Beaver Island, Michigan: 2019

It's been quite a long while since I took real photos of any family activities. Partly because I've been photographing a bunch for work stuff so photos for fun just also seemed like work, partly because I just haven't had much interest or time to blog (obviously), and partly just because I upgraded to a new camera a few years ago and wasn't super happy with the switch (right before our California trip, which photos I never finished editing for that very reason).

But we just took a big family trip to one of my favorite childhood vacation spots and I decided to give it another try. I didn't spend as much time taking photos as I normally do on vacation, but I thought easing back in would work better. And part of the reason I used to love to blog was that it encouraged me to spend time working on photos to share them, so here I am again!

You might remember our family trip to Beaver Island, Michigan five years ago. It was such a special trip because it was the first visit for our kids. This year, we did a trip with a lot of my family -- 16 people in all, 8 of them kids! We rented a big former B&B and had a blast.

It's not an easy place to get to, which I think is part of the charm. This time we flew DC --> Newark --> Traverse City. Then drove to Charlevoix. Then took the ferry to Beaver Island. It was a long day of travel made more anxious by a delay in our connecting flight -- you have to book the ferry (if you're bringing a car) on the day ferry reservations open in December and so there is not really any room for error. But we made it to Charlevoix on time and found a great brewery at the ferry terminal that will can any beer you want to carry on the trip.

There was lots of time once we arrived communicating among the cousins via walkie talkie.

 

 

My mom built a frame to make a seed quilt and all the kids gathered nature materials and spent time over the week "weaving." It turned out beautifully and we left it at the Island's historical center.

The house was right on the most perfect beach to kayak, paddle board, and generally cousin shenanigan.

 

I spotted the cutest Hand-Painted Fish Softies on the Art Camp blog and asked my mom to bring the supplies with her. They turned out so awesome -- we're going to make more at home soon and I'll share our steps.

 

We took Kane, Cami, and my dad out for an early morning of fishing with Captain Bob Turner of Kelly Day Charters. Caught nothing for the first three hours and then both kids reeled in some big Lake Trout! I cooked it two ways for dinner: grilled with butter and herbs and Captain's suggested "Poor Man's Lobster" -- I should have "lobstered" it all, it was a delicious way to cook it (bring 3 quarters, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup salt to a rolling boil. Cut fish from skin and into 1" chunks. Add fish, cover, and boil for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with Old Bay and broil for just a few minutes).

No trip to the island is ever complete without a hike down to our childhood cabin -- she still looks 100%!

And so much of the week was spent letting the kids roam about, creating games and getting allllllll the fresh air they could handle. The adults spent a lot of time catching up, cooking, and imbibing. Until next time, Emerald Isle!

One-Skillet Pork Chops with Apples + 60 Days of Dinner!

It seems the only thing I can get together to post on the blog these days are recipes, but that's just where we are right now. The kids are busy with school and all manner of extracurricular activities. I am busy schlepping them to all of that and a have fair amount of freelance work myself too. But everyone needs to eat, so recipes to share I have. Everyone in our house loves pork chops and this is such a fast but super flavorful meal for weeknights. I often toss some potatoes in a hot oven to roast while I make a salad or veg to have with these chops. Easy peasy.

The first 30 days is Whole30 compliant (we did it!) and the second 30 days are not Whole30, but still super clean. Also, I just got an Instant Pot. I really resisted it given that I already have a slow cooker and am trying to Marie Kondo our house. But, so far, pretty happy with it!

One-Skillet Pork Chops with Apples 

(slightly adapted from Paleo Running Momma)

Ingredients:
- 4-5 bone-in pork chops
- sea salt and black pepper to sprinkle on chops
- 3/4 tsp onion powder
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 3 tbsp ghee divided in half
- 1 large crisp-sweet apple, cored and sliced to 1/4" thickness
- 1/2 red onion
- 1 cup chicken bone broth
- 2 tsp spicy brown mustard
- 2 tsp fresh rosemary, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh sage, minced

Directions:
1. Season pork chops on both sides with salt and pepper, onion powder, and cinnamon, rubbing spices in to coat.

2. Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium high heat and add 1 1/2 tbsp ghee.

3. Add pork chops to hot skillet and brown on each side 3 minutes (they won't be fully cooked yet). Then remove to a plate and set aside.

4. Lower heat to medium and add remaning ghee to melt. Add apples and onions to skillet and cook, stir occasionally, about 2 minutes, until beginning to soften.

5. Sprinkle apples lightly with sea salt and pepper, then add broth and mustard, plus fresh herbs, stir to combine, scraping up any bits that stuck to your skillet.

6. Return pork chops to skillet, making room for them by pushing apples and onions aside/around them. Continue to simmer over medium heat until pork chops are cooked through -- about 2 minutes or so, depending on how thick they were to start. Serve chops topped with sauce and apples + onions.

*          *          *

Day 1 (T) -- Chicken Pesto Stuffed Sweet Potatoes; green beans
Day 2 (W) -- Beef Ragu (skip the gnocchi for Whole30); Whole30 Mashed Potatoes; salad
Day 3 (Th) -- Easy Apple Cider Pork Chops; roasted cauliflower; roasted sweet potatoes
Day 4 (F) -- Stifatho (skip cheese); cauliflower rice; salad
Day 5 (Sat) -- Crockpot Italian Pork Roast; Whole30 Mashed Potatoes; salad
Day 6 (Sun) -- Loaded Sweet Potato Fries; Grilled Lemon Garlic Chicken; roasted cauliflower

Day 7 (M) -- Whole30 Chili (I used ground beef and pork sausage); salad
Day 8 (T) -- Tender Beef Stew with Potatoes and Carrots
Day 9 (W) -- Brinner: pesto egg scramble; sausage; fries; roasted tomatoes
Day 10 (Th) -- grilled filet mignon; baked potato; roasted broccoli
Day 11 (F) -- Slow Cooker Chipotle Beef Barbacoa
Day 12 (Sat) -- leftovers
Day 13 (Sun) -- leftovers

Day 14 (M) -- Beef Enchilada Bake with Cilantro Avocado Cream Sauce
Day 15 (T) -- Chicken Tinga Tacos on salad
Day 16 (W) -- All American Chili (no beans, used extra ground beef); brussels sprouts
Day 17 (Th) -- Grilled Balsamic Marinated Chicken; sweet potato fries; green beans
Day 18 (F) -- leftovers
Day 19 (Sat) -- had "taco bar" for dinner party -- Carne Asada; Chicken Tinga; a platter of Whole30-compliant salad fixings
Day 20 (Sun) -- Spicy Beef and Lamb Kofta; zucchini noodles

Day 21 (M) -- dinner out
Day 22 (T) -- leftovers
Day 23 (W) -- dinner out
Day 24 (Th) -- Slow Cooker Greek Beef Stew with Gremolata
Day 25 (F) -- Balsamic Pork Chops with Sweet Potatoes and Apples 
Day 26 (Sat) -- grilled filet mignon; roasted potatoes; salad
Day 27 (Sun) -- dinner out

Day 28 (M) -- leftovers
Day 29 (T) -- Slow Cooker Piri-Piri Chicken; roasted green beans
Day 30 (W) -- Crock Pot Turkey Bolognese over Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi
Day 31 (Th) -- Nurturing Paleo Chicken Soup
Day 32 (F) -- Carne Asada; roasted broccoli; sweet potato fries
Day 33 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 34 (Sun) -- SUPERBOWL! Paleo Bacon Garlic Avocado Burger; baked french fries

Day 35 (M) -- Nurturing Paleo Chicken Soup
Day 36 (T) -- leftover Bolognese with cauliflower gnocchi; salad
Day 37 (W) -- Instant Pot Italian Beef; cauliflower rice; roasted broccoli
Day 38 (Th) -- Chicken Pesto Stuffed Sweet Potatoes; roasted cauliflower
Day 39 (F) -- grilled Filet Mignon; baked potatoes; sautéed green beans
Day 40 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 41 (Sun) -- leftovers

Day 42 (M) -- Slow Cooker BBQ Brisket; baked potatoes; sautéed green beans
Day 43 (T) -- Sheet Pan Orange Glazed Salmon and Broccolini 
Day 44 (W) -- One-Skillet Pork Chops with Apples; roasted sweet potatoes; salad
Day 45 (Th) -- leftover brisket; salad
Day 46 (F) -- Beef Tacos; rice; roasted carrots
Day 47 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 48 (Sun) -- Grilled Balsamic Marinated Chicken; roasted sweet potatoes; roasted broccoli

Day 49 (M) -- Taco Dinner with Friends! Slow Cooker Carnitas; Flank Steak Tacos; Mexican Crema; rice; Fruit Plate with Chili Lime Salt; Skinny Margaritas
Day 50 (T) -- leftovers
Day 51 (W) -- grilled Filet Mignon; roasted potatoes; salad
Day 52 (Th) -- All American Chili
Day 53 (F) -- Chicken Shawarma Naan Salad with Sweet Potato Fries 
Day 54 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 55 (Sun) -- dinner out

Day 56 (M) -- Slow Cooker Brisket and Onions (although I prefer to follow the oven cooking directions); gnocchi; green beans
Day 57 (T) -- One Pan Garlic Lovers' Shrimp and Veggies; rice 
Day 58 (W) -- Instant Pot Salmon with Garlic Potatoes and Greens 
Day 59 (Th) -- One-Skillet Pork Chops with Apples; roasted carrots; polenta
Day 60 (F) -- grilled Filet Mignon; Instant Pot Baked Potatoes; salad

Slow Cooker Greek Beef Stew with Gremolata + 80 Days of Dinner

80 Days!? Apparently it's been quite a bit of time since I pulled a blog post together. I've continued trying to figure out a good plan for dinnertime as the kids have become busier and busier in the evenings. I've got a better handle on it now, and it includes a lot of soup, chili, and other slow cooker meals like this stew. Plus, leftovers are life. We're also nearing the end of our January Whole30, so I'll have a whole new slate of compliant meals up shortly. But this stew is one of them! I like to double this recipe (it still fits in my slow cooker when doubled) and freeze half of it. Don't skimp on the gremolata -- it adds a nice bright note and is a refreshing touch of citrus to the middle of winter meals. Everyone loves it and it gets better and better as you let it, well, stew.

Slow Cooker Greek Beef Stew with Gremolata
(merged + adapted from Kalyn's Kitchen and Melissa Joulwan)

Stew: 

Ingredients: 

- 1-2 tbsp olive oil 

- 1 onion, diced 

- 2 lbs trimmed beef stew meat, cut roughly into bite-sized pieces 

- 1 cup beef stock

- 2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes with juice 

- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

 - 1 jar kalamata olives, roughly chopped 

- 1/2 cup garlic cloves, roughly chopped 

- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary

- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley 

- 1 small jar capers, drained 

- fresh ground salt and black pepper to taste

- walnuts for serving (optional)

Directions: 

1. Heat small amount of olive oil in a skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook diced onions about 5 minutes, until starting to brown. Add onions to the slow cooker.

2. Add a little more oil, then add beef in batches, cooking until browned on all sides -- about 10-15 minutes. Don't overcrowd the pan -- you want the beef to brown nicely on all sides. Add the beef to the slow cooker. 

3. Add 1 cup of beef stock to the pan and simmer a few minutes until slightly reduced, scraping up brown bits. Then add that stock to the slow cooker. 

4. Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker (except walnuts) and stir to combine well. Cook on low 8-10 hours. Season to taste and serve with walnuts and gremolata (below). 

Gremolata: 

- 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, finely minced (about 2 tbsp)

- zest from 1 orange (about 2 tbsp)

- 2 cloves garlic, minced 

Mix all in a small bowl and sprinkle over stew before serving. 

*          *          *

Day 1 (W) - Beef Enchilada Bake with Cilantro Avocado Cream Sauce
Day 2 (Th) - leftovers
Day 3 (F) - dinner out
Day 4 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 5 (Sun) - Paleo BBQ Chicken Casserole; roasted cauliflower

Day 6 (M) - Za'atar Lamb Chops (although I used pork chops); Feta Chopped Salad; breakfast potatoes
Day 7 (T) - Healthy Turkey Chili 
Day 8 (W) - Plated Miso Salmon and Quinoa Bowls with Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Cucumber Salad, and Sriracha Mayo
Day 9 (Th) - leftovers
Day 10 (F) - Thyme Roasted Chicken with Grapes and Burrata
Day 11 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 12 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 13 (M) - Basil Pomodoro Shrimp with Polenta; roasted broccoli
Day 14 (T) - Slow Cooker Tacos Al Pastor
Day 15 (W) - brinner
Day 16 (Th) - Kane's birthday dinner: filet mignon; baked potatoes; Caesar salad
Day 17 (F) - leftovers
Day 18 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 19 (Sun) - Chicken Pesto Stuffed Sweet Potatoes; salad

Day 20 (M) - Greek Fish Tacos
Day 21 (T) - brinner
Day 22 (W) - Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri; sweet potato fries
Day 23 (Th) - Salmon; roasted cauliflower; salad
Day 24 (F) - dinner out
Day 25 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 26 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 27 (M) - Easy Italian Chicken Skillet; spaghetti squash
Day 28 (T) - Grilled Steak and Onion Salad; mashed sweet potatoes; salad
Day 29 (W) - dinner out
Day 30 (Th) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup; roasted broccoli
Day 31 (F) - Cider Apple and Sage Roasted Pork Chops; polenta; broccoli
Day 32 (Sat) - All American Chili
Day 33 (Sun) - 10-Minute Lemon Thyme Scallops; mashed sweet potatoes; green beans

Day 34 (M) - Greek Lamb Meatballs with Avocado Goddess Sauce
Day 35 (T) - Slow Cooker Maple and Dijon Pot Roast; baked potatoes; salad
Day 36 (W) - brinner
Day 37 (Th) - leftovers
Day 38 (F) - Plated Smoked Salmon Pizza with Whipped Goat Cheese, Capers, and Tomato; salad
Day 39 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 40 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 41 (M) - dinner out
Day 42 (T) - Smoky Paleo Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken; sweet potatoes; green beans
Day 43 (W) - Slow Cooker Greek Beef Stew with Gremolata
Day 44 (Th) - All American Chili
Day 45 (F) - Spicy Lamb and Beef Kofta with Greek Yogurt Sauce; roasted cauliflower
Day 46 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 47 (Sun) - Honey Garlic Pork Chops; cauliflower gnocchi; green beans

Day 48 (M) - leftovers
Day 49 (T) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup; salad
Day 50 (W) - dinner out
Day 51 (Th) - Thanksgiving!! For apps we had shrimp cocktail, charcuterie plate, and Caviar Waffle Bites. For din we had Maple Bourbon Glazed Turkey Breast, Caramelized Onion + Bacon Gravy, Grapefruit-Apricot Cranberry Relish with Rosemary, Sausage + Fennel Stuffing, Boxed Stuffing (for Joel!), Creamy Spinach Bake, Roasted Beets + Charred Green Beans, Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes, Ultra Creamy Mashed Potatoes, and rolls. And my in-laws brought a bunch of pies for dessert!
Day 52 (F) - leftovers
Day 53 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 54 (Sun) - leftovers

Day 55 (M) - dinner out
Day 56 (T) - One Pot Cheesy Taco Skillet; cauliflower
Day 57 (W) - Blue Apron One-Pan Chicken and "Dumplings" with Carrots + Thyme
Day 58 (Th) - dinner out
Day 59 (F) - Blue Apron Seared Chicken and Sour Cherry Sauce
Day 60 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 61 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 62 (M) - Spicy Lamb and Beef Kofta with Greek Yogurt Sauce; Easy Greek Pasta Salad
Day 63 (T) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup
Day 64 (W) - Blue Apron Seared Steaks with Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Day 65 (Th) - dinner out
Day 66 (F) - dinner out
Day 67 (Sat) - dinner out
Day 68 (Sun) - Healing Paleo Chicken Soup and latkes

Day 69 (M) - Blue Apron Za'atar-Spiced Chicken Pitas with Tzatziki & Pickled Peppers
Day 70 (T) - All American Chili
Day 71 (W) - Garlic-Basil Shrimp and Grits with Cherry Tomato Sauce
Day 72 (Th) - Beef Enchilada Bake with Cilantro Avocado Cream Sauce
Day 73 (F) - dinner out
Day 74 (Sat) - Plated Sesame Beef Bowls with Snap Peas and Spinach
Day 75 (Sun) - dinner out

Day 76 (M) - dinner out
Day 77 (T) - Cool Ranch Shredded Chicken Tacos
Day 78 (W) - Plated Blue Cheese Burgers with Caramelized Onions, Cranberries, and Brussels Sprouts
Day 79 (Th) - Paleo Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili
Day 80 (F) - Spicy Lamb and Beef Kofta with Greek Yogurt Sauce

Paleo BBQ Chicken Casserole + 45 Days of Dinner!!

DC has been a hot mess of a pressure cooker over the last several months. In addition to the general grumpiness of summer ending, it rained for what felt like eternity, and the simmering rage of most women surrounding the Supreme Court nomination insanity came to a full boil. I have been relentlessly pissed off and sad.

All of that is a lead in to a recipe post to say that our eating has been all over the place. I know that eating super clean, getting 8 hours of sleep a night, and sticking to a strict work out schedule would make me so much more capable to cope with the pile of s*it raining down right now. Instead I've been snacking on sourdough bread, drinking lots of wine, topping it off with a sweet treat, and then repeatedly cursing myself for it all as I exercise the following day (at least I've been consistently exercising -- I need to channel that rage somewhere!).

In an effort to try and make at least dinner easier, I've been making more casseroles and one-pan meals than usual -- not always Paleo, but still healthy. Most of our evenings have been jam-packed with homework and extracurricular activities, so dinners like this BBQ Chicken Casserole have been my go-to to keep everyone fed and happy. It's sort of like a BBQ chicken pizza in a dish and it is super kid-friendly while also still healthy.

I'm hoping to do a Whole30'ish stint between Halloween and Thanksgiving. Until then, I'm just trying to keep it together, people.

Paleo BBQ Chicken Casserole 

(slightly adapted from Jay's Baking Me Crazy) 

Ingredients:
- 1 large spaghetti squash, cooked + shredded
- 1 lb bacon, divided (sugar free)
- 1 red onion, diced
- 2 lbs chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 1/2 - 2 cups Paleo BBQ sauce
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 3 large eggs
- cilantro and avocado for garnish

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400° and spray a 13 X 9 baking dish with olive oil.
2. Placed cooked spaghetti squash in a large bowl and pat dry with paper towel.
3. Cut bacon into thin strips and place in a large skillet.
4. Cook on medium/high until crispy. Remove half of bacon onto a plate and add onion and chicken to remaining bacon. Cook until onion is tender and chicken is cooked through.
5. Add chicken mixture to the spaghetti squash and then add the barbecue sauce -- start with 1 1/2 cups and add more if needed. Add the pepper, salt to taste, and garlic powder. Stir until everything is mixed well.
6. Add the eggs and stir completely.
7. Place mixture into prepared pan, top with remaining bacon and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool for a few minutes, garnish with cilantro and avocado.

*          *          *

Day 1 (Sun) -- Beef Enchilada Bake with Cilantro Avocado Cream Sauce

Day 2 (M) -- brinner 

Day 3 (T) -- Greek Lamb Kabobs; green beans

Day 4 (W) -- Greek Lemon Chicken Kebabs; salad; sweet potato fries 

Day 5 (Th) -- grilled salmon packets with fresh dill; oven potatoes; carrot + zucchini "noodles"

Day 6 (F) -- Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef; cauliflower rice; salad 

Day 7 (Sat) -- grilled strip steak; oven baked fries; sautéed green beans 

Day 8 (Sun) -- dinner out 

Day 9 (M) -- Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos with Chipotle Lime Crema
Day 10 (T) -- brinner
Day 11 (W) -- Moroccan Meatballs; cauliflower gnocchi; roasted broccoli
Day 12 (Th) -- Healing Paleo Chicken Soup
Day 13 (F) -- Braised Pork Chops over Cauliflower Cream; sautéed grean beans + tomatoes
Day 14 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 15 (Sun) -- Paleo Taco Skillet (I used ground turkey breast)

Day 16 (M) -- All American Chili; salad
Day 17 (T) -- leftovers
Day 18 (W) -- brinner
Day 19 (Th) -- Chicken Tinga Tacos; green beans
Day 20 (F) -- Grilled Flank Steak with Rosemary; salad; sweet potato fries
Day 21 (Sat) -- brinner: Skillet Brussels Sprouts with Turkey Bacon + Honey Balsamic Glaze; egg and smoked salmon scramble; fruit salad; breakfast potatoes
Day 22 (Sun) -- dinner out

Day 23 (M) -- BTS meal: Filet Mignon Oscar Style; old bay french fries; asparagus
Day 24 (T) -- leftovers
Day 25 (W) -- leftovers
Day 26 (Th) -- Grilled Chicken with Spice Rub; sweet potato fries; broccoli
Day 27 (F) -- Trader Joe's Carnitas; carrot + zucchini "noodles"
Day 28 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 29 (Sun) -- Spicy Honey Salmon in Foil; sweet potato fries; sautéed kale

Day 30 (M) -- Beef + Broccoli Stir Fry; cauliflower rice
Day 31 (T) -- brinner
Day 32 (W) -- Simple Cod Piccata; baked potato; roasted carrots
Day 33 (Th) -- dinner out
Day 34 (F) -- Paleo Taco Skillet; sweet potato fries
Day 35 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 36 (Sun) -- dinner out

Day 37 (M) -- Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef; sweet potato fries; green beans
Day 38 (T) -- brinner
Day 39 (W) -- leftovers
Day 40 (Th) -- Healthy Baked Pesto Rigatoni; kale caesar salad
Day 41 (F) -- dinner out
Day 42 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 43 (Sun) -- Healing Paleo Chicken Soup; salad

Day 44 (M) -- honey dijon grilled salmon, mashed potatoes; roasted green beans
Day 45 (T) -- Joel's requested birthday dinner: Oven Baked Chicken Parm; cauliflower gnocchi; salad; FROZEN PEANUT BUTTER CUP PIE (GAAAAHHH, so good).

The Friday Five!!

Oh hey! That's two posts in one week! We've been down and out with some yucky summer virus, which has meant lots of hanging around and a little extra time to blog this week! So I decided it was time to bring back the Friday Five. Besides pushing fluids and binge watching survival reality shows, here's what else we got after this week ....

Reading -- the first book in The Penderwicks series is proving to be such a great family read!

Playing -- Scattergories has long been a favorite of the adults in our family but the kids are finally old enough to get in on the action. We split into kid/adult combo teams and spend most of our time making the case for whatever ridiculous answer we've come up with -- the kids caught on right away.

Making -- Cam's been into sculpting lately and this basic air dry clay is a great starter clay. It dries fairly quickly and you can leave it white and simple or paint it too.

Cooking -- thank goodness I made an extra batch of this Healing Paleo Chicken Soup this week! I'm most PO'd because this virus struck towards the end of my Whole30 and I had to abandon it for need of real carbs. But this soup kept everyone going!

Wanting -- I need some new every day gym shoes and I LOVE this metallic knit pair from Lululemon / APL. I've repeatedly shown the kids in an effort to get them on whatever "gift list" may exist.

25 Bento Box Lunches for Kids!!

I truly don't know how other parents pack lunches for their kids all school-year long. Our kids get lunch at school and I feel like I get totally stumped at the start of every summer—it's like I have no idea what to feed them for a mid-day meal! But this summer I decided to try a bento box approach and I LOVED it! The kids did too. I thought it was super easy to come up with colorful, varied, mostly healthy lunches. With school starting in just a few weeks (and having already started in some places!), I thought it would be fun to share the 25 bento boxes I packed for them.

I got lots of Instagram questions about the various tools and goodies I used so I'll link to items throughout. To start, I used the Brigenius bento boxes for our lunches. I wanted a bento box that was big enough to hold enough food for my kids but because I was using them just for the summer, I didn't want to shell out a ton of cash for the stainless steel bentos I originally wanted.
I was pretty happy with the Brigenius for the price, but there was some leaking between compartments (none outside the box though). So if I was going to purchase new ones, I'd go for the YUMbox, which I hear is actually really leakproof.

I also bought a pack of travel salad dressing containers to use and I liked them, but they didn't fit very easily into the bento box. And I used silicone muffin cups to hold items that might leak and simply wrapped a piece of plastic wrap over the top.

All right ... on to the lunches! The kids seemed to like themed lunches and would ask for Mediterranean one day, charcuterie another, and brunch once a week. It was a little hokey, but also easy to pack like this, so I went with it. I used plenty of prepared foods from Trader Joe's (TJ's) and Whole Foods, but added in fresh as well. In addition to what you see inside each bento box, I included a frozen organic yogurt squeeze stick in the kids' lunch boxes along with an ice pack. I knew they'd always eat it and it helped keep everything cold. And even though I wouldn't normally let them have dessert every day, I included a small sweet in each lunch to encourage them to eat everything else.

TJ's brown rice sushi / TJ's pork buns / edamame / watermelon / TJ's chocolate-covered sunflower seeds (naturally colored!)

prosciutto, fresh basil, and mini mozzarella balls / crackers / pineapple / caesar salad / dark cacao coconut cookies

TJ's orzo salad with spinach, red peppers, and olives / sliced chicken sausage / pita and hummus / carrots / raspberry shortbread cookie

whole wheat pancakes / maple chicken sausage / hardboiled eggs / frozen blueberries and strawberries / TJ's chocolate covered candies (naturally colored!)

salami and cheddar / crackers / strawberries / caesar salad / TJ's chocolate covered dried fruits (naturally colored!) 

gnocchi with tomato and mozzarella sauce / turkey meatballs / homemade garlic bread / celery / watermelon / organic gummy bears

chicken quesadillas with a to-go guac packet / cuban black beans / pineapple / tortilla chips / TJ's chocolate-covered sunflower seeds (naturally colored!)

pepperoni pan pizza / caesar salad / carrots / strawberries / dark cacao coconut cookies

quiche lorraine / chicken sausage / sugar snap peas / strawberries / yogurt / TJ's chocolate covered candies (naturally colored!)

spaghetti with arrabbiata sauce / turkey meatballs / yellow peppers / snap peas / watermelon / organic gummy bears

taco-stuffed baked potato / corn and black bean salad / pineapple / carrots / figgy pops choco crunch super snacks

deconstructed chef salad / strawberries / pretzels and pimento cheese dip / organic chocolate covered coconut bar

chicken and waffles / strawberries / hardboiled eggs / carrots / celery with cream cheese / fig cookies

turkey sandwiches on a stick / pretzels and pimento cheese dip / grapes / carrots / organic chocolate covered coconut bar

everything bagel with goat cheese cream cheese / ham / hardboiled eggs / pineapple and pomegranate arils / chocolate bunny crackers

ramen with grilled chicken / rice cracker mix / watermelon / edamame / dark cacao coconut cookies

deconstructed mini meatball subs with roll on the side / caesar salad / red peppers and mini mozzarella pearls / organic gummy bears

couscous with feta / chicken spinach sausage / carrots / lemon hummus / pita / watermelon / dark cacao coconut cookies

california rolls / edamame / cantaloupe / rice cracker mix / 2-bite brownie

roast beef sandwich with cheddar and avocado on sourdough / tortilla chips and black bean dip / carrots / watermelon / saltwater taffy

linguine with pesto and tomatoes / turkey meatballs / sliced cucumber / strawberries / sourdough cheese twists / organic dark chocolate coconut pieces

banana bread muffins with cream cheese / ham / strawberries / hardboiled eggs / salad / mini chocolate chip cookie creme sandwich

barbacoa quesadillas / rice and black beans / shredded carrots and red pepper / chips and salsa / TJ's chocolate covered candies (naturally colored!)

turkey cobb salad wraps / cucumbers and yellow peppers / pita chips and hummus / strawberries / figgy pops choco crunch super snacks

veggie spring rolls with sunflower butter dipping sauce / chicken / watermelon / rice cracker mix / 2-bite brownie 

Hope that helps spur some new ideas ... HAPPY BENTO BOX MAKING!! 

Slow Cooker Barbacoa + 30 Days of Dinner!!

I've made a lot of different versions of slow cooker taco proteins, but lately I've been making this Barbacoa almost once a week. It's SO flavorful and the entire family loves it. And you can make it far ahead of time in an old school crock pot and it comes out delicious. It's perfect for anyone doing a Whole30 and we're smack in the middle of another round, so ....

Slow Cooker Barbacoa 

(slightly adapted from Gimme Some Oven's Instant Pot recipe)

Ingredients
- 2/3 cup beer, water, or beef broth (for Whole30, make sure you're using water or compliant broth)
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2-4 chipotles in adobo sauce (depending on level of spice desired)
- 1 small white onion, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1, 4-ounce can chopped green chiles
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp oregano
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 lb beef chuck roast, fat trimmed and cut into 2-inch chunks
- 3 bay leaves

Directions 
1. Combine ingredients from broth through cloves into a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth.

2. Heat oil in a cast iron pan and sear pieces of chuck roast in batches, until beef is seared on all sides.

3. Add beef, pureed sauce, and bay leaves to slow cooker. Cook on slow for 8 hours. You can make this work on high for 4-6 hours, but it won't be as tender. When finished cooking, shred with two forks.

I like to serve this over cauliflower rice or Siete grain-free tortillas and with Whole30-compliant toppings. My kiddos like them in flour tortillas.

*               *               *

Day 1 (W) -- Spicy Honey Salmon in Foil, oven-baked french fries, salad
Day 2 (Th) -- Burgers, green beans, sweet potato fries
Day 3 (F) -- dinner out
Day 4 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 5 (Sun) -- dinner out

Day 6 (M) -- Seared Scallops with Caper Salsa Verde, salad
Day 7 (T) -- Grilled Chicken Tacos, sweet potato fries
Day 8 (W) -- Whole30 Grilled Lamb Loin Chops + Fingerling Potatoes with Arugula Pesto, sautéed greens beans and tomatoes
Day 9 (Th) -- Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Salsa, cauliflower rice
Day 10 (F) --  Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri, fries, salad
Day 1 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 11 (Sun) -- dinner out

Day 12 (M) -- Moroccan Meatballs, green beans
Day 13 (T) -- Grilled Honey Lime Cilantro Chicken, salad, smashed garlic and herb potatoes
Day 14 (W) -- Sheet Pan Sausage with Veggies
Day 15 (Th) -- Honey Dijon Grilled Salmon, sweet potatoes fries, roasted cauliflower + broccoli
Day 16 (F) -- dinner out
Day 17 (Sat) -- dinner out
Day 18 (Sun) -- Grilled Tuscan Chicken, sautéed green beans, TJ's cauliflower gnocchi

Day 19 (M) -- Brinner: crab + egg scrambles, sausage, oven fries, salad
Day 20 (T) -- dinner out
Day 21 (W) -- Chicken Pesto Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, green beans
Day 22 (Th) -- leftovers
Day 23 (F) -- Slow Cooker Barbacoa, cauliflower rice
Day 24 (Sat) -- Balsamic-Marinated Grilled Chicken (basically followed this but left strawberries out), salad
Day 25 (Sun) -- Seared scallops, roasted cauliflower + broccoli

Day 26 (M) -- Cilantro Lime Flank Steak, green beans with red onions and golden beets
Day 27 (T) -- Slow Cooker Barbacoa, cauliflower rice, salad
Day 28 (W) -- Grilled Salmon with Chimichurri Sauce, roasted vegetables
Day 29 (Th) -- Brinner: sweet potato fries, poached eggs, sausage, salad
Day 30 (F) -- One-Skillet Porch Chops with Apples, baked potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts