Rss Feed

  1. eat more (raw) kale

    February 1, 2012 by Bridget

    A funny thing happened the other day. I had lunch at Chik-Fil-A, and I did not once think about kale. In case you have no idea what I’m talking about and don’t know about the silly corporate bullying of a Vermont folk artist, read up here.

    I totally dig Chik-Fil-A’s food. It’s about the only fast food chain I’ll willingly patronize. And I get it. The lawyerly types need to protect the “brand” and all, even from the little guy promoting a COMPLETELY different food choice. Still. It’s silly. Kind of like the NFL suing t-shirt shops in New Orleans over the “Who Dat” slogan.

    But on days when I’m not consuming 1000 calories for lunch (that’s about what a chicken sandwich, fries, and lemonade rack up to, btw), I try to eat lots of veggies. And as veggies go, kale is hot right now. Kale is the stuff. Kale is trending on Twitter. Kale is disguising itself as chips at your Super Bowl party.

    I’d read about all these brave souls eating RAW kale (isn’t that just a garnish?). Heck, even my kids had purportedly LOVED a strawberry kale smoothie a neighbor had served them. I’d read about the uber-blogger Kath and her raw kale salads. But get this. She massages the kale.

    Ugh.

    There is A LOT that I will do in the name of good food. But there are some tasks that just annoy me. Just ask my friend Jen how I feel about separating eggs only to recombine them while cake-baking. Grrr…

    And massaging kale? Please. I need a massage. I don’t see myself rubbing down leafy greens any time soon.

    But then I found this recipe on Food52 and gave it whirl (with my own adaptations, natch).

    Pfft. Who needs to massage kale when you’ve got a squeeze of lemon juice and a touch of olive oil? Yummy. Healthy. Easy. All good.

    My apologies for the lack of a photo. We ate it up before I remembered to snap a shot, and I knew I had to share anyway. Can I promise a photo for next time? Thanks. XO

    Massage-Free Raw Kale Salad

    Extra-virgin olive oil

    Salt and freshly ground pepper

    1 bunch kale (preferably lacinato or dinosaur kale), ribs removed and finely sliced, about 2 1/2 cups

    1/4 cup almonds, cut roughly in half

    1/4 cup crumbled or finely chopped aged cheddar (I used Dubliner)

    1/4 cup dried cherries

    Fresh lemon juice

    Toast the almonds in a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove from skillet and let cool.
    In a large mixing bowl, toss the kale with the almonds, cheddar and squash. Season to taste with lemon juice and olive oil (approximately 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 2 tablespoons olive oil). Season to taste with salt and pepper.

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: , | 3 Comments

  2. fall tortellini, now that fall’s almost over

    December 12, 2011 by Bridget

    I doubt that I’m headed toward full-on vegan, or even true vegetarian, but I have been focused on meatless meals for the past few weeks. Hubby and I have been working on getting healthier, and when a sworn carnivore friend who’d recently hosted a party centered around pork told us he’d been eating mostly veg, we decided to give it a whirl ourselves.

    Somehow, planning and executing a work-week’s worth of meatless meals is much easier than I would have thought. I’ve been checking out various food blogs for veg options, and besides still being turned off by veg products pretending to be meat, I’ve found lots of yummy stuff.

    Tonight’s dinner was an adaptation of a recipe I found through Cooking With My Kid. That recipe is probably simpler and prettier than mine, but mine has more veggies. So there.

    The kids whined about all the veggies, but they picked off the big chunks and even asked for seconds. Hubby chowed down happily, and right off the bat I thought of about 4 friends who I thought would love it. And when that happens, it is definitely time for a blog entry.

    butternut squash, chard, mushroom, tortellini, and sage brown butter

    3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
    3 lb. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1″ chunks
    8 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced
    1 bunch red chard, roughly chopped
    3 cloves garlic, minced
    3 tablespoons butter
    20 sage leaves, divided
    2 1-lb. packages frozen cheese tortellini
    salt and pepper
    Parmesan cheese

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Toss the butternut squash with olive oil and salt and pepper and place on a baking sheet, roast for 25 minutes or until soft and beginning to brown. Meanwhile start the water for the tortellini, and cook according to package directions. In a medium saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms and saute until mushroom have given up some liquid and have browned a bit. Add chard a handful at a time, stirring as chard wilts a bit before adding more. Cook for another few minutes then add garlic, and cook until fragrant. Remove mushroom mixture, and wipe out pan with a paper towel. Place the butter into the pan and melt over medium low heat. Set the 15 whole sage leaves around the pan and do not stir. Slice the remaining sage leaves and just when the butter begins to brown sprinkle the slices leaves in the pan. Drain tortellini once it has cooked. Once all the water is removed return to the pot. Pour sage brown butter over the tortellini and toss. The butternut squash should be done, take it out of the oven and use a potato masher to squish it up. Place the butternut squash and mushroom mixture into the pot with the tortellini and toss. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with fresh grated parmesan cheese. Makes 8 servings.

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: ,,, | 3 Comments

  3. writing it down

    October 3, 2011 by Bridget

    The first dish I learned to cook from start to finish without following a recipe was Chicken and Sausage Gumbo. It was a mainstay on chilly winter days growing up in Cajun country – equally likely to appear in homes and restaurants – and though my mom never sat me down to teach me her recipe, I saw her make it more times than I could count. And while my dad was never really a cook, once my parents were retired, my dad was the one who’d usually stand patiently over the roux, stirring away, coaxing flour and oil into the foundation of complex and hearty flavors that is gumbo.

    My hubby isn’t really a cook either, but he and I have reached the point in our marriage that he could make a gumbo without a recipe and without asking me for advice (though I’d give it anyway). Even my Mexican-American mother-in-law has helped out so many times that she’s probably got it down.

    While I have recipes for gumbo, I’ve never written down my own personal method. It’s always seemed like part of the mystique to me. Like something that is passed down in the genes, my little Mexi-Cajun children will just know how to make gumbo. Friends have encouraged me to write it down. Some because they wanted the recipe for themselves, some to be sure that our children would have it to treasure in years to come.

    I put it off, though. I liked being persnickety about it. There’s a mystique behind a dish for which there is no written recipe. There’s magic in stepping in to a kitchen and putting together a dish that is part of your family heritage.
    (more…)

    Category family | Tags: ,, | 2 Comments

  4. earthquake, hurricane, flood, tornado, stinkbugs — do not ask what’s next

    September 10, 2011 by Bridget

    Life is just now returning to the average level of crazy two weeks after Irene came to town. We are safe and sound and our house is (mostly) intact, but going without power and running water for five days can really mess with you. Given the stress we and the kids have been under just from the disruption to our routine and the maddening noise of generators and later industrial dehumidifiers, I have a deepened sense of empathy for those who sustain major damage from a storm or other tragedy.

    Here’s a shot from my squalid life, where there was neither running water nor power for five days (we’re on well water which requires a pump, which requires electricity). Thanks Irene! There were moments (hours? days?) of frustration, for sure, but I did try to stay positive. So we can say that the picture above is just practice for other fun times when I don’t have a dishwasher at the ready. My Girl Scout camping style dishwashing set up: dirty dishes on the far left, hot soapy water (heated up on the grill the same time I heated water for coffee in the French press), dilute bleach solution, plain water, tea towel. Wash, sanitize, rinse, dry.

    I found myself fantasizing about a commercial grade 3-compartment stainless steel sink and scalding hot water to fill it. I couldn’t wait to really use my kitchen. But first, I couldn’t wait to CLEAN my kitchen. The whole house actually. Especially the bathrooms, but we won’t go there.

    The power came back on while we were away from the house for a few hours, and luckily only for a few hours. Someone had left a faucet open in an upstairs bathroom sink, and it flooded the bathroom and down into the basement below. We were refugees for another day and a half while the giant fans and dehumidifiers did their thing, then we were able to come home and regroup.

    All that’s left of Irene at our house is a few leaves that still need raking (too much rain the last few days from our friend Lee), and a basement with half a carpet and a hole in the ceiling.

    Between an earthquake, hurricane, flood, tornado, and the return of the stinkbugs, it’s starting to feel like the Plagues are upon us. Here’s hoping for ourselves and those who have seen true devastation that Mother Nature will cut us a break for a while.

    Category family | Tags: ,, | No Comments

  5. best bun

    August 20, 2011 by Bridget


    In celebration of my new category, Bridget’s Best of Naptown, I thought I’d share with you this little lovely that was breakfast this morning. (more…)

    Category Bridget's Best of Naptown | Tags: ,,,, | No Comments

  6. shooting for simple

    August 18, 2011 by Bridget

    As the start of the school year draws ever closer — Tuesday! finally! My hope is that a more regular schedule will help settle some of the crazy that has been our summer.

    But the start of school also means the return to hectic evenings of homework and soccer and (hopefully) decent bedtimes. Right now it looks like we will have some form of soccer five days a week. I know not how I will prepare meals for my family. Large batch cooking deposited in the freezer? Crock pot? PB&J? Your fabulous suggestions are always welcome.

    Did I mention I’ll be working more? As in, enough to warrant hiring regular childcare for the munchkin? It’s a good thing, but it’s still got me reeling. After all, I’ve been at home with the babies for some seven years now. So. Work. And five days a week of soccer. Hmmm… (more…)

    Category family | Tags: | 2 Comments

  7. Beach

    July 20, 2011 by Bridget

    It’s been two year since we took a vacation to the beach Last summer was too crazy with a new baby, moving, and my dad dying. We missed our traditional trek to Nags Head, NC.

    This year we opted for a closer option, near Lewes, DE. It is quiet here and already after our first full day Richard and I felt more relaxed than we have in a long time, probably since our last beach trip.

    So even though the baby came down with some icky feverish rashy virus, we are relishing our time together.

    20110720-073555.jpg

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: ,,,, | No Comments

  8. Daddy’s tomatoes

    June 29, 2011 by Bridget


    Last night the big kids and I went out to the garden after dinner. I pulled a few weeds, picked a sunflower bud whose stem had been bent beyond repair, and lamented the demise of one of my tomato plants, apparently to a fungus. Or aphids. Or both.

    Ugh.

    But there was a red tomato on that plant that was mostly brown. And another even redder one the next plant over. Thunder was rumbling, so I snatched the two ripe ‘maters and herded the kids indoors.
    (more…)

    Category family | Tags: | 2 Comments

  9. market inspiration

    June 26, 2011 by Bridget

    When it comes to cooking, I have been U.N.I.N.S.P.I.R.E.D. So I picked up a few magazines.

    And thank goodness the season has been picking up. But. So has swim meet season. Which means the whole time the Anne Arundel Farmers Market is open on Saturday morning, I’m cheering the big kids on in the pool.
    (more…)

    Category eating local | Tags: ,,, | No Comments

  10. get yer punk’s on

    June 17, 2011 by Bridget

    In the middle of a Wednesday filled with head cold fuzziness, bringing the kids to swim practice an hour and a half early, then bringing them to the dentist a WEEK early, then pushing through my exhaustion to meet a deadline, there was one lovely, thoroughly enjoyable hour.

    After the non-dentist appointment, the kids and I headed to Punk’s Backyard Grill for lunch. Punk’s is one of my favorite Annapolis restaurants. The food is fresh and well-executed. The atmosphere is simple, clean, and casual. Management makes local produce, meat, and breads a priority. Cocktails are handmade in small batches, and the beer list is, hands down, the best in town.

    And if that’s not enticing enough, I often get to snag a front-row parking spot. Thanks Westfield Mall!


    (more…)

    Category Bridget's Best of Naptown | Tags: ,, | No Comments

Older Entries