Out of The Box School Lunch Ideas

Enough with artsy bento boxes already. Let's be real! We are currently a little more than half way through the school year. Frustration hasn't set in quite yet, but when May rolls around I know I'll be at my wits end trying to figure out what to pack in the kids lunches. So, I'll make a list here and refer back to it later.

Let me tell you a few things about Chloe and Nash. They are really picky when it comes to lunch. Not breakfast or dinner, just lunch. They both refuse to eat the school lunches in the cafeteria and I don't blame them.  Neither one likes the same thing for more than a few days in a row. For the most part, Nash doesn't like what Chloe eats and Chloe doesn't like what Nash eats. Furthermore, Chloe takes a reusable lunch box that I can fill with a thermos or Tupperware container and utensils. She always brings them home, never lost and never late. Nash on the other hand, takes his lunch to school in a paper bag and has a poor track record for bringing home reusable items. If Chloe doesn't eat something it remains in her lunch box, where I can see it when she gets home. While Nash throws everything away, I ask everyday how his lunch was and he is more than happy to share what he liked and what he didn't like with me. I would rather know that he didn't like something and try and accommodate him next time rather than have him throw it away like I used to do. What a terrible waste. Not to mention they get home two hours before dinner and are starving. That is its own dilemma.

Tips:
I have a small chalk board in the kitchen where I jot down what I am thinking of making for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner the following day or days. I do this for myself, because  often times, I will think of the perfect lunch for them and when I wake up not so bright-eyed, I can't remember what I was going to make. This little step saves me time in the morning and makes for a more balanced lunch.

I always do my shopping on Sunday or Monday. I like to buy fruit from Costco, it's one stop for the whole week. I wash it, slice it, and store it in the fridge so it's ready to go in the mornings.

I searched Pinterest this morning for some new lunch ideas. I typed in "Kids lunch ideas". Mostly what came up were tons of impractical artsy bento boxes. First of all, food cut into a star shape is not going to persuade my 9 year old or high-schooler to eat it. I didn't find any of these lunches to be practical. I'm not an artist and I'm not going to wake up 30 minutes earlier to color coordinate their fruit and turn their sandwiches into funny faces! I already make a hot breakfast and two completely separate lunches. I usually have 4 dirty pans in the sink by the time we leave for school! You will get a few different ideas by searching "school lunch ideas" instead.

Our Unbento Lunchbox

Today Chloe had soup and crackers with an apple. She eats the Gripz cookies at snack. I can't give her much more than that because they really don't have all that much time to eat. She is a pretty slow eater to begin with. If I give Chloe pasta for lunch and fruit, I always put the pasta in a one-cup container, and the fruit in a one and a half or two-cup container.

I'm going to attempt to separate this list into three parts. One for Chloe, one for Nash, and one for both.

Chloe's Lunches

Soup
Teriyaki chicken and rice (in thermos) this is her favorite
Tortellini
Plain pasta w/evoo
Nutella sandwich (occasionally)
Carrots
Apple (sometimes sliced with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar because it masks the browning)

Nash's Lunches
Grilled cheese
PB with no J
Quesadilla
Wraps
Peanut butter and cracker sandwiches

Both
Salad with croutons and chopped meat (Glad salad containers with snap in dressing cups. At Target.)
Cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches
Cream cheese on a bagel (on Bagel Thins)
Turkey, salami, or roast beef sandwich
Strawberries, hulled
Pineapple chunks
Melon chunks
Kiwi quarters
Orange wedges
Shelled edamame

They both get water everyday and one pantry item each day. A pantry item is anything that comes in a bag, ,box or wrapper, IE: granola bar, pretzels, etc. I use the small snack bags to maintain proper portions. Chloe gets an organic chocolate milk two times per week.

Here are some ideas I got from the web:
Milk in a thermos with a side of cereal
Hot dog in boiling water in a thermos with a bun and condiments on the side.
Waffle sandwich? Hmmm, I'll have to think about this one.
Muffins

I know my lists aren't very long. I would love your ideas!

What do you pack in your kid's lunches?

The Importance Of A Good Thank You

Photo source: About.com

For a minute I lost sight of why this blog was originally intended. This is supposed to be a place where my kids can learn from me. Of course, I teach our kids everyday, but I just wanted them to have something more concrete to refer to after I'm gone. That brings us to today's lesson about thank you cards. I am a huge believer in the act of writing thank you cards. And not just after you get married or after a baby shower.

Me and the kids write and send them all the time. I believe a thank you should be written, or sometimes called, to anyone who has gone out of their way to think about you. Of course, I don't think thank you cards need to be sent for Christmas presents. I'm not sure what Emily Post's point of view on that is. I suppose there are some other instances where a thank you card might not be necessary, and you will have to use your own good judgement to decide if and when that is the case.

Today's lesson was sparked by a few people I know who are notorious for not saying thank you. I like to do nice things for people, I like to let them know I'm thinking about them. One day I became a little bitter and resentful that the favor was never either A.) repaid, B.) appreciated or C.) acknowledged. With the exception of the USPS, there is absolutely no excuse for reason C. So I stopped for the most part and for those particular people who I felt were ungrateful. It was no longer bringing me joy, so I just stopped. Problem solved.

I think I learned the importance of thank you cards from my in-laws. They send and expect thank you cards for everything. My family, not so much. Some of them do. I just don't think it was something that was heavily ingrained. Maybe it's more of a Southern thing.

A thank you card is the best way to show someone you appreciated their thought. If someone goes out of their way, they take the time to make, purchase, or send you something, you should take the time to thank them or at least let them know you got it. Sometimes a phone call, email, or even a text message is enough. I'm sure Miss Post would highly disagree with sending a text, but I'm really reaching for anything here people! Of course I understand, you didn't ask them to do anything nice for you, so why should you be burdened. But that's not the point. Just do the right thing, get off your lazy, "busy", or whatever butt and say thank you, preferably in a handwritten card! And if you can't do that, you just graciously decline their niceness. Got it kids?

So Chloe, Nash, next time your out, pick up a package of blank cards, some stamps, a nice pen and a little basket. Put that on your desk and don't forget the importance of a good thank you card. I love you kids, don't ever forget that. Love, Mom

Graduated and Guilty {Personal Reflection}

I know it sounds so cliche, but it really does feel like not so long ago I was walking Nash into kindergarten. He is just as sweet now as we was then. He is still way too smart for his age, and is still just as clumsy. Yesterday I attended his 8th grade promotion ceremony, cap and gown and all. I can't believe in just a couple short months he will be starting his first day of high school. I too started a brand new high school in a new city where I didn't know a single soul. I was so nervous I actually had my first ever period on that day. I guess I was a late bloomer but it made a nerve wracking day just a bit more traumatizing. Luckily, leggings and really long shirts were really in style that year and that's what I wore that day! It ended up being the best year and the best high school ever. I remember I had made friends with people in every "group". I would just walk around lunch mingling with each clique. Nash is pretty independent and outgoing and I know he will do just fine. He is the same height as me now and I know it won't be long before he shoots past me. It's bittersweet watching them grow up, isn't it?

With both my kids, I just try and constantly teach them and give them information they will need in life. You send them out into the world and hope that they remember those lessons when you're not there. I'm happy to report that most of the time my kids respect those lessons. Sometimes they falter, but Chloe proved this week that even though she makes mistakes she redeems herself and those lessons come right back into play.

On Thursday, the day before school let out for summer break, I picked up Chloe as I normally do. We walked back to the car and before we even got there she confessed she did something at school she felt really bad about. She quickly informed me that some girls had been in the bathroom, wetting toilet paper and throwing it up to the ceiling. She told me she tried it once too, even though she knows she shouldn't have. She hadn't gotten caught doing it, that's not why she was telling me. She told me because she was ridden with guilt over it. I told her we would talk about it more at home. We talked for almost an hour. She said as soon as she did it she felt terrible. She said she asked one of the girls who also did it if she felt terrible too. Apparently the girl told the teacher what she herself had done but the next day when I asked she was didn't know anything about it. When I informed her we were going to talk to the principal, she asked, "Oh, Chloe knows who did it?" I whispered, "No, Chloe is the one who did it." Of course there were several other girls who participated, but we weren't going to rat them out!

I had told Chloe that I was very proud of her for telling the truth but what she had done was called vandalism. I even looked it up for her and showed her the definition. Then I read her the California Penal Code, Section 594. It talks about the fines and jail times associated with vandalism. She was pretty convinced she was going to jail. I assured her it wouldn't be jail, just juvenile hall. She was sobbing pretty hard. Harsh right? But I really wanted her to know the real world punishment for her actions. I also thought it was really important for her to know that someone, probably the school janitor had to clean it up and she just made his job harder. I was concerned that she did something even though she knew it was wrong and gave her plenty of examples of how this could happen when she's older.  I presented situations of girls smoking in the bathroom, or drinking and driving. In those situations one mistake can equal a lifetime of pain. We decided the best thing to do would be to write a letter to her principal. I sent her to her room to write it and this is the letter she returned with:

Dear Mrs. ___________,

Today when I was in the bathroom I saw people getting toilet paper and putting water on it and throwing it at the ceiling. I did it once and I felt guilty and bad. I started crying when I got home and I told my mom. Then I knew I was breaking the law. I felt even worse. If you want me to do anything I will do it. I will clean the ceiling and pay ANYTHING. I feel like I am a horrible person. I am very, very sorry. I learned from my mistake and I promise it will never, EVER happen again in 10,000,000,000 years. I truly am sorry.

                                                                     Sincerely, Chloe

She drew a picture of herself on a ladder in the bathroom cleaning the ceiling with a speech bubble that says, "It's what I deserve."

We delivered the letter the next day right after school, which happened to be the last day of school. As the principal read the letter she seemed to groan with sadness, I thought she was going to cry, because both Chloe and I had tears in our eyes. The principal simply gave Chloe a giant hug and thanked her for her honesty. She made her promise she would go home and be a good girl for her mom. She then went on to tell me what a great mom I was (something I never get tired of hearing). She said most parents would have never done that, they would just brush it off, or reward them by taking them to Disneyland. Her words.

Even though I hate punishing her for it, she is grounded from the computer (her favorite thing) for two weeks. I continue to praise her for coming to me and for her honesty. I hope she continues to confide in me and trust me. I have a very special relationship with both kids and I never take that for granted.

Bragging {Personal Reflection}

Sometimes I get so annoyed at those bragging moms. So, I'll keep it short. This week Nash had a brief conversation with the owner of the San Diego Padres, Jeff Moorad. He gave him some advice on who we should draft. I heard Mr. Moorad say, "Wow! You really know your baseball." Jeff....You have no idea, and I believe it was really your pleasure to meet him!

Last week, Chloe was selected to be in the school spelling bee. She came in second. She went back and forth with PTA mom's daughter for quite some time before she missed "busness" or as you know it, and she will never forget, "business." She got a certificate and a really cool medal.

Is It Too Early For A Drink?

I am feeling so frustrated. It all started yesterday when I made yet another attempt to add a cute font for my post titles and sidebar. I've followed Amanda's tutorial many times, only to give up the same number of times. Yesterday I found this awesome video tutorial at The Blog Designer Network that walked me through each step. When I was done with all the steps it even sort of worked. The cute font was there but my old title was also still there. I followed Amanda's troubleshooting tips and instead of fixing it, I made it disappear and after many more hours and attempts I gave up again. Nash tried to make me feel better, but at that point it was that I just needed to accomplish it for the sake of accomplishing it. I have done pretty much everything on my blog by myself, and I just can't bring myself to have someone else do this for me. It's the stubborn principle of it all.

On top of that mess, I was in workout clothes all day yesterday and never worked out, I cooked two different things that didn't turn out to my satisfaction and I'm trying to make a life changing decision for my family. Being a grown-up can be hard. When I was little, all I wanted to be was a grown-up. My imaginary play was usually me taking my kids to a fro school and going to the grocery store. I have to say my imaginary world was not a stretch from my current reality. But in my childhood play I never had to deal with dilemmas. I was never faced with decisions that would impact my family. As a mother and wife, that's all I do. Every decision I make will effect my family and that can weigh heavily. I wish I could see into the future. I wish I knew what the best place for Nash will be for his high school life. I wish hubby wasn't so indecisive.

So, I'm frustrated because time is getting the best of me and there are too many loose ends. I think it is too early for a drink, even if it were a mimosa. I think instead I will clean out my closet and rid myself of excess material baggage. At least I will feel some sense of accomplishment. Making decisions about what tops and sundresses to giveaway should be a lot easier than tackling CSS codes and life changing decisions.

Dress To Impress

Just a quick note to let you know that I am completely swamped with to-do's while trying to get ready for this wedding tomorrow. Things should calm down next week and I will be back to posting next Tuesday. I did want to share a little talk I had with Chloe and Nash last night.

We attended the rehearsal dinner last night for Ian and Kate's wedding. I wore a spring dress, cardigan, and wedge sandals. Chloe wore a casual dress with leggings, which is out of the norm from her regular t-shirt and jeans. Nash wore dark jeans and a collared button down shirt. Dad wore jeans and a long sleeve button down. Why am I telling you all of this? Well, on the drive there, Chloe asked if her cousins would be dressed up, or if anyone else would be. I said probably not because it was at my cousins house, BUT that it didn't matter in this case what everyone else was doing. The soon-to-be bride and groom requested us to look business casual.

I preceded to explain that it was a sign of respect to Ian and Kate and ourselves to take the time to make ourselves look nice. I told them that not everyone may feel that way and that it may not even occur to other people, but our family was going to observe this theory. With all the work everyone put into to make the dinner happen, the least we could do was invest some time in making ourselves look presentable. I said I didn't think they would appreciate us in all their rehearsal dinner photos in scrubby clothes! They agreed and I think they had a bit of pride in themselves.

I would never consider leaving the house in my pajamas, without make-up, or without my hair brushed. Again this is just a personal issue I have, but I honestly feel better, when I feel I look "put-together." Chloe opened up dialogue and I took advantage of a teaching moment with them. I look for those opportunities with them all the time. We often have important conversations and I'm proud to say they have a very open and honest relationship with me. I think they feel comfortable talking to me about anything. That makes me very happy!

My Sweet, Sweet Nash and a Letter.

Last night , dressed in a button down and sport coat, Nash had to go to school to present his History Day project to judges, teachers, parents, and peers. History Day is unequivocally the largest project the kids do during all three years at middle school. Because Nash has a love for baseball he did his project on Moses Fleetwood Walker. He created a website to display the information. He worked on his project for months. He did it all by himself. While we talked a lot about it and he gave us constant updates on the project, neither his Dad or I helped him. It doesn't serve it's intended purpose when a project is done by the parents, now does it? He got a B on the project and was invited to present it to county, which we declined due to scheduling conflicts. It was unfortunate that I was unable to go and support him last night at school. I feel horrible, but he did have his dad and sister there to support him.

This morning I received this letter in my email from another mom at his school. He's friend's with her daughter, Anne, and I've talked to her occasionally because we usually volunteer at a few events together throughout the school year.

Hi Lil,

Just a quick note to brag about your son.  He is the nicest most polite boy at (our school) and that's the truth!!!  (Of course the competition is no where near him.)

Last night when we arrived at the History Show he came right up to my husband and I (Anne wasn't with us) and said hello.  He had never met my hubby so I introduced them, he shook our hands, looked us right in the eyes and was attentive to us only.  Later we went to his table he walked us through his wonderful website (my hubby is a baseball nut too) very politely and professionally.  As we were leaving he said it was nice meeting my husband.  My husband was amazed that there are still boys like him. 

I can't say enough about how great he is. I wish you'd tutor children in social etiquette.  We'd sent Anne in a heartbeat.

Have a nice weekend.

Linda

 

How sweet, right?

 

My sweet, sweet Nash-I am so proud of who you are. I'm proud that you got straight A's last quarter and that you do it all by yourself. I never have to nag you to do homework. You make it all seem so effortless. You really are the sweetest and most polite boy. I certainly don't need a note like this to remind me how wonderful you are, but it is nice that other people see it too. You have always amazed the people around you by your sharp mind, big heart, and mature attitude. I am grateful for everyday I have with you. I love you and thank you for being you. Don't ever change for anyone. I'd love to take all the credit here, but if anyone deserves it, it's you.

Love,

Mom

Brag Session: Nash and Chloe {personal reflection}

Nash and a group of his classmates participated in Constitutional Competition at one of our local colleges. Many schools were invited. They presented answers to school board members, lawyers, teaches, congress members, etc. It was fascinating to watch these eighth graders explain the constitution. They presented different opinions and ideas and backed them up with court cases and laws. They wore suits and they sat up straight. They introduced themselves with firm handshakes, polite smiles, and eye contact. They spoke with confidence and articulated their thoughts clearly. I know many adults that couldn't answer the questions they were asked. I know many adults who can't explain the Constitution like they did, myself included. I was very impressed, and I'm glad I got to witness our future generation in action. I'm proud of you Nash! And no, his group didn't win. But he was kind of relieved, I think.

Nash and Chloe both tried out for Little League last weekend and they will both be moving up a level this year. This will be Nash's last year playing, as he starts high school next year, and it will be MUCH more competitive. So, just another month and we will be eating, sleeping, and breathing baseball again! I hope that means more radio and television appearances for Nash too. That will help any internship he may apply for in highschool.

Chloe agreed to wear ANOTHER dress for an event we are attending on the east coast in a couple of weeks. The girl hasn't worn a dress in years, and she didn't even put up a fight. Don't tell her I told you, but it seemed she was a little excited. We rushed right out to pick the dress. She tried on several and she was twirling around in the dressing room. She said, "You know, it feels kinda nice to wear a dress!" OH BLESS HER HEART! She got TWO dresses! She did say she wasn't wearing them out in public. By public she means, not to school or around our town. What would the boys think?

Nash is on track to get straight A's. He's in honors classes too. He sure has come a long way since elementary school when he got C's in some subjects! That's another story. I'm actively looking at high schools for him, which is hard to do, because I still don't know if we are moving or not, and where to if we do!

Chloe finished the first Harry Potter and took an A.R. test on it and passed. She's now 1/2 way through the second book. Nash didn't read that series until he was in 5th grade. It was good he waited though because that year when he was promoted he received an award for the most AR points in the whole school. Chloe does have the most in her class, but nowhere near what he had.

Do you ever cry during the back stories on AI?

I do....all the time!

Chloe and Nash and I have been watching American Idol. Chloe hopes to someday tryout for America's Got Talent or AI, but mostly for playing piano, not singing. She is now in her 4th consecutive year of lessons. She started in kindergarten. She actually taught herself how to play Beethoven's Fur Elise! We've had our battles and she's wanted to quit a lot. I know she will thank me when she's older. And she'll always have something to fall back on. Maybe she give piano lessons to little kids when she's in college instead of waitressing. We pushed through, even getting her a new teacher this year. She's much happier with the new teacher. It melts my heart when she plays and now she plays on her her own without any push from me.

I love being a mom, and I especially love being a mom to Nash and Chloe. I feel so lucky to have such wonderfully healthy, happy, smart, and well adjusted kids. I NEVER take it for granted. I truly believe everyday is a gift. Everyday that they still live it home and I get the honor of taking care of them, teaching them, and raising them is like Christmas morning for me. I love you kiddos!

How I Got My Kids To Eat Everything {6 Rules}

Liver, cow tongue, mushrooms, menudo, salsa, beans, escargot, sushi, quail eggs, salad, brussle sprouts, lamb, the list goes on and on. Nash (13) is older and more adventurous than  Chloe, his 8 year old sister, but they are both super eaters. It wasn't always so easy to get them to eat what I wanted them to.

This morning Dr. Oz called into one of our local radio stations for an interview. He said that what you eat while your pregnant will influence how your children eat once their out of the womb. Hmmm, I guess it makes sense. He mentioned that the food you eat makes their way to them via the amniotic fluid through the umbilicol cord. He was much clearer explaining it than I am. When I was pregnant with Nash I craved Rubio's Fish Tacos, and I ate a lot of Cheerios due to morning sickness. It seemed to be the only thing that stayed down. With Chloe I ate rolled taquitos with guacamole. I don't think any of that transmitted to what they wanted to eat later.

I think that taste buds evolve. I think that babies and children's taste buds are more sensitive. Of course Nash lived off of quesadillas and dino chicken for what seemed like forever. And Chloe is still perfectly content with a big bowl of plain noodles.

I eventually learned a few rules that helped them transition into more adventurous eaters. I would definitely try to avoid introducing nutritionless foods and bad habits in the first place, but in my case I was young mother who had no idea what she was doing and no Internet, and no one to ask for advice! So, later I had some serious undoing to do.

6 Rules To Get Your Kids To Eat Better

1. They must try everything. They must try it every time it is served. Sources say that you must introduce a food many times before they will be willing, like 20! Of course, if they are gagging maybe pass. You don't want to traumatize them. And some things they will never like. But you can't serve them broccoli 3 times and then give up on them. And don't overly season things. Maybe trying serving veggies with cheese sauce or dressing at first.

2. If they are hungry they will eat. Hmm, your child doesn't want to eat his dinner? How about skipping the afternoon snack, glass of juice, and cup of milk before dinner. Maybe move dinner a little earlier so the little guy or gal doesn't have a meltdown.
3. Never serve milk with dinner. Have you ever sucked down an entire glass of milk before dinner? If your trying to eat smaller portions try it. You'll be full before you even pick up your fork. Same goes with little Johnny. Serve water with dinner.
4. Eat the number of bites that you are years. So if little Sally is 2, she needs to take 2 bites of broccoli, 2 bites of fish, and 2 bites of salad, before she can be excused, or before she can eat all of her mac and cheese that she loves so much. When she turns 3, she moves up to 3 bites. At 10, she'll eat, you guessed it, 10 bites.
5. Skip most casseroles and salad dressings. Every kid I ever met has issues with casseroles unless it's the above stated mac and cheese. For whatever reason, kids seem to like their food separated. They don't like dressing on salad either. The only dressing most kids like is ranch, in my experience.
6. Let them have a say. Now, in my opinion it's never been a good idea to say something like, "What do you want for dinner tonight?" Or, "What do you want to do today?" Ask that and you may get answers like, ice cream and Disneyland. However, you can still give them choices which will help them feel like they are a part of the process. Do you want super vision carrots or giant muscles spinach with dinner? And for goodness sake, don't ask them if they want salad, just serve it to them! You're the boss, remember?

Now implementing these rules won't change your child's eating habits overnight. These things take time. It took years before my kids willingly opened themselves up to trying new foods. Now it's exciting for them. When we went to San Fransisco this  last fall, we took the kids to a fancy restaurant. Nash had been dying to try Escargot, so I ordered him an appetizer plate. He and Chloe ate the whole thing while me and hubby sat and watched horrified! Anyway, you're not a short order cook. You do enough, you shouldn't have to cook separate meals. Strong Statement Alert: If you have picky eaters, it's because you've allowed it. Even still Chloe complains about eating her veggies, but she always does, with the exception of onions. I don't force her to eat those. Nash still doesn't eat tomatoes. And that's okay, I don't expect them to like everything, that's unrealistic.

Please forgive me if I have offended anyone. These are solely my opinions and ideas. I'm NOT a physician or psychologist, I'm just a mom. These rules worked for my kids and I think they can work for you. It won't be easy, you must dilligent. And if not...there's still hope. How many adults do you know who only eat chicken nuggets and applesauce? I'm willing to bet, NONE.

Need recipe ideas and meal plans. Buy Saving Dinner. It taught me everything I needed to know about serving healthy dinners. I actually prefer the recipes in Saving Dinner The Low-Carb Way.

Do you have any good tips to

share to get kids to eat better?

Superbowl Sliders!

Varying sources say different things about who invented them, but we do know Sliders have  been made famous by White Castle and Krystal.  Wikipedia says "A slider is a very small square hamburger patty sprinkled with diced onions and served on an equally small bun. According to the earliest citations, the name originated aboard U.S. Navy ships, due of the way greasy burgers slid across the galley grill while the ship pitched and rolled. Other versions claim the term "slider" originated from the hamburgers served by flight line galleys at military airfields, which were so greasy they slid right through you; or because their small size allows them to "slide" right down your throat in one or two bites."

You will find all kinds of recipes out there for sliders. They are fun to make and eat, and super adaptable. Nash could eat burgers everyday, and so could I for that matter. I got this recipe from my brother-in-law. We have kind of changed it up a bit to suit our prefrences, but the basic ingredients are beef, onion, pickle, & bun. The secret to these I think is baking them. Yep, you bake it on a cookie sheet/jelly roll pan.

Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground beef (at least 80/20 or fattier)
1 packet onion soup mix
2 packages hot dog buns
cheese slices
pickle slices
Condiments
Shredded lettuce (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix onion soup mix and ground beef in a bowl. Press ground beef into a jelly roll pan (baking sheet with 1-inch deep sides). It should be pressed to about 1/4 inch thick. Bake for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, without opening them, cut the hot dog buns in half. Then, slice just the ends off.  (*Optional: At this point, I lightly buttered the inside of each bun, and placed them, open faced on a cookie sheet. I broiled until lightly toasted, at the same time as when I returned the beef to melt the cheese.) Once your hamburger is cooked, remove from oven, drain the fat off and cover with cheese. Return to the oven until the cheese is melted. Use a pizza cutter to slice the meat into small squares. Note that the meat will have shrunk up a bit when cooked.

To Assemble: Add your condiments to the bun, top with cooked beef, and a pickle slice. We used mayo and lettuce and we used Tillamook Cheddar slices. Different variations include: Using Hawaiian Sweet Rolls or any other type of small roll. You can also use fresh chopped onions mixed into the meat, or dried minced onion. If you use dried onion, sprinkle it on the baking sheet, then press the meat directly on top of it.

This post is linked up to the following:

  Tailgating Time @ Our Krazy Kitchen. Sundays at One Food Club @ Cocina Diary.Tasty Tuesday's @ 33 Shades of Green.Tasty Tuesdays@ Dr. Laura's Adventures.Tasty Tuesdays @ For The Love Of Blogs.

30 Minute Fajitas

I know, turkey again! But here's the thing, I'm lazy, and these are super fast and easy, because I buy the pre-cut turkey strips. They're pricey, but they save a lot of time. This is Nash's favorite dinner. And it makes me happy too because it's uber nutritious. Sometimes I leave the beans out, but I like to add them because the turkey strips are expensive and this really adds several servings to the final amount. So if you are serving more than, say three adults, you either need to add more meat, or the beans. You can use just about any meat you wish. Chicken, Steak, and even Shrimp are good options.

Serves 4 ish

Some Ingredients you'll need are:

1 lb. of your choice of meat, sliced fajita style

1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed

1 onion, halved and sliced

1 green bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips

2 red or orange bell peppers, seeded and sliced into strips

1 tsp. crushed or 1 clove, minced garlic

Olive oil

Salt, Pepper

Southwest Seasoning mix (I use Pampered Chef)

Now, don't freak out if you don't have some of the ingredients, like the seasoning. Fajitas are very forgiving, and adaptable. Use what you have. First, slice all your veggies. In a large saute pan, heat about a tablespoon of olive oil over medium low heat. Use enough oil to coat the entire bottom of the pan. Add your veggies, and sprinkle with some salt. Cook these, stirring frequently for anywhere from 30-45 minutes. The amount of time you cook them for depends on a couple of factors. 1.) How thick did you cut your veggies? 2.) What texture are you going for? The longer you cook them, the softer your veggies will get. As liquid is lost, the onions will begin to caramelize.

Next, when your veggies are to the desired firmness, push them aside in the pan and add your turkey and season it. *You may have to add a bit of oil to cook the turkey.*

Turn up the heat to medium and stir fry the turkey until thoroughly cooked (no longer pink please). Then add the beans, and mix with the turkey and veggies until the beans are hot.

It should look like this:

Serve in warm flour tortillas. We like to add shredded cheese and sour cream.

 

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Rain, Rain, Stay! I want Rainboots from Signals!

Well it's not going to be a white Christmas here in San Diego, but it sure is a wet one! I thought we might just float away last night. Some may hate this weather, but it sure is a nice change, it really sets the mood. I just love wrapping presents and watching Christmas movies with a soft blanket, the glow of candles and the Christmas tree is so relaxing. Some of our favorite movies are Miracle on 34th Street (the classic version), and Olive The Other Reindeer, with Drew Barrymore. Give me a nice cup of cocoa, spiked with some Baily's and I'm in cozy heaven! It's so much better than our typical 80 degree Christmas's!

I was leaving one of my favorite bloggers  a message, when I saw this ad on her site for what looked like some super fly cowgirl boots. I was intriqued and I clicked on the ad. It took me to a place called Signals. Ever heard of it? I haven't, and let me just say, they have super cute stuff! Those cowgirl boots get even better. They're rain boots! Just what I need. I can't bring myself to buy them right now, it's the season of giving, not buying for myself afterall. I also have on my list a cute Lauren Conrad blazer from Kohls, if any hubby is listening, hint, hint. Just kidding. We aggreed not to exchange gifts this year, and I'm fine with that, it was my idea.

I've been super busy with holiday of course, we are hosting a Christmas Eve dinner with my brother and his family, and a Christmas dinner here with cousins. I also do a Christmas breakfast spread so I'll be in the kitchen a lot over the next few days. I'm praying I don't burn my prime rib roast, that would be so wasteful and sad! I've also been working on a new blog for Nash. It was supposed to be a Christmas present, but I really wanted the design to be his vision. Since he helped so much I just let him start it. We launched on Dec. 9th and he has about 6 posts. I moderate all the posts and comments and since I'm also his "manager" I have to make sure it gets to all the right people. Those include sports news anchors, radio personalities, MLB managers, etc. So if you know anyone in the Major League Baseball world or sports world, I would love to get in touch with you!

If I don't post again before Christmas, have a Merry and safe one! I'll leave you with my view of the wet, windy, foggy, cold weather outside...

It's My Birthday...Crown

Today Is My Birthday!

Today is my birthday! A couple days ago Chloe made this crown for me. She even thought to include little sheets I could tear off each day for a countdown. When she presented it to me, she made it clear that I was to wear it all the time leading up to my birthday...."Even in public," she said. Was she kidding, I thought?

So on Sunday we all had to go out to pick up some supplies for a school project (and my wine ornaments) at Michael's. Being the mom I am, I happily adorned my birthday crown. Let's just say on a Sunday afternoon there were no shortage of shoppers. There were a lot of looks my way, a little girl who pointed and laughed, (no joke), and a past PTA president, with whom I had an entire conversation. I even stopped her to ask if she could take me seriously while I was wearing the crown. At the end of our chat, she tapped me on the arm, looked at me pathetically and said, "You're a good mom." Hmmm, I thought, I guess I am. But, really, I thought, how could anyone not honor a wish like that of their 8 year old daughter? It reminded me to have some childish fun while celebrating my birthday!

On the inside she wrote "If lost return to"....and my phone number.

While at Michael's Nash made a secret purchase for me, asking the store attendants their opinion on his idea. Whatever it is, I'm sure I'll love it. I already feel like the luckiest person in the world. I have all of life's greatest gifts already.

Nash's Birthday

Yesterday was Nash's birthday. It wasn't just any birthday, it was his 13th birthday! That means I am now the mom of a teenager ;-(. Lucky for me, he is the sweetest and smartest boy ever. I couldn't be more proud of all that he has accomplished this last year, and how he has composed himself in all his fame. I know this is only a tidbit of the wonderful and amazing things he will do in his future.

To celebrate his birthday milestone we took him to go see family in North Carolina. My in-laws live there, and my SIL just had a brand new baby girl who we just had to visit. She is amazing and just like they use to say about Nash, she too has a pleasant disposition. When I look at her it is as if I am looking at my kids again when they were babies. Being first cousins they all have very similar features.

Our family is really loving North Carolina, and I wonder how long it will be before we pack up and leave California...

Here are some photos of a little farm we went to while we were there.

 She literally stopped drinking and looked at me as soon as I pointed my camera in her direction. What a ham! Haha, get it? It's funny because it's a cow and not a pig.

They call her the Chick Fil-A cow.

            We took a ride around the farm in a covered wagon.

Reminds me of the Oregon Trail!

 Feels like fall!

Lazy Sunday

Ahh, I love Sundays. Especially the ones where you don't get out of your pajamas all day. Today is going to be nerveracking though. I'll be watching the Padre game with Nash. So much is riding on this game and we (he) will be heartbroken if they don't win. I understand how can be so upset. He has invested sooo much time rooting for his team. In baseball the season is so long and there are soooooo many games. Besides if they win and his predictions pan out it will only be good for his career. Yes, that's right, I said his career. He is only 12 and he is a local celebrity around our town. His knowledge of the game has landed him several radio and television guest appearances throughout this season. They love to hear his thoughts. He is very knowledgeable about the game, players, managers, stats, etc. We are so proud of him. So please wish us luck, even if you live in San Francisco!

Also today, I am in search of a banana pumpkin muffin recipe. I'll let you know how that goes later this week. And I'm going to attempt to put together a Chrome storage shelf for my garage. It's part of my getting organized quest. I will fill you on that when I dedicate a week of posts to all things organized!