something for everybody

If you are like me, you are dreading the days when football season ends. If you are like my carnivore, you could probably care less. I realize this seems backwards, but it is what it is in our family. Either way, you may be preparing for a Super Bowl party. (Hey, we can all use an excuse to get together again now that the holidays are behind us.) If so, here are my suggestions on how to make sure you have something for everyone who shows up:

First, and most importantly in my book you should have cheese dip. I'm not gonna give you a recipe for this one. You can find pretty good white queso in your grocery store these days. What I am gonna insist on is that you invest in a heated chip and dip tray. Honestly, one of my favorite wedding presents.

Now if you happen to have a lactose intolerant friend, I have another idea. (Can you even imagine being allergic to cheese? My worse nightmare!) Whip up a quick cilantro rich guacamole in your food processor and voila, you have a gorgeous green dip that is sure to please.

But, let's think beyond just chips and dip. What about the meatheads in your crowd? There are sure to be a few. What's better than mini bites of meat? I suggest Memphis style barbecue meatballs. They are sure to satisfy. Oh, and you can make them vegetarian friendly too.

Of course, there will be the classics in your crowd that are looking for wings. I suggest you try these nearly naked drummies instead. They may require your carnivore breaking out the grill on a brisk day, but if yours is anything like mine he loves to cook things over an open flame any time of year.

Some people will certainly have a sweet tooth too. Instead of grabbing a tray of stale cupcakes with hardened and strangely colored frosting from your grocery store (you know the ones with the little plastic footballs in them), grab some fresh fruit and make this simple honey mascepone dip. Berries and melon would be great. Plus, its a no-cook recipe for you!

If you have a bit more time on your hand you could make these adorable tarts. Just grab some seasonal fruit (perhaps apple and pears), a pre-made pie crust and you will have mini desserts in no time. Everyone likes little sweet things.

While we are on the subject of fruit, I would like to suggest my grown up version of jello shots (which just aren't a good idea people) - rum soaked chilled pineapple bites. Sure you'll have beer and whatnot to drink, but why not eat your alcohol too?

On the other hand, as the recently pregnant and currently nursing mom, I would be remiss if I didn't include a wonderful pregatini. This lime fizzy is sure to make your moms-to-be feels special. Just make enough for the whole crowd, because everyone will likely want a glass.

Enjoy the game...and the food and drinks too!

a set of mixing bowls

As I am watching the State of the Union, I am reminded of when in school you debated whether America was a melting pot or a salad bowl. Truth be told, its probably a little of both. Just like my household and our palates. Me and my carnivore agree on some basic things - like fried potatoes and shredded cheddar cheese. Who doesn't like that dynamic duo, really? On other things we are more separate - clearly he is the meatatarian (He'd have bacon on everything if he could) and I am not (I love avocados myself). These breakfast bowls are just one example of how we mix our tastes.

First, I started by making my homemade garlic hasbrowns. You can click here to see how to make these. At the same time I also fried up a few slices of applewood smoked thick cut bacon for my meat loving man. In a separate skillet I sauteed a handful of baby bella mushrooms and a few slivers of red onion in olive oil with salt and pepper. Once these were all ready I made the bases for the bowls. I, not surprisingly, started with a bed of mixed greens for mine. I then added potatoes to both. The bacon went on the carnivore's bowl and the veggie mix on mine. Some shredded cheddar was sprinkled on and allowed to melt while I fried up two eggs. I placed these on the top and then sliced up a bit of avocado to place on the side of mine with a dollop of sour cream. If I had tabasco in my house I would have added a dash of that too.

Served up with a short glass of OJ, and a large cup of coffee or two (baby omnivore is teething and none of us are sleeping), these bowls disappeared quickly. See, we can all just get along.

if i only had a brain

Let's face it, motherhood isn't easy. Not that it isn't the best thing that has ever happened to me, it is. Its just I think I left half my brain in the delivery room. When I tell you about how to make this dish, I have to admit a few things. First, instead of 1/3 cup of milk in the corn muffins that I served on the side, I put in 1/3 cup of vegetable oil. And I didn't realize it til they were already in the oven. I know, what you are thinking. Okay, not good, but not the biggest baby brain freeze ever. Well, how bout this - I started to cook red beans and rice and realized, not only did I not have enough rice, I also had no red beans. Again, not such a huge deal if you didn't know that I had been to the grocery store - with a list - just hours before. What can I say? Thanks to the carnivore the dinner was salvaged, but we came very close to just ordering pizza.

To make both a vegetarian and a carnivore version of this classic cajun dish you will need:

1 cup of uncooked rice
4 cans of red kidney beans
1 package of red beans and rice seasoning
1 link of smoked sausage
1 package of soysage (spicy as possible)
1 tblsp of olive oil
salt and pepper

Begin by slicing both your real and faux sausage. Brown them in separate pans. The fake sausage will need a bit of oil. The prepare two large pots. In each add in two cans of beans and half of the seasoning mixture. Once the sausages are ready add them in as well. Stir thoroughly and cover over a simmer for at least 30 minutes. Then start some long grain white rice in a cooker. I also baked corn muffins during this time - such as they were. Once everything is ready pile it all together in a big bowl and dig in.

See, it really isn't that hard...if I only had a brain!

the simple life

Recently the carnivore sent me a link to a "recipe" by Paula Deen. If you know my carnivore, you know he loves him some Paula. We even took a trek to Tunica, Mississippi a few years ago for his birthday dinner at her casino buffet. And boy was it good! Just like on her show, everything was drowned in butter. And true to form, the recipe he sent me also called for butter. But that's about it. If you haven't seen it, here is the link. In essence you open a can of peas, add butter, and heat. Now, I do make my peas in a similar fashion, but I wouldn't put it here on my blog as a recipe. Its just common sense.

Having said that, I am a bit embarrassed to share the following recipe for bar-b-que chicken. Its almost too easy. But here it goes...First, gather the following ingredients for two servings:

Chicken parts, bone in skin on, organic and hormone / cruelty free is possible
(I used 4 legs and two thighs from Whole Foods)
1/2 cup of your favorite ready made BBQ sauce (homemade or store bought)
1 tblsp of powder garlic
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Grab a large ziplock bag. Place your chicken in it. Add in the garlic, salt, pepper, and half the BBQ sauce. Toss it until all parts are well coated. Set aside on counter. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken in oven safe dish. Cover with aluminum foil. Cook for one hour. Remove dish and take off foil. Pour off almost all of the fat, leaving just a bit in the bottom of the dish. Baste pieces with the rest of the sauce. Return to oven and cook another thirty minutes.


Just like that you have a finger lickin' good dish for your carnivore. In fact, it was so good there may or may not have been some plate lickin' in my house. Don't look now, Paula, I am fast on your heels with simple dishes that please!

menu ideas:

When I baked this chicken for the carnivore I also baked some "chicken" for myself. I had the faux breaded breast by Quorn. We also had actual corn - using an errily similar method to Paula's peas - as well as some sauteed green beans.

chip off the old block

Baby omnivore has started solid foods. I am pureeing as many different fruits and veggies as possible in hopes that he has a wider palate than his dad. So far so good. One of our biggest success stories has come in the way of sweet potatoes. He loves them. His father - not so much. That's not to say my carnivore won't eat them, I just have to dress them up for him. For example, I recently roasted some sweet potato chips, and got the raving review, "those aren't bad." If you knew my carnivore and his aversion to all things not wrapped in bacon, you would know this actually is a big deal.

I began this recipe a few days before when I made cinnamon honey butter. You can find the recipe here. (I made this for Christmas gifts this year with all organic ingredients and got wonderful feedback.) On the day I made the dish I preheated my oven to 350 degrees. I then peeled a large sweet potato and sliced it into thin chips. I placed these in an oven safe dish in a mostly single layer. I then dotted the chips with a generous portion of the butter (about 3 tblsp) and put them into the oven to bake. I removed the potatoes once they started to brown and shrivel, about 20 minutes. I then sprinkled the whole dish with generous crumbles of brown sugar (about 1 tblsp) which promptly melted into gooey clumps from the heat of the potatoes.

The result was small cinnamon infused chips that literally melted in your mouth. The hint of honey and brown sugar provided just the right amount of sweetness. And while it might not be the healthiest way to get this superfood in your family, it beats them not enjoying it at all in my opinion. In the meantime, I will keep praying for my little foodie baby to turn into a gastrokid...and maybe even convert the carnivore a bit too.

on top of old smokey

Spaghetti is a go-to meal in my house. The carnivore is especially fond of it. As my father likes to say, he only likes to eat it when he's by himself or with somebody on days that end in Y. To see how we normally make this dish just click here.

In many cases we each have a simple red sauce, pasta, and meatballs (or fake meatballs in my case). And while I have found that the fake ones are pretty good, sometimes while he is having his regular meaty main dish, I like to try some veggies he won't touch. Recently, I sauteed some baby bella mushrooms (that I cleaned and halved) along with some fresh spinach leaves in olive oil and garlic powder. Tossed with a tomato alfredo sauce  and topped with grated parmesan the dish was divine. (The sundried tomato pesto on my french bread wasn't too shabby either.) The mushrooms were earthy and mixed well with the strong spinach, both of which stood up well to the sweet sauce and buttery cheese. (Also, as my Real Simple just recently reminded me that the mushrooms are much lower in fat and calories. Good for a new mom trying to drop that baby weight.)

Other ideas I have tried out are grilled eggplant and sliced red peppers, roasted broccolini and fresh tomato chunks, and whole green olives and goat cheese crumbles. My point is this, if you are in a family with a veghead like me and a carnivore, think outside the box. Don't think the vegetarian has to have a facsimile of meatballs to be happy. In fact, fresh veggies are often preferable. See whats in season and give it a try. We really won't miss that meatball, even if it rolls on the floor (BTW in my house the dogs would make quick work of that and the song would have been much shorter).

What combos can you think of? Let me know below.

Its easy as ABC

Grilled cheese is my ultimate comfort food. They are also a good lunch that the carnivore and I can enjoy together on the weekend. I mean what's not to love about crunchy buttered bread and melted gooey cheese. And while my carnivore with his limited palate never wants anything more than the basics, I occasionally like to experiment with my sandwich.

Since there are so many showy apples at the stores these days I decided to switch things up a bit by adding a few slices of a pretty pink lady. I also used a nutty oat bread and colby jack cheddar. For a final flair I buttered the outside of my bread, but brushed the inside with nostril burning horseradish mustard. The result was amazing. Sweet and spicy all at the same time. (I think a stronger cheddar would have been even better to balance with the juicy warmed fruit and the chewy bread.) And it was as easy as ABC - Apple, Butter, Cheddar. Even baby omnivore gets that!

What things do you do to a simple grilled cheese to make it more special? I'd love some new suggestions!

super bowl

Sometimes there is nothing more comforting than a big bowl of stew for dinner. Now, if your carnivore is anything like mine, he may wonder what you are having for dinner after the soup appetizer, but I promise you can beef it up (pun intended) enough to fill up anyone. This bowl of soup is simply super.

To make these two stews gather these ingredients:
Two quarts of broth, at least one veggie
1 package of stew beef
1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
2 bags of frozen mixed veggies
2 carrots peeled and diced
2 small yukon gold potatoes, diced
1/2 large white onion, finely diced
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 can of white beans
2 tblsp of olive oil
salt and pepper
italian seasonings
1 lb of elbow pasta

Start by with either two crockpots, or two large pots, or one of each. Put the heat or flame on low. Add in 1 tblsp of oil to each. Add the beef into one with some salt and pepper. Next add half of the onions in each. In the vegetarian one add in the celery (you can also add this to the carnivore pot if your guy will go for it). Next add in the broth and  frozen veggies to both. My hubs like the plain mix with green beans and peas, I like the more exotic one with okra and lima beans. Pick what works for your family. (It is all more veggies than my carnivore would normally eat.) Then pour half of the can of tomato sauce in each. In the veggie pot, add the white beans for protein. Then add in the fresh carrot and potato to each. Salt, pepper and season both. I like italian seasonings like oregano and garlic, but you can add just about anything that appeals to you. Stir each (with separate spoons) and cover. Let cook for several hours - til the veggies are fork tender. In a separate pot boil salted water and cook elbow mac according to package. When you are ready to eat, put a bit of pasta in a bowl and then top with the stew. Eat while steaming hot.

The great thing about these stews is not only can you set one or both up in a crock pot at the start of the day and forget about it, but you can also freeze your leftovers (there will be plenty). Simply defrost and reheat over a low flame or in the microwave whenever you need a quick meal. One tip though, don't add in the pasta til you are ready to eat. Storing it in with the rest of the goodies will lead to all your broth disappearing and your pasta growing to gargantuan size.

Humble and hearty, this stew will have you coming back for more. Hope you enjoy!

P.S. I am entering this in the Charity Souper Bowl in honor of Miss Kitty. 

the incredible versatile egg

The carnivore came across the picture of this recipe the other day as he was downloading the latest 500 pics he took of baby omnivore. (BTW our child now poses for pics. I think he thinks his dad is paparazzi. He will be sorely disappointed when they don't follow him around at school I am sure.) . See, stuff I make for lunch often escapes his view. The only exceptions are if I make it on the weekend, I recreate the recipe for him, or he comes across it here on the blog. When he saw this egg dish he exclaimed, "what is that?" I explained it was something he certainly wouldn't eat. And while he agreed, he also pointed out that the possibilities are limitless. And I have to agree.

First, this recipe. Start with a small corn tortilla. Heat a 1/2 teaspoon of vegetable oil in a skillet. Warm tortilla on both sides until it is no longer stiff - about 10 seconds. Place it on a plate and set aside. Crack an egg in the still warm pan and pop the yolk. Sprinkle in some shredded cheddar cheese. Fry until done. Flip as needed. Place egg on top of tortilla. Top with a dollop of sour cream and a then a tablespoon of sun dried tomato bruschetta. Dust with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Eat while warm. The tortilla is starchy comfort. The egg is filling protein. The sour cream gives the dish a nice tang, while the tomato pesto gives it depth. Delicious!

As for variations, you could try several things for your carnivore. Like instead of sour cream, which my guy won't touch as it is on his white condiment no-no list, you could top the egg with freshly grated parmesan or manchego cheese. You could also add crumbled bacon or sausage instead of sun dried tomatoes. Of course, if you have a family with a larger palate you could try things like guacamole, fried onion crisps, chorizo, bell peppers, or black beans. As the carnivore said, possibilities are limitless. What ideas do you have? Let me know below.

can't judge a book by its cover

My dear carnivore is a former offensive lineman and thus a big guy. Often we go places and he is the tallest guy in the room too. Not surprisingly, some people find his mere presence intimidating. I, however, am not one of them. In fact we were dating for over a week before it dawned on me just how much bigger he is than me. You know what they say about love being blind and all...

Some dishes can also intimidating. Some can scare people at the very mention of their name. (Think souffle.) Risotto unfortunately falls into this category for many people. Again, I am not one of the people who feels this way. (And as often as Giada cooks it on TV I assume she feels the same way.) It is simply a special kind of rice that is cooked slowly. And today with the proliferation of many ready made packs, you and your carnivore can enjoy this at home any night. Heck, your carnivore can even make it for you! Plus, you can transform it to flavors that you love - parmesan, mushroom, garlic. This rice dish is buttery and creamy and can be made to suit any palate.

So whether you pick up a box (good for a start if you are truly intimidated) or if you make it from scratch, this sinful starch will be scarfed off your plate in no time. And, I promise, its not that hard to make. Check out a great recipe here. Its like our mixed breed puppy, who may or may not have some pit bull in her. She may look like a scary bone crusher, but she is the sweetest and most timid dog you will ever meet. As the saying goes you can't judge a book (or a dog, or a carnivore, or a dish) by its cover...

What's you favorite way to make risotto? Let me know below.

menu ideas:

Recently I served parmesan risotto with english peas. The carnivore had breaded fish fillets and I had mock crab cakes (both found at whole foods).

nacho mama

January means a lot of things to a lot of people. It marks the beginning of a new year, and along with it usually some resolutions. I am trying to get to the gym more and to bed earlier. In my house it also means something else - bowl season. See I am a southern girl and I care more college football than my husband. Seriously. (You might find this even more strange if you knew my husband played at the collegiate and pro level.) I watch all of the games, even the ones with goofy names. And when I do, I want food that I can eat with my hands while my eyes are glued to the TV screen. Nachos are perfect. They are also easily made in vegetarian and carnivore versions.

Start by putting your oven on a low broil. Then brown some ground beef in a skillet. Add in 1 cup of black beans and one can of diced tomatoes (drained). Stir these together with a bit of salt, pepper, and chili powder. At the same time in a small sauce pan stir together the 2 cups of black beans and a can of diced tomatoes with chilies. Heat over a low flame with salt and pepper to taste. Next lay out two baking sheets. Cover each with your favorite corn tortilla chip. On my carnivore's I add the browned beef mixture and shredded cheddar. On mine I add the beans and shredded pepper jack. Broil until cheese is melted and gooey. I like to top mine with fresh avocado pieces and some sour cream.

Happy new year everyone! Good luck on your resolutions. Gotta run...football's on.