Prague with the Little Ones

Hello all! I am finally back. I can not promise I will be back to stay because I am the ultimate klutz. So klutzy in fact I promoted my Facebook page, and I had existing likers unlike, how rude. Ah, well.

In January my husband and I went to Brussels, Belgium alone and this time the youngest two tagged along. My eldest stayed with his grandparents as one we're getting his passport renewed, and two his grandparents are leaving for Cuba for a month so they wanted a long weekend with their grand baby! They're taking dance classes, familiarizing themselves with all the culture. Every time I  take my son to their home, there is always some Cuban music playing or they're showing off their new dance moves sooooo cute. They give me hope being a young mom!

But as I said in a previous post, we plan to travel as much as we can this year. Why? Because we do not know how much time we have left living overseas. For years I've been too scared to travel with my young ones, but after traveling around Germany with them alone while my husband was deployed, I feel like a damn superwoman :D

This trip was mainly child orientated. We saw a lot more sights than I thought we would with the lovely rowdy two in tow, but a lot of it was for them. Originally, after we got settled I had found a wine-restaurant with a nice play area with the kids. After that long drive, my husband I deserved a swig or five of some good wine. However, the lovely woman at the reception recommended a restaurant next to the hotel we were staying at. She guaranteed good food, atmosphere, and plenty for the children to do. And it was just that. I also found that most of the restaurants in Prague were really child friendly. The locals were very friendly, and it was definitely one of the cheaper European cities we've visited so far. It's definitely is a party town, loads of guys in town for stag/bachelor parties. My husband and I are deciding whether or not this town is worth visiting sans the little ones later in the year. So far it's a big contender! 

Here are some photos from our stay. This place is so beautiful and photos doesn't do it justice...at least not my amateur ones!! Enjoy!

Much deserved beer for the husband after long drive

Charles Bridge

At the beautiful Metro

The train restaurant where trains brings the drinks to the table. It was of course full of trains and a playroom for the children. Really nice for the kids. They had so much fun they didn't eat. We got pizzas afterwards

At the toy museum on the castle grounds. I love Europe

Great for when we had to wait in any long lines

At the Cathedral

I thought it was cool that there were shops like M&S, Tesco, Debenhams in Czech! Saves us a trip to the UK---just kidding lol.

My daughter and the King outside the castle. I love street performers

More lovely sights




View of the Castle and Cathedral


A small replica of the Eiffel Tower

View from tower

Check out my flickr page for more!!! Thank you for reading!

A lovely gentlemen snapped us and I am so happy the children cooperated quite well!

Why I don't get paid to do this

Getting straight to the point, when i finally get back into a nice blogging flow, my other computer dies. wtf! not only that, my husband and I believes my daughter threw my iphone in the trash. it was bought new from the states so no plan yet. We were still waiting on a new SIM card. Gosh. I am typing this post from my husband's blackberry playbook in fact. So if you haven't already, I sometimes post random tidbits on my facebook page. The like button is on the sidebar. Hopefully I will be up again soon. I also am trying to read your posts (for blogger friends) too. I've been using my husband's tablet to plan trips mainly. This playbook is my husband's baby so there is an understandable lack of trust of it being in my hands :) 

 Til then, tschuess! 

Cheeseburger Bacon and Mushroom Frittata

I've seen frittatas in cookbooks and all over many food bloggers blog posts. I've been intrigued, but at the same time a bit sick. Why? Because I hate eggs. Yes, people I am not big on eggs.


Ever since I was a little girl I've hated eggs. In my baby book, under least liked foods, my mother put eggs.


Don't get me wrong, I love eggs in most food. Like salads, in most to all Asian dishes featuring them. When they play the starring roll I can't do it. WHich why I don't make omelettes, spanish omelettes, basically anything where egg is the main ingredient. Some desserts I can't eat. I have to omit the egg whites because I read it's where the 'eggy' taste comes from. Where the yolk is rich, buttery, a lil salty, just damn perfect.

 Yes, I am eggist.

I can appreciate fresh farmed eggs. This summer, I ate a soft boiled egg and did not rush to the bathroom. That was because the egg was laid that morning. I thought that I found a solution my egg-hate. So I only bought eggs fresh farm the local turkish/farmer's markets and the yolks so beautifully gold made me smile. Cookies, muffins, and any thing I cooked with eggs became 100% more fantastic.


Then I got cocky and thought I'd finally make a frittata when I saw the recipe for Cheeseburger Frittata on the beautiful site She Wears Many Hats. I quickly added it to my Cozi weekly meal plan to try immediately. I am happy I did because it was delicious! Cheesy, mushoomy, bacony, and eggy goodness. My mind was getting the better of me and I realized, the next time (yes, there will be a next time), I will use half whole eggs and the rest just egg yolks!

This recipe is so easy, and you don't have to use mushrooms if you don't want to! Just load on the cheese and bacon for this easy one 'pot' dinner! It's low cab, and has an amazing amount of protein to get those muscle growing and very filling!


Cheeseburger  Bacon and Mushroom Frittata
Adapted from She Wears Many Hats
Makes one 10" pie pan.
She says aa 9" will work, adjust cooking times if using different size. I used my quiche pan....no I've never made a quiche :)

Ingredients
8-12 ounces ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt plus more, divided
1/2 teaspoon chili powder, plus more, divided
1/4 teaspoon pepper, plus more, divided
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, plus more, divided

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium-large onion, chopped
10 large eggs OR 5 whole eggs, 5 egg yolks if that's how you want to roll
3 tablespoons milk (1/4 cup if you split eggs)
4 ounces (about 2 cups) cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
8 slices of bacon
6 cremini mushrooms, sliced


Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Butter or coat with cooking spray pie pan. (I used a 10" pie pan for this recipe, but a 9" deep dish should work as well.)
Brown hamburger with a few pinches/dashes of chili powder, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté onion with a pinch of salt and pepper until translucent. Do this in a non stick skillet if you can.
Beat together eggs, milk, 1/2 of shredded cheddar cheese, and 1/4 teaspoon of each: chili powder, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Evenly distribute the browned hamburger on the bottom of the pie/quiche pan, then top with sautéed onions.
Pour the egg mixture over the top of hamburger and onion. Top with remaining cheese.
Bake in 400°F oven for 18-20 minutes until set.



Enjoy!!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday: Spicie Foodie's Apple Chai Muffins

I ordered Spicie Foodie's Cookbook, "Epiphany of the Spices" from Lulu last month and received my copy last week. Just in time as I ready to do my weekly menu plan. This gorgeous cookbook is full of flavorful, healthy, delicious, foods for the soul! So happy to have received my copy.

Yesterday after doing a bit of shopping in the freezing, "ig'nant" cold, I couldn't have picked a better time to make her Apple Chai Muffins with Chai glaze. These slight sweet, popping with flavor, and bit "spicie" were a big hit with my whole family!  And I enjoyed the first muffin while my little ones slept with a warm cup of black tea (i added some of the chai cream cheese glaze to it, mmmmmmm!).