Egg in a Nest

Or Toad in a Hole, or Egg in a Basket, or Bull's Eye Eggs, or whatever you might want to call it. But this is a smash hit with the kids (and the grown-ups, too):

Don't forget to grill up the little buttered cut out! I admit to eating those as I am cooking. Don't tell the kids. They don't know that's part of the fun, yet. Also, in my college days when I didn't have cookie cutters, I used a glass to cut a circle (ok, up until a month ago I was still using a glass)...

Lemon Linguini

This pasta dish has the comfort factor of Fettucini Alfredo, with a fresh twist added by the lemon and parsley. It is quick and easy, great with garlic bread and a simple salad, and maybe some chocolate mousse for dessert. Sparkling raspberry water would be a complimentary drink—or whatever you like!

Lemon Linguini
1 Package fresh angel hair pasta
1 Wedge parmesan cheese
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1 lemon
3/4 C Whipping cream
Salt to taste
3 Egg yolks
Fresh parsley, for garnish

Cook pasta according to directions on package. In a saucepan, mix together lemon juice, lemon zest, cheese, whipping cream, and egg yolks. Cook over very low heat until slightly thickened. Add salt to taste, and white pepper if desired. Add pasta to pan, stirring to coat.
Garnish with fresh parsley.

Garlic Bread with Smoked Paprika
Your favorite rustic bread (Rosemary, Sour Dough, French, etc.)
1 Cube butter
1/2 C shaved parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon
2 Cloves fresh garlic, minced

Rub the spices, cheese, garlic and butter mixture on thick slices of crusty bread. Broil in the oven, or the convection oven, until toasty and brown. Serve! 

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Healthier Meal Ideas

Lately I've been trying to get more of the foods that "pack a punch" in terms of antioxidants, and "whole foods" with good fats (like avocados). Here are two of my recent meals. Super easy, super yummy, super healthy!

Good Start Oatmeal

1. Start with your bowl of oatmeal prepared to your liking. (I used half a cup of oats, stirred in one cup of water, and microwaved for 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. But slow-cooked or steel cut oats would work, too.)

2. Add in any of the following for extra antioxidant benefits (or more, if you have favorites):
• raw almonds
• dried cranberries
• chunks of dark chocolate (80% or more is the best)
• drizzle with agave nectar
 
3. Enjoy!

Simple Quesadilla Plate (with mango and avocado)

1. Pan grill your quesadilla. I used part-skim mozzarella shredded cheese and corn tortillas. I always make an extra one because my preschooler walks in wanting some.

2. Slice up the avocado, salt and pepper to taste, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar (and/or olive oil, if you prefer)

3. Slice up the mango. Beautiful!

4. Sprinkle everything with red pepper flakes (they go great with mango, surprisingly)

5. Enjoy!

Tip: You could always fill your quesadilla with the avocado and mango. It would be delicious.


Do you have a great, healthy meal? E-mail it to us so we can share!

Pasta Florentine

This is my old stand-by. It's originally my mom's recipe. And I love it. It's simple, although it does use a few dishes. But it's always a hit!

Mother's Day Spotlight on April Kennedy

April is one of my better blogging buddies, and a fine Mother, Crafter, and Cook. Here are two wonderful recipes she shared recently on her blog, Funky Vintage Kitchen. De-lish! Happy Mother's Day, everyone! Hope you all get to enjoy some spoon-licking meals. :)
~Lyndsay

*****

A Strawberry Treat!

If you haven't had this yet.....go treat yourself. All you need is fresh strawberries, sour cream and brown sugar. And, if you don't like sour cream {like some of my adult family members} I promise {and they do too} that you don't taste the sour cream at all. Well at least not the part of the sour cream that you don't like. The combination is delish and perfect for springtime.

After my son Blake goes to bed, my daughter Kaia and I have been enjoying this as a late night snack. Well late is 8:30 - 9:00 ish for Kaia, so we sneak back into the kitchen and eat and smile at each other the whole time. I believe in giving her some extra privileges for being such a good daughter and a sweet big sister.

I remember my mom sneaking down the hall and quietly getting me out of bed when I was 12 and 13 years old, after my siblings had fallen fast asleep, to go to the fair with her for the late evening when it was in town. I remember the first year I was totally surprised. The next year, I laid in bed hoping she would remember our little date night at the fair the previous year and was so excited when she did. We rode the zipper and all the other crazy carnival rides all night long and I remember sharing the same unspoken smile with her on those nights that Kaia and I have shared these past few evenings sneaking strawberries, sour cream and brown sugar on our own date night in the kitchen.

Did you notice in this last picture that the strawberries were almost gone? As was the brown sugar. That was a lot of brown sugar the two of us went through....smiling the whole time.

*****

Caesar Salad Piadini

{or Caesar Salad Flatbread}

All ingredients from Trader Joe's

Lavash Bread

Casear Salad (either bag or ingredients for salad)

Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Grilled Chicken Breasts

Place lavash bread on a cookie sheet and spray lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese and broil until cheese is melted and lavash bread looks slightly brown. Toss caesar salad with grilled chicken breasts and place on top of broiled lavash bread.

Fold in half and enjoy!

{this was mine without chicken}

Yummy.
Perfect for outdoor dining or indoor easy peasy night.

Read more: http://www.funkyvintagekitchen.com

Appropriate Asparagus

Happy Spring!

I always say asparagus is the food Mother Nature gave us in spring, to get ready for the swimsuit season in summer.

It has many detoxifying benefits, and works remarkably well for a paring-down food. The great thing about asparagus is also how very satisfying it is. Combined with the right herbs and other ingredients, it is one of the most elegant foods I know. It can be a meal in itself, or lend itself as a compliment to a heartier dish.

Here are three asparagus dishes to cleanse your body, mind, and of course, palate!

1. This one I gleaned from Rachel Ray while studying at the U of A. (While watching the Food Network as a "study buddy".) Thank you Rachel—it is one of my favorite asparagus recipes ever:


2. Basil is said to be an aphrodisiac, and combined with this fresh springtime dish, I'm guessing it lends itself to a romantic evening. From my Body Shop "Body Care" manual:


3. This one is from Bon Appetit, and offers an interesting method of enjoying asparagus:


I hope you will enjoy these recipes as a proper way to celebrate the coming of Springtime. Asparagus has many health-promoting benefits, but pleasure is one of the most important.

A bientot!



"A labyrinth is designed for you to find your way. A maze is designed for you to lose your way." ~Lauren Artress

Tasty Trick Or TREATS just in time for Halloween!

Brown mushy bananas, your number is up!

Roasted Shrimp with Orzo

I had this easy orzo recipe yesterday at a BBQ and it was FANTASTIC! I can't wait to make it. The version I had didn't have shrimp. So leave out the shrimp if you aren't a seafood fan, or add chicken, instead. And you can go sans-meat for a vegetarian delight! Recipe courtesy of the Barefoot Contessa.

Angel Food Cake with Strawberry Sauce and Peach Sorbet

Angel Food Cake always reminds me of my mom. It's one of her favorites! My sister-in-law Tiffany sent me this recipe. I love it because you can buy the cake and sorbet at the store, so it's a little easier with school starting up again!

Grape Salsa

I love salsa in the summer time. OK, anytime. But GRAPE salsa is a sweet and spicy unexpected delight. And summertime is the best time to try this new and interesting twist on an old standby. So head to your nearest Farmer's Market and grab some red grapes! If you are really ambitious, try frying up your own tortilla chips:
• White corn tortillas, quartered
• Heat oil in pan (grapeseed oil is nice and light for frying, but Canola works fine, too). You know it's hot enough when you stick a toothpick in the oil and it bubbles around the stick.
• They fry up quickly on each side, transfer to a paper-towel lined plate and salt. They have the perfect crispy/chewiness!

Happy Summer!

Recipe Spotlight: Springtime Salad!

Click on the recipe card to enlarge and print.

Mexican Layered Salad

Chile Verde Layered Bean Dip

Homemade Mac and Cheese

Veggie Pizza Appetizer

Spanish Rice

Simple Cheese Bread

Pumpkin Bars