Innovation Tuesday

My dad planted a big garden this year, in honor of my granddad…who loved to garden. I told him if he did it I would can the goods. I don’t think I knew what I was getting into as he planted 14 tomatoe plants! So canning I did! So far, I’ve gotten two bushels of tomatoes that I made into salsa and simple diced tomatoes. I hear several more bushels are on there way! Eeesh. I’m thinking of trying my hand at spegetti sauce too.

I have also had a burst of creative energy recently (as is typical for me!) and went about trying to organize some aspects of the Michael household. One dilemma we have is that Isabelle is a constant grazer. She never eats a full meal but snacks all the time. I hear most toddlers are this way? Anyway, she can open the fridge and rummage through for her own snacks and she also pulls a chair up to the pantry and goes through it looking for her favorite treats. Any kinds of real “treats” we have kept on top of the fridge (where we consequently keep EVERYTHING we want to keep away from Isabelle).

I read this idea on some blog (that I would really like to give credit to, but can’t find the source!) of keeping designated snack bins for your toddler. So I bought a bunch of healthy snacks, sorted them into little snack size bags and put one in the fridge and one in the pantry. Isabelle LOVES carrying around those little snack bags of treats! So far it’s worked like a charm AND she’s eating more veggies!

Another dilemma we were having was getting a semi healthy breakfast for Conrad and I on the days we both work. The kids eat at the sitters, but I was mostly eating peanut butter on frozen waffles and conrad ate toast. So I also read (on another un-credited blog) this idea: Combine, eggs, milk, (I use) cooked , crispy crumbled turkey bacon, and cheese. Line muffin pan with muffin tins or aluminum foil, and fill with egg mixture, bake in the oven for about 20 minutes at 375 degrees. I froze them in the freezer and take them out one at a time and microwave it. Eat on a toasted English muffin. Yum!