Too bad that the tees don’t come in sizes for men…Reggie wants one . Now, I am looking for a cool Captain America (the character that Reggie identifies with the most in the movie) tee to buy for part of Reggie’s Father’s Day gift. If you see, a super cool (not “cute”) one that is reasonably priced, please let me know. Thanks!

©2012 Foodie City Mom. All Rights Reserved.

As you may know, I have a somewhat obsessive personality. Once something gets “stuck” in my mind, I just have to figure it out. That’s what happened with my desire for a great, homemade guacamole. I didn’t grow up eating guacamole, so I went to my local grocery store and looked at the ingredients on the pre-packaged guacamoles. (When I can’t pronounce the ingredients, I move on!) I was pleasantly surprised to find Calavo’s guacamole with 8 real ingredients: Hass Avocados, Tomato, Onion, Jalapeno Pepper, Salt, Cilantro, and Garlic. Since I had (and enjoy!) 6 of the 8 ingredients in my home already, I decided that this was the type of guacamole that I would make. So, I bought a couple of Mexican avocadoes (since Chef Aarón Sanchez said that they are the best to use) and some jalapeno peppers. I was all set. Well almost…avocadoes are hard when you buy them. You need to keep them in a brown bag for 5 days or so before they are ready to be used.

Finally, the avocadoes were ripe enough for me to make guacamole yesterday. I knew what I wanted to put into my guacamole, but I still needed to figure out the amounts to use. I put all of the ingredients into my google search bar to see which recipes popped up. (I usually look at the first 5 to see what commonalities they have and start experimenting from there.) This time, I couldn’t find any recipe with all of the ingredients, but a Martha Stewart one came close. I have changed several things including adding an extra half of an avocado (the flavors were too strong with just 1) and garlic; including all of the tomato; and the preparation (I’m simple – no special tools, besides the back of a spoon, are needed to mix this guacamole together. Also, I like my guacamole to be a little more substantial, so I don’t finely chop anything…except for the jalapeno and garlic!) In any event, I loved, loved, loved the final result. Michael (the only other avocado eater in my home) did too. It’s the second best guacamole that I have tasted.  Chef Aarón Sanchez‘s guacamole at Centrico is still the best. Oh, well…here you go:

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©2012 Foodie City Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Ahh...spa!

I hope that your Mother’s Day weekend was memorable. I had a wonderfully relaxing one. I had the day “off” on Saturday. I went to Manhattan to meet up with a thoughtful girlfriend who unexpectedly treated me to an early Mother’s Day breakfast. After that, I went to a spa appointment for a hot stone massage and lunch before heading home. The best part is that I returned home to a super clean home. (While I was out, my home was being cleaned courtesy of Click and Improve, a new online resource for home improvement and repair needs for NYC, Westchester County and Long Island.)

I really appreciate the persistence of Anthony from Click and Improve! He has been reaching out to me periodically since early April to try out one of the company’s service providers, and “by coincidence”, I chose Mother’s Day weekend to do so . Overall, Click and Improve offers a variety of services that would be helpful for people (like me) who don’t have the time, energy and/or skill set to undertake home repair projects. While I was able to unclog my sink drains in the past, that’s about it for me. Leaky faucets, room renovations, painting and things like that are definitely in my “outsource to a handyman (or woman)” category. On the other hand, I can do some of the services – like deep housecleaning and painting – that Click and Improve offers. I just prefer that someone else do it. I’m a minimalist and seeing clutter – except for when the kids are actively playing with a bunch of toys – bothers me so my home is rarely ever a total mess. However, I don’t enjoy time-consuming tasks like deep cleaning all of the kitchen surfaces. (It’s funny that we had a housekeeper come in once a month to do the super deep cleaning when I only had one child. Now, that we have two sons, we only get a cleaning service on special occasions. That’s backwards, right? Reggie helps out a lot more now since he finished his graduate degrees though. I guess that it all evens out.)

Anyway, it’s really easy to use Click and Improve. You just select the job or service that you want on their site. (I chose “maid service”.)  Then you answer a few questions. (I chose the “I need my house cleaned (interiors) option; followed by “I need to clean my apt. (general cleaning)” and “I have a 2 bedroom apt.”) If I wasn’t reviewing the service, the price that I would have paid ($125) is comparable to what I was paying almost four years ago.

You can get a better idea of how the process works by looking at their brief video:

In any event, I was beyond pleased with their home cleaning service. I was at home to let the team in and the first impressions were favorable. They called before ringing my bell. They also brought their own vacuum – something that none of the other cleaning services that I have ever used practiced. Most of all, I especially liked the fact that a man came along with the woman housekeeper to make sure that she was settled in before he left. It just made me feel better about that cleaning company overall, because they are protective of their workers. (There are some crazy folks in NYC…) When I returned home after the heavenly massage and delicious lunch, I found “my guys” relaxing in a clean home…that I didn’t have to clean. How cool is that? No dusting, floor cleaning or deep cleaning of the kitchen or bathroom for this mom on Mother’s Day weekend. Thanks to Click and Improve, I could remain in my “massage state” a while longer…

In any event, if you are a renter or homeowner in NYC, Westchester County or Long Island, I recommend that you try this service when you need your next referral for a home contractor or service provider. I liked what I saw and I’m confident that you will too.

©2012 Foodie City Mom. All Rights Reserved.

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©2012 Foodie City Mom. All Rights Reserved.

I prefer eating breakfast foods later in the day, so brunch is one of my favorite meals. Following are four recipes that I think would be a delicious part of any Mother’s Day brunch menu…

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       Print This Recipe    

The thing that I love about basic recipes like this one is that you can always change them up based on who is eating the meal. How do you like your French toast? My brother is simple, so he just wanted French toast made with whole wheat bread. However, you can use thicker cuts of bread like challah, brioche, etc. As another option, you can also add vanilla to the dipping mixture. Once the toast is cooked, you can sprinkle it with confectioner’s sugar for a “pretty” touch. You can add sliced fruit (bananas, strawberries, etc.) on top.

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       Print This Recipe    

©2012 Foodie City Mom. All Rights Reserved.

· Ultra Lip Balms:  Beauty balms are all the rage this year, delivering more than just moisture but also sheer shine, color and ingredients to treat and protect skin.  

· Advanced Skin Care: Face primers have stepped it up a notch, adding multi-tasking properties such as pore minimization, line reduction, sun protection and bronzing. 

· Innovative Hair Color: Foam was the big go-to in hair color this year, re-inventing the home hair coloring experience.

Personally, I would like any of those options…except home hair coloring products. After one bad home hair coloring incident (think handfuls of hair gone!), I leave that to my hair stylist Shanelle! In any event, below are the items that will be included in the “Beauty Trends” Mother’s Day Beauty Giveaway package.

1. Lip Product Mass – Burt’s Bees’s Tinted Lip Balm ($7)

2. Anti-Aging Mass – L’Oréal Paris’s Youth Code Serum Intense ($24.99)

3. Eco Beauty Award - Neutrogena Corporation’s Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser ($7.49)

4. Sun Product - Neutrogena Corporation’s Wet Skin Sunblock Spray SPF 50 ($10.99)

As a bonus, I’m including two additional products from companies that have sent me extra beauty items in my recent review packets:

5. Skinnygirl’s Vitamin C Face Scrub ($6.99)

6. Tweezerman’s Print Slant Tweezer ($25)

(The winner will receive the package after Mother’s Day, but that’s fine…beauty is a year-round thing!)

To enter to win the beauty trends package, simply let me know your favorite beauty (hair, skin, cosmetics or fragrance) item in the “Comments” section below. I will pick a winner on May 16th at noon. Good luck!

©2012 Foodie City Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Tea parties are a great option for Mother’s Day. In the past, I have written about my love for Alice’s Tea Cup, one of my very favorite afternoon tea places in New York City. I don’t think that there is a better place to get tea party recipes from than there. As such, I’m sharing two recipes, Vegan German Chocolate Cake and Curried Chicken Salad Sandwich, from their cookbook, Alice’s Tea Cup: Delectable Recipes for Scones, Cakes, Sandwiches, and More from New York’s Most Whimsical Tea Spot (used with permission from the publishers).

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Curried Chicken Sandwich
Yields 1 sandwich

½ cup Curried Chicken Salad (recipe follows)
2 slices whole- wheat bread
4 tomato slices
1 handful mixed field greens

This creamy, chunky, tangy, zesty sandwich was a late addition but quickly topped our lists. Place the chicken salad on 1 piece of bread, layer the tomatoes on top, and pile the mixed greens on top of that. Top it off with the other piece of bread. Cut the sandwich on the diagonal and serve! (For tea sandwiches, slice the sandwich into 3 strips, removing the crusts if desired.)

Curried chicken salad
Yields 4 to 6 sandwich servings

4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons curry powder
¼ cup apricot jam
¼ cup sour cream
¼ cup mayonnaise (we prefer Hellmann’s)
¼ cup finely chopped celery
¼ cup finely chopped red onion (about ½ medium onion)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Our secret ingredient? Apricot jam for a touch of sweetness. For a great low- carb option, serve a scoop of the chicken salad over a bed of greens.

1. Preheat the oven to 350°f.

2. Rub the chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon of the curry powder, place them on a baking sheet, and roast until a meat thermometer registers 160°f in the thickest part, about 20 minutes. Let the chicken cool.

3. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine the remaining 1 tablespoon curry powder with the apricot jam, sour cream, and mayonnaise.

4. When the chicken is cool, cut it into ½- inch cubes. Add the chicken, celery, and onion to the bowl and stir well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Any unused curried chicken can be covered and refrigerated for up to 5 days.)

I am so happy that Alice’s was willing to share their recipe. This is really one of my favorite sandwiches of all time. You will love it! If you try the recipe, please let me know if you agree with my opinion.

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Vegan German Chocolate Cake
Yields one 8-inch 2-layer cake

Cake
3½ cups all- purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups soy milk
1½ cups unsweetened cocoa powder(we recommend Hershey’s)
1 cup canola oil
3 cups real maple syrup
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Coconut- Pecan Frosting
½ cup soy milk
¼ cup cornstarch
1 pinch kosher salt
2 cups firmly packed dark brown sugar
1½ cups coconut milk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

Vegan Chocolate Ganache
½ cup soy milk
8 ounces unsweetened chocolate
¼ cup real maple syrup

Even the most passionate German chocolate cake lover will love this rich, dark vegan treat. It’s sweetened mostly with maple syrup and loaded with dark chocolate. You won’t miss the dairy at all, we promise. . . .

1. To make the cake, preheat the oven to 350°f. Have ready two 8- inch round nonstick cake pans.

2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Heat the soy milk in a small saucepan to slightly bubbling, and then add the cocoa powder. Remove from the heat and whisk well.

4. In a medium bowl, combine the oil, maple syrup, vinegar, and vanilla. Whisk well. Pour in the soy milk–cocoa mixture, and whisk until smooth.

5. Using a mixer or by hand, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until the batter is smooth.

6. Pour the batter evenly into the two cake pans, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck into the center comes out clean. Set the cake aside to cool thoroughly.

7. To make the coconut- pecan frosting, whisk the soy milk, cornstarch, and salt together in a small bowl.

8. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, dissolve the brown sugar in the coconut milk. Cook, whisking, until the mixture comes to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened.

9. With the mixture on the stove still over low heat, pour in the soy milk mixture and stir continuously until the mixture is very thick and smooth. Remove from the heat and beat in the vanilla, coconut, and pecans. Cool before using.

10. To make the chocolate ganache, combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over low heat, and stir continuously until the glaze is smooth. Remove from the heat, stir for another 2 minutes, and then cool to room temperature.

11. To build the cake, place 1 cake layer on a cake plate or stand, and spread a layer of the coconut- pecan frosting over the top (but not the sides). Place the second layer on top of the first, and spread a very hearty layer of the frosting over the top. Using an offset spatula, ice the sides of the cake with a thick layer of ganache. Then warm about ¼ cup of the ganache in a small saucepan, or in a micro wave oven, and drizzle it across the top of the cake (or use a pastry bag to pipe it).

(Sandwich image courtesy of Alice’s Tea Cup; cake image courtesy of stu_spivack)

©2012 Foodie City Mom. All Rights Reserved.

I am taking a mini-break from my Mother’s Day 2012 coverage in order to address an issue that has been bothering me this week. (I will return back to the regularly scheduled Mother’s Day gift ideas, giveaways and recipes after this little break .) FYI: This post was not inspired by one particular thing. It was a series of things. However, I would say the “tipping points” were a “Modern Mothers”/ Mommy Blogger info graphic on Mashable and a movie screening that I attended earlier this week. The movie was representative of motherhood, but the presence of a brown mom in a nurturing role was glaringly absent (to me).

“Why does everything have to be about race? “ is a sentiment that I frequently read when writers point out real or perceived (depending on whom you ask) slights in media representation. To get that out of the way for the purposes of this post, let’s expand the conversation and make it about representation…which is a bit more accurate anyway. While everything is not an issue of race and representation in the media, some things are…including the general coverage of mothers in both traditional and social media. I have especially seen the disparities when it comes to coverage of moms around Mother’s Day.

It is 2012, a time when there is such a great diversity of races, cultures, economic classes and lifestyle choices among moms, yet the media still persists in primarily portraying moms as white, heterosexual, married, economically elite women. I have a major problem with that default setting for “mom”. Back in 1851, the legendary Sojourner Truth asked “Ain’t I A Woman” to both advocate for the rights of all women and to also point out that black women were no less female despite not being placed on a societal pedestal.  In 2012, I ask a similar question for each of the moms who don’t fit into the media’s stereotypical mom box: “Ain’t I a mom?” (I’m just going to have to change that to “Am I Not a Mom” just in case my kids ever happen to read this!)

As a brown woman, I see this lack of diversity in the coverage of moms most obviously in the skin color of the women who are consistently picked for the mom “lists”, paid ads, endorsements and such. It’s much more than that though. I’m sure that if I were a part of another underrepresented group of moms (young moms, single moms, moms of biracial kids, lesbian moms, moms of kids with special needs, moms from a lower economic class and such), then I would see the lack of diversity from a different lens. I’m a realist and I realize that it would be impossible to include every category of mom in every ad and every show. However, it would be wonderful if both the media and marketers would make more of an effort to show a greater mix of moms.

Sometimes, I don’t think that people realize how powerful the media truly is when it comes to perception. That is why it bothers me in particular that married brown moms with little brown kids (my reality) are rarely seen in a positive, engaged light in the media. I really believe that effects societal expectations of black moms who “mother” their own children. Personally, I wonder…

-Is that why it was so difficult for several white moms to comprehend that I was Michael’s mom and not his nanny when he was a toddler? The first time someone made that mistake, it was a little funny…not so funny after five + times. (I can give those who made similar mistakes about Sean the benefit of the doubt, because he looks like his father. Michael looks SO much like me though!)

-Is that why Manhattan business leaders couldn’t believe that I was (the original brand) “Mom in the City”? Initially, Mom in the City was an offline group and I hosted mom meetups at various spots around NYC. If I had a dollar for every time that a business owner asked me if I worked for Mom in the City when I went in to their offices to finalize event details, then I would have at least enough to buy two of my beloved Caramel Frappuccinos. In a city as racially diverse as Manhattan with its many brown moms, why was it so hard to believe that a brown mom’s “brand” could be “mom in the city”? Besides, I had a picture of (brown) me on my website!

-Is that why certain brands attempt to compensate groups of “multicultural” mom bloggers with products and/or a trip in exchange for long-term ambassador work assignments while compensating more “mainstream moms” monetarily for similar work? (Actually, I’m not positive that this one is a representation issue. This just might be an “across the women blogger board” thing!)

In any event, I know that it can be uncomfortable to question our hidden assumptions about various life roles. At the end of the day, I’m a “Pollyanna”. I think that people (in both traditional and social media) will do better when they become conscious of the messages that they send regarding the essence of motherhood. Consistently focusing on one particular subset of moms is not advantageous to any mom. Ultimately, I think that the ties that bond moms together are greater than the ones that separate us. We all love our kids. We all make sacrifices for our kids. We all “deserve” to be represented and celebrated on Mother’s Day…and every day. Are we not all moms?

What do you think? Are you comfortable with the way that the media currently represents moms?

©2012 Foodie City Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Wasn’t it pretty?

Anyway, I am a huge lover of stationery so I was thrilled when I discovered one of FineStationery.com’s “Notably” sets ($48 value) in the gift bag at the end of the event. Not only did the set include a variety of 20 “Thank You” cards with envelopes and seals, but it also included a $20 gift certificate to FineStationery.com. It was one of my favorite event gift items to date this year and I think that the sets would make perfect Mother’s Day gifts…especially for moms like me. When I asked if the company would like to offer a gift to one of you for Mother’s Day, they agreed to give away not one, but three Notably sets!

To enter to win one of the three sets, simply visit the FineStationery site and let me know the name of your favorite “Notably” set in the “Comments” section below. I will pick three winners on May 13th at noon. (My favorite is Notably Brilliant, because I love, love, love “Thank you” cards.) Good luck!

©2012 Foodie City Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Yesterday, I received a “Healthy Recipes” themed gift basket from Stop & Shop as a “Happy Mother’s Day” gift. It included a recipe card for “Banana Cranberry Muffins”, along with several of the ingredients – flour, sugar, granola, cranberries and vanilla extract. It also included a $20 gift card so that I could purchase the remaining items at one of their stores. What a great Mother’s Day gift for a “foodie”!

Even better is the fact that Stop & Shop has another basket to send to one of my readers. Based on reader interaction over the last few months, I narrowed the recipients down to two: Shelley and Monique. Since Shelly does not have a Stop & Shop near where she lives, Monique will receive the gift basket. (I’ll do something special for Shelly in the near future though!) In any event, thanks to all of the moms who read Foodie City Mom. I wish that I could give ALL of you a special treat for Mother’s Day.  (Also, if there is a special mom in your life who likes to cook, consider putting together a recipe/food gift basket for her!)

©2012 Foodie City Mom. All Rights Reserved.