30 Day Challenge - Day 4 - Yogurt Covered Blueberries

Today I chose a nice healthy snack for my husband who is running 1 mile every day for his 30 Day Challenge (basically so he can't say I am trying to sabotage him with my 30 Day Challenge).  =)

Today I chose Yogurt Covered Blueberries...actually very yummy.  Here's the recipe and pic.

2 Containers of Dannon Oikos Nonfat Greek Yogurt with Honey (in the blue container)
1 container or fresh or frozen blueberries (I used frozen)

I basically dumped the blueberries a little at a time into the yogurt, stirred them around until nicely coated and then laid each one onto a flat tupperwear dish....once the dish was full, I placed into the freezer for 1 hour until the yogurt was frozen.  

Then I placed them into a plastic sandwich baggie to place back into the freezer until we wanted to munch on them.  They are super yummy and really good for you.

 

30 Day Challenge - Day 3 - 7up Chicken & Rice

Day 3 of my 30 Day Challenge to try 30 different new recipes.  Today since I knew we'd be out n about most of the day, I decided to try a new crock pot recipe.  This one is a 7up Chicken & Rice recipe...modified it a little and unfortunately with the kids distracting me, forgot to take a pic, but I will post the link to the site I got the recipe from so you can see what it looks like there.

Here is my modified recipe....

3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used 4)

10.5 oz. can of cream of chicken soup

12 oz. can of 7UP or lemon lime soda (I used Sprite)

2 c. rice (Minute Rice is best)

1/4 c. of Heavy Cream

1/2 tsp of pepper

1/4 c. of flour to help thicken

Place chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker.  Cover with soup and 7UP.  Cover and cook for 8 hours on low.  Add heavy cream & pepper and cook for 30 more minutes until everything is cooked through.  About 10 mins. before serving, add a little flour to help thicken if needed or to your own desire.  Cook minute rice according to packaging instructions.

Serve chicken mixture over rice and serve with a yummy side dish and the biscuits I made from Day 1's challenge go excellent with it.

Here is the link to the site I got the original recipe from.

30 Day Challenge - Day 2 - Quick & Easy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

I love Pinterest....getting so many fabulous recipes from them.  Today is Day 2 in my 30 Day Challenge of trying a new recipe every day.  The recipe doesn't have to be a main meal....it can be a side dish, dessert or a snack (like this one).  Today we had soccer for Abby in the afternoon, then out to lunch and back home for a bit before we head out for a family dinner with our extended family, so my time is limited on what I could make today.  So I looked through my Yummies board on Pinterest to see what I could make.  Found the Quick & Easy Peanut Butter Granola Bars...had all the ingredients, which made it even better!  My house smells like peanut butter at the moment...which is fine with me.  =)

Quick & Easy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars (Yield 12-16 granola squares)
4 cups rolled oats
2 tablespoons chia seeds (these are optional, I just love the texture they give)
1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped
3/4 cup natural peanut butter, melted
1/2 cup brown rice syrup (honey works too!)

add ins!
chocolate chips
wheat germ
flaxseed
dried fruit (I made some with cherries!)
other nuts
seeds
coconut

Preheat over to 350.

In a large bowl, combine oats, chia seeds and peanuts. Add brown rice syrup (or honey) and mix to combine. Add melted peanut butter and mix until moistened. This works as a perfect, simple granola bar, but you can also throw in any add-ins at this time. Fold them into the dough. You may need to get in there with your hands and work the granola dough! If dough is still too dry (this can depend on your ingredients) add more peanut butter or syrup (or honey) 1 tablespoon at a time until moistened.

Press dough in a greased (non-stick spray) 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes.

These would also work as a great no-bake granola bar, but I liked how they came together and the chocolate chips melted as they got warm. If you want to make no-bakes, simply press the dough into the pan and refrigerate for 60 minutes.

30 Day Challenge - Day 1 - 7 Up Biscuits

Today is my first day in my 30 Day Challenge to try 30 new recipes.  I thought since I love to cook, this would be an easy one to do to start off my 30 day challenge.  I don't know about you, but I get stuck in a cooking rut sometimes and love trying something new.  I found this recipe on Pinterest (LOVE that site), so I thought I would give it a whirl...plus it is super easy to make!

7 Up Biscuits

2 Cups of Bisquick
1/2 Cup of Sour Cream
1/2 Cup of 7Up
1/4 Cup of Melted Butter

*  Oven preheated to 450
*  In a mixing bowl...add Bisquick, stir in sour cream & 7up
*  Dough mixture will be soft and moist
*  Sprinkle additional Bisquick on a table or board and pat dough out.
*  Cut biscuits into approx. 9 square pieces
*  Add melted butter to a 9x9 baking dish
*  Add biscuits to pan and bake for approx. 15 minutes or until golden brown.

ENJOY!!

 

 

30 Day Challenge

Bob started a 30 Day Challenge a few days ago on running a mile every day.  So I thought I would try one as well.  The 30 Day Challenge can be anything....from adding something into your routine or taking something out.  So I thought I would try a new recipe every day for 30 days.  Doesn't have to be a main meal...just something like cookies, side dish, main dish...whatever.  So my next post will be my first recipe.

Almost Christmas....

Here is an update for the Weston Family.

Bob is working hard...as usual...but I am hoping with Christmas quickly approaching I can get some good rest out of him.  He has a house currently in escrow with a new buyer that is scheduled to close next week.  I am glad he enjoys doing real estate part time.  Hopefully once the kids are a little bigger, I can get my license and we can do real estate together.

Abby is on her last day of school for the year.  She is excited to have some time off from school for Christmas and New Years.  She just finished up a month long Tae Kwon Do class at school that was offered to the GATE kids.  She has also been working hard with Choir for school and had a Holiday performance today.  She is starting soccer back up after a 2 week break from rec soccer to indoor soccer that starts up in January.  We love indoor soccer...very fast paced and fun to watch!

Ethan is loving school and making some fabulous adorable Christmas decor for the house.  Ethan is loving being a big brother again.  He says that Owen is HIS baby...and as possessive as he is with him, you'd think he really believes that.  

Aaron has started potty training and I am hoping he pick it up quickly.  It will be nice to only have one child in diapers....just when I thought I was almost done...  =)  Aaron is growing up very quickly these days.  Counting to 20 and learning his alphabet.  He picks up on so much of what Ethan learns in preschool.  I love it!

Owen is almost a month old already!  Time goes by so fast and especially faster when you have 4 children.  He's growing so well. Had gained 2 lbs. in 2 weeks.  Can't say that he is not a good eater!  He is very snuggable & loving.  He has been a very good baby.  Already giving me 4 hour stints at bedtime which is nice.  I am hoping he will be sleeping through the night by 3 months old.  Crossing fingers!  

As for me...I am doing well.  Just trying to get a routine down with 4 kids, housework and crafts.  Some days I feel overwhelmed and others are easier.  It helps having Abby in school and Ethan in preschool (3 days a week) for me to having some breathing room to get stuff accomplished.  It's a lot of work and I may lose my patience occasionally, but it's very rewarding.  

Now we just need to get our Christmas Shopping done and I will feel a sense of Holiday Goodness in the air.

Some Days...

Some days are easier than others.  I am very thankful that all the kids are MUCH better with their health.  Looks like the cold bug has finally left this house.  The antibiotics that we got for Aaron last week finally helped kick whatever he had.  Poor boy was sick for like a month.  He was starting to look think from not wanting to eat.  So glad he is better and his appetite is definitely back!

Owen is now 11 days old and doing very well.  He is nursing like a champ and my large boobs are feeling it.  LOL!  He gets circumcised next Wednesday since they didn't do it in the hospital.  The pediatrician in the hospital said he didn't have enough foreskin to do a circumcision, but when I took him to his pediatrician on his 2 day appointment, they couldn't see why they couldn't have done it.  That he has plenty to work with.  So the poor boy will have it done at 2 weeks old...luckily he is still plenty young enough that he won't remember much of anything.  He is already out of newborn diapers and most of the newborn sized clothing is getting too short.  So I know he is growing nicely.

Abby is taking a Self Defense class offered through the GATE program at her school.  They were offering about 5 different after school programs for the kids in the GATE program and she wanted to learn self defense which is fine with me.  She'll need it with 3 brothers...  She starts up indoor soccer in January and I believe practice for it starts this weekend...so much for a break from soccer, but she loves it and we love watching her.

Ethan is still loving school and doing very well.  He is like a sponge!  I need to get him into an extracurricular activity, but haven't found what he likes yet.  Thought karate would be good for him, but he seems scared to try it.  I think maybe I might take him to watch a session and see if it interests him or if he'd still be scared.

I'm taking a little break from my crafts...though I think 2 weeks will be enough, but we'll see.  I may make it to the end of the year.  It's nice to not have to work on an order every night, but I do miss it.  

Bob is keeping busy as usual, but it's nice to see him taking some time for himself.  He is getting more into golf which I think is a great outlet for him.

Other than that, we are all well and doing dandy.  Need to finish my Christmas Shopping...I feel behind this year, but know I will get it done.  =)