I should have taken a picture of Paige. I really should have. She enjoyed the papery, thin, crispy bits of kale I gave her . . . but since it was papery, thin and crispy, it also broke apart very easily. That meant green specks everywhere — in her hair, on her hands, in her diaper . . . oy. Shawn had a good ol’time with the polka dotted bath water later that night.

Yes, so crispy kale. This is a different take on a veggie that not everyone tries. But everyone should. It’s much firmer than other greens like spinach and Swiss chard.

We eat a lot of kale. Russian kale, actually. It’s in season and always ultra fresh. But there is only so much sauteed kale a family can take. So I decided to try something different: roasting it. Turns out, it’s my farmer cousin’s favorite method of making it.

Shawn and Will liked the crispy, salted kale. Just make sure that you cook the kale in one single layer — no overlap. That way it will get perfectly crispy. Read the rest of this entry…

We had our feet in the surf the other day, Will, Paige, my brother and sister and I. As waves would come, we’d all leap into the air. I supported Paige, who is just learning to stand, with my hands while we jumped up and down. Each time, she’d let out a gleeful cackling laugh. Will kept asking to do it again and again until the surf began to edge the small sandbar we stood on down to nothing. We crossed through the water and back to shore just before the water completely covered the sand . . .

It’s still summer here. We’re spending as much time as we can enjoying everything that the outdoors can offer. Soon, the season will turn to fall, then winter. It will be harder to withstand the temperatures for a little outdoor play, but we will try anyway.

When we get deep into summer like this, simple food is king. Burgers on the grill, corn on the cob and fresh vegetables. As in just-picked vegetables. That’s why I joined a late summer CSA here. Not only do I get a box of produce each week, but I also am forced to expand our palates even more — something I relish in. Read the rest of this entry…

It’s Wordless Wednesday.

Look at those colors. I loved the way this looked when I was measuring out ingredients, so I had to snap a picture. It was these same colors that seduced me into buying too many peppers at the farmer’s market a few weeks ago. Fresh. Tasty. Just picked.

At first, I thought I would just cut up all the peppers and use them for stir-fries and salads and maybe just snacking . . . But then I got an idea. And when I get an idea like that, I have to do it. What was it? Relish. A fresh relish for burgers.

Of course, I have never made relish before. So I consulted Preserving Summer’s Bounty for method guidance. When I bought that book, I wasn’t so enthused. At the time, I was simply looking for jams, jellies and preserves to make and can. But these days, my aspirations have expanded. And with the rising costs of food, home heating, and more, canning as much as possible this summer is simply a must.

Think I’ve lost it? Believe it or not, making relish is really easy. Just chop, mix and cook. If you use a food processor for the chopping, it’s even easier. In fact, I made a second batch of this while holding Paige. Anything that you can make one-armed is definitely easy. Read the rest of this entry…

To say I was apprehensive when I agreed to review 4C’s Totally Light 2Go Vitamin Stix would be a massive understatement. After all, they are sugar free, something that doesn’t normally strike my fancy. But it was the best pitch from a PR person that I have received in the lifetime of Sarah’s Cucina Bella. Seriously. The. Best.

(Let me just say right away that my fears were 100 percent unfounded. These are delicious.)

The day after they arrived, I tucked a few into my purse and headed off to work. In the afternoon, when my usual need for a sweet fix kicked in, I opened one of the strawberry/kiwi packets and poured it into my water.

I wasn’t assaulted with overwhelming sweetness. Instead, it was a pleasantly sweet, refreshing drink. I drank the whole thing and was completely satisfied.

Later, I went home and found my husband drinking a dragonfruit/acai Vitamin Stix. He compared it to a flavor of Vitamin Water that we love . . . except, it’s better because there are a fraction of the calories. Totally a good thing.

I wish I had a great story about the passionfuit/citrus, but I don’t. Like the other flavors though, it was just the right amount of sweetness and flavor. We really liked that one too.

Shawn and I agree that these mixes make fantastic, easy drinks. The little packets are easy to grab and go and combine easily with water with a little shake. And we’ve gotten creative with it. Check out A Nice Cuppa on Monday to find out what else we’ve made with Vitamin Stix. . .

Our only regret with these? 4C isn’t selling the  mixes in canisters, so we can’t whip up a whole pitcher. If we could, this could completely replace diet soda in my life . . . and regular soda in my husband’s. But it’s really saying something that my husband has already headed out and bought more Vitamin Stix.

On the go? Pick up some of these mini mixes and you won’t be sorry.

I promised you big news today . . . well, are you ready for this? I’ve decided to devote more time to my writing and my children, so as of about 4 p.m. today, I am a freelancer again. Yep, I’ve chosen to trade a long commute for a five-second one and my Monday morning planning meetings for choo-choo construction with Will and Paige.

It certainly wasn’t something I came to lightly. But the cost of the commute, daycare, etc, plus a growing freelance business, made me seriously consider if I was better off working at home. You can read all about my decision on SheKnows.

Right now, I am looking to finish up my last project at work and tidy up some freelance work that’s dragged on because I work too much. But as of Monday, I will begin looking for new opportunities to enlarge my business and I am hard at work on a new book proposal (and word has it the first book may indeed may its debut this year as planned. Fingers crossed). If you hear of any opportunities, drop me a line.

More news to come in the coming months. I’ve got some big things going on . . . hope you’ll stick around for the ride.