Welcome!

Friends of mine constantly ask me what I'm cooking and how I do it. Furthermore, some are amazed at how I somehow balance being a full-time graduate student, which takes up about 60 hours a week, being a full-time super awesome girlfriend, and still manage to "play housewife." For me, cooking is a stress relief. There isn't much that makes a bad day better than holding a big knife and chopping away! Here, I will share some of my favorite recipes and how you can alter them to make them fit your lifestyle!

I enjoy cooking things that are somewhat healthy and quick. My inspiration comes from a variety of sources, including my favorite Food Network chefs, Bobby, Giada, Anne, and Ina, as well as cookbooks from some of the stars of my favorite guilty pleasure show: Real Housewives. I tweak the recipes to fit what I have on hand and what I like; overtime they become all my own.

Basic Ingredients
Before I start sharing any recipes, here is a list of ingredients that I almost always have in my refrigerator or pantry.

• Skim, organic milk
• Organic half and half
• Orange juice
• Lemons and/or lemon juice
• Yogurt
• 1/3 fat cream cheese
• Butter (I usually have regular stick butter as well as a tub of I can't believe it's not butter light)
• Parmesan cheese (already grated and a block of it)
• Mozzarella cheese
• Other sandwich cheeses and shredded cheeses
• Lettuce (romaine, spring mix, whatever)
• Vegetables (zucchini and squash are my favorite, mushrooms, etc.)
• Fruit (bananas, strawberries, apples, etc.)
• Chicken (breasts, whole)
• Frozen shrimp
• Frozen berries
• Fresh herbs (I never use them all when I buy them, so I chop them up and freeze them in separate bags)
• Bacon (after I open it I put it in a ziplock bag in the freezer; I can defrost it quickly when I need to use it)
• Eggs
• Onions, shallots (if you haven't cooked with these I suggest you try), LOTS of garlic
• Pasta (short and long)
• Rice (whatever kind you like)
• Chicken, vegetable, or beef stock
• Breadcrumbs (panko and regular; I never buy anything flavored though because it is so easy to flavor yourself!)
• Canned tomatoes (whole, diced, etc.)
• Spices: garlic powder, paprika, oregano, basil, etc. 
• Flour (white and whole wheat)
• 'Fake' sugar: I like splenda
• Natural sweeteners like honey and agave nectar

It seems like a lot, but these are basic staples for me. I obviously buy other things but with the items listed above, you can make so much.

Stay tuned for recipes!