We have had an extremely busy few weeks. I worked on making meals for Alex and the boys to eat while I went to Leonardstown, MD to visit, my best friend, college roomie, Becky and help her get ready for her husband Mark's big promotion party - he was promoted to Naval Captain! I made several meals with veggies/meats/seasonings to be kept in the freezer, then put in the slow cooker and 6-8 hours later a quick, easy, healthy meal!
I braved taking all three boys to Trader Joe's for the first time! I was desperate to get a few more things for Alex and the boys to have while I was gone. I talked to Evan that I needed him to be a good listener, that he was the big brother and needed to set a good example. We all did pretty well. As I pulled the cart into the lane to checkout he ran off and said "one more thing". He quickly returned with pink roses for me stating that they were my favorite color - I said yes it is (and it was true - at that moment pink was definitely my favorite color!) and purchased them to bring home and enjoy before I left.
While I was gone Alex camped out in our yard with all three boys - I don't think they got much sleep - but they had a great time (at least the boys did - ha!). They made strawberry ice cream, chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, went swimming with their Aunt Kristen, Uncle Trace, Elle & Cason, attended church, went out to eat - so I don't think they got a chance to miss me much. I loved & treasured our phone conversations! Evan and Avery both told me they loved me all the way to the moon & back again! They called on Monday to ask if I liked walnuts - yes I do in case you were wondering - and the cookies had some in them. Avery, Owen and Alex stopped on the way to the airport to get me a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. Evan was already at school (first day of pre-school) when I returned. I didn't get to take him to his first day, but I did get to pick him up and he had a container of cookies to surprise me.
We are now trying to get in the groove of Evan being in speech (8:00-8:30) each Tuesday and Thursday morning and then in pre-school (9:30-1:15) Monday through Thursday as well as their other activities. On Wednesday evenings we go to church for dinner & Evan & Avery both have choir & Mission Friends. On Thursday mornings after we drop off Evan - Avery, Owen and I head over to church for MOMS. Friday evenings Evan and Avery have soccer practice (they are both playing on the same team at PBC this year), Saturday mornings for the next seven weeks we will have a soccer game, then on Sundays off to church - whew! I am tired just typing about it - ha! So yes, if you figured that all out we have something every day of the week and I am at church with at least two of the boys FIVE days a week - and this is us consciously trying to keep their schedules minimal - ha! In November the family will start taking Tai Kwan Do. We discovered yesterday that Evan's new friend from speech, Trey, also takes Tai Kwan Do at Urban Revolution - so that will be fun for him to have a friend there already!
I am enjoying some one on one time with Evan in the afternoons after we get home from school. Avery and Owen take a nap then Evan and I have time to talk about his day, see what his teacher sent home with him, do site word cards... One day I asked him what he learned and he informed me he had learned to not climb on the fence! Considering he had told me at least two days that he had tried to climb it and fallen, I wasn't surprised - ha! This week they studied and learned about the letter "A". Each week they will cut out items that begin with a certain letter so at the end of the year it can create a book. Tuesday is "Show & Tell" day - this week he was supposed to take something that began with the letter "A". Monday I told him to go upstairs and get his Anniken (sp - sorry for any of you "Star Wars" fans I have offended) figure to take, he didn't and I did not remember to remind him again until I was on my way to pick him up from school on Tuesday - oops! We didn't do so well on week 1 of Show & Tell... I guess that gives us a way to improve for the "B" week! I really love that his teachers send out a newsletter at the end of each week explaining what the class did and possibly what to expect the next week. Evan is very excited about his new friends and I am glad to see the diversity in his class.
Another day Evan was playing with his Uno Moo game - the
little boy looks kinda like him so I said that and he said no that only
girls had eyes like that (yes, I am the only one in our immediate family
with blue eyes - so I guess he figured only girls can have blue eyes -
ha!) I told him that Cason has blue eyes. So he sorted out each of the
playing pieces and found 4 of the boys - "Mommy, look, 4 Casons!" Too
funny! You just have to love the way their minds work!
Currently some of the favorite snack foods for the boys - mangoes (in any form - freeze dried, dried, cut up), pretzels with peanut butter and pistachios - yes, pistachios - even Owen screams if he sees them wanting you to shell one for him to have - Evan and Avery can both shell their own.
Avery is STILL potty training - yesterday he went poopy in the potty all day and earned his new light-up Spiderman shoes - today he lost them for the day by pooping in his new monkey underwear (they are now gone forever). Owen has also started on his own - I came home one night - he walked in the bathroom and sat down on the little potty, I helped him pull down his pants and he pooped - they always make it seem so easy - they initiate it then BAM! A year or MORE later... I guess it keeps it all interesting. Avery has remained dry & clean for 10 hour car trips, but then refuses to continue this when we get home.
Today Uncle Trace & Cason came over. Uncle Trace cut Evan & Avery's hair then we all went out and played. They especially loved driving the cars around the tractor.I am hoping they will do much better with real cars when they are older - otherwise we are in for some real trouble. My favorite quote of the morning was from Cason - after hitting Owen with the big tractor, "he didn't move!". Ok... so we tried to explain that he is still working on walking and doesn't know to run from a moving vehicle when he sees it coming towards him - ha! At one point, Avery wanted to be on the little tractor that Owen was on, he tried to push him off and... yes, you may have guessed it - Owen didn't want to be pushed off and bit Avery. All were fine and survived the morning outside.
Today for lunch Evan and Avery managed to eat an entire container of strawberries and half a pineapple. I think they will eat us out of house & home prior to being teenagers! Time to go unload, load the dishwasher, change over laundry and start a new load, get the boys to take naps, get a shower... then off to soccer practice! But then the treat... Pizza Peel! Yum!
Friday, September 14, 2012
Tri-tip steak marinade, Twice baked sweet potatoes & Lemon Pecorino peas
Here is my version of the 6 hour tri-tip steak marinade - I adapted it from the Food Network. We used it on our tri-tip steak from What's Your Beef - so it is local & grass fed - AMAZING!!! We used the little bit of leftover steak to make a hash this morning for breakfast - YUM! I only did one 2 lb steak so I cut the recipe in half. It does seem like a crazy amount of some of the ingredients - the marinade is pretty thick - but I highly recommend it!
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh pressed lemon & lime juice
- 1 cup cold pressed olive oil
- 1/2 cup Stevia in the Raw
- 1/2 cup tamari
- 1/2 cup black pepper
- 1/2 cup garlic salt - I did a combo of dried garlic powder & pink Himalayan salt
- 1/2 cup chopped dried onions
- 2 (2-pound) tri-tips, trimmed
To make the marinade
mix all of the ingredients except for the beef in a large mixing bowl.
Place the trimmed tri-tips in a plastic container and pour the marinade
over. Let stand in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours.
Heat grill to medium temperature.Place tri-tips on grill at a 45 degree angle to establish grill marks and cook about 35 minutes, or until cooked to desired doneness. Remove the tri-tips from the grill and let rest about 2 to 5 minutes before slicing.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes - adapted from Cooking Light
Ingredients
- 4 Medium sweet potatoes
- 5 T chipotle salsa
- 1 c shredded cheese
- Black pepper to taste
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Ripe olives
- Green onions
Lemon Pecorino Peas - adapted from Weight Watchers Magazine
Ingredients
- One package of fresh English peas - we get the one from Trader Joe's
- Lemon zest from half a large lemon
- Juice from half a lemon
- Fresh grated Pecorino cheese
Cook peas as per directions or preference - we do ours for 3 minutes in the microwave - then put in bowl and mix with the zest, juice & cheese. Such an amazing and light flavor - I have never been a fan of peas, but these are really excellent.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Chai Banana Bread - YUM!
This is currently one of our family favorites. The boys LOVE it as do Alex and I. I changed this up a bit from the Cooking Light recipe...
1.5 c mashed ripe banana (about 3, I have started using 4... recommend!)
1/3 c plain Greek yogurt
2.5 T melted butter
2.5 T applesauce - NO sugar
2 lg eggs
.5 c granulated sugar
.5 c brown sugar
1 c white wheat
1 c wheat flour
.25 c flax seed meal
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
3/4 t ground cardamom
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 t ground ginger
1/4 t ground allspice
1 t vanilla
.25 t vanilla
1/3 c powdered sugar
1.5 t milk
Pre-heat oven 350 degrees.
Combine first 4 ingred - beat with mixer on med until blended. Add sugars beat at med until blended.
Combine flour, soda & salt - add to banana mixture & beat until blended.
Combine spices & stir in 1.5 t plus 1 t vanilla to banana mixture.
Pour into 4 mini loaf pans & bake for 40-45 mins. Cool 10 min on wire rack then add remaining ingred & drizzle over the bread.
I have made some changes... again - my recipes are ever evolving... so this is even healthier than when first posted ;o) Sept 20, 2012
October 30, 2013
I didn't have enough bananas today so I used 2 bananas & 2 pears. I was also out of milk for the glaze & substituted part coconut milk & part cream. Still VERY yummy!
1.5 c mashed ripe banana (about 3, I have started using 4... recommend!)
1/3 c plain Greek yogurt
2.5 T melted butter
2.5 T applesauce - NO sugar
2 lg eggs
.5 c granulated sugar
.5 c brown sugar
1 c white wheat
1 c wheat flour
.25 c flax seed meal
3/4 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
3/4 t ground cardamom
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 t ground ginger
1/4 t ground allspice
1 t vanilla
.25 t vanilla
1/3 c powdered sugar
1.5 t milk
Pre-heat oven 350 degrees.
Combine first 4 ingred - beat with mixer on med until blended. Add sugars beat at med until blended.
Combine flour, soda & salt - add to banana mixture & beat until blended.
Combine spices & stir in 1.5 t plus 1 t vanilla to banana mixture.
Pour into 4 mini loaf pans & bake for 40-45 mins. Cool 10 min on wire rack then add remaining ingred & drizzle over the bread.
I have made some changes... again - my recipes are ever evolving... so this is even healthier than when first posted ;o) Sept 20, 2012
October 30, 2013
I didn't have enough bananas today so I used 2 bananas & 2 pears. I was also out of milk for the glaze & substituted part coconut milk & part cream. Still VERY yummy!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Never to be bored again
In trying to help me with potty training Avery - Evan asked him if he wanted to be a big boy. He responded emphatically "NO". So then Evan asked him if he wanted to be a baby. Again, Avery responded with a very definite "NO". Evan then being confused asked what he wanted to be... "NOTHING". Can you tell they just got up from a nap?
This morning Evan was playing with his cereal. He told me that 2 and 2 is 4. I replied, yes. Then he said "1 and 1 is 2 - do you know this?" I stated that I in fact did know this. He seemed quite surprised. I may not remember all I learned in school, but thus far I have been able to remember that 1 and 1 is 2.
Me "Do you want more mac n cheese?" Evan "No, because my tummy is REALLY full, I am going to be THIS big!" (as he held out his arms as far as they would go - ha!) This was after two big helpings.
Avery "What does that do?" he asks while touching my necklace. Me "It was from Gigi and is just pretty" Avery "Noooo..." I guess all accessories should do something - become a shield, a weapon of some sort, a phone...
This morning Evan was playing with his cereal. He told me that 2 and 2 is 4. I replied, yes. Then he said "1 and 1 is 2 - do you know this?" I stated that I in fact did know this. He seemed quite surprised. I may not remember all I learned in school, but thus far I have been able to remember that 1 and 1 is 2.
Me "Do you want more mac n cheese?" Evan "No, because my tummy is REALLY full, I am going to be THIS big!" (as he held out his arms as far as they would go - ha!) This was after two big helpings.
Avery "What does that do?" he asks while touching my necklace. Me "It was from Gigi and is just pretty" Avery "Noooo..." I guess all accessories should do something - become a shield, a weapon of some sort, a phone...
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Healthy Sheperd's Pie
Shepherd's Pie (my version adapted from Rocco Dispirito's "Now Eat This" recipe)
1 head of cauliflower - cut into smaller pieces (might do two heads next time with the 4 c of veg)
Fresh ground Pink Himalayan salt & fresh ground pepper
1/2 c Greek yogurt
1 lb ground grass-fed beef
1 medium diced onion
2 cloves minced garlic
Basil (to taste)
Thyme (fresh or dried - to taste)
3-4 c frozen vegetables (my favorites - lima beans and/or edamame, peas, green beans, corn)
1 14 oz can diced organic tomatoes - I chop them up in the in the food processor a bit first
1 c organic chicken broth
1 T cornstarch
3 T fresh chopped chives
Whole wheat panko crumbs
Preheat oven to 450. I use my Pampered Chef large bar pan and arrange the cauliflower on this - no cooking spray required this way. Season the cauliflower with salt/pepper. Roast for up to 30 minutes - until tender. Then put cauliflower into food processor with yogurt and blend.
Heat a lag nonstick pan over med-high heat. Once pan is hot add ground beef - season it with salt/pepper. Break up meat and cook until cooked through, remove fat.
Reduce heat to medium. Add onion to the pan and saute until nearly tender then add garlic and saute a bit longer - about 6-7 min total. Add frozen veggies & tomatoes. In a sm bowl whisk the chick broth & cornstarch. Add that mixture to the vegetables as well as basil & thyme. Raise the heat to high, bring mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly. Then reduce heat and continue to simmer until it has thickened. Add beef & chives (I didn't have time to add the chives last night - still yummy) to the vegetable mixture - add more seasoning as necessary.
The original recipe calls for an 8x8 pan, but since I have added a bit more food I use a larger pan. Once beef/veg mixture is in pan, spread cauliflower mixture on top then sprinkle panko crumbs on top - put back in oven and bake until it is hot all the way through - about 8 minutes. Enjoy!
Original recipe states it is 4 servings - this is 6.
1 head of cauliflower - cut into smaller pieces (might do two heads next time with the 4 c of veg)
Fresh ground Pink Himalayan salt & fresh ground pepper
1/2 c Greek yogurt
1 lb ground grass-fed beef
1 medium diced onion
2 cloves minced garlic
Basil (to taste)
Thyme (fresh or dried - to taste)
3-4 c frozen vegetables (my favorites - lima beans and/or edamame, peas, green beans, corn)
1 14 oz can diced organic tomatoes - I chop them up in the in the food processor a bit first
1 c organic chicken broth
1 T cornstarch
3 T fresh chopped chives
Whole wheat panko crumbs
Preheat oven to 450. I use my Pampered Chef large bar pan and arrange the cauliflower on this - no cooking spray required this way. Season the cauliflower with salt/pepper. Roast for up to 30 minutes - until tender. Then put cauliflower into food processor with yogurt and blend.
Heat a lag nonstick pan over med-high heat. Once pan is hot add ground beef - season it with salt/pepper. Break up meat and cook until cooked through, remove fat.
Reduce heat to medium. Add onion to the pan and saute until nearly tender then add garlic and saute a bit longer - about 6-7 min total. Add frozen veggies & tomatoes. In a sm bowl whisk the chick broth & cornstarch. Add that mixture to the vegetables as well as basil & thyme. Raise the heat to high, bring mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly. Then reduce heat and continue to simmer until it has thickened. Add beef & chives (I didn't have time to add the chives last night - still yummy) to the vegetable mixture - add more seasoning as necessary.
The original recipe calls for an 8x8 pan, but since I have added a bit more food I use a larger pan. Once beef/veg mixture is in pan, spread cauliflower mixture on top then sprinkle panko crumbs on top - put back in oven and bake until it is hot all the way through - about 8 minutes. Enjoy!
Original recipe states it is 4 servings - this is 6.
Life, as we know it
Owen is now walking all over the place - still a bit wobbly, but determined. This morning he was eating his egg very well with his fork. He says, mommy, daddy, more, banana - but that is about it. He LOVES to give kisses - just like both of his brothers have. He waves and does also say bye! He puts his hands together at prayer time and also loves to clap. At his wellness visit last Thursday he weighed 24 lbs & 6 oz - 40%, and was 30.5" tall - 19%. Owen LOVES to play peek-a-boo - he just laughs & laughs - it never ceases to amaze me the enjoyment and entertainment little ones get from such a simple game. It really is the simple things in life ;o) Owen loves to wear shoes - if he is really fighting me in the mornings when I am getting him dressed all I have to do is ask if he wants to wear his shoes and he will calm down and hold up a foot for me to put a sock on - too funny!
Avery continues to be a bit obsessed with footwear. Of course he prefers he brother Evan's shoes to his own, but about any shoe will do.
Evan has started doing puzzles again daily. He loved them a couple of years ago, but then quit and has now taken them up again. The other day we were all in the car on the way to church and Evan announced to all that he was now furry - ha! He has now noticed he has hair on his legs.
Yesterday Evan and Owen went and played with Miss Joneen while Avery came with me. We went and got hot chocolate & coffee together. Then we went to a couple of Goodwill stores looking for soccer cleats for him, but to no avail - we did find a couple of bike helmets and a few other goodies. Next week Evan will come with me - we need to check on his shoe size to make sure I am right in thinking he is a size 11 before I give him his new light up Buzz and Woody shoes.
Owen has started a biting spree to defend himself against his brothers, unfortunately they have all followed suit and use it when they are mad at their brothers. So far they have only done it with their brothers and not with friends or cousins - I pray this stays the case.
I am continuing to move things around in the house - trying to make it the best I can to make it less destructible for the boys. A couple of weeks ago I moved the shelving with the toys up to the boys playroom to keep the family room easier to manage. This week I have relocated the file cabinet in the loft area to make room for the armoire out there so they can't keep pulling out all of the diapers, wipes, lotion... The other day they did all of those things and Owen & Avery had LOTS of lotion in their hair - put there by they big brother Evan - such a joy they all are. Then that night when they were taking their baths Avery got a hold of a bottle of liquid soap that wasn't for babies and burned Evan's eyes. There is just always something! They will either keep me young or drive me right over the edge - my thoughts on that change moment by moment.
Alex is running and training to run a 12 mile run through mud and over obstacles in October. He is getting shin splints so that is not good. We will see. We are both doing Weight Watchers again - he has lost about 5.5 lbs and in the first week I lost 3.5. I want to make sure I can be the best that I can be for my boys - I don't see them slowing down anytime soon.
Speaking of not slowing down - Evan and Avery will be starting soccer at church in a couple of weeks then in November the family is going to take Tai Kwan Do. Evan and Avery will both also be in children's choirs at church starting in September on Wednesday nights.
I am potentially going back into the work force - I have been approached and the company should know if they get a contract by the end of the month. In the meantime I have researched childcare facilities and gotten us on some wait lists - there are a couple of other places I want to get to, but haven't had a chance yet, in all of my spare time.
On that note, I have much to do - laundry, dishes, cleaning... they are all never ending projects!
Avery continues to be a bit obsessed with footwear. Of course he prefers he brother Evan's shoes to his own, but about any shoe will do.
Evan has started doing puzzles again daily. He loved them a couple of years ago, but then quit and has now taken them up again. The other day we were all in the car on the way to church and Evan announced to all that he was now furry - ha! He has now noticed he has hair on his legs.
Yesterday Evan and Owen went and played with Miss Joneen while Avery came with me. We went and got hot chocolate & coffee together. Then we went to a couple of Goodwill stores looking for soccer cleats for him, but to no avail - we did find a couple of bike helmets and a few other goodies. Next week Evan will come with me - we need to check on his shoe size to make sure I am right in thinking he is a size 11 before I give him his new light up Buzz and Woody shoes.
Owen has started a biting spree to defend himself against his brothers, unfortunately they have all followed suit and use it when they are mad at their brothers. So far they have only done it with their brothers and not with friends or cousins - I pray this stays the case.
I am continuing to move things around in the house - trying to make it the best I can to make it less destructible for the boys. A couple of weeks ago I moved the shelving with the toys up to the boys playroom to keep the family room easier to manage. This week I have relocated the file cabinet in the loft area to make room for the armoire out there so they can't keep pulling out all of the diapers, wipes, lotion... The other day they did all of those things and Owen & Avery had LOTS of lotion in their hair - put there by they big brother Evan - such a joy they all are. Then that night when they were taking their baths Avery got a hold of a bottle of liquid soap that wasn't for babies and burned Evan's eyes. There is just always something! They will either keep me young or drive me right over the edge - my thoughts on that change moment by moment.
Alex is running and training to run a 12 mile run through mud and over obstacles in October. He is getting shin splints so that is not good. We will see. We are both doing Weight Watchers again - he has lost about 5.5 lbs and in the first week I lost 3.5. I want to make sure I can be the best that I can be for my boys - I don't see them slowing down anytime soon.
Speaking of not slowing down - Evan and Avery will be starting soccer at church in a couple of weeks then in November the family is going to take Tai Kwan Do. Evan and Avery will both also be in children's choirs at church starting in September on Wednesday nights.
I am potentially going back into the work force - I have been approached and the company should know if they get a contract by the end of the month. In the meantime I have researched childcare facilities and gotten us on some wait lists - there are a couple of other places I want to get to, but haven't had a chance yet, in all of my spare time.
On that note, I have much to do - laundry, dishes, cleaning... they are all never ending projects!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken with mushrooms & potatoes!
Last night for dinner I prepared my first WHOLE chicken - it was amazing. Here is what it was...
2 med size or 1 lg onion cut into wedges
2 cloves chopped garlic
2 T soy sauce
1/4 t salt & 1/8 t fresh ground pepper
6-12 sma potatoes (I used red potatoes from our garden)
6 oz fresh mushrooms sliced 1/2" thick (I used cremini)
Rinse & dry chick thoroughly. Cut off lumps of fat. Put bouillon cube in cavity. Squeeze lemon & reserve juice. Put rinds in cavity. Put chick in slow cooker - breast side up. Sprinkle with paprika & parsley. Put onion wedges & garlic around the chick. Pour over the soy sauce & lemon juice/salt & pepper. Crumble bouillon cube over chick. Top with pot & mushrooms. Cover & cook on high until instant-read thermometer into thickest part of thigh registers 180 degrees - 3.5 to 4.5 hrs. To serve discard lemon rinds & portion potatoes, mushrooms, onions & chicken in shallow soup bowls & discard skin & bones (I kept bones to make a stock) Spoon some of the liquid over for ea serving. From "Not your Mother's slow cooker cookbook" by Beth Hensperger & Julie Kaufmann. AWESOME book if you like using a slow cooker - I have two versions of it!
2 cloves chopped garlic
2 T soy sauce
1/4 t salt & 1/8 t fresh ground pepper
6-12 sma potatoes (I used red potatoes from our garden)
6 oz fresh mushrooms sliced 1/2" thick (I used cremini)
Rinse & dry chick thoroughly. Cut off lumps of fat. Put bouillon cube in cavity. Squeeze lemon & reserve juice. Put rinds in cavity. Put chick in slow cooker - breast side up. Sprinkle with paprika & parsley. Put onion wedges & garlic around the chick. Pour over the soy sauce & lemon juice/salt & pepper. Crumble bouillon cube over chick. Top with pot & mushrooms. Cover & cook on high until instant-read thermometer into thickest part of thigh registers 180 degrees - 3.5 to 4.5 hrs. To serve discard lemon rinds & portion potatoes, mushrooms, onions & chicken in shallow soup bowls & discard skin & bones (I kept bones to make a stock) Spoon some of the liquid over for ea serving. From "Not your Mother's slow cooker cookbook" by Beth Hensperger & Julie Kaufmann. AWESOME book if you like using a slow cooker - I have two versions of it!
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