No fast food in February

My sister-in-law Jill who guest posted for me earlier this month, just did a challenge with her family for no sugar in January (imagine that with 2 preschoolers and 2 toddlers!)
After reading her post (sorry no link here, her blog is private) Joel and I decided to do a food challenge of our own: NO FAST FOOD IN FEBRUARY!

Disclaimer: we totally had Burger King on groundhog's day and then that night decided on this challenge :)

So what this means for us is that we don't go through the drive through or order out pizza.
We have really cut back on our drive through eating and do it usually only when traveling and didn't plan enough ahead of time to pack a car meal, or if I am really lazy and bossy and don't want to make dinner because I want a greasey cheeseburger so bad

The hard part will be the no pizza...
We eat pizza maybe 3ish times a month, our favorite being to frequent the local parlor, Tyeger's
So since their special in March is the reuben and that's my favorite...I decided we'll just do the remainder of February the no fast food month so I don't miss out on it!
I will also be suffering for 5 long days while Joel is on his longest business trip to Mexico, during which I always treat myself to Pizza King's barbeque ham pizza and breadsticks
Wow, maybe we do eat out a lot.

However, this challenge will not include a date night (or two) that we take this month, because
1. we go to a restaurant and the food is not 'fast'
2. we do love to go out to eat and try new food and that is something fun we can treat ourselves too during our much needed reconnection time!!!

Help keep us accountable by sending me a simple recipe to try this month!
rachel_merkle (the at symbol) yahoo (dot) com (i just saw another blogger type her email in this way in attempt to prevent spam mail)
Anyone want to join us on this challenge?!

winter day in

On Wednesday we all had the luxury of a mid-week weekend!
That is a day I usually intern at BHS and they were closed
Franklin Electric even sent everyone home early on Tuesday and closed on Wednesday!
So on our day off, at home together, we:
1. slept in until Mylin said it was time to get up!
2. stayed in our jammies all day
3. (Rachel) got caught up on homework
4. (Joel) did our taxes!!! Good job honey!
5. got Burger King for supper (cut to Joel being stuck in the alley trying to drive there and him not coming back for 30 more minutes because BK was understaffed due to weather!)
6. watched Seven Pounds after Mylin went to bed

It was relaxing and productive - the best kind of days off!

What did you do during your winter day in?!

Mondays are the best (week)days

mondays are my new favorite day, well, at least favorite week day
on monday i have nothing on my agenda. ever.
this means i get to do my FAVORITE things:
1. not put product in my hair or wear make up (or get out of my pajamas if we're being honest...)
2. fix breakfast for joel (if i'm not enjoying my sleeping in morning...)
3. get play dates with my girlfriends and their babies/kids
4. cook and bake! (this past monday i made chili, corn potato chowder, tater tot casserole, potato baby food, and chicken&potato baby food)
5. enjoy the lunch hour with my hub :)
6. read or watch a movie while mylin naps

but the best part?! i spend the entire day with the sweetest 7 month old little miss :)

what do you love (or hate) about mondays?!

guest blogger: Casey Ringger!

Joel and I have been privileged to know Casey Ringger. A funny part of our friendship is that Joel and I have separately been friends with her throughout high school, college, and now. It's been fun to know her as a girlfriend, and now enjoy the friendship with another married couple. Learn more about Casey by reading her blog
Casey enjoys writing about God, marriage, school, Charlie - her chocolate lab, and among so much more - recipes!

I'm so grateful for her sharing these great recipes with us!

Do you remember Orange Julius' at the mall? Well, thanks to my friend Katie R. I have a/the recipe for them :) Her family has a tradition of making them on Christmas Day. Art and I made them and they were awesome!!!
Orange Julius
1/3 can frozen OJ concentrate
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. water
1/4 c. sugar (I used less...just a little)
1/2 t. vanilla (if you have pure extract...use 1/2!)
5-6 ice cubes
Combine all in a blender until smooth. Makes about 3 cups.
Art and I tripled the recipe and it completely filled our blender!!!

This recipe I got from Heavenlyhomemakers.com. It is for Popcorn Chicken but with a twist. Boneless chicken wings with hot sauce always look and smell so good! So I combined ideas.
Popcorn Chicken
3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I only used 1 1/2 for Art and I)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 ts. salt
1/2 ts. garlic powder
butter

Mix the flour, salt, and garlic in a good sized bowl. Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces. Toss the chicken in the flour mixture.
Use your saved butter wrapper to butter a 9x13 baking dish (or use actual butter). Spoon chicken in dish (I did not pour it out because I didn't want a lot of flour in the dish). Spread so they are in a single layer.
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Stir and bake for another 10 minutes. (I actually baked them for another 10 minutes after that).

They do not look pretty at this stage!!! But this is my twist: Pour the chicken into a container with a lid (or a plastic baggie). Pour some sauce (bbq, hot, etc.) inside and shake. Instant boneless chicken wings!! Art likes bbq and I like hot. I used the generic, regular hot sauce from Wal-mart.

Let me know how these recipes go over with your family!

look what's been baking in my oven!

I have enjoyed being home with a little more freedom since Mylin is growing and able to entertain herself a bit more :)
What I have been enjoying most on my days off (besides my sweet little miss and sweatpants...) is baking!
I have been making lots of bread and cookies
Soon I will get to use my breadmaker, a gift from my friend Leslie who no longer uses it!

Any breadmaker bread-making advice?!

Today I have made gingerbread and butterscotch cookies
I am SO excited about the gingerbread!
I bought a box of gingerbread graham crackers last week since they were on an after the holidays sale (I love gingerbread anything and eat graham crackers often!)
On the side of the box is this surprising and exciting recipe for actual gingerbread!

18 gingerbread graham's finely crushed (2 packages)
1/4 c. flour (I use whole wheat)
1/4 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 c. milk
1 egg
2 Tbsp honey

mix all and blend. bake at 350 in a 9x4ish pan for about 40 minutes (the recipe calls to make 3 mini loaves). there is also an optional frosting drizzle topping of powdered sugar and water/milk, mixed to desired consistancy and drizzled over top!

I also have been baking my mom's yummy chocolate chip cookies!
Cream together:
1/3 c. shortening
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
Then stir in:
3 - 3 1/2 c. flour (again, I use whole wheat)
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
Then add 12 oz of your favorite chips - I don't do chocolate chip, but always butterscotch!
Bake at 375 for 10-14 minutes!

Let me know how they turn out when you try them!

What have you been baking lately?