Week #2

Recipe Lineup #2 for the week of November 19-25

With Thanksgiving coming up this week, I am planning for my family some recipes that will be on the lighter and fun side. Plus, for some reason I am wanting to mimic some of my favorites from some local restaurants in town (and talented blogger Kristin from Iowa Girl Eats). You will see the pattern. This is our FIRST Thanksgiving just us four, so I am trying out some new recipes to see what might work within our own tradition and taste buds.

Meal #1

Homemade Chipolte Burrito Bowl

This recipe is easy to follow and involves some chopping but I think it will be super yummy. I have not tried this recipe yet but I have ate at Chipolte. I will be using a rotisserie chicken. Might but it in the crock pot for a while to gain some flavor.

Meal #2

P.F Chang's Lettuce Wraps

This will be third time making this dish and oh it is so delicious. I have made a few changes. 

• Ground Turkey instead of chicken (1 lb just does not feed 2 adults and 2 small kids, 1.5+ will get you some lunch leftovers)
• Celery instead of water chestnuts (never been a fan)
• Grama's Sweet Chili Sauce (Whole Foods or Amazon) instead of Chili Garlic Sauce
•  Raw Cashews (Trader Joes) instead of Peanuts (only because we always have cashews and never peanuts)
• Bragg's Liquid Amino's instead of Soy Sauce. 

SALAD: Root Veggie Slaw with Orange Cumin Dressing (Living Foods)

This sounds refreshing and a great mix for Autumn. I am going to look at just using my Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar instead of the Sherry. Anyone used Sherry Vinegar before? Can you do without?

Meal #3

Root Vegetable Soup with Meatballs

I am going to make this in my crock pot and low and see what happens. I am going to pair this with some homemade garlic bread (my own recipe) and a salad. Sounds different and it is going to warm us up, it gets down right chili in Vegas. I will be using, as you might of guessed ground turkey. Yes, it is right before Thanksgiving but ground turkey is nothing like a roasted big bird. 

Helpful Sister Garlic Bread (optional)

1 loaf of bread

Half or 1 stick of butter

1-3 tbsp Olive Oil

1-3 cloves of garlic (depending on your love of garlic)

Basil

Heat over to 350. Get out baking sheet and cover with foil. 

1 fresh loaf of french bread or your favorite type of bread. Cut to whatever size you prefer. Melt butter on stove or microwave, add in olive oil (eye ball it or by your taste)  Take oil off stove. Dice up garlic, and basil and add to oil. Spread on bread. Bake until bread is warm. If you want it more browned on top, then turn on broiler to low and watch it like a hawk. 

SALAD: GLUTEN FREE (Living Food)

Pomegranate Salad

A light and wonderful salad, I am hoping. I always see the darn pomegranates and wish I could use them. I stay clear of them, because they take time to get the fruit out. I am opting for the containers of fruit this time. Saving time is what it is all about. 

Meal #4 

Thanksgiving Ideas (Martha really has some great ones)

Dry-Brined Roasted Broad Breasted White Turkey (Say that 5x fast)

Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Apples

Cranberry Pear Ginger Chutney

Kale and Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes 

Quinoa Skillet Bread 

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Cranberry Cream Cheese Diphold

Fresh Cherry Crumble or Crisp

MUST TRY RECIPES:

Breakfast: 

Buttermilk Pancakes with Vanilla Pudding Sauce

(I take the sugar out of the pancake recipe)

Snacks:

Coconut Apricot Bites

Chocolate Granola Bars

Lunch:

Egg Salad with Greek Yogurt

Anytime: 

Green Smoothie with Kale and Green Apple

Salad:

Maple Roasted Pumpkin and Chicken Salad 

Week #2 is in the books. Happy Thanksgiving week or really year. What are you most grateful or thankful for? Will you be sharing your home this holiday or getting to help out at someone else's? What ever you make or where ever you go, enjoy the moments you share with those you are surrounded by. Memories are what last the most (as I remember my amazing Grandmother) 

Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings to you and your family.

Remember you can share your thoughts on the recipes, what you liked, did not like on the Helpful Recipe Facebook Group. 

Namaste,

The Helpfulsister

Weekly Recipe Lineup Nov 14-19

Every week, I sit down and begin my search for delicious, nutritious meals for the week to come. I do not have a lot of time to grocery shop, so as a family we go every weekend and buy all we need for the week. It takes 2 hours sometimes to get my shopping list/menu together. Also, with one income household, I have found that our dollar goes farther when I purchase groceries for exactly what I need throughout the week. 


So why are you reading about recipes and menus? A  friend of mine suggested I post my recipes I have found for YOU. Maybe you will find one or maybe you will like all of them. Maybe this will save you some time/ a lot of time. Maybe this will get you back in the kitchen and having family meals together. Whatever this weekly post does for you, I just hope it helps in sort of way.


Here is what you will see (work in progress so things can always change)

• 2-3 living/raw foods recipes on the menu. Living foods offer the best nutrients which are highly soluble and are the easiest for your body to digest.
• We are a family that does not eat red meat. So there will be some items mainly fish, turkey and some chicken. However, email me if you want me to search for something you might be wanting to make that includes red meat!
• These are 98% of recipes I have NOT tried. So please give me feedback on what you thought by either coming back to the blog, emailing me or posting on my Facebook page. Also, if you liked the recipe, tell the owner. All posts will have a link directly to where I originally found it. So share the love.

I would like to make this a weekly newsletter but until then you can simply email me and ask to be added to "Recipe Lineup." Your email will never be used for anything other than the weekly recipe lineup.


Share with your friends and maybe they will enjoy the recipes and save some time along the way.

Happy Meal Planning~

Meal #1 

ROASTED SALMON with WHITE WINE SAUCE

http://www.marthastewart.com/318680/roasted-salmon-with-white-wine-sauce

SIDE

Steamed Potatoes (feel free to use thyme instead of parley)

http://www.mrsbettierocker.com/2011/03/steamed-new-potatoes.html

SALAD (#30)
Grown Up Salad

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/dining/22mlist.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2

Meal #2

Stuffed Red Peppers 

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/vegetables/stuffed-peppers/ 

SALAD:

Jicama Mint Salad (#9)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/dining/22mlist.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1

Meal #3

Butternut Squash Pasta Salad 

note: I have since made this and it is delicious. Might even make it to our Thanksgiving menu. Feel free to pair something you like with it or try one of the "Must Try Add-on" below. 

http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2011/10/butternut-squash-pasta-salad-846-recipe.html

Meal #4

Spaghetti Squash w/ chili

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/vegetables/spaghetti-squash-with-chili/

Meal #5

Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup

note: I have since made this as well. Winner. Have some rolls on hand or some of your favorite cheese to melt on it. 

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp Canola or Olive Oil

1 Large Yellow Onion, finely diced

2 Ribs Celery, finely diced

1 Red Pepper, finely diced

1 Large Sweet Potato, cut into ¼" cubes

2 Tbsp Fresh Minced Garlic

1 Tbsp Cumin

1 Tbsp Kosher Salt

1 Tbsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper

1 tsp Onion Powder

1 tsp Oregano

1 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1 cup French Lentils

½ cup Quinoa

6 cups Vegetable Stock

Directions:

Add all ingredients to crock pot and stir well. Cover and cook on medium heat for 6 hours, or until lentils and potatoes soften.

Read more:http://skinnycrockpot.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=veganvegetarian&action=display&thread=69#ixzz1dSzdvAS2

Must Try Add-Ons

Smoothies/Popsicles: 

Yes I know it is getting cold, but we live in Vegas and my young boys still have 2-4 small popsicles a day. 

Tutti Fruit-ti Chocolate Popsicles 

note: I am going to blend till smooth to make a smoothie but then save the rest in popsicle molds for kids snack.

http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2011/09/21/tutti-fruitti-chocolate-coconut-popsicles-recipe/

Peanut Butter Smoothie

http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2011/09/21/tutti-fruitti-chocolate-coconut-popsicles-recipe/

Dessert:

Lemon Cranberry Bars

note: I have since made these too! I cut out half the sugar in the crust and did not use Vanilla. We use Pristine Vanilla Agave nectar as our sweetener. They were yummy.  Link to recipe: http://bit.ly/sOPzPZ

Snacks:

Open Faced Bread Snacks

http://cookingloveandlife.tumblr.com/post/7201310355/is-it-bizarre-that-i-have-made-all-of-these

Superfood Brownie Bites

http://www.nataliakw.com/projects/superfood-brownie-bites/

Salad:

Autumn Chopped Salad

http://www.espressoandcream.com/2010/11/autumn-chopped-salad.html

That's all for this week. Look for another post either on Friday or Saturdays. I have not yet figured out how I am going to work this into my schedule yet.


Enjoy and please share your experiences with the recipes. I will be trying them with you. If you get something out of it, share with a friend and have them sign up too. I am enjoying putting this together and want others to benefit as well.


Many Thanks,

The Helpful Sister

Mobile me this, which mobile is the best?

My blog has seen better days. While I have been getting accustomed to caring for an adorable 8 month old, and sharing time and affection with my love-bug, almost 2 year old, I rarely have time to shower. I have had some time to brain storm posts I would like to do, so here is one of them.

I spent some time, a few months trying to find the perfect mobile for my then, 1.5 year old and my newborn. I tried, it felt, them all. So here is the list of mobiles I went through. Find the cost,and the pros and cons. I hope I can remember all the reasons why I then sent some back. There are 3 on this list that I did keep, and have been pleased with. You will find at the bottom some sites I have found that have been time saving when trying to find a product and my favorite shopping site.

1. Tiny Love Classic Mobile 
 (returned)

Price: $39.95

Pros
1. Colors where fun
2. Easy to assemble and disassemble , snaps into or out of place
3. Good selection of music and sounds
4. 20 minutes of continuous music

Cons
1. There are plastic rings that clank when the mobile moves. It kept me up, so I assumed it was keeping my newborn from sleeping. (reason I returned it)
2.  Night light seemed a little bright
3.  Changing batteries better be done during the day, not easy.

2. Fisher Price Rainforest Peek-a-Boo Leaves Musical Mobile (returned)

Price: $47.91

Pros
1. Comes with a handy remote so you don't fiddle with buttons or disturb your baby
2. The motions, sounds and lights were great. They worked well to sooth. 
3. Grows with baby-converts to a music box and night light

Cons
1. Have an electric screwdriver, cause this was a pain assemble. I almost shipped it back assembled.
2. One of the leaves (all three move) stopped working on day 2. Reason I returned it.
3. Could the name be any longer. :)

3. Fisher Price Precious Planet Melodies and Soother
(returned)

Price: $29.98

Pros: 

1. Nothing to assemble

2. Play music without lights

Cons:

1. Polar bear makes a grinding noise as it moves up and down (could of been just on this one)

2. How it attaches to crib. There has to be a better way. Most of these types of mobiles attach with (2) plastic strips that you have to bend and loop. Not easy to do.

3. When on "motion and sound" it plays only 5 minutes (reason returned)

4. Fisher Price Luv U Zoo Crib N' Go Projector Soother
(kept for then 2 month old)

Price: $29.98

 

Pros:

1. Really does play up to 18 minutes of music, projection

2. Batteries have not been changed yet, (4 months of using it every day for naps and night time)

3. Super easy to travel with. I used a pack-n-play and it sat on the floor. Worked great. Detaches from base.

4. Once you figure out which buttons do what, easy to change from projection/sound, just sound, and off.

5. The music is very soothing. I use the classical mostly, but the nature is soft and fun animal sounds. 

6. Night light is soft. I use it every night when I need to find where he is to change his diaper. 

7. Projection has two cute animals/scenery images that moves back and forth (night and day images).

Cons:

1. How it attaches. Same as previous reviews. The plastic straps are thick and hard to maneuver to secure.

2. Base has a mirror (has have used it yet) Don't really know why if the projector works.  Maybe will like once he gets older. Nice to have another option. 

3. Nothing moves on the base. Thought this might be useful when the baby gets old enough play with the mobile or turn it on and off. 

5. Fisher Price Rainforest Waterfall Peek-A-Boo Soother 

(kept for my then 1.5 year old)

Price: $35.95

Pros: 

1. Best feature: The toucan bird on the leave you can touch to turn on and off. My now almost 2 year old, loves it. 

2. The sounds are great as well as the movements. All the animals move in a sequence as well as the waterfall. 

3. 18 minutes of music and motion. You can turn the motion/lights off and just listen to music.

Cons:

1. Attaching it is a pain and when replacing the batteries.

2. I think the blue light (night light) is a little bright, but my oldest doesn't seem to mind.

3. I bought two and returned one because the water (some sort of oil) had leaked. The one I have now, there has not been a problem.

6. Wimmer-Fergeson Infant Stim-Mobile 

(kept kinda)

Price: $23.77

 Pros:

1. Great for early sensory and multi-sensory development.

2. Easy to assemble and change out or reverse cards.

3. Grows with baby. Images can be lowered for a newborn to see. 

4. No batteries to replace! Simply add a cd player with your favorite lullabies or sounds and you have a perfect soother!

Cons:

1. Might seem simple to most  who are used to the more stimulating sounds, and movements. 

Note: I used this mobile with my first child until he was 3 months old. I thought it was a great mobile as it was used for the early development of the baby. I did not use it for my second, because we moved and I could not find the darn thing. Once I found it, I had found the above mentioned soother. 

Sites that do the looking for you and have great reviews. Kid Crawl has a wonderful community where you can find answers and ask your own. As always, I have to mention  Cool Mom Picks. This site is like the icing on the cake, or the comfy pajamas I never want to take off, it just make me happy. The CPM finds the sites, products, services, and MORE, I wish I could locate in my SPARE time. You can find the coolest mobiles too. If you have not checked them out, it should be on your to do list before you step away from your computer. The link below gets you started in your mobile quest. 

1. Amazon.com 

2. Kidcrawl.com

3. Cool Mom Picks

The links above for the different mobiles all go to Amazon.com but you can find most of these at your local department store. You can also google the names and usually find the different stores that is carrying them, or log into KidCrawl and this site does that for you, with reviews. Well, I am going to mark this post off my to-do list. 

Summer Family Fun Giveaway (CLOSED)

Spring has sprung and now it is just a short time before Summer shows up. Summer for me involves many hours with friends and usually around water. You most likely have your favorite bbq recipe, favorite Summer drink, favorite place to hang with your friends and family, so let's up the ante. 

 You could win these unique and waterproof cards to play wherever there is water. Splash Jack is the perfect solution to increased fun and laughter. These are great to be used in any size swimming pool, hot tub even bathtub.

Enter to win a set of Splash Jack cards created by Milliwink out of Provo Utah. Milliwink just was awarded Babble's Best Bath Time awards for their Splashimals. Thanks to Milliwink someone will get lucky and win a set of Splash Jack cards. 

Giveaway

(US Residents Only)

Mandatory Entry
After completing the entries both mandatory or Extra visit here (simple form):

1. "like" Milliwik (tell them Helpful Sister sent you) on Facebook

 

Extra Entries: 

2. Follow Milliwik on Twitter

3. "like" Helpfulsister on Facebook (post on my page, and post who sent you)

4. Follow Helpfulsister on Twitter

5. Follow Helpful Sister Blog

6. Post on blog

Enter Daily for more chances to win by: enters links here

1. Post on Facebook page

2. Post on twitter (including Helpful Sister and Milliwik in post)

Good Luck and Happy Splashing!

Summer Fun Giveaway Rules

*Please use forms to leave your entries. Entries left in comment section below will not be used in drawing.

*All entries must be received by 11:59 pm (central) on April 14th, 2011. 

*Giveaway open to US residents only.

*Winner will be chosen via Random.org and notified via email address. 

*Winner has 24 hours to claim prize.If not claimed within 24 hours, Random.org will choose another winner.

Disclosure:

The product(s) offered for the giveaway are free of charge, no purchase necessary.  Any opinions expressed are my own honest opinions and are not influenced by any form of compensation.

Imagine if you WON!

What would it be like? Who would you tell? What if YOU won the Ecomom.com $75,000 Healthy Home Makeover. It is easy to enter. Even better invite your friends and family to join in the fun. This would be so wonderful to win. If you heard it from Helpfulsister make sure you let them know.

To all you bloggers out there, they have thrown in a special WIN WIN for us. You could win up to $3500 cash prize. You can win the $1000 random drawing by inviting people to enter the contest after you submit your entry. You can also add the Healthy Home Makeover widget to your blog. If someone enters the contest through you and mentions your blog, and they win the grand prize, you win $2500!

PLUS, A $1000 cash prize.
If you enter the contest, simply invite your friends to enter when you submit your entry. For every friends who enters this way, you will receive an additional entry to win a $1000 random cash giveaway.

Get to sharing, good luck and let me know if you WIN!