Nothing too exciting on the menu this week. I didn't even sit down to make my plan until today. I had such a busy weekend I didn't have meal planning on the brain. This week I only planned out dinners and that is all. Breakfast and lunch will be on the fly! Such is life!
Sunday Dinner out- Pancheros (and it was GOOD)
Monday Grilled Steak, Spinach Salad and Rice Tuesday Spaghetti & Green Salad
Wednesday Veggie Burgers and Homemade Fries
Thursday Crockpot Pinto Beans and Cornbread
Friday Stuffed Bell Peppers, Garlic Bread and Fruit Salad
Saturday Winter Day Soup and Homemade Bread with Butter
Their shirts actually say, "Daddy's Best Friend" they wouldn't sit up strait for me. 1.27.11
Dancing with DVDs. So silly! 1.28.11
Taco Pizza We had our family fun night this weekend and my kids asked for Taco Pizza. I have never made it before, but had a recipe in my recipe box. It is actually very yummy! I was pleasantly surprised. I will share the recipe soon! 1.29.11
We love cloth diapers at our house and feel blessed to have discovered them after having used disposable diapers for years with our two oldest children. Did you know it takes 500 years for 1 disposable diaper to decompose in the landfill? That is a lot of disgusting waste lying around our world. Did you also know by using cloth diapers you could be saving your familythousandsof dollars from birth to potty training? Want to learn more? Here is links to all the cloth diaper resources on Happily Domestic. If you still need advice, please feel free to email me with any questions.
Thank you to everyone who has generously offered to submit blog posts for the coming week. I had a great response to my request and have enough bloggers for 1 1/2 weeks! This is wonderful and will give me enough time to get my blog in complete order. You all are the best!
I'm so excited! Here it is, the new look of Happily Domestic!!! What do you think? A big thank you goes out to Katie of FlibbyPie Designs who created the new look. I am so pleased with the final results and know I did not make it easy on her to get things just so (I am rather picky). I still have a lot of organizing to do as I mentioned before. Everything should be 100% operational within a week. Thank you to those of you who have offered to guest blog for me. I will be in touch later today. Also, I could still use a few more so keep those ideas coming! I surly appreciate the help.
The time has finally come and I am so excited! My new blog design is days from being ready! It has been months in the design process and I cannot wait for you all to see it. I hope you all like it as much as I do and find it to be more user friendly then my current design.
So, what does this have to do with guest bloggers??? Well, I am needing to take a short blogging break in order to wrap up my end of the blog design. That is working on getting my navigation bar operational as well as organizing things a bit. It shouldn't take more than a week, but in the mean time I want to offer some interesting content for you while I am busy working.
I am looking for a few good bloggers who would like to submit posts in exchange for a little exposure for their site. I am looking for posts that go along with the theme of my blog; Family, Baby Care, Health, Frugal Living, Homeschool, Recipes, Crafts, etc.
Please email me at HappilyDomestic09@yahoo.com with any questions.
*I am not obligated to publish your post submissions. All qualifying post submissions will be edited for grammer and will only be published if I feel they are beneficial for the content of my blog.*
8 oz. creamy cucumber salad dressing (I used cucumber ranch)
8 oz. plain yogurt
1 cucumber, peeled, finely chopped
3 pita bread rounds
1 Cup thinly sliced lettuce
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 tomato, diced
Salt & Pepper to taste
Slice steak into very thin 3-4 inch strips. Sprinkle with oregano, mint, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in bowl; stir to mix well. Let stand 5 minutes. Combine salad dressing, yogurt and cucumber in bowl; mix well and set aside. Saute' steak in large oiled skillet until browned and cooked through. Cut pita rounds into halves and open into pockets. Spoon steak into pockets. Top with lettuce, tomato and onion; spoon cucumber mixture over top. Makes 6 servings.
If you have a daughter who owns an 18' doll...you NEED to check out Day Dream Doll Boutique!! They offer a wide selection of adorable 18" doll clothes. They also have a blog and are currently hosting a giveaway! Winner will receive$20 credit to their store and they will even cover the shipping. There is LOW entries right now and the giveaway ends February 1st. Go enter here.
This week it is meals on a budget! A very TIGHT budget, $50 to be exact. I am proud of myself for pulling this off as it was NOT easy. I figured all my meals off what we have on hand and then what I could buy for only $50. Here is what I came up with. Most of these recipes are from either Hopkins Healthy Home Cooking and Whole Foods for Kids to Cook cookbooks.
Sunday
Breakfast- French Toast Lunch- Leftovers Dinner- Beef Stew and WW Drop Biscuits (didn't get to this last week)
Monday
Breakfast-Swiss Birchermuesli (basically a dressed up bowl of oatmeal) Lunch- Tuna and Noodles and Carrot sticks & Dip Dinner- Smothered Burritos and Green Salad
Tuesday
Breakfast- Apple Pancakes, Milk Lunch- Pita Cheese Pizzas Dinner- Homemade Chili
Wednesday
Breakfast- Homemade Granola and Banana Milk Lunch- Creamy Corn Chowder, WW Bread and butter Dinner- Baked Chicken, Rosemary Potatoes, and Broccoli
Thursday
Breakfast- Oatmeal Muffins, Fruit Cups, Boiled Egg and Milk Lunch- Wacky Mac with Garden Veggie Sauce, Homemade WW Garlic Breadsticks Dinner- French Country Soup and Croissants
Friday
Breakfast- Zucchini Bread, Apple Slices with Peanut Butter, Milk Lunch- Leftovers Dinner- Taco Pizza
When I had my first baby 10 years ago I never thought once about making my own homemade babyfood. Didn't all babyfood come from the grocery store shelves? Wasn't this what was best for my baby? I fed my baby commercial babyfood without hesitation, but also without knowledge. Little did I know I was feeding my baby nutritionally inferior foods! Oh what I would give to have those years back! However, we must not live in the past, but learn from our experiences and do better next time.
So, 2 years later I now had a baby girl and decided to give baby food making a try! I still continued to use commercial babyfood primarily, but every once in awhile would cook up some fruits and veggies and freeze them in ice cube trays. Honestly though, it was all a big hassle. I had to cook everything on the stove messing up several pans. Then I would have to use the blender to puree creating more mess to clean up. Lastly, I had to freeze the food in ice cube trays and then pop them out into baggies. It was certainly a lot of extra work.
We have come a long way over the years! Not only has the awareness of feeding our babies fresh, organic, homemade babyfood been brought to light (and the nutritional benefits), but also many companies have caught on and created awesome time saving devices for modern moms to create wholesome homemade babyfood in minutes!
BEABA which stands for "the BEst for A BAby" is a company that creates truly practical, multifunctional, compact and smartly designed products and accessories mothers everywhere can appreciate. Beaba a division of Scandinavian Child began in 1989 in France and today their products are sold worldwide!
The Beaba Babycook is truly unique and serves a multitude of functions! It steams, blends, warms and defrosts. Quickly steam cook vegetables, fruit, pasta or rice in 15 minutes or less! Puree your babies food to desired consistency, great for babies AND toddlers! Warm babies food quickly by steaming. Defrost your frozen baby cubes without having to use a microwave! The Babycook comes with BPA free and dishwasher safe 2½ - cup capacity bowl, cooking basket, spatula and even a recipe booklet!
My Beaba experience:
I am honored to have the opportunity to try out Beaba's leading product, the Babycook! I was sent a Beaba Babycook (sorbet color), the Rice & Pasta Cooker accessory and 1 Multi-portions babyfood freezer tray. I was immediately impressed by the quality of these products. All 3 items are sturdy and well made. Most of all, I love the sleek modern design and fun bright colors!
The babycook has been great to quickly puree meals for my 1 year old strait from our dinner table. I am able to get a good texture especially with meats that he is able to eat easier. After using the babycook other babyfood mills fail to compare! Sure, it requires electricity but for everyday in home use it is a breeze!
My baby and toddler love to eat fruit purees and sweet potatoes! Below is a picture from the last time I made sweet potato puree. I had bought a bag full of mini organic sweet potatoes at the natural food store for only $1.99. I made 2 full batches (14- 1/4 cup servings out of that bag). Now, if you consider a small jar of organic commercial babyfood cost between $69 and $89 per jar...that's a LOT of savings!
Simply peel, chop, steam and puree!
Beaba's Multi-portions are made of a Bisphenol-A free silicone and come in a variety of colors. Each of the 7 portion sections can hold 1/4 cup food. Freezing is easy and convenient and I love that the Multi-portions comes with a lid. No more transferring cubes from ice trays! frozen babyfood portions pop out easily when ready to heat.
You really can't appreciate the babycook and how well it functions until you see it in action! I put together a couple videos (below) to demonstrate how easy preparing healthy meals for your baby truly are!
In this first video I will teach you how to make Cantonese Rice. This recipe is from the Beaba Rice Cooker instruction booklet. I personally would recommend it for babies 10 months and older, although use your own judgment. If your baby needs less texture, puree a few times more.
Here I am demonstrating how well the babycook thaws and heats your frozen babyfood puree!
I am thoroughly pleased with the Beaba Babycook and all it's cool accessories. I think every mom should own a babycook! It is an investment into your baby's health! I have no doubt you will make your money back in no time with all the money you will be saving!
BUY IT: You can purchase the Beaba Babycook as well as other Beaba products from any of these retailers. Click here.
WIN IT: Scandinavian Child is giving one very lucky Happily Domestic reader a Beaba Babycook of their very own! $150 Value.
First Mandatory entry: Visit Beaba's website and tell me a product (besides the babycook) that you like and what you like about it!
*Remember to leave your email address in your comment!YOU MUST DO THIS TO WIN*
After you have completed your first entry you are eligible for additional entries. *See my giveaway instructionsherefor more information. * *Remember to leave a separate comment for each additional entry AND include your e-mail address.*
Follow my blogpublicly through Google friend connect (can be found at my right sidebar.) - current follows count too!
Subscribe to my blog emails via Feedburner. ( Counts for 2 entries) Sign up box on my right sidebar.
Grab my Happily Domestic button! (found at right sidebar)- Leave the URL where it is posted.
Blog about THIS giveaway between January 21st and February 1st and gain TWO entries!!! link back to my site- leave the URL where you blogged. Please leave separate comments for each entry. Example "I blogged about your Beaba giveaway@ #1" then "I blogged about your Beaba giveaway@ #2".
FollowHappilyDomestic on Twitterand tweet about this giveaway (counts as 1 entry)- after this you may "tweet" daily and gain an extra entry each day that you tweet-limit one per day. Leave your tweet status.
Enter any of my current giveaways, leave a comment and tell me which giveaway you entered. Counts as 1 entry per giveaway entered. Please leave separate comments per giveaway you entered.
Like Scandinavian Child on Facebook . Click here.Leave a comment saying that you did this. *Be sure to let them know that Happily Domestic sent you!*
Follow Scandinavian Child on Twitter. Click here.Leave a comment saying that you did this.
Sign up for Scandinavian Child's Emails. Click here. (Sign up box can be found on the lower right side bar). Leave a comment saying that you did this.
Giveaway ends Friday, February 4th, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.(MST). Winner will be drawn by the random number generator at Random.org and will be notified by email. Winner will also be announced on this blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be drawn. *This giveaway is open to USA residents ONLY. Must be 18 years old or older to win.*
Thank you to Scandinavian Child who provided me with the products for review. All opinions are my own and no other compensation was received to conduct this review and giveaway.
Baby J is all boy! He spends his days looking for adventure, whether it be by nosing through the trash, pulling all the pencils out of his sisters desk, or throwing whatever he can find into the bathtub. Oh yes, he lives for adventure! Who needs toys when there are so many other fun things to explore? Here he is exploring the dryer. He had to jump in to see what it is all about.
Crab Louie Salad This is a recipe my dad taught me when I was a teenager. It always hits the spot when I am in the mood for something fresh!
imitation crab meat shreds 1 head iceberg lettuce 1 head romaine lettuce 2 tomatoes 1 can med. sized black olives 16 pieces of asparagus 4 boiled eggs cheddar cheese your favorite salad dressing ( I like blue cheese or ranch with this)
Boil 4 eggs. While the eggs are boiling cut hard ends off asparagus and cook in steamer. Bring out 4 dinner size plates and place 2 large iceberg lettuce pieces on each plate (should cover most of plate). Add 4 slices cooked asparagus to each plate forming a cross (all 4 tips should face outward). Shred remainder of iceberg lettuce and romaine lettuce and add ample amount to each plate, covering asparagus (leave tips showing). Cut tomatoes into halves and then quarters, adding 4 slices to each plate. Cut each boiled egg into fourths and add 4 slices to each plate. Add 4-6 black olives to each plate creating a circle. Top with imitation crab meat, shredded cheese and dressing. Enjoy! Serves 4 hungry adults.
1 2lb. spaghetti squash 1 C. shredded cheddar cheese 1 C. mozzarella cheese 1/2 C. grated zucchini 2 C. spaghetti sauce 1/2 tsp. (or less) salt Dash of pepper 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cut squash into halves lengthwise; scoop out seeds. Place cut side down in 2 inches of simmering water in large fry pan. Cook, covered, for 15 minutes. Holding hot squash with pot holder, run the tines of a fork across the pulp. This will give you your spaghetti! Mix the strands with cheddar abd mozzarella cheeses, zucchini, spaghetti sauce, salt and pepper in large bowl. Spoon back into squash shells and place in baking pan. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Makes 4 servings.
I am not sure why this recipe is called "Magic Meat Pie", there is nothing magical about the meat and it isn't even a pie! lolIt is rather delicious though. :-)
1 lb. ground beef or turkey 1 medium onion, chopped 2 T. whole wheat flour 2 C. cooked sliced carrots (I didn't cook mine, I just added real thin slices) 10 oz. peas ( I used frozen) 1 T. Worcestershire sauce 1/4 t. (or less) salt Dash of pepper 12 unbaked quick biscuits (recipe below)
Brown meat and onion in skillet, stirring until ground beef is crumbly; drain. Stir in flour and water. Simmer until thickened. Add remaining ingredients, except biscuits; mix well. Spoon into 9x13 inch pan. Top with unbaked biscuits. Bake at 425 degree oven for 20 minutes or until biscuits are browned. Yield: 8 servings.
Quick Biscuits
2 C. whole wheat flour 1/2 t. salt 2 t. baking powder 1/2 C. butter 2/3 C. milk
Combine ingredients in bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add milk, stirring until dough forms a ball. Knead gently 5 to 10 times- do not overwork or biscuits will be tough. Roll or pat out on floured surface 1/2 inch thick. Cut into rounds with floured glass or biscuit cutter. Top your magic meat pie and your all set!
Whole Grain Elbow Macaroni Butter Milk American Cheese (or cheddar)
Cook macaroni according to package directions, drain. In a separate sauce pan combine 1/4 cup butter, 1/8 cup milk, and 1 cup cheese. Continually mix ingredients until cheese has melted. Add cheese sauce to macaroni noodles. Serve immediately!
Salmon Sticks
1 can pink salmon (un-drained and with bones) 1 package crushed wheat saltine crackers (this is one of the 4 packages from the box, not the entire box) 2 eggs Milk (only if mixture seems to dry) 1-2 tablespoons cooking oil
In a medium size mixing bowl combine un-drained salmon, crushed crackers, and eggs. Mix thoroughly with large fork, crushing any salmon bones as you mix. If mixture is dry, add in about 1-2 tablespoons milk. Form mixture into sticks. Cook in oiled skillet about 8 minutes or until browned. Make sure you flip salmon sticks so that both sides are evenly cooked. Makes apx. 16 salmon sticks.
* I wrote these off the top of my head as I do not have a print recipe for either. If you have any questions email me!*
My Week in Pictures Sunday, January 9th- Sunday, January 16th
1.9.11
Dinner at Olive Garden with some girlfriends!
1.10.11 Back to the books! Baby J always takes my daughter's seat anytime she gets up. Haha!
1.11.11 My dad took our family to dinner at Chick-fil-A
1.12.11 Baby J and Little E love to take out their baby rhythm instruments and play to music!
1.13.11 Made Spaghetti Squash for lunch (recipe soon!)
1.14.11 Bath time!
1.15.11 E's favorite place to play, in the toy box! By the way, I bought this toy box from One Step Ahead and LOVE it! It has our last name on it and is nice and sturdy, yet can be collapsed.
1.16.11
Crab Louie Salad Made these today for our late lunch/early dinner. Yum! (recipe soon!)
Little E has a love for the Chick-fil-A Cow! He gets excited every time we mention going to visit "the cow" and breaks through the doors of Chick-fil-A desperately searching for the cow until he finds him. He hugs the cow so long we have to pry him off!
Last year I attempted to do project 365, but it ended up being a big chore to post a picture everyday. Today I saw that Chari from Take Time To Smell The Rose blog posted a whole weeks worth of pictures at one time. Don't know why I didn't think of doing that last year! Anyway, I am going to attempt doing a weekly post to share my photos. Here is week 1 although not complete since I just decided to do this today. I will do better next week, I promise!
1.1.11 Playing with his new Mega Blocks Tool Bench
1.2.11 My little shopping helper
Yes, even her doll has a reusable bag!
1.4.11 He thinks he can play the Wii
1.6.11 Homemade Mac & Cheese and Salmon Sicks (recipe soon)
1.7.11 Magic Meat Pie (recipe soon)
Are you participating in Project 365 this year? Link up!
Nothing too exciting on the menu this week. I didn't even sit down to make my plan until today. I had such a busy weekend I didn't have meal planning on the brain. This week I only planned out dinners and that is all. Breakfast and lunch will be on the fly! Such is life!
