Dragon Noodles

Of course, all credit for this recipe goes to BudgetBytes.com but I thought I would share this amazing recipe and blog! As college-age home chefs, Noah and I are constantly looking for creative budget meal options. Our goal? To make inexpensive meals without missing out on quality. Sure, you could go to Walmart and pick-up a packet of ramen and call it a day, but that is both unhealthy and boring. Beth at Budgetbytes provides recipes for scrumptious and budget-friendly meals. Although she has quite the collection of good eats, my most favorite is her Dragon Noodles recipe.

Here is her recipe! It is a quick and simple recipe that only takes a few ingredients (most will probably be in your kitchen cabinet as we spoke). *pro-tip: although the recipe calls for lo mein noodles, I have made this dish with all sorts of pasta. I’ve used linguine, macaroni noodles, homemade spaghetti. I personally think it can be used on anything. You could also swap in rice which is also quite relish.

Dragon Noodles

Ingredients

4 oz lo mein noodles
2 tbsp butter
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 large egg
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp Sriracha rooster sauce
1 handful fresh cilantro
1 sliced green onion

Instruction

Begin to boil water for the noodles. Once the water reaches a full boil, add the noodles and cook according to the package directions (boil for 5-7 minutes).
While waiting for the water to boil, prepare the sauce. In a small bowl stir together the brown sugar, soy sauce, and sriracha.
In a large skillet melt 2 tbsp of butter over medium-low heat. Add the red pepper to the butter as it melts. Whisk with an egg in a bowl and then add to the melted butter. Stir gently and cook through. Once the egg is done cooking, turn off the heat.
When the noodles are tender, drain the water and then add them to the skillet with the cooked egg. Also add the prepared sauce. Turn the heat on to low and evaporate excess moisture, and stir until everything is coated well with the sauce. Sprinkle sliced green onions and cilantro leaves (whole) on top and serve!

Now, what are you waiting for? Head to the kitchen and started making yourself a delicious bowl of dragon noodles. While you are at it you should definitely take a look at budgetbytes.com . If you happen to like this recipe, Beth offers a lot of different variations

*Disclaimer- all credit for this recipe and photo goes to budgetbytes.com. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Oatmeal Cookies and A Christmas Story: Date Night Edition

Noah just got back from his travels in Gulu, Uganda, on Wednesday and I am over the moon that he is finally home! Unfortunately, he was gone for our 3rd anniversary but that didn’t stop us from celebrating once we got back. Flash back three years ago and Noah and I were celebrating our very first anniversary together. He took me to “The Twisted Olive” and we wined and dined on appetizers, an entree, and a yummy dessert. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love trying out new restaurants and our first anniversary was one to remember but last year we decided to change things up a bit. We chose to stay in, make homemade pizza, and watch a movie together. What a wonderful night it was!

I’m sure many of you can relate when I say that a lot of times we either don’t have the money and/or don’t want to drop $100 on a fancy night out. Although we like to treat ourselves every once in awhile, some of my favorite date nights are ones that are spent together at home. Of course, Noah and I love to cook so I’m sure that this makes a big difference. An ideal date night for us is making our own three course meal, complete with homemade bread to dip in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, freshly made pasta, marinara sauce made of tomatoes out of our garden, and a dessert inspired by The Great British Baking Show. The time we spend together in the kitchen is precious and we truly enjoy getting to create together.

Although we enjoy making an entire meal, something simple like making a batch of cookies together is a really fun way to spend time together. So, for our 3rd anniversary Noah and I set about making one of our favorite cookies: Oatmeal Raisin! In my opinion, oatmeal raisin cookies are completely under-rated! It seems like people are always reaching for the chocolate chip recipe when there are so many yummy options. Snickerdoodle! Sugar! Peanut Butter! Despite my ill feelings towards chocolate chips for monopolizing the cookie world, you can make yourself any type of goodie you chose. You can make a batch of the prized chocolate chip cookie or be a bit more ambitious and decorate cut-out cookies! Have fun with it! Try something that you’ve never done before or play around with a recipe you already have on hand. Take turns adding ingredients or each of you can make a batch and see whose turn out better! Add to the ambiance with your favorite tunes. Since it is almost Christmas, Noah and I listened to Christmas music as we put together our delectable treats. Below, you can find the recipe for the oatmeal raison cookies that we made last night!

After we made our delicious cookies, we sat down and watched a classic: A Christmas Story (speaking of which, any fans of this movie should definitely check out the Christmas Story museum in Cleveland, Ohio). I have such fond memories of watching this film with my family as a little girl. Honestly, it was a wonderful night and a great way to re-connect after two weeks apart. Moral of the story, you don’t have to go out and spend a fortune to enjoy date night! So, crank out a handful of delicious cookies and sit down to enjoy a good movie.

If you would like to try out the cookies that Noah and I made, here is the recipe. Merry Christmas and don’t forget to Eat, Drink, and be Merry!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup raisins

Instructions: Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Then cream together both of your sugars and your butter. Once the butter and sugars are creamed together, slowly incorporate your flour. Once the flour is completely mixed in, add your oats and raisins. Scoop the dough into balls and put two inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes until gold brown along the edges.

My Favorite Things to do in Canton, Ohio!

I am a Cantonian born and raised and I am proud of the place I get to call home! A lot of my peers complain about our little city but I fall in love with it time and time again. In my opinion, people don’t realize how much there is to do here. Sure, we definitely are no match for cities like New York and Boston that are always bustling with things to do , but for it’s size, I think Canton is a pretty great place to live. Plus, if we run out of things to do in Canton, Cleveland is just a short one hour drive North.

But, for now I am going to focus on all my favorite things to do in Canton! Plus, a couple of things I don’t particularly enjoy, but other people might like (*cough*cough* like visiting the Football Hall of Fame). Anyhow, lets get to it!

Explore downtown! Now, this is a pretty broad statement because there is a lot to see in downtown, but if you are new to the area (or maybe you aren’t?) you should definitely take some time to explore the Arts District. Pop into a shop or two! Take photos with some of the amazing wall murals! or simply take your pup on a walk and enjoy a brisk summer day!
Get coffee at Muggswigz. Muggs is definitely one of the local gems of Canton. They have been Canton’s coffee roaster and tea merchant since 2003 and boy do they do us proud. In fact, they were ranked as one of the 10 best coffeehouses in America by USA Today. I’ve frequented Muggswigz for the past eight years and I’ve come down with a list of my favorite beverages: 1) orange market spice tea, 2) chai latte and 3) The Fuzzywig. Check out their site here.
Visit Arrowhead! I always enjoy shopping around vintage/antique stores and arrowhead is one the finest. Not only do they sell some neat antiques, they also have a collection of vinyl and some awesome up-cycled art. Just recently, my cousin got me a handmade cowl scarf from Arrowhead and it is one of my favorites. Check them out here Arrowhead Vintage & Handmade Goods
See a play at the Players Guild Theatre. My favorite thing to do during the Christmas season as a youngster was to go see “A Christmas Carol” at The Players Guild Theatre. They have a wide selection of theatrical performances to chose from throughout the year! One of my favorites from this past season was “Newsies.” It is a great opportunity for a fun night out or to simply get more familiar with musical theatre. Grab some tickets for you and your friends here.
Go see a movie at The Palace Theatre. This one is an absolute most. I stand by my opinion that The Palace Theatre is one of the most spectacular cultural gems in The City of Canton. Built in the 1920s, The Palace is kicking like never before. Its famous ceiling, a stary, cloudy night, is projected onto the ceiling using a cloud machine that makes clouds continuously march across the sky. If you come early enough, you might just luck out and catch a glimpse of The Kiligan Organ. My favorite events this year have been “The Twilight Zone Fest”( featuring 4 classic episodes) and The 1925 version of The Phantom of the Opera. The Phantom of the Opera was especially cool because the organ was played during the silent film just like it was originally intended. They also host some great events! For example, I got to go see Hank and John Green this past fall! Check out their website here.
Visit Gervasi Vineyard. Gervasi is incredible and quite a treat for those who live in or are visiting Canton. It is a winery that offers guests fine Italian dining on their beautiful grounds. If you are looking for a fancier night out, opt for The Italian Bistro or The Twisted Olive. Looking for something a little more casual? Grab a pizza at either The Crush House or the Piazza Outdoor Patio. They offer so many different events, tours, tastings, and culinary classes! Read all about their wonderful charcuterie board here and check out their website here.
Visit the Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park. The park is beautiful and well-kept and makes the perfect place to take an evening walk or a long bike ride. Enjoy the scenery best in the fall when all the leaves are turning for the season or in the summer when the wildlife is buzzing.
Check out the Perry Sippo Library. The Stark County Library has SO much to offer. There are book clubs, a chess club, and many different classes you can take advantage of but I most love about the library is all the free content you have access to. I no longer buy my own books because I have such immediate access to them at the library. Plus, you can access a lot of digital media via apps like Hoopla and Lynda. Perry Sippo is one of my favorite branches for a couple of reasons: 1) the cichlid fish tank is absolutely incredible. I could stare at it for hours AND 2) I love to sit in front of the fire place and enjoy the picturesque scenery while I’m reading a good book. Learn more about the Stark County Library and all it has to offer here.
Visit the Football Hall of Fame. Although I’m not a big football fan, The Hall of Fame is definitely one of Canton’s claims to fame. Even I will admit that the annual Hall of Fame weekend can be great fun. I especially enjoy the ballon launch and the parade, but if you don’t happen to be around for HOF weekend, you can still check out the museum. Especially with all the revamping going on as they construct HOF Village, I’m sure it’s a place worth checking out. Maybe I’ll even get there soon?
Grab a glass of wine at Grapes in a Glass. I love to try different types of wine, however, my budget rarely lets me indulge in it the way my heart urges me to. The solution? Go to Grapes in a Glass and try a glass of one of their many selections. I love this because I can taste different types of wine without having to buy a bottle. Plus the jazzy, sauve atmosphere make for an enjoyable girls night out.
Go see the Canton Symphony Orchestra. The Zimmerman Symphony hosts a wide array of performances to up your knowledge of classical music. Plus, it is very affordable, especially for students. The Canton Symphony offers $10 tickets for students! Learn more about their events here.
Grab at burger at George’s Lounge. Honestly it will be one of the best burgers you’ve ever eaten. Plus, if you find yourself their on a Friday or Saturday night, there might be some live music to keep you wonderfully entertained.
Grab a waffle at Cultured Coffee and Waffles. Two words: Reese’s Waffle.
Visit the Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography. This is where Noah and I originally wanted to have our wedding reception. They are constantly displaying new exhibits for you enjoy. If you like photography, this is a must see.
Last, I want to share another one of my favorite Canton food joints: Deli Ohio. Honestly, they’ve raised the bar when it comes to local food joints. The restaurants features mostly local products that have been sourced directly from farmers. Plus, they put a huge emphasis on community. Placed in a bit of a dark area of Canton, Deli Ohio has made huge steps towards bringing it back to life. Plus, their food is simply delish. Check them out here.

And there you have it! Some of the best things to do while you are in Canton! Enjoy and if you are familiar with Canton, drop me a comment about your favorite things to do!

*Disclosure: I’m sharing this with you because I love the city of Canton and wanted to share some of my favorite places. No compensation was received. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Homemade Hummus

There is nothing that I appreciate more than homemade hummus. Each Saturday, I pull out the food processor and go to work on my chickpeas. I eat hummus on pita, pretzels, carrots, cucumbers, and cauliflower. I use it on sandwiches, rice crackers, pita chips, and bagels. Quite frankly, I use hummus on nearly anything and everything.

When I was in college, it was awfully convenient to grab a container of Sabra Classic Hummus each week at the grocery, but let me tell you something, once I started making homemade hummus I was completely hooked. Plus, it is super easy. So, below I’ve shared my absolutely favorite hummus recipe. I based my own recipe off of the New York Time’s recipe but over time have adjusted it to my own person preferences

Here what you need:

Ingredients

2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas (if I cooked them myself, I save some of the cooking liquid to adjust the texture at the end of the recipe)
1/2 cup tahini
1/4 cup extra virgin oil
4 cloves garlic
juice of approximately 1.5 lemons ( I liked my hummus extra lemony)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoons ground cumin (I LOVE cumin so I typically throw in an extra tablespoon. Adjust to your own particular preference)

Directions

Place the chickpeas into the food processor and pulse two to three times. When the chickpeas are broken up a bit add tahini, cumin, garlic, lemon juice, oil, and some salt and pepper. Process in food processor adding some of the chickpea water to adjust the texture. When everything is smooth and creamy make sure to taste so you can adjust your seasonings. Tada! Amazingly delicious hummus!