This giveaway is now closed. Thank you!

I couldn’t think of a title for this post. I’ve used the “I’m in love” phrase too much. I think you’re going to stop believing me when I say it, even though it’s always true. So, I figured “Wicked Awesome” would get your attention…and simultaneously pay a nice tribute to the New Englanders (make that ‘Englandahs’) in our family.

But I digress. I have a random assortment of pots and pans. Some of them I like. Some of them just barely get the job done. This past January I met the folks from Anolon at a food event and they had their lovely Nouvelle Copper cookware on display. As soon as the representative started describing the features of these pans, my goal in life became to get myself a set.

So why exactly did I want to get my hands on the Nouvelle Copper cookware so desperately?

• They are copper pans at the core, and copper is awesome for cooking. Even heat distribution and whatnot.
• Anolon Nouvelle Copper is made with DuPont Autograph II non-stick, which is metal utensil safe. Yes, you heard me correctly – you can use metal utensils and scrubby sponges to your heart’s content!
• The rivets are flush with the pan. Why aren’t all pans made this way?
• These pans are induction stove-safe, which is perfect for my dream induction stove that I will have one day.
• These pans have a heavy-duty, high-quality feel to them. And their bottoms? Super heavy. Now I can actually grab my “heavy-bottomed pot” for all those chocolate recipes that heretofore mocked my lack of decent cookware.

So, after contacting them and begging a bit, Anolon did in fact send me my dream set of cookware. (Another 10 points for sticking with my food blog all these years! Thank you, Anolon!!!) I’ve had the pans for, oh, 3 months and I still haven’t even mentioned them. But, as you know, I haven’t been doing much cooking lately. The last few weeks, however, I’ve finally gotten to use my beautiful new pots and pans. They are just as wonderful as I’d hoped they would be.

UPDATE 3/16/16: We still use these pans every day and I really like them a lot. One of the pots is starting to have some of the non-stick surface scrape off, but it’s only on one piece. So, just wanted to let you know about that!

As much as I’d like to share my beautiful set with you, it’s mine and I’m not giving it up! But Anolon is going to give one of you lucky folks your very own Nouvelle Copper 10″ skillet (retail value $79.99)! You want this pan. Trust me. Simply add a comment to this post by Midnight PT on Tuesday, April 5 to be entered into the drawing (one entry per person and must have continental U.S. mailing address). One randomly-selected winner will be announced on April 6! GOOD LUCK!!!

Our girls love spaghetti and meatballs. In fact, if there is ground beef in a dish and we tell them it’s meatballs, they’ll eat it. So, instead of doing a meat sauce for our spaghetti last night, I decided to spend a few extra minutes and make some actual meatballs for my cuties. And they were delighted. They barely ate the spaghetti, which normally disappears within minutes!

When Nate came home and started eating, I of course immediately pestered him with, “How are the meatballs?” He told me, “They’re really good! What kind of meat did you use?” I told him just ground beef and he was shocked! Nate was certain I must have used more than one kind of meat because the flavor was so good. Meatball success!

So, here’s what I did. It’s simple. It’s easy. It’s tasty.

Is it just me or is my bagel smiling at me?

Speaking of bagels, I could really use an east coast bagel right now. Or a steak and cheese. A good steak and cheese. California, while abundant in other delicious foods, is sorely lacking in the steak and cheese department. I have a feeling this pregnancy craving is one that will not be quenched…unless I get on a plane and head east. How desperate am I? Hmmmm…

MONDAY:
– Stuffed Peppers – I’m really hoping I can gear up and make these, we can have them for a few nights and they are so much better than boxed mac & cheese.

TUESDAY:
– Hoping leftover stuffed peppers

WEDNESDAY:
– My friend Nicole is bringing us dinner. She’s going straight to heaven.

THURSDAY:
– Spaghetti with meat sauce

FRIDAY:
– Eat out

SATURDAY:
– Homemade hamburgers
– Homemade french fries…at least, here’s hoping I get these made!

SUNDAY:
– Breakfast for dinner…waffles!

Now that the pregnant cat is out of the bag, I am being a little more realistic with my public menu plan. I’m really hoping I’ll feel normal again in a few weeks…until then, simplicity is the name of the game! Since I don’t have anything super exciting going on, I am counting on all of you to share your menus and inspire one another! Please share your menu for the week – whether it’s as simple and basic as mine or uber fancy, we love them all!

How’s that for a cute title that makes this post sound totally legit even though it really means I don’t have anything to write about because we’ve only eaten boxed macaroni and cheese (at least it was organic!) and rachel sandwiches all week. Well, actually, I DID cook on Monday, but apparently one good meal in a week is still all I’ve got in me.

Okay, so a few things I love today.

1. Cleaning leeks.
Yes, I LOVE cleaning leeks. Cutting them open and washing out that black dirt is just so, I don’t know, satisfying.

2. Fred’s Steak. Go on, tell me that meat ain’t gorgeous. I dare ya.
A few weeks ago I was craving steak. I needed it desperately. So I turned to one of our favorites, Fred’s Steak, which I’ve written about before. For the LOVE, this stuff is good. And, wouldn’t you know, once I had this, my craving was gone. Thank you, Shaub’s, for helping a poor pregnant lady out.

3. Jake Gyllenhall. I’m resisting the urge to say “Go on, tell me THAT meat ain’t gorgeous” but I don’t want to objectify  poor, innocent Mr. Gyllenhaal.
Don’t worry, Nate knows I’m in love. In fact, he recorded Jimmy Kimmel for me last night because Jake (yes, we’re on a first name basis) was on the show. What a good husband – Nate, not Jake. Anyway, I already love Jake for being so darn cute and funny…but then I learn from last night’s interview that he loves food. I think I know a food blog you might like, Jake. Oh, and he works with Edible Schoolyard, founded by Alice Waters. Be still my beating heart.

I have had this recipe for Chicken Piccata up on my site for some time, but I’ve never specifically written about it. And it’s actually one of my favorites, so I thought I’d finally mention it. I don’t have much to say except this recipe is easy and delicious. Even I was able to cook this up last night, despite the fact I would have much rather been lying in bed feeling sorry for my sick and tired pregnant self. 😉

So, if you’re looking for a simple, fairly quick and delicious chicken recipe, look no further!

 

I have something to tell you. And, surprisingly, I’ve kept it a secret for weeks and weeks and weeks. Which is not an easy thing for me to do! Some of you suspected something was up after this post. It was funny, because I actually did have your run-of-the-mill cold that week. BUT…I was also not feeling well for another big reason, and those of you with suspicions were right on! We’re expecting Baby #3 in September! I’m officially done with the first trimester and everything is looking good, so I can finally spill the beans! Yea!

Our friend Ellen Patton sent us one of her completely adorable photo cards when she heard the news.

My body doesn’t enjoy the first 18 weeks or so of pregnancy (that may be the understatement of the century). I am oh-so-sick even on medication, which I was expecting, but it’s still no fun…for anyone in our family. And keeping up a food blog has been more than challenging the last 10 weeks or so. In fact, remember the Norwegian Salmon post? Confession: I didn’t actually cook a darn thing on that plate! My friend Nikki, presented as my cooking partner in the post, was in fact the executive chef. I didn’t have to smell fish and just got to show up to take pictures of the final product. Nikki got to keep a whole salmon. Everyone was happy!

Despite feeling beyond terrible, I am also feeling beyond grateful and excited for this blessing in our life! And, yes, we’ll find out what this little person is…on April 18, to be exact. Stay tuned!

I should feel more normal again in about a month. Until then, I’ll just keep planning menus in the hopes that at least a few of the things I plan get made!

MONDAY:
– Chicken Piccata
– Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Baby Broccoli (both veggies from our CSA bag)

TUESDAY:
– Corn Chowder

WEDNESDAY:
– Stuffed Peppers (we didn’t have these last week, big surprise, but they sound so good…hoping I can do it this week!)

THURSDAY:
– Leftovers

FRIDAY:
– Eat out

SATURDAY:
– Spaghetti with meat sauce

SUNDAY:
– Pancakes
– Smoothies

Bring on the menus, folks! And have a wonderful week!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone! Every year I try to plan a fantastic green feast. And this year I still don’t know what I’m doing! However, I just took a gander at what we ate last year, and it was great inspiration. I think we’ll have green chicken piccata, green mashed potatoes (potatoes from our CSA bag) and baby broccoli (also from our CSA bag). I’m sad I didn’t get a corned beef to cook, but maybe we can get one on sale tomorrow and enjoy it a few days late!

I do have a good non-green recipe to share with you today, however. Last week I was planning to make butternut squash soup, since I had ordered butternut squash with my CSA bag. When it arrived, I got two baby butternut squashes. While super cute, they weren’t going to provide quite enough squash for the recipe. However, I had three leeks in the bag and a beautiful head of cauliflower, so I made some modifications. The result – a deliciously buttery soup with great flavor!

 

Before we get to today’s recipe (which is mighty tasty, by the way), I have to share something with you. If you just so happen to get this magazine in the mail or see it on the newsstand…

…be sure to check out page 90.

All I have to say is, “Woooooo Hoooooo!” I know. Very eloquent and oh so very Martha. But seriously, I still can’t believe my name, blog, photos and recipe are printed on the pages of a Martha Stewart Living magazine. I’m downright giddy.

Okay, enough squealing from Jane. Thanks for indulging me. On to the real reason we’re here!

In the not-so-distant past, I was pretty much scared of spicy food. I could barely handle medium salsa, folks. Yes, I was a wimp. Then Nate and I discovered a fabulous Caribbean take-out restaurant in Menlo Park with jerk chicken that is to die for. The chicken is coated in the most delicious but super spicy jerk sauce. The only way I could eat that chicken was if I got tough and faced the heat head on. And I did just that. Not only is that now one of my favorite dishes, but I am in love with spicy food. Bring it on!

This year I have the opportunity to participate in a Newman’s Own “Own It” campaign with Martha’s Circle. The challenge is to take recipes and make them your own through simple flavor changes. For my first recipe, I was asked to incorporate one of the Newman’s Own sauces into my dish. I started browsing through their sauces and the Alfredo caught my eye. Alfredo is most often simply paired with fettuccine and, if things get really crazy, chicken. It’s a traditional favorite that seemed to be screaming for a new twist. With my newfound love of heat, I decided to kick up the spice factor a notch…or twenty.

Blackened chicken seemed like a fun and unique twist to the classic Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. Can I say how glad I am I gave this a try? This recipe is a keeper! Nate and I both really enjoyed it. The spicy kick of the chicken was such a great counterpoint to the super mellow and rich Alfredo sauce. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to go back to regular old chicken fettuccine alfredo again!

Okay, I promise this is the last Trader Joe’s talk for a while…but I tried the Aebleskiver/Danish Pancakes from the frozen section this weekend and they’re great! The girls loved them. We cooked them in the oven (not the microwave) and they were super crispy on the outside and deliciously soft on the inside. Definitely a better freezer find than the cannoli.

I can’t believe it’s time for another menu. I know I say this all the time, but where does the time go?!

MONDAY:
– Tostadas made with Chicken Tostada Goop
– Guacamole and chips

TUESDAY:
– Stuffed Peppers

WEDNESDAY:
– Leftovers

THURSDAY:
– Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We’ll be eating something green…need to think about it a bit!

FRIDAY:
– Rachel sandwiches

SATURDAY:
– Eat out

SUNDAY:
– Continuing with the Sunday Breakfast-for-Dinner theme…I think a frittata sounds nice, flavor tbd!

Your turn! Please share your menu for the week! I love how many wonderful menus we are getting each week…thank you all!

Our neighbors are Swedish and they invited us over this past Tuesday night to enjoy some semlor (plural for semla), a cream-filled bun with almond paste. The pastry is a Fat Tuesday tradition in Sweden. Rebecca and David told us that people love the buns so much they start appearing as early as Christmastime and are enjoyed for months rather than just one day. Click here for a fun article about semla.

The semlor were scrumptious. Essentially it’s a cardamom bun with almond paste and cream. You slice off the top, scoop out the insides, mix it with almond paste and milk, then add it back to the bun. Top with whipped cream and some powdered sugar and you are ready to party it up Fat Tuesday style. Cate, like a true Kindergartener, barely touched hers. Which means I ate two. And only an unusual amount of will power kept me from finishing off Anna’s as well!

Rebecca and David did a great job making the buns and Rebecca kindly translated her recipe for me to share on the blog. My brain almost exploded converting the measurements, so I hope you appreciate all the hard work that went into this recipe. Translating, converting…Rebecca and I are ready for a nap! (Also, big thanks to Nate the scientist for making sure I kept my decimals in the right spots!)

I’m including Rebecca’s original measurements so that you can’t blame me if I got the conversions wrong. Which I’m pretty sure I got right. Remember, I didn’t even take one math class in college. But Nate helped, so we should be good.

We asked Rebecca and David how to eat the semlor. They said many people have strong opinions about this and laughed. They like to eat the top and then just pick the bun up and bite right in, which worked well for us!