Mad Hungry for Lentil Soup!

Have you seen Mad Hungry? It's a cooking show with Lucinda Scala Quinn (Martha Stewart's Food Director).  I love how she teaches as she cooks and her style is easy and appealing to families. As I type my kids and hubby are finishing up bowls of her Vegetable Lentil Soup. Eric says it is the first he's ever had and he thought is was great--but he likes basically everything. Surprisingly the kids devoured it too. The Garlic Croutons garnishing the top is what I think made it appeal to everyone. Lentils are not something I cook a lot, but I should. They are full of fiber and protein and they are really inexpensive--just what this mama is needing in her kitchen. Did I mention this recipe came together in about 15 minutes? It simmered for 30 more- and was delish!

Christmas...

Please don’t mind the break from cooking topics to talk about Christmas!!! I love celebrating Christmas- but it is *sadly* also very stressful for me. So much to do…so little time! And such BIG expectations! (Really that is the problem right there!)  This year my goal is breathe and just enjoy the season of life we are in this year. I’ve also realized I have to say no to things I want to say yes too. With four little ones there is only so much of me to go around. That might mean no to parties or events that I would really enjoy- but this just isn’t the year. I’ve considered everything that is a part of our celebration and what will stay and what will go. I even considered emailing Christmas cards {gasp! The horror!}. But ultimately I decided that a family picture was in order this year. Plus, I really do love receiving all those pictures. And for me, email just isn't the same. I haven’t sent a family picture in five years (just pictures of the kids). So two weeks ago we took a family picture (the hard part!) and now my goal is to order my cards BEFORE Thanksgiving.

Shutterfly has an amazing promotion for bloggers this year. I'm open to giving them a try and honestly I’m really loving their designs this year. They have new premium paper {which I love} and they are more like matte card stock than glossy photo paper. They even have an offer for a free card so you can order one and see how you like it. (Which I did by the way and I was really impressed with the quality- you can even add more pictures and/or a letter inside).

How cute is this design? Love how the photo is really the star.  See- I told you they were cute! The one I'm thinking of picking is similar.

 How about these cute Christmas thank you notes! Wouldn't it be fun to use pictures from Christmas day to create these? They even have darling ornaments I'm thinking of ordering for Charlie's 1st Christmas ornament.

Hurry- if you are interested, they have 20% off all cards today- and their prices are better than others I've used in the past.

Here's to keeping Christmas simple and focusing on what matters.

Salmon Citrus Salad

We've been eating healthier around my house lately. And we have a new baby...so meals have been less about actual cooking and more about "assembling".  This week I'm trying to recreate something I had recently at a local resturant. The most amazing salad ever. I don't have a recipe, but I promise to take notes as I figure it out and let you know how it goes.

Easy Chocolate Frosting

I am not above using a cake mix. (These cupcakes are a white cake mix with green food coloring). But I always make homemade frosting. Last night I went to make my standard Hershey's frosting (on the can of cocoa powder) when I realized I was out of cocoa powder! 

I found this easy recipe online. It is almost like a ganache- very thick and fudgy. What I love most is it was so easy- and you don't have to mess with a mixer or sifting powdered sugar. I'm not sure this recipe would be enough for a layered cake, I might double it for that. It frosted about 18 cupcakes.  As this frosting cooled, it got a little grainy. I just warmed it for 10-20 seconds in the microwave and is spread perfectly.
 
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup milk
6 ounces choc. chips (about 1/2 bag)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except chocolate in saucepan over medium high heat. Stir constantly until melted. Bring to a boil for 1 minute, still stirring. Remove from heat. Add in chips and stir until completely melted. Spread on cooled cake (or cupcakes).

Chicken Pasta

This pasta recipe was from my friend Nina's blog. It is actually a recipe she got from her friend Megan (I want to give credit where credit is due).

I love this pappardelle pasta from Trader Joe's. I used two packages for this recipe and it worked out perfectly.

This was a big hit with the family and it will a summer favorite for sure.  Next time I think I will throw in some grilled veggies and greek olives too.  This recipe has a lot of flexibility.

Did I mention the kids loved it? Go to Nina's blog for the recipe.

Weekly Produce Delivery

Some of you have asked April and I about our produce delivery. We have signed up for a CSA (community supported agriculture) through Farmer in the Dale. The produce is all local and mostly organic. What we like best is we can select the produce a week in advance. We feel like the price is reasonable and you can't beat the convenience of delivery to your front door!

Here are some of the benefits I've found since we've started ordering from Farmer in the Dale:
1.) Cooking with fresh vegetables is a priority because you don't want to waste one bit of this amazing produce! This translates to healthier coking.
2.) Taste- the organic apples, Yukon gold potatoes and the spring salad mix are delicious! They are significantly better than anything I've bought at the grocery store. (Eric doesn't usually like spring mix- but now he does because it is so fresh).
3.) No mater how busy my week is and if I've made it to the store- we have fresh fruit for snacks and veggies to go along with something out of the freezer for dinner.

Okay- so the question you are asking is how much? We pay $30 a week for 10 units of produce. We split it between the two of us. I still supplement some produce from the grocery store. We do have a local farmers market twice a week but it isn't at the most convenient times and isn't really close to where I live. Plus taking three kids... need I say more?  Check out the Farmer in the Dale website for more info http://www.farmerandthedale.com.

Cupcakes

Our sweet friend brought these cupcakes over for Pete yesterday, are they not the cutest cupcakes you've ever seen? Since I haven't really cooked anything in over two weeks I thought I would post these little beauties. Peter loves them and can't wait to have the last one after lunch today. Thanks Becky!