April Menu

I have a harder time meal planning in April and May, the weather here is just so unpredictable! When the weather starts to get warmer, I crave light food, salads, fruit, sandwiches, and just can't wait to fire up the grill. I may plan for that, and then it will snow that day - or have planned to make soup, or a lasagna and it will be 80 degrees! So, in spring I often just plan a week at a time, and try to remain more flexible.

Also, this April we left for England on the 3rd, and my Mum was here watching the kids - I wanted to make it a little easier on her, so the menu from the 3rd to the 10th was made up of things that I had pre-made & frozen, or were just really easy to make.

WEEK ONE
1st - Thai Ginger Salmon. Edamame. Wild Rice.
2nd - Black Bean & Corn Burritos.
3rd - Topped Baked Potatoes.
4th - Order Pizza.


WEEK TWO (make ahead week.)
5th - Hawaiian Haystacks.
6th - Spinach Tortellini.
7th - Chicken Pot Pies.
8th - Carrot Soup. Bread.
9th - Chicken & Broccoli Casserole. Rice.
10th - Order Pizza.
11th - Thai Ginger Salmon. Edamame. Wild Rice.


WEEK THREE
12th - (EASTER) Roast leg of Lamb. Steamed Asparagus. Roast Potatoes. Roast Carrots. Bread Rolls. Salad. Lemon Meringue Tarts.
13th - Baked Macaroni & Cheese.
14th - Carrot Soup. Wholewheat Bread (because Mum had used leftovers the week before instead of soup.)
15th - Chicken Pot Pies. Steamed Broccoli.
16th - Ham & Cheese Quiche. Spinach Salad.
17th -
18th - Order Out. (American Bistro.)


WEEK FOUR
19th - Pot Roast. Mashed Potatoes.
20th - LeeAne's Tomato Soup.
21st -
22nd - Chicken Cacciatore. Rice.
23rd - Shrimp Scampi. Angel Hair pasta.
24th - Vegetarian Soft Taco's.
25th - BENTON BROOK FARM. (take cookies & salad.)


WEEK FIVE
26th -
27th -
28th -
29th -
30th -

Snacks

I like my kids (all of us really) to eat yogurt every day. Jacob, Jane and I love it - so we eat it every day for a snack between breakfast and lunch. I instituted this with the bigger girls too - but haven't been able to maintain it after they go to school. (When we eat pancakes for breakfast I make them with yogurt - so at least that's something!)

The other typical snack we have is after school. I have to say that recently I have all but eliminated this snack - it really does seem to take the edge off dinner. We eat dinner around 5:30 every day (sporting activities allowing.) After school snacks are usually around 3 or 3:30 - I think it's just too close. If they don't eat enough dinner they wake up even earlier than usual, because they're hungry - which kills me! So the snacks have been nixed.

That said - there are days when we just need them. Maybe we're at a late swimming class, T-ball practice, playing late at the park because it's a beautiful day, or some other reason dinner will be later. So, I have decided that when they have an afternoon snack, it needs to be something that I don't mind taking the place of part of their dinner, that way I'm not as bothered if they eat less at mealtime.

Here are some of our favorite snacks -

Sliced bell peppers.

Celery with peanut butter or cream cheese.

Apples with peanut butter. (The only form of fruit Emy or Jane will eat.)

Crackers and goat cheese (or any kind of cheese.)

Hummus with carrots or pita chips.

Snow or snap peas.

Any bean (black beans are our favorite, but we also love small red, or chick peas.)

Broccoli, cucumber or carrots with ranch for dipping.

Popcorn
(OK, not alright with this taking the place of dinner - but it's an easy and yummy snack and not too filling, so sometimes we get away with it.)

Jacob will also eat any fruit - watermelon, berries or a banana are his favs. Of course, my little girlies won't touch the fruit. Sigh.

What are some of your favorite snacks?

Picky Eaters

When Rebekah was a baby and toddler she was the GREATEST eater. She ate everything, loved vegetables, and would choose an apple over a candy bar any day. We ate a lot of vegetarian food, and spicy food, and a wide variety of food and she downed it all.

I was quite pleased with myself. I was absolutely convinced that my great parenting choices had created her habits. I thought that parents who complained about picky eaters were just pandering to their children. I was of the opinion that kids would eat what you wanted them too, once they got hungry enough - so only offer them good food.

Then I had Emily.
Oh boy, did pride ever goeth before a fall!

While Jake will eat just about anything you put in front of him and Rebekah is still pretty good - Jane and Emily are very picky. I have parented them in much the same way, breastfed them all exclusively, made my own baby foods, and followed the same habits as I introduced solids (not a day before 6 months old.) It has produced very different results.

When Jane won't stay in her seat and eat her food, she has to sit in the highchair.
It's not pretty.

You'd think we were beating her the way she wails.

She tries to get out - and often comes pretty close.

It's tough on the heartstrings too - though my frustration by this point has usually reach a level that gives me way less compassion for those tears!

So here's what I've decided - some kids are born great eaters, and others are born picky. The only thing we can do as parents is offer them healthy food, model good choices (still working on that one) and not beat ourselves up about it. The occasional treat (aka bribe) is probably OK too.

Jacob Eats

I have often commented to friends that our Heavenly Father knew I needed Jacob in between Emily & Jane. In so many ways he is the "hardest" child - but when it comes to eating he saves my sanity!

Jacob LOVES to eat.
He relishes it. He makes small approving noises.
He tries almost anything new. He eats fruit. He eats large portions and second helpings.

Meal times are not social events for Jacob, he stops talking as he picks up his fork. His head goes down and he is focused on eating and nothing else until his plate (or 2) are cleared.

When we recently ate out Jacob asked me where we were going for dinner, and what would I eat? I told him it was somewhere I hadn't been before - but it was Greek, so there'd probably be fish, and lamb. Also grape leaves, yogurt, lemon and olive oil. He said "MMMMM" and smacked his lips - then said "Please will you bring me something."
We got an order of baklava to go, and he had it for breakfast the next morning.

Jake feeding you is a joy and a pleasure!

Element Cake

It's Rebekah's chemistry teacher's birthday and she wanted to make him a cake.
This was her idea - I think it was brilliant.

His initials are R. R. R. (R3), he is Irish (the colors), he's turning 28, he was born on 04/04/81, and she has a double period of chemistry during 2nd & 3rd period or 8th & 9th depending on the day.

Maybe for graduation she'll do the whole periodic table.

Waiting for Something New?

I'm taking a break from posting menu's and recipes for a while.

Partly because I'm crazy-busy-overwhelmed, and partly because I'm off to London tomorrow with Rick and Rebekah for a week. But mostly, because I'm bored. It always happens around this time of year - I start getting sick of the stew & soups I relished in fall and through January. I don't want to cook. I crave salad and sandwiches. Or anything with pesto, made from basil picked from our garden ...

I'll make up a new menu starting in May with all our spring and summer favorites, and I'll take some time to post about other food things I've been mulling over.

Happy Spring!

February

Here's what we did in February ....

WEEK ONE
1st - Chili & Biscuits (Superbowl party)
2nd - Spinach Tortellini & Salad
3rd - Tomato Soup & French Bread
4th - Omelets
5th - Baked Halibut, corn, green beans
6th - Order Pizza
7th - Dinner at our friends house.


WEEK TWO
8th - Beef Strogonoff. Wide noodles.
9th - Vegetarian Lasagne.
10th - Chicken Pot Pie.
11th -
12th - Chicken Stir Fry.
13th - EMILY"S NIGHT (Taco Soup)
14th -


WEEK THREE
15th - Hawaiian Haystacks.
16th - Take Out
17th - Carrot Soup. Wholewheat rolls.
18th - Lemon Baked Halibut. Broccoli. Wild rice mix.
19th - Chicken Enchiladas. Brown rice.
20th - Birthday Trip
21st - Birthday Trip


WEEK FOUR
22nd - Honey Baked Chicken. broccoli. rice. (birthday Cake)
23rd - Spaghetti
24th - Lentil Soup. Wholewheat bread.
25th - Teriyaki Tofu Stir Fry. Brown Rice.
26th - Chicken & Broccoli Casserole.
27th - EMILY"S NIGHT (stuffed baked potatoes)
28th - Tomato Soup. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.