sweet potato fries

the other day at the natural foods market i found local sweet potatoes.  upon seeing them i knew what i wanted to make - baked sweet potato fries.

when i started peeling them, i noticed something peculiar.  the flesh was not bright orange, as i am accustomed to, it was pearly white.  hmmm...intriguing...

don't worry, they tasted amazing - even better than the orange-colored fries i've made before.  i'm not sure if it was the fact that they were fresh & local or perhaps white-fleshed sweet potatoes are just better, but they were seriously the sweetest sweet potatoes i've ever enjoyed.

1 large sweet potato (will make 2 hearty side portions or 4 small servings)
1-2 tsp olive oil
salt & cracked pepper
red curry

preheat oven to 400

1. peel the potato and cut into 1/4 in sticks

2. place on an oiled baking sheet and spray/drizzle with more olive oil

one of my favorite cooking tools -  my olive oil mister

3. season with salt, pepper and curry and give them a light toss

4. make sure fries are laying flat on the baking sheet, and bake for 25-35 min until golden brown, flipping fries 1/2 way through

we enjoyed ours with an easy dipping sauce i whipped up quickly.

1 part bbq sauce
4 parts salsa

i used honey bbq for subtle sweetness and corn & chipotle salsa for a little smoky heat.  yum!

p.s. oh happy day is giving away a 7 day trip to PARIS for 2!  enter {here}

sparkle

remember how last week i put a teaser in my m.i.a. post about a product that craig & i are developing?  well, today - yes, TODAY - is the official launch!

as i said before, it's a beauty product that capitalizes on a major fad right now, and i gave you one  clue.  ok, one clue: "pale will be the new tan".

drum roll please..........

www.sparklesunscreen.com

sparkle sunscreen is lotion with spf 30 & glitter - to make you both pale and dazzling - just like the vampires from the ever popular twilight saga : )  cool right?

the 100ml tube is only $9.95 and available exclusively online at www.SparkleSunscreen.com.  it's a limited quantity product so if you're a twi-hard, or know one, act fast because it'll only be available for a limited time.

i hope that you visit the sparkle site or follow us on twitter or like us on facebook.  or all three!

if you're a hardcore fan, you may even want to grab the sparkle button below - created by yours-truly.  so, spread the word & get your sparkle on : )




<center><a href="http://sparklesunscreen.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb403/cailenascher/sparklebitemebutton.jpg" /></a></center>

t-shirt necklace how-to

i found this project about a year back and have been making these funky, t-shirt necklaces ever since.  i love pashminas and scarves, but they're a little heavy for summer.  these necklaces work great all-year round' and you're guaranteed compliments when you wear one.  they are the perfect casual accessory and add a bit of pizazz to a simple t-shirt & jeans kinda outfit.  plus, they're simple to make...and they're "green".  simply fabulous, if you ask me.

supplies:
t-shirt (preferably one you already own, so you can "recycle" it)
scissors
needle & thread

total time: 15 min

cut t-shirt into strips

stretch the cut loops, reserving the hem of the t-shirt for later

stretched loops (and hem to the left of the picture)

gather loops

bring opposite sides together

tie one end with hem

allow for a 5-6" gap and tie other end with hem

wrap extra hem fabric back around itself

once you reach the end of the hem fabric, stitch it in place to keep it from unraveling

voila!  lovely t-shirt necklace : )

wear with a smile

m.i.a.

i know i've been a little m.i.a. lately.  my 5 posts per week have dropped to 2 or 3.  but, the truth is, some very exciting things are on the horizon that have diverting my attention elsewhere (momentarily).  i figured i might as well fill you all in on what's going on since you're probably wondering where i've been...

see, i'm still here!

(1) i'm developing (along with craig's business guidance) a very cool product that should be launching within the next couple of weeks.  this beauty product that we've been working on capitalizes on a major fad right now, so we're really excited to see where it goes.  (i know that's a tease, but i'll certainly keep you all posted as to when it's available!  ok, one clue.  pale will be the new tan.)  want to be notified when the product site launches?  leave your email address in a comment below.

(2) i've been contacting publishers about a cookbook i'm writing, entitled vegetables & vodka.  it highlights healthy (veggie-based) dinner recipes & low-cal cocktails to promote a life of healthy balance.  i'm also working with fellow lifestyle and healthy living bloggers to gather recipe submissions for the final book.  thanks to you all for your interest and contributions!!!

(3) lifestyle maven is starting a movement.  the maven movement promotes "cutting the crap" - on your plate, in your head and in your life.  it's meant to empower women to take charge and simplify their lifestyle and food choices in order to cultivate health and unearth happiness.  and, of course, be simply fabulous, too.  (see the button to the left just below my picture?  give it a click for more info.)

so, mavens, you can see why i've been a little preoccupied lately.  i hope you'll forgive my absence and stay tuned for all the simply fabulous things that await.

cheers!
cailen

al fresco vs. picnic {guest post}

Before beginning, I’d like to say thanks to my sweet daughter, Cailen, for being so kind as to actually ask me to write every so often.   I must admit that I enjoy it, but I find her a hard act to follow!  Thank you, Cai.  Many of the images here are as pretty as they are because of your helping hands!  xo  Mom

 

We are a family of foodies.  We appreciate the nuances of fabulous fine dining, but we also relish a quiet evening at home with soup by the fire.  Happily, this time of year offers up countless possibilities for another kind of ‘dining experience’.  To this, I give you….

Picnic  - A meal eaten outdoors, as on an excursion (could involve a hike) an occasion when you take a meal with you to eat outside in an informal way, or the food itself

our picnic in beaune, france

Al fresco  -  Implies the presence of some nearby structure (one does not hike al fresco) out-of-doors; in the open air: to dine alfresco.

I’m sure you see where we’re going here, either way you’re eating outdoors.  And this generally conjures up just a bit, however small, of a festive atmosphere.  We’ve just finished May and June is upon us.  It’s a good time of year to enjoy some fresh air while enjoying your meal!

concert under the stars (craig, mom, me, dad)

We’re fortunate to have a large wrap-around porch with an old table that seats 4-6.  We take our meals out to enjoy the breezes and birds in the morning hours, the sounds of farm tractors or mowers in the afternoon, and the stars, crickets and candlelight in the evenings.  

But a porch doesn’t have to be the setting, al fresco is wonderful and memorable on a tiny deck, a patio that needs some work (candlelight glow makes all things prettier!), or on a level patch of lawn under a tree – or use a beach umbrella if you don’t have a tree!  Think about outdoor cafés…there’s a great energy about them that makes a meal more like a little event.  And most of us tend to feel relaxed and pleased about eating that tuna on rye outside. 

me (cailen) & cate

Keep your al fresco meals simple, and your picnics simpler yet.  This is not necessarily the time to try an elaborate recipe.  Assemble some of your favorites, relying on dishes that will be fine without immediate refrigeration.   A side pasta dish with olive oil is a much better choice than one with mayo.  Simple is good, yes, but with just a bit of pizzazz if possible.  A great roasted shrimp and polenta meal makes for a special night of al fresco dining, and a shrimp po’boy is quite a special picnic.

Al fresco should, in my mind, be nicely elevated to include dishes, flatware and glasses.  Not that you’re setting the table for four courses, but just that you use tableware that is non-disposable.  Just plate up your meal inside if that works best (no platters or side bowls to wash later) and carry out your yummy repast with your favorite beverage.  If you feel more inclined, and there are more than just a couple of people, platter up and take everything out.  You’ll have more to do in cleanup, but it’s nice to have your food on the table when you have guests.   And, don’t forget the candles.

my aunt, erin (my cousin) & my uncle

Picnics seem to often involve the proverbial picnic table or blanket, or both.  Finding the best table under the trees, or the comfiest looking spot in the grass becomes a hunt in earnest.  Goodies, hand-held and otherwise, are tucked away in backpacks, wicker baskets and plastic coolers.  Break out the cold bevs/brews and then begin the job of setup.  Hopefully, if you’re organized, it won’t become theatrical.  And, disposable is a good thing here.  The less you have to carry back - after eating, playing ball, drinking, flying a kite (some people still do this), eating some more and then sitting around talking and laughing - is just a gift to yourself.  And, don’t forget the ‘organic/natural’ bug spray.

picnic in beaune, france

So think about an easy meal to prepare, and get creative with your al fresco set up or your picnic accompaniments.  A vintage or retro tablecloth will make your salads look magazine worthy - and a great chutney will just make that hotdog sing!

Bon Appetit! and my best to all, Janet

la beauté

la beauté est dans la rue.  translation - the beauty is in the street.  my take away - beauty is found in the journey and be open to unexpected moments of grace.

credit {here}

craig and i often walk with our little dog, olive, on nice evenings.  the other night, we went into doylestown, as we often do, and parked in the residential section of town near the library and local art museum.  as we meandered along, i spotted a lonely book on a bench.  as we approached, we realized it had been left there on purpose.  the book - an old anthology of robert frost poems - was tied with yarn and had a note attached.  "to finder - la beauté est dans la rue." 

i picked up the book and removed the yarn.  upon opening it, we realized that a secret compartment had been created by removing some of the interiors of the pages in the 2nd half of the book.  a note there read "place secrets here." 

i don't know who put it there, but, as the finder, i looked upon this find as a true treasure.  how lovely.  a gift from a stranger.

it's always interesting where we find unexpected moments of beauty & grace.  today, i attended an "upper level" yoga class.  a yoga teacher had recommended trying the class weeks ago, but she said it might be a little advanced for me, so i kept putting it off.  i was afraid of feeling lost and out-of-place.  i was afraid of looking foolish.

today at 9:30am i finally went to the anusara class, and it was fabulous.  i could keep up (enough) to feel at ease but challenged enough to keep me alert and engaged.  and now, i wish i hadn't put it off for so long.  i kept myself from going because of unfounded worry and negative thoughts - and now that all seems so foolish and inconsequential.

i encourage all of you to look for moments of beauty & grace.  rise to the occasion.  embrace the unexpected.  breathe through it.  and let go.  allow la beauté to reveal itself...because it was always there...

recipe for a looong weekend

friday evening

• happy hour at bobby’s (more bobby's fun here)
• sushi at 86 west

saturday morning

• vinyasa yoga class

saturday afternoon

• visits to garden centers to gather veggies to plant in garden

• then once back at home plant lettuce, tomatoes, peppers & zucchini.  some of our garden is in the shade so I was on the hunt for vegetables that do well in partial shade – lettuce being one of them.  other semi-shade-tolerate veggies?  beans, peas, root veggies like potatoes and carrots, brussels sprouts, kale, spinach and herbs.

saturday evening

• fire up the grill (steak for craig, veggies for me)
• grill-top veggie packets: cube potatoes, red bell peppers and any other veggies you like.  (i added green onion and whole garlic cloves to ours.)  sprinkle with salt & pepper.  season with fresh herbs & spices.  drizzle with olive oil.  place in a foil packet.  cook over medium heat on covered grill for 20-30 min or until potatoes are tender.  

olive & craig

• craig set up a table and chairs in our back yard and we enjoyed dinner al fresco while olive played in the yard.  simply fabulous.

sunday morning

• walk in doylestown with olive.  even at 9am it was HOT!

• back home for breakfast and to get ready to head over to my parents' for memorial day weekend fun

sunday afternoon

• chillin’ outside and visiting with family while olive played with her buddies, colby & duncan

sunday evening

• meet with cate & chad for drinks in lambertville (they’re just 3 weeks from their wedding so there was a lot of excitement in the air)
• if you find yourself in lambertville, nj and go to libations for drinks, order a “tight dress” – a delicious vodka & champagne cocktail

monday morning

• low key morning – prepped some sides for our memorial day dinner

• quinoa with sautéed red onions, mushrooms & fresh thyme
• red cabbage & carrot slaw with sesame dressing

 monday afternoon

• head over to erin & brian’s for lunch and swimming (and delicious drinks)

• spiked arnold palmer: 1 shot sweet tea vodka over ice, topped with lemonade.  they were honestly a little too good.

monday evening

• back to mom & dad’s for casual outdoor dinner
• homemade turkey burgers with mom’s basil & pinenut pesto
• two salads – quinoa and slaw (that hannah and i made earlier)
• fresh greens (from our garden)
• sweet cherries

lovely long weekend.  how was your weekend?