lemon smashed potatoes

August 13, 2015

Lemon Smash PotatoesMore often than not if we have potatoes on hand I will slice them up, toss with a little olive and seasonings, throw in a hot oven and feed them to the troops. It works but it can get less than exciting after a while. Today while making “the usual” for the kids, it dawned on me that I hadn’t made lemon smashed potatoes in a long while. Which is odd only because they are so dang delicious and something Sticky and I both raved over the first time they made it into our bellies.

This is a recipe derived from crash potatoes (a popular recipe on PPJ). Except this time around the potatoes are boiled with lemon zest and topped with tangy goat cheese. As far as I am concerned – where there is goat cheese and lemon involved there can be no wrong.

Lemon Smash PotatoesPotatoes are quite possibly the best of the best when it comes to blank canvases in food form. Yukons in particular, with their smooth texture and buttery taste, make for the perfect vessel of bold flavors like lemon and goat cheese. I know most people think potato salad when it comes to taters and summer…these smashed beauts though will fill you up, without weighing you down making them a great dish for this time of year.

Lemon Smash Potatoes Lemon Smash Potatoes

I am not sure if the lemon is meant to be eaten, probably not for most people. But I happen to love roasted lemon so…I ate it. And it was good.

Lemon Smash PotatoesIf you ever find yourself in a potato rut give this amped up version a try!

Enjoy!

brandyjsig

 

 

 

lemon smash potatoes
 
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Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 6 medium yukon gold potatoes
  • Zest of 1 lemon (zest should be in large strips) - same lemon sliced
  • salt and pepper
  • olive oil
  • 3oz goat cheese
  • 2tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
  • ½ fresh lemon
Instructions
  1. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water (there should be about 2 inches in-between water and top of potatoes). Toss in lemon zest strips. Place on stove with lid on and bring to a boil. Boil until the potatoes are just under being fork tender - mine took about 30 minutes. While boiling preheat oven to 450degressF.
  2. Grease a bakin sheet liberally with olive oil and toss drained potatoes and lemon strips on top. Smash each potato with a potato smasher (make an "x" in the middle of each potato if you are have trouble smashing). Crumble goat cheese over top of potato and throw on lemon sliced. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and again liberally with olive oil. Place in oven for 15 minutes or until edges a dark and crispy. Finish with parsley and a squirt of ½ a lemon.

Lemon Smash Potatoes
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peach crumble ice cream

August 12, 2015

Peach Crumble Ice Cream
Peaches again! Sorry…except that I am not. These guys are crazy yum this year, and this ice cream is to die for.

To be frank, if this cream was a complete failure I would still love, love, love, love, LOVE it. Me and my girl whipped this up together in which we had a nice chat about who she was going to marry (my friend’s son Jaxon), how many kids they would have (6 changed to 5 but ultimately landed on 2 girls – Mischa and Penny) and where they would all live (“This house of course mom!”). Both daughters would have baby kittens and no one would ever have to get their hands messy (she is not a fan of the messy hand business).

It was a perfectly unplanned morning of a mother and daughter chatting about life and making something delicious. It filled my mom tank up and then some. These days of her being little I would never wish away…but glimpses into the future I hope to have with her nearly take my breath away.

As for the ice cream…well, it may not take your breath away but it will make you and everyone you serve it to smile from ear to ear.

Peach Crumble Ice CreamIce cream tastes so simple and pure, at least the best kind does (in my opinion). Unfortunately the work that goes into make simple, pure ice cream can be a bit daunting. This is not a whip up in 20 minutes sort of thing (unless you’re on Chopped of course). But if you have the desire and time I can promise you that this frozen concoction will not disappoint.

Peach Crumble Ice CreamPeach Crumble Ice CreamVelvety, frozen cream stuffed with vanilla flavor and littered with bits of peaches. Every bite is an experience for your palette with the crumble amping up the texture. It’s bold, it’s different, it’s some of the best ice cream your freezer will ever see…  And if you happen to have someone to make it with you (or simply chat while you prep), that’s even better.

Enjoy!

brandyjsig

peach crumble ice cream
 
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Author:
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • for the crumble
  • ½ stick unsalted butter, cut in cubes and chilled
  • ¼cup plus 2tbsp all-purpose flour
  • pinch ground cinnamon
  • 3tbsp brown sugar
  • ⅛tsp kosher salt
  • ¼cup plus 2tbsp old fashioned oats
  • 3 large peaches pitted, peeled and diced
  • ¼cup brown sugar
  • for the ice cream
  • 2cups whole milk, (divide 2tbsp out)
  • 1¼cup heavy cream
  • ⅔cup granulated sugar
  • 2tbsp light corn syrup
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1½tbsp cornstarch
  • 4tbsp full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
  • ¼tsp kosher salt
  • 2tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • seeds from the inside of 1 vanilla bean (optional but highly recommended)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven 350degreesF. Combine flour, cinnamon, 3tbsp brown sugar and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter with pastry cutter until butter is about pea size. Add oatmeal and combine well. Spread mixture out on a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 30 minutes - until browned. Allow to cool completely, and then break into small pieces. (I do the crumble first so it's good and cool before adding to the ice cream.) Set aside.
  2. While oven is on place peaches on a baking sheet and toss with brown sugar. Roast for 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely and set aside.
  3. To make the ice cream combine milk (except 2tbsp), cream, sugar, corn syrup and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan. Allow to come to a low boil for 4 minutes.
  4. Mix the reserved 2tbsp of milk and cornstarch in a small bowl. Remove the cinnamon stick from the hot milk mixture and add cornstarch slurry, vanilla extract and vanilla seeds. Allow to boil for 2 to 3 minutes - liquid should easily cover the back of a wooden spoon.
  5. Mix cream cheese and sea salt in a small dish. Add slowly to the hot milk mixture. Stir will to combine. Pour hot liquid into a large ziplock freezer bag. Place in an ice bath (large bowl filled mostly with ice and some water). Allow to come to a complete cool in the ice bath (about 30 minutes).
  6. Pour mixture from bag into our ice cream maker. Churn according to your machines directions (mine takes about 30 minutes).
  7. Once ice cream is done place ⅓ in freezer safe dish and layer with ⅓ peaches/crumble (which are both cooled completely). Repeat 2 more times.
  8. Place parchment paper on surface of ice cream then seal with lid or plastic wrap. Freeze in the coldest part of freezer for at least 3 hours. Enjoy!

 

Peach Crumble Ice Cream
Posted in recipes, something sweet | Tagged | 1 Comment

diastasis recti…what?

August 11, 2015

For several months now I have been back in the routine of working out regularly and for the most part eating a healthy diet. While my workouts are not quite as up to par as they were pre-baby #2 they are darn close….close enough that I am noticing overall strength and tone in most areas of my body.

Most areas that is except the stubborn tummy zone.

diastasis recti

 

Let me start this off by saying there are far, far, FAR worse things in life than a little pooch – post baby or not. Sure it’s an area I would like to be more tone but it is absolutely not the end of the world to have a little honey in the pot.

Why I am talking about “the pooch” is because mine has been accompanied with far worse things like back pain, poor posture and….um, trouble doing certain activities without, uh…leaking. (Good grief I am talking about peeing my pants on here! Someone get me a cocktail!)

diastasis_recti_2

 

(Now everyone stop what you’re doing and pin that graphic!)

After a couple of months of working out (and a few trips to the chiropractor) I decided to do some research on why all the sudden my lower back was in terrible pain. On a whim I included postpartum in my search even though my baby was a year old. It wasn’t long before I was laying on the living room floor, finding out that I do indeed have diastasis recti.

If you are anything like me you have never heard of diastasis recti nor knew how to check and see if you had it yourself. I have seen stats stating as high as 2 in 3 women who have had more than 1 baby have some form of diastasis recti. Age of mother and size of babe are also significant causes. (Bear in mind like most stats there are always exceptions – if you are young and have only had one tiny baby that doesn’t make you 100% immune to this. Unfortunately…)

What exactly is it? In my terms it’s basically the breakdown of the wall of muscles behind your 6-pack muscles. When we have babies that wall is loosened and stretched by all the hormones and of course that growing miracle. The more babes we have the more stress we put on that wall. Eventually the tissue can sort of give up which leads to insignificant support for your lower back, pelvic and belly area (hence the pooch).

Here’s the bad news. All those crunches, planks and strenuous exercises you are doing to be fit…yeah, they make it worse. Instead of working that important wall of muscles, they put strain on them, weakening them more. Basically as your 6-pack gets stronger, they will bulge out like a pooch because the wall behind them is not strong enough to hold them closer to your body. If you’re thinking “well that sucks”…I’m right there with you.

Good news is it doesn’t matter if your baby isn’t a baby anymore – you can still repair at least some of the damage done, and possibly relieve some lower back pain. Who knows, maybe there’s even a “dry” set of jumping jacks in the future.

First things first though….Do you have it? Check out this video. It’s a far better explanation than what I can give plus it shows you exactly how to check for the separation yourself.

If you have it, don’t fret – I’m in that boat with ya girl (about 2 fingers width worth). What are we going to do? Repair through exercise. This is where I get lost a bit…but I have made the conscious decision to cut out what I know is bad for those muscles and include exercises that will begin the road to recovery. I am starting here – a free pdf of a 12 week program. I am also seriously looking into the MutuSystem (as well as many YouTube videos – simply do a search on diastasis recti and you will find exercises).

What I want everyone to go away with more than anything is that diastisis recti is a thing that all pre and post pregnant women should know about. I for one cannot believe we are not talking about this more, particularly with our health providers and woman to woman. Hopefully this starts a conversation for anyone like me, who has some questionable things going on, and is looking for a possible answer.

Obviously I don’t have my 100% answer yet….but I feel good that I’m on the right track. I’ll keep you posted!

(And please, please, please share any stories here if you are struggling with the same or have treated diastasis recti.)

xo,

brandyjsig

 

 

 

*As always, I am not medically trained in anyway. Seek medical advice from a doctor before beginning any exercise routine. Also talk to your doctor about diastasis recti if you think you may have or are concerned about it. I know I am.

Posted in health & fitness | Tagged | 4 Comments

stacked for fall

August 10, 2015

I nearly made it to mid-August before breaking out a boot rundown. I would say that shows a lot of restraint on my part.

What’s so great about Fall 2015’s offering of boots? Everything. High, ornate, tough, pointy, details….anything goes (including latex, for those who dare – blue latex is particularly hot).

One of my favorites in boots is the stacked heel. A classic if you ask me – I’ve owned a pair of Nicole Miller stacked olive booties for years and have not lived a fall/winter since without rocking them. What I love about them is the crazy heel height, yet ease of wear. You would think being propped up 5″ would be unsteady. I assure you it isn’t. Not when there is a chunky stacked heel involved.

I want all of these…in case you were wondering:

081015_stacked_heel_boots_fall_20151Chinese Laundry zip it suede ankle boot/2Dolce Vita makala ombre stacked heel/3Aldo casalnuoyo ankle boots/4H&M high-heeled boots/5Lulu’s becca ankle boots

Which boot makes you smile?

xo,

brandyjsig

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“apple of our eye” party inspiration

August 7, 2015

Apple season is just around the corner and I cannot think of a more clever or cute way to celebrate a fall birthday than with…APPLES of course! I’ve been slowly but surely stocking the etsy shop for Fall with apples being at the top of the list. You will find not one but TWO fun apple-y invitations to choose from (Apple of Our Eye & Apple Orchard)! Both would make excellent birthday, shower or apple picking invites for you to send off to your guests.

Inspired by the “Apple of Our Eye” invite, here is an all things apple storyboard to get your creative juices flowing for that special celebration:

080715_Apple_Party_Inspiration1Cherry Print Dress (that can totally pass as apples)/2the most adorable place settings I ever did see!/3your guests would got nuts over a candy apple bar./4a cupcake dressed as an apple – now that’s just cute!/5I mean, this dessert table and backdrop…it’s basically fabulous./6this salted caramel apple snickers cake needs to be in my life…and your apple party./7easy peasy honeycomb apples for big impact with little effort./8apple cider sangria because after all that hard work of setting up a party, you deserve a scrumptious cocktail.

“Apple of Our Eye” invite and many other fun invitations can be found at the PPJ Shop!

Happy Weekend!

xo,

brandyjsig

Posted in etsy shop, let's celebrate, party storyboard | Tagged | Leave a comment