Recipes for New and Expecting Moms: Breakfast

Freezer Breakfasts:

There are lots of things you are already making that can be frozen and microwaved on the go. One of my favorites is the breakfast sandwich. These little guys are easy, yummy and filling but they get expensive to buy every morning and who really has that kind of time to make one every day. Not me!
So the next Sunday that you are hanging out having a chill day and you have to make breakfast anyway why not make a big batch.

Grab some english muffins, cheddar cheese, bacon and eggs (and any other toppings you may be fond of just make sure they freeze and reheat well.) First cook the bacon and toast the english muffins. I scramble my eggs with a little water and pepper, not sure how milk will do in the freezer, and cook it in a skillet just like an omelet. Once the sides are set flip it and turn off the heat. I use a cookie cutter to create the perfect size egg serving for the sandwich. Assemble your sandwiches in parchment paper then in foil.

When you are ready to eat you can remove the foil, pop the paper wrapped sandwich in the microwave and in about 2 minutes or so you are ready to walk out the door. Or plop back on the couch.

This same method can be done with breakfast bowls, these are yummy if you add some fried potatoes to it and bell peppers too. Throw the ingredients in a tupperware bowl and stack in the freezer.

Since I already have a toddler that will need to be fed as well I make french toast sticks in large batches. I suggest double battering them so they will stand up to the thawing. Again, I can toss em in the microwave for a few moments and breakfast is ready. Throw some berries on the plate and an apple sauce packet and my kiddo is good to go.

I also have some wonderful lunches that are a snap to make and you can make a weeks worth at a time. That post coming up soon!

Simple Fried Egg Sandwich

This was really easy and really yummy!

You need: 

2 Eggs

Bread

2 Pepper Slices about 1/2 in rings.

Mozzarella Cheese

Salt and Pepper

I am a big butter fan but you can use Pam or what ever you want to use to grease the pan. 

Melt some butter in a pan until bubbly. Drop in your two rings and make sure the pan is hot or your eggs will leak out. 

Crack your eggs right into the rings and pop your bread in the toaster. Salt and pepper your eggs to taste. (I like my eggs less runny so I will flip them and turn off the heat while I ready my pan but sunny side up works just fine.) 

Most people will use a green pepper but I prefer the sweet peppers for breakfast and the green for dinner.

Sprinkle a little of that wonderful shredded Mozzarella cheese and slide onto your toast. (I butter the toast too but as you can imagine I am not the dieting type.)

All that's left is to chow down and I can assure you it is wonderful! For a more balanced breakfast you can add some fresh fruit and maybe some yogurt.

Feeding Your Toddler

Anyone who has ever had children knows that when it comes to meal times it does not always go smoothly. Of course, by that I mean it's a flipping nightmare, (trying to really curb my language but saying fudge just ticks me off more.) they tear apart sandwiches, squash the grape tomatoes and smash anything soft into the floor boards or curtains. Not only the mess but it's difficult to plan out regular meals with out feeding them pop tarts everyday. Don't get me wrong I'm not above throwing the occasional pop tart in the toaster or some crackers to keep her happy. Still, it's nice to try and get some real food into them so I'm here to reveal my current weeks meal plan. (I change  these up all the time its a little easier to have some ideas worked out ahead of time to choose from.)

This week I got a little lazy, I like to make batches of pancakes to freeze or french toast sticks but with the move I have too much other crap to do, so here is a menu example of a typical week for us.
(P.S. I also have another post about Meal Planning that's worth a peek, I promise. Here)

Day 1:

Waffle (cut up) Strawberries (cut up) bananas (cut up)     Lets just assume everything is cut up.
Turkey and cheese roll ups, cucumbers, grape tomatoes
Spaghetti and Meat balls

Day 2:
French toast sticks, halo's (those tiny oranges)
Peanut butter sandwich, cucumbers, pretzels
Sausage and peppers

Day 3:
Oatmeal, strawberries, halos
Chicken fingers, grapes
Stir fry

Day 4:
Waffles, banana's, yogurt
Chopped salad chunks with a dressing I make
Honey Dijon chicken, broccoli, potatoes

Day 5:
Bagels, applesauce
Leftover chicken and individual canned veggies. (I care for two kids so it all gets eaten.)
Burrito bowls, (This way she can eat what she wants.)

As you can see she pretty much eats what we do and not every meal is a success. I have found, however, that she is more willing to try and to eat something if we let her do it herself. She has always been a really good eater and I we have been lucky for that but we still face the challenges of pickiness and mashing food instead of eating it.

The trick to plan out your week but not set it in stone. You're not always feeling like chicken one day and ground beef the next but, instead, use it like a guideline for your grocery shopping and to give yourself ideas so your not getting sick of the same thing over and over again. This plan has saved us a ton of aggravation from avoiding the "What do you want for dinner?" "I dunno, what do you want?" All those blank stares into the back of the freezer and not seeing anything you want.

All it takes is 5 minutes and an open pintrest page.