Do you have a crock pot? One of my faves lately is taking tons of veggies, really whatever looks good, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, onion, bell pepper, yellow squash, etc and cut them up into chunks/strips. put some chicken breast or thighs (boneless/skinless) on the bottom of the crock pot, top with the veggies, and pour over some spaghetti sauce (equiv. of 1 jar if you make your own) sometimes I add diced tomatoes in as well and stir the sauce up with the veggies. Turn on low and cook all day. You can add spinach at the end if you like but I don't really like cooked spinach, i do puree it and add it to my spaghetti sauce though. You can eat it like that or serve with some WW pasta or rice

I have a crock pot recipe for a whole chicken too that is TDF! I buy one put it in the crock pot with red potatoes and carrots then take the chicken out when its done strain the veggies out and keep the stock.

Another night that week you can make chicken noodle soup with the stock and left over chicken, chicken enchilladas (I do chicken, rice, and beans in ours) making the rice with the chicken stock :drool, chicken salad sammies (we do buffalo chicken salad)

Sticky Chicken:

In a small bowl combine:
4 tsp salt
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne red pepper
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper

Clean a large roasting chicken, pat dry. Rub the spice mixture into the chicken. Place in covered bowl overnight in the fridge.

In morning, put chicken into crockpot, throw in a cut up onion. Add 2 tsp. water. Cook on low 8-10 hours until chicken is falling off the bone.


I never add the onion to the inside like the original recipe calls for, I also double the garlic powder and leave out the white pepper/double the black pepper and half the salt

Hearty Bean and Sausage Soup/Stew
16oz mixed dry beans (I always have TONS of beans on hand and I never keep them separate anymore)
1lbs Hot Italian Sausage (any sausage or ground meat would work we like the spiciness of the hot italian tho)
2-3 carrots
2-3 stalks celery (I leave out none of us like it)
10 cups chicken or veggie stock
1 bag frozen corn.
1-2 cups cooked rice or ditalini pasta (optional- if used cook right before serving)
1 can diced tomatoes (optional)

Brown meat and put into crock pot, add all other ingredients except tomatoes and rice/pasta. Cook on low 7-8hrs or high 3-4. Add tomatoes after beans are soft, add rice or pasta if used right before serving

Thanks MeganBeth! Those recipes look awesome, I'm a huge fan of the crockpot. I'm going to give them a shot when we get back from vacation!

Not sure if baby is happy when I eat green olives or drink Iced Cafe Mocha. I drink my half decaf and half regular coffee every morning and he doesn't have any issues. I usually have a couple green olives maybe 1-2 times a day somedays I don't at all but as soon as I eat one he starts kicking. My Iced Mocha I normally get it once a week but I sip it for hours because I like savoring it. LOL this bothers dh, hahaha! Anyways baby'll be fine....barely making any big movements but as soon as I take a couple sips he's kicking.
So I worry "Should I continue eating the olives or drinking the mocha?" LOL

my sisters used to kick like mad when i used to play the piano to them..
they love the piano now...so i bet when the little one is out and about he/she will be a mocha and olive lover too..

scan today bang on with dates, 11 mm..wow!

touchmytoes~ That's awesome!

mom4life~ I don't know if the baby is happy or not, but now you know how to start them kicking if you need to do your kick counts.

Well my baby seems to be wanting to come out early again! i went to the ER at 25 weeks with contractions luckily they stopped them .. now im on bed rest meds and weekly shots... hopefully he stays in until hes mature enough!As for the cysts they saw in the US they are GONE thank god!!

you have been really busy then eh?
im also on bed rest til 12 weeks! humph!

excuse my ignorance but what do they do to stop the contractions?
how are you feeling?

Well they gave me 2 shots or terbutaline and they gave me meds to take home. With my last pregnancy the shots didnt work and they had to stop it using magnesium which makes you feel awful! and the weekly shots are progesterone

No problem! I'll try and think of some more for you, meal planning today so maybe I'll be back.

Went to my prenatal visit, baby is doing great. This time I'm measuring one week ahead, much better then the two weeks ahead I was measuring last month. My midwife gave me the glucose drink to take home for our next visit. This will be so much better then the usual glucose experiences I've had. She told me to forget any other experience I've had. She told me that on the day of my visit to have breakfast at my normal time, then 45 minutes before my appt to drink the drink. My appointment is at 11am and it takes an hour and a half to get there so I can drink it on the way. YAY!

glucose drink?what for?

When you are around 28 weeks, you will get a glucose drink (think concentrated slurpee orange pop) to test for gestational diabetes!

If you are in the US, I think you get it done if you have certain risk factors, here in Canada, it is standard for all preggos no matter risk factors.

crikey there is so much i dont know or want to know ha

In the US its pretty much also standard. I wish it was for those with risk factors because its never been an issue for me.
I'm just glad she's doing it the way she is because with one of my pregnancies they had me do the 3 hr fast for no reason. That was the worst experience I've ever had. My glucose levels have always been good.

Im having my test done april 5th im not allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight AND i think it lasts about 3 hours. ill probably need my hubby to drive me home after wards.