My children love chocolate. (Okay, so do I!) They really, really love chocolate.

So, naturally, when we left Stepping Stones the other day, my friends, kids and I headed to nearby Chocopologie, the chocolate-themed cafe of chocolatier Fritz Knipschildt. We just had to go there. Ever since I saw Fritz on Throwdown with Bobby Flay a few years back, I have been coveting his (rather pricey) chocolates. Shawn has been kind enough to buy me some for special occasions … and I can’t say that I have done much in the way of sharing them. They are simply too good for politeness. (I know, I am BAD!)

When we arrived, we were surprised to walk right into this tight space where a kid’s birthday party was going on . . . Oh my. When I say tight, I mean if it weren’t for my friends being there, I might have turned around and left. It was crowded with tables that left little room to scoot by. There was no clear place to go to get a table (like, maybe a desk? Or a clear stretch of counter?) and no straight path to the display where the chocolates were. Where was I supposed to go?

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Sunday was a glorious day here in Connecticut. The sun was warm and bright, though the air was still a bit brisk (as can be expected from an April day in New England). Everything is starting to awake from the winter deep-freeze. Buds are starting to appear on the early bloomers of spring, lending to the hope that we might soon escape the chills and rain showers that have been a near-constant lately. Even the every present and unwanted groundhogs are back. I cannot wait until the air is warm again and we can shed winter’s layers of fleece and wool.

But it wasn’t just the weather that was wonderful on Sunday, it was the company we had and the outing we took.

The kids and I headed to Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk where we met two of my wonderful friends. (It brought a huge smile to my face when my very wonderful friend researched and proposed that we take the kids to the museum. Love it. Such a sweet and thoughtful idea. My friends are the best.) The kid-centered museum has sections dedicated to building, the rain forest, healthy bodies and water play. We lounged in the gorilla sleeping area where you can become one with the jungle and watched Will ride a bike where a skeleton on a bike next to you mimics the movements so you can see how bones really move. Will loved that one, but was a little annoyed that he couldn’t ride the skeleton’s bike.  There is also a light-board that shows how hydration moves through the body. It was nearly impossible to pull Paige away from that one. And then there is the water area … oh, my little water babies could have stayed there all day. Read the rest of this entry…

Until a few years ago, I had never even heard of flank steak. Chuck, cube, sirloin, strip, porterhouse, filet, T-bone . . . those were all fine and recognizable. But flank steak? No clue whatsoever. And it’s certainly not the sexiest of names so I didn’ t have high hopes.

Finally, after reading about it again and again and again, I gave in and tried it. As it turned out, when cooked just right, this lean meat is quite tasty. I’ve since marinated and stuffed my way through many flank steaks.

Earlier this week I pulled a flank steak from our freezer, intent on making my Guiltless Beef with Broccoli. As fate (and a bit of sickness-fueled disorganization) would have it, we’d already eaten the broccoli so that idea was nixed. Instead, I went with a nuanced rub that gave a burst of zing and a hint of sweetness. Just a tiny hint. It was tender, juicy and packed with flavor. Ooh, just so good.

The kids devoured it. Shawn loved it and commented on how close it is to a skewered beef dish that he likes at a local restaurant. And me? Well, we will be having this again very soon. Loved. It. Read the rest of this entry…

The kids and I have been battling a wretched cold that has us speaking with rasps and coveting soft, smooth food. It hasn’t led to much creativity in the kitchen. Not fun. I cannot wait to get back to our happy, healthy, cough-free selves.

But, that doesn’t mean we don’t eat. We are still eating well.

You may remember that I mentioned recently that oatmeal just isn’t one of those go-to breakfasts for me, after a traumatic oatmeal experience as a child. My kids and husband on the other hand absolutely love it. I love to indulge them when they love something. So, when Tyler Florence told Oprah that he made oatmeal in apple juice to make it special, my interest was piqued. I had to try it. Read the rest of this entry…