FFP: Annual Polo Match

This month's Family Fellowship & Prayer took place at the Polo fields.

Horse crossing.

 Picnicking.

 Zach was such a good little boy, sitting down the whole time he ate his bag of crackers.

By the way... WHY DOES HE LOOK SO BIG HERE??

 Karen and her sweet mother in law, Bev.

 The kids were exchanging Legos.

 Let the tailgating begin!

 Do we know how to do polo or do we know how to do polo?? YES we do!

Melissa's layered salad was amazing!

 These two thought it would be appropriate to wear their Polo shirts. 🏇😊

Italian Sausage and Peppers

Well, hello there again, Monday!

Whew! What a weekend! My big girls and I had a fun Girls Day Out on Saturday and on Sunday, we spent a lovely day with friends at the polo field.

Since we'll be gone for most of the week, I'm foregoing my weekly meal plan. However, yesterday, I made this dish to take to our polo picnic and since my girlfriends requested this recipe, I figured I'd just share it here.

If you haven't noticed by now, I'm just crazy about sausage. I know, it's a problem. I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Wait... I did!

If you're looking for a simple but super flavorful meal, this is it! It pleases the kids as well as the adults! I made a big pot an hour before we left and then transferred it to my crockpot to keep warm. I simply brought the crockpot with me and served it alongside some spicy brown mustard and crusty bread (if you wanted to make a sandwich). Or, you could go rustic and just break off the crusty bread and dip it in the sauce. The SAUCE is the bomb here. And in my defense, I never had any bread. Who needs filler when you can have all the flavor? 😉

You can serve this for breakfast, lunch or supper. You can make it to feed a small family or a large crowd. You can serve it over rice, pasta, or next to scrambled eggs. You can make it into a sandwich or just eat it by itself with a side salad. The possibilities are endless! And best of all, it's a very forgiving and fool proof recipe.  

Enjoy!

Italian Sausage & Peppers

Ingredients:

• 1 package of Italian Sausage (usually 5 links in a pkg. mild, sweet or spicy)
• 2 peppers (any color- sliced)
• 1 sweet onion (sliced)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 T tomato paste
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz.)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar (I used brown)

Instructions:

1. Add EVOO to a large pan over med high heat and brown sausages on both sides. Remove sausages from pan and set aside. (You do not have to cook them through at this point).

2. Add onions and peppers to the same pan and cook over med. heat until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1-2 min.

3. Return sausage to the pan and add the other ingredients. Cook for 10 mins. until the sausage is cooked through and the sauce thickens a little.

*To feed a crowd, I tripled the first three ingredients but I only doubled the rest of the ingredients. I also cut the sausages in half.  

Favorite Things Friday

This week's favorites are all about the kids and life around here lately.

Hanging out and feeding the ducks while big sisters are in the library.

The train table has been a HUGE hit since Christmas.

Fun with Play doh.

What an amazing view we have everyday of the snow capped mountains!

Proof that more is caught than taught! I have NEVER taught or even asked him to clear his plate after breakfast yet every morning, when he's done, he brings his plate to me in the kitchen. I just had to snap a photo of him one day. 😊

He's getting so fast on his bike now. I can barely see him. Can you? 😀

Another spectacular desert sunset! This never ever gets old!

Painting with Grace.

Splashing in the bath.

His birthday suit is just the cutest thing ever! #sorrybuddy #ihadto

 Crazy to think come September, he'll be in pre-school (at home) and that was the same age I started homeschooling the girls!

 He loves to write his name and color.

He's absolutely NUTS about Mickey right now. It all started at Christmas when our neighbor had one of those inflatable Mickeys out in front of their house as a decoration. Recently, I heard him ask his Mickey if he wanted a drink and then he offered him some banana, too. #cutenessoverload #pretendplay 

Occasionally, we'll remember to have him wear his glasses when he watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It's so fun to hear him answer Mickey's questions on the show.

In less than two months, these two beauties will be turning 11. Where has the time gone? I feel like I will blink and they will be 18. Seven years will go by in a flash. These last couple of years, they have grown SO much (both in size and in maturity). They're definitely not little girls anymore. 😂 😂

See what I mean? This was the last time we went to Disneyland. It was 7 years ago but it feels like it wasn't all that long ago. Sigh... #timepleaseslowdown 

  

This week, we firmed up the details and ideas for the girls' 11th BIRTHDAY PARTY!! We are so excited!

I kind of had a plan in my mind of what we were going to do but then decided, "Hey, why not ask them what they'd like to do instead?" Novel idea, right?! Well, it turns out what they wanted to do was a lot EASIER and less complicated than what I had planned. Ha! Of course it was! 

And last but not least, we're looking forward to a mini-vacay to San Diego next week. Daddy has a business conference in the city so the whole family will be tagging along for 4 fun-filled days in America's Finest City.

And that's it from me! Happy Fri-Yay!

Hope you have an amazing weekend!

Meal Plan Week #18

Happy Sunday!

Well, I don't know about the weather where you are but it's another drizzly cold day here in the desert. It seems like we've been having a lot of those. It just makes me want to cuddle up on the couch with a hot cup of tea. We're expecting more rain before the day is over and then even more tomorrow. I don't particularly like going out in the rain but on the bright side...The mountains are snow covered and beautiful!  

Last week, I made a couple of lighter suppers for the family and this one stood out for its ease, freshness and of course, flavor. We haven't been to P.F. Chang's in forever but when we go, we always indulge in their Chicken Lettuce Wraps as a starter. Well, this recipe is a knock-off of just that. We had ours as an entrée and the only thing I changed is I used iceberg lettuce for the wraps instead of butter lettuce. Iceberg is just so crisp, crunchy, and cold. Either way, I promise, they will be delicious!

This would make a nice light meal in the summer, too!

Chicken Lettuce Wraps.

Here's what on the menu this week:

Meal Plan Week #18

• Italian Sausage & Kale Soup
• Maple Crusted Chicken
• Red Beans & Rice
• Spaghetti
• Pork Chili Verde

Seventy Five

He would've been 75 this week. Seventy five isn't all that old anymore. He had so much fight left in him, even though his body proved otherwise. I've been putting off writing this post all week. Writing it all down just makes me have to acknowledge, he is no longer with us. Yet I write for my kids, his beloved grandchildren. So they can look back one day and remember, too.

I miss you, dad.

 I wish you could be here to share in our lives. Your grandchildren brought you so much joy and pride. I miss seeing that grin on your face and the light that sparkled in your eyes when you were around them.  

I can't wait for the day where my faith becomes sight and I will get to see you smiling once again.

We met for a chilly outing at our happy place, his happy place to remember and share in my dad's memory.

Little Eleanor (grandbaby #7) bundled up tight.

Faith, Halmoni, and Elly.

The girls are all getting so big.

We had an apple crisp with a la mode on the side and sang Happy Birthday to Hapajee.

We warmed up and enjoyed hot chocolate, too.

We said hello to the gigantic sloppy pigs.

Or are they hogs?

Madi and Uncle Morgan.

Zach met a mini horse.

He's never met an animal he doesn't love.

Madi wasn't so sure.

Zach just wanted to kiss him (and poke his eye).

We wanted to take a picture before leaving but poor Zach still wanted to see the horse.

One more romp on the stairs.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

We love you and miss you dearly.