cinnamon banana bread

hi all! as promised her is the banana bread recipe the kids and i made this past weekend. it was so wonderful and moist and is made with greek yogurt for a little kick of protein. i can't take credit for the recipe as i found it on the C & H sugar page. 

• 2 cups white whole wheat flour (or all-purpose flour)
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1  tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• 1 and 1/2 cups mashed very ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
• 1/3 cup vanilla greek yogurt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Swirl

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Simple Glaze

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 Tbsp heavy cream (or half-and-half or milk)

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.  In a separate large bowl, beat the brown sugar and butter with a stand or handheld mixer on medium speed until well blended – about 1 minute. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. With a wooden spoon, stir in the mashed banana, yogurt, and vanilla.  Slowly add in the dry ingredients. Do NOT overmix.  Batter will be thick.
Spoon half of the batter into prepared loaf pan.  Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar swirl ingredients.  Top with remaining batter. Bake for 40-45  minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes in the pan on a wire rack. Remove from pan and cool completely on the wire rack.
While the bread is cooling, make the glaze in a small bowl by combining the powdered sugar and heavy cream.  Add more powdered sugar until you reached desired thickness.  Drizzle over banana bread.

hope you like it as much as we did! enjoy!

stop panicking and start planning

those dreaded words "i'm hungry!" and so it begins, they are home from school tired, cranky and hungry. you've been running around all day and have just walked in the door, the last thing you want to do is drop everything and make them a healthy snack. you think " let them eat a bag of chips, just this once, you'll do better tmw".  the truth is we've all been there and it doesn't have to be that way. you can have them get a healthy snack on their own while you gather you wits about you and start thinking about dinner (that's a whole other blog post) all it takes is a little planning in the beginning of the week, or whenever you have a free hour. yes i said, hour?! but one hour a week, will save you several hours of your sanity later.
the whole idea behind this is to create snack stations with healthy grab and go snacks that the kids can get themselves. the hardest thing for a kid is to think about what they want and what they should eat when they are in this cranky hungry state of mind. they are very visual and if you make it easy to find and chose they will make the right choices on their own. 
there are three easy stations that anyone can create in their kitchen.

the first and easiest is out in the open, counter tops, kitchen tables, islands wherever works for you.

 load your counters with fresh fruit and easy snacks, like gluten free pretzels or nuts. we keep them in covered containers so they stay fresh and it's easier for the kids to grab and eat.

next is the pantry, food drawer, wherever you keep your snacks.

load a basket with mom approved snacks, like granola bars, fruit leathers, prepacked peanuts, put items like veggie sticks, and rice cakes in easy to open and close containers. the containers help to keep items fresh, and are no messy bags and crumbs. the added bonus is if you buy in bulk, it is cheaper than the small prepacked bags. this station is great for grabbing out the door snacks or helping when the kids pack their lunches. here's another idea,make one of these for you on another shelf. i pack mine with almonds, protein bars and dried fried and nut mixes, makes it easier for me to snack and run too.

the next is the fridge, this one can be for the whole family too.

this is where snacking can get dangerous. the endless opening and closing of the doors and staring into the abyss hoping that something will jump out at you. now the food will jump out at you and make your choices easier. find a shelf that is easy for everyone to reach, or your oldest at least, they can help your littliest. (see another sneaky thing, teaching them how to take care of each other). load the shelf with small yogurts, precut fruit and veggies. i keep things like carrots & celery in water, this keeps them extra crunchy and fresh. have fresh squeezed veg/fruit juice for them to drink and pre-filled reusable water bottles. another way to save on money(and the enviroment, but i won't bore you with my granola bar theories), refill your own water, instead of buying the little throw away bottles.i love these collapsable water bottle by vapur.  things like string cheese and baby bell cheeses are also a great thing to add.

this isn't very hard and really the most work is in the chopping of fruits and veggies. my kids have a similar shelf in our drink fridge, loaded with v8 juices and coconut waters, for the times when water just doesn't hit the spot. the key is with just a little planning and organizing 1 day a week, you free up so much time during the week. 

this post is for all my friends who open my fridge and pantry and laugh at my little ocd problem i have. it doesn't have to be pretty, just convenient and easy. 

alisa's favorite chicken salad

hi all! this is a follow up to my blog post on kids helping in the kitchen. this is an easy no fuss recipe that kids can practice their chopping and creative skills. my kids love chicken salad and they love to take some of their favorite lunch ideas and make them better. so the following is my daughter's version of chicken salad. the other great thing about this recipe is that i use plain greek yogurt in it so it is packed with protein and probiotics.

alisa's fancy chicken salad

2 cups chopped chicken (any kind, i use leftovers from roasted chicken)
1 medium apple, peeled & chopped (we use fuji)
1 or 2 stalks celery, chopped depending on how much crunch you like
1 cup plain greek yogurt (you may use a little more or less)
2 T mayo (optional)
1 teas mustard (any kind)

this is where you get to improvise we used garlic powder, paprika and salt & pepper to taste. feel free to add whatever flavors you like. we also had some pecan/cranberry salad toppers that she decided to throw in at the last minute, but you can omit nuts or add whatever sounds good to you, like almonds or walnuts. now for the really hard part!

dump 1st 3 ingredients in bowl and add the yogurt a little at a time to reach the consistency you like, our family isn't into gooey so ours is on the drier side. after the yogurt dump all the rest of your ingredients in the bowl and mix away. i know tough isn't it?! you can now eat, we like to put ours in the fridge and let the flavors meld, but you are welcome to enjoy right away.
alisa likes her's in a whole wheat pita pocket, my son likes to eat it with multi grain crackers, however you eat it, it's sure to be a hit if it's your kids own creation! 

so there you have it, a fun way to start the kids off and think of all the things you can even do with this idea, turkey, tuna, firm tofu the choices are limitless in the minds of kids. 

kids helping us save time in our busy lives.

it's that time of the year, where the school rush starts and the time in the day seems to slip away faster and faster. as the years have passed and the kids are now starting 2nd and 5th grade it seems there is twice as much to do and not nearly enough time to get it all done.

so now that the kids are older i have started to enlist their help in lots of ways to help save time. doing laundry, cleaning and generally starting to be responsible for themselves. one of the best things i have ever done is teach my children their way around the kitchen. they have been helping me in the kitchen for years, coming up with great recipes to try, washing fruits and veggies, retrieving  and replacing ingredients as i cooked, but in the last two years the magic has really started to take place. both of my children have mastered making a full meal for themselves. now i'm not saying they are making steak and lobster or roasting a turkey or anything. simple meals, meals that don't require my help and some that require my supervision.

 so you ask" how does this fit in the time saving aspect of our lives?" the fact that my kids can now make/pack/clean up their own lunches is huge! the night before while i am cleaning up from dinner or preparing for the next day, the kids make their own lunches. this is great for two reasons, one i don't have to do it and two they make what they want to eat and with two that make very different choices sometimes this is a dream come true. this is the easiest cooking your kids can do, really how hard is it for them to make a sandwich? and no heavy equipment needed, just some bread and their favorite filling. in fact if the idea of them using a knife for spreading condiments or cutting the crust off leaves you woozy,  a plastic knife works wonders. (on the plastic knife subject, it also works wonders with cutting apples, pears, peaches, celery and lots of other stuff) 

the next time saver is breakfast in the morning. my kids started way back with being able to grab cereal and fruit, yogurt and granola and several other no cook items on the weekends. this was to enable me a little extra shut eye or just some peace and quiet first thing in the morning. for the younger kids i used to put the milk or juice in easy to pour containers on shelves they could reach in the refrigerator. gradually they started to learn how to make eggs, scrambled and over easy, french toast and even pancakes if i left batter in the fridge. they have even mastered making smoothies. this is now a huge time saver on school mornings, both kids can successfully make breakfast for themselves either working as a team or making their own item of choice. 

 i will remind you that this all requires patience and is sometimes messy. start slow if your kids haven't helped before. have them work along side you until you feel comfortable with them doing it by themselves. make rules about when and when they can't use a knife or stove/appliance based on your comfort level and theirs. i no longer have to be in the kitchen with either for most tasks and even have had the benefit of breakfast/lunch being cooked for me. the best part about this isn't just the time saving factor. you are teaching your kids how to be self sufficient, eat healthy and be creative. it is amazing what kids will eat when given the opportunity to help or even decide on the ingredients. so have fun and save a little of your time & sanity at the same time.

stay tuned for the recipe for alisa's favorite chicken salad recipe.

thank goodness for the great pumpkin!

i don't know about you, but sometimes the idea of halloween and all the candy freaks me out. pictures of kids with chocolate all over there face, sticky hands, sugar overload. i know, i know, for someone who sells cupcakes and treats for a living this a hard concept for people to understand. the funny thing is, and my friends and family all know this, but we are a pretty healthy eating family! i mean, my kids will tell you we are the house that gives out things like pencils and glow sticks, and pretzels and crackers on halloween. i know, GASP! don't get me wrong, i love sweets, i mean how can my tag line for my business be "la dolce vita" if i didn't. the thing is, a snickers every now or then or some peanut m&m's are not lost on me, but for the most part, if my kids eat sweets i like to know where they came from, what's in them and have some sort of control with the amount of sugar and lack of preservatives and food dyes they contain. so instead of going into a panic the year my son finally got what it meant to receive free candy by just looking cute, i had already devised a plan and my daughter fell into it even quicker than my son. we all grew up watching charlie brown, well i did and most people i know have a soft spot for "the great pumpkin". you know the one "who rises from the pumpkin patch and gives children everywhere candy" well where do you think the great pumpkin gets all that candy? in our house he gets it from all the good children everywhere who sort through their halloween candy, and keep a few special pieces and then pack it up and leave it on the front porch for him to collect for his next trip. in return, he leaves them something for their kindness. for my kids, books, coloring stuff, small trinkets have always been their reward.
tada, stress free, de-fleecing of my children's candy every year. ok, so my son is going to be 10 and my daughter is 7, so they may not really believe the whole great pumpkin thing anymore, but what they do know is that if they do this and go along with their crazy mom's story, there will be something good on the other side of the door in the morning.
and this year a few $5 target cards might give them a little extra incentive for next year! ;-)
so don't stress out, and please don't take it upon yourself to eat all the candy yourself to "save" your children. be it a great pumpkin, halloween fairy or the boogie man, get creative and help your kids understand the real fun of halloween, i mean costumes, spooky stories and haunted houses are really whats fun and the candy, be it tasty is not the only reward. then smile and if your really need something sweet to eat, have a cupcake!

got grapes?

have you ever walked down the aisle at the farmer's market and seen the huge section of grapes? all colors, black, red, green their glistening hues shining in the sun, just begging you to buy them and snack away. hands down there is nothing better than icy cold grapes on a hot day, but have you ever thought what else could you do with that fabulous flavorful tiny little fruit? believe it or not they can be used in all sorts of fun recipes, salads, cheese trays, even main courses. so i am having a summer fling with grapes and finding all kinds of ways to use them. this recipe is an easy breezy summer appetizer that is great for a warm day with an ice cold glass of prosecco. (throw a few frozen grapes in your glass just to keep the chill on)

grape and prosciutto appetizers

1 baguette, sliced 1/4 inch
4 Tbls olive oil
36 green, red or black grapes**
1 Tbls balsamic vinegar
freshly ground black pepper
4 oz softened goat cheese
6-8 slices of proscuitto

preheat oven to 350. lightly brush baguette slices with half of the olive oil and lay them on a sheet pan and place in oven. toast 5-10 mins until golden brown, and remove from oven and set aside to cool. put the remaining olive oil in a small saute pan and warm over med-high heat. add the grapes and saute for 2-3 mins. or until soft and warmed through. remove from the heat. sprinkle the balsamic vinegar over the grapes and add a few grinding of pepper.
spread each baguette slice with goat cheese. cut each slice of proscuitto in half and drape over the cheese. top each of the baguettes with grapes and drizzle with remaining oil and vinegar in pan. serve right away or at room temp.
** you can slice grapes in half (use half the amount) before heating if you desire so they don't roll off baguette slices, but if softened enough they usually are just fine.

not only is this recipe tasty, it looks beautiful. you can just imagine sitting in a small italian cafe on a warm summer day, enjoying the sweet and savory tastes of the grapes and proscuitto together. so as my summer fling continues i will try and photograph and post my new found creations. i feel a chicken, brie and grape sammie of some type in the near future.

adventures in dining with bite san diego!

a few months back a friend posted a groupon on her fb wall for a walking food tour of san diego, asking if she had any takers in organizing a trip together? being the foodie i am, i jumped at the offer. so thanks to the organization of a few gal pals we purchased some tickets, set a date and booked the tour. let me tell you, some of the best decisions are made on the spur of the moment and this was one of them!



so excuse some of the blurry photos, i forgot my camera and resorted to my iPhone, which is always hit and miss.

our first stop was royal india, where we met our very knowledgeable tour guide eddie. as we enjoyed our first treat of samosas and other indian delights, eddie started with some history of san diego and all the fun facts it has to offer.

our first course...

we then ventured out into the city on foot, after all, exercise it the best way to work up an appetite!
can you believe this used to be considered a sky scraper back in the day? our next stop on the trip was croce's, opened by famous singer/songwriter jim croce's wife after he passed away, fulfilling their life long dream of having a place together.

we were treated to their fiery and fabulous chili bacon bloody mary's. i'm not going to lie, this drink can cure anything that ales you. they make their own chili bacon infused vodka for this cocktail and it is every bit worth stopping in for.
the girls enjoying the cocktails and yummy firecracker shrimp, while listening to great live music.
back out on the street, we headed to a little gem of a pizza place in the keating hotel, called crust. this place will make anyone who has longed for a slice of what new yorkers call real pizza, think died and went to heaven. they employ their own full time baker and it shows, the crust and bread are perfect and the flavors of pizza, tantalize the taste buds. being italian i am skeptical about fruit on my pizza, but i tried the pineapple, capicolla, and jalapeno pizza and was happily surprised by the sweet and spicy flavor on the perfectly crunchy crust! other flavors including the cheese and pepperoni standards, were pesto and gorgonzola and artichoke and chicken! all fabulous!




the pizza, tom working the oven's and the wonderful hand made breads.
out onto the sunny streets to continue our sight seeing, while heading to our next destination. our guide eddie pointed out great buildings, along with fun history of the growth of san diego through the years. the next stop was karl strauss for some much needed refreshments after the long walk.




we enjoyed a tour at karl strauss while sampling great beer. i am not a big beer drinker, but i really enjoyed their lager and their raspberry ale!
here's our tour guide eddie posing for a pic with our rowdy group!













next my personal favorite place, little italy. our final savory stop of the day was indigo grill, where we enjoyed chips and scallop ceviche with fresh homemade guacamole.











on to the best part of any one's day, at least i know it's the best part of the day for me, DESSERT. what better way to finish off a great day of food, fun, and laughter than with a delicious cannoli.


a great bakery and restaurant right in the heart of little italy is cafe zucchero. i'm telling you, your italian nona would be proud to serve these little packages of heaven.
it doesn't stop with these, the bakery cases are loaded with mouth watering pastries and even some creamy italian decadence, gelato. check out these pics, to get you off your chair and into your car heading south!
all in all, this was a great way to spend the day with friends. we enjoyed wonderful food and drink and eddie was beyond great! i would recommend this tour to anyone with a taste for culinary adventure and history. bite san diego wraps all this into one beautiful package. next stop, i think we might have to try their coronado tour next! you can check them out on the web at
http://www.bitesandiego.com/