Fiber One Trail Mix

My kids and I have been coupon clipping.  Really more for fun than savings since I can't seem to use the darn things like those women on "Extreme Couponing."  But we make a big game out of it at the grocery store and they seem to get into it.  Two bonuses:  1) Lessons in math and value 2) Gets them really excited about saving money (who knew???).

One trip we got a great deal on Original Fiber One Cereal.  Two boxes for like $2.00!!!  Well, it turns out that our enthusiasm got the best of us.  Apparently, Original Fiber One Cereal, while extremely nutritious, has a flavor that is...shall we say...subtle.  We tried it with honey, with straight up sugar, with raisins, one of the girls even tried putting syrup on it.  Nothing.  So there it sat...for like a week. 

Not one to waste, I desperately tried to think of something I could do with these sad boxes of unloved cereal.  After scrounging through the cabinets, I came up with an idea for trail mix using cereals.  With a big sporting season upon us, it seemed like a great solution.  There is a good bit of sugar in the mix, but for active kids and adults, the healthy trade-off is fair.  Not only was I able to use up the leftovers, but now they make sure to add Fiber One to the list when we go shopping. 

I usually portion the mix into plastic baggies or containers so they can grab a bag for breakfast on the go, lunch boxes, or after-school/pre-sports snack. See the bottom for a variation to turn them into cereal bars and don't be afraid to mix and match the cereals to your family's taste.  All the dry ingredients are optional/interchangeable so have fun and experiment. One note, the cereals you use should be rather hard because of all the mixing and crunching, so rice and puffed cereals probably won't work.

Fiber One Trail Mix

Bang for Your Buck Baked Ziti

Baked ziti is a family favorite - easy, warm, and serves a big crew.  As delicious as the perfect mixture of cheese, sauce and pasta is, it's a little lacking in nutritional content.  So how do we improve on something so yummy?  Bring on the veggies!!!  Adding a whole bunch of vegetables to the ziti will up the nutrition...and of course the taste!

I tried this out on a vacation for the first time and oddly enough, it's become a traditional beach house food for us.  While not exactly summery, it's loaded with good stuff.  Perfect for after a long day at the beach, to carbo load  before a big game or race, or just to feed your army of hungry kids any ol' time.  To make it even easier, you could toss the ingredients into a crock pot and cook on low for an hour or two instead of baking in the oven and heating up the house. 

The vegetables can be added, subtracted or changed to your tastes. So experiment a little.  Have fun!

Bang for Your Buck Baked Ziti

Spicy Shrimp Stew

The heatwave ended and the humidity has gone the way of summer vacation.  The smell of fall is in the air...finally!  For many of us, cooler weather means warmer foods.  I don't just mean heated up, I mean the kind of foods that warm your very soul.  The kind that put a dreamy, comfy smile on your face thinking about a hot bite, a good book and a cozy blanket. 

Everyone in our house had a satisfied smile after a hearty bowl of spicy shrimp stew.  As one of my daughters so eloquently put it, "It's not spicy on your tongue, but all inside of you." 

So take the soup pot out of its seasonal resting place and try this stew as a welcome to cool weather and happy homes. 

Spicy Shrimp Stew

Chili sin Carne (Vegan chili)

Fall always inspires me to make a big old pot of chili.  Yes, I'm well aware that it's still August, kids haven't damaged my brain that much!  But the weather has cooled a bit and thoughts of back-to-school had me yearning for something warm and hearty.  Often, simply omitting meat from chili can leave the remaining dish tangy and unbalanced.  Ground beef or turkey will impart a warm earthiness to chili that can be difficult to replicate.  After a little experimentation, I've come up with a non-meat chili recipe using mushrooms and Boca crumbles that is hearty and filling for even your meat-eating friends and family. 

Serves 6-8

Clean Out the Fridge Ratatouille

A trip to our local market usually (okay, always) leaves me lugging more bags onto the bus than I expect. A few weeks ago, I was smitten with the gorgeous zucchini, summer squash, eggplant, and peppers, not to mention the strawberries, tomatoes, radishes, peaches, and cucumbers. Sigh. What can I say, I'm a sucker for summer produce -- about the only thing I actually like about the summertime, by the way.

Now, the other inevitability that comes from farmer's market shopping, is that the week's stress and schedule gets in the way of my farm-to-table dreams. By Friday, I look into the fridge and am guilt-stricken. My once-beautiful zucchini are looking a bit sad, eggplant's got about two days to live, and those poor peppers... so wrinkly. Of course, there are about a zillion ways to remedy food waste guilt. My method: chop up a bunch of crap, put it in a pan, and call it ratatouille.

Clean Out The Fridge Corn Salad



Steven Depolo



Nothing says summer more than Fourth of July Weekend at the beach.  A whole group of us went to my family's beach house and spent three glorious days eating, drinking, sunning, playing.  It was wonderful and wonderfully exhausting.  On the last night, we had a fridge full of leftovers and very little energy to cook.  So I declared it "Clean Out The Fridge Night" and barred the use of the stove.  But what to do with all the random ingredients?  Yes, we could all have the leftover potato salad, cole slaw and hot dogs but wouldn't it be nice to have one new thing? 

So keeping the "no stove" rule in mind, I tossed together all the remnant goodies from the weekend's cooking and come up with a delicious and fresh tasting salad that livened up the leftovers.  The main ingredient, grilled corn, is one of my favorite summertime treats.  The grilling (especially over charcoal) imparts a delicious smokey, buttery flavor that complements the fresh veggies that you'll add to the salad.  If you didn't grill corn, regular corn on the cob or even canned corn could be used.  I've listed the ingredients I used but dig around in the fridge and I'm sure you could come up with a hundred variations.

Clean Out the Fridge Corn Salad
Serves 6 as a side

Taco Salad: Guilty Pleasure

Who said you can't have Doritos for dinner?? I found a way to make it possible and acceptable, with the help of a dear friend named Pete. It's his staple to bring to a summer BBQ, but I've made some simple changes to his already simple recipe. This recipe is super quick, packed with protein, and is quite the crowd pleaser. OK, so maybe Doritos aren't actually nutritious, but a healthy diet is all about giving in to your deep desires every once in a while, in moderation. If you are serving kids, what better way to get them to eat black beans & soy than to throw in some cheesy, crispy, crunchy treats. I know a lot of kids that would eat just about anything if you told them the recipe included something that came out of a vending machine. For the non-Doritos fans, you can surely substitute your run of the mill corn chip, but I'd certainly add some shredded cheddar to get the cheese effect. And what the heck, maybe add the shredded cheese anyway! Also, as I modified some of the ingredient's from Pete's original recipe, there is so much you can do to this to make it your own or play into your family's favorite tex-mex ingredients. My recipe is actually vegetarian, but if you are die-hard meat eaters, you could substitute 1 lb of ground beef or turkey. I'm definitely a meat lover, but find the veggie option makes me feel less guilty for the Doritos indulgence, and it's quite delicious. I didn't use olives this time, but that could be a great addition. In stead of straight tomatoes, mix it up with fresh pico de gallo. Add some jalapenos or chipotles in adobo for some spice. The options are endless, but I'm just going to start with the simplest version. In about 20 minutes, you can serve an army if you need to!

I should also add, that for grown ups, this dish is best served with a fresh, cold margarita while sitting on the deck. For kids or designated drivers, lemonade is a perfect match. Enjoy!

1 bag of pre-chopped Romaine lettuce

1 can of black beans

1 can of sweet kernel corn

2-3 tomatoes (or 8-10 cherry tomatoes would work as well), chopped

1 12 oz. bag of veggie crumbles (I use Morning Star Grillers found w/ frozen foods)

1 package Taco seasoning

Catalina salad dressing, to taste

Large bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos

Toss the veggie crumbles in a fry pan and cook as directed on the package; add the taco seasoning like you would to make any taco meat (usually 1 package per 1lb of meat/12 oz veggie crumbles). If you are using real meat, brown it. Let the crumbles cool - if you're in a crunch, throw them in the fridge for a bit after cooking.

Drain the beans & corn well, and chop the tomatoes to your desired bite size. Combine the lettuce, beans, corn, tomatoes, and crumbles in a big bowl, then toss with the Catalina dressing. As you portion it out, grab a hefty handful of Doritos (oh yeah!), gently crumble them in your hands, and toss them on top of each dish.

Serves 4-6, depending on appetites ... enjoy!

*Tip...If you are planning to have leftovers and enjoy it again tomorrow, add the dressing and Doritos individually on each serving rather than mixing them in with everything.

Penne with Summer Squash, Asparagus, Goat Cheese, and Ricotta

I may not have children, but I am the new owner of one very hungry husband, and as far as I'm concerned, that's pretty much the same thing. He gets cranky when he's hungry, near-tears, even. (Okay, that's an exaggeration, but my point is, when I need to get dinner on the table, it's got to get there. Fast.)

As a newlywed, I was completely shocked to discover that our evenings after the ol' 9-5 (or 9-9, as the case may be) were all but lost to thank-you cards, calls to family and friends, and sometimes a little narcissistic photo viewing. By the time dinner even enters our minds, it's 8:00, and out of desperation we ordered out nearly every night for two weeks. Pizza, Thai, Chinese, Pizza. Woof. Needless to say, we were in desperate need of a satisfying meal that showcased the best of seasonal produce, as well as my mad skills in the kitchen.

Enter: the quick, delicious, and dare I say -- healthy -- meal in a pinch!

Penne with Summer Squash, Asparagus, Goat Cheese, and Ricotta
Serves 4; Total time, 30 mins

Vermont Maple Salmon

I used to really dislike salmon.  When your only experiences eating it were in hotel ballrooms where it's mass cooked and over-heated, it tends to give you a negative impression.  But everyone loves salmon right?  It's so good for you, packed with good brain fats, and protein and omega something or others. A few better experiences and I realized salmon is pretty darn good when  it's cooked with a little TLC. 

This recipe made salmon go from "not so bad" to "Um Wow!" 

So maybe salmon doesn't come from Vermont.  After a taste of this dish though, you'd swear it swam around maple trees instead of up rivers.  The sweet maple syrup combined with the salty soy sauce makes this meaty fish really shine.  Practically speaking, it also helps the salmon to keep from drying out which is the cardinal sin of cooking salmon as far as I'm concerned. The delicious marinade and glaze works well in the oven or grilled.

Vermont Maple Salmon
Serves 2-3

Orange Teriyaki Rice Noodle Saute

My daughters have been really into Asian food lately so I figured I'd try something that was inspired by the East that doesn't come in a take-out container.  However, as a busy mom, I realize that not every single thing can come from scratch, it's just not possible.  If I had that kind of time....well, let's just say I don't have that kind of time.  So what's the middle ground? 

Borrowing my good "friend" Sandra Lee's "Semi-Homemade" concept, I used store bought Teriyaki sauce/marinade and added fresh ingredients to make this dish entirely my own.  You'll notice that the recipe is ripe with substitutions.  That's just because you can really use whatever meat/tofu or veggies you might have on hand. It's a great meal to throw together when you've forgotten to plan dinner....but who does that, right? 

Orange Teriyaki Rice Noodle Saute

Easy-Peasy Hummus

My Daddy-O is your basic traditional Arab guy. And, being raised in granola-crunchy California, we ate a lot of Mediterranean foods... Suffering from intense wanderlust, I tend to be away from home - alot. So, to battle that homesick feeling, I seek out comfort food - Arabic foods! This is ridiculously easy, quick hummus recipe... and always reminds me of home!

This is the easiest recipe ever - you just eye ball, taste, and adjust to your liking...


Easy-Peasy Humus

Farmers Market Pizza

Thursdays from March to November are Farmers Market days.  I love Thursdays.  This past Thursday, I made out like a bandit at my local Farmers Market.  Summertime brings a bounty of fresh veggies to the market and my cook's creativity gets moving.

I came up with this take on a margherita pizza using only ingredients from my farmers market - with the exception of the pizza dough, oregano, and the Italian cheese blend.  I somehow managed to sweet talk the guy at the corner pizza shop into selling me some pizza dough.  If you don't have a generous corner pizza shop, use a pre-made crust or dough from your grocery store's deli section.  If you're using raw dough, I would recomend baking it for 4-5 minutes before adding your toppings.  This pizza doesn't need to cook long and you'll want to make sure your dough isn't....well, doughy.

We served this pizza with a fresh salad (also from the market) and Syd's Sweet Squash (see post).

Farmer's Market Pizza

Syd's Sweet Squash

My pre-teen daughter accompanied me on a trip to our local farmer's market.  Unlike my son, my daughters have adventurous palates and both love fresh veggies so the farmers market is full of exciting prospects.  We got our usual tomatoes, some green beans, cucumbers, fresh mozzarella and some lettuce.  As we were turning to leave, her eyes caught something that really got her excited....squash. 

There's a long-standing joke in my house about my aversion to zucchini and squash.   Try as I might, the flavors just are not for me.  My kids, however, have come to love both.  Admittedly, the squash at the market looked great - bright yellow and healthy....bursting with all the nutrition I was denying my children if I turned down Sydney's request.  Darn you, squash!  So I agreed to get them (two for a dollar, not bad) if she agreed to cook them.  Her eyes lit up and we brainstormed on the way home about how to prepare her finds.

All three of the kids loved it and my darling Syd was beaming with pride at her culinary creation.  It also sparked an idea.  Every week, I plan to bring one of the kids with me to the market.  They'll be responsible for choosing one vegetable and preparing it.  It might be a hard sell with my son but then again, it might be a good way to get him to expand his horizons.

Syd's Sweet Squash

Sweet Apple Cole Slaw

Given any option in the world, employing any of his darling mother's culinary skills, my son requested Popeye's Fried Chicken for his 8th grade graduation party.  Sigh.  Oh well.

So we bought a boatload of chicken and I made some sides.  Pasta salad, roasted potatoes (his one homemade request) and cole slaw.  I looked online for a simple cole slaw recipe and threw one together based on a few different ideas I found as well as my family's preferences.  I prefer my cole slaw sweet and this one is as good as dessert.  Confession: I just had the leftovers for breakfast.   

Sweet Apple Cole Slaw

Tangy Sweet Baked Beans (VEG)

We grilled chicken for dinner tonight, nothing special really, I used a store bought marinade.  But I love a good baked bean dish with grilled chicken.  Opened the cabinet in hope that I had a can hiding in the back and was disappointed to see only some diced tomatoes, soup and a few cans of other beans.  Huge bummer. 

Then I thought, why not make some of my own? 

So I cruised the cabinets and the fridge and pulled together a tangy sweet baked bean recipe that had the kids clamoring for seconds.  I was delighted with the results and definitely wanted to share it. In addition, it's vegan so if you have friends and family who avoid animal products, this recipe is rich and full and doesn't miss the bacon at all.

Tangy Sweet Baked Beans (veg)

Easy Pasta Sauce

My mom grew up in an Italian neighborhood in New Jersey.  She's not Italian but the hearty neighborhood cuisine definitely made an impression.  When she had her own big family, what better to feed a crew than pastas galore.  Testing my culinary skills in college, I asked mom to pass along her spaghetti sauce recipe hoping to replicate the spicy, earthy aroma I remembered from home.  Well, as anyone who has tried to replicate her mother's recipes can tell you.....IT DOESN'T WORK.  Very frustrating.

So I used what mom taught me and played with it until I came up with a simple recipe of my own.  I like to make a big pot for dinner then throw the leftovers in the fridge or freezer for another day.  Saves time and money not having to get jar sauce (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Easy Pasta Sauce

Lagniappe: Southwest Scramble

The Southwest Scramble uses the leftovers from Sloppy Jose's to create a yummy, hearty, and quick breakfast scramble.  This is a vegetarian meal but some breakfast sausage or ham would be a delicious addition.

Serves 2-4

Southwest Scramble

Lagniappe: A Little Something Extra

My dad is from Southern Louisiana and I spent quite a bit of time there myself.  In Cajun culture, there's something called Lagniappe (LAN-yop) which roughly translates to "A little something extra" and  usually refers to a small perk or gift given to a customer by a merchant (like a baker's dozen).  Sometimes it's used to entice someone into staying ("Have another drink." "No, I've had enough."  "Come on, this is for Lagniappe.") 

I've always loved this part of my family's culture, it's an understanding of gratitude and goodwill, a sense of wanting to share something else with your customer or just your fellow man.  It can be used flirtatiously, as part of driving a hard bargain, or even as a way to entice that favorite niece or nephew to visit a few more minutes.  Wanting to give something extra isn't always part of American culture, we want to give less, to maximize profit, to hold onto our valuables.  Why not give a little more and increase your sense of well-being once in a while instead of your profit margin?

So as I share my family's recipes, I'll toss in some Lagniappe recipes - a little something extra to share from my family to yours.  The best part about these?  They'll use up the odds and ends from other recipes.  So less waste, more taste, and full bellies all around.

Sloppy Jose's

Looking for something a little different for dinner, I came up with this Southwestern inspired twist on classic Sloppy Joes.  We love Tex-Mex food and I often have the basics already on hand.  It's an inexpensive meal that's a breeze to throw together and the kids love it.

Serve with a salad or wrap them up in aluminum foil for a meal on-the-go.

Sloppy Jose's