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Archive for October, 2009

The Boy Can Dance…

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

So, yesterday while at Old Navy I discovered that Blake was bouncing up and down to the beat of the music in the shopping cart…

HE WAS DANCING!

It was super cute and if you bounce up and down, he usually will copy you…but, really the time I love it the best is when he does it on his own.

Here is proof that my boy has moves!

Also, notice how awesome I am!  How do you ask…well, I figured out how to use my camera to take a video of Blake, how to upload it onto YouTube and how to transfer it onto the blog.  I’m rocking this blog thing :)

Brussel Sprouts in a Salad…

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Attention!!!

Do Not Tell People This is a Brussel Sprout Salad!

Don’t do it…just give it to them, have them tell you how amazing this salad tastes and then hit them with the news…They will be amazed!

Case in Point…

Earlier this week I took this salad to a Pot Luck a friend of mine was hosting.   I was quite nervous that no one would give it a go, so I happened to “forget” what I made this salad out of.  The eating started and I heard or was told my most people there that this was a delicious salad.  It was tangy, sweet and crunchy all at the same time.  The flavors were unexpected and wonderful.

Then I told them, they just ate raw Brussel Sprouts…

As one person put it…I just flipped his whole world, because until that moment he was sure he hated Brussel Sprouts.

That made my night!!!  I converted a non-believer and he didn’t even know…he didn’t even know!

I actually got the inspiration from a salad that I had in Chicago this past summer…I couldn’t believe that you could eat Brussel Sprouts raw and that they would be so fantastic!  I knew if you added bacon, garlic and shallots to them and caramelize them in the bacon fat that they were spectacular, but to have a healthier, lighter option was a culinary breakthrough in my opinion.

So, give this one a try…I wanted to name it, “Don’t tell them there are brussel sprouts in this salad, salad,” but that was just a little too long.

Instead, enjoy the combination of tangy, tart, sweet and salty…of chewy, crunchy and refreshing.  It really is quite yummy!

My Yummy Brussel Sprout Salad

My Yummy Brussel Sprout Salad

Brussel Sprout Harvest Salad

  • 1 ½ pound of Brussel Sprouts, shredded
  • 1 Granny Smith Apple, diced small
  • ½ cup Dried Cranberries
  • ½ cup Roasted and Salted Marcona Almonds
  • Shaved Pecorino Romano Cheese

Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

  • Zest of one Lemon
  • Juice from ½ of a Lemon
  • 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
  • ¼ cup Honey
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste

1 – Mix to combine in a small bowl the zest of the lemon with the juice of ½ a lemon, the vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt and pepper.  Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, mix till combined.  Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.  Set Aside.

2 – Cut Brussel Sprouts in half and then cut them into small shredded pieces, making sure not to shred the core.  Then add the diced Granny Smith Apple, Cranberries and Marcona Almonds.  Toss with the dressing to combine.

3 – Let the salad sit for about 20-30 minutes either at room temperature if you will serve it right away or in the fridge if you will serve later.  This way the flavors will have a chance to meld.

4 – Right before service, shave some Pecorino Romano with a potato peeler.  I shaved about a cup of it, but you can adjust to your taste, I just really love a lot of cheese in my salad.  Take ½ of the shaved cheese and mix it into the salad and then take the other ½ and sprinkle on top.

Serves about 6-8 people

Tip:  If you want to make this a meal, served some grilled chicken breast over this and it would make about 4 main entrée servings

Happy Eating!

Look at the Amazing Textures In this Brussel Sprout Salad

Look at the Amazing Textures In this Brussel Sprout Salad

FYI:  Here are a couple of other salad recipes made from Brussel Sprouts to help inspire you!

Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with Fresh Walnuts and Pecorino

Brussel Sprout Salad

Warm Brussel Sprout Salad

Easy Banana Bread…

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Inevitably there are banana’s in everyone’s house that reach an expiration date before they are eaten.  And if you aren’t making banana pancakes, you are going to probably want to throw them into bread.   I know for a fact that I am not recreating the wheel on this one, but it was a fun morning project that Brook and I could do together.  The greatest part about baking with your child is there are so many parts of the process that you can include them in.  All the measuring, pouring, mixing, etc., is very child friendly.  It’s much more child friendly to bake something with them, then have them help with main dishes.  Although, she is practicing her knife skills, she is still just a little too young for the stove and she can only chop “soft” foods…so, for now Brook and I are bakers together.  Here is our creation…

Easy to Make Banana Bread...

Easy to Make Banana Bread...

Easy Banana Bread

  • 2 cups Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • ¼ tsp Salt
  • ½ cup Butter
  • ¾ cup Brown Sugar
  • 2 Eggs, Beaten
  • 4 Ripe Bananas, Mashed
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • ½ tsp Nutmeg
  • ¾ cup Walnuts (optional)

1 – Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9×5 loaf pan.

2 – In a medium-mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Mix with a fork to incorporate ingredients and set aside.

3 – In another mixing bowl, cream the brown sugar and butter.  Cream for about 3 minutes.  Then slowly add the eggs into the mixture and continue to beat.  Finally, add the mashed banana and vanilla and mix to combine.

4 – Slowly beat in the flour into the wet mixture…only adding 1/3 of the mixture at a time.  Beat until incorporated, add second part of flour mixture, beat until incorporated, beat in remaining flour.  Fold in Walnuts and then pour batter into the loaf pan.

5 – Bake in the preheated oven for 60 – 70 minutes or until a toothpick is clean when inserted in the center of the loaf.  Let the bread cool for about 10 minutes, then invert it and let it cool the rest of the way.

As always, make some cooking memories with your kids and…

Happy Eating!

Taking a Bite Out Of Fresh Buttered Banana Bread...

Taking a Bite Out Of Fresh Buttered Banana Bread...

I Can Totally Feed Myself…

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Blake Eating Chicken Noodle Soup...

Blake Eating Chicken Noodle Soup...

Recently, Blake only wants to feed himself and this is what happens…

Mom…I told you that I can totally feed myself, but…

Does the food need to actually get inside my mouth to count?  Can’t it just be around my mouth and somehow magically end up in my tummy?

Brook’s Halloween Art…

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Brook's Halloween Art.

Brook's Halloween Art.

Okay, I know I am bragging, but she drew this all on her own!  I asked her if it was a picture of her with her Jack o’Lantern and she told me that it wasn’t her, but it was a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch with a scarecrow protecting it.

I totally see it!