Archives for 2011

Eat. Live. Be. #13: My Go-To Lunch

March 28, 2011 · Clean Eating

Thank goodness this week’s Eat. Live. Be. topic is a piece of cake, because my To-Do List for the night is ridiculous. And I really just want to go lie down with my remote in one hand, and a smoothie in the other and call it a night.

This week’s topic is all about our go-to lunch. Although I work at an office until noon, I work from home in the afternoon, which gives me a little more flexibility with my lunches (unless I’m meeting a friend, of course). Truth be told, I can be a little like a 17-year-old in a new hot and heavy romance with my lunch patterns. I grasp onto a lunch idea and fixate on it until I’m sick of it. You know, like when you couldn’t get enough of your new, first boyfriend? And then, like that flushed high schooler, I’m done and I’ve moved onto the newest flavor of the week. Such are my lunches.

Lately, my lunches have been fish sandwiches. I honestly am a terrible Catholic when it comes to no meat on Friday. I can go several months without eating meat, but then tell me I can’t and I can’t remember that darn fact until a piece of bacon is in my mouth. I was so proud that I went all day Friday, safely making it through breakfast and lunch without accidentally eating meat. Until we went to the movie theater. And the kids wanted dinner there. And I gave in because once in awhile, it’s ok to throw them a curve ball like eating dinner at the movie theater. So I ordered them chicken fingers. And, of course, it was the next morning as my hand is finding its way to smacking my forehead that I remember … chicken fingers … meat … on meatless Fridays during Lent. I digress. So I have been having fish A LOT lately hoping to just have it enough that it slips into the routine on Fridays too and I forget about my meat issue. Well you can clearly see that theory was flawed.

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Weekend Photos in Review

March 27, 2011 · Photos

Left: Movie Night with the kids on Friday night. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules, and Madeline’s first time in a movie theater
Right: My Night at the movie theater on Saturday night. The Lincoln Lawyer with the yumminess that is Matthew McConaughey.

Project 365
March 25, 2011, Photo #82
The perfect little person for the job….

Thursday: A Day in Photos

March 24, 2011 · Photos

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Recipe: Salmon Burgers

March 23, 2011 · Narrative

To say that I’m a late adopter to all things salmon would be an understatement. If you’re a regular reader, you’ve heard about my relationship with salmon before. Growing up, my mom made this amazing creamy risotto type dish with salmon and that was the only way I would eat it. Any other way? Ick with a capital I. And, ahem, I haven’t had that dish in years, hint, hint.

But then a few years ago, on a whim I made a smoked salmon pizza, and was smitten. In fact, it quickly became a favorite during our dinners with The Neighbors. And then I discovered a smoked salmon spread, which has been a staple on many Feast of the Seven Fishes Christmas Eve dinners in our family, and appeared at our New Years’ Eve Seafood Feasts ever since.

So while I have not completely embraced a love of salmon, I have waded in its waters, so to speak.

As I focus more and more on my health, I can’t deny how good salmon is for me. For you. For all of us. It’s a good fat, and a small 4 oz serving provides your entire daily vitamin D requirements. That same 4 ounces will also give you half of your daily needs of vitamin b12, niacin and selenium. And let’s not overlook the b6, omega-3 fats and magnesium it has as well. And if it’s the canned version you’re eating? Extra calcium to boot. It’s hard to ignore such a super food all-star.

A few weeks back, my old trainer, Michael, posted a video of a lunch he made using canned salmon. And then all the sudden, I had to have it. I’m quite hot and cold like that. One day, I won’t eat something, and then the next, I can’t get enough. I bought a few cans of salmon (wild only, please) at the grocery store the next day. That following weekend, I happened to be at Trader Joe’s, and their cans of wild salmon were nearly a dollar cheaper. Three more cans followed me home.

But now what to do with all my canned salmon? Although Michael had mixed his with a bit of mustard and just topped some leftover vegetables with it, I went a different route today. Salmon Burgers. Oh yeah baby.

And nearly completely clean eating ones at that. Some whole wheat bread crumbs, an egg, a few herbs and spices, Dijon, low-fat mayo… once done, I put it inside a whole wheat sandwich thin that had smooshed avocado on it, a little zip of horseradish sauce, and lunch was served. No fishy taste. No guilt. Full-on flavor and a total nutrient packed meal.

I have no idea what these little bits are (bones? cartilage?), but I picked them out when I drained my salmon. Whatever they were, they were hard.

The recipe I wrote will make you three salmon burgers, so if you’re not sharing, freeze them or use them for quick lunches later in the week. Whether you’re a latecomer to the salmon bandwagon like me, or have loved it from the first moment, try these on for size. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed one bit.

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Recipe: Hearty and Easy Lasagna

March 22, 2011 · Narrative

I love a good splatter on a casserole dish. It’s when you know that good comfort food awaits.

Sometimes I feel like I’m not a very good Italian. I need to represent my heritage a little better, because truth be told, I don’t cook a lot of Italian food. Sure, nearly every holiday starts with our traditional Antipasto, and we have pasta a couple times a month, but platters of ziti, stuffed shells and lasagna are not always simmering from my stove-top. Nor is cook-all-day sauce. I should work on that. So many dishes, so little time.

Last Friday night, Nick and I had some one on one time, and a friend was kind enough to stay at the house to watch Madeline. In exchange, I offered to make them whatever she wanted for dinner, and lasagna was requested first. And then stuffed shells. And then my friend couldn’t decide. I said I would surprise her and ended up going with lasagna. I can’t remember the last time I made it, or even had it. Nick went through a phase a few years ago when he wanted it every time I turned around. And then he wanted nothing more to do with it.

In the grand scheme of things, lasagna has always seemed like one of those things that you don’t really need a recipe for. Layer noodles, sauce, meat, cheese, repeat. The recipe below is how I usually make our lasagna, but think of it as a guideline. Sometimes I add sausage to the meat portion of it. Sometimes I add different kinds of cheese. But the recipe remains the constant framework for how the dish comes together. I always add the spinach in with the cheese. The kids can see it (I am SO not a fan of disguising vegetables) and will eat it just fine. I get a little more green vegetables in their little bellies and it’s such a small dose of it, they don’t complain. Winner, winner, lasagna dinner.

Now to catch up on a few programming notes. If you’re looking for more recipes, do pop on over to Betty Crocker’s web site and check out my newest additions over there:

Banana Walnut Pancakes, one of Nick’s favorites. Gosh, I do love that photo. Nothing like a little dripping maple syrup to start your day off right.
Three-Cheese Vegetable Quiche. I lived on this for a week – best lunch ever. I wanted to make something quiche-like, but more vegetables and less egg. This was the result.
Carmelized Shallot Sausage Con Queso. You think the picture looks good? Wait ’till you taste the queso. Melted cheese is a weakness for me, and after a few bites of this queso, I had to give the rest of it away. Pronto. The temptation was far too great.
Double Cheese Chicken Fingers. Baked. Not fried. Love that.

And lastly, a few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be a co-host for a Virtual Cooking Class sponsored by The Motherhood and Con Agra. If you missed the class, you might want to check out the transcript from it. The one hour went by crazyfast, but it was packed with all sorts of excellent ideas for desserts, sinful and otherwise.

Project 365
March 22, 2011, Photo #79
Three compliments today on the maiden voyage of this new necklace I bought recently. From an online store. Owned and run by a 15-year-old. Totally feeling like an underachiever now, but still loving the necklace.
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Eat. Live. Be. #12: A Day in the Life

March 21, 2011 · Narrative

I can hardly believe we’ve been doing Eat. Live. Be. for twelve weeks already!! Where has the time gone? This week’s topic was a suggestion from one of my fellow Eat. Live. Be. peeps: what is your typical day like? I don’t think our days are particularly exciting, but I am willing to share.

Our typical day during the week is spent trying to get everyone out of the house without a meltdown. I assure you this is not as easy as it sounds. In fact, as I’m typing this, Madeline is currently having a nuclear meltdown that I am doing my best to ignore. Gotta love an overtired cranky butt.

Nick leaves the house first and never has breakfast before he dashes for the school bus. I have lectured him about the importance of the first meal of the day. That studies show that kids who have breakfast do better in school. It is a battle I gave up winning long ago. He would rather not get out of bed. We settle somewhere in the middle. As he is shoving on his sneakers and grabbing his water bottle and backpack, I fill his hands with something to eat on the way to the bus stop. Sometimes it’s a Banana Chocolate Chip Espresso Muffin (his favorite) or a slice of toasted banana bread. Or a granola bar. Or a bag with apple slices. Last week I was quite proud of myself. I managed to get an egg sandwich made for him before he left. Only to find out he pitched it somewhere between here and his classroom.

Madeline takes after her brother. If she gets up earlier enough, she will pick through a bowl of cereal before we leave the house. Otherwise, it’s a granola bar and milk in her classroom.She is a grazer, much like Nick. On the weekends, both are much better about eating, and we all sit down and enjoy pancakes, bagels (a once in a blue moon splurge for me) or the random egg dish.

As for me in the morning? Two mornings a week, I make an egg white omelet or breakfast burrito and pack it in my bag to go to the office. Two mornings, I do a collection of fruit and yogurt and nuts and things, stuffed in amidst all my snacks. And Fridays? Yogurt parfait (hold the granola) and Wild Berry Smoothie from McDonald’s. My treat for making it through the week.

I’m going to skip lunch in the interest of not boring you to tears. I eat it. The kids are a work in progress. Sometimes they inhale it. Sometimes they ignore it. They make requests. I fulfill. And empty out the full lunchbox when it comes home. Today they both wanted, and actually ate, homemade chicken fingers. A minor victory.

Mid-afternoon snacks for me and the kids. Homework. Loose ends with work. Freelancing deadlines. Refereeing.

A few times a week, at the end of the day, the kids head to the gym with me. They go to the Activity Center, and I hope they get worn out. ‘Tis not always the case. Once a week, they go to Zumba class. I work out a minimum of five days a week, usually an hour each time. On the weekends, it’s marathon sessions lasting usually three to four hours.

After we get home, dinner, bath and bed. And then I go back to work. More freelancing deadlines. More catch-up work.

I am now shooting for being in bed, lights out, by 11 two nights a week. I don’t get nearly enough sleep. I know that. Luckily I can subsist on very little, but I know in my whole healthy “new me” kick, it’s not exactly cool. But in the interest in supporting my kids (and myself, of course), it means a few uber-late nights a week.

Our focus during most days is on being active and eating good things for us. The house, for quite awhile now, had been rid of processed junk, and our go-to snacks are things like yogurt, granola, nuts, vegetables and dips, hummus and whole wheat crackers. That being said, I am not an all-or-nothing girl when it comes to our pantry. The kids have a few things in there that I am not necessarily cool with, but in an all things in moderation move, the scales are firmly tipped on what I want them eating, not garbage. The odd Girl Scout cookie or lollipop is not going to do us in. And by giving in slightly, I know I can keep a tight rein on everything else. And when given the choice when they come home from school, they make the “right” decision way more often than not. I’m good with that.

Our days change. Our tastes change. Our focus doesn’t. Family. Food. Fun. Sometimes in that order. Sometimes not. There are good days and bad, but our core is solid.

To find out what a day is like for my fellow ELBers, please visit them at the below links:

Sarah Caron from Sarah’s Cucina Bella
Joanne from Eats Well with Others
Chris Arpante – Melecotte
Patsy – Family, Friends and Food
Claire – Cooking is Medicine
Sarah Rogers – Sarah’s Sweet Creations

Tomorrow? A new lasagna recipe (you needed one, right?!) and a few new recipes I’ve created for Betty Crocker. Until then.

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Weekend Photos In Review

March 20, 2011 · Photos

What an amazingly glorious weekend! Date night with Nick on Friday night, time with girlfriends, foodie field trips, super productivity around the house and many, many meals eaten outside. Spring is officially here and we couldn’t be more pleased. In the interest of not being one of those dreaded bloggers or facebookers who write about perfect, rosy lives, this weekend also had six kids in my house for six hours on Friday (ack!) including a seven year old who had an accident here and a serious discussion about a note written from a pint-size guest with inappropriate words. And I think I only yelled at my kids twice. We’re all about the balance here, folks. On with the pictures!

Project 365
March 18, 2011, Photo #75

Loving my new sunglassses! I’ve been looking for an aviator/cop style for the past year, but couldn’t find the perfect one. Luckily Nick and I had a bit of a wait for our table on Friday night, which was just enough time to peek into Loft and score these beauties.

Nick and The Ex are fans of IKEA‘s cinnamon rolls. I swear that store must pipe in the fresh-baked scent near the registers. I would be remiss if I didn’t pick up a few for them as we left.

I haven’t had red meat in weeks, though not by design, and was dying for a burger. The more toppings, the better.

And the messier, the better. Just not happy unless it is dripping through my fingers.

My little weirdos. They provided quite a bit of entertainment at dinner last night, both for us and the other diners.

Project 365
March 19, 2011, Photo #76

Last night, after dinner, we went out to take pictures of the moon, and I’m so glad we did. What an amazing surface it had and it was so cool that we could see it so well. It was a “super moon,” and this is the closest it was expected to be to the earth this year. The way it lit up the sky, and the waters in our lake community was quite thrilling, and I’m glad we went on the adventure to check it out and get some shots.

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Recipe: Caramelized Onion, Mushroom and Goat Cheese Pizza

March 17, 2011 · Narrative

My brain is seriously fried today. I don’t know if it was leprechaun naughtiness during the night, the tediousness of making a batch of double rainbow cupcakes or the sudden burst of sunshine we got today, but I’m feeling like this week has seriously kicked my hide and I’m crawling my way to Friday. But then again, our days and weeks are so full, it always feels like that.

And that is precisely when UNrecipes like this one are the perfect thing for me, because today is not a day when I can wrap my head around following a recipe. You know days like that, right?

This week, for a few of my lunches, I’ve been playing around with various whole wheat pita pizza toppings, each one simpler than the next but seriously upping the yummy ante each time. For the past few weeks, I’ve had the combination of artichokes and roasted red peppers in my head and couldn’t shake it. So earlier this week, that was the first pita pizza I made (and the picture I shared here), along with a bit of goat cheese.

Today totally trumped that. Like blew it to smithereens. Caramelized onions. Sauteed Baby Bellas. Warm melted goat cheese. And a little bit of Garlic and Herb Salt-Free Mrs. Dash (thanks to the folks at Mrs. Dash for the awesome care package!). The pita crust was slightly crispy and toasted just so. The sweetness of the onions comingling with the woodsiness of the mushrooms and the creaminess of the goat cheese… oh man, it was heaven on a plate. I tried to pace myself, really, I did. But I might have just inhaled the whole darn thing. Thank God it was healthy.

It’s an UNrecipe, because there are no real measurements. I just mixed and matched based on what I thought would work well together, and work well together it did. I’ve included basic guidelines below, but go crazy and swap out what you like and don’t like and come up with your own flavor explosion… would love to hear YOUR favorite combinations!

Have an awesome weekend!

xoxo

Project 365
March 17, 2011, Photo #74 (and many bonus shots)
Made a batch of Double Rainbow Cupcakes for Madeline to take into school today to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

When Madeline got to school this morning, it seems that there was a little bit of trouble brewing overnight.

Even though a trap had been set, the kids were unsuccessful in catching the leprechaun.

He made quite the mess before escaping.

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Read More

Photos: Celebrating Nicholas

March 16, 2011 · Narrative

My first born. The one who made me a mom. Who teaches me how to parent on a daily basis. The one who took my heart and put it outside my body. The one who made me feel things I didn’t know I could feel. The one that began it all.

Nick is 8-1/2 now, and I’ve got to say, the 8th year has been an interesting one. In the past two years, we’ve moved, split up our family and Nick has changed schools. He has had a lot to get through. Some things that we really still deal with regularly. Things that we will always deal with, no matter how much time has passed. When we are facing off, mixing like a pool of oil and water, I try and stop and remind myself that he’s had a lot thrown at him. And that he’s still a kid. Some days, it’s easier than others.

He loves his sister with an amazing capacity. They regularly resort to calling each other names and fussing and fighting, but beyond that, at the core, is a huge amount of love and compassion.

Yesterday, Nick gave me his “wish list” for books available for purchase at his school’s book fair this week. I have always had a soft spot for Scholastic Book Fairs. I will buy him any books he wants, without question. He had a list of 7 titles that he wanted. He doesn’t know it, but I always buy them all. When I come home, I give him one or two, and hide the rest. He complains bitterly, but then he starts to see the rest of them. After an exceptionally good report card or presentation. After a moment of love or compassion. Or just because.

When I looked over his book list last night, I noticed the second book on his list.

Olivia.

For his sister.

My heart immediately swelled. For all those moments when he challenges me on a daily basis, I know I’m doing right. I know I’m getting through. He thought of her, in a purely unselfish moment, and made sure she was included. On his own.

As she does for him. Yesterday, as we were in the drive-thru lane of the bank, she asked me to get her a lollipop. I did. As we were pulling out of the parking lot, I heard her yell from the back seat.

“Mom, we have to go back. Now.”

“Why?”

“Because we didn’t get Nick a lollipop too. He’ll be home soon. He needs one.”

Another heart swelling moment.

I didn’t go back, but we were going to the grocery store next, so I let her pick something out for him there instead.

Nick goes a mile a minute on most days. Jumping from one thing to the other. Both literally and figuratively. The trail of mess he leaves behind drives me crazy six ways to Sunday. I’m hoping to break him of that habit before he leaves me, so his future wife won’t have to deal with it down the line. Whether or not I can make it happen remains to be seen.

He is a whiz with technology. To the point of embarrassing me on more than one occasion, because I am many things, but a whiz with technology is not one of them. He hooked up the Wii, from the box, without reading the instructions, completely on his own. I have, ahem, friends who had to call in reinforcements to get theirs hooked up.

My car stopped reading the outside temperature sometime last year. I loved that little perk and missed it sorely. When it was with the mechanic for an oil change, I mentioned it to him. The mechanic couldn’t figure it out. Nick did. It took him all of thirteen seconds. I’m thinking of hiring him out to the mechanic.

I call him my mad scientist. Basic concepts elude him entirely, but complicated things? He has down pat.

When he comes home from school, I can follow the trail from the front door to the kitchen, as his skateboard sneakers come off, the hoodie next and then the backpack and water bottle. I’m in the middle of reading a book about parenting, and in the first chapter, it described this exact sequence. Nick to a t. Glad to hear that it’s normal. Now to correct it.

His room is a disaster. Always is unless I force the issue. Some days, I just close the door and don’t look, going with the “it’s his room, he can keep it the way he wants.” And I also know my mom will be the first to point out that my room when I was growing up always had a big black garbage bag in it, because I was always cleaning it up. Apparently, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

He loves our big, silly dog and desperately wants a second one. To the point where he made a sign, taped it onto a rake and wanted to go collect money from the neighborhood to buy a dog. His plan was to collect enough money to buy a dog, and then he was going to donate the extra money to an animal shelter. Another heart swelling moment. I have explained that it doesn’t matter if the dog is free, because I currently have my hands very full. A point that fell on deaf ears. I said when Eli is no longer with us, we will get another dog. Until then, I’m good. Nick, not so much. Apparently he and Maddie lie awake at night and talk about what kind of dog they’ll get, what they’ll name him and who will take care of him. Wonderful. Two against one.

He challenges me and pushes back on a regular basis, but at the very heart of this boy is someone who loves to love and be loved, and I couldn’t ask for a better kid to have by my side.

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Eat. Live. Be. #11: Finding Motivation

March 15, 2011 · Narrative

This week’s Eat. Live. Be. topic is slightly similar to one we did back in the beginning. Back then, it was how to motivate yourself to keep up your work-out routine during the cold Winter months. This time, it’s how to motivate yourself period. It’s definitely something we could all use a little help in from time to time. It can’t be just me.

On Saturday, I took a one hour Zumba class. Followed by a 90-minute Zumba class. Followed by a three-mile walk. I was supremely motivated. And I continue to be. There are a million and one things that motivate me on a regular basis. Small things. Stupid things. Big things.

Most of my work-outs are done at night. At the end of a very long day. When the last thing I feel like doing is heading back out to kill an hour plus of cardio or strength training. My energy, boundless or not, has long since been depleted. Ever had “witching hour” with the kids? Then you know exactly what I’m talking about. It takes every ounce I have to get myself motivated enough to suit up and head back out.

But I don’t give myself a second to back out. Not a moment to hesitate. I am on auto-pilot and I just do. I have a rotating set of people that I meet regularly for work-outs, and I know they’re counting on me. It’s at the point where I’ll get a text message or facebook note from an instructor if I miss a class. I am being held accountable. In so many different ways. And that motivates me. Pushes me through. And I love that.

One thing I know for certain. While the little motivations help … a cocktail dress you need to fit into for an upcoming party, a wedding, a high school class reunion … they won’t sustain you to the finish line. They won’t keep you maintaining what you have achieved. Short-term goals do not work. I promise you this. You need to find a goal that has no end, so you are continually striving to achieve. To maintain. To meet and exceed. To keep on keeping on. You need something to motivate you? Find something long-term. Not something you can tick off your list in the next few months. Something that you can continue to achieve and aspire to.

My no-end-in-sight motivation? These kids.

I owe it to them, every day, to be the very best mom that I can be. To be the best me that I can be. Our eating habits are good lessons for them. Ones that I know they’re paying attention to. The fact that mom regularly works out? A huge impact on them. I want to be the very best role model I can be for them. So they know that I did everything with the very best motivation I could. For them. I can think of no better reason.

They take their own Zumba classes weekly. We go on hikes and bike rides together. We plan adventures. We have jump rope contests. They help make healthy choices when stocking the pantry and grocery shopping with me. Together, we all have one common goal. To be the best we can be.

My only regret is that it took me a little while to find my way. I feel like I missed out on some stellar moments I could have had over the past twenty years, carrying the excess weight around. But the ship was righted, and it’s been full steam ahead ever since.

To find out what is motivating my fellow ELBers, please visit them at the below links:

Sarah Caron from Sarah’s Cucina Bella
Joanne from Eats Well with Others
Chris Arpante – Melecotte
Patsy – Family, Friends and Food
Claire – Cooking is Medicine
Sarah Rogers – Sarah’s Sweet Creations

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Weekend Photos in Review

March 14, 2011 · Photos

So sorry for the MIA moment last night, but I had a camera card that was being tempermental. To avoid getting too far behind, doing my photo round-up tonight, and my Eat. Live. Be. post (topic: finding motivation) tomorrow. Wednesday will be Nick’s day, and Thursday will be a whole wheat pita pizza recipe that is perfect for light and healthy lunch. Let’s get to it.

Project 365
March 11, 2011, Photo #68

We have one tree on our property that is climbable. Leave it to Nick to find it.

After the rain last week, there was flooding everywhere. This is the hospital parking lot.

Baseball field.

Volleyball anyone?

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Recipe: Sauteed Broccoli Rabe with Eggs Up

March 10, 2011 · Narrative

When I mentioned this recipe to a few friends last week, I was quickly rebuffed. I couldn’t get anyone with an open enough mind to think they’d like it. They were totally missing out. In fact, I liked it so much, I had it twice in two days.

Sometimes the best recipes come from efforts to clean out the refrigerator. I had a massive amount of broccoli rabe to use, and I knew the kids would want no part of it. After making some pasta for them, I scrounged around to see what other ingredients I could use to make a quick dinner for me, with broccoli rabe as the star ingredient.

I didn’t measure, so no formal recipe for you on this one. A medium skillet to heat up some olive oil. Then I sauteed broccoli rabe, sliced portobello mushrooms and an onion until nice and soft. Cracked two eggs on top. Salt and pepper. Cooked eggs until done. Slide onto a plate and dig in. Although I had a tough time convincing a few this was good, you’ll have to trust me on this. Unless you bite the bullet and try it yourself – and I hope you do! Clean eating, from fridge to mouth in 15 minutes and good, good, good.

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