In the kitchen: Asian chicken noodle broth

It seems like Gwyneth Paltrow is everywhere these days: Singing on Glee, starring in movies, helping me in the kitchen. I discovered her lifestyle newsletter GOOP and was really impressed by the yummy recipes she features. In the name of my lifestyle change, I'm eating better (the fiance is along for the ride).

Looking for a nutritious yet tasty meal, I turned to Gwyneth. And she came through in her newsletter about Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Pretty sure his Asian chicken noodle broth created a revolution in our tummies. It was delicious, filling and super easy to make (and this is coming from somebody who has like zero culinary skills). Happy cooking!

Serves 2

1 tablespoon mixed seeds (pumpkin, poppy, sun flower)

a small handful of raw cashew nuts

1 quart chicken broth, preferably organic

2 skinless chicken breast fillets, preferably free-range or organic

2 teaspoons five-spice powder

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

olive oil

a thumb-sized piece of fresh root ginger

½ to 1 fresh red chili, to your taste

4 ounces rice sticks or vermicelli

a handful of snow peas

6 thin asparagus spears or 4 regular-sized spears

6 fresh baby corn or 1/2 cup fresh corn kernels

soy sauce

juice of 1 lime

a small handful of spinach leaves

Check out my past cooking adventures here.

In the kitchen: Nuna's Mediterranean couscous

Remember how I said going local pays because you can find out a little more about your city? Well, you can also acquire yummy recipes and meet interesting people. Such was the case during a visit to the Phoenix Public Market two weekends ago.

One of the fun things about the market is the samples (free food? yes, please). And on that day, a really cool lady named Nuna was hawking her yummy wares, which included vinaigrettes and marinades.

The fiance and I were only going to buy a bottle of her marinade when she enticed us with her coucous recipe that came with the purchase of two of her products. So of course we caved because she was super nice and the sample couscous was delish. And now it's your gain, too, because it was too scrumptious not to share.

Hungry? More yummy for your tummy awaits here.

Sweet treat

With the Holidays in full effect, allow me to add to the calorie-fest that occurs between Thanksgiving and New Years. According to a friend, Shower Surprise is my "signature dessert," AKA it's really the only thing I can bake. I'm unsure on the name's origin, but the recipe has been in my family for as long as I can remember.

I made it for Thanksgiving, and to ease the burden of confection-induced guilt (and inches), I used reduced fat and fat free ingredients. I also recommend cutting the sugar out of the filling if you're not into super sweet yummies.

Sweet Sunday

Chocolate chip waffles + watching the NFL all day = Great conclusion to the weekend.

A most delicious birthday celebration

Whoever said "don't play with your food" never had the pleasure of the interactive dining experience that is fondue.

Last year, we celebrated my birthday at a local fondue place in Fresno (which has sadly closed) and wanted to do the same in Phoenix. There's always The Melting Pot, which is fun, but pricey and not to mention a chain. The fiance and I like to support local businesses, and we found a highly-recommended restaurant in Glendale called Le Chalet.

The food was mouth-watering and authentic, the service was outstanding and the ambiance was pleasant and romantic.

We were served a complimentary nibble of crunchy bread toasted with Swiss cheese and herbs and I had a birthday glass of house champagne. We ordered the Swiss cheese fondue with baguette pieces and La Bressane, which consisted of chicken chunks with an oil fondue and four dipping sauces.

Le Chalet, which also is a French creperie, offers TV monitors where you can watch your food being prepared in the exhibition kitchen for an even more interactive experience.

Le Chalet isn't just for celebrating special occasions such as birthdays. It's perfect for anyone wanting a yummy piece of France or Switzerland in the Valley of the Sun.

After dinner, we headed to SunUp Brewing Co., our fave brewhouse, for a few beers. It was the perfect end to an amazing day. I was overwhelmed by the calls, texts and Facebook love. I can't wait to see what 29 has in store.