Super Bowl Super Food Hot Dogs

An event as epic as The Super Bowl needs Super Food.

This year we are keeping it simple and vibrant by

kicking things off with "super food" topped hot dogs.
A quick rush to the Farmer's Market to intercept fresh greens was all it took...

 Loaded with vitamin C, Calcium and Carotenoids, 
my bunch of Tatsoi greens, pack a big punch...
(but you could easily substitute spinach)

Good for your immune system, heart, eye-sight, hair, bones, teeth and skin.
I added shallots, lightly fried in olive oil until crisp...

Typically you don't see a bouquet of watercress at a Super Bowl party
but I'm hoping it'll be a new trend!

It can help lower blood pressure, which all avid football fans need help with.
Worried about all those fatty, salty party foods?
It also aids in lowering cholesterol.
Watercress always reminds me of tea sandwiches,
so here I've added cucumbers with a touch of lemon juice and zest.
So much freshness and crunch!

Hot dogs and mustard are a classic pair.
Hot dogs and Osaka Purple Mustard leaves are a new taste sensation...

It has many of the benefits of the Tatsoi and watercress,

 but it also helps detoxify your blood and liver.

So you can feel good about having your's with an ice cold beer on game day.

Along with the mustard greens, 

this half time snack was topped with grape tomatoes, 

marinated in a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

A New Year - a stylish new way to "watch" what you eat

The New Year is the perfect time for a fresh start.

A new outlook, a clean slate,  an opportunity to celebrate yourself.

Nothing gets me more inspired to live well than a trip to a local farmers' market.

Vibrant colors, local produce and enthusiastic farmers excited to share their bounty.

This year, to make staying on track more stylish,  

I'm heading out with a cool, unique wooden wristwatch.

Jord wood timepieces are not only fashionable and fun, 

they are modeled after a modern lifestyle.

Much like my farmers' market friends, they value sustainability and experiential living.

Their journey is to create something beautiful yet functional and are dedicated to making time count. 

"Moments are bigger than minutes and your watch should tell more than time."

My Reece Walnut and Navy watch looks amazing with everything.

Orange...

Avocado...

Mango...

Tomato...

or even more tropical Pineapple...

Whatever your hopes are for the new year, Jord has a style for you.
Their amazing array of men's and women's watches also make great gifts...
the perfect Valentine's day present!
Until Saturday, January 22, 2017 you can enter to win

$100 toward your own watch.

 EVERYONE who enters will automatically receive $25 egift code. 

Enter the giveaway here,

Thank you to Jord for sponsoring this post.  All opinions are my own and I could not be more thrilled with my Wooden Wristwatch.

Farmers' Market Bloody Marys

It's no secret that I love everything about Farmer's Markets.

They're fresh, colorful, fun and I look forward to our local market every week.

What better way to celebrate the beautiful bounty you find
than creating a "farm to cup" Bloody Mary?

A quick farm stand stop 

is all it takes to make an amazingly memorable cocktail...

Almost any and every veggie will work, 

the more vibrant the better...

Simply spear them up and stick them into any and every 

Powell & Mahoney Bloody Mary Mix

An impressive beverage that is as delicious as it is pretty...

I think everyone should 

Eat, Drink and Be Mary...

(Print your own tags here.)

Pair the tags with Powell & Mahoney and you've got the perfect gift.

Their cocktail mixes are handcrafted in small steam kettles in Vermont.  

They take great pride in using only natural ingredients and are all gluten free. 

They believe that your favorite spirit deserves a high-quality mixer and so do you!

 The classic Bloody Mary has a pure tomato flavor, 

with barrel-aged Worcestershire sauce, and all natural spices 

The Chipotle Bloody Mary mix is bold and smokey and

the Sriracha contains cayenne and jalapeno peppers 

that really awaken the senses with their spice.

 I want to make sure you have 

A Bloody Good Halloween too...

Print tags here

Cheers!

Powell & Mahoney Craft Cocktail Mixers are available at many retailers or on their website

and check out their Entertainer Blog here.

Thank you to Powell & Mahoney for sponsoring this post.  All content and opinions are my own.

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Farm Fresh Chicken Ramen - The new comfort food

I am all about comfort,

In my home, in my wardrobe and especially in my food.

There is nothing better than cozying up to a meal that makes you feel nostalgic, happy and loved.

Now more than ever, we are comforted to know where our food comes from 

and how it was raised or cultivated.
When it's fresh, local and vibrant it always makes for a festive meal...

I recently attended a beautiful lunch hosted by Foster Farms, where we discussed
the New Comfort Food Movement, and how the way we eat, and what we eat has changed.
Traditionally comfort food meant heavier meals like lasagna and fried chicken.
Now we want simple, visual, more health minded meals,
that you feel good making, eating and even admiring.
(food selfies, anyone?)

The flavors we crave have also changed.
They are now bolder, influenced by international flavors
or may be created to be paired with a craft beer or exotic wine.
Our lives have evolved and so has comfort food.

Almost everyone and every ethnic group eats chicken.  

More recipe pins on Pinterest contain the word chicken than eggs, peanut butter and beef combined.

Chicken is the key ingredient to many comfort meals.

 Foster Farm's Simply Raised Chicken, 

is antibiotic free, locally raised, fresh and natural.  

Since 1939, Foster Farms has been committed to producing only the highest-quality poultry.

I started to think about what is comforting to me, not only to eat but to cook.

I realized it is a combination of farm fresh food,  interesting flavors, 

locally grown vegetables and herbs and products I can buy at the grocery store that I can trust.

A trip to our local farmer's market is one of the highlights of my week.

Not only is everything fresh, seasonal and local
but the pride each farmer takes in their bounty always inspires me.

I love how pretty the produce is and I'm always anxious to try something new...

One of my favorite local farmers, is my teenage son! 

He has provided us with a plethora of tomatoes all summer long.  

There is nothing better than needing something for a meal and being able to go outside and pick it.

And snipping herbs from the garden always makes me smile...

I combined fresh vegetables, herbs, Simply Raised Chicken 

and ramen noodles 

for a comforting bowl of goodness.

All of the nostalgic flavors of chicken noodle soup, 

slightly modernized into a festive ramen dish...

I think every night should be new comfort food night!

Farm Fresh Chicken Ramen
Serves 4

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup sliced carrots

1 cup sliced celery

2 cloves minced garlic

2 chopped spring onions

1/2 cup sliced cherry tomatoes

handful of spinach leaves

2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 tablespoon fresh thyme

1 tablespoon fresh oregano

48 ounces of chicken stock

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

2 packages of ramen noodles      

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add carrots, celery, garlic and onion.  Cook for about 5 minutes, or until veggies are fragrant and start to soften slightly.  Add stock and bring to a boil over high heat.  Then lower heat and simmer, adding chicken and noodles and cooking 5-7 minutes until noodles are cooked. Divide into 4 bowls and top with herbs, spinach and tomatoes.

For more New Comfort Food inspiration go to the Foster Farms Website here.

Thank you to Foster Farms for sponsoring this post.  All opinions and content are my own. 

Fresh Fiesta Pickled Vegetables

A fiesta invokes images of bright colors,  festive foods and above all, a good time.
The farmer's market brings vibrant veggies and farm fresh fun...
I've combined the two in my favorite 
Farm Fresh Fiesta Vegetables.
Perfecto for all of your Cinco de Mayo needs!

I love this crisp, pickled and slightly spicy mixture
with any and everything but especially served with tostadas.

Crunchy, fresh tortillas layered with savory beans and chicken, 

then topped with vibrant greens, 
creamy avocados, colorful tomatoes and salty Mexican cheese.

Fiesta vegetables are so simple to make, 

you just chop, 

pour, stir, 

then serve.
(or let sit to meld the flavors)

Muy Bien!

Fiesta Pickled Veggies

1 bunch of radishes, thinly sliced

4-5 small carrots or 1-2 large carrots, thinly sliced

1 large jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced

1 cup cauliflower, chopped into small florets 

2 Tablespoons cilantro, roughly chopped

1 spring onion or 2 green onions, thinly chopped

4 peeled garlic cloves

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon dried oregano

salt to taste

Bring vinegars, oregano, sugar and salt to a slow boil and once sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and bring to room temperature (you can put in refrigerator to speed up process). Place prepared vegetables in a bowl and mix with cooled vinegar until combined.  Store in an airtight container in refrigerator for at least an hour before serving, then it can be kept for about a week. 

Farmers' Market Tostadas

fried corn tortillas

refried beans

shredded chicken

mixed green lettuces

avocado

sliced cherry tomatoes

Cotija or Queso Fresco cheese

Spread warm beans onto tortilla shell, top with chicken, fresh vegetables, fiesta pickled veggies and cheese. I also drizzle just a touch of the pickled juice onto the tostada and squeeze with a touch of lime.

for tostada shells:

fill deep sauce pan with vegetable oil approximately 1 inch deep.  Heat oil on medium high until very hot and oil slightly bubbles.  Carefully place small corn tortilla in pan, one at a time until they start to brown, you should turn them over with tongs half way through.  Remove from pan and place on paper towel lined tray.  I then like to sprinkle with a touch of course salt.  Serve immediately or they can be kept in an airtight container for one day.

Farm to Easter Table Celebration

I'm cultivating a new movement...

this year we'll be celebrating with a Farm to Easter Table celebration.

Everything is better fresh from the farm.  

The bold, natural, gorgeous colors of our local eggs are no exception, 

it seems unsustainable to modify them in any way with dye.

The Easter Bunny has even given his stamp of approval 

and certified this an organic idea.

There is a free-range of possibilities of how to serve your eggs.

with Bacon...

with Steak...

or simply to spark that age old question, 

which came first, the Chicken or the Egg?

So get cooped up this Easter!

We get our eggs and other amazing products from Five Marys Farms.

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