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21 Ways To Stuff A Spaghetti Squash

One of my favorite clean ways to eat spaghetti is using squash as the noodles. Have you ever tried it?

Did you know you can also do other things with squash…. like stuff it! I can’t wait to share these stuffed spaghetti squash recipes with you!

If you have not tried eating this particular squash in place of your favorite pasta or even a bread dish, you are missing out! The flavor is amazing and there is seriously no guilt! We love to use spaghetti squash in place of noodles and even the kids are a fan. It has a buttery texture that tastes oh so good!

So I wanted to get clever with this and figure out news ways to incorporate this new found favorite into other dishes. So let’s stuff it!!

What is Spaghetti Squash?

It is a vegetable that comes in a variety of different colors. I often see it in a shade of yellow at the grocery store, but you can also find it in ivory and orange. The orange variety is highest in carotene, which makes sense.

When cooked, this particular squash is stringy when you run a fork through it, like spaghetti.

The squash shell is very hard on the outside, so you want to use a good knife when cutting it open.

Once you open it there are seeds, kind of like a pumpkin. Scoop out seeds with a spoon just like you would a pumpkin or a cantaloupe.

I like to roast mine on a baking sheet, or cook it in the electric pressure cooker, if I am not stuffing it. If I am roasting it I cover it in olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic and cook.

They are great for stuffing too! You can stuff them with any meat, like ground beef, chicken, ground pork, etc.

Or, the spaghetti squash strands are perfect to use instead of pasta with your favorite meat sauce.

Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Recipes

1.Try out this healthy take on Stuffed Lasagna Spaghetti Squash Julie’s Eats and Treats

2. There is nothing better than cheese and this Cheesy Pesto Chicken Spaghetti Squash is amazing! Peas and Crayons

3. No guilt with this delicious recipe for Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash. Recipe Runner

4. You must make this Broccoli & Cheese Stuffed Spaghetti Squash for a great side dish! Domestic Superhero

5. Here is a hearty and healthy take on Beef Stroganoff. Yum! Cupcakes & Kale Chips

6. These Burrito Spaghetti Squash bowls are stuffed with veggies and zesty flavor. Making Thyme For Health

7. The taste and flavor of Sausage and Pepper Stuffed Spaghetti Squash seriously can’t be beat! Closet Cooking

8. Check out this Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Spaghetti Squash that is the ultimate healthy Italian dish. Tasty

9. With this Chili Stuffed Spaghetti Squash dinner will be unbelievable! Tastes Better From Scratch

10. This Skinny Shrimp Parmesan Spaghetti Squash is so irresistible you have to make it tonight! Baker By Nature

11. Try this Thai Stuffed Spaghetti Squash that has broccoli and a great kick in the sauce! Connoisseurus Veg

12. You won’t believe the cheesy goodness of this Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with half the calories. Closet Cooking

13. Nobody can pass up this Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with onions and peppers! Recipes and Ramblins

14. This Sausage & Kale Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is truly soul satisfying! Paleo Grubs

15. Need a good dip for your favorite chips? This Greek Yogurt Spinach & Artichoke Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is perfect. With Salt & Wit

16. Here is some good Pizza Stuffed Spaghetti Squash minus all the bread but oh so good! The Wholesome Dish

17. Change things up for a meatless meal any night of the week with a Southwestern Stuffed Spaghetti Squash. Taste and Tell

18. You can’t escape the goodness of this Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash. Peas and Crayons

19. If you love Greek flavor these Greek Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is delicious. Today

20. This Spinach Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is a lighten version of such a classic Italian dish. Whole & Heavenly Oven

21.With a fresh flavor infused with basil and garlic this Caprese Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is simply amazing! Cook Nourish Bliss

What do you stuff your spaghetti squash with? Share your ideas!

Spaghetti Squash Carbs

For one cup of squash it is only 7g of carbohydrates. This is one reason why it is such a great alternative to pasta!

Now that you have lots of ideas and recipes for using spaghetti squash you can see ways to use it to cut the carbs. It can also be used in casseroles.

It is Keto friendly, but you need to be aware of portion control if you’re focused on a Keto diet.

Can Spaghetti Squash Be Reheated

Yes! I refrigerate whatever is left and then reheat in the microwave.

If it is a stuffed squash, just cover it in foil and reheat later after removing the foil.

If I am just reheating the strands of squash, reheat it in 20 to 30 second increments so you don’t overheat it.

Spaghetti Squash Too Mushy

If yours turns out too mushy that means you’ve either overcooked it or your squash was bad from the start.

Before you cook the squash, the inside should be pretty firm. If it’s mushy before you cook it, it’s probably old and needs to be tossed.

Here are the ideal cook times (when you’re not stuffing them) according to cooking method.

Oven: at 350 degrees for 45-60minutes face down on a cookie sheet.
Microwave: on high for 12 minutes. Ensure you put the halves face down in a microwave safe glass dish.
Slow Cooker: on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6 hours. Just place the halves face down inside the crock insert.
Instant Pot: on high pressure for 7 minutes. Ensure you add one cup of water to the insert when you add the halved squash.

Spaghetti Squash Whole30

Since traditional spaghetti noodles are not Whole30 compliant, you might be looking for an alternative.

Look no further because spaghetti squash is your answer!

This is a great solution since it is a vegetable and Whole30 is all about the vegetables.

Spaghetti squash is gluten free.

Whole30 Instant Pot Recipes

If you are trying to eat clean and eat better, Whole30 recipes are a great place to start. Here are twenty-two Whole30 recipes that can be made int he Instant Pot.

You can download it here.

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Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez Leave a Comment

Most people do not know you can make Instant Pot desserts in your pressure cooker.

Did you know that?

We love lava cake. It is a favorite at our house. Let me show you just how easy it is to make Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake. You will love it!

This recipe tells you how to make four individual lava cakes using ramekins. This recipes tells you how to make them in your 6qt pressure cooker.

I also have an 8 qt Instant Pot. I am going to share a trick you with below for stacking more than four ramekins if you’re using an 8 qt pressure cooker.

What’s Lava Cake

Lava cake is a dessert that combines a creamy chocolate center with a flourless chocolate cake.

Many popular US restaurants offer it as a dessert but you can make it at home a variety of ways.

It is also referred to as Molten Chocolate Cake, or Chocolate Moelleux.

Lava Cake with Ice Cream

A popular way to serve chocolate lava cake is with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The hot melting cake center mixed with the cold ice cream is a delicious dessert that many people love!

Ingredients

1 tbsp white sugar
1 stick unsalted butter(cut into pieces)
4 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 tsp instant coffee
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 tbsp all purpose flour
¼ tsp salt

Gather up all of your ingredients.

Directions

First you want to grease four 6-8oz ramekins and coat with powdered sugar and set aside.

Melt the butter and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute.

Stir and repeat every 15 seconds until chocolate is melted and smooth. Don’t go too long in between checking it when heating it up or it can harden and you will have to pitch it.

Stir in powdered sugar.

Whisk in eggs and yolks, coffee, and vanilla.

If you’re not a coffee fan you can certainly omit the coffee. Totally up to you.

Stir in flour and salt.

Spoon equally into ramekins and cover with foil.

Pour 2 cups of water into Instant Pot liner and add trivet to the bottom.

Place 3 ramekins on the trivet and stack the 4th on top.

If you want to stack more than this and you’re using an 8 qt, this Instant Pot egg rack would be the perfect solution!

Lock Instant Pot lid and set vent to sealing.

Select Manual/Pressure Cook for 7-9 minutes. Yep, these sweet treat cook super fast in the electric pressure cooker.

When Instant Pot countdown finishes, release pressure completely using the quick release.

Remove ramekins carefully(they will be hot).

When you go to remove them from the ramekins you might need to gently use a knife around the edges. Or, you could use a silicone spatula.

Dust with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

They are amazing!

Can You Make Lava Cake in the Slow Cooker?

Did you know you can also make this in the slow cooker?

This is one way to make it as a whole cake and not use ramekins.

Here is my Crockpot Lava Cake recipe. So good!

This is a great way to make it ahead of time and take to a potluck!

Can Lava Cakes Be Reheated?

You can. Any cake that is not eaten after you make them, leave it in the ramekin and cover it in foil. Keep it in the fridge for five to seven days. It’s sugar… so already has lots of preservatives.

Reheat the ramekins in the microwave in 15 second increments until it is heated thoroughly.

Once heated, dust the top with powered sugar.

Instant Pot Chocolate Lava Cake

: CrystalandComp.com

: dessert

: 10 mins

: 7 mins

: 17 mins

: 4

Ingredients

1 tbsp white sugar
1 stick unsalted butter(cut into pieces)
4 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup powdered sugar
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 tsp instant coffee
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 tbsp all purpose flour
¼ tsp salt

Instructions

Grease four 6-8oz ramekins and coat with sugar and set aside.
Melt the chocolate and butter in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute.
Stire and repeat every 15 seconds until chocolate is melted and smooth.
Stir in powdered sugar.
Whisk in eggs and yolks, coffee, and vanilla.
Stir in flour and salt.
Spoon equally into ramekins and cover with foil.
Pour 2 cups of water into Instant Pot liner and add trivet to the bottom.
Place 3 ramekins on the trivet and stack the 4th on top.
Lock Instant Pot lid and set vent to sealing.
Select Manual/Pressure Cook for 7-9 minutes.
When Instant Pot countdown finishes, release pressure completely.
Remove ramekins carefully(they will be hot).
Dust with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

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Large Family Whole30 Instant Pot Meal Planning

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez Leave a Comment

Have you created your meal plan this week?

For us I like to do this over the weekend and plan for the upcoming week. I sit down, write out our meals, create shopping lists, order my groceries online and get them picked up and stocked in the fridge and/or pantry.

Large family meal planning is something that has ben instrumental in helping us stay on budget, stay out of the drive thru lines and keep real foods in our home.

I am going to show you how Whole30 Instant Pot recipes can help you create good for you recipes for the entire week that your family will love.

Plus the Instant Pot is one of my favorite kitchen appliances. if you’ve never tried pressure cooking, you should!

My husband is trying hard to shed some points. I am doing everything I can to support that.

For 14 days he is doing something called the Daniel Fast. I am working on pulling some recipe ideas together for you guys to show you more about the Daniel way of eating.

In the meantime, I cook a simple vegetable based meal for him and then create a Whole30 recipe for the kids. Sometimes I eat what my husband is eating and sometimes I eat what the kids are eating. This is only for 14 days… and we are 7 days in so halfway done.

Whole30 vs Daniel Fast

Whole30 allows you to have meat. The Daniel Fast does not.

Daniel Fast allows brown rice and pasta made from vegetables or beans.

Whole30 does not allow rice or pasta or beans.

Whole30 allows you to cook with ghee, which is clarified butter.

For Daniel Fast we are using olive oil when we cook.

When he is done with the Daniel Fast he will move over to Whole30. In one week he has lost 10 pounds. I know that is a lot and not typical. But I think it’s really doing a great cleanse on his body.

Nonetheless, Whole30 has been a great way to get the kids to eat better foods and to cut out sugar. It is healthy eating that is doable for families!

Utilizing your Instant Pot to create Whole30 meals is a great way to get dinner done fasts and all in one pot.

Large Family Whole30 Meal Plan

Whole30 Chicken Cacciatore– this is an amazing recipe. I used my 8 qt InstantPot and there was plenty of room to double the recipe if needed. If you have a six qt pressure cooker this recipe is perfect for that size as well. The chicken and sauce are packed full of flavor. I will make zucchini and sweet potato ribbons for myself and top the chicken and sauce over it. For the kids I am going to serve theirs over steamed rice. This will be made on a travel day for my husband where he will be traveling for work.

Whole30 Egg Roll in a Bowl– this is delicious! It used ground pork, (Whole30 compliant… so all natural with no sugars and junk added) and a Power Slaw I found when placing my online grocery order. The slaw has shredded brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots, Kale and more. You use your Instant Pot in the saute mode and brown your ground pork.

Whole30 Greek Chicken and Green Beans– this was made using high pressure in the Instant Pot and cooking it for 30 minutes. If you don’t have a pressure cooker you certainly could take this same recipe and cook it in the slow cooker for 4-6 hours on high.

Beef Nachos– not a Whole30 recipe, but a dinner I could get on the table fast for the kids using ground beef I batch cooked and had in the freezer. This is always a safe meal to make with my kiddos and allows them to customize the toppings according to their liking. On this night my husband and I had the quinoa black bean tacos I share below. Another alternative would be to take the ground beef and add some black beans to it and serve it over a baked sweet potato. So the kids could have nachos and you can have a potato. Easy ways to modify.

Lemon Butter Salmon– this was just baked in the oven but I also have a Whole30 Instant Pot version here.

Leftover Buffet– use ’em up! We reinvent all kids of things with leftovers. If they don’t like the leftovers they can make a sandwich.

What the Daniel Fast Looks Like

Let me show you quickly what dinners will look like for my husband this week on the Daniel Fast.

Using Vegetables to Make Noodles

Have you ever tried it? It’s delicious!

Here are some of the tools you can use to take zucchini, sweet potatoes and many other vegetables and make them into spiral noodles you can eat instead of pasta!

So, this works for Whole30 and Daniel Fast.

Daniel Fast Recipes

Homemade Marina Sauce– served over baked spaghetti squash. I LOVE eating my spaghetti like this!

Daniel Fast Tacos– using Ezekiel sprouted wraps (Daniel approved), homemade taco seasoning, black beans and veggies. Here I share a video of how I did this.

Sauted Root Veggies– served over corn quinoa pasta.

Stewed Veggies– served over chickpea penne. This is what is pictured above and it is so good!! I will say the chickpea pasta does create a thick froth over the water while cooking. Don’t be alarmed- totally normal. Remember, chickpeas are a bean so I am sure this is why

What is on your meal plan this week? I would love to know!

Delicious Whole30 Recipes in the Instant Pot

Check out our instant download with twenty two recipes that are all Whole30 and can be made in your pressure cooker!

26 Family Friendly Valentine Breakfast Ideas

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez 16 Comments

Are you whipping up something fantastic for your kiddos or family for Valentine’s Day?

You can really make it a special day by kicking it off with a special breakfast for those that you love the most. My kiddos love themed food so preparing a wonderful Valentine’s Day breakfast is a must. If you are searching for the perfect recipe to fit your morning check out these 25 lovely Valentine breakfast ideas.

26 Family Friendly Valentine Breakfast Ideas

1. Heart shaped pancakes are so easy to make and the kids love them! Crystal & Co.

2. This Berrylicious Rainbow Smoothie is a healthier kick start to your Valentine’s morning. Heather Christo

3. Make these yummy Strawberry Donuts for your favorite Valentines crowd and they are sure to be a hit! Rhodes Bread

4. Give these Heart Shaped Waffles a try that you can easily add in some toasted pecans or cinnamon swirl. Daisy At Home

5. You can never go wrong with a good Valentine Pancake Recipe that is so delicious. The Lily Pad Cottage

6. These Raspberry Cream Cheese Heart Tarts are wonderful substitute for traditional pop tarts and a great sweet! Weelicious

7. Make these Bacon Hearts for your Valentine for a protein pick me up in the morning. The Paper Mama

8. Strawberry Crunch Pie for breakfast on my! Your family will be in heaven and for this day you can make an exception! Diethood

9. My kids absolutely love this Egg In The Hole Idea and why not make it heart shaped for the day. Weelicious

10. Combine the best sweets for breakfast and whip up these Sweetheart Jelly Donuts Muffins for your family. The Kitchen Prep

11. Indulge in these delicious Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls that are packed with ooey gooey flavor. Cake & Allie

12. Kick start your day in the right way with a healthier tribute to Valentine’s Day with some simple Pink Yogurt! Weelicious

13. Make this Raspberry Vanilla Coffee Cake that is a deliciously sweet treat for breakfast with of course your favorite cup of coffee. Skinny Mom

14. Holy moly! These Smashed Raspberry Chocolate Pancakes are excitingly sweet for your Valentine. Joy The Baker

15. Who knew that you could make Heart Shaped Biscuits and of course have your favorite jam or jelly as a additive. Around My Family Table

16. Strawberries are coming back into seasons so making these Strawberry and Cream Muffins will be perfect! Squirrel Bakes

17. Check out these French Toast Sausage Rolls Ups that your family will want every day after Valentine’s Day! Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice

18. Make these Nutella Mini Pancake Kabobs for s semi sweet but healthy breakfast. Concinando con Alena

19. Put a spin on french toast with this French Toast Roll Up Recipe filled with Nutella and strawberries. Made From Pinterest

20. These adorable Roasted Heart Potatoes are a perfect addition to your breakfast fixins’. Complete Recipes

21. This French Toast With Strawberry Butter adds just enough sweet to your loved one’s breakfast. Land O Lakes

22. What better way to say I love you than Pink Hot Chocolate and the kids will love it. Simply Kierste

23. These Red Velvet Pancakes are an indulgent way to start off your Valentine’s Day morning. Cooking Classy

24. Your family will absolutely adore this Cranberry Orange French Toast Casserole that is simple delicious. Taste and Tell

25. The kiddos will love this Sausage Heart made with an all time favorite breakfast food. Fab DIY

26 If you need a quick out the door breakfast this Valentine’s Day Heart Toast Idea of perfect! One Little Project

Are you making a delicious breakfast from the heart this Valentine’s Day? Share your ideas!

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The Best Meals To Bring To New Moms

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez 9 Comments

Having a new baby in the house is such a special time. We all know the exhaustion for both parents that follows after coming home can cause a serious brain fog. The last thing a new parent wants or needs to worry about is dinner.

Do you know someone who is expecting or just had a baby? Are you stuck on just what to take to help out with dinner? Maybe you’ve signed up to bring a meal but you’re just not sure what to make.

Here are the best meals to bring to new moms that will take the headache out of dinner!

Best Meals to Bring to New Moms

1. This Broccoli Pasta Dish is seriously so easy and even better when you throw in some chicken! Such a great idea any new mom would be grateful for. Crystal & Co

2. You can never go wrong with a classic Chicken Pot Pie made from scratch. Crystal & Co

3. The flavors and combinations of this Chicken Tamale Pie are s cheesy surprise will be super satisfying for a new mom. A Pinch of Yum

4. Making Crockpot Carnitas is super simple and you can freeze the leftovers for an additional meal! The Stay At Home Chef

5. These Lasagna Rollups are a perfect take on lasagna are super tasty with added veggies! Pair this with a fruit salad for a great meal combo! Crystal & Co

6. Make pizza something special with this Pizza Breads using French bread. Pennywise Mama

7. This Chicken Spaghetti is somewhat of a Tex-Mex version but a wonderful dish for a new mom! You could even use spaghetti squash for this if you wanted. The Best Blog

8. Check out this Creamy Southwest Chicken Alfredo that is absolutely divine. Good Cook

9. Whip up this Taco Soup on your stove top and take to mom. the leftovers can be made into nachos! Crystal & Co

10. A classic Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf is wonderful and a perfect mom friendly dish. Adding a side of roasted vegetables would be delish! Savory Nothings

11. Chicken Enchiladas are a super simple and they are creamy and delicious and freezer friendly. Centsless Meals

12. Sometimes mom just wants an yummy Honey Mustard Chicken Salad and this one is fabulous! Cafe Delights

13. Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Casserole is absolutely amazing meal ideas and a mom favorite! Jo Cooks

14. Check out this easy Chili recipe that is so tasty and includes beans! Crystal & Co

15. Mississippi Roast is another crockpot meal perfect for mom and the flavor is amazing! Add your favorite veggies from the farmers market to round out this meal. The Country Cook

16. This Chicken Orzo Soup is so delicious with a creamy based broth and loaded with chicken and orzo. You could even whip up some egg salad and sandwich rolls to go perfectly with the soup. Crystal & Co

17. This Slow Cooker Pot Roast reminds me of childhood and mom will love it too! Crystal & Co

18. Chicken Noodle Soup is like comfort food for the soul and perfect for a new mom! Love Grows Wild

19. You can’t go wrong with Stuffed Shells with ricotta, spinach, and cheese. Yum! Craving Some Creativity

20. Cobb Salad is a great main dish loaded with protein and veggies! Diethood

21. This Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole is a complete make ahead dish sure to please a crowd! Chew Out Loud

22. Make these Crockpot Chicken and Noodles for a true comfort food! Crystal & Co

23. This Chicken Potato Casserole is easy and a great all in one dish! Crystal & Co

24. I absolutely love this Indiana Chowder recipe that is the perfect beef and noodle recipe. Make a loaf of banana bread for them to also snack on later. Crystal & Co

25. This Chili Mac is seriously the best ever and mom will totally love it! All She Cooks

Request to join our Get Dinner on the Table Group over on Facebook for more great recipes and kitchen resources for moms!

Have an amazing dish for a new mom? Share your best ideas!

Freezer Meal Plans

Have you ever made freezer meals for a new mom? Seriously, the best give they can ever receive. Here is our six week freezer meal plan which is full of recipes our families loves!

This includes week by week recipes with assembly instructions and shopping lists.

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How to Declutter Your Home

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez Leave a Comment

Clutter can be absolutely debilitating and something that takes over your life. I know, I’ve been there. You likely feel overwhelmed all the time.

I am going to share my best tips with you for how to declutter your home.

We are a large blended family. We currently have six kids at home, all boys. We have three grown children as well.

For over a decade we raised our large family in a home that was 1800 square feet. That is with the garage being converted to add two extra bedrooms, an extra bathroom and a decent sized laundry room. But, as you can imagine, 1800 square feet is not a lot of space for a family our size.

Clutter creeped into our lives over that decade of blending and growing our family.

This past year we moved our large family to a home that is 3800 square feet. It has been a blessing to have space for everyone and every thing. We homeschool so our kids are home all day long. It’s so overwhelming when everyone is on top of each other.

While we don’t have a space problem anymore, I worry about clutter creeping into this house. I know I have to stay on top of it.

Here are some tips on how we decluttered before we moved and ways to make changes in your life to keep clutter at bay.

Decluttering Supplies:

Hear me out. Once you get your house decluttered you will be more productive. The clutter in your home is cluttering your life and your mind. Clutter will affected you in every aspect of your life. Trust me!

Here is a list of things you want to ensure you have on hand as you begin to declutter.

Yes, you may need to buy a few things to help you clobber clutter. Consider purchasing the following items to help you prepare to de-clutter. (You may not need any of the following items. However, they could help you declutter quickly and effectively.)

Cleaning supplies (scroll down to see the cleaning supplies I use)
Cardboard boxes
Magic markers, sharpies
Adhesive backed labels, post-it notes
Moving labels
Plastic bins with lids- to put the items in as you categorize
Clear glass jars
Stepping stool, 3 step ladder
Trash bags

Decluttering Rules

Honestly, if you need help reach out to someone. My mom helped me a lot. So did one of my sister-in-laws.

Here are the “rules” I want you to keep in mind as you go along. Call them guidelines if you want so you don’t feel so constrained. Just keep them all at the front of your mind.

Declutter at least one thing per day
Try setting timer- do 15 minute increments of decluttering for example
Don’t get overwhelmed- acknowledge every little steps helps
Either trash, recycle, organize or donate items- use boxes for this
Start with the easiest items that will bring you wins
Be prepared to let go of things
Let go of the shame
From now on, one new thing in means one old thing out
Acknowledge how clutter makes you feel

What I Use to Clean My Kitchen

Here is a look at some of the specific cleaning items I use in my kitchen and other places in my house.

A Clutter Free System

Start in 10 or 20 minute chunks, tackling small areas. Don’t bounce around from one project to another. Stay on one decluttering area until it is finished, or until you have reached your time limit. If you can go longer, do so.

Begin on the room where you spend the most time or where you can get the biggest win. If the majority of your time at home is spent in the living room, decluttering this area first will provide the most benefits and the biggest win. When that room is finished, focus on the next room that will bring you the biggest win.

Always remain realistic. Let’s face it, if you have lived in a cluttered environment your whole life, you realistically will not be able to declutter over a weekend. It’s like water on a stone, you just keep going. Do the next thing. Be proud of your accomplishments. Remember that over time your daily efforts will pay off in a really big way.

Have a family member whom you do not feel judge by be an accountability partner for you that you can check in with weekly. Send them pictures of your success each week/day.

Decluttering Tips

This is hard, especially for blended families. We all want to keep everything. There are emotional attachments to all of our things. We all want a piece of control and a sense of control.

Many people struggle with what to keep, what to get rid of and what to donate. This is an area that can bring us right back to step one if we are not aware of these areas. Let’s take a look at some simple tips that will help you how to decide whether or not you should hang onto or discard something.

Is it broken? If so, is it worth fixing?
Has this item been used in the last year? If not, will it be used in the near future? Honestly if it has not been used in the last 3 months it’s worth considering that you donate it.
Would it be expensive or difficult to replace?
Am I keeping it because it would be harder to get rid of it?
Would I prefer this item, or would I rather have the space it is taking up?
If I were moving to across state (like we did) would it be something I would take with me?
Is there someone who can enjoy this item or benefit from it more than I am?
Do I have other things that serve the same purpose?
Is it even practical anymore?

How to Clean as You Declutter

The best way for me to ensure that I always have cleaning supplies on hand is to order them online and have them delivered to my front door. I have been a Grove customer for years.

My favorite things to order from them are Mrs Meyers, Method and Grove.

Here is my order for January month. I love that they pay attention to the things I order and remind me when I am about to run out so I can ensure they make it on my next order.

Grove has an amazing offer right now through the end of January. You get three free Mrs. Meyer’s products, a Grove brand caddy, a Grove brand scrubber (these things are awesome!), free shipping and a free VIP trial.

I chose the rosemary scent. I also love the basil, mum, peppermint, orange clove and peony. The last four scents are seasonal, but rosemary and basil are my trusted standbys.

The caddy is super awesome for keeping under the kitchen sink or bathroom sinks so you’re not running all over the place looking for cleaners.

I have the scrubber and it’s a great product.

As you declutter your kitchen these will come in very handy!

These Method wood cleaners are AMAZING!

The prices are cheaper on Grove than buying them at Target and the free shipping makes it a no brainer.

The spray bottle on the left is what I use to clean my farm style kitchen table. It’s like it conditions as you clean. No stripping your wood. And it has a clean almond scent to it.

I also use this spray cleaner for cleaning my kitchen cabinet doors and my coffee table top. (Ignore those Cheerios on the bench below. Grace my friends…. six kids at home.)

The squirt bottle on the right is the same scent, but it is for cleaning your wood floors. No diluting, you just squirt it on your floor and mop it up. My floors look amazing!

I go through one bottle of the table cleaner per month and I actually have a refill for the floor cleaner that I buy every other month and it refills the squirt bottle 2.5 times.

This antibacterial bathroom cleaner…. I have six boys at home. Need I say more? I hose the toilet seats down with this multiple times a week in all four of our bathrooms.

I also spray down the floor and the base of each toilet with this. LOVE it!

This month was my first time to try Hello toothpaste and mouthwash from Grove.

I have wanted to try charcoal toothpaste for a while and one of my 12 year old twins is obsessed with mouthwash and toothpaste.

I bought the spearmint mouthwash and toothpaste for him, the watermelon flavor for the 2 and 4 year old to share (no fluoride) and the charcoal for me and my husband.

This is not something that is typically on my order, but I thought I would give it a try. As much as I can streamline by purchasing online with free shipping, I am happy.

This was my freebie this month that came along with my purchase. Every clean decluttered house needs a great smelling candle.

There were other things in my order like the all natural deodorant, Grove cleaner, a scrubbing brush to use on the grout for the tile floors in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Get started with Grove here and get all the freebies!

Grove Unboxing Video

Here is my Grove unboxing from last month to give you an idea of what that looks like. I also share some of my clutter concerns, fears and story in the video.

Declutter Checklists

I created these checklists to make it easier for you as you work to declutter. These are made with blended families in mind, but they work perfect for anyone who is struggling with decluttering and getting things in order in their lives.

Click here to download these checklists and to be added to our cleaning and organizing list.

Why we have homeschooled using Sonlight for 6 years

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez Leave a Comment

Six (and a half) years ago we began our homeschool journey. I was scared. I had no idea if this was something I could do, obviously many reservations.

But my husband believed in me. And this is what he really wanted for our kids.

I had a close friend who had used Sonlight for years for her family. I knew it was literature based learning. I trusted her love for their curriculum, but I still wanted to know what my options were.

Let me share our journey to getting started with homeschooling and how Sonlight became the spotlight and it’s a decision I’ve never looked back on. You might see this as a Sonlight homeschooling curriculum review, but it is our story.

When our twins turned five (they are now 12 and a half) I was not ready to make a curriculum decision. I was still very overwhelmed about making a choice. We waited an extra year and my husband agreed schooling would start when they turned 6.

We spent time researching and reading up on everything we could find. We would ask other homeschool families what they used and loved and get as much feedback as we could. We live in Texas and the homeschool population here is pretty high. You find someone every where you turn who homeschools in this great big state. I asked lots of questions.

In the spring when our twins turned 6 it was time to really come to a decision. I just felt like I needed to touch and feel different options.

That spring there was a Homeschool Convention in North Texas and someone had mentioned it would be a great thing for me to attend. Different curriculums would be set up with their products allowing us to get a hands on feel for them.

I knew Sonlight would be at that event, but I wanted to see them last because I felt like I already knew a bit about them from my close friend who had homeschooled. While I never watched what a day in the life was like for her homeschool life from morning to evening (she lived almost an hour from me), we talked a lot about the ins and outs.

I went from booth to booth asking lots of questions. Finally, after a full day I arrived at the Sonlight booth. And do you know who was there? Luke, the creators son who grew up being homeschooled with Sonlight, and a set of homeschooling parents who had just wrapping up their first year.

Of course I took the opportunity to chat with the family. I had so many questions. I wanted to know if they went into this overwhelmed? Was it hard to keep up? How did they manage? How did they know what to do?

The mom said, “Take a look at these instructor guides. They map everything out.”. The IG is essentially 36 weeks of lesson plans all done for you. Everything is broken down by subject. This mother was so nice and answered every question I had. We were strangers, but had a common connection. We both genuinely wanted what was best for our kids.

I then spent some time chatting with Luke. Remember, he was raised on this curriculum and if you don’t know the story of how is parents created it while being missionaries overseas I encourage you to look up that story. It’s amazing.

I walked out of that booth KNOWING what I was going to do!

A deeper look at the Instructor’s Guide shows step by step what to do and even what to say on some levels if you need that.

Now, these pictures are from D+E curriculum which focuses on an American History theme, but you get the idea.

I can tell you that first year of homeschooling Kinder was one of my favorites. I felt like I learned more that Kindergarten year learning with my kids than I did when I was a little girl in school.

To give you an idea of what a school year looks like, Sonlight homeschool curriculum is a boxed set. Yes, you can buy things ala carte, but what helped me in my journey was the fact that I could buy an entire school year as a boxed set. This brought me peace.

If you want, you can buy all subjects at one time. This includes Bible, Language Arts, Spelling, History, Geography, Math and Science.

Like I said earlier their curriculum is literature based which means this is a learning style that focuses a great deal on reading. The stack of books in my first image is just some of the great books you get in one year of learning. What an amazing way to build your family library, but also these books can be read again and again for years to come. Some of these books are readers and read alouds.

There are books you will read together as a family- these are called read alouds.

There are books the kids will read independently, those are readers. Everything is outlined in an easy to understand way in your guide. The way the guide is set up, you do not have to read all of the books your kids are reading to know if they are on point. The Instructors Guide tells you what you need to know about each book. They do a great job speaking to you as the parent and also as the instructor.

In our new home we have a loft upstairs. This is where we do our homeschooling. There is a sofa and a love seat (that we bought used on Facebook) that make the perfect spots for curling up with their read aloud books. My kids love this space!

I also acknowledge that each of my children have different gifts. While Luke loves to read, his twin brother loves to tinker. Science and Math are subjects that bring him joy.

Everything I need to teach Science is all in one place. The books and the manipulatives… plus all the details of how to teach it are in the Instructors Guide.

This is so helpful especially for a mom with many kids who is pulled in many directions. I don’t have to have a teaching degree to teach my children.

Can you tell Science excites him? This is the kid who has literally taught himself stop motion, taught himself how to create a youTube gaming channel and more. Sonlight allows me to foster these gifts in my children.

What about Math?

Here is the deal- a few things that scared me when we were in the process of deciding on homeschooling were teaching them to read and teaching them things like multiplication.

Sonlight offers multiple options for teaching Math. You can see the teachers lesson book below.

It’s easy to follow along.

This year I am hack to using Horizons for all of our boys, which is what I started with our very first year.

For a few years we did use Teaching Textbooks. I personally loved using them. All of the instruction is done by a teacher via CD and then the book work is done by the student.

Our high school age son loves learning this way.

Our twins did not.

That is the beautify of using Sonlight. I can get everything delivered to me in one large kit, but it can be customized according to our needs.

And because I am a hands on learner and my kids are hands on learners, the manipulatives for Science and Math are amazing.

Remember, learning does not always happen inside of a book or on a worksheet. Using our hands is just as important, I have found.

What would I tell a mom who is scared to homeschool or has reservations?

I would tell her Sonlight is what helped me understand I could do this.

They make it manageable and took the overwhelm and pressure out of taking on being the primary educator for our children.

This is why we have stuck with it year after year. Even after adopting two boys. Moving across Texas. Being a mom who runs multiple businesses from home. Sonlight makes it something I can be successful at.

I want to leave you with this….

That alphabet written on the chalkboard was not done by me. That was done by Luke, one of my 12 year old twins, who wanted to teach our 2 year old his ABC’s. He took it upon himself to want to teach Jack. I love the love for learning that he has. This same boy has learned how to play the guitar. He has sat down and tried to teach my husband (his Daddy) how to play. To hear him teach his dad, encourage him, celebrate successes and gently critique, is one of the sweetest things I have possibly ever witnessed. I tell you this because I see that even Luke at the age of 12 knows he can teach his dad a skill that some might see complex or too hard. Luke who struggles with anxiety and overwhelm is teaching his dad at 51 a new skill.

I tell you this because I want you to remember, we are born to learn. Inside of us is the ability to teach others what we know- maybe it is guitar, maybe it is math. No matter what I want you to remember you are your child’s first teacher. And someday they just might be teaching you.

You can do it!!

Large Family Meal Planning Week 255

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez 2 Comments

If you are a big family wanting to save money, meal planning is the place to start.

Large family meal planning at my house includes slow cooker meals, stove top dinners, freezer meals and even utilizing the Instant Pot.

I prefer weekly meal planning. Doing more than one week at a time overwhelms me, so one week at at is what I have done for ten years now.

Here are the recipes we’re making this week. They are all great ideas for any size family, but especially a large family!

Large Family Meal Plan

What I have found works best for me is to make a list of the meals I am going to make for the week. Each night I decide what I want to make tomorrow for dinner- we don’t go in order. You will notice I don’t assign a day of the week to any of my meals. The night before I lay out whatever needs to be defrosted from the freezer to make tomorrow nights meal.

Chicken and Dumplins– I used shredded cooked chicken that I batch cooked last Friday and froze into 2 cup portions. This made making dinner this particular night, super easy!! The recipe I linked to for the chicken and dumplins is one I follow as a base. I add milk with my broth I don’t use boxed broth. The dumplins are spot on. Such a tasty recipe. My boys like to eat this with crackers. So good!!

Chicken Noodle Casserole– this is a freezer meal I only have to defrsost and pop in the oven. You can get the recipe in our December freezer meal pack. The recipe uses up leftover turkey that you may have from Thanksgiving or Christmas, but I just used chicken. I will serve this with our favorite Sister Schubert’s rolls. We love them!!

Beef and Macaronni Soup– this is a freezer meal from December as well. So delicious! I added 2 cans of black beans to stretch the meal out and to thicken it up at bit. Serve it with tex mex cornbread or sweet cornbread. Eat the leftovers for lunch!

Zucchini Lasagna– I saw a friend on FB post about making this the other day. It looked so good and I had been wanting to try it for a long time as my SIL has talked about making lasagna this way many times. I am going to use ground Italian sausage, but you can use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version. Serving this with salad and garlic bread.

Taco Night– because it’s easy! Especially when you have precooked beef in the freezer.

Leftover Buffet– use em up!

Other Meal Ideas

If you like some of the recipes I shared above but want other options, here are a few to consider.

If you love having a weekly taco night, but you like to switch things up a little bit, here are a few alternatives: Slow Cooker Lentil Tacos or Creamy Chicken Soft Tacos.
If you want to make lasagna but you need it to cook fast, try Lasagna Roll Ups. They are so easy to make and cook super fast!
If you love chicken noodles recipes and they feel like comfort food to you, we have a list of twenty five different ideas.

Batch Cooking Beef and Chicken

Last Friday I did a FB live showing how I batch cook 10 pounds of ground beef and how to make two large rotisserie chickens at home in the slow cooker so you can have 8-10 coups of cooked chicken in your freezer. You can watch the video here and cook along with me to fill your freezer and make weeknight dinners easier. To watch the video you will need to join our group, Get Dinner on the Table. We will approve you ASAP. In the group we share recipes, live cooking videos, helpful tips and solutions to help moms get dinner on the table. If you need accountability, encouragement, recipes ideas or tips for making dinner time easier, it really is a great group to join. I am a real mom with six kids still at home. My videos are not professionally shot with full hair and makeup done. I am real.

Grocery Budget Help

If you are on a tight budget and needing to streamline spending, your grocery budget is the very first place to look.

For me what keeps me on budget, prevents me from impulse shopping and helps me know what I am spending every time I add something to the cart without carrying a calculator around with me, is online grocery shopping.

I have been using Walmart Grocery pickup for two years now. Below is my video of my last grocery pickup so you can see what that process looks like. Again, real life. Messy car. No makeup. You get it.

InstantPot Whole 30 Recipes

Do you have an electric pressure cooker and want to utilize it to get dinner on the table fast? We love using our InstantPot. For years I’ve used the 6 quart but just recently ordered the 8qt for our large family of eight.

If you are looking for some delicious recipes to get healthy recipes on the table for your family you should try these twenty-two Whole 30 InstantPot Recipes. This instant download will help you get dinner on the table fast!

What is on your meal plan this week? I would love to know!

28 Creative Valentines Your Kiddo Can Make

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez 4 Comments

Valentine’s Day is so much fun for the kiddos!

Handing out candy and some cute messages to friends and family is always a highlight. There are tons of great ways to create your own Valentines without spending a bunch of money at the store. Plus, you can get really creative!

Handmade Valentine cards for kids completely surpass any that are ever bought at the store and with help from the kids they can give their friends and even family some true artwork!

Homemade Valentine Cards for Kids

1. These homemade valentine cards use celery and paint to make a rose. Super cute! Crystal & Co.

3. Assembling these Glow Stick Heart and Arrow Valentines is super easy and the kids can even practice their scissor skills! Mama Pappa Bubba

4. These hands on Puffy Painted Heart Pouches make some amazing Valentines for friends and family! Scrumdilly-Do

5. This Owl Love theme has several options for creating some terrific owl related messages for friends. Kids Activities Blog

6. These Handmade Love Bug Lollipop Valentines are absolutely adorable and perfect for the younger crowd! The Jenny Evolution

7. Any toddler will love this I Wheelie Love You Valentine featuring some cool wheelie marks. Toddler Approved

8. Incorporate some really creative fun for your Valentine with this You Color My Heart Idea. A Mom With A Lesson Plan

9. These Sewn Valentines require some assistance by you but the outcome is super creative and great for older kids. Housing A Forest

10. What better gift to give a special Valentine than this awesome Handmade Bookmark. The Educator’s Spin On It

11. Make these Crayon Mustache Valentines that are assembled on a stick with a cute message. Fireflies and Mudpies

12. If you want something completely geared towards boys then these Toad-ally Awesome Boy Valentines are perfect. Frugal Fun For Boys

13. Want something candy free but with some added fun? These Secret Message Valentines are so cool! Teach Mama

14. You can really encourage some fine motor skills with these String Art Yarn Cards that turn out in really fun heart designs. Hello, Wonderful

15. These sweet little Hershey Kiss Mice are a great and super cute Valentine to give out. Practically Functional

16. Share some bubbles with friends with this Bubble Valentine Idea that includes a handy printable to attach. The Nerd’s Wife

17. With a tiny bit of recycling these Handmade Valentine Pails will be a cinch to hand out to friends. Just fill with candy! Saving The Family Money

18. These Kool-Aid Valentines are super awesome and this one comes with a printable too! Blue Skies Ahead

19. Simply attach some inexpensive gumballs to this handy printable to make these Gumball Machine Valentines. Living With Three Moon Babies

20. These Bouncey Ball Valentines are a perfect non candy Valentine for anyone. Crafting Chicks

21. This Valentine Hugger Idea is so cute and the kiddos can decide what candy to attach for friends. Lia Griffith

22. Your little ones will have so much fun with this Shaving Cream Valentine that is totally awesome hands on fun! Mess For Less

23. These cute Watercolor Valentines are a great handmade craft and Valentine for any kiddo that absolutely loves painting. Nest of Posies

24. This Handprint Monkey Valentine is perfect for an afternoon of crafting and an adorable idea! Crafty Morning

25. These Stained Glass Valentine Cards are a simple activity with tissue paper and a few other materials. Sun Hats & Wellie Boots

26. Create these Cosmic Heart Valentines that use a simple glossy paint recipe provided. I Heart Arts and Crafts

27. The smaller crowd will love making these Noodle Valentines that make perfect jewelry too! The Alison Show

28. This I Love You To Pieces Valentine is a great personalized gift and the inside can include a sweet message. I Can Teach My Child

29. Check out these You’re The Bomb! handmade Valentines that incorporate just a few candy pieces and simple materials! Frugal Fun For Boys

30. These cute All-In-One Valentines are the perfect cut out heart all in one unique folded piece. Tinkerlab

Are you sorting out something awesome to make for Valentine’s Day? Share your ideas!

Valentine Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

By Crystal VanTassel-Lopez 2 Comments

Have you ever made a Valentine cookie cake? It’s super easy and so festive. We also include the icing recipe for decorating your cookie cake.

Something I love about this recipe is you can make it for your family at home, for a sweet date night treat, for your kiddos classroom party at school, your homeschool party, a get together, the list goes on and on. Really the options are endless!

I also love that it can be customized for any holiday and even for a birthday. Kids love cookie cakes for their birthday! Cookie, plus cake… it’s like the best of both worlds!

If you’re on the hunt for Valentine cake recipes you’ve come to the right place!

Every time I am at the mall I see these cakes and remind myself this is something easy enough that I can make at home.

You know the ones… with all the chocolate chips and the decorative icing on top.

What kid does not love these cakes?

I thought a Valentine inspired chocolate chip cookie cake would be so much fun to create.

And, you can even get the kids involved if you want! They will love making a Valentines Day cookie cake and practicing measuring and mixing and being a part of the experience.

Let me show you just how easy this is to make.

First you want to gather up your ingredients.

Cookie Cake Ingredients:

1 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup french vanilla instant pudding mix
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
¾ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp milk
1 ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Icing Ingredients:

⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
3 tbsp cocoa
1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1-2 tbsp milk
OPTIONAL candy melts and sprinkles for garnish

Here is how you make it. Get the kids to help. It can be a great learning experience!

Directions:

Start by preheating the oven to 350F degrees.

Grab some cooking spray and spray your cookie pan. The cook times for this recipe are identified based on using a 9 in round baking dish. If you use a different size baking dish you will need to adjust the cook time.

Now, let’s start mixing.

Grab a medium bowl and combine flour, baking soda, salt, and pudding mix.

Set it aside.

Grab a large bowl and beat together the butter and sugars until they are fluffy.

Next, add in the egg and the vanilla. Beat them on a medium speed until well mixed.

Now you want to fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

Add the milk until combined well.

Finally, let’s fold in the chocolate chips.

Once it’s well combine you want to press the cookie dough into baking dish.

No worries, you can wash your hands when you’re done!

Now you want to bake it for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned.

Remember if you’re using a different size pan you need to adjust your cook time. You could even use a heart shaped pan. How cute would that be?

Once it’s done, let the pan cool completely on a wire wrack.

Now, let’s decorate it!

Gather up the ingredients for making the icing

In a medium bowl beat the butter until fluffy.

Beat in cocoa.

Beat in 1/2 cup of powdered sugar at a time and add 1 tbsp milk in between until you reach your desired level of sweetness and consistency.

Decorate and serve!

You can use ziolock backs that you cut a slit in the corner of for icing.

Or you can use some piping bags and tips.

You can really customize the look of the cake with the way you decorate it using the icing and the sprinkles.

You could go with red, white, pinks, pastels, etc.

You can also use the icing to write Happy Valentines Day on the cake. That would be super cute!

5.0 from 1 reviews

Valentine Cookie Cake

: crystalandcomp.com

: dessert

: 15 mins

: 30 mins

: 45 mins

: 8-10

Ingredients

Cookie Cake Ingredients:
1 ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup french vanilla instant pudding mix
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
¾ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp milk
1 ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Icing Ingredients:
⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
3 tbsp cocoa
1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1-2 tbsp milk
OPTIONAL candy melts and sprinkles for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Spay 9in baking dish with non-stick spray.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and pudding mix.
In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugars until fluffy.
Add in egg and vanilla and beat until well mixed.
Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients and add milk until combined well.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Press cookie dough into baking dish.
Bake for 30-35 minutes until top is lightly browned.
Cool completely on a wire rack.
In a medium bowl, beat butter until fluffy.
Beat in cocoa.
Beat in ½ cup of powdered sugar at a time and add 1 tbsp milk in between until you reach your desired taste and consistency.
Decorate and serve!

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