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!

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.

Mac-n-Cheese

I was in the mood for some macaroni and cheese yesterday and I had just bought a cauliflower the other day (not sure why I bought one in the middle of summer) so I wanted something to use with the cauliflower. I have also been trying to find ways to get vegetables into Peter's food, since he's been on more table food I've realized that his vegetable intake has gone down in the last month.

So I made a fairly typical cheese sauce and at the same time steamed the head of cauliflower and then pureed it in the food processor. I added it to the sauce and mixed in the macaroni and you really could not even taste the cauliflower. It was really good! Peter enjoyed it, Cliff enjoyed it and so did I. Here is a link to Jessica Seinfeld's recipe, I didn't really follow this one except for the cauliflower.

Edamame!

They like it! They really liked it! I've been meaning to try Edamame for awhile now- finally last night I needed a quick veggie to go with our dinner and this took 2 minutes to boil so it was fast and easy. I sprinkled on some kosher salt and really thought I would be the only one eating it. In fact, I didn't even put it on the boys' plates...but soon they were reaching for it and the four of us ate a bowlful! I'm so happy to find a veggie that the boys really love (besides carrots, corn and cucumbers)! Here's what you'll find in a half-cup serving of shelled edamame (or 1 1/8 cup edamame in the pods):
120 calories
9 grams fiber
2.5 grams fat
1.5 grams polyunsaturated fat (0.3 grams plant omega-3 fatty acids)
0.5 gram monounsaturated fat
11 grams protein
13 grams carbohydrate
15 mg sodium
10% of the Daily Value for vitamin C
10% Daily Value for iron
8% Daily Value for vitamin A
4% Daily Value for calcium

As you can see, that little serving of edamame gives you a bunch of fiber: 9 grams, about the same amount you'll find in 4 slices of whole-wheat bread or 4 cups of steamed zucchini. It has almost as much protein as it does carbohydrate. It contains around 10% of the Daily Value for two key antioxidants; vitamins C and A. And for a plant food, it's quite high in iron; it has about as much as a 4-ounce roasted chicken breast. (Info from MedicineNet.com )

Roasted Fingerlings and Green Beans

This recipe from the April Southern Living was delicious! With such easy main dishes ready to go in the freezer- it is nice to have a little extra time to spend on a special side dish. The extra tarragon dressing was great on the salad too!