So, I know the height of summer isn’t really considered prime baking season but sometimes a girl just really needs a cookie, am I right? Don’t get me wrong – I love, love, love all of the easy, fresh, summertime recipes in abundance right now. I do. It’s just that yesterday, I also really needed a cookie. A fresh chocolate chip cookie. So I baked some. And now all I want to do is bake some more. I want butter. I want chocolate. I want frosting! And because I have cookies, brownies, and pies on the brain, my recipe research for this week’s Good Food Reads ended up a little, uh, lopsided. So I’m embracing it! Bust out your measuring cups, dust off your apron, and preheat your ovens. We’re about to get down with some serious baking deliciousness. It’s time for Good Food Reads: Get Baking!…
Archives for July 2017
A Moveable Feast: Grilled Peach and Arugula Salad
Well, this is post is officially a day later than I had hoped but I guess that’s what happens when you head out of town and forget your laptop charger. Oops! With a few days away from work and no plans in hand, my husband and I made a last minute decision to head to his family’s cabin in the northern Minnesota lake country. We invited some friends to join us and had a great couple of days of sun, sand, water, and some good food. I love the simplicity of summer foods – marinades and grilled chicken or burgers, fresh fish, and plenty of salads. As part of our Southern themed dinner party earlier this summer, Lane and I tossed together this Grilled Peach and Arugula Salad to lighten up an otherwise heavy menu….
Good Food Reads: Cooking for Kids
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve commiserated with friends about the challenges of cooking for kids. I’m not talking about technical cooking skills here – most of us can manage the ins and outs of classic kid foods. Rather, I’m interested in how to balance making healthy, tasty food that kids and adults will want to eat. I don’t want to be a short order cook and I want my kids to eat food that pushes beyond macaroni and cheese and pizza. Lane and I are both busy working moms and our kids range in age from 9 months to high school so our kid culinary needs are widely varied. In putting together this week’s Good Food Reads, I wanted to find a collection of recipes that would be useful for moms with kids of all ages. To make it a little easier, I’ve broken down the recipes by (loose) age groups. There are recipes for young kids, families, and recipes to cook with your kids! Do you have a favorite recipe that is a surefire hit with kids? Let us know! We’d love to share it here.
For Babies and Toddlers:
Pregnancy Smoothie (and the whole Smoothie Project) from Weelicious. Are you guys familiar with the Smoothie Project? Catherine, the genius behind the go-to cooking with kids site Weelicious, features a daily smoothie on her Instagram and has a cool PDF with mix and match options for healthy smoothies the whole family will love. I loved this pregnancy smoothie – and it’s perfect for the whole family.
An easy finger food for older babies, Barley Banana Protein Pancakes have only four simple ingredients and are quickly whipped up in a blender. Yum!
My oldest child was a bit of a picky eater when first starting table foods. These Toddler Muffins were a lifesaver and he always devoured them. They are so easy to make and freeze well. Highly recommend!
I’m hoping to try these Sweet Potato, Spinach and Chick Pea Patties from Annabel Karmel. I love that it doesn’t shy away from big flavors and packs in plenty of nutrition!
My youngest is proving to be an adventurous eater and I’m excited to try these Mini Chicken and Carrot Meatballs for Baby this weekend. They should be perfect for the freezer, too.
Sweet Potato, Lentil, and Cheddar Croquettes are a great option for baby led weaning and are full of nutrients. Make a double batch and pop the extras in the freezer for later!
My son refused to eat eggs until just a few months ago but my daughter is absolutely in love with scrambled eggs. This Veggie Eggy Orzo is next on my list of finger foods to try for her! I love the simple ingredients and whole wheat orzo.
Older Kids:
There’s no easier way to get veggies into picky kids than with pasta sauce! I love this recipe for 5 Vegetable Pasta Bolognese.
These dumplings would be great for older kids and families alike: Ricotta Spinach Dumplings.
Ok, so these are not the healthiest option, but they are an easy treat you can absolutely make with younger kids! We all need dessert sometimes, right? Check out our very own Peanut Butter Cup Bars.
Good For the Whole Family:
Cooking for Kids doesn’t have to mean making separate meals. I love these simple Mashed Sweet Potato Bowls, Two Ways for a quick and easy way to make a healthy meal for all ages.
And because I can’t do a Good Food Reads without a good one pot dish: One Pan Pesto Chicken and Brown Rice. Perfect for cooking for kids and adults!
Finally, what kid (or grownup?) doesn’t love crispy chicken? Check out these Panko Crusted Chicken Drumsticks. They’ve got tons of flavor and crunch and a honey mustard dipping sauce sure to please the pickiest eater.
Well friends, that’s it for this week’s Good Food Reads: Cooking with Kids. How’d we do? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
Happy Cooking.
xoxo
A Moveable Feast: Chicken and Waffles
For those of you who are new here, welcome to our Southern themed dinner party! We recently held a 8 course dinner party for 8 of our closest friends. Yep, 8 courses for 10 people! This may be the recipe that I have been the most excited about sharing with you! When we first decided on a Southern theme for our dinner party, I was willing to build the entire meal around this one course. There is just something so perfect about this combination of sweet, salty, spicy, and decadent! Chicken and Waffles is one of the most versatile recipes I have ever made, and it turns out it’s perfect for almost any occasion! Read more find to see how easy it is!…
Good Food Reads: Variety in the Spices of Life
The past few summers, as soon as the zucchini starts to take over garden patches, I make a batch of Yotam Ottolenghi’s genius Turkey Zucchini Burgers with Sumac Yogurt Sauce. They are the perfect use of summer’s garden bounty and are also the recipe that got me hooked on sumac. As my kitchen skills have grown over the years, so has my willingness to try new herbs and bold spices. I’ve come to love a big flavor punch, especially when it comes to vegetables. While I was pulling out my spices for this summer’s first go at Ottolenghi’s recipe, I thought I’d try to put together a collection of spice heavy recipes to experiment with for this week’s Good Food Reads! Get ready for some serious spice!
First up is this Chicken and Tomato Salad with Sumac and Herbs, featured in the New York Times. It uses tons of fresh herbs and more sumac!
While you’ve got the sumac and your spices out, try this recipe for Cucumbers with Labneh and Cherries for a refreshing take on a side dish.
And since I know you’re going to be as sumac obsessed as I am, how about this Sumac Chicken with Cauliflower and Carrots for an easy, healthy dinner? It’s a sheet pan wonder that will be perfect for busy weeknights.
Don’t think I forgot a beverage! How about this Chili Lime Pineapple Soda? I think it would also be good with a splash of vodka, if you’re looking for an evening cocktail.
Want a show stopping, filled with flavor treat? Look no further than this recipe for Zucchini and Herbed Ricotta Flatbread. I think I might try it on the grill for a little added flavor.
I first had chicken under a brick while traveling in Tuscany about 10 years ago. Here’s a great take on the classic, using fresh sage and flavor packed juniper berries: Chicken Under A Brick with Sage and Olives.
As you all know by now, I’ve never met a good vegetarian recipe that I don’t like. Itching to try these Spiced Grilled Vegetables.
The lovely Amanda of Heartbeet Kitchen killed it with this profile of Shelly Westerhausen’s gorgeous recipe for Minted Baba Ghanoush. My backyard mint plant is going to be put to good use!
This recipe for Lemongrass Curry With Shrimp from Bon Appetit can be made – leaving out the shrimp – a day ahead, which is definitely helpful for the weekday dinner crunch.
And finally, we can’t talk about spices without including a recipe for chicken wings, right? Try these Chicken Wings with Mango Chili Sauce for a sweet and spicy twist.
I hope you all have a great weekend filled with good food, great spices, and lots of fun with friends and family. Let us know what you make! We’d love to see your kitchen successes. Find us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
A Moveable Feast: Creamed Jalapeño Spinach
Our epic 8 course dinner party (lovingly named A Moveable Feast) continues with this amazing Creamed Jalapeño Spinach. Truth is, I’m a relative newbie when it comes to creamed spinach. My initial thoughts when faced with creamed spinach were not terribly positive. However after tasting it, I was immediately a convert. Really, it’s heavenly! But decide for yourself. Since my obsession with creamed spinach involves great friends, a (now) destination brewery, and my culinary crush, you might just want to read more!
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Good Food Reads: Heat Wave
Like much of the country right now, Minnesota is in the midst of a summer heat wave. Temperatures have been hovering in the 90s the last few days with high humidity, making the state feel down right tropical. I am actually a huge fan of the hot and humid days of summer – especially considering what winter can be like around here! That being said, I will fully admit that when it’s steamy outside, the last thing I want to be doing is standing over a hot stove or turning up the oven to bake. This week’s Good Food Reads is full of no bake or minimal heat required recipes perfect for summer! Many of them are easily portable for outdoor gatherings or trips to the beach or cabin. I know I’m planning to whip up a few of them tomorrow to have ready for the weekend ahead. What are your favorite go to recipes when the temperature rises? We’d love for you to share your recipes on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook!
Let’s start things off with a frosty beverage, shall we? This Frozen Mint Lemonade is absolutely perfect for a hot summer day (or eve). If you’re looking for a breakfast treat, try our Simple Summer Green Smoothie.
This recipe for Cold Southwestern Corn and Shrimp Soup uses frozen corn. Genius!
Technically this recipe for a Grilled Vegetable Platter recommends that the veggies be served warm, but I think they would be equally amazing as a chilled appetizer or side dish. And yes, you have to grill them, but grilling and summertime go together so I’ll be forgiven for breaking my no heat rule, right?
I absolutely love crisp salads when it’s hot out and this Antipasto Salad couldn’t be easier and more full of big flavor! No boring supermarket salad here.
BLT Salad with Olive Vinaigrette, with bacon made in the microwave. No cooking needed!
Check out these absolutely gorgeous Rainbow “Rawmaine” Taco Boats from Minimalist Baker. I’m not a huge fan of beets, but darn it if that beet hummus isn’t crazy beautiful. I think I’ll give it a try!
Our very own Greek Chicken and Barley Salad is on repeat in the summer months around here. I use rotisserie chicken so definitely no cooking required. The best part is, the recipe makes a generous amount and leftovers are the best.
If you want to feel like a kid again, but with a grown up palate: Mango Lassi Popsicles. YUM.
And because we all need dessert: Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie. I know my husband will go crazy for this one. I also love our Chocolate Peanut Butter Torte!
Finally, it wouldn’t be a Good Food Reads without a cocktail, right? Watermelon Tequila Popsicles. Perfect for an evening on the porch!
I hope everyone has a happy and safe weekend! Get outside and enjoy the heat!
A Moveable Feast: Pimento Cheese Smashed Potatoes
We’ve gone on and on about these dinner parties. And we want you to feel like you were there…our goal at the end of revealing all of our recipes is to give you a whole menu. Then you can grab your friends and start this amazing tradition with your own fabulous group of foodie friends. (No fabulous group of foodie friends? No problem, invite a few people over and be their foodie inspiration!) No need to tell them where you pulled your menu from! Our secret right? (OK, really we want you to feel free to send them right on over to our little corner of the internet-we’d be ever so grateful!) Where did we leave off last week? The brisket? After several different side dish musings, we settled on these Pimento Cheese Smashed Potatoes to pair with our Beer Braised Brisket-and boy are we glad we did. …