Weelicious Spinach Gnocchi Recipe

{photo by Maren Caruso}

The Weelicious Cookbook, authored by my friend Catherine McCord, hits bookstores today! In case you missed it, here's my Q & A with her yesterday. Catherine's smart (and efficient!) philosophy is one family, one meal. On these bite-size balls of spinach, ricotta and parmesan, three of my favorite flavors, I'm sold. We're making them a second time today (they're that good!) and Greta says if you know what's good for you (and your toddler), you will, too. Serve them for supper, and if you have the good fortune to have leftovers, in true Weelicious fashion, send them for lunch the next day. Congrats Catherine and thanks so much for sharing this recipe!

~

Spinach Gnocchi

Recipe Courtesy of Catherine McCord and Weelicious: One Family, One Meal

makes 40 small gnocchi balls

One 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted

1 cup full-fat ricotta cheese

2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus 2 tablespoons for sprinkling

1 large egg yolk

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting your hands while rolling

1.  Squeeze all of the water out of the spinach using your hands (do it in small handfuls over a bowl to make sure you don’t lose any spinach) and then again in a clean dish towel to remove as much liquid as possible (see Note).

2.  Place the spinach, ricotta cheese, 2/3 cup of the parmesan cheese, the egg yolk, and 2 tablespoons flour in a food processor and pulse until the spinach is in tiny pieces and the mixture is thoroughly combined.

3.  Dust your hands with a little flour so the mixture doesn’t stick to your hands.

4.  Take 1 teaspoon of the spinach mixture and roll it into a tiny ball. Place it on a plate covered with parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the mixture.

5.  Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the gnocchi in small batches - no more than several at a time - and cook for 3 minutes, or until they rise to the surface.

6.  Using a slotted spoon, remove the gnocchi to a plate or bowl.

7.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

Note: This recipe will not succeed unless you remove all the water from the spinach so that it’s as dry as possible (see page 221 for how). If you do not drain the spinach well, the gnocchi will fall apart while cooking in the water.

To Freeze: After step 4, place the gnocchi on a baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes. Transfer to a zip-top bag, label, and freeze for up to 4 months. When ready to cook, thaw at room temperature and start at step 5. 

When Life Gives you Lemons

                                                                  ...have a citrus celebration.

We’ve been snowed in for weeks in New York. Not that we mind. We’re snow people, and a good tromp in the snow is just about our favorite form of exercise. But it does call for boning up on extra Vitamin C, which besides being a powerful antioxidant, helps in the production of connective tissues to keep your bones and body in good form. Now that it's peak citrus season, its easy to get. Keep a big bowl of clementines on the countertop for snacking, squeeze a hunk of lemon or lime into your bubbly water {or beer, for grown-ups} and toss segments of orange or grapefruit with avocado and serve over mesclan greens with olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Since citrus has been known to lift the spirits, why not surround yourself with it while the winter wares on?  Here are four more fun ways to get your daily dose. 1) Put out a stack of paper and a pack of Clementine Soy Crayons, so safe your kiddos could almost eat them. 2) Cozy up to a bright, happy book about an orange's journey to the grocery store shelf   3) Layer up your babe in this darling lime onesie {from etsy} 4) Have your littles help you turn a citrus stamp into your family letterhead or a custom wrapping paper {also, etsy}.

If all else fails, close your eyes and think of all the shiny, happy people in the orange groves of California and fill your home with lemons, limes and laughter while you wait for warmer weather.  

Happy Meals ~ {and baby makes three}

Recently, our two became a three and suddenly, we are family. It’s a word that brings with it multitude of joy, challenge, delight and stuff. It also brings a new opportunity to celebrate mealtime and make it a family affair, right from the very beginning. Here are a few of our favorite things for making family meals happy meals. 

(1) Bright, striped primary colored Bibs to Go by Sami and the pretty and pale version by Dwell Studio aren’t for every day {if you live by the mantra reduce, reuse and recycle} but they are brilliant for outings.

(2) You’ll love these bamboo baby spoons when it comes time for spoon-feeding, and in the meantime, they are safe for baby’s curious fingers to grab off the table when they’re sitting on your lap at mealtime.

(3) While we’re still a long way from solid food, mammas and papas have to eat too, so we love these melamine papa bear plates by Jane Jenni. Soon we’ll add the little piglet and sweet pea versions for our baby bean’s place at the table.

(4) And speaking of eating, it is still very possible to eat out with the babe, especially when they are teeny tiny and satisfied to sleep in your lap with a belly full of mother’s milk. Be sure to bring a few pretty distractions in case they wake. Our favorite ~ the ABCs by Charley Harper.