cooking class review

i taught another cooking class at the heart ministry center on march 27.  this one went just as well as the last one i did.  and guess what!?! i get to go back to teach the same group of women a class on organizing and keeping house.  i feel so lucky to work with the same group twice.  it will be neat to see how far they have come in their 12 week program.  in case you are wondering what types of recipes we talked about, here is a link...i shared it on google docs for you!  we made the egg + hashbrown "muffins", granola, sausage bean + greens stew, and chicken nuggets in our class.  happy cooking!
p.s. don't forget to sign up for the run with a heart event this saturday.

the debate that is so out of touch

by now i am sure we are all familiar with hillary rosen's comments about anne romney "never working a day in her life".   in all the articles i have read or commentaries i have listened to, very few (if any) have talked about families making the choice to have a parent stay at home because that was the smartest financial move.  almost all of the parents i know that stay at home with their children do so because they simply do not have the earning power that their spouse does ...they would either be working to pay for childcare or they would go into debt paying for childcare.   none of these families i know are rich, either.  they are living on budgets and making sacrifices. most these SAHP i know are also working some sort of part time gig (not career worthy, either) to bring in cash...often during evening or weekend hours.  so why the lack of focus on parents making the financial choice to stay at home because that is the most cost effective choice for their family?

finding the calm

found on pinterest via here



how do you all deal with life's stresses?  i find afternoon lattes, clean sinks, list making, making smoothies with h., and family time with my loves are the way i cope best.  my mom's husband died and she has been less than receptive when it comes to taking our advice and help.  mike's company is also in the throes of busy season, plus, it is planting season.  it makes for long days, short nights, and little together time.  i find the older i get, the better i get, at recognizing when taking a coffee break and watching a video will be helpful to my mind AND spirits.  i also now know that if i let the chores pile up or eat crap food that i will feel even worse and more stressed out.  i've been really trying to devote my mondays to getting prepped for the week's meals by making a mason jar of salad dressing, thawing meat or made ahead dinners, and making granola.
how helpful all this enlightenment would of been in my early 20's. i guess that time was for being as drunk and crazy as possible. 
i have had the opportunity to allow my ideas percolate more and more.  so that is a good thing.  perhaps one day i will be able to verbalize them.  also, i have been helping mike's cousin with her garden plan and she is testing a new growing system of ours...it has been really fun to talk gardening with someone so eager to learn and eager to feed her family well. 
mike and i also managed to till up and compost (20 wheelbarrows full!!) our large garden area where we will be growing our hot weather stuff.  the cole crops are doing well, we have already been munching on kale and herbs. in april!!
i just wanted to check in with you all.  in the meantime, here is what we are eating this week if you are still looking for ideas on what to make for dinner.  some of it is not the healthiest but comfort food is where it is at this week. may you all be well and do share your ideas for de-stressing.

weekly menu
slowcooker chili
baked sausages with potatoes + apples
buffalo chicken sandwiches with oven fries & salad
chicken wing pizza with salad
cheeseburger macaroni with veggie slaw
meatloaf with roasted potatoes + cabbage
kale + feta pizza
spaghetti carbonara

things i love this week

things i am loving this week...

this friday OH DARLING opens!!! mike's cousins are opening a mom + baby boutique in downtown papillion.  they will be carrying maternity clothes, baby clothes (up to 24 mos), and refurbished furniture.  be sure to check them out!!

spring break!!  hendrix is on spring break next week and we got a week of festivities planned.

tulip lined walkways

my husband and the new fancy phone he set up for me

the heart ministry center! they have a run coming up in april.  your $15 sign up fee will help 4 people in their clinics and get you a tshirt & breakfast.  check back for a post on my cooking class there yesterday.

happy birthday!! ...to my brother, alissa, and annie who all had one this week.

iced coffees

this blog post on one of my favorites blogs, DALS. you gotta have a plan, folks!!

people who can make fun of themselves

making smoothie creations with hendrix

menu planning! here's what we're eating at the farm...
shrimp pizza
slowcooker hungarian beef goulash
stuffed peppers (meat for mike, quinoa for hendrix & i)
burgers with caramelized onions & muenster cheese + oven fries + herby salad
fish tacos with jicama + cabbage + black beans
wimmers hot dogs with slaw + zucchini fries + melon
chicken & biscuit potpies

meatloaf my kid will actually eat

so my kid will eat pretty much any fruit, vegetable, bean, grain, and eggs in any form.  he will not eat meat or fish.  unless, it is an all beef hot dog or breakfast sausage.  quinoa? sure! barley salad? sure! blueberries? sure! chicken? nope!  i am not overly concerned because i don't believe meat is all that necessary in a diet.  however, i am married to meat lover-mike.  so it can make dinner time tricky.  so i am always making our sides very veggie heavy and adding quinoa or beans, if necessary.  but, friends, i made a meatloaf that my kid ate....apparently hoisin sauce is the trick with this kid.  dude loves it. 

hoisin meatloaf inspired and adapted from this bon appetit recipe and time for dinner cookbook (pages 136-139)
1 1/2 lb. ground meat (i used venison)
6 pieces of bacon, diced
1" piece ginger, peeled and grated
1 large carrot, grated
1 bunch green onions, white and pale parts, sliced thin
1/4 c. hoisin sauce
3/4 -1 c. breadcrumbs
1/2 t. chinese five spice
in skillet, fry bacon until crispy.  remove from pan and add carrots, ginger, and green onions.  cook until soft and golden.  remove and let cool with bacon.  when cooled combine with ground meat, breadcrumbs, hoisin sauce, and chinese five spice.  form into a loaf and bake at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minutes.  during the last ten minutes of cooking time, drizzle another 1/4 c. of hoisin sauce over meatloaf. 
{can be assembled the night before &
makes a great sandwich the next day with a bit of coleslaw on top}
...i served it wirh roasted brussel sprouts and cauliflower drizzled with this ginger-scallion sauce from DALS. and, by the way, that salmon + brussel sprouts recipe is totally worth making. 

dinner pocket

last thursday, we were going to have pizza salad per hendrix's request.  pizza salad is basically flatbread baked with cheese and toppings.  the moment you remove it from the oven you add a bit of arugula, olive oil, and salt...voila! pizza salad.  however, he refused to help with the dinner prep and i wasn't in the mood for pizza salad.  so i made a pizza pocket, calzone, hand pie sort of thing.  they were simple and delicious.  they can also be tailored made for the difficult diners in your home.  if you're into that sort of thing...which i am because i like it when my toddler eats food. this recipe is incredibly versatile.  it can also be made ahead and/or frozen.  feel free to fill with whatever you like or have in the house.

dinner pocket
2/3 cup of very warm water
2 1/4 t. active dry yeast (or one packet)
1 t. sugar
1 1/3 c. flour
3/4 t. salt
3/4 t. olive oil
1-1 1/2 c. shredded mozzarella
1 sliced onion, caramelized
1 1/2 c. baby spinach
6 slices of salami
8 slices of pepperoni
1/2 c. ground beef, browned
parmesan
olive oil
cornmeal
make dough: combine water, yeast, and sugar.  allow to sit for ten minutes to proof (or until mixture is foamy).  in food processor, combine flour and salt.  pour in yeast mixture and mix.  add olive oil and pulse until ball forms.  set aside while you assemble pocket fixings.
make pockets:  preheat oven to 400 degrees. roll out dough and cut into four sections.  fill 2 pockets with onion, spinach, and mozzarella.  fill other 2 pockets with 3 slices of salami, 4 slices of pepperoni, 1/4 c. browned beef, and mozzarella each.  brush each pocket with olive oil and dust with parmesan.  bake on cookie sheet dusted with cornmeal.  bake for 15-20 minutes or until pockets are golden.  if freezing, allow to cool completely then wrap in saran wrap and foil.  can freeze for up to three months.

things i love this week

it is a rainy week here in nebraska, but the farmers could use it so you won't hear any complaints from us.  last year, it was so cold and rainy for so long that the weeds took awhile to emerge.  this year, it started out pretty warm and now the rain has taken this year's weeds to a new level.  already.  and it is only march.  i don't love weeds.  however, here is what i do love this week. 

iced green tea: i read somewhere it a good idea to start your day with some green tea as opposed to coffee.  i have been slowly eliminating my daily caffeine intake.  my morning glass of iced, decaf green tea with honey and lemon really has helped me feel more rejuvenated.

our new family doctor:  she is amazing.  if you need a dr. referral...ask me.

vitamin  d3: i recently learned that i have a super low level of vitamin d.  vitamin d helps regulate your mood, helps your body absorb calcium, and helps you not feel so tired.  my dr. has me on a vitamin d3 supplement and let me tell you....i really feel better.  it is wonderful to have a doctor that will listen to the words that are coming out of your mouth.  also, if i was a b*tch to you...it may or may not of been the {lack of} vitamin d talking.

homemade granola

big batches of quinoa

this felt wall: my imagination has me almost convinced that it is a good idea for me to turn our storage cupboard's doors into a felt wall.  i can almost see a baby sitting there, too. (baby fever much???)

this sunday is crafternoon day!! we'll be making easter egg garlands, treats for the bunny, and more.  we will also be gossiping and boozing.  i love crafternoon!!

hendrix has his first soccer game on saturday!!! i am so excited for him.  his uniform is so precious, it hurts my soul.  this is going to be a riot.  i can't wait for him to run and make new friends. 

these toy bin labels are changing the way we play.

.....
i hope this week has been kind to you all and that this weekend is even kinder.
also, if you need photos done of your family, kids, or pets...contact cami rawlings.  she is now scheduling for the spring.  she is awesome. 

spring is here! photo by cami rawlings