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Refresh Your Summer With a Smoothie

 If you're looking for a healthy, fruity drink that captures the essence of summer, experiment with smoothies this year. Healthy, delicious and simple to make, smoothies are a perfect beach drink, snack or even a light lunch on a hot day. The best part? Customize them to your favorite tastes, whether you like berries, melons or citrus fruit. 

For example, if you're looking for a healthy breakfast, try this carrot-mango smoothie by Martha Stewart. Carrot juice, frozen mango, and nuts or even a hard boiled egg will make this a complete meal - just add your vitamins!

If you're more of a berry person, try this Stay-Young smoothie. Combine 1/2 cup of organic blueberries and strawberries (or blackberries and raspberries), 1/2 cup of chilled green tea, 3/4 cup plain, low-fat organic yogurt, two tablespoons of ground flax seed, and some raw sugar in your blender or food processor. This is really yummy and really good for you! 

The Golden Nectar smoothie - one of my personal favorites - has my favorite combination of orange juice, honey, lemon juice, ginger and bananas. Blend and you're done, and what a great tasting, refreshing drink this is. There are literally hundreds of combinations you can use to make a great smoothie. All you need is your creativity, some good fruit, and your blender!

Happy Summer!

Cook Some Love For Mom This Mother's Day

Since it’s a day to thank Mom, why not make her feel extra special with a fancy dish? Whether your mother is into breakfast, lunch or dinner, you can make her something that’s worth more than a night out in even the fanciest restaurant. 

 

And who better than Martha Stewart to come up with some fun way to say I love you? If your mom likes simple, Martha’s Heart-Shaped Egg in the Hole is a charming way to make an egg with toast stand out in her memory. 

A heart-shaped cookie cutter comes in handy here; if you don’t have one, do your best with a knife. Cut a heart shape out of her favorite bread. Use herb or regular butter on both sides of the toast and cook the bread in a skillet, then crack an egg into the hole and cook the way mom loves!

 

My mom happens to love crepes and blintzes, and I tried Martha’s blueberry blintzes to see if they would be something she would like. They’re fantastic, and if your mom doesn’t like blueberries try them with blackberries or strawberries. Save some time for this recipe -- with three parts, it’s somewhat time consuming, but completely worth it. Mom will feel loved. 

Good Luck Baked Right In - Traditional New Orleans King Cake

Since I’m a born and raised New Englander, I’m fascinated with the traditions surrounding New Orleans food, because they are so different from the ones I’m used to.

 

The King Cake especially struck my fancy. Technically, it’s a frosted cinnamon cake, sometimes with filling. But the novelty of it is delightful. The cake contains a plastic baby, and the person who finds the baby receives good luck and also brings the King Cake to the next King Cake party. Some cakes have a coin or some other trinket, but my friends always had the plastic baby, so that’s what I’m putting in mine. 

 

There’s a whole story behind the tradition, which dates back to 12th century France. Read more about it here.

Die-hard New Orleaners only have the cake leading up to Mardi Gras, but since I’m going to make one myself for a New Orleans-themed party I’m planning, I can justify making one out of season. 

The recipe is straightforward, but leave some time for the dough to rise. You might get an arm workout kneading the dough until it’s smooth, but it’s worth it. The traditional shape is an oval, but I’ve seen them shaped into a straight rope; whatever your preference. Emeril Lagasse offers another variation here. 

If you want to add a cream cheese filling, check this recipe out. Most importantly, be generous with the sugar crystals, and don’t forget to put the baby in before baking! 

A Good Reason to Get Out of Bed: Goat Cheese Omelets

I have trouble remembering to eat breakfast, usually because I can’t find anything interesting to eat that’s quick. But after I’ve stocked up on my favorite cheeses, omelets are my absolute first choice for that first, most important meal of the day.

This Real Simple Goat Cheese Omelet calls for crumbled goat cheese, but I like to melt really thin slices of goat cheddar instead. Another option is goat gouda, also cut into thin slices. 

This is a basic omelet recipe, calling for nothing more than a bowl, whisk, good skillet and a rubber spatula. A teflon or preseasoned skillet is helpul.

Combine your eggs with 2 tablespoons of water and the desired amount of salt and pepper, then add to the skillet after melting butter. Cook them until they start to set, then lay your cheese and four sliced scallions before folding the omelet over.

The trick with omelets is to fold at the right time so you don’t end up with a scramble. I have the hardest time with that! With this recipe, you don’t need to flip the omelet; just allow it to cook without browning too much while folded.

For a flourish with this dish, mix 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar and 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard and mix together, then toss with baby arugula. If you need carb, add a baguette or a piece of rye toast. Yhat's a GOOD weekend morning!