Quick and Easy


Read my blog

Read my blog Follow Me on Pinterest

My kids eat broccoli, but that's it for my son.  My daughter will eat asparagus, but a simple salad?  Forget it.  My latest idea is to buy a juice extractor and make my son fresh squeezed juice in the am.  He loves apple juice, so what can be better if I make it myself and maybe drop a lettuce leaf into it.  Would he even notice?  I can also see mixing apple and pear and other fruits which would probably taste great.  Have you caught the juicing fever yet?

I love the concept of hero foods - especially his emphasis on greens. I am always trying to incorporate more in our dinners - no easy task. I'll sometimes wilt spinach or arugula into pasta or soups but two of my kids will often fish out the "green stuff." However, my oldest now loves salad and eats it every day. Do your kids eat greens?

You have to check out this new section on the site called Hero Foods.  Chef Seamus Mullen, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, has shared some of his favorite recipes using what he calls Hero Foods-foods that make us feel better.  While he doesn't claim to cure anybody, these ingredients are pretty powerful and I have to say, I am hooked.  I keep making a green smoothie now in the am with wheat grass, something I never would have dreamed I would enjoy, and I actually feel better! 

I wound up ordering pizza for the kids and for the adults I made a real dinner.  The kids were welcome to join us but they didn't really want to sit down at a table and eat-they were playing basketball and then watching a movie so they needed something they could grab and go with-ie pizza. For the adults, I made a tenderloin with a wine sauce and served it sliced with horseradish and rolls.  It was so easy and delicious.  For an appetizer, I made a mushroom-dill strudel using filo dough.  OMG so good!!

How was the party? I am intrigued by the mini-empanadas. It was actually my daughter's 10th birthday sunday and she conned me into our first ever slumber party saturday night. Memories of my slumber party when I turned 10 and I chipped my tooth on my dresser. Complete mayhem. Anyway, the party loud but a success. My organized daughter planned the whole thing - complete with a timeline which she posted! Of course that led to frustration when her guests ignored her schedule, but oh well. As for food, we kept it simple with pizzas, rice crispie treats, and I put out a crepes spread in the morning with fresh fruit and toppings. 

Okay so my son, who is 7, is such a party animal that he somehow convinced me to throw him a half birthday party this weekend.  Can you believe this kid?  Anyway, I love a chance to get together with friends so while the kids watch a movie in their pjs, the adults will hang out and chat in another room.  Question is, what should I serve?  I'm thinking mini empanadas?

By the way, don't know if you've seen it, but I am loving the new Lactose-Free Zone on our site.  As someone who tries to avoid dairy, I love learning about the alternatives like the tofu and coconut oil Louisa used in her Chocolate Cheesecake.  Hello? 

That sounds delicious definitely post the recipes.  I remember having that Broccoli Salad at your house with the raisins and bacon that was sooo good!  Plus everybody likes to feel light at a shower.

 

I love entertaining at home. I like to keep it casual and my rule is to make as much ahead of time as possible so I can enjoy my own party! A twist on basic recipes is really fun - sometimes I'll do a few different pizzas, cut into small squares on platters with a big salad - or even let guests make their own. I also like chilis and soups (like tortilla) where guests can choose from an assortment of toppings to customize their meal - crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, avocado, chopped tomato, etc.

I am actually having a shower/lunch this weekend at my house for 30 ladies in honor of my sister who is getting married next month. I am keeping it simple with 3 make ahead but tasty salads - one black bean and corn with cilantro and lime, one cous cous with chicken and currants, and one chopped salad with smoked turkey and mozzarella, salami, and garbanzo beans. I am going to put some naan bread on the the buffet with the salads, and some assorted cookies for dessert. Easy and delish. I will post pics.

You know what really gets me?  When you finally do go out to eat and the food stinks.  I went out with my girlfriends last night and being that it was Fat Tues, we picked a place that had a Mardi Gras price fix menu.  It was so bad, the bread was stale, the fried oysters were greasy.  It made me want to stay home and entertain instead.  Oh and it wasn't cheap.  It motivated me to plan a party soon. You can do so much at home with so little.  What are your favorite party recipes?