Category Archives: Nico

Apr 3

March’s Tasty Treats

March was a busy month in the kitchen. We celebrated Dylan’s 5th birthday, and I had a cookie catering gig too.

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My stomach still isn’t well, so I’ve been drinking lots of tea…

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I tried again to make a batch of homemade Swiss Cake Rolls. These were made from homemade brownies. Pretty good, but not quite it. I’ll keep working on this one though.

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I made some homemade breadsticks which everyone loved. They didn’t complain when it was Spaghetti day.

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I also made some homemade donuts. These were a big hit with the family.

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For the kids after-school snacks I made a big batch of homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies. These were really tasty. I serve them along with Apple slices, and everyone is happy.

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I had a cookie catering gig this month, so I made some Sugar Cookies,

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Cakerdoodles,

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and Chocolate Chip cookies too.

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I also made a Banana Cake. It was crazy good, and so moist, it didn’t even need icing.

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I made a ton of Cake Pops too. Dylan wanted some for his birthday party at home, and some for preschool too.

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Lastly I made a batch of Chocolate Chip and M&M cookies. These are too good, they disappeared fast.

The next two months are going to be extra busy. We are wrapping up the end of the school year, and the kids have a lot of activities too. We’ll see how much I get accomplished in the kitchen this month.

Apr 1

April’s Monthly Menu

We are down to the last two months of school, and lots of evening activities going on. I am so happy that Spring has finally arrived, and I can’t wait to get some tasty veggies from our garden. I’m keeping this month’s menu easy with lots of family favorites, and I’m bringing back a few favorite desserts too. So here we go, it’s April’s monthly dinner menu.

  • 4/1/2012: Pot Roast with Potatoes and Homemade Rolls
  • 4/2/2012: Fish Planks, Fries, and Macaroni & Cheese
  • 4/3/2012: Tostadas, Tortilla Chips, Homemade Salsa, and Cheese Dip
  • 4/4/2012: Tacos, Tortilla Chips, Cheese Dip, and Homemade Salsa
  • 4/5/2012: Chicken Chow Mien, Chow Mien Noodles, Rice, Edamame, and Coconut Macaroons
  • 4/6/2012: Hamburgers and Chips
  • 4/7/2012: Breakfast Ham, Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, and Homemade Donuts
  • 4/8/2012: Panko Chicken Cutlets, Mashed Potatoes, and Raspberry Zinger Cake
  • 4/9/2012: Salmon Cakes and Salad
  • 4/10/2012: Chicken Burritos,Tortilla Chips, Homemade Salsa, Cheese Dip, and Re-fried Beans
  • 4/11/2012: BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Pasta Salad, and Cherry Pie
  • 4/12/2012: Spaghetti, Green Beans, and Homemade Breadsticks
  • 4/13/2012: Nacho Bar
  • 4/14/2012: Pancakes, Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, Toast, and Fresh Fruit
  • 4/15/2012: Beef Stew and Homemade Rolls
  • 4/16/2012: Shake & Bake Chicken Tenders, Mashed Potatoes, and Biscuits
  • 4/17/2012: Quesadillas, Tortilla Chips, Cheese Dip, and Homemade Salsa
  • 4/18/2012: Panko Chicken Cutlets, Spaghetti, Green Beans, Homemade Rolls, and Mini Apricot Pies
  • 4/19/2012: Beef Stew and Homemade Bread
  • 4/20/2012: Tacos, Tortilla Chips, Cheese Dip, and Homemade Salsa
  • 4/21/2012: Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, Blueberry Muffins, Banana Muffins, Strawberry Muffins, and Fresh Fruit
  • 4/22/2012: Homemade Pizzas: Cheese (no sauce), Pepperoni, Veggie, and Triple Meat
  • 4/23/2012: Salmon Cakes and Salad
  • 4/24/2012: Beef or Bean Burritos, Tortilla Chips, Cheese Dip, and Homemade Salsa
  • 4/25/2012: Hamburgers and Chips
  • 4/26/2012: Spaghetti, Green Beans, and Homemade Breadsticks
  • 4/27/2012: Nacho Bar
  • 4/28/2012: Biscuit Sandwiches, Oatmeal Muffins, and Fresh Fruit
  • 4/29/2012: Chicken and Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Homemade Rolls, and Banana Cake
  • 4/30/2012: Chicken Chow Mien, Chow Mien Noodles, Rice, Edamame, and Sugar Dumplings

Better make some shopping lists and get to it. Happy April everybody!

Mar 24

A Day Away

This week the kids have been on Spring Break, and the weather hasn’t cooperated at all. We’ve been stuck in the house thanks to a lot of rain storms, but Tuesday we got out for just a bit.

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Hmmm what can you do when the weather is bad. Hop in the car drive about 25 miles, and

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take the kiddos bowling!

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The boys were so excited. They were really good at bowling too.

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I love bowling shoes. Toddler sized bowling shoes are just way too cute!

We decided that since we were out of town, we would visit a few more places too.

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We took the kids to one of my very favorite Ice Cream shops. They really like it too.

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We took the kiddos to the mall too. The last time we were there Agnes was little bitty, this time she said about every two seconds “I like mall”. We looked around a bit, but the boys had other plans.

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James took the boys to the Arcade, and they loved it!

We had to make one more stop before we got on the road. We headed to Payless for new shoes for the kiddos.

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Six new pairs of Spring shoes to be exact. Agnes was thrilled though, she loves shoes.

It was a fun day, even though it rained like crazy. The kids can’t wait to go bowling again too.

Mar 1

March’s Monthly Menu

Where did February go… It is March already and that means it’s time for another monthly menu. I’ll be keeping busy in the kitchen once again, so here we go.

  • 3/1/2012: Salmon Cakes and Salad
  • 3/2/2012: Nacho Bar
  • 3/3/2012: Dinner Out!
  • 3/4/2012: Panko Chicken Cutlets, Salad, and Homemade Rolls
  • 3/5/2012: Beef Stew and Homemade Rolls
  • 3/6/2012: Chicken Burritos, Tortilla Chips, Homemade Salsa, Cheese Dip, and Re-fried Beans
  • 3/7/2012: Bean & Cheese Tostadas, Tortilla Chips, Homemade Salsa, and Cheese Dip
  • 3/8/2012: Chicken Chow Mien, Salted Edamame, Rice, Chow Mien Noodles, and Sugar Dumplings
  • 3/9/2012: Tacos, Tortilla Chips, Homemade Salsa, Cheese Dip, and Re-fried Beans
  • 3/10/2012: Pancakes, Bacon, and Scrambled Eggs
  • 3/11/2012: Chicken Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, and Homemade Rolls
  • 3/12/2012: Grilled Chicken, Rice, and Corn
  • 3/13/2012: Nacho Bar
  • 3/14/2012: Chili, Saltines, and Brownies
  • 3/15/2012: Grilled Chicken, Baked Potatoes, and Salad
  • 3/16/2012: Hamburgers, Potato Chips & Dip
  • 3/17/2012: Bacon, Scrambled Eggs, Toast, Cheesy Potatoes, and Apple Slices
  • 3/18/2012: Pot Roast with Potatoes, and Homemade Rolls
  • 3/19/2012: Salmon Cakes and Salad
  • 3/20/2012: Chicken Fajitas, Tortilla Chips, Cheese Dip, Homemade Salsa, and Re-fried Beans
  • 3/21/2012: Nacho Bar
  • 3/22/2012: Beef Stew and Homemade Rolls
  • 3/23/2012: Chicken Burritos, Tortilla Chips, Cheese Dip, Homemade Salsa, and Re-fried Beans
  • 3/24/2012: Biscuit Sandwiches, Breakfast Potatoes, and Fresh Fruit
  • 3/25/2012: Homemade Pizza- Cheese (no sauce), Pepperoni, Veggie, Canadian Bacon & Black Olive
  • 3/26/2012: Panko Popcorn Chicken, Macaroni & Cheese, and Chocolate Bundt Cake
  • 3/27/2012: Bean & Cheese Tostadas, Tortilla Chips, Homemade Salsa, and Cheese Dip
  • 3/28/2012: Chicken Chow Mien, Salted Edamame, Rice, Chow Mien Noodles, and Sugar Dumplings
  • 3/29/2012: Salmon Cakes and Salad
  • 3/30/2012: Tacos, Tortilla Chips, Homemade Salsa, Cheese Dip, and Re-fried Beans
  • 3/31/2012: Sausage & Pepper Hash, Cinnamon Rolls, and Apple Slices

March will be extra busy too, there is a big birthday to celebrate, Spring Break, Music Camp, School performances,  and two little guys in Tae Kwon Do two times a week. I can’t wait for Spring to get here though, it is a wonderful time of the year. Time to make some shopping lists and get to it.

Feb 24

When The Weather Is Cool

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We’ve been pretty lucky this Winter, the weather has been mild. The kids are already counting down the days to Spring though, and me too… These all too cool days have us indoors spending our time. To make the indoors a little more fun, here are a few of the kiddos favorite indoor activities.

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The boys love to draw. We have art stations set up in the foyer and in their room too. Agnes is just starting to draw alongside them too.

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One of Agnes’ other favorite activities, it trashing her bedroom… I’m not such a big fan of this one, but she does help with the pick-up before bedtime. I’m sure this is just a phase, but it still drives me crazy.

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Speaking of clean-up, all three kids love to take turns with the stick vac. While I’m cooking dinner, I ask them to run around the house and put away any stray toys. One of the boys will then ask to vacuum. I can’t say no to that.

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On cool and cloudy days cardboard boxes have become the must have toy.

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I can remember when my brother and I were little, and cardboard boxes where one of our favorite indoor toys too. Imaginative play is the best. I love to see what the kiddos come up with next.

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Sometimes there is that one “magic” box that every kiddo wants.

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There might be an epic coveted box battle going on here. Yep, 3 kids and they all want the same one…

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Dress up is always fun too. Well, in Agnes’ game it is swipe your brother’s cowboy hat, and then run as fast as you can before he grabs it back.

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Thade is a really great reader, and Dylan is starting to learn how to read too. Agnes loves to look at picture books, and sales ads too. She loves to point out orange objects. Reading is a fun activity for all.

Winter has had it’s challenges, but it has been a great one. I do long for pretty Spring days though, and a little more time out in the garden.

What about you, what do you like best about the indoors?