The blog that feeds my family

For the past few years I have been so happy to use one blog for the majority of my dinner ideas. This week I made a recipe of hers for 3 of the 5 week night meals.

Mel's Kitchen Cafe

I love her recipes because
1. they are yummy
2. most of them are quick and I can do them with two little ones circles around my legs
3. my kids like most of the recipes
4. the food is seriously yummy

So I've compiled a list of all the recipes that have tried of hers. Some I rotate in my weekly menu plans, and some I've only made a few times, but all  of them are good. So if you are stumped for dinner go to her recipe index and try out a few!

MY ULTIMATE FAVORITES
-Creamy White Chili - I make this a lot and serve it with tortilla chips, super good

-Sweet and Sour Chicken - I think this is one of her most popular recipes, it was easy to throw together and the kids loved it.

-Sticky Coconut Chicken - I bake this in my oven and serve it with coconut rice

-Orange Cashew Rice with Tilapia - love this rice that is packed with flavor and texture

-Skillet Creamy Macaroni and Cheese - Jude ate three/four bowls of this, loved how creamy it came out with no weird textures

-Broccoli beef - as a Chinese food lover I can tell you this is better than take out. Really good and easy.

-Honey lime chicken enchiladas - if you ever need to feed a crowd this is a winner!

-Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce - sounds funky, but it's super good, a little bit spicy so not the best for the kids

-Chopped Cobb Salad with Blue Cheese - such a good summer salad

BAKING GOODIES
Lion House Dinner Rolls

Divine Breadsticks

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie
Classic Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Glazed Poppy Seed Bread

RECIPES I NEED TO MAKE AGAIN
The Best Ground Beef Tacos
Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pinapple and Red Onion

Chicken with Mushrooms and Zucchini

Creamy Swiss Cheese Chicken Bake

Hawaiian Haystacks- Chicken Sauce Reinvented

Garlic Chicken Pasta with Spinach

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Penne with Roasted Asparagus and Balsamic Butter

Mango and Black Bean Quinoa Salad

Pasta Chicken Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Spinach and Bacon

Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps

Shredded Chicken Pitas with Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette

Peanut Butter Crunch Snack Balls

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This week I tried two new recipes from her site and was blown away both times. Kids loved 'em, hubby loved 'em and I could make them up without Lincoln being home to help with the kids. Dinner time is crazy time for my kids, so having quick recipes that come together pretty fast is super important. 

If you're in a dinner stump try her blog out! It's been a no fail source for me. 

Wah Wah Wah

I freaking miss America.

Do you know how I dry clothes in this country when it rains (which is almost everyday now)?

On my heated towel rack. This last week we had the stomach flu...imagine sheets and duvet covers. Be grateful for your dryers people. Be grateful.

I miss the food, oh the food. I am getting a list ready of all the things I'm going to eat when I'm home. Until I get there, please go eat an In and Out burger and fries, my mom's waffles, salt and pepper chicken at Orient Express in Danville, my mother-in-law's salsa, Zachary's Pizza,  and my mom's rolls. Thanks, that'll make me feel better knowing someone can.

There is a glimmer of hope in this world, actually. We have a few Chipotles in London!! So for my birthday I told Lincoln all I want is a big fat chicken burrito, with chips and a whole lot of guac. We're tots making a day around Chipotle. Done and done.

Ok, wow I just spent a whole lot of time talking about food. Sorry, England drives me a little crazy with their cornish pasties (meat pies), roasted chicken flavor crisps (chips), and American products that are just slightly different enough to make you crazy.

I have approximately 3 more months until we land in blessed Arizona, where I can't wait to meet my new nephew, squeeze my SILs, and bask in the glorious weather. Oh yeah, and eat lots and lots of glorious, greasy American food.

Italy: Cinque Terre

 After our quick trip to Venice we hoped in a van and ended up in the most beautiful place in Europe.

We stayed in a charming little Italian apartment right on the water. Livvy discovered some binoculars and was glued.  

We ate a beautiful restaurant with equally beautiful pasta and seafood. 

I loved the narrow alley ways and steep stairs (as long as I wasn't carrying a baby). 

We walked along the coast to a few of the 5 towns that make up the Cinque Terre. 

Then we took a boat to see the coast from the ocean. 

Cinque Terre was so much fun. I think it was my favorite stop. It was so gorgeous. The food, the card games, and the towns were amazing. 

 

Italy: Venice and Firsts

Day one in Italy was full of many firsts. 

Our first time in Venice, Italy - the Sinking City.

Our first Italian pizza. Oh my goodness be prepared for more food talk.

 

There's a reason we try to imitate Italian food...it's amazing!

Our first (and probably last) gondola ride - thanks pops!

By far my favorite thing that we did in Venice! It was so neat to go down the small canals and through quiet residential "roads" or should I say streams? It was beautiful.

Our first gelato! From this day on it was at least one gelato stop a day!

And the best part of the day came last. When we went and met Dallison's sweet Siena! She is so precious, Livvy kept asking to hold her and I never wanted to share! She smells oh so good and has the cutest smile.

Easter 2012

Let me just preface this happy, all around beautiful celebration with the explanation of me discovering that holidays in a new country will be unmistakable different.

In preparation for Easter I went to the store to purchase the necessities: 1) Easter candy, 2) dinner supplies (ham, cheesy potatoes...the works), and the 3) plastic eggs to fill and hide. 

Here's how it went down:

1) Easter candy: In this country they don't do big bags of candy (or anything for that matter) to divvy up amongst a family. You buy one giant chocolate egg and then some multi packs of random chocolate. Different, but chocolate is still chocolate, so I'm rolling with it. 

2) Ham. Ok, the "gammons" here are not cooked people. Totally raw. So after some research, and a few stressed out moments, I figured out how to tackle the uncooked ham. I soaked the (non-frozen) ham for 3 hours followed by some intense herbal and flavoring treatment, then boiled and baked. In the end it came out actually pretty good, but can I just tell you to please appreciate the beauty of an already cooked ham in your neighborhood grocery store. 

With the ham part down I attempted to get the supplies for the good ol' cheesy potatoes. Sadly, it called for Cream of Chicken Soup which upon an execution of Hawaiin Haystacks I did discover that they had, but sadly it tastes nothing like it should, so we did without the cheesy taters. 

3) They had approximately 1 bag of 8 plastic eggs and I bought them. SUCCESS! 

Ok, now that the mostly uninteresting details of a housewife's Easter woes are over let's get down to business.

Livvy and Jude

They did not notice any of my Easter faux pas (such as using a mixing bowl instead of a basket) and thoroughly enjoyed their Easter egg morning. 

We got all dolled up for church (thanks Vern for the adorable dress for Livvy) and we celebrated the true meaning of Easter, our Saviors life and resurrection.

We even had the special treat of having my-touring-Europe cousin and her husband over for they day!

It was a beautiful day and I am so glad it was so full of family! 

Veronica Visit: Alfriston

On our way back from Brighton we stopped in Alfriston, a tiny town (literally made up of only one road), to see the old church and try some pub food. 

After checking all the pub menus (all four of them) located within a few feet from each other. We sat down to have a taste of England.

Right after we sat down I looked over at Livvy to see her grinning from ear to ear. She was so excited to be eating at a restaurant. =)

The George Inn was the pub that we ate at and it was first licensed in 1347. It had great food and even better atmosphere.

We ate our food and then were off. It was a nice ending to a busy day. 

Canterbury

I'm so behind in blogging it's ridiculous. Our LoveFilm (UK's version of NetFlix) here has all the seasons of LOST and despite Lincoln's "I will never watch that show with you!" attitude, he keeps asking to "watch one more" each night. So, I have neglected the blog. But, here I am attempting a catch up. 

Two weekends ago we drove 1.5 hours away to Canterbury (as in the Tales) and enjoyed St. Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral, and the bustling high street life . 

 St. Augustine's Abbey (not my favorite site, but Lincoln loves himself some ruins!)

The cathedral was really awesome and we were able to attend the evensong and hear the choir sing. I love listening to the beautiful acoustics in these ancient buildings! 

The town centre was super fun. Tons of people, tons of food shops, and tons of people watching! 

We finally decided to get our first "fish n'chips" dinner at a little family owned hole in the wall. From Livvy's face you can guess what she thought of the experience. Not a big fan. Lincoln and I thought it was pretty good. Not sure if we need to experience it again though. 

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This family is glad we can spend Saturdays together. 

Ikea.

In preparation to us moving to our new place (without our shipment of beds, chairs and toys) we decided a trip to Ikea would be necessary. Neither of us had ever been to an Ikea in the US, so we were a bit overwhelmed at the idea...but a few spreadsheets later (I'm not kidding) we were off.

So after a subway, train and tramlink ride we made it to Ikea Croyden.

Please note the NEW pram complete with a rain cover and foot muff! I'm no longer the American with the oversized stroller! Don't worry I almost got Lincoln killed trying to get it for me...but that is his story and he has promised to make his blogging debut telling it.

We walked through the store (I swear it's a town) and stopped for a bit of lunch before continuing on to the self-pick up area.  (LOVE the food...it really is all that it is cracked up to be!)

The self-picking area was pretty crazy. Lincoln tried to maneuver a boxed table/chairs, wardrobes, and bedside tables through a sea of Saturday-Ikea shoppers....while I pushed my new stroller (and kids) to the check out area.

We arrived at Ikea around 1 pm and headed for the Tramlink at about 5:45 pm. Overall I don't think it was has crazy as we had expected. They delivered all of the furniture (and other random things I bought) to our new house the day we moved in. It was so nice to have at least some furniture right away!

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This Ikea first-timer is glad we bought the Sweedish meetballs (and furniture). 

Someone Heard Me

The morning after the "WHY AM I HERE?" night that ended with tears to a certain Lady in Spain, I woke up to sunshine.

Sunshine is a rare thing here in the grey London winter and I have to say it made me realize that even though I miss my family and a bunch of little things that have made me happy.

First, we have been discovering the sweets here and by golly, they have amazing little boxed cakes at every grocery store that you go to and they are delicious.

Secondly, let me introduce you to a genius combination of sugar and chocolate.

This my dears tastes like Cap'n Crunch cereal with an amazing Nutella center. I couldn't imagine a better combo. I do believe Krave is in parts of the U.S. already, so be on the look out people.

And just so you know that chocolate is NOT the answer to all sadness...my little miss and mr. brightened my day times infinity.

Livvy spotted the tea pot that the temporary housing provided and invited me to a "tea" party. And it was a lovely occasion despite the "I spilled water everywhere so I must be mmmmmaked!" look.

And the mr. Oh the mr. Jude dude. He took THREE naps and only fussed for a minute each time. Love that little guy who giggles if I just talk to him.

We move into our new apartment on Monday and despite the fact that our things aren't going to be there for another week or two, life will be good.  And I will keep saying that until it gets to the good-routine-friend-found place of happiness.

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This girl is glad that London knows how to make chocolate goodness.