Green Smoothie

I posted over here about the drink Everett and I both have every day!

"Pink Stuff"

This is a side dish that is served at every single holiday in my family. No plate is complete without a mound of "pink stuff"...

In case you are confused, "pink stuff" is a jello "salad" (not sure why "jello" and "salad" are ever put together in a recipe title), that has a light fluffy texture and tastes of pears and strawberry. It is loved by everyone, especially the kiddos!

It is such a tradition in my family, and when I found the recipe in a family cookbook I was excited to share it, and post it here for me to always find! And with Easter this Sunday, it is the perfect side dish to share.

"Pink Stuff" Jello Salad

1 8oz block cream cheese, softened

1 15 oz can of pears, drained and juice reserved

1 8oz tub Cool Whip

1 large box strawberry Jello

In a blender, combine cream cheese and pears until smooth. Leave in blender, you'll come back to this in a minute.

Measure 1 cup of the pear juice (adding water to make one cup if needed). Bring liquid to a boil in a sauce pan, then add Jello. Stir until Jello dissolves.

To the blender with the pears and cream cheese, add the Cool Whip and jello. Blend thoroughly. Pour into large bowl and refrigerate until firm.

Enjoy!

Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

This is a recipe for the little ones. Others can eat it too, I just have an aversion to cottage cheese so I make these for the babe. And he is CRAZY for them.

Everett was never into baby food. So right away I tried to find recipes that he could safely feed himself for meals. I found this one, and have made it so many times and adjusted it for us, I thought I would share it! Its a good way to bookmark it for myself, I pulled it up on my phone twice already this week.

I love this pancake recipe, because it is flour and sugar free! the original is very thick so I add liquid to make a thinner batter. I also add cinnamon and I like to do banana when I have them on hand. I have tried these, and they are good!!

You need: oats, cottage cheese, eggs, fruit, cinnamon, vanilla, and water.

Add everything except fruit to the food processor.

Add the batter and cook like you would a pancake! I always add the fruit to the pancake batter once I poured it into the pan.

After I make a big batch (and its usually a big batch since I don't have another use for cottage cheese), put them on a cookie sheet, freeze for 6 hours then transfer to a ziploc. Then I pop one in the microwave for 20 seconds and cut up for Everetts breakfast! (the picture below are the frozen blueberry ones I made earlier in the week)

Baby approved!

Oatmeal Banana Pancakes

1 cup oats (not quick cooking)

1/2 cup cottage cheese

2 eggs

2-3 tablespoons water or milk

pinch of cinnamon

1/4 tsp vanilla

thinly sliced banana, or fruit of choice

Put all ingredients except fruit into food processor. Blend until it forms a smooth, not too thick or thin batter.

I use an ice cream scoop to add the batter to the pan, this makes small pancakes. Add fruit (banana or blueberries are great) to the batter once in the pan. Flip once the pancake bubbles. Cook on fruit side another 30 sec- 1 minute.

Serve immediately or transfer to cookie sheet to freeze and enjoy throughout the week!

yields 10 small pancakes- recipe easily doubles, or triples!

How I save a Buck.

While in Tucson, my friend Mistie had this awesome venti-sized Starbucks tumbler that she made me a tasty iced coffee drink in. I wanted that cute cup so badly, but they sell for upwards of $50 on Amazon! Crazy!

While walking through good ole WalMart shortly after that, I found they sell the same reusable, BPA free, 24oz tumbler for $5! Steal! (today I went back to get a couple more and they were sold out. boo.)
I now make my own iced coffee to start my day out with. My office job calls for coffee. I need it.

All I do now, instead of hitting up the real deal, is brew 12 cups of coffee in my pot. I used the Sams Club coffee (hey, it works).
I put in into a pitcher and let it refrigerate. Most people make iced coffee extra strong, so when they pour it HOT over ice it dilutes a bit. If you make it ahead there is no need to make the coffee extra strong.

Then, every morning, I fill my cup with ice, add the coffee, and some Silk Chocolate soymilk!
Its so yummy!!

Saves a lot of time and money! And its a bit healthier, since I only add the soymilk, no other sugar or fat.

I am hooked.

Cupcakes!

The other night I made a big batch of extra-large cupcakes for our small group at church. It had just been Chris' birthday the day before, so I thought it was a good occasion!

Although the kids just licked the frosting off, it seemed like they were a hit!

Heres some photos to torture you!

yummy!!

Yummy Pasta

I made this for dinner the other night while Chris was at a work baseball event. I really don't like being alone at night... I've watched to many scary movies....but it does give me a chance to cook some food that I crave and know Chris won't eat. This is one of those meals!

Its not fancy or hard to make, just really yummy!

I had roasted red pepper alfredo sauce, whole grain linguine, onion, garlic, bell peppers and jalapenos.

I know the jalapenos sound strange, but its really good if you like spicy food. They have a pasta dish like this at Z Tejas....where I got my inspiration! I used 2 jalapenos for this dish since I knew they weren't that spicy from making guacamole with them.

Slice all veggies. Sauté the onion in some olive oil, until soft. Add the bell peppers and jalapenos until soft then add the garlic.
Add about 3/4 of the canned alfredo (its the best kind, and healthiest for you!)
Add cooked pasta and enjoy!

So easy right??? I portioned it out for lunches before I ate it for dinner. Then I realized it was so amazing I ate another portion for dinner. Then I felt fat.

:)

yummy cereal mix.

So for the past several months I have been bringing this cereal mix to work, and got everyone hooked. I made it because a while back the Dr told me I have to eat a lot more fiber since I have a lot of stomach issues. Its is super easy, just mix everything in a bag and its good to go!

What you need:

• 4 cups Quaker Oatmeal Squares, Brown Sugar flavor (they also make cinnamon in a red box)
• 4 cups Kashi Go Lean Crunch Cereal (Chris loves this cereal!)
• 1 cup Craisins
• 1 cup Almonds

I don't measure anything out, but for the batch I just made I did. (just for you bloggers :)

• In large bowl, or ziploc bag mix together both cereals and add craisins.
• If your almonds are whole like mine, toast them whole for about 5 minutes in a large skillet on med. heat. Transfer to cutting board and cut in half (they cut so much easier once toasted a little bit). They place back in the skillet and finish toasting about 5 minutes. (Next time, I am going to buy slivered almonds. I just have to use up that huge Costco bag first)

Here is my bag:

A lot of the girls at work omit the almonds and add Cracklin Oat bran or dried cherries or just about anything!

lunch.

Salads are my lunch of choice. I love making myself a good salad for lunch. Todays was especially yummy, so I thought I'd share.

This salad is just spinach, grapes, dried cranberries, toasted almonds, feta cheese and a raspberry pomegranate vinaigrette.

Delish.

Now a cookies and cream Drumstick is calling my name.

Yummy Dinner

Turkey Meatloaf

1½ lb ground turkey
1 yellow onion, minced
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1 zucchini, peeled and chopped
1 egg
1 garlic clove
¾ cup bread crumbs
1 tsp tomato paste
½ cup Chicken broth
1 tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp dried thyme
½ cup milk
Salt and pepper to taste

Topping:
1 tbsp ketschup
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
½ tbsp brown sugar


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium saute pan, over medium-low heat, cook the onions, olive oil, salt, and pepper until translucent, but not browned, approximately 15 minutes. Add the chicken stock, and tomato paste and mix well. Allow to cool to room temperature.
Mince the garlic, zucchini and carrot in the food processor.
Combine the ground turkey, bread crumbs, egg, milk, thyme, veggie mixture, and onion mixture in a large bowl. Mix well and shape into a rectangular loaf on an ungreased sheet pan. Combine the ketchup, mustard and brown sugar. Spread the topping evenly on top. Bake for 1 hour.

















OK so I never grew up eating meatloaf. In fact, the first time I tried it was when I made it for Chris and I just a couple months ago. I loved it! This time I tried to tweak a couple of recipes I found, and it turned out very good! It was a little bit dry just because it is turkey and not beef- thats why I put milk in the recipe. Also, I would recommend extra topping! its the best part!