Fun With Food

Fun With Food: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Gia Russo

Throughout the year we worry about the weather, what about snow, is it going to rain and we have no control over what happens. Every January we pray that the sun will shine, the temperatures won’t fall and then in February we get hit with a huge storm. Of course we are hopefully in March, April, May and June that before summer and during spring we only get brief rainfalls and no more surprise storms leading us into our favorite time of the year Summer and then of course fall. But, although we cannot predict the weather, the storm or whether the trains will be down because of the weather and delays, we can and do have control over something so great, so amazing that you will wonder why didn’t I realize this before: FOOD! Yes you can control and decide each and every month what great recipes, foods and fun you can have with your entire family when going outside might not be an option you can create these recipes for every month and get some delicious and healthy recipes. Written by these two authors and the pictures will make you hungry and want to try some so let’s start right now. Both Sarah and Gia came up with the same thought at the same time to create a cookbook. First, they created their signature organic banking mixes by sourcing the best quality ingredients and developing the recipes to please us, since they were the target audience at first. Their mission was to make it simple, easy and to gather in the kitchen and create something delicious. Since, I never cook and since I am on a special diet, I decided to test try some of the recipes myself or shall I say my husband did to see what we thought before completing my review.

January brings us some great recipes starting with French Onion Soup and flavored Fruit and veggie wavers. But, first Sarah shares a story that she won’t forget about ringing in the New Year in 1999 in Australia. Relating the story and then of course the hype about a new year. Check out recipe for French Onion Soup on page 5 and the description of how to create it and serve it. Since I am a total non-cook I was able to create these delicious flavored fruit and veggie wavers the recipe on page 6. My eight-year-old niece, Penelope decided we should try Slumber Party means fun with friends and wait until you see what we created. Breakfast waffles on a stick, yummy juices and Mac n’ cheese with a surprise ingredient. My favorite and Penelope’s too was B&J Smoothie so good you have to try it when you see the picture it will make you want to create your own. To round out January why not try for January 22 the delicious and so so creatively crafted by the author Truffle Mac n’ Cheese cupcakes. Check out the picture you won’t stop until you make batch for yourself and your friends.

February there are many great holidays so the author’s state it’s time to get cozy on the sofa and tuck into food that “Instantly warms and nourishes.” How about some hearty chili, piping hot soup and of course what would this month be lie without preparing some cool stuff for Super Bowl Sunday and let’s not forget everyone girl’s favorite holiday Valentine’s Day. Check out the cool snacks that she features while explaining that she was at the 1999 Super Bowl and realized it’s more fun sitting in front of your television and creating so many fun things. Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Dippers you won’t believe how unique these are! The recipe serves 12. How about Meatloaf muffins and for that romantic day she creating the coolest strawberry treats followed by Chocolate X&O truffle cupcakes. To have some fun with your son or daughter you can create strawberry and watermelon hearts on a stick! So cool and definitely quite delicious. March is next and Sarah reminds us that it is the month of her husband’s birthday. It is the month of St. Patrick’s Day so how about pushing foods that are green? She explains that her kids have been eating vegetables since they could swallow and why not cook green veggies like the story Green Eggs and Ham and what about spinach no artificial flavors. So, Veggie Egg Rolls are great Gia’s son is obsessed with Chinese food and she explains why. Egg rolls may appear to be involved but with several pairs of hands check out the recipe and it’s cool look followed by Skewered Dumplings and chilled avocado soup for St. Patrick’s Day serviced on special glass jars. What’s better than green eggs and ham pinch pots and green fruit on a stick, one of my choices even in another month and for any day? April begins with Earth Day and Earth Day recipes such as fruit gazpacho with basil mint, veggie rainbows on a stick, page 79 this is really cool and the veggies are some of my favorites. How about ringing in spring with mini broccoli cheddar bread pudding and hard to resist mini bagel buffet with two cream cheeses check out page 90 and 91 and you’ll be headed to the bakery for some fresh mini bagels and cream cheese. May is the month of Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, Mother’s Day and the time to really enjoy crafting your favorite foods. The Fighter Cheese snacks for kids and kid friendly, light saber snack mix, well I’m sure you figure out these are all related to Star Wars. Check out the recipes for Cinco de Mayo and smell the delicious spices and aromas. Cheesy rice and bean cakes, smoky chicken tortilla soup, and for Mother’s Day how about some blueberries, strawberries and cranberries in what else pancakes. How about Eggs scrambled with ruffled bacon on a stick and vegetable flowers and dip. My favorite that my niece flipped over bite sized pancake muffins. June, July and August are the summer months and what better way then to create dishes for the summer solstice. How about tomatoes by the spoonful, or a definite winner chicken pasta salad and for kids and the kid in you coconut chicken finger and alphabet fruit and grilled cheese silk ties. July well what does that remind you of? The Fourth of July and wait until you see this hamburger on a skewer. Corn Dog cupcakes, sliders on a stick and green bean fries healthy and cool to look at and looks great. Everyone will love a s’mores parfait or to celebrate shark week these shark cookies and shark delights. What about shark bite sugar cookies for that shark lover in you!

August brings some really great dishes like salad kebabs, fruit ice cubes so what is I tried it in April and what about sweet pizza( My favorite food) with fruit toppings. Healthy and so so good! Now, this is hard to resist and when you see the picture on page 176 you will open to that page after you buy the book and definitely make strawberry ice cream cupcakes. Now, since my birthday is in September I will pick out what I want someone to make for my special day: check out wagon wheels meatballs that Sarah made and her son is devouring. Crispy asparagus fries and roasted vegetable lasagna cups. October, November and December we celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, Chanukah and Christmas so let’s see what the authors created for these great occasions. Cran-apple Witches brew made of seltzer, green food coloring and white cranberry juice and much more, ho bake honey pumpkin cheese parfaits and to top off October baked mozzarella bats moving on to November. Something I can sink my teeth into shot glass mashed potatoes and how about apple pie pops, yummy and what about doing something different with stuffing turning them into stuffing muffins and how for the December treats. For Chanukah Latkes on a stick I can see my niece wanting to make these and what about candy cane cupcakes and for the start of the new year and New Year’s Eve just think about star shaped apples and baguette slices for dipping. Cheese fondue with star dippers and something that looks like I would love it ricotta spaghetti squash and cupcakes. Stirring up Fun with Food has over 115 simple recipes and ways to be creative in the kitchen for those that love to create dishes that are simple, healthy, unique and tasty. Every month the author’s share some great treats and adults, kids, teens and everyone can get into the kitchen and create these great dishes and maybe even some up with your own signature dish. Gia Russo created original content and developed products for Martha Stewart Living and later started her own lifestyle brand, Together she and our favorite vampire slayer and now author of this great book created some delightful morsels for everyone’s pallet. So, get yourself a copy of the book and get started now! The illustrations alone will make you hungry and the recipes are so easy even I can create them.

Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ magazine