Former model and T.V. host, Catherine McCord is not your typical Hollywood housewife. While she has traveled the world, and even the cat-walk (hello Donna Karan, Calvin Klein and Victoria Secret), she has roots and healthy beliefs for the whole family that run deep in the food world.
As the creator of the super popular blog Weelicious, Catherine has followed up on her first cookbook Weelicious: 140 Fast Fresh and Easy Recipes with even more recipes of delicious food for kids in Weelicious Lunches: Think Outside the Lunch Box with More Than 160 Happier Meals. To celebrate, you’ll be able to take a beat from our latest crush and give your kids a healthy, and deliciously unique spin on the lunchbox routine with recipes created from your own copy of this tasty book for yourself.
Catherine grew up Louisville, KY and thanks her parents and her grandparents for her understanding of the impact food has on a person’s health and well-being. She was taught to respect food and now is passing that along to her own kids – think top model gone model mom.
If the “secret to having it all” does exist, Catherine has it. And lucky for us, she’s all about sharing what she knows, and what she loves. That’s where Weelicious.com comes into play. Like in these cheesy, broccoli spiked Stuffed Pizza Rolls. Did I mention she’s sneaky too?
A gorgeous, interactive and super helpful blog every mom dedicated to delivering moms with information Catherine thought was lacking out there in the vast world wide web and just world in general: feeding tips and fresh, healthy recipe ideas for children. Her simple how-to videos are reason alone to make a visit.
After marrying her dreamy hubby (producer of Silver Linings Playbook and the soon to be released American Hustle, where Catherine plays the role of the proud wife) and having her first child, Kenya, Catherine was inspired to create a platform for all moms alike from the model to the momma bear.
Since then, Weelicious has become a vehicle for the entire family, a place where recipes appeal to a range of ages from infants starting on solids to school-age kids with packed lunch and even adults!
Cue the Stuffed Pizza Rolls.
Even with a busy schedule of mothering and inspiring, Catherine happily agreed to fill us in on what makes her tick. Thank you Catherine for being a favorite foodie crush.
1. Describe your blog in 3 words:
Family Fun Food
2. If you could be one food blogger other than yourself, who would you be?
This question is such a tease! I’m obsessed with so many blogs for so many reasons.
3. Which 3 blogs do you follow/are obsessed with/can’t live a day without?
Shutterbean, What’s Gaby Cooking, Aida Mollenkamp, Joy The Baker, Bakers Royale, The Pioneer Woman, White On Rice, Steamy Kitchen, Edible Living, TurnTable Kitchen, With Style and Grace, Heather Cristo, Hola Jalapeño…The list goes on..I have issues! I feel so grateful for this community that my obsession has grown far and wide.
4. What is the one kitchen tool you could never give up?
My hand mandoline. From homemade potato chips to thinly sliced radishes and carrots, it makes magic out of so many vegetables.
5. What dish are you obsessed with mastering that you just can’t get quite right?
Fortune cookies. I’ve been trying to make a chocolate ones for months. I think I’m on my 13th try.
6. What did you have for dinner last night?
Cedar Plank Salmon with a greek yogurt dill, cucumber sauce, baked french fries, sliced heirloom tomatoes with fresh basil and reduced balsamic and ratatouille.
7. What’s one secret talent outside of the kitchen nobody knows about you?
I can do the straddle splits in the air when jumping on a trampoline. Not sure if that’s a talent or just something dorky I like to do with my kids.
8. You’re happiest when cooking/eating:
Anything surrounding the holidays: Brined turkeys, sugar cookies, sweet potato casserole, homemade pies, any and all of it! I just love cooking all day long and going into a food coma with all of my family around.
9. What have you taken from your experiences as a top model and television host that have lent to your success as a cookbook author and model parent?
Work ethic when it comes to Weelicious and writing cookbooks. I feel so lucky to be able to do something for work day in and day out that I’m so passionate about. I’ve been working since I was about 14 years old and feel lucky that I’ve had several careers working on projects that inspire me. I try to let my kids see that work can be fun when you’re doing something that makes you feel good.
10. The one secret ingredient to your success is:
My family. I feel blessed to be able to work from home (often with my kids) so I don’t miss all the important moments. My husband is so supportive of what I do. There’s no way I could be working and spend quality time with my friends and family if it wasn’t for his endless support.
Weelicious Lunches is packed with tons of great lunch inspiration. And now you can win a copy for your own kitchen. Just fill in the info in the widget below with one or more entries to be entered to win.
When I was choosing a recipe to try from Weelicious Lunches, I pretty much tagged Catherine’s cookbook with a whole stack of post its, marking some future favorites to give Smudge some variety in her school lunches. I narrowed down my choices to PB&J Pancake Sandwiches, Cinnamon Roll Sushi Sandwiches and Carrot Hummus, because who doesn’t love carrots and hummus?!!
But the recipe that took first try honors was Weelicious Lunches Stuffed Pizza Rolls with a big “thumbs up” from the girl who had them for lunch and then again for dinner and is not a broccoli fan. Until now.
Stuffed Pizza Rolls
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- 2 disks white wheat pizza dough or 1 pound prepared pizza dough at room temperature
- 2/4 cup veggie-heavy pizza sauce
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup chopped broccoli or other favorite topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and oil the muffin cups.
- Roll out the pizza dough to ¼ inch thick, making a 10 X 20 inch rectangle.
- Spread the marinara sauce in a thin layer across the surface of the dough. SPrinkle wiht the cheese and broccoli or your favorite topping.
- Roll up the dough lengthwise to form a 20-inch log and pinch the seam together.
- Slice the log into 2-inch pieces. Place the pizza rolls in the muffin cups and pat down slightly.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until golden and bubbly and the center of the dough is cooked through. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
reprinted with permission from Catherine McCord
Thank you again Catherine, and best of luck to you guys on the giveaway.
Additional reporting thanks to Abby Read.
Thank you for supporting me and my partners which allows me to create new and special content for my readers. As always, all opinions are my own.
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Micheleh says
Chicken Oyako Donburi is my favorite!
Heather says
My favorite asian dish is a spicy garlic chicken served with rice! Yummy!!
Joanna says
I love sesame chicken even though my stomach doesn’t always love it. And fried rice. With soy sauce. YUM!
MaryBeth Reed says
I’ll have to say sesame chicken too. Such great flavor if done right.
Yashica says
Sesame chicken is a favorite right now
Terri says
I am a super fan of a good pad thai with chicken but also am a big fan of any asian dish that has peanuts/peanut sauce. Yum!
Nancy E says
Anything sweet and sour, chicken, shrimp etc.
Alice // Hip Foodie Mom says
Love this interview! Fave Asian dish? any Korean food or soba noodles!
Nik Snacks (@NikSnacks) says
Yeah, I’m crushing on those pizza rolls! Thanks for crushing on Catherine :) I didn’t know any of that about her OR her hubby! I feel like I’m in on a secret club now.
mellisa willis says
Chicken Lettuce wraps.
Amy S says
As bad as it is for you, I love fried rice!
Brianne says
I love Pad Thai!
Gail says
Tofu curry
Ilana says
My favorite is Vietnamese bun with Char-grilled beef and egg rolls.
Amy N says
Orange Chicken is my latest Asian obsession! With chicken fried rice :)
Melissa says
I love Mongolian Beef!
Lindsey says
Anything Thai! Love those favors.
YP says
YUM! I will make right away, with vegan cheese :)
Brandon says
Peanut chicken.
Amanda D says
Dragon and Phoenix – chicken and shrimp with carrots, broccoli, and snow peas in white sauce
Brooke says
Favorite asian dish is pad thai!
Casey says
sesame chicken and fried rice
Christy says
Spicy Mandarin chicken
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain says
What a beautiful post! Catherine’s book is simply stunning! Can’t wait to devour these pizza rolls!
Kara says
I need this book so bad!
Pad Thai!
Natalie says
Pad Thai!
Jenn says
I love vermicelli bowls of all sorts…and pho…and anything with peanuts!
Kate says
sweet and sour chicken!
Shalu Suri says
I love spicy basil chicken over jasmine rice. Ahh, I love Thai.
Sol S. says
Thai Fried Rice
Jateice says
I love fried rice!
Karen Parish says
These look like snacks my kids would love! Can’t wait to try them.
Karis says
Hi, is 2/4 cup for the pizza sauce correct? I’ve never seen 1/2 a cup expressed that way, so wanted to make sure it wasn’t suppose to be 1/4 or 3/4 cup instead. I’m looking forward to trying this recipe!
Aneesa says
Hot and sour soup!
GK says
Noodles!
Auntiepatch says
General Tso’s Chicken!
Angela says
These pizza rolls look absolutely delish!
Priscilla says
Chicken lo mein
Beth says
Ginger garlic chicken is my all time homemade favorite :-)
Elizabeth Jalbert says
no work chicken is my go to!
MBH says
Some combo of sesame and tuna…whether its tartare, sushi, seared tuna steak. YUM!
Katie says
Sweet and Sour Chicken with brown rice.
Ashley says
Sweet and Sour Chicken and definitely Fried Rice :)
Daniela says
Pad thai
Ashley says
My favorite is sweet and sour chicken over brown fried rice with veggies
Lilly Li says
As an Asian myself, my favorite asian dish is CURRY~~~~ So delicious, and so many variations!
Kaitlyn Pipkin says
I would have to say. Beef Lo Mein.
Sharon says
The fresh spring rolls that are not fried (maybe they are called summer rolls?)
Katie says
Pad Thai!
Michele says
anything with seared ahi tuna. ugh, so good- my mouth is already watering!
Margaret says
My favorite Asian dish is Larp.
Teresa Organ says
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Kim says
I love a good stir fry
Erin says
Pizza roll-ups look yummy! Will have to try them soon!
Erin says
Pho – so hard to choose one – so many great ethnic dishes!
Jill @ The Pinspired Mama says
Hello! I love a good Phad Thai or anything with peanut sauce :) Thanks!
Cori r. says
We love any in season fruit to snack on! I love fall but always miss the fresh summer produce.
Gianna says
Mini pizzas.
Veronica says
Veggie chips are def my favorite! or fruit :)
Sarah says
My favorite snack would have to be Edamame- it’s something the entire family gobbles up!
Yvette says
My favorite snack raw vegetables and dip.
Lauren says
My favorite snack is roasted veggies, particularly broccoli and cauliflower. Healthy and tasty!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Aww, love this post! I absolutely LOVE Catherine! And these pizza rolls – not sure if I love the cheesy goodness or the hand modeling more!
LauriM says
I like PB and apples or PB smeared on banana with some mini chocolate chips.
Sadaf says
I have alot of favourites. One of them is daal chawal.
Christy says
Favorite snack: a freshly baked healthy muffin!
Ruth Pinnell says
Homemade trail mix
annabelle says
My favorite snack is popcorn, or chips and salsa or almonds, I have a million favorite
Brooke P says
The kiddos and I love to snack on peanut butter and crackers, chips and salsa, dried or fresh fruit, and popcorn!
JC Carter says
I was thinking of making homemade pizza tonight, so this isn’t too far off.
Johanna says
Depends on the day ive had, sometimes it fresh berries and yogurt and other it may be homemade ginger cookies, best when they are straight from the oven! mmmm….
Karen says
We love to snack on homemade hummus.
ashley - baker by nature says
Such a great post! And now I MUST buy her book! Fave snack? Um… everything?!
Rebekah says
peanut butter and apples
Nicole says
My kids and I love to snack on homemade kale chips. Yummy!
spoon-stories says
Pizza roll-ups !!! Great idea great presentation^^
Melissa Frances says
We Love to snack on celery, apples and peanutbutter…
thanks for an opportunity to WIN!
Jamie @ arugulaholic says
Great to see this write-up– She’s such a sweetheart!
Sarah | The Cyclist's Wife says
Love Weelicious, she has such great ideas!
Katherine Roberts says
my favorite snack is nutella and sliced bananas on wheat toast. yummm.
stephanie says
My kids love French bread pizza sticks (I make it gluten free)
sheena little says
your baking pans look very loved …love it!!!
Melissa B says
Nutella on anything for snacks (including a spoon)
Urban Wife says
I love making homemade larabars for snacks! Also, hummus with bell peppers or carrots.
Melissa R says
I love cheese or cheese dip and crackers for snacks. Yum!
Nicole Balogh says
My favorite snack is apples with peanut butter or cheese slices.
Aimee Porter says
Lemony Hummus and Pita Chips!
Lakshmi says
My fav snack with my kid would be paneer cigar rolls or any kind of sandwich.. My baby LOVES sandwiches!
Naomi Dempsey says
Favorite snack…I love celery with peanut butter, or cream cheese. Also, apples with peanut butter.
Laura says
Favorite snack is any kind of fruit!
Norman says
Hey! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa?
My blog discusses a lot of the same subjects as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you are interested feel free to send me an e-mail.
I look forward to hearing from you! Great blog by the way!
easterncycleducati.com says
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout off your blog.
It’s a very easy on the eyes whch makes it much ore pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a desiger to create your
theme? Exceptional work!
Jenny says
Recipe says 2/4 cup pizza sauce. What does that mean? 1/2 cup of sauce sounds like too little.
Japanese dog breeds says
This looks fun – it’s like pizza with a different shape.