Mmmm...

I didn't make a meal plan this week because Brian was out of town and I didn't want to cook. I did, however, make this delicious recipe that I found in one of my Rachael Ray Cookbooks-
The meal consisted of Israeli Spice Chicken with Orange and Yellow Tomato Relish and Zucchini with Mint and Parsley

It was easy, yummy, and I got to use lots of fresh ingredients. I highly recommend it!

My Favorite Things

Here are a few of my recent faves:

Blogs-
Passionate Homemaking

some friends started this blog that I enjoy reading: Monkey Said Bear

Books-
Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook

Television-
Kings
Although it is getting canceled

Electronics-
My IPOD that Brian just found after a 3 or 4 month hiatus

Ruby-
Of course she is my favorite! We have had a lot of fun recently playing outside with her new garden set, bubbles, sidewalk chalk and in her cousins sandbox.


Brian-
Oh, I could go on and on about this one. He is an amazing husband and father but more than that he is a Godly man who is doing a great job at leading our family towards Christ.

A few more pics from the weekend

Getting the Whole Family Together

This past weekend my brother John and his family made a last minute trip to Indiana. This meant that we had the whole family together for the first time in a long long time. We spent the day at my brothers house for my nephew Logan's birthday. We took some pictures and found out that even adults can't seem to all smile and sit still at the same time. I think these were the best ones I found.

Siblings: Me (looking quite prego), Christopher, Kimberly, Joseph, and John

With our spouses or significant others

With all the kids and Grandma and Grandpa...22 in all and one on the way!

Monday Meal Plan

See, it helps to post your goals...I am back to meal planning this week at least.

Monday- Spinach and Cheese Tortellini Soup with bread and salad

Tuesday- Dinner out or pizza (i have plans)

Wednesday- Flank Steak with mushrooms and onions on the grill and veggies from our CSA

Thursday - Balsamic Chicken with whole wheat pasta

Friday- Date Night (if we can find a babysitter) to Palermo and maybe to see "Harry Potter"!!

Saturday- Cookout with our community group and 3 other groups from our church. We are taking this awesome Cole slaw recipe that I found in one of my Rachael Ray cookbooks.

Sunday- BBQ Pork chops, veggies and couscous

Cooking with Fresh Ingredients from the Garden

I have been cooking a little more lately and thought I would share a yummy and nutritious recipe with you.

If you are like me you have a bunch of summer squash or zucchini from the farmers market or your garden that you don't know what to do with...don't worry, I have a great recipe for you. I found this Quinoa with Roasted Zucchini, Feta, and Oregano dish this week and we LOVED it! I highly recommend that you try it out. Quinoa is a very nutritious and yummy grain and alternative to wheat. Here is a wikipedia article on quinoa if you are interested.

Last week I cooked with rhubarb for the first time ever and baked a pie for the first time ever. I baked a strawberry rhubarb (from my mother in laws garden) pie and last night baked a strawberry rhubarb dump cake. Both were delicious and I am now a lover of rhubarb! I don't have a link to those recipes because they were ones that my mother in law gave me. If you want them let me know. The dump cake was pretty much the easiest thing I have ever baked.

I also made a delicious chicken, basil, tomato, and fresh mozzarella sandwich on Sunday. The basil was from my backyard and the tomato's were again from Grandpa and Grandma Laffin's garden.

I don't have any pictures of the food but here are some of the garden that the ingredients came from.

Ruby had a blast running through the tomato plants

Ruby picking blackberries with her Grandma-the master gardener

4th of July with the Laffin's

We spent the weekend with Brian's parents. I think Ruby's favorite part of the weekend was being outside in the garden and swinging. She got to pick blackberries with Uncle John and Grandma and got to have Grandpa push her on the swing. Brian and I also had a great time in Bowling Green. It is always nice to visit with the family and have life slow down a little bit. We also went home with lots of goodies from the garden and the farmers market. Last night I made my first ever strawberry rhubarb pie and a peach mouse...mmm