Pantry meal #1

Ok so the last few nights we've had dinner with leftover Easter food and then one night I wasn't home to cook so last night was the first night I've had a chance to fix food from the pantry. Simple and quick was the objective b/c Grant had baseball from 5-6:30 in one town and Gracie had dance from 5-6 in another. So since a crock pot meal wasn't planned ahead I had to do a throw together later in the evening.

Meatloaf "muffins"
Baked beans
Chips
Yogurt

Meatloaf Muffins

2 pounds hamburger
4 eggs
3/4 sleeve of saltine crackers
2 tbsp minced onion

Mix together and shape into balls small enough to fit into a muffin pan. They can be heaping. Throw into the oven at 375 degrees for approx. 30 minutes or until brown inside. I always cut one open to double check the inside.

Makes one tray. We had about 5 leftover last night so I just tossed them in the fridge for leftovers for my husband's lunch. This would be great to make ahead and throw into the freezer.


It was a quick and easy dinner!

A challenge of sorts.......

So my mind has been whirling around with Easter memories, trying to become organized (is that even possible), and thoughts of summer vacation are already trying to creep into my head. Whew. Makes me tired even thinking about it.

But with all of this comes another challenge. I'm challenging myself to clean out my pantry/freezers/and fridge. We may have some hodge podge dinners over the next few weeks but I really need to get some things cleaned out. Just the other day I pulled out of box of jello out of the pantry with an expiration date back in 2010. That gave me the idea. We really need to clean things out which in the end will also help with the whole clean eating/healthier eating goal I'm slowly adapting into our home.

So I'd like to challenge all of you to do the same! Busy open those doors and cook strictly from there. Now don't get me wrong I know over this period I'll still need the basic staples like milk, bread, fruits or veggies, but I'm sticking to basics until my cabinets are cleaned out!

Good Luck!

Easier by the day....

So last week when I posted my challenge the first thing I was working on is getting away from the dreaded fountain cokes. I'm proud to say that I DID IT!!! Since posting I've only had the equivalent to a medium in a fountain drink! Woot Woot! The desire is gone and the headaches are gone. I'm proud of myself for doing it. It may not seem like a big deal to some but if you only knew how much I drank then you would see. I've been drinking tea and lemonade since. My husband keeps asking how I feel and at first I didn't seem to feel much different but I can already say I'm sleeping more sound. Who knows over time I might see the other differences.

Now I'm thinking of the starting the next challenege!

A challenge

So we are just a little over 2 months away from my birthday....my 35th birthday. Sounds unreal that I could be at 35...didn't I just graduate from high school? WOW. I'm in a spot in my life where I need some change. I'm feeling a little bit like the old hag now when we go places. Not cool, out of shape, blah blah blah. Why is it the older we get the more head games our poor mind plays on us.

I stumbled upon a blog this past week where the girl was 2 weeks out from her birthday and gave herself a birthday challenge. Her goals were simple but challenging as they were supposed to be. That is when I decided that I needed to do one b/c we've got a busy summer ahead of us and lots of weddings to attend. Which means lots of dress up time and who doesn't love a little dress up time. So from today forward until May 22nd I'm commiting myself to a challenge. I'm hoping that by doing the challenge that long I just form new habits to keep me in line to continue the things I worked during this time. I'm still pulling ideas and figuring out what I wanna do..first challenge is NO MORE FOUNTAIN COKES. Now for anyone who knows me this will be a hard one. This morning instead of getting a coke I made a smoothie. YUM!!

Smoothie Recipe

1-2 Bananas ( I used 2 but will be cutting back next time)
1/2 -3/4 cup of two different kinds of fruit (last night I used raspberries & peach)
handful and a half of spinach
water (amount varies depending on how thin you want it)

Blend in blender.

You can use whatever fruit you have available. It can be fresh or frozen. I've been told if you want your smoothie super cold just use the frozen fruit instead of throwing some ice cubes in there. The color my not look to fabulous to drink but you won't be sorry. My daughter thought this was the coolest thing ever and gulped it down.

So I've already replace one coke I usually have in the morning. Baby steps...that's what I just keep repeating.....Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it!

Almost a month in ....

Wow...hard to believe that we are almost a month into 2012 already. Since my last post I hosted Christmas for my family, hosted a New Yr's Eve celebration with some dear friends, celebrated my son's 9th birthday, went to the Bahamas for 5 days days sans children, celebrater my duaghter's 6th birthday, and to complete our whirlwind Janaury celebrated my husband's 34th birthday. WHEW! Who is worn down...THIS GIRL!
I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world but by the end of January I can hardly function!

So this week I've pulled out the old crockpot to help me with dinner. We are in the midst of swimming/diving season, dance, and basketball. By the time I get home from work some nights we barely have an hour before we have to walk right back out of the door. So I've decided to try and use my crock pot at least 2-3 times a week. Tonight's dinner is "Chicken in a Pot"

6 chicken breasts
1 envelope Italian dressing
6 oz. cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken or mushroom soup
4 oz. mushroom pieces


Cook chiekn sprinkled in dressing packet in crock pot for 6-8 hours on low. Do not add water. When done cooking, stir in rest of the ingredients, turn crock pot to high and heat through (about 30 minutes.) Serve of rice of noodles.

We will be eating ours over noodles since my husband and son don't eat rice.

11 Days and counting....

Each morning my daughter wakes up so excited to take one more link off of her Christmas Bell....and every morning I get a little bit more panic in my system. Why is it that every year I feel like I'm ahead of the game until about 3 weeks before. My panic for today is a gift for my daughter's dance teachers (which up until last night I was thinking she only had one.) And what do you buy them? I'm thinking just a simple box of mixed chocolates. Then tonight after dance we start working on teacher gifts for Friday's party. Tomorrow night is making Christmas Whoopie Pies for my daughter's class and finishing up the rest of the teacher's gifts and getting things packed up and ready to go for Friday morning. Which I've decided to take them to school b/c I'm afraid the gifts nor the Whoopie Pies will look like they should by the time they get there. Did I mention that Friday is the kids last day of school for 2 whole weeks. That means my children will be hanging with me at work for the next two weeks. Not sure if that's good or bad.

I love this time of yr but it's approaching to quickly! I need about another month. Please?

I have failed tremendously.....

I always have good intentions of blogging...but really the time just flies by these days. If I don't update my blog at work I never get it done. Yes I'm aware I shouldn't be doing it at work, but it happens. Oh come on...I'm sure you've done it at least once or twice. I can't be the only bad person..admit it. That's the first step.

So I supposed since I haven't caught with what I'm thankful I need to just make a list...I'll work on that and get back to you.