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I am so happy about all the rain we have been getting lately.  It isn’t much, but I am looking forward to seeing green (not brown) hills again this spring.  Despite my personal gratitude for the rain, it can be hard to keep spirits up in a constant gray.

I wanted to do something bright and cheery today to perk up everyone here.  That did not want to work today, My Love is at work and the little ones are painting.  So the best thing to do on a day like this is cook something special.  These are great to snack on, bring to parties or just eat. 

 

Antipasto LoafAntipasto Loaf

Prep Time: 25 min
Total Time: 1 hr 25 min
Makes: 25 servings, one slice each

1 French bread baguette (12 oz.)
1 tub (8 oz.) Cream Cheese Spread
3 Tbsp. pesto
1/2 cup drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup drained marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
2 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 cups baby spinach leaves, coarsely chopped

CUT baguette lengthwise in half. Remove soft insides from both bread halves.
MIX cream cheese spread and pesto; spread evenly onto insides of bread shells. Fill evenly with tomatoes, artichokes, Parmesan cheese and spinach.
REASSEMBLE baguette; wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours. Cut into 25 slices to serve.

 
Spinach Phyllo Roll-UpsMake-Ahead Spinach Phyllo Roll-Ups

Prep Time: 30 min
Total Time: 55 min
Makes: 5 logs, 6 slices each or 30 servings, 1 slice each

1 egg, lightly beaten
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
1 cup Traditional Crumbled Feta Cheese
1 tub (8 oz.) Garden Vegetable Light Cream Cheese Spread
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
15 sheets frozen phyllo sheets (14×9 inch), thawed
1/3 cup butter, melted

MIX egg, spinach, feta cheese, cream cheese spread and onions until well blended. Set aside.
PLACE 1 of the phyllo sheets on a clean work surface. Brush lightly with butter. Top with 2 more phyllo sheets, brushing more of the remaining butter between each layer. Place remaining phyllo between sheets of plastic wrap; set aside.
SPREAD 1/5 of the spinach mixture along 1 of the short sides of the phyllo stack; fold in both long sides, then roll up, starting at 1 of the short sides to make a log. Repeat with the remaining phyllo sheets and spinach mixture to make 4 more logs. Brush with remaining butter. To prevent phyllo from cracking, score logs at 1-inch intervals. Place in large freezer-weight resealable plastic bags or wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
FREEZE up to 3 months. When ready to bake, remove desired number of logs from freezer. Refrigerate, tightly wrapped, several hours or overnight until thawed. Place on baking sheet. Bake in preheated 375°F-oven for 25 min. or until golden brown. Cool 5 min.; place on cutting board. Cut each log into 6 slices with serrated knife to serve.

 

I hope you enjoy and have a happy and inspiring day!

Mom and I have been in the mood for chocolate lately.  She found this recipe yesterday for a Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake, and we just had to try it tonight. 

The cake turned out wonderful.  It was really easy to make.  The whole family gave it thumbs up.  So I thought I would share the yummy goodness with you. 

Hope you enjoy it!!!

Have a wonderful day, and may all your chocolate be fabulous!

While at Whole Foods on Friday, I saw they had added yet another new “green” bag- the FEED 100.

This reusable bag is made of organic cotton and natural burlap.

Unlike there other more affordable options, the Feed 100 is not only compact and more durable, but supports a wonderful cause. The money raised from each bag purchased will be donated to the United Nations World Food Program, and will provide 100 nutritious school lunches to children in Rwanda’s most food-deprived areas.

For more info read their News Release.

To Learn More Check out

FEED

United Nations World Food Program

Sometimes in life, the smallest things can make the biggest difference.

As a mother of two young girls, I find that healthy, yummy and quick don’t always mix the way I’d like them to. Especially in the mornings before school.
Recently, I found a variety of really really good granola at my local Whole Foods in the bulk section. The Vanillla Almond is super yummy! I gave my daughters (ages 6 and 4) each a bowl of it for dessert one night, covered in organic vanilla yogurt from Safeway and topped with some fresh berries. They absolutely loved it!
Photo by XT Jade
A few days later I offered it to them for breakfast and they were so excited they ran up and hugged me! Dessert for breakfast, who would have thought?
Now we have a selection of different kinds, including one with dried raspberries in it. My girls really enjoy picking what flavors they want for the week, and I am so so happy to have all the big boxes of cereal out of my cabinets. Even Dad thinks it’s great! With all the different choices, no one feels like they are always eating the same thing.
The world is a bit happier and healthier, and I can still have mine topped with blackberries or blueberries for desert. Now, if only the rest of our health food switches and introductions go so well, we’ll really be in business!