meal list thursday: livin' the dream

This part of the week always sneaks up on me.

So I spend a minute here and there while staring blankly at my cube walls, sitting in a meeting (j/k, Boss Man), or on my lunch-hour drive taking Finn to preschool-- trying to figure out what the heck we're going to eat for dinner the following week.  Luckily I just downloaded the sweet Aldi app so I can see what weird German food is on sale this week.  Sweet bavarian mustard?  Why yes, I'll take some.  Dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets?  No thanks.

I'm living the dream, I tell ya.

You know what else you should be jealous of?  My saint of a husband has finagled me into helping him mud and sand the newly-hung drywall in our basement.  Me.  Sand.  Drywall.  I've officially become a roommate. 

(I'mjustkiddingbabykissykissyiloveyouandthanksfortheawesomebasement.)


Here is this week's meal list:

Pizza with Chicken, Tri-Colored Bell Peppers and Mushrooms
Crockpot Mexican Chicken Soup
Black Bean Cakes with Pico de Gallo (Recipes here and here.  Don't be scared.  It will change your life.)
Sausage-Corn Soup (Yes, two soups this week. It is autumn you know.)


Recipes here.

Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods

Dude have you been here yet?

We took Finn to Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods for dinner on his birthday a couple weeks ago and had so much fun!  The place is totally bonkerific.  They have vintage carnival decor, free popcorn, and toys and hula-hoops to occupy the kids.  (Not to mention, Super Mario games on their website!)

The owner couldn't have been nicer, even going so far as to put a birthday candle in Finn's green sno-cone and joining us in singing Happy Birthday.  Finn was beyond excited!

They offer standard carnival fare like pretzels, funnel cake, nachos, and cotton candy, in addition to sandwiches, barbecue, and THIS gut-buster, which you know is what I ordered:

Mr. Joe's Triple Dog Dare You

It was uh-mazing.  A hot dog covered in chili, jalepeno mac&cheese, and bacon.  Seriously?  I thought I died and went to heaven.  They were playing JoyFM in the background too so for a second there I really thought Jesus might pop out from behind the sno-cone machine.  (Which would probably be the best birthday ever!)

If you have kids you MUST take them.  You will be the bestest parent ever.

is eating fast-food cheaper?

This weekend I was reminded of an Oprah episode I watched last year which featured a family who said that their lifestyle of eating fast food was actually more cost-effective than going to the grocery store, buying food, and preparing it at home.  Fast-forward to this article that I read over the weekend and I was reminded yet again.

Is it true that you can spend less money on meals from the drive-thru than a meal prepared at home with fresh ingredients purchased at any average grocery store?  Uh, no.

Case in point: a few nights ago I, Parent Of The Year, made the judgment call to pick up Burger King for dinner.  It was Friday night, cooking was the last thing I felt like doing, we had $13 cash AND a coupon for a free Kids Meal.  We were also pressed for time.  We'd be stupid not to go, right? 

So I ordered our food, kept the cost within $13, and brought it home.  Passing it out to the kids I realized that I didn't get 2 of the items I'd ordered (but paid for).  I drove back to get the rest of the food.   In total, both trips took me about 20 minutes. 

We spent $13 on two Whoppers, 1 large fry, 1 4-pc chicken tenders, and 1 Kids Meal (which was free because of the coupon).  Lila barely touched her food and Finn took only a few bites of his little burger.  I think I speak for the little darlings when I say we would've been better off if Mama had instead prepared a meal like this:

1 lb. top sirloin steak - $8 (avg.) 
2 large baking potatoes - $1.50
1 lb. green beans - $2

We could have had a delicious, reasonably healthy meal prepared in the same amount of time and money.  But we didn't, and it was all in the name of convenience.  Yes, there are definitely things wrong with our food industry, but just as importantly, with our attitudes about what food is and what it should do for us.

The BK slogan is "Have it your way."  I totally should have.  :)

meal list thursday

This week is on more of a steady pace than the last few, and I am grateful for the small amount of downtime.  Although we are super blessed for the reasons we've been so busy: celebrating Finn's 4th birthday, organizing his party, and enjoying a weeklong visit from Eric's family while they helped transform our basement into something that resembles a clean, comfortable, future-living-space.  I've been taking pictures of the progress and I CAN'T WAIT to see and enjoy the end result!

And so this week we rest.  Sort of.  I've had the time to race-train a couple of times and I'm determined to get myself on track with where I should be in my training.  Wish me luck-- I have no doubt that I can survive the distance (with or without pooping my pants), but rather, survive the 'hood.  While the side-streets in my neighborhood are nice and hilly, it's pitch-dark by the the time I get outside and killers and thugs can hide out anywhere.  Even behind Woofies.  So Killers and Thugs, I'd appreciate it if you could lie low until after race day.  Thanks.


Here is this week's meal list:

Slow-Cooker Pot Roast, Baked Potatoes, and Green Beans
Crispy Lemon Tilapia with Rice and Broccoli
Smoked Porkloin with Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Asparagus (Eric usually cooks the meat the evening before so that it has plenty of time on the smoker.)

Recipes here.

dinnertime discussion

Finn: Mom, there's something in my shoe.
Me: Umm, is it toes?
Finn: (Laughs)  No!
Me: Umm, is it a foot?
Finn: No!  (Laughs again)  It's small!
Me: Oh, I know!  It's a toenail!
Finn: (Digs around in his shoe)  Oops.  It's just meat.

meal list thursday & my downward spiral

So I take back what I said last week about not being worried about the half-marathon I signed up for which is just FIVE WEEKS AWAY.  I take it all back!  I'm freaking out!  Lately I can't seem to squeeze in training more than twice a week... which is hecka worse than where I was in my training this time last year. 

Besides, I CAN'T do worse than I did last year!  I just can't!  Not only did I get beat by a teenager in a wheelchair and a soldier in full army gear (with his backpack and everything and with all due respect to both), I didn't wear a watch to help keep me on pace and ended up averaging like 15 minute miles.  I'm barely exaggerating.  Not to mention, I couldn't walk for two days afterwards. 

ugh.

Not only that but I seem to be gaining weight faster than you can say "birthday cake" and it is of utmost importance that I run off some of these fat cells STAT. My pants-tightness is embarrassing.  I need Jillian Michaels or Richard Simmons or SOMEONE to bust me into shape. 

I run so that I can eat yummy food for dinner and theoretically not worry as much about the calories.  Here is this week's meal list: 

Spaghetti Bolognese, Garlic Bread, and Roasted Green Beans
Hearty Roasted Poblano Corn Chowder (omg, found here)
Fried Chicken Salad

Recipes here.

four

Conversation on June 24:

Me:  Finn, you're going to turn four soon! Is there anything you want for your birthday?

Finn: After a moment of careful consideration, you whisper: 'Apple Cake?' as if you dare not ask for something so extravagant.

Not tickets to Toy Story 3 on Ice, not the latest superhero figurines, not even a new bike.  You just want apple cake. 

You have such a sweet spirit, little Finn.  Your dad and I treasure it so much!   Don't ever lose your wonder, excitement, and hope for the simple and good things in life. You deserve it, and you'll get it! 

Happy 4th Birthday Finn!  I hope you enjoy your Apple Cake!


love, Mama


Recipe here. (Generously shared by my friend Nikki Becker.  Thanks girl!)

meal list thursday: ramblings

Fall has arrived!  The weather this week has been absolutely beautiful.  The temp has gone down, leaves have started falling from the trees, the sun shines golden, and the air has life in it.  I know this because I stare out the window from the 2nd floor of my building and watch the cars race by on I-270. 


This also means that I have to officially begin training for the half-marathon I've signed up for which is just six weeks away.  But it's OK, man, it's OK.  I'm not worried.  The weather no longer makes me want to punch Mother Nature in the face OR fall over and die, so I'm more than happy to go on my long solitary runs 3x/week.  I'll catch up in no time.

I have another excuse for not getting my butt into gear 6 weeks ago to start training: the summer started off busy enough with our day-to-dayness, intensified by the beginnings of a basement remodel, Eric's church commitments, and a stack of books on reserve at the library, all of which (naturally) became available right around the same time.  Now we're neck-deep in basement debris with no end in sight, planning our little boy's 4th birthday party, and, natch, I decided it's the right time to refinish a big-boy bed for his birthday present.  (Yeah for a $50 Craigslist Special!  Twofer at that!  However, my arms and hands hate me for it.) 


I'll stop rambling.  Here's this week's meal list:

Apple-Sausage Rigatoni
Cinnamon Roasted Chicken with Rosemary Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans
Beef & Broccoli over Brown Rice

Recipes here.

meal list thursday

Somehow this Labor Day weekend has become a self-fulfilling prophesy because it's going to be full of all kinds of work.  For whatever reason I have a half-dozen things I'd told myself to accomplish in 4 days' time (using PTO on Friday, OH yeah!), which includes: refinishing a bed, making party favors and other planning for Finn's upcoming birthday party, cleaning out my dining room, and helping Eric work on our basement.   I'm also going to talk Eric into backyard-camping with Finn so I can surf the internet for as long as I want and eat all the junk food in the house.  And I am sure that I'm forgetting something... Shower?  Church?  Child-rearing?  It's gonna be a busy weekend. 

Stupid.  I'd love to just order takeout to make things easier.  But that would quickly eat up the $76 surprise check that I just received from Verizon for overcharging me back in 2006 for Godknowswhat.  Yes, I am just now getting that reimbursement check.  Thank you, Verizon.

What are your plans for this Labor Day weekend?  Maybe you should host a BBQ and invite your favorite Francesca.  Otherwise, here's what I think I'll be making:


BBQ Pork Steaks, Mexican Corn, and Coleslaw
Grilled Chicken Legs, Randy's Dandies Baked Beans, and Sautéed Broccoli
Summer Vegetable Pizza

Recipes here.

Hope you all have a great Labor Day Weekend!