Weekly Menu 3-21-2011

(weekly lunch soup: Fresh Vegetable Soup (WW+=1)) (You may have to be a WW member to view the recipe? Please let me know.)
Monday: Mini Farfalle with Roasted Peppers, Onions, Feta, and Mint (WW+=12)
Tuesday: Chicken Tagine Stew over quinoa (WW+=12) (you may have to sign your life away to get the recipe...let me know if you're interested and I can post it for you)
Wednesday: Paella with Soy chorizo and Edamame (WW+=8)
Thursday: Salmon Sandwiches (WW+=11) & Sesame-Ginger Glazed Asparagus (WW+=0)
Friday: Beef-Broccoli Stir-Fry over brown rice (WW+=6)
Saturday: left-overs or pantry meal
Sunday: left-overs or pantry meal

Fun Days, Fun Eats

Oh my goodness! Lately, the weather has been B-U-Ti-Full! It's been in the 70s and even breeched the 80s!! I am so ready for Spring. I do have a request though. (I'm talking to the weather.) I'd like a few more weeks of Spring than last year. Last year when mid-April came around it became scorching H-O-T and did not relent. This year I'd like to put in the request for some warm days without the instense heat and humidity. Thank You.

Lauren, Jake and Dylan enjoy the warm weather.

Along with the warm fun days we've been enjoying some Fun Eats as well.

Today was Blackened Tilapia Baja Tacos

(minus the avocado...cuz I don't like it)

(I also don't like corn tortillas so I used flour)

Matt said, "Wow, this is good. The green sauce and onions totally makes it."

Since Matt said this you should most definitely cook this ASAP.

(Matt does not usually like any dish with fish in it.)

Another Fun Eat I wanted to share was the vegetarian Artichoke and Goat cheese Strata. I'm not a huge fan of cooking egg based dinner dishes but I was very happy with how this turned out. It was filling, tasty and very easy (although time consuming) to make. I've been enjoying the left-overs all weekend.

Next post should contain some more good eats. Next week's Weekly Menu. Stay tuned.......

One Year Later

March is always special because it is the month in which both of my babies were born.

I love my babies, I love March.

Ever since last year March is also special because my husband (the father of our babies) did not die.

I will always remember the heartache of March as well.

March to me is the month of birth, the month of trials, and the month of new life.

Let's reminisce, shall we

~~~March 2010~~~

One Look is Worth a Thousand Words 3/17/10

(you can skim until the the end!)

Matt Update 3/23/10

(scariest evening of my entire life)

and the beat goes on 3/27/10

Grandma Jan's camera 3/31/10

One year later, Lauren turns 7 and Tyler turns 5. This year Matt will not have to spend both of their birthdays in the hospital.

He did, however, show me a scratch on his finger today. It was very similar to the scratch he had on his finger last year which is where we believe the initial infection entered.

For piece of mind, I just may bring him to the ER tonight to be sure it's just a harmless scratch. =)

Happy Spring!

Hey Good Lookin'

Hey Good Lookin,' Whatcha Got Cookin'?

Well since you asked and there's not much else to talk about I suppose I'll tell ya.

Yesterday we had Baked Pasta with Spinach, Lemon, and Cheese and Sauteed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon (Bits.) I don't like to cook bacon (it splatters and burns me) so I just used Bacon Bits from the jar. It adds the flavor without the extra fat and oil burns.

The pasta was a bit bland for me. It was just okay according to Matt and the kids didn't really eat that much. I, alone, loved the brussels sprouts though. Due to the lack of excitement about this dinner from my family, all of the left-overs were packaged up and delivered to Mr. Mike across the street (aka the garbage disposal.)

Today we had Pork Posole and toasted baguette with butter. Yumm! Lauren and I ate every last bite in our bowl. Tyler ate all the bites of pork but not much else. Matt ate dinner at a work conference but he did try a bite and said it was "awesome."

(tilt your head sideways)

A no-cook meal is coming up tomorrow. Stay tuned.

(This is actually my favorite version of the Hey Good Lookin' song. Barbara Mandrell nails it! This reminds me of my childhood and long car trips with my family.)

Weekly Menu 3-14-2011

lunches: Italian-Inspired Vegetable Soup I made a big batch of this this weekend to carry me througout the week. (so far I'm loving it...I added 2 jalapenos to spice up the taste.)

Monday: Baked Pasta with Spinach, Lemon, and Cheese and Sauteed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Tuesday: Pork Posole & garlic bread (from the freezer)
Wednesday: Romaine and Greek Vegetable Salad with Turkey Roll-ups.
Thursday: Fettucine with Sauce Duguay
Friday: Blackened Tilapia Baja Tacos
Saturday: Artichoke and Goat Cheese Strata
Sunday: l/o or pantry meal

My Little Artist

Lauren is my little artist. She impresses me all the time.

This evening I gave the 15 minutes 'til bed warning and Lauren decided she wanted to draw.

She grabbed a blank sheet of paper and also her new Zhu Zhu pet carriage to use as a model.

In 15 minutes she came up this this masterpiece.

I told her that I thought she was a very talented artist. I also told her that she most likely gets it from her Grandma Jan and her Daddy.

Without missing a beat she told me, "No, I'm better than them. I just can't draw skeletons or cars as well as they can."

Gotta love her!!

Dinner tonight was Out-N-In California Burgers.

These were VERY good. I left out the avocado (on accident) but they were delish. Matt, Lauren and I ate a whole burger and Tyler ate almost 1/2. I've never been to In-N-Out Burger but I'm sure what I made tonight was comparable. (by the way...if you click on the In-N-Out Burger link make sure you turn your volume down.)

I hope you all enjoyed your Sunday as much as we did.

Party Time, Excellent!

Today was Lauren's Birthday Party!

We had a house full of of 7 girls and 1 boy (Tyler.)

Everyone had a great time.

We started with some free play.

(I gave Lauren the camera and I think she took the best 2 pictures of the night.)

Check out the see-through hand!

Who knew these chairs were built for three?

Soon it was game time!

Game #1: Ping Pong Hide and Seek

I wrote each girl's name on a ping pong ball and one at a time had them hide it in Lauren's room. After the last ball was hidden Lauren got to go up and seek the balls. The name on the last ball she found won a prize.

Game #2: Twinkle Toes

I split the girls into 2 groups and had everyone take off their socks and shoes. I sent one group out of the room (and out of ear shot) and had the other group lay down under a sheet with only their feet sticking out. When the other group came back in they had to guess whose feet belonged to whom. The girl with the most correct answers won. Switch and Repeat.

Game #3: Pin the Tail on the Donkey

(we all know how to play this right?)

Game #4: Pinata Bash

This was fun and dangerous and everyone loved it.

I really wish I had a picture.

After the games we ate pizza and then opened presents.

Once the presents were opened it turned into a wrapping paper destruction party.

Finally it was time for the Birthday Cake.

(only 1/4 of the cake was eaten)

After cake and ice-cream sandwiches it was back to free play for the duration of the party.

Lauren had a great time with her friends. She even lost another tooth in all the excitement. (Did you hear that Tooth Fairy?)

One party down and one to go. Tyler's birthday is in Two Weeks!

Matt's weekend project:

New Garage Door Opener