tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68471917165071306532024-02-20T18:03:46.268-08:00The Homeschool CafeteriaAprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-59444421676441687672011-04-20T18:03:00.000-07:002011-04-20T18:04:41.109-07:00Pineapple Bliss Cupcakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o6k1mTUJmoO67j__EHtZCJTNh6xzFsLZ8ubjFpAcpdNYLlM3Zn6GRUNTMvQz7zIQHgpuV9oMk-CKCDFNi3U9TvGX1GCT_ZX95HSBOodctbps6C4Im1zc1WsAcAO9DgMfKbDvgtEs6o-8/s1600/photo-28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0o6k1mTUJmoO67j__EHtZCJTNh6xzFsLZ8ubjFpAcpdNYLlM3Zn6GRUNTMvQz7zIQHgpuV9oMk-CKCDFNi3U9TvGX1GCT_ZX95HSBOodctbps6C4Im1zc1WsAcAO9DgMfKbDvgtEs6o-8/s400/photo-28.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found this recipe for <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/04/pineapple-bliss-cupcakes.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weightwatcherspointsrecipes+%28Gina%27s+Skinny+Recipes%29">Pineapple Bliss Cupcakes</a> last week and couldn't wait for a chance to try it out. The ingredients list is short and sweet: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 yellow cake mix</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 20 oz can of crushed pineapple</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/04/pineapple-bliss-cupcakes.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weightwatcherspointsrecipes+%28Gina%27s+Skinny+Recipes%29">Click here </a>for instructions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We topped our pineapple cupcakes with simple cool whip, although the frosting recommended in the recipe looks wonderful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The cupcakes are delicious. The only change I'll make next time is to try spraying my cupcake liners with baking spray. The cupcakes stuck to the liners, making them a bit difficult to remove. It didn't affect the taste however! Delish! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each cupcake (no topping) has 93.5 calories and less than 1 gram of fat. Can't beat that! </div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-19378519122447548852011-04-12T10:22:00.000-07:002011-04-12T10:22:29.194-07:00A Simple LunchSometimes I'm less than inspired to make a good, hot lunch for my kids. Today is one of those days! I kept it simple & quick, but it's still healthy. If your kids like those refrigerated cracker & cheese packages (like Lunchables), then this should be a hit!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-UT8ZRNzS-HCJfltCokFDWPeUUCxFPTvlwk3XBj8heDNjEzhyphenhyphenaIFx_3eqWfoOzeTDcwk61C0e5nQPA_lRUFIRXS4nWjeAUyGnUke0NeFH0euTvwfccCoravD8uypsHmzj11jWje8pGnO/s1600/IMG_5950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-UT8ZRNzS-HCJfltCokFDWPeUUCxFPTvlwk3XBj8heDNjEzhyphenhyphenaIFx_3eqWfoOzeTDcwk61C0e5nQPA_lRUFIRXS4nWjeAUyGnUke0NeFH0euTvwfccCoravD8uypsHmzj11jWje8pGnO/s400/IMG_5950.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Sliced cheese<br />
Whole wheat crackers<br />
Low fat sliced ham<br />
Baby carrots<br />
Ranch dressing<br />
(also, not pictured but I gave them a bowl of grapes, so we hit all 4 food groups with this one)Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-28636153304679937912011-03-31T10:44:00.000-07:002011-03-31T10:44:20.879-07:00Nacho Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgum-BqS74ravIMgj3smPKMnbp4RmaxtmPm7j5-o5LIwiy55LHjPMndGw81sluYkStcG2ZP7VrSwYHH7kQWXT9F1vhEjKCjkOB5ZBQ1dWgkKmjT-xj2NBVvEKyBq17QsEqg-GLK1cQMJdlV/s1600/photo-21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgum-BqS74ravIMgj3smPKMnbp4RmaxtmPm7j5-o5LIwiy55LHjPMndGw81sluYkStcG2ZP7VrSwYHH7kQWXT9F1vhEjKCjkOB5ZBQ1dWgkKmjT-xj2NBVvEKyBq17QsEqg-GLK1cQMJdlV/s400/photo-21.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>This is one of my kids' favorite ways to enjoy lunch. </div><div><br />
</div><div>On a plate, layer: </div><div>tortilla chips</div><div>ground turkey, browned and seasoned with an envelope of taco seasoning</div><div>shredded cheese</div><div>shredded lettuce</div><div>reduced fat sour cream</div><div>salsa</div><div><br />
</div><div>You can also add any other toppings you enjoy on a taco salad: Olives, guacamole, onions, sliced tomatoes, corn, or black beans would all make a great addition. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Kid Rating: 6 Thumbs Up! </div><div><br />
</div><div>I didn't figure the calorie count on this one, but it's easy to control fat and calories in this by choosing low fat ground turkey and lower fat cheese and sour cream. </div><div><br />
</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-64628859226092551672011-03-28T10:35:00.000-07:002011-03-28T10:35:46.064-07:00Chicken & Veggie Pasta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiQNiEjenH3elmZV1qN7YJI49TUrLOKr1OgWjvTzV_tPrcvwkZP3_7kYCMefjqH1mlweWp4qo3llYjsZPnqOEpQiaREAjwbk3ZZ912o9pzLbIouC_Of9_BBtYH7jbXMAVpGd-zBTxZT7p/s1600/IMG_5802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeiQNiEjenH3elmZV1qN7YJI49TUrLOKr1OgWjvTzV_tPrcvwkZP3_7kYCMefjqH1mlweWp4qo3llYjsZPnqOEpQiaREAjwbk3ZZ912o9pzLbIouC_Of9_BBtYH7jbXMAVpGd-zBTxZT7p/s400/IMG_5802.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Easy as Pie Chicken n' Veggie Pasta</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's really not much to explain here, but this is an easy to prepare lunch that's healthy to boot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Combine: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 box of cooked tri-color vegetable pasta (it has a full serving of veggies in each serving of pasta! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">some chopped, cooked chicken</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">half a jar of spaghetti sauce</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And top with some shredded parmesan cheese. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-90871467148244324482011-03-26T08:37:00.000-07:002011-03-26T08:45:21.214-07:00Snackin' Mix (the healthier version)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF2kj_kT9mhJl-GSFDagOnezohcvS_rcfC6lZQTEjlKBlGcs3yZZ-P37a-HtM2OmAtsFAvn1aFNEihOGGXCleu3jDxSDSxRi9lNQW60kTj_w6S_gtxSYFJcfV5Ik8Q45tixFaZBSBgMDW/s1600/IMG_5791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwF2kj_kT9mhJl-GSFDagOnezohcvS_rcfC6lZQTEjlKBlGcs3yZZ-P37a-HtM2OmAtsFAvn1aFNEihOGGXCleu3jDxSDSxRi9lNQW60kTj_w6S_gtxSYFJcfV5Ik8Q45tixFaZBSBgMDW/s400/IMG_5791.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Combine in a large bowl: </div><div style="text-align: center;">2 cups of mini-marshmallows</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 cups of pretzels</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 can of mixed, unsalted nuts</div><div style="text-align: center;">8 ounces reduced fat cheese crackers</div><div style="text-align: center;">6 ounce bag of dried cranberries</div><br />
Stir gently or use your hands to mix the ingredients and that's it! This makes about 35 servings. I bagged pre-measured servings (approximately 1/3 of a cup) into ziplocs to make it easy for the kids to access (and to portion out properly).<br />
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This snack mix contains 123 calories and 5 grams of fat. I think it's a little healthier than my <a href="http://thehomeschoolcafeteria.blogspot.com/2011/02/snackin-mix.html">usual snack mix</a> because the fats come primarily from nuts instead of canola oil. It's also a lot lower in sodium! The marshmallows are a real treat for the kids, but with only 5 or 6 mini-marshmallows in a bag, they aren't getting a ton of sugar.<br />
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Kid Rating: 6 Thumbs Up! Their favorite part: marshmallows, of course!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-59430450101500212432011-03-24T10:54:00.000-07:002011-03-24T10:54:36.905-07:00Turkey Sloppy JoesThe last couple of weeks have seemed a little disorganized. I'm not exactly sure why, but most days we've either been having leftovers or a simple sandwich for lunch. Nothing blog-worthy. I figured I'd share today, though. Gavin fixed lunch for us today--Sloppy Joes made with ground turkey.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9Oj1kE31qoRjVkvk9B9B-UWD_eak0FV_XmL3gF0WhfnaorVHlSYOs6wG22f5oN-3zuKFHsO2V58UIm7KvJrEcZBx5uG-G_X31h1_Ph_8SSbAVDWuN1M1giE9xDCDUZLqGM0LSbSDJ1S-/s1600/photo-16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9Oj1kE31qoRjVkvk9B9B-UWD_eak0FV_XmL3gF0WhfnaorVHlSYOs6wG22f5oN-3zuKFHsO2V58UIm7KvJrEcZBx5uG-G_X31h1_Ph_8SSbAVDWuN1M1giE9xDCDUZLqGM0LSbSDJ1S-/s400/photo-16.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Here's how to make them:<br />
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Brown a pound of ground turkey breast along with some chopped onion. (Our grocery store sells two varieties of ground turkey with one containing about 19 grams of fat and the other containing less than 2 grams of fat. There's a price difference of close to $2 per pound, but the difference in fat count is definitely worth it!)<br />
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To the browned ground turkey add:<br />
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1/2 cup of ketchup<br />
3 tablespoons of barbecue sauce<br />
1 tablespoon of mustard<br />
2 teaspoons of worcestershire sauce<br />
pepper to taste<br />
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Simmer for a few minutes and then serve on wheat buns.<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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Kid Rating: 6 Thumbs Up!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-47464577359240575542011-03-14T15:13:00.000-07:002011-03-14T16:41:58.199-07:00Mexican Chicken WrapsYesterday morning before church I put Mexican Chicken (aka Tex-Mex Chicken) in the slow cooker so we'd come home to a nice meal without a lot of work. This recipe makes a large batch of Mexican Chicken so we had enough left to make another meal today.<br />
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To your slow cooker add:<br />
4 large chicken breasts<br />
1 can black beans, drained & rinsed<br />
1 can corn, drained<br />
1 package taco seasoning<br />
1 jar of salsa<br />
<br />
Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Just before serving shred chicken and add 1 cup of reduced fat sour cream to the slow cooker. Serve over rice.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: left;">Today we used the leftover Mexican Chicken on some whole wheat, high fiber, tortillas. They were delicious! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkM47zGEY8MS_4_Szg4Y4T70nlQLAJ64h2OtPvSXqtQYcOZRlbORwS7BmOSFat9Was5BYZyE-MCnAziM9E09vAsbAz6ekAKSWYZrw8S7NAwLLqWa3s69hOmkHXTdl0EbyEMMmoA2UXWO6K/s1600/photo-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkM47zGEY8MS_4_Szg4Y4T70nlQLAJ64h2OtPvSXqtQYcOZRlbORwS7BmOSFat9Was5BYZyE-MCnAziM9E09vAsbAz6ekAKSWYZrw8S7NAwLLqWa3s69hOmkHXTdl0EbyEMMmoA2UXWO6K/s320/photo-8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I know that rising grocery costs are probably a concern for most families right now, as they certainly are for us. But this dish was especially economical. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">$4.91 for Chicken Breasts (I used bone-in breasts because they were on sale at Kroger this week)</div><div style="text-align: left;">$0.69 for black beans</div><div style="text-align: left;">$0.79 for corn</div><div style="text-align: left;">$0.35 for taco seasoning</div><div style="text-align: left;">$1.99 for salsa</div><div style="text-align: left;">$0.99 for sour cream</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Total Cost: $9.72 (not including the rice) and this meal fed my family of 5 for <b>two meals</b> and we still have leftovers for my husband to take to work for lunch one day this week. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This meal also fits into a low calorie plan with ease. The Mexican Chicken has 196 calories per serving. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<i>Edited to Add</i>:<br />
Kid Rating: This one gets a 6 thumbs up! They liked it best on wraps, but it was great on rice as well. </div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-9723948592079272642011-03-08T11:30:00.000-08:002011-03-08T11:30:08.113-08:00Presentation is Everything: Chicken Salad ScoopsThis presentation of ordinary chicken salad turned what would have been a boring lunch into an exciting one. The idea for this came from Luci's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Living-Cookbook-Recipes-Hardcover/dp/0848731786/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299612483&sr=8-1">Southern Living For Kids</a> cookbook. <div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC38cbuhUlluPZ1eECF4-bxLVDrjvMzNjKjBPy2FiTLCdqpjsD4Pfuyi_LpO_JCFO66ZOYeqNMAZ-TpRuaJNQMCUgT1CK_Wk2S81RsfiF7LoD2uW-gV9qRq0-RAdiMwlhbNdAfDw6mRjC/s1600/IMG_5523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC38cbuhUlluPZ1eECF4-bxLVDrjvMzNjKjBPy2FiTLCdqpjsD4Pfuyi_LpO_JCFO66ZOYeqNMAZ-TpRuaJNQMCUgT1CK_Wk2S81RsfiF7LoD2uW-gV9qRq0-RAdiMwlhbNdAfDw6mRjC/s320/IMG_5523.JPG" width="319" /></a></div><div><br />
<div><div>Chicken Salad</div></div></div><div><br />
</div><div>2 cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped</div><div>1/4 cup raisins</div><div>1/4 cup shredded carrot</div><div>1 stalk of celery, diced</div><div>1/2 cup reduced fat mayonnaise</div><div>1/4 cup chopped unsalted roasted peanuts</div><div><br />
</div><div>Place all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.</div><div><br />
</div><div>To assemble the Chicken Salad Scoops, put a lettuce leaf in the top of each ice cream cone and then top with a scoop of chicken salad. I used my ice cream scoop to make a nice round scoop. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I served this with baby carrots and some snack mix I made this weekend.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Luci and Ben were completely smitten with this new take on chicken salad. Gavin appreciates chicken salad on its own merits, but thought the cone was a nice addition anyway. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Kid Rating: 6 Thumbs Up! </div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-49289812360814122902011-02-22T14:34:00.000-08:002011-02-22T14:34:18.880-08:00RepeatsThe last couple of days we have been eating leftovers from a weekend of surplus.<br />
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Saturday evening Luci cooked <a href="http://thehomeschoolcafeteria.blogspot.com/2011/02/cooking-with-luci-peanutty-chicken.html">Peanutty Chicken and Pasta</a> for her visiting grandparents and uncle. We doubled the recipe since we were feeding five adults and three children. A single recipe makes four servings, so this doubled recipe made eight servings and even with some having a second helping, we still had plenty leftover.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegJNcRZrUqbiMhp7G3hlbyIPvV84_SawZmXk_Kcr1Ulg1mh0nGN5YwAhxPH6DssAfQ2n12sCmjxg_NLPbBXWN76xLQvghf7ziFeRlB1UWeQhHrwz3p9p0d6lZXxOmuY_NHdFloIIrw6zO/s1600/DSCF4412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegJNcRZrUqbiMhp7G3hlbyIPvV84_SawZmXk_Kcr1Ulg1mh0nGN5YwAhxPH6DssAfQ2n12sCmjxg_NLPbBXWN76xLQvghf7ziFeRlB1UWeQhHrwz3p9p0d6lZXxOmuY_NHdFloIIrw6zO/s320/DSCF4412.JPG" width="211" /></a></div><br />
Sunday afternoon I had plans to make a pot of <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Tortellini-Soup/Detail.aspx">Tortellini Soup</a>, however, a power outage in the middle of cooking the soup caused us to regroup. We picked up Subway sandwiches instead and when the power came back on a couple of hours later the soup resumed cooking.<br />
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So, yesterday was Tortellini Soup and today was Peanutty Chicken and Pasta. I love microwave-reheat-and-eat days!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-19721064417003991782011-02-17T10:06:00.000-08:002011-02-17T13:16:49.176-08:00Veggie Beef Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLI04gj_p9rTmqW5sPW57HCPyvwn6tpXBhcPhDVBrex1QCsEI0zSSqSzSeAVNumf2USQhu8myJMhSmKTPTIdnCc7TN74B_nIvzi19VGri2-wYyENBJtTCifArfht0DNdHu_xUHY-4Zaytt/s1600/photo-19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLI04gj_p9rTmqW5sPW57HCPyvwn6tpXBhcPhDVBrex1QCsEI0zSSqSzSeAVNumf2USQhu8myJMhSmKTPTIdnCc7TN74B_nIvzi19VGri2-wYyENBJtTCifArfht0DNdHu_xUHY-4Zaytt/s320/photo-19.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>A pot of soup is a quick and easy way to have a hot meal ready come lunch time. This is an easy basic recipe for a vegetable beef soup.<br />
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1 lb of lean ground beef, browned and drained<br />
1 qt. of beef broth<br />
2 cans of stewed tomatoes, undrained<br />
5 ounce can spicy V8 juice (regular would be fine, spicy is all I had. It really didn't add any spiciness to the soup)<br />
Frozen veggies (I used a bag of frozen green beans, a bag of frozen corn, half a bag of frozen lima beans)<br />
Season to taste (for us, all the soup needed was a little Italian Seasoning)<br />
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Combine all of these ingredients in the crockpot and simmer on low for a few hours. Put this on in the morning and it'll be ready by lunch time :) It makes about 10 servings of soup, so it's great for having leftovers on another day.<br />
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Today, I served the kids a bowl of soup along with some cheese toast triangles and a half a banana with Nutella spread on it.<br />
<br />
Kid Rating: 4 Thumbs Up on the soup; 6 Thumbs on the banana with Nutella!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-13902289460029946322011-02-16T12:38:00.000-08:002011-02-16T12:38:57.598-08:00Fish SandwichesToday we had Tilapia Sandwiches. There really isn't any remarkable recipe here, but in just a few quick steps and not much time at all you can have a fantastic fish sandwich. I bought the individually wrapped and frozen tilapia filets from my local grocery store's freezer. The smaller package, 12 ounces, has 4 filets. They'll thaw quickly, about 15 minutes, if you put them in some cold water in a pan. Or you can thaw them in the refrigerator overnight. I seasoned them well on both sides with Old Bay Seasoning and then cooked all four filets in about a tablespoon of olive oil.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGXrsJ-wwTgKZnd4Ccs0rwULWtZ2fmX2XsNJHoL5qAyumPupfH0L4M2Rj0JgMYdZnoLUkt_5uZh2U2UcbPf_NHZnGcLOL5zW-aR6db2A6s_Hz-xwhjnqSf0MgckvcTEq8S3n_Jpuv8EZ_/s1600/photo-17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGXrsJ-wwTgKZnd4Ccs0rwULWtZ2fmX2XsNJHoL5qAyumPupfH0L4M2Rj0JgMYdZnoLUkt_5uZh2U2UcbPf_NHZnGcLOL5zW-aR6db2A6s_Hz-xwhjnqSf0MgckvcTEq8S3n_Jpuv8EZ_/s320/photo-17.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I served them on whole wheat buns with whatever condiments (mayo, mustard, cheese, etc...) the kids preferred, some fresh veggies and hummus for dipping. These fish sandwiches are delicious, quick & simple, and very healthy! The baby carrots and grape tomatoes aren't too bad either :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSstHe-Bd5SN_9hkaz00EtsoACfk0DUYitJAv_MZfOrAU85Lc9dgGG-sT147sJV4AR7Z7yHJTimPs6Fve4Pnndu6VhtmYly44T5yMbX9cIupLmnNbd6Qs6Q-iGI_8K7dArZENIK6a2CWF/s1600/photo-18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSstHe-Bd5SN_9hkaz00EtsoACfk0DUYitJAv_MZfOrAU85Lc9dgGG-sT147sJV4AR7Z7yHJTimPs6Fve4Pnndu6VhtmYly44T5yMbX9cIupLmnNbd6Qs6Q-iGI_8K7dArZENIK6a2CWF/s320/photo-18.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luci's tomato and carrot butterfly :) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-7030826020602097672011-02-12T07:37:00.000-08:002011-02-12T07:37:26.902-08:00Menu 2/12It's been a crazy week here at my house. My daughter has been sick all week and it's thrown us for a loop. I posted my menu last weekend and we've mostly stuck to that menu with few exceptions, however, most days I've forgotten to take pictures and didn't take time to sit down and write. Next week should be better! Anyway, here's our menu for the coming week, with links where applicable:<br />
<br />
Lunches~<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Fish Sandwiches and a Green Salad</li>
<li>Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwiches and Soup</li>
<li>Wraps with fresh veggies and hummus for dipping</li>
<li>Hamburger Soup</li>
<li>Leftover Do-Overs</li>
</ul><div>Dinner~</div><div><ul><li><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Braised-Balsamic-Chicken/Detail.aspx?prop31=3">Braised Balsamic Chicken</a> (this was from last week, but I didn't get to make it because I ran out of chicken), brown rice, steamed broccoli</li>
<li><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Tangy-Slow-Cooker-Pork-Roast/Detail.aspx">Tangy Slow Cooker Pork</a>, mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus</li>
<li>Chicken & Dumplings, green beans (Luci's meal--if she's up to cooking)</li>
<li>Turkey Burgers, turnip greens, oven fries (Gavin's meal)</li>
<li><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sweet-and-Sour-Chicken-III/Detail.aspx">Sweet and Sour Chicken</a> with brown rice and garlic steamed broccoli (Ben's meal~Sweet and sour chicken is Ben's all time favorite meal. He loves the sweet, slightly sour, sauce and the pineapples that go with it. However, my go-to recipe for this meal is especially high in fat and calories so I've been searching for a tasty, healthier alternative. Hoping this will be the one that gets his seal of approval!)</li>
<li>White Chicken Chili</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div></div><br />
<blockquote><br />
</blockquote>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-27993148802241597482011-02-09T11:15:00.000-08:002011-02-09T11:15:58.916-08:00Pizza Roll-Ups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OaK3wUQUvA8uUPwTud2Xs9TJBsfmEqsVFEeuZoDOTvpHNbQv62syJfuKmed-69MlA9qIeVbEGJNOTq6Y53VzA8vUzm2GRnPmuJArne_ZVbjZ-H5Ww1BuvEhSSxxTdQO1d9hA77rSzpvX/s1600/photo-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OaK3wUQUvA8uUPwTud2Xs9TJBsfmEqsVFEeuZoDOTvpHNbQv62syJfuKmed-69MlA9qIeVbEGJNOTq6Y53VzA8vUzm2GRnPmuJArne_ZVbjZ-H5Ww1BuvEhSSxxTdQO1d9hA77rSzpvX/s320/photo-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This recipe comes from EatingWell.com and was a hit with the kids. With the tasty pizza sauce and melted mozzarella taking center stage, I don't think they even realized they were eating spinach!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/pizza_roll_up.html">Pizza Roll-Up</a><br />
<br />
Ingredients per serving:<br />
1 whole wheat tortilla<br />
2T pizza sauce<br />
12 leaves of baby spinach<br />
3 T shredded mozzarella<br />
<br />
Layer the tortilla with the pizza sauce, spinach leaves, and mozzarella. Microwave for about 45 seconds to melt the cheese and then carefully roll up the wrap. The EatingWell recipe indicates to let it cool and then cut it into slices. I cut them in half and let the kids eat them warm.<br />
<br />
This recipe has 217 calories and 7 grams of fat. I served this with a piece of fruit, some fresh veggies and ranch for dipping.<br />
<br />
Kid Rating: 5 Thumbs Up!!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-89522320541110386272011-02-08T10:28:00.000-08:002011-02-08T10:29:26.942-08:00Tortellini Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenvbDZGyCFtyGoSk2tAAnxrWKIWpz7eWHcLdFfDnKI2nVNIwwn9rnC5KzvaRwJm9ZeLU9dtBhHDZugIx8n7XiV2Sa7pTj2yLGDe4AK4wP5ZvTs9Z-KriwA-uS2v1SLaQuxFblab9edlE0/s1600/photo-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenvbDZGyCFtyGoSk2tAAnxrWKIWpz7eWHcLdFfDnKI2nVNIwwn9rnC5KzvaRwJm9ZeLU9dtBhHDZugIx8n7XiV2Sa7pTj2yLGDe4AK4wP5ZvTs9Z-KriwA-uS2v1SLaQuxFblab9edlE0/s320/photo-10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This recipe is inspired by a Tortellini Salad that I had the pleasure to enjoy recently at a small church gathering. I'm not certain of the calorie or fat content in the original recipe, but I set out to make this a healthy version.<br />
<br />
9 ounces frozen cheese tortellini, cooked and chilled (I ran mine under cold water for a few minutes to cool it off quickly)<br />
8 ounces of 2% cheese, cut into cubes<br />
10 ounces of turkey breast (I had the lady at the deli cut me a thick slice--about 3/4 of an inch--of turkey breast, which I cut into chunks)<br />
olives (I used about 15 olives--use more if you love olives, less if you hate them)<br />
15 grape tomatoes cut into halves<br />
1/3 cup of light Italian dressing (I used Kraft Light House Italian)<br />
<br />
Combine all ingredients, give it a gentle toss, and enjoy :)<br />
<br />
I used SparkRecipes.com to calculate the nutritional info on this one. The recipe makes about six 1 cup servings. Each cup has about 320 calories and 18 grams of fat. It was a little higher in fat than I expected, I think next time I'll figure out how to cut it down even further. I enjoyed it, but my kids had mixed feelings. They really didn't like the saltiness of the olives.<br />
<br />
Kid Rating: 3 Thumbs UpAprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-85908713852642157612011-02-05T12:00:00.000-08:002011-02-05T12:00:00.227-08:00Menu PlanLunches (weekday lunches only)~<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Pizza Roll Ups with fresh veggies and fruit</li>
<li><a href="http://www.pepperidgefarm.com/ProductDetail.aspx?catID=994">Deli Flats</a> pizzas and a side salad</li>
<li>Peanut Butter & Apple sandwiches</li>
<li>Turkey & Pasta Salad</li>
<li>Leftover Do-Over Day</li>
</ul><div>Dinners (Friday through Thursday)~</div><div><ul><li>Friday: <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Tortellini-Soup/Detail.aspx">Tortellini Soup</a></li>
<li>Saturday: <a href="http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=770577">Slow Cooker Marinara Chicken & Veggies</a>, served over whole wheat spaghetti</li>
<li>Sunday: Super Bowl Fare: wings, rotel dip and tortilla chips, vegetable tray, Rootin' Tootin' Fruit Salsa (Southern Living for Kids), and deviled eggs</li>
<li>Monday: Luci's Night ~ Tacos, Mexican Rice (Southern Living for Kids), and a green salad</li>
<li>Tuesday: Gavin's Night ~ <a href="http://thehomeschoolcafeteria.blogspot.com/2011/01/jumpin-jack-jambalaya.html">Jambalaya</a>, Green Beans, and Garlic Bread</li>
<li>Wednesday: Ben's Night ~ Oven Fried Chicken, carrot fries, broccoli</li>
<li>Thursday: <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Braised-Balsamic-Chicken/Detail.aspx?prop31=3">Braised Balsamic Chicken Breasts</a>, Brown Rice & Italian Green Beans</li>
</ul></div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-61627013658551273722011-02-04T14:33:00.000-08:002011-02-04T14:33:16.936-08:00Snackin' Mix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1jDsvGkuP8KNuw9xE3fxRtl5vpWhSWVlB4oRhbymxNnRpLhXofeBHfSZf4W4-Fm9Jy1G2WwP9sIrdNzx3YOAh3UaI_btq8TZDD_2RUy1lp_9AsxlUCCqvZYqoLgG_FNuH3Zq-fTIOqWj/s1600/photo-9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1jDsvGkuP8KNuw9xE3fxRtl5vpWhSWVlB4oRhbymxNnRpLhXofeBHfSZf4W4-Fm9Jy1G2WwP9sIrdNzx3YOAh3UaI_btq8TZDD_2RUy1lp_9AsxlUCCqvZYqoLgG_FNuH3Zq-fTIOqWj/s320/photo-9.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>One of the sweet 4th grade boys in my and Brian's Sunday School class gave us this glass canister filled with a delicious snack mix as a Christmas gift this past December. It was adorably dressed with a pretty ribbon and gift tag. (You might want to keep that idea in mind for next Christmas!) Since the holidays finished I've been replenishing this each week with a snack mix that I've been making. I started with a basic recipe from Luci's Southern Living Cookbook, but have modified and changed it each week I prepare it.<br />
<br />
The seasoning for the snack mix consists of 1/2 cup canola oil, an envelop of ranch dip mix, and a teaspoon of red pepper flakes. The red pepper flakes are completely optional though.<br />
<br />
You can really use whatever you like in this snack mix, so long as your using about 5 or 6 quarts of assorted crackers, pretzels, cereal, or nuts. I've been varying it each time according to what's on sale at my local grocery store.<br />
<br />
There's no cooking involved, just stir together the oil, ranch mix and red pepper flakes and then, using a very large mixing bowl (I find my giant roasting pan works best) combine the oil mixture with the assorted crackers, pretzels, cereal, or nuts.<br />
<br />
The snack mix pictured here contains:<br />
<br />
1 cup of dry roasted unsalted peanuts<br />
1 large box of reduced sodium oyster crackers<br />
1 box of Ritz Munchies Pretzel Crackers<br />
1 box of Multi Grain Cheerios<br />
1 box Wheat Chex<br />
<br />
Some other things I've used so far:<br />
Crispix<br />
Pretzels<br />
Sesame Sticks<br />
Goldfish Crackers<br />
Wheat Thins<br />
<br />
I haven't used almonds yet, but I plan to give them a try next time.<br />
<br />
Mix and match to your heart's content :) There's no wrong way to do this!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-24956232074016787812011-02-04T10:35:00.000-08:002011-02-04T10:35:11.330-08:00BBQ Chicken Sandwiches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaJuLHrBScE8Z2mTdR7Kzm5Rj8LL8uSQAwWJTCNMYSvgH3qw9r80GtNtCN9SpzxL1HISD0z-n1R7h9snMRzdLvFb46eMBR-QCs4ahHzzdf4edcsVP0Vn8yBdWgTHfsqHerrVq5ni_6IoB/s1600/photo-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaJuLHrBScE8Z2mTdR7Kzm5Rj8LL8uSQAwWJTCNMYSvgH3qw9r80GtNtCN9SpzxL1HISD0z-n1R7h9snMRzdLvFb46eMBR-QCs4ahHzzdf4edcsVP0Vn8yBdWgTHfsqHerrVq5ni_6IoB/s320/photo-8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This morning I dropped three medium sized individually frozen chicken breasts in the slow cooker and let them cook until done, about 3 hours. I love using my slow cooker during the school day! It's a huge time saver!<br />
<br />
At lunch time I shredded the chicken and poured on some barbecue sauce for barbecue chicken sandwiches. The total prep time for this was about 10 minutes.<br />
<br />
I used 100% whole wheat buns for the sandwiches and served them with pickle spears and grapes.<br />
<br />
The BBQ Chicken sandwiches have about 272 calories, including the whole wheat bun.<br />
<br />
Kid Rating: 6 Thumbs Up!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-62966007609514635742011-02-03T13:47:00.000-08:002011-02-03T13:47:28.992-08:00Leftover Do-OversWhile I don't have photos to share today, I will let you know that today was a leftover do-over day for us. I had two pieces of cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts, some leftover brown rice, cooked carrots, and a few cups of chicken broth.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flatoutbread.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/product-healthy_harvest_wheat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.flatoutbread.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/product-healthy_harvest_wheat.jpg" /></a></div>I turned one of the leftover breasts into a chicken salad by shredding it and mixing it with a little olive oil mayo (love that stuff!), pickle relish, chopped celery, and shredded 2% cheese. I wrapped some of the chicken salad in <a href="http://www.flatoutbread.com/">Flat Out Healthy Grains</a> Wraps along with some salad greens. We love these Flat Out Wraps! Served these chicken salad wraps along with some baby carrots, grape tomatoes and green grapes.<br />
<br />
I chopped up the other chicken breast and combined it with the leftover brown rice (about a cup), the carrots (chopped up) and the broth to put together a quick chicken and rice soup. For a cold day like today, the warm chicken soup hit the spot!<br />
<br />
Each member of the family picked what they wanted for lunch and everyone was happy :)<br />
<br />
I didn't do the calorie counts on these meals, but I'm certain it was well within a healthy range. It was also an economical meal when you consider that I used 2 chicken breasts to feed five people!<br />
<br />
Kid Rating: 6 Thumbs Up!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-60526909702618759672011-02-02T12:25:00.000-08:002011-02-02T12:26:34.948-08:00Chicken & Black Bean Salad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGw61C39cLe1mzNbwxfgScvDewD0ZEWa5PwCPLd3EkAXwvN4jL6ttLzDSPvfHFhuRvAIp0BrNWu4qMBENHhmX1q1rdPELCb2aA3GDL3ueJ_GNZGYj-pXwWhJ0uAsSZWtCrp1E6JnWoUglo/s1600/IMG_5358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGw61C39cLe1mzNbwxfgScvDewD0ZEWa5PwCPLd3EkAXwvN4jL6ttLzDSPvfHFhuRvAIp0BrNWu4qMBENHhmX1q1rdPELCb2aA3GDL3ueJ_GNZGYj-pXwWhJ0uAsSZWtCrp1E6JnWoUglo/s320/IMG_5358.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Years ago I found a recipe for a black bean salad that involved layering salad greens, black beans, corn, salsa, bacon, shredded cheese, and ranch dressing. I've used that as a basis for many salads since then, modifying it each time. Today, I had some leftover rotisserie chicken so I incorporated that into our salad. The result, a tasty chicken & black bean salad.<br />
<br />
I layered a bag of salad greens, about a cup of shredded chicken, 1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed), 1 cup corn kernels, 2T real bacon bits, halved cherry tomatoes, and 1/2 cup 2% shredded cheese. I topped each serving off with some reduced fat ranch dressing (our favorite is Light Done Right by Kraft). This makes about 6 servings.<br />
<br />
I used the Spark People recipe calculator to figure the calories on this. It has 225 calories and 7 grams of fat.<br />
<br />
Kid Rating: (still minus one kid in my ratings, poor thing is still sick with the stomach bug) 4 Thumbs Up!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-91076719415373010902011-02-01T12:04:00.000-08:002011-02-01T12:04:07.305-08:00Cooking with Luci: Peanutty Chicken & Pasta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-2sO-MD39K3uZJ_CbQ2NCFKnJ1p35Ofa9Whs56N8WuTzq2mtPNcgodm58N4WBsa7R5AWHLcAXjeBrVIL1azwVPayHWs1mL2yBD_l2H9ee4Ez40xYNRRNSgKfOIahyphenhyphen2MMp-QjaB33ZsaC/s1600/Roll+273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-2sO-MD39K3uZJ_CbQ2NCFKnJ1p35Ofa9Whs56N8WuTzq2mtPNcgodm58N4WBsa7R5AWHLcAXjeBrVIL1azwVPayHWs1mL2yBD_l2H9ee4Ez40xYNRRNSgKfOIahyphenhyphen2MMp-QjaB33ZsaC/s400/Roll+273.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I've mentioned before that when it comes time to make our weekly menu and plan the grocery list, I sit down with each of the kids one-on-one and they plan one meal. Mondays are Luci's days and her plan this week was:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Peanutty Chicken & Pasta</div><div style="text-align: center;">Steamed Broccoli</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Peanutty Chicken & Pasta is a recipe from her Southern Living for Kids cookbook. We are steadily working our way through this wonderful collection of recipes!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Ingredients: </div><div style="text-align: left;">1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce</div><div style="text-align: left;">2T coconut milk</div><div style="text-align: left;">2T creamy peanut butter</div><div style="text-align: left;">1/4 t sesame oil</div><div style="text-align: left;">8 ounces uncooked pasta</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast</div><div style="text-align: left;">1/2 cup shredded carrot</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 green onions</div><div style="text-align: left;">1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper</div><div style="text-align: left;">1/3 cup chopped unsalted peanuts</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Luci got all of her ingredients prepared before cooking. This meant chopping veggies and measuring some of her ingredients. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXIljPFI82PsivgVcbqzXjeLCX6vRMLHxMp9PDFcEhl8hCftDJHqzmCueFxK7rT7qEYBN4t24cdonp5wnSC2haV9MdhOJLKkQWRcXd_KdOs-uorc9GjXJojzzqpQcknda7HOmgSH5pC_4/s1600/IMG_5343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXIljPFI82PsivgVcbqzXjeLCX6vRMLHxMp9PDFcEhl8hCftDJHqzmCueFxK7rT7qEYBN4t24cdonp5wnSC2haV9MdhOJLKkQWRcXd_KdOs-uorc9GjXJojzzqpQcknda7HOmgSH5pC_4/s320/IMG_5343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAq_xhyphenhyphenCLR4Yv11SnJPxok4xSRGSBlIzUdsp5wxGKLKfjLWAuZB2ly6npp00HxF26aUT_qNryGrT-rubAAmmviJAym-7Mp1zUHXm3H2URMNppSQB9ifXvX4PTzDXQHJ6iAXmnwIfI6ImX/s1600/IMG_5346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQAq_xhyphenhyphenCLR4Yv11SnJPxok4xSRGSBlIzUdsp5wxGKLKfjLWAuZB2ly6npp00HxF26aUT_qNryGrT-rubAAmmviJAym-7Mp1zUHXm3H2URMNppSQB9ifXvX4PTzDXQHJ6iAXmnwIfI6ImX/s320/IMG_5346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The first step in the recipe is to whisk together the first four ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Luci had a little difficulty getting the peanut butter to whisk into the soy sauce mixture, so I had to help a bit. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">After the mixture has been whisked together and set aside, it's time to cook the pasta (according to package directions, omitting salt and fat). </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjj6iHjxFOqkJkHIJU3N1BcvjOrA2K7xSd8NBN66jdNYTKmFlUMflbpQ3RNlBkVU1GriO8xA6ZZHNB4Looxox3jArWTIcrdO9BVovOYOiwUmioT47Oe8DgHLKDxV_7tWJaP3eXi3OppST/s1600/IMG_5350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjj6iHjxFOqkJkHIJU3N1BcvjOrA2K7xSd8NBN66jdNYTKmFlUMflbpQ3RNlBkVU1GriO8xA6ZZHNB4Looxox3jArWTIcrdO9BVovOYOiwUmioT47Oe8DgHLKDxV_7tWJaP3eXi3OppST/s320/IMG_5350.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">When the pasta is tender, drain and place in a large bowl. Add sauce, chicken, carrot, green onions, and bell pepper; toss gently to blend. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7cL7sif98yGPLBqrSKCg73yq9xX2bRmmcSrTxMZjwTBky8_vuv43BR4Y1r8WAFg3mLud5YcG654AQtnTJXCCG37krPnCwNqJAXaaepJIX7fy4qRCfHhPg6LcSCcct6iQRTAf_O6PvYsP/s1600/photo-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7cL7sif98yGPLBqrSKCg73yq9xX2bRmmcSrTxMZjwTBky8_vuv43BR4Y1r8WAFg3mLud5YcG654AQtnTJXCCG37krPnCwNqJAXaaepJIX7fy4qRCfHhPg6LcSCcct6iQRTAf_O6PvYsP/s320/photo-7.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sprinkle with chopped peanuts. This recipe makes 4 servings. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This recipe has 453 calories and 14 grams of fat per serving.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">(Note: For this recipe I only had 2 kids giving me their 'kid rating'. One of my kids was sick with a stomach virus.)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Kid Rating: 4Thumbs Up!</div>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-6156846857849803902011-01-31T10:17:00.000-08:002011-04-05T06:02:57.421-07:00Taco Chili<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgqFrW_Bc1nX3hfyvp_4d-d5jr11tksjiQ6GRCELZTfUf0j_E1stDVt11cGXmWlK899Coitbo7Al_qq7TkMG1xCdxRBeqMdeGLmTaU2LatkgUlyj21t7XTff950H5QLqr2X5FeQEvJiT9/s1600/photo-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgqFrW_Bc1nX3hfyvp_4d-d5jr11tksjiQ6GRCELZTfUf0j_E1stDVt11cGXmWlK899Coitbo7Al_qq7TkMG1xCdxRBeqMdeGLmTaU2LatkgUlyj21t7XTff950H5QLqr2X5FeQEvJiT9/s320/photo-6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Some people call this Taco Soup, others call it Taco Chili...I guess it depends on how thick it is. This one would probably be more like a chili in it's thickness. I like to make up a big pot of this and it feeds us for a couple of days.<br />
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I'm not sure where this recipe originated, but I've been making this for at least 8 years and over time I've modified it to this version.<br />
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Taco Chili<br />
1 lb lean ground turkey<br />
1 envelope taco seasoning<br />
1 envelope ranch dressing mix<br />
1 qt chicken broth<br />
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained<br />
1 can northern beans, rinsed and drained<br />
1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained<br />
1 can Rotel Tomatoes, undrained<br />
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained<br />
1 cup frozen corn<br />
<br />
Brown ground turkey in a 5 qt. pot and then drain off any excess fat. (With the 99% fat free ground turkey that I buy there is never any excess fat.) After browning the turkey, add remaining ingredients to the pot and stir gently to combine. Simmer until heated through.<br />
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Alternatively, you can assemble this in your slow cooker and let it cook on low for a few hours.<br />
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I usually serve this with a sprinkle of shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and a few tortilla chips on the side. Today, I used reduced fat cheese, reduced fat sour cream, and baked tortilla chips in order to lower the calories and fat.<br />
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The chili itself has 320 calories in a very generous 1 1/2 cup serving.<br />
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Kid Rating: 6 Thumbs Up. They love this each and every time I make it and they ask for it again and again.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-33620485803974231532011-01-27T10:32:00.000-08:002011-01-27T10:32:26.859-08:00I Confess<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Everyone%20Else/images-2/chef-boyardee-ravioli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Everyone%20Else/images-2/chef-boyardee-ravioli.jpg" /></a></div>When I started this blog one of my intentions was to increase accountability in my efforts to provide more nutritional, healthy lunches for my kids.<br />
<br />
So, here I am, being accountable, and confessing that my kids had Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli for lunch today.<br />
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The only reason Chef Boyardee was in my pantry to begin with was that it was part of our "emergency" supply of canned goods.<br />
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In my defense, it contains a full serving of vegetables and is not extremely high in calories.<br />
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Also, in my defense, I was sick all day yesterday with a stomach virus, which destroyed my plans for having leftover chicken to use in preparing today's lunch.<br />
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Ironically, of all the things I've made in the past couple of weeks, this scored the lowest on our kid rating. My oldest said that the healthy food just tastes better now. I say that's an accomplishment!<br />
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Kid Rating: 2 Thumbs Up.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-14572171936705689772011-01-25T10:12:00.000-08:002011-01-25T10:12:12.764-08:00Thai Chicken Wraps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVncLKgprFHeMKvLMZ2lPsj5UakrCZ5yRKroXcyCCfdgAlIEuKTn38s0ArcpSNng4qMs3-YCLhGH_MDbkIQ1VVQgoYYwi3dau1G1NN1vWDeyptiKjtCVG8cw_DpMivH_IW6tEBQ5HzigV/s1600/IMG_5337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVncLKgprFHeMKvLMZ2lPsj5UakrCZ5yRKroXcyCCfdgAlIEuKTn38s0ArcpSNng4qMs3-YCLhGH_MDbkIQ1VVQgoYYwi3dau1G1NN1vWDeyptiKjtCVG8cw_DpMivH_IW6tEBQ5HzigV/s320/IMG_5337.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">These wraps can be ready in about 15-20 minutes, excluding the time to marinate the chicken, and they are delicious! This recipe comes from Luci's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Living-Cookbook-Recipes-Hardcover/dp/0848731786">Southern Living for Kids</a> cookbook (a great cookbook, by the way!).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Thai Chicken Wraps</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">3 4-oz boneless skinless chicken breasts</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">7 T sesame ginger 30-minute marinade (Lawry's is recommended, but I used our local store brand)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">2 t vegetable oil</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">1/4 c. creamy peanut butter</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">4 whole wheat flour tortillas</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">1/4 c. pineapple preserves</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">1 1/3 c. shredded iceberg lettuce</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">1. Place chicken in a zip-top bag and add 4 T of marinade. Seal and turn to coat chicken. Marinate for 30 minutes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">2. Remove chicken from bag, discard marinade. Cook chicken in hot oil in a nonstick skillet until done. Remove from skillet and let cool slightly. Cut each chicken breast diagonally into 1/4 inch slices.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">3. Stir together peanut butter and remaining 3 T of marinade in a small bowl.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">4. Spread peanut butter mixture on one side of tortilla, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Spread 1T pineapple preserves over peanut butter mixture. top with 1/4 of the chicken and 1/3 cup lettuce. Roll tortilla up tightly. Do the same with the remaining ingredients. Makes 4 wraps.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Note: we wrapped ours in parchment paper so they'd be easy to handle when eating. Just fold the paper as you go. You could use wax paper too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">These Thai Chicken Wraps have 355 calories each. My younger two ate just half of a wrap, while my 13 year old had a whole one. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">Kid Rating: 6 Thumbs Up!</span>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-61390950167015109632011-01-24T11:10:00.000-08:002011-01-24T11:10:04.606-08:00Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA346qFtv1azxJV00l1BQZkXCQIpw5KyhT6s-jYAUG3n1OlfeNO2KWVEmCNywVbR1SCX8QgC_ix-4P0mesB8f82FhTmAXciBSlNLLQDjeEIYiyYz-lxvoFPbf2NJWGRrUxh56bgWW83Arj/s1600/IMG_5331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA346qFtv1azxJV00l1BQZkXCQIpw5KyhT6s-jYAUG3n1OlfeNO2KWVEmCNywVbR1SCX8QgC_ix-4P0mesB8f82FhTmAXciBSlNLLQDjeEIYiyYz-lxvoFPbf2NJWGRrUxh56bgWW83Arj/s320/IMG_5331.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich are lunch time favorites among lots of people! I gave it a healthier kick by making a few changes. I substituted 2% milk for the cream in our favorite tomato soup recipe, used a 100% whole grain bread and 2% cheese for the grilled cheese. I also added some fresh veggies and some ranch dip. The dip is made using greek yogurt and reduced fat sour cream, an idea from <a href="http://eclipsednomore.blogspot.com/2010/01/works-for-me-wednesday-healthy-snacking.html">Kris at Eclipsed</a>.<br />
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Here's our super simple tomato soup recipe:<br />
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1 can Campbell's tomato soup<br />
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained<br />
1/2 cup 2% milk<br />
<br />
Combine all ingredients and cook over medium heat until heated through. Enjoy!<br />
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This lunch - 1 cup soup, 1/2 grilled cheese sandwich, and some fresh veggies with dip - comes in at 350 calories.<br />
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Kid Rating: 4 Thumbs Up -- Considering I have one who hates cheese (unless it's on pizza) and one who hates soup, I guess this is pretty good.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6847191716507130653.post-67374222072129267462011-01-20T11:51:00.000-08:002011-01-20T12:54:04.170-08:00Chicken Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUdvEGvFM-8Ex0O6JbIMbtlxcghLMt1W_lGlvX7Lz7XEY6WtC8279Rdo8czjvNULUF8M0C6PCBw82dUYpsrRempwdzuVdmfaKkgX10UNFbutduL_E0sEPZYE_v2Vgv0tf8Oo7bP6I5HEo/s1600/IMG_5314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUdvEGvFM-8Ex0O6JbIMbtlxcghLMt1W_lGlvX7Lz7XEY6WtC8279Rdo8czjvNULUF8M0C6PCBw82dUYpsrRempwdzuVdmfaKkgX10UNFbutduL_E0sEPZYE_v2Vgv0tf8Oo7bP6I5HEo/s320/IMG_5314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Leftover chicken? This soup is a great way to use it up.<br />
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In a Dutch oven saute some chopped veggies (celery, carrots, onion & garlic) in a tablespoon of oil until tender. Add 2 32-oz containers of reduced sodium chicken broth, 2 cups of chopped cooked chicken, and a dash of dried thyme. Cook for about 15 minutes. Add a cup of pasta (I used Barilla whole wheat pasta) and cook an additional 8 minutes until the pasta is tender.<br />
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This one takes just a little more time, but doesn't require a lot of attention once you get it going. This was ready in about half an hour and has less than 120 calories per 1 cup serving. Serve with a grilled cheese sandwich or some crackers and cheese along with a piece of fruit. This makes enough soup that you'll have leftovers for tomorrow!<br />
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Kid Rating: 6 Thumbs Up! (Even my husband raved that this was wonderful Chicken Soup!)Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673578517426479311noreply@blogger.com1