Showing posts with label Lindsey Shifley Food Ambassador. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lindsey Shifley Food Ambassador. Show all posts

Friday, March 6, 2015

District 76 Scores BIG WIN for Food Transparency


I'm thrilled to announce a big win for school food transparency!

District 76 parents and staff now have access to Preferred Meals' school food ingredient lists (product specs).  At this time, parents or staff simply login and request product specifications available through the District's website shown above. "As we work with Preferred Meals to get additional information about the ingredients in the food provided through the meal program, we will be able to include that on the webpage."

How awesome is that!? I just signed up myself and I'm looking forward to getting updates!

Here is a link to the District 76 breakfast and lunch menu information page:

http://www.dist76.org/mealsprogram.aspx

Thank you District 76 and Preferred Meals for making this happen!

Speaking of FOOD, mark your calendars everyone!!!


Click the above picture or go here to read about what myself and some of our global Food Revolution Ambassadors have begun planning for Food Revolution Day coming up on Friday, May 15th!

I can't hardly WAIT!!

Happy Friday everyone!

xoxoL


Sunday, December 21, 2014

the pollen family table + the mullies family table


"this is the dish of awesomeness mom."
- mac

"i kind of like it. i really like the sausages. now can i get 3 chocolates?"
- tommy

"i really like it, it's the best thing ever."
- abbie

= my kids reaction over the pollan family table's inspired baked ziti (how i've never made this dish before... i don't know...)
12/19/2014




let's get to it.

i have been given the pleasure to review a new cookbook:

the pollan family table 

"My Grandmother Mary taught us, "Cooking is not a science, but an art, mistakes are ok, messes are fine - The pleasure is in the creating and the sharing of the result."
- Lori Pollan @PollanFamilyTable.


about two and a half years ago, i gave away/donated most of my cookbooks. i was in the early throws of our family food change and i reasoned if the cookbook didn't fit my new standards of clean food or if it wasn't gluten free, it just couldn't stay.

my perspective is evolving quite a bit. nowadays, i am drawn towards cookbooks that have something more to offer than just a required list of amazing recipes. i want a story. i want to go into an author(s) mind and go on a journey. is there a common thread to connect our kitchens and pantries? why do they love food? what made them write a cookbook? can this book help me & my family get more "cooked"?

the pollan ladies (corky, lori, dana & tracy) are the masterminds behind this new cookbook. lori, dana and tracy's brother, michael pollan, joined the family cookbook party and wrote its poignant forward.

from the get go, this book tapped into my earliest of food memories, the family tables that shaped my life. about a paragraph in, i looked up and closed two dampish eyes (i am a major weeper). first, it brought me back to sitting at my childhood family table with my mom, dad, sister and brother. our meals, our laughter, our ups and downs... growing up with mom's famous lasagna, waffles.every.weekend, steak dinners, tuna casserole (oh i need to make that again!). my dad unequivocally teaching me the art of food experimentation (close your eyes lindsey and taste this!)

secondly, it took me back to my "grandma.on.the.farm's" family table. my grandma dorothy canning everything from her huge garden; i can still taste her peaches on my tongue; her rolls were made by hand with local lard (cinnamon rolls were the very best); my favorite job was picking fresh beans from her garden for dinner (and eating them raw of course); she was the first person i had ever known to make homemade salad dressing (because my grandpa tom hated "that crap in the bottle").

thirdly, i traveled back to my aunt valerie's family table and my "grandma.on.the.lake's" family table where emil and millie inspired us to make and eat kolachki, potica, cream sausage, beet salad, cucumber salad, and crab dip with endless fruit-veggie-cracker spreads - the mullies kitchen sits in the footprint of their quaint cottage i miss almost everyday.

ooooohhhh the memories of these family tables and all who dined together with us!

this cookbook successfully wove together my past, present and future kitchens: memories of cooking and eating as a child, teenager, adult, wife and mom well into 14 years of marriage and a family food change. all of it swirling together with my current daydreams of my children (all grown up) cooking in their own kitchens and coming back home to me.

what kind of food memories will i leave in my children as my mother and grandmothers have given to me? will mac, abbie and tommy wax poetic about dishes from their childhood and request recipes to make over and over again?

so i just asked them: "what are your favorite dishes that i make?

mac: "the dish you made last night and homemade pizza"

tommy: "taco nachos with cheese"

abbie: "homemade pizza, taco nachos, ribs, the cheesy pasta we had last night and smoothies."

honest food sophistication.

gulp. i'm in the process RIGHT NOW of forging their food memories. i've made plenty of mouth watering dishes for the kids (+ plenty of thumbs down meals) but perhaps i haven't made any dishes often enough (other than pizza, tacos and nachos apparently) for my kids to be remembering them enough to request them.

this list must blossom in 2015.

what perfect timing for the pollan family table to enter into my kitchen. i clearly need some help in forging a shifley family table full of favorite meals. lori, dana and tracy all have kids, they all lead busy busy lives and these recipes work at their family tables. and that's exactly what i am looking for:

time tested
thumbs up
belly filling
simple
clean
dishes of awesomeness

to get my kids waxing poetic and coming back for more at our family table = a 2015 new year's resolution.

michael pollan explains it perfectly in his forward:

"My mother and sisters are not professional cooks, and this, oddly enough (or maybe not so oddly), probably explains why this eminently practical cookbook really works. Because most of us aren't professional cooks either. They never lose sight of the few core principles that set this cookbook apart: All the dishes can be made with ingredients available at any American supermarket; most can be put on the table in less than an hour (some in half that time); the recipes take nothing for granted and never assume lots of prior experience in the kitchen; and they all appeal equally to kids and adults."

this book is not a special diet book. anyone can cook from it no matter where one is on the food continuum. they don't overly proselytize about eating "healthy" or tell you to cut this or that out of your diet. the focus stays on cooking, sharing and togetherness around the table. they discuss the importance of using fresh, organic, local and sustainably sourced ingredients when you can & when budgets allow. if you are on a special diet or if you have an allergy, substituting for it should be a snap (many recipes are naturally gluten free!). i like to cook plant based as much as possible so i'm itching to try out the"vegetarian and meatless monday" section on my family. most importantly, their pantry item list is no fuss, simple and solid. i super love the "culinary ABC" section and "sage advice" - it is so helpful to have these vital tips & practical (best friend) explanations of cooking terms all in ONE PLACE.

the pollan family got me thinking about what kind of family table i want to create, about what really happens when we all get a chance to sit down and share a family meal. our table captures the full range of human emotions... a 5, 8, 10, 37 and 41 year old's happiness, sadness, frustration and excitement... you name it and we've been there. it's a pendulum swinging back and forth, teaching and breathing life into our hectic, hungry souls. thank you pollan family for helping me to embrace everything that happens when we sit down together.

so our pollan family table adventure begins with baked ziti.

this ridiculously simple recipe sent mac back for three helpings and sent us all to.the.mullies with my best cooking compliment yet. i subbed in some breakfast leftovers - farmer nick's bacon and sausage (a local lake county farm that produces antibiotic free, pasture raised livestock) that i buy now from our new mundelein gem: dakotah's indoor farmer's market. you better betcha the kids and i will be back to make those luscious turkey meatballs soon!!

baked ziti with bacon and sausage
inspired by the pollan family table's "golden baked ziti with bite-size turkey meatballs" pg 158

sea salt
1 pound gluten free ziti
4 strips of antibiotic free/nitrate free bacon
6 links of antibiotic free/nitrate free pork sausage
1 c of homemade tomato sauce (i had leftovers i needed to use!)
1.5-2 c grated manchego cheese
1/4 c grated parmesan cheese

preheat oven to 375 degrees. salt boiling water and add pasta. cook pasta until "al dente, about three minutes less than directions on the package. meanwhile, chop up the bacon and sausage. drain the pasta and transfer it all back into the still hot cooking pot. dump in about a cup of pasta sauce (mine was leftover, thick tomato soup) plus the meat and mix thoroughly. dump it all into a baking dish and cook uncovered for 30 minutes.

"it has some sort of cheese layer over it and the cheese layer makes me die of awesomeness because it is so good. it has bacon, i mean, who doesn't like bacon. i don't know how you did it mom, but you put all my favorite foods in one dish. i love it."  - mac

a worm hole has opened to my past, present and future. i am quilting my kitchen & cooking adventures into fabric made from food and family. for good food is the one thing we can never walk away from nor stop from doing. eating and cooking well is the one thing i hope my kids will do with or without me.

it's time to eat and cook more together for good food is for-ever. thank you pollan family for inspiring me and my evolving family table.

now i need to go call my sister - cuz i have a book i really need to talk to her about...


we have some recipes to tackle together katie!!!

i'm so excited your family will be joining my family in our new sister series:
to the mullies with the pollans - coming soon in 2015.

X+0=L


IT'S A FIRST MULLIES GIVEAWAY DAY!
comment below with your favorite childhood food memory (who do you remember first cooking with?) and i'll enter you into my.very.first.mullies.drawing for your very own copy of the pollan family table cookbook. on behalf of the pollan clan and myself, we can't WAIT to give it to you!

**the contest starts today and ends on 12/31/2014 so that you can join me in revolutionizing your family table in 2015**

here's mine:

my 1st "cooking" memory: in 8th grade, my mom called from work and asked me to get the blueberry muffins started. it was my first solo job. i thought to myself, "i'm making bread!" therefore, "mix by hand" = stick my fingers in the eggs, oil and powder and go to kneading town.  "wait... where is my ball of dough?" i'll never forget my mom calling me to see how it went and her laughing and laughing... when i questioned why it stuck so horribly to my fingers. she explained, "mix by hand" meant mix with a spoon/whisk you silly willy.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

a wholesome threesome for turkey day






bow ties + moto jackets = dakotah's sweet style


do you have your recipes all set for thanksgiving?

here is the lovely threesome i cooked up this weekend while talking, sharing tips and giving away recipes to my community. THIS is officially my favorite new weekend activity!

dakota's farmer's market = home of the lake county food patriot = townsfolk who are voting for local, good food sources with every dollar they spend.

i.love.it.

whether you are ready or not for turkey day, these recipes will surely rock your hungry mouth and save you time.  i heart recipes that you DUMP into a pot or processor and it does the work for you.

it's like one stop shopping.

a turkey day (any day) raw stuffing 
serve as a side dish, spoon over turkey, plop it on mashed potatoes or spoon into endive cups (choose any green leaf can work as a wrap) or make spring/eggrolls!  YUM.

1 c soaked raw almonds (soaked overnight in water and drained)
2 c soaked raw pecans (soaked overnight in water and drained)
1 c organic carrots diced
1 c organic cremini mushrooms sliced (optional)
1/2 c organic onion diced
1 c organic celery diced
1 organic apple or pear
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 c raisins or 3-4 pitted medjool dates chopped (optional)
5 sprigs fresh rosemary leaved(stems discarded) finely minced
small handful of fresh parsley leaves and stems minced
2-3 sprigs fresh oregano leaves (stems discarded) minced
10 sprigs fresh thyme leaves (stems discarded) minced
8-10 fresh sage leaves minced (stems discarded)
1/4 tsp tumeric
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp truffle oil
3-4 T of organic vegetable stock
juice from one lemon
sea salt and pepper to taste

DUMP everything into a food processor and pulse into a nice even chop. no processor?  dice, chop, mince and mix everything up yourself into a large bowl (it'll just take you longer).

the best cranberry relish evah (make it ahead!)
inspired by jamie oliver

1 bag fresh cranberries
1/2 c coconut sugar/nectar/honey (whatever sugar floats your boat)
1 organic apple peeled & diced
1 organic pear peeled & diced (optional)
1 organic orange (zest & juice)
1 tsp fresh grated ginger 
1 cinnamon stick
a pinch of nutmeg
a pinch of ground cloves
1.5 c white wine (i used kim crawford's savignion blanc) i usually use port but this works so well too!!!!

DUMP everything into a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high heat.  stir & cook to dissolve sugar.  once the cranberries begin to burst (about 5 minutes) bring the heat down to a simmer and continue stirring until the liquids reduce (about 10-15 minutes).  let cool before serving or before covering and freezing.  (thaw overnight in your fridge to serve)  cranberry relish makes a lovely housewarming gift in a cute mason jar!

a pomegranate + apple + mango salsa (raw) or chutney (cooked)
inspired by realfoodwholelife's 52 new foods recipe

1-2 pomegranates, seeds removed (approx 1 cup). 
1 organic honey crisp apple diced
1/2 organic pear diced
1 c mango (thawed from frozen or fresh)
1/4 of a red or white onion diced
1 carton of grape tomatoes 
juice from two lemons or limes (either will work great)
1 T coconut nectar or honey or brown rice syrup or maple syrup 
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
(1.5 c white wine - for making chutney)

first, marinate the onion in lemon/lime juice for 20 min to an hour at the bottom of the food processor or blender then DUMP everything else into the bowl and pulse to desired chunky-ness.  serve with organic tortilla chips. to make it a chutney: place all ingredients + white wine and cook it down low and slow until you get your desired consistency. i like to divide this recipe amount in half: keep one portion a salsa and make the other half into a chutney. no processor?  dice it all up and mix!

it's sheer heaven on top of your favorite piece of meat OR sweet potato latkes! some girlfriends and i ate them so fast the other night i didn't have time to take a pic!  here they are staying warm in the oven:


simple sweet potato latkes

organic virgin coconut oil
4-5 organic sweet potatoes (peeled & grated - i use my food processor!)
1/2 an onion chopped or sliced super fine
3 organic, pastured eggs
some cinnamon shakes (about a tsp maybe?)
a healthy pinch of sea salt
fresh ground pepper

combine all ingredients in a large bowl. heat a large pan (cast iron works great) on med heat and melt 2 T coconut oil. spoon patties onto the pan. cook 3-6 min per side and flatten with spatula.  season with s&p.


now go eat this lovely food with your family & friends, sip limoncello and find those lucky pennies!! 

happy happiest thanksgiving to all my gobblers!!

to the mullies we go...

xoxoL


ps

i'll be back at dakotah's farmer's market dec 13th to cook up a lovely risotto with the cheese peddler + a dairy free risotto too!! my santa apron is just itching to come out and play!  







Wednesday, November 19, 2014

a pusher love girl soup




i had two lovely debuts last saturday:

#1 my lovely homemade food rev banner - i know, i'm nuts... but i have a lot of fabric scraps and my brother in law kevin made me a super rad stencil, so i just HAD to.  (thanks a bazillion mom for teaching me how to sew such a long time ago!)  abbie's leapard duck tape holds it up quite well. ha!

#2 my delicious dairy free, gluten free cream of mushroom soup - it knocked people's socks off and i was shocked at how excited people were that it was df and gf! i had a good 10-15 people who could not have eaten it the "normal" way as they were either vegan, cutting out diary or living gluten free.  i hope you'll make it sooner than later in your kitchens whatever which way you like it... you could make it and replace that canned cream of mushroom soup from your favorite family recipe (green bean casserole much?  mmmmmm-kay?)  check out this great "toxins vs traditions" article by the food babe.

to the mullies with a cream of mushroom soup

a few T's of extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
3.5 c sliced cremini mushrooms divided
1 onion sliced thin
2 celery ribs sliced thin + leaves chopped
3 cloves garlic sliced thin
1/2 tsp dried thyme (1 T fresh)
2.5 T gluten free flour
1/2 c light coconut milk (you can add as much as 3/4 c here)
2 c organic rice milk (or almond milk)
2.5 qt (2 cartons) organic vegetable stock
sage infused sea salt (my dear friend terri also shows you how to make more homemade herbal salts here!  she knocks my socks off - i'm making every single one for my pantry!!!)
freshly ground pepper
freshly chopped parsley (optional as my kids would give me a thumbs down on the "grass")

heat oil in a large stock pot and add your 2.5 cups of the mushrooms, sliced onions, celery, garlic and thyme. (reserve 1 cup of sliced mushrooms to sauté on the side with oil + s&p.  you can add as a garnish later. however, if you have eaters who do not like the texture of whole mushrooms, simply skip this step). cook vege low and slow with the lid on until onions are translucent and juices have released (about 10-15 min). add 2 T flour to vege and mix for a few minutes - it should be clumpy and pasty = we are forming a "roux". slowly pour in coconut milk and stir until a smooth paste forms.  next, slowly pour in rice milk ad stir until mixture begins to thicken. pour in stock, mix and bring to a boil. reduce heat and simmer for 15 min. using a handheld immersion blender, whiz up until silky (or transfer to blender). season to taste with sage salt and freshly ground pepper. garnish with parsley + some sautéed mushrooms. enjoy a cozy crock or two with your friends and family.


see you again this saturday at dakotah's indoor farmer's market for three lovely thanksgiving inspired tastes:

pomegranate + mango + apple salsa (inspired by 52 new foods cookbook)
a raw thanksgiving stuffing/dressing (inspired by kimberly snyder)
apple + orange + cranberry relish (inspired by jamie oliver)


xoxoL


ps

big huge thanks to ulysses and the other fab MHS national honor society volunteers who helped me cook up a storm and pass out greens from the fremont community garden!  




Wednesday, October 29, 2014

come cook with me at the fearless kitchen!


come cook with me at the fearless kitchen on tuesday, november 4th!

**UPDATE!  bring a friend for FREE!  the promotion code will come up in your registration!**

have you ever heard of the lovely peterson garden project?  my girlfriend jennifer suggested i apply to be an instructor at their new "taste test" series.  i had learned about their stellar chicago projects through the food patriots and fell in love with them.

so i did.  i jumped. i applied. they have accepted me.

oh dear lord.

i have done plenty of cooking classes in my own kitchen with kids, done demo's etc... but never something all official like this for adults.  i love that it's set up to be for 1st time instructors, or for those who want to "test out" a new class concept.  

i'm so excited, i'm so nervous, i'm sure i'll feel like i have to go to the bathroom just like i did before i took the softball field.  it's time to go balls out once again!

it's my big.first.game as a cooking instructor!  fake it till you make it i say.

i hope you can come fill one of the lucky 20 spots.  be gentle with me.  we'll be cooking and eating three + food revolution recipes that i enjoy cooking with my kids.  i'll be sharing my tips and tricks to get cooking with kids, our own food revolution story and how i got involved in this whole real food waterfall with JOFR.  more than anything else, i hope you leave armed with a few new recipes, a belly full of good food (it's BYOB too!!!), inspiration to start cooking from scratch more often and sore cheeks from laughing with me in the fearless kitchen. 

minestrone soup
everyday chopped salad
simplest fruit salad
homemade ranch & a jam jar vinaigrette 

doesn't that sound delicious!?  

i'll see you there!


ps

i'll bring the music












Tuesday, October 28, 2014

food day chicago 2014 - hidden cash event










to dana garcia (co-chair and project lead for chicago food day) and her incredible team, CHEERS to one huge successful CHICAGO FOOD DAY 2014 - click the link and check out the amazing photo gallery and events that took place!  

what a thrill to help spread food education for all and thank.you.so.much for the opportunity to volunteer for this incredible event!  it truly was a highlight of my food rev ambassadorship so far and i CANNOT WAIT for next year:)  oh sarvin keep those laces on, as we'll be teaming up again... and my dear aubrey, thanks for getting up at the crack of dawn, getting on that train and joining our team without one clue to what it would entail - we sure rocked it out baby!   

let's light up the stars in our beautiful skyline 

keep cooking & eating REAL chicago!!!!!  MUAH!!





ps

i'll be following up about this experience + our mundelein meal planning/pot luck night with my teammate christina for another food rev blog coming up soon!  xxx

Saturday, October 18, 2014

to the mullies with 52 new foods


"the 52 new foods challenge is about more than the foods - it's about the journey the foods take you on.  along the way, you will experience failure and frustrations, successes and celebrations.  in the end, though, you will transform the way your family eats because of the experience you have together."    - jennifer tyler lee, author of 52 new foods challenge

oh my dear jennifer...

did you write this book just for meeeeeeeeeeeeee?!  

because it's exactly what i need to keep me plugging along in the mullies kitchen.

for what you have found in your kitchen is indeed what i have found in mine. 

if you're new to the mullies, here's a quick poetic recap on why i became a food ambassador a little over 2 years ago:

my daughter was a new 1st grader and a year behind in school.
struggling with paying attention, socializing, following directions, reading... 
intervention meetings were part of our worried life.
i decided to make a food change before the next panicky step (official ADHD diagnosis & ?!?)
went gluten free (gulp).
she was symptom free less than a month later.
what a celebration!
what a new gig to keep up!
spreading food education for all.
no longer cooking good food for only myself.
getting my kids to cook with me & change picky taste buds.
the evolution of a food revolution.

thank you thank you thank you for writing this book.

i dedicate this post to you, to all of the parents out there trying to find balance with... 

our kids
our schedules
our spouses
our friends
our lives
our health

"meet your family where they are, and move forward from there.  everyone will start at a different place, and everyone can make lasting changes.  this is your family's adventure, and like any good recipe, the secret is to make it your own."  - jennifer tyler lee 


this classic book takes it one week at a time, step by step to help us cook more real food and move off of the fast & plasticky (yup some foods have plastic in them!) processed food high way.  holy moly could i have used this book two years ago AND it's still relevant to me today as a mom and ambassador in the trenches, working to get my kids cooking and hoping to inspire others to ride along with me!  

let's tap into our inner indiana jones.

let's go after the adventure and the treasure we might not yet see in our kitchens, hearts and bellies.

so what if a snake (er... i mean... insert your picky eater here) scares you off and makes you want to jump off the train!

they do it to me all of the time.

this 52.ligit.map can help you + me stay.on.the.tracks.

each of the following recipes were cooked by yours truly and developed with gumption (except for jennifer's lovely brussel sprout chips) around a chosen few of her 26 fall & winter foods.  any of her 52 new foods can be found in bold throughout this post.  each of my recipes is gluten free and the produce gathered for the recipes was either from my organic garden, my local organic CSA share at midnight sun farm or the organic produce box program at all ways healthy. 

here we go, here we go, here we go now!!


PUMPKIN


banana pumpkin muffins

2 smashed bananas
1 c home roasted pumpkin pulp
2 local pastured eggs (midnight sun farm egg share)
1/4 c melted coconut oil
1 c coconut palm sugar
3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 c gluten free (gf) flour
1 tsp xantham gum
2 tsp gf baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

preheat oven to 350 degrees.  combine first 6 ingredients in stand mixer until fully incorporated.  in a separate bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients and slowly add to mixer.  using an icecream scooper, fill up your paper cups 1/2 way and and bake for 25 minutes.  place a toothpick down the center of the muffin and if the stick comes out clean, you're good!  (i also gently push on the top of a few muffins to see if they spring back at me).

how to roast a pumpkin

preheat oven to 350 degrees.  cut off your top.  scoop out the pulp and seeds (save the seeds for jennifer's savory or spiced roasted pumpkin seed recipe!).  rub extra virgin olive oil over inside of pumpkin.  sprinkle with sea salt.  wrap in a double layer of tin foil and bake for an hour.  once cooked, slice pumpkin in half and scoop out the flesh for your recipe.  jennifer's cookbook includes a different method that is just as good!





pumpkin gnocci

1/2 c home roasted pumpkin pulp
1 lb organic russet potatoes
1/4 c grated parmesan reggiano (or use cashew cheese to make it vegan)
1 pastured egg
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp sea salt
7-10 turns of freshly ground black pepper (adjust to your taste)
3-4 c gf flour
8 oz manchego cheese cut into small cubes (inspired by mambo italiano!)

christina erickson (girlfriend, mom, high school foods teacher and food ambassador) and i got our kids together for this fun dinner cooking party!  

using a food processor, combine all ingredients except for the flour until smooth.  transfer to a large bowl.  combine with 2 cups of flour.  continue mixing in more flour until dough is just thick enough to handle and shape into logs like play dough (you gotta use some gumption here!).  sprinkle flour over a large cutting board or clean smooth surface.  dust your hands and go to town making logs and balls.  gently press a cube of cheese into the center of the ball and smoosh over with dough to form a ball.  your kids will be super into this!  tommy (above first picture) was not wanting to take turns with the gnocci roller and had a little cooking tantrum (is it possible to be happy about a tantrum!?) you can also use your fork to make fun lines or just make plain ol ballz!!!  ...and hey, the thumbs-up come with thumbs-down... stay the course:)

watch tommy and i make sweet potato gnocci here! 



RAINBOW CARROTS


plum gumption sauce
tip: if you use the purple carrots in the sauce as you'll get a very purply sauce!  leave them out for a more traditional tomato sauce color (thanks for the great tip food ambassador terri!)

1 lg red or yellow onion diced
2-3 orange and white rainbow carrots diced
3-4 stalks of celery stalks (you can add in the leaves too!) diced
(i add in red pepper and zucchini diced sometimes too!)
1/3 jar of oven roasted organic roma tomatoes packed in olive oil
5-6 large quartered garden tomatoes 
3 plums pitted and diced
1 handful purple garden basil
1/2-1 red chili minced (optional)
1 c vegetable stock 
1/2 c white wine
coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

heat a 5 quart dutch oven (the video's recipe is doubled for a 10 qt dutch oven) on low heat and coat with a few T of oil.  sauté onion, carrots, celery to make your soffrito.  mix occasionally and cook low and slow for 20-30 minutes until veggies are translucent, fragrant and beginning to slightly caramelize.  add tomatoes, plums, chili, basil, vegetable stock and and bring to a boil.  once boiling, add wine, stir and cover.  turn burner down to low.  simmer for at least 45-60 minutes.  using a handheld emersion blender, puree.  or keep it chunky and lovely.  

excluding the soffrito base, this sauce recipe is one that changes with the contents of my fridge.  

watch our plum gumption cooking video here 




homemade ranch dressing (beware: its highly addictive)
i eyeball everything with gumption to taste.  here's my best guess and feel free to tweak it yourself.

about a cup of organic or soy free vegenaise
2 T 21 spice blend (trader joes or costco has this blend)
1/2 T each dried basil, parsely and chives
1 clove garlic minced 
1/2 sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
juice from one lemon
2-3 T plain yogurt (optional)
organic rice milk (i add this to thin it out... some like it thick, some like it runny... you pick!)

combine all ingredients and whisk until smooth.  play with ingredients!  i use sriracha sometimes, add ketchup, salsa or even sprinkle in old bay seasoning.  the combinations are endless.



APPLES, PEARS & QUINOA




to the mullies with breakfast cookies
ambassador christina (pictured in the gnocci recipe!), gave me the outline for this recipe over a year ago and i have tweaked it into this lovely concoction!

2 c gf oats
1 c cooked quinoa (usually have leftovers from dinner!)
3/4 c almond meal/flour or gf flour 
1 apple grated 
1 pear grated
3-4 mashed bananas
1 tsp salt
1 T honey
1 tsp vanilla
raisins & mini dark chocolate chips

preheat oven to 350 degrees.  mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined.  line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats.  place large spoonfuls of batter on the baking sheet and cook for 25-30 minutes or until browned.  


leftover pancake n crab cakes with apples and kale
make pancakes for breakfast and reserve a cup of batter for these crab cakes!

1 c leftover gf pancake batter (52 new foods has a great whole wheat flour pancake recipe!)
8 oz wild caught lump crab
2 green onions finely chopped
1/2 chili finely minced (no seeds)
1/2 tsp sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
coconut oil
organic apples


quick jam jar dressing

juice of 1 lemon
3 T plain yogurt
3 T avocado oil
pinch of sea salt
freshly ground back pepper
a squirt of honey

combine all crab cake ingredients in a bowl.  over medium heat, melt coconut oil and coat pan.  place two spoonfuls of crab cake into a patty shape and cook approx 3-4 min on each side until cooked through with a nice brown crust.  serve over a bed of curly kale tossed with dressing and top it all off with a ton of freshly chopped organic apples.



GARLIC


chimichurri
this recipe was inspired from a wonderful trip with friends to the dominican republic last year.  i recently brought this to a friends house and we piled it on top of gorgeously grilled new york strip steak.   hummina hummina.

1 small onion
5-6 radishes
2-3 green onions
1/2 c sliced raw almonds
3 cloves garlic 
1 jalepeno finely minced
1 bunch garden cilantro
1 bunch garden parsley
1 bunch garden oregano
1/3 c extra virgin olive oil
1/4 c red wine vinegar
2 T freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 tsp sea salt

place all ingredients into a food processor and whiz.  

chimichurri goes with everything as far as i'm concerned.  meat, fish, pasta, toast, soup... it's balls out.



BRUSSEL SPROUTS




jennifer, not only did the kids love to help me with this, but it totally beats the hellerrrrs out of kale chips (and we all like kale chips!)  

brussel sprouts
1-2 tsp melted coconut oil
pink sea salt 
freshly ground black pepper
(i love em with a little tequila lime seasoning on them too!)


peel em, toss em with oil and sprinkle with s&p.  i baked these for only 15 min at 350 degrees and took them out because they were done!  finger lickin good.






AVOCADO & ARTICHOKE


a crab salad with avocado & artichoke

mixed greens
sliced avocado
marinated artichokes & red pepper
kalamata olives
wild caught lump crab meat
homemade ranch
sriracha

the picture says it all.  oh yea.



a cacao and avocado smoothie/fudgsicle
my kids like this so much that i make a batch at least 2x's a week!  mac can make it on his own now, which is really cool.

2 frozen or fresh bananas
5 pitten medjool dates
2-3 T hemp seed
3-4 T raw cacao powder
1 avocado (flesh only)
1 scoop unflavored vegan plant protein powder (optional)
1 tsp vanilla
2-3 T almond butter
2 c chopped ice (not necessary if you are making fudgsicles)
3 c almond milk

place all ingredients into a high powered blender (i have a vitamix) and whiz.  add more almond milk if needed to thin.  if the kids don't finish the smoothie, i put it in the fridge and it's a perfect after school snack!  to make fudgsicles that bring us back to childhood, simply pour them into a pop mold and freeze.  briefly run the plastic under hot water and get those suckers out!




light up the food revolution with me!

let's strike a match and start.it.up with this brand new cooking map.  wanting more info? you can pre-order this puppy & get an exclusive cookbook bonus and definitely check out this 52 new foods challenge video for more inspiration.

turn up the music
get your apron on
invite a little chaos in the kitchen (my sanity comes and goes)
get chopping with those kiddos, family and friends
make & eat your own rainbow with 52 new REAL foods

play + cook + eat = a healthier & happier you + me!


xoxoL