Dining Room Makeover--Phase One

Ta-da! If you don't recall what the "before" looks like, here it is with a photo of the artwork not pictured:

I've only changed the table and the rug but what a difference already! The table and chairs are from Pier 1 and the rug is from Target.com. I loved the idea of the rug but wasn't sure how much I would like it in person. But, Target.com was running a 15% off deal with free shipping and in-store returns so I figured I'd give this new rug a try. I'm so glad I did. It works perfect with the accent wall color and even the colors and style of my living room, which is open to the dining room.

I'm very happy with the new table and chairs, although they took a little getting used to since it's so different from the old set. I've always wanted a big farm table though. We only purchased 6 chairs for now. We want to do different head chairs eventually. For now, we've got the baby's booster seat on one of the old chairs. I've been pleased with the finish on the table. I was worried about scratches and water marks at first but the table has distressed accents so it's already "broken in" and any minor scratches and bumps we've already incurred just blend right it.

Up next:

• Buffet serving piece. When I purchased the table and chairs from Pier 1 I signed up for their credit card and earned enough points with the purchase to get $120 in store credit. I also got a 20% off coupon for my next purchase, and sold the old table and rug on craigslist. All this combined will be enough to get the buffet I want free. Love it. Just waiting for my gift cards to come in the mail.
• Chandelier. I'm keeping the chandelier but it needs to be lowered by about a foot. We've got 20 ft ceilings in the dining room so I need to hire an electrician for the job.
• Drapes. Still my biggest challenge. I have shopped everywhere for drapes and picked out a handful of samples from Jo-Ann fabric to make my own. So far, no luck. With pre-made drapes, the length is the problem. Most drapes come in 84"-96" and I need 100" or more. And I just haven't found a fabric that I'm in love with to make my own. Will keep looking.
• Artwork. Am deciding between keeping my old artwork (above), putting up black-and-white family photos in these cool Pier 1 picture frames , this sunburst mirror, or framing photocopies of some gorgeous John Lawrence illustrations from children's picture books. I don't think I'll be able to decide until I have the buffet and drapes in place.

Stay tuned for Phase Two!

Indian Restaurant Inspired Canteloupe Mint Smoothie

Canteloupe doesn't come in season in North Carolina for several more months, but I'm seeing them on sale more and more at the store. One of my favorite ways to eat canteloupe is smothered in the yogurt mint sauce served at our favorite Indian restaurant. I thought I'd try to make a smoothie that captures this unique taste sensation. This recipe is a refreshing version with the lightly sweet melon, fresh mint and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper for heat. The texture is thinner than a traditional smoothie, but adding ice just waters it down. Top with a fresh sprig of mint and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper and get your morning off to a great start.

Spiced Canteloupe Mint Smoothie

1 canteloupe, seeded and pulp scooped out

5 or 6 fresh mint leaves

1 Tb honey

pinch of cayenne pepper

kefir or 1 cup plain yogurt and milk/soy milk

1.) Place canteloupe, mint and honey in blender. 

2.) If using yogurt and milk or soy milk, then add the yogurt and blend, adding milk/soy milk until you get a smooth consistency. You may have to add more honey than shown above if you're using plain yogurt.

3.) If using kefir, blend ingredients, adding kefir as you go until you get the desired consistency.

4.) Top with a fresh mint sprig and a sprinkling of cayenne pepper.

Feeding Four One Year Birthday--Win a $25 Target gift card

 Wow, I have forgotten my own blog's birthday. So typical of me. I swear I meant to send a card. March 10, 2010 I wrote my first blog entry and despite not being given a book deal or becoming famous, at all, I've posted 62 times during that year. Honestly, I just love to cook and write about it. Thank you so much to those of you who have said, "Hey, I saw that post on your blog" or who have commented on my Facebook entries or shot me emails. You rock! It makes my day to talk to other people who love food and cooking for their friends and family as much as I do.

It is also nice to have some followers on the blog. It makes me feel good about myself, and all the other bloggers are doing it. So, don't think of this as my attempt to buy your affection. Although it might be. Only therapy will tell. Here's how to win a $25 Target gift card:

1.) Visit feedingfourfood.blogspot.com before April 1, 2011.
2.) Scroll down to the Followers section.
3.) Sign up to follow my blog.
4.) Bonus points: Share my blog with your friends.

I'll do a drawing for the gift card after April 1. It's that easy!

Tortelloni in Lemon Cream Sauce with Spring Vegetables--$1 off coupon

Pre-made tortelloni or ravioli are a huge hit at our house. We usually eat them one of two ways--in red sauce or with olive oil, salt and pepper, and Parmesan. Boring after a while, and not so diverse on the dietary scale. So here's a little something to liven them up and get lots of yummy veg while still being quick and easy. I substituted half and half for heavy cream to cut out hundreds of calories and a load of fat. If you can find whole wheat or low-fat tortelloni, all the better. This might be one of our new favorite meals! And if it's Buitoni that you like, here's a way to get a $1 coupon on your next purchase.

Tortelloni in Lemon Cream Sauce with Spring Vegetables

20 oz package pre-made tortelloni, cooked according to instructions

3 cups chopped veg, such as carrots (thinly sliced), yellow squash, zucchini, asparagus, peas and bell peppers

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tb olive oil

Sauce:

1 cup half-and-half

1 Tb butter

1 lemon (zest and 3 Tbs juice)

pinch of salt and pepper to taste

1.) Saute vegetables and garlic in olive oil or add a splash of water and place the lid on the pan to steam the veg just until tender.

2.) Meanwhile in a separate sauce pan, heat butter and half-and-half until butter is melted. Cook 10 minutes or until cream thickens slightly. Stir in lemon juice and zest. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let cool slightly.

3.) Cook tortelloni according to package instructions and drain.

4.) In a large serving bowl, gently combine the tortelloni and vegetables with the sauce. Stir to coat.

5.) Serve with Parmesan cheese and any fresh herbs if you have them on hand.

Decorating obsession--my dining room!

First, the sob story. I think it will help you hate me less as I share the journey of how I am about to make over my dining room. Rich and I are both spending-averse to put it nicely. We pride ourselves on DIY projects and using credit as little as possible, so it's taken us almost ten years to furnish the house we built together back before we had babies. I also tell you this so you won't be appalled as I share the pictures of my current dining room. I know, this is killing any hopes for foodie street cred. Where do I find a camera lense that makes this room look more cool?

• The Rug: The rug was a hand-me down from a restaurant in Chapel Hill that went out of business. Nice actually, but not our taste at all. The cat also uses the rug to vent his frustrations when we don't let him out the nearby backdoor fast enough. And fringe. I. Hate. Fringe. Pre-kids I would get down on my hands and knees and straighten the fringe with my fingers. Rich would just sigh and shake his head. As you can see from the photo above, the fringe has not been touched in years.
• The Table: A discontinued, harvest-style table from Crate & Barrel. More contemporary and along the lines of our tastes. But have you ever tried to find a 54-inch square table cloth? Nearly impossible. And it has gotten a bit wobbly over the years. Plus I want a table with more presence, one that doesn't look dwarfed by the vaulted ceilings and tall windows.
• The Chairs: These chairs are sturdy but...how do I put it? Ugly. Filthy. Old. Another free hand-me down from a restaurant where I worked in the bakery in New York. No, not that kind of restaurant and not that New York. A chain buffet called The Ponderosa, Upstate. (Smooch. Bye-bye street cred.) And yes, that is two different shades of paint from the times we've used the chairs as step-stools while repainting other rooms. We originally planned to sand the chairs and repaint them. Fifteen years later...
• The Windows: One of my biggest challenges will be finding drapes that do these windows justice. I love the view of the woods out back of our house, but I don't like valances or sheers. I want a sassy, bold drape that helps with the sun/heat issue but doesn't take away from the light or interfere too much with the architectural feel of the trim. They'll need to be at least 100 inches to reach the floor, easy to clean, and I don't want to spend too much money. You see why I saved this room for last?

So the parameters. The budget--is my own business, no offense. And did I mention that I'm not big on shopping? Shopping with kids in tow is akin to torture, and when I have free time without them I'll be darned if I spend it in a store, any store. Maybe in ten years... Yeah, I'm sure they'll embarrass me in public then too, but at least they'll be old enough to carry their own change for the bus ride home. I do a lot of research online and then check stuff out in the store when I'm 99-percent sure I want it. Unless of course, there are special online deals with free shipping and an easy return policy. Cue angelic choir.

Also, we use our dining room for formal and daily meals, game night, craft center and kids' art display and chalkboard wall (photos of that for another post). Our taste is decidedly modern but I love to mix things up. Rich loves ultra contemporary with industrial details but I prefer a more eclectic modern design inspired by nature--earth tones mixed with bright colors, wood, baskets, stone, pottery. We agree on modern, clean lines and a casual, fun and comfy atmosphere.

I won't be able to have my dream dining room--I can't afford it! My hope though is to come up with something that's fun and inviting that will last us another ten to fifteen years. So check back in with me from time to time and I'll post photos of the room in progress--growing pains and all.

Story of my FREE Starbucks Via coupon from Target

Recently, after checking out at my local Target, the cashier handed me the usual wad of store coupons with my receipt. In the stash was a coupon for a FREE three-pack of Starbucks' answer to instant coffee, Via. I see Via advertised all the time when I'm going through the Starbuck's drive-thru. I haven't tried them because, well the point of Starbucks coffee is going to Starbucks. And I don't see myself spending $1 a packet to make my own coffee when I can get an entire bag of Starbucks coffee for $7 at the grocery store and brew enough to last a week. Obviously, I am not the target market for this product. But FREE is FREE my friend so I dutifully carried my coupon around in my wallet until the next time I was at Target. I grabbed what I thought was a three-pack of Starbucks, valued at about $3, and checked out. Only when I got home did I realize they had mis-shelved the packages and what I had was an eight pack, valued at $8. Fuming, I pulled out my receipt to see if I had, indeed, payed $5 for coffee I hadn't wanted. But no, the discount rang up for the full $8. Kaching! So, moral of the story, if you get one of these coupons, go for the eight-pack girlfriend.

Any who...how's the coffee? If you like Starbucks' coffee (and I do, oh I do), you will probably like the Via. I tried the Columbia brew and it tasted and even smelled just like the real thing. I don't know how they do it. Starbucks magic in a little foil package. When they sell it by the can I'll be first in line. And it is currently 10:30 p.m. and I am blogging away with little desire to fall asleep, so yes the caffeine content is on par too.

Pasta with Spinach, Beans and Cheese

Recipe from the Complete Cooking Light Cookbook, 2000.

Pasta with Spinach, Beans and Cheese

 8 cups of chopped spinach leaves

6 oz. spiral-shaped pasta

2 Tb olive oil

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

19-oz can of white beans, such as Navy or cannellini, rinsed and drained

2 minced garlic cloves

1/2 cup shredded cheese such as Parmesan or Asiago

1. Drain and rinse beans in a strainer.
2. Boil pasta until al dente. Drain in the strainer with the beans to warm up the beans.
3. Toss all ingredients in a bowl while pasta is still hot and spinach wilts slightly.
4. Top with extra cheese if desired and serve warm. Also great as a cold salad the next day.