Kids’ Choice: Chocolate Pizza

When kids have a say in the menu, how many of them are going to suggest broccoli? Not many.  When we had kids’ choice the other night, top of the list was Chocolate Pizza.  The kids at my house love both chocolate and pizza, so it seemed like the perfect choice.

Actually this was a cooking lesson in disguise, and they enjoyed every minute in the kitchen. 

Question for Mom

Clover-Leaf Rolls Potato Rolls

 Any suggestions on how to use up leftover mashed potatoes? – Claire Z.

I like to add a few tablespoons of mashed potatoes to soup and stir until combined.  The potatoes will thicken the soup and possibly turn it into a one-dish meal—a plus on a busy night.  I might make mashed potato pancakes. Sometimes I add mashed potatoes to Shakshuka.   Clover-Leaf Potato Rolls are a nice addition at dinner. 

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Something Easy Everyone Likes

My most stressful times in the kitchen are when I’m trying to make a dinner that everyone at the table will eat.  Toasted bagels might make them all happy, but they're more brunch-y to me.

Pasta is the closest I’ve come to pleasing everybody, although I often need to provide several sauce choices.  I’m perfectly happy with Pesto Sauce, Garlic Sauce or Marinara Sauce.  I’m not too crazy about Alfredo Sauce—too rich for my taste.  But basically I’ll eat anything else.

Mom Money-Saving Tip 102

What should you do with leftover fresh parsley?  It doesn’t cost much, so there’s a great temptation to 1) let it rot in the fridge, or 2) toss it out.  Here’s a third option.  Microwave it until it dries out. It takes less than 2 minutes to go from fresh to crunchy. Then crumble it with your fingers and store it in a closed container.

How Much Meat Is Too Much?

Eating meat can be a sensitive conversation topic.  Here in California many people pride themselves on following special diets.  If you’re having a dinner party, it’s important to survey everyone to find out what they can/can’t eat.  Often they say they don’t eat meat. This may be one reason so few people I know actually cook.

I persist in inviting people over because I like cooking, but

Blender Lentil Soup

I first discovered lentils years ago when I bought a can of Progresso Lentil Soup, probably by mistake. This was back in my ignorant days, before I was a real cook.  I liked the soup and continued to buy it until I moved to London, where it was not sold.   

That’s when it occurred to me that maybe I could make it myself.  After all, I just needed dry lentils, onions, tomatoes, carrots, some spices and broth.  Eventually I came up with a concoction Bart and I liked.

Mexican Scallions: What Are They and How Do I Use Them?

Mexican Scallions (left)  Regular Scallions (right)

Mexican scallions (aka green onions) look like scallions on steroids.  They are regular scallions but have spent more time growing.  The Mexican scallions I bought were 16 inches long—truly eye-catching.  Normal scallions are about 10 inches long.

I found my Mexican scallions, not surprisingly, in a Mexican supermarket called El Super.

Question for Mom

How many people will a 1-pound (16 oz.) package of spaghetti noodles feed?  -- Brad B.

The package says 8, but that is unrealistic if you’re making spaghetti as a main dish.  I would say 5-6 at the most, unless you’re feeding young children.   Cooked spaghetti keeps for a few days, so I’d rather have too many noodles than too few, especially because I like spaghetti leftovers. 

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