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Thursday, August 1, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Weeknight Dinner: Southwest Sloppy Joe's
Meal planning stresses me out. This sounds so stupid, but I seriously had no clue how to plan my meals for the week and go to the store once. When you don't plan ahead, it makes cooking extremely time consuming and hard.
When Jack started solids and I had to feed someone other than myself (and it couldn't be cereal or poptarts for dinner) I had to get it together. I had no clue where to start, so I tried the Fresh 20 . I thought it would be a good way to teach myself how to meal plan while still allowing me to put in minimal effort. It worked. Following their weekly meal plans for a few months helped me figure out how to get organized enough to hit the store once and have enough food for MEALS for the week. It also taught me how to cook because it included detailed, easy instructions.
I am still a fresh 20 member even though I don't follow their weekly plans. Their recipes are easy and healthy and I am now organized enough to pick from their recipes and other recipes to do my own plans.
AND Big Bonus: We no longer have the problem of lots of food, but nothing to make a meal out of...most of the time.
Below is one of my go to weekday recipes from The Fresh 20. Everyone loves it as you can see below!
1/2 Onion Chopped
2 Carrots peeled and shredded
1 lb Ground Turkey
2 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp Herbs de Provence
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 C organic Tomato Paste
1/2 C water
Cilantro to taste roughly chopped about 1/2 a bunch
1 Tablespoon Pure Maple Syrup
4 Whole Wheat Buns
1. Heat pan over medium heat and add garlic, onion, and carrot. Saute until onion is translucent. About 2 minutes.
2. Add turkey meat and spices. Heat until meat is browned. about 10 minutes.
3. Add tomato paste and water. Stir and turn down heat to low. Simmer 5 minutes.
4. turn off heat and stir in maple syrup and cilantro
5. Place meat in buns. Top ours with a bit of greek yogurt and an avocado slice.
I typically serve this with sweet potato "fries" and a fruit salad.
When Jack started solids and I had to feed someone other than myself (and it couldn't be cereal or poptarts for dinner) I had to get it together. I had no clue where to start, so I tried the Fresh 20 . I thought it would be a good way to teach myself how to meal plan while still allowing me to put in minimal effort. It worked. Following their weekly meal plans for a few months helped me figure out how to get organized enough to hit the store once and have enough food for MEALS for the week. It also taught me how to cook because it included detailed, easy instructions.
I am still a fresh 20 member even though I don't follow their weekly plans. Their recipes are easy and healthy and I am now organized enough to pick from their recipes and other recipes to do my own plans.
AND Big Bonus: We no longer have the problem of lots of food, but nothing to make a meal out of...most of the time.
Below is one of my go to weekday recipes from The Fresh 20. Everyone loves it as you can see below!
Southwest Sloppy Joe's
1 Tablespoon Grapeseed Oil1/2 Onion Chopped
2 Carrots peeled and shredded
1 lb Ground Turkey
2 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp Herbs de Provence
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 C organic Tomato Paste
1/2 C water
Cilantro to taste roughly chopped about 1/2 a bunch
1 Tablespoon Pure Maple Syrup
4 Whole Wheat Buns
1. Heat pan over medium heat and add garlic, onion, and carrot. Saute until onion is translucent. About 2 minutes.
2. Add turkey meat and spices. Heat until meat is browned. about 10 minutes.
3. Add tomato paste and water. Stir and turn down heat to low. Simmer 5 minutes.
4. turn off heat and stir in maple syrup and cilantro
5. Place meat in buns. Top ours with a bit of greek yogurt and an avocado slice.
I typically serve this with sweet potato "fries" and a fruit salad.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Weeknight Dinner: Chicken Pot Pie
I make this recipe a lot in the fall and winter. When it got down to 60 the other day, I made a summer exception and baked up a yummy Sunday night dinner of Chicken Pot Pie. (60 feels cold compared to the 90 degree temps we have been having!!) It doesn't have any cream of x soup and is pretty healthy as far as chicken pot pies are concerned.
Chicken Pot Pie (adapted from The Fresh 20)
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 Onion Chopped
2 Celery Stalks Chopped
2 Carrots Chopped
3 Red Potatoes Thinly Chopped
1 Clove Garlic Chopped
Pre-Cooked Shredded Chicken (as much or little as you want)
1/4 C Whole Wheat Flour
2 Cups Chicken Stock
1/2 C Milk
Sea Salt and Pepper to taste
Herbs to taste (Sage or Herbs de Provence work well)
Pillsbury Pie Crust
1. Preheat oven to 350. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add garlic, onion, celery, carrots, and potatoes. Cook until onions appear translucent. (about 3-6 minutes)
2. Add Chicken and cook another 2-4 minutes.
3. Add flour and stir. Make sure chicken and veggies are coated. Cook 2 minutes.
4. Add chicken stock gradually while stirring. Mixture should thicken and create a sauce. Add more or less chicken stock depending on how thick you want the mixture. Add salt and herbs. Cook until potatoes are soft. (Sometimes I add additional frozen veggies right now too).
5. Turn off heat. Add 1/2 C of milk and stir.
6. Pour filling into pie plate.
7. Unroll pie crust and place on top. Make sure to cut vent holes in the top of the pie crust so it doesn't puff up.
8. Bake 20-30 minutes in the oven at 350.
Chicken Pot Pie (adapted from The Fresh 20)
 |
| This is not my pie from Sunday... It's from post thanksgiving leftover pie. I don't get that festive unless there is a holiday |
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/2 Onion Chopped
2 Celery Stalks Chopped
2 Carrots Chopped
3 Red Potatoes Thinly Chopped
1 Clove Garlic Chopped
Pre-Cooked Shredded Chicken (as much or little as you want)
1/4 C Whole Wheat Flour
2 Cups Chicken Stock
1/2 C Milk
Sea Salt and Pepper to taste
Herbs to taste (Sage or Herbs de Provence work well)
Pillsbury Pie Crust
1. Preheat oven to 350. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add garlic, onion, celery, carrots, and potatoes. Cook until onions appear translucent. (about 3-6 minutes)
2. Add Chicken and cook another 2-4 minutes.
3. Add flour and stir. Make sure chicken and veggies are coated. Cook 2 minutes.
4. Add chicken stock gradually while stirring. Mixture should thicken and create a sauce. Add more or less chicken stock depending on how thick you want the mixture. Add salt and herbs. Cook until potatoes are soft. (Sometimes I add additional frozen veggies right now too).
5. Turn off heat. Add 1/2 C of milk and stir.
6. Pour filling into pie plate.
7. Unroll pie crust and place on top. Make sure to cut vent holes in the top of the pie crust so it doesn't puff up.
8. Bake 20-30 minutes in the oven at 350.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
How We Ended Up With Tubes: Daycare, Flu Season, and One Ear Infection Too Many
Jack started daycare in the middle of flu season. There really wasn't any way to avoid it. If I could go back in time (and our situation was different in January) I would have waited until the Spring or Summer to send him.
After the initial adjustment period, things were going well. Drop offs were easier, he was happy when we picked him up, and he was napping well at school. (I cannot say enough about our daycare provider! Amazing!!)
Then, the sickness started. We were frequent flyers at the pediatrician from late January until early April. He had high fever after high fever, ear infections that wouldn't go away, Roseola, and finally 3 days of consecutive antibiotic shots to both legs. (That is what happens when the liquid antibiotics don't work...)
It was a very rough 3 months (and I wasn't feeling awesome either). We were finally referred to the ENT and learned that Jack was probably more susceptible to ear infections than the average kid.
Q: What are the risk factors for frequent ear infections?
A: According to our ENT...
1. Genetics/Shape of Eustachian Tube
2. Attends Day Care
3. Environmental Air Quality (mostly around second hand smoke)
Risk Factor #1: Both Dave and my little brother, David, had multiple sets of tubes as little kids. They both had tonsils and adenoids out when they were older as well. I have only had one ear infection in my entire life. Since Jack is pretty much Dave's clone, I'm not surprised his ears take after his daddy.
Risk Factor #2: Our ENT explained to us that since Jack was in daycare, exposed to more germs with a bad flu season and he already had the #1 risk factor, he would most likely continue to get infections anytime he had a cold or virus. (everything is connected in your ears, nose, and throat!!)
Our Options: We were given the option to wait it out for another infection or move forward with tubes.
Decision: We made the decision to move forward with tubes after consulting both of our families and some friends who had gone through similar experiences with their kiddos.
Q: So what causes ear infections in the first place?
A: Fluid buildup in the middle ear that turns into infection.
Q: How does the surgery work?
A: In our experience, Jack went under general anaesthesia at an outpatient center. The ENT placed a temporary tube (that should fall out within a year) into a small incision in the ear drum. This is what allows the ear drum to drain and prevents infection.
Q: What happens after the surgery?
A: First of all, taking your little one back to surgery is so hard! The plus side was that with this particular surgery, by the time I had walked back to the waiting room he was done! The surgery took less than 5 minutes. He woke up pretty groggy, but within hours was back to his normal self. We left the hospital shortly after and were instructed to put drops in his ears three times a day for two weeks. He was playing in the backyard and eating ice cream as soon as we got home. He did take a very long nap that afternoon.
Jack's ears drained a little longer than what is typical (about a week) and we had to continue the drops longer since his infection was so bad.
**I will warn you, if your child ever gets tubes the stuff that comes out of their ears after the surgery is DISGUSTING.
Everything looked great at our 1 week post op appointment. The doctor sucked out the rest of the drainage that had dried on his eardrum and Jack passed his hearing tests! His language started exploding shortly after that. This could have just been his age, or a coincidence, but I have heard that from other people's experiences as well.
If you have any questions about our experience I would be happy to answer them!
After the initial adjustment period, things were going well. Drop offs were easier, he was happy when we picked him up, and he was napping well at school. (I cannot say enough about our daycare provider! Amazing!!)
Then, the sickness started. We were frequent flyers at the pediatrician from late January until early April. He had high fever after high fever, ear infections that wouldn't go away, Roseola, and finally 3 days of consecutive antibiotic shots to both legs. (That is what happens when the liquid antibiotics don't work...)
It was a very rough 3 months (and I wasn't feeling awesome either). We were finally referred to the ENT and learned that Jack was probably more susceptible to ear infections than the average kid.
Q: What are the risk factors for frequent ear infections?
A: According to our ENT...
1. Genetics/Shape of Eustachian Tube
2. Attends Day Care
3. Environmental Air Quality (mostly around second hand smoke)
Risk Factor #1: Both Dave and my little brother, David, had multiple sets of tubes as little kids. They both had tonsils and adenoids out when they were older as well. I have only had one ear infection in my entire life. Since Jack is pretty much Dave's clone, I'm not surprised his ears take after his daddy.
Risk Factor #2: Our ENT explained to us that since Jack was in daycare, exposed to more germs with a bad flu season and he already had the #1 risk factor, he would most likely continue to get infections anytime he had a cold or virus. (everything is connected in your ears, nose, and throat!!)
Our Options: We were given the option to wait it out for another infection or move forward with tubes.
Decision: We made the decision to move forward with tubes after consulting both of our families and some friends who had gone through similar experiences with their kiddos.
Q: So what causes ear infections in the first place?
A: Fluid buildup in the middle ear that turns into infection.
 |
| http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ear-infection/tubes-for-ear-infections-slideshow |
Q: How does the surgery work?
A: In our experience, Jack went under general anaesthesia at an outpatient center. The ENT placed a temporary tube (that should fall out within a year) into a small incision in the ear drum. This is what allows the ear drum to drain and prevents infection.
 |
| http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/ear-infection/tubes-for-ear-infections-slideshow |
Q: What happens after the surgery?
A: First of all, taking your little one back to surgery is so hard! The plus side was that with this particular surgery, by the time I had walked back to the waiting room he was done! The surgery took less than 5 minutes. He woke up pretty groggy, but within hours was back to his normal self. We left the hospital shortly after and were instructed to put drops in his ears three times a day for two weeks. He was playing in the backyard and eating ice cream as soon as we got home. He did take a very long nap that afternoon.
Jack's ears drained a little longer than what is typical (about a week) and we had to continue the drops longer since his infection was so bad.
**I will warn you, if your child ever gets tubes the stuff that comes out of their ears after the surgery is DISGUSTING.
Everything looked great at our 1 week post op appointment. The doctor sucked out the rest of the drainage that had dried on his eardrum and Jack passed his hearing tests! His language started exploding shortly after that. This could have just been his age, or a coincidence, but I have heard that from other people's experiences as well.
If you have any questions about our experience I would be happy to answer them!
Friday, July 12, 2013
Oh Baby! 28 Weeks
It is astounding how much bigger I feel this time! My doctor has assured me that I am measuring right on target. That hasn't stopped the "any day now" comments from complete strangers. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?
Dressing for work has been a challenge lately. I refuse to purchase work clothes I will only wear for a few months, so I'm stuck with my bright blue $3 Target maternity clearance dress and one other black dress that isn't maternity. (and is now so stretched out in the stomach that I can never wear it without a belly again)
Maple
Oatmeal
Goldfish
Strawberry Jam
Pickles
Smores
Lemons
Salad from Pizza Brutta
Any fruit and lots of water
(it's hot hot hot out!!)
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Guest Blogger on Not Pasty!
I was honored to recently write a guest post for my friend Jen. Her site, Not Pasty, is all about sun safety, self-love, and beauty. Their mission is to inspire women to think differently about themselves. It was really tough for me to share my personal struggle, but I'm so glad I did. If I can help at least one other person, it's worth it. Check out my journey to being me here!
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