Dinner this week.

Wham, bam, thank you ma'am. It's going to be that sort of week. So what business do I have planning homemade, comfort-food type meals? 

Absolutely none.   

But I never let silly realities like my schedule dictate my appetite. This is what I need this week. Amidst the craziness, I need good, warm meals. I need to slow down and allow time for the beef to braise.

Some people meditate. 

I cook. 

And so despite my time constraints, I am determined to make this work.  I have the grocery list to prove it and need to finalize this post so I can dash to the store and get started. 

Literally. Right. Now.

1.  Chicken Pot Pie - Talk about comfort food!  I plan to make these as individual pies with the biscuit topping. I'll likely modify the recipe a bit but this recipe is my inspiration. 

2.  Beef Stew - I have my own beef stew recipe I adore. Mine, however, is filled with vegetables, and if there is anything my duo dislikes, it's anything filled with vegetables. And so I'm going to try this version with only beef, carrots, and potatoes. What's not to like?!

3. Spaghetti and Meatballs - This is a staple at our house {I make batches of meatballs, freeze them, and pull them out as needed}, but I'm trying a new recipe. I've tried many, many meatball recipes over the years. I am never displeased, but am still searching for . . . the one.

4. Chicken Noodle Soup - This may well be my family's favorite meal. Mine too. This will be it's highly-anticipated debut this season.

If it's chilly here this week I assume the rest of the country is absolutely freezing. Let me know your family's favorite cold-weather comfort food? 

Dinner this Week.

It is a short dinner-at-home week for us with Grandma Julie's birthday celebration dinner and Halloween. No, I do not plan to allow my kids to eat only candy for Halloween dinner, but I have yet to plan our annual fête. I realize that is this week, and thus, given my very organized method of planning all week should be included herein. Sadly, though, I cannot yet wrap my head around the utter madness that is Halloween at our house. I have at least three full days of procrastination left and plan to utilize them fully.

But here's what's on tap for the rest of the week: 

photos via Pinterest

Parmesan Crusted Chicken - This is a new chicken preparation method for me, but I do something similar with Tilapia from time to time so I think the kids will enjoy it. And besides, it looks super easy.

Lasagna Baked Ziti - I have made this numerous times and everyone {save Little Miss Thang who hates all red sauce} loves it. Pleasing everyone in my family is a feat I rarely accomplish. Little Miss Thang will eat all the components of this recipe sans red sauce. And I adore that little girl just enough to deconstruct as needed. 

Cider-Braised Pork Chops - This will also be a new recipe for me but it looks both delectably fall-ish and weeknight dinner simple-ish. Win-win. 

So what do you have in store for your family this week? 

Cranberry Salsa and parties galore!

Last week was one of those weeks -- specifically, the one on which every social engagement of the holiday season inevitably collides. 

We enjoyed a couple social events for which all that was required was my attendance. I mixed and matched holiday attire like a champ and opted not to include shiny pants in the mix. 

You're welcome. 

We enjoyed dinner with Santa at our yacht club. Who can pass up a good buffet serving both macaroni and cheese and chicken strips?! Yes, there was adult food too. I also had bread pudding with a burbon sauce. Yummy. Yet another reason why I cannot wear shiny pants.

The kids are fairly certain I'm lying through my teeth about Santa, but I'm convinced they really want to believe. So we are leaving it at that. 

For now. 

Boy Genius would not sit on his lap.
Little Miss Thang says she's "little for her age." 

We entertained a very small group of friends at our home on Saturday night. I made undercooked fennel au gratin potatoes and the Hubs knocked a tenderloin out of the park. This is not usually how it works at our house, so I was glad to let him steal the show. 

Speaking of stealing the show, even the fabulous tenderloin was upstaged by my darling friends, one who arrived wearing a fascinator and another in a Dickensesque hat. Love those girls. 

A double batch of my cranberry salsa served double duty over the weekend. I brought it to a friend's house on Friday night and served the rest on Saturday night at home. I prefer it globbed high on a warm brie round and served with water crackers. The hubs prefers it straight. I'd even consider it a suitable pork loin relish.

Regardless of how it is served, it always receives warm reviews and requests for the recipe. 

For those requesting, here it is:

Cranberry Salsa

3/4 cup sugar
3 green onions, coarsely chopped
1 jalapeno sliced (seeds discarded unless you like an extra punch)
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
1/4 tsp. cumin
12 oz. bag of fresh cranberries

Add first 5 items to food processor or blender and pulse until evenly chopped. Add cranberries and pulse until chunky, but not slushy.

Serve as a salsa with pita chips. Or, over a warmed brie round with water crackers.



Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Have your festivities begun or are you prepping for the weeks ahead?

A cup of lemon water a day . . .

After completing my 10-day detox in November, I vowed to implement many of the great eating habits I experienced. I loved the food so why not eat healthier more often?! 

As it turns out my "why" is threefold: (1) because a plate of pasta can be prepared in under 15 minutes after running kids from tennis to violin to gymnastics to choir; (2) because my kids refuse quinoa and butternut squash {as well of the many other very healthy choices I enjoyed}; and (3) because I inevitably attend a luncheon or a dinner or a party two to three times a week {especially this month}. 

As a result, I have not implemented nearly as many healthy eating habits as I intended. I am certainly more conscious of what I eat but have not made the strides I intended. 

One habit that has stuck, however, is the practice of starting each morning with a cup of warm lemon water. It is so easy and the benefits well outweigh the slightly cringe-worthy minute it takes to get it down. 

1. Boosts your immune system 

2. Balances pH 

3. Helps with weight loss 

4. Aids digestion 

5. Acts as a gentle, natural diuretic 

6. Clears skin

7. Hydrates the lymph system

This article, extolling these benefits, sealed the deal for me.  Now, if only I could lay off the pasta!!!

What healthy habits have you made part of your daily routine? Inspire me!!

Zanzibar cake.

When my duo was younger we received Ella Takes the Cake as a gift from a friend. Ella, the namesake and protagonist, is a delightful little elephant who desperately wants to help her mother in the bakery she runs. Ella's mom is very busy, but of course, she cannot allow Ella to take cakes out of the hot oven or even cut a slice of cake for the customer {the knife is much too big}. Ella is crestfallen because {say it with me now} she just wants to help. In the end Ella "helps" her mother make a zanzibar cake. 

It is a charming book filled with beautiful illustrations. 

We loved Ella. 

And cake. 

So naturally, my kids wanted "Zanzibar Cake."

While many mothers would have researched until they found a suitable cake recipe from Zanzibar, I did nothing of the sort. Did I mention I had twins? And at this point they were toddlers.

My solution: lie. 

Don't get all high and mighty on me. We lie about Santa, the Easter Bunny and what mommy and daddy are doing in the room when the door is closed. Cake is the least of my worries.  

And so I lied and told my kids the yummy Pumpkin Bread I've made for years {passed down from Noni, my life-long friend Ashley's grandmother} is called Zanzibar Cake. 

No time to take pictures; we had to have a warm slice.

From that point forward all pumpkin breads suffice as Zanzibar Cake and my kids L*O*V*E it. 

This proved quite handy when I desperately needed to get out of the house for a breather {read: coffee}, because Starbucks makes the best Zanzibar Cake. Of course, you have to be a bit sly when you order it. Shouting "two slices of Zanzibar Cake and a skinny latte" is not self explanatory.  When you then whisper "pumpkin loaf", they still don't catch on and repeat the order back as "a skinny latte and two slices of PUMPKIN loaf."  Cue the cries from the back.  Thanks for that. 

At age nine we may still call it Zanzibar Cake now and again, but they know it is pumpkin bread, because of course, they love to help!

Pumpkin Bread (aka Zanzibar Cake)

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 3/4 cup flour 

1/3 cup water

1/2 cup raisins (optional - not in the Zanzibar version)

1/2 cup nuts (optional - not in the Zanzibar version)

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. allspice

Directions:

Sift flour and other dry ingredients together. Cream sugar and oil. Beat eggs into creamed mixture. Add pumpkin and stir to combine. Add flour mixture alternating with water.

Bake in a greased loaf pan at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour. 

Enjoy! It is a staple at our Thanksgiving table. 

Detox Diaries.

As many of you are aware, on October 1st I began a 10-day Fall Renewal Detox. Part of my detox journey involved journaling. I've never been much of a journaler - ironic coming from a blogger, right?!  - but here's my attempt at capturing the ups and downs of the last 10 days. 

a typical lunch

Detox Day 1: 

Why can I not stop thinking about pizza?!?  I don't eat pizza everyday so why in the world am I completely obsessed with counting the hours until I can eat pizza again? 

Detox Day 2: 

OMGoodness, I must be pregnant. This is exactly how I felt pregnant -- nauseous all day long. Of course I am completely infertile so that can't be it. Oh no, and now a headache on top of it. Coach says my body is working hard to rid itself of all the built-up toxins. But it's only day two! It's not as if one day of healthy eating is so novel it would throw my body for a loop.  Okay, maybe it is.  

Detox Day 3: 

Better. I can breathe again. And turn on lights. Yea! I'm feeling much better but nonetheless spend all day dreading dinner: brussel sprouts {which I love but which do not constitute dinner in and of themselves}.

Detox Day 4: 

I'm totally rocking this detox program. No big deal. I'm over the hump, feel great, and am not even hungry. Why don't more people detox? I even attended my book club {read: wine fest} and didn't eat or drink a single bite. Easy peasy. When a friend asked what I ate when I had a sweet tooth, I replied, with a straight face: I just grab a raisin or two. Who am I?

Detox Day 5: 

Who's idea was this? I am a nauseous, grumpy, gassy old lady. Bedtime cannot come soon enough. And it's only noon. Dark, dark day.

Detox Day 6: 

Feeling good again. Please tell me I'm over the hump!?!?  Please!!!  We are headed out of town for just a night. I am forced to cook {using every pot and pan I own} all meals prior to departure. I am so tired of my stinkin' kitchen! But getting out of the house is good. Until that is, I find myself sitting at our friends' ranch, enjoying the cool fall air and watching the sun set . . . without a glass of wine. Who does that?! 

Detox Day 7:

So very, very tired {and if you ask the hubs, grumpy}. Maybe I'm dying. Maybe it's not the detox or lack of caffeine. Because I'm over the hump, right?! Maybe I simply cannot live on gluten free oats, quinoa, beans, and kale. Because my body needs PIZZA to survive!

Detox Day 8: 

I've sworn off beans. The gassiness was making me manic. Yes, it was the beans. I was not heretofore manic. See, manic people don't say heretofore. NO MORE BEANS!!! Sent hubs and kids out to eat for dinner. I cannot possibly cook one more meal I cannot eat. Or maybe I just wanted them out of the house. It's anyone's guess. 

Detox Day 9:

I feel great. I'm not hungry. I am sleeping soundly and waking before the alarm {miracle of all miracles}. I am not craving anything at all. This was such a wonderful experience. I am going to start cooking three vegan meals / week for our family. Meanwhile as I make this enthusiastic plan, my kids eat sugary cereal for dinner. 

Detox Day 10:

Finally - the detox glow! My skin looks better. I feel better. And - the kicker - I put on a pair of skinny jeans and they are quite loose. Too big, actually. They better be after all this. Of course, the weight loss is temporary . . .  unless I make permanent changes.

And maybe I will, but not tonight because we are all going out for PIZZA {and wine}!     

Homemade Granola Bars

The thought behind handing our kids a granola bars is that it is healthy, right?! Better than a cookie at least?! Unfortunately, the list of ingredients in most pre-packed bars contain more that a few words I cannot pronounce. And possibly worse: many contain high fructose corn syrup.

But my kids love them and they are an easy, portable snack. 

Determined to find a better way to satisfy their hunger and my need to stay out of the kitchen at snack time, I discovered granola bars are quite easy to make at home . . . with ingredients you have on hand . . . and without much fuss.  Yes, it requires baking, but baking one or two batches may satisfy snack cravings for weeks to come! 

This recipe was originally featured on Weelicious {photo credit too}.  I tweaked my version as to allow for the fact that I only had 1/4, not a 1/2 cup, of honey handy, and no unsweetened coconut. Additionally, I'm trying to incorporate healthy oils so I opted for coconut oil opposed to canola oil.

The kids adored my version so much I'm not sure I'll ever try the original.  

  

Homemade Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Ingredients

4 cups old fashioned oats
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup chocolate chips {can substitute raisins or other dried fruit}
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup agave nectar

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 F. 

Combine the first 5 {the dry} ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, vanilla extract, honey and agave nectar. Pour the wet ingredients over the oat mixture and stir to combine. 

Place granola mixture on a parchment lined {or spilit pat}baking sheet and shape into a rectangle, about 13 x 9 x 1 inch thick. Bake for 40 minutes.

Allow to cool completely then cut into 3 x 1 inch bars.

Enjoy!

What homemade snacks or easy fixes have you discovered?

Detox Recipe: Spicy Bean Soup

I'm gearing up for a 10-day Fall Renewal Detox beginning October 1st. A 10-day detox requires preparation on my part because, in addition to being at least a little addicted to caffeine, I am also quite dependent on chocolate. The pages of this blog attest to such dependence. 

Coffee is a habit; chocolate is a vital part of my world. 

Okay, that sounds dramatic, but I promise I will miss it more than caffeine or alcohol. Yes, alcohol too!  I know! And, as the Hubs pointed out, ten days includes an entire weekend.  

Send reinforcements. 

No. I can do it. 

I am strong. 

I have willpower {though it has not heretofore shown itself}. 

It's only ten days; not the rest of my life. 

Honestly, though, I am hoping it does impact the rest of my life. 

I need to recharge and reset my body. I know it will help with that. But I also want to change our family's eating habits more permanently. 

I hope this will be a catalyst to such change. 

If you are interested in joining me, please enter my Fall Renewal Giveaway. You have until midnight on Friday, the 21st, to enter. I'll announce the winner on Saturday, the 22nd. 

Here's a sample Fall detox recipe to inspire you: 

Spicy Bean Soup*

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 garlic clove,minced

¼ tsp. red pepper flakes

½  small yellow onion (1/4 cup), chopped

1 carrot, sliced (1/4 cup)

1 cup vegetable broth

1 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes

1 15 oz. can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

¼ bunch of kale (1/2 cup), chopped

Directions:  

Heat oil in pot over medium-heat.  Add garlic, red pepper flakes, onion, and carrot and cook for 10 minutes. Add broth, tomatoes and beans and cook for another 5 minutes on medium heat. Add kale and simmer for 5 minutes. Season with sea salt and pepper. Eat it up! Serves 4.

*Recipe provided by Lisa Consiglio Ryan. Lisa is the founder of Whole Health Designs, juicy clean living advocate and mama of two. She loves her Birkram yoga practice, running, and is on a mission to spread the word, “Food is love.” She provides detox programs and private coaching for women who desire to embrace clean living. Lisa is also developing her own line of raw, cold-pressed juices. 

As a Certified Health and Nutrition Coach, Lisa has worked with over 1,000 people in her Renewal 10 Day Detox programs.  Her work has been featured in TinyBuddha, Crazy Sexy Life, and Mind Body Green. You can also check out her new program, Kickin’ It Clean virtual group and meal plans for plant lovers.

5 Top Detox Tips for Fall

Early this summer I won a "detox" from a blog I frequent. But it was summer, and well, just not the right time for me to detox. But I'm on board and ready to get started on October 1st. And, here's the kicker, one lucky reader can join me for free!  You want to, right?

Well, if you don't now, you will after reading this piece by Lisa Consiglio Ryan.

Lisa is the founder of Whole Health Designs, juicy clean living advocate and mama of two. She loves her Birkram yoga practice, running, and is on a mission to spread the word, “Food is love.” She provides detox programs and private coaching for women who desire to embrace clean living. Lisa is also developing her own line of raw, cold-pressed juices. Yum!

As a Certified Health and Nutrition Coach, Lisa has worked with over 1,000 people in her Renewal 10 Day Detox programs.  Her work has been featured in TinyBuddha, Crazy Sexy Life, and Mind Body Green. You can also check out her new program, Kickin’ It Clean virtual group and meal plans for plant lovers.

*********************************************************************

Detox.

Say this word, and some people will run for the hills.

Detox is sometimes equated to deprivation and starvation.

But it doesn’t have to be that way especially when done safely and effectively.

Detox can give you the jump start you need to lose a few pounds, reboot healthy habits, and gain tons of energy.

Think glow, radiant, clear, and focused!  Now doesn’t that sound good?

During fall, we are moving inward; slowing down from the movement of summer. In the fall, as the growth season of summer comes to a close, detox is an ideal way to prepare for winter, the holidays and hibernation.

Fall is actually the ideal time to detox. Think of purging the old …. just like the trees, you must shed your leaves and get prepared for winter. A fall detox will help stave off seasonal colds which are so prevalent this time of year, too. Bonus!

Fall is the time to get productive and finish projects for the year.   It’s about getting things done.

Back to school … back to routines … back to work.

It’s extremely important to cleanse each season to rid your body of toxins from food, the environment, and even your stress.  Each season brings different feelings and outcomes of balance.

During fall, here’s what you get when you are in balance: clarity, better communication, accomplishment, feeling light …

AND when you are not: confusion, indecision, fatigue, congestion, and overindulgence.

What sounds good to you?

If you want to go for the balance, detox can be so easy if you set your intentions and health goals ahead of time.  If you are ready to get back to healthy habits, a detox can be the perfect remedy.

Here are 5 tips for an easy, safe, and effective fall detox:

1. Eat whole Foods:  Try a gentle, clean food-based detox. The first step is to eliminate foods that have barcodes. This means avoid foods that come in a can or box- processed foods. I usually remind myself of this rule when I shop. Also, stick to organic fruits and veggies for your cleanse. You don’t want to add any toxins into your body during your detox!  In fall, you will generally eat warm stews, soups, and root vegetable dishes. And don’t forget to add those warming spices to your meals, such as cinnamon and nutmeg.  


2. Eliminate added sugar, dairy, alcohol, caffeine, wheat/gluten, and soy: These substances are allergens and even addictive.  These need to be eliminated while you are doing a detox. Try to keep things as clean as possible, and you will notice a big difference in your mood, energy and even skin. 


3. Move your body:  Of course eating foods that nourish and detoxify are necessary for your detox, but the next step is to incorporate exercise. Try gentle yoga, walking in nature, stretching. You don’t want to run a marathon during your detox.  You will be completely exhausted. Your body is working hard to get rid of toxins, and she needs to restore during the detox period.   


4. Take time to breathe and meditate:  This time is for YOU. So try sitting still for at least 10 minutes a day, breathing in and out. Have a mantra. Be still. Stress is the #1 cause of inflammation so do all you can to take a few steps back and calm your mind. 


5. Determine the length of your detox: 10 days is a perfect time period to feel and see changes in your body.  It’s just enough time to really get the full effects of a food-based detox.  It takes time to make changes, and your body needs time to adjust to eating differently, getting rid of toxins, and establishing habits. So a cleanse less than 10 days might not give you the full results. If you are new to detoxing or want a power-boost to jump start healthy living, then 10 days is a good start. 

So what do you say? Ready to get your detox on this fall?

*********************************************************************

Giveaway details: 

Lisa Consiglio Ryan will provide one lucky reader with a free spot in the October 1st Fall Renewal 10 Day Detox! 

Mandatory Entry: 

Leave a comment below letting me know you are interested in detoxing with me in October!

Additional Entries: 

Follow Lisa on Facebook {one entry}. 

Follow Lisa on Twitter {one entry}. 

You must leave a separate comment below for each action to count as an additional entry. 

Rules (aka the fine print): You must be 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen to enter. Chances of winning are based upon number of entries received. The contest will run from Wednesday, September 19th through Friday, September 21st. A winner will be selected from all eligible entires using Random.org and announced on Saturday, September 22nd. 

Disclosure: I am joining the Fall Renewal 10 Day Detox as a winner as well. I am not otherwise being compensated for this giveaway. 

I'm so excited to have a reader join me on this journey!  

Good luck!

Dinner this week.

Well, this happened this morning. 

But unlike last year, this will not be a weepy mom post. 

We had a fabulous summer. 

And I enjoyed every single minute of it. 

Right up until Sunday around four o'clock. 

And then I was just done and ready to have a free minute to myself. 

So today - the first day of school - came just in time. 

And while I'm not entirely organized yet, I have done just enough planning and prep to have a a few yummy back-to-school dinners up my sleeve. 

Roasted cherry tomato cappellini | Fresh corn and avocado salad  

I'm going to let the roasted cherry tomato cappellini stand alone -- no protein added.  I'm starting to cut animal protein from our meals at least two nights a week.  The corn and avocado salad, however, will be served as a side with our "crispy chicken" -- yes, fried protein to make up for those protein free meals.

Baby steps.   

It's bound to be a busy week. And I'm secretly still hoping we'll continue our lazy-dinner-after-late-afternoon-swimming routine.

But probably not.

So, on the crazy chance that I'll need to actually cook more than two nights this week, I also have all ingredients on hand for a favorite stand-by:  pesto orecchiette with chicken sausage. But after that, I think I'll need a break from all the routine and structure.

Baby steps.

So, what's on the back-to-school menu at your house? 

Weekend words of wisdom.

via

I tend to agree!  

I've been busy in the kitchen this week channelling my inner {albeit amateur} Julia.  

More on that next week!

Until then, I wish you all a wonderful weekend 

of indulgence in that you love most! 

xoxo

Dinner this week.

Well, I'm caving and getting organized this week. I certainly don't want to! But, I haven't done it all summer and will likely not again until late August; so it's hard to complain {doesn't seem to stop me, though, does it?!}. 

My father-in-law arrives today and will be with us all week. While he certainly does not require large meals every night, his arrival provides the motivation I need to throw together a couple decent dinners. I'm not sure if he'd mind popcorn for dinner {the hubs made quite a fuss about this prospect last night, though the kids were quite pleased}, but I suppose I'll try to preserve my perfect wife image just a little longer.   

And yes, I have a short week ahead {thus, only 3 nights of dinners}. Thursday morning I'll dash off for a quick night away with a couple of besties I haven't seen in over a year. 

Knowing that is on the horizon, I'll even up my game a bit with a batch of homemade ice cream for dessert tonight.  

Perfect wife, indeed!

 

Pesto Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage | Grilled Halibut and Tomatoes with Pesto  

Chocolate Thin Mint Ice Cream | Avocado Basil Pasta

Spiral cut your dog.

The Internet is full of useful information.

Today: how to properly grill a hot dog - spiral cut. 


This may not seem like extremely useful to you, but if you'd seen the hot dogs coming off our grill on Wednesday you too would want to preserve this helpful hint.  



No more shriveled or charred dogs at our house!  

4th of July breakfast.

No, I'm not entirely obsessed with food.

Okay, maybe just a little obsessed.

But breakfast is a favorite meal in our house, and I just found the perfect breakfast for the 4th!

via i am baker

Am I getting anyone in a patriotic mood??

4th of July meal planning.

I am a huge fan of the 4th of July. 

Huge. 

It's a day of celebration in my house, and the cause for celebration is twofold:

First, I was raised by a father who served in two wars and was ultimately wounded in combat. As a result, I do not take our freedom for granted. I have seen firsthand the wounds of war and understand our freedom is far from free.   

Second, the 4th of July was my father's birthday. I will forever celebrate him for himself, and for being the most influential person in my life. Then and now. 

So, despite the fact that I'm suffering from a bit of jet lag {the kids are still asleep and it's after noon), I'm beginning to plan our meal for the 4th. I'm thinking an early dinner poolside with friends. Followed by fireworks over the bay. 

It's shaping up to be a grand celebration! 

Just as it should be!

photos via Pinterest

Limited edition patriotic champagne - No celebration would be complete without a little bubbly.  And Chandon has won me over with their cute summer bottle!

Yummy Mummy's patriotic salad - Quinoa, greens, and fresh berries - what a beautiful, and healthy alternative to traditional potato salad.

Blueberry, strawberry & jicama salsa - A refreshing and appropriately colored substitute for our regular salsa.

Lemon dill chicken skewers - Easy, quick, and the perfect compliment to this light meal.

I'll top all this off with brownies, individually wrapped in parchment and topped with red, white, and blue bows, which we will enjoy as we wait for the fireworks to begin!

Happy 4th to you all!

Pinterest Porn

Dear Friends and fellow Pinners, 

These ladies, the ones you repeatedly pin in hopes of attaining sculpted abs and thighs, yea, well, here's the thing: you could do 100 burpees, 3,000 crunches, 189 push-ups and hold a plank for an hour a day and you may still never look like this. 

I'm sorry. 

I do not say this to discourage. 

Staying fit and healthy is a lifestyle we should all embrace. 

Exercise more. 

Eat green. 

But honestly, these images make me ill. These women look amazing, yes. But their bodies were built to look amazing. There is some factor of genetics at play here. There is also some amazing self-control when it comes to food. Or, alternatively, an eating disorder or two.

Quite simply: sit-ups alone will never provide six-pack abs.

And images like this only perpetuate our own insecurities. We need to build each other up, not demean and belittle each other by promoting body image issues. 

Even when I weighed 100 pounds {long, long ago} my inner thighs still touched. And I don't mean they occasionally grazed each other. They have simply always touched - full on, thigh on thigh contact. The only way for me to obtain thighs that don't touch is to (1) undergo a surgical procedure or (2) stand with my feet way more than hips distance apart. God made me with thighs touching.  

Truth. 

And amazing abs like those picture?!  Absurd. I'm happy if I don't have to adjust my jeans to cover my flab when I sit down. I'm not there yet, but it's a worthy and possibly attainable goal {note to self: lay off the cookies}.  And I've worked out regularly since I can remember!

For those of you who can and do devote 10-20 hours a week working out and maintaining optimal physical condition: yea! You deserve to walk around in all lycra all day. I do not begrudge you your short dress and form-fitting top. Rock it, girlfriend! 

But the rest of us need to do our best and be happy with it!

All images via Pinterest.

And yes, drinking more water will always help reduce water retention. And who doesn't like a little dandelion tea. But friends, please stop pinning these images. It is bad for our image. It is unrealistic and demeaning to every woman who has ever seriously battled with weight loss. The bodies pictured are unobtainable for 95% of the women looking at them.  

Work your butt off. 

Eat well. 

Encourage each other. 

Inspire each other with your progress and stories. 

Be proud of YOUR progress and YOUR body!

And please {please} only pin images of women who are over 30, have had children, and eat dinner more than once a month.

Sincerely, 

Memorial Day Poolside

We live in Texas ya'll; which means Memorial Day is spent poolside 

{with an occasional dip in the pool to avoid heat stroke}. 

And while I love a good burger as much as the next girl, 

I prefer light, refreshing bits and bites when the mercury climbs. 

So here's what's on tap for our Memorial Day celebration.  

Cucumber Feta Rolls | No Fail Sangria | Avocado Hummus

Cilantro Lime Chickpea Salad | Roasted Lemon Garlic Shrimp Scampi

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Today I'm joining Daphne and Leigh for their monthly Let's Eat, Ya'll {recipe swap}. 

Of course, I couldn't choose just one but hope you enjoy the variety!

Dinner this week.

Truth be told, this lovely inspiration board does not exactly reflect our dinners this week. It does, however, reflect a few new meals I've prepared over the past couple of weeks and a couple I plan to prepare this week. 

Why do I feel the need to be so forthcoming and honest? 

I have absolutely no idea. 

Regardless, here's my latest inspiration: 

1. Crispy Salmon BLT Sliders - I have a thing for sliders. I just love the little buns. I especially love King's Hawaiian sweet rolls. I'll eat absolutely anything between those sweet little buns. Let's hope the same goes for my kids because they are not big fans of salmon. We'll see how this goes, but I think they look super yummy and would make a fun and easy dish to serve when entertaining friends poolside. Oh, and did I mention the bacon?! Bacon and yummy sweet rolls. Ka-pow!

2. Lemon Dill Chicken Skewers - I made these a couple weeks ago for a casual al fresco dinner with the fam. The kids raved about them. If you know my kids you know they rarely rave about anything that does not involve chocolate {only a slight exaggeration}. I served them with grilled vegetables - corn, zucchini, red onions, and tomatoes. The kids ate a lot of chicken that night. We've now repeated this simple dinner with family in town. Easy, healthy, a crowd pleaser and the cold leftovers are perfect on top of a salad for lunch {in theory, for those people who make and eat salads for lunch}.

3. Chicken Marsala - I made this a couple weeks ago as well. It was also a hit and bears repeating.  I accidentally omitted the cream from the sauce {said cream still sits in our frig}. It certainly didn't need it.  I served it with egg noodles and green beans. Classic family dinner fare. 

4. Avocado Basil Pasta -  This dish is on tap for this week. What I find most curious about this recipe is the title: why in the world does it leave out the most important ingredient -- bacon?! Obviously since I'm buying bacon for the sliders I figured I would need a use for the rest of the package. Because bacon goes to waste in our house all the time {or actually, never}. I'm very curious about this dish. The flavors - bacon, basil, avocado and lemon juice over pasta?! May become a new favorite or it could be {borrowing from the kids} an "epic fail." 

5. Blackened Talapia Baja Tacos - This simple dish has been served numerous times over the past couple weeks - to the family and again with guests. The kids eat it without complaint {though I do not "blacken" their fish} because, after all, it is wrapped in a tortilla. I don't complain either. The true super star here, though, is the sauce: sour cream, cilantro, fresh jalapeno and lime juice. I could eat it by the spoonful. OK, I have eaten it by the spoonful. Fresh and spicy and creamy. What's not to love?! 

Enjoy and happy cooking!

Dinner this week.

You thought I'd forgotten, didn't you!? Or maybe you just thought I was so consumed by my volunteer projects that I stopped feeding my family altogether. Actually I tried, but apparently they want dinner every single night.  

Geesh.  

So spoiled.  

I really must pull one from my mom's playbook and occasionally offer macaroni and cheese with a side of bologna. She dressed it up a bit by cutting "faces" in the bologna {imagine a bologna pumpkin}. I kid you not. Of course, her macaroni and cheese was homemade so I suppose I should cut her a little slack. 

Point being: I have been feeding my family quite well despite the fact that my head is spinning. In fact, this week I've already made two of the items pictured below. And good thing since we now have Thursday and Friday date-night plans. 

Sorry kids. 

Bologna and mac-n-cheese was good enough for me.  

all photos via Pinterest

1. Maple Grilled Salmon - I made this Monday night. It was simple and delicious. I told the kids it was brain food and would help them on their STAAR tests. {No, I have no idea was STAAR stands for nor do I particularly care. I do know it is a new test mandated by the great State of Texas after they determined the old mandated test was indeed allowing children to be left behind. Don't get me started.} 

2. Pesto Pasta with Chicken Sausage - Yummy, yum, yum, yum. Easy, satisfying and the ingredients can generally sit in the fridge for a couple days when life happens and your meal planning for the week ends up being meal planning for the weekend. 

3. Pioneer Woman's Pasta with Pancetta and Leeks - A favorite of mine. I have a thing for leeks. I love them. It is not at all like my thing for Adam Levine; don't get me wrong. But leeks are also super yummy. 

4. Honey Butter Pork Tenderloin - I tried this evening. It was yummy, but a little sweet for my . . . get this . . . kids' taste. I cook pork tenderloins fairly often and have pretty good results by just using a salad dressing marinade. Tonight the kids complained.  

Geesh {refer back to spoiled comment herein}. 

Dinner this week.

First off, let me say I am not renaming my blog "Dinner this week." I do plan to actually blog about something other than my dinner plans. 

Truly. 

Tomorrow in fact. 

But this feature has indeed helped me stay on course with my at least one of my Top 10 goals for 2012 -- meal planning. When I reviewed all my goals this morning I noted I was doing fairly well this first quarter. Which may, of course, be why this wittle blog has not received as much attention! Living takes time friends, and I've packed a whole lotta living in this first quarter.

So for today, more meal plans. 

But stick with me because tomorrow I am excited to announce a giveaway from the amazingly talented Lesley Evers!!! 

On tap for this week:

1. Ina's Lemon Chicken - this is now a staple in our house. *Love* 
2. Pork Chops - allegedly "the best pork chops you will ever taste." We'll see about that. 
3. Baked Chicken Parmesan - yum. I'll eat anything topped with ooey-gooey fresh mozzarella. 
4. Pappardelle with Braised Beef Ragu - This is amazing and simple and delicious and satisfying. Yes, it takes time, but not hands-on time. And no, I do not make homemade pappardelle.   

So, what's for dinner this week at your house?  If you share a link with me I may just add it to my repertoire and link back to you in the coming weeks! 

And remember to come back tomorrow to enter my Lesley Evers giveaway!!!