Healthy mama

In April of this year I was in the best shape of my life....I wasn't self conscious when i was wearing clothes because I knew they fit well....I got a foot injury in August and am still recovering. I used that as an excuse because I was in so much pain and I couldn't run and do heavy cardio on my feet.  I should have never given up..I completely lost all my muscle mass.  I refuse to make any excuses..  Today is a brand new day and I'm going back to my healthy lifestyle.  I want to make a good example for my children and be proud of myself

Happy Holidays from the Stallones!

        My beautiful boys and I would love to wish everyone a very merry Christmas..Have a wonderful happy holiday with your families.  I cannot wait to see my boys Christmas morning.  Its the most fullfilling feeling seeing their faces when they first wake up.  Enjoy every moment you can with them...Love you all!

Jalapeno Popper Dip

2 packages reduced fat cream cheese(softened)
1 cup light mayo
1 can chopped green chilies
2 ounces canned jalapeno peppers(If you prefer more spicier, use 4 oz)
1 cup parmesan cheese


Stir first two ingredients together.  When fully mixed, add chilies and jalapenos.  Pour mixture into a microwaveable dish and top with parmesan cheese.  Cook in microwave for 3-4 minutes.  Serve immediately with tortilla chips, crackers, etc..:)

All hell breaking loose day

         I know every mother has one of these days.  I call it the "All hell breaking loose" day...It is complete chaos from the time the 1st child wakes up until the very end of the day.  I do have to say they played together quietly for a half hour which allowed me to make the beds, put away a load of laundry and drink some coffee.  Thanks boys for the half hour haha...Motherhood is such an interesting thing, isn't it??  Non mothers out there, one word of advice.  Appreciate the small moments to yourself, never take anything for granted.  Who would've thought a half hour of peace and quiet would be such a highlight of my day...I wouldn't change it for the world though..Although they have drove me to the point of almost ripping chunks of my hair out this morning, I'm sure they'll make up for it with a super cute moment in the near future. 
          A couple kid funnies.  Dominick, my little angelic looking blonde 2 year old has a little evil side to him.  His long eye lashes and bright blue eyes can only get him so far.  He threw one of my mother in laws oldest Christmas mouse for a calendar in his bbq sauce at lunch.  As we were struggling to get out the door for kindergarden I noticed his jeans pulled down to his knees with his bare butt hanging out...He thought it was quite funny...Where on earth had his diaper gone? I attempted to put a new diaper on him while he was standing up with jeans and shoes on and somehow managed to pull it off.  A quick rush to school and the gas station after.  I finally realized as he was sitting on the couch with me, his mysterious diaper was tucked by his ankle...Where do they come up with this stuff? Geezzz.

Untitled.....

 I want to be your every thought, your everything.  I want you to tell me good morning every day with a smile and tell me how much you love me.  The little glances throughout the day to let me know you're still there.  Kisses on my forehead.  Pay attention to me, please don't ignore me and act like I'm nothing.  When I leave for work, act like you can't wait to see and tell me how much you'll miss me.  I am not invisible.  I am 100% alive and here.  I've been waiting patiently for very long.  I am now angry, alone, not knowing what to do.  Now I'm the one ignoring and acting like you don't exist.  Funny how the tables have turned..I have hope maybe things will turn around I do....I love you

Planning Menus

Ladies, the easiest thing that I've been doing for a couple months now is planning menus...It saves the last minute stresses of trying to figure out what to cook for dinner, and eliminating the urge to just go get takeout...With me working full time, it helps prep me what I'm going to be making and have it ready when I leave for my night shifts...

This week I've planned:
Chicken Parmesan (Giada recipe)
Chicken and Dumplings in the crockpot
Roasted Roast Beef with Baked Potato and Vegetable
Leftover Night
Turkey Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes( I love the Jenni O Turkey Tenderloins they're delicious! And will feed a family of 4-6 with leftovers)
Spinach Meatballs w/ Mashed Potatoes
Easy night-John usually figures out something to make...Hey mama needs a break sometimes

Blue Cheese Stuffed Burgers w/ Balsamic Onions

Makes 4 burgers

1 pound ground sirloin
1/2 cup reduced fat blue cheese crumbles
Mrs. Dash garlic and herb salt free seasoning
a dash of worchestire sauce
1 egg
Minced garlic(I personally love the huge containers of minced garlic since we use it so often...You can mince fresh garlic if you'd like.  2 cloves for fresh garlic and a couple of tablespoons if you are using jarred.)

To prep the burgers:
Mix all ingredients together and form into patties.  Feel free to add extra seasoning if you'd like.  :)
Cook stove top or bring the hubby into the kitchen and make him grill them to perfection. 

To prep the onions: (These are so good, make extra!)
Chop 1 raw onion into rings.  Saute in a pan with 1 tsp honey, a couple dashes of balsamic vinegar until tender, set aside

Top the delicious burgers with the onions and enjoy!



*For those that are watching calories, you can buy healthy life whole wheat buns to cut calories.  These burgers are only 310 a burger including the bun if you use these buns :)

Good Karma

Today I start my orientation at this food pantry I found.  I am so unbelievably excited.  I've always wanted to do some volunteer work especially with the crisis going on in the nation.  I'll be volunteering 2-4 times a month for a couple months, just through the holidays.  Its hard teaching the boys values of helping others when they're so young, but I will evantually be able to it I'm sure.  I want them to always appreciate what they have.  I want them to be kind hearted and help others in times of need.  I always want them to never expect anything to just work their way or in their benefit.  My boys will be great don't you worry!  Wish me luck on my first day :)

Losing your identity as a person

       My newest mommy struggle is seperating what used to be Shannon from what is now Mother Shannon.  I hate when women resort to not caring about having a social life or anything but their children when they become mothers.  I will not resort to that.  Right now that it is my struggle and the tension when talking to John about it. 
       Currently when John is working we are working completely opposite schedules.  My "broken record" life as I call it begins with waking up at the crack of dawn with my little blonde nugget.  My strawberry blonde nugget wakes up around 7:30 or 8.  My day consists of being a short order cook, craft organizer,  maid, chaffeur to kindergarden, a possible hour of peace while Dominick is napping and Joe is at school.  Only an hour of peace if I don't have laundry to do or am not so exhausted I fall asleep sitting up.  Kindergarden pickup is chaos especially if I have to wake up Dominick and bring him with.  Yesterday consisted of running two blocks with a half asleep 2 year old wrapped in a blanket because I was running late picking Joe up.  Go home, feed them a snack, finger paint.  I luckily planned a crockpot dinner earlier so John wouldnt have to worry about making food for the boys and him when he got home.  I had 15 minutes to get ready luckily because his parents were home, then rushed off to work..  This is my day almost everyday.  Kids all day, go to work, come home, have a glass of wine.  Wake up early, kids all day, go to work, come home, have a glass of wine.  Doesn't that sound so amazing??  I love my kids with all of my heart.  They are my world.  I love planning good dinners so they look back when they are older and remember us sitting at the dinner table together(minus me since I'm never home at night)....I've gotten so lost in the mix and I don't know how to get out of it.
          I want to go out with my friends, have a romantic date with my husband, take a drive for whoever knows how long and blast music, have a spa day...I could come up with a 1000 ideas.  I guess all of these things make me feel selfish.  Maybe that's why I never do anything for myself because I was brought up never being put first.  I'm sure a therapist would tell me that.  LOL...Off my soapbox and morning motherly vent.  Everyone have a fabulous day.  Remember to do something for yourself today.  Even if its for 15 minutes.  I'm planning to meditate today and take a nap. 

Delicious Dips Galore

I don't know about you, but I love dips! Yum yum!!


Yummy Ranch Dip w/Veggies
1 container light sour cream
1 hidden valley ranch packet(I love the fiesta kind)
Raw veggies

*The packets usually say to refrigerate them for a couple hours, but I find after only a short time the flavors all come out. 


Fruit Dip
1 package strawberry cream cheese
1 container marshmallow fluff

*Refrigerate for an hour and serve with sliced fruit.  Its delicious with strawberries, pineapple and grapes!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

2 boneless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 package reduced fat cream cheese softened
1/2 cup light ranch
1/4 cup Crumbled blue cheese crumbles or shredded cheddar cheese(your choice of cheese)
Buffalo sauce(the amount depends on how spicy you want it)...start with a couple of TBL, and taste test.  I usually use about 1/8 cup..I recommend using Franks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the shredded chicken, cream cheese, ranch and buffalo sauce in a casserole dish.  Top with cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Serve immediately with celery sticks and Tostitos scoops!


Jalapeno Popper Dip
2 packages reduced fat cream cheese(softened)
1 cup light mayo
1 can chopped green chilies
2 ounces canned jalapeno peppers(If you prefer more spicier, use 4 oz)
1 cup parmesan cheese


Stir first two ingredients together.  When fully mixed, add chilies and jalapenos.  Pour mixture into a microwaveable dish and top with parmesan cheese.  Cook in microwave for 3-4 minutes.  Serve immediately with tortilla chips, crackers, etc..:)

Reuben Dip

1/2 cup light mayonnaise

1/2 cup fat free Thousand Island dressing

16 ounces sauerkraut, rinsed and squeezed dry

8 ounces shredded corned beef

16 ounces shredded Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In  small bowl, combine the first two ingredients.  Spread the sauerkraut into a baking dish.  Layer the cheese, corned beef and mayo/dressing mixture on top...Bake for 25 minutes.  Serve with crackers or dark rye/regular rye chunks.

Mama's Pot Roast

5 pound chuck roast (it will shrink don't worry)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 garlic cloves
1 packet onion soup mix
s & p to taste
Red potatoes and carrots(optional)
1 cup water

First season your roast.  Warm up a lightly oiled pan and brown both sides of roast(don't completely cook)
Cut slits in the roast and put whole cloves of garlic in each slit.  Place roast in crockpot and pour the soup, water and soup mix on top.  If you would like to add the potatoes and carrots, put them in now.  Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6-8.

I love making gravy with the drippings.  All you have to do is mix equal amounts of cornstarch and cold water, salt and pepper then mix it in with the gravy and it will thicken up. 

Enjoy! 

Easy Crockpot Chicken Tacos

4 boneless chicken breasts
1 jar mild or hot Pace Salsa
Mexican shredded cheese
Cumin
S & P

Spray crockpot with non stick spray.  Place chicken breasts in crockpot.  Season with salt, pepper, cumin. Pour jar of salsa in the pot.  Turn on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.  Before serving sprinkle some cheese on top.

You can set up a little taco station with tortillas, sour cream, chunks of avocado, cheese, etc..

*Another kid friendly recipe!

My Favorite Appliance

Followers- You will find A LOT of my recipes involve my crockpot.  I highly recommend getting one.  They are pretty inexpensive and you will use it all the time.  It creates the most easy amazing meals and doesn't require standing over the stove for hours.  This includes you working mothers too.  There should never be an excuse that you don't have "time" to put dinner on the table.  Pre plan your menus and prep dinner to go into the crockpot while the kids are eating breakfast.  Put it on low since it will be cooking all day and voila! It will be ready when you're walking through the doors after a long day at work..

Spinach Meatballs

This is a classic family recipe from my Mamas side :)
*You can make it a little bit lighter by subsituting the whole fat butter for light butter, and using skim milk instead of regular milk.

1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 pkg frozen chopped, cooked and drained spinach
2 eggs
2 T minced onion
1 t seasoned salt
flour
1/2 cup butter
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 1/2 cups milk
*If you're an extreme mushroom lover like myself, add some sauteed mushrooms in the sauce before simmering.  I eliminate them because the hubby doesn't care for them :)

Combine 1st five ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl.  Evenly mix together.  Set up a plate with flour and start heating butter up in a large skillet.  Mold the mixture in the bowl into golf ball sized meatballs, coat in flour, then brown the meatballs in the skillet until cooked through.  In a medium sized pot add soup and milk, salt & pepper and meatballs.  Simmer for 1/2 hour.

Serve with mashed potatoes or egg noodles.

Simple BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

4 boneless chicken breasts
1 bottle Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce
1/4 cup of brown sugar
Salt and Pepper to taste


Place chicken breasts in crockpot.  Salt and pepper both sides.  Pour 3/4 of the bbq sauce on top and brown sugar.  Low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.  Before serving pour in the last of the bbq sauce and shred chicken. 

*This recipe is definitely kid-friendly.  The boys love them! And so does the hubby

Crockpot Chorizo Chili

Brown:
1 pound ground sirloin
1 large chorizo sausage(take casing off and crumble)
2 poblano peppers(seeded and chopped)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 can diced green chilies(do not drain)

When fully cooked mix in 1 can  of fire roasted tomatoes, 1 can enchilada sauce, stir and heat....
 While your meat and tomato mixture heats up you're going to open your can of black beans, drain and rinse in a colander until your water is clear.
Prepare a box of cornbread(follow directions) mix up throughly...


In your crockpot, layers are as follows
Black beans
Meat and tomato mixture
Cornbread dough
Sprinkle of reduced fat cheddar cheese and diced green onions

Set on low for 2 1/2-3 hours or until cornbread is fully cooked
Top with cilantro lime sour cream and/or avocado...

Cilantro lime sour cream:
Chop up a handful of fresh cilantro and put it in a food processor with 1/2 of a lime juiced and 5 or so dashes of chipotle tabasco.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Let marinate in refrigerator...



Enjoy!

Welcome to my Blog

I decided to try this whole blog thing out :) I always have something to say for those of you who know me.  I love cooking for my family and finding new activities to do with them.  I'm sure I'll have my rants and soapbox moments, but I promise I will make it entertaining and worth your while.  Get ready for yummy recipes as well.