Let them eat cake!

A few weeks ago it was my Husbands 30th birthday! I had grand plans in my head to combine all of his favorite things into the most decadent dessert ever. (or maybe I had been watching too much cupcake wars..who really knows) I wanted to surprise him by making chocolate stout cupcakes with a peanut butter frosting and bacon sprinkles. I was apparently so excited that i didn't really plan the party to serve them at. I know you are thinking EPIC wife fail but the real person to blame is him! Plus, it turned out to be a blessing and not a curse for many many reasons. Since you cant really make cupcakes for 2  the poor guy went cakeless for his birthday. Before you feel too bad for the guy we had plans to have a birthday dinner with the fam the next night. He was going to get those cupcakes if it was the last thing I did. That is until, I remembered that his entire family had gone gluten free...including myself. I was new (and still am) to GF and was not prepared to make it by scratch with all those crazy ingredients. I struggled with what to do for several hrs. I KNEW he DID NOT want GF cupcakes but I didn't see any other way. I drove to the store and did what I never do. I did what I tell people all the time to never do. I bought chocolate GF cake mix.. To some of you that sounds horrible and to others that sounds normal. I personally felt wrong buying it. Cake mix doesn't fit anywhere into my clean eating way of thinking but it happend. oh well. move on. I also had to leave out the stout part because well, thats not GF either. I topped the cakes with a basic buttercream that I added about a 1/2 cup of Peanut butter too and sprinkled some finely chopped organic bacon on top. I thought the frosting and bacon were delicious but both my husband and I were too stuffed from dinner to actually try a cupcake. 

Go figure.

a few days ago I got the the new issue of Food Network Magazine and in there were a couple GF cakes that dont require xanthum gum or other strange ingredients so I thought that I would share. Next time I am in need of a cake I think I will give one of these a try.

Hazelnut-Mocha Dacquoise

Flourless Chocolate Torte

Unfortunately these cakes do have refined sugar and I would not call them clean but they are Gluten Free. 

Currently, I have to pick my battles. You know what they say:

You cant have your cake and eat it too. 

Happy Weekend EVERYONE!

Picky Eaters?!?!?

“Other things in a child’s life take time — learning to read, tie a shoe, ride a bike — and to that, parents say OK. But when it comes to food? When a child refuses something new? When a drive-thru or children’s menu is the quickest path to appeasement? That’s when parents throw up their hands and cry picky. Or, worse yet, tell a child she won’t like something before she even tastes it.”

The above quote is from a post I read over at Spoonfed a few weeks ago that I haven’t really stopped thinking about it. The topic was on kids eating habits. No, I do not have kids yet but I am a cousin, auntie, and former nanny. I have been around kids a long time. I know toddlers that love pad tai and others that ASK for salad for dinner.  Just the other day I watched my nearly 1 yr old niece eat chicken tortilla soup like it was the best thing she ever tasted.  Yet thousands of parents around the country serve their kids the same plain pasta, grilled cheese, chicken fingers and mac & cheese out of the blue box???? Even worse, they do it EVERYDAY. I don’t really believe in “kid food”.  I believe in REAL FOOD served in kid sized portions. That isn’t to say that sometimes the above items may not be on the menu (except for that blue box. That is never an option) but a lot of other colorful, flavorful, healthy meals will be in the mix too. Variety is the key to life! I think that if you are new to real food than this might be easier on little kids than ones that already have the bad food habits but It is never too late to start. I think that it is important to remember that the only reason they are requesting the junk food over real food is because at some point YOU introduced it to them….

check out the article in its entirety:  http://spoonfedblog.net/2011/02/23/want-kids-to-eat-better-stop-calling-them-picky-eaters/

Green Eggs No Ham

I don't understand how today is Friday?!?! Apparently, this week really got away from me and I am still confused on where the time went! I guess it can be expected when your Sister-in-law, Stepdad, and Husband all have their birthdays in the same week....Holy Moly! Anyway to make a long story short this post was supposed to go up on Monday. It obviously didn't. See above. I guess you wouldn't have known that though if I didn't rat myself out?? Oh well.

Getting kids to eat more veggies can sometimes be tricky. Heck, getting adults to eat more veggies can sometimes be tricky. I find that if you make it fun or crazy it tends to go more smoothly. (for the younger set) I have the feeling that if I handed my husband a "super cool Hulk green smoothie" its not going to get the same reaction as say....a 3yr old. Who knows? Maybe your guy is different....

After reading Green Eggs and Ham several dozen times I thought it was time to make some green eggs! I don't do food coloring but it only took me 1.2 seconds to come up with the perfect solution...Spinach! its so mild its almost flavorless! I cracked 2 eggs into the blender and added a handful of spinach and a splash of water. Blend Blend Blend until it is a unified color. The key is to not see any green specks. keep blending until it is solid green. a toddler isn't afraid to tell you that those aren't green eggs, just eggs with weird green specks! The more spinach you add the darker the color. I let the little guy I was watching help but maybe you just want to tell your kids you added green food coloring??? Choice is yours. these are tasty and they cook up so light and fluffy!

The only problem was he asked where his ham was...I didn't think that far ahead. Canadian bacon would be a great addition and would be a nice way to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday tomorrow!

The only OTHER problem was he asked if we could make blue eggs the next day!?!? If you have any ideas for that one, let me know. :)

Using what you have

For as long as I have lived with my husband leftovers have been controversial. I often felt I was living in the book Green Eggs and Ham. He did not like them and he would not eat them. I would always respond with some version of “Try them, try them, and you may! Try them and you may, I say.” – Dr. Seuss (kinda fitting since my hubs and the good Dr. share the same birthday!) He inevitably won and I threw away a lot of perfectly fine food.

When you eat REAL food, the window of freshness is smaller and the price tag is a bit higher. Real produce isn't going to last a month in your fridge and still look fresh. You have to use that stuff quick or it will end up in the trash. I just HATE throwing $$$ in the trash. One of the ways that I save us money is by actually utilizing EVERY single item in the fridge and pantry including the dreaded leftovers!

Most of the time, I transform the items into completely different meals. This seems to be my husband’s preferred method. If I am being honest, on occasion I just reheat and serve.  You eat or you don’t. The weekends tend to feel like an episode of Chopped around here but I think that it’s kinda fun! J So, last Sunday afternoon we were being lazy and watching a movie in bed when He declared he was hungry. So we paused what we were watching, I headed to the kitchen and the timer began!

What I had in the fridge:

 a VERY small amount of porktenderloin and green sauce, ½ a grilled zucchini, ½ a yellow bell pepper, a green apple and a little quinoa. Not enough of anything for us both to have the same lunch. 

What I made: 

I very thinly sliced the leftover pork to make it stretch and laid it on a homemade whole wheat tortilla with a little Monterey Jack and diced yellow pepper for contrast in flavor and texture. I drizzled a tiny amount of green sauce over the whole thing, closed her up and cooked her in a dry nonstick pan until browned on the outside and melty on the inside.  Served it with ½ the apple sliced. For me I diced the 2nd ½ of the apple and added it to the quinoa along with the chopped grilled zucchini and the remainder of the yellow pepper. I mixed it with about a tablespoon of the vibrant green sauce to wake it all up. I Sprinkled it with a little feta for garnish. It would have been great to serve on a bed of mixed baby greens but I didn’t have any left so maybe next time.

Time it took: 

8 mins

It’s cool to see pieces from dinners and lunches throughout the week gel together in a whole new way.  Sometimes they are made into quick, simple and yummy meals like the ones above.  Other times they are transformed into something unrecognizable and delicious! Either way we are saving money by not eating out and not throwing away perfectly good food.

What tips do you have on saving money or using up leftovers?

Vote with your dollars

via

When you can’t write something better yourself. Give credit and share the link!

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/02/11/food-companies-exploit-americans-with-ingredients-banned-in-other-countries/

I hope that when you read this article you get as upset and disgusted as I did! I Share these articles with you guys, not to be preachy but because I want you to be aware of the things that you are needlessly putting into your body.  As the main grocery shopper of my home, It is my responsibility to nourish and feed our family and I try to take that job very seriously. I assume this to be true of many of you reading this now. Apparently these “BIG” good companies think that Americans are Inferior and find it acceptable to give us a lower quality version of the products that they sell to other countries. Since it is obvious that the government is NOT sticking up for us, we need to go straight to the source. The only way to convince the big food guys to make a change is by kicking them where it counts….their pocketbook! We can say we want better quality food but if these guys are still raking in the big bucks they are not going to change. Why would they????

Vote with your dollars

More than a Hallmark Holiday

via 

A local Hallmark store in our area is going out of business. 

 The Sign read the entire store is 50-75% off!!! There was no way I could pass up the bargain. Once inside I realized that ALMOST everything was on sale. They were not going to discount their “claim to fame” trademark day, which just happens to be my most favorite holiday of the year…Valentine’s Day! I Love it more than Christmas and I look forward to it more than My Birthday. I didn't mind too much because in our house there are no expectations of Fancy gifts, $5 cards, or where we can get the best reservation. This is a day of LOVE and true love doesn't require any of those things. It is simply showing the ones you value most in this crazy world that you care. It’s about saying thank you to the ones that love you, as much as you do them.  I feel the best way to do this is by giving yourself. That can mean a lot of things to a lot of people but to me it’s just taking in the moments and appreciating the small acts of sweetness. That could be leaving a few homemade cupcakes on the doorstep of a friend, making heart shaped everything for your child's lunch box or leaving a love note on your husbands bathroom mirror. Valentine’s Day is turning your phone and the TV off. It’s making dinner TOGETHER and lingering over dessert. Dance parties in the kitchen and opening hand-made cards. It doesn't hurt that it’s the only time of year that it is perfectly acceptable to drench my house in all things PINK!!!!

Last January we took a cooking class together and we had so much fun that we decided that we would start a new Valentine’s Day tradition. We are going to recreate that meal and experience every year. There is no need to drive to the hood of LA and drink wine in our car while praying the cooking studio would open before we were dead. This is Simple enough that it’s not daunting for the handsome guy making a special appearance in your kitchen. Adding sparkling wine to the night makes it even more fun! J 

Mocha Rubbed Steak

Equal amounts fine ground coffee (I use espresso) and cocoa powder – about 2 tbsp each

Salt and pepper your favorite cut of steak

Dredge in the mocha mixture

Then cook. Technique and timing will depend on cut and thickness but I generally like to use a grill pan or cast iron. Sear on both sides on high heat and then finish in the oven for a few minutes. But however you cook your steak is fine. Just let it rest for a few mins before you slice it.

Potatoes Au Gratin

(served in tiny personal heart shaped ramekins of course)

Thinly slice a potato and sprinkle with salt and pepper-a mandolin makes easy work of this

Grate ¼ cup of your favorite cheese monterey Jack and cheddar work well and so do gouda and parm

Layer starting with potatoes and ending with cheese in a dish that is been buttered or sprayed with olive oil.

Pour a little half and half over the layered potatoes until you reach about 3/4’s of the way up the dish. For me this was about 2-3 Tbsp

Top with a tiny amount of freshly grated nutmeg (optional)

Bake @ 400 until golden brown and cooked through about 15-20 mins

This year instead of the normal roasted corn and kale chowder (very tasty and has no cream! will make and post soon) and red velvet brownies I think I want to mix it up and try a wedge salad I saw Giada make this weekend.  We will probably follow dinner with a healthy rift on flourless chocolate cake. As soon as I test the recipe I will post the link if its good. If it fails...we will just drink more sparkling wine :) 

Happy Love Day!!!

Adjusting sails & Naked Enchiladas

I saw this on pinterest this morning and thought "Hey! That's me!" then I realized that Hey, that's EVERYONE that walks this planet. Some storms are or just feel bigger than others. This current stage of my life can feel at times like a never ending Katrina like storm. Just like the good folks of New Orleans (home to where our favorite team the Baltimore Ravens just WON the Super Bowl!!!!) FEMA isn't going to come save me. So with a smile on my face I will adjust my sails and move forward. 

When I decided to go with a real food lifestyle I decided that I would do my best to eat mostly plants and only eat hormone free, grass fed and or organic meat. Which intern means I eat a lot less meat because well, that stuff is expensive! I have been replacing a lot of those animals with beans and whole grains. Here is where the storm comes in...I have struggled with Endometriosis for the last 17ish years. Although I am fairly symptomatic free at this point. Nothing a bottle of wine, a boiling bath and a few pain killers can't handle! Which is much better than the monthly trips to the ER, morphine, surgeries and drug educed menopause of the past. But it seems that even though I feel better, this little not researched enough autoimmune disease may still be affecting my fertility. After some research it seems that some have seen great benefits by changing their diet and following a low carb/paleo and or gluten free lifestyle. Which is all fine an dandy except when you realize that all of these diets rely heavily on meat....which I don't love...and is so very expensive when you can only eat "real" meat. Food is such an important part of my life. I am not the person that can live off salads and chicken. This may get a little tricky as I will be adopting this new food lifestyle alone. I will try my best to come up with a plan that works for me. I think it will be heavily paleo but I have to be honest and say that I plan to incorporate some gluten free grains and beans. It can't hurt to give this a try :)

Yesterday I was menu planning for the month (will do a post on that later) and searching for ideas when I found this recipe on skinnytaste.com. I Love Gina and check her site frequently for recipes and inspiration.  This one could not have come at a more perfect time because we were both craving chicken enchiladas. I lined up my little boats right next to my husbands whole wheat tortilla roll ups and poured my own homemade enchilada sauce over it all. They baked up perfect and I recommend you all to try them. I skipped the blanching stage and baked them at 425 for about 40 mins. The best part is I have another tray in the freezer for later in the month and I can't wait. 

stay tuned for more real food favorites and ways to make them low carb friendly. Tonight we are trying a new pinterest recipe for philly cheesesteak stuffed peppers. fingers crossed its a hit!

When Life gives you Sweet Potatoes

I wouldn't call this a recipe as much as I would say that it is a launch pad for you to make your own creation. I have recently up’d my intake of Sweet Potatoes…don’t ask. Just know it is a result of regular unsolicited advice. THANKS MOM! J Any way with a large bag of organic sweet potatoes on my counter I decided that I couldn't eat sweet potato fries everyday and had to find a way to get creative.  It was lunch time, I had just gotten home from the gym and I was starving so it had to be quick! I knew that I wanted to include my new found friend the poached egg.  I decided that I would make a quick hash. The ingredients seemed unlikely at first but once I tasted it there was no going back. I started having this hash for lunch daily and then I woke up one morning and the first thing I thought of was sweet potato hash and how I was going to wait until afternoon? I couldn't  so I made it for breakfast! Seriously, if my husband liked sweet potatoes I would probably make it for dinner as well. Not sure why I am stage five obsessed with this little concoction but I am. Its quick, simple and the flavors and textures just seem to hit the spot. I hope you agree.

I happen to use what I had on hand that fateful afternoon which included kale, zucchini, and SWEET POTATOES of course.  Now, as I write this I can think of several ways to make this hash EVEN better and I will give the suggestions at the end. But remember this is the simplified quick version I am about to give you.

1.       Par cook a sweet potato in the microwave. Depending on the size the time will vary. Mine took about 2 ½ mins. Let cool a min and dice it up.

2.      Meanwhile coat a small non-stick skillet with olive oil spray and add a handful of chopped kale along with about 2 tablespoons of water to create steam which will help the kale to wilt. About 4 mins

 3.       Chop and add 1 small zucchini to the pan along with the sweet potato. Saute for another 4 mins or so until zucchini is cooked but not mushy. You really want it to maintain its crunch. Feel free to add more spray or a table spoon or so of water to the pan if things are looking dry or sticking.

4.       Sprinkle with salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne (helps rev the metabolism) and top with a poached egg. 

The whole process start to finish is 10 mins.

I didn't include directions of poaching the egg because this is not strong suit. It does taste just as good with an egg over easy on top or you can make it into a scramble.

If you have more time, feel free to add ½ a chopped red onion and a clove of garlic. I also think that yellow bell pepper would be a lovely addition to the party. Fresh thyme would work well too. This is the perfect vegetarian dish but vegan friends can omit the egg and add white beans to the mix. If you are a true carnivore add some chicken or better yet chicken sausage.

Basically, look in your fridge and use what you've got. It will probably be delicious.

More sweet potato recipes to follow….I told you I had a big bag.

Sorry there is no pic but that would have delayed the eating!

Happy Monday

New Year New You

I  can not believe it has been six months since I have written a single word for this blog! If that isn't a bad blogger I'm not sure what is. Every year promises a fresh start and new beginnings and I plan to use this blog to help me be accountable.
The past few years I've struggled with many things. Struggles that left me feeling that I have no control over the outcome of our future. This is such a difficult feeling to process. I don't believe that my personal defeats are of importance in explaining my feelings because we all have them in our own ways. A lot of us will encounter something or many things that will stop us in our tracts. You will be forced to ask yourself "Where you do I go from here?" You grow up your whole life being told that "You can have anything you want, as long as you work hard enough". "The future is yours to make." and a gazillion other versions of the same thing...Hard Work=Success. What happens when it doesn't? What happens when you work hard and lose? Let me tell ya, It's a really hard pill to swallow. The F word starts swirling around in your head. New phrases are being thrown at you like "Everything happens for a reason", "Relax and be patient", "It will happen when the time is right", "what's meant to be will be". I think they are meant to be words of comfort but for me they were anything but. Those words are worse than nails on a chalk board! They make me feel defeated; like a Failure. Those words are asking me to go against everything I have ever been taught??? To sit back and WAIT for what I want doesn't make sense to a girl who plans everything. I like Lists. I like Goals. I like checking things off. You don't get an A on a test, or a promotion at a job by sitting back and waiting for it to happen. Even relationships require work to thrive. So, It just doesn't make sense. They didn't help. Everyone gives their advice and you find yourself not only dealing with your own feelings but how others perceive them. To say that this has been a stressful, confusing, all-consuming journey is an understatement...and it is still a work in progress. But I do believe that God has a plan for everyone. When I started this blog, the intention was to take you through my journey of going from a typical American young adult** to a better Organicked version of myself! Like most journeys sometimes you get off track, you get lost and have to find your way back. Sometimes you even gain 20 lbs when you are lost! Well, It's a New Year & and a New You and I plan to take that saying to heart. I think I was using more strength and willpower to simply keep it together during that dark time than I thought. I didn't have anything left to say no to the junk food, the eating out, the bad for me party food and the wine. OH there was A LOT of wine!!! As Much as I wanted to do this last year, I didn't have it in me. I wouldn't go as far to say that time heals all wounds. Sometimes wounds turn into scars. But you can live with a scar, all most everyone does. This Year I feel so much better. I am 100% ready for this challenge and I am off to a good start! look for recipes, tips, plenty of note worthy articles and interesting facts on the way! I challenge everyone to use the freshness of a new year to let go of any negative thoughts you might have about not accomplishing some of your goals. Whether they are in your control or not. ON A MUCH MORE EXCITING NOTE: The Ravens are going to The Super Bowl!!!!! I have waited over 10 yrs for this! The Planner in me is compiling ideas and lists galore! I am still stumped on the menu...I don't think that anyone associates nuts, veggies, whole wheat crackers and fruit slices as GAME food so I have my work cut out for me! I do have decor pretty much set! No good party is complete without printables and I was getting antsy for someone to make some good Ravens ones and post them on pinterest After complaining (and explaining what a printable is) to my husband he informed me that we (he) can easily make them. So, If you are having your own Superbowl party feel free to use our handiwork! They would make great cupcake toppers, stickers or even a banner. Just click, save to your own computer and print. The only limit is an imagination and plenty of colored ink of course.

**I am pretty sure that I am no longer able to claim "young adult" since I recently turned 30! Does that make me middle aged?!?! Holy Moly...