Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Sweet & Sour Tomato Sacue

Sorry for the delay this week...long weekend, with great friends and mass amounts of food had me in a relaxed bliss.  Didn't realize until last night that I hadn't even begun to plan the menu for this week and it was a mad scramble this morning to get my ingredient list and get to the stores in the few hours the kids are in school.  Managed to get all accomplished and looking forward to a great week of recipes. 


Asked the hubby what he wanted for dinner tonight and he said, "Something with cabbage."  Oki doki...stuffed cabbage rolls it is!  My grandmother makes a killer stuffed cabbage that I'm going to have to get the recipe for...so, for now, I'll give these a whirl.  These are very simple to make, but a bit time consuming.  You could always make the sauce a day before and have it ready to go when you start the rest of the recipe.  As they say in Polish: "CIESZYĆ SIĘ!"  (enjoy!) 

  

Wednesday: Spicy Peanut Butter Soup with Chicken and Veggies

No, that's not a misprint..this IS a recipe for PB Chicken Veggie soup.  A friend of mine recommended it and swore to me that it was fantastic.  Never one to shy away from something out of the norm, I figured let's give this a shot.  I read the reviews and I'm going to tweak it a bit to add some spice to it.  (and depending on your personal tastes, add more or less of the cayenne and Siracha)

It's a very versatile dish and you can easily tweak it to what you have on hand.  Most dishes add potatoes (sweet or regular), but hubby isn't a fan, so I left them out.  Would be a nice addition though!

Thursday: Baked Farfalle With Escarole and Zucchini

It's vegetarian night!  (much to the hubby's dismay.)  This just sounded super tasty and I've never cooked with Escarole before.  It took me three stores to find it, but if you can't, you can just sub spinach.  I also splurged a bit and bought those delicious imported canned tomatoes, San Marzano.  It really does make a difference when you know the sauce is going to play a big role. (but of course, it makes the dish a little less budget friendly...worth it to me though!)  Make sure to keep an eye on the timer..some ovens will cook this faster than others.  Feel free to up the veggies too (extra zucchini, mushrooms, spinach)

Friday: Spiced Beef Kebabs and Couscous

Last week's Yakatori was a huge hit with the girls.  They loved eating the chicken off the sticks.  So this week, I decided to take advantage of all the meat on sale from Memorial Day weekend and grill up some beef kebabs.  I'm going to double the recipe, but I have a feeling there still won't be any leftovers.  A nice side of my fave couscous recipe will round out this dish.  Some grilled veggies would be awesome too. 
If you can plan ahead, marinating overnight would really make this dish sing, but if not, really try to get to the 4 hour mark.  You want those flavors to sink in and tenderize the meat.  
If you like spicy...add some cayenne to give it a great kick!! 

Memorial Weekend Menu- Smoker Style

There's nothing I love more than cooking up a feast for friends.  The best part is that my husband is a genius with the smoker.  It doesn't matter what he puts under the hood of that baby...it comes out smoked to perfection and full of flavor.  This coming weekend we're planning on smoking ribs, a tri-tip, red snapper and hubby is going to actually smoke some squid (that should be interesting). 
  
Since he'll be manning the meat it's up to me to dish out some wicked sides.  No BBQ is ever complete without a killer pasta salad, and this recipe for Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad should do the trick.  And of course, I can't pass up all this fabulous corn that's on sale!!  Found a great recipe for some Grilled Mexican Corn.  This is shaping up to be a great menu!  Can't wait to eat!  

Click Read More for all the recipes.  :)

Memorial Day Weekend

So what's your plan for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend?  If you've got a cook out scheduled, whatcha makin'??  I'd love to hear your fave recipes for the grill or some kickin' sides.  Do you have any great mixed drink recipes?  
For us, we've got some friends coming over and we are firing up the hubby's smoker.  Not sure what's on the menu....yet.  I might steal one of your ideas!  Share away!

Incredible Tuna Poke

My husband went with a buddy to the fish market last Saturday.  He came home with a gorgeous piece of fresh ahi tuna.  I'm one of those people who prefer their fish raw to cooked...so, when he suggested making a tuna poke, I was all for it!  


Let me tell you, this was like candy (fabulous little fish candy).  It seemed to just melt in my mouth.  Absolutely incredible and I was so sad when it was all gone.  Couldn't this be like "Best Thing You Ever Ate" and a plate would just magically appear in front of me right now??  Just the smell of it while he was preparing the dish had me drooling.  (while I sat on the couch and read my book...love when he cooks for me!)  :)  I seriously want him to get up every Saturday morning at 3:45am and go to the market just for this ahi.  I could eat this every day.  If you can get your hands on some great tuna, you have to try this recipe...you'll totally surprise friends and family who'll think you got takeout from the local sushi joint.

If only you could eat a picture.... 

A Cheesy Giveaway!!!

It's giveaway time!  Real California Cheese has sent me this wonderful little gift basket for one of my lucky blog readers to receive!  They are promoting their milk and cheese line.  Here's what's in the basket:


A beautiful cheese plate, a gorgeous cheese knife, an adorable stuffed cow (that talks!), 4 delicious chocolate straws, a variety of recipes for cheese and milk, a small insulated bag (perfect for snacks!), a handy reusable bag, plus over $5 worth of coupons towards their products!

So, I know you're wondering...what do you have to do to win?  It's amazingly simple!  Just go to the link on my blog "Share Your Recipe."  Share your favorite recipe that has one of the main ingredients being CHEESE!  (don't forget to include a photo of your dish!!)  And it doesn't have to be an original recipe..you can submit any recipe that you really love!  One recipe will be chosen at random to be the winner and feature their recipe on the blog!  
     
Deadline for the giveaway is June 4th...so get your recipe in today!  (click Read More for additional photos of the items)

Monday (5/23): Smokey Chicken Tortilla Soup

It seems it doesn't matter what time of year it is or what the weather is like outside, I'm still always looking for another great soup recipe.  I've never made Chicken Tortilla soup before and I'm looking forward to this one!  It calls for Hominy which I've never cooked with before, but I'm looking forward to trying something new.  What I like best about this recipe is that it's not overly spicy...therefore I don't have to worry about sacrificing taste by removing spices.  On a overcast day like today, this soup sounds like the perfect dinner for my family.

Bet you can't eat just one bowl!  

Tuesday (5/24): No Noodle Cannelloni

Yep, you read that right...no noodle cannelloni.  I found this recipe on another blog (Key Lime Kitchen) and I was intrigued.  I'm a fan of eggplant parm, and this seems like a much lighter dish with some extra veggie bang.  Not to mention, it's gluten free!  It will take a bit of time to prep everything and create the dish, so if you have your kids hanging nearby, put'em to work! 

Wednesday (5/25): Yakitori

Bless you!...what?  You weren't sneezing?  That's the name of this dish?  Huh.  Okay, I need more info here...what exactly is Yakitori?
Yakitori is a Japanese grilled chicken skewer.  There you go.  Simple right?  Yep.  And tasty too!  I'm going to double the recipe to make sure we have leftovers for lunch the next day.  
This is a great dish to let your kids help with...they can easily thread the chicken and onions onto the skewers.  You can serve this with a side of rice noodles, steamed baby bok choy, or rice.  We'll have some edamame, noodles, and maybe some cucumber salad.
This dish makes a lot of sauce, so noodles or rice would be great to have on the side!  It's also very budget friendly (especially if you can get the thighs on sale)  But feel free to sub chicken breasts too.

Thursday (5/26): Rapunzel's Hazelnut Soup

Okay, if you're a mom of a little girl, you have undoubtedly seen the movie Tangled.  My girls have watched it so many times I know the whole thing by heart.  When the "fake mother" (as we refer to her) mentions making hazelnut soup...my cooking ears perked up.  Hazelnut soup?  Wonder what that tastes like?  So, I started surfing the net and well, leave it to Disney to take care of things for me!  They published their Rapunzel version of hazelnut soup and safe to say, my girls are stoked about making it with me.  I'm sure we'll have to make it a movie night and have dinner in front of the TV!  

Note: this dish is a bit time consuming...so you could save it for a weekend meal and make together with your kids.

Friday (5/27): Simple Seared Scallops and Wilted Arugula Salad

My husband and his friend went to the local fish market last Saturday morning.  We were hoping to find some fresh scallops, but he came back with frozen.  I wanted to make sure I cooked these right so that they weren't mushy and chewy.  (if you can get fresh, do it, much easier to cook.)
When I looked for info about cooking the frozen version, this is what I found:
Take the time to let the scallops thaw in the fridge overnight.  Then make sure they are good and dry (pat with paper towels)  Wet scallops will not sear properly.
We're serving this with Emeril's arugula salad.  (and maybe some kind of starch for the girls)

Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Okay, so my friend is a fabulous cupcake maker and when she offered me a taste of these bity bites, I was a little hesitant.  Not that they wouldn't taste good...just, thought they'd be wicked sweet.  As usual, I was wrong.  These were SO light and SO SO yummy!  Just a hint of peanut butter to round of the delish taste of chocolate.  These are worth putting in your cupcake recipe folder!  Thanks Lena!  for the Fab recipe!  You can find more of Lena's amazing cupcakes at Lena's Cupcakes and Sweets
Click "Read More" for the recipe!  :)

Duck Eggs???

Last week I posted about some lovely quail eggs that I bought at the Farmers Market.  The next trip there I found myself staring at some very large eggs amongst the quail and chicken eggs.  "What are those?" I asked the guy.  "Duck eggs."  Huh.  "Okay, I'll take 4."

Can you guess?  Which is the chicken, which is the duck?

Now here I am with 4 duck eggs and no idea what to do with them.  Off to the internet I go!

The Test Kitchen: How to Cut Up a Whole Chicken - Gourmet Magazine

Have you ever looked at a whole chicken and wonder how on earth chefs get 8 lovely pieces cut out of it?  I know I have...I ponder, then dismiss and roast the whole thing.  Well, after watching this video, I'm not "chicken" about it anymore.  (oh, come on, that made you smile a little) 

It's budget week on my menu this week and nothing says penny saver like buying a whole bird.  Now, you'll be able to have more freedom with different recipes without having to rely on just roasting the whole chicken.  So get chopping and happy cooking!  :)  

May Budget Week! Monday: Simple Roast Chicken

This week of May I'm dedicating to Budget Week.  Why?  There are hardly any good buys this week at the stores, so it's time to get frugal.  I'm doing my best to find healthy meals for cheap prices, but a few "little too good for you" dishes found their way into my menu this week.  Couldn't help it...they sounded so darn good!  All new recipes again this week...can't accuse be of being boring!  LOL  Looking forward to a great week of food...and the low price tag!


Okay, so don't let the title fool you (or the ingredient list)  I put Simple for the sole reason, that it is...very simple to make.  But the flavors are killer and the bird will be moist and juicy.  You can't get more budget friendly than buying a whole bird.  Throw your chicken in the oven...let'er cook.  Then carve and serve with your fave side dish.  I'm going to make a blue potato and corn hash (corns on sale).  Yum!  

Tuesday: Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Yeah, you read that right...bacon, cheeseburger SOUP.  Now, some of you out there may have heard of this, you may have it in your recipe rotation, but for me...this is the first I've heard of a soup tasting like a cheeseburger.  Surfing through the net, I've found a few different versions of this dish.  I gave in and just decided to pick one.  There's another version that sounded really good too..may just have to make that one another day....  If you've got a killer one...submit it under Share Your Recipes!  Going to serve with a side of Hamburger Toasts. :)

Okay, so it's not the prettiest soup I've ever eaten, but it was very tasty! 

 Good bang for the buck!

Wedesday: Chicken Flautas

I have no idea what a flauta is, but I'm cooking it.  I found the recipe on another blog that boasts dinners for under $10.  After browsing, I chose this one.  It's simple to make (although fried and not totally healthy), and cheap.  Perfect for this week.  This recipe even comes with the cost breakdown (thanks 10buckdinners.com!)  However, I'd love to know where she got a can of tomatoes for $0.60!  Now since the majority of our family is "heat sensitive" (sorry hubby), I may just use a jalapeño  seeded and chopped.
We'll have some black beans on the side or some rice.  Maybe chips and guac....  

Thursday: Spaghetti Pie

I have been so excited to cook this dish!  So much so that I had to order the damn bundt pan in order to make it.  (remember...baking hates me)  Pan arrived last week!  This dish is on the menu baby!  
I got this from KayoticKitchen.com...and she stated to serve it lukewarm or cold.  So, this makes a great to dish to prepare in advance.  The ingredients make it super budget friendly.  Hoping this will be a big hit in this house!  (if nothing else, it'll be fun to cook.)  :D

Okay, this is NOT my picture...this is what my dish was supposed to look like.... (click read more to see mine....)

Friday: Beef and Mushroom Sloppies (with a side of Creamed Corn and Peas)

I've never met anyone who doesn't like a good'ol sloppy joe.  I've made all kinds...from the canned version, to mom's recipe, to some found on the net.  I've never; however, made it with mushrooms.  So, of course, that means we have to try it.  Hubby gave me the thumbs up on this one and onto the menu it went.  Serve it up with a side of sweet potato fries and the Creamed Corn and Peas, and you're good to go!

Storing Your Fresh Soft Herbs

I don't know about you, but I hate when I have to buy a whole bunch of parsley for a recipe that calls for 1 TBS.  I mean, I know it's not expensive, but still, it's such a waste.  I try growing some of my own herbs, but my parsley didn't make it (I'll try again this year).  So, I researched the best ways to store fresh herbs to use for later and got a simple easy way to save money and food.
Now, there is a difference between Soft and Hard herbs.  Soft include basil, cilantro, parsley, oregano, and mint.  Hard herbs would include rosemary, thyme, savory, and sage.  I'll make another post on how to preserve those herbs.  For now, this is for our little softies.


Here's what you need:
ice cube tray(s)
your herbs
water
ziploc bag
permanent marker


Start off by rinsing your herbs and finely chopping them.

Quail Eggs...Hard Boiled

If you're anything like me, you've seen all the cooking shows where they have elegantly showcased the quaint little quail egg.  Then the judges (or whomever is lucky enough to be eating the dish) proclaims how wonderful it tastes and how it adds just the right aspect to the dish.  
So, of course, I just had to find these little things and see for myself what all the fuss was about.  I hit up every high end grocery store within 30 miles of my house.  Nothin.  Depressed I figured it just wasn't meant to be.  Now, here's the part where the fact that I'm not a native to SoCal (and in fact grew up in the desert of Vegas) stands out.  Never did I think to check the farmers markets.  Duh.  And naturally, my first visit this past Sunday found me beaming at a dozen petite quail eggs.  
The question I asked myself when I got home was...now what?  After surfing the net for a bit I decided to settle on hard boiling them and making cute little egg snacks.  I know my girls will love peeling these babies!  Here's how to do it:

Aren't they pretty lil' things?

Menu for May 9-13: Monday: Smokey Tortellini Soup

A bunch of new dishes again this week.  Love trying new things!  (and the plus is that 99% of the time, I find I really like all of them)  A friend of mine posted on Facebook that I HAD to try this soup.  (and tell her when I'm making it and what I think) So, while at the farmers market, the lovely Italian lady was selling her homemade pasta.  I snagged a package of tortellini's and put this soup first in the lineup for the week.  Already craving dinner tonight.  Bought some bread to use to dip into the savory broth.  Do you have a favorite tortellini recipe?

Tuesday: Steak Stir-Fry

Sunday found my family at the local farmers market.  First time in the two years we've lived here...how could we have waited so long?  I went with the sole purpose of buying eggs.  There is nothing like the taste of fresh eggs.  I left with some great finds...but no eggs.  Yep, got so wrapped up in all the other great stuff, I forgot the eggs.  Well, not totally, I did buy some quail eggs.  I've been dying to try them and no stores sell them around here.  I'll post more about these lovely little eggs later.
  
One of the stands was just overflowing with all sorts of leafy greens.  Half I'd never even heard of.  They had lemon basil (that smelled just like a fresh lemon), purple basil (no idea what to do with that either.  I ended up buying some Thai basil, which I now realize it's what I have it growing like a weed in my backyard...(I knew it was some kind of basil!)  And also two new greens:
Phak Boong, “Morning Glory”  ...it took me the better part of a half hour to find this on the web and figure out what to do with it.  It's going in my stir fry.  
I also purchased Methi aka Fenugreek (googled this one too).  I'll post more about these two later on.  


So, once I realized that I could throw the morning glory into a stir-fry, I decided to just make a nice beef stir-fry dish.  The recipe is for the sauce...I'm just going to add a bunch of veggies and mix it all up!  What's your fave stir-fry sauce?

Wednesday: No Butter Chicken & Couscous

I was surfing through some other food blogs searching for inspiration...aka recipes.  I found a great one Kayotic Kitchen, she lives in the Netherlands.  http://www.kayotic.nl/blog/   I had fun reading her blog and looking at all her gorgeous pix.  I've never heard of No Butter Chicken before, but when she mentioned that Guy Fieri cooked it, I was sold.  I love the guy (no pun intended)  I know some think he's a little out there...but I think he's fun.  So, anyway, figured I give this dish a shot as well.  Kayotic Kitchen mentioned that she thought there was too much Cumin seeds, so I may cut that back.  Also, I included a recipe to make your own Garam Masala.  (very simple.)

I'm going to serve this with a side of couscous.  Recipe is below.    

Let me know how this dish turns out for you!  :)

Thursday: Chicken and Dumplings

I can honestly say, I don't think I've ever had chicken and dumplings.  Seriously, not ever.  I suppose I could blame the fact that my father is an extremely picky eater and wouldn't touch a bowl of this with a ten foot pole.  So, in order to ever expand my taste buds, this baby is on the menu this week.  I realize that there are probably a million different recipes and ways to make this, so I basically just found one that sounded good to me and that's what's cookin'.  If you have any fave chicken and dumpling recipes...share them in the "Share Your Recipe" section!  I'd love to hear about them!

Comfort food at it's best...

Friday: Pesto Pasta

I've never been a big fan of pesto.  Maybe it's the odd green color.  Maybe it's the odd taste.  But, since I'm trying to get my girls to try new things, I figured I should give it another go.  Plus, I like the fact that this pesto is made with a variety of greens...adding to the bonus veggie factor.  It's a simple dish to make and I'll probably use some fun pasta to go with it.  I listed this as vegetarian, but I may toss in some pancetta for some crunch and smoky flavor.  Some nice buttery, garlicky crusty bread would round this all out nicely.

Mother's Day Feast

Mother's Day can mean so many different things to so many different women.  Some like to have an entire day to themselves, others like to spend the whole day with their family.  I find myself in the middle of both.  I want to be pampered a bit, a little down time, but I also want to be with those who've made this day mean something to me.


We'll be spending our day tomorrow something like this:
Girls and daddy will be making a gorgeous breakfast: Creme Brulee French Toast. 


Followed by a trip to the Farmer's Market and then some fun in the sun at the beach.  Nap time for girls and reading time for mom, while my hubby shops for dinner goods.  Then he and I will prepare our dinner feast.  I truly don't mind a bit of cooking on Mother's Day...blame it on my need to always be doing something.  We've come up with a brilliant plan for dinner...


Broccoli Salad, Beef Wellington & Lobster Tails


Who the needs a restaurant?

Mother's Day Wishes...

Becoming a mother has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life.  Looking back it's amazing how far I've come...


I was pregnant for the better part of 2 years.  (girls are 17 months apart)  Endured two c-sections (not by choice)  And survived a bout of postpartum depression.
Late nights, no sleep, diapers upon diapers...upon diapers.
Breastfeeding, bottle feeding, first foods...car seats, strollers, high chairs, first words, tantrums...teething, colds, rashes, vaccinations...  rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking....running, climbing.
First holiday's, birthday's...potty training, first days of preschool....  


And now, here I am.  The baby phase over.  The toddler phase over.  I've entered the preschool phase...quickly moving to kindergarten (fall of 2012).  Amazing how fast 4 years can go.


My daughters are amazing.  Each unique in their own way.  Each with a special place in my heart...my soul.  I'm not always the perfect mother, they aren't always the perfect daughters.  But, we're perfect for each other.  It's hard to remember life without them.  I have to think hard about what I actually did with all that free time.  Would I want it back?  Sure, sometimes.  Motherhood isn't easy, not by a long shot.  But I wouldn't give it up for anything on this Earth.


I tell new parents...welcome to the roller coaster ride of your life.  You won't even begin to be able to track the amount of crests and falls, twists and turns, and flat out upside down moments.  But, oh, it's a hell of a ride.  I'm never getting off.


So, to all you mother's out there...single, stay at home, working...you know who you are...I wish for you a wonderful Mother's Day...

A Mother

is one who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.

Loves of my life
...and, uh, care to guess at their personalities??

Sunday Sweet...Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches

I remember as a kid, sitting with a box of Nilla Waffers and a glass of milk watching cartoons.  I just loved those cookies.  Sometimes mom would put a bit of icing in the middle and make little "sandwiches."  And of course using Nilla Waffers in delicious banana pudding.  But, we never made these!  After last weeks time consuming cupcake creation, I figured this week we'd do something ridiculously easy.  (plus, it's Mother's Day...I can't believe I'm lifting a finger to make anything)  ;)


We're going to use mini chocolate chips for dipping.  You could also use, coconut, rainbow sprinkles, or any other decorative item you have in your cupboard.  Looking forward to making this special little treat, on this special day, with the two most special people in my life.  (okay, maybe I'll drag the hubby into and make it a whole family affair.)  Happy "cooking!"  :)

Making the most of Fresh Corn

I love corn, any kind really, but fresh sweet corn is just amazing.  With corn season coming up the stores and farmers are going to have some great corn at great prices.  This year, I decided I am going to take advantage of all that delicious (and cheap) corn!  Many of my recipes (soups in particular) ask for fresh corn, but who wants to pay a buck an ear in November just to make a yummy soup?  Not me.  (not our grocery budget either)  So, this year I'm going to stock up on the fresh stuff...and freeze it!  If there was ever a time that I wanted to get a vacu-seal, it's now.  But there is no way we can afford one, so, I'll stick to good'ol ziplock bags and do my best to get all the air out.
And since I wasn't sure of the proper way to freeze my corn, here's a great link with step by step instructions on freezing your fresh corn.  

How to freeze your own corn from corn-on-the-cob (directions, recipe, with photos and free)


I have no problem just using the knife to cut the corn off, but if you're looking for some tools to help you, check out these items...and the gorgeous food saver that maybe one day I'll own:
(note, I'm not paid by these guys to promote these items, just wanted to share them with you.)
Happy Cooking!

Menu for May 2-6: Monday- Breakfast Pizza

This week's menu is a wide mix of cuisines.  With family in town for the last few days, I wanted something quick and simple for Monday night.  I don't have pizza sauce, so I'm just going to use marinara.  I'm also going to add some bacon, green onion, shallots, and parsley.  (Also, see the video at the end for another version of breakfast pizza and how the chef puts it all together.)

Tuesday: Asian Egg Drop Soup

If' you've been following my blog, you'll know I'm a major soup fanatic.  So, in addition to flat out loving soup, I'm making this because I'm having some dental work done today and I need something nice and easy to eat.  This is super simple to make and has great flavor.  Feel free to add chicken, shrimp, corn or peas.  But, it's good as is.  I'm going to double this...and serve with some store bought egg rolls and Spago Cucumber Salad

Wednesday: Steak, Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower, Steamed Artichokes

Still have some steak tucked away in the freezer, so I'll marinate those and serve it up with some fun sides.  We all love artichokes and I've made this recipe many times.  Great flavor!  Also, I haven't made cauliflower in a long time, so this sounded like fun and its simple to make.  I love just about anything with cheese on it!

Thursday: Cinco De Mayo! Carne Asada Tacos

Perfect day to dish up some delicious carne asada tacos.  (at the hubby's request)  A friend of mine gave me a recipe for a rice side dish and I'll prob have some chips and guacamole on the side.  As for the carne asada, I'm just going to use store bought pico to save some time, but I included the recipe if you want to make your own.

Friday: Turkey Lasagna

Thought this would be fun to try and I'll have leftovers for lunch Saturday.  Perfect!  I borrowed this recipe from Food and Whine (another blog)  You'll see her note at the end of the recipe.  Going to have a nice side salad with this to round out the meal.