You know what’s funny about me?  I prefer to cook lunch over any other meal.  I’m not too good at breakfast foods unless it’s something like cereal.  Me and pancakes are still working on our relationship as my husband makes better pancakes than I do. Plus, I’m not big into breakfast foods anyway, so by lunch I’m starving and want a hearty meal.  So, when I’m home and able to whip me up something to eat, I do (assuming there aren’t any left overs, I love me some leftovers as well).

I absolutely love cooking with frozen foods.  I stock up on frozen broccoli, asparagus, onions, peppers, and frozen chicken strips.  With those basics I can make different types of meals with them.  Also? I’m the only one that eats my concoctions so I can cook whatever I want! Savannah is always down for a nap and Mark either isn’t here or won’t eat the veggies I love.  Maybe it’s that freedom that makes me love my lunches so much, it satisfies my veggie cravings and different flavors.

My favorite thing to cook right now?  A Tai-Peanut Stirfry that I serve over noodles.  Oh my goodness…YUM!  I found this quick and easy recipe at Cooks.com (my favorite place to find new recipes) a few weeks ago and have made it several times.  I’ve altered the recipe to show how I do it:

Start water to boil for pasta.  In a wok or large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and chopped onions; stir-fry 30 seconds. Add chicken, broccoli, and other veggies; sprinkle some soy sauce over it and stir-fry until heated, about 5 minutes. While pasta and stir fry is cooking (it’s ok to let it hang out even when it’s done heating), in a small bowl blend peanut butter, water, soy sauce and sugar. Stir in peanut butter mixture with the chicken and veggies. Cook, stirring constantly until sauce is smooth, about 3 minutes.

I also tend to throw in other things if I feel it needs it, like some salt and pepper, onion powder, etc.  You make it to  your taste! Best of all? It’s so easy and done within about 10 minutes. Which means less time cooking, more time blogging during nap time for me :-)

I went to my first mommy group meeting last friday. It was a Mom’s Night Out, so I felt like it was less pressure than bringing all our kids and trying to keep them reined and I could actually focus on getting to know other mommies rather than worrying about what Savannah was doing.  It went well and it was fun!  But of course, when a Mom goes out to meet other moms, bringing food is a must and so I whiped up this recipe before I left. Like, literally, I was finishing this the moment before I walked out the door because my fudge recipe didn’t work out. Such is life, and thank goodness for the internet for food emergancies! 

There was so much food at the meeting that this dip didn’t get eaten much, but I did get several good comments. And really? I’m glad there was still a lot leftover because it has turned into one of favorite my snacks/deserts.  I’ve been munching on it all week and it gets better each day as it sits and chills, the flavor is amazing.  Tastes just like pumpkin pie, but less fat, quick, and no baking!

So , behold. This amazing recipe.  It is love, for sure.

Pumpkin Fluff Dip

Incredients:

-16oz. Cool Whip Light

-15 oz. Can of Pumpkin

-1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice

-5oz. Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix

Mix all incredients until well blended, chill in the fridge before serving, serve with cinnimon grahm crackers, and enjoy!

Warning: This makes a lot of dip, I cut this in half and had plenty.  I also added more pumpkin spice, cinnimon, and a tad bit of nutmeg because I thought it was bland at first. I suggest starting with what is listed and then keep adding to your taste. 

Thank goodness it’s fall, I love me some pumpkin recipes!  Do you have any good ones?

I’m disappointed that Pillsbury’s Toaster Strudel Boston Creme Pie does not, in fact, have any chocolate in it. How then is it Boston Creme Pie? Without the chocolate? Surely they can mix some chocolate flavor in there some where.

Edit: I totally forgot to put the chocolate frosting on top. ha! I guess that’s what happens when you eat at 10pm after a 12 hour day a school. My brain must have been fried.

That said, I promise a real update tomorrow. Just know my week did get better despite things going just plain wrong. God gave me back my sense of humor to deal with things in a better mood. And, I really must thank a bunch of you who sent me sweet emails and comments with encouragement. It sure helps me get through the tough days knowing people support me and have been there, too!

One of the greatest things about a child turning 1 year old: no more formulas or bottles. Really, I don’t know why I was so nervous about the switch from babyhood to toddlerhood because honestly? Right now? It’s so much easier and even more enjoyable! I don’t have to keep up with the constant bottle washing after naps and bed time (the kind we own have several parts to wash/put together. It’s worth it for less spit up), buy ridiculously priced formula, and it’s so nice to just put her to bed without worrying, “I need a bottle!” (for her…not me).

And it’s not that she wasn’t a great baby and I didn’t enjoy her back then, but now she’s got such a great personality that keeps us laughing all day long. She doesn’t just sit in my lap, content where ever. I love that she choses to sit in my lap and snuggle. And ya know, sleeping through the night (for the most part) is a wonderful plus compared to this time last year.

However, Savannah hasn’t taken the change quit so smoothly. The child hates cow’s milk. And as most parents know, about at the age of 1 comes the switch-a-roo from formula to cow’s milk. I’ve tried everything and she tolerated it at first when it was mostly formula in a bottle, but things quickly went down hill. I’ve tried warming it, flavoring it, mixing it with formula again. No go. But, at least it made her not want a bottle at all, so now they’re all gone and she didn’t even care.

Though, I shouldn’t be surprised she hates milk because neither Mark or I like milk either. Therefore, I don’t want to push the milk issue on her because I know I wouldn’t want to drink it. So, what about the issue of needing calcium and vitamin D (I’ve also asked the Dr. this)? Our solution: Calcium fortified OJ. We like Minute Maid’s version for kids because it has extra vitamins. Hint: I drink it as well because I need those nutrients, too.

It’s also a good thing the girl loves her some yogurt. As well as cheese (which neither Mark or I like either, so we’ll see if that passes on to her eventually, too). She can always eat yogurt, it’s her favorite. She can even recognize it and say, “Go-gurt?”

Want some?

(Clearly, we’re still working on the self feeding with a spoon thing. I don’t mind the mess, it’s too cute to watch her learn!)

There’s too much to do today. With Friday and Saturday packed full of birthday stuff, Mark and I are left trying to balance a lot of studying and homework and watch Savannah at the same time. So quickly…

Savannah’s birthday party went very well. It was an extremely long and busy day, but I think (and hope) everyone enjoyed it. Savannah loved the attention, she completely demolished her cake (ending up all in her hair), and I know she loved playing with all the other kids. She also racked up a good bit for her college fund, sweet!

Mark’s Mom and I worked hard on getting the house decorated and getting the extremely easy food together. We made mini home made pizzas that were a huge hit, along with a chili cheese dip and brown sugar/cream cheese fruit dip.

Kaylee and her family came, some special moments were shared between us. Kaylee asked to hold Savannah as soon as she got here and they sat together for a good while looking at toys and books (pictured below). Melted my heart. Later Kaylee snuck away to play in Savannah’s room and I came to play with her, where we read book after book. At cake time the kids had a fight over who got the first piece and Kaylee’s argument was, “She’s my little sister, I should get the first piece!” Though, she totally doesn’t “get” what that means because she refused to believe that she came from my tummy. Oh well, one day.

And of course, the cake was gorgeous and tasted even better. I just had to share how awesome it turned out! It’s exactly what I had hoped for. Of course it did travel 3 1/2 hours here with my parents so it does have a few flaws (cracks), but well worth it! Savannah had so much fun making a mess (and not get in trouble for it!). It was everywhere!

It was so wonderful to spend the day with family and friends. She was wiped out by the end of the night, as was I (but neither of us slept good. Those molars are some pesky teeth! 4:45 am is not a fun hour to get up for the day). One birthday down, many more to go (I pray). It’s kind of fun, ya know?

I have a confession. We’ve fed Savannah Oreos. And occasionally pudding and Mark some times sneaks in Smarties when I’m not looking (but, obviously, I am looking since I know this). She also enjoys a bite or two of an ice cream sandwich every now and then. Bad parents, I know.

Granted, it’s not often we feed her this sweet stuff, but I think it’s already obvious the sweet tooth our little daughter has. Chocolate (not straight up chocolate, but chocolate flavored cookies and things) is one of her favorite things, already, at the tender age of 11 and a half months (What?! Birthday is 2 weeks away?!).

While I’m standing in the pantry door way, trying to figure out what I want for a snack, she’ll eye and point at the Oreo bag. And lately, she’s learned how to open up cabinet doors and recently discovered the almighty candy drawer. Yes, a true girly girl we have on our hands. I can only imagine the chocolate loving person this girl will become once that time comes.

I take that back.  She now pretty much wants nothing to do with jarred baby food. Except the fruit, like applesauce, that’d be mushed up anyway.

I need help for what to feed my almost 1 year old!

We’re in that odd stage of in between baby food and table food. She does eat lots of finger/table foods (graham crackers, pasta, cooked veggies like peas, green beans, carrots, bananas, oatmeal, yogurt, bread, etc.) but some times it just doesn’t seem enough. She’ll eat a little bit, but then get tired of it and start mashing, playing and throwing. She’ll eat peas and meat until she sees that I have bread and then she’ll only eat that (in which I then hide the meat in the bread…shh…).

More and more she is looking to our plates to eat off of, which is fine most of the time. Her new favorite breakfast is the oatmeal that Mark and I eat in the morning. I want her to eat “real” food and learn to feed her self and us not having to buy that crazy expensive baby food!


I guess what I’m asking is…what can I feed her in addition to the table foods she has now? What meals can I make for her/us for that’s healthy, easy, and good? Are my goals too lofty for her age (almost 12 months) to want to get rid of the baby food jars?

Mark and I recently started attending a small group within our church. Finally, after months and months of busy schedules and just plain being scared, we’ve made it. And we’ve enjoyed it so far!

For this past Sunday I offered to bring the desert for our dinner/meeting. I was going to go the easy-peasy-boring route and whip up a box of brownies or something. But, I figured I’d out do my self (if I do say so myself…) and actually make something that involves more than 1 box mix, egg, oil and water. Ya know? Let’s impress! Let’s go beyond the bounds of typical.

So, I pulled out the Paula Deen recipe I’ve been dying to try: Eclair Cake. Why it’s call a cake is beyond me because there is no cake to be baked or found near this thing, but it’s amazing none the less. And easy. And, did I mention it’s amazing?

I just had to share with you guys, because you need to try it.