#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

How to Get Your Husband to Eat Cabbage in One Easy Step

April 2, 2009 · Narrative

Waka Waka Salad
It’s simple.  Make Guy Fieri’s Waka Waka Salad, with my modifications.  For all my bemoaning the fact that The Husband and Nick eat very few green vegetables, I will give them credit where credit is due.  They will eat them if I hide them.

Guy Fieri, one of the more exuberant and rebellious stars of Food Network (and currently the host of four different shows: Guy’s Big Bite, Ultimate Recipe Showdown, Guy Off the Hook and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) made this Waka Waka Salad when he was competing on The Next Food Network Star in 2006.  He subsequently won that show and has gone on to firmly implant himself onto Food Network’s line-up.  His bright bleached blonde hair and biker dude persona have certainly shaken up the all-star roster over there a bit.  I’ve made this recipe a few times before, and was originally drawn to it because of its fun name.  Really, who doesn’t like saying Waka Waka Salad?  It just makes you smile.

The salad is largely cabbage-based and there is no way I could get my boys to eat that, so to fool them into liking it, I mix in some spring greens, and they are none the wiser.  When we had it over the weekend, they both had second helpings and The Husband was looking for leftovers the next day.  See?  Green vegetables can be their friend.  It’s all in how you sell it.  ;)

Waka Waka Salad (my modifications are italicized)
Recipe courtesy of Guy Fieri

  • 1 cup canola oil
  • 1 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger
  • 1/2 packet ramen oriental seasoning
  • Pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 head Napa cabbage, sliced 1/8-inch thick (instead of using this and the next two cabbages and shredded carrots, I use a bag of that coleslaw mix.  All the work is done for you!)
  • 1/4 head red cabbage, sliced 1/8-inch thick
  • 1/2 head green cabbage, sliced 1/8-inch thick
  • 2 red onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 carrots, shredded
  • small bag of spring greens
  • 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves (use fresh!)
  • 24 wonton skins, fried (I skip this)
  • 3 ramen noodle bunches, broken into small pieces
  • 3/4 cup Spanish peanuts, finely chopped

In a large bowl combine oil, vinegar, garlic, ginger, ramen seasoning, salt and pepper. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix cabbages, onions, carrots, spring greens and cilantro. Whisk the dressing and pour over the cabbage mixture. Toss thoroughly. (Dress the salad no more than 10 minutes prior to serving.)

Place equal portions of salad on wonton skins and top with ramen noodles and chopped peanuts. Serve immediately.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Guy Fieri, Waka Waka Salad

Comments

  1. Sarah Caron says

    April 2, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    Sooo true. And it’s all in how you dress it up. That salad looks delish.

    Sarah Carons last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Ball!

    Reply
  2. Tracey says

    April 2, 2009 at 10:34 pm

    Do you have any tricks for getting husbands to eat any veggies at all?? :) My hubby is on a strict meat and potatoes diet – no fruits or veggies. Probably one of the main reasons I like to bake more than cook!

    Traceys last blog post..Buttermilk Fantails

    Reply
  3. Cynthia says

    April 2, 2009 at 11:19 pm

    The name is catchy isn’t it… :)

    Cynthias last blog post..My Char Siu & Siew Yuk

    Reply
  4. maris says

    April 3, 2009 at 7:49 am

    Nice title :) I dated a guy once who sheepishly confessed to me on one of our first dates that he “didn’t really like anything green.” He would eat salads but that was about where his tolerance for veggies ended!

    mariss last blog post..Sweet Potato Soup

    Reply
  5. Natasha - 5 Star Foodie says

    April 3, 2009 at 10:03 am

    This salad sound delicious – what a great idea! The name does make a difference! Coming up with a cute name works for my daughter every time.

    Natasha – 5 Star Foodies last blog post..White Asparagus Soup with Lemongrass and Almonds

    Reply
  6. The Sister In-Law says

    April 3, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    Loved this as well the other night!

    SIL

    Reply
  7. Patsy Kreitman says

    April 3, 2009 at 10:40 pm

    Love the sneakiness! ;) The name has me smiling just thinking about it! I’ll have to try this over the summer, sounds like it would be great with bbq.

    Patsy Kreitmans last blog post..Cookies for Bunko Babes

    Reply
  8. Chefdruck says

    April 3, 2009 at 10:57 pm

    It’s all in the marketing, at least for my kids it is. My husband is harder to sell, regardless of how catchy the name is.

    Chefdrucks last blog post..Ready, Set, Relax… After You Do Your Homework

    Reply
  9. Cate says

    April 4, 2009 at 2:56 pm

    SIL – glad you liked it! And now, of course, that seems like a lifetime ago.

    Chefdruck – it totally is all in the marketing, but I hear you on the husbands – they’re harder to outsmart sometimes. ;)

    Patsy – as Sarah mentioned the other day, sounds like something Fozzy Bear would say. :)

    Maris – maybe if we snuck the green vegetables into Pigs in a Blanket? ;)

    Sarah – thanks, it was!

    Tracey – I usually can hide asparagus and mushrooms and even peppers in casseroles but that’s it.

    Natasha and Cynthia – it’s totally all about the name. :)

    Reply
  10. Elyse says

    April 4, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    This Waka Waka salad sounds fantastic. How yummy!! Glad you were able to get your hubby to eat his cabbage. I bet he ate it and loved it, too!

    Elyses last blog post..Toddy’s first foray into baking…

    Reply
  11. Debbie says

    April 5, 2009 at 8:19 pm

    The salad looks great. Luckily we both like cabbage, even my son too!!! I love Guy’s show….I try never to miss it…

    Debbies last blog post..Spring Break!!!

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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