Quick Tip - Fruit Cups

If you are like me I do my best to make sure that I stock up my grocery cart with fresh fruit in a variety of flavors and colors! But, what tends to happen is that by the end of the week a portion of what I bought does not get eaten, and we end up wasting it (one of my pet peeves). So I've started preparing fruit cups and keeping them in the fridge, and they are a huge success!! I just chop up whatever I have purchased that week; apples, berries, melons, etc. and seal them in airtight containers and they are ready for snacks, meal accompaniments, dessert, or whenever. It's crazy that when things are in individual packages they get eaten up!! Delicious, nutritious and easy!

Mommy Tip - Whole Roasted Chicken

I often see whole roasting chickens on sale at the grocery store and when I do - I snatch them up! I've recently seen them for as low as $.79 a pound, which on a 3-4 pound chicken is under five dollars, and you can really stretch the chicken for a couple meals, a weeks worth of lunch/deli meat or a combination of both. I usually roast the chicken up on a Sunday, and shred it off the bone and store in the fridge in Tupperware ready to go. It's great for pizza toppings, salads, sandwiches, soups, nachos, etc....the list of uses goes on and on I even grab a few pieces for my daughter when she wants a quick snack or addition to her meals. it's so easy to cook and really is worth the effort and time!
To roast:
Clean all insides (remove all giblets and rinse out with cold water)
Pat dry with paper towels
Tuck wingtips under bird so they don't burn
Stuff cavity with lemon wedges, onions, garlic, herbs - anything you want.
Rub outside of bird with olive oil or melted butter and salt and pepper top
Roast in a pre-heated 425 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours or until juices run clear and internal temp is above 180 (I know you don't have to cook it that long, but I am petrified of salmonella, so I cook until 180)
Take out of oven and let rest - then shred (with or without skin) and refrigerate

*If you're ambitious you can always use the carcass to make homemade stock :)

Etsy.com

If you haven't wandered into www.etsy.com, you are MISSING OUT!! I am loving this website, and you can find so many great things. It's sort of an ebay for handmade and vintage stuff, so you can find anything from handmade crochet baby hats to vintage lace pieces, and the beauty of it is that you are dealing with small business owners, stay at home moms, etc. I always believe in supporting other mom's business ventures regardless of how big or small :)
Check it out at www.etsy.com and happy shopping!

Recipe of the Week 9/7/09

Broiled Salmon with Mustard Sauce

I found this recipe from Giada DiLaurentis on the Food Network, and absolutely love it! I have been making it consistently for over 3 years and it is a no-fail, go-to dinner. I changed the ingredient list a little bit, but it's basically the same. It is made with Dijon mustard so it can be a little spicy for kids...pre-warning!

Ingredients
2 garlic cloves
3/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves (or 1/2 tsp. dried)
3/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 tsp. dried)
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Nonstick olive oil cooking spray
6 (6 to 8-ounce) salmon fillets
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
In a mini food processor, combine garlic, rosemary, thyme, wine, oil, Dijon mustard. Grind the mustard sauce until combined, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a small bowl. Set aside mustard sauce.
Preheat the broiler. Line a heavy rimmed baking sheet with foil. Spray the foil with nonstick spray. Arrange the salmon fillets on the baking sheet and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Broil for 2 minutes. Spoon the mustard sauce over the fillets. Continue broiling until the fillets are just cooked through and golden brown, about 5 minutes longer.

Back in the Saddle

After a short (5 month) break from blogging, I am back and ready to post all my new ideas, recipes, crafts and tips just in time to prep for the holidays!! I love this time of year, when the weather starts to get cooler and it's a lot easier to get outside and we can bring out the Autumn clothes from the back of the closet. Ahhh how I miss jeans and scarves!! It's also a great time for new crafts, apple cider and lets not forget WINE SEASON!! (well for those of us not preggo this year) I am looking forward to new posts and please keep sending me comments, I love feedback!