The Nonsensationalist

thanks, msn, for shooting it to us straight

2012-01-27T14:54:00.001-06:00

I call bull...oney.

http://money.msn.com/family-money/is-eating-out-cheaper-than-cooking-fiscaltimes.aspx

sugar and spice and everything nice...

2012-01-14T21:00:00.000-06:00

...well, sugar is just where it's at. And that's how we celebrated Lila's birthday. With lots and lots and LOTS of sugar.

We had her party at Dr. Jazz Soda Fountain, a mom-and-pop vintage ice-cream shop. For her party we went with a "sweets" theme, complete with candy, cupcakes, ice cream, and of course, our sweet little two year old!

It was also a party to celebrate my neice Emma's birthday. She is one trés chic chick, and it was a lot of fun for the girls to celebrate together.

Lila pranced around the party, surrounded by cousins, friends and presents, chewing on her giant candy necklace the entire time. I think it's safe to say she had a blast!

I, on the other hand, can't believe my girl is already two years old. Which basically makes me want to suck my thumb, wet my pants, and cry. But she is as bright and capable and wonderous as they come. She speaks in sentences, loves to chase her big brother, and will look at a pink sunset and exclaim, "My favorite!"

I look at her and think the same. Happy 2nd Birthday Lila!

well helloooooo january

2012-01-01T00:02:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year, y'all!

Or not quite: it's 11:42pm on the eve of 2012. I'm eating obscene amounts of pub cheese, drinking pinot grigio, and watching Austin City Limits. Hecks yes, that's how I ring in the new year. I wish I was cooler, but alas I am not.

As you may have noticed, it has been awhile since I've kept up on this old beast. Just call it the worst case of burn-out since, say, my entire high school career. ~~When I smoked weed and proudly maintained a C average. Holler.~~

2011 has really been a year of recognizing priorities, looking to the future, and realizing the importance of keeping a positive attitude. It's been a challenge and is obviously still a work in progress, but I've realized that despite my dream of being a stay-at-home-mother, I am blessed in many ways for having the job that I have. I work for a great company with hilarious and kind people. My kids have clean socks and underwear and get their hair cut on time. We take vacations on an annual basis (if not more often), and our health is good. Our cars are paid off, we're making our house the best it can be, we love each other, and our children are beautiful and wonderful. Asking for more would just be greedy.

Happy New Year!

it's better to burn out than to fade away (name that quote)

2011-11-16T20:06:00.001-06:00

I've got burn-out. Like nobody's business.

Since the race (like 3 weeks ago!) I've been dragging, dragging, draaaagging. We took a week "off" after the race and ignored house projects, exercising, and any other unnecessary activities, and it's been super difficult getting up and going again. I feel like I'm doing the bare minimum and sometimes not even that.

So even though I pressed on in my race training and hit my PR, I feel like I'm barely keeping pace with everything else. I haven't put on my running shoes in weeks and I find myself having a date with the couch every night. I also started a new position at work and now as trainee I am uber-conscious of the fact that I'm a sloooow little newbie.

The holidays are quickly approaching with Lila's birthday just a few weeks after. My God, why didn't I plan her birthday in August like I did in good ol' 2010? Simpler times, y'all.

Lessons learned I guess. Now excuse me while I polish off a bag of sweet potato chips. In my bed.

I'm disgusting.

meal list thursday

2011-11-07T23:06:00.001-06:00

It's been a good couple of weeks.

We're back on track with the basement and holy cow, I'm pretty sure it's gonna get done before the end of the year. Keep your fingers crossed and pray to Jesus with me that it does! I'm super excited about the extra living space and I get all giddy thinking about how soonverysoon I'll get to reorganize the main level of our house and put everything back where it's supposed to go instead of tripping over Rubbermaid bins, random boxes, and misplaced toys.

And if I really let my mind go there I can daydream about all the ways I'd like to update and redecorate our house. You know, if I'd found a hidden bag of cash in the basement rafters. Or if Craig from Craigslist would just be a good friend and hook me up with awesome stuff in the Free section.

(Tangent: have you ever READ the stuff in the Free section? It provides me with much entertainment. Like this post, and this and this and this. These people/posts just make me laugh. God love 'em.)

It's also been a good couple of weeks because I have officially transitioned to a different role at work. I enjoyed my previous position as well, but I'm kinda pleased that I was chosen to do something different. So now I just have to remind myself not to screw up royally.

This week's meal list:

Grilled Top Sirloin Steak and Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Pretzel-Crusted Chicken Breasts With Cheddar Mustard Sauce and Steamed Broccoli (omg)
Pan-Grilled Salmon, Oven Roasted Potatoes, and Parmesan Tomatoes

Recipes here. Remember: these recipes will make enough food for 2+ people for 2+ meals.

meal list thursday: lessons learned (and TGINovember)

2011-11-03T21:34:00.000-05:00

It's been a nice, quiet week. We've had few commitments the last week or two which has given us a bit of time to chill out on the couch, enjoy a few Halloween festivities (and eat lots of halloween "nandy" as Lila calls it), and act like normal people NOT trying to race against the clock.

Next time? We'll not refinish a basement whilst mutually training for a half-marathon, training on alternating nights for 2+ months. So long, long runs. I miss my couch, I miss my kids, and I miss FB my husband. But he has a rock-solid hot bod now (and he's sporting a new tattoo) so I'll shut my trap.

And now that it's November, I have some Very Important Goals:
     1) sign up for Pinterest. Invite me please.
     2) online-Christmas-shop until my fingers bleed.
     3) help Eric finish the basement. Like for real finish this time.

(which segues to...)

Man, our basement is CRUSTY! Earlier today I was on all fours scrubbing the concrete floors and cursing the previous owners when I realized: Uh-oh, we've owned this house for 7+ years so it's *kinda* our fault that it's still dirty.

Next time? I'll not buy a 70+ year-old house. Nevermind that. It's clean now, or at least that's what I'll tell you. I have other things to tend to. Like this week's meal list:

Braised Balsamic Chicken over Rice with Steamed Broccoli
Slow-Cooker Pot Roast with Potatoes and Carrots
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Garden Salad (waaay down the list)

Recipes here.

b(re)aking bread

2011-11-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

So I have a mental list of cooking techniques I'd like to ~~master~~ attempt, and bread-baking is pretty much at the top of the list. I have no bread machine and I don't even know if I want one. (Do I want one?) I just want to learn how to make awesome bread! And then eat it.

Coincidentally, I've been on the hunt for the perfect cooking class to attend so that I may use the Dierbergs giftcard my ridiculously pretty sister Becki gave me for Christmas a couple years ago. (Which she gave to me knowing I'd use it for a class and not for apples made of 14k gold.)

So I chose a bread-baking class and Becki also signed up. The assignment was to make a baguette of New York Rye and a loaf of Whole Grain Wheat. It was taught by this adorable old lady who shared many tips for successful bread-baking and earnestly expressed how bread-baking "is a wonderful, womanly art" and how "you should always make an extra loaf to share with a friend." How sweet is that?!?

At that point Becki (who shares my dream of being a SAHM and ~~eating bonbons all day~~ raising our children) turned to me and whispered, "Don't you wish you could stay home all day and do wonderful womanly things like bake bread?"

"Yes, Becki. That WOULD be my very biggest dream come true." [Actual, more colorful response omitted per ~~the FCC's~~ Eric's request.]

i told you she was adorable.

she was too.

however, i look greasy and pasty. kind of like the dough.

exhibit 1: whole wheat.
"eelicious!" as Finn would say.

exhibit 2: ny rye.
"get in my mouth." as I would say.

We walked out with paper bags containing our hot-from-the-oven loaves. And of course we filled a shopping basket with honey butter and apple butter to go with it. (I also found chocolate soy-nut butter for Finn. Fancy, Dierbergs, fancy!) The bread smelled incredible and tasted even better. And both loaves were gone in 3 days. EEE-licious!

meal list thursday: sit, sleep, eat.

2011-10-27T20:58:00.000-05:00

I don't know if I'm in decompression-mode after the race and all of its ridonkulous training, burned-out from general busyness, or if I'm saving my energy for a half-marathon of eating Halloween candy. But I don't wanna do nothin'. I don't wanna write nothin'. I got nothin' to say.

But I still want to eat. That, friends, will never change. Here's this week's meal list:

Sharp White Cheddar Mac & Cheese with Butternut Squash
Slow-Cooker Steak Soft Tacos and Broiled Parmesan Tomatoes
Crockpot Beef Stew

Recipes here. (Beef Stew waaay at the bottom.)

(Remember: these recipes will make enough food for 2+ people for 2+ meals.)

finish line

2011-10-24T17:46:00.001-05:00

The Rock&Roll race was so much fun! 20,000 runners, rock bands at every mile, high-school cheerleading squads pushing us on, and a route that took us through so many great city neighborhoods.

I did it! And I did it without dying, and more importantly, without stopping to walk. Or pooping my pants, which is more than I can say for one girl.

We finished in the time I was hoping for, down to the exact minute: 2:30. And now my knees hate me. But it's OK, I won't put them through this kind of torture again, at least until next year.

As for Eric? He says this is his last race, but we all know that April Fool's Day is right around the corner.

meal list thursday: MLB edition

2011-10-20T17:35:00.000-05:00

Dang y'all, it's the World Series. And we are THERE! To celebrate this momentous occasion (and drawing inspiration from my brother who also prepared baseball-themed dinners last week during the playoffs), I will create a meal plan loosely based on our national favorite pasttime: watching the St. Louis Cardinals. ;)

Here is this week's meal plan:

Pretzel-Wrapped Hotdogs, fresh sliced vegetables, and Oven Fries (I was going to follow this recipe for the hotdogs until I realized that refrigerated pretzel dough is on sale this week at Aldi. So I'll just use that instead of making my own dough. I'll let you know if I fail miserably. Yes, I'll be following this recipe. More power to you if your Aldi store still has pretzel dough in stock.)

Slow-Cooker Spicy Chicken Nachos (Recipe here. Serve over chips, top with queso, and garnish with diced peppers and jalapenos to get your quota of vegetables.)

St. Louis Style Thin-Crust Veggie Pizza with Provel Cheese (Recipe here.)

Go Cards!

HAPPY 31RTHDAY!

2011-10-18T10:07:00.000-05:00

Today is Eric's birthday. Somewhat ironically, I have taken the day off work but he has not. I get to relax and hang out with the kids on HIS birthday. It's twisted but it works to my advantage.

Most years I make cheesecake for him. This year I opted to make Dark Chocolate Extra Stout Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey’s Irish Whipped Cream. Quite the mouthful, and I haven't even eaten one yet.

It's really quite easy: you use your favorite chocolate cake mix, add stout in place of the water, and stir in chopped chocolate. The recipe calls for Guinness beer but I find that Guinness leaves a bit to be desired in the taste department. So I used Schlafly Oatmeal Stout instead. Yum!

Eric took a dozen to work with him to share with his team. I hope they enjoy these as much as they did the last time Eric shared cupcakes at work.

photo op

2011-10-14T00:13:00.001-05:00

I'll have to interrupt this (not) regularly-scheduled blog to give a super-loud shout out to Sherry Lane Photography for the photos she took of my family just a few weeks ago. Sherry has been a long-time friend of my family and is a wonderful, sweet, creative chick.

Sherry went way beyond the call of duty with more ideas and energy than I could have imagined. To keep two little kids not only corralled but focused and happy for two hours? Well, I just think that's a gift that not everyone has. ;)

I look at some of the photos and wonder, "Who ARE these people?" Where are the dark circles under my eyes or the toddler-snot on my shirt? I look at Eric's face (handsome dude that he is) and think back to the first time I met him over 11 years ago. And I look at our kids and my mind goes blank and I can't think of a word to say. I'm just blessed beyond measure and uncharacteristically speechless. These photos just capture their darling personalities perfectly.

If you like what you see, visit Sherry here. And here are a few of my favorites:

meal list thursday: what big squash you have

2011-10-13T16:54:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am still trying to use up the bounty of summer squash that was bestowed upon me by our kids' babysitter. But I ain't complainin'! She occasionally gets extra produce from a friend and passes it along to me, knowing I won't let it go to waste. She knows me well. ;) It's always a nice surprise when I pick up the kids on a Monday afternoon and she has a bag of squash waiting for me.

Here is this week's meal list:

Stuffed Peppers
Italian Roasted Sausage & Squash
Grilled Vegetable Lasagna
Chicken Croquettes served with Salad (Recipe here. I used shredded chicken from a batch of Sticky Chicken and froze the rest for another time.)

Recipes here. (Italian Roasted Sausage & Squash waaay down the list.)

meal list thursday: out of commission

2011-10-08T21:58:00.000-05:00

So I'm posting this a couple of days late but I have a good excuse. Swear. The 24-stomach bug just ain't for the weak of heart.

But here I am just one day later: alive and well, with a gut full of wicked hot salsa and beefy Mexican goodness from Lily's Mexican Restaurant. I feel like Rocky Balboa, or maybe Shooter McGavin. Really I just feel awesome again.

That's how I roll though. I can't STAND the chicken-soup-and-Gatorade diet for more than 2 meals in a row and I'd rather take my chances of blowing a hole in my gut than eat one more bowl of condensed nastiness and white bread. Bleh. Gatorade's pretty good though. (Cue Rocky or Shooter montage.)

So I'll post the meal list and hope for better next week. Bonus: Eric will be on a fishing trip later in the week so I'll get to internet until the wee hours of dawn and we'll all be better because of it. Yes, internet is a verb.

This week's meal list:

Penne Alfredo with Zucchini and Yellow Squash (summer's last hoo-rah)
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches (found here) and Coleslaw (here)
Chili (love chili weather!) served with Salad (because we HAF to have a veggie.)

Recipes here (chili waaay down on the list)

meal list thursday: livin' the dream

2011-09-29T22:44:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-27T23:53:00.002-05:00

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?

2011-09-26T00:00:00.001-05:00

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

2011-09-22T22:34:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-21T21:05:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-15T00:00:00.008-05:00

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

2011-09-14T00:00:00.015-05:00

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

2011-09-08T22:54:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-01T22:31:00.001-05:00

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!

la cocina compartida - summer workshop 2011

2011-08-30T23:45:00.000-05:00

"The Shared Kitchen" about sums it up for me. I can't get nothin' done in my kitchen without tripping over some babies/toys/magnets/papers/cereal. Such is life.

But this post isn't about me, or even about my kitchen. This post is about my dear old friend Katie and the super-fun cooking workshop she hosted a couple of weeks ago. Which I of course jumped at the chance to attend.

Katie: Would you like to come to my cooking class?
Me: Do Mexicans do the Macarena? I'm SO there!

Katie = Awesome. I've known her since gradeschool, and I miss her tons. While I'm here living the dream in the same town she and I grew up in, Katie is doing all kinds of amazing things in a city in the middle of Mexico. She is back in town for a few weeks and decided to organize a cooking class to teach a few friends how to cook authentic Mexican food. She so graciously invited me to attend, for which I am thankful.

We prepared then gorged ourselves on all kinds of deliciousness, all while she described little tidbits about the local culture in Guanajuato and her experiences while living there. I'm just grateful that she thought to invite me in the first place. But next time I expect a real invite to Mexico.

Here's a sample of the food we made. Please excuse the pictures. My camera is a piece of caca:

beautiful katie

ceviche, drunken salsa, and cucumbers

newlyweds

roasted chile and tomatillo salsa. warm and smoky.
i just wanted to pour the bowl in my glass and drink it.

sopes. i don't know either, but they were fun to make!

beet root and jicama salad. i'd never before had either one.
soooo good.

the main meal:
refried black beans, rajas con cremas, and beef with peanut sauce.

liquid crack, or, coffee with cinnamon and sugar. served with flan.
so good you'd smack your mama.

and last but not least, good conversations.

My dear Katie: thanks for the fun night out, amazing food, and cookbook! See you again next year?

picnics rule & meal list thursday

2011-08-25T00:00:00.009-05:00

I'll just get this week's meal list out of the way so we can quickly move on to the fun stuff. Business in front, party in back, am I right? I am from MO after all. (And no, I did not intend for this to be a teaser for mullets. Mullets will not be found further down this post. Well, OK. Lila kindof has a mullet. But it's not her fault.)

Summer Squash Casserole
Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches and Salad
Creamy Avocado Pasta with Roasted Grape Tomatoes (Found here on tastykitchen.com. This one might be a bit frou-frou for some dudes but it is an awesome, super easy summer dish. Heck, if he gets all fussy about it just serve it with chicken and tell him he can EATITANDLIKEIT! Also, follow her recommendation about not serving this dish left-over. We all know that an avocado the morning after is not pretty. Make fresh and devour!)

Recipes here.

Back to bidness. So does anyone else out there think that picnics are super awesome? Taking our kids on a low-key weekend picnic dinner is definitely among our favorite activities. Assuming our schedules and beastly St. Louis weather permit, of course. They are easy, cheap, and they get the kids out in the fresh air and out of our hair so we can enjoy the view and unwind from the long week.

Here are the pictures from our picnic dinner last Friday night. I might need a picnic now, right here on my bed. Where's the cheese and crackers?

The important stuff:

"Why yes, I think I will try a tomato."

"On second thought, I'll just stick with salami."

Done eating, time to play...

...and run up and down the hill a hundred times.

"Horsey!" (statue of King Louis IX of France)

Time for a break!

And time to teach the important things...

...like sharing a cookie...

...and sharing a laugh.

("The Wheels on the Bus Go Poop-Poop-Poop.")

...and of course, one last trek up the hill. (Thanks, Dad!)

meal list thursday: lunchtime edition

2011-08-18T00:00:00.002-05:00

We'll deviate a bit this week to fulfill a special request.

My gorgeously smart and stylish sister approached me recently about putting together a list of meal ideas. Not for dinners, mind you, but for her workaday lunch. Currently she lives alone and doesn't do much cooking for herself. My gargantuan family occupies her condo every Easter and Thanksgiving and for the other 363 days a year, I'm pretty sure her fridge holds nothing but Crystal Light and Boca Burgers. (I know this because I spy in her kitchen. And I still haven't figured out WHAT Boca Burgers are.)

So I thought I'd put together a list of a dozen meals that she can cook, divide into pre-portioned servings, store in the freezer (or quickly prepare in the morning), and grab as she walks out the door for work. Sounds easy, right? Then she requests the unrequestable: "Oh, and do calorie counts too. I want to know what I'm eating." Uhhh, no deal Missy. We all know I had to repeat more than one math course in my life and my only working calculator is on my Verizon Razzle. I'm just the ideas girl, Maria. You're the brains and you know it. I'll keep it relatively lean, I just don't have the fancy numbers to back it up.

(I'm secretly doing this because she is an awesome massage therapist and I'm hoping to score a free massage or three. This is also for my other sister Krissy who lives with a gal pal and doesn't cook very much either. And because she said she'd design a cookbook for me.)

(Tangent: Remember that part in Twins when Danny Devito comes to the sobering realization that his brother (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) was created to be the most perfect physical specimen while he, Vincent, was created from the "leftover crap" in the petri dish? Mmm-hmm.)

If you're going to give this method a try, you will need to invest in a dozen or so quart-size Pyrex freezer/dishwasher/microwave safe food storage containers. This way you can store your single-portion meals in one container, keep it in the fridge or freezer, and pop it in the microwave when you're ready to eat. (You gotta keep it easy for these cute unmarried girls and their fun active lifestyles and gobs of free time. If they get bored with domestic chores it's no big deal because they don't ACTUALLY have to do them.)

So here is the lunchpail list. Why not make 2 or 3 of these meals on a weekend, then throw it all in the freezer for a grab-and-go lunch for the next couple of weeks? DO IT!!!!

The following meals can be made ahead of time and stored in the freezer:

Simply Scrumptious Hamburger Soup. This stuff is the bees knees.

Crockpot Santa Fe Chicken. Serve with tortilla chips, warm tortillas, or over rice. YUM.

Chicken Noodle Soup. A classic.

Turkey Sliders. Make and freeze the burgers ahead of time and prepare with fresh bread and cheese in the morning before you leave for work.

Any of your favorite pasta dish, like Mediterranean Penne Pasta, Pasta Con Broccoli, or Spaghetti and Mini Turkey Meatballs. (Sidenote: Pasta freezes and reheats well, if stored correctly. Adding extra sauce or olive oil to the pasta helps it maintain the right consistency and appearance after you thaw and heat. And if the pasta looks a bit dry after thawing, just add a bit of water or olive oil as it heats, and stir gently.)

Spinach Lasagna

The ideas below can be pre-made and kept in the fridge all week:

Pizza or Calzones. Better than a Hot Pocket.

Chicken Salad with Sliced Bell Peppers and Tomatoes on Sandwich Thins

Awesome Unnamed Vegetarian Bagel Sandwich. An idea that I stole from a girl I know circa 1997. This is another sandwich you can make fresh each morning before work. It's so darn easy you'd be stupid not to try it.

(All recipes can be found here.)

Other tips:

Grill and slice a few skinless chicken breasts and peeled shrimp, then freeze in single-servings in freezer-safe bags or containers. Add to pastas or salads as an additional lean protein.
Add lots of grilled or roasted vegetables to whole-grain pasta to fill you up and help you get your daily dose of veggies, not to mention, a fiber-boost from the pasta.

if i had an orchard

2011-08-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

We spent Saturday morning at an orchard nearby, to pick the last of the season's fresh peaches. We try to go at least a few times per year to get the best of what they have to offer: peaches, blackberries, apples, pumpkins. Unfortunately we missed our chance for blackberries this time around as they sold out just last weekend. But the trip did have its (unplanned) advantages: we learned that the peaches (the "best crop they've had in years," according to one of their workers) were half-price!

Going to Eckerts is one of my favorite things we do with our kids. And 23 pounds of peaches later, we were happy.

So begins the task of eating the heck out of them before they go bad. Not to worry: in the coming days I'll do my best to make peach sauce for ice cream, individual-sized peach pie pockets, and stock some away in the freezer for a rainy day.

And we're off!

...off to find more!

I think the stains on her shirt say it all. We had a great time!

And we got even more good news: honeycrisp apples will be ready for picking at the end of the month. Who's coming with me???

overheard

2011-08-08T22:41:00.002-05:00

The other day, while baking 'nola bars for the millionth time in my life, Finn said something so funny to me that I keep replaying in my head and laughing about.

It was Saturday evening ~~(yes, this is my life)~~ and I was trying to throw a quick batch together before bed so that we'd have breakfast the next morning before church. I mixed in some dried cranberries and pulled a bag of shredded coconut from the fridge. Right about that moment Finn came in wanting a snack, and I dropped a few coconut shavings in his mouth like I was a doting and dutiful little mommy birdie giving her chirpy little boy a snack. He ran off to our bedroom again and continued with his latest obsession, Microsoft Word.

Pretty soon he was back into the kitchen wanting more "white stuff." Then back to the laptop to push AB34AB34AB34AB34AB34AB34 or maybe this time he was experimenting with the Shift button. Because, you know, it makes a star if you push it when you push the 8.

After 2 or 3 running sprints to the kitchen he finally popped in and exclaimed, "Mom, I need more white things in my mouth like lot of 'em." At which point I just gave him the rest of the bag as a prize for racking up 16837650583635 cute points.

drylok on cinderblock and meal list thursday

2011-08-04T00:00:00.002-05:00

I've been a busy bee and it's not by choice, man. Eric returned from his 4-day mancation last week but we immediately rolled back into Basement Work, otherwise known as UGH, LET'S JUST MOVE. We're partially-refinishing our basement with our own bare hands, which just might have been the worst idea ever. And I'm pretty sure I'm the one who came up with it. Right now we're in Drylok® Hell and for the last two nights I've been doing all kinds of man-work, sweating in a t-shirt and boxers, covered in paint, and even listening to the Cards game on the radio. Apparently all I'm missing are testicles.

Manual labor is the worst IMO. Next time I'll suggest that we go all female and just write a dang check to get the work done.

Rant over, meal list below, recipes here. As a reminder, these recipes will make enough food to last 2 meals for 2+ people.

Mexican Lasagna with Sliced Bell Peppers and Tomatoes (served with ranch dressing for dipping, natch)
Pasta Alfredo with Roasted Vegetables
Turkey Tenderloin with Oven-Roasted Potatoes and Sautéed Zucchini (This one is a bit of a cheat, using pre-seasoned tenderloins. Don't judge.)
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches and Sweet Potato Fries

new scenes, green beans, and other things

2011-08-01T00:00:00.009-05:00

We tried a new restaurant this weekend, a rarity in our household for a couple of reasons. Sure, because the majority of our meals are home-cooked, but also because we rarely go anywhere without our kids. Thus, we stick with the places we know best, where we've taken our kids a hundred times and aren't worried about pretentious hot spots or whether our son (with allergies) can have anything on the menu.

However this does NOT mean that we have sold out and only hit up the drive-thru-kids-eat-free-chain-restaurant hot spots, either. We try to have some semblance of pride despite having 2 toddlers (one who poops her pants) ruling our lives. And sometimes it's nice to take our kids to places that WE actually enjoy too. We are regulars at a couple of neighborhood mom-and-pop pizza joints, pubs, and few others, and usually save the grown-up places for our dates which are few and far in between.

So, we went to Winslow's Home. Apparently it's been open for three years but I'm pretty sure I've been busy for most of that time so we're just now getting around to checking it out. The menu is small, seasonal and simple, serving food grown on a farm in Augusta. The atmosphere is rustic-meets-industrial-meets-market. Just the tables alone I wanted to steal for my dining room, not to mention the chandeliers made from milk bottles and the sweet kitchen gear for sale.

I had a roasted chicken entree with buttermilk green beans which was enough for me and the kids, while Eric had a pulled brisket sandwich which I'm pretty sure was slow-simmered in candied crack because it tasted like dessert and I'm still thinking about it 30 hours later.

The staff and other patrons were so kind even as our 2 babes tore through the aisles probably trying to figure out ways to pocket Swedish Fish from the candy display. We left the place happy and full, with an orange, jolly ranchers, and tootsie rolls for the ride home.

barfhouse farms

2011-07-28T23:01:00.002-05:00

Don't for a minute think that this brand of juice is just as yummy as the Trader Joe's or Whole Foods varieties. What's hiding behind this label is a rotten trick.

This one, unfortunately, tastes JUST like carrots:

...and this one tastes a lot like dogfood:

And what sucks the most is that the dogfood juice bottle is still mostly full.

And so it shall remain that way.

R.I.P. Bolthouse Farms.

Forever.

Saving Money: Part Deuce

2011-07-19T23:12:00.002-05:00

We'll be taking a short break from food-talk today to talk about the other end of the spectrum: poop. And how to dispose of the baby variety in a cost-effective manner, as the good wife to a frugal husband with whom I share said pre-potty trained baby.

The way we have decided to go about this is to cloth-diaper. Cloth-diapering was something that I considered when I was pregnant with our first child but never followed through on because I thought it would be a hassle. But when I became pregnant with our second child I was determined to reconsider, as I was looking for any possible way to cut expenses now that we had another sweet little mouth to feed. I did gobs of research (again) and even attended a class to learn about the different styles that are on the market today. I was SO sold. I was confident that this was something I could get Eric on board with this time around.

And here we are, 18 months into the process and we've survived thus far. It's easy, actually, and truthfully I feel like an idiot for not doing it with our first child! It's really a great option if you have a baby and are looking for ways to cut costs.

We were (SO!) blessed to receive most of our cloth diapers as gifts. We purchased a few more diapers on our own, bought a wet bag to store the dirties, and we received a diaper sprayer from a very sweet friend who cloth-diapers her little girls. I also made a bunch of 8"x8" cloth wipes using a couple yards of cotton flannel material. All in all, we spent about $140 in diapers and supplies and received the rest in gifts. Compare that to the $1300+ we spent for disposable diapers, wipes, Diaper Genie liners, etc., for our first child and you can see what a huge savings that is. It's crazy how it adds up-- and all ends up in the trash anyway. Which is totally gross from an environmental perspective as well as a financial perspective. I might as well have been wiping his butt with dollar bills!

I am also excited about the brand of diaper I chose. Most of my stash is compiled of the BumGenius Elemental diapers, but I also have a few Flip Organic diapers and I just purchased a 3-pack of Econobum diapers. These are seriously awesome diapers!

As a sidenote, these diapers were created by the owners of a local small business, Cotton Babies, which is a retail store with 2 locations in our area and 1 store in Vancouver, WA. They sell natural, earth-friendly products, employ local designers, and donate their products in various community and worldwide charitable endeavors. How cool is that?! I know of the owners as they attend our church but I'm pretty sure they probably don't know me from Bob. I'm writing this simply because I love these diapers, I love how they have saved our family so much money, and I stalk their website like a freak because I love their products.

What are some creative and/or practical ways you have saved your family money? Please share your ideas!

meal list thursday: standby

2011-07-14T00:00:00.001-05:00

Well, this week's meal list isn't going to win any awards for presentation or creativity, but perhaps it will garner slight attention for simplicity and good old-fashioned reliability.

And that's what I'm all about. It's a blog-eat-blog world as my husband likes to joke, and y'all know I'm not much of a player. I'm just trying to keep it real. I done know I can't compete with my fancier cohorts so I'll just be content to hang out in the middle and hope that nobody notices how nerdy I am.

Too. Late.

Pan-grilled Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Sauteed Broccoli
Hotdogs, Side Salad, and Potato Chips (You don't need a recipe, do you?)
Bruschetta Pizza with Cornmeal Pizza Crust

Recipes, here. Remember, these recipes will yield quantities enough for two meals for 2+ adults!

why weekends are awesome

2011-07-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

humidity making hazy photographs: kind of awesome.

mud puddles and nightcrawlers: definitely awesome.

afternoon snack: also awesome.

backyard play-time: the awesomest.

meal list thursday: lazy edition

2011-06-30T00:01:00.002-05:00

Yeah, we're just going to keep it easy this week. It's summer, you're probably on vacation, and I'm about to go on one.

That's the beauty of Cook Once, Eat Twice. Can't get lazier than that. Well, I suppose you could.

Next week I hope to post a full report of our extended-weekend-away. Suffice it to say I'm SO ready to get out of dodge.

Recipes, here.

Salmon Patties over Salad
Spaghetti with Zucchini-Tomato Sauce
BLTs and Tomato-Cucumber Salad

2011-06-25T22:58:00.001-05:00

Well, I have been without internet service for two weeks, but I have finally resurfaced. It's good to be back. Frannie without her internet is like a dog without a bone, or a baby without its mother. It's REALLY sad. But it hasn't been without advantages, as I've been able to focus on some projects around the house as well as getting two books under my belt. (Don't ask what books. My mind is still reeling.)

One subject I've pondered lately is essentially the importance of what we eat. Specifically, the contents therein. I don't need to rattle off any statistics or cut and paste anything newsworthy, but this topic was brought to my attention by a recent local news headline. Whether it's true or not, exaggerated or not, or doesn't provide all the facts, I'm not one to say. But suffice it to say that it's a topic somewhat close to my heart.

This local story serves to underscore my thoughts on the subject: it is highly important to me that I know exactly what I'm eating and what I'm feeding my kids. Since before we started our family, and especially now that we have a child with multiple food allergies, I have been a diehard label-reader. I understand that it's nearly impossible to know the contents and source of 100% of every morsel that hits our lips, but I try to be a somewhat-educated consumer.

I am annoyed by food labels with a vague inference of additives, i.e. '10% solution added' to chicken, or eye-catching "nutritional" claims, i.e. PopTarts 'Now made with whole grain', and HFCS, dyes, and fillers that are in just about everything. I have been known to mutter sarcastically under my breath when reading food labels in the grocery aisle. (My husband might die of embarrassment when he reads this part. Sorry, hon.)

I'm also on a budget, which blows, but I suppose I'm not the only one in that boat. So when I'm forking over hard-earned cash for the best food that I can afford for my family, I feel I have the right as a consumer to know what I'm buying. At times I am ambivalent about how and when and where on the ladder we should draw the line, but DUDE, what's more important to our physical health than the food we put in our mouths? Meat should be meat, produce should be nutrient-rich, and dairy should be as healthy as possible. And perhaps most importantly, it should all be honest.

meal list thursday

2011-06-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's too hot to cook. It's too hot to do anything. Why did I plan for soup on a week with "Dangerously High Heat" according to weather.com? Stupid. Anyway, my advice is for you to eat it a few days from now, when temps are in their usual low-90s. Or maybe this weekend when it's raining. Or maybe you live in another state altogether and you could give two hoots what kind of weather we're having.

Anyway, this is one of my favorite soups. A light, incredibly full-flavored, summertime soup. If there is such a thing.

Avocado Soup with Chicken and Lime (courtesy of www.allrecipes.com)
Sidenote: I add 2 avocados instead of one, puréed with a bit of broth before adding to the soup. I also add an obscene amount of cilantro, top with monterey jack, and sub regular tortilla chips for the toasted tortillas. You will love it.

Beef and Bean Burritos (courtesy of The Pioneer Woman) served with sliced bell peppers and guacamole

Greek Salad with Chicken (Recipe, here.)

I must stop now. The hyperlinking is out of control.

meal list thursday: grillmaster's edition

2011-06-02T00:00:00.001-05:00

Ah, summertime. Freaking forget about spring, y'all. We're in St. Louis of MO. If the sweat isn't dripping down our backs and into our underpants then we must be having an ice storm. There is no happy medium.

But one happy thing about the season is that we use our grill as much as we possibly can. I got Eric a charcoal grill/smoker last year for Father's Day after our old gas grill 1) needed repair and 2) became a homeless shelter for baby mice. You can understand why we opted to get a new one. And I use it to my advantage, natch. Forget about just planning a week's worth of meals at once; we grill a week's worth of meals at once. And by "we" I mean Eric. Because he is the grillmaster.

For all you naysayers out there, listen up: this is why we use our freezer. Grill, freeze, eat in a few days. It takes just an hour or so to grill everything, and in turn it frees up your weeknight evenings considerably. And that is a glorious thing. Just try it! You will become a convert.

I must be on some kind of wicked sausage kick and I hope you don't mind. Sausage = yummy. But don't ye fret, this will all balance out someday when I am pregnant again and won't want anything to do with meat. Or vegetables. Or fruit. Oh yes, that time will come and when it does you will know, because my menu will look like this:

Plate Of Fries
Pancakes
Spaghetti-O's
Fruity Pebbles

But I digress. Here is this week's meal list, with recipes here. I know, I know. The list above would be way better.

Italian Sausage and Mushroom Pizza
Grilled Chicken Thighs, Mashed Potatoes, and Broccoli Spears
Sweet Orange Salmon, Rice, and Zucchini-Squash Medley

home

2011-05-27T00:17:00.000-05:00

My trip to Florida was awesome! It was nice to spend time with my parents and siblings eating, goofing off, eating, beaching, eating, and laughing. However. Because of the weather our flight home was interrupted, re-routed, cancelled, rescheduled, and thrice-delayed, resulting in a 20 hour wait. My sister and I spent way too much time in the Killeen-Fort Hood military airport where apparently this happened but Eric decided to keep mum about it until we were safely home. We were also generously offered an overnight stay at the ~~Bates Motel~~ single-star Fort Hood LaQuinta Inn where probably more murders happened (I asked them, anyway), and we requested 3 different rooms because 1) the first room was uber-dirty, 2) the second room's door was ajar and let's face it, that's where killers lurk, and 3) because we are divas.

But back to the trip: Eric is a prince for encouraging me to go, to spend several days away from him and the kids so that I could relax, take a break, and have fun with my family. I decided NOT to miss him and the kids like crazy and instead fully enjoyed the trip as to not do his awesomeness a disservice by being miserable the whole time. My old~~est~~ sister and I took a flight while the rest of the family drove and I am forever grateful for her company.

What I looked forward to the most was the thought of sitting on the beach for hours on end with nothing but a book, a chair, and the sound of the ocean, as well as the prospect of getting superfat on seafood. But what I ended up enjoying the most (besides the crab cakes and fried green tomatoes) was sitting around the patio table with them each morning and evening, listening to my parents share stories from their past and engaging in lots and lots of small, small-ish, and not-so-small talk. I was my usual hilarious self and they all ate it up like candy. Go ahead and ask them, they couldn't get enough of me! They made a nickname for me and everything.

What I will not miss is 4 uninterrupted days of countless opportunities to take what we call "sister pictures." OMG I never want to take another "sister picture" again, as our vanity has reached new extremes and we just might explode from our own awesomeness. Becki and Allie, it's a good thing you weren't there as your prettiness would've killed us all. We'll photoshop you into the photos, don't worry.

omgsisterpicture!

meal list thursday

2011-05-26T23:47:00.000-05:00

As you're aware by now, I tend to make my meal list for the upcoming week each Thursday, usually after daydreaming during meetings and/or pestering Eric mercilessly for new ideas. Mind you, I have a database (or something like it), but my mind still runs blank each week:

The other night I asked him if he had any ideas for this week's meal list. To which he replied, "Yeah, actually I came across this new blog that posts new meals every week. You may have heard of it. It's called www.thenonsensationalist.blogspot.com."

Touché.

Here is this week's meal list:

Italian Roasted Sausage and Squash (borrowed from BHG)
Meatball Subs and Salad
Pasta Con Broccoli

Recipes, here. Remember, these recipes will make enough of each meal to last for two dinners!

meal list thursday & more

2011-05-19T23:01:00.002-05:00

Do you ever have one of those moments where you have this nagging feeling that you screwed up royally on something and there's nothing you can do to remedy the situation? Maybe you have felt like someone's perception of you was totally off-base, but now you're wondering if maybe your perception of that person is totally off and you're all, "Ohcrap, am I the one who's in the wrong here?"

Sometimes I feel this tug-and-pull in life, my outlook shuttling back and forth between authenticity and cynicism, sympathy and apathy, patience and frustration. One minute I am near tears thinking about all of the blessings in my life, the beauty in my children's faces, how I see God in all of the tiny and perfect details in the world around me. Then literally the next minute I find myself thinking: "So-and-so's attitude is totally annoying and why the H can't they see how RUDE they are being?!? As-freaking-IF!"

I think I am having one of those weeks. And what I am trying to make myself remember this time is to not dust off my pants, throw my hands in the air and say, "Ah well, lesson learned, I'll move on now." Then five minutes later forget the lesson because A) I was interrupted by my child, B) some ridiculous driver on the highway is actin' a fool, or C) there is a wicked song playing on KDHX right now.

Luckily, I'm hopping a plane come Saturday and parking my butt on the beach for 4 days, sans hubby and kids. I think it'll be a great opportunity rest my brain, eyes, and bones, and catch up on "me" time. (As if FBing for 2 hrs/night doesn't count as "me" time.) At any rate, I'm looking forward to backing out of the rat race for a few days, disconnecting myself from the day-to-day, and hopefully reflecting on a few things as well, like figuring out how to get off my dang high horse. In between reading, tanning, shopping, and parasailing, obviously.

At any rate, I realize that this is a bit heavy-handed for a weeknight, so I'll stop being a buzzkill. Please return next week for regularly scheduled hilarity. Y'all are awesome for listening. Here is this week's menu:

Pizza with Bacon, Tomatoes, Spinach, and Mushrooms
Grilled Veggie Sandwiches and Sweet Potato Fries
Chili Mac (I don't care if it's 90 degrees outside, I DIG chili)

Recipes, here.

what husband sows, wife shall reap

2011-05-16T21:43:00.000-05:00

My husband rocks. He rocks because: I talk, and he listens. I point, and he buys. I pick, and he plants. I'm selfish, and he's amazing.  I'm ugly, and he is nice looking.

But for purposes of this post, we'll stick with gardening. Check it out, yo!  Seven different kinds of tomatoes! Three varieties of peppers! Sweet onion, basil, spinach, And More!

We (he) started gardening a few years ago, and each year is a learning experience. We've learned not to overcrowd the beds and we've set more realistic expectations on the fruits of our labor, i.e., one tomato plant is NOT going to provide enough fruit to save for the winter and save us hundreds off our grocery bill. Especially because squirrels eat flipping EVERYTHING. I keep telling Eric he needs to wrap each of the beds in chicken wire to keep the squirrels out but every year he blows me off.  I swear if any God-blessed squirrels eat my tomatoes this year I'm going to L-O-S-E it.

Here are our fun little raised garden beds. Pay no mind to the leaves in the beds or the uncut grass. Priorities, people. We also got a couple of large galvanized tubs from Eric's grandmother's auction which we'll use to plant annuals and herbs. They are just the thing I've wanted for our patio. (Tangent: the tubs are awesome and I kind of think it would be cute to put a baby in one and take its picture. Not to get all Anne Geddes on you, because you know, I would not be so contrived as to put a lettuce leaf on its head or anything. Now gimme your baby.)

My main objective here to reap such a magnitude of tomatoes that I would then be forced to learn how to can and preserve them and horde them under my bed for late night snax. But that never happens because I eat them up the day I pull them off the vine. Have I mentioned I luuuuuuuv tomatoes?

I can't wait until our garden grows! Come on, Summer!

meal list thursday

2011-05-13T21:48:00.000-05:00

...posted on a Friday. Sorry, y'all.

I have never been so happy for a week to end. It wasn't awful or stressful in any way, but it has been busy and I am just tired. It seems like every night is committed to one shenanigan or the other: running, gardening, laundry night, guitar practice, etc. It's been so busy, in fact, that I deemed it acceptable to skip HousecleaningThursday last week, and GroceryStoreFriday tonight. It's practically unheard of. However, I am thankful that we have the ability to fit our hobbies into our schedules and still have time to live the dream. So I'll stop squawking.

The other night I said to Eric in a bout of mid-evening exhaustion that I want nothing more than to have his babies, cook his dinner, and clean his house. He said, "Is that it?" No, it's not. I definitely would want to include naps and ice cream, too. Being a SAHM would be the sweetest gig ever.

Man, if I stayed home I would be all:

But I would tell Eric I would be:

But in reality it would probably be something more like:

So I guess I better stick with what I got for the time being. Without further adieu, the menu:

Spicy Caprese Pasta
Top Sirloin Steak, Sweet Potatoes and Asparagus
Bleu Cheese Turkey Burgers with Oven Fries

Recipes, here.

mustard greens: fail

2011-05-09T22:24:00.000-05:00

mommy couldn't choke it down either.

meal list thursday

2011-05-05T02:00:00.000-05:00

This week we had to keep it simple, and keep it quick. We have a busy weekend and several commitments throughout the week, and I created my meal plan accordingly. I'll admit the list is a bit sausage-heavy, but that's how I roll sometimes. Besides, we already had dogs & brats in the freezer (hotdogs and bratwurst, not domestic animals and snotty children) from last week when Eric played grillmaster at a corporate fundraiser.

Keep in mind, these recipes list quantities which will make enough food for 2 nights' worth of dinners if you're cooking for yourself, your partner, and/or have 1-2 small kids.

Recipes, here.

Campfire Delite (lame name, awesome dish)
Hotdogs, Brats, and Salad (I hope you're not expecting an actual recipe for this)
Crockpot Beef Stew

a weekend in the country II

2011-05-03T21:22:00.000-05:00

We headed to the country this past weekend for our second trip in a month, this time to attend Eric’s grandmother’s estate auction. Many family members came in from various parts of the country to attend, and Eric’s brother also made it in from Arkansas(!!!!!). It was an event we weren’t going to miss, come hell or high water. (As it turned out we definitely had water, thanks to major flooding in the southern part of the state.)

The house was auctioned off to a sweet young couple and the land broken into separate lots and sold. A lifetime of housewares, furniture, tools, and treasures which will hopefully bring happiness to someone else’s life. It was a bittersweet day for most of the family, myself included.

The farm was in his family for 75 years, and on this farm Eric spent his upbringing fishing, camping, hunting, and bonding with his siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. I remember asking Eric once if he had ever been a boy scout as a child. He looked at me and said, “Are you kidding? I lived my whole life as a boy scout. I didn’t have to join them.” I think that statement sums things up nicely.

I’m a little sad that we won’t see the house and farm again, and I’m sad that our kids will never fish in their great-grandfather’s pond. But I suppose that’s why work so hard to instill memories while we have the chance, and create new ones when we don’t.

Here is our weekend, in photos:

watching her dad and uncle play wiffleball

this picture just makes me laugh a little.

he sat here for the longest time examining a dead beetle. "It's so squashy."

any guess as to what this is? hint: it's not a dressmaker's mannequin.

this one's for you, ~~Bud~~ Aaron.

Cook Once, Eat Twice

2011-04-28T09:34:00.000-05:00

As I have discussed in a previous post, preparing double-quantities of food has enabled me to cook half as often by eating each meal twice per week. I know there are people out there that aren’t so hot on eating leftovers. Yes, there are certain foods that aren’t the greatest when they are re-heated (grilled fish, for example), but there are many others that I think taste better the second day, like chili, beef stew, spaghetti with meat sauce, or Mexican lasagna. Then there are other dishes that I think taste the exact same the next day: baked chicken, fajitas, soups, and practically everything else I make. And who doesn’t like cold pizza?

But don’t worry. I will not get all iron-fist on you. This process just works extremely well for me and my family. Use this blog religiously as your Dinner Guide for Life ~~(or ELSE)~~, use it to add some new ideas to your existing routine, or just read it at work because it’s better than staring at your cube walls. This blog AIN’T gonna be a one-trick pony.

(Warning: I'm about to get all nerdy on you.)

One feature I will post regularly is a weekly meal plan. When creating my meal list each week I try to make sure it has variety of main ingredients and type of food. This means preparing pasta only once, chicken only once, etc. Crockpot recipes or one-dish meals are always a bonus! I plan to post a new meal list on Thursday or Friday of each week in the event you want to make any of the meals the following week. That way you'll have a few days to get to the grocery store and shop accordingly. (Because if you're anything like me, the thought of staring in your pantry at 5:30 each night trying to figure out what to make for dinner is just about as painful as hanging out in the grocery aisles longer than you need to.)

Here is this week’s meal plan and corresponding recipes. These meals will feed a family of four for two dinners. 3 Meals X 2 Nights Each = 1 Week's Worth of Dinners. Y'know, assuming you go out once a week, or maybe have enough leftovers to have a fridge-free-for-all on the 7th night. Righteous.

Spicy Black Beans over Rice

Sausage and Pepper Pasta

(Mostly) Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

another day, another fifty cents

2011-04-24T21:41:00.000-05:00

Budgeting. BOR-ING. But I have a three-year-old who can eat a truckload of snacks in one sitting, so right now it’s a necessary evil in my world.

When creating my weekly meal list I try to keep the meals within my predetermined grocery budget. I spend roughly $100/week on groceries for my family of 4. I realize this is probably a lot more money than some can spend on a week’s worth of food, but I imagine it’s less than others. The reality is that no matter what your budget is, it’s REALLY easy to blow it unless you stick to a list and/or come up with some creative cost-cutting. If your budget is tight (for a week or for always), there are still ways to make it work: you can cook from scratch as much as possible (which is always cost-effective), you can learn to cook meals that use less-expensive ingredients (like substituting beans for meat), you can watch portion sizes to stretch your food further, and you can learn to price-shop.

There are those crazy couponers out there, and I SO wish I was one of them. I have a dear aunt whose coupon habits are legendary. Rumor has it that a couple of years ago she spent just $7 on a Thanksgiving meal for her entire family! She’s awesome! But I haven’t really found that couponing works for me. In my experience most coupons are geared towards processed and packaged foods: cookies, nuggets, etc. I wish coupons were more readily available for the items I buy frequently. When’s the last time you saw a coupon for $0.50 off a pound of apples or Buy A Steak, Get One Free? THAT’S the kind of coupon I’m looking for! I would use the heck out of those!

So I don’t coupon but I have started shopping at the bottom-of-the-food-chain Aldi grocery store. I know, man. I KNOW. My mom and sister bugged me for the longest time to go there but I was totally skeptical. So I went. And I walked out of there just $75 lighter with loads of groceries feeling like I’d just won the dang lottery. Yes, it is the first grocery store where I’ve seen a grown woman’s full bare breast, but I love that I can spend $1.69 on a bag of spinach instead of $3.99, or get THE best store-bought salsa I’ve ever had. (Seriously I eat it like every day. It’s that good.) There are still things that I prefer to pick up at Schnucks or Whole Foods but for the most part I can find everything I need at Aldi, spend way less, and not sacrifice on quality. I just make sure I don’t make eye contact with anyone or look at their chestal region.

Please note this is not a shameless plug for Aldi. Rather, I am confessing to all of the world wide web a deep dark secret that I’m a girl who will do what it takes to feed four mouths good, healthy food, seven days a week. But don’t get me wrong. The minute I turn rich is the minute I walk out of Aldi and into Whole Foods forever. Forever!!!

I’d love to hear your money-saving suggestions!

sushi coma

2011-04-20T21:41:00.000-05:00

Every month or two my sisters, a couple of female cousins and I meet at various sushi joints across the city (OK, county) and ~~wreck~~ gorge ourselves on sushi. We also catch up on each others’ lives: new jobs, boyfriends, kids, running, nicoleishavingtwins! and so forth. We laugh, gossip, and generally have a grand time. And we eat ridiculous amounts of sushi. We jokingly call this our "sushi coma." You know, when you eat so much you feel like you could pass the heck out. What, we're the only ones who do this?

It started a couple of years ago at the Westport Drunken Fish, which had a pretty great happy hour deal going on at the time. What wasn’t so great were the swarms of gussied-up girls, boys with tans and slicky hair, and too-cool waiters. We’ve since scouted out various other restaurants in an attempt to get the best sushi for the lowest price without blowing a hole in our gut. We’ve toed that line in recent days, however. Just the other night I went from sushi coma to (near) sushi-death. It was at a strip-mall-sushi-joint in (you guessed it) Westport where you can apparently order as much sushi as you can cram in your gut for a lowlowprice. I guess we just got busy talking and eating and talking and eating until I eventually unbuttoned my pants and KEPT IT THAT WAY. Luckily my sister talked about her college courses the whole way home so I could focus on what she was saying and NOT think about tearing the gearshift out of her steering column and using it to stab a hole in my stomach just to give the volcano roll some extra room. I had to do Lamaze breathing and everything. It was critical.

All this to say I would gladly hang out with my sisters and gal cousins even if it means I suffer some slight indigestion in the process. I freakin love you girls!

But for the rest of you: pretty please recommend your fave STL-area sushi joints. We obviously don't set the bar too high, but I may suggest we try somewhere new next time.

I think this was from our first sushi night. Look at me all well-rested.
These days my face more closely resembles a pot sticker.

the best you've ever had

2011-04-14T08:48:00.000-05:00

Cookies, that is.

This is a recipe for egg-free, dairy-free chocolate chip cookies. But they're not TASTE-free! (Sorry, Eric made me write that.) They are actually insanely good, and when I make them, they are strictly portioned out (by me) otherwise they'd be gone in less than a day. I'd challenge all y'all to follow the allergy-friendly recipe and tell me they don't taste amazing! Or just make them the regular way, I won't get mad.

This recipe was loosely borrowed from a highly-rated standard chocolate chip cookie recipe I found online. Even though it has been twice-converted, it is still the #1 cookie I make. When I make these, commercial music cues, kids and hubby cheer wildly, and I feel like SUCH A GOOD MOM. I am barely exaggerating. The standard recipe is below, with the additional allergy-friendly dietary conversions in parentheses. I want some in my mouth right now.

Word of warning: it is ridiculously chip-heavy. Not that that's a bad thing. :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup vegetable shortening, melted

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 eggs (1 tbsp. ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp. water = 1 egg. Do this twice to equal 2 eggs.)

2 cups milk chocolate chips (I use vegan chocolate chips. And you can totally use less than the full bag. Maybe set aside 1/2 cup and make these!)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. (I have NEVER had luck just using greased cookie sheets!) Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt, and set aside. (Yeah, I just mix it with a spoon. No sifting. Too lazy.) In a separate mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, cream together the melted shortening, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla and ~~frankenstein~~ eggs until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand. The mixture may appear slightly crumbly, but that's okay! Using a spoon, drop cookie dough in 1-1/2-inch doughblobs onto the lined cookie sheets, 12 doughblobs to a sheet. Bake for 11-12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted.

Sidenote: I usually just bake 2 sheets at a time as I heard a rumor one time that the oven air needs to "circulate" around the cookies to cook them evenly. Who knows if that is true but I'm not willing to risk ruining 4 dozen cookies to find out otherwise. Anyway. Pull them out even if they look slightly uncooked as they will "cook" a few minutes more on the hot cookie sheet.

Recipe will yield 4-5 dozen tiny poppable little cookies that you won't want to stop eating.

Make 'em already! Tell me what you think!

(Recipe sorta borrowed from allrecipes.com)

a weekend in the country

2011-04-11T08:11:00.000-05:00

Last weekend we took a trip to visit both of Eric’s grandmothers. This is a short trip we try to do at least once a year, and we are thankful that we are so graciously welcomed each time. It’s nice for the four of us to be able to get away for a couple of days without having to put in a lot of travel time or expense. It’s an opportunity for the kids to spend some extra time with their great-grandmas and other extended family, and also get in touch with their daddy’s country roots.

I also love going there for more selfish reasons: sleeping in a comfortable bed in a quiet house with no toys, noise, or obligations. Eating each meal around a table without having to hurry and move onto bath time or some other household chore. Slowly savoring the country breakfasts with locally made sausage, farm-fresh eggs, home-made gravy and jam, and endless cups of coffee. I’m in heaven.

Both of his grandparents live on their own farm, perched on high hills in a picturesque small town in the southern part of the state. I say it every time: it’s like staying at a kid-friendly Bed & Breakfast.

We spent most of the daytime hours outside: riding the see-saw, circling the property on a four-wheeler, chatting about the garden, watching the hummingbirds. Letting the kids run around without having to shield them from a busy street, watching them chase the fat farm cat around the yard, hugging the neck of their second-cousin’s new dog, playing in the dirt for HOURS in the warm spring breeze. The list goes on. We attended church on Sunday morning and sang the familiar southern hymns. After church ended, we visited the horses next door. Each time we visit it’s the same, and yet uniquely special.

Spending a few days there feels good for the soul. It gives us a chance to relax and sloooow down to keep pace with the quiet country life. It reminds us of the blessings that are all around us, if only we are still enough to notice them.

Another Chicken Post

2011-04-07T21:48:00.000-05:00

(Or: Being Wrist-Deep in a Chicken Cavity is an Experience Unlike Any Other)

Here is a recipe for Sticky Chicken, which I got from a friend. I’ve modified it slightly to my tastes, with the original recipe ingredients italicized at the end of this post.

This chicken was great on its own, served with potatoes and a side of steamed vegetables. It cooked in its own juices, and was amazingly tender and full of flavor. I love this recipe because the prep-work is super low-maintenance, the crockpot does all the cooking, and the options are endless for using it in other recipes: tortilla soup, chicken noodle soup, or even purée it with broth to make homemade baby food.

Sticky Chicken

Mix the following ingredients into a small bowl:

2 tsp salt (I use Kosher. Sparkly.)

2 tsp Cajun seasoning

2 tsp paprika (I use smoked)

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp black pepper

¼ tsp white pepper

½ tsp garlic powder

Coat the inside of a 5 qt. crockpot with baking spray. Rinse and dry a whole 4lb. chicken, and remove the guts from chicken cavity. Throw the guts away. (Quickly. And try not to hurl.) Rub the spice mixture over the entire outside and inside of the chicken (un!), place the chicken in the crockpot insert, and cover it with the lid. Let it sit in the fridge overnight. In the morning, set your crockpot to low and cook for 8-10 hrs. Off to work you go.

When you get home from work, throw a few potatoes in the microwave or make a quick batch of rice, and steam broccoli or asparagus with butter, salt, pepper, and a bit of lemon pepper. Your after-work cooking efforts will be minimal, and the meal is deliciously home-cooked. A 4lb. whole chicken will serve a family of 4 for 2 dinners, when served with 1-2 side dishes. (Depending on the ages and appetites of your little ones.) Or, freeze half of the cooked chicken and the following week you can make homemade chicken salad to take with you to work.

Sidenote: SAVE THE BROTH that is left over in your crockpot. You could have around 2 cups of perfectly seasoned, perfectly fatty broth to use for a future soup or gravy recipe. Just let the broth cool, fish out any grody floaters, and store it in the freezer in a quart-sized, freezer-safe Ziploc bag labeled with the date and contents. It will look like sewage but you’ll be glad you saved it.

Original recipe called for: seasoned salt instead of Cajun seasoning; 1 tsp. white pepper; ½ tsp black pepper.

what made me start a blog?

2011-04-04T23:10:00.000-05:00

…when there are hundreds others out there?

To be honest, I’m not sure. There are cooler/bigger/badder food blogs out there, discussing everything from food-hoarding to pioneer living to cooking meals that cost a dime. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, because you know, I want to do ALL of it.) But I wanted to start this blog, as I am eager to share where I’ve been and to document where I’m going.

You could say my infatuation with food started when I was young. Growing up in a family of 8 you had to get to the table fast, serve yourself fast, and eat fast, or you may end up with a plate of stuff that was scraped from the bottom of the pan. And forget about second servings, unless your big sister happened to boil extra noodles and by chance there is a tiny bit of leftover spaghetti sauce in the jar and so your dad shoves the noodles into the jar, stirs it around, and viola, more spaghetti dinner for you. You think I make this stuff up?

My journey from noodles-and-sauce to regularly preparing healthy, home-cooked dinners in a nutshell:

Newly married, going out to eat 3 or 4 nights a week while slowly building my culinary skills, i.e., making lemon-pepper-chicken-over-pasta like once a week. (I miss those days, but not because of the lemon-pepper-chicken.)

Having a newborn and learning to juggle home- and work-life in light of the responsibilities of parenthood, on a tighter budget, while still wanting to eat Fancy. It occurred to me when Finn was 6 months old that I could create a weekly meal plan of 7 dinners on which to base my grocery list, my evenings, and the rest of my foreseeable future.

Just six months later Finn tested positive for dairy, egg, and peanut allergies. (Way to throw a wrench in things, dude.) I delved into the research and tried to figure out how in the heck I’d make this work. For the next few months I cooked him separate meals, which was unrealistic and inefficient process to maintain. I eventually resigned to the fact that I’d have to figure out a way for all of us to enjoy the same foods at mealtime. Shoot, man, I LOVE cheese. I wondered how the heck I’d cook without it. (And have you HAD the soy stuff? It’s freaking sick.) So there went about half of my recipes.

Months passed. I was growing a bit weary trying to think of 7 different meals per week. Mind you, I had criteria. It had to be 1) healthy, 2) allergy-friendly, 3) varied, and 4) fit within our grocery budget. Say it with me: What The H. I was also so tired of cooking 7 nights a week. It dawned on me to start creating my weekly lists with only 3-4 meals per week, but doubling my quantities so that we’d have leftovers to eat the following night. Freaking brilliant, seriously. A year-plus later and we’re still going strong. It is much easier to think of a healthy, allergy-friendly, varied, and budget-conscious meal list if you only have to think of 3 items and not 7. This has also freed up precious evening time in my household, by only having to cook every other night. Because, did I mention? Somewhere in there I had Baby #2.

Throughout this time I had also saved each week’s meal list and shoved it in a kitchen cabinet with the intention of stockpiling 6 months’ worth of lists and reusing them for added convenience. Yeah, that never happened. Three years later I had around 150 lists shoved into mason jars, staring at me in the face, all like, “WTheck are you going to do with us?”

And here we are.

One pile

This one must have been via email correspondence
with my husband.

A little ambitious, don't you think?

Oooh, an easy one!

Aw, my baby's meal list! Sniff!

april fool

2011-03-31T19:31:00.000-05:00

What says "I love you" more than a dozen poopy-topped cupcakes?

Answer: Nothing.

poop is always funny.

Happy April Fool's Day, everyone! Make it a great one!

fried chicken

2011-03-28T21:02:00.000-05:00

Greasy, salty, hot, steamy. I get excited about it more than a proper woman should.

But I don’t really know how to make fried chicken. Yeah, I know the basics: the ingredients, the process, the end result. But starting with Point A and ending with hot and greasy goodness in my mouth… we’ll just say there’s room for improvement. I have made fried chicken one time. It was when I had just one babe and seemingly all the time in the world to devote to making dinner. I started with about a dozen drumsticks, soy milk (no dairy or egg coating for this family), flour, salt, and pepper. I added some panko breadcrumbs (the only dairy-free breadcrumb on the market as far as I know) and a bit of Italian seasoning just because I could. I heated the oil, dipped, breaded, and fried. I fried, fried, fried. Wearing an apron as to protect my $10 t-shirt from grease splatters, I started to sweat. And swear. After what was I am sure was 45 minutes, I had finished frying like 4 pieces. By the time I had finished the final batch, the oil was so littered with charred little breading bits, the house smelled like burnt nastiness for godknowshowlong.

We ate the chicken. The chicken itself was fine. It was good, really, but nothing spectacular. Nothing that would warrant ever again spending that much time standing in front of a stove, with hot grease popping onto my arms. Never again, I swore. Frying is a man’s job. (Along with grilling, taking out the trash, and killing bugs.)

So here we are. My fried chicken fantasies are only fulfilled on the occasional visits to a local restaurant, Frank & Helen’s Pizzeria (OK, technically it’s broasted chicken (fancy) but omg, amazingly good), or the one-off chance that I snag some at say, a family reunion? 4^th of July party? A summer BBQ? I never get invited to those. But I refuse to sell out and hit up Kentucky Fried Beaks. Place just scares me.

So I beckon you: Please. Tell me about YOUR amazing fried chicken-lickin. Is yours a tried-and-true classic fried chicken? Is it crazy crunchy or do you have a great technique for spicy breading? I want your recipes, tips, and suggestions. And home-delivery.

of running and fuzzy math

2011-03-23T21:32:00.000-05:00

Over the years I have found myself enjoying a hobby I never thought I would. Something I never was, and still am not, very good at. But it’s cheap, a stress-reliever, and prevents me from sitting on my couch every night FBing until my eyes bleed. I have a love affair with running.

It’s been a long arduous road, but now I am training for my next half-marathon race. Really, a person should not have to run more than 13.1 miles for any reason other than to escape violent death. I squeeze in my runs a couple nights a week after the kids have gone to bed. As it is dark by then, as I live in an older neighborhood (ahem), and as I am female sans mace, I have taken to running the track at my old high school. The tall black wrought-iron fence and bleachers surrounding the track somehow make me feel invisible against evildoers, kidnappers, and the like. Mmm hmm. It just seems safer than running on the streets with hooligans likely hiding behind every stop sign.

But there is a special kind of torture in running this track, for several reasons: it’s conveniently located across the street from a greasebomb chain restaurant and a legendary decades-old diner. Running 24 times around this track with restaurant grease hanging in the air is like crack to my nose. I press on with my run, mentally talking smack at the restaurant fryers as they taunt me with their fried cheese balls, cheeseburgers, cheese fries, and cheesy chocolate malts. All the while trying to contain my bowels as for whatever reason, running is nature’s diuretic for me, oh, somewhere around mile five.

I worked briefly here in high school, and yes, I wore
the rockin' poodle skirt like any self-respecting carhop should.

Which segues nicely into my final thought: guilty pleasures. This gal has somewhere in the neighborhood of 1239732506745 dozen of them, including anything fried and anything cheese. I justify to myself that since I run occasionally, I can indulge occasionally. It all cancels out in the end. What’s your guilty pleasure? Do tell.

a household staple

2011-03-18T22:44:00.000-05:00

Granola bars.

'Round here, we eat the heck out of these. As most of the grocery store variety contain way more crap than a granola bar should, we tend to stick to the homemade version. My dear MIL gave me this recipe years ago and I've tweaked it a bit to our tastes, as well as Finn's dietary restrictions. The version we make is dairy- and egg-free, and I change it up each time I make it based on what tasty options I have in my pantry at the time.

Here is the standard recipe, with my dietary conversions in parentheses.

Chocolate-Cranberry Granola Bars
2 c. old fashioned oats, uncooked
1 c. all-purpose flour (I use half whole-wheat flour, half white)
1 c. dried cranberries
1/2 c. chocolate chips (I use vegan chocolate chips, available at Whole Foods.)
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. wheat germ
1 egg (I use 1 tbsp. ground flax seed mixed with 3 tbsp. water. Don't ask me how this makes an egg.)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. maple-flavored syrup
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x13 pan with foil, and grease foil. Set aside.

In a large bowl, with a large spoon, mix: oats, flour, cranberries, chocolate chips, sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, and salt until well combined. Stir in oil, syrup, vanilla, and egg until blended. With wet hand, pat mixture into prepared pan. Bake 25-30 minutes or until edges turn golden. Cool completely in pan before cutting into bars. Yields 18-24 bars.

What I love about this recipe is that you can just mix in whatever dried fruits, nuts, etc. that you have in your pantry. Try making these with dried cherries and white chocolate chips, or dried chopped apricots and coconut flakes, or raisins and chopped almonds. Enjoy!

cause for celebration

2011-03-16T22:02:00.000-05:00

Did I ever tell you about my large family? My obscenely large, almost-too-many-people-to-count family? Maybe it’s just me but every time a holiday or family function rolls around, I have to do a mental headcount to determine how many people to cook or prepare for. I’ll start keeping track once everyone stops having babies. If that ever happens.

So the family function of the month was my dad’s 75^th birthday party on March 6. We had a surprise party in honor of this awesome milestone, and we celebrated with a fraction of our extended family and a few of my parents’ close friends.

This, friends, is what I made:

I got this Bruschetta recipe from a girl I work with. It’s so simple and delicious, and looking at this picture again I want some in my mouth right now. Anyway. There’s quite a bit of chopping involved, but this recipe goes a long way. We had about 35 guests and I made one batch, which was plenty when paired with everything else that was served. I also plan on making this again soon to pack for lunch during the work-week.

Happy birthday Dad! You mean more to us then you could ever know. We love you!

Bruschetta

All the listed ingredients need to be finely chopped:

1 yellow bell pepper

½ Vidalia onion or purple onion

1 medium zucchini (do not use the seed pulp)

1 red bell pepper or a medium jar of chopped pimentos

1 jar of marinated artichokes (drained)

6-8 medium roma tomatoes (remove the seeds and pulp, use only the meat attached to the skin)

Option: add 1 cup of finely chopped genoa salami

Mix in large bowl, then add:

3 tablespoons capers

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

8-10 basil leaves, finely chopped

3 gloves of garlic, finely chopped

½ - 1 cup of fresh grated Romano/Parmesan cheese

Drizzle olive oil over all, toss until well coated. Let sit over night for the flavors to meld. Before serving, salt to taste and add more olive oil if necessary. Serve with toasted garlic bread rounds.

about this blog

2011-03-14T21:49:00.000-05:00

My aim is to share simple, home-cooked, and time-friendly meals for families who are more interested in spending time together than spending it in line at McDicks, in a grocery store, or over a hot stove.

The recipes and tips I share are generally easy, generally frugal, and generally healthy, but by no means am I a purist, a coupon-pusher, short-cutter, or calorie-counter. Gimmicks aren’t my thing. I do aim to eat real, minimally-processed foods whenever possible. You’ll find some convenience foods used in my recipes on occasion, however, they are used sparingly. Reducing your consumption of prepackaged, processed foods decreases the amount of sodium, calories, preservatives, and other unpronounceable wtfs that you probably shouldn’t be eating anyway.

Third-ish, I have a son who has several food allergies, and many of the recipes you’ll find on this site are (or can be) dairy-free, egg-free, and peanut-free. I’ll share some of these tips in each of those recipes but feel free to ask questions in your comments, or even better, provide your own suggestions!

And finally, this blog isn’t meant to be a hard-and-fast food site. A bit of miscellany will be thrown in for good measure. My other interests include sewing, crafts, running, sleeping, potty humor, and my too-good-to-be-true family.

The Nonsensationalist

thanks, msn, for shooting it to us straight

sugar and spice and everything nice...

well helloooooo january

it's better to burn out than to fade away (name that quote)

meal list thursday

meal list thursday: lessons learned (and TGINovember)

b(re)aking bread

meal list thursday: sit, sleep, eat.

finish line

meal list thursday: MLB edition

HAPPY 31RTHDAY!

photo op

meal list thursday: what big squash you have

meal list thursday: out of commission

meal list thursday: livin' the dream

Mr. Harry's Carnival Foods

is eating fast-food cheaper?

meal list thursday

dinnertime discussion

meal list thursday & my downward spiral

four

meal list thursday: ramblings

meal list thursday

la cocina compartida - summer workshop 2011

picnics rule & meal list thursday

meal list thursday: lunchtime edition

if i had an orchard

overheard

drylok on cinderblock and meal list thursday

new scenes, green beans, and other things

barfhouse farms

Saving Money: Part Deuce

meal list thursday: standby

why weekends are awesome

meal list thursday: lazy edition

table of contents

meal list thursday

meal list thursday: grillmaster's edition

home

meal list thursday

meal list thursday & more

what husband sows, wife shall reap

meal list thursday

mustard greens: fail

meal list thursday

a weekend in the country II

Cook Once, Eat Twice

another day, another fifty cents

sushi coma

the best you've ever had

a weekend in the country

Another Chicken Post

what made me start a blog?

april fool

fried chicken

of running and fuzzy math

a household staple

cause for celebration

about this blog