What's for Dinner Weekly ... my menu planner

Sunday - Spinach Artichoke Pasta (love anything & everything Ree whips up in the kitchen, but i'm going to omit all the cheeses and breadcrumbs and just cook the core ingredients in some broth with a touch of freshly grated parmesan)
thepioneerwoman.com

Monday - Black Bean Chili with Avacado Salsa
deliaonline.com


Tuesday - Teriyaki Porkloin with Baked Delicta Squash & Veggie Medley (another one of my own recipes - i just marinate the pork loin in soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and grated fresh ginger, S&P to taste. the squash is cut in half, scraped of seeds, and baked flesh side down with a bit of water in the pan. needs nothing added, so good!)

Wednesday - Winter Minestrone Soup (this can be made and served in less than an hour... although veggies are more tender if you cook longer.) with Paninis on Ciabatta Bread
theurbanspork.com

Thursday - left over soup, chili and pork (waste not, want not)

Friday - Cranberry Cherry Chicken Wrap with Raw Veggies and Hummus (this is on our super busy, on-the-go night ... think this will do as a meal in the car in between activities) menumusings.blogspot.com

Saturday - Chinese Chicken Salad -
www.lhj.com

Anyone try any of the recipes I posted last time? Curious to know if you liked them?

What's for Dinner Weekly ... my menu planner

When the kids went back to school on Sept 5th, I decided to finally, whole-heartedly pour myself into a commitment to eat better and lose some of the weight that has been sneaking on over the last three years. I've talked myself through this so many times recently and have failed, but this time ... it felt different. I felt like a little switch had turned on. I felt like I could conquer. I read through the Eat Clean Diet book,  made notes on the basic principles, and organized my favorite recipes. Then I went shopping. And as I pushed that cart around the grocery market with all the lovely veggies, fruits, whole foods and organic goodness ... I knew I was not looking back. For the first time in my life I started drinking black coffee (half -n - half is a no-no). I haven't touched a sweet treat (I do allow myself a very small bit of dark bittersweet chocolate about once or twice a week). I've removed sugar from my diet almost completely (I'm not perfect ... I don't cook with it or add it to any of my home cooked recipes, but it is in a few of the items I buy.) A big part of my success is staying on top of my weekly menu. I prepare the week's meals and a shopping list ahead of time. This way I always have something healthy to make and do not resort to take-out or last minute whims. I can take pretty much any recipe and tweak it to fit the Eat Clean principles as closely as possible. The family is loving the attention to meal time and the new recipes. In case you struggle with What's for Dinner, I decided to put together this week's menu with links to the websites' that have posted these yummy recipes. Please know that I am not claiming these to be Clean Eating recipes. You will have do your own research on the principles of this way of eating and tweak as necessary. I'm just hoping you might find a new recipe to add to your meal rotation every now and then. Bon Appetit!

Sunday: Soba Noodles | Simply Reem
simplyreem.com

Monday: Pasta with Zucchini, Tomatoes and Creamy Lemon-Yogurt Sauce | Ezra Pound Cake
ezrapoundcake.com


Tuesday: Slow Cooker Roast Beef with Veggies & Whole Grain Noodles
(just a recipe I have in my arsenal)

Wednesday: Lentil Soup with Chickpeas and Quinoa | Souvlaki for the Soul (and Caprese Paninis)
souvlakiforthesoul.com

Thursday: Leftovers
(it's a fact of life)

Friday: Mushroom Stroganoff | Skinny Taste
skinnytaste.com

Saturday: Crockpot Chicken Tacos | Chocolate Therapy
mychocolatetherapy.com

Cooking with Kids ...

We're really getting into this cooking thing this summer.



I had a busy morning and had to run out with the girlie, but whipped up a quick omelet for myself first. K saw it and wanted one even though he already ate breakfast. So while eating mine, I talked him through how to make his own.


He did all the work himself. And I love the fact that he's getting more protein in the morning, rather than so many carbs. And he is quite proud of himself to boot.

I got to actually eat my breakfast and wasn't late for our appointment ... and he got his omelet.

Check out these sites for more on cooking with children:
disney's family fun
cooking with kids
nick jr. -this site is best for the littlest ones
and of course Martha has a spot reserved on her website just for cooking with kids.

Let me know if you come across any good ones!

x0-jenn

Keep cool with this yummy dessert you can make with the kids!

We are always on the lookout for easy food recipes in the summer. The kids love to be in the kitchen whipping up new creations. We found this Watermelon Sherbet Cake on makeandtake.com.


You can get the recipe from the link above, but basically you add each layer to a springform pan/cheesecake pan (while freezing in between adding layers to set).


Her cake is so much more prettier than ours, but we did our best.


The taste testers thought it was delicious!



A new summertime favorite treat and easy enough for kids to make (as long as you don't expect perfection). ;)



Don't forget about my Summer Sale at Pretty in Posies! 30 % off everything in the shop with coupon code Summer!



And my latest layouts featuring some of the newest digital scrapbooking goodies from JessicaSprague.com.


Beach Days
Cosmo Cricket::
Salty Air Pattern Papers
Salty Air Elements
Salty Air Candy Candy
Lil' Girl & Lil' Boy Paper Pack

Queen of Quirk::
Old Boris Kit
You Are Here Full Kit


Extraordinary Ordinary
Not sure if you can see it in the photo, but just above the d and i in the word Ordinary ... is a hot air balloon peeking out of the fog.

In The Making Design::
It's Start Template 6
Retro Mango Paper Pack
Valpolicella Paper Pack
Valpolicella Elements Pack
Framed Elements Set

other:
Anna Aspnes:: Loopdaloop


Best Day of Summer
I used Elle's Studio Hybrid Summer 2010 Documented for this digital LO. I just opened the pdf in PS and used my magic wand to select all of the white background, then Inversed the Selection. I copied the selection onto a new layer... and basically had a png sheet of all the cute little elements to cut out and drag onto my page.

Elle's Studio::
Summer 2010 Documented - hybrid project
Ledger Love Circles
My Dear Papers

Splendid Fiins::
very krafty-the neutrals
@ the office supplies 1

Liv.e Designs::
I Heart Doodles 2

Queen of Quirk::
You Are Here Full Kit

Cyrstal Wilkerson::
IBSW Template 6 (for the stitches)

other:
Katie Pertiet's Marker Font

Destination DC Here's my page for the Speed Scrap.

In The Making Designs:
Budoir Solids Paper Pack

Cosmo Cricket:
Joy Ride Candy Candy

Queen of Quirk:
You Are Here Full Kit

Creativity by Crystal:
Office Supplies Element Pack

Jenn McCabe: Kraft Paper Cut Outs (This is the freebie I made for the May Speed Scrap)

Thanks for looking! xo jenn