Friday Thoughts (Plus, HUGE Cookbook Update!)
Hi, friends! It’s April! I’m very proud of myself for making it through winter, and I am soaking up every second of this incredible spring weather.
I’m glad you’re here! Heck, I’m glad I’m here. š (Winter was ROUGH.)
{If you’re new to Friday Thoughts posts and wondering what the heck is going on, occasionally I pop in with a real life update on all the things – today is that day!}
Family/Kid Update: Speed Style
- We currently have one high school tennis player and one middle school tennis player – it is so fun watching them both work hard at this newer sport for them! And it’s a lot less stressful than watching wrestling matches. š¬
- Speaking of wrestling, my 16-year old fractured his jaw at the high school district wrestling tournament (some of you probably saw my updates on Instagram about this). It was a season-ending injury, and he had emergency surgery to fix the traumatic injury. He just got cleared to resume normal activities and eat all.the.things after six LONG weeks eating a soft/liquid diet. He was such a trooper (and had so many teammates, coaches, friends, and family members support and love him through the recovery). #milkshakesforever
- Brian bought a small business and is finally fulfilling a lifelong dream of being his own boss. He is working hard to build and grow this print shop (which has been in business for several decades!) – it has given me a new appreciation for supporting local businesses!
- My second oldest (who doesn’t like me sharing photos of him, but he did give me permission to share this bit of info) recently received an LDS church mission call to serve for two years in the Philippines (Manila mission). He leaves July 1. š„ŗ We’ve been immersed in researching proper footwear, applying for visas, and of course…trying our hand at some Filipino recipes. Making lumpia and chicken adobo this coming Sunday! Any experience in the Philippines?? We’d love to hear it.
Kitchen remodel
Last Friday Thoughts post I talked about the kitchen remodel we were currently undergoing. It’s finished! And ooof, I hope I never have to live through that again. š¤Ŗ We survived on Costco meals, a hot plate for warming things up, and a lot of cold cereal.
Here’s the before:
Here’s the after:
We knocked out the back wall of the kitchen and used the home office space to expand the kitchen. After 22 years of waiting and wishing, I finally have double wall ovens, and I love them just as much as I hoped I would.
Two other favorite parts of the new kitchen:
- the new big kitchen window (that window used to be in my office, and it is amazing to have the wall gone and to get all that natural light in the kitchen – also, now I can see how fast my teenagers are driving down the driveway š¤Øš)
- the induction stove – I took a risk on this since I had never used induction and I love it so much! All of my pots and pans except for one skillet were already induction-compliant, so that was a huge plus in favor of going induction. I have no regrets! I cannot believe how quickly water boils on the stove (we’re talking two minutes or less even for a huge pot) and how much more evenly and accurately things cook. And the stovetop is so much easier to clean than gas or flat top electric because nothing burns on it! The one I have is Electrolux brand, and so far, I highly recommend it!
If you want to see more in-depth videos of the kitchen, tap through this Instagram highlight – toward the end of the highlight, I share a kitchen update.
We are currently building on a small addition to reclaim the lost office space, and it should be done next week! The most exciting part of the new addition is this wallpaper that’s going up in the laundry room. šš
(Pray for me, as I haven’t touched wallpaper since the mid-80’s when I had to painstakingly peel off some very stubborn and very paisley-patterned wallpaper from a room in our house, and I still haven’t gotten over that traumatic – and endless – experience.)
Cookbook Update
BIG NEWS!! The cookbooks HAVE ARRIVED and will ship out very soon!
If you pre-ordered a book, you’ll receive a confirmation (via email or text, depending on how you signed up to receive updates) when your order ships.
I cannot wait for you to finally get this cookbook in your hands and in your kitchen!
The book is over 300 pages with a photo for EVERY single one of the 140+ recipes. The quality is outstanding and has exceeded everything I hoped for! I hope you love it. š
If you haven’t ordered yet, there’s still time to get in on this first print run. Cookbooks can be ordered here.
Weather blanket
After a friend sent me this reel, I decided a weather blanket needed to be in my 2024 plans.
What is a weather blanket, you ask? (It’s a great question! I had no idea until a few months ago!) It’s a simple single-crochet blanket where each row represents the high temperature each day of the year.
I immediately ordered yarn from my local JoAnn’s store, picked it up the next day, and started crocheting! So far, it has been super fun and not overwhelming (except for one little add-on project I decided to do with it that I’ll report on later…just in case I give up š).
One row takes me about 11 1/2 minutes to crochet. I’m hoping to get a little faster (there are 230 single crochets in each row). I’m not working on it every day, but a couple of times a week, I’ll sit down and catch up.
It’s actually helped me slow down in the evenings a little bit while I sit and dutifully check my weather app, make notations on my spreadsheet š¤, and chat with my teenagers while I crochet. Everyone in my family is surprisingly invested in the weather blanket. š¤£
Things I’m Loving
- Mantis: this was the winning game at Christmas. So, so fun (and incredibly easy to learn). Also, the included booklet on Mantis shrimp is š¤Æ
- Wear When Bracelets: loving these bracelets – and so are my kids! I bought the bracelets for them for Easter, and the scripture messages and reminders are so amazing and uplifting (where when you need courage, where when you need to make a decision, where when you need someone). š
- Sherpa-Lined Hoodies: love, love, love these hoodies. They fit true to size (unisex sizing) or maybe slightly small, so size up if you are in between sizes. I know hoodie season is coming to a close, but these are worth the buy any time of the year!
- Cargo Pants: my teenage boys have several pairs of these (black, gray and brown), and wear them constantly. They have held up super well, wash and dry perfectly, and have gotten the boys to break out of their Nike sweat pants regime (no judgment there, they have a mom who wears joggers pretty much every day of her life š¤£). They are casual enough that they don’t feel dressed up, but classy enough to wear to family pictures or the like.
- Nutri-Blender: my boys make protein smoothies daily when they come home from sports practices or gym workouts. Or just for an after dinner snack BECAUSE THEY CONSUME CALORIES CONSTANTLY. My 15-year old was gifted this blender for Christmas, and it quickly became a hot commodity and is now used by everyone. I’m surprised at how well it works, and I love that it can make single servings, because just between you and me, no one around here was doing a very good job at washing out the full-size blender. š
- Skin Serum: have you heard of this serum? It is amazing! Like, wow-level amazing. And very inexpensive for something that has over 75,000 five-star reviews. I put it on at night underneath my regular moisturizer. My skin feels incredibly soft and much more hydrated than before. Highly recommend! UPDATE: Looks like it isn’t on Amazon anymore, but it is called COSRX Snail mucin 96% power repairing essence (don’t let the “snail mucin” freak you out – it’s amazing stuff).
- Footrest pillow: my 16-year old gave me this footrest pillow for my birthday a few months ago, and honestly, it was the most clever, most useful gift ever. I am always asking the kids to run and find me a small stool from some corner of the house when I sit on the couches so I can elevate my feet just a little. I guess you could say this gift was partly for me and partly for him. š I use it when I work at my desk, also. LOVE IT.
Protein ā¬ļø
I am NOT the gal to give anyone advice about tracking food, counting calories or figuring out macros. Over the last eight years, I’ve tried really hard to focus on intuitive eating (I read the book, and it changed my thinking on so many aspects of eating and health) because I found that when I tried to track my calories or macros, it became an obsessive mental game that was not good for my mental health or how I felt about my body.
As I repeat to my kids on the daily: your body is an instrument, not an ornament (credit to Beauty Redefined for that mantra).
ANYWAY, this isn’t advice or a lecture on any of that, because every person has their system and way of doing things.
But, I just wanted to mention that earlier this year, I decided to be more intentional about making sure I was getting enough protein so I could build lean muscle as I’ve been lifting weights more the last year or so (with the Sadie Active app).
So I downloaded the ProteinPal app (it only tracks protein), and I found that even though I thought I was getting enough protein, I was falling far short of my goal (goal being: 110-115 grams per day). As I’ve made a more focused effort to eat lean protein in my meals, I have noticed changes in my appetite (I’m hardly ever hungry between meals), in my workouts (I have more energy), and how I feel overall (šŖš¼).
This has been a great change for me! (P.S. I’m still eating cookies and bread and vegetables and fruit and all the other things, too. š)
Now it’s your turn! I’d love to hear all of YOUR thoughts in the comments below. Anything related to the above post or just generally what’s happening in your world!
I love connecting with each of you, and I appreciate every time you take a minute to share a piece of your life with me. š
Oh, Mel…
Your cookbook arrived yesterday, and I have to say that it is even more beautiful and wonderful than I imagined it would be. Thank you so much for the work, time, and love that you put into it. I have been following your blog since 2010, and have never once been disappointed by a recipe. Just when I thought you couldn’t get any better, you create this absolutely gorgeous cookbook…not just a cookbook, but also a lovely snapshot of your life. I will absolutely treasure this! Thanks for being incredible.
I got my cookbook today and I am SO excited about it! Thank you thank you thank you for making it for us! Iām sure it was a huge labor of love and I will feel the love every time I open it (which will be often). So thank you again!
Also, speaking of books, have you heard of the Emma M Lion series by Beth Brower? They are hilarious, intriguing, and so original, and get better with every volume. Iāve told tons of people about them and every single person who has read them has LOVED them. So if you need a little joy in your life (and who doesnāt?), do yourself a favor and enter Emmaās world. Itās delightful!
I received the cookbook today, too. I LOVE it so much (and yes, I remember the Blogspot days)! It is absolutely beautiful and I teared up reading the personal commentary. I think a few loved ones may soon be getting your cookbook for as a gift (birthdays, weddings, etc).
Thanks for being a beloved constant in our kitchen for the past 15 years… My young-adult children also use your recipes as they have ventured out from our home.
I received the cookbook today. It is wonderful. Canāt decide what I should make first!Ā
My husband served in the Philippines (Tacloban) and would LOVE it if you posted Filipino recipes. If youāre taking requests, heād love a recipe for sinigang (āāļø) but will take anything you pass along! ā¤ļø
Mel!! I just rec’d your cookbook and it is GORGEOUS!!!! Congratulations- I’m so happy for and proud of you!! š
Love all of these updates- hooray for your new kitchen- It is so beautiful! and your son’s mission call- what an exciting time!
Girl, how in the world do you have time to crochet??????? It’s looking so beautiful though! I have never had a desire to learn to crochet but you make it sound relaxing and enjoyable!
Love your guts- And your recipes of course! š
My daughter served in the Cebu East mission a few years ago. Our friend who is Filipino and had two kids serve there (all 3 learned different languages) shared this video with us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peBjbIKQ7bo . It made us laugh so hard! My daughter’s favorite treat was “ice candy” ( https://recipes.net/articles/what-is-ice-candy/#google_vignette ). We served it at her July wedding. One caution I would give is to tell your son to be careful getting his hair cut by men. There are some cultural things around some men hairdressers that are 100% not okay (you are welcome to email me for more details/questions). When she got home she said the best preparation she had for serving in Cebu was running cross country because she could pee anywhere (LOL). All joking aside, my daughter’s mission was wonderfully difficult and faith-filled. She grew so much and loved her time serving and teaching. I hope his is everything he needs.
I am excited to try the serum you suggested. The older I get the dryer my skin is getting.
Congratulations on your sonās mission call! My parents served for two years in the Manila mission as a senior couple, came home to Idaho for 9 months, then went back to the Philippines to serve as mission leaders in a different city there. They love the Philippines and the Filipino people! Your son will be wonderful.
I really enjoy the thoughts and recommendations. Thank you for taking the time to post them.
Awwww. Congrats on the printshop!!! I used to work at a MMP! One that had been in business several decades. My boss was the daughter of the original owners. I loved it. I loved the customers, the community it served. Wedding season had me in the fetal position a couple of times but I dealt with it. Paper cuts. There are many levels of paper cuts. Joking with the copy repair guy about the machine going down every full moon. lol (I don’t believe in that stuff) but it was funny.
Very intrigued about the induction stove.
I’ve heard of weather blankets. I don’t have the attention span for one. lol
My father in law grew up in Manila and he generously took us there this Christmas. Our three kids were blessed to meet so much family, eat so much delicious food, and have so many new experiences. The poverty there is heartbreaking, but even the unhoused family outside our hotel was offering us food. The generosity of spirit is huge. Your son will have an amazing time.Ā
And the sourdough Ā pandesal recipe on King Arthur is the closest I found to tasting like the bread we had there, if you want to give him a preview.Ā
Thank you for your recommendation of the Sadie Active app. I have been using it for almost a year and have absolutely loved it! I’m in the same boat with regards to eating intuitively but probably needing more protein so I may try a protein-tracking app.
Congrats on your new kitchen and your son’s mission call! We love our Minuteman Press down here in Florida and I hope your husband’s shop does well.
Thanks so much, Julie!
Congrats on sending out a missionary!
– Ā and your newly acquired print business! Ā We also own Ā an idaho based printing business! Ā Best of luck to him!
Thanks for all the great recipes, literally Cannot wait for your cookbook!! Ā
Thank you, Marianne!
I haven’t been to the Philippines, but I have been inspired by the Filipinos I met while living in Taiwan. Many of the Filipinos come to Taiwan for work and are essentially a slave class there. They go there to get jobs to be able to send money back to their families. One woman in my ward in Taipei shared that when her boss learned she was using some of “his” time to study her scriptures she started waking up in the middle of the night to read her scriptures. Her testimony shared in 2007 hit me so powerfully and still does to this day.
Also, 2 years ago we had a prior Mission President and his wife speak to our youth in a special activity speaking to them as if they had just arrived in the Philippines and would be serving as missionaries there. After listening to him, I wished I could serve these people, live among them and be blessed by their love, kindness and Christ-like examples. Your son will be blessed by his time living among the incredible people of the Philippine nation.
Mel-youāre amazing! Itās inspiring to hear about all the good (and hard) things you and your family do! Beautiful kitchen, congrats on the missionary!Ā
Thank you for all your delicious recipes! Iām so excited to get your cookbook. However, my husband never received a confirmation email after he preordered it for me for Christmas, so Iām not sure what to do about that. . . Any ideas? Thank you!!
Hi Bonnie! Can you email shop@melskitchencafe.com? We can look up your order # and confirm it for you!
Hi Mel,Ā
Thank you for all the wonderful recipes and advice over the years! I always look forward to your posts ā you are my go-to for any and all dessert recipes!
Congrats to your son – it will be a life-changing experience! My son will be going to Manila for a Boren scholarship in August. He is super excited to learn Tagalog (he is half-Filipino). A few ideas:Ā
1-get a Charles Schwab checking account for him so he can access local money transaction-free
2-tagalogtime.pat is a great Insta account to learn some Tagalog and culture
3-youāll appreciate this – connection is always through food. Kain na tayo (Letās eat) is a common phrase.Ā
4-my favorite desserts – halo-halo, anything ube, bibinka, biko, and ginataan
5-my favorite savory meals – adobo, kare-kare, pancit, arroz caldo, caldareta, sisig, afritada, and sinigang
6-there are so many Filipino dialects (they are actually different languages), but the national language is Filipino. Everyone speaks English or a mix of English and Filipino.
Thank you for all the tips and info, Mimi! I’m sharing this with my son!
Can’t wait for the cookbook! I’m definitely going to check out the protein app. My daughter is in 10th grade and has been doing a similar crochet blanket this school year that is a mood blanket, or mabey stress blanket? Each row reflects the stress level of the day. My son is starting high school and I’ll be checking out the cargo pants for his uniform pants. So glad you are still blogging because about 90% or more of what I cook comes from your site and my family benefits. My daughter gets a lot of enjoyment from baking and your recipes are where she always starts. Love your Friday thoughts posts!!!
Oh gosh, the mood blanket sounds like such a fun idea, but I’m afraid what my finished product would represent/look like. Haha. (Also, I love that your daugther is a blossoming baker!)
I love your FRIDAY THOUGHTS!! Makes my heart happy! YAY Phillipines. I have no experience with that but with Japan. Best of luck and looking forward to your recipes! I did a crocheted weather blanket (aka: Temperature blanket) for 2023 and had so much fun! Wish I could post a pic of it! I loved it so much, I am doing a fabric one with small blocks this year! It has been fun and will be a good reminder of the year! So many options! I am seriously reviewing the list for game and serum–SNAILS???? OOh hope it doesn’t smell! Thanks for being amazing!
Haha, the serum doesn’t smell at all. It sounds weirder than it actually is. I love it!
I loved your sharing, your beautiful new kitchen & I always love your recipes & am looking forward to getting your cook book. Ā Iād never heard of the new stove you have now, it must be wonderful & looks like you waited a long time for it. Ā I live in RR OR & love living on 10 acres. Ā I have always loved to cook but at 84 I have slowed down a lot. Never heard of the weather blanket but it looks interesting. Ā You have a wonderful family.
Thanks for your comment, Nancy!
Mel! My oldest son has 4 months left of his mission in the Philippines Angeles mission. He is loving it! It’s difficult sending them on the other side of the world and there have been highs and lows, but overall it has exceeded my expectations. I second what another missionary mom said about Julie Hess Philippines missionary packages on FB. She’s amazing and it’s so comforting knowing you can send something from home with assurance that it will get there! Prayers for you and your son ā¤ļø
Thank you, Haily! (I hope these four months go fast until you can hug your son again!)
Will your cookbook be available on Amazon at some point?
I’m not sure yet but will keep you posted!
Love your thoughts!!! Congrats on Philippines–we have a friend there. Protein—amazing what you realize when you track it. I found this to be a similar problem with bariatric surgery. I eat 6 times a day and try to get a LOT of protein in at EVERY meal!!! Weather blanket—we called it a temperature blanket and did a crochet on in 2023 using the moss stitch! They were so fun! This year doing a fabric one with small blocks! It has been so much fun as well. Excited to see how it goes this year! Keep it up, you will be so happy you did it! I would love to send you a pic or post a pic of it somewhere!!! You are amazing!!!
I think I actually should refer to the blanket as a temperature blanket – a bit more accurate for what it represents! I love the idea of doing a fabric one with blocks!
My brother and his son both served missions in the Philippines – different areas. I canāt remember which one said it, but one of them said how nice everyone is, and even if they arenāt interested in hearing about the Church, they would still insist on feeding them. And they ate some interesting things: my brother ate dog meat, and my nephew ate cow testicles. But overall they liked the food, even my brother who hated rice and fish and had to get used to eating both.Ā
Oh wow…the food. Yikes! My son is a very adventurous eater, so I’m hoping he’ll be open to trying lots of new things.
Love this update, can’t wait for the cookbook!
Whenever I share a recipe or idea on something to buy, my family always asks where I got it from and immediately follow with “let me guess, Mel”. My daughter says that you are my best friend!
Thanks for sharing recipes and other things that bring you joy too. I don’t do social media so reading and referring to your blog means you’re pretty awesome!
Thank you so much, Danielle!
Mel! You feel like an old friend, even though I have never met you. Iāve been following your blog for 10+ years now and I am so excited to receive your cookbook!!! I am in the last couple months of a twin pregnancy and I have utilized your 30-minute meals and freezer/make ahead meals a ton in the last month and have a freezer stocked with over two weeks worth of your meals by my sisters (who are also big fans of yours). You donāt even know how your recipes have blessed my life and continue to bless me and my family.Ā
I have never heard the idea of a weather blanket, but now am intrigued!! I crochet and think it is a very cool idea! Thank you for sharing your life and your ideas. You truly do bless many.Ā
Oh my goodness, good luck with this pregnancy, Jennifer. TWINS! That’s amazing. Wish we were neighbors and I could bring you dinner! Thanks for your sweet comment.
My 17 year old son has to have surgery this summer and will be on a liquid/super-soft-foods diet for 6 weeks. Out of all of my kids, he is the skinniest, so I am already trying to think about foods I can give him. I feel like there are a lot of liquid/soft sweet foods. Iām just wondering about the savory stuff. And the protein. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Hi Dodi – good luck to you and your son!! I had the same concerns with my kiddo. He ended up doing fine…but it was a long six weeks. He basically lived on instant mashed potatoes, smoothies, milkshakes, cream of wheat (with heavy cream stirred in), pancakes soaked in milk. He did say he was really tired of sweet foods by the end.
Where did you find such delightful wall paper? I’m also adding on to our house and the laundry room is moving. I now have a big window in the laundry room overlooking my chickens so this wallpaper would be so so perfect, even in just a little section of the room. I actually really enjoyed removing wallpaper when I did it in the 90s when we decided to take it out of my childhood bedroom. We used a hand pump sprayer with warm water (like the ones you normally use for pesticide) and peeled then scraped with a putty knife. I found it satisfying. Good luck!
It’s from spoonflower.com – they have so many fun designs!!
I live in the Philippines in the mid-80s (I was 4 ). My husband works for the State Department (currently in India) and we have a small handful of friends who are currently living in Manila! Weāre going to visit for Christmas!Ā
Wow! What exciting life travels you’ve had.
Thanks for linking to “Intuitive Eating”. It has been a blessing for me in so many ways!
I agree!
I’m also trying to increase my protein but when I put protein pal in quite a few came up…is there a way to get more specific so I get the correct one? And thank you for your blog; it’s a bright spot in my life. I work with many people from the Philippines and all the food I’ve tried has been really good!!
Does this link help for the app?
https://apps.apple.com/mn/app/protein-pal-protein-tracker/id1541193285
Mel, I love your posts and am so excited to get my cookbook soon! What about a local event book signing? Anything in the works? Also, I clicked on the link for the serum, as m6skin needs so much help, but SNAIL? I’m concerned….
I know, I know…the snail thing is weird, but I did a bunch of reading on it, and honestly, I was convinced. I’ve loved it! Also, still tossing around the idea of a local event. Will keep you posted!
As the mother of many teens I, too, have snail mucin face cream. I just do what they tell me!
We installed an induction cooktop last year. Best thing ever!!! Easy to clean, and so fast!! One thing I didnāt realizeāmy thermopop does not give an accurate read due to the magnets in the range. Iāve learned to pull the pot off the range for a few seconds for accuracy. (And reallyāhow often should I be making candy?) Love your update!
Oh, that’s so good to know about the thermometer! I never would have thought of that. I’ll remember that when I make caramels!!
I always enjoy your Friday thoughts posts. Hooray! Lots of exciting things happening at your house! Our oldest is starting his Spanish speaking mission in June. We’re so excited for him.
Exciting times, Holly! Good luck to your son (and you!)
Hi Mel-
Iām so excited for the cookbook to arrive! Would love to learn what things youāve added to your day to get more protein in, as Iāve been making the same effort.Ā
Hi Lucy, I’ll copy and paste a comment I left down below! I rely on the following: high protein Greek yogurt (I love the Two Good brand because it isn’t overly sweet), G2G protein bars (the only protein bars I eat and like – Costco has started carrying them and I love the coconut peanut butter chocolate one), salmon (I eat this a lot for lunch), tuna (I just get the packets that are flavored with lemon pepper), hard-boiled eggs, cheese crisps from Costco. Those are the things that come to mind!
Thank you for sharing the ProteinPal. I have been looking for a way to track my protein. I love reading your little life updates. They bring a smile to my face. I also love joggers. Your kitchen turned out beautiful.Ā
Thank you, Amy!
Lots of fun stuff for your family! I can’t wait for my cookbook to come! My sweet mother in law ordered it for me for my birthday. How exciting for your son’s mission call! My oldest son also starts his mission in July. He is going to Tokyo, Japan and he could not be more excited! I may have to try the protein app. We share a similar view – I am not willing to count the macros (felt way too obsessive), but I am trying to get more protein in and get stronger. I’ve been using the Sadie Active app for about 16 months now and I absolutely love it (thanks for the recommendation). I love your Friday Thoughts posts!
Congrats to your son, Madison! (And good luck to you, momma – it’s such a bittersweet time of life.) I’m so happy you love the Sadie Active app. I can’t imagine life without it. I’ve been doing it for about 18 months and just really love it.
I went to the Philippines when I was 16 to pick my brother up from his mission in Manila (25 years ago). It is a beautiful place with really sweet people. I am sure a lot has changed since then but I can tell you what I remember. It is a very poor country. Lots of poverty and sad living conditions but the people we met with in their homes and at church were so lovely and kind. We ate fish with the head still connected (so teach your son to put on his game face) and it was some of the most delicious fish I can remember eating. The pineapple was also the best in the world. There was a daily siesta where everything would close down and a popular tv show was on. Apparently I looked a lot like the main actress and people would line up outside of the bank to see me and call out to the people we were visiting to see if I was her. There were some HUGE spiders (as big as your hand) and little kids got a kick out of showing them to us. Pregnant women liked to touch my face so their babies would get my features, they will probably do the same to your son. It was hot and humid and my brother had to get pants specially tailored while he was there because he is 6’3″. Roads and driving are crazy, fast and crowded. I have a feeling he is going to love it!
Loved reading that, Malinda! Thank you for sharing! It will definitely be an adjustment (oh my gosh, THE SPIDERS – YIKES!). The good news is that my son is an incredible eater – nothing scares him, and he is very adventurous. So he has that going for him. I hope he loves it, too, but I know there are lots of ups and downs!
Love the weather blanket – I’ve kept a journal in past years charting our temps using colored pencils. Your blanket is much more fun and beautiful! I love the color palette. Also, induction stoves forever! We made the switch a year and a half ago, and I’ve never looked back. Happy Spring!
I love the idea of your journal charting for the temps, Loni!
What?! I canāt believe Iām going to put snail trails on my face! But Iām giving it a go
Hahaha. I thought the same thing BUT IT IS AMAZING.
Love your weather afghan.Ā
I do not understand why they insist on sending young people who are not mature enough to handle the stress of the outside world to places like that. They should have more local/USA based missions first until they are at least 21 and their maturity level increases.Ā
I understand where you are coming from! And don’t totally disagree. It’s an interesting experience for these kids. My oldest son went to Brazil and came home after just a few months. It can be a tough transition for sure.
I donāt like protein, Iād much rather have a one skillet pasta dish, casserole, or soup.Ā
I need more protein in my meals for a couple of family members who have diabetes and other health issues.
What are you loving as far as protein goes? Please help!! What are your tips and tricks for getting more in?
I hear you, Andrea! I’m built to crave the same (pasta and soup!). I rely on the following: high protein Greek yogurt (I love the Two Good brand because it isn’t overly sweet), G2G protein bars (the only protein bars I eat and like – Costco has started carrying them and I love the coconut peanut butter chocolate one), salmon (I eat this a lot for lunch), tuna (I just get the packets that are flavored with lemon pepper), hard-boiled eggs, cheese crisps from Costco. Those are the things that come to mind!
Smoothies after school….how do you keep portions under control? I have kids who think the correct portions are 3x the recommended amounts (Yay teenage boys!!!) Do you pre-portion out ingredients?
My Sister in Law met her husband while on a mission in the Philippines…we always enjoyed his amazing cooking! We had the opportunity to visit parts of the country about 11 years ago and the people are amazing. We drove about 6 hrs from the mountains to the beach and each town we entered, the LDS chapel was the nicest building in town and I’ve never seen so many missionaries out and about before. My husband & I went to Peru a few years ago and didn’t see any missionaries, but for some reason, we saw a set in every town in the Philippines! Congratulations. Our youngest son begins his mission in June. He’s coming to Idaho š
Thank you for sharing that, Alisha! And Idaho! If it’s the Boise side of Idaho, I hope I meet him (I’ll feed him!!)
Hey Christi – they usually aren’t making them after school – but they do make them a lot after sports practices (which is usually in the evening…and they eat dinner first!). As for the size of the smoothies, I don’t really have a system, other than they know they can’t waste it, so they’ve figured out how to make smaller portions. The nutri bullet blender has been great for that because it’s a much smaller blender bottle
Woohoo so excited for my cookbook to arrive and to hear about the Philippines! My husband and I both went there. He was in Manila and I was in San Pablo. We were also Tagalog teachers for many years at the MTC. Our favorite food to make is Sinigang.Ā
That’s amazing, Britney! Thank you for sharing that. And I will definitely try that recipe (or even better, if you have time and want to send me the recipe you use, I’d be forever grateful!)
I think youāll find this website usefulĀ
https://www.lovefilipinofood.com/pork-sinigang/
Tips and experiences we have had:
1. Filipino cuisine is made up of the rice and the Ulam (what you eat with the rice/on the rice) although sinigang is referred to as a soup you spoon it over rice and eat it that way
2. Often hands are used to eat but this dish is watery and so the spoon in the right hand fork in the left hand (used to scoop food into spoon) is the best methodĀ
3. Pork is the most traditional meat but shrimp could be used and we often make it vegetarianĀ
4. An Asian market might be the best bet for some of the vegetablesĀ
We usually useĀ
White radishĀ
Cut green beans can replace the sitaw (long beans) if you canāt find thatĀ
We always use okra, frozen works greatĀ
Donāt skip the onion cut into strips and tomatoesĀ
We usually use bok choy could add spinachĀ
If you canāt find gabi (taro) weāve used turnips but the taro root really makes itĀ
Look through different lists of vegetables and pick your favorites
The recipe above gives totally homemade versions but every Filipino we ever came across used the MSG filled packets and thatās how we do it tooĀ
Hereās a common phrase for youĀ
āKain Tayo!ā Which means āLetās EatāĀ
Kain- eat
Tayo – weĀ
If you come across a Filipino eating theyāll usually say this phrase and always invite you to join in their meal.Ā
My son is in the Philippines and itās been such a roller coaster as a mom hearing about all the things that are a part of his every day life. Worms, lice, giant spiders, bugs, but he loves it! Ā
Thereās a Facebook group called Philippines missionary packages where Julie gets things to the missionaries all over the Philippines. Sheās awesome and super easy to work with.Ā
I feel like I didnāt send my kid with the right stuff at the beginning so Iāve had to mail shoes and other stuff. Iām happy to lend the advice I have. Heās going to love it! And youāre going to cringe when he sends you pics of the food markets.
Thank you, Sue! I may reach out with more questions! Thanks for letting me know about the FB group!
I love how your kitchen turned out. We have done two full house remodels and I am done. I told my husband that our next house is going to be “good enough!” I’m so excited to receive your cookbook even though I just received a diagnosis that requires me to not eat gluten or dairy…I’m hoping I can get creative and figure out substitutions. Thank you for all you do!
Oh, gosh, Jill. Two full house remodels?? You are my hero. Good luck with your newfound eating changes. You’ve got this!
Love these updates, and also the Italian cheesy bread is !
How’s Cam’s weather scarf coming along? I have too many blankets, but a weather scarf is a brilliant variation. I would love to hear if it’s working out for her.
My husband went to the Manilla, Philippines mission. Over 20 years ago so I’m sure lots has changed. If you or your son wants to chat with him or email questions, I’m sure he would be happy to talk. Also, please perfect some meals from the Philippines for me! Every recipe I’ve tried hasn’t worked out well. I know if you post a recipe it will be delicious!
Thank you, Keri! I will talk to my son and let you know! I’m trying a few more Filipino recipes tomorrow. We’ve definitely had some hits and misses so far!
Hey Jina! Cam and I were actually laughing just tonight about her scarf. It has…um….about 7 rows on it. Haha. She didn’t make it too far.
I also always love hearing your updates. Ā My own life has completely fallen apart. Ā Our youngest son (19 years old) lost his battle with leukemia in February so my heart is broken and I am having a terrible time coping. Ā He and I did a lot of cooking together and your website was always our go to. Ā I miss him so much and cooking has not been the same since heās been gone. Ā Maybe someday I will treat myself to your new cookbook if I ever get to the point where I can derive any joy out of cooking again. Ā Hug your kids close. Ā I would give anything to hug mine again.
I am so sorry to read this, and just want to say that although I donāt know you I wish you peace and healing over time. Ā Thank you for your comment and the reminder to love on our families and dear ones while we are able. Ā My heart hurts for yours. Ā
Kim – thank you for your comment and for the reminder to hug our kids! I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s hard to imagine that level of pain. I pray you will find peace and feel your son close.
My heart goes out to you, Kim, and I send love. Hope you find moments of comfort and support any way you can- from your kids, from your love for and memories of your son, from the quiet that comes after a bout of crying. Please know that by sharing this you’ve helped me and others too
I am so sorry for your loss
Oh, Kim. My heart is breaking reading your comment. Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing. I am so incredibly sorry for the loss of your son. The reminder to hug my kids and value every minute is a tender, important message. I think there are a lot of us now praying for you.
Dearest Kim, thank you for being so real. My heart hurts for you. I know we donāt know each other, but I wish I could give you a big hug and hear more about your son. I always loved cooking with my mom growing up and am trying to recreate that same sweet bond with my own children (ages five and 21-months). Your honest comment reminds me to keep trying even when powder sugar is flying through the kitchen or egg shells are making their way into baked goods. I think I am learning more about myself in the process than they are learning about cooking/baking, but I will keep trying. Sending you love and prayers! Thank you again for your wise words. Ā
Dumb question about the cookbook — does the book stay open on its own? I am debating buying it but I don’t care for cookbooks that will shut if I leave them open on the counter while trying to cook. That’s probably silly to admit, as I even have a holder that supposedly solves this issue, but it’s true. Thank you!
Not a dumb question! For a book this size (it’s substantial!) I have been VERY pleased with how well it stays open. Having said that, it’s traditionally bound, so it doesn’t stay perfectly flat and will likely want to close especially if it is open to a page at the very beginning or very end of the book. Hope that helps!
Thank you for taking the time to reply!
I Ā love your life updates and the things you share. Ā Thank you! Ā
Our daughter left for Argentina on her mission last month. Ā Lots of good shoe options out there-she did some research and bought a couple different brands. Ā
Our youngest has discovered the game Outfoxed (you mentioned it in one of your game guides) and loves it so that has been a favorite game here lately.Ā
So excited for your cookbook!!Ā
Would love to know some tricks to getting more protein in. Ā That one is hard for me. Ā Anything in particular work for you? Ā
Thanks, Lachelle! Getting enough protein in is hard for me, too. I rely on the following: high protein Greek yogurt (I love the Two Good brand because it isn’t overly sweet), G2G protein bars (the only protein bars I eat and like – Costco has started carrying them and I love the coconut peanut butter chocolate one), salmon (I eat this a lot for lunch), tuna (I just get the packets that are flavored with lemon pepper), hard-boiled eggs, cheese crisps from Costco. Those are the things that come to mind!
Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Ā
I always love reading your updates, Mel. You are truly a ray of sunshine in this often upside down world.
Congratulations on the cookbook! I’m so looking forward to it.
One of my sons played tennis from middle school through high school. I have lots of good memories from those years of sitting in the bleachers cheering for the boys / the team. I hope your boys & your family enjoy it, too.
Now I want to dig out my knitting needles and have a go at a temperature blanket. It looks like a very cool project!!
Wishing you a happy spring and summer.
Thank you, Katie!