Food | Smart & Sassy Mom

Delicious 30-Minute Skillet Stir Fry Recipe

February 4, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom 1 Comment

Who needs take-out and all the sodium and MSG when you can whip up your own delicious version of Chinese stir-fry in about 30 minutes? It actually took me 36 minutes, but who’s counting? Of course, if I’m posting it, it was a HIT! Enough of the gabbing. Ready for the recipe? OK, here goes!

You’ll need:

12 inch skillet or wok
2 lbs of chicken or (flank) steak or tofu, cubed
1/2 bag of frozen peppers and onions (stir-fry blend)
1 bag of frozen broccoli florets
1 TBSP of minced garlic
1 TBSP Ginger flavored soy sauce
2 TBSP honey
2 TBSP of olive or sesame oil
1/2 bottle of stir-fry sauce
2 bags of “boil-in-a-bag” rice (white or brown)
OPTIONAL:
Red pepper flakes
Mushrooms
Snow peas

1. Boil your rice according to instructions.

2. Take a TBSP of oil and sauté your meat. Once its done, remove. Add remaining TBSP of oil and sauté your veggies. Even frozen, they don’t take that long to cook, so turn the heat down to medium and while this is going, let’s prep your stir-fry sauce…

3. In a bowl, pour half a bottle of stir-fry sauce (the whole bottle if you’re doubling the recipe). Add your soy sauce, honey and garlic. Stir and mix well.

4. Finally, add your meat to your veggies in the skillet/wok and pour your delicious stir fry mixture over everything. Stir and serve over rice.

A nice touch AND if you have the time, add egg rolls or spring rolls as a side. Three out of the five us are not fans of mushrooms, so we leave them out – but on the rare occasions that my kids are not eating this and we also want to kick it up a notch, we add the red pepper flakes, along with mushrooms.

This recipe is 4 adult servings, with no leftovers.

Even in the kitchen…Keep it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: 30-minute Meals, Food

10 Reasons Why You Should Drink “GREEN” Smoothies

January 23, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom 2 Comments

How can you eat your recommended servings of fruits and veggies and still go about your day? How can your skin look like a million bucks without breaking the bank? How can you POSSIBLY drink a meal and NOT be hungry? Easy. Try a green smoothie. Please…

courtesy of blendtec.com

These are fantastic meal replacements that YOU control. You control what goes into YOUR favorite smoothie. No one else. My kids love smoothies, but the color scares them. Once they get over that, then we’re in! Besides all of the healthy reasons for you to purchase or “dust off” your blender, why not treat yourself? They taste great! Here are 10 reasons why you should drink green smoothies.

1. More energy
2. Regular digestion
3. Reduced cravings for sugar & salt
4. Fewer mood swings
5. Lose weight!
6. Your skin becomes radiant!
7. You may feel an urge to start exercising
8. Blood sugars may be stabilized
9. Hair and nails grow in faster and stronger
10. Mental clarity and focus

I’m telling you. Its a great and easy change to your lifestyle, if that is what you’re looking for. I don’t have a recipe per se…just dump and blend. Here is my favorite blend:

Handful of blueberries

Handful of strawberries

Half (or whole) banana

Heaping Handful of spinach (or your fave green, Kale is too strong for me)

1/2 cup of ice

1 cup of vanilla flavored almond milk (The illustration above says juice…your call)

Blend and ENJOY! Do what I do, put this recipe in baggies and freeze them, so all you have to do is dump them and add your almond milk. I can truly see the benefits of my meal replacements. I’m able to maintain a healthy weight and sip a good tasting snack for most of the morning. Give it a try. If you’re already doing the smoothies, share your recipe with us!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: Food, Health, Lifestyle Tagged With: 30 minute meals, food, health, healthy, healthy lifestyle, Snacks, weight loss

An Unforgettable Experience: 2013 Presidential Inauguration

January 21, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom 11 Comments

January 21, 2013. A date that my family will not ever forget – The second inauguration of President Barack H. Obama! The first inauguration in 2009, my hubby and I decided that my one year old (who’s now 5 years old) wouldn’t stand a chance in the harsh winter conditions that year. THIS TIME? We said, sorry Baby Girl (our now one year old) you’re bundling up! We’ve been given a second chance to see our POTUS being sworn in. Let’s go!
Inauguration 2013
There were lots of undeniably awesome things that made our inauguration experience great. From the moment we arrived at our hotel, Washington Hilton, we knew it was going to be a fabulous weekend! We were greeted at the front desk with extreme courtesy and attentiveness. Our room was upgraded to an executive suite and that’s exactly what parents of THREE energetic children want to see… plenty of space for them to be FREE!
When we opened the door, on display was a table of adorable little gifts that made the kids run and squeal with excitement. Yes, even my tween. Caps, purses, activity books, light up pens, and more!

Washington Hilton

They didn’t forget the parents. They made sure that the hubby and I had a bottle of red and bottle of white (they really did their research) tons of inauguration souvenirs and paraphernalia for us to cherish along with an experience of a lifetime. I thought it was pretty cool that they provided plenty of fruits, veggies and yummy cheeses for us to enjoy!
Washington Hilton

We had a great time meeting up with my family and seeing old friends, and of course, eating at what I like to call the “gems of DC”. These are restaurants that are unique to DC. I absolutely loathe restaurant chains when I visit other places. I want the full experience when I travel. The next time you’re in the Capitol, please don’t leave without stopping by the famous D.C. landmark, Ben’s Chili Bowl without grabbing a Half-Smoke…or Lauriol Plaza for a Lobster and Shrimp Enchilada…or Matchbox for a Bistro Burger. You can thank me later!

Ben's Chili Bowl
Lauriol Plaza

Matchbox Restaurant

We attended the ceremonial swearing in for President Barack Obama and it was great to be a part of it all.

Inauguration 2013

After now living in below freezing temps for the greater part of the Winter, these temps felt like Spring (okay, maybe not, but it was definitely doable).

The kids not only had an experience of a lifetime, being a part of such a historical event, but because it was such a whirlwind weekend, we missed our opportunity to visit Newseum or Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum before heading back home. However, we still have e-tickets, so that means that we’ll be back! YAY!!

As parents, you always want your children to have unforgettable memories that leave a lasting imprint on their lives. Thanks to Hilton Hotels, namely Washington Hilton and their “hands down” impeccably attentive staff, we think we actually did just that!

I certainly hope that next time, I get the chance to actually attend on of the inaugural balls. I can only imagine that this is another fabulous event that puts the icing on the cake of such a powerful political weekend.

I’m so thankful for this experience and so grateful that you’re here to share it with me!

This was not a paid advertisement for Hilton Hotels or any affiliates. All thoughts, opinions and excitement are authentic and my very own.

Filed Under: Food, Lifestyle, Travel Tagged With: Family fun, Family Travel, food, Hilton Hotels, inauguration, Places to eat, travel, Washington DC, Washington Hilton

Muffins with Mom #DeliciousPairings Starbucks and Wal-Mart

January 17, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom 7 Comments

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you know that there are two things that I love in my hand. In the evenings, it’s VINO. In the morning, it’s my JAVA!! I am a lover of the coffee bean…so much that at one point, my kitchen decorations were centered around it. (I know I know). When I found out about the #DeliciousPairings Starbucks display in Wal-Mart stores, I was a tad bit excited….OK..I was hysterical! The masterminds at Starbucks have teamed up with The Bakery at Wal-Mart for a beautiful display pairing up their goodies with the perfect blend of coffee…GENIUS! So off to the store I went…

Walmart Delicious Pairings

When I got there, I was impressed by the lovely display of all the pastries. Bagels and Doughnuts and Muffins..Oh my! Presentation is everything! I’m loving this whole #DeliciousPairings thing. Aren’t you?

Delicious Pairings Display

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We make every effort to eat our meals together as a family. This is really tough, because like any other family, our mornings are HECTIC! The easy part was knowing that I had something delicious and quick already planned for our breakfast. The hard part was deciding which one. Decisions, decisions.

We chose Wal-Mart Banana Nut Muffins. Yum!

Many Muffins at Walmart, Delicious Pairings

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But wait! It gets better….Starbucks gives you pairing suggestions to match the coffee blend with the most complimentary pastry of your choice. Since we chose Banana Nut, it was recommended that we pair it with the House (Medium) Blend of Starbucks coffee. I’m a fan of all the Starbucks varieties, so this a great addition to my collection!

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What better way to make my morning crew smile at breakfast than to promise them muffins? One for Dad on his commute and the rest for me and the kids. Mommy gets her Starbucks coffee and everyone’s happy! I bring them home and can’t wait for the next morning. I couldn’t wait, so I brewed a cup when I got home. One word. Delightful.

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The next morning, I bite into my muffin. Incredible (and moist)….I pair them together and I can truly say that they matched PERFECTLY! I cherish these sweet little moments with my kids. They grow up so fast! All smiles…PLUS no breakfast dishes to soak! Woohoo!

Delicious Pairings

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So, after putting the kids on the bus, I get to sit back relax for a minute and look back at what once was a very delightful breakfast and decide that we’ll do it again tomorrow.

Empty Plate, Delicious Pairings

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Starbucks #CBias #SocialFabric”. All opinions and excitement are authentic and my very own.

Keeping It Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: Children, Food, Lifestyle, Shopping, Tweens/Teens Tagged With: breakfast, coffee, family, Starbucks

I’m All Grown Up Now…I Made The Perfect Pound Cake!

January 7, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom 7 Comments

Some people have their own idea of exactly what a “rites of passage” means to them. To some, there are official ceremonies, an outing of some sort, or a series of events that give them their “license into adulthood”. Well, I consider myself to be somewhat of a mature adult – depending on the day. Well, what took place last night, made me feel like an adult. A grown woman….a Southern Belle that has a earned her wings….I made a pound cake FROM SCRATCH!

The perfect pound cake

I know, I know…What’s the big deal, you say? Well, let me give you a little background information. I started experimenting in the kitchen only after I got married. With only a few years to get my bearings, I’m still known to be “hit or miss” sometimes. My kids, who lack filters for being tactful are not hesitant to inform me if or when I ever miss the mark. My hubby, on the other hand, will just not get seconds and that’s his way of saying, “Ummm babe, ummm..no!” without ever saying a word. So, for me, as far as baking is concerned, I was the “Betty Crocker” cake mix Queen and I thought I was really doing something by adding an extra egg and half stick of butter to make it taste rich. Ha! I laugh at myself now, because unless my kids decide to play around in the kitchen with the mix, I’m never touching the stuff again!

I’m confident. My family LOVED it! And most of all, I think I made my Grandma proud. She of course is a true chef in every sense of the word. We are so blessed that she is the matriarch of our family, who can whip one of the babies up with her eyes closed and never use a measuring cup or a kitchen timer. There can only be one, so I bow down gracefully and respectfully to my beautiful Granny who gave me the recipe over the phone and I will share with you now. This was an amazing pound cake, and an amazing confidence booster for my first time! Its more about my “coming into my own adulthood” and earning my rights as a baker (ok, I won’t go that far) than it is anything else. I hope if you try it, you will let me know.

Warning: I am not responsible for any mobbing or excessive begging for you to make more and more of these. Bake this at your own risk!

Ingredients:
All ingredients must be room temp!

3 cups granulated sugar
4 sticks softened butter
3 cups cake flour
8 ounces of half and half
6 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions:
Cream butter and sugar in a mixer.
Add 1 egg at a time.
Add flour and cream, alternating between the two.
Add baking powder.
Add salt.
Add vanilla.

Put in greased and floured “pound cake pan”

Put in cold oven, middle rack.

Turn oven to 325 degrees F. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a nice golden brown and remove. Let cool.

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: baking, cooking, Grandma's pound cake recipe, how to make the perfect pound cake, moist pound cake, southern pound cake

30 Minute Meal – Potato Kielbasa Recipe

January 1, 2013 by Smart & Sassy Mom 8 Comments

Hey Guys! I found another 30 minute meal. I re-pinned this from a friend on Pinterest of course. This is a really hearty meal that I consider “comfort food”. As usual, I substituted the sausage with turkey sausage and the bacon with turkey bacon, which I’m sure it would be even tastier if I didn’t, but that is what my family is accustomed to, so I just rolled with it. I’ve made this twice and both times, it was a hit! The sweetness of the brown sugar and the tangy vinegar make the taste of this perfect. I saw a variation of this meal on Pinterest and I may post it as well if I decide to make it.

Ingredients
1 pound red potatoes, cubed
3 tablespoons water
3/4 pound smoked kielbasa or Polish sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cups fresh baby spinach
5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

Directions

Place potatoes and water in a microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 4 minutes or until tender; drain.
In a large skillet, saute kielbasa and onion in oil until onion is tender. Add potatoes; saute 3-5 minutes longer or until kielbasa and potatoes are lightly browned.
Combine the brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, thyme and pepper; stir into skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Add spinach and bacon; cook and stir until spinach is wilted. Yield: 4 servings, but I doubled everything, because I am the Leftover Queen!!
Let me know if you make it and as always, share your 30 minute meals here with us as well as any variations of it!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: 30-minute Meals, Food, Pinterest Tagged With: 30 minute meal, dinner, Pinterest, quick dinner

30 minute Chicken & Biscuits Casserole

November 29, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 13 Comments

After a busy weekend, I met Sunday night with the challenge I absolutely HATE…No dinner plans. My family is spoiled and actually look forward to Sunday Dinner. I headed straight over to Pinterest and searched casseroles and I found this cool looking “QUICK” recipe from a delightful blog called, “If I Could”. I was in such a hurry, I didn’t tweak it all…which is weird for me, because I’m always putting my spin on recipes.

This meal is as big on taste as it is in calories. I am always promoting healthy living, but we all know that any recipe with the word biscuits in it, is not diet-friendly. OK, so my tough crowd of a family gave it a thumbs up, so I will make it again. The only thing is, I used a can of green beans in haste. Of course, next time, they will be fresh. Here’s what you need:

2 c of cooked chicken (I pulled apart a rotesserie chicken)
1 can of green beans (Please use 1 1/2 c of fresh if you have the time)
1 can of Cream of Chicken
1/2 c of mayo
1 to 2 c of shredded cheese
1 tsp of lemon juice
1 can of refrigerated flaky biscuits (8 count store bought or Pillsbury Grands)

Cooked Chicken, 30 Minute Chicken & Biscuits Casserole

Shredded Rotesserie Chicken

Preheat the oven at 350 degrees F. Combine all the ingredients EXCEPT for the biscuits in a saucepan over medium heat until the cheese melts. Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 . After you ope the can of biscuits and jump (LOL!) Peel each biscuit in half (so they are half as thick) and top the mixture with the biscuitsside by side 3 x 5….Topping the mixture with 15 biscuits, then bake for 25-30 minutes. YUM-MY!!

If you try it, let us know. We’re always looking for 30 minute (delicious and hopefully HEALTHY) meal ideas, so point us in that direction by leaving a comment below! Please share, pin and tweet. Even in the kitchen…Keep it Smart & Sassy (KISS)!

Filed Under: 30-minute Meals, Food

Entertaining this Holiday Season with Two-ingredient Cocktails

November 26, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 4 Comments

I’m excited about the holidays. They mean family, friends and fun! For the grown-ups like myself, it means having “mommy juice”. Sometimes if you’re not throwing a huge soiree that requires a licensed bartender, that means the bartender is YOU! If you’re like me, you not only want to be the “hostess with the mostest” while entertaining your guests…you want to have a little fun yourself!

I always advise hostesses to prepare some of their most popular cocktails ahead of time. You know your guests and you know what your signature drinks are, so whip them up an hour or two before your guests arrive and place them in stylish carafes, so they can either self-serve or save you time refreshing their drinks and don’t forget to have lemon and lime wedges on hand.

I also know that there are some two-ingredient cocktails out there that are just as good the complicated concoctions and they leave you just as satisfied. Some of these have actual names and the others, well, let’s just say I was your guinea pig and they’re good. Trust me.

1. Bellini – Champagne and Peach puree (My mouth is watering right now.)

Source: thekitchn.com

2. Pink Bikini – Simply Raspberry Lemonade and Malibu Rum (This is a great tasting mix!)

3. Rum and Coke – This is a classic that will never go out of style. (To switch things up a bit, try a spiced or coconut rum.)

4. Screwdriver – Vodka and orange juice (Another classic that you can put a tweak with mango flavored orange juice)

5.Comfortable Screw (pardon the name) – Southern Comfort and orange juice.

Source: mixit.co.uk

6. Vodka and Tonic – Easy breezy classic…(Use a flavored vodka for a little flair.)

7. Seven and Seven – Seagram’s 7 Gin and 7 up ( or Sprite, Sierra Mist, etc.)

8. I don’t know the name - Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and Simply Lemonade (This may be more of a summer drink, but I wanted you to know about it, in case you didn’t already. Tip: Counting calories? Use a sugar-free lemonade)

9. White Wine Spritzer – Your choice of a white wine and Diet Sprite (w/ frozen raspberries pictured below)

White Wine Spritzer w/ Frozen Raspberries

Source: Naz @ Make it, Bake it, Create it

10. Greyhound – Citrus Vodka and a grapefruit juice

Do you have any two ingredient cocktails that you’d like to share? What about 3 ingredients? We’d like to know your secrets to being a fabulous hostess!!

Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: Food, Lifestyle, Wine Tagged With: 2 ingredient cocktails, 2 ingredient mixed drinks, easy cocktails, hostess ideas, hostess tip, planning a party, tw-ingredient cocktails, two ingredient mixed drinks, what to serve at a party

Easy & Healthy Salmon Dinner – A Weekly Dinner Favorite

November 14, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 8 Comments

Do you know why its so important to incorporate salmon into your family’s diet? It contains essential fatty acids which are essential to overall health and the prevention of various diseases. In addition to this, Omega-3′s in salmon:

helps reduce cholesterol level by increasing the good cholesterol and reducing the bad cholesterol.
help to repair heart damage and strengthen heart muscles.
help to prevent or reduce the risk of heart disease.

The amino acids in salmon in combination with Vitamin’s A and D:

help with brain and nerve functions.
help to prevent the deterioration of the brain and nerves caused by aging.
help to lower the risk of blood clots which cause strokes.

Salmon also helps speed up the metabolism. (Who doesn’t want this??) In addition to helping provide your skin and hair with added nutrients. One 4-0z serving of salmon contains 30 grams of protein and a full days worth of Vitamin D. (Are you in love with this fish yet, or what??)

I’m so happy that I have acquired a taste for this healthy fish. (If only I could get my son on board.) I’ve also found that its quite easy to prepare and it cooks well with different types of marinades. If you remember a while back, I posted a 30 minute meal featuring Honey Soy Salmon. It is so easy and delicious, I just don’t think its fair that its my husband’s favorite meal to eat. (wink wink)

So, in an effort to inform you of the wonders of this “super fish”, I just wanted to share with you, what exactly had me “winning” with my husband the other night. It was like taking candy from a baby…Wait, why do people say that? They must not know my babies.

Anywho, I won’t bore you with any more fish facts, but I will share my quick and easy salmon dinner secret with you.

First, find the type of salmon you like (Wild, Atlantic, Sockeye, etc), marinate it for at least 30 minutes or (like I prefer) overnight in your favorite marinade. There are sooo many varieties out there now, its mind-boggling. I like a Bourbon or a Teriyaki sauce with [a little] sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, minced garlic and lemon juice. Bake this for 20 minutes on 400 degrees F and broil for the last 10 minutes. While you’re preparing the salmon, you can prepare and be done with your Uncle Ben’s Fast Cook Recipe Rice. If this is not in my pantry, I must be losing brain cells….My family loves it!

Uncle Ben’s Long Grain and Wild Rice Fast Cook Recipe

All you need is your favorite green veggie or a salad and there you have it. The meal that makes my husband in love with me all over again.

Easy Salmon DInner

The only other thing you need to do, is pair your “super fish” with an “awesome white”. Any varietal will do. This particular night, I had a California White Table Wine and it was a match made in heaven. The notes of the wine danced all over my taste buds and complimented our meal to perfection. By the way, I get two of these wonderful bottles of vino: one white and one red every month, courtesy of California Wine Club. Its like Christmas every month!

Bixler Vineyards California White Wine

Bon Appetit…and as always, I’m Keeping it Smart & Sassy (KISS),

Filed Under: 30-minute Meals, Food, Health, Wine Tagged With: 30 minute meals, California Wine Club, easy meal, food, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, Omega 3 fatty acids, quick meal, rice, salad, salmon, super fish, white wine, wine, wine pairing

Toddler Breakfast: Mini Banana Pancake Muffins

November 5, 2012 by Smart & Sassy Mom 5 Comments

Here comes another episode of “When Pinterest Becomes Reality“…. Starring Smart & Sassy Mom AKA June Cleaver AKA Martha Stewart. Give me a Pinterest idea that contains 5 or less steps and look out world! I am unstoppable…OK, not really, but I really do get excited and my family does too. They can’t wait to find out if my adventure will be BLAST or a BUST! And trust me, they will tell the truth.

I found this neat little recipe on Pinterest which led me to this site by Once a Month Mom for these amazing little pancake muffins for my little “Muffin” who is super excited about self-feeding right now! They were so easy (about 20 minutes), cheap (only had to buy the Bisquick for $1.39 had everything else at home) and tasty. I made them for the baby, but between my middle daughter and myself, we gobbled up the poor little baby’s breakfast food! They taste like little pancakes with syrup on them…Yum!

Here’s all that’s to it and don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest. As you can see, I pin some really cool stuff!

You need:

1 cup Bisquick Complete (just add water kind)
1 Banana (sliced and quartered)
2/3 cup syrup
2/3 cup of water

Preheat your oven at 350 degrees F.

Mix your Bisquick, syrup and water together in a bowl and spoon contents into a lightly greased muffin (preferably mini muffin) pan.

Drop bananas in the mixture and bake for 12-15 minutes for mini muffins (and 15-20 minutes regular muffin size). Let them completely cool and you can even freeze them for serving later!