It began this morning: Pregame show at the baseballmomster's! The game is not until 5, but we are already in prep mode! My oldest even was unsure about going to our complex's pool, just incase it made us run late (this was 4hrs before we have to leave). Everything we're doing seems centered around "the baseball" today - the requests for extra TV/video game time are not so bothersome today, "save your evergy for the game, son...", and everything the boys try to play in the backyard has me checking on them way more than usual, just incase of injury!
Nutritionally, it always seems like such a nightmare (I'm a classic overthinker, and when my hubby reads this he will laugh).....did my son the right balance of protein/carbs/fruit/veggies.....or just DID HE EAT ENOUGH??!!! Not to forget being hydrated....."Drink your water.."......"did you drink water..."....."here, sip some more water..." blah-blah-WATER-blah.....I think I probably sound like that Charlie Brown teacher "BLAH-BLAH-BAAAAA"
Then of course, the wardrobe.....I almost had a heart attack this morning as I was folding the laundry, only to discover ONE clean sock without it's partner! I felt as though my life was flashing before me, and started constructing a panic-attack-list of options of what to possibly do to rectify the situation.....thankfully none of the options had to be explored, upon the discovery that the prodical-sock had been swallowed by one of Hubby's workout shirts! I thanked God, and returned said-sock to it's grateful partner, wondering if there is medication specifically for baseball-headcases such as myself.
And then there was the lunch-time pep-talk.....the "pick up your team mates" speech, the "don't go thinking this is an easy win" piece, and the "I love watching you play, I love you so much, I'm always proud of you" thing......Poor kid has heard it all before, but I am blessed with a patient and understanding son who knows exactly how to humor his poor crazy mother! He listened well, added a few of his own comments and opinions, then artfully switched the discussion to something else!
With a three hour window until the time we allotted for "leave the house" (a conservative 1/2 hr before we actually have to leave), I try to occupy myself.....thus writing this blog post - the perfect distraction for the baseballmomster, who is currently trying to NOT show her son what pre-game jitters are!
The motivation to write this blog came when I realized that in my older son's world, the baseball field is where life makes sense. My hope is to write a balanced view on youth baseball, from a Mom's perspective. I don't have all the answers, I never want to come across as though I think I am an expert....my goal is to keep it real, keep it fun.....and always love the game!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Crock pot craziness
Something that has been a sanity-saver for me in the baseball-journey has been my crockpot. This post is one that probably goes hand-in-hand with the "nutrition police" entry - there came a point in our season where I was realising that convinence had overtaken the need to keep feeding my children the "good stuff". Make no mistake here - Mickey D's or one of our great-and-greasy fast food establishments are NOT on some kind of "bad list" for me (although if you've ever watched the documentary super-size me, you might find yourself more in favor of taco stands, and less of burgers-joints....)I DO visit such places, it's just that once again, the sudden realisation that this was occuring many times a week, all due to a lack of mom-endurance on my part, thinking that I just couldn't possibly cook past 7pm! Pretty laughable really, when I 'm there trying to make sure my sons have the endurance to "hold it together" well into 6 innings, and I can't even feed them well if the game goes late!
Anyway......I'm not someone who was married for her culinary skills, so the list of crockpot favorites are super easy! I would love it if friends would add comments and ideas - that way this post can develop into a resource with many different skill levels encorporated!!! Most of the things I do require spending the extra 10 minutes early morning getting things together and throwing them in the crock pot.....I try to have simple enough sides that they can either be in the refrigerator waiting to be heated up (Pasta/rice), things that you can throw in the oven for not too long (garlic bread/refrigerated biscuits or crescent rolls) , or just cold stuff....pita bread, french bread, tortilla chips.....of course I wouldn't have earned my "nutrition police" gold-star if I didn't of course mention the insane bags of costco veggies that I like to have on hand - snap-peas, baby carrots, small sweet peppers, grape tomatoes - easy veggie servings that don't even require me to CHOP anything...
Salsa chicken (Thanks Kris!) - put the crockpot on low, throw in frozen chicken breast and cover it with salsa - you can leave it on low all day, then shred it when you need it - awesome burrito filling. I've also wondered about making a double portion, then creating a chicken tortilla soup the next day by using the salsa chicken as a base, then adding a couple of cans of chicken broth, corn, black beans, rice.......
BBQ chicken - basically the same thing, except you cover the chicken with BBQ sauce, and then serve it on burger buns! Works great with pork too.
You can actually cook chicken seriously PLAIN in the crock pot, which can be awesome for picky kids - just cook frozen chicken breast on low all day in chicken broth. You can flavor it up if you want, or not. and then when you need it just chop it up. Great in quesidillas.....cool it off a little for chicken salad....any other ideas?!
Kiebasa - My kids won't usually eat kiebasa, but they love it this way! Pour two cans of chicken or beef broth in the crock pot, set it to low. Add sliced up kiebasa. Cook it all day, you can turn it down to "warm" pretty much anytime you want since the sausage is fully cooked when you buy it. I've added veggies to the broth too, and then it becomes more of a soup or stew.
Meatballs - If you have a frozen bag of fully cooked meatballs, you can get creative with what sauce to put them in. Defrost or cook the meatballs in the microwave, and then put them on low with.....regular pasta sauce - you can make meatball subs or spaghetti with meatballs.....teriaki/chinise style marinade - goes well with rice or chinese noodles (or top ramen!!!).......plain broth, then serve with gravy and rice for swedish meatballs......for a little extra effort you can make a version of ministrone - have the meatballs hot and ready in broth, then add kidney beans, some pasta sauce, cold pasta and maybe some veggies, heat until it's all hot.
Italian sausage or Bratwurst - Brown in a pan. then cook on low over chopped up veggies or saurkraut.....you can add beer or broth to keep everything moist and yummy.
Would LOVE some other ideas - I kinda get bored of my repetoir here, and I'd love to hear some new ideas!
Anyway......I'm not someone who was married for her culinary skills, so the list of crockpot favorites are super easy! I would love it if friends would add comments and ideas - that way this post can develop into a resource with many different skill levels encorporated!!! Most of the things I do require spending the extra 10 minutes early morning getting things together and throwing them in the crock pot.....I try to have simple enough sides that they can either be in the refrigerator waiting to be heated up (Pasta/rice), things that you can throw in the oven for not too long (garlic bread/refrigerated biscuits or crescent rolls) , or just cold stuff....pita bread, french bread, tortilla chips.....of course I wouldn't have earned my "nutrition police" gold-star if I didn't of course mention the insane bags of costco veggies that I like to have on hand - snap-peas, baby carrots, small sweet peppers, grape tomatoes - easy veggie servings that don't even require me to CHOP anything...
Salsa chicken (Thanks Kris!) - put the crockpot on low, throw in frozen chicken breast and cover it with salsa - you can leave it on low all day, then shred it when you need it - awesome burrito filling. I've also wondered about making a double portion, then creating a chicken tortilla soup the next day by using the salsa chicken as a base, then adding a couple of cans of chicken broth, corn, black beans, rice.......
BBQ chicken - basically the same thing, except you cover the chicken with BBQ sauce, and then serve it on burger buns! Works great with pork too.
You can actually cook chicken seriously PLAIN in the crock pot, which can be awesome for picky kids - just cook frozen chicken breast on low all day in chicken broth. You can flavor it up if you want, or not. and then when you need it just chop it up. Great in quesidillas.....cool it off a little for chicken salad....any other ideas?!
Kiebasa - My kids won't usually eat kiebasa, but they love it this way! Pour two cans of chicken or beef broth in the crock pot, set it to low. Add sliced up kiebasa. Cook it all day, you can turn it down to "warm" pretty much anytime you want since the sausage is fully cooked when you buy it. I've added veggies to the broth too, and then it becomes more of a soup or stew.
Meatballs - If you have a frozen bag of fully cooked meatballs, you can get creative with what sauce to put them in. Defrost or cook the meatballs in the microwave, and then put them on low with.....regular pasta sauce - you can make meatball subs or spaghetti with meatballs.....teriaki/chinise style marinade - goes well with rice or chinese noodles (or top ramen!!!).......plain broth, then serve with gravy and rice for swedish meatballs......for a little extra effort you can make a version of ministrone - have the meatballs hot and ready in broth, then add kidney beans, some pasta sauce, cold pasta and maybe some veggies, heat until it's all hot.
Italian sausage or Bratwurst - Brown in a pan. then cook on low over chopped up veggies or saurkraut.....you can add beer or broth to keep everything moist and yummy.
Would LOVE some other ideas - I kinda get bored of my repetoir here, and I'd love to hear some new ideas!
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