"Over the Rainbow" Slaw

If you know anything about me, you know that I LOVE all things Hawaii. Everything about the place...the smell, the strumming of ukuleles, the beaches and water, the everlasting color of the flowers and daily farmer's markets. Hawaii is a place for permanent vacations and I know this all too well! Who's ready to escape winter with me?!

 

This recipe is inspired by a couple different things. I wanted a light, healthy, fiber-packed dish full of color and flavor and it had to be quick and easy to prep. Eating healthier lately has pushed me more towards Asian flavors so this dish is the perfect platform for that.

 

 

I served this dish along Baked Coconut Chicken Tenders for the ultimate Hawaiian "splurge" without the guilt. You can see the recipe I used for that at Glam Hungry Mom's blog.

 

"Over the Rainbow" Slaw

 

Ingredients:

 

Dressing:

1/4 C agave nectar (or honey)

1/4 C macadamia nut oil

1/4 C rice vinegar, unseasoned

1 TB soy sauce, low sodium

1 tsp sesame seed oil

1 TB peanut butter

1 tsp Siracha hot sauce

1 TB ginger, minced

1 garlic clove, minced

 

Slaw:

1 bag broccoli slaw

2 C carrots, shredded

1 red bell pepper, cut into matchsticks

1 C edamame, shelled

2 scallions, thinly sliced

1/2 C roasted peanuts, chopped

1/2 C cilantro, chopped

 

Directions:

 

Add all dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Mix with a whisk until peanut butter is well combined and set aside. In a medium bowl, add all slaw ingredients. While tossing, slowly drizzle dressing until desired consistency. Allow to sit for at least 10 minutes for slaw to soak up dressing. Adjust seasonings as desired and serve with cilantro and peanuts to garnish.

Cuban Black Bean Stew

We're 17 days into 2013 and so far, I'm feeling pretty good about the food choices we're making as a family. We didn't bother with empty resolutions but we did talk about making healthier choices throughout the year to include making a conscious decision to eat better. A decision that will get made at every meal. Eat this, not that! 

While I love the feeling I get when I eat healthier, it can be hard to balance delicious food with food that won't make you gain weight or feel bad about yourself. I think this is why we fail at so many diets. Smaller portions of food packed with tons of flavor is what my family strives for in this healthier version of us and this recipe is at the top of our favorites list. Fiber packed black beans with smoky Cumin- good tasting and good for you! 

This dish takes less than 30 minutes to make so it's the perfect weeknight meal. I started this dish with just a few simple ingredients that you may already have in your pantry. Dice up a red bell pepper, onion, and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent. Add cumin, salt & pepper and stir it into the vegetables. 

Next, add in your black beans and chicken stock. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for about 10 minutes or until beans are heated through. Using your wooden spoon, gently mash some of the beans to thicken the sauce. 

Add cilantro, saving some for garnish. I love cilantro...I could nosh on it alone! I know some of you don't like it and if that's you...try adding a few dashes of ground coriander. You'll get a similar effect and still tons of flavor. 

Voila! Serve with your choice of white or brown rice, diced tomatoes, and leftover rotisserie chicken or steak. I used jasmine rice here because we love it but brown rice would be a healthier option. To make this vegetarian, use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock and leave out the meat altogether. It's that easy! 

Cuban Black Bean Stew

Ingredients: 

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 red onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cans of black beans, rinsed and drained (I use Goya brand)

1 can stock, vegetable or chicken

2 t cumin powder

1 t ground coriander, optional

1/4 c fresh cilantro, rough chop (save some for garnish)

For serving:

diced tomatoes

cilantro

chicken or steak

white or brown rice

Directions:

Sauté bell pepper, onion, and garlic until onion is translucent. Add cumin, salt & pepper and stir. Add black beans and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and add cilantro. Allow to simmer for about 10 minutes. Spoon into bowls and serve alongside rice, tomatoes, and choice of protein. Garnish with more cilantro. 

Note: Next time I make this dish, I'll definitely double it. My boys have been asking for more all week! 

Making Pasta

I belong to a spouse's club composed of other lovely military ladies here in Colorado Springs called PSC. Each month, PSC hosts many socials and sub-club events for us to come together and bond, make new friends, and even to enjoy learning new things. Besides BUNCO (woo-hoo!) I love to attend Italian Cooking hosted monthly by our very own Italian, Sylvia. Sylvia (from Verona) cooks the best Italian food I've tasted since my visit to Ascoli Piceno and it's the one day of the month I look forward to getting away from my wife & mother duties! January's class was Pasta Making! 

We start off each evening with just a little something to keep our energy up. A light snack and drinks. Nothing fussy as we spend most of our time preparing the food. Here you have zucchini wrapped in prosciutto. You can dry saute this or not. I preferred it without cooking. 

Here are a few of the ladies in attendance. Usually our classes run small but we nearly doubled with 14 that night. Working in groups of four at a time, we began the pasta process. This is definitely a hands-on class but I'm not sure how anyone learns just by watching. Get your hands dirty! 

Like I said, making pasta can get messy but this is a great thing to plan with a small group of friends, family, and with the kids. Don't fret if you think you'll need to purchase a ton of items to make pasta. Actually, don't buy all the gadgets. With this group, we had tons of items to choose from but if you're thinking of buying anything, just purchase one of the hand crank pasta makers. I think I paid $20 at TJ MAXX and it was perfect! Also forget the special ravioli presses- they're not as good as they look. Leave it rustic with using just a pizza cutter or pick up an inexpensive pasta cutter. If you want perfect...then you probably shouldn't be making pasta by hand to begin with. Sorry!

Using just a basic pasta recipe which I'll leave you with below, it will need to rest. Once that's done, start cranking! Be ready for a long get-together too. Making tons of pasta for everyone to be able to take some home will take you at least 3-4 hours. Just to plan ahead...and have lots of snacks for munching. 

We were so lucky that Sylvia had prepped the fillings ahead of time. It was nice to have four different varieties but you could also choose just one. We had these:

~ Ricotta & Spinach

~ Salmon, Tilapia, & Arugula

~Ham & Mushroom

~ Ascoli Three Meat (My favorite)

I call this the Ascoli one because it is the same traditional filling used to fill stuffed olives from Ascoli Piceno. I made a lot of these and ate these A LOT in Italy! Divine!

Here is a good view of the rolling and stuffing. We worked in pairs to crank the pasta, fill it, press & crimp and then laid it to dry for a bit. We saved all of our cardboard boxes from the holidays to leave the pasta on for drying. You can also purchase sheet cake containers from your local bakery to aid in this. Don't use newspaper though...you don't want to eat ink.  

Seeing that we were taking so long, we also made some fettuccine to get the class moving a little faster. I ate mine with some pesto sauce and diced tomatoes topped with Parmesan for lunch the next day. I may or may not have shared this with my family! I'm not sorry.  

This was my Ascoli pasta I made. Pretty, huh? Considering I've only made handmade pasta in culinary school a few times....that's it. So easy to make.  Another tip, think about any leftovers you may have from weekly dinners and freeze them for your pasta making night. Time saver!

So, our classes are held at the chapel on base and our kitchen is limited to the amount of space it has compared to the amount of pasta that we were making so we used chairs for the fettuccine.  

Pasta Math: P(14) x C= too much pasta, no more countertops! 

The picture below is not even half of what we made. I wish we would have thought to do a tally. 

All in all, making pasta was so much fun. It was great learning and bonding together and it's a great memory I'll hold on to as a military spouse. 

Basic Pasta Recipe

Ingredients:

1 C AP flour

1 egg

1/2 t kosher salt

1 t olive oil

2 T water

Directions: 

On a work surface, mix flour and slat. Make a well in the center. Add egg and olive oil. Begin to combine. Add a little water as needed to incorporate the flour. Knead dough for 3-4 minutes then allow to rest in a ziploc bag for about 15-20 minutes. This helps with the elasticity. Once it's ready, begin on the largest setting of your machine (cranker) and work your way down until you have a thin sheet of pasta. You may need to fold the pasta sheets in the larger settings to make them fit. It will look like a sheet of paper. Then you're ready to cut, fill, etc. 

I apologize for the random "recipe" above. Sylvia doesn't give measurements and we learn by doing so this is all from my notes. Leave me a comment if you have any questions and I'll try to clarify. 

"Everything but the Chicken" Soup

The Christmas festivities are over and I'm busy cleaning up the cardboard-wrapping paper-bows and more mess that has taken over my house! It was a quiet holiday of just the three of us. We made special memories this week and remembered those that can't be with us this year. I think of my grandpa (Papaw) and all the special holidays we shared. I am comforted that he had a good life and we all loved and were loved. This makes me smile.

 

Speaking of comfort, we are on day 3 of leftovers and that's about all my boys can take! I want something warm and light and of course, won't take me away from the board games and movie time we're having here these few days. No more heavy cooking this week!

 

 

I decided on soup so I scoured my fridge and pantry to see what was on hand. Considering the stuffing I made this earlier, I had all this loot! Carrots, celery, onion, parsnips, and a sweet potato. Score!

 

Then I pulled out one container of chicken stock (low sodium). If you're a vegetarian, use veg stock here. But you'll have to call it something else....you decide!

 

I also had remnants of thyme, bay leaf, and lemongrass. The lemongrass is from another recipe I'm testing for when we get sick (cross fingers we don't). More to come on that!

 

Remember this being super simple? Well, saute your veg, add stock, water, and herbs. 30 minutes or so later, throw in some orzo or other small pasta. Voila! Soup is served!

 

Perfect soup served in my pretty dishes I received as a Christmas gift. Hope you had a happy one!

 

"Everything but the Chicken" Soup

 

Ingredients:

2 carrots, small dice

2 parsnips, small dice

1 medium onion, small dice

1 stalk celery, small dice

1/2 sweet potato, small dice

1 32 oz container chicken stock

2 c water

1 bay leaf

1 tsp fresh thyme

1 stalk lemon grass, broken into large pieces

S&P, to taste

1 TB EVOO

1/2 c orzo pasta

Parmesan, to garnish

 

Directions:

Add EVOO to stock pot and saute vegetables until onion is translucent, 2 minutes or so. Add stock, water, and herbs. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for about 30 minutes until veggies are fork tender. Add orzo or other small pasta and allow to cook for 7 minutes or so or until pasta is cooked al dente. Serve with a little grated Parmesan.

Loss

This has been a rough few weeks. Err...a rough year, let's say. Today we lost my precious grandfather, Jesse. Eight months ago, my grandmother also passed away on Easter sunday. I want to ball up, scream and cry, and feel sorry for myself. But...I know God is good and he knows things that I don't or can't quite understand. So I will be thankful and gracious for the time I could spend with my "papaw" in the 30-some years I was gifted and the memories I can keep forever.

 

 

He was the kindest, sweetest man I have ever known. Maybe, ever lived. He gave the best hugs. He was proud of his family and loved us greater than you could fathom. He was also deaf. And even though his speech wasn't always clear, he had the warmest voice that spoke words of love. I will miss his voice.

 

I know where he is today. He is with my grandmother and the others that have gone on before us. He isn't in pain or suffering. He has no fear of what's to come....and he can hear! I can only imagine what joy is going on in Heaven at this moment! I will take comfort in knowing that he is in a better place.

 

I will miss and love you always, Papaw.

 

 

Cherry Balsamic Chestnuts- Thankfulness Day 9

Have you planned your Thanksgiving menu yet? Do you have those go-to family favorites on the table each year? If you're in the mood for something new, try these elegant Cherry Balsamic Chestnuts. They're perfect along side your turkey or atop a lovely green salad. They're even more divine as a topping for vanilla bean ice cream and thinly sliced pears for an easy dessert.

 

 

Cherry Balsamic Chestnuts

 

Ingredients:

2-3 TB unsalted butter

16 oz vacuum-packed roasted chestnuts, peeled

2 TB balsamic vinegar

1 TB cherry juice

salt and pepper, to taste

 

Directions:

Melt butter in sauté pan. Add the chestnuts and toss to coat and heat through, about 2 minutes. Add vinegar and cherry juice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until reduced to a glaze, 3 minutes or so. Season with salt and pepper and serve hot.

 

You can find vacuum packed chestnuts in many places this time of year. I often find them at World Market, Whole Foods, and even the Commissary this year! Also, feel free to use any flavored balsamic for this recipe. Maybe even some orange zest at the end!

 

For Day 9 of my 30 Days of Thankfulness, I'm thankful for my dear blog readers who keep coming back. I hope you like the food I prepare and enjoy the blogger friendships I make along the way.

 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

Butternut Squash Bisque- Thankfulness Day 8

I'm in love with soup. So much, I yearn all year for soup weather while thumbing through my favorite cookbooks for inspiration. This recipe is super easy but so elegant- it's sure to be on my table this Thanksgiving! Feel free to use fresh, frozen, or the already peeled and chopped butternut squash in your produce section. Make this holiday meal easy so you can spend more time with family & friends. So, for Day 8 of 30 Day of Thankfulness, I am thankful for warm soup on a chilly day to share with my loved ones.

 

 

Butternut Squash Bisque

 

Ingredients:

2- 10 oz bags frozen bags butternut squash, thawed

1 small onion, chopped

1 large Fuji apple, peeled and chopped

4 c chicken stock

2 c water

1/2 c heavy cream, plus more for garnish

thinly sliced apples, for garnish

 

Directions:

In a /heavy bottom pan, sauté onions until translucent, about 5-7 minutes on medium heat. Add butternut squash, apples, stock, and water. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Continue simmering for 25 minutes or so until squash is fork tender. Transfer soup to a blender and puree until smooth. Add cream and salt & pepper, to taste and blend again to combine. Return soup to pot and keep warm until ready to serve. Garnish with 1 tsp cream and thinly sliced apples.

 

Do you have any favorite recipe to share for Turkey Day? Post a link below in the comments section!

 

 

30 Days of Thanks- Day 6

On Day 6 of 30 Days of Thanks, I am so thankful for this cozy spot in my home. The picture doesn't do it justice as this spot, in my home, is one of the places that house the most love. It is where my husband and I gather for "coffee time" before we start our day. No matter what our day holds, we carve in at least 15 minutes of time to have a cup of joe and just spend time together before it gets too hectic. To the left is a warm fireplace for cold mornings like today. I've been up since 4am because hubby had a work trip- but we still got our few minutes together today and I love that it's so important to the both of us.

 

 

This is also the cozy place where my son and I read. You can see by the number of books scattered about in the picture. Boy is reading Hunger Games at the moment and I always have a stack of cookbooks and home decorating magazines close by. The door behind the sofa leads outside which makes it a great place to be no matter what time of day. Rain, snow, or shine, I can open the blinds and see the beautiful outdoors. I also enjoy reading my Bible here.

 

Being a busy mom and military wife, I've learned to take 15 minutes at a time throughout the day either spending time with my husband, son, myself, and the Lord. Those 15 minute spurts give our family time together and keep everything else in perspective...and for that I give thanks!

 

 

 

 

30 Days of Thanks- Day 2

Well, it's only day 2 of my 30 Days of Thanks project and I can tell you my list is running long. Which only reminds me to be thankful for everything and everyONE in my life. I'm blessed to have a wonderful family, caring friends, strong support system within our community and on base, and an amazing school and church for us to serve!

 

 

As with Day 1, today I am keeping with the prompts from yesterday's post although I may not always do so. I would like to introduce you to our dog, Charlie. Isn't he the cutest thing you've ever seen? He has these little soulful eyes, especially when he's in trouble with mama which makes it even harder to be mad at him when he's bad.

 

I asked Boy why he is thankful for Charlie and he says it's because Charlie sneaks in his room in the morning and cuddles with him before we get up for the school day and he's nice and warm. Charlie loves to cuddle and tickle your feet with his little tongue too.

 

To spend a day with Charlie would make even the hardest of hearts fall in love. He's a curious pup and fears no squirrel (SQUIRREL!) or any other wildlife for that matter. According to Charlie, he's 10 feet tall and nothing will keep him from protecting his family!

 

Charlie is ever so patient while I dress him in ridiculous clothing- this is from Halloween this week. He's a knight. He's a knight because Charlie's real name is Sir Charles Winston. He's not just a dog to us. We love him as though he's a member of our family. He keeps us warm on cold days, he comforts us when we're sad, and he has the funniest, most endearing personality I've ever seen from a dog. And for ALL that, we are thankful for him.

30 Days of Thanks

Hello Dear Readers! If you celebrated Halloween last night, I hope it was an enjoyable one. We had a couple hundred kids come through our neighborhood but luckily we've had some practice and didn't run out of candy this year! Here is a pic of Boy- can you guess who he is dressed as? He even had a little skit to go along with his costume.

Now that Halloween is over and we're officially in November, I want to put forth an effort and be aware of all the things we have to be thankful for. For Day 1, I am most thankful for this sweet boy- the love of my life! And so, I'm also inviting you to join along in my little project for 30 Days of Thanks.

Here's how it works:

1. Are you a blogger? Write a daily post based on the prompts below. No need to use them in order.

2. Do you love taking photos? Share it on your blog or tweet about it. Use hashtag #FF30DOT

3. Want a keepsake? Make a small photo book and get the kiddos to help. Blog or tweet a pic of what you're working on or other ideas for sharing your thankfulness.

4. Feel free to share on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest- whatever you use. You can also pick up my button to share on your blog.

 

Here are some prompts to get you started but feel free to use them at random or come up with your own. I can't wait to see what you share!

1. a person

2. an animal

3. a cozy place in your home

4. a favorite snack

5. a place

6. a pair of shoes

7. a scent

8. a restaurant

9. a blog

10. a time of day

11. a tradition

12. a gadget

13. something old

14. something new

15. a recipe

16. an experience

17. a store

18. a saying/quote/scripture

19. a favorite piece of clothing

20. a keepsake

21. a disappointment or fear

22. a book

23. a feeling

24. a photograph

25. a luxury

26. a charity

27. a song

28. a gift

29. something in your home

30. the thing you’re most thankful for