Feed Me

I've always liked to eat. But I don't think planning and preparing our next meal ever took up as much of my daily mental energy as it does now that Little Dude is eating all the same foods we do.  Not just anything will do.  My requirements for the dishes I prepare are:

1. It must be quick, less than 60 min from minute time I step in the kitchen to the time the first bite is taken;
2. It must be well-rounded, contain most of the food groups, or with a side will contain them;
3. It must be chewable by someone with minimal teeth, and easy for them to feed to themselves (mostly).

I know I am not the first mom to need these requirements be met in their dinner preparation.  Know how I know? Because casseroles exist.   Not one to make them much prior to being a mom, they are now my best friend.  Throw a bunch of ingredients together (either from cans, leftovers, or prepared in advance), stick it in the oven for a bit, and viola! Tastiness that meets all 3 of my requirements, and usually will even provide a second meal. Score!

Needless to say, I am always on the lookout for new ideas, and this is one I love.  I can't take credit for it, and I can't even share my own pictures, because it literally came out of the oven last night and was scooped up on plates.  Created by Nikki at Chef in Training, I cannot thank her enough for this Chicken Cordon Bleu pasta dish.

Photo from Chef in Training
 

Here's the recipe, and you can get a printable version from her site here.

Ingredients

• 10-12 oz. penne or ziti pasta (I used whole wheat macaroni noodles, still as good.)
• 2 cups heavy cream (I'm going to try with whole milk next time)
• 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese
• ½ tsp. onion powder, more or less to taste
• ½ tsp. garlic salt, more or less to taste
• 1½ cup shredded swiss cheese, separated
• 2 chicken breasts, cooked and cut into strips  (we do these on our Foreman grill)
• ¾ cup bacon, cooked and chopped
• ¾ cup diced ham
• bread crumbs ( I used Panko for a little lighter topping, since this is pretty rich already.)
• Optional: if you're trying to make this as well rounded as possible, you can add a chopped green veggie like asparagus or broccoli as well. A cup or more (to your liking), boiled or steamed soft then added as a layer.  I quickly boiled some frozen broccoli and added for Little Dude.

Instructions

1. Things to do ahead of time for expediency (can be done the night before): cook/chop chicken, cook bacon, cook/cop optional veggie, grate the swiss cheese.
2. Cook pasta according to its package's directions. Drain. I always add a little olive oil after I drain it and stir in around so the pasta noodles don't stick together or the pot.
3. Heat cream cheese on stove over medium low heat until melted. Stir in heavy cream. Stir until completely combined. Add onion powder and garlic salt until it tastes how you would like it to. Stir 1 cup of cheese until smooth consistency.
4. In a 9x13, layer noodles, chicken, bacon and ham. Pour sauce over top. Sprinkle top with ½ cup cheese and bread crumbs.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until heated through.

This recipe makes enough for at least 4 adults, especially if you have an additional side of veggie.  For us it fed me, my toddler, and my husband (who usually eats enough for 2), with enough leftovers for a second meal. Enjoy! And thank you Chef in Training!

Links

1. Growing Tulips in a Vase - spring flowers for those of us without a flower bed.
2. Need help deciding how to decorate? Take the Ultimate Find-Your-Style quiz.
3. Insight on how to deal with toddler tantrums and disciple without adding to the drama.
4. 6 Easy Top Knots - because who doesn't need quick, easy up-do ideas?
5. Are you a tea drinker? This little steeper man was just too cute not to share.
6. Nailed it - there's a vast difference between 'old' millennials and 'new' millennials.
7. In pursuit of reducing waste and repurposing - 101 Things to do with Mason Jars.
8. Baked Apple Donuts - yes, please.
9. Some cute ideas for the surplus of Easter eggs you have left over.
    

Friday Favorites - Anthropologie Floral

And we're here again - TGIF!  Happy Passover and Easter this weekend.

Easter feels like the start of spring dressing to me - I think because ever since I was a little girl I would always get a new Easter dress, and it inevitably was pretty and floral.  Its hard not to feel pretty in floral, and Anthropologie always has some of the prettiest dresses.

Poppy Field Dress
 

Nightgarden Sheath
 

Photostat Floral Dress
 

Butterfly Garden Gown
 

Don't you feel pretty just THINKING about wearing these dresses?  I confess that even on sale, Anthro is usually out of my budget, but a girl can dream, can't she?
 

3 Body Parts You're Probably Forgetting About

I think the first product I remember using as I a pre-teen starting in on my evolving skin care journey was Noxzema.  Good ol' Classis Noxzema. As my skin (aka hormones) changed as I grew, I tried various other products for various skin issues: breakouts, oiliness, blackheads, etc.  It unfortunately wasn't until college (after the years in high school out on the track field in the sun everyday) that I started wearing SPF every day on my face, which I of course continue regularly today, along with my current collection of anti-aging products.

But all the time the products were about my face.  I did use body lotion on my arms and legs, but pretty much I took for granted all the skin from my chin down.  But that is a mistake.  All of our skin is aging together, and needs attention to keep it at its best.  It may not be as common everywhere else, but in LA it's not hard to find a mature woman with a youthfully taught face (courtesy likely some Dr. in the 90210), but then the deep lines and sag in her neck, and the spots on her forearms and back of her hands give her true age away.

The following 3 body parts need our attention as much as our crows feet and smile lines to help them age well:

1. Your Neck

From your chin all the way down to your chest.  This area is actually delicate, and suffers the same effects from sun exposure as your face does.  And while most of use will not likely turn to cosmetic procedures to reverse the signs of aging, even if we did, there are not as many options available for the damage to the décolletage.  You will be very unhappy if you've managed to keep your face sun-spot free, only to have your chest covered in them.

What you should do: While it will likely cause you to go through your facial products faster, you should be applying all the same products from your chest up.  Your anti-wrinkle products and your SPF products.  Or you can use separate products specifically designed for those areas, but at a minimum you should moisturize and use an SPF everyday.  And you should apply all products in an upward motion - there's no point in using an anti-aging firming product if you're only going to drag the skin down with your pulling while applying.

2. The Backs of Your Hands

This is one of the first places to show signs of aging.  Depending on your skin type and the frequency with which you wash your hands, you may or may not apply hand lotion regularly.  I have a toddler and hand washing is a frequent event for me, so my hands get dry.  There's always a lotion on my desk and in my purse.  While moisture is important, the main thing most people neglect with their hands is the SPF.  Like the skin of our necks and chest, the skin on the backs of our hands is more delicate than many other places.  The backs are unlike the palms of our hands, which we are constantly using and therefore have constant cell-turnover.  Additionally, if you spend any amount of time driving a car, then your hands on the steering wheel are getting harmful sun exposure while most of the rest of you is shaded in the car.

What you should do:  Exfoliate weekly or bi-weekly, and apply SPF often.  The hard thing about your hands is that they get washed more frequently than the rest of your body. So if you put sunscreen on in the morning, the next time you wash your hands you're back at square one.  The thing is to find a hand lotion with sunscreen in it, and use it after every wash.  I also keep a travel size sunscreen in my car console and apply a layer to the back of my hands on especially sunny days.

3. Your Feet

Sure, we get pedicures weekly (or monthly, if we're lucky), and they use callous remover and scrubs.  But on a daily basis, our feet go through a lot and need daily TLC to keep the dry heel crack from becoming a permanent foot trait.  Although if you wear a lot of open shoes and are in a sunny region, the tops of your feet need sun protection as well. This is often forgotten.

What you should do:  It's really all about the moisture with the feet skin.  In the morning, right after your shower, or at least 10 minutes before you put shoes on, apply lotion.  At night is when you can do a deep moisture treatment if you're so inclined: using a more intense formula, apply before bed then sleep with socks on.  Your feet will stay soft between pedicures, and likely your callouses won't be as noticeable.  While you can buy specific foot lotions, this is where I like to use up those travel and sample sized lotions that I don't like for any other part of my body. (I'm currently using up some Body Shop Body Butter that was just too fragrant for use closer to my nose.)

A Day of Foolery...

It's the last day of March (and my sister's birthday - Happy Birthday!), which means tomorrow is April Fool's Day.  I'm not a big prankster, and fortunately neither is my husband (fortunately, because if he were you know I'd have to be the recipient). I'm not opposed to pranks, but I think too often pranks are only funny to the one pulling it.  If both the pranker and the prankee can honestly laugh at the prank, then its a good one.

Here are some of the best, clever-yet-harmless pranks I've come across, that should have both parties laughing together.

1. Best Prank on your Husband: Give him a hug good-bye as he leaves to work, and make sure to leave a fun sticker or note attached without him knowing. It could be something like “I have no clue this is here. Applaud every time you see me” or something random and silly that will have him wondering what’s going on.  Have to be sure it's sticky enough not to fall off in the car on the way to work.  Or a note on the back of the car big enough for other drivers to read: 'Honk and wave at me and call out "Hi [husband's name]." Happy April Fools!' 
2. Best Prank on your Roommate: Any pranks with food involved: ketchup-filled 'jelly' donuts, mayo-filled 'cream' donuts, baking soda covered 'powdered sugar' donuts (donuts seem to be a versatile prank food), soy sauce 'Diet Coke,' etc.  If your roommates are anything like mine were in college, they're always eating your food, so this could be a good lesson for them anyway. 
3. Best Prank on your Kids: The night before (so tonight), make them a breakfast bowl of cereal, then put it in the freezer overnight.
4. Best Prank on you Co-Worker:  We've all seen those photos online of office cubicles completely covered with post-its, or foil, or full of balloons.  While those are funny and harmless, they're so much work!  Why not just cover the sensor on the underside of their computer mouse, preferably with something funny or startling for when they finally look and figure it out.  Or print out a big scary image and lay it in a desk drawer they frequently open.