farro with sausage and apples

Happy New Year! Turns out, transitioning from one to two children is more difficult than none to one. It has been for me, anyways. Ha! Also, time seems to be on fast forward with Violet Alice. She's already standing and cruising. That among other things explains my lack of posting.I'm still figuring out what to make of this space. I also received an email from a disgruntled reader while I was pregnant. It left a bad taste in my mouth and forced me to review how I handle criticism. I ended up deleting a post. Which I now regret. You can't make everyone happy. In the end, I decided that this space is mine and what I want to say, how I want to say it, and what I want to share is my business. And I like sharing. The Internet is awesome and it allows you to connect with way more awesome people than not.  People keep linking back,so I must be doing something right. For the most part, though, I've been spending time with my family. Which has been so, so great.  Also, in the end, this space is a record of my family's life and it gives me great joy.
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There has also been a lack of Trader Joe's in my life until recently. Over the Holidays I took a job as a fragrance rep. It put me near TJ's. We have been reunited and it feels so good. Let's talk about the 10 minute farro packets. They also have bulgur and barley. I realize I am late to this party, but better late than never!! I bought the farro one and gave the recipe on the back a whirl. I have been trying to add more grains and variety to our dinner plate.  I like to have a protein, starch, and veg on the dinner plate.  So I have been trying to replace the usual starches (potatoes, rice, pasta) with different grains. This recipe was great, easy, and budget friendly. I estimate the whole thing cost about $10 to make. That is including the cabbage I served alongside.
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Farro with Sausage and Apples
1 packet of farro from TJ's, prepared in broth according to package directions.
1 onion chopped
1 large apple, chopped
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 package of chicken sausage, removed from casing and crumbled
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
In dutch oven, heat olive oil and saute onion, garlic, and apple until soft.  Add sausage and cook through. Stir in farro and season with salt and pepper.  Serve warm.  We had sauteed cabbage as a side. 

falling into fall

violet alice eating peas for the first time!!

preschool has been in full swing for over 2 months now which means we've all had a couple of colds and the stomach flu by now...it makes monthly menu planning a little more difficult. however, i am still planning my dinners.  i just do it for every 7 - 14 days.  whatever i can muster. *wink* i also make a big salad that i keep in the fridge for the week for quick lunches or snack, as well as, another snack like granola or muffins. some of these are repeats, i know, but they are so good!!!

here is a menu plan for next week:

sloppy joes with fries and coleslaw

{coleslaw recipe found in the dals cookbook}

butternut squash with orzo, bacon, and parmesan

{i'm simply roasting squash and tossing with orzo, bacon, parm, olive oil, and seasoning}

flounder with roasted fennel and potatoes

{see below}

homemade franks & beans

chicken, ham, and cheddar roll-ups with roasted broccoli

slowcooker tomato basil soup with grilled cheeses

turkey meatball soup with greens

{i'm using sausage since i have a ton in the freezer}

take & bake cheese pizza

{friday is pizza & movie night at our house so we treat ourselves to take out}

spinach salad

dark chocolate banana breakfast muffins

lately, i've been checking out cookbooks at the library before i commit to buying them.  the latest one i picked up was the fresh 20 cookbook.  it is a total winner and on my wishlist now.  here is my take on one of her recipes...

flounder with roasted fennel and potatoes

1 lb flounder or tilapia

1 bulb of fennel, sliced thin

4 yukon gold potatoes, sliced thin

1 onion, sliced thin

olive oil

salt

pepper

paprika

preheat oven to 450 degrees.  toss veggies in olive oil. salt, and pepper.  spread out on baking sheet and cook for about 20 - 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  heat oil in skillet.  season fish with salt, pepper, and paprika.  saute fish in pan, cooking about 4 minutes on each side.  serve with veggies. 

for more ideas check out my post baby meals board or the what's for dinner page.

happy cooking!!

Six Months of Two, Four, & Violet Alice

may 1, 2013 seems like a lifetime ago some days and most nights, when it is quiet and calm, it seems like yesterday.  violet alice was born in the early morning on may 1st.  it snowed that day.  the weather broke records. so did my daughter.  she always will. that's the kind of girl she is.
she let out one yell when they brought her into this world.  she never really cried until about two weeks later. she preferred to be snuggled quietly with me.  and, for the most part, she still does.  she slept through the night at 6 weeks.  then at about 5 months her lioness came alive and she was off of the sleeping for awhile.  now after battling bronchitis she is getting back into the swing of things.  nursing, co-sleeping, and baby wearing are her jam.  so, so different than her brother. strong will is also her jam. just like her brother.  crawling and sitting up all before six months. so not like her brother.  eating and loving all things food.  just like her brother.

peas, green beans, spinach, parsnips, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, strawberries, blueberries, apples, prunes, pears, bananas, rice cereal, oatmeal, and baby mummums have all graced those beautiful lips.

these two children of mine are so different from one another at one moment and then two peas in a pod the next.  their blue eyes show they are related and not much else. their love for one another is second to none.  mike and i will never forget watching hendrix in the rear view mirror on the car ride home from the hospital. hendrix just stared. awestruck. this was his person.  his life was complete with purpose.  he was a big brother.  it was as simple as that.  getting two siblings to like one another/coexist has never been easier.  when she started to move and be able to get at his things...he freaked out. with excitement that she could finally play with him.

the four of us started out as three for most of the time.  planting season and work kept mike away for the first several weeks.  then a choice to launch pf land clearing and focus on projects around the farm gave us some much needed time together. four has been an easy transition.
two was/is hard at times.  feeling pulled in multiple directions.  figuring out schedules.  doling out the proper amount of attention.  making everyone feel special and loved.  dealing with colds and stomach viruses that spread like wildfire.  volunteering at preschool.  helping babies cope with separation anxiety. throwing parties.  welcoming the holiday season.  it's all a juggling act.
i love them. these children of mine. this family.

Chicken Taco Soup + Six Months

last night, we had our first annual halloween party.  it was so fun to see the kiddos in their halloween costumes and have our first hurrah as a family of four (even if violet was ms. crabbypants). violet alice will be six months this friday and i haven't even written about her, yet.  this has been the fastest six months of my life. soon i will share more about her, hendrix's love for her, my fascination with having a daughter, and all the wonderful changes our family has undergone.  to the readers that kept checking in...thanks for checking in and waiting while i got used to two kids. xo!
i made this soup yesterday and it turned out to be quite a hit with our guests. it's super simple and delicious.  also, the smore candy you see all over pinterest?? make it. now. so good.
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chicken taco soup
2 - 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 c. chicken broth
1/2 onion, chopped
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of black beans, drained & rinsed
1/2 bag of frozen corn
1/2 T cumin
1 t. minced garlic
salt & pepper to taste
combine ingredients in crockpot.  cook on low 8 - 10 hours.  shred chicken before serving.  serve with avocado, shredded cheddar, cilantro, limes, green onion, tortilla chips, and/or sour cream.

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sneak peek of the cutest baby

an open (love) letter to my son on his fourth birthday

FOUR!

hendrix,

you are four today! four. four seems very old to your mother.  perhaps because i remember my fourth birthday.  it's the first birthday i remember.  i still remember the porcelain figurine of a little girl with the number 4 next to her that someone gave me.  four is a little kid.  there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it.  you are a little boy.  no longer a baby.  but, you see, you will always be my baby.  my heart.  the one who made me a mother.
people always seem to be in awe of babies, but i am here to tell you that the real awe comes in watching your children grow up and become real live, talking, opinionated individuals. watching you become a little boy has been the most awesome experience of my life.   your generosity, sincerity, thankfulness, curiosity, genuine concern for others and reflections on life blow me away everyday.  i am often humbled by the gift that i was given when i had you.  you are a better person than i could ever imagine to be.  you bring such joy into the lives of the people around you.
three was full of firsts for you.  soccer, preschool, field trips, new friends, amusement park rides, the loss of a pet, potty training, school pictures, visiting a sick grandma at the hospital, building a barn with your dad, and more.  three was also the most challenging for you and i. three is the time kids are becoming really aware of the world outside of their little family units. it has been a year of discovering what makes you tick.
you are a builder.  you are a scientist.  you are mechanically inclined.  you are an animal lover. you are your dad's best bud.  you are incredibly kind.  you are adaptable.  you are forgiving.  you are a cook.   you are charming.  you are the love of your grandma joann's life.  you are creative.  you are never lacking in imagination.  you, in a lot of ways, are still a momma's boy.  and thank god.
every time i write these letters, i cry.  i sit and cry over time flying, but mostly i cry over what a fantastic person you are and continue to become. here's the first letter i ever wrote to you, written a few days after we came home from the hospital:
The Day You Were Born. . .
Began long before Wednesday, March 11th 2009, 9:48 P.M.. On Tuesday, March 10 that 2:30 P.M. Aunt Theresa and I went to the doctor to have an ultrasound, I had been placed on bed rest the week prior for preeclampsia and they were monitoring my blood pressure and more importantly, you. The ultrasound went great, but my blood pressure continued to be high. So at 4:30 Dr. Tierney sent me across the hall to Labor & Delivery to begin the process of inducing labor. When I called your dad to tell him what was going on and to ask him to pick up my things from home on his way to the hospital he asked me, “Now?” – He was slightly in shock. The doctors began giving me medicine to start the process and continued to do so until 3 AM the next morning . . . not much was happening, but then contractions started. At 3 P.M. my water broke. You, however, were not responding to the Pitocin very well and my body was not progressing very quickly. Aunt Theresa and your dad were there the whole time. The feelings went from elation to exhaustion to anxiety to anticipation and back again. At 9:15 PM your father and I agreed with the doctors that a C-Section was the best and safest way to bring you into the world. I won’t lie. . .I was scared out of my mind . . .I had never had surgery, stitches, a broken bone, or stayed in the hospital for any length of time. The doctors and nurses were so wonderful and at 9:48 PM you were born. I saw what falling in love at first sight looks like when your father looked over the blue screen and saw you being taken out. All he kept saying was how beautiful you were. . .”Oh, sweetie, he’s so beautiful. He’s so beautiful.” Aunt Theresa and your father then spent the next hour watching the nurses work on you and clean you up while I got stitched up and recovered. I met you about an hour and half after you were born . . . my biggest disappointment in life is that I was not able to see you and hold you immediately. Hendrix, you are my greatest accomplishment ever and my greatest love. You have made me a better person and I hope to make you proud some day. I love you so very much.
(somehow i skipped your first birthday, but wrote one for your second and third birthdays. )
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in a couple of months, your sister will arrive.  never once have i worried about what type of brother you will be. or how you will adjust.  everyday you tell me something you are going to do with your sister or are looking forward to about having a baby.  even your preschool teacher, mrs. adams, remarked how well she thought you were going to do with a new baby.  violet alice is very lucky to enter this world with you waiting to be her big brother.  i am even luckier to have you.
hendrix, you are my heart.  you always will be.  it has been my greatest joy to watch you grow up and i fall in love with you more everyday.
i love you,
your mommy

the essentials

earlier this week i taught a cooking class to the pathway program ladies of the heart ministry center.  thankfully, i had help from friend and fellow volunteer, julie, as well as, hendrix.  the class went well and we were able to provide a crockpot to the ladies who didn't have one.  generous donors donated enough for all the women.  a crockpot may not seem like an essential kitchen item to some, but to a new mom it certainly can be.  or to a mom trying to get back on her feet without a spouse.  one of the women came up to me and said how much she wished she had the ten crockpot recipes when she had her baby a year ago.  she was alone, with a newborn, and stressed out.  she lost a ton of weight and couldn't find time to cook herself a proper meal.  another item that we brought were some chef knives.  this was exciting for some of the women since most of them do not have a proper kitchen knife to prep meals.  i remember when i first started cooking and i was chopping onions with a steak knife.  not  particularly safe or efficient.  and let's face it, when you are just getting started in the kitchen, every little slip up can seem like a monumental failure.
the clients of the heart ministry center are all lacking in some sort of life essential.  some worse than others.  a few days after the cooking class, i read this story on the heart ministry center's facebook page:

“When two young men came into the HMC on a very cold afternoon, they cautiously approached Dana and I at the front desk. You could see how scared and cold they were. We welcomed them and provided a hot cup of cocoa, and soon they shared their story. These young men were stranded in Omaha, having traveled here from Las Vegas on a job promise that fell through. Now, they were isolated in a city with no family, friends or funds. An HMC volunteer met these young men at another non-profit, and steered them in our direction.

Their names are Stephan and Alexander, brothers, 18 and 19 years young. We immediately noticed how lost and afraid they seemed, and how they were unable to stop shivering. They told us of having to stay in the streets during the day with clothing not nearly warm enough to fend off the cold. Our attempts to find other agencies to help get them home were unsuccessful, so we took their information, gave them our home phone numbers, and asked them to please come back the following day. When they returned the next morning, they looked somehow different. We could actually see a glimmer of hope in their eyes, and a smile on their faces – because they knew someone was ready and willing to help them.

The HMC Executive Director, John Levy, approached me and told me the Center would be happy to help Stephan and Alexander. When I told the boys we were going to put them on a bus home, they immediately cried tears. Mother Nature intervened before they could depart, however, postponing their bus ride for a day due to inclement weather. In the interim, we put together enough food to last them the duration of their trip. I rummaged through my purse to find what little cash I could find to help them while another member of the HMC staff, Keith, transported Stephan and Alexander to and from the bus terminal so they did not have to walk another day in the cold in an unfamiliar city.

The brothers thanked us profusely before they left and late last week I got a text message from an out of town phone number stating, "Hello. We made it, happy to be home. Wanted to thank you again so very much. We will always remember you." It was Stephan and Alexander.

We will always remember them too.

For me it was unimaginable for any human being to be in such a situation. I saw my own son in them, and thought if he were ever in such a hopeless situation, I would hope someone would come along and help him too.

The small family (staff) we have here at the Heart Ministry Center is one I’m proud to be a part of. Each and every day I learn life’s great lessons here, because this is what we do." - June Bear, Operations Director
(to read john's blog post  about the outstanding HMC staff, go here)
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stories like this are why i am constantly talking about the heart ministry center.  the kindness and amount of giving that happens there daily is overwhelming and humbling.  the staff there is extraordinary.

march: month of meals

printable found here

i have no idea what happened to the month of february.  all i know is that is almost over, i only have 10 weeks left of this pregnancy, and it's time to go to the grocery store again. february was weird in the dinner department.  i had a lot more leftovers then i thought i would and was lazy (think frozen pizzas and ravioli) more than normal. also, we had a few family dinners and events that i forgot to factor into my planning. i am growing a human, so that is my excuse.  so some recipes did not get made and that is why you see them on this month's meal plan, as well.  looks like my grocery bill will be quite cheap this month! speaking of, in case you missed it, the lincoln journal star interviewed me about my grocery shopping habits.  you can read the article here.

dinner
1. stout corned beef with roasted potatoes, cabbage, and carrots (st. patty's day)
2. slowcooker potato soup (lenten dinner)
3. chicken and sausage pot pies
4. fish sandwiches with sweet potato fries + coleslaw (lenten dinner)
5. spinach + shroom lasagna (lenten dinner)
6. beef + scallion skewers with bok choy
7. crockpot salisbury steak with potatoes and veggies
8. spaghetti + meatballs with salad and garlic bread (hendrix's birthday dinner)
9. crockpot asian pork + mushrooms
10. crockpot stuffed peppers
11. tortellini soup (lenten dinner)
12. white beans with spinach, shrimp + feta (lenten dinner)
13. baked sausages + latkes
14. parmesan chicken cutlets with salad
15. rueben bake (use leftover corned beef)
16. yogurt marinated chicken + creamy greek sauce
17. chicken enchilada puffs
18. steak salad
19. sloppy joes with zuke fries
20. meatball subs with salad (use leftover meatballs)
21. grilled pork tenderloin with black bean salsa
22. vension roast with roasted veggies + mashed potatoes
23. macaroni + cheese 

lunch
leftovers
sandwiches
noodle soup (ramen noodles without the gross flavor packet amped up with shredded veggies)
quesadillas
greek couscous salad (couscous, tomato, cukes, scallions, feta, olive oil, and lemon)
cabbage, apple, + walnut salad

breakfast
eggs
breakfast tacos
granola + yogurt
cereal

snacks
granola
smoothies
fruit
cut veggies
goldfish crackers

* if there is no link that is because i either just make it up or figure it is basic enough for everyone to figure out (i.e. spaghetti + meatballs)
** for more dinner ideas or monthly meal plans, check out the what's for dinner page.
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i'll (hopefully) be back later this month to talk about hendrix's john deere birthday party, easter dessert ideas, and how our cooking class at the heart ministry center goes next week.