august cooking challenge- menu week 1

for my august cooking challenge, here's what i planned for week 1:

M, 8/1- Salad- "Veggie Salad Pasta Toss" courtesy of KraftCanada 

(rating: C; review: tasted better warm than cold, too many noodles, the fresh parsley tasted gross for leftovers; wasn't thrilled with it, and will probably not make it again- if i were to, then i would do dry parsley instead, less noddles, and more dressing)

T, 8/2- Chicken- "Herbed Tomatoes, Chicken, and Rice" courtesy of KraftCanada 

(rating: B; review: using my newly-made Italian Dressing Seasoning Dry Mix, i found that this was too little chicken for the amount of tomatoes, so i would add a couple more chicken breasts or cut back the amount of tomato liquid. also, i added a few extra pressed garlic cloves that are from Trader Joe's in a red container in the frozen section. as for the rice, i used leftover rice, which saved me time and $.  to make this again, i would throw in a pinch of the Italian Dressing Seasoning Dry Mix, less tomatoes, and a bit more chicken.  all in all, not a shabby dinner.  my hubby really loved it!)

W, 8/3- Pasta- "Spaghetti With Zesty Bolognese"* courtesy of KraftCanada

(rating: A+; review: used the Italian Dressing Seasoning Dry Mix again, both once i turned it into an actual dressing, but also threw in a pinch of it, as well, and i believe THAT and the [extra] cream cheese absolutely made this dish.  served atop spaghetti noodles which made it taste absolutely yummy!  by the way, substituted ground turkey for ground beef.)

R, 8/4- Beef/Turkey- "Green Enchiladas"* courtesy of my mom; served with black beans, brown rice and "Caramel Brownies" for dessert
(rating: A+; review: when my siblings and i were younger, my mom grew tired of rolling enchiladas for a family of six.  she designed this "casserole" as an alternative to enchiladas while still serving its yummy taste buds.  created with the simple ingredients of mild green enchilada sauce, yellow corn tortillas from Trader Joe's Trader Joe's- huge taste difference opposed to some others!-, ground turkey, and mozzarella and cheddar cheese, this dish is to die for.  serve with the choice of sour cream or ranch dressing; both will delight your stomach!  the black beans were presoaked for 24 hours, and cooked in the pressure cooker the following day with a chopped onion, 1 T of salt, and a few garlic cloves.  the rice was cooked in the rice cooker with a bit of butter.  and, as for the brownies!!!  i need to blog about those later. :)

F, 8/5- Vegetarian- "Real Macaroni and Cheese" courtesy of Moneywise Moms

(rating: B-; review: too little flour, broccoli, mustard were required for the recipe.  i kept adding more flour and, of course, mustard, to even itself out, but it still wasn't thickening.  finally, tasted a bit too mustardy, but not that white cheddar taste i preferred.  hardly that taste, actually.  would need to find a middle ground with the measurements next time)

Sa, 8/6- Leftovers- yay!!!  had some more of wednesday night's dinner. :)  it's now all gone!  boo! :(

Su, 8/7- Slow Cooker/Casserole- "Baked Slow Cooker Chicken" courtesy of AllRecipes; served with veggies, and "Foil Potato Packets on the Grill"*
(rating: A-; review: put the foil balls in the bottom of the crock pot, about a cup and a half of chicken broth, a few peeled carrots, stuffed the chicken with two onions, three garlic cloves, removed most of the skin off the chicken based on a review that i read so that the meat is lathered with spices and not the easily removable skin.  was quite surprised with how hard it was to remove the chicken- actually quite a process!  smothered the chicken with garlic powder, sea salt, powder, meat tenderizer, Mrs. Dash, and cooked it on high for about 1.5 hours, then on low for about 3.5 hours.  the chicken FELL off the bone!!!  soooooo soft and moist, but not as moist as i imagined it to be.... my veggies were the carrots and onions that i threw in there, which cooked surprisingly soft, but the onions were still a bit resilient to fully softening up.  after trying to work the grill- not my forte, i resorted to my toaster oven, and cooked 10+ potatoes in the way directed in the second recipe.  put sea salt, olive oil and pepper on them, and they tasted like a healthy version of french fries; my husband was quite impressed.  he LOVED them.  will make this dish again, perhaps with more veggies next time. :)

*fabulous dish.  absolutely recommend it and will make again.

august cooking challenge- sample menu

as i posted earlier, my challenge started with the movie julie & julia.  i had to make it realistic for me, a new SAHM of seven-month old twin girls.  so, i decided that, for the month of august, i'd create a very simple meal plan and stick by it.

but, here's the thing: for the past couple of weeks, i haven't been much of a cook because the girls eat up so much of my time and also my hubby is hardly home since he's working so much.  what's the point to cook a glorious dinner when i'm the only one eating it... night after night?  so, G and i talked about the "idea" of cooking dinner more often (remember, it had been weeks!)... well, i mean "me" cooking more.

so, i came up with this plan of certain types of meals on certain days:

M- salad
T- chicken
W- pasta
R- turkey/beef
F- vegetarian
Sa- leftovers
Su- crock pot/slow cooker/casserole

i mean, i always find these incredible recipes... and, then i end up cooking chicken four nights in a row.  i needed something different for us.

so, a week ago, i did a lot of research through the sites i mentioned before, along with my newsletters... and, i sorta cheated. :)  i peeked at the weekly menu plans that Moneywise Moms emails, which then linked me to some other blogs... from there, i planned our menu for two weeks...

check back for what i planned... :)

the movie that inspired my new august cooking challenge

have you seen julie & julia?

a movie that i picked up at the library amongst some others, i have always wanted to see j & j.  for so many reasons.  i mean, i love to try new recipes, i'm constantly bookmarking suggested recipes (almost too many and although i 90% won't get around to making them); get AllRecipes daily, quick and easy recipes emailed to me... i'm more than willing to try something new.  it's like glorified time that i don't have but i wish i could spend on cooking more. :)

so, i watched the movie, and was quite impressed.  i won't divulge the synopsis, but one of the main characters takes upon herself a huge worthy challenge within a certain time frame.  it sounded like a good idea.  i wondered if i could do that.  i mean, the month of august was creeping upon me... would i be able to do something similar but scaled down to a more reasonable possibility?  yes, please.

now, let me back up for a moment.  i get emails everyday from two sites:

1. Moneywise Moms
2. AllRecipes

through some blog trails, i've found some more blogs/sites that interest me in this challenge:

1. KraftCanada
2. Pennies on a Platter
3. I'm An Organizing Junkie
4. Feeding Four
5. VitaMix
6. The Pioneer Woman
7.  Cooks
8.  Simply Alicia (my cousin)
9. Cooking During Stolen Moments: An Affair With My Kitchen
10. Annie's Eats
11. Stephanie O'Dea's "A Year of Slow Cooking" or here

the next time i write... i will share my challenge.  the more i blog about it, the more accountable i'm held. :)

have you seen this movie?  what's your favorite FOOD-related movie?

the TWO pumping necessities

there are two* necessities that you will LOVE for a good pumping session.  whether you're at home or on the go... you'll be so thankful for the both of these...

i remember when i was in Babies 'R Us, and i saw this hands-free pumping bra.  i thought, $40 is a lot to spend on that, and i kept on walking.  WELL, i went back to get it.  BEST CHOICE EVER.

if you pump, there are TWO necessities that you ABSOLUTELY will need.  i mean, absolutely, no choice around it, saving you SO much time... so, here they are:

1. hands-free pumping bra by medela.

(about $40)

now, look at how easy it is to use and still multi-task at the same time... even changing diapers, playing with your babies, paying the bills online... it's AMAZING.  look at all those possibilities here.  no more detesting your pumping sessions...  it's endless how much strength and time you'll save because you'll use it about 8x a day!  totally get your usage out of it!!!

now, two things:
1. do NOT buy one until AFTER you deliver.  you have no idea what size you'll be until you deliver.  until after your milk comes in.  there's no guarantee with estimating, so just wait it out.
2. you are ABLE to convert a former bra into this with a guide here.  the ONLY thing i'll say about this is your bra fastens in the back, and this hands-free bra shown above fastens in the front.  that is super convenient for when you're quickly assembling everything to pump... especially in the dark.  :)


2. a car charger for your pump by medela.

(about $18)

for pumping women on the go, whether you're SAHM, WAHM, or working moms, you will NEED this.  imagine a time when you are ready to leave the house, you time everything perfectly in order to return... only to pump.  if only you could eliminate that, and continue your ventures in the outside!  you can have a life!!!  this gives you that possibility.  i can't tell you how many times i had to return home in order to do that... or try and plan my day accordingly to come home and pump.  i've had this for five months, and it's been a complete lifesaver... saving time so i don't have to return home for ONE reason when everybody else/everything else is already with me on the go.  plus, it's AMAZING if you're looking to travel by car... just pump in the backseat.  lol.  :)  it's so easy to use, and it's the same exact function as a regular plug for the medela instyle pump.  now, for the privacy?  see below. :)

*3. a+a blankets.

(aden + anais muslin butterfly patch swaddles- $37.99)

now, i know that i said TWO pumping essentials, but read below under "3+ months #6" and you'll understand why i included it. :)

for my twin girls, we have two sets of these = 8 total.  these things are awesome and TOTALLY worth every pricey penny.  just so you know, i do know that Target has a limited selection for a reasonable price.  my girls were born in december, and we have used these swaddling blankets EVERY single day since then.  not kidding... every day.  they are suitable for any season.

here's why:

from about 0-2 months, you'll swaddle your baby with these blankets.  they are oh-so-soft, which is exactly what my friend kim kessler donaldson said before i delivered my babies... she said she discovered them with her third child.  they are so so soft.  they do get softer each time you use them... and, they will soon smell like that sweet baby breastmilk (if that's what you do)... that heavenly sweet apricot/peach smell. :)

3+ months, my babies could care less about swaddling.  they fight it like all get out.  :)  so, we use them for the following:
1. to help prop up the bottles to feed the babies whether that's in the crib, carseat, stroller seat, or bouncer (remember, i have two)...
2.  we use them as burp cloths... now, yes, at the beginning i used the gerber prefold diapers as burp cloths, which were AMAZING, and we were always washing them so we needed tons of them with two babies... but, now that my girls aren't spitting up as much as NBs, i quickly grab one of these, place it on my shoulder, and burp, hold my baby or babies... ;) it's nice because it's more coverage in case there is a mishap.
3. use them as a stroller shielder.  in the hot AZ summer, my girls and i stay indoors, but also run a bunch of errands.  for the hot days, i'll put them in their carseats/stroller seats in the stroller, push them around, and whether they're sleeping or not, sometimes, i lie one of these atop the seat to shield my babies....
4. going with #3, i also use them as a sun protector for my babies when we're going somewhere, and i'm carrying one of them... i'll put it over her face to shield her eyes because my girls always close their eyes towards the bright sun with their beautiful big blue eyes... so, it's a simple fix.
5. quick changing table... say you forgot your instant changing table pad and you're in Target's family restroom, so you put this on their portable changing table, and an easy, light fix (true story) because you'll always have more than one on hand since they're so lightweight and easy to put in your diaper bag.
6. nursing cover/pumping cover... when i'm around family, and don't feel like isolating myself, they know that i need to nurse (those were the days- sigh) or pump, so i just take one side of the blanket, loosely tie it together, and i've created a triangular open pocket... an easy shield for your privacy even around others....
ALSO, i use this shield when i'm out and about, pumping on the go... yes, driving around town!  lol!  :)

what are YOUR favorite pumping necessities?

top strollers

thebump came out with a Top 10 Strollers' list... check it out here. also, Baby Center came out with their Top Strollers' list, as well.  check it out here.

three notes about thebump's top strollers:
1. Baby Jogger made the list (we have a different one, BUT, still the same manufacturer).
2. the orbit stroller is on there!!!  if i had only ONE baby, then i would have died and gone to heaven for that one. ;)  the futuristic sleek look is just awesome.  plus, it looks so functional.  i LOVED seeing this one at buybuyBABY.
3. the Phil and Teds stroller is impractical.  BBB said that, especially, the double is made very impractical with tons of room for error.  see a photo of the double here.  there are so many mistakes with this stroller.  i can go into much more detail, but with the bottom seat, it's unsafe for the baby, allowing the baby to touch the wheel, possibly the ground.  up close and personal, this stroller stinks.  i think it's quite $$$ for how cheaply designed/impractical it is = a pile of garbage.  poor kid whoever gets the lower seat... looks like (s)he might become claustrophobic. :( for less $, you can get my stroller seen down below! :)  

here's our Baby Jogger City Select stroller here.

everything about this stroller is awesome... it holds its purpose for a singleton, and can easily convert into a double!!!  here are all the 16 combinations that it can do:

BBB says that this is their #1 double stroller, which is awesome.  i already had my mind made up when i went there to check it out, but ended up purchasing it through Jogging Strollers 4 Less.  saved tons of $$$!!!

anyway, will blog later about how much i love my stroller!  meanwhile, what is YOUR favorite stroller and why?

watch what you say around a new mom!

note:  i wrote this when i was six weeks postpartum... that was 25 weeks ago... 6 months ago!  FYI...

so, this shouldn't be my first post since blogging/updating everyone on our babies' birth.  but, i had to write this.

be careful what you say.  

here are two examples as to why you should be careful when speaking to a woman...

after my postpartum six-week checkup at the doctor's, i went to sprouts to pick up prenatals, fish oil, and fenugreek (increase milk production).  i picked up a few other things, and went to check out.  behind me in line was this family with two boys and i noticed that as i was paying, the dad looked at me, whispered to his wife... then, i heard the dreaded from his wife:

how far along are you?
i just delivered twin girls. (didn't even make eye contact; looked at the cashier as he was ready to give me my receipt)
omi... omigosh... how long ago was that? 
they're six weeks old.
wow, you look GREAT.  i hope that doesn't offend you.  (i took my receipt and walked away- the cashier was mortified as the couple was.)

classic reason as to why you need to be CAREFUL when approaching a woman and choosing your words carefully. :)  for heaven sakes, i think i look pretty good for just delivering!!!  yes, i have some weight left around my mid-section that would reveal itself in a fitted shirt, but c'mon... i lost all but five pounds within two weeks, including one week being at home... breastfeeding as much as possible!  i breastfeed all of the time... TWO babies!  it really helps you lose weight.

but, seriously?!  did those people not have a brain?  you NEVER say that to a woman UNLESS you're 100% sure.

second classic example:

i was returning to work and i was 17 weeks along (give or take), and during some transitional time, someone says to me,

are you expecting?
uh, yes, i am...
oh, i wasn't sure if that was a tumor (pointing to my belly).


I WAS SHOCKED.  SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?!?

so, i ask: what outrageous things have people said to you?

homemade detergent

a month or so ago, on one of the CD sites, they asked moms what their favorite detergent was to use on CD...  someone mentioned their homemade detergent.  intrigued as i was, i found out that she uses a recipe that costs approximately $2 to make and lasts for about a year, give or take.

it's by the Duggars (the family with 19+ kids) under their recipes' section (about 1/5th into the site).  check it out here.  i'm waiting to finish my detergents first before i try this... still for $2?  worth a try!

let me know how you like it!

homemade deodorant

for as long as i can remember, i've had trouble with deodorant.  no aluminum for the risks of possible alzheimer's links... has to smell good... has to absorb the smell... has to really do ITS job.

i've tried them all, and nothing worked.  i guess i should say... thanks, dad for passing on your "needing to wear deodorant" gene to me. :)

a few weeks ago, i was researching natural deodorants, and came across the ones below.  also, i came across a recipe to make my own deodorant.  the more i read people's comments below the recipe, the more i wanted to try it...

so, i did.  one sunday evening, i made it.  i bought the ingredients at sprout's.  i put some extra oils in it, and immediately, put it on.  that wasn't a great idea.  i should have waited for it to harden--which i later discovered that it solidifies like a deodorant--but, i wanted to try it right then, right there.  for people like me who have sensitive skin, that wasn't a great idea.  i almost felt like a burning.  i didn't know why i got it... perhaps because i had shaved my arms earlier in the day?  either way, i felt bummed out.  i thought, great, now it's not going to work.

i tried it the following day.  it worked fine.  it truly lasts for hours.  one day, i only had to put it on once, and it lasted clear into the following day.  it smells good... if you follow the recipe.  the baking soda really does absorb the smell, sweat.

i LOVE this deodorant; it really does work.  i put it in a small clear rubbermaid container.  they say to put it in a tin can, but i couldn't find one at sprout's. 

overall, i would DEFINITELY recommend this deodorant, and i use JUST a little each time... it's so easy to make, it's natural, it smells good, and the best part is that IT WORKS!!!

so glad that i can save us some $ by having made my own!  :)

go try it!  let me know what you think!

seventh generation disposable diapers

after we came home from the hospital, and before we started exclusively CDing, we used Seventh Generation disposable diapers.  it didn't have cholorine in them, and supposedly were "chemical free."

well, tonight, i started reading up on its ingredients.

here's what i found:

"Our diapers are made of chlorine free wood pulp fluff, sodium polyacrylate (also referred to as SAP or absorbent gel), polyolefin nonwoven fabric, adhesives, polyolefin film, synthetic rubber elastic strands." 

everything looks fine to me... except SAP.  so, i read up on SAP, and here's what i found:

"Disposable diapers contain Sodium Polyacrylate (SAP), a type of super absorbent polymer, which becomes a gel-like substance when wet. SAP was banned from tampons due to the risk of toxic shock syndrome.  The AMA has since diluted the fear of this risk with diapers since the chemical is "contained", although this chemical may still cause skin irritations and severe allergic reactions including vomiting, staph infections, and fever if ingested or in contact with the skin.  This chemical is also found in Seventh Generation disposable diapers."

so, those little paper inserts that we find inside the tampon box always warns us about TSS (toxic shock syndrome).  these diapers have them IN them??? 

awesome (sarcasm).  'nuff said.  

guess there's no "safe" disposable diaper.

the good 'ol fashioned crock pot

since the babies have been born, i have struggled with putting healthy meals on the table... in suitable time, of course.  postpartum, food was brought over for us, but that ended.  my family left.  my husband works odd hours, so that meant i was responsible for feeding myself. :)  i needed an easy solution for cooking meals... without spending the entire day in the kitchen.  my girls were too young for me to do that.  they weren't at the point of entertaining themselves like they're able to do now at four months old.
i remembered the purpose of the crock pot... is just that.  to have a meal cooking/prepared, so that when you're ready to eat, it's ready to be eaten. :)  absolutely genius! so, i pulled out my crock pot, ready to start.
only, the problem is that from all the slow cooker recipes (i've picked up a few of those Better Homes and Gardens Special Publications over time), i hadn't found many that were REALLY tasty and worth the time to wait all day for it to cook...
i remembered that my friend, Alissa had a blog for crock pot/slow cooker recipes, so i looked that up... and, found the BEST recipe, hands down.  over time, i have found some other worthy recipes that i'd like to add here, but until then... i'll post links to the yummy recipes that i've found for the crock pot.  i'd also like to post the other recipes that i found which were easy to cook without slaving the day away in the kitchen. :)

Cheese and Pasta Delight (A rating)
- instead of buying alfredo sauce (let's face it, with twins, it's hard for me to get out of the house, and i decided to do this last minute the second time), i made my own alfredo sauce from here.  the first time, i bought the alfredo sauce, and i think that it actually turned out yummier with a homemade sauce.  now, with a homemade sauce, you obviously can adjust the calorie intake. :)
- i used a can of chicken, drained (from Costco)
- the first time i did mozzarella cheese, but the second time, i did swiss.  since i usually have mozz on hand, i'd probably do it with that again... to alleviate an extra trip to the store or an extra thing to pick up.
- i used different pasta shells, both times, the dish turned out fine.
- this dish is SO easy to make.  i was pleasantly surprised with all the ingredients meshed well together.
- i think that i used a 4qt. dish, and it made enough food, but the thing is... between my husband and me, it's gone within two days!  :)
- it's also SO yummy to reheat for the following day!  the chicken, alfredo sauce, and veggies really blend well together!

Slow-Cooked Corn Chowder (A rating)
- sometimes, if i'm in a rush, i'll cook this for three hours on high.
- use a thick ham; i think used ham bone... forgot if that's what it's called.  but, it's much tastier with a thick ham.
- fresh parsley works just fine.
- my husband and i were quite impressed with this dish.  very easy to make with few ingredients, yet still nutritious enough.
- i either used a 4qt. or 6qt. and it was just enough for all of the soup.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup (A- rating)
-  i pureed the chicken (as mentioned before).
- i didn't do the tortilla strips as they say to do them.  i just put them on top.  i used very THICK handmade tortillas from Trader Joe's.
- this made A LOT of food.  i used my 6qt. slow cooker dish.
- we really liked this dish, too.

King Ranch Chicken Casserole (A rating of me adapting it to a slow cooker recipe; B rating for taste- have to adjust a few things, obviously)
- i turned this into a slow cooker recipe.  it's cooking now, so i'll write about how it goes.
- it says to cook for 30-45 minutes, so i set the timer and put it on low for six hours.
- i lightly greased the dish with butter.
- for the chicken, i boiled about four boneless, skinless chicken breasts, threw them in my Vitamix, and pretty much pureed them into ground chicken breast... i eat it better that way.  sort of a mind trick to eat meat for me.  we'll see how that turns out, too!  :)
- about the cheese, i didn't put it in yet, and won't until the last hour, so that middle layer won't have the cheese in it. 
- i put two chopped garlic cloves in the soup mixture.
- i substituted cream of potato for cream of chicken since i didn't have the latter on hand.
- i've had a similar version of this but NOT from this online recipe and definitely NOT in a slow cooker!  so, we'll see how it turns out!  fingers crossed! :)
- i omitted the green peppers.
- i used Trader Joe's fresh yellow corn tortillas (i think that they taste better), as well as its packaged chicken broth (not canned).
- i used my 4qt. dish, and the layers really ended up being high in the dish... so, we'll see if that affects anything.
what i learned:
- part of this dish came out burnt because i had it on so long, i think.  i ended up putting parmesan cheese in with an hour and 15 minutes left.  
- i won't do parmesan again.  probably mozz next time. :)
- don't know if i'll puree the chicken again... maybe small chunks, instead. 
- won't do cream of potato again... the potatoes made it a bit sweeter, we noticed.
- finally, i thought that the juice layer might be too much liquid, but it ended up working out just fine.  somehow, i need to eliminate so much juices and create more carb layers so it cooks better in the pot.  not that it didn't cook well; just the way that the recipe is designed for a larger casserole, other adjustments have to be made. :)