Connection Time

 

7 more days.  7 more mornings where a kid has to be at school by a certain time.  I am in countdown mode!  It is so close. . . but I also realize that we leave on vacation in less than 2 weeks and I am not ready!  There is lots to do and somewhere, I need to find the motivation to get it done.  Not to mention, the stomach flu that hit our house this month set us behind in Weston's schooling and so, it looks like I need to do that, too.  Instead of finding motivation, I have been having coffee with friends and binge watching on netflix.  Oh, and it's going to be triple digits this week. . . .I may never leave my house. 

 Here's what's happening in my word. . . 

Outside my window...It's a super sunny day here.  And hot.  The backyard has summer toys spread out and a few plums still left on the plum tree. 

I am thinking...that I am tired.  I need to go get the bacon cooking for tonight's dinner and maybe some scones.  But, first I have to find the kitchen counters.  Today is one of those days when I invited a friend over into my mess.  We were busy this weekend and cleaning just didn't happen.  It might take all week, but it will be clean.  I have no regrets.  Nothing is better than good conversation over coffee. . . even if your house is a mess.

From the kitchen... Tonight we are having homemade egg, bacon, and cheese muffins. I have been making popsicles like crazy and I made the best zucchini chocolate muffins last night. 

I am wearing... jeans and a t-shirt.  Late I will throw on some flip flops and go consume more coffee.  I know. . . real glamorous right? 

I am creating...I have a long list of things that I'm creating, but most recently, I made a mug rug for my sweet friend that I co-lead a table at Bible Study with.  It's far from perfect, but the fabrics are some of my favorites from my stash.  I also picked up some rhubarb this weekend and I think some scones are in our future.  My dining room table looks like craft stuff threw up on it. 

I am going... to get motivated and maybe close my eyes for a few minutes.  Dinner is begging to be made and in order to do that, I should probably clean the kitchen up. 

I am reading...I am alsmost finished with For the Love, by Jen Hatmaker, but am also starting Savor, by Shauna Niequist.  Somewhere in there should be a fiction book.  Bring on summer!

I am hoping...that I can get everything done.  There always seems to be so much to do, and most of it doesn't really matter.  I think my expectations of what needs to get done verses what I want to accomplish are a little off. 

I am hearing...tired boys yawning, the hum of the computer, and kids telling me they are hungry. . . they are always hungry.

Around the house... fresh flowers, fluffy pillows, and art projects that need to be finished.

One of my favorite things...Izze sparkling waters.  I can't get enough of them.  They have the perfect fizz and the perfect sweetness and only 10 calories.  No guilt here! 

A few plans for the rest of the week: Buy corn.  The FSU farm market just started selling corn and it is by far the best there is.  I need to go buy a bunch and start freezing it for meals this fall.  I think corn salsa will be made too. . . yum! 

What I'm listening to:   I just downloaded some Jamie Ivey podcasts and I've been watching Flash on Netflix.  I need some new music to listen to. . . suggestions? 

So, now your turn:

Copy and paste your favorite, or all of them and try it out in the comments:
Outside my window
I am thinking
From the kitchen
I am wearing
I am creating
I am going
I am reading
I am hoping
I am hearing
Around the House
One of my favorite things
A few plans for the week
What I am listening to 

Happy Connecting! 

What's for Dinner {April Edition}

I'm not sure what month it is.  I'm pretty sure we are almost done with May and so, I had better get this post done, before May is gone.  We have 14 more days until summer vacation hits and 17 more days until our great summer adventure and well, I really need to sit down and make some lists and get some things done.  This flu bug that came and took us all out this past week really set me back on what I needed to do.  A small part of me is freaking out and another is just wanting to curl up on the couch and watch a good chick flick (totally taking suggestions for something new!)

Anyways, this list is kind of short, but a 2 new recipes that were total keepers!   What did you make last month?



Tomato Garlic Pasta 
I blogged about this one yesterday.  It's scrumptious.  I am even having my husband pick up another can of crushed tomatoes for me to make it next week!  This recipe is super quick, easy, delicious, and meat-free.  

Cilantro Lime Chicken Sliders
This recipe was so delicious!  Well, really, I probably wouldn't be telling you about it if we didn't like it.  We even used the leftover chicken for salads a few nights later. . . a great way to get two meals out of one!  

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 /

Tomato and Garlic Pasta

Some days are busy.  The last few weeks have been insane (and we just finished a horrible bout with the stomach flu that took us all out).  Our goal is is to eat freshly made food, with fresh ingredients as much as possible.  Some nights we have leftovers and other nights we have spaghetti. . . from a jar.  

Spaghetti nights are easy nights at our house.  Most of the time, I pick up a Pomodoro sauce from Trader Joes and throw in some Italian sausage and call it a meal.  Not every night can be something completely homemade from scratch. . . I just don't have time or sometimes, the energy to do that.  Sometimes, I just want to be lazy.  Plus, we really like Italian food! It's also a meal that we can all eat and and no one complains, so I make it often.  I call any night where we can all eat dinner without complaining a win.  Not every night is like that, but spaghetti nights usually are.

I stumbled across this recipe last month during a rare moment (it's been kind of crazy around here) that I found to read a magazine.  My newest copy of Allrecipes Magazine had come, quiet time was happening, and I found my way over to the couch and started reading.   I knew as soon as I saw the picture on the page, that this was going on my menu plan.  I had ALL the ingredients!  It took a few weeks (like, I said, it's been kind of crazy around here), and it definitley did not dissapoint.  Simple ingredients, not a lot of effort to make and perfect for a meatless Monday night dinner.   I cannot wait to make it again!

I did make a slight adjustment. . . I had a can of crushed tomatoes and didn't feel like running to the store just to get diced.  Plus, the hubby doesn't like tomato chunks (I don't want to sound sexist, but I seriously think it's a guy thing. . . my dad, my husband, my BFF's husband. . . they all like things made of tomatoes, but not tomatoes themselves).  So, i just used crushed.  It was awesome! 

You should definitely add this to your meal plan soon!  If you made any adjustments, let me know . . . I would love to hear how you made it!  Message me or comment in the comments.

Tomato Garlic Pasta
armagazine 2016

Ingredients: 
8 oz angel hair pasta
2 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 28 oz can crushed or diced tomatoes
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp slat
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:
Boil water and cook pasta according to package directions.
While that's going, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Saute garlic until fragrant, but not brown. Stir in tomato paste, tomatoes, sugar, salt, and pepper.  Reduce your heat to medium and cook for about 2 minutes.  Stir in basil.  Drain pasta and add to tomato mixture.  Cook for a little bit longer.  Scoop into bowls, grate some fresh parmesan over the top and garnish with fresh basil.

It's time for popsicles!

I'm sitting here catching up on some blog posts since my little guy has a stomach bug.  The windows are open and I am enjoying a nice cool breeze before I have to shut everything up as soon as it gets warmer (It's supposed to be in the 90's today. . . bleh.).  But, because it's so hot this week, I thought I would share this amazing popsicle recipe that my kids couldn't stop eating!

There is nothing more refreshing than a cold treat on a hot day.  And since we live in the Central Valley, we make sure we have lots of cold treats to get us through the hot months.  We love popsicles and homemade ones are so much fun and so delicious!  This recipe has only 3 ingredients, is non dairy, and did not last long at all.  I think that today, another batch in in the works. . . because I just can't stop.  That, and we have some strawberries that need to be used up pronto. 

 Strawberry - Banana Popsicles

Ingredients:
strawberries
banana
almond milk

Directions:
Stick about 10 strawberries, a banana and some almond milk into a blender and blend away, until you have a smoothie-like consistency.   Pour into molds and freeze for 6-8 hours.

Tips:
 The tovolo molds are awesome. . . just rinse under hot water for a few minutes to take mold off, giving you a beautiful popsicle.

If you are using a Zoku pop maker, especially the small one, remember that it only makes 3 in one sitting, so only make a half batch.