The Artful Wife

A Tale of Two Fleas

2013-02-14T12:51:00.001-08:00

The question was innocent enough, “Babe, I found these two bugs on Emmit, what do you think they are?” I knew the answer before I even saw the offending creatures, encased between two pieces of scotch tape.

FLEAS!! Blech! Barf! Itch! Skeeve!

It was 10 o’clock at night, and my five-month pregnant self was all snuggled up in bed. The sane, logical part of my brain said that I wouldn’t freak out and that I would deal with the issue in the morning. Unfortunately, the sane, logical part of my brain fell asleep shortly after making such declarations and the obsessive, out of control part of my brain came screeching into my bedroom in a hazmat suit.

I spent the better part of the night experiencing night terrors and breaking out into a cold sweat. At a reasonable 4am, I dashed out of bed and began my crusade against creepy crawlies.

Being pregnant, I did not feel that covering my house in murderous chemicals was the way to go. My first step, and subsequently my biggest mistake, was to seek the counsel of Google. Whereas I expected to find some practical advice for the natural remediation of fleas, what I found was quite the contrary:

For those unfortunate souls trying to use home remedies to treat fleas….

DON’T DO IT!! YOUR HOUSE WILL BE OVERRUN IN A MATTER OF MINUTES

BY STORM TROOPER FLEAS WHO WILL ERECT TINY CIRCUS TENTS TO

HOST THEIR FLEA CIRCUS, AND CHARGE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

NOT TO GO. CALL IN THE BIG GUNS OR PREPARE FOR FLEAPOCOLYPSE!!!!

My rapidly beating heart brought me back to reality and I did my best to find any useful information that would not incite panic. According to the experts on the interwebs, I needed Borax, apple cider vinegar, endless vacuum cleaner bags and a strong will. As luck would have it, I was entirely prepared for this disgusting juncture in my life.

I wasted no time getting to work. I moved every piece of furniture, dusted the entire house in Borax, vacuumed, washed floors, washed anything that could fit in the washing machine and steam-cleaned whatever couldn’t. Then repeated multiple times. Bathed the cats three times, much to their dismay. Combed the cats every 15 minutes with a flea comb, which they rather liked. And then sprayed them down with apple cider vinegar, which they most certainly did not like.

And it’s a good thing I took these drastic measures, because I found NINE, yes NINE fleas in total, both live and dead. So maybe Flea Gate 2012 wasn’t the major catastrophe I thought it was, but it was still pretty traumatizing. The Obsessive Compulsive in me felt that once everything was thoroughly deloused and cleared for at least a month, I would finally be able to rest easy. Well, it’s been 9 months and I’ve seen no signs of infestation. So while I’m no longer in hyper overdrive when it comes to flea diligence, I do still inspect every speck of everything and flea comb the cats on the regular. (And still sprinkle Borax under the couch cushions for good measure).

Moral of this story? You don’t always need to turn to heavy-duty toxins; sometimes a good dose of cleaning and unadulterated fear is all you need. And don’t use Google. Ever.

Disclaimer: No felines and only 9 fleas were harmed in the making of this terrifying, if not educational, story. And before you think that I brought this horror upon myself, my cats always have been and always will be treated with Frontline. And for you know-it-alls, Yes, I do use Frontline Plus.

Banana Oat Muffins

2013-01-24T11:56:00.000-08:00

My wonderful neighbor has been under the weather, and with the frigid temps that we've been experiencing, recovery is likely uninspired. I feel relatively healthy and sprite and even I have been using the excuse, "It's just too cold" for everything. Little man and I have been huddled around the space heater dreaming of warmer days.

So, in an act of neighborly goodness and in an effort to further warm the house, I cranked the oven to 400º and got baking. I would have been content to whip up confections all day, but my little guy is only content for about 12 minute clips, so I chose Banana Oat Muffins for their healthy deliciousness.

Note: I also made a batch for myself. I am not longer eating Paleo since it was not agreeing with me. But I am still off processed foods and have a very limited amount of dairy and gluten in my diet. I will make a gluten exception for homemade muffins.

Banana Oat Muffins

Makes about 12 smaller sized muffins/8 large muffins

3/4 c. wheat flour

3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. rolled oats

1/2 c. brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

3/4 c. milk (i used unsweetened almond milk)

1/3 c. vegetable oil

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 c. mashed bananas (2-3 bananas)

1. Preheat over to 400º. Combine eggs and sugar. Add milk, vegetable oil and vanilla. Stir to combine. Add mashed bananas.

2. Combine dry ingredients. Add dry to wet mixture. Stir until just combined.

3. Divide equally among paper-lined muffin tins.

4. Bake at 400º for 16 minutes.

Clean Beef & Rice Soup

2013-01-08T05:39:00.001-08:00

I'm going strong on my quest to eat clean. It's been a little over a week and I've eaten ZERO processed foods... that's right ZERO. I thought that it would be difficult to avoid prepackaged foods, but after my initial cravings passed (this was a slightly tumultuous time), I'm really happy to be eating uber healthy. Sticking to Paleo for breakfast and lunch and that's working well, but more on that later. (That sort of felt like when Johnny kept telling Baby they would practice the lift later.... Dirty Dancing anyone?)

Anyway, here is a delicious recipe for a clean Beef & Rice Soup. Its kind of like a stew, but more broth-like than gravy-like, so I call it soup. Feel free to call it whatever you'd like. It's clean because it's made with natural, organic ingredients. When you buy beef broth if you're not keen on making your own - I'm certainly not - be sure to read the ingredients. Just because the front says it's organic, that doesn't mean that you won't find preservatives. Just check until you find a brand that's not a LLPOF (liar, liar, pants on fire).

One more thing, this soup/stew is great the very minute it's finished, but if you really want it to knock your socks off, make it a day ahead and just reheat. It's one of those dishes that gets way better the second day. I think it's because a chilly night spent tucked away in the fridge makes the soup more appreciative of it's warm and steamy natural state, and therefore makes sure to perform at its very best to avoid another frigid night... but that's just me.

Clean Beef & Rice Soup

Serves 4

1 lb. organic sirloin, cubed

1 tbsp. canola oil

2 organic carrots, cut on a bias

3 organic celery stalks, chopped

1 organic medium yellow onion, chopped

2 tsp dried sage

1 tsp dried thyme

4 oz. mushrooms (with stems), sliced thin

1/4 cup red wine

2 cups organic beef broth

1 1/2 cups water

3/4 cups organic brown rice

1 organic tomato, chopped

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

Salt

Pepper

1. In a heavy-bottomed pot (cast iron is best in my opinion), heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Let it get good and hot. Season sirloin with salt and pepper and add to oil. Make sure to keep the oil hot. You are looking for a really nice brown on the outside of the meat. If the temp drops too low, you will end up losing all the moisture from the meat and it will pretty much boil - not what we're looking for. Once you have a nice sear, flip the meat and sear the other side. Once brown, remove meat and put to the side. Feel free to work in batches. If you overcrowd the pot, you will likely bring the temp too low to get a good sear.

2. Once meat is set aside, turn the heat down slightly to about medium. Add carrots, celery and onion. You want to get a little color on these, but mostly start to soften them up. Saute for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add thyme and sage and saute until fragrant. Add worcestershire and red wine to deglaze the pan (scrape up all the brown bits with a wooden spoon, that's flavor my friends).

3. Add broth, water and tomato. Bring to a low boil and reduce to a simmer over low heat. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Add brown rice. Stir, cover and simmer for 30-45 minutes until rice is cooked, but still firm. You don't want mush.

4. Once rice is cooked, add the vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Add a little at a time, taste and adjust as necessary. Right before you are going to serve, toss in the mushrooms.

Resolve

2013-01-03T08:57:00.000-08:00

Image Via

Every year my New Year's resolution is basically the same - lose weight, get in better shape, yada yada. Now I look back at pre-baby photos I think, "Lose weight?! I would do anything to look like that again!"

But this year, when it would seemingly make sense to make the same resolution yet again, I've decided to get serious and make serious changes.

In 2013 I resolve to be the best version of me and build a healthier life for my family.

Seems simple enough, right? But when you get down to brass tacks, I've actually set quite a lofty goal for myself. I refuse to join the ranks of resolution-makers that clog up the gym for the first two weeks of January and then call it quits only to pay for a membership for the next 11 1/2 months. (Shamefully, I was a card-carrying member of this army last year). In fact, sticking to my resolution strictly prohibits such financial waste and general laziness.

Keeping my resolution will require a detailed multi-layered blueprint, one which is still very much in the beginning stages. Because I truly do want to shed the baby weight and get back into shape, I'm beginning with food and fitness. And since I am required to eat in order to live, it makes sense to start with food.

I have vowed to Eat Clean. I've heard this term bounced around a lot in the past few months and thought it just another trendy diet fad. But after some research, I've found that Eating Clean is sensible, simple and incredibly healthy.

I am also following a partially-Paleo eating plan, but that's another post all together. I've been eating clean for 3 days now and I've dropped 4 lbs! Holy Hannah!! Besides the weight loss, I am so happy to know that I have not put any chemicals or unnecessarily processed foods into my body. I don't need it and my family doesn't need it.

Here's to a happy and healthy 2013!

Wrap It Up

2012-12-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

With Christmas only a few days away, I've finally decided to stop procrastinating and wrap gifts. I have a little bit of a love/hate relationship with Christmas wrapping paper. I love so many of the great prints available nowadays, especially all the fantastic styles you can get at Paper Source, but I am not a fan of storing various rolls of wrapping paper for all types of events. Namely because I have a tendency to purge, and anything not incredibly useful usually does not make the cut.

So, what's an anti-horder to do? Buy one large roll of craft paper and use it for EVERYTHING! I personally love a simple brown paper package (perhaps tied up in strings?), but for a little extra holiday pizzazz, a few simple items do the trick.

I tapped into my rubbermaids of crafty goodness and pulled out some ribbon, yarn, twine, and a leftover wooden ornament from last year (25 cents at Michael's after last Christmas!)

You could also use springs of evergreen for a simple, natural approach.

What I love most is that, with the exception of the holiday ornament, this wrapping could be used for a birthday, shower, wedding, bar mitzvah, house warming... you get the picture. One of my all time favorite accoutrements is sprigs of thyme or rosemary - looks so Pottery Barn-esque and smells delicious.

A little yarn is oh, so pretty

Easy to do, difficult to open... especially for my sister

A simple white bow - classic

Some twine, a wood ornament and a little Sharpie love

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

The Nursery Reveal

2012-12-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling under the weather today, so any projects greater than taking care of Little Man, whilst trying not to breathe on him, are not in the cards today. Well, I did Lysol every door handle, light switch and counter top, so I guess that's something...

Luckily, I never posted the final reveal of Little Man's nursery. I am so happy with how it turned out. In fact, it is my very favorite room in our teeny tiny house.

The Pottery Barn glider and ottoman that I was waiting for in Nursery Makeover Pt. 1, is neatly tucked into the corner, adorned with Brown Bear, my sweet childhood bear made by my grandmother.

The ikat curtains really added the perfect final touch. I saved myself a small fortune by sewing them myself. Below is a photo before the addition of curtains. Isn't it amazing what a little pattern and texture can do?

The snuggly soft shag carpet from Pottery Barn is probably my favorite accessory. It's lovely on the toes and adds another glorious layer of texture. How I long for the green outside...

The last piece of the puzzle was the gallery wall that I hung just a few week's before our little guy's arrival. I love the mix of frames, photos and artwork.

This perfect little baby nest has inspired me to make over the other rooms in my home. Why not love each and every room just the same? It's a slow-moving process that will be completed as time and money permit, but I'm excited at the prospect of having an entire home that I love as much as this nursery.

The Ugly Truth

2012-12-11T13:22:00.000-08:00

I always imagined that I'd take to motherhood with the plastic poise and grace of a stepford wife... impeccably dressed, perfectly manicured fingers and toes, a spotless house and a beautiful happy baby in tow. I am pleased to say that I indeed have a beautifully happy baby (most of the time), but everything else could use a healthy dose of improvement.

Perhaps a visual aid might help.

The plan...

Reality...

While it's not this bad every day, this happens to be the exact look I'm modeling at the moment. Judge me if you will, but I couldn't be happier.

With the arrival of my Little Man, life took a sharp ninety degree turn. Gone is the world I had known all my life - the one that revolved around me. But I've been presented with a new adventure and I plan on embarking on my journey with fervor, frugality and a well-stocked diaper bag.

So things are a changin' for the Artful Wife. Being a work-at-home-wannabe-stepford-wife-mother-extraordinaire in not for the faint of heart, but I'm in it to win it ladies and gentlemen! (And it ain't always gonna be pretty... today's attire, case in point.)

Chicken Gyros

2012-05-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

The Gyro, found at most diners throughout NJ, is one of my all-time favorites. I don't care if you pronounce it Guy-ro, Jy-ro or Year-o, its delicious all the same. Last night I decided to put culinary laziness aside and get down to business.

Aside from the homemade pitas (which I will be sure to post soon), the meal was a rather simple one and came together really quickly.

Chicken Gyros
Serves 2 (with leftovers!)

2 chicken breasts, butterflied
4 cloves garlic, smashed
1/4 cup lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp. greek yogurt
1 tbsp. dried oregano
3-4 fresh mint leaves, torn (optional)
salt and pepper

1. Make marinade. Combine garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, yogurt, oregano, mint and salt and pepper in a shallow dish.

2. Add chicken and coat thoroughly in marinade. Refrigerate for about 1 hour.

3. Grill or broil chicken until browned and cooked through. Once chicken is cooked, let cool slightly before cutting into strips.

4. To assemble, place chicken in a pita. Top with Tzatziki Sauce, diced tomatoes and sliced red onion. Diced cucumber and feta cheese would make great additions as well!

Tzatziki Sauce

8 oz. greek yogurt
1/2 cucumber, peeled and seeded
1 clove garlic, finely minced
2 tsp. white wine vinegar
1 tbsp. fresh dill, chopped
fresh lemon juice, just a squeeze
salt and pepper
extra virgin olive oil

1. Shred cucumber using either a box grater or food processor. Wrap shredded cucumber in a paper towel and squeeze out as much water as you can.

2. Combine cucumber, yogurt, garlic, vinegar, dill, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle a little olive oil over the top and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Nursery Makeover Pt. 1

2012-05-15T14:34:00.002-07:00

With our little man's arrival just over three months away, we've been working hard changing the guest room to a nursery. It's been a process, and although we've still got a ways to go, I think we've made some pretty good headway.

Below was our pretty green guest room...

Here's some picture of our little man's room in progress...

We installed a sea-worthy ceiling fan, painted the walls a pale grey (Bay Waves by Valspar) and painted stripes on the wall that his crib will go against (Deep Sea Diving by Valspar).

We also freshened up the trim and painted the furniture that was in the previous guest room a medium shade of grey (Stone Mason Grey by Valspar). Fun fact, the furniture was my sister's when she was a baby... she's 16 now. I'm so glad we can give it another life!

We've obviously still got to add in furniture, window treatments and an abundance of accessories, but at the least the foundation is laid. We should be getting our glider from Pottery Barn this week... so excited! Here's a sneak preview...

I'll be sure to update with our progress over the next few months!

And if I ever beat the pregnancy fatigue, I'll get more recipes up for your culinary enjoyment... I'll try, I promise.

Eco Clean

2012-05-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure this is an ugly, unfortunate occurrence that most of us have experienced....

It's food shopping day. In addition to running out of anything edible, you've also managed to run out of glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, furniture polish, paper towels and floor cleaner (a double whammy if you use Swiffer Wet Jet and you used up all the cleaning pads AND solution). You're now looking at around an extra $30 tacked onto your bill.

After one such experience of my own, I decided enough was enough! Not only was I draining my bank account, but I was also introducing unnecessary, albeit lovely smelling, chemicals into my home. I pride myself on being eco-friendly, but hypocritically was having a love affair with Clorox wipes and Pledge Furniture polish wipes.

I turned to good 'ol Mother Nature for some solutions and have been quite pleased with the outcome thus far.

1. Furniture Polish

Combine 1 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice.

The lemon juice breaks up any dirt and grime and leaves a nice fresh scent while the olive oil makes your wood nice and polished.

2. Glass Cleaner / All-Purpose Cleaner

Combine 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup water. You can also use apple cider vinegar, which I tend to use a lot.

The vinegar dissolves dirt, grease and soap scum and is a natural deodorizer. Also works beautifully on glass!

3. Window Cleaner

Combine 1/4 cup vinegar with 2 cups water and about a tablespoon of dish soap.

You could just put this mixture in a spray bottle for quick cleaning, but if you're spring cleaning, make a big batch in a bucket. I just did this two weeks ago and the results were great!

4. Floor Cleaner

Combine 1 cup vinegar with 1/2 gallon hot water and a few squirts of dish soap. If you've got a tough job, add about a 1/4 cup borax.

I usually wash the floors the old fashioned way on my hands and knees, but for quick in-between clean-ups, but the mixture in a spray bottle. Grab your old swiffer handle, and attach a terry cloth towel instead of the pads. Spray, mop up and done!

5. Paper Towel (Partial) Replacement

I can't totally give up paper towels. BUT, you can certainly cut down on them by using terry cloth towels for a lot of your cleaning. The best value around is at Walmart. You can buy an 18 pack of white terry washcloths for $4!

As you can see, you can clean most of your house with just a few inexpensive products, that really do work... better than some of the name-brand stuff I think. And there are so many uses beyond what I've listed above. Here's a few:

Have a steam cleaner? Use a little borax and vinegar instead of the commercial cleaner... works awesome!
Got a mild case of fleas in your house? Gross for sure, but don't jump to bombing your house with incredibly harsh chemicals. Sprinkle borax in your carpets and on furniture working into all the cracks. Let sit for as long as you can, ideally 12 hours, then vacuum up. The borax dries out any of the nasty critters including any eggs, and in the case of a few fleas, should rid you completely!
Have ants? Mix a 50/50 solution of sugar and borax and sprinkle where the ants are coming into the house. The ants eat the sugar and are killed by the borax. Be careful if you have pets.
Extra dirty laundry? Skip the OxiClean and sprinkle a little borax into the washing machine along with your usual detergent.

I Wish I Had a Money Tree...

2012-05-08T13:49:00.001-07:00

I don't have a money tree and it makes me sad.

Because of the absence of a mythical money tree in my life, I was forced to get organized and watch my pennies. Once I started really paying attention, I began watching those pennies march right out of my bank account and into oblivion, never to be heard from again and rarely with anything left to show for them except for mounting credit card bills. Blech.

That made me even more sad.

Instead of sobbing into stacks of bills (which I did do on a handful of occasions) I decided to take charge of my penny army and make those cents work for ME! With a little organization and a sprinkling of willpower, I was able to get my spending in check and slowly, but surely, watch my debt decrease.

"How ever did you do it," you ask? Well, of course I'll tell you how.

Step 1. Get a folder.
Mine is green. Feel free to choose whichever color you like.

Step 2. Get organized.
Gather up all your bills into one large, overwhelming pile.

Step 3. Get a grip.
You're likely frightened at this point and would love to shove those bills under the couch or behind the refrigerator. Don't. It won't make them go away. Instead, separate your bills into two piles. The first pile should be bills that are due from the 1-15th of each month. The second pile is bills that are due from the 16-31st of each month. (This is based upon the fact that most of us are paid bi-weekly.)

Step 4. Make a spreadsheet.
I've taken the initiative to make the spreadsheet for you, so all you need to do is fill it in. Easy peasy.
One spreadsheet covers one month, broken into two pay periods. So, the first section will be used for your first paycheck of the month, let's say you get paid on the 15th. You will then enter any bills that are due between the 16th and 31st of the month. Enter the bill in the first column, the amount you owe in the second, the date it's due in the third and the balance remaining after payment in the last column (this is mainly for the debt section).

Then, you'll repeat for the last paycheck on the month, let's say you'll get paid on the 31st. Under this pay period you'll enter any bills that are due between the 1st and 15th. Get it?

I fill out the spreadsheet for the entire month, usually on the day I'm paying bills for the second pay period of the prior month.

You can also find this under the Printables tab

Step 5. Grab your folder.

Take any and all bills that you have entered on your spreadsheet and paper clip them behind the spreadsheet. That way you won't need to search for them when bill pay day comes. Now tuck your neat little package into your folder.

Whenever a bill arrives in the mail, face your fears, open it, and place it in the folder.

Step 6. Part with your money.

Twice a month, sit down and pay your bills. I pay mine the day my paycheck hits my account, that way I'm forced to work within my budget and don't have to think about it again. Setting up online bill pay through your bank is the way to go. I DON'T do automatic payments, just in case an emergency arises and the funds aren't there. I just remain steadfast in my bill paying routine and all goes smoothly.

Step 7. Control your spending.

Now that you feel in control of your money, and you're actually making headway on paying debt KEEP IT THAT WAY! Don't get out of control and spend every last cent in your bank account. Toss a little in savings instead. The easiest way to avoid this is a Needs vs. Wants list. Luckily, I've crafted one for you.

Also available under the Printables tab

List every item you may need or want and the price. Then check off whether it's really a need or just a want. You may WANT a new pair of shoes, but I can guarantee you don't NEED them. And although you may not WANT to pay for a root canal, you may NEED it. Be honest with yourself here. Then mark off all your needs in order of priority.

The key here is to not buy ANYTHING not on the list. That will keep you from making impulse purchases. Obviously focus on things you need, but as your budget allows, sprinkle in some of the items you want.

Keep this list in front of you when filling out your Budget Worksheet and add items under the miscellaneous column so everything is accounted for and you don't end up accidentally blowing your rent money on a new iPad.

Step 8. Breathe.

While this may seem like a lot of work, I guarantee you after a month or so, you won't know how you ever managed before. I spend all of twenty minutes each month budgeting and paying bills now. And while I still wish I had a money tree, at least I don't lose sleep over it anymore.

*** If you have any problems printing the spreadsheets, simply email me at theartfulwife@gmail.com. I'd be happy to send you a PDF.

Protein Power

2012-05-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

We've all heard that protein is an important piece to the nutritional puzzle. I consider myself to be pretty nutritionally-savvy, but even I was unaware of how much protein each of us should take in daily, and why is really is so important.

Let me shed a little light on the subject...

According to Recommended Dietary Allowances, protein should make up 10-35% of total calories in an adult's diet. Protein contains 4 calories per 1 gram, so an average adult consuming anywhere from 1,200 to 4,000 calories per day would need about 80-100 grams of protein per day. (This of course can fluctuate based upon dietary concerns and lifestyle.)

That's a whole lot of protein! But, after a little research and trial-by-fire, I found that its not so hard. It's important to get your protein from both animal and plant sources, and keeping all protein sources lean or low in fat.

Why do you need protein? First, its a terrific source of energy that leaves you feeling fuller longer, and won't give you the "crash" that carbs and other sugars will. Secondly, protein is crucial in the development and repair of body tissues (especially important for those who work out regularly). Thirdly, it regulates the body's processes keeping muscles functioning properly and nutrients adequately transported.

So now that I've given you an impromptu human biology lesson, here are some ways to get the power of protein in your diet.

The Almighty Egg

1. Fry 'em, hard-boil 'em, poach 'em, scramble 'em, put 'em in a quiche... whatever. Just eat 'em! I prefer them hard-boiled, simply because you don't need to add anything else to them, but 1 whole egg will deliver 6 grams of protein.

Cottage Cheese

2. I'm going to be honest with you. I have to practically choke down cottage cheese. BUT, if you top it with some fresh strawberries and a drizzle of honey, you've got something pretty good on your hands. Cottage cheese is a power player that I try to consume every day (low-fat variety of course), with 38 grams of protein per 1 cup serving!

Tofu

3. This one is a favorite. I happen to love tofu. It's great grilled on a sandwich or cubed on a salad, but one of my favorites is in a fruit smoothie. This is a great option for people who feel about tofu the way I feel about cottage cheese. Just toss some frozen strawberries and bananas in a blender with silken tofu, a splash of OJ and a drizzle of honey. Blend and enjoy! Silken tofu contains 4 grams of protein per serving and only 45 calories! I tend to double up on my servings and make a big smoothie so you get 8 grams of protein, and a super nutritional boost from the fruit.

Soybeans

4. Sticking in the soy family, I bring you soybeans or edamame. You can purchase dry roasted edamame in most food stores, right by the nuts. They are low in fat, low and carbs and high in protein with about 14 grams per serving!

Turkey

1. Meat in general contains protein, but I choose to highlight turkey because it is nice and lean (and I love a good turkey sandwich). You can use store-bought turkey, but I think a leftover turkey sandwich is way more delicious and doesn't include any preservatives. A 3 oz. serving of turkey contains a whopping 27 grams of protein. If you're feeling jazzy, top it with some cranberry relish and you've not only got protein, but vitamin C, E and K and a heap of fiber.

To make your own cranberry relish, toss 1 12 oz package fresh or frozen cranberries, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup fresh squeezed OJ, 1 cup sugar and a cinnamon stick in a sauce pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until cranberries burst. Let cool at room temp and then refrigerate. The relish will thicken as it cools.

Turkey Cobb Salad

2012-05-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

I like salad, I really do. But it has to be executed properly in order for it to be at all enticing. First, all ingredients must be fresher than fresh. Second, my salad better have a lot of "stuff" it in - no sad bowls of iceberg for me! Third, you've got to have a good dressing. A simple vinaigrette is totally fine, but again, it's all about execution.

Recently I was informed that most people should be eating approximately 100 grams of protein a day (especially those carrying a child). Seems like a lot, right? Well, I've been doing my best to hit the mark. This salad not only satisfies my strict salad criteria, but is also packs about 40 grams of protein per serving!

So therefore, you get a delightful, healthy salad that leaves you feeling full and satisfied. A lovely creation if I do say so myself... and I do.

Turkey Cobb Salad

Serves 2

1 head romaine lettuce, chopped

2 hard boiled eggs*

1/2 cup shredded carrots

2 scallions, thinly sliced

6 pieces turkey bacon, cooked and chopped

2 turkey cutlets, about 3oz. each

Cooking spray

Salt & pepper

4 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

2-3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar (more of less depending upon taste)

1 tsp. dijon mustard

1. Preheat oven to 375º. Line a baking sheet with foil and lay out turkey bacon in a single layer. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until crispy. Once cooled, chop and set aside.

2. While the oven is preheating, hard boil your eggs. (There is a science to perfect hard boiled eggs and it goes like this: place eggs in pot. Add just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Once water is up to a boil, turn off the heat, put on the lid and wait 10 minutes. Immediately drain eggs and run under cold water to cool them off. Peel right away under running water.)

3. Preheat a grill pan over high heat. Season both sides of turkey with salt and pepper. Once pan is good and hot, cook turkey for about 4 minutes per side until you have nice grill marks and turkey is cooked through. Once cooked, let sit for 5-10 minutes and then dice.

4. To make the dressing, pour olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard and salt and pepper into a screw-top jar (mason jars work best) and shake. Feel free to adjust ingredients based upon your personal taste.

5. Lastly, assembly your salad in neat little rows of ingredients.

Side note: I also make some delicious croutons, but they didn't make it into the photo because I forgot about them until after the fact. If you want croutons, simply cut up some french bread (or whatever you have in the house) into cubes. Put on same baking sheet you used to make the bacon. Drizzle with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic power. Bake at 400º for about 10 minutes until good and crispy.

I Love You Pinterest

2012-05-01T09:24:00.003-07:00

www.pinterest.com

I recently discovered the joys of Pinterest. I feel a little behind the eight ball since this delightful tool has been around since 2010. But alas, better late than never.

For those of you who don't use Pinterest, or don't see the purpose of it, let me explain. Pinterest is essentially an organized space of inspiration. For me, a person who loves lists more than most things in life, Pinterest has proven to be invaluable in helping me organize recipes, projects and home decor ideas. Not only are you given visual reminders through your boards, but the best part is you can link right back to the original website so you never have to search the depths of your brain to remember where you saw that amazing chair or perfect fabric.

I started pinning while trying to get my thoughts together in planning our Little Peanut's nursery. I certainly have no shortage of ideas, but I needed the ability to dump all my ideas in one visual space and then edit. And Pinterest sure as heck beats the old-school method of magazine clippings tacked to the wall.

So if you haven't already, JOIN PINTEREST!

Also, feel free to follow me!

Hiatus

2012-05-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

So I took an eight month break... It happens.

Sometimes life really is a roller coaster and you need to use both hands to hold on tight (effectively eliminating any extra-cirricular activities).

In sticking with the metaphorical picture I'm trying to paint, I got off the first few coasters that made my stomach lurch and have settled for just walking around the amusement park... with maybe a ride on the teacups.

And while I'm glad to have my feet planted back on solid ground, the Artful Wife is also banned from roller coasters for a while as I Momma to my resume.

So now you have a big picture view of the last eight months of my life... you'll never get the details :)

The good news is I'M BACK! And now I have an ever wider variety of topics to cover since I've got baby on the brain. Stay tuned....

French Onion Pizza.

2011-09-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

Last night I wasn't really in the mood for cooking... I know, blasphemy! But I was in the mood for eating, so I needed to come up with something quick and easy that would produce minimal mess.

First I grabbed some Pillsbury pizza dough out of the fridge. I always like to keep some type of pre-made dough on hand for nights like these. Phyllo dough, pizza dough, crescent rolls, whatever. Its just nice to have in a pinch.

Next, I meandered to the pantry and grabbed an onion and some garlic, still unsure of what was going to happen with said produce. I found some delicious gouda in the cheese and it hit me... Wham! French Onion Pizza!

Figure friendly? Nope! Delicious and easy? You bet!

French Onion Pizza

1 package Pillsbury thin crust pizza

1 vidallia onion, sliced in half moons

1 clove garlic, smashed into a paste

1 tbsp. olive oil

4 oz. gouda cheese, grated

1.5 cups chicken stock

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped

3 tbsp. butter, divided

2 tbsp. flour

1. Preheat over to 400º (or per the package directions for your pizza dough.) Pre-bake pizza crust for 5 minutes.

2. In the meantime, melt 1 tbsp. butter and 1 tbsp. olive oil over medium low heat. Add the sliced onions and cook until golden brown and caramelized, about 8-10 minutes. Make sure your onions don't burn! You want them soft and sweet not burnt and bitter. Lower the heat if you need to.

3. Once onions are done, transfer to a plate and set aside. In the same pan, add the remaining 2 tbsp. butter, the garlic paste, and 2 tbsp flour. Whisk together and let cook for about 2 minutes over low heat. Add the chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and let reduce and thicken about 4-5 minutes. Add the heavy cream and let simmer another 1-2 minutes. To know when the sauce is thick enough, coat the back of a wooden spoon in the sauce and then run your finger through it. If the mark you left with your finger remains, the sauce is good to go!

4. Cover pizza crust in the garlic sauce. Spread onions over the top and sprinkle with thyme. Lastly, spread on a thick layer of gouda (provolone would also work great).

5. Bake for about 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melty and the bottom of the crust is golden brown.

Note: I served mine with a little fresh arugula on top to break up some of the richness. Just perfect.

Respect Your Hostess...

2011-09-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

When heading to a gathering, most of us will graciously ask the hostess, "What do you need me to bring?"
Said hostess will most likely reply with a polite, "Nothing. Just yourself," or something of the sort.

Before you breathe a sigh of relief and think "dodged that bullet," you MUST REMEMBER: Never show up to someone else's home empty handed. Period. End of discussion... well beginning of discussion actually.

If a pal is kind enough to open her home to a bunch of hooligans, the least you can do is bring her a token of your appreciation for all the scrubbing, cooking, organizing and hiding of dirty laundry that probably took all day in anticipation of your arrival.

By token of appreciation, I don't mean a bottle of wine that you plan on drinking, or some other crappy item that you're re-gifting from last Christmas. Give her something good - something you would want.

A few suggestions....

1. Wine - I know its contradictory to my above statement, but bringing HER favorite wine, or more than one bottle if you plan on sampling is perfectly acceptable. Just don't show up with your favorite and polish the whole thing off, all the while feeling rather full of yourself for your exceptional etiquette.

Santa Margherita is always welcome in my home

2. Lafco Mini Candles - for $20, these super cute candles are completely affordable and come in a variety of fresh scents. I happen to love the tins they come in, complete with matches neatly tucked into the lids!

3. Fresh Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment - $22 may seem a little over the top for a chapstick, but this stuff is INCREDIBLE! Makes a perfect gift for the winter months when lips take a beating.

4. Paper Source Notecards - It makes me so sad that the art of a handwritten letter or thank you card is nearly extinct. Don't you remember the days before you started receiving bills and credit card offers, when you would receive a birthday card or - gasp - letter from a pen pal? You'd be lying if you didn't say your heart skipped a beat.

A thank you note, or just a quick note to say hello is such a refreshing change from bills, junk mail and the wayward pieces of mail that belong to your neighbor. I say let's keep it alive! Give your hostess a delightful set of notecards and I'll bet she writes you a thank you note on one!

Paper source has a great variety of set of 10 notecards with matching envelopes for around $12! Buy some for the hostess and buy some for yourself!

A personal favorite

5. Sur La Table Apron - Sur la Table has great vintage-y aprons for between $20-$30 (depending on whether or not they are on sale). These aprons make a great gift for a baker or purveyor of vintage finds. I happen to have given this gift twice myself - one to my maid of honor who hosted my bridal shower and one to my mother-in-law.

Sur la Table also has mother-daugher matching aprons and sets of matching aprons and pot holders, if that's something that suits your fancy.

So be bold, and in homage to my past at Barneys... Give Good Gift!

A Lunch with Southern Flair...

2011-09-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

What's better than fried green tomatoes? Fried green tomatoes with GOAT CHEESE! I currently have a mess in my kitchen from experimenting with an Apple Honey Muffin recipe, so I'll keep the intro condensed.

I just had to give you this incredibly easy, oh-so-delicious, so-long summer lunch...

Fried Green Tomato and Goat Cheese Stack
Serves 1 (also a great appetizer for 2)

1 firm green tomato
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1 egg
1 cup flour
1/2 tbsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 scallion, sliced on the bias
Goat cheese, as much or as little as you like
Vegetable oil, enough to cover bottom of skillet

1. Set up a three-step breading station. Keep it close to the stove top otherwise you're bound to make a mess! In one shallow dish combine flour, pepper and salt. In the next, gently beat the egg with a little water. In the third dish will be the breadcrumbs.

2. Heat vegetable oil in a low-sided skillet over medium-high heat.

3. Cut tomato into four thick slices, trimming off very top and very bottom. To bread the tomato slices, first cover each slice in flour, shaking off excess. Then a quick bath in the egg and finally dunk each slice into the breadcrumbs. Be sure that you pat the breadcrumbs onto the tomato to make sure you have a nice coating. Gently shake off excess and place into the hot oil.

4. Brown the tomatoes on one side, about 2 minutes. Flip and brown on the other. Make sure your oil is good and hot otherwise you'll end up with greasy, mushy tomatoes, but watch closely! These brown quickly.

5. Once fried, transfer tomatoes to paper towel-lined plate. Let sit for a few minutes to absorb any extra oil.

6. Lastly, create your stack. Layer tomato, goat cheese and scallion and repeat.

This may seem like a lot of work for a lunch for one, but it actually comes together in less than 10 minutes... and is well worth it!

A Whole New Breed of Chili

2011-09-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

I've made a huge pot of chili with a pan of corn bread for dinner at least 100 times. I've made versions with turkey, chicken and beef and with add in's from diced potatoes to carrots to corn. Last week I was in the mood for something completely different... Cincinnati Chili.

Cincinnati Chili is served over pasta, so it needs to have a thinner consistency than my usual brand and I really wanted to kick up the flavor to make it something absolutely different and special.

I went back to the drawing board and changed everything from ingredients to cooking methods. The outcome... pretty incredible. The chili was excellent over pasta, but I would welcome it on hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos... whatever!

So Good Cincinnati Chili

Serves 4

1 1/4 lb. ground beef (85/15 fat content)

4 cups water

1 large white onion, diced (1/4 onion reserved)

1 6 oz. can tomato paste

1 1/2 tbsp. salt

2 tbsp. cumin

1 tbsp. garlic powder

1 tbsp. chili powder

1 tbsp. Worcestershire

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Shredded cheddar for garnish

1. Combine beef and water in a large pot over high heat. Stir to break apart beef. Bring to a boil. Once mixture boils, reduce heat to low. Add onion and tomato paste. Stir to combine, cover and let simmer for 1 hour.

2. After an hour, uncover. Stir in salt, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, Worcestershire and cinnamon. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.

3. Serve over spaghetti. Top with remaining diced onion and shredded cheddar cheese.

Enjoy!

A Tale of Two Sandwiches.

2011-09-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've ever met a sandwich I didn't like. I love the idea of a complete meal stuffed between two delicious, toasty slices of bread. And the portability factor? Can't beat it!

When crafting the perfect sandwich, simplicity is key. Choose quality ingredients and think about your favorite non-sandwich dishes when combining flavors.

Here are two varieties that I'm eating non-stop these days...

Mozzarella, Tomato & Pesto Sandwich

Creates 1 perfectly lovely sandwich

2 slices rustic ciabatta bread, lightly toasted

2-3 slices fresh mozzarella (enough to cover the bread)

3-4 slices plum tomato (enough to cover the bread)

1 small handful of fresh baby spinach

3 tbsp. basil pesto

Salt and pepper

*Note: You can certainly make your own pesto, but I found a version in the local supermarket that is absolutely delicious and completely easy.

1. Assemble. Yup, that's it. See why I love sandwiches?!

Roasted Turkey Reuben

Creates 1 deliciously melty sandwich

2 slices marble rye/pumpernickel bread, lightly toasted

1/4 lb. store roasted turkey, sliced thick

3-4 slices swiss cheese

1/4 cup sauerkraut (or more or less to suit your taste)

4 tbsp. thousand island dressing

Salt and pepper

*Note: You can also make your own thousand island dressing if you don't have a store bought version on hand. Its simply ketchup, mayo, relish and chopped pickles. I like to throw in some capers too.

1. You guessed it. Assemble. Done.

Don't stop here. Sandwich options are endless...

Like Thanksgiving? Try roasted turkey on a buttermilk biscuit with cranberry relish. A perfect sandwich to make with leftover stuffing!

Want to keep it light and fresh? Try fig jam on toasted ciabatta bread with proscuitto, arugula and shaved parmesan.

Love the classics? How 'bout a traditional BLT kicked up a notch with avocado and honey-lime mayo.

You get the idea. Stay tuned for more incredible options!

A Well-Stocked Pantry...

2011-09-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

A well-stocked pantry means the difference between a delicious meal on the fly and endless trips to the supermarket resulting in countless ingredients that you may only use once. There are certain key items that every pantry should never be without- I've done you the service of listing these crucial kitchen warriors below.

Pantry Staples

Good quality olive oil
Vegetable oil
Peanut or canola oil for frying
Vinegars: balsamic, white wine, red wine, apple cider, distilled white and rice wine
Kosher salt
Cracked black pepper
Dried beans and lentils (whichever varieties you prefer)
Canned beans
Rice: brown, yellow, basmati and arborio
Variety of dried pastas
College Inn broths: chicken, beef and vegetable
Soy sauce
Sugars: brown and white
Honey
Agave nectar
Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce
Bread crumbs: Italian and panko
Crushed tomatoes
Tomato paste
Variety of herbs/spices: garlic power, oregano, thyme, ground sage, red curry powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, crushed red pepper flakes, cumin, chili powder, old bay
Onions: white, vidalia and red
Shallots
Garlic
Potatoes: baking, yukon gold, red baby potatoes and sweet potatoes
Lemons
Oranges
Apples

Whew! That's a long list for sure, but if you always keep these items on hand, replenishing when you get low, you'll be able to whip up a plethora of delicious meals with just the additions of meat, dairy and produce.

Don't forget to stock up on your personal favorites as well. Love enchiladas? Well, you better get some canned green chilis. Have a houseful of kids? Ketchup and ranch dressing better be on your shelves. Focus on the ingredients that you reach for time and time again and you can't go wrong.

Knowing your personal pantry staples allows you to stock up when your favorites go on sale... even better.

Here's a few more images of my personal pantry...

Mason jars are invaluable for storing pastas, rice and beans. The jars keep food fresh, keep pests out and
allow you to easily see what you have on hand.
Plus, doesn't it just look so much better than half-empty boxes??

Onions, garlic and potatoes should be kept in a cool, dark place - NOT the fridge.
Wrangle them in a basket in your pantry so you can replenish when your stock is getting low.

So it's a little Sleeping with the Enemy, but keeping your pantry organized ensures that you
won't be elbow deep in a recipe and realize that you're missing an ingredient.

Slacker.

2011-09-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

I realize that I've slacked off, and I'm sorry. Truly am.

I got forced out of routine when hurricane Irene stole my power and, a week later with power restored, I'm still struggling to get back into the swing of things.

But rest assured, The Artful Wife will persevere!! There are some great things coming your way.... This is what I'm working on for you:

1. Delicious, easy lunches that you actually want to eat. So long Lean Cuisine!
2. Easy weeknight dinners that come together in minutes
3. Beautiful homemade hostess gifts
4. Practical holiday gift guides
5. Comprehensive list of pantry essentials
6. Fall cleaning checklist... and a plan to tackle it FAST!

So hang tight ladies! The Arful Wife is working with great aplomb...

In the meantime, if you haven't read THE HELP, you need to.

White Bean Chicken Chili

2011-08-25T18:32:00.000-07:00

When you're craving chili, but not the heaviness that often comes along with it, White Bean Chicken Chili is an excellent alternative!

This surprisingly light dish is sort of a soup-chili hybrid with a chicken stock base and plenty of protein-packed beans. Smokey cumin gives you the warmth of chili while lime offers a refreshing brightness and kale, an unexpected twist.

A great weeknight meal for any season!

White Bean Chicken Chili
Serves 3-4

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
3 Anaheim chili peppers (the long, light green variety)
1-2 jalapenos (depending upon how much heat you like)
1 15 oz. can white beans, rinsed and drained
1 15 oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/2 bunch kale, chopped
2 tbsp. cumin
1 tbsp. dried oregano
1 tbsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
5 cups chicken broth
2 tbsp. lime juice (about half a lime)

1. Heat olive oil in stock pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and pepper, saute for 5 minutes until vegetables are soft. Add garlic, cumin and oregano. Stir to combine. Let cook for another 1-2 minutes until the cumin and oregano get toasty. You'll know it's ready when you can smell them.

2. And chicken and cook until lightly browned, about 6-8 minutes. Once chicken is browned add white beans, chick peas, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes to an hour. (I feel like the longer it cooks the better, but if you need a quick meal, 20 minutes will definitely do.)

3. About five minutes before you're ready to serve, toss in kale, cilantro and lime juice. Stir. Once kale wilts slightly you're ready to go. Be sure to taste for salt at this point. If you used low sodium chicken broth, you will likely need to add a little more salt.

Serve with a chunk of rustic bread. Enjoy!

A Little Inspiration.

2011-08-25T08:26:00.000-07:00

With Labor Day creeping closer, I've begun to daydream about picnics and barbecues all decked out in their red, white and blue glory! Much like the 4th of July, Labor Day is one of those holidays where you simply cannot OD on themed goodness!

Unfortunately, my yard is a complete mess right now as we prepare to install a new patio. A patriotic summer send off is just not in the cards this year. But the more I thought about the incredible party that would never be, I realized that there is a true science to planning a party and if you follow the right formulas you'll end up with something spectacular every time.

It all starts with a little INSPIRATION....

What I would give for this to be my backyard!!!

As summer winds down and families settle back into routine, we all yearn for more gatherings and party season picks up. Stay tuned over the next week or so as I reveal my fail-proof techniques for planning a killer party - no matter how big or small.

Gotta Start Somewhere...

First things first, scour the inter-webs, magazines, catalogues and cookbooks for inspiration. As you begin to piece together your findings, put them in a binder, pin them to a corkboard or copy and paste them into a Word doc if you're searching online. This is your Inspiration Board (or binder, or file).

DON'T EDIT YOURSELF! Just pick things that catch your eye. As you build your board you'll find that certain colors, textures and elements repeat themselves. These will be the basis to your planning.

An inspiration board works for so many things: party planning, decorating your home, planning your style for the upcoming season (great if you're on a budget... find the things you keep coming back to and make those your priority when shopping!). Try it, you'll love it!

A Great Start.

2011-08-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

I normally have no boundaries when it comes to food. I prefer sandwiches for breakfast and pancakes for dinner. I feel that seared scallops are as fitting for the morning meal as is an omelet, but this morning, I was feeling a little traditionalist.

I woke up a little early to a crisp, perfectly pre-fall day. I was starving, as I usually am the moment I open my eyes, and was craving something fresh, but comforting. I thought back to the mornings of my childhood, digging through the variety box of Quaker Instant Oatmeal packets hoping to find the last Strawberries and Cream.

Loving the sweet simplicity of fruit and cream, I decided that recreating that childhood favorite was not beyond my reach. This 10 minute breakfast is warm, comforting, sweet and so satisfying! I have a feeling I'll be making variations of it all winter long!

Strawberries & Cream Oatmeal

Serves 2

1 1/2 cups milk

3/4 c. old fashioned oats

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 tbsp. agave nectar

1 tbsp. heavy cream

4 ripe strawberries, plus extra for garnish

1. Bring milk to a boil over medium heat in medium sauce pan. Add vanilla and oats. Cook for about 6 minutes until the oats have absorbed most of the milk.

2. In the meantime, hull 4 strawberries and slice lengthwise. Once the oatmeal is nearly finished, add the strawberries, agave and heavy cream. Stir to combine. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the oatmeal is creamy, but not gooey. Be careful to not let it go too far, the oatmeal will thicken slightly upon standing.

3. For the pretty strawberry garnish, make four to five slices through the length of the strawberry, taking care not to cut all the way through. Fan and the slices and Voila!