Feed Your Kids – Page 63 – The leading authority on basketball cupcakes and Basil-Lime martinis…

Yes, I’ve already yelled at my kids this morning….

I tackled a big (OK, gargantuan and insane…….but also fun and rewarding) project yesterday and only got 4 hours sleep last night (more on the project later), so I had a bit of a short fuse at breakfast this morning: Boy (in protracted, annoying voice): Yuh-uuuuuum! (in response to candy “Dinosaur Egg” oatmeal) Girl (in … Continue reading “Yes, I’ve already yelled at my kids this morning….”

Boy (in protracted, annoying voice): Yuh-uuuuuum!
(in response to candy “Dinosaur Egg” oatmeal)
Girl (in whiny, annoyed voice): STOH-OP!

Boy (in protracted, annoying voice): Yuh-uuuuuum!
Girl (in whiny, annoyed voice): STOH-OP!

I will leave out my seriously pissed-off interjection, shouted from the laundry room.
Tomorrow is the last day of school for Boy and Girl and we are in the midst of major end-of-the-year craziness (parties, ceremonies, projects, etc.), but I will get cooking and blogging again very shortly. Coming soon: Thai Chicken Pizzas and “The Way to a Teacher’s Heart is Through Their Stomach.”

Cream Cheese Chutney Spread

I haven’t made this recipe in FOREVER, but it’s really yummy – nicely sweet and tangy. The next time I make it, I’ll take a photo, but I wanted the recipe to be handy, for anyone that needed it (Staci). It’s great for “girly” gatherings (showers, etc.) or holiday parties. 1 8-oz brick cream cheese, … Continue reading “Cream Cheese Chutney Spread”

1 8-oz brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2/3 jar Crosse & Blackwell Major Grey’s chutney
(Yes, it MUST be this brand.)
1/3 cup sliced green onions (the green part only)

Stir cheese and chutney together until fairly smooth (will still have some chunks – it doesn’t have to be completely blended). Stir in onions. The dip is ready to serve at this point, but is even better if you place it in a serving container at this point and refrigerate overnight to let the flavors meld. Serve with hearty-textured crackers (whole wheat or Triscuits are good).

Slave Labor

If you’re going to force your children to help you demolish the old tile in your bathroom before installing the new tile, you should DEFINITELY make sure that they are wearing safety goggles. Actually, they loved this (bang away at the floor and break stuff with hammers? what’s not to like?) and were very helpful….. … Continue reading “Slave Labor”

tile%20kids.bmp

If you’re going to force your children to help you demolish the old tile in your bathroom before installing the new tile, you should DEFINITELY make sure that they are wearing safety goggles.

Actually, they loved this (bang away at the floor and break stuff with hammers? what’s not to like?) and were very helpful…..

This is how we spent the day that Boy broke his arm – ripping out old carpet, padding and tile in the bathroom, then Hubby and Boy went up on the roof and cleaned the gutters. We needed a break, so Hubby took the kids for a bike ride (I chose to stay at home with a glass of wine). Would have been a fabulous day had the bike ride not ended with a trip to the ER…..

Broccolini Frittata

Yum. Basic frittata cooking instructions here – just adapt the recipe to whatever you have on hand to throw into it.

Yum.

Basic frittata cooking instructions here – just adapt the recipe to whatever you have on hand to throw into it.

Polenta

I used store-bought polenta for this (Frieda’s brand, with herbs), but I’m looking for a good recipe to try to make my own sometime soon. Cut it out of the tube and cut into half-inch slices. Fry the slices in a drizzle of olive oil until they’re lightly browned on both sides. Top with good … Continue reading “Polenta”

Chicken Parmesan

This chicken is really easy to make and is very kid friendly. Use the same chicken breading and cooking technique outlined in this recipe, then just top it with some good quality bottled (I like Rao’s) tomato sauce and a little freshly grated parmesan cheese. Easy peasy.

chicken%20parm.jpg
This chicken is really easy to make and is very kid friendly. Use the same chicken breading and cooking technique outlined in this recipe, then just top it with some good quality bottled (I like Rao’s) tomato sauce and a little freshly grated parmesan cheese. Easy peasy.

Salad topped with leftover duck breasts

This was a great lunch the next day (see previous post for duck recipe).

Rosemary-Rubbed Duck Breast

This was DELICIOUS. The recipe is from Cooking Light magazine and can be found here. I used the frozen duck breast fillets from Bell & Evans and really liked them. They are super easy to use and thaw very quickly.

This was DELICIOUS. The recipe is from Cooking Light magazine and can be found here.

I used the frozen duck breast fillets from Bell & Evans and really liked them. They are super easy to use and thaw very quickly.

My new favorite drink

Classic Dry Martini 1/4 cup gin (The better the gin, the better the martini. I like Tanqueray #10 or Bombay Sapphire.) 1 tsp. dry vermouth 2 good olives (I like big ones, stuffed with bleu cheese) Shake gin and vermouth with ice cubes in cocktail shaker. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with olives. … Continue reading “My new favorite drink”

Classic Dry Martini

1/4 cup gin (The better the gin, the better the martini. I like Tanqueray #10 or Bombay Sapphire.)
1 tsp. dry vermouth
2 good olives (I like big ones, stuffed with bleu cheese)

Shake gin and vermouth with ice cubes in cocktail shaker. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with olives.

I was introduced to these by my buddy, Eileen. Having really good olives is key.
Yummy, but these pack quite a punch. You know the old saying:
Martinis are like boobs; one’s not enough and three is too many.

Quite possibly the most OCD/Martha Stewart/over-achiever thing I’ve ever done……

I made these cookies to sell at the concessions stand at the school musical that Girl was in. The show (“Into the Woods”) features all of the fairy tale characters, so I made cookies to represent all of the characters: a Witch (green hat and dress), Little Red Riding Hood (the red “cape”), “Milky White” the Cow, several princes and princesses (the crown with candy jewels), Jack (of Beanstalk fame) and his magic beans, the Hen that Jack stole from the Giant, Cinderella (the white sparkly slipper), Rapunzel (the blue dress), and a Baker and his wife (the bakery). The musical notes and stars are all purpose. The black bowler hat was a costume worn by our narrators and the black spangled, fringe-edged T-shirt was worn by our “Movement Chorus”.

I used my standard sugar cookie recipe with Wilton Meringue Powder (recipe on the box) royal icing. Make the thick version of the icing and use it to pipe a “dam” around the perimeter of each cookie, then thin it with a little water and blend to incorporate, then use that to fill in the rest of the cookie. Decorate with any desired sugar or sprinkles before the icing dries. If you want to pipe over it in another color (like the word “bakery” in blue on the house-shaped cookie), then let the base coat of icing dry first before piping over it.