Red Wine Mushroom Sauce for Pasta

I hope everyone had an amazing Labor Day weekend! Mine was full of friends, good music, beer, and BBQ'ing. It's been quite the busy day for me, as I'm sure it was for most anyone getting back to work after a long weekend, and on busy days cooking can be the last thing on someone's mind. Cooking can require a lot of planning, grocery shopping, preparation, and time. Sometimes digging through your pantry and fridge to see what you have to work with is the best route to take for a lazy, yet delicious meal. Which is exactly what I did this evening. 

Pasta is quick. Yes, I know making your own sauce does take more effort then simply opening a jar of marinara, but come on-- you have to admit that's probably the most boring things you can possibly make in a kitchen, no offense. I'm guilty of it too, don't worry. We all are. Spoil yourself a little and make this super quick and easy pasta sauce made from common kitchen ingredients! If you don't have all the ingredients, see if you can substitute something else. This recipe calls for creativity!

Healthy Quinoa Chili

     Quinoa Pasta (adapted from AllRecipes.com)

Quinoa is something I discovered only about a year ago. It's full of protein and amino acids, as well as dietary fiber and iron, making this wholesome little grain way healthier than rice. There are so many creative ways to incorporate quinoa into your meals, and chili is really just one of probably thousands. San Francisco nights are always cold, so making chili tonight just seemed like the right thing to do.

Note: For a vegetarian option of this meal, please see the tips at the bottom of this post!

Soft Oatmeal Cookies

     Soft Oatmeal Cookies (adapted from AllRecipes.com)

Okay, I'm really not a dessert-y type of girl. I don't have a huge sweet tooth, and more likely than not, I'd choose a side of truffle fries over a slice chocolate truffle cake any day of the week. But there are those times after a meal, when you really do crave something sugary. Just a little something. Cookies are great because you can have just one, and not feel incredibly guilty... that is, if you CAN have just one. Oatmeal cookies are one of my absolute favorites in the cookie variety. Here is my favorite oatmeal cookie recipe I've tried yet. You won't be disappointed!

Ashley's Turkey & Spinach Lasagna

I grew up hating lasagna. Weird, right? People would ask me what my least favorite food was, and I'd always say raisins and lasagna. Now it'd probably be goat cheese (gasp!)

I realized later in life that it wasn't fresh homemade lasagna I didn't like, it was the yucky frozen kind from the store. Sure, those are good for quick family meals, and I don't hate them now, but after trying my mom's homemade lasagna later in life, I was hooked. Tonight I decided to make up my own lasagna recipe, and man was it GOOD.

The Sentinel: San Francisco, CA

Corned Beef with swiss cheese & cabbage

A corner sandwich shop with a line out the door, wrapped around the sidewalk, is a very good sign in my book. I've been meaning to check out The Sentinel for quite a while now. They're quite famous for their roast beef and corned beef sandwiches. 


The line went by speedy gonzales fast. They basically just start making sandwiches and put them into boxes so they're ready to go for the next customer in line who wants it. I ordered a corned beef sandwich when I got to the front of the line and had it in my hands within about 2 seconds. Paid $9 and was out of there in a jiffy.


This little corner shop isn't a place to sit and eat. In fact, they don't have anywhere inside to sit and eat. Does that matter? No. Because Yerba Buena Gardens is just a block or 2 down the street. And what better way to enjoy a 
sunny afternoon than to sit in a beautiful park, absorbing the sunshine, and eating one of the most delicious sandwiches ever? I guess winning the lottery might be better, but not much else.

Zesty Chicken Piccata

      Zesty Chicken Piccata (adapted from The Pioneer Woman)

This recipe is seriously simple. I'd suggest this as one of those dishes to make when you're really trying to impress somebody, but you don't want it to take forever, and have it be too complicated. It's also easy to create this recipe for one, having no leftovers (yes, this is sometimes a good thing).