Cook In/Out

Well, it is raining pretty hard, so our Goldstream campfire dinner is postponed (there will be a campfire ban next week, so VERY postponed).

"Camping" dinners are usually not very healthy, and this was no exception. I mostly ate chips.  I also had 1/2 a hot dog (I'm sure all the judgey and first time preggos and momma just gasped in horror). I also had a diet pop (judge away).

My mom made a curried potato salad, macaroni salad (Charlie's fav), and a veggie salad.

No one eats as unhealthy as my brother though. Granted, he's a teenage boy. He ate hotdogs with just ketchup.

The best part, however, was that my parents have this strange old chimney thing in the yard so we could still roast marshmallows and make s'mores. Charlie was very well behaved. He sat on this little chair and poked the fire, but he didn't wave his stick around and his butt stayed planted.

Chili Dogs and Jello

Cost: $10

Prep: 20 minutes

The only reason the prep for this meal was so long was because it included making chili.

Matt gave me some time to get things started in the morning, so I had the chili slow-cooking by 8AM. We called my grandparents and invited them over, as we have been so busy lately we haven't seen much of them.

I have only ate a chili dog one time. It was when I was pregnant with Charlie, and at Maude Hunter's. I don't think it is on their new menu. It wasn't too awesome, and everyone laughed at me when I ordered it with salad.

But, I say, screw you all, because here I am 2 years later eating a chili dog with salad again!

Anyway, I didn't add meat to the chili; just kidney beans, chick peas, black beans, tomatoes, and mushrooms with seasoning. No spice; grandparents can't handle it.

We barbequed the hot dogs (all beef) and served with marble cheddar. It was a hit all around.

I also made dessert. My friend Amanda was over, and I was saying I should make a dessert. She joked I should make Jello with fruit because that's what old people like.

And you know what?

That is what I made because we had the ingredients. Mixed fruit sugar free Jello with a can of fruit cocktail in it. Classy.

Goldstream Cookout

I don't have much of a post about dinner last night. Our nutritional intake (all-day) was not very good.

My family goes to Goldstream Park often to partake in cookouts. We met up with my parents and brother, as well as a bunch of friends, last night for a nature walk, fire, and weenie roast.

Charlie began the evening by burning calories. I did not, since I end up walking very slow as we look at every rock, stick, plant, puddle, and leaf that we attempt to pass. Charlie was fascinated by this big fallen tree. Because he has no fear, he ventured inside despite me telling him there are monsters in there (just kidding).

We then returned back to the fire site. Charlie began with a few cheezies and water. I had a few chips, which were luckily a variety I didn't like, and some camp-fire tea.

For the main course, Charlie ate some more cheezies and a few pieces of a turkey hot-dog. I ate a turkey wiener sans bun. I also had Caesar salad, which Charlie helped himself to a bit of bacon and the croutons from. Charlie and I shared two very small backed potatoes with sour cream (full fat). He did great with that.

For the finally, Charlie ate a few bites of two different Digestive cookies, although both times it fell in the dirt before he could fish.

I had a s'more made with a SUPER jumbo marshmellow the size of my fist, and then one more small marshmellow. Just one, but only because it was then time to go.

Special Hotdogs

"What is this?"

Cost: $8

Prep time: 20 minutes

In our house, special hotdogs are a comfort food. I associate really warm childhood memories with special hotdogs.

The first and only time I had these as a child was at my friend Chelsea Clark's house. Her family always seemed so perfect to me: a married mom and dad, two little girls, mom always home, little dog, living near the school, etc, etc. They just seemed like such a picture perfect family in my inexperienced childhood mind.

I remember being there for dinner one night. I must have been between 6-8 years old. Chelsea's mom made special hotdogs for dinner. I'm sure she made things to go with it, but the yummy wrapped hotdogs really stood out, as did the name "special hotdog".

Matt and I have been eating special hotdogs for years. We have tried many variations to try to make these healthier. Tofu dogs was a failure; a quarter hotdog is not quite enough. For a while we could buy low-fat hotdogs that were only 70 calories each, but those seem to be out of production.

What we have settled on is using 1/2 a wiener of the lowest fat or best quality wieners we can get. Tonight, it was Natural Selections variety. I know I know I know that everyone says this "no preservatives" stuff is just as bad for you, but I can't help but keep hoping they are wrong. Plus, the taste is really top notch.

We have also been using the lowest fat cheese we can find. It actually cooks better this way, as when it melts out, it does not get things all greasy but rather stays in a solid piece that can just be wrapped around  the outside.

I paired it with a simple salad tonight. Matt was out past the time when Charlie and I finished eating, so it was easier to just make things that were quick, easy, and didn't involve a lot of time, energy, or components (although I did put tomato, pepper, and cucumber on the salad).

I have a problem with salad. I tried a spinach salad at lunch, an then this one with a mixed greens base at dinner, and I just can't handle it. I hate the texture of raw spinach and lettuces. It is so hard for me to choke down. I ate all the other veggies, and the majority of the lettuce, but I couldn't do it all. Awful. Maybe next time I will switch up my dressing. Charlie and I both had a balsamic vinaigrette tonight, but I have had that on every salad not from a bag for months, so I should really mix it up.

Anyway, Charlie really enjoyed his dinner. I want to create positive memories around meal times with his family, and not just tied to what I serve. He is such a sweet boy, and we love him so much, I want to give him every possible thing and advantage in life.