Cabbage Stir Fry Recipe

This cabbage stir fry recipe is one of the best and simple side dishes you could whip up on a busy night! It's full of Indian flavors and you get a bite of freshness each time! 

Need a little mid-week dinner inspiration?

Growing up, I used to hate cabbage! I mean seriously was there anything worse than coming home to your mom whipping up a plate of cabbage.... Nope. It was awful.Fast forward about 30 years and now it's one of my favorite Indian side dishes! If you need any convincing that this is indeed a delicious vegetarian side dish, MY KIDS ARE OBSESSED! They love having this to pair with KEEMA CURRY during the week. It adds a bit of crunch to the meal and lightens a dense meal.Still don't believe me? My super duper extra picky husband even likes it! Now, I don't think I will be converting my family to vegetarians anytime soon, but serve this with a tasty Indian main dish and you have one happy family! [amd-yrecipe-recipe:46]

A Quick And Easy Dinner- Chana Masala

People tend to have quite a few crazy ideas about Indian food. They think it all tastes the same and takes days to make to start off with... Well, this mom of 3 (about to be 4!!!) is all about quick and easy. I need recipes that make my life easier!Today, I'm showing you a simple vegetarian dish that will make your bellies thank me!All you need is a few ingredients and you're off! It hardly takes anytime at all! You can serve it alone with a chapati or serve up some Karahi Chicken with it! Guess what... It's even kid approved!Heat the butter over medium heat. When the butter has melted add in your onions and jalapeño.When these have browned add in your ginger garlic paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Add in your coriander, cumin, and turmeric. Allow these to cook together for another 1-2 minutes.Stir in your tomato and cook for five minutes.Add in your potatoes, chickpeas, and water. Turn up the heat to medium/high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer.Sprinkle in the garam masala, salt, and squeeze in your lemon juice. Allow all of the ingredients to simmer until the potatoes are tender.Serve with rice or next to another one of your favorite Indian main dishes.

[ If you like this, you'll love my Karahi Chicken Recipe ]

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Hyderabadi Upma Breakfast Recipe

There's something I need you to know about my son, Levi. He is completely obsessed with Indian food. If you have ever had a truly authentic Indian dish, you know why!It's absolutely freaking delicious.The problem I've always faced is that I hate Indian breakfast. I'm the sweet toothed girl that likes french toast every day of the week. Indian breakfasts tend to be on the savory end. My kids usually end up in the same boat as me.Not Levi.One morning, his nanama (grandma) made him upma. Think Indian grits and you have a good idea of what I'm talking about. This kid instantly became obsessed. We couldn't EVER talk about upma at home because he would freak out asking us to make it. The problem was that I had no clue how to make it or spell it to be honest...Over Labor day weekend, we ended up visiting my in-laws and something special happened the last day of our trip.Levi went up to his nanama (grandma) and his chinna-nanama (great aunt) and BEGGED them to teach mommy how to make it. After a lengthy contract... they agreed :)They wrote it all down for me and I was able to surprise him with a steaming bowl of Hyderabadi upma before school this morning.I saw the skepticism in his eyes the entire time I made it! He didn't believe I could make it as good as his nanamas and I agreed. I was terrified for him to take the first bite.. However, it was a raging success!!!!!!He devoured his bowl and asked for more!The only thing I would modify in the future is a bit less chilies. We're used to the spice, but we all agreed to do a bit milder next time.If you're looking for a yummy and quick breakfast this is it![amd-yrecipe-recipe:41]

Spicy Chicken Chili Kebabs

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. The opinions and text are all mine. #TurnUpSummerClick below on the item you want to try out for yourself!

We made it! We got through the last few weeks of school craziness, the early school drop-offs, the never-ending homework, and now it's SUMMER! Instead of planning hundreds of things to keep us busy, I'm keeping it simple.The kids are outside as we speak, jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler under it! Admit it, you've tried that one and had a blast!?As parents, we over complicate things. We want our kids to have a blast, so we find dozens of things a day to keep them entertained. I don't know about you, but we kept things simple as a kid, and I had amazing summers! I was just happy to spend more time with my friends, go swimming, and grill all summer long.I don't think we cooked inside at all during the summer. Everything we made was on the grill. Heck, if we could have made breakfast on the grill, I bet we would have! My mom loved it because it meant no mess in the kitchen, and the food always tasted better!That is exactly what I'm doing this summer!We're starting off our grilling adventures with Ball Park® Hot Dogs and Ball Park® Hot Dog Buns! It's a summer rite of passage! How many times have you sat down and enjoyed a grilled hot dog?! Exactly!Hot dogs are my favorite because they take minutes on the grill AND my kids are obsessive! They can all top them with whatever they want to and make them their own. Anyone with multiple kids knows how hard it is to find a meal all the kids like! Hot dogs are a win-win for everyone! You can top it with ketchup, mustard, relish, chili, jalapeños, or just about anything else!Ok, maybe not ANYTHING! My kids got a little adventurous today and started to see what would work. Let's just say ketchup is a big yes and peanut butter is a BIG FAT NO! Kids...If you're going to whip up some hot dogs for the family this summer, be sure to use Ball Park® Beef Franks. They are made with 100% beef. They understand that ingredients are important and don't try to hide anything crazy inside. Plus the Ball Park® Hot Dog Buns are America's favorite hot dog bun!While you're at Walmart picking up your hot dogs and buns, don't forget the Chinet^®​ Classic White™ dinner plates! Momma doesn't want to waste my summer cleaning up! I'd rather pick up these bad boys and have more time to spend with the whole family!Now, I'm curious. What does your grilling experience look like? When my husband and I are outside grilling, we have the music turned up and the kids are outside playing. I love that it becomes a family affair! Plus, I'm not sure how it happens every time, but somehow the music gets louder and louder every time! Music and grilling just go together like peanut butter and jelly.This is exactly why Tyson Foods, Inc. and Cole Swindell are partnering together for a sweepstakes! You have a chance to win a VIP concert experience with Cole Swindell! All you need to do is purchase any 3 participating products from Walmart, save your receipt and upload it online at turnupsummer.com! If you do online grocery pickup like me, you can still upload your receipt!​The fun doesn't stop there! You can head over to your local Walmart and enjoy one of their Turn Up Summer Walmart Parking Lot Events! There you will be able to try samples of the Ball Park® Hot Dogs and Tyson® Chicken served on Chinet^® Classic White™ plates, hear live music (at Saturday events), and have fun at the photo booth. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. The Walmart Summer Grilling Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., at least the legal age of majority in the state/territory in which they reside at the time of entry. Sweepstakes begins 12:00 a.m. ET 5/14/19 and ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 7/22/19. For a list of participating products and Official Rules, visit www.turnupsummer.com where prohibited. Sponsor: Tyson Foods, Inc., 2200 W. Don Tyson Pkwy., Springdale, AR 72762. ​​If you're still looking for a way to take your grilling up a level, you can pick up a bag of the Tyson® Individually Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts and whip up Spicy Chili Chicken Kebabs! I even through in some paneer to wow the fam!Before I threw the hot dogs on the grill, I took a few minutes to make up a quick dry rub. This dry rub is great because it can go on any of your meat or paneer! It's quick, simple, and easy to make!The exotic flavors of the chili powder and garam masala take your grilling to a whole new level!Throw your kebabs on the grill a few minutes before your hot dogs and get ready to impress the entire family! Watch out, though... As soon as your neighbors smell what's cooking, they may try to join you![amd-yrecipe-recipe:40]

Authentic Tandoori Chicken

One of the things I've learned over the years in Indian culture is how important it is to spend quality time with your family. It could be around a camp fire at night, playing family board games for hours, or just about anything that brings everyone together. One of the favorite ways to get everyone together is around the dinner table. I have had more meaningful conversations with my hubby and his family around the table than anywhere else.There's something about breaking bread with the people you love.This is exactly why I've gone out of my way to learn how to make Indian food with my in laws. I've always wanted them to know how important their culture is to me and I even saw my own love for Indian culture grow as I became more invested.Now, my husband and I find ourselves in our own kitchen teaching all of our friends how to make Indian food and having the time of our lives in the process!

Grilling Adventures

The good weather means we take the party outside.Of course our family has to take it up a notch and we look for Indian dishes we can grill!Tandoori chicken is always a family fav in our house because Joel does it all on his own! Well, he tries until the kids all go out to help! They're all turning into little grill connoisseurs. I love it because it means I get to sit outside and enjoy the sun while the boys slave away at dinner!Tandoori chicken is delicious and so simple to make. It marinates overnight and then you can pop it on the grill with some fresh veggies. We love to serve it with raita and basmati rice.We've even gotten my family hooked on grilled tandoori chicken![amd-yrecipe-recipe:39]

Mom's Famous Lamb Biryani Recipe

Mom's Famous Lamb Biryani

Ever since I met Joel, I have developed an uncanny obsession for all things Indian food. I've tried more than I ever imagined I would and I haven't found one I don't like yet!The problem has been deciding which one my favorite is.Every time I share a new recipe, I call it my favorite.... Then I share another one and it becomes my new favorite! Well, I'm back at it again today. Lamb biryani is by far one of my absolute favorites. It's the equivalent of the Thanksgiving turkey of meals. I've had it maybe a dozen times since I've been married to my husband for the last ten years.I look forward to it on every holiday and even my kids BEG for lam biryani!The problem is my mother in law lives a few hundred miles away and her lamb biryani is THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD. If there was an award for amazing biryani she would have it! Her biryani can cure illnesses, make the world go round, and give us world peace! Ok, maybe that's a little much but come on guys.Try it out and see what you think![amd-yrecipe-recipe:38]

Serve with raita or some delicious coconut green beans!

Turmeric Golden Milk Tea

Today on the blog, I'm sharing a simple to make golden milk recipe. This turmeric tea is full of antioxidants and perfect for your family.

Turmeric Golden Milk Tea Recipe

When you were little, did your mom ever make you a warm glass of milk to help you fall asleep? Mothers have been doing this for years. As little babies, we knew that warm glass would solve anything. Even to this day, my kids still love it.Although over the years, we've decided to take it up a notch. Instead of just making warm milk, we learned how to make golden milk. It's the perfect blend of cultures for our little multiracial family. We've been able to take something special from both of our childhoods and turn it into something special and delicious for our kids.Golden milk is a quick Indian turmeric tea that is full of health benefits. My kids love it before bed and I like to drink it as my Turmeric Latte in the mornings. It's great for the whole family!

Why Is Turmeric Good For You

I always laugh when I see people taking turmeric pills because there are so many ways to sneak it into your diet. You can add turmeric into your meals, drinks, and smoothies. It doesn't have much of a taste so it's easy to sneak it into just about anything.The turmeric craze is going on for good reasons. Turmeric has antioxidants, it's an anti-inflammatory, it's good for your joints, and it's great for your digestive system. This is one of so many reasons Indian families use it so often in their cooking.I was introduced to turmeric by my husband's family and I put it in everything now!Golden milk is such an easy way to have a great drink while getting in your daily turmeric.

Turmeric Golden Milk Recipe

[amd-yrecipe-recipe:37] One thing to keep in mind is that turmeric stains! Be careful when using the turmeric powder and be mindful where your children drink it.

Introducing Your Baby To Indian Food

One thing I've learned about parenting is there are so many ways to do it. While we all think our way is best, it's not always the case. If you were to visit moms from around the world, you would see just how differently they raise their little ones. If you look a little closer to home, you'll still see big differences in parenting styles.What about food?A lot of moms think the only way to feed your kids is to start with the bottle, then rice cereal proceeded by vegetables, and ending up with table food. What if I told you that you could change it up a bit and make it more interesting and healthier for your kids?I introduced my children to Indian spices right away. When they were in the adorable squishy stage (you know the stage I'm talking about), I started them off with rice and butter. I added about 2 extra cups of water to the rice, so it soaked it all in and turned into more of a paste. Adding butter is a great way to sneak in dozens of vitamins and anti-oxidants into your child's diet.As they get a little older, we start adding in steamed vegetables and spices. Getting them used to different spices at a young age helps to get their palate used to it. Not to mention all of the health benefits them.

Turmeric

Turmeric is used in every single Indian dish. It's added to the base to add a rich color and people are becoming obsessed about it. A lot of health gurus are even recommending turmeric pills. Which of course my in-laws always laugh over and say people should all just start eating Indian food!Why is it so good for you? It's full of antioxidants, it's an anti-inflammatory, it helps reduce cholesterol, it's full of vitamin B, and has been said to help prevent cancer cells from growing.

Chili Powder

Before you skip over this section thinking I'm crazy, hear me out. Chili powder is full of antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A, helps to detoxify the body, enhances your metabolism, rich in potassium, and adds delicious flavor!We started adding chili powder at a young age. We started extremely small and increased as they got older. Now, they eat dinner with the rest of us. While we may still make our meals a little milder, they love it and have a great pallet for spicy food. You could even add a little yogurt as well and counteract the heat, but keep all of the health benefits.

Yogurt

Yogurt is the number one item I recommend to all parents. Especially homemade yogurt because it's full of healthy bacteria your body needs to build up its defenses against infections. Often times, our kids end up on antibiotics frequently which kills off a lot of good bacteria. This helps them get it all back. It's also full of vitamin D, vitamin B, helps prevent high blood pressure, and helps build strong bones.

Here are a few recipes you can try out and see what your kids think!

Carrot and Pea Curry

1/2 cup of peas1/2 cup of carrots1/4 tsp curry powderpinch of cinnamonCook your peas and carrots in about an inch of water until they are tender. When they are done spoon your vegetables into a blender. Add in your spices and pour a small amount of the water in from the saucepan until it almost covers the vegetables. Blend until everything is well combined and no chunks are remaining. If you would like to to be thinner, add 1/4 cup of water at a time.

Chicken Biryani

Pinch of cinnamonPinch garam masalaPinch of chili powder1/4 cup cooked chicken1/4 cup cooked rice1/2 cup chicken brothAdd the chicken, chicken broth, and spices together in a blender. Blend until the chicken is there are no chunks of chicken left. Add in your rice. Give the blender a few quick pulses, just enough to break the rice down a bit. You still want rice chunks in the baby food.What was the first solid food you gave your kids?

How To Make KILLER Indian Food At Home

It's no secret to many of you that my poor husband had to deal with some pretty horrible meals when we first got married. We were young and I had no clue what I was doing. Sure, he could have picked up the slack and made up for my bad dinners, but he was a worse cook than I was!He could hardly boil water let alone teach me how to make an authentic Indian dish!It's one of the curses of getting married young. The positive part of it was that we ended up having to learn how to do it together! Almost ten years later and we've definitely made some progress. A few years ago, we hosted our own Thanksgiving where my husband made the most delicious turkey I've ever tasted!!!!! We've even started a new tradition where we have our friends over for authentic Indian feasts! Guess who the cook is...? ME!I never could have imaged my husband and I learning how to cook, let alone loving it! Ladies, do you know how hot it is when your husband makes your family a home-cooked meal?!One of our favorite things to cook together is Indian food. It took us quite a while to get the hang of it, but we did it! We got sick of trying out new Indian food restaurants only to find out they were a waste of time. Joel was dying to get some good, authentic Indian food in his life and my new found obsession demanded it!

Check out the tips we learned to make killer Indian food at home!

Always rinse your rice!

I don't know about you, but I had no idea you were supposed to rinse rice! Am I alone on this one? You're supposed to rinse the rice until the water is clear. It helps remove some of the extra starch from the rice and it ends up tasting much better!

Be patient.

Good food takes time. You can't try to rush it all along to fit your schedule or to quiet the hungry kids in your kitchen. You need to put the rush work in beforehand by prepping your ingredients and then let your food cook slowly. Let the spices blend together, and your dish simmer to perfection. While your hungry family may be getting on your last nerve, they'll more than forgive you when they taste the delicious dinner!

Don't skimp on spices.

What do you think one of the biggest misconceptions about Indian food is? Everyone always thinks it's all too spicy. Then they end up skimping on the spices only to find a bland dish.I promise you'll always regret skimping. Instead, add in what the recipe calls for and slowly add in the chili powder. Making it less spicy is one thing, but taking out other spices in fear of what it could be is only going to make you wish you spent the time going through drive-through instead.

Learn a thing or two from family recipes.

We ended up learning most of our cooking skills from our family! Joel's family taught us how to make a curry base, how to roast fresh spices, and how to temper our sauce so it didn't curdle.Don't rely on yourself to figure out all the cooking tricks. Instead, ask people that have been doing it for much longer than yourself. We learned tips and tricks that had been passed down through generations!

Always use fresh ingredients when possible.

A simple mistake when cutting costs is to buy cheap spices or packaged products. Do everything you can to use fresh ingredients when possible. You will definitely taste the difference. You can also buy fresh ingredients in bulk and then freeze them until you need them.It helps you cut costs without losing out on taste.What tips and tricks have you learned while cooking? Did you have someone in your life that taught you or did you figure it out on your own?Are you ready to try out a few recipes on your own? Check out my favorite Indian dishes below!

Momma's Quick Tip: How To Make Your Mornings Easier With Kids

I'm not sure about you guys, but mornings in our home can get a little Dr. Seuess... I mean kids sliding down banisters, dogs eating kid's forgotten breakfasts, half-naked kids, and exhausted parents. It gets crazy. You'd think summers would have made it a bit easier and my kids would be sleeping in.... but no. They are still waking up at the crack of dawn.This is exactly why I've tried to find a solution this summer. I have no desire for the craziness to continue into our new school year when we have even less time in the mornings. Nope.I need it better now.I did it. I found out a little trick that has been helping our mornings go much smoother! I taught my kids an independent routine in the mornings. It sounds simple enough, right?Here's what it looks like.As soon as my kids roll out of the bed in the morning, they go to their chore charts. Here is where we got ours --> Chore Chart. Then my oldest helps everyone read the first step.

Make Beds.

The first thing they need to do is make their beds. It's one less thing to do later and it teaches them a great habit. Sometimes the little one needs help and they know everyone's beds need to be made. Instead of letting him fend for himself, they help each other.

Eat Breakfast.

I learned an amazing recipe from the Free Cheap Or Fun blogger herself. She taught her kids to make scrambled eggs in the microwave and it's a hit in our house! My oldest gets all the coffee mugs ready and makes his brothers eggs in the morning.He sprays the mug, cracks two eggs, whisks until his heart is content, and then pops it in the microwave for 1 minute and 20 seconds. Done.They love eggs so this fills their little tummies until I get up and make them pancakes or oatmeal.

Brush Teeth.

After breakfast, they all saunter upstairs to brush their teeth. Yes, I have to put that on their charts otherwise all their teeth would fall out of their little heads. They always try and skip brushing their teeth. This way they have to get it done to be done with chores for the day.

Clean Room.

It doesn't matter how often they clean their room, it's always a mess. I love having them start off their day with a clean room. I feel like it starts our day off smoothly and with the least amount of stress.By cleaning it often, it makes cleaning it up throughout the day much easier! Instead of an entire day's worth of mess, it's just a few hours.

Extra Chores.

This is the time for each kiddo to do their special chore. Some of these chores change each week to keep it exciting. Yes, my kids are still at the point that they're excited about chores and I plan to live it up as long as humanly possible.If you're trying to figure out what chores to give your kids, you can head over here for age-appropriate chore lists ---> Chore List.Once all the chores are done for the morning, my boys can watch a show. It's a great motivator because what child doesn't want to watch morning cartoons. Instead of watching it all morning, I make my kids earn it.By the time the whole house is awake and getting started for the day, we have a calm and peaceful home. I need all the peace and calm I can find with three boys. I've found by starting this routine, we've all started our day happier and there's been less fighting.The kids work together to finish up so they can watch their morning show. Obviously, some days are better than others. I simply remind them they all need to finish their chores to be done. It pushes them to encourage each other and offer to help when the little one needs a bit of a push.

Celebrating Summer With Mango Black Tea Lemonade

If you've followed me for any length of time you know, I have a pretty significant Starbucks addiction.

I constantly find myself waiting in their drive-through for a little pick me up for the day. I have three kids 6 and under, what can I say! I'm always near or past the point of exhaustion and need some help to keep up with them.The problem is that my kids are officially to the age where they beg me for little treats there. If I don't order them something, they act like their little lives are over. Don't worry I don't let them boss me around and they only get something when they have a good attitude, or I have no will-power for the day.As we're getting closer to the summer months, I know I'm going to be tempted to go every day! However, I'm going to make this summer better than any other summer we've ever had.

My motto this summer is to make it simple.

I'm over this idea that things have to be crazy to keep the kids happy. Their schedules are full all during the school year and I just want to have fun while they're home. I want to let all the stress go and make it simple!Step number one to a simple summer, make my drinks at home! This week, I tried my hand at my very own mango black tea lemonade. To say it was a success is an understatement.It was perfect. It was summer in a glass, and I had to fight the kids to keep my glass full!Every time I turned around, they were there to steal sips and beg me for more!Then my hubby got home, and it was all over. It's a huge crowd pleaser! It was super easy to whip up, and I'm officially making it my go-to drink for parties and summer meals.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:36]Make your summer simple with us! Toss the hectic schedule, the crazy expectations, and relax with a big iced mango black tea lemonade!

Simple Tomato Curry

Are you looking for an easy to make vegetarian recipe? This recipe is exactly what you need! Traditional Hyderabadi Tomato Curry is delicious and perfect for any meal!

Over the years, my husband and I have I learned just how different we are. We disagree on so many things, from the style of our house to the kind of music we play in the car...However, it always reminds me of that little saying. Opposites attract. It couldn't be more true in our marriage. I love that we're different. It's pushed us to find ways to blend it all together to make it work.One thing we've struggled to agree on is vegetables. My husband is secretly a child and still hates to eat his veggies. I've had to hide it in his foods and trick him into eating it. Then something happened and he finally realized how important they are. I have no idea what it was. It wasn't his mom or I nagging him (if anything that only made him stomp his feet into the sand deeper).Regardless of what it was, it did the trick. I got him to do Whole 30 with me and now he actually eats them!One of his favorites is tomato curry. This curry is versatile because you can eat it alone with rice or alongside tandoori chicken like we do. It blends together so well with different Indian dishes and it's simple!This momma is always looking for simple dishes to make for her family!You can whip up tomato curry in a hurry (that rhymed!) and the whole family will love it!

Simple Tomato Curry Recipe

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Easter Cookie Cake Pops

As my kids get older, they're starting to expect more from the holidays. They look around to see what other families are doing and create their own little ideas.It ends up with me scouring Pinterest for ideas to keep up with them! The problem is I'm not that crazy creative Pinterest mom! I have three boys and I need simple, easy to follow instructions! If not, I end up butchering it all! At least my fails in the kitchen make hilarious memories for the boys! They love when I mess up in the kitchen!This year I'm not taking any chances! I've enlisted all three of my little kitchen helpers so we can succeed and make some delicious treats for Easter!We decided to whip up some tasty Easter cookie cake pops! They couldn't be easier to make and they're a huge hit in our house! As soon as they're ready you better be prepared! Your little kitchen helpers turn into cake pop thieves!These cake pops won't last long, but they're worth it! Perfect for chocolate lovers or a treat to celebrate a successful Whole 30 program![amd-yrecipe-recipe:34]If you and your little helpers want to make these Easter cookie cake pops head over to your local Walmart! Pick up a bag of Nestlé® Toll House® Ultimates Chocolate Chip Lovers Cookie Dough! It makes this recipe incredibly easy! They do all the hard work for you!Head over here for more Spring inspired recipes!

Whole 30 With A South Asian Flair

One thing I’ve learned from Indian culture is the importance of Indian food. It’s the center of everything. If you go to an event, you already know they’re going to feed you. Not just feed you, but stuff you full of delicious food.Maybe it’s one of the reasons I keep getting pregnant. I have the perfect excuse to let them load up my plate until their hearts are content.It’s given me a new love for food. I love making food for people in my life and seeing that look on their face when it’s turned out perfectly.Or when my husband say’s I make the best chicken wings in the world (sorry Aunt Ca)!It’s become a passion to find and create new tasty recipes. My husband even joins in the fun and has a few new signature dishes our whole family begs for.

Our family loves food.

My four year old has even developed his own little passion for it. He tells us every day that he’s going to become a chef and needs to help us cook for practice.This year I promised him he could start helping me cook more. I want to encourage his passion for cooking and I love the quality time it gives us.However, there is a little problem. This year I also promised myself I would help my family to become healthier together. I promised we would make better food choices and find ways to make delicious healthy food.

My husband is convinced there is no such thing as delicious healthy food!

This is exactly why I was excited when my aunt told me about a 60 Day Challenge our gym was about to have.It’s a challenge to lose weight and get healthy together with a team. In the beginning, you detox your body of all the toxins and unhealthy foods by doing a Whole 30 diet. Then you start to add back in certain foods to see what your body can handle and can’t. It helps you find the perfect foods and diet to continue with after the program. It’s not meant to be a quick fix but a lifestyle change.So… How can this work for a family who loves food? How can we all fulfill our passion for making delicious food all while beginning a new healthy lifestyle?

Sounds like another challenge doesn’t it!?

The good thing is my husband and I like a good challenge. Our program starts February 10th and we have the next two months to show ourselves and all of you that healthy food can be good!What about the kids? You may be thinking the hardest ones to get on board would be the kids, but they love healthy food. They would eat salads and Brussel sprouts all day long if they could.The hard one to convince was my hubby! All you need to do is glance at our plates to see the difference. I pile my plate up with veggies and he gets two or three pieces. Just enough to show the kids he ate it. My plate, on the other hand, is all veggies and a bit of protein.He heard about the program and was skeptical until I said they chose a winner at the end who made the biggest transformation and they could win $1000.Done deal.My husband may be scared of healthy food, but he loves competitions. It’s the best motivator he could find to jump start our healthy lifestyle.Now comes the hard part. I have to show my family how good healthy food really can be!I hope you guys will have fun following us along on our family’s journey. We will give you updates each week to let you see how we do.

Here’s a look at what the first two weeks will look like for us.

Our kids will only be doing part of the Whole 30 with us. My plan for them is to get rid of the junk food, but they’ll still eat bread, beans, and some dairy. I mainly want them to try and fill up on meat and veggies rather than all the fillers.For the first two weeks, Joel and I will eliminate dairy, grains (hubby is still crying over no rice), alcohol, legumes, added sugar, processed food, and any other junk food.Our diets will stick to this schedule as much as we can —> protein shake, snack, salad, snack, high protein meal.We will also be working out 5-6 days a week and then having a day to give our bodies a break. Our gym has some fun classes so we will most likely do those each day. I work better with classes rather than on my own because it’s easier to keep up with other people than figure it out on my own.So far, I’ve been doing yoga and a cycle class. Joel even did yoga with me! He kept giving me “the look” for the first 20 minutes thinking I tricked him into a girl’s class. Then he started sweating and realizing how intense yoga is!Only a few more days until we start and I’m excited to see how it all goes! Keep an eye out for yummy recipes and updates!

Simple Indian Lemon Rice

Are you looking for a quick dish full of flavor and fresh ingredients? Whip up a simple batch of Indian Lemon Rice! It's the easiest way to use leftover rice and spice up any meal!

You are all about to love me. I'm about to share a super tasty, save the day, oh so quick recipe with all of you! My husband's family thinks it's hilarious how much I love this dish, but I can't help it!I love how simple it is and the fact that I can whip it up on a whim.There's even something that makes it better... My kids love it! All three of my boys will eat this and beg for seconds. Moms out there fully understand this one.What is this delicious dish you ask?Lemon rice.It's a fresh Indian side dish, perfect to go along with your favorite chicken curry or daal. Every bite is fragrant and full of delicious spice.Our house is always full of rice. It's a staple with just about every one of our meals and sometimes we have too much leftover. Lemon rice is perfect because you can use leftover rice from the night before.I love just about any dish that saves me time and money. This dish is definitely that. If you don't believe me, you need to whip some up tonight! Your family will thank you and so will your grocery budget.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:32] 

Big Kid Friendly School Lunch Ideas!

My oldest was extremely excited to start public school this year! He had been homeschooled the last few years and we decided to make a big change after we bought our house in the middle of the year. My sis year old looked at my husband and I and told us he was ready to start public school!Most of you know me pretty well by now... I'm extremely impulsive. I mean I even went to the pet store to get dog food and left with a puppy! Much to my husband's surprise!We're spur of the moment and it's definitely rubbed off on our son.We have been able to jump into the crazy life of school drop offs and packed lunches pretty well. I still belly ache every morning I have to wake up at 6 am and don't plan on stopping anytime soon! I think most parents still do that though so I'm okay with it.The tricky part has been school lunches. I figured uncrustables every day would make him happy, but I was wrong! Every idea I threw at my six year old was quickly shot down.Lunch meat sandwiches? No.Tortilla roll ups? No.Random crap that could constitute as lunch? No.Of course sleep deprived me got a little frustrated. When I finally nailed down what he actually did want, I found out he wanted leftovers and hot lunches sent with him to school every day. I went to the store that day and picked up a thermos to put in his lunch box.These things are crazy because they keep his lunch hot until lunch time! I made the mistake the first day of sending extra hot soup. I figured it would cool off by then and would be the perfect temperature. Nope. Instead, it was still just as piping hot as when I filled it up!Now that we've figured out the heat situation, onto the menu for the week!

Big Kid Approved School Lunches

Here is a list of big kid approved school lunches! My six year old loves these and would eat them every single week if he could! Warm them up the morning of school, throw it in a thermos, and they're ready to go!Chicken Kofta CurryChicken NuggetsChili and Tortilla ChipsKeema (Ground Meat Curry)Almond Chicken CurryGrilled Cheese SandwichSamosa Hand PiesMacaroni and CheeseSpaghettiPizza PocketsHot DogsEnglish Muffin Make Your Own PizzaSoupBeef StewChicken WingsThermos's are great because you can throw just about anything into it! Take a little bit from dinner or even take out and throw the lid on!My favorite is to throw in left over Indian food. I will either make extra over the weekend or whip up a big batch just for lunches on Sunday. Then we just fill up the bottom with rice and throw the curry on top!My picky child has helped me to think outside of the box! I love that he's so proud to bring Indian food with him and he even tells his friends all about it!What do your kids bring for lunch during the school week?

Sweet Potato Parathas

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Rubbermaid® however all opinions expressed are my own. 

I'm not sure about you, but I could live off off veggies. I whip up a dish of roasted veggies just about every night and wow they're delicious! I assumed my family would be the same way, but nope.

They cringe when they see veggies on the dinner table. Over the years, I've had to learn how to get a little creative. I know they need them in their diets, but it gets tricky!

If you know our family at all, you know we love Indian food. As I was trying to decide how I could get a little creative with our veggies, I thought about the perfect fall dish.

Sweet potato parathas.

I whipped up a batch of these boys today and they were gone before my husband could even try one. Can you guess who the culprits were?My boys! They loved them! They're full of sweet potatoes, but in their eyes it was simply Indian bread.They even asked me to whip up more with dinner tonight! I think that's one thing I can happily oblige too! They're beyond easy to make and you only need a handful of ingredients!I made up a batch in under thirty minutes and I can already tell you these are going to be a new staple our house this Fall!Admit it... Your mouth is watering just looking at the pictures!These are the perfect side to dinner or even a quick afternoon snack. Sneak in some sweet potatoes for the family and enjoy these bad boys![amd-yrecipe-recipe:30]

Chef Tips And A GIVEAWAY!

Whether you are a professional chef or the resident chef for your family, you need to check out the Rubbermaid Fresh Works Produce Savers! They come in all different sizes and work hard to keep your veggies fresh longer! I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for ways to save money for my family.We're a family of 5 and our food bill quickly adds up! The worst part is looking in my fridge at the end of the week only to find our fresh produce has gone bad. I always think I'll get to it in time, but then life happens!These Rubbermaid Fresh Produce Savers have saved me twice this week already! Their containers are designed with us in mind! They're easy to use and when you're done simply toss them in the dishwasher!Did you really think I'd talk about them and not help you get one of your own? Enter my giveaway today and get a chance to win your own!All you need to do to enter is share this recipe with your friends and comment with one chef tip of your own!

*Based on strawberries in FreshWorks™ containers vs. store packaging. Results may vary depending upon produce and use.*

Butter Chicken Recipe

I have a secret to tell you. I am completely and one hundred percent obsessed with Indian food. Well, really just food but I have a special love for Indian food.I hadn't tried it before I met my husband and I remember being excited to visit his family's house for the first time to try authentic Indian food. I knew it was a lot of chicken and spices which were both right up my alley.I instantly fell in love with it all.I gleaned all the tips and recipes I could from my hubby's family so I could make it on my own. I wanted to learn it all because my dream would be to have Indian food every single day! Now my kids are just as obsessed and it makes my heart swell up with pride. I love that we've been able to share our love with Indian food to them.Don't worry, I still throw in my family recipes to the mix. Although, somehow Indian spices keep making their way into the pot when I do! I think someone's trying to give me a little hint to spice up my food a bit!Today's new dish proves to make my whole family happy every time! My friend came over to our house a few weeks ago and whipped this bad boy up! Everyone was begging for seconds and much to her hubby's disappointment, they ended up having nothing to take back for leftovers!It flew off everyone's plates!She has an Almost Indian family of her own and was more than happy to share her recipe with us!The best part of this recipe is just how easy it is to whip up. All you need is some hungry kids, a few ingredients, and empty bellies![amd-yrecipe-recipe:29]Like this recipe? Be sure to SHARE it with your friends!

Chicken Kofta Curry Recipe

Are you looking for a quick and simple recipe? Need a dish to make a head of time during a busy week? Chicken Kofta Meatball Curry is just what you've been looking for! It's a delicious fusion of flavors and kid friendly!

I don't know about you guys, but finding dishes that please all five of us in my family is TOUGH. Everyone has different preferences and like to make dinner prep a real pain!I'm sure you can all relate to this one!Kids make it tricky to find recipes everyone likes. Not to mention you may have a picky hubby too!Over the years, I've been able to find the dishes that work well for everyone. Basically, if it's Indian food everyone eats dinner with a smile on their face. We're all obsessed with Indian food so I can't complain!It's made me branch out lately from my normal dishes. I've mastered a handful of Indian dishes over the last eight years, but now it's time to be a little more creative and try out some new dishes!Today's new dish is one that I've had before at a friends house. They whipped it up and I instantly started drooling. No shame at all because you're about to see just how good it is!Chicken Kofta Meatball Curry.Yum! They aren't your average meatballs. Oh no. They're meatballs with a killer twist swimming in a tasty coconut milk sauce.One of my favorite parts of this dish is that you can double your batch and freeze part of it. It freezes extremely well and it's perfect for busy school or work nights![amd-yrecipe-recipe:27]

Masala Chai Recipe | Authentic Spiced Tea

Over the years, I've learned the importance of masala chai tea. It's not just a drink in Indian families. It's the cure all for every illness, broken heart, poor relationship, and not to mention the the perfect fall drink.I didn't realize a non-alcoholic drink could be so heavenly!As my husband and I have attended dozens of Indian get to togethers, we both picked up on one common theme. It doesn't matter who's house you're at, they will always have a warm cup of masala chai tea waiting for you. It doesn't matter if they know you or not (or if they even like you for that matter) they will always have it waiting for their guests.My husband grew up with masala chai so he didn't realize how important it was until I started asking if every single Indian was obsessed with chai.Masala chai is an unspoken rule in Indian homes.It's one of the first things you learn to make because you can't survive without it. After enjoying my first cup, I understand why. It's a simple yet fragrant drink. There are so many warm spices in every cup and I love watching how it brings families together.[amd-yrecipe-recipe:26]