Hummus Crusted Chicken

If your anything like me you have 3 goals everyday.
1.) Keep the kids alive
2.) Keep house standing (because clean with kids is a joke)
3.) Easiest yummiest dinner you can find

Luckily, I'm doing great with keeping the kids alive and my house is still standing but dinners, oh how I hate having to think of something quick, easy, healthy and something that will please everyone. I have been eating as clean as I can lately, I'm doing a beachbody program and it is strict but the results are amazing so my family suffers with me sometimes.

 This was a dinner that I decide to try after searching pinterest for ideas. Pinterest what would I do without you??? It took me maybe 15 minutes to throw together (lots of veggies being cut). Do I have your attention??? Want to know something else??? Everyone in my house liked it, even my husband who is my pickiest eater!

Recipe for Hummus Crusted Chicken
You will need:
3 thawed chicken breast (or how ever many your family needs, this fed 5)
Hummus (I used the pine nut hummus from Costco)
Veggies 
-3 Zucchini
-1 bunch of asparagus
-green orange and red pepper
-onion


Cut up all of your veggies and put in a large bowl, sprinkle with seasonings. ( I used Italian seasonings nothing fancy) Then place everything in a greased 9x13. Place your chicken on top of the veggies and cover in hummus, little hands might enjoy helping on this step. You don't want to see the chicken at all. Then throw everything in the oven!

Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes or until the juice from the chicken is clean. 

Biscuits on the side are perfect with this.

IF by chance your doing the beachbody 21 day fix program, this is approved! Yay!
1 red
1 blue
1 green (I did 2 and it was a ton of veggies)
1 yellow (if you do biscuits with it)

Sweet Potato and Apple Side Dish

So over the past 2 years I found I have a love for health. I dropped 75lbs and kept it off. I lift weights, run half marathons and can keep up with my kids. Over this journey I have found that I not only love baking but I also do cooking. I thought I hated it but that's because I wasn't cooking good food. All of it would taste good but it wasn't good for me food, so I felt like crap eating it. Since cooking actual food, I realized I really enjoy it. I enjoy trying new dishes, healthy and non healthy, but I like the healthy a little more....only so I don't feel so guilty for taking seconds, or polishing off the dish :)

I have learned to love coming up with new recipes, some my own, others that I change a few things to make my own. I saw a sweet potato and carrot recipe and no offense but gag, that sounds bad. It was a sweeter dish using honey and cinnamon. I thought why not apples instead? Apples with honey and cinnamon are great, sweet potatoes are filling so lets try it all together.

Lucky for all of us it's an easy sugar free, clean side dish. Something quick and easy. Add some grilled chicken with this and its a perfect meal in my book.

Recipe:

1 whole sweet potato. (peeled and cubed)

1 apple (cubed)

1 tbsp honey

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Put the sweet potato and apple in a pan with a little cooking spray. Let them cook for about 20 minutes together or until the sweet potato was soft. Put the honey in the microwave for 10 seconds to make it runny. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg to the honey and mix it all together then drizzle onto the apples and sweet potato mix. Let them all cook together for about 5 minutes. Then you are ready to enjoy!

Husband didn't try it but said "garf" after seeing the picture but all of my kids approved. Hubby is my picky eater. 

Opinions Wanted

Students Criticize Michelle Obama's School Lunch Regulations.

The other night I was talking to my husband and he was telling me about one of the kids he visits. We were talking about food in schools. This kid who will be named "Fred" and is a football player was saying that his school watches his calories now. Before for school breakfast he got a pint of milk, a pop tart and oatmeal. Not the healthiest but was food that he ate. Now that schools had changed their food he gets less then a pint of milk and a granola bar, and spends the day starving. People, I eat more then that, and I'm on a diet! Lunch is just as bad, Fred was saying that before kids would eat what they wanted, now its fruits, veggies and a main course but very very small portions. Many kids trash their food because they don't like it. Meaning, many kids go hungry throughout the school day because they don't have options at lunch, and the ones they do have, aren't ones that they like. Schools even got rid of salad bars! My husband remembers having one, I remember having one but according to Fred, schools aren't allowed to have them any more. Fred, as mentioned before is a football player. He needs calories... apparently, he is in a computer system that counts his daily intake. Poor Fred can't even have a small cookie at lunch because his food intake is watched so much at school. I think its with the school, but don't quote me on it. His parents also watch what he eats, because according to the system, our healthy, very active friend Fred, is obese! WHAT? According to my husband, Fred is a smaller guy, tall and very thin. It broke my heart to hear that his calories are being counted and that his food at school isn't enough. Food is needed to make the body function correctly, right? So why are schools controlling what children eat to this point? Sure we want our children healthy but I want them to have options to pick from that they like instead of starving. My opinion is that sure, they are thin and healthy now, but don't you think this will backfire? That as soon as kids are out of school and intake for a meal or 2 isn't controlled that they are going to binge on everything they haven't had before. Then we are really going to be dealing with obese people.

So I want your opinion on this situation. Do you agree that schools should continue controlling meals, or that kids should have more options? I understand Michelle Obama wants healthier lunches for kids, and that children won't always pick healthier options, but am I the only one who would rather my kids eat something unhealthy, then to throw away their lunch because they don't like it? I want healthy kids just like any mom, but I want them to learn to eat healthy, not be forced to eat healthy.

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

I know I haven't been around at all, with pregnancy, a new baby, preschool started and everything else, I couldn't manage my time very well. Good news, I am back and ready to roll. This blog will still be about raising dudes, but I'm adding girls, and just being a stay at home mom. I will post amazing deals I find, and anything and everything I love. I'm considering changing the name, so if you have any ideas let me know, but I will let you all know of any major changes.

I'm starting my come back with a recipe. Simple, easy and something everyone will love. I came across a recipe for Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes on pinterest and couldn't resist! Sounds amazing doesn't it? I can confirm that they are just as delish as they sound. We had them for dinner last night and no one complained. Instead of rolls or buns, I made them on a slice of bread to cut back on calories and carbs.

via A Taste of Home Cooking

 A Taste of Home Cooking has amazing recipes so once I saw she made this one, it was a must for me to try. If you don't already follow her, you need to start now! I love her recipes and use her blog often for dinner ideas. The recipe and directions are from her blog.

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
Adapted from Rachael Ray

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 softball-sized onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons steak sauce
1 cup beef stock
Salt and ground black pepper
4 dinner rolls
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup milk
1 cup provolone, shredded

In large skillet over medium-high heat add the oil and then brown the ground beef, about 5-6 minutes. Add the onion and green pepper and cook another 3-4 minutes, until the vegetables start to get tender. Stir in the steak sauce and beef stock, season with salt and pepper, bring up to a bubble and cook about 2 minutes.

Split open rolls and remove most of the soft insides, leaving a bed to hold the meat mixture. Toast the rolls and set aside. 

While the meat is cooking, melt the butter in a medium-size pot over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour and cook about 1 minute. Whisk in milk, bring up to a bubble and let thicken, about 2 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in the cheese. 

To serve, place a scoopful of the meat mixture onto the bottom of the rolls, then top with the cheese sauce and replace the top of the roll.

April Fools Meal Ideas

Source

I just realized that April Fools is Sunday! Why have I not been planning already? Luckily, thanks to Pinterest, I have my April Fools Board, and dinner is planned. We will be enjoying Cat Poop Cake and Pizza Bundt Cake. I am so excited! Last year we had Chicken nuggets (oreo's covered in peanut butter rolled in smashed Special K cereal) carrots and corn (Startbursts) and mashed potatoes (vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce and a yellow Starburst). For dessert we had meatloaf cupcakes with mashed potato frosting. I really enjoyed making the meal. This year, I'm even more excited since the prank will also be on my parents. Make sure to follow me on Pinterest, because all today, I will be getting plenty of April Fools ideas!


Here is a list of meals to prank your family with:
Cat Poop Cake
Mini Burgers
Chicken Nuggets
KFC Fried Chicken Bucket
Meatloaf Cupcakes
Fried Eggs
Grilled Cheese
Mashed Potato Sundae
Fish Sticks
Sushi
French Fries
Corn on the Cob
Pizza Bundt Cake
Spaghetti Cupcakes

Thanks to Clean & Scentsible, here is a list of other fun pranks to play with the kids!

• Fill half a bowl of cereal with milk and freeze overnight.  In the morning add a little cereal and milk on top and watch the kids try to figure out what's wrong.
• After the kids are asleep, switch around their dresser drawers.  {I have also heard of a people swapping their kids in their beds but I don't think that would work around here!}
• Bunch up toilet paper and stuff it in the kids' shoes.
• Make a "milk shake" with chocolate syrup, baking soda, and water.  It looks like a tasty chocolate milkshake!  
• Let your kids have backwards day with their clothing - wear their clothes backwards, inside out, or however they please!  My son did this with his preschool and had a great time coming up with crazy ideas! {You might want to save this one if you are heading out somewhere important for the day!}  It might also be fun for Mom and Dad to dress up in backwards clothing and see what the kids say.
• Write a bathroom message.  Using a permanent marker, write a message on some toilet paper and place in the toilet.  This would work especially well for little boys that stand up to do their thing! {use longer toilet paper so the edges of the paper actually touch the rim of the toilet}
• Set various alarms and timers throughout the house so one goes off every few minutes.  The kids will have fun running around trying to figure out where all of the beeping is coming from.
• Switch the inner bags of cereal in their boxes.  I think an All Bran and Fruit Loops switch would work well!
• Add dry yeast to a box of pancake mix and have your kids help your make breakfast.  The pancakes will keep growing and growing!

Have fun, and please please please share any other ideas you have!

How to Make a Single Serving of Cake

Recipe for "3, 2, 1 Cake:"

Ingredients:

1 box - Angel Food Cake Mix
1 box - Cake Mix (Any Flavor)
2 Tbsp - Water

Directions:

In a zip-lock bag, combine the two cake mixes together and mix well.

For each individual cake serving, take out 3 Tablespoons of the cake mix combination and mix it with 2 Tablespoons of water in a small microwave-safe container.

Microwave on high for 1 minute, and voila - enough cake just for you.

Always remember, that one of the cake mixes MUST be Angel Food. The other can be any flavor. The Angel Food is the cake mix that has the eggs whites in it.

Yield: 1 serving

This recipe is called 3, 2, 1 Cake because all you need to remember is: 3 tablespoons mix,
2 tablespoons water, 1 minute in the microwave.

Via

How to Make Chocolate Bowls

These pictures make it look so easy to make these chocolate bowls, but I don't know if I could really do it. Pretty neat though!

Via Reddit.com

Food Storage Plan

In a world filled with chaos and natural disasters, you never know when food storage is going to come in handy. In my church, food storage is talked about a lot. Consider if food insurance, it's there when you need it! We need to be prepared for any and every situation. It can be as simple as a blizzard that makes it impossible to get to the grocery store, a hurricane, or anything and everything else. We often think that it can be pricey to come up with enough food, not to mention were do you start? I started last year with couponing, I buy more of things that I really don't need right now that will last, and I rotate everything. I plan on getting this list started as soon as we have our own home. We don't have the room for all of this right now, and I'm content with what we have right now, but you can never have too much! This list is for 55 weeks of buying one thing. Easy right?

This list is perfect for anyone on a budget. It's for 2 people, and you double or triple depending on the number of people in your home. Each week you spend $10 (or $20, $30 etc) and most of these things you can get with coupons. You don't have to go in this order but you want to make sure you get everything on the list. This list will give 2 people enough food for a year!!!!

Week 1: 6lbs of salt
Week 2: 5 cans of Cream of Chicken
Week 3: 20lbs of Sugar
Week 4: 50lbs Wheat
Week 5: 8 cans of Tomato Soup
Week 6: 6lbs Macaroni
Week 7: 20lbs of Sugar
Week 8: 8 cans of Tuna
Week 9: 6lbs of Yeast
Week 10: 50lbs of Wheat
Week 11: 8 cans of Tomato Soup
Week 12: 20lbs of Sugar
Week 13: 10lbs powdered milk
Week 14: 7 boxes of macaroni and cheese
Week 15: 50lbs wheat
Week 16: 5 cans of Cream of Chicken
Week 17: 1 bottle of multivitamin (500 count)
Week 18: 10lbs powdered milk
Week 19: 5 cans of Cream of Mushroom
Week 20: 50lbs wheat
Week 21: 8 cans of tomato soup
Week 22: 20lbs sugar
Week 23: 8 cans of tuna
Week 24: 6lbs of shortening
Week 25: 50lbs wheat
Week 26: 5lbs honey
Week 27: 10lbs powdered milk
Week 28: 20lbs sugar
Week 29: 5lbs peanut butter
Week 30: 50lbs of wheat
Week 31: 7 boxes of macaroni and cheese
Week 32: 10lbs of powdered milk
Week 33: 1 bottle of aspirin (500 count)
Week 34: 5 cans of cream of chicken soup
Week 35: 50lbs of wheat
Week 36: 7 boxes of macaroni and cheese
Week 37: 6lbs of salt
Week 38: 20lbs of sugar
Week 39: 8 cans of tomato soup
Week 40: 50lbs of wheat
Week 41: 5 cans cream of Mushroom
Week 42: 20lbs sugar
Week 43: 1 bottle of multivitamin (500 count)
Week 44: 8 cans of tuna
Week 45: 50lbs wheat
Week 46: 6lbs macaroni
Week 47: 20lbs sugar
Week 48: 5 cans cream of mushroom
Week 49: 5lbs of honey
Week 50: 20lbs of sugar
Week 51: 5 cans cream of mushroom
Week 52: 5lbs of honey
Week 53: 20lbs of sugar
Week 54: 8 cans of tomato soup
Week 55: 50lbs of wheat

Total you will have:
500lbs of wheat
180lbs of sugar
40lbs of powdered milk (we get white and chocolate milk)
12lbs of salt
10lbs of honey
5lbs of peanut butter
45 cans of tomato soup
15 cans of cream of chicken
15 cans of cream of mushroom
24 cans of tuna
21 boxes of macaroni and cheese
500 aspirin
1000 multivitamins
6lbs of yeast
6lbs of shortening
12lbs of macaroni

It's Healthy Mom

My oldest knows that we eat healthy snacks in the house and I love it. I love that he runs to get a pear, apple, banana anything healthy. He is so excited that fruits and veggies are the one thing we don't put a limit on. This boy can eat by the way. So yesterday he was eating a banana and the top fell off, because he is picky he freaks out and won't eat the top. I keep telling him to and then he turns around and says "No mom you eat it" I told him no and that I didn't want it. He wasn't taking no for an answer. "Mom, eat this banana, its healthy and good for you. Its so yummy your tummy will be happy" I kept telling him no thank you and that I wasn't hungry, he told me I was hungry. So I told him that banana's make me sick (I'm allergic to them when they are raw) he looks at me puzzled and starts laughing telling me that they can't make you sick because they are healthy. I just told him that they do make me sick and that then I wouldn't be able to play for a while. He then puts the rest of his banana down and says "Yeah they make me sick too" Oh dear! Luckily, he ate one this morning and forgot the whole thing. Hopefully he doesn't remember that conversation.

Restaurants Where Kids Eat FREE

My family and I really love the word FREE; so when it comes to FREE food, you've got our attention. Here is a list of restaurants nationwide and here in the Cleveland area where kids eat free. *Remember to always check with your local restaurant to verify the offer.*

Fuddruckers
Kids 12 and under can eat for .99 from the kids’ menu from 4pm to 9pm on Mondays (and Tuesdays) at Fuddruckers.

Golden Corral
Children 10 and under eat free from 5pm to 9pm on Monday’s at Golden Corral. This is limited to 2 kids per 1 adult.

IHOP
Everyday kids eat free at IHOP if they are 12 and under. Kids can get 1 free kids’ menu item per adult entree purchased from 4pm to 8pm.

Jason’s Deli
Kids eat free at Jason’s Deli all day on Sundays at some locations and on Mondays at others. Call your local Jason’s Deli before you go!

TGI Friday’s
On Mondays and Tuesdays kids 3 and under eat for free at TGI Friday’s.

Chick-fil-A
At participating locations, kids can eat a free kids’ meal at Chick-fil-A on Tuesdays for Family Fun Night from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. There is a limit of 1 free kid’s meal per adult combo meal purchased.

Fazoli’s
From 5pm to 8pm on Tuesdays kids eat for .99 (12 and under) from the kids’ menu.

Godfather’s Pizza
From 11am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm on Tuesday, kids 10 and under at for free from the Godfather’s Pizza buffet.

Perkins Restaurant and Bakery
Kids eat free at Perkins all day on Tuesdays.

Texas Roadhouse
On Tuesdays (may be Mondays at some locations), kids 12 and under eat free at Texas Roadhouse.

Quizno’s
Kids 12 and under get one free Kidz Meal with the purchase of an Adult Entree.

Rainforest Cafe
Kids can eat for $1.99 on Wednesday evenings at Rainforest Cafe.

Hooters
Kids eat free at Hooters all day long on Sundays.

Applebees
At Applebees kids eat for free on Mondays. There is 1 free kids’ meal for each adult entree purchase. Additional kids are $1.00.

Buffalo Wild Wings
On Mondays, from 5pm to 8pm kids 12 and under eat for .99 from the kids’ menu at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Cici’s Pizza
Kids 3 and under eat free from the Cici’s Pizza buffet everyday! Specific Cici’s Pizza locations frequently have where older kids can eat for free on certain nights – check with your nearest location!

Lonestar Steakhouse
Valid all day on Tuesday, two kids eat free from the kids’ menu with the purchase of any entrée.

Denny’s
Up to two kids meals can be enjoyed for free with the purchase of every one adult entrée on Tuesdays evenings from 4 – 8 p.m.

Johnny Rockets
Kids can eat FREE at Johnny Rockets (with purchase of adult entree and drink) on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 4:00PM to 8:00 PM!

Max & Erma’s
On Tuesdays, kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.

Steak and Shake
Kids eat free on Saturdays and Sundays each week with the purchase of an adult meal over $9.

Champp’s
Kids can eat FREE at Champps  Restaurant on Tuesday’s from 4PM to 9PM! Free kids meal with an adult entree purchase. (Some locations may allow two free kids meals per adult purchase).

El Rodeo
El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant has three locations in the Cleveland area: Westlake, Middleburg Heights and North Olmsted. Kids eat free all day on Mondays with the purchase of an adult entrée and beverage.

Panini’s
Panini's is local chain that specializes in pizza, wings, overstuffed sandwiches and burgers. Kids eat free on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays (check with your closest location to determine the day).

Hoggy’s
Hoggy’s Restaurant in Valley View is locally famous. Kids eat free with an adult entrée purchase each Wednesday evening from 5 – 9 p.m. at Hoggy’s.

Beef O’Brady’s
The Wadsworth location offers a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entrée on Wednesday nights, while the location in Broadview Heights offers the same on Tuesday nights.

Quaker Steak and Lube
With local locations in Sheffield Village, Valley View, Vermilion and Mentor, Quaker Steak and Lube is a regional bar and grill chain. Sundays are kids eat free nights (with an adult meal purchase) at Quaker Steak.

The Boneyard (Mayfield Heights Only, Westlake and Broadview offer free dessert)
Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal on Tuesdays at the Mayfield Heights location ONLY.

Skyline Chili locations across Ohio offer Kids Eat Free Nights. Nights vary by location so check with your local Skyline restaurant to see what night it happens.