmati rice with butter and cilantro.

10. Enjoy!

Smoked Salmon Baked Eggs

The other day I was weirdly craving eggs and, to no surprise, salmon. I wanted to make the eggs a bit healthier (since I'm in a diet and all), so I baked them in small ramekins. They were so yummy and decadent with the smoked salmon and made for a delicious dinner. They would  be perfect to make for brunch or even breakfast in bed! Did I mention they look really pretty?

Smoked Salmon Baked Eggs
Serves: 1


Ingredients:
2 large eggs
Smoked salmon (a few slices)
1 tblsp heavy cream
1 tsp capers
1 tsp chopped chives
butter
Salt & Pepper
Bread, to serve

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Separate egg yolks from egg whites and set aside.
3. Mix the egg whites with heavy cream
4. Lightly butter the ramekin, sprinkle a little but of salt at the bottom and edges and then add a small slice of smoked salmon
5. Pour the egg white mixture on top of salmon
6. Pour egg yolks on top of the egg whites, making sure not break them
7. Bake for 20 minutes
8. Top with more smoked salmon, capers, and fresh chives
9. Serve with warm bread and enjoy!

Healthy eating..

The other week was my friend John's birthday. His actual name is Gianmarco but John sounds so much cooler and its quicker to type so we'll just refer to him as that. In celebration of his birthday, we made him cook us pizza! I baked a cake which was an absolute disaster but it tasted pretty good. 

View from their condo - The most beautiful beach in the world ;)

Me and Tobes taking cool pictures of ourselves

Alex doing what he does best........absolutely nothing.

Orange-vanilla cream cheese filling for my cake

Homemade pizza sauce

Layering..

Greasy goodness

Prosciutto and arugula...my favorite!

The star of the night. It didn't exactly come out of the pan smoothly. 

Happy Birthday John!