New sheriff in town...baby River is 15 months old

So I am bringing back the blog after an extended break.  Now we have an additional
mouth to feed!   It’s Thrifty with Triplet Plus One :). And I plan to focus on serving up food to match
my gourmet food taste on a fast food budget.

Maybe I can get to the GYM once this week?

If anyone at the JCC is wondering why there is a crazy lady working out in her business casual dress and gym shoes. I forgot workout clothes and since getting here is half the battle I decided an easy walk on the treadmill is better than nothing......

Sneaky Mommy

Shhh, Mommy has been sneaky.  Yesterday, I put kale and spinach in our afternoon smoothies.  After the kids drank them down, I asked what they thought the "secret" ingredients was.  My daughter guessed "Cheeseburgers", LOL.  I wanted them to appreciate eating veggies, but they are at the stage were they do not like to try new things.  

So, today I tried this recipe.

Avacado-Banana Chocolate Pudding AKA: ABC Pudding - sounds gross right.  It was delicious.  And had no added sugar.  A desset I can feel really good about giving to the trio.

1 to 2 ripe banana

1 ripe avocado

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

3 tablespoons of coconut milk (almond milk would probably work too)

Toss all this all in your blender, food processor  ect.  I used my blender and it was a pain.  I switched to my immersion blender and that was better.  Whatever method you use to blend it, mix it up well, you do not want unsuspecting children to see green chunks of avocado or they will be onto you,

Chill it in the fridge for about 2 hours to firm it up.  This was a huge hit!  And if you see my kids, do let them know how healthy it is.

Tea with Her Majesty

All it took was a hat and gloves from the dollar spot and target and I am have Tea with "Her Majesty" :)

Happy Superbowl Sunday!

Mom: Why are you guys dressed in costumes?
Alex: We are getting ready for the "Super"-bowl.
*I guess when you are 4, if something has the word "super" in it, then clearly it involves super-heroes! Wow, are they going to be dis-appointed when Joe Flacco is not dressed as Spider-Man

REAL Vegetable Soup

I have recently picked up about 15 vegetable soup cans at everywhere from Kroger to Whole foods.  I have even tasted 2 that did not have any funky ingredients but they all tasted well “canned”. The ones I have tried are totally devoid of flavor and veggies are a mushy bunch of ick!  So, I have perfected my own fresh vegetable soup.

Abby's Fresh Soup
Lots of fresh veggies
16 ounces of organic Chicken Broth
2- 8 ounce cans of stewed tomatoes (Read the labels, lot have added sugar! Yes, canned tomatoes with sugar!!!)


Okay, so start with the veggies.  Any veggies you want.... as long as they look fresh.  For this batch I went with Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green peppers, celery and a few green beans I had on hands.  Also, get some fresh garlic to cook with the veggies.

Next step is to heat up the pot. I like to use my Le Crueset cast iron pot.  I guess you could use some other Made in China piece of junk pot, but I am obsessed with my Made in France cast iron pots.
Now, heat up a generous amount of Olive oil and get it nice and hot.  Now, toss in your veggies.  Give your veggies a nice sear but do not over cook or you will have mushy soup, blah.  Now, add the broth and stewed tomatoes.  The tomatoes must be stewed one, but please read the labels. Most of the conventional ones have sugar added.  I have found the Muer Glen and the Whole foods brand to not add sugar.  So, the food snob here is telling you go organic.  Now, cook the soup on low for about 10 minutes.  Do not boil, you will get those mushy veggies again.

Serve, I like to serve mine with a touch of parmigiana cheese.  And the real stuff, not the stuff from the green shaker can.... Although, I think my kids would snort that stuff I left to their own devices!

In Honor of Martin Luther King Day

Yes, this Conversation just really happened in my house-
Me: I heard you learned about Martin Luther King at school today. He had a dream that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin 
Alex: Um, if I am going to be judged by a character I want it to be Luke Skywalker, yup, Luke Skywaker.

Welcome to Neverland - big 4th Birthday Party

A few pics from our pirate and fairies party! All the kids got to dress as fairies or pirates. I had a blast making all the food (including the cupcakes and cake!). Tinkerbell even flew in from Pixie Hollow and her assistants made some the coolest ballon characters I have ever seen! Most importantly the triplets had a blast celebrating their 4th Birthday.

Birthday party Prep

Wow. I can't believe I am blogging about the prep for the triplets 4 th birthday. It is a Neverland Party of pirates and fairies. First food Project is out catch of the day! Which is Candy Sushi! Just rice Krispy treats, Swedish fish, and fruit by the foot.

Kale Chips

Kale Chips and Salsa

Summer is quickly approaching and BBQ season is in full swing around here.  I love grilling out with the family and there are so many healthy options.  One thing I just can't resist and have no portion control over is potato chips.  I can not even have them in the house.  So, when I heard that "Kale" chips are good alternative to potato chips, I was skeptical but curious.  To tell you the truth, I did not even know what kale was.  So, I did a little research and experimenting and came up with this.  Okay, so they are not potato chips, but they are surprisingly crunchy, salty and satisfying.  I had mine with fresh salsa. 

Kale Chips -

1 bunch of Kale

1 tablespoon of olive oil

Kosher salt

So, first step is to go to the store and get kale.  I have heard there are a few varities, but my store only had one kind so that is what I got :)  Rinse the Kale and pat it dry.  Next, rip in into large pieces.  The kale leaf has a rib in the middle of it so tear around that and discard it.  Next toss the kale with the Olive oil.  Make sure the leaves are not drenched in oil, but lightly coated.

Next, spread the kale in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake at 275 for 20 minutes.  

After you take the kale out of the oven, sprinkle it with the kosher salt and let cool.  Enjoy. Oh,and the Kale is zero weight watchers points and the Olive oil is only 3, so go ahead and eat the whole tray.

Easy yummy corny dip

Happy Mother's Day!  I had a wonderful day.  It did include having 15 family members over for a BBQ.  I just love having the family over and with everyone pitching in and with the hubby manning the grill- all I had to make was a dessert (that recipe to follow later) and an appetizer.

I wanted to keep it simple and healthy, so this is what I came up with.  

I guess people liked it, because it is GONE.

16 Ounces of reduced fat cream cheese (you could go fat free, but ick)

1 package of ranch dressing mix

1 can of corn

1 diced red pepper.

Let the cream cheese come to room temp and then just mix it all together.  Serve with veggies and crackers.

Hey, it is Mother's day, I had to keep it simple.

Skinny monkey cookies

Thank goodness these are only1 weight watchers point each (according to my recipe builder), because I can not stop eating them.  Even the triplets loved them and they are totally healthy! They are not the prettiest cookies out there but they are sure yummy.

The recipe calls for three mushed up bananas and my triplets totally loved being able to help with this.  Lastly, no eggs in this, so batter tasting is totally acceptable and encouraged.

Here is what you need-

• 3 bananas - the riper the better
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter - i used natural
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce 
• 3 packets of splenda
• Dash of cinnamon 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Have your little helpers mash the bananas.  No toss in all remaining ingredient with the bananas in a large bowl. Then drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. These don't really spread as they bake, so you can make them into balls or flatten them out. Bake  for 10-12 minutes.

Best flank steak marinade ever!

This recipe is so simple and yet so delicious. It is one of the few ways I can get the triplets to eat red
Meat.

1 flank steak
1 cup rice wine vinegar
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 honey
Wisk together the vinegar, soy sauce and honey.
Marinate the steak in it over night .
You can throw the steak on the grill or I have been making this in the broiler all winter. Broil on high for about 8 minutes on each side.
Slice and enjoy

Easy tip for pizza toppings

Pizza Making

We love making pizza around here. And Meijer has pizza crust that are only 6 weight watchers points for the entire crust, score. Anyhow, I have been looking for a way to make pizza prep with 3 toddlers a little less messy and more organized. Also, I hated having so many dishes from all the toppings.

Well, the empty egg carton came to the rescue. Perfect size for toppings and everyone gets their own - and easy clean up!

Now, if I could just get the triplets to stop fighting over an imaginary cupcake. That's right, I get to referee fights over IMAGINARY food items! Sheesh.

Low fat Meatloaf

At some point in history I had a recipe for meatloaf. Since then, I kind of created my own based on trial and error. I am back on weight watchers (again) so this is very point friendly meal (as long as you don't eat the mashed potatoes, bread, ect with it, ha). Everyone in my house loves this meat loaf, including all 3 picky toddlers. I make it with 2 lbs of beef because my husband loves to make leftover meatloaf sandwhiches to take for lunch, yum.

Ingredients:

1/2 onion

1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 egg

1/2 cup Ketchup

1 tbsp of garlic powder

2lbs lean ground beef (I use the Laura's lean beef 92/8, I dont recommend going leaner than that, yuck)

Okay, so first dice up the onion and saute it until it is nice and translucent (I used a touch of oil for this).  Set the onion aside and let it cool.  Now, have your adorable toddler sized helper add the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.  Watch said toddler "freak out" when you mix it by hand.  But, sorry a spoon just does not cut it for this.  Lastly add the cooled onion. Mix it all up.

Shape into a loaf on a foil line baking sheet (it can ooze deliciousness while cooking).  Next add some Ketchup swirls for extra pizzazz.  Bake at 375 for 50 minutes, depending on how wide you make your loaf it may take longer.  I recommend a meat thermometer until you get an internal temp of 160.

Cook, slice and enjoy.

Faux-caccia Bread

Focaccia Bread

Ug, I love bread.  Eating it and making it.  Problem is it is hard for me to put down. Also, have you ever looked at how many ingrediants go into processeded bread, especailly to keep it fresh.  I would make bread all the time if I well - had the time.  So many yeast bread recipe require long rise cycles, ug.  Anyhow, adapted to the recipe below from a Weight Watchers recipe.  I made a few small changes and in my version you do not need a food processor or a bread machine (but you do need a mixer)  This is a super easy recipe if you are a first time bread maker.


Whole Wheat Focaccia Bread.
1 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 package of quick rise yeast
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of warm water (105 to115 degrees)
Some of olive oil.
Whatever topping you like.

- Combine the dry ingredients in your mixer.
-add the water and mix on medium speed with your dough hook for about 4 minutes.
- turn your dough out onto a floured surface and knead for a minute or 2 and form a ball
- place ball in an oiled metal bowl
- cover with oiled saran wrap and let rise in a warm place for 40 minutes.
- punch down - gosh I love that part!
- shape into a large cirle and cover agian
-wait 30 minutes
- poke your bread :) make those fun little focciaia dimples
- add toppings, I like to sprinkle with rosemary, onion flakes, and sometimes I even sneek in a little flax seed.
- bake at 425 for 20 minutes.

Once it is cool enough to handle you can cut it.  If you cut it into 12 pieces it is only 2 Weight Wachters Point plus!

Happy Birthday

What a weekend! I can not believe my tiny little babies turned 3!