Run like the wind and teen appetites

Thursday: Layered Chicken Cobb Salad
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/106567

Reflections from the Backcounter


Running is freeing. The wind in your hair and the sun on your face lift your spirits to carefree heights. The rhythmic pounding of shoes on pavement can calm a worried mind, organize scattered thoughts and soothe frazzled nerves. The only thing better than running is watching your son run! Spring brings track season to high school and with it tremendous teen appetites. Track meets run late so there is always the temptation to run for fast food. Track nights are great nights to prepare simple make ahead meals using the crock pot. I must confess, we defaulted to take out Chipotle last night. It was delicious and the break from the kitchen prep and clean up a treat.
Boil the eggs for the salad this morning and prep the salad late this afternoon.

Peace,
Julia
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/106567

Frugal moms

Tuesday: Pasta with cream, peas and mint http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/241610

Reflections from the Backcounter

Frugal thinking is essential in our current economy. Discretionary income is being eroded by the rising costs of food, gas and utilities. This morning the news highlighted unrest in Egypt where people have taken to the streets to protest the high cost of living in that country. Mothers need to think creatively to keep food bills on budget and household costs under control. Tonights menu saves time and money. This is a quick, tasty and inexpensive pasta dish that has a different twist.

Mother to mother networking is also a great way to save money. Special occasion outfits are always expensive. Consider lending or borrowing outfits for weddings, proms, and evenings out. Hand down clothing to other kids who are just a few sizes smaller than yours.

A great site for the horsey set is http://www.showstop.info/. This is a site organized by a group of mothers who were tired of warehousing outgrown horseshow clothes and tack. These moms used their energy to create a site for others to sell items and place wanted ads for needed clothing and tack. This is a great idea! Check it out and post an ad! I have gotten a lot of good things on this site.

Peace,

Julia

No More Overload

Monday: Chicken with Corn Salsa http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/433

Reflections from the Backcounter

Monday morning...again....just spent a weekend at a horseshow with a bunch of other moms and the topic of overload came up. We were all feeling overwhelmed with our lives and the opportunity to relax at the horseshow was the best medicine we could have asked for. I recently read a great book by Richard Swenson, M.D. http://www.richardswenson.org/index.html and would recommend it to all mothers.

He remarks on the fact that most adults in the United States live their lives on overload, without margin. He defines margin as the space between our load and our limits. Overload is that point where our limits are exceeded. This is a very stressful and anxiety provoking way to live and leaves us with little energy for joy and exuberance. I hope you read his book as I gained significant insight. Unfortunately, for most of us, the have- to list of the day to day is pretty much non-negotiable. For me, I find that the key to improving my stress load is planning and organization. Without an action plan and a to do list, I fall apart. Thus, my compulsive meal planning. This streamlines my time at the store and my time thinking about and executing dinner preparation. Today's menu is really fresh and tasty. Hope your family enjoys it.

Peace,

Julia

Menu Week 8

Menu Week 8


Sunday:

Pork Tenderloin with Pomegranate sauce

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/236404

Orzo

Broccoli



Monday:

Make the salsa and the marinade on Sunday so that prep on Monday is easy. Grill a few extra chicken breasts to use later in the week for chicken cobb salad



Chicken on the grill with Corn salsa

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/433

Quesadillas on the grill

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/231500

Watermelon chunks



Tuesday:

(20 minute meal)

Pasta with Peas, parsley, cream and mint

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/241610





Wednesday:Grilled Shrimp and vegetables

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/235021



Thursday:

Layered Chicken Cobb Salad

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/106567

Bread Sticks



Friday



Take out!!!

Reflections from the Backcounter

This menu has a lot of cook ahead strategies to minimize the prep work on weeknights. Whenever you have a busy week, look ahead and do things on the weekend. The chicken can be grilled ahead of time and the marinades made on the weekend and stored in the refrigerator to be used later in the week.
The weather is changing and spring is upon us. Enjoy the grill and the lighter fare.

Off to the horseshow this morning.
Peace,

Julia

Horse show fare

Friday: Slow Cooker Green chile burros

This is a great end of the week meal because the prep is so easy. Just throw everything in to the slow cooker before you go to work and when you get home your meal is waiting. Shred the meat by using two forks. Serve on warm tortillas sprinkled with cheese and cilantro. Wrap and eat. We add chopped tomatoes and lettuce on the side.

Reflections from the Backcounter

Horse shows. Always a challenge to organize. In any event there are two competitors, one equine and the other human. Both need to be in top shape and form to succeed and the synergy between horse and rider is a prerequisite to win. What is not apparent to the casual observer is the team of frazzled "Barn moms" supporting the exquisitely turned out teen riders. Behind the bejeweled hair, perfect makeup, highly polished boots and Ralph Lauren demeanor is a weary, sweaty, dusty mother toting boot polish, dust rags, hair brushes and water bottles (for horse and rider!) The event begins with the gathering of the gear two to three days in advance and the last minute modifications are made as girls seem to grow a size between each competition.

As I sit here early in the morning, I am inventorying the garment bags, boot and makeup bags and am plotting my catering strategy. Food at horse shows is the epitomy of the greasy spoon carnival fare we have all encountered at the state fairs of our childhood.

We are going fully prepared as this competition is in the hinterland and there is no returning for provisions. Wish us luck

Peace,

Julia

Believe in yourself

Thursday: Artichoke Pasta

Reflections from the Backcounter

Find your center and stay there. Life can send you a series of challenges that seem overwhelming. Your center is your safety. Often a blow can seem crushing but the truth is that women are a lot like the old clown punching bags that we had as kids. We are hit, knocked over but we always bounce back. A good friend says" Hit me with your best shot" and she always gets back up. Stay centered, have faith and remember to count on your friends. They will always help you back up.
Peace,

Julia

On overload

Wednesday:
Sloppy Joes http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/100544
Carrot and Celery Sticks

Reflections from the Backcounter

I wrote Monday about my humble morning goals of getting to work clean with matching shoes. I suppose, 1 out of 2 isn't all that bad. I honestly wore mismatched shoes to work that day AFTER writing this blog and making a joke about it. Must have been a Freudian slip. I might as well come clean and tell the whole truth. The Mona Lisa is not the only person to have appeared in public with a blue velcro curler still in her hair. Let's leave it at that and try to move on....I need to run to the bathroom and check my hair just to be sure...Yup, my shoes match so it is a good day.

Peace,
Julia