It’s officially July 1st, which means I can now no longer avoid shorts season. While my favorite months of the year are now a distant memory, summer has snuck up on me and as I walk the streets of New York City, all I can see for blocks on end are legs. Long legs, firm legs, scrawny legs, tan legs, sculpted calves, toned thighs and then, for a split second, I look down at my knees and want to throw on a burka.
Oh how I utterly hate the summer. Especially when some of my favorite stores have decided that this season, short shorts are back in style. Or those flouncy dresses that come up to your mid thigh – which I would never wear because even if I paired them with leggings, I’d still have to figure out how to disguise the fact that my lower half is just not cutting it lately.
I’ve always been a classic pear. Small on top, large on the bottom. And they even say that it’s healthier to be a pear than an apple but just give me one day to swap legs with someone who has shapely calves and not cankles like me and I swear, I’d probably go on a shopping spree and buy out all the short shorts on sale at Banana Republic and J Crew combined.
Give me the chance to slip on a mini dress and gladiator sandals without feeling self conscious about my knee fat and you will find me a changed woman. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve contemplated setting up a consult with a plastic surgeon only to have cold feet because I’ve never gone under anesthesia. Oh if only I were an apple and not a pear. Sure apples don’t look good in a bathing suit either and a pear can cover their lower extremities with a massive sarong or beach towel, but apples can also wear a big t-shirt and shorts that show off their thin legs.
Don’t have time to read? Then listen and laugh instead!
I know I should just accept the fact that as a full-fledged pear, I will never possess the legs I secretly long for when I pass a stranger on the street. I mean, there are redeeming qualities with being a pear. I am pretty small from the waist up so that’s a plus. So my thighs jiggle when I walk and my calves are the same size of tree trunks, things could be worse. I could be a watermelon.
July 4th Cheesecake & Chicken Satay Recipes from Chef Kim
If you’re getting ready to grill this July 4th weekend, we’ve got some fabulous recipes developed by Chef Kim of Daymon Worldwide that will have your guests clamoring for more. We’ll start with dessert first…yummy!!!
Individual No Bake Cheesecakes
Yields 6 Servings
3 tbsp sugar
13 – 15 graham crackers
½ c butter, melted
10 oz cream cheese, room temperature
6 oz crème fraîche
2/3 c sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 c heavy cream
1 c fresh mixed berries
Line the cups of a muffin tin with plastic wrap and set aside. Combine sugar and crackers in a food processor and pulse until very finely chopped then add melted butter. Press into prepared muffin tins and put in freezer while preparing the filling.
Beat cream cheese, crème fraîche and confectioners’ sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer with paddle attachment. In a separate bowl beat heavy cream until still peaks form and fold into cream cheese mixture. Spoon a little into each crust and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
When ready to serve, gently pull out cheesecakes from tin by pulling on the plastic wrap and carefully remove the plastic wrap from the crust. Top each cup with mixed berries of your choice and drizzle with confectioners’ sugar. Garnish with fresh mint leaves. You can toss the mixed berries with a little sugar to sweeten if needed.
And now for an entree that’s way more delicious than burgers and hot dogs!
Chicken Satay w/Peanut Sauce
Marinade:
1 c plain yogurt
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp curry powder
1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
20 wooden skewers, soaked in water for 30 min
Vegetable oil, for grilling
Peanut Sauce
1/4 c creamy peanut butter
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
1/4 c coconut milk
1/4 c hot water
red chili flake to taste
1 clove crushed garlic
1 tbsp grated ginger
Combine yogurt, ginger, garlic and curry powder in shallow bowl. Add chicken strips to yogurt marinade and toss until well coated. Cover and let chicken marinate in the refrigerator for up to 2 hrs.
Weave the chicken strips onto the skewers down the center of the chicken so that it stays on during grilling. Grill the chicken satays over medium heat for 3 – 5 minutes on each side until they are seared and cooked through.
To make the sauce: Combine all ingredients with a whisk in a small bowl, adding the water last. Pour into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until sauce begins to bubble and thicken. Serve the satays on a platter lined with lettuce leaves and topped with chopped fresh cilantro; accompanied by the peanut sauce on the side.
Daymon Worldwide is the private-label partner for many stores, including CVS, Cub, Stop & Shop, Kroger, Meijer, and Safeway.
For more great holiday recipes from Chef Kim, check out this video below…
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*Daymon Worldwide is a sponsor of the Role Mommy Writers Network.
Take Back the Kitchen…with Chinese Chicken Salad
It is just too hot to cook these days. Putting together a salad for lunch or dinner with some leftover chicken can be a delicious and satisfying meal, filled with protein. Feel free to serve with a big green salad. Enjoy!
Summer Chinese Chicken Salad:
Part I
2-3 Chicken Breasts, grilled or baked and sliced thinly into bite sized pieces
1 cup bean sprouts
3 TBS toasted sesame seeds
Cook breasts in gently boiling water until cooked (10-15 minutes)
Pour hot boiling water over Bean Sprouts
Toast sesame seeds by putting in toaster briefly
Part II
Dressing (I usually double the recipe)
2 TBL creamy Peanut Butter
1 tsp ginger (powdered or fresh, chopped)
2 tsp dry mustard powder
2 TBL sugar
4 tsp Soy (I used reduced sodium tamari)
2 tsp Sesame Oil
2 TBL peanut oil
2 tsp white vinegar
Combine all the ingredients
1/4 cup of Scallions for garnish
Mix up sauce, pour over chicken and bean sprouts, top with scallion and sesame seeds.
For more fabulous recipes, visit Alma Schneider at Take Back the Kitchen.
Should You Go See “Toy Story 3?”
The team at HaveUHeard weighs in on whether the film gets a thumbs up with kids…
Is it me or does life as we know come to a screeching halt when summer arrives? People are busy heading to the beach and enjoying the outdoors – television has only a few “must see” series and celebrities slow their antics down. This leaves us with the secret marriages, bitter break-ups/divorces and what else but the summer movies geared towards children.
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green secretly married while vacationing in Hawaii. Mel Gibson is once again throwing racial slurs at anyone who will dare to listen (I know I’m not). The brunt of his rage is being his ex-girlfriend, mother of his child. Finally, Tiger Woods and soon to be ex-wife, Elin are reaching a hefty $750 million divorce settlement.
Thankfully we can escape from “reality” with some summer movies. The first movie we saw was Toy Story 3.
“Toy Story 3” is the final movie in the sequel that focuses on children setting aside toys as they grow up. Woody, spaceman Buzz Lightyear and the other toys face a bittersweet change because Andy, their owner, is going to college. The toys hope to be sent to the attic where they can stay together, except for Woody, whom Andy plans to take with him. Unfortunately, in a series of mishaps the toys are mistakenly donated to a day-care center where toddlers unleash their terrible two style behavior on the toys. When the humans are away, the toys are ruled by a nasty stuffed bear named Lotso. Woody, ever loyal, sneaks in to help his pals escape.
The road traveled to escaping from the daycare center can be a bit scary for younger children. If you are looking for a feel good movie, I would not recommend this movie. As my six year old son stated, “It didn’t make me feel happy.” Summer and children’s movies should definitely make you “feel happy.”
Stay tuned for more summer movie reviews from HaveUHeard and next week, Role Mommy features our exclusive interviews with the cast of “Despicable Me!”