The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches: Croque-Monsieur

Susan Russo of Foodblogga has been a very busy woman lately!  Last year she co-wrote Recipes Every Man Should Know and now she has another cookbook for those of us who love adding to our collections!  If you enjoy a good sandwich, her latest offering may be just the cookbook you need.

Each recipe in The Enclyclopedia of Sandwiches (scheduled for release on April 5th) is introduced from a historical perspective - where appropriate - as well as a mouth-watering description.  Not only are the descriptions hard to resist, but the photos by Matt Armendariz of Matt Bites will have you drooling within moments.

Another Banana Bread Recipe

I think I've got a problem... I can't stop trying new Banana Bread recipes!  I've posted so many here before, and yet... I keep searching for new recipes.  It's really not that hard to find yet, another banana bread to make, everyone has a favorite recipe.  Each one has a slight variation from every other recipe you will find.

My Oldest has loved banana bread for as long as I can remember.  So, when he asked if I had any in the freezer so he could have some... I had to tell him something he didn't want to hear - I was out!  I went through a bit of a baking burnout and he still kept eating the banana bread and eventually it was all gone.

Eat.Live.Be. - Lunch & Finishing another 5k

I'm so happy to be able to share that I completed my 2nd 5k race this weekend!  I beat my time from the first one by 4 minutes, which makes me beyond thrilled!  Even better was that the reason for this 5k was to benefit a local family who lost their little 3 year old daughter just a few months ago.  For such a young little girl, she fought hard to battle against an inoperable brain tumor on her brain stem.  It is such a heartbreaking story and no parents should have to go through what they did over the past year. 

Finger Food for Dinner: Spinach & Sausage Puffs

This week has been filled with studying and homework each night.  Don't tell anyone, but I'm kind of happy that we have't gotten back into sports just yet... it will happen soon enough.  I am fully enjoying coming home at the end of the day and having time to help My Boys study for their upcoming tests.  When the activities are in full swing, it never feels like we have time to get everything done.  This week has not felt rushed at home- for a change.

Eat.Live.Be. - A Day in the Life

Toward the end of last week we had a real taste of spring with a 70 degree day, only to drop to the 50's over the weekend... and when we were leaving today Mother Nature offerred up another bit of snow to keep us from getting too excited.  Boo!  I'm over Winter and so very ready for warmer weather and ditching the bulky coats and sweaters.

So, we have made it to another Monday and that means it's time for my Eat.Live.Be. post.  This week we are all sharing a peek into a day in our lives - to show how we are incorporating those healthy changes we began working on 12 weeks ago. 

Get Your Green On! Happy St. Patty's Day!

It's been a crazy week!  I made a fantastic meal on Monday night... no recipe, no photos.  Boo!  But, everyone enjoyed it and I will make it again so, once I get some photos I'll tell you what I did!  I also tried Zumba at a PTA fundraiser and had a fabulous time!  I'm looking forward to next week's class, but need to find time to get some outdoor running in since my 5k is coming very soon. 

So, with all that going on I thought it would be fun to share some fantastic posts on St. Pat's Day food and treats today!  I don't make a lot of green or Irish food but I found some blogging friends who have some fabulous posts written that might inspire you to try something new on this day that we all claim to be Irish!

Janet, who writes LaDue & Crew is a great foodie friend (and lives much TOO far away from me!) made this amazing Thin Mint and Irish Cream Tiramisu!  Can't go wrong with any of those words in the name, right? 

A new foodie friend is Laphemmephoodie!  Don't you just love that name?  She's a sweetheart and has shared a Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread.  I love how there is always a way to make something to suit anyone's diet these days.  Doesn't it look wonderful?

Now we have Megan's Cookin'!  I've "known" Megan since I my earliest days of blogging.  She's such a fabulous foodie who is always looking to try something new!  For this special day (and to celebrate Pi Day earlier this week), she made Irish Beef Hand Pies! 

One final post to share from Aggie's Kitchen.  I'm so envious of her fabulous weather in Florida!  She makes amazing healthy meals for her family but, I must say her Guinness Braised Beef Sandwiches seem a bit more indulgent!  Definitely one to add to your "to try" list to enjoy while watching the March Madness.

Enjoy today and may the Luck of the Irish be yours!  I'll be back soon with something I've cooked up- I promise! 



All photos in this post are from the original bloggers post by their permission.  Please go visit them today and leave a comment to show them some St. Patty's Day love!

Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.
 

Eat.Live.Be. - Still Motivated?

Wow, another week is gone and we are a bit closer to the start of Spring!  We've already suffered through our first Monday morning of waking up an hour earlier than we'd like... but, those extra hours of daylight will be so wonderful - once we get used to it!

This week, the Eat.Live.Be. bloggers are discussing keeping the motivation going. As we all know, getting started in any healthy change starts with a bang and then often fizzles out within a few weeks (less for some).  I find starting this kind of challenge in the Winter particularly difficult, I want to snuggle up in a blanket and read or veg out catching up on some of my favorite shows.  So, yes, the last few weeks have been tough to stick to my workout schedule.  The healthy eating has been easier because I'm eating smaller portions.  If I can keep my workouts in line, then I know the losses at the scale (and inches) will start to go a bit faster and be more noticeable.

Quick Pizza Puffs (Kid-Friendly!)

Last night, it was just me and My Boys since My Husband was invited to go watch a basketball game with a couple of friends.  Dinner on nights like that is usually something simple as I take it as a chance to do something a bit less involved. 

I had picked up a few things at the grocery last weekend with an idea in mind as to how I would use them.  Some shredded mozzarella, pizza sauce, mini pepperoni and crescent rolls.  Nothing too crazy, but I was thinking I could do some kind of "stuffed" pizza puff for dinner.  And a bonus was that the crescent rolls had double Box Tops on them! 

Fortunately, my idea paid off really well!  In the time it took to preheat the oven to 375 degrees, I had the crescents seperated and filled with the pizza ingredients.  Once I had them rolled up, I baked them until they were golden brown. 

Can you see the cheese oozing out of them?  I got major compliments from My Oldest - the one who used to eat anything and has suddenly decided to become picky!  He told me these were a "definite make again" meal.  I only made one tube of the crescent rolls this time, but imagine doubling it up next time would be a good idea... they would also make a fantastic appetizer to share when watching March Madness (if you are into that kind of thing... I'm not, but I won't judge you!) or any time you are gathering with friends.

Quick Pizza Puffs
Source: Patsyk Original

Ingredients
1 tube (8 crescent rolls) Pillsbury crescent rolls
about 1 cup shredded mozzerella
about 1/4 cup pizza sauce
handful of mini pepperoni (or you could cut the larger ones into pieces)

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  While the oven preheats, cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil.  Then, open the can of crescent rolls and separate into the perforated triangles.  Add a small amount of pizza sauce to each triangle - about 1-2 teaspoons (much more will make them soggy).  Then, add the pepperoni pieces to each triangle - about 5-6 pieces.  Sprinkle generously with shredded mozzarella.

Starting at the widest end of the triangle, roll up (carefully!).  Bake for 12-15 minutes  - until golden brown.  Allow to cool slightly, serve warm!


Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.
 

Wordless Wednesday: Geometry? Seriously?

I don't remember learning geometry in 3rd grade math... and, I am the first to admit that I was far from a star student when I did have to take a class in it in high school.  So, you can imagine when I am helping my 3rd grader with homework lately how long it must take!  He seems to get it, which helps, but I am always amazed at the advanced levels of math they are introduced to in elementary school!  He has a test tomorrow and it was his idea to write up flash cards to study tonight.

I guess I finally found a reason to have paid more attention when I took the class all those years ago... who knew that the "real world" application I'd have would be helping my kids with their homework!

Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.
 

Martha's Chocolate Devil's Food Cupcakes

Last weekend I was in the mood to bake.  I didn't want to bake more cookies though... I've had this cookbook staring at me for much too long and it was time to crack it open and dive in and try something.  The perfect opportunity presented itself in the form of a double playdate at our house, which means I am home for more time than normal on a weeked.  This translates to time to bake something fun!

Eat.Live.Be. - Required Reading & Check-in Time

This week, it's time for a check-in to see where all of the Eat.Live.Be. bloggers are in their quest for a healthier year.  February was a tough month when it came to exercise... meaning, I think I missed more workouts than I should have.  I could make a million and one excuses, but it all comes down to not being as committed as I was in January. 

ShopRite Potluck Blog $25 Challenge!

Recently, ShopRite issued all of the Potluck Bloggers to feed their family with $25.  Want to see how I did with the challenge? 

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday: Winter Getaway to Cancun

 The reason for the recent quiet here?  A Winter getaway to warm, sunny Cancun!  Here are a few photos from our trip:

This first one was taken by My Oldest... I loved that he thought that looking up into the palapa was kinda cool.

We ate dinner at this wonderful restaurant on the bay side at the outdoor mall, La Isla, several times... mainly because the sunset was so gorgeous!

 

 Loved the way this fountain looked with the sun setting behind it.

A day at the Interactive Aquarium... I love that My Youngest insisted on reading the details posted near the different animals.  He's very into science and said he already knew most of the facts already.

We saw these little guys just about everywhere we went!  I think this shot was taken during our visit to Tulum.

This is the view from the cliff where the Tulum ruins are located... so stunning!  Many people went down to the beach to take a dip in the water.

With such a brutally cold and snowy Winter here in NJ, we needed to escape to somewhere warm!  I am a warm weather person, so I needed a "taste" of it and it seems so did the rest of my family.  It was a perfect week away together, and it makes me look forward to more family vacations like it!

Please note that all photos and content belong to Patsy Kreitman, unless otherwise noted. If you want to use something please ask first.

A Touch of Sunshine in a Dessert (Fresh Fruit Tart)

 The other day, I got the baking bug.  I haven't baked anything terribly interesting in awhile, and it is something I enjoy.  I want to be able to prepare beautiful desserts to share with family and friends.  I posted a question on the Family, Friends and Food Facebook page and on Twitter asking what everyone's favorite thing to bake is and was inspired by my friend Janet (LaDue & Crew) to make a tart.

I have always loved the look of tarts... whether they are fresh fruit or full of creamy chocolate filling and sprinkled with fresh raspberries.  Then, Janet sent me a link to a tart she made last year that was stunning and had me jotting down the ingredients so that I can make my own version of it.