Turkey Robinson

One of my favorite things to do is sit in front of the TV with a meal and watch cooking television. Whether it's the Travel Channel, Food Network or The Chew, it's one of my most relaxing points of the day. I honestly feel like most of my food knowledge is from this practice. If it weren't for these TV shows, I would never have known the correct way to hold a knife, or what a black currant tastes like or that Texas BBQ is beef, while the South deals with pork and Kansas city style BBQ makes beef, pork and chicken.

Either way, it provides a great opportunity for everyday inspiration for every day meals, party planning and foodie-recommended vacation destinations.

I found this recipe for Turkey Robinson from Food Network's 5 Ingredient Fix. A fantastic cooking concept that one only needs 5 ingredients to make a dish. This dish was named after the host's mother or grandmother or someone in her family, but it's become a favorite in our house as well.

Turkey Robinson

2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 onion, sliced
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 bag of fresh spinach
1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes and juices
1 15.5 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp red pepper flake
salt and pepper to taste

Pour olive oil into a large pan over medium high heat. Put turkey meat into pan with seasonings and brown. After meat has caramelized, add onion, garlic and spinach. Saute until onion turns translucent and spinach is wilted. Add beans and tomatoes and cover and cook for about 5 minutes. Serve over fresh spinach, rice and/ or pasta.

Quick, easy and delicious, not to mention healthy and filling. This is my go to "I have 30 minutes til I have leave for work and I didn't make dinner" meal. And I always look forward to it.

-Akemi-chan

March Randoms

March has been a crazy month. I had a fantastic birthday in Chicago and the ball is still rolling. I have vacation time in a few months and still haven't decided where to go or what to do. Anyway, here are some March randoms that I didn't previously post.

Braided scarf via Pinterest

My sloppy version

Vodka soaked gummy bears. Insta-jello shots

Birthday shopping, part 1. Hee hee

Whole fish at Tang Dynasty

I would try this if it weren't for the inevitable sugar overload

Saimin with fried egg and veggies

Lemon drop

My scone! My scone!

It was a Disney kinda day

Prime Rib dinner courtesy of Grandma

Salad topped with edamame, Fuji apples and sriracha and cane syrup dressing

Roasted Brussels sprouts and onions

Our little Panera treat

My beautiful new Kitchen Aid stand mixer for my birthday

BTW: Boyfriend's birthday is also coming up. Hope you can join us!

-Akemi-chan

Bipolar Spring

It's been a week since we returned from Chicago and I still feel bloated. In the 2 days that we spent there, we must have had 10 meals. Thankfully we split almost all of them to soften the blow. My birthday "weekend" was one of the best birthdays I've ever had, right up there with the surprise limo ride on my 21st and the surprise car on my 18th. 

Since then the Midwest has been damned by the weather gods. Yes, I know I live in Illinois and yes March is always a roll of the dice when it comes to "Spring-like" sunshine and flowers. I just got too spoiled by last year's Winter of 30 degree weather and last year's Spring temps of 80.

Luckily there were a few days of sunshine and in Illinois, if the sun is out people take advantage. It was 50 degrees out, below freezing by Hawaii standards, but people bust out the shorts and sandals on rare days like this. So Boyfriend and I went on a little Vietnamese lunch date.

Coffee time!

Boyfriend's vermicelli bowl

My usual: tofu pho

Outside was so warm and beautiful, I couldn't resist an opportunity to get out of my Winter coat and snow boots and put on something sunny for the occasion, even busted out some pumps. Ah, I immediately began to feel energized and cheerful.

Blazer: The Limited

Blouse: The Gap

Jeans: Express

Shoes: Nine West

Bag; Aldo

Then this happened...

Yup, that's my back yard

It's a pity that one of the most gorgeous days of the year was followed by a huge storm. Champaign went from light flurries at 2pm to 12 inches of snow overnight. Springfield got as much as 18 inches. Crazy.

The airport

Knee deep in snow at work

Driving home from work was like off-roading. The snow plows were so busy, some of the major roads were still neglected. The snows started to turn into ice and hardened into lumps on the road. Luckily the snow has started to melt and the sun is starting to come out. Spring is finally on it's way.

-Akemi-chan

My Kind of Town, Chicago is... Part 2

Another beautiful sunny day in Chicago, but it's still March. that means we still have to sport our Winter coats. Another great day of eating around the city. 

Wow Bao for some hot Asain buns haha

Half our bounty

Pork and cabbage pot stickers

BBQ pork bao

Thai curried chicken bao

Spicy beef bao

Iconic

Why does this cow have horns....

...and utters?

Cloud Gate aka "The Chicago Bean"

Bro, do you even lift?

It looks like a butt, hee hee

No one's surprised that you love yourself

<3

Millennium Park 

Bridge to Art Museum

Picaso's behind

Chris sliding down the statue

C for Carly

Chris trying to make a B for Boyfriend

Intelligentsia: voted Chicago's best cup for coffee

Mr. Barista

Had to get my Argo tea fix

Stopped for pizza before the game

New York style pizza in Chicago, ha ha

United Center: Home of the Bulls. Oh yeaaahhh!

Look at those pennants 

DA BULLS!!

Get your $8 beer! haha

Look at them racing!

Nachos with jalapenos

Benny the Bull

Yeah!

 

 
Midget

After party at Timothy O'Toole's

Still some green beer in the city

Cheese

The next morning we we wanted more of everything, but instead we just got more pizza and Wow Bao.

Found my doppelganger at Wow Bao

We stopped by Boyfriend's Dad's house to pick up Puppydog and spend some time with family.

Crazy face