Chicken vegetable soup

I love soup. Real soup. Not the canned soup that is made with high-fructose corn syrup (aka corn sugar) and monosodium glutamate (MSG) or yeast extract and ingredients you can't pronounce. Just a bowlful of natural, fresh ingredients.

Something I enjoy doing is delivering a meal to a mom who has recently had a baby. I belong to two mom groups locally that set up volunteer meal deliveries after someone gives birth. It's a thoughtful thing to do, a great way to be a friend, and the mom's family appreciates it. (I know I did after I had my second son!) Last week, I offered to take a meal to a family who eats "super healthy." I got a multigrain baguette for the new mom's family, and made them a simple salad and this soup. I used what I had on hand, and it turned out great! My family ate the same thing that night.

Ingredients
1 large can (64 oz.) of all-natural chicken or vegetable broth
4 plum tomatoes
1 bag of frozen mixed vegetables and/or assorted fresh veggies of your choice
3/4 pound white chicken
1/4 cup frozen seasoning mix (diced onions and bell peppers)
1 can of small white beans, rinsed
1/4 cup of rice
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 cup marsala wine
lemon juice

Directions
Put the chicken in a microwavable dish with a lid and pour the marsala wine over it. Think about Julia Child, who liked to cook with wine. Add a few squirts of lemon juice. Cover and cook until well done. I'd say start with three minutes and then keep checking the chicken in two-minute intervals. I have an old microwave that isn't very powerful anymore, so I can't say an exact number of minutes for this one. When the chicken is done cooking, set it aside and let it cool a bit so you can dice it later.

Wash the tomatoes, slice (I always cut off the ends), cover your ears and puree them in a blender. Combine the tomato juice and broth in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables, seasoning mix (or diced onions and peppers), rice, balsamic vinegar, salt, basil and garlic. Give it a good stir. Let the soup come to a boil, then add the beans and diced chicken. Reduce the heat to low, put on the lid, and let the soup simmer for at least a half-hour. This is going to be awesome, you can just smell the awesomeness in your kitchen.

Serve the soup hot with your favorite additions (crackers? croutons? bread bowl? shredded cheese?). This makes a heckuva lot of soup.

Chickpeas and tomatoes

Looking for a new side dish? Or maybe a light lunch? Here is something quick, easy, delicious and healthy. No, really -- I'm serious! -- chickpeas and tomatoes are all that.

I can't take a lot of credit for this recipe. Does anyone remember back when the South Beach Diet book covered the front-of-store bookshelves? Yeah, I fell into it too and bought the book. One of the recipes in the book was for a couscous dish that you make from scratch, adding some diced tomatoes and a few tablespoons of chickpeas. Long after I stopped the South Beach Diet (which I tried for, oh, four whole days), I repeatedly made this for lunch. I think I gestated both of my boys on this meal.

For the past month, I've gone sort of paleo (no dairy or grains), so I returned to my standby meal without the couscous. I make this differently than I did with the couscous, meaning I cook it on the stove rather than steep it in hot water with the couscous via the microwave. By all means, add this to couscous if you like -- but it's also great just by itself.

Ingredients
1 can of chickpeas
2 plum tomatoes
olive oil
salt
pepper
basil
minced garlic or garlic powder

Directions
Heat a little olive oil -- say, a tablespoon -- in a skillet over medium heat.

Rinse the chickpeas thoroughly. (Does anyone think of chickpeas as having foreskins? You know, that little translucent wrapper on them that falls off so easily? Nevermind I just said that....) Put them in the skillet and saute.

Wash and dice the tomatoes, then sprinkle them with salt, pepper, basil and garlic to taste. Add the tomatoes to the skillet. Mix the chickpeas and tomatoes, stirring once in a while until they are heated through, about 8 minutes or so.

Serves 2-4, depending on how much you like to eat.

Easter baskets for kids with food allergies

As the mom of a kid with food allergies and intolerances, it's hard enough to figure out daily meals for him -- and then holidays come along, and my job gets harder. Holidays like Easter, Valentine's Day and Halloween are especially difficult because candy is a big part of the celebrations, but candy that my son can eat isn't easy to find.

For both of my sons' Easter baskets this year, I found a few fun things to add that won't be a problem, allergy-wise. (Even though, as I posted yesterday, most of the Easter baskets are non-food items.)

First, I love Annie's Bunny Fruit Snacks. My family eats these all year, but hey -- they're rabbits and it's Easter, so these are perfect!



Bunny Fruit Snacks are organic, have no artificial ingredients and provide 100% of your daily Vitamin C. And they're addicting. One time, my son ate the whole box! I have found them at my local supermarket as well as Target and Whole Foods.

Also at Whole Foods, I recently discovered Sweet & Sara vegan marshmallows.



My preschooler loooooves marshmallows, and I had been buying him a bag of organic marshmallows from the baking aisle. (Regular marshmallows are made with artificial food dye.) But those marshmallows tasted nasty. The Sweet & Sara marshmallows taste like heaven! And I'm not even a marshmallow person.

The kids are also getting some Yummy Earth organic lollipops ("pop!" as my baby calls them) and gummy bears. These are available in lots of places too.

Other places to get Easter basket goodies are no-nuts/no-eggs/no-dairy Divvies (which we've had at Disney World and SeaWorld -- the caramel corn is great!), Vermont Nut Free Chocolates and Peanut Free Planet.

If I have time -- and I probably won't -- I might even make some chocolate candies myself by melting dairy-free chocolate chips and using candy molds. DIY is another great way to go with allergy-free treats!

Take the GoGo SqueeZ Challenge at Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival

Sometimes things are perfect, and then someone comes along and makes them even better.

I've had to turn down a lot of food reviews or food-related social media opportunities lately because of my son's food allergies and because my family eats all-natural with no artificial ingredients. So it was great to learn about GoGo SqueeZ, which is a fruit snack that is 100% fruit, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and made with no artificial flavors or preservatives.

GoGo SqueeZ is basically applesauce that comes in fun pouches that let you squeeze the fruit into your mouth. The pouches are portable and resealable, and you don't need a spoon. GoGo SqueeZ comes in lots of flavors, so you can have plenty of variety. How about apple-peach? Yum!

My kids thought it tasted great and had fun squeezing the pouches.

We actually saw GoGo SqueeZ when we went to Disney World last month. GoGo SqueeZ sponsors the GoGo on the Go Challenge at Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival, which is going on in the park through May 15 (and it's totally fun for the whole family!). Kids can test their skills at hula hoops and jump ropes while learning about fruits and flowers, healthy snacks and active play.


My baby playing on the playground at the GoGo on the Go Challenge.

On the weekends of April 22 and May 13, you can sample GoGo SqueeZ at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. Find them near the gardens close to the entrance of the World Showcase.

The GoGo on the Go Challenge continues online with fun facts and sweepstakes. Log into Facebook to complete the three-question “Go Challenge Quiz” for a chance to win free GoGo squeeZ products as well as the grand prize: a year's supply of GoGo squeeZ. (Your lunchbox dilemmas could be solved for a whole year!)

You can find GoGo SqueeZ at Whole Foods, Costco, Wal-Mart, Publix and other stores.

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GoGo SqueeZ provided me with three sample pouches of its product for this review. Opinions and silliness are my own.

South Florida kids become restaurant critics in TV show Check, Please!

For parents and grandparents brave enough to take children out to eat, one of the most important factors is finding a restaurant that serves something the kids like.

Three kids "dish" on South Florida restaurants in the show Check, Please! which starts its sixth season on May 16 at 7:30 p.m. on WPBT2. The young foodies, local first- and second-graders, join host Michelle Bernstein to talk about what they liked and disliked about their dining experiences in various restaurants. It's the first time the show includes children.

However, the May 16 episode of Check, Please! isn't about just macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets. Celebrity chef Bernstein and the kids discuss sushi, tofu, filet mignon, Thai food and more.

Future shows will include grown-up guest reviewers, with restaurants ranging from Jupiter in northern Palm Beach County to Kendall in Miami-Dade County. If you're in South Florida, you can apply to be a guest reviewer at the Check, Please! site.

From WPBT2, here are the episode descriptions:

SHOW # 601- Broadcast Date: Monday, May 16

*Our Special Kids Episode!*
See what South Floridians have to say about Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant in Dania Beach; Thai Cafe in Miami Lakes; and Café Abbracci in Coral Gables.

Guest reviewers: Demi-Nicole Bernadotte, Second-grader; Jude Rivera, Second-grader; Frankie Sanchez, First-grader

SHOW # 602- Broadcast Date: Monday, May 23

See what South Floridians have to say about Big Bear Brewing Co. in Coral Springs;
Café Sharaku in Ft. Lauderdale; and Tin Muffin Cafe in Boca Raton.

Guest Reviewers: Jessica Stein, Art Teacher; Yoshi Kirsch, Car Exporter; Jerry Friedman, Chiropractor

SHOW # 603- Broadcast Date: Monday, May 30

See what South Floridians have to say about Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar & Latam Grill in Coconut Grove; Secreto Restaurant in Kendall; and Buena Vista Bistro in Miami.

Guest reviewers: Manuela Menendez, Psychologist; Angel Medina, Banker; Scot Marken, Nonprofit CEO

SHOW # 604- Broadcast Date: Monday, June 6

See what South Floridians have to say about Capt. Charlie’s Reef Grill in Juno Beach, CW’s BBQ in Hobe Sound; and Havana Restaurant in West Palm Beach.

Guest reviewers: Esse Asker, Manufacturer Representative; Tom Priester, Realtor; Maurissa Jones, Lawyer

SHOW # 605- Broadcast Date: Monday, June 13

See what South Floridians have to say about Moca Café & Lounge in North Miami; Bash Wine Cafe in Sunrise; and Sugar Reef Grill in Hollywood.

Guest reviewers: Rose-Philippe Coriolan, Radio Station Operations Manager; Bob Feinberg, Medical Sales Manager; Richard Miller, Fundraising Consultant

Sponsors for Season 6 include Badia Spices, Whole Foods Market, Creekstone Farms, Southern Wine & Spirits, Johnson & Wales University, and Care Plus.

Stuffed Zucchini

Zucchini is awesome. It's a squash, but it has a mild flavor. Put enough dip on it, and you'd hardly know you were eating a vegetable. Heck, people put it in bread to eat for breakfast or a snack. That's versatility. You never hear about people getting that creative with broccoli.

The first time I'd heard of stuffed zucchini, I was intrigued and had to make it right away. The great thing about stuffing a zucchini (or anything, I guess) is you can put whatever you or your kids want into it. Although, if you ask your kids, they might say mac and cheese. A mac and cheese zucchini would be weird. I'll wait for someone else to try it out.

Here's what I made recently. If you don't like my ingredient list, think of alternatives you would use before you turn away.

Stuffed Zucchini

Ingredients
4 medium zucchini
2 small chicken sausages, sliced
2 roma tomatoes, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup vegetable or chicken broth
1 tsp. minced garlic
olive oil
cayenne pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a glass 9 X 13 baking dish with nonstick spray, or whatever you usually use. Wash zucchini, cut off the ends and slice lengthwise. Pretend you're a TV chef and start talking about what you're doing. Using a spoon, scoop out the middle part of the zucchini halves, leaving a "wall" and the skin. Set aside the zucchini pulp.

Pour a little olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken sausage and cook until heated, about four or five minutes. Stir in the zucchini pulp, tomatoes, onion and garlic. When it's good and bubbling, add a dash of cayenne pepper (or however much you like). Spoon the skillet mixture into the zucchini halves.

Place the filled zucchini in the baking dish, and pour the broth into it. Then put the dish in the oven to cook for 30-35 minutes.

Are you still talking like a TV chef? Take a sip of wine or throw a kitchen towel over your shoulder and pretend you're making a lot of money for this show.

In the past, I have made a filling mixture that included bread crumbs and shredded cheese. You could make it with bacon, corn, beans -- whatever kind of good stuff you like. My friend tried this and said it needed salt. But she might be the one who makes mac and cheese zucchini.

Serves 4.

Kids, cookies, books and fun at South Florida malls on March 19

There are some fun happenings at malls in South Florida on Saturday, March 19. Mark your calendar!

First, Take the kids to Macy’s Home Store at Aventura Mall on Saturday, March 19 for a fun-filled and tasty event featuring delicious treats by Chef Sophie Tallon of Yummy Cakes and More Bakery. Chef Tallon will teach kids how to bake and decorate spring-themed cookies! Kids can also enjoy face painting and balloon artistry, plus music and games from Radio Disney. Moms and dads can also enjoy some refreshments from Nespresso.

Then, enter for a chance to win special gifts from Yummy Cakes and More Bakery, Cookin’ Kidz and Joyce’s Something Special, Inc. gift basket company. The first 50 customers to make a purchase of $50 or more in housewares or tabletops will receive a Macy’s lunchbox full of sweet treats and a pass to visit Zoo Miami! Be at Macy's at 1 pm for an afternoon of fun.

In Broward, check out the Simon Kidgits Club Book Blast, also starting at 1 pm. This free event features readings by authors Lisa McCourt (I Love You, Stinky Face), Pablo Cartaya (Tina Cocolina: Queen of the Cupcakes) and Dani Lynn (The Fairytale Project).

Shoppers are encouraged to donate a new or gently used book to Guest Services now through the date of the event. The donated books will support the goals of "Just Read, Florida!" and will be distributed through the Florida Education Foundation to Maplewood Elementary School in Coral Springs and Women in Distress.

Radio Disney will be at the Book Blast with additional games, prizes and giveaways!

Cafe con leche now at South Florida Dunkin' Donuts

Lattes and cappuccinos are great, but a cafe con leche has a Latin kick. I remember the first time I had a cafe con leche, and I was impressed with its strong flavor. Now South Florida is in luck, because Dunkin’ Donuts serves café con leche! The Dunkin' cafe con leche features freshly brewed espresso from Fair Trade Certified coffee beans, steamed milk and sugar, for $1.99. You can pick one up at Dunkin' Donuts locations in southeastern Florida from West Palm Beach south.

I had a chance to sample Dunkin' Donuts' cafe con leche at a tasting event here in South Florida. I discovered the new drink was the idea of Steve Roitstein of the Miami Afro-Cuban funk band PALO!, who tweeted about it. That's the power of Twitter! Not only did a group of South Florida social media folks get a chance to try the sabor of the cafe con leche, but Dunkin' Donuts also let us try some other goodies like the Coolatta:


(My baby was going for the whipped cream, not the coffee. Really!)

And their chocolate donuts....



(Who knew penguins liked chocolate donuts?)

...and I tasted their veggie flatbread. Mmm.

Dunkin' Donuts also gave us the cutest thumb drive ever!



Dunkin' Donuts everywhere are running the SweetLife Sweepstakes. Use an American Express card through Feb. 28 to be automatically entered for a chance to win prizes like a VIP trip to Universal Orlando Resort, tickets for admission to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, a full year of air travel on JetBlue®, free Dunkin' Donuts coffee for one year or free Dunkin’ Donuts Cards. Find out more details or enter the SweetLife Sweepstakes without a purchase here.

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Dunkin' Donuts offered free samples of their products and provided a Dunkin' Donuts tote bag with the thumb drive and a PALO! CD. I also was randomly chosen to win a Dunkin' Donuts robe at the event.

Aventura Chocolate Festival

Aventura Mall will host the annual Chocolate Festival on Sunday, Oct. 10, 12 pm – 4 pm. Come enjoy an array of chocolate items filling Center Court from Chef Allen’s, Grand Lux Café, Schakolad Chocolate Factory and more. Tickets for the chocolates can be purchased for $1 each, or 13 tickets for $10, with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Craniofacial Association. A runway show featuring the latest in chocolate-inspired fashions designed by students from Miami International University of Art & Design will begin at 2 pm.

Aventura Mall’s Chocolate Festival is sponsored by Gym Kids, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Shape and Cupcakes for Change.

A treat with Good Humor

We are a big ice cream family, mainly because my husband has to eat ice cream every single night. He has eaten ice cream every night since college. And it has to be chocolate.

I didn't get a lot of ice cream while I was growing up, so treats like Good Humor bars were not something I was even aware of (even though Good Humor is celebrating its 90th anniversary!). In fact, when I was in fifth grade, a boy named Jesse was going over his spelling list and came to the word "humor" but said "hummer," and the teacher then made a joke and started calling Jesse the Good Hummer boy.

True story.

Sadly, that classroom pronunciation mistake was my first introduction to Good Humor.

It's easy to see why Good Hummer ... sorry, Good Humor's Chocolate Eclair and Strawberry Shortcake are so popular. There's really nothing else like them.

There's also nothing else like being pregnant and craving a box of ice cream, so I gave my coupon for a Good Humor treat to Madeline at Barefoot Childhood, who is going to have her second child soon. The nice and good-looking people at Good Humor provided the coupon to me to write this review.

You could score a Good Humor treat like Madeline during Good Humor's Sweet-Stakes, which ends on Sept. 6 (Labor Day, ah the official end of summer). To celebrate 90 years of frozen creaminess, Good Humor is offering instant-win prizes inside specially marked 4 oz. single-serve Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Éclair, Toasted Almond and Candy Center Crunch bars. Then instant winners will be automatically entered in the $10,000 grand prize drawing when they redeem their instant-win prizes online.

To keep up with Good Humor, check out their Facebook page.

Back-to-school snack tips and recipes, plus a giveaway!

It almost seems summer started only last week, and yet you read and hear "It's back to school," everywhere. In my case, my son starts preschool again in a little more than two weeks, so I need to think about starting school again -- and start preparing! My friends are already buying school supplies and shopping for school uniforms, and one has even asked about ideas for the lunchbox.

Whether in the lunchbox, part of a school snack time or after school, meals and snacks are a big part of going back to school to keep kids fueled through their day. Frito-Lay has some tips on how to prepare healthier snacks and pack a nutritional punch with your kids -- and they want to give away reusable food containers and an eco-friendly lunch bag (like the one below) along with some tasty SunChips and Tostitos!

Tip #1: Sneak In The Whole Grains

We all know whole grains are important, but how do you get kids to eat them when they’re used to white breads and pastas? It’s easy: Add it to their snacks! Frito-Lay has two great options your kids are bound to enjoy.

- SunChips multigrain snacks pack a whole grain punch with 18 grams of whole grains per serving. Portion out a serving into a reusable container for your kids’ lunch boxes or throw in a one-ounce bag for easy on-the-go snacking!

- Tostitos Scoops! tortilla chips are another great option. Made with just three simple ingredients -– corn, vegetable oil and salt -– they pack 8 grams of whole grains into each serving. Another great surprise about Tostitos Scoops!: A one-ounce serving contains less sodium than a slice of white bread!

Tip #2: Jazz Up Your Fruit

Fruit is always a go-to snack, but it’s not always the first choice for kids. Jazz up your fruit by making fun shapes!

- Cut apples into French-fry-style strips.

- Use cookie cutters to make fun shapes out of cantaloupe.

- Take a peach and scoop out little balls your kids can pop in their mouths.

- Peel some grapes and call them “slimy eyes” to add some appeal.

Tip #3: Dip It!

Oh, yeah! Boost the nutrition of snacks by pairing some of your kids’ favorite munchies with nutrient-packed dips.

- Make fruit even more appealing by pairing it with flavored non-fat Greek yogurt. Not only will your kids love dipping the fun shape of fruit, they’ll be getting calcium and protein in the snack as well.

- For chips, take the nutrient factor up a notch with healthier dipping choices such as Sabra hummus or fresh salsa. Just check out these recipes from registered dietitian and mom Deanna Segrave-Daly:

Mediterranean Dip

Ingredients
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
½ cup roasted red peppers, chopped
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Salt to taste

Instructions
Mix corn, chopped peppers and balsamic vinegar together in a small bowl. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Baked Bean Dip

Ingredients
1 slice bacon (how about even turkey bacon?)
1 (15-ounce) can baked beans
1 tablespoon grape jelly

Instructions
Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp. Remove bacon, crumble and set aside. Drain bacon grease, but do not wipe out pan. Add can of baked beans (including sauce). Bring to a boil. Stir in grape jelly and reduce heat. Simmer until liquid is reduced by half (about 5 minutes.) Mash beans with a fork or potato masher and allow liquid to be absorbed.

If you'd like a chance to win a reusable lunch bag and food containers from Frito-Lay, leave a comment to mention your favorite Frito-Lay product or your tips/ideas for school snacks and lunches. I'll randomly choose a winner Aug. 19.

Enjoy dinner and a movie with McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants

There are only a few weeks left of summer (officially). Did you get to have any fun? If you're due for a date night or some fun on the town with girlfriends, check out this great deal from McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants: From now through Sept. 30, any guest who purchases a dinner entrée will have the option to add a movie ticket to their bill for just $5.00. They call it Reel to Reel. (Get it?!) Enjoy a pre-screening dinner, skip the box office hassle and walk away with a discounted movie ticket!

Click here for a list of McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants around the country and their nearby cinemas. You can also find McCormick & Schmick's locations here.

To help you plan your dinner-and-a-movie night out, McCormick & Schmick's is generously offering a $25 dining certificate to a lucky reader. To win, please leave a comment about what you would order at the restaurant and what movie you would like to see afterward. I'll randomly choose a winner on Aug. 18.