Kinda Chicken Caccitore

I love classic one pot meals like chicken caccitore. Chicken caccitore is traditionally a long cooked stew that is made with tomatoes, onions, peppers and mushrooms. My version is a quicker, weeknight friendly version that omits the mushrooms because they are on Ryan's "will not eat" list. If you and your family enjoy mushrooms, feel free to add them but this version is just as good without them.

What You Need:

• 1 Can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes
• Chicken pieces (the amount varies on the part of the chicken you are using and how many people you are serving. When I made it this time, I used 4 drumsticks)
• 1/2 Package of frozen pepper and onion stir fry veggies (like the kind made by Birdseye)
• 1 Teaspoon Oregano
• 1 Teaspoon Basil
• 1 Teaspoon Garlic powder
• Salt, Pepper and Red Pepper Flakes to taste

*****

1. Combine half of the canned tomatoes, the frozen veggies and seasonings in the bottom of a baking dish.

2. Nestle chicken pieces into sauce and veggie mixture.

3. Pour remaining tomatoes on top and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 35 minutes or until chicken is cooked completely through.

4. Serve over cooked pasta and top with parmesan cheese if desired.

Monday Mantra - 6/25/12

When life gives you lemons, make grape juice and watch the world wonder how you did it!

Family Field Trip - Udvar Hazy Center

I love living in the DC area mainly because of the historical and cultural activities that are right in my backyard. Since Ryan works weekends, we don't get to partake in these activities quite as often as I would like. Ryan had Father's Day off so we decided to do something fun as a family that he and Aidan could really bond over so we settled on the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. The Udvar-Hazy Center is an extension to the National Air and Space Museum which houses exhibits that are too large for the downtown DC main location.

The centerpiece of the museum is the McDonnell space hangar which houses Discovery, the most traveled of the former space shuttle fleet. Prior to this spring, the space hangar housed Enterprise which was the test vehicle for the space shuttle program. Ryan and I visited the museum a few years ago when Enterprise was featured and noticed the tremendous size difference between that vehicle and Discovery, which is so much larger. When you walk into the center, no matter which way you approach the main hall, your eye is automatically drawn to Discovery. This is especially amazing considering that in front of the entrance to the McDonnell space hangar sits the SR-71 Blackbird. This plane was featured in the second film in the "Transformers" series and parts of the film were filmed at Udvar Hazy. Other featured exhibits include the Enola Gay and a Concorde Jet. 

Aidan loves airplanes and Ryan is a space travel aficionado. I had a great time watching my two men enjoy everything from a collection of space themed toys to a production model from the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". From experimental helicopters to missiles of all shapes and sizes. We spent two hours walking the center and could have spent more if Aidan didn't need a nap before our family Father's Day dinner. In addition to the exhibits there is an Imax theatre, flight simulators and an air traffic control simulator for kids.

After the museum we took Aidan to Sweet Frog for some frozen yogurt. He looks so adorable in the picture that I just had to mention it.

Blueberry Scones

A blueberry scone is one of my favorite things on the planet. A good coffeehouse style scone is that perfect hybrid of a muffin and a biscuit. They aren't too sweet and have a delightfully crumbly texture that (while messy) is delicious. I've always wanted to make them but thought that they had to be a complicated endeavor because you don't hear of many home cooks making or sharing recipes for them. After quite a bit of research in various cookbooks, magazines and online recipe boards, I came to tinker with this recipe and the secret to that perfect scone texture.... melted butter.

What you need:

2 Cups of flour
1/4 Cup of Powdered Sugar
1/8 Teaspoon of Salt
1/2 Cup of Melted Butter
1/2 Cup of Egg Substitute
2 1/2 Tablespoons of Baking Powder
2/3 Cup of Frozen Blueberries
1/4 Cup of Milk
1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

*****

1. Mix dry ingredients (flour, powdered sugar, salt and baking powder) together using a wire whisk.

2. Whisk liquid ingredients (egg substitute, melted butter, milk and vanilla) together in a separate bowl.

3. Slowly add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture in 3 separate additions. Stirring gently after each addition.

4. Gently fold in the blueberries.

5. Knead the dough into a slight ball at the bottom of the bowl. Gently score the dough into 8 even sections.

6. Bake each section on an ungreased cookie sheet in a preheated 350 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until tops are set and slightly golden.

While they were still warm, I glazed them with a little honey and allowed them to cool. Once they were cooled, I put each one into a plastic sandwich bag so that they were individually packaged and ready to go on busy weekday mornings.

Fabulous Fajita Pasta

I love fajitas but Ryan isn't a fan, especially in restaurants. He doesn't like any food that he has to assemble in order to eat it. This leaves me trying to find ways to get that fajita flavor into other recipes when I get a serious craving but its not in the budget to go out to eat. This recipe was conceived as one of those where I try to create something from the remainder of various food items in the fridge, freezer and pantry. It makes a delicious weeknight pasta meal that is reminiscent of chicken fajitas.

What you need:

2 Cups of pasta
1/2 Package of frozen stir fry veggies (must have onions and peppers)
3 Tablespoons of taco seasoning
6 Tablespoons of cream cheese
2 Chicken breasts, cut into cubes
2 Tablespoons of butter


*****

1. Cook pasta according to package directions

2. Melt butter in a saute pan and add chicken. Cook chicken until no longer pink.

3. Add frozen veggies, taco seasoning and 1/4 cup of cooking water from the pasta to pan. Cook until the veggies are heated through and most of the water is evaporated.

4. Drain the pasta but not completely, you still want a little moisture in the pasta to help the sauce come together.

5. Add the chicken and veggie mixture to the pasta and stir.

6. Add the cream cheese and stir until the cream cheese is melted and the pasta is creamy.

Monday Mantra - 6/18/12

When nothing goes right, go left!

Meditations on Father's Day

Father's Day is such a mixed bag for me. On one hand, I have a husband who was absolutely born to be a dad. He's an incredible father and his dad is an amazing grandfather to Aidan. The problem for me is my relationship (or lack thereof) with my dad.

I was an accidental pregnancy. My parents were young (Mom was 20 and Dad was 25) and were serious drug addicts. My problems with my Dad started pretty early. Mom was in labor with me for 18 1/2 hours so there was plenty of time for my Dad to be there, but he wasn't. My uncle Billy was the man standing by my mother's side when I came into the world, not my dad. I lived in an apartment with Mom, Dad, my Aunt Cathy and my grandmother until my parents split up when I was five. Even when we lived together as a family, my dad was never really around and when he was, he wasn't into being a hands on dad. In fact, I don't have a single memory of playing with my dad during those years.

In the years that followed, I only really saw my Dad on holidays and for a few minutes on some Sundays. My dad came to one dance recital when I was eight and he came to my high school graduation. No violin recitals, no other dance recitals, no school plays and no awards assemblies. He took me on one weekend vacation to Ocean City, MD and even that was during a tropical storm so we didn't get to do much. It was always apparent that my Dad didn't really know me and didn't care to know me. I always could almost see the countdown in his head to when I turned 18 and he didn't have to legally give a damn anymore. In my entire life, I only have one memory that represents a true moment of father-daughter connection. When I was 18, my grandfather died and my dad and I were both devastated. We were at the funeral and "Amazing Grace" began to play on the church organ. My Dad just hugged me close and we sobbed together. I had hoped that this would be the beginning of a new start for us, but I was wrong. My grandfather died in October and by June I had moved to Virginia to move in with Ryan. On father's day 2004, I called my dad to wish him a happy father's day. When he answered the phone, he was so high on some substance that he didn't even know who I was or why I was calling. I hung up on him and haven't spoken to him since. I realized in that moment, that I would never be able to have the relationship with my dad that I should have and that I have always wanted.

I pushed my feelings about my Dad aside for years until I had my son. I distinctly remember holding Aidan when he was a few hours old and thinking of my Dad. I look just like him and Aidan looks just like me. I saw my dad's face in Aidan's eyes and it broke my heart that Aidan would never have a relationship with one of his granddads and it hurt to see just how quickly Ryan jumped into the role of "Super Dad", which I always wanted for myself.

I try not to think about my family because it hurts and makes me really melancholy but in the week leading up to Father's Day it is unavoidable. I allow myself a little time to think about my Dad but then I have to push it aside and celebrate my husband for being the spectacular dad he is.

Any male can help create a child, but it takes a man to be a dad.

Blueberry Breakfast Muffins

I understand that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but I've always had trouble eating it. The mushy oatmeal or soggy cold cereal that Aunt Mimi tried to make me stomach before school would make me gag. Right after high school, I joined the work force working fast food, waiting tables and slinging lattes at Starbucks. The hours varied and breakfast would be at 4am one day and 2pm the next so I was never able to get into a good breakfast rhythm. Fast forward to my 6am weekday mornings that include getting a toddler and a slow moving husband out the door on time and with everything they need. These hectic mornings leave no time for breakfast other than toaster pastries or a granola bar. I wanted to make a grab and go breakfast that I could enjoy in the car or at my desk with no extra effort, so I tinkered with a blueberry muffin recipe that would include some extra fiber to keep me full and prevent me from gnawing my arm off at 10:20.

What you need:

1 1/2 Cups of flour
2 Packets of Cinnamon or Maple instant oatmeal
2 Teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon of baking powder
1/4 Teaspoon of salt
1 Beaten egg
3/4 Cup of milk
3/4 Cup of powdered sugar
1/4 Cup of oil (Vegetable or Canola)
1/2 Teaspoon of vanilla
3/4 Cup of frozen blueberries
*****

1. In a medium bowl, combine flour, oatmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt and powdered sugar

2. In a small bowl combine egg, milk, oil and vanilla

3. Slowly add the liquid mixture into the dry until combined

4. Gently fold in the blueberries

5. Prepare a muffin tin with nonstick spray or with muffin liners and fill each muffin cup 2/3 full

6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean

I made these muffins and really enjoyed them. They weren't too sweet and they had a nice firm texture that didn't fall apart and make a mess in the car or at my desk. If you want to add another layer of decadence, try spreading a little butter or cream cheese on top.

The Mean Girls Conundrum

Bullying has recently been in the national media spotlight and with good reason. I suffered mercilessly at the hands of bullies when I was in middle school. My life was a living hell for two years and some of those scars will never heal. At 27 years old, some of the memories still sting as if they happened yesterday. I promised myself that if my son was ever bullied, there would be hell to pay. Although I could never, never hurt a child... the thought has crossed my mind to handle a bully the way Rebecca De Mornay's character does in "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle".

However, I am currently stuck in a bit of a bullying conundrum. Bullying usually occurs when the child is older and behind the backs of adults. This situation is very different. Aidan is almost 3 years old. He is a good kid and extremely social. When he previously went to daycare, he was the child that all of the other kids gravitated to and is generally adored by all... kids, adults, teenagers and the elderly. We went to the playground in our apartment complex about a month ago and Aidan was trying to play with some of the other kids. They were all between the ages of 4 and 7 but he was comparable in physical size and vocabulary skills to all of the other children. The other kids seemed willing to play with him and let him into their circle but they had to go through their ring leader.... Bhaya. Bhaya is five years old with long, thick blond hair that is always a bit unkempt. There were about six children in the group and I was the only parent around. Usually when there is a parent around, the kids tend to keep their meanness in check, but not this little girl. She decided to start calling Aidan names and belittling him for wearing a Spiderman t-shirt. I was stunned. I chalked it up to kids being kids, but I did see how hurt my baby was because he isn't used to being rejected.

I took him home, made him lunch and tried to make him feel better. The following weekend, we went back to the playground and she was there again and just as snotty and mean as she was the previous week. I know that Aidan can't be liked by everyone, but this child's intentional mean streak was really starting to bother me. The next weekend I was taking him to the playground and I saw the little devil on the slide and decided to walk Aidan over to the next neighborhood to play at their playground. There we met two adorable little boys and their very friendly parents. The boys were 2 and 4 and had a great time playing with Aidan. Their mom and I discussed potty training, naps and other pitfalls in raising toddlers.

Last weekend I took Aidan to the pool for the first time this season. We were having a great time. Some of the kids we were used to seeing at the playground were there and were friendly with Aidan. After about 45 minutes, Bhaya shows up at the pool with one of her friends and her friend's mom. She's in the pool for about five minutes before she locks in on Aidan and calls him a "baby" and makes a few other derogatory comments directed at him. When she said them, she glared right at me.

I really don't know what to make of this girl. She has the audacity to tease my son but to do it right in front of me. I have never seen her parents and don't know if she reacts this way because he is always with his mom or what. I also don't know how to handle it. I can't say anything to her because it is the word of an adult against the word of a child. I don't want it to look like I'm harassing the girl, but I want my son to be able to go to the playground or pool without fear of harassment by a dirty blond mafia don.

Ryan and I have talked about it and his suggestion is for me to wait until I see her with her parents which should happen eventually in our small complex. When I see them, I should say something to them about their daughter's behavior. I'm just not sure if that's the best way to proceed.

If anyone has advice, I would greatly appreciate it.

Naughty but Nice "Fried" Chicken

Ryan recently turned 40 and has been trying to watch his cholesterol. Most of my dinners are fairly healthy, but in the summer months, we both get major cravings for fried chicken. Since dunking dredged chicken pieces into 2 inches of hot oil isn't exactly health conscious, I had to come up with my own variation on oven fried chicken.

What you need:

Bone-in chicken pieces (I prefer drumsticks)
2 Cups of bran flakes cereal (Wheaties or a generic equivalent work best)
1/2 Cup egg substitute
3 Tablespoons of all purpose flour
2 Tablespoons butter, margarine or other butter substitute (melted)
1 Tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning
1 Teaspoon of salt
1 Teaspoon of pepper
1 Teaspoon of garlic powder
1 Teaspoon of paprika
Several dashes of hot sauce (to taste)

*****
1. Pour melted butter or butter substitute into baking pan.

2. Grind cereal into small pieces using food processor. You want the pieces to be the size of coarse bread crumbs.

3. Lay out three shallow bowls, plates or pie pans. Combine flour, salt and pepper in the first dish. Combine egg substitute and hot sauce in the second dish. Combine cereal crumbs, Old Bay, garlic powder and paprika in the third dish.

4. Dredge each piece of chicken in egg mixture, then in flour mixture. Shake to remove excess flour and re-dredge in egg mixture before dipping the piece into the cereal mixture. Coat chicken thoroughly.

5. Place in the baking dish that you coated with butter. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 45 minutes or until coating is crispy and chicken is cooked through

I like to serve each person two pieces of chicken with mashed potatoes and a steamed vegetable on the side. This chicken really satisfies any crunchy "naughty" food cravings that your might have.

Monday Mantra - 6/11/12

"Reach for the stars and if you don't reach them, at least you're on top of the world"

~Lyrics to "Give Me Everything" by Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo

Restaurant Review: Cafesano - Reston, VA

This week, my boss took a co-worker and I out to lunch to Cafesano in Reston. I had never been there before but I love Mediterranean food so I was very excited about trying it. Located in South Lakes Village Center, the exterior is very unassuming although there is a nice waterside seating area attached to the restaurant.


I was amazed at how packed the restaurant was at lunchtime on a Thursday. Although the line was long, it moved fairly quickly and the service was efficient and friendly. I ordered the falafel wrap, my boss ordered a portobello panini and my co-worker ordered an avocado and cheddar panini. We also split a tiramisu among the three of us for dessert. The falafel was the best I have ever had. Restaurants (especially those located in strip malls) tend to overcook their falafel making it dry and tasteless. The falafel at Cafesano is perfectly cooked and very flavorful. Every component of the sandwich was done perfectly. The pita was soft, the radishes were crisp and the tahini sauce was subtle, not overpowering. Their sandwiches are served with crunchy lavash chips that are irresistible when dipped into their tzatziki sauce. My dining companions were pleased with their sandwiches as well. Tiramisu is a dessert that Ryan and I get as often as we can. I've had the best and I've had the worst. The quality of the tiramisu at Cafesano is just as good as I've had at much fancier restaurants. It was the perfect cloud like texture and featured a strong coffee flavor. A great end to a fabulous casual lunch.


Although this lunch was on my boss, I was amazed with the prices. The food is of such a high quality that you honestly expect to spend more money. I am very frugal but I told Ryan that we definitely need to go back because it is a great meal that won't break our budget.


The only con of the entire experience was the atmosphere. Sitting inside the main dining room under the glass enclosed area, makes conversation impossible. Sound carries in this area in such a way that the volume is extremely loud and you are unable to talk to those at your table without shouting at each other. I would definitely be interested to eat there outside or at a different time of day to see if this changes in any way.


On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate Cafesano an 8, with points mostly being deducted for atmosphere.

South Lakes Village Center
11130 M South Lakes Drive
Reston, VA 20191
Ph: 703.391.2100
Fx: 703.391.7148

Hours: 11am - 9pm daily

Crock Pot Pineapple Chicken

This is one of the easiest and least expensive crock pot recipes out there. There are only four ingredients and it costs less than $5 to make.

What you need:

1 Can Pineapple Chunks, undrained
1 1/2 Cups Barbecue Sauce
Chicken Breasts (Quantity depends on how many servings you need to make. The recipe makes enough sauce to serve up to 4)
2 Teaspoons of ginger
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Add barbecue sauce, pineapple chunks with juice, salt, pepper and ginger to crock pot liner and stir until well combined.

2. Place chicken breasts into sauce. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.

I serve this chicken with the yummy sauce over white rice. When I make crock pot meals, I usually assemble the meal the night before and refrigerate. This let me put the frozen chicken into the crockpot liner and thaw it out gently in the fridge over night. Doing this also adds the right amount of extra liquid to the dish. In the morning, I just plug in the crock pot heating element, insert the liner and set the timer.

Maryland Girl Crab Dip

As previously mentioned on this blog, I grew up in Maryland. My uncle Pete was an avid fisherman with whom I spent many summer days fishing and crabbing. Crabs are an expensive proposition, unless you catch them yourself. He used to crab three days a week from May through October. By the end of the crabbing season we were so "crabbed out" that we used to give them away by the bag full to the mailman, the men on the trash truck and our neighbors. In addition to the grand tradition of eating them on a table covered in newspaper, my aunt would also come up with a thousand uses for crab in recipes. Crab Imperial, Crab Soup, Crab Cakes and Crab Dip were some frequent choices. I always loved her crab dip but given the circumstances under which I moved out of the house, I never got a chance to get most of her recipes. 

Ryan was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in Virginia so crabs were not a part of his childhood as they were mine. When I wanted to share a tradition of mine with my husband and his family I had to try to reconstruct Mimi's crab dip. I think I came pretty close with my take on it but I did make it a little more my style. Also, because we don't go crabbing and purchasing crabs in Northern Virginia requires a bank loan, my recipe utilizes *gasp* canned crab meat. It is a sin by Maryland standards but almost as good as the real thing.

What you need:

2 (6 ounce) cans of crab meat
1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup of Mayo
3 Tablespoons of mustard
1 Tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning
1 Teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
1 Teaspoon of soy sauce or worcestershire sauce
1 Cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1. Combine cream cheese, mustard, mayo and soy/worcestershire sauce. Mix until well combined and creamy.

2. Stir in crab meat, 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese and Old Bay Seasoning

3. Bake in an oven safe serving dish at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until slightly brown.

4. Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese on top and bake another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the dip is bubbly.

The best way to serve this dip is with crusty bread, pretzels or saltine crackers

Guilty Pleasures

Everyone has a guilty pleasure...or two....or ten... These are the little things we love to do, eat or watch that we really wouldn't want a lot of people to know about. I am a very casual, low maintenance chick so it doesn't take much to make me happy. Here is my list of the top five guilty pleasures that relax me and elevate my mood...

1. Wine - It's no secret that most women love wine but the guilty pleasure lies in the wine I drink when I'm alone. When I'm at dinner or out in public, I choose dry white wines, usually Pinot Grigio. When I am at home I like Chocolate wine and my favorite brand is Cocoa Vino. A glass of this stuff combines the relaxing effects of wine with the endorphin effects of chocolate. It's $10 a bottle and is the kind of drink that makes a wine snob's head explode.

2. Car Karaoke - This is my absolute favorite way to de-stress. If Ryan and I had a fight. If Aidan is being a pain in the neck. If work is tough or if traffic sucks, finding a good song on the radio and singing every word at the top of my lungs just makes me happy. There is something so therapeutic about singing Cher, ABBA, Bon Jovi or Garth Brooks in the private confines of my car. I have shown up to work on numerous occasions hoarse from "Total Eclipse of the Heart" or "Hey Soul Sister". I really can't carry a tune in a bucket but car karaoke is the only scenario in which off key singing isn't an offensive proposition, unless the windows are down.... to which I plead the fifth.

3. Reality Shows - I have been a big reality show fan from the very beginning. For the first 10 seasons or so, "Survivor" was a religion for me. I taped episodes and watched them over and over even though I knew the final results. I even scheduled my social life around the castaways and was known for hanging up the phone on people who dared to call during the show. I've grown tired of "Survivor" since they stopped casting real people and started using wannabe models and actors. These days, my favorite shows are "Big Brother", "Sister Wives" and "Rupaul's Drag Race". "Big Brother" is the one Ryan and I both watch together. The voyeuristic nature of the show is what makes it so damn interesting. I watch "Rupaul's Drag Race" because I love Rupaul, I love drag queens and I love catty reality show contestants. This show combines all three qualities into one fabulously over the top package. "Sister Wives" has recently become a favorite. I am an atheist, feminist who loves Mormon polygamist Kody Brown and his four wives Meri, Christine, Janelle and Robyn. One marriage is hard enough, so it is compelling to watch Kody try to juggle four. The show, at it's heart is about love and living the way you choose to live your life. Both of those things are very important to me personally.

4. Trashy Romance Novels - The very definition of a guilty pleasure. I love checking my intellectual pride at the door and picking up a cheesy bodice ripping love story. I am accused all the time of over thinking EVERYTHING so I love having an excuse to just "be"!

5. Social Networking Games - Farmville, Gardens of Time and Slingo are the best ways to relax and waste time. They can also be very addictive. I'm currently taking a sabbatical from Farmville because it took much time away from everything else in my life and went from from guilty pleasure to second job! I'd love to write more, but I think my energy just reloaded on "Gardens of Time"...

Creamy Coconut Pecan Frosting

Whenever there is a party at work or a family gathering, people always volunteer me to make cupcakes. For our family's Memorial Day cookout this year my my father in law requested my German chocolate cupcakes with caramel pecan frosting. Although my cupcake and frosting recipes are usually top secret because of my business, I thought I would share my caramel pecan frosting recipe. It works on so many flavors of cake and tastes awesome on cookies and brownies. Additionally, since it is more of a custard than a frosting, I have even used it as a pie filling.

What you need:

3 Egg Yolks
1 (14 ounce) Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 1/2 Cups Sweetened Coconut Flakes
1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Butter

1. Separate egg yolks from whites. Put yolks in a medium saucepan and either discard whites or refrigerate for later use.

2. Combine egg yolks with condensed milk, butter and vanilla extract

3. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium low heat, stirring often. The cooking time here is approximately 10 minutes.

4. Remove the mixture from the heat, then stir in coconut flakes and pecans. Allow the mixture to cool completely and it will thicken as it cools.

Since this frosting is so thick requires a spoon and a lot of care when icing your desserts.