I wanted to share a little story with you that I'm sure you'll get a kick outta, but I'm hoping you'll also take with you a lesson learned about the importance of spending time together as a family.
In my many things I do on a day to day basis being a stay at home mom to 3 kids (ages 10, 7 and 2)...I also volunteer my time for our local Little League and have done so for years. This year I've taken on the task of being in charge of Concessions as well as being Treasurer. Unbeknownst to me, neither of my boys wanted to play baseball this year...but I'd already signed on for another year 4 months prior to registration. I'd taken on a pretty big job and was not willing to back out and leave the league hanging just because my boys decided not to play. So, as you can imagine...balancing my obligations to my family as well as the league has been quite a daunting task, but one I signed up for voluntarily and truth be told...I truly ENJOY being a part of BOTH!
Running Concessions is nearly an every day event, whether it be shopping for food/supplies or actually physically being in there working a shift, or two or more...of this, trust me I was forewarned that it'd be this way...but still I wanted to face the challenge and see how good a job I could do and try to make it as big of a success for the league as could.
Our family is used to eating dinner together nearly every night and is something that I didn't realize we ALL look forward to each night until we suddenly no longer had that luxury with me being gone nearly every night down at the fields for one reason or another. I used to take pride in the meals I'd make, many of which took quite a bit of time and effort to prepare...now to be substituted with quick and easy meals that either my husband can prepare for the kids or something I could just slap together for them before I left the house. Quickly I've come to realize that I took for granted the simple joy of sitting around the dinner table and listening to the stories of everyone's day and the sibling bickering that also always seem to happen in between bites.
Early this week I'd promised our middle child, Tommy, that I'd keep Concessions closed for the night so we could all eat dinner together and have family time afterwards...he wanted us to play a game of H-O-R-S-E. However, the next day I realized that I'd have to break my promise because I'd forgotten I had a volunteer coming for a shift and I'd have to be there to open Concessions and train him because he was a newbie...I had to think of a plan to blend both worlds and not let Tommy down. So, I explained that I'd made a mistake and asked what he thought about having a picnic at the fields instead...to this he replied, "Sure, that'd be ok." I asked what we should have..."ham and cheese sandwiches and water" he replied. I thought that was a bit odd, but agreed. Of course, the weather did not cooperate that day and began to rain...so not wanting to cancel our plans yet again, I decided we could just bring a couple blankets to sit on and eat inside Concessions...just the 5 of us. My husband joined us at the fields when he got off work and I locked us inside so no one would disturb our family dinner. Ham & cheese sandwhiches, trail mix, carrot sticks, bottled water and little chocolate chip cookies for dessert.....we laughed, we talked, we engaged in m&m catching contests.....and then it was time for my family to go home and my newbie volunteer arrived for his shift.
My family got their smiles back, Tommy was satisfied with the change in plans and we got to spend some much needed family time together.
SO...I leave you with this...never take for granted the little things, the simple joys in life AND remember that if you want something bad enough, you CAN find ways to make it all work...even if it is found by sitting on a concrete floor eating ham sandwiches, IT WORKS.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Make A Wish & Blockbuster Team Up!
JOIN US THIS APRIL IN SUPPORTING WORLD WISH DAY®
When a wish is granted, powerful things can happen. That's why, from April 1-30, 2012, BLOCKBUSTER Express will donate 10% of all first-night Family, Kids and Animated movie rentals to Make-A-Wish® in honor of World Wish Day. Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. For more information, visit wish.org.
Throughout April, we will be featuring family-friendly movies from NCircle Entertainment in our kiosks, including:
April 24: Gruffalo
Celebrate family with us in the month of April and help us make the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions come true.
BLOCKBUSTER Express will make a minimum donation of $30,000, up to a maximum of $60,000.
Here's a coupon code to help you help Make A Wish:
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Pizza Pasta Casserole Recipe
Pizza Pasta Casserole
2 lbs ground beef (use 93/7 to lower fat!)
½ large onion, chopped
2 jars (28 oz each) spaghetti sauce
1 pkg (16 oz) spiral pasta, cooked and drained
4 cups (16 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
8 oz. sliced pepperoni (I use turkey pepperoni, it's way less fat!)
In a large skillet, cook beef and onions until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and pasta. Transfer to two greased 13x9x2 baking dishes, evenly. Sprinkle with cheese on both. Arrange pepperoni over the top of both. Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. Bake the second casserole, uncovered, @ 350 for 25-30 min. or until heated through.
To use frozen casserole: Thaw in fridge overnight Bake @ 350 for 35-40 min. or until heated through.
Yield: 2 casseroles (8-10 servings each)
.jpg) |
| Pizza Pasta Casserole |
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Sloppy Joe Recipe (Healthier)
Sloppy Joes
1 1/4 lb lean ground turkey
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp all purpose flour
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup ketchup
1 tbsp prepared mustard
1 tbsp bbq sauce (I'm a fan of Jack Daniel's bbq sauce!)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
6 hamburger buns, split
Using the brands I use for my family.....1 sandwich = 315 calories, 8 gm fat (73 cal are from fat)
In a large nonstick skillet, cook the turkey and onion over medium heat until turkey is no longer pink; drain if necessary. Add garlic; cook for 1-2 min. or until tender.
Stir in the sugar, flour and pepper. Add the ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5-10 min. or until heated through. Serve on buns. Yield: 6 servings
Our kids love it!
1 1/4 lb lean ground turkey
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp all purpose flour
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup ketchup
1 tbsp prepared mustard
1 tbsp bbq sauce (I'm a fan of Jack Daniel's bbq sauce!)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
6 hamburger buns, split
Using the brands I use for my family.....1 sandwich = 315 calories, 8 gm fat (73 cal are from fat)
In a large nonstick skillet, cook the turkey and onion over medium heat until turkey is no longer pink; drain if necessary. Add garlic; cook for 1-2 min. or until tender.
Stir in the sugar, flour and pepper. Add the ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5-10 min. or until heated through. Serve on buns. Yield: 6 servings
.jpg) |
| Sloppy Joes with Carrot Sticks & Ranch |
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Mongolian Beef Recipe
Mongolian Beef
1 tbsp cornstarch
3/4 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
2 tsp sesame oil (I used olive oil and sesame seeds instead because I forgot to buy it)
1 lb. boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut into thin strips (I used london broil instead, it was on sale!)
1 tbsp olive oil, divided
5 green onions, cut into 1 inch pieces (I diced them instead to help hide them from the kids)
2 cups hot cooked rice (I added a diced carrot in pot while rice cooked to add a veggie and also thinking ahead to leftovers I can use later on.....freeze leftover rice w/ carrots, comes in handy for a quick homemade Chicken 'n Rice Soup later!)
In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and chicken broth until smooth. Stir in soy sauce, hoisin sauce and sesame oil; set aside. In a large nonstick skillet or wok, stir-fry beef in 1 1/2 tsp hot olive oil until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm.
In the same skillet, stir-fry the onions in remaining olive oil for 3-4 min. or until crisp tender. Stir cornstarch mixture and add to the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 min. or until thickened. Reduce heat; ad beef and heat through. Serve over rice. Yield: 4 servings
1 tbsp cornstarch
3/4 cup reduced sodium chicken broth
2 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
2 tsp sesame oil (I used olive oil and sesame seeds instead because I forgot to buy it)
1 lb. boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut into thin strips (I used london broil instead, it was on sale!)
1 tbsp olive oil, divided
5 green onions, cut into 1 inch pieces (I diced them instead to help hide them from the kids)
2 cups hot cooked rice (I added a diced carrot in pot while rice cooked to add a veggie and also thinking ahead to leftovers I can use later on.....freeze leftover rice w/ carrots, comes in handy for a quick homemade Chicken 'n Rice Soup later!)
In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and chicken broth until smooth. Stir in soy sauce, hoisin sauce and sesame oil; set aside. In a large nonstick skillet or wok, stir-fry beef in 1 1/2 tsp hot olive oil until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm.
In the same skillet, stir-fry the onions in remaining olive oil for 3-4 min. or until crisp tender. Stir cornstarch mixture and add to the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 min. or until thickened. Reduce heat; ad beef and heat through. Serve over rice. Yield: 4 servings
.jpg) |
| Mongolian Beef, Brown Rice & Carrots, Fried Shrimp |
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Southwestern Chicken Salad Recipe
Southwestern Chicken Salad
2 flour tortillas (6 inches), cut into 1/2 inch strips
Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 in. cubes
1 tsp olive oil
6 cups ready-to-serve salad greens
1 can (15.25 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained (I'm using reduced sodium)
2 cups chopped tomatoes, divided
1 medium green pepper, diced
1/2 cup cubed jicama or sliced water chestnuts (I'm using jicama)
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (I'm just using regular cheddar)
2/3 cup fat-free ranch salad dressing
4 tsp barbecue sauce
Place tortilla strips on a baking sheet; spritz both sides of strips with butter-flavored cooking spray. Bake @ 350 for 4-5 min. or until crisp. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, cook chicken in oil over medium heat until no longer pink; set aside.
Combine the salad greens, corn, beans, 1 cup tomatoes, green pepper, jicama and onions; arrange on a serving platter. Place chicken in center of salad; sprinkle with cheese and remaining tomatoes. Arrange tortilla strips around chicken. In a small bowl, combine the ranch dressing and barbecue sauce; serve with salad. Yield: 6 servings
2 flour tortillas (6 inches), cut into 1/2 inch strips
Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 in. cubes
1 tsp olive oil
6 cups ready-to-serve salad greens
1 can (15.25 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained (I'm using reduced sodium)
2 cups chopped tomatoes, divided
1 medium green pepper, diced
1/2 cup cubed jicama or sliced water chestnuts (I'm using jicama)
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (I'm just using regular cheddar)
2/3 cup fat-free ranch salad dressing
4 tsp barbecue sauce
Place tortilla strips on a baking sheet; spritz both sides of strips with butter-flavored cooking spray. Bake @ 350 for 4-5 min. or until crisp. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, cook chicken in oil over medium heat until no longer pink; set aside.
Combine the salad greens, corn, beans, 1 cup tomatoes, green pepper, jicama and onions; arrange on a serving platter. Place chicken in center of salad; sprinkle with cheese and remaining tomatoes. Arrange tortilla strips around chicken. In a small bowl, combine the ranch dressing and barbecue sauce; serve with salad. Yield: 6 servings
.jpg) |
| Southwestern Chicken Salad (BBQ Ranch Dressing not shown in pic) |
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Dinner Ideas
2 Week Meal Plan (Dinners)
1- Southwestern Chicken Salad
2- Mongolian Beef w/ Long Grain Rice
3- Sloppy Joes w/ Carrot Sticks
4- Apples ‘n Onion Topped Chops & Garlic Green Beans
5- Coffee Cake, Scrambled Eggs & Banana
6- Oriental Chicken Thighs w/ Long Grain Rice
7- Mosh Posh Night (use up leftovers)
1- Shake ‘n Bake Pork Chops, Sautéed Brussel Sprouts & Mashed Potatoes
2- Spaghetti w/ Side Salad
3- Coney Island Dogs w/ Corn
4- BBQ Turkey
5- Jam ‘n Cream French Toast w/ Fresh Strawberries
6- Pot Roast, Red Potatoes & Green Beans
7- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup w/ Crescent Rolls
I'll try and post recipes as I can for these meals, some of them don't have recipes though. Hopefully my menu isn't too ambitious for the next couple weeks! It's gonna be pretty busy around here!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)