Wednesday, August 21, 2013

After Work Stir Fry for #WeekdaySupper




It was back to school this week for us in the Fuller home. Unlike most families who's kids go back to school giving parents a break, we homeschool so time in the kitchen becomes even more scarce! We like to make things as quick and easy as possible on busy school days and can be found turning to home made freezer meals or 20 min or less dinners.





This after work stir fry is a favorite on our home. You can even prechop the meats and veggies days before for an even quicker meal prep on the day!


Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 1/2 lb thinly cut sirloin (or protein of choice)
  • 1 cup green beans cut into 1-2 inch pieces 
  • 1 carrot thinly sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1/4 cup beef stock (or chicken/veg depending on chosen protein)
  • 1/4 cup black bean sauce
  • 4 green onions thinly sliced 
  • 1 can bamboo shoots, drained 
Directions:

Heat half of oil in wok or pan. Stir fry protein until browned all over. Remove from pan and set aside. Heat remaining oil in same wok/pan.  Stir fry beans, carrot, bell pepper, and garlic until tender. Return beef to wok/pan with remaining ingredients and stir fry until hot.

 
Back to School Time is a time when we are busier than ever!  I am excited to turn to our other #weekdaysupper contributors for help with Easy Weekday Supper Meals:


The Weekend Gourmet  - Easy Cheesy-Chicken Enchiladas
The Foodie Army Wife – Creamy Farfalle with Peas & Carrots
Doggie At The Dinner Table – After Work Chicken Stir Fry
Daily Dish Recipes – Roasted Vegetable and Chicken Pesto Penne
Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks - Baked Orange Chicken




Hope everyone has a great Back to School season with all your family and friends and may your last days of summer be filled with fun!
Posted by at 4:00 AM 5 comments

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Thai Cashew Chicken for #Sunday Supper

I have a confession. Daddy F and I are obsessed with heat. I mean, we have competitions all the time to see who can eat hotter things. Habenero, Thai, even Ghost chiles....yep we are nuts. The hotter the better and we sit there and cry and sweat to our delight. Did I mention I am pretty sure we are also now poster children for peptic ulcer aggravation?



Our family has lived in a lovely little home for about a year and a half now. The first few days we lived here we didnt have all of our furniture and were forced to venture out and find places to eat. The first night we happened into this little Thai restaurant and it was the best thing ever! We ended up eating there 3 nights in a row and for the last year have eaten there about once a week. They know all our kids names and know my "regular" order. Yeah, it's an addiction. Earlier this year we hit hard times in the Fuller home and our income was scarce so eating out was no longer an option. I begged the owner to give me the recipe and she finally obliged but would not tell me her secret ingredient. So to the best of my guessing, here is the recipe we have been using and loving the last 6 months to feed our habits!

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil 
  • 2 chicken breasts thinly sliced 
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed 
  • 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger 
  • 4 thai chiles thinly sliced (more or less for personal heat level)
  • 1 medium onion thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup mushrooms thinly sliced 
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped 
  •  1/4 cup dry roasted cashews
  • 1 large carrot thinly sliced 
  • 1/4 cup oyster sauce 
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock 

Directions:

Heat half of oil in wok or large pan. Stir fry chicken in small batches until cooked and browned.
Heat remaining oil in wok. stir fry vegetables until onion softens and mixture is fragrant (about 2 mins). Return chicken to wok with sauces and stock and cook until sauce slightly thickens. Serve over jasmine rice! For even more spice you can mix in hot oil by the teaspoon until the desired level of heat is achieved.

Our Ratings:


Mama F - 10 - It is one of my favorite dishes for a reason! We love the heat and cooked ours with 6 chiles and plenty of hot oil!





 Daddy F - 10 - Wow! That was so good! I am pretty sure I sweat out any toxins I may have had in my body!







 Fuller Girls - 3 - Only Middle E was brave enough to try this dish. She started to chew and then spit it out screaming and crying and then wanted her drink. The 3 rating is mostly for the laugh we got as parents after she said "it's not too hot, I will like it". We recommend omitting any spice if you will be feeding this dish to children!




 Lucky the Dog - 0 - Although she sat and did her best at begging, I was not about to give her some and then endure the aftermath of doggie indigestion at 3 am. :/




For more great recipes to spice up your life - check out these other great dishes from my fellow #sunday supper contributors!


Snappy Starters & Snacks


  • Hatch Chile, Grape & Grilled Onion Salsa from Shockingly Delicious
  • Spicy Tempeh Chips from The Urban Mrs
  • Sriracha Popcorn from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
  • Cheese, Smoked Paprika and Fennel Crackers from What Smells So Good?
  • Baked Banana Pepper Poppers from Daily Dish Recipes
  • Spicy Black Bean and Corn Stew from Mama's Blissful Bites
  • Caldo de Camaron y Pescado (Shrimp & Fish Soup) from girlichef
  • Bajia with Tomato and Chili Chutney from My cute bride
  • Buffalo Chicken {shredded} Salad from Casa de Crews
  • Baked Sriracha Potato Chips (Crisps) from Mess Makes Food
  • Smoky Salmon Chowder from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
  • Hummus with Spicy Turkish Ezme Salad from Neighborfood
  • Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppedew Peppers from Healthy. Delicious.
  • Tofu Hariyali Kebabs-(Tofu Kebabs in Cilantro Sauce) from Soni's Food

    • Fiery Main Dishes

  • Spicy Stuffed Mexican Peppers from Peanut Butter and Peppers
  • Jalapeno Popper Fettuccine Alfredo from Chocolate Moosey
  • Baked Tilapia en Escabeche from La Cocina de Leslie
  • Spicy Grilled Chicken Wings with a Chipotle Honey Dipping Sauce from Runner's Tales
  • Chorizo and Scallop Skewers from Jane's Adventures in Dinner
  • Buffalo Chicken Pizza from Cookin' Mimi
  • Thai Cashew Chicken from Doggie at the Dinner Table
  • Skillet Jambalaya from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
  • Firecracker Chicken from Juanita's Cocina
  • Cumin, Coriander and Fennel Turkey Pitas from Cook the Story
  • Aubergine and Chickpea Curry from Small Wallet, Big
  • Savory Tomato & Poblano Pie from An Appealing Plan
  • Venison Mole Rojo from Curious Cuisiniere
  • Za'atar Chicken with Fattoush from Food Lust People Love
  • Crispy Oven Fried Buffalo Chicken Tenders from In The Kitchen With KP
  • Skinny Buffalo Chicken Strips from Webicurean
  • BBQ Chicken Pizza with Poblano Peppers and Pepitas from The Wimpy Vegetarian
  • Spicy Thai Beef Salad from Magnolia Days
  • Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
  • Spicy Lemon Paprika Chicken Thighs from Family Foodie

    • Searing Sauces & Seasonings

  • Homemade Buffalo Sauce from Growing Up Gabel
  • Homemade Creole & Cajun Seasonings from The Foodie Army Wife
  • Spicy Tomato Sauce from Basic N Delicious
  • Whole grain Mustard recipe - Moutarde à l'ancienne from Masala Herb
  • Homemade Sriracha Sauce from kimchi MOM

    • Zesty Sweets & Sips

  • Cinnamon Streusel Scones from Killer Bunnies, Inc
  • Chocolate Chili Ice Cream (No Machine) from Gotta Get Baked
  • Habanero Cooler from My Other City By The Bay
  • Cinnamon Monkey Bread from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
  • Cinnamon Peanut Butter Skillet Blondies with Ice Cream from Vintage Kitchen Notes
  • Goldilocks and the 3 Asian-Fusion Bars from NinjaBaking.com







    • Posted by at 5:00 AM 16 comments

    Tuesday, July 30, 2013

    Here we go again with Balsamic Chicken and Root Veggies

    It has been almost a year since my last post. I had a lot going on with family health issues, going back to school, and just being a mommy of 3 kids 5 and under! For my birthday a few weeks back, my friends independently all purchased me kitchen items. "We know how much you love to cook" they all said. I realized then that with my busy life I was lucky if I had been getting a wholesome home cooked meal on the table once a week. What happened to me? It used to be so important to me to cook at home for my family. And to have my 3 girls in the kitchen cooking with me, teaching them the importance of the family's bond around the table.



     "It doesn't have to be a 5 course meal." Daddy F said, "We enjoy the simple things you cook just as much as the extravagant". He is so kind to me. I know he loves me even though I drive him crazy with my need to be super organized and wanting everything to be oh so Stepford. (Notice I said want, trust me my home is far from perfect!)



    So back to the kitchen I have gone to create simple, whole foods meals for a busy mom's lifestyle. I am sure I am not alone in that boat! This is one of my favorite go to weekly dinners. I fount this great local olive farm that makes flavored oils and vinegars. I used blueberry, but you can use whatever flavor suits your palate! I just make the marinade in the morning and throw everything in a giant ziplock after breakfast and let it sit till dinner time.

    Ingreidents:

    • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 
    • 1/4 cup olive oil 
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 2 teaspoons salt 
    • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary 
    • 2 teaspoons garlic, minced 
    • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme 
    • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage 
    • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • 3 cups baby carrots
    • 4 cups red onions chopped in quarters 
    • 2 cups red bell pepper
    • 2 cups chopped parsnips 
    • 2 cups chopped sweet potato 
    • 3 cups chopped asparagus 
    • 2 cups sliced mushrooms 
    Directions:

    Preheat oven to 425F. 

    In a bowl, mix vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, garlic, and herbs. In two smaller bowls or air tight bags place chicken in one and veggies in another and pour half of marinade in each. Marinate in fridge for at least 2 hours but no more than 8. Drain the marinade and place chicken and veggies on a roasting pan. Make sure to have veggies in one layer or they may not roast properly. Bake for 45 mins or until chicken is no longer pink. I like to take out the chicken and then turn the broiler on the veggies for the last few minutes to give it that extra crunch!

    Our Ratings:

    Mama F - 8 - I love the flavor of Balsamic vinegar and the extra hint of blueberry that we used was really nice.





    Daddy F - 9 - Loved the flavor and the fact that is was low card and full of fresh local veg.







    Fuller Girls - 5 - They all liked the chicken and the carrots but the "other" veggies were not met with love. :/









    Lucky the Dog - 4 - Chicken good. Green stuff very, very bad.
    Posted by at 10:03 PM 2 comments

    Sunday, August 26, 2012

    Double Duty Chicken Fajitas for #Sunday Supper



    For many in my hometown, tonight will be a night of last summer fun as the sun sets on back to school eve. The kids have all their school supplies organized in their bags and tomorrow's painstakingly picked outfit waiting to be admired by all their friends. Moms and Dads are full of mixed emotions of anxiousness, sadness, and complete glee that their little ones will soon be out of their hair for 40 hours a week.

    We are not like that family. We have chosen to homeschool. Tonight when my children go to bed tomorrow will be just another Monday filled with a love for learning. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to send my children to a public school. I question myself daily on if I am doing the right thing. But in the end my heart always knows the answer for us is yes.

    No matter what kind of school year you are looking forward to, the truth is you are busy. Summer is dwindling down and we as parents are expected to put back on our many hats and wear them not only well but remain looking good while doing so!

    One of my favorite ways to cut back time on busy weeknight meals is to plan meals in the same week that consist of the same ingredients. This week I decided to use chicken fajita meat. On Monday I cooked 6 chicken breasts on the grill with fajita seasonings and then divided them up into 3 sandwich bags in the fridge. From those I was able to make a couple family meals for dinner and prepare a chicken fajita salad for Daddy F to take to work!



    Meal 1: Chicken Fajita Enchiladas

    Ingredients:
    • 2 cooked chicken fajita breasts, shredded 
    • 2 tablespoons canola oil
    • 1/2 cup onion, chopped
    • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
    • 1 can (15 oz) your favorite enchilada sauce (or if you enjoy chipotle spice try my homemade recipe found here) reserve 3 tablespoons for the sauce
    • 1 1/2 cups grated Mexican cheese blend
    • 6 corn tortillas
    Sauce:
    •  3 tablespoons enchilada sauce
    • 3/4 cup salsa verde
    • 1/2 cup sour cream
    Directions:
    Pre-heat oven to 350F. Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add in chicken, onion, and garlic and cook until translucent and fragrant, about 3 mins being careful not to let garlic burn. Add in half of enchilada sauce and let simmer about 10 mins. While it is cooking grease an 8X8 baking dish. Pour a small amount of enchilada sauce into the bottom, just enough to cover.  Add in 1/2 cup of shredded cheese to the chicken mixture. Warm tortillas in the microwave for 30 seconds. Place about 1/4 cup of chicken mixture into the middle of each tortilla and roll up. Place seam side down into the dish. Pour any leftover chicken and enchilada sauce on top of enchiladas. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese over top and bake for 20 mins, until cheese is melted.

    For the sauce combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Mix well and heat through. Serve over cooked enchiladas.



    Meal #2: Chicken Fajita Nachos Supreme

    Ingredients:
    • 2 cooked chicken fajita breasts roughly chopped
    • tortilla chips
    • 1 can refried beans (or try my no fried crock pot beans)
    • shredded mexican blend cheese
    • pico de gallo
    • sour cream
    • quacamole
    Directions:

    Pre-heat oven to 350F. Layer tortilla chips on a foil lined baking sheet.  Spread beans on top of chips. Then layer the chicken and cheese until the chicken is all gone. Bake in oven for about 15 mins or until cheese is melted. Top with generous portions of pico, sour cream, and guac! Yum!! We have this meal at least once a week in our house!

    If you would like to see some other quick and easy back to school meals, check out the recipes from my fellow #sundaysupper bloggers!

    Please be sure you join us on Twitter throughout the day on Sunday. We’ll be meeting up at 7:00 p.m. EST for our weekly #SundaySupper live chat where we’ll talk about Back to School Meals and ways to make meal time easier!
    All you have to do is follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, or you can follow us through TweetChat! We’ll be sharing great recipes and tips all afternoon, and we’ll be talking all things Back to School Meals during our chat!
    We’d also love to feature your Back to School Recipes on our #SundaySupper Pinterest board and share them with all of our followers!
    Posted by at 1:00 AM 29 comments

    Friday, August 24, 2012

    Disney Dining Friday - Making the Most Out of Your Snack Credits at WDW


    Our family loves the savings and convenience of adding on the Disney Dining plan when we head to The World. We always get the Deluxe Dining plan, which include 3 meals (seated or quick service) and two snacks per day. Most people spend tons of time planning out where they are going to eat their meals and how they can get the most out of their dining points but people sometimes tend to over look the value in their snack credits. 



    First off, if you are planning to go to WDW during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival you have just hit the snack credit jackpot! What we like to do is save up our snacks and do a “journey around the world in 180 minuets” meal. In past years, a vast majority of the yummy food finds at the festival booths have been included in the eligible snack points. With most options still only counting as 1 snack point you can stuff yourself with 3-5 snack points and save one of your meal points to go towards something extra fun like a dinner theatre meal!

    If you are traveling during any other time of the year, never fear! There are still an abundance of filling eligible snacks waiting for you! Here are my top 10 favorite picks!

    1. Bakeries – They have them all over the world and you have a bunch of options! Cinnamon Rolls, cupcakes, muffins, bagels…. The list goes on and on. Remember, most things that are a single serving and cost under $4.50 are included on the snack point menu!
    1. Funnel Cakes
    1. Dole Whip

    1. Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches


    1. Baked Potato
    1. Beignets
    2. FUDGE!!
    1. pretzels
    1. chicken fried rice and egg rolls ---- YUM
     

     10. Crepes



    If you don’t manage to use all your credits that’s ok too! On our first trip using a dining plan a few years back we ended up with 10 snack credits each left over! We were able to cash them in at the Main Street Bakery for some great goodies to take home to our friends who were doggie sitting for us (and the ones we just wanted to brag to about how much fun we had just had!).  

    If you have any questions about the dining plans or would like to get YOUR free quote – contact me at Jessica@travelwiththemagic.com 



    Momma's Meals

    I am honored to be featured today over at Momma's Meals! Tammy will be trying out one of her favorite recipes of mine and rating it herself. She features a different mom's blog every Friday so bookmark her blog and remember to check it out weekly for links to great new blogs!
    Posted by at 7:00 AM 1 comments

    Thursday, August 23, 2012

    Crockpot Nofried Beans


    This is a dish I have been wanting to try for quite sometime but I always figured it would be really difficult so I kept buying the same old stuff in a can. Let me tell you. Not hard. Easy peasy. And it tastes so good and warms my heart to know that I now have another simple recipe that I can feed my family that is not full of all that icky preservative gunk! I made a big batch and put it into smaller freezer friendly containers to take out for a busy day.

    Ingredients:

    • 1 lb of pinto or black beans (or mix it up for fun!)
    • 1 onion chopped in large chunks
    • 2 Serrano peppers seeded and roughly chopped (or leave the seeds in for more heat)
    • 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper 
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 7 cups chicken (or vegetable) broth
    Directions:

    Place all ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours or overnight. Once cooked mash up all the ingredients until you reach desired consistency.



    Our Ratings:


    Mama F: 8 - These were really good! I was surprised they tasted so good without the bacon grease most restaurants add in. 

    Daddy F: 9 - I can't believe these came out of a crock pot! I would have liked them more spicy but I know Mama was wanting the kids to eat them. 

    Fuller Kids: 10 - AMAZING!! I had to literally fight my 5 year old over eating the whole bowl. 

    Lucky the Dog: 3 - NO BACON???? Hmph!
    Posted by at 2:59 PM 2 comments

    Sunday, August 19, 2012

    Peppercorn Steak for #Sunday Supper



    Welcome again to another addition of #sundaysupper! This week we are all bringing dishes with wine to the table. I have to admit, I am not a big wine drinker so I was a little in left field when we were given this task. But I had just visited a beautiful winery for a friend's birthday celebration last month out in the Texas Hill Country and had brought back some recommended wines for my mom who IS a big wine drinker. She loved the selection from the Grape Creek Winery so much that I signed her up for their wine club and she is excited to get her first shipment!

    Grapes on the vine at Grape Creek Vineyards


    Not knowing too much about wine I decided to try something classic and simple. I had a glass of their 2011 Grand Rouge and it was suprisingly sweet and fruity for a red wine. It has great undertones of blackberries and blueberries so I thought it would be the perfect wine to try in my sauce!


    If there IS one thing I know a lot about it is steak. Yum. I am pretty sure I could eat steak everyday of my life and die happily (of cardiac arrest probably, but happy none the less!) The creamy sauce made the perfect accompanyment to my delicious ribeye!





    Ingredients:
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • 1/4 cup thinly diced onions
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1/4 cup red wine (I used Grape Creek's Grand Rouge)
    • 1 cup beef stock
    • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
    • 2 tablespoons black peppercorns roughly chopped
    Directions:

    Heat oil in pan and add onions and garlic. Cook until soft and fragrant, about 2 mins. Add in the wine and let simmer for about 5 mins before adding in the remaining ingredients. Allow to simmer until sauce begins to thicken, about 10 mins stirring frequently. Pour over a yummy well cooked steak and enjoy!

    Please take a moment to check out all of the great recipes from my fellow #sundaysupper bloggers!


    We welcome you to grab a glass of wine and join us for this week’s special Sunday Supper Wine Event.  We will be sharing these fabulous recipes along with the perfect wine pairing at 7:00 pm ET.
    But the fabulous recipes don’t stop there, there are more amazing recipes to pair with this fabulous wine:
    Wine Pairings by  ENOFYLZ
    Posted by at 1:00 AM 5 comments

    Sunday, August 5, 2012

    Orecchiette Con Broccoli Di Rape and Sausages for #SundaySupper


    “Cooking is like love; it should be entered into with abandon or not at all.”
    ― Julia Child

     This week the #SundaySupper group is helping to celebrate the life of a wonderful woman, chef, teacher, and to many, a dear friend. I remember as a child watching her cooking on tv and thinking how someday, I wanted to be able to cook like her. As I grew older my taste in cooking changed and although I don't tend to cook too many "classic" dishes like Julia, I can still appreciate her love for fresh ingredients and tried and true techniques. We all decided to try a dish of hers and for me this was an easy choice. My family loves pasta, my kids beg for broccoli (no I am not making this up) and I love anything with garlic in it! We did modify the recipe by one small thing, we used sweet Italian turkey sausage to cut back on some of the fat content.....hope that is not cheating!! ;) 



    Ingredients: 

    For the Sauce:
    • 2 lbs. broccoli di rape
    • 1/2 lb. sweet Italian sausage
    • 5 tablespoons good olive oil
    • 3 large cloves garlic crushed
    • Salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
    • 1 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (optional)
    • 1 cup or more excellent chicken stock
     For the Pasta:
    • 6 quarts water
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 1 lb. orecchiette pasta
    For Serving:
    • 1 ounce or more Pecorino Romano cheese grated
    • Special Equipment Suggested:
    • A 12-inch saute pan 3 inches deep, with tight-fitting cover
    • A tall stockpot holding at least 2 gallons with cover
    • A large warm platter or warm soup bowls or plates
    Directions:

    1. Preparing the Broccoli di Rape: Wash and spin-dry the broccoli di rape and remove the large tough leaves, leaving just tender leaves and flower buds. Cut off and discard the lower part of the stems, leaving broccoli about 8 inches long. Peel the stems by lifting strips from the stem end and drawing them up toward the bud area.
    2. Preparing the Sauce: Peel the sausage, crumble it, and saute over moderately high heat in a tablespoon of olive oil. In a moment or two, add the crushed garlic and continue sauteing for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the sausage is lightly browned. Drain out the fat in the pan, and add a tablespoon of olive oil. Roughly line up the broccoli di rape and slice into 4-inch lengths: add to the pan, tossing. Taste, and season lightly with salt and pepper flakes. (At this point, you could start the pasta.) Cover the broccoli pan and let steam for several minutes: when the broccoli has wilted, stir in the butter, then the stock and bring to a boil. Taste again for seasoning, and let cook uncovered for several minutes more to reduce and concentrate the liquid. (At this point grate the cheese.) Again taste and correct seasoning. Set aside until the pasta is ready.
    3. Boiling the Pasta: Heat 6 quarts of water in the stockpot, adding the salt, and timing so that the water is at a full boil by the time the broccoli di rape goes into the pan in the previous step. With the heat at its maximum, stir in the pasta and cover the pan until the water is at a boil. Then set the cover ajar and maintain at a moderate boil for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring and checking on the progress now and then. After 9 minutes, start testing by eating a piece. It should be just cooked through, but not quite as tender as you would like because it will cook a little more with the sauce. Drain at once, and proceed to the serving.
    4. Serving the Pasta: Reheat the broccoli di rape as soon as the pasta has cooked and drained. Turn the hot pasta into the hot sauce and toss gently to blend. Taste carefully for seasoning, and remove from heat. Sprinkle on half of the freshly grated Romano cheese, and toss to blend. At once, turn the pasta onto the hot platter or plates, sprinkle with the rest of the Romano, and serve.

    For more great recipes from Julia, check out my fellow #SundaySupper bloggers!!

    #CookForJulia Breakfast

    Râpée Morvandelle by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings 
    Croissants by Cookistry 
    Eggs Baked in Ramekins (Oeufs en Cocotte à la crème)  by Cooking by the Seat of our Pants 
    Cheese and Bacon Quiche by Tora’s Real Food

    #CookForJulia Lunch

    Tuna Salad Nicoise by Magnolia Days 
    Potato and Onion Soup (Potage Parmentier) by Shockingly Delicious 
    Blood Orange, Walnut, and Rocket Salad by Granny’s Down Home Southern Cooking 
    Croque Monsieur by Webicurean
    Spinach and Cream Cheese Pancakes by Happy Baking Days 
    Julia’s Chicken Salad by My Trials in the Kitchen 
    Pissaladière Niçoise (Onion Tart with Anchovies and Black Olives) by The Wimpy Vegetarian
    Provencal Tomato Quiche by Are you hungry?
    Quiche Lorraine  Spoon and Saucer 

    #CookForJulia Dinner

    Bouillabaisse by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen 
    Boeuf Bourguignon by Chelsea’s Culinary Indulgence
    Orecchiette Con Broccoli Di Rape and Sausages by Doggie at the Dinner Table 
    Boeuf Bourguignon by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
    Veal Stew with Onions and Mushrooms with Baked Cucumbers and Boiled Potatoes (Blanquette de veau a l’ancienne with concombres au buerre) by Kimchi Mom
    Salmon en Papillote by Girlichef
    Poached salmon with cucumber sauce by Katherine Martinelli

    Lobster Souffle and Deviled Chicken- Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends 
    Roasted Chicken with Julia’s Mustard Marinade by The Meltaways
    Wild Mushroom and Herb Stuffed Chicken- Mama Mommy Mom
    Puree of White Beans with Garlic and Herbs (Brandade á la Soissonaise) Avocado Pesto
    Julia’s Kunming Connection: Chinese Steampot Chicken- by My Kitchen and I
    Poulet au Porto by Family Foodie 

    #CookForJulia Sides

    Hollondaise over Blanched Asparagus by The Little Ferraro Kitchen
    Scalloped Potatoes with Milk, Cheese, and Garlic (Gratin Dauphinois) by Home Cooking Memories 
    Ratatouille by Basic N Delicious 
    French-style country pate by There and Back Again
    White Bean Dip with Homemade Tortilla Chips Momma’s Meals
    Oeufs à la Diable by What Smells So Good?
    Soubise by The Weekend Gourmet
    Ratatouille by Cupcakes and Kale Chips

    #CookForJulia Desserts

    Cream Cheese and Lemon Flan by Juanita’s Cocina
    Strawberry Sherbert in Cooky Cups by Cravings of a Lunatic
    Creme Brulee by Wine Everyday
    Mousseline Au Chocolat by Small Wallet Big Appetite
    Peach Tarte Tatin by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
    Cinnamon Toast Flan by Vintage Kitchen Notes
    Dark Chocolate Crepes by Family Spice
    Crepes Fines Sucrees by Mangoes and Chutney
    Pommes Rosemarie:Apples Rosie  The Daily Dish Recipes
    Espresso Soufflé by Chocolate Moosey
    Best Ever Brownies by In the Kitchen with Audrey
    Orange-Almond Jelly Roll Cake by Mrs. Mama Hen
    Orange Spongecake Cupcakes by Mama’s Blissful Bites
    Orange Mousse with Greek Yogurt by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
    Frozen Chocolate Mousse Pops by Big Bears Wife

    Wine Pairings by: Martin Redmond Relishing Food and Wine; Thanks to Julia Child! by ENOFYLZ

    The fun starts every week at 3:00pm ET by showcasing fabulous recipes. At 7:00 pm ET, we will start our live chat.  Join us on twitter by using hashtag #Sundaysupper or using Tweetchat.  We love to feature your recipes on our #sundaysupper pinterest board and share them with all of our followers. See you there!
    Posted by at 1:00 AM 24 comments

    Sunday, July 29, 2012

    Bringing #SundaySupper to All



    When I first came across the #sundaysupper movement I was immediately intrigued. It was so lovely to find a group of people who still believed in the power of a family sitting down for dinner and sharing a meal. No TV, no video games, no texting in the middle of the main course. Supper is a time to regroup and focus on the family.

    Yeah, a lot of my friends think I am old fashioned. We are fairly conservative. We go to church together on Sundays, we have family "date night", I homeschool my kids. We spend a lot of time together as a family but to me there is something special about the time spent in the kitchen. My kids love to cook with me and with them being so young sometimes it is more of a headache than a help but I love knowing I am building in them a fondness of food and the care to make meals by hand that seems all but extinct in many households these days. We take pride in our creations and without even knowing it my children are building a bond of trust and admiration that will last through out their lives.



    Our topic this week was to discuss what #sundaysupper means to me. It encompasses so many things but I truly believe that this small daily act of sharing a meal with your family will grow our children into more competent, respectful, and socially aware adults. We have a long lasting tradition in our home that at least once a week we will make double the recipe we need for our family and freeze the extra half to give to a family in our community in need. I don't necessarily mean an impoverished family (although many times the families we help have fallen on hard times) but bringing help to a family of new parents, single parents, new neighbors, and other families who may find it temporarily difficult to have the time to cook a meal themselves. It is sad today how many people will go out of their way to donate to reputable charities that send aid to other countries when they couldn't even tell you the first names of their next door neighbors. 50 years ago these were the people you depended on in an emergency, the women you swapped recipes with, the men who helped you carry in your groceries when you had 3 small kids in tow, the children who would come play in your yard and drink your lemonade. I know, again, many say I live in a dream world, but why should it be? How easy is it to reach out and help your neighbors in need? You never know who or what is going on behind closed doors and perhaps that is what people are so afraid of (too much Desperate housewives on tv! haha) but the simple act of saying hello or bringing someone some extra bread you made can make a world of difference in someone's life. Food speaks to everyone, it is a universal language because it is something we all need to survive. Another is companionship.



    I have found a great resource for freezer meals is over at Once a Month Mom. Now you don't have to make EVERY recipe she has for the month if you don't want to but she has a great template to know how much extra to make for an extra family. You could even quadruple the recipe and give the same dish to a few different neighbors. It comes with the recipe, shopping lists, and labels with directions for heating up from frozen! I love seeing my neighbors who are now my friends faces light up when they see us coming with some goodies for them! And the joy it brings my children to give someone something they made that they know with bring them happiness is a priceless reward for my heart. I encourage you all to look around to those closest to you and bring a hand delivered meal to them with a message of friendship and watch the love in your community blossom!



    The #sundaysupper initiative has been gaining a lot of national attention in recent months (yay!) and we are blessed to have many brand name companies wanting to join in and promote our cause. This week, Merrill has extended a wonderful opportunity for our readers to enter for the chance to win a new pair of shoes! Head over to some of my foodie friend's blogs for your shot a winning one of 10 pairs of brand new shoes! Then you can put them on and go meet your neighbors! :)





    Merrell has chosen these 10 amazing bloggers to host a giveaway on their site.  Make sure you stop by for a chance to win some great Merrell Products.  From city streets to mountain trails and everywhere in between, we are impressed by Merrell’s passion!
    The inspiration and recipes don’t stop there, we have more reasons to celebrate wine, food, friends and #SundaySupper and you don’t want to miss these great posts and recipes:
    Let’s celebrate wine, food, friends and #SundaySupper.  The fun starts every week at 3:00pm ET by showcasing fabulous recipes. At 7:00 pm ET, we will start our live chat.  Join us on twitter by using hashtag #Sundaysupper or using Tweetchat.  We love to feature your recipes on our #sundaysupper pinterest board and share them with all of our followers.
    You might want to say hello to our friends at Merrell too: www.merrell.com
    Or connect with them on Twitter @merrelloutside and Facebook www.facebook.com/merrell
    Check them out on You Tube 
      
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