FRIDAY FOOD AND FAVORITES

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Welcome to another Friday Food and Favorites. We started out this week freezing, so here are two yummy comfort foods that look absolutely divine for eating on a cold winter day. How about trying this first one for a healthy Friday lunch?

Polenta Pizza with Spinach
Recipe from HERE and modified to make kosher
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, more for pan
1/2 cup milk, preferably whole
Salt
1 cup coarse cornmeal
Freshly ground black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1 pound spinach, washed, trimmed and dried
1 to 1 1/2 cups Feta cheese (or cheese of your liking), crumbled.


1. Heat oven to 450 degrees; brush a layer of olive oil on a pizza pan or cookie sheet. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine milk with 2 1/2 cups water and a large pinch of salt. Bring just about to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and add cornmeal in a steady stream, whisking all the while to prevent lumps from forming. Turn heat to low and simmer, whisking frequently, until thick, 10 or 15 minutes. If mixture becomes too thick, whisk in a bit more water; you want a consistency approaching thick oatmeal.


2. Stir 1 tablespoon oil into cooked cornmeal (polenta). Spoon it onto prepared pan, working quickly so polenta does not stiffen; spread it evenly to a thickness of about 1/2 inch all over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover baking sheet with plastic wrap and put it in refrigerator until it is firm, an hour or more (you can refrigerate polenta overnight if you prefer).


3. Put polenta in oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until it begins to brown and crisp on edges. Meanwhile, put two tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft, about 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to take onion out of pan; set aside. Add spinach to skillet and sauté until it releases its water and pan becomes dry; sprinkle with salt and lots of pepper.


4. Take polenta out of oven, sprinkle with cheese, then spread onion mixture and spinach evenly on top of cheese; drizzle with another tablespoon olive oil. Put pizza back in oven for two minutes, or until cheese begins to melt and vegetables are warmed through. Cut into slices and serve hot or at room temperature.


Yield: 4 servings.


Variation: Before you put polenta in oven, top it with thin slices of fresh mozzarella, two or three thinly sliced Roma tomatoes or a bit of tomato sauce, and a handful of fresh basil leaves.

Now, who isn't familiar with the soothing and curative powers of a heavenly bowl of soup on a freezing winter day? I just had to post this one because it looks like a healthy version of decadence!

Creamy Mushroom Soup
Recipe HERE
Note: For kosher version, replace whipping cream with non-dairy creamer, or for a dairy kosher version, use a parve soup stock.

Now onto my Friday Favorite! 

Today I want to talk about a favorite from one of my fabulous sponsors. I really only take sponsorship from companies that I think are a good match for this blog. Although my most recent sponsor, Foster Mind, has nothing to do with fashion, their product definitely struck a cord with me as mother. If we don't instill positive self esteem in our children...no one else will. And without the strong foundation of a sense of positive self, how will our children cope in today's complicated world? 

Here's how it works:


The FosterMind package includes 30 posters printed on a high quality paper 11X17 in size. The set also includes over 120 removable glue dots for easy set up on the walls.
Place FosterMind posters strategically around the upper parameter of your child’s bedroom walls.  Then make it a ritual each and every evening (when your child is completely relaxed and about to fall asleep) to repeat their affirmations.

The ultimate goal is to inspire your child to memorize FosterMind affirmations by heart, so they can practice them on their own and refer to them for confidence throughout their lives!

Oh how I wish this was around when me kids were younger! Now every one of you has a chance to instill the amazing tools of self affirmation into your children. And you can get the whole set for only $29.99!

PLUS...BONUS GIVEAWAY: ONE READER WILL BE CHOSEN TO RECEIVE A FREE SET!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me what you do inspire your children's or even your own self esteem. Make sure you leave me your email or contact link so I can notify you if you win!

Of course if you want extra entries you can like Fashion-isha on FACEBOOK, follow on TWITTER, and follow on GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT. Leave a separate comment for each additional entry!

Note: I was not paid for this post. Foster Mind is an affiliate sponsor, meaning if someone buys their product through my blog, I get a small commission. I am stating this because I want you to know that I am promoting this product because I truly believe in its mission. So go ahead and click on their link on the right side of this blog and check out their site!

Now, finally, I am grateful this week for...Target!

Okay this is something all of us who live in the USA take for granted...our local Target. Target? Yes, I am grateful for target. It's a place I can go to and find...hmmm...a great pair of earrings for me, cute tops for my teenage daughter, that urgent bottle of laundry detergent (lest the clothes pile up),  glue sticks for my kid's school project, a DS charger to replace the one that was tragically lost, and any and all of the fabulous housewares I may dream of, all in one easy space. 

Discount department stores are far and wide, but Target consistently comes up with practical and gorgeously designed products on a regular basis. 

(Sadly, Target loses its status as my favorite store once I get to the checkout and see the total for my purchases...it shocks me every single time! Sigh...Target and I have a love/hate relationship!)

Here is what I recently spotted (and found swoon worthy) in the aisles of Target:

Nice stuff, right?

Let your life be your runway, do with it what makes you happy, fashion your destiny and let yourself shine like 100 chandeliers!
Wishing you the best weekend!
Sharon

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19 comments

  1. I just found your blog and think it's so nice to see a frum take on these sort of topics.
    I love the idea of these posters in kids' rooms.
    As far as encouragement, I try to say something genuinely encouraging to each of my children everyday. That may not sound like much, but instead of looking at every time they make a scribble and saying an empty 'Good job', I wait until they have done something that they themselves are proud of. This way they feel accomplished and proud that I have noticed.

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  2. Both dishes look delicious!

    Have a great weekend :) xo

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  3. Oh, that pizza recipe looks so good! I'll have to try it. I love Target too. Strangely, I haven't been in a really long time. They have some great buys. I love to go there for beauty/home/health products. xoxo

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  4. I just found your blog and think it's so interesting to see a frum perspective on all of these topics.
    Every day I try to find something that my kids have done that they are actually proud and encourage them based on that. I also teach them to encourage each other so they can appreciate both sides of it.

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  5. Target is looking better and better, gotta hand it to them for always keeping it fresh! I am going to read more about the foster mind package...sounds fabulous and anything that fosters the well being of kids mind body and soul I am all for!
    Wonderful post Sharon as always, happy Friday to you!

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  6. Those look delicious! I'm going to have to make that pizza sometime soon!

    Haha, I also have a love/hate relationship with Target. I never get out of there without buying way more than I meant to.

    xoxo

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  7. yummy, i love anything that has spinach on it! and i agree with encouraging children i try and follow the same thing ;-)

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  8. That pizza looks so good to me right now! I could totally go for some.

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

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  9. Where do I start with this post!
    I am officially hungry now, that pizza looks amazing and I will definitely be trying it!
    Target-super cute finds! I have to limit my Target visits for that reason :)
    Love, love, love the chandelier runway photo! So pretty!
    And finally, self esteem is so important, especially in youth-I used to volunteer with a group at a children's hospital and loved every minute of it!

    Happy Weekend!
    http://fashionboardconfessional.blogspot.com/

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  10. The pizza looks so different and yummy... and Target is becoming a little more classy but if you don't come in with a list you tend to spend more.

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  11. Ohh great giveaway! Everyone needs some positive encouragement from time to time =)

    Also, your Target picks are sooo amazing, I want it all!!

    Have a great weekend my friend =)

    xoxx Linda

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  12. "...let yourself shine like 100 chandeliers!" Great inspiration! Definitely gave me some chills : )

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  13. that creamy mushroom soup looks delicious ..I am totally going to jot it down and try it. I love soups in the winter. Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a fabulous weekend Sharon.
    C

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  14. Yummy this post definitely made me hungry :)


    Little Petite

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  15. Those recipes look so good. I've actually been looking for one for cream of mushroom soup so I'm so glad I found your blog! Have a great weekend!

    a dash of GLAM

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  16. I love the product what a novel idea and its so simple its genius. I would love to win

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  17. Yummy post! I am working on my cooking, and domestic skills in general ;), so I may have to give these a try and see how it goes.

    XX,
    Miranda

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  18. I LOVE those posters for a childs room! I also love many many of ur ideas ;)
    I try to make it a point to compliment and focus on the qualities of my children that THEY have developed, and not put as much focus on the qualities they were born with and have naturally.

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  19. My daughter was born 17 weeks early and really struggles in school.
    She has been the victim of such severe bullying we have had to remove her from that toxic environment.
    Four years later it's still a work in progress boosting her self-esteem.
    So I try to catch her doing something great and praise the action.
    She is always excited to tell me her grades, secure in the knowledge doing her best is a fabulous achievment in itself.

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