Attempting to be a Super Mom

The other night, we made spaghetti, using this sauce . I made a quick parmesan garlic bread in the bread machine and planned on a salad. When I went to get the salad dressing out of the fridge, all I could find was Ranch. That's great and all for the kids, but for us adults who are trying to make small changes to our diet to make things a bit healthier without sacrificing taste, Ranch isn't the best option. (Don't get me wrong, I love Ranch, but it's not very good for you.) I jumped online and found this recipe list at Genius Kitchen. It's easy peasy and so full of flavor. Lemon Vinaigrette 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1⁄2 teaspoon oregano 1⁄2 teaspoon minced garlic Shake all ingredients for your chosen variation together in a tightly-lidded container OR whisk together in a small bowl. Let stand 10 minutes to rehydrate dried herbs and blend flavors. Shake again then dress salad as desired.

I was craving something different and stumbled upon this super yummy Instant Pot recipe for Barbacoa Beef at Gimme Some Oven. We made Barbacoa bowls with rice, corn, black beans, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Every one ate it and loved it. The kids argued that it was better than Chipotle. Shawn at the left overs in eggs the next 2 days as well. Instant Pot Barbacoa 2/3 cup beer or water 4 cloves garlic 2 chipotles in adobo sauce  (or more, to taste) 1 small white onion, peeled and roughly chopped 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano (or regular oregano) 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 tsp ground cloves 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 pounds beef chuck roast* (fat trimmed) ,  cut into 2-inch chunks 3 bay leaves Combine beer, garlic, chipotles, onion, green chiles, lime juice, v

This next recipe is giving me a bit of grief now... I'm trying to get it to load but thanks to the lovely NY Times recipes subscription screen I'm struggling getting it to load anywhere but my phone. It was really good, and my husband wants me to cook it again tomorrow. You can try this link and hopefully it works, or I'll post the recipe right here. Paul Prudhomme's Bronzed Chicken Breasts 1   tablespoon salt ½   teaspoon sweet paprika 1   teaspoon white pepper 1   teaspoon granulated or powdered onion 1   teaspoon granulated or powdered garlic 1   teaspoon dried basil leaves ½   teaspoon ground black pepper ½   teaspoon dried thyme leaves 8   boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 3 ounces each) at room temperature Heat a heavy skillet to 350 degrees (preferably using a grill thermometer; or leave it over a medium flame for 8 to 10 minutes or until 1/2 teaspoon of water bursts into droplets that chase each other around the pan). Bl

On an Amazon deal, right before Thanksgiving, my husband bought me the Instant Pot I'd been wanting. It has become one of my most favorite kitchen gadgets, to the point I even bought one for my mom for Christmas (She cooks a lot like I do and loves this stuff). I'm determined to find ways to make things I love to eat, easier. One of those things is mashed potatoes. I love them but will go for the instant ones because of time and ease 9 times out of 10, even though real mashed potatoes are a million times better tasting. In comes the Instant Pot. I found this recipe here on The Salty Marshmallow, and it went so perfectly with our meatloaf that I don't know how I'll do it any other way ever again. Also, if you're interested, my meatloaf recipe, is still a favorite in our house and you can find it here . Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes 3 Pounds Potatoes 6 medium, Peeled and Sliced Water to Cover Potatoes About 4-5 cups 2 Teaspoons Salt Divided 1/4 Cup Butter

Hello 2019! Last year, 2018, was a year that for a good chunk of, I forgot about me. I spent most of my time running kids from place to place, didn't crochet, cooked a lot but didn't keep track or log my recipes, barely kept up on videos, no blogs, and didn't read as much as I'd have liked. I ended up struggling a lot with my anxiety and depression. It's now 2019 and I'm still struggling with anxiety and depression, and life won't slow down much any time soon, but I need me. I need to go back to doing what makes me happy too. I'm listening to books on audible and podcasts, I'm relearning French (and taking lots of notes because secretly I miss school, just not all the craziness that goes with it and scheduling), I've pulled old crochet projects out and jumped back in, as well as am planning new ones, I'm already on my 3rd book of the year for me (not counting Farmer Boy that I'm reading to the kids), we've had family game ni