Doug’s Birthday Dinner at Home & What I Cooked Last Week
A Cozy Night in for Doug’s Birthday, Mom’s Chicken and Broccoli Baked Ziti, Southwestern Salad Tostada, Orange Chicken
Hi everyone,
Hope you had a wonderful week! I finally submitted my cookbook manuscript, and I couldn’t be happier with how all the recipes turned out. Now, I’m just waiting to hear back from my editor. The next big step is the photo shoot, which I’ll share more about as we get closer. (We’ll be shooting the book in LA in early March—so exciting!)
We recently celebrated Doug’s birthday, and instead of our usual night out, we decided to stay in for a home-cooked date night. (Fun fact: my cookbook has an entire chapter dedicated to restaurant-style date night recipes you can make at home!) It was actually Doug’s idea to keep things cozy this year—I thought it was so sweet and such a nice change from our usual tradition. Below, I’ll tell you all about what I made, including the best red velvet cake I’ve ever had and a fun surprise takeout addition that made the meal even better.
But first, here’s a recipe for the baked ziti of my dreams—it’s my mom’s recipe and has chicken, leeks, broccoli, and a creamy white sauce. It’s so good, I hope you try it!
What I Cooked Last Week! ↓
Mom’s Chicken and Broccoli Baked Ziti
This is my mom’s recipe, made with leeks, garlic, broccoli, chicken, and a béchamel sauce. It’s creamy and cheesy but still tastes balanced, light, and fresh. The leftovers are so delicious—make a big batch and enjoy it for days to come!
You can download the PDF recipe above and watch the video here :)
Southwestern Salad Tostada
This is my new favorite way to eat a salad because every bite has a crunch. It has tons of fresh veggies, avocado, beans, corn, and cheese. Crunchy and light—I think you’ll love this one!
Orange Chicken
This chicken is juicy and tender on the inside with the perfect balance of sweet and savory on the outside. I use the Chinese technique of velveting the chicken in cornstarch and egg white. Tangy, tender, delicious!
Doug’s Birthday Dinner
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