Relishing the Relish

As promised, here is the recipe for the tomato relish I made 2 weeks ago. I've been craving it since, so as I write this I am making another batch. Nico loves it on a crusty baguette with goat cheese, or in a burger. I'm going to try it on a toasted bagel and cream cheese.

Slice one small red onion and cook it in 2 tablespoons olive oil with a minced garlic clove. Once the onions are soft and golden, add 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon curry powder. Cook about 5 minutes, then deglazed the pan with a tablespoon sherry vinegar. Add a 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, a teaspoon dried oregano, 2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes, then strain out the liquid into a bowl. Chopped the tomatoes. The Wichcraft version calls for pickled mustard seeds and parsley, which I left out because I did not have them, but I thought my version was delish.

Back to the Menus

An outdoor market in Monaco. If we had more markets like these here at home,
getting groceries wouldn't be such a chore.

My first trimeseter nausea is finally passing and it is time to get back with the menu program. I went from not being able to open a bag of mixed greens without my stomach turning to suddenly being able to plan a weeks dinners again. Here is what I have planned for this week. Send me your menus if you have them!

Sunday: Grilled Crostini with Tomato Relish and a hearty salad, possible left overs. Recipe for relish to be posted soon. Also making an egg salad up for Nico and I to have for lunch tomorrow.

Monday: AJ's Arugula, Avocado and Parmesan Sandwiches with Veggie Soup.

Tuesday: Mexican night: I'm thinking Whole Wheat Easy Black Bean Taco's with veggies.

Wednesday: Garden Burgers with Oven Veggies.

Thursday: Pasta Night. Cold Garlic and Broccoli Salad via Ina Garten. Small Arugula Salad.

Friday: Going Out Night. I hope to dine with friends once this week, so I'm making one day a FREE DAY. Not sure what night this will fall on, but here's to wishful thinking. Making plans with friends is so much harder with little ones isn't it?


Even though I have Gestational Diabetes this time again, I have noticed something interesting. If I eat at home I can eat almost anything. Even a small plate of pasta or a taco. If I eat out, it's a hazard to my health. I have to be super picky about where we go or I have to just get a salad with chicken (no dressing, or oil and vinegar on the side) Restaurants make food taste so good by adding sugar or fat to almost everything, and the portions are usually exaggerated. Making food at home is by far and away the healthiest thing you can do for yourself.

I also wanted to mention the benefits of a post dinner walk. The proof is in my numbers. The other night at a restaurant ( We were on vacation!) I ordered a salad and made the mistake of eating some bread with it. I should have known better, and I'm sure that the bread was sugar laden. It was pretty sweet and really good. I got home and went straight for a 30 minute walk and hiked uphill. 2 hours later my blood sugar was still high at 165. (Normal should be 90-120). God knows how high the original number was?! I decided to climb stairs for 10 minutes and when I tested immediately afterwards it was at 81. Amazing right? If you have a brisk walk after dinner your body will truly thank you.

My Little Bird

I was just now putting Nico to sleep and he asked me to put my wing around him. We have been reading a book about a hen who wraps her wing around her chicks, so he wanted to reenact that tonight. It melted my heart. I put my arm around him. It took just my pointer finger and middle finger to rub his entire shoulder. Just 2 fingers. That's how small his little wing is. I want to remember tonight forever.

Potato Stamps

Our friend baby June turned one year old this past weekend. I spaced on buying her giftwrap and was disappointed with the cheesy selection of Disney princess or Winnie the pooh wrapping paper at the store.




We decided to make our own wrap. We used some cream and yellow construction paper. We also used orange and yellow tempra paint. I used a potato on it's last leg to make a floral stamp. And then Nico took over and stamped away. I found it better to use a cheap pen and draw my design directly onto the spud, pushing in a bit as I drew. Then I went over the design with an exacto.

It was a fun project for both of us, and it hopefully made our gift more special for a special little girl. Happy Birthday June!






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Pizza Night

I had to try it! Egg on pizza is so hot right now.

I've been making my own pizzas lately. They are a great alternative to a pasta night. I buy whole wheat pizza dough balls from Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. I make a quick sauce from tomatoes, garlic, onion and fresh seasonings. Then I top it with whatever I've got in the fridge. I've done cheeseless even, and it's been a hit.

On the egg pizza, I cooked the pizza for 5 minutes at 425 degrees, then used a spoon to make a dent in the melted cheese for the egg to sit in. I cracked the egg into a bowl first and then slid it onto the pie, just to avoid shell or a broken egg. I cooked it for another 10 minutes tops and took it out right when the egg whites had cooked.

The yolk was so delicious! Nico loved it. There's something about an egg at dinner that feels so special.





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The Dirty Dozen

I just wanted to share this new list that came out today about the most toxic foods. This list helps me when deciding conventional versus organic. I'd like to buy all organic all the time, but that's not realistic. Sometimes, organic just isn't available. This list is published by a consumer watch dog group that i really love and apprciate, The Environmental Working Group. They have great lists on their site that rank safety for consumers, from shampoo to cell phones to sunblock. I suggest signing up, so that they can send you updates via email. I've never been let down by the information they send me. It's all really relevant.

They publish this shopper's guide every year. I find it so handy, I hope you will too.
They even have an app of this list that you can get for your phone.

I loved this video of Dr. Weil discussing why conventional food isn't so great. Happy, and safe eating!

My first masterpiece

On Wednesdays we take a great art class at our rec center. The teacher, Mrs.R., has the kids under her spell. I tell Nico not to touch the gluestick and he grabs for it, Mrs. R says no touching and Nico folds his hands in his lap! She comes up with really creative crafts for the kiddies. This week we made Spring Crowns. I personally love the hanging spider, cute touch. I'm really trying to channel some of Mrs. R's creativity and her bedside manner. Bedazzler and glitter fairies hear my prayer.




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Hiking for Toddlers

Nico does well when he has lots of physical activity, and I mean to the point of exhaustion. He has energy to burn, and lately a good hike is just what the doctor ordered. Aaron has been taking Nico for early morning hikes at Runyon Canyon. They check out dogs, celebrities, and the view.
Recently, Super Mom Stephanie Evans suggested an amazing park, so Nico and I headed there this last week. It's called Debs Park, an incredible outdoor space in Mt. Washington. It's a bird sanctuary and has easy hiking trails. It's super kid friendly. They even have free offroad strollers to lend at the front entrance. They have special areas set up for kids to explore the grounds. Rocks to climb and streams to play in. Nico seemed lost in his own exploration. He found a pump for drawing fresh water and spent tons of time and energy there. He loved a little playhouse that they had set up in their compost education area.
My only advice is to wear long pants because there is lots of poison oak along the deeper hike paths.
We're so happy to hear Nico scream "hike!" anytime he sees a mountain in the distance.
I hope this love of the outdoors sticks with him for good.
















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What I'm Reading

I'm really trying my best to keep a balance. On this latest trip to the library I checked out some books for myself not related to toddler sleep or baby discipline.
My latest favorite read is "Born Round" by Frank Bruni. The story of a man with weight and eating issues, who also happens to be a food critic. It's a smart look at food and it's addictive qualities. Bruni recalls his struggle to break his seduction with food in a really honest way. Plus he gives tremendous details about life as a critic, a job that always has had allure for me.
But the part of the book I want to share with you has nothing to do with Frank Bruni. It's about his mom, and when I read it, I had to put the book down for a moment to reflect.

"She'd chosen full-time motherhood over a formal profession, so she channeled all of the ambitions, vanities and competitive impulses that might have been satisfied by a career into the way she raised us and ran the house."

Is this the reason I have stepped so easily into June Cleaver's shoes? Is this why homemaking has become so important to me? Between my budgeted weekly menus and my cleaning schedule, my arts&crafts and garden work I have become something my 20 year old self would never have imagined.

In all honesty, there is something empowering about my new life. Part of our lifestyle feels almost rebellious in it's return to simpler ways. Urban yet pioneering. Old in a New way. And if being First Lady of this homestead; head mama of this 3 person commune, is my new job, so be it.

Actually... Can I get a raise?


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Super Snack: Kale Chips

I actually love this leafy green, mostly braised and served cold with sesame seeds, sesame oil and Tamari, a'la Whole Foods. It's a dish I am more than happy to eat, and I know the benefits of Kale are truly stupendous. It really is a SuperFood. But today I made these amazing Kale Chips and now I am hooked. I want to eat the whole tray, and I don't want to share with Nico or Aaron. What a great way to get the family eating Kale. I think these are a great Potato Chip alternative or just a great midday, after nap snack. I think next batch I will try sprinkling some Brewer's Yeast on it, make it really "SUPER" Try this and let me know how it goes. By the way, I found the recipe at Smitten Kitchen, and I am really smittten. Amazing photos, recipes for days , and a really easy writing style. She is my new cooking muse. (photos via Smittenkitchen.com)


WHY KALE IS A SUPER FOOD:

• Organosulfur Phytonutrients that Help Prevent Cancer
• Kale Protective against Ovarian Cancer
• Optimize Your Cells' Detoxification / Cleansing Ability
• Carotenoids that Lower Cataract Risk
• Kale Gets an A+ for its Pro-vitamin A
• Promotes Lung Health
• One cup of this cooked vegetable supplies 88.8% of the daily value for vitamin C
• Protection against Rheumatoid Arthritis
• A Very Good Source of Fiber
• Calcium-For A Lot Less Calories and Minus the Fat in Cow's Milk
• Vitamin E-rich Leafy Greens Slow Loss of Mental Function
• Crucifers provide significant cardiovascular benefits

Making Lemonade from Lemons

I have so many lemons this season I am not sure what to do. It's sad that they are hard to give away. Whole Foods sells them for almost a buck each! I even tried calling food banks and they said no. So much for good deeds. Someone, anyone need lemons? It made me start thinking that I wasn't thinking outside of the yellow box enough. It doesn't have to be lemon squares or lemon in my water. Here are some uses I am giving a try this month. Please send me any lemon recipes or your favorite citrus tip.

Keep rice from sticking To keep your rice from sticking together, add a spoonful of lemon juice to the boiling water when cooking. When the rice is done, let it cool for a few minutes, then fluff with a fork before serving.

Refresh cutting boards To get rid of smells and help sanitize the cutting board, rub it all over with the cut side of half a lemon or wash it in undiluted juice straight from the bottle.

Keep guacamole green Sprinkle a liberal amount of fresh lemon juice over it and it will stay fresh and green. The flavor of the lemon juice is a natural complement to the avocados in the guacamole. Works for fruit salad too. Just squeeze some lemon juice onto the apple slices, and they'll stay snowy white.

Clean your microwave Just mix 3 tablespoons lemon juice into 1 1/2 cups water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on High for 5-10 minutes, allowing the steam to condense on the inside walls and ceiling of the oven. Then just wipe away the softened food with a dishrag.

Deodorize your garbage disposal If your garbage disposal is beginning to make your sink smell yucky, here's an easy way to deodorize it: Save leftover lemon peels and toss them down the drain.

Whiten clothes Diluted or straight, lemon juice is a safe and effective fabric whitener when added to your wash water. Clothes come out smelling lemon-fresh.

Clean and whiten nails Pamper your fingernails without the help of a manicurist. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon to 1 cup warm water and soak your fingertips in the mixture for 5 minutes. After pushing back the cuticles, rub some lemon peel back and forth against the nail.

Cleanse your face Clean and exfoliate your face by washing it with lemon juice. You can also dab lemon juice on blackheads to draw them out.

Freshen your breath Make an impromptu mouthwash using lemon juice straight from a bottle. Rinse with the juice and then swallow it for longer-lasting fresh breath. The citric acid in the juice alters the pH level in your mouth, killing the bacteria that cause bad breath. Rinse well though, long-term exposure to the acid in the lemon can harm tooth enamel.

Soften dry, scaly elbows Your elbows will look and feel better: Mix baking soda and lemon juice to make an abrasive paste. Then rub the paste into your elbows for a soothing, smoothing, and exfoliating treatment. You can rub a half lemon directly onto your elbows before a shower too.

Relieve rough hands and sore feet Rinse them in a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and water, then massage with olive oil.

A Week of Food

I was so pleased with last weeks food menu that I thought I would post it here for inspiration. I ended up not wasting a drop of food (therefore money) and all the ingredients worked out, measured up, and lasted till Sunday. We got leftovers from most and were able to reinvent ingredients for breakfast and lunch. It's sort of sick that it brings me so much pleasure. But I am about one year clean and sober from take out addiction. I haven't rushed to M Cafe with a hunger headache in a long time. It's been ages since I spent $30 on a square Cheebo Pizza. So this is my new high... a stocked pantry.

MONDAY: Corn Chowder Soup served with a Jicama slaw. I did this recipe without bacon or crab and it was delicious. You can choose your own adventure.

TUESDAY: Potato Tacos with black beans. These were inspired by Jason Callaway's tacos. But I did not fry them. I just cooked tortillas over the fire and stuffed them with my papa filling. Cream and fresh tomatoes and cilantro to top them off.

WEDNESDAY: Cauliflower Feta Penne Bake with a Spinach Salad. I posted this recipe in this blog earlier this year.

THURSDAY: Vegetable soup with crusty bread. I use this recipe as a base, but I throw in all vegetables I can find into this one. The more the merrier. I also use any pasta I may have in the pantry. If its long or too big I break it into smaller bits with my hands. Fresh parm to top it off.

FRIDAY: Pizza Night!Whole wheat pizza dough with tomatoes, onion,mushrooms and olives. Micro Greens with homemade dressing and avocado slices.

SATURDAY: Leftover Penne with Fresh Pesto added. Arugula and Endive Salad with fresh parm, lemon and olive oil. (Thanks Delfina SF for the salad inspo!) Plus a chicken sausage for Nico.

SUNDAY:
(cleaning out the pantry day, used anything I could get my hands on, but the combination was not that bad!) Curried Cous Cous, Broccoli with roasted garlic, half of a grilled cheese and spinach sandwich.

Upside Down Show

Nico really loves a program on Nick Jr called The Upside Down Show. It's an Aussie show about two brothers who live in a fantastcial house full of doors. They explore different themes like Hot and Cold or new words like Theatre and Opera. It's pretty smart, filled with lots inside jokes for the parents. Nico thinks the two guys are hilarious. Every banana peel they slip on is followed by a deep belly laugh. If Nico does something silly he tells me, "como upside down show." I was thinking of the show the other night when Nico and I were deep in our 3 a.m. sleep dance/routine. During the night Nico dreams quite a bit. He sits straight up in bed, sometimes for a few seconds only to come crashing down wherever he lands. I usually adjust myself accordingly, readjusting our bodies back into our spooned position. Throughout the night we end up perpendicular to the bed and then eventually feet at the head of the bed. When I wake up I feel so disoriented, like I'm hanging upside down. I usually pick Nico up and correct the situation, bringing our heads back to " where they should be." Just the other night I could hardly fall back to sleep, thinking about how Nico has no sense of "wrong" and how things "should be" Life is so much better that way. I need to relax and enjoy my sleep anyway I can get it, 'right' side up or down upside.

Let's Go to the Movies: Zombieland

I have a well kept secret I want to share. CH131.com SHHHHHH! Please don't tell too many people about it. I'm not sure how it is legally working, but for now CH131 is live and I'm hooked. If it weren't for this website I would have no movies in my life. I don't get to go to the movies, as evidenced by my old movie reviews. So to have movies currently in theatres on our laptop is like finding treasure. You can find old movies and ones that are just getting to theaters on here. You don't have to download them either, you can just view them streaming. The joy that this crappy looking site brings me is scary. Speaking of scary, Zombieland is not scary in the horror sense of the word, it's just scary good. I laughed out loud a handful of times. This is one smart movie. The Zombies, while bloody, play second fiddle and seem to be mere background to great writing and acting. It's more of a witty road trip movie then a gore fest. I loved Jesse Eisenberg so much in The Squid and the Whale, and he is even better in Zombieland. I can't imagine anyone else in this role (not even Micheal Cera, who we are pretty sure is Eisenberg's biggest competition in Hollywood) Woody Harrelson is perfect as a bad ass zombie killer (bald, but perfect) There is an amazing cameo in the movie, but I won't spoil it here. You'll have to go online and see the movie for yourself!

Smooth Criminal

Monkey see, Monkey do. Nico loves his cousins so much, he tries to be like them at all times. His cousin Christian is a Micheal Jackson fan as of late, and so when Nico saw his fervor for the King of Pop, we weren't surprised to see Nico's sudden craving for the MJ. Nico doesn't have the cool Fedora that Christian has, so he has had to settle for the sombrero my dad gave him. We have been reading Peter Pan, and Nico insists that we call Peter Pan Micheal Jackson. How ironic and weirdly prophetic is that? MJ must be smiling when he hears us call the boy who never grew up, Micheal...so creepy. Here is Nico doing some fancy footwork to his favorite song, or was that Christian's favorite song?

Traffic Cones

Nico first saw traffic cones when he was about 6 months old. They were mind blowing! He would squeal and jump up and down when he encountered them. His dada showed him how they could be worn as hats and used as megaphones. When he started walking we had to watch him carefully, because he would run off towards the plastic cones.
I noticed that having a baby really does reawaken your senses to the smallest details. Children remind you of the joy all around you, the colors that you have been blind to since you grew up...even the flourescent orange ones.
Today we had a bittersweet moment when on a long walk we passed by a patch of sidewalk under construction. From a distance I cringed to see about twelve cones, some double stacked. As we walked toward them I prepared for a good 20 minutes of climbing, wrangling, and coaxing. To my surprise, Nico passed through the orange Bermuda triangle with no fanfare at all. It was almost like they weren't there.
While our walk was a bit easier, it made me sad to think that perhaps he is getting older, growing calloused to the little things in life that make him a baby. Next time I see cones I'll be sure to point them out, maybe even put one on.



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Veg Out

I'm not one for hiding vegetables into kids foods. I figured with Nico that I'd be better off introducing him straight on to veggies and so far we've been lucky. I do make "kid friendly" dishes now and then and add veggies into the dish. I wanted to share my 5 favorite veggie boosts for the most kid friendly plates.I'd love to hear what you green up!

1. I always add raw spinach to our fruit smoothies.
2. I cook raw spinach directly into our scrambled eggs. The more the better.
3. I steam and finely mince broccoli onto pizza. Nico doesn't know that pizza is not green!
4. I add spinach or kale into grilled cheese sandwiches.
5. I add alot of frozen peas to mac and cheese.

Bonus round: I wanted Nico to eat a bowl of tomato bisque. He's still not too experienced with soups, it's a bit messy. I popped some Newman's Own plain popcorn (no salt or butter) and put a few of them on the soup like croutons. We played " go fish". He had a good time focusing on his spoon skills. He finished a whole bowl and asked for seconds. I saved the popcorn for snacks the following day.

Venice

Maybe it's in the genes. Maybe it's that we have Thrasher Magazines laying around everywhere, or perhaps it is that Aaron is always youtubing some sort of loud footage. Whether we like it or not, Nico has been bitten by the skate bug. He has had collosal tantrums over Aaron's board being put away. He gets so excited when he sees a skater, sometimes calling out to unsuspecting young boys, "Go!"

Recently his obsession reached a fever pitch when he found a peice of junk wood in our backyard and baptized it his "brinca" (Spanish for Jump, Nico for skateboard) He took to riding the small plank even if it doesn't have wheels. He sets it up under his feet and throws it down stairs, emulating the 20 stair rail jumpers that his dada watches.

We took Nico to Venice Beach to see the beachside skate scene and the new Skatepark there. Even if you are not remotely interested in skateboarding, the scene at Venice is breathtaking. The concrete park has an awesome view of the waves. There is a multicultural and multigenerational congregation of board worshippers, all taking their falls in stride and trying their hardest to do nothing more than their personal best. Nico was transfixed, whispering "wow" when a skater zipped by him. We brought along his "board" and he was inspired to do some fancy footwork of his own. We realized what an asset Venice Beach is, with its parade of characters and seaside air. We live a mere 30 minutes away from a completely different planet. The beach lifestyle truly feels like a non-stop vacation. We have visited Venice twice this month and plan to make it a regular destination for 2010.

Does he need a helmet already?

Venice Boys by Photographer Deanna Templeton.

One of the most incredible surf shops I've ever seen. This is how retail is done.
Always pack a lunch, and get the best seat in the house.

El Fin

Pretty typography and dramatic ending to Citizen Kane

I just had to share: When we put Nico to sleep we have a pretty set routine. Bath, books and bed. When we are all laying down in the dark ( yes all 3 of us!) Nico likes to say ," Nite, Nite mama. Nite, Nite dada." We both respond with our Nite, Nites. Nite Nites all around. And then right as Nico is drifting off to sleep, he says the cutest thing, "El Fin." Spanish for The End. We usually end every bedtime story with a great big El Fin, so it's only fitting that he end his day with one too. It melts my heart everytime.

On Sleep

Very few topics incite debate as much as the topic of sleep does when it comes to babies. We can safely say that there are two camps with a spectrum of methodologies, soothers, ten step plans, and ancient techniques between them. On one side we have cosleepers (attachment parenting) and on the other we have CIO (cry it out). Let me tell you upfront that I lean on the side of cosleeping. Most of my parenting has been attachment style, naturally and instinctively, the books just solidified my gut feelings. So why is it that tonight I rocked the boat? I picked up a certain sleep training book that someone lent me and that they wanted back. I made the mistake of thumbing through it.It sounded easy enough.
STEP ONE: Say goodnight and walk out of the room.
The next hour was filled with terrible yells and cries.
Nico kept berreling out of the room. As prescribed, I kept walking him back in, only to be tackled at my ankles by my terrified boy. On his last attempt he ran out of his room with Mickey in one hand and his Lion in the other, his face soaked, pleading, "No mama, please no bye!" And that was it for me. That was my weak spot.
I'm posting this tonight from the big hippy futon. He keeps popping his head up every 20 minutes or so looking for me, his trust in me is bruised for now. I'm writing this to remind myself that this is what I signed up for. I chose a harder less travelled path. I can't be swayed by stories of parents with a nightlife. I can't let a cultural norm put pressure on me to conform. I have to choose what is best for my family and to figure out which way we all get the most amount of z's.
I also have to remember that the day will come when Nico won't want to even stand in my bedroom. So tonight I'll snuggle a little bit tighter with him and get reattached. Good Night mamas, Good Night.



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Let's go to the Movies: Oldboy

Aaron and I have been to the movies only a handful of times since becoming parents. Total number does not exceed 5. This has been a hard pill to swallow since the 2 of us love movies. We've become expert TiVoers and have a healthy reserve of movies on deck at all times. Most we've seen before and some we've never heard of. We recently watched Oldboy. It's a movie we ran into years ago on tv buy only caught it half way. This last week we got to see the whole thing and man was it worth the wait.
This south Korean flick came out in 2003, but looks better to me then most present day fantasy flicks. It is pretty gorey, and the ending is disturbing to say the least. I really enjoyed the look of it and the incredible acting too. If you're in the mood for something dark, rent this one.



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Book to read: Food Rules

I'm looking forward to reading Micheal Pollan's new book Food Rules. I saw him on John Stewart the other night and he was so smart and charming. I read his book, "the omnivores dilemma" and came away feeling like my hands were tied behind my back, short of growing all my own food.
His new book looks concise and seems to be filled with smart, easy to follow advice. He told John Stewart that his first rule is "Eat Food." As opposed to eating "foodlike edible substances." That really hit home for me. I should work harder to make good whole foods for my family, skipping the conveniances that in the end carry a hefty price for our health and for the environment. ( How's that for a resolution?!)

I'm actually 4 days deep into an allergy diet. I was prescribed the diet by a naturopath. He felt it was impossible to treat me until I identified what, if any,food allergies I have. So smart! Instead of treating me with claritin and other drugs we are starting from scratch so to speak. While the diet is not even neccesarily healthy, it will reveal what my body is sensitive to. No meat, no dairy, no corn, no citrus, no peanut, no wheat. It's been hard. Lots of fruit, a ton of salad, tempeh for days, brown rice, and pure rye crackers. It's been full of revelations too: #1) I put alot of stuff into my mouth without thinking. I keep catching myself popping cheerios or anything really that I give to Nico. #2) I've been living a slightly Bloated existence. I feel so much less strain in my belly. God, please don't let it be the cheese! #3) I thought I read food labels. Turns out I've been too trusting of some labels. I need to read ALL labels carefully, and not assume it's ok. We recently came into some Oscar Meyer "deli thin" turkey. This is not something I would normally buy, but our family had some and Nico liked it so we took it home with us. Turkey is allowed on my diet, so I pulled some out and added it into a salad. Then before eating it I read the label: high fructose corn, caramel coloring, and a ton of other crazy additives. Really? It's that hard to sell just plain old turkey? Nico won't be eating that again. I mean I knew it wasnt the best turkey. I knew it wasn't free range or antibiotic free, but I truly thought it was at least plain meat. I feel so guilty about giving that to Nico! You can buy a cleaner grade via S.F.'s Columbo meats, available at trader joes by the way, for cheaper.
I'll keep you posted on my allergy diet, 10 days to go.


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Dinner salad

Last week I made this salad for the second time and it was a hit. The original recipe is from martha stewart and can be googled. But I changed a few things namely I used almonds instead of walnuts.

Ingredients

1 ounce raw unsalted almonds (about 1/3 cup)
2 tablespoons white-wine balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon coarse salt
Freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds fingerling potatoes, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
6 ounces haricots verts, or other green beans, trimmed
3 ounces baby arugula ( or mixed greens)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375. Place almonds on a rimmed baking sheet. ( I always skip this step. I like my almonds raw.)Toast in oven until fragrant, about 8 minutes. Let cool slightly. Finely chop, and set aside.
Whisk together vinegar, yogurt, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the toasted nuts in a small bowl; season with pepper. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking until emulsified. Set dressing aside.
Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add potatoes, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to a colander to drain. Set aside.
Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Return pan of water to a boil. Add green beans, and cook until tender and bright green, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to ice-water bath to stop the cooking. Transfer to a cutting board, and cut into 2-inch pieces.
Arrange arugula ( you can use mixed greens if you don't have arugula) potatoes, and green beans on a platter. Season with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. We've also added a tiny bit of blue cheese on top. Delish!



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