Monday Night Dinner...

...yes,  I made dinner.  Both girls however helped after school....Dinner tonight was - three bean beef chili with side of cornbread, and brownies for desert.  Today was the rare day, where we did not have salad as a side dish.  Well, sometimes it does happen. - Mia Rose helped make the corn bread,  and Alena helped with the Brownies.  For the Corn Bread I admit to using a box.  I have used the mix from Trader Joe's before.  Today however I used Jiffy brand corn bread mix.  We added plain soy milk, instead of the cow milk and voila/  It turned out great!

Easy, comfort food of homemade three bean beef chili tonight for dinner. Let me tell you,  both girls loved it.  Remember how much Alena loves beans?

Three Bean - Pinto, Navey, and Kidney - Beef Chili

Sunday...

...aha, no dinner picture - again!  What is going on?  Well, today was the last day of the New German Cinema and it did keep us a little busy.  It caused me to be a lazy cook this today - again - and we therefore took the girlies to Burgerville tonight.  They have also asked to go to Burgerville now for a while, so you can probably imagine just how excited they were.  Both had a Hamburger Kids Meal, and a very rare soda...

Alena and Mia Rose hanging out at the Portland Art Museum today

Mia Rosie made a Laterne at the Saturday School

Here she is Mia Rose with her helper Steffi and the Laterne that they made for the Laternenlauf this coming Tuesday.  The Laterne is a "Maus" on one side and an "Elefant" on the other side.  Super, super cute...Oh, and if you would like to find out who the "Maus" is check out this link ->  www.wdrmaus.de  Even so it is all in German I am sure you can see what a great character and show it is...

What happened to Friday Dinner and Saturday's Dinner

...yes,  you are right, there is no post for Friday night dinner.  I am trying - very hard - to get back on schedule for the posts :)  Yesterday,  the girls had pasta, with olive oil, and paremsiano regiano as well as a side of salad for dinner.  Ron and I actually went out.  We went to see the first move at the inaugural New German Cinema festival in downtown Portland.  Let me tell you,  everyone had a good time.  The girlies with their sitter,  and us enjoying a great movie...

Today the girls were in Saturday School from late morning until 12:30 and by the time we were back home it was time for an early dinner/late lunch.  Our meal today was...

Pork in cream sauce, with white rice, baked root vegetable medley, and green salad

Pork in "cream" sauce, with plain rice, baked root vegetable medley - golden beets, carrots, and onion - and a mixed salad.  For desert the girls enjoyed a couple of scoops of Purely Decadent Turtle Ice "Cream" - dairy free - by Turtle Mountain...Yummy!!!

Rice-A-Roni recalls small qty of specific family size Rice Pilaf flavor due to undeclared MILK

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts Rice-A-Roni Issues Voluntary Recall on a Small Quantity of Specific Family Size Rice-A-Roni Rice Pilaf Flavor Product Due to Undeclared Milk Allergen

Thursday Night Dinner...

Alena is ready for dinner...

yes, we went out.  The girls have asked to go to Hopworks ever since we have been back in town. http://hopworksbeer.com/.  For starters we always get the "Pint O Pretzels" which are pretzel sticks.

 They are delicious.  If you go, and need them to be Galactosemia safe be sure to let them know not to brush them with butter which is usually done. They brush them right at the end before they bring it out,  and we always double check when we get it.  The first order yesterday actually was brushed with butter and we saw it right away because the pretzel was glistening...Do get them so!

Ron and I enjoyed an adult beverage while the girls happily played in the fantastic play corner.  For food the ladies ordered "Hot Dogs" with you know what a.k.a. French Fries.  Of course there were lot's of condiments added especially Mia Rose who is our condiment lover...

Mia Rose enjoying her pretzel!

Wendesday Night Dinner...

 ...the weather is getting chilly and time is perfect for comfort food.  Such perfect weather for hearty, filling soup with warm delicious homemade bread. Is that the give away for what we ate?  Yup, delicious yummy vegetable bean soup with meatballs, severed along side homemade bread.  It sounds a lot more elaborate than it is. The only only thing it needs is plenty of preparation time.  The beans need to be soaked,  and the dough for the "no knead" has to be started the night before.  But that is all - after that it's a breeze.  Really!

Oh, look at the result of the "no knead" bread.  And yes,  it is just as yummy as it looks and only has four ingredients.  Flour, yeast, salt, and water.

"No knead" bread

The soup was just as easy - and it was a huge dinner success in our little house in Southeast Portland

To recreate it you need:

• one cup of soaked, dried beans  (I use a 12 dried bean mix from New Season's Market)
• splash of Olive Oil
• medium onion diced
• 2-3 carrots diced
• large can of diced tomatoes
• 32 oz of chicken or veggie broth (I use Pacific Foods)
• one small yam cut into cubes
• two medium potatoes cut into cubes
• a couple of bay leaves
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pound of bulk italian sausage (I use mild)

To prepare:

• soak the beans the night before you plan to make the soup
• in a large pot heat up the olive oil.  When hot, add the onion, and carrots as well as a sprinkling of salt.  Sautee until onions are soft, and carrots begin to show yellow center.
• add can of diced tomatoes, and the vegetable broth
• next add the soaked beans (drained - do not add the soaking liquid)
• then add 
• Yam,
• Potatoes, and
• Bay Leaf
• Bring soup to a slow simmer and cover.

     While soup is simmering

• form small meatballs from the bulk sausage, and
• carefully fry them until browned in a pan
•      Let soup simmer for about an hour - while "no knead" bread is baking in the oven.  
•     Add salt and pepper to taste

The soup is done once all veggies, and beans are soft.  Add meatballs to the soup right before serving and enjoy!  Please let me know if you try it out, and if so how you liked it :)

Twelve bean, veggie soup with Italian Meatballs

Tuesday Night Dinner...

...so the jet lag has worn off.  In a way it is very nice to get up at five with at least an hour of free time.  Maybe I should make it my goal to get up earlier in the day...

Now back to the topic. Tuesday Night Dinner was - to the delight of both my girlies - leftover Linsen & Spaetzle, with mixed greens, and baked spaghetti squash.  Mia Rose has turned into a huge Spaetzle lover, and we already know about Alena and her affinity for lentils :).  It was an all around dinner success with both girls having seconds, and thirds.  Now, the leftovers are completely gone...

Linsen, Spaetzle, mixed greens, and spaghetti squash

Halloween...

...really snuck up on us this year.  In previous years I have always decorated the house, and wrote the "trick or treating" post early.  Well, not this year - as you can see. The pumpkin was carved on Sunday night and that was our decoration. The costumes for the girls were not elaborate either, as they are not allowed to wear costumes to school.  They did however have an after school parade.  Mia Rose dressed up as a "Princess Vampire", and Alena as a "Fairy Vampire" - they came up with it all by themselves.  Sparkles, lipgloss, wings for the fairy, and a princess dress for the Princess :)

We went "Trick or Treating" after dinner - but already had a couple of "trick or treaters" ring our doorbell while eating.  The girls were so excited to hand out candy.  -  Before hand, they both inspected the treats.  I had gotten - as every year - the "Galactosemia Safe" candy.  Which includes Sunburst, Nerds, etc. and then I also found safe chocolate treats.  Whoo-hoo!!!  

We set off once it was dark, and the girls loved it.  At the first couple of houses, the girls asked whether they could have dairy free treats...but we explained to the ladies, that we can exchange "unsafe" candy for "safe" candy once we are back at home.  With that change in mind, they selected the treats for their bags by packaging.  Lot's and lot's of chocolate this year, but also lot's of Skittles, Sweet Tarts, temporary Tattoo's and other safe treats.  At home,  we unloaded the heavy bags and Alena divided her candy by safe and unsafe treats.  Ron helped Mia Rose divide her candy up.  Alena asked however "why do people mainly give candy? The tattoo's are so much better...."  Well, who knew! The ladies had a very successful night procuring candy :)  - and because since there is still so much "safe" candy left, there was no need to  exchange.  There will be plenty so, if they run out...

Alena sorting through her candy

I hope you also all had a fund and safe Fright Night :)

Mia Rose with her loot :)

Monday Night Dinner...

...it's chilly,  and we had to warm up before going Trick or Treating.  Dinner was one of Alena's favorite meal. "Linsen mit Spaetzle" a.k.a.lentil's with homemade Spaetzle, salad, and Wieners.