Enjoying this

I bought this cookbook a few weeks ago. I love using my crockpot but am sometimes frustrated by all the "Crockpot Cookbook Recipes" that call for cream of mushroom soup, cheese soup, etc. as the base for the food. It seems to me like most crockpot recipes border on unhealthy so I was delighted to find this cookbook which offered lots of fresh ideas.

And did I ever tell you about this website? They sell the most amazing beans. I know it sounds crazy but they melt like butter in your mouth. They are a little pricey but their shipping fees are a flat rate so you can really order a lot. (or if you live in the Mpls. area they sell them at Surdyks and The Wedge and possibly more places I am not aware of.) Their products beat canned beans, (or $0.80 dried beans) hands down. I have found the best way to cook them is a very simple process.

1) Soak the bean of your choice overnight in your crockpot

2)Turn them on the next morning when you wake up and cook them throughout the day. By mid-afternoon they will be nice and tender and you can use them as you please.

They also have a great blog with lots of delicious bean recipes.

And I better stop there. I love beans, really love them and I can sit and extol their virtues all day. But in the interest of my readers (sparse though you may be) I will just remind you , like I do my 6-year-old, that beans are really good for you and give you big muscles. (if I believed in using smiley faces I would have put one right there.)

Date Night Part II

Yes- his date finally came and she taught us how to make Chinese dumplings.

Aidan has been telling me for months that "Making dumplings is so easy Mom! You just need flour, water, vegetables and meat!" I didn't really believe him. However, I learned they are just.that.easy.

As a matter of fact, he is requesting to make them this week with my parents for his birthday dinner.

Originally the plan for the evening was that the two of them were going to go out for ice cream, (remember - this all started when Aidan made her a bracelet) but James and I tagged along because we decided to all go to a movie. The movie ended up being sold out so we went back to our house and played the Wii.

Now Aidan has two people he can actually beat, me and her.

We had lots of fun. Thanks Fang Laoshi for the yummy dumpling lesson!

Do you have one of these?

Jane, (my MIL for those who don't know) gave me one for Christmas a few years ago.

I thought it was pretty neat, and I put it away with my cookie sheets figuring I would save it for "something special."

So two years roll by......... it is now Thanksgiving and my mom is helping me make some rolls, and she used the Silpat because it was already on the cookie sheet.

And the rest - as they say - is history.

I have been loving it ever since, and as a matter of fact I need to get a few more! Forget cooking spray and sticky messes - it is amazing. You can buy them here, but they also have them in cooking stores.

(I did try it with a Pavlova though and it didn't do the trick, you do really need parchment paper.)

A little behind............

I need to sit down and blog.







I have so much to say, but I haven't had time.




No one is sick at our house right now, which is something to be thankful for!

Making this and this tonight for a special lunch tomorrow.





Looking forward to visiting with my Dad and Grandma's this weekend, and enjoying the sound of the birds every morning.



More later!

Where I have been this week

..... Hanging out in the smitten kitchen.

We made this salad which tasted as good as it looks, (I also added an avocado I had sitting around.)

and made this spaghetti but we had to add some meatballs for Aidan's sake (and it really was delish! I admit I was skeptical that butter and tomatoes would be sufficient. I am used to making homemade spaghetti that requires hours of cooking and spices and work)

This macaroni and cheese is always a hit,

Tried this, but my cake somehow imploded and ended up as a trifle instead. Our guests didn't even know they were eating a mistake.

Burned some of this granola that I was making for a work breakfast, but came out with a really good recipe I kind of made up with ingredients I had on hand. Lots of people wanted the recipe, so I think it is a keeper. It is still crispy too - which I think is directly linked to the massive quantity of butter I used.

Homemade Granola

1 stick butter, melted

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

dash salt

1 tsp cinnamon

Mix these together and then add:

3 cups oats

1 cup coconut

1 cup chopped almonds/walnuts/pecans or nut of your choice

(I also added 1/2 cup of flax seed to try and make it a little healthier, but you don't have to)

Line a large baking sheet with foil, and spread out your granola as thinly as possible. Bake at 275 until all the pieces are toasted to a golden brown. Stir frequently.

After the granola has cooled you can add 1-2 cups of dried fruit. I used craisins, but in the past I have used dates, figs, apricots, apples, peaches, raisins, blueberries etc. Store in an airtight container for 7-10 days, or keep it in your freezer.

Really?

Noodles?

We both blogged about noodles?

I am turning into my mother!

That's right, guess what we made too, with lots of pictures intended for the blog.

Sooo........... I guess it is noodle season.

We must both have good taste, right mom?

My little chef

Aidan will doing a guest spot today. He made a special treat for dinner tonight almost all-by-himself! He also set the table and filled the water glasses. (He filled them in the bathroom sink- but hey, at least he is helping, right?!)

Thanks sweetie! You are growing up so fast and you are such a good little helper! (And a good little cook.)





And in case my video upload never works, you can find it here.

Cucumber Dip

We have had lots of cucumbers in our CSA boxes this summer. This is on of my favorite recipes, I love to eat it as a dip, but a it is kind of similar to raita I also enjoy it with rice. You can play alot with it- add mint instead of dill, add other veggies as more of a salad, or you can enjoy it this way. Regardless it is a light refreshing summer food.

Cucumber Dip:

2 cucumbers. ( you can peel or not) chopped fine into little pieces, about 1/8- 1/4 inch
1 pkg cream cheese, whipped

1/2 cup yogurt or Mayonnaise

couple bunches of fresh dill, chopped

juice of a lemon or lime

salt to taste

Blend the cream cheese and yogurt, adding the lemon/lime and mix until smooth. Add cuke's and dill, season with salt to taste. Serve with chips/crackers or veggies. Or go all out and scoop up with Frito's. ( I really like the chips pictured above. You can buy them in the organic section of your grocery store.)

Shameless CSA promotion

I started out the summer with good intentions: I would take a picture every week when I received my CSA box(es). Well, considering Thursday nights is swimming lessons and thus becomes one of the busiest nights of the week, I have barely had time to unpack my box with no time to squeeze a picture in.


But that doesn't mean we haven't been enjoying our CSA produce. We have eaten so many fruits and vegetables this summer you would think we should have all dropped 20 lbs. ( but we also have been working alot and haven't enjoyed time outdoors or at the gym like usual...... so maybe next summer.)


We aren't vegetarians, but we have been eating that way alot this summer. Another quick favorite is a deli chicken - it's a perfect pairing with all our fruits and veggies.


So if you don't have the luxury of having your own garden produce and you are contemplating joining a CSA next summer I would say to go for it! You will learn to cook with what you have, and your kids will probably join the fun and start eating more veggies too.

You can check here for local CSA's in your area.

Do you Raclette yet?

We do.

Aidan does.

My boss had a "raclette party" earlier this year, and all I could think about afterwards was, "If I had a raclette grill my kid might eat more vegetables!"

And I was right.

(That is his chubby little finger pointing to his little basil sandwich!)

If you follow the link it will tell you all about the history of raclette and what the Swiss traditionally cook on their grill. When we grill, however, I usually par-boil a variety of veggies and then Aidan gets the biggest kick ever out of cooking his own veggies with meat and cheese.

Last night we grilled bread, basil and turkey to make little sandwiches, and Aidan was shoving leaves of basil in his mouth like it was his job.

Amazing.

I was supposed to eat this.

but it was so pretty I had to put it on my table instead. I recieved my 5th CSA box last night, and again I forgot to take a photo. But I am enjoying all the new veggies, and I have to say Hon Tsai Tai tastes as good as it looks.

CSA box week 3

We picked up our third box tonight, and as we are all heading out of town for the next few days, we had the challenge of trying to eat as much as possible tonight!

We enjoyed this pasta dish tonight, which utilized our fresh asparagus and green garlic. We also tried a gratin similar to this made with sunchokes (which I learned are really called Jerusalem artichokes) parsnips and ramps. Thanks to my new toy I can freeze some of the rhubarb that was in our box, and we will just hope the rest of the food keeps until Tuesday when Aidan and I return home on Monday.

Tomorrow morning Aidan and I drop James off at the airport where he will "take his 14 days" as Aidan calls it. James is going to Brussels and London for his last class in graduate school, and Aidan and I are heading to Iowa for a few days. (not quite as glamorous as Europe!) We will try and blog frequently so that James can stay caught up on our lives, so be prepared for some long, boring, detailed blog posts!

We will have to catch up again after the weekend! Hope you and yours have a fabulous Memorial Day weekend.

CSA Box #2

I forgot to take a picture last week - but this weeks box was very similar so it should give you a good idea of what we were given. We enjoyed our spoils all week, and I have some of the veggies roasting right now to be made into a soup similar to this one. (minus the mussels)

I was nervous that our greens would come in bunches and I would always have to wash them and prepare them. Not that I can't wash lettuce - but the fact that they come washed and ready to go makes it much easier to pack for lunch.

Aidan was a real trooper and tried all the new veggies too. We decided we really like overwintered parsnips, and I am going to add some to our carrot soup tonight! I also enjoyed my first cup of Kickapoo coffee this morning. You will have to stop by for a cup!

Some blogs I love

I keep addding more blogs to my list of favorites - there are so many amazingly talented people out there it is hard not to find more to love. Here are a few of my recent favorites.

I am really in love with this blog these days, and she in turn has led me to a whole host of others! Check out her great post on potting benches..... guess who is going to stop at the thrift store tomorrow?

This blog is published by/for the CSA I now belong too. I am looking forward to trying some of their recipes, because face it, I have absolutely no idea what to make with sorrel, ramps and parsnips. But you can bet we are going to be healthy.

And what about this one....... Yum! I am so excited for summer and fresh produce!

My biggest problem is, I keep spending time on the computer looking for recipes, when I should bein the kitchen making the recipes. Althoug I did try two new recipes this weekend that are both worth repeating. Maybe you should try them too!

Baked eggs and Rhubarb coffee cake - both should be on your menu for the weekend.

Try this!

Before you read the recipe- let me tell you a little bit about it. It consists of only four ingredients, carrots, cabbage, spinach and red peppers. My mother-in-law made it this past Easter and I have had a bowl of it in our fridge ever since. (Thanks Jane!)

Now before you decide against it because it has cabbage in it I have to tell you - I personally have never been a huge fan of cabbage, but I have come to enjoy it recently. I tried this salad and found it surprisingly tasty and almost melt-in-your-mouth. (I also tried the dressing/cheese with a can of chickpeas per her recommendations, and trust me - is probably the fastest, cheapest, most filling lunch possible, not to mention delicious, and it lends itself to all sorts of other ideas, like adding fresh tomatoes and basil, or eating the chick-peas over a lettuce salad with some other fresh veggies as well....... endless.)

But back to this salad, along with being colorful and nutrient packed, it lasts in your fridge for a week. Not many salads have staying power like that - you just have to make sure all the ingredients are clean and dry when you put them together.

So you need: One red pepper, cleaned and chopped,

One bag/container of spinach

One bag sliced carrots- or slice your own into coins or slivers

One small head of red cabbage, finely sliced.

Toss all the ingredients together. Then, there are all sorts of fun variations you can try. I think Jane's original recipe called for roasted pumpkin seeds and balsamic vinaigrette. I tried that- delicious. I have also added hard cheese, chicken, almonds, sunflower seeds, eggs, to name a few. I even added some apple slices once. Yum. I think my favorite dressing thus far has been poppyseed, it is the perfect combination to tangy and sweet, and I like it with the pumpkin seeds.

So anyway - sorry to rant on so long about a simple salad, but it is so rare that you can buy all the ingredients, chop them up and have them stay fresh in your fridge to be enjoyed for a week! Let me know what you think!

So I am supposed to be sewing.

My deadline is looming and yet here I sit wasting time online.

It all started when I tried to find the Williams-Sonoma pancake recipe I used this week. I wanted to post it and share it all with you, and rather than type it I thought I would just google it. Well..... instead I found myself wandering around the Williams-Sonoma website, as if I had nothing better to do. But I can't help it!

Currently, they have a few pages dedicated to Mother's Day.......(which happens to fall right around the time of our anniversary) that is just a subtle hint James. I mean, I know your broke, and the car, and the taxes,and the job, etc, but knowing this I wouldn't want you to spend any of your hard earned money in vain, so I thought I would just help you out.

And really, while I love all their bakeware and cookware, it is their special signature yellow that I can't get enough of. I imagine sometime in the near/distant future I will be trying to repaint my kitchen yellow - again - and asking the man at the paint counter if they can match my Kitchen Aid.

I hope you enjoy these pictures too!

You might think

from reading my blog that all I do is cook and eat. I will admit, I do love to do both, however I am trying to cook healthy, fresh meals so that I can still fit into my favorite jeans. I made the mistake of wearing some jeans today that I have had for almost 10 years. Always depressing, as they just don't fit the way they used to, but at least the tight waistband helped remind me not to eat so much - which was a challenge today. Aidan and I started the day by making these delicious muffins, and then for dinner we had some friends over and enjoyed this, this and even this! (and I don't even like cabbage!) I know you can find the recipes online, but seriously people, you should buy this book! Each chapter weaves together moments from Molly's life and the recipes that accompanied them; simple, delightful, mouthwatering recipes, and a great read as well.

Yesterday I was reading the book while I waited for James to be done with whatever he was doing so we could go out to eat. Silly girl. I was all offended when he changed his mind and thought we should stay in for supper, when instead I should have been thankful he had just presented me the perfect opportunity to put my love of cooking into action. I dare say we ate much better than we would if we had eaten out - and that - in a nutshell, is the story of the book.

He's definitely my kid.

Bread and butter?

Who ever heard of such a thing.

The other day when eating his chicken noodle soup Aidan requested his own little plate of olive oil and seasonings for dipping his bread. Music to my ears........ although if he ever gets married...... I should just apologize in advance.

I have alot of things to do this week.

One of my plans is to transform the contents of this bowl into some yummy guacamole. I think I may do it on a night when James is at class so I don't have to share. Avocado's are the good kind of fat, right?

Get this!

If you could only have one cookbook in your kitchen, this is the one you should have. Not only can you cook with it, you can use it for your bedtime reading because Lynne Rossetto Kasper writes in the same wonderful way she talks to us every week on the Splendid Table. I love, love, love this cookbook.

The best feature of the book is that all the recipes are uncomplicated and fast. And if you don't have all the ingredients the recipe calls for she offers you ideas of how you change your dish based upon either what is in season or in your cupboard.

So if you need some inspiration in your kitchen than this is the book for you.