Mommy Octopus

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Meal Plan Monday

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The week ahead brings us a lot of sun!  I’m so excited that we are getting to have more days without rain.  This weekend, we are celebrating our 17th anniversary.  I can’t believe that we are already that far along!  Time flies when you’re having fun 🙂

Here’s what we are planning to make this week:

Monday: Grilled Chicken, sweet potatoes

Tuesday: Eggs and sausage

Wednesday: Kielbasa, Brussel sprouts, brown rice

Thursday: Southwest quinoa

Friday: Dinner Out

Saturday: Dinner Out

Sunday: Brats, green beans

Meal Plan Monday

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Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a great weekend!  It was so nice to have a weekend where it wasn’t raining!  We had a great time at the Touch a Truck event in Athens.  My husband was out there passing out goodies with the Sheriff’s Office cars.  He loves doing the events!

Today I went to the doctor and made some new goals with him so we are going to be working hard to eat well and do lots of walking.  Here’s what is on our menu this week:

Monday: Lazy Lasagna

Tuesday: Salad Bar

Wednesday:Taco Bar

Thursday:  Bean Soup

Friday: Grilled cheese, soup

Saturday: Dinner out

Sunday: Grilled Chicken, sweet potatoes, and steamed broccoli

What are you making this week?

Meal Plan Monday

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We had a great weekend and last week was a great week, too.  Thankfully my husband was off, so we were able to get some family time in.  He’s been doing a lot of overtime lately.  We had a great time at the PBR event.  I’m amazed at the talent!

Don’t forget that this weekend is the local Touch a Truck.  That’s always a fun event to take the kids.  Most of mine are no longer impressed, but at least I have the 3 year old who is obsessed! LOL!

Here’s what we are making this week:

Monday: Meatloaf, veggies

Tuesday: Black beans and rice

Wednesday: Cube Steak, Broccoli

Thursday: Brats, beans, chips

Friday: BBQ, salad

Saturday: Egg and sausage casserole

Sunday: Leftovers

What are you having this week?

Secret Ingredient THM Buffalo Chicken Casserole (Low Carb Friendly!)

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Last year, we went to a friend’s house for a birthday party and she had made some buffalo chicken dip.  I had forgotten how delicious it was to eat.  I decided to make my own twist on this favorite to create our own low carb Buffalo Chicken Casserole!

Our entire family loves Buffalo Chicken Casserole, but even the kids couldn’t guess that there is a secret healthy ingredient in the mix! Would you believe a whole bag of riced cauliflower is hidden inside?  The kids are none the wiser!  I use the cauliflower to throw in a vegetable without them knowing and to make the dish stretch to feed our family of 7.

The good thing about this recipe is that you can’t really mess it up.  Simply mix everything together and bake!  If you want more spice, use more pepper jack cheese or add in some hot sauce.  Less spice?  Just go with mild cheddar and cut back on the wing sauce.  You can easily change it to make it your own.

To serve, add celery sticks, carrot sticks, or pair it with some greens for a side.  For children not following low carb, I paired it with plain pita chips and they gobbled it up!  This meal works on the Trim Healthy Mama plan as an S meal if you use an on plan ranch and on plan buffalo wing sauce.

Buffalo Chicken Casserole Recipe:

 

Buffalo Chicken Casserole (Low Carb Friendly!)
Recipe Type: Main
Author: Mommy Octopus
This dish is easy to make and your family won’t know the secret ingredient!
Ingredients
  • Approx. 3-4 lbs chicken breast, cooked and shredded
  • 1 cup ranch dressing
  • 1 cup buffalo wing sauce
  • 1 bag of riced cauliflower (14 oz)
  • 1 block softened 1/3 less fat cream cheese
  • 2 cups pepperjack, shredded
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
  1. Cook and shred approximately 3 pounds of chicken breast. You can use the Instant Pot to have it ready faster.
  2. In a large bowl, combine cooked chicken, ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, riced cauliflower, softened cream cheese, and pepper jack. Stir to combine well.
  3. Spread into a greased casserole dish and top with 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
  4. Bake at 350 for about 35-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly
  5. Serve with celery sticks or pita chips to dip!

Meal Plan Monday

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Happy Monday already again!  Is it just me or are Mondays coming faster and faster?  This week, I have a birthday – turning 35!  This weekend, we look forward to attending the Unleash the Beast event.  I’m so excited!

Hope you all have a great week!  Here’s what we are making.

Monday: Fettuccini Alfredo with Broccoli and Chicken

Tuesday: Happy Birthday to Me!

Wednesday: Bean Soup and cornbread

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Burgers

Saturday: Eggs, Sausage

Sunday: Black Beans and Rice

Bulletproof Marriage – A 90 Day Devotional

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My husband and I love doing devotions together.  Around Christmas, I heard about a new one called Bulletproof Marriage – A 90-Day Devotional.  When we finished our last devotional, we bought this one and I’m so glad we did!

Bulletproof Marriage is a 90-day devotional that applies biblical principles to support and strengthen the marriages of military members, law enforcement officers, and first responders. Each day includes a Bible verse, an inspirational reading, quick tips, action steps for both husband and wife, and a prayer.

The authors are both military or law enforcement, so they get the specific needs that a first responder family entails.

We’ve just started it but, but so far we are very pleased.  The book is a nice quality, has a bookmark to mark our spot, and has given us relevant things to discuss.  I’m planning to give some as gifts – that’s how much I am liking it!  If you know a first responder or military member, grab this!

Meal Plan Monday

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Our youngest at Monster Jam

What an amazing weekend! My husband and I divided and conquered this weekend and were able to attend Marvel Universe Live, Monster Jam, a birthday party, and our oldest went to The Mix.  I hadn’t heard of The Mix before but our daughter is attending a new youth group and they go.  Basically it’s a ton of churches in the Athens area that get together for a huge middle and high school student event.  She had an amazing time and learned so much!  She can’t wait to go back next year!

Working to turn the monster truck back upright

 

As far as Marvel Universe Live and Monster Jam, both were huge hits with the crew.  We are so thankful to have been given the opportunity to check them out for you guys!

The week ahead is a little bit slower, in which they have a break from their homeschool classes that we do outside of the house.  Meanwhile, we will be doubling up to get caught up a little here at home.  Here’s what I plan to make this week:

Monday: Bean burritos

Tuesday: Crack Chicken

Wednesday: Chili

Thursday: grilled chicken, sweet potatoes

Friday: Pizza

Saturday: Kielbasa and Brussels 

Sunday: Bean Soup

Have You Seen This at Your Kroger?

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Sometimes it can be hard taking little ones to the grocery store.  Mine always like to ask for a cookie for a treat during our shopping trips to Kroger.  I was at our Alps Road, Athens Kroger last week, I placed a deli order and then told the lady I was going to go get my son a cookie.   She let me know something that I wasn’t aware of before.  In the produce area at our Kroger, there is a little fruit stand with free fruits for the kids.

As part of Kroger’s Zero Hunger/Zero Waste plan, they allow kids to enjoy a healthy snack.  Ours offered bananas and clementines during that visit.  I’m very happy to offer my kids something delicious and healthy during our trips.

It’s worth noting that ours was kinda hidden and not easily seen. I had walked by it without even noticing it was there.  If you haven’t seen one at your Kroger, be sure to ask to see if it’s not in an easily visible area.

Have you seen this Free Fruit stand at your Kroger?

Meal Plan Monday

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It’s been a whirlwind lately.  As the kids get bigger, we get busier and busier!  I’m sure the rest of you can relate.  We’re enjoying the sun while we can since it looks like a lot of rain heading our way!  It’s another busy week ahead.  Here’s what we are making this week:

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday: Baked Pasta

Wednesday: Grilled sandwiches and soup

Thursday: Egg casserole

Friday: Leftovers or make your own

Saturday: Leftovers or make your own

Sunday: Dinner with church

Meal Plan Monday

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Goodness it’s been a whirlwind lately!  This weekend we snuck away to the mountains for a night and to ride horses.  After a rough week, it was great to get away to our happy place.  My kids absolutely love going up to the ranch.  We are getting back in the swing of things after a busy week last week.  Hope you all have a great week!

Monday: Trim Mac Salad

Tuesday: Poppyseed Chicken

Wednesday: Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

Thursday: Dinner Out

Friday: Omelettes

Saturday: Whole Roasted Chicken

Sunday: Leftovers

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