monday musings



hendrix got a new swing this weekend.  i forgot that we had this old sky chair in storage.  it works better then that the tire swing idea i had, although he still calls it his tire swing.  we also got a new washer and dryer.  which has brought me more happiness than it probably should.  but laundromats are soul crushing and the units seem to symbolize that we are in the beginning stages of climbing out of our streak of bad luck.  the county is also here doing work on our road and i do believe redoing our driveway.  the driveway that is a safety hazard and we have been trying to figure out how we could afford to repair it.  well, the county came to clear trees and replace drainage.  you know, the 15 feet of trees mike was going to clear out by hand and chainsaw.  now, they are redoing the driveway after they replaced the drainage below.   turns out, bulldozers and backhoes are much better equipped and if the county will do it - even better.  even if they don't make the driveway better it will still be great to have the trees cleared and the drainage replaced.   our road kind of gets ignored since there are no other homes that are on it for miles.  now there is a school going in down the street, though, so they will be able to devote more time to the road.

last week was a rough one, but this week is already looking better.  i am waiting for news that i hope is good and that i can share later today.  hendrix and i are going to the wizard of oz exhibit at the children's museum (which he is beyond pumped for) on thursday.  friday, i get to see my dear friend at her baby shower.  plus, this weekend is the sarpy county fair.  ya'll should go....it is so awesome and what fairs are made of.  hendrix and i might even go bowling this week if the weather stays hot.  speaking of weather...saturday was so beautiful here, wasn't!?!? it sure seems like it wants to rain today, too.  *fingers crossed* oh, and i really want to check out the bittersweet bakery in ashland this week.  you see? it's guaranteed to be a good week!

....also going on this week in the omaha metro (all free!)

jazz on the green on thursday, free family flicks at aksarben cinema, and the westroads kids club science show about weather.  have any other ideas or events to make this week great?  please share!

back to school

 
it is almost august which means that school is almost here.  hendrix goes to a mom's day out program once a week, but it doesn't start until september.  his cousin, however, is starting kindergarten (!!) and all the crayons and milestones are making me panic a little bit.  it means the summer is almost done and i still have lots of things on my list.  it also means that my kid is growing up to fast and so are his cousins.  so, instead, of feeling sorry for myself i am focusing on what i like about back to school time...cooler weather (please!!) and SCHOOL SUPPLIES. 
what do a 3 1/ year old and 31 year old need school supplies for?  crafting, yo.  oftentimes, things like crayons, markers, glue, colored pencils, and watercolors are on sale at this time.  especially at the end of the august when they are trying to liquidate the leftovers.  plus, hendrix's head is going to explode when he sees all those crayola packages in the target cart.  so is mine. so we are going to go stock up and stock the craft closet. that way when we are snowed in (please!!) we will have plenty of tools to help the time pass.
while, i have been dreaming of a color coordinated, craft closet, i have also been going through hendrix's old clothes.  like a smartie when i bought summer clothes in april for him, i also picked up some fall shirts. but no pants.  if they made boy's pants with a 24 month waist and a 4T/5T length, we'd be in business.  alas, they do not.  so i am stuck going with the adjustable waist ones at old navy which are about $8 more a pair then i like to spend.  i prefer the consignment and last chance shops for kids clothes shopping. do they make toddler belts?
anyways, that is how we are participating in the "back to school" craze.  i also realized that with back to school came fall gardens.  and fall food.  oh, beef stews...how i long for you.  this year, my fall garden may or may not happen depending on if we get any rain.  it is so dry that i am not sure how well my seed will germinate without some decent rain.  if we do luck out and get some rain then i will be doing beets, spinach, garlic, kale, collards, buttercrunch, and turnips. are you planning on a fall garden? getting excited for apples?  counting the days until the kids go back to school?

GSW::nine {meal plan}



this week i have been surrounded by busy, busy ladies.  some of them already mommas.  others getting ready to be mommas.  some not mommas.  all of them busy and hoping to get a home cooked meal on the table.  so this meal plan will make use of basic pantry items.  it will still celebrate the bounty of summer produce, but it will mostly be dinners you can throw together when you walk in the door from a long day of being super woman. all them will take no longer than it takes to make a box of macaroni + cheese. as always, try to get some dinner prep done the morning of or the night before...like chop the veggies for dinner, thaw the meat, pound chicken out, etc. you'll start out the day feeling pretty accomplished and then when dinner comes, you will have saved yourself some extra time.

1. easy shrimp tacos

2. sesame noodles with chicken, cucumbers, and snap peas

3. blt's add some avocado
 make the blt with your favorite tomatoes and add some sliced avocado for extra protein.

4. green bean, mushroom, and sausage skillet supper
put a pot of water on to boil. heat oil in a skillet, add 1/2 chopped red onion and 2 chopped sausage links.  saute until sausage is cooked through and onion is soft. add 1 container of mushrooms, sliced and cook until soft.  meanwhile, boil a generous handful of green beans for 3 minutes. add a 1 T. minced garlic to the pan and cook 30 seconds. add drained green beans. add a couple glugs of white wine and simmer.  season with salt and pepper.  let simmer for 5 minutes.  serve with blue cheese on top and crusty bread on the side.

5.  chili rubbed chicken with avocado, corn, tomato, and shredded spinach

instead of dessert, how about some time saving and organizing tools?
my printable pantry checklist
my printable menu plan + grocery list worksheet

after all of this {super}woman's work, you're going to need a drink....
stone fruit sangria

GSW::eight

howdy! i finally made it out to a farmer's market last night and was so happy to see all the beautiful, colorful produce for sale.  our garden is really starting to offer up variety, as well.  this week's menu really celebrates the variety we are enjoying these days in zone 5 of nebraska. 
also, if you want to be served some locally and seasonally inspired foods {with a side of excellent reading material} check out edible omaha's summer release party tonight at dante from 4:30 to 6:30.  go here for more information.

.....

1. eggplant parmesan {weekend dinner alert!}
2. haricot vert with shallots served with dill tuna salad {prep ahead}
3. mexican stuffed peppers with quinoa and black beans {prep ahead}
4. swiss chard fritatta {super quick dinner alert!}
5. bbq chicken with campfire potatoes and cabbage + corn slaw {delicious dinner alert!}

the stone fruits are making an appearance, why not make this...
stone fruit lattice pie

hope this menu brings a lot of color and flavor to your dinners next week. xo!

breakfast of champions



last week i mentioned that breakfast was my nemesis.  it used be lunch but now it is breakfast.  hendrix doesn't do well with a bowl of cereal and milk.  meaning...he won't eat it.  he will eat eggs.  eggs for days.  and i am over it.  so we are mixing things up.  here's what i came up with...with a little help from my friends. 
.....

these should all take about the time it takes for your coffee to brew.  or your tea to steep.

julie's almond butter + banana grilled breakfast sandwich
{optional: add mini chocolate chips &/or dip into a french toast batter before grilling}
the how to: smear bread of choice with almond butter and add some sliced bananas...grill & eat.

whole wheat bagel with cream cheese, tomato slices, and baby greens
the how to: toast bagel, smear with cream cheese, add baby greens and tomato slices. eat.

homemade granola with greek yogurt, honey, and fruit
{prep ahead: make a batch of granola weekly and keep in the freezer to preserve the crunch.  you can even make your own greek yogurt}
the how to: mix granola with yogurt.  top with honey and fresh fruit.

hard boiled eggs with "toddler" muffins (this is a running out the door breakfast)
{prep ahead: the muffins can be made ahead and frozen for up to a month.  the eggs can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to a week}
the how to: throw in it in your bag and eat it in the car.

quinoa pancakes with nut butter and fruit
{prep ahead: the pancakes can be made ahead and frozen for up to a month}
the how to: reheat pancakes in your toaster.  smear with nut butter (peanut, almond, whatever) and top with fruit. eat.

the tofu scramble
{prep ahead: save the bits of last night's veggies to throw into this scramble in the morning}
the how to: scramble your veggies with tofu just as you would with eggs. season well and eat.

cottage cheese with tomatoes, basil, and pepper
the how to: add chopped tomatoes and basil to cottage cheese.  mix.  top off with black pepper. eat.

these are for a more leisurely morning.  you can make all these while you drink a couple cups of coffee. or whatever your poison is.

julie's breakfast hash
{prep ahead: chop veggies up and keep in fridge for up to a week.}
the how to: shred a potato or a sweet potato (for each person) in your food processor, saute in a skillet with olive oil.  add veggies and cook until everything is softened.  season.  add an egg on top, if you please.  eat.

egg quesadillas
the how to: i'll let heidi of 101 cookbooks direct you on the ways of the egg quesadillas.  they are delicious.

GSW::seven



peace love ice cream buy here





somehow i was under the impression that it was not thursday.  i don't know what day i thought it was, but it wasn't thursday in my head.  holidays in the middle of the week really throw a momma off.  i sure hope you all had a good one.  now i am here to give you a plan for next week's dinners.  all of the dinners are quick, veggie heavy, and have some element that can be prepped in the morning or the night before. 

1.  fish tacos with cabbage and confetti salad
{to make the salad combine 1 can of rinsed black beans with 2 ears of roasted corn (kernels cut off the ears), 1/2 a red onion ( chopped), 1 red pepper (chopped), the juice of 1 lime, salt, and a handful of chopped cilantro. this salad keeps for up to 3 days in the fridge.}

2. italian sausage topped with roasted red peppers and onions served with coleslaw
{roast one red pepper and one onion in the oven for about 30 minutes at 425 degrees.  once skins look blistered, remove and put in a ziploc bag for a few minutes.  carefully open and peel off the skin of the red pepper and onion, cut into strips.  can be done up to one day on advance. the coleslaw should be made the night before. grill sausages and top with peppers and onions in a hoagie bun.}

3. grilled chicken* with a blt salad
{*DALS is pretty much the authority on grilled chicken so just go with whatever looks good over there if you need an idea for your grilled chicken*.  if you are going with a marinated chicken, prep the marinade in the morning and let the chicken steep all day. for the salad...cut up romaine lettuce and arrange a thinly sliced, sweet onion on top with some halved cherry tomatoes. in a skillet, fry 1/4 lb. of bacon until crispy.  add 1/2 c. of cider vinegar and 1/2 c. sugar in the skillet with the bacon, bring to a simmer.  cook until sugar dissolves.  immediately pour over lettuce and onions, combine and serve immediately.}

4. egg salad sandwiches with cucumber salad
{make the salad the night before and the cucumber salad in the morning.  and, yes, this qualifies as dinner when it is 1000 degrees outside and/or you have 1000 million things to do...or you have a lot of eggs and cukes.  plus, it is faster, cheaper, healthier, and better than takeout/fast food.}

5. french bread pizza stuffed with summer's bounty
{go to the store and buy a loaf of french or italian bread from the bakery section.  cut in half, lengthwise.  hollow out the slices a bit.  shred or thinly slice some garden or farmer's market goodies...zucchini, kale, onions, eggplant, swiss chard are all good options.  saute in a pan with a bit of garlic and olive oil.  add mushrooms or ground sausage, if you like. you can prep the filling the night before.   spread some marinara or pizza sauce on the bread and top with your fillings.  top with mozzarella and bake for 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven.  or until the cheese is melted.}

cool treat AND a boredom buster...
make ice cream in a ziploc bag

it's still hot. have a cool drink...
minty orange iced tea

the oven and my nemesis

i don't remember the last time i turned on my oven on.  i have only used the stovetop three times in the past two weeks.  mostly, i have been cooking dinner like it is 1995...on my george forman grill, in the crockpot and in the toaster oven.  i long to turn my oven on to make some pie. but i refuse to do such a thing to myself when it is 100 degrees outside. so what have i been cooking? among others: sausage & peppers, grilled zucchini ribbon salad, pasta carbonara, cheeseburgers, sausage stuffed swiss chard, kielbasa with latkes and shrimp tarragon rolls. only a couple more days and the heat wave will be broken.  hopefully. it brings some rain. the corn needs it.  i need it.  i got big plans to do some breakfast freezer cooking.  breakfast and i have been fighting lately.  i cannot bear to make anymore eggs for hendrix, but i have no backup plan.  if i don't have a plan, then i turn hangry. hangry is a condition where mommy turns crazed and angry with hunger right around 10 am.  it's not pretty.  however, the last two mornings i have made breakfast grilled cheese.  cream cheese, berries, a drizzle of honey on wheat bread grilled on....you guessed it! the george foreman.  what do ya'll eat for breakfast? 

things i love this week

finding rogue lettuce growing in the nooks and crannies of our garden

you know what's nice about posting what i love this week, every week?  it forces me to be grateful and kind even when i am having a rough day and don't want to be nice.  it's good for my soul to search for pretty or neat things to share with you all.  it's even better when they happen to have something to do with my friends or community. so, thanks for reading.

.....

 this week, i love....

the omaha public library offering a free lecture on how to eat seasonally

cloud dough...this stuff is awesome on a rainy day or too hot to go outside day
{boredom buster!}

splash pads! {boredom buster!}

a city that offers lots of stuff to do for free {boredom buster!}

customizable chore charts to help kids understand what it means to be part of a family

this nectarine rice pudding with an indian twist. it's calling my name.

amazepack!  i'd sign up, but i have an entire art::workroom that is filled with projects. {boredom buster!}

this house... i want our next house to be an a-frame meets shipping containers sort of dwelling.  preferably, in the middle of nowhere.

this picture....

i have to blow this up.  it's too great. my heart hurts looking at it.

 

july for free

free is good.  some of the best things in life are free.  especially when it comes to entertaining the kids.  i have found that children are fickle and dirtballs which is why i don't like to spend much on entertainment or clothes for hendrix.  so a  few months ago, i provided a list of free (or nearly free) stuff to do around the omaha metro.  here is the list for july, as promised. august will come out next week.  let me know if i missed anything or if you tried any of the free stuff i listed.  don't forget about the splash pads, schramm park aquarium, farmer's market, and gene leahy mall slides....they are almost always open and are free or damn near free.

JULY:


Everyday
Kids Bowl Free

Every Tuesday @ 10am {doors open @ 9:30 am}
Free Family Flicks @ Aksarben Cinema

July 4th in Ralston

July 4th
Swim for $4 at all Omaha City Pools

July 7 @ 9am
Free Fishing Clinic @ Mahoney State Park

July 12 @ 6pm
Free Family Fishing @ Halleck Lake in Papillion

July 11th @ 10:30am
Whiz Bang Science Show @ Westroads {free}

Every Thursday from July 12 - Aug. 16
venue opens @ 5pm, show begins @ 7pm
Jazz on the Green @ Midtown Crossing {free}

July 14 @ 10am
Lowe's Build & Grow Workshops {free}

July 15 @ 2pm
Lowe's Build & Grow Workshops {free}

July 20 - 22nd
Gretna Days {nearly free}

July 20
Muppets @ The Holland Center Courtyard

July 27- 29
Benson Days {nearly free}

July 28
Playing with Fire Concert {free}

July 28 @10am
Lowe's Build & Grow Workshops {free}

July 29 @ 2pm
Lowe's Build & Grow Workshops {free}

July27 doors open @ 7:30, movie begins @ dusk
The Muppets @ The Sumtur Amphitheater

GSW:four {father's day edition}

the twins are merry

sunday is father's day, folks.  so stock up on beers.  take the kids out of the house. come back. grill some steaks and tell dad you love him.  this week for the {garden says what?} meal plan i am going to include a few recipes for father's day, plus some dinner ideas for next week.  you'll notice some new veggies + herbs on the dinner menu...beets, basil, green beans, and more.  the early spring has been good to us here in nebraska so even some early zucchini has been making appearances at the markets.  i know i already have cherry tomatoes getting ready to ripen. so, enjoy!

{FATHER'S DAY}

breakfast: chicken fried steak + eggs with hashbrowns
and guinness bloody mary's

lunch: fancy hot dog bar

dinner: grilled rib eyes with stuffed tarragon mushrooms
and horseradish swiss chard

dessert: sour cherry pie

.....
1. shrimp tarragon rolls with roasted broccoli
prepare the shrimp as directed in the recipe but instead of making it crostini style just fill hollowed out hoagie rolls with your filling.  roast broccoli your favorite way and enjoy!

2. beet, arugula, and goat cheese grilled cheese with tarragon bean salad

3. sausage stuffed swiss chard with roasted spring potatoes
potatoes are ready!! i like to toss mine in olive oil, salt, pepper, and lots of fresh herbs before roasting.

4. french onion burgers with beet + potato chips
simply mix 1 pkg. on onion soup mix in with 1 1/2 lbs of ground meat and a bit of worcestershire sauce.  form into patties and cook.  meanwhile, saute mushrooms.  construct burgers with mushrooms and provolone cheese. serve with chips.

5. grilled chicken with zucchini ribbon salad


it's summer.  have a cocktail....
basil tarragon mojitos

snack time is all the time...
emerald hummus

....
i'll be back tomorrow with {things i love this week} and then i will be signing off early to enjoy the weekend with some of my favorite people.

all purpose dough

it's so great...the recipe in written on the inside of my cupboard

i know i have been to prone wax poetic about my go to pizza dough recipe before, but i am back to talk about it's magical powers.  recently, i have discovered that with some slight changes in prep...i can use the dough to make homemade naan or pita bread.  i try to quadruple the recipe when i prep it so that i can use one batch immediately and refrigerate/freeze the other three batches for later use.  i have a standard size food processor and i can make two batches at a time in mine.   also, my husband prefers plain white but i have successfully subbed in whole wheat flour for up to half the flour called for in the recipe.  enjoy, i hope this encourages more of you to make your own doughs.
.....
all purpose dough {makes one batch}
2 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
2/3 c. very warm water
1 2/3 c. flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon olive oil
combine yeast, sugar, and water.  let proof for ten minutes or until it is nice and foamy.  meanwhile, quickly mix flour and salt in food processor with a couple of pulses.  pour yeast water and mix until a ball forms.  drizzle olive oil and pulse for a few more seconds.  turn dough ball out into a lightly greased bowl and cover with a towel. proceed, as directed, below...
.....
pizza: simply let dough rest to room temp.  roll out on a floured surface.  cook on a stone or oiled cookie sheet dusted with cornmeal.  bake crust with toppings at about 425 degrees for 15-25 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

pita: let dough rest at room temp.  separate dough into 4 pieces.  roll out each piece on a  floured surface.  carefully, place each piece on a lightly oiled baking sheet.  cover with a towel and let rise for about 30 minutes to 1 hour or until puffy (this will make your "pockets").  bake at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes or until lightly golden.

naan: let dough rest at room temp.  separate into 2 - 4 pieces and roll out each piece on a floured surface. cover with a towel and let rise for about 20 minutes.   meanwhile, heat about 1/2 inch of oil in a large skillet or dutch oven.  when oil is bubbly and hot, carefully fry each piece of dough on both sides.  takes about 3 minutes for each piece. drain on paper towels and serve.

to freeze or refrigerate:  let dough rest and rise once.  store in a lightly oiled, freezer bag.  good up to a week or so in the fridge.  good for up to 3-4 months in the freezer. 

GSW {garden say what}: menu threeeee!

romaine salad with greek yogurt taztziki

holy smokes.  it is june and the gardens and markets are offering a bit more then just greens and herbs in our part of the world.  but, man oh man, i cannot wait for peppers. and tomatoes, eggplants, green beans, cukes, squash, melon, and pole beans.  so this week's menu is based off what is available, but also a little wishful thinking with what is on sale in the grocery store.  i am also experimenting with the format of the menu presentation this week. let me know your thoughts.  hope this menu helps a little with your planning next week.

menu...
1. stirfry chicken and broccoli rice
{andrea makes this for her family and they love it.  hendrix was there last week and loved it which is amazing since he normally avoids meat.  she reserves the marinade, cooks broccoli in oil in another pan, and adds the marinade to the broccoli when it is almost done.  then she mixes the chicken and rice together and serves on rice}

2. bacon wrapped chicken tenders on romaine with red peppers and tzatziki sauce for dressing
{just make the recipe as directed and use leftover tzatziki sauce from this week's greek burgers, otherwise, it is just as great with a mustardy vinagrette}

3. tacos (your choice of filling - we'll be doing pork because i have some frozen in the fridge) with black beans, rice, mango, and cilantro {this meal is especially easy if you throw some meat and taco seasoning in the crockpot in the morning...even easier if you go vegetarian and fill the tacos with beans + rice or use frozen leftovers}

4. personal pan pizza night: swiss chard with egg, chard & shrooms, chard & sausage
{swiss chard, eggs, cheese, mushroom, olive oil and italian sausage are the building blocks.  let the diners make their own pizza by splitting dough up and rolling out for each diner}

5. homemade sloppy joes with turnip chips and fresh fruit

sweet treat...
homemade pudding pops!
make popsicles with your favorite pudding mix {prepared} and fresh berries.  prepare pudding according to package directions, fill molds 3/4 full, add berries and freeze.  we love lemon pudding  pops with blueberries around these parts.

cool drink...
mint ginger slush

preserve that bounty {spring edition}

can it be that we are already at the point in the growing season where some veggies are going to seed or are so prolific that we need to figure out what to do with it all?  and quick.  here in my part of nebraska, zone 5, we had a very mild winter, early spring, and all around kind of wonky season.  some of the farmer's markets even opened early because farmers needed to harvest and sell.  at our farm we have lots of collards, tarragon, oregano, arugula, kale, spinach, butter crunch lettuce, rhubarb, turnips, and mulberries.  so i have been devising and researching ways to preserve these goodies so that i won't have any regrets later this year when the garden has been turned over and it is too cold to even remember what fresh veggies taste like.....the rest i will harvest and bring to the heart ministry center for one of their pantry days.

pizza pockets...done the lazy and TASTY way.

.....
here's what i have done so far....

arugula pesto: i made some pesto with blanched arugula, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, parmesan, and almonds.  i froze about half the batch in ice cube trays, popped them out {once frozen}, and stored them in a plastic freezer bag.  i can then pop a few cubes into soups, stews, and sauces throughout the year or even thaw for a pizza base.  the rest of pesto will be saved for a pesto potato salad this weekend and pasta for lunches this week.

green stuffed pizza pockets:  i used my basic recipe found here.  this time they were stuffed with kale, arugula, spinach, caramelized onion, mushrooms, and cheese.  i par bake them, cool completely and freeze.  these are great for lunches, camping, road trips, or days when it is too hot to turn the oven on...they can just be popped in the toaster oven and reheated. 

quick lift turnips {middle eastern pickled turnips}:  a friend of mine gave me the book canning for a new generation and i have really been enjoying it.  i highly recommend this book not only because it a good starter to canning, but also shares lots of preservation tips beyond canning, like freezing.  it also has a wide variety of modern canning recipes that are categorized by season. this particular recipe was for a refrigerator pickle so it only took a few days before we able to enjoy our efforts.  i will be also trying a traditional canning recipe for cumin & paprika pickled turnips.

frozen kale: i simply washed my kale, dried it thoroughly, layered it up in a ziploc bag, and froze.  this can be used just as you would use frozen spinach. 

frozen collards: same as above.  also, i am thinking about trying a pickled greens with fresh chilies canning recipe.  i think it could really be great in the winter with some BBQ pulled pork. 

frozen rhubarb: clean, chop, & freeze.  make a pie in january when you really need pie.

rhubarb simple syrup: found here. keeps for about a month or so in the fridge.  add to lemonade, herbal iced tea, or sparkling water.  or better yet add it to cocktails.

what i have plans to do next....
strawberry tarragon jam
tarragon infused vinegar
grapefruit tarragon infused vodka
....these three will be surprise gifts for some of my favorite people in town.  also, if you could see the out of control situation that is my tarragon plant. yowza.

garden say what?

during the growing season, the menu planning goes a little differently. it starts in the garden.  we all know i am a firm believer in planning a weekly menu.  it makes grocery shopping easier and cheaper.  it makes dinner prep easier. it makes life easier.  i like to have anywhere from 4-7 meals planned depending on my week or week and half ahead.  leaving room for leftovers and dinner out.
right now, i have quite the bounty of  rhubarb, greens and herbs.  perhaps you all are in the same boat...with some asparagus, garlic, and peas (i don't because the rabbits ate mine) thrown in for good measure.  so i scoured the internet for you and this is what i came up with...naturally, it told me to use the word "herby". a lot.

1. collard, bacon and parmesan frittata served with a mixed green salad
2. kale cobb salad
3. pork chops with cherry rhubarb sauce on polenta with herby, sauteed sugar snap peas on the side
4. tarragon salmon with asparagus (use fresh herbs throughout the recipe)
5. collard, potato and sausage gratin* with an herby salad (see below)
6. pork tacos* in lettuce wraps with cilantro rice (see below)
7. linguine tossed with kale pesto

and for dessert?
rhubarb cinnamon polenta cake

need a cocktail?
spring smash::strawberry rhubarb cocktails with honey whiskey

enjoy these late bites of spring.  soon, the summer stuff comes in....
.....
collard, potato and sausage gratin
2 potatoes, thinly sliced
1 small bunch of collards, cleaned and chopped
3 italian sausage links, chopped
1 cup of shredded mozzarella
1 cup of shredded parmesan
salt
pepper
olive oil or butter
1 cup of milk
heat oven to 375 degrees.  in skillet, brown sausage and cook through.  meanwhile, combine cheeses in a small bowl.  grease 9x13 dish and cover bottom with a 1/3 of the potatoes.  season with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil or bits of butter.  scatter 1/3 each of the collards, sausage, and cheese (in that order).  repeat twice.  ending with cheese on top.  pour milk over layers, cover with foil, and bake one - 1 1/2 hours (depending on the thickness of your potatoes) or until potatoes are fork tender.  enjoy.

slow cooker pork tacos
1 boneless, pork shoulder roast
1 small can of tomato sauce
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
2 - 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
3 T. of chilies in adobo sauce, use sauce only and add up to two chilies (they are HOT!)
combine the tomato sauce, oregano, garlic, and adobo in a small bowl.  spread over pork roast and cook on low in your slow cooker for 8-10 hours.  shred with two forks and serve. enjoy!!

meat + potato + greens = four

last week, i made a (1) venison roast in the crockpot and served it with smashed potatoes and collards.  needless to say, it was delicious and yielded some leftovers.  i love leftovers.  mike hates them.  so i have to get quite inventive.  folks, i present you with my genius....

2.  fried or poached eggs topped with havarti and served over warmed up greens with a side of toast.

3. beef {venison} + cheddar sandwiches with horseradish served with a herby salad.

4.  kale + potato cakes* with rouille served with italian sausages and salad.
.....

recipe for the collards...
drunken collards (thanks, amy!!)
fry 4 slices of bacon in a pan until crispy, add 1/2 finely chopped onion and a handful of chopped portobella mushrooms.  cook until soft, stir in garlic and let sit for one minute. add chopped collards.  add olive oil, if necessary.  saute until just wilted.  splash a shot of whiskey in the pan and stir around. serve warm and enjoy!!

* i just added wilted kale to my mashed potatoes which were already seasoned and ready to go.  i did add some breadcrumbs, as well, to help the cakes hold together in the pan more. also, i made my rouille with mayo, ketchup, chili powder, chopped garlic, fresh parsley, and cayenne pepper.
.....
in other news:
we are done planting!! bbq + a movie to celebrate.
i have a ton on tarragon, oregano, collards, kale, and butter crunch lettuce.  its yours if you want it.
my friend, bryce, told me to start this.
too hot to cook? here's what to do.
i need to scrub my house.
goodbye & good weekend!!

welcome to summer

welcome to summer party! found here!

summer is almost here!!  i am thrilled to have hendrix all to myself.  we opted out of any lessons, classes, or sports for the summer.   soccer was sort of a disaster (story for another time) so we learned our lesson and are going to wait another year or two before we commit to the daily/weekly shuffle to activities.  he's three so i think he's going to be okay. ha!  i do have a very loose list of summer plans and goals for our family, though.  what are your plans?  did you check out the list of free stuff happening in our area?  or did you see this list of places to visit in nebraska? 

here is what i have in mind for our family.....

make tents
eat smores
nurture our garden, so we can try these recipes
go on a roadtrip to somewhere in nebraska
be bored
go swimming
eat ice cream, popsicles, and other cold treats
go to the sarpy county fair
overdo it on watermelon
build our chicken coop
do free stuff
camp in the yard (we live on 180 acres, so there is plenty of "yard")
take part in the summer reading program at the library
build a sandbox for hendrix
hang a tire swing
run through the sprinkler
have potluck bbqs with our friends and family

cheap chick

it took me a long time to figure this out...

and i am still learning.  prior to the best surprise of my life (aka hendrix) i was an overindulgent party girl idiot...then hello, wake up call!!  now i love to save and score things on the cheap.  part of the fun of planning our wedding was seeing how cheap i could do it.  and if i do say so myself, i did pretty darn good.  in fact, most of things i enjoy stemmed from trying to save money...cooking, gardening, crafting, decorating our house.
when mike and i first got together we ate out quite a bit, but then i started to experiment more in the kitchen.  cooking is always more fun when you are cooking for someone else.  then came pregnancy and baby...so did grocery budgeting and with it, the wonderful discovery of aldi.  god, i love that store.  we eat pretty good around here for about $80/week thanks to that store and my meal planning.
i started gardening when i planted some herbs in containers on my apartment balcony.  my cooking was getting more sophisticated (i.e. going from warming ragu up to making pantry marinara in bulk) so herbs were just what i needed, but they are so expensive at the grocery store.  so one day i saw some herb plants on sale and i was gardening in no time.  meeting mike really brought my gardening to the next level.  our old house had the best dirt.  i loved that garden.  thankfully, it is now our rental property so i still get to visit. 
with the wedding came a lot of diy projects...really bringing out the inner crafter.  i have always liked creating and building.  it is one of the reasons i chose to study architecture in college, but man did that wedding light a fire in me.  i am hooked on making free shit look good. 
actually, i love anything free.  for instance, i painted the whole inside of our house for free. most of our stuff is thrifted, free, or from a garage sale and you know what? i like it that way. 
i simply cannot imagine walking into nebraska furniture mart and getting a matching bedroom set.  first, i would feel like a poser.  second, i don't like matchy matchy. third, the sticker shock would just be too much.  oh, and a pet or kid would promptly scratch it the moment we brought it home.
how the hell did this happen to me?  how the hell did this former boutique worker get hooked on FREE? a surprise baby and a bad economy, i suppose.
....
here are some of my favorite spots to score a deal:
aldi (groceries)
new life thrift (everything)
restore (hardware/lighting)
under the sink (free paint/household cleaners)
hobby lobby (craft supplies)
menards (hardware)
super saver (bulk beans + grains)
target (diapers)
joe's collectibles
big wheels to butterflies (check out the last chance store, too)
dollar general (cleaning supplies/kitchen toiletries/party supplies/art & craft supplies)
ace hardware (hardware/plants)
qc supply (gardening supplies)
cirians (plants)
garage sales

what about you, do you like scoring a deal? what are your secrets?

2325 sack lunches to Omaha youth, 1100 people helped with clothing assistance

those numbers are just a few of the things the heart ministry center pulled off in january.  yes, in one month HMC helped that many people.  now you know why i won't shut up about how awesome they are!!  i was lucky enough to spend some time there last week. it was wonderfully eye opening.  i met some awesome people and am going back to teach a cooking class (finally!) to their women in the pathway program.  ericka, the pathway coordinator, asked me to focus on freezer meals, once a month cooking, meal planning, and budgeting.   these are especially important for the women to learn since most are on food assistance.  the pathway program's main goal is to help the women become self sufficient. so when these women find jobs/get better jobs, the hope is this class, will arm them with the knowledge and ability to budget and meal plan and it won't be so hard to acclimate to losing some of their food assistance.  i want the recipes to be easy, fast, and all the ingredients to be relatively inexpensive, that can be found at any grocery store.  it should also be noted that these women have voluntarily joined the pathway program and chose to attend these classes.  this goes back to what i was saying about people really wanting to learn how to cook and garden. the women are making the choice to make life better for themselves and for their children.  sometimes without the support of  their families. 

i have come up with some freezer friendly meals for breakfast & dinner.  they are:
apricot french toast served with cottage cheese
whole wheat berry pancakes
egg "cups" (those egg meals in a muffin tin all over pinterest)
quiches
lasagnas
minestrone
chili
enchiladas

then for lunches i was going to recommend making big batches of the following, once a week.  inspired from this post. they can also be served as a side at dinner:
lentils
black beans, rice, and spinach
ravolis (the frozen kind, prepared)
hard boiled eggs
black eyed peas (see recipe below)

for some cheap, quick, & easy meals i was going to talk about...
roasting
tacos
grilled cheeses and all the variations
soups + stews

for kid -friendly, but not totally gross meals....
homemade mac + cheese with veggies
mexican "pizza"
homemade whoppers (with ground turkey, whole wheat buns) and sweet potato fries)
spaghetti and eggs (linguine + spinach with fried egg, hot sauce, and parmesan on top)
runza casserole
appetizers for dinner (cheese, fruit, hummus, veggies)
pizza

what do you all think? anything i am totally missing? please share any recipes, tips, or ideas that you have with me. i want to really set the women up for success in the kitchen, for it to be fun, and for the kids to get into it, too.
.....

black eyed peas with leeks (+ variations) inspired by 101 cookbooks 
-- total cost: less than $6, enough for several lunches or as a side to one dinner and as the main dish for a couple lunches
1/2 lb. dried black eyed peas, prepared
3 leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced
olive oil
butter
juice from 1/2 lemon
salt & pepper
small handful, fresh or dried herbs (parsley, tarragon, marjoram are good choices)
heat olive oil + butter in skillet, add leeks and cook until almost caramelized.  add leeks to warmed blackeyed peas.  season with salt, pepper, lemon juice, and herbs.  add more olive oil if too dry looking. serve warm and enjoy.
*great with beef kielbasa or apple chicken sausages stirred in
*make a light soup by adding to veg or chicken broth
*put a poached egg on it
*beautiful with a roasted chicken
*easy protein for a kids lunchbox
* berries are tasty alongside

crafty

our wedding was a DIY wedding...everything from the food to the decor to the wardrobe accouterments were made by myself or my super talented friends. even the photographer is our friend. obviously, this was to cut down on the expense but i feel it also added the personal touch that i wanted. it's like receiving a gift that someone made for you...you instantly feel the love and thought that went into it. 
.....
all pictures by cami rawlings of hurricane camille photography:

seating arrangement tree

table numbers

tables

each guest received a hot chocolate spoon made by
summer of orange poppy bakery.
summer is a wonderful friend of mine, as well.

 

the centerpieces were baby's breath

                                            

name(card)jars were inspired by jordan ferney's of oh happy day!

typography jars tutorial

the bouquet was made by my friend and florist, taylor larue

   taylor made

the billy ball "flowers" out of yarn

chalkboard buffet labels

inspired by say yes! to hoboken

pies + cake for dessert

cake by my friend, suzanne, of let them eat cake

banner by our friend (& officiant!!) michelle

yarn pompoms for the

garland, birdcage veil, and marti's headband

inspiration & how to can be found here, here, & here

.....

our wedding was super special because of our family & friends.  marti, brian, alissa, chip, brenda, michelle, suzanne, cami, cat, kadi, summer, and taylor went above and beyond.  i absolutely loved creating things and cooking food for our wedding.  but i absolutely love the the happily ever AFTER more. 

23 flats later . . .

today was our first tuesday where all the interns worked together and it went really well.  taylor, marcia, and caitie all met each other, ate lunch, committed to their schedules, organized the seed, and planted 23 flats of seed.  in three hours.  we, four, are going to get a lot of sh*t done this spring & summer. 
yesterday, i spent the morning at the heart ministry center on 22nd & binney in omaha.  check out their site for more information, but basically they are a fantastic neighborhood center that supplies food, clothes, healthcare, and case management to the less forunate in our community.  this area of omaha has some of the highest rates of obesity, as well as, the highest rate of people not knowing where their next meal is coming from.  to put it simply. . .fresh, whole food is not accessible here.  the nearest grocery store is at least 5 miles away.  transportation is a huge issue here.  when i asked john, the executive director, if they had the use for fresh produce and if they had a way to store it, i was told yes and they don't need to store it because it will be gone the day it comes in.   the center serves 450 -500 people a week.  we plan on bringing veggies on wednesdays when we do our restaurant deliveries. we hope to be able to provide enough veggies for 50-75 families a week.  in addition, i will be teaching cooking classes to the women of the pathway program.  the idea is to teach fast, easy, & cheap ways to cook dinner using fresh, whole food.  we are grateful for this opportunity to make food accessible to a small part of our community.  so, that being said, if you'd like to sponsor the patch of the farm that will be growing veggies for the heart ministry center, send me an email at clementinespandp@gmail.com. 
again, thanks for buying our food and helping us make food more accessible for more people.  xoxo