Quick Post About A Cool Giveaway

Head on over to http://mommyandmegiveaways.com/?p=5347 to check out a cool giveaway for a care package of your choice from Go Picnic. They are really neat meals that are ready to eat. They have many options to choose from like All-Natural, Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Vegan and Kosher. Check it out!

Foodie Friday

Tonight I hosted a Pampered Chef party and I just have to share the wonderful recipe we made because it was 1) super easy 2) very kid friendly and 3) easy to make organic! A BIG thank you to the wonderful ladies that attended and the wonderful consultants that ran the show, I know I had a blast.

We made Apple Berry Salsa with Cinnamon Sugar Chips and it is a very quick fix, works for a vegetarian, raw foodie or vegan, and kids and adults will love how fresh and colorful it looks and tastes! I know I am adding it the the menu planning for my youngest sprout's first birthday:-)

Apple Berry Salsa

2 medium granny smith apples
1 pint strawberries, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 kiwi, peeled and diced
1 small orange
2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp apple or apricot jelly or jam

Basically you peel and dice everything up (of course using Pampered Chef's great products like the apple slicer, the manual food processor, etc.) Then you zest the orange and juice the orange, add the brown sugar and the jam and mix it all together. And you have a quick, yummy, healthy snack! It's only 30 calories for 3 Tbsp.!

Serve it with the chips that you create by cutting tortillas into wedges, brushing with water, sprinkling with cinnamon/sugar and baking in the oven until crisp. (use the awesome stoneware for this!)

Remember to go local and organic wherever possible!

Also, chew on this: Pampered Chef is going greener! I was very impressed to learn this evening that alot of their products are going BPA free or glass (my favorite!) and they have a wonderful (fairly new) bamboo line of servingwares and more! So if you are in need of kitchen gizmos and tools click here (especially if you're in the Lexington, SC area)

Foodie Friday: Chickpea Curry

This week we tried a new recipe; great for Meatless Monday! It's from Family Meals: Creating Traditions in the Kitchen by Maria Helm Sinskey...one of my favorite cookbooks (available at Williams-Sonoma). Made with organic and/or local ingredients it's a wonderful planet friendly dish!

2 Tbs. canola oil
1 1/2 cups organic thin yellow onion wedges
3 cloves organic garlic, pressed
3 Tbs. peeled, grated organic ginger (TIP: make fresh ginger last longer by tossing it in the freezer! Keeps about 2 months!)
3/4 tsp. cumin seeds (we use organic curry powder or organic ground cumin and it comes out super tasty!)
2 cups fresh, local diced tomatoes or organic canned tomatoes  in their juices (yup, using the stocked up muir glen already!)
2 tsp. organic garam masala
1/2 tsp. each organic ground turmeric & coriander
kosher salt, to taste
2 cups cubed organic Yukon gold potatoes (or whatever potato you have on hand...even sweet potatoes)
5 cups organic cooked, drained chickpeas (from dried or canned)
1/4 cup chopped, local, fresh cilantro (optional and best when in season)
2 Tbs. lime juice (my favorite is Santa Cruz Organics)

Heat large saucepan over medium-high and add oil. When hot, add onion, garlic, and ginger...saute until begins to brown.
Add cumin seed, tomatoes, garam masala, turmeric, coriander, and 2 cups water, season with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer about 15 minutes.
Add potatoes and chickpeas, simmer until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
Season to taste with salt and mix in the cilantro and lime juice (optional). Serve right away (but it's DELICIOUS the next day!) Goes well with rice and raita (a cucumber yogurt similar to tzatziki)

Recipe says it serves 4 to 6 but it easily serves more like 8 to 10.

Give it a try and let me know what you think! My husband enjoyed it and he isn't typically a bean eater!