Week Two- How'd We Do?

Week 2- Overall we did okay.  Not as good as Week 1, but still okay.  It seems pretty obvious, but planning ahead really is key.  The times when we did not eat as well were when I had no plan and was trying to figure something out at the last minute...  We had some triumphs and some failures with new recipes.

I made this chicken enchilada casserole http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/04/14/recipe-chicken-enchiladas/  and it was a big flop.  I'm not sure if I did something wrong or if we Texans just need the real thing, but no one liked it.

But this morning I made these Breakfast Cookies http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/10/recipe-pecan-maple-breakfast-cookies/  and they were a huge success.  I did not have any pecans so I left them out and I was short 1 Tbs of maple syrup so I used honey.  The kids kept asking "can I have just one more?"  Dutch asked if I would put one in her lunch next week.  The recipe says they freeze well so maybe I'll do another batch to freeze.  They would be good on Sunday mornings when we are rushing to get to church.

This week I plan to try these homemade chicken nuggets http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/10/14/recipe-homemade-chicken-nuggets/  and the homemade waffles. 

Somethings other things we have figured out this week:
After reading this http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/06/07/milk-101-whole-raw-organic-low-fat-etc/ about milk I decided to try to something other than skim milk.  I knew switching right to whole milk would be a huge change so I decided to try 2% milk.  I don't really drink milk but The Hubby and both boys do.  At first they thought it was okay but then The Hubby said he felt like the 2% was giving him heartburn and Bubba started asking for the other kind of milk...  Maybe I'll try 1%?  Or whole milk  for cooking and skim for drinking?  I'll have to think on that. 

The kids like whole wheat pasta.  I made some whole wheat egg noodle-type pasta with meatballs and Buba said "This is the best pasta I ever had!"  The Hubby eyed him like his body had been taken over by aliens for saying that. 

I have not made my lunch for work every day, but thankfully have been able to find some decent options to buy.  There is a good chicken salad, I just don't eat the white bread that comes with it.  I have also had tomato soup, fruit and yogurt parfait, burrito bowl and a mozzarella and spinach sandwich.

But I do find I am hungry and need a snack, peanuts and almonds are a favorite.  The kids are hungry after school and need a pretty good sized snack.  Hummus has come in handy as they all like it and can dip a variety of things in it- Triscuits, carrots, pretzels, tortillas... 

Valentine's Day pretty much was a big failure of a day.  I made the kids scrambled eggs with cheese for breakfast to try to get at least something healthy into them.  The school had Dads and Donuts that morning, so The Hubby took the kids to school and they had heart shaped Krispy Kreme donuts.  Lunch was whole wheat tortillas with hummus, a whole carrot (they are loving eating whole carrots like Bugs Bunny), an apple and fruit leather.  Then came the school parties...  Dutch had ice cream sundaes with all kinds of toppings and Bubba had cookies, chips, fruit punch, chocolate covered pretzels...  Plus all the candy that came with their valentines... Sigh.

  I made dinner for the family- beautiful sea scallops, bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, rice and salad.  For desert I planned to make chocolate fondue.  I messed up the chocolate I bought...  it wasn't melting the way the directions said it would so I turned up the heat and ended up cooking it instead.  So I melted chocolate chips.  The kids didn't know the difference.  They had fruit, marshmallows and pretzels to dip.  They were not really that impressed.  Sigh again. 

 

 

In other Valentine's Day news, Bubba got his first real Valentine from someone other than a classmate or family.  One of the new neighbors made him a really sweet card to say thanks for being a good friend because she is "new in town.  But it doesn't mean that I like you because I don't, that would be weird."  It was free dress day at school so their Valentine's gifts were clothes, Dutch got the outfit above and Bubba got a new zip-up hoodie since he wants to wear his other zip up hoodie every day.  Poor Huck got a hand-me-down t-shirt.  My best Valentine's gift was The Hubby helping the kids clean up the playroom and vacuuming it for me :-) 

 

I got another glimpse of the sweet heart of oldest son.  At ballet one of the dads brought some left over cupcakes.  Bubba took one but had not eaten it because he was working on addressing his cards for school.  Another girl arrived but all the cupcakes were gone.  She asked Bubba about his cupcake and he offered it to her.  At first she said no but then changed her mind and said yes.  He gave it to her without hesitating saying, "I had enough treats at school today." 

 

If you want to get an idea of the personalities of my kids, play a board game with them.  Dutch, Bubba and I played Life last weekend.  Bubba was very cautious, never taking a chance on spinning the wheel, counting his money regularly.  Dutch played chance at every opportunity.  Bought everything she came across.  And that is exactly how they are in real life.  They are asking to play Monopoly, but I'm not sure Dutch is up to it yet. 

 

We are starting to plan a Spring Break trip.  We are going to go to San Antonio with Aunt S and cousins W and D.  It may be crazy for the two of us to take 5 kids to Sea World during Spring Break, but we are going to go for it!  Wish us luck!