One Hungry Mama

January 27th, 2012

{parenting} PIZZA PARTY!

Isaac's Pizzeria

Writing about the hungry boy’s 5th birthday earlier this week made me realize that I never shared his birthday party from last year. While I’m aware that writing a blog + being a mom does not require me to share every milestone, last year’s birthday party was relevant. It was a food-themed party that worked really well and I think you’ll like hearing about it. I also hope that it inspires some ideas that’ll help with your kiddo’s birthday, especially if your crumbsnatcher is an inveterate food-lover like my guy.

posted in:

parenting | savory baked stuff

January 26th, 2012

{recipe} Weeknight Udon with Quick Vegetarian Dashi

Weeknight Udon with Quick Vegetarian Dashi

I’m so pooped. I’ve woken up every day that has passed since learning that the hungry baby is clear of a bone tumor thinking that I’ll finally feel recharged. Instead, I feel more tired. Like deep down in my bones tired. Like I spent my entire reserve of energy—and then some—keeping it together through the holidays while a black cloud loomed above. And now that the skies have cleared, I’m free to be done. Just—DONE. As it turns out, the Hungry Papa feels the same.

Two depleted parents + two rambunctious little boys = need for an emergency plan to high tail it out of town. So in a rare, last-minute play, the Hungry Papa and I are going to the beach. Alone. On Monday. (This Monday!) This will be the first time we’ve spent more than 24 hours without children in two years.

Sayonara hungry boys. Mama and Papa are going somewhere really beautiful to sleep for four days.

In the meantime, I’m focusing on keeping things copacetic at home. For the dinner table, that means dishing up healthy, quick and easy meals like with this Weeknight Udon made with Quick Vegetarian Dashi.

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January 25th, 2012

{food for thought} New Federal Standards for School Lunch Official

School Lunch

The Obama administration announced today final changes to the federal school lunch program which feeds roughly 32 million children each school day. These are the first changes made to the program in fifteen years. Though marked by compromise—yes, pizza still counts as a vegetable—the updated standards are expected make marked improvements on the nutritional quality of lunches served in school cafeterias around the country.

posted in:

food for thought | nutrition | parenting

January 24th, 2012

{recipe} Banana Fluffernutter Cupcakes

Banana Fluffernutter Cupcake

My favorite thing ever is having a child whose birthday is on January 5th. There’s nothing more wonderful than making it through the holidays—Hanukkah and Christmas—recovering from New Year’s Eve (hey, even staying up ’til midnight stone cold sober requires recovery these days) and realizing that you’ve got to throw ~~a party~~ two parties in three days for one very excited kid who happens to expect better than what his stinky little brother got way back in early October when I had all that it’s-a-new-season energy. Nothing. Well, except for these Banana Fluffernutter Cupcakes.

Really. It’s awesome.

Okay, I’m lying. It’s not really awesome at all. The whole birthday on Jan 5 thing sucks. But the cupcakes—well, they are, in fact, truly dazzling. So there’s that.

posted in:

12+ mos | 24+ mos | dessert | entertaining | sweet baked stuff

January 19th, 2012

{recipe} Super Duper, Easy Breezy Chocolate Chip Muffins

Chocolate Chip Muffin

What better way to break a strike than with warm chocolate chip muffins?! (Did you tell Congress to refuse web censorship yet? If not, do it now!)

It’s been cold here. Like really cold. (And a big ol “Whatever!” to all y’all in parts more frigid than here—I’m a cold wimp and proud!) On Monday, we hosted an all day play date at my house to keep from venturing out on the Hungry Boy’s day off of school. I was, of course, prepared for a baking project, but only in that I’m always prepared for a baking project. I didn’t actually have a plan or recipe in mind, and it was 4:00 pm by the time the kids wanted to bake. Well, the one kid—the other three parked themselves in front of a screening of Cars.

With dinner prep about to begin, I needed to keep things simple. A quick search led me to Blueberry Coconut Muffins on Food52 (yay for Internet freedom!), which seemed just right. Simple, quick and easy. Done and done. A quick adaptation (skip the coconut and blueberries; add chocolate chips) and we had warm muffins ready for dessert.

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January 18th, 2012

We Interrupt This Program…

Just yesterday I wrote about building relationships and real connections with new friends met online through blogging. Though certainly the pinnacle, that’s just the tip of what I—what we—get from the Internet everyday. Connection, community, news, art, debate, inspiration, exposure, education… the list is endless.

It may not all be good, but what is? Certainly not censorship, which is essentially what Congress is proposing through the Protect IP Act (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). There are ways that we can address piracy without the extreme measures that these acts, which will be voted on January 24, propose. So, today, there will be no talk of food here. It’s my kind of blackout in support of the 24-hour SopaStrike happening right now.

Stand up to censorship and take action. It takes all of 5 seconds to sign the petition asking Congress to say NO to PIPA and SOPA.

You can learn more about both acts and today’s strike on Wikipedia (the only page available there today) or take a read through this write up on Mashable.

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Misc

January 17th, 2012

11 Things You Didn’t Know About Me

My Chana Saag featured on Savoring the Thyme

I must admit that I’m not one for tons of blogging conferences, social media meet-ups and late-night online chats with folks I only know in the virtual world. I barely have time to keep up with friends I’ve known—in the flesh—for years. So, as much as I love being a part of the food and mom blogging communities, both full of smart, vibrant women, I’ve got my hands full with work, kids and old friends. I love making new friends and wish that I had more time to connect with some of the wonderful people I’ve met online through blogging, but building new relationships goes slowly these days.

I don’t think much about being on the periphery of these communities except when I head to the occasional conference or when, like recently, I post something personal and hear from a bunch of folks, many of whom I’ve never met in person, checking in to make sure that I’m doing okay. Wonderful, smart, thoughtful people about whom I want to know more and who ask questions to know more about me. New friends.

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Misc

January 16th, 2012

{recipe} Slow Cooker Cassoulet

slow cooker cassoulet

A drafty farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Red wine in mismatched glasses. A long wooden table, its years revealed in the kinds of dings and scratches furniture designers work to replicate. Warm, crusty baguettes lying around small bowls of soft butter, spicy radishes and crunchy fleur de sel. Cassoulet simmering on the stove.

Welcome to my fantasy.

(Well, my French Countryside fantasy. There are others—like the Glamour in Rome fantasy and the Gourmet Gallivant around Barcelona fantasy—for another time.)

But my life, this fantasy is not. More like messy brownstone in bustling city. Wine out of a dirty mug, if I’m lucky (or awake). Crayon scribbled table crowded with Kindergarten art supplies and Matchbox cars.

But you know that I don’t sacrifice on food. I play with cooking methods and am strategic about my shortcuts, it’s true, but—you know what’s coming—children change the way we cook, but they don’t have to change how well we eat. So cassoulet there will be. Simmering in my slow cooker.

Yea, you read correctly. My slow cooker.

This week marks the first ever Naptime Chef and Small Kitchen College slow cooker challenge, complete with slow cooker giveaways from Delonghi and Breville (more details below). When I was invited to participate in the challenge, I immediately ran through my favorite stews and slow cooked meat dishes. They are, after all, what I use my slow cooker for most. But then—and I can’t remember how this happened—I got sidetracked by my French Countryside fantasy. When I snapped to, everything was different. I had clarity. The kind that the French country air gives you.

posted in:

10+ mos | 12+ mos | 24+ mos | 6+ mos | 8+ mos | beans | dinner | entertaining | main entree | pork | stews & soups

January 13th, 2012

{recipe} Quick ‘n Healthy Roundup: Oatmeal

Coconut Brown Sugar Oatmeal

Nutritionally speaking, there’s nearly no better way to start the day than with a warm bowl of oatmeal.

Still there?

I realize that starting a post with “nutritionally speaking” isn’t the best way to draw you in, but I speak the truth. Oatmeal is super healthy. And I bet that’s exactly how you think of it—as a health food—because it can be hard to turn good old fashioned oats into a mouthwatering meal, especially when you’re moving fast on weekday mornings. And who pulls out oatmeal for a special weekend breakfast?

You, that’s who! At least you will after checking out my ideas for how to turn oatmeal from tasteless glop to scrumptious power breakfast.

posted in:

10+ mos | 12+ mos | 24+ mos | 6+ mos | 8+ mos | breakfast & brunch | nutrition | quick 'n healthy recipe roundups | rice & grains

January 11th, 2012

{recipe} Cucumber Salad with Poached Salmon

Salmon Cucumber Salad

I promise. All the talk of new beginnings and resolutions is over. I let it all out in my last post. Truly! Despite appearances, this recipe doesn’t come with proclamations of health for a new year or cheerleading for lighter cooking. It’s true that I hope you’ll do more home cooking with healthy, whole ingredients this year—but I hope that all the time, every day of every year.

This recipe is light, even lighter than usual, for the simple reason that I overdid it during the holidays. And whenever I over do it, whether on vacation or through my birthday week, I rebound with healthy, cleansing foods.

So there—this is not about the new year. Oh, and did I mention that I served this salad with my favorite camembert slathered over pumpernickel raisin bread.

SO THERE.

Booya.

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January 5th, 2012

{recipe} The Persimmon Coincidence

Persimmons

I’ve always been fascinated by coincidences. I think about them often, more than seems normal (even to me), musing on their meaning—or lack there of?—nearly every time I experience one. Are coincidences inconsequential? Or does everything happen with purpose? Can both things be true? I’m not sure but, in the end, the fact that coincidences make me stop and think—not some inherent meaning—makes them significant to me.

This post, the first of 2012, is brought to you by coincidence. And though I typically loathe the barrage of new year year exultations about a new you! a look ahead! change for the better, healthier and more organized! I’m about to write something along those lines. (Sorta.)

Blame the persimmon coincidence.

posted in:

10+ mos | 12+ mos | 24+ mos | 6+ mos | 8+ mos | breakfast & brunch | dessert | fast & easy | fruit | gluten free | snacks | sweet baked stuff

December 31st, 2011

{recipe flashback} New Year’s Eve Ideas Cocktail/Mocktail Pairs

cranberry thyme martinis

Remember these drinks? Time to pull out the recipes tonight! I’m on vacation and have already made the mulled wine. Tonight we’re going with pomegranate and pear bellinis/sparklers. Whatever you eat or drink tonight, happy new year. Wishing you a healthy and fun-filled 2012 with lots of delicious, good-for-you eats. More soon, friends. Stacie, xox

There’s something fantastically satisfying about sipping a fine cocktail at home. A regular night turns into a special night when you take a little time to concoct something “fancy” and actually pull out the nice glasses. (Don’t tell me there aren’t nights when you sip wine out of a water glass because you’re too tired to clean your nice stemware!) And a special night—like New Year’s Eve—actually feels special, even if you’re just staying home with the kids. So, actually, don’t think of these drinks as just New Year’s Eve ideas, but as ideas for any night of the week. Because sometimes, at the end of a long day with the kiddos, a glamorous drink, with or without alcohol, is in order.

Since drinking isn’t what it used to be, I decided to come up with cocktail/mocktail pairs. The non-alcoholic versions will keep your non-drinkers, big or small, in a festive mood. Or, if you’re like me, they’ll keep the party going even when you’ve reached your alcohol limit (ahem, 2 drinks).

Perfect Mulled Wine / Mulled Punch
Pomegranate Pear Bellini / Pomegranate Pear Sparkling Lemonade
Cranberry Thyme Martini / Cranberry Thyme Sparkler

posted in:

10+ mos | 12+ mos | 24+ mos | babble family kitchen | drinks | holiday cooking | parenting

December 23rd, 2011

{recipe} Spinach Feta Dip—Spicy Optional!

Spinach Feta Dip

By now you know that I’m working with Kraft (and my sister!) on the Huddle to Fight Hunger, the Kraft Foods initiative to raise money for Feeding America to provide 25 million meals to hungry Americans. The experience has been even more rewarding than I expected. Not only have I helped raise funds (Kraft donated 1,000 meals for every one of my Huddle recipes), but I’ve also learned a lot about how folks with less access to information about food think about and buy groceries.

As part of the Huddle to Fight Hunger, the Hungry Sister has been teaching me all about tailgating, which has given me a glimpse into a food culture so different than my own. I’d like to think that I’ve given her a glimpse into my food culture, too, and that, together, we’ve refined an understanding of what’s important (healthy habits, tasty food, staying on budget) and how different families can keep those things in mind in different ways.

In the process, we’ve also come up with a way to satisfy candy bar cravings using only whole ingredients (a from-scratch dip inspired by Snickers) and compromised on ingredients for a roast that I never would have come up with on my own, but am sure glad that we made (Spicy Bacon-Wrapped Tenderloin). To close things out, we came up with a healthy and (somewhat) lighter feta dip—that can easily be turned into a spicy feta dip!—inspired by one of my sister’s favorite foods: spinach pie.

posted in:

10+ mos | 12+ mos | 24+ mos | 6+ mos | 8+ mos | appetizers | entertaining | fast & easy | gluten free | snacks | vegetables | vegetarian

December 22nd, 2011

{recipe} Cookies for Santa: Spiced Cider Meltaways

Spiced Cider Meltaways

A while back there was a delicious sounding apple cider cookie that was going around. I was going through a caramel phase (remember that time I doused pumpkin bread in caramel? Yea, around then.) and the cookie—also stuffed with caramel—caught my eye. Then I noticed that it was made with powdered apple cider. Though I’m sure the cookie is delicious, I wanted to develop a cider-flavored cookie using good, old fashioned apple cider right out of the jug.

Easier said than done.