Meat Love

One of our family's favorite recipes is meat love. Not to be confused with typical meat loaf, as this is 100 times better, my meat love (as named by our oldest daughter) is wonderfully juicy and flavorful, and goes perfectly with best ever green beans (see Monday, May 24th's post for the recipe). A recent dinner guest requested this recipe, so I thought it best to share with everyone, enjoy!

Meat Love

2 tsp vegetable oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1/4 cup milk
1 cup fresh white bread crumbs*
1 cup ketchup
4 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 lb ground bison or organic lean ground beef
8 oz kielbasa sausage without casings
1 egg, lightly beaten

heat oil in a medium skillet over medhigh heat and add onion, cooking until tender, 5 to 7 minutes then transfer to a large bowl

combine milk and bread crumbs in a small bowl and set aside
combine ketchup and worcestershire sauce in small bowl and set aside

add ground beef, sausage, egg, bread crumb mixture, and 1/3 of the ketchup mixture into the bowl with the onions and mix until just incorporated (over-handling the meat will toughen it)
bake in a loaf pan at 350 degrees for 45 minutes

remove from the oven, pour off some of the fat, and spread the remaining ketchup mixture over the top, and bake for 30 minutes more
let set 15 minutes before serving

*to make fresh bread crumbs, place some crustless white bead in the food processor and pulse until crumbled. You can store any leftovers in a ziplock bag in the freezer and pull them out as needed!

Weekly Menu No. 7

Tuesday Happy Birthday Samuel!
french toast with toasted almonds and apricot glaze
humpty dumpties with apples and peanut butter
pizza salads
dessert baby's 1st birthday cake

Wednesday
cheddar buttermilk biscuits with fried eggs and fresh fruit
grilled chicken quesadillas
sloppy joe sliders with pickles
dessert ultimate oatmeal cookies

Thursday
homemade granola bars and strawberry milk
cuban sandwiches
chicken piccata with sauteed spinach and herbed angel hair pasta
dessert chocolate ganache tartlets

Friday Happy Birthday Josephine!
cinnamon rolls (take II)
picnic at the park lemon orzo salad with feta and pine nuts with strawberry sugar dippers
family movie night mexican chicken salad with spicy ranch dressing and popcorn ball treats

Sick Day

Sunday's usual menu post is taking a sick day... here however is my favorite soup recipe that hopefully will have me feeling better in no time....

Mighty Minestrone

extra virgin olive oil
2 large garlic cloves
2 carrots diced
1 stalk celery diced, plus any additional leaves from the stalk
1 small onion diced
S&P (salt and pepper)
14 can diced tomatoes in juice
1 bay leaf
2 large fresh sage leaves
parmesan cheese rind (optional)
2 cups cannellini beans (or other white beans), rinsed well and drained if from a can
1 bunch swiss chard (kale works nicely too), chopped
1 cup little star pasta, or other small pasta shape
grated parmesano reggiano cheese for garnish

heat a large pot over medhigh heat and add 1 TBS olive oil and garlic, sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute
add carrots, celery, and onion and cook, stirring frequently, until veggies soften and begging to brown, about 4 minutes, season with S&P

add tomatoes, bay leaf, sage, and cheese rind (optional), add enough water to cover the vegetables by 2 inches and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. add beans and kale and continue to simmer for another 30 minutes. season once more with S&P to taste

just before the soup is done, bring a saucepan 3/4 full of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. cook al dente to package directions and drain well. put desired amount of pasta in bowls, then ladle the soup on top. drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with the parmesan

Let Them Eat Cake (and frozen yogurt)

Discussion of the multiple birthdays this week may heave seemed noticeably absent, but in order to keep my writing as manageable as possible, I figured it would be much more efficient to lump all of the scrumptious details together. My two younger children, Josephine and Samuel, now 1 and 3 respectively, are 3 days apart. Now to most children, and parents for that matter, such a birthday overload is considered an unfortunate happening.... having to share the birthday glory, and possibly presents if there are not enough to go around, but I say this doesn't have to be so.

Our children's parties are not of the typical kind, with themed characters everywhere which seem to suck all manner of character and charm out of what should be delightful and enjoyable celebrations for not only children, but for the grown-up set as well. Even though we have a cozy little house (polite speak for small and cramped), we continue to have them at home, as opposed to random 'event room B'. Party 'packages' have become such a popular money suck, that parents are somehow missing the fact that they are in fact (over) paying to be made miserable. I hear of mothers sacrificing their preferences in order to give little Johnnie the new super ranger bouncy train extreme pizza extravaganza. This is like crack cocaine for kids; yes, once introduced to these themes, foods, and otherwise worthless experiences, they will want them, badly; but that is not to say that they have any positive affect whatsoever, or are actually any good. Children will have a great time, even if you are too, I promise! If there is a cake, and friends, and presents, and perhaps a fun game or two, they will have a happy birthday. There is, I know, a flip side to all that as well, which is why parents are lured into the afore mentioned kiddie attractions to begin with- throwing parties can be exhausting, especially when you are an OCD perfectionist, such as myself. This last Saturday, we hosted a much anticipated double party for Josephine's 3rd and my Sammie's first birthday, and I had gotten such little sleep the night before that I lost my voice 15 minutes before the party even began! I was up until 3:30 AM slicing up melons and pineapple and cutting them into shapes, whipping up homemade marshmallows, fillings for tea sandwiches that I did not end up having time to assemble the following day, and getting the texas caviar and best ever sour cream dip finished. Then it was back in the kitchen at 7 to begin work on the 6 layer coconut cake with passionfruit and vanilla bean custard filling, and the yellow buttermilk cupcakes. I had intended on decorating the cupcakes as little pigs and lions, but that idea, too, had to be scrapped, due to time constraints. My favortive confection were the homemade marshmallows on a stick, which I coated in melted chocolate, almonds and coconut. Without having a duplicate of myself, or an assistant (or both), I was not able to get everything accomplished, but I was completely happy with everything. Yes, I was exhausted, but I love it, and so I can't complain! Birthdays are the only true food-free-for-all days that my children have, where they may have whatever treats they wish, and they had a splendid time eating jelly beans and bubble gum and cake to their hearts content. We went all out and this year and even rented a bounce house as the main attraction, but unfortunately Texas heat was enough to keep even the kids from venturing outside, and so it remained empty most of the time. All in all, the party was a success... the adults were able to sit back and visit with a glass of wine, the children ran around with little juice boxes, and that was something we could all toast to.


The following Monday was Samuel's actual first birthday so, in an effort to honor my son individually, I baked him his own personal baby cake, to which he was allowed to devour without constraint...




Josephine officially turned 3 on Friday, and while we had scheduled an afternoon picnic celebration at the park, the the weather had different plans. As a consolation, we all snuggled up in bed and had a midday watching of Pinnochio, and went out for a rare family dinner to one of our favorite local restaurants, Fireside Pies, a gourmet pizzeria with terrific salads and even better sangria. To top off the birthday girl's evening, we went down the street to Cassie's, a local self serve yogurt bar, where both Isabella and Josephine were allowed to pile on all manner of fortified nastiness (this was more of a 'daddy idea'), and hopefully it was enough to satisfy them for another year!

Four Piece With Fruit (my lecture on fast food)

I have never purchased fast food for my children. Ever. While this is something that I am particularly proud of, I do understand that this makes me look about as normal as, well, just not normal. While sometimes this is praised, more often than makes sense, I have other mother's look at me quizzically and suspiciously, as if I have somehow broken some unwritten code that all children should be socialized over Happy Meals. Do they know the ingredients in McDonald's Chicken McNuggets are made from steriod and antibiotic fed chickens with unusually large breasts which are stripped down to the bone, ground up into a chicken mash combined with a variety of stabilizers, preservatives, and chemicals such as tertiary butylhydroquinone (a phenolic antioxidant), polydimethylsiloxane (an anti-foaming agent), deep fried and freeze dried, and shipped to your local McDonald's playdate? Would you like fries with that, or perhaps a burger? For an incredibly fascinating (and frightening) exposé on these Mc Donald's menu items, check out this YouTube video www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IGtDPG4UfI. Unfortunately, other, perhaps more well thought of, fast food outlets aren't much better- even Chick Fil A's chicken contains MSG and the afore mentioned chemical anti-foaming agent. This is lunch (or dinner) for many children... and we wonder why kids have so many health problems these days. When my girls ask "Mommy, why can't we eat at (as they call it) Old McDonald's?", I explain to them that we want to eat food from happy animals, who, if possible, came from somewhere nearby, that we want to put good, nourishing food in our bodies, and that, unfortunately, even though it is made to look fun, the "food" from such drive-thru eateries is fortified nastiness. This may seem like seriously heady stuff for a 5 and 2 year old, but ideals (whether social, moral, or religious) are taught every day, with every action you take. Our kids are learning what to value from us.

This, of course, is not to say that I never serve up some simple, much loved, children's fare. I must admit that even I am a lover of the all-american chicken nugget. Luckily, they could not be easier to prepare at home, and they are unquestionably healthier than anything you could find driving down the highway!



Homemade Chicken Nuggets

1 lb ground chicken breast (ground thighs are also acceptable and very inexpensive, ground turkey works nicely too)
1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs*
1/3 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp paprika

vegetable oil for frying

heat a large skillet over medium to medhigh with about 1/4 cup of vegetable oil
combine bread crumbs, salt, and paprika in a bowl and set aside
divide ground chicken into little disk shapes and coat them in the bread crumbs
fry in the pan for about 4 minutes per side, until golden

We All Scream For Ice Cream (Recipes)!

Homemade ice cream is truly one of life's best pleasures. Incredibly easy (and inexpensive!) to make, it tastes far superior to even the most gourmet of brands. I have experimented with all manner of ingredients, including cream cheese, searching for the perfectly textured and flavored vanilla ice cream. Unbelievable as it sounds, the simplest and easiest recipe happened to be the best... no custards, no staining, no chilling, no expensive vanilla bean pods, which means it is just that much easier to always have some on hand! To make the ice cream, however, you will need the help of an electric ice cream maker- Cuisinart has a great one on the market, and is very reasonalbly priced at $59.99 (available at Williams-Sonoma).

Hot fudge sauce (vanilla ice cream's must have accessory) that is not laden with HFCS, artificial flavors, need I go on, is almost impossible to come by in the grocery store. The good news is that I have a recipe that tastes better than any sundae sauce you have ever tried and is all natural to boot! The even better news is that it is on this page : )

See "Women On The Rise" entry for a fun self serve ice cream bar idea!

Very Vanilla Ice Cream

1 pint (2 cups) heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

place all ingredients in a large bowl and stir well, then pour into electric ice cream maker and flip the switch. In 20 (25 minutes if you would like it more fluffy and less creamy) minutes you will have amazing soft serve, or pop it in the freezer for a couple of hours until firm.
*be sure to place a sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper directly on top of the ice cream, to keep it from getting ice crystals and developing off flavors.

variation: in the last 5 minutes of churning, let your imagination run wild- add crushed cookies, candies, fruits, nuts, anything you want! My favorite variation is my take on Ben& Jerry's Chunky Monkey- I add one mashed ripe banana, chocolate chunks, and walnuts (and sometimes some toasted coconut).


Best Ever Hot Fudge Sauce

1 1/2 cups (9oz) semisweet chocolate morsels
2/3 cup sugar
10 oz evaporated milk
1 TBS butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

combine first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often
boil for one minute stirring constantly
remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla, cool slightly
*this week keep in the fridge, tightly covered, for 2 weeks

ENJOY!

Weekly Menu No. 7

Monday
fruit salad with yogurt
broccoli and bacon frittata
lightened up eggplant parmesan

Tuesday
blueberry mini waffles with whipped cream
homemade chicken nuggets
date with Isabella

Wednesday
fried eggs and skillet potatoes
picnic at the park heart shaped PB&J and updated ants on a log
spiced chicken, spinach, and cheese turnovers in 3 grain butter pastry

Thursday
apple jack pancakes
humpty dumpties with cheese cutouts and carrots sticks
chicken and sausage gumbo with rice

Friday
homemade cinnamon rolls
quick alfredo with peas
vegetable enchiladas

Women On The Rise

My menu has been modified and downsized this week, as needed, due to my serious underestimation of how much my husband actually eats (or how little I eat, depending on one's point of view). Monday night's delicious Cuban Paella, with it's chicken, shrimp, peas, and golden saffron rice has fed the children and me for the last 3 nights! Therefore, pizza night did not happen, and coq au vin has been pushed to Friday. Tonight's meatballs and cheesy garlic bread are still right on schedule however. Lack of pizza aside, Tuesday evening was wonderfully spent creating the ice cream sundae bar with Isabella and Josephine, making the best ever hot fudge sauce (one of my favorite indulgences) which, though it has no corn syrup, still manages to posses a thickness, sheen, and slight chewiness that is essential to hot fudge perfection. We also whipped up a batch of homemade caramel sauce (again, there is no need to include corn syrup) and toasted some coconut. Add a few slivered almonds and some pitted bing cherries, and what you have is heaven (or quite possibly hell, to all you dieters out there) in a bowl. After we all assembled our sundaes, it was on to family movie night, which since Daddy is still out of town, was viewed snuggled up tightly in my bed, and a sweet time was had by all.


Wednesday before noon was complete bedlam, due to the fact that I awoke half an hour late (yes, it makes THAT much of a difference). There are few absolute truths in this life, but one unequivocally is that if I am able to wake up, and spend a few minutes in quiet, I will have a better day than if not. Ideally, I strive to have a few minutes of yoga, followed by makeup and cloths, and am already embarking on breakfast before I hear the patter of little feet in the hall. This way I am centered and focused and not attempting to run backwards through my day getting nowhere, never quite able to catch up. That, however, was exactly what happend Wednesday. Long story short, I finally got everything prepared for our picnic (albeit 2 hours late), and around noon we were out the door. Another thing I know for sure? No matter how overwhelming or stressful life gets, happiness and sanctuary can be found on a picnic blanket with your children on a beautiful day. Josephine's favorite pasta, fusilli, which we have affectionately renamed fu-silly, made for a silly and colorful pasta salad indeed, with a bright and fresh green pesto, with sliced kalamata olives, mini mozzarella balls, and baby heirloom tomatoes. And our double chocolaty cookies were the perfect treat after such a healthy and light lunch.
Returning briefly to Tuesday, I have a most memorable moment to share. When, on Mother's Day, I called my 85 year old grandmother to send her my love, I learned that she had never made a soufflé (which was what I was serving for my brunch that day). This may not seem unusual to most, but then you have never met my grandmother. This is the woman who instilled in me a love for cooking and who still inspires me in the kitchen (and out). She had 9 children and a successful husband for whom she constantly cooked, and hosted more parties than most people have probably ever attended. She had never made a soufflé? This must be rectified, I thought. So Tuesday was the day for atonement. I hired a sitter, packed up all the necessary ingredients (including a soufflé dish that I specially purchased for her to keep), and made the drive down to Granny's. While she helped with minor prep, I was given the honor of cooking for her while she relaxed and enjoyed our visit (along with the requisite champagne that lends itself ANYTIME there is company in her house - I love this woman). She set a lovely table (I would expect nothing less) and we spent the next hour enjoying each other's company and our decadent mixed mushroom and herb soufflé with pecorino romano and parmesan. I shared with her all of my culinary aspirations and cookbook concept that I am working on (more on that later), and she shared with me her mutual desire to compile a cookbook as well. At 85, there is no time like the present, and I strongly encouraged her to begin the undertaking, which would no doubt, at the very least, make for a treasured family possession and heirloom. So we sat, grandmother and granddaughter, two women contemplating our futures, and what beautiful things lie ahead.

Weekly Menu No. 6

Monday
easiest ever oatmeal smoothies
quick quesadillas with avocado and mango slices
cuban paella

Tuesday
french toast fingers
lunch 'o' leftovers
pizza night
dessert homemade ice cream sundae bar

Wednesday
breakfast burritos with sausage, peppers, and potatoes
picnic at the park fu'silly' pasta salad with apples and double chocolate chip cookies
easy coq au vin

Thursday
soon to be famous stuffed pancakes
lunch 'o' leftovers
mighty meatballs with spaghetti and cheesy garlic bread

Friday
fruit bowls with orange yogurt and honey
caramelized onion and bacon tart
veggie and tofu curry

Rollin' In The (Play)Dough... and other events of Thursday

To those of you who detest the smell of Play-Doh, I herald the mark or a new chapter in craft time. In a total of 15 minutes time, you can make homemade play dough, with customized colors and scents. It lasts for months- just pop it into a Gladware container! The best part- It only costs about 2 bucks.

What you'll need

2 cups flour
1 cup table salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 cups water
2 TBS vegetable oil
packet of kool aide (choose your favorite color/scent)

medium saucepan
medium bowl
sturdy spoon
measuring cups/spoons

combine four, salt, and cream of tartar in medium saucepan
combine water, vegetable oil, and kool aid in medium bowl
put pot over medium heat and slowly pour in liquid mixture
stir continuously until the texture of super thick and lumpy mashed potatoes, about 4 minutes
(this will take a bit of arm work)
pour play dough on a lightly floured work surface or large bowl and allow to cool for a couple of minutes
(this is a good time to clean up all of your equipment and put ingredients away)
come back to the dough and knead it for a minute or so, adding a few TBS of flour if too sticky, until smooth

TaDa.... Have Fun!


Thursday morning began at the most ungodly hour of 4:45 AM. I actually woke up at this time on purpose, as this was to be the last breakfast shared with my husband before he left for Hawaii for 10 days (extra wife points please?). His flight was leaving at 8 AM, and security being the way it is, meant that we needed to leave around 6:15, which would put me in the kitchen at 5. He requested fried eggs, cooked into oblivion just the way he likes them, with best ever grits and bacon. I added fruit for good measure, to try and stop the coronary. Grits, for any of you non-southerners out there, is simply a version of polenta, typically made with white corn. Polenta, to any of you non-italians, is basically cornmeal cooked in water until soft and porridgy (think a corn version of oatmeal). The secret, however, to making out of this world grits is to cook them in chicken broth, and NOT water. This imparts tremendous flavor to a dish that can very easily taste like cardboard. Add a little cream and cheddar cheese, perhaps some green onions, and you have the south in bowl, piping hot and delicious. And then you have the bacon... I once saw a shirt that said "I Love Bacon (and my wife)" which sums up this cut of pig quite nicely- everyone loves bacon. A Lot. You might not believe it, but there is way to make even bacon taste better. Bake it. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment (not absolutely necessary, but this makes for easier clean up), place a wire rack on top and line the bacon on the rack. Sprinkle with some pepper, garlic powder, and brown sugar, and bake at 400 until you see golden, sizzley, goodness, about 30 minutes. Unfortunately, in my heavy eyed hurriedness I forgot to add the brown sugar to the bacon (of course, the best part) and burned the bottom of the grits pan for lack of stirring.... I blame the lack of sleep.

Dinner was creamy, dreamy, lemony risotto, with peas and asparagus and chives. I forwent the grilled herbed chicken breast since I did not have my strapping man to feed, which was fine, because the risotto needed no dinner companion other than a glass of Chardonnay (much like myself apparently). Ironically, after our green risotto, I took my girls to see the new Shrek movie. Unfortunately for me, it is always Daddy who gets to do the fun stuff, while I stay home with the baby, but tonight I was able to join in the action and create a most memorable evening. Isabella and Josephine were each allowed to pick out a box of candy, making the evening all the more special for them, with arcade games after the movie as well (it is so much easier to really treat your children and create special times when they are not constantly expecting these things as a matter of course). The movie (also green and delicious) is a must see, more for parents than the kids. The story line between Shrek and Fiona is all to familiar between married couples.... Shrek is dispondant, missing the wild and wooly 'ogre' life he led before meeting the princess and evolving into the civilized father of three he now finds himself...after seeing what life would be like were he never given the gift of his family, he relizes the he didn't really rescue the princess- she rescued him. We can all (both husbands and wives) relate to that.

So, Funny Story... (Weekly Menu No. 5)

As you all know, Sunday evening I post my weekly menu, which is a more demanding a task then one might think. It involves me finding quite time (if at all possible) to focus my attention, and plan out 5 breakfasts, lunches, and dinners (with occasional desserts), and organize them in a way that fits into our weekly schedule. This then requires making a rather lengthy grocery list and loading up my brood for our once a week (if I'm lucky) pilgrimage to Central Market (the best grocery store EVER). Once home, the fridge must be cleaned out and restocked, organized and ready to go for the week. You can see how this might take some time. All of this is relatively easy and enjoyable, provided there are no glitches or hitches to throw my carefully crafted schedule out of whack. Well, whackadoo.

My husband and I went out Saturday evening for the all important date-night. You know, the time for love and laughter, the time to reconnect and keep the marital spark aflame? Yes, well, try to that while hovering over the toilet. Let's start at the beginning...

Wes decided he was in the mood for some sushi, and unfortunately, I obliged. Always wary of the neighborhood sushi joints, we went to a reputable and well liked restaurant in downtown Ft. Worth (which shall remain nameless), and still, being slightly cautious, I opted for a veggie roll. We were having a wonderful time, until when 10 minutes after leaving our table, disaster struck. Hard. And in the stomach. We had decided to pop into another restaurant, to grab a quick drink before going dancing (ah, how I would have loved that), but I never even made it that far. I bypassed the bar entirely and headed straight for the ladies room. My poor husband, suspect that I had abandoned him due to my prolonged absence, actually came into the ladies room to find me. Luckily I was in a dignified position at the sink washing my hands as opposed to where he would have found me two minutes before- on the floor. I told him that I wasn't feeling well, and that I thought it best for us to head back home (perhaps getting comfy on the couch with a romantic movie would keep queasiness at bay?). Getting in the car however, was not the best idea. What does one do when traveling 70 miles an hour on the freeway when a need to, ummm, you know, strikes? Extra diapers supplies? Check. Supplementary snacks and formula? Check. Spare outfits and amusing books/toys? Check. Barf Bags? Unfortunately, with all of my super-mom preparedness, this one had never occurred to me. My heart goes out to the cars traveling behind us, it really does. By the time we pull into our driveway, it is obvious that there will be no recovery of romance tonight. I go straight to the bathroom, and remain there, with my dear husband by by side trying to convince me that he is happy to be able to take care of me and that he still had a great night.
Now that's real love.
But wait, it gets worse.

I don't believe I mentioned that Sunday (the following day), I was scheduled to cater little appetizers and desserts for a casual party of 50 people, some of which actually required prep 8 hours in advance. I had such a terrific menu planned.... Roasted Mini-Potatoes Stuffed With Bacon, Bleu Cheese, and Chives, Homemade Potato Chips with Best Ever Sour Cream Dip and Texas Caviar (which, to those of you not from the south, is a type of fresh salsa dip made with black eyed peas), Citrus Pasta Salad, Cheesecake Pops, Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes, Mocha and Red Velvet Cupcakes, Key Lime Pie, 7 Layer Bars.... Oh I was SO looking forward to this. Sunday morning, however, I could not even stand up strait. I did not know WHAT to do. I'm sure that highly trained and established professional caterers have proper contingency plans in place, but, as for me, being a one woman show, if I am unable to preform, no one will be backing me up. So I try. And I try again. And then my husband, to my utter humiliation, calls the hostess of the party to inform her that I am violently ill and will not be able to deliver her food. Oh. My. God. I manage to seize the phone and try to communicate to her in the most professional way possible (which, really, at this point, isn't possible) that I am not ill with any form of communicable illness, that last nights sushi simply didn't agree with me, and that I WILL be getting her order to her on time, however I will have to make a couple of amendments due to current time constraints. The adrenaline of embarrassment wears off quickly to tears however, as I realize that really, it isn't possible for me to preform, and, wishing I had realized the wisdom of this much earlier, decide that the only chance I have at pulling this off is to go back to bed and rest for a couple of hours. Thankfully, this does do the trick, and when I wake back up at noon, I feel I will be able to pull through. My mother comes to the rescue and picks up Isabella and Josephine, while my husband mans Samuel, and the sink, for dish duty, washing the same pans and tools and my mixing bowl every 25 minutes. My extremely kind and sympathetic neighbor, allows me to use her oven, and for the next 6 and a half hours I am busting ass (for lack of a better term). Regrettably, all of the ass busting in the world would not allow my to make my cheesecake pops (which needed to be started the night before), or the roasted stuffed potatoes (which would have simply taken up more time than I had). The key lime pie turned into lemon bars, as they are much quicker to prepare, and the homemade potato chips were substituted for store bought. But I did it (whew), everything was delivered on time and with a smile, and though I did not stick around long enough to hear them, I am hoping that everything was met with a cascade of yummy noises.

So, this is why there was no blogging on Sunday, no cooking on Monday or Tuesday, and why Wes will not be selecting our restaurant again for sometime. Here, however, is what I will be serving up at home for the remainder of the week...
Happy (and safe) cooking everyone!



Wednesday
orange & honey yogurt with fresh fruit and candied nuts
lightened up tuna salad with humpty dumpties
chopped summer salad with best ever burgers and baked sweet potato fries
dessert french apple tart

Thursday
Wes' send off breakfast fried eggs, best ever cheese grits, and best ever bacon
pb&j wraps with apples and raisins
kid's confection homemade play-dough
green garden risotto with lemon herb grilled chicken

Friday
peachy keen smoothies and buttery toast
lunch 'o' leftovers
pecan coated fried chicken with creamy mashed potatoes and sauteed swiss chard
dessert brownie pudding and very vanilla ice cream

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (and the recipes!)

This week has had it's share if successes and failures in both the culinary and parenting department. Let's start with the bad stuff, as it is typically more fun... It was just not meant to be this week in the bread department (Monday's spectacular coconut waffles aside). Monday evening's dinner rolls, for instance, had me looking like Lucy Ricardo holding her 10 lb loaf. At some point I became distracted (I have no idea how) and let my dough balls over-rise, which then forged into one large mass, ruining the pull apart effect. They were also slightly lacking in flavor, so I am especially glad to have made my über-apple butter to perk them up. There was, however, simply no rescue for Wednesday morning's yeasted biscuits- they were horrible. This is coming from a woman who is known for her best-ever biscuits. The ones that I traditionally make do not require time to rise, and therefore can boast a 15 minute start to finish cook time-frame (and by 15 minutes, I mean from the time I decide to make some biscuits till the time the kitchen is all back in order and I'm serving them up on a plate). So it was a double affront then, that I woke up 45 minutes earlier than necessary, just to have biscuits that were not worth waking up for at all. The addition of yeast, I thought, would make my already superb biscuits just that much more, but some classics just can not be improved upon. They did not appear any more elevated than my usual light and fluffy fare, were more dense, and they tasted like sourdough. Not quite the buttery goodness I had in mind.

Both my butter lettuce salad with pecans, blue cheese, and pears, and my sweet potato pecan waffles went so far south they disappeared from the map (as in I didn't even bother making them), and for the same reason. Nuts. I forgot to pick up more pecans at the market, and all of my varieties got used up in the sesame orange granola (which was fabulous, but we'll get to that in a moment).

The biggest failure of the week was a personal one. Our much anticipated picnic and trip to the zoo was cancelled due to an ill timed temper tantrum, and it was mine. Somewhere during the 10 meter dash that was Thursday morning, Isabella somehow sneaked away with a few pieces breakable kitchenware (i.e., not stuff she's allowed to play with). I then, of course, heard the ensuing shatter when they fell to pieces in the hallway. I was so momentarily vexed that somehow, instead of being the bigger person, ahem, the parent, I grabbed the remaining bowl from her hand and threw it down onto the tile floor myself, for good measure. I am not proud of this. In fact I'm embarrassed by it. But, mothers are people too, and we make mistakes. Fortunately, this is not a habit of mine, and my children know this, which is why, after some shared tears, all was forgiven, and we made amends along with our thumbprint cookies.

Now the good stuff.
Being a "granola mom" is something I take quite literally... I love the stuff. Homemade granola is one of the best tasting, quickest, and healthiest things you can grab in the morning, which is less than I can say for it's store bought counterparts that have all the mouthfeel of sawdust. There have been improvements made in recent years, but the cost of procuring decent store bought granola is absurd- about the same cost as filet minion pound for pound. The good news is that is it a cinch to make and can easily be tailored to personal preference with different types of nuts, seeds, extracts, and dried fruits. The secret to truly addictive granola is shredded coconut (a must in any recipe). The batch I made Tuesday was a revelation- bursting citrus with crunchy maple coated nuts and chewy, sweet dates and dried apples.

Next up on the list was Wednesday evenings southern smothered chicken (pictured) which was comfort food at it's best, with juicy, falling off the bone chicken with creamy pan sauce and bits of spice.

Friday nights dinner was deserving of a star michelin rating in comparison with last Friday's most unsavory (and inedible) shrimp. While my plan had been to bake by gorgeous $28.00 a pound salmon and julienned carrots, zucchini, and leeks in parchment, that got amended when I discovered I had only 3 inches left on the roll! So instead I placed it all in a baking dish with some chopped shallots, garlic, parsley, and tomatoes, gave it a splash of olive oil, white table wine, and lemon juice, a sprinkle of S&P, put it in a 375 degree oven, and voila, 15 minutes later an elegant and remarkably healthy meal. The apple and raisin bread pudding was the crowning glory of the week in every respect. It was creamy and velvety inside, with a crisp and slightly chewy crust- everything bread pudding should be but rarely is. The orange butterscotch sauce was good, not great, due to the lack of Grand Marnier that apparently got polished off at some point without being replaced (thanks, honey). I instead used brandy and extra zest, which made for a descent stand in. To those of you who do not consider yourself fond of bread pudding, please try this recipe. I promise it will make you a hands down convert!

Here are the top recipes of the week... happy eating everyone!

Über-Apple Butter

3 lbs McIntosh apples
3 cups natural apple cider
1/4 cup honey (preferably orange blossom)
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/8 tsp ground cloves

bring the apples and cider to a boil over med-high heat and reduce to med-low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes
stir in all other ingredients and cook until broken down into a very thick sauce, 45 minutes to an hour
cool slightly and puree in a food processor or blender
if the mixture it watery, return to heat and simmer until thickened
+can be kept in the fridge for about 2 months


Have It Your Way Granola

4 cups of old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup shredded coconut
2 cups of assorted unsalted nuts and/or seeds (sliced almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.)
flavorings such as cinnamon, vanilla extract, orange zest
1/3 cup of maple syrup
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup canola oil
scant 1 cup of dried fruits (raisins, apricots, cherries, cranberries, dates, pineapple, etc.)

mix it all up (except the dried fruits), put on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake at 375 for about 20 minutes
cool and toss with dried fruits
+can store in airtight container in the pantry for about a week or in the fridge for about 2 weeks


Southern Smothered Chicken and Rice

5 TBS canola or vegetable oil
one chicken, cut into 8 pieces, skin removed (2 bone in breasts, thighs, drumsticks and wings)
S&P (salt and pepper)
1/2 cup flour
8 oz ground chicken or turkey (preferably ground thighs)
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 celery rib, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and medium diced
1 tomato, seeded and medium diced
chopped parsley for garnish

season the chicken generously with S&P and and coat the chicken in flour (save remaining flour)
heat oil in a large skillet over med-high heat until very hot and cook the chicken in batches until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes and transfer to a plate
add the ground chicken/turkey to the pan and cook, beaking up into little pieces, until browned and transfe to plate with the chicken
add the onion, celery, and bell pepper to the pan and cook stirring often till soft and browned, about 8 minutes
sprinkle on the remaining flour and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly
whisk in broth, return the meats to the pan, and bring to a boil
reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 45 minutes and then sprinkle the tomato on top
serve atop white rice* and sprinkle with parsley

*25 minutes before the dish is done, make the rice. Put 2 cups water, one cup rice, and 1 TBS of butter in a saucepan, bring to boil, stir, reduce heat to low and cover, cook for 20 minutes.


Apple and Raisin Bread Pudding with Orange Butterscotch Sauce

2 TBS unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the pan
2 golden delicious apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1/2 cup brown sugar (for divided use)
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 whole eggs
6 egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
8 cups (1 inch cubes) challah bread
1/2 cup golden raisins

heat the butter in a large saucepan over med-high heat and add apples, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown (about 5 minutes) gradually add 1/4 cup of brown sugar and stir until the apples are coated with the melted sugar (about 1 minute) set aside
whisk all the other ingredients (except the bread and raisins) in a large bowl, add the bread and raisins and stir to coat. let set for about 15 minutes
butter and 8x8 square pan, place half the bread mixture in the pan, then the apple mixture, then the remaining bread mixture (pour any remaining liquid on top as well)
bake at 350 for about an hour to and hour and 10 minutes (depending on how gooey you like it)
serve with orange butterscotch sauce

Orange Butterscotch Sauce

3 TBS unsalted butter
1/4 cup plus 2 TBS packed brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 TBS Grand Marnier (orange flavored liqueur)
1/4 cup plus 2 TBS heavy cream
the zest and juice of one large orange

melt the butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over med heat, stirring often
stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil
cook until sauce is thickened and reduced to about 1 cup

Made in China, Broken in America - A Lesson In Quality

All politics aside, the best kitchenware is, without a doubt, made in France (the only exception possibly being knives, which the Japanese know a thing or two about), and the worst, well, take a guess. Now I know it is not necessary, or practical, for most families to purchase premier chefs tools, but there are a few things that just should not be skimped on.

The Stand Mixer- invest in the Kitchen Aid. They vary in models and if you look hard enough you can pick one up for around $200.00 (you can also find them for nearly $600 if thats your thing). However you probably have no need for a commercial grade mixer so don't feel the need to buy up in this category. Having just the base Kitchen Aid is better than any other option out there. Lesser brands (Sunbeam, Hamilton Beach, Emeril Lagasse) are inadequate and inferior and will leave you with the sound of a freight train when you have them on high speed in your kitchen. The motors are extremely loud, and they typically shake on high speed as well. The metal bowl and attachments are cheap and quickly become battered looking. Just go look for yourself... Notice the weight of the Kitchen Aid and how substantial it feels? That is because it is built to last... Invest in one now and you will have it forever. You will also be more inclined to use it over and over because you will be less frustrated with the machine... Happy Cook=More Cooking. Not to mention that they come in lots of fun colors (mine is violet), and looks GREAT out on the kitchen counter!

The Blender- It seems that blenders are like batteries in today's society... They provide power for a brief amount of time, then get tossed and replaced. Not only is this terrible for the environment, but also ends us costing you a lot more cash in the long run. Again it is a matter of motors- the cheap ones (think Oster, Black & Decker, Hamilton Beach) stop working, while the well made/high quality ones (Breville, KitchenAid) don't. The glass pitchers are also made with varying degrees of quality and can be more prone to shatter or chip in cheaper models.

Spatulas- These indispensable tools are a must in any kitchen, and fortunately, are generally inexpensive even for the best. Now, you can purchase a spatula from Target for $3.00 that melt the first time you put it in the dishwasher, or you can purchase one from Williams-Sonoma for $9.00 and have it forever. I would see this as a no brainer, and I hope you do to! The disparity in quality is due to inexpensive ('throw-away') spatulas being made primarily of plastic, which as we all know, will melt in contact with high temperatures (and leach chemicals into your food). The better ones are made of silicone, which is heatproof up to 675 degrees, i.e., hotter than you will ever have anything in a home kitchen. I personally prefer spatulas with metal handles which are super low maintenance and virtually indestructible, as opposed to wood which can get molded if not thoroughly dried.

One Good Knife- Let me say this loud and proud... Just because a knife can cut through a tin can does NOT make it a good knife, no matter what the infomercial says! Nearly any knife can be made dangerously sharp. That is not the point (no pun intended). The type of the metal and the knife's construction is what separates the good from the bad. Carbon Steel can be made very sharp and will hold it's edge well, but is vulnerable to rust and stains. Stainless steel knifes feel substantial and won't discolor, but can not take on quite as sharp and edge, which will mean more work for you when chopping. High Carbon Stainless Steel incorporates both elements and is what most top quality knives are made of. You can, of course, get way out there and purchase a Shun knife, wich is forged like actual Samari sword, and can to be yours for $300. How the metal is adjoined to the handle also makes a difference. The blade and the handle need to be one seamless pice of steel for proper balance, and most downgraded knives are simply adjoined to a plastic handle, which feels flimsy in comparison. That being said, good knives will cost you. The good news, however, is that you do not need to purchase the entire knife block... all you kneed is that one really good workhorse, so please, don't buy a donkey.

Remember, you get what you pay for, so always get the best that you can. Even if there is a slight mark up in price at say, Williams-Sonoma, you are paying for service. Did you know that you can take a product back anytime if it stops working or falls apart?? If you were to attempt that at WalMart I'm sure you would receive blank stares and possibly a police escort out the door.

Happy Shopping Everyone!