The Countdown

The countdown has begun!  Only 2 more days until the 3rd issue of Lonny hits your virtual newsstand!  If you have been trying to find a magazine to fill the void that was left when Domino went under and you haven't discovered Lonny yet, you're in for a treat!

Lonny December 2009 Cover

I can't tell you how many times I wished that my computer was handy while I am flipping through a great magazine so I can check out the sources online.  I usually put the magazine down and forget about researching the items I liked.  Well with Lonny, if you see an item you like, you can click on it and it takes you directly to where you can find it!  Genius!  For instance, the Iomoi bag in the top right corner caught my eye in the December Gift Guide:

If you rolled your mouse over the bag and clicked on it, you were directed right to the Iomoi page where you could buy the bag!  I only wish this feature had existed sooner.

Vanessa De Vargas' Home, Lonny December 2009

So, on February 10th, be sure to check out the latest issue of Lonny magazine.  They've been tweeting that it will feature some West Coast homes so I am really excited about that.  I hope you like it as much as I do!

More Love For Trader Joe's!

Like I said before, I am not someone who likes to celebrate Valentine's Day by going out to a fancy, overpriced dinner.  Instead, we like to cook at home or get together with friends and celebrate.  

Well this year, I can tell you what I'll be cooking for dessert!  Who doesn't love molten chocolate cakes?  They are so ooey and gooey, warm and yummy all in one little cake!  I am sure I could make them from scratch, but why would I want to when I can buy them at Trader Joe's and pop them in the oven!

I discovered them when I read this feature in the Jan./Feb. issue of the Food Network Magazine.  

They are now sitting in my freezer waiting for Valentine's Day to roll around!  You can find them at your local Trader Joe's in the freezer aisle for $2.99!  I plan to serve mine with a little vanilla ice cream.  YUM!

When I shop at Trader Joe's, I always love to check out the shelf where they feature their new products.  Look what I found this week - another treat to send to work with hubby!  

Now I don't want you all thinking that I send treats with him year round.  This is only a Valentine's Day thing.  A good excuse to send him to work with some love that will hopefully brighten his day!

Do you have anything fun planned for your Valentine's Day?  Do you like to eat in or out?  I'd love to hear what other people do!

Got 5?

Minutes that is!  If you have FIVE minutes, you can whip up the easiest dinner EVER.  I'm not kidding - FIVE minutes.  Did you ever think you'd be able to cook a dinner for your entire family that fast?  I bet the answer is NO!  You can't even microwave a meal for more than one person in under 5 minutes, let alone cook a meal!  OK, I'll let you in on my little secret:

Trader Joe's "Just Pasta" can be found in the freezer section at your local Trader Joe's.  You can get either Penne or Spaghetti noodles and each bag costs ONLY $2.49.  Pop it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, and your pasta is cooked!  YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BOIL WATER.  It's a miracle!  You don't have to wash your pasta pot or colander afterward either!  Having to wash fewer dishes after a meal is a great thing in my book.

Inside the bag there are two 8 oz. bags of pre-cooked spaghetti.  I cook both bags for the two of us and there are usually enough leftovers for one person the next day.  I think they must measure the pasta once it's been cooked because even thought it's 16 oz. of pasta, it makes a lot less than 1 pound of dry noodles would make.  Either way, it's still the fastest dinner you will EVER make.

Just as I put the noodles in the microwave, I pour a can of sauce in a sauce pan to heat it up on the stove.  My favorite sauce is the Organic Tomato Basil Marinara ($2.29) from Trader Joe's.  I find that it has more flavor than other sauces you can find at the grocery store.  And if we're going to eat sauce from the jar, then it should at least taste good right?

If you don't like to use sauce from a jar, then you can use the sauce from this post which I like to make and freeze so I have it handy when I need it.

A group of women from my neighborhood were getting together on Saturday night for drinks a few doors down so I wanted something easy to cook before I headed out.  This time I browned some ground beef and added it to the pasta.  I prefer to use the organic ground beef you can find at Costco that comes in convenient 1 pound packages:

I store the individual packages in the freezer and they keep well.  So all you have to do for this entire dinner is brown the meat, heat the sauce and microwave the noodles.  It's as simple as that and you have dinner in FIVE minutes!  YUM!

Wondering about that garlic bread there?  That's the Barefoot Contessa's garlic ciabatta bread.  It was the best home made garlic bread I've ever made so I'll definitely write a post on that later!

I'd love to hear what your favorites are from Trader Joe's too!  I hope you'll share so we can all try them out!