Herbed Spaetzle and Lentil Soup

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the ADA in conjunction with Kitchen PLAY.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Though it's been resistant, Autumn is starting to ease on in and claim its rightful place here in Northwestern Indiana.  Our days have been (my idea of) perfection - in the 60's, clear, sunny, and made for livin'!  I'm always the last one to hold out for pleasant nights that allow me to sleep next to an open window, but even that time has passed.  The leaves on the trees are starting to change colors, and even drop here and there.  And after a long day of outdoor romping and cheering yourself hoarse at a football game, a warm, hearty bowl of soup hits the spot like nothing else can!

So, after paging through the third and final book from the American Diabetes Association library that I will be sharing with you this month, it was no surprise that from all of the tempting dishes - I chose soup!  Hopefully you'll remember these two previous posts, in which I shared heart-healthy, diabetes-friendly recipes featured in cookbooks from the ADA's library as part of the 30 Days of Family Health initiative.  This week, I'd like to introduce you to The American Diabetes Association Vegetarian Cookbook: Satisfying, Bold, and Flavorful Recipes from the Garden by Chef Steven Petusevsky.

Sourdough Grissini

Lately, I've been feeling pretty darn proud of myself for not killing my sourdough starter.  Don't judge, it's far too easy to do.  I've done it a couple of times before.  The jar winds up getting shoved to the back of the fridge.  Soon, it's blocked by other jars, cartons, and containers.  I eventually uncover it several months later when the fridge has gotten so ridiculous that I can stand it no longer.

So, with my latest starter (let's call her Ruby), I've made some conscious adjustments.  Her jar stays on the top shelf, at the front of the fridge - no matter what.  That is first and foremost.   The other, equally important, conscious choice  - use her weekly - no matter what.  She needs to be fed weekly, anyway, and I have the biggest issue with throwing perfectly good, living sourdough away.  It has to be done for a starter to survive, but I hate it.  So, instead of throwing away the portion that I remove each week, I am required to bake something with it.  It could be a loaf of bread, a batch of rolls, some yeasted crackers, or an addictive batch of these long sticks of Grissini (aka crunchy bread sticks)!  These two things are going to keep me accountable.

I'm always on the look-out for other ways and new recipes for sourdough, so if you've got 'em (and you want to share 'em) - hook a sistah up.

Sonnenblumenkernbrot (Sunflower Seed Rolls) inspired by The Baker's Daughter {cook the books}

I'm excited to be sharing another round of bread inspired by one of my favorite foodie reads, The Baker's Daughter by Sarah McCoy.  A year and a half ago (holy cow, I can't believe it's been that long), I baked up a batch of Brötchen, or simply - rolls, in honor of The Baker's Daughter.  They are chewy, crusty rolls...and the most typical, best-received variety in my house.  And with a roll still warm from the oven, you can make one of the best treats on earth, a Matschbrötchen.

Well, since I am still so fond of this book, and its author, I decided that I needed to make it my choice for a round of Cook the Books.

The Baker's Daughter is set during WWII, in 1945 Nazi Germany.  It's the story of young Elsie Schmidt, the Nazi soldier who wanted to marry her, and a young Jewish boy, Tobias.  Elsie's young life would change forever when Tobias showed up on her doorstep on Christmas Eve, after escaping imprisonment.

Beans on Toast {from scratch} inspired by TOAST for food 'n flix

This month for food 'n flix, we're watching Toast: The Story of a Boy's Hunger, based on the memoir by Nigel Slater.  If you are a food-lover, you've probably heard of this English food writer/journalist - or, as perfectly stated on his website, a cook who writes.  I've spent many an hour getting lost in his words.  And on a fun note, when staying in a cottage on Islay in Scotland, I found one of his cookbooks tucked into a small shelf in the kitchen.

Toast journeys back to look at a young Nigel; we get a glimpse at what may be the start of Nigel's passion for food.  While most young boys were playing with others and getting skinned knees, Nigel admired (in more ways than one) the time he spent with the handsome, intriguing gardener who taught him the glory of freshly grown food that you've tended yourself.  Nigel's mother was not a great cook; she preferred to open a slew of cans to get dinner on the table (much to Nigel's horror).  He never stopped trying to add a little variety to the family table, though.  However, Spaghetti Bolognese was a bit too unusual and "off" for his parents, it all came back to toast.

Nigel lost his mother at a young age, and his father quickly remarried - this time to a woman (Joan Potter) who was a stellar cook.  Since Nigel loved food, and heard that it was indeed the way to a man's stomach, he and Joan were locked in a constant battle for his father's affection with their kitchen efforts.

Spicy Pasilla-Mushroom Tacos {she made, ella hace}

In preparation for National Taco Day (coming up on October 4th), Leslie and I are sharing tacos today for she made, ella hace.  In our house, tacos are as everyday as sandwiches.  If we can't decide what to eat, there's always tacos.  Have leftover meat?  Make a taco.  Have leftover mashed potatoes?  Mix 'em with a little greasy chorizo and turn them into a flauta (crunchy, rolled taco).  Don't know what to eat for breakfast?  Scramble up some eggs and veggies and enfold them in a warm tortilla.

Knowing this, you'd think I'd have shared more tacos on the blog.  But really, I haven't shared that many.  Like I said - everyday food.  Looking back over the last four and a half years, I notice that the things we eat the most often, are the things that I blog about the least.  Strange, huh?

So, when trying to decide something a little out-of-the-norm in the realm of tacos, I turned to my guru.  I knew that he'd be able to face me in a new direction...inspire me to look at tacos anew.

Chocolate Chip Shortbread Brownies {#OXOGoodBrownie}

The dessert requested most often in my house is, and always has been, brownies.  It must be genetic programming.  When I was young, I remember my brother and sisters and I loving brownies the best of all desserts, as well.  Pie was a close second, and may even be tied now, for me.  I mean, I can't leave a container of cocoa powder sitting out on the counter, lest I incite a chorus of "oooooh, are you making brownies today!?" inquiries.

Coming in a close second for my oldest child is shortbread.  Pretty much, if he's not craving brownies, he's craving shortbread.  Good thing he swims those calories off in a matter of moments.  Aaaaah, to have the metabolism of a high school athlete again...  

A few weeks ago, when trying to come up with a "new" brownie variation, I stumbled upon a recipe that combined both brownies and shortbread.  Search complete.

Apple Cider 5-Spice Caramels

Who loves apples?  Hand raised. With authority. Who loves caramels?  me. me. me. me. me. me. meeeeeee. Who really, REALLY loves Fall and all things associated with it?  You guessed it, this girl!

And I've got all three of those things rolled into one right here, right now - today.  The first official day of Fall.  See how I'm looking out for you me you me you (I mean, you love all three of those things, too....right!?).

Tropical Rum Punch {National Rum Punch Day}

I often wonder how "they" come up with national (or world) food holidays.  Why do they fall on a certain day - luck of the draw?  I'm sure there are some out there that coincide with a release date or birth of a product or another sensible reason...but I'm guessing most were just written on little pieces of paper, thrown into a giant hat, and drawn by someone's kids.

That said, I'm down.  I'll take no reason at all to highlight and celebrate a certain food, drink, or custom.  Take for instance Rum Punch.  If I'm being honest {she says in her best Simon Cowell voice}, I may have gone my entire life without trying it.  Or realizing that there even was such a beverage.  But sometimes you get lucky and a bottle of golden, caramely liquid arrives on your doorstep.  And then you find out that National Rum Punch Day will be rolling around in a few weeks time.

So, of course you take your introduction into the land of punch bowls and hanging cups seriously.  But not as seriously as your mission to enjoy said rum, Diplomático Añejo, with its notes of raisins, cocoa, caramel, "sweet milky coffee", and a hint of oaky spice.

Crunchy Ramen Salad - 3 ways

"Variation 1 - Collin Kronke's recipe"

If you dropped by for #SundaySupper this past weekend, you'll have noticed that we are teaming up with American Family Insurance this week for their Back to Table Campaign.  I'm so happy to be sharing another post in this effort!  And actually, it's a pretty fun post.  Why, you ask?  Well, because to go along with the Back to the Table Campaign, AmFam employees have been gracious enough to share some of their own family's favorite recipes - and then setting some of the Sunday Supper members loose with them!

I couldn't wait to get my hands on a recipe, and after much consideration, this is the one I chose.  This "Crunchy Asian Salad" that was submitted by Collin Kromke ("...we love the sweetness and crunchiness") grabbed my attention right away, because my grandma used to make a similar version.  I grabbed the recipe from her as soon as we were done eating it for the first time.  It definitely called for a throw-down type of situation.  So, that's what I made it.

And then I took it one step further and made my very own hybrid.  And I came up with a Crunchy Ramen Salad.  Which variation do you think that you'd gravitate towards?

Rompope Pops {#SummerOfThePopsicle Guest Post: Nibbles & Feasts}

Who's Holding the Stick:  Well my friends, this is it.  Today wraps up an amazing summer (of the popsicle) full of generous friends stopping by and sharing their frozen creations on a stick.  But, we'll talk more about that next week when I bring the whole shebang to a close.  Right now, please join me in giving the lovely Ericka from Nibbles & Feasts a warm welcome as she gently coaxes us from summer to fall with her fun and tasty little Rompope Pops!

The fall season is about to begin.  But that doesn’t mean that my paleta season will be ending any time soon.  Living in California, September tends to be one of the hottest months of the year, which means that I still have 30 more warm days to indulge in my favorite frozen treats.

Since fall is my favorite season of the year, I am torn.  I love paletas but I am really looking forward to the fall colors, wearing sweaters, scarfs and definitely welcoming the beginning of the holidays.

To give it one last goodbye to my summer, I decided to combine the best of both worlds and make rompope paletas.

Crunchy Seeded Crackers

Well, summer has come and (almost) gone in a matter of moments, it seems.  My fingers and toes* are crossed in the hopes that autumn is cool, crisp, and filled with cozy sweatshirts and crackling bonfires.  And in no hurry to hand the baton to winter.

And, since life doesn't seem to slow down just because I wish it would, I was pretty happy that the Babes baking adventure for this month was a (relative) quickie.  We pushed aside our bread pans, and pulled out our rolling pins - and enough seeds to make all the birds in my neighborhood happy for weeks - and we got crunchy.

Yes, I'm talking crackers

Cod on Roasted Pepper and White Beans

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the ADA in conjunction with Kitchen PLAY.  All opinions are 100% my own.

If you caught my post two weeks ago, you'll know that I am participating in the 30 Days of Family Health initiative led by The American Diabetes Association.  Each week during September, you will get a preview of some of the healthy, diabetes-friendly recipes featured in some of the books from the ADA's library.  If you missed my first post, you can see which book (and which perfectly delicious salmon recipe) that I shared right here.

The book that I want to introduce you to today is Gluten-Free Recipes for People with Diabetes, by Nancy S. Hughes.  This little book is full of gluten-free recipes, for sure - but the great thing about it is that it also contains "cook's tips" alongside many of the recipes (things like possible substitutions, cautions about products that may contain gluten, storing & make-ahead ideas), as well as diabetes-friendly grocery lists, menus, snack ideas - and meal plans for putting them all into action!

Green Chile Chicken Tortilla Casserole

Aren't memories an odd beast?  Some are crystal clear, while others get lost in a fog of time.  And sometimes the memories that you're trying most desperately to recall are the hardest to shake the haze.  That's pretty much where this dish comes from.  The haze.  A tinkling sound that I'm trying sightlessly to locate.

So yes, when I was a kid...a teenager, probably...my mom made this dish that was absolutely out-of-this-world.  But she didn't make it that often.  It was, for all intents and purposes, a tortilla casserole.  I remember it having green chiles in it.  And I remember wishing that she would make it more often.  But it just sort of faded away.

Exploring Denmark: Rugbrød & Smørrebrød {NORTH Festival}

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NORTH Festival.  All opinions are my own.

Have you heard the phrase "The Danes are the happiest people on the planet"?  In my quest to learn more about the country (Kingdom) of Denmark and its cuisine, I ran across it time after time after time.  And honestly, after getting to know it even the slightest bit, I can see why that would be true. 

Though Denmark is a small country, with a population of only 5.5 million people, it has one of Europe's largest coast lines (7.500 km) and 400 islands.  It has beaches and sand dunes (come on, the sea is never more than 50 km away...no matter where you are), well-developed routes for hiking and biking, and ski slopes that are very much a part of everyday life. 

Denmark leads the way in energy efficiency.  They are the first country in the world to decide to become a green growth economy - which means that they will be entirely independent of fossil fuels - by the year 2050.  Another cool fact, 7.6% of the Danes total food spending is on organic produce.  This is a greater proportion than anywhere else in the world.