Thank you!

Yesterday was a great day for this blog and I feel very grateful to all my followers.  In the morning I hit 25,000 tumblr followers, then in the afternoon I was selected as the Blog of the Month by Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.  That is very thrilling and I am so honored.  I admire Jamie and all that he’s done to change the way people think about food, cooking and serving kids healthful school lunches. 

The reason I started this blog was to help others.  I didn’t think I had any magical touch.  I certainly wouldn’t win any parenting and housekeeping awards.  I really just believed that it comes down to cooking at home more than on an occasion, eating together, serving kids foods would eat (adult food not kid food) and just putting those vegetables in front of them— often. 

Yes, I can cook, but I don’t always feel inspired to create amazing and gourmet meals.  Sometimes, I just want to take the shortcuts and throw something together.  But I do believe that even in those times, it is possible to throw together quick, healthful meals.  There are times that my kids don’t eat the most healthy foods, but I just try to keep those times to the minimum.  I want that balance for their attitudes towards food (like, so they won’t gorge on junk when it’s in front of them) and so they can see that even healthy foods taste good!

I attribute a great deal of my own growth in cooking to my husband, a chef, who has taught me much (but unfortunately is working many long hours day and night) and also because I joined a local farm’s CSA/Shared Harvest program.  I was forced to use vegetables I’d pass by in the grocery store because I just didn’t know what to do with them.  I enjoy good food and I want my kids to share in that enjoyment.  It’s a wonderful part of life. 

So, thank you.  Thank you for giving me this platform to share.  Thank you for keeping me going.  Thank you for validating what I am trying to achieve.  I hope I’ve helped you, your kids, or someone you know in eating well.

Me with my main reasons for cooking healthy foods!

Thank you!

Yesterday was a great day for this blog and I feel very grateful to all my followers.  In the morning I hit 25,000 tumblr followers (now over 54,000 as of 4/1/13!), then in the afternoon I was selected as the Blog of the Month by Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.  That is very thrilling and I am so honored.  I admire Jamie and all that he’s done to change the way people think about food, cooking and serving kids healthful school lunches. JFR_badge_lrg_315x215

The reason I started this blog was to help others.  I didn’t think I had any magical touch.  I certainly wouldn’t win any parenting and housekeeping awards.  I really just believed that it comes down to cooking at home more than on an occasion, eating together, serving kids foods would eat (adult food not kid food) and just putting those vegetables in front of them— often. 

Yes, I can cook, but I don’t always feel inspired to create amazing and gourmet meals.  Sometimes, I just want to take the shortcuts and throw something together.  But I do believe that even in those times, it is possible to throw together quick, healthful meals.  There are times that my kids don’t eat the most healthy foods, but I just try to keep those times to the minimum.  I want that balance for their attitudes towards food (like, so they won’t gorge on junk when it’s in front of them) and so they can see that even healthy foods taste good!

I attribute a great deal of my own growth in cooking to my husband, a chef, who has taught me much (but unfortunately is working many long hours day and night) and also because I joined a local farm’s CSA/Shared Harvest program.  I was forced to use vegetables I’d pass by in the grocery store because I just didn’t know what to do with them.  I enjoy good food and I want my kids to share in that enjoyment.  It’s a wonderful part of life. 

So, thank you.  Thank you for giving me this platform to share.  Thank you for keeping me going.  Thank you for validating what I am trying to achieve.  I hope I’ve helped you, your kids, or someone you know in eating well.

Me with my main reasons for cooking healthy foods!

But I hate eggplant!

My husband made some yummy beef kalbi (Korean short ribs) that are marinated in all sorts of yumminess including mirin, kiwifruit and 7up (yes, 7up!).  He grilled the beef  along with some gorgeous striped eggplant, and served with brown rice and a plain salad.   Continue reading

But I hate eggplant!

My husband made some yummy beef kalbi (Korean short ribs) that are marinated in all sorts of yumminess including mirin, kiwifruit and 7up (yes, 7up!).  He grilled the beef  along with some gorgeous striped eggplant, and served with brown rice and a plain salad.  My eldest cried out when he saw his plate, “I hate eggplant!” and so I told him to give it one taste which he did then made a disgusted look.  So, I said to just give it to me (it was so delicious).  I reminded him of other times he’s had eggplant and liked it

“No I didn’t” was his reply. My middle son echoed it. Whatever.  

So two nights later I made a summer stew with eggplant, kale, baby potatoes (some from our “garden”— pathetic effort this year), sweet potatoes, chicken, chickpeas, tomatoes, garlic, fresh ginger, onion, Middle Eastern spices and cilantro.  It was so good and we were in a rush to get places so I even packed up my middle son’s in a thermos flask to eat on the road. 

Funny thing is they both devoured the dish and when I mentioned that there was eggplant in it, my middle son denied that it was even there.  I had to physically point it out to him.  He then tasted one piece and said, “Oh, Ok.”

So… sometimes it’s just how you serve it.  Alone, grilled, in a dish with many other items, raw, steamed, baked, with certain spices, etc… It may not be received well one way, but they may actually like it done differently.  

I find with many kids it can be the texture that puts them off with certain vegetables, that’s why raw over cooked or vice versa may be preferred. 

Easy Avocado Salsa (Chunky Guacamole)

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This gallery contains 3 photos.

A simple way to make a delicious avocado salsa/chunky guacamole.   Use Trader Joe’s Salsa Verde (Tomatillo salsa) to add nice spicy twist.  I find sometimes chili peppers aren’t hot enough or are too hot and then sometimes their heat … Continue reading