Sunday nights are usually a time for curling up with my favorite TV dramas (Maris and I love Revenge, and she tells me last night’s show was amazing). Sometimes, I dig into a little plate of crackers and cheese with a glass of wine while watching too. It’s an event, and one that often involves chatting via technology during the commercial breaks. But last night, I totally skipped out on it all.

I was just too zonked after a weekend spent almost completely outside. I was exhausted in that way where your brain and body practically beg you to just close your eyes and nod off. So I did. In fact, I think I went to sleep before Will. And let me tell  you, going to sleep super early felt really, really good. I was so refreshed this morning.

Tonight, I plan to catch up on my favorite shows — and maybe even dig into a little salsa and chips with a tall glass of ice water. It’s like the healthier version of my Sunday.

This salsa combines champagne mangoes (my favorite variety!) with tomatoes, cilantro, lime zest and a serrano pepper. The result is a sweet and spicy salsa that’s perfect with tortilla chips, divine on nachos and amazing on tacos. It’s also delicious on chili cheese omelets, if you are so inclined. But be warned: When I say it’s spicy, I really mean it — so if you like heat in your food like I do, you’ll enjoy it.

Of course, my husband doesn’t do spicy. And most of the time, neither do the kids. That’s totally okay by me though — especially since it means more for me.

Watch Me Make It …

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Over the weekend (or was it last night?), I suddenly realized that the Super Bowl is this weekend. As in just a few days away. And we don’t even know where we’ll be watching it yet. Oh my. So, by extension, I also don’t know what I am making yet — no Super Bowl recipe list ready to go or anything. But I can tell you — if we end up watching with a bunch of people, I am bringing this artichoke dip for sure. That way I can enjoy it, and I don’t have to worry about eating the whole thing myself.

What?

Creamy Artichoke Basil Dip is a creamy, dreamy, melty, chip-cuddling, warm delight. The combination of cheese and artichokes is one that never ceases to make my taste buds hop with joy … assuming they could actually hop. Which they can’t exactly. But still, you get my point. Adding sweet, fresh basil to the mix in this creamy, cheesy dip makes it totally craveworthy.

This is the kind of artichoke dip you whip up for the Super Bowl and find the bowl scraped clean way sooner than expected — and then wish you made more. It’s that good.

And guess what? Creamy Artichoke Basil Dip only has four ingredients. And it takes minutes — yes, minutes! — to stir together and get cooking. So easy.

Serving Ideas for Creamy Artichoke Dip with Basil

Serve this with a big ol’ bowl of tortilla chips, perhaps some veggie crudites and watch it go. It’s also good with crackers. If you want, you could set out some little bowls for spooning some into — makes it easier to enjoy while watching the Super Bowl or whatever game you want.

Wherever we end up this weekend for the big game, I can’t wait.

Where are you watching the Super Bowl this weekend?

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Disclosure: I was compensated by Progresso/General Mills for creating this recipe with Progresso Recipe Starters. All opinions are my own.

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Every so often, we’ll be eating dinner at our kitchen table and Will will look up and say “Mommy, you’re a good cooker.” It warms my heart. Most of the time, he loves what I make (of course, there will always be a few duds … and we usually agree on those).

A lot of things that come out of my kitchen are made with the kids in mind. Two Cheese Meatball Grilled Cheese, Sausage Bolognese, Blueberry White Chocolate Buttermilk Pancakes and Cocoa Peppermint Thumbprint Cookies are prime examples. We eat a lot of pasta and broccoli and yogurt because they love these things. And eggs, Paige is crazy for all kinds of eggs.

But as a mom, I think it’s important to do things for yourself sometimes too. A woman I met online a few years ago used to always sign notes “Take care of you.” At the time, Will was in preschool and Paige was still a toddler. The sentiment was lost on me, probably because I was so busy taking care of them. But now, I totally get it. You can’t get lost in the shuffle. And sometimes all it takes is whipping up a simple hummus to do something nice for yourself, especially if you are a mega-fan of hummus like me.

Yes, Will and Paige would love the sweet roasted garlic, tart lemon and meaty walnuts in this tahini-free hummus. It has a terrific citrus quality that’s complemented by the garlic and walnuts. Such great flavors together. Will and Paige would happily reach for the sweetest of the veggies on the plate and scoop up big globs of hummus. But this one is for me … just for me. I like to load up a plate with bell pepper strips, sugar snap peas and carrots for dipping with a good hummus like this. It’s a perfect lunch. Or snack.

Maybe I’ll share another day. But today, this is mine.

What have you done for yourself lately?

Now … onto Eat. Live. Be. Reboot. Over the weekend, I wrote a scathing note to myself that I thought I might run as a confessional ELB post today. It was brutally honest and raw, as I took a microscope to my own habits and behaviors. It was one of those times where I just had to lay bare the truth and digest it so that I could move ahead. You’re probably pretty curious about it now, and I don’t blame you. But I probably won’t share it. At least not now.

The thing about being that honest and that rough with myself? It was more of a private letter to myself — a personal wake-up call that I desperately needed. The gist of what I wrote is that while I have been talking about motivation and making healthier choices since early December, I haven’t been walking the walk. I’ve been failing myself, my family and you. So this week, I aimed to change things around. I’m letting my actions speak, not just my words.

It’s amazing how when you make changes, they can so quickly move you back in the right direction. I’ve fixed my eating habits — eating more fruits, veggies and healthy fats. It’s only been a few days, but I already feel worlds better. And I started to exercise again. My goal for this week is to exercise three times. So far, I have done two workouts — with one more to complete by Friday. The energized feeling that comes with those workouts is irresistible. I am just sad that I neglected it for so long.

But realistically, it’s only been a few days. I have a lot more work before I can declare this a victory. The good news is that I am ready for that work.

Be sure to pop in on Cate, Patsy and Joanne to see what they’re writing about this ELB Wednesday.

Now, are you ready for some hummus?

Roasted Garlic, Lemon and Walnut Hummus
yields about 1 cup

1 15 oz can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1/2 lemon, juiced and zested
5 cloves roasted garlic
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt, to taste

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until ultra-smooth. Season with salt, to taste. Serve with veggies or crackers for dipping.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Optional: Dress your hummus up with a drizzle of walnut oil and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper.

The post Roasted Garlic, Lemon and Walnut Hummus (Eat. Live. Be.) appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

This dip, made in a mere 10 minutes or less, made me want to kiss Mark Bittman in gratitude. Not in a creepy way, but more in an oh-wow-you-just-saved-my-day way.

Let me back up.

This morning I roasted a whole cauliflower with garlic and rosemary. It filled the house with this wonderful aroma that left me drooling and contemplating if I really needed to continue with the recipe I was working on. But the roasted cauliflower wasn’t for a side dish — it was for a dip recipe that I am working on. A lovely, creamy, pureed cauliflower dip. Except it was awful – a total epic fail. I couldn’t get it into the garbage fast enough.

Of course, that left me totally bummed. So much for spreading it on bread for a sandwich today or enjoying it with crackers. So much for having a successful and ready to use recipe by the end of the day. It needs a complete revisiting and overhaul.

That’s when Bittman saved the day. (Ha! Sort of.) I started looking around for an easy, fast dip that I could make from what I had in my kitchen already (I am trying hard to break my daily grocery store trip habit). I stumbled onto this amazing white bean dip recipe that Mark Bittman wrote about on Diner’s Journal back in 2008. He said the secret to it is something he learned from Lidia Bastianich: lemon zest. It gives the dip the essence of lemon without the overpowering acidity.

The creamy dip is filled with a wonderful mix of earthy rosemary, pungent garlic (use less if you aren’t a fan) and citrus-y lemon zest. It’s perfect for dipping crackers into, or serving with your favorite chopped veggies. It would make a good sandwich spread too. And since it can be made ahead, it makes a great holiday appetizer too.

Speaking of holiday appetizers, I will be a guest tweeter at the Mediterranean Snacks Twitter Party this Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST. Follow hashtag #holidaysnax to join in the fun as we talk about holiday snacking, shopping and more. Get the full details on the Mediterranean Snacks blog. Scroll all the way down for details on a delicious Mediterranean Snacks giveaway too.

Lemon Rosemary White Bean Dip
serves 8
adapted every so slightly from Mark Bittman’s recipe for Rosemary-Lemon White Bean Dip

1 15.5-oz can cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp finely minced fresh rosemary
1 grated lemon peel (zest only)

Combine the beans, garlic, salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until chopped. Add the olive oil and process until smooth. Remove the white bean mixture to a bowl. Stir in the rosemary and lemon zest.

Serve with chopped veggies or crackers.

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Mediterranean Snack Foods Giveaway

Mediterranean Snack Foods has generously offered to give away a big selection of their delicious gluten-free chips and crackers to one Sarah’s Cucina Bella reader. I’ve been enjoying these snacks for weeks now, ever since they sent me some. The Rosemary Herb Crackers are my absolute favorite (this is the 4th box I have bought since trying the samples they sent).

The giveaway is a full size of each Mediterranean Snack Foods chip and cracker flavor – so 6 chips and 3 crackers.

Giveaway closed. Thanks to Mediterranean Snack Foods and all who participated.

Disclosure: The giveaway is provided by Mediterranean Snacks. They also provided me with cracker and chip samples awhile back. However, I was not compensated for this post and was not obligated to write about the party, chips, crackers or anything else. All opinions are my own.

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Family birthdays and Sunday dinners are sacred for our extended family. It’s a time when we all get together around the table and share food, laughter and smiles. And some of the best family conversations happen as we linger before dessert, after eating delicious foods.

But our dinners (and appetizers too) aren’t without some degree of restriction. To moderate our fat intake, we aim for more healthful versions of family favorites. So when I was asked to partake in the November 2011 SideCar Series, featuring Bush’s Beans, on Kitchen PLAY, I knew it was a good fit. Beans are good-for-you food.

My contribution is a Hot Spinach Artichoke White Bean Dip. Like many people, my family adores the traditional hot spinach artichoke dip. The cheese! The flavor! The dipping goodness! But it’s such a nutritional splurge that we almost never have it anymore.

Spinach Artichoke White Bean Dip waiting to be baked.

Now we can. I turned that creamy hot dip on its head, making it a lightened up, way-less-guilt dip by trading cream cheese and other creamy (read: full-fat) ingredients for white cannellini beans pureed with garlic and vegetable stock.

The artichoke dip is still fabulously creamy with a mix of Romano and mozzarella cheese, chopped artichoke hearts and spinach. Oh, and the salt and pepper — which is a necessary addition to any savory recipe.

My family shared this artichoke dip at a recent family birthday dinner. I have to admit that as everyone went in for the first taste, I held my breath a little bit. Would they like it? Would they miss the decadent ingredients? Considering how fast the dip disappeared, it definitely didn’t disappoint.

Hot and bubbly from the oven …

Hot Spinach Artichoke White Bean Dip
serves 8

1 15-oz can cannellini beans (recommended: Bush’s Beans)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup vegetable stock
1 9-oz box frozen chopped spinach, prepared according to package directions and strained
1 8.5-oz can artichoke hearts, chopped
1/2 cup freshly grated Romano cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or Italian cheese mix
salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the cannellini beans, garlic and vegetable stock. Transfer to a large bowl and stir together with the spinach, artichoke hearts, Romano cheese and mozzarella. Season well with salt and pepper.

Transfer the mixture to an 8×8-inch square baking dish and spread out to form one even layer.

Bake for 20 minutes, until bubbly at the edges.

Serve this dip with fresh cut veggies or crispy, thicker tortilla chips.

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Disclosure: I was compensated by Kitchen PLAY and Bush’s Beans for my time in creating this recipe and post. I was also provided with product to work with. Nonetheless, all opinions expressed are my own.

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When it comes to grocery shopping, I am a grocer’s dream. They might as well stamp a gigantic “Impulse Buyer!” stamp on my forehead and call it a day. Display cases of fresh breads and cheeses just call to me. The produce department’s bright and beautiful wares are always beckoning to me. And the butcher’s station … Oh, what a life.

It was an impulse buy that brought these leeks home with me a few weeks back … only to be promptly forgotten. I’d really wanted to eat some, but it didn’t happen. Though I had the best of intentions of using them right away, I didn’t actually get to it until today. Thankfully, they were still pretty fresh (minus an outer leaf or two). (Yes, if you see yucky outer leaves, you can pull them off and wash and cut the leeks as usual for use.Within reason.)

But it is somewhat good that I waited on these because this morning, while playing around with ideas, I came up with this delightful Roasted Leeks and Garlic Spread. It’s amazing — especially on freshly baked bread (I used Pillsbury Simply French Bread).

The spread takes a little more than 20 minutes to bread and is perfect for everything from picnic to date. Heck, it would even make an awesome addition to the standard brunch fare too. Maybe even with a poached egg on top?

What’s amazing in this dish is how sweet the leeks and garlic get while roasting them in the oven. With a touch of olive oil and a bit of the moisture from soaking the leeks, the leeks and garlic are rendered tender enough to puree and so perfectly sweet. The garlic adds its own sweet savoriness to the mix too. Once it’s all done and pureed, slather it on the bread and sprinkle it with some freshly grated Italian cheese and a sprinkle of your very favorite finishing salt. One bite and you will be hooked.

No, really. I mean it.

Would you serve this for brunch?

Roasted Leek and Garlic Spread
serves 8

1 bunch leeks (3-4), white and light green parts only
3 cloves garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste

Soak the leeks for at least 30 minutes in a bowl of water. Meanwhile, start preheating the oven to 400 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and pile the leeks on, leaving them somewhat wet. Add the garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.

Roast the leek for 20 minutes in the hot oven. Once they are done, and tender, transfer the whole mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth.

To use: Spread on warm, crusty bread and sprinkle with fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and sprinkle of your favorite finishing salt.

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Now, about that fabulous giveaway …

Giveaway

Do you love brunch? I do. It’s a great meal to spend catching up with friends over. And if you like to have brunch at home (I do!), then you will adore this fabulous giveaway from the fine folks at Pillsbury Simply …

One lucky reader will win an amazing brunch-inspired gift basket, complete with all the essentials for hosting a spring brunch. The gift basket includes coupons for Simply… product, a tablecloth, juice glasses, flower vases and more—an estimated retail value $115.

Thanks to everyone who entered! The contest has ended.

Congrats to Anne B, the winner.

Disclosure: The giveaway prize is being offered by Pillsbury. I didn’t receive the prize, and wasn’t compensated for this post. Furthermore, none of this influenced the writing of this post beyond sharing the giveaway details.

The post Roasted Leek and Garlic Spread (and a Fab Brunch Giveaway) appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

When I came home New York (and meeting Bobby Flay!) on Monday, I was totally inspired … by sandwiches. I haven’t worked much with sandwiches recently, and I couldn’t wait to work on some new flavors.

This sandwich is all about New England. Lettuce from Boston, cheddar from Vermont, cranberries from Cape Cod … Oh, and turkey! First Thanksgiving and all (is that too much of a stretch?). And it’s served warm, panini-style, on marble rye bread. Delish.

The big flavor punch in this comes from a super simple condiment: Cranberry Orange Mayo, which is more spread and less mayonnaise. It’s a little sweet, a little tangy and has a great citrus punch.

The Cranberry Orange Mayo is as easy as it comes to make. You combine dried cranberries, orange zest and a few seasonings with mayo in a food processor. Pulse it a bit and then add a little bit of cranberry juice and pulse it again. Then it goes into the fridge for the flavors to meld and marinate. That’s it.

What do you like on your sandwich?

The New Englander Panini
serves 1

2 slices marble rye bread
1/2 tbsp – 1 tbsp Cranberry Orange Mayo (recipe follows)
1 leaf Boston Bibb lettuce
2 1-ounce slices Vermont cheddar
3-ounces roasted turkey deli meat
olive oil spray

Heat a panini press, panini grill or George Foreman grill.

Lay out the two slices of bread and spread with desired amount of Cranberry Orange Mayo (dividing it equally between the two). Place the lettuce on one slice of bread and top with the two slices of cheddar. Drape the turkey on top and then cover with the other slice of bread, mayo-side down.

Spray the top slice of bread with olive oil spray and place, olive oil side down, on the panini press, grill or Foreman. Spray the now-top side of bread with olive oil and close the press or grill.

Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly browned.

Serve immediately.

Easy Cranberry Orange Mayo
yields about 1/2 cup
Inspired by Bobby Flay

1/4 cup dried cranberries
zest of 1 small orange (such as a Minneola or tangerine)
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp cranberry juice

Combine the dried cranberries, orange zest, dry mustard, pepper and mayonnaise in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until combined. Add the cranberry juice and pulse to incorporate.

Transfer the mixture to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before using.

NOTE: I first created this sandwich while at the kickoff for Hellman’s Build the Perfect Sandwich event. However, I wasn’t asked to write about this or develop this recipe. I am affiliated with Hellman’s Club Sandwich program, but that didn’t impact this post.

The post The New Englander Panini with Easy Cranberry Orange Mayo appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

Mmm. Guacamole. Just add chips or chopped up veggies.

But this isn’t your typical guacamole. This one is infused with the tart fabulousness of tomatillos, a relative of eggplants and gooseberries. It’s unexpected, but delicious all the same. We have a big crop of tomatillos growing in our garden this year, so I foresee a lot more Tomatillo Guacamole in our near future.

Recently I served this fun take on guacamole as an appetizer at a family birthday party and the bowl was completely cleared. Not a stitch of leftover guac. I don’t know who liked it the best: the kids or the adults. If you (or your kids) like avocado, guacamole and the like, then this is a fabulous thing to serve. Even if they don’t like avocado, this is delicious.

On a side note, kids do eat avocado. And like it. I know plenty of children who are practically addicted to it (and guacamole too!). But when I recently featured this recipe in my Tablespoon column, in a post about Kid-Friendly After-School Snack Ideas, I got a surprisingly negative reaction. I took some serious heat on Tablespoon’s Facebook Fan Page for suggesting that kids (or anyone) would enjoy this.

Guess what? Kids do eat this. They do. Not all of them (because seriously, everyone has preferences and tastes). But there are plenty who do.

When I spoke at BlogHer last month, I made the point that approaching food and eating with positivity is so important to getting kids to eat well — and really it is. Avoid negative statements (“I don’t think you will like this but..” “You usually don’t eat this …” “It’s okay if you don’t like it …”) and kids will be more likely to try things. Will this work every time for every child? Of course not! But even if it only works sometimes, it’s better than having your child married to a diet of white foods or whatever. Just my two cents.

What do you think?

Some more recipes you might like:

• Lime Guacamole
• Tomato Tomatillo Salsa

Tomatillo Guacamole
serves 4
NOTE: Scroll down for the printable recipe

1 avocado
1 tomatillo
1 tbsp lime juice
1 jalapeno, seeded
salt and pepper, to taste

Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Peel the skin off. Then, slice the avocado. Transfer to a food processor.

Remove the skin from the tomatillo. Wash carefully to remove the stickiness. Roughly chop the tomatillo and add to the food processor.

Add the lime juice, jalapeno and salt and pepper to the food processor. Pulse until smooth.

Transfer to a serving bowl and serve. Alternatively, this can be tightly covered and refrigerated until ready to use.

The post Tomatillo Guacamole (and Positivity in Eating) appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

Back to school is heavy on my mind these days. We are less than a week away from Will starting kindergarten. But as I wrote recently on Tablespoon, it’s Will’s school lunch that I think about most. Ok, think might be an understatement. I obsess.

I’ve checked out the lunch menu for his school and its … not good. A packed lunch it will be (and he’s okay with that!). Still, what do I pack? How do I keep it from getting too boring? Thank goodness for good friends like Cate, who give me fab ideas (like frozen grapes as a snack/way to keep the whole lunchbox cold. Love that!).

One snack that I know I will be packing is homemade hummus and veggies. Will adores hummus, as does Paige. Toss in some slices of cucumber, red peppers and carrots and you have a delish snack (or even a lunch item!).

This fast, easy hummus is filled with the warm, smoky-sweet flavor of sundried tomatoes and my very favorite herb: basil. I made it this afternoon for a very special video shoot (more on that later!) and it totally got rave reviews.

Now, I need some more ideas. What inventive foods do you pack in lunchboxes?

Sundried Tomato Basil Hummus
yields about 2 cups
NOTE: Scroll down for printable version

1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
3 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
8 sundried tomatoes
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp water
salt and pepper, to taste

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until smooth. Transfer to an airtight container.

Store in the refrigerator and eat within one week.

The post Sundried Tomato Basil Hummus Recipe appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.

Oh tomatillos … are they fruits? Vegetables? Tomatoes? Something else? When I tried them for the first time a few years ago, I was totally filled with a bazillion questions. The papery husk, and slightly sticky skin, had me all sorts of confused. But I read up on them and figured out how to use them to make delicious dishes. For the record, they are a fruit that is part of the nightshade family — and a relative of the tomato, eggplant and gooseberry. They are popularly used in Mexican cooking.

Earlier this summer, I decided to try growing tomatillos in my garden. With just one plant, I figured we would get a few tomatillos .. enough to make a recipe or two. But not the plant is now huge. It’s branches have extended far and wide, bearing so many little husks for tomatillos that it’s almost unbelievable. Once they are all fully grown, it will be quite the harvest.

If you aren’t growing tomatillos though, you can also purchase them at grocery stores and farmers’ markets all over. The tart taste is fabulous in sauces and other dishes.

My favorite way to use them? In salsa. This easy, fast, raw salsa is a cinch to make and it pairs well with everything from tortilla chips to tacos to cheddar omelets. Tomatoes, tomatilloes, garlic, a shallot, a jalapeno pepper and lime juice are whirled together in a food processor with salt and pepper to make a delicious fresh salsa. And since it’s pretty mild, the kids love it too …

Of course, you could switch out the jalapeno for a hotter pepper and make it hot too. Just sayin’.

Also try my Tomatillo Guacamole recipe!

Do you have a favorite tomatillo recipe? Share a link! I am looking for more great uses for these delicious fruits.

Easy Tomato Tomatillo Salsa
serves 8

6 tomatillos, husks removed and washed
3 plum tomatoes, washed
1 shallot, peeled
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 jalapeno, sliced
1/2 lime, juiced (about 2-3 tbsp)
sea salt and pepper, to taste

Quarter the tomatillos, tomatoes and shallow and add to the bowl of a food processor. Add the garlic, lime juice, sea salt and pepper.

Pulse to desired consistency.

Transfer the salsa to an airtight container and chill until ready to serve.

The post Easy Tomato Tomatillo Salsa Recipe appeared first on Sarah's Cucina Bella.