Quick and Easy Thanksgiving Dinner!

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s definitely time to start planning for the big feast. If you are planning on dressing your turkey, the first thing you should ask yourself is whether it’s a boy or a girl. But hopefully, you are past that stage already and while your kids are running around in their Pilgrim hats and Indian feathers, you are trying to get your recipes in order so that everything runs smoothly on the big day.

My Thanksgiving dinner will begin with a nice big organic turkey purchased fresh from my local co-op. Then, to make things really quick and easy I will use my Turkey Dinner Essentials Kit which includes Wildtree’s Poultry Seasoning, Turkey Basting Herbs, Traditional Turkey Gravy and Cranberry Horseradish. In the meantime, while thats cooking, my cornbread will be available for me to start working on. Of course, I will be using nothing but Wildtree’s Texas Corn Bread, which is additive free and very delicious! My mashed potatoes and corn will be seasoned with Wildtree\’s All Natural Sea Salt, which is of course, iodine free and tastes way better than the unhealthy kind.

This will be about as quick and easy as it gets so after my guests start coming in, I will definitely be able to relax and have some nice hot cider made with Mulling Spices while I chit chat with them and enjoy a few hors d’oeuvres. These will consist of chips and Cranberry Salsa, in addition to the Spinach and Artichoke Spread. My kids will really enjoy some pretzels dipped in Wildtree’s thick and creamy Honey Mustard in moderation.

And just like every year, my guests will be raving about the food and hopefully unlike most, I will be able to save some left-overs for later:)

The scariest Halloween costume

Recently, I finished reading Michael Pollan’s best-selling book, The Botany of Desire. In this book Pollan discussses the intimate relationship between people and plants. In telling the stories of four familiar plant species that are deeply woven into the fabric of our lives, Michael Pollan not only frightened me into becoming even more food conscientous than I already am, but it spurred me to pantry-cleaning, item replacing action. Besides Stephen King, I’d never read a book by anyone who had made a corn field seem more sinister. After doing a little more research, I came across an article where Pollan argues that corn is “wreaking havoc on everything from public health to foreign policy.” The article, entitled When Corn is King led me to my refrigerator and pantry where I began to review and consider all of my products with high amounts of corn syrup; ketchup and salad dressings being at the top of my list. Replacing my Heinz with Wildtree’s ketchup became a priority, in addition to replacing all of my generic corn syrup saturated salad dressings with even tastier more exciting alternatives like Wildberry Dressing or Balsalmic Vinaigrette

After mourning my own dietary ignorance for a little while-childhood memories of day trips to McDonalds turned sour, my expedient mindless shopping trips to the grocery store, I found the truth hurting just a little bit and came up with a great idea for the most terrifying Halloween costume of all…

(begin loud and scary organ music)

Mrs. Cornstalk

Quick and Easy Halloween dinner? You can do it!

With Halloween rapidly approaching and the holiday mayhem beginning to ensue, there is no better time to plan a quick meal that will: (a) get everyone out of the house quickly so that they can enjoy the party later, and (b) make your kids less likely to eat all of their Halloween candy before you can get a chance to check it out for yourself. Also, most parents do not enjoy seeing their kids still running laps around the house after midnight because they ate too much sugar and not enough dinner. My easy weeknight pasta recipe keeps everyone full and happy-just the thing that we will need before we embark out on our trick or treating mission.

EASY WEEKNIGHT PASTA

1 28oz can tomatoes-whatever kind you like

1 Tbs Wildtree Hearty Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning

8-16 oz any shape pasta (amount depending on your family’s appetite and preference of pasta to sauce ratio.)

Browned meatballs or Italian Sausage, if desired

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, heat tomatoes together with Wildtree Hearty Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning. Add meatballs and Italian Sausage to tomatoes if using. Heat sauce until hot. Drain pasta. Pour sauce over pasta and serve. You can also cook the pasta in the morning, and combine all ingredients and put in the crock pot on low all day.

Wildtree\’s Old World Style Foccacia Bread would also be a great addition to this meal.

Have a safe, warm and happy halloween!!!

Vice Presidential Debate: Cocktails and Appetizers with Joe and Sarah

A girl certainly finds out who her friends are when the Secret Service has staked out the neighbors’ lawns.    Not wanting to disrupt the flow of traffic on Madison’s East side two weeks in a row, I chose a more low-key setting for a conversation with the vice president candidates – cocktails and appetizers.

I invited the Working Moms Networking Group and a few gals from bootcamp to join us.   Again, I think it is important that both candidates experience first-hand the incredible sensibility and work ethic of the wonderful women I know.  Who better to ask about handling multiple competing priorities than your average Midwest mom and business woman?

My mission:  Create an excellent pairing of appealing appetizers and fabulous drinks for 18 discerning women and two potential VP’s on a budget.

You too can create a red, white and blue event on a budget.  Good luck and enjoy!

Presidential Debate: Dinner with Barack and John

Like most of you, I’ve had some questions about the bailout on Wall Street and the economic plan for us folks on Main Street. I’m a self-employed business woman working for a fabulous company that allows me the time and flexibility I need to raise my children and spend time with my husband. But, I also have some opinions on the healthcare options available to families that I’d love to share with the next leader of the free world.

Rumor has it that neither Senator Obama or Senator McCain are great debaters. (Does anyone remember Nixon vs. Kennedy? Sigh. Those WERE the days.) I thought the candidates might feel more comfortable in a smaller setting. I’ve always said that the Sullivan family has our most lively discussions at the dinner table – when we make it there! – so I was confident that Senators Obama and McCain would fit right in.

My mission: To create a healthy, well-balanced meal that wouldn’t take all day to prepare yet would accurately represent middle America.

CHEESY GARLIC AND HERB STUFFED CHICKEN:

4 large boneless/skinless chicken breast halves

1/2 cup Gouda cheese, cubed

1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, chopped

3/4 tsp Wildtree Garlic and Herb blend

3 Tbs Wildtree Natural Grapeseed Oil

1/2 cup flour

3 tsp. Wildtree Rotisserie Chicken Blend

Cube cheese and chop mushrooms; combine with garlic and herb blend. Set aside. Flatten chicken breasts between 2 pieces of waxed paper ( a heavy skillet works great). Place 1/2 cup cheese stuffing mixture on top of each chicken breast. Roll up and secure with toothpicks. Heat oil in skillet on medium-high. Combine flour and Rotisserie chicken blend in Ziploc bag. Add rolled chicken breast 1 at a time and toss to coat. Brown chicken on all sides; lower heat and simmer until done. Add additional sliced mushrooms in skillet near the end of cooking, if desired.

The cheesy garlic and herb stuffed chicken is not only a quick meal that everyone will enjoy,  but also will pair well with either white or red wine.  For a white wine, I would recommend a nice oaky chardonnay. If you are a red wine drinker, a nice light organic pinot noir would be just the thing.

You too can make a dinner fit to serve a presidential candidate in under 30 minutes. Enjoy and good luck!