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.
Notes
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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This looks fun – it’s like pizza with a different shape.
Recipe says 2/4 cup pizza sauce. What does that mean? 1/2 cup of sauce sounds like too little.
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!
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!
Favorite snack is any kind of fruit!
Favorite snack…I love celery with peanut butter, or cream cheese. Also, apples with peanut butter.
My fav snack with my kid would be paneer cigar rolls or any kind of sandwich.. My baby LOVES sandwiches!
Lemony Hummus and Pita Chips!
My favorite snack is apples with peanut butter or cheese slices.
I love cheese or cheese dip and crackers for snacks. Yum!
I love making homemade larabars for snacks! Also, hummus with bell peppers or carrots.
Nutella on anything for snacks (including a spoon)
your baking pans look very loved …love it!!!
My kids love French bread pizza sticks (I make it gluten free)
my favorite snack is nutella and sliced bananas on wheat toast. yummm.
Love Weelicious, she has such great ideas!
Great to see this write-up– She’s such a sweetheart!
We Love to snack on celery, apples and peanutbutter…
thanks for an opportunity to WIN!
Pizza roll-ups !!! Great idea great presentation^^
My kids and I love to snack on homemade kale chips. Yummy!
peanut butter and apples
Such a great post! And now I MUST buy her book! Fave snack? Um… everything?!
We love to snack on homemade hummus.
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….
I was thinking of making homemade pizza tonight, so this isn’t too far off.
The kiddos and I love to snack on peanut butter and crackers, chips and salsa, dried or fresh fruit, and popcorn!
My favorite snack is popcorn, or chips and salsa or almonds, I have a million favorite
Homemade trail mix
Favorite snack: a freshly baked healthy muffin!
I have alot of favourites. One of them is daal chawal.
I like PB and apples or PB smeared on banana with some mini chocolate chips.
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!
My favorite snack is roasted veggies, particularly broccoli and cauliflower. Healthy and tasty!
My favorite snack raw vegetables and dip.
My favorite snack would have to be Edamame- it’s something the entire family gobbles up!
Veggie chips are def my favorite! or fruit :)
Mini pizzas.
We love any in season fruit to snack on! I love fall but always miss the fresh summer produce.
Hello! I love a good Phad Thai or anything with peanut sauce :) Thanks!
Pho – so hard to choose one – so many great ethnic dishes!
Pizza roll-ups look yummy! Will have to try them soon!
I love a good stir fry
Sweet and Sour Chicken
My favorite Asian dish is Larp.
anything with seared ahi tuna. ugh, so good- my mouth is already watering!
Pad Thai!
The fresh spring rolls that are not fried (maybe they are called summer rolls?)
I would have to say. Beef Lo Mein.
As an Asian myself, my favorite asian dish is CURRY~~~~ So delicious, and so many variations!
My favorite is sweet and sour chicken over brown fried rice with veggies
Pad thai
Sweet and Sour Chicken and definitely Fried Rice :)
Sweet and Sour Chicken with brown rice.
Some combo of sesame and tuna…whether its tartare, sushi, seared tuna steak. YUM!
no work chicken is my go to!
Ginger garlic chicken is my all time homemade favorite :-)
Chicken lo mein
These pizza rolls look absolutely delish!
General Tso’s Chicken!
Noodles!
Hot and sour soup!
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!
These look like snacks my kids would love! Can’t wait to try them.
I love fried rice!
Thai Fried Rice
I love spicy basil chicken over jasmine rice. Ahh, I love Thai.
sweet and sour chicken!
I love vermicelli bowls of all sorts…and pho…and anything with peanuts!
Pad Thai!
I need this book so bad!
Pad Thai!
What a beautiful post! Catherine’s book is simply stunning! Can’t wait to devour these pizza rolls!
Spicy Mandarin chicken
sesame chicken and fried rice
Favorite asian dish is pad thai!
Dragon and Phoenix – chicken and shrimp with carrots, broccoli, and snow peas in white sauce
Peanut chicken.
YUM! I will make right away, with vegan cheese :)
Anything Thai! Love those favors.
I love Mongolian Beef!
Orange Chicken is my latest Asian obsession! With chicken fried rice :)
My favorite is Vietnamese bun with Char-grilled beef and egg rolls.
Tofu curry
I love Pad Thai!
As bad as it is for you, I love fried rice!
Chicken Lettuce wraps.
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.
Love this interview! Fave Asian dish? any Korean food or soba noodles!
Anything sweet and sour, chicken, shrimp etc.
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!
Sesame chicken is a favorite right now
I’ll have to say sesame chicken too. Such great flavor if done right.
I love sesame chicken even though my stomach doesn’t always love it. And fried rice. With soy sauce. YUM!
My favorite asian dish is a spicy garlic chicken served with rice! Yummy!!
Chicken Oyako Donburi is my favorite!