What We Are Eating Wednesday

The weather keeps getting warmer in these parts and we have been taking full advantage of Hubby's new grill. We somehow avoided using the oven and stovetop all together last week! Fingers crossed we can keep that trend going this week too.

Wednesday

French toast with sliced cantaloupe and spinach frittata

Thursday

Grilled bell pepper, tomato, and turkey pepperoni pizza

Friday

Grilled chicken, tomato, and motzarella sandwiches

Saturday

Crock pot sloppy joes on home made buns(from freezer), with salad and diced fruit

Sunday

Chicken, bell pepper, and pineapple kabobs with pita bread

Monday

Grilled burgers and dogs on homemade buns, watermelon

Tuesday

Chicken fajitas on homemade tortillas, black beans

We are heavy on the chicken this week. I caught a great sale on minimally processed chicken breasts last week and bought 16 lbs! May sound like a lot, but we go through a lot of chicken a week feeding a family of five. 

Now I am off to clean the pool. Fun times.

Fun Facts

I have spent the last several weeks fighting with the used pool we bought off Craigslist. Around children and polite company we refer to her as the Big Blue Bohemith. In private, I refer to her as something far more colorful. Five patched holes, two replaced valves (four if you count the first two we bought that were wrong), two fixed plumbing leaks, and some pool chemicals later we may finally be able to swim in her tomorrow. Hm. I'll wait and see on that one.

Isn't she soooo pretty? Maybe not now, but she'll clean up well.

While digging holes under the legs of our swing set today in preparation for concrete supports, I uncovered a large section of tree root. Directly in my way. Of course. Forty five minutes, a jigsaw, a handsaw, a hammer, a screwdriver, and a pick axe later we broke off six inches of it. The hubbs and I declared it good enough and went inside to commiserate over a beer escape the heat.

Tree gives shade, roots trash my yard. Tough fight.

The family and I will be spending all day in the yard tomorrow. We have playground mulch being delivered this weekend, and need to get the weed cloth down under the swing set first. Hubby will be spending his morning finishing up the re-purposed deck that came with aforementioned Big Blue B. Without the deck we will have to pole vault into the pool. How very Olympian.

Concrete retaining wall done, and the forms are now cleaned up.

Next week we rototill the backyard, level, and install a new sprinkler system. In three days. Don't tell my husband, but even for us I think that is pushing it.

I walked into my garden last night, only to find these little visitors. While they were cute, I told them they had to go home and wrangled them back into the neighbors yard. Momma dog was very pleased.

Eight little puppies in all.Including a chubba little girl who got stuck trying to push through the fence.

I think I am going to start eating smoothies for lunch. I have a really healthy meal every day for breakfast, and typically eat a healthy dinner. But lunch. Yeah, not so much. And my waste line is reflecting this.

Lately Gabriel will pretend his food is talking to him. He does it quietly and with such absorption I don't have the heart to tell him not to play with his food.

Carrots and zuchinni, oh my!

Abigail thinks hats and sippy cups are hilarious. They are a sure fire attention getter and guaranteed giggle maker for the little love.

My brother starts his Jr. year of high school next month. It still blows me away how quickly he has grown up, and the kind of man he is becoming. I am so proud of him.

That's it. Tomorrow is What We Are Eating Wednesday, and another post on a controversial topic in these parts: pancakes. Serious stuff, I know.

4th of July Recap

Better late than never, right?

For the Fourth of July the family and I piled into the car and headed to the San Diego County Fair for some fair time fun. This was the first time the kids had been to the fair, and I have to say they did awesome!

Father and son waiting for the pig races to start

Hubbs and sis-in-law channeling their inner piggy

Gabe getting in on the fun

Piss piggy eat your heart out

Enjoying the good eats

Cousinly love

Navigating through the spinning vortex with Nama.

Gabe was thrilled to finally get a ride on a motorcycle

Help! We are stuck in a glass cage of emotion!

When the little man saw the machinery, his excitement was overwhelming

Smoosh!

Some father son racing

Abigail and I awestruck over the fireworks

It was a wonderful Fourth, topped with an incredible fireworks show. Luckily, the San Diego County Fair was not part of the giant fireworks meltdown (did you all here about this?) and we had a great spot. It felt like we were right under the fireworks! Abigail, Gabriel, and their cousin Victor were all entranced. 

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

What We Are Eating Wednesday (ish)

Yesterday was a wonderful Fourth of July, filled with fair food, family fun, and of course fireworks!

Since we were out and about yesterday, our meal plan for this week starts today. After all the heavy fair food I am looking forward to some lighter meals. Well, except for the cinnamon rolls. But hey, when a girl wants a cinnamon roll, a girl wants a girls wants a cinnamon roll. 

Our meals will also be taking advantage of our garden. Our tomatoes have finally ripened! 

Thursday

Grill chicken, tomato, and mozzarella cheese sandwich w/ corn

Friday

Crockpot pineapple chicken with rice

Saturday

Spinach and bell pepper scramble with whole wheat pancakes

Sunday

Veggie pizza on homemade crust

Monday

Scrambled egg quesadillas on homemade tex mex tortillas with diced fruit

Tuesday

Chicken fajitas on homemade tortillas with black beans

Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4th!

mmmm, chocolate dipped frozen cheesecake

Megan's ridiculousness by Trent

This morning's craziness

Megan: Can you make the oatmeal?

Me: of course!

Megan: It's a half a cup of oatmeal, a cup and a half of milk, then put it into the microwave at 70% power for 5 minutes and 38 seconds.  Not 37, not 39, 38.

Me: Sure thing hun...

Megan: What, it's very persnickety oatmeal.

And here's an oldie but a goodie

McDonald's intercom woman: Hi, can I interest you in one of our new Angus burgers?

Me: No thanks, we're going to need a minute.

Intercom woman: Ok, take your time and tell me when you're ready.

Me: What do you want Megan?

Megan: I don't know, what are you getting?

Me: Chocolate dipped cone. The one's you don't like.

Megan: Hmmmm, I think I want a butter pecan tillamook waffle cone. But what flavors do they have?

Me: You know what flavors they have, do you really want me to ask?

Megan: Yes please.

Me: Ugh...really? I don't want to.

Megan: Just do it.

Me: You're just going to get confused and end up ordering something you don't like.

Megan: Just do it. I want to hear the flavors.

Me: Fine, (to intercom) can you tell me what flavors of ice cream they have?

Intercom woman: (by this point it's been a good 5 minutes and she's irritated) Well soft serve we have vanilla or chocolate dipped vanilla or we have the tillamook flavors.

Me: (looking at Megan with contempt as I ask) What flavors do you have in the tillamook?

Intercom woman: Uhhhhh....Chocolate, ummmm, vanilla, butterpecan, strawberry....uhhh...chocolate.....ummmm....strawberry, and uhhhh blackberry.

Me: Thanks, (to Megan) NOW WHAT DO YOU WANT!?!

Megan: Just a plain vanilla cone.

Me: (to intercom) Ok, we'll have a chocolate dipped cone and a va...

Megan: I want mine dipped to.

Me: (to intercom) ughh....make that 2 chocolate dipped cones.

Intercom woman: Will that be ALL?

Me: Ya

Intercom: Pull up to the second window.

5 minutes later

Megan: I don't know why I ordered the chocolate, I hate it. (as she peels it off and throws it in the bushes)

Me: I don't know either.

Megan: Well you knew I didn't like it, why'd you let me order it?

Me: Jesus Megan, we're never driving through anywhere ever again. Good god you frustrate me.

Megan: All in a days work

It's a wonder I have any hair left

Penne w/ Chicken Sausage, Zucchini and Greek Yogurt Sauce

Have you all discovered the joys of cooking and baking with Greek yogurt? If not, you are missing out!

My last grocery trip I found Hillshire chicken, apple and Gouda sausages on sale. Curious, I decided to pick some up. With a harvest of bell peppers and zucchini from the garden, I thought the flavors would blend nicely. While trying to decide on a sauce for my new pasta dish, I realized I still had a large container of Greek yogurt hanging out in the fridge.

 I have been subbing Greek yogurt into my baking recipes in place of fats or sour cream for some time now. I always found it a great way to reduce the fat, up the protein, and keep the creamy texture. I figured if it worked for baking, why couldn't it work for a sauce?

It worked. Oh, my did it work. Light, slightly tangy, and a perfect compliment for the flavors of the fresh vegetables and the delicious sausage.

Penne with Chicken Sausage, Zucchini and Greek Yogurt Sauce

One box of penne pasta

Two tablespoons olive oil

One zucchini

Two red bell peppers

One package sausage (I highly recommend the Hillshire Farm Chicken with Gouda and Apple)

One cup Greek yogurt

Half of a cup Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil, then adding pasta and a sprinkle of salt.

While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large pan. Add diced sausage, zucchini, and bell pepper. Saute sausage and vegetables until sausage is cooked through and nicely browned and vegetables are fork tender.

Drain and rinse pasta, then put back in pan. Add one cup Greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper. Mix until incorporated. 

Add sausage mix into pasta mix. Stir until everything is well mixed.

Serve warm with french bread.

Enjoy!

*Disclaimer: Hillshire Farms did not sponsor this post. They have no idea who I am. I just liked the product.*

Sun, Sand, and Splash Pads

With the weather heating up here, the kids were in need of a little vacation time. But with a backyard remodel in full swing, what is a mom to do?

This mom channeled her inner Tim Gunn and decided to "make it work".

Sunshine fun? No shortage of that here.

Stylish little lady, stylish!

Sand for castle building and excavating? Check!

Great way to reuse the dirt we removed while leveling the pool area.

Splash pad for hours of cool off fun? You got it little man!

Gabriel decided to put his lawnmower on top of a sprinkler

"Mom, you have to try this!"

While I know this doesn't look stylish, we accomplished exactly what we wanted. All of us outside enjoying the summer together. In a month the remodel will be done, and they will have a perfectly manicured area to play in. For now I will let them enjoy(safely) a little dirt, a little mess, and a lot of sunshine.