I prefer....

Here's a peek into a conversation Joe recently had with our 2.5 year old Ethan regarding a blanket....

Joe: Ethan, you need to pick one blanket to put in the bag. You can't put both in the bag.

Ethan: ummmm...hmmm....*looking at both blankets individually*

Joe: Which one do you want Ethan?

Ethan: Daddy, I prefer the giraffe blanket.

Joe: You what the giraffe blanket?

Ethan: I said I prefer the giraffe blanket. Put that one in the bag.

Joe: OK.

You can imagine the look Joe and I gave each other when we heard our 2 year old say "I prefer..." - seriously, what kid says that? I guess our kid does! They really do model what they hear all day! (I always say, "which do you prefer..." when giving him options)

Too funny.

Menu Time

I feel like I forgot to post my last menu...opps.

Well, here's what I'll be cooking this week!

Soft shell beef tacos/chips/salsa/beans
Lemon-thyme chicken/sweet gnocchi (new recipe!)
Sweet peppers, chicken and beans/rice
Southwestern chicken and rice

I get to make deviled eggs for the first time for a 1920's themed shower this weekend! That should be fun:) I got my flapper dress ready to go!

Habit Made!

Remember when....I said I wanted to create in myself a new habit? well....I did!

Hooray for me! Or rather - Hooray for a clean kitchen every night! The first few days..or weeks... were hard, but now that I've completed my 21 days (and more!) it's safe to say it's a habit:) Right after dinner I go into the kitchen - do my cleaning while Joe and the boys play - start the dishwasher - and walk away! done. The next morning I wake up to a sparkling clean kitchen with clean dishes for the day. *happy sigh*

Are there any habits that you are working on? Trying to break or trying to create? Now that I have successfully created a good habit I'm trying to decide what to try and conquer next.....

Light and Garlicky Penne with Plum Tomatoes

I love meals that are easy, simple and delicious - I was given this recipe months ago and absolutely love it! I made it for Ethan's 2 year birthday last Spring because it has both noodles and tomatoes - Ethan's favorite foods at the time:) It's a great spring/summer meal because it is light and fresh!

Light and Garlicky Penne with Plum Tomatoes
The Six O'Clock Scramble; 2009

16 oz penne noodles
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 red onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
1 Tablespoon minced garlic, about 6 cloves **I like to use my micro-plane grater to grate it right in the pan**
4 plum or Roma tomatoes, diced **I like to use cherry tomatoes cut in half**
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional) **I normally omit this**

Cook the penne until al dente.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add the onions and saute them for about 3 minutes until they start to soften. Add the garlic and saute for about 2 more minutes.

Add the tomatoes to the skillet and cook them until they soften but don't completely lose their shape, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Lower the heat to medium-low if they are sticking to the pan.

Drain the penne toss with the tomato mixture. Season it with salt and top it with cheese if desired.

I L.O.V.E this recipe because it is SO easy to make and SO yummy to eat! The red onion, garlic and olive oil create a simple sauce and the tomatoes add a burst of juice and color! Hmmmm I'm now drooling.....

Reading Time!

All my boys LOVE to read! Ethan and Judah always enjoy some good story time with mama or daddy - they look at the pictures, ask questions, make up little stories within the story and so on.


Do you or you kids have a favorite book to read? Ours tend to rotate here...on the top currently are: Bob the Builder (as seen in the picture); Felix the Fire Engine (thank you $1 spot at Target!); Scratch and Sniff Christmas Book (thank you Christmas gift!) I'm sure in a few days that list will change - but variety is good right? ;)

*Don't be shy...let me know what books you enjoy..I'd love to find some more for the boys!*

Menu Time!

Time for more meal planning! I'm a little late in posting this so we've already consumed some:)

Here's what will be cooking this week:

*Light and Garlicky Penne with Plum Tomatoes
*Patty Melts/Chips/Carrots
*Crunchy Onion Chicken/Rice/Green Beans
*Quasadilla Pie
*Cinnamon Bread French Toast/Sausage
*Chicken Tostadas

This should keep us full for a while! More to come when we've eaten all those up....

Yummy Cheap Meal

That title says it all for me: I love Yummy Cheap Meals! I'm a foodie and a frugalista wrapped in one; which can pose interesting challenges when creating menu plans. I absolutely love Rachael Ray's $10 spot in her magazine: it's a section where she shares recipes that feed a family of 4 for under $10! For real!

I tried one of her newest under $10 meals the other night and it was a hit at our house!

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs
Rachael Ray EveryDay Magazine, April 2010

3/4 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup whole milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
4 ounces pepperoni, cut up into small cubes (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup store-bought pizza sauce **I jazzed up plan tomato sauce with basil and oregano which is even cheaper!**
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil (I didn't have this on hand)
1 red bell pepper, sliced (I also didn't have this on hand)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Gread a 24 cup mini-muffin pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder; whisk in the milk and egg. Stir in the mozzarella and pepperoni; let stand for 10 minutes.

2. Stir the batter and divide among the mini-muffin cups. Bake until puffed and golden, 20-25 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, microwave the pizza sauce until warmed through, then stir in 1 tablespoon basil. Sprinkle the puffs with the remaining basil. Serve the puffs and red pepper slices with the sauce for dipping.

**I used regular tomato sauce which is like .25/can and had green beans instead of pepper slices**

According to Rachael research if you use everything in her recipe exactly
(fresh basil, red pepper, etc) the
TOTAL is: $6.46; if you break it down that's only $1.62/Person!

That's what I call a yummy-cheap-meal:) ENJOY!