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Summer Smiles

Summer Smiles Alpha

$1 Cardboard Alpha

All at Elemental Scraps.

Here's what I made with it!

Free Font: Stinkerella & Stinker
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Menu Planning Sunday

Another round of weekly eats from me!  If something isn't linked to a recipe yet,it's because it's the first time I've made it and don't have a blog post yet.  But, I will shortly!  With pictures, reviews, nutritional information and all!

Day 1: Buffalo Chicken and Crash Hot Potatoes
Day 2: Orange Glazed Salmon with Cous Cous
Day 3: Ham Carbonara
Day 4: Roasted Red Pepper Pasta (a request from my husband!  Shock & awe!)
Day 5: Stuffed Shells (will be doubling & freezing 1 to take to a friend with a new baby in a week or so)
Day 6: Sausage & Chicken Kabobs with baked potatoes
Day 7 (Father's Day!): Sweet & Spicy Pork Tenderloin with Basil Corn on the Cob

Things may get moved around- we heard that Day Out with Thomas will be relatively local next weekend and we may decide to take the kids to that either.  But, that's something I love about planning.  Once I have a list of meals, if something does come up, it's usually not a huge deal to shuffle things around a little bit!

Herb Parmesan Tilapia

Modified from the May-June 2010 issue of Weight Watcher's Magazine.
The consensus from the kids was that the store-bought fish sticks are no comparison.  But, as I've mentioned, my kids are picky.  My husband and I really enjoyed this and there were no leftovers.  I do however, think you could easily freeze leftovers for a dinner later with less clean up. This dish is super quick and good for you- I think the current recommendation for fish is 1-2 nights/week.  We definitely don't get there.  But, Tilapia, even for non-seafood afficiandos, is a good place to start.

Herb Parmesan Tilapia
Servings: 4


Ingredients:
1 large egg white
1 tsp water
3/4 c panko breadcrumbs
1 tsp dried basil (1 Tbsp if fresh)
1/2 tsp dried oregano (1 Tbsp if fresh)
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 lb tilapia fillet
2 tbsp olive oil


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Whisk egg white and water in shallow dish.  Combine panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, salt and pepper in another shallow dish (pie pans work great).
3. Place 1 Tbsp olive oil in a skillet and put on medium-high heat.
4. Working with 2 fillets, dip in to egg whites on each side, then breadcrumb mixture.
5. Place in skillet & turn skillet to medium heat.  Cook 5 minutes on each side.
6. Place wax paper on a cookie sheet and use to store tilapia in the oven to keep warm until ready to serve.
7. Repeat steps 4 & 5 on the last 2 pieces of tilapia.

NI (Calculated with about 1/2 of topping used in the total dish): 204 cals, 10 g fat, 48 mg chol, 294 mg sodium, 3 g carb, 0 g fiber, 25 g protein

Excitig news!

I am thrilled to be working with Lucky Smith Designs (available at Elemental Scraps)!  Her CT Call is still open if anyone's interested.  I am SO excited & couldn't wait to share the news :) I love getting to experiment with designer's products!  So, be on the look out for some more layouts coming soon!

What's on your shelf?

Well, no replies last week leads me to believe you're not reading anything other than my blog :P

This week, we started the Summer Reading Programs at our local library as well as Half Price Books.  The Half Price books is awesome.  Read at least 15 minutes at least 5 days/week and get a $3 gift card for their store every week you participate.  Our library is a second with 8 hours resulting in a free book.  It's not really a {close} second, but since they don't charge for any printed or media materials, I'm still happy and thankful.

Perhaps the sweetest thing in the world is that my son has discovered the book I'll Love You Forever by Robert N Munsch.  If you haven't read this and are the mother of a boy, you must.read.this.book with tissues in hand.  Now, my son will take the book and say "Can we read this one?  But, if tears come down your face, we will have to get a new book.  Please don't let tears come down your face..."    And the sweetest part?  He'll read the refrain to you "I'll love you forever.  I'll like you for always.  As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."  Melts My Heart.  It does NOT get sweeter than that.

Our Barnes & Noble also does story times 3 times per week.  They pass out lollipops to keep the kids quiet while they read and then do a related craft.  Last week, we read Llama Llama Misses Mama.  A week prior, we also read Anna Dowdney's new book Roly Poly Pangolin which is also quite sweet and will be finding it's way on to a certain boy's birthday list. 

I'm in the middle of Say You're One of Them on audio.  I'm sort of a junkie for an Oprah Book Club suggestion.  I finished up #28 The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larson.  I listed to the first book of the series (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and would have preferred to listen to this one as well.  With books of foreign origin, I find that a well performed audio books provides information I miss if I read it myself- correct pronunciations of cities, names, accents, etc.  I enjoyed the book, but feel a short break between me and the third installment (The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest) is in order.

I had originally picked up Redwall from the library, but it's due today so I may find my way to the books on my "to-read" list akin to Meg Cabot, Sophia Kinsella and other chick lit of interest...  just need a quick read this week!

So, what are you reading with your kids if you're not reading for yourself? Or, how about yourself? What's next on the list?

This week's layouts featuring Down by the Sea!

I'm thinking it will be easiest to keep up with everything if I post all the layouts I've done at once...  And, I'll shoot for Tuesdays, especially on week's Kerry is releasing new goodies to 2Peas!  Check out her new kit, Down by the Sea!  (Psst, there's also a new FREEBIE!)

So, over the past week, here's what I've come up with:

The Hounds of Manor Glen

At the Manor Glen, we visited by sister in law's hounds. There are many... my daughter loves them.
Kits: Little Boys Dream by Page Frocks, SOUseful Masks by Sine, Messy Masks by Britt Ish Designs Font: CK Journal (freebie) Second page is an extraction of the property sign put against a picture of the stream my son spent hours throwing sticks in to. I love that place.

Good Eats

The challenge was to scrap using the June Mega from Scrap Orchard and use pictures that aren't normally scrapped from the actual "getting there" or "coming home" part.  I chose the eating part! :)  Template is from Kerry'd Away Designs (and FREE).

Thank you for Being a Friend

Being a part of Kerry's Creative Team is awesome.  I was beyond excited when she approached me about it but most definitely in awe that she thoughts I was talented enough to get to create with her designs!  Anyway, she's released a new kit at Two Peas this week called Down by the Sea.  It's beautiful!  But, no seaside pictures to scrap with!  (At least until we get back from our cruise in September... hate me right now... 10 days in Europe with Disney...  yes, hate me...)   But, I digress.  The kit is beautiful for other things as well.  Here, I used her Family Grunge Masks also at TwoPeas to create a second "frame" for my picture and Carina's Journaling Stamp to create the block to tell my story.  I also had to tip my head to that beautiful Golden Girl who made us all laugh & forget that old ladies were really discussing SEX on television! RIP Rue...  So, a layout dedicated to a beautiful woman, inside and out, whom I'm lucky enough to call "friend".  Fonts: Angelic war (for friend), CK Journal for journaling and one of the Fonts for Peas to complete the "Thank you for being a... Friend" title.

Strawberry Festival Fun
Here's another layout using Kerry's New Kit plus some of her older ones as well.  Also showing the Spring Birdie Borders from Mary Ann Wise on Design House Digital.  All Credits: Kerry Stewart's Family Word Blocks, Candy Apple Embellishments, Everywhere a Sign & her new release Down By the Sea.  So, enjoy the layout.  The pictures are all from a festival this past weekend where my husband and I ran the 10K with several families from base.  I found some of the treasures at the festival to be picture worthy.  The deep fried strawberries (stuffed with buttercream, dipped in pancake batter) were amazing!  The Strawberry donuts weren't anything to write home about and the flower planters made from kids jeans and shoes, while "green" were creepy!  But, pictures speak louder than words. 

Been There... Going Again!

And finally, another two-pager for the ScrapOrchard challenge with the June mega kit.  If you can't read the journaling, it's in my gallery comments section.  Basically, WE ARE CRUISING DISNEY again this fall, with the kids, in EUROPE to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary!

 

All items can be found in my gallery on TwoPeasinaBucket.

Today brought to you by the Letter "C"!

A- Yogurt covered Craisins; B- Corn; C- Chef Boyardee Beefaroni

D- Crackers (Triscuits actually, a favorite); E- Cheetos; F- C shaped cheese sandwiches

We had a very busy morning at the playground with some new friends (I wonder how long I'll be calling them "new") and I've been having trouble getting my oldest to eat.  So, I added some Cheetoes as an inticement to get him to eat something.  He emptied 2 flowers and enjoying bringing them each to me in the kitchen separately (probably burning every calorie I'd just managed to get in him).  Snack was also inspired by the letter "C" and our trip to Cheryl and Co Cookies beside Trader Joe's at the strip mall.  I love this company because a) they have wonderful treats and b) they offer free shipping toAPO/FPO addresses!  Sending my husband a little treat was so much easier this way! Each cookie is individually sealed so it got to him still somewhat fresh and edible. 

Found my own theme accidentally this week.

You can tell what the first choice was.  The Chef Boyardee is usually a stand by when he's going through an eating "strike" but today, not so much...  Huh...

Menu Plan Sunday

Actually, I plan my menus about Wednesday of the week before because that's when I have the time.  I don't want to spend the weekend thinking about groceries :)  But, I'll post them on Sundays, just for the sake of keeping up with the Jones and such.hi

I have a new Menu Planning device.  I'm truly an idiot for not figuring this out sooner, while my friend, new momma to twins & my 2 year old goddaughter, had it right there on her fridge.  She's a rock star so I'm not surprised in the least.  But here I am, cloth diapering, mama cloth/Diva cup usin', recycling, momma & I'm still writing my weekly menus on printer paper.  I'd managed to make a template which encompassed 3 weeks (since usually, day 2 of the new week's menu and I think of something that sounds DELISH!).  So, I like having a space to keep a note of what that was when I sit down to plan again...  BUT, here's the new model.

Same template in a (drum roll please...)

PAGE PROTECTOR

So now I can use a dry erase marker and never print another page again! :)  Cheap, simple, Earth friendly.

Now, on to the important stuff- the food:
Day 1: World's Best Burgers on 100 Calorie Sandwich Thins & Parmesan Zucchini Crisps
Day 2: Herb Tilapia & Polenta
Day 3: Baked Spaghetti
Day 4: Pepperoni Pull Apart
Day 5: Sticky Pork Chops with Alexia's Sweet Potato Fries
Day 6: Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Day 7: Rachel's Mexican Chili

We actually also have a graduation day in there, so Day 1 is what we ate tonight.  I enjoyed a glass of Toasted Head Cabernet Sauvignon.  "Toasted Head" (in the vineyard here) refers to the process of toasting the barrel where the wine is aged.  It's what lends the smoky, tobacco type flavors in some reds or the vanilla/oak in a Chardonnay.  I love an oaky Chardonnay and dislike those aged in stainless steel.  Personal preference is all it is.  :)

Creamy Chicken Chili

I realize that in most parts of the country, you'd think I was crazy for making a cold-weather dish today.  But, it's been storming here.  Every night.  Like clockwork for almost a week.  Good chili weather...

The original recipe is this.  Some simple modifications below mke it wonderful, to me anyway...  Enjoy!

Creamy Chicken Chili
Servings: 7

Ingredients
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 tsp onion powder
1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 cans (15-1/2 ounces each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chilies
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream*
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream


Directions
In a large saucepan, saute the chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add the beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Remove from the heat; stir in sour cream and cream.
NI: 280 cals, 9 g fat, 66 mg chol, 937 mg sodium, 26 g carbs, 7 g fiber, 24 g protein
* I was reading on sparkpeople.com about whether switching to "fat free" instead of full or reduced fat sour cream, whipping cream, etc was really worth it.  Their arguements were valid- the trade-off's aren't huge (calories) and the fat will keep you fuller just a bit longer.  So, I guess I'm saying it's a personal decision.  I've made it both ways- the full fat was definitely thicker and creamier, but the low fat was yummy too...  your call.  NI calculated with full fat sour cream.

Layouts This Week

Commencement 2010:

Kit- Lil Brudder by Britt Ish Designs

Template- Inspired by Kim by Britt Ish Designs

Pea Praise!















Muffin Tin Mondays
My goal in scrapbooking is to provide for myself, my family, my future granchildren, my friends, whomever, the stories of our life together in a heart felt way.  That's why journaling is critical to my layouts and also why I think scrapping these types of little things is important. 

Credits:  Summertime by Jenn Edwards, Amanda Carlson & Jessica Edwards- FREE Date Stamp by Britt Ish Designs (Grab Bag for iNSD)  Frame by Happy Scrap Girl (kit discontinued)   Fonts: CK Becky (title & captions), CK Jot (journaling)- Freebies                             PeaPraise!

Nanny and the Girls

I know what you're thinking... who are those kids?  ScrapOrchard is hosting a really fun set of challenges this month and giving away a free kit day-by-day.  The challenge today was to scrap a photo for someone else. Here's what I came up with.

Credits:  Autumn Garden
  & link in the Gallery

















And finally, Moving Day!
I particpated in another challenge today on Scrap Orchard to get more points for more free stuff!  YAY!  Here's a picture of my preschooler during our recent move (PCS for military folks- permanent change of duty station) amongst the mess of unpacking the kitchen.

Credits:  It's a Journey   (Here's a tip- sign up for their newsletter.  The last month's letter included a code to get this kit for free!)  Also:  Carina's Stitches

Pea Praise Please!

Thanks for stopping by!