Chai-Spiced Pumpkin Bars From The Kitchn

Photo via The Kitchn

Here are some yummy looking bars to make for the fam. Yum! Get the recipe for Chai-Spiced Pumpkin Bars From The Kitchn here!

Creamy Quinoa Casserole!

I found this recipe and modified it slightly as it called for a can of mushroom soup and french fried onions.  It was such a yum comfort food!

1 cup quinoa
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups broccoli
1-2 cups chopped mushrooms
1 tbsp flour
2 tbsp butter
1 cup milk
1/2 red onion chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 2% plain greek yogurt
1-2 tomatoes sliced
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1.  Cook the quinoa.
2.  Steam the broccoli.
3.  Cook the mushrooms in the butter then stir in flour.  Cook for about a minute then add the milk.  Cook till it thickens.
4.  Cook the onion.
5.  Mix the cooked quinoa with the steamed broccoli, mushroom mixture, cheese, cooked onions and greek yogurt.
6.  Put into a baking dish.  Top with sliced tomato and parmesan cheese.  Bake for 20ish minutes at 350.

tank

Just got this in the mail - love it!

Swiss Chard and Roasted Tomato Lasagna

I created my own recipe for the first time tonight and it was a success!  This sounded and looked yummy to me but the reviews were horrible.  I decided to not do it in the slow cooker (as it seemed  like that was the root of the issues, as well as the un-chopped swiss chard) and add roasted grape tomatoes.  My recipe is below!

4 garlic cloves minced
1 onion diced
1 can of plum tomatoes
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp oregano
1 bunch of swiss chard, chopped
1 pint (or more) of grape tomatoes (I used the gourmet mix)
9 lasagna noodles
1 tub of ricotta cheese
About 1 cup (or as much to your liking) Parmesan cheese

Cook the onion and garlic then add the plum tomatoes.  Cook to reduce some of the liquid.  Add balsamic vinegar and oregano.  Roast the grape tomatoes, and cook the noodles.  Mix half the parmesan with the ricotta.

To assemble use an 8 X 12 pan.  Put a bit of sauce to cover the bottom and top with 3 noodles.  Then cover the noodles with more sauce and then all the ricotta and parmesan mix.  Top with 3 noodles.  Sprinkle the swiss chard over the noodles and then layer the all the roasted tomatoes on.  Top with the last 3 noodles.  Top off with the rest of the sauce and then the rest of the parmesan.  I cooked at 325 for like 20 minutes uncovered and then for about another 20 covered.  Those are approximates.

Enjoy!

Wow.

These look yum and nutritious.  I actually just bought some dried cherries today which might be a good substitute for the cranberries.  They are from Farmgirl Gourmet here.

Is it popsicle season yet?

Check out this popsicle mould I got from amazon!  Ring pops!  I'm thinking this summer I will be the queen of making my own popsicles as the kids LOVE them.  Now I just need to find some good recipes.

okay LOVE!

The Esssex minibag on madewell!

Double Broccoli Pesto Quinoa

This is a great recipe if you have lots of broccoli to use up (or if you're like me and you keep getting broccoli in your veggie box and want to use it in a different way...). I've made it several times before and I really like it. It's not one of Mark's favourites because he says there's too much garlic, but I just put two cloves and it's still yummy.

Making this tonight with roasted cherry tomatoes!

My Kinda Cafe (mostly cause I'm lazy)

I really want to check this place out.  It's not far from us.  I think we should meet for brunch there :) I heard through the grapevine they MAY have a train table there??

Tortilla Love!

Honestly fajitas, enchiladas, burritos...whatever you call'em I feel like I could eat anything stuffed into a tortilla.  :)  Found these two recipes on a real food website called Unconventional Kitchen.  If you sign up for her email updates you get free meal plans and shopping lists (although not meatless).  

Butternut Squash Black Been Burrito

Sweet Potato Enchiladas with Carmelized Onions

Spice-Rubbed Fish with Lemony Rice

I know you're not eating fish right now but I made this tonight and it was pretty good! I used quinoa instead of rice and broccoli instead of zucchini because it's what I had

Really?

Seriously thinking about giving this a try!  I really HATE all the other options and feel like this couldn't be worse!

Mine!

I totally thought of this!

http://get.ziplist.com/

However I think this might have been around longer than when I thought of it :)

Easter Wants!

Adorable!  And you save $3 on each when you order 3 or more.  From Lands End!

Need More Sanity

I'm totally going to sign up for the spring Project Simplify from Simple Mom (I think this should be one of our favourite sites).

BUT before that my goal is to make my life 1 little bit saner by organizing my bag AND car.  I've been thinking I need a better system and read this post today and thought the time is NOW!  Honestly I haven't even been carrying a purse for the last 2 months.  I shove mostly everything into my coat pockets.  Well by everything I mean my car key, house key, credit card, phone and license.  Oh and handfuls of kleenex, mittens, lip balm, snacks and periodically a super bouncy ball or two!  I keep a couple diapers and wipes in the van.  Which means most times the wipes are FROZEN solid.  So basically I think I need some sort of car caddy that holds all car essentials and can be brought in and out easily so nothing freezes and/or melts.  I also need to start using my purse again so that my cards stay safe.  I can't say how many times over the past 6 months I've lost my library card, credit card, debit card.  SO frustrating!  Then thinking ahead I need a take to the park bag for the spring/summer.  

I think I might need a new bag again?  ;)  I've been checking out Lug.  I think they are really practical and most importantly perfect for evenings on the beach on PEI this summer!  Speaking of PEI I really think you and Mark should consider going down this summer too!!

The Sweetest

From Lottie Da!

New Shoes!

Yes please!!  Bensimon's on Madewell! 

chair for leo

So we're thinking of getting a nice big cozy chair in Leo's room for reading books and then something that can stay in there as he gets older. Right now we have a super uncomfy chair in there and it's not working out. We'll have to see how comfy this actually is, but for the price it might just work!

We love short shorts!

I purchased this shirt and shorts last week and they arrived today!  I was quite skeptical with the length of the shorts but I actually LOVE them!  I think my muscular quads ;) (aka big thighs) look better in this length than hitting me mid quad.  And they are made of this super soft and comfy fabric.  Okay ready for spring!

Vegan Fajitas

Source: ohsheglows.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

These sound delish!

My Birthstone

I'm so in love with this copper and garnet ring made by 

Midwest Alchemy.  

Spanish-Inspired Chickpea Stew

Making this in the slow cooker for dinner tonight - I'll let you know how it turns out!

Source: yummly.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Key Lime Pie Mojito

um yes please!

 via

Park Attire?

Could I wear this to the park this summer?  ;)  Cause I just LOVE this look.

pinterest challenge!

This is the cutest video ever - I had to share it. I'm seriously crying it was so cute.

Lemony Pasta with Goat Cheese and Spinach

I know you've likely seen this but it looks so good! I just wish I had all the ingredients. Maybe I'll make a variation today for dinner tonight.

Never too many food blogs

Sometimes I feel like there is no need to bother buying cookbooks!  Especially with blogs like these.  This is by far my current favourite place to get recipes!  Our meals for the next three nights have all come from this Marin Mama.

And yes I will be making these cookies in the very new future!

I HEART Chucks!

I need to sneaker up the kids for spring/summer and I am so crazy about converse for them!  I'm having a hard time choosing!  You can even design your own (for double the price).

Rowan!

Sidney!

Carson!

hatley sale and too many clothes

I just got finished telling Mark that I felt like I was drowning in clothes for the kids, but Hatley is having a sale today and tomorrow and it's taking everything in me to resist getting this coat. It's so sweet!