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Soup & Salad

Watermelon and arugula salad

If there’s one thing we can’t seem to get enough of during these hot summer months, it’s watermelon.  Sweet, juicy and oh so refreshing.  We are all having a serious watermelon moment in our house.

So naturally I’m trying to find ways to sneak one of our favorite summer foods into some of my other favorite recipes.  And I have to tell you, I think this is one of my favorites.

This watermelon and arugula salad is so light and refreshing, with the perfect balance of sweet and savory.  It will have you craving for more, long after these hot summer months.

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Main Dish

Vegetarian Paella

Last month (before we moved) JonPaul and I were back in Chicago for a “house hunting” trip without our kids.  Although it was supposed to be a “work” trip, we managed to sneak in a little fun and have dinner at one of our favorite places in the city, Avec.  Their food is just outstanding.  If you can only go to one spot in Chicago, this would be it for me.   I’ve loved it for years, and it’s still one of my all time favorite spots.

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Lifestyle

What I’m taking home from the east coast

It was early April, and our little family was making our way out east.  Me, JonPaul, the three kids and my five-month pregnant belly all packed into our little car, along with everything that was anything to us.  We were a buzz of excitement and adventure.  I can remember holding JonPaul’s hand as were about to cross the George Washington bridge, looking over at him with a sense of pride and accomplishment and thinking “Look at us –  pregnant, with three kids, starting a new life out east.  We’ve got this.  The whole world is waiting for us.  This is going to be great…. Read More

Breakfast

Vanilla coconut granola

This is a recipe we make on repeat in our house.  Probably three times a month (we eat A LOT of granola).  We devour this vanilla coconut granola on top of vanilla ice cream, for breakfast with yogurt, or even just by the the handful as an after school snack.  It’s the perfect “go-to” snack that I never feel guilty about, and one that my kids and I both LOVE.

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Soup & Salad

Grilled corn tortilla soup

One of my favorite week night meals has to be taco night.  And it’s not because the recipe couldn’t be simpler (literally just a crockpot, frontera enchilda sauce and a few chicken breasts ;), but rather because it gets our whole family involved.  There is something for everyone.  The table is always filled with little hands reaching and grabbing for different toppings, creating their own unique spins.  Our plates always look different, but our bellies always full and mouths always smiling.

But probably the best parts about taco night, are the LEFTOVERS.  And not just any leftovers.  It’s a whole new dish!  The chicken, and all the fixings that come along with it, make the best grilled corn and tortilla soup.  Almost even better than the tacos themselves.

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Side dish

Smoky black beans

We have taco night almost weekly in our house.  I can’t say it’s anything fancy.  It usually consists of shredded chicken from the crockpot that has been smothered in Frontera green chile enchilada sauce, but it’s probably my kids favorite night of the week.  It couldn’t be simpler.  But really the star of taco night in our house, are the black beans.  My crew is crazy for black beans (and I kind of am too).   Read More

Sweet treats

Blackberry and honey ice cream

There are few things that can mark the start of summer the way a few scoops of ice cream can.  For me, the first few scoops of ice cream on our back porch is the official start of summer.  My kid’s sticky little fingers, t-shirts stained from tiny drips, and the biggest grins smeared across their faces.  Moments like that are the sweetest of the summer – especially when we’re enjoying this easy and delicious homemade blackberry and honey ice cream.

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Soup & Salad

Wild arugula & pansy salad with a basil orange blossom dressing

Last week, the Westport Farmers’ Market opened for their summer season, and I couldn’t have been happier.  Farmers markets have always been near and dear to my heart.  As a girl who loves and appreciates quality ingredients, there is no better place better way to shop.  But even just as important as finding the highest quality ingredients, it’s also really important to me to shop as local as I can, and help support all of the local farmers, purveyors and artisans.  Without them, our food chain would look very different.  No farms, would mean, no food.  It’s really that simple.

Ok, so back to this gorgeous wild arugula and pansy salad….

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Sweet treats

Peanut butter oatmeal cookies

I don’t know about you, but right about 4 in the afternoon, the kids and I area always craving a little sweet treat.  Cookies, cakes, we’re not picky, anything sweet will do.  But I’ll be honest, I am NOT a baker.  I can do a lot of things well, but baking is not one of them.  Which is why I’m crazy about these super simple peanut butter and oatmeal cookies.  They only requires five ingredients and are basically full proof.  You couldn’t mess them up – even for someone like me.

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Breakfast

Honey & lemon ricotta pancakes with whipped honey butter

JonPaul and I are on a quick little getaway in Chicago for a few days.  It’s so fun to sneak away from “real life”, and enjoy time together away from it all.  Not a bad way to spend a few days.

The only downfall however, is that we don’t return home until Mother’s Day (oops).

Before our trip was planned, I had a whole Mother’s Day brunch planned in my mind.  I had the menu planned out, the tablescape, and let’s be honest, what I was going to wear.  The sun was going to be shinning, my hair look amazing, and of course most importantly, the kids would all get along and behave like little angels (a girl can dream….).

But clearly that’s not going to happen.

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