April 20, 2013

Empanadas: The perfect pocket food (Recipe: Apple Pie ‘Panadas)

empanadas-with-pears-and-cucumbers

This week, I was over at Simple Bites, discussing the empanadas that I learned to appreciate and make during our time in Argentina, and sharing my delicious recipe for Apple Pie 'Panadas (mmmm... hand held, perfect little apple pies). Have you ever noticed that nearly every culture has its own variation on a “pocket” food? Chinese gyozas, Japanese rice balls with fish inside, German bierocks (beef, onion and cabbage filling), Mexican burritos and tamales, Italian calzones, Polish pierogies, Indian samosas, English hand pies. Hand held [...]

Filed Under: Around the World Trip, Recipes, Snacks Tagged With: , , , , , 4 Comments
April 18, 2013

From Soups to Salads: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know

A Cookbook Review from Soups to Salads

By Natalie, Contributing Writer Picking a Cookbook for Picky Families I love trying new recipes, but one of the big bones I have to pick with a lot of cookbooks is that they require exotic ingredients, and, frankly, exotic taste buds. Since my husband and children were born with your average, run-of-the-mill taste buds, I have to be careful not to waste a lot of time and money on expensive dishes that will end up in the garbage disposal. Always on the look out for [...]

Filed Under: In the kitchen, Nutrition, Real Food, Real, whole food, Recipes, Reviews, Traditional foods Tagged With: , , , , , , 22 Comments
April 8, 2013

Food Allergies & Healthy Eating

Food Allergies and Healthy Eating

Guest Post by Jessica Smartt My son Sam has food allergies. Every so often, I meet another mom who manages food allergies. It’s like I’ve found a soul mate. We lock eyes and share a sympathetic smile: “You, too? Wow!” And we sort of fight the urge to hug each other. We know what it’s like. We know how overwhelming it is at first, when you wonder, what in the world will he/she eat? We know the fear and stress that follow you to restaurants, [...]

Filed Under: In the kitchen, Menu Planning, Nutrition, Real Food, Real, whole food, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , 46 Comments
March 27, 2013

Simple Steps to Begin Cooking Homemade: Soups, Sauces, and Simple Dinners

Simple Steps to Begin Cooking Homemade

By Brandy, Contributing Writer Putting together fresh, homemade meals becomes easier once  you've got a few basic recipes for soups, sauces, and simple dinners under your belt. Make Your Own Stock Many recipes begin with a simple beef or chicken stock.  You can learn how to make these nourishing, simple soup bases by reading this tutorial. If a recipe calls for a cream soup, here's a simple recipe for making that from scratch, too. From these stocks and cream soups, you can create the most [...]

Filed Under: In the kitchen, Nutrition, Real Food, Real, whole food, Realfoodmadesimple, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , 3 Comments
March 25, 2013

28 Delicious and Healthy Grain-Free Snack Ideas

Delicious Grain-Free Snack Ideas

By Emily McClements, Contributing Writer Grain-Free, paleo, primal and gluten-free diets seem to be everywhere these days. All you have to do is scroll through Pinterest for a while and many of the recipes you're likely to see will boast one of those descriptions. There are many different reasons your family may be reducing or eliminating grains from your diet, or maybe you're considering going grain-free, but you're not quite sure how to make it work for your family.  Over the past few months, my [...]

Filed Under: Real Food, Real, whole food, Recipes, Snacks Tagged With: , , , , 9 Comments
March 11, 2013

10-Minute Lunches: “Tea Room” Chicken Salad

10-Minute Tea Room Chicken Salad

By Erin Odom, Contributing Writer I've always loved chicken salad. To me, it's the perfect feminine tea party food. Give me chicken salad, a freshly-baked croissant, a cup of fresh fruit and a spot of hot tea, and I can just sit and pretend I'm enjoying high tea in a different land and time. But I have a confession: I've always been nervous to make my own chicken salad. Surely I couldn't throw together a salad as delicious as a fancy tea room's! But here [...]

Filed Under: 10-Minute Lunches, In the kitchen, Nutrition, Real Food, Real, whole food, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , 14 Comments
March 6, 2013

5 Easy Breakfast Ideas {and a Mini Quiche Tutorial}

5 East Breakfast Ideas

  By Rachel, Contributing Writer If you are like me, weekday mornings are very busy. You're getting the backpacks packed, the curriculum prepared on homeschooling days, the water bottles filled and lunch boxes ready to go... and the very thought of breakfast puts me even more behind. So I love the thought of easy breakfasts. Who doesn't?? Here is a rundown of some of our favorite fast and easy breakfast ideas: 1. Smoothies These are our number one favorite! Smoothies are fast and easy and not messy [...]

Filed Under: Healthy kids, Healthy Living, In the kitchen, Living healthy, Menu Planning, Nutrition, Raising healthy eaters, Real Food, Real, whole food, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , 15 Comments
March 1, 2013

30 Minute Dinner: Romano Turkey Burgers

romano turkey burgers

Written by Stacy Karen, Contributing Writer Over the years I've learned to start dinner early in the day in order to avoid the stress of cooking with hungry (or cranky) kids around at the 5 o' clock hour. However, I don't always manage to do so; on those nights it's nice to prepare something quick and easy. These Romano Turkey burgers fit the bill perfectly. I do cut a few corners in order to make them fast, such as buying Romano cheese already shredded and [...]

Filed Under: In the kitchen, Real Food, Real, whole food, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , 5 Comments