Cheese Salad

Cheese salad is very popular in Latvia and since I am constantly hungry now due to my growing baby, I try to eat foods packed with protein. This salad can be dressed up for special occasions by putting it in on fancy crackers or in salty tart shells. It is served that way as an appetizer here.

Ingredients: (For 2 people)
1 boiled egg
1 boiled or steamed carrot (1/2 if yours are large)
6 oz. grated cheese - In Latvian almost all cheeses are white and I use a simple white cheese. You could probably use cheddar. Try a variety of whatever you have on hand.
2 cloves finely minced garlic.
3 T. mayo
Pepper to taste.

Instructions:
Grate ingredients. Mix together and refrigerate. Best if it has time for the flavors to "marry." We love it on crackers or with some delicious bread. Enjoy!

January Plans

One day I realized that I need to start making some plans for the time I spend with my children. Granted, I am a stay at home mom and have lots of that. But I wanted to plan things like I used to when I was a preschool teacher.

So I decided to make a calendar for January. I chose a theme- which for us will be winter. I went through a site on the Internet and got some great craft ideas which I put into my calendar. We will try to do one or two crafts a week. I also chose a verse and song for the month which we will try to learn. My kids are only 3.5 and 21 months. But I feel good knowing we have a plan. The teacher in me LOVES being so organized.

I have also been working on weekly menus. I love planning what we are going to eat. Though it keeps getting readjusted according to what comes up that day. I flip flop my days some of the time to fit into our schedule as need be.  I think part of my sudden interest in meal planning has to do with my seemingly never ending appetite which has suddenly appeared at 26 weeks :)

So how about you? Do you plan menus or schedules for your life and kids? I'd love to hear about them!