Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken Wings and Weekly Menu

Finally we are getting some nice weather! That means I do not want to cook inside. I dragged out my trusty crock pot today and made these delicious Bourbon Chicken Wings over white rice.

I did my grocery shopping yesterday. Here is my menu for the next week or so.

Grilled chicken salads with avocado, tomatoes, black beans, and Romaine lettuce
Bourbon Chicken wings over white rice
Honey Peppered Salmon with cous cous
Tequila lemon lime chicken with a veggie and new potatoes

I know there is more but my mind escapes me right now.

Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken Wings

Note: Broil the chicken wings on a foil lined cookie sheet for about 20 minutes. It helps the chicken wings retain their shape in the crock pot.

3 lbs chicken wings (Defrosted if frozen)
1/3 c soy sauce
1/2 tsp ginger grated
3/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 c apple juice
1/3 c brown sugar
2 TBSP ketchup
1 airline sized bottle of bourbon
1 TBSP apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp grated garlic or 2 cloves

Broil the wings on a cookie sheet coated with tin foil. (it makes for easier clean up) Remove wings from the oven and put into the crock pot. Mix together the sauce ingredients and pour over the chicken wings. Set for high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. I turned the wings every few hours or so. Serve over white rice.

Strawberry Shortcake with Homemade Shortcake

Usually I buy angel food cake or the little spongecake muffin like thingies to hold my strawberries but I came across this recipe for homemade shortcake and it looked delicious! It came together within 15 minutes. I allowed about 10 minutes for the shortbread to cool down before slicing it in half. My daughter even asked for seconds.

Filling and Topping

1 pt of strawberries hulled and sliced
2 TBSP sugar
1 8oz container heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 c powdered sugar

Shortcake:
1/4 c sugar
2  cups self rising flour
1/2 c butter cubed
1/3 c half and half plus a small amount for brushing the tops of the shortcake
1 egg beaten

Pre heat the oven to 425 degrees. Combine strawberries with sugar and let sit in the fridge while you make the shortcake. In a medium bowl add the flour and sugar add the cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or fork to incorporate the butter in. Add the egg and half and half.  With a large spoon begin to stir the dough. The dough should have some chunky crumbs in it.

Use your hands to kneed the dough until it makes a ball. Kneed the dough about 8-10 times with your hands. Be sure to flour the rolling pin! I rolled the dough out on plastic wrap with a rolling pin and cut it into 8 pieces. You can also use a biscuit cutter or old tuna can with both ends removed. Bake on ungreased baking sheet for 15 minutes. Remove and let cool for about 10 minutes.

Beat the cream on high speed. Add the vanilla to it and keep mixing for 1-3 minutes or until stiff peaks form.
With a serrated knife cut the shortcake biscuits in half. Layer the whipped cream and strawberries.

A New Twist on Potato Salad

Warm Red Potato Salad

6 large red potatoes boiled
4 eggs hard boiled and chopped
4 pieces turkey bacon fried crisp and chopped
2 stalks celery cut into 3rds and diced
1/2 onion like Spanish or Vidallia
1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
1/2 c Miracle Whip or Mayo
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Cut the eyes out of the red potatoes but leave the skins intact. Cut in half and boil for 20-25 minutes. Make sure the water is covering the potatoes. Insert a fork in the potatoes to check for doneness. They should be fork tender but not fall apart. Drain them and let cool for about 5 minutes so you are able to pick them up without burning yourself. Chop into cubes.

In a separate pot boil the eggs for 15 minutes and shut heat off letting them sit in the water for an additional 10 minutes. While the potatoes and eggs are boiling chop the celery, bacon, and onion. Place in a large mixing bowl adding the potatoes, eggs, Miracle Whip and seasonings. Serve warm!

Aarti's Bombay Sloppy Joes

Aarti was one of the Next Food Network Star winners a few years back and I have been a fan of her blog and TV show ever since. One of my favorite recipes from her show is the Bombay Sloppy Joes. I have adapted it to our tastes. Here is the gist of the recipe. I have also used ground beef and turkey but am using turkey in this recipe.

Aarti's Bombay Sloppy Joes

The Sauce: 

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon minced peeled ginger

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 Serrano chile pepper, seeded and minced (I used a chile in adobo)

1 teaspoon garam masala (this is available at most grocery stores or at Milford Spice company online)

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 15-ounce can tomato sauce

For the Meat:

3 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

Small handful (about 1/4 cup) raisins

Small handful (about 1/4 cup) shelled pistachios

1 teaspoon cumin seeds (I use cumin powder)

1 large white onion, finely diced

1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely diced (I used green)

1 chile pepper (don't chop it unless you like things spicy!) (I used the chilie pepper in adobo)

salt

1 pound ground turkey

1/2 teaspoon honey ( I added sugar instead of honey because I was out)

1/4 cup half-and-half (I omit the half and half)

In a small pan add some olive or vegetable oil and heat the raisins and pistachios. The raisins will plump and the pistachios will toast. Do this for about 2-3 minutes being careful not to burn them turning them occasionally.

In another pan saute' the green pepper and onion. Add the ground turkey and brown. At the same time begin the sauce in a sauce pot sauteing the Chile pepper, ginger,  and garlic. Add the tomato sauce and garam masala along with the paprika. Keep the heat on low and stir every few minutes.

Once the pistachios and raisins finish cooking add them to the browned turkey. Add the tomato sauce to the turkey and lastly add the honey or sugar. If you prefer you can add the half and half at this time but we prefer it without. Serve on hamburger buns.

Chicken and Parsley Dumpling Soup

Finally I got a chance to go grocery shopping today. It has been the week from hell and I am running around with a chicken with it's head chopped off, no pun intended! Speaking of chicken, I had a taste for chicken and dumplings. I added a twist to the dumplings, parsley.

I restocked my fridge and pantry. I plan on going back on Saturday to the store. It will be double double coupon day where I can double up to 10 one dollar coupons. I will be stocking up on hair supplies and some other items.

You can find the original recipe for the chicken dumpling soup here:
http://tinkmomfoodie-foodobsession.blogspot.com/2011/01/miracle-of-self-rising-flour.html

The only addition was the chopped parsley which I mixed in to the dough.

Chicken Fried Rice And a Use for Those Left Over Veggies

I have been working mornings for the last week and am pulling my hair out at work. It's nice to come home and relax and not have to fret over dinner.

I am using what I have on hand. My plans to go grocery shopping were derailed. My hubby came to my work and told me as he was pulling out of work the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. We just had a new brake line put in the front and my heart dropped to the floor too! He was able to avoid an accident and get the car home. This time it was the back breaks. The money I had intended on going shopping with is going towards the breaks.

Here is a recipe you can pull together quickly. The meat can be changed to suit your needs along with the veggies. I like to use fresh veggies but had half a bag of mixed veggies in the freezer and used those. The rice works better if it's cold so I made the rice ahead of time and put in the freezer to cool down. It works well with left over pork chops or pork tenderloin too.

Chicken Fried Rice

2 cups of cold cooked rice

1 large boneless chicken breast or meat of your choice chopped

1/2 onion diced

1/2 bag mixed veggies defrosted

2 TBSP soy sauce

1 tsp 5 spice powder (optional)

1 egg beaten

In a wok or large frying pan heat the veggies first if using fresh. Remove veggies and add the chicken browning it until no longer pink. Remove from pan and add a TBSP more oil. Add the rice and pour soy sauce over it. Stir the rice so the soy sauce is distributed. Add back the chicken and veggies. Stir the rice and push to the side. On the side of the pan add the scrambled egg. Fry until solid and mix into the rice. Finally add the five spice powder if you have it. 

Rhubarb Custard

I am not sure how I used to eat rhubarb straight off the plant when I was a kid. Maybe I was just really brave? This recipe is the perfect idea for not only bringing sweetness to the otherwise sour plant but a great companion for vanilla ice cream.

Rhubarb Custard

Note: I am sure you can substitute Splenda for all the sugar

custard

3 eggs beaten
1/2 cream or milk
1 1/2 sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
4 TBSP flour
4 c rhubarb cut (I split it down the stalk into thirds)
PAM for the pan
topping

1/2 c sugar
1/2 c flour
1/2 c oatmeal
1/2 c butter cold
I used a 9x13 pan.
Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees. I a 9x13 pan spray PAM. Combine the eggs,cream, sugar, flour, and vanilla. Place the chopped rhubarb into the baking dish and pour the custard mixture over the rhubarb. Mix together and pour over the custard. Bake for 45 minutes or until the custard is set and the topping is browned. Serve with ice cream.

Father's Day, Fruit Market,Kabobs, and Fried Zucchini Blossoms

We had to celebrate our Father's Day a bit early. My hubby works third shift and will be sleeping the majority of his Father's Day sleeping. We did our celebrating yesterday. He dragged out the jogging stroller and we pushed my daughter to South Shore Park where they were having a fruit market. I picked up a lot of yummy finds like this elephant ear which is as big as my daughter's head and a table full of food pictured below.

For lunch I made one of our favorites, Portobella mushroom sandwiches with the sour dough bread. Dinner was steak kabobs with mushrooms, Vidalia onions, and red pepper. The appetizer was dill cheese stuffed zucchini blossoms with a side of cous cous.

Beef and Veggie Kabobs

12 skewers soaked in water for about a hour
veggies of your choice (we used mushrooms, Vidalia's, and red peppers)
marinade (we are using A1 New York marinade)
steak(we used fillet we used half earlier in the week)

Tip: place tin foil over your grill grate to save falling veggies

Grill the skewers about 10-15 minutes depending on how you like your steak. I also like using fillet because it's tender.

Stuffed Squash Blossoms

12 to 24 squash blossoms rinsed and bug free (I recommend using 24 they are yummy)
cheese (I used a dill Havarti) cubed
1 cup flour
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp herbs de Provence
2 eggs beaten 1 splash milk
3 inches Canola oil
tooth picks

Heat oil to around 350 degrees. If you don't have a thermometer place a small amount of the flower into the oil. You are looking for it to bubble. Combine all the seasonings and flour. In a small bowl mix the eggs and milk. Clean the blossoms. I take out the stamen. Dry the blossoms between paper towels. Place one cube of cheese in each blossom. Secure each with a tooth pick.Dip in the egg and roll in the flour. They fry quickly! (maybe a minute per side) Give them a flip and drain on paper towels.

Blue Cheese Steak Sauce and S'mores Brownies

Whenever meat is on sale at a good price I buy it. We are mainly a chicken family because we like the taste but occasionally we like a steak too! (let me rephrase that. All of us except for my vegetarian daughter!) This week they had beef tenderloin on sale. I was able to make two meals out of the tenderloin for the three of us.

Nothing goes better with steak than a good sauce! This week I made a blue cheese sauce to go under and over the steak. It's a good alternative to steak sauce. I also made some ooohy gooey s'mores in my twice used brownie pan. It's the one you see advertised on TV.

This morning we are headed off to the farmers market. I hope I can drag my daughter out of bed so she can pick out some veggies. Thursday I took my oldest for eyebrow threading via Groupon. That was an interesting experience! But it was much less painful than waxing. I know that for sure! I also used our Old Navy Groupons. Shopping with a tween is not fun! She informed me she doesn't like Old Navy but ended up getting a dress and some tank tops after fighting with me. Tween angnst stinks! I got 5 knit tank tops for my youngest.

Last night we had a Groupon dinner at a Italian restaurant. Our starter was huge breaded fried ravioli and the pizza was delicious too. http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1531594

Blue Cheese Sauce (Great for Chicken or Beef)

1 8oz container of crumbled blue cheese

2 TBSP white wine

1/4 c water

salt and pepper

Add water and wine to a sauce pan. Add blue cheese a little at a time. Stir with a whisk and combine the liquid and cheese. Keep stirring until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes less watery and reduces. Serve on top of steak or chicken.

S'mores Brownies

1 box Betty Crocker Supreme brownie mix

1 cup marshmellows

2-3 graham crackers broken

1/2 cup chocolate chips

PAM

Spray brownie pan with PAM. Make brownie mix as per package instructions. Remove from oven when done and turn on the broiler. Immediately pour the marshmellows and graham crackers over the brownies and place under the broiler for a minute until marshmellows are slightly melted. Top with chocolate chips.



BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches and Broccoli Slaw

Today was my first morning working at our day care camp and also the first day of summer vacation for our kids. There are a few new faces and a few I wish we didn't have to see but nevertheless they were there too lol! My new summer hours are 7-1 which means I will have part of my day free to enjoy and won't be in such a mad rush to make dinner.

I took both my daughters and their friend to the mall. I had a Groupon for eyebrow threading for my oldest. I knew that if I did it she would chicken out. And we also had two Groupons for Old Navy. One in my hubby's name and one in mine. Each of my kids were able to get $20.00 worth of summer clothes. Groupon is a coupon avalilble in most cities that if enough people buy you get the Groupon. http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1531594 It's a coupon on a variety of services like spa and restaurants.

Tonight I made BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches with a refreshing broccoli slaw. My hubby liked the slaw so much that he had seconds. Even when I told him it was made out of brocolli.

BBQ Pulled Chicken

3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts frozen
1/2 onion diced
BBQ sauce of your choice

Boil the chicken breasts in water with the diced onion and a dash of salt for 30-35 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink in the center. Remove from water. With two forks shred the chicken. Empty water from pan and place shredded chicken and BBQ sauce. Heat through  and serve on buns.

Broccoli Slaw

1 pkg broccoli slaw
5 TBSP light Miracle whip
2-3 TBSP sugar
1/4 tsp celery seed
salt and pepper

Add all of the above ingredients to a medium bowl. Mix and let sit in the refridgerator for a hour or over night. Serve ontop or on the side off the pulled chicken sandwiches.

Greek Turkey Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries

It has been a crazy last few days. Today my little one becomes a K5. That means next year she will be full day! I will be staying home the first part of the school year but will be going back to college the second half of the semester or in January 2012.

a Modge Podge Memory Box

Last night I somehow got tricked into doing the project and running around for gift cards. I made a modge podge memory box with pictures of her students on it.  I ran home and made dinner; Greek style turkey burgers and sweet potato fries. This is something you can make in 20 minutes. I say 20 minutes because this is how long the sweet potato fries take to bake. I use a Hamilton Beach indoor grill and the burgers themselves cook in about 10 minutes. One package of Jenny O turkey makes 6 good sized burgers.

Greek Style Turkey Burgers

Burgers
1 package of Jenny O ground Turkey
1/4 c seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 c crumbled feta cheese
1 tsp Greek Seasoning
1 egg
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp garlic salt

Sauce
1/2 container Greek Style yogurt
1 tsp Greek Seasoning
1/4 cup sour cream
salt and pepper

Preheat your indoor grill. (you can also make these stove top in a pan about 4 minutes per side) Mix together the seasonings and turkey along with the bread crumbs, egg, and feta. Form into 6 patties. Fry in the indoor grill for 8-10 minutes or until cooked through. Serve with the sauce on top and lettuce and tomato.

Thai-Peanut Butter-Chii Garlic Sauce for Singapore Noodles

I got this great recipe from a fellow Disboard.com chat member for Singapore noodles about 2 weeks back. We liked them so much I decided to make them again. This time I made a Thai-Peanut Butter Chili Garlic Sauce to go with it. http://tinkmomfoodie-foodobsession.blogspot.com/2011/05/singapore-noodles-and-weekly-menu.html

You can add whatever veggies you have on hand. Today I added bok choy, carrots, red pepper, and onion. I made a seperate portion for my vegetarian daughter and she didn't even stay home to eat them! The nerve!
You can also add any protein you like. I added boneless skinless chicken breast today.

The rice noodles are very inexpensive. One pack is $1.65 and feeds a family of four. I don't have a wok but used a large frying pan. Note: make the sauce on the side and pour over the noodles. I found the noodles clumped the other way.

Here is the sauce I made:

2/3 cup peanut butter
2 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp chili-garlic paste (more or less depending on your taste)
water or chicken stock to thin down

In a sauce pan add peanut butter, sesame oil, and garlic paste. Add a small amount of water or chicken stock to thin down. Stir until warmed. Add sauce over the noodles.

Fish Fry Friday:Beer Battered Tilapia and Potato Pancakes

Fish fry and Milwaukee go hand and hand. Rather than spend a lot of money on going out at $13.95 I was able to make this whole meal for dollars. The Tilapia I got as part of a buy one get one free promotion. The bags are $7.95. The bag I used was the free one. The beer I have had sitting in my basement fridge for months. Priceless! The flour I have in my pantry. And the baking soda and potatoes I have in my pantry also.

There were 4 fillets in the bag. Not enough to feed my family of four. However, I cut each fillet into 8ths and was able to make 32 good sized nuggets. The Pan cakes also make a lot so I will be eating the remainder of those for breakfast. They are good with applesauce or syrup.

Please excuse the blurry pics. My hubby needs glasses. Really he does!



Beer Battered Fish

2 cups all purpose flour
16 oz beer
1/2 tsp Zatarain's Cajun seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
4 Tilapia fillets or a mild fish like catfish
3 inches of oil (canola or peanut)

In a large bowl add the flour and seasonings. Combine with a fork. Pour in the beer a little at a time. Use a whisk to stir. The batter will have some lumps. Add the remaining beer. You want to watch to make sure the batter does not get too thin. It should have the consistency of pancake batter. Soak the fish chunks in the batter.

Over medium heat warm the oil. Test for readiness by dropping a bit of the batter into the oil. If the batter floats to the top the oil is ready. Add 5-6 pieces of fish at a time. They will float to the top. The oil will also cool down some when you first add the fish so you may have to adjust the heat. Cook on each side for 3-6 minutes. Drain on paper towels and paper plates. You may have to change the paper towels several times. Season with salt and your favorite seasoning.

Potato Pancakes

1 1/2 c flour
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 TBSP sugar
1 1/4 cup milk
1 egg
2 medium  potatoes shredded
1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper

Shred the potatoes and with a paper towel drain the liquid out of the potatoes. In a medium sized bowl add the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and pepper together. Add the potatoes and egg. Add the milk a bit at a time. Depending on the humidity you may not need all the milk. Stir til combined and the consistency is right. Use a ladle. In a large non stick frying pan or griddle spray PAM. Add two ladles of batter at a time. Cook on the first side. When you see bubbles throughout the whole pancake flip over. Cook for an additional 3 minutes. Serve with syrup or applesauce.

Pan Fried Pork Chops, Cheesy Baked Potato, and Green Beans

Originally I was going to make mac and cheese. This is my go to meal the second day with the cheesy sauce I made. I found some really nice looking boneless pork chops at the store on Wednesday and they have been calling my name ever since. I used the left over cheese sauce for the baked (microwaved) potatoes.
See yesterdays menu for the cheese sauce. It heats well on the stove the next day. You just have to have it on a low heat and stir it so it doesn't burn. Yes I am eating on a salad plate! That's a trick I learned from Weight Watchers a few years back. It only works well if you don't go back for seconds which is hard when you love pork chops lol!

My pork chops were about a 1/2 inch thick and boneless. I dredged them in flour first and then pan fried them.

Boneless Pork Chops

1 cup flour
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 inch olive oil or canola oil
4 1/2 inch thick boneless pork chops

Dredge the pork chops in the seasoned flour. The pan is ready when the oil begins to shimer. Add the pork chops. I cooked mine about 5-7 minutes per side. Internal temperature should be about 160 degrees and juices should be clear. Let rest for 3-5 minutes to let the juices go back into the meat.

Crock Pot Chili and Cheese Fries

Call me crazy but I had a taste for chili. I know the temp is in the 90's but that didn't stop me. I have been making easy dishes all week. The less prep the better! With this recipe I can please both the carnivores and vegetarians in my family.

Crock Pot Chili
1 lb ground beef browned and in larger chunks
1 onion diced (today I am using a sweet Vidalia)brown with ground beef
1 large can stewed tomatoes chopped if not all ready
1 can Bush's mild chili beans with sauce
1 can kidney beans (drained)
1 can Campbell's tomato soup
1 can water
(if making on the stove I add one can beer after the ground beef has been browned)
2 TBSP chili powder
1 tsp salt

The directions are very simple on this one. Throw the ground beef and onion that has been drained into the crock pot. Add the stewed tomatoes, chili beans, kidney beans, tomato soup, and water. Lastly add the salt and chili powder. Set for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. Serve ontop of fries for chili cheese fries. Top with sour cream and more cheese if you like.

Cheese Sauce

I use this basic recipe for my macaroni and cheese also. I will be using my left over cheese tomorrow for that.

1 1/2 c milk
1 cup shredded cheese
1 squirt mustard
2 TBSP flour
2 TBSP butter
salt and pepper

Note: If using for chili cheese fries do not make until the last few minutes of your fries cooking. This comes together very fastly but the cheese will seperate if it sits.

In a medium sized sauce pan on medium heat add butter. Once melted add the flour. With a whisk stir the flour until it becomes light brown in color. Add the milk and bring just below boling. Slowly add the cheese. With the whisk keep stiring until all the cheese is melted. Add the squirt of mustard and salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Serve over fries.

Taking a Break from Cooking for the Next Few Days

Today is nearly one hundred degrees out and the weather is going to be the same for the next few days. The plan is to not cook anything that requires the oven or cooking inside. Today we used the last of our Quiznos Groupon so I didn't have to cook at all tonight. Groupon is a coupon that is availble to a certain number of people. If you enough people buy in you get the Groupon. http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1531594

I also bought one today for boot camp. I am not too sure about this one! It means I will have to work out and sweat! I bought one for my hubby too so he will have to come with me. Misery loves company right?

I am hoping to get to the store on Wednesday. Last night I made my hubby's favorite arroz con polo.
Here is the link to the blog. http://tinkmomfoodie-foodobsession.blogspot.com/search?q=arroz+con+polloThis time I didn't have the chicken boulion so I used one of the flazor packets from a pack of chicken Ramen noodles. (my youngest loves them) I also ran out of onion so I used green onions instead. The chicken thighs I usually have on hand. Whenever they go on sale I divide them up and freeze them. The rice was my lunch today.

I have a taste for dumplings. If it weren't a million degrees out I may make some.

Getting My Edumacation

I haven't been on in a few days. It seems at the end of the school year life gets really busy. I had to go to my old high school yesterday for some training seminars for my current job. I help take care of children in my chidrens' school and will be working during the summer. Since I am the parent of two none of the information was life shattering of altering. I kinda know the ropes. I have been working with these kids for a year and know what I am doing.

I also recently took the admissions test to get into my local community college. I found out I have all ready met some of the requirments for admission into my program but still have to petition to get in to the phlebotomy program. I am going to be a blood sucker lol
It has been hotter than Hades outside. For the last few days I have been keeping our menu simple. I have been having my hubby grill out almost every night. I always keep boneless chicken breast on hand and recently purchased some Italian sausages in a huge value pack. I divided them into several packets for quick meals. Tonight I may make one of our favorites. Arroz con polo or chicken and rice. It's so filling and I have all the ingredients.

I am headed out the door for my weekend walk with my youngest daughter. I will be packing us a luch to eat at the park. I am also thinking about making a cucumber salad for dinner. Here's how to make it.

Cucumber Salad

2 whole cucumbers diced
1/4 c Miracle whip
salt and pepper
1 TBSP sugar
1/2 onion diced

Stir the Miracle Whip and sugar and place over the cucumbers. Add salt and pepper and give a stir. Let sit for 1-3 hours. Taste for seasoning. Serve cold.

Free Rooty Tootie From IHop and Taco Dinner

My husband signed each of us up for the IHop pancake club and we each had breakfast for free on the house this morning at IHop. I didn't take my camera with me but I had the strawberry pancakes with whipped cream and they were awesome! The Wii said I lost 5 lbs today so I guess I was doing a bit of self sabotaging. You can find the sign up on facebook.

We felt like total pigs after breakfast and went for a hour walk to Grant Park. It's right against Lake Michigan and like going into the forest. It's complete with a series of wooden bridges. Hence the name Seven Bridges.

Also today Old Navy is having a Groupon for $10 you get $20 worth of merchandise. Not a bad deal! My hubby and I each bought one. http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1531594

Lunch my hubby had a gift card for BW3's. I had the side salad with the chicken soft taco. My hubby had the cheeseburger sliders. For our chicken wings I had the mango habenero and he had the honey bbq. Both our lips and throats were burning! I had a full glass of water and a huckleberry tea. When we got to the car our lips were still burning.

Dinner tonight we are doing the build your own taco. I have some veggie soy crumbles for my oldest and the rest of us are having ground beef. I have seasoning to use from the Milford Spice company. I have a feeling it may last me the whole year.

Brat and Hot Dog Kabobs and Coleslaw for Dinner Tonight

Finally a nice stretch of weather here! It is my hubby's week off and I am taking advantage of that. I will have him grill out every night if I can. Trying to find meals we can all eat together is a challenge. My oldest is still holding on to being a vegetarian. I have been getting creative with the meal ideas.

Tonight I made veggie skewers for my oldest and brat and hot dog kabobs for us. We are in Wisconsin the home of the brat of course!

Note: Be sure to cut your veggies wide enough so they won't break going through the skewers. For the hot dog skewers we added pineapple. For the brats we added zucchini, squash, and tomatoes. You can very the veggies to your liking. I also made a olive oil basting oil by adding a tsp of Italian seasoning.

 Hot Dog and Brat Kabobs

4 hot dogs cut into pieces
4 Brats pre boiled and cut into pieces
1 can drained pineapple chunks
veggies of your choice
a dozen soaked skewers

Add the veggies of your choice and the meat of your choice onto the skewers. Grill for 15-20 minutes on low heat. My hubby places tin foil over the grate so the veggies don't fall through. I was surprised how good the hot dog/pineapple combo is!

Coleslaw

1 bag coleslaw shredded
2 TBSP garlic salt
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
1/2 light mayo or mayo of your choice
1 tsp celery salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Mix the vinegar along with the mayo, sugar, salt, garlic salt, and celery salt. Stir in one bag of coleslaw. Let sit for a few hours covered in the fridge. Give a stir and taste for seasoning. You may have to add more mayo or sugar at this time. A great side for brats or pulled  pork sandwiches.