Mini Turkey Meatballs

These mini Turkey meatballs are a huge hit at our house, and are so easy to make.

Click here for the full recipe.

Sunny Side Up Finds

1. A 2 Z
2. found here (can't remember where I first saw this image, but it seems to be a popular one)
3. C+S
4. decor pad (love the giant photo on the back wall!)
5. Lee Kleinhelter
6. found here (how cool is this?!)

Italian Quesadillas

Keeping up with our new family menu, next on the list is this fast and easy Italian take on the quesadilla.

Simple Ingredient list (click here for the full recipe)

• 4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 9 (8-inch-diameter) flour tortillas
• 3 cups shredded Fontina
• 3/4 cup jarred roasted red bell peppers, drained well and patted dry
• 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
• 1/3 cup freshly shredded Parmesan, plus 3 tablespoons for garnish

 

Family Menu Revamp

Recently our weekly family menu has been repetitive and lacking interest, so I am on mission to create a menu plan that is fast, easy, interesting, and above all healthy. To get the ball rolling I found my way over to the food network, specifically Giada's Everyday Italian page. This lady knows how to cook fast, easy, interesting and above all healthy meals! Her videos are easy to follow and cook along with, especially if you prep your ingredients before hand.

Giada De Laurentiis needs no introduction, but just in case you are asking who is Giada, check out her Food Network page here. 

The hardest part, as you know, will be to create a family friendly menu that both toddler, mom, and dad will enjoy. With this in mind I will be posting a new menu item each week, so check back to see how the menu revamp project is going.

First on our new menu is Giada's Light and Healthy Penne Pasta dish. It's whole grain, has two types of kid friendly cheese, and spinach. Click here for the recipe, and check out the video below.

Light and Healthy Penne

Happy Mother's Day

I hope you have a happy Mother's Day!

Toddler Bag

 image found here

What to do when the changing mat and diapers have been replaced by a travel Lysol spray and potty seat covers!

We have been out of diapers for about 3 months now, and it is very freeing in many ways, but has opened up a few unforeseen obstacles.  Before, the diaper change could happen most anywhere, anytime, thanks to the trusty changing mat and/or back of the car (we’ve all been there). Now, the hunt is on for the nearest public restroom. The rush of making it in time, and then the germ phobic, gut wrenching reaction to the unkempt toilet! Out comes the trusty travel Lysol can, and potty seat cover (the Princess or Dora print somehow brightens the mood, you know?), and hold on for dear life as that tiny little hiney hovers dangerously close to falling in said toilet. ARGH!! Next is the grand exit strategy, followed by the ever popular statements, “Don’t touch that”, “don’t crawl under the stall door”, and the balancing act of helping a three foot little one wash their hands without wallering all over the cruddy sink. OH! And remember to pray (seriously) for there to be pink soap when you do make it to the sink, because if it’s not pink, we’re in trouble!

So, we’ve graduated from diapers to big kid undies, and don’t find the need to carry the old diaper bag around anymore, but still find a need for a few essentials while out-and-about.

Enter the toddler bag! Here is what I find helpful to have on hand.

• wipes
• potty seat covers
• change of clothes or two depending on where you are at with the newly discovered potty
• hand sanitizer
• plastic baggie to store wet clothes
  

Note: Keep the bag compact! Better yet, fit it in your purse, though I find it hard to do still. You will be squeezing into a one person stall most often, as someone has occupied the largest stall. A tip to getting in and out of said small stall: Pick up toddler, turn sideways and slide into the tiny crack of the stall door without running into the toilet paper dispenser, trash can, and of course the toilet, put toddler down and remember the famous statement “don’t touch anything!” close door and begin prepping the toilet, all the while reminding toddler “don’t touch anything!”.