A Spooktacular Meal

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Ah Halloween, that time of year when I purchase hot dogs, crescent rolls, and processed American cheese...and barely bat an eyelash.  (By the way, Costco sells their Kirkland brand all beef/no fillers/no preservatives hot dogs, 3 packages of 12 (36 total), for $9.99.  And they are super juicy and delicious.  Worth the indulgence!)  

I just love it when I get to host family for a festive meal.  My mom is in town and my sister's family came up for a spooktacular meal a few days ago.  Here was our feast with some old, some original, and some new ideas.

Jack-O-Lantern!  (Carrots, olives, sweet pickles)  Hylan is good, isn't he?

Cream of Broccoli Soup (aka Green Goblin Goo)
Only the adults ate it, so it didn't really need a clever name.

Classic Mummy Dogs!  (Hylan and Mom's interpretation)

Hylan even made a kitty cat!

Maple Cookies and Pumpkin Dip!  

(Also pictured: dip for veggies, assorted crackers, apples for pumpkin dip, cheese for the soup)

My beautiful cookies!  These took forever to make because they are so tiny, but this maple cookie recipe combined with the pumpkin dip was a big hit with the kids (who by the way, weren't as impressed with the mummy dogs!)  Oh well.  

Shapes included: Acorns, Skulls, Pumpkins, Moons, Oak Leaves, and Maple Leaves

And then, this was supposed to be the featured drink, but when I was taking the label off of the soda bottle, I poked a hole in it and had to quickly dump the drink into the only pitcher I have, which unfortunately is not very Halloweenie.  

By the way, have you had orange soda lately?  You know, that fake orange carbonated sickeningly sweet syrup.  Well, don't!  Because it is disgusting!  It sounds refreshing in theory, and once upon a time, I think I might have liked it when I was 10, but those days are over.  Since kids don't care, they drank it, but next time I'll try an orange Gatorade bottle and then maybe we will all enjoy a festive looking beverage.  

All in all, it was a fun meal and an even greater day, capped off with a little play at this sweet park.

Neptune Park in Saratoga Springs

And yes, I did climb to the top.  I had been saying for awhile that I would be climbing up that thing if I weren't pregnant, blah blah blah, but this time I just decided to do it and I'm glad I did because it was thrilling and fun!  I've always been a little monkey that way (just a little pregnant monkey now).  Ha ha!

By the way, I've still been holding out on another big announcement and I'm not quite ready to reveal it yet, but it has a lot to do with this park.  :o)

Tropical Sunburst Fruit Salad

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Happiness is munching on this fruit salad made with ingredients from my dear sweet Lynnakins' "Bountiful Basket" (donated to my cause whilst she cruises the Caribbean this week) outside on a beautiful sunny day in my own backyard with a kitty cat shading himself under my chair after a great morning Pilates class with Deni, short 31 minute jog, and perfect lunch.  Yes, it's the little things!

Ingredients in the Tropical Sunburst Fruit Salad:

• Fresh Golden Pineapple
• Ripe Mangos (thanks Lynn!)
• Crisp D'Anjou Pear
• Jicama (thanks Lynn!)
• Sprinkling of Shredded Coconut
• Few Squeezes of Fresh Lemon Juice

To enhance the flavor, eat outside on a beautiful sunny day.

Guaranteed smiles!

SACO Fudgy Cocoa Brownies (Mint and Rolo)

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If you haven't tried SACO's premium Cocoa, you just might want to!  Why?  Because it is specially formulated to a perfect pH level so that your cocoa baked goods leaven correctly but still retain a great color, texture, and flavor.  Read about it here.

Yes, I believe this stuff.  But if you're not into the science of baking, just trust me when I say to try the SACO Brownie recipe (featured below).  It is perfect.  In fact, I often use recipes found on the back of packages/boxes/bags etc. because they are specially created for their products (Nestle Toll House Cookies anyone?).  Anyway...

I'm not really a fan of boxed brownie mixes (except for Ghiradelli) because most seem to taste like well, boxed chemical concoctions that bake up with a weird thin chewy texture. 

My friends, scratch brownies are almost as easy: a few more ingredients, a few more measuring tools, and a few extra minutes.  Really, if you're going to bake brownies, it is worth the extra 3 minutes effort!

Case example #1.  Emily gets a craving for brownies.  She notices a very simple brownie recipe (recipe below) on the back of SACO Cocoa.  She mixes Andes mint pieces into the batter and spreads the rest on top of the warm freshly baked brownies to get a shiny glaze.

Perfectly baked.  Perfect blend of fudgy/cakey/not-to-thick-or-thin texture.  Delicious subtle minty-ness!  Beautiful clean cut.  Hylan approved.

Case example # 2.  One week later, we were craving more brownies (we share a lot, I promise). 

So, I mixed up a batch and poked Rolos in each square.  I was one short can you tell?  One of these things is not like the other.

This time I slightly under baked them.  This wasn't really purposeful, but it will be next time!  If you like even fudgier texture (think molten lava cake but contained, not overly oozy chocolate), then you will absolutely flip (or cartwheel) for these!

Again, I need a nice camera and photography lessons, but can you see the fudgy sheen on the corner.  Yum.  These just barely cut cleanly (not as well as the mint ones), but I definitely did the "happy dance" when I bit into one.

Hylan, on the other hand, gave me the koala bear look (Big Bang Theory reference).  Translated: he had a food love moment that was not to be disturbed.  He consequently bragged to his co-workers about these and has been hoarding them (but so have I). 

Friends, they don't pay me to say this stuff.  Go bake up a batch of SACO Brownies NOW.  You will not regret it. 

SACO Fudgy Cocoa Brownies Recipe

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1/2 cup SACO premium Cocoa

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup nuts* (optional)

*or chocolate chips, marshmallows, Rolos, Andes mints, etc.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Grease an 8x8x2-inch pan (or line with parchment paper).  In a medium saucepan (or microwave) melt butter.  Add cocoa and stir until well blended.  Add sugar an mix well.  Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well.  Stir in vanilla, flour, and salt.  DO NOT OVERBEAT!  Fold in nuts*.  Spread in prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Luscious Strawberry Jam

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Freezer jam is one of the easiest most rewarding treat one can make!  All you need is fruit, sugar, pectin, and jars!

The funny thing about this picture is that it was after I had already made two batches (12, 8 oz jars) of jam.  So yeah, I like me some strawberries and kiwi!

On the left, Strawberry Kiwi Jam.  On the right, all luscious Strawberry Jam!  Doesn't this just bring happiness to your heart?

Officially, "Auntie Em's Strawberry (or Strawberry Kiwi) Jam" because I'm cool like that.

Happy Spring to us!  By the way, I do share. 

Homemade Granola Bars

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There are many ways to make granola.  In the past, I have loved using this Nutty Granola Recipe from Ellie Krieger.  It's a spoon granola that is great served over yogurt or under milk.  It's very nutritious and is lightly sweetened with maple syrup.  Delish! 

But more often than not, I find myself grabbing a ready-to-go more easily consumable fruit/granola/cereal/protein "bar" from such companies as Nature Valley, Kashi, and Larabar, all of which have great natural, tasty, and nutritious options in their product lines.

Those options are great, but a homemade snack filled with ingredients you love is better!  That's why I finally decided to try Homemade Granola Bars from Ina Garten.  I'm glad I did because these are dangerously good, so good that they are worthy of going in the "all-time favorites" recipe archives.

The great thing about granola is that you throw in the things you have in your pantry, or the things you love to eat the most.  I followed the recipe outline, but I also added brown rice krispies, some extra leftover roasted nuts, dried currants (like a little raisin, but cuter, sweeter, and more delicious) and craisins (dried cranberries = yummy) for the dried fruit, and even ground flaxseed and psyllium husks for a little added boost in nutrition and fiber (don't worry, it doesn't change the flavor) .  And of course, chocolate!  I like a gook dark chocolate because it balances the sweetness of the granola bar.

Here's how it breaks down.

 
Oatmeal, almonds, and coconut on a sheet pan to toast in the oven.  I know some don't love coconut and of course it can be omitted, but I've recently fallen in love with the nutty toasty sweet chewy texture and flavor it lends, so I would recommend giving it another try. 

This is wheat germ and I am toasting it separately. 

Now I am melting the delish goo that holds the bars together: butter, honey, brown sugar, and salt.  I recommend adding the vanilla after the mixture bubbles and is removed from the heat.  Click here for an interesting article on sweeteners.

I don't know what happened to my ingredients picture, but here are the bars pressed and ready to bake.

And now in all of it's toasty golden perfection!

Don't leave out the good dark chocolate!

Sprinkle on the warm bars and wait for the magic to happen. 

Oooh, melty and almost spreadable.



Spread the chocolate, allow the bars to cool completely, (will take several hours or pop in the fridge) and cut into beautiful bars.

All stacked up and ready to eat.  Delicious. 

Try this recipe featured below and experiment with your own ingredients:

Ingredients

• 2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed
• 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 12-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper.

Toss the oatmeal, almonds, and coconut together on a sheet pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.

Place the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. Add the dates, apricots, and cranberries and stir well.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before cutting into squares. Serve at room temperature.

Cupcake Craft

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Okay, I can admit it.  Hylan is better at crafts than me. 

We didn't set expectations for Valentine's Day.  I figured the cookies I made counted for "celebrating."    

So, when Hylan called and said he'd take care of dinner and a surprise, I was thrilled because I don't usually get home from teaching until 7:30 pm.  By then, I'm tired and ready to gear down for sleepy time so I prepare something as quick and nutritious as I can and then relax on the couch for a little bit.

When I arrived home from a 3 class kind of day, I didn't know exactly what to expect and this is what I discovered:

The table was set with dinner and this delicious cupcake bouquet! I mean, really? You'd think he bought it, right?

Nope, that creative husband of mine went to Hobby Lobby (it's literally 45 seconds from our house so we go there a lot) bought flower stems and flower cupcake liners and then some gourmet cupcakes from The Cocoa Bean and assembled this delightful edible bouquet.  He came up with this idea all on his own and executed it perfectly.  What the heck?  I knew I married this guy for a reason...and I keep rediscovering why!

You can also see evidence of our gourmet Chick-fil-A feast.  Can't complain about that! :)   



Um, really?  Doesn't that just look delicious?

We completed our meal with a bite of each cupcake.  6 Cupcakes for 6 years of marriage (officially in April).   

Oh, and my special surprise was a giant pink diamond.

That's L.O.V.E.   

(Fo)odds and Ends

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The retired life is good, I tell ya! It is also delicious. I have had the time to cook up so many things during the past week that I'm having trouble remembering it all. A few examples include: Lasagna, Banana Crumb Muffins, Roasted Broccoli, Turkey Cranberry Paninis, lime kiwi fruit leather, Mulligatawny Detox Soup with homemade croutons, Mulligatawny Shredded Chicken over brown rice, guacamole, Crustless Quiche...

I could make a comment about each of those foods and how much I or Hylan has delighted in them, but I'll spare you (but you should really try the banana crumb muffins--they have been one of my go-to recipes for the past 10 years, literally. The date on my recipe shows it was printed in 2001. Hylan strongly endorses these muffins. I've made variations with whole wheat flour that have turned out delicious as well.)

Today, I gave myself the task of using up a giant zucchini from my mother and father-in-law's garden. Instead of picking between two recipes, I made them both. I was surprised that both were blog-worthy and well worth the two hours it took me to make them.

I present you with Italian Zucchini Pie.

(The top slice in the book is the one I made)

If you can't read that, I'd be happy to send you a better photo of the recipe if you're interested.

The zucchini pie was surprisingly delicious. I was skeptical at how the pastry would turn out because it uses olive oil instead of butter, but it was flaky and tasty, just as it should have been. The filling was as simple as zucchini, garlic, eggs, ricotta, and provolone cheese. Also, I had to substitute fresh parsley for the basil because that's all I had on hand, but basil would have been good too. It had a great garlic flavor and a creamy texture. Hylan said it tasted better than he thought it would, but I think he's just weirded out when I make recipes with lots of veggies. I would definitely make this recipe again. We had it for dinner but it would also be perfect for brunch or a lady's luncheon. It's certainly another fantastic use for your bounteous zucchini harvest!

And now I present you with Carrot Zucchini Mini Muffins.

By the way, I took these pictures with my phone because I'm not a food blogger with a super sweet expensive camera, but what the pictures lack in quality, I can assure you was made up for in actual tastiness. You can take my word for it, or come over for samples.

These muffins happen to be gluten-free, though that has nothing to do with why I made them. I just love Giada's recipes, and they just looked and sounded delicious. And now that I've made them, I highly recommend. I love the nuttiness the almond flour lends, the moist crumb texture from the zucchini and carrot, the bright cinnamon flavor, and subtle amber sweetness from the maple syrup. You can make a quick frosting with whipped cream cheese and honey to make the muffins kind of cupcakey, but the cream cheese I had was getting a little old, so I chose to forgo the topping and enjoy them plain.

A side note: I kind of love muffins a lot, especially when they tend towards healthy! :)

On another topic, I've recently noticed quite a few intriguing recipes using Biscoff spread - you know, that delicious cookie served on Delta Airlines made into a peanut butter-like spread. I have to admit that each time I've ever eaten biscoff cookies, I marvel at how much I enjoy them. Anyway, biscoff spread is going around the blog circuit, so I looked up where to buy it and of course, good ole reliable Harmons sells it (I miss living within walking distance of my favorite grocery store). I bought a jar to sample and I can assure you it is as delicious as the crunchy airplane treat. Just so you're aware. You're welcome. Ha! Perhaps, I will have to try one of those foodie blog recipes.

Anyway, um, how is it that I never knew snickers ice cream bars are now sold in in miniature size? Yes, those delicious chocolate covered caramel peanut ice cream bars that I haven't eaten probably since I was a teenager come in a perfectly portioned 90 calorie size! I'm so happy to have (re)discovered these. It's perfection.

So, happy eating delicious foods to you and to me! And if you want to invite yourself over for dinner, Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays work well for us. Just let me know. But you might end up eating more vegetables than you're used to, just so you're prepped, okay? Ha! Don't worry though, I'll still pump you full of meaty protein and sugary sweet treats.

Favorite Things

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In the interest of time, my list will be simple and very much not all-inclusive.

In no particular order of preference or interest, currently, these are a few of my favorite things!

• The middle click scroller ball button

Do you want to know why? I bet you do! I recently learned that if you point your mouse over a link and click the middle click scroller ball button (that's the condensed name, mind you) a new tab will automatically pull up in your browser. Genius. Try it by clicking this link to go home...err...to go to my home. Shameless home promotion.

And if you already knew this trick, tech geeks, please help me inform the rest of the world.

• The Laughing Cow Swiss Cheese Spread

The free sample lures of Costco done roped me in on this one. I just noticed that the container says, "A French Favorite," which also makes me quite happy since I ♥ France and french things, even though I've never been there, but someday, my pretties, some day!

Anyway, I love these little 35 calorie wedges (not that the calories are THAT important to me) but they spread well on rosemary crackers, wheat thins, pretzels, bagels, crostini, etc. Not too mention they make a great spread or dip for crudité (veggie platter of sorts--just had to throw out some french, mais oui). I just really love having this convenient snack, especially at work, and as a pre-workout (little bit of carb + protein) snack. There are endless creative recipe possibilities if you practice your new found clicking skills here.

• Scooby Snacks

I've been a little bit obsessed with these since I had them at a party while I was home in November. These little graham cracker bone-shaped treats were served with a delightfully fluffy pumpkin dip that I still need to get the recipe for from my Aunt. And if by obsessed, I mean that I've bought two boxes and consumed both in the past six months, maybe I need to work on my obsessive trait. Ha!

In any case, I don't know why these little treats make me so happy but they do. Just get a box and eat a few. They are just so darned tasty. And if you have kids, they will love them. I promise. I think. I don't know why they wouldn't, but I haven't practiced them on any kids yet. You could dip them in pumpkin dip, peanut butter, yogurt, or just eat them plain. Most of the time that's how I eat them, 9 at a time (that's a serving size).

• Yakisoba Noodles

Again with the Costco products. I don't know the brand of these because we throw out the box in order to fit them in our freezer better, but these yakisoba noodles with veggies are so delicious. Hylan even loves them. You can see snow peas, mushrooms, red pepper, carrots, asparagus, edamame, broccoli, and the sweetest nuttiest chewy soy/sesame/Asian goodness noodles ever! Look for them at your Costco. They do not disappoint.

And since I have no time for cooking, these are heaven-sent. I often add an extra serving of peas or edamame (shelled soy beans) to the bowl and some type of protein like chicken or shrimp. Sometimes I'll even sprinkle sesame seeds or sunflower seeds (for a little crunch) on top, and always a healthy dose of freshly cracked black pepper just because I love it and I add pepper to almost everything. But even without any of these additions, YAKISOBA is great on its very own!

Sweet Potato Chips

Yes, thank you Costco again for expanding my delicious food intake. These chips are addicting! Don't believe me? Just try them. A little bit of sweet, a little bit of salty, and a lot bit of crunchy! I remember serving these at a family gathering and despite a few initial quizzical looks, people kept coming back for more with sighs of "mmms" and "yummies." Before we knew it, the giant bag was entirely consumed, even before the regular bag of potato chips (which we all know there is no such thing as "regular" because if you live in or near Pennsylvania, you have access to the best potato chips in the world--Stehman's, Utz, Herr's, Martin's...I mean seriously people, the chip aisles in PA grocery stores are ridiculously overflowing with local snacks...and don't even get me started on pretzels...).

Sorry about that digression (and PA love fest), I just had to prove that I'm not a traditional potato chip hater. Costco also has a really good Kirkland brand (I believe) gourmet kettle cooked crinkled potato chip, but this is about SWEET POTATO CHIPS. I especially like these chips because it's kind of nice to get a smidgen more of nutrition while eating a salty snack with your sandwich.

So, if you have a Costco, look for these golden orange chippies. Your first bite, you may not be wowed, but then you'll find your hand reaching back for more, and you'll be hooked.

That concludes my favorite things post. Apparently, this post was brought to you by Costco and Pennsylvania. Two more of my favorite things.

Thanks for reading!

LARABAR Loving

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A little while ago on The Biggest Loser, Bob and Jillian promoted a packaged bar product called LARABAR. It sounded like a uniquely healthy product with a short list of ingredients, so I put it on my mental list of things to try in the future.

Last week at Costco as I was searching to replenish my usual stock of Fiber One, Kashi, and/or Nature Valley bars, I happened upon a box of these.

Only, my flavors were: Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, and Peanut Butter Cookie. Sounded good enough to me. The price tag was a bit hefty, but I figured they were made with dried fruits and nuts, which aren't usually terribly cheap.

Well, the verdict is out and I am in love with LARABAR. I think that I just may have to be a loyal customer for life and maybe even experiment in inventing my own recipes. The first one I ate, peanut butter cookie, was soft, sweet, and perfectly peanutty. The ingredients? THREE! Dates, Peanuts, and Salt. I can pronounce that--even say it in one breath. How can those three ingredients combine to taste like a delicous peanut butter cookie? I don't know, but eat I will.

These products are great for all kinds people who have (or choose to have) dietary restrictions. They boast of being:

GLUTEN FREE * DAIRY FREE * SOY FREE * NON-GMO * VEGAN * KOSHER

But more importantly (because I happen to like gluten, dairy, soy, and meat), they are delicious. I'm currently eating "Cherry Pie" and hope to try each and every flavor in the near future.

Some more tidbits from their company:

Our Food Philosophy: Simple. Pure. Delicious.™

LÄRABAR firmly believes that the foundation of a sound mind, body and spirit is derived from what you eat. And what you eat is healthiest and most satisfying when it's in a whole, natural state.

As a sometimes packaged food-shunning, label-reading snob, but also one who is on-the-go and turning orange from eating too many baby carrots, I can wholeheartedly endorse this product as a quick, easy, tasty, and healthy snack. Yay for whole, simple, natural, delicious foods--especially ones that I can conveniently slip in my purse or stash in my snack drawer at work!

Please tell me if you have tried/like/want to try LARABARs and which flavors are your favorite.