My Life as a Mom

This month I decided to try something a bit different from what I've been making. With the cold snap we've had (can you call three months a SNAP??) I've been craving soup. But I like a hearty soup that fills me up while it warms me up.  This soup is a collection of everything my boys love, so it was no surprise that they loved it and asked for more! One thing that I love about this meal is it combines ingredients that I use all the time, like peas, onions and corn, with a few ingredients I haven't used much (diced tomatoes, shredded beef)  When making this meal, I recommend that you either make it in a ziploc bag (or mylar bag for added shelf life) or don't add the noodles to the jar, instead add them when you go to cook it. The reason is purely space. The noodles will take up half your jar and you wont have space for all the veggies. When I made this recipe I actually doubled it. Another change I made is that my kids and I don't like green peppers, ...

Oatmeal is absolutely a staple in my house. My kids will gladly eat it every morning. (I know, they are totally weird!) In fact, if my kids have cereal more than two days in a row, they start to complain. So oatmeal is definitely something that we have to have on hand all the time. The problem is that making oatmeal can be messy and I haven't taught my kids how to make it themselves; therefore, oatmeal jars have become my saving grace! I love that my boys can make the jars (and then I only have to clean up once for 20 plus meals) Because the oatmeal jars are such a big deal in our house, we make them regularly, and I talk about them so much that I figured I should share a post on how we make them and what's in them. So here it is! First of all, you need to know that my boys pretty much make these on their own. I typically put the oatmeal in and they do the rest. Here are the steps and ingredients that I follow and the ways that I use oatmeal jars! Step 1: Fill the jar...

My meal in a jar recipe for February is a traditional beef stew, like my mom always made when we were growing up. There are a few adjustments that you can make depending on how you are going to eat prepare and eat this meal, but however you do it, it's going to be classic and delicious!   We are currently in a nasty cold streak with daily highs around -20 Celsius and wind chills that often take our lows to -40 Celsius. In the midst of this cold snap, we had a hockey tournament. Just when you want to curl up with a good book all weekend, we are going back and for from home to rink, without much break between. Between games, I decided to make this recipe and throw it in the crock pot so that it would be ready when we came home and were in need of something to warm our bones. When I put it in the crock pot, I made a few adjustments that I'll explain. For a quick boil and serve meal, follow the instructions in the graphic. If you want adjustments for the crockpot, keep readi...

 It's a new month, with new specials at Thrive, that means it's time for a new meal-in-a-jar recipe. This recipe is great because it's really versatile. You can add whatever veggies you like to the mix. I used the veggies I had on hand, there is a great selection of veggies on sale this month, and chopped chicken is on sale as well! I used Zucchini, peas, beans, peppers, onions and mushrooms, but you could use corn, carrots, asparagus, broccoli or cauliflower instead (or in addition). Just note, that what I used barely fit into the jar, so if you're adding more or using veggies that are bigger - like broccoli - you'll likely need to put it in a ziploc bag for storage rather than a jar. You'll also need to add a bit more water if you're adding more veggies. I made this recipe for my kids and they devoured it and asked for it again the next day! Great way to get veggies into my picky eater! Here's the recipe as I made it. Note that the sour cream c...

  Green peas are on sale this month, and I'm seriously excited about it! I know it sounds a bit odd to be excited about something so boring, but let me tell you, Thrive green peas are the best ever! Last year I grew a garden for the first time in years, I grew it at my parents house because they actually have space and I don't. That way I also wasn't in charge of the watering, which is good because with me it's either drought or flood! I was super excited to grow veggies, and everything actually did really well! So here's the thing, as I was shelling my peas, I couldn't help but notice that it was a LOT of work to grow peas, and guess what, the Thrive peas taste just as amazing! Guess who's not growing peas anymore because she doesn't like the time it takes to shell them??? (It's me in case you can't guess!) Seriously, the Thrive peas are just as good as home grown peas, they are amazing!  What I love about peas is how versatile they are...

If you're anything like me, dinnertime can cause a lot of stress. Everything from knowing what to make, being sure you have the groceries, juggling schedules, time it takes to cook, chopping vegetables, doing dishes...UGH!  The whole thing can be so overwhelming. It's what often leads me to either ordering pizza, stopping at McDonalds for kids meals, or using a go-to meal. Not that any of these are a problem occasionally, but when it becomes 3-4 times a week, it gets boring. Not to mention pizza and McDonalds are certainly not the healthiest option, and if your go-tos are like mine, they're not the healthiest either. That's why I LOVE Simple Plates from Thrive. With a bunch of different options to choose from and most of them ready in 20 minutes or less, these solve the majority of my dinner dilemmas. The chopping, measuring and prep work is all done. All I have to do is follow a few simple instructions, add water and butter, and voila! Delicious dinner...

I adore soups during the winter! There is nothing better than enjoying a delicious warm soup when it's chilly outside. So I am always on the lookout for new soups. There seem to be lots of soups that are loaded with veggies, but those soups are also often loaded with carbs, so I've been working on soups that are low in carbs or free of carbs. The great side effect of that, is that it makes them great for those eating a keto diet. The recipe I came up with today, was SO SO good! And lucky for you, I wrote it down! So, what do you need for my Creamy Veggie & Sausage Soup? A bunch of veggies, obviously! So, the annoying thing about making veggie soup is all of the chopping. Want an easier way? That's when you need Thrive. Not only are thrive's veggies already chopped for you, but they are delicious and good for you. With no additives, or GMOs, they are the best veggies available! Combined with the fact that they cook quickly due to the nature of freeze drying, t...