Meet Baker Caela

Caela has been with the Simple Eats team for almost 2 years now and let me tell you, she’s passionate about pastry. Last month, we introduced a line of home-baked goods that have hidden vegetables and fruit in them and you guys are eating them up! Carrots, zucchini, avocado, thyme and sweet potatoes are sneaking their way into your home through your sweet tooth. We worked hard to come up with recipes that are delicious and nutritious so you can be proud to feed them to your families, order them for bake sales, or share them at your next celebration.

We’re offering Oatmeal Cream Pies, Chocolate Zucchini Bread, Sweet Potato Blondies with Maple Glaze, Lemon Thyme Bars, Muffins and 5 different pies. Plus she’s available for custom orders too - so get creative!

“Creating custom orders for people has become so special to me. It’s an opportunity to take your vision and bring it to life! Dessert can be the best part of a meal and I love being able to make those custom dreams come true.”

Look how cute she is with her little pie

Caela went to MATC for her baking and pastry degree, was a pastry assistant at City Market, baked with Stephanie Samuels at Angel Food Bakery in Chicago and now we’re lucky enough to get her skills and her delectable desserts that everyone is always raving about. For real. We get more compliments on the desserts now than we do on the food - what the?! OMG!

She says the best thing about baking is the absolute joy that it brings to other people. It creates memories and traditions and you never forget a good dessert! The things she likes to bake best are pies and baked goods that put a spin on the traditional tastes. If you can eat something she bakes and it makes you smile and creates a new memory, then her dreams have come true.

“Working with Simple Eats and being able to combine my passion of baking and cooking with everyone has only made my passion stronger. Food tastes better when the person making it is happy and creating special desserts makes my happiness enormous!”

When she’s not knee deep in flour and KitchenAid mixers, she’s spending time with her beautiful family - her sweet husband and 3 kiddos. The reason there are no baked goods available on the menu this week is because Caela has the weekend off to celebrate her *5* year anniversary with her main squeeze.

Happy Anniversary lovebirds!

Check the website on Tuesday to start ordering desserts again. Have a sunny and joyful weekend!

Meet Chef Kate

Hi! I'm Kate! In a nutshell, I'm an upbeat individual with a passion for food, plants and people. I’m extraordinarily fascinated by the human body - specifically, how what we eat impacts our experience in the world. I have a biology degree from St. Norbert College and am halfway through the dietetics program at Mount Mary University. As a future registered dietitian, I have a great appreciation for this job at Simple Eats MKE since we're providing you with healthy meals made from scratch!

I truly believe food has the ability to heal, and I love seeing an increased interest in holistic healing as a compliment to modern medicine. "Wellness" is much more than what we consume or how often we workout. As of now, I plan to specialize in Integrative and Functional Nutrition so that I can help people restore balance physically, mentally and emotionally through progressive dietary and lifestyle changes. I recently started documenting what I'm learning in school (and through my own research) on a blog. Visit my page - https://nutrientnut.com - to see what's new! :)

When I'm not studying, I like to remain active and am constantly seeking opportunities to learn. As a naturally curious person, I've dabbled in many hobbies and have a plethora of interests. I'm also a podcast junkie and dog mom to the sweetest mini-goldendoodle named Pepper. Ultimately, my favorite hobby and stress-reliever is cooking! I am lactose-intolerant and primarily eat plant-based meals so the majority of my experimenting in the kitchen is with various protein sources and dairy alternatives.

Interestingly, I met Krysta through a school assignment. She was kind enough to let me interview her for my management class and we immediately connected. I was enthralled with her business and started working for Simple Eats MKE within a month of that meeting. Since then, I've enjoyed watching the business adapt and grow, and cannot wait to see what's next for Simple Eats MKE! I've loved every part of this journey and I’m thankful for the opportunity to virtually meet you! Hopefully I can serve you through a future nutrition counseling session or by helping to prepare nutrient-dense meals for you and your family!

Here are a few recipes that I highly recommend you try! From my happy & healthy home to yours!

EVERYTHING HUMMUS

All my friends know they can count on me to bring hummus and fresh veggies to any gathering! I love to make the hummus seasonal and vary my herbs to match the occasion :) For example, in late summer I'll use roasted beets or peas to alter the color and add a fun flavor boost!

ALMOND CRUNCH SALAD

As I mentioned above, I enjoy experimenting with protein sources, and this salad provides protein in multiple forms. Between the crunchy almonds, smooth edamame and warm glazed tempeh, it has the perfect combo of taste and texture. Plus, you can tell just from the bright colors, it's an extremely nutrient-dense meal. WIN-WIN in my book!

WILD SALMON PATTIES

Although I don't eat a lot of meat, salmon is loaded with healthy fats including essential omega-3 fatty acids. The Mediterranean diet has consistently proved to be beneficial for our cardiovascular system, waist, and cognitive function, so many of my meals are inspired by this type of cuisine. Fish is common in Mediterranean meals, so this is my family-approved version that will benefit the entire body. The patties pair well with roasted veggies or steamed greens! I also wanted to point out that traditional mayo does not contain dairy, but some brands will add cream so I always triple-check!

Meet Chef Dana

Hi all! I’m (Chef) Dana! You may know me as the former Chef de Cuisine at The Chef’s Table in Walker’s Point. If you do, you know that I have a deep curiosity about food and the guts to try out new flavor combinations. I shine in creating dishes and menus that pull from the roots of multiple culinary traditions and cuisines and by applying different ingredients, flavors, and techniques to come up with something new and unique. 

Although I have a serious resume – working for award-winning chefs in Minneapolis and New York City, leading a culinary team at a fine dining restaurant in Guatemala, graduating from The Institute of Culinary Education in New York City – I’m a very laid back person who tries to find comedy and joy in everything.  The experience of working in another country and language really allowed me to develop my culinary voice. I believe in the exploration of food, and I find immense joy in the fact that there are indeed new ideas and ways to express my passion through the universal language of “yum”.

I came to work with Simple Eats Mke because Krysta offered me a glimpse into what a career outside of the traditional restaurant might look like. My goal is to carve out a career that puts at its heart, my passion for culinary exploration. I am excited to connect with clients who share a love of interesting and elevated food in order to create curated menus and culinary experiences for your next meal or event. There’s so much more to a meal than its ingredients, for those whose “love language” is food, let’s start a conversation and see where it takes us!

I’d love to share with you a few dishes that highlight some of my favorite things to make:

Ice cream is such a fun medium for trying new flavors – everyone loves ice cream so it’s okay to get funky. Nothing says I love you more than personalized decadence (you should’ve seen my dad’s face when I scooped up his favorite candy bar in the form of almond joy ice cream for his birthday)! I developed this Sweet Corn Ice Cream with Strawberry Tomato Jam recipe because I had a lot of corn cobs in my freezer (I hate to waste) and a bunch of tomatoes and strawberries that were on their last days.

SWEET CORN ICE CREAM WITH STRAWBERRY TOMATO JAM

If you’ve ever spent more than an hour with me, you know I have an “addiption” (a hereditary addiction to dip). I try to find healthy vehicles for dips and sauces that highlight seasonal ingredients and add a playful take on the standards (you need to try my version of the Christensen family “Crack dip” for your next event!). Okay, back to healthy. This recipe for Black Bean Cakes with Avocado Chimichurri is an excellent way to celebrate “Meatless Mondays” (if you swing that way) and utilize the bounty of seasonal herbs.

BLACK BEAN CAKES WITH AVOCADO CHIMICHURRI

If you’ve ever been weary of combining hot food with cold food, you’re not alone. People think a meal needs to be one or the other, but the play between temperatures and textures is an interesting and fun way to explore flavors – especially as the weather (finally!) is warming up. My recipe for Air Fried Cod with Grapefruit Salad and Roasted Spring Vegetables is a great place to start.

COD W/ GRAPEFRUIT & ROASTED SPRING VEGGIES

ACTION SHOT!

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me and check out a very small sample of my culinary viewpoint. I hope you will try these recipes and play with them to make them your own. Further, I’d love to work with you to find ways to help you share your love for food while leaving the work to me! 

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a hearty plant that thrives in Wisconsin's climate, and it's officially in season!

This colorful, nutrient-dense vegetable is often overlooked and definitely underrated. The red-hued stalks are full of vitamins and minerals, and naturally low in calories. Rhubarb is a good source of potassium, with about 147 mg per stalk or 351 mg per cup. Not bad considering 1 cup of banana is 537 mg. Potassium is an essential part of our diet and plays a role in the cardiovascular system, maintaining muscle function and proper fluid balance. 

Additionally, Rhubarb provides a substantial amount of vitamin C, an antioxidant which supports tissue repair, plus it has vitamin K for healthy bones. Rhubarb also contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium.

Lastly, as you might have guessed based on its texture and celery-like stalk, Rhubarb is loaded with fiber which is excellent for digestion. Fiber is the key to satiety and gut health!

If you're lucky enough to have Rhubarb growing in your back yard or come across it at the farmers market, here are a couple different ways to incorporate it into your next meal and bonus - cocktails too!

CHIPOTLE RHUBARB BBQ SAUCE

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB OAT BARS

Just remember to only eat the beautiful stalk sections and toss the leaves (or compost them - but do not consume!). Most importantly, get creative and have fun with the distinct tart flavor!

Square pan was dirty, I was over it, I used bread pan and made into a crumble instead.

ALWAYS IMPROVISE IN THE KITCHEN!

with vanilla bean, froyo, fresh thyme and coconut

THE RIZZO

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB MARGARITA

Check out my amazing team! I’m just finishing up the Meet the Team page which will be up on the site soon! Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Special shout out to Kate (3rd from left), our dietetics student, for all the fun rhubarb facts. Where does a rhubarb go to get a cocktail? A SALAD BAR!

Gratitude

Oh hey there! I had a wonderful idea last week when practicing sitting and writing stuff down. People call it meditation/journaling/me time whatever it is to you, I’m trying my own version now, too. For Mother’s Day, I bought myself a chair that looks cool and a gratitude journal.

I asked my family for nothing but 10 minutes a day to sit in my chair and write stuff down. So far so good...I started doing this on Sunday and have kept up all week. I’ve noticed that I am most thankful for my people, nature, and food. 

my people…

So I want to share with you some of my favorite recipes right now. I love cooking with vegetables and eating things that are colorful. I love Asian flavors, salmon, and salads. I started cooking because I love people and entertaining. Now more than anything I like to be in the kitchen with my kiddos.

BAKED SALMON WITH QUINOA

my food…

RAINBOW VEGGIE SPRING ROLL BOWL

This photo is when you’re feeling ambitious and actually roll the ingredients into the spring rolls.

CASHEW CRUNCH SALAD

I just wish I could get over the making a mess part, lol. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to introduce the team at Simple Eats Mke by letting them take over the blog. You’ll get to know each one of these chefs that make my world a brighter, more delicious place and why we work so well together. I hope you fall in love with them as I have and invite us into your homes to cook for you sometime :)

Derby Day

Can you even with these family pictures when my kids let me style them? Now they pick out their own clothes and everything has a car or a mermaid on it.

With 2 great reasons to throw a party this weekend, I couldn’t decide whether to post about the Kentucky Derby or Cinco de Mayo. But these Derby recipes are so flipping good, I just had to share. Watching the race is the main event but since it only lasts for a couple minutes, let’s focus on the eats. When I think of the South, I think of fried chicken. My favorite appliance of all time, the air fryer, saves the day and makes this fried chicken just a little bit healthier.

HOT FRIED CHICKEN SLIDERS

DERBY PIE BARS

OMG THESE BARS

The Kentucky Derby is about horse racing, preppy clothes, those fancy hats and MINT JULEPS! Here’s a couple yummy variations on the traditional julep.

LEMONADE JULEP

LOUISVILLE JULEP

Spring Cleanse

Since this is the year of “more”, I’m happy to report I’ve already been on 2 trips and heading on my 3rd next week. I love traveling, getting out of my routine and seeing new places. It’s always been a wish of mine to see the Cherry Blossoms in DC. I was lucky enough to able to head East a few weeks ago and they did not disappoint. The weather was beautiful and it looked like cotton candy everywhere.

It was so fun to explore a new city and one of the best reasons is to see what other restaurants are up to and to try the local foodie favorites. Georgetown was darling and I see they love their acai bowls. Plus we made a pit stop in Philadelphia to the famous Reading Market where I got to try a Philly Cheesesteak. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I mean, it was a good sandwich but I truly don’t crave that kind of food and am happy that I actually prefer the healthy stuff. I’d much rather eat vegetables and things that are good for my body and don’t make me feel like a sluggish monster. It was then that I decided it was time to do another cleanse soon. I started my year off on the right foot, now I was going to start my spring off on the right foot, taking care of my body. It’s always a good idea to reset your digestive system. Since I’m heading to Arizona next week, I thought it was perfect timing to recharge my body.

The whole gang is heading to sunny Arizona next week to enjoy the sun, Sedona, some of my favorite friends and to reunite Ruby and her bestie. After doing a cleanse, you definitely feel lighter but It’s not about losing weight. It’s about taking care of your body and paying attention to what you put into it. It’s a reaffirmation for clean eating as a lifestyle and it just makes me appreciate my body even more.

Starting today until Sat 4/20, you will be able to order the 3-day cleanse for delivery or pickup on APRIL 22ND for the great sale price of $200. (Make sure to add delivery to your cart if you prefer. Pick up will be at 370 Manor Ct in Brookfield on Monday after 4:30)

ORDER 3-DAY CLEANSE HERE!!

SPRING JUICE CLEANSE OPTIONS:

The cleanse will include 3 days of teas, soups, salads and juices including:

Seasonal Allergy: Get your body packed with high doses of vitamin C to boost your immune system and reduce allergy inflammation.

Mental Health: 1 in 5 people are affected by mental health conditions, plant-based diets help. Take the cleanse as an opportunity to open yourself to possible positive results, reconnect with those you care about, things you love to do and make new goals of mentally positive steps you can take whether being to add something to your routine or removing something toxic.

Kidney Health: Reduce bloating and prevent fatigue by aiding your body in processing nutrients into energy. Correct bladder problems due to toxin build up, prevent kidney stones due to foods fat buildup in the kidneys and protect skin from breakouts.

Green apple keeps sugar levels lower while retaining the quercetin that reduces allergy inflammation

Mint acts as a menthol to help decongest.

Cleanse is high in antioxidants and vitamin c to fight the free radicals in your system

Broccoli is super high in antioxidants

Asparagus is a natural diuretic and helps flush toxins.

If you did the cleanse back in January with me, I’d love to hear what you thought, how you felt and if you’re ready to do it again. Leave comments for me below :)

ORDER THE CLEANSE HERE

Meet Caela and Dear Darling

Clients are always asking for healthy snacks for their families. While I don’t love to bake, I do love to eat baked goods, especially when I know they’re made with healthy, simple ingredients. That’s why I was lucky to find Caela, who has been with the Simple Eats team for almost 2 years now. She has a passion for all things pastry. Together, we are excited to introduce a line of home-baked goods that have hidden vegetables and fruit in them. We worked hard to come up with recipes that are delicious and nutritious so you can be proud to feed them to your families, order them for bake sales, or share them at your next celebration. The menu will be up on the website and ready for orders beginning in May. We hope you eat/share/love them as much as we do!!

Here’s a sneak peek - available in May

Meet Caela - the face behind Dear Darling

The best thing about baking is the absolute joy that it brings to other people. It creates memories and traditions and you never forget a good dessert! I will never forget my first cannoli when I was seven years old. It immediately became my favorite dessert and still is to this day.

“Pie makes everything better”

It wasn’t until I graduated high school that I knew this is what my passion was. I went to college for a couple years, but always baked in my small studio apartment with a tiny oven and it brought me more joy than anything I’ve ever done. I made the big decision to drop out of college and go to MATC for my baking and pastry degree. At the same time I was a pastry assistant at City Market and devouring every pastry and baking books I could get my hands on. After graduation, I packed up and went to Chicago. I quickly found my home baking at Angel Food Bakery under Stephanie Samuels. She not only taught me technique, but more importantly, she taught me what it takes to be a strong woman in this field and how to put love in your baked goods so that people keep coming back for more.

After I had kids, baking became even more important to me to share traditions and memories created through food. I finally found my niche with Simple Eats and am so excited to be able to expand my love and talent of baking to more people!

Because I hold baking so near and dear to me, I created my business Dear Darling. I always call my kiddos ‘Darling’ so I put the two words together and it just fit! The things I like to bake best are pies and baked goods that put a spin on the traditional tastes. If you can eat something I bake and it makes you smile and creates a new memory, well then my dreams just keep coming true!

This old house

This old house...not so old but dated like an old sweater.

So we moved from our perfect home in Bayview to a home owned by the banks and the IRS. It was filled with furniture and garbage (also rat poo)...yay! I brought my husband and parents through this place and it looked exactly like the “before” pictures, dirty kitchen and all. They were like “no way are we buying this house!!” But I had a vision and saw the layout as a perfect place to raise our family in the ‘burbs. Good schools, safe neighborhood, and a large lot. I convinced everyone to get onboard and we did it. It took 6 months to renovate, so luckily we stayed in our current home until the work was finished. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. Anyone considering the same should dive right in and take on the challenge. It was one of the most rewarding things we've done thus far. Picking every finish and creating a space that works for our family was terrible and amazing at the same time. Here are the before and after pictures along with some great tips for designing your own space…Krysta’s Design Tips 101

KITCHEN

1. Start with a neutral color palette on the walls... I generally choose gray/white but beige/white works too. This isn’t a forever thing but until you have the right furniture/curtains/rugs/wall decor, you should start with a blank canvas to work on. 

KITCHEN NOOK

plate collection

(and throw pillows, of course)

2. Pick something to collect and display. I collect plates and hang them in my kitchen. It’s something small I can look for when I’m traveling or receive as a gift. They are easy to display and switch up if I have more love for one than the other. You can do this with anything (I used to collect owls :) 

DINING ROOM

3. Mix cheap and pricier pieces for an eclectic feel. Never buy a complete furniture set off the store floor. It may look nice but it won’t have personality. Purchase pieces that bring a smile to your face. Things you love will work together even if you think they won’t. 

FAMILY ROOM

Artwork, plants and throw pillows

(plus Easter decorations)

4. Lighting, plants, and candles are everything to a space. They bring life, smell, and feeling to any space. 

LIVING ROOM

more plants, cool lamps and PILLOWS!

5. Choose 2 accent colors to pair with your neutrals...mine are orange and navy. You aren’t limited to only 2 but it’s a great place to start. You can change them up seasonally if you get bored. Target/Ikea/TJ Maxx are all wonderful places to find accent pieces and throw pillows (my best friends:). 

MASTER BEDROOM

<— family photos on ledge above bed

6. Have a special spot for family pictures and keep them together in a few areas not all over the entire home. Best to have some more artistic pieces, mirrors, nature, and different textures mixed in. Gallery walls with a nice blend of all of these items are lovely when done well. 

LAUNDRY ROOM

7. Have fun with it and don’t be afraid of change. We’ve been in our new home for almost a year now and we still change things up from time to time. Nothing has to be forever. I’m slowly starting to add color to my walls. I may even wallpaper my powder room. 

POWDER ROOM

I love design and helping people with their spaces. My side hobby is moving stuff around at my friends’ houses. In fact, I’ll be out in NYC next week helping a friend with her new home. It really does bring me so much joy. Happy decorating!!

(ps. I’ll put all the photos in the gallery because there are some more I couldn’t fit here - Rex and Ruby’s bedroom, our finished basement, etc.)

Where there's a farm, there's a table

It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday...I kid, but for real. I do love Boyz II Men and these lunches on the farm fill my soul. Today is the last one :( Hopefully we will revisit next year. Let Stone Bank Farm Market know if you enjoyed them and would love another round next season.

A couple weeks ago, my friend, the amazing Chelsea Blank, came out to the farm with us to capture just how lovely it truly is. These pictures say it all. I am including all of the recipes for you to try at home too. Everything we made was grown or sold at the farm (which makes us all very proud).

Kim, the gardener, is amazingly talented and her greens are grown with love year-round. It was so fun to create this pea shoot recipe using her adorable sprouts.

There are plenty of events coming up this spring/summer season so be sure to come out and enjoy!

Special shout-out to the lady who did my makeup and lashes for the shoot, Nelly. Love her!

I want to take a second and tell you about these cannolis. I tried my damndest to make them, even asked the pastry chef on our team - the GREAT Caela Johnson, whom you will hear a boatload about in future posts :) but we failed. Only because we have all had cannolis in Milwaukee and we know where to find the very best ones. Groppi’s. It’s an adorable Italian market that was in walking distance from my old house and is one of the 100 things I miss about living in the city. It was/is awesome and you should go there right now. Order a panini, cannoli and a glass of wine and sit on the patio and smile.

BEEF MEATBALLS

ROASTED TOMATO SAUCE

PEA SHOOT PESTO

MEDITERRANEAN SALAD

In the next few blog posts, we are going to feature the women on the Simple Eats team and talk about my other love, interior design (like what I actually went to school for). I hope you are excited to meet the team and see before and afters of my once eyesore and now beautiful home. 

Cheers to Spring, remodels, and having a team you believe in!

You lepre-CAN make this too

We had the pleasure of catering a super fun St. Patrick’s Day party this week and I just had to share the recipes with you all. It was so easy but also so yummy and cute. I LOVE a good themed party. This one had Irish dancers and a variety of great beers as well. I am like 85% Irish, my maiden name is McFarland...so I love St. Patrick’s Day. I used to do the whole go out at 6AM thing but I'm not into that these days. But I am going to dress my whole family in green, eat corned beef and have a Guinness tomorrow. 

This Friday 3/22 is our last Lunch on the Farm. I will share pictures and recipes next week. I am sad that they are coming to an end because I love putting the menus together and serving all of the nice people that attend. Most of them have sold out and that makes me so happy. Spring is right around the corner which means we will be busy putting together new menus with bright salads and fresh seasonal vegetables...cannot wait!

TICKETS HERE

MINI-REUBENS

GUINNESS IRISH STEW

IRISH POTATO SKINS

BAILEY’S CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

We had a request for this quiche recipe from a nice reader. If you ever have a recipe you would like me to share or have any requests about anything, let me know! I am always happy to share pretty much anything, haha. 

BUTTERNUT SQUASH QUICHE

CHORIZO AND CHIA

We took our first family vacation to California and I've been playing catch up since I got home. Does anyone else feel like taking a vacation is the most exhausting thing you can do? I mean it takes so much time to plan before you leave and then to catch up once you've returned. Truth...I am a freak about planning and cleaning so maybe it’s just a "Krysta" problem. I try to own my problems and my parties...like when I just need a break and decide to have too much wine by myself and dance/sing alone, that’s a "Krysta" party. I really only have parties and problems...not much in between ;)

Anywho, I bought 3 self help books this week because I have been having trouble sleeping and getting out of my head at night. I am like sooo tired, so I lay down early only to get a weird burst of energy and about 900 new things on my mind. It's awesome...NOT!

I did, however, decide that I wanted to share some awesome new vegan recipes with my readers, so here you go. 

The greatest thing about these recipes...they work together beautifully for meal prep. They are inexpensive and made out of items that most of us have on hand..no grocery trip required.

I eat the vegan chorizo in tortillas, buddha bowls, with a spoon, on a chip, in my car,...etc. Now you can make this vegan chorizo and use it in the chili mac recipe or you can just make the chili mac recipe with the soy chorizo from Trader Joe’s...It's amazing, either way.

VEGAN CHORIZO

VEGAN CHILI MAC

VEGAN BURRITOS

Ever had chia seed pudding?? It’s so easy and delicious, it’s unreal. Who doesn't have a bag of chia seeds they bought with great intensions and never used...nobody.

 A LITTLE ABOUT CHIA SEEDS

·    Chia seeds have been around a long time and are finally making it into the mainstream. They are no longer just seen in health food stores and are easily accessible. I see them at Target and all my local grocery stores. They are mostly found dark colored, but you can find white chia seeds online.

·     In the world of vegan food, chia seeds act as a binder to replace eggs and also as a thickener, like for this pudding. When not making chia pudding, you can sprinkle them on smoothies, oatmeal, & salads. 

·     Chia seeds are small, but nutritious, and should be included in your heart healthy habits! For each 1 ounce serving of chia seeds, you’ll get 138 calories, 9 grams of fat, 10 grams of fiber (amazing!), 4.7 grams of protein (not too shabby). All that fiber will help aid in digestion and elimination.

This vanilla chia pudding is about the easiest thing on the planet to make and tastes fantastic with mixed seasonal fruits! Perfect for breakfast, snack, dessert or a light lunch!

I just ate a big bowl of roasted vegetables covered in ranch dressing and Frank’s Red Hot. Now I’m sleepy...hoping I sleep like a baby tonight! Happy cooking:) 

Lunch on the Farm

Some things bring me so much joy and anything involving Stone Bank Market is high up on my happiness radar. I just feel so good when I am there. We've been doing a fun “Friday lunch on the farm” series this winter twice a month. It has been so inspiring to come up with seasonal menus in the cold snowy winter. Last week, we did a “healthy glow” lunch menu. I was so excited with how it turned out, I just had to share the recipes with you. 

Join us on the farm for a cozy and delicious escape from your Friday lunch routine. Grab your friends and sit down for a healthy, home cooked lunch using seasonal ingredients.   

Next one is February 22nd - register online directly with STONEBANK FARM MARKET. Link here: Tickets

PANTRY CLEARING GRANOLA

DETOX WRAP

MOROCCAN CHICKPEA BOWL

And don’t forget about our 3 day cleanse. We’re now offering with a 2 day turnaround. Order Monday by midnight for Wednesday delivery, Tuesday by midnight for Thursday delivery, Wednesday by midnight for Friday delivery - you get the picture. Now get the juices!

Clean out your pantry

We are getting packed up for our first family trip and when I say family, I mean the whole darn crew. My parents and mother-in-law are coming, too. We are off to visit even more family and friends in California. What we thought would be a sunny and warm trip is turning into a forecast of rain and crisp ocean air. I am still super excited but I just have trouble packing for such a variety of temperatures and humans.

The one thing I do think I am good at is clearing out my fridge and not wasting any food. I knew I didn't want to grocery shop or get take-out before going on an expensive vacation. I get overly happy about cleaning out my fridge and creating new recipes based on what I have to use up - like right now. 

Here's what I came up with this time...

I had a bundle of overripe bananas and some opened granola that was going stale. So I made banana mini-muffins with chocolate chips and granola. We froze half and ate the rest this week for breakfast.

I had a bag of sweet potatoes and a bunch of random vegetables to use up. I made POTACHOS!! What? Yes, sweet potato nachos with black beans and tons of old opened cheeses that needed to get used up. They were fabulous. We added scrambled eggs to them the next morning and rolled them into vegetable burritos. Best idea ever...and they freeze well, too. Just wrap them in foil and throw in a ziplock for another time. 

Anything else that needed to get used up went into a vegetable stock. All my extra herbs, vegetables and citrus, I put in the instant pot. I added a special spice blend and let her rip. Literally 30 minutes later, I have an empty fridge, a full freezer for my return home, and a feeling of pure happiness. We are taking the kids to Disneyland rain or shine (ponchos from the Dollar Store already packed :) I will check in when we get back to let you know how it went. I hope you try these '“clear out your fridge” ideas. 

BANANA BREAD

POTACHOS

VEGETABLE STOCK

I FEEL GOOD FROM MY HEAD TO-MA-TOES

It’s the middle of the Polar Vortex Arctic Freeze Extreme Brutally Cold Winter here in Wisconsin and I’ve been craving vegetables like it’s my job. Especially tomatoes and I have been on the hunt for the best canned ones out there. I always shop local and @Outpostnaturalfoods in Bayview is my favorite. They are a co-op that sells the freshest #organic produce and promotes locally sourced food. I like to shop there weekly for inspiring ingredients to create healthy and delicious recipes. This week I’m doing all tomato-based recipes and my go to brand is @MuirGlen. For one, the label is totally retro and chic and the flavor is as fresh as a warm summer day.

To grow the best tasting tomato, they believe it must be grown organically. Their farmers in the Sacramento Valley of California work together with local pollinators (aka bees!) to keep a healthy ecosystem to produce the best tomatoes possible.

However, not every tomato is good enough for their cans, which is why they created a composting facility for any tomato waste. Muir Glen focuses on working in harmony with their environment because it’s what makes their tomatoes taste better and the planet a happier place. My main focus in 2019 is to have zero food waste. And these recipes use multiple ingredients in a variety of ways to highlight the freshness of the tomato but also to ensure no food waste. 

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE RACE BETWEEN THE LETTUCE AND THE TOMATO???

THE LETTUCE WAS A HEAD AND THE TOMATO HAD TO KETCHUP.

 GROCERY LIST

Moroccan Grain Bowl

Eggplant Rolls and Tomato Sauce

Black Tea and Saffron Tomato Jam Crostini

Head to the Outpost because these tomatoes are on sale right now!

From now until 2/12, the 28oz Canned Tomatoes are 2/$4

No more takeout

The Journal Sentinel wrote about our family and my business this week and i couldn’t be more thankful! Shout out to my wonderful clients who are letting me do what I love and special thanks to whoever recommended me to them in the first place. It’s been so fun! Here’s a link to my article from a couple days ago.

My friend’s mom cut it out of the actual newspaper

So if you came here looking for a meal plan, I promise we will have recipes next week. This week has been nuts, with a snow day, everyone at my house is sick, we’re all off schedule, I just finished a lunch event at the farm, I have a huge event tomorrow and it’s a polar vortex. I see you, I know I’m behind, but sh*t is busy!

I hope what you got out of the article and my website is #1 I hate food waste. And #2 I like to sneak in veggies where I can. I always put butternut squash in my macaroni and cheese. I put so many diced veggies in my lasagna. I add cauliflower to mashed potatoes all the time. And here’s the best one, I add zucchini to my brownies and baked goods. You don’t even taste it!

With meal prepping, you can spend Sunday making your meals for the week and plan on freezing a couple. Things come up during the week, you’re invited to dinner or you eat at late at the office so you don’t want your meals to go to waste. I suggest eating your fish dish first and your meat dish later since it lasts longer. Vegetarian dishes are great to freeze and anything with a sauce or gravy freezes well too. As long as they have something to sit in, a ball of sauce, it comes back good when you let it thaw. And you can always throw in extra veggies anywhere. If you can’t figure out what, then definitely keep them for stock. Save all your vegetable ends and scraps. Just plop them into a Ziploc and throw them in the freezer and I will tell you how to make stock next week. It’s so easy, just water and flavor. You don’t need to buy the stuff from the store that sits in a box and may have extra ingredients you can’t pronounce.

If you’re new to the site, take a look at some old recipes. I love eating Mediterranean and have a great meal plan from last June. I loved Asian Week too. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Today I was out at the farm for our special Friday lunch series that goes until the end of March.

It’s lunch plus coffee, tea or wine for $30. It’s cozy. It’s yummy. It’s nutritious AND it’s home-cooked especially for you. Get tickets here for the next one in two weeks! TICKETS

See you next week for homemade stock!

Happy birthday to me

So remember when I said I want this to be the year of more? Well I think I’m doing a pretty good job living my best life. Today is my birthday and I’m spending the day in Chicago with my man and a couple of Radke sisters doing the things I love. I’m going to shop at thrift stores and chillax during the day, go to my favorite restaurant Girl and the Goat and then go see my girl Erykah Badu with my other girl Maggie on Saturday. I’ve been hustling like a maniac all week so I could enjoy a few days off because to me, living my best life means balance, throwing myself into everything I do, motherhood, marriage and momtrepreneurship lol - I’m loving my life and am grateful for all the blessings I have and excited to turn 38.

OK on another note, I’m all about flushing toxins this year (literally) and have done our 3 day cleanse a couple of times already this month because of how they make me feel. I started seeing all this info about the benefits of drinking celery juice every morning too and now I’m obsessed with how it makes me feel and look. I’ve been having straight up 100% liquid celery every morning because it makes me feel like a young cat. I swear my skin has never looked better and I feel amazing. Thank god I bought a juicer (Crate & Barrel) for making our cleanses and smoothies so I could discover my new celery obsession. I like to give my body a break from working so hard to digest everything I eat. Has anyone else started juicing this year?

In addition to our cleanses which have been wildly popular, we’re going to start offering smoothies. Smoothies (and juices for that matter) take a ton of ingredients and they’re messy to make so we’ll be doing all the dirty work for you. Available for purchase $9 each or 4 for $32, delivery on Fridays. They’re great because you just keep them in your freezer and they’re grab and go then on Monday, you can take it straight from the freezer to work and by lunch, it’s ready to be eaten. You can add more fruit, nuts, cacao nibs, coconut flakes etc and they become these pretty little works of art. Plus they’re super filling and can be used as meal replacement. Convenience was key for me to make it part of my morning routine.

and my family loves them - check out my kids trying them out:

Smoothie flavors we’ll offer are Wild Mango, Back to Earth, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Strawberry Banana. Check out our order page for more info.

WILD MANGO

CONTAINS: mango, pineapple, wild blueberries, banana, orange juice & super food powder for a super you

back to earth

CONTAINS: avocado, banana, spinach, chia seeds, cinnamon, almond milk & spirulina boost (this one sneaks in the veggies)

chocolate peanut butter

CONTAINS: banana, peanut butter, cacao, almond milk, espresso & protein powder. Am I in heaven?!

strawberry banana

CONTAINS: Strawberry, banana, mango, pineapple, protein powder & coconut water/almond milk mix

FEEDING YOUR KIDDOS

Hope you are having a great start to the new year. Mine has been shitty but not in a bad way, in a good way....we have officially potty-trained Rex!! No more diapers (pull-ups at night for a while longer). We only had one major poop disaster too! I feel like once the child sees and feels poop all over them and the house, they know they don't want to do that again! It took about a week and a half of naked bottom and following him around the house, but we got it done. This morning he got up at 5am and went potty on the toilet and then back to his room to play all by himself. He's a genius (I say that about both my kids often...get used to it:).

I was able to take a few weeks off for the holidays so I was in charge of feeding my kiddos every meal. Usually we have help with this so I am not 100% aware of what they eat on a daily basis. My husband handles breakfast and I do dinner most nights but grandma is generally in charge of snacks and lunch. I have two picky, food-wasting, nonsense-eating, tiny monsters and I bet you do, too. I wised up! I ordered little lunch boxes for them and filled them with something new, something they love, and something with protein for each meal. These boxes (link here) are microwaveable, dishwasher-safe, stackable, and come in fun kids colors. Kids like variety and snacking. They also like to have control. If we give them options that we believe in, we take back the control. The snap-on lids make it easy to put the food out and save (not waste) what they don't eat for another time. I still make them eat breakfast and dinner with the family but for lunch and snack time these boxes are a life saver. 

I mix it up but my go-to kid food is....

• Fresh fruit

• Black bean burritos (beans, cheese, tortilla)

• Chicken salad (recipe in another blog post here)

• Baked beans

• Broccoli-cooked

• Mac n’ Cheese (I usually add pureed butternut squash to the store-bought kind)

• Protein balls (recipe in another blog post here)

• Sliced Cucumbers

• Carrots-raw

• Crackers & Hummus

• Cashews

• Peas-my kiddos like them frozen but if you have normal kids, feel free to heat them up

• Dried Fruit

Use your imagination and see what you come up with!

2019 The Year of More

So my favorite lady friend was home for the holidays and she offered her services as a Christmas gift to me (she likes me a lot:). She is the owner of Joyspace, an organizing company based out of NYC. She practices the famous KonMari Method where you go through your home and only keep the items that spark joy.

I can see all my skirts, my bags are on display and my jewelry and perfume get their own shelves - I feel like a princess!

Together, she and I went through my closet...it took the entire day, but it was sooo worth it. My closet is now my happy place. I love everything in it and I feel like I have a brand new wardrobe. Getting rid of the clutter was so freeing it made me want to do the whole house. Yesterday I did all the closets!! 

I can see all my stuff now - it’s not crowded and I feel like I went on a shopping spree without spending any money.

Today I am taking down the holiday decorations and reorganizing/cleaning/decluttering each room and only keeping what truly brings me JOY. My house feels clean and my heart full.

This got me thinking about NYE and the year ahead...what do I want to fill my year with??? More JOY!!!
MORE...Dancing, laughing, time, sparkles, friendships, loving on my family, sex, happiness, vegetables, exercise, reading, me time, sleep, fires, boats, champagne, hugs, and vacations.

Everyone usually has resolutions for the New Year that seem to come with some type of commitment to cut back on things that make them happy. Not this girl...I want 2019 to be FUN and I want to LOVE my life. The first thing I scheduled for the year was a cleanse that I am doing with a bunch of clients and my team. I’ve done it before and it makes me feel so good.

I also made my first facial/microdermabrasion appointment for the 2nd of January so I can start the year glowing from the inside out. I already have my weekend planned, we are hosting friends for a wine dinner on the 5th. I bought concert tickets in Chicago for my birthday AND I booked a family vacation for February. No way am I going on some fad diet or cutting out booze or killing myself at the gym. Gross...I want to be healthy, of course, but in a balanced way that makes me smile. I encourage you to make choices that improve your well being but don't sacrifice the FUN and JOY that life brings. 
CHEERS!

Last minute dinner party

We threw a little party a couple nights ago for some local female business owners (@bossladiesmke) and predominantly used items from my fridge and I thought, why not write a blog post about it???

MY TRIBE

HOW TO THROW TOGETHER A LAST MINUTE YET STILL CHIC DINNER PARTY FOR UNDER $50 WITH THINGS YOU ALREADY HAVE.

1. USE WHAT YOU HAVE. The easiest thing to do is utilize common items most people already have in their fridge. Only buy items to help doctor them up like fresh citrus and herbs to brighten flavors or cured meats to make a beautiful charcuterie board

2. THINK ABOUT THE MANY WAYS YOU CAN USE INGREDIENTS TO ADD FLAVOR & TEXTURE - raw vs. roasted vs. pickled.

3. PRESENTATION IS KEY. It can make normal, everyday food appear special.

4. SHOP AT YOUR OWN HOUSE. If you have any holiday decorations, candles, flowers, or even some greens from the bushes in your backyard, use them to decorate. It will make it feel more festive and special.

The 5 categories of items to include in a cocktail style party: Crostini, Dip, an Instaworthy Charcuterie Board, Roasted Veggies and Something Sweet. That’s it!

CROSTINI

CROSTINI

Crostini's are a party favorite and are tasty with just about any topping on them. Cut a loaf into slices, take regular sandwich bread and cut into quarters or slice a sweet potato into circles. Add a little olive oil and toast in the oven for flavor.

• They can be made sweet or savory depending on what you have available.

• I like to add something CREAMY for the base and something FRESH over the top for a pop of flavor. 

• You can use anything! Marinara sauce, cheese, jam, nuts, fresh herbs, a cut-up apple or pear, mashed, canned beans, caramelized onions, balsamic, salad dressing, etc. GET CREATIVE!

• Don’t feel like you only need to serve one kind...use your ingredients to create a variety.

• After plating, drizzle with a little olive oil at the end for presentation. 

DIPS

Dip 

• Who doesn’t like dip? It’s a party favorite. 

• You can use crackers, chips, or fresh chopped veggies. 

• The base of the dip can be made with anything from greek yogurt, sour cream, mayo or even a can of mashed beans. We made a dip from a bottle of salsa, a can of black beans, and some leftover pineapple; finished it off by broiling some cheese on top and it got DEMOLISHED.

• Be sure to add citrus and herbs to brighten the flavor.

CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Charcuterie Board

• The highlight of any dinner party, in my opinion, is a charcuterie board which can easily be thrown together with items from home.

• A variety of textures & flavors make a charcuterie board a success including hard and soft meats and cheeses, fresh fruit, jam, honey, nuts, olives, pickles, etc 

• Assembly and presentation are important so I start by placing any jam or jelly, olives or pickles you have around and putting them on a cute dish to add color and provide additional flavor options.  

• Then lay out your cheese and meat options. Remember to play with texture: cheeses can be sliced and crumbled into bite size pieces or you can even use pre-sliced sandwich cheese and cut into quarters.

• Deli meat can be piled up, fanned out, or folded in half to create different textures and to let the guests know the flavors are different.

• Finish the board with crackers, nuts, and fresh or dried fruit to fill in the gaps. My personal favorite is a an apple cut into thin slices which is both affordable and delicious.
  

ROASTED VEGGIES

Roasted Vegetables 

• If you are anything like me, you don’t want to feel guilty after eating like a monster at a party, so having a healthy option to nibble on makes me feel more balanced. Everything in moderation, right? 

• Take an assortment of fresh or frozen veggies and roast in the oven with olive oil and herbs until golden brown. Serve in a bowl alone or tossed with rice or quinoa. Top with fresh herbs, olive oil, or balsamic for a little added flavor and presentation. VOILA!

SOMETHING SWEET

We didn’t actually serve these cookies (they were just for my family) but look at them!

Something Sweet

• For those with a sweet tooth, a creative little dessert is a must.

• You can keep this simple or go all out. 

• We took a few partially used chocolate bars and broke them into large chunks and plated with some fresh berries. But if you have a box of cupcake mix or the ingredients for Rice Krispie treats, you can always doctor them up with chocolate chips or peanut butter for something gooey and delicious.

and DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE 3 DAY CLEANSE. You have until Saturday 12/29 to place an order for pickup or delivery on 1/2. Details here: ORDER 3-DAY CLEANSE HERE!!