Made by Me Monday

We have a play date set up for this morning and oh, so excited.  My best friend is in town visiting family and worked out a play date with us this morning and another family.  The best two Mommies in my life are coming and I'm about ready to bust.  Six kids running through my house and yard can do anything nothing to contain my enthusiasm.  So for now, I'm leaving you with a glimpse of things to come...

What is it you ask?  Only the tastiest thing on the planet.... Strawberry Rhubarb Compote!  Yum!  I'll be posting the recipe tomorrow, but for today, I'm enjoying the day with family and friends.

So what about you?  What have you been up to this week?  A craft?  A recipe?  A remodel to share with us?  Something fun and creative?  

Let's start sharing.  Write a blog post highlighting your project with a link back to this post so that others can join in on the fun.  Then link up below to the individual blog post itself, not your blog as a whole.  You can post more than one project; just add more than one link.  And don't forget to invite your readers to join in as well.

So let the party begin!

*Linked to these parties.

Menu Monday 5/31-6/6

EEEKKK!!!!  How did June sneak up on us already?  We just came out of the rain this weekend, very unusual for us.  I think that's why I don't feel prepared.  Have to wrap my mind around this change in seasons.

Breakfasts:
Oatmeal and bananas
Yogurt and apple
Cottage cheese and fruit
Pancakes with rhubarb compote (coming tomorrow)
Blueberry crumb cake

Lunches:
Peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches
Homemade frozen burritos
Fancy salads
Fruit, string cheese, snack crackers, applesauce

Dinners:
Monday: BBQ Kebabs with a nice pasta salad,

Tuesday: Taco Salad, fresh fruit

Wednesday: Spaghetti, green salad

Thursday: Enchiladas in the Crockpot, fresh fruit

Friday: Spinach Calazone, broccoli slaw

Saturday: BBQ chicken, pea salad

Sunday:  Kids at friends
Dave and I at staff meeting

Extras:
Fresh fruit shake
Low fat cranberry oatmeal bars

Lee's To Do List

These are some great last minute Teacher's Gift ideas (@ Women Living Well).  Easily adaptable to other occasions as well.

I'd love to make some of the Apricot Scone Mix (@Whimsy Love) just to have on hand.  What a great company dish.

Here"s a great Toddler dress from Shirt (@KOJO Designs).  Super cute and worth your time.

We made these Lemon Cream Cheese Cupcakes (@ Kraft Recipes) awhile back and they got rave reviews.  You'll love them.

Yes, your children will eat fish.. and so will you! Part Five

A couple of weeks ago, I was looking forward to having some yummy Parmesean Tilapia for dinner.  It's quickly become a favorite dish in our house.  But as my husband and I were talking, we were both craving something bold with lots of flavor.  So that's when I started searching around for a blackened seasoning recipe and this is what I came up with.

Blackened Cajun Fish
1 serving

1 Tbsp Paprika
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 tsp Thyme
1/2 tsp Oregano

Mix all spices together and store in jar.

To prepare fish:
I again used Tilapia.  First, I rinsed the fillet and patted it dry.  Then I rubbed a little olive oil on each side of the fish and then rubbed some spice mix on each side.  As much as you like.  The more, the spicier.  First I seared one side of the fillet and then flipped it to finish cooking.  If your fillet is very thick, turn the heat down, cover, and continue cooking through.

*Recipe adapted from Cajun Cooking Recipes.com


This was so yummy, but I must admit we didn't try it on the kids.  I only had two fillets in the house and was afraid it would be too spicy for them.  They had tomato soup instead.  Oh well!  Dave and I both loved it.  I made extra spicy mix that night and we'll be eating this again soon.

For more fish recipes, check out Shrimp Stir fry, Shrimp Quesadillas, Fish Tacos with Lemon Butter Sauce, and Parmesan Encrusted Tilapia.

For more Frugal Friday tips, check out Life as Mom.
*Linked to Tatertots and Jello:Weekend Wrap up Party.

Summer Sanity Saver List

EEEKKKK!!!  There's only four more days of preschool.  And since Noah doesn't go on Fridays, that means... gasp... there's only three more days of preschool.  Now don't get me wrong I'm excited to have him home, but the prospect of a full summer stretching out before us puts me into a semi-state of panic.  How will I keep us all busy?  How will I keep us all from crashing in front of the TV all day?  Or worse yet, wandering through Target buying things I really don't need?

So in my panic a few night ago, I sat down and started a Summer Sanity Saver List.  I tried to come up with all the normal, unusual, and fun activities I could come up with.  Oh, yeah, and I also had to consider that we usually hit 110 degrees in the first week.

I knew all the usual stuff about spending the summer at the pool and lake, but wanted to come up with some other ideas too for when we just can't stand the heat or just need to crash at home.  Here's what I've come up with so far:

Minimal prep:
Teach Me Mommy lessons
Reading lessons
Chapter book
Sprinkler
Water balloons
Go for ice cream
Make stove top popcorn or smores
Lay out under the stars
Visit the butcher
Visit a bakery
Go to the library
Frisbee, hula hoop, jump rope
Dollar store crafts
Press flowers/ garden
Paint pet rocks
Play with bubbles
Make lemonade
Have picnic breakfast
Marble or finger painting
Seasonal crafts (4th of July, etc)

A few hours:
Turtle Bay Exploration Park
Preschool Water Play hour
Pack for lunch at the park
Pack for the Fantasy Fountain water park
Dollar movies
Go bowling
Make homemade ice cream
Tour the fire dept
Go to the Bounce House
Go to Chuck E Cheese
Wash the car
Invite a friend over for movie night
Themed dinner nights
Scavenger hunt
Go to the YMCA pool
Gym lessons
Camp out on the trampoline

Full day trips:
Pack for swimming at the lake
Tour the tortilla factory
Go camping
Tour a olive packing plant?
Go berry picking
Go to Lassen park
Go to Castle Craggs

We'll also be taking swim lessons and spending a few days at the beach.  Plus fireworks on the 4th.  Anything else I'm not thinking of?  How do you keep your kids from vegging or driving your crazy all summer?

For more Frugal Friday tips, check out Life as Mom.