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Compliments feel so good don’t they? Maybe someone mentions the color you are wearing looks good on you, someone notices you’ve lost a couple of pounds, or someone pays you a compliment on the great work you've done. To me, the best compliment someone can pay is asking for the recipe of something I've made. Last week, we went to an end-of-the-year potluck
Friendships are priceless, especially those that span decades. Julie and I have been friends since fourth grade…I won’t do the math for you, but that was a looooonnng time ago. We have lived through a lot over that time, both joyous and sad. There were periods of time where we would not talk for months, but when together we’d pick right back up where we left off.
Such a pity…the poor radish is completely underrated. So often it's the only veg left on the party platter. The baby carrots, broccoli spears and pepper strips are all long gone, but the pretty little radish rosette remains. I remember as a kid my grandpa would eat radishes by the bushel-full. Each time we visited, he would try to convince my brother and I
Here at the Lou, I usually chat about food and all of its fabulousness. Never have I written about fashion…until today. This past weekend, the gals from Edit (Kara, Melina and Mea) all road-tripped from the other side of the state to put on a fashion trunk show extraordinaire. There were scarves, bags, dresses, tops and loads of jewelry, all with th
This Monday is Earth Day- a day to honor and respect Mother Earth. Perhaps it’s a perfect time to make an “Earth Day Resolution” to do something, even something seemingly small, to make a difference. Here are just a few ideas: Harvest the rain that pours on our rooftops, gushes out of our gutters, and temporarily overflows our lawns, into rain
Every job has its perks. Some offer fringe benefits such as bonuses, others might provide incentive trips, some get summers off. Blogging has its perks too (although maybe smaller in comparison!). Lots of fun opportunities have come my way through blogging, including invitations to join fellow food bloggers at certain events and networking opportunities, offers to
Just imagine…you are in a deep body of water and the only way to survive is to tread or swim…for an hour…all the while being dunked, scratched, kicked and pulled. This scenario describes what my son endures nearly every spring day while playing the sport he loves: water polo. It is one intense game. Dang, I get exhausted just watching!
Lemongrass is one of my favorite ingredients to cook with. Not only does it add an interesting flavor to recipes, it is also awesomely healthy. Lemongrass has been used for centuries to help alleviate many ailments including stomach upset, and tension. Lemongrass is a germ fighter: a mild antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial, it helps lessen symptoms of the common co
Vegan and Gluten Free: Black Bean and Avocado Tacos This past week, the Cowie Clan enjoyed a fun-filled week in Orlando Florida with Nana and Grandpa J. A spring break in the true sense: a few days of fresh warm spring air, a welcome break from the late winter we’ve been having (and continue to have) in the Midwest. As with most vacations, our wee
We have a small obsession with pi and pie in our house. My son has been fascinated with the number pi for as long as I can remember. Few things in life are forever. I think the fact that this number goes on forever in some ways offers him an unmet challenge to memorize as many of the numbers as he can. Last year on a family vacation he memorized pi to fifty numbers, past t
Poor pumpkin. Often underestimated and under appreciated, this winter squash usually makes a short debut each year. In October, it sits on a porch, gutted and glowing, only to be oogled, not to be eaten. Then in November, pumpkin gets a promotion and takes center stage on tables in the unrivaled meal of all meals: Thanksgiving. It is the star performer in the clima
Sweet and Spicy Snack Mix You might be thinkin’…another snack mix with pretzels, rice cereal and nuts (yawn)? Well, I gotta tell you, this is no ordinary mix. It combines sugar and spice and everything nice, perfect for anyone that likes a little kick in the pants every now and again. A word of caution though- once you try one bite, you will be snackin’ unti
Garbanzo beans are a staple in the Cowie house. In fact, the pantry is stocked with several types of beans at all times. Some families run out for milk and bread when a storm ensues, we run to the store for beans (slight dramatization). Garbanzos are just so dang versatile and healthy. They are high in protein and zinc so a perfect sub-in
Macaroni and Cheese is the ultimate mac daddy of all comfort foods. (yeah, pun totally intended). Carb-loaded pasta covered in melty-gooey cheese. What’s not to love? With so many options and variations of Macaroni and Cheese, I got to thinking…wouldn’t it be fun to invite a bunch of friends over and ask them to bring their version of macaroni? And
Valentine’s Day is in a few days and although there are some great valentine options for purchase, it's way too much fun to make our own. Over the years, my kids and I have enjoyed choosing which valentines to make and give to friends. Last year, we made iPod touch’s out of boxes of conversation candy with string and peanut butter cups for the ear buds. The year before foam fortune cook
This past Sunday with the Super Bowl game in the evening, I knew we would be warming the couch more than usual and probably indulging on foods that we normally don’t eat. So before the pre-game festivities began, we made sure to get in some exercise and have a light but satisfying lunch. This was the perfect opportunity to try one of Lean Cuisine’s Culinary Collection
This Friday, February 1st is the 10th annual Wear Red Day, a national campaign raising awareness on the leading killer of women: heart disease. Thankfully women have started to realize that heart disease is a serious health issue not just affecting men. The cool thing is, each of us can make lifestyle choices that can positively impact our destiny. By taking care of our b
Last year around “the big game”, I posted a recipe for a Chorizo and Lentil Stew that was outta this world. For this upcoming Super Bowl, I have another sassy, spicy number with chorizo as the MVP: Chorizo, Spinach and Sweet Potato Soup. Chorizo is a Spanish sausage that has quite a bit of spunk. Although chorizo is by no means considered a health food, a little goes a long w
I must have chicken on my mind. This month’s issue of Cooking Light highlights chicken 25 ways, which reminded me of a recipe from the September issue that I wanted to try: Chicken with Honey-Beer Sauce. Yep, the recipe contains beer and my kids ate it. But before you turn me in to the authorities, realize all of the alcohol evaporates out as it reduces. The resultin
The holidays are now behind us, but my mind keeps fondly wandering back to a couple of special homemade gifts that I received. One was a jar of homemade marinated olives from a dear friend that shares a passion for healthy, local and sustainable food. Oh, how I wish I could’ve offered a few of these olives to you- they were so good! If I had to guess, they wer
No recipe today, just a story that will live in our hearts and memories for a long time to come. On Sunday afternoon, our family took a road trip to Windcrest Dairy, a farm located about 45 minutes outside of downtown St. Louis. We are quite fond of the yogurt that this dairy produces so when Kurt the farmer invited us to come visit the farm we jumped at the chance.
Don’t ask me why but there must be something about the New Year that brings out a hankerin’ for tortilla soup. Maybe it has to do with the cold weather. Maybe it has to do with the limited local foods that I can find at this time of the year. Or maybe has to do with experiencing a major “senior moment”. A couple of days ago I purchased some fresh spinach, local tofu,
A big thanks to all of you that participated in the great Chobani Giveaway! I appreciate that so many of you helped spread the word about the giveaway and I had a great time reading all of the comments. Congrats to Allisha G. as the winner of a case of the 16-ounce Chobani yogurt blends. I hope to offer another giveaway in the near future so stay tuned. Switching gea
The countdown continues to Christmas Day and the end of a great Giveaway! If you enjoy Chobani yogurt as much as I do, you will be happy to know that there is still time to enter for a chance to win a case of Chobani Greek yogurt in the new 16-ounce size. You have until the minute before Santa comes down your chimney (Dec 24th at 11:59 p.m. CST). There are 10 ways t
The holidays are in full swing. As we dash and prance from one holiday party to the next, we are surrounded by decadent delectables calling us, daunting us, alluring us until we succumb to the temptations and say to ourselves, “Oh! I gotta try that!” Years ago, I taught a series of weight management classes where we covered strategies for handling the holidays with
Pssst...can you keep a secret? I am so excited about the homemade gifts I am giving this year I just had to tell someone! And if you are still in need of a super quick gift for a teacher, neighbor, your hairdresser or for the person that invites you to the next holiday bash, then read on! I love giving homemade gifts almost as much as I love receiving t
Last Friday was a half-day for my kiddos. Since the high school gets out earlier than the elementary school and doesn’t serve lunch on these shorter days, I asked my big kid to meet me at Panera Bread, or what we call St. Louis Bread Co. here in the Lou. Both my son and I are huge fans of soup, and no one does soup like Panera. We got to the restaura
On a recent road trip to visit a friend, my father passed Shirk’s Country Market, a unique food store located in rural central Missouri. My dad knew that I would be delighted to have a few items from this little shop. So the generous man that he is, phoned me, went isle by isle telling me what was on the shelves while I yay’d or nay’d the items to purc
After reading an article called “Hot Stuff for Real Cooks” which highlighted current kitchen trends and must-have products, it got me thinking…what are “a few of my favorite things” that make creating in the kitchen more enjoyable? (Cue the Sound of Music Soundtrack): “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
I recently purchased a head of cauliflower bigger than a bowling ball. It reminded me of the pictures you see of the blue ribbon winning gigantic squash in a state fair competition. It was an enormous beauty and I knew I had to do something special with it. Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan, Almond and Panko Topping is a
This is the time of year that we give thanks and count our blessings. In the world of food, there is much to be grateful for when it comes to the sustainable food movement and those that are instrumental in building momentum in what some are calling a “Food Revolution”. This month’s 25th Anniversary issue of Cooking Light highlights 20 Food Heroes making significant differences in chang
I am in love with these biscuits! But I must admit, the relationship started out a bit unsavory. The first time making these biscuits was a disaster. Apparently the self-rising flour that I had on hand had been lurking in my pantry for an indefinite amount of time. The resulting biscuits tasted bitter and inedible, certainly grounds for leaving this recipe forever. But I had faith that
It is few and far between when both of our kids have other plans, leaving my hubby and I “child-free” for the evening. This past weekend, our teen was attending his first high school dance and our tween received a last minute invitation to go bowling with a pal. With both kids away, we knew there was only one thing to do…break out the whiskey! Seriously, I often come acros
Recently, on a gorgeous fall day, my family and I took a trip to a local orchard to pick apples. We had so much fun taking a hayride to the back of the property, then hopping off at the destination to start scouting out the apple variety that we wanted to pick. Well, we got a little caught up in the fun and before we knew it, we had picked and bagged more apples than we coul
I have a confession to make…I don’t eat breakfast. Somewhat shocking info, given that I have touted breakfast as “the most important meal of the day” throughout my career as a registered dietitian (RD). And let’s be clear, there is no doubt that eating breakfast can help us concentrate, have better overall diets and maintain a healthy weight. It’s not that I do not like breakf
Last night wrapped up the last presidential debate and tomorrow marks the 2nd annual Food Day. You say you’ve never heard of Food Day? Well then, read on! Food Day is a movement that supports healthy, sustainable and affordable food for all. On October 24th, organized events will take place all over the country encouraging Americans to “Eat Re
When the weather is as pretty as it has been, and the fall colors are at their peak, I can’t help myself…I gotta be outside!! The laundry and dishes might pile up, but I justify the trip outdoors by reminding myself that at least I am getting some exercise…and in the case of a recent hike, a bonus: the main ingredient for dinner. Really. The makings of that eveni
“Don’t look for others to change, start by changing yourself. Ask yourself, “What can I do, because change begins with me’” (Jules Dervaes) These words stuck with me for a while after attending a viewing of Homegrown Revolution. I was so inspired by this 15-minute film about a family doing something that most of us have never dreamed of doing…they transformed every inc
I love trying new foods and experimenting with ingredients that are bit more unusual (case in point: tonight's meal was tagliatelle with sauted bearded tooth mushrooms in a white wine cream sauce). I realize many people are less adventurous and would probably prefer to pass on foods they have never seen before. Celeriac (A.K.A. celery root) is one veggie that many hav
It’s Fall y’all! Here in the Lou, the leaves are just starting to turn the brilliant hues of autumn. I’m a nature loving type of gal, so I often find myself simply amazed at the beauty when looking around, taking in Nature’s gift of the changing seasons. Nature also provides a breathtaking spectrum of color in our fruits and vegetables. Over the c
Life is busy these days for the Cowie Clan and I am sure for you too. Our rush hour hits around 5 to 6 p.m. when all of the day’s activities seem to collide- the dog needs to be fed and taken out, the kids need to be carted to and from sporting events, a few errands need to be run and dinner needs to be prepared. It’s no wonder so many families rely on fast food on a regul
Tomato, Squash and Red Pepper Gratin with Quinoa “Mom, why do farmers grow squash when nobody likes it?” That’s the question I get as I make our meal. “Well honey, many people DO like squash” is my reply, knowing full well that my son is not alone in the Squash Haters Club. I don’t really get it. Summer squash is generally mild tasting, so much so that it can
Thanks to all that have already entered the chance to win great Kashi products. For those of you that have not, there is still time! After reading my short review of Kashi's chocolate soft-baked squares, scroll down to enter. You have seven opportunities to win so your chances are pretty good that you will be the one to score. Kashi is such a great company with a strong reputation, committe
It’s my 1 year bloggiversary! What better way to celebrate than with my 1st product review and giveaway!! A lot of product review opportunities have come my way that I have let pass by but when Kiwi Magazine offered their Mom’s Meet Ambassadors the opportunity to review a product from Kashi , I was excited. Kashi is such a great company with a strong reputation, commit
This past week has been a bit of a sad one. After many years, the farmers market where I have been employed finally closed its doors. I will miss the many customers that were committed to the local food movement by purchasing products made in our area, especially those that participated in our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. I will miss working with and getting to know the gr
