Turkey Sausage Primavera & PJ Babies

At J and Bean's well check up I was asking the doctor if Bean could eat too many solids at this age. He replied that right now eating solids is more of a social event, so just smash up some of the vegetables we're eating- like squash.

HA.

Of course I went right along letting him think we don't eat pizza rolls or some version of pasta and cheese most nights, especially since I already had the ipod touch parenting J in the corner.

Although AP has been sleeping through the night for a while, that newborn fog is just now lifting. Quick. Frozen. Crock pot. Carb and cheese heavy. Those are the meals of 2011 so far.  It was fine for a while, but M and I both decided we were feeling the effects of a less than well-rounded diet. M assisted the crew and we made our way through the produce aisle.

I've been looking for recipes that yield leftovers, can be prepped in advance (4-6pm just sucks), and are lighter. We've had chicken cesear salad, (easy) vegetable soup, chicken salad (we eat it with carrot sticks- that's healthy, right?!), and Pasta Primavera with Turkey Sausage. I made a couple minor substitutions for the things I didn't have on hand. I also halved the recipe because, to me, this is not a reheat kinda dish. (And yeah, this is carb-heavy, but it's with vegetables and there's no heavy sauce.)

Pasta Primavera with Italian Turkey Sausage adapted from allrecipes.com

Ingredients

1/2 package angle hair pasta- cooked according to directions

1/2 pound Italian turkey sausage

Olive oil

Minced garlic

1/4 onion, diced

1 zucchini, chopped

1 squash, chopped

1 tomato, seeded and diced

red pepper flakes to taste

1 tea Italian seasoning (approx)

1 tea basil

CHEESE (Italian preferably, but I used Mexican because J likes his quesadillas)

Directions

1. Heat skillet, brown turkey sausage. Set aside.

2. Add olive oil to skillet, saute the onion, garlic, zucchini and squash till tender

3. Add sausage back in. 

4. Add S&P, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning and tomato

5. Toss noodles with some basil and olive oil, put on plate

6. Top noodles with cheese, put sausage and veggies on top of that

ENJOY!

On another food related note, we are ridding our house of peanut products. SNIFF. I was unwilling to part with my precious PB, but J is proving more and more capable in finding things, so out it all goes. Whatever shall I eat for lunch?

Thanks to, Decorating the Elevator's Mediterranean Tuna Antipasto Salad  and Spoonful's Egg and Olive, I've not gone hungry.  And gosh darn, with all that protein and vegetables I feel better too. (Side note- I made both of these on Sunday so they'd be ready to eat all week. I do realize that's not revolutionary...)

Well. Enough about food. Onto our favorite time of day. DAD IS HOME!!!! The lighting on these pictures is horrendous, but I figured you wouldn't mind looking past it. 

I'm also going to ask you not to covet our closet space.

 

 

We do love that guy.

I also hope to post on the entertainment center soon. The last coat of paint is finally dry, and M hopes to put the doors on tonight. 

Oops- my spell checker didn't find anything, which means it's broken. Sorry.

Six children, 2 and under, 24 hours

We had perfect weather for our little road trip south to the Spoonful's house. Please read SB's hysterical summary of our time together here. We planned this insanity because Leslie and her babies were going to be nearby visiting family. Sarah Barry asked us to bring a box of cereal and a bottle of wine. Pretty much covers it.

We were three-wide-double-wide.

Here's the line-up, oldest to youngest. Please humor my captions, and prepare yourself for a lot of baby-blues.

Graham (Leslie's). 2 years, 5 months. Blurry. Darn. 

 

J (mine). 2 years, 1 month.

 

Stephen Small (SB's). 1 year, 11 months.

Jackson (Leslie's). 7.5 months.

AP (mine). 6.5 months.

Laurie (SB's). 2.5 months.

The big boys watched Toy Story and texted constantly.

The littles played.

"Hey, Jackson... friends share their giraffes..."

"No, AP. Friends hold hands."

"Laurie. You simply must let me borrow that onesie."

Future Auburn freshman roommates and football dates, 2029.

"Jackson. Is that Ralph Lauren? We don't cry while wearing Ralph Lauren."

 

And, to prove I saw my friends, too.

So. There were falls, tears and laughs. J slept about 8.5 hours in 24 hours (usually it's closer to 14) and we watched Toy Story at 3 am. Still very worth it to see these friends. Nell, we missed you!

Thanks for hosting all of us in your clutter-free home, SB!

Things to Come...

I realized I haven't blogged in a while. It's not because we've been doing nothing- it's because it feels like we've been doing everything!

This past weekend M built, like from pieces of wood and stuff, a "media center". The x-box turned into "needing a larger TV" (I love TV, no complaints here), which lead to needing something to put the TV on... and so on. Truthfully, we've had a TV and furniture on our radar for a while. Our current TV is on an end table of sorts.

Here's the inspiration. Someday when we have more space M will probably build the side towers/bookshelves.

Pottery Barn Logan

Right now M is finishing up the doors while I do the painting and sanding, painting and sanding.  More details to come when it is complete.  For now I will say that I think hobbies are good for the soul. M really made it, but I enjoy doing the putty, sanding, finishing and being an extra pair of hands, so we can semi make it together.  

M's collection of frightening power tools is growing, so I hope there will be more pieces to come.

We have also been doing major spring cleaning-out for our garage sale with Chris and Mary Lindsey this Saturday.  It is worth noting that so far M thinks that nothing we are selling is worth more than four dollars. ("I guess we'll put like 3 dollars on that grill")  I will be pricing things. Come by if you need any once-worn bridesmaid dresses.

This very moment I am preoccupied with my excitement over taking a little road trip to see two of my best friends and their babies! SB and Leslie, can't wait to arrive! 

Leslie, Nell, Me, SB 2007

 

No one's hair looks like that now.

Nelly-Wo, our forth, you will be very missed. I may bring your picture on a pop-sickle stick. But, fortunately M and I will be road tripping again to see Nell & Joseph for Ruthie's wedding and my birthday weekend. Woo!

Throw in work, two babies and keeping cheerios off the floor, and it's busy, busy. Chop, chop.

Back soon with pictures...

Strawberry Cupcakes, Sheeshkababs, and some Cute Kids

As promised, another cupcake cake box recipe. We had these as dessert on AP's baptism. Thank you, Paula Dean.

Strawberry Cupcakes adapted from Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake by Paula Deen

Ingredients:

1 box white cake mix

1 (3 oz) box strawberry jello

1 (16oz) package of strawberries in syrup, thawed & pureed

4 large eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup water

frosting:

1/2 tea strawberry extract

1 can cream cheese icing

*leftover strawberries in syrup- about an ounce

Directions:

1. Combine the cake mix and jello packet, mix in remaining cake ingredients- *hold out approximately an ounce of strawberries. (don't freak about the measurement, it's not going to matter).

2. Beat on medium till smooth

3. Pour into cupcake tins with liners

4. Bake 20-25 min (watch 'em)

5. Mix frosting, extract and approximately 1 ounce of the strawberries (from the cake). 

6. Frost cooled cupcakes and serve!

These were STRAWBERRY GOODNESS.  I'm sure Paula's frosting was amazing... but, this tweaked store bought was pretty amazing itself. It was a tad runny from the strawberry puree, but don't let it hurt your feelings.

This weekend was a nice little weekend. The weather was beautiful so I got in some runs without the jogging stroller while M (and Chris) played Call of Duty. That's right, the man of the house got an X-box. Our house is now a war zone. I have, in the past, had very strong feelings against "gaming". Now that we are extra busy with the little ones my feelings have actually softened: M is an exceptional provider, husband and dad. He works hard, and plays with our kids non-stop. Why not let him defend the living room against world domination?

Saturday night we grilled out some sheeshkababs (which I know is wrong, but I think it's funny- and funny is J's favorite word right now).

They were delish.  The butcher at Publix cut them up special for me from top sirloin. That butcher may have caused my Kroger eye to wander.

Seasoned them up (S&P, garlic powder, worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar) and skewered them with some red onion and a green pepper. M did the grillin' to medium-rare perfection.Side of steamed broccoli and oven roasted red potatoes.

Tonight I diced up the leftovers and we had steak nachos. They were also quite tasty, but it was 8pm, and ill-lighted nachos are no way to blog about food.  All in all, two great dinners for just $10 of good steak. 

Sunday night, would you believe me if I told you this itty-bitty sweet baby...

Knocked back THREE containers of baby food (technically 2.5, PLUS rice in each one)?

I have my little cookie-baking buddy, I'm sure of it.

Today of course was Monday. After the time change. And a cloudy gray one at that. J and I made the most of the warm before the storm during Bean's nap.

I could actually cry that this one is blurry

Happy new week to you all!

Halfway to One

Today our little Bean is 6 months old!  Please indulge me as I show you a gazillion pictures that I took this week. Non-family, you've been warned.

I'll pepper in what AP has been up to, for my record. 

The little red rocking chair was Popo's (M's Dad) when he was little. Isn't it precious? Thanks, Popo! J's friend Allie let us borrow a ton of her baby clothes- this is one of the adorable items- thanks, Lauren!

  

We haven't been to her 6 month appointment yet, but I'm guessing she's in the ballpark of 13lbs, while still being on the tall side. Little string Bean. They make baby skinny jeans for her.

Close to sitting up without help. Although, she loves being on her belly so much that she doesn't try very hard.
 

Laughing...(J gets the biggest laughs)

and very bashful. She's already so girlie, amazes us.

But, don't let that act fool you, she's a live wire.  Reaching and grabbing everything, willing herself forward. A lot of times taking only one nap, I don't think she wants to miss a thing that J is doing.

She started waving in the last week...

and is up on all fours.

She started eating solids at about 5.5 months. LOVES them. A DREAM to feed (sorry, J). We were going to wait a few more weeks, but she was making us uncomfortable at dinner time with all the stares and smacking. 

Her favs are all the orange vegetables and any fruit. Although, the green stuff is a go if it's mixed with some apples and rice cereal.

I'm not making baby food this time. The Gerber jar phase is short, and the toddler diet is coming. Mama is tired.

Bean, you are already such a pleasant little person! We cannot wait to learn more about you!