March 10, 2011

Casey’s Birthday Dinner at Flea St. Cafe

A friend asked me what I made for Casey’s birthday on Sunday and besides fulfilling his breakfast request of bacon, eggs & toast, I made dinner plans! After having Cooper, we don’t have the luxury of going out to fancy dinners like we used to, so I jump at any excuse to make a dinner reservation! Parents of littles, you know what I’m talkin’ about!

We went to a cozy little restaurant called Flea St. Cafe in Menlo Park. We had such a wonderful time on our first visit last summer that I couldn’t wait to see what they would come up with on their Early Spring menu. The restaurant serves nothing but local, flavorful and sustainable foods and the ambiance is charming & quaint! It’s almost as if you’ve been invited to a friend’s home for dinner- I love that. On a rainy Sunday evening, it was the perfect place to celebrate another year for Casey.

Here’s what we had!
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recipes, Uncategorized

March 7, 2011

Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie

Hey Folks! Cooper here. I know it’s been a long time since you’ve heard from me so here I am! Today I want to tell you about one of my favorite things— SMOOTHIES! Every morning I beg my mom to make me one. Some days she jumps right to it and other days she tells me to go drink my milk. Yesterday was the best because we got to make smoothies at breakfast together. She pulled up a chair for me to stand on at the kitchen counter and let me put a few things in the blender. I’m totally not allowed to touch the power cord or the button that starts the machine but that doesn’t stop me from pretending to! I like to see how she reacts and it makes me laugh. This morning she almost forgot to put the green leaves in that blender thing. Can you believe that? My monster smoothie isn’t very monster-like if there’s no green in it! I pointed that out to her and she was thankful. I’m very helpful, you know.

My mom wants me to tell you that this smoothie has a healthy dose of greens, fruits, protein and fiber…whatever that means. All I know is that it’s sweet & tasty and I have to be really careful when I drink it. Since it’s kinda thick, I can’t drink it in my sippy cup. You know what that means?? I get to drink out of big boy cup with a cool straw!! When my mom’s not looking I put my hand in the cup and then toss a few things in there…like raisins…bits of toast…bananas. When I’m not looking, my mom sneaks a few sips for herself. That’s right mom, I’m onto you.

recipes, Uncategorized

March 5, 2011

Fantastic Mayo-Free Egg Salad Sandwiches

OK so I made it clear that I don’t like mayo. You know what’s weird? I kind of like egg salad. Totally bizarre since mayo makes up the base of a traditional egg salad, right? When I was a kid, my mom made really good egg salad sandwiches on toasted wheat bread (the only kind of bread we were ALLOWED to eat). There was definitely mayo in her rendition, but the trick was to eat a sandwich fast enough so I didn’t have a chance to think about the mayo part. It totally worked.

I wanted to make egg salad last weekend but there’s no way I am going to buy a jar of mayo. Hell to the no! I don’t EVER EVER EVER want to see a grocery receipt of mine with the word mayonnaise on it. So here we have an mayo-free egg salad with the help of creamy ricotta and Greek yogurt. I added some chopped red peppers to add color & texture and it turned out pretty good! Next time I might add a little bit of chopped onion… a squeeze of lemon or a few minced jalapenos to the mix because it needs a little kick. Other than that, I’m pretty stoked to find a recipe for a mayo-free egg salad.

around the home, Uncategorized

March 5, 2011

Top Fridge!

When you get an email from a MAJOR appliance brand saying they want to send you a fridge to test out, you have to do it, RIGHT?! Oh good. I’m glad you agree! So we’re participating in a test drive program with the awesome brand, Electrolux. We’re getting a new fridge to test out! I’m so flipping excited, I don’t even know how to contain myself. It’s like getting a new car for a food lover/organizing freak like myself.

This is our current fridge that came with our house. It’s a pretty good fridge but it’s got a few issues. We’re going to be pitting it up against the Electrolux to see how it compares! So folks, LOOKOUT! We’re gonna do Top Chef-like challenges soon! Who will be the Top Fridge? You’ll soon find out!

Photography, Uncategorized

March 4, 2011

365- Week 9

A food related photo every day til 2012. Here’s week 9:

63/365 Wine at lunch is ALWAYS a good thing.

recipes, Uncategorized

March 3, 2011

Caramelized Banana Loaf Cake

WANTED: A simple banana dessert that could easily pass as a snack or breakfast item. Must have a juicy caramelized layer because I’m looking to impress the internet. Bonus if you’re easy to make and require very few ingredients. I’m a working mom so it’s gotta be quick. Must be OK with toddler fingers poking at you and multiple chunks taken out of you by the hands of a greedy baker. You must pair well with a dollop of Greek yogurt. Please don’t be too ridiculously sweet. If you’re up to the task, I’d love to talk to you. No weirdos please! Well…maybe.

FOUND!!!!!!

And oh boy was it good.
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recipes, Uncategorized

March 1, 2011

Sun-Dried Tomato Arugula Pasta Salad

Just when I thought I couldn’t love a salad more, I went and tried this one! After posting what’s on my coffee table the earlier this week, my friend Erica tipped me off on this superb recipe from the cookbook I’m slightly obsessed with– Appetite for Reduction. All she had to say was that it tastes like pizza and instantly, a grocery shopping list was made. Thanks Erica!!

There’s a lot to love about this pasta salad. I love how the dressing coats the pasta…getting into every little nook and cranny of the fusilli I used. Look at that picture. Do you see what I’m talking about?? There’s something absolutely magical about the combo of walnuts & fennel. It actually mimics the taste of sausage! I could probably eat the entire batch of the dressing-plain. It’s THAT good. When added to this pasta salad it’s killer! The tang of red onions…the sweetness of roasted peppers…that peppery bite of arugula…the creaminess of the cannellini beans…and the crunch of toasted walnuts…oh dear. I think I’ve fallen in love with yet ANOTHER salad. I’m totally looking forward to leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
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