Whole Wheat Sausage, Grape, and Ricotta Pizza: My Diary of Us

Sweet and salty always wins me over. It gives me the best of both worlds and satisfies all of my cravings. I recently heard about an Italian dish that was so simple, but so genius. It was literally roasted sausage and grapes that were cooked together! I immediately knew this was a combination that I had to try out for myself! The marriage of pork and a sweet fruit is not a new idea by any means. I have used figs, cantaloupe, peaches...the list goes on. For some reason though, I have never thought to use grapes! And what a pleasant surprise it was! My sausage, grape, and ricotta pizza is the perfect sweet and salty combo that makes for a light and summery pizza!

If I could only eat one food for the rest of my life, pizza would be a top contender. I love it. Most weeks I find a way to eat it, whether it's takeout, homemade, or even easy pita pizzas will do the trick. I'm not picky either. I like it with sauce, no sauce, veggie, or meat lover style. I am very non-judgmental when it comes to how I like my pizza. Is anyone with me here? Maybe it's because I love carbs and cheese, but regardless you guys have to get on board with this new combination of pizza!

PostedJuly 7, 2015

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesPizza

Tagswhole wheat pizza, sausage and grape pizza, healthy pizza, healthy recipe, dinner, weeknight dinner, summer dinner party recipes, Italian food, pizza, homemade pizza, sausage and grapes

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Yesterday my morning started out kinda rough, and I was in a blah mood all day long. Later in the afternoon, I was checking my email and I saw where I won an Ergo baby carrier from a blog giveaway! I never win anything, EVER, and was beyond excited because I had just registered for one and they run about 170.00. It was just the pick me up I needed to change my mood for the afternoon. Do you ever have days like that where you just have a hard time getting out of your funk? If you are human, I am sure you do and there is nothing better at the end of one of those days than a big bowl of comfort food. My easy baked ziti is just the sort of meal that will make you feel better in one bite.

It's funny how food can do that, transform your mood after a long day. It's one of the reasons I love to cook. For me, it's healing and to be able to serve others a meal that makes them feel better too is such a rewarding experience.

PostedJune 23, 2015

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner

Tagsbaked ziti, easy baked ziti, comfort food, easy dinners, Italian food, dinner, family meals, kid friendly meals, pasta

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Baked Pesto Risotto Balls: My Diary of Us

Last week I shared my new favorite risotto recipe where I added pesto to the mix. It's a great recipe if you missed it, but the point here is that you almost always have leftovers after you make risotto. Leftovers that are too delicious to get rid of, and one of my favorite ways to use up my risotto leftovers is to make risotto balls! Being that I could dip most things into marinara sauce (mozzarella sticks, pizza crust, crusty bread...okay so I could did anything carb loaded into marinara sauce), my baked pesto risotto balls are the perfect accompaniment to my love of dipping and marinara.

These little balls of flavor are perfect to serve as an appetizer or as a side dish in my opinion. And since the risotto is the real time consuming part and it's usually already made, you can whip up these risotto balls in a flash! Your guests will be impressed, your kids will love them, and you will look like a kitchen genius.

PostedMay 6, 2015

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesSide Dishes, Appetizers

Tagsbaked risotto balls, risotto balls, pesto risotto, homemade, appetizers, party food, marinara, Italian food, easy recipes, side dishes, leftovers

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A Girl's Weekend in Arizona: My Diary of Us

Somewhere between college and now, my best friends have sprinkled themselves across the country. We all got older, each moved to a different state, and don't get to see each other nearly enough for my liking. We get to see each other about once a year if that, but when it does happen it's amazing. We revert to our 20 year old selves, or in some cases our 15 year old selves. Things pick right back up where we left off and it feeds my soul in the best way possible. Last weekend I headed to Arizona to see my friend Teresa, a friend from college who from the moment we had the same class together we became inseparable. A girl's weekend in Arizona was totally necessary for both of us.

We hiked gorgeous routes Saturday and Sunday, got pedicures, laid by the pool, ate Italian food and cooked some serious meals for her to freeze.

It was a quick trip and neither of us were ready for it to end, but I'll take what I can get! I'm already ready to go back and it's only been two days.

We started out Friday by shopping (of course) and then ended the day with chips and guacamole, a margarita for me, water with lemon for her, and then grabbed yogurt on the way home, because I'll use any excuse to get yogurt. Excuses like my friend is pregnant and she NEEDS me to eat yogurt with her.

PostedAugust 20, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesTravel

TagsArizona, friendship, travel, hiking, Italian food, Scottsdale best eats, Cooking, meal prep, girl time, Girl's Weekend

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