Friday, October 18, 2013

My Go-To Meals Lately! (Crock Pot Ranch Pesto Chicken, Crock Pot Chicken Bryan, Veggie with Goat Cheese Tacos, and more...)

I am ALWAYS trying new meals, mostly because it keeps me interested in cooking and I love the possibilities of finding yummy fantastic food! So here are some recipes that I have loved and actually made more than once, which is CRAAAZAY for me!

Crock pot Ranch Pesto Chicken! (I forgot to take pictures of this meal, darn.) 
This is the easiest on my list, it is 4 ingredients and one of those ingredients in Chicken. Can't get much easier than that, right? Greg LOVED this meal and for him to love anything is saying a lot. There are also great suggestions in the comments sections of other idea's for this. I tossed it with bow-tie pasta, delish! Next time I am using the leftovers to make Panini's. Melt some mozzarella on top and maybe add some roasted red peppers, my stomach is growling just thinking about it! YUM!
For those who want to pin it: Pin it here!

Crock Pot Chicken Bryan : If you know me well you know I am OBSESSED with goat cheese! I could eat it all day long. It has a very strong flavor so I know this can be very hit or miss with most people. Greg isn't huge on it, so he just doesn't put much of it on top of his meal. Here are all the ingredients in the crock pot. This meal is a little more prep compared to most crock pot meals but it is so worth it, and for those with kiddos (like me) you can just do this while they are napping and not have to worry about trying to cook while they are awake. That alone to me makes this meal an EASY meal. 
This is in my crock pot as I type:
I will update with more pictures tonight! Pin it here!

Veggie and Goat Cheese Wrap/Tacos: This is my go to lunch for the week. Again it has goat cheese... I change up which veggies I use each week. I have used, mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, squash, onions, red peppers, and artichoke hearts. I think these are great because you can use whatever veggies you like, and it tastes amazing no matter what! I decided to make taco's with it one night, it seemed easier and taste just as yummy! I always top with fresh basil (I always put basil in the wraps too) and goat cheese ! SO AMAZING!



Greek Pasta Salad: This is just like any pasta salad, super simple and yummy. I chop up cucumber, calmative olives, cherry tomatoes, salami, ham, green peppers and onions. Then I add feta and mix it all up. In the meantime I have cooked Penne pasta and let it cool some. I then add the semi cooled Penne and tops with extra virgin olive oil (about a 1/2-1 tbs) and mix. Then I add Italian dressing (I always make the packet kind because it's so yummy). I use my discretion on how much dressing, I usually go with less than I think I will need. I mix it all up and then I portion out what I will be using for dinner and put the leftovers away (I do this because the next step is to add lettuce and if you add it to all then leftovers will be ruined because the lettuce will wilt). So next I mix in lettuce and add more dressing if needed and that's it! I am always trying to find ways to get Greg to eat salad, so this was one way! He likes it because it is much more filling than regular salad and not just a normal pasta salad! I don't really measure anything because in a salad there really isn't a need, it tastes good no matter what you add to it! 


Caesar Salad Pasta: This last meal is a recipe I am working on. I haven't quite perfected it yet, once I do I will post it! I had this Caesar Pasta at a restaurant and loved it, so I am trying to replicate it without it being a ton of calories. Will keep you all posted!  



Friday, October 11, 2013

Surgery again.

So we just found out that Addison has a couple more surgeries in her immediate future. It has been a rough week. We have had appointments four days this week (at least one was mine). Appointments on there own are exhausting, having three kids in tow even more exhausting, finding out your daughter has to have surgery... beyond exhausting.

It was a whirlwind of information so I am not even completely sure I have digested it, or know exactly the in's and out's of whats going on. We have gone to see two ENT's this week. Greg and I had thought that she was having issues hearing and that it was what has been delaying her speech. Come to find out we were right she isn't hearing well, but that she also has a lot of other issues in her mouth and throat that go beyond the soft cleft (which she has already had surgery to fix) that are inhibiting her speech and causing other issues. So surgery is schedule for the beginning on November, they are going to fix a few issues and get a better look at what other issues will need to be fixed at a future date.

Greg had come to the appointment for as long as he could but had a meeting that he couldn't missed, of course it happened to be the time where I found out everything. So while I am being told all this I was alone with all three kids... when Greyson wasn't trying to wiggle free from me he was talking his little head off, Addi and Aubrey were fighting over toys, and as always Aubrey was asking a million questions, all while I am trying to digest all the information that is being thrown at me.I was overwhelmed to say the least. I have to say the doctor was amazing, he took the time to really listen to our concerns, took a really close look at Addi, was so sweet to all the kids and even called a nurse in to help me. I was so drained, but was proud of myself for keeping it together and not crying in front of the doctor (Greg was shocked that I didn't cry). Just spent the rest of the day doing that. Fun times.

So yep. Here we go again.

P.S. Please keep Addi in your thoughts and prayer, my poor baby girl has been through so much.

Monday, October 7, 2013

It's been a while.

I know it has been way too long since I last posted. I am just too busy these days to find time to blog. I think of things I want to write all the time but just can't seem to sit down and do it. Greyson turned one recently, I can hardly believe it myself. He is such a happy and bright little boy and he seemed to thoroughly enjoy his birthday. Boy does that kid love him some cake. He eats everything in sight still, I am waiting for his pickiness to kick in and believe me it's only a matter of time. He is growing so fast, standing on his own, taking a few steps, break dancing like a fool, adding words to his vocabulary, and saying old words clearer. I really just want him to stop growing up. I love my baby, and I just want him to stay a baby.