I know it is processed, but I need a BREAK!

Ok...so it is October.  We are almost 2 months into school, and I am already at the point where school lunches are giving me ulcers and acne.  Seriously!  My kids will prepare their own lunches sometimes, but there are days where there just isn't time.  Between a busy hockey and ringette schedule and the fact that the kids are getting later ice times and more homework due to their age, it just seems busy beyond belief.  

Today, I treated myself...no, not to a mani-pedi, not to a day at the spa...but to some convenient, semi healthy choices from Costco.  I truly believe that all foods can fit...everything from home-made to processed....it's really just how they fit into your life that makes the difference.  Of course it is better to prepare things from scratch, but at the same time, it can be emotionally healthier to give yourself a break and go with food that is easy and prepared.  And to NOT feel guilty about it!  So, today I bought 1 package of beef sausage rolls, and package of mini soft chicken taco's.  When I was loading up my cart with the lunch items, as well as a Costco fresh-made lasagne for dinner tonite, I did feel slightly guilty, and even ashamed of my cart, which is utterly ridiculous!  I even tried to justify my choices to the cashier to try and find some sort of affirmation! Ridiculous!  Don't worry....I got over that by the time I got to my car.

The end result today was a delicious, easy dinner (with leftovers), and no-think lunches that I know the kids will eat.  Kids were happy, hubby was happy....and all the guilt was gone.  I even had time to make the garlic bread!

Salmon with Curry Linguine

How delicious does this look????   

My kids LOVED this today!   A real hit for a Monday!

Lately, I have really been trying to make meals with what I have at home and  not run to the grocery store every day....which means I have to plan ahead and be creative.  Note:  I do most of my meal planning in the car....either after I drop the kids off at school or on my way home from work.  This weekend was great from a buying-food-for-the-week perspective, as I went to the Crossroads Farmer's Market on Friday and stocked up on a few essentials (including our favourite Saskatoon Berry Pie!) and also went to Lina's Italian Market and stocked up on fresh pasta and and sauce, which make easy freezer-to-table meals in a short amount of time.   Today I decided to cook up a whole salmon fillet from Costco, and have it with the Lina's pasta and their curry cream sauce.  Throw some veggies on the side....and it's the perfect dinner.  

Here's what I did:

• Called my son at 3:30 and instructed him to take the salmon, the pasta and the sauce out of the freezer.  He was happy to comply, and found everything where I said it would be
• Home at 5:45....daughter was in the middle of  piano lessons so I quietly prepared the salmon
• Oven on....400 convection....
• Placed the salmon on a parchment lined cookie sheet and drizzled on some maple syrup and topped with minced garlic and  fresh lemon slices.  Covered it up with foil, and baked until about 6:45 or so.  It was still partially frozen when I put it in...so if your salmon is thawed or fresh, it will take a shorter time.
• Salmon in the oven..time to walk the dog!  And it was even sunny!  
• Back at 6:25....put the water to boil for the pasta....prepared the  peas and broccoli...microwaved the peas and poured some boiling water over the broccoli to slightly soften
• Boiled the pasta, added the sauce....set the table.....and dinner was ready!  Yes, it was a bit later, but everyone loved it!  The kids took seconds (and thirds!).  My son even was shocked at how much he loved the salmon!!!!   

I'd say this meal was a success....pasta, fish and veggies....simple, delicious, and best of all, there was enough leftovers for a few lunches!   

Steak Salad Supreme

We barbecued steak on the weekend, and as luck would have it, there were enough leftovers to make a jazzy salad. I am not typically a "salad" person unless it is a really interesting salad.  I don't go for iceberg lettuce and cucumber salad.  I need some substance and depth to my salad.   One of my favourite things to do is to use our leftover meat, whatever it may be, and throw it on top of interesting and flavourful greens.   Add in some pecans, craisins and a few crumbled slices of fresh aged parmesan cheese and it's like your meal has been prepared by a famous chef.  Drizzle with yummy balamic reduction and...well, let's just that I'm glad I had some alone time with my salad today.

Arugula Steak Salad

Balsamic Reduction
from a friend of mine!

Here's what I did:

• Sliced up the leftover steak and heated it up (not too much)
• Washed some arugula (yum!)
• Added some fresh mango and strawberry slices
• Added some raw pecans, craisins and crumbled aged parmesan
• Drizzled the balsamic reduction

 It was quick, easy, delicious and nutritious!  Let's here it for Steak Salad!

Rivel Soup for the Soul...

Steaming bowl-a-soup, anyone?

 Both our kids were sick today...flu, cold, etc...I think most people, kids included, have their "safe foods" when they are feeling unwell.  My kids always ask for something called "rivel soup". I learned how to make this from my mother-in-law, and have to say, while mine is not as good as hers, it is pretty close (which means it is amazing!).  

It is dubbed "lazy man noodle" soup, but there is nothing lazy about it, unless you've been making it for years.   The first time I made it, it took me almost 45 minutes to make these rivels!



I always save my bones...be it from chicken or turkey.  I just bag 'em and chuck 'em in the freezer.  When I am ready to make soup, just add water, and boil 'em up.   I add a bay leaf or two, some soup base and some sea salt and pepper, and then the broth tastes amazing, fresh and cures what ails you. Start boiling it in the late morning and let simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Strain out all the bones.  If there is meat on the bones, you can shred it off and use in the soup if you wish.

For the rivels, its simply eggs and flour, and you really need to see someone do it to know how to do it.   I will attempt to write the recipe out, though, just in case there are any adventurous people out there!

• start with 2 cups and a bit of flour
• add in 3 eggs.   NO water at this point.
• Mix together rubbing your hands together, and make it all look like sand at a beach.
• Then, you need to add water, but if you add too much, it will wreck it.  I find that if you just slightly wet your had under the tap, and mix it into your bowl, it works better.  Every time you do that, rub all the dough together.  Eventually, you'll get nice small little balls (I know, sounds funny). 
• If it still appears too fine, wet your hand again, and rub the dough all together between your hands.   
• Once it looks like this....then pour all your balls in a colander and shake out the tiny tiny balls, and use only the one's that stay in your colander.

The rivels.....

• The broth (which you should have ready after boiling up those bones) should be boiling, and then just add in the balls!  
• Boil for 5 minutes or so, and your soup is ready.  Add S&P to taste.  I know it has no veggies, but the broth, combined with the "lazy-man-egg-noodles" are just perfect for that comfort food that is much needed for colds, or getting over the flu, when you need those hot steaming liquids.  

One last pic of my perfect-rivels!

I am happy to say that my rivels were amazing today, and I made them in less than 15 minutes!  Practice does really make perfect!