What’s For Dinner Mondays

Ok so here’s the deal. I decided to try this out. I know that Mondays are hard because you are busy getting back into the swing of things. Being a stay at home mom means my husband goes back to work and I am again working solo in all things household. I figured that I would share my dinner with you, and maybe it will help give you some ideas. I know from experience that it is so easy to get in a rut when it comes to thinking of what to make for dinner, and for alot of families you need things that are fairly easy to make.

The meals I make aren’t foo foo either because being a mom of twins doen’t give me a whole lot of time to fancy things up. And, I don’t think toddlers care just as long as their bellies are full.

So here is today’s meal!
Chicken in the crock
I just toss in 4- 6 boneless chicken breasts
1 carton of chicken stock (usually use Swanson)
2 cans of Campbells Cream of Chicken and Mushroom Soup

Toss it in the crockpot and let it go on high for about 6-8 hours

Fresh Garden Salad (toss in whatever you want…I like to buy the bagged lettuce and wash it, add a tomato, cucumber, a few grapes, and some cheese…green goddess dressing is our fav)

Steamed Broccoli (The Birdseye Steamfresh broccoli is perfect! I just add a little butter, sprinkle with salt and garlic powder)

Au Gratin Potatoes (I use the Betty Crocker ones out of the box but if you are industrious you can make your own homemade ones)

Fresh Frozen Peaches (I buy the ones at whole foods, thaw them out just a little and sprinkle with a little brown sugar and cinnamon or just a little plain sugar…the boys love these!)

This is a fairly simple meal to make and the chicken is so good.  You can also serve the chicken over rice or noodles as an alternative.   Here is my meal in pictures!  It doesn’t look gourmet but the plates were cleaned!

Share your Monday Dinner Ideas!

Avon Beauty For You and Your Home

I have always been a huge fan of Avon products.  I can remember them from when I was child, so they have been around for a long time which tells you something about their products.   I love to get their catalogs and especially during the holidays, because they offer such a wide variety of things that can be given as gifts or just to pamper yourself.   The prices are reasonable too, which is a big plus, when you are on a tight budget.   They have things for the home, cosmetics, stuff for the kids and for the men in your life.

Around this time of the year, I am a huge fan of all the sights and smells that surround the holiday season, and I have always been a fan of lighting candles throughout my home.   I have just recently been introduced to the reed diffusers, and have always seen them in the stores but have never tried them personally.  I was very excited to try Avon’s Botanical Reed Diffuser (19.99).  Natural bamboo reeds absorb scented oil and diffuse fragrance throughout your home and the scent isn’t too overpowering.   I love the Summer Blossom scent.  It actually brings warmth into the home when it’s cold outside.   Avon’s reed diffuser, is perfect for a housewarming gift, a gift to yourself, or for holiday giving.

Not only can you beautify your home, but  you can have all your personal beauty essentials all in a compact location with Jillian Dempsey for AVON Essential Beauty Palette ($7.99). This fabulous palette includes 2 lip colors, 2 eyeshadows, 1 blush and a 2 sided applicator and mirror. This is perfect for your purse and for those quick touch ups when you are on the run. They are available in both cool and warm palettes. They are also great for gift giving and stocking stuffers!

DoubleBugs would like to offer it’s readers, the chance to win Avon’s Botanical Reed Diffuser and an Essential Beauty Palette! Also for all your shopping needs by entering the code JINGLE30 you will be entitled to free standard shipping with a $30 order when you shop with an eRepresentative. This offer expires on January 1, 2009.

Here’s all ya gotta do:

Visit the Avon site and let me know what your favorite product or products are and leave me a commant here.

Please leave me an email or way to contact you if you win.

If the chosen winner does not respond in two days, a new winner will be chosen.

Contest starts December 2,2008 and ends December 16, 2008.

Good Luck!

Cheekeyes and Oompa Toys

When you have young children, you undoubtedly have a whole myriad of toys laying about.   I have one room in the house designated for their stuff.  I found in the boys’ two short years, that there are toys that just aren’t going to last and ones that I know will be around for a long time.   Of my most favorite things, are their wooden toys.  I’ll admit I am a sucker for them.   There is something about the quality of wooden toys, when you first open the box and get a glimpse of them.  I find myself wanting to put them up on my mantle or hording them like my prized possesion.  They aren’t the toys that you just give away.

With wooden toys there is something magical about them for children.  They are usually fairly simplistic in design, but my kids seem to play with them the most.  Not only that, they encourage them to use their imagination, whether it is making a tower or a tunnel, or making walls or making their wooden lion roar.  For me, that is worth it’s weight in gold, because this day and age, it seems like we encourage that less with television, and toys that are battery operated.  Wooden toys are such a refreshing change from that.

When I was offered the opportunity to review Cheekeyes, I immediately snatched up the offer.  I love to see what is out there with regards to wooden toys.  These totally too cute wooden toys are not only durable but are made from eco-friendly rubberwood.  Handmade and partially painted, each of the Cheekeyes is unique; there are no two the same. From the hands of Dutch designer Rogier van Zijp emerged Arctic, African, Forest and Farm animal sets plus Dinosaurs, these animals sport a distinctive red cheek and painted eye (reflected in their name, Cheekeyes) that will endear them to children and caregivers alike. They are very smooth (as all wooden toys should be) and they have paint only on the sides.  When I told my Dutch husband about where these toys came from, he seemed rather proud. The 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio has given Cheekeyes its prestigious Platinum Award for one of this year’s best preschool toys.

We received the African Animals set, which included whimsical interpretations of a lion, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, elephant and giraffe.  Cheekeyes also has various wooden scenery additions such as rocks and trees to make your little ones animal menagerie complete.  I found myself making the giraffe eat the imaginary leaves off the trees, and the rhino took a nap on the rock.  The boys got such a kick out of mommy playing with them and what a great way to spend family time.  These will be around for a very long time to come and the boys simply adore them already.

Forest Animal Set ($29.99)
The Forest Animal set comes complete with a bison,
wild boar, wolf, goat, and grizzly bear. Cave and tree
sets sold separately, $16.99 each.

African Animal Set ($29.99)
The African Animal set makes a charming collection
of inhabitants for your desert terrain, which includes a
lion, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, elephant and giraffe.
Tree set and rock sold separately, $16.99 each.

Arctic Animal Set ($29.99)
The Arctic Animal Set includes all of your
favorite polar critters, including an orca, seal,
whale, penguin and polar bear. Icebergs sold
separately, $16.99 each.

Farm Animal Set ($29.99)
The farm animal set includes all your favorite
barnyard critters, including a sheep, pig, goat,
cow and horse. Fence set and tree sets sold
separately, $16.99 each.

Cheekeyes are available online at Oompa toys and would make a perfect gift for this holiday season for your special little someone.  What a perfect way to make their holiday light up.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!!

Would you like to win a set of Cheekeyeys animals for your own special someone this holiday season.  DoubleBugs and Oompa toys are giving away one set of your choice to one lucky winner!

Here’s all ya gotta do!

Just visit Oompa Toys and tell me what set of Cheekeyes you would like and something else you like about the Oompa site.

Leave me an email so I have a way to contact you if you win

Winner has two days to respond or another is chosen.

Contest Starts November 24, 2008 and Ends December 8, 2008

Good Luck!!!

Uno Flash!

I can remember playing the simple Uno card game as a child and I loved playing it with family on a Friday night.  We would order in pizza, have special snacks and we would play all night.   A few years back my husband and I bought Uno Attack, which was so much fun.  You never knew if you would get a whole handful of cards thrown out at you on your turn.   Sometimes I get so involved with my game that I would forget to yell out UNO! and well then id have to draw more cards!

Uno has been in the family for years, and I have always enjoyed the new takes on the game.  Even still, just the classic Uno game is still just as fun.  So now there is Uno Flash!

About the game:

Forget everything you thought you knew about UNO! Clockwise? Counterclockwise? Nope; it’s totally random! This exciting electronic version selects who’s next, so you have to stay alert. Did you blink? Uh-oh, you missed your turn and time ran out. It’s the fast, crazy game that will keep you guessing, on your toes and raring to go. And just when you think you can relax and take a breath, you still need to remember to yell UNO. Requires 3 AA batteries, included. Retails for ($35).

This game is so much fun for anyone.  The suggested age range is for ages 7-11 but Uno games are perfect for family game nights, as well as, for having friends over for mvie and cards.  It is good wholesome fun that doesn’t involve the TV or anything high tech, which, as  Mom, I love.  It would be perfect for holiday giving this year and is definitely on my list!  You can find Uno Flash at most retailers like Amazon.com or ToysRUs.

Crock Pot…Roast and veggies

One of my favorite all time meals is pot roast. I love to just toss it in the crock pot and let it go for the day and the smell from it just makes your mouth water. So I thought I would share with you my recipe for crock pot roast and veggies.

1 (2-3 pound eye of round roast)
2 TBS of olive oil
2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 TBS of Worcestershire sauce
1 package of lipton beffy onion soup
32 oz of beef broth
1 can of sliced mushrooms undrained
3-4 med red potatoes
1 bag of baby carrots
Salt, onion powder, garlic powder to taste

I season the outside of the roast and then put the olive oil in a pan and brown the roast on all sides. I mix together the soups, broth, and worcestershire sauce, put the roast in the crock pot, and and dump the soup mixture on top and toss in the mushrooms. Turn the crock on high for 8-9 hours, and add your potatoes and carrots about 3 hours before the end of your cooking time and wahlah!! This is a great meal and the leftovers are just as good the next day!

Fall is time for campfires! and fun recipes too!

I love the Fall because the leaves are changing and the weather is getting cooler.   I love all the sites and smells of Fall and especially having nights around the firepit out back.   We are thinking about planning a get together around the fire one evening and I was trying to find some fun foods that we could make around the campfire.  I ran across some unique ideas, but my most favorite is making smores!

Another idea I found was to take the core out of an apple, fill the inside with cinnamon and sugar and wrap it up in foil and put it on the fire for 10-15 minutes, it’s supposed to make it like applesauce that you can eat right out of the apple!  I am goin got give it a try.

Leave a comment with some of your favorite “around the campfire” foods!

Vegetable Beef Soup for the Crockpot

I am always in search of good crock pot recipes to try. The crock pot is a busy Mom’s friend because I can just let it go.  So, I decided to experiment on my own and try and make a vegetable beef soup that the boys would eat and that I could freeze for the the upcoming colder months.  I must say that I impressed myself and the soup turned out really good and the boys loved it!

1 eye of round pot roast about 1-2 lbs cut up in small cubes

2 TBS butter

3 or four stalks of celerey cut up

1 medium onion cut up

1lb of baby carrots cut in half or threes

1/2 lb of fresh green beans washed and cut

1/2 bag of frozen corn

1/2 bag of frozen peas

3-5 medium red potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes

1 25 oz container of Swanson beef stock

3 small one serving cans of V8

1 container of Swanson beef broth-24-32 oz

Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper to taste

I season the meat to my liking, put butter in a good size pan, and brown meat, toss the meat in the crock pot and layer the following ingredients accordingly:  celery, onion, carrots, green beans, corn, peas, and potatoes on top. pour in beef stock, three cans of V8, and then add enough beef broth just to partially cover the potatoes.  Turn your crockpot on high for 6-7 hours or on low for  8-10 hours.  You can freeze and date the soup in small two serving containers or 1 quart containers.  Wahlah, you have a really good soup for cold days and nights!

A simple recipe for Fall

While was out shopping at Whole Foods over the weekend they were having a sampling day which is one of my favorite times. They had all sorts of recipes to try! There was one that I thought was soo good that I had to try it. It is a fruit appetizer and it is so yummy! It just reminds you of all the sights and smells of Fall.

3 Apples of your choosing (slice them up thinly and small enough to fit on a small slice of bread

1/4 cup of softened cream cheese

6 oz of Vanilla Yogurt

French bread sliced in small little rounds, or even a pumpkin bread.

1/4 tsp of cinnamon or more for your liking

1/2 tsp ground ginger

Mix the cream cheese, yogurt, ginger and cinnamon together till smooth and refrigerate for one hour.

Slice up you apples, spread bread with mixture and top with an apple slice. This is soooo good, and even can be used as an apple dip. Try it out..it will be on my favorite recipe list!

New CrockPot Recipe

As a stay at home mom, as you can imagine, I do a lot of cooking and meal preparations. I have recently been getting burned out on all the same things and was looking for a new recipe to try or just something different that the boys haven’t had. So I got out my crock pot which I love. It is one of those things that is so nice to have, especially when you don’t have a whole lot of time to be standing in the kitchen. I love the idea of being able to toss it all in there and just let it go for the day. So here is what I did and I made up the recipe all by myself…so I was quite proud! LOL

It is such a simple idea but it turned out to be really good. I put mine over two pieces of butter bread! You can also serve it over biscuits, sort of like chicken and dumplings. I served it with a fresh salad, and a dessert. You will have to give it a try and let me know what you think! You can also leave me a favorite crock pot recipe if you like too!

Quick Tip

I decided to make hamburgers tonight and I had divided ground beef in freezer bags.  I always have to remove my rings to mix up the hamburger when it dawned on me to just thaw and mix it in the bag!  Here’s what I did for my hamburgers tonight…

1lb of ground beef

1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

Few dashes of worchestershire sauce

splash of soy sauce (my good friend Jack gave me this tip)

Onion powder (as much as you like)

Pepper (as much as you like)

Garlic powder ( as much as you like)

I just grilled mine on my George Foreman grill…but you can grill them or broil them

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