dinner to the rescue

Evenings and dinner time have been so difficult lately. In the past couple weeks I have sent Jackson to bed early several times. I am so tired of the mid afternoon meltdowns. So I tried something new yesterday, and it worked! Around 3 pm I let my kids have a small snack then I started making dinner around 4:30 when they started asking for another snack. By the time Damon got home at 6 pm they had eaten dinner, desert, were in their jammies and had their teeth brushed. The result; less tantrums, more time for me to pick up the house, Damon and I got to eat together while the boys sat and did paint with water, and both the boys and I were happier when Daddy got home which made Daddy want to spend time with us!

Easy Pizza

Here is a super easy way to make pizza that the kids can totally help with.

English muffins (Glutino makes an excellent Gluten Free English muffin! I buy mine at Sprouts)
pizza sauce (I make mine with tomato sauce and Italian spices)
mozzarella cheese
pepperoni
any other toppings you want

Preheat oven to 350. Open English muffins on a cookie sheet. Add sauce, cheese and toppings, bake for about 20 minutes!


You can also make BREAKFAST PIZZA - no baking necessary!

English muffins
fruit
jam or jelly

My kids like their English muffins toasted with butter and jelly then I let them add whatever fruit they want. (cut up apples, bananas, strawberries, etc)

Twice Baked Potatoes

This is an easy recipe and one my whole family enjoys. My kids call them "mashed potatoes in a bowl".

Bake your potatoes (I like to bake my potatoes right on the oven rack without wrapping them in foil. It makes the skins a little crispier and makes it easier to scoop out the inside.)

Cut the potatoes in half
Scoop out the insides and put in seperate bowl
Add butter, sour cream, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic salt to taste
Use mixer to make potatoes creamy
Scoop back into potato peels and cover with cheese
Bake until cheese melts, about 15-20 min