A few months back, Rachel from Rachel Cooks! asked me to participate in Pancake Party, a month-long event celebrating (you guessed it!) pancakes. Since pancakes verge on phenomenon status in our house, I said yes and suggested Banana Split Pancakes.

What happened next was one of those serendipitous moments where all good things come together. And one of my editors was talking to me about possibly doing some food writing for a new site. But she was concerned about my photos. She needed something to sway her decision. I send over this photo and asked if it might convince her to hire me. It did.

You can check out my fun, easy recipes on allParenting every Monday.

But today? Today is the day that my Banana Split Pancake recipe is appearing on Rachel Cooks! Please head over there and show me a little love.

The post Pancake Party! Banana Split Pancakes appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

I don’t have a recipe for you today. I don’t even really have a story. I just have a couple photos of my attempts to make baked sweet potato chips.

I’ve been working on a homemade baked sweet potato chips recipe over the past week, trying different temperatures, times and seasonings. But, so far, the results have been disappointing. I just haven’t found that sweet, crisp, salty chip yet.

But for all my attempts, I have learned some things. First, low and slow doesn’t work for these. While I did get some crisp chips that way, they were lacking in flavor — and slightly burnt. By the same token, too high doesn’t do it either.

After repeated attempts to use my food processor for the cutting, it’s clear that I will need to locate and break out the mandolin. The food processor’s thin slice blade is leaving the sweet potatoes too thick, so getting them crispy is near impossible.

Seasoning after baking seems to work better for the flavor.

Oh, and the potato peel? I’ve tried these peeled and unpeeled and I like the nutrient-rich peel on better. But that’s just a preference, I think.

Have you ever made baked sweet potato chips? Share your tips!

The post Searching for Baked Sweet Potato Chips appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

Thanks to Crystal Light for sponsoring this post. To learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight.

Work. Kids. Life. It all adds up to a lot of stuff on my to-do list (and probably yours too!). And that can make it hard to find time to just take a breath and relax. But everyone needs that.

Finding time in my busy days for a little bit of me-time is crucial to my mood. That small gift to myself keeps me happy and smiling, even when the kids are exhausted and cranky.

Here are a few of my favorite things to do when I need a little time for myself:

• Reading – There is something fabulously indulgent about losing yourself in a book … whether it’s for a few minutes or for an hour. For me, cookbooks can be a fabulous, relaxing read. But so can a good lose-myself-in-it fiction book.
• Cooking – I cook everyday, several times a day. It’s part of my job, so a lot of my cooking involves tripods, notebooks, measuring gear and red pens. That isn’t relaxing, but the act of cooking itself can be. When I’m off the clock, I love to whip dishes up without measuring or weighing anything. That’s when the fun starts, when you can season it with a dash of this and a sprinkle of that and think only about the flavors.
• Quiet – Do you savor the silence? I do. Of course, I love hearing the giddy sounds of the kids playing, but sometimes it’s nice to hear absolutely nothing. It’s mentally cleansing to have that stillness, and then choosing what to fill it with.
• Exercise – Look, I know … I didn’t exercise much in the last month. But when I do, I lose myself in the music from my iPod. I love to walk on my treadmill especially, since I can also read at the same time. It’s a great sensation, since I can just tune everything else out and be there.
• Change of Scenery – Can work be relaxing? Yes. Especially if you love what you do. And I find that heading out to the coffee shop and working there can be both relaxing and productive. Works for me.

How do you take time for yourself?

Remember, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight to learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors. I was selected and paid for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

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I’m sitting at my desk eating a turkey sandwich on 7-grain bread with a smear of roasted red pepper hummus and a slice of Swiss cheese. It’s divine. I didn’t bother to cut it in half, though I am a devoted sandwich-cutter (as yesterday’s turkey sandwich, above, shows). The house is quiet, still even. My kids are both in school, and I am here alone, save the two crazy beagles who are taking their mid-day nap.

It’s so quiet.

I’ve worked at home for more than two years, since I left my wonderful staff job to freelance full time. And for the past two years, I have almost constantly had my kids underfoot. It was what I left my job for. But right now, I am grateful for the quiet.

Two years ago, I would rush and rush to drop Will off to school in the afternoons and hope that Paige would remain asleep long enough for me to get a little work done before she needed her afternoon dose of eat, play, diaper change, nap, repeat. Last year, we made it out on time to get to school more often than not, but after drop off would be a rush to get Paige into bed for her nap and prayers that she actually would take one.

But now it’s quiet, and I really like it — despite how unnerving it is. Today, I ate a whole turkey sandwich without anyone asking for a bite, or a glass of water, or cookies for dessert. Shortly, I might pick up and run to the store, just because I can. Or, perhaps I will clean (that doesn’t sound as fun though) or even kick back for a little relaxation. (More likely I will just keep working …)

Whatever it is, it feels so nice to have this little spot of time to myself. Although I love the happy chaos of my kids being constantly underfoot, I also need the quiet moments to recharge. That turkey sandwich was phenomenal … not necessarily because it was the best one ever (though it was really very tasty), but because it’s something I got to do on my own. And that is very good for everyone.

5 Ways to Perk up Your Turkey Sandwich:

1. Trade the mayo for hummus: I’ve never been a big fan of mayo, but hummus is fabulous on turkey sandwiches. It adds a nice zing.
2. Make it California style: A little avocado (or mashed avocado), lettuce and bacon can really make a plain turkey sandwich phenomenal.
3. Ditch the bread: I love my sandwich on bread, but it’s also delicious in a wrap or pita pocket. Or just roll up the turkey with cheese for a fast finger food.
4. Change the cheese: Swiss is awesome with turkey, but so are so many other cheeses like havarti, cheddar and brie.
5. Stack it: Love tapanade? Hummus? Avocado, tomato and lettuce? It’s okay to mix, match and experiment with your favorite toppings … and use several at time. It could be the best sandwich that you’ve never had.

The post The Joy of Turkey Sandwiches (and 5 Ways to Jazz Yours Up) appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

1. My garden is growing! We’ve planted all our veggies and need to fence it all in (hopefully this weekend). Check in tomorrow for some pictures.
2. Today is 30 days until I turn 30. Hard to believe it’s so close. I expected to enter my 30s at a much lower weight … so I am going to work my butt off to get as close as I can in the next month. Check out my Facebook page for updates on my progress.

What Happened: I started off the week with $200 in cash. Groceries were about $120 for the week, so I started Monday with about $80. I splurged on pizza (about $12) Monday, since it was uncomfortably hot and the idea of heating the kitchen to cook was just too much. Tuesday, Will had a birthday party to go to so we stopped and bought a present and ground coffee, which we were out of ($30). I also let him get a few extra tokens at the Chuck E. Cheese party ($1). Wednesday, I needed gas ($20) and bread for dinner ($2). There were a few other expenditures in there too … In any case, it’s Friday and I have about $15 left.

Did I stick 100 percent to cash this week? Nope. I tried. But on Wednesday, my cousin called me about a sale on clothes I love (and need), so I spent $50 there on a skirt and two shirts. On Thursday, I bought lunch for the kids, myself and my mother at Ikea (about $18) as well as a few items I wanted for the kids ($25 — but I am returning a $9 item). And I also replaced a toy box ($100) with a new storage unit. All in all, I spent an extra $185. Not the most successful week for cutting back spending.

That said, I really, really, really like using cash instead of credit. At the grocery store, I was more conscious than ever about the items I selected. It’s one thing to have a budget, but when that budget is steadfast — as in if you overspend, you don’t have money — it’s something totally different. It changes how you look at the things you purchase.

So, yes, I will go cash-only this week too. I think that the $200 might be the right amount for the week, but we’ll see. My biggest goal for this week? Not breaking out the credit cards once. I also want to get my grocery shopping costs down further (as in $100 this week …  eventually even less).

I’ve come a long, long way from when I began this journey. I never shared the dollar amount … but a few months ago, I was spending between $250 and $350 a week on groceries and takeout. Crazy, right? It just goes to show what good planning and smart decisions can do for what you spend.

What’s Next: I will continue with the cash plan this week. I am also setting aside any spare change at the end of the week for our vacation next month. Whether we use it for parking, tolls or a meal out, it will definitely come in handy.

Changed Saved for Vacay This Week: $2.03 (ALL WEEKS TOTAL: $2.03)
Photo credit: mconnors from morguefile.com

The post My Spending Diet: Week 11 appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

Do you have a pizza stone? I adore mine. It’s perfect for everything from making pizza to baking bread. Mine is well seasoned from lots of use, bearing little black marks like badges of honor where past pizzas and rolls have puffed and baked.

It’s been awhile since I made pizza at home, but this week I really wanted some fresh from my own oven. When I was planning our meals for this week, I specifically made sure to include extra chicken on the menu so that I could reuse the leftovers on a pizza for another night. Smart thinking, no?

So, where’s the pizza photo? Well, I failed to watch the pizza (always watch what you are cooking!) and it got a little … caramelized. It still tasted great. Will even ate the crust – which he never does.

As for the pizza? We topped it with the leftovers from my Roasted Rosemary Chicken recipe, about two slices of crispy, crumbled bacon and lots of mozzarella. It took all of 10 minutes to toss together (and really, most of that time was spent working the dough into a good sized circle). I can’t wait to make the whole thing again (including the chicken!).

So good.

Secrets of a Good Homemade Pizza

1. If you are using dough from the grocery store (I love the dough from Trader Joe’s), let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes before using. You want it to warm up because it will stretch easier.
2. Heat the pizza stone in the oven for at least 30 minutes before you use it.
3. Build your pizza on a pizza peel — but make sure that it’s floured up so it easily slips off when its time.
4. When you go to shape the dough, be gentle. You need to work it little by little until it’s a good sized circle.
5. Don’t overdo it on the sauce.
6. Watch the pizza — particularly towards the end of the cooking time.

Do you make your own pizza? Share your tips!

The post Transforming Leftovers: Chicken Bacon Pizza appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

Recently, I was researching for an article on diabetes in children, and I came across some statistics that really got me thinking.

• Roughly 186,300 people under the age of 17 have diabetes in 2007.
• Type 2 diabetes, traditionally a disease impacting people over the age of 45, is on the rise among young people. Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, may be on the rise as well.
• Diabetes is one of the most common juvenile diseases.
  SOURCE: National Diabetes Education Program, “Overview of Diabetes in Children and Adolescence.”

When I was a little girl, a friend’s grandfather had Type 2 diabetes. He and his wife were kind enough to answer my myriad questions about it. He told me that he hadn’t always had it, but developed it when he was older. It was an adult disease. And as much as he missed pastries and the like, his health was more important.

These days, it’s not just an adult disease anymore. That’s frightening. I cannot imagine what it’s like for a family to address such serious health issues in a child. It just makes my heart ache to think about.

Registered dietitian Jennifer Haas of Nova Medical & Urgent Care Center, Inc. in Ashburn, VA, says that there’s definitely been an increase in young patients coming in with pre-diabetes or diabetes. “It’s kind of scary,” Haas admits, adding that there has also been a shift in puberty age.

Haas says that what parents and kids really need is education on what they should be eating and how to avoid developing diabetes. “It’s really important that everyone is on board,” says Haas.

Want to educate yourself? The National Diabetes Education Program has a great page on diabetes information for children and teens. The American Diabetes Association also has a comprehensive website. Also check out dLife, a great site with recipes and information, tailored to those with diabetes.

Survey 2010

I want to know what you’re thinking! Readers, you are the ones who come back again and again, leaving wonderful comments and ideas. Thank you! Please take a few minutes to share your ideas and impressions of Sarah’s Cucina Bella in my anonymous survey. Your input helps me bring a bigger and better site to you. Thanks! Click here to take survey

The post Raising a Healthy Family: Diabetes in Kids (And My Annual Survey) appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

But then a few months ago, I had an epiphany. Actually, it was more of a mind shift. I managed to shake myself loose from the idea that to be good, a recipe needed to be built without calories or fat in mind. Man, was I wrong. And once I wrapped my head around that, I was able to start developing, cooking and writing about foods the way that I really want to eat.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, I have been thinking a lot about what to make and serve. Ultimately, I don’t want to abandon our hard-fought changes for any one day, so I am taking a healthy approach to the whole thing … even dessert.

I’m not exactly sure what we’ll be having yet … but I think one of these desserts could be the perfect fit.

10 Waist-Friendly Desserts for Valentine’s Day

• Strawberry Kiwi Fool on Sarah’s Cucina Bella
• Vanilla Mousse with Blueberry Strawberry Sauce (photo here) on Sarah’s Cucina Bella
• Watermelon Granita on Sarah’s Cucina Bella (if you can locate good watermelon)
• Chocolate Covered Strawberries on Sarah’s Cucina Bella
• Low Carb Cherry Cheesecake on Kalyn’s Kitchen
• Strawberry Pazzo on Sweetnicks
• Low-fat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar on In Good Taste
• Roasted Peaches with Goat Cheese and Honey on Eat. Live. Run.
• Guilt-Free Panna Cotta on Cooking with Amy

P.S. I had the most lovely surprise this morning. My former editor, Helen Bennett Harvey, featured my blog on her vegetarian-themed New Haven Register blog, Vegging Out. She said the sweetest things … but I encourage you to read her other insightful posts that are sure to get you thinking about your food choices. Thank you so much, Helen!!

The post 10 Waist-Friendly Desserts for Valentine’s Day appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

In thinking about today’s post, I thought it was a little ironic that I wrote about getting your kids more active on Friday and am writing about sweets today. But irony aside, these things can really coexist. Afterall, raising a healthy family and leading a healthy life is not about deprivation. It’s about moderation, balance, joy … all wonderful things. So, yes, you can have a delicious cookie bar and a slim waistline.

When I decided to have a healthier 2010, it never once crossed my mind to stop baking things like these bars. My kids love to cook and I love to cook with them. Seems like a win-win, right?

Last weekend, Will and I made Chocolate Covered S’mores Grahams and they were dessert for most of the week. He actually wanted to make them again, but I spied a recipe for Butterscotch Blondies in Gorgeous: The Sum of All Your Glorious Parts, a book that I reviewed a few years ago. The idea sounded good, but I wanted a bar that was just a little different. So, I got out my trusty notebook, made some alterations to the recipe (adding chocolate, taking out nuts, trading half of the all-purpose flour for whole wheat, etc).

When the time came to bake on Sunday, I got out an big bowl for Will to mix in. The ingredients filled only a small portion of the bowl, but using an oversized bowl is one of tricks of cooking with kids that makes it easier and more stress-free. Yes, the smaller mixing bowl would have been perfect for this recipe, but the larger bowl gives him room to move the whisk around in. That way, he learns how to work in this confined space, while allowing margin for error. The result? Far less flour spilled. And I noticed as he mixed that his movements are becoming more fluid. He really is learning how to sift gently. How awesome is that?

There are so many opportunities for kids to help with a recipe like this. I’ve notated in the recipe the sections that are perfect for kids to help with. And working together like that, to create something, is a great experience for them.

Anyway, back to the recipe. Once we finished mixing, pressing and baking, we were left with sweet cookie bars that are brimming with buttery richness and chocolatey goodness. I liked them. Shawn liked them. The kids adored them … What more could I ask for?

These will make a fab dessert for the kids this week. And for the adults too.

Chocolate Butterscotch Cookie Bars
yields 24 bars
recipe adapted from Gorgeous: The Sum of All Your Glorious Parts

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 11x9x2 inch baking pan with cooking oil spray.

Kid Step: Using a large bowl (you want it to be bigger than you need so that your child has room to sift without making a huge mess) and a wire whisk, sift together the flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until it’s smooth and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat on medium until combined. Turn off.

Kid Step: Turn the mixer on its lowest speed. Using a big spoon, add the flour mixture one spoonful at a time until it’s all been added. It’s a good idea for the adult to hold the bowl close to the mixer while the kid-cook adds the flour. Turn off.

Kid Step: Measure out the chocolate chips and butterscotch kids. Add to the dough. Then, turn the mixer on to quickly incorporate (if you are cooking really really young kids, the adult should turn it on after the kid as added the chips).

Spread the dough out into the prepared pan in an even layer. Use your hand to press it into the corners, if necessary.

Slide the pan into the oven and cook for 30-35 minutes, until cooked through. A toothpick inserted in the center of the pan should come out clean.

Let cool completely and then cut into 12 bars.

The post Cooking With Kids: Chocolate Butterscotch Cookie Bars Recipe appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

Now, how did these presents get selected? Simple. These are the things that a) are indispensable in my kitchen or b) are on my Christmas list this year.  I love every single thing mentioned here. To make it super easy, I’ve arranged them in several price categories: Under $25, Under $50, Under $100 and Over $100, so you can find one that meets your budget.

Under $25

Oxo Good Grips Cookie Scoop – Know someone who loves to bake cookies? Then they need a good cookie scoop. I don’t know how I ever lived without the Oxo Good Grips Cookie Scoop. It was totally life changing when it came to scratch-made cookies. Not only do my cookies come out even and perfect every single time, but clean up is a breeze and I am never left cursing cookie dough-crusted spoons. The small one is perfect for most cookies and that’s the one that I bought more than a year ago. However, I am now coveting the large scoop too. The idea of making big, thick cookies is very alluring.

Microplane Grater/Zester – Every single homecook should have a Microplane Grater/Zester. Seriously. It’s an unbelievably useful thing. Why? It perfectly zests limes, lemons and other fruits (read: awesome flavor addition) and can also grate cheese into delicate ribbons — very pretty.

OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Angled Measuring Cup Set – Years ago, I saw these measuring cups and wanted them so badly. Onto my wedding registry, they went … and a wonderful coworker of mine bought them for me. I cannot say enough good things about the OXO Good Grips Angled Measuring Cups Set. They are so easy to use, with measurements on the sides and an angled bar too … it makes it so simple to see if you are getting the right amount. Everyone should have a set.

A Great Cookbook – There are so many fantastic cookbooks out there. With cookbooks from bloggers hitting the shelves at a rapid rate, there are so many accessible volumes to choose from these days. For a more classic take, try Mastering The Art of French Cooking, Volume One. It’s a revered book that every home cook should have. It demystified French cuisine at a time when TV dinners were ultra-popular.

A Cookie Jar – Does the person on your list love baking? If so, a great cookie jar is a fantastic gift. Pier 1 has several ones for under $25. How about an adorable snowman? Or those pretty sunflowers? For the fashionista baker, the Handbag Cookie Jars at Neiman Marcus are absolutely perfect.

Under $50

Breading Pans – Williams-Sonoma has the absolute right idea with this set of three stainless steel breading pans. Breading anything can be a pain. Bowls hold the right amount of flour and egg, but the curved sides make it so hard to do a good job. Plates don’t hold enough but the flat surface is perfect. These pans combine those two positive attributes.

Seattle Chocolates Truffle Bars – Chocolate can be so subjective. Some people swear by the commercial brands, others crave artisan varieties. But these truffle bars, with their rich, creamy centers, are indisputably delicious. Tied with a nice brown ribbon (perfect for repurposing!), the Truffle Bars gift set comes with 10 bars, in fantastic flavors like Meltaway Mint and Cappuccino Crunch. Worth every penny. Seriously. These are amazing.

Cuisinart Green Gourmet Eco-Friendly Skillets – I’ve always been a little fearful of all things nonstick. The coating deteriorates and starts leaving black bits in the food — long before I knew why that was a health issue, I had a big problem with it. That’s why I am so excited about this new eco-friendly nonstick line from Cuisinart. Available in three sizes, the 12-inch is perfect for cooking up meats (like a healthy, low oil frying?) or pancakes. The 10-inch and 8-inch could be awesome for omelets. I am hoping to add one or two of these to my kitchen soon. (Hint! Hint!)

Under $100

Ronco Showtime Compact Rotisserie – Seriously? A rotisserie. All I can say is yes. I have a larger version of this and it’s amazing. Not only does it let all the fat just drain off the meat, but it produces juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside roasts, chickens and more every time. This compact model isn’t quite as big (a definite plus), so it’s a little easier to find space for in the cabinets. And seriously, a rotisserie meal in the dead of winter is as good as it gets.

A Centerpiece Bowl – If the person on your list does a lot of entertaining, then a centerpiece bowl can be a fabulous gift. Look for something that speaks to their taste, in colors that they would choose. Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean that it has to match their dining room. Just make it to their tastes. A few of my favorites: The Agave Bowl from Crate and Barrel, the Oleander Bowl from Crate and Barrel, the Great White Heirloom Serving Bowl from Pottery Barn and the Red Luster Serving Bowl from Pier 1.

A Cooking Class – Ask around in your area for where cooking classes are offered. Many are under $100, and a true food lover would love a great class. If you aren’t sure what kind of cooking class they’d like, get a gift certificate so they can choose their own specialization.

Over $100

KitchenAid 90th Anniversary Limited-Edition 5-Quart Stand Mixer – Most serious cooks I know cannot live without their stand mixer. And in terms of stand mixers, Kitchen Aid sets the standard. The new KitchenAid 90th Anniversary Limited-Edition 5-Quart Stand Mixer in Candy Apple Red isn’t just a pretty machine (and really … that red is pretty!) — it’s a powerful mixer perfect for many home uses. With a glass bowl, you can always keep track of how things are progressing.

Le Creuset Round French Oven – Every cook needs a Dutch oven and this 5 1/2 quart one from Le Creuset is perfect for braising, stewing and more. I have several Le Creuset pieces, though not a Dutch oven, and love how easy they are to clean and how pretty they are to cook with. This falls high on my list of wants for this Christmas.

Multicolor Bowls – Growing up, my grandmother had a mustard colored ceramic bowl that she used to mix things in. It was sturdy, heavy and perfect for just about everything. This set of seven Multicolored Bowls from Williams-Sonoma remind me of the solid reliability of that mixing bowl. Yes, they are pricey, but they are also wonderful double duty items (mix and serve in them!).

The post Favorite Gifts for Food Lovers and Home Cooks 2009 appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.