Lately I have been crazy motivated. I don't know what sparked my productive ways but I am happy this energy is here and I am not giving it back anytime soon (I hope.) I have been trying to be better at certain things like working out, eating healthier (this includes being better about not cheating and eating gluten) and being a better wife and dog mother. (Yes... I said dog mother!) I have been trying to play with Weston more and take him on more walks and jogs so he doesn't turn into a fat dog. I really don't want to be one of those pet owners who has an obese dog and has to give him insulin shots for diabetes which is really common in dogs that are not in shape.
A few Sundays ago I made Steve sit down with me and write out all of our personal and combined goals. We came up with a lot of really good goals and my plan is to print them on on fancy paper and frame it in our bedroom so that every day we can look at those goals and remind ourselves what they are!
One goal that I made a little while ago and has been working out GREAT for our little family is a food calendar. Steve told me that growing up in his house his mom would put together a food calendar every month and whenever he had a question about what was for dinner that night he could look at the food calendar to find out. I though that was a great idea mainly because I am terrible at making dinner every night. I needed some motivation and planning the food out for the entire month is kinda fun. I spend 1 day looking up recipes and planning meals for the rest of the month and that makes it easier for me when I go to the grocery store. I can get everything I need pretty much all at one time (unless it's perishable). It also helps save money as well because I'm not just guessing while I'm in the store what I will need the rest of the week.
Now even though this food calendar has been working out great I don't make dinner every night still. I only make dinner every Sunday and Wednesday because we will usually have leftovers for a couple days and we like to go out to dinner on the weekends most of the time. It has really been a lot of fun coming up with dinner ideas. I found this one blog called just-cook-already.blogspot.com they have had some really amazing recipes that have all turned out good so far. I especially liked the Zuppa Tuscana soup from Olive garden that somehow tastes exactly like it! Yum! I am posting that recipe and a quiche recipe from the food network that we also really enjoyed!
6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground spicy Italian sausage (remove casing and crumble)
- 1½ tsp crushed red peppers
- 1 large diced white onion
- 4 Tbsp bacon pieces
- 2 tsp garlic puree
- 10 cups chicken broth or 10 cups water with 5 cubes or teaspoons of bullion
- 1 cup heavy cream (I will only use 1/2 cup next time)
- 1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 4 large potatoes (unpeeled and chopped into bite size pieces)
- about 4 cups of kale (roughly chopped)
Directions
1. Sauté Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.
2. In the same pan, sauté bacon till fat is rendered and add onions and garlic for approximately 10 minutes or until the onions are soft.
3. Mix together the chicken bouillon and water, then add it to the onions, bacon and garlic. Cook until boiling.
4. Add potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.
5. Add heavy cream and cook until thoroughly heated.
6. Stir in the sausage.
7. Add kale just before serving. Delicious!
Spinach and Bacon Quiche
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs, beaten
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- Salt and pepper
- 2 cups chopped fresh baby spinach, packed
- 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
- 1 (9-inch) refrigerated pie crust, fitted to a 9-inch glass pie plate
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Combine the eggs, cream, salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender. Layer the spinach, bacon, and cheese in the bottom of the pie crust, then pour the egg mixture on top. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until the egg mixture is set. Cut into 8 wedges.
