Giving Thanks

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with happiness, health, love, and gratitude! I know I did! I had a great day because I was with my family. As you all know, I love decorating, setting the table, cooking/baking, and preparing for the holidays..Thanksgiving is probably my favorite one! The aroma of the turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin bread in the morning is luscious. I am so lucky to have a mother and grandmother who know how to cook and bake so well. I got to learn from the best! My grandmother makes a killer stuffing that we look forward to every year. This year I wanted my family to do something different that we never have done before so I prepared a small writing activity (yes, that's the teacher background in me!) for everyone to do before we ate. It was nice thinking about what we are all grateful for, writing it down, and sharing it, and most of all, we will get to look back on it.

My list of thanks

Pumpkin bread! My fav!

Love Fall/Thanksgiving colors!

Almost ready for dinner..

Sweet potato casserole was AMAZING! Recipe will be posted soon! 

BEST.apple.pie.EVER! Recipe to follow..

What are some Thanksgiving traditions of yours? What are you thankful for?

Tasty Tuesday

It's 'Tasty Tuesday' and Thanksgiving in two days? Good times all around! Last week I had a little extra time on my hands so decided to spend some time in the kitchen! I made an awesome vermicelli recipe that I hadn't made in such a long time (it's not very weight friendly!) and created a delicious, easy appetizer, Parmesan Zucchini Crisps, for any future parties. Both were delish AND easy. How can you go wrong? We all want to make easy, low maintenance meals but if they're delicious, even better, right? The vermicelli is a great recipe if you have a group of 5-6 people over, but don't make it if you're watching your waistline! The Parmesan Zucchini Crisps are great to make as an appetizer or a vegetable side dish to a chicken or a fish.

Parmesan Zucchini Crisps

2 medium zucchini
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup italian seasoned breadcrumbs

Preheat oven to 400°. Place foil on a baking sheet. Spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray. Slice zucchini into pieces 1/4 thickness. Place the zucchini rounds on the foil (they should be in one layer). Once the rounds are on the foil, rub each one with olive oil. Mix the parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl or plate. Dip each zucchini round into the cheese mixture. If it doesn't stick, place some of the mixture on the rounds. Sprinkle any extra mixture over the zucchini. Bake at 400° for 22-26 minutes. If you want them crispy (that's when they are the best!), leave them in for 26 minutes and if need be, turn the oven off and leave them in for a few minutes longer (just make sure they don't burn!). If you like them on the softer side, cook them for 22 minutes. The thinner they're sliced, the crispier they will be.

Serves: About 40 pieces

Vermicelli

1 box vermicelli pasta
4 tbsp. butter
1 cup chopped onion
2 packages mushrooms
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup peas

Boil water for pasta and cook vermicelli according to the directions on the box. Rinse, pat dry, and slice fresh mushrooms. Set aside. In a large skillet melt butter. Add onion and garlic, sauté for 4 minutes on low heat. Add reserved mushrooms. Sauté for 5 minutes. Stir in peas, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer on low for 5 minutes. Once the vermicelli is done and drained, place it in a serving dish. Add 1 tbsp of butter to saucepan. Stir in mushroom mixture. Serve immediately.

                                                                                    Serves: 4-6

Don't forget to let me know if you make any of these & how they come out! Tweet pictures :)

Enjoy! Happy cooking!

Weekend Happiness

It's that time again..Who has the Monday blues? I certainly do! This weekend seemed to FLY by! One of my most favorite things about the holidays (regardless of which one you celebrate) is decorating. I love getting into each season and making my environment fall ready. I started decorating for fall a month ago but I love getting into Thanksgiving! It's such a festive holiday with my favorite foods and smells. Who doesn't love the smell of turkey and stuffing baking in the morning? Yum! I have been really busy so just got around to really putting out some of my favorite fall/winter decorations.

Better late than never!

Finished product!

  

Favorite fall candle.. and pretty too!

They give off a delicious cinnamon smell..

Tasty Tuesday

Every Monday I'll be sharing a recipe that I love. I love to cook and bake but since I haven't had much time as I have in the past to do so, I'll be sharing mostly easy, delicious, low calorie meals that you'll be sure to love. Please let me know if you want me to share anything in particular or if you have a great recipe that you love, please tweet me @ alexis_jordana to share!

Chicken Piccata

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless, pounded thin

2 tsp. kosher salt

2 tsp. black pepper

1/2 cup flour

1 tbsp. vegetable oil 

2 tbsp. unsalted butter

1 lemon

3 tbsp white wine

4 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 cup capers (drained)

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves (optional)

Directions:

Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Dredge chicken breasts in flour mixture. Shake off the excess.

In a large frying pan, heat butter and vegetable oil over medium heat. Add chicken breasts. Cook about 4 minutes on each side until tender and opaque. Remove and keep warm.

Add wine to pan juices. Cook 1 minute, scraping up brown bits from bottom of pan. Add lemon juice and bring to a boil. Return chicken to pan, cover with lemon slices and cook until sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Serve garnished with capers and parsley.

On the side: For a vegetable, try either peas, broccolini, or roasted string beans and asparagus. I make a delicious, garlic infused broccolini. To make it, place broccolini in a sauce pan, add 2 tbsp olive oil, 4 cloves of garlic, 2 tbsp of lemon juice and cook on medium-low heat until the broccolini is slightly browned and soft.

Notes:

1. Cut 4 breasts of chicken in half so there are 8 (for leftovers the next day). It is also thinner which gives off more taste. If you only want 4 pieces, cut 2 breasts in half.

2. Put the chicken over pasta or rice pilaf for an added starch.  If adding pasta or rice, you might want to double the sauce (especially if you're making 8 pieces of chicken)

'Bachelor' Bombshells

Ashley & J.P.
Source: Wetpaint

The Bachelor is going on it's 17th season and there are more 'Bachelor' bombshells now than ever! For starters, former bachelorette, Ashley Hebert is engaged to JP. Ashley began by being one of the favorites to capture Brad Womack's heart on the 15th season of 'The Bachelor'. When that romance did not last after the show, Ashley got her second chance at finding a husband on the 7th season of 'The Bachelorette'. Ashley and JP's wedding will be televised on December 16th at 9:00 on ABC. This will be the third 'Bachelor' wedding, behind Trista & Ryan and Jason & Molly.

Jason & Molly
Source: Zimbio

               









Other exciting news.. Jason & Molly are expecting their first child together. Jason has a son, Ty from a previous marriage. If you all remember correctly, Jason and Molly didn't have an easy road after the show ended without the drama..but could it have been "the MOST dramatic season"? Well, I'll leave that up to you to decide. Just as a reminder.. Jason chose Melissa Rycroft to be his wife at the end of his journey on the show, but much to the viewer's surprise (or not?), Jason shocked Melissa on the 'After the Final Rose' show and told her that he didn't see their relationship working out..and then came the even bigger surprise..Jason told Molly she is the girl for him and that he made a big mistake. It was probably the most controversial, surprise ending (yet Chris Harrison continues to say each season is the most controversial or shocking). All is okay now! Melissa is happily married with a child, and currently starring in the All Star season of Dancing with the Stars, her second time around. Jason and Molly look very happy, despite all the criticism and skepticism they received when they got back together after Jason dumped Melissa on national television.

Arie & Courtney cuddle on their second date.
Source: Wetpaint

Remember the most dramatic season finale when Ben chose the unfriendly, argumentative Courtney over sweet, down to earth Lindzi? 'Bachelor' viewers, including me were SHOCKED. Courtney was the black sheep of the house, separating herself from the other girls, and her claim to fame statement, 'winning' when she was asked how she felt about Ben. Courtney appeared to only be on the show for the purpose of 'winning' and getting the media exposure. I know I was stunned when their relationship after the show lasted a good year. I was waiting to see the headline, "'Bachelor' Ben & Courtney split". Well, that time has come! They split about a month ago, surprise, surprise and the most interesting part about it..Can anyone take a guess? Courtney moved on pretty quick..with..none other than Emily Maynard's runner up, Ari Luyendyk Jr. But wait, there's more.

Source: US Weekly

October was a month of break-ups for Bachelor couples. Around the same time of Ben and Courtney's split, Emily Maynard broke it off with fiancé Jef Holm. Out of all the Bachelor/Bachelorette couples, I had the highest hopes for Emily and Jef. I never really cared for 1 f Jef until the last two episodes of the show when he showed his more vulnerable side to Emily, professing his love for her and then seeing her fall in love with him, and introducing him to her daughter, Ricki. She was so sure of this decision, to choose Jef that she sent Ari home on their last date, before the final rose ceremony. Don't forget, that, according to Chris Harrison this was the most shocking and controversial season finales ever (along with every other season, lol). America fell in love with 'Jemily'. They looked ecstatic on After the Final Rose and their future looked bright. Maybe it's just me but I think Emily should have chosen Arie. Not only did they have an intense physical connection, he also was very supportive of her and Ricki. Arie, 31 does have a very busy lifestyle as a race car driver (which Emily is very familiar with because her ex fiancé was in the industry as well) but he did seem that he was ready to settle down for the right girl. Jef, 28, on the other hand, is in the beginning stages of marketing his company, People Water, which potentially made him too busy and consumed for Emily and Ricki. I never thought 'Jemily' would work out because of his high energy and young at heart attitude. He seemed like the life of the party when Emily was a mother, ready to settle down and have more children. Two people at two different places in life. This finally became apparent when they decided to part ways, despite the cheating rumors that plagued the couple in the summer during a family vacation with Jef's family. Despite the recent rumors that Emily is now dating Nascar driver, Jason White, she has denied the rumors, stating she is still single. Her and Jef's break up seemed amicable. So sad for Ricki, who went along with her mother on part of the Bachelorette journey to find a guy that would serve as both Emily's husband and Ricki's father. With Emily's "thing" for race car drivers, do you think she should have chosen Arie? Share your thoughts with us here!

TGIF

Well, Friday has rolled around once again. Is anyone as surprised as I am at how quickly the weeks ago? I can't believe that we're well into November already and the holidays are upon us.

First off, I love that the city is ALMOST back to normal. Compared to it looking like a ghost town last week, I'm glad to see so many people back on the streets heading to work, etc. It looks like the good ole' New York that I love! You get used to the pushing, shoving and fighting crowds so when no one was around it was SCARY!

  

Love my new Gorjana Wrap Bracelet

I love the gold & brown toggle and detail. It makes it so easy to pair it with other gold bangles and cuffs.

I am obsessed with head wraps for Fall but especially this gold one by Tasha

Fall photo with Ozzie! Love this guy!

Every week until the holidays I'll be sharing one thing from my holiday wish list. Feel free to send me anything on your holiday wish list too to alexisjlevy@gmail.com or tweet me @alexis_jordana and I'll share them on the Daily Dish! Have a good weekend! :)

Manicure Monday

I love the fall, mostly because of fall nail colors. I'm in love with the hottest fall rage, oxblood. Who isn't? There are so many choices when picking out a color for my manicure..it is seriously OVERWHELMING! I might just have to get them done every week this month to try out all the different shades. I'm a big fan of OPI but will occasionally go with Essie. I usually stick to those two brands because that's what the salon has. These colors are on my to-do list this month:

I just did this color and love it! 'William Tell Them About OPI" 

'Skyfall'

'Lincoln Park After Dark'

'Casino Royale'
I love the dark, oxblood colors but sometimes I like to lighten up the mood and use a lighter color.

'Velvet Voyage'
I love this Essie color! It's chocolate meets amethyst

'GoldenEye'
Gold is always a great fall color but this just looks fab & chic for a classy night out or a night time event.

Lovely Leather

Leather is always in, but let's face it..this year leather rules! It is one of my favorite fall trends. I love leather accents, like sleeves on a jacket and leather pockets on a dress. There is just something really edgy about it, yet chic and polished. What's your leather craving this fall?

Lovely Leather by alexis-jordana featuring a zipper dress

Alice + Olivia zipper dress / Maje leather t shirt / Marc by Marc Jacobs leather jacket / AllSaints leather skirt / Emilio Pucci low rise pants / Alice + Olivia alice olivia / Sam Edelman stiletto heels / Balenciaga Giant 12 Gold City Black

Mexican Mania

I love Mexican food and have been making this recipe for years and it is always a big hit! It isn't too spicy, but just has enough bite to it. If you do love spice you can add hot red pepper flakes or tabasco sauce if you'd like. Try it first just how it is though..you won't be disappointed! PLUS it's super easy and quick..A go to, delicious meal that makes you feel like you're eating at an authentic Mexican restaurant.

Mexican Shells

13 ounces ground turkey (you can use ground beef if you prefer)
1 medium onion
4 cloves garlic
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp. dry oregano
1/2 cup mild salsa (you can use hot salsa if you prefer)
1/4 cup fat free sour cream
10 oz. can Old El Paso Mild Enchilada Sauce
12 jumbo pasta shells, cooked & drained
1 1/2 ounce shredded cheddar cheese (low fat preferred)

Preheat the oven to 350°. Brown ground turkey with onion and garlic on medium heat until the onion is cooked (translucent), about five minutes. Cool that mixture for about ten minutes. Add spices, sour cream, and salsa. Mix all together. Stuff the shells and arrange them in a 9x13 pan.  Pour can of enchilada sauce over the shells. Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and add shredded cheese. Bake for another five minutes or until the cheese is completely melted. Enjoy!

Scrumptious!

Fall is in the air! I have used the grill a lot this summer and this week I was craving a different kind of dinner. I made an awesome turkey chili and stuffed flounder. They are both very healthy and filling. For the recipe, go to the food tab at the top of my blog. Stay tuned for more yummy recipes!

Stuffed Flounder

4 flounder fillets

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup chopped scallions, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons dry sherry

1/3 cup & 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs

1/4 cup white wine

1/4 cup water

3 tablespoons sour cream

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp dijon mustard

1 tbsp parsley

Paprika

Pinch of salt

Pinch of pepper

In an 8-inch skillet heat the butter over medium high heat until bubbly and hot, add vegetables and sauté, stirring frequently, until vegetables are soft, 3-4 minutes. Add 1 tbsp of lemon juice and sherry, stirring for one minute. Transfer mixture to bowl. Add breadcrumbs, sour cream, worcestershire sauce, parsley, mustard, salt and pepper, mixing until thoroughly combined. Spoon 1/4 of the mixture onto a flounder fillet. Roll fish and transfer, seam side down to a casserole dish. Pour wine, water, and remaining lemon juice, and sprinkle with paprika. Cover and bake, basting occasionally with juice. Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes.

Serves: 4

Arm Party

I'm loving these Gorjana wrap bracelets. They are so chic and will be in style until 2013, and can be dressed up or down. What's great about these bracelets is they are very affordable and versatile. They can be dressed up or down. While the Kingston looks gives the illusion of several bracelets, it is actually only one piece. They can all be found at joyus.com.http://

Gorjana Parker Wrap Bracelet $55

Kingston Wrap Bracelet in Navy $99

Gorjana Park Wrap Bracelet $55

Kingston Wrap Bracelet in Grey $99

Bachelor Pad Betrayals

So last night was the finale of Bachelor Pad. I was all ready to see the much anticipated "most shocking, most disturbing" finale of all time, according to Chris Harrison, but wait, when is it ever the most dramatic season finale? I mean it's only the third season of BP and in the first two, the winners shared the money. What is so dramatic? We, the fans have become so accustom to hearing those words from Chris that we just don't take them seriously anymore. Sorry Chris! I was anticipating a lot of trash talking, crying, wardrobe mistakes, love stories, a surprise proposal, AND two people splitting $250,000. Was I wrong, and more importantly, Chris was RIGHT! Well, I was partially wrong. There was plenty of trash talking, crying, wardrobe wow's, love stories, and yes, even a surprise proposal BUT the shocker came when Nick chose to keep the $250 K and leave Rachel with nothing. Who would ever think the underdog, the guy who no one ever noticed was in the house would win AND be so selfish enough to keep the money? Let's discuss..

We all know who the audience doesn't like. You could hear a pin drop when Chris Harrison introduced the twins and Jamie. Sorry girls! The people that did clap for them just felt bad..Pity party!

Taken from wetpaint.com

First off, I was completely shocked at what happened with Rachel and Michael. Am I the only one that is sad to see them not together? So sad! Well, sad but not surprised. Let's admit it, guys can be jerks. Who wouldn't agree with that statement? I'm sure every girl would. There are obviously two sides to every story, including Rachel and Michael's breakup but the way that Rachel described it, it seems that Michael is at fault. I have always liked Michael and thought he was a standup guy from both the Bachelorette and Bachelor Pad but now I think he's just like all the other guys. He definitely led Rachel on. He can admit to Erica that he wouldn't date her in reality, off the show but he loves making out with her and holding her? He betrayed her, its that simple. Their on screen relationship was so cute, blossoming into something I thought would last after the show. Guess not! Rachel confronted Michael, calling him a "f****** schmuck". You go girl! Stand up for yourself!

Taken from snarkfood.com

Let's talk about Jamie for a second. Was she trying to make some sort of a statement with that outfit? Yes, head wraps are in and gold is in, but those face jewels? And those earrings? Each earring looked like it weighed two pounds. They made more noise than the audience cheering. OMG! Her attempt to look like cleopatra was just not happening..at all! I mean considering she got no applause whatsoever when Chris introduced her, she had to do something to get attention..Negative attention that is! Yikes. Hopefully she doesn't go out in public like that..Unless she's in the wilderness.

From failed relationships to ones that work, Blakely and Tony came out of nowhere. Like when did their relationship go from friendship to more? They look cute together and as happy as they look, I just pictured Tony with someone, dare I say, classier than Blakely? She might be nice and have a good heart, but she is trashy. Now Chris Harrison introduces her as a masseuse? So Hooters waitress turned masseuse? Hmm, Im pretty sure thats the same thing! I would think he would want to be with someone who would be a good role model for his son but who knows, you have to be in love and if they're in love thats great! Is there a tradition now to get engaged on the finale? Last season it was Blake and Holly and now its Blakely and Tony. Hmmmm, who will it be next?

There was no question, Rachel and Nick were going to win. Between them and Chris/Sarah, R&N are more liked.   When R&N got the most votes and in fact, did win the game, I thought well of course, the logical and NICE thing to do in a partnership like that would be to share the money, no? Maybe I'm just too nice. I had my doubts about Nick. He was never involved in the drama, went unnoticed, and seemed very unpredictable. As soon as Rachel held up her "share" sign, Nick had a huge grin on his face. I thought that was a nice grin. Oh was I wrong..It was a greedy grin. He knew at that time that since Rachel chose to share the money and he chose to keep it, he would be getting all of it. On a previous episode, Nick said, "Bachelor Pad is, who is the best snake." He got that right. Congrats Nick, you got the best snake award!

Some people might commend Nick, like Chris but whoever does, is most likely a narcissist like him. Chris is also unempathetic, who most likely would have chosen to keep the money if him and his partner won. Here's a question.. If Rachel was not sitting next to Nick last night, would the housemates really have voted for him? I doubt it. In previous episodes, most everyone showed their dislike for Nick. The best thing that happened to him was being paired with Rachel when Michael left. If he wasn't, he would have been voted off because all competitions were done in partners. How can he say he did it himself? The only thing he did by himself was remain under the radar and he stayed out of the drama, aka to not be a threat and voted off. Rachel deserves to win more than anyone. She remained faithful and loyal..Until she was partnered with Nick. He was in it for himself the whole time which is why he pushed to send Jaclyn and Ed home. He knew if they went home and he was competing against Chris and Sarah, he would win, no question. He could care less about Rachel, her fate, well-being, and friendship with Jaclyn. What a slap in the face! There is a reason no one liked him..

Who would like to see Rachel as the next Bachelorette? What were your thoughts on the BP finale?

Accessorize by alexis-jordana featuring crystal hair accessories

Cara Accessories scarve
nordstrom.com

Tasha crystal hair accessory
nordstrom.com

Carole
nordstrom.com

Tasha 'Specialty' Golden Disc Head Wrap
nordstrom.com

Tasha 'Specialty' Leaves Head Wrap
nordstrom.com

Late Summer Coral & Jade by alexis-jordana featuring a coral ring

MiH Jeans silk top
$435 - net-a-porter.com

Paige Denim skinny leg jeans
$190 - farfetch.com

Flat leather sandals
net-a-porter.com

Kenneth Jay Lane coral ring
shopbop.com

Week in Review! :)

Where has this week gone? It went by soooo fast! Maybe it's because I caught some rays, cooked up some of my favorite recipes, and had a spa day :) Sounds about right! These kind of weeks don't come very often so live it up when you have em'!

I love going to the beach, but I especially love to get there really early in the morning and stay really late (or until the beach closes!) TRANQUILITY! <3

Cheers!

Love catching up with great friends! It was a daiquiri night! :)

I made one of my favorite dishes this week and it was oh so good! I usually grill out most of the summer and stay away from using the stove or the oven on hot days but I had to make this turkey sausage and peppers dish. It has your protein (turkey sausage), your carbs (pasta - you can use whole grain if you'd like), and tons of vegetables. It has a nice kick to it from the red pepper flakes (you can leave those out if you're not into spice). You can find the recipe on the "food" tab of my blog. Don't forget to leave comments and let me know how yours turns out! Happy cooking!