Nifty Tip: Post Big Meal

Feeling overstuffed and overindulged?

Three to five servings of broccoli, kale or arugula the day after a big meal help flush out toxins from meats and processed foods. (Family Circle December 2010 )

Whats the best way to eat broccoli, kale, and arugula you ask? Here are my FAVES:
Broccoli- Roast with olive oil, chopped garlic, and black pepper in a 450 degree oven 10-15 minutes until ends start to char.

Kale- Saute with olive oil, thin sliced garlic, and the zest/juice from 1 lemon. Season with salt and pepper.

Arugula- Melt 1 TBSP butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 TBSP of flour and whisk until mixture forms a brown paste. Add 1 c light cream, a pinch of nutmeg, salt and pepper. Continue whisking until edges just begin to bubble. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir until sauce thickens. Toss with whole wheat spaghetti until coated. Top with 1 c chopped arugula and 1/4 c shredded Parmesan and lightly fold in.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups white flour
1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 sticks of softened, unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup sweetener (granulated works best)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp peppermint extract
8-10 drops green food coloring
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat even to 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine first 4 ingredients and set aside.

In a large bowl (or the kitchen aid mixer bowl), beat next 4 ingredients until creamy. Add eggs, separately until incorporated into mixture. Add food coloring and extract and combined. Add flour mixture and beat until well blended.

Mix in by hand (even if you are using the mixer) 1 bag of chocolate chips.

Bake for 8-12 minutes depending on cookie size. Makes 4 dozen small cookies or 2 dozen large cookies.

Homemade Gifts: Snowman Soup

This is more of a gift idea than a recipe, but great to make up and pass out around the holidays.

For each "soup" you will need:

1 packet instant hot cocoa, any flavor or variety
2 candy canes, taped together to form a heart
1/4 c mini marshmallows OR 3-4 Christmas shape/color marshmallows in a snack bag
1-2 Hershey kiss es

On the card/paper of your choice, this message:
Was told you've been good this year
I'm always glad to hear it!
With freezing weather drawing near,
You'll need to warm the spirit.
So here's a little Snowman soup,
Complete with stirring stick.
Add hot water, sip it slow,
It's sure to do the trick!

If you are doing a few, you can just put the ingredients into a cute over sized mug and put the note in with it.

For a large batch, I put everything into a quart bag, and fit the note to the length of the top of the bag leaving the top half blank, then fold it over and staple to cover the zip top.

You can also go to Organized Christmas for really cute bag toppers like whats shown in this photo!

How I Made the Most of Thanksgiving Leftovers

As usual, I made way too much food in my insane worry that someone might go hungry at my house. Here is just some tips and bits about how I made the leftovers a little less painful for my family.

Thanksgiving Day

- Once you remove the turkey from the roasting pan and have made gravy, pour the remaining drippings into a container and refrigerate.
- After you carve the turkey, refrigerate the carcass and any veggies that we in/around the bird
- Wrap up leftovers within 2 hours of serving for safety

1-2 Days Later

- Make stock
- Make soup: Throw the wings/drumsticks into a stock pot. Add 1 carrot, 1 celery stalk, 4 cloves garlic, 1 sprig of fresh thyme and cook over a high rolling heat for 1-2 hours until the bones are clean. Strain the stock in a strainer lined with paper towels and add to a large soup pot. Add another couple sliced carrots and celery stalks, 1 sliced onions, and the meat from the strainer carefully checked for bones and cut to bite size. Cook until veggies are tender, salt and pepper to taste
- Make turkey pot pie: Use the leftover dripping to make more 1-2 more cups of gravy. Chop leftover turkey and line the bottom of an 8X8 baking dish. Add a bag of frozen mixed veggies, and pour gravy over the top to cover. Roll out an 8x8 square of pie dough to cover. Bake at 400 until golden brown and crusty.
- Make turkey salad: Throw chopped white and dark meat into a food processor with rough chopped celery and green onions. Add mayo, coarse ground mustard, and hot cherry pepper spread. Pulse until shredded/mixed well.

3-4 Days Later

- Make chocolate cranberry tarts: Roll out pie dough and cut to 3" circles with a glass or cookie cutter. Line dough in a 2.5" muffin pan. Place about 10 semi-sweet chocolate chips in each cup. Fill with 1-2 TBSP cranberry sauce. Bake until crust is golden.
- Make mashed potato cakes: For each 1 c of mashed potatoes add 2 TBSP chopped green onions and 1/4 c shredded cheddar. Mix well and form 5 patties. Dip in a beaten egg, and a mix of equal part bread crumbs and grated Parmesan. Cook over medium heat in a skillet with 2 TBSP vegetable oil, turning once, until golden on both sides.

My Mom's Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bar....and my Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Bars

When I was little my mom always made these yummy little treats when we were going to a party. I recently found the recipe and made them again, and then got the idea to flip them for my chocolate loving friends.

Nonny's Bars                                                             
1 box yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 c water
1/4 c softened butter
1 c crunchy peanut butter
1 bag chocolate chips

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Heavily grease a 13X9" baking pan.

Beat eggs, water, butter and peanut butter to blend. Add the cake mix, 1/2 a box at a time. Stir until mixed well and fold in chocolate chips.

Bake 20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

FLIP IT!
Substitute chocolate cake for the yellow, and peanut butter chips for the chocolate.