Baked Fajitas

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Baked Fajitas

Fajitas yes, having your house smell like Chili’s for a week, no. Fresh healthy crowd pleasing food, yes, Cooking over a hot stove in the summer, no.

Enter baked fajitas!!  Even though these fajitas aren’t seared in a flaming hot cast iron pan they are still packed with that southwest flavor that will leave you wanting more!  I love that this easily makes a big batch, because we all love these fajitas! 

Enter baked fajitas!!  Even though these fajitas aren’t seared in a flaming hot cast iron pan they are still packed with that southwest flavor that will leave you wanting more!  I love that this easily makes a big batch, because we all love these fajitas! 

Even better, you don't even need mixing bowls for the chicken and veggies, just toss them straight onto the pan.  One less thing to clean - now you are speaking my language. Now go forth and enjoy your summertime!

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Wishes for You ... A Letter to Teddy on His Third Birthday

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Wishes for You ... A Letter to Teddy on His Third Birthday

Three years ago we brought you home. Now you are three years old.  You just seem so big and mature.

You conquered this last year with ease , if not grace, and I have a few wishes for you for this coming one:

I hope you never lose your adventurous spirit… keep on being the most fun kid at the park.

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Coconut Curry Cashew Crockpot Chicken

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Coconut Curry Cashew Crockpot Chicken

A fragrant sauce of coconut and curry mixed with sweet red peppers, tender cooked potatoes, and crunchy cashews, with chicken or chickpeas, made right in your crockpot! A dish fit for a dinner party or an easy weekday night in.  So so easy and incredibly delicious!  

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The More Things Change

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The More Things Change

A year has passed since I have started this blog and started documenting our lives and my musings.  A year with a child can seem like an eternity, the days creeping by so slowly, then BAM, you look back and the 365 days have flow by in the blink of an eye.  Things are ever changing with kids, their needs and wants and favorite colors. And just as you are focused on how much things have changed, you can be surprised by how much they stay the same.  Time is a strange beast and nothing shows you the power of it more than kids. 

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Mainly Vegetable Turkey Bolognese (Parents: Just Call it Meat Sauce)

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Mainly Vegetable Turkey Bolognese (Parents: Just Call it Meat Sauce)

We are a busy bunch, late meetings, conference calls, school, work, practices, playdates.  So even though we may crave that hearty meal, some days we forget to meal plan, or are just too tired to cook.  That's where this bolognese comes in.  Oh, did I mention it is jam packed with veggies and your kids won't know at all?!  I call that a winning combination!

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The Nightmare Before Christmas

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The Nightmare Before Christmas

'Twas four nights before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even Rudy and his mouse.
The decorated tree gave off a warm glow,
adorned with ornaments from long ago. [really there are no ornaments on the tree, Teddy took them all off]

Teddy in his crib drifting asleep slowly,
Snuggled and dreaming of RoboCar Poli.
I in my new Lulu joggers and Papa in a charcoal mask,
we had just settled in for a long winters nap. (i.e. we were in bed reading and falling asleep at 9pm)

[at 12:09am]
When out of the monitor arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter!
Up! Up! - the stairs I went like a SWAT team.
All while my husband continued to dream.

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Boys Will Be Good Humans

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Boys Will Be Good Humans

In this day and age where actors and politicians and media figures, men whom our sons would once have looked up to, are falling from grace for harassing and disrespecting women it is oh so important to teach our sons the strength of positive social behavior.  Being a parent to a boy is a huge responsibility, it is our job to make sure our sons grow up to strong, kind, respectful, empathetic people and break this cycle of bad behavior.

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Stuffing Dumpling Soup

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Stuffing Dumpling Soup

Thanksgiving in a bowl.  Happiness in a soup.  The non-Jew's Matzo ball soup.  

Whatever you dub this soup, I am sure it is going to become part of your fall and winter family faves.  Easy to make (even a day ahead of time!) and even easier to eat, this meal has all of the best part of Thanksgiving with out all of the mess and cleanup.

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Acorn Squash with Sausage and Broccolini

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Acorn Squash with Sausage and Broccolini

And just like that it is fall, and not a day too soon!  School has started, the leaves are turning, there is a crisp breeze in the air.  Time for roasty, warm, cozy meals.  

For our first official fall dinner I made Acorn Squash stuffed with Italian Sausage and Broccolini,  Rice and Lentils.  We eat a lot of spaghetti squash in the fall and winter and I had been looking for something similar, easy to cook but not a crock pot meal, hearty but healthy.  When I saw the acorn squash at Trader Joes and the sign said "I'm perfect for roasting and stuffing!" I was sold (it really doesn't take much).

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Shiny and New

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Shiny and New

So it's been pretty quiet on the blog this summer.  With summer activities, days spend playing with friends and family, and Teddy running and talking to everyone who will listen, it's been quiet busy.  Oh, that and Zach and I made a totally normal summer decision ... let's renovate ALL the bathrooms in the house.  

I've been at Home Depot and on Pinterest every hour that I wasn't with Teddy (ok, ok, and some that I was).  Teddy has become quite accustomed to running around HD and sitting still in tile stores.  I've been shopping, designing, buying, returning, and working with a contractor all summer long.

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Taco Tuesday

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Taco Tuesday

Who doesn't love tacos?

Ok now that we have that out of the way, can I admit that I hate cleaning up after making tacos or even taco salad?  There are just so many things that go into them, there are so many pots and pans and bowls.  It's probably my least favorite meal.

Well my friend D came to the rescue the other day with a taco recipe that is no muss-no fuss and I think better than the original! Baked Tacos.

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I Heart Teddy

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I Heart Teddy

SAVE THE DATE

Fun for a Purpose - The Race for Every Child
October 21, 2017 @ 8am
Freedom Plaza
Join us! Team I Heart Teddy (PS - free team t-shirts!)

WE HEART TEDDY

Two years ago yesterday, Teddy had life saving open heart surgery at Children's National Medical Center. (You can read the story about his condition and surgery here ).

We owe our happiness to the team at Children's and we do whatever we can to support the hospital.  Zach and I find it especially important in this day and age, when the future of healthcare is in flux that we do what we can to support the hospitals and staff that do the amazing work of saving our little ones.  As well as do what we can to support the families going through the hardest times of having a sick child.

When we were thinking of ways to give back we were thrilled to find out about the Race for Every Child 5K.  Not only is it an awesome and fun event but it fits right into our family's active lifestyle.  Those of you that know us know that we are a running, biking, swimming, active threesome, so a 5K to support our most precious cause is perfect.

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How College Prepared You for Having a Toddler ...

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How College Prepared You for Having a Toddler ...

I mean really, if you think about it, babies, toddlers, little kids, they act exactly like our good (and hysterically awesome) friends from college.  You remember, the ones that were always down for a good time and were the life of the party.  

Straight lines are hard, eating is life, oh, there is a lot more.  

After reading this, tell me if you see your college friend (or do you see you?) in your kid.  

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Late, Again

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To be on time is to be 5 minutes early.  That is how I rolled before Teddy.  I was early to class.  I was early to work, I was early to lunch dates with friends.  

Then I had Teddy, he was 9 days late.  Ever since then I have struggled to regularly be on time.

Now I am that friend, the one that is always late or at least seemingly so.  The one that comes zooming in breathlessly begging for forgiveness, again.

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Crock Pot Barbecue Chicken

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Crock Pot Barbecue Chicken

There is nothing easier than a meal that involves 4 ingredients for the main dish.  It's even better when those 4 ingredients fill your house with a sweet, mouth watering smell all day long.

We serve this chicken over cole slaw (the same as in the Carolina Pulled Pork recipe) and with baked potatoes or (this is new) Trader Joes baked french fries!  The leftovers are fantastic the next day on a salad, or if you ask Teddy, with your hands while watching Curious George.

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It Takes A Village

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It Takes A Village

To the dad who fist bumped me as we passed each other stroller running, each with a sleeping kiddo, thank you ...

To my running "tribe", who answers all sorts of questions, at all hours of the day and night, and is always there for a good laugh, too, thank you ...

To my best friend of 30 years, whose son was born within days of Teddy, who I cried on the phone to those first few weeks (I don't even remember what it was about, but I know I needed it), thank you ...

To the friend who lets us barge into her house, good day or bad, thank you ...

To Teddy's favorite people at Trader Joes, who play with him while I grocery shop, thank you ...

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Moroccan Chicken Kabobs

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Moroccan Chicken Kabobs

To kick off the summer cooking season this weekend Zach and I made grilled Moroccan chicken kabobs.  I know what you are thinking though, kabobs.  Boring, dry, bland, and tired.  Not these.  This blend of spices has a base of paprika with a touch of heat from cayenne (remove if you or your kiddos aren't fans of spice) and then the flair of exotic from the cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and cumin. 

These kabobs are as easy as marinating the chicken in lemon juice, olive oil, and the spice blend  and then grilling!  So since I prepped the chicken earlier in the day, we had nothing to do but cut the veggies that evening and there was no kitchen clean up either!  Just marinade the chicken for the day and then slide them on kabobs (I prefer to skewer the chicken all together) and grill them to perfection.  

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This Little Heart of Mine

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This Little Heart of Mine

Recently Jimmy Kimmel revealed his newborn son's heart condition.  To most families this is a gut wrenching story that you can empathize with but is a distant concept.

But to 1% of families, like ours (and a number of dear friends') with child born with a congenital heart defect, this story brought back flashes of our kiddos' struggles.  Having a child who is sick is difficult in it's own right; having a child sick when they are first born is terrifying.  

Teddy was born with multiple congenital heart defects (CHDs) and had open heart surgery at 2.5 months old.  He is now 100% and should have no lasting ill effects.  Zach and I are constantly reminded how very lucky we are to have Teddy as part of our lives.  He is a sweet and spunky kid who has brought us tremendous joy.  

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