Meow Recipes: February 2021

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

February Coffee Date

Hello! HELLO!!

It’s been a while – like, a few months a while – and it’s so good to be back!

Last time we spoke, I looked like this:

And now, four months later, I look like this:

OMGEE we had a baby!

This little munchkin is baby Lena.

(here she is at one month)

(and here she is at, well, yesterday)

SQUEEEE! She has VERY squishy cheeks and a super easy smile and an incredibly cute double chin, and we just adore her. And I am wearing some very obscure, everything-else-is-in-the-laundry pajama pants in this picture. Thank you for understanding.

I have been out on maternity leave for the last few months, and besides the amazing Plant Powered January series that I put together with our team before my leave, you haven’t missed any other updates about our life with her. I am JUST NOW finding enough margin to even write this post.

It feels like we’ve lived about ten years in the last three months (maybe you too?), so today I’d love to play catch up with you and share a little bit about what’s been going on for us in our personal life over the last few months, most of it centering around – you guessed it – the new Teeny Tiny Squish we’ve added to our family.

A Short-Ish Birth Story

As with all birth stories, please skip over if you are squeamish, uncomfortable or, really, just not wanting to read this for any reason. ♡

In building our family, we’ve experienced three births.

Afton’s birth was traumatic and devastating. Solvi’s birth was full of anxiety, and then relief, and then carefully measured doses of joy along with a little more anxiety.

So I guess things could only go up from there, but it’s still worth saying that I think Lena’s birth was the most happy birth experience of the three.

The day before my scheduled delivery, I was totally restless. I couldn’t sleep, I was feeling more frequent contractions, and I just felt off. Because of my medical history with Afton’s pregnancy and birth, my doctors made it pretty clear that I would never be allowed to have a trial of labor and would always need to have an early, scheduled C-section for the safety of both the baby and myself. So as I’m feeling these contractions, I’m thinking… uhh, this isn’t supposed to be happening, and I probably need to make sure that everything is okay.

I kissed Solvi goodbye and anxiously drove to the hospital alone (!!) because the contractions were picking up rather fast and unexpectedly, and Bjork needed to wait until his parents could get there before he could leave Solvi.

TLDR: Once we got to the hospital, the doctors confirmed that it was time for this baby to come out. Bjork scurried over with our half-packed hospital bags, my doctor was called in to the hospital on her day off (♡) and a few hours later, we had baby Lena in our arms.

What was so incredible about Lena’s birth, and it makes me tear up even now as I think about it, is that she was the only one of my three babies where I was able to hold her skin-to-skin immediately after she was born. They didn’t take her away to clean her up or wrap her – they just placed her up on my chest, next to my heart, just brand new to the world and right there with me. I had seen photos or video clips or photos of this – you know, that powerful moment where the mom gets to hold the baby right after delivery, the one they use in those diaper commercials to get you feeling all the feels and therefore buy those amazing diapers – but I had never experienced it until Lena. And the commercials were right. It was so special. The stress leading up to her delivery, the nerves and tension of being in the operating room, all of it washed away as soon as she was there, curled up right next to my face. I am having trouble even finding words to describe it and it’s hard to not get emotional again just remembering it. It was one of the most golden moments of my life.

As I was holding her, she started rooting around, wanting to nurse, and I panicked – like, I want to feed her but I also I’m like, still in surgery? But amazingly, the OR staff helped prop her up on my chest and she nursed for the first time right there on the operating table while the doctors continued stitching me back together. What in the world.

I’ll never know what it’s like to have a natural birth. And I’ll always have a complicated and kind of sad relationship with the birth process because of what happened with Afton. But Lena’s entry into the world was so beautiful and special and it redeemed a little bit of what birth means to me. ♡ I’m so grateful.

Lena’s First 3 Months

Coming hot off of that tender and lovely birth story, here is a brief summary of the last few months of our lives:

Speaking very honestly, the adjustment from a family of three to a family of four has been extremely hard. Outside of grief, this has been one of the most difficult seasons that we’ve ever been through as individuals, as a couple, and as a family. Here’s a little recap for you.

What’s Been Hard:

Lots of Crying: Lena has, we think, silent reflux – things have gotten so much better with medication, but for the first 2 1/2 months, there was a distressing amount of screaming, writhing, squirming, grunting, and crying. Both Bjork and I have spent so many hours bouncing this little peanut on a yoga ball, walking laps around our kitchen table, swaying her in deep lunges just to get her soothed… it’s been extremely difficult, mentally, physically, emotionally. Poor girl, poor us.

Very Little Sleep: I know all babies keep their parents up at night, but Lena seems to be extra-good at this. For the first 2 1/2 months, she could only sleep if we were holding her (see point number one about silent reflux). Like, not normal newborn sleep – I’m talking about all night holding her. She would be up every 20-30 minutes ALL NIGHT LONG and the only way she would settle was by Bjork or me holding her. There were no 3 hour, 2 hour, or even 1 hour stretches of sleep for a good long while there. Even now, at four months, we are doing 4 hour stretches at night on a good night. We would take shifts all night long to hold her in a chair or in our bed to sleep – things I had previously said I would *NEVER EVER DO* and things that you really shouldn’t do if you are following safe sleep guidelines. We were (are?) just so desperate. I know you might be thinking, “Well, you have to just try putting her down more often or let her fuss a little bit to get her used to sleeping on her own.” I know this because I used to think this way before Lena! LOL. After raising one baby that was a fairly easy little sleeper and thinking that I may have had anything to do with it, this experience has totally humbled me (baby girl already doing her job). As we now know, some babies just cannot sleep when laying flat and/or on their own, and it’s not anyone’s fault, and you might never know why, and it’s so exhausting, and everyone just needs a shower and a hot meal and a lot of grace.

High Anxiety and Loneliness: The icing on the cake is that Covid and quarantine restrictions have made an already hard season even harder. A few weeks after Lena was born, I called my parents on FaceTime and just started crying as I talked through the what-are-we-going-to-do decision map yet again, knowing that Bjork and I were both losing our minds trying to care for a newborn and a toddler 24/7 inside the confines of our house, but also feeling so worried about potentially exposing our brand new baby to Covid via our various childcare options, OR exposing our parents or caregivers to OUR exposures, right when things were peaking here in Minnesota. We were desperately needing support but feeling unsure about who we should be seeing or not seeing. Some of that anxiety was normal, and some of that anxiety (hi, me) was not. As Lena has gotten a bit older, things have gotten better. But as I’m sure many of you are feeling – Covid + pregnancy + baby + honestly, just ALL OF LIFE = hard.

What’s Been Wonderful:

Sisters: The day we brought Lena home from the hospital and seeing her together with Solvi… even running on minutes of sleep and being in some crazy state of mind, it was one of the happiest moments of my life. My heart was so full. Solvi was so gentle and sweet, and curiously tried to poke Lena in the eye – the start of an excellent sibling life together.

Baby Smiles and Cheeks: Lena smiled early (thank goodness, we needed it) and she smiles a lot. Way more than Solvi ever did at this age. It is wonderful. And she has mega squishy cheeks that are just so fun to play with and / or nibble on all day long. No? Anyone? Baby cheek nibbling? This is what quarantine has done to me.

Learning Patience and Compassion: As a final high-ish point, being in this really difficult state for the last few months has given me a new appreciation for the challenges of all kinds that we all face in our lives. Again and again, we have said: what is this like for people who are single parents? for people whose kids are terminally sick? for people who don’t have enough food? for people who don’t have family or friends nearby? After losing Afton, we know deeply how lucky we are to have the ultimate thing which is a living baby at home with us, and yet even with that perspective, I have really, really struggled in this season. So I hope that one of the gifts of this struggle is that I am learning patience and compassion for myself and others in a new way, because everyone has their hard season, and as a general rule of thumb, people just need a lot of love.

Food That Has Been Saving Me

The photo above was taken on the *one day* in the last three months that I made myself a really good, photo-worthy lunch and had time to a) take a picture, and b) eat it before things went south, so don’t be fooled.

Mostly I haven’t been cooking at all. I’m doing pretty well if I can shower, put on real clothes, and brush my teeth. We’re eating lots of cereal, frozen meals, takeout, and leftovers. This is not an exaggeration.

That being said, I did a bit better in the cooking department BEFORE Lena was born, which is pretty much what we have been existing on for the last few months. Here’s a screenshot of the recipes I made on maternity leave, most of them being from our Freezer Meals post.

That stash lasted us from the end of October through about early January, which was such a lifesaver. Thank you, thank you, thank you to my 8-months-pregnant self for having it together much more than my current 3-months-postpartum self.

The one thing I have cooked is about 100 batches of these apple muffins. Solvi loves them, they’re so easy, and they’re nutritious enough that I can let her eat like 5 of them per day. So that’s going well.

So What’s Next

Actual footage of editing this post – thanks to Bjork for sneaking this photo. And yes, that’s a pile of baby wipes on my desk which is a metaphor for everything right now.

This is baby season at POY! In addition to Lena’s arrival, we have several POY team members who are also adjusting to or preparing for life with new babies right now (yay!!). We are going to be pressing pause on new content for Pinch of Yum for a while to give a little time for the dust to settle on all that’s going on in our personal lives.

With that in mind, here’s what you can expect to see this spring:

February: a content break
March: spring essentials from the archives
April: back to it with a brand new recipe series!

I have already started working on the April series and I’m going to keep it under wraps for a little while longer but just… you should GET EXCITED. If you are a person who often finds yourself struggling to get a dinner on the table, a) I am WITH YOU and you wouldn’t even believe how many boxes of frozen sweet potato tots I’ve gone through in 2021 already, and b) this is going to be really awesome for both of us.

Sage Says

Sage says: No I will not sit still for you to take photos of me.

Sage also says: It’s okay to be whatever you are in this moment. ♡ You are doing a great job. You can just be where you are. Radical acceptance and permission to be human. Or dog.

Sage also says: IT’S SO COLD PLEASE BUY ME DOGGIE BOOTS.

Is this a terrible idea of a great one? I welcome your recommendations.

Thanks for being here. Thanks for sharing food and life. You’re at the heart of this space.

See you in a bit! xo

The post February Coffee Date appeared first on Pinch of Yum.

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Monday, February 8, 2021

30 Minute Spicy Ancho Turkey Chili

So here’s the deal: I’m obsessed with this chili.

It’s hearty, zippy, and feel-good with Tex-Mex toppings that make my head spin in the best possible chili-loving way. And I know say this almost all of the time about 99% of the foods that I make and eat, so I totally understand your doubts (obsessed? or overly dramatic?), but someone might need to put a restraining order on me to keep me away from the absolutely cozy-to-your-toes combination of smoky ancho, ground turkey, nutty farro, and fire roasted tomatoes.

Flexible + Simple

This is the kind of recipe you can throw together pretty easily. It’s flexible, simple, and so very comforting in that big ol’ dutch oven.

Get some ground turkey from the freezer (or ground beef, or ground chicken, whatever!), a can of black beans, an onion from the shelf, lots of yummy spices, some canned tomatoes and salsa, and your favorite grain from the back of the pantry (farro is a dream).

It’s also SUPER FAST because procrastination is my name and 30 minute meals are my game.

Let’s Talk About That Farro

The chili starts with ground turkey that’s browned with a handful of jalapeños, red onions, and garlic and then made wonderfuller with a generous dusting of smoky ancho chili powder and cumin. Then comes the fresh salsa and crushed tomatoes with the black beans and – wait for it – the farro.

I’m about to go weird-foodie-semi-vegetarian-rogue on you in three, two, one —>

The farro is absolutely MY FAVORITE part of the whole chili – that cooked brown-rice-like grain gets tossed in at the end and it makes for a great chili texture by adding a little bit of chewiness and a nice warm nutty flavor.

And just so you can mentally prepare yourself for how this will all go down, this big bowl of healthy-delicious chili requires a handful of your fave tortilla chips as well as every other chili topping in the book because we ♡ toppings. Also perhaps a ridiculously comfy couch, and sweat pants and a hoodie that is five hundred sizes too big. But now I’ve said too much.

You’ve Got Options Here

I would also like to say that you can most definitely make this without the turkey because the farro more than makes up for the texture and heartiness of the ground meat. And all the veggie people cheered! You could also go the other way and omit the farro (but you guys! SAD!) and you could also use a different kind of ground meat. Like beef.

Final word today: please do not ignore the toppings. I know you won’t, because we’re food people who love our toppings something fierce. Green onions, sour cream, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, and a few cilantro leaves are going to put you on a chili magic carpet and take you straight up to cloud nine.

Add all those toppings and stir it up and it starts to look like a mish-mash of spicy Tex-Mex everything in a bowl, right? Yes. Just how I like it. Chili mish-mash perfection.

More Delicious Chili Recipes

Sunday Chili (the classic of classics!)
Vegetarian Chili (full veg and SO GOOD)
Queso Chicken Chili (queso – that’s all you need to know)
Sarah’s White Chicken Chili (a delicious dream)
Rockin’ 5 Ingredient Sweet Potato Turkey Chili (more turkey goodness)

Watch How To Make This Recipe

Common Questions About Ancho Turkey Chili

I really love eating sweeter chili (not too spicy). How can I make that happen with this recipe?

If you like a sweeter chili, add a tablespoon or two of tomato paste to the meat mixture before adding the salsa, tomatoes, and water.

Is 30 minutes really enough time for this chili?

This chili (like most chili recipes) will taste better after it hangs out for a few hours or even a day or two, so if you have time to throw it in a slow cooker and let it get all delicious for a few hours before serving, I would totally recommend that. But it still tastes good in 30 minutes if that’s all the time you have!

Can I make this chili vegetarian?

Sure! Just replace the turkey with more beans and swap out the chicken broth for veggie broth. We also have a Vegetarian Chili recipe that’s out of this world!

30 Minute Spicy Ancho Turkey Chili

4.8 from 38 reviews

Author: Pinch of Yum
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 8

Print Recipe

Description

Spicy Ancho Turkey Chili delivering big flavors with turkey, black beans, ancho chili powder, tomatoes, and farro. So much yum and cozy in one meal!

Ingredients

1 cup farro (another grain like brown rice or quinoa would work)
2 cups chicken broth
3 cups water, divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 red onion, minced
2–3 cloves garlic, minced
2–3 jalapeños, minced (remove ribs and seeds if you don’t want it to be spicy)
1 lb. ground turkey
one 14-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 teaspoons ancho chili powder
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup salsa (works best with a “fresh” salsa brand like Salsa Lisa)
two 14-ounce cans crushed fire roasted tomatoes
toppings (sour cream, cheese, green onions, tortilla chips)

Instructions

Video

Bring the chicken broth and 1 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the farro (or rice or whatever grain you’re using), cover the pot, and reduce to a simmer for about 30 minutes or until all liquid is evaporated.
While the farro is cooking, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onions, garlic, and jalapeños and saute for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning the garlic. Add the turkey and cook until all the meat is browned and broken apart into “crumbles”. Add the black beans, ancho chili powder, chili powder, cumin, salt, and salsa and simmer for a few minutes. Add the tomatoes and however much of the remaining 2 cups water that you feel like you need to get the right consistency. Simmer for a few minutes while the farro finishes cooking in a separate pot.
Add the cooked farro to the pot of chili and stir to combine. Top with sour cream, cheese, green onions, and tortilla chips.

Equipment

The equipment section may contain affiliate links to products we know and love.

Category: Dinner
Cuisine: Tex Mex

Keywords: spicy turkey chili, turkey chili, ancho turkey chili

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This recipe is part of our collection of best healthy soups. Check it out!

The post 30 Minute Spicy Ancho Turkey Chili appeared first on Pinch of Yum.

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Thursday, February 4, 2021

Spicy Sausage Rigatoni

THIS PASTA.

I think you know that I do love my vegetables, which is convenient since there are actually two good sources of veggies in this recipe (FOR REAL), but all the good veggie things aside, there are some times when you just need to find a way to get some spicy Italian sausage in your life.

And if that spicy Italian sausage can come in tandem with finely minced golden brown sautéed onions and carrots, red pepper flakes, oregano, and a splash of red wine all swimming in the magic that is San Marzano tomatoes and served on rigatoni with FRESH BASIL RIBBONS and Parmesan to infinity and beyond? Well, then, do we even need to keep talking?

Here, take a plate.

This is another one of those recipes that feels restaurant-fancy, but is easy easy.

You can make it for a certain special holiday coming up (❤️) or just on a normal Thursday night and feel like a Top Chef either way.

Oh, and did I mention there’s red wine all up in this pasta too? (Yes, I did, but it requires mentioning again.) Open that bottle, pour it in, and leave the rest on the table for dinner.

Now that I’ve filled up a plate for you, bring me your wine glass and we’ll be all set to let the good meal vibes roll.

Watch How To Make This Recipe:

Common Questions About This Spicy Sausage Rigatoni

My sauce turned out a bit runny. How can I fix it?

If your sauce is too runny, either simmer everything a bit longer or just let it cool down to thicken. I also find that adding a knob of butter or a bit of Parmesan will help the sauce thicken.

Any shortcuts for chopping all of my vegetables?

Yes! You can run the vegetables through a food processor to get them uniformly chopped / minced a bit faster.

What type of red wine should I use here?

Any full-bodied red wine should work. We love using Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel.

What pairs well with this pasta?

We love making our Toasted Bread and Parmesan Salad or Brussels and Kale Caesar Salad with this dish. SO GOOD!

Spicy Sausage Rigatoni

4.8 from 41 reviews

Author: Pinch of Yum
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 8-10

Print Recipe

Description

This Spicy Sausage Rigatoni is so simple and SO GOOD. Chewy tubes of rigatoni swimming in a delicious sauce made of Italian sausage, San Marzano tomatoes, red wine, and spices.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1–2 cloves garlic, minced
half of a yellow onion, minced
2 stalks celery, minced
2 carrots, minced
12 ounces spicy Italian sausage (casings removed – just the ground meat)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup red wine
1 28 ounce can San Marzano tomatoes, including their juices
1/4 cup balsamic or Italian dressing (optional – for some zing!)
10–12 ounces rigatoni
butter, Parmesan, or basil for topping

Instructions

Video

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the garlic, onion, celery, and carrots – saute for 10 minutes or so, until the vegetables are very soft.
Add the ground sausage, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. When the sausage is fully cooked, add the wine and let it sizzle out.
Add the tomatoes and optional dressing – simmer for 20-30 minutes so the sauce reduces a bit.
Cook the pasta according to package directions. Add the pasta to the sauce and stir gently to combine. It should be saucy but not runny. Transfer to a large serving dish and top with Parmesan and parsley or basil. Serve with more wine!