Eat // Dutch Oven Savory Pork Roast

I've been a slacker blogger lately (there. I said it!) and I actually couldn't remember if I shared this recipe already. So I had to search my own blog. Pitiful. 

Anyhow, it turns out that I haven't already shared this recipe and it's about time that I did!

I love easy. I love healthy. I love anything that makes my eyes roll back in my head as I stuff my face between sighs. This pork roast just does it for me. And my hubby and boys agree.

I love it when that happens because I am not a short-order cook… and I get annoyed when one kid likes white sauce, one kid likes red sauce and I'm supposed to figure it out… pink sauce??

No figuring it out with this one. The only thing I do differently for one kid is give him barbecue sauce instead of gravy.

Someone always has to be difficult special.

Click "Read more" for the recipe

Eat // Our Favorite Salsa

My kids are on Spring Break this week, but with weather in the high-80's, it feels like summer! We've been enjoying a lot of time in the backyard, swimming and playing basketball. By afternoon, we're usually parched and in need of a quick pick-me-up. One of our favorite afternoon treats is freshly made salsa and chips. This is a really simple recipe that packs in a lot flavor with just a few wholesome ingredients. And you should be warned… Once your family has salsa fresca, it's hard to go back to the store-bought variety.

Click "Read more" for the recipe

Noteworthy // 1.10.14

I'm still trying to shoo away the last remnants of holiday decor. Christmas tree... I'm talking to you. However, although it may not seem like it, I'm mentally prepared to take on the new year. While the holidays are fun and hectic, January is like a sigh of relief for me. Aside from a couple of events that I'm responsible for towards the end of the month and keeping up with the kids' sports schedule, the rest of January is time for me to restart again on my own terms. Restarting includes setting some realistic goals for 2014. I want to think these through, so that there's actually a chance that I may fulfill some of them by the end of the year.

How about you? Are you ready for a new year? And are you setting any goals?

Here are some smart ways to kick off 2014.

Click "Read more" for the full post

Eat // White Chili

When I make a meal that the entire family enjoys, I take note. And when I place a bowl of food in front of my kids and their first response is "Mmmmmm!", I know it's a keeper. White Chili is one of those meals that pleases the palate, has good, simple ingredients, and is easy to make. Win. Win. Win.

Click "Read more" for the recipe

Eat // Heirloom Tomatoes

Have you been enjoying Summer's bounty? I'm digging these miniature heirloom tomatoes that are out right now. Look at those beautiful colors. Not to mention they taste so much better than the regular stuff. I'm partial to roma tomatoes for cooking, but these are great for topping a salad or for just popping in your mouth for a quick snack.

My favorites are the dark green tomatoes.  I call them "watermelon" tomatoes because of their dark green striped skin and red flesh, but I think they're actually called Zebra Tomatoes.

Happy Wednesday!

Our Lives // Two More Weeks! and a Top Chef

It's hard to believe, but my boys have just two weeks of school left before summer break. Call me crazy, but they've had a wonderful year and I'm a little sad to see it end! The last few weeks have been crazy busy though-- baseball championship games, field trips to the zoo, school performances, birthday parties and more. It's to the point where I think I may have dropped the ball somewhere along the way... but I have no idea where. So yeah, I'm a little sad... but it's good to see the light at the end of the tunnel too.

On a fun note, we got to meet Michael Voltaggio of Top Chef fame (season 6 winner and owner of ink. in West Hollywood) and were able to partake in his innovative molecular gastronomy-style cuisine. The dishes were delicious, fun and beautifully plated.

I didn't want to interrupt him while he was working-- he has that intense, focused look... just like how he was on Top Chef. But when there was a lull, I got a quick photo and chit-chatted with him for a bit. He was pretty chill and asked us how we liked the food. It was all delicious and, just as you'd expect, every dish had that little "something" that made it unique. Obviously taste was important, but also creative presentation was key. And you know I like creative. I'm pretty sure that I was the only guest flipping over the mini hamburger boxes and oval tins trying to figure out where they can be purchased.  :)

I'm so looking forward to this weekend. We are celebrating my FIL's 80th birthday! It'll be nice to celebrate his amazing life and spend quality time with close family and friends.

Have a wonderful weekend!

[Read This / Drink That] Born to Run & Chia Seed Cranberry Spritzer

chi-chi-chi-chia!

If you know that little diddy, then HIGH FIVE!

If you don't...you missed out. And dang you're young! :)  See here on YouTube

As a kid, I remember wanting a Chia Pet.  I mean, how cool are those little clay figures with fast-growing plant hair?  Actually I think it was the catchy jingle that got me.  Ah, the 70's...  ;)

Back then, I had no idea that I would one day be ingesting the little seeds that put the chia in Chia Pet.  Apparently those little seeds with their magical growing powers are also good for you!  Each little chia seed is packed with protein, fiber, essential fatty acids, complex carbohydrates, antioxidants, calcium and more.

And the benefits?  For me it jump-started my metabolism and, without really trying, I lost a few pounds. After 9 years of marriage and 2 kids, I thought those little buggers were here to stay. And I lost the weight without altering my diet and exercise pattern too much.

[Eat] Easy Chicken Marsala

My kids love chicken, so it has become a staple ingredient on my weekly menu plan.  For the past year, I've found myself making this chicken marsala recipe pretty frequently. It's tasty, it's easy, and both the kids and adults like it, so I thought I'd share it here-- Why not, right?

Click "Read more" for the recipe

[Eat] Baby Heirloom Tomatoes

Sweet and tasty.  A great addition to a salad or just on their own.

Are you enjoying the summer harvest?

[Eat] Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

My favorite tomato basil soup is from Nordstom Cafe-- it's creamy, it's tomato-y, it's tasty, it's comfort food at its best. Have you had it?  My mouth waters just thinking of it. Unfortunately, my local Nordstrom doesn't have a cafe, so I've been determined to make my own version.  

I've tried several recipes, but I found that if I use Ina Garten's recipe and tweak it a bit to make it a little sweeter and creamier... it comes pretty close to Nordy's. 

Click "Read more" for the recipe

[Eat] Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Never in a million years did I think that I would be encouraging others to eat brussels sprouts.  Never.  But I was surprised how good these turned out.  Who knew that a little roasting can turn brussels sprouts into something tasty, nutty and buttery-soft. The Mister and the 3 and 5 year old gobbled them up, so definitely a keeper in this house. I actually never have had a bad experience with brussels sprouts.  Mainly because my mom never made them (she has bad memories), and because I wasn't inspired to try them out until a couple of weeks ago. Therefore I was never was scarred with memories of mushy and bitter brussel sprouts that smelled-up the house with sulfurous fumes.  Did I capture that right?

Oh Martha Monday - Menu Revamp

Happy New Year everyone!  With New Year's falling on a Sunday, doesn't it seem like we get an extra day to celebrate? Or should I say, an extra day to "rest". We're watching the Rose Parade before heading outside to enjoy this unseasonably warm January weather.  

With the beginning of a new year, it's like a new start.  I feel like my menu planning has been in a serious rut and have the itch to find some new, healthy and yummy recipes to carry us through the winter months.  Here are some recipe ideas from Martha Stewart--

cannellini and kale soup

grilled ham & cheese with pears

arroz con pollo

quinoa and apple salad with curry dressing

Click "Read more" for the full post

Oh Martha Monday - Chicken Souvlaki

If you love lemon and garlic flavors, then you need to try this Chicken Souvlaki recipe.  This Greek dish was featured in the September 2011 issue of Martha Stewart Living-- It's healthy, tasty and very simple to make.

via martha stewart

instead of firing up the grill, i improvised a bit and creating my own "grill" using a baking rack, foil-lined cookie sheet and cooked it on high in the broiler.

since my boys (the Mister included) won't touch tomatoes, I served steamed artichokes instead.

Have a terrific Monday!

Oh Martha Monday - Breakfast

Breakfast is my favorite meal, yet most days I find myself skimping by with a ho-hum bowl of cereal and a handful of fruit.  Here are some recipes that are guaranteed to add some spark to the oft neglected first meal of the day.  

since eating a delicious cornmeal pancake years ago at a restaurant in Berkeley, i've been on the search for the perfect cornmeal pancake recipe... perhaps this is the one!

blueberry cornmeal pancakes

 

food just tastes better on a stick. perfect for the kids!

french toast kabobs 

and also a classic french toast recipe here

 yogurt with honey & walnuts 

and a homemade yogurt recipe here

fruit salad

another kid-friendly option

breakfast sandwich

whole-grain morning loaf

 toasted oatmeal

basic omelet

 applesauce muffins

scrambled eggs with bacon & avocado

Mmmm... are you hungry yet?  My tummy's rumbling... off to rummage through the frig for some eggs, avocado and bacon! Have a lovely Monday.

The Perfect Egg

Good Eggs

With Easter almost upon us and having volunteered to make hard boiled eggs for Smarty Pant's Easter Party, I thought I'd turn to the folks at Martha Stewart for the Perfect Egg recipe:

how to get the perfect hard boiled egg here**

**If you're using farm fresh eggs, you may want to let them "age" for a week or so.  This will help with the peeling process.

Good Food - Pasta with Basil Cream Sauce

I love basil, my kids love white sauce... how to marry the two?  I found the perfect recipe that creates an excellent pesto sauce as well as a yummy, low fat  (well, sorta low fat, it's creamy but doesn't use cream) alfredo sauce.  Mix them together and it's the perfect dish that pleases everyone.  And if you have someone who objects to "ew, green sauce", the white sauce is excellent on its own.

Pasta with Basil Cream Sauce

original recipe here 

since part of the recipe is in metrics, I converted the recipe to cups & ounces**

{Ingredients}

1 pound pasta

For the Basil Pesto:

2 cups fresh Basil

1 cup fresh Parsley (I didn't have fresh and used 1/2 cup dried parsley)

3 cloves Garlic

1/4 cup Roasted Walnuts

2 Tbsps. Grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp. fine Salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground Pepper

3/4 cup Olive Oil

For the White Sauce:

1/4 cup Butter

1 tsp. minced Garlic

1/4 cup Flour

4 cups lowfat Milk

7 oz. (@ 1 cup) Grated quick melt cheese (I used the quattro formaggio mix from Trader Joe's)

1/4 tsp. pepper

{directions}

I. For the Basil Pesto:

Wash basil and parsley well and dry.
Place all ingredients, except olive oil, in a food processor or blender. Blend together, then slowly add the olive oil until the pesto is smooth. Set aside in a sealed container and keep in the refrigerator.

II. For the White Sauce:

In a medium size saucepan, melt butter and saute garlic on low heat until light brown.  Then add the flour. While stirring this mixture together, you'll cook the flour until the color is somewhat blonde, around 2 minutes at low heat. Change your kitchen tool to a wire whisk and slowly add the milk while stirring the sauce. Once you've finished adding the milk, turn to medium heat, add the grated cheese & pepper and stir sauce until thick. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the Basil Pesto prepared earlier.

III. For the Pasta

Cook in boiling water for 10-12 minutes or until al dente.
To infuse flavor into the pasta:  When pasta is cooked, drain to a bowl and toss in a little olive oil and basil pesto, around 2 Tbsps. each.


Add the Basil Pesto Cream sauce as desired and top with grated parmesan cheese.  BTW, if you have extra Pesto sauce, it can be frozen for another time.  I froze mine in an ice cube tray.

Enjoy!

**this is for us folks in the u.s. who never *got* the whole metrics thing-- weren't we supposed to convert back in the 70's??

Good Food - Honey Sesame Chicken

Since Smarty Pants has a discerning palate (who am I kidding? he's the world's pickiest eater!), when I come across something healthy that he'll willingly eat, it's like winning the lottery.

If you or someone in your family enjoys Orange Chicken, give this recipe a try!  It's much healthier than what the Chinese restaurants serve up, and you can control the sweetness by playing with the honey/teriyaki ratio.

Honey Sesame Chicken

I usually serve it with baby broccoli and rice

Original recipe found here.  I altered it a bit, so here's my version--

{Ingredients}

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds (divided)

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

5 (6 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into bite-size pieces

olive or sesame oil

1 yellow onion, chopped

2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce* (I use Yoshidas)

2 tablespoons honey*

*if you like a saucier dish, try 6 tablespoons teriyaki sauce and 4 tablespoons honey

{Directions}

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour, 1/4 cup sesame seeds, black pepper, five-spice powder, and red pepper flakes (optional). Place chicken pieces in the bag and shake to coat.

Heat oil in wok over medium-high heat. Place chopped onion and chicken into skillet and brown on both sides. 

In a separate bowl combine teriyaki sauce and honey.  Add teriyaki sauce & honey mixture to wok and stir in remaining 1/4 cup sesame seeds. Stir until sauce thickens. Heat through and serve.

Enjoy!

Cute Food

There are a ton of blogs devoted to cute food... 

happy little bento
love the turkey dog mummy and that little candy corn quail egg is adorable

little nummies
i may have to try this one... maybe in race car form

 jim's pancakes
this dad makes the coolest pancakes for his daughter!

epicute
these cute little "cheese burgers" are actually macarons!

I struggle enough just getting food ON the table, so making food look cute is pretty low on my "must do" list.  But then I got sucked in by these egg molds when a friend posted photos of her cute food on facebook. 

and look, you can even do rice!

I tried to rationalize the purchase by convincing myself that Smarty Pants (my little non-eater... he literally survives on just air) may be enticed to pick-up food if it's shaped like a car.  It sorta worked, he picked up the car-shaped egg, vroomed around... then took one bite and was full.  Ah well, baby steps...

I suppose I can use these for a future party... I don't think my boys will be growing out of their car phase any time soon.

Have a great weekend!

To the Tea

Summer is taking a toll on me... I started off all gung-ho with lots of energy and tons of activities planned... and now I'm just plain tuckered out.  Okay, I'm going to say it-- Am I the only one counting down until school starts?

I adore my boys, but the screams of "Mine! Mine! Mine!" and "He hit me!"  and "He's not sharing!" and "Brother, bad boy!" and "Mommy, put him in timeout!"-- Well, it makes for a loooooooong and tiring day...

I used to be able to survive on just one cup of coffee in the morning, but that isn't enough anymore.  I still drink my one cup of coffee (kowtow to the lovely Keurig), but drink Green Tea for the rest of the day.  A punch of caffeine AND some antioxidant benefits too?  I'm all there!

Here are my favs that get me through the day~

Stash Premium Fusion Breakfast Green & Black Tea

A great alternative to coffee

Tazo Zen Green Tea with Lemongrass and Spearmint

This reminds me of something you have at a spa... instant relaxation... even as the kids are playing handball against the tv... It's my Calgon!

 Yamamotoyama Genmai Cha (green tea and roasted brown rice)

This is great to sip with dinner

Trader Joe's Jasmine Green Tea

Another good dinner tea

And, in case you're wondering, three more weeks until school starts!