Last June I wrote a post titled, "Teaching Your Kids to Make Lemonade from Lemons." I spent most of the time talking about its figurative meaning-- making the most out of life and turning what could be perceived as negative or "sour" into something positive or "sweet." It's still something that we continue to massage in my household; obviously a difficult concept for two young kids to fully grasp intellectually. Today, since spring is truly in the air on the east coast, we're talking about the literal meaning of making lemonade from … [Read more...]
Sweet Potato Fries
March 7, 2012 By 5 Comments
When I told my kids we were having sweet potato fries at dinner, I got two polar opposite responses. My 6-year old was ecstatic at the prospect of eating sweet potatoes again since he devoured the sweet potato and marshmallow casserole I cooked for Thanksgiving. My 9-year old daughter wasn't at all interested. Although she sampled the same beloved casserole, its consistency reminded her too much of "baby food." So, I strategized my approaches. My daughter would need a positive spin like, "you'll LOVE these fries...they're similar to the … [Read more...]
Green Tea Risotto
March 5, 2012 By 11 Comments
Before today, I had never made risotto from scratch. In fact, the only time I've ever eaten risotto is when it's freshly-made in Italian restaurants. I guess I just didn't trust myself to be able to make a good batch. And, I usually try to steer away from the ultra creamy consistency characteristic of this popular rice dish. But, when I was perusing the recipes from the Secret Recipe Club submissions, I knew I had to try the Green Tea Risotto. How unusual, a risotto dish not made with chicken broth or cream but rather green tea? I've made … [Read more...]
Oven-Baked French Toast
March 2, 2012 By 10 Comments
Earlier this week I was feeling light and uber healthy thanks to the Powerful Green Pomegranate Smoothie I drank and the Fat Free Sour Cream Bavarian dessert I ate. Today, not so much. Ever since Breakfast-for-Dinner nights have become such a hit with my kids, I've been trying to amp up my arsenal of breakfast options. It's so easy to slump into a cereal/yogurt/bagel rut simply because it's mindless and hassle-free. Who wants to deal with ovens and measurements and preparations for breakfast? I'm slowly learning that many "prepared" … [Read more...]
