Yummy Eats!

Despite the craziness I wrote about earlier this week, we've eaten really well!  I've been hungry lately and planned out four meals for us this week (usually its just 2-3 with leftovers or whatever else we can find in the fridge).  I've thoroughly enjoyed eating well at lunch and dinner.  I like eating.  :)

Here's what we've had:

(all Pinterest inspired, of course! Aalso more meatier than normal for us.. but yummy!)

Sausage Quiche (my mom found this recipe) + strawberries

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I also added spinach and extra eggs/half & half and made it into two pies.

Korean Beef with brown rice and broccoli

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Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan

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And finally, a favorite that reminds me of a Moroccan dish.

The smells take me back and make me happy!

Beef Stew with Butternut Squash 

(it doesn't sound so appetizing but it is oh so yummy!)

I couldn't get the pic to copy so just jump to the {source}.

Catch Up: FLUFFERNUTTERS!!

Aunt Joy told me that we should try this recipe.  

So we did. 

(Baking is a rare occasion for us).  

What's not to LOVE.

 Is he the sweetest big brother in the world?!

Then we packed up our mega-cookies in little bags and delivered them to thank and share love with our therapists.  

Five Thirty on a Thursday

This isn't typical for us.  Its usually the witching hour, like I think it is for lots of moms.  When Mike gets home from work b/t 6 & 7 and asks how the day was, I usually say "It was good but now its the end of the day and I'm d.o.n.e."  Some switch takes place and I just hit done and have nothing left.  

I think because I had an extra cup of coffee (didn't do my chemo course b/c there were children to attend to and dinner to make) AND because snow was coming down, there was a little more excitement in the air and it made this eve a little sweeter and less grumpy.

Peter found The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe on our bed that he'd been wanting to read.

My little Picasso is at work

 Peter finishes his reading and comes in to make some guys.... 

knights, heroes, and fire fighters.

 Tomato Soup is on the Stove

Favorite Tomato Soup

¼ cup olive oil

1 onion, diced or sliced

baby carrots, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced (or more!) (I use the garlic in a jar.)

¼ cup all-purpose flour

3lb can of diced tomatoes

¼ cup tomato paste

3 cups chicken broth (or something similar)

¼ cup finely chopped fresh basil (or dried, to taste)

1 tsp sugar

1 c milk

salt & ground pepper

cheese or garlic croutons

Grated Parmesan cheese

In a soup pot over medium heat, heat the oil, then add the onion & cook about 3 mins.  Add the carrot & celery & cook until the veggies begin to soften, about 4 mins.  Add the garlic & cook one minute longer.

Sprinkle flour over veggies, reduce heat to low & cook about 1-2 mins longer until flour is incorporated. 

Add the tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, basil, and sugar.  Raise heat to medium, partially cover & cook until veggies are tender & flavors are blended, about 20 mins.

(I don't do this part-->) Transfer the soup to a blender & process to puree, leaving a little texture.  Return to pan over medium heat.  

Add the milk & stir.  Season to taste w/ salt & pepper.   

After serving, garnish with croutons & Parmesan cheese.  

Enjoy!!

End of Vacation

We've had a few days to ease back into our routine.  Daddy headed back to work but I got a few more days with the kiddos before getting back into the weekly grind.   Its been nice.

The sweet girl has thoroughly enjoyed working on this sticker project from Aunt Becky.  She literally took it with her everywhere in a little bag for daysss. And then finally came to the end of the stickers.  So fun.  I've loved watching her joy in working on it.

The boy had a little fever on Mike's first day back to work.  He was really snuggly :) and sure to tell me he was "sick".  Here he is demonstrating his sick face.  Cracks me up.  This is when I love Keppra and that he is older than he used to be (praying time heals a little brain).  Seizure free fever... Yes, Please!  It was only a 12 hour fever (love it!) and then normal cold junk.  Great!  We can handle that.

Another benefit after sweet snuggles... an 11 AM nap.  Isn't his hair awesome, seriously.

Lily and I worked on crafts while Peter slept.  He woke up and declared "I'm not sick anymore!"  Love you, sweet boy.  So he joined us for crafts.  

 Using our pencils...

 The next day I got them those cool gel pencil grips and erasers.... its amazing how they've helped motivation and grip... more on that later.

We stayed home the next day too to finish recovering.  Lily wasn't sick, just snuggly.  And who can resist a snuggle from the Bug.

self portrait.  My little Rosy.

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I made a new soup...  It was so yummy and easy.

Found it on Life Rearranged. (I LOVE her blog.)

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 onion, chopped 

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 Tbs olive oil

3 can chicken or vegetable broth

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp chili powder

lime

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes

1 can corn, drained

1 4z can green chilis

2 15 oz cans black beans, drained

1/4 cup cilantro (or more), chopped

5 boneless chicken breasts

tortilla chips

monterey jack cheese 

Cube chicken.

In olive oil, cook chicken, onions, garlic.

Cook on med-low til chicken is cooked & onions are translucent.

Add cans and spices.

Add cilantro and lime. (Yum!)

Simmer 30 min (or more).

Serve with crunched up tortilla chips and cheese.

Lily approves.

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Friday night was pizza and movie night.  They brought their table and chairs in.  Every time they bring in all three chairs.  Its interesting to me.  I'm not sure why they do it.  But they do every time.  It makes me think of the siblings that are part of our family but not with us.  Its not many days that I don't think about it.

 This morning for the church tag team, I took the kids to McD's... we got pancakes!!

 

We've done a trial membership at an indoor pool near us.  The kids have loved it.  We went today and afterwards headed out for hot chocolate and mac n cheese.  It was really sweet.  We were all in agreement that it could be a good Sunday eve tradition.