Friday, September 7, 2012

Weekday Winner: Garden Gazpacho

8:10 PM 1 Comments
I'm rolling out a new feature on this here blog. My world is suddenly structured in a way it hasn't been in a while, so I think it would be advantageous to throw in some structure to my blogging efforts as well. That said, I present to you the inaugural Weekday Winner posting!

Here's the idea:
  • Every week I cook three or four dinners I haven't cooked before. This isn't changing because I've gone back to work. If anything, cooking has once again become my beloved, much anticipated, end-of-the-day hobby, and I'll be eager to try new things.
  • At the end of every week, I'll share my family's favorite from the week before. 
  • If you play along with me, you'll have a whole arsenal of weeknight meals at your disposal. Doesn't that sound great?

I'll say upfront that most of these will be vegetarian, since that is pretty much how we are eating these days. Most of these will be fairly kid friendly (though my kids are more adventurous than some). Most of these will be fairly easy on the budget. Most of them will take thirty minutes or less to prepare. And all of them -- I promise -- have been tested and tasted and passed the rigorous weekday winner criteria.

So...to start off the weekend, a DELICIOUS recipe for garden gazpacho that is just the thing to have in hand before heading to your Saturday morning farmer's market. I served this on my fancy soup and sandwich platters with open face egg salad sandwiches on the side...super yummy all around.

Enjoy!


Garden Gazpacho
Adapted from Vegetarian Soup Cuisine

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2 large ripe tomatoes, diced
1 small red onion, diced
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 medium cucumber, peeled and diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small serrano pepper, seeded and minced (optional)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups canned tomato juice
Tabasco to taste

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and blend thoroughly. Transfer about three-quarters of the mixture to a blender or food processor; process for five seconds. Return the pureed mixture to the mixing bowl. Alternately, use an immersion blender in the original bowl, being careful to leave some chunks. Refrigerate for at least two hours. Serve in chilled bowls garnished with fresh parsley. 




Saturday, September 1, 2012

Blog? What blog?

7:49 AM 0 Comments
I can't believe it has been almost a month since I last posted. On second thought, I can totally believe it - I can hardly catch my breath around here, let alone compose my thoughts in writing. It has been a whirlwind, but we are slowly figuring things out.

I'll take a moment here to summarize a few things we've been up, and then maybe, just maybe, I can try to get back on track. I have been cooking, and even crafting a bit, and I occasionally remember to snap a photo or two...so I'd love to share some of that with you. Since the original intent of this blog was to prove that you can be a busy mama and still have hobbies, I have to prove myself right, after all.

  • I'm knitting a few coasters for Sean's office...a super easy, super mindless knitting project that gives me some much needed meditative needle time to wind down at the end of the night. I love Cascade 100% Highland Wool - it's not too fancy (these are coasters after all) and it felts beautifully.

  • We're on a whole grains, produce heavy cooking kick. Eating tons of roasted vegetables. Last week we roasted a huge batch then used them for paninis and pizza throughout the week.

  • Finn wants a blanket to bring to school for naptime. Apparently the one he has been using is "too small," so we'll probably spend some time this weekend working on that. School is going really well for the boys...and they are super cute trotting out every morning in their backpacks. I sure miss them, though.


  • I'm not home much, but when I am, I'm cooking and baking as much as I can. Made a few loaves of multigrain bread to get us through the week. Made a few batches of yogurt. And we are enjoying big weekend breakfasts...more on that to come.

  • Have plans to make an apron that I can wear at work. In part because, frankly, I miss wearing an apron. And in part because there are parts of my work that are just plain dusty, so it'd be nice to have one on hand. Hoping to try the grownup version of this pattern with some kind of wacky librarian print. 

So there you have it. I'm secretly grateful for this rainy, rainy Saturday, and grateful for three days in my little house with my boys.


Here's wishing you all a lovely weekend.




    Tuesday, August 7, 2012

    Muffins for the Mornings

    10:48 PM 2 Comments
    So, after two and a half years as a full time stay at home mom, I am going back to being a full time school librarian. I could say a dozen things on either side of the emotional scale; needless to say, it's a huge transition for my family and me, and one that feels somewhat bittersweet.

    On the practical side of things, there are all kinds of looming logistics that stand before me. In less than two weeks' time, Sean and I will have the daunting task of getting ourselves and our boys up and out the door in the wee hours of the morning. On the plus side, the boys will eat breakfast at day care, so that's one less morning task to face (and one less mess to make). However, I've still got to eat. I am a huge advocate of breakfast, but I can all too easily see myself grabbing my coffee and a granola bar as I race to the minivan with a kid on the hip and another trailing behind ve-e-e-e-ery slowly. With that in mind, I noticed a couple of extra ripe bananas on the counter today and came up with this recipe for banana muffins in the hopes of filling a freezer bag with quick, wholesome morning treats for full-time-working-me. They are fairly healthy, not too sweet, super fluffy, and just the right size for starting the day.

    Wish me luck.

     

    Breakfast Banana Muffins
    Adapted from allrecipes.com
    Makes 24 mini muffins

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    • 1 cup white flour
    • 1 cup whole wheat flour
    •  2 tablespoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 2/3 cup oatmeal
    • 2 mashed ripe bananas
    • 1/2 cup white sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 eggs 
    • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
    2. Mix together flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and oatmeal. 
    3. In a separate bowl, beat together banana, sugar, egg and vanilla. Stir in the yogurt. Combine banana mixture and flour mixture until just combined. Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups.
    4. Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean. Let cool before serving. For best flavor, place in an airtight container or bag overnight.