Babies & Breakfast Salads

Oh dear! I have been very very absent.

But I think I have a pretty good excuse this time… I had a bun in the oven ❤ And now that bun is almost 10 months old! Little Xan is probably the most delicious thing Sweets & I have ever made.

Except for maybe this breakfast salad. I mean, I guess they’re delicious in their own respective ways so its not really fair to compare the two.

With a baby on deck our dinners have to be quick and snappy. Gone are the days of leisurely prep, marinades and pretty much any meal that takes much thought to prepare. The Mommy (and Daddy) brain struggle is real, so after we’ve spent a workday using every ounce of brain-power we have, and then every last bit of energy we’ve got left to feed, bathe and get the boy down to bed, dinner time HAS to be simple.

And lately, simple around here means lots and lots of salads. But because we’re still Sweetie & Kneez and still enjoy delicious food, you won’t find any generic iceburg lettuce or Hidden Valley Ranch in these parts.

I’m hoping to share more of these salads with y’all because I’m not gonna lie, I feel pretty victorious finding a way to prepare delicious and healthy meals at the end of the day. Although given how simple most of these meals are I think most of you will find the same victory 🙂

I think its fair to say that a Breakfast Salad can really be eaten for any meal. I mean in all truthfulness, we’re grown ups, so really we can eat whatever we want at any time of the day. But still, you don’t even need to be a grown-up to eat this whenever you want!

There are dozens of ways to tackle a breakfast salad. This particular salad was kind of a hodge-podge of things we needed to use in our fridge. And that included red onions (which we roasted), tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers and bacon. We added a little extra-sharp cheddar cheese as well, but I kind of wish we had some shaved Parmesan instead. The cheddar worked just fine, but something about the subtle bite of Parmesan seems more appropriate.

I think a Mexican twist on this salad would also be delicious (I’m envisioning chorizo, black beans, some queso fresco) but I’ll have to save that for next time. And now I’m day-dreaming about next-time.

Focus, Maggie, focus!

Cauliflower Chowder

Long-long ago, before carbs were the Antichrist, my mom (clearly ahead of the times) replaced our Thanksgiving mashed potatoes with mashed cauliflower.

I have never been a huge fan of Thanksgiving Day fare… but the much-anticipated mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce made the meal, at least for me, not a total waste.

So needless to say, when my Mom replaced my beloved potatoes with cauliflower I was none-too-pleased. But it wasn’t so much that she made a new dish in place of my favorite, it was that she tried to convince me that they tasted exactly like mashed potatoes.

Well, I will say this much folks. They didn’t. And because I was a teenage “little-shit” I didn’t bother to acknowledge, that while they didn’t taste the same, they were actually pretty good. Knowing myself at that awful, angsty, bratty age I’m inclined to believe that I probably took one or two irritated nibbles and the moved onto enjoy a dinner made up of cranberry sauce.

Fear not folks, this is indeed yellow cauliflower. It’s not just a weird photo filter.

And with that I’d like to apologize to my Mom and tell you a little bit about my Cauliflower Chowder  (or if you’re from Rhode Island and have my very favorite accent… Chowdah).

First off, I’d like to say something you don’t read much from food bloggers using cauliflower as a substitute for bready, potatoey, grain-rich carbs. This chowder is in no way meant to serve as a replacement for potato chowder. Sure, you can use the same garnishes and tell yourself you’re eating chowder made from the Antichrist. But the thing is, you’re not… the taste and texture is different. That isn’t too say this chowder is worse, or even better for that matter. But it’s not potato chowder, just like my mom’s mashed cauliflower wasn’t mashed potatoes.

But I will tell you that this Cauliflower Chowder is very very very delicious. And if you love cauliflower the same way I do, you will certainly love this soup. Just don’t try to trick your kids or yourself into thinking it’s made from potatoes. And really, folks who needs potatoes when you’ve got bacon.

Meatless Monday: You Don’t Always Get What You Want

But if you try sometime… you get what you need! 

I’ve got another Meatless Monday treat for you today, courtesy of my Poo love.

And funny enough a few minutes after she sent me this post last night, I stumbled across this blog!

Turns out the meat loving Cleveland has declared Meatless Monday an official thing! How cool is that? But more than MM, what really caught my eye in the headline was the Kielbasa mention… Poo and I am both BIG fans of Kielbasa smothered in mustard ❤ And she is actually the first person I ever enjoyed this meaty treat with!

Alright, now for all you Portobello Mushroom lovers… read on!

Guest Blogging: Meatless Monday Magic

I’m super duper excited to introduce you to one of my dearest, oldest (not like old in age but like old as in we’re homies that go way back) and most favorite friends today! I call her Pooey, but you can call her Amanda. Seriously, though, don’t call her Pooey because that is reserved nickname between the two of us. And yes, it’s copyrighted.

Amanda has for as long as I can remember now been a pretty dedicated Meatless Monday devotee and is sharing her most recent MM dinner with us tonight! But it’s not just any dinner sans-meat, it’s the best of the best… delicious freshly blended like your Grandma use to, Red Chile. And BEANS too!

And because she is one of the biggest history buffs I know, you’ll also get a little MM history to go with your dinner tonight 🙂

So without further adieu… let me introduce my Poo! And your new Meatless Monday guest blogger!

SnickerDoodle Bars (AKA Siren Bars)

Howdy hungry readers!

So some of you may be wondering if my recent hiatus has been due to my wishful dream of moving to Austin, Texas.  Kind of. Except we didn’t move to Texas 😦 but we did move to Sunny California! I got a job offer in Oakland which put us in the amazing Bay Area! And while Texas will forever have my heart, for the next few years at least this beautiful piece of land has our bodaaays.

Also, a big shout out to one of my favorite bloggers Smitten Kitchen for a link-back on our (now) famous Blue Sky Bakery Muffins! 

I hadn’t checked the blog in a few weeks and randomly a couple weeks ago went to peak at my blog’s dashboard and was blown away by the THOUSAND PLUS page views!!! I mean I realize to some big-time food bloggers 1,000 views is pocket change. But to little ol’ me that is a HUGE FRICKEN DEAL! I mean basically I decided then and there that I was internet famous.

(Although I should warn you I was internet famous on BuzzFeed for a weekend awhile back – Friday Night Lights fans, anyone?)

OK that’s enough about me.

Now let’s get back to you and your tummy! And in this post’s case, your sweet tooth.

These little gems are ridiculously easy. Like it takes maybe 10 minutes to whip them up…a little longer to bake… but lets be honest it’s the prep time we judge a recipe by.

The more things there are to chop/mince/grate the more OTHER recipes I’m looking at.

These bars are also like dude-crack. Or like Sirens? Siren bars! Don’t get me wrong, these things are good, the ladies love them too.  They’re sugary, cinnamony, buttery chewy goodness in a bar form. But the dudes… even the “Oh I don’t really like sweets” dudes LOOOOOOOOVE them.

I don’t know what it is about them that seems to attract the male folks. But every time I’ve made these my husband eats like 20 and any other guy who gets a taste tells me how much he loves them for up to 2 weeks after they’ve been digested.

So now lets get to baking… and gracing the men in our lives with a thing of beauty.

Austin & Migas

Sometimes.

I’m a hippy.

I don’t actually hug trees (although I do like them!) and for the most part I bathe (unless it’s the weekend!) and I HATE drum circles (always).

But I’m pretty down with the idea of putting your desires out into the universe to actualize them.

Is this even a hippy-specific concept?  I’m not sure but when I think of “putting stuff out into the universe” I instantly picture women with long flowy skirts and long tangled hair dancing around a campfire with drums – ya know – putting stuff out into the universe?

Shit… would that be a drum circle?  Or a witches brew?

OK now I’m getting distracted.

My point is.  I want to move to Austin.  Like big time.  Like I want to have a family and buy a house and get another dog and go to the park and join a book club and take my kids to T-ball and live and work and love in Austin.

That is what I want.

Right now.  I don’t live in Austin (obviously).  But I’m working on making it happen.  And I’ve put it out into the universe.

So we’ll see what the universe wants.

Dear universe… can that please be Austin?  Please. 

So while we’re waiting let’s bring some Austin into the kitchen and our bellies!

With some MIGAS!

Migas aren’t necessarily Austin-specific but they are one of my favorite things to eat when I’m there – at Kerbey Lane – where I always wait at least 30 minutes for a table because it’s always packed because EVERYTHING is really delicious.  Especially the Migas.

What are Migas you ask?  Well they’re like heaven on a plate.  Peppers, onions, eggs, corn tortillas and cheese magic.  Can I eat these for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner and snack amazingness.

And you can get them at Kerbey Lane.  Or you can MAKE them.

Migas

Shrimp Butter Lettuce ‘Tacos’

Heya Trusty Readers!

So I finally actually have a decent excuse for being so absent :0

Sweets and I got MARRIED!  It was a ridiculously amazing day and I’d gush and gush but know you all probably don’t come here to read stuff about weddings… but if you want to check out our wedding blog.

OK so now back to the grub!  This post is dedicated to all those folks out there who enjoy making food at home… but don’t necessarily enjoy all the chopping/prepping that goes hand and  hand with cooking.  Specifically my super-awesome friend Drew Lage! (hi DREW!)

And really, who am I kidding, this goes out to pretty much everyone out there.  Because even if you do find your happy place in the kitchen – who hasn’t found themselves getting off late work late, still  needing to go grocery shop, and still wanting to whip something special up to celebrate your ONE MONTH wedding anniversary.

Shrimp Tacos with a Green Shell!

Lamb Meatballs over Zucchini Noodles with Mint Pesto (now that’s a mouthful)

Today as I was heating up my dinner leftovers for lunch in the office microwave – one of the sales lady’s walked by and said that my lunch smelled so good that she was tempted to steal it right out of the nuker.

I am very glad she resisted temptation – because I would have punched her in the face.

And mind you I am very much a lover NOT a fighter.

But last night’s dinner was (excuse my french) effing delicious and I knew the leftovers were going to be just as good and there was no way in hell I was going to share.

I even like this lady a fair amount!  She compliments my hair when it’s down and outfits when they merit mention – but my belly would hear nothing of such niceties! It wanted to eat!

So maybe I didn’t share my lunch with the sales lady… and perhaps I mentally threatened to punch her face… not my finest moment I’ll admit it.  But it’s all good because now I’m going to share the recipe!  So all is forgiven!  Right?

Lamb Meatballs over Zucchini Noodles with Mint Pesto 

Stuffed Bell Peppers (like no Caveman made them before)

The latest health  craze has made its way into the little kitchen of Sweets and I.

Inspired by the way cave-folks ate – Paleo – is meant to include foods that Tarzan ate.  Lots of meats, fish, eggs and veggies and all the spices your heart can dream of and a big fat NO to most of that white fluffy stuff – pasta, bread, sugar, pastries.   And a very tragic no to dairy… sweet delicious dairy… in all the cheesy goodness forms it comes.

At this very moment there is a montage playing of me enjoying cheese in various states… the song Secret Lovers by Atlantic Starr is playing.  It’s a beautiful moment.

So that’s a pretty simplified and maybe slightly uneducated description of what Paleo means but you can find a fancier explanation here.

Most meals you make at home can be modified in some shape or form to meet Paleo standards – replace bread with butter lettuce or cabbage – sub cheese for avocado – instead of ice cream blend up a frozen banana with some coconut milk – don’t eat a bag of Cheetos.

And for this meal in the kitchen of Sweetie and Kneez – sub couscous for Cauliflower “rice.”  And yes I know what you’re thinking – chances are cavemen did not dust off their food processor to “rice” a head of Cauliflower.

But alas it’s 2013 and that’s just want these cave-lovebirds did.

If rice-rice is more your thang than cauli-rice (or couscous) – have at it – carb this sucker up.  But one day you should try to sub rice with cauliflower – just to switch things up or try something new – it’s quite delicious!

Spicy (paleo) Stuffed Bell Peppers

Almost-Paleo Pad Thai Spaghetti

I’m sensing a trend… in my kitchen.

A trend that’s rubbing off on my blog.

And by rubbing off I mean on the heels of one Spaghetti Squash recipe, you’re about to get another.

It’s also another recipe I hadn’t really planned on blogging – but I feel like I’d be a real cheenchster if I didn’t – which means you’ll be getting another less than awesome food photo but it comes attached to  DELICIOUS recipe so it’s OK, right?

Pale-OH Spaghetti Squash Chicken Pad Thai