Birthday Musings

I’m all over the place these days. For the first time in ages, I just don’t have my posts planned and scheduled. So, thanks for your patience with these sporadic, random updates. I’m trying to keep myself from going insane until my next appointment later in the month. After that, I think I might be able to at least breathe a bit. Staying hopeful for a healthy pregnancy after the year we’ve had is proving nearly impossible for me. I wish I was a less sensitive person.

Anyway, November is Ada’s birthday month (FOUR!).

So, I’ve been slowly planning her party. It’s going to be small (probably 5 kids maximum -- next year we will invite more kids + do something crazy for turning five) and revolve around all things Play-Doh. We won’t be having it near her actual birthday because Stephen’s cross country team will be at states that weekend (they have their qualifying meet today -- big excitement!).

But here are my preliminary plans:

• I figure we’ll set up the dining room table as a Play-Doh station (and here), complete with tools and mats for creating stuff. 
• The party is at 3, so lots of snacks, probably a sheet pizza, but no heavy dinner foods.
• The favors will be little containers of homemade doh or something like that.
• The colors for the party will be, well, rainbow. 
• I’ll probably bake up One-Bowl Vegan Cupcakes and do multi-colored frosting. 
• I also like these confetti balloons and sprinkle doughnuts. 
• One of her gifts from us will be this Play-Doh Kitchen! 
• (Image source)

Just hoping I can also somehow keep it simple so it doesn’t look like an explosion. Meh. It’s a kid party, though. I guess that’s just part of the deal. Ada can’t wait for her birthday. And after we celebrate, it’s this huge landslide into Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the new year. Phew!

(PS: Here’s what Ada’s party was like last year, the year before, and for the big ONE.)

Those of you with fall and winter birthday babes -- how do you plan your parties? 

I am a summer baby, and most of mine were in the great outdoors on warm summer afternoons. So much easier that way! We recently went to a party at a bounce castle place, and it was AWESOME. We are thinking of booking that for Ada’s party next year and having a larger group.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

5-Minute Picnic Pie

I think we’ve all been there. Either hosting a party or bringing something tasty to one at a friend’s house. And then we forget or run out of time. Yesterday we had our good friends over for Memorial Day, and I needed dessert -- in a flash. This pie is perfect for the summer season ahead.

It’s fast (5 minutes to make).
It’s semi-healthy (protein!).

And it’s delicious . . .

5-MINUTE PICNIC PIE

What you’ll need . . .

• Graham cracker pie crust
• 2 cups nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1/4 - 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup Cool Whip
• Extra Cool Whip for topping
• Strawberries + sugar and lemon juice (optional)

Method . . . 

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and cool whip.
2. Pour mixture into your prepared crust. Spread evenly. 
3. Then let chill in the fridge. If you don’t have time, it’s OK to skip this step.
4. Top with Cool Whip and serve with the sliced fruit.

Notes:

• I used a store-bought crust. But you can make a graham cracker crust easily at home if you have the right ingredients.
• I used natural peanut butter, but the kind you don’t need to stir. I’m sure you could use any other nut butter or spread.
• I’m sure honey or agave could substitute for the maple syrup -- just taste test for the right amount.
• You don’t have to use Cool Whip. In fact, you can omit it from the pie if you’d rather a denser texture. Or you can use whipped cream or even whipped coconut cream. I’ve just always had a thing for Cool Whip at summer parties.
• If you’re doing berries, try tossing halved strawberries in a couple tablespoons of sugar and lemon juice a few hours before serving.

Enjoy!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Guacamole Deviled Eggs

Our 4th of July kicked off a whole new season in our lives. Though we still didn't technically own our new home, we hosted our first "big" party with family and a few friends. It was one of those totally last minute deals where we were literally buying a gas grill hours before we lit it up . . . and I was in need of some majorly tasty party food -- and fast.

PS: I need a major post-move makeover, people!

Deviled eggs are an all-time favorite of mine. I could seriously eat an entire batch myself. And keeping with my Avocado Egg Salad theme, I thought to try them with some guacamole we had leftover from a Veggie-Loaded Quesadillas dinner the night before.

Let me tell you, these eggs are !!!


GUACAMOLE DEVILED EGGS

What you'll need . . . 

• 12 eggs, hard boiled 
• A couple tablespoons to Vegenaise or mayo*
• 1/4 cup homemade guacamole (or store bought), more if desired
• Dried dill, paprika, etc.

* Optional, but I love the tangy taste it adds to this recipe!

Method . . .

1. Hard boil your eggs on the stove. The best instructions I have ever run across for this process are from Martha Stewart. Works perfectly every time -- cover eggs with 1 inch of cold water, bring to a rapid boil, take off from heat + cover, and let sit for 12 minutes before putting in a bath of cold (or icy) water to stop the cooking.
2. Slice eggs in half -- carefully -- and place hardened yolks in a small bowl. Arrange on a plate for future filling.
3. Then add the Vegenaise or mayo and guacamole and mix until well incorporated. You may add more mayo or guac, depending on your desired flavor and texture.
4. Then scoop a generous amount into each egg 
5. Then top with generous sprinklings of dill and smoked paprika, etc. I also added some fresh grated black pepper and sea salt for good measure.

I will definitely be making another batch (for myself only!) ASAP. There's just something about that avocado + egg mixture that gets me every time. Oh, and if you're vegan, you can always tried the Tofu Avocado Salad recipe we posted last year. It's another winner!

Happy Monday -- and I hope you all had a great holiday! Here are some more photos from our party. I'd say this recipe is certainly a strong move toward making more of my clean eating goals a reality.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Tiny Food Party: Review + Giveaway

I recently had the chance to review another great Quirk book, Tiny Food Party by Teri Lyn Fisher and Jenny Park (you might know them from one of my favorite food and photography blogs: Spoon Fork Bacon). The book is full of "bite-size recipes for miniature meals" and gorgeous photos to inspire even the most hesitant host or hostess.

We thought the most fitting party for these tiny treats would be Ada's first birthday bash. We had 23 guests, 6 of them were toddlers. (For more party scenes, check out the post on Writing Chapter Three.)

Here's a bit of what we made.

Many of the recipes in the book are vegetarian, like the caprese skewers, potato samosas, and fudge puppies you see above at our party. There are so many dishes to choose from, but I like how the authors provide many sample menus combining different recipes around various themes.

I'd love to throw a desserts-only party sometime with the mini pop-tarts, chocolate-raspberry tarts, homemade hostess cupcakes, funnel cakes, and Boston cream cakes. Or maybe even a dinner party with the mini deep dish pizzas, "onion" rings, mac & cheese bites, and a vegetarian version of the sliders.

There was plenty to choose from for a birthday party. And I know this book will be getting some heavy use in our house for parties to come.


The recipes range from extremely simple (toasting mini waffles and dipping them in chocolate and toppings) to more complex (making from-scratch pie dough, making filling, baking, decorating, etc.). So, they can be appreciated by the novice and advanced cooks alike.

And, who am I kidding? I don't need to throw a party to enjoy these treats. I've made these waffles for dessert several times now.


If you'd like to pour over the tasty treats in Tiny Food Party, Amazon.com has it on a steal for only $12. OR You could take your chances at winning a copy.


How to enter? Simply leave a comment below with the words TINY FOOD and some way to contact you (whether it be a blog address, email, etc.). I'll be choosing three winners at random on Friday, December 14 via some type of online number generator -- since the old one I used is gone.

Thanks to Quirk Books for sending us a copy of the Tiny Food Party cookbook to review so we could throw our own tiny food party and try out bites from the cookbook.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Superbowl Party Eats

The Superbowl should be an interesting event this weekend. We're not partying anywhere this year -- just hanging out with Ada in our living room. Stephen's a huge Giants fan, though, and I have absolutely no allegiances. However, according to Stephen I SHOULD cheer on the Giants since I live in NY state. I also SHOULD because it's his family's team. They get pretty heated about games throughout the season, I'm told.

For this reason, I'm rooting for the Patriots. It gets under his skin in this hilarious way. In reality, he and I both know I don't care much at all. I watch the ads, surf the internet, and drink lots of beer eat lots of bread and cheese. (This year I'll probably stick to one drink with the breastfeeding and all.)

Here are some of our best recipes to help you pig out on Sunday whether or not you enjoy football. Any excuse to eat gluttonous foods is a good one in my book.

TOFU WINGS

Fried tofu slathered in your favorite hot sauce. We used to order a huge plate at this great place on State St. in our college town, Ithaca, NY. When we learned to make our own Tofu Wings, it quickly became a party go-to.

VEGAN SLOPPY JOES


Super-filling and good-for-you, these Sloppy Joes are a general crowd pleaser for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. They are also quick to throw together if you're like us and find yourselves throwing dirty laundry into closets before guests arrive for the party.

BEER-CHEESE FONDUE


Melted cheese. Bread. The combination is irresistible. We don't just have one recipe for this favorite. Try take 1 and take 2 varieties. And get creative. Any beer-cheese mixture that sticks to the basic ratios should work out just fine.

THE LOVER


Would you think we're crazy if we told you we eat this sandwich -- THE LOVER -- weekly? When you break it down, the different components aren't that insane. Together -- watch out. Inspired by Man versus Food, you might find yourselves as hooked on this sammy as we are.

DEEP DISH VEGGIE PIZZA


In reality, any of our pizza or garlic knot recipes would be great for the weekend's festivities. Grilled pizza -- especially -- has always been a favorite at our parties. But this Deep Dish stands out because it's extra-filling. Customizable, too.


That's lots of food. I suppose, then, it's no wonder that I'm whining about my nonexistent weight-loss at 11 weeks postpartum on (never home)maker, baby! Oh, well. I'll do lots of squats with Ada during the half-time show.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Caramel Apples

Caramel apples are sticky. Crisp. Gooey. Sweet and tart. So many textures and flavors . . . all on a convenient and cute stick. They're a must-do in the week before Halloween, especially if you have any kids running around. I found this recipe on Real Simple while browsing around for pumpkin carving ideas the other day.

Sure. It looked "simple" enough.

1. Just melt caramel with a bit of water.
2. Swirl your apples.
3. Let set in your fridge for one hour.

Easy, right? Well. My experience was far from it. I'm not trying to discourage you from making them -- they're definitely fun and flavorful, well worth the time and effort -- but please learn from my mistakes. Because I hate when recipes so completely gloss over the difficult parts. Hate. It.


TIPS:

• I'd recommend setting aside an hour for this recipe. I didn't give myself enough time. You should allot at least 25 minutes to peel off the plastic wrappings from your candies if you're in a time crunch. Oh, it was madness! Or consider making your own caramel. Or have a friend/sibling/significant other do the peeling for you! From the time of peeling off all the plastic wrappers until you have it melted and ready on the stove, it takes like 35 minutes total. Then the rest is a delicate process, too!
• I'd advice adding slightly less water than the recipe recommends. Like maybe two tablespoons less.
• Don't dip your apples when the caramel is super hot. Let it cool so that it's thick and sticky. It may relate to the last tip, but ours was a bit runny, so we had to drizzle some caramel on post-dip.
• Don't worry if they're completely messy. Because no matter what, they likely will. And you'll probably get caramel in your hair. On your sweater. On the floor. On your cat or dog. On your cell phone. Probably more on you than on the apples.

"EASY" CARAMEL APPLES
(adapted from this recipe)

What you'll need . . .

• 15 tart apples (such as Macouns or Winesaps, we also used Granny Smith)
• 2 pounds caramel squares
• 15 wooden popsicle sticks
• 1/2 cup water plus 2 tablespoons (but I'd advice using less)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• Pinch of salt

Method . . .

1. Peel off all the plastic wrap from your caramels. Listen to music or watch a brief TV show. Anything to pass the time.
2. Wash and dry your apples (they need to be totally dry for this to work, trust me). Lay out some wax paper atop a cookie sheet (or two, if you need more space). Line up the apples and then press the popsicle sticks into them about half an inch.
3. Then in a medium saucepan over low heat, toss in your caramels and water. Let cook until the caramel is completely melted -- stirring often -- about ten minutes.
4. Take off heat and set aside for a minute or two. But while the caramel is still warm and gooey, dip your apples in and swirl out. place back onto the wax paper/cooking sheet. Repeat with all apples. Then place them in the fridge ASAP.
5. Let set in fridge for about an hour.

Honesty time: If you're planning to make these for a party, I'd advise keeping them as cool as possible. If you bring them out to serve, put back in the fridge if no one is taking them right away. Otherwise, the caramel melts off and gets all over the place. Kind of like how it look in my photos -- glazed apples.

I'm making this recipe sound awful. It's really not THAT bad, just finicky. And fun. And festive. Not as "real simple" as Real Simple would make you think. As well, I added in the cinnamon, cloves, pepper, and salt. If you don't want the more grown-up version, just stick with the plain caramel.


Of course, if you're looking for a REALLY easy dip-and-let-set recipe, chocolate-covered pretzel rods are fantastic. Plus, there are few activities I like more than eating a bowlful of leftover chocolate and sprinkles!


Have you ever embarked on a seemingly basic cooking adventure . . . only to find yourself elbow deep in dough two hours later? Maybe you got egg in your hair. Or ganache on your foot. Butter on your glasses. Or perhaps something just took WAY longer or was WAY harder than you ever imagined it could be. Tell us about it! Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Vegan Entertaining -- Made Easy!

Melissa writes:

I really enjoy reading your blog, and I've tried making some of the recipes that you share (most recently, the vegan oat pancakes, which were tasty!). I was wondering if I could ask for your advice on a vegan recipe matter -- I'm having some friends over for an after-work get-together, and I'm hoping to make it vegan friendly. Do you have any suggestions about good vegan appetizers that are pretty low maintenance? I'll have about an hour-ish after work to make stuff. Usually I'd go for cheese and baguette in this situation, and for some reason I'm stuck in thinking of something equivalent that's vegan, aside from a hummus and veggie tray.


What a great question, Melissa! Entertaining can be stressful -- am I right? You want to please everyone -- fill their stomachs with the foods they like to eat -- but you also want to keep it budget-friendly and fast. You're in luck -- vegan appetizers and finger foods are not only easy on the wallet . . . they can also be super simple to make -- AND more impressive than veggies and hummus.


Here are some ideas that we can offer from our recipe archives:

• Easy Guacamole is a sure crowd favorite. It's hard to resist the stuff when you pair it with some chips (our favorite are blue corn tortilla chips) or pita bread. The trick is in the mix of seasonings, so be sure to test yours before serving!
• Portabellas with Peanut Sauce are just about as easy to make as it gets. Plus, they're something unexpected.
• Pumpkin Garlic Knots can be made vegan by substituting nutritional yeast for the Parmesan cheese. If you don't have time to make your own dough, go store-bought.
• Veggie Summer Rolls seem difficult at first, but once you get a hang of the rice paper -- you're golden. Serve with different sauces -- our favorite is hoisen sauce.
• Coconut-Garbanzo Bean Salad has a unique mix of flavors and is incredibly healthy. Eat leftovers for lunch the next day, too!
• Frozen Banana Bites are a great dessert-y thing to try. Even if you make them five minutes before company arrives, by the end of the night, they'll be done . . . a sweet treat to enjoy.
• Red Zinger Lemonade is a fun drink choice that will work for kids and adults alike. If you can, make the tea in the morning -- it will be all the faster to mix together in the afternoon.

Those are just a few of our favorites. But there are a ton of other vegan appetizers on the web:

• Easy Bruschetta (About.com)
• Seven Layer Dip (About.com)
• Kale Chips (by Ashley)
• Easy Garlic Scape Pesto (by Angela)
• Sweet Potato Fries (by Kath)
• "Anytime is Good" Sangria (by Jessica)
• Tahini-Free Hummus (by Abby)
• Sugar-and-Spiced Candied Nuts (by Shannalee)

However, if you're really pressed for time, consider asking guests to bring a dish to pass. That way, you can learn what kinds of foods they enjoy for future gatherings. And Melissa's idea for a veggie and hummus plate isn't as dull as it might seem. If you pick out some unique selections (think parsnips instead of carrots or radishes instead of broccoli, etc.) and mix up some flavorful hummus dips (use your spice drawer to the max), you're sure to leave everyone full and happy!

Do you have a burning question you'd like to see us answer on the site? Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com. And while you're at it, tell us what YOUR favorite fast and tasty vegan appetizer is. The more the merrier!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...

Happy New Year's Eve!

Just wanted to wish you all a very happy New Year's Eve! We're prepping for our annual (in its 3rd year!) party . . . so not much time to post. However, throughout the entire week, I've had the opportunity to cook, bake, and make a variety of awesome things that I can't wait to share with you all in the days, weeks, and months to come!

<3

PS: I got this new runner (the one on top, pictured below) at Target for $15! It was half off, and I found it in the middle of the ornament section. LOVE it. Perhaps takes away from the tacky-ness of our balloons :)


Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

Read more...