Round Table

Seeing a picture of this table today made me think about my sister.  She wants a new white round table. Actually I think she wants my table--but that is a long story about a little scheme we are cooking up. My table is a hand me down from my parents--the table I grew up with. It has two leaves, but I really prefer to keep it round.  Now that Georgia sits at the table (because Charlotte is in the high chair) the five of us are a bit of a squeeze. But I love the way it feels with us all close. We can all reach to hold hands to say grace before we eat. We are close enough  to cut food for the little ones and passing food is easy too.

My favorite time of day is that moment at the dinner table just after the amen when I can take a deep breathe and share another meal with my sweet family. We've all heard the studies about the importance of family meals, but I don't need research, I know first hand how dinner around my table grounds us and connects us.

*For Sissy:  The gorgeous jars of orange marmalade on the table reminded me of you too. I love the yummy tangerine marmalade you made last year. You should share that recipe one of these days.*

Baked Oatmeal

I've been looking for some new breakfast ideas. My oldest does not like eggs. What I love about this recipe for baked oatmeal is it uses eggs and milk.  Good stuff to start my boy's day out right!  I bake it in these glass cups and save a few in the fridge for the upcoming week. It's almost better reheated the next day.

 Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar (or brown sugar Splenda)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups milk (2 percent)
• 3  eggs, well beaten
• 1 tablespoon melted butter (optional)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Optional additions:

• 1/2 teaspoon maple extract
• 3/4 cup raises
• 1/2 cup toasted walnuts

 Heat oven to 350ºF. Spray 8 (6 oz.) custard cups or ramekins with nonstick cooking spray; arrange on rimmed baking sheet.

• In large bowl, combine oats, brown sugar and salt; mix well. In medium bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, butter, vanilla and maple extract. Add to dry ingredients; mix until well blended. Spoon into cups. Stir raisins each cup, dividing evenly; sprinkle evenly with walnuts (if using).
  
  Bake until knife inserted near center comes out clean, about 23 to 26 minutes for Quick Oats, 25 to 30 minutes for Old Fashioned. (Centers will not be completely set.) Cool 10 minutes.
  

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time Time: 25 min

Shredded Pork Tacos

This week my hubby is having a BIG birthday. So I'm busy planning, shopping and cooking. For his family birthday party he requested Mexican food and a game of Mexican Train Dominoes. I love a theme! There may be Mariachi music and pinata too.

 

I'm going to make these pork tacos (at my sissy's recommendation) with Chipotle style sides (cilantro rice, pinto beans and corn salsa). Everyone can build their own burrito, tacos or "bowl".  I think this will work great with kids- everyone can customize their meal just how they like it.

Menu Monday

What the Karlson's are eating this week:

Sunday BBQ Chicken w/ homemade sauce, Roast Cauliflower and red potatoes

Monday Asian Chicken Noodle Soup

Tuesday Flat Bread Pizza with Chicken Sausage and Kale

Wednesday Turkey Burgers with Sweet Potato Oven Fries

Thursday Breakfast for Dinner: Crust-less Ham and Cheddar Quiche (Need to plan and pack for the big party!)

Friday Lasagna for Eric's Birthday Party

Saturday  Out to eat with kids for Eric's Birthday

Breakfasts: Baked Oatmeal, Greek Yogurt with homemade Granola, Eggs with Double Fiber English Muffins, Cereal

Lunches: Lentil Soup, Tuscan Tuna Salad. Turkey Wraps/Sandwiches

Mad Hungry for Lentil Soup!

Have you seen Mad Hungry? It's a cooking show with Lucinda Scala Quinn (Martha Stewart's Food Director).  I love how she teaches as she cooks and her style is easy and appealing to families. As I type my kids and hubby are finishing up bowls of her Vegetable Lentil Soup. Eric says it is the first he's ever had and he thought is was great--but he likes basically everything. Surprisingly the kids devoured it too. The Garlic Croutons garnishing the top is what I think made it appeal to everyone. Lentils are not something I cook a lot, but I should. They are full of fiber and protein and they are really inexpensive--just what this mama is needing in her kitchen. Did I mention this recipe came together in about 15 minutes? It simmered for 30 more- and was delish!

Christmas...

Please don’t mind the break from cooking topics to talk about Christmas!!! I love celebrating Christmas- but it is *sadly* also very stressful for me. So much to do…so little time! And such BIG expectations! (Really that is the problem right there!)  This year my goal is breathe and just enjoy the season of life we are in this year. I’ve also realized I have to say no to things I want to say yes too. With four little ones there is only so much of me to go around. That might mean no to parties or events that I would really enjoy- but this just isn’t the year. I’ve considered everything that is a part of our celebration and what will stay and what will go. I even considered emailing Christmas cards {gasp! The horror!}. But ultimately I decided that a family picture was in order this year. Plus, I really do love receiving all those pictures. And for me, email just isn't the same. I haven’t sent a family picture in five years (just pictures of the kids). So two weeks ago we took a family picture (the hard part!) and now my goal is to order my cards BEFORE Thanksgiving.

Shutterfly has an amazing promotion for bloggers this year. I'm open to giving them a try and honestly I’m really loving their designs this year. They have new premium paper {which I love} and they are more like matte card stock than glossy photo paper. They even have an offer for a free card so you can order one and see how you like it. (Which I did by the way and I was really impressed with the quality- you can even add more pictures and/or a letter inside).

How cute is this design? Love how the photo is really the star.  See- I told you they were cute! The one I'm thinking of picking is similar.

 How about these cute Christmas thank you notes! Wouldn't it be fun to use pictures from Christmas day to create these? They even have darling ornaments I'm thinking of ordering for Charlie's 1st Christmas ornament.

Hurry- if you are interested, they have 20% off all cards today- and their prices are better than others I've used in the past.

Here's to keeping Christmas simple and focusing on what matters.

Salmon Citrus Salad

We've been eating healthier around my house lately. And we have a new baby...so meals have been less about actual cooking and more about "assembling".  This week I'm trying to recreate something I had recently at a local resturant. The most amazing salad ever. I don't have a recipe, but I promise to take notes as I figure it out and let you know how it goes.