Summer break started for us about a week ago. It’s a whole different ball game here in Arizona with 100+ degree weather and indoor activities are a absolute must with the girls! I sat down with them and made a list of crafts we could do together over the next two months. Things that are easy, inexpensive and fun. I’ve been wanting to paint plain canvas tote bags to use as reusable shopping bags for a while (because my old ones are just about finished, and truly, they’re not the cutest), and the girls were super down. I think what they came up with was prettier than anything I could have created by myself. :)
I watered down basic acrylic craft paint with one part paint to three parts water. It goes on smoother, dries quicker, and makes for a way easier clean up. It also ended up being a fun lesson in abstract painting. We walked around the house first and pointed out the art and patterns that looked more abstract and they looked closely and the paintings and made notes about how to get the look.
So cute, right? These new bags are making grocery trips so much more appealing lately, and I’ve desperately needed a bit of a kick in that department! If I have a menu for the week and a written out list, things are great. But life gets in the way and sometimes I end up at the store stocking up on the basics and come home feeling like I have nothing to make a complete meal. I came back from the store a last week and Heather pulled a jar of peanut butter out of the bag and said “Um, we have like three jars of peanut butter in the pantry already!” Oops.
It took only a few minutes of poking around on Cook Smarts to fall in love with the concept after they reached out to me. The first thing that jumped out was the shopping lists. Cook Smarts sends you four recipes on Friday for the following week (you can use their set menu plan or customize your own) and a shopping list of everything you need for the meals. It’s broken up into categories like “produce” and “spices”. You can print the list or email it to yourself, which is a huge selling point for me because then I always have my list with me on my phone. Their site is super easy to use and beautifully photographed and organized- which always helps.
I decided to jump right into the week Cook Smarts was currently on and make the
Three Tomato Spaghetti with Kale and Apple Salad. I’m so, so impressed with how easy and simple the recipe was. Not only did it take exactly how long they said it would (35 minutes) to cook, but it was insanely simple and most importantly- delicious! Like really,
really good. The dressing on the salad was perfection and the whole family ate it up! I can’t wait to try more recipes. Two other meals this week are
Batterless Chile Rellenos and Chicken Fajita Bowls–
I’m so in.
There are also
the cutest little videos on every recipe with some cooking tips- like how to dice a shallot or the best way to slice cabbage. When you sign up, you can choose to try a starter account and then you can try out three meal plans for free, and starting at about $6 each month, you can have access to an absolute mountain of delicious and easy recipes.
I texted a few of my friends about Cook Smarts after discovering how customizable the meals are. Every single recipe has a gluten-free, paleo, and vegetarian option – seriously so convenient for families with food restrictions! My sister’s family has gluten allergies and we cook a lot of meals together, so this feature has been coming in handy for me lately!
Cook Smarts is generously sponsoring today’s give away of a $250 gift certificate to Whole Foods and an adorable reusable grocery tote. To enter, just sign up for a FREE Cook Smarts account and leave a comment here with which recipe is calling your name!
Contest ends next Friday at midnight.
PS – for 30% off your first meal plan, use the code LGNCOOKS. (Code expires on June 12)
Butternut squash curry, sounds like absolute perfection!
I hope I win
I can't wait to try the 3 tomato spaghetti when tomatoes are finally in season – almost time!
Apple fennel turkey burgers. Yum!
Butternut Squash + Curry = Happy Me. Your daughters are so sweet by the way!
Cool concept! The panko crusted fish tacos are calling my name :)
Wow! Everything looks SO good . . . especially the Apple Fennel Turkey Burger. Yum!
Looks like a super handy (and healthy) way to get me cooking for the family more often! I can't wait to try the Grilled Chicken with French Vinaigrette this week!
The portobello pesto pizzas look yummy!
Oh man! This tiny little glimpse of your kitchen is kind of driving me nuts! I guess I'll have to be patient until the reveal. Looks like it'll be fabulous, as always.
The mustard roasted fish looks great! Great giveaway!
This is great and love Whole Foods. Anything Butternut squash and curry is a fav!
the panko crusted fish tacos are calling my name!
jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com
I'm trying to cook a lot more fish instead of beef/red meat, and the panko-crusted fish tacos look delicious!
I think the baked Chicken Cordon Bleu looks amazing.
The Moracan Chicken & Carrots looks interesting.
Those panko crusted fish tacos are sooooo swimming my way. Yum!
MMMMM!!! Balsalmic Pork Chops or Summer Farmer's Salad or the Panko Fish Tacos! Yummm!
Thanks for sharing this! I swear that life always gets in the way of grocery shopping and I usually come home with nothing that works together! Or just one meal and we need at least 4!
I think my son will like the panko crusted chicken "nuggets"
Salmon with coconut aminos! The picture looks fantastic.
Roasted butternut squash and hummus pizza! (I love summer and all, but I miss autumn flavors!)
I've made two recipes (Beef and Broccoli and Teriyaki Salmon) and they've both been delicious. I just subscribed today because I HAD to know the recipe for that three tomato spaghetti! That is definitely my recipe of choice!
Apple fennel turkey burgers! Yummmm looking forward to exploring the meal plans. Is it an app too or just a website?
Apple fennel turkey burgers! Yummmm looking forward to exploring the meal plans. Is it an app too or just a website?
The steak fajitas look great!
indian spice roast vegetables–YUM!
Can't wait to try the batterless chile rellenos! YUM!
Just made the fish tacos last night and I'm wolfing down a second helping right now for lunch! So good! And the grocery list was easy peasy.
The steak fajitas sound amazing! I eat a Paleo diet so I LOVE that there is a Paleo option with every meal!!! Who would of thought to eat steak fajitas over eggs???
Love this! I made the Panko nuggets and they were awesome!
The Kale & Parmesan Salad with Lemon Yogurt Dressing looks like it'd blow my mind a little bit!
The Indian roasted veggies sound delicious!
The creamy stovetop mac 'n cheese – I love the idea of using butternut squash!
Panko Avocado fries sound yummy!
The Indian spiced roasted vegetables are calling my name. I think I'll have to make them this weekend!
The Indian spiced vegetables, moroccan chicken & carrots, and honestly the very first recipe-the panko fish tacos all look amazing. Seriously, almost everything looks great. I am definitely adding this site to my go-to recipe list! Love the bags, too…and adding that project to our summer fun list!!
Cajun Fried Rice!
I joined and really want to make the, "PANKO CRUSTED FISH TACOS." They look delicious as do all the others I saw.
I signed up and made the fish tacos last night and they were amazing!! Fingers crossed :-)
Eileen
The Mushu Chicken looks yummy!
My kids would love STOVETOP MAC 'N CHEESE!!!
This is 5:2 Recipes. A 5:2 app with a receptdel where you while you exercise your 5:2 diet, may become 5:2 chef. You can easily make your own recipes and share with all your friends and 5:2 practitioners.
This app will guide you through your diet and 5:2 and you can track your progress in graphs and easily bring out your daily consumption of calories. You start by inserting your fast days and conditions then you just press start and let the app to remind you.
Would you like to change today, do so with a simple touch. When it's fast day puts you simply enter the products you consume and the app counts down your calories.
You can put your weights and measures in tables and follow your curve and development.
A recipe do you do with a few easy steps. You add ingredients from your lists, instructions, times, automatic counting of calories, pictures and so you can share your recipes in social media.
Now you can save your history, make and share recipes while exercising 5:2 healthy diet.
Welcome to 5:2 Recipes
Please downloads this 5:2 app and enjoy —– Stockholm App lab .
Bubble rugs are one of the new qualities produced by Khanna Carpet. Fearturing superior wool and finest rug construction bubble rugs are very new and modern idea by our team of artisians.
More information visit this website link : http://www.rugsnstyle.com
Shag Rugs are Handwoven Rugs made from differents kinds of yarns. Dense and plush, all shag rugs are prepared using wool or polyester depending on the designs. Shag area rugs make a fun addition to any fashionable space by incorporating texture to the room. more information visit this website link below : http://www.rugsnstyle.com
I'm looking forward to chicken thai basil stir fry…yum!