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Tasty Tidbit – Fresh Herbs

April 26, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 7 Comments

I love cooking with fresh herbs.

And since spring is upon us they’ll be blooming before you know it.

cooking tips Tasty Tidbit Fresh Herbs

To me,

Herbs are what take an ordinary dish…

Right over the top!

Buy a bunch in the store or at the farmers market.

Bring them home and wash them…

Wrap them in paper towels…

Place them in a plastic ziploc bag…

And keep them in your crisper for a week or two.

My favorite is Basil…

cooking tips Tasty Tidbit Fresh Herbs

I put it on everything and I love love love fresh pesto…

Another big favorite is rosemary

cooking tips Tasty Tidbit Fresh HerbsAdd so much to roasted meats.

And here’s one that I can’t get enough of in the summertime…Mint!

cooking tips Tasty Tidbit Fresh HerbsPerfect for your lemonade or a well deserved mojito!!

Add fresh herbs to kick up your…

Pastas

Salads

Sandwiches

Sauces

Eggs

I also like to use this time of year to plant with the boys and teach them about growing their own foods.  Herbs are a great, tasty, and easy way to start….

What’s your favorite herb?

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Zippy Zucchini

June 24, 2010 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 23 Comments

Sometimes you just have to dress up the veggies you know what I mean?  If I don’t want the kids to dunk them in ranch dressing or even worse, BBQ sauce then I have to get a bit creative.  These are the best zucchini I have ever had, I mean if you don’t count when I bread ‘em and deep fry them of course…I’m just saying.  Not only do they taste good they are a great way to start introducing fresh herbs to your kids.

healthy eating for kids Zippy Zucchini

1 T olive oil

2 large zucchini sliced thin

1/2 onion sliced thinhealthy eating for kids Zippy Zucchini

2 garlic cloves, chopped fine

1 t crushed red pepper flakes

5 large basil leaves chopped

10 mint leaves chopped fine

S&P

healthy eating for kids Zippy ZucchiniIn a large skillet heat olive oil over medium high heat.  When warm add zucchini.   Toss to coat and sprinkle with S&P.  Toss in onions and mix again.  Season with red pepper and garlic.  Cook until veggies begin to soften, about 5-7 minutes.  Toss in your fresh herbs and allow to cook for an additional minute or so.  Serve and enjoy!!!

Two side notes today.  I may be slower than usual returning comments today.  I’m off to see a first cut of our pilot episode of Ma, What’s For Dinner.  Keep your fingers crossed it’s fantastic.

Secondly I’d like to say a huge welcome to all our new followers.  I’m so glad you’re all here!

Filed Under: Healthy Recipes For Kids, Healthy Side Dish Recipes For Kids, Recipes For Kids, Vegan Recipes For Kids, Vegetable Recipes For Kids, Vegetarian Recipes For Kids Tagged With: , , , , , ,

How does your garden grow?

June 16, 2010 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 30 Comments

Mary Mary Quite Contrarymas memoirs How does your garden grow?

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells

And Pretty Maids all in a row?

Uh, no…try this version on for size

Mary Mary Quite Contrary

How does your garden grow?

I live with my brat in a high rise flat

So how in the world would I know?

mas memoirs How does your garden grow?That’s more like it.  That second one is courtesy of Roald Dahl’s Rhyme Stew and though I would never refer to my kids as brats, oh no, not me, I can’t grow a thing!

I love flowers, I do.

I love gardens.

I love herbs.

I love all things outdoors this time of year.

I wish, I study, I pine, and I want my own garden.

I spend hours at the nursery sighing over all the things I’d like to do with my yard.  mas memoirs How does your garden grow?

Then…I leave…empty handed.

Why you may ask?

Because I love the flowers.

I do.

And that’s why I know they’re better off at the nursery.

mas memoirs How does your garden grow?In someone else’s garden.

Someone who won’t kill them.

This season, I have allowed myself a few small, tiny, uh, let’s call them side dishes…

I bought some herbs and some fruits…

I know I know, it’s not right…to the plants I mean, but they’re pretty low maintenance and I’ve only almost killed them once.

Now I didn’t allow myself to actually plant them.

But they’re hanging in there on my deck.

Want to see?

You know I’m going to show you anyway…

Take a gander at these bad boys!mas memoirs How does your garden grow?

It’s my portable herb garden.

It came prearranged and it’s still alive!

It’s got basil, mint, thyme, oregano, rosemary and parsley!

Isn’t it cute?

And it’s saved me a bundle in not having to buy all those herbs at the market.

And it’s still alive!

Oh wait, I said that already.

Can you tell this is new for me?

My other little guy is this one… mas memoirs How does your garden grow?

Isn’t he adorable?

He’s an alpine strawberry plant.

He’s just starting to flower and I can see the itty bitty tiny little buds forming.

I’m so excited I could burst.

Ok, truth be told, I almost killed this guy twice but he’s pretty resilient and seems to be still kicking.

mas memoirs How does your garden grow?Love him!

Just thought I’d share a bit of my garden, or lack thereof, with you.  It’s sort of a confession for me.  Now you know where I get all my fresh herbs and my mom knows what a bitter disappointment I am in the garden.  She certainly did not pass on her green thumb…sorry ma, must not be hereditary.

What are you growing this year?

mas memoirs How does your garden grow? Welcome to my first Wednesday Welcome. If you’re new here, please pull of a chair to the Fitzpatrick’s Family Table. What can I get ya?

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