Catching Up With The Kelnhofers -43

This week on Catching up with the Kelnhofers, I have a heavy heart.  It’s a turbulent time and I’m not quite sure to say.  Thank you for listening to my thoughts and reading on for some things that I’m doing (donation matching) and updates on family life!

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Every time I turn on the news, it seems like something more terrible is being brought to light.

All on the very real backdrop of the current global pandemic.

It’s heartbreaking and saddening and maddening.

Seeing the murder of George Floyd shook me to my core. The brutality and hatred and long history of systemic racism that exists in our world is not ok.

I do not have the right words to express my feelings, but please know I am here.

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor” Desmond Tutu

Injustice. Awareness. Acknowledgement. Action. Ignorance. Love. Kindness. Education. Empathy. Support. Peace. Those are some of the words that have been going through my mind that do not adequately express the heavy sadness in my heart.

I will continue to listen, participate in the conversation, educate myself and my family, donate, and use my voice and vote to stand up against systemic racism.

I want to continue to open my community and heart to love and hope humanity does as well.

Instead of doing my regular monthly giveaway in my newsletter, this month I am donating. I will be matching any donations made to the pandemic or injustice related cause you support up to a total of $2500 now (June 5) through July 1, simply reply to this email or message me at phi@sweetphi.com a screenshot of your receipt and I’ll send you a reply message with the matching donation. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

If you’re looking for a place to learn more, this is an anti-racism resources document and there are so many amazing resources out there.

I love this beautiful and moving artwork by @mongequentin

New on the Blog:

• Catching up with the Kelnhofers – an update on our family of 5
• The Best Vinaigrette Recipe – I love using this vinaigrette on all sorts of things – salads, chicken, potatoes and more
• Mom Essentials – Summer Edition – This is now the 4th mom essentials, a full year (every season) of this series. I don’t know about you, but I keep coming back to different ones and finding things (or gift ideas).

What to Make:

As soon as summer hits, I am all about salads. I just don’t always love hearty, warm meals when it is hot and humid out! So, I’m sharing a few of my favorite salads below:

• Summer Melon Salad
• BBQ Chicken & Avocado Salad
• Grilled Chicken Green Goddess Cobb Salad
• Spinach Salad with Soft-Boiled Eggs and Bacon
• Also, this dish is described as being like “eating a hug” so it’s only fitting to be made during these times.

What I’ve Been Making:

• No surprise here – we made the eggless waffles on the weekend!
• Also – I made homemade sourdough starter discard pretzels via Scotch and Scones – a reader recommended them and they were so good!! I made two toppings: everything bagel and cinnamon sugar. So so good.

• Nick’s dad made a brisket. I’ve never had anything as good in my life. I made a carrot slaw on the side and it just sucked next to something that good, lol, so we gave them pretzels to take home and try.
• The twins are starting to eat pretty much everything we are eating, I just cut it up small and make sure it’s kind of soft, but they loved the brisket

• I made simple taco seasoning from my 5 ingredient cookbook (see ingredients I added the seasoning mix to below) and we ate them with flour tortillas, cheese, sour cream and a dash of hot sauce for the adults. If you’re struggling to get your kids to eat the same thing as you, check out my post here for some tips and tricks.
  • Ground beef
  • 1 onion
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 1 poblano pepper
  • Taco seasoning

Reader Comments:

This is a great dinner (recipe for baked chicken and carrots and potatoes) for summer nights after a visit to the Farmer’s Market! And I love hearing that it reminds one of my readers of a family recipe 🙂

• “This is almost exactly my Italian grandmothers recipe. I always had this as a little girl and loved it. Now I’ve been making it for years with crushed tomatoes added and I also add a little Romano cheese on the top. Wonderful recipe”

Reader ReCreations:

I love seeing little kiddos help in the kitchen and this kitchen helper whipped up my spinach alfredo lasagna from my 5 Ingredient Cookbook. Thanks for sharing @TheCharlatte (hi Char!)

Links from Around the Web:

• This article from The Everymom shared some really great, topical kids books that I am ordering. So far, I’ve added Sulwe to my collection, as well as a book not on this list; A Kids Book About Racism.
• Did you hear that CNN is doing a Sesame Street town hall? I can’t wait to watch it with Ben!

What I’m Reading:

• An American Marriage – I’ve read it before, but it’s absolutely worth a second read. It’s one of my favorite books, in fact, it was included on my summer audio book listening list (last year – I still need to finish a few of those books!)

What I’m Watching:

• This meaningful and timely YouTube video from Trevor Noah of The Daily Show
• A friend told me about this great new series from Emmanuel Acho: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.

Personal Stories:

• The kids birthday (they all share the same birthday) is fast approaching.
• We got the twins each a Cuddle + Kind doll (we actually got the dolls for them for Christmas but they arrived late so we held on to them).
• We’re getting them a sprinkler splash pad.
• Ben wants a “woof woof” dog stuffed animal, so I’m getting him this one.
• We have been trying to get outside more with the warmer weather; jammies or not. Also, this is how our walks normally end – with Ben pushing his bike and saying ‘don’t touch, me do it’ because he wants to push it, steering does not matter, lol.

• Car fries – when I was growing up, every once in a while we would get take out from this small Greek place (I grew up in Chicago). It was your typical fries and gyros stand (done well). And on the way home, my dad would give me some car fries. Ah the memories. When I picked up food for us this past week with Ben, he said he was hungry so I gave him a fry. It was just a cute little thing that brought up very happy memories. Nick also knows about car fries and doesn’t say anything when we get home and there aren’t quite as many fries left over.

• We are trying to support one locally owned restaurant a week by getting take out, this week it was Crazy Water, so so delicious!

• We’ve been having some really nice backyard outside time. Ben got to run through a ‘sprinkler’ that was an accident (the hose got stuck in the spray position.)

• We also did a social distancing back yard dinner with friends. It was SO nice!!
• I gave Ben a haircut…it’s not great lol. He of course moved the second I was doing his bangs lol. As Nick put it “it’s not horrible for a home hair cut you did”
• I had to go to into the office for my True Botanica job – I help run a natural products company, and Ben wanted to face time me, he’s gotten used to me being around!

• I was trying to do a ‘lesson’ with colors and shapes. Frankie happily paid attention and the boys could have cared less lol

• Freddie knows how to high five!!!

Did you know?

• Did you know? SweetPhi has a YouTube page? It’s a constant work in progress and we’re currently working on updating the page so it shows up better in search engines. On the same note, some of the videos have two vies and some have hundreds, so I am definitely still learning what’s working!

Popular This Week:

• Most visited blog post: a delicious, no-bake lunch – tuna salad with pickled celery
• Most liked Instagram post: a fun family photo!
• Most pinned image: this great summer salad recipe.
• Most viewed YouTube video: another popular salad recipe
• Most purchased item – this caramel sauce and sea salt that I use to make my favorite salted caramel chocolate chip cookies.

How is your week going? How are you doing? Just leave a comment below and let me know.