some yummy stuff

so. 

a long long time ago

i said i'd be trying out a new recipe from RealSimple every day for 30 days.


well, that was really ambitious of me, wasn't it?
it turned into 1 or 2 a week. 


I discovered a few things.

1.  I can follow a recipe.  Hooray.  My mommy taught me good.
2.  RealSimple really is really simple to follow.  and so yummy.
3.  I really love pasta, apparently.  (it's easy)

as my friend Junie B says--Wowie Wow Wow!

Here are some of my favorites we Spencers tried out!

pasta with peppers and mozzarella
**I substituted the arugula for spinach and it was still delightful.

broccoli alfredo
This recipe had my family going back for 2nds and 3rds for dad!  He loved it.  We loved it!

spinach pasta with asparagus pesto

this one was my personal fave.  it smelled SO good making and it was delightful.  My food even turned out looking like the RealSimple picture! 

what are some of your favorite recipes?

Day 04 – What you ate today

Well.. Since it's morning and I haven't eaten anything I'll tell you what I ate yesterday. So healthy.

Taco Amigo- Cheese Burrito and Soft Flour Taco (TA is a staple food group at our house)
Graham Crackers
and
Milk
Also I drank a Diet Dr. Pepper
and had water.

Not very exciting.

One of my favorite meals I've made is
Penne with grilled peppers, spinach and fresh mozarella. Mmm. (I switched around the recipe a little but go HERE to get it.  It's good!)

Also

Gnocchi with Pesto and veggies.. and I added grilled chicken also. Soo yummy. Go HERE for that recipe. 

Thank you Real Simple, for making my life real simple.

starting today

I love Real Simple magazine.



I could go on and on about how much I love it.



One reason is it includes healthy/yummy looking recipes in every issue.


I have been trying to get my brother to try new things (and by new things I mean anything except chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, etc.) and he refuses.



So I am re-vamping the grocery list.  Cleaning out the pantry. 


And I am creating something I like to call the Real Simple Challenge


One new dinner recipe each night for 3 weeks. 

We are going to be trying

new vegetables
new recipes
new ways to cook things
and just a healthier lifestyle in general


My Real Simple Challenge also includes daily exercise.  (something I and my family have been lacking in). 


Hopefully this will be a really good thing.  I'm mostly doing this for me.  I am really excited to get out of the everyday go-to dinner rut. 

Bad Mood Meds

Whenever I'm in a dreary type of mood I seem to head straight for the chocolate. I love all of it. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups is probably favorite.

But on meloncholic days like today, my go-to comfort food is Dove Dark Chocolate

It's delightful

Not only is it melt-in-your-mouth delish but you get a nice quote/fortune on your wrapper. Sometimes they are hilarious and sometimes they are food for thought. I love it.

Here's to you, Dove.

You made my day a little brighter.

Even so much I felt the need to blog about you.