Wordless Wednesday

Through the lens of a 5 yr old

Are you BRAVE enough to take your destiny into your own hands?

Have you heard about Brave??  Coming this Summer is a new movie from Disney and Pixar and from the looks of this first trailer it looks like a great movie to take the kids to!

	"Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends  have been passed through the generations across the rugged  and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. In Brave, a new tale  joins the lore when the courageous Merida confronts tradition,  destiny and the fiercest of beasts." Check out the new trailer just released:

Tasty Tuesday: Spaghettini with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Emails.... Need I say more. We get them every day and I do not know about you, but I get more then I can read on a daily basis. I go through them and read any that catch my eye and if the title says recipes and healthy it caught my attention! While going through my emails this week I saw one that Danone had sent me with heart healthy recipes!

My kids love pasta and as I am always looking for ways to mix up supper time this recipe looks perfect for doing just that!  If your looking for more great recipes be sure to check out their site!

Source: www.blog.danone.ca

Spaghettini with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

 4 large red peppers

3 cloves garlic, peeled

4 tsp (20 ml) olive oil ½ tsp (2 ml) salt

10-12 fresh basil leaves

400 g whole-wheat spaghettini

Parmesan (for grating)

Preheat broiler to 500°F (260°C). Adjust rack to upper position. Wash, dry and slice peppers in half. Take out core and seeds. Place cut side down on a parchment covered baking sheet. Dip the garlic in the olive oil and place on the baking sheet with the peppers.

 On upper rack, place the vegetables into the oven. Bake in a preheated oven at 500°F (260°C) about 8-10 minutes until the skin on the peppers is blackened in a couple places and blistering. Remove from oven and put the pepper in a large bowl, immediately cover with cling film. Let sit and cool for 10-15 minutes. Peel the skin off the peppers by scraping it off with a paring knife. Put the peppers, remaining olive oil, salt, garlic and basil in a food processor. Buzz till smooth. 

 Boil pasta (as per package instructions) and serve with the sauce, a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan and fresh ground pepper. 

Enjoy!

 

Inspirational Monday

"Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning. "

-Maya Angelou

Wordless Wednesday

The Craft Wall- What do you do with all your child's crafts?  This is one way use get them ALL up.

Inspirational Monday

"The body of man is a machine which winds its own springs."
- J. O. De La Mettrie

Wordless Wednesday

liyuan library Source: bookcaseporn.com

Inspirational Monday

Image from Stairporn.org

"A man's health can be judged by which he takes two at a time - pills or stairs. "

- Joan Welsh

Foodie February: Kick up you meat with "K"

This is a great marinade that I have tried before!  Its great on kabobs, but also on any other kinds of meats you are grilling!

Source: Allrecipes.com

Kabob Marinade 

1 cup vegetable oil 

3/4 cup soy sauce 

1/2 cup lemon juice 

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 

1/4 cup prepared mustard 

1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely cracked black pepper 

2 cloves garlic, minced 

1 teaspoon meat tenderizer (optional) 

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, ground black pepper, garlic, and meat tenderizer. Mix well, and add your favorite meat. Seal the bag, and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 24 hours. 

Looking for more recipes?  Why not check out the Foodie February button at the top!

Foodie February: Make "J" part of your dinner!

This looks tasty and what I love even more is the work QUICK!!

Source:  KraftCanada.com

Quick Jambalaya

1/2 lb. (225 g) hot Italian sausage, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 Tbsp. oil

1 can (14 fl oz/398 mL) chili-style stewed tomatoes, undrained

1 can (10 fl oz/284 mL) 25%-less-sodium chicken broth

1-1/2 cups instant white rice, uncooked

1 cup frozen cooked shrimp, thawed

1 green pepper, chopped

1/2 cup Kraft BarBQ Sauce

COOK sausage and onions in hot oil in large skillet on medium heat until sausage is done, stirring occasionally.
ADD remaining ingredients; mix well. Bring to boil; cover.
REMOVE from heat; let stand 5 min. Fluff with fork. 

Looking for more recipes?  Why not check out the Foodie February button at the top!   

Foodie February: Eating Healthy with "I"

I love wraps and I love salads and this recipe looks like its the best of both worlds.  I can't wait to try it!

Source: KraftCanada.com

Shredded Pork Lettuce Wraps

1/2 cup Kraft Calorie-Wise Italian Dressing

2 cups shredded cooked pork roast

2 Tbsp. each: chopped cilantro and fresh basil

1 cup chopped seeded peeled cucumber

2 cups diagonally sliced green onion pieces (1-inch)

2 jalapeño peppers, seeded, finely chopped

12 iceberg or romaine lettuce leaves 

POUR dressing over pork in large nonmetal bowl; toss to coat. Add all remaining ingredients except lettuce; mix lightly.
SPOON 1/3 cup of the pork mixture onto bottom half of each lettuce leaf; fold opposite sides of lettuce leaf over filling, then roll up.
SERVE immediately. Or, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.  


Looking for some more recipes?  Why not check out the Foodie February button at the top! 

Funny Friday!

Too Cute..found this the other day when searching for funny photos!

Foodie February: Fill up with "H"

My girls love fish!  They haven't always, but last year when I was trying to eat better I started cooking a lot more with fish.  As I am always looking at ways to mix up the dinner menu I also have to make sure they will be dinner friendly.   This recipe I think looks yummy and I need to definite make for us!

Source: AllRecipes.com

Baked Haddock

3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground dried thyme
4 haddock fillets
1/4 cup butter, melted 

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
In a small bowl, combine the milk and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and thyme. Dip the haddock fillets in the milk, then press into the crumb mixture to coat. Place haddock fillets in a glass baking dish, and drizzle with melted butter.
Bake on the top rack of the preheated oven until the fish flakes easily, about 15 minutes. 

Enjoy!

If your looking for more great recipes check out the foodie February button at the top to see recipes from other blogs participating.

Wordless Wednesday

Source: stairporn.org

Foodie February: Starting your morning off with a little "G"rain

 

I love baking so I always make sure that I have flour in my pantry as I don't know what I am going to make next. I always make sure that I have Whole Wheat flour or Whole grain. I try to make it as healthy for my family and no matter what the recipe calls for I always use my flour I have.

The past few weeks our local grocery stores have had blueberries on sale and although my family eats them, they haven't been eaten as quickly as I would have liked then to. So I decided I was going to make some blueberry muffins today! This is the first time I have ever made them and wanted something that was simple but looked tasty.

I came across this recipe online at CanadianLiving.com and looked perfect! I used margarine instead of butter and only used 1/2 cup sugar and some honey. Here is my adjusted recipe, but feel free to check out Canadian Living for the original if you prefer. They tasted great and the batter does not over power the blueberries, which I liked. They equally balanced each other out.

Whole Wheat (Grain) Blueberry Muffins 

2 cups (500 mL) Whole Wheat/Whole Grain flour
2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
1/2 cup (125 mL) Light Margarine
1/2 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (125 mL) honey
2 eggs
3/4 cup (175 mL) milk
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) blueberries

In bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In separate bowl, cream butter with sugar; beat in eggs one at a time. Gradually stir in milk (mixture may appear curdled). Make a well in centre of dry ingredients; pour in liquid and stir just until moistened. Gently fold in blueberries.

Spoon into large paper-lined or well-greased muffin cups, filling to top. Bake in 375°F (190°C) oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until tops are firm to the touch.

Enjoy!

If your looking for more great recipes be sure to check out the Foodie February button or search "Tasty Tuesday" or "Foodie February" on our blog.

Looking for something to do Family Day? Look No more!

I remember reading the book "The Borrowers"  when I was a youth and I loved it and I love even more that now that I have children I can share them with my children with the new Disney movie THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY.

Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all. From the legendary Studio Ghibli ("Spirited Away," "Ponyo") comes "The Secret World of Arrietty," an animated adventure based on Mary Norton's acclaimed children's book series "The Borrowers." 

Check out a clip of the new movie! The movie comes out in theaters Feb 17th just in time for Family Day! I know what I will be doing that weekend.  I will be sharing more clips over the next week so stay tuned.

Foodie February: Treat Yourself with a little "F"

I love desserts....sometimes a little too much.  I also love fruit.  The strange thing is I never have really combined the two together.  I came across this recipe online and it looks so yummy I just could help share it with you!  I do not know about you, but with the fruit that is used it brings me to a warm and happy place that has SUN and HEAT!!

Source: KraftCanada.com 

 

Tropical Fruit Parfait

1 passion fruit

125 g (1/2 of 250-g pkg.) Philadelphia Brick Cream Cheese, cut up, softened

2 tsp. sugar

1 can (14 fl oz/398 mL) pineapple chunks in juice, drained

1 large mango, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 large papaya, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

3/4 cup thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping

3/4 cup pomegranate seeds 

CUT off small ends of passion fruit. Scoop out pulp into mesh strainer placed over blender. Press pulp with back of large spoon to extract juice into blender; discard pulp. Add cream cheese and sugar to blender; blend until smooth.
SPOON 1/4 cup of the pineapple chunks into each of six parfait or dessert glasses. Cover with layers of 1 Tbsp. cream cheese mixture, 1/4 cup mango cubes, additional 1 Tbsp. cream cheese mixture and 1/4 cup papaya cubes. Top each with 2 Tbsp. each whipped topping and pomegranate seeds.

SERVE immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. 


Enjoy!




Be sure to check out the Foodie February button for more great recipes or search "Tasty Tuesday" "Foodie February" on our blog

Foodie February: Starting the Day off Right with "E"

 

I love eggs!   You know its the weekend at our house if your eating eggs for breakfast.  With trying to eat better that mean bringing more fruits and vegetables into the cooking that I am doing.  So Morning truly can not be any different then the rest of our meals.  I always find it easier to invoice fruits into breakfast but vegetables not so much.  This is why I love the recipe I am sharing with you today!  I got this recipe out of The Biggest Loser 30 Day Jump Start.  I got it from the library last yr and fell in love with some of the recipes, this is one of them!  However, I do not make it with the exact ingredients.  I try to use what I have in my fridge and tweak it as needed!  

Veggie Omelet

4 tablespoons chopped broccoli

2 tablespoons chopped yellow onion

2 tablespoons finely chopped carrot

1 large egg

4 large egg whites

Salt and Pepper to taste

1/4 cup (or less) shredded cheese

Coat non stick skillet with olive oil cooking spray

Heat the pan over medium-high heat and add the broccoli, onion and carrot.  Cook the vegetables for about 2 minutes, or until they are tender but still bright.

While the veggies are cooking, whip the eggs with a fork or a whisk until the are light and foamy.  Add salt and pepper. Pour the eggs over the veggies, cover, and cook for about 2 minutes, or until the eggs are almost set

Sprinkle the cheese over the omelet and fold in half.  Let it cook over low heat for 2 minutes longer!

This is one serving so of course increase quantity if making for more!

If your looking for more recipes, why not check out the "Foodie February" button at the top or search on my blog "Tasty Tuesday" or "Foodie February"

Enjoy!

Inspirational Monday

"Fitness - If it came in a bottle, everybody would have a great body."
 

- Cher

Foodie February: Entertaining with "D"

 

I love dips!  I rarely make them, but I love trying new ones when I am out.  This dip I am sharing today is one of the few I have made before!  It is tried and tested and has been a hit so it is worth checking out!  I had came across it once in one of the Kraft Canada Magazines I get delivered for free and loved it!  If your looking for more dips be sure to check out their website as there is tons of recipes!

Source: Kraft Canada

Double Onion Dip

2 Tbsp. Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing

1 large yellow onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 pkg. (250 g) Philadelphia Brick Cream Cheese, softened

1 cup Miracle Whip Dressing

3 green onions, chopped 

HEAT Italian dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Add yellow onions; cook 15 to 20 min. or until tender and golden brown, stirring occasionally. Stir in pepper. Cool.

MIX cream cheese and Miracle Whip in medium bowl until well blended. Add cooked onions and green onions; mix well.  

Be sure to check out the Foodie February button for more recipes or even search "Tasty Tuesday" or  "Foodie February" on the blog!

 

Foodie February: Made Fresh with the Letter "C"

Another day in February means its another day of Foodie February! In case this is the first day you are joining in all this month I will be making some new and some of our families favorites! Today's is one that I have bought, but never made on my own! Like always I mixed it up a bit from being a coleslaw to an Asian salad. My kids loved the colours and it was so tasty and filling as part of our supper. Though it would be great as a lunch as well

Asian Chopped Salad 

2 Cups purple (red) cabbage- thinly sliced 

2 Cups green cabbage- thinly sliced 

1 Cup grated carrot 1 red pepper- thinly sliced 

2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro 

1/2 cup Asian dressing 

Add all of the vegetables together in a large bowl and mix well together. Add dressing a small amount at a time until covered to preferred taste! 

Looking for more great recipes check out the Foodie February button above or search "Foodie February" or "Tasty Tuesday" on the blog!

Foodie February: Bringing a little "B" into your life!

Welcome back to another day of cooking with the Alphabet this month! Like yesterdays post about Apples today's food choice is something we always have ALOT of in our house. This means some weeks they all get eaten and other weeks they end up ripening up before we can eat them all.  Have you figured  out what I am talking about yet?  BANANAS!!

Rather then throwing the ripened food away I love to freeze them until I have time to make something with them. If you are looking for something to use your ripened bananas up in, here is one of many recipes that I use. I have a ton of cook books that I received from my grandma and this is one, of many,  recipes I use to make Banana Loaf.

My eldest loves Banana loaf and muffins. I love how it is one recipe that you can mix up with just adding one additional ingredient. Sometimes I make it the traditional way you will see below. However, many times I will add some chocolate chips, nuts, raisins. Really almost anything can be added into and it still tastes great. I have to say this is not a recipe passed down through my family, though the name may make it seem like it.  This is a cookbook that many different families put recipes together and this is a family recipe of one of those participants!  It may not have the "best" ingredients, BUT sometimes we all need a little treat.  Plus I feel its better to have something unhealthy you made then something in a store where you have no clue at all what is in it.

Great Grandmas Banana Loaf

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

3 large ripe bananas

squirt of lemon juice

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Cream together shortening and sugar.  Add egg, bananas and lemon juice.  Mix dry ingredients together and add to first mixture.  Bake in loaf pan at 350F  (180C) for 35-40 minutes.  This recipe is also suitable for muffins.  It makes 2 dozen!

Looking for more recipes?  Click on the button above for more OR search Foodie February or Tasty Tuesday to find more posts on my blog!

Foodie February: Getting you started in the right direction!

I love cooking and trying new things! I thought it would be fun to cook with the alphabet. As there are 26 letters in the alphabet and 29 days in February this is almost a perfect fit! Every day I will be sharing recipes that I have made this month for my family and what we thought of them. Keep in mind some of these recipes will be favourites I have made before and some will be brand new adventures in food for us! Today I will be sharing a recipe with the letter A. The food option may be obvious as it is the most common food related with the letter A.   Apples!!!

As the saying goes "An Apple A Day Keeps The DR away" So we always have apples in our household. Though not all of them get eaten as quickly as they should. This is one of the main reason I started making applesauce. When my children were babies I tried to make all their food rather then buying jarred food if possible and I was surprised how easy it was. Also I could not believe how much applesauce sold for in comparison to how cheap the fruit is. My children would eat through it quickly so I found it easier to make sure I had fruit on hand so I could please both the child and the adults. Applesauce I find delicious on its own or even over pork chops! Yum!!

If you have never made it before it is very simple. Why not try and make your own today and as you get comfortable with it, you can adjust your recipes. I add other fruit into it too and it is a great way to get your daily fruit intake! I hope you enjoy!

Homemade Applesauce 

4 apples - peeled, cored and chopped 

3/4 cup water 

1/4 cup white sugar (optional)

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

In a saucepan, combine apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow to cool, then puree it all together with a fork or in a food processor.  If your feeling adventurous you can even make this in a slow cooker! If you prefer to cook without adding the white sugar you can either make it without or if you want to sweeten it up a bit, honey can be added in and sweeten it up for you in a natural way. I usually sweeten to taste if adding the honey, but our family loves it unsweetened as well.

Foodie February: Journey Through The Joy of Cooking

Welcome to Foodie February!  You may be wondering what is Foodie February!  Well this month I will be posting daily posts about one of my favourite passions...FOOD.  I will be joined by some great bloggers as we open your eyes to some new foods OR reintroduce you to some favourites!  I hope you enjoy this month long journey with us!

Check out the button below to find even more great posts!


<a border="0" href="http://talkingmomcents.blogspot.com/p/foodie-february-2012.html#.Tykls4w_nTk.blogger" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jgBFRkm4EUuHyQGt7SldDjB8rs_waYg71RX11Q9AR7Pwx2FCLRauH-mElhtA7ZL4V1-H_7dWNJAWh4LFiWXPqw_864qcIqGrTgQ2K17Vk1X674eqCOYAYzVwd49d73JoKiWroUihaAex/s1600/foodiefebruarybuttongood.png " /> </a>