Wrap it up

Have you ever found yourself fresh out of creative food ideas for the next family event?  I feel like we have hit up most of the classics.  We have had a bunch of salads and croissant sandwiches.  We have done the brunch with quiche, yogurt parfait with the most delicious homemade granola (recipe I must share someday), scones, cinnamon rolls, and crumb cake.  The soup bar with lots of yummy soups and good bread.  The pasta bar.  The small plates event with appetizers and desserts.  The taco bar, actually, I think we have covered most of the popular foreign cuisine.  Did I mention my family loves food?  When we hear that we have a family gathering coming up, the first question my mom asks is, "What are we going to eat?"

Well, a family event was approaching so my most darling sister-in-law and I were brainstorming what the food needed to be for our next family gathering, a baby blessing.  We went through the list and thought and thought.  As brainstorming goes, I don't know where it came from but we decided on a salad/wrap bar.  It was really fun and I think everyone enjoyed the meal.  We did get a few confused looks from the first ones through the line, but they soon caught on and were wrapping it up!

So I thought, if you are out of ideas like we were, here is a fun summer party idea or just something you can do for your next family event.  It is fairly simple and everyone can find something they like!

First we decided on three salads,

BBQ/Southwest Salad (she had cute dressing bottles with ranch dressing and BBQ sauce in them on the side of this salad)

An Oriental Salad

Last but not least, a classic Caesar Salad (I know the pear Gorgonzola was in vogue and there are other fancy salads you currently love, but I find that everyone loves a classic Caesar.  Take it to your next dinner and you will be surprised what a refreshing classic it is).

We put out the three salads and even though some of the salad recipes call for meat, we left it out of the salad and did a good ole summer grill on the BBQ.  She used grilled chicken and grilled tri-tip.  Just a basic salt and pepper feel so that they could match any of the salads/wraps.

She also had a few different flavors of tortillas/wraps.  So, the guests picked up their wrap, added the salad of their choice and added the meat of their choice folded and went of their way!  It was also nice because if they weren't into the wrap thing, they could just have a nice salad with some yummy meat on it!

On the side you can do as you please, but she went for a beautiful tray of fresh fruit and veggies.  She also had chips and dips.  A little something for everyone!

I thought it turned out wonderfully!  The great thing, is that you can use your favorite salads and make it your own!  We did pre-dress the salads, so they were getting the full effect of the wrap, but we also had extra dressings on the side.  Wa-la!  I hope you get a chance to try it out at your next family gathering.  Let me know what salads you use and how it goes!

Mother's Day Breakfast

by Misa

WARNING:  If you are a MOTHER and you are reading this post STOP.  Go to the top of the page, copy the URL and paste it into an email for your HUSBAND :)

Alright FATHERS, this is your day to strap on that apron (frills or not), roll up your sleeves, and breakfast it up.  Hopefully, this little blog post has made its way to YOU.  I have put together what I think is a rather tasty and EASY meal for you to make for a Mother's Day breakfast.  It is easy enough that the young ones can help too.

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Get your Balance with a Bento

by Misa


I love spring for the balance it brings to the world after a long cold winter.  The weather is finally getting nice.  A little chill is still in the air.  I find this time of year so refreshing.  

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Eat "Green" for the Luck of the Irish

by Misa

Greens galore; pancakes you have to try; and a leprechaun's magic snack.

Not to be mistaken with “go green,” or “eat organic,” or “have some lettuce” (not that I do/do not promote these things), but I am thinking of good 'ole St Patrick’s Day.  Can you tell I love holidays?

Three little boys, myself, a grocery store, and my iPhone.  What green foods did we find?  I hope what we found will inspire you to eat something fun and green on St Patrick’s Day!

There were a few more I chose not to snapshot, like Salsa Verde or bottled green goddess dressing (I only like the homemade kindfollowing the Barefoot Contessa’s amazing recipe). 

It can be easy to eat Green this St Patty’s Day!  Eat a green breakfast.  Pack a green lunch for the kids (sometimes grocery stores will let you order colored bread).  Eat a green after-school snack.  Make a green dinner.  Have a green dessert.  Fill a little leprechaun pot with fun green candy and treats. 

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Valentines Dinner: Family Fondue

Valentine's Day is for lovers, unless you have three kids under six...
by misa

On Valentine's Day I don't spend hours laboring over a romantic meal for my husband.  He and I both know better.  If I make a fancy meal, it means a lot of fancy clean up and an exhausted wife.  We go out for a romantic dinner on a different night an leave the cooking and cleanup to someone else.  We celebrate the 14th with our little family and some simple gooey cheese and LOTS of chocolate. 

In an attempt to keep your life easy, here is how our "romantic" family fondue is made.

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Misa Sorenson

Misa grew up with or has spent her life raising boys.  She has four brothers, no sisters (however, she now has many wonderful sister-in-laws), is the mother to three boys, and wife to a VeRy supportive husband.  Misa was raised in a home with amazing food and comes from a line of great cooks.  From an early age, she loved being in the kitchen with her mom and grandmothers.  If you ask her about big events in her life, she rarely remembers the details, but she can always tell you what food was served.  Some of the foods she learned to cook and that she loves to make come from her family's Japanese heritage.  Besides cooking, Misa's other hobbies include playing the harp, running to work off all that food, planning events to make food for, collecting cook books, shopping for anything, and taking care of her little men.

Misa holds a B.S. from Brigham Young University and a M.S. in Organizational Development and Knowledge Management from George Mason University.  Currently, she works part time training employees and also teaches harp.