I've discussed in the past our family's evolution from throwing picture perfect birthday parties to establishing birthday traditions instead. Recently C turned four and this year was no exception. We celebrated him by sharing dollar store trinkets with his preschool class, embarking on a special outing to the Space Needle and Seattle's monorail, having dinner at his favorite restaurant with the grandparents, and letting him help make his birthday cake. There was a present or two thrown in … [Read more...]
Two Dinners from One Tasty Crockpot
Any recipe that starts with the words “double duty” has to be good, right? We are all looking for a few recipes that cut down on our time in the kitchen. I’m excited to say I’ve developed a slow cooker recipe that provides you with not one, but two flavorful meals. Jackpot! If you are already a fan of Thai food, you’re going to love this double duty dinner. If you’re a little timid when it comes to trying new things, I encourage you to give Thai food a try. These meals are flavorful, but not … [Read more...]
Easy Family Dinner
Ever get stuck in the slow-cooker rut in your quest for a simple super? Natalie is here today reminding us that just because a meal takes a little longer to cook, doesn't mean you have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing it. … [Read more...]
Healthy Snack: Roasted Chickpeas
Chickpeas are such a great way to sneak fiber into your diet (don't miss our 10 easy lunch ideas using chickpeas too!)... When it comes to snacks are you a salty person or sweet? (I'm both - why choose, right?) Either way, Natalie's got something for you today. In her continued quest to live sugar-light, she's had to get creative with her snacks. Today she's got a total of four variations, some salty and some sweet, of her new favorite: roasted chickpeas. The … [Read more...]
My Emergency Go-To Meal Plan
You guys know by now I'm a big fan of meal planning. Wether its through an online service or via one of the many options available online, including MPMK's own 6 week meal plan, a well thought out plan is a major time saver. But what about those days, or weeks, when you barely have time to cook let alone meal plan? I've found myself up against a lot of those weeks lately. So I've developed one more meal plan - an emergency week meal plan. This is my list of five weeknight meals and a … [Read more...]
Lunch Menu
If you're an MPMK facebook fan then you know the kids were sick last week. Well, now both my hubby and I are down for the count. Is there any way to avoid this from happening? It's been nearly four years with kids and I've yet to find one. Luckily, Natalie is back today with another easy meal idea with endless possibilities. These yummy sandwiches are perfect for a quick lunch or a casual summer dinner. I especially like the idea of letting the littles build their own. C … [Read more...]
Good Coffee
Happy memorial day weekend! How are you spending your day off? The family and I are working outside on the yard as much as possible. Now that summer is officially here, I wanted to quickly pop in and share my new favorite summer drink - iced coffee via the Keurig. I know the newest version of the Keurig has an iced coffee setting but mine doesn't and, honestly, even if it did I probably couldn't be bothered to think far enough ahead to buy the special iced coffee k-cups. Instead I go … [Read more...]
A New Favorite
You know how every once in a while you stumble on something simple that makes life a little better? For me that "something" is a recently re-discovered delicacy: the frozen banana. To be honest I've always been a bit indifferent when it comes to bananas. Sure, I'd power one down as a poor excuse for a breakfast when running out the door, but my general attitude towards them could pretty much be summed up as "meh". It's amazing the difference a little time in the freezer can make. … [Read more...]
Making Less-Mess Cookies for Santa
I can't believe it's already Christmas Eve tomorrow. I used to be one of those people that complained about the decorating and music starting too early and dragging out the season. Now that I have kids I want it to last sooo much longer. It really is nothing less than magic getting to experience how much they love it all. Today I'm over at momtastic sharing part one of our Christmas Eve tradition, making less-mess cookies for Santa. Part two is the gourmet grilled cheese bar and tomato … [Read more...]