Since starting this blog, I've been volunteered to cook for one too many dinner parties and get togethers! Normally, I don't mind the cooking (I actually love it), but feeding lots of mouths can get really expensive. Over the course of the last year, I've found that one of my favorite challenges is making unbelievably decadent dishes on a budget. Recently, I made this totally over the top potato, onion, tomato & goat cheese tart. The recipe is inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi's, Surprise Tatin, ... [ Read More ]
3 Reasons You Should be Using Instacart
As many of you know, in addition to being a huge foodie, I am the self-proclaimed queen of technology. I love checking out all the newest phone apps and when I find one that is food related, I enter this crazy state of excitement and feel the need to share it with everyone I know! Today, I am thrilled to share my newest app obsession. This time, the app that caught my attention is called Instacart. Instacart is essentially a personal shopping and grocery delivery service that can get your ... [ Read More ]
Buffalo Chicken Lasagna
Yes. You read the title correct. Today, I am going to share with you an incredible buffalo chicken lasagna recipe. For the first time in my entire life, I am actually totally and utterly proud of myself. This recipe literally came to me in a day dream when my boyfriend asked me to think of something fun and new for dinner. I would go into the dream, but then you might think I'm a little strange... so let's just pretend I'm a complete genius, okay? The recipe starts with a delicious buffalo ... [ Read More ]
Homemade Buttermilk Ranch
I have a total obsession with ranch dressing. Believe it or not, this dressing is actually a pretty healthy option if you're going for a low carb diet. The problem? Most bottled ranch dressings have added sugars and GMOs making this not as healthy as you might think. I'm really making a conscious effort to understand what goes into my body when I'm cooking at home. I feel like when I eat out, I really can't control the ingredients that the restaurants use, but at home, I can control ... [ Read More ]
Quinoa Fruit Salad
The other night I had some girlfriends over and I wanted to whip up something quick, healthy and delicious for them! The problem was, I was really busy all day and didn't have time to go to the grocery store. What started as a stressful situation, turned into a blessing in disguise! Not only did I end up creating an amazing quinoa dish that was loaded with yummy fruit, but it was a great way for me use up the stuff I already had in my pantry. To make this dish, I literally just opened up my ... [ Read More ]
Restaurant Review: Doc B’s Fresh Kitchen Chicago
Simply put, I only write about "blog worthy" restaurants. As a result, it's been a while since I've done a restaurant review because I really haven't had any truly standout meals lately. My restaurant review hiatus came to end last week when I discovered a new, healthy, fast casual restaurant. Enter, Doc B's Fresh Kitchen. This Gold Coast gem was established to become an extension of your own kitchen (meaning you know the dishes you're eating use sustainable ingredients that aren't over ... [ Read More ]
The Improvisation of Cooking
Since I started Everything Erica, people are always asking my what my end goal is and what my motivation was for starting a blog. The truth is, my blog started out as a way to document my culinary adventures both in the kitchen and throughout Chicago, but it was slowly morphed into something that is much more than that. Through this medium, I've found myself in a position to inspire people, who have never cooked before, to get in the kitchen and start! I want to continue with this trend and ... [ Read More ]
Pineapple Fried Rice
One of my favorite takeout dishes is pineapple fried rice! Ordering it in can get pretty expensive (not to mention they use so much oil and MSG) so I wanted to try to make my own version at home. It turned out to be easier than I thought! The coolest part? Aside from the pineapple, I already had all the other ingredients in my cabinet/refrigerator since they are all pantry staples. Pineapple Fried Rice Enjoy this healthier version of pineapple fried rice without breaking the bank or ... [ Read More ]
Spicy Orange Chinese Chicken
If you've been following along over the last 8 months or so, you know I am a complete "Make Your Own Takeout" advocate. For your sanity, it's so important to indulge and eat junky Chinese food, but in reality, it's one of the worst things you can put in your body. Most of the time whenever you order traditional takeout, it's loaded with an excessive amount of sugar, carbs, msg and hydrogenated oils. To put it into perspective, look at the nutritional statistics of P.F. Chang's Orange Peel ... [ Read More ]
Foolproof Tres Leches Cake
I am self admittedly not a very good baker. I don't claim to be, nor do I pretend to be. However, yesterday, I totally disguised myself as one! Let me start from the beginning. My new friend, Jessica, invited me over for a Full Moon, Mexican Themed, Pot Luck Dinner Party (it was an incredible combo). I really wanted to impress her and her friends and I felt like I had a lot on the line. Jessica is the founder of one of the most successful blogs in the city, Cheeky Chicago, and her friends ... [ Read More ]
