Phew! Made it through Challenge #1 (thanks to all who voted for me!). Now on to challenge #2: The Classics. There are close to 400 talented bloggers stretching themselves beyond their comfort zone to tackle unfamiliar territory, myself included. Check out my blog entry about how my kids and I "traveled" to N. Africa and discovered a new dish that has become a family favorite.

Click here (or the fancy widget to the right or at the top) to vote for me! I would love to make it to the next round (put together a fancy dinner party). PFB has really pushed me to be a better blogger and hope this jouney of blog discovery continues!

- umommy

A Moroccan story of patience and hope

Reading about couscous

• 2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• A pinch of safron
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoons salt

• 4 skinless chicken thighs
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 medium red onion, halved, then sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 5 fresh cilantro
• 5 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped dried Turkish apricots
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 cup canned chickpeas
• 1 medium carrot, sliced into ½ inch rounds
• 1/3 cup whole blanched almonds (optional)

Chicken thighs and other less-expensive cuts of meat are great for stews

To brown or not to brown?

Now we wait

The aromas are out of this world

As you contemplate who will get your vote in the upcoming mid-term elections, I humbly ask for your vote for an entirely different title. I'm competing in Project Food Blog - the first-ever interactive competition where thousands of food bloggers compete in a series of culinary blogging challenges for the chance to win $10,000 and the title of Food Blog Star.

When I started this blog, I had no idea I would be rated by a panel of judges (Dana Cowin, Editor-in-Chief of FOOD & WINE Magazine, Nancy Silverton, Founder La Brea Bakery, Co-owner Mozza, and Pim Techamuanvivit, Author of ChezPim.com and The Foodie Handbook), never mind competing with thousands of well-established food bloggers. But I love a challenge and hope you will come along for the ride.

Even if I don't become the next food blog star, I really, truly, deeply appreciate all the support and kind words I've received from friends, family, foodies and fellow bloggers. Thank you!

So get out the vote - the food vote - and click here (or the widget at the top and right of the post) to vote for me!

2000 bloggers | 10 challenges | 1 winner

As much as I hate to see Summer come to an end, it is hard to deny the pleasures of Fall: school (if you're a parent to school-aged kids), apple cider, pumpkin picking, fall foliage to name a few. My oldest son associates Fall with Halloween (naturally), his younger brother's birthday and Stone Soup.

My son's preschool would serve Stone Soup once a week for snack. Based on the old tale of hungry soldiers tricking a village into donating ingredients to make soup, each child is encouraged to bring a vegetable to be added to the school's version of Stone Soup (vegetable soup). Cute, huh? Even the pickiest preschooler enjoyed Stone Soup.


As soon as the temperatures dip below 60 degrees and the leaves show a tinge of red, soup is often a meal during the week at our house. I recently came across a Blue Ribbon Recipe (top-ranked recipe of all time) on epicurious for Pasta, Sausage, and Bean Soup (click here for the recipe). I adapted this recipe a bit using more veggies and white kidney beans. Staying true to our preschool's tradition, I had my son help prep and add the vegetables into the soup pot.

The result?


The Good: Easy to make, hearty, tastes better the next day. Both boys enjoyed it (and asked for seconds).

The Bad: If you don't drain the grease from the sausage, it can be very greasy.

Grade: A. Fall favorite!

One of my all-time favorite commercials is the classic "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" from Staples. I love how giddy the father is for back-to-school shopping and how miserable the kids look. The voice over is perfect too - exuding over-the-top enthusiasm. This commercial always comes to mind at the start of every school year (maybe that's the geeky advertising side of me).



Except for the first time, I've become empathetic with the kids. I am dreading the chore of packing lunch for my Kindergartner... and for the next 17 years?! He's not a terribly picky eater, so I'm not worried that he'll go hungry because he didn't like what I packed for lunch. But because I'm the one packing his lunch, I want it to be enjoyable and satisfying. And hopefully that will carry-over to the food when my kid opens his lunchbox.

I'm sure there will be days he'll ask to buy lunch. Being a new mom and someone who truly values wholesome food, I am leery of the processed foods that is being served in our public schools. Thanks to organizations like Whole Foods and its Great American Salad Bar Project and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, there is a push to bring fresh food into local schools. Until significant progress is made, I'll be packing lunch most days of the week.

So I've done some homework and found some great sites and blogs that truly inspire when it comes to lunch ideas. I don't have any delusions of creating mini works of art with bento boxes (if only I had the time). Here are some sites I will be coming back to often:

My oldest really despises zucchini. And more often than not he will scowl if there's a hint of zucchini in a dish. I think it's the texture of cooked zucchini - a little squishy, mild and soggy.  He will actually gag if he takes a bite. Please. It was if I was poisoning him! And my youngest won't eat anything unless it is the color white. It's hard not to use zucchini in the summer. They are so abundant around these parts. And pretty versatile too.

It recently dawned on me that my boys have never tried zucchini bread. Who doesn't like zucchini bread? Sugar, butter, cinnamon, vanilla? It really is a dessert than bread, right? I thought I'd try to make it a bit more healthy by testing out a recipe from the now defunct Gourmet Magazine for Zucchini Raisin Bran Muffins.

Zucchini Raisin Bran Muffins
Adapted from Gourmet, 1993
Makes 12 muffins

INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup whole-wheat flour
2/3 cup miller's bran
2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup milk
1 cup raisins
2 cups coarsely grated zucchini

DIRECTIONS:

We had just unloaded the car of a week's worth of luggage, coolers and beach gear (this after sitting in the car for over three hours in traffic) when it dawned on us that we had hungry mouths to feed. It was our first day of vacation - our first family vacation on Cape Cod - and instead of slaving in the kitchen, we were eager to check out some local eateries. Props to my brother-in-law for the suggestion, we loaded the boys back in the car and made the short drive to Mac's Seafood at Wellfleet pier for dinner.

Our oasis after the afternoon from hell

Described as a "glorified clam shack," Mac's Seafood was just what we needed: feet-in-the-sand seating, a beach for the boys to explore (after being stuck in the car all afternoon), a diverse menu, and a perfect view of the sunset.

Take-out window before the lengthy lines started to form

Mac's is what you would expect from a New England clam shack -- no-frills fried seafood you order at the window and pick-up on plastic trays. What we didn't expect was the menu selection -- grilled fish, sushi, burritos, vegetarian options and wraps. Every summer we treat ourselves to a fried seafood platter, so this was no exception. We ordered the fish and chips and clam roll (whole bellied clams of course).

Picnic tables on the sand overlooking the bay

We grabbed an empty picnic table and the boys took off to explore the beach while we waited for our food.

Mayo Beach just steps away

It wasn't long until our number was called for us to pick-up our dinner at the window. The boys were starving and had little patience as I snapped a photo of the fish and chips platter.

Fish n' Chips

Mac's Fish 'n Chips includes breaded fresh native codfish, cole slaw and fries. The fish was delicate and delicious. The fries were a little soggy but that didn't stop the boys from inhaling them. The cole slaw was fresh and lightly dressed - a nice balance from all the fried goodness I was about to consume. A bit pricey ($16.50), but probably some of the freshest fried fish I've ever had.

The clam roll was also a hit with the boys and umdaddy (I didn't even get a chance to snap a photo). And for $8, a pretty good deal for seafood caught within five miles of the joint. My only regret was not ordering a grilled fish dinner. A couple joined our picnic and feasted on grilled salmon, herbed rice, steamed veggies and ponzu dipping sauce. It looked delicious and tried my best not to drool on their food. To top off the evening, we went back to the window and ordered ice cream and frappes.

Mac's Seafood Market in Eastham, MA

Mac's is so popular, they've opened a fine dining establishment down the road (Mac's Shack) and run several markets selling fresh fish and shellfish. We purchased mussels, steamers and lobsters from their Eastham location during our vacation. If you're looking for solid, fresh seafood for the family, Mac's Seafood is an institution that can't be missed.

Mac's Seafood Market & Grill
265 Commercial Street
Wellfleet, MA 02667
(508) 349-9611

Meals on our family vacation this summer have featured quintessential New England fare: fresh seafood and farm stand veggies and fruit. Meals have been no-fuss, no-muss - just the way I like it when I'm on vacation. Sure I have more time to meal plan and cook without the daily distractions of home. But that just cuts into time at the beach and naps!

So here's a simple side dish that will make you feel as if you're on a tropical vacation thanks to Alton Brown. Make yourself a fruity drink with an umbrella and you're at your beach-side cabana.


Tropical Mash
Adapted from Alton Brown, "I'm Just Here for the Food."

INGREDIENTS:
4 small sweet potatoes, perforated in several places with a fork or knife
1 large banana, perforated
1 cup light coconut milk
2 tablespoons butter
Kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook potatoes until soft (Alton calls for grilling them over indirect heat for an hour. I was short on time so cooked in the microwave and finished in the oven).
2. Grill the banana over direct heat until the peel is black and the inside is very soft. Let the potatoes and banana cool.
3. In a small saucepan, heat coconut milk and butter. Peel the skin from the potatoes and the banana and put them in a mixing blow. Pour in some of the coconut milk and mash the potato and banana, adding liquid as needed. Season with salt and pepper. 

The Good: Easy to prepare with few ingredients. The boys loved this and asked for more.

The Bad: The mash did not come out as smooth as I would have liked. Will try grilling the potatoes or roasting in oven longer.

Grade: B+. A sweet (but heavy) side dish perfect for the summer.

I attended my first blogger event yesterday thanks to Healthworks Fitness. Being new to the blogger scene, I had no idea what to expect. I've read posts from other bloggers recounting events geared just for them - and they sounded great! It should come to no surprise how excited I was to get this evite:

Chance to check out a Bosu class at one of Boston's best gyms? Trip to the farmer's market and picnic in Copley Square? Chance to meet some great local bloggers? Yes, yes and yes!

Unfortunately I was not able to make the first half of the event due to some last minute emergencies. I was truly bummed to be missing what I heard was a killer workout (check out post from foodfitnessfashion). Not only was I in need of a good workout, but as a former Healthworks member, I really miss the amazing facilities, welcoming staff and kid-friendly facilities.

So I joined the group of 13 other bloggers in the lobby at the Back Bay location at 6pm. Judith Forman, Events and Partnerships Marketing Coordinator, gave a quick overview of the rest of the day and introduced representatives from Whole Foods Market, Joos, and Mix Bakery.

Event coordinator extraordinaire Judith Forman

Judith invited us bloggers to take our pictures of the "green bag" meals from Whole Foods. It was fun watching everyone whip out their cameras and compose their shots. For the first time, I did not feel awkward breaking out my camera to take a picture of a meal before eating it (my family is growing tired of this habit I'm afraid!).

my product shot and sandwich selection

After everyone grabbed their meal of choice, we headed over to Copley Square to enjoy a casual picnic in the grass. As Linay and Melissa of Whole Foods Fresh Pond and Whole Foods Brighton explained Whole Foods' "health starts here" initiative, I thoroughly enjoyed my picnic dinner. The sandwich was fantastic - incredible bread and fresh ingredients. Ginormous bowl of fresh fruit was great the next morning. And my favorite was the orange cashew quinoa salad. It was light, slightly sweet and perfect for a warm summer night.

bloggers listen to reps from WFM talk about "health start here"

what's for dinner: turkey on sprouted grain bread, fruit salad, quinoa salad

We then were introduced to Lauri and Marissa from Joos and got to sample juices made from organic veggies, roots and herbs and a joosbite, mini muffins made from juice pulp. I thought the juice was pretty tasty, but admit that I would have a hard time slurping down a whole bottle (especially at $8.50 a bottle - yikes). The joosbite was moist and delicious.

organic, nutrient-rich juices from joos

And last but not least, we were treated to delicious cupcakes from Mix Bakery. As I proclaimed in my post about Cupcake Camp, Mix Bakery cupcakes are by far my favorite in New England. These cupcakes were so addictive, it was easy to see why the bloggers kept going back for more (check out We Are Not Martha's fun post on this).

chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting

So what did I learn at my first blogger event?

• It's perfectly acceptable to take pictures of everything and anything
• You'll likely need to introduce yourself by your blog name first before your actual first name
• Bloggers are truly sincere and supportive of one another. I was so glad to have met these fabulous gals:

I had a great time at my first blogger event. It was laid-back and casual (maybe the workout mellowed everyone out). But after the day I had, it was just my speed.  

A big thank you to Healthworks for hosting a great event. And if you're in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chestnut Hill, or Salem, be sure to check out Healthworks. Click here for a FREE three-day pass for umommy readers!