3 Weeks til Christmas!

I just had to share with you a really great article I just found on one of my favorite sites.

It's all about making the month of December a little easier for the master chef in your house, which would be me, in this case.  See how I manage to make things all about me!

The concept is you make a meal, double the recipe and freeze the second one to have on another day in December.  That way, when real life takes over and you are busy running from Christmas concerts, to hockey practice to volleyball tournaments to hockey games, to work, to the mall, there will be no excuse for 'take-out'.

Then the only thing you will need to do is remember to 'take-out' your already prepared meal from the freezer!

Keep the recipes simple, and comforting, like chili and stew.

Essentially you will cook for a week or two and eat for a month!

That, my friend, sounds like a great plan to me.

Here's the link:   http://simplemom.net/3-weeks-till-christmas-menu-plan-batch-cook-for-december/  if you want to see for yourself how it's done.

I will be posting my version, once I get around to figuring out my menu.

Oh and by the way, the Kraft challenge was a bit of a flop.  Not only did it cost quite a bit more, but the recipes weren't all that great.

Some did pass the "picky person" test.    However, the rest of us had to suffer a bit.

I did however, like the lunch ideas.

I think I have mentioned before how much I can't stand making lunches.

If I haven't mentioned it before, I can't stand making lunches!

Are you looking for a quick snack, or feeding a growing athlete (or 2).   But sometimes measuring and chopping and hauling out the blender is just too much work?

Here's an easy solution I came up with and it's been working really well of us.

My kids love me, I mean them, they love them.

They are smoothie packs.

I admit the photo isn't too appetizing, however having these little packages ready and in your freezer, will soon become your friend.

What I do is measure out about a weeks worth of ingredients in little ziplocs.

In each bag will be a couple of fruits (I use varying combinations of frozen mango, raspberries, strawberries) and a  chopped banana,  1/4 cup of wheat germ, 1 tbsp protein powder.

The boys just grab a bag out of the freezer and I blend the contents with 1 cup of yogurt and 1/2 cup of orange juice and sometimes a drizzle of honey.

The juice and yogurt can also be poured into ice cube trays and when frozen they can be popped out of the trays and added to the bags.

Then blend baby, blend!

There is no need to thaw, but if you prefer to throw the contents into the blender so they thaw in there, that way you don't lose any of the juices.

I set up an assembly line on my counter and make enough for both boys for the week.

A quick, healthy snack, packed full of goodness and provides lots of energy.

My little hockey players love them!!!

Well Hellllllooooo Big Dollop!

What better way to start your Monday morning, than with this!!

I have to admit I am a chocolate lover, but this little beauty is tangy and sweet and soft and a bit gooey and just fabulous.

I just had to share the recipe so you can start your week off right!

Raspberry Citrus Bars

Crust

1 cup butter (room temperature)
1/2 cup sifted icing sugar
2 cups all purpose flour

Filling

4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp grated lemon zest
1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries (blueberries would also be good)
Sifted icing sugar


For the Crust

In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy.  Add icing sugar and beat until combine.  Beat in flour until crumbly.  Press mixture on to the bottom of parchment paper lined 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden around the edges.

Filling

Meanwhile, beat eggs, granulated sugar and lemon juice.  Combine flour and baking powder, stir into eggs mixture.  Add lemon zest.

Sprinkle berries on the crust.  Pour filling over berries, arranging the berries evenly with a spoon.  Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges and the centre appears set.  Run knife around the edges.

Cool completely in the pan on a rack.

To serve, dust with icing sugar.

Shown here with a big dollop of whipped cream.

Makes 32 bars

Is it just me, or is that one little crumb annoying anyone else?

December Daily 2010

 I have downloaded a closer view of all my transparencies for each day of the December Daily album.

As you can see each page acts as an introduction to the day and on some of the pages you can see the date peeking through.

The front and back covers are pieces of cardboard, which I painted white and glued a piece of the vellum with the white circles on one side and gold pinecone patterned paper from Anna Griffin on the inside.

I will be using 3 binder rings to secure the album once it's finished.

 For this page I used a piece of white cardstock, with embossed polka dots.  I used a chipboard ring and covered it with glitter.

 This was one of the transparencies that I created using a tin can as a stamp and white paint.  The Special Delivery circle is from a pack of paper from last year.  It's actually a gift tag.

 I bought the rhinestone word JOY at Michaels and printed the number 23 from Designer Digitals, designed by Ali Edwards.

Circle vellum paper with a glittery ring and glitter Thickers for the numbers.

 This is a photo album page protector that I stitched little pockets.  The tags are both from Ali Edwards.  Our last name is hyphenated.  So I have the H on one side and S on the other.

 This is one of the overlays I downloaded from Designer Digitals, designed by K.Pertiet.   The number is Ali Edwards.

 Painted circles again, on a transparency.  Once it was dry I stitched two transparencies together to make it more sturdy.

 Once again the circle vellum and the number from Ali Edwards.

 Circle transparency again with a Game card downloaded from Designer Digitals, designed by K.Pertiet

 This is just a piece of vellum with a gift tag attached.  The tag is from Ormolu.

 Circle transparency again and the number circle is also from Ormolu

 This is one of the overlays I downloaded from Designer Digitals, designed by K.Pertiet

 This was one of the transparencies I created.  I made a document with various Christmas words.  I just changed the font style and size, then printed it on a transparency.  I love how this turned out.   I stapled one of Ali's Christmas boxes to a piece of black card stock and stitched it to the transparency.

I bought the rhinestone words HoHoHo at Michaels and printed the number 12 from Designer Digitals, designed by Ali Edwards.

 Circle transparency again with a gift tag attached to a glittery circle.  The number peeks through from the card below so I didn't attached another number to the transparency.

 This was the one and only transparency I could find at Michaels.  It came as a 12x12 sheet and I just cut it down to size.

 This was one of the transparencies I created.  I made a document with various Christmas words.  I just changed the font style and size.  I love how this turned out.  I found glittered cardstock and mounted one of Ali Edwards Christmas boxes.  This was stapled to the double layered transparency with green staples.

 This is a piece of vellum and I mounted one of Ali Edwards Christmas boxes onto red cardstock, a red felt number and then stitched it all together with red stitching.

 This is one of the overlays I downloaded from Designer Digitals, designed by K.Pertiet

I stitched little pockets into a regular photo album page protector.  My son Ciaran painted the little wooden stars.

 The circle number was downloaded from Designer Digitals, designed by Ali Edwards

 Circle vellum paper with glittery number 4 from Thickers.

 This page was made by using spray glue to attach the cutout tree paper onto a transparency sheet.

This is one of the overlays I downloaded from Designer Digitals, designed by K.Pertiet

The store bought transparency again.    The saying inside the little frame is from Ali Edwards.  I painted the frame gold and attached it with brads.

When I first saw Ali's album I wanted to create it exactly the way she had done.

I love everything about her album and it was my taste to a "T".

However, I was a little heartbroken when I couldn't find any of the supplies.

I am really happy how it's turned out in the end.

Considering  I was "supply challenged" at times, it really forced me to use what I had to get a little creative.

After all, that's what it's all about.  Right?

So it's Wednesday.  It's payday.  Which means the dreaded trip to the grocery store.   Hubby's turn! 

Actually, going to buy groceries doesn't bother me as much as unloading groceries.

I really don't enjoy that job!!

Anyway, for this weeks menu, since I am lacking in inspiration, I thought I would cheat, a lot, and print off  one of the 1 bag, 5 meal wonders from the Kraft Canada website.  

I haven't done this before, usually because I am not a fan of pre-packaged foods.  I prefer to make everything from scratch.

That said, this week is an experiment.  Not only to save money, but also to test my family.   Little do they know they are going to be part of this little experiment.  

That is, is it worth spending a ton of money, a ton of time in the kitchen preparing something fancy for a 5 year old to have a hissy fit every single night.  I am thinking NOT.....so Mac and Cheese it is!

Well actually, it is a bit better than Mac and Cheese.

Here's the menu for dinner and lunches (there's a 1 bag, 5 lunches menu too).

Thursday

Asian Beef Stir Fry - Chopped salad (should go over well with Ciaran, who am I kidding???)

Friday

Homemade pizza - Cheddar-Veg. tortillas for lunch

Saturday


?


Sunday


?


Monday

Garlic Steak and Onions - Cheddar and chicken club for lunch


Tuesday

Pork Medallions with Cranberry Stuffing - hot lunch at school (man, I love this day)

Wednesday

Mediterranean Chicken - Italian Sub Sandwiches for lunch

I can't wait to see how much this costs.  I will be picking up staples like eggs, butter, bread, milk, fruit and egg whites (can't live without those). 

Remember $200 is the budget.  

I think I will do well this week.  

I will let you know.  

Oh, and I am going to be making Cranberry Bliss Bars too, you know....the ones from Starbucks!!  

Can't wait, I love them!

Nothing says Christmas to me more than a Cranberry Bliss Bar and a Gingerbread Latte, ah.....heaven!!!

Hope you find a little piece of heaven today!

Some days are just like this aren't they?

I love this!!!  Just had to share it!