Is it me, or does it seem like a new meal kit delivery service springs up every day? I've had the opportunity to test drive a bunch, but I keep wishing there is one service that sources from local producers, curates only the best ingredients, doesn't overload you on one ingredient, is eco-friendly in its packaging, doesn't lock you into a long-term commitment, and delivers straight to your door.

Enter Family Dinner, a farmer's market delivery service for Boston Metro and South Shore residents. Unlike your typical meal kit delivery company, Family Dinner does not shoehorn you into specific recipes in a given week. Instead, Family Dinner works with local farmers and producers to curate the freshest produce, grains, seafood, meat and dairy products.

Family Dinner describes itself as "a better way to CSA" as it offers "all the benefits of the CSA with none of the drawbacks."  Here's how:

1. Choose your share. You can pay week to week and there's no long-term commitment like traditional CSAs.
2. Choose from "Omnivore," "Paleo," "Pescatarian," or "Vegetarian." Each share comes with protein, fruits, vegetables and a grain.
3. Select the size of your share. Options include "Veggie only share" for 1-2 people, "Half Share" for 1-2 people, "Whole Share" for 2-4 people, or "Double Share" for 4-6 people.
4. Choose to have it delivered to your home (Saturday delivery) or office (veggie only Monday delivery). Family Dinner will send you a text message when they are on their way.
5. Cook! Family Dinner will send you an email with a list of ingredients and some recipe ideas ahead of time. 

We selected a Omnivore Double Share and what arrived blew us all away in terms of quality and quantity. A Double Share easily offers a family of four 5-6 meals, with leftovers - which is perfect for my three hungry guys. Here's what our Family Dinner week looked like:









Extra: There were even ingredients for lunches and snacks too, including honey mustard for the sandwich spread,  apples, and cottage cheese with fresh raspberries.

The boys loved everything. I loved the quality, local ingredients. I also love supporting local entrepreneurs. And I especially loved that we were still able to sit down for a family dinner, even during the busiest of days.

So if you've ever thought about signing up for a CSA, but didn't want to get stuck with 3 pounds of bok choy. Or if you're getting tired of meal delivery kits (and the excessive packaging), Give Family Dinner a try. There's no commitment and if you sign up using UMOMMY50, you get 50% off your first order.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Family Dinner for giving me a trial share, which I received free of charge. As always, all opinions are my own.

After a much-needed vacation, indulging on poke, shave ice and anything with pineapple, I'm trying to be more disciplined and get back to meal planning. This week's menu is inspired by my recent binge watching of David Chang's Ugly Delicious on Netflix. It's Asia vs. Italy this week. The winner? Us, of course ;)


SUNDAY: CHINESE PORK DUMPLINGS
After watching David Chang explore the world of stuffed pasta in the season finale of Ugly Delicious, I have been craving dumplings like crazy. I don't think anyone will complain when I make these dumplings (using ground pork instead).


MONDAY: LINGUINE WITH CAULIFLOWER, GARLIC AND BREAD CRUMBS
This dish from Food and Wine is super easy to make, plus my boys love this Meatless Monday dish. I love it because it is a great pantry staple dish. And have I mentioned how much I love cauliflower?


TUESDAY: KATSUDON JAPANESE PORK CUTLET AND EGG RICE BOWL
I'm excited to try this dish from The Works of Life this week. Pork cutlets, eggs, over rice? What's not to like? H/t to Cool Mom Eats. P.S. Make extra rice for Thursday's Fried Rice!


WEDNESDAY: PASTA WITH SAUSAGE, ROSEMARY AND TOMATOES
Umdaddy requested this meal this week. This is the perfect weeknight dish. I can whip this up quickly (I've made it so often I don't need a recipe), and it's comfort in a bowl. Plus I'll make extra for leftovers for lunch the next day.


THURSDAY: FRIED RICE
This is a great end-of-the-week meal as I look to clean out the fridge. I'll use the leftover rice from Tuesday's dinner for this dish. This is another meal I don't use a recipe for. My secret is Chinese sausage from DePasquale's. This flavorful, sweet sausage really makes this dish. The "Fried Rice" episode of Ugly Delicious also hit home the most for me as David Chang explores the history of  Chinese-American cuisine.


FRIDAY: TURKEY BURGERS
Ending the week All-American with our go-to turkey burger recipe from Martha Stewart. I love to serve this with a side of Baked Sweet Potato Fries from ChopChop Magazine. So easy and delicious.

Have a great week!

Seems appropriate to blog about my love for this carrot soup with Valentine's Day just around the corner. Sure, roses are nice. Chocolates are even better. But to win me over, just make me this Carrot Soup with Tahini and Crispy Chickpeas by Smitten Kitchen. It's a perfect Pantry dinner (I bet you have all these ingredients readily available in your pantry). It comes together quickly. And the combination of flavors and textures are simply sublime. And my boys could not get enough of these chickpeas. So this Valentine's Day, skip the overpriced V-Day menu and make this soup with your loved one. And maybe with a bouquet of carrots.

Click here for the recipe!

Sure, food gift baskets can be ubiquitous this time of year. Wicker baskets stuffed with filler, overflowing with cellophane wrapped cheeses, fruit and crackers. They look impressive and there's something for everyone. But they can often be expensive. And often not really personable.

Then I recently had a conversation with my coworker, Heidi, about her gift baskets she has put together in the past. I was envious of those who were lucky to get one of her baskets! Get inspired and start cooking and packaging! Links to my favorite recipes and products below. If you're short on time, store-bought is okay too! They will be the hit at your next yankee swap. Guaranteed.

Homemade meatballs and sauce

Parmesan cheese

Cheese grater

Wooden spoon

HYGGE BASKET

Homemade Baileys

Homemade Marshmallows

Hot Cocoa Mix

Mugs

Homemade cookies

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION BASKET

Good Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Good vinegar (balsamic usually comes in fancy bottles)

Salt & Pepper Shaker

WINTER WARMER BASKET

Homemade eggnog

Bottle of brandy

Glassware

Homemade soft pretzels

HOSTESS TRAY

Cheese selection

Homemade apple butter

Crackers

Wine glasses

Bottle of wine

Anyone that knows me, knows how much I detest winter. Mostly because I find the cold to be unbearable. Then there are the reminders that everything around me is dead or dormant: bare trees, brown grass and empty lots where our local farmers markets resided all summer long. Oh how I missed hopping from stall to stall, talking to farmers, and hand picking fresh-from-the-farm ingredients to bring home. When I was invited to try Farmers to You last week, which is like having a farmers market delivered once a week, I knew it could be the antidote to a long winter.

What is Farmers to You?
Farmers to You is a regional partnership linking New England farmers and producers to Boston-area families. Their motto is "the food you want, from farms you trust, delivered each week, all year long." Here's how it works:

1. Go online and place your order on Sunday. The website is essentially the online farmers market featuring everything from "Just In" seasonal ingredients, vegetables, meat and fish, dairy and eggs, baked goods, pantry items, fruit and juice, and pet items. 
2. On Monday, Farmers to You orders the food direct from the farmers. 
3. On Tuesday, food is delivered to the Farmers to You warehouse, where your order is packed by hand.
4. On Wednesday and Thursday, orders are delivered to Boston drop-off areas for pickup. There is also a home/office delivery for an added fee. 

Farmers to us
I ordered a little bit of everything: mesclun greens, potatoes, white fish, beef short ribs, butter, eggs, cheese, sliced bread, maple syrup, fresh pasta, jarred tomato sauce and apples. I picked up our order on Thursday and was greeted by Lisa who could not have been nicer and more helpful. She found my order and added a few things to the already-packed bags. When we arrived home with our bounty, everything was perfect - even the ice cream!


That night, I made a fish and corn chowder with a salad and some bread from Crossett Hill.


Over the weekend, I was feeling adventurous and made a beef short rib ragu over pasta. OMG.


Farmers < > Families
I've tried online grocery delivery and meal kit delivery services. Farmers to You is different in the best way possible. Everything was local and super fresh. And of course there's the convenience of online shopping. And I love how Farmers to You connects me to local farmers with videos about the producers and how they grow or make their products. But what I really appreciate is being able to support small farmers beyond our local farmers' market all year long.

Excuse me while I snack on more Cabot Clothbound Cheddar and Honeycrisp apples. Hey Old Man Winter. I'm ready for you!


Disclaimer: Thanks to Farmers to You for giving me a trial membership, which I received free of charge. As always, all opinions are my own.

I'm always looking for a quick-vegetable-loaded-kid-friendly-weeknight meal. Vegetable Fried Rice has been a family (and fridge purging) favorite around here. But I think I've come across a dish that has taken its place.

Inspired by The Kitchn's Miso-Roasted Asparagus Soba Noodle Salad, this noodle bowl has it all. Amazing layers of flavors, textures and it only takes less than 30-minutes to whip up. I serve this warm, but this would be great as a cold salad too. I add hard-boiled eggs for extra protein, making them ahead of time in my new favorite kitchen appliance (hint: fell in love with it in an instant). This is a great clean-out-your-fridge recipe, roasting vegetables that are near their end. But feel free to substitute your favorite veggies.

Miso-Roasted Vegetable Soba Noodle Bowl
Adapted from The Kitchn

INGREDIENTS
1/4 roasted sunflower seeds
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
8 oz package of soba noodles
2 tablespoons red miso
1 tablespoon hot water
1 tablespoon sesame oil
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1/2 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced
1/2 pound  green beans, trimmed
1/2 pound carrots, peeled and sliced into match sticks
2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3 green onions, thinly sliced
Kosher salt, to season

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat over to 375 degrees F.
2. Bring a pot of water to boil and cook the noodles according to the package and drain.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together miso, water, sesame oil, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, soy sauce, brown sugar and ginger.
4. Heat remaining olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat and saute garlic and shiitakes until the mushrooms are just tender (about 5 minutes). Set aside. 
5. Place green beans and carrots on a baking sheet and toss with 3 tablespoons of miso mixture to coat. Roast for 8-12 minutes, or until vegetables are soft enough to pierce with a fork. 
6. When finished roasting remove from the oven. Toss with remaining miso sauce and soba noodles. Fold in green onions and cooked mushrooms. Season with salt and top with sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Serve with hard or soft boiled eggs if you prefer. 

This dish comes together in 22 minutes! A perfect weeknight dish.

It's been a little quiet in this corner of the blogosphere as we get into the back-to-school routine. Now that the Fall is in full swing with after-school activities, soccer, homework, and general controlled chaos, I am fully committed to menu planning. Here's this week's menu plan and link to my go-to menu planning and shopping list worksheet from Real Simple.

MONDAY: Miso Sweet Potato and Broccoli Bowl
For Meatless Monday, I'm making this grain bowl from Smitten Kitchen. I love roasted broccoli and sweet potato. But it really is the miso dressing that takes this to the next level. And to really make this a meal, we add a fried egg on top. Click here for the recipe.

TUESDAY: One-Pot Pasta Primavera with Shrimp
After soccer practice, I need a meal that comes together quickly. This recipe is genius. Everything cooks in one pot, forming a silky and dreamy sauce. Plus clean-up is a snap. Check out Epicurious' recipe here.

WEDNESDAY: Butternut Squash Beef Stew
I'm fully embracing fall and our new Instant Pot with this recipe from Foodie Crush. This stick-to-your-ribs meal is just what we need to get through Hump Day. Plus, I get to test out my Instant Pot. 30+ minutes for a hearty stew? It's happening! Click here for the recipe.

THURSDAY: One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes & Sausages
This is a riff of the one-pot pasta dish from Tuesday. But mixing it up with Farro by Smitten Kitchen. We're big grain fans here as you can tell. I have a feeling this will be in regular rotation at our house. Click here for the recipe.

FRIDAY: Sheet Pan Pizza
To celebrate making it through another week, I'm going semi-homemade with sheet pan pizzas. I use store-bought pizza dough and roll it out onto an oiled sheet pan and top with our favorite toppings. We will make one classic cheese and basil and the second will be topped with whatever we have leftover in the fridge (sausage from Thursday, veggies from earlier in the week). Bake at 500 degrees for 15 minutes.

Have a great week!

Summers in New England are the best. And while I'm sad it's coming to an end, I am looking forward to having the kids back in school. But... Back-to-School can be the worst when it comes to the breakfast-chaos-packing-lunches-school-night-dinner-scramble routine. A major sanity-saver for me is meal planning, which I've blogged about previously here and here.

But... meal planning is a lot of work. On any given Saturday or Sunday morning, you will find me in front of my computer with a stack of cookbooks next to me. I have about a dozen separate tabs in my web browser - one for my meal planning google sheet, another open to weather.com (need to know what to cook depending on the weather), another to google calendar (need to know what after-school activities we have and how much time we have to cook), and a bunch more to different recipe websites. About an hour+ later, I will have a plan for next week's meals and a shopping list. And then 2+ hours later, I'll be home with my arms loaded with grocery bags, and my mood significantly darker.

So when I learned that The Dinner Daily, a meal planning service that designs weekly menus based on your grocery store specials (!), and Roche Bros. have joined forces, I couldn't wait to give it a try.

Step 1: Set Your Preferences
The Dinner Daily creates meal plans based on criteria such as family size, meal type (everything, no seafood, vegetarian, poultry & vegetarian, etc.) and where you shop. The Dinner Daily has partnered with over 11,000 grocery stores across the country.

Step 2: Receive Your Plan
Members receive weekly plans for five dinners based on store specials along with a shopping list and link to coupons. Say goodbye to flyer scanning. The Dinner Daily members can save $1,000 or more on annual food costs.


Step 3: Order Groceries 
Thanks to local grocer Roche Bros. online shopping and home delivery service, you can have everything on your shopping list plus any additional groceries you need delivered right to your door. So while you have to manually enter your order (looking forward to the day your Dinner Daily Shopping list can be uploaded/synced to Roche Bros. platform), the whole process takes less time to drive to the store (in my case, multiple stores), shop, and return home.


Step 4: Roche Bros. Personal Shopper
Your online order is sent to your local Roche Bros. and given to a personal shopper. I had the opportunity to shadow this process with other local bloggers. I saw first-hand how personal shoppers take great care in picking out your groceries. Finding the perfect avocado is no easy task! And Kelly did it like a pro.


Step 5: Receive Your Groceries
Probably my favorite step! Groceries are delivered to your home at a time you schedule. Our groceries were delivered on time, and with a smile (thanks Ira!).

Step 6: Cook! 
The Dinner Daily Meals are designed to be quick, healthy and easy to make - perfect for a school night. And I was glad to see a lot of variety when it came to cuisine. Here's a look at some of our favorite dinners from last week's meal plan. Definitely some keepers here!

Next Level Meal Kit Delivery
While we have tried and have been pleased with a variety of meal kit delivery services like Just Add Cooking and Blue Apron, The Dinner Daily + Roche Bros goes beyond what other companies offer. You get five meals, menu flexibility, the ability to customize and add to your shopping list, and save a good chunk of money. Eat better. Save money. Save Time.


Disclaimer: Thanks to The Dinner Daily for giving me a trial membership and to Roche Bros. for giving me the opportunity to try home delivery service. As always, all opinions are my own.

Summer has arrived. Hard. We're experiencing our second day of 90+ degree day, when just last week I was wearing wool socks and a fleece to stay warm. I prefer summer weather as this often means firing up the grill, dinners on the patio, and a fun cocktail served over ice.

My go-to summertime drink has always been the classic gin and tonic. But this year I am a Paloma girl. It's super refreshing with the different layers of citrus. The traditional Paloma is made with grapefruit soda. I prefer something less sweet with fewer calories and have become a big fan of Spindrift Sparkling Water made with real fruit juice.  The Paloma pairs perfectly with fish tacos - and ice cream sandwiches too. It's just as fun as a margarita, but without the nasty hangover.

To make: In a tall glass over ice, mix 1 1/2 oz of blanco tequila, 1/2 cup of grapefruit juice, juice from one lime, and top with sparking grapefruit water and stir. Sip and enjoy!

You've got your soccer families, dance moms, and hockey dads. We've dabbled in these worlds, but recently have found us settling into the theater scene. Our oldest has been bitten by the acting bug and has been performing in community theater since he was 9 years old. We've been looking to take both boys to a real-deal Broadway production, but just haven't found the right show or time. Until now.

ANNIE, the Tony award-winning production, comes to Boston's Boch Center Wang Theatre through May 21. I took the boys and my mother in-law to opening night. Newsweek describes ANNIE as "Spectacular on every count." And I couldn't agree more.

The Boch Center Wang Theatre took the boys' breath away with it's gilded opulence and elegance.


The place was buzzing with excitement from families with children dressed up to see ANNIE. Cameras flashing for fun photos like this one.


My oldest was blown away as soon as the curtain went up. The set design was unlike anything he had ever seen. And all around us children were dancing in their seats to crowd favorites "It's a Hard Knock Life," "Easy Street," "I Don't Need Anything But You," and of course "Tomorrow." And it was hard not to give an "awww" anytime Sandy, performed by talented rescue dogs Macy and Sunny, was on stage.

From the acting, vocals, choreography, costume and scenic design - it's a performance we will never forget.


ANNIE runs through May 21st at the Boch Center Wang Theatre. To learn more and to purchase tickets (tickets start at just $35), visit http://www.bochcenter.org/buy/show-listing/annie-2017 **Save 25% on tickets to the following performances: May 11, 12, 14 eve, 16, 17, 18, 21 eve. Excludes Orchestra Pit and Orchestra rows A-D. Use promotional code "MOMS"**


Disclaimer: Thanks to Boch Center for hosting me and my family to opening night performance of ANNIE, which I received free of charge. As always, opinions are my own.