Archive | Inspiration | The Family O

Feeding Little Ones Healthy Meals with Rice

Filed under Blogging, Inspiration, Recipes by Mrs. O on January 30, 2012 at 4:11 pm {no comments}

It’s the age old battle. Kids vs. Parents. Junk vs. Real Food. Food vs. Healthy Food.

Growing up, my Mom always made sure we had a complete and healthy meal every single evening. She worked full time and so I imagine this was a challenge for her but she always came through. Now that I am a stay at home Mom I strive to have a healthy meal on the table every night. That is not always the case though. I started working evenings and this has proved to be a big challenge when it comes to feeding my family.

For our family, it is quality over quantity. We try not to buy a lot of junk food even though it is usually always cheaper than whole, fresh food. I try not to use items that have additives and preservatives too. Who needs the extra garbage in our bodies?

Luckily my children LOVE fruit, love it. We can’t keep it around long enough though because they gobble it up. As far as veggies go, that’s a different story. My kids don’t really love raw veggies, even though I would always try to force them to eat them, they refused. I had to get creative.

BINGO – my husbands all time favorite staple is rice, and I agree, it is so versatile, yummy and healthy! I decided to try stir fry veggies with veggie seasoning and serve them over rice, my kids cannot resist. Looks yummy and TASTES delicious!

We went the vegetarian route for a couple of years, which was great! Did you know rice and beans together make a complete protein? A very healthy meal and good for you too. There are so many veggies that go great with rice!

Another way I have incorporated rice into their diet is by using rice/sushi molds. They are so cute and come in a TON of different shapes. My kids love them and they like dipping their Rice shaped bite into Soy Sauce. My husband and I love them with Sriracha.

I must say that our family’s absolute favorite rice dish of all time? It is a tradition passed down through both sides of our families and it is = Rice Pudding! Love it! You prepare it as a dessert and it is heavenly. Creamy, sweet, mellow, smooth, delicious!

Speaking of rice, did you know that Uncle Ben’s is giving away $20,000? You and your children can create a video demonstrating your favorite healthy rice recipe and you will have a chance to win $20,000!! It is called Ben’s Beginners Cooking Contest and it open to submissions until Feb. 26th. Start coming up with ideas now! Did I mention the winner will get to be ON the Rachel Ray Show!?!?!

Think of all the fun you will have with your kids creating a recipe, testing it, making a video and submitting it! Talk about quality time!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Uncle Ben’s blogging program, for 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” (make sure you link to http://BensBeginners.socialmoms.com/about)

A True Inspiration, a Man After God’s Heart

Filed under Inspiration by Mrs. O on January 15, 2012 at 5:33 pm {no comments}

Video – Bailey Knaub inspires Tim Tebow. This aired right before the start of the Denver/New England playoff game Jan 14, 2012. Showcasing Tim Tebow meeting with ill kids and adults before and after games. Bailey Knaub from Loveland Colorado has had 73 surgeries and is the focus of this report. Bailey is a lovely young woman, I’m so glad she had the chance to get to know Tim. Bailey…wishing you the best!

Merry Christmas

Filed under Blogging, Inspiration, Thankful For by Mrs. O on December 25, 2011 at 6:37 am {no comments}

Here we are once again! Waking up today to a white Christmas, all the kids are still cozy in bed and I am getting ready for a wonderfully joyous day. After the boys open presents and see what is in their stockings we will have breakfast at my Mom’s. A family tradition, where we will have cream of wheat, toast and bacon. This has been my Christmas breakfast as long as I can remember, I love this warm breakfast. It is nostalgic for me.

After that we will head to my Sister in Laws house to share present and enjoy delicious food prepared by her Swedish Chef husband. The boys get to run around and have fun with their cousins, while we can all hang out and visit.

I love this time of year. What do I love especially most? It is when we celebrate God coming to earth to dwell among us, Emmanuel. I love that Jesus came to earth in the most humble circumstances, the King of Kings, so that we may have a relationship with God and become children of God. We celebrate the birth of our Savior.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”^[c]

¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the babylying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.