Spinach ricotta roll ups.

I made a decision to try a new recipe every week and tonight I tried a great one! I made the filling ahead of time and so the dinner was that much easier to put together. For the filling I added some wilted spinach, a tub of ricotta cheese, some grated Parmesan, as well as some grated mixed cheddar and mozzarella, and a couple of eggs. Then I boiled the noodles and spread the filling on the noodle and rolled it up and laid them into a dish and then covered them with pasta sauce. Topped it with more cheese. covered with foil and put in the oven for 45 min. this one was very yummy and the rolls can be frozen individually and reheated later. 

Am I?

How come when I explain my parenting techniques to someone they always say, "wow you sound like a great mom!" Am I? I believe I am a good mom, my kids are all clean, all on par with where they should be or beyond in the case of speech and language and walking all my kids walked and talked early. All my boys were potty trained by 3 or shortly thereafter without much fuss. All of them know their manners, though they may forget them now and then. As parents we all brag, my kids are the greatest, the smartest, the best, etc. But is that because the parent is a good parent or because the kids are doing their best? I do my best with my kids that I know how. I gave up addictions for my kids, I try and give them each their own time, I take time for my kids when they ask, but I still worry that I am making mistakes. My oldest is 13 now and he is truly an amazing kid, but did I do that or did he? He has never talked back to me, never swore at me, never told me he hates me(my 6 yr old has yelled this at me a couple of times). I have learned as a parent that each child needs to be parented differently and what works for one kid may not work for all your kids. My first was a very mellow easy going kid, still is, my next one however was not and is not...I am glad that I got all boys as I would have to adapt again to raising a girl. As a parent I believe in holding my kids, picking them up when they cry, breastfeeding as long as possible, co-sleeping, baby wearing, the occasional spanking when warranted, individual time with my kids as much as possible, keeping my boys intact(non circumcised), putting down what I am doing to pay attention to them, snuggles when asked for them, play as often as we can. Do I make mistakes? Of course I do. Do I make corrections? Of course I do. Am I a great parent? I like to think so...but at the same time I believe I can be better. I strive to be better every day in taking time for myself and making sure that I am OK I make sure that my kids are amazing also! You should meet them they really are something! :)

Tsk Tsk Dream dress for less!

Tonight I came across a horrible story of bad customer service and as a long time customer service rep myself I feel I have to pass on information about a company when I hear it. This poor woman was just trying to have a moment to herself and this is how she was treated, that is deplorable!
http://www.harbourcityseo.com/blog/dream-dress-for-less

Another Yummy Supper!

Tonight I was at a loss as to what to make for dinner so I looked in the fridge and saw a rotisserie chicken from a couple of nights ago and thought pasta! Here's what I made tonight! I started by chopping some onions and pulling the meat from the chicken. Get the pasta going. In the pan I started a rue with butter added the onion and chicken to warm it through. I added flour to the pan and then milk and some red pepper and garlic salt. Let it bubble and thicken up and then toss the cooked pasta into it! It's that easy!

The attitude of gratitude!

I was just texting with a gf about how I recently started Kung Fu and have been working out for a couple weeks now. I've lost 5 pounds but more then that I noticed I feel better and don't hurt as much! I am excited to keep working out as I have never really had a work out routine before, I like seeing results and I am seeing them already! In the course of the texting I mentioned I was having a good year and she replied its about time! Yes it is because I am finally making it happen but more then that I am grateful for what has happened and that makes a difference! I have 4 amazing healthy kids for which I am grateful, I have an amazing bf who has shown me the most important lesson I have ever needed to learn and for that I am grateful! This year has just begun and so far it has been a pretty good year. I can't wait to see what happens next! I wrote a bucket list on my birthday of things I would like to accomplish before my 40th birthday next year, I am sure I will be able to get through all of them and then some this year. Stay tuned to the blog to hear how it went! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Beef pockets

Tonight I was thinking I would try something I have never done and make empanadas. Well my version of them anyways. I made a pie crust with 2 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 3/4 cup shortning, and 4-5 tbsp water. I mixed that up and set in fridge for an hour. Then I browned a pound of ground beef, with some onions and some garlic salt, some oxo, and some seasonings. I rolled the pie crust out and cut as best as I could big enough to fold over the meat. I stuffed it with the meat and a piece of a cheese stick, folded it, sealed it with egg wash, and brushed it with egg wash then baked them at 400 for 15 minutes. They were so yummy even the kids ate them!

Butternut Squash and chick pea soup.

I'm always trying to find ways to use up veggies I get from the food bank in new and yummy ways and tonight I made the yummiest thing ever! I had a container of cubed butternut squash which I have never used before and I wanted to roast it off to puree for baby food so I tossed it with olive oil salt and pepper and roasted it at 350 for half hour. Let it cool. Then I threw this in the blender with a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas, some leftover chopped up red pepper, water, I had no garlic but do have an oil ceaser dressing so I used that, salt and pepper and blended it together, I heated it up for a bit then transferred it back to the blender and added milk to smooth it out a bit. Put it back in the pot and heat through and I topped mine with olive oil and balsamic vinegar before enjoying!..

Chicken casserole..

I was inspired for tonights dinner by Rachael Ray doing casserole week this week. I made a yummy chicken casserole that was super easy and took no time at all..here's how I made it

3 chicken breasts
carrots
onion
pasta
butter
flour
milk
cheese
seasoning

I started by poaching the chicken in some water with the carrots and onion and salt and pepper and various spices such as sage. When cooked drain off the liquid and set  the liquid back on to boil, let the chicken cool. Cook the pasta in the poaching liquid, I threw in a can of peas also. In another pot melt a couple tablespoons of butter and add a couple tablespoons of flour, make a rue. Add milk and cheese, I added some leftover mushroom soup I had from lunch! For the cheese I used cheese strings because that is what I had on hand. I pulled the chicken apart and tossed it with the pasta and veggies in a casserole dish then poured the cheese sauce over the whole thing. I topped that with some bread crumbs I made from leftover bread and parsley. I put all of it in the oven at 400 degrees for a half an hour or until browned and bubbly. I can always tell how good it is if the kids eat it and this one was gobbled up!

Reflections

Four years ago today I made a decision to change my life. I quit smoking Crack cocaine. I had quit previously for a couple of years when I met my sons father he took me back out for a few months. On the morning of February 7th, 2009 I looked at myself on the floor of my room and decided I needed to take my life back again. I haven't touched it since. I feel amazing saying that. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do for myself. The first time I quit in 2006 I was pregnant with Jevan. His name actually means Life, (the proper spelling being Jeevan) The reason I gave him this name was because we gave each other life. I was scheduled to terminate his pregnancy because I had been using we were concerned there may be problems with him. I am pleased to say that he is an amazing, smart, incredible kid. I made the choice to keep him and get my butt into treatment instead. We saved each others life. The second time I quit I didn't know it yet but I had conceived Jaxan that morning. I just knew I had to quit. I was not liking the person I was becoming again, the effect it was having on me and my children and my family. I have never looked back and have successfully removed anyone who uses from my life including Jaxan's father. I am sad that my boys do not get to see their fathers but I am not sad that they are removed from that life. I will remove them from their fathers 1000 times over to make sure they are safe. I talk about my past but I do not live there as that is not my life anymore and I love my life today! I would not have made it if it weren't for the support of my friends and family and I wan't to thank everyone for being there for me, but most of all I want to thank myself for continuing doing it for myself! Way to go!

Tired momma..

Yesterday Jensan got his 4 month shots and did pretty good or so I thought..apparently he decided that he no longer has to sleep. As a mom of 3 boys under 6 I need my sleep, I enjoy my sleep. I nap whenever I can with my babies while we are home. Some nights I put the baby in his swing and I don't hear from him until the next morning which is amazing, that is also why I was amazed that he did not want to sleep last night. Last time he got his needles I don't remember him being like this. So what happened this time. He didn't nap any more than usual yesterday. He is awake again after a 20 minute nap this morning. A tired momma does not function well and my DH is working today so he can't be here to help. I fell for the poor kid as the needles cannot be fun and I know there is a lot of controversy over whether they are needed or not but all of my kids have had them and never had any side effects other than the sleepless nights here and there and I can deal with that. I would not deal as well with a sick or dying baby. Well I'm going to snuggle my babies into bed and have a nap..if I am rambling well as I said I had a sleepless night..

Oh phone where art tho?

Yesterday we ventured out to the Ice on Whyte festival with the kids. It was pretty cool although the heat was wreaking havoc on the sculptures. The kids thought the ice slides were pretty fun. Jaxan kept going up the little kids slide over and over again while we waited for Jevan to go up to the big one. The kids area was fun but not set up well for strollers. I wanted to try the frozen yoga until I saw them standing on their heads...lol. The only problem with the day was when I lost my phone while packing up the stroller. We should have stopped immediately but instead drove around the corner and DH ran back to find that it was gone. Not worried about the phone so much as the pics on the phone. No there are not any genital pics on there (I deleted those already..lol) but the pics of the babies. I did dump them recently but there were a few new ones on there. Luckily I sent a couple to facebook. I found an old phone at home and was able to hook that one up on the account so I don't lose any of my minutes which is a good thing, but I am sad about the pics.  Luckily the phone was worth nothing as it was a cheap pay as you go phone. I guess I'm lucky it wasn't one of the kids I lost...lol. We went back later that night as I had tickets to the theater but did not find the phone. On the plus side the theater was great!

Mmmmm dinner..

Last nights dinner was chicken breast stuffed with broccoli and cheese. It was super easy to make.
4 Chicken breasts
broccoli chopped
cheese (i used cheese strings cut in half)
flour
egg
bread crumbs

heat oven to 350. pound the breasts out flat. roll the cheese and broccoli into the breast and secure with a toothpick then roll in the flour and then egg and bread crumb and bake for 20-30 minutes and enjoy!

My morning

There is nothing like spending the morning snuggling with babies. This morning I found myself in my bed with my 3 yr old and my 4 month old and we spent a good hour just talking and snuggling and laughing and tickling and giggling and enjoying each other. As a mom I have my own ideas about how to raise kids, my house may not be the cleanest, I don't sterilize everything that goes into my kids mouths as I believe they need to get some germs in order to build up and immunity. I breastfeed, I co sleep, my boys are all intact (not circumcised), I had all my boys vaginally and without drugs. This is what works for me, it may be different for you. I believe that all mothers need to do what is right for them. I believe that there is no better start to the day than baby smiles as we wake next to each other in bed. So when I get to spend a morning in my bed with my babies and enjoying the time we have together it is an amazing start to an amazing day.

Enter now for your chance to win Lindt Chocolate!

Enter now for your chance to win Lindt Chocolate!: I just entered to win Lindt Chocolate, and you can too!