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Greek Dinner Night
Okay, so here are my goals: to make healthier food choices for my family, to expose my kids to a wide variety of foods and to limit the amount of food prep I make for a single meal (meaning I am tired of being a short order cook!) Last night I made a Greek themed dinner using pretty much the same ingredients served differently. Kid’s Meal orzo baked chicken lemon & spinach hummus pita chips cucumber slices feta cheese kalamata olives yogurt- as a last ditch effort for my daughter- the pickiest eater of them all! Orzo. Why had I never thought of serving orzo before? My kids love rice…
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Cooking for my Kids
My family needs to go through some diet changes and I thought there was room for sharing that journey as well.
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Lemon & Spinach Hummus
This protein packed kid friendly, vegan & vegetarian friendly snack is super easy to make. Nerdy Tips leave the chickpea skins on for more fiber. I took them off so my kids would be more apt to try this hummus. serve with just about anything! we use pita chips, raw veggies, and spread on greek chicken wraps. there are so many variations of hummus, this is just one option. Switch it up with different spices, add some herbs, pine nuts, olives or whatever you’re craving. Nerdy Facts Hummus is made all over the world especially in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries. Chickpeas are packed with protein and vitamins as well…
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Mushroom & Leek Risotto
Creamy and flavorful, risotto is a special dish. It takes a little time and a lot of TLC, so I like to make double to guarantee leftovers! Nerdy Tips Don’t be intimidated!! If you have the time, you can make this!! Patience is the most important part of a good risotto. Use vegetable stock to make this an easy and creamy vegetarian dish. Make sure your stock is warm, not boiling. If you don’t want to use wine make sure to replace with an acid like lemon juice. I make a double batch for twice the reward (dinner AND leftovers) with the same amount of effort. To reheat those leftovers,…
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Chicken Pho Soup
I have never attempted this soup before but now that I’ve made it, it’s on our dinner list. Spicy and comforting, this soup is full of flavor and yet clean and light. Nerdy Tips Every article I read on making pho suggests using Red Boat Fish Sauce. Charring the ginger and onions will give this soup an authentic flavor. Many people enjoy a splash of Sriracha in their pho. Nerdy Facts Pho is mainly served for breakfast in Vietnam. Pho was influenced by both French and Chinese cuisine. It made its first appearance in the late 1800s. Pho is pronounced “fuh”
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Grilled Chicken Tacos
Nerdy Tips The secret to juicy grilled chicken? marinate, marinate, marinate and baste with the leftover marinade while grilling. Pounding out the chicken breasts before marinating will even out the meat so that the thinner part isn’t overcooked before the thicker part is done. If you opt for bone in, the chicken will take longer to grill. If you are using leftovers of the grilled chicken to make tacos, reheat the chicken by steaming to keep it moist. You can do this by putting sliced chicken in a pan with a splash of water (or even better, chicken stock) over medium heat while covered for 3-4 minutes.
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Gourmet Mushroom Quesadillas
Mushroom & Leek Risotto
Eatin’ Nasty Hamburger Helper
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My Lovely Wife
by Samantha Downing narrated by David Pittuset in Central Florida, present day Book Review 4/5 Romance + Thriller = My Lovely Wife. Uneasiness crept across me from the first chapter. Going into this book blindly, I found it completely intriguing with a twist at the beginning- a “wait, what?” moment. I think Downing did a great job delving into the mind of our unnamed family man, although at times I found it hard to reconcile these loving parents with the storyline. Also, I wanted more from Millicent’s POV. Even though it felt like the book was lacking half the story the ending tied up all loose ends. Overall, Downing does…
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Cheesecake Brownies
Love cheesecake and brownies? Get two desserts in one with this super easy recipe. We’re bringing boxed brownies to the next level…… Nerdy Tips Brownies are unlike cake when checking for doneness- you do NOT want the toothpick to come out clean. Personally, I prefer my brownies under done to hard and crispy. Take them out according to the box directions. For very fudge like and moist brownies, take them out at the lowest recommended time. (Here, 35 mins) Cheesecake is similar- you do not want that toothpick clean. The best time to remove a cheesecake from the oven is when you shake the pan, it wobbles slightly. Jiggly is…
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Long Bright River
Audiobook Review: 3.5/5 Sometimes the greatness of a beat cop narration is it’s instructive, systematic roll out of information. In this way, Ryan delivered; maybe too well. I found the narrative straight, somewhat dry in her hands. Yet, always clear, Ryan’s performance reflects Mickey’s stoic character well. She has the sarcasm inflection down pat, but there’s not much variation with the other characters. The accents are sometimes indistinguishable (Gee sounds a lot like Mrs. Mahon). Overall, still better than listening to yourself sing while walking. Well done; I would consider this audiobook good company. Book Review: 4/5 Two sisters, one small town, and a world between them. Mickey is a…
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The Giver of Stars Travel
Beattyville, KY The mountains of Kentucky are truly beautiful and humbling. Beattyville is truly a remote area of the state. During the 90 minute drive from the airport to Beattyville, we stayed on thin roads, and passed lots of trees; particularly startling ones that are coated in bright white bark. We passed mountains and valleys and hollers- large sheltered valleys, or “hollow” land in between two mountains. For a stunning look into life in the Kentucky Hollows check out this NPR feature of Shelby Lee Adams photography. He explores the people in Hazard, a place we passed on our drive. The Writers Cabin Lago Linda Hideaway https://lagolinda.com This place was so…
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Broccoli and Orecchiette Pasta
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Coffee Flavored Donuts
Is there anything better together than a cup of coffee and a donut? Maybe having both in one gratifying bite. A subtle flavor of coffee lays in deep undertones for this simple yeast donut. Nerdy Tips use a thermometer! You will need to measure the temperature of the coffee before adding the yeast. Too hot liquid will kill the yeast and your dough will not rise. You will also need to measure the temperature of the oil before frying the donuts. take the time to let these rise. If your oven has a proof function, this is a good time to put it to use. eat warm- they are just…
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The Dutch House
author, Ann Patchett narrator, Tom Hanks setting, Philadelphia Book Rating: 3/5A moving autobiographical fiction novel, The Dutch House focuses on the relationship between two siblings, Danny and Maeve Conroy. This was my very first Ann Patchett novel and I wanted to LOVE it!! It was beautifully written. Ms. Patchett is very definitely talented. I could feel the moods that settled over different scenes. I found myself thinking about parts of this book while doing dishes or rocking my baby to sleep. The lives of Danny and Maeve built a compelling story but I didn’t keep-walking-in-the-rainstorm-because-I-couldn’t-stop-listening ”love” it. (I miss you Crawdads!) Also, I couldn’t attach to the characters which is usually…
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Lemon Crullers
okay. This was a first for me. I’ve never made crullers, or anything like them. It takes some effort but wow, are they worth it!! Beautiful and bright with lemon undertones, these donuts are delicious. Ingredients 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup water 6 T unsalted butter 1 T sugar 1 t salt 1 t vanilla zest of 1 lemon 1 1/4 cups flour 3 eggs 1-2 egg whites vegetable oil for frying Heat milk, water, butter, sugar, salt, vanilla and zest until boiling. Stir in flour and continue to heat for 2-4 minutes to release excess water. Transfer to mixer and mix on low to cool. Add whole eggs. Add egg…
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Dumplings
Easy and as old as time (or at least the Middle Ages), dumplings are the perfect addition to make any soup or stew a fulfilling meal. Ingredients 2 cups flour 4 t baking powder 1 t salt 1 cup milk 1/2 t sugar 1 T butter Mix all ingredients together and rest for 5 minutes. Drop by spoonfuls into simmering soup or stew. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Nerdy Fact almost every culture has some form of dumpling. I grew up with a German potato dumpling served with pork and sauerkraut. It’s still one of my favorite meals and a comfort food go to.
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Beef and Barley Stew
Warm, hearty and filling, this stew is the perfect comfort food in a bowl. Add dumplings (recipe below) and this becomes next level! I cook mine in the slow cooker. Ingredients 2 lbs stew meat salt & pepper, flour 2 T olive oil 8 cups beef stock 2 cups water 1/2 cup celery, diced 1 onion, diced 5 cloves garlic, minced 1 large potato, shredded 1 cup shredded carrots 1 cup barley 2 onion soup mix packets Toss the cubes of stew meat in flour seasoned with heavy doses of salt and pepper. Sear the meat. Add onion, celery and garlic and sauté until brown and onions are tender. Add…
