Cookbook Club

So I have been collecting cookbooks for years. Nothing thrills me more then when FedEx rolls up the driveway with a brand new cookbook. I love reading cookbooks, looking at the pictures and of course trying the recipes. I just ordered Jenny Rosenstrach new cookbook, Dinner: A Love Story. I started following her blog about a year ago and just fell in love with her stories, pictures and recipes. She is so down to Earth and has created wonderful recipes for busy families trying to find balance. She believes that the family dinner is such an important part of the family dynamic especially when you are raising children. So I will be anxiously waiting for it's arrival this week!

The Interview

So since it has been almost a year since my last blog post I have decided to kinda interview myself to let readers know how my life is running at the moment! So here goes!

Here is a brief overview, I am a wife to one and mom to one, Jim is my amazing husband and Tommy, my compassionate, loving and strong-willed 8 year old son. We live in Maryland and have our whole lives! I work at a private school at the kindergarten level so my life (at least during the school year) is very busy. Summers are my time to reflect, regroup, and plan for balance for the upcoming school year. Yes, I am pretty lucky to have this time to do so!

1. What is my work schedule like?

So during the school year it varies. I either work 10 hour days or 4 hour days depending on if I substitute or not~my weeks can run from working 20 hours a week to 50 hours a week. On my 10 hour days I leave the house at 8, drop Tommy off at school and head down to work and I am there until 6~home @ 6:30, dinner, down time, shower bed. On days I work 4 hour shifts I have my whole morning so I drop Tommy at School, workout until 9:30, home, shower, errands, prep dinner for that night or meals for the week, pay bills, house stuff~whatever needs to be done. I leave for work around 1 and work until 6, home, dinner, downtime, shower bed. Summer is a whole different story~I am "off" but I do watch my bestest friend's children for most of the Summer so still very busy but I can make my own schedule which is nice. There is childcare at my gym so working out is a daily ritual to survive taking care of 3 children all Summer~I would be no good without it! Since I am home I take every advantage to prepare super great meals every night and we really cherish eating outside and together during the Summer since eating dinner together during the school year is few and far between and if we are lucky to be able to sit down it is usually rushed.

2. How do I handle Childcare?

Well I am so blessed with great friends and family I do not have to pay for childcare which is huge!! Tommy is in school all day and my schedule allows me to drop him off in the mornings. After school I have various people that pick him up from carpool and watch him until his father picks him up around 6. My father in law does Mondays and Tuesdays, my father does Wednesdays and my very dear friend Melissa picks him up with her 3 children at St. John's Catholic on Thursdays and Fridays. Very Blessed!!

3. When do I fit in family time?

During the school year family time during the week is few and far between. I am torn often because I can't pick Tommy up from school and have that time before dinner to do homework, talk about his day, fix him a snack even. I always think to myself that I have Winter break, Spring break and all Summer to spend time with him and that helps! So during the school year I try and make sure we sit down for family dinners as much as we can but it is tough with our late days. When we do sit down this is where we talk about our day and any issues or exciting things that are going on. I read to Tommy every night before bed and we have breakfast together most mornings. Jim and I watch TV and talk together after Tommy goes to bed, usually for an hour or so before we are ready to go to bed ourselves~weekdays are hard.

4. Do we have any family rituals?

Reading before bed, Saturday and Sunday morning breakfasts, Mass on Sundays and we like to hike together when we can fit it in! During the Summer months we go swimming every weekend as a family~we are all dolphins:)

5. How do Jim and I fit our marriage into the balance?

Ha~well in the earlier years when Tommy was little I think we both would admit that we were terrible at the balance, downright awful at it. Over the years we have really worked on it and learned through our mistakes. We get along really well, we both have the same overall goals in life~to live comfortably, live simple, appreciate the little things and just enjoy family as much as we can all while trying to stay healthy and active for ourselves and as role models for Tommy. We take date nights not nearly enough and we need to work on that. We need to start going on little trips to get away and focus on us as well.....we are a work in progress.

6. Do I have time for myself?

During the school year sometimes it's tricky with being on call but I usually manage to fit an hour a day in for working out which I think is important for my sanity. I make time on the weekends to grocery shop and prepare meals for the week~to some this sounds like work but to me it is how I relax, one of my favorite places to be is in my kitchen cooking. During the Summer I have more time, the gym has a daycare~enough said:)

7. Who handles dinner?

That is all me 95% of the time and I wouldn't have it any other way~although Jim does man the grill in the Summer months as he should:)

8. Who cleans the house?

So this is a fun question! My husband was in the military and basically he is obsessed with ironing. So when I moved out of my parents house and on my own I met Jim and was living with him 6 months later so I have only ever had to iron my own clothes for that 6 months and I think my way of "ironing" was to throw what I needed to be de-wrinkled into the dryer for a few minutes! I am very lucky that he does all the ironing and he pretty much does all the laundry~he says I do it wrong so he just has taken over. I do most of the cleaning of the house although he cleans his own bathroom and he cleans my shower~I have always hated cleaning the shower and when I was pregnant he had to do it b/c it was hard to do with a belly and he has done it ever since. We are very much a team when it comes to everything in our life and I am really lucky that Jim is such an involved husband and father~he truly loves being home and being with us and I feel very blessed to have him.

What would you change if you had a magic wand?

I'd nap without guilt, and without question, I'd hire a housekeeper and a landscaper. I would sleep in on the weekends. I'd allow myself to enjoy a pedicure or haircut without looking at the clock or feeling guilty about the money I was spending. I would worry less and live in the moment more. I guess I don't need a magic wand for any of these things, but they seem so indulgent nowadays.

Healthy Morning Smoothie Even your Kids will Love!!

I am sometimes rushed in the mornings and fitting a healthy breakfast in is hard. I came up with this smoothie recipe and it is so good that my son often requests this for breakfast and sometimes for dessert too!!! I add ground flax seed (make sure it is ground) and wheat germ for added nutrition and it give the smoothie a rich nutty flavor. I sometimes add a cup of greens if I feel I won't get enough greens in that day too- you can't even taste them and it is a great way to get your kids to eat their greens!! I call it my Frozen Fruit Smoothie- it is nutritious and full of flavor-even your kids will love it! Enjoy!

Frozen Fruit Energy Smoothie

1 cup 40 or 60 calorie almond milk (plain- not vanilla- too much sugar)
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 banana, sliced
1 tbsp ground flax
1 tbsp wheat germ bran
1 cup of greens- I use spinach (optional- may need to add a bit of water if you add greens)

Put all in blender and blend until smooth!! Serve in a large cup with a straw!

Frugal Home Decorating: Fabulous Decorating on a Budget

I am obsessed with home decorating!!! Ask any one of my friends or family and they will tell you that I am always changing my rooms around and adding new decor. I started being obsessed with decorating and interior design at a very young age. I was the kid that was constantly changing my room around and hanging new things on my walls. Simply changing the furniture around in a room can totally liven up your house and make it feel fresh and new. I am the queen of finding deals when it comes to home decor. In this day and age and with the economy the way it is I strive to be as frugal as possible by clipping coupons and finding the best deals I can whether I am buying food for my family or decorating my house. I do however believe in buying good quality items whether it is organic foods for my family (we grow our own vegetables and herbs to cut costs at the grocery store) or good quality furniture and home decor. You can still be frugal and have fabulous things!! I frequent craigslist, yard sales and antique stores on a regular basis for deals and Homegoods and Marshall's are 2 of my favorite places to find great decor at a great price. Another way to freshen up a space is by using items that you already have- changing the room that they are in or hanging pictures are ways to redecorate without even having to buy new things. Over the past 2 weeks I have found some fabulous finds at a steal- check out the pics below!! I totally redid my living room for under $250 and spruced up my dining room for around $100!!! Remember- you can always find fabulous things at a reasonable and sometimes awesome price for your home, it takes a little research and early morning yard sale shopping but to me that is the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning!!

This Sofa, over-sized chair and ottoman I found on Craigslist- it is a 4 year old set that was purchased at Haverty's in Columbia and sat in a formal living room so it got little use. I purchased the entire set for under $200- the original set new was over $2000!!! Who says you can't decorate a room on a budget!!?

My dining room table and chairs were both found on Craigslist- the table is a Martha Stewart white farm-style table and the chairs are Windsor chairs that are painted sage green- the table I got for a steal $40 and the chairs- all 4 were $35!!! The lantern in the center was a Pier One clearance item!!

The antiqued birdcage I found at Homegoods along with the clock below. The roses are fresh cut from my garden!

Since we got new furniture for the living room we simply moved the furniture that was in there into our back family room. I hung a set of curtains that I had originally bought when we moved into the house and just never used.

Sunday Prep

So on most Sundays I take the morning after Mass to head to the grocery store (or several since I am a coupon clipper!!) and then I spend the rest of the afternoon in the kitchen prepping healthy foods for the week. Today I hard-boiled 18 eggs, made iced tea, a batch of homemade healthy granola and a batch of Mediterranean Quinoa. The Granola will be Tommy's breakfast for the week and I will eat it between meals with fruit as a snack. Lots of store bought granola has tons of sugar so making your own allows you to use natural ingredients and natural sweeteners. I use agave nectar and pure maple syrup to sweeten mine, both are natural sweeteners and way healthier for you then refined white sugar, honey and brown sugar. The Quinoa is my lunch for the week- it is high in protein and one of the healthiest grains you can eat. It is prepared like rice by cooking it in water so it isn't difficult to make at all. I substitute the quinoa for brown rice in many of my dishes. Although I love brown rice and it is a healthy grain I find the quinoa is a super food and has a better nutrition value. I have included both of these recipes below!! The quinoa is a favorite in my family and among my group of friends so I encourage you to try it especially if you have never had quinoa before!!! Enjoy!!

Homemade Granola

2 cups whole rolled oats (not instant or steel cut)
1/2 cup raw slivered almonds
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup real Maple syrup
3 tbsp light agave nectar
2 tbsp canola oil
1/2 cup dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, raisins etc)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl stir together the oats, almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon and salt. Combine the maple syrup, agave, and oil in small separate bowl then mix with the dry ingredients. Spread the mixture out evenly on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Bake 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until evenly brown. Let the granola cool on top of the stove. Combine the cooled granola with the dried fruit. This will keep well for 2-3 months in a airtight container!!


Mediterranean Quinoa

1 1/2 cup of vegetable broth
1 cup of uncooked quinoa
1 red onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives, chopped
1/2 cup feta or goat cheese (I LOVE goat cheese but many don't)
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Bring broth to a boil and add the quinoa. Simmer covered for about 12-15 minutes until all water is evaporated. Put quinoa in a large bowl and let cool to room temperature. In a separate bowl whisk together the lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and oil with a bit of salt and pepper, set aside. Gently stir in onion, green pepper, olives, parsley and cheese into the cooled quinoa. Drizzled dressing over the mixture and gently mix through. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours before serving!

Zucchini Breakfast Muffins

For the past 3 weeks or so I have made it one of my weekly goals to bake a healthy breakfast bread or muffin for Tommy on Sundays for the entire week so that he can have a wholesome breakfast before school. I have been guilty of grabbing pop tarts, frozen sugary breakfast meals etc for Tommy because they are fast and easy but I thought about it and I wouldn't put that stuff in my body so why am I feeding it to my kid?! I vowed to try and feed Tommy as healthy and clean as I eat.....it takes a bit more planning and time but I have made time on Sundays in my schedule to do a little healthy prep work so that we can eat healthy and clean all week. Last week I baked a banana nut bread and this week it is Zucchini muffins with walnuts and cranberries. I use either Stonemill Organic flour or their whole grain flour in place of white flour for the health factor and I sweeten all my breads and muffins with honey or brown sugar instead of white sugar. These small changes really change the quality of the muffin or bread- it is way better for you and your family. I serve Tommy his muffin or slice of bread with fresh fruit and a cup of almond milk to make the breakfast a balanced, healthy meal. My husband usually eats the bread or muffins too with his oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs and an apple- so this is a win/win situation for everyone!! I have included the recipe for the Zucchini Muffins below!! Enjoy!

Zucchini Muffins

2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup light brown sugar or 1/2 cup honey
2 tsp. pure vanilla
3 cups grated zucchini
2/3 cup canola oil
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups unbleached flour or whole wheat flour
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 cup chopped walnuts (you could also use pistachios or pecans!)
1 cup dried cranberries (you could also use raisins or golden raisins!)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. In medium size bowl whisk together the eggs, brown sugar and vanilla.

3. Stir in zucchini, oil, baking soda and salt.

4. In a separate bowl add flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg- combine well and add this mixture to the wet mixture and stir well- mixture will be pretty stiff. Stir in cranberries and walnuts.

5. Fill a greased 12 muffin tin with mixture, filling each tin to the top.

6. Bake for 25 minutes or until baked through.

Parade of Homes Event

Today I am happy to Join fellow blogger Toni from A Bowl Full of Lemons to share in her house tours!!! Here are some photos of my ever changing decor and rooms!! Thanks for visiting !!! Enjoy!

We start with my Living Room which you walk into from the front door....

My very favorite colors are cream, green and cranberry- you will see this pattern throughout the house.

I spray painted the mirror above the fireplace ivory (from pewter) so that it would pop against the cranberry wall.

Our dining room is small, yet cozy and warm and we spend a lot of time here and in the kitchen talking.

I found this favorite vase of mine at Marshall's on clearance!

I display most of my photos as black and whites in creamy colored frames.

Our kitchen is the heart of our home, right in the center and it is where I spend most of my time- the bar allows guests and family to watch while I work:)

I lined all of my drawers with a great find from a fellow blogger- cute green and white contact paper from Target for only $5!

This wire basket I found at a local antique store for around $12, it holds all my most used cook books for easy reference!

My dining room table center piece, a Pier One find- under $20!!

I use baskets to hold all of my home magazines.

The bedding in our room was purchased at JC Penney's from their Waverly Line....it is long lasting and the fabrics are so beautiful!

This is a Southern Living mirror I found at a yard sale years ago for $5...the ribbon can be changed!

These antique trucks are from my mother-in-law and are displayed on my son's dresser.

This picture hung in my father's room when he was a little boy and now it is in my son's room!

I store my place mats in a basket for easy access at dinnertime.

To Tour all of the beautiful homes visit link below!!!!
http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/2011/05/day-1-parade-of-homes-link-party.html

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