Mothers Day 2013

These are my Mother's Day gifts Caitlyn wrote me a card thanking me for helping her with her homework and brushing her hair along with the promise of emptying the dishwasher. On the next card she thanked me for buying her nice clothes and for being fun and funny. On the paper flowers She wrote "nice person" "Healthy person" and "Makes good food"The last gift is a flower pot filled with flower pens that she made during our Activity day Girls activity. I am a very lucky mommy!

Caitlyn, Anwar and I went to a Fundraising Event last night to benefit affordable housing in the East Bay. There were some politicians, housing advocates and a lot of bankers in attendance. They had a children's table with games, coloring and face painting. They also had some great food. (The cheese!) Afterwards Caitlyn told me how much fun she had and we had a talk about how important it is to go to college so that she will be able to go to more events like this when she is a grown up. (I always try to get in my college plugs)

Caitlyn with Senator Mark DeSaulnier

We all have the same goal

I spent about 3 hours upstairs with my neighbors, who happen to be Muslim, we talked about Boston and about how we had both hoped the bombers were not Muslim because it affects how people look at them versus how it would be if it was a christian or a catholic or another race.
I really enjoy spending time with their family, they have 5 kids who are so well behaved.  They would give you the shirt off of their back.
I told them I had to go and feed Caitlyn dinner and the husband said "no don't leave, we will feed you our best food". His wife then made us an entire tray of dinner and dessert and drinks.
We talked about so many topics, they are so well versed in History and religion and politics. The interesting and sad thing is , he brought up internment camps and said that is something that they think about. He also told me how after the Boston Bombings the department of homeland security called the Fremont Mosque and told them if they received any threats to let them know and they would send someone out to help keep them safe. He said that was very reassuring.
He also told me , how they limit where the go because his wife wears the full headdress and that he does not want her to wear it but she wants to. She was telling me she feels so naked without it and asked me why is it the other women can walk around with everything showing but it is not okay for her to cover up. I told her , this is a free country and she is free to dress how ever she wants. Then her husbands started laughing and said "Noooo, I want her to be American, she needs to fit in". Sorry but I really can't tell another woman to take off her Hijab....I told him I see both sides but it is up to her.
 When I was leaving they were getting ready to pray and he told me come back anytime, if you need anything and we have it, it is yours. "I am your brother and she is your sister. It does not matter if you are Christian and I am Muslim, we have the same goal, to be good people and to do what God wants us to do. Great Night spent with Great People

Banana Walnut Oatmeal

Here is the Oatmeal recipe i was telling you guys about.

Banana Walnut Oatmeal
1 med banana mashed
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup milk ( I use vanilla soy or coconut)
1 tbsp wheat germ
1 tbsp ground flaxseed
1 tbsp walnuts crushed ( I used sliced almonds)

mix banana, oats, and milk cook in microwave for 3 mins stirring after each min (I did mine in the stove top) After cooking stir in remaining ingredients and serve. serves 2 people or one hungry person. You do not get hungry again for hours!

Nutrional info per serving:
cals 230 fat 6g sat fat 0g cholesterol 0g sodium 65mg carbs 36 g fiber 5g sugars 14g protein 10g iron 1 mg

recipe from oxygen magazine

oxygenmag.com

Drinks Anybody?

I have been posting what we eat but what about drinks....Well for the most part we drink H20.

• Water. Sometimes we add crystal lite for a treat. 

• I also like coconut water a couple of times a week.

•  Occasionally  pick up a gourmet soda as a treat and we share it.

•  Some mornings we have Ovaltine, I will have to  do a post on that....

Groundhog Day

Wed and Thurs was like a repeat of Tuesday, but that's part of a pantry challenge. 

Menu for wedensday:

BF-Pumpkin muffins

Lunch:
Caitlyn had Tuna patsa before going to the babysitters house.
I made a hummus sandwich = whole wheat bread spring mix & hummus!

Then we headed off into the big world Missy got to play with her friends at the babysitters and I got to get some stuff done. After I picked her we headed over to Target to look at school supplies. They had sharpeners for .20 and those big pink erasers. Pencils for .50 and Comp books for .40 ... not bad. I may have been talked in to some squinkies but I plead the 5th on that one.

While we where at Target, My friend Joanna called and invited us to pizza, so we had to go. Its a fun little place with games for the kids (not the dreaded mouse place, trust me I do my best not to step foot in to that place!)

Thursday was an off day, we started with muffins again (don't worry we are almost out of them) I made another egg dish for lunch, the thing I like about eggs is you can eat them often and they can taste different all the time. Today I made them with sauteed broccoli and mushrooms and topped with some Pepper Jack cheese. We had seedless watermelon on the side. TJs has a great price on them 3.50!
Missy had tuna pasta salad and broccoli salad with some peanut dressing.

When we reconvened for Dinner we were blessed enough to be taken out for Five Guys, they have some of the best burgers and fries!!!

I have pictures!!!

Tuesday went well, I cooked all of our meals at home from Items we have had on hand, for those of you not familiar with "A Pantry Challenge" Here is a link. Read it after you finish this post ;)

To begin BF, we had eggs, I bought 3 dozen at the 99cent store. I used eggs, mushrooms, salsa, s+p, a little olive oil and Monterrey jack cheese. ( no mushrooms in caitlyn's eggs) 

 Doesn't look so pretty but it tasted great!
 Served with peaches.

 Lunch/Dinner
I ended up making a 2 for 1,  Pasta salad w/ tuna & peas.

 It's yummy but more for a child's taste. Caitlyn

 There was plenty for lunch, dinner and leftovers.

I made a pumpkin cupcakes/muffins for snacks, it came out to about 20 cupcakes/muffins.
Just a box of cake mix, a can of pumpkin. (ps don't tell I added chocolate chips)

 

We had some for  BF this Morning ;)

I'm thinking of making a roast, maybe Thursday or Friday. We'll see....

Am I too late...The pantry challenge, Summer 2011

Well I have been meaning to do a pantry challenge for sometime now and today is the day!

• How many days do you think we can last... Are there any exceptions ie: eggs, bread or milk, or do you think it going to the store breaks the challenge?

• I will list what we had along with a pic and The ingredients used.

Here's what we had today:(I didn't take any pics but I will from this point forward.)

Day 1 - we got a late start today. 

For our Breakfast Lunch: Left over Spaghetti, its so yummy the next day! I used WH pasta and an organic sauce from Fresh and Easy, w/ 1/3 lb of ground turkey. 

Late Midday: Smoothie  3 cups soymilk, 1 frozen banana, cocoa powder (eyeballed) 1 pack truvia, mix all in blender.  serves 2

Dinner: Omelette 2 egg whites & 1 whole egg 1/2 cup sauteed mushrooms and a little mozzarella + salsa. Plus a few salt free chips with salsa.

Since I didn't take any pics today, here are some other dishes I have made in the past to get you in food mood! 

mmm Turkey

Farmers Market Goodies

Salmon w/ wh pasta and broccoli

Cooking With Coupons! Dinner for 7 -Grand Total $2.58

Dinner Tonight: Barilla Piccolini w/ sauce

To begin let me break down what I used and how much I paid.
(All of the prices are after sales and coupons)

• 1 box Barila Piccolini   .33 (on sale for $1ea bought w/ $2off 3 boxes coupon)
• 1 jar Ragu  (I used tomato & garlic, but you could use any flavor) $1.00 ($1ea when you buy 6)
• 1/2 of a sausage $1.00 (I paid $2.00 but only used half.) (on sale 2 for $4.00)
• 1/4 of a bag of Kraft shredded Monterey Jack .25 (cost .98 but used 1/4) (on sale 1.98 used coupon $5 off when you buy 5)

This is so easy a child could make it, well almost, we don't want any children near boiling water!
Total time: 20 mins, if that!

• Make pasta according to directions = 7 mins cooking time
• While pasta is cooking:
• Cut 1/2 of the sausgae into bite size pieces (freeze the rest)cook for 1-2 mins in the microwave 
• In a large glass bowl pour in Ragu (or any sauce) add cooked sausage and put in microwave for 1 to 3 mins
• Add in half of the pasta and the cheese then the rest of the pasta and stir. 
• Serve with a little Cheese on top (just enough to look pretty)

Tastes even better than it looks...

Nutrition Facts
7 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories		434.3
Total Fat		15.6 g
	Saturated Fat	6.0 g
	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.0 g
	Monounsaturated Fat	0.0 g
Cholesterol		22.9 mg
Sodium		788.6 mg
Potassium		0.0 mg
Total Carbohydrate		60.3 g
	Dietary Fiber	4.9 g
	Sugars	10.0 g
Protein		15.4 g

Vitamin A	10.3 %
Vitamin B-12	0.0 %
Vitamin B-6	0.0 %
Vitamin C	5.1 %
Vitamin D	0.0 %
Vitamin E	0.0 %
Calcium	9.1 %
Copper	0.0 %
Folate	34.3 %
Iron	16.6 %
Magnesium	0.0 %
Manganese	0.0 %
Niacin	17.1 %
Pantothenic Acid	0.0 %
Phosphorus	0.0 %
Riboflavin	17.1 %
Selenium	0.0 %
Thiamin	40.0 %
Zinc	0.0 %

Recipe Calculator *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Nutrition Facts

  7 Servings

Amount Per Serving

  Calories

434.3

  Total Fat

15.6 g

   

  Saturated Fat

6.0 g

   

  Polyunsaturated Fat

0.0 g

   

  Monounsaturated Fat

0.0 g

  Cholesterol

22.9 mg

  Sodium

788.6 mg

  Potassium

0.0 mg

  Total Carbohydrate

60.3 g

   

  Dietary Fiber

4.9 g

   

  Sugars

10.0 g

  Protein

15.4 g

  Vitamin A

10.3 %

  Vitamin B-12

0.0 %

  Vitamin B-6

0.0 %

  Vitamin C

5.1 %

  Vitamin D

0.0 %

  Vitamin E

0.0 %

  Calcium

9.1 %

  Copper

0.0 %

  Folate

34.3 %

  Iron

16.6 %

  Magnesium

0.0 %

  Manganese

0.0 %

  Niacin

17.1 %

  Pantothenic Acid    

0.0 %

  Phosphorus    

0.0 %

  Riboflavin

17.1 %

  Selenium

0.0 %

  Thiamin

40.0 %

  Zinc

0.0 %

Recipe Calculator

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Rolling with Safeway

$5.80+.39 in tax

I was able to purchase everything in the picture above for only, 5.80+.39 in tax. 

This is how it all went down... I was shopping for some other deals in Safeway and the shopper in front of me purchased about 150.00 dollars in groceries and a bunch of Catalinas printed out. (Catalina's are the coupons that print out with your receipt.) Well, she just left them on the counter, so of course, I picked them up and looked through them. 

One of the was a $2.00 of 3 boxes of Barilla Piccolini , knowing that it was on sale for $1.00 a box I went and picked up 3 boxes and got back line, where I then paid $1.00 for 3 boxes, then what do you think happened, the same coupon printed out! 

 

I had to leave but decided to go back before the sale was over. Back at home I read over the rest of the coupons and one offer was buy 4 Hallmark Cards and you will receive a 3.00 Catalina good on your next purchase and one was 1.00 off 3 jars of baby food.(Chrissy's cats like to eat these. I know. )

I went back today and that is where the rolling comes in at I bought 4 of the Hallmark cards for .99 ea (4.35) and the Catalina did not print out, so I showed the cashier the coupon and she handed me the 3.00 in cash!

Then I put the 3 boxes of Barilla and 3 jars of Baby food (.59 ea) on the counter along with the $2/3 boxes coupon and $1/3 baby food coupon, and paid $1.77 (from the 3 she just handed me). Well another $2/3 coupon printed out , I had planned for this so , I took 3 more boxes out of my basket and along with the coupon and paid $1.00, you know what happend next, another coupon ....LOL so I put 3 more boxes up and paid $1.00. 

Well that was the end of that, no more coupons printed out, so I am guessing 4 is the limit.

If you are going to try this be sure to start out by purchasing 3 boxes of "Barilla piccolini " and dont forget to use your Safeway card. The sale on the pasta ends today.