February 2018 Recap

February felt like the last stint of true winter around here. A few warm days has me thinking spring is ahead. I’m sooo ready for more and more daylight after work! Also…the beginning of March brings my birthday! Bring on the cake!

But first, I’m fitting in all the wintry meals on my list. I made this Breakfast Inspired Risotto with bacon, white cheddar, everything bagel seasoning, and an egg. I loved this and will likely make it again asap!
The Three Bite Rule - Bfast Risotto
#MeatlessMondays have continued and these Tomato Basil Polenta Bowls were a big hit, especially with the toddler! I cooked most of this in advance which made for an even faster weeknight meal. It’d be a great one to make for a crowd or for 1-2 servings.
The Three Bite Rule - Tomato Basil Polenta Bowls
I made another hot chocolate that was like a turtle candy with nutella, salted caramel, almond extract, and chopped pecans. Yum!
The Three Bite Rule - Turtle Hot Chocolate
I have a few recipes lined up for March. Stay tuned for another deviled egg variation, another souped up hot chocolate, a smoothie, a burger, and we’ll see what else. I haven’t made too many things just to pack as lunch so maybe I’ll do that too.

The Little One:

Feb was kind of rough for getting outside. We ended up with some rain and snow. Days he can get outside are always better. He’s very into puzzles so we got some for his rewards for potty training. He really likes them! I made a crock pot chicken & dumplings dinner that he really wasn’t interested in. We didn’t make it a big deal and eventually he tried it on his own and ate enough to be dinner. Phew! I know he doesn’t love dishes where everything is cooked together but I was really proud that we didn’t prod him and he tried it, and liked it enough, when he was ready. This month he ate more eggs than usual and still loves pb&j. He’s been doing this funny thing when we start talking about breakfast that he wants meatloaf. I have no idea when he last saw it!

This year’s goals: 

Year of the candle: I got this cool geometric ceramic one
Cook more appetizers/snacks: 
I made Caprese Sliders
Taking time to blog thoughtfully:
lack of daylight is rough.
Journal the cute moments of my little one: I didn’t capture too many this month. 
What I’m reading: 
 I read Miller’s Valley and am into my bookclub book. 
What I’m watching:
All Olympics, all the time.

 

January 2018 Recap

January brought the new year and I feel ready for 2018! More importantly, January meant our little man turned 3! I can’t believe it! We had a fun birthday party with a waffle bar! I meant to blog it and really wanted to, but being in the moment, not rushing to prep before the fam arrived, and paying attention to the birthday boy were all more important.
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I’m totally into jazzed up hot chocolate. I made a Hot Chocolate with Raspberry and White Chocolate. So good. It started when NYE was just too cold for our traditional milkshakes so we went for hot chocolate with toppings. I have more ideas ahead, stay tuned!
The Three Bite Rule - Hot Chocolate w/ Raspberry & White Chocolate
#MeatlessMondays are a thing here for the last few months so I did a meatless Monday round up.

I was really excited to make this Cheeseburger Layer Dip, especially in time for the superbowl!
The Three Bite Rule - Cheeseburger Dip

The Little One:

He’s so big! He was proud to show his new age with his fingers. He was pretty amped up during his family party and after his nap he was so much calmer and focused. We’ve been playing a lot of trains and play doh. I was glad we could capitalize on any days that weren’t too cold. Getting outside is so important. Food-wise, he was into tacos and a dinner of white bean/tomato/spinach with polenta.

This year’s goals: 

Year of the candle: Yup, mint chocolate candle for this chilly month. 
Cook more appetizers/snacks:
Yes! I made 2! I made caesar deviled eggs and cheeseburger layer dip!  
Taking time to blog thoughtfully: 
ehh.
Journal the cute moments of my little one: Yes, I’ve noted a few amusing comments- often a “did you know that” or “I didn’t know that”
What I’m reading: 
 I read Necessary Lies and zoomed through it. I’m pretty far into my next one. 
What I’m watching: 
This is Us, the Superbowl (for the snacks), and The Amazing Race. We watched a few movies: Stronger & Battle of the Sexes.

#MeatlessMonday

I quietly instituted Meatless Mondays at our house. I sort of regularly planned or scheduled a meatless meal during our week but back in November I consciously planned them for Mondays and tried to keep them varied. I mean, pasta seems like the easiest & fastest dinner without meat and is a favorite food of mine so I might have been happy to eat pasta every Monday night! There were still a bunch of pastas on my Mondays but everything has felt different so far! Summer definitely seems like an easier season but it is a good habit I hope to keep up.

The verdict? So far so good! They don’t have to be Mondays necessarily, but I did totally find it helpful for speedier meals to start the week! I’ll keep at it and maybe it’ll stretch me to be more creative. We could definitely eat more veggies.

Here have been some of my favs:

Fall Fettuccine with Roasted Squash, Sage, & Alfredo
The Three Bite Rule - Fall Fettuccine
Baked Falafel Bowls
The Three Bite Rule - Falafel Bowl
Bean & Cheese Quesadillas/Burritos – I froze a few burritos with beans, 2 cheeses, brown rice, and corn for lunches too!

Kale Pesto over Gnocchi
The Three Bite Rule - Kale Pesto
Shakshuka
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Spaghetti w/ Tomato Sauce- I was solo parenting and had strep- the worsttttt. A 2-ingredient dinner was perfect- using my fav Kitchen Ready Tomatoes of course.

Grilled cheese & Tomato Soup – this may have been the first time the little one ate soup. He was into it!

Bfast for Dinner: eggs & hashbrowns

Veggie Calzone with Fire-Roasted Tomatoes
The Three Bite Rule - Fire Roasted Veggie Calzone

Tortellini

Fish tacos with Pear Pomegranate Salsa
The Three Bite Rule - Pomegranate Pear Salsa

Sesame Noodles & Edamame
The Three Bite Rule - Sesame Noodles
I think that’s been most of them so far. It was also refreshing for a busy season to rely on many tried and true favs and not focus on new concepts and blogging all of them.

A bunch of my lunches tend to be vegetarian- quiche, soup, crostini, jazzy grilled cheeses, etc but it was good to be mindful to focus dinners around the theme.

A few other ideas that’ll hit next are some pizzas/flatbreads, Mexican things, more soups, and eggplant. I’m just not craving salads while it is 10-degrees around these parts. Any other cold-weather meatless meal ideas for me? Fish & mushrooms aren’t always favorites for all of us at our house.

December 2017 Recap

I really like the between Christmas and New Years. I don’t feel the post-celebration blues I hear so often. I like the hubbub of Christmases we have celebrating twice and then I like the quietness of NYE. I’m looking forward to sliders and milkshakes that have become our tradition to ring in the new year! As much as I LOVE LOVE LOVE holiday decor I also like the getting back to usual with the tree down etc. I also switch from Christmas/Santas/etc to Snowmen and lights so it still feels festive.

So. much. food. in. December! I hosted Christmas Eve and Mr. J and I made fresh spinach pasta, alfredo, these crockpot meatballs, caesar salad, and chocolate mousse. It was soooo good and the right amount of easy/special foods.

My fav thing this month was an apple, caramelized onion, and boursin crostini. So perfect for a snack, lunch, or cocktail party food.
The Three Bite Rule - Crostini with Boursin, Apple & Caramelized Onions
I also really loved this cheesy-veggie calzone with fire roasted tomatoes.
The Three Bite Rule - Fire Roasted Veggie Calzone
January should be tasty! I have a few posts to work on during my break from work that I’m excited to share. I got some new kitchen toys so I’ll be sure to break them in as well! I made a yogurt cake which instilled a touch of confidence for baked goods.

The Little One:

Christmas was so magical for him! He was feeling shy to sit with Santa, but he did talk to him and asked for a Construction vest. Santa delivered, also with safety goggles which he barely took off since. He couldn’t believe the cookie crumb mess Santa left on the plate! He was quite well behaved and very happy opening presents. I wasn’t sure if he’d have zero attention span since all the family members showered him with so many gifts!

In just a few weeks he’ll be 3! I cannot wait to post his bday celebration!

This year’s goals: 

Year of the candle: 
Grocery store re-invention: 
Ehh. I might just nix this – it never seems to happen! 
Cook more appetizers/snacks: 
Bacon & Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms were from November, and Apple/Boursin/Caramelized Onion Crostini was December! 
Taking time to blog thoughtfully:
I might have added a touch more style this month.
Journal the cute moments of my little one: 
What I’m reading: 
 I read The Day the World Came to Town, so uplifting! and I read Talking as Fast as I Can which was cute & enjoyable. 
What I’m watching:
I fulfilled my Christmas-movie needs by catching some/part of my favorite ones – Elf, The Holiday, Love Actually, Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas with the Kranks & Christmas Vacation. I didn’t see Home Alone which I was missing.

November 2017 Recap

November was full of all the fall flavors: sweet potato; sage; thyme; maple; and dijon! It was a busy month, but also so different than Novembers had been in recent years. I’m loving my new job and have been so appreciative of the chance to do this work. It feels weird to be new and not have all the answers or know style preferences. My team has had successes and I’m so glad to be busy. November wasn’t my healthiest month – separately having strep and a stomach bug put some dampers into my weekend plans twice! I blame the dentist for the stomach bug – prob not their fault, but it was the same day and I hate going so why not?!

#GrilledCheesePlease was a series for November with some of the most fun grilled cheeses! 
Turkey & Pear Grilled Cheese

Sweet Potato & Sage
Pancetta & Cheddar in Truffle Butter
Grilled Cheese Lorraine
The Three Bite Rule - Sweet Potato Grilled Cheese

My fav dish this month, maybe this season, is Fall Fettuccine– with butternut squash, alfredo, and sage. I need to make this again.
The Three Bite Rule - Fall Fettuccine
Burger season isn’t over here – this Asian-Inspired Burger had flavors of teriyaki, sesame, pineapple, and sriracha with crunch from wonton strips and cucumber!
The Three Bite Rule - Asian Burger

The Little One:

He was so good when Mr. J was gone. Also, while I had strep at the same time. Ugg. No fun, but he was very well behaved and we ate toddler greatest hits so I didn’t have to extend too much energy: spaghetti; quesadillas; and leftovers. He and I are each struggling with how early it gets dark, but I’m loving how much pretend play he’s into- especially with toy animals, dinosaurs, and dress up. He got to watch TV for the first time to see the Thanksgiving Day Parade! He loooved it. I never noticed how many interviews there are until I watched with a toddler who just wanted to see marching bands and balloons. Every long stick he finds outside becomes a leaf blower so that’s been a lot of our November play! We’re getting into the holiday spirit – I’m all in, 98% of my spirit is already there! It makes me smile every time he refers to “Santa Closet”.

This year’s goals: 

Year of the candle: I had some spruce/tree scented ones with a bit of life but got a cinnamon-y candle that seems festive!
Grocery store re-invention: 
Ehh. Not so much in November. 
Cook more appetizers/snacks:
I made one that I’ll blog in December. Stay tuned! 
Taking time to blog thoughtfully:
I squeezed a photo into the morning, aka daylight so bam. Done!
Journal the cute moments of my little one: I justttt started. Mostly because I want to always remember him saying “Santa Closet”.
What I’m reading: 
I finished When Breath Becomes Air & Small Great Things 
What I’m watching:
the Law & Order True Crime series about the Menendez Brothers was soooo good. Also, This is Us. I miiiiight have gotten suckered into a Gilmore Girls replaying of all the episodes, in order- perfect on some sick days.