Skin After Baby

Having a baby takes a tremendous toll on your body.  And after delivery the baby still depletes your body’s resources, from breast-feeding, lack of sleep and hormone fluctuations.  I am going back to work in a couple of weeks and that means preparing to be back on camera (and hiding the bags under my eyes!) and trying my hardest to look fresh.  I got my first photofacial last week (it helps remove previous years of sun damage, tighten skin and reduce fine lines).  In addition, here are a few products I use that I feel help keep my face and body moisturized and feeling fresh:

100% Pure Vanilla Bean Buttercream Scrub.  I love the way this smells (like vanilla birthday cake!) but I love the way it makes my skin feel even more.  I use the scrub in the shower as my last regimen before toweling off.  It leaves an oily coat on my skin which helps lock in moisture after scrubbing off dead skin, and the vanilla bean scent lingers for the rest of the day!  I used to buy it at The Limited, but now can only find it online.  Amazon sells it for $25

Kneipp Cellulite Body Scrub and Lotion.  I use the scrub (which is more like a body wash) in the shower, and use the cream on the backs of my legs and arms.  It smells fresh and clean and the grape seed is effective in smoothing over those lumpy bumpy areas on your body!

Everyday Shea Moisturizer.  This is the most effective (and most affordable at $9.99 for 32 ounces!) lotion I have ever used.  I get terribly dry skin in winter and this is the first time my skin hasn’t felt tight and itchy.  The ingredients are ridiculously clean and natural and shea butter is ultra moisturizing.  I like the lavender scent best, as the ingredients are natural, don’t expect an overpowering fragrance.

Skin Authority Face Lotion, SPF 30.  I don’t leave home without this!  We all know sunscreen is essential, but a high SPF usually means a thick, sticky cream that leaves your skin white.  This moisturizer will keep your skin supple and no one will ever know you’re wearing sunscreen!

I mix one pump of Sonia Kashuk Luminous Foundation (in Buff 4) in with the lotion to give my face a little color.  A little blush and I look fresh, without looking like I’m wearing any makeup at all!

I’m always trying out new products, so if you hear of something, or have a favorite I should check out, let me know! Now I need to get in the shower before this baby wakes up!

XO,

Roni

Asparagus Soup

When I was a child and school was out for the summer, my sister, mother and I would head to Israel.  On the way we met my grandparents in Germany (where they were originally from before they moved to israel during the war).  After the long flight we would arrive in chilly Germany and my grandmother would always have a bowl of hot asparagus soup waiting.  It would have chunks of white asparagus (the tender stalks are grown in boxes and without exposure to the sun they are delicate and delicious) and my sister and I would gobble it up, followed by fresh, tart red currents for dessert.  Now that asparagus is in season here in the States, I’m taking every opportunity to cook up asparagus soup.  But with a new baby at home, it’s impossible to find the time to make my own vegetable stock and create a rich asparagus soup from scratch.  Here’s my trick, Knorr Spargelcreme (asparagus in German).  It’s not the easiest to find, but grocery stores that have an ethnic section, like Fiesta, or specialty Eropean grocery stores (in Dallas I get it at Kuby’s German deli) will carry the package.  It is a powder mix and tastes so creamy and delicious, unlike canned soups.  I add fresh asparagus and it’s a hearty, healthy meal on it’s own or with a salad.  I love to make homemade croutons to sprinkle on top of the soup, the recipe follows.  It all takes minutes to prepare!

Knorr (doctored) Asparagus Soup

1 package Knorr Asparagus soup mix

2 cups vegetable or chicken stock

2 cups lowfat milk

1/4 cup Vermouth (this was Julia Child’s secret, instead of white wine, which spoils after a couple days, Vermouth can stay in your pantry forever, but still adds that zing to food)

1/2 pound fresh asparagus stalks.

Trim and peel the tough ends of the asparagus.  Instead of throwing it away, add them to the stock pot with the vegetable stock and bring to a boil, strain out the trimmings and throw away.  Replace the stock in the pan and add the milk, wine, soup mix and asparagus spears (cut into quarter inch pieces).  Bring to a simmer, serve immediately with croutons.

Homemade Croutons

Half a loaf of day old French baguette, cubed into half inch cubes

Extra virgin olive oil

1 garlic clove

Kosher salt

In a saute pan, add the olive oil (start with a tablespoon, drizzle more if croutons begin to burn)

Add the garlic clove, cook until garlic turns brown, remove the garlic and discard

Add the bread cubes and toss to coat in oil.  Brown on all sides, tossing frequently, for about 5 minutes.  Sprinkle with kosher salt and serve.

Asian Dinner in 15 Minutes

For Texas weather, anything below 50 degrees is chilly.  So when it’s in the teens and snowing, you can imagine how frantic we become!  I took the opportunity to stay warm at home with my 6-week-old son and planned an afternoon of cooking while he napped.  I asked my husband to grab some leeks and potatoes to whip up a large pot of vichysoise soup.  When he returned from the store and unloaded the bags, I couldn’t find the leeks, but found a suspicious bunch of scallions.  So he may need some help in the grocery aisle to know the difference between green onions and leeks!

With little in the fridge and a hungry husband I scoured tha pantries and freezer for dinner.  Here’s the easiest meal, it’s super quick, healthy and delicious.  You can use any vegetables you have on hand, it’s the sauce that can make or break the dish.  I find that most store bought sauces taste stale and boring, especially Asian ones.  I found this Kikkoman Teriyaki in Sprouts (a natural grocery store), but you can also buy it online.  On the label, look for this ‘Kikkoman Teriyaki Takumi Collection, Original’ and here’s what the bottle looks like:

I always have frozen chicken breasts on hand.  When I get back from the grocery store I trim the fresh breasts of fat and excess skin, then individually freeze the breasts in freezer bags for easy thawing and defrosting.

Asian Chicken Teriyaki

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 4-5 thighs, trimmed of fat

2 zucchinis, cut lengthwise in half and then into half inch cubes

1 red bell pepper, sliced into quarter inch strips

10 shitaki mushrooms (can use dried if you have them on hand, just reconstitute in warm water) trimmed of stems and cut in half

handful of snow peas

Noodles, can use fresh Yakisoba, Soba or Udon.  This is the package I get, they’re so tasty. I put them in the pan with a little oil and fry until slightly crispy, then add a couple drops of water to make them moist:

Marinate the chicken for 5 minutes in several tablespoons of the marinade.  Place water in pot to boil.  Using a George Forman Grill or panini press, cook the chicken breasts whole for approximately 8 minutes or until cooked through,  Let cool and slice lenthwise into half inch strips.  While chicken cooks, fry noodles, then remove from pan.  Saute vegetables in a couple tablespoons of oil (sprinkle with sesame oil for added Asian flavor).  When vegetables are slightly cooked (3-5 minutes) add quarter cup of the teriyaki marinade (if it’s too thick, add a couple tablespoons of water to thin). 

Strain noodles, place on a large platter, top with vegetables and place cut chicken on top.  Sprinkle with scallions (if you have them lying around like I did!) or toasted sesame seeds.

I hope you enjoy this super quick and easy meal, no need for take out when you can whip this up, regardless of what your husband brought home from the grocery store!

Mommy Wars

It’s sleeting outside at 5:30am, and in Dallas that calls for serious news coverage and the furrowed brows of many a meteorologists.  As a tv journalist for almost 10 years I know that right now every morning news crew is frantically considering which overpasses to go live from and my friend, a traffic reporter, is probably dreading the frenzy that her news director will be in to ensure ‘continuing coverage’ throughout the morning.  Meanwhile, I’m focused on burping my baby and not getting spit up on my pajamas, without a care in the world on the road conditions (other than how I can convince my husband to work from home today). 

I just finished nursing my 3.5 week old son and while I rocked him back to sleep (and indulgently snuggled with him before returning him to his bassinet) while reading my new book, Mommy Wars, edited by Leslie Morgan Steiner.  It’s personal stories from stay-at-home mothers and working moms and the struggles and challenges they both face to be good moms, wives and career women while trying to maintain sanity.  And for me, it’s opened up dialogue with my own mother and friends to learn which parts of motherhood have been the hardest for them.  I learned my Mom suffered from postpartum depression when, as a savvy career woman and international traveler (and former assistant to the President of Israel) found herself holed up with an infant and 2-year-old, making fig preserve in the country in Texas.  And today over lunch with my oldest girlfriend, she shared the guilt she felt when she took her three-month-old son in for a check up and learned he was slightly under weight because her milk production was low.  I’m happy to report he is now a rambunctious, healthy 2.5-year-old.  But to me, these stories, and the ones in Mommy Wars, are a relief.  In real life motherhood is spectacular, but it isn’t always a glamorous, picture perfect life. 

I love both working and being a mother and I would be lying if I didn’t admit I’m really torn with my decision to return to work right now.  I know I will, being a lifestyle and entertainment reporter in a top 5 market in the country is a coveted job, and one I really enjoy.  And I did take satisfaction in my first shopping excursion today (with Baer strapped into his car seat) and zipping up that size 4 Thakoon dress that I plan to wear on my first day back.  But when I hold that little infant in my arms, who sighs with contentment after his belly is full and warm with milk, my heart melts and all I want is to stay in this warm house with him pressed to my chest forever.

I guess right now I have my own internal Mommy War going on, but at least I’m trying to enjoy the moment of being on maternity leave and watching as this little infant transforms into a pudgy, squirmy, adorable little baby in front of my very eyes.  But in my head the countdown to my April 6th return to work has begun and while I’m excited about returning, I’m already heart broken at the thought of leaving him for an entire day.

What Every First Time Mom Should Know (and have) Before Delivery!

I have a new addition to my family, the birth of my beautiful baby boy, Baer.  This is an announcement my news station did when he arrived.

http://www.the33tv.com/videobeta/f98e5c49-220d-4f5e-93e6-3fb3628826c7/News/01-05-10-Introducing-Phillip-Baer

And while I’m over the moon, when I was in the hospital I felt so overwhelmed and terribly unprepared.  Why don’t women talk about how hard this is?  It’s not just the delivery that can be a bear, but all the other challenges  that come after birth, especially if you’re planning in nursing.  Maybe it’s because we don’t want to seem like complainers.  I had a healthy pregnancy and delivered the most beautiful boy and he changed my perspective on life in an instant.  A week after having him, I’m able to be happy and grateful (if sleep deprived) and gracious that he’s here.  But those first few days were almost unbearable!  In my bag packed for the hospital I had a few practical things that really came in handy, and a few things I wish I would have to ease my pain.  Hope that this comes in handy for those of you who are preparing for your first little one to join the world!

1.  Nursing bra.  I found this one at Target, it’s the Basics by Bravado, and the Stella style.  It was $23.99 and offers enough support (and privacy!) for  those first really painful days.  (No, these are not my breasts, btw, I wish!) Get a size larger, trust me, you’ll need it!

2.  Lanolin.  They actually gave me some samples in the hospital, so ask once you’re there.  Those first couple days of nursing are excruciating, toe curling agony.  Remember those cries when you can’t breathe? That’s how I felt every time he latched on.  It’s because your milk hasn’t come in, and at the same time that newborn is starving!  Simultaneously, your uterus is contracting (hormones send a message to the body that the baby is gone and it’s time to return the body to pre pregnancy state, pretty cool actually) so it’s all really tough.  Every time you finish nursing, spread the lanolin (a natural wax produced by sheep, and no, they’re not harmed in the process!) across your nipples, it will offer a little relief.  Here’s the one I use, I also found it at Drugstore.com, and it was $9.99

3.  Jojoba Oil.  This, to me, is the miracle oil.  It’s the oil closest to what the human body produces, so instead of being oily or greasy ,the body absorbs it almost immediately.  I used it throughout my pregnancy from my breast to my hips to prevent stretch marks (it really works) during delivery (I asked my nurse to give me a perinatal massage every time she checked my cervix.  I heard about it from a girlfriend as a way to prevent an episiotomy, and it works.  Enough said) and post pregnancy to relieve my sore body.  It’s about $20 for 16 ounces, and it’s everywhere from Whole Foods to online drugstores

4.  Something for yourself.  I never felt less feminine, or clean, or myself, than directly after they moved me to my room post delivery.  I brought with me a few items that made me feel rejuvenated; a robe to wear instead of the hospital gown, and body wash and lotion for a quick shower.  This Body Shop Pink Grapefruit was so refreshing, it helped lift my spirits instantly.  It was $13.95.  Whatever you bring, ingredients to look for that are incredibly nourishing are shea butter, cocoa butter, and rose hip seed oil.

I hope these few things are helpful for you to make you happier and healthier after your new little one joins the world.  Yes it’s a blessing, we’re all happy for the miracle of life.  But you already have to go home wearing big girl panties and diaper, so a few things for yourself aint such a bad thing!

Cheers, Roni

Nobu and tossed tempura!

I shot another Guilt-le$$ Gourmet, this time I went to Nobu!  Executive Chef Matt Raso took me into the kitchen to show me how they make some of their signature dishes.  I’ve eaten plenty of tempura, but never made it this way before.  After we dusted sea bass with potato starch (it keeps the fish from sticking when it’s battered) we toss it in the batter and throw it into the oil.  If you’re not careful you can definitely scorch your arms, so it’s a technique that has to be practiced (and not tried at home!).  The oil is such a large vat that splatter is minimal, and the temura comes out incredibly tender and crisy. 

Here’s a link to the video from last Friday.  Thanks to everyone who watched, hopefully many more segments to come!

Here is the Link: http://www.the33tv.com/videobeta/b1d6d459-5610-43bc-865b-ea5b69b39e20/Food/9-10-10-Guiltless-Gourmet

Cheers, Roni

Guilt-le$$ Gourmet

My first Guilt-le$$ Gourmet segment aired on Friday (I was out of town hiking in Montana, so I’m just now getting to post the video).  It turned out great and I’m looking forward to seeing how this next week’s goes!  Last Friday we went to Vapiano in Mockingbird Station and this Friday we visit Nobu.  I even made tempura with sea bass and rock shrimp, it was delicious!  So here’s the link, in case you missed it.  We had some serious storms over the past couple days (a tornado even dropped near my house!) so it’s been pretty busy around here!  The rainy weather is a perfect reason to stay indoors and eat something cozy.  It’s Rosh Hashana so for me that means chicken soup that my Mother made, delicious!

Here is the Link: http://www.the33tv.com/videobeta/4126d03b-2bd6-4647-903a-b17fd7a4d3ff/News/9-3-10-Guiltless-Gourmet

Roni’s Guilt-Le$$ Gourmet!

It’s been a busy summer, working mostly!  Now I feel even busier because for the fall season I am beginning a new segment for KDAF’s CW Dallas (Ch.33 for those of you who live here) called Roni’s Guilt-le$$ gourmet.  Each week I’ll feature a new restaurant that has delicious, gourmet food, that features a special once a week.  The first one is Vapiano in Mockingbird Station.  They make their own fresh pasta and only make the sauce when you order it.  It’s cooked in a wok, if you’ve never been, it’s worth checking out.  I almost always order their signature salad with spicy arugula dressing, yum!  Along with fresh bread, it’s such a treat before I head to the Angelika for a movie.

If you get a chance, tune in, otherwise I’m going to post the videos so you can check it out! 

And if you have any suggestions of places I should check out, drop me a line. 

Roni

Food Revolution and Mushroom Souffle

I just watched an amazing new television show, the preview of ‘Jamie Oliver’s Food Nation’ on ABC.   If you don’t know who he is, he’s a talented young chef from the UK.  He’s taken his fame and success and passionately pursued changing the food children eat in schools in England.  And now he’s brought his ‘revolution’ to America.  The show chronicles Huntington, West Virgina, titled ‘The Unhealthiest City in America’, and how Jamie is attempting to improve the nutrition in school lunches and teach the community a healthier way to live.  I cannot recommend this program enough.  TiVo, DVR, or watch it live, this is going to be an eye-opening show that hopefully empowers Americans to eat cleaner and treat their bodies with respect. 

http://abc.go.com/shows/jamie-olivers-food-revolution/index

I spent the day entertaining, I couldn’t have bene happier in the kitchen.  It snowed in Dallas (yes, in March!) and I had house guests.  So for brunch I made mimosas, ebleskeevers with bananas and fresh maple syrup, and ricotta and spinach omelets.  Then my family (sister, nephew, grandmother, and parents) arrived for a big family meal.  I made a wild mushroom souffle (drizzled with truffle oil) and a salad of mixed greens with roasted herb tomatoes on top.  Sitting the 6 of us, representing four generations, and eating a delicious meal together was incredible.  This is the first time in my family’s history that we’ve had more than one generation living in the same country, let alone the same city.  But something that’s always been at the core of our family values is cooking and eating together.  It brings me tremendous joy to have a bustling house with forks clanking on plates and chatter about the weekend’s events.   Here is a picture of Restaurant Rise, No.1′s Souffle, it inspired my concoction today!

Cheers!  Roni

Precious

 

I had the pleasure of screening the movie Precious this evening.  Tomorrow I interview director Lee Daniels and boy, do I have a lot I want to ask him.  I left the theater with more questions than answers, and while it was a serious heavy hitter (and downer in many ways) there was a glimmer of hope.  I just dont know if it was enough hope.  But what it did inspire me to do was be a little more gracious.  There is so much worry about the economy right now, are we forgetting what’s really important?  Over a glass of wine with my sister last night we talked about how fortunate we are.  We both have clean, sturdy roofs over our heads, we have family that loves us, we’re healthy, we can buy groceries.  There are a lot of people that can’t say that right now.   As the holidays draw neaerer I can’t help but think that the only present I was to give or get is perspective.   I hope everyone can think of the things thy’re gracious for. 

 

Cheers,

 

Roni