Category Archives: food

Dear Costco

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Dear Mr. Costco,

My family loves visiting your store and sampling all those goodies your A1 hairnet troops are providing.

In fact, my husband loves it so much he needs a stern talking to before his trips there with our children.

We don’t need a six month supply of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

Or the 7,000 Oreos (yes, it’s because I have no will power).

And for the love of God, just walk away from the 285 links of sausage.

The kids love the store too.

I’ve never seen people so excited to have free food – I’m talking hitting all nine food booths in record time while, of course, bypassing booth ten, the new fruit and veggie juice.

Yes, everyone loves your store sir.

But can I tell you want I don’t like about your store? Actually, I’m about to speak for all mothers out there. Yes, all mothers hate this Costco, so listen up!

Nothing gets on my/our nerves more than when I’m trying to leave your store and I must wait an eternity for your employee to draw a smiley face onto the back of my receipt.

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I mean really. Why? Why? Why?

Why must every exiting door employee take the time to do this when it’s probably obvious that we just really need to leave the store.

Is it in the training program?

Lesson 1 – MUST. STOP. EVERY. HAGGARD. LOOKING. MOTHER. AND. DETAIN. HER. FURTHER….

Lesson 2 -IF HER.KIDS. LOOK. LIKE. THEY. ARE. LOSING. THEIR. MIND. ENGAGE THEM IN CONVERSATION.

Is there a bonus involved with the number of smiley faces given out.

Just let me leave!!!!!

And really, it’s just not me. Guess who also doesn’t care about the smiley face and just wants to get home and rip open the bag with 5000 popcorn pieces?

My children.

After Picasso has finished drawing his neon smiley he slows the exiting process down even further by insisting to show one of the kids. When kid #1 has shown no excitement over the preschool drawing they move to kid #2 who’s response is just as lack lustered as the first.

So Mr. Costco, please change your policy. It should read, “As an employee it is your job to help the mothers out of the store as quickly as possible. If you don’t, there will inevitably be a meltdown and it’s anyone’s guess whether it will be the children or the mom who ends up crying. And if it’s the mom, you are on your own.”

Your loyal shopper,Jennifer

P.S. If you could have those toffee covered chocolates out for sampling next week I would really appreciate that.

Mac n ‘Cheese Pizza

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Yesterday I told you how the boys are cooking this summer and getting to choose what they make.

My 8 year old loves the Mac n ‘Cheese pizza at Cici’s so he wanted to make his own version.

Mac n’Cheese Pizza by Andrew

 Step one: Make pizza dough using this recipe.

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Step two: Layer dough with mozzarella cheese.

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Step three: Cook macaroni and cheese using the recipe on the box.

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Step four: Place cooked mac n ‘cheese on top of the mozzarella.

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Step five: Put pan into oven and cook for about 15 minutes.

(picture before put in oven)

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Enjoy!

 And if Mac n’ Cheese pizza is not your thing maybe this recipe will be….

Key Lime No-Bake Yogurt Pie

Caroline and I made this recipe one afternoon and it was a big hit with everyone.

Happy Cooking!

What My Boys are Cooking

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Each summer the boys are in charge of one dinner a week.

The only condition in choosing food is that it can’t be something they have already cooked this summer.

The boys enjoy cooking and have been pretty good about ensuring that there is either a fruit or salad with the meal. They have made sure to steer clear of any veggies on the menu.

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Here’s what they have served:

Week 1:

 Alex: Grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, grapes
Andrew: Beef tacos and cantaloupe
 
Week 2:
 
Alex: Chicken patties on bun, fries, and strawberries
Andrew: Cheese sticks as an appetizer 🙂 , 3 types of pizza (including mac n’cheese pizza), and blackberries & blueberries
 
Week 3:
 
Alex: Cheese raviolis with homemade red sauce, cheese bread, and salad
Andrew: Homemade calzones with salad
 
Week 4:
 
Alex: Spaghetti, homemade red sauce, homemade meatballs, and salad
Andrew: Hot dogs, chips, fruit, and yogurt
 

Maybe not all are the healthiest options but I want to make sure it’s their meal and not mine.

I’m hoping all of this cooking by them pays off so in a few years they will be doing all the summer cooking (insert evil cackle).

Oven Jambalaya

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I am reposting this recipe today since I have made this delicious dinner twice in the past week. It’s great for bringing to work as a lunch and also on a 100  degree day. Okay that is partly a lie but it’s so good that you will even eat it on a hot day 🙂

When we had our Mardi Gras party one of the items my husband cooked was Oven Jambalaya. It was a big hit then and again when I made it a few days ago.

The recipe is titled, “Mrs. Casey’s Oven Jambalaya,” since I got the recipe from Mrs. Casey, a long time family friend.

If you decide to make this recipe I promise you will question the outcome after you pile everything into the same dish.  Stick with it. Put the dish into the oven and let the magic happen 🙂

Click here to download the recipe.

A Well Balanced Meal

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My 8 year old made his own lunch today.

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A banana.

A container of banana cream pie yogurt.

And a piece of banana bread.

A fruit.

A dairy.

A whole grain.

Obviously someone’s been paying attention in health class this year.

Free Slurpee Day at 7-Eleven Today!

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Well, the title sort of says it all.

Free slurpees at 7-Eleven today!

Get it – 7 – Eleven – July 11th

Visit any 7-Eleven today and receive a free small slurpee!

Hooray!

I’ll have 3 extra kids with me today so we are certainly going to be making a stop for a free slurpee.

I’m going for my favorite flavor – coke – seriously, I have to go right now and get one.

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Sleep Help

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I am not a good sleeper.

I have to have a fan on, a sleep machine, and the air about 65 degrees.

Even with all of that, I toss and turn some nights, all night long.

So I was excited to see the “Do You Have Trouble Sleeping?” Katie show the other day.

I ignored the cherry juice, drinking flower teas, and tongue exercise recommendations and went right to the one that I knew I could follow.

Drink some milk before bed.

So for my health tonight I filled my glass nice and tall and gulped down my dairy.

I’m hoping it helps me have a good 7-8 hours sleep.

I bet the brownie with chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream I had to accompany the milk will help me snooze too.

 

Happy Canada Day to all our friends & family up North!

My Favorite Things – Day 3

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Welcome to Day #3 of Big D & Me’s Favorite Things

What’s today’s favorite thing?

Why it’s my favorite sandwich in the whole. wide. world.

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It’s actually my  answer to Subway’s delicious flat bread veggie sandwich. If I had not found my own version there’s a good chance I would have eaten our grocery budget for the month in these – I love this sandwich so much!

So here’s how I make my favorite sandwich:

Start with this yummy flatbread – I buy ours at Costco.

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Melt your favorite cheese on it – give me a break people, it’s a veggie sandwich, I deserve some cheese.

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Chop your favorite toppings: red onions, cucumbers, banana peppers, spinach, & tomato.

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Add some spicy mustard

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Pile everything on (and yes, that’s another flatbread on top ready to go after I eat this first sandwich)

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Roll and devour 🙂

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So there you have Day #3 of Big D & Me’s favorite things.

Come back to tomorrow for Day 4!

My Favorite Things – Day 1

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This week is going to be just like when Oprah had her favorite thing shows.

Although it will be slightly  different in that nothing is being given away and everything is actually affordable.

Other than that, it’s exactly like Oprah’s favorite things!

So let’s get this week started by showing off Day #1’s item…

drum  roll please….

Stacy’s Pita Chips

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These chips are seriously delicious!

Every time I’m in the grocery store I just stare at these chips and know I should not pick up the bag because if I do I will eat the entire bag.

This is not a joke. I can finish off the Costco size bag of these chips, completely on my  own, in roughly 48 hours.

Gross. Disgusting. Sick I know.

But sooooooooo good.

My favorite are the Simply Naked Pita Chips but I have been known to consume a bag or two of the Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips as well. They also have vegetable & cheese flavors.

Seriously, go pick yourself up a bag of these babies. Delish!

Come back for Day #2 of Big D & Me’s Favorite Things tomorrow!

We Were Saved in the Pantry

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After dinner the other night, the kids were amusing themselves with something so my husband and I went on a hunt.

“We need dessert. We need dessert.”

And then we spotted it in the pantry.

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“Eureka! It’s a miracle!”

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Do you see it? The mother of all hidden candy?

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Cue the angels singing.

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Oh yes we did find that hiding.

Bless my children and their complete failure to remember they have any holiday candy three days after they collect it.