Taste It Thursday ~ When You're a M.O.M, remember.. cooking In Sock Monkey Slippers makes everything taste better!

 

What is your best advice for M.O.Ms who want to plan a healthy family meal?

My best advice for cooking a healthy family meal is to get everyone involved. The more kids participate the more likely you will find your picky eater to try something new or finish their veggies. My almost three year old gets so excited to cook with me and the difference it has made in her eating habits is outstanding. I even get her involved in the grocery shopping. Her latest endeavor, brussels sprouts, were a successes if that tells you anything. I also suggest starting early the moment your baby starts solid foods. Give them all of the fresh foods and flavor combinations to start them on the road to healthy eating habits.

What is the key to prep meals for the week?

My key to meal prep is to plan and keep a well stocked kitchen! It might not always work out the way you want it to but I find if I plan 3 to 4 meals a week it keeps us on track to have family meals together.

Kitchen must-have or book ‘to cook by’

I can't live without three things in my kitchen. No make that four. I have to have two high quality knives (a pairing knife and a big ol' chopping knife), my food processor, a microplaner (for zest, nutmeg and garlic), and my iPod.

Recipe for our M.O.Ms to Enjoy

Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Salmon and Roasted Green Beans serves 4

Ingredients: 

·         3 garlic cloves

·         2 fresh rosemary sprigs, about 1 Tbs chopped

·         1 1/2 to 2 lbs Sockeye salmon fillet 

·         1 Tbs extra virgin olive oil

·         1/4 teaspoon sea salt

·         pinch of freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425° F. Peel and finely chop garlic. Set aside.

Chop the rosemary. Set aside.

Place salmon on a foil lined baking sheet. 

Distribute olive oil evenly on salmon. 

Next, add salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary over the fillet. 

Roasted Green Beans

1 pound green beans, washed dried and snapped

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Place the green beans in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, salt and pepper and mix to coat the green beans. 

Place on a baking sheet or oven safe dish. 

Place the green beans and salmon in the oven and roast for 10 to 12 minutes until the salmon is flaky and green beans are tender.

Serve with cooked rice and enjoy!

Meet our M.O.M Cook Contributor ~ Meredith Steele

After having her 'sidekick' Mia, she left her job as a graphic designer and became a stay-at-home mom and her world changed! 

"Trading logos and billboards for dirty diapers left me with a yearning for a creative outlet. So, I got back into my love for all things culinary, picked up a camera, and started this blog. It first was a way to keep my stories about motherhood and recipes organized for my own usage. It was to my surprise that I quickly had a following and found myself stuck in the world of “professional” blogging! Ahh! This is where I ask myself daily, “What have I gotten myself into?” Today the blog is full of stories from the mamahood, family meals and baby food recipes (because it just wouldn’t be me without food), and reviews of products for today’s mama! My goal is to create a place where we all can relate and bring a moment of laughter, inspiration, creativity, knowledge, healthy and fresh meal ideas, or just a break to the life of the mamahood. I hope you enjoy." 

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Blog: InSockMonkeySlippers.com

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Twitter: @SMonkeySlippers