my favorite mashed potatoes

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Mike loves potatoes. Baked, fried, mashed … if a potato is somehow incorporated into a dish, odds are Mike will be a fan! I tease him that someday he needs to go to a restaurant and order a meal entirely made up of potato side dishes: “I’ll have a baked potato with a side of mashed potatoes and potato salad and some french fries for dessert.” You think I’m joking, but if Mike ordered such a meal he would enjoy every bite.

Which goes to say that I have experimented with many different recipes featuring potatoes. The tried-and-true classic, and perhaps my favorite way to eat a potato, is mashed. My mom makes the best mashed potatoes in the universe, so in my mind I can never compete with hers. But I’ve come up with a recipe that Mike really loves, so I wanted to share it with you. I’m a fan because: 1) it’s pretty quick; 2) it’s pretty simple; and 3) for mashed potatoes, it’s pretty healthy, featuring vitamin-rich potato skins, skim milk, fat-free sour-cream, and still plenty of flavor and a great creamy texture.

In the next couple of days I’ll post a recipe for my great-grandma Rahn’s stuffed chicken breasts, which I made the other night alongside these mashed potatoes for a truly delish meal.

my favorite mashed potatoes

-2 lbs of your favorite potatoes {I used regular old russets but am also a fan of yukon golds}
-1/4 cup butter, softened
-1/4 cup skim milk
-2 tbsp fat-free sour cream
-2 tsp chopped garlic {or, in a pinch, you might use garlic powder}
-2 tsp dried basil
-salt & pepper to taste

1. Cube the potatoes {leave the skin on} and bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, carefully drop the potatoes in, and cook until tender, which for me usually takes about 15-20 minutes.

2. Drain the water from the potatoes and dump them into a bowl or back into the pot. Mash them to desired texture {I use a potato masher and like to leave them a little lumpy}

3. Add the milk and sour cream and mix well. Season with garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Enjoy!

I’ve also found some potential recipes for using up leftover mashed potatoes that I am planning to try soon … I will keep you posted!

Happy cooking & yummy eating!
-Dallas

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Time: 30 mins
Cost: $3.00

10 ways to save money on date night

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Happy Friday, everyone! For many people {including my sweet parents!} Friday tends to be date night. Date night is a wonderful way to have some special one-on-one time with your sweetie and remember what it was like when the two of your first started dating and you walked around with butterflies constantly flitting around in your belly.

The downside to date night is that it can get pretty expensive! However, here are some small ways to save money while still having a super fun and romantic time together.

1. Instead of dinner then a movie, try going to a movie first and then having dinner. Most movie theaters offer matinee prices, and a late-afternoon movie rather than a nighttime movie can save you a few bucks a pop. Over the course of a month or a year of movie outings, those few bucks add up!

2. Cook a romantic dinner at home and rent a movie to watch. Because I tend to cook tried-and-true, quick-and-easy recipes during the busy workweek, date night in is a fun time to try making a new recipe I’ve had my eye on. A recent favorite was turkey enchiladas updated with green chile enchilada sauce and bell pepper. And for movie rentals, Redbox charges only a dollar or so for a night’s rental {extra money-saving tip: there are one-time-use free-rental codes available online for most major retail chains that have Redbox kiosks}

3. Whether having date night in or out, an inexpensive bouquet of fresh flowers is a guaranteed way to make the night feel special.

4. Going out to eat? Instead of ordering wine or beer at the restaurant, why not order water instead and have a glass of wine or beer when you get home? In college, my roommates and I had fun concocting homemade margaritas or Kalua milkshakes or fruit-filled sangria. This can also be a way to tweak the ingredients of your drinks to be slightly healthier, and also to ensure that you don’t order one drink too many and then get behind the wheel when you shouldn’t.

5. Same goes for dessert — get more bang for your buck by making something to satisfy your sweet tooth at home rather than splurging on an expensive dessert in a restaurant. I am a huge fan of Betty Crocker mix brownies — it only takes five minutes tops to pour the mix and water and oil in a bowl, crack in an egg or two, mix everything up and pour it into the baking pan. Then curl up on the couch with your honey to watch a movie {maybe in your jammies with a glass of wine, too!} and in about half an hour the brownies will be ready!

6. If you do get dessert out somewhere — like, say, ice cream — why not split a medium size instead of getting two small sizes? For example, at my local Cold Stone, the “love it” size is only about a dollar more than the “like it” size, so getting one “love it” instead of two “like it”s saves a few dollars … which, like the matinee movie tickets, does add up over time!

7. You don’t need a restaurant for a special date night… at least, not in the summertime! Why not pack dinner in a cooler and go for a picnic?

8. A lot of restaurants, especially chain places, will occasionally offer gift card deals — most often I’ve seen them around holidays. As an incentive to buy their gift cards as gifts for people in your life, restaurants will throw in something extra for you — say, a free $10 gift card when you buy $50 worth of gift cards. If the restaurant is a place you go often, and the gift cards don’t expire, this can be a great deal for you to buy and then use yourself.

9. Google the restaurant to see if they have coupons available online — many do!

10. Be on the lookout for fun, alternative date-night ideas. Groupons are often terrific deals! In the past, I have gotten amazingly discounted deals for dates like dinner and a magic show, a murder mystery dinner, and an art museum.

blueberry pie

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Looking for a quick, easy, and antioxidant-filled summer dessert? Try this blueberry pie! I had never made a blueberry pie before so I was a little anxious about how it would turn out, but all I did was throw the ingredients together in a pie crust and pop it in the oven.

I modified the recipe from this one I found on Food.com and served mine with whipped cream.

Blueberry Pie

-1 pie crust {I used a premade shortbread pie crust but I think a graham cracker crust would be nice, too}
-1/4 cup sugar
-2 tbsp flour
-2 {overflowing} cups blueberries
-1 tsp lemon juice
-pinch of salt
-whipped cream {if desired; I used the Kroger-brand fat-free kind}

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour blueberries into a strainer and rinse them. Pat dry with a paper towel and pour them into a large bowl.

2. Add the flour and toss to coat the blueberries. Then add the sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Mix well, being careful not to mash the blueberries.

3. Pour the berry mixture into the pie crust.

4. Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until the blueberries start to bubble.

5. Top with whipped cream if desired.

YUM!

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Time spent: 10 minutes prep, 45-60 minutes baking
Money spent: $6.00

marvelous monday: fresh flowers

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Happy Monday everyone! It’s summer and the sun is shining, the fireflies are out, the days are long. How can your Monday not be marvelous?

I think something that makes even an already-marvelous day even better is fresh flowers. How can you not smile when a flower greets you every time you walk past, like this sunflower my wonderful dad surprised me with?

Flowers are an easy way to make your place seem more organized, too! If your environment is feeling a little cluttered or drab, it’s amazing what a difference you can make by simply putting a load of laundry in the washing machine, a load of dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and a vase of fresh flowers on the kitchen table!

For an even better way to make your Monday truly marvelous, think of who you might surprise with flowers today, then go spread some cheer!

Coming Wednesday: an easy and delicious summertime recipe for blueberry pie. YUM!

All best,
Dallas

cool off with these summer drinks

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Wow, summertime in the Midwest sure is H-O-T! It can get warm where I’m from in California, but I’m having a bit of a hard time getting used to the humidity of Indiana summers. I am grateful to air conditioning and electric fans for getting me through the hot afternoons we are having! {And local friends tell me it’s only going to get hotter in July & August…}

When it is hot out, it is especially easy to get dehydrated, which can make you feel lethargic, irritable, and headachy. I’ve been guzzling the cold water, and I’ve come up with two quick and easy recipes that have been keeping me hydrated and cool even on the hottest of summer days. I’m excited to share them with you!

Zero-calorie Iced Tea

1. Steep a bag of your favorite tea in hot water. This recipe works particularly well with fruity teas — two current favorites of mine are Trader Joe’s Mango Black Tea and Lipton’s Blueberry-Acai Green Tea.

2. Fill a large drinking glass with ice cubes. {Don’t skimp on the ice — I typically use half a tray!}

3. Once the tea has steeped for 3 minutes or so, pour it into your ice-filled glass and enjoy!

Ice Water with Cucumber Slices

This recipe comes courtesy of my grandma, who declares it “the most refreshing drink around on a hot day.”

1. Rinse and peel a cucumber and cut it into thin slices.

2. Fill a large drinking glass or pitcher with ice cubes and water.

3. Drop the cucumber slices into the ice water and let it sit for 2 or 3 minutes until drinking.

*This recipe is also great with lemon or lime slices, but there’s something about cucumber that I think is the most refreshing of all.

And there you have it! Hope these recipes help you stay hydrated, healthy and cool this summer. What are some of your favorite summer drinks?

Always,
Dallas

marvelous monday: the cherimoya

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I’m back in Lafayette for the summer, and I celebrated by scoring a new find in the exotic fruits aisle: the cherimoya! {if you missed my post back in April about our adventure eating the horned melon, here it is}

I’ve actually been on the lookout for a cherimoya for quite a while, after I found a quote by Mark Twain describing the cherimoya as “the most delicious fruit known to man.” Wow! Its taste is described as a mixture of banana and pineapple. I just had to try it for myself!

Even if I hadn’t read testaments of the cherimoya’s deliciousness, I would have been intrigued enough to put it in our cart based on its appearance alone!

Here you can see what it looks like on the outside and inside. The big black seeds are supposedly poisonous, but they are easy to avoid, so do not fear!

After researching on the internet, I found out that you can tell a cherimoya is ripe when it has a little give, like a ripe mango or avocado. Some people recommended shaking it; if you hear a rattling sound, there is a good chance it is ripe. The cherimoya is a good source of Vitamin C and antioxidants.

YUM! Healthy and delicious!

To eat, slice it open and use a spoon to scoop out the soft, custard-like insides.

I was surprised by the texture most of all. The taste is hard to describe … definitely reminiscent of a banana to me. Next time I try one, I want to let it ripen even more!

Anyone else tried the cherimoya? What did you think?

Happy summer!
– Dallas

turkey enchiladas

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Sorry I’ve been MIA the past week … I strained my hand from overuse of the computer, so I had to take some time completely computer-free. (It’s crazy how much I use the computer in my daily life — writing, blogging, checking email — I didn’t know what to do with myself without it!)

My hands are feeling better, and today I have another delicious & healthy recipe to share with you, courtesy of my amazing mom!

Ingredients:

  • 1 package ground turkey meat
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 1 package of whole wheat tortillas
  • 1 can enchilada sauce (I like the La Victoria brand, mild)
  • a few handfuls of shredded cheese

1. Brown the ground turkey in a pan on medium heat. While the turkey is cooking, dice the onion.

2. Drain the fat from the turkey. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes more.

3. Open can of enchilada sauce and pour about 1/3 of the can into a glass baking dish (I used a 10 x 13 size) so it covers the bottom.

4. Hold one tortilla in your hand. Scoop in some of the ground turkey mixture, a spoonful of enchilada sauce, and a bit of shredded cheese. Roll the tortilla closed and place in the baking dish. Repeat until all the ground turkey is gone. (I usually make 5-6 enchiladas.)

5. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the enchiladas and spread with a spoon until all parts of the tortilla are covered. Sprinkle with cheese.

6. Bake for 15-20 minutes in an oven set to 350 degrees.

And there you go! I served mine with green beans and a fresh garden salad. This recipe served my whole family with two extra enchiladas left over for lunch the next day! Yummy, healthy, easy and inexpensive — what more can you ask for in a meal?

Happy eating!
-Dallas

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Cost: $15.00
Time: 30-40 minutes (including bake time)

garlic, tomato & olive oil pasta

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One thing I love about being home in California is getting to eat my mom’s delicious cooking! Last night she taught me how to make a super quick, inexpensive and easy pasta dish that I immediately knew I had to share with you!

Ingredients:

– 1 box angel hair pasta
– 2 tbsp minced garlic
– 3 roma tomatoes, cut into pieces
– 1/4 cup olive oil
– 1 package chicken breasts
– feta cheese to taste

1. Cut up the chicken breasts into chunks and saute in some olive oil until cooked all the way through.

2. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook angel hair pasta for approx. 3 minutes. {Be very careful not to overcook angel hair pasta!}

3. Coat bottom of a pan in olive oil and saute the minced garlic while pasta is cooking.

4. Drain pasta and dump it into the garlic and olive oil mixture. Stir until all the pasta is coated. Add the tomatoes and chicken and mix well.

5. Top with feta cheese if desired.

Ta da! Could not be easier, faster, or tastier! What are some of your favorite quick & healthy recipes?

Till Friday,
Dallas

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Cost: about $15.00
Time: 10 minutes

marvelous monday: mother’s day every day

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Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day yesterday! I feel very blessed I got to celebrate with not only my amazing mom, but my grandma, too! She and my Grandpap were in town for my brother’s graduation and decided to stay a couple extra days so we could all celebrate Mother’s Day together as well.

I think it’s great to have a day specially dedicated to celebrating mothers, but I also think we should make our mothers and wives {and all the mother figures in our lives} feel special and loved each and every day.

Here are some ways you could make every day Mother’s Day:

– send a handwritten card or thank-you note just because

– pick up some flowers on your way home, or send some over the Internet

– do a load of your mother’s laundry to thank her for the many, many loads of laundry she’s done for you throughout your life! {ditto for washing a sinkful of dirty dishes, filling up near-empty gas tank, or straightening up a messy living room}

– go grocery shopping and cook dinner

– pick up the phone and call just to see how her day is going and say you love her

The older I get, the more and more I realize how extremely fortunate I am to have such an incredible mom who is also my friend, confidante, advice guru, and role model of a strong, confident, intelligent and inside-and-out beautiful woman. I’m so happy I get to spend a few more weeks at home with my mom {and the rest of my family!} before heading back to Indiana for the summer.

I’m so grateful for the other marvelous mother figures in my life: my grandma, my aunts, Holly’s mom Susan, Erica’s mom Darai, my mom’s best friend Alicia, and various teachers and mentors including Tania, Aimee, and Rima. And I also remember my grandma Auden and dear friend Jewell who are no longer with us, but who I still think of often.

Have a marvelous Monday, and spread some love! ❤

-Dallas

take-out menu storage

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Happy Friday! I have a quick and easy organizational post for you today.

Remember a few weeks ago when I posted about my new stationary organization system thanks to a $1 accordian file folder I found at Target? I was kicking myself for not grabbing more of those folders … and then last week when I was browsing the clearance section I came across a stack of those very folders in various sizes! {score}

I grabbed a smaller one in a versatile black color because I had a hunch it would come in handy. Today, inspiration struck about how I should use it: to organize the various take-out menus cluttering up and falling off the fridge.

Like when I organized my stationary, this could not have been an easier project. All I had to do was take down all the menus from the fridge and slide them into the various pockets organized by different types of cuisine: Chinese, Thai, Mediterranean, Indian, pizza, burger/diner food, and dessert.

Last, I found the perfect place to tuck it away next to my reusable grocery bags, still within easy reach when I don’t feel like cooking and want to order take-out!

In fact … maybe I’ll kick off the weekend by doing just that!

xoxo,
Dallas

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Cost: $1.00
Time: 5 minutes