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Recipe: Bowtie Caprese Salad

1/22/2015

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Spring is always the time of the year where I attempt to adjust my diet to a healthier one, especially after an entire holiday season of binge eating. I am not, however, a huge fan of salads, so I try my best to find different kinds to switch things up throughout the week. One of my current favorites is the Caprese salad, with some bowtie pasta tossed in. It's filling, healthy, and extremely easy to make!

Serves: 1-2

Ingredients:

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  • 1/2 cup grape tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella
  • 1/2 cup spinach leaves
  • 1/2 cup bowtie pasta
  • olive oil
  • balsamic vinegar 
  • salt & pepper

Let's Get Started!

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1. Cut the grape tomatoes and balls of mozzarella in half.
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2. Cook the bowtie pasta according to package instructions, adding a little bit of salt to the boiling water when cooking.
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3. Toss the grape tomatoes, mozzarella, pasta, and washed spinach in with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste.

And You're Done!

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Smile c:
~michelle
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rECIPE: pEPPERMINT bARK

1/10/2015

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Happy New Year's!

I can't believe it's already a full week into the new year! This break has just passed way too quickly. In a few hours, I'll be heading back to school. 

To finish the holiday season, of course, I had to make some peppermint bark! I tried this last year, but nothing seemed to work. This time, it was a success! Well, as much as cooking can be for me, and of course, with a lot of funny stories behind it.

The process was split at multiple houses, and involved a lot of transportation - hence, the photo with a grassy background. Since the second house had wooden kitchen floors, I couldn't smash the candy canes in the kitchen. The result? There are quite a few photos of me sitting on the tiled floor of a bathroom, smashing candy canes with my phone. Definitely an interesting way to start the new year.

Ingredients:

  • 12 oz white chocolate*
  • 12 oz milk or semi-sweet chocolate*
  • 4 candy canes
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil

*Do NOT use Nestle, use Ghiradelli! Nestle's chocolate doesn't melt smoothly - it clumps easily.

Let's Get Started!

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1. Melt the brown chocolate in a bowl in a pot of boiling water or microwave. For microwave, heat for 30s, stir, 20s, stir, 15s stir. Continue until all the chocolate has melted. 
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2. Pour chocolate onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bang on a hard surface to release any air bubbles trapped and to flatten the surface. Let cool in fridge.
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3. Before the brown chocolate has completely dried, repeat the process with the white chocolate. Break the candy canes in a ziplock bag with a hard object, and scatter over the white chocolate while it is still soft. Let bark solidify in fridge for no less than 2 hours, and break into pieces.

And You're Done!

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Smile c:
~michelle
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Wishlist: When Christmas Comes to Town

12/20/2014

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When December comes around, all I can think about are Christmas trees, fairy lights, and peppermint white chocolate mochas. The heavenly mix of peppermint and chocolate is my ultimate holiday season indulgence. The two contrasting flavors pair amazingly together, and no matter what time of the year, it'll always feel like Christmas
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Peppermint Oreo Truffles
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Sweetheart Pops
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Peppermint Dipped Oreos
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Peppermint Stirring Sticks
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Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes
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Of course, it's not Christmas without some peppermint bark!
Happy Holidays!
Smile c:
~michelle
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    Michelle Zhao

    A Geek with a Dream is my personal collection of inspiration. There are DIY project ideas, recipes, beauty and fashion tips, personal photographs, and random thoughts. Enjoy and always remember to smile c:

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