Archive for the ‘Cooking’ Category
You’ll Want to Try This Farro Salad
Thursday, May 9th, 2013
Last weekend, I had the best salad of my life. Honestly, I have not stopped thinking about it since. Naturally, I bugged our host for a recipe and didn’t stop until she wrote it down. I just didn’t want to get it wrong. Turns out, it’s nearly impossible to get wrong. Unless you’re like me and try to substitute barley for farro and overcook it until it’s mushy. Just a note: don’t do that.
I’m telling you, this salad will have you asking, “Farro, where have you been all my life?!” Ready for the recipe?
Farro Salad
You’ll need: (more…)
Posted in Cooking | 8 Comments »
Milk Bar + Recipes
Wednesday, February 13th, 2013
Here’s a super cute idea for after school, parties, or anytime you and the kids need a dose of warm fuzzies—a milk bar. All you need is milk, cookies, and fun milk bottles*. You don’t even need festive straws, although we think they make the milk taste extra awesome.
Prepackaged flavored milks are loaded with sugar and yikes, chemicals. Here are four flavored milk recipes that feature natural ingredients and put you in control of the sugar. (more…)
Posted in Cooking | 11 Comments »
My Favorite Belgian Waffle Recipe
Friday, January 18th, 2013
© photos Dave K Cooper
Everyone in our family looks forward to weekend mornings. The kids wake up, race downstairs and turn on the TV—something that’s banned during the school week. I wake up, brew coffee, fire up the skillet and get to work on making a batch of fluffy Belgian waffles. Dave brews his favorite strong tea (something he brought back from his visits to London over the years) and sets the table.
Once the waffles are ready and the bacon is crisp, we sit down and plan our day. It’s such a simple thing, and yet, those waffles? That breakfast? It’s become a family tradition. A delicious one.
Belgian Waffles
makes 8 waffles
(more…)
Posted in Cooking | 5 Comments »
Cooking | Easy Steel Cut Oatmeal
Thursday, January 3rd, 2013
Getting the kids up, ready and out the door for school each morning is a feat. There are lunches to be packed, backpacks to be checked, hair to be tamed. I find myself channeling my inner drill sergeant, “Go! Go! Go! Deploy! Deploy! Deploy!”
It’s a lot. And in there somewhere, is breakfast. Typically, my kids do the American-kid thing: cold cereal. But on mornings like this morning, when temperatures are in the 20s, I try to get a hot meal in them before they head out the door.
The problem with hot meals is that they take a while and our morning time is limited. Take steel cut oatmeal. It’s a 45 minute commitment. We don’t have that sort of time. But a few years ago, I stumbled across something that rocked my school-week-breakfast world: 10 minute steel cut oatmeal. It’s so simple and easy. You have to give it a try. (more…)
Posted in Cooking | 9 Comments »
Our Favorite Hot Cocoa Recipe
Tuesday, December 18th, 2012
photos © Dave K Cooper
It has been pretty unseasonably warm this year. But that hasn’t stopped my wintery cravings for rich, delicious, soul-warming cocoa. It’s so good. So good, I must share. And that’s what I’m going to do. Because I love you. Below is our favorite recipe. It calls for real chocolate and milk. It’s easy enough, so kids can help mix up a batch. (more…)
Posted in Cooking | No Comments »
Cooking | Easy Side Dishes for Everyone
Thursday, November 15th, 2012
Country Crock: Where food and family come together. Make Good Habits More Delicious. It’s part of a series celebrating mealtime together. Check out pt 1 + pt 2.
I have picky eaters. Sometimes it makes cooking a drag. Okay, I’ll be honest, lots of times it makes cooking a drag. But I have learned one simple, easy, and healthy way to get veggies into my kids—roast them.
All you need is a vegetable of your choice, a little olive oil and a pinch of salt. Here are four of our favorites.
Posted in Cooking, mealtime | 4 Comments »
Cooking | Chocolate Chip Pie
Monday, October 22nd, 2012
I don’t know if it’s the Autumn leaves or crisp mornings, but I find myself in a full on pie baking mood. And you know what? I don’t care to fight it. So today, I thought I’d share one of my all time favorite pies: Chocolate Chip.
I have Dave’s mom to thank for the introduction to this slice of heaven. It changed my life. No exaggeration. It’s basically a big ol’ chocolate chip cookie nestled in a pie crust. People, it’s a pie crust hugging cookie. Tell me that doesn’t sound delicious. While some prefer this pie served cold, I go for warm and melty. And I say, if you want to put a scoop of vanilla on top, you go right on with your bad self. I’m a lover, not a judger.
I asked Dave’s mom for the recipe to post here, and bless her, she delivered. Because a pie this good deserves to be shared. Enjoy. (more…)
Posted in Cooking | 5 Comments »
DIY Mini Caramel Apples
Wednesday, October 17th, 2012
It’s no secret I’ve become obsessed with creating a mini Halloween party. There was the bunting, witch hat and mummy. Today, it’s mini caramel apples. (more…)
Posted in Cooking, Halloween, Parties & Celebrations | 7 Comments »
