tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63762245913380423342024-02-20T09:55:38.663-07:00Cooking with KimiUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-20439349221069884442017-06-18T19:29:00.005-06:002017-06-18T19:29:54.346-06:00Menu Plannin'We've just returned from a long-awaited trip to Disneyland and the California coast and I am SO not ready to get back into the domestic life.<br /><br />Cooking meals?!<br /><br />Washing dishes?!<br /><br />Bleh!<br /><br />Well, nevertheless it must be done, and it must (apparently) be done by me.<br /><br />Now y'all know that Disneyland is crazy expensive, so I'm tightening my purse strings for the next little while. I had a $20 credit for Home Chef Meal Delivery, so I'm getting a box from them on Thursday. Also, I've been working as a Customer Service Evaluation Specialist for a while now, and there is quite a bit of eating out involved, but it all gets reimbursed thankfully. So all the eating-out you'll see on my menu's is really for work, so it's all good, right?! Here's the plan for this upcoming week: (Whenever it says protein shake, that's my meal, not everyone elses)<br />
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<b>Sunday</b></div>
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Breakfast: Cereal and fruit</div>
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Lunch: Homemade freezer lunches (sweet baked kielbasa, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and half a roll)</div>
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Dinner: Rigatoni with meat sauce, roasted broccoli, 30 minute rolls, and homemade grape juice</div>
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<b>Monday</b></div>
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Breakfast: Toast, apples, protein shake</div>
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Lunch: Egg salad sliders and carrot sticks</div>
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Dinner: Panda Express</div>
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<b>Tuesday</b></div>
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Breakfast: Huevos rancheros (probably toast for whiny kids)</div>
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Lunch: Nachos</div>
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Dinner: Pizza at Boondocks</div>
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<b>Wednesday</b></div>
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Breakfast: Cereal and smoothies</div>
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Lunch: Sonic</div>
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Dinner: Toddler's choice (it's our baby's first birthday!)</div>
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<b>Thursday</b></div>
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Breakfast: Waffles, bananas, protein shake</div>
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Lunch: Hard-boiled eggs, veggies, cheese, crackers, etc. . . </div>
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Dinner: Home Chef steak and pepper skewers and roasted potatoes</div>
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<b>Friday</b></div>
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Breakfast: Cereal and smoothies</div>
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Lunch: Mac and cheese, carrot sticks, protein shake</div>
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Dinner: Home Chef Acapulco beef burger and cilantro-lime fries</div>
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<b>Saturday</b></div>
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Breakfast: Lemon poppyseed pancakes and bacon</div>
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Lunch: Sonic</div>
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Dinner: Food at the bowling alley with mah sista!</div>
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<b>Grocery Budget for the next few weeks: $150<br />On the shopping list for this week:</b><br /><ul>
<li>Bananas</li>
<li>Apples</li>
<li>Whatever fruit is on sale?</li>
<li>Potatoes</li>
<li>Eggs</li>
<li>Maybe some mozzarella cheese and pepperonis </li>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-31363334004200098662016-09-19T21:17:00.002-06:002016-09-19T21:17:23.877-06:00Ikea GroceriesFirst day of my current pantry challenge! Yay! I will probably spend this first week using most of my $100 on things for the month, with the hope that I won't make multiple trips to stores over the next 4 weeks.<br /><br />I had a lunch date planned at Ikea with a friend today, so I decided to grab a couple of things in their little market. My pickiest eater LOVES Ikea meatballs, and since we used ours up on a family dinner yesterday, I decided to grab a new bag. I also grabbed some of their frozen cinnamon rolls to have for breakfast once or twice during this challenge. I anticipate running out of milk, so we'll need breakfast options other than cereal sometimes. The little jar of wholegrain mustard wasn't needed, but it was calling my name. Whole grain and deli mustard have become cravings to me ever since I was pregnant with my third little one last year. But for $1.49, I figured it was ok. :)<br /><br />Also pictured are free food I collected today. An egg from my chicken and some grapes from my grapevine. Yay for my miniscule backyard homestead!<br />
<br />Today's total: $14.67<br />Budget left: $85.33<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfOc6Suh8WELjnafmAU765ImxiB9NKmdLFR6MpvbKWHOdnzr1_TbMD9wTjE8STyfeT8Te8vO6B1bOdWY4SZlpcBZ-xHcsyjW3fBLv3DNRbD6fju2ELSM2ZTnsarrBKX-JQ2E-76r2eOw/s1600/DSCN0812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfOc6Suh8WELjnafmAU765ImxiB9NKmdLFR6MpvbKWHOdnzr1_TbMD9wTjE8STyfeT8Te8vO6B1bOdWY4SZlpcBZ-xHcsyjW3fBLv3DNRbD6fju2ELSM2ZTnsarrBKX-JQ2E-76r2eOw/s640/DSCN0812.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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My menu plan for the week:</div>
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(Healthier items are my meals)</div>
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<b>Monday</b></div>
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B- Cereal, protein shake</div>
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L- Ikea Restaurant with friends</div>
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Snack- Fruit snacks, larabar</div>
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D- Mac-n-cheese/leftovers/smoothie bowl</div>
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<b>Tuesday</b></div>
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B- Cereal, protein shake</div>
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L- Leftovers, Israeli chopped salad</div>
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Snack- Cheese, grapes, and watermelon</div>
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D- Fried breakfast ravioli</div>
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<b>Wednesday</b></div>
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B- Oatmeal, protein shake</div>
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L- Chicken nuggets, smoothie bowl</div>
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Snack- Apple slices and carrot sticks</div>
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D- Popcorn shrimp</div>
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<b>Thursday</b></div>
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B- Zucchini muffins</div>
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L- Frozen pizza, veggie-topped flatbread</div>
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Snack- Popcorn</div>
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D- Spaghetti</div>
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<b>Friday</b></div>
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B- Cereal, protein shake</div>
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L- Leftovers</div>
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Snack- Fruit leathers, pistachios</div>
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D- At a wedding reception</div>
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<b>Saturday</b></div>
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B- Pancakes</div>
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L- Grilled cheese sandwiches</div>
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Snack- Zucchini muffins</div>
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D- Lemon Pesto Chicken</div>
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<b>Sunday</b></div>
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B- Cereal, fruit</div>
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L- Nachos, burrito bowl</div>
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Snack- Granola bars</div>
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D- French toast and bacon</div>
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I have a lot of really random things in my freezer right now, so I'm planning on using up quite a bit of it these next few weeks. I also have some freezer meals I've been slowly stashing away over the last two months, so those should come in handy as well. </div>
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Ideally, I will post recipes with the yummy things I'm eating and making. Fingers crossed!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-11642247881196078502016-09-18T22:48:00.000-06:002016-09-18T22:48:36.257-06:00Spending freezeI'm not sure how many times I've said "I'm back!" but i'm sure it's too many. So I won't say it this time. I'll just say that I had my 4th baby in June and wow, life has been CRAZY. An amazing kind of crazy, but also exhausting and sometimes overwhelming.<br />And expensive. Haha! Wow, you forget about diapers. And the cost of eating out and convenience foods because you're too tired to cook.<br />Well, our budget has taken a serious hit so i'm here starting a spending freeze.<br />Time for a pantry challenge! Starting tomorrow it's $100 for the next 4 weeks and just trying to make do with what i've got. I'm nervous for sure because our garden has been less than productive this year, but I'm hoping that blogging with keep me accountable. <br />Wish me luck!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-9186287603863732572016-05-02T09:00:00.000-06:002016-05-02T09:00:11.101-06:00Two Ingredient Sweet and Sticky SausageI cook a lot of Kielbasa around here. It's probably one of my top 5 favorite meats. I fondly remember my mom making Jambalaya and only picking out the kielbasa to eat, leaving the rest behind. So good. I also like to try out different ways to prepare it to keep things interesting, and give me an excuse to eat it more often.<br />
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This recipe is CRAZY easy, and you can use regular Smoked Sausage instead of Kielbasa if you like. I've done both and they are equally yummy.<br />
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<b>Two Ingredient Sweet and Sticky Sausage</b><br />
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<b><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/cwkprintablerecipes/two-ingredient-sweet-and-sticky-sausage" target="_blank">Printable Recipe</a></b></div>
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<i>Ingredients:</i></div>
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1 Package Kielbasa, or Smoked Sausage</div>
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1 cup Pure Maple Syrup</div>
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(Costco always has one of the best prices for Maple Syrup around!)</div>
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Start by cutting up your sausage into 1 inch-ish slices.<br />
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Add your sausage to a large skillet on the stove, then pour the maple syrup over the top.<br />
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Turn the heat up to high. After the syrup starts boiling, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20-30 minutes. I usually turn each sausage over half-way through.<br />
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Remove from pan and serve! So easy, right?! You can also put the ingredients into your slow cooker on low for 2-3 hours. These would be awesome as an appetizer, but I love serving them for dinner the most. Mm-mm!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-30282934540208899932016-04-18T14:30:00.002-06:002016-04-18T14:30:25.503-06:00Meal Plan Apr 17th-23rd<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Something important to remember about meal planning is to stay flexible. My plan changes 90% of the time based on last minute meetings, sicknesses, running out of something, McDonald's Monopoly is going on, or i'm just too dang tired to go downstairs and cook something one. more. time. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Sunday</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Lunch</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: Snacks</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Dinner</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Pregnancy Cravings: Pasta, French Fries with Malt Vinegar, and Carrot Sticks</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Monday</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Lunch</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: Mac and Cheese, Leftover Pasta</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Dinner</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: Breakfast for Dinner</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Tuesday</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Lunch</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: Pizza</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Dinner</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: Maybe going out to eat after my son's very first T-Ball practice!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Wednesday</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Lunch</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: Leftovers</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Dinner</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: Cheesy Potato Soup with Artisan Bread</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Thursday</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Lunch</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: Out to eat with out-of-town family</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Dinner</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Smoked Sausage with Mashed Potatoes</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Friday</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Lunch</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">PB&J's with Apple Slices</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Dinner</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: Lasagna</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Saturday</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Lunch</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: Maybe Del Taco? :D</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;" /><u style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">Dinner</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 21.735px;">: Snacks while prepping for a Group Date Night</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-64295365501950478312016-04-11T23:00:00.003-06:002016-04-11T23:00:48.625-06:00Pizza QuesadillasIt's hard to call this a recipe, because it's so basic. Sauce and cheese on a tortilla. We love it around these parts though because we almost always have the ingredients on hand, they are quick, easy, and everyone in the house will eat them. And truthfully, you can add whatever your heart desires to these and customize them for every family member. These are great kid's lunches and quick last minute it's-5:30-and-I-haven't-even-thought-about-dinner-yet meals. You can freeze them in a single layer and heat up quickly in a microwave, toaster oven, regular oven, griddle, or in a skillet on the stove. Your choice.<br />
<br />
Also, for such a simple recipe, you're getting very simple cell phone pictures. Haha!<br />
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<b>Pizza Quesadillas</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>Ingredients:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Flour tortillas<br />
Pizza/Marinara Sauce<br />
Mozzarella Cheese<br />
Any toppings you like<br />
<br />
<br />
Spread a layer of sauce on your tortilla and then top it with cheese. I've added some fresh grated Parmesan and a teensy tiny sprinkling of Italian seasonings to mine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOCvnOYQNgGDig6s_Bf6Was9AQsujVWMR-6npaIgdoXj2DS9GNiRfhuLVh_kTi4vVuEivAAn1b5yf7T40OrRDZinngRiZML4SqHL4ELUYfnsAjH8ZAcr9jtmc3FczOi4T3NOfcmBbG5g/s1600/IMG_20160411_184311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOCvnOYQNgGDig6s_Bf6Was9AQsujVWMR-6npaIgdoXj2DS9GNiRfhuLVh_kTi4vVuEivAAn1b5yf7T40OrRDZinngRiZML4SqHL4ELUYfnsAjH8ZAcr9jtmc3FczOi4T3NOfcmBbG5g/s640/IMG_20160411_184311.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Top that with another tortilla and throw em (gently transfer them to) a preheated griddle or skillet, medium-high heat. Flip after a minute or so. Just check for some nice golden browning on the bottom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3H8EhTxFUYKG3ebh3z4knG_AwgMbzzbo6jDVMf50671wJKtU2uwSsgstJJFjo3JjTRXvcc1b_oPlxvSAtpEnqk5ekTEYNAYAO6Y4DK_FlfPc6lxirElaAG47Mk35DICtg7Tl2ehKJu0/s1600/IMG_20160411_184830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3H8EhTxFUYKG3ebh3z4knG_AwgMbzzbo6jDVMf50671wJKtU2uwSsgstJJFjo3JjTRXvcc1b_oPlxvSAtpEnqk5ekTEYNAYAO6Y4DK_FlfPc6lxirElaAG47Mk35DICtg7Tl2ehKJu0/s640/IMG_20160411_184830.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cut up and serve. I love using my pizza cutter for this purpose.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqvGZ0FRjccbIif1WD7i6I465_p9KPBVaC3WaKq7FpT0CJepF59xJj2zkmwQGbQ8YXtFTcerA2qhHo-Jneo7odHquFG_U6-plRNYd1Dq4EhbpKMN58gaO3KCGIlIAAr2I95gCP1Yzclg/s1600/IMG_20160411_185432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqvGZ0FRjccbIif1WD7i6I465_p9KPBVaC3WaKq7FpT0CJepF59xJj2zkmwQGbQ8YXtFTcerA2qhHo-Jneo7odHquFG_U6-plRNYd1Dq4EhbpKMN58gaO3KCGIlIAAr2I95gCP1Yzclg/s640/IMG_20160411_185432.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-80233461132306395632016-04-10T18:11:00.002-06:002016-04-10T18:11:30.063-06:00Meal Plan Apr 10th-16thI thought it might be easiest for me to get back into blogging by starting with my meal plan for the week. That way I will (hopefully) make what is on the meal plan, and share the recipes along the way. Here goes!<br />
<br />
Everyone gets to choose whatever they like for breakfast so that meal isn't included. My hubby buys lunch at work or takes leftovers, so lunches listed are for my kids and myself (mostly geared towards my children.)<br /><br /><b>Sunday</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<u>Lunch</u>: Nachos with Apple Slices<br />
<u>Dinner</u>: Cream Cheese Chicken Pillows with sauteed Asparagus and Green Grapes<br />
<u><br /></u>
<b>Monday</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<u>Lunch</u>: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Greek Yogurt and Strawberries<br />
<u>Dinner</u>: Quesadillas (<a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2012/01/flour-tortillas.html" target="_blank">Flour Tortillas</a>) with Mexican Rice<br />
<u><br /></u>
<b>Tuesday</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<u>Lunch</u>: Green//Fruit Smoothies with Crackers and Cheese<br />
<u>Dinner</u>: Spaghetti with <a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2011/10/easy-artisan-bread.html" target="_blank">Artisan Bread</a> and Bacon Green Beans<br />
<u><br /></u>
<b>Wednesday</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<u>Lunch</u>: Leftovers<br />
<u>Dinner</u>: "Food Storage" Chicken Casserole with White Rice and Cheesy Toast<br />
<br />
<b>Thursday</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<u>Lunch</u>: PB&J's with Apple Slices<br />
<u>Dinner</u>: Hopefully heading out for dinner<br />
<u><br /></u>
<b>Friday</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<u>Lunch</u>: Chicken Nuggets (for kids) and Lentils with Rice (for me)<br />
<u>Dinner</u>: Waffles with Bacon<br />
<u><br /></u>
<b>Saturday</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<u>Lunch</u>: Frozen Pizza<br />
<u>Dinner</u>: Chili with Cornbread<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-12236449005916580152016-04-10T17:52:00.000-06:002016-04-10T17:52:07.002-06:00Hello AgainWell hey! It's been a while hasn't it? So much in my world has changed since October of 2014 when I last shared on this blog. At the time I last posted I had just discovered that I was pregnant with our third child. As my pregnancies are usually pretty difficult, I allowed myself to step away from the blog and just focus on growing my little babe. I also didn't do a lot of cooking for the entire pregnancy, so there's that. I kept telling myself that after my new one was born that I would get back into cooking and blogging and healthy eating and everything that I enjoyed. And then at 9 months pregnant, 40 weeks, my little baby, my son, was stillborn. My world came crashing down and everything was put onto the back burner.<br />
<br />
It's been about nine months now since he passed. Life is still so hard most of the time, but i've found myself back in the kitchen more and more frequently lately, despite currently being 29 weeks pregnant with our fourth. I'm beginning to enjoy cooking again, and to enjoy life in general again. I've been blogging a bit on a more personal blog about a bit of my journey through grief and I thought that maybe I might be ready to do some food blogging again. To continue to heal through the kneading of bread dough and crank of the pepper mill. Through sharing more of myself and my world with a larger community of people. To be more real.<br />
<br />
So here I am. I want to do this again. It won't be often. I am pregnant again, after all. But it will be sometimes. And perhaps that's all I can manage for now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-82216802434263116882014-10-26T18:16:00.000-06:002014-10-26T18:16:17.751-06:00Oct Pantry Challenge Update 3Sorry this is a few days late! Life just caught up with me. Don't you hate when that happens? I had to buy milk and eggs again. I'm $20 over budget and disappointed in myself. Oh well. . .<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>Menu Plan for October 22nd- 28th</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>I
don't plan for breakfast & lunch because we generally eat different
things for breakfast, and Brad buys lunch at his work. </span></span> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<span>Wednesday: Chicken Tetrazzini with Roasted Carrots and Rolls<br />
<br />
Thursday: Homemade Pizza with Green Beans<br />
<br />
Friday: Chili and Cornbread (at a church Halloween party)<span></span><span><br />
</span><br />
Saturday: Leftovers/Mac-n-Cheese<span></span><br />
<br />
Sunday: Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes with Bacon and Orange Slices<br />
<br />
Monday: Elk Steak with Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Zucchini<br />
<br />
Tuesday: Penne and Italian Sausage Pasta with Roasted Root Veggies</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Money Spent: $129</b><br />
<b>Money Left: $-29</b></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I actually told myself after my last challenge to allow the budget to be $150. I really debated on it and ultimately thought I could keep it at $100. We really do have a lot of food in our house by way of food storage and we were still getting a few things from the garden. What I didn't anticipate was going through our milk SO quickly. Also, that our chickens would begin molting and not provide us with a single egg for this entire challenge so far! Not to mention the convenience of store-bought bread over homemade. </span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-80048176830814790932014-10-15T16:06:00.000-06:002014-10-15T16:06:10.226-06:00Oct Pantry Challenge Update 2Oh boy. This last week we ran out of milk, bread, and eggs. We were nearly out of all-purpose flour, sugar, and butter. I guess I should have been monitoring their usage more closely. It definitely shows just how much our meals tend to rely on these staples and gives me ideas on what specifically I should be stocking up on more often.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Menu Plan for October 15th- 21st</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I
don't plan for breakfast & lunch because we generally eat different
things for breakfast, and Brad buys lunch at his work. </span> </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Wednesday: Cheeseburger Pasta with Roasted Veggies<br />
<br />
Thursday: Chicken and Dumplings<br />
<br />
Friday: Frozen Pizza with Sliced Fruit<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
Saturday: Leftovers<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<br />
Sunday: Beef Stew with Mashed Potatoes and Rolls<a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2012/03/honey-whole-wheat-rolls.html" target="_blank"></a><br />
<br />
Monday: Sweet Baked Kielbasa with Rice<br />
<br />
Tuesday: Baked Spaghetti <span style="font-size: x-small;">(New recipe from Pinterest)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<br />
<b>Money Spent: $103</b><br />
<b>Money Left: $-3</b><br />
<br />
Whelp. . . The moolah is gone. I had to go to the store; I just didn't know what we would do without milk and eggs. I could only get a half gallon of milk though and will probably be buying a full gallon of the raw stuff we drink in the next week or so. I have to drive about 30 minutes away to buy it and wasn't willing to drive that far yesterday. So milk, eggs, AP flour, potatoes, apples, onions, some brown sugar, beef broth, and one pie pumpkin cleaned out my wallet and even put me over budget by $3. (The $3 was actually spent on 6 boxes of Horizon Organic Milk that were on clearance for $0.50 each). A couple of the things I could have gone without normally, but with a Halloween get-together with friends happening this weekend, I knew I couldn't skimp of some of my favorite party foods. <b> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Two weeks to go! I know I can do this. I've got this week all planned out, and then it's just one more. We may end up eating a lot of spaghetti and mac-n-cheese at the end, but so be it.<br />
<br />
Maybe I'll get lucky and my friggin' chickens will stop molting and give me some eggs already!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-56611766784336080642014-10-08T19:05:00.001-06:002014-10-08T19:05:20.769-06:00Oct Pantry Challenge Update 1<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Well, I've reached the end of week 1 and I totally forgot how hard this was to do. Also, there were some amazing sales on bulk items I love and I just couldn't resist. While this is definitely bending the rules, I decided I couldn't pass up some of the bulk buys and am only going to count the things we use towards my total spending money. It's cheating, I know. But how do you pass up 8 pounds of organic local strawberries for $20?!</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>Menu Plan for October 8th- 14th</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>I
don't plan for breakfast & lunch because we generally eat different
things for breakfast, and Brad buys lunch at his work. </span></span> </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span>Wednesday: Grilled Cheese with Peaches</span><br />
<span><br /></span>
<span>Thursday: </span><a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2012/06/revolutionary-pizza-dough.html" target="_blank">Homemade Pizza</a> with <a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2014/08/fruit-cereal.html" target="_blank">Fruit Salad</a><br />
<span><br /></span>
<span>Friday: Chicken Noodle Soup with <a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2012/03/honey-whole-wheat-rolls.html" target="_blank">Rolls</a> <span style="font-size: small;">(This didn't happen last week)</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span><br /></span>
<span>Saturday: Quesadillas with Rice and Beans <span style="font-size: small;">(Hoping to make extra <a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2012/01/flour-tortillas.html" target="_blank">tortillas</a> to freeze)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span>Sunday: Ravioli with Green Beans and<a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2012/03/honey-whole-wheat-rolls.html" target="_blank"> Rolls</a></span><br />
<br />
<span>Monday: Sweet Baked Kielbasa with Rice <span style="font-size: small;">(I also want to cook up a batch of Honey Baked Lentils to keep in the fridge for my weekday lunches)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span>Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span>
<br /><b>Money Spent: $74</b><br />
<b>Money Left: $26</b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> I bought strawberries, as mentioned earlier, and whipped up a few batches of freezer jam this last week. We've eaten about $6 worth of fresh strawberries and some jam. I also was able to purchase these awesome new organic lunchables made by Applegate farms </span>in bulk. They came out to be only $2 a box! Retail for those suckers is over $5 each! We've eaten 4 so far, so I added that number into the total as well. Then, at the same store, Utah CoOp, I snatched a 5 for $20 deal on some meat and we have used two of the packages of bacon already. We love bacon around here! The last $3 I spent was on 3 boxes of Barbara's Cereal on clearance for $1 a box. :)<br />
<br />
Also to note, we got TONS of Italian Prune Plums from a neighbor, so I froze most of those and plan another freezer jam making sesh in the near future. Plus, pie. And maybe some Plum Applesauce. <br />
<br />
Three-Quarters of my moolah gone and still 3 weeks to go! Ahh! Luckily, my freezer is packed, I'm still getting a few things from the garden and grapevine, and we have quite a bit of food storage saved up from the last few months, so we should be good. I do need to pick up some cheese and peanut butter soon, but hopefully my kids will just learn to love the crunchy peanut butter and fancy cheese we already have.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Things to Make and Freeze This Week</b></u><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2012/01/flour-tortillas.html" target="_blank">Tortillas</a></li>
<li>Carrot Spice Muffins</li>
<li><a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2012/03/honey-whole-wheat-rolls.html" target="_blank">Dinner Rolls</a></li>
<li>Zucchini Bread</li>
<li>More Plums</li>
<li>Carrots</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-56509221797428050922014-10-01T13:29:00.000-06:002014-10-01T13:29:10.349-06:00What's for Lunch Wednesday: Fast Food :/<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What's for lunch Wednesday is less about sharing new recipes, and
more about keepin' it real. This is what I REALLY had for lunch today!
Sometimes I slip and eat junk. Sometimes it's gourmet. This series is to
not only inspire quick lunchtime ideas, but to show that we are not all
perfect in eating the right thing at every single meal.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I don't always keep up on my little lunch series here, but I wanted to keep it real with y'all today. I try really hard to "eat clean" or whatever it's called now, but I'm not perfect. And some things are just worth it. So I haven't eaten McDonald's in over a year now I think, but it was Katie's little friend's birthday so we went and it really was worth it. I love the social aspect of eating out and if we get to spend time with friends, I will eat anything in the world!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I have also always been secretly obsessed with the McDonald's Monopoly game, so it was exciting to get a least a couple of pieces today. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-89520292649259925812014-10-01T13:18:00.000-06:002014-10-01T13:18:15.574-06:00October Pantry ChallengeI kind of love pantry challenges and I just realized that I haven't done one in over TWO YEARS! WHAT?! So here I am, starting one now and praying I can make it the whole month. The basis of my pantry challenges are:<br />
<ul>
<li>Spend no more than $100 on food for the entire month</li>
<li>Use what we have on hand in the pantry, fridge, and freezer</li>
<li>Menu plan every week</li>
</ul>
I already know this is going to be difficult for a few reasons. First, we eat much differently than when I've had past pantry challenges. Our grocery budget has expanded as a result of our mostly real food diet, and I no longer coupon all the time for processed foods. We also buy raw milk at $8/gallon. Luckily, there are three gallons already frozen in the freezer, so hopefully those will take us through the month. Second, we are hosting a Halloween Party for a few couples in the middle of the month, so I'll have to get creative with making food and treats with what I have on hand. <br />
<br />
All in all, I am really looking forward to this. I have a big vacation to Florida coming up in December and some penny-pinching right now is desperately needed. I also think this might help me blog more recipes? <br />
<br />
I also have not budgeted for eating out. We sometimes go out to eat with another couple for dinner, but I'm not sure if that will happen or not this month. So I decided to just let it be extra if it does happen. <br />
<br />
Here we go! (It's kind of perfect that this starts on a Wednesday, because that is when sales change for my local store)<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Menu Plan for October 1st- 8th</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I don't plan for breakfast & lunch because we generally eat different things for breakfast, and Brad buys lunch at his work. </span> </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday: Steak with Mashed Potatoes (leftover taters from Pierogis last night)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Thursday: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Roasted Veggies</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Friday: Chicken Noodle Soup with Rolls</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday: Free Pizza from Pizza Hut</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday: Waffles with Bacon and Fresh Fruit</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Monday: Cheese Ravioli with Carrots and Apples</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday: Spaghetti with Green Beans (from the garden) and Rolls</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Money Spent: $49</b><br />
<b>Money Left: $51</b><br />
<br />
I did a little shopping yesterday to start off the challenge.While not the healthiest, I love cereal for quick breakfasts and we were out, so I paid full price for this box. (Agh!) I also picked up some of mine and Katie's favorite yogurt and some sour cream, both full price. The canned pears and canned beans were both on clearance for $0.49 each (I love dented cans) and the organic bananas were also on clearance for being a teeny bit brown. They taste better this way though, and there are already 3 missing from the original bunch. I also picked up a couple of oranges for smoothies and juices, and 4 packs of organic free range chicken on clearance. The tub of ice cream was totally a late night impulse because sometimes a girl just needs ice cream. Not pictured are 5 loaves of our favorite 9 grain organic bread that are in the outside freezer. <br />
<br /><b> </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQo00Pu5hA-QvYodLjzsfsfx1zel3kTEcLFULLXKEU8ZbvOiEwWl9dOIFLNrEfyktkaarm6lZ9YNW7bb-4OSsb3jSo1hUNblektW9e6y8Hk88_5Md0mCWzPJak6cVLTaxpvnn4Csqico/s1600/20141001_125020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQo00Pu5hA-QvYodLjzsfsfx1zel3kTEcLFULLXKEU8ZbvOiEwWl9dOIFLNrEfyktkaarm6lZ9YNW7bb-4OSsb3jSo1hUNblektW9e6y8Hk88_5Md0mCWzPJak6cVLTaxpvnn4Csqico/s1600/20141001_125020.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><b> </b><br />
<br /><b> </b><br />
Clearance is basically my best friend when it comes to not only pantry challenges, but to eating real food as well. It can be expensive, but when you shop smart, you can get the things you need for way less than the regular prices. I feel a little guilty saying this, but I kind of like that more people don't buy organic foods in my area. They often end up in the clearance bins as a result, and then on my pantry shelves. <br /><b> </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-5840985972969131802014-09-03T21:16:00.003-06:002014-09-03T21:16:46.004-06:00Birthday Freebies! In honor of my birthday (25!) I thought I would share some birthday freebies that I have been enjoying for the last few years. Getting these emails in my inbox every year is one of the most exciting parts of my birthday!<br />
<br />
Because I live in Utah, I am only listing offers available to me. There are literally dozens of restaurants throughout the country that offer birthday freebies, and a quick Google search can help you find loads more! The one's I've listed are those I have had success with and most are free without any purchase required.<br />
<br />
I also recommend perhaps opening up an extra email account specifically for things like this. That way your inbox doesn't get clogged up with other emails these restaurants send throughout the year. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://awrestaurants.com/" target="_blank">A&W - Free Rootbeer Float</a><br />
Click on the "Mug Club" link at the top of the page.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.applebees.com/about-us/email-sign-up?email=Your+Email" target="_blank">Applebee's - Free Entree or Dessert</a><br />
In the past I have gotten coupons for free appetizers or desserts, but this year it's a free entree with purchase of another. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://arbys.com/get-deals/" target="_blank">Arby's - Free Shake w/Purchase</a><br />
You also get a coupon for a free roast beef sandwich with purchase upon signing up.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gardnervillage.com/join-the-birthday-club" target="_blank">Archibald's Restaurant - Free Entree</a><br />
This restaurant is at Gardner Village in West Jordan<br />
<br />
<a href="http://auntieannes.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&inputsource=w" target="_blank">Auntie Anne's - Free Pretzel</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.baskinrobbins.com/content/baskinrobbins/en/signin.html" target="_blank">Baskin Robbins - Free Scoop of Ice Cream</a><br />
You can also add family members so they can get free ice cream as well!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://profile.benihana.com/registration/" target="_blank">Benihana - $30 Gift Certificate</a><br />
This freebie is awesome. We used this one for my birthday dinner last year. Delish! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://blackbeardiner.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&inputsource=w" target="_blank">Black Bear Diner - Free Entree or Breakfast</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bucadibeppo.com/eclub/?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W" target="_blank">Buca di Beppo - Free Dessert</a><br />
They will also send you a freebie on your anniversary<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.buffalowildwings.com/buffalo-circle/" target="_blank">Buffalo Wild Wings - Free Snack Size Wings</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.carinos.com/home" target="_blank">Carino's - Free Dessert</a><br />
Eclub sign up is at the bottom of the page<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chilis.com/EN/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">Chili's - Free Dessert</a><br />
Email sign up is on left side of the page<br />
<br />
<a href="http://christophersutah.com/subscribe" target="_blank">Christopher's Steak House - Free Filet Mignon</a><br />
This entree is worth $25!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cornerbakerycafe.com/ecafe" target="_blank">Corner Bakery Cafe - Free Baked Goodie</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.culvers.com/connect/join-the-club/" target="_blank">Culver's - Free Sundae</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.deltaco.com/connect.html" target="_blank">Del Taco - Free Shake</a><br />
I love me some Del Taco!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dennys.com/#/specials" target="_blank">Denny's - Free Grand Slam</a><br />
The birthday club signup is under the "Specials" tab<br />
<br />
<a href="http://dickeysbarbecue.fbmta.com/members/updateprofile.aspx?action=subscribe&inputsource=w" target="_blank">Dickey's - Free Big BBQ Sandwich</a><br />
Just try and forget about the recent "poison tea" incident and grab a free sandwich! We like it with Beef Brisket. Mmm!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://assets.fbmta.com/clt/famdvs/lp/join/f2/qs/join.asp" target="_blank">Famous Dave's - Free Food</a><br />
I've found that the birthday coupon varies each year on what you get. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fazolis.com/efamily" target="_blank">Fazoli's - Free Dessert</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.firehousesubs.com/newsletter.aspx" target="_blank">Firehouse Subs - Free Medium Sub</a><br />
For this freebie, you don't need a coupon. You simply show up on your actual birthday and show your ID. You can sign up for the newsletter and they will send you a reminder before your birthday. (This has been my birthday lunch for the last 3 years!)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://honeybakedham.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&_Theme=" target="_blank">Honeybaked Ham - Free Ham Sandwich</a><br />
You also get a free Ham Sandwich just for signing up! This was yesterday's lunch. So yummy!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.huhot.com/HotClub/Signup" target="_blank">HuHot Mongolian Grill - Free Meal</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://ihopcorp.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&_Theme=30064771093&Inputsource=W" target="_blank">IHOP - Free Pancake Meal</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.jasonsdeli.com/signup" target="_blank">Jason's Deli - $5 Gift Card</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://johnnyrockets.com/promotions/rocket-eclub" target="_blank">Johnny Rocket's - Free Hamburger w/ Purchase</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://krispykreme.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&inputsource=w&FriendContact=true" target="_blank">Krispy Kreme - Free Doughnut</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.longhornsteakhouse.com/customer-service/registration" target="_blank">Longhorn Steakhouse - Free Dessert</a><br />
I've yet to try this restaurant, but my in-law's tell me it's delicious!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://macaronigrill.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=Website" target="_blank">Macaroni Grill - Free Cake</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://marbleslabcreamery.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W" target="_blank">Marble Slab Creamery - Free Cone w/Mix-in</a><br />
Their Chocolate Swiss ice cream is my favorite!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.meltingpot.com/club-fondue.aspx" target="_blank">The Melting Pot - Free Chocolate Covered Strawberries</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mimiscafe.com/EClub.aspx" target="_blank">Mimi's Cafe - Free Dessert</a><br />
You also get a free 4-pack of muffins for signing up. Their Honey Bran muffin is my FAVORITE MUFFIN EVER.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.noodles.com/noodlegram/" target="_blank">Noodles and Company - Free Pasta Bowl</a><br />
I love this offer. You get a free bowl of pasta up to $9! Sometimes, if your order is less than $9 they will throw in a drink for free as well.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/eclub" target="_blank">Nothing Bundt Cakes - Free Bundtlet</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.orangejulius.com/Julius-League/" target="_blank">Orange Julius - Free Drink</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.papamurphys.com/eclub/" target="_blank">Papa Murphy's - Free Cookie Dough</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://pretzelmaker.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W" target="_blank">Pretzelmaker - Free Pretzel Bites w/Drink purchase</a><br />
They also send you a coupon for a free Pretzel w/purchase for signing up.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://royalty.redrobin.com/" target="_blank">Red Robin - Free Burger</a><br />
I HIGHLY recommend the Chicken Teriyaki. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://rodiziogrill.com/club-rodizio" target="_blank">Rodizio - Free Full Rodizio</a><br />
I love this offer! It's really a buy one, get one free but it's a great value and so delicious.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.rubios.com/beachclub/" target="_blank">Rubios - Free Meal up to $7</a><br />
Another one of my favorites! Their Classic Chicken Burrito Especial is amazing. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://sbarro.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W" target="_blank">Sbarro - Free Slice of Cheese Pizza</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://schlotzskys.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W" target="_blank">Schlotzsky's - Free Sandwich</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://smashburger.com/smashclub/" target="_blank">Smashburger - Free Shake</a><br />
I haven't tried these yet, but I hear they make the shakes with Haagan-Daaz? YUM.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://texasr.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W&storecode=115" target="_blank">Texas Roadhouse - Free Appetizer</a><br />
They also send out all kinds of coupons throughout the year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.tucanos.com/birthday-club.html" target="_blank">Tucano's - Free Meal</a><br />
This one comes by way of postcard in your mail. It's good for the entire month of your birthday.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://wienerschnitzel.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe&InputSource=W" target="_blank">Wienerschnitzel - Free Corn Dog</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I'll also throw out there that many retail places offer birthday freebies too. I'm too tired to link em all up, but some of my favorites you can search for are Aveda, BareMinerals, Sephora, World Market, Redbox, and Kmart. <br />
<br />
Also, please let me know if any of the links don't work for ya. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-12783704272287596872014-08-21T09:00:00.000-06:002014-08-21T09:00:02.610-06:00Mexican Omelette So i've been playing around with omelette's lately. I definitely still need some practice on shaping them right or whatever, but the amount of eggs we've been getting from our chickens has me trying anyway. I made a few that were just all right, but when I made this one, I was in heaven. I made it for lunch three days in a row!<br />
<br />
<b>Mexican Omelette</b><br />
<br />
<i>Ingredients</i><br />
2 Eggs<br />
1 Tbsp Chopped Cilantro<br />
<i> </i>2 Tbsp Diced Bell Pepper<br />
1 Tbsp Cotija Cheese<br />
1 Tbsp Butter<br />
<i> </i><b> </b><br />
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I don't know if I even know the proper way to make an omelette, but first I put the butter in a pan and heat it up on high.<br />
Meanwhile, scramble your eggs.<br />When the butter is all melted, pour in your eggs. You'll want to push the cooked eggs out of the way to let the runny eggs cook as well. Does that make sense?<br />
Let the eggs cook until they just start to set on the top. (Sometimes I do the fancy flipping thing where you grab the pan and flick your wrist, but not usually.)<br />Then add your peppers, cilantro and cheese onto one half of the eggs.<br />
Fold the other half on top of the filling, and you are good to go!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-63043031271293758912014-08-20T16:55:00.001-06:002014-08-20T16:55:18.653-06:00Whats for Lunch Wednesday: Open-Faced Veggie Burger<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What's for lunch Wednesday is less about sharing new recipes, and
more about keepin' it real. This is what I REALLY had for lunch today!
Sometimes I slip and eat junk. Sometimes it's gourmet. This series is to
not only inspire quick lunchtime ideas, but to show that we are not all
perfect in eating the right thing at every single meal.</i></div>
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<i> </i><i> </i></div>
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I don't often eat veggie burgers, because real ones taste too darn delicious, but I've been wanting to eat some of the things that have been hiding in the back of my freezer. I decided to forgo any kind of bun<i> </i>and enjoy this burger with just some toppings and a fork. There's no real recipe here, although I may share the recipe for the mayo later. Top this sucker with anything your heart desires. I just went with more basic hamburger toppings because it's what I had on hand. </div>
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<b>Open-Faced Veggie Burger</b></div>
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<i>Ingredients</i></div>
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One soy-free organic veggie patty</div>
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Homemade Mayonnaise</div>
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Organic Ketchup</div>
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Shredded Spinach</div>
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Sliced tomato or chopped cherry tomatoes</div>
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Pan-fry your patty in some avocado oil and then pile on the toppings! Easy, right? </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-54227337515611704002014-08-04T12:34:00.000-06:002014-08-04T12:34:10.609-06:00Under the Sea Birthday Party!<div style="text-align: center;">
So, I thought it might be fun to share some pictures from my daughter's 4th birthday party! The theme was Under the Sea/The Little Mermaid. I wish I could say the ideas are all my own, but Pinterest did about 90% of the work for me.</div>
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We'll start with the food!</div>
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I had so much fun putting up these little "seaweed" streamers. What an easy way to add a backdrop for a dessert table! </div>
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Lounging in the brown sugar sand were marshmallow octopuses (octopi?) and nilla wafer clams. All accompanied by chocolate pearls. </div>
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Her cake was super simple and obviously suffered a little mishap on the side there. I don't know why I didn't turn the cake to take the picture. Guess I wasn't paying attention. </div>
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We had Beach Trifles, with graham cracker sand and blue jello topped with whipped cream (clouds maybe?) </div>
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Of course we had to have goldfish in a giant fishbowl. </div>
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I let my daughter help decorate the blue velvet cupcakes. Just some buttercream frosting with candy fish on top. Nothing too hard. </div>
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These were my favorite. Sand Dollar cookies. I just made a batch of simple sugar cookies and pressed slivered almonds on top while the cookies were still warm. So easy and really, really tasty. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-4TtzSqj71CBKQiJz95hTgqk0Ew3Miij8BYdbOhkzDgz3eimeOsgdge8iIQEwyOkEJlqH8e0J7XwAwSlqc4TCG5qxPFuiC94YchEQh3BHNqqZ641p1B4XG7RUQieb_Zq5ARto5POQzo/s1600/20140614_120101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-4TtzSqj71CBKQiJz95hTgqk0Ew3Miij8BYdbOhkzDgz3eimeOsgdge8iIQEwyOkEJlqH8e0J7XwAwSlqc4TCG5qxPFuiC94YchEQh3BHNqqZ641p1B4XG7RUQieb_Zq5ARto5POQzo/s1600/20140614_120101.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I made a really simple BLT shell pasta salad. It was just bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and pasta, tossed in some mayonnaise and ranch. Season with salt and pepper and you're done!</div>
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Crabwiches! The sandwiches were build-your-own, but I stuck these cute little DIY eyes into the croissants. I can't believe I didn't get a picture of our Starfish PB&J sandwiches though. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuj5hmKYBdtjB5TYUcvvaL0CUCrKE_I0ut_ZVT8Vv6SHE5rGhNUw4l1sMJgH7vVnrl-FF9UFA4sHFCaF5BDUnU5eS7ub2pweV5yeeKVF2nncdeXHA-iGq-Jhs03g1OdIQLk5b2RHNlzM/s1600/20140614_120112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuj5hmKYBdtjB5TYUcvvaL0CUCrKE_I0ut_ZVT8Vv6SHE5rGhNUw4l1sMJgH7vVnrl-FF9UFA4sHFCaF5BDUnU5eS7ub2pweV5yeeKVF2nncdeXHA-iGq-Jhs03g1OdIQLk5b2RHNlzM/s1600/20140614_120112.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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The main attraction was our swimming pool, but I had a few games available as well. First up was the fishing booth where all the kids went fishing for their favor bags. Favors included sunglasses, toy telescopes, and some bubbles. </div>
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I also made a bean bag toss game, which was my little toddlers favorite. </div>
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The wind was being a little crazy, but I also made this fun photo booth for all the kids to take pictures with Katie. I printed out the photos and included them in the thank you cards. </div>
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The party was so fun! I try to keep us all on a whole foods diet, but I couldn't help but pack in the sugar for the party. What's wrong with a little splurging for a birthday? :)</div>
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A HUGE thank you to my sister and her husband, who helped with food, set-up, everything. They also brought their fun bubble machine! Another thank you to my parents who also helped with food and set-up, as well as bringing a large pop up to provide us all with some much needed shade. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-72213639451871306262014-08-02T08:00:00.000-06:002014-08-04T11:48:45.318-06:00Healthy Nachos!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Nachos are one of my all-time favorite foods. Seriously. And with organic blue corn tortilla chips and cheese from local, grass-fed cows, I can eat it without feeling guilty!<br />
Plus, just look at those colors! It's gorgeous!<br />
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<b>Healthy Nachos</b><br />
<i>Ingredients</i><br />
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Organic Tortilla Chips (I went with blue because they are prettier)<br />
Grass-fed Cheddar or Jack Cheese<br />
Chopped fresh Spinach<br />
Cherry Tomatoes, halved or quartered<br />
A Tbsp or 2 of Cooked Quinoa<br />
Some Black Beans <br />
Fresh Salsa or Pico de Gallo<br />
Organic Sour Cream (forgot to dollop it on for the picture)<br />
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Spread out chips onto a cookie sheet and cover with cooked quinoa, beans, and cheese. Stick under your broiler for a few minutes until the cheese it melted. <br />
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Transfer chips to a plate or bowl and add your toppings. <br />
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Eat your heart out. <br />
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Extra Notes: Recipes like this are one of the reasons I like to cook up a big batch of quinoa on the weekend and keep it in the fridge to use during the week. I can just toss some onto or into whatever i'm cooking up!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-77083838343453763302014-08-01T13:03:00.000-06:002014-08-01T13:03:36.756-06:00"Fruit Cereal"Ok, let's be honest. This is a fruit salad. I just like to label it as cereal so I feel like a normal person when i'm eating this in the mornings. <br />Fruit cereal is one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast! It's cold, it's creamy, it's crispy! It's just right for waking me up and energizing me for the day!<br />
It's also extremely adjustable, so add what you like. Just don't leave out the healthy stuff! You'll want the protein and healthy fats to get you through the morning.<br />
<br />
<b>Fruit Cereal</b><br />
<i>Ingredients</i><br />
<br />
1/2 Green Apple<br />
1/2 Orange<br />
<b> </b>Handful of Grapes<br />
1 Sliced Banana<br />
1/4 Cup Greek Yogurt<br />
1 Tbsp Chia Seeds<br />
1/4 Cup Crushed Walnuts<br />
<br />
Chop all the fruits up so they are evenly sized, mix all together, and EAT!<br />
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Extra things you could add: Other fruits. Haha! Hemp hearts. Chopped fresh spinach. Some flaxseed. <br />
<br />Ooh! You could do a berry mix, with just different kinds of berries. Yum!<br />
<br />
Use your imagination. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-34971188402011850242014-02-12T12:54:00.001-07:002014-02-12T13:00:56.469-07:00What for Lunch Wednesday - Mexican Quinoa Salad<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What's for lunch Wednesday is less about sharing new recipes, and
more about keepin' it real. This is what I REALLY had for lunch today!
Sometimes I slip and eat junk. Sometimes it's gourmet. This series is to
not only inspire quick lunchtime ideas, but to show that we are not all
perfect in eating the right thing at every single meal.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jfP5HGiTjKx1-QSaCE3NhS_G80gwwfqwdlBYoEER7JGZB9V1ejG2Yu2zTUyIMu-eFCtJtm01WzS65pt3Kccumiv8Up1Xw5i9FZDepaQHLsaG7fvhWTcUg1vZmxFAKMpN9XgyRtL8W0s/s1600/IMG_0726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7jfP5HGiTjKx1-QSaCE3NhS_G80gwwfqwdlBYoEER7JGZB9V1ejG2Yu2zTUyIMu-eFCtJtm01WzS65pt3Kccumiv8Up1Xw5i9FZDepaQHLsaG7fvhWTcUg1vZmxFAKMpN9XgyRtL8W0s/s1600/IMG_0726.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><i> </i>Today's lunch is Monday's lunch leftovers. Don't you just love leftovers that still taste good a couple days later?! Less cooking, more time for other things (like a hectic trip to the library for storytime this morning).<br />
<br />
I'll go ahead and share the recipe here now and then give it a post of it's own next time I make it, complete with more pictures. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Mexican Quinoa Salad</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<u>Ingredients:</u></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 Tbsp Avocado Oil (or Coconut Oil)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 cup Cooked Quinoa</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 cup Organic Corn</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 cup Organic Black Beans</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 Bell Pepper, Diced</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 small handful Cilantro, chopped</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Salt</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Pepper</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Cumin</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Chili Powder</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Garlic Powder</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes<br />
<i>Optional</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Shredded Cheese<br />
Romaine or Spinach</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Diced Tomato</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Diced Avocado</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Heat up the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add quinoa, corn, beans, and bell pepper.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Add spices to taste and stir. I am particularly partial to cumin, so I added about a tablespoon, but i'm sure that is too much for some people. I do maybe 1 tsp of the other spices, but only a pinch of the red pepper flakes. <br />
Throw in cilantro and stir. <br />
You are mostly just heating up the ingredients, so this whole process should only take maybe 5 minutes. (I cook my quinoa in large batches and keep in the fridge to use throughout the week.)<br />
Add desired toppings. Today I only went for shredded cheese, but on Monday I had it over a bed of romaine and added cheese, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and organic blue corn tortilla chips.</div>
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The beans give you some great protein to keep you satiated, as does the quinoa. Quinoa also contains magnesium, calcium, and an array of other nutrients as it is a complete protein. This meal will keep you full until dinnertime for sure!<br />
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Yum! Can you tell I've had a crazy morning? A quick lunch of high-protein leftovers was just what I needed! (As I typed that my toddler fell down our small stairs. Aye, aye, aye. Here I go!)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-19876847625746985892014-02-05T12:41:00.002-07:002014-02-05T12:41:28.559-07:00Long time coming This post has been in the works, in my mind, for quite a while now. The reality is, I haven't posted on this blog for exactly one year now, and I had been trying to figure out why. Why haven't I updated when I so enjoyed this blog? I still cook for my family daily. I am blessed to have an amazing kitchen and the ability to buy the food ingredients I prefer to use. Sure, I'm busy with my two toddlers and various household projects and housecleaning and church service, etc. . . But when I am still making food for my family each day, when we still sit at the table for every meal, when I still spend an hour or more on the computer each day just checking Facebook. . . I have every opportunity to update.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I know the answers to these questions and have for a while, and I am here to report.<br />
<br /> We eat different. <br />
<br /> When I started this blog, we were the typical American family eaten typical American food. And that is ok. It is what most of us know, what we grew up with, and what we feel comfortable preparing. THAT IS OK. But for my family, we are different now. I made a lot of healthier changes in the past year, and it's been difficult to share recipes when I am still in the process of leaning more about nutrition and the proper way to prepare items. I am still finding my groove in what meals work for my family and which don't. It has been an amazing ride though, and I hope to be able to share with you all as I continue. So far i'm down 20 lbs, lost weight that had been stuck since middle school (yes, you read that right), and my family is healthier than ever. Neither of my children have needed to see a doctor in over a year, and the intestinal issues my daughter had for almost a year vanished over 10 months ago after switching some items in our diet. It's been incredible and i'm excited to try and start sharing some of it. <br />
<br />
Excuse the dust and infrequency as I try to get back into the swing of things. This blog is still mainly my outlet for recording recipes I like or seriously love. I don't intend it to go viral or have thousands of followers. I just want a place to record and remember and maybe help someone else find something they love as well. <br />
<br />
So hello again! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-88880477388933880312013-02-05T14:47:00.003-07:002013-02-05T14:47:53.959-07:00A Peek Inside My Freezer: Part 2Welcome to part 2 of my mini-series, A Peek Inside My Freezer!<br />
Today's post is brought to you by. . .<br />
My ice cubes trays!<br />
<br />
Even if you have an icemaker in your freezer, you NEED ice cube trays. I use these bad boys for just about everything! They help me to be more frugal, to be less wasteful, and make cooking and creating things in the kitchen so much quicker and more versatile.<br />At the moment, they are housing some <a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2011/10/shredded-chicken-and-homemade-stock.html">homemade chicken stock</a>. Through a manager's special at Smith's, I was able to get a whole chicken for $3.50 and I used the bones for this stock, along with some veggie scraps that I talked about in the<a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-peek-inside-my-freezer-part-1.html"> first part of my mini-series </a>. So basically, I made this stock FOR FREE with just the leftover things you would normally toss out.<br />
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Moving on.<br />As I said, I use my ice cube trays for everything. Any little thing that is leftover, and somewhat liquidy, can be frozen into little cubes and then transferred to a freezer bag. Here is the run-down of what is currently inside my freezer:<br />-Chicken Stock (about 3 quarts worth)<br />-Turkey Stock (2 quarts worth, which I made with my turkey carcass from Thanksgiving!)<br />-Veggie Stock (About 1 quart)<br />-Lemon Ice Cubes (these are water ice cubes with a small slice of lemon frozen inside them with just a hint of extra lemon juice. Great for adding to my water!)<br />-Lime juice (I had some limes I needed to use before they went bad, so I squeezed the juice into the trays!)<br />-Lemon Juice<br />-Tomato Paste (my recipe only called for half a can, so the rest got frozen.)<br /><br />On a few of the bags, I wrote down how much of the item made up a cube, for example with the lime juice, my limes were teeeeeeny tiny, so the juice of 1 lime equaled 1 cube. It can also be helpful to figure out how much each cube will translate into, measurement wise. Each little cube in my ice cube trays holds about 1 1/2 tablespoons of liquid. So, if a recipe called for 3 Tbps of fresh lemon juice I would use 2 of my lemon juice cubes.<br />
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<span id="goog_1517289192"></span><span id="goog_1517289193"></span>I LOVE freezing things in this way! I have so much control over how much of something to use, and I don't have to worry about defrosting an entire quart of chicken stock, when I only want a few tablespoons to add to a gravy.<br />Other things I have been known to freeze in my trays include: homemade baby food, fruit sauces/syrups, fruit juice with a toothpick in the middle for mini-popsicles.<br />I've also seen on Pinterest an idea for freezing fresh herbs in an ice cube tray with some olive oil, and I am most definitely going to give that a try next time I have some leftover herbs!<br /><br />What do you like to freeze in ice cube trays?<br />Let me know!<br /><br /><br />Check out <a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-peek-inside-my-freezer-part-1.html">Part 1</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-55855844773944967262013-01-31T09:00:00.000-07:002013-01-31T09:20:40.352-07:00Potato Mountain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We all have those foods from our childhood that we look back on and think "holy crap, that stuff was delicious!" (excuse the language)<br />
For me, it was a snack/side dish my parents used to make where they would deep fry some curly fries, top them with cheese as soon as they came out of the fryer, and then we would dip them in ranch dressing. Supposedly the idea came from a dish called Potato Mountain at some restaurant in my hometown that closed down before I was even born. <br />
I decided to take that incredibly delicious snack one step further and turn it into a whole meal! You've heard of Hawaiian Haystacks right? These are like Curly Fry Haystacks. And they are better than Hawaiian Haystacks. Yeah, I said it. BETTER.<br />
The pictures are lacking because, well, this dish is incredibly easy to make!<br />
<br />
<b>Potato Mountain</b><br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
Curly Fries<br />
Cheese<br />
Optional toppings:<br />
<ul>
<li>Bacon</li>
<li>Salsa</li>
<li>Sour Cream</li>
<li>Chili</li>
<li>Ranch Dressing</li>
<li>More Cheese</li>
<li>Chives</li>
<li>BBQ Chicken/Pork/Beef</li>
<li>Taco Meat</li>
<li>Cream Cheese</li>
<li>Coleslaw</li>
</ul>
Seriously, the possibilities are endless.<br />
Do you see this golden deliciousness?<br />
So basically, you take some frozen curly fries and bake them per the bags instructions. I baked mine in a 400 degree oven for 25 minutes. Once they are done, cover them with cheese and pop em back in the oven just for 2 or 3 minutes, until all the cheese is melted. <br />
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Move your fries over to a platter and you can see the mountain beginning to take shape. :D<br />
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Serve hot with whatever sides you like! We are a simple folk, so bacon, salsa, chili, sour cream, and Ranch were our toppings of choice. The Ranch didn't make it into the picture. It was on it's way home from the grocery store with my husband while this picture was being taken. <br />
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Extra notes: While i've healthified it a bit by avoiding the deep fryer, these are still fairly unhealthy. I mean, heaps of cheese and bacon and chili and ranch? Yeah. not so great. But sometimes you just have to splurge and let yourself go! Also, my husband doesn't talk much. That's just a fact. It can be hard for me to tell what he's really thinking sometimes. However, when he goes back for seconds and completely cleans his plate, that's when I know something is good. THIS is good. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-47640119889639654702013-01-28T16:13:00.001-07:002013-02-05T14:48:24.785-07:00A Peek Inside My Freezer: Part 1This post might be a little boring for some, but hopefully some of you will find some helpful tips!<br />
<br />
I'm doing a little mini-series on what's inside my freezer! <br />
I'm starting off with one of my favorite time-saving tricks- pre-cut celery and onions, and my veggie scraps bag!<br />
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Ever buy a head of celery, use 3 or 4 sticks, and then never get around to using the rest? Trust me, you can use and save every last bit it! Slice up the remainder of your celery sticks, lay them flat on a lined baking sheet, and freeze until they are solid. Then just transfer them to a freezer baggie or container. <br />
The same can be done with onions! I'm not a huge onion fan, so when I find myself with a bunch of onions (from my <a href="http://bountifulbaskets.org/">Bountiful Basket</a>) or I've only used half of one for a recipe, I chop up the rest and freeze those as well! I use this handy-dandy onion chopper, but you can certainly cut them up by hand. This one is nice because it makes chopping onions SO quick and easy, the pieces come out a uniform size, and you don't end up crying from the onion vapors!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=cookingwithkimi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000A389IM&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 280px; width: 160px;"></iframe>
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I love having these bags of onions and celery in my freezer because SO many recipes call for them and I can just pop out a few and toss them in my soups, stews, chili, stuffing, gravy, casseroles, or whatever you might need them for! I just keep the same bags in the freezer and add to them as I acquire more celery or onions. <br />
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Next up is my veggie scrap bag! Remeber how I said that you could use every last bit of that celery head? Save the leafy tops and bottoms that you normally chop off and throw away. You can even use every last bit of your onion- top, bottom, and skin! Just rinse them really well and toss them into a veggie scrap bag or container to keep in your freezer. You can use these scraps to make delicious broths and stocks! Add them to water to make vegetable stock, or with chicken or other meat bones to make chicken/beef stock. I also keep carrot tops and peels in here, along with garlic skins, parsnip peels, and my newest addition: egg shells! The egg shells add extra calcium to your stocks. <br />
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And that's it! This really is a mini-series isn't it? Emphasis on mini. :)<br />
Stay tuned for "A Peek Inside My Freezer: Part 2."<br />
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Check out <a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-peek-inside-my-freezer-part-2.html">Part 2</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6376224591338042334.post-86110760130168827552013-01-21T11:40:00.004-07:002013-01-21T12:51:04.491-07:00Corn TortillasIf you hadn't noticed, I have a particular fondness for Mexican-inspired foods. Perhaps it's my Southern California upbringing, my Mexican best friend, or that the food from down south is just so dang delicious that it can't be ignored!<br />
So far i've shared:<br />
<a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2013/01/easy-mexican-rice.html" target="_blank">Easy Mexican Rice</a><br />
<a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2012/01/flour-tortillas.html" target="_blank">Flour Tortillas</a><br />
<a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2011/12/sweet-and-spicy-roasted-tomatillo-salsa.html" target="_blank">My mildly-famous Salsa Verde</a><br />
<a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2011/10/mexican-black-bean-and-corn-casserole.html" target="_blank">Black Bean and Corn. . . casserole?</a><br />
And of course, one of my meals that started my adventure in really, truly cooking, <a href="http://cookingwithkimi.blogspot.com/2011/10/chicken-tacos.html" target="_blank">Chicken Tacos</a>, or TacOdasso's as we so fondly call them. <br />
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Today I want to share something so ridiculously easy, you won't believe that you haven't made them before. Unless of course you don't have a tortilla press. Then it's possible to believe why you haven't made them. <br />
Corn Tortillas!<br />
Don't be scared though. You do NOT NEED a tortilla press. It just makes them into such perfect little circles! A rolling pin would work just fine. If you are interested in a tortilla press, however, here is the one I own. Trust me, once you have one, you will find every excuse to use it every chance you get. <br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=ll0a3-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00164T384&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 290px; width: 160px;"></iframe> <br />
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By the way, there are some things that once you go homemade, you can't go back. I have jam and rolls on that list. Now, I also count corn tortillas. :)<br />
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<b>Corn Tortillas</b><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
2 Cups Masa (Corn Flour)<b> -</b>I don't know where you live, but here in Utah I found this super easily at my neighborhood Smith's. It was on the top shelf in the baking aisle by the flour. The bag was only $2.39 and will make about 132 tortillas. 132!!! Can't get much more economical than that. <br />
1 1/4-1 1/2 cups of Water. <br />
3/4 tsp Salt<br />
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The pictures are really bad today. I snapped them so quick and without much care because I really just wanted to make them and eat them as soon as humanly possible. :) <br />
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Add 2 cups of masa and the salt to a large mixing bowl and mix. You can just use your hands. No need to dirty a spoon or whisk. <br />
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Next pour in the water and continue mixing with your hands. Start with 1 1/4 cups. You want the dough to not be sticky, to all come together, and not be too dry. You can test this by grabbing a small portion, rolling it into a ball, and flattening it between your hands. If the edges are really cracked, the dough is too dry. Slowly add more water, up to 1/4 Cup more until it's good. I used a full 1 1/2 Cups. <br />
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Divide your dough into 16 balls and press them one at a time in your tortilla press. Stick it between two sheets of plastic wrap or a cut-up freezer bag. Alternatively, you can roll the dough out with a rolling pin, still using the plastic. <br />
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They come out as perfect little circles! Keep the dough covered while you are using it. It dries out fairly quickly and leads to cracked tortillas. Just keep your dough balls in the mixing bowl covered with plastic wrap. Also, peel the plastic away from the tortilla. Do not try and peel the tortilla away from the plastic. Does that make sense? Peel off the top layer of plastic. Flip it over, and peel away the bottom layer of plastic. <br />
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Heat a skillet over medium high-high heat and cook each tortilla for about a minute on each side. <br />
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Keep the finished tortillas on a plate covered with a dish/tea towel. This keeps them warm and pliable. <br />
And there you have it! So easy, right?! Extremely simply, extremely cheap, and extremely tasty. <br />
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Here is my insanely over-exposed picture of one of the chicken tacos we made with these tortillas. So delicious, I had one for breakfast this morning. :D<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1