Week 4: Meal Plans

I recommend using organic fruits and veggies, and of course, meat from Off the Farm Food Co-Op:)

Day 1: BLT's

Love me some simple meals with easy clean up. Plus my kids LOVE bacon!


Day 2: Pulled Pork (2 days)

I love this easy recipe from Pioneer Woman:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/08/spicy-shredded-pork/

The first night we like to do street tacos. Load the pork up into corn tortillas and squeeze lime juice all over. We like to serve with guacamole and pico de gallo.


Day 3: Pulled Pork (Cont.)

BBQ sandwiches with left over pulled pork. We like to have with potato chips :)


Day 4: Stuffed Bell Peppers

Here is a link from Simply Love Food:

http://simplylovefood.blog.com/2012/02/25/southwestern-stuffed-peppers/

We like to use beef and add shrimp. I usually toss in some veggies I have in the fridge as well!


Day 5: Herb Crusted Chicken over Noodles

Here is the recipe from Our Kind of Love. Not going to lie, I haven't tried this yet, however, I am always up for new things to turn into my own.

http://hopeandjohnbasher.blogspot.com/2012/05/herb-crusted-chicken-in-basil-cream.html


Day 6: Salad and Baked Potatoes

One of my all time favorite meals!!  I love baked potatoes and I love salad (with ranch all over it...and cheese...lots of cheddar cheese).

I usually add some meat to Lewis'. Whatever is in the fridge left over will be good, esp the pork. I also like to add turkey like Spring Creek BBQ does. So delish and easy!  Make sure you use real butter in those potatoes. You need some fat with all those carbs. You can also cook up some bacon and top the potato and salad for some protein!

Week 3: Meal Plans

I recommend using organic fruits and veggies and of course meat from Off the Farm Food Co-Op :)

Day 1:

Roast and Veggies

Here is a recipe from Jamie Oliver. Love him, he always keeps it simple and clean.

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/perfect-roast-beef


Day 2:

Enchiladas with refried beans and grilled avocados

I love the Pioneer Woman and here are some enchiladas that are out of this world:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/simple-perfect-enchiladas-recipe/index.html

I like to buy these beans when I don't make my own:



If you have never made grilled avocados, you will thank me later. Here is a recipe from Morsels and Mussings:

http://morselsandmusings.blogspot.com/2011/09/grilled-avocado-w-melted-cheese-hot.html


Day 3:

BBQ Chicken Quesadillas (uses crockpot chicken, you will have left overs)

So I have found this site called Weelicious and LOVE it!!  Here is the recipe:

http://weelicious.com/2010/09/16/bbq-chicken-quesadilla/


Day 4:

Left over BBQ chicken. We like to have sandwiches or served with potato salad. Here is a recipe from Martha Stewart for a different version of your typical potato salad:

http://www.marthastewart.com/341276/dijon-potato-salad?czone=food/dinner-tonight-center/dinner-tonight-side-dishes&center=276948&gallery=275193&slide=285213


Day 5:

Pizza

We love to make pizza at our house. Everyone can make their own and you can even cut it into shapes for the kiddos. We usually skip out on making the dough, but you most certainly can. I just buy this version:



My favorite pizza is topped with a small amount of cheese, black olives, tomatoes, and onions.


Day 6:

Cheeseburger Cups

Warning-this is not a very "healthy" recipe, however, it is one of my favorites!!

This is from Taste of Home and I usually eat 3 (more than Lewis, sad to say):

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Cheeseburger-Cups#.UJRMinfwwwE.pinterest


Day 7:

I'm craving Sushi :)

Week 2: Meal Plans

I recommend using organic fruits and veggies and of course grass fed beef and pastured chicken from Off the Farm Food Co-Op!

Day 1:

Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps and a side of fruit

I bake the chicken like this:

Line bottom of baking dish with foil. Spread some Italian Dressing on the foil. Put chicken on the foil and cover with more Italian Dressing. Cover chicken completely with foil. Bake for 45 minutes on 350.

When the chicken is done, I fry for a few minutes with olive oil.

Mix with Caesar Dressing, put on tortilla, and add loads of organic salad mix and some cheese if you want.

Day 2:

Hamburgers and Fries

We really like Rachel Ray's Patty Melts:

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/

If you like, you can do sweet potato fries; here are some from Cookie + Kate:

http://cookieandkate.com/2010/baked-sweet-potato-fries/


Day 3:

Salmon, Brussels sprouts, and quinoa

We like to spread honey mustard over the salmon and bake at 450 until it is cooked through.

Here is how to make honey mustard:

Combine 1 part raw, unfiltered honey and 1 part mustard. Add a little mayo (not much).

Try these spicy Brussels sprouts from Melissa's:

http://www.melissas.com/Recipes/Recipes/Side-Dishes/Spicy-Oven-Roasted-Brussels-Sprouts.aspx

And for the quinoa, this is from Ambitious Kitchen:

Bring 1 1/2 cups of water with garlic salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low, add quinoa and cover; simmering until all liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand another 5-10 minutes. Fluff the quinoa with a fork.


Day 4:

Meatloaf-I know, I know...Meatloaf? I can't help it, I love it. Although I typically make my mom's recipe, here is one from Who Needs a Cape?:

http://whoneedsacape.com/2012/10/veggied-meatloaf/

I would use carrots and serve with mashed potatoes and steamed peas!


Day 5:

Omelets

Fill with tons of veggies (mushrooms, onions, olives, tomatoes) and some whole milk cheddar cheese


Day 6:

BBQ Chicken, salad, and squash and zucchini

I like to grill or bake my chicken. If you are baking, use the same method as above, take out with about 10 minutes left, cover with bbq sauce and continue to cook until done.

1 Week Meal Plan

I recommend getting organic fruits and veggies and of course pastured chicken and grass fed beef from Off the Farm Food Co-Op :)

Day 1:

Salad:
Lettuce mix, chopped green bell pepper, chopped onion, pears or strawberries (or both), cheese of your choice, sugared pecans (http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/sugared_pecans/), dressing of your choice (I like a vinaigrette). You can easily add a lightly seasoned grilled chicken on top. Toss and eat.


Day 2:

Cornflake Crusted Chicken

This is from Martha Stewart:
http://www.marthastewart.com/336896/cornflake-crusted-baked-chicken

I like to serve with mashed potatoes or cauliflower and peas

mashed cauliflower recipe (we add bacon to ours):
http://www.inspiredtaste.net/19731/simple-creamy-mashed-cauliflower-recipe/



Day 3:

Steaks, Baked Potatoes, and Asparagus

How we cook our asparagus:
clean, put on foil, coat with olive oil, sprinkle with sugar, cover with foil and grill until almost tender


Day 4:

Chicken K-Bobs

This is from Hasty-Bake:
http://www.hastybake.com/recipes/hawaiian-chicken-k-bobs


Day 5:

Breakfast for Dinner

One of our favorites! We love to make blueberry pancakes, bacon, country sausage, eggs, and fruit.


Day 6:

Tacos

We love to make "double decker tacos" (wrap a flour tortilla and beans around the taco shell). I also steam corn and make guacamole and pico de gallo.

Jessica Seinfeld has a taco recipe that I use where you can "hide" pureed veggies in the meat.

Recipe:
http://myfriendsandfood.blogspot.com/2008/03/tacos-from-deceptively-delicious-by.html


Recipe for homemade pico from The Mother Huddle:
http://www.themotherhuddle.com/homemade-pico-de-gallo-recipe/


Day 7:

I am ready to eat out!!!

Holden Turns 2

Holden Parke is 2!!  It seems like you are so much older than 2 because you are as smart as a whip.  At two you are running like crazy, jumping, climbing, and dancing.  You are learning things at the speed of light every day.  You talk in complete sentences, you can count to 15, you know red, blue, and green, and can associate really well.  You love to play outside in the dirt and pet the puppies, Daisy and Duddits.  Because you turn two in the summer, we are currently swimming a lot.  You are like a fish.  You have not had lessons, but you are starting to swim really well.  You love it and are not scared at all.  Mommy is ready for you to be potty trained and you are finally getting there too.  You will "tee-tee" on demand, but we have not started going in the potty yet, but you love your big boy underwear.  You will be starting Pre-School in a couple of months and your mommy is getting really sad that you will not be wih her everyday.  Mommy knows this will be good for you, and you love playing with other kids, so we think you will love it.

Hunter Turns 1!!

Hunter William turned 1!!  We can't believe our little baby is already 1 and changing so much every day.  Right now you are still not walking, even though you can stand up by yourself and will take a few steps here and there.  You cruise on and behind everything.  You especially love to push your new car and walk behind your walker.  You are learning new words all the time and can say: hi, bye-bye, ba-ba, da-da, mamma, cookie, up, poo poo, and apple.  You love to have books read to you, especially "Bubbles" and "Opposites".   Your favorite movie is Shrek.  Playing outside with brother is your favorite thing to do. You always want to be held, especially by grandma.  You are an eating machine.  You will eat pretty much anything we give you, but you love fruit and anything you can hold yourself.  You sleep from 8-8 at night and 1-3 during the day.  You sleep with a giraffe and two blankets.  Your mom and dad love you to the moon and back.  You are the sweetest little boy with so much lov in your heart already.  Your brother loves waking up and playing with you every day.  You two will be best friends forever.  Happy 1 year Hunter!!

2 1/2...really?

You would never know by looking at you that you are 2 1/2.  You look like you are at least 4 and stand as tall, if not taller, than most of your friends who are 3 and 4.  You are now in preschool 2 days a week from 9-1 and you love it.  You have made friends with Brody and Eli and talk about them all the time.  Mama really misses you while you are at school, but she is so proud of how well you have done going and the confindence you have gained.  You now wear size 4T clothes and size 8-9 shoes. 

As far as eating goes it is a hit or miss game with you.  Sometimes you will eat like a horse, and others you will not eat anything.  Your favorite food right now is bacon (more bacon...mama hears almost everytime).  You still do not like to eat casseroles or anything that is not crunchy. 

Toy Story is your new love.  You have a Jessie, Woody, and Buzz doll right now and they are your favorite things.  You already play with the toys exactly like the scenes from the movie and it is so funny to see you put woody in the tree outside over and over again.  You have found a new love for the puppy dogs.  You can sit and pet Duddits for ever. 

At 2 1/2 you are running so fast.  You love to run, jump, and spin around all the time.  Your favorite is when mama chases you around the kitchen and living room and jumps out and scares you.  You have the funniest sense of humor.  At night mama, daddy, you, and brother always drink milk and read a book on the bean bag chairs.  After brother goes to sleep you and mommy get some special time together where you read a book all by yourself and then mommy tells you "story again".  You always get the giggles at this time and mommy loves to hear you laugh.  You also love to say your prayers and say AMEN. 

Although you sometimes act annoyed by your brother's constant attention, you always want to know where he is.  If you wake up before him you will not take no for an answer to go wake him up so he can come with you to watch cartoons.  If brother is not around you, you will ask, "where's Hunter?".  Mom and dad think this is so special and we know you are going to be an amazing big brother.

You are still as smart as a whip, far beyond your years.  You know your ABC's, can count to 20, you know your colors and shapes, and are starting to memorize songs too (twinkle twinkle little star, jingle bells, and g-r-e-e-n are just a few).  You can hold a conversation really well for your age.  You are very intuitive and know exactly what is going on all the time. 

You have been potty trained since you were 2.  You wear big boy underwear all day, just not at night yet.  You tell everyone you need to go "tee tee in da potty", but you only want "mama commin".

Mommy and daddy cannot wait to see what the next 6 months will bring for you.  You are just now getting to understand your emotions and becoming such an idepedant boy. 

We love you buddy. 

We can't believe it...Hunter is 18 months old already!!

Hunter,

You are growing so fast...too fast.  Right now you are following your brother's footsteps, literally, everywhere he goes and everything he does, you go and you do.  You are so adventurous.  "Climb up" is one of your favorite phrases.  Mama has found you on top of your table, in window seals, and in chairs.  You love to eat, anything and everything.  About every hour on the hour you go to your highchair and exclaim "eat"!  You are not picky, but you love smoothies, fruit, and eggs.  "nack" time is your favorite. 

You, mom, and brother play outside all the time.  You love to yell at dodo and make sure you know where he and dayday are at all times.  You love to play t-ball and swing.  Now that we have moved into our new house, you love to climb up on the big playground and slide down. 

Independant should be your middle name.  You want to do everything on your own and if someone tries to help you, you tell them no.  At 18 months you are doing so much more than expected.  Your vocabulary is out of this world.  You love to sing your ABC's, and even if you do not know all of the letters, you know most.  You love to count with your brother.  You know all of the animals and their sounds, but your favorite is the "nay-nay".  Some of the phrases you are saying right now are: "there it is, where's brother, and go outside". 

You and brother play so good together right now.  You love to take out all of your pj's in your room and throw them in the air.  You also love to take out all the books and read them with brother.  You two wrestle with one another all the time, but you are always the one to instigate these sessions.  You also love to take your brother's favorite toys (Jessie and Woody) and then see if he sees you and then you take off running.  It is pretty funny to mom and dad to watch.

At night time you love to say your prayers and say loudly AMEN!

Gaga and daddy are your two favorite people in the whole world.  When daddy is home, you want him to "hold you" all the time. 

Mama and daddy are so awe struck watching you grow.  You are the cutest little boy with the biggest heart.  Keep that sensetive side of you!!

We love you!