blue eyes....

i know this blog is about food, but my goodness look at those eyes!  jcrew, are you out there?  is there anyone out there who reads this blog who knows someone. . .  who knows someone. . .  who might know someone. . . who works for jcrew?  anyone?  i can see him  in their magazine.  hell, on the front cover.  okay, okay, okay.  enough already.  but i am marshall's aunt, so i can brag and boast without sounding obnoxious,  right?  i mean, it's not like i am saying he looks like me or anything... anyway, my nephew marshall is turning 8 tomorrow, so the family got together to celebrate. we have always been good at that. we love a reason to eat good food and top it off with a wonderful dessert. my sister-in-law made a lemonade pie, and had a lot of filling left over, so this "sandwich" was made from the leftovers.  its two graham crackers with the lemonade filling stuffed in the middle.  all the kids went crazy over these - they were gone within minutes. some even double fisting (i'm not naming any names, though). the recipe is out of southern living magazine, so you know it's good. they always seem to put out good ole', tried and true recipes. i wasn't there to watch it come together, but the ingredient list is short and so are the instructions. what i do know, is that it was delicious.  here's what you need:

1 (12oz.) can evaporated milk
2 (3.4 oz.) packages lemon instant pudding mix
1 tb. lemon zest
2 (8oz.) packages of cream cheese, softened
1/2 ts. vanilla extract
1 (12oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 (9inch) ready-made graham cracker crust
thawed frozen whipped topping
lemon for garnish (optional)

whisk together evaporated milk and next 2 ingredients in a bowl for 2 minutes.
in a separate bowl beat cream cheese and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy.  add lemonade concentrate, beating until smooth.  add milk mixture and beat until blended.  pour into crust.  cover and chill 8 hours or until firm.  dollop each slice with whipped topping.  this light dessert is perfect for these hot, smoldering, sweaty days we are having.  the sandwiches freeze nicely, too.  so whip up a batch, eat a few, save the rest later.  and, please feel free to forward this photo on to your contact at jcrew...

simple seared scallops

do you buy fresh or frozen fish?  i buy both.  i think most people still tend to think that "fresh" is better than frozen, when in reality, a lot of "fresh" fish is sold on the market is up to nine days old.  pew!   frozen seafood can be superior in quality to fresh products.  sure if you live near salt water, than fresh is the way to go.  but if you don't, consider frozen.  many fish and shellfish are "flash frozen" within hours of harvest.  it may take several days for the same fresh seafood to make it to your local market.  just something to consider.  i like to buy frozen scallops from costco.  they are easy to defrost, and they are perfect when you are in a bind for dinner.  a quick, simple meal can instantly become quite elegant.  i made this meal for myself and brian the other night and it was delicious.  in a saute pan heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil, you can add a touch of butter if you must, but it's not absolutely necessary.  pat the scallops dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  when the oil is shimmering add the scallops.  don't move them!  let them cook on one side for 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes.  i chopped some fresh chives over the top, for color and the subtle taste of onion paired nicely.  the "sauce" you see in the photo is the natural juices the scallops gave off after i plated them.  so, next time you are in the mood for seafood and the options don't look good, check out the freezer section, you might be surprised how good frozen seafood can be!

corn sautee

have you ever seen more beautiful corn?  i picked up an ear at whole foods this week simply because the corn was red.  i have never seen or eaten red corn before.  i made this for myself  and served it with a salmon cake and grilled asparagus.  i simply cut the kernels off the cob and sauteed them in a little olive oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper.  doesn't garlic just makes everything taste better?  i have to say, after i stopped staring at this gorgeous new found food item that was sitting so pretty on my plate and decided it was time to taste it,  i was a bit disappointed.  not overly disappointed, i mean it's not like there was a kernel left on my plate or anything, but i was hoping to love this new corn i discovered, but i just didn't.  i like traditional yellow and white corn better.  this red corn was very starchy and gummy.  it still tasted good, but it was thick.  but please,  don't take my word on this, if you happen to see an ear at the market, pick it up.  it's fun and exciting to try new foods.  especially when they are so pretty.

beet soup

i think you either love beets or you hate them. i love them. no surprise there, huh? now that i think about it, i don't know if there is any food out there that i hate. to me, beets taste like health. they have this earthy, robust flavor that i just love. my mom thinks they taste like dirt. i can see that.  beets are extremely good for you.  they are loaded with vitamins a, b1, b2, b6, and c.  the greens have a higher content of iron compared to spinach.  they are also an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, and iron.  if that's not enough, beets have long been known for their amazing health benefits for almost every part of the body.  here are just a few:  anemia, blood pressure, cancer, constipation, dandruff, detoxification, gout, varicose veins.  i find it so interesting to know what i am putting in my system.  i love when i come across an article that lists the reasons why we should be eating certain foods.  i feel better when i eat pure, simple, fresh, healthy food.  don't you?  there is a blog that i think anyone who visits this site should take the time and check out.  not only does beth have an unbelievable amount of knowledge about food, she is also a certified personal trainer.  so if you are ready to take that step and get healthy once in for all, from inside to out, give beth a call.  here is her blog.  if this beet soup just doesn't excite you, check back shortly, i am going to make a delicious roasted beet salad in the next few weeks.  i promise this salad just might change your mind about them!

for those who are interested in trying this soup, here is the recipe:

4 medium beets, peeled and cut into medium dice
2 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
1 cup of 2% greek yogurt
2 teaspoons of chopped fresh mint, plus a few sprigs for garnish
1/4 cup of reduced fat sour cream

in a medium saucepan, cover beets and garlic with 2 1/2 cups of water.  cover and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.  cook for 30 minutes until beets are tender.
remove from heat and pour beets and liquid into a blender and let cool for about 30-45 minutes.  stir in lemon juice, yogurt and mint.  blend until smooth.  when ready to serve, add about 1 tablespoon of sour cream and garnish with mint.
****make sure beet mixture is cool before you blend. 

i love lucy

lucy's market, that is... i fell upon this place last week needing to pick up some farm grown tomatoes and i am now hooked! i have always seen this place, but i've always gotten my farm produce elsewhere (sorry lucy). but not anymore. i met the owner, kim, who is adorable, helpful, efficient, and she keeps a tidy market. i was leaving last friday when i saw a bag of pita bread. the bag was moist with steam, that's how fresh they were. i got in my car and ate one instantly on my ride back home to make lunch. then proceeded to eat another. best pita i have ever eaten. no joke. i think she gets her bread from a local bakery - she must, being as fresh as they were. i went back today because my client has requested more of lucy's market tomatoes. these are the real thing. i have a feeling i won't eat tomatoes throughout the fall and winter, when they are no longer in season. they're that good.  over the weekend i made a caprese salad, a blt, this greek pita sandwich, and a burger using this pita bread for the bun.  it's was so stinkin' good!  i'll post about that on a later date.  so, if you are in the atlanta area, check out lucy's market.  she has gorgeous peaches and strawberries, green beans, onions, eggplant, jams, and more!  it's on roswell road, in buckhead, at the intersection of w. wiecua and roswell rd.  you will love lucy's market, i promise you.

peach mango salsa

this salsa is so wonderful.  i made it last night for two clients.  one i served with grilled chicken breast that was marinated in olive oil, dijon mustard, honey, and lime juice. the other i served with mahi mahi.  the peaches in the market right now are to die for.  pick the ones that are soft but still firm and that give off their fragrant peachy odor.  i like yellow peaches as opposed to white.  i just do. don't know why really.   to make the salsa i diced up 4 peaches, two mango's, one jalapeno, about 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro, and the juice of one lime.  toss all together and top on fish, chicken, tacos, or pull out a spoon and dig in!

the power of cherries

i'm am loving the fresh cherries that are in season now and at every grocery store in town.   i like to keep a big bowl on my counter and nibble on them throughout the day.  i like that hand to mouth thing.  sorta like chips and salsa (well, nothing like chips and salsa, who am i kidding?).  did you know that cherries may be 10 times stronger than aspirin or ibuprofen in relieving arthritic pain and can reduce the pain associated with inflammation, arthritis, and gout?  it's true.  i read a few years back in men's health, that 13 fresh cherries have the same amounts of concentrations of potent antioxidants that 2 ibuprofen have.  interesting, huh?  give it a try next time you have an ache or pain.  or, put it in a cocktail and fend off any potential hangover!

back from vacation

when i go on vacation, i go on vacation.  i stay up too late, i sleep in too long, brian and i go on long morning drives, and we scout out where we are going to eat lunch.  with that being said, i don't always make the best decisions when i eat out...which is preferably, if not always at a seafood shack, over looking the ocean (with a beer in hand)...with a cool ocean breeze...calamari...fried calamari...and a fried grouper sandwich...and onion rings...and a second beer,  you get the point.  so when i got back into town last night, i wanted (and desperately needed) some fresh, homemade food.  problem was, i pretty much emptied my fridge before i left town, and was not about to go to the market.  but, i did have enough around to make this delicious soup.  it's a simple vegetable soup with a lot of flavor.  start by sauteing some diced onion (please dice it small, no one likes big chunks of onion in their soup, trust me on this), minced garlic, yellow pepper (or any color), until soft.  throw in a can of drained and rinsed black beans, a can of diced tomatoes, about 1/2 cup of frozen corn (use fresh corn if you have it), a 32 oz. box of reduced sodium chicken broth, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, fresh cilantro, salt and pepper.  bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes.  i did add a small amount of rice, but it is definitely not needed.  empty out your fridge and get creative with your soups, they are really delicious

my traveling sandwich

i just got back from a wonderful beach vacation with my husbands family.  we didn't leave until 10:00 am on saturday, so lunch was a decision that needed serious consideration.  the thought of eating fast food makes me nauseous, but the thought of not eating lunch makes me even more nauseous. so i packed this sandwich.  my favorite sandwich.  prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, on a toasted baguette.  i was so excited about eating this i think i talked about for the first 30 minutes of our road trip.  the conversation went a little like this.  me:  "ready for lunch?"  him:  "no".  me:  "why not?".  him:  "it's 10:15".  me:  "so".  him:  "we just ate breakfast".  me:  "oh yea,  but it's going to be really good".  him:  ""i know, but it's still 10:15".  me:  "fine". i let it rest for a while, and what seemed to be hours i asked again... "ready for lunch?"  him:  "no".  me:  "why not?".  him:  "it's 10:30".  me:  "well, i'm eating mine".  him:  "good for you".
i was looking so forward to this sandwich that i honestly could not think about anything else. so, i decided i was going to eat mine.  i opened up my foil wrapped sandwich, opened up a bottle of water, laid a paper towel on my lap, and was about to have my own little picnic.  what happened next will never happen again.  i made a dreadful mistake.  i placed the mozzarella so that it hung over the bread and had contact with it.  the bread in places was soggy.  i almost started to cry. i'm not kidding.  (my stomach just flipped thinking about it.)  i loathe soggy bread.  i could bore you with the conversation that followed between brian and myself, but i won't.  i was whining at this point, nothing appealing about that.  long story short, he offered to give me his sandwich, but his bread was soggy too.  (otherwise,  i would have taken him up on it).  i ended up taking the top off and eating an "open face" sandwich.  it sucked.  oh well, it happens.

watermelon and feta salad

i am on a big fruit kick lately. i've been adding them to salads, making salsas, even putting them in my cocktails.  i made this salad for one of my clients this week and they told me how delicious it was, so i thought i would share it with you.  it's super simple.  arugula, watermelon, feta, and lemon zest.  the dressing is made up of only lemon juice and olive oil.  watercress or spinach would be good, too.  i make a salad every night for my clients, so i don't want to serve the same ole' salad over and over again.  i try to add different vegetables, use a variety of lettuces, and make various dressings. but i sometimes get in a rut.  so, i am asking you for your favorite salad recipe.  will you do that?   send me your best, most unusual salad - dressing included. (it's really only fair, since i shared this one with you).

proscuitto crostini

prosciutto is possibly my favorite meat, for sandwiches anyway. it is very lean and totally surpasses ham, but it is really expensive ($30.00 a lb.). i love making a simple prosciutto, tomato, havarti, fresh basil sandwich, on a grilled baguette. i like to make this sandwich when i am heading out of town and have packed a cooler for the trip, it holds really well. i will even take it on an airplane when my flight is around meal time (heavens forbid i miss a meal!). friday nights are generally the one night i will eat a heavier meal, like a burger or pasta - something along those lines. i will even make a simple appetizer or dessert from time to time. i made this crostini last weekend and just loved it. i had all the ingredients, except for tomato. which i actually did have if i just looked out back at my garden (they just started turning red). i simply grilled a few slices from a baguette, topped it with basil, mozzarella, and prosciutto. when you purchase prosciutto, make sure it is shaved very thin. so thin it's hard to take off the paper they put it on and frustrates you thin. trust me on this. so instead of the same ole' bruschetta of tomato, mozzarella, and basil, give this one a try. i am sure you will like it.

sweet potato puree

when i cook meals for my clients, i make a protein, a starch, a vegetable, and a salad. i like to keep the starches healthy. so if i make mashed potatoes (rarely), i use fat free milk and chicken broth - never butter or cream. often times i will make mashed cauliflower, instead of mashed potatoes. when i cook rice i choose brown rice. i love quinoa and whole wheat orzo. i also love sweet potatoes. in 1992, the center for science compared the nutritional value of sweet potatoes to other vegetables. considering fiber content, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins a and c, iron, and calcium, the sweet potato ranked highest in nutritional value. i'm sold! bake the sweet potatoes in the oven for about 1 hour. after they are soft i peel them and put the sweet potatoes in a food processor with a little fat free milk, a pinch of cinnamon, and salt. puree until everything is well incorporated. i like to serve sweet potato puree with fish, turkey meatloaf, crab cakes. i almost always cook a green vegetable with it. very pretty colors on the dinner plate! sweet potatoes go really well with asian flavors. just so you know...

calamari and bananna peppers

i love fried calamari.  when i eat out and it's on the menu, i'm ordering it.  i don't know what it is about it that i like so much, because squid really has very little taste.  i think i like the chewy texture of it.  okay, and that's it's fried. i decided to make a batch a few weeks ago for me and my mom.  i bought a few squid tubes along with a few bodies at whole foods.  sliced the tubes into 1/2" rounds and soaked the squid in club soda for 30 minutes.  i honestly don't know if the club soda made a difference or not, but i liked the idea of it.  while it's soaking, heat up some olive oil.  i didn't have a thermometer so i kind of just guessed when the oil was hot enough. if you don't have a thermometer, test one piece at a time.  i then drained the squid on a towel and tossed it in some flour.   fry the squid until it's golden brown, about 4 minutes.  i tossed in a few banana peppers, which gave it a nice tang. served it with marinara and a few lemon wedges. so, so good!  it wasn't heavy, oily, or over breaded.  it was very light and flaky. 

so, if you're like me and love fried calamari, try making this. it's actually quite fun.

georgia on my mind

ah, peaches. i love them.  but they can be so disappointing sometimes when you don't pick a good one. you know the ones that when you bite into them, the juice runs down your chin and wrist.  those are the ones i like.  and these were just that.  i made grilled balsamic peaches tonight for my clients and think they turned out great.  (i sure hope they did at least, i have never tried this recipe...)  i simply poured a bit of balsamic vinegar and a sprinkle of brown sugar over the tops and grilled them on an indoor grill pan for 2 minutes.  topped them off with a few fresh thyme leaves.  having fruit after dinner is such a great alternative to dessert, and it can usually satisfy that sweet tooth.  i bet a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of mascarpone and fresh mint would be out of this world.  i think i just might treat myself to that tonight (the ice cream version, of course).  it's peach season, so pick up a few and try grilling them - just as they are.  it makes the fruit so sweet and juicy.

home grown

why is it that home grown tomatoes taste superior to what you buy at the grocery store?  seriously, it's as if they are two different fruits.  (i hate referring to tomatoes as a fruit, i want them to be a vegetable.  they should be a vegetable.)  my tomatoes just started to turn red last week and i have been gobbling them up.  i am growing both grape and roma tomatoes,  my two favorites.  i had a few slices leftover from a baguette that i almost threw out last night, but remembered all the tomatoes in my garden that were begging to be eaten.  i wish i had more bread, because i would have made this my meal.  the tomatoes where unbelievable.  i also picked some basil from my garden and made a simple bruschetta.  i grilled the baguette slices, then rubbed them all over with garlic.  in a small bowl i mixed diced tomatoes, chopped fresh ciliegine mozzarella (they are the size of a gumball - usually referred to as "cherry size"), chopped basil, salt, and pepper.  mound the mixture as high as you can get it on the bread slices and enjoy.  this is what summer taste like to me.

arroz con pollo

my kitchen has smelled so good today while i made this traditional chicken and rice spanish dish. brian and i are going to watch germany and spain play each other tonight, which decides who will be playing netherlands in the championship game of the world cup.  i am really looking forward to it.  the game that is.  well, the meal too.  let's be honest.  i really wanted to make paella, but i don't have a paella pan, and it makes a lot of food, so i decided on this very popular dish.  i had just about everything in my kitchen, so that made the decision even easier.  you basically soak some saffron in 1 cup of warm water and add it to 1.5 cups of arborio rice.  while that is hanging out, make the sofrito - chopped onion, pepper, and garlic.  heat some olive oil in a large dutch oven and cook the sofrito until soft - 10 minutes.  add 4 oz. tomato sauce, 1 beer, 2 cups of chicken stock and chicken to the pot.  i used 4 chicken thighs and 2 drumsticks.  just because.  well, i thought the drumsticks would look nice in the photo.  that's the real reason ( i probably won't even eat the drumsticks).  anyway, once everything has come to a boil add the rice and saffron mixture.  stir to incorporate, bring back to a boil, reduce, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.  i added a few spanish olives and fresh parsley to the dish for color.  i don't think that is traditional, but i like a little color in my meals. this turned out almost like a risotto, which made me very excited.  the saffron turned the rice into the most beautiful color of burnt orange.  i only took a tiny bite of the rice to see how it tasted, it is awesome!  i can't wait to eat this with brian, open up a bottle of spanish wine and watch the game, which will probably be one of the most exciting games so far of this tournament.

popeye would be jealous

this is my favorite way to eat spinach, with garlic chips! it is so darn good. i absolutely adore garlic. i like to use it in just about everything. there is something so good about the soft texture of the spinach with the crunchiness of the garlic. to make garlic chips you need to heat the olive oil and the garlic slices up at the same time. this keeps the garlic from burning (which is always so easy to do). as the olive oil heats up, it slowly browns the garlic. keep an eye on it though, it happens quickly. i also like to add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the oil for a little kick. it's amazing how much raw spinach you need to make such a small batch of sauteed spinach. this portion here is from a 10oz. box. i couldn't even imagine eating all of that, but when you sautee it and it shrinks down to nothing, it's possible (trust me, i did it). spinach is unbelievably good for you, it is rich in antioxidants and high in iron, just to name a few benefits.  next time you are in the produce section of your market, pick up some spinach and make it with garlic chips...you'll thank me.

a lazy, tasty cookie sandwich

i have told you before i don't bake, and that i don't normally eat desserts.  but, there are times i just want a little something at the end of a meal to finish it all off.  there is nothing new here with this dessert, but i thought i would share it with you so you can keep it in your "recipe file".   so on those nights that you want something sweet and satisfying, that's not too indulgent, you can put these together.  the cookies are those 100 calorie packs from nabisco (i think?) filled with frozen vanilla yogurt.  each package contains 12 cookies, so they make 6 tiny chocolate chip cookie sandwiches.  perfect.  i found that using a melon baller is the easiest way to assemble the sandwiches.  they also freeze really well.  so next time you buy a box of these 100 calorie cookies, make up the entire batch and put them in a air tight container.  your next sweet tooth craving will be satisfied in a flash!

cherry and jicama crostini

cherries are in season, so i made this fantastic appetizer for a client of mine to take on vacation. it's fresh, clean, simple, healthy, and light. i must admit, it's a bit time consuming, but hang in there and reap the end results! the simple ingredients work so well together. it's a crostini with a goat cheese and ricotta spread, with a cherry, jicama, and mint relish on top. start by dicing 2 cups of fresh cherries - this is what gets you. you have to cut the fruit away from the pit and then dice into smaller pieces. put on some music and just get into it! dice 1 cup of jicama. make sure to dice the cherries and jicama about the same size. chop some mint, add 1 teaspoon of red wine vinegar and mix together. season with salt and pepper. in another bowl, add 4oz. of goat cheese and 4oz. of ricotta, a pinch of cayenne and blend together. toast 1/2 inch baguette slices.  i like to cut my baguette on an angle, looks better and it makes for a bigger area to top everything on. spread the cheese mixture on top of the baguette and top with the relish.  that's it.  the colors are so gorgeous. and the sweetness from the cherries with the crunch from the jicama, paired with the tanginess from the goat cheese is out of this world.  take this to your fourth of july party and please all that's there.