Good morning. I’m here nice and early! And happy weekend. Happy long weekend / spring break for lots of you!! We are pumped because we are hosting Easter this year and have a full house all en route!
Yesterday’s lunch – leftover rice salad (still loving it!) topped with avocado and smoked salmon. This was pretty much a perfect lunch if you ask me!
M and I played out with our neighbors in the lovely weather until Matt got home when I took off for a game of pick-up soccer! My leagues only play on Sundays in the spring and fall, so it’s great to be able to squeeze in a little weeknight dribbling. We have a game tomorrow, so I’m pumped for that!
Back home Matt and I put Mazen to be by 8pm. Skipping naps has been going so well. He loves his quiet time (well, maybe not loves, but he hasn’t been putting up much fight lately) and the past few nights he’s been asleep at 7:30!!! Matt and I can’t remember the last time we were home alone at 7:30. M has been sleeping until about 7 or 7:30, so that’s been awesome as well. Hopefully this schedule will stick around for a while.
Dinner was pan-fried local trout with a loose version of Cook Smart’s red pepper salsa. Plus lots of roasted broccoli with Parmesan and a few swigs of Matt’s latest beer!
For dessert I had one of the peanut butter chocolate balls that you’ll see later this afternoon!
Breakfast today was a fried egg PB&J on a honey whole wheat roll plus strawberries and grapes.
Later chickadees! 
Tina says
I totally love easter – specially with two public holidays in Germany and finally some spring weather.
Is the recipe for the penaut butter balls anywhere to find?
KathEats says
Coming this afternoon!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
Have a great time hosting Easter!!
Linda @ The Fitty says
Your first meal is not unlike a sushi salad!
Amanda @ Slimplify Life says
So excited for this recipe, those look delish!
kim says
Hi Kath- I am sure that you probably have told us before, but, I thought I would ask again…Can you tell me how you make your roasted broccoli? Is it just toss it in some evoo and bake it? it always looks so good!!
And thanks for the great blog- I love it!!
KathEats says
Yup! Matt actually broiled it this time for about 10 minutes. Tossed in evoo and salt first
Jenny says
We have a 3rd grader and a first grader–and have JUST extended the 7:30 bedtime to 8. They need their sleep so much and even though people thought we were crazy putting the kids to bed so early, I swear it made them such happy campers. Enjoy!!!
Melissa says
Wait. You put PB&J on an egg sandiwch?
That’s…uniquie 🙂 LOL. No meaness intended – everyone thinks I’m odd for putting jelly in my grits 🙂
KathEats says
It’s delish!
Ella says
Hey Kath, how do you enforce quiet time with Mazen? My son (3 yrs 2 months) still naps sometimes but usually has trouble going to bed when he does, so I’ve tried to do quiet times but it’s a real challenge. He calls for me to come in and can’t seem to entertain himself for long. He is still in a crib (with toys and books) so I don’t know if that has something to do with it. I’m afraid if I let him out to play in his room he would just keep coming out to see me. Any tips?
KathEats says
A child proof door knob is essential! I have bought more new toys than I’d care to admit to get him playing. most of his toys are in his room so he looks forward to being with them. He will bring his favorites out to the licing room but QT is all about the toys. I think time and routine is key too. I’d let yours out of the crib and see what surprises you can get him excited about.
jen says
Just chiming in that my almost 4 year old has just dropped nap, and yes bedtime is great now but she is also really struggling with entertaining herself in qt. We’re trying for 45 minutes, but the jury’s still out whether I’ll be able to make it a pleasant habit. but man, i need the brief time to myself!
Sarah says
I love everything peanut butter. Those look so good! Have a great weekend!!
Flip Flops and Furs
Julia says
Hi Kath! Do you have a season of survivor that you recommend? We are watching the current season and just realized we have all the past ones on demand! Sorry if you’ve covered this.
KathEats says
Season 26 was a huge favorite (no number coincidence!) And season 20 is epic but only if you watch seasons 1 through 19 first! Haha. Season 10, Palau, is great too.
Julia says
I will check out season 10! Thank you!
Hannah @ eat, drink and save money says
My toddler isn’t napping either. It feels too early though, he is only 2. I’m sticking with quiet time in his room and he seems okay with that for an hour and a half to two hours. This is when I really miss BERF. I know it must have been too much to manage two blogs, but I loved hearing all about your experiences as a mom.
Can’t wait for the peanut butter ball recipe. Looks great!
Kim says
Kath thank you so much for bringing up naps today! I am struggling! Why are you skipping naps? How has this been working? How much quiet time do you give Mazen? My 2.5 yr old is making me nuts! Is this the typical age they ditch the nap? I’m soooo not ready!!! Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it 🙂
Kelly says
Hi Kath,
I’m looking forward to making the rice salad… Just ordered the rice from Amazon 🙂
Also, I subscribed to Cook Smarts bc it seemed like a way to may my hectic nights with three kids in sports easier… However, when I looked at the nutrition info it seemed like the sodium levels were crazy high in many of the recipes. Are you altering the recipes at all? Just curious! Thanks!
Happy Easter! ????
KathEats says
Hmmm…if you’re concerned I’d just use low sodium and cut back on the salt a bit. The meals are easily customizable
Alex @ True Femme says
Ooh I can’t wait for the recipe! I’m all over peanut butter and chocolate right now!
Lou says
My mother-in-law swears by that Forbidden Rice, but I don’t care for it, perhaps I need to try it in a cold salad!
Forgive me if you’ve already explained this, but how did you go about deciding to skip naps? My 4 year old still naps most days, but I’d love to hear your process. I know you said you give him a lot of toys, but was it very difficult to get him to stay in his room without getting upset? My son would probably freak out! I often have to sit with him until he falls asleep.
KathEats says
We decided when he wasn’t falling asleep till 10 or later at night. His friends nap from 1 to 3 but he was never tired then.
Shel@PeachyPalate says
I’ve only tried rainbow sea trout, my favourite fish, wonder does your trout taste the same? Quite meaty, but flaky at the same time, like salmon but more mellow flavour and not as oily.
Kelly says
Hi again,
My second time posting today… And this has nothing to do with your post????. Just something I have been curious about.
Your meals always look so well balanced… And yummy! Do you try and eat a certain number of calories per meal… Or do you just eat whatever you’re in the mood for? We mostly only see three meals a day, but do you snack at all? Or are your meals so satisfying that you don’t need to? By the looks of it, you don’t seem to buy into the no starchy carbs after a certain time rule…. Seems like there are so many crazy food rules out there it’s hard to know what’s true!????
Thanks in advance for any input you may have!
KathEats says
I have a pretty good idea of what healthy meals are satisfying and keep me full without counting calories. That said, sometimes I get a little heavy handed with cheese and things! I do snack, but I try to have small snacks – a few nuts, a couple bites of this or that – so I don’t spoil my appetite. I rarely snack between breakfast and lunch but often need a little something to get me to dinner. I used to have bigger snacks and later dinners, but now earlier dinners are the norm so I need less to tide me over.
Dana S says
tahini lemon juice garlic and water to thin it out