Kid Cuisine Bug Hunt Fun Nuggets

Well...doesn't the name say it all? Bug? Fun? Nuggets? Seriously?!

Here's the ingredient list:
Chicken Patties (Chicken, Breading [Wheat Flour, Salt, Dextrose, Soybean(s) Oil, Whey, Oleoresin Paprika], Water, Soy Protein Textured [Soy Protein, Soy Carbohydrate], Batter [Corn Flour Yellow, Corn Starch, Spice(s), Salt Sugar, Yeast Extract Autolyzed, Guar Gum, Leavening, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Garlic Powder, Monocalcium Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate], Chicken Broth Powder [Maltodextrin, Chicken Broth, Salt Flavor(s)], Salt Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Flavor(s) BHT, Soybean(s) Oil Partially Hydrogenated, Spice(s) [Mono and Diglycerides, Spice(s) Extractive, Lactic Acid]), Macaroni and Cheese (Pasta [Semolina Durum, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid (Vitamin aB), Egg(s) Whites], Water Cheese Cheddar [Milk Pasteurized Cultured, Salt Enzyme(s), Annatto], Whey Sweet Dried, Cream Sweet Dried [Cream Sweet, Milk Non-Fat, Sodium Caseinate], Food Starch Modified, Wheat Flour Soybean(s) Oil Partially Hydrogenated BHT Beta Carotene [Corn Oil, Beta Carotene], Butter [Cream Sweet Salt], Citric Acid, Datem, Disodium Phosphate, Salt Mono and Diglycerides Cheese Blend [Cheese Cheddar Blend, Cheese Cheddar Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt Enzyme(s) Annatto Cream, Sodium Phosphate, Lactic Acid Yellow 5, Yellow 6]), Chocolate Pudding (Water Sugar Food Starch Modified Milk Non-Fat Dry, Soybean(s) Oil Partially Hydrogenated BHT Cream Sweet Dried [Cream Sweet Milk Non-Fat Sodium Caseinate] Cocoa Powder [Potassium Carbonate], Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, Salt Soy Lecithin), Corn (Corn Water Soybean(s) Oil Partially Hydrogenated BHT Sugar Salt Emulsifier(s) [Polyglycerol Esters Of Fatty Acids], Flavor(s) Butter [Soybean(s) Oil Partially Hydrogenated Butter Oil, Butter Fat Enzyme Modified, Whey Powder Sweet, Milk Non-Fat Dry Powder], Soy Lecithin Beta Carotene [Corn Oil Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta Carotene]), Ketchup (Water Tomato(es) Paste, Corn Syrup High Fructose, Corn Syrup, Vinegar, Sucrose, Salt Flavor(s) Natural, Onion(s) Powder, Spice(s) Spice(s) Extractive), Cookies (Sugar Flour Enriched [Wheat, Niacin Iron Reduced, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1) Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Folic Acid (Vitamin aB)], Vegetable(s) Oil [Soybean(s) Oil Hydrogenated, Cottonseed Oil Hydrogenated], Cocoa Processed With Alkali Corn Syrup High Fructose Corn Flour, Salt Dextrose Sodium Bicarbonate Maltodextrin Cottonseed Oil Partially Hydrogenated, Red 40 Lake, Soy Lecithin Sugar Magnesium Stearate, Flavor(s) Natural)

I personally, would feel like a failure of a parent if I bought, microwave heated, served and watched my child eat this shit. Get a clue people- cook. Chicken, whole wheat bread crumbs and an oven. It doesn't take long, it's inexpensive and it works. My child as nugget and fast food free. And he hates fries! Stuff like this is beyond freaky. And sad.

Aurgh...the ingredient list won't copy and paste successfully, I'm sorry. But here's a link to what's inside: gross

Grilled Flank Steak over Pesto Quinoa with Roasted Veg

Lately I've been queen of the 30 minute recipes (Rachael Ray can suck it, mine are better) but tonight I felt like spending more time in the kitchen. This one ended up taking 45 minutes! And many thanks to my dear Sarah Dunbar, who informed me of pesto quinoa. Another 'oh duh!' moment for me...

Flank steak (I buy arrachera at my carniceria)
Assorted veg cut into inch pieces
Quinoa
Pesto (I made basil pesto this time, not spinach)

Quinoa is made just like rice. I used 1.5 cups of quinoa with stock and brought it to a boil. I covered it and lowered the heat and let it finish cooking- about 18 minutes. I roasted the assorted veg (red onion, green bell pepper, mushrooms and broccoli) at 425 for somewhere around 15-18 minutes. Then I stepped outside and grilled the steak until nearly done. Let sit a good 10 minutes before slicing- don't ruin it by hacking into it too soon. The longer it sits, the better. When the quinoa is finished, mix in pesto and a bit of Parmesan cheese. Serve the quinoa on the bottom, top it with the roasted vegetables and finish it with the sliced steak on top. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and pesto over the steak. Attack with fork and knife.

Grilled Chicken with Avocado and Spicy Beans

Here's another no brainer, nutritious and quick meal. I seasoned chicken breasts with this chicken seasoning I buy at our local carniceria. It's like $1 and I use it all the time. Get some. So, I seasoned the chicken and then grilled it. It came out perfect.

I placed the chicken on a bed of brown rice and peas. (I was lame and used the quick microwavable brown rice you find in the freezer section- I was pinched on time)

Then I topped it with Pace picante sauce and fresh avocado.

I served it alongside my wonderful bean creation- vegetarian beans mixed with pureed Rotel, warm it up. Jesse is ridiculous about tomatoes, so I have to puree all tomatoes for him. (He's a baby, I know.) Try this mixture, it's freaking terrific.

Done. Another "duh" dinner. It was awesome. I think Jesse licked his plate. I should seriously have a tv show.

'Tis the Season for Summer Salads!

We got a new grill last weekend and I have grilled every night for dinner since then. I think fresh vegetables pair perfectly with something hot off the grill. Today I threw together this simple salad that tastes better the longer it sits.

1 English cucumber, quartered and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
3/4 cup sundried tomatoes
1/2 jar black olives (I prefer kalamata, but Maximus was sleeping so I couldn't get to the store)
1/3 red onion sliced thin on a mandolin slicer

I made a quick dressing-
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
less than 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp (or more) dijon mustard
tiny bit agave nectar
pinch of oregano
pinch of sesame seeds

Blend that all up, pour over the vegetables and let sit. Done.