Grilled Chicken Salad

Could we please go back to spring?  Wow it has gotten CRAZY warm here!  Not really complaining here but really June is not always swimming weather here & I am sure I would have been just fine at the pool this afternoon.

Switching to summer mode puts me in the “I am NOT turning on that oven” mood. 

I just don’t like to cook when it is warm.   So I change the way I approach meal time.

#1SALADS, SALADS & more SALADS

Our favorites

• Mexican Bean Salad
• Taco Salad
• Grilled Chicken Salad(below)
• Bean & Tomato Salad
• Mexican Bean Dip & iceberg lettuce

We try to vary the salads from week to week so next week I will post a different one but my absolute favorite salad is SO easy!

#2Crockpot meals

This week it was Lemon Chicken, BBQ Chicken & Swiss Steak

#3 Favorite Freezer meals  Not this might require me to turn on the oven but most of the time I throw the meal in the crockpot in the morning(often still frozen) and let it cook all day.  But even if it needs the oven the work in the kitchen while it is warm is minimized! 

A win for those really hot days.  I'd rather be by the pool--wouldn't you?

Grilled Chicken Salad

boneless skinless chicken breasts—as many as your family will eat

Romaine &/or Green leaf lettuce or choose a prepared mix from the store(we love the Aldi organic spring mix!) to make it super easy

1/4 c. dried cranberries

1/2 c. slivered Almonds

dressing—use your favorite, most of my family doesn’t even use this!

• Now for the easy part. 
• Make your salad—stick it in the ‘frig. 
• Grill the chicken(keeps the kitchen cool).  Put it all on the table. 
• EAT! 

If I am feeling like I can handle it I will cut up watermelon to go with this. 

Just sweet enough to finish the meal off!  Enjoy!

What are some of your favorite ways to stay cool with meals in the summer?

Need some more recipes?  Check out the links below!

Sweet lil’ monster

See the water balloon?

You get the idea.

Healthy Summer Snacks!

What do you feed kids when they are starving?  My younger two are growing like weeds these days & really need some extra food to keep them going.  What do YOU reach for when the energy levels are low?  Healthy or not?

1.  Full meals  I try to make sure they are putting away meat, vegies, carbs & good fat at each meal.  This helps them make it to the next meal if we cannot snack without getting really cranky!

2.  Fruit  This is my first question to them.  Have you had some fruit today?  We don’t eat a lot of fruit at meals so they need to get this through snacks.  Apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, pineapple etc  Elizabeth loves apples & can go through a couple a day!

3.  Trail mix  Peanuts, raisins, & m&ms(a few)  I think Joshua would live on this stuff.  Daddy lets them add other stuff—like marshmallows. 

4.  Nuts  We always have almonds in the house.  Not everyone likes them but this is my little snack I have before fixing supper(when I am starving) so I don’t start snacking!

5.  Yogurt & peanut butter dip  We don’t do this often but is sure is good.  Apples are delicious dipped in this. 

1 cup Stoneyfield French Vanilla yogurt

1-2 T smooth peanut butter

6.  Smoothies  Nothing better on a hot day!

7.  Popcicles Well maybe this is better.  Freeze your smoothie recipe for a healthy alternative to frozen sugar.

8.  Sandwiches  Sometimes a little snack won’t do it.  When we go for a bike ride or a long walk.  I will pack peanut butter & jelly sandwiches.  Also peanut butter & crackers or cheese & crackers are crowd pleasers.

9.  Popcorn  Regular or Kettle corn---mmmm love it!

10.  Cheese sticks or slices of regular cheese   Mix it up.

11.  My favorite snack right now—Apple cut in to 4 pieces, topped with peanut butter & sprinkled with sunflower seeds.  Nothing better!

Linked up at Tasty Tuesday, Delectable Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, What’s On YOUR plate, & Fun with Food Friday

Working on the old home place

Some weeks are just difficult.  We had one of those last week.

Difficult meetings.

Our  suburban started making a funny chicken noise.  An expensive noise.

We are dealing with a 2 car situation for 3 drivers.

Michael’s schedule wasn’t lining up with our weekend trip out of town.

I had to change my attitude.

We work with wonderful people who love our children.

We OWN 3 vehicles.  No debt.  We have an emergency fund for just this situation.

Michael was in Joplin giving of his time & energy to those who right now have NOTHING.

It helped to spend time with my mother-in-law & father-in-law.  They are so giving, loving & fun to spend time with.

We traveled up to the farm where Suzanne grew up & spent the weekend there.

So here are the highlights of our trip.

First we all worked hard at building a new fence. 

Elizabeth is an expert post hole digger.

After the little people & grandma & I went inside  the guys kept working & got more done.  There was some definite napping going on after lunch.  Along with soda drinking, snacking & games!

Since we were hot--there had to be a water gun/balloon fight!

And Root Beer floats!  Yum!

This was a trip I wasn’t so excited about.  I am feeling behind, overwhelmed & in need of some quiet work time.  It is hard to get away & relax when you feel that way.  I am so thankful that I went.  My husband & kids had a blast.  It was fun to see them let loose & enjoy being together.  I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.