Back Update and Bentos

My back is doing better today! Praise the Lord! The meds seem to be doing their thang and I can atleast stand up STRAIGHT today instead of cocked to the side like an elderly person. I am still resting and I can still feel my knots on my back, but they have gone down significantly and that makes me happy. My mother and father in law made me an awesome dinner last night of meatloaf and scalloped potatoes and I have another sweet friend bringing me some soup tonight. I feel so blessed to be loved on when I am down like this. God has been so good to me to provide such amazing friendships!

I am really enjoying reading my newest Karen Kingsbury book I mentioned yesterday. "Learning" is the second book in this most recent series and I am really enjoying having something to do while I lay on my back. It gets SO boring sitting and watching everyone else be busy around you. Not a fan. But the book is keeping me entertained. :-)

I made a bento for the kids last week and I didn't know how Little Girl would like it because she is picky and it was something different in her lunch, but she actually gave me 2 thumbs up. I used leftovers which made me feel good about using up the food we had in our fridge and she was all smiles.

Here's what she had:




I cut up some leftover chicken tenders that I had made the night before and put them on a skewer. I had saved a few cute little bbq dippers from our visit to Wendy's last week and threw that in too since LG is in love with bbq sauce right now.
In the blue silicone container I cut up a Roma tomato from our garden and skewered it with a cut up cheese stick.
I added some pretzels, some whole strawberries with fun animal picks for easy pick-up, and for a treat - a few yogurt covered raisins at the top.

This was such a fun and easy bento and yummy too.

OH, and if you want to know how I made those chicken tenders, I just soaked the chicken in buttermilk all afternoon in a ziploc bag, then I dredged it in a mixture of italian bread crumbs and grated parmesan cheese and put them on a sheet pan. I popped them in the oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes I believe. They were so tender from the buttermilk and the flavor was great. When I made them for dinner, I served them up with some roasted potato wedges and steamed asparagus.

Give 'em a try. I may need to add them over at The Recipe Box!!

I love that our weather is turning colder and I might be able to whip out a few of my new 3/4 inch sleeved sweaters to wear. I also will be whipping up some soups. I found 2 new ones that I am dying to try. One is "Rainy Monday Beef Stew and home-made focaccia bread" and some "Crockpot spaghetti and Meatballs". Yum! I am back into making my weekly menus, so I will start sharing them with you each week as I plan them out. This week - since my back is still out - I will enjoy the food I am being given and I'm sure I won't be cooking too much, but next week - it's all oven mitts and aprons over here!!! :-)

Have a great Monday. Enjoy your Labor Day with your friends and family!!