Bison Sliders

For my birthday, a family member gave me some fun kitchen items and one of them was a mini-burger/slider pan. I knew the the kids would go crazy for the mini versions so I took out the ground Bison and went to work. Naturally, you do not need a special pan. Simply fire up the grill or oven and make some mini-burgers.

Ingredients (Yields: 5 servings (2 burgers per person)):
1 lb. ground bison/buffalo
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ cup minced green peppers
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoon chives, minced
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
½ cup sweet pepper strips
20 slices cheddar cheese
1 cup baby spinach
10 Mini whole wheat rolls

Instructions:
1. Preheat the grill to medium.

2. Combine the ground meat with the garlic powder, green peppers, chives, salt, and ground pepper. Mix well and form 10 small patties (about 1.5 generous tablespoons each)

3. Place the burgers on the grill (medium) and cook 2-4 minutes depending on thickness of burger and desired doneness.

4. Flip the burger and cook another 2-4 minutes, topping with the cheddar for the last 30 seconds.

5. Place onto bottom bun, top with sweet peppers, spinach and upper bun.

The Bread Art Project: Grain Foods Foundation & Share Our Strength

Last week I was honored to attend The Bread Art Event Co-Hosted by the Grain Foods Foundation and Share Our Strength. I found out about the event via the Mom Bloggers Club (created by the brilliant Jennifer James) and knew that the combination of Share Our Strength (SOS) & Food Network's Melissa d'Arabian was something that could not be missed.

I had never heard of the Grain Foods Foundation (a joint venture of members from the baking and milling industries) whose goal is to educate the country about the beneficial role grain-based foods play in a healthful diet. One way they do this and help raise money for Share Our Strength, is through the Bread Art Project.

How does this work? You create a price of 'bread art' and the Grain Foods Foundation donates $1 to SOS up to $100,000 so get started! You can 'create' through June 30th, 2010.

Now, onto the event itself: Let me say that I already rooted for Melissa d'Arabian when she was a contestant on The Next Food Network Star, enjoyed her show Ten Dollar Dinners, loved her after I interviewed her but now, I adore her! She first told us about why helping to end childhood hunger is so personal to her and how the bread art project and the grains foundation are helping to end it in this country. She shared her struggles about not having enough to eat as a child and how she worked in the school cafeteria to earn her the credit towards the school lunch program.

Afterwards, she spent time, real time, talking to each of the attendees while we enjoyed the recipes she created featuring whole grains. We spoke about GPS systems and driving in Seattle and Boston.

left to right: Emily Mckhann of The Motherhood, myself, NYCityMama, Jennifer Perillo and Rachel Ferrucci

Speaking of recipes, one of my favorites was her BLT Tartlettes however, I would use a whole wheat bread. Be sure to try this as I just know that kids would love them!

BLT Tartlets
Recipe developed by Melissa d’Arabian for the Grain Foods Foundation
8 slices white bread
3 T light cream cheese, softened
1 T light mayonnaise
1 t garlic powder
1 t dried oregano
2 medium tomatoes, chopped and lightly salted
4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
¾ cup red or green leaf lettuce, chiffonade (roll and cut into ribbon-like strips)
Salt and pepper
Olive oil for drizzling

Heat oven to 375°. Remove crusts from bread and, using a large spoon, gently press the slices
of bread down flat until thin and almost doughy. Brush with olive oil on both sides. Place the
slices in the muffin tin, pressing them into the muffin shape, to create a tartlet shell. Bake for 12-
13 minutes, or until golden and crusty.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, use a fork to mix the cream cheese, garlic powder, mayonnaise and
oregano with salt and pepper until smooth and creamy.

Once the bread is golden, remove the shells and place them on a cooling rack to assemble. To
make the tartlets, place a teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture on the bottom, followed by the
bacon, tomatoes and the lettuce. Top with salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.

Yield: 4 servings (2 tartlets per serving)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Ease of preparation: Easy

Strawberry Mice - Getting kids to eat Fruit at a Birthday Party

This past weekend including a birthday party for my daughter and in addition to the fruit and vegetable platter which kids would probably overlook, I wanted to give them something irresistible. It came in the form of eating mice. What you say? Yup, I wanted the kids to eat mice.

The idea came from Family Fun however, I modified it and used some items we already had. The eyes were mini-chocolate chips and the nose was some icing I had used on the kitty-cat birthday cake. Instead of running out to get some strings of licorice, I simply made some 'tails' on the plate behind each mouse. The kids went nuts for them and even though I thought someone would pull the almond slices out, they were too enthralled with popping a mouse in their mouth than paying attention to the fact that the ears were almonds.

A step by step pictorial here on Whrrl

Sweet Potato Wrap

I first created this wrap about 4 years ago and for some reason, I have not made it in a very long time. Since we love sweet potato wedges in this house as well as salad, feta and balsamic vinegar, I usually have all the requirements for this wrap.

I promise you that these are a huge hit when having friends over for a casual gathering.


Ingredients:
Sweet Potato Wedges (room temperature or cold)
Feta cheese (reduced fat)
Lettuce (I prefer Romaine)
Balsamic Glaze (make a bunch and store or can buy from a restaurant)
Whole Wheat wrap

Instructions:
Place all items into the center of the tortilla, wrap tightly and enjoy.

Baked Tortilla Chips: Salt, Chili-Lime & Garlic-Cayenne

A few weeks ago, I had bought 2 packs of Whole Wheat tortillas because they were on sale as a Buy 1 Get 1. After having quesadillas one night, I had a choice to make: freeze the other package or use them in a recipe. I decided that it would be fun to make our own baked tortilla chips and have some fun with the kids while experimenting with flavors.



We made three flavors: Salt only, lime-chili and a cayenne-garlic. We started by cutting the tortillas into 8 wedges, spraying them with Pam Olive Oil Spray and then baking them until crispy. The kids loved being able to shake all the seasonings on the chips (minus the cayenne) and then pick their favorite flavor.

I was a bit concerned that we would regret using the Whole Wheat tortillas and wishing we had saved this experiment for Corn Tortillas but we truly enjoyed the flavor and texture.



Ingredients (Salt):
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Pam Olive Oil
Coarse or Sea Salt

Ingredients (Chili-Lime):
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Pam Olive Oil
Coarse or Sea Salt
True Lime - 1 packet
Chili Powder

Ingredients (Garlic-Cayenne):
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Pam Olive Oil
Coarse or Sea Salt
Garlic Powder
Ground Cayenne

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

2. Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges and place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet.

3. Combine the seasonings (I did not measure them out so have fun with it) in a small bowl and set aside.

4. Spray the wedges with Olive Oil spray and dust with the seasoning mixture. Flip the wedges over and repeat.

5. Bake for 7 minutes, flip the wedges over and bake another 7 minutes. You can probably skip flipping them over and simply rotate the pan if you prefer.

Earth Day Series: Sprig Toys

Happy Earth Day! I do hope you are able to get outside today. So, I wanted to tell you about Sprig Toys. It all began at the Type-A Mom conference last September where these smiley people were displaying some cute eco-friendly toys. I sauntered over to the table, spent some time talking to them, touching the toys and envisioning how excited the kids would be to see these. Then they sent me home with Rex Jungle the dinosaur and two of the guides.

The kid were crazy about these toys and I think you will be as well. So, why talk about Sprig on Earth Day? Well, these toys required no batteries (yes, that means kid-powered toys), earth-friendly materials and paint-free.



I bet you are wondering What are they made of? They are a bio-composite made from recycled plastics (usually polypropylene) and reclaimed wood. The company tries to incorporate wood so they can use less plastic.

Now, you are thinking, Why are there no facial features? After noting that so many toys recalls were due to lead paint issues, they decided to leave the faces plain. At first, I thought the kids would be bothered by this and although, they did notice and ask why the faces were blank, they were happy with my reply 'so you can use your imagination'. This way, little people/guides can be happy or sad or grouchy. My kids are currently being taught by daddy to roll their eyes (why must he?) so I expect to hear that the sprig people are as well.


This company goes eco-friendly beyond the toy itself: The packaging is minimal (no annoying ties and plastic clam shells) and is made from recycled materials. In addition, the product boxes are printed with soy or water based inks as well as their product brochures that are printed on FSC certified paper with high recycled content. And finally, they are even recyclers to the max in their corporate offices and some even bike to work. Speaking of their offices and great people, feel free to reach out to the company via Twitter @kimatsprig

We have a great time playing with the Dolphin Boat Explorer in the tub and next up for us this spring will be to order The trucks!



In addition, I wanted to share that another favorite imagination inspiring toy: our Wooden Blocks. Although they are not made of reclaimed wood, we have used them for three years now and I expect we will for three more. I feel good about that because, it is one less plastic toy being tossed into a land-fill at the end of a few months.

**Enter to win an Earth Day EcoSmart T-shirt from Hanes**

Earth Day Series: Envirosax Bags

I have been thinking about little things that one can do to contribute in a positive way to the environment and wanted to share one way that our family helps to reduce plastic waste.

I discovered the website Delight.com about two years ago and bought the 'Today's Delight'. The item was the Envirosax Reusable Grocery Bags. I use these bags every time I go to the grocery store and trust me, they can take some serious weight.


One feature that I enjoy about these bags are that I can tie the handles together when it is raining and yet still get them on my arm when I unload the car.

The other important feature is that I can toss them into the washer to keep them from getting covered with bacteria. I simply hang them on a door handle to dry.


Do you own reusable bags? Do you use them for other tasks besides grocery shopping?

Earth Day Series: Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables

Do you focus on including more seasonal and local Fruits and Vegetables in your diet? Why should you and how does that benefit the environment? So glad you asked.

Buying local and seasonal foods helps reduces pollution and gasoline use as there is no need to ship the food across the country. In addition, your money goes to the farmers in your community and your family gets fresher fruits and vegetables.

Personally, we enjoy the fruits and vegetables that each new seasons brings as it encourages us to keep variety in our diet and honestly, don't you look forward to switching it up after a while? We are also excited to be starting our garden any day now.

Below is a great map from Epicurious that tells you what is fresh in your state any given month.



What are some of your favorites Fruits and Vegetables?

Earth Day Series: 'The New Green Kitchen'

Last week I attended a Webinar hosted by Jackie Newgent, Author of 'Big Green Cookbook'. She shared tips from her new book, including her Top 10 tips for giving your Cooking a 'Greenover':



#1: Select smart Skillets that are PFOA-free and recycled aluminum pans. She recommended Scanpans*: They are non-stick, you can sear, brown and deglaze in them and use any utensils you wish.

#2: Practice eco-cooking techniques such as, placing a lid on a pot and turning the burner off once the water is boiling. Ms. Newgent says this will boil the pasta and reduce energy use.

#3: Think at your sink. Meaning, reduce your water usage

#4: Take advantage of residual value: She suggests you can do some light baking or reheating in an oven after you turn it off, say after roasting an item.

#5: Love your small appliances as they use less energy. When is the last time you thought about using your toaster oven?

#6: Use Energy Star certified big appliances.

#7: Serve Earth-style meals by using fewer bowls and considering prepping and serving in one bowl. Less washing.

#8: Be waste friendly by composting.

#9: Green size-it: Make vegetables the main and largest component of your late and consume less meat.

#10: Enjoy Ecotarian Cuisine by enjoying a diet based on local, fresh, sustainable food and is more plant based. Local = less distance = less gasoline.

What are some tips you can share regarding 'greening' your cooking?
*Attendees are being sent a pan so I will test out these claims in my kitchen.

Celebrating Earth Day Series - Hanes EcoSmart & Arbor Day Foundation

What an exciting week this is because we will be enjoying some great Earth Day celebrations next week, family coming to visit, my daughter's birthday and lots of parties. To celebrate Earth Day, I am going to bring you some great posts for a week, starting off with this one about Hanes.

Our family loves Hanes: From my husbands drawers stocked with their undershirts, to their Tees that I use for layering, to the tagless undies that are my daughters favorites, we are always well-stocked. So, I was thrilled to learn about some steps that Hanes is making to make their products more eco-friendly and contribute to Earth Day by teaming up with the Arbor Day Foundation.

A. How is Hanes working towards being more Eco-friendly? First of all, they have launched Hanes Green (I have sure you have seen some of the news commercials) to share what they are working towards:

*At the end of 2009, approximately 30% of the energy we used came from clean, renewable sources

*Since 2007, our energy efficiency programs have reduced the amount of energy we use to make our products by 11 percent.

*In 2010, we were named an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Partner of the Year

*They currently have 3 LEED certifications and have applied for four more.

*Their CO2 emissions feel 41% for some divisions and thy have reduced they water use per product by 18%.

*Most exciting to me is their current release of the EcoSmart textiles that are made of recycled plastic and other end textile end products that are normally throw away.

B. Partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation From April 1 - May 15, 2010, when you purchase three Hanes products, you will receive a free Earth Day t-shirt with proof of purchase through mail-in redemption. For every t-shirt redeemed, Hanes will make a $1 donation to the Arbor Day Foundation. For every $1 of Hanes donations, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant a tree, up to 20,000 on Hanes' behalf.


Wait, you want to try to win an Earth T-shirt?
To enter: Leave a comment telling me 'What Earth friendly or 'green' practices do you use at home, work or on the road?'

Additional Entries (Null if entry above not completed): These are optional however, you must leave a comment for each one separately.

1. Join the Savor the Thyme Facebook Fan Page and leave a comment with your FB name

2. Follow @savorthethyme on Twitter.

3. Post this on Twitter (can do every day if you wish but need separate comment for each entry) 'Celebrating Earth Day with @savorthethyme & @hanescomfort Giveaway! http://bit.ly/aMwg9s

4. Subscribe to the Savor the Thyme RSS feed (on the right sidebar).

An Evening of Glamour with e.l.f.

A few weeks ago I hosted an evening with many purposes: To spend time with my friends while educating them about Crayons for Cancer and to indulge in long-overdue pampering with an e.l.f Makeup At Home Party. I remember when e.l.f cosmetics first came out many years ago as everything was $1. Since then, they have released two more lines, the Studio and Minerals lines and I was thrilled to share some of the products with my friend.

We started with bare faces and some tried some color they do not usually indulged in as others went all out glam. My daughter also enjoyed some of the shimmery colors and watching all the moms putting on the makeup.

Naturally, there was some great food and wine and I will be posting the recipes for a refreshing Apple Slaw and the best Egg Salad ever created (I swear).

At the end of the evening, each of the women brought home a beauty bag with brushes and some of their favorite e.l.f products. In addition, we packed up some products for one of the moms to send to her sister in-law who is defending our country in Afghanistan.

See the entire Whrrl story for more fun!

Interview with Claire Robinson from Food Network's 5-ingredient Fix

Recently, I was able to interview Claire Robinson from the ‘5-ingredient fix’ on The Food Network. I love watching her cook because she is so personable and I find that I am smiling the entire show as I can see how much fun she is having and how passionate she is about the food she cooks. I also appreciate the minimalism yet flavorful recipes because, as a mom, there is not often time for complex recipes.

Some of the exciting news she shared during this interview was the she is the new host of ‘Food Network Challenge’ (season started April 4th). In addition, her book 5 Ingredient Fix, is being released on October 27th.

We started by bonding over her 'Spiked Weekend smoothies' and then I started asking questions.

1. What are some of your favorite ingredient substitutions? Claire stated that everyone should have Greek Yogurt in the refrigerators at all times as it is so versatile. For example, it is a great and tastier replacement for sour cream. She also enjoys making creamy dressings with it. She also loves using fresh herbs and says that you can easily substitute one for other as long as you substitute leafy for leafy or hard for hard. Meaning, you can swap parsley for basil or thyme for rosemary.

2. What is your favorite snack on the road? She said her Pumpkin Seed Dried Cherry Trail Mix is her obsession. Made me crave my Popcorn Trial Mix.

3. Do you ever feel limited by the 5 ingredient rule or want to sneak one in? Claire Works hard on her recipes and once she has the 5 ingredients she has worked on, the recipe is done and she is proud of it. However, she has played a game with friends where she asks them to guess the five ingredients and if they can not identify them , she questions whether she needs to rework it as maybe it is not the right combination.

Her take home message was that we all need to be 'The Executive Chef of your own homes' so go ahead and use her recipe as the base and feel free to add or edit it to match your own tastes

She also shared the following five essential pantry items and kitchen tools.

Five Essential Pantry Items:

1. A great rubber spatula

2. A great quality pot/pan

3. A great set of knives (paring, serrated, chef or Sandoki was noted)

4. Food Processor

5. Wooden Spoons

Five Essential Kitchen Tools:

1. Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

2. Sugar

3. Quality Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

4. Quality Balsamic Vinegar

5. Varies depending on the season, her mood...said maybe salt & pepper

And finally, Claire reads every comment on her recipes at The Food Network so keep sharing and give her your feedback.

Mushroom, Ham & Peas Alfredo ‘Baked’ Potatoes

Here is another example where some leftovers or a review of the fridge/pantry can result in another great meal. Normally we are not big Alfredo sauce eaters however, the sauce came with the package of Newman's Own goodies for the Family Bites program and this is what I created.

Honestly, I as a bit skeptical as to how the flavors would come together but I loved the result. In fact, it was so good that I wanted to share the recipe with you as a reminder to experiment and to use potatoes and miscellaneous items to create a quick, economical and tasty meal!

In fact, empty the fridge and create a potato bar tonight!

Ingredients (Yields: 4 servings):
4 large potatoes
1 teaspoon olive oil
4 oz mushrooms, sliced
4 oz ham steak, diced
½ cup frozen peas
1 cup Newman’s Own Alfredo Pasta Sauce (or a light version if you can find it)
Chives, diced, optional

Instructions:
1. Place potatoes into a large microwavable bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the microwave for 8 minutes. Using a knife, pierce the potato. If it is still firm in the center, microwave another two minutes

2. Preheat pan to medium high with 1 teaspoon oil. Add the mushrooms and ham steak and reduce the heat to medium. Sauté until mushrooms and ham until browned.

3. Reduce heat to low, add the Alfredo Pasta Sauce and peas and allow to simmer gently until warmed and thickened.

4. Pour the sauce over the Potato and top with chives if you wish.

Cleaning your Produce and Saving Money with the Oxo Salad Spinner & Giveaway

When you come home from the super market, do you place all of your lettuce, fruits, vegetables and herbs right in the refrigerator? You can greatly lengthen the time the items are fresh and in turn, save yourself money by cleaning them first. I do this for many of the items using a Salad Spinner.

Let me start off by telling you that not only do I show you how to use the salad spinner in the video below but I also want to tell you why I have this items in my OpenSky Shop: because it is a great value. This is a product that I have used for 10 years and it has proven itself invaluable. See how.

Not only do I want to save you money on produce, but I also want to save you $27 by giving one Salad Spinner away! That's right, simply click here to be entered to win! When you do so, you will also receive a 10% off coupon as well!

In case you are wondering why I opened a shop with Opensky, it's because it is my Shop. They asked me to choose items that I am passionate about and told me how they are a passionate company: passionate about their shop keepers, product quality and customer service.

I also wonder what else you would use the salad spinner for?

Crayons for Cancer

Recently, I have become involved in an organization called 'Crayons for Cancer' which raises funds to help families with kids currently battling Cancer. This is done by taking broken, unused crayons, removing the paper, sorting them by color, melting them and pouring it into molds. The resulting crayons are then packaged and sold for $1 a bag.

100% of the proceeds from Crayons for Cancer goes to Children's Hospitals to support their Oncology Units. Current partners are: Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Minneapolis Children's Hospital and the Hasbro Children's Hospital. The funds help in two ways:

1. Family Funds help families cope with their child’s illnesses by off-setting the cost of parking and meals while they stay at the hospital.

2. Treasure Chests where young patients go to choose prizes after enduring tough chemotherapy, radiation treatments and/or blood tests.

Please watch the video below and consider becoming involved in this organization by going to crayonsforcancer.org or email kmtokarski@yahoo.com or savorthethyme@cox.net

‘Bruscetta’ Pizza Salad OR ‘Panzanella’ Pizza Salad?

Although the frequency of leftover pizza may be close to null in your house, I created a fun snack on the fly while cleaning out the fridge a few weeks ago. We had some lovely mesclun mix, pizza and a little bit of balsamic reduction/syrup. I know you will not believe me but the kids loved it (except when my son was irritated by a falling piece of lettuce).

So, you tell me: ‘Bruscetta’ Pizza Salad OR ‘Panzanella’ Pizza Salad?



Ingredients:
Quality frozen pizza, cut into thin slices (I used Newman's Own Margherita Thin & Crispy Pizza)
Organic Mesclun Mix (or any lettuce)
Balsamic Reduction Sauce/Syrup (or dressing but you may wish to toss salad in it first to avoid drips)

Directions:
Remove the refrigerator, slice it, top with salad and syrup. Yum!

FYI: The best way to slice pizza is by using a pizza wheel. You avoid the tearing and uneven slicing that results from using a knife. I also use my pizza wheel when making chicken strips and cutting up brownies

Eating your Words 2010 - The Winner

The wait is over! Tracey and I are beyond excited to announce that Chef Andrew Zimmern has chosen as the winner of Eating your Words 2010: The Meyer Lemon SCRABBLE COOKIES from Caroline of When Adobo Met Feijoada !

Caroline is the winner of the amazing and highly coveted aebleskiver pan courtesy of Aunt Else's Aebleskiver! Her winning entry will also be featured on Chef Zimmern's Blog (link to be added once post is up)



We asked Chef Zimmern to 'spell out' his decision making process and he answered:
1) "Zimmern" is worth almost 100 points in Scrabble.
2) I respect the artist's restraint. With the remaining letters, I would have been tempted to spell "wiener" and/or "poop."
3) Who doesn't like Meyer lemon cookies?
4) Hello Mister Zimmern, Pick Me.... Simply genius

Bravo! (speaking of Bravo he is a guest judge in this season of Top Chef Masters)

Honorable mentions include:
The MAGNETIC POETRY KIT COOKIES by Meaghan from The Decorated Cookie

SPELLING WITH SUSHI by Phyllis and Kris, me_HUNGRY!



THE ART OF MAKING CREAM OF MUSHROOM (AND CHICKEN) SOUP, NOT INSPIRED FROM THE CAN by Sanura, My Life Runs on Food



We wish to thank each and every one of you who entered and a huge thank you to Chef Zimmern and Aunt Else's Aebleskiver!!

Interview with Melissa d'Arabian of Food Network's Ten Dollar Dinners

In August 2009, Melissa d'Arabian won season five of The Next Food Network Star, and is now the host of 10 Dollar Dinners on The Food Network. Melissa is a mom of 4 preschool-aged girls and is an amazing cook. On her show Ten Dollar Dinners, (airs Sundays at 12:30 EST) she shows us how to make tasty recipes for four people and under ten bucks.



I had the honor in being able to take part in an interview of Melissa but before I asked her questions, she shared some of her favorite recipes, money-saving tips, and unique ideas for a memorable and exciting Easter including Baked Ham with Spiced Cherry Glaze, Easter Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting and some brunch recipes I share below.



I am assuming that you are a meal planner and now that you have a very busy schedule with the show, do you have any added tips for managing your time?

She said 'Go back to the basics'. Make the foods that you and your family enjoy and switch things up. She plans her menus when she is on planes if need be, often cooks them in advance with clear instructions for when she is away. She reinterated that it is harder now that she is working and can get caught more easily in the 'Wait, What is for Dinner?' scenario so many of us find ourselves in. Sometimes meal planning can be as simple as looking in refridgerator or freezer or seeing what needs to be used up and making the meal from there.

What is the one food that your girls eat that surprises you? Pate, especially mousse. One daughter loves the finest, expensive stuff but since her husband is French, they enjoy that the girls enjoy pate.

Do you read ingredients labels on packaged foods and are there certain things you avoid? Yes, as she tries avoid MSG in the families diet since her body can not tolerate it at all. She also tries to avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup but believes in moderation. She loves cooking for her family so does not use packaged items frequently.

Random Fact: She loves her Magic Bullet.

In case you have boiled eggs left from Easter, Melissa has shared two great recipes to utilize those leftovers (talk about stretching a buck!):
Egg and Roasted Garlic Cream Cheese Baguette & Asparagus with Tangy-Smoky Dressing

Whole Wheat Panko Breaded Tilapia with Vegetable Relish

Sometimes, you want to make a meal look a bit fancier, when the truth is that you are really using up some vegetables and running low on time. This recipe may seem like it takes lots of effort, but I swear, after a bit of assembly line prep, it is rather quick but looks time-consuming.

Savory tips:
a. Make the relish while the fish is in the oven.
b. Use white panko crumbs if that is all you have
c. Whisk together your own o.o. & vinegar if you do not have an appropriate dressing



Ingredients (4 servings):
¾ cups whole wheat Panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
¼ c grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
Olive oil cooking spray
¼ cup frozen corn, thawed
½ red pepper, minced
½ green pepper, minced
1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped
1/3 cup Newman's Own Olive Oil & Vinegar Dressing (or make your own o.o. & vinegar)

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Prepare breading by combining bread crumbs, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.

3. Place lemon juice in a bowl and a cooling rack in a baking pan.

4. Create the following ‘assembly line’: lemon juice, breading, cooling rack. Spray the cooling rack with cooking spray.

5. Dip the fish into the lemon juice, and then coat both sides with the breading and place onto the rack. Repeat until all 4 pieces are done.

6. Bake for 18 -20 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish.

7. While the fish is baking, prepare the relish by combining the corn, peppers, parsley and dressing in a bowl and mix well.

8. Place relish over fish when serving.

My favorite prep bowls are the break and chip-resistant ones that I offer in my OpenSky shop. They are also microwave safe, 'nest' together for neat, easy storage and are Dishwasher & freezer safe. Brilliant!

Rhode Island Food Bloggers / Great American Bake Sale

I am so excited that I will be part of the first National Food Bloggers Bake Sale (part of the Great American Bake Sale and heading the sale in the state of Rhode Island. This sale raises money for Share Our Strength (SOS), a national organization fighting to end childhood hunger in the United States. In addition, after the severe flooding and newly homeless children and families in RI, many will need this support more than ever.

The bake sale will take place on Saturday, April 17th, from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at The Pizza Place Restaurant at 43 Broad Street in downtown Westerly, RI. If you have not eaten here before, you must try the amazing pizzas and salads (I am nuts about the chopped pasta salad)

Can't make it? No problem as you can donate here!

Also, let me tempt you with some of the planned offerings: corn muffins, pumpkin bread, biscotti, chocolate covered pretzels, fresh breads, whoopie pies and more!



I would love for you to join us to bake, sell or by coming down to buy some tasty food. You can contact me by:
Email: savorthethyme@cox.net
Twitter @savorthethyme
Facebook Fan Page

If you are from another state and want to sign up to host a bake sale in your area, or join a bake sale, Gaby from What’s Gaby Cooking has a list of food bloggers and their contact information.

Eating your Words 2010 Round Up

Thanks goodness we have unlimited long distance because Tracey and I have spent hours talking about this challenge: the amazing entries, our excitement, the prize and the judge, Chef Zimmern! We are truly blown away by the creativity and energy you have all put into this challenge.

We plan to announce the winner as soon as Chef Zimmern himself looks at every single one! So hold tight and without further ado, the round-up, Part I

In honor of the New Year, Smita shows off her amazing talent and joy of playing with food! ( WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 12 ) TOMATO N BEET SOUP WITH FLAVORED SAVORY INDIAN CRACKERS by Smita (#2), Little Food Junction.



Carrots, Beans & Fusilli Pasta create 'words' that express her gratitude to her teachers: (HAPPY TEACHERS DAY) , VEGETABLE RICE N PAPAD WITH SALAD by Smita (#3), Little Food Junction.




Leela of She Simmers needed a creation that would unify the cultures of her guests and offend noone, so as inspired by the sweetness of honey when she created BAKED SPRING ROLLS WITH SPICED HONEY-NUT FILLING



Pie + cupcake + 4 year old cuteness = Amazing BANANA CREAM PUPCAKES by Joie de Vivre, Joie de Vivre: An Amateur Gourmet’s Guide.



Natasha of 5 Star Foodie Culinary Adventures spotted 5 ripe bananas on her counter and decided to skip the standard banana bread and thrill the family with the BANANA SPLIT



Phyllis and Kris of me_HUNGRY took this fruit known for it's potent scent and turned it into an amazing dessert that would tempt even the biggest scaredy-cat with BLACK RICE PUDDING WITH DURIAN CUSTARD & DURIAN COOKIE LETTERS: A DESSERT FOR DURIAN HATERS (AND THE UNINITIATED) !



BLOOD ORANGE MACARONS WITH CHAMPAGNE/MASCARPONE GANACHE by Mardi Michels, Eat.Live.Travel.Write.



Malou from Skip to Malou put her thinking cap on and headed to her art lab (a.k.a. kitchen) and came out with this amazing 'burger' titled BURGER OUTSIDE THE BOX



Now this is the way to get my attention! Maybe I will use this idea to write 'Please' to my husband before I mention going to the mall. CHOCOLATE SWIRL BARK by Phyllis (#2), me_HUNGRY!.



Egypt's answer to American Chili...kind of, sort of.....learn more about EGYPTIAN KOSHARI by Dee, Texas to Mexico.



Have your drink and eat it to! GUINNESS CUPCAKES WITH BAILEY’S IRISH CREAM FROSTING by Jeanne, Simple Math Bakery.



You will never look at Ritz Crackers in the same way again: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY FAUX MINTS by Kathryn, Crafts and Creations with KMOM14.



Shirley was determined to to how us why we should play with our food more often a did so by spelling out her blog name GFE - Gluten Free Easily using HONEY-SWEETENED CORN MUFFINS




Wine & Chocolate = INSIDE-OUT EGGS by Aiofe, The Daily Spud. Find out how this brilliant creation came to be from one of our alumni's.



JELLY BEAN DIVA by Diva on a Diet from Beach Eats has made me crave jelly beans so badly that I may throw a diva-worthy fit if the Easter Bunny does not bring some.



My favorite cookie designer in the world has topped herself again!! These MAGNETIC POETRY KIT COOKIES by Meaghan from The Decorated Cookie are to die for. If you want to see incredible creativity with cookies/sweets, than you need to add this site to your favorites!



A comfort food disguised as an amazing dessert? Yes, it is the MEATLOAF DINNER CAKE by Veeda, White Lotus Cooks ! I call dibs on the crispy shallots.



I want to work in this office if this is the birthday cake I could expect:
ORANGE COOKIES & CHOCOLATE BLACKOUT CAKE by Nachiketa, The Variable.



As if I needed another reason to play one of my favorite board games, Caroline from When Adobo Met Feijoada made meyer lemon sugar 'letter's for her SCRABBLE COOKIES submission.


TWISTED BREADSTICKS by Jennifer of Bread + Butter stuffed this sough with cheese! This is my idea of a happy snack.



WHOLE WHEAT SOFT PRETZELS by Lori of Fake Food Free already loved pretzels but once she learned of their association with Lent, she knew they would be a part of this Easter season.



For the rest of the Round-Up, head over to Tangled Noodle