One of the kids all time favorite meals is traditional tacos that you make using a taco kit and ground beef. I have to admit that I also love this meal, the cheese and sour cream = YUMMM. So I've tried to stay away from this because its really not that healthy, but with all the quickie dinners we need these days, it is really a good option. So the challenge is how to make them a bit healthier?
First, while at Wegmans, I found a taco kit that comes with whole grain taco shells. Next, instead of getting ground beef, I opted for ground turkey. The last thing I did was add some cleaned and rinsed black beans to the meat and sauce, and let me say, it was soo good! I did not miss the beef at all! Aubree loved the beans, but Alex did not, big surprise there. He actually opened up the taco and picked all the beans out...ugh! I tried =)
I find that its still a challenge every day to get that kid to eat better. I even gave him a little spiel about how beans are packed with protein and that if he eats then they will make him stronger, but no good it did. Oh well I will never stop trying!
A quick note about the sides for tacos, try light sour cream, and salsa to lighten up more. The other cool thing is that traditional taco sauce does not have chunks in it like salsa does, so picky kids even like it!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Too Hot?
Here is a little coversation between Aubree and me last night as she was showing ne her new Barbie she got from from the Easter bunny:
Aubree: Do you think she is too hot?
Me: Umm...what does that mean?
Aubree: You know too fancy and stuff
Me: I guess she is a little too fancy
Aubree: yeah I think she is too
She amazes me with the stuff she comes out with? It made me little nervous that she knew how to use the word hot in that context and got me thinking about where she may have heard it. As I thought about it, I realized that its used EVERYWHERE nowadays, I'm sure its even used in some of the Disney shows she watches. There is really not much I can do about it, but let her think that it means being too fancy.
Kids today are so much more exposed to things at an earlier age, and once they start riding a bus and going to school, you really lose control over who they talk to and what they are doing 24/7. It's scary. I've always said that I would be completely honest with my kids about everything, regardless of how awkward it may be. I like to think that by giving them knowledge and the truth, that it will prevent them being too curious and getting the wrong idea from kids at school. I hope I'm right!
Aubree: Do you think she is too hot?
Me: Umm...what does that mean?
Aubree: You know too fancy and stuff
Me: I guess she is a little too fancy
Aubree: yeah I think she is too
She amazes me with the stuff she comes out with? It made me little nervous that she knew how to use the word hot in that context and got me thinking about where she may have heard it. As I thought about it, I realized that its used EVERYWHERE nowadays, I'm sure its even used in some of the Disney shows she watches. There is really not much I can do about it, but let her think that it means being too fancy.
Kids today are so much more exposed to things at an earlier age, and once they start riding a bus and going to school, you really lose control over who they talk to and what they are doing 24/7. It's scary. I've always said that I would be completely honest with my kids about everything, regardless of how awkward it may be. I like to think that by giving them knowledge and the truth, that it will prevent them being too curious and getting the wrong idea from kids at school. I hope I'm right!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Crazy in this House!
Well the title says it all! Life has been so busy mixed in with a little crazy. Every year as Spring approaches, the calendar seems to fill up with family gatherings and activities. During the Winter months the only thing we have to do is karate twice a week. Starting to today, we will now be balancing baseball and karate during the week...yikes! This will be tricky while school is still in session. It's hard enough trying to get homework done and get to karate twice a week, now it will be baseball too. The nice part about all this is that the kids LOVE it! It's why we do it all in the first place right? So they can have fun and try new things. I know the next two months are going to be all kinds of crazy, but as crazy as it is, it will be that much fun too!
We celebrated my Dad's birthday last Friday by having a quiet dinner at home. I made this delicious shrimp and rice dish that will make you melt. I literally day dream about this meal, it is that good. Plus, if you like spicey, then this is for you. I followed dinner up with the Ultimate Chocolate Cake -YUMMMM. I posted that recipe a while back, it so good.
In other news, life has been rolling along. I broke the news to the kids last week that we were going to have to sell our house. I was expecting some sadness, but again they surprised me. They seemed excited to be moving on, into a new place. I tried to explain that it was going to be a slow process, but kids have a hard time with the passing of time, and what a few months really means. I have the most amazing kids. They have always embraced change, and never resisted it, and this is no different. I am so grateful for them, and continue to be amazed by them every day.
Life can be so confusing and at times can just plain suck, but when I look at them I can't help but be thankful for everything I have. They are my reason for living!
Now back to the food! Be warned, this is not a healthy dish! I usually will not add the full amount of Tabasco, because of the kids. The cool thing is that you can just add it to your food once its plated. The other key thing is using fresh lemon juice, since the substitute kinda sucks.
Here is the recipe i used from Giada De Laurentiis:
Nona Luna's Rice
1 stick butter, divided, at room temperature
2 cups parboiled long-grain rice, such as Uncle Ben's
3 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 clove garlic, minced
2 pounds small shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 cup whipping cream
Freshly ground black pepper
In a medium nonstick saucepan, heat 1/2 of the butter over medium-low heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, about 6 to 7 minutes. Add the chicken stock and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer covered for 20 to 25 minutes until the rice is tender and all the liquid is absorbed. Remove the pan from the heat and rest covered for 5 minutes.
In a large skillet, melt the remaining butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 to 2 minutes until aromatic. Add the shrimp, lemon juice, and hot sauce. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp is pink and cooked through. Stir in the cream and heat through. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Using a fork, fluff the rice and arrange on a platter. Spoon the shrimp cream sauce over the rice and serve.
Make this, you will not be disappointed and its a great dish to serve at a dinner party!
Enjoy!
We celebrated my Dad's birthday last Friday by having a quiet dinner at home. I made this delicious shrimp and rice dish that will make you melt. I literally day dream about this meal, it is that good. Plus, if you like spicey, then this is for you. I followed dinner up with the Ultimate Chocolate Cake -YUMMMM. I posted that recipe a while back, it so good.
In other news, life has been rolling along. I broke the news to the kids last week that we were going to have to sell our house. I was expecting some sadness, but again they surprised me. They seemed excited to be moving on, into a new place. I tried to explain that it was going to be a slow process, but kids have a hard time with the passing of time, and what a few months really means. I have the most amazing kids. They have always embraced change, and never resisted it, and this is no different. I am so grateful for them, and continue to be amazed by them every day.
Life can be so confusing and at times can just plain suck, but when I look at them I can't help but be thankful for everything I have. They are my reason for living!
Now back to the food! Be warned, this is not a healthy dish! I usually will not add the full amount of Tabasco, because of the kids. The cool thing is that you can just add it to your food once its plated. The other key thing is using fresh lemon juice, since the substitute kinda sucks.
Here is the recipe i used from Giada De Laurentiis:
Nona Luna's Rice
1 stick butter, divided, at room temperature
2 cups parboiled long-grain rice, such as Uncle Ben's
3 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 clove garlic, minced
2 pounds small shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 cup whipping cream
Freshly ground black pepper
In a medium nonstick saucepan, heat 1/2 of the butter over medium-low heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, about 6 to 7 minutes. Add the chicken stock and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer covered for 20 to 25 minutes until the rice is tender and all the liquid is absorbed. Remove the pan from the heat and rest covered for 5 minutes.
In a large skillet, melt the remaining butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 to 2 minutes until aromatic. Add the shrimp, lemon juice, and hot sauce. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the shrimp is pink and cooked through. Stir in the cream and heat through. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Using a fork, fluff the rice and arrange on a platter. Spoon the shrimp cream sauce over the rice and serve.
Make this, you will not be disappointed and its a great dish to serve at a dinner party!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Old Habits Die Hard...
The old saying "old habits die hard" cannot be more true for me. I catch myself doing things out of habit that no longer make sense. For example, the other day I was cooking dinner and went to set the table and got out 4 forks to put on the table. It took me a minute to realize what I did? It kind of made me sad, because as much as I feel ok with everything and seem to be focusing on the future, I cannot seem to get used to the day to day things that are routine and habit. I also realized the other day that I still use the "we" reference quite often. I'm not sure why? Habit I guess? I hate that I do that, but it must be one of those things that changes with time.
I need to remember that its ok to slip up now and then. Being part of a couple for 12 years and a family of 4 for 5 of those years will do that to you, it becomes second nature. I hope that with time I will get used to saying "I" and getting only 3 forks out of the drawer. Until then I will try not to focus too much on these old habits and try and get used to the new way of life as a family of 3. The best family of 3 I can think of =)
I need to remember that its ok to slip up now and then. Being part of a couple for 12 years and a family of 4 for 5 of those years will do that to you, it becomes second nature. I hope that with time I will get used to saying "I" and getting only 3 forks out of the drawer. Until then I will try not to focus too much on these old habits and try and get used to the new way of life as a family of 3. The best family of 3 I can think of =)
Monday, April 4, 2011
Blondies
Ok this is NOT a healthy recipe what so ever, but it is delicious! I made these for the kids yesterday and they loved them. The best part about this recipe though is that you can mix it all up in one bowl with one spoon! Yey for an easy clean up.
I just realized that I posted 2 desert recipes in a row...yikes! I will try and post a more healthy meal soon =)
Blondies
1 cup flour (I used all natural unbleached)
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 stick butter
1 egg
1 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Melt butter, and then add it to the brown sugar and mix until smooth. Next, add in the egg, salt, and vanilla and mix until smooth. Then, add in the flour and mix gently (do not over mix). Last add in the chocolate chips.
Grease a small 8x8 or 9x9 pan, and pour the batter in and smooth out evenly. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes. Let them cool a bit before cutting in, because they need time to set and get nice and gooey!
Enjoy!
I just realized that I posted 2 desert recipes in a row...yikes! I will try and post a more healthy meal soon =)
Blondies
1 cup flour (I used all natural unbleached)
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 stick butter
1 egg
1 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Melt butter, and then add it to the brown sugar and mix until smooth. Next, add in the egg, salt, and vanilla and mix until smooth. Then, add in the flour and mix gently (do not over mix). Last add in the chocolate chips.
Grease a small 8x8 or 9x9 pan, and pour the batter in and smooth out evenly. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes. Let them cool a bit before cutting in, because they need time to set and get nice and gooey!
Enjoy!
Friday, April 1, 2011
The BEST Chocolate cake ever!
I can't believe I am going to share my most coveted recipe to date. The Too Much Chocolate cake! I actually dream about this cake its that good. The best part is that it has to be the easiest desert I've ever made. The only investment I made was the 12 cup Bundt pan, which was around 10 bucks! The thing is, its not low fat by any means, but when you choose to indulge, who cares right?
Chocolate Cake
1 box of Devils Food cake mix
1 box of instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup of sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups chocolate chips (I like to get the Ghirardelli and i usually add more than 2 cups =)
Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix (yes its that easy!)
Pour mix into a well greased bundt pan and bake at 350 for about 55 minutes or until it stops giggling in the pan.
Once you take it out of the oven let it rest in the pan for about an hour, then gently flip out onto a serving patter, and voila!
Some notes - I usually sprinkle some powdered sugar on top to make it look nice, but you could also add some melted chocolate, or a ganache to the top-YUMMMM!
You can thank me later!
Chocolate Cake
1 box of Devils Food cake mix
1 box of instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup of sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups chocolate chips (I like to get the Ghirardelli and i usually add more than 2 cups =)
Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and mix (yes its that easy!)
Pour mix into a well greased bundt pan and bake at 350 for about 55 minutes or until it stops giggling in the pan.
Once you take it out of the oven let it rest in the pan for about an hour, then gently flip out onto a serving patter, and voila!
Some notes - I usually sprinkle some powdered sugar on top to make it look nice, but you could also add some melted chocolate, or a ganache to the top-YUMMMM!
You can thank me later!
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