Bake: Snickerdoodles

picture of snickerdoodles

Cinnamon-y, sugary, cream of tartar-y yumminess.  Recipe after the jump.


Men Can Cook: Quiche Alsacienne

picture of quiche alsacienne

J has been wanting to make a quiche for some time now.  Unfortunately, I had an irrational hatred of quiche, despite never actually eating one ("egg pie?  ew!").  I finally gave in and said I'd try it, if he made it.  I'm officially a quiche lover now!  J's recipe after the jump...

Drink: Armand de Brignac Champagne



picture of Armand de Brignac being poured into champagne glasses

picture of the gold-plated bottle of the Armand de Brignac
Several months ago, I received a bottle of Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades champagne - the #1 champagne in the world - as a gift.  We finally had the chance to open it last weekend and it more than lived up to its reputation.  The bottle is gold-plated and comes in a velvet bag.  It was not too dry and not too sweet; I had to force myself to drink it slower so it would last longer!  It's best reserved for special occasions, but we will definitely be buying it in the future.

Special thanks to E&D for providing the champers!

Bake: Dark Chocolate Souffle

picture of dark chocolate souffle

I've been wanting to try making a souffle for a while.  My mom recently bought me some souffle dishes as a gift, so I decided to start with a chocolate souffle (that way if it fell or otherwise didn't bake correctly, it would still be a delicious bowl full of chocolate).  It was actually really easy to make, and turned out great.

Recipe after the jump...

Bake: Yogurt-Bran Banana Bread

picture of yogurt-bran banana bread with butter on it

Bananas are great for dieting and help regulate your body's water retention.  I always buy more than we can seem to eat in time.  Banana bread is a good way to use up old bananas, but isn't exactly diet food.  I tweaked a standard banana bread recipe to get all of the taste with none of the guilt!


Recipe after the jump...

Cook: Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini and Onions

picture of shrimp scampi with zucchini and onions

The Second Floor Walkup team is on a New Year's Resolution diet (dog included).  We used FiberGourmet low-cal pasta (130 cals/ serving rather than the usual 200 cals).  With the low-cal pasta, the meal is about 375 calories per serving. This recipe is simple, delicious, nutritious, and affordable!  Recipe after the jump...