Vegetable Soup

A recent trip to Costco awakened me to the once ridiculous sounding possibility of my children eating salad with stinky cheese, mayo enhanced albacore on crackers and smokey chipotle sauce on cream cheese slathered crackers. Yes, all of those foods sound like the absolute dead last thing a four-year-old would say yum to, but not if the cute Granny at Costco serves it with a smile and a my aren't you cute? 

Raw Carrot Cake Truffles

I have a new thing. Raw Food. But not raw like a carrot you crunch away on - no not that simple - raw food that tastes like candy. Raw food disguised as healthy adult candy for people who adore licorice have been known to hound a sweet tooth. I know, Gwyneth Paltrow has been touting the raw food movement since 2003, but I live in the Midwest - trends hit us 10 years behind the rest of the planet. And I'm all raw baby.

Spring Rolls + acoupla shots of Cancún

Hello! Are you withstanding the doldrums of winter? The month of January had me hanging on for dear life - I wasn't fairing so well (remember when I told you dates were the highlight of my life and no, not a date with my husband) - pretty sure my Vitamin D stores were in negative deplete stage, but recently was able to travel to Cancún with some girlfriends from church to celebrate 40th birthdays! 

Sweet & Salty Chewy Date Bites

I'm having a serious love affair with dates right now. Where have dates been all my life? The way dates trick you into thinking you're eating something so much more sinful then it is has got to be the highlight of my…of my…of my….of my day, of my kitchen, of my life? It can't possibly be life because that would be so sadly pathetic. I wouldn't want you thinking dates can actually be the highlight of someone's life. No, people have much more important life highlights. Like drinks with friends, or cute new hairdo's, cozy Saturday mornings. Now friends, hair and family sound like things people might highlight - not dates. Unless it's a date with this guy. 

Skillet Popover {Quick & Easy Panekkoeken}

A couple things I'm absolutely loving right now and have been wasting, no literally dragging my feet through the thickest, darkest, murkiest thick sand letting time tick by without telling you about essential beauty items I've been adoring and with every tick my brain says TELL THEM. Come, let's talk. Your fabulous self awaits with this face wash by Dessert Essence. My skin has never glowed so - it's so glow-ey my skin has literally outshown itself - I almost need to tame the sheen. And speaking of skin, I've been needling - not sure if I'm really satisfied with the results for the amount of pain (yes, this is a mini torture device). 

Coconut Oil Popcorn

Who doesn't love popcorn? Show me the man who doesn't love popcorn and I'll show you the man deprived of life with je ne sais quoi, or the joie de vivre as the French say. Oh, la la I'm Lady Marmalade. And my knowledge of French sayings ends. My girlfriend hosted Ladies Night and served her version of Coconut Oil Popcorn which I had to immediately recreate in my own kitchen, because if you know me - I. Adore. Popcorn. Like, a lot. The popcorn I used is from the co-op I serve as a Board Member to - the Local Roots Food Co-Op. It's organic and local - score and double score. Guilt free snacking - think after school snack, kids are home for the weekend - big bowl of popcorn sitting around, or an in-home moving night - of course! Getting your fill on healthy fats, fiber-licious, crunch-tastic, salt-lastic, hmmm-mmm, yummy-lation. Love these cute dollar store popcorn bags I picked up, too! Start poppin' people. 

Chocolate Coconut Cream Cups

Discovering an unbeknownst bag of sugar coated high fructose corn syrup Peanut Butter Crunchy Bars in the backside passenger seat while trying to stow Aussie Licorice into same passenger seat pocket has me incredulous at my candy hoarding abilities. How did I forget that bag!? Sweet Tooth Insanity. And when Sweet Tooth Insanity nags at my being, but I'm (lamely) trying to be wholesome because a trip to the Yucatán Peninsula is very near in my future, candy cravings have to become really truly wholesome. 

White Sangria {A Big Bowl of Booze}

It's Friday! Guess what I forgot to do? Yep, you guessed it - forgot to turn the TV on Wednesday night for the replay of Downton Abbey. Lame! Loser! Can NOT remember when shows are on! I need my British accent // rich lady mansion tea party // dinner party dresses // English etiquette cup filled!! And I'm really failing. Why don't I throw a party for Buffalo housewives with a big bowl of booze to solve my problems!? Just kidding - bowls of booze don't solve your problems. But they should! Just kidding again (that is, if Travis' Mom or my Dad is reading this). I know one thing bowls of booze do - cause giggles. Lots of um.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Between Saturday morning playdates and gym sesh's, plating up Saturday night Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup, and getting to church on time, without having any slick television show recording systems how do normal, organized people remember when their favorite shows are on?? I missed Downtown on Sunday evening! My world is OVER! Thankfully TPT recognizes spazzes like me and replays Sunday's episode on Wednesday night. I may need to program a reminder into my phone. 8pm Wednesday. 8pm Wednesday. 8pm Wednesday. If Downton isn't your thing, turn on some football and make this dip - the (wo)men in your life will be ever so grateful. 

Cabbage Steaks

DOWNTON IS BACK! Hoooooorahhhh! My snark cup has been filled to the brim as TPT replayed Season Four Downton Abbey leaving me completely up to date on all the drama (Lady Mary - what a slut!, poor Anna - another rape?, Oh, Daisy!, Oh, Lady Edith!, the black musician and Lady Rose - how hot!?) and ramping us up for the big hurrah Season Five which premiered last Sunday. In anticipation, my beloved Grandma sent a newspaper clipping basically foreboding Julian Fellowes may not write another season of  Downton and may be in its last season - say it isn't SO! How did you like the Season Premier? I CANNOT believe James was fired! He is way too hot to ex off the show! I mean, really! In other unrelated news, I'm eating healthy after all the merriment, eating, and eating and by eating healthy I mean vegetables atop vegetables atop lean protein with a side of 60 minutes of cardio. Amen. Eat Cabbage. 

2014 In Review / / What Didn't Show-up On the Blog

As 2014 comes to a close I'd like to recap The Year of What Didn't Show-up On the Blog, because for the record I cook. A lot. 90% of what I cook doesn't make the final cut unto the blog for various reasons - I don't like the end photo, I eat the food without shooting it, the lighting doesn't work (thanks, Minnesota winters) before I can get a good shot, I'm traveling with the food, or on and on the excuses tumble. Scroll on to see the photos of what I made, ate, but never blogged about - until now. 

Apple, Brie & Honey Bites {Simple + Elegant Party Food}

Hello! Are you being absolutely fabulous today? I hope you are. A sure way to immediately raise your fabulosity quotient would be back-pocketing a delightfully simple, super easy peesy (I seriously hate that word, I need a peesy intervention) apple topped brie appetizer to serve at your next girlfriend, family, work, etc. etc. gathering. Apples, cheese, honey, salt. It's a no-cook, no-frills, no-stress party app and in the app season, and, no I don't mean cell phone app, don't we all need something simple yet elegant?

On My Bookshelf Now

OHH. MIIIIE. GAHHHHSSSSH. Please, please, please read The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett now! You will be richly rewarded for the effort and time spent lugging these enormous ten pound tomes through your life for about 9 days while your nose is glued to the pages. In a very, very teensy tiny nutshell The Century Trilogy follows the genealogy of families who originate in America, Russia, Germany and England throughout the 20th century. The books allow you to learn about real life history events through the lens of loving familial relationships causing the events like WWI and WWII, Nazi Germany, The Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the assassination of JFK, free love, and the Civil Rights movement to be a million times more interesting. Three generations of characters who intertwine and weave through each other's lives culminate in the last book, Edge of Eternity - I was sooo glad to commit to this trilogy - if you're looking for some hefty, but easy to follow story lines which are intriguing because they are based off real-life events, these books are for you!

Café Latte Heath Layer Cake

Hello! Are you ramping up for the biggest cooking holiday of the year!? I am! My parents are hosting, but I'm bringing these brussels from epicurious.com, Ina Garten's stuffing, and this pumpkin ice cream. The holidays are always peppered with my babies birthdays, and that is what inspired this sinful, ooey, gooey, chocolatey, moist, delicious, chocolatey, soooo yummy, did I say chocolatey cake. Bookmark this one for the next time you need a special occasion cake that is quick and easy to whip up, ingredients are easily found and you'll be sure to impress all! 

Wanna-Be Chef / Move over Giada / Food Network Star in Waiting

Come one, come all to my personal Freak Show. Behold, my riveting Food Network performance sent to FN producers for the show Best Home Cook in America, here on the bee-log for all to see. The casting director said start and stops are OK and asked that I talk about myself and not the actual cooking because apparently FN knows how to cook - pa-shaw. The video feels really spastic to me, but it does show my squirrely, fun personality - too bad the producers didn't get the impression I AM AN AWESOME wanna-be chef. Next season, FN, next season. With over 400 views I either have some magnetic sparkle in my video or my Grandma has nothing else to do - probably the latter - yep, I checked with my Grandma, it's definitely the latter.

The Only Bowl of Oatmeal you Should Ever Eat Again. Period.

I'm beginning to realize I think about food a lot more than the average person. I'm beginning to realize it's really my thing. I'm beginning to realize I'm a fantastic spokesperson when it comes to home-cooking, local-loving, vegetable procuring, -- an all around kick ass foodie in the true sense of the word. Yes, I teach yoga - it was a bucket list task, a to-do, a check off the check list of life if you will. But - nay! Not my true calling - possibly, could it be? a sabotage to my true path. How did a bowl of oatmeal lead me to these ponderings? I dunno. Something about a couple good words and a steaming cup of coffee aside oatmeal goodness in the morning. 

Pumpkin Pie Bars

These Pumpkin Pie Bars are so virtuous I allowed my 6 year old to have one for breakfast - yes, for the record - it was pie after consuming a bowl of shredded wheat. So virtuous, I broke my never eat after 7:00 pm rule and devoured ate one at 9:30 pm. So virtuous, you'll be wondering what the word virtuous actually means. In this case it means make these bars and find company soon because you'll be opening up your fridge door moving leftovers aside grabbing for the 9x13 and whipped cream servin' up some creamy pumpkin, with the best chewy coconuty flaxed-out crusted bars to all the boys in the yard. Super simple. Super tasty and wholesome. You'll want to make these again and again!

The Foodie-est Way to Prepare Pheasant EVER!

Are you a fan of wild game? And by wild game I don't mean little minds inquiring about all the banalities of life causing you to declare a 10 question limit on the afternoon before your brain explodes a spirited activity you might play with your little ones. I mean pheasant! And grouse! And venison! And And And... um... what else? Let's get wild! 

Kaleonaise Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato {BLT Sandwich}

I've undergone Been blessed with 10 years of marriage and finally entirely understand a postcard I received in my early 20's of a retro Anne Taintor postcard displaying a 1950's husband and wife duo standing in front of the refrigerator with the tagline: male refrigerator blindness claims another victim. As a newly married woman I was completely clueless to the meaning of the postcard. Male refrigerator blindness? Odd, but OK, whatever you say - married people are weird. Fast forward 10 years, Travis in front of a (seriously) bursting fridge and apparently there is "nothing to eat." Aha! Refrigerator Blindness - it's a thing! A real thing! May all men be eyes wide open when BLT's with Kaleonaise are in the fridge. Amen.

Cabbage & Pappardelle with Toasted Pine Nuts

A most distinguishable blue and white website that allows you to fully lose yourself into a contented mind numb, displays which can be an offensive stream of photos, and sometimes causes an occasional LOL has really got me feeling inadequate as a mother. Pissed me right the bleep off. There, I feel better admitting that. But for real - when I see Homemade Green Glow in the Dark Gummy Worms for Halloween, from scratch, I want to scratch. Her eyes out, that is. What is wrong with gummy worms from a bag once a year? Please, do you have to raise the bar that high? You're killing me! And really, how the H do you get homemade gummy worms to glow!? You've gone too far. Too. Far. What does this have to do with cabbage? Nothing! But read on for the recipe. It's a fabulous one! 

Smitten Kitchen's Apple Slab Pie

Dammit, I make a lot of crust-filled things, but when this shows up in your social media feed you find yourself succumbing to yet another crust-filled Saturday. Alas! May this pie be the point of realization to lay off tallow-laced dough and start run down a path of meals that may feed a family, be already stocked in the pantry, impress Food Network, reheat easily for leftovers, travel well, be full of nutrition, and have only five ingredients. Oh, yeah - don't forget organic, raw, gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and have no calories. JUST KIDDING! We could probably stop at the first three and call it good. But you should go here. Go to the land of Apple Slab Pie - it's a place. Join me. 

Cereal Bars

As someone who talks/thinks/breathes cooking to the Nth degree, I've discovered many home-cooks have a difficult time improvising in their daily cooking. Someone may simply avoid a recipe with an ingredient list 3" long, or stop themselves at the witching hour 5:30pm from starting Chicken & Dumplings Deliciousness because the freezer didn't hold the specific called for frozen green bean medley. Here is a lesson in improvisation. I craved the classic Rice Crispy bars, but didn't have rice crispies. What's a girl with a craving to do? Let's throw in those old, stale Rice Chex and call 'um Cereal Bars and call it a day. Everyone loved. Everyone's cheeks were chocolate covered. My husband couldn't wait to get home at night to devour them. All the boys come to my yard for these. Make them come to yours, too.

How to Make Tomato Sauce like an Italian

Did you freeze whole, cored tomatoes in a freezer bag this past August? Please tell me you did - because then you can make this pasta sauce and enjoy summer fresh goodness all year round! Fresh  (or frozen) tomatoes are tossed into a Dutch oven after you get some flavor going down in the bottom of the pot - you know - the usual suspects any Italian nonna would use - Italian sausage, olive oil, garlic, carrot. After browning up Italian sausage, set aside, then get the garlic and carrot cooking, throw in your frozen tomatoes, breaking them down with a wooden spoon until all soupy, saucy and lush. Whir with an immersion blender or something similar, add fresh herbs, return the Italian sausage to the pot, simmer for another 10 minutes, toss with pasta. The BEST pasta sauce you will eat. 

CSA {Community Supported Agriculture} Week 17

This post is my last Vegetable Love Post and then I can get back to telling you about cooking! Today I'm attempting love communicated via food making a Vegetable Beef Slow-Cooker Soup for dinner and Cereal Bars for late-night noshing after school snack. Recipes posted soon! Until then - check out  these brussel sprouts! Gasp! This blog has no brussel sprout recipes! How have I called myself a "blogger" until now pretending to "have a blog" when it has no recipes for brussels?!?? Someone fire this woman. Any recipe suggestions? 

CSA {Community Supported Agriculture} Week 16 + acoupla shots of Maui

What do I say? How do I start? Today was my first day back to the grind and reality bites first graders bring home piles of papers within the time span of a week. A week spent on an island that is surely paradise - azure colored waters that you swim in, but really don't swim, because the water is so salty you literally float atop the sea salt gazing down through snorkel gear on octopus, blowfish, eels, urchins, coral. Sand to walk upon that feels like powder to the feet. Not a speck of trash anywhere in the water - crystal clear and clean. Coming back to reality I'm glad I have this cornucopia of Sweet Beet's week 16 CSA bushel to talk about - because I'm not sure I can even dare to think up a recipe, procure that recipe, bear down on a sink full of dishes, and hope the kids won't turn their noses up. No. Let's go to a happy spot.