Friday, June 20, 2014

"Plugging" Back In for Five for Friday

I am back online after unplugging for a week to prepare for and begin healing from surgery. My Husband and I have been trying to have a  baby for a few years and I recently discovered I had fibroids. Those are now removed and I am healing and getting ready for out next step in our baby journey!
I am happy to be joining Doodle Bugs Teaching for a quick Five for Friday!




Milk Paint!
This is my new favorite "go to" craft supply!!! Read more about it {here}!
Check back on Monday to see I made with this fabulous paint!
Cooking Before Surgery

Lunches:

Since I am on my own for lunch I wanted to make sure I had some easy ready made lunches I could fix for myself. My two favorite go to easy cold lunch recipes are Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad & my twist on Texas Caviar. I have linked both of these back to the original posts I got the recipes from but I am listing the way I make it below. 
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad (Gluten & Dairy Free)
This recipe doubles the original recipe as well as makes it gluten and dairy free. Just mix and refrigerate!
1 bag Tinkyada Brown Rice Vegetable Pasta Spirals Gluten Free -- 12 oz pasta, cooked according to package directions
1/3 C roasted red pepper
3-4 C cooked chicken, cubed (I have used chicken breast that I have baked or rotisserie chicken and both are good!)
1C  Vegenaise (vegan mayo)
4-6 tbsp Frank's Red Hot Sauce (use according to taste, I like a lot!)
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
2 tbsp roasted red pepper brine (the juice the peppers are in)

Texas Caviar
Simple & Quick - my favorite! Simply mix together all the ingredients below and refrigerate over night. Serve with tortilla chips.
1 can corn (drained)
2 can black beans (drained)
2 can black eyed peas (drained)
1 can Rotel (drained)
1 fresh jalopeno diced 
1/2 of a sweet Videla onion diced
1/4 C rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp canola oil
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt and pepper (or to taste)

Next week I am looking at some veggie and fruit salads and smoothies. Any good suggestions that are very easy to make? I have limited time up and about but am looking for some new things to make.
Cooking - Freezer Meals
To insure I didn't have to eat fast food for the next few weeks while on bed rest I made up freezer meals for the hubs to just throw on the stove or in the crockpot. This has been a life saver this week! 
Our favorite freezer meal is Pizza Pasta. A friend gave me the recipe and I have no idea where it came from but it is too good not to share!
1 bag egg noodles (cook to package directions)
1 large jar of spaghetti sauce (pick your favorite)
1 lb ground beef - browned
1 package pepperoni (I use turkey pepperoni)
1 bag shredded cheese - your choice
2-4 small disposable casserole dishes (I get them 2/$1 at Dollar General)

Brown ground beef, drain, add spaghetti sauce and cook on low while noodles are cooking. Mix meat sauce and noodles together. Divide mixture between casserole dishes. Top with cheese and pepperoni. I usually make 4 dishes: two with regular cheese and two with dairy free cheese for me.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes, uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes. If cooking from frozen add 10-20 minutes to the first cooking time.
A peak at my freezer. The dishes on the top are the Pasta Pizzas!



Bedrooms
In the week leading up to my surgery, I went  a little crazy on the redecorating. I think it was nerves! I repainted my master bedroom and two guest rooms. Now I have the office and living room and kitchen left to finish.


 Not the best pictures! We have been waiting for the floor guys to come put down our hardwood. Hopefully they will get to us soon!
 This room will *HOPEFULLY* have a pallet wood headboard in the next few weeks!
That green chair is the BEST reading chair ever!!! I love going into that room and rocking and reading!

Bathrooms
The bathrooms were not safe from my paint brush either!
 Still need to add towel racks in the master bathroom.
Also a work in progress. The hubs and I are going to build pallet shelves to go above the toilet. 


Have you done any home projects? Do you make freezer meals? Comment below and then link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching and share your 5!

7 comments:

  1. Good luck with your continued baby journey. Thanks for sharing the buffalo chicken pasta salad recipe. Looks yummy! I am going to give it a try. Love the colors you are decorating with. I even have blue and lime in my classroom since I love them so much.

    ~Laura
    Luv My Kinders

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much!!! I hope you like the pasta as much as I did. The original recipe calls for some cheese as well but since I cannot eat dairy, I left it out. You may want to add some for yourself if you don't need it dairy free!

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  2. Good Grief Girl- you worked so much getting food ready! That is dedication. At my house we just eat out. Now, here's a scary thing-your bathroom looks exactly like mine- same tub, same wall beside the tub, same tile floor......

    I have not redecorated this summer- just cleaned and thrown away stuff. If I do decide to paint though I am going to get that paint color you used! I love it!.

    Rest and feel better soon!
    Carol
    Teachers Are Terrific!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! That is too funny about our bathrooms. We also did a lot of cleaning and making a "yard sale pile" that turned into a "yard sale room"!
      You can't tell in the pictures but I used three different shades of grey. In the bedrooms I used Valspar Opra Glasses, my bathroom is Valspar Bell Tower Stone, and the guest bath is Valspar Man Cave.

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  3. Thank you for sharing valuable information. Nice post. I enjoyed reading this post. The whole blog is very nice found some good stuff and good information here Thanks..Also visit my page. Enfamil Click And Shop is one of the top online shopping companies in New York with useful services in selection.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, you've been so busy! I feel the need to go out and buy an amazing reading chair for myself after seeing yours!
    Growing Little Learners

    ReplyDelete

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