So, as all of you know, I was trying to shoot for 365 days of eating at home.  I happily made a calendar for the month of January, did some pretty heavy duty shopping to make sure I had ingredients for all of my meals, and got off on a pretty good start.

A lot of the meals were fantastic and blog worthy, however, time just doesn't allow me to sit down very often in front of the computer, and when it does, I don't always have a quiet moment to compose my thoughts.

So, for those who are wondering, did I make it through my calendar of meals, I can honestly say, "NO!" I did however make 14 of the 31 meals.  I see that as an accomplishment.  I mean, with as busy as our family is, that was a pretty good effort to get everyone to the dinner table.

I have learned that I can't control everything, even making dinner.  I really thought telling the world that I am going to do this (365 days of meals) made me accountable for following through.  But I guess I am perfect being imperfect.  Tonight? We are ordering pizza!

And because I let go and said Chicken a la king can wait, I am sitting down writing.

I am not perfect, but I am honest with myself.  Do I fail at things? Most definitely! Imperfections make us unique.

I wouldn't want to be anyone else. Who do you want to be?

A Lunch with a Purpose - Sack Lunch Sunday

Have you ever wanted to be a part of something bigger than yourself?

Have an opportunity to help others?

Change a stranger's life?

Change your life?

Well, I found this amazing place where it all can happen! 

and it's called Sack Lunch Sunday!


What is Sack Lunch Sunday?

Many of the volunteers will tell you it's not an experience that can be put into words, but I am going to try.  If you don't think I sum it up perfectly, come check us out and put it into your own words.


Sack Lunch Sunday is one man's dream.
An experience like no other.
An opportunity to bring people together.

A way of looking forward to something amazingly different each week.

Sack Lunch Sunday is a hug.
It's not just a lunch.
It's making new friends.

It's opening your heart and your mind.

Sack Lunch Sunday is a Smile on the Streets.
It's an amazing story that started with an amazing person.

Sack Lunch Sunday is my family!

So, does Sack Lunch Sunday sound like something amazing to you?

Every Sunday a group of volunteers meet at the SLS Headquarters, a.k.a. Nick's house.  We meet to make over 100 sandwiches, to be packed along with water, chips, sweet snacks, sometimes fruit, and always a note!  

Friends of all ages are welcome to participate.  Younger kids are delegated to write notes and make pictures to go into the lunches.  Then we have the sandwich station (kitchen table), which sandwiches are assembled and bagged.  Next, they make their way to the garage where the remainder of the assembly and packing occurs.

Once the sack lunches are made, what's next?

That is where many hands make light work.  

All of our volunteers come with back packs, even the kids, and we fill up as many lunches as we can.  Next, 2-3 extra-large duffle bags are filled with the remaining lunches, and warm extras, such as hand warmers, hats, gloves, and scarves.  Toiletries are another much needed necessity on the streets that get added to one of the bags.

We discuss safety of encountering homeless on the streets, a little of what to expect, and how we all need to go with an open mind and heart, and be ready to change some lives.

We discuss who will be in each group, then we get ready to hop on the train, my son's favorite part...All the way to Chicago's Union Station!

Nick and Colin on the train looking for airplanes!

Once at Union Station, we head out on our mission, to warm a few homeless hearts.  
It can be the lunch, the warm outerwear, the handshake or hugs that we provide to make someone's day just a little bit brighter.  

 Every week, I encounter a new reason why I love volunteering for SLS.  Whether it's bonding with my family, making new friends, or changing the lives of others, my reason is forever changing.  Making the homeless feel just a little less alone, is one great reason why I do this, I know I have many smiles to share.

Sack Lunch Sunday, doesn't stop at the streets, but also volunteers at some shelters as well.

Due to our ability to get over 100 sack lunches out each Sunday, our wishlist is ever growing.
If you are interested in participating by donating needed items, please check out the link below for where to send your donation to.  
There is always a weekly wishlist and update posted as well.  

Some items that we need on a weekly basis include, but are not limited to:
small bottles of water, bread, mustard, sandwich bags, brown paper lunch sacks, variety of chips, snacks such as granola bars, fruit snacks, individually packaged cookies, crackers, etc.

But we don't stop at lunches.  We have already provided many of these homeless men and women with warm winter gear, such as hats, gloves and scarves, and many many sets of hand warmers.  Hygiene products are also needed.  
So please consider donating those items as well!

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about Sack Lunch Sunday!  
If you would like to make a new friend, warm a heart, or share a lunch and a smile, contact SLS below, or you may contact me directly at jmccarte@sbcglobal.net.

Click the link below to learn more about SLS, how to donate, volunteer, etc.
Sack Lunch Sunday - Facebook Page

365 Days of Dinners...sometimes things don't go as planned!

I learned something this weekend that reminds me, I am not perfect.  Life doesn't always go your way.  And I CAN adapt to change.

My 365 days of dinners at home has already gone awry.  

Two meals into my challenge and things were great.  
Day 1: Potato Soup (see previous post)
 Day 2: Pork Chops.

Simple Pork Chops with apples.
Great recipe from Southern Food.  Kids loved it!
Check out link for complete recipe.
http://southernfood.about.com/od/porkchops/r/simple-pork-chops-apples.htm

Day 3: We went out to the Children's museum, and ended up eating pizza out for lunch, instead of my homemade pizza that was planned for dinner.  Okay, I can adapt, we will just have something else, right?  

Well...My 7 year old decided to stay the night at my mom's.  My 5 year old ate Chef Boyardee mini raviolis.  And by the time we got home from my moms, I let my 9 year old get away with eating banana pudding for dinner, it was cereal for me and left overs for my husband.  

Yes, I was defeated on Day 3.

Then on Day 4, sloppy joes were pushed aside for that homemade pizza.  I was happy, at least I was back on track making something at home!  Later, I found out that no one really ate, but what can I do. (I got to have a night off with a relaxing mom's night out!)

Day 5, I was defeated once again.  I never defrosted our whole chicken for that special Sunday Roast Chicken dinner.  What did I make instead?  Mac n cheese!  

Sigh!

Well, today is Monday...back on track right?  Well, sort of.  I am making dinner at home, however, it is not the planned Spaghetti dinner on my calendar. 

Today, quickly turned into boiled chicken and jasmine rice, as my son's crohns has flared from either his antibiotic or the mac n cheese from last night.  So, cooking plain as possible is the best for his 5 year old tummy.

My kids loved dinner tonight!  Success!

I usually get upset when things don't go as planned, and it takes me a real long time to get over not being perfect, but I am learning.  I am stepping back, letting others help me and finding myself being a little more relaxed and having more time to do stuff I want to do!

Maybe Spaghetti tomorrow?

It will be a surprise to you and me both! (oh yeah, my kids have another day off of school due to the extreme cold.)

Star Wars Party

So LUCKY for me, my kids LOVE having parties at HOME!

And lucky for me, my son's birthday is in the Summer!

But I don't know a thing about Star Wars!

So with a lot of research, prepping and calling in reinforcements, 

a Jedi Training Party was held at our home!

Started with the invite and we invited all of the boys in our son's preschool class!

At the same time, we asked for Jedi help from my younger cousin, my husband and brother in law!

Next, was prepping.  

We needed medals, robe, light sabers of course and a plan of action!

Below are the items I used to complete the Medals 

that were awarded at the end of the Jedi Training!

I printed out pictures, cut them with a 1' circle punch and used clear hot glue to assemble.

These were a big hit.

 Robes were made easily out of some brown fabric that I cut about 18" - 22" wide 

and free hand cut a "V" for the neck hole.  Later we added some rope to tie at the waist.

Now for some fun.  Thank goodness this party was in the summer, because where else would I have found pool noodles any other time.  (The Dollar Tree).  I used my bread knife to cut the pool noodles in half to make these perfectly sized "Light Sabers".  With a little Duct Tape, and electrical tape, and my husband's help we had these done fairly quick!

Yes a lot of behind the scenes work went into this party!

But on the day of the party was when it all came together!

Decorating for the party was pretty easy.  I used the Jedi font and printed out the banner.
I used back card stock to attach it too.  The Storm trooper head belongs to my son.
 I found giant bags of Star wars fruit snacks at Walmart.
Darth Vader is a pinata and the table cloth I over spent on, but it does look great!

Also, The food had to be themed!

We had Wookie Cookies (chocolate Teddy Grahams)
Light Sabers (Pretzels dipped in Red and Green candy melts, wrapped in foil)
Princess Lays (Lays potato chips)
Galatic Cheese ball (cream cheese and cheddar cheese blended and formed into a ball)
Yoda Soda (Green sherbet mixed with sprite)
The light sabers on table were made out of a large glowstick and duct tape.

Then the guests arrived! and the training began!

As the young Padawans arrived, they were given a robe, and a mission to defeat Darth Vadar by the end of the training.

Not Pictured: We practiced mind control with a light up ball and some Star Wars music 

(like hot potato) - Everyone earned a Star Wars fruit snack.

Next, we needed to know our enemy (Darth Vadar).  

The Padawans used silly string to practice there defeat to earn their light sabers.

Next, with light sabers in hand, we had a light saber training course with helium filled balloons. 

Next, we were ready for some endurance training with an obstacle course.
Each child went through the obstacle course with Yoda on their back.
1. stepping mats for balance
2. through the tube
3. hanging from bar strength
4. back and forth through cones for quick foot work.

Time for some treats!

Finally, it was time to defeat Darth Vadar

 Each Padawan was given a 

Certificate of Completion to say they were now a Jedi.

One Happy Jedi!

Happy 5th Birthday to my little Jedi Knight!

365 days of Home Cooked Meals....

It's official, yesterday I began my 365 day challenge of eating home cooked meals. (However, with my kids running wild, I am thinking Chuck E. Cheese sounds really good right now.)

I thought up this challenge as I was thinking of New Year's Resolutions.  I wanted to find something that was going to benefit my entire family and not just me.  Whenever we look to the checkbook to see where all the money has gone, it has generally gone to "Eating Out!"  So, I am hoping this will help with the budget, also allow my kids to enjoy different foods, and get the entire family eating healthy.  

I will say, I am not a cook by any means, baking is my thing, but with Betty Crocker, All Recipes, and Pinterest at my side, I am sure to dish out a few edible meals.

So, I sat down with my recipe box, and a crock pot cookbook and set up meals for the month of January.  You will see as I got to the end of the month, the meals got easier, and I even set up a day to go out to eat.  Hey, I will deserve a night off by the 23rd of the month!  

This isn't set in stone, but for the first month a good plan to follow!

Day One:  Baked Potato Soup with Indian Flat Bread

I got the Soup Recipe from Pinterest and followed the recipe in the link below:

http://erinrach.blogspot.com/2011/09/crockpot-baked-potato-soup.html?m=1

The Indian Flat Bread came from Costco.  The kids love it!  And it's so easy.

I get these in the refrigerated section of Costco.

I heat in a dry pan, I keep turning till hot.

My Girls chose not to eat the soup.  My 5 year old son, loved it, and my husband said the recipe was a keeper!

Day Two:  Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, glazed carrots.

I can't promise any of my meals will be gourmet, but I can guarantee they will be home cooked!  

Good Bye to 2013!!!

It's been a while since I had an opportunity to post as Supermom? That's Me!  Maybe because I didn't feel like such a supermom.  The year was just filled with one bad moment after the other, and no matter how hard I tried, it didn't get better.  I was defeated in 2013! 

I don't think it was the whole year that was bad, but enough of it was that I can't remember anything else but to be happy to say, "Hallelujah, it is over!"

I have had my share of tears
At times they wouldn't stop
Every woman does
I had reasons to give up

I tried fighting through the pain
and the anger that was inside
I looked for my strength
in people who had died

I wondered who I was
who had I become
no matter what I did
everything felt wrong

But everyday I would wake
I'd look forward to a new day
I knew I wasn't supermom
but I'd be back someday

Well that someday is now
the New Year has started
and I am happy to say
2013 has departed!

Please look for greatness in yourself.  Don't underestimate your strength when you are feeling defeated.  

A mom is never weak, I think it's called exhaustion.  

Allow yourself time for fun, time for girl talk, time for peace, time for good food, and definitely time to express yourself!  What do you love to do?  Well do it in 2014!!!

(look forward to some great posts, I promise 2014 will be a great year! - fingers crossed)

Starting the day with DIVA!

My day started with Diva
Yeah, she's only 8
Told her to get dressed or we would be late

"What should I wear?"
I said to look nice
Your brand new skirt
the one I put away twice

"I cannot find it!"
She said, with a head shake and whine
I'm losing my patience with this child of mine

She comes down the stairs
with the skirt in plain sight
Why is life with Diva always a fight?

St. Patrick's Day Season~coming to an end!

This was a week of letting go and trusting in what was in front of me...and that was my girls.

Irish dance performances are exciting and exhausting at the same time.  It is a lot of rushing and wondering if you will make it to the next show on time, but somehow we always do!

The girls had a total of 9 shows in 4 days and we have one more left.  The girls always find the energy to dance their performance piece just one more time.  Our longest day, which was yesterday, measured a total of 13 hours from start to finish.  Keeping 2 sisters, who have been with each other all day, happy isn't always easy.  I had to remind them to please be nice to one another and also remind them that EVERYONE is tired.  But to make it a little fun, it became our our "YES" day!

What does that mean?  I said "YES" to practically everything.  We had powdered donuts for breakfast, snacks in the car, candy hidden in my bag which we shared, we ordered rootbeer floats with our lunch, and they didn't have to take showers when they got home.

The girls thought it was pretty cool until they tried to push it into today!  Today, some "no's" were said, only because you can't eat fruit snacks for every meal and you eventually have to shower.

Today, even with only 3 shows, it seemed more exhausting than yesterday.  Most of us were tired before we even started performing, so during our break today the girls were treated at Build-A-Bear for how great they have been this entire week of shows!  The employees tried to get a dance out of the girls, but they weren't budging.  Yes, they perform in front of hundreds of people, yet they wouldn't dance for 4.  Once again, we are all tired.

Then pulling into our second show of the day, my 5 year old daughter says, "I don't want to do Irish dancing anymore, I am tired of putting on the wig, it hurts my head!"  Yet she tells me how she can't wait to get back to class on Tuesday!

Performing is always a positive experience for my kids.  I try to sit back and let go.  Putting trust in my girls to make the right choices when I am not around.  They look forward to each performance because they have a chance to make new friends, share their talent with others and spend time with kids who enjoy the same things they do.  In between shows they color and do crafts and laugh with one another, but best of all they gain confidence in themselves. They work together as a team to dance their performance piece and this group which they perform with becomes a second family for St. Patrick's Day week.  The bond they create with the friends on their team becomes a friendship that will last a forever.

A Wee Bit O'Irish...Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

In a large mixing bowl combine:

4 cups all purpose flour
2 T. sugar
1 t. salt
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1 C. raisins
2 C. buttermilk

I used my kitchen aide with the dough hook attachment, but you can also mix by hand with a wooden spoon.
Combine all dry ingredients, including raisins and slowly add the buttermilk.  Mix well.  Dough will be sticky.  Spoon onto a parchment lined pan, I buttered the paper.  Tuck in raisins.  Pat into an oblong form.  Place in center of oven.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes~until golden brown.

You can spread some butter on top after it has come out of the oven for a shiny appearance and buttery flavor.

Note: The above recipe has been doubled to make the loaf above.  You can cut the recipe in half if you would like to make a smaller loaf to share with your friends!

Enjoy!

Feeling Green Yet?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

We started our St. Patrick's Day Celebration on Saturday with the Elmhurst Parade!

This was the beginning of our St. Patrick's Day Season!  You may know already, but my daughter's are Irish Dancers, and this week they will be performing with the rest of their Trinity Performance Troupe.  Whether we are at Assisted Living Facilities, Schools or Pubs the guests are always guaranteed to get a 

Superior St. Patrick's Day show. 

And who wouldn't smile at these girls!

Well, this is just the beginning of our Green Week.  I have promised you COOKIES!

I will tell you that I love to bake, and I feel I always need to have a perfect product in the end. So I searched and searched for the perfect Sugar Cookie Recipe and all fingers  pointed to The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle, not only does she create fabulous cookies, she is "Sweet" enough to share her Recipes!

I used this one:

1 c. (2 sticks) of REAL unsalted BUTTER, softened
1 1 /2 c. confectioner's sugar
1 egg
2-3 tsp flavoring (pick what you like, I used almond extract the first time and mixed almond and vanilla the next time I used this recipe)
2 1/2-2 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt

Cream together softened butter and confectioner's sugar.  Crack the egg into a separate bowl, and add the flavoring.  (see Sugarbelle's site above for exact content including pictures).  Add that to the butter sugar mixture and mix until the egg is thoroughly mixed.  In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, then add little by little to the mixture.

I added green food coloring, but may opt against it next time.
When using green icing they look great no matter what color the dough is.

Roll out on parchment paper (This is the BEST TIP I have ever gotten in all the years I have baked) to about 1/4 inch thick, use flour for dusting as necessary.  Then cut and bake at 400 degrees for 7-8 minutes.  This recipe will yield 2 - 2 1/2 dozen.  I have always doubled the recipe.

The above photos are of my 2nd attempt at these delicious bakery quality cookies.

This is what my kitchen counter looks like after I bake carefully!

I didn't take pictures of my first attempt over Valentines day, because it began with confectioner's sugar, all over my counter, floor and me!  Naughty words were said, a feeling of defeat was had, and then my hubby made me laugh.  I then felt that it is important to accept my failures, take pictures and learn from my experiences, because that is what I am trying to share with my blog.

I tried to save as much of the sugar as possible and estimated what I had lost.  Guess what?  The recipe still turned out great! I believe this IS a NO FAIL recipe!

Time to enjoy the cookies!  Yep, that milk has been touched by a Leprechaun!

Thank you to some great bakers out there that are Sweet enough to share their perfection with others!  Hugs go out to The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle for making me a Supermom? That's Me! Baker!

“Mommy, will you play cars with me?”

By Jennifer McCarte
Written for my Favorite Little Boy

“Good morning mommy, can we go downstairs to play?”

Sure my son, what should we do today?

Would you like to be a dragon?   One who breathes fire?

How about a circus performer on the high wire?

Should we put on makeup and you could be a clown?

Or dance round in circles until we fall down?

Should we hunt for a treasure? Pirates we’ll be?

 “Mommy, will you play cars with me?”

Do you want to build a tent and pretend there are bears?

Make-believe we are climbing a mountain of stairs?

Run outside in the rain with our umbrellas up high?

Or fly a kite way up in the sky?

Should we watch the trains? Conductors we’ll be?

“Mommy, will you play cars with me?”

Should we pretend we’re at the beach, in the sand we can play?

Do you want to paint pictures with our fingers today?

We could go to the park and swing in the sun?

Or slide down the slides, now that would be fun?

Should we build with blocks? Construction workers we’ll be?

“Mommy, will you play cars with me?”

What do you want to do?

“Mommy, Guess.”

You want to play cars?

“Mommy, YES!!!”

A Good Day!

by Jennifer McCarte

Me, the kids and Great-Grandma on her 89th Birthday!

Today was a good day because I woke up with a smile

I shared it with all, because that is my style, 

It was a good day because the kids didn't fight 

Over what was served for breakfast, they just said, "Alright!"

They got ready for school with more time to spare,

My son picked out candy for his sisters to share.

Today was a good day, a lot of laughter was had, 

Everyone behaved, and no one was bad?

It was a good day because I didn't hear myself yelling, 

There was NO screaming and no tattle-telling?

Today was a good day, I would say just fine, 

We celebrated a birthday, my Grandma's 89. 

It was a good day because we had pizza and cake, 

I didn't cook dinner, nor did I bake.

Today was a good day because I started it right, 

With hugs in the morning and hugs in the night.

A smile on my face from dusk until dawn,

And with a smile like that, where would your day go wrong?

Don't Face your Fears Alone...Face them with Friends!

This weekend I had the opportunity to do something that I normally wouldn't do.  I took a chance and faced my fears and climbed a rock wall!  

Although I have wanted to try this for many years, I wasn't sure if I could do it!  Would the fear of heights overcome my body and leave me shaken with fear, or would I cry half way up and need someone to physically pull me down?  I didn't know the outcome when I walked up to that wall for the first time.  I knew I had the physical strength to do it, but mentally could I?

It was very easy for me to cheer on my girlfriends, and give them step by step instruction of where to place their foot when they didn't know where to go next, or the encouragement they needed to take one step higher to ring the bell at the top of the wall.

But when it came to my turn, all I could say to myself was, "You can do this!" I took a deep breath, wiped my sweat-filled hands on my pants and started to climb.  I felt confident that I had the strength to make it to the top, then about half way up, I stopped .  Ummm...yes, it was high, yes the grips were getting harder to reach and my hands were sweating more than before.  Once I stopped, I started thinking, maybe this is as far as I can make it, maybe it is time for me to come down, maybe I am not ready to conquer my fear!  But before I knew it, I heard this voice, "You can do it Jen, take a deep breath and think...Spiderman!"  Then another, "You got it Jen, you are more than half way!" Then with a deep breath and the encouragement of my friends, I took another step closer to ringing that bell, until I did!

OMG!!! What a feeling of accomplishment!  I was still sweating and now shaking, but I DID IT!!!  (and it is on video!)

I climbed 2 more times, each on a different wall progressively more difficult.  I was proud of myself, of my strength both physically and mentally, but even more of my friends.  Without them I would have quit!  I needed them, because they believed in me, and with their encouragement I faced one of my greatest fears!

With friends anything is possible!  

Oh yeah, and when I replay the video my hands still sweat!

Galumpki and Fried Rice, an unlikely couple!

I am the type of person that needs everything to turn out perfectly....the first time, so finding recipes to make the dinners I wanted MY WAY was found to be a difficult task.  So much that my Cabbage Roll dinner ended up being Pasta with meat sauce just so I could give myself another day to find a "perfect" recipe. However, I have learned over my past 2 dinners that, sometimes you have to adapt, compromise and just let go.  It all turns out pretty tasty in the end.

Last week I promised my Cabbage Roll Recipe (Galumpkis), another favorite thanks to Mom.  You really can't make these wrong.  I have done it in the crockpot, in the pressure cooker and in the oven.  My favorite recipe is in the oven, its the only place I can make them where they don't burn! LOL!

(Yes, this recipe is one of my tasty compromises.)

Ingredients:
1-2 cans of condensed tomato soup
1 head of green cabbage
2 lbs of extra lean ground beef (sirloin)
1 medium onion (I like to use onion powder)
3/4 cup of instant cooked rice
1 TBS Worcestershire
1 egg
Salt & Pepper (to taste)

Directions:
Boil cabbage for a few minutes to help loosen leaves.
In a large bowl, combine by hand, ground beef, onion, salt, pepper, rice, Worcestershire and egg.
You can also add 2 TBS of the tomato soup.
Make large meat balls with the mixture and place on top of a cabbage leaf.  Roll by tucking sides and place in baking dish with a cover.  Continue until all meat mixture has been rolled in cabbage.  Cover.  Place in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Serve alone or with mashed potatoes and green beans.  Enjoy!

Next, tonight's simple dinner was part home made and part frozen.  That would be Egg Fried Rice.

Ingredients:
2 cups of uncooked rice (cooked and cooled) approximately 4 cups cooked.
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional) and 1 TBS vegetable oil
1 medium carrot shredded
2-3 green onions (tip: use kitchen scissors to cut these quickly)
1 clove of garlic pressed (use more for more flavor)
Frozen green beans (1-2 handfuls)
1 egg
3 TBS Soy Sauce

Directions:
Heat oils in wok or heavy frying pan, add green onion, carrots, garlic and green beans.  Cook for 1-2 minutes on medium high heat, add cooked rice, stir, add soy sauce, stir constantly while cooking for 3-4 minutes until rice starts to brown and soak in the soy sauce.  Scramble egg in a small bowl.  Push all rice to the sides of the pan, leaving an open space in the middle of the pan, drizzle a little vegetable oil.  Add egg and cook while scrambling.  Once egg is cooked mix into the rice.  Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.  Serve with Market Day Mini Egg Rolls and chopsticks.

Enjoy!

New Year, New Rules?

I am sure there are many parents who have the power struggle of dinner time.  For years I have let my kids dictate what we will eat for dinner.  And it generally it revolves around Pizza, McDonald's, cereal, boiled chicken or buttered noodles. 

Yes, eating out has taken a toll on our pocket book, not including our waistline, but it seems so easy to just let everyone order what they like. 

For a while, I have just chosen not to cook, just because all of my effforts are discarded once the dinner reaches the table.  When you take the time to make a warm healthy meal and place it on the table for the kids to say, "I'm not eating THAT!" is hurtful, and it bothers me how much food is wasted.

Well, a part of my New Year's Resolution of Cooking More and Eating Out Less, I have also included, "This is all you are getting, so eat it or be hungry!"  Mind you I am not making anything that is disgusting or inedible.  I am also placing alternate options on the table, such as raw veggies (since my kids don't like them cooked), and usually some sort of bread.

Although, I am only 2 days into my eat it or be hungry, I am going to stick with it and see if I can broaden my children's sense of Food Adventure.

I will keep everyone posted as I continue on this Cooking Journey, and will share recipes that I think others will enjoy, tomorrow Cabbage Rolls!

Learning to Cook from my Mom!

There are always those meals that you remember your mom cooking more than once when you were young.  These are the meals that you want to make for your family too!  So as a part of my 2012 Goal of Cooking More and Eating Out Less, I am resorting to family favorites to start out my year right!

I am also happy to share what I can here, so maybe you can find your family a favorite too!

My first Home Cooked Meal of 2012 was Chicken Soup and Kluski (Polish Dumplings):

The Soup was as simple as putting a whole chicken, water and vegetables and spices into a pot and letting it simmer for a couple hours, which left the chicken falling off of the bone!  (To which I am using for Chicken a la King for tonight's dinner.)

How to make Kluski:

Ingredients:

 1 /2 bag Flour (approx. 5 1/2-6 cups)

1 teaspon Salt (can add additional salt afterwards to taste)

1 TBS Baking Powder

 2 Eggs

Milk (enough to make dough tacky/sticky)

Directions:

Boil water in a Large Pot.

Combine all ingredients and stir in enough milk, to make mixture tacky/sticky. 

I use a fork to stir the ingredients together, but a wooden spoon will work too.

Once all ingredients are combined to a sticky texture and your pot of water is boiling, you can start dropping the mixture into the boiling water by tablespoons or teaspoons if you would like smaller dumplings.

You may have to stir the dumplings inbetween dropping them into the water.  They will begin to float, but keep dropping your mixture until you have used all of it. 

Continue boiling, give your dumplings a stir and start timing for 10-15 minutes or so based on the size of dumplings you are making.  Continue frequently stiring your dumplings or they will boil over.

Strain and rinse.  Put in your favorite soup!

(I love to munch on these with just a little salt to taste on top!)