Fruits & Veggies Are Not My Friend

October Challenges For a Happier Life

One thing I know for sure from being more concious about eating at home this month is that I do not eat enough fruits and vegatables.

As the mom I set the example for my family and as a result my family does not eat enough from the fruits and veggies part of the food groups.

Fruits and veggies are not in my life enough to be counted as friends but I'd like to change that.

This weeks challenge, in addition to eating at home, will be to each a different fruit and a different vegeatable each day Monday through Friday. It shouldn't be hard right? Follow along to see how we do!

Wishing you all my best, Wendy

New England Fall Favorite - Apple Pie

We now interupt this October Challenges for a Happier Life with ... Life!

I am keeping the goals I had at the front of my mind and it has not been perfect (haven't posted in a while ...) but it's all good.

Read about my plan for the month here mymiddletonchronicles.blogspot.comoctoberherewecomechallengesfor

 Nothing makes a house smell better and feel cozier than the smell of baking apples and cinnamon and I baked a scrumptious one this past weekend.

Pies are a dessert that I normally would only make for a holiday so it made the weekend feel special.
What is your favorite holiday dessert? I'd love some ideas for the upcoming holiday menus.

Wishing you all my best, Wendy

On the way to the oven

Ta da!

Is Your Candle Burned Out?

Mine is! It's only mid-October and my candle that I purchased to make my home a haven is burned out. My schedule is full too and I am feeling like there is some symbolism there.

It's The Little Things Isn't It?

Happy Saturday.

Telling Myself What I Want To Hear?

Not perfect, but real.

Fake it 'til you make it?

So many people find joy in creating meals. As a mom it can feel like a chore. The challenge of cooking at home more will only be enjoyable if I work on making it enjoyable. I'm excited to search out new recipes and to make some old favorites.

I just read that last sentence back and have to say I think I just told a fib. Actually, I know I just outright lied. I'm not excited ...

Cooking does often feel like a chore. The cooking I do get excited about is a holiday meal. I love having family visit and sharing a holiday feast with them. My husband and I always look forward to hosting.

Growing up my mom did 100% of the cooking. My hard working dad worked very long hours and for the first half of my childhood my mom was a stay at home mom so they fell in to the traditional roles of mom doing the cooking. I have to say she really did take pride in cooking healthy meals for us and still does that in her home today. So what's wrong with me? I think I just fell in to the trap of how easy it is to eat out and to get take out.

My candle is still going, it truly is making home a haven. Just that simple act of lighting it and saying a prayer for peace in my home has brought some peace. Read about my octoberchallengesforahappierlife here.

What can I do to make the chore of cooking more enjoyable? This is where my creativity needs to kick in. What should I do? Have theme nights? Meatless Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Whatever Wednesdays and so on. That could be fun. What do you do to make the chore of cooking more enjoyable? I'd love to hear your comments and suggestions.

Wishing you all my best, Wendy

Memories For a Chilly Day

October in New England

The most beloved family dish as reported by my family, Omi dish. A concoction of egg noodles, scrambled eggs and ham. On a day like this rainy October day in New England it sounds heavenly. True comfort food. As I type it is grey, rainy and a chilly 50 degrees. After the drought of a summer we just had this weather is a bit of a shock.
Does anyone even know where their jackets, rain boots and umbrellas are?

I don't know if Omi invented the Omi dish. Perhaps it was passed down to her by her mother or mother in law. That is who Omi is, my mother in law. Or who she was, I should say.
Heidi English, Omi, passed away in 2009. She was relatively young and it's hard to believe she's been gone over 6 years.

The Heidi I picture when I picture her serving Omi dish would have been a young mom with 5 kids. 4 boys and a girl. That Heidi probably had no idea, just as I had no idea, how quickly her children's childhood would go by or that once gone by that her grandchildren would still be talking about and loving Omi dish.

I am making 2 meals today so my family has some good choices this weekend - Omi dish and a lasagna. Will lasagna be the dish I end up being known for? Probably not but by the end of this month of eating at home hopefully there will be one. I'll light the candle, take my time to make it right and then hope they notice the love that's inside. If not today, someday.

Read the details of my October challenges here mymiddletonchronicles.blogspot.comoctoberherewecomechallenges

Wishing you all my best, Wendy

Beloved Family

Family & Food Go Together Like Peanut Butter & Jelly

My family, perhaps much like yours, has distinct opinions when it comes to food. I must admit that as the mom I have not always been the most enthusiastic cook. I sheepishly admit that and am looking at October and at my family challenge to eat at home all month as my chance to get creative and make some memories with my family. 

Last night sitting around the table with my family I took an informal poll to find out what their most beloved family dish is. I was not surprised to find out that it is not a dish that I cook. It did make me a little sad to hear that but truth be told, it's no ones fault but mine. 

The dish that is the family favorite is one that my husband makes and that his mom made for him. It is a dish that stretched the family dollar and fed a bunch of kids back in the day.

Omi Dish -

Egg Noodles

Scrambled Eggs

Ham Steak cut in to cubes

In my family the dish we were served when the fridge was just about bare was tuna casserole. Not a favorite of mine but I certainly do remeber it well. Apparently my dad loves it. I always wondered if he really loved it or if he was just being good natured about a meal that was not the most decadent but was what we had. 

On another note, we went out last night and selected an extra large Yankee Candle to start of Octobers Making Your Home a Haven challenge. Pumpkin Spice was the candle of choice and it felt great to splurge and buy the big one. We lit it this morning and I love what it symbolizes.

Please bless this home with peace.

The first post on this blog details the October challenges mymiddletonchronicles.blogspot.comoctoberherewecomechallenges