Fruitful Fridays - Grilled Turkey & Basil Patties

Okay ladies, I don't know about you, but once the nice weather hits my grill becomes my BFF. Seriously. I can't even imagine not having a grill in the summertime. There is just something about the sunshine and warm air that makes me actually 'desire' eating lean, healthy meals. And my grill helps me make that happen.

A week or so ago there was a great sale at Safeway on ground turkey breast was so my husband bought several packages to put in the freezer. I wasn't sure what exactly I was going to do with them, but it didn't take me long to figure something out. A few days ago I threw together some ground turkey patties that were so easy and yummy I just had to share the recipe with you all. The only thing is, I didn't measure anything, so I use the term 'recipe' loosely. I apologize ahead of time to those of you who like an exact measurement.

Grilled Turkey & Basil Patties

1.25 lb. pkg ground turkey breast
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
fresh basil leaves, cut in small pieces (I picked about 3 stems out of my herb garden)
2 - 3 Tbsp. olive oil (helps hold mixture together)
fresh ground pepper
fresh ground sea salt

Mix together all ingredients in bowl. Form into 4 equal sized patties. Grill for approximately 10 minutes on each side. Meat will be white the whole way through when done.

I served these with a green salad and a slice of watermelon, but I'm thinking they would also be great on a whole wheat bun with lettuce and tomato.

Okay, now that I have made my mouth water just thinking about the yumminess, I guess I had better start thinking about tonight's dinner since it's now 4:30 pm and I have no idea what I'll be making. :)

Have a great weekend!!

Mad Deal Monday - Flip Flops Anyone!?!?

Saturday, May 23rd

Old Navy will have their famous

flip flops on sale for $1

in their stores ... Don't miss out!

Fruitful Fridays - Mother's Bistro

So, I would like to wish a "belated" mother's day to all of you wonderful moms out there. And in honor of you, I want to share my favorite Mom Restaurant...Can you guess the name?

Mother's Bistro

Catchy, huh? Actually this place is TOPS! I could go on and on about the decor and the great wait staff, etc., but it's the food that is what makes this place one of my favs! Located Downtown right off the Morrison Bridge on the corner of 2nd and Stark, you will not be disappointed.

First of all, you'll start with STUMPTOWN COFFEE. (for you coffee geeks out there, I don't need to go any further do I?) But wait, there's more...

They have a diverse menu, serving old classics with a refined style. The best part of the menu actually changes from month to month. They have what is called a "M.O.M. - Mother Of the Month". Patrons can write in to the Head Chef Lisa Schroeder and nominate their mom's recipes to be featured at the restaurant that month. I love reading the bios in the menu, as well as, seeing the different dishes they selected.

For a "nice" restaurant, they are kid friendly. My 6 year old specifically requests to go there for  breakfast. They serve a huge pancake and use bananas and chocolate chips to make a smiley face. They also have a small, discrete busy station with some books and toys.

I will say, I choose to go on weekends for breakfast. Only on Saturday and Sunday, they serve Eggs Benedict. Truthfully, this meal served with Crab is at THE top of my all time favorite restaurant dishes. Go early and be prepared to wait. The line to get in at 9:00, tends to start at 8:30 on weekends. If you are going with a large party, you better call ahead to make reservations. Prices are on the higher than Denny's, but is not a "through the roof" place, and the quality of food makes it worth it in my book.

There you go...my unsolicited restaurant review. Do you have any other great "Mom" restaurants you would like to share?

Happy Mother's Day

All of us at Mom2Mom want to wish all of you moms a wonderful Mother's Day. Our prayer for you is that your day is blessed and full of joy. We all know that there is no harder job on earth than that of being a mother. We also know that there is no job that brings greater joy, satisfaction, fulfillment and sometimes heartache. God created moms with a special ability to love our children in a way that no one else is even capable of. In turn, we have a special place in our children's hearts that no one else can fill. Happy Mother's Day to each one of you!!!

I'll leave you with this poem that was emailed to me this week....

Somebody

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby...that somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, 'normal' is history.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first...that somebody doesn't have two or more children.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery....that somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten....or on a plane headed for Iraq or Afghanistan to fight for their Country.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married...that somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home...that somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her...that somebody isn't a mother.

Fruitful Friday - Leftover Bananas

One of our moms, Rachel T. put this great comment on one of the Fruitful Friday posts. It was so great I wanted to share it with you:

I love allrecipes.com, too. 

My latest favorite from their site is frosted banana bars with cream cheese frosting. Being a mom of a toddler I always have banana's on hand and usually don't eat them fast enough so I'm always looking for ways to use them up. Smoothies and muffins were getting old, so I found this - and it is yummy!

Frosted Banana Bars
Cream Cheese Frosting

Thanks Rachel!

If you have any recipes you would like to share...please send me an email, and I'll post it!

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful to be part of such an amazing church.

A church that is constantly looking for ways to reach out and share the love of Jesus and meet the spiritual and physical needs of our community.

A church that provides a safe environment for us to raise our children in the ways of the Lord; complete with a dynamic children's ministry that is staffed with great leaders who truly care about the children and families they serve.

A church that has dynamic worship and bible-based preaching.

A church that encourages each one of us to take personal responsibility for spiritual growth in our lives and not just rely on a Sunday sermon to make it happen.

A church that encourages community within the body of Christ by providing hundreds of small groups so that no one should ever feel they are going through life alone.

A church that hosts world-class conferences like the one being held this week. If you have never attended a CBC Conference I would encourage you to come out this week. The conferences really are life-changing events.

These are just a few of the reasons I am thankful for my church. What about you?
http://www.citybiblechurch.org/cbc-conference2

Mad Deal Monday - OMSI and Children's Museum

Just wanted you to know that the First Sunday of the month at OMSI is $2.

AND on Mother's Day the Children's Museum is FREE for mom's with their kid.

Prepare for a bit of a crowd, but these are great locations to enjoy with your children.

Thanks Joy!

Fruitful Friday - Root Beer Cookies

During Grandma's visit last month, she made these cookies with the kids...and it was a HIT! So much so, the kids shared them with their friends and now the mommies have been asking for the recipe. Here you go, enjoy!!

Root Beer Cookies

• 1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
  
• 1/2 Cup Margarine
  
• 1/4 Cup Butter
  
• 2 tsp. Root Beer Extract (McCormick's has a concentrated version)
  
• 1 Egg
  
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
  
• 1 3/4 Cup Flour
  
• 1/2 tsp. Soda
  
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
  

Cream Butter and Margarine, Sugar. Mix in Egg and Extract. Add dry ingredients. Mix well. Place dough in refrigerator and chill.

Frosting

• 4 oz. Cream Cheese (softened)
  
• 4 TBSP. Butter
  
• 1 tsp. Watkins Root Beer Flavoring (this brand is clear in color, allowing the frosting to remain light in color)
  
• 1 lb. Powdered Sugar
  

Cream Butter and Cream Cheese together and add flavoring. Begin folding in Powdered Sugar. Continue to add until a nice soft spread. Store in an air-tight container.

Drop Cookie Dough in teaspoon-size balls onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake at 375* for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool and frost.

These cookies are amazing with a cup of coffee and taste best when fresh cooked. Store in an air-tight container to retain moisture.