CityMama™

Lamb, asparagus and other tasty recipes on Delish.com

Hey everyone!

Bunny hop on over to my Cooking Mama column on MSN's Delish.com, and there you will find:

• An easy lamb recipe that you can make this weekend!
• A savory white asparagus side dish
• My technique for perfect hard-boiled eggs (no nasty gray center!)
• And a delicious recipe for a Roman-style clam sauce spaghetti: spaghetti alle vongole
  

Buon appetito!

A call for your favorite Crock-Pot recipes!

Though I have a recipe featured in Stephanie O'Dea's best-selling slow-cooker cookbook, Make It Fast, Cook It Slow, I've never been much of a Crock-Potter.  Yes, I love slow cooked dishes and braises, but I've always managed just fine with my Dutch ovens which can go from stove to a low oven and be left alone for several hours.

Recently though, with my increasingly hectic work schedule and a ramp up in the girls' afterschool activities, I thought that having a Crock-Pot might be nice. I must have unintentionally put my intentions out into the universe, because one well-timed PR pitch later, I am the recipient of a beautiful, new Designer Series 6 quart Crock-Pot.

Stephanie's cookbook will provide lots of inspiration for what to do with it, but I would love to hear from you (because I KNOW you have Crock-Pot favorites).  What do you use your slow cooker for? What healthy (and, yes, Weight Watchers-friendly) soups, stews, and chilis are tried and true? What to-die-for vegetarian dishes have you made? Do you have suggestions for fancy dinner party fare to potluck fabulousness?  Please let me know! It will not only benefit me but everyone who comments before and after you.

One caveat, however. I like to keep our meals as minimally processed as possible so I'm more likely to prepare recipes made from fresh, whole ingredients. Extra bonus points for authentic ethnic recipes made Crock-Pot-friendly. That being said, sometimes, a jar of grape jelly and a bottle of chili sauce needs to meet a bag of frozen turkey meatballs, you know? That's the beauty of being a Libra.

Note: The Crock-Pot was free to me, though you can pick one up for about $65. I will use it to cook your recipes and write about the experience. I am not being paid to write about Crock-Pot awesomeness, nor was any writing expected in exchange for receiving this item. I'm a person with a family who loves to cook. If this gadget helps make mealtime easier, then: bonus. I'll let you know how it goes.

Bay Area Savvy Savings and Scholarships Deal of the Week: Habitot!

The Savvy Source is a client of mine (I'm paid to promote this deal), and we recently launched a new "deals" program similar to Groupon or W00t.com.  Local families get great deal on things like museum memberships or activities and money is raised for their (your) favorite preschool (select at checkout) and for Savvy's "preschool for all" scholarship program.

This week's deal is a 5-visit pass to Habitot Children's Museum for $35 (pass admits up to three), regularly $128, a savings of 54%

We're soon to launch similar programs in Los Angeles, Dallas, San Diego, and Boston!  If you're a blogger, editor of a local deals site, or a preschool owner/board member who'd like to earn money for yourself or your organization (5% of proceeds) by helping to spread the word, please email me at stefania at clevergirlscollective dot com.

Please spread the word!

The Details

• Good for up to three people per visit
• Coupon cannot be combined with other gift certificates, coupons, or promotions
• Coupon is of no cash value
• Coupon is non transferable
• Coupon is nonrefundable after April 1st at midnight
• How Savvy Savings work

People send me free stuff and sometimes I write about it

Check out the latest links to Free Stuff People Send Me.

Bay Area Savvy Savings & Scholarships Deal of the Week: Tickets to SFMoMA!

The Savvy Source is a client of mine (I'm paid to promote this deal), and we recently launched a new "deals" program similar to Groupon or W00t.com.  Local families get great deal on things like museum memberships or activities and money is raised for their (your) favorite preschool (select at checkout) and for Savvy's "preschool for all" scholarship program.

Last week we sold over 1,700 memberships to the Bay Area Discovery Museum This week it's two tickets to SF MoMA for $18! (Plus free admission for kids 12 and under!) Normally it's $30. You save

We're soon to launch similar programs in Los Angeles, Dallas, San Diego, and Boston!  If you're a blogger, preschool owner or board member who'd like to earn money for yourself or your organization (5% of proceeds) by helping to spread the word, please email me at stefania at clevergirlscollective dot com.

Please spread the word!

The Details

• Two general admission adult tickets (regularly $15 each)
• Free admission for children 12 and under accompanied by an adult
• Tickets are for single-use, single-day only
• Tickets can be used on Family Sundays
• Coupon expires 6/15/2010
• How Savvy Savings work

A few things to note...

No cash value. Non-transferable. Not valid with any other offer. Tickets must be redeemed and used by 6/15/2010. Redemption and use of the tickets must be on the same date. Please present a valid photo ID with this ticket. Redeem at the SFMOMA Box Office.

Ben Folds takes on chatroulette and is freakin' brilliant.

Easiest Fish Tacos Ever (especially if you live near Trader Joe's)

This recipe is healthier than regular fish tacos because the fish isn't fried and the dressing is the best-tasting low-fat dressing you will ever put into your mouth. (That's high praise from someone who usually makes her own salad dressing.  It's really that good.) The kids gobbled this up.

• 1 package seasoned, frozen mahi mahi fillets from Trader Joe's (defrosted)
• 1/2 a head of cabbage, shredded (or a bag of shredded cabbage for slaw)
• Galeo's Miso Caesar* dressing (if you can find it) or your favorite dressing
• taco-sized tortillas (I always prefer corn, but whole wheat or brown rice works just as well)
• limes, quartered
• cilantro leaves for garnish

Grill (preferred) or bake mahi mahi according to package directions. In the meantime, toss the cabbage with dressing to taste (a little goes a long way), and set aside. Warm the tortillas.

When fish is done, cut into taco-sized "fingers". Place one finger in a tortilla, top with dressed cabbage,  and serve topped with cilantro leaves and drizzled with lime. Serves a family of 4.

THE BEST.

*found locally near me at Piazza's market.

Let's Meal Plan Together For Week of Monday 3/15

Firstly, let me apologize for not posting my meal plans for the past couple of weeks. Work has been kicking my ass lately, and as a result my poor blog is suffering.  I've never felt pressured to post regularly in the past, but I looked at my blog stats (something else I don't do very often) and it's true what they say! If you don't post, people don't read anymore!

So, here I am with my Can O' Air, blowing the dust off the old blog to let you know what I'm cooking this week.

Oh, and I should also let you know that in addition to the crazy diets changes in the way we eat that we have going on around here (Paleo for J., Weight Watchers for me), we now think Wallie might have a wheat sensitivity.  The poor lil' gal has been plagued by allergies for most of her young life, but never a food allergy.  We're cutting wheat/gluten out and seeing what happens.  If it helps her little nose to breathe (without sounding like Darth Vader) and her skin to have less flare-ups, I'm willing to try anything. If you have experience with an allergy-havin' kid + going gluten-free, I'd love to hear your experiences.

Okay, enough about our dietary weirdness.  Here's what I've got going in this week, one of my favorite weeks of the year because: corned beef.

The * indicates locally grown or sourced items. Organic whenever possible.

• Monday: Italian-American-style Chicken* Cacciatore (local peppers*, tomatoes*, and onions*), brown rice fusilli, big green salad*
• Tuesday: Turkey and white bean chili, sheep's milk yogurt* (from our dairy CSA), baked tortilla chips+salsa*
• Wednesday (aka Oh HELL YEAH!): Uncured/nitrite- and nitrate-free corned beef brisket and cabbage*, carrots*, and boiled parsleyed potatoes*, grainy mustard and horseradish accompaniments. I usually always make Irish soda bread with the girls, but no one will eat that tasty carb goodness, so we're not having it this year. I don't think...
• Thursday: My mom gets into town so the rest of the week is a little up in the air
• Friday: Dinner our before my friend Abi's birthday party
• Saturday and Sunday: Not sure yet

How about you?

Deal For San Francisco Bay Area Locals: $49 Bay Area Discovery Museum Membership (reg. $105!)

The Savvy Source is a client of mine and last week we launched a new "deals" program similar to Groupon or W00t.com.  Local families get great deal on things like museum memberships or activities and money is raised for their (your) favorite preschool (select at checkout) and for Savvy's "preschool for all" scholarship program.

Last week we sold over 5,000 memberships to the Oakland Zoo (for $40!). This week it's a yearly membership to the Bay Area Discovery Museum for $49! Normally it's $105.  This is a steal of deal!

If you've never been or you've been thinking about joining, now is the time to get your membership!

Please spread the word!

The Details

• Good for year round admission for a family of up to four
• 15% discount at the Discovery Store
• Discounts on performance tickets
• Save $1 on guest tickets when you bring more friends than your membership admits
• Subscription to email newsletter and access to members-only family programs
• Members only line for quick entry into museum and discounts from local kid-friendly businesses
• How Savvy Savings work

A few things to note...

No cash value. Non-transferable. Not valid with any other offer. Membership must be redeemed by 9/12/10. Annual membership begins on the date that a membership is redeemed (e.g. if the membership is redeemed on March 30, 2010 it would be good until March 29, 2011). Membership does not get you free access to the Goblin Jamboree Fundraiser in October.

Girls of summer

The girls got their softball uniforms today.  Shirt, visors, and matching stirrup socks.  They are totally out-of-their-minds excited. The colors will dictate the names of their teams, and though (I think) the team names are already decided, we spent all of dinner coming up with new names.

I was on a softball team when I was in sixth grade. It was a total disaster.  I was a dancer, not athletic at all, but I wanted to keep up with my sporty friends.  For some reason it was decided that I should be the pitcher. I was terrible. I took forever to throw the ball because I wanted it to be "just right." A strike every time. That was my goal. I once walked 14 people in a row. I cycled through an entire team roster. Twice. Yeah, I think we lost that game.

I had no business being on that field. I was much happier in the dance studio making up lyrical routines to Chicago's "Hard to Say I'm Sorry."  Tears, I'm telling you. You would've been verklempt.

Plus, dancers have way better uniforms costumes.