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!

Late Night Baking, etc...

So those of you who have read some of my posts know that I can be a bit...much.  I go overboard with baking and cooking, and sometimes, I do this at the most inopportune time.  Tonight, it was after 10 pm when I decided to bake not just my easy breezy brownies, but also make some pizza rolls for the kids to take for lunch (which also doubles as a great after school snack).  Cue the hubby rolling his eyes at my late night baking antics, and off I went to cook and bake, with my iPad  tuned to my fave soap (yes, I still enjoy the occasional episode of GH....and its REALLY good right now!).

I started after 10 pm and  finished before 11:30:

Pizza buns...yummmm.....

•  Made the dough, and while it was rising, I whipped up my easy brownies.
• While they were baking, it was time to roll out the dough in a rectangle shape, slap on the pizza sauce, shredded mozza and black forest ham.  
• After that was all topped up, time to roll it up like a log, pinch the seam and ends shut, cut into sandwich sized pieces and bake for 20 minutes on 350.  They heat up great in the microwave at school, and the kids really like them!  
• And of course they can be stored in your deep freeze for a quick snack/lunch/whatever!  When do I make anything I can't freeze??

The brownies of course turned out, and will make a yummy treat in the kids lunches tomorrow.

1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup flour
3 tsp baking powder
3 TBSP cocoa
Mix all the wet together, throw in the dry stuff, mix well, and bake for 18 minutes at 350!

That was...