2013 Week 51

H's preschool class makes ornaments this time of year and then they

have a "field trip" and walk 2 blocks to the town tree to hang their masterpieces.

I love the colors.

No baby still.

Just waiting.

Dinners this week:

Sunday - Homemade veggie chili with all the toppings.

Monday - Black bean tostadas with cilantro sauce, yum!

Tuesday - Veggie stuffed shells.  I usually do a spinach/ricotta combo.

Wednesday - Baked fish, green veggies, and an orzo salad.

Thursday - Last day of school for the kids, maybe a snowman celebration dinner.  Although, the best snowman meal I can think of now is snowman pancakes!  

Friday - Creamy spaghetti with salad and garlic bread.

Saturday - Pizza at home.

Send good labor thoughts!

2013 Week 50

A sweet reminder to our two little naughties this week.

Dinners this week:

Sunday - Leftovers, or nachos.  

Monday - Roasted mushrooms with creamy polenta.  Not really one of the kid's favorite dishes, but so warm and yummy. Served with a green veggie.

Tuesday - Some sort of chicken and twice baked broccoli and cheese potatoes.  

Wednesday - Sweet potato and black bean enchiladas.  

Thursday - Broncos on Thursday night football, we're having homemade mac and cheese and a big salad.

Friday - The kids will be at PNO, so Scott and I are going out to dinner on our own.

Saturday - Homemade pizza, or dinner out!

2013 Week 49

Our elf arrived this morning! 

I can't believe it's already December

and along with a new baby coming

the month is filled with the usual busy holiday events.

Here's to hoping we can keep up!

Dinners this week:

Sunday - Leftovers, we have a ton to use up still!

Monday - Stir fry, using up veggies on hand, with rice.

Tuesday - Some sort of noodle dish, either spaghetti or something creamy with veggies.

Wednesday - Chili and cornbread.

Thursday - Breakfast for dinner.  Maybe eggs, pancakes, and smoothies.  Easy and yummy.

Friday - H's holiday dance show, so an easy crockpot soup will be simmering at home for us.

Saturday - Pizza after the preschool holiday party.

2013 Week 48

I'm thankful that's just a photo of a polar bear! 

It's Thanksgiving week!  

You can check out our menu here, we are all getting excited for the big meal.

We have Scott's parents coming in this week and the kids cannot wait for

Grandma and Grandpa to get here.

Honestly, everyday they ask if this is the day they arrive!

Dinners this week:

Sunday - Let's go Broncos, game day food.  Burgers, soup and sweet potato fries, all homemade.

Monday - Quesadillas and burritos, with all of the toppings.

Tuesday - My in-laws arrive around dinner time.  I'm thinking of making my butternut squash stuffed shells with and a big salad.

Wednesday - We don't really have any traditional "day before thanksgiving dinner" recipes or plans, but we need some!  Seems like many people do pizza or Chinese food.  I'm not sure which route we will do yet.

Thursday - Woohoo! It's Turkey day!

Friday - Leftovers, of course!

Saturday - Dinner out with Scott's parents, kids are having pizza with a baby sitter.

2013 Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

Gobble Gobble

This year Thanksgiving will be a little different around here.  I'm about 2 or 3 weeks away from having baby #3 and I'm just not that into cooking a big Thanksgiving dinner. So Scott and his mom and my mom and taking over.  I've planned our dishes, and Scott already has his turkey plan, but that's about as much as I'm going to do.  I'm hoping to just spend the day on the couch "overseeing" what happens in the kitchen!

Here is what our Thanksgiving dinner will be this year:

Appetizers

Honey, Brie, and Apple Bruschetta 

Nuts and Olives

Veggie plate with homemade ranch

Main Dishes

Turkey - I think Scott's grilling the big bird again this year

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Turkey gravy & Mushroom gravy

Chopped brussels sprout salad - this was a big hit last year, so good

Delicata squash roasted with gouda - I love delicata squash and what's NOT good about gouda??

Shiitake mushroom stuffing
Crescent Rolls
Cranberry Sauce

Dessert

Maple Pumpkin Pie with Salted Pecan Brittle 

Chocolate turkey cupcakes (for the kids, or the kids at heart)

Drinks
Cranberry Slush for the kids and me - yummy!
Wine, Beer

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Also, I'm going to make these delicious looking fresh cranberry scones
ahead of time for breakfast that morning.  

2013 Week 47

L's family portrait

Bad news: I made the mistake of buying a box of cereal with a toy inside this week.

Now the kids know that such a thing is possible, toys in food. 

Good news: The toy was a Chewbacca pen and L drew this for me.  

I love everything about it.  I love the way he spelled mommy and daddy, 

I love the way he drew the dog, I love the sun with a smiley face.  

Honestly, the whole thing kills me.

Dinners this week:
Sunday - Let's go Broncos!  Game day food is on the menu.  Yummy, grilled quesadillas with lots of toppings and lots of fillings.  Peppers and onions, grilled chicken, cheese, and beans.
Monday - Veggie and tofu stir fry with rice.
Tuesday - Easy noodle dish, maybe crockpot spaghetti, or baked penne.  I might try this recipe with a few more added veggies.
Wednesday - Tostadas, I guess that's pretty similar to Sunday's dinner, but I love a crispy tostada!  Thinking black bean and sweet potato combo.
Thursday - Scott's birthday!  It's all his favorites with grilled steak, mashed potatoes and a green veggie.  I'll throw a portobello mushroom on the grill for me.  All this is followed by cheesecake.  Still looking for a great recipe.  I can't get the birthday guy to settle on a flavored cheesecake or traditional one.
Friday - Some sort of shrimp recipe.  Not sure what yet, but the kids and Scott all love shrimp and we never cook it at home!  Any suggestions?
Saturday - Dinner out or grilling with friends.

2013 Week 46

We're in that season where L has a birthday party to attend just about every weekend.

At the one yesterday, the kids all got to scamper up the climbing wall at our rec center.

It was only L's second time on the wall, but he loved it.

In cooking related news, Scott has been making the yummiest pizzas lately.  

We always dig into them before I can take a picture, 

but the best combo is roasted butternut squash, caramelized onions, 

cremini mushrooms with ricotta and mozzarella.

So, so delicious.  We've had it twice in one week!

Here's the pizza dough recipe we're currently loving.

Dinners this week:
Sunday - Chili with cornbread.
Monday - Stirfry with noodles and tofu.
Tuesday - Leftovers.
Wednesday - Butternut squash and black bean enchiladas with cilantro lime rice, yum!
Thursday - Homemade mac and cheese with a green veggie.
Friday - Grilled chicken, veggies, and rice.
Saturday - Dinner out or something easy at the house.

Have a great week!