Chicken's the side to this orzo dish

Poor Bryan. I've been so busy trying to squeeze my new blog in with all my other freelance work that he's been forced to eat the same foods over and over again. He definitely got spoiled in the last year when work had slowed down a bit for me (and the rest of the nation!).

He even got sick of my amazing pizza, which I have finally become a master at making quickly. This easy meal has also slipped into the repertoire, but I can't get away with it too much because somebody doesn't like chicken very much.

I admit, it's hardly a masterpiece. But it's so darn easy, and the Orzo with Spinach and Feta is really the highlight of the meal anyway. The chicken is simply sprinkled with salt, pepper, Garlic Mrs. Dash and a squirt of lemon juice. Then I cook two breasts in about 1 T. of olive oil over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes before they go in the oven at 350 for 8-12 more minutes. Like I said, easy.

A more grown-up take on cupcakes

Since I've already broken the dam on touting local venues that I like, why stop now?

Last week, a friend of mine from out of town was visiting, and we went to his brother's cupcake shop in Belltown, The Yellow Leaf Cupcake Co. Now I am no connoisseur of cupcakes -- Mom ruined me at a young age so that I typically don't like frosting, and I find cupcakes extremely difficult to eat. (Both of which I am using as excuses for waiting until my friend came to visit to finally give his brother's shop a try.)

So I was pleasantly surprised 1) that my freshly baked Raspberry Chocolate cupcake (below) wasn't dry and crumbly like the first cupcake I had at one of Seattle's many cupcake shops, 2) that the Italian buttercream frosting wasn't sweet and coating but light and delicious, and 3) that a plate and utensils were provided so I didn't look like a child after eating my child-size treat.

The owners, Mike and Tony, are also a big part of why the shop is a draw. Unlike some of the other cupcake shops in the city, they're actually there every day, talking with their extremely friendly customers and open to all of their suggestions for future flavors.

Unfortunately I couldn't get down there early enough in the day for the Pancakes n' Bacon special. Seriously! What will they come up with next?

The best deal on wine in Seattle

If you're looking for a cheap yet swanky night on the town with your girlfriends, my friend Melissa and I might have stumbled across the best deal in Seattle last week on an outing to see another friend, Carrie Wicks, sing some amazing jazz.

On Thursday nights at Sip in downtown Seattle, zee ladies get half-price wine flights, and they're quite generous with their pours. So generous, that I would actually say we received three better-than-average glasses of wine for the price of one.

My wine tree, to the right, consisted of three beautiful Washington reds for $10, and Melissa's was a white wine combination for $9. With the other tempting options to choose from, I would even say that the wine flights are a deal at full price.

In addition, the wait staff was courteous and helpful, the ambiance was alluring, and the music was splendid. Let me know if you want to go sometime. I'm in!