I’m constantly guilty for looking at the clock and realizing that it’s 2:00 and I need lunch…like now! It’s usually a mad dash scanning the refrigerator for leftovers or resorting to a PB & J. If I’m not dying of hunger, I’m usually patient enough to boil pasta. But lately I’ve added something to my lunch lineup that has me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. It falls into the comfort food category which is always good during these long winter months. It also can be pulled together quickly and is super satisfying.

 

Introducing my new-found love during lunch: the Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Bacon, Apple, & Cheddar. The ingredients all paired together are like a match made in heaven. Whole grain mustard smeared on each slice of toasted bread is the finishing touch that makes this sandwich one of the best out there. The creamy melted cheddar is the perfect contrast for the crispy applewood smoked bacon and the tart granny smith apple gives off a slightly sweet note that is balanced by the tangyness of the mustard. A real winner in my book. Just writing this post is making me excited for lunch today!


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reservation for weeks now and you’re realizing that it just slipped through the cracks? Or did you commit to avoiding the crowded restaurants with overpriced prix fixe menus by staying in? Either way, if you’re looking for a good dinner lineup to make at home for your one and only,  here are my best suggestions.

 

There has never been a better excuse for a classic Spaghetti & Meatballs dinner and as a bonus it’s quick and easy which allows more time for cuddling on the couch afterwards. It’s criminal to not finish off a romantically savory meal with something seriously sweet on Valentines Day. My Roasted Pears with Pomegranate Sauce will hit the spot with their pretty presentation and yummy flavor. A scoop of vanilla bean gelato on the side wouldn’t hurt either!


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this week’s Kelsey’s Essentials episode would highlight the most loved food in February…chocolate. And I’m here to say that there is a whole lotta’ chocolate in this episode. The goal was to highlight chocolate in both sweet and savory ways. I head out on a “chocolate crawl” throughout NYC to taste and learn from the best. Think chocolate filled won-tons and chocolate bon-bons filled with cashmere spiced caramel. The best part is that after I’ve indulged, I head back to the kitchen to start on my own creations. Playing with both sweet and savory flavors in the kitchen, these are recipes that you’ve never seen before, but they will knock your socks off.

 

Tune in tomorrow at 2:30 ET! It’s the perfect way to kick off Valentines Day week!

 


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With a cozy blanket and watching a movie. Whether you’re staying in on a cold night or your watching with your significant other, movie night is the best. In honor of the month of February and it’s signature ingredient, I did a round up of my favorite flicks that were made all in the name of chocolate. How about rounding out your Valentines Day celebrations by viewing one of these classics!

 

Chocolat
One of my favorite movies of all time. Robby and I were lucky enough to vacation to the small French village where this very movie was shot! It was just as charming in person as it was in the movie. This story of a French woman and her daughter opening up a chocolate shop is incredibly endearing and I can’t think of a better time of year to enjoy it.

 

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
I’m a fan of the classic and the update and I’m always thrilled when it shows up on TBS on a Sunday afternoon. This movie is magical and will always remind me of being a kid. From the chocolate waterfall to the lickable wallpaper and geese that lay golden chocolate eggs, this classic is hard to beat.

 

Matilda
This may be a stretch for a “chocolate” movie, but I love the scene of Bruce Bogtrotter consuming that giant chocolate cake in front of the school, thanks to orders from Ms. Trunchable. I also love the tradition of eating a piece of chocolate every night that Ms. Honey had with her dad. I could get on board with that…even if it’s just for the month of February!


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May have come and gone but I’ll still never turn one down. Let’s be honest, who is every really going to “tire” of a cupcake? When it comes to cupcakes, I’ve been around the block. I think that the first year I lived in NYC I consumed cupcakes on a weekly basis at a different bakery every week. Comparing and coming up with my favorite that wasn’t the over-popularized favorite. I think that I was even engaging in regular cupcake conversations in 2008. Regardless, I love em’ and will rock a cupcake for dessert any day.

 

Raspberry Chocolate Chip from Sprinkles

When it comes to selecting my favorite sweet cupcake you may shake your finger at me for selling out, but no one does it better than Sprinkles for me. I was living in LA when they opened their first shop and I regularly partook. It wasn’t until last year that Sprinkles finally shacked up in NYC right near Bloomingdales. The cupcakes were better than I had remembered and I always look forward to an excuse to be near 59th street now. They’re running a special for the month of Februrary in honor of Valentines Day and it’s a must- Raspberry Chocolate Chip. The raspberry frosting does it for me and the heart shaped sprinkle on top makes my heart flutter.

 

BLT Cupcake from MORE

For my favorite savory cupcake, it means heading all the way to Chicago. MORE is a fantastic cupcakery in Chi-town that takes a very inventive approach to cupcakes and they. are. so. good. So good that my husband has been known to swing by and bring me home half a dozen cupcakes after a business trip. If sweet isn’t your thing, then MORE might provide the perfect cupcake for you. How does a BLT cupake sound? Well I can vouch that it tastes delicious. A cornbread like cake with a creamy buttermilk frosting and bits of bacon throughout is pretty awesome. MORE also ships nationwide and I think it would be an amazing Valentines Day gift.

 

Thanks to SprinkesMORE & Chicago Bites


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