Posts by admin:
- 1 pound gemelli pasta
- 12 dry sea scallops
- salt and pepper
- 3 cups loosely packed basil leaves, washed and dried thoroughly
- 4 Tablespoons toasted pines nuts
- 4 Tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 small garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (my addition)
- salt and pepper
- 1 pound 90-95% lean ground turkey
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 egg, beaten
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup carrots, grated
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/2 pound penne pasta
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small red onion, sliced
- 1 cup marinated artichokes, chopped
- 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup black lentils, dried
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 2 carrots, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups brown rice, cooked
Carlow Cookery: Seared Scallops with Fresh Pesto Sauce
August 13th, 2013Scallops cam be intimidating but with a cooking class they are the easiest and tastiest for any dinner. Cooking classes come in handy for specific food questions. Thanks to my husband for signing me up for this class on one of my birthdays.
I finally have a delicious and quick recipe for you despite being busy with my sister these last few days. We have been cooking but our days have been so packed with activities. How about a nice summer-like dish? This is quick and has a nice story behind it too.
A week and a half ago I finally redeemed my birthday gift my hubby had given to me back in March. I was going to learn how to cook scallops and I was going to taste the finished dishes with perfect wines. Mike Conti came and discussed the types of wines they were serving.
Let me start by saying that I have not had 5 glasses of wine in more than a year! It was wonderful tasting different types of whites and one red especially when it was coupled with shellfish.
I did not start eating scallops until we moved to Pennsylvania and I have enjoyed it a lot. During the class time, I learned the difference between bay scallops and sea scallops. You should always buy sea scallops FRESH! I have not had scallops so sweet as these before.
We started out the class with a Scallop Ceviche with a little slaw and it was paired with a Portuguese wine called Vinho Verde. It was kind of fizzy and is considered a non-vintage wine. It was a perfect pair!
The next dish presented was the Seared Scallops with Pesto Sauce. This was one of my favorite dishes especially when paired with the Pinot Noir by Grochau Cellars. One would not think a red would go with Italian or pesto but this had a delicious oak smell and depth to it. It was a perfect woody combination with the dish.
The third dish was already baking in the oven so when it was plated I could not wait to taste it. This was Southern-style Scallop Gratin and it was DELISH! I cannot wait to make this at home. It was placed on top of a rice cake that was so creamy. The pairing was a sparkling Chardonnay that was not my favorite. I learned that it was the only and first sparkling non-vintage wine made in Mexico.
The last dish was an Asian dish made with soba noodles and sesame oil. Yum! The scallops were grilled after it was quickly marinated with soy sauce. This was paired with a Sauvignon Blanc called Pouilly Fume’. It goes well with grilled fish and it was tasty! I loved the soba too.
I came home and knew I had to make the pesto and scallops for the family, especially since my sister has been visiting.
I seared the scallops until medium rare and decided to cook them in olive oil and a garlic butter. I let them rest on a dish before serving them. They were so delicious and sweet. I bought our scallops at Wegmans but now I am going to have to try our local fish market to compare.
How succulent do these look? If you ever get a chance, try a cooking class at Carlow Cookery. It was a perfect group of people surrounding a little kitchen within a shop. By the end of the night we were all laughing because we had a great evening.
Seared Scallops with Fresh Pesto Sauce
by Carlow Cookery
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients (4 servings)
Pesto
Instructions
Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to box directions until al dente. Reserve some of the pasta water for later.
Bring a saute pan to high heat. Season scallops with salt and pepper. Cook, turning once until golden brown and cooked through to the center. Remove from the pan and keep warm.
Add the basil, pines nits, cheese and garlic to the bowl of a food processor and puree.While the motor is running, drizzle in the oil until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper.
Toss with sauce adding a little of the pasta water to thin the sauce a bit. Serve topped with scallops.
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What is happening…..NOW?
August 9th, 2013
I have had my sister this week and I really have not had time or wanted to spend that much time blogging but here is a nice list I found on Veggie Mama today. What are you up to?
Making : Plum Crisp
Cooking : Chicken and Rice in a Creuset
Drinking : Seltzer
Reading: Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist
Wanting: To go out with my sister who is visiting
Looking: forward to a night out with hubby
Playing: Beethoven for my 6 month old
Wasting: writing this up….LOL
Sewing: Nothing at the moment…
Wishing: I could have more time at night to myself without having to feel SO tired
Enjoying: the cooing from 6 month old
Waiting: for my sis to come back with 21 month old from mall
Liking: the help that I have for the next 8 days
Wondering: if I will ever lose weight after having this 2nd baby….
Loving: this rainy weather
Hoping: the evening goes well for my hubby and 2 kids while we are out
Marveling: at how quickly these babies are growing
Needing: more coffee
Smelling: the granola bar I inhaled
Wearing: workout clothes and makeup!
Following: all the FB feed
Noticing: that it is finally the weekend!
Knowing: that this weekend is going to fly by
Thinking: how blessed I am to have a healthy family
Feeling: excited about going out with my sister. I love her.
Bookmarking: the same as pinning on Pinterest, right?
Opening: the door for my sister about to arrive from errand
Giggling: every time my baby is startled by the Spotify commercials.
Feeling: WONDERFUL that is is Friday!
I want to know what your up to… Fill it in and give me your the link in the comments below.
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Nest: A Classy Indoor Playground {Review + Giveaway}
August 6th, 2013 |
| pic from Nest website |
A few weeks ago I had a chance to visit this great indoor playground located in the heart of Center City Philly along with some other bloggers. We were going to take the train into the city but we opted to drive into the city. My mother was in town so I had an extra hand to help with the baby.
I usually like to get Julianne out during the morning so that she can have a good nap by the afternoon. He was our chance for her to have a great day. We parked right next to the playground where we received a voucher afterwards.
Nest is an amazing oasis sprawling over 12,000 square feet of space over three levels! I could not believe that all that was in 3 floors. We arrived to a beautiful lobby with a nice entrance and gift shop and even a place to park strollers.
We were taken to an area where the kids were given crayons and markers and coloring pages to entertain themselves while we were given a description of all activities within the premises. I was super amazed at all the classes available for various ages. Here is some of the schedule:
Monday
Preschool Bound: 2-2.5 years9:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Little Monsters: 18 months – 2 years10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Family Table: 3 years and up11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
NEST Music: 12 months-3 years11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
Movers Club: 5-8 mo.11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Toddlers in Training: 12-18 months2:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Varsity All Stars: 3-6 years4:00 PM – 4:50 PM
Family Table: 3 years and up5:00 PM – 5:50 PM
Tuesday
Jr. Spot Me! 2-3 years9:30 AM – 10:20 AM
NEST Music: 12 months-3 years10:30 AM – 10:50 AM
Second Time Around: 12-18 mo11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Baby Music: 6 weeks-12 months11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Varsity All Stars: 3-6 years1:00 PM – 1:50 PM
Hatchlings: 6 weeks-6 months2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Wednesday
Second Time Around: 18 months-3 years9:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Munchkins: 12-18 months9:30 AM – 10:20 AM
Jr. Spot Me! 2-3 years10:30 AM – 11:20 AM
Second Time Around: 6-12 months11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Baby Music: 6 weeks-12 months11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Spot Me!: 3-6 years3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Thursday
Preschool Bound: 2-2.5 years9:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Little Monsters: 18 months – 2 years9:30 AM – 10:20 AM
Jamboree: 18 months – 3 years10:30 AM – 11:20 AM
Spot Me!: 3-6 years11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Under Construction: 3-6 years12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Professional Toddlers: 18 months-2 years3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
We were able to join a music class which was really packed since we were a huge group. My Julianne LOVED the class and danced all over, enjoying every song and all the various activities and instruments presented. I was super impressed how the class was organized and the variety of songs presented.
This is one of the things that Nest boasts is providing a one-of-a-kind programming for creative stimulation, ages newborn to 6 years. What a plus!
Look at Julianne! I could hardly catch a good photo she was running all over the place. I had to make sure she did not run over the babies in the class since it was an all-ages class for this specific morning. 😉
Our 5-month-old was in the music class and she was quite enthralled by all the activity.
In addition to these classes there is an amazing indoor playground ideal for the recent hot weather. There is also an kid salon and a local cafe that serves kid-friendly eats. What’s not to like?
Want a chance to check out this great place?
There is a trial membership offer for a limited time. It is only 20 dollars for the first month of membership! What a buy! If you want to try it, please email jessica@nestphilly.com to take advantage of this (limited time) offer.
If you do not want to do a whole month or you simply want to SEE what Nest is all about with a complimentary day pass. The best part of the day pass is the giveaway included! If you use the day pass by October 1st, then you will be entered in a drawing to win a YEAR’S membership! This is a value of $540!!!
Just print out the following flyer and bring to Nest or show it from your phone, or simply mention the promo code “BLOGGER.”
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“Sneak-Some-Veggies” Turkey Meatballs
August 5th, 2013
This past weekend we enjoyed a little time at the beach and even though we have been here one year in the Philly area we had not been to the beach at all. Julianne had not even seen the ocean and she is almost 2 years old!
We went with another family who had been to Cape May before so we were not experiencing the area alone. It was a PERFECT day for some waves. We were talking to Julianne about water and she was excited because she thought it was the pool.
We get out of the car and start walking the sand and Julianne takes one look and goes “WATER!” How did she know? Maybe from “Finding Nemo?” Well, she just could not wait to get into the water. We got sunscreen on her and hardly had time to get Ryan’s sunscreen on before she was heading down the beach. She was so determined.
Six hours later and it was hard to pull Julianne away from it all. We DID manage to get BOTH girls to nap in between, surprisingly enough, and the day continued getting better. There hardly was anytime to eat but I made sure our little family stayed hydrated and fed somehow.
I am so glad that my toddler is such a good eater, of course there are hard days where all she feels like eating are carbs? Such a girl thing no? One of the go-to meals I know she will like are meatballs. If fact Ryan does not necessarily like turkey but he liked these meatballs as well, so I did well with this meal. 🙂
Can you believe Julianne is 21-months old? She is growing and a growing girl needs her veggies any way even if it means sneaking them in! Julianne loves “moothies” or smoothies where I already knew was a great way to sneak kale or spinach. What a plus with this recipe.
Even though this recipe if for meatballs, I made it into a meal for the us parents. It gave me the option to offer pasta for Julianne. This dish has lots of flavor and has a Mediterranean flair with lots of garlic.
Do not be afraid to add the veggies because all your family will benefit from the colorful goodness in these meatballs.
“Sneak-Some-Veggies” Turkey Meatballs
by Noelle Kelly
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
Keywords: cook saute lunch entree turkey spinach carrot
Ingredients (20-24 meatballs)
Meatballs
Pasta
Instructions
Place ground turkey in a large bowl. Add the chopped veggies, beaten egg, seasonings, and breadcrumbs and mix well until the mixture comes together. Form into meatballs and set aside.
Heat a large non-stick pan on medium heat with 1 Tablespoon olive oil and cook meatballs in batches. Each batch cooks for 15 minutes, moving the meatballs in between so that they can cook evenly.
Prepare pasta while meatballs finish cooking.
Place all cooked meatballs aside. Saute’ sliced red onions, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes in 2 Tablespoons olive oil. Add cooked pasta to the mixture and 2 garlic cloves. Toss the meatballs into the pasta and serve.
Pasta and meatballs can be served to toddler but mine just liked the meatballs cut into 4 pieces.
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Hearty Black Lentil Lunch Bowl
August 1st, 2013
We have been enjoying our summer so far even though it has flown by! Can you believe we have not even been to the beach yet? We are going this week and I cannot wait to see our girls reaction to the whole experience.
We have been doing a lot of park runs exploring all things having to do with nature. Julianne and I have been having little dates since baby Kathleen has come into our lives. She has been having a bit of a jealous streak and it was suggested by family to go out with her solo and remind her that we love her. It has been really great!
I love seeing the affection that they show to each other especially when I see Kathleen get really excited when she see her older sister coming into the room. LOVE IT! Kathleen loves her sister’s toys and even though she tries to grab them, Julianne just holds her hand.
Such love and affection make me melt. My love increases and I understand why God tells us to be fruitful and multiply. Having a family has allowed me to be less selfish and to be MORE loving and self-sacrificing in a good way.
I love seeing the joy and happiness in my children. Especially when we have our meals. Julianne has been a BIG eater lately only to find out that she has been going through a growth spurt. She is getting so tall. I have been looking through our pictures from last year and it is pretty amazing how much Julianne has changed.
I have been trying to find more time preparing healthier meals for our family. I love beans but it is not the most exciting food in our family. I made this for a quick lunch for Julianne and me and we both had 2 bowls each!
Hopefully you can give black lentils a try. I usually try the green lentils but these were very small and delicious not to mention the loads of protein and iron these are packed with.
Hearty Black Lentil Lunch Bowl
by Noelle Kelly
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients (4-6 servings)
Instructions
Add lentils to a medium pot and add water and bay leaf. Place lentil on medium heat until simmering and lentils are cooked and liquid has somewhat evaporated about 20 minutes.
In a large skillet heat olive oil. Fry onions and carrots for about 5 minutes, add lentils, rice, spices and garlic and cook for about 10 minutes. Last ingredient to add is the fresh spinach. Cook for an additional 10 minutes and serve.
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