Dinner #4

Tonight's dinner was good.  The side I chose didn't go well with it (Tomato Basil Soup), but the main dish was good.


Parmesan Meatball Sliders

1 lb ground chuck or lean (at least 80%) ground beef

Salt and freshly ground pepper

2 eggs, beaten

1cup Progresso® Italian style panko crispy bread crumbs

1/4cup grated Parmesan cheese

3 cloves garlic, very finely chopped

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley or 1 tablespoon parsley flakes

5 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

4 cups marinara sauce

12 mini hamburger buns

12 slices mozzarella cheese

12 fresh basil leaves, if desired 

• In medium bowl, place beef; sprinkle well with salt and pepper. Add eggs, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic and parsley; mix lightly until combined. Shape mixture into 12 (2-inch) balls.
• In 3- to 4-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add meatballs; cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Pour marinara sauce over meatballs. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered 30 minutes until meatballs are thoroughly cooked and no longer pink in center.
• On each bun bottom, place 1 meatball, 1 slice mozzarella cheese and 1 basil leaf. Cover with bun tops.

We toasted the buns in the broiler to make sure they were extra warm.  I had a hard time finding slider buns so I just used  mini French Rolls.  It worked.

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Dinner #3

Today's dinner was easy to prepare, easy to cook and easy to clean up.  My favorite kind of night.  There isn't any left so I guess it was a hit.  You may want to do  more meat if you have growing kids.  It fed us tonight, but Noah wasn't here.  So maybe double the recipe and marinate over night if possible.

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS

1/2	cup vegetable oil
1/2	cup lime juice
2	tablespoons chopped fresh or 2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
2	tablespoons chopped fresh or 2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
2	tablespoons chopped fresh or 2 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
1	teaspoon onion powder
1/4	teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
4	chicken thighs (about 1 lb)
4	chicken drumsticks (about 1 lb)    1.     In shallow glass or plastic dish or heavy-duty resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix all ingredients except chicken. Add chicken thighs and drumsticks; turn to coat with marinade. Cover dish or seal bag; refrigerate, turning chicken occasionally, at least 30 minutes but no longer than 24 hours.  2.     Heat gas or charcoal grill. Remove chicken from marinade; reserve marinade. Place chicken, skin  sides down, on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 15 minutes. Turn chicken; brush with marinade. Cover grill; cook 15 minutes. Brush with marinade; cook 5 to 15 minutes longer or until juice of chicken is clear when thickest part is cut to bone (180°F). Discard any remaining marinade. (I only cooked it for 15 minutes on each side, but it depends on your grill)  Serve with homemade bread or rolls, side salad and some mixed veggies! (yes, that is my homemade bread)

Dinner #2

Tonight's dinner didn't go over to well with the kids.  They have issues with rice and Lily has an issue with ribs, but the flavors were there and it was an easy fix and an easy clean up.

Polynesian Pork Ribs

Ribs

2 lb boneless country-style pork loin ribs

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 small onion, sliced

1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained 

Sauce

3/4 cup ketchup

3 tablespoons packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons hoisin sauce

1 teaspoon grated ginger root (1/4 tsp of ground ginger if fresh isn't available)

 

Spray 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Place pork ribs, garlic and onion in slow cooker. Spoon about half of the pineapple with some of the juice over ribs. Reserve remaining pineapple and juice. 

 Cover; cook on Low heat setting 8 to 10 hours. (I would stay closer to 8, but it depends on the crock pot)

About 35 minutes before serving, drain and discard cooking juices from slow cooker; wipe edge of slow cooker clean. In small bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, hoisin sauce, gingerroot and remaining pineapple with juice. Spoon or pour evenly over ribs. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 25 to 30 minutes longer or until ribs are glazed. 

Serve with rice and steamed veggies. 

Dinner #1

Well today is my first day of new meals for dinner.  The whole month of February will have a new meal (well except one night.  Date night I will not be cooking) every night.

This first night was really tough.  It was Blue and Gold dinner for cub scouts.  It was a super busy day and I had to do some extra stuff, but I managed to make a yummy Italian dish as well as helped Adam make and decorate a cake.  I managed to get a picture of what was left.  There wasn't much so I guess that is a good sign.

Baked Italian Sausage Rigatoni

2 tsp minced garlic
1 pkg uncooked ground Italian Sausage (I used turkey sausage)
1 pkg pasta-cooked (any pasta will work, curly, bowtie, wagonwheel, rotini)
1 bottle 4 cheese spaghetti sauce (I used 3, but you can also use 6)
2 tsp red pepper flakes (for kick.  I left this out.  We don't like kick in this house)
2 cups mozzarella cheese (divided into two)

brown sausage and garlic in pan.  In a large bowl toss together the sausage with all the other ingredients except for 1 cup of cheese.
Pour pasta mixture into a 9x13 pan lined with cooking spray.  Bake at 375*F for 25 minutes.  Pull out, top with rest of cheese and bake 5 more minutes.

Serve with fresh bread, salad and some nice veggies.  Enjoy!

Field trip Thursday and Friday

The kids all had a half day on Thursday so we thought we would go on a Thursday field trip.  I didn't realize how much I missed those.  We had a picnic at the park.  It was nice to have some down time.

 Friday I went with Lily's class on a Whale Watching field trip.  It was a lot of fun.  The weather was perfect (unlike when I went on it with Adam) and we saw 2 grey whales and 100s of dolphins.  Fun was had by all.

 We really do live in a cool city with lots of unique things to do.  The weather this Winter has been amazing!  We really can't complain. 

We also had Friday Friend Night and the kids had a lot of fun with their friends playing games, Wii and outside. We need to remember it's the small things that make a difference in the life of our kids.

Upcoming Plans

Big things going through my mind.  Opportunities are to be found if one just looks.  That is what Damon and I have been focused on during this new year.  Opportunities.  Things that I am planning for our

1) Blue and Gold dinner- Cub Scouts most important pack meeting.  It's next week and I am in denial about that.  It will still be wonderful.

2) Valentine's Day!  I love sharing this holiday with my kids.  It's so fun.  So many ideas are running through my brain on what to do.  I don't know if I will be able to reign them in.

3) Mixing things up- I have challenged myself to make a new dinner every night in February.  We needed a change in what we eat.  We (Damon and I) are tired of the same old stuff.  I'll be blogging about that whole experience.

4) I'm starting a new business.  Nothing huge, just something fun.  It won't take the place of piano.  It's in addition to it.  Stay tuned for more info.  You may want to participate!

Like I said, many things going through the brain right now.

Mommy Camp Week 2

We had a lot of fun during the last week of Christmas Break.  We were all over San Diego and had some great weather to enjoy our great city.

Monday we went to the World Famous San Diego Zoo.

 Adam met a Toucan and a parrot took some money out of my hand.  We had only been there 5 minutes.

Tuesday we had a play date here with some friends.

Wednesday was the Wild Animal Park.

We went in and fed the Lorakeets.  The second we walked in that door we were mauled.  They are such cute little birds though.

No the picture is not upside down.  Bats hang that way.  We always feed the ducks.

                                                                and become turtles.

Thursday we went to the Birch Aquarium with Daddy.  I have more pictures, but they are on the other camera and I am being lazy.  It was a beautiful day there.  We are glad Damon could join us.

Friday I was all by myself because the kids were over at their friend's house.  Later that night we made some fun desserts.  We made mint chocolate chip cookies, which I had never made.  The kids got a surprise and were able to play Just Dance 3 which I had just got for them.  We danced our hearts out that night.

 Saturday Lily and I had a girls day at the movies and saw Beauty and the Beast.  I had to stop myself from singing every song in the movie.  We enjoyed it.

The kids go back to school on Tuesday.  I'm ready for it.