Parmesan and Garlic Lavash

Carson's mom, the woman behind this fried chicken, makes a lot of delicious things.  Most recently, this super easy appetizer that you will hover around like a creep until it's gone in your belly and your belly alone.  Seriously, if you're in charge of an appetizer at a party, assemble this and pop it in the oven when you get there and watch the madness ensue.  5 ingredients: lavash, olive oil, garlic, Parmesan and basil.  Soak the chopped garlic in some olive oil...    

...spread it on some lavash (which can be found at most grocery stores)...

...sprinkle the top with Parmesan and fresh basil...

...and bake it at 350 for 10 minutes or so (keeping an eye on it) until it gets all golden and crispy.  Break it apart into pieces, or just eat the whole sheet on your own.

Friday Giveaway!

It's been awhile since I have given you fine people something wonderful, so that's what I'm going to do today thanks to some wonderful products.  The people over at 'ips' (Intelligent Protein Snacks) and Stretch Island Fruit are letting me give away some delightful and healthy snacks.  I've been a fan of Stretch Island Fruit Leather for a long time - it's the perfect snack to keep in your purse - but I had never tried their fruit chews and was excited to let my hardest critic give them a go: Jack.  As a four-year-old, he's a fruit snack connoisseur and did I mention picky?  Well he loved them.  Also there are fun games on the packaging - sold.  Now ips - chips made with egg white protein - were something new to me.  The founder came up with the idea after realizing how much his kids (and I, even though he doesn't know me) enjoyed the crispy edges of eggs he cooked for them.  So he turned that concept into a chip!  Corn, egg whites, and other natural ingredients and they're awesome.  I'm giving away 3 different flavors.

Comment below to win!

Giveaway Rules:

1. You must be an official follower of this blog to win (click follow icon on the right).

2. Follow me on Twitter for an extra entry (comment below twice if you do).

3. Only open to residents of U.S. and Canada.

4. Winner will be chosen at random on Monday, August 19th at 8am PST.

Crispy Artichoke Hearts

I ate a ridiculously good appetizer over the weekend - which was creamy burrata cheese served with crispy artichoke hearts.  Simple, but the different textures and flavors were incredible.  While I don't know how to make my own burrata (one day... one day I will have cows and churn butter), I did figure out how to make crispy artichokes and it was stupid easy.  Buy a can or jar of artichoke hearts, drain them, heat about 1/2 inch olive oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat, add artichokes and pan fry! I left them in for a couple of minutes per side.  Using a slotted spoon, I removed them onto a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkled them with sea salt.  Eat these plain or with burrata or over a salad or... you tell me.  The possibilities are endless.  Hope you enjoyed your weekends, Internet friends!

Whole Wheat Soft Pretzel Bites

You would think after the debacle I experienced last time I volunteered to bake snacks for Jack's preschool, I'd be over doing it again.  But you can fool me once, or twice, and never again, as George W said, I think.  What I'm trying to say is... I don't learn from my mistakes!  No, I kid, this time it was actually a leisurely, enjoyable experience.  And I found a new recipe that I will absolutely try again!  Very healthy (I subbed whole wheat flour for all-purpose) and allergy friendly (dairy-free).  Great dipped in peanut butter (or soy butter if you have a nut allergy).  I doubled the recipe and it made A TON.  Plenty to feed a schoolyard of crazy kids.  I'm never there when the kids enjoy snack time, but I'd like to imagine the table chatter goes something like this:

Kid:  What a delicious and healthy snack for my tummy.  Who MADE these?
Jack:  MY MOM.  The BEST mom in the whole wide world.
Kid:  Wow.  You should totally bring her home a medal or at least a candy bar or some new shoes.      

Grilled Roasted Chicken Nachos

This is not a mommy blog.  But I feel it is my duty to share with you how tired I am, in case I need an excuse for writing something stupid or deciding to whip up an ambrosia salad or something.  The thing is, I do not give birth to babies who like to sleep.  And if you do, if your 8-month-old sleeps 12 hours a night, I can't hear about it, or I'll turn mean on you and make up a song that rhymes your name with bad words.  Like, if your name is LuLu I will sing, "LuLu is a PooPoooooooooo."  You get it.  I'm averaging 6 hours of sleep a night and if you think those hours are consecutive HA, ha ha, hahahahahaha NO.  Look, I'm not asking for sympathy, I know this comes with motherhood, it's all worth it, yadda yadda yadda.  But this blog has been therapy for me from the beginning, so it is helpful to write it all down.  Even if I might regret that poo poo part later.

You know what else is helpful?  When Carson comes home with two mystery chickens, and roasts them on the BBQ.  Then he shreds them atop sturdy tortilla chips and places that on a cast iron griddle and places THAT on the grill.  Cheddar and Monterey Jack.  Bubbly, melty, smoky nachos.  A side of his homemade guacamole, sour cream and jalapenos.  Wow they were good.  Perfect summer outdoor food, especially to feed a crowd.  p.s. That picture above looks like the state of Wisconsin.  Do you see that?  Or is that the sleep deprivation working its magic...       

Tempura Green Beans

*First and foremost, I want to say my heart goes out to everyone in Boston, especially those affected by yesterday's tragedy.  Rather than feel angry and confused about the bad people in this world, I am trying to focus on the good - those who run into a smoke filled crowd, those who donate blood and heal wounds.  And as a mother, this quote can help us all stay positive.  Ok, moving on...   

One of our favorite restaurants in Santa Monica is M Street Kitchen.  Kid AND adult friendly.  Cocktails, sports TVs, delicious food, a "kids-eat-free happy hour" with healthy, appropriately-sized portions and THE BEST adult happy hour burger.  Then there's the bakery - with homemade English muffins, sea salt chocolate chip cookies and brown butter rice crispy treats.  It's all stupid good.  If you're ever in LA, go there, for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  

One of our favorite appetizers is something called Three Green Bites.  It's edamame, tempura green beans and shisito peppers.  I decided to recreate it at home (with avocado in place of the peppers) by frying up my own tempura green beans.  It was so easy and they are so good.  And trust me, if your kids don't like green beans, they will eat these.  Hey, whatever works.  

Tempura Green Beans

(Makes enough batter for many, many green beans)

Printable Recipe

Vegetable oil

Green beans, cleaned and trimmed (I like to use French-style cause they're skinnier)

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup light beer (or you could use club soda)

Salt

Soy sauce for dipping

Place 2 inches of vegetable oil (approx. 4 cups) in a deep pot.  Heat oil (over medium-high) until it reaches 350 degrees.  In a shallow bowl, whisk together flour and beer until combined.  Coat about 15 green beans at a time in batter.  

Using tongs, place green beans in oil one by one to avoid them sticking together.  Fry for a couple of minutes, until golden brown.



Remove with tongs and place on a paper towel to cool.  Sprinkle with salt to taste.

Serve with soy sauce for dipping (good for all the green bites).

Homemade Baseball-Shaped Graham Crackers

Jack had his first T-ball game over the weekend and it, was, comedy.  A bunch of little 4 year-olds wearing jerseys down to their knees, more excited than I'd ever seen them, running around after one ball and tackling each other to be the first to get it as we chanted, "you're on the same team!"  It brought back memories of my own childhood days in the outfield, where I chased butterflies and spoke to imaginary boyfriends and let pop-ups hit me on the head.  So I didn't grow up to be an athlete, but I did learn how to bake a thing or two which is why I volunteered to bring snacks for the first game.  The perfect excuse to try out this Weelicious recipe (found here) for Homemade Graham Crackers.  

I used a circle cookie-cutter and a fork to turn them into little baseballs!  Jack had so much fun helping. They were very easy to make and while mine were slightly thicker than the original cracker, the taste was very familiar and delicious.  By the way, I also brought 20 bags of baby carrots and I came home with 19 bags of baby carrots.  I think a dad ate one bag.  He's going to have great eyesight, I told all the graham cracker-eating kids who absolutely ignored me.    

SD on A Cup of Jo!

Pinch me... I have a recipe up on A Cup of Jo.

NO REALLY, I REALLY DO.

Thank you Joanna for featuring my Rosemary Parmesan Popcorn!

Go check it out and make some for yourself : )

(All photos shot by Katy at Chasing You Photo)

Sunday Snacks

What are your Super Bowl Sunday plans?  We're going to be out of town, but that won't stop me from hitting up a local grocery store for snack food.  Still not sure what to make this year.  Any ideas?  If you're also looking for ideas, here are some of mine... happy football + eating weekend!   

If you haven't made Lucy's Ham Sandwiches yet, you're missing out on a tremendous thing.  

Homemade Chex Mix is easy, fun and kids (talking about myself) love it. 

Cheese Straws. 

Spiced Nuts.

And these... I mean, I mean (Homemade Snickers)

Also, just because, weaved bacon.  

That is just the most beautiful sight.  And here are my ideas from last year.  

Go SF!  

Homemade Chex Mix

Was your New Year's Resolution to stop snacking?  Then quick, go away, close your eyes, throw water on your computer screen (or don't), ESCAPE!  ESCAPE!  ESCAPE!  

You still here?  Good, you're my real friends.  Because only my real friends would want to enjoy the most delicious snack known to man, even if it is HIGHLY addicting.  It's very easy to throw together and a fun activity for kids as well.  Jack threw on his new Star Wars apron and stirred away (then proceeded to do the dishes, per his request, not kidding).  Also a great football-play-offs-watching snack, even if the Vikings are out : (  

I followed this recipe, and only used peanuts because that's what I had.  Mmm, snacks.        

Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather

Can I whine?  Ok, I'm going to, my blog, thanks.

I had a post ready to go yesterday - a slow cooked shredded pork for Taco Tuesday - went to get my computer and found it SWIMMING in a puddle of water.  Yes, 3-year-old, accidents happen, it's okay, giant fake smile on my face.  My computer won't turn on.  Was it backed up?  I don't know.  Will I lose all the recent photos of my daughter's birth?  Quite possibly.  CRISSCROSS APPLESAUCE!  (That's what my son's preschool teachers say when they're upset, which is much more pleasant than the words floating around my brain.)

Also there has been a confirmed case of lice at my son's school.  I know, I know, you have 3 kids and you get these emails all the time and I should not panic.  But I'm panicking.  Help.  How do I prevent him from getting it?  Send him to school in a swim cap, a friend suggested.  A Spiderman mask?  CRISSCROSS APPLEBUTTHEAD!  (I'd make a great teacher.)     

Fruit leather...

Now that my son attends school everyday in lice-land, I've been obsessing over the site Weelicious.  Catherine offers an infinite amount of healthy and creative lunch ideas.  I will admit, I'm slightly overwhelmed trying to find the time to make most of them with two kids, but this fruit leather was absurdly easy.  Puree some strawberries with honey and bake.  Done.  Recipe here.  

Thank you Catherine!  

Check out that cute head.  See any lice????

M Loves M Guest Post ~ Favorite Healthy Snacks

by Mara at M Loves M...

Hi everyone!  My name is Mara and I blog over at M Loves M.  I'm so happy to be here guest posting for Siri as she's busy welcoming her baby into the world.  Siri has been such a great blog friend since the beginning and I'm so excited for her and her growing family : )  This baby is going to be so loved, and fed a lot of amazing food!  I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite, easy and healthy snacks with you today:

Growing up in California I've always loved avocados.  I've found that they are extremely delicious with goat cheese so my favorite little concoction is mixing 1 avocado with 2 ounces {or more if you like!} of goat cheese.  Spread that on some whole wheat bread and it's delicious!  If you're going to take it to work, or give it to the kids, add a tiny bit of lime so that the acid prevents the avocados from turning brown.

Greek yogurt is so rich and creamy, it's almost like a dessert.  While I eat ice cream a few times a week {maaajor sweet tooth over here!}, on the other nights I'll have some greek yogurt with fresh diced strawberries and honey.  It's so satisfying! 

As we're getting into fall I'm starting to make this roasted nut recipe that my Dad created.  It's always at my parents' house and it's the perfect midday snack because it's so flavorful!  To make: roast almonds for 10-15 minutes depending on size {turn and check frequently}.  Once toasted add olive oil, salt and lots of rosemary.  Make sure you have enough olive oil on to make the salt and rosemary stick.  For 1 cup of nuts I used a little less than 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 tablespoon of salt {you can always add more!}, and 2 tablespoons of rosemary {because it's so good!}.  

For the apples I cut them open, scoop out the centers, fill with peanut butter and top with granola.  So easy and so yummy!

These snacks are really easy and healthy, too.  If you try them let me know what you think!  I'm sure there are a bunch of great variations on all of them, as well.  Thanks for letting me keep you company today!  Feel free to stop by my blog and say hi anytime : )

Pepperoni Pizza Monkey Bread

I blame all of you for this nonsense.  When I posted about Monkey Bread the other day, all y'all had to bring up the savory kind... the pizza kind... the cheesy, buttery, garlicky kind.  You knew what would happen.  You knew I would run, literally run, like a pregnant Olympian (no) to the store for mozzarella.  Well I did, and I made it, and I blame you if this baby comes out with pepperoni for eyeballs.

I used this recipe but I think next time I would go for shredded mozzarella instead of sliced (too much on top) and real garlic in addition to the garlic salt.  Because I'm nasty.  

Homemade Wheat Thins

On Friday my son woke up before dawn.  I don't even technically know what "dawn" is, but I know it means early, ok?  So early in fact, that at one point I looked at the clock wondering if it was lunchtime and saw "7:37am" staring back at me.  What?  I knew I needed a project to make the day go by faster.  It was then when I read one of my favorite blogs and saw Homemade Wheat Thins.

Project!  Healthy!  Baking!  Snack!  Perfect!    

It was also an excuse to finally use Jack's mini rolling pin and by the way, WHY does my hand look so old and leathery and wrinkled???

These were surprisingly easy to make and Jack had so much fun playing with the dough...

Ready to bake...

Crisped to perfection.  

p.s. The longer you bake them (without burning of course) the closer to the real deal they taste.  

Crispy, salty, yummy.