Another week, another quick & easy meal coming to you, from my tried & true kitchen testers (aka my family, friends and guests who've all agreed: this one's a keeper)

It's got a slight Greek flair to it, so I usually pair it with a quick salad and Sweet Potatoes, easily made while the burgers sit on the (Foreman) grill. 

This is another great one to freeze too, so I always make a double or triple batch to keep a few servings on hand in the freezer for a really quick dinner.

1. In a medium bowl, combine oil, garlic, oregano, dill weed and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in stuffing mix to coat thoroughly. Stir in eggs, spinach and 1/2 cup Feta cheese; Mix well. Shape mixture into 4 half-inch thick patties.
2. Heat griddle or large skillet over medium heat (we use a George Foreman grill). Add patties as they fit. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until browned and heated through. Serve in buns with toppings: feta, plain Greek yogurt, tomatoes, Tatziki Sauce, sliced roasted Red Peppers, Red Onion, etc.

Enjoy! Even my littlest one love these, hopefully yours will too.

The dinner time rush. The bewitching hour. The time when Moms around the country are juggling fussy babies, late afternoon grogginess and the inevitable "what's for dinner?" on repeat.

I'm here to help get dinner on the table quickly, healthily and simply with a few of my own tried & true crowd pleasers this month. Up first: filling, flavorful, freezable Enchiladas made with less than 10 ingredients and on the table in 45 minutes.

• 2 Cups Cooked chicken: cubed, strips or shredded

               (I usually slow cook a whole chicken in some broth, then shred it and freeze it for multiple recipes)

• 1 tub Cream Cheese 
• 1 Can diced Green Chiles
• 1 can Black Beans
• 10 oz Bag of frozen corn, or fajita veggies; whatever's on hand :)
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 15 oz Green Chile sauce or Green Enchilada Sauce
• 1 dozen Tortillas

TOPPINGS: shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt as substitute), avocados 

1. Preheat oven to 350*F.
2. Place cream cheese, beans, chiles and chicken in skillet, letting the cream cheese melt and mix all together thoroughly. Stir in frozen vegetables.
3. Spread half the can of Enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 13x9" baking pan. Spoon 1/3 cup filling in a tortilla, roll in the enchilada sauce and place seam down. Repeat with all tortillas and filling. Spread remaining Enchilada sauce over enchiladas and sprinkle shredded cheese on top. 
   

​*If preparing this for the freezer:* Cover tightly with aluminum foil at this step and place in freezer for up to one month. To use later, let dish thaw for 2 hours, then place in 350* oven for 30-45 minutes or until the tortillas are golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.

• Bake at 350* for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and tortillas are beginning to brown. Enjoy with whatever toppings your family prefers! (Side salad, rice or corn on the cob are all quick & easy dishes to pair with these for a more robust meal)

It started as a way to let my Little Lady shop for others this Christmas. Just like one of my suggestions in the last blog post on how to get kids involved in giving, I'd given her a small budget, and set her loose in Tuesday Morning to find a little something for those she put on her list.
Then the anxiety started to rise in me. Not becuase I was worried that she'd overspend, or the fact that she was spending more time in the toy section than where any adult gifts could be found. But because I *could not* bring myself to purchase a gift just for the sake of getting a gift under the tree for every person.

I could not get over the fact that I didn't know what they'd each want or need, so I felt completely paralyzed, not wanting to get junk they'd have to figure out what to do with after the fact.

Tis the season of giving, December is here. Lists are being written, sales are being swooped up, presents wrapped....it really can be a magical, memorable time of year. But it can also get a little overwhelming, can't it? A little out of hand.

Being somewhat of a minimalist, I instinctively keep the number of gifts relatively low, but that can be tough for those with a natural giving spirit to keep it under control, especially this time of year. So I've rounded up several giving 'themes' to help simplify the buying and giving this year. This blog post is all things KIDS, because they're the ones receiving the lion's share of presents, aren't they?! (next up will be ideas for adults, but for the sake of simplicity, we'll tackle one at a time)

Ask my friends and they'll tell you: I'm the one who doesn't mind hurting your feelings (only temporarily!) when I tell you there's way too much junk in your house & it all needs to go. And I'm usually the friend called upon when a good purge is needed or a system overhauled.
Ask my poor family who knows that if they can't find some misplaced, but needed, paper or toy or slightly tattered shirt, there's a good chance 'Mom got rid of it' in another (typically weekly) trip to Goodwill.

"Simplify Life With Baby." Sounds appealing, doesn't it? That's Hemmed In's tagline, and our mission as a business in offering a multi-use infant accessory. I truly want to help make your life as Mama simpler!! 

So when you read "Handmade baby wipes", that may not sound simple to you. True, it is pretty simple to just buy wipes at the store and stick 'em in your diaper bag. I get that. And agree. If that's the simplest for your family, do it. (One woman's simple is not necessarily another's!)
But If I may, I assure you that these DIY baby wipes are not only super simple to make, they're completely natural and gentle on baby's skin. They're money-saving too. $15 worth of premium quality, all natural supplies will last at least 6 months, and the prep takes literally 5 minutes. We used these throughout Little Lady's diaper days, and keep them on hand even now for wiping messy hands quickly. To take them on-the-go, just transfer to a ziplock bag and you're good to go. They made our life simpler, so I'm passing on the recipe to those so inclined :)

PS--this makes a really great baby shower gift! Write up the recipe and give all the ingredients along with a container for a helpful, inexpensive gift.