Teriyaki Chicken with Peaches Kebabs

Peaches are in season. The best way to select a peach is by smelling it. Choose one with a strong peachy fragrance. The redness on it’s skin is not an indication of ripeness but discard all that have hints of green in it which means they’ve been picked too early.

Celebrate Mother’s Day and think Fair Trade Certified

This year, Mother’s Day and World Fair Trade Day occur on the same weekend. So, if you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift, consider buying Fair Trade Certified goods such as flowers, chocolate, coffee, clothing and jewelry.

Buying Fair Trade Certified goods help improve the lives of 1.4 million moms and families in developing countries.

Texas Worm Ranch – more about Vermicomposting

“I have worms!” Lollo proclaimed loudly to his teacher who looked at me quizzically. He means we own worms. We’re proud owners of a spanking new working worm bin from Texas Worm Ranch.

Finally after an unsuccessful bout of vermicomposting last year, I decided to take a class from Heather Rinaldi, head worm rancher of Texas Worm Ranch and one of the founders of Dallas Eco-Op. Boy, did I learn a lot from the two hour workshop.

Earth Day Pledge (again)

“Mama can we please keep him?” Lollo looks up at me and implored. He’s scooped up a worm off the pavement after a big rain. That was the beginning of our composting adventure which began last spring. We often talk about food on IttyBittyFoodies but not what to do with food scraps.

Easter Eggs Your Kids Will Love

In the tradition of our Easter post from last year, I’m using real eggs again. I found a wonderful book full of the cutest egg recipes called Funny Food, 365 Fun, Healthy, Silly, Creative Breakfasts by Bill and Claire Wurtzel. I love how they’ve used fresh wholesome ingredients to make a good breakfast, snack or healthy dessert.

Easy Slow Roasted Salmon with Mustard Tarragon Sauce

We like to eat well at dinner time but with two small children, it is often hard for me to stay in the kitchen for more than twenty minutes. This slow roasted salmon recipe I created for Artizone is an easy solution for us. Slow roasting is a great way to fool proof cooking fish. I basically pop the salmon filet in the oven at a very low temperature for twenty  minutes and  it comes out coral pink, soft and silken in texture (almost like smoked salmon) and never dry.

Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook & America’s Test Kitchen Cooking School comes to our kitchens

The new Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook just might be the last cookbook I’ll ever need but since I’m a cookbook junkie, it won’t be last I’ll buy. After interviewing Jack Bishop (we went to Oddfellows), editorial director of Cook’s Illustrated and co-host of America’s Test Kitchen for the Dallas Morning News in January, I’ve been faithfully consulting the Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook on a weekly basis – salmon, chicken, cod, beef, veal, veggies… in short everything.

Family Dinners & the Dine-in Date Night

We are big proponents of eating together as a family. Gathering for dinner is a time for sharing not just the food on the table but also to catch up on our day’s events. Pikelet and Lollo like to tell us about the ‘best bits of the day’ and also talk about solving the challenges they’ve faced during their day. Although the kids are just four and six years old and life isn’t too dramatic at this stage, Beefcake & I want to set this framework now so they know that the channels for openness are always there. We also use the time to teach table manners and try new foods in a familiar environment.

Fall for this Valentine’s Day Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich

Chocolate Ice Cream with Espresso Cookie Sandwich

“Mama, what happens when Cupid’s arrow pierces your heart?” asks my wide eyed 6 year old, Pikelet. “Does it hurt?” Kids this age are so literal. I laughed and gently told him that there wasn’t a real arrow. “It just means that you’ve found the right person to love but it’s not something you need to worry about till you’re grown up.” I’m not the syrupy commercialised sentimental type and Valentine’s Day has never been an ‘event’ in the household. But Pikelet’s statement has stuck with me and I realise just how much we’ve fallen in love with our kids. So perhaps we’ll allow some mushiness and let this Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich recipe melt our hearts.

Enter the Year of the Dragon – Lunar New Year 2012

Chinese Tea Ceremony set up

2012 brings the auspicious Year of the Dragon in the Lunar calendar. “Gong Xi Fa Cai!” as the Chinese say. The new year runs from January 23rd to February 6th, 2012 with fifteen glorious days of celebration and customs. There are so many traditional practices during this time, I wanted to share one of Pikelet & Lollo’s favorite – the Chinese tea ceremony. This is a sweet and private family ritual that is performed on special occasions such as weddings and we do it every year on the first day of the Chinese New Year.

IttyBittyFoodies Babbling about Babble.com

Wow… hasn’t the year flown by? Just checked the national parenting site Babble.com to find an early Christmas present for me under the Top 100 Food Mom Bloggers to see that I’m hovering around No 32! The year hasn’t been without scandal – remember the sabotage? And I thank you all for voting for me and staying loyal. If you haven’t voted, please take a few seconds to ‘Like’ me here. It will be listed under Cheryl Collett. I hope to finish out the year on a high!

Stay safe in the coming holidays and live 2012 without regret.

Till our next happy meal! Happy holidays!

‘Surprise food’ from co-ops – Urban Acres

Pikelet & Lollo carrying the empty crate

Food co-ops have often intrigued me but I’ve always shied at the thought of getting 30 lbs of produce I do not know what to do with. This week, my dear friend D who is off to Sydney, let me pick up her half share from Urban Acres who have pick up sites all over Dallas.

Here’s how it works. You sign up to commit to a half share ($30 for 15 lbs) or full share ($50 for 30lbs)  and pick up your produce every two weeks. There’s a membership fee $50 and a bin fee $14 that you pay at signup.

Healthy Halloween Snacks! Mummies in a tomb, devilled eyeballs & goblin teeth!

Boo! We are getting right into healthy Halloween snacks that doesn’t involve candy. The kids loved making the Mummies in a Tomb (our take on the pigs in a blanket) using puff pastry and helping assemble the devilled eyeballs. The goblin teeth made of apples are wonderful for that ghoulish Halloween smile! Do try these recipes at home!

Halloween ideas – Spooky Witches Fingers, Melting Witch Soup & Monster Pillows!

Spooky Witches Fingers!

My guest blogger is Darlene Rosen from Honey Girl Kitchen.  Check out her recipes  for Spooky Witches Fingers (sugar cookies), Melting Witch Soup (green of course) and monsters pillows (pumpkin spiced empanadas which are to die for!). Of course if you don’t have time to make these yourself, you can always order from Honey Girl Kitchen.

Gourmet Fast Food: Linguine with Lump Crab Meat, Asparagus & Avocado

Making a nice meal doesn’t always have to take a long time. This linguine recipe with lump crab meat, asparagus and avocado lets you create a meal in the time it takes to boil pasta. Now that’s what I call fast food.

Recipe featured on White Rock Lake Weekly

Till our next Happy Meal!