Chocolate-Walnut Cupcakes

From My Martha Stewart Cupcake book.

These are an amazing gluten free/grain free muffin. They are also pretty low in sugar so they make a great snack.

6 large eggs separated
1/2 C sugar
1 3/4 C finely ground toasted walnuts (or pecans or any other tree nut)
3 oz bitter sweet chocolate finely chopped1/4 tsp salt
1 TBSP orange zest

The directions are IMPORTANT!!! I screwed this up on the first round. Read carefully.

1. whisk yolks and 1/4 c sugar until pale and thick.
2. in separate bowl toss together nuts, chocolate, zest, and salt. sprinkle over yolks but do not stir in.
3. place egg whites in heat-proof bowl over simmering water, whisk until room temperature (not hot!!!). Remove from heat, whisk on high until soft peaks form (it's meringue)
4. then add remaining sugar and whisk until peaks are stiff and glossy.
5. fold egg whites 1/3 at a time into the yolk mixture...do not over stir!!!

put batter into muffin cups and cook at 300 for 30 min.

Peanut Butter Banana Cookie

These are awesome! And almost not terrible for you. They are modified from a Sesame Street Cookie Cook book my mom picked up at the dollar store. The book was surprisingly not full of sugary terrible recipes. They have one for a carrot cake cookies (yes, with lots of carrots) and another for granola cookies. I am right now looking for things to send the kids for snack and lunch treats that will be yummy and nutritious. I figure these have a lot of good protein to help their little minds function and not so much sugar that they will crash later (approx 2g per cookie added not counting the sugar from the banana).

1 C flour (I used wheat with no probs)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

1/4 C butter (I used coconut oil since I am out of butter)
1/2 C /1 banana
1/2 C peanut butter (unsalted, no sugar added)
1/4 C unsweetened apple juice concentrate (I had a pear juice one that I used)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla


Beat wet ingredients, mix dry then add to wet. Scoop on to baking sheet and cook at 375 for about 8 min.

Mine were a little soft so I would probably add about another 1/4 C flour and maybe a little less concentrate since they were plenty sweet.

Day 17 and Day 18: Remodeling is getting in the way

With all the projects, we have been less than interesting. On Thurs a wonderful friend make us dinner. It was lovely for us to sit and have dinner while the kids ran around like crazy people.

Friday was of course...chicken on the bone. We grilled chicken legs and had tomatoes and mozz cheese to celebrate the 70+ degree weather we are having. I love Feb in Georgia.

Back to remodeling.

Day 16: Not a meatless dinner

We had sausages from a local butcher. They don't use local meats, but they at least make the sausage them selves. Mac and Cheese, Broccoli, Corn, roasted peppers, onions and mushrooms...and my kids eat like horses.

Day 15: The Middle East

One of the things I love best about my husband is that he loves food, really good food. He lets me experiment. But he also loves to eat food from other cultures. He loved being in the middle east, especially when he was a company commander and he got out into the cities. He still dreams of the lamb roasted on a spit in some guys back yard.

While I have not perfected lamb (but will happily keep trying), I have a pretty good falafel recipe. Falafel is basically a chickpea 'meatball'. We like ours with naan (also called lavash). The key to the naan is to either grill it or pan cook it so it is nice and hot and sears the outside. I usually make a chutney to go with it, but Rob doesn't like that.

Tonight I am adding bacon wrapped dates...mmmm....bacon.

To answer your question: Yes, my kids eat this stuff and yours will too. Maybe not the first time, but after a few tries.

As an update...Rob worked late, and we didn't do the date :-(

Day 14: Half Way

Heading into the home stretch. Trying to get a post a day is a challenge to say the least.

Tonight is pork chops Parmesan

Lightly fried chops, topped with some parm cheese and sauce.

Spinach fettuccine

Veggies (salad, beans, corn)

I really wanted to make Mayan Chocolate Truffles but didn't make it to the store due to a dr appt for the kids running 1.5 hours behind. Oh well, will make for another day...maybe tomorrow :-)

Day 13: Pizza

That's all!

Day 12: Steak...mmmm

This morning the older ones let us sleep a little late (that is after Gabe woke us all at 5am looking for Anthony...who was in the room with him already). They had cereal. The we had sandwiches. Then we broke a water pipe. Then we fixed it. Then we went to friends.

Ate Steak, hamburgers, salad, queso, cupcakes, and homemade ice cream.

We put the younger boys to bed and let the older ones watch a movie. Then for a first...the adults played cards and had adult conversations. Progress.

Day 11: A great day to be a Rossi

The boys woke up to pancakes. I have found a great recipe that allows me to do most of the work the night before and gives us beautiful tasty pancakes. They are super flavorful and are great in the summer with just a little butter and fresh berries.

The recipe calls for soaking...but if you don't want to, you don't have to. But, it does make the batter supper yummy.

We also made cookies with a friend. I use Martha Stewart's Sugar Cookie Recipe (she rocks). Usually I am a sugar cookie failure, but these always turn out good.



For lunch we made our own lunchable with crackers and ham I cut into hearts. Are you feeling the love?

Finishing off dinner with Turkey (not veal) scallopine and leftover scalloped potatoes.

Day 10: Back in the Saddle

I cooked a real meal tonight. It was GREAT!

Meatloaf:
1-1.5 lbs ground beef
1/2 bell pepper
1/2 onion
1/2 C bread crumbs
1/2 C (ish) tomato sauce, ketchup, spaghetti sauce (my choice this time since I had some left but not enough for a meal)
1 egg

Squish together, put in pan, cook at 350 for about 45-60 min. I like a little ketchup on top too!

Potatoes Au Gratin

I added some spinach to the potatoes in the the middle layer.

Day 9: Almost meatless Wednesday

Again, Rob was gone at dinner time, so I made a lazy dinner of leftover chicken on a big salad for me and quesadillas for the kids. Since I work out in the evenings most days, this was a nice easy dinner that we all scarfed down. The best part was the fresh bread that I baked this morning.

Day 8: Roasted Chicken

OK. Many of my friends talk about making chicken this or that, but still my favorite way is to roast a whole chicken. I melt about 2 T of butter and mix with 2T olive oil. Add seasonings (this time salt, pepper, garlic and sage). The trick is to rub some of the mixture in the layer between the skin and the meat. Put in pan and cook appox 20 min per pound plus about 15 min. I also put a lemon in the carcass to add a little something extra. If you like to eat the skin, roast without a top for about 3/4 of the time. If you want to take the skin off, cook covered the entire time.

We are side dish lazy most of the time. I did fresh broccoli and salad and some left over sweet potato and regular potato fries.

Day 7: Loosing Steam

Must refocus. Today was a rough day at the Rossi Household. We had water 'issues.' But at least the city was responsible for this one, so it didn't cost us any money.

For dinner, we did kitchen sink risotto. Pretty much I take leftovers and put it in with risotto and serve. I just use the directions on the back of the container, then add my stuff in with the last of the water. The boys eat it, but they have never been big fans of stuff mixed together. They will get over it, or starve...whatever!

We also had spinach salad and bacon wrapped dates. And the best part...Gabe liked the dates. My picky eater tried it without whining then announced, "Now that I am 4 I like dates." Woohoo!!!!

Day 6: I love my...

Baby Back Ribs. Especially when my favorite man is cooking them. He marinates them over night, then slow roasts them, then grills them...MMMMM




Now I know many of you think that surely the Super Bowl means we will eat junk...and we do, a little.

But, we made our own fries

and chips

and dessert (homemade ice cream)

and queso with chips.

Day 5: Pizza

This morning my favorite husband made me bacon and eggs. I fail at cooking bacon, and my eggs are just descent. But Rob can cook great bacon. MMMMM....bacon!

Tonight Rob and I are headed to the Chart House with friends. But the boys have requested pizza. I make my own crust...not that it is any better for you, just fresh from the oven pizza tastes AWESOME.

Day 4: Chicken on the Bone

My kids have an affinity for eating chicken on the bone. They like to talk about where the chicken lived before, how it runs, and then thank the farmers for giving us the dead, yummy chickens. So we had chicken legs with a bbq rub on the grill. I love my baby for grilling in the rain for us.

For sides, we do a lot of prepackaged plain vegetables. Tonight was broccoli and a veggie mix of carrots, green beans, and zucchini. Also made tarragon potatoes (boil diced potatoes, add butter, olive oil, and tarragon...stir).

Many ask what I feed William...all of the above is the answer. He loves carrots and zucchini. Any meat is a winner. And he hasn't met a carb he didn't like. I do use jarred food to add in things that he would still have trouble eating if not pureed, but for the most part, he feeds himself.

Sorry no pics, the boys just eat way too fast.

Day 3: Spaghetti and Meatballs

This is a cheat. The meatballs are already made as is the sauce. Heat and serve! The kids did not eat the meatballs the first few times, but now they love them.

Spaghetti Sauce

*4 Cans of Diced Tomatoes (15 oz.)
*1 Can of Tomato Sauce
*1 Pepper, Diced
*1 Onion, Diced
*3 Cloves of Garlic
*Seasonings of Your Choice

Heat olive oil in a hot pan and saute peppers, onion, and garlic. Add the cans of diced tomatoes and tomato sauce and cook for approximately an hour. I use my hand blender and puree cuz Gabe picks out the onions and peppers if I don't. If you like chunky sauce, don't puree. I usually end up freezing half (at least).

Meatball

*3 lbs. of Meat (Turkey, Beef, Sausage, or a Combination)
*1/2 Cup of Parmesan Cheese
*1/2 Cup of Bread Crumbs
*10 oz. Package of Frozen Spinach
*2 Eggs

Thaw and smash the water out of the spinach. Add remaining ingredients and mix. Add seasoning if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. This makes about 2-2.5 dozen for me. Plenty for freezing.

Day 2: Sloppy Lentils

For breakfast I made muffins...that the kids won't eat. But Rob and I really liked them. Here is the original recipe, and then my modification in parenthetical and italics.

Double Strawberry Jam Muffins
Adapted from this Prudent Baby recipe.

Prep Time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 15 to 20 mins

Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour (1 C whole wheat flour)
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (standard whole wheat flour will work too)
1/3 cup sugar (1/4 C honey)
1 tablespoon baking powder
pinch of salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil (1/3 C coconut oil and 1/3 C applesauce)
1/2 cup strawberry yogurt (1/2 C buttermilk...cuz I didn't have yogurt)
strawberry jelly or jam

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine dry ingredients and whisk together. Combine yogurt, oil and eggs in a measuring cup and beat together with a fork. Pour the liquid into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Grease a muffin tin and fill each cup 1/2 way. Make a little divot with your finger and scoop jam in (1 1/2 teaspoons). Cover jam with more batter and then smooth out with your finger. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool and then use a butter knife to loosen and lift out muffins. Makes makes regular sized muffins.

The muffin is actually a bit boring. Think I will add a bit of cinnamon or vanilla next time. Also, I think these would be awesome as a PB&J muffin. I will try that later next week. Will make a great snack for after gymnastics.

For dinner it is meatless Wednesday. I am making sloppy lentils.



The kids ate some. Rob and I would eat them again.

Day 1: Sea Bass

And so it begins...with cereal (again...I'm lazy). The kids had sandwiches, carrot sticks, and raisins/banana for lunch at school. I had left over beef bourguinon (
that William stole half of).

But for dinner

Chilean Sea Bass with Macadamia nuts and a mango cream sauce


Roasted golden beets, turnips, and onions


Kale chips (requested from kids...how could I say no)

Frozen peas (Gabe's favorite)

Fish is always a winner at our house. But Rob and I were unimpressed with the sauce. Maybe with orange instead of lemon juice next time. The kids did in fact eat the kale (this is the 3rd or 4th time I have made them and the 1st that they ate them willingly). The beets and turnips were not winners...except for William who inhaled everything.

As you can see by the mostly empty table it was a success.

Here Goes Nothing...

So this month I will post everyday what we are eating. The recipes, pics where I can, and the reviews. Yes, I intentionally picked the shortest month cuz I am lazy that way.

This is not an attempt to eat healthier or convince you to cook all the time. I don't do either very well. However, I hope that you will see that for the most part you can make the majority of your meals at home, have your kids eat it, and feel good about what they are getting.

The fine print: For the most part I use grass-fed and pastured meat, dairy, and eggs...probably about 90%. Most of our veggies are organic or local (about 70%). But we do have goldfish and cereals. I like ice cream. Rob refuses to eat real maple syrup. I aim for 1 dinner and 3 lunches to be meat free each week; but, "we are meatatarians...it's a personal choice."

Hope you find some recipes that will inspire you too!