Menu Plan Monday: Recipes under 20 minutes!

I have a confession to make. The closer I get to birthin this baby.....the less I want to cook. I usually love to cook but these days I am just not feeling it! Which would be fine if I didn't have to eat perfectly balanced due to the gestational diabetes. ~sigh~ So, I have made it my quest to find some EASY diabetic/healthy recipes that won't leave me tired or more importantly, grumpy! I hope you enjoy...happy eating y'all!!

Monday: Stuffed burgers, salad, corn on the cob

Tuesday: Chicken Tacos, re fried beans

Wednesday: Leftover night- yeah!!!

Thursday: Pork kabobs with fresh veggies, green beans, tomato salad

Friday: Pizza and salad night!

Saturday: Tequila honey shrimp, sauteed summer squash and zucchini, brown rice

Sunday: Beef roast, roasted Brussel sprouts and carrots, salad

Works for me Wednesday: Keeping bakeware organized

I am in the midst of hot and heavy nesting. I know this baby will not care that I have re-lined all the cabinets in the kitchen and gotten rid of the Tupperware without matching lids, but somehow the need drives me on.

I have a cabinet for all things baking. It frequently gets cluttered with measuring cups, spoons and tools. (It always seems to happen when I am in the middle of baking something too :( )

While in this most recent nesting kick, I have found the best solution for this.

I used hooks to hang both the measuring cups and spoons. They are out of the way and very easily assessable. And that totally works for me !!!!

For more great WFMW ideas visit We are That Family!

Menu Plan Monday

Hey all !!! I am still trying new diabetic recipes and I have not tried one that my family and I have not loved!! I may just stick with this new way of eating. I have included a new one I want to try. :) I hope y'all have a yummy week!

Monday: Club sandwiches, green beans, carrot sticks with dip

Tuesday: Spicy linguine with chicken, salad

Wednesday: Stuffed green peppers

Thursday: Leftover buffet...if its not movin.....

Friday: Pizza night!

Saturday: Steak kabobs with peppers, mushrooms, onions, over brown rice

Sunday: BBQ ribs, lemon broccoli stir fry, corn on the cob

I need me a sister wife.....

I was sitting on the couch the other night in all my bloated belly glory, watching a show about polygamy. ((I know what your thinking but I could not turn my eyes away from it.)) It was fascinating to me.

My hubs who was getting some work done in the same room, turned to me with a smirk and asked how I would like it if he took another wife on. He was sort of smirking like "my pregnant wife would kill her and then come after me" type thing.

I looked down at my belly and my charlie horse ridden legs and then I made a quick sweep of my living room. My perfectly picked up room 3 hours before was now littered with coloring books and My Pretty Ponies.

I looked at him with all sincerity and said " I would love it."

He looked at me with shock.

I thought about how everyones laundry just shows up clean and folded in their drawers, healthy dinners show up at the table, the house is cleaned and picked up a million times a day and the all the shopping gets done. This isn't counting the books read to children, building a lincoln log homes, candy land, hugs, medical care, T-ball games....the list goes on and on.

So I have decided that I need a wife.

I would love someone to tell me when they have scheduled my dentist appointment for me, prepare a balanced yet delicious lunch, or clean out the pantry. I could get sick and not worry that the house will fall apart....wow. To simply have the luxury to not remember things because I know someone is there to remember for me, remind me, take care of things.....what would that be like?

I snapped back into reality that I will be the one and only wife in this home...but its tempting, isn't it?

An easy and low cal recipe!

I didn't do a Menu plan this week because, well...... I am tired and just plain got behind. Which is ok. I am giving myself an out and doing lots of pulling from the freezer. :)

That being said, I am sharing another diabetic recipe that I have found that is easy and yummy. (Not to mention low calorie, low fat and balanced.)

Enjoy!!!

Beef Vegetable Soup

1 beef shank bone with 1lb. meat
2-1/2 quarts water
2 bay leaves
1/3 cup chopped celery leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp Morton Lite Salt ® Mixture
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 envelope (1oz.) onion soup mix
1 can (15oz.) stewed tomatoes with juice
1 package (10oz.) frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup peeled, diced potatoes
1 cup sliced celery

Remove any fat from the beef.

In a large, covered soup pot, simmer the beef bone with meat in water with bay leaves, celery leaves, parsley, Morton Lite ® Salt Mixture, pepper, and onion soup mix until meat is tender, about 2-1/2 hours.

Remove the one, meat and bay leaves. Chill broth and remove any fat. Cut meat into bite size pieces and return to broth. Discard bone and bay leaves.

Add tomatoes, frozen vegetables, potatoes, and celery.

Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Serve hot.

See the nutritional info and the original recipe here!

Some Irish Recipes for St. Patty's day :)

St. Patricks day is right around the corner! Here are a couple of recipes that the whole family (even the picky ones- yes there is one in every family!) will love!

Irish cheddar Crisps

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

3/4 tsp sugar

3 /4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 cup cold water

2 Tbs white vinegar

coarsely grounded black pepper

Mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking soda in large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cheese, water, and vinegar with fork until mixture forms soft dough. Refrigerate 1 hour or freeze 30 minutes until firm.

Preheat oven to 375. Grease two large cookie sheets. Divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll each piece into paper thin circle on floured surface. Sprinkle with pepper. Press pepper firmly into dough.

Cut each circle into 8 wedges. Place wedges on prepared cookie sheet. Bake about 10 minutes or until crisp. Store in airtight container.

Shamrock Smoothies

1 ripe banana, peeled and cut into chunks

1 cup ice cubes

3/4 cup apple juice

1/4 cup plain yogurt

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp orange extract

2 or 3 drops green food coloring

Place banana, ice cubes, apple juice, yogurt, extracts and food coloring in blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and frothy. Pour into glasses and garnish with mints or cookies.

I found these in my personal recipe box and not sure where they originated from.

Menu Plan Monday: What a yummy week!

I have to tell you that my family is loving all these new diabetic recipes! We have even had some guests that had no idea we were eating so healthy! (I love being sneaky like that :) ) We are also getting a couple of warm days which makes me want to have get out the grill and splurge on some red meat ....hope you are having a yummy week!

Monday: Indonesian chicken, broccoli, corn

Tuesday: 15 minute turkey chili, salad

Wednesday: Buffalo soft tacos, re fried beans

Thursday: Grilled steak, grilled asparagus, baked potatoes with cheese

Friday: Pizza and salad night

Saturday: Leftover buffet- If its in the fridge....

Sunday: Baked chicken Parmesan over whole wheat pasta, salad, green beans

Where has time gone?

My little girl, my baby, turned 3 last week.

I look at her and still see my infant girl swaddled in pink.

She proves she is three, however by having strong opinions in almost everything. From what she is going to wear to not liking her hair in a ponytail to loving all things Strawberry Shortcake.

She announced to us a couple weeks ago, she was going to start going to the potty. Then did.

She is all girl and loves all things girlie. I especially love it when she gets up from her nap. I know she has gotten up because she wears play heels out of her room and the "clomp, clomp" sound is like a trumpet announcing her arrival.

She is fierce.

I want her to stay like this forever. Knowing who she is. (A beautiful, confident child of the king)

My prayer is that she will be fierce in her beliefs and stay true.

I know its going to be a long road.

She is pure joy.

Works for me Wednesday: Party on !!

I don't know about you but I hate trying to find things to fill birthday goodie bags. I have kids attend our parties that range in ages 14 - newborn so you see my dilemma. Batman coloring books for the 14 year old? I can see the embarrassment on his face already.

If I want to please everyone, I have to shop several different stores and I end up spending alot more sanity and money that I intend to.

This year for my daughters birthday party I tried something new which worked wonderfully!

Instead of goodie bags, I had a candy bar ....

I choose many different candies that would work for all ages and I placed them in several glass containers that I had. I provided some Chinese take out boxes and scoops and let all my guests belly up to the bar and fill their own favor boxes with the candy that looked good to them.

It was very economical as I bought candy after Valentines day when it was 75% off and even found some great candy at the dollar store! (I ended up spending way less than I usually do on goodie bags )

Everyone was happy that they didn't have one more trinket cluttering up their house and I could eat the leftovers :)

And that works for this mama......

For more great WFMW ideas visit We are That Family!

Menu Plan Monday: Balanced eating continues!!

I am well into a couple weeks of healthier, balanced eating and I have to say it has been delicious. (Along with hubs being thrilled he is losing weight :) ) I have included 3 more diabetic recipes that look just as yummy and I am excited to try them. I hope y'all have a an awesome (and healthy) week!!!

Monday: Grilled lemon pepper chicken, grilled asparagus, cheddar onion perogies

Tuesday: Beef Teriyaki skewers, Asian mixed vegetables, spring rolls

Wednesday: Leftover buffet....if its not movin

Thursday: Elbow pasta w/ Prosciutto,olives and marinara, spinach salad with cheese & bacon

Friday: Pizza Night with salad

Saturday: Chicken breast with Rosemary, green beans, tomato salad and whole wheat rolls

Sunday: Spicy shrimp kabobs on the grill, broccoli salad, corn on the cob

Works for me Wednesday: Greatest Tip edition

This week we were asked to submit one of our greatest tips and here is one of mine! I use this all the time It helps save time and money so that makes mama very happy :)

Hello. My name is Summer and I am a......stockpiler.


I admit that when I see a next to nothing deal, I grab it. Or two or three or a dozen.


I just can't help myself. If I have 3 coupons for an item, its a manager special and it's $.20 for a bag of frozen broccoli, you bet your tushy I buy 3 of them.


I get alot of sighing and looks from my hubs but he rarely says anything because he has seen the power of the money savings. I get the looks because it is his job to go out to our chest freezer and find a spot for all the deals.


There is only one itzy bitzy problem......... I forget what I have out there. I could go out there every Sunday night and see what I have before I do my menu planning. I tell myself, however that Sunday is supposed to be the day of rest, right?!?! I know, however that I just don't want my hands to turn blue as I dig through the Mary Poppins bag of freezers.


So...... I have come up with this.


I found these magnetic whiteboards at a store for $1. I love that I can simply write what I have in my freezer, erase when I no longer have it, post dates of casseroles and baked goods and add as I go to the grocery store. It actually saves me money because we are using the things that I have gotten the deals on and nothing goes bad and gets wasted.



And that works for this mama...who would rather play games with her kidlets than dig through a freezer!



For more great WFMW ideas visit We Are that Family!

Menu Plan Monday: Healthy eating !

So I found out this week that I have gestational diabetes. Which is the pits. (Like when you want some Oreos and you can't have them.) So I have just dove in and embraced a diabetic diet, which turns out is a really healthy way to eat. It has resulted in both my husband losing weight and our whole family feeling really good. So.....for the next eight weeks or so I will be featuring some diabetic recipes. I hope you find them as yummy as we have!!

Monday: Roast turkey with gravy, green beans, corn

Tuesday: Angel hair pasta with spicy shrimp, spinach salad

Wednesday: Leftover buffet- if it not movin....

Thursday: Grilled chicken and cheese whole wheat quesadillas with salsa dip

Friday: Pizza night (with large salad)

Saturday: Club sandwiches on whole wheat toast and beef vegetable soup

Sunday: Shepherds pie, broccoli

How you know your pregnant (Like you didn't already?!?!)

* Tums become your dessert of choice....and you have your favorite brand and flavor.

* You are not one for violence, but you suddenly want to karate chop the woman who is coming towards you with hands outstretched to rub your belly like Buddha.

* You just love when people tell you the following phrases:

- You are huge! (Really?!?! That is what I have been dying to hear ?!?! )

- You must be ready to go any minute! (No,actually I have two more months but thanks.)

- You haven't had that baby yet?!?! (Sorry to disappoint you )

* If anyone stands in your way of having a meal....well, good luck to them. (Including your hubs)

*Suddenly the gentle woman you have always strived to be turns into a mama lion when ANYTHING happens to one of your children. I think I have even found myself snarling...that's right.....lip back...growling)

* You can go from ranting to crying to laughing...all within 5 minutes.

* You wonder how you could possibly get any bigger....then you do.

* You have the strangest dreams , when you sleep at all, like giving birth to cats, giant babies and giving birth in the jungle.

* Having a shooting pain that starts in your tush and shoots like a dagger down your leg.

* Burps that cannot be stopped or quited and are as loud and long as a trucker. Usually these escape when your in the middle of church or a parent teacher conference. Classy.

* The baby gives you a swift kick in your special lady parts and you automatically grab your crotch. Most the time in public.

*** Not trading one burp, pain, sleepless night for the wonderful joy that is motherhood!

Works for me Wednesday: Keeping the kids craft drawer organized!

I wish I had taken "before" pictures of my kids craft drawers because they were so bad that we couldn't so much find a coloring book. (Then again maybe I am glad that I didn't take any pictures :) )

Things get out of control quickly with little excited hands throwing things in a drawer in a rush to get to the next thing.

With me nesting, I tackled these drawers and I have to say its working for us!!

All the coloring books, paper and work books are in a drawer.

In another drawer I threw all crayons and pencils in a large box that the kids can easily get to ....and dare I say throw back in when done? I also put all the painting supplies in a a large 2 gallon zip lock baggie (Hello, no more hunting for those skinny paintbrushes) All the Color Wonder markers and special paper goes into another bag. Then the bain of my existence, markers, go into a final bag.

I can monitor what they are playing with better. They can do art more often now because they just grab the baggie they want and then throw everything back in.

I see clearly if they have a purple marker out in the family room....near the new TV.

And that works for this mama!!

For more great WFMW ideas, visit We are That Family!!!