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When Sea Cuisine sent me their Beer Battered Cod as a part of our seven week Seafood Cook-a-Long I jumped for joy! Who doesn’t love the chance to enjoy a little fish and chips now and then?!! The good news is that making fish-n-chips at home is generally much healthier than the greasy fish in a newspaper bag you buy curbside in Scotland. To give our Friday night cod a traditional British feel, yet with a healthy twist, I decided to skip the deep fryer and make spicy baked sweet potato chips to go alongside instead.

Today I am thrilled to have my friend Phoebe of Feed Me Phoebe sharing her awesome recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala. This is not the first time Phoebe has been hanging around Naptime Chef. You may remember that last year she made her television debut on Chef Race UK vs US, and has also shared her fabulous recipe for homemade granola bars for lunchboxes. Today’s recipe would be ideal for a weeknight family dinner. It is also a great recipe for people new to cooking Indian cuisine!

Though I don’t yet have kids of my own, through my private chef business, I’ve spent the last 6 months learning how to navigate the evolving palates of a 7 and 10-year old.

One of my weekly clients is perpetually letting her kids dictate what I make every Tuesday. And what they want isn’t Mac and Cheese or Chicken Pot Pie, it’s Pad Thai and Chicken Tikka Masala. There are times when I feel like I’m providing the most expensive takeout in the world, even if I’m using organic meat and far less oil than the local Thai joint.

Now, these are New York City kids, mind you. But I was still surprised by their enthusiasm for complex spices. My conclusion is this: if you’re going to introduce anyone to new flavors, you might as well do so within the context of a creamy tomato-based stew containing knobs of white meat chicken, and plenty of carrots and onions hidden within.

If you’re venturing down the road of take-out-at-home it’s my feeling that you can have some wiggle room with flavor authenticity if it means putting something inherently healthier in your body. I always wondered why my stomach hurt so much after Indian food. I thought it might be the spices – but I’ve never had a problem with heat. It wasn’t until I started researching Chicken Tikka Masala recipes that I realized, duh, it’s the cream!

Needless to say, my version of this recipe uses much less cream than the one you’re used to eating at your local curry joint. I add in some of the reserved yogurt-based marinade to give the sauce that light, smooth body, and then add just a splash of cream to finish it off. If you’re not into dairy at all, you can keep adding yogurt until the sauce reaches that creamy, light red color that you love.

The number of ingredients and steps in this dish may not make it seem instinctively easy, but I promise you, it is. Everything can be made in advance, and it’s a fairly simple one-pot dish, other than the broiling of the chicken. It’s not as easy as picking up the phone to order take-out, of course. But your stomach will see the reward in DIY-ing this one. And if your kids are anything like my pseudo ones, they’ll love the homespun version even more because it was made by you.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Before I started The Naptime Chef I worked at The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. I helped Society committees raise money for all of the departments at the hospital. One of the ways we raised money was by writing and selling a charitable cookbook. Park Avenue Potluck: Recipes from New York’s Savviest Hostesses, was published just before my daughter was born. I will always consider that my first cookbook project. I loved being in charge of managing its production and my first published recipe, Mom’s Mac & Cheese, is in it! I also did plenty of direct and event-based fundraising. One of my personal favorite fundraising events was the Bunny Hop. It is a benefit thrown each year by The Associates Committee at FAO Schwarz in mid-town Manhattan. All of the funds raised go toward Pediatrics. What a better way to raise money for kids than by throwing a party for kids?! Though I don’t work there anymore, last week I attended this year’s Bunny Hop, which was sponsored by Tiffany & Co., with my daughter and we had a blast. Here are some of the highlights:

This week marks my first week back in the gym since my son was born in late January. Hooray for exercise! Hooray for touching my toes! Hooray for skinny jeans this summer! And, most importantly, hooray for Advil! It is time for me to tackle the baby weight once and for all and it starts here. First, I’ll be working out regularly. Second, I’ll be doing my best to eat exceptionally well. I am the first to admit I am not a dietitian. But I know it is time to cut out the sweets and stick to the lean and healthy. It won’t be easy but it will be worth. I have so many clothes I can’t wait to wear again! Plus, since we are done having babies, this is the last time I’ll have to embark on any kind of weight loss endeavor.

To kick things off I made this hearty spinach salad to serve alongside some baked chicken. I filled it to the brim with healthy dark spinach, a nice touch of slivered onions and pretty jewel-like wedges of Cara Cara oranges. It was rich and filling and full of nutrients to replenish my body after my first gym work-out in a very, very long time. The not too sweet dressing was the perfect finishing touch. It was even sweet enough to help me pass up dessert!

I am a big fan of the dinner sandwich. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with serving up a hearty sandwich filled with protein and fresh vegetables any night of the week. In fact, it can be quite fun to do. In a way it feels like eating lunch for dinner which can provide a welcome break to any weekly dinner routine. Today I am sharing this great Herbed Cod BLT I made for dinner on Monday night. It is perfect for our Sea Cuisine Cook-a-Long for Lent. It is probably one of the easiest dishes I can think of to make at the end of a busy week!

To make this awesome fish sandwich I cooked my Sea Cuisine Herbed Cod and layered it on freshly toasted country bread, added bacon, tomato, and some greens. I also added a couple slices of fresh avocado to mine. My husband didn’t want any. There wasn’t too much to making this delicious sandwich which is exactly the point. We served it with crunchy kettle chips and dip and called it a night!

Today I am thrilled to welcome my friend Aimee of Simple Bites. She is here to share her five awesome tips for the best ways to source excellent fresh produce outside of the supermarket. I find this incredibly helpful since I much prefer to support local producers and feed my family the healthiest product possible. I am sure you will also find your tips as helpful as I do!

How to Source Your Produce Locally in 2013

We’re still snowed in with no signs of spring yet, but keep thinking about my raised garden beds, buried under the ice, and daydreaming about a simple bowl of freshly picked baby greens.

Beyond the garden lies the forest, and I know that as soon as the spring melt begins, the ramps will be among the first shoots to push through the earth, waving hello with their bright green tips.

Whether you are thinking about starting seeds, or joining a CSA before the cutoff date, now is the time to be thinking about how you can source your spring and summer fruits and vegetables – without relying on the supermarket.

Here are five ways to source your produce outside the supermarket in the upcoming growing season:

Grow Your Own: backyard garden or community garden

Our raised beds keep us in salad fixings and fresh herbs from May to October, while a few buckets of potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini and peppers round out the harvest. It’s a learning process each year, but our efforts are rewarded, rain or shine.

Proper garden planning helps avoid harvest heartbreak, whether they are simply herbs on a sunny window perch or tomatoes in buckets on the back deck. Take time now to decide what you will plant, where you will plant, and what you will need for the spring.

If you live in the city, but will enjoy getting your hands in the dirt, you may want to inquire about a spot in a local community garden.

The Eat Well Guide lists community gardens, just punch in your zip code to find the closest one. You can also visit your local community center or city hall to retrieve more information.

Community Supported Agriculture  (CSA)

Not into gardening, but want farm fresh vegetables? Then perhaps you should be calling around and getting your name on a list for a CSA basket. With the purchase of a membership or share in a local farm, and reviving a monthly CSA box of produce, you are investing in the farm and guaranteeing a certain amount of your food for the year.

Freshness is one thing, but it’s pretty cool to know where your food comes from.You can search for a local CSA at localharvest.org.

Farmers Market or City Market

Shopping the markets on the weekends is one of my favorite summer family outings. It’s also a fantastic way to support local growers, and meet the people who work so hard to grow our food.

USDA Farmer’s Market Search is one way to find a market in your neighborhood. Local Harvest also has a search option; just enter your zip code.

U-Picks, Fruit Stands and Farm Stands

When your backyard plot or CSA box just is providing plenty for the day-to-day eating, but not enough for ‘putting up’ preserves, then its time to head to the farm. These trips are more than just a way to escape the city, but are an opportunity show our children that vegetables grow in the dirt and berries ripen on bushes.

Be sure to phone ahead before you set out for the day and confirm that the farm is indeed open, and the specific fruit or vegetable you are after is in its prime and readily available for the picking.

Keep your eyes peeled for farm stands along the country roads and smaller highways. Keep cash available and plenty of trunk space for when you score that bushel of perfectly ripe peaches.

Pick Your Own.org is a good place to start looking for local U-Pick farms. You can also ask your friends, or local food bloggers to recommend a U-Pick.

Eat Well Guide lists local farms by state or zipcode, and you are sure to find a farm near you.

Foraging: Urban or Country

No, urban foraging isn’t dumpster-diving, but a noble movement to harvest the neglected fruit from public urban areas. You may be surprised at the bounty found in city parks, alleyways and river banks. NotFarFromTheTree.org is a well-known Toronto organization that demonstrates how, ahem, fruitful, urban foraging can be!

If you have an opportunity to forage in the wild, then you are in for some fun. Berries, chanterelle mushrooms and an abundance of ramps are a few of the treasures I have harvested in my own backyard. Foraged food comes with a bit of effort, which makes it all the more enjoyable – or at least that is my personal theory.

Are you planting a garden? Joining a CSA? How are you planning to source local produce this spring?

Photos: Both photos above by Aimee at Simple Bites. Used with permission.

Today I want to share how I keep a “green” kitchen. I’ll admit that I’ve only gotten really good about using natural, non-toxic cleaners in recent years. When I was first married I happily scrubbed surfaces with thick pastes and sprayed aerosol cans of toxic chemicals all over the place to “freshen up the air.” Then I started reading the horrible reports about air quality in homes. Each one cited that household cleaners contain thousands of toxins that are potentially harmful to children, pets, and just about anyone. I freaked out! Ever since I’ve been experimenting with natural cleaners and trying to the find the best ones to keep our house clean and safe, as well as smelling excellent.

For a while I mixed my own cleaning solutions by combining vinegar, lemon, baking soda, and water. They worked pretty well but my husband complained they made the house smell like salad dressing. He wanted back in on the aerosol cans! I begged him to hold off repurchasing the old nasty cleaners and set about experimenting with all of the natural ones I could find. After much experimentation, and plenty of disappointment, we landed on the products below. They meet all of our criteria including being green, effective at cleaning up after two children, and pleasant smelling. Now I just keep them on a list at Vine.com and with one simple click they are on our doorstep whenever I need to refresh our stock!

Method All-Purpose Cleaner with Ginger ($3.99): This is probably the most important product in our kitchen. I use it several times a day to wipe down counter tops and kitchen surfaces. It always cleans up the toughest messes. Plus it smells great without being overpowering.

Seventh Generation Dish Liquid in Lemongrass & Clementine ($4.99): I clean A LOT of dirty dishes every day and this soap is the best for getting the job done. Plus, it doesn’t dry out my hands and it makes the sink smell like a bowl of oranges.

Cotton Dish Clothes ($15.99 for 3): I try to steer clear of using too many paper towels. Instead I stock my drawers with pretty cotton dish clothes to use with our cleaners and wash them after use.

Method Smarty Dish ($5.99): Finding a good green dish detergent was hard. Our dishes get dirty and crusty and I need a tough soap that can handle them. I love these cool tabs because they are truly as effective as any of the commercial detergents out there and are so easy to pop in the dishwasher!

Yes To Cucumber Facial Towelettes ($6.17): Two kids means a lot of mess at meal time. I use these all natural moist wipes to get the hard food crust off their faces (and sometimes hands and torsos!) They are lightly scented and are delicate enough for baby skin.

Mrs. Meyer’s Liquid Hand Soap ($4.99): We wash our hands a ton between cooking and having a new baby in the house. This awesome hand soap smells delicious and gets off all the gross stuff without cracking our cuticles.

Vie Luxe Eco Candle ($39.00): Instead of spraying disinfectants I like to light a pretty candle to freshen up the kitchen after a long day of cooking and kids. This eco-friendly candle gives off a calming mild clean scent.

Caldrea Powdered Scrub ($8.99): This awesome scrub is the best for getting gritting food stains off counter-tops and in sinks. We love the delicate lavender scent that makes the kitchen smell like a summer garden.

Dr. Hauschka Hand Cream ($27.19): This winter has been really tough on our hands. We are constantly washing them before touching the baby. This hand cream totally keeps our skin soft and moisturized. And I never worry about touching my son after using it since it is non-toxic.

Today my friends at Vine.com are offering a 20% discount* on all first orders to Naptime Chef readers. Just use the code NAPTIME20 at checkout!

*Fine print: 20% off your first order on Vine.com.  Cannot be combined with other Vine new buyer discounts. Max discount $20. Expires 12/31/2013. Excludes Sales & Closeouts, Argington, Baby K’Tan, Bloom, Britax, Bumbleride, bumGenius, Dandelion, ERGObaby, Haba, Lambs & Ivy, Naturepedic, Oeuf, Orbit Baby, OXO, Spot on Square, Stokke.

Grocery shopping takes twice as long with two children. Before baby brother arrived my daughter and I had our grocery visits down to a science. Grab a cart, circle the store with our list, and would be in and out of the store in a heartbeat. Now we are much more scattered. Not only do I have to take my daughter by the hand but I also strap a baby to my chest as we peruse the aisles. This added weight slows me down considerably. Then there is the laborious process of getting everyone in and out of car seats as well as unloading the actual groceries and getting them into the house. So, when Blue Apron Meal Delivery contacted me about trying out their grocery service I jumped at the chance to skip the store and have the food delivered straight to our kitchen!

Blue Apron Meal Delivery is an ingredient delivery service that delivers the measured out ingredients for three delicious meals right to your doorstep. Each box of food contains recipes with detailed step by step instructions for making your gourmet meal at home. You can also choose which kind of food you want to receive based on your dietary preference. Since I am concentrating on healthy eating to lose the baby weight I chose the vegetarian box.

My test box of food arrived packed neatly in cold packs with the recipes on top. It contained all of the ingredients and recipes (with step by step photographs!) for Beet & Barley Risotto with Goat Cheese, Potato-Chickpea Stew with Garam Masala & Lemon, and Eggplant Parmesan with Chia. Though I struggle with the taste of beets, the rest of the food sounded amazing and it was such a time saver to have all the necessary ingredients completely measured out!

The first thing I made was the Stew. It was healthy and hearty and made so easy by the fresh ingredients in the box. Then I went to make the Eggplant Parmesan and my husband and daughter asked for it with pasta. So, instead of making the traditional version on the recipe card I decided to make an inside out Eggplant Parmesan sauce. I roasted the eggplant, stirred it into some warm marinara sauce, and served it with small pieces of the fresh mozzarella over hot noodles. The meal was a hit and the lesson I quickly learned was that although Blue Apron meals come with pre-measured ingredients for specific recipes, you can easily improvise and make what you like.

While I don’t think I”ll be signing up for this delivery service for the long term I was very pleased with my testing. The ingredients were delivered fresh and on time. The recipes were straight forward. The results were delicious. I also loved how each recipe came with an explanation on how healthy each dish was. Always a bonus when feeding an active family! This service is perfect for a busy family who wants to get more into home cooking but needs cut out the grocery shopping time in order to make it happen. It would also make a nice gift to a new parent or elderly person who can’t make it to the grocery store easily.

I am psyched to today Blue Apron Meal Delivery is offering readers 30% off your first box if you join by following this link: Click here for 30% off your first order. Enjoy!

This week we had yet another cold snap. While I did my best to envision warmer temperatures via tropical-inspired fish dishes, I had to face the fact that I wanted something warm and hearty. More like a comforting pasta than a light fish taco. So, I decided to make this easy risotto with Sea Cuisine Mediterranean Salmon. Most people don’t consider risotto an easy weeknight meal but I beg to disagree. With this simple technique you stir the risotto slowly – easily done with a baby on one shoulder – then top it with freshly baked salmon before serving.

Today I am thrilled to share an article and recipe from my friend Catherine McCord of Weelicious. As you might remember, earlier this year I chatted with Catherine about her new cookbook and shared a recipe for her awesome Baked Ziti. Her next book all about school lunches is coming out this summer (yay!) and I can’t wait to get a copy. It is perfect timing for me since my daughter starts kindergarten next fall.  I’ll be sure to alert you when it hits shelves! In the mean time, check out these amazing muffins that are completely allergy friendly and great for kids and adults alike.

Sunflower Butter Bran Muffins by Catherine McCord

Today I am thrilled to be offering up a Whole Foods Market Gift Card as a giveaway. The reason? I recently had the pleasure of enjoying their new Whole Foods Organic Frozen meals and I think you all need to go out and try some yourself. I usually don’t buy tons of frozen foods, but I am not opposed to a shortcut here and there. I love the general Whole Foods philosophy of cooking with real ingredients so if I do take shortcuts it is usually from that store. Of course, there is no better time for a shortcut then with a new baby in the house. It made perfect sense to give some of their easy to prepare frozen meals a try this month. Here is what we tried and liked:

This week I am continuing my seafood cook-a-long for Sea Cuisine with this easy coconut tilapia dish that is a perfect weeknight meal. I cooked this over the weekend in a fit of desperation. Will winter ever end? Will it ever be warm enough to wear shorts again?! Is it possible to look so pale that I closely resemble Wednesday Adams?? Harkening back to last year’s trip to Thailand I decided to pair Sea Cuisine’s delicious Coconut Crusted Tilapia with fragrant jasmine rice, coconut and greens. While I wouldn’t consider this Thai cuisine, it is definitely Thai-inspired.