Momathon Blog

Gluten-Free Halloween Treats {Pinterest}

Are you looking for new gluten-free ideas for Halloween besides the traditional chocolate candy bar? I found some clever gluten-free Halloween treats to make this year on Pinterest.  Check out the links with recipes on my Halloween Pinterest board.

I am not a gluten-free expert. Please double check each recipe to make sure it follows your specific gluten-free diet requirements. All the links for the treats in the image above—plus many more—are on my Halloween Pinterest board.

You can also find individual links here: Top Row: Sugar-Free Apple Pie Chia Seed Jam + Breakfast Parfait (Vegan, gluten-free) via  Oh She Glows, Tasty Mice via Hallmark, Apple Monster Mouths via CompleteRecipes.com. Middle Row: Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins via Gluten Free Mom, Caramel Apples Recipe White-Chocolate & Caramel Corn with Cashews via Martha Stewart Recipes, Easy Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe via MomathonBlog. Bottom Row: Ghoulishly Gluten-Free Halloween Cupcake Recipe via Stephanie Stiavetti @ BlogHer, Udi's Gluten Free Halloween Candy Corn Pudding via Flour On My Face, Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate recipe via TaterTots&Jello.

More Halloween Ideas

 

• Halloween Makeup Ideas {Pinterest}
• Pinterest Halloween {Party Food and Decorations}
• A Pinterest Halloween {Part 1}
• Easy Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe {Halloween}

 

  

 

Image: Graphics by me, Chris Olson, featuring Halloween ideas from Pinterest. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

Easy Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe {Halloween}

Hi, friends! Hope you had a great weekend. I'm reposting my pumpkin seed recipe—one that even the kids will enjoy making with you. Enjoy!

I have tried a variety of pumpkin seed recipes over the years. I prefer the simple recipes that the kids can help out with. Depending on the personalities of your kids, making the recipe and separating all that pumpkin goop from the seeds can be lots of fun.

 

Here is my favorite recipe—just three ingredients. Pretty foolproof :)

Three-Ingredient Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds
• 2 teaspoons butter, melted
• 1 pinch salt

(For extra spice, trying adding one of the flavors listed below in the "Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe.")

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Toss seeds in a bowl with the melted butter and salt. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet with edges so seeds do not fall off. Bake seeds for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. Stir occasionally.

Recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups.

 

SPICY ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS

Whole Foods Market has a recipe that includes boiling the seeds before you roast them. I haven't tried that recipe yet, but I do like the Whole Foods ideas for making spicy pumpkin seeds:

For spicy pumpkin seeds, mix 1/2 teaspoon each garlic salt, cumin, coriander and cardamom with seeds and oil before roasting. 
For sweet pumpkin seeds, mix 1 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, cloves and ginger and 1 1/2 tablespoons dark brown sugar with seeds and oil before roasting.

 

 

Image: Graphic featuring the EASY ROASTED PUMPKIN SEED RECIPE is by me. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

Four Summer Cookbooks

What are your favorite new cookbooks? My search for books with great recipes begins with cookbooks that also include great photos. I also love a recipe that tells a story about a place. Many moons ago I was as a pastry chef at a French restaurant. When I compiled this short list of faves I had to include two books with recipes that also celebrate joie de vivre. Because we follow a gluten-free cooking plan for some family members at home, Paltrow's book has been my go-to book. I admit when putting together this collection, it was almost impossible to only select four cookbooks. I know a part two and three collection will be in the works. Enjoy! xo

Links: Home Made Summer; It's All Good; La Tartine Gourmande; The Little Paris Kitchen

{Recipes from the books after the jump}

New Year's Eve Party Ideas {Pinterest}

Are you planning a New Year's Eve party? Here are a few ideas from the Alt Design Summit board on Pinterest that I curate—It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere.

The NYE party recipes include:  champagne cocktails (add a pumpkin pie spiced rim!), Wassail punch recipe, DIY tips for making champagne swizzle sticks (sparkly ideas from rock candy to glitter stars and tinsel), egg nog recipes, a hot toddy station, a family-friendly cranberry punch, and more. Recipe links below each of the images.

Apple Cider + Champagne Cocktails with a Pumpkin Pie Spiced Rim

Source: stylemepretty.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

Sequined Stir Sticks

Source: somewheresplendid.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

Rock Candy Champagne

Source: hwtm.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

Tinsel Pom Pom Stir Stick

 

Source: marthastewart.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

New Years Eve Cocktails with Glittery Swizzle Sticks

Source: snippetandink.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

Wassail Punch

Source: designsponge.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

Family-friendly Cranberry Punch

Source: cafezupas.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

Sparkling Sweet Tea Signature Cocktail

Source: snippetandink.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

Favorite Eggnog Recipe

Source: marthastewart.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

Sorbet and Champagne Cocktail

Source: marthastewart.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

A DIY Hot Toddy Station

Source: marthastewartweddings.com via Chris on Pinterest

Happy New Year!

Source: thesweetestoccasion.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

 

Images: PINTEREST images are from the ALT Design Summit board It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere that I curate.  

 

In the Kitchen with Rachael Ray: My Year in Meals

What are you making for dinner tonight? I've always been intrigued by dinner menus. Even as a kid I wanted to know what my friends were having for dinner. If it was something new and delicious, you can be sure I ran home and told my home-ec teacher mom exactly what our family should make tomorrow! I still love hearing what my neighbors are grilling outside for tonight's dinner. That's exactly why Rachael Ray's new book, My Year in Meals with a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her kitchen is so intriguing.

Reading her book is like sitting down for dinner with her family and friends. If you like the conversational and friendly style of her magazine, you'll love her new book. Here are some of the yummy recipes that have me hooked on this book:

Need something to get you out of bed in the morning? Try the Almond Custard Brioche Toast or Eastern Egg Sandwiches with Bacon. Looking to fire up that backyard barbecue? Try the Baby Back Ribs with Bourbon BBQ sauce. For something simple that will knock your guests’ socks off, try Rachael’s Egg Tagliatelle with Truffle Butter and Butternut Squash Risotto.  

In the book Rachael chronicles what she cooked for her own family and friends for an entire year and because the book is a flip book you also get a second book—Rachael’s husband and manager John Cusimano offers his personal cocktail recipes. I'm thinking the dinner recipes plus the skinny on some amazing drinks is a win-win combo:

Rachael’s husband, John Cusimano, is no stranger to the cocktail shaker. Now he’s sharing his secrets with you. Whether shaken or stirred, straight up or on the rocks, with a cherry or a twist, John’s creations—like his Strawberry Velvet featuring honey liqueur, strawberries, and lime—are always fresh, fun, and certain to make any gathering more memorable. With plenty of options for every occasion and season, such as the Pomegranate Margarita, the Halloween Fizz, and the Nod to Nog,

 

What I like best about the book:

• recipes from Rachael's kitchen diary
• includes a variety of menus, weekday dinners to complex party menus
• her coauthor hubby John shares his personal cocktail recipes
• packed with mouth-watering illustrations and photographs throughout
• book contains Microsoft tags that connect readers to videos of Rachael demonstrating techniques, explaining how to prepare each meal, and sharing personal cooking stories

You can order My Year in Meals at the Rachael Ray online store here  and get the autographed bookplate. You can also order it here.

Note to readers: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own :)

Images: MY YEAR IN MEALS cookbook graphic by me, Chris Olson and features photos from the book by Rachael Ray. Feel free to Pin images on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

Pinterest Halloween Recipes {Spooky Cookies and Sweet Treats}

I'm back again with more Halloween treats thanks to Pinterest.

1) I like to wander over to Camille Styles blog daily because it is so pretty and inspiring. Turns out Camille has a spooky side too... Her "The Birds" black frosted cookies with the Alfred Hitchcock movie theme are splendid. You can find this recipe Camille Styles blog with directions by Sara of Sara Belle's Bakery. Here is the recipe link.

Source: camillestyles.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

 

2) Would you pick the red apple or one of the black apples? I love these decadently dark candy apples via Country Living with the recipe here.

Source: countryliving.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

3) I love the how the lemony royal icing cloaks the cookies with spider web and bat disguises. Martha Stewart has the recipe (and the templates) here.

Source: marthastewart.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

 

4) I did a double take when I first saw these creepy bones. They are made of meringues. Check out the Martha Stewart recipe here. 

Source: marthastewart.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

5) Here's a sweet twist on the sugar cookie recipe that is more fun than spooky. Anytime I have an excuse to eat a purple cookie, count me in! Check out the clever tutorial on the blog that keeps it crafty and sassy—The Alison Show.

Source: thealisonshow.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

Happy Halloween! You can follow my pins on Pinterest at Chrisolsonart on Pinterest.

Looking for more Halloween ideas? I've got DIY costumes, decor and more on my blog here: 

A Pinterest Halloween {Part 1}

Pinterest Halloween {Party Food and Decorations}

 

IMAGE: Recipe collage at the top of post features:  Camille Styles | Country Living | Martha Stewart | Martha Stewart | The Alison Show. 

Pinterest Halloween {Party Food and Decorations}

Pinterest is a wonderful place to find Halloween treats! Check out some of my faves for party food and decorations below.

Halloween Inspiration Links:

Sibylle, blogger at Funkytime, always has original ideas. Love her ombre twist on DIY pumpkins. 

Creating a pumpkin design freehand can be tricky—that why Chelsey at  The Paper Mama has a free printable you can use to make this dreamy Welcome pumpkin. Pumpkin is featured on BHG Style Spotters. 

Over at Nikkis' Nacs, I found a cute Herringbone Pumpkin.

Imagine a s'mores and apple combo. Yum. Country Living has a delicious recipe for Triple Dipped S'mores Apples. Halloween Sweets and Treats Recipes - Halloween Party Sweets - Country Living

Kids and adults will gobble up the Skeleton Cupcakes via MyRecipes.com. The My Recipes board Halloween Treats has dozens of clever ideas.

Of course, Rachael Ray has the perfect place on Pinterest for party ideas. She has two boards with clever DIY tips and yummy party recipes. Check out her boards Halloween Party Ideas and Halloween Recipes, Parties, & Decorating Ideas. 

All those sweet treats are making me thirsty. I think I need a dozen of these juice boxes from the clever folks at  Parents.com.

Looking for more Halloween ideas? I've got DIY costumes, decor and more on my post A Pinterest Halloween {Part 1}.

Happy Halloween!

IMAGE LINKS: Spooky Party Table for Halloween|Eyeball Wreath | Ombre Pumpkins | Currently » The Paper Mama

MORE HALLOWEEN IDEAS

Halloween Makeup Ideas {Pinterest}  |  Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe | A Pinterest Halloween {Part 1}

 

A Pinterest Picnic (Recipes and Party Ideas for the Long Weekend)

Source: toryburch.tumblr.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

What are you doing for the last long weekend of summer? I've got a Pinterest picnic with recipes, drinks, and summer-y party styles to make the big weekend festive and fun.

Honoring Julia Child on her 100th Birthday

Happy Birthday, Julia Child! She would have turned 100 years old today. Thought my poster above would be perfect to  honor her big day. Kudos to Julia for introducing French cuisine to American homes and reminding us that almost everything is better with some butter! When Child returned from Paris with her husband Paul, she shared her love of butter and French cooking in the best-selling book Mastering the Art of French Cooking she co-authored with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle in 1961. Of course I love the account of her cookbook writing told through a film and a book.

LINKS CELEBRATING JULIA'S 100TH! 

Julia Child died back in 2004, but she will live forever in cookbooks in our kitchens. The Smithsonian is honoring Julia Child's kitchen with a lovely display.

If you want to bake something in her honor, please use loads of butter. And one of her lovely cookbooks. You can find a nice summary of her culinary tips here.

If you want to toast her 100th birthday, check out Julia's favorite cocktail recipe here.

Google marks all things honorary with a doodle—check out the Julia Child Google Doodle.

You can read a nice tribute to Julia here with lots of little known facts about her life and a link to a new biography about her.

Summer ends in my neighborhood today. And the dreaded "S" word begins tomorrow. School!!! Yikes! Time to go outside and soak up some Vitamin D—and tonight I'll toast to Julie and indulge in buttery treats!

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Image: IF YOU'RE AFRAID OF BUTTER, USE CREAM image by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

Kiss the Cook: Pineapple Shrimp and Crispy Noodles

This yummy twist on an Asian noodle dish is not your college ramen. I first saw a version of a shrimp and crispy noodle recipe on Rachael Ray. Due to my garlic allergy I created a new recipe and voila —something delicious with just the right amount of spice for your family. This recipe is broken down into three basic steps: Noodle Prep, Sauce Prep, and Shrimp/Pineapple/Green Beans Prep. If you are cooking with kids remember to supervise and assist with cooking in the skillet.

Pineapple Shrimp and Crispy Noodles

Serves 4

• One 10-oz package ramen noodles
• One 20-oz can pineapple chunks (save the juice for sauce)
• One 10-oz bag frozen cut green beans (thaw and pat dry)
• One pound bag of medium or large peeled/deveined shrimp
• 1/8 to 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper
• 8 T canola oil

Noodle prep

1. Cook the ramen noodles according to package directions—you can add salt to water if you want.
2. Drain noodles.
3. Make noodle "cake" by pressing the noodles into a greased 9-inch (or larger) pan.
4. Let the noodle cake cool.
5. Heat 3 T oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
6. Carefully slide the noodle cake into skillet.
7. Cook the cake until the noodles turn a light golden brown underneath—3-5 minutes.
8. Carefully flip the cake and cook until golden brown—be careful not to burn the cake :)

Sauce prep

Stir together in a medium bowl:

• 1/4 to 1/2 cup soy sauce (the amount you use depends on your taste buds)
• drain the pineapple chunks and set aside, use approximately 1/2 cup of juice for sauce (you can increase the juice amount if you want a sweeter sauce)
• 2 T oil
• 1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper (use less if you use pepper flakes)

Shrimp, pineapple and green beans prep

1. Heat 2 T oil over medium to high heat.
2. Add the drained pineapple chunks and thawed green beans.
3. Stir and cook until the pineapple is lightly brown on edges and beans begin to brown with small blisters. Be careful not to overcook.
4. Transfer the mixture to a large plate.
5. Add 1 T of oil to skillet.
6. Add the shrimp and cook them until the meat begins to turn opaque white.
7. Stir in the sauce.
8. Add the pineapple and green bean mixture.
9. Lower the heat and cook the mixture until the shrimp are fully done—opaque .

Suggestions fo serving the meal

1. I like to divide the noodle cake into 4 sections first to make the meal easy to serve 4 people.
2. Place a cake section on each dinner plate.
3. Your family then can serve themselves the shrimp + green beans + pineapple mixture (I like to let the kids dish up their own meal because then they get exactly what they want. No more complaints :)

Image: KISS THE COOK RECIPE photos above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

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Homemade Ice Cream

When the temps are soaring, making homemade ice cream is a delicious summer project! Here are a few of my favorite recipes for ice cream, sorbet, and gelato by the pros. If you want to involve your kids in the fun, try the homemade ice cream in a bag recipe below.

• Skip endlessly cranking the handle of an ice-cream maker and try the Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag Recipe at FamilyFun
• I think the Berry Sorbet is my fave, but check out the 20 Homemade Ice Cream, Sorbet, and Gelato Recipes by Martha Stewart.
• This recipe rivals the drinks at StarBucks, Espresso Ice Cream Recipe by Ina Garten
• Imagine you are in Florence enjoying Chocolate-Hazelnut Gelato by Giada De Laurentiis
• If your kids like Twix or KitKats, try the Candy Jar Ice Cream by Rachael Ray.

Bon Appetit... That reminds me, check out the Bon Appetit recipe for Bourbon Ice Cream.

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Image: Photo and graphics above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

Behind-the-Scenes Look at Food Blogging

Watching this behind-the-scenes video about the gluten-free foodie Lisa Thiele—she blogs at With Style and Grace—makes me want to stock up on fresh veggies and whip up a healthy meal for dinner. How does Lisa work her kitchen magic and manage to create mouth-watering blog posts? Her blog name gives it away—she has both style and grace.

Everything looks delicious thanks to Lisa's cooking finesse and the awesome food styling by Erin at Apartment 34. The video features Erin's beautiful loft home. You can find out more about how they made the video at theglitterguide.com. 

You can find Lisa's Mediterranean Chickpea Salad here. Yum!

The Little Paris Kitchen with Rachel Khoo

When I was in college I worked in the French Hotel Sofitel bakery as a pastry chef. I will never know why I got the job. I don't know which I exaggerated about more in my job interview—my cooking skills or my French speaking skills. Anyway, I worked physically harder at that job than any other job—lugging around huge metal bowls of 101 combinations of pastry dough, burning my wrists and hands on baking pans, and sweating from 6 am until 3 pm in a kitchen that had a wall of floor-to-ceiling walk-in ovens. I admit eating as many ice cream filled Profiteroles you want was a perk, but it was soooo hot in the bakery that near the end of my tenure working in the hotel, I moved to the much cooler main kitchen in the hotel making Coquilles St. Jacques and Ratatouille.

Check out a more lighthearted look at a French kitchen in the video below. The beautiful cookbook, The Little Paris Kitchen, also has a brand new BBC2 TV series with Rachel Khoo cooking up a storm from her tiny Parisian kitchen. She is a British chef and she admits that the hardest people to cook for are French chefs. I agree with that! But she seems fluent in both her cooking and French speaking. Her skills tower over mine. Maybe I need some more practice. A trip to France would be nice this summer I'm sure...

 

You can watch the video above on YouTube also.

IMAGE: Graphic by me, Chris Olson, featuring images from the short film The Little Paris Kitchen.

New Year's Eve: Jell-ing Classic Cocktails for Party Drinks

Blogger Michelle Palm started her Jelly Shot Test Kitchen blog in 2009 after perfecting the recipes for grown-up gelatin treats such as Champagne Cocktails, Cosmopolitans, Tequila Sunrises, Pink Squirrels, Mojitos, Gimlets, and Chocolate Martinis. Palm's book Jelly Shot Test Kitchen: Jell-ing Classic Cocktails-One Drink at a Time is a perfect recipe book for New Year's Eve party planning. It includes more than 60 recipes for "boozy delights." You can try out many of her recipes here. One of my faves is the Cosmopolitan Jelly Shot Recipe. If you want to make the jelly shot recipes for a party, they need to set several hours before serving.

Here are just a few of the many treats from her book showcasing her gorgeous jelly jewels.

Melon Ball Jelly Shot

Tomato and Lemon Fettucine Recipe

This is a favorite fast pasta meal at my house. I love the fact it is a very forgiving recipe too. If you don't have fresh tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes work well. I even substitute lemon concentrate for fresh lemons when I'm in a hurry. (See Tomato and lemon fettuccine below)

Holiday Recipe: Chai Tea

 

Enjoy!

Photo by me, Chris Olson

Cooking with Kids: Mediterranean Pizzas

The best part of making your own pizza at home is you can personalize each pizza. Get your kids involved in the menu planning and the grocery shopping. Things to consider: select veggies they love on pizza, decide if they want pre-made red pizza sauce or just a drizzle of oil, and select a combo of their favorite cheeses. Recipe below.

Kiss the cook

 

Hope you had a lovely long holiday weekend. Having the kids cook with me in the kitchen always makes the holidays a fun family time. My daughter loves to bake and she surprised me with a delicious Sunday breakfast. So sweet!

If you want to check out my cooking with kids recipes, click on this Momathon recipe link that includes Buttery Holiday Spritz, Mini German Pancakes, Easy Raspberry Tiramisu, Kids' Choice Citrus Cranberry Chicken, and many more kid-friendly recipes.

Bon appetit!

Photo: by me, Chris Olson

 

Cooking with Kids: Buttery Holiday Spritz Cookies

The holiday season is starting early at my house this year. I have been craving these buttery cookies for days. This recipe is a perfect cookie to make with kids. Mixing the 5-ingredient dough is a snap. Plus your kids will love using the cookie press to make the cookies.

Buttery Spritz

• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 tsp flavoring (almond or vanilla)
• 2 1/2 cups flour

Heat oven to 400. Mix butter, sugar, egg yolks, and flavoring. Add flour to mixture. Select the cookie press shape you want to use. (Each time you fill the press you can change the cookie press shape.) Using about 1/4 of the dough at a time, force the dough through the cookie press (see the photo below) onto an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake 7-10 minutes--be careful not to overbake. Makes about 6 dozen cookies. 

Photo by me, Chris Olson

Cooking with Kids: Mini German Pancakes Recipe

Here's a quick recipe that multi-tasks! My mini german pancakes are perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. My mom is a home economist and when I was a kid she made a similar recipe in a 13x9x2-inch pan. I modified the recipe and reduced the amount of butter (and calories) and also bake my "eggies" in a cupcake pan. This is an easy recipe--only four ingredients, plus the toppings. It's one you can make with your kids.

Click my blog link below to get recipe. You can find more of my easy recipes on Facebook too.

Cooking with Kids: Easy Raspberry Tiramisu

 

 

 

Tiramsu–sometimes called "heaven in your mouth"–is a refreshing Italian dessert that's as much fun to make as it is to say: tih-ruh-mee-SOO. The raspberry version in this recipe is easy enough to make with the kids. I modified the original recipe by Dorie Greenspan and added family-friendly cooking tips so the kids can help you make this layered treat recipe. (Note: This is a no-fuss recipe, don't worry if you can't find fresh raspberries for the top layer–just use slightly thawed frozen berries.)

Kid-friendly directions below.

Farmer's Market

Fresh from a garden, so many delicious treats here. No one leaves a farmer's market empty handed.

More farmer's market photos on the following link:

Summer in the kitchen with Giada De Laurentiis

The book Giada's Kitchen by Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis is my favorite cookbook this summer. (I also like her cookbook Giada at Home.)

 

 

Giada's Kitchen is California cooking with an Italian twist. Amazon.com explains:

Italy meets California in Giada De Laurentiis’s collection of 100 new recipes. She focuses on fresh ingredients, simple preparation, and bright flavors. Anyone who wants to indulge in the pleasures of Italian food without feeling weighed down will find inspiration for delicious, hearty yet healthy weekday meals. Giada’s recipes satisfy both our desire to eat with gusto and to feel good about what we eat.

And why not love this cookbook--I think Giada wrote Giada's Kitchen with busy moms in mind. According to Barnes & Noble:

She even made us fall in love with pasta again by opening us up to lighter, healthier versions that don’t weigh us down... Yes, you will still find those fabulous recipes she remembers so fondly from family meals, but you’ll also find updated twists on classic trattoria favorites—California-inflected, hearty but not overwhelming, and with the perfect balance of healthfulness and terrific flavor. 

The recipes by Giada are delicious and family-pleasing. And the photos are what makes this cookbook easy to use.

Here are a few of Giada's recipes on the Food Network and in her cookbook:

• Whole-Wheat Linguine with Green Beans, Ricotta, and Lemon Recipe
• Italian Ice Recipe
• Apple and Thyme Martini Recipe

Cookbook review by me, Chris Olson, writer and illustrator.

 

 

Kids' Choice Citrus Cranberry Chicken

Cooking is quickly becoming a favorite hobby of kids of all ages. Your kids can cook up some fun with this easy make-ahead citrus and cranberry chicken recipe.

Kids' Choice Citrus Cranberry Chicken

Prep: 20-30 minutes.
Make this dish ahead, 8 hours or overnight in fridge, then bake as directed.
Bake: 45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.

Ingredients 

• non stick cooking spray
• approximately 10 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 
• 1 14oz - 16 oz can of whole cranberry sauce
• 1 cup French (or Catalina) salad dressing
• 1/2 cup orange jouice
• 1 envelope (1 oz. package) onion soup mix
• side dish: approximate 5 cups cooked brown or white rice

 

1) Coat a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish (approx. 3 quart dish) with nonstick cooking spray.

2) Have an adult cut the chicken breast halves into smaller pieces to make the dish easier to serve.

3) Arrange chicken pieces in the baking dish.

4) Combine in a bowl:

• cranberry sauce
• salad dressing
• orange juice
• onion soup mix (dry)

5) Evenly pour sauce above over the chicken in baking dish.

6) Cover baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

7) Remove plastic wrap and bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 45 - 50 minutes.

Have an adult slice into a piece of cooked chicken to make sure the chicken is no longer pink inside or you can use a meat thermometer. Cooked chicken should reach 170 degrees F.

8) Serve with brown rice.

Approximately 8 - 10 servings

(Photo by me, Chris Olson)

Too tired to cook recipes: Gingery peanut noodles with chicken + chicken and gruyere turnovers

We've all been there, it's nearly 5 pm, you wander aimlessly through the grocery store, your kids are hip to your frazzled state and they dump enough bags of chips and cookies into the grocery cart to last a month. You are too tired to care what they are up to at this point, all you want is something healthy and simple to make for dinner tonight.

You spot the rotisserie chicken over in the deli section--it's a great convenience food that is not overly processed--but you are not interested in serving the same old chicken and sides.

Thanks to Allie Lewis Clapp, food director of Real Simple magazine, you don't have to do the same old thing. You can make a varitety of yummy meals with the grocery store rotisserie chicken. I like all three of her ideas:

• Gingery Peanut Noodles With Chicken--all you have to cook is the noodles, add some shredded rotisserie chicken, bell peppers, and prepare the easy peanut dressing.
• Chicken and Gruyère Turnovers--a fancy (and healthier) version of a Hot Pocket meal that uses puff pastry, shredded rotisserie chicken, grated Gruyere cheese (Swiss cheese), Dijon mustard, and frozen pees.
• Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches--a quick meal using Buffalo wing sauce from the grocery store, shredded rotisserie chicken, melted butter, and your favorite melted cheese.

Watch the demo video featuring
Allie Lewis Clap on the TODAY Show here.

• • •

Recipe: Gingery Peanut Noodles with Chicken 

Allie Lewis Clapp, Real Simple Recipes

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger
• 8 oz. spaghetti (cooked)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1/2 English cucumber, cut into strips
• 2 scallions
• Chopped peanuts

For the complete recipe, check out the delicious recipes posted by Allie Lewis Clapp at this link: Real Simple Recipes.

Photo: a scene from the great recipe demo video on  TODAYshow.com.

Cook lasagna in your dishwasher!?

I love my dishwasher's geeky control panel with lots of cool wash options. However, I guess Whirlpool forgot one: the cook dinner setting.

Evidently my loyal dishwasher is also a mighty multi-tasker because it can double as an oven too! I'm not sure I'm going to cook my dinner in the dishwasher tonight, but the recipe does seem easy.

Is dishwasher lasagna just another crazy cooking concoction or will it turn into the next culinary trend? The dishwasher dinner recipes may have originated around the campfire. According to CityPages.com,  

The foil-wrapped meal is placed on the washer's lower rack and left to cook through the wash cycle--the method is a little like a water-based version of a campfire hobo pack. 

Next time you have a dinner party, consider putting your dishwasher to work in the prep! This lasagna in the dishwasher recipe is guaranteed to leave your guests speechless, but happy with the clever meal. Seeing is believing--check out the Dishwasher Lasagna demo video featured on PartSelect.com.

Not in the mood for lasagna, check out this list of dishwasher dinners:

 

• Salmon with Piquant Dill Sauce. Recipe on Food Network.
• Shrimp A La Dishwasher. Recipe on Cooking-With-Us
• Salmon Steaks with Dill and Lemon. Recipe on Urban Bushcraft.
• Poached Salmon. Recipe on Wine X Magazine.
• Salmon with Cilantro. Recipe on Salon: Surreal Gourmet.
• Beef Cooked in Dishwasher. Recipe on Cooking-With-Us.
• Perfectly Poached Salmon. Recipe on ModernMom.com.

 

NOTE: I am not a professional chef and I have not tried any of the dishwasher dinner recipes, so I can't personally endorse cooking in the dishwasher.

Photo above is from the PartSelect.com video on Vimeo. Doodle text above is by me. (You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.)

 

Back for seconds: Easy Raspberry Tiramisu

Only 7 delicious ingredients and 3 steps to make Raspberry Tiramsu! Sometimes called "heaven in your mouth," this refreshing Italian dessert is as much fun to eat as it is to say: tih-ruh-mee-SOO. The raspberry version in this post is easy enough to make with the kids. Dorie Greenspan has the complete recipe for this layered treat at Parade.com. 

Ingredients:

12 oz. frozen raspberries, thawed

1/4 cup sugar

2 oz. (2-inch-thick slice) pound cake

1/4 cup mascarpone (an Italian triple cream cheese)

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup heavy cream, lightly whipped

1/2 pint fresh raspberries

Now all I need to do is decide what to serve the desert in... Wine glasses? Martini glasses? Or just some pretty glass bowls?

 

(Tiramisu image by Bloggyboulga)

Back for seconds... I posted this recipe last year. For more recipes and cooking ideas, check out Momathon cooking and recipes

 

 

Bloat busters

If you have a slinky LBD you want to wear at a holiday party you probably want to avoid that dreaded bloated feeling. Nutritionist Joy Bauer on the TODAY Show offers four foods and drinks you should cut back on one to two days before the party.

1) Starch in carbs including bread, pasta, potatoes
2) Gas producing veggies including broccoli, cauliflower, and potatoes
3) Carbonated beverages
4) Sodium in salty foods

Drinking lots of plain water during the holidays will help keep you hydrated and looking svelte.

Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010.

Roasted pumpkin seed recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds
2 teaspoons butter, melted
1 pinch salt

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Toss seeds in a bowl with the melted butter and salt. 
• Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet with edges so seeds do not fall off.
• Bake seeds for about 45 minutes or until golden brown.
• Stir occasionally.

Recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups

Photo: Jenib320

Busy mom cookbook by Ina Garten: How Easy Is That?

I have a new cookbook on my wish list. I don't think I can wait until Christmas to buy the book. I need these recipes for Thanksgiving. See Ina's fool-proof turkey recipe below (via Amazon.com.)

Ina Garten shares three super simple recipes on The TODAY Show from her new book How Easy Is That?

Turkey recipe from Ina's new cookbook:

Ingredients

1 whole bone-in turkey breast (6½ to 7 pounds)
2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¾ cup dry white wine

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place the turkey breast on a rack in a roasting pan, skin side up.

In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, mustard, rosemary, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper. Rub the mixture evenly all over the skin of the turkey breast. (You can also loosen the skin and smear half of the paste underneath, directly on the meat.) Pour the wine into the bottom of the roasting pan.

Roast the turkey for 1½ to 1 ¾ hours, until the skin is golden brown and an instant-read meat thermometer registers 165 degrees when inserted into the thickest and meatiest area of the breast. Check the breast after an hour or so; if the skin is overbrowning, cover it loosely with aluminum foil.

When the turkey is done, remove from the oven, cover the pan with aluminum foil, and allow the turkey to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Slice and serve warm with the pan juices.

Cooking with Kids: Pizza Lollipops

Is it possible to combine two of my favoriet things--lollipops and pizza?

Meaghan Montford, The decorated cookie blogger, loves tiny versions of things. And she can almost always think of a clever way to add a lollipop stick to an edible craft. (She also writes the Edible Crafts blog.)

Recipe:
In her pizza pops post Meaghan tells you exactly how to make your own Pizza Lollipops at home. And if you are really adventurous you can make a lollipop calzone too! Too cool.

I think making a half a dozen of the cute pops would make a clever gift idea.

(Photo: the decorated cookie blog.)

 

Busy Mom Recipe: Raspberry Tiramisu

 

 

Only 7 delicious ingredients and 3 steps to make Raspberry Tiramsu! Sometimes called "heaven in your mouth," this refreshing Italian dessert is as much fun to eat as it is to say: tih-ruh-mee-SOO. The raspberry version in this post is easy enough to make with the kids. Dorie Greenspan has a quick recipe for this layered treat at Parade.com. Try out this easy recipe with your family. Directions below.

Cooking with kids: Ribbon Candy

 

Linda V. of Brisbane, Australia loves baking, decorating cakes and cookies, and party planning. Just reading her blog Bubble and Sweet makes my mouth water. Her recent blog post all about making Marshmallow Ribbon Candy is now on my new recipes to try list. Besides creating food in the yummiest colors, your kids will love to help out because making the candy is like an oh-so-cool (and edible) science experiment right in your kitchen. 

I think this recipe is a great one to try with older kids, but an adult should be supervising because you end up making a VERY HOT marshmallow lava bowl in the microwave.

To make the ribbon candy, you first need to make the marshmallow fondant. Just four ingredients:

• sugar
• marshmallows
• Crisco
• water

For the complete recipe, check out Linda's Marshmallow Fondant Recipe online. After you make the fondant, follow her directions for coloring the fondant and rolling out the Marshmallow Ribbon Candy.

For more recipes for moms and kids, check out Momathon food and recipes.

5 bad fast food meals kids love

Even though I don't think I frequent fast food places, the evidence of stopping once in a while for fries or a burger is clear: Before my kids could read a picture book, they could "read" the Burger King logo sign. 

Sigh. We all know eating healthy meals and snacks is best, but many of us still crave a fresh salad with a gallon of dressing or a sugary fruit smoothie. Nutrition, it turns out, is not always easy to recognize.

Recently Dr. Susan Albers, a psychologist who specializes in eating issues and body image concerns, made a list of foods kids should avoid in Huffington Post. According to Albers, a recent study by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) examined fast food favorites for kids that are popular because they are heavily marketed. Turns out the nutritional content on these meals is less than favorable. Surprise. Surprise. Kids love junk. And I'm guessing that anything labeled a "Happy Meal" sounds good to a six-year-old.

According to Albers article, here are the five worst fast food kids meals (using data from PCRM's study):

Worst
McDonald's Mighty Kids Meal: Double Cheeseburger, French fries, and chocolate milk. 840 calories, 37 grams of fat

2nd Worst
Wendy's Kids Meal: Chicken Sandwich, French fries and chocolate Frosty. 770 calories, 34 grams of fat.

3rd Worst
KFC Kids Meal: Popcorn chicken, potato wedges, string cheese and soda. 800 calories, 1,800 milligrams of sodium.

4th Worst
A&W Kids Meal: Cheeseburger, French fries and soda. 780 calories, 9 grams of saturated fat.

5th Worst
Burger King's BK Kids: Breakfast muffin sandwich meal. 95 milligrams of cholesterol (exceeds the Institute of Medicine's limit on sodium intake.)

For more information on healthy eating habits, check out the Momathon health & wellness news.

Quick Recipe: Tomato and lemon fettuccine

 

 

Tomato and lemon fettuccine

1 - 2 cups cherry tomatoes

3/4 lb fresh fettucine (spinach or egg fettuccine)

2 lemons 

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 tsp salt

black pepper

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. 
• In a smaller saucepan, mix together the cream, salt and pepper.
• Wash the lemon and then remove the rind from lemons in long strips using a vegetable peeler. Cut strips into thin strips. Set aside to use as a topping.
• Wash the tomatoes and slice in half. Set aside.
• Squeeze the juice from the lemons, strain the juice, and pour into the saucepan with the cream mixture. (You can also use pre-packaged lemon juice that equals 2 lemons.)
• Bring the creamy mixture to a boil for one minute and then reduce heat to simmer.
• Cook the fettuccine in the boiling water until barely done. This takes about 3-8 minutes depending on the freshness of the pasta. Drain the pasta. Toss the pasta with the cream sauce.
• Divide the pasta into 4 to 6 portions. Top each pasta portion with tomato halves, strips of julienned lemon rind, and freshly ground pepper.

Bon Appetit!

For more recipes, click on Momathon recipes.

(Fettuccine photo by me.)

It's so Etsy: Angel Kiss Organic Coffee

 

 

Perfect for iced coffees or hot in a mug, Angel Kiss organic coffee is a delicious mix of caramel pecan, butter rum, vanilla notes and a touch of cinnamon. Coffee orders are available ground or whole bean. Perfect for gift giving. You can even add a custom label. Each order comes with a simple recipe for making your own Lattes at home too. $11.45

Angel Kiss flavored coffee beans available at katherynmd's online store at Etsy.com--your place to buy and sell all things handmade.

DIY: Homemade sugar bliss lip scrub

 

Feeling a bit flaky? I know the feeling. In the morning when I put on layer after layer of my favorite cotton candy gloss, sometimes the flakiness won't go away. 

If you are longing for the days when your lips felt soft and smooth, then try this homemade lip scrub to make your lips ultra kissable. The sugar in the recipe exfoliates and softens your lips and the Vaseline moisturizes and soothes your lips. 

Sugar Bliss Lip Scrub:

• Moisturize your lips generously with Vaseline or generic petroleum jelly.
• Add a tsp. of sugar into a small bowl.
• Lightly moisten your finger in water and dip it into the sugar.
• Apply sugar to both the upper and lower lips with your finger.
• Gently rub the sugar into the Vaseline for about 30 seconds in a circular motion and you will remove the dry, flaky skin.
• Rinse off your lips with warm (not cold) water.
• Dry off your lips and add your favorite lip gloss or lipstick.

(Lip photo by Apdk on Flickr)

I also posted this DIY lip scrub recipe in April.

For more recipes, click on Momathon recipes.

I also posted this DIY lip scrub recipe in April.

For more recipes, click on Momathon recipes.

The high cost of low-cost foods

Finding a deal on a pantry staple at the grocery is a great feeling. That is, until you realize that the low cost of some foods comes with a high price--our safety. Critics of the centralized food production system note the current practices allow for lower costs, but the voluntary recall by large corporations means they are also overseeing their own safety measures. 

The current egg recall by large-scale egg producers involves more than a half-billion eggs linked to a Salmonella outbreak. I recently wrote about the egg recall at BlogHer. The egg recall is only one of many current recalls including a deli meat recall from Wal-Mart. For more details on recalls check out: FDA: Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts.

Improved safety measures
Under current legislation the FDA does not have the necessary power to trace safety violations and impose a recall. The bipartisan Food Safety Bill (S510) under consideration in the Senate now might be the key to improving the situation by giving the FDA new powers to safeguard our food and track down violators.

Meanwhile, cook your eggs thoroughly and prevent cross-contamination by cleaning all surfaces and utensils.

For additional information on recent food recalls, check out these links:

FDA: Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts

Deli Meat Tests Positive for Bacteria - US News and World Report

Nationwide deli meat recall announced - CNN.com

Egg recall points up need for Senate action on food safety - Washington Post

Got egs? Read this - Momathon Blog

Island cooking with easy breezy fish tacos

Fish tacos is a meal we all love at my house. Simple to make. Only few ingredients. Best of all, kids can assemble their own tacos and get exactly the taco combo they want.

Giada De Laurentiis on The Today Show shares a yummy tiki-themed meal in the video below.

Giada's fish tacos

taco filling
tilapia filets baby arugula
avocado olive oil
mango kosher salt
green onions pepper

dressing
olive oil
lime juice
kosher salt

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sex and the City 2: Glamour Gal Cocktail (Carrie's drink)

Move over Cosmo, 

the girls have a new sublime cocktail to share.

Recipe compliments of SKYY vodka.

 

2 oz. SKYY Vodka 
0.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
0.5 oz. fresh lime juice
0.5 oz. simple syrup (or 1 tsp. sugar)
Drop of Crème de cassis

1) To rim a martini glass with a bit of sweet sparkle, dip the rim of the glass in a shallow dish filled with crème de cassis and immediately place rim in another shallow dish with sugar, rotating the glass to ensure the whole rim is covered.

2) Combine  citrus juices, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. 

3) Shake vigorously and strain into the martini glass. Finish the cocktail with a drop of Crème de cassis on top.

DIY: Homemade sugar bliss lip scrub

 

 

Feeling a bit flaky? I know the feeling. In the morning when I put on layer after layer of my favorite cotton candy gloss, sometimes the flakiness won't go away. 

If you are longing for the days when your lips felt soft and smooth, then try this homemade lip scrub to make your lips ultra kissable. The sugar in the recipe exfoliates and softens your lips and the Vaseline moisturizes and soothes your lips. 

Sugar Bliss Lip Scrub:

• Moisturize your lips generously with Vaseline or generic petroleum jelly.
• Add a tsp. of sugar into a small bowl.
• Lightly moisten your finger in water and dip it into the sugar.
• Apply sugar to both the upper and lower lips with your finger.
• Gently rub the sugar into the Vaseline for about 30 seconds in a circular motion and you will remove the dry, flaky skin.
• Rinse off your lips with warm (not cold) water.
• Dry off your lips and add your favorite lip gloss or lipstick.

(Lip photo by Apdk on Flickr)

Best mom food bloggers according to Babble.com

 

I don't know how the editors could narrow it down to only 50--so many talented foodies write blogs. Check out Babble.com's 50 Best Mom Food Bloggers list including these yummy blogs Food Allergy Mama, Steamy Kitchen, Kayotic Kitchen and Seven Spoons.

One of the best things about these blogs is you don't have to be another Martha Stewart in the kitchen to enjoy reading them. Of course, great recipes are key to their success, but you can also check out these blogs for their humor and beautiful photography. 

The staff and contributors at Babble "picked these fifty because each demonstrated excellence in voice, photography, design, or all three."

Love, love, love the listing by the editors on Babble, but have to admit their photo of chocolate dripping off the mixer is making me very hungry. Cupcakes anyone?

Bon Appetit!

(Image: Babble.com post)

 

Move over cupcake, the macaroons are here

 

 
A new tasty treat is vying for the cupcakes top spot this year. Just in time for Easter. Could it be the coconut macaroon looks like the grass in your Easter basket. Or maybe we just love the outlandish unfoodly colors they come in--hot pink, sunshine orange, snowball white, and neon green. 

Macaroons are a classic French dessert. The first macaroons were an egg white and almond paste variety called almond meringues. The crisp crust and soft interior reminds me of the fabulous amaretti cookies so delicious with a latte.

Popular for the observation of Passover because they need no flour or leavening, the Italian Jews developed the coconut macaroons.

Recipe links:

Parisian Macaroons @ Martha Stewart

Coconut Macaroons II @ All Recipes

(Photo: Mezuni via Flickr)

Childhood obesity: Will we live longer lives than our kids?

In the rush to get everything done in a day, maintaining a healthy lifestyle with healthy meals and exercise often seems impossible. If you are like me, then getting take-out or fast food is a big temptation when you feel like you have no time to cook dinner. Unfortunately, when eating out becomes the norm, eating healthy is not always an option. 

Childhood obesity is a growing trend that threatens about one in three kids in the U.S. Increasing rates of obesity in America means that for the first time in our history, kids may face a shorter lifespan than their parents.

That's why First Lady Michelle Obama is encouraging doctors, nurses, parents, and community leaders to join Let’s Move, a nationwide campaign to change the trend and solve the epidemic of childhood obesity.

The First Lady's nationwide initiative's goal is to raise a healthier generation of kids. Let’s Move aims to give families the support needed to live healthier lives by eating healthy and getting more exercise.

4 key components of Let’s Move

1. Improve the information and tools families need to make healthy changes.
2. Improve quality of food in schools.
3. Improve access and affordability of food including eliminating "food deserts" in the community.
4. Increase physical education for kids to get them moving.

Do I really need a CookVook?

 

The $9.99 price tag is my excuse for not downloading the Woman's Day Cookvook: Healthy Eating for Everyday Living iPhone app. According to WD, the CookVook provides healthy recipes in an "elegant, fun and easy to use application." Sounds like an interesting app, but this app only contains 45 recipes including Chicken Tortilla Soup and Cioppino. 

What makes it a cookvook? Video. It contain a how-to video for each recipe including a video that explains how to clean a leeks. (That video actually sounds useful in my quest to keep the germs out of my kitchen.) The CookVook is based on their hardcover book, The Woman's Day Cookbook for Healthy Living. If I was really bored, missing home-cooked meals and sitting in an airport terminal, then maybe this would be fun. But the CookVook's small cooking repertoire doesn't seem very practical when I am searching for new and interesting recipes. 

Another option...
Last year WD introduced their first iPhone app called the Cooking Assistant which is FREE. This app contains thousands of simple recipes tested by the cooks at WD. And it has a cool cooking time calculator and a shopping list feature so you can import the ingredients from a recipe into a shopping list feature. 

Bon Appetit from the Geeky Mom at Momathon.

Un-fried fries recipe

 

Gotta love a nutritionist who thinks up a yummy recipe for healthy fries! Joy Bauer, a nutritionist and a contributor at the TODAY show, seems to be always looking for unique ways to keep our kids happy with healthy food choices. Joy's Un-fried Fries recipe using sweet potatoes or white potatoes looks yummy and easy. 

I haven't tried Joy's exact recipe yet, but for years I have made my own version which is almost the same. Here's what I do: These healthy fries are not fried so this recipe puts the oven to work. Just preheat the oven to 400. Wash and scrub 2-3 white or sweet potatoes. Coat a baking sheet with an oil spray such as Pam Spray. Cut the potatoes into skinny potato wedges or strips and place them in a single layer on the baking sheet. Now you get to be creative. In my recipe I spray a light covering of more oil spray on the potatoes in a neutral flavor, but you can get creative with oil spray flavorings. Next add a spice--salt, pepper, or sweet flavorings like cinnamon (for sweet potatoes). Bake fries for about 20 minutes depending on the size of your fries. To make them crispy on all sides, remember to flip them halfway through the baking cycle. In Joy's recipe she recommends placing the fries under the broiler for a few minutes at the end to make them extra crispy, but this step is not necessary.

Click on the image below to watch the TODAY Show how-to video for making Un-fried Fries using white or sweet potatoes. 

 

Click on the image above to go to the TODAY show video. 

(Oh so cute image of the heart-shaped potato at the top of the page by lovelypetal)

2009 was a very good year in the kitchen

If you like lists and you like to cook, then check out the top ten recipes (plus five runners-up) according to the LA Times.

1. Rice noodles with Chinese chives, shrimp and pork (banh pho xao he)
2. Quinoa salad with shiitakes, fennel and cashews
3. Pizza Margherita
4. Sizzling shrimp with garlic and hot pepper
5. Neapolitan-style ragu
6. Orange-flavored shortcakes with strawberries and cream
7. White-chocolate bread pudding with whiskey caramel sauce
8. Bell pepper and corn slaw
9. Potato gratin with caramelized onions and prosciutto
10. Julienne's graham cracker chewy bars

The five runners-up recipes available here.

Best cookbooks for families according to Babble.com

I love browsing the cookbook section at bookstores. Certain things catch my attention and great food photos are a must. And I recently decided that a cookbook with a carrot cake sandwich recipe must be very good. (See below.)

Here are a few cookbook suggestions from the clever editors at Babble.com:

 

 

"When it comes to pleasing everyone at the table, many cookbooks miss the mark — either aiming too squarely for the more sophisticated palates of mom and dad or resorting to nursery food and babytalk. During the holidays, especially, when dozens of glossy new titles beckon from bookstore shelves, it can be hard for a practical cook to know where to look. Well, search no further. We've combed the shops for the latest crop of cookbooks and selected a handful that promise to entice readers — and eaters — of all ages." — Sarah Karnasiewicz at Babble.com

(Quoted text via www.babble.com)

My thoughts on the best cookbooks:

• Jamie's Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals (Great for finding recipes to feed the kids.)
• The Craft of Baking: Cakes, Cookies, and Other Sweets with Ideas for Inventing Your Own (Did you know you could make carrot cake sandwiches?)
• Get Cooking: 150 Simple Recipes to Get You Started in the Kitchen (A hippie-chick Rachel Ray?)
• The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern: Knockout Dishes with Down-Home Flavor (I'm a MN-slash-CO gal, but I want to devour the photos in this southern cookbook.)
• Salt to Taste: The Key to Confident, Delicious Cooking (Yes! Flavorful recipes that are not complicated.)

Simply Delish Peppermint Bark Recipe

 

Looking for an easy last-minute holiday candy recipe? Here is one of my favorites: Last Christmas I wrote a post about an easy and delish recipe for classic peppermint bark. You can check out the recipe and a how-to video on the TODAY Show with Chef Kathleen Daelemans. Full recipe is available on the Today Show website.

The inexpensive homemade version is a great gift idea too. The candy recipe only has four ingredients:

• bittersweet chocolate wafers or chips
• white chocolate wafers or white chocolate
• canola oil
• peppermint candy

If you don't want to make the peppermint bark at home, check out the yummy Williams-Sonoma Original Peppermint Bark ($26.50 for a one-pound tin).

You can watch a short how-to video on making the peppermint candy on The TODAY Show. below. (Note: The TODAY Show clip starts out talking about cookie swaps with homemade gingerbread and then the next item they discuss is the peppermint bark.)

Holiday cooking: Bread pudding recipe for kids

 

 

Do you have fussy eaters at your house? Cooking for kids is always better if the kids join you in the kitchen.

At my house, if I want the cooking project to be a success, then the kids need to be in charge. And grown-ups need to chill. Don't worry about the mess while the kids cook, as long as all of the cooks agree to help with the clean up afterwards.

I love to hear about families cooking together. For example, Sisters Belle (13) and Liv (11) started cooking with their dad when they were only two. They started the Spatulatta: Cooking 4 Kids Online series in 2005 and won the prestigious James Beard award in 2006. 

Watch Belle make a yummy Bread Pudding recipe in this video link featured on their cooking for kids website. The complete recipe is on this link too.

 Bread pudding is a great way to use up leftover French bread. 

(Note: Lovely bread pudding photo at the top of this post is by WayTru.)