Single Mom vs Single Dad grocery shopping

So I am faaarrrr from perfect.  My house is a disaster to spend time with Adam, get work done and try and do anything else on the side.  Today I noticed a big difference in the sexes when it comes to grocery shopping. I was with Adam picking up one of his medications and a few other odds and ends for the week.  Him and I shopping together consisted of a watermelon, a clamshell of strawberries, green onions, celery, granola bars, sweet chili sauce, milk, fruit cups and a bag of chips.  Adam is asking for more chocolate, toys, etc. and I put my foot down after Easter as we have enough for the rest of the year and he has more than enough crap in this house.  I tripped over enough of it coming home lol.  Look over at the Dad shopping with his little girl, total opposite of Adam and I.  He has a stuffed dog on the belt, she is asking for chocolate and he is grabbing her some, there are boxes of Kraft Dinner and Hamburger Helper, vats of detergent and an endless supply of quick and easy pre made meals.  Now I know that this can go both ways but we looked at each other and laughed because there I was meany mommy not letting Adam have anything but fresh fruit and veggies that are on sale, no toys, not chocolates though we did splurge on a bag of chips.  He was letting her do whatever, everything was pre made and not even a banana was being bagged up.  That poor Dad didn't stand a chance with his little girl and Adam didn't stand a chance with his Mom lol. Now I have Kraft Dinner in my cupboards, we had chicken strips and fries for dinner and have eaten our fair share of Chef Boy R Dee but it sure isn't everything that I buy on a shop.  A very interesting moment of two parents with toddlers pushing to get their way and how each of us responded completely differently.

Entertaining Chili Cheese Dip

When having a gathering of people, wanting a delicious snack, or even having a Super Bowl party this dip is a huge hit!!  It is super simple, does not require many ingredients and will get slurped up.  For those who made the chili recipe I shared and froze the extra's then this is even easier!! Please remember this is not the healthiest though there are things you can do to increase the goodness

1 Container of Frozen Chili thawed out or 1 can of Chili

1 container of softened cream cheese (You can use light if wanted)

2 cups grated cheese (Cheddar)

* You can add any other veggies you think will be yummy like red peppers, tomatoes, green onions to add goodness to the dish* Optional

Tortilla Chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Heat up the cream cheese in the microwave so that it is easier to spread.

Spread it along the bottom of a baking dish

Spoon the Chili on top of the Cream Cheese

*Add optional veggies*

Sprinkle the Grated Cheese on top

Pop into the oven until the cheese is melted and serve with Tortilla Chips

Seasons of change

Well of course lots of things have happened in the past month and a bit and adjustments have been difficult yet liberating.  Luckily lately Adam's health has been holding up.  There has been some days here and there with chest pains, crankiness and one with sore legs so I will take it.  I was nervous for his last echo due to him not doing well at all and now that we have changed his medication and he is no longer on Bosenten it is like having a different child.  I am looking forward to his echo this month especially after his Cath in February showed positive changes.  While his health is doing well at the moment his emotions have leveled off from his Dad and I separating.  It has been just over a month since I have separated from my husband and it has been a hard road especially since I made the decision to go our separate ways.  Things have started to adjust here, life is going on a straight road and it feels good.  My heart is lighter and I am moving forward not backwards on my journey.  I have been able to do things that I absolutely love and hear no judgement and the best part is that even if there is I don't care.  It feels good that when certain people try to put me down or make fun of me for the things I love that  it has no affect on my mood or my life.  I am embracing my inner geek, enjoying my time alone, watching ridiculous shows, staying in on weekends and connecting with my son.  I just get to breath, be myself and enjoy my life.  It is literally so hard to put into words how lifted and bright life looks.  There has been a lot of tears to get here, lots of inner questioning and anxiety and now it is nice to just start to let it all go.  Life is to be enjoyed and not wasted and I will do whatever I can to do that.  One thing about being a single Mom is trying to find balance for it all.  Having no family here really makes it hard to balance Momdem and Shannon though I am finding my way even if it is stealing time here and there for an hour at night.  The biggest thing is that I have to accept that I can't do it all and this house does fall apart because time with my boy and time to unwind is soooo important.  Watching Adam grow up so far has been amazing.  To see him counting is great, doing his letters and when he gets upset with something hearing him say Oh for goodness sake makes me laugh every time.  He is such a little adult already, 3 going on 18 that kid.  All I know is that if Adam and I keep travelling this road life will be good no matter the direction it turns in.  Time to look for swimming lessons because he keeps telling me that he is such a good swimmer from the last time we went lol. Watching him pop around in his life jacket makes me laugh still cause there he would be on his back screaming for help and I would have to turn him so he was face first in the water.... and then he would pop back onto his back and scream for help again and I was laughing cause it looked awful if someone didn't know he wanted to kick and blow bubbles hahaha Oh the things kids do, I promise I was not trying to drown him I fight far too hard to keep him alive to give up now :)

Lazy Chicken Leftovers!

Soo this is a new one to me and is beyond super easy.  Not the healthiest due to the sodium content so I recommend following up with a nice fresh fruit dessert.  This is for those days when you are lost and need something quick.

What you need
Left Over Chicken, anything at all
1/2 package of mini New Potatoes
1 package of Onion Soup Mix low sodium
1 large Carrot or a handful of baby carrots
1 cup water

In a baking dish mix the onion soup mix and 1 cup of water and shred the chicken in and mix well.  It doesn't matter how much chicken you use.
Cut up your potatoes, you can add as many as you like, Peanut and I only need 1/2 package
Add to the mixture and stir, do the same with the carrots.
Cover and bake at 375 for 30 mins.  Uncover so that the soup thickens to more of a gravy and your carrots and potatoes are tender.

Time to serve and enjoy :)

Chili Recipe FINALLY

Ok so this is quite late but here it is my Chili Recipe!!  I made this in my crock pot on Sunday and it was soooooo good.

What you will need
1x796ml  large can of Diced Tomatoes
2x 398ml cans of Tomato Sauce
1 can of Maple Beans
1 can Kidney Beans
1 can Black Beans
1 can of Corn
1 Red Pepper chopped into cubes
2 Celery Stalks finely chopped
2 Garlic Cloves pressed
1/2 Onion finely chopped
3 TBSP Brown Sugar
1/2 Tsp Celery Salt
1/2 Tsp Garlic Salt
6 TBSP Chili Powder
12 Mushrooms sliced
3 strips of cooked Bacon chopped up
1lb Grown Beef or Chicken
1tsp oil

Preparation

In a large frying pan brown the ground beef with onions, garlic, oil and a small sprinkle of garlic salt and chili powder for flavoring. Keep warm on a low heat once fully cooked

While the beef is cooking combine all the other ingredients except the bacon in a large pot or slow cooker and stir well.  Turn onto a low-medium heat.  Once the beef/chicken is cooked add to the mixture and cook for approximately 2 hours covered.  Cook uncovered for approximately 30 minutes or until the chili thickens a bit.

Add Chili to bowls and sprinkle the bacon pieces on top.  Chicken or Turkey bacon is very delicious as well. To mix it up add a dollop of sour cream, cheese and then add the bacon.  A side of garlic bread or corn bread finishes it up extremely nice.

Egg Salad with a twist

So I know this was supposed to be posted last night but I ran out of time.  A friend asked that I start slow with some of my own recipes so here ya go with Egg Salad Sandwiches.

Shannon's Egg Salad Sandwiches
3 Eggs (Hard Boiled)
2 Tbsp Mayo or Whipped Dressing
1 Celery stock very finely chopped
1/2 Tbsp Yellow Mustard
Celery Salt to taste
Bread
Cream Cheese

First hard boil your eggs approx 8 mins, cool, peel and slice up into a bowl.
Add your mayo, celery, mustard and celery salt
Toast your bread and spread on a layer of Cream Cheese on one piece of bread leaving the other side with nothing
Add you Egg Salad in between 2 piece of toast.
For fun for the kids slice into fingers or use cookie cutters in fun shapes :)

I like to serve mine with carrot sticks thus you have a lunch with all the food groups then

Changing up my blog

Well since life has changes and the only way to go is up I have a lot of hope, happiness and positive thinking in my heart.  Yes things are still tough  but separations are hard on everyone involved.  I have decided that since things have changed my blog is going to have a new aspect to it.  My Friday nights now I geek it up and have a date night with my son instead of going out so I have decided that after he goes to bed every Friday will be a blog on a recipe I do that is quick and easy that pretty much anyone can do.  I love to cook, have some tricks as I go and I think this will be a fun venture. I will have to actually break out my measuring spoons when I cook, write them down and then share my love in the kitchen with all of you.  I am a single Mom who works so I understand needing things to be quick, still tasty and have healthy aspects.  Not all my recipes will be low in calories.... Some are just too sinful to change around though having them once in a while is a good thing for everyone.  Having restraint and enjoying those things sometimes in life will bring me much joy.  I look forward to feed back, possible requests and hopefully some of you try them and share! I will still discuss my road of life, having this new venture of single hood and being a parent of a child with a chronic illness.  Life lately has been tough but I don't have a heavy heart, my head is held high and I am taking each day one step at a time.  I am having fun with Adam and weekly we will have a small adventure and once a month a bigger one.  It is now that we get to go and have fun, nothing is holding us back and life is right there for the taking. Camping this year here we come, Wish Trip in the end of September beginning of October of this year for Peanut, Calgary Zoo this Summer and hopefully take in Drumhellar as well!  2012 is a year of change and balance and so far it feels pretty good.