Measure Up Bowls

Since I've been dieting again, I've been measuring or weighing all my foods before eating them. I saw these bowls in Parenting Magazine (April 2010 issue) and though these would be great to have...kind of expensive though!


Take the guesswork out of serving sizes with easy (and subtle!) portion control in a bowl. They're lined with rings to tell you exactly how much food to dish up, without the need for measuring cups. ($29.99 for a set of two; measureupbowl.com)

Shamrock Soup

St. Patty's Day is right around the corner. I saw this recipe for "Shamrock Soup" in Parents Magazine (March 2010 issue) ~ it's a bit unusual...not the traditional Corned Beef & Cabbage that my mom used to make on St. Patrick's Day.

Ingredients
2 cups chicken broth
6 scallions, trimmed and sliced
4 cloves garlic, crushed
salt and pepper
1 lb. fresh or frozen peas
8 cups chopped fresh spinach
1/3 cup light cream
plain yogurt (optional)

Directions
1. Cook the Base: Boil 1-1/2 cups chicken broth, scallions, garlic, and a bit of salt and pepper in a covered pan on high for 4 minutes until scallions are soft. Add peas; cover until mixture boils. Cook a minute; add 8 cups chopped fresh spinach and boil until it's tender.

2. Blend for Baby: Use a slotted spoon to remove 2 cups of greens mixture. Puree.

3. Finish for the Family: Puree rest of mixture and return to pan. Stir in 1/2 cup broth and light cream; heat. Pour into bowls; use a spoon to drizzle plain yogurt into a shamrock shape.

Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat Pizza

Dr. Seuss celebrates his birthday today, March 2. This year, he turns 106 ~ wow! Parents Magazine featured a really cute recipe in their March 2010 issue to celebrate.

Hat's Off!
1. Unroll store-bought pizza dough (we used the thin variety of Pillsbury Pizza Crust) on a cookie sheet lined with a piece of parchment paper so it's about 14" long and 12" wide. Roll up botton of dough about an inch to create the brim of the hat. Use a pizza slider to cut curves in dough that match the hat. Bake crust at 425 degrees for 5 minutes. Remove from oven.

2. Alternately make 2-3/4" stripes with tomato sauce and shredded part-skin mozzarella cheese, starting with sauze. Bake for another 6 to 10 minutes, until sauce is hot and cheese is melted.

I also found some alternates to the sauce/cheese combo here and here.