lara – Page 56 – Feed Your Kids

A Great Day

Yesterday was a GREAT day.

First, we went to the Texas Book Festival and got to see Padma Lakshmi demonstrating recipes from her new cookbook. I was really happy to be able to go, especially since I missed Anthony Bourdain when he was in town recently and was DEVASTATED. The recipes that she made were Mexican Macaroni and Cheese, Clouds of Cardamom and Cashew Cookies and Sauteed Sweet Potato and Lima Beans. She had baked some of the cookies beforehand and we got to taste some:

She did a really great job, especially considering that she said that it was her first cooking demonstration. She was funny and a little self-deprecating. I bought the book and was able to chat with her long enough for her to sign it.

Next, we went here and bought a new laptop for me. Mine crashed a while back, so Hubby loaned me a replacement, which crashed shortly thereafter. I’ve been borrowing the kids’ laptops, freely using them while they’re at school, but then having to negotiate for laptop usage once they get home, particularly if they have homework that requires internet research or typing practice. It’s been pretty pathetic, really. I feel like I should have a sign that says “Will do laundry for screen time.”

While we were at Fry’s, we saw this:

And then, when we got home, both Boy ad Girl had a buddy sleep over and we had this for dinner:

I’ll post the recipe later – I’m pooped!

Texas Book Festival

Right now, this very second, I am sitting in the Cooking Demonstration tent at the Texas Book Festival, waiting for Padma Lakshmi to come out to cook recipes from (and sign copies of) her new cookbook. I’m so excited, I just might pee my pants…..

Halloween

Phone message that I just left for Hubby: “I have a pot pie. I have a scythe. Can you fix the timer on the blinking eyeballs?”

Phone message that I just left for Hubby:

“I have a pot pie. I have a scythe. Can you fix the timer on the blinking eyeballs?”

SUPER FAST Stir-fried Pork Tenderloin and Veggies with Rice

Mmmm….yummy, lightning fast and VERY kid-friendly. Inspired by a recipe that was originally in Good Housekeeping and then adapted by my friend Barb, and then adapted again by me. The original version can be found here. For adults, you may want to doll this up a bit: a little sriracha for a tad more “kick” … Continue reading “SUPER FAST Stir-fried Pork Tenderloin and Veggies with Rice”

Mmmm….yummy, lightning fast and VERY kid-friendly. Inspired by a recipe that was originally in Good Housekeeping and then adapted by my friend Barb, and then adapted again by me. The original version can be found here. For adults, you may want to doll this up a bit: a little sriracha for a tad more “kick” and maybe a handful of cilantro leaves at the very end.

Stir-fried Pork Tenderloin and Veggies with Rice

2 cups basmati rice, uncooked
4 cups chicken stock
1 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed and sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds
(They come two per pack at Costco, about one pound each)
1 Tbsp. peanut (or canola or vegetable) oil
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh ginger
1 Tbsp. molasses
1/2 tsp. chile paste with garlic (Asian food section of your supermarket)
1 tsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. water
1 16 oz bag of your favorite frozen stir fry veggies
(snow peas? sugar snap peas? broccoli? edamame? I used a bag that was a blend of edamame, sugar snap peas, baby corn, red peppers and water chestnuts.)

Cook rice in the chicken stock, according to the package directions. While rice cooks, heat sesame and peanut oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and pork slices and cook for about 6 minutes, or until pork is browned on the outside and no longer pink in the middle.

While pork cooks, stir together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until the slurry is smooth. Stir together soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, molasses, chile paste) in another small bowl. When pork is almost done, pour the soy sauce mixture and vegetables into the skillet and continue to cook for about 4 more minutes, or until the veggies are done, stirring frequently. Add cornstarch-water mixture and cook about 1 more minute, or until sauce has thickened.

Remove from heat and serve over the cooked rice.

Cornish Hens with Cornbread-Ham Stuffing

Tonight’s dinner is adapted from this Epicurious/Bon Appetit recipe. I substituted Baby Bam for the mustard (Boy and Girl aren’t fans) and added green pepper, bay leaf and garlic and cut the amount of onion a bit. The verdict: this was okay, but I think I’ve concluded that I just don’t like cornish hens: they’re … Continue reading “Cornish Hens with Cornbread-Ham Stuffing”

The verdict: this was okay, but I think I’ve concluded that I just don’t like cornish hens: they’re a lot of trouble to prepare and to eat, with all of those bones and skin, and it’s hard to make them flavorful, since it’s hard to get seasoning deep into the meat. If I make this again, I would probably use boneless, skinless chicken breasts that have been marinated with something instead of hens.

As some commenters on epicurious said, the stuffing was a little sweet, because I used the Jiffy mix, which does have some sugar in it. It didn’t bother me enough, though, that I would make cornbread from scratch for a weeknight to make this stuffing (I only do that for Thanksgiving).

Cornish Hens with Cornbread-Ham Stuffing

1 box Jiffy cornbread mix, prepared into 7 muffins according to package directions
(you’ll need 1 egg and 1/3 cup milk)
2 Cornish game hens, halved lengthwise, with the backbone removed, rinsed well and patted dry
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped white onion (about 1/4 of a large onion or 1/2 of a small one)
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper (about 1/2 of a large one)
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1 large garlic cloves, pressed or minced
1 bay leaf, broken into 3 or 4 pieces
1 cup cubed smoked ham
1/3 to 1/2 cup chicken broth
2 Tbsp. fresh Italian parsley, chopped
3/4 tsp. dried rubbed sage
1 1/2 tsp. Baby Bam seasoning, divided

For stuffing:
Heat oil in a heavy, medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, celery, bell pepper and bay leaf; saute until onion is translucent and other veggies have softened, about 5 minutes. Mix in ham, sage, parsley and enough chicken broth to moisten the stuffing, but not make it soggy; stir until heated through. Remove skillet from heat. Season stuffing with 1 tsp. of the Baby Bam seasoning. Cool slightly.

For hens:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 13 X 9 X 2 baking dish and place the stuffing in the dish, in 4 separate “piles” or mounds (remove bay leaf pieces, if you can find them). Season hens with remaining Baby Bam seasoning and set one hen half on each stuffing pile. Roast hens until golden brown and juices run clear when thighs are pierced, about 45 or 50 minutes. Transfer hens to platter and serve.

Smiling Semantics

Boy participates in a Lego Robotics class after school on Wednesdays and REALLY loves it. Boy and Hubby sometimes work on little Robotics projects at home together. Hubby will tell you that he bought the Lego kit for Boy to have at home to work on projects for the class, but he is totally fibbing; he loves it as much as Boy does. Boy and Hubby made a special helicopter-y whirl-gig thingie recently and Boy was really looking forward to class today, because I told him that I would bring it when I picked him up, so he could show his classmates. Well, the teacher called in sick today and boy….was Boy bummed…

He was brooding (and being generally pouty and unpleasant), so I pulled out my sure-fire 10-year-old Boy cheerer-upper (fart jokes – duh!). So, I’m going on and on about “Farty McTootson” and Boy finally cracks a smile. I pounced: “Ooh – I caught you – I see you smiling – don’t you dare laugh!”. Determined-to-stay-sullen Boy’s response? “That wasn’t a smile, Mom, that was a grimace.”

Chicken & Spinach Risotto with Fresh Mozzarella, Grape Tomatoes and Basil

Tonight’s dinner was adapted significantly from this recipe in the September 2007 issue of Cooking Light magazine. A huge hit with all of us. We’ve had our first wave of chilly fall weather this week, and this was the perfect warming dish. YUM. Chicken & Spinach Risotto with Fresh Mozzarella, Grape Tomatoes and Basil 2 … Continue reading “Chicken & Spinach Risotto with Fresh Mozzarella, Grape Tomatoes and Basil”

Chicken & Spinach Risotto with Fresh Mozzarella, Grape Tomatoes and Basil

2 bonesless, skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 tsp. Baby Bam seasoning
(I REALLY wasn’t kidding – I totally use it in EVERYTHING!)
6 oz frozen chopped spinach, cooked according to package directions and wrung of excess water
(the remaining 6 oz. left in the 16 oz package after you use 10 oz to make Chicken Lasagna Florentine)
4 to 6 Tbsp. olive oil
2 to 3 Tbsp. bottled balsamic glaze sauce (most larger grocery stores carry this)
about 6 cups chicken broth (you may need slightly more or less)
2 cups chopped leek (light green and yellow parts only – rinsed well)
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup half-and-half
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 cups halved grape tomatoes
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, finely diced (a little more than a cup)

Blot chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle them with 1 tsp. of the Baby Bam seasoning and grill them. Let them cool slightly and then cut them into bite-sized pieces (or slices) and set aside.

Bring broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan (do not boil). Keep warm.

Heat 1 Tbsp. of the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add leek to pan; saute 3 minutes or until tender. Add rice; cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in wine, and cook 1 minute or until liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 cup broth; cook 5 minutes or until liquid is nearly absorbed, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium.

Add remaining broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until each portion of broth is absorbed before adding the next (about 25 minutes total). About halfway through (after about 2 more cups have been absorbed, after the initial first cup), stir in the chicken pieces and the spinach, a little bit at a time to maintain a constant temperature. After rice is cooked and tender (the only way to really decide is to taste it with a clean spoon), stir in half-and-half and pepper; cook 2 additional minutes. Remove from heat; stir in tomatoes, basil, remaining 1/2 tsp. of Baby Bam and cheese. Spoon about 1 cup risotto into each serving bowl and drizzle each bowl with 1/2 tsp olive oil and 1/2 tsp balsamic glaze.

Another option: Prepare the risotto without adding the chicken and then add the chicken slices, in a decorative fan pattern, on top of the risotto.

Peanutty Candy Corn Brownie Bars

We got “Boo’d” last night. I’ve always heard of “Boo’ing”, but we’ve never been “Boo’d” before, and, I have to admit, I always felt a little left out. For those of you that don’t know, this is a Halloween tradition that is popular in the suburbs. It entails delivering a little bag of candy and treats to the house of a neighbor, after dark so that you won’t be seen and a poetic request that you “Boo” two other neighbors. There is a little ghost decoration attached that is meant to be hung in one of your front windows so that everyone knows that you’ve already been “Boo’d” and they shouldn’t target you again.

Here’s the thing, though: I’ve always wanted to be “Boo’d” and knew almost instantly what was happening when someone rang our doorbell last night and no one was there when we went to the door. Hubby, on the other hand, was his usual curmudgeonly, cynical former police officer self and was convinced that we were about to be the targets of some horrible vandalism. He went around the house, turning on all of our exterior security lights and looking for teenagers with eggs or shaving cream. It was really hard for me not to laugh. I might have actually laughed, just a little bit, really really quietly. In his defense, in the three years that we’ve lived here, our cars have been shot up with paintballs and broken into three separate times. Sigh. I digress.

Anyway, this recipe is adapted from a really old Halloween party book – so old that the cereal that it called for isn’t even made anymore, so I had to make a substitution. I thought it would be great to put in the “Boo” treat bags, along with some candy.

Here’s my version:

Peanutty Candy Corn Brownie Bars

1 (1 lb. 4 oz.) package fudge brownie mix
(I used Ghirardelli triple chocolate – it comes in a 6-batch multipack from Costco)
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup water
3 large eggs
2 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups Frosted Cheerios cereal
1 1/2 cups salted peanuts
1 cup candy corn

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of a 13 X 9 inch baking pan. In a medium bowl, combine the brownie mix, eggs, oil and water; stir until well blended. Spread in bottom of greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 – 28 minutes, or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from the side of the pan comes out almost clean.

Remove pan from oven. Immediately sprinkle marshmallows evenly over warm brownies. Return to oven and bake an additional 1 or 2 minutes or until marshmallows just begin to puff up. Remove from oven and set aside to cool while preparing peanut butter topping.

In a large saucepan, combine brown sugar and corn syrup; blend well. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter until well blended. Add cereal, peanuts and candy corn; mix well. Immediately spoon warm topping over marshmallows and spread to cover (work FAST because this stuff hardens quickly). Cool for at least 1 1/2 hours or until completely cool. Cut into squares. Makes 36 bars.

Addendum: I tasted one of these as I was packing them up into the boxes and they were definitely festive and interesting and will definitely be kid-friendly (we’re not sure which house we’re “Boo’ing” yet – we had plans last night and weren’t home to pick a “victim”, so we’ll do it tonight), but they were a tad salty. All in all, I think there’s nothing wrong with just plain-old brownies. I hope that the neighbors will think these are fun, though.

Yummy Chicken Kebabs with Dipping Sauce

These were SO good! Yummy Chicken Kebabs with Dipping Sauce Ingredients: for marinade: 1/2 cup olive oil 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 3 Tbsp. soy sauce 1/2 cup pale, dry sherry 1/4 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 large bell pepper, cut into bite-sized chunks 1/2 … Continue reading “Yummy Chicken Kebabs with Dipping Sauce”

These were SO good!

Yummy Chicken Kebabs with Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

for marinade:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 cup pale, dry sherry
1/4 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 large bell pepper, cut into bite-sized chunks
1/2 of a white, cut into bite-sized chunks

for dipping sauce:
1 cup sherry
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 Tbsp. soy sauce
3 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
3 green onions, sliced (optional)

6 to 8 wooden skewers

Mix the marinade ingredients together and pour over chicken in a sealable plastic container. Refrigerate for 4 hours, shaking or stirring about once an hour, if possible. While chicken is marinating, soak skewers in water in a plastic bag or another plastic container (this will keep them from burning later).

After 4 hours, remove chicken from marinade and skewers from water. Thread chicken on the skewers, alternating with the onion and peppers. Set aside while you start to prepare the dipping sauce: combine ingredients in a small, heavy saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes. While sauce simmers, grill kebabs until chicken is cooked through.

Serve on a bed of rice with grilled pineapple and Edamame with Smoky Salt (flavored with lapsang souchong tea).
You may put the pineapple on the skewers, if you prefer, but Hubby’s not a big pineapple fan, so I served mine on the side.

Southwest White Chili

I’ve made this recipe before, with much success. It’s definitely Hubby-friendly, but I don’t think the kids had it last time, so I wanted to see what they would think. At first, they were excited when they heard be say we were having chili for dinner (they are Texans, after all), but protested a bit … Continue reading “Southwest White Chili”

Once they tasted it, however, they were won over.

Of course, I did make some adaptations to the original recipe:

I sprinkled a bit of Baby Bam on the chicken before adding it. I wasn’t kidding when I said that I use that stuff on everything!

I added a tiny bit (1/2 tsp.?) of chili powder with the other spices.

I used 2 fresh, pressed garlic cloves (add with the onions) instead of the garlic powder and about 3 Tbsp. fresh, finely chopped cilantro instead of the dried cilantro leaves.

I added about 1/2 cup coarsely chopped baby carrots (I had them in the fridge) and about 1/2 cup pre-cooked green beans (leftover from last night’s dinner). This turned it into more of a stew than a chili.

I don’t like using the “caldo” (the liquid that comes in canned beans), because it’s very high in sodium, so I drained and rinsed them and used a chicken stock (1 additional cup) and corn starch (about 3 tsp.) slurry, instead, to give the “chili” some thickening.

I used cheddar, instead of monterey jack cheese, because that was what I had on hand. Pepper-Jack would have been even better.

The only thing that I would do differently (and I should have known better), if I make this again, would be to pat the chicken dry before adding it to the pan. There was a lot of “juice” on it (I had cut it up and refrigerated it early in the day, to make the prep faster at dinnertime) and the pan wasn’t very hot, so the chicken was more braised than browned. It would have been better with a little “sear” on it.

I served this with a salad (romaine hearts, bell pepper, tomato, purple onion and balsamic vinaigrette) and some Great Harvest bread with butter. I big hit with everyone; both of the kids said that they really liked it.