French Bread Pizzas

   We all love pizza right? I know I do! Sometimes we don't have time (or want) to make pizza dough, so I like going the route of using french bread. French bread pizzas are so easy and give pizza that crispy crust. Here is the recipe that I used with a few tweaks.....http://www.howsweeteats.com/2010/11/homemade-french-bread-pizzas/

   After baking the french bread for the first time I did these steps....

• I put crushed garlic and olive oil in a bowl and brushed that on the pizza.
• Next I added the pizza sauce, I really like Muir Glen Organic....you wont need to whole can.
• Top with shredded mozzarella cheese, turkey pepperoni, mushrooms, parmesan cheese, and crushed red pepper flakes.
• Bake & Broil in the oven like the recipe suggested.  

  Good news is that I have left over french bread (I bought a two pack), sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. Even better news is that I can put all of these ingredients in the freezer and save for another time. I never knew you could freeze cheese until I read about it on Pinterest. Now I do it all of the time, just make sure it is shredded! You do not need to defrost any of these ingredients, except of the sauce. Also, when buying produce a lot of time you can buy them in bulk. I was able to pick out 5 mushrooms for myself (Justin wont eat them) for only 90 cents!

   A great game day meal, I am making it again tonight!

Mushroom & Pepperoni Pizza

The Pancake Cafe

I heard many good things about the Pancake Cafe in Fitchburg. When my friend Morgan came to visit me, I figured we should go there for breakfast and see if it lived up to its rave reviews. Lets just say there wasn't a drop of food left on our plates and that we were very satisfied! Not only did we enjoy it there, but so does Madison Magazine, since they were voted "Best in Madison" from 2003-2011. Every year since they opened!

They have the usual breakfast type of food choices there, but we figured that since their name was Pancake Cafe, pancakes were the way to go! We got a half order each....3 pancakes instead of 5. Five pancakes would have been a lot, but we probably could have done it :) I ordered their chocolate chip pancakes and Morgan order bacon pancakes. Bacon pancakes....genius right? How perfect to add thick cut bacon to the batter! We highly recommend both.

I look forward to going back and trying other menu items like Pumpkin Pancakes or Apple Pancakes....their new specialty, pancakes topped with fresh apples and cinnamon glaze.

They also have gluten free pancake options and it is very kid friendly!

Bacon Pancakes

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Fried Zucchini Spaghetti

   While zucchini is still available at the grocery store, I highly recommend making Fried Zucchini Spaghetti. Yes the zucchini is fried, but not unhealthy deep fried....just enough to make the zucchini crispy. I halved the recipe, but by the end of dinner I wish I hadn't because Justin and I wanted more! Here is the recipe, http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/fried-zucchini-spaghetti. I actually skipped the basil and lemon. They weren't missed at all. Enjoy!

Fried Zucchini Spaghetti with berries and green beans for sides

Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

I definitely consider myself a chocolate lover, but during my pregnancy not only do I still love chocolate, but now also any sort of salted caramel treat! I recently cooked dinner at the Ronald McDonald House, which I recommend doing if you ever get a chance, and we made Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats. Since I didn't get to try one there (torture), I figured I "needed" to make them at home. YUM is all I have to say!

I consider this recipe just an updated twist on the already delicious rice krispie treat. Brown butter is really just browning of butter in a pan making it more caramelized and nutty...don't leave it unattended since it can burn easily. You also add sea salt (I added just a little bit more than the recipe suggested), which made my craving of sweet and salty satisfied!

Enjoy, they wont last long! Here is the recipe, http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2009/11/salted-brown-butter-crispy-treats/

Browned Butter & Marshmallows

Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Quick & Easy Salmon Dinner

I try to eat salmon once a week and I found a perfect recipe that it SO simple and perfect for a busy week day dinner. I like wild Alaskan salmon and I buy it right down the street at our local seafood store, the Seafood Center.

The recipe I used was adapted from http://www.skinnytaste.com/2008/05/broiled-salmon-with-rosemary-6-pts.html.

Changes I made to the recipe:
I halved the recipe and got two 6 ounce pieces of salmon with the skin removed. Instead of using cooking spray, I just added some olive oil to the mixture & I used dried rosemary instead of fresh. It turned out really tasty and I felt good about having such a healthy dinner. I paired the salmon with pearled couscous and steamed green beans with olive oil, sea salt, and fresh cracked black pepper.

Try it tonight!

Salmon, Green Beans, & Couscous

My Birthday Dinner

I, like I think most people, prefer not to make dinner for my birthday, so I decided to go to Graze. It is located downtown right across from the Capitol. At Graze they have great comfort food made from local fresh ingredients....nothing unnatural here! 

We started out with a soft pretzel covered in sea salt with house mustards & Widmer's cheese spread (I could have eaten the cheese spread just by itself!) & a fresh artisan bread basket with homemade butters. I then figured some vegetables would be good, so I ordered the mixed greens salad with champagne vinaigrette and SarVecchio cheese (a WI cheese of course.)

For our meals, we both got the mac and cheese with Hook’s 10-year cheddar & herbed breadcrumbs. Justin added pork to his. Hook's cheddar is one of my favorite cheeses so it was a given that I needed to eat this mac and cheese for dinner!

We then ordered the dark chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting and caramel sauce for dessert. Thanks to my "overload of carbs" meal, I was too full to eat the cake, so we had to eat it later at home. Nothing wrong with that! 

One of the best birthday dinners yet!

Bread Basket & Pretzel

Our Mac and Cheeses

Two of My Favorite Places to Eat

I have to admit, Justin and I eat out way more than we should! We have a lot of favorite restaurants and here are two that we visited this past weekend...

Francesca’s al Lago

An Italian restaurant located in downtown Madison right near the Capitol. Their menu changes about every three weeks, but your favorite dish always seems to return. Who doesn't love a large bowl of pasta? I know I do! The only thing I missed, was a glass of wine :)

I had Spaghetti al Funghetto, which was pasta with porcini and wild mushrooms, mascarpone cheese, white truffle oil, oregano, and brandy sauce. It was amazing!!

Justin had Gnoochi all Bavosa. Homemade potato flour dumplings with a tomato basil sauce, melted mozzarella, olive oil, and parmesan cheese.

Perks: Kid friendly (on Sundays they eat free) & you will ALWAYS have leftovers!

Spaghetti al Funghetto

 

Gnocchi alla Bavosa

Maxie's Southern Comfort

Southern comfort food of all kinds. Located in Milwaukee right off the freeway before Miller Park. Think fried green tomatoes, slow cooked barbeque, homemade corn bread with orange honey butter...YUM!

Perks: Same as Francesca’s....kid friendly and leftovers are always there. Also, everyday from 4-6 they have half-priced fresh shucked oysters & clams, half-priced peel-n-eat shrimp, and fried green tomatoes!

We both devoured sandwiches. I had a vinegar based pulled pork sandwich topped with slaw. I hardly ever get pork, I am more of a chicken girl, but this sandwich was an exception! Justin had a grilled chicken sandwich smothered with their homemade bbq sauce. Messy sandwiches are always the best and these sure were messy! 

Smoothie for One

   I love this mixed berry smoothie! I found this recipe a couple of years ago in a fitness magazine and it is by far my favorite smoothie to make at home. I am not the biggest fan of yogurt based smoothies, so I think that's why I enjoy this one so much. It is also super healthy....I hope you enjoy it too! 

1 cup of frozen mixed berries

1 cup of Pomegranate juice (POM juice is my choice)

1/2 orange

1/2 banana

Mix all in your blender and drink! 

Tip: I like to freeze the orange and banana, but you don't have to. It helps make the smoothie colder, but my blender has to work "extra hard" when they are frozen. If you don't have the best blender, I recommend not freezing the orange and banana ahead of time. 

Smoothie Before

Smoothie After

                                                                  

Welcome

   Hello! My name is Jaime and welcome to my blog, www.fullofgarlic.blogspot.com. I am new to the blog world and I am hoping that it will encourage you to enjoy cooking at home! I also want you to enjoy reading about my favorite restaurants in the Madison & Milwaukee area. 

   I have been married for just a little over a year now, so most of my cooking is for just one or two. I am also 28 weeks pregnant and in the process of building a house! I am currently living in a small apartment, which means a small kitchen. But even in small spaces, good food can be made. I am by no means a "chef," but someone obsessed with finding new recipes on Pinterest and Food & Wine magazine. So between prenatal yoga and counter top appointments, I hope to inspire you to enjoy food as much as I do!