Change The Way You Dress

I’m one of those people that loves rosemary and thinks there are places it just belongs: potatoes, bread, Ina Garten’s toasted cashew recipe. It brings a smell before it brings a taste, becoming a double sensory delight.

Having made the Barefoot Contessa recipe for cashews numerous times, I decided to apply the same principle to roasting chickpeas. They replace croutons in my salads most days, and are easy as can be to make in a variety of different flavors. They’re also great for snacking on as-is.

I thought roasting chickpeas was one of the simplest most delightful things you could do in the kitchen, until I met the lovely Jennifer Perillo who asked, “Do you peal the skins off the chickpeas?” No! I didn’t. I have 3 minutes to devote to the task of roasting the little gems, so there is no peeling. That’s when I learned that for the crispiest, crunchiest chick peas, you have to take the skin off.

Whether or not you choose to take this extra step, I leave to you. I won’t ask; you needn’t tell. (I know what I do. And I know what I’ll do when Jennifer’s coming over).

Sushi is wildly popular in my house – so popular that I had to start making my own once my children’s appetites began exceeding my budget.

Of course, whether or not what I make is actually “sushi” is subject to interpretation. Usually it looks like sushi in that it’s rice wrapped in Nori , but that may be where the likeness begins and ends. I use those two ingredients as a departure point to put all sorts of things in the middle knowing they’ll be devoured!

But rolling sushi for my children to take to school for lunch is not going to happen, love them though I do. However, I can do the next best thing and make a sushi bowl rather than a sushi roll. Imagine all the ingredients of sushi, without the meticulous labor.

You can add tofu, carrots, avocado, cucumber, spinach, broccoli, green beans or get creative and add salmon and a little cream-cheese or avocado, kohlrabi and pesto. Just pick whatever your child likes (or tolerates) and include it.

It’s a great way to add some fresh ideas to lunch.

It feels almost silly to share this recipe for Crispy Baked Kale Chips considering how many recipes already exist online. Really, I’m writing about them today to remind everyone how easy they are to make at home compared to buying them (and a lot less expensive, too). They’re the perfect snack to pack in school lunches.

Some recipes direct you to blast the kale with heat as high at 400ºF. I’ve been guilty of that in the past, too. Time and experience making many batches of kale chips have taught me that a little patience goes a long way. Low and slower is the way to go.

A 15 to 20 minute bake at 325ºF does the job nicely. Stirring the kale every 5 minutes is fussy-sounding but key in making sure they dry out properly without burning in spots. I love using Tuscan kale, but curly green kale will work fine. Those heads tend to be larger, so you’ll likely need to use two pans. Also, a little oil goes a long way. Don’t worry if they seem too dry after rubbing with such a small amount. The kale releases moisture as it bakes in the oven. Too much oil, and you’ll have greasy kale chips (been there, done that).

-Jennie

As our Facebook and Instagram feeds fill with back to school photos, it’s hard to believe summer is coming to a close. That also means it’s time to pack school lunches again. One thing I’ve always loved about this daily ritual is it provides a way to connect with my daughters when I’m not actually with them.

At ages 8 and 13, they take pride in packing their own lunches, but thankfully they still let me lend a hand the rest of the time. Bento boxes are all the rage, but don’t let rice shaped into cute little bears intimidate you from using them. A homemade lunch can be creative in what you pack without needing to sign up for master craft classes.

I love bento boxes because they rescue plastic and paper from the landfills. They also offer an actual dining experience—think of them as portable, self-contained plates. My daughters love the feeling of surprise as they open them to see what mom tucked into each compartment. So, it was a natural for us to partner with ECOlunchboxes on some back to school recipes. Sophia already uses them for her kids. They graciously sent me a few to test drive. We used them for a summer picnic, proving that these 3-in-1 nesting lunchboxes are useful year-round.

I decided to repurpose some leftovers for one lunch. Heating up last night’s dinner for the next day’s lunch isn’t a new idea. Turning it into something totally different, though, gives new life to leftovers. The resulting main course was Rice & Bean Lettuce Cups. They’re a spin on vegetarian tacos, sans the tortillas. Hope your kiddos love them as much as mine.

Here’s the recipe.

-Jennie

When Sophia, the founder of Dress It Up Dressing, shared her tip for super quick roasted garlic I was intrigued. Want meltingly tender garlic that doesn’t require turning on the oven, or waiting an hour? Upcycle your Dress It Up Dressing jars to “roast” it in the microwave (really!). I know it, sounds crazy, but trust me it works brilliantly.

Sophia uses this method to quick-roast already peeled cloves. I opted for using a whole, unpeeled head of garlic, and both ways work. I took mine one step further, and gussied it up with some fresh thyme because my garden is exploding, and I seize any chance to use some while cooking. Swap in whatever herbs you like, or leave them out all together.

Since I rarely go through a whole head in one cooking session, I pop the leftover roasted garlic back in my empty salad dress jar, screw on the lid, and store it in the fridge.

-Jennie

Here’s how to make your own 90 Second Roasted Garlic.