Dinner Delivery Updates

I want to start by thanking all of my clients who order from Lily's E'Claires Dinner Delivery! Starting my own business has been both nerve wracking and exciting, but most of all more successful that I could have imagined!

I have been getting a lot of questions and requests for meals lately and I thought I would answer some questions and update things a bit.

First off, pricing... I start at $20 per meal.  In certain circumstances I may charge a little more depending on the cost of ingredients.

Serving size... each meal should serve a family of four. (I have been told there are usually leftovers.) Upon special request I am willing to alter the serving size to accommodate larger or smaller families. Please contact me if you have requests regarding serving size.

Delivery... for most of my clients, picking up their meals from my home has been easiest for them. However, if that does not work for you, I am happy to deliver for a $5 fee.  I deliver on Tuesdays only, and deliveries must be made before 2pm, unless other arrangements have been made.

Again, I am so thankful for all of the support I have gotten on Lily's E'Claires, and hope to feed many more hungry families in the future.  Check out the menu for next week here! Don't hesitate to contact me at lilyseclaires@gmail,com for any additional questions!

Bon Appetit!

Busy, Busy...

Things sure have been busy for my family lately.  Lily Claire has been doing great in first grade and moved up 4 reading levels in the last month!

Ella has been growing and talking so much more!  Potty training is done and over with!  She passed a food challenge to duck eggs, so I'm actually able to bake again! And, she's finally beginning to sleep through the night...

Our kittens are getting bigger and bigger.  They are such cuddly little loves.

And we're fostering a dog for a friend who is in the process of moving.

Fall has finally arrived and has brought cooler temperatures and even a little rain!  Even better, are the colors and flowers I've been able to find.

Anyway, just a little update on what we've all been up to!  Hope you have a fantastic week!

Favorite Fall Foods

Today is the official first day of fall!  I've been reading all these pins and jokes about pumpkin lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins... You get the idea.  But, I have to confess, I am guilty of the Pumpkin Obsession!  I love fall.  From the flavors and scents of cinnamon and pumpkin to the warm orange and gold leaves, everything about fall makes me happy.

Last week I shared some of my fall decor I incorporated into my home.  Today, I thought I would share some recipes of fall foods that are my personal favorites!

First up is my Butternut Squash Macaroni & Cheese!  I made this as a Dinner Delivery Meal this week and had it for dinner last night.  Soo yummy!

Next we have Turkey Chili.  This warm hearty meal is perfect on a cool fall evening.

Mushroom Sausage Spinach Lasagna is so rich and satisfying, with a hint of nutmeg in the background.

Roasted Chicken is probably my husband's favorite meal.  In the summer, I avoid making it because I have an older home and roasting something means that my kitchen becomes a sweltering hot miserable place.  So, as soon as the temperature drops, my roasting pan comes out!

Chicken Enchilada Soup is just delish. I could eat this anytime, but something about the warm and spicy flavors, and the colors really remind me of fall.

Last but not least, Butternut Squash Soup.  This soup is super light and very satisfying.  Pair it with a grilled cheese sandwich and you've got a fast and easy fall meal.

I hope you enjoyed my suggestions for fall meals!  I'll have many more recipes coming your way soon!

Fall Decor

Fall is my favorite season.  The warm colors and spicy scents just make me happy!  For the past few days I've been shopping, digging out my fall bin and decorating my house.  It's finally looking good enough to share a few photos!

I was lucky enough to score this basket at Goodwill for only $2.99.  I had a 20% off your entire purchase coupon at Michael's and picked up some fall pics and some moss.  Then I grabbed a few pears and some artichokes from Trader Joe's.  I filled everything in with a little greenery from the Magnolia tree in my front yard.

The chalk board and hutch got a little touch of fall too!  I used some of the stuff I had in my "fall" bin in the garage to add a little color and interest.

I did end up splurging on a few new throw pillows.  And I love them!  They really tie in with some of the existing art and the new floral arrangement in the dining room.

And of course, it wouldn't be complete without the smell of fall.  Bath and Body Works has some great fall scented soaps and candles right now and, again I had a 20% off my entire purchase coupon, so I picked up some new hand soaps for the kitchen and bathrooms and a few candles too!

So, Happy Fall Y'all!

Stay at Home Mom {What that really means!}

I used to have this idea in my head about how my life would be as a stay at home mom.  I thought I would have the laundry done, the dishes put away, floors vacuumed and mopped.  You know, the typical June Cleaver type of life.  Beautifully decorated home, well behaved children, stylish mom... Well I don't know what I was smoking, because here is the truth:

It's 9:45am.  I managed to get my six year old daughter to school on time, even though my two year old threw a fit about chips and wouldn't get in her stroller without two yogurt squeezes clutched in her hands.

Ella, my two year old, woke up with a snotty nose this morning.  She has wiped it on my shirt more times than I can count.  Today she is particularly cranky because she doesn't feel well.  She cried and begged for me to make her macaroni and cheese.  I gave in.  While it was heating up, she decided to have some cheddar bunnies.  I caught her cutting the bunnies in half with kid scissors.

My sink is full of dishes.  I just realized I forgot to drink a cup of coffee.  That's how busy I am.

I wear yoga clothes most of the time.  They hide the snot better than real clothes.  I put make up on one day last week.  I barely recognized myself.

I got out my fall decorations last week.  They look so beautiful.  I think.  I can't exactly see them right now because there are about three loads of laundry on my dining room table covering them up.

I poured myself a cup of coffee.  I still haven't drank it.  I folded the laundry.  My two year old unfolded it while I was on the phone.  I put the dishes in the dish washer away, but the ones in the sink, from last night's dinner have not been loaded into the dish washer as of yet.

I cleaned the toilet, but I didn't really have a choice after my two year old painted it with water color paint. {I thought she was washing her hands.}

Somehow it's almost time to walk over to the school and pick up Lily Claire.  My two year old just fell asleep sitting up on the couch playing on the iPad.  I now have to wake her up so we can go get sister.  She is CRANKY.

Note home from school says lice.  Check kids.  I can't stop scratching my head.

Snacks have been doled out.  Legos are now being played.  Two year old is still CRANKY!

I can't stop scratching my head.  Finally I call my friend and ask her to come over and check me for lice.  She's well aware that I have issues with germs, bugs, ect.  She shows up right away and combs through my hair.  Looks like I'm in the clear.

Friend leaves, and I treat myself for lice.  Just in case...

It's 4pm.  I manage to load the dish washer.

Kids are watching Wild Krats upstairs in my bed.

My husband comes home.  It's time to do homework with Lily Claire and cook dinner.

My husband takes the kids outside in the back yard so they'll leave me alone for a minute.  He falls asleep in the lawn chair.  I feed the kids, then wake him up.

It's time to put the girls to bed.  I step on lego parts that didn't get picked up.

I lay down next to youngest daughter to get her to fall asleep.

I fall asleep in a toddler bed.

That's the real truth about my day.  I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, but it's slightly different than what I had in mind... :)

Orecchiette with Tuna & Chickpeas

One of the things I love to do is record cooking shows and watch them later when I can zip through the commercials.  Last week I watched an episode of The Chew and saw a chef making this dish.  I didn't write down the recipe, but I thought I remembered enough to give it a shot.  It turned out great and will be going in my dinner rotation!  It's packed with protein and is super healthy!  Plus it was a snap to put together.

Ingredients:
1lb. of orecchiette
1 can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained and rinsed
2 cans of tuna packed in olive oil
1 lemon zested and juiced
2 cloves of garlic finely minced
1 cup of flat leaf parsley roughly chopped
pinch of red pepper flake
1 cup of pasta water
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Prepare pasta according to package instructions.  While it is cooking, add tuna to a non-stick skillet over medium heat.  Gently break up the tuna so it's in smaller chunks.  Add chickpeas, lemon zest, red pepper flake and garlic.  Reserve a cup of the cooking liquid from your pasta.  When the pasta is cooked to al dente, drain and add it to your skillet with the tuna.  Stir well and add lemon juice.  Add water 1/4 cup at a time until the sauce comes together and coats the pasta completely.  Remove from heat,  add salt and pepper to taste and stir in parsley.  Serve immediately.

I hope you'll give this one a try!