Coming Out From Behind the Camera: My Review is in the June Issue of All You Magazine

Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Cherries

Ever since I started this blog there has been one question that I get asked the most. It's not about food. I get emails, tweets, facebook posts about why I don't include a photo of myself on my blog. With my kids it's a matter of privacy, I am very protective of their online identity. With myself it's more of wanting a focus on the recipes and food. However, the longer that I have been blogging the more I realize that eventually I will have to come out from behind the camera. So with that in mind, you can find a picture of me in the current June issue of All You magazine.

As you all know I review magazine, cookbook and online recipes. All You has started a section high-lighting readers that have tried their recipes and a few question and answers about the results. I was flattered to be approached to be the first person for this section. If you look on page 9 you will see my review of All You's Slow-Cooker Pork Loin with Cherries (you can read my original review here). It really is a great recipe and one that I loved making. The section also includes a photo of me and a photo I took of the dish. No more hiding behind the camera.

My husband's only comment about the mention was that everyone is going to think that I'm 42 since my age states that I am 35. I promise I really am 35, but I guess I should start telling everyone that I'm 27. Only problem is that I don't think anyone would believe me!

A Great Way to Celebrate Summer Berries: Dark Chocolate and Fresh Raspberry Mix-It-Up Muffins

Gluten-Free Fresh Raspberry and Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins

Fresh berries never last long in my household. Between my two boys and I we are able to eat almost our weight in blueberries, blackberries and raspberries during the summer months. Growing up there was a large patch of wild blackberries that we would go every summer to pick. We would collect as many fresh berries as we could carry home and my mother would bake pies and desserts for weeks. I remember being covered head to toe in berry juice and being as happy as can be. My two boys seemed to have inherited my love of all things berries, they will go into the fridge and sneak as many as they can get their hands on. Luckily berries have been inexpensive recently so I have been baking and cooking with them frequently and allowing my boys as many bowls as they can handle (within reason). This week I tried a new recipe for Mix-It-Up Muffins from the June 2013 issue of Parents Magazine.

This recipe has 13 ingredients. It takes 35 minutes of total time, 15 minutes of which is active and makes 10 muffins. I did make a number of changes to the original recipe. First, I made two batches of muffins, one gluten-free and one regular. I made half the muffins with carrots and raisins (not pictured) and half dark chocolate-raspberry. As I always do when making muffins I used foil liners. They are so much easier to unstick the muffins from, especially when using gluten-free flours. One step that the recipe leaves out is to roll the berries in a small amount of flour before adding them to the batter. This allows the berries to not 'bleed' into the rest of the muffin batter.

My youngest son was a larger fan of these muffins than my oldest. I would suggest a few changes to the original recipe. First the raspberries ended up a little soggy in the recipe. I would cut the overall amount used or switch to using blueberries and roasted cut-up almonds instead. The recipe would also work well with the dark chocolate chips and dried blueberries, cherries or cranberries. This would also keep the berries from making the muffins soggy. The nice thing about this recipe is that it can be modified very easily to suit your tastes and what you have in your pantry. White chocolate chips, nuts, raisins and dried coconut would all work very well with the original recipe.

For the recipe go to Dark Chocolate and Fresh Raspberry Muffins.  (registration required)

Bring the BBQ Flavor Indoors: Cajun Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Cajun Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

I ate popcorn for dinner tonight. The weather has been hot and sticky, making me not in the mood for most food. I did make a chicken recipe for my husband and youngest son, but nothing heavy for me. Every summer it's the same. It takes a couple of weeks after the weather gets warm for my body to adjust to eating normally. Even after I adjust I still eat far less than during the cooler months. I do eat a lot of salad and ice cream, not the greatest food options, but cool and refreshing none the less. The males in my family never seem to be affected by the weather, they eat a ton year round. BBQ is one of their favorite foods, they literally love it in the dead of winter through the summer heat. This week I tried a new recipe for Cajun Slow Cooker Pulled Pork from the June 2013 issue of the Food Network Magazine.

This recipe has 12 ingredients. It takes 30 minutes of total time (plus 8 hours in the slow cooker), 20 minutes of which is active and makes 8 servings. I did make a few changes to the original recipe. First, I made my hamburger buns from scratch. I gave up buying hamburger buns a few years back, it is so much cheaper to make them at home. Whenever I make meat in the slow cooker I always brown my meat first. Sear it quickly in a pan on the stove, browning it on all sides in a little bit of olive oil. This step allows the meat to seal in its juices and keep it moist during cooking. Make sure to add the meat fat side up, this will also allow the meat to not become tough.

My husband really enjoyed this recipe. He is a big fan of andouille sausage and this recipe does a great job of combining the sausage with the pork shoulder. The flavors blend well together and it is a nice change of pace from traditional BBQ recipes. Best of all it is all done indoors and the clean up work is very simple.

For the recipe go to Cajun Slow Cooker Pulled Pork.

Perfect For Summer Grilling Season: Grilled Chicken Thighs with Cucumber Mint Salad Recipe

Grilled Chicken Thighs with Cucumber Mint Salad

There are weeks I love complex meals. I will spend hours in the kitchen making the perfect recipe. Then there are days like today where I want simple comfort food. Hence why I currently have pinto beans in the crock pot and I will be making cornbread later in the afternoon. There is something about the beginning of summer that makes me want to have something warm and comforting one more time before the weather and humidity make me want nothing more than cold iced tea and lemonade. To me pinto beans are not only part of what I love about West Virginia, but they make me remember what I love about food and cooking, sometimes the simplest of dishes are the best. One simple dish that I love in the warm summer months is salad. Cold side salads are such a great option, they are cool and refreshing. Last week I tried a new recipe for Grilled Chicken Thighs with Cucumber Mint Salad from the June 2013 issue of Eating Well magazine.

This recipe has 10 ingredients. It takes 35 minutes of total time, all of which is active and makes 4 servings. I did make changes to the original recipe. First since I have three males to feed I doubled the recipe. One chicken thigh for each person just wouldn't have cut it. I think I may be the only food blogger that does not have a mortar and pestle, so for the garlic paste I used the side of a knife. I use this method frequently and it is a perfect substitute. My outside grill is still out of commission so to cook the chicken thighs I used my indoor electric grill. It would also work well under the broiler.

To me the star of this dish was the cucumber salad. It was light and the perfect palate cleanser for the chicken thighs. The flavor of the rub on the chicken was great and would work well with other cuts of chicken (such as breasts) or even fish. At under 2 dollars a serving this is an inexpensive meal option for summer.

For the recipe go to Grilled Chicken Thighs with Cucumber Mint Salad.

Recipe for Flavorful Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala Over Rice

I love to shop local. There are so many great things about buying food that is made/grown close to where you live. I would love it if we had a big farm where I could raise and grow everything that I ever wanted, but until that day comes I grow what I can and buy the rest. I am a firm believer that buying local in not only great for supporting the local economy, but much better for the environment. This weekend I was able to find great heirloom popcorn at a shop in our area. It is run by volunteers and provides  fresh and packaged foods from local producers. My kids love going and seeing the new items that they have each week. There are some foods that I am unable to find locally, such as certain spices for ethnic dishes. For these items I either have friends send them to me or I order online. I grew up eating Indian food since my father worked with a number of nurses from south India and I love it. Last week I tried a new recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala from the April 2013 issue of Bon Appetit magazine.

This recipe has 18 ingredients. It takes 5 1/2 hours of total time, an hour of which is active and makes 6 servings. I did make a number of changes to the original recipe. I was unable to find chiles de arbol so I followed the recipe suggestion and used crushed red pepper. Cardamom pods are hard to find around here, so I left them out. For the marinading time I allowed the full 6 hours. My oven broiler has been broken for a while so I used my toaster broiler setting instead. The chicken did not blacken as well as it would have in the oven, but it still came out decent.

Even though the time required to prepare this recipe is long, the outcome is worth the wait. The recipe turned out delicious and the step were relatively easy. This dish was particularly popular with my husband, who loves Indian food, but is never able to order it as often as he would prefer.

For the recipe go to Chicken Tikka Masala.

Recipe for Yogurt and Chia Seed Muffins

Yogurt and Chia Seed Gluten Free Muffins

We brought a Pomeranian Chihuahua mix into our house in December. I had grown up with toy poodles so I expected it to be an easy transition. Apparently our puppy had other ideas. Last week he ate my last pair of glasses. He had previously chewed apart two other pairs. So this morning I had to go to the eye doctor. After exams for both my husband and I, most of my day was gone. At least now I can actually see since I was also out of contacts. It's so much nicer to be able to see the television show that I am trying to watch. This weekend also marks the first part of my oldest son's summer vacation. Yesterday my two boys decided to mark the occasion by fighting the whole day and than telling each other that they would rather be only children. This is going to be a long summer. Since both of my sons are now home all day I have been baking and cooking more than usual. Last week I tried a new recipe for Yogurt and Chia Seed Muffins from the Detroit Free Press (via the Charleston Gazette-Mail April, 14 2013).

This recipe has 11 ingredients. It takes 35 minutes of total time, 10 minutes of which is active and makes 12 muffins. I did make a number of changes to the original recipe. First I eat gluten free so I used gluten free all-purpose baking mix. Since the baking mix that I use already has salt, I left the salt out of the recipe. The only yogurt that I had in my fridge was Greek style, so that is the variety I used. I chose to add the cinnamon sugar topping and I used foil baking cups to prevent the muffins from sticking. These muffins were still a little soft when they came out of the oven, but they firmed up as they cooled.

My kids really enjoyed this recipe. It is a great way to use chia seeds in a baking recipe. Chia seeds do not have flavor by themselves, so they are great to add to oatmeal, smoothies and baked goods. With 6 grams of protein per muffin they are a nice way to add extra nutrition to breakfast or a morning snack.

For the recipe go to Chia Seed Muffins.

Easy 10 Minute Recipe for Spicy Shrimp Marinara

Spicy Shrimp Marinara Over Spaghetti

Tomorrow will mark the first day of summer for me. My oldest son will have his last day of school and I will no longer have to do the daily running out the door before we are late for school routine (at least for a couple of months). Plus there will be trips to my in-laws house and peace and quiet for me for at least a few days. I might actually be able to catch up on some reading and get ahead on blog posts. However, my oldest claims that I am a mean mommy since I insist on work books throughout the summer months. I have high expectations for my children and I hate the idea of them losing knowledge through the summer. Another sign of summer in my house is the arrival of lots of seafood dishes. My kids are big fans of shrimp and I try to make it at least once every couple of weeks, especially during the warmer months. Last week I tried a new recipe for Spicy Shrimp Marinara from the Everyday Food insert of Martha Stewart Living magazine.

This recipe has three ingredients in the marinara and five in the main recipe. It takes 10 minutes of total time (not including the time to make the marinara), all of which is active and makes 4 servings. I did make a few changes to the original recipe. First since I was serving 6 people (my in-laws were in town) I doubled the recipe. I also chose to leave out the red pepper flakes and add them at the table for individual servings. My father-in-law doesn't enjoy spicy foods, so doing the red pepper flakes in this manner allowed everyone to eat the recipe. I served my portion over gluten free ziti and the rest of the servings over spaghetti for the remainder of my family.

Everyone that tried this recipe loved it. The flavors were delicious and the recipe is beyond easy. I allowed my garlic to caramelize, which created a nice undertone to the dish. For anyone trying this recipe I would suggest doing this modification as well. This is a nice simple recipe that would work well year round.

For the recipe go to Spicy Shrimp Marinara.

Recipe for Fresh Oregano and Chive Crusted Chicken with Fresh Strawberry Relish

Fresh Oregano and Chive Crusted Chicken with Fresh Strawberry Relish

I love strawberries. Berries in general are high on my list of favorite foods, but strawberries are at the top. Since they are now available frozen year round I am able to enjoy my strawberry smoothies even in the dead of winter. However, there is something so quintessentially summer about eating fresh strawberries. I love using them in desserts, but they are equally great for adding a hint of sweetness to savory dishes. Whatever the preparation method, any dish with strawberries rarely lasts more than a few hours. Last night I tried a new recipe for Herb Crusted Chicken with Fresh Strawberry Relish from the June 2013 issue of Eating Well magazine.

This recipe has 10 ingredients. It takes 1 1/4 hours of total time, 30 minutes of which is active and makes 4 servings. I only made a few changes to the original recipe. Since my herb garden is finally thriving I was able to use fresh oregano from my garden. My 4 thighs weighed exactly 2 pounds and I served the dish over white rice. I added 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar since it has great flavor and I love using it with strawberries. Make sure to buy a high quality balsamic vinegar, there really is a difference between the cheap low-quality brands and the top-shelf varieties.

The relish in this recipe was delicious. It had even better flavor after sitting in the fridge overnight. Combined with the herb crusted chicken the flavors made a nice sweet-savory taste. My kids loved the relish, so the recipe is a nice option to get kids to eat fruit in a new way.

For the recipe go to Herb Crusted Chicken with Fresh Strawberry Relish.

Recipe for Tuscan Turkey Burgers with Fresh Basil

Tuscan Turkey Burgers with Fresh Basil and Tomatoes

I was so happy that tonight I was able to use fresh herbs from my herb garden for my dinner recipe. My herbs are doing better than I expected and will save me so much money this summer. Growing my own basil is one way that I know that I will save money since I use basil at least once a week for dinner. The herbs available at the grocery store are over priced and start to brown by the time I am able to use them. Being able to just go out and cut the amount that I need is so nice. Plus the flavor is noticeably better than store bought. One food I love adding fresh basil to is burgers. It can take a regular burger from ordinary to something memorable. Last week I tried a new recipe for Tuscan Turkey Burgers from Redbook magazine.

This recipe has 10 ingredients. It takes 30 minutes of total time, 10 minutes of which is active and makes 4 servings. I did make a few changes to the original recipe. First since I eat gluten free I made gluten free biscuits and then made bread crumbs in my food processor. I also used my indoor grill to cook the burgers, which helped to reduce the fat without reducing the flavor. For my serving I ate the burger between two gluten free biscuits, for the rest of my family I made homemade hamburger buns.

These burgers have a tendency to crumble when you try to flip them over so be careful. I actually waited until the next day to take the photo. After sitting in the fridge the burgers were much firmer and easier to deal with. It might be a good idea to place the burgers in the fridge to firm before cooking them. I thought these burgers were great without lettuce so if you are unable to find Boston lettuce you can leave it out. Overall these burgers turned out very moist and were enjoyed by my whole family.

For the recipe go to Tuscan Turkey Burgers.

Recipe for Sour Cherry Rice Pudding

Sour Cherry Rice Pudding

I love to read. Growing up my mother never watched TV, instead she spent all of her free time curled up on the side of the couch with a book. It was thanks to her that I read War and Peace in middle school. She always expected me to read for joy, not grade level and challenged me to read everything I could get my hands on. In college I already had a major when on a whim I decided to tack on a second major, English Literature. This love of reading has followed me to the current day when I have been known to stay up all night finishing a great book. Most of you also know that I love to cook. Cookbooks and food magazines are always all over my house. There is something great about finding a new recipe to try and scouring through pages to find the perfect fit for dinner. Slow cooker recipes are some of my favorites and last week I tried a new recipe for Sour Cherry Rice Pudding from the June 2013 issue of Family Circle magazine.

This recipe has 9 ingredients. It takes 6 hours and 35 minutes of total time, 10 minutes of which is active and makes 4 servings. I did make changes to the original recipe. First since I have a larger crock-pot I doubled the recipe. I used fat free evaporated milk and 100 percent cherry juice for the ingredients. For whatever reason my crock-pot never works with rice pudding on low. Instead I decreased the time and cooked the recipe on high for a little under 3 hours. After the pudding has sat to cool it will need to be fluffed back up and you can add more evaporated milk if necessary.

Using fat free evaporated milk worked well in this recipe and I like that there is 11 grams of protein per serving. My kids ate their servings with homemade whipped cream, which was a nice combination. If you want a richer pudding this would be delicious with shaved dark chocolate on top.

For the recipe go to Sour Cherry Rice Pudding.

Sponsored Post: Firmoo Product Review Take Two

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for Firmoo.com. I received a pair of glasses to review in exchange for this post. As always all opinions expressed are my own.

Firmoo Glasses

I have a love hate relationship with glasses. My vision was great until high-school. Then I started to realize that other people seemed to see leaves on trees, while I just saw green blobs. I fooled myself into thinking it was normal until I could no longer see the chalk board. Since I was a straight A student I knew that I had to deal with my bad vision or my grades would suffer. So I finally made an eye exam appointment. My parents made very little money and all my money from work was going into a college fund, so I ended up with a cheap pair of plastic frames. There are great plastic frames, but these were not one of those. When I finally moved out on my own and had a little extra money from work during college I went in for my usual contacts (I hated glasses) and I decided to try glasses once again. This time I found a pair that I loved and wore glasses most of the time I was in college. Now that I am in my 30's I wear both contacts and glasses. I love contacts since they are convenient and I don't get migraines from the pressure on my face. However, I also love the look that glasses can give and they are easy to take care of. Recently, I was given the chance by firmoo.com to try a new pair of glasses and review them on my blog.

In case you missed my last review, these were the previous glasses I received from firmoo.com and my review. If you aren't fimilar with Firmoo.com they provide a variety of sunglasses and glasses to chose from. You can order the glasses either with or without a prescription and they ship right to your door. Here is the link to the frames that I chose. They also offer a Virtual Try-On System. You can even try on the glasses with your own photos. 98% of their customers have found their perfect match glasses by this method .Plus right now you can get your first pair free, here are the details:

1. All free code eligible eyewear at this page is offered in limited quantities every day. First come, first served!
2. For new customers only. One pair per person.
3. All free frames come complete with 1.50 single vision lenses, complimentary cases, cleaning cloth and other accessories. You just need to pay shipping. See the details.
4. Full refund for dissatisfaction.
5. This offer is open to U.S., Canada, Australia, UK, New Zealand, etc.

Click here to learn more about the offer. 

So what did I think about the frames that I received? Here is a list of the pros and cons:

Pros:

• My glasses came very quickly. 
• The frames looked exactly like they did on the website. 
• The prescription was correct. 
• The frames were lightweight. 

Cons:

• There isn't a large variety of frames to chose from on the site. 
• Most of the frames are plastic, which is pretty thin and could break easily. 
• No big designer names. 

 Overall for the price and the product received I think that the site works well. They are nice glasses, especially as a back up pair. I tend to break my glasses very easily so this site would be a great way to order multiple pairs to have on hand in case your main pair breaks or is lost. 

Recipe for Grilled Chicken Salad with Tahini Yogurt Dressing and Fresh Mint

Grilled Chicken Salad with Tahini Yogurt Dressing and Fresh Mint

With the weather getting warm this week grilling season is definitely coming. My husband still has our charcoal grill in the basement with the promise that he will be fixing it up soon. Since it has sat downstairs for two years I am beginning to think that he is lacking motivation. Of course I could work on it, but my to do list is long enough that adding anything to it just wouldn't happen. Since my outdoor grill is out of commission I utilize my indoor electric grill or my stove top grill pan. Both are great options and I use them frequently. The beginning of summer in my household also means cold salads and sides. I love combining grilled meats and cold salads into one recipe. This week I tried a new recipe for Chicken Salad with Tahini Yogurt Dressing from the June 2013 issue of Food and Wine magazine.

This recipe has 14 ingredients. It takes 40 minutes of total time, 20 minutes of which is active and makes 6 servings. I did make a few changes to the original recipe. First I used 2% Greek yogurt instead of whole fat yogurt. As I talked about in the intro I used my indoor electric grill to make the grilled chicken thighs. I am not a fan of hot chicken salad, especially in the warmer months so I allowed the salad to sit in the fridge for 15 minutes before serving. This allowed the chicken to cool and made for a better flavor. Finally, I served the salad over white rice. It would also work well with flatbread.

Yogurt dressing is always popular in my household. We also are big fans of grilled chicken. However, this recipe only received an okay from my family. The thighs were almost too moist for the rest of the salad. There was a lot of flavor in the recipe, which I liked, but it didn't stand out from other chicken with yogurt sauce recipes. I would suggest increasing the amount of chipotle, adding a small amount of cumin and serving the salad with Naan or pita bread. Making it more like a wrap or sandwich would help the recipe be even better.

For the recipe go to Chicken Salad with Yogurt Tahini Dressing.

Recipe for Spicy Chipotle Burgers with Chipotle Sour Cream

Spicy Chipotle Burgers with Chipotle Sour Cream

I am happy to report that my herb garden has taken off. This year I finally gave in and decided that I would grow my own herbs instead of relying on store bought. I tried a herb garden once before I had kids and it didn't go well. Our yard didn't have enough sun light during the day and I was horrible about remembering to water. Luckily now that I am older I love gardening and have had great success. This year my oldest son and I decided that we would grow tomatoes and four types of herbs. They are doing very well so far and I am excited to be able to use foods from my garden in my cooking. Until my tomatoes are ready to eat I have still been using store bought, especially since we eat a lot of burgers. Last week I tried a new recipe for Spicy Chipotle Burgers from the June 2013 issue of Family Circle magazine.

This recipe has 9 ingredients. It takes 25 minutes of total time, 15 minutes of which is active and makes 8 servings. I only made a few changes to the original recipe. First I made my own hamburger buns. Homemade buns have much better flavor and they are easier to make than you would think. Here are two links to the hamburger buns that I make 40 Minute Hamburger Buns and Homemade Sesame Buns. I used an indoor electric grill to make the burgers so my total grilling time was slightly longer than the recipe suggested. Finally I chose not to grill the buns. Since I use homemade buns and they are always baked the same day I don't see the need to grill my buns.

My husband and I really enjoyed these burgers. They were one of the best burgers that I have eaten or made in a while. I really liked the chipotle sour cream, it was a great addition to the burger recipe and cooled down the spiciness of the burger. If you want to cut down on the amount of fat you could try using ground beef with a lower fat content. With 25 grams of protein this is a filling recipe that is also easy to prepare making it a perfect summer grilling option.

For the recipe go to Spicy Chipotle Burgers. (registration required)

Wild Salmon, Asparagus, and Shiitakes in Parchment Recipe

Wild Salmon, Asparagus, and Shiitakes

Apparently my son thinks I'm awesome because I make him bacon. That's right bacon. It all traces back to last week and the homemade Mother's Day gift that my son made at school. He came home so excited from school on Friday and immediately gave me the gift that he had made. It featured a picture of me frying bacon and a story about what makes me so great. The story emphasized that I do crafts and fry bacon. Of all the things that I do, bacon has the biggest impact on my kids. I don't know if I should be flattered or worried. According to my son all the other kids put things like their mother was pretty, funny etc. He was very proud that I make great bacon. Maybe I should stop trying to dress up and look nice for my husband as well. Bacon seems to have magical qualities for the males in my family. Since having bacon everyday is not healthy I make other foods that the males in my family love. Two of their favorites are salmon and mushrooms. Tonight I tried a new recipe for Wild Salmon, Asparagus and Shiitakes in Parchment from Martha Stewart Living magazine.

This recipe has 9 ingredients. It takes 35 minutes of total time, 25 minutes of which is active and makes 4 servings. I only made a few changes to the original recipe. First since the shiitakes at the store I shop at only come in 5 ounce containers, I bought two and used 10 ounces total in the recipe. Secondly, I realized that I had forgotten to toss the vegetables with olive oil, so instead I drizzled the top of the salmon and vegetables. This method ended up working very well since it kept the salmon moist while cooking. I found that my cooking time was much longer than the 9 minutes suggested by the recipe. This was probably due to the fact that my fillets were much larger and had skin.

Since everything is baked in parchment this is a very easy dish to prep and cook. The clean-up just involves throwing away the used parchment, which is great for a weeknight meal. Both of my sons love salmon and this dish was popular. The sliced lemon wedges are an important component, it helps to bring out the flavor of the vegetables and enhance the flavor of the salmon.

For the recipe go to Wild Salmon, Asparagus, and Shiitakes in Parchment.

Spanish Style Chicken and Rice Recipe

Spanish Style Chicken and Rice

I spent part of my mother's day today donating clothing and household goods. Every spring I go through my house and donate any items that we don't need or want any longer. My kids are so used to going through their toys that they are almost always cooperative and rarely put up a fight. There is something so satisfying about seeing a clean house and teaching my kids about recycling old goods instead of throwing them in the trash. I also put out a number of broken items at the curb and like always  someone took the items off the curb for their own use. This is popular in my area, curbside furniture/trash pick-up is common place. Since it was mother's day today I made yesterday's meal quick and only requiring one pot. I tried a new recipe for Spanish Style Chicken and Rice from the December 2011 issue of Woman's Day magazine.

This recipe has 11 ingredients. It takes 35 minutes of total time, 20 minutes of which is active and makes 4 servings. I only made a few changes to the original recipe. First I used a Dutch oven to make the dish. They are great for making one pot meals and a valuable kitchen investment. I chose to leave off the chopped parsley as a topping and I cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces instead of the 3-inch pieces suggested by the recipe. Finally, my family loves chopped olives so I used 3/4 of a cup of sliced olives for topping.

I really like that this recipe only has 7 grams of fat and 42 grams of protein per serving. It was popular with my whole family, even though it has a slight spicy kick from the diced chilies. Since it only uses one pot it takes very little clean-up, which is always nice for a quick week night meal.

For the recipe go to Spanish Style Chicken and Rice Recipe.

Bucatini with Olive Caper Sauce Recipe

Bucatini with Olive Caper Sauce

My oldest has two weeks of school left. To say that he is ready to be done would be understatement. Getting him to be motivated to actually go to the bus in the morning has not been easy. He has also been very food picky. It might have a lot to do with the fact that he lost his first tooth this week and the new tooth coming in his been causing him discomfort. Due to all the activity in our household I have been trying to make quick and easy meals. Earlier this week I tried a new recipe for Bucatini with Olive Caper Sauce from the May 2013 issue of the Food Network Magazine.

Gluten Free Bucatini with Olive Caper Sauce

This recipe has 11 ingredients. It takes 25 minutes of total time, all of which is active and makes 4 servings. Since I eat gluten free, but the rest of my family does not, I made two versions of this recipe. For the tomato mixture I used kalamata olives, unrinsed capers (we prefer the taste of the salt) and roma tomatoes. I divided the mixture between the regular spaghetti for my family and gluten free spiral pasta for me. Make sure to serve the dish soon after you add the mozzarella, if you wait it will melt and turn into a big cheese clump.

The flavors in this recipe are great. My two boys loved the olives and capers and dividing the tomato mixture worked out well. Not rinsing the capers gave the pasta a nice salty flavor, which I really liked. The sauce would work with variety of pasta types in case you aren't a fan of spaghetti or bucatini.

For the recipe go to Bucatini with Olive Caper Sauce.

Turkey Sloppy Joes Recipe

Crock-Pot Turkey Sloppy Joes

My youngest had the misfortune of getting his first bee sting this evening. I knew something was wrong when he told me he was playing with a bug. As soon as the word stop was out of my mouth he started screaming because he had been stung by the 'bug'. Luckily pain medication and a baking soda paste saved the day. He is now asleep and I'm pretty sure that he won't be playing with bees again soon. Luckily before the be incident my family enjoyed a family favorite, sloppy joes. For dinner I tried a new recipe for Turkey Sloppy Joes from the May 2013 issue of Family Circle magazine.

This recipe has 13 ingredients. It takes 3 hours and 15 minutes of total time, 15 minutes of which is active and makes 12 servings. I followed the recipe pretty closely to the original. I always have baby carrots for my husband's lunch so that is what I used in this recipe. Since I only had smoked paprika I substituted it for regular and Sunny Buns for the hamburger buns. Of course my youngest slightly smashed my photo bun before I got the picture, hence why it looks a little lopsided. I ate my serving over brown rice.

My kids loved this recipe. I did find that it only made about 5 servings, not the 12 suggested by the recipe. My husband thought that he would have liked fewer carrots, I thought that it was a little sweet. Overall though this was a very family friendly recipe and I like that it uses turkey instead of beef.

For the recipe go to Turkey Sloppy Joes. Registration required.

Balsamic Pot Roast Recipe

Balsamic Pot Roast

Our weather has finally been warm enough overnight to start my garden. So this weekend my oldest son and I went to find flowers for our front bed and heirloom tomato starters. We ended up with three different heirlooms and a bunch of new herbs for an herb pot. My son insisted on using his bare hands to help do the planting and was full of dirt by the time we were done. By the end of the weekend everything was planted and by the middle of the summer I will be swimming in tomatoes, which will be perfect for recipes and canning. Last week was one of my busier weeks so I relied heavily on my crock-pot. I tried a new recipe for Balsamic Pot Roast from the March 2013 issue of Family Circle magazine.

This recipe has 12 ingredients. It takes 10 hours and 15 minutes of total time, 15 minutes of which is active and makes 6 servings. Since I never have 10 hours to wait for my crock-pot I cooked the roast on high for 6 hours. I chose to serve the roast as is instead of with the polenta and sweet peppers. The majority of the time I make my own stock, but for this recipe I used store bought. Make sure to buy high quality balsamic vinegar. There is a great difference in taste between cheap and quality balsamic.

My family really liked the flavor of this roast. The balsamic kept the roast very moist and the sauce was perfect. I served the roast with brown rice, which worked well to soak up the extra sauce. I like that the recipe only has 11 grams of fat and 53 grams of protein, it was a nice change of pace to my normal pot roast recipe.

For the recipe go to Balsamic Pot Roast. Registration required. 

Gluten Free Artichoke and Tomato Pasta Recipe

Gluten Free Artichoke and Tomato Pasta

Today was flea market day. I have been looking for a new dresser for our bedroom and I refuse to buy anything new unless I have to. Growing up my mother loved garage sales, but there were few (if any) flea markets. When I moved to West Virginia I discovered quickly there is a whole culture of flea marketing. I felt like a fish our of water at the first few that I went, but now that I have lived here almost 11 years I have grown to love them. The same people often go every weekend; there is food, great treasures and they are the best place to find anything you need for your house. After some bargaining I was able to find two great dressers which I am going to restore and they will look great in our house. I love projects and they help to keep my sanity while staying home with my two boys. Since I have been busy with various house projects I made sure that the meals that I prepared last week were quick and easy. One of the recipes that I tried was for Artichoke and Tomato Pasta from the May 2013 issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

This recipe has 11 ingredients. It takes 25 minutes of total time, all of which is active and makes 4 servings. I did make a number of changes to the original recipe. First since I eat gluten free I used gluten free ziti. Second it is finally vidalia onion season so I used one for my sweet onion. I purchased a 14 ounce can of artichokes so I used the whole can instead of the 6 ounces suggested by the recipe. Finally after I added the tomato mixture to the pasta I allowed it to cook for an additional 5 minutes.

My family normally is not big fans of gluten free pasta. However, they all loved this recipe. It worked very well to being made gluten free and the use of additional artichokes worked deliciously. I found that I didn't have to add much salt to the tomato mixture since there was already salt in the artichokes.

For the recipe go to Artichoke and Tomato Pasta Recipe.

Watercress Pesto Recipe

Watercress Pesto

I make a lot of pesto in my household. Especially in the spring there is something very comforting about a big plate of pasta with a pesto made from greens. Even my two picky boys can agree that pasta is delicious and will eat it happily. Since basil pesto can get boring I love switching up the pesto that I make with various spring greens. Last month I even tried a delicious asparagus pesto, which turned out perfectly. My husband is a big fan of greens that have more of a bite, while my kids would be happy eating basil pesto frequently. This week I tried a new recipe for Watercress Pesto from Martha Stewart Living.

This recipe has 7 ingredients. It takes 30 minutes of total time, 20 minutes of which is active and makes 4 servings. I only made a few changes to the original recipe. First I made two versions, one gluten free and one with regular pasta. I did not use whole wheat spaghetti for the regular pasta, my family will not eat it (and I have tried I promise - every brand and they still hate it). To toast the pine nuts I used a skillet on the stove, very easy just make sure to watch them and they should only take a couple of minutes. Make sure to adequately salt the pesto, it will need a fair amount.

My husband and I thought this pesto was good. I would suggest adding more garlic, I like my pesto pretty garlicky tasting. I also would add a fair amount of crushed red pepper. It can be a little bland without it. The addition of cheese would also be nice, Romano would work nicely with the flavors.

For the recipe go to Watercress Pesto.

Asian Style Chicken and Rice Recipe

Asian Style Chicken and Rice

I have two boys and each of them has their own unique food habits. My youngest loves cheese while my oldest has decided that he is currently not eating any. The youngest loves spicy foods, my oldest hates them. They can both agree on a few foods. Rice and chicken are two of their favorite foods. They will literally eat plain rice out of the fridge as a snack. I like rice as much as the next person, but they take it to a whole new level. Since they can be hit or miss with so many other foods I try to make chicken at least once a week and rice is always a popular side dish. This week I tried a new recipe for Asian Style Chicken and Rice from Everyday Food magazine.

This recipe has 9 ingredients. It takes 50 minutes of total time, 20 minutes of which is active and makes 4 servings. This recipe was very straight forward so I only made a few changes. First the sliced shiitake mushrooms that I could find and purchase were 5 ounces. So instead of using the remainder in another recipe I just added all 5 ounces. Since I added more mushrooms I found that my total cooking time was increased by approximately 5 minutes. Also make sure to trim the extra fat from your chicken thighs or your rice will end up greasy. Finally, I made my own chicken stock which I do not salt. This allows me to control the amount of sodium in my recipes.

While the title of this recipe is Asian style, the recipe resembled Southern style chicken and rice. The ginger added flavor, without making the dish taste overly Asian inspired. This would be a recipe that people that like traditional American cooking would enjoy and not even notice the ginger. That being said my family liked this recipe, especially my two boys. The rice turned out perfect and the chicken was very moist.

For the recipe go to Asian Style Chicken and Rice.