Weekly Salad - Lunch

I like to try to get in tons of veggies at lunch.  I usually accomplish this in a tasty salad full of yummy goodness.  This week's salad consists of the following:

*Dole Baby Arugula with Spinach salad mix (was on sale at my HyVee) - quite tasty, I love the bitterness of the arugala.
*Grape tomatoes
*Cucumber
*Broccoli
*Sugar snap peas (surprise item of the week - left over from Tuesday night's dinner)
*Toasted sesame seeds (surprise item of the week - I just read that 2 tbsp provides 12% RDA of calcium - I am sprinkling these on everything!)

I topped it all off with a red wine vinaigrette.  I just mixed a little red wine, with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Yum!

Love This

The only room we have not repainted in our house is our computer room.  It is "builder beige" and not very exciting.  I ran across this picture today and thought this would make such an inspirational, bright and bubbly office!  I love everything about it! I love that huge painting too.

photo by houseandhome.com

And, then I would like do do a gallery wall like this in the office for all my photos...

photo by houseandhome.com

My husband has been wanting to paint, so I should get him on this project.  I am completely inspired!

Meal Planning Monday

Monday
Teriyaki Marinated Salmon and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

We learned the most delicious way to make salmon this summer from my brother-in-law and his lady friend.  We marinated the fish in Teriyaki sauce and grilled it on a cedar plank.  The taste of the teriyaki and the cedar is just the perfect combination, so delicious! But, it is too cold for grilling, so we just marinated it and baked it at 375 for 25 minutes.

I can't remember the last time I made mashed potatoes.  My husband is the master at mashed potatoes, so I always let him do it.  But, tonight I made them and they were awesome, if I do say so myself!  I used Yukon gold potatoes, cut them in half and quartered them.

Then, I used the super cool, potato ricer.  I have never used it before, but it was so much fun!  It is almost like popping a zit - I know, I am strange, but really it is!  Bad metaphor to use with food, but it really was fun!

I blended the riced potatoes with warm milk and butter and added sea salt, seasoned salt and garlic powder.  The boys were quite pleased with them.  Yay, me!

Tuesday
Sesame Chicken
from The Weeknight Cook, Williams Sonoma
This was a new recipe for us and we loved this meal.  It was so fresh tasting and it was easy to prepare.  I was surprised that little man liked it too! I am loving this cookbook.

Wednesday
Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup
from The Weeknight Cook, Williams Sonoma

Thursday
Crock Pot Chicken
from The Adventures of Rory and Jess - Crock Pot Chicken

Friday
Asian Pork & Noodle Skillet
from Pampered Chef

Clean Eating Magazine

I just received the latest Clean Eating magazine today.  I am seriously salivating over a lot of the recipes.  If you haven't heard of it, you can check it out here.  It is one of my favorites!


In this issue I am excited to try the following recipes:
*Guiltless Chicken Parmesan
*Thai One On (Thai Chicken Pizza)
*Brie and Pineapple pizza
*Chicken Pinwheels w/ Citrus Rice Salad
*Gyros
*Flank Steak Roll - looks DELISH!
*Moroccan Buffalo and Chickpea Chili


There is also a section on salads that includes fun add-ins and recipes for 9 different "clean" salad dressings.  I do love my salads!


You can pick up a copy at Borders, B&N.  I have even seen it at Price Chopper, HyVee and Walmart.  

Help for Haiti

All the believers were one in heart and mind. 

No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they

shared everything they had.  

Acts 4:32

My MOPS group is going to donate personal hygiene kits to the people of Haiti.

If you are wondering what you can do to help, please visit the Heart to Heart website below.

HEART TO HEART INTERNATIONAL

The link to their Personal Hygiene Kit Info is:

http://www.hearttoheart.org/help/careKits.php

New Favorite Treat

Oroweat Sandwich Thins are my new favorite treat.

They are delicious!

I make egg sandwiches with them in the morning.

Little man loves his with peanut butter.

I have them for a mid-morning snack with natural peanut or almond butter and banana slices - Yum!

You can check them out here.

Valentine's Day Craft

I am already starting to think about Valentine's Day.  It is just a month away.

Last year I made these for little man's class...

I sent them to school in this...

Super-cute, right?  I thought so.

Marshmallow pops are easy to make but very messy.  Just melt some chocolate, place large marshmallows on a sucker stick, dip and sprinkle.  Viola!

Print the adorable tags here.

Have fun and GET CRAFTY!