Kitchen Garden Planning and Outdoor Extravaganza

Outside, it's in the thirties and we're experiencing flurries.  Just a day ago, we were ambushed with 7 inches of rain overnight!  We woke up to find a pond in our backyard!  For a few hours, the lines between our yard and our neighbors actual pond were blurred.  I thought the boys and I might go fishing should any of his little fishies cross property lines...  Lucky for the fish, our "pond" dried up pretty quickly and lucky for us, we didn't get any water in our basement.

The decision...and other weekend happenings

What decision, you ask?  After four long years, we've finally selected our kitchen hardware.  Ok, maybe it isn't that exciting for you, but it is for me! 

What hardware made the cut?  Could it possibly be that special?!?!  No, probably not.  But for a decision as permanent as this one, which requires holes drilled into our cabinets...I get nervous.  These pulls, however, have me ready to make the commitment.....

They arrived in this box....

Just the name of the store alone makes me happy.

...and here they are...

The best fajita seasoning...ever...

...I know, it's a bold claim, but it's true!!!  My mom first shared this recipe with me a year or so ago...and I make fajitas all the time ever since than.

Time Saving Tip: Home Made Spice Blends

I like to keep my meals simple, healthy, and tasty.  Therefore, I keep a well stocked freezer and pantry filled with wholesome foods: salmon, lean meats and chicken, frozen veggies, and healthy grains such as quinoa, brown rice, and whole wheat breads.  I also cut down meal prep time by creating my own home made spice blends for often cooked meals: grilled chicken with seasoned veggies, chicken fajitas, and lean, slow cooked burrito bowls. 

Dinner Idea: Pizza Margherita

After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I'm very much looking forward to a night at home in front of the fire! 

Some days, I will let my older son skip his nap and put the two boys down by 7.  On these nights, we like to wait to have dinner while enjoying a nice fire. 

So, on the menu for tonight is Grilled Pizza Margherita! 

I love this recipe because I usually have all of the ingredients on hand and can easily make it when I haven't had time to plan and prep a dinner.  Here is what you will need:

Cornflake Christmas Wreaths....with Grandma

With my husband at the Bears Packers game today, I was left at home with the boys trying to decide what we should do.   I was happy when Grandma called to say she wanted to stop over and "bake" some cookies with my oldest son.   She arrived with all supplies in hand to make some Cornflake Christmas Wreaths:

The recipe is extremely simple, delicious, and fun for a little three year old to make and decorate!

Small Things: Fresh Herbs, Inside

While I was ready to say goodbye to the summer heat this year and was highly anticipating fall - I love the crisp weather and all the fun activities, clothes, and decoration that fall has to offer - I was just not ready to say goodbye to fresh herbs just a few footsteps outside my door.

This year, I decided to try and grow two of my favorites inside:

The fresh thyme I moved inside from outdoors, I purchased fresh basil from a local nursery, and the third plant is a little random.  It's just a succulent that grabbed my eye while at Home Depot. 

I was so happy to see a lot of new growth on the basil and thyme when I came home from our weekend road trip. We used both tonight on our green beans - delicious!



via Simply Recipes

This is my favorite recipe for dressing up green beans with fresh herbs.  Except I add garlic (to pretty much everything), use basil instead of tarragon, and substitute shallots for red onion when I have them on hand............