Menu Monday, Changing Things Up

I thought I'd change things up a bit this week and not only offer dinner ideas, but throw in some breakfast, snack and dessert options.

What do you think? Would you like to see more menus along this line, or do you prefer seven options to chose for dinner? Your feedback fuels and inspires me so please leave your thoughts below!

Here's to a fun week in the kitchen. Be sure to invite some friends over to share in your hard work.


{1: caraway chicken breasts with sweet and sour cabbage, 2: strawberry cream cheese grahams, 3: cheddar, bacon, and chive biscuits,
4: herbes de provence popcorn, 5: lime & lavender poppyseed cake, 6: cupcake fondue, 7: pork tenderloin with pears and shallots}

Favorite Friday, Travel and Home

Here's some things that inspired me this week.


{1: our mantra, 2: you'll never loose your sunglasses and keys again, 3: sleep among the trees, 4: farm muffins,
5: lego storage finally in the US, via, 6: natural beeswax crayons, 7: $3 modern outdoor lighting}

Giveaway from Bob's Red Mill!!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED. 
LOOK FOR THE WINNER ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2012!

I'm super thrilled to be ending the week with a fun giveaway from Bob's Red Mill.

I've had the pleasure and privilege of collaborating with them a few times developing recipes (with another to come in March) using their products and the quality is, in my opinion, as good as they get.

But you don't have to take my word for it because they are giving away a $50 gift card!! You heard me, like cash in your cupboard. And $50 really will go far with their reasonably priced products.

Like these monthly specials:





Needing inspiration in the kitchen? Check out their collection of cookbooks, then order the necessary flours or aids to go with it:





They also make it super easy for you (or to give as a gift) with gift packs to get you started:





If you're gluten-free (like me) their mixes are amazing. Welcome back chocolate brownies, cookies and bread! Not to mention the great care they take in making sure all their gluten-free products are free of cross contamination:





Say your all set with flours, or still have money left over, be sure to check out all of their merchandise. I'm definitely in need of their half gallon plastic jars to store all my flours:





Let's get down to the details. The giveaway will be open for one week. From today until next Friday, February 17, 2012.

There are 3 ways you can enter:

1. Head over to Bob's Red Mill website and look around. Then leave a comment below with what you would would spend the money on. Be sure to include your email in the comment so I can contact you if you've won!

2. Follow along with Google Friend Connect, by clicking at the top bar or there's a box on the right side bar. And leave a second comment below saying you've done so (if you already follow, leave a comment also).

3. Come on over to Facebook and like the Life:Styled page and join this growing community. Leave a third comment below saying you've done so (if you already have liked the page, leave a comment also).

That's it! Next Friday a winner will be chosen at random and will contact you if you've won.

Good luck!!

Menu Monday

It has been a hard transition back into the life of reality after our epic family vacation to Maui two weeks ago. Constant daydreaming of the warm sun, sand on my toes (and everywhere else), and just being outside has made the 20-40 degree days brutal. Bru-tal.

All that to say, I haven't been very motivated in the life/blogging arena and I apologize for the break.

The best way I've found to get back to reality comes with no magic pill, but simply jump back in. With both feet.

I (finally) started a Facebook page for Life:Styled, in hopes of developing a wonderful and inspiring community of friends, old and new. If you haven't yet, go like it here now! Later this week I have my first giveaway lined up, which I'm super excited about, and liking the page will count for one entry. So go, be ahead of the game now!

Ok, onto today's post. Maybe I should give a little background again as to why I started Menu Monday's. Plain and simple: if I create a menu to share, it holds me accountable to actually make a menu for my family. It also excites me to think maybe some of us, somewhere in the world, are making the same dish to feed our loved ones.

For instance, my husband and I have date night every Friday. And we normally spend it at home together, after the kids have gone to sleep, eating great food (and drinks) and watching a movie or playing games. Last year we made nachos. And got burned out by the end of the year. 2012 has started off with cheese plates. Oh the choices.

Some other friends have joined in the Friday fun, so why not give it a try this week? If it seems daunting to you, start with Friday's website below that will give you some pointers for jumping in. Also, I post a picture of what ours looks like via Instagram every week. In addition, I hope to share insight and pairings we discover, both here, and on the Facebook page.

On Saturday, I'm trying my hand for the first time at making fried chicken with our friends local chickens (If you live close, you must order these. They will change how you taste chicken forever.) Will you join me?? Bon Appétit's website gives lots of help in order to be a success in cooking their cover.

Along with the dinner menu, you'll find a set of 7 snacks, side dishes, and desserts we'll be having this week.

Here's what's for dinner:
(as always, click on the links below the picture to take you to the recipe)


{m: chickpea breakfast burritos, t: pear, manchego and red onion pizza, w: shallot-tarragon jam, serve atop a fresh, bbq'd white fish,
th: stacked veggie quesadilla, f: cheese plate, sa: cook the cover, the perfect fried chicken, su: pulled pork with picked onion}

Snacks:


{1: coconut banana bread, 2: apple sandwich, 3: no bake, chewy granola bars, 4: homemade gummy fruit snacks,
5: chocolate dipped, peanut butter pretzel bites, 6: sweet potatoes with mirin and sweet honey, 7: stuffed strawberries}

Menu Monday, New Years Vegetarian Kick Start

It's officially the beginning of the year and the un-official kick off to "diets" around the world. But I don't diet. My food intolerance list is quite long enough that I refuse to eliminate even more! What I do believe in is healthy eating and that sometimes the body can use a little recharge, a cleanse if you will. To rid the system of too many rich holiday food and drinks. And I have to get into a bathing suit in a week.

These recipes are all vegetarian, because I find I feel much better when I cut out meat. They're also seasonal recipes so you're sure to get the most flavor. Certain ingredients overlap too so you get the most bang for your buck. Join me this week and kick start your 2012 with taste!


{m: herb, chard, and feta soup, t: persimmon and hazelnut salad, w: quinoa, fennel, and pomegranate salad, th: kale-walnut pesto pasta, f: fennel, orange, and avocado salad, sa: citrus and endive salad, su: cauliflower steaks with olive relish and tomato sauce}
And no good cleanse would be any fun without a few treats and snacks. The Food Lover's Cleanse (see number 1) has a lot of fun suggestions in their 2 week menu like celery sticks with meyer lemon relish and chevre. Hello yum! I gathered up a few others that I'll be making for this week.


{1: the food lovers cleanse, 2: gluten-free, egg-free, rosemary crackers, 3: almond-cranberry quinoa cookies, 4: fruit and nut bars,
5: rosemary infused olive oil, dark chocolate, and salt popcorn, 6: garlic parmesan edamame, 7: no bake energy bites}

Chocolate Rosemary Olive Oil Cake

I had the privilege this month of partnering with Bob's Red Mill and California Olive Ranch in their quest for better holiday baking using whole grain and olive oil.

Be sure to visit their websites to find more delicious recipes! Click here and here to check out this recipe on their websites.

Here's the recipe I came up with, using Bob's nutrient-packed millet flour and COR's chocolatey Arbosana EVOO.

Chocolate Rosemary Olive Oil Cake

1 1/2 cups Bob's Red Mill unbleached white flour
3/4 cups Bob's Red Mill millet flour
3/4 cups sugar
3/4 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoons salt

3 eggs
1 cup California Olive Ranch's Arbosana Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3/4 cups milk

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
4 ounces grated dark chocolate bar (70% cacao)
2 tablespoons sugar (for top crunch)

Preheat oven to 350º. Rub a bundt (or loaf) pan with olive oil.

Whisk the flours, sugar, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.

In another bowl, whisk the eggs together, then add the olive oil and milk to the eggs. Whisk until blended. Then mix in the rosemary.

Fold wet ingredients into the dry, mixing until just combined. Next fold in the shaved chocolate until uniformly mixed.

Spoon the 2 tablespoons of sugar into the bottom of your bundt pan. Then pour the batter into your prepared pan.

Bake for 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and skewer inserted comes clean.

Wait until the cake is cooled before inverting the bundt pan to release your beautiful cake!

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookies

These literally took fifteen minutes to make, including bake time.

This recipe makes a small batch. They will disappear quick and since they're so easy to make, feel free to repeat as necessary.

They're also gluten-free, egg free, and dairy free. But not taste free, promise!

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup gluten-free rolled oats (or quick cooking), ground
1/4 cup coconut flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon oil
4 tablespoons coconut milk (or other non-dairy milk)

2 tablespoons chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 375º.

Combine dry ingredients into medium bowl and mix. Add in oil and coconut milk to combine. Stir in chocolate chips.

Form into 1 tablespoon sized balls and place onto cookie sheet.

Bake for 6-8 minutes or slightly browned. Enjoy!