First I want to thank Joyce Ball from Midland, Ontario for the yummy chicken stew with dumplings recipe. The kids loved it. I also have had the smoothie Michael suggested for breakfast a few times. It is great to take in the car on route with me. So much better than skipping a meal!

I decided to make some things for lunches ahead of time this week. I made up a huge potato salad we had as a side dish one night for dinner and then the kids loved it so much they took it for lunch two days this week. I also did up a tomato, cucumber & red pepper salad with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and feta cheese. That was also good for lunches. I’m trying to make sure my kids are getting at least a serving of fruit and veggies with their lunches every day.

I have been experimenting with some of our great cookware to make different breakfast foods. Toad in a hole was a hit. To help out I taught my two oldest kids a meal they can prepare each. My 9 year old is very proud that she can make pancakes from a mix and we have fun with what we put in them — different fruit on weekdays and I let them do chocolate chips as a treat on weekends.

My 12 year old has mastered the grill cheese sandwich. All supervised of course. Orlena gave me a starter for Amish bread and my 6 year old made that with me and we added some yummy dried fruit. I also made homemade soup twice in the last two weeks. Every time I roast a chicken I use the leftovers to prepare a stock so I don’t have to buy it.

Here is the potato salad recipe I never share but is always a hit. Keep it to yourself.

1) Using a pressure cooker I steam the potatoes:
- 1 bag mini white
- 1 bag mini red
- 2 sweet potatoes peeled and cubed large size pieces

2) In a bowl I mix the cooked potatoes with 1 jar of Renee’s Gourmet Light Caesar Salad Dressing. I grate parmesan cheese and add crumbled bacon. It can be served hot or cold.

It is not necessarily “low fat” but it is lightened up and the addition of the sweet potatoes makes for a healthy lunch that I know my kids will eat.

Please suggest more tips and recipes. I love trying new things! Click on the Comments link below.

 
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