I know, I know, I’ve written many times lately about the awesome weather we’re having here in Minnesota, but I just can’t say enough about it. This past weekend we have truly entered patio season, and I am embracing it. Of course as the weather heats up, and the sun begins to shine, my tastes trend towards those of summer-tomatoes, cilantro, onions, garlic…basically, salsa!…
There are many times in the kitchen when I want to put my own spin on things. And then there are times when you don’t mess with a classic. Think: Ottolenghi’s hummus. Jim Lahey’s bread. Ree Drummond’s Lasagna. Not surprisingly, many of my “don’t mess with it” recipes come from the geniuses at Cooks Illustrated. With their scientific approach to finding the best methods in the kitchen, their recipes are often instant classics. The Molasses-Spice Cookies featured in their 1999 cookbook, The Best Recipe, certainly falls into that category. (Side note: There is a new version of the cookbook aptly titled, The New Best Recipe. I don’t know if this particular cookie is featured in that edition.)…
(My daily snack: Fresh pears, cottage cheese, brown rice crackers. Yum!)
I don’t know if it’s the weather (spring is FINALLY here!) or what, but I am HUNGRY this week. Like, can’t stop, won’t stop, hungry. Which means I’ve been trolling the old internet for new recipes to try and foodie inspiration. Which means, we have a Good (Food) Reads chock full of inspiration this week. So let’s get started, shall we?
First, I dug out my copy of Gwyneth Paltrow’s first cookbook, My Father’s Daughter (and before you scoff, it’s actually really good!), and have been eating her Italian Chopped Salad all week. It’s fresh, with plenty of heft from the bocconcini and green beans, and easy to make. Total winner! Looking forward to checking out her new cookbook It’s All Easy….
Let’s just get this out of the way: I am not a morning person. While having a toddler has certainly forced me to be an early riser, mornings are still not my most productive time. I much prefer a slow wake up, a lazy cup of coffee, and a leisurely breakfast. Unfortunately for me, being a full time working mama doesn’t mean that I can indulge in mornings MY way very often. So, I try and keep some healthy breakfast options on hand to ease the way. These Healthy Egg White Breakfast Muffins are a staple around here. They take less than 10 minutes to put together and freeze beautifully, all while being full of fresh veggies and tangy cheese. Paired with a lovely breakfast sausage or a glass of vegetable juice and it’s a filling, easy way to start the day.
The best thing about these egg muffins really is how versatile they are. I love to make mine with egg whites (to allow more calories for cheese!), bell peppers, and spinach. They are amazing with bacon, goat cheese and sundried tomatoes, too. Frequently, they are filled with whatever needs to be used up from the vegetable drawer….
Celebration indeed! This Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake will make everyone want to celebrate!
Ahhhh, vacation. Yep, that is right, vacation. Much needed, well-deserved, greatly enjoyed. Don’t we all love going on vacation? Well, my in-laws have decided to “winter” in Arizona 5 months of the year, truly living the ultimate vacation. Unfortunately that means that they aren’t always available to celebrate my youngest child’s birthday on his actual birthday date (in February). No problem, he’s now old enough to understand that not having grandma and grandpa here on his birthday just means presents in the mail (so awesome) and another celebration at a later date (even more awesome). Who doesn’t love another celebration?…
It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time yet again for another Good (Food) Reads. The last week has been a bit of a whirlwind around here and that has had me on the hunt for quick and easy recipes that the whole family will love. With that in mind, here are this week’s Good (Food) Reads:
Do any of you have an Instant Pot? I got mine last summer on super sale as part of Amazon’s much (over) hyped Prime Day. Since that time, I’ve heard countless people rave about the amazing – and quick! – meals they’ve prepared courtesy of their IPs. Sadly, until now I’ve only used it as a glorified quinoa cooker. Last night I tackled this recipe for Instant Pot Honey Bourbon Chicken. Now, before you guys go nuts, I know there is no bourbon in the recipe. It was a super quick recipe that produced really flavorful, tender chicken in about 20 minutes. I served it with steamed broccoli and Trader Joes’ Organic Brown Rice. I will say that the chicken was a little sweet for me (though my toddler and husband loved it!), so next time I’ll cut the honey down a bit, add a little more soy sauce and may sauté in some actual bourbon at the end….
Mexican Street Corn is an easy way to elevate your corn on the cob. Flavorful and juicy, this is a side dish that will please everyone. In fact you’ll defintely want to make extras!
As many of you know, I usually pack up my family and head to sunny Arizona for spring break. My in-laws have a winter home there, and we all love to hang out together, soaking up the sun by the pool, hiking in the mountains, and yes-I usually cook to my heart’s content. This is win-win for all of us, as my mother-in-law is a willing sous chef, my kids like to get in on the action and my father-in-law loves to try new foods. This year, I had all kinds of new favorites to try out on them, and they didn’t disappoint….
It seems like hummus has exploded in popularity in the last ten years. I can’t think of the last party I was at that didn’t feature a bowl or two of hummus and veggies or pita chips. Scanning the aisles of just about any grocery store will reveal a wide array of flavor choices. About a year ago, I was introduced to Yotam Ottolenghi’s classic hummus recipe (find the recipe here). It was a game changer. Homemade hummus is not only easy and cheap, it is worlds above anything you can buy at a store and can be easily adapted for varying tastes and crowds….
Confession: I’ve been on a bit of a strawberry bender recently. Our local Costco, in another glorious sign that spring is here (!), has had a bumper crop of perfectly sweet-tart organic strawberries in stock and I can’t. stop. eating. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, anytime. I love them on salads, in yogurt, or just by the handful. After a winter of starches and citrus, I’m so ready for spring and summer fruits! With that in mind, here are this week’s Good (F0od) Reads:
Sarah from Broma Bakery featured these Strawberry Nutella French Toast. I can’t wait to try them (the strawberry obsession continues) and actually think they’d be a great dessert topped with some crème fraîche and a little grated nutmeg….
After a long weekend of holiday eating, I have decided to go with something lighter today, Lemony White Bean Salad-in-a-Jar. Yes, another salad. After all it’s spring, and all of the sudden the greens are plentiful and I actually crave them. And this particular salad, Lemony White Bean Salad-in-a-Jar, has some bonus features. This salad is portable AND is able to be made ahead of time. That means it is great for work, great for bringing to a dinner party, great to bring on a picnic (yep -I hold out great hope that picnic weather is coming soon!)….