Believe in the Magic Traci Diary
Recipes, Travels, and Stories
We’ve had many different anniversaries recently. Four years ago, the Imaginative One crossed over into Boy Scouts and then had his first meeting. Two years ago today, the Wee One crossed over to Boy Scouts.
A year ago yesterday, I had my gallbladder surgery.
Last Friday would have been my grandma’s 91st birthday.
On to the menu for the week:
Continue reading “Mom, What’s For Dinner? – Week of February 25, 2019”
First of all, the Wee One declared today that he is no longer the Wee One. He renamed himself Big Boy. Since the fall, he has gone up 2 jean sizes. He’s finally getting taller which is making him so happy!
On to the menu for the week:
Continue reading “Mom, What’s For Dinner? – Week of February 19, 2019”
The weight fell off of me with no hard work. Everyone was telling me how much better I was looking. But I was feeling worn down with no appetite. Even though I was looking better, my health was failing so the weight gradually found its way back onto my body.
As the new year begins, it’s time to reevaluate my health and diet. Ever since my gallbladder started failing, it’s been difficult to eat regular meals. My appetite is not what it used to be. I’m hungry mostly in the middle of the night which is a bummer because I don’t want to get out of bed to tame the hunger beast.
I’ve got to manage my diet so that I’m the healthiest I can be instead of just eating to survive. I understand the tools necessary to be the healthiest but it is up to me to make sure I’m using those tools and am eating foods that will fuel me.
Just so you know, I’m a vegetarian and have been one since Valentine’s Day last year so all of my meals are going to be meatless. I still eat eggs and dairy so I’m not plant based.
So here is my menu for this week:
Sugar Plum Danish (Mom got it for me.), apple with cashew butter
Maple Apple Steel Cut Oats
Green Smoothie with cheese or nuts for protein
Monday – Leftover veggie burger
Tuesday – Fried Egg Sandwich – Open Faced, broccoli (steamed or roasted)
Wednesday – Friday – BBQ Black Bean Salad (On Wednesday, I’m back at work. They are supposed to feed us but I don’t know what they are going to have or if it will be vegetarian friendly.)
Saturday or Sunday – Eat lunch at Melt – Mom wants to eat there. Cabbage Soup for the other day
Monday and Wednesday – Creamy Enchilada Pasta with broccoli (steamed or roasted)
Tuesday – Sauerkraut with “sausage,” black eyed peas, roasted potatoes
Thursday – English Muffin Pizza from the freezer, some sort of veggie
Friday – Mushroom risotto burger, roasted potatoes, veggie
Saturday or Sunday – Cabbage Soup
Energy Balls
Yogurt
Veggies and Dip
Fruit
Ravioli
Pork with Sauerkraut, Roasted Potatoes (A couple of meals)
Sausage
Hamburgers
To start off my Write 31 2018, I’m going to provide you with my meal plan for this week.
I’m glad it’s soup season because I can make a big pot or two of the soup and have it for the week.
Here’s what I’m planning for the week.
Sunday – Lasagna stuffed Portobello mushrooms with Italian chopped salad, Fres
Monday – Minestrone soup with the left over Italian chopped salad
Tuesday – Tacos (I’ll share my recipe during this month’s Write 31)
Wednesday – Enchilada skillet
Thursday – Grilled cheese with minestrone soup
Friday – Leftovers
Saturday – Out
Breakfasts for the week: chocolate chip ricotta muffins and cheese sticks, apple slices (I need easy on the go breakfasts.)
Lunches for the week: Garden veggie soup, fruit on the bottom yogurt (recipe coming tomorrow), Wheat Thin type crackers
Now onto my family’s Standard American Diet meals for the week. I don’t get off of work until almost 4 o’clock. Hubby needs to leave for work around 5:20 so I don’t have time to cook him dinner any more. He fends for himself with me planning meals. He and the boys are not real adventurous eaters. I’ve attempted over the years to introduce them to more foods but they always fall back on the foods that they are comfortable eating. 😦
Sunday – Chicken, roasted potatoes, veggies, Hawaiian rolls, and pumpkin roll
Monday – Pulled pork sandwiches on the remaining Hawaiian rolls
Tuesday – Tacos
Wednesday – Chicken Nuggets and French fries
Thursday – Grilled cheese and tomato soup – The last few times we have had grilled cheese I did not have tomato soup. Since then, I’ve remedied that and have several containers of soup.
Friday – Chili
Saturday – Out
Join tomorrow for one of my favorite ways to eat yogurt.
Happy eating,
Traci
This is the first week back with students so I want to have an easy menu.
I also meal prepped for my breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. Here’s what I made for this week:
Breakfasts – Pina Colada Overnight Oats
Snacks – Pistachios, Honeycrisp apples with cashew butter, Mini Bell Peppers with hummus
Lunches – Salad in a jar with strawberry poppy seed dressing, homemade fruit on the bottom yogurt with granola
Since I have all my breakfasts, lunches, and snacks prepped, it’s easy to grab and go in the mornings.
Happy eating,
Traci
This week is going to be a little different with my meal planning. I won’t be around for 3 maybe 4 of the meals so the gentlemen in my family are in charge.
Yesterday, I did shopping so they would have easy meals on 3 of those days.
On Wednesday, I have to go out to work so I can move classrooms. (I’m just moving across the hall so not hateful.) Anyway, I’m taking the Wee One to help me with the moving. I told him that I would get him McDonald’s for dinner. Hubby and the Imaginative One are on their own on Wednesday as a result.
I’ve got a class at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on Tuesday. On Friday, I have the second part of the class at the Wilds. I’m going out to that area on Thursday morning/ afternoon and spending the night by myself. For my dinner, I bought a frozen dinner that I can warm up in the microwave in the hotel room.
I’ll get myself food on the way home on Tuesday and Friday.
Here’s the menu for the week:
Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday – The food they can choose from are:
I wanted the meals to be quick and easy for them.
Happy eating,
Traci
I just looked over my plans for July. I’m going to be gone on and off for the rest of the month.
Week of July 8th –
I only need to plan for 3 meals. We’re going to be gone for 2 days during the week.
Lasagna or Creamy Spinach Pasta Sauce over Penne
Sloppy Joes (Vegetarian for me)
Pork Chops
Left Overs
Week of July 15th –
I need to plan for Sunday dinner and 2 meals. The boys and I are going away for 3 days. Hubby is on his own on those 3 days.
Cherry Pork Loin (Freezer Meal)
Tacos (In Freezer)
Spaghetti with Sauce and Meatballs
Week of July 22nd –
I need to plan for Sunday dinner and 4 meals. I’m going to be away for 2 nights and Hubby is going to be gone for one night.
Breakfast for dinner (when I’m gone)
Chicken Nuggets and French Fries (when I’m gone)
Sausage with Mac and Cheese
Pressure Cooker Chicken Wings, Meatless Mandarin Chicken for me
Out to eat when Hubby is gone
Sunday Dinner – TBA
Happy eating,
Traci
Last week, my friend Molly was in town. The Imaginative One was happy when she left because that meant I would once again cook dinner for him. LOL!
A month ago, I signed up for Eat at Home’s first cookbook’s launch. I received the cookbook a few weeks ago. I immediately read the book from cover to cover and marked it up with recipes that the family might enjoy. I love the fact that Eat at Home Tonight uses real ingredients that are easily found at the grocery store.
Another feature of the cookbook is the freezer kits. She offers two freezer menus with shopping lists and recipes. I absolutely love having freezer kits.
The cookbook is going to be published on August 7th. Grab your copy then. You won’t regret it especially if you are a busy mom like me.
Here is my menu for the week. Some of the recipes are from the cookbook: Memphis Style BBQ Chicken Tacos, Power Chopped Salad, Ravioli with Summer Garden Vegetables, and Naan Pizza.
Happy eating,
Traci
This morning I was up early before the family. I watched 2 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy before heading outside with a cup of coffee. While I was outside, I sat down and menu planned for the next two weeks.
After menu planning, I headed to the grocery store so that I could be ready for the week.
Here are some things I had to take into consideration when creating the menus:
So without much further ado, here is the menus for the next two weeks:
Happy eating,
Traci
I wrote down a list of possible meal ideas for this week.
Then I asked the Wee One his opinion on what we should cook for dinner. He gave me a few ideas – taco Tuesday in which I suggested he do a burrito Tuesday instead.
He also decided we should have a sausage and mac & cheese night. It’s one of their favorite meals. Quick and easy is the name of the game.
I gave him a choice of ravioli or spaghetti. I have a bunch of spaghetti sauce. He chose ravioli for one of the dinner.
He also suggested a leftover night.
I love getting the children involved with cooking in the kitchen.
The Wee One loves having a menu plan posted on the fridge so he knows what we are going to have to eat. He’s more willing to help cook dinner with the plan.
On Saturday, he helped with our breakfast for dinner. A few Christmases ago, he got a waffle and pancake cookbook. He pulled it off the cookbook shelf and chose a buttermilk pancake with a mixed berry compote recipe. I wish I had gotten photos of the process because it was so cute.
The Imaginative One had been at Boy Scout Camp last week so he had not had what he calls “real” food. While the Wee One was cooking dinner, he made sure his brother had chocolate chips in his pancakes. He also made sure he had some chocolate milk to drink. It was impressive that he cared so much.
At one point, the Wee One wanted to be a chef. I don’t know if he still wants to be a chef. However he does like being in the kitchen.
