Piece of Cake Book Winners!

Thank you, so much, all of you for entering to win!

I will be doing more giveaways shortly, so stay tuned for more freebies in the near future (in plenty of time for the holidays).

The winners have been selected (using random.org). They are:

Felicia (Skimpy Pantry)
Elisa (Grateful for the Ride)
Kate (Simply Nutritious Kate)

Congratulations! Drop me a line to let me know your mailing address. Camilla :)

Pumpkin Seed, Pumpkin Spice Homemade Lara Bars

Pin It In my roasted pumpkin seeds post the other day, I mentioned that these golden-blond beauties can be used for countless enlightened uses beyond straight-up snacking.

The key to creative usage is to think of the seeds as equals to nuts; with that mindset, the possibilities are vast. Case in point? My pumpkin seed, pumpkin spice homemade lara bars.

Meatless Monday: Quick Pumpkin Polenta w/ Sauteed Kale

Like my recipe today, this post is quick and easy. 

I spent a few hours this morning finishing up Nick's Halloween costume. On a scale of 1-10 on craftiness, I am about a 2.5, but I nevertheless found a cute, and (seemingly easy) costume--a crocodile wrestler--that instantly became the object of Nick's desire. 

It would have been much easier if I had started it last week--when I purchased the supplies--but one thing piled atop another, and as of this morning, I had yet to begin. But I am proud to report that the foam crocodile is drying in the back yard (after I blew it dry with my hair dryer for 30 minutes to get the ball rolling). Don't worry, I'll take pictures.

Needless to say, there is not much time for cooking today, and chances are, the same is true in your house.. But we all need to eat something before (or after) the festivities, and I have just the meal: pumpkin polenta with sauteed kale.

Perfect Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

I love roasted pumpkin seeds. It's more than the toasty flavor and crunch; it's the feeling that I'm getting something for free.

Yet for years, my roasted seeds fell flat, despite painstakingly separating the seeds from their stringy, clingy orange strands and carefully monitoring the roasting time. Though golden in hue, the seeds were typically chewy and tough, and were marked by a distinctly off, raw flavor (my Arkansas father-in-law would call this a "wang.") I ate them anyway (the free factor again), but not without a lot of griping (and chewing).

Then a mentor (let's call her Martha...) clued me in: the seeds need to be dried--completely--before being roasted. Hurrah! However...she recommended (commanded) leaving the seeds out to dry for 3 to 4 days. Boo. I don't have a staff (save for my super-duper pumpkin scooper, below), so I improvised.

Kale, Tofu, and Soba Noodle Stir-Fry

“Mommy, why are you eating brown noodles and marshmallows?! With LEAVES?!”

I insist it is actually Japanese soba and tofu (your cousins Kenji and Hugh love both), bright, earthy kale, chopped and briefly blanched, then stir-fried with sizzling nut-brown garlic and ginger, and a salty-sweet sauce.  

My 5-year-old conversation companion has left the room to peruse his new Highlights magazine.

Cookbook Giveaway: 3 Copies of My New Book, Piece of Cake!

Good morning, everyone! How about beginning the day with a giveaway, specifically three copies of my new book, Piece of Cake!

The entry period runs from now (October 27th, 2011) until midnight CST on Halloween (October 31st, 2011).

To enter, simply do is the following:
(1) Leave a comment telling everyone your very favorite cake! (Luscious Lemon Cake, from my book, is mine)
(2) "Like" enlightened cooking on facebook (immediately to your right, in the right hand column you will find the facebook box and the "like" option. If you do not have a facebook account, leave a note in your comment to that effect. If you already "like" enlightened cooking, you are good to go for step 2!)

There will be three winners, chosen by random.org. I will announce the winners on Tuesday morning (November 1st, 2011). Good luck!

So-Simple Miso-Honey Chicken

I am guilty of overlooking the obvious here at enlightened cooking. For example, dinner. I'll spend my days dreaming of and testing recipes that I think will be fun and exciting for a new post and forget to post the recipes I turn to time and again for simple suppers (often after a long day of recipe development and editing. Oh, the irony).

And yet, it's often these super-simple suppers that readers like you tell me they like the most. Probably because you, like me, love to peruse food magazines and cookbooks by day (or in bed), but once 6 o'clock rolls around, you need something simple, delicious, and reliable. For example, my miso-honey broiled chicken.