Family Food Faves

Several of you have mentioned that you miss seeing our family favorite recipes. I'm so honored! I will be posting more regularly now that we're settled in from the holidays.

Honey Garlic Pork Chops
4 Boneless (bone in is good too) Center Cut Loin Chops
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup honey
2 T. soy sauce
1 T. sherry cooking wine (in grocery store - no need for a liquor store!)
2 garlic cloves, minced

Combine all ingredients in large resealable bag and refrigerate 4-24 hours. Best when grilled on BBQ - cook until 155 degrees.

Spinach Ravioli Bake
my boys LOVE this!
2 cups spaghetti sauce
1 package (25 oz) frozen ravioli of choice (I use meat)
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 package (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/4 cup (I use more) grated Parmesan cheese

Place 1 cup spaghetti sauce in a greased 2 qt. baking dish. Top with half of the ravioli, mozzarella cheese, spinach and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat layers. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes until heated through and the cheese is melted.

Turkey Meatloaf
2 T. butter
1 cup chopped onion
3 cloves minced garlic (it's pretty strong - cut back if you don't like a lot)
1 package ground turkey breast
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 large egg
3/4 cup ketchup (divided)
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Heat oven to 350. Melt butter over med. heat. Add onion and cook for 4 minutes, then add garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool for 5 minutes. Add turkey, bread crumbs, egg, 1/4 cup ketchup, worc. sauce, salt and pepper to mixture and mix well. Pack into a 8 X 4 loaf pan. Spread remaining 1/2 cup ketchup over the top. Bake 50-55 minutes or until temp is 165 degrees. Let stand 5 min.

Sick

I am sick of sickness! The boys started barking like seals over a week ago. Then they got runny noses, scratchy throats and fevers. At times, they cough so hard that they throw up! After a few days of letting it run its course, it was only worsening, so we took them to the pediatrician. They both had double ear infections and possible strep throats - horribly red throats with white puss spots all over their mouths. Poor babies...no wonder they weren't eating and sleeping well! Here's a pic of our daily medicine/health product regime...it's a job keeping all the doses straight!
All they want to do is be held by us and snuggle with one another.

Drew has always been good about taking his medicine/vitamins. Bryce on the other hand, does well with his vitamins but fights us with his medicine. It takes both of us to hold him down and pry his mouth open to get it down him. So, we decided to make it a game. Every time he takes a little bit we yell "good job Bryce" and clap and do a happy dance for him. He enjoyed the positive reinforcement so much that when he finished, he said "MORE!" Hmmm...it must not be too bad!
I'm a little concerned about our little Drew. He as always been very tall and thin but he has lost quite a bit of weight recently. At the doctor's office the other day he only weighed 24 pounds while he weighed 25 pounds over 4 months ago at their 18 month checkup. He is in the 97% percentile for height and only 10% for weight. Hopefully as his appetite returns we can fatten him up a little bit! If anyone has any healthy, high-calorie suggestions, please pass them along!

Update and Time for Change!

We were out state for the past month on our Christmas holiday so I have a lot of catching up to do. I will be blogging soon about our vacation and will also be adding family favorite recipes again!

I usually don't make New Year's resolutions because I hate to live with the guilt and disappointment I feel when I don't follow through. This year is different.

(BEWARE...PREGNANT BELLY PICTURES AHEAD!)

Laying in bed for 3 1/2 months on strict bedrest...

Dealing with the stress of pre-term labor and a high-risk pregnancy...

Gaining almost 40 pounds...


Having a c-section...

And breastfeeding for 11 months (I'll spare you the visual!)...
Was all worth it

But it's now time to lose my post-pregnancy weight and get physically fit. Most days I feel double my age and wonder how I'm going to keep up with the boys. Cleaning house, cooking and running after 2 toddlers is just not enough movement! So, to get me motivated and to kick my rear in gear I hired a personal trainer. I will be working out with him 3 days a week for 1 1/2 hours. That's a lot for a fat, out of shape mama who hasn't moved her body like this in years! He certainly has his work cut out for him. I started today and absolutely loved it. It felt so good to be doing something healthy for myself. It's a great stress reliever and a nice little break from the boys. I would love to look like this

but for now, I will be happy just to survive my workouts!