Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Kay's last day of cooking camp!

School is Out, Cooking School is In!

My 10 year old daughter Kaylee is home with me this week, her favorite place to be.  School is out and she has spent the last 2 weeks at cooking camp.  The first week was offered through our local Whole Foods and this past week was at a local cooking school, Chef Start.  The last day of camp, she presented and served all of the dishes she made- delish!

Could There Be a Better Centerpiece?

Kaylee as our centerpiece!

Kaylee has been around good cooking since she has entered this world.  When she was very young I would put her little bouncy seat on the kitchen table as I cooked around her.  It was out of necessity, as she would become upset if she couldn't see what was going on.  Before she was old enough to sit in a high chair to eat, we would put her seat in the middle of the dinner table and we would eat around her.  My husband Jason and I would joke that she was our beautiful centerpiece.  I guess it should be clear why she thinks the world revolves around her :)

Can You Say "Over the Top"?

As she has grown, she has taken a more hands-on role in our family kitchen.  Her favorite thing to do on a weekend morning is surprise us with breakfast.  I'm not talking about a bowl of cereal either.  Kaylee is all about presentation.  It's in her nature to go all and out and totally over the top.  She sets the table on any given day like it is a holiday and guests are coming.  The table always includes napkin rings, place cards (yes, even if it is for just Jason and myself), lemons and oranges in our water glasses and of course some kind of dessert.  Yes, you heard me right.  Dessert at breakfast!


One of Kaylee's "desserts"!





 Who Said Practice Doesn't Make Perfect?

Now that she is older (well 10 :)), she truly helps me in the kitchen.  We go all and out together when we host our friends and family.  We start our cooking the day before, in our aprons and usually cook late into the night.  She has mastered many tasks and continues to surprise me with her creativity.

Afternoon Delight!

Today, as I was working at my desk in my home office, she was busy working in the kitchen.  She insisted that I not come out until she let's me know it's OK.  After about an hour or so, she called out that lunch will now be served.  She presented a delicious looking BLT!  Not just any BLT, but one made with perfectly toasted whole wheat bread, crisp chopped iceberg lettuce, sliced ripe San Marzano tomatoes, crisp turkey bacon (non-nitrate) made in the oven and just enough light olive oil mayonnaise.  Are you aware of how easily it is to ruin a basic BLT?  Soggy or burnt bread, too much/too little mayo, lettuce that has not been dried well, undercooked or overcooked bacon and the worst offender of all, under-ripe tomatoes.  She was so proud and I was so impressed!  We ate our sandwiches together and enjoyed the quiet of the summer afternoon.  She truly fed my body and soul!!!!




Kaylee's gourmet BLT lunch special- YUM!!!



 

Welcome Home!

 

I am so excited!  My first official blog post is published.  I have been thinking about, contemplating, discussing, considering, imagining, and planning Rachel’s Table Talk for what feels like an incredibly long time.  To be honest, I wasn’t exactly sure what my direction was going to be and then I realized I don’t have to commit to or pigeonhole myself.  I have so much to share and I am so excited to connect with others who can also share their experiences, wisdom and knowledge. 

First let me officially introduce myself.  My name is Rachel.  I am a mother to two awesome kids, who are 4 and 10.  I am married to my best friend who was my older brother’s best friend growing up (but that story is for another post).  My husband Jason is an incredibly skilled custom woodworker. Oh, and also very private.  Divulging this much might be a problem :)

Things that Turn Me On:

• Writing and speaking from my heart
• Reading (currently any book on motivation and happiness) 
• Cooking for people who love to eat
• Mommying my two little “angels”
• Getting my sweat on
• Sticking up for the underdog
• Working on my mindfulness
• Spending time with children (in their world)
• Creating excitement around healthy and delicious food
• Contemplating life
• Empowering girls by building their self-esteem and self-worth
• Laughing with my hubby
• Hanging with my foodies

Back to the nitty gritty.  I am a registered dietitian who has worked in many different arenas, some being, hospitals, vitamin/supplement/sports nutrition companies, private practice and public health departments.  I have spent my entire career educating, counseling and supporting people in meeting their health and nutrition goals.  What I have found is that the education is the easy part.  Once people know what they should do it is in their hands to follow through and actually do it.  This universal challenge led me on a journey of mindfulness which you can be assured we will be discussing a lot of!!!

Anyway, let’s get back to how I got here.  I grew up in New York surrounded by delicious, home-cooked food.  Some of my best memories in life are around the kitchen table.  Whether it was at our family table on Long Island or the table in my grandma’s small kitchen in Bayside, NY our love was shared.  No matter what life challenges our family was currently facing (and we did face many), we always found the time to gather around the dinner table.  It was there that our family connected and that we as children felt secure and loved.

Friends and family now gather around my table. I try to create the same experience for them that I was so fortunate to have.  Over the years as a mom and a dietitian, I have found it is not only nutritious food that is important, it is the feeding of the soul and connecting with each other that nourishes us.  Rachel’s Table Talk is about offering you the chance to share and be part of this connection.  From delicious and healthy recipes and food ideas to finding new and healthy ways to take care of your soul, you will find it here at my table.  Come pull up a chair and feed your body and soul!