MPM--Back into a Groove

...boy, you've got to prove your love to meeeee....yeah. Like that. Happy new week, everyone. Last week, you may recall, I had lost my mojo completely. It was really sad. But--I recovered, hence this week's title. I couldn't bring myself to take the kids out for pizza on a Monday, so I used the rest of the lemons and rosemary and reprised the yummy chicken, this time with all boneless, skinless breasts, and it was a huge hit. We saved the pizza for another night, when my husband was out and it was a glorious, perfect, 72 degrees. We walked to town and one boy got pizza, the other, samosas, and because we had the dog with us, each boy had to go in and order and pay by himself. They were thrilled and felt very grown up. It was a great way to spend the evening--easy, fun exercise, nice treat, happy memories. Wishing all of you all these things. So, this week:

Monday: Happy St. Joseph's Day! Wear red, eat zeppole, and something else Italian. Lucky me, I'm in the city on Monday so I'll pick up something at Superior Pasta--probably eggplant parm but maybe some crab sauce for fun.

Tuesday: God bless Taco Tuesday, the anchor of my week.

Wednesday: A tough day with fencing after school. Probably leftovers (tacos and chicken nuggets from the weekend), kale chips (the new favorite around here; I use the Smitten Kitchen guidelines), and ... something.

Thursday: I didn't make the butter chicken last week so this week, I think it makes it to the rotation.

Friday: Man, I want to say pizza, but we'll see how it goes. I'm trying to avoid going out to dinner on Lenten Fridays but I miss it like crazy.

Not everything last week was as successful as the Tuesday pizza stroll. I tried the crock pot roasted potatoes and cabbage. I thought it had potential, as the thing that saved the traditional dish for me as a child was copious amounts of vinegar. Alas--it's still potatoes and cabbage. My husband, who is so patient with my clumsy kitchen efforts, could hardly suppress a gag. I couldn't even freeze it with the potatoes so out in the trash it went. Good thing cabbage was on sale for 7 cents/pound, and potatoes for $2/bag. For $1.50, I can experiment.

On the other hand, I was feeing as sour as the milk as I sent in the Irish soda bread with the boys on Friday. Neither one of them liked it or wanted to take it. But both came home and said in astonishment that everyone who tried it loved it, and neither one came home with leftovers. That made me smile and keeps the tradition alive. Also? I made the second batch with King Arthur unbleached white whole wheat flour and the difference was amazing--my husband called it "transformative." (Don't you just love him? It made up for the cabbage incident.)

Meanwhile, spring is in full bloom here already and I am ready to enjoy it. We did some yard work last week and this week is some more major planning. The yard is a total disaster and it's time for it not to be. And in the front, the only place with full sun, we planted seeds. Here's hoping something grows; we have basil, two kinds of peas, and two kinds of cucumbers ready to grow, I hope. I'm such a rube, I had no idea how many seeds there would be so I am casting about for other places to grow them too.  And I don't even know if these will be ground cover or need trellises. I need help.

Wishing you a beautiful spring, whether it's already sprung where you are or not! Meanwhile, go check I'm an Organizing Junkie! and see what others have planned for this great and glorious week. (Sorry, still have some St. Patrick's Day banter left in me.) See you Monday!

MPM--Getting Irish Over Here

Well, faith and begorrah, it's that time of year again. Spring is sprung, we're in high gear already. I am crazy busy at work (for a part time job) and figuring out how to squeeze it all in without everyone feeling rushed. On my mind: my son's first communion in two months. The yard needs triage. But first: It's Irish soda bread week! Check here for our family recipe. It's easy, dense, and good. And we went to the Flower Show this week and picked up zeppole (traditional St. Joseph's Day pastries) and even though we're still 10 days out from St. Joseph's Day, they are nothing I'd ever make and I was happy to celebrate early. Traditional March foods for the win!

This week:

I am out of mojo. Wish me luck.

Monday: Pizza. Yup. I am THAT out of mojo.

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday, without enthusiasm. My husband is going out and that leaves really one taco eater. Sigh.

Wednesday: butter chicken, rice, something green

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: I'll be making the potato and cabbage dish I loved from Heidi Swanson. Boys will have...something. On Saturday, I am trying this corned beef in the slow cooker because I like it, in general, but not when it's all boiled and slimy. I'm hoping this will be a good reinvention of the classic Irish dish.

Last week: the only new thing I had time for was the roasted lemon-rosemary chicken. It was outstanding and I recommend it highly. I bought two boneless skinless breasts and two legs, and it was perfect for us. I served it with rice and brussels sprouts and leftover Trader Joe's minted peas and it made me feel like a competent mother. Everyone ate the chicken, which was good. I was annoyed because it takes an hour to marinate and I have gotten so out of sorts about cooking, I was irritated that I had to Do Stuff to make the marinade. But honestly--it involved squeezing three lemons, ripping a bunch of rosemary leaves off the stem (and I'm not totally sure that was even necessary) and pouring it in a bowl with some oil. What's my issue? I'm not sure either.

We also had a bit of an interesting lesson; I took my older son, who loathes shopping, with me to Trader Joe's. He tried the samples, which were pot roast and minted peas. He loved them both and asked me to get them for dinner. I was out of ideas (and the freezer is pretty clear) so I did it. And at home? Not as good. He ate it but regretfully told us the sample was better. This happens to me All The Time at Trader Joe's and while I was sorry to have passed it on to my son, I was at least comforted that I am not alone in this.

For checking out less demoralized menus, try I'm an Organizing Junkie! And maybe next week I'll be back in the groove.

MPM--Merry Merry March

So here we are, wind and daffodils, it must be March! I'm continuing the clean-out-the-freezer-and-pantry theme so it's a funny week:

Monday: the lemon and rosemary chicken, postponed from last week, creamed spinach, rice, salad

Tuesday: chicken tacos

Wednesday: chicken nuggets or Trader Joe's buffalo chicken meatballs for the kids, leftover chicken something for the adults, rice,

Thursday: pesto quinoa for the kids, catering by Trader Joe's for the parents (probably a flatbread and mac and cheese, and a green vegetable of some sort)

Friday: The reviews online are terrible, but a friend suggested this recipe for shrimp with lemon-saffron rice. I have a lot of these ingredients already, just begging to be used, so despite some sketchy comments, we're going to give it a shot.

Last week:

We mixed things up on Taco Tuesday again a little bit; there were still the usual for the boys, but I made the Dinner: A Love Story black bean and goat cheese quesadillas for the grownups. In a bit of a shocker, the not-picky boy ate one too. (Beans are not usually his friend, and he claims to loathe cheese, though he cheerfully orders pizza at any opportunity.) They weren't as good as the Smitten Kitchen ones but on a night when I didn't have time to fuss with slaw and other yummy things, and I had a log of goat cheese hanging around, they were terrific. (Alas, I still have a cold so take this with a grain of salt...)

And not much else to report. I have really had a lulu of a cold so between that, the concussion recovery program, and trying to cut way back on grocery shopping (the spending just crept up and up on me--a soup here, a sushi there...), I am just trying to keep things as easy as possible for the next few weeks, especially Wednesdays on.

What are you making this week? Check in at I'm an Organizing Junkie! to be inspired and to share. Have a great week!

MPM--Marching Along

And here we go in to Leap Week. I used to hate February but when it's sunny and in the 50s and crocuses are blooming (and I don't have a job that makes me work 18 hours a day), meh, it's not so bad. The concussion recovery is painfully slow, though happily, fairly pain-free. But the boy is still clumsy, emotional, and unable to focus on anything (which makes it a great week for standardized testing, right? ugh). So we're limping along a little. And I have a terrible sinus infection, which is a totally new-to-me thing. My empathy meter is now off the charts for my friends who struggle with these often.

My recipes folder on Chrome is so big it stops my computer if I try to open it, so I went through and thinned the herd. Wow, I have a lot of cookie recipes I never, ever make. So this week I'm trying some things I haven't before, but nothing too taxing.

This week:

Monday: leftover Chinese food (we got Chinese food for Oscar watching), plus noodles for the picky boy.

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday

Wednesday: slow cooker curry chicken (I'm on a curry kick), rice

Thursday: lemon and rosemary chicken, rice, kale salad

Friday: Boys are on their own, I am out to dinner. Cannot. Wait.

Last week on Ash Wednesday, I had some time to actually cook since Concussed Boy was not at fencing. So I made lots of veggies that were in the house (the rest of a bag of spinach, a bag of Brussels sprouts, etc.) and then tried the Martha Stewart mushroom and scallion frittata. I am not sure how I would do this differently, because I did like it, but I think I would do still more scallion (though I don't think I had as many as the recipe technically called for). It was easy and dramatic (I took a picture and if I can figure out how to upload it, you can check out the huge bubble), and while the boys were uninterested (eggs-scallions-mushrooms = 3 strikes), my husband and I enjoyed them that day and the next. I should have added some of the dill that was liquifying in the drawer; next time.

Also? Our new dishwasher was installed. Whoa. Our stuff looks much better now. Noted.

Looking for more inspiration? Try I'm an Organizing Junkie! And have a great week. I'll write more when I'm not sick.  Really.

MPM--Back in the Saddle

So, when I needed distraction last week, I got it in the form of a child with a concussion. Treatment for a concussion involves "no mental strain," which means no TV or other screens, no reading, no games, and no running, balls in the air, or activities which require a helmet. Alas, Xanax is frowned upon, leading the frantic parents to come up with their own ways of entertaining the kids without damaging their bruised brains. This is not an easy feat. So, back to something semi-easy: dinner. (By the way, a shout-out to Squidoo for the only page of "post-concussion-safe activities for kids" we found but--make rope? What? What we came up with: Legos, music/CDs of kiddo books--picture books, nothing heavy, walks to get smoothies, walks to get pizza, walks to get out of the house. Everywhere suggested cooking but alas, he is not in a sous-chef stage. So, my own plans:)

Monday: We're off our usual schedule this week, so Monday Tacos, including leftover chicken from last week (see below!) which I froze (clever me).

Tuesday: Mardi Gras! Pancake supper at church (if I get my act together on tickets) or at home (if I don't).

Wednesday: Ash Wednesday so soup for husband and me and something for the kids.

Thursday: We are joining The Bitten Word's pantry/freezer challenge this week and it is way too easy. (But I also bought eggs and veggies at the beginning of the week, and will of course get milk.) The freezer is loaded with Trader Joe's Indian foods and Italian meals. I think I'm going to make space for some other stuff by clearing them on out.

Friday: Lenten Fridays = no meat and for me, no pizza (too easy). Probably pesto quinoa for kids, TJ's fettucini alfredo for us. (I'm so excited, our BJ's sells quinoa now. Score!)

I knew Valentine's Day would be crazy--two school parties, one of which I was in charge of, with mom volunteers dropping like flies (strep! pinched disc! younger child with stomach bug!) so I tried the crockpot chicken taco recipe someone linked to on Pinterest. (Must. Not. Join. Too much computer timesuck already.) Foolish, in a way, because I thought I'd end up making the beef too. But I was thinking about Things That Are Red for Valentine's Day, and boy howdy, it was so easy: one jar + leftover salsa in the fridge, plus the packet of taco seasoning that's been hanging around. Dump. Pour. Walk away.

And? It was AWESOME. Spicier than we usually do but the three of us who eat actual tacos (as opposed to cheese wrapped in a tortilla) snarfed them down and came back for leftovers. And there was plenty to freeze for next week! Score! Huge hit. I never even made the beef. My beef loving son snarfed down the chicken and begged for more. Woohoo! (Alas, that, I forgot to freeze. Whoops.)

The other huge hit from somewhere on Pinterest (BooMama maybe?) was, ahem, only a hit with me because I didn't share it. That was the mozzarella-avocado-tomato salad. My husband might have liked it but we may never know. To be fair, I didn't have enough ingredients to actually make the full recipe. But next time I do--this is on the menu. So good. But really, how can you go wrong with avocado-tomato-mozzarella? Add lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper and poof--really yummy lunch.

Lastly, I'm on an omelet kick. I am intrigued by the poached-scrambled eggs recipe (also Bitten Word), enough so that I had the goat cheese, but not enough to actually do the stuff needed to make them. So they might come along on Ash Wednesday, but meanwhile, I had two great omelets this weekend, one with cherry tomatoes, asparagus, and goat cheese, and the other with spinach and cherry tomatoes and goat cheese. I didn't try the fold-over omelets, just the flip-over ones, so they were pretty easy and very good. I had some basil for the top I was using up too and that was a nice change from parsley. I wish my kids would eat eggs.

We also cleaned out the garage this weekend (wow, can we rock a holiday or what?) and I found a crate of my old Mad Magazine books. They weren't ever my favorites, but the boys are all on the sofa cracking up at them. I might regret it later but for now, it's a beautiful sight to see.

Wishing you yummy meals and beautiful sights of your own! For more inspiration, try I'm an Organizing Junkie! and have a good week!

MPM--Ah Het Valentine's Day Edition

Growing up, in our adolescent moodiness, my best friend and I would affect southern accents and pout, "Ah het Valentine's Day." It wounded our pride and made us wonder if we'd ever find The One(s).

Of course we did, eventually, but alas, I have found something Ah het more than Valentine's Day: lung nodules. My best friend, the person besides my husband who knows me best in all the world, has moved on to the third stage of her inflammatory breast cancer as it has moved in to her lungs. This is beyond not good. And I am distracted beyond measure, trying to figure out a way to stop time right here, while she is still well, while she is still here, to hold my memories and make more.

Sorry for the downer of an opening but I'm really not myself right now. She was good friends with Susan of Team WhyMommy, because they shared the same cancer, and I'm just horrified that this disease continues to rampage.

On the good side: another friend, from Lemonade & Kidneys, is having her long-awaited kidney transplant this week. I am beyond excited for her and am trying to remember: modern medicine does sometimes deliver miracles.

This week:

Monday: if they still have the Italian pork roast at the Co-op, that wins. Otherwise, pork tenderloin with creamy mustard sauce; baked potatoes; brussels sprouts.

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday, of course, Valentine's Day notwithstanding. Kids will get heart shaped muffins in their lunches and that's about all the cute I can pull off this year.

Wednesday: leftovers, or if it's getting skimpy, I will make the slow cooker chicken curry.

Thursday: pizza fundraiser at Tony Rony's near us. Local peeps: if you are interested let me know and I'll send you details. Pick up, delivery, or eat-in.

Friday: we'll see. Kids have off and I might be flying to see my friend.

I apologize for the tone of the post. I will try to pull myself together for next week. I feel horrible that I'm so distracted from this that I can't even focus on the fun things: the awesome Wednesday Spaghetti that saved my bacon this week, or the gigantic party that went to the Japanese place that cooks in front of you (party of 19 + 2 high chairs...that was 8 adults and a whole mess o' kids--unbelievably fun), or the awesome friends who, out of nowhere, asked if they could take our kids to brunch on Sunday and gave us an unexpected three hour date. I do believe that God sends His angels and that sometimes, you get what you need. Wishing you what you need, and good health and joy to all you love. And for less distracted meal plans, try I'm An Organizing Junkie! where there are lots of good things going on.

MPM--Hits and Misses

We're getting eager for pitchers and catchers to report (have you seen isitspringtrainingyet.com?) but there were lots of new things this week, including a 3 star broccoli. Read on...

Monday: Deferred stir-fry from last week. (I forgot to get a protein for it so we had quinoa instead.) But, my one little guy had a tummy bug this weekend so a stir fry may not work...gentle chicken of some kind, let's put it that way.

Tuesday: Lego build! Out to dinner with boys. Them: Chik-Fil-A. Me: Saladworks. Dad: on his own.

Wednesday: Taco Tuesday Wednesday

Thursday: Thursday Wednesday Spaghetti

Friday: Pizza at school fundraiser Bingo Night. Woohoo!

Last Monday, I thought I was so clever, pre-prepping everything for dinner so we could eat early. Thank goodness I did, because the boys' activities let out 30 minutes late so it was still a mewly scramble to dinner. I made the chicken in white wine and garlic-mushroom sauce and alas, it was not a hit. Neither boy at the chicken at all. I thought I got the same kind of chicken but perhaps not, or maybe I had it in the oven too long. But the leek-sundried tomato version from MLK Day was much better.

Another disappointing miss: I made the boys the Trader Joe's falafel they adored two weeks ago. Both of them looked repulsed that I would even ask them to be in the same room with it. It was a hungry night for the boys. I don't get how they love it one week and gag at it the next. Sigh.

However, I finally did make the crack broccoli. Boy howdy--I think I could quintuple that recipe and not have extra. There is shrinkage, but it's also just that good. I had it with and without lemon juice and it is equally excellent both ways. Three out of four of us adored it and--well, Mr. Picky tried it, which is light years ahead of usual. I think watching the other three of us gobble from the bowl convinced him. And he was his usual self in the evaluation: "Well, at first, I liked the flavor on my tongue. Then it started really tasting like broccoli and I didn't like it again." Fair enough. But it was a big week for him: he also tried a dried beef dip, and loved it, and taco meat, which he said he will try again next week, when I make it without the onion, which really skeeved him. But he actually ate some beef in his taco! This is serious progress.

On one of my at-home days, I felt like a light lunch and made Heidi Swanson's herb cream cheese scrambled eggs. This is not a ground-breaking, can't find it anywhere else recipe, but it's a good one and it works. I used an ounce of cream cheese and two eggs, because that's what I had, and dill, parsley, and scallions, because that's what I had. And it was perfect for what I needed on a chilly morning that turned in to a winterspring day.

In the egg mode, I tried the bacon and apple quiche from the New York Times. I have to just stop. These things sound so awesome but I do not have the touch with quiche. The dough dies on me, so I use the frozen ones. Then it's clear that if I use all the filling it calls for, there is no room for the eggs and cream, so I use two, but then there's not enough eggs and cream. Plus, how do you tell when blue cheese has gone bad? Fear not, you can tell. That's why it's not called "slimy cheese." I salvaged enough. But then the cookie sheet warped in the oven...and that's all I'll say about that. Whining aside: they were delicious. But they grouched me out, so they are off the rotation.

Finally, I also made Anjali's "Giving In" soup but with modifications...I used canned beans, which I don't think helped. We are also not a tofu/tempeh family so I skipped that...I think I will add some of the beans I made to thicken up the rest a bit, but it was still a nice option on a chilly night at home.

Have a great week, all, and remember to check out the options at I'm an Organizing Junkie!

Oh...and speaking of that Organizing Junkie...I am taking inspiration from her 29 days of Organizing...I love that she picks the short month, it seems less intimidating! It's beyond time to move our son from his "nursery" (ahem, 8 years later) in to his big-kid (and straight through) bedroom, but the holdup is the room that will be his is currently the office. Or was. It's really just a disaster storage area now. If I get the nerve to share photos I will. But I will probably do photos at the end.