recipe

a Day in the kitchen with southern peach cobbler

April 24, 2013 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 3 Comments

Mothers Day has been one the roughest day of the year since the accident in 2009. It is a day that I try so hard to focus on myself being a mom, but always wake in tears of grief over not being able to celebrate with my own Mama. But I feel like this year will be different. I am for certain still missing Mama, like you wouldn’t believe, but I am choosing to focus on the many blessing I do have left. Like the many amazing women who have stepped in to be the mom I no longer have. In the book I’m releasing later this summer, I will share much more about “other” mothers and fathers. I am blessed to have several aunts, cousins, and friends with superb moms who have taken Elizabeth & I under their wing, and pretty much consider us their own.

One of those fabulous ladies is my cousin Cindy. She and Mama were first cousins by blood, but sisters by choice. Cindy & I are probably the most alike of all my aunts and cousins. She knows the way Mama thought, she loves her grandbabies the way Mama would love on Elizabeth. Since the moment I called her to tell her their had been an accident (and way before), Cindy was at my side. But I don’t really remember a time that she wasn’t. I remember spending weekends with her when I was little. She’s always been special to me, and even more so now that we have both lost our mamas. She knows the pain and drama associated with death and remarriage. And about once a month, since Mama died, she has made Elizabeth & I her priority for at least a day – even though she lives over an hour away. We have the best adventures. Something crazy happens just about every time we get together (last time ended in an emergency room visit for one of the babies after a busted head in Bath & Body Works)…

So when I heard about the World Market “Amazing Mom” Sweepstakes, I knew I wanted to honor Cindy. Our Southern family has always bonded in the kitchen. Most of my best memories of Mama (and even Cindy and her mama) took place in the kitchen. It’s where the coffee was poured and gossip was shared.

One of our favorite places to meet is honestly a shopping center in Nashville, where we can shop at World Market. In the midst of this crazy move, we met there early this week. They have tons of great Mother’s Day gifts. I frequent two of the Nashville stores quite often, but you can also shop right online. I love their unique foods, and that most of them are all natural!

After our fun adventure (no busted heads or lost car keys this time), we spent the rest of the day together at my house. It was the first time I was able to host something in our new home, and Cindy’s first time to see it! I already knew what I wanted to do when she got here: spend the day in the kitchen! We had talked months ago about going through Mama’s recipe box together.

So we did what any normal Southern gals would do… We made ourselves our family’s famous peach cobbler, poured some sweet tea, and devoured Mama’s recipe boxes.

It was a fabulous time. It took my mind off the rest of the house that is still not put together. For several hours we had no other worries. We told stories, we found recipes we remembered, and haven’t had in ages. We found old recipes her mom had written, and some from her grandma (my great grandma)…

We laughed and cried, and had a great day.

On one of our trips before we moved, Cindy helped me pick out a new dining room set. I fell in love with this table, chairs, and sideboard at World Market – thankfully, when I took Andrew back, he also really liked it! And since we have the entertaining house, we decided we needed plates and glasses).

table

chairs

sideboard

large and small stacking plates

stemmed tumblers

seat cushions

place mats

turquoise glass pillar

. Now we just need to decide on a wall color for the kitchen / dining room.

And now, I must share our super easy, delicious, Southern Peach Cobbler recipe from the day!

It is super simple and easy to remember… 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 stick butter (could do 1/2), 1 large can fruit.

Melt butter in oven while it preheats to 350. Our family usually does this in an iron skillet, but I’m quite the black sheep and used my

baker

While that melts/preheats, mix together your batter (sugar, sifted flour (especially sift if it’s gluten free), and milk)

Pour over and mix into melted butter

Spoon peaches (or any fruit) on top, drizzle most of the syrup on top. Do NOT mix. Bake at 350 for about an hour. Some folks top theirs with a little cinnamon or nutmeg, but this is an old Southern recipe, and a lot of spices weren’t always available.

It smells DIVINE while it’s baking. And tastes even better. I like to serve it warm. If you’re feeling froggy, top it with vanilla ice cream, or just heavy whipped cream.

How are you going to treat YOUR mom or mom-figure this Mother’s Day?! This was such a great day!

I recommend going to enter the My Amazing Mom Sweepstakes here. Nominate your mother for a chance to win a $5,000 World Market gift card. Or, if you no longer have a mom to nominate, you can still enter to win one of 10 $500 gift cards! Glad they think of these things, for folks like myself.

shop | facebook | instagram

Where did your best memories with your mom take place?!?

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and World Market, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #MyAmazingMom. http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO See all other disclosures here

Filed Under: Food, kitchen, My Mom, recipe, spon, sponsor

organic taco salad and homemade chips (in less than 10 minutes)

March 13, 2013 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

This week I have been off my game. I didn’t do a lot of meal planning this weekend because we were doing a lot of other things, and honestly, our schedule all week is crazy. Every night so far this week we’ve had somewhere to be or someone to meet. That’s probably how it will be the next few weeks, which I talked about briefly yesterday.

So, I’m reaching for more easy, healthy meals I can throw together quick. Here is a little teaser before I release the second edition of 10 Meals in 10 Minutes or less (you can see the first one here).

Last night, I just gathered some ingredients. I honestly had no idea what I was going to do with them. Normally, I would make my famous Mexican Casserole that I’ve made since we got married, but I just didn’t have the time or energy to bake it for an additional 20 minutes. We had people here looking at my home office, I had a big interview for a program coming this summer, bath and bed time was nearing… you know those nights.

So quickly, I browned the ground beef (we have been using local grass fed) with a little homemade seasoning pack – I didn’t even take time to chop onion for it. While it was browning, I cut some organic corn tortillas into 1/4. Then, I placed them on my cooling wrack on top of my stone pan. I spritz them with a tiny bit of olive oil, cracked some sea salt on top and stuck them under the broiler on low for just a few minutes. (Make sure you watch them – I am famous for burning stuff under the broiler).

While everything was cooking away, I threw some organic spinach in a bowl, added a couple of my favorite tomatoes (I seriously love to snack on these), and diced 2 avocados (Elizabeth will eat a whole one herself). Then, when my beef was done, I scooped it on top, sprinkled a little cheese, and added the chips!

And TAADAA (as Elizabeth loves to say), supper was done! You could top this with sour cream, ranch, and/or salsa, but we were out, so we just ate it like this. Isn’t it pretty?!

So there you have it: a quick, healthy, homemade meal in less than 10 minutes. I’m telling you, you can do it, Mama! In the time it takes you to sit in the drive through, you could have this nourishing and pleasing meal for your family!

What are your favorite (healthy) go-to meals on busy nights?

Filed Under: 10 Minute Meal, Food, recipe

gluten and grain free baking

March 8, 2013 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 1 Comment

If you’re new here you may not know this, but if you’ve looked at the recipes here, you will notice that they are all gluten free. That’s because in 2007, right after our miscarriage, I found out I had Celiac’s Disease – which is basically a fancy way of saying I am severely allergic to gluten (wheat, barley, rye, and some other grains). I never was before, at least not that I was aware of, but after the miscarriage I had what I thought was kidney infection after kidney infection and severe, chronic pain in most of my joints, and crazy fatigue. It went on for months. I had several CT Scans of my kidneys and other areas, and the doctors could never find anything. One doctor diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. Then, one of my best friends suggested trying a gluten free diet to help the fibro. Turns out, it was Celiac’s all along (fibro, ibs, and other unpleasant things are very often misdiagnosed and are actually celiacs). Within two weeks (although it takes 2+ months for all gluten to be flushed from your body), I felt so much better. That wa 6 years ago now. It was definitely a HUGE learning experience. I could no longer eat the things I normally bought. And back then, there wasn’t a whole lot of options and brands offering gluten free substitutes. Now, it is much easier to find, and now I know what brands I love and what has and doesn’t have gluten, so shopping is a breeze.

Baking on the other hand has been a challenge. There are so many different flours and they each have a different purpose, texture, taste, etc. I use to stick to a Betty Crocker or Trader Joe’s gluten free mix, if I had to have something sweet, but they were always gritty. Andrew wouldn’t even eat them. But now, after some experimenting and great resources, I can bake most everything I use to bake. And now, you can too!

Stephanie from Mama and Baby Love has done it again! Most of you will know her from her Freezer to Your Family; Slow Cooker Recipe Book. Well, this one is just as great. In Gluten-Free Gran Free Baking, Stephanie takes you through what and how to bake healthy treats without feeling guilty. She talks about how intimidating and frustrating it can be to try grain-free baking, and how she overcame that and is now making amazing treats for/with her sweet girl. I LOVE this book. Things I had to learn the hard way (and some things I didn’t know at all) are all laid out for you in this 30 page book full of photos and recipes! AND… she is offering my readers (that’s YOU) 30% off for THIS WEEKEND ONLY… Just enter code RING30 at checkout!

Yesterday, Elizabeth and I made her amazing chocolate chip cookies from the book. It is better than my original recipe and will replace mine for sure. They are the perfect texture. Not gritty. I like mine a little soft, and they are just right! Plus, they made my house smell like Heaven.

I hope (and I think it’s Steph’s hope) that it inspires you to do a little guilt free baking with your littles. The book is full of healthy, and yet yummy treats! Can you tell Elizabeth loves them? I love to make a big batch and pack them in Andrew’s lunches throughout the week, and when Elizabeth goes to school (soon) I will include them in hers. Trust me, your kids & hubby will thank you!

so snag your book here and don’t forget that this weekend only you get a special discount with RING30.

Filed Under: Food, health, recipe, sponsor

10 meals in 10 minutes (or less) Part 1

February 21, 2013 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 1 Comment

We’re well on our way through 2013, and almost in the third month of the year. My word for the year, is intentional. Meaning, I am choosing to be much more intentional with how I spend my time.

Some of my favorite childhood memories are from the dinner table. It was about the only time of the day I saw my Dad as he was rarely home, but my mom demanded on home-cooked meals at the table every night. And Andrew & I have always done the same. Even when Elizabeth was a few days old, she was sitting at the table with us. However, the time it takes me to prepare meals and the types of meals I make has changed quite a bit since we first got married.

As busy moms, a lot of our time is spent in the kitchen preparing meals, cleaning up meals, baking cookies, refilling sippy cups, making crafts, etc. While I really enjoy to cook, I am choosing to not spend hours every evening preparing dinner. Don’t get me wrong, we do not eat 10 minute meals every night. Some nights you just really need comfort food, and that takes time.

All of these meals are gluten free, and mostly organic, but you can use whatever ingredients you prefer.

Meal One – Grilled chicken sausage and feta salad. Super simple, healthy, and quick dinner!

Meal Two – California shrimp pizzas. We all love these! There are tons of varieties you can make. Feel free to substitute your ingredients. You can also use regular pizza sauce, but we love these! Andrew likes to fold his up like tacos.

Meal Three – Tex Mex Pasta Salad. Pasta salad are so easy to toss together, and the possibilities are endless.

Meal Four – Lazy Night Fitattas and Toast. I realize, this isn’t a real fritatta, hence the “lazy” in front of it. I cannot make an omelet for the life of me, and fritatas take too long, so this is my easy, still just as yummy alternative. I make mine meatless, but again, you can add just about anything – bacon or sausage crumbles would be great.

Meal 5 – Open Face Beef Tacos with Corn/Black Bean Salad. These are super simple, and delicious. These make great lunches for kids (or mom). If your kids aren’t big on tacos or salsa, you could always use your favorite pizza sauce.

That’s it for this week. I hope this helps you some. They are all super easy and quick to make, and a contain a healthy balance of protein/veggie/starch. Keep in mind, I don’t cook these every single night (because I try to keep a good stock of freezer meals, and some nights we just like to eat a little more fancy).

Please share your favorite quick, healthy meals below, or let me know what you like about these!!!

While you’re here also check out:
How I quickly refreshed our master bedroom to make it a retreat
Tips to maintaining your home
Top 12 Posts of 2012

Filed Under: 10 Minute Meal, Food, recipe

our valentine night {steak house date at home}

February 17, 2013 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

For Valentines, Andrew said he would just pick up some steaks to grill, and we would have a quiet date night at home with Elizabeth. And quiet night we had, but thanks to our amazing friends, we also had a night to ourselves! It was an amazing steak house date night in the comfort of our own home! No crowds or long waits. I still dressed up. I figured if we were having “date night” the least I could do was put on something other than the usual yoga pants.

Here’s how we had a steak house date at home for a small fraction of the cost…

I made chocolate covered strawberries during the day for us and for our friends as a nice thank you!

Andrew picked up a bottle of wine, an amazing heart shaped ribeye (which is my favorite steak, even over filet mignon), and scallops! He marinated the scallops and grilled them….

While I baked some red potatoes,

made some gluten free croutons,

and threw together a salad!

It was one of our favorite meals, and such a nice night at home in the quiet, with a little Frank Sinatra playing in the background.

It really doesn’t take a whole lot to have a nice night during the week to treat your significant other. And it is totally necessary. We make it a rule to go out on at least one date a month, but we try to still sneak in a few at home the rest of the month too. Sometimes, we put Elizabeth to bed a little early and pop popcorn and watch a movie, or sometimes, we make a favorite dinner together. I understand the children make things complicated, but perhaps you could find a friend or neighbor and swap a couple of hours with them, if a baby sitter isn’t available.

Dating your husband is absolutely necessary in having a great marriage. And sometimes doing little things like applying a little makeup or your favorite perfume can be a great thing to welcome your husband home to, also.

So tell me, how do you make special time for your spouse?!?

Filed Under: Andrew, marraige, recipe, This is Us, valentines

the best meatballs and italian gravy ever

January 16, 2013 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 1 Comment

I am reposting and updating this recipe from 2009 for you. Hope you enjoy.

This is one of our absolute favorite recipes. I have been making these meatballs and homemade sauce the same way for 8 years now. I learned from a little Italian lady who took me under her wing and mothered me while we were living in Connecticut. These are THE BEST meatballs you will ever make. The last recipe you need. Forget store bought meatballs full of junk – these are amazing. For about $8.00 you can make over 85 meatballs (instead of paying $6.00 for about 30 in the frozen bags).

The first secret is that you HAVE to use all fresh ingredients (yes, that means shave your own parmesan, mince your own onions, and chop your own basil).

For Meatballs – 2lb Ground beef, 2 links hot Italian sausage and 3 links sweet Italian sausage (or 5 links of mild), about 5 fresh basil leafs finely chopped, 1 – 1.5 cups fresh parmesan, 2 eggs, 1-2 cups bread crumbs, 1/2 Tbs garlic powder, 1/2 medium red onion finely chopped.

I don’t actually measure anything, so those are just approximates. If it’s too wet, add more breadcrumbs. Your basil and onion need to be chopped really fine so that nobody bites into a large piece of onion. And always use fresh parmesan, not the bottled stuff. I know it seems expensive to pay $6 for a block of cheese, but it usually lasts me about 9 months, and I use it a lot.

Preheat oven to 400. Chop your onions and basil finely. Shred parmesan. Then, mix your meat together (remove sausage from casings if you bought links) and dump in all the ingredients (there’s no specific order). Once it is all mixed thoroughly, roll into balls. I do mine about the size of a 1/2 dollar. I don’t like them really big, and this way they cook faster. Then, place on baking pan (with sides so the grease doesn’t spill), and bake for about 15-20 minutes until cooked through and brown. You can also pan fry them, but it is messy.

You can 1/2 the recipe if you don’t want 85 meatballs, but I always make that many and freeze what I don’t use right away. I wear gloves when I mix mine all together. I can’t stand touching raw meat.

For Gravy – heat olive oil in large pot – add small diced red onion & desired amount of garlic cloves – heat (do not burn) – add 2 cans tomato paste (20 oz), 2 cans tomato puree (30 oz), 1 can diced tomato (15 oz) – add 1/4 cup red wine and 1/4 cup chicken stock – add small palm of Italian seasoning, instant coffee, chicken bouillon, sugar & salt/pepper to taste- mix well – add desired amount of mozzarella & parmesan cheese – adjust flavor to your preference – let simmer a while (the longer the better). Then, after meatballs are done you can add desired amount if you wish.

It makes the best lasagna & freezes really well.

Filed Under: Food, freezer cooking, recipe

christmas story cookies

December 21, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

Not only are these treats super easy and fun to make, but you can use them to tell the Christmas Story. I found this written down in one of my mom’s cookbooks, and have made them the past 3 years.

get your free printable here

These only require 3 ingredients. Mini pretzel, peppermint kisses, and MnMs. I heat the oven to very low, place the kisses on the pretzels and bake until melted (not browned) and then place the MnMs on top when I pull them out of the oven, when they’re good and smushy.

If you make these, you just have to promise to have a super cute helper. Elizabeth LOVED putting the stuff on top and sorting the MnM colors! So excited that she is able to help this year, and “gets” it… The magic in her eyes and constant “WOOOWW”s out of her mouth are so sweet!

Filed Under: Christmas, christmas baking, recipe

rudolph pops

December 20, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 1 Comment

Elizabeth LOVED making these. If you have time left for some baking, I would recommend these! I must say that we kind of throw caution to the wind at Christmas time as far as diets go. We abide strictly by the 80/20 rule, here.

here is what you need: peanut butter, chocolate melt, nutter butters (which no, are not gluten free or healthy), pretzels, red candy for noses, white choco chips for the eyes, and craft sticks are optional!

You simply open up the cracker/cookie and apply more peanut butter. If you use a natural peanut butter, make sure it is stirred really well (or else it’s messy). Then apply stick and top of cracker. Then you dip the entire thing in your melted chocolate, apply the eyes, nose, antlers, and you’re done!

Super easy and fast!!!

I laid mine on a baking sheet lined with parchment and froze them. You should be able to freeze them for 2 weeks or so. But since Christmas is in 4 days, there should be no need for freezing that long!

May you and yours have fun baking these up!!!

Filed Under: Christmas, christmas baking, Holidays, recipe

freezer cooking {part 6}

October 24, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 22 Comments

Here you go: the long awaited Part Six of Freezer Cooking.

It gets harder and harder to think of new meals for you all. Especially since I love all of the ones from the first 5 posts. I have 27 total dinner recipes and 10 toddler meals in the first 5 posts for you! Be sure to check them all out here.

If you haven’t tried this yet, I really don’t know what you’re waiting on! This time I spent $110, took 2 hours, and had 14 meals prepared with very little mess! It saves me so much time and energy during the week! Plus, as I’m traveling more, it’s reassuring to know my family will still have healthy meals prepared without me!

For part 6, I am reviewing Mama and Baby Love’s new revised eBook! If you’ve already purchased the first one, this is the same book, but so much better!

It is a complete beginner’s guide to real food! It is chock full of freezer meals for your crockpot and also 1 skillet meals you can freeze ahead! All of the recipes are 95% grain-free, gluten-free and diary-free. This book is also super Paleo friendly.

This revised book has an updated grocery lists that is easier to read by grouping each item by meat, veggies, dairy, etc.
A professional chef gave his stamp of approval and also wrote the forward for the new book.
There are 15 new recipes. 10 are slow cooker and 5 are one dish freezer recipes.
The Real Food chapter has been beefed up to explain exactly what healthy really means and what real food really means.
You can find Mama and Baby Love here: blog | eBook | facebook
Stephanie included labels in the book, but I have had a falling out with my printer, so I used my go-to sharpie! This is the first step after shopping and gathering your supplies!

I prepared the chicken parmesan, pork roast with butternut squash, fajitas, cranberry chicken, orange beef stew, and Italian Beef! So far, I love them all!

And this is ALL of my mess! 2 cutting boards, couple of measuring spoons, knives, a bowl! 14 meals! 1 mess! This definitely saves me time each night after dinner!

Get all of the recipes and MANY more right here!

So many people have left such incredible comments and sent emails saying just how much this has changed their lives. That’s why I do what I do! I LOVE helping others find healthy, simple solutions to create balance for their lives!

I hope you’ll continue to leave comments below to share how they have helped your life!

Filed Under: Food, freezer cooking, recipe

fall favorites

October 11, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

I am working on finally putting my fall decorations up today! I wanted to stop in and share with you some of my other favorite fall posts though while I remember!