Hey everyone! I think this week may return to normalcy for us, which I am looking forward to. Stole a few ideas from my menu from two weeks ago plus your menus from last week. Thank you!

MONDAY:
– BBQ Chicken Salad

TUESDAY:
– Shepherd’s Pie

WEDNESDAY:
– Pesto Gnocchi

THURSDAY:
– Leftovers

FRIDAY:
– Chili

SATURDAY:
– Eat out

SUNDAY:
– Breakfast for Dinner: Waffles, Smoothies

You all know the drill, please share your meal plans in the comments below! They are much appreciate by myself and so many others!

This week’s episode of the podcast is a quick tip! If you’re looking to have a positive impact on the environment through the food you eat, using a plant-based milk alternative is a great start. But there are so many milk alternatives out there it can feel overwhelming. Today Jane shares a tip that helps make it easier, less expensive, and more fun to try out all the different milks out there. 

Shownotes:

• Science Vs Podcast Episode “Soy, Almond, Oat Milks: Are They Udder Bull?”
• Chart and link to the study comparing the carbon footprint of different diets
• Blog post I wrote about hosting a milk tasting party, with pictures and more info on our results from the tasting

It’s easy to listen to the show!

• Via the web: Click the play button below!
• Via an app: Search “This Week for Dinner Podcast” on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, etc.).

Other Stuff!

• If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating and/or review on iTunes! It helps a lot!
• Big thank you to d&m for providing the music for the podcast!

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Subscribe: Email | RSS

Before I get to today’s recipe, how have I never used the phrase “Jane’s Addiction” on the blog before?!?! Speaking of Jane’s Addiction, I have a new one. (How’s that for a segue?) Okay, so now that I am not eating wheat and peanuts and almonds and dairy and shellfish and apples and cucumbers and basically have become one of those annoying people with too many dietary needs, I am exploring all kinds of great cookbooks for new inspiration. Nate’s cousin Amanda, who is on a low-FODMAP diet, recommended a book called The Low-FODMAP Diet for Beginners. I have already tried a few recipes and flagged about 20 more to try, and so far every recipe is a winner. Today I’m sharing one of them with you, the peanut-butter energy balls. Except I can’t eat peanuts. So I changed it to cashew butter. And made some other changes to the recipe. So actually I’m sharing a recipe for cashew energy bites and not peanut-butter energy balls. 

These cashew energy bites are not just Jane’s Addiction but Anna’s Addiction and Nate’s Addiction, too. (You’re welcome for the cool band name ideas.) They are super easy to make, pretty darn wholesome, completely plant based, gluten free, and only have 2-3 grams of sugar per bite. Seriously, these little cashew energy bites are the best. Enjoy!

Chocolate Cashew Energy Bites

 

Print

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

 

Adapted from a recipe for Peanut-Butter Energy Balls in the book "The Low-FODMAP Diet for Beginners" by Mollie Tunitsky

Author: Jane Maynard

Serves: 20 bites

Ingredients

• 1½ cup rolled oats
• 2 generous tablespoons chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt (if you use kosher, use a little less than ¼ tsp)
• ⅔ cup cashew butter
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. In a blender or food processor, add the oats, chocolate chips, cocoa powder and sea salt. Pulse until the oats and chocolate chips have been broken down. If you like your bites chunkier, pulse less! If you want things finer, pulse more! I go for a coarsely ground mixture.
2. Combine the dry ingredients with the cashew butter, syrup and vanilla in a mixing bowl, stirring to combine thoroughly.
3. Form bites into 1 tablespoon sized balls, place on a cookie sheet, and flatten them out with wet fingers so you have nice thick discs. Refrigerate until firm and store in the refrigerator.

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I went to IKEA last month and found a few things for my kitchen that I am loving. And then I bought a bunch of concert tickets that I am pumped about, so I think a Show and Tell post is in order! 

IKEA Kitchen Finds

I haven’t been to IKEA in ages, but I went with the kids recently to get some new bedding for Anna’s room. I came home with a small pile of really awesome kitchen stuff, so I feel I must share.

• Cheese Grater. IKEA made this type of cheese grater years ago. I’ve had mine forever and it’s still going strong. I even gave it to everyone for Christmas one year. Then IKEA stopped selling it for a while, which was sad, but now it’s back on the shelves! I’m so excited because every kitchen needs one of these. Reasons this grater is awesome: it doesn’t take up a ton of storage space, non-slip surface on the bottom, there are two grate size options, the container comes with a lid for storing cheese in the fridge, and it is only FIVE DOLLARS. This is, in my opinion, the best cheese grater around. Click here to buy.
• Steak Knives. These little knives are only $5 a piece and work great. Here’s the thing, I got some cheap-o steak knives when we got married that were marvelous, and I’m down to only one left. I don’t want to spend $100/knife (or even $20/knife, really), but every cheap steak knife I’ve met since stinks. Not this IKEA knife. It’s great. Not quite as marvelous as my free set of Farberware steak knives, but close. 😉 Click here to buy.
• Dish Towels. Okay, so, I bought these black dish towels and these grey/blue striped dish towels. They are exactly the same except for the color/pattern. The fabric finish is different from other dish towels at IKEA. These towels are pure magic and legit dry things off completely. Not a speck of water left behind. Plus, they aren’t white, so, you know, they don’t look like crap after a couple of uses. I ended up ordering more online and have a nice stash that will hopefully last me until I die.  
• Hand Held Whisk. This is so random, but this whisk is like those antique hand held whisks that existed before hand blenders came along. And I love it. And you can put it in the dishwasher. It’s kinda bulky, but, whatever, I’m just glad IKEA brought the old-school hand blender back! Click here to buy.
• Enameled Steel Grey Dishes with Blue Trim. I didn’t actually buy these dishes because I’m looking for white enameled dishes with red or black trim, however these were completely adorable. So, if you like grey and blue, you should totally get them because I feel like someone should. You can get bowls, plates and/or mugs. 
• Prize Wheel Game. This is one of those wheel of fortune spinny wheel things. No, it has nothing to do with the kitchen. Yes, it is completely awesome and fun to spin and perfect for practicing cello with your 7-year-old son. I’ve told two teachers about this and two teachers have since bought it. So, you know, if you have a need for a prize wheel, here you go! Click here to buy.

Live Music You Need to See

I just bought a bunch of concert tickets. Happy Birthday/Merry Christmas/Everything Else to me! We have already seen these performers perform live and they were so good we are spending money to see them again. 

• The Avett Brothers are on tour! Seriously, they are amazing live, and I’m not just saying that because they are my favorite band, which they totally are, but seriously, seriously, seriously, they are so good live. Click here for tour info.
• Hozier is out and about, too. This dude is unbelievable live and can really jam, plus he has the happiest, kindest vibe about him. Click here for tour info.
• Last but not least, Sara Bareilles. As a piano-player-singer-type, of course I’ve always loved Sara. But when I went to her concert a few years ago I had no comprehension of how truly spectacular she lives. Her musicianship is impressive, but she is also incredibly funny and witty. Her favorite word starts with “F” and she uses her favorite word a lot, but she makes it very endearing (haha!) and it’s not stopping me from taking my girls anyway. 😉 Click here for tour info.

Hi there meal planning friends. I am way behind this week and still don’t have my menu planned. SO. I’m getting a post published so that those of you who are a bit more on the ball can share in the comments. I have a feeling I’ll be using your menus this week!

My grandmother died last week and, well, those kinds of weeks are never easy. After a weekend filled with travel and Easter, I am just now getting back into normal life. Hence the lack of meal planning for the week.

Please, please, please post your menus in the comments below! We all need them even more than usual this week! 😉 Thank you and have a great week!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwh_rNJg1Og/

Hey, everybody. Time for some weekly meal planning!

MONDAY:
– Sweet Potato & Black Been Burritos or Rice Bowls

TUESDAY:
– Shepherd’s Pie

WEDNESDAY:
– Pesto Gnocchi

THURSDAY:
– Leftovers

FRIDAY:
– Chili

SATURDAY:
– Eat out

SUNDAY:
– Easter Sunday! Ham, crispy rosemary roast potatoes, and spinach strawberry salad. Homemade rolls, too!

Please pretty please share your own meal plans in the comments below! They are such a help every week for me and I know for others, too! Thank you and have a great week!

Today on the podcast I get the chance to interview my friend and colleague Meagan Francis. Meagan is co-host of the podcast The Mom Hour, an author, and an all-around thoughtful, inspiring person. Meagan and I talk about all kinds of topics related to parenting, from how motherhood has evolved to offer new career opportunities for women, the impact of social media on parenting, food values, cooking tips and more. Meagan also describes her favorite go-to recipe, one that provides a base for at least four other dinners every time she makes it. I hope you enjoy getting to know Meagan and walk away with feeling ready to get in the kitchen and cook, no matter how busy you are!

Shownotes:

• The Mom Hour Podcast with Meagan Francis & Sarah Powers
• The Mom Hour Episode 113: Defining Your Food Values
• Meagan’s Food Manifesto
• 9 Genius Ways to Overcome the Weeknight Dinner Struggle
• The Mom Hour Episode 196: A Week of Real-Life Dinners
• How to Cook Without a Book by Pam Anderson
• Meagan’s Books: The Happiest Mom, One Year to An Organized Life with Baby, Beyond Baby, The Everything Health Guide to Postpartum Care, Table for Eight  
• How to use a garlic press so you don’t have to peel the clove
• Jane’s Fancy Garlic Press 

Multi-tasker Pork Shoulder

 

Print

This pork shoulder can be prepared on one day and used for several more meals! Ideas for modifications in the notes below.

Author: Meagan Francis

Ingredients

• Boneless or Bone-In Pork Shoulder
• A few swigs of your favorite oil
• Herbs and spices, your favorites (Meagan's suggestion: minced garlic, salt, Mexican spice blend, sometimes oregano/thyme/rosemary depending on what you'll be using the meat for; garlic/salt and whatever mix you like!)
• Liquid: Stock (beef, chicken, or vegetable), Beer, or Mix of water and orange juice
• Optional: Limes or oranges halved
• Optional: Sliced onions

Instructions

1. It's generally easiest to cut the shoulder up into fist-sized pieces, but not necessary.
2. Drizzle oil into the bottom of a dutch oven and heat over medium-high heat on the stove while preheating the oven to 250º F.
3. Rub the shoulder all over with your choice of herbs/spices This first go around can be mildly spiced because you can re-season the meat in all its incarnations.
4. Sear all sides of the meat in the oil for a few minutes on each side until golden brown
5. Add your choice of liquid to the pot. Meagan also likes to add oranges or limes, cut in half, to the bottom of the pot as well, and you can't go wrong adding some sliced onions either now or earlier, while the meat is searing.
6. Put in the oven for 6-7 hours. You want the meat to be falling apart. If you don't have quite this much time, you can increase the heat to 275 or 300, but if you have less than 4 hours I'd recommend using a pressure cooker.
7. When you pull the pork shoulder out it should pull across easily with two forks.

Notes

As Carnitas: Heat the shredded meat in hot oil on the stovetop or under the broiler in your oven until it's crispy-brown. Season with lime and cilantro. Serve with tortillas, onions, more lime and cilantro, queso fresco, pico, or whatever you like.
Shredded as-is: Serve with rice/potatoes and a vegetable
BBQ Pulled Pork: Mix meat with barbecue sauce and serve on buns as pulled-pork sandwiches.
Meagan's Magical Mix: Roughly chop 2 sweet potato (skins on, natch) and roast in the oven at 400º F until nearly soft. Add to a hot, oiled skillet with shredded pork, lime, and cilantro and stir until you have a golden-brown hash. Serve with eggs over easy or medium. This is the Day 3 version of the recipe, the one Meagan's son Owen called an "almost 10!"

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It’s easy to listen to the show!

• Via the web: Click the play button below!
• Via an app: Search “This Week for Dinner Podcast” on your favorite podcast app (iTunes, Overcast, Stitcher, Spotify, etc.).

Other Stuff!

• If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a rating and/or review on iTunes! It helps a lot!
• Big thank you to d&m for providing the music for the podcast!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Email | RSS

Spring break is over and it’s back to the normal routine of life. Our oldest Cate went to visit her aunt in Singapore last week and came home with a stomach bug, as often happens after an international trip. I suppose the fates wanted her to get the full experience. So this week I’m trying to make lighter, vegetarian meals to soothe her belly back to normalcy.

MONDAY:
– Caprese Salad
– Baguette

TUESDAY:
– Sweet Potato & Black Been Burritos or Rice Bowls

WEDNESDAY:
– Lentil Rice Bowls with Lime Tahini Dressing

THURSDAY:
– Leftovers

FRIDAY:
– Potluck Party

SATURDAY:
– Eat out after cello recital

SUNDAY:
– Breakfast for Dinner: Waffles, Eggs & Fruit (Birch Benders Paleo Pancake & Waffle Mix for me, normal waffles for everyone else)

Your turn! Share those menus in the comments, plain or fancy!

Hey, all! It’s Spring Break for us and I apparently have entered vacation mode because I haven’t done the weekly menu yet! This menu may go straight in the garbage depending on how our staycation goes, but may as well throw something together!

MONDAY:
– Pat’s Asian Chicken Salad

TUESDAY:
– Homemade Turkey Burgers

WEDNESDAY:
– Eat out (mini trip to the desert)

THURSDAY:
– Eat out (mini trip to the desert)

FRIDAY:
– Eat out (mini trip to LA)

SATURDAY:
– Roasted Chicken
– Roasted Potatoes and Salad

SUNDAY:
– Indian Pork Roast 
– Rice and Roasted Vegetables

Please share your menus below! (I am so grateful week after week to have your ideas to inspired me!)