Monday: Orthodontist Appointments, Oreo Fluff & a 20-Minute Stir-Fry

Got up this morning and made a fresh batch of bacon.

Because apparently that’s just how we start the week around here.

I also pulled out some of the Costco bagels I sliced and stored in the refrigerator over the weekend.

And breakfast was done.

Nothing complicated, which was good because we had a very full Monday ahead.

Not one, but TWO of my boys were getting orthodontic work done today.

So we needed to get moving.

Schoolwork First, Orthodontist Second

After breakfast, we got right to work on school.

I knew we’d be out of the house for several hours, and I wanted to get as much accomplished as possible before we left.

And I had another very important priority.

Feeding the boys.

Because if you’re about to have a bunch of orthodontic work done, my philosophy is pretty simple.

Eat before you go.

Seriously.

If you’re about to have a mouth full of new metal and sore teeth, you might as well enjoy a good meal while you still can.

So I fed both boys an early lunch before their appointments.

I also fed my four-year-old because she was coming along with us.

And, of course, I packed her PlanetBox snack box.

I pretty much never leave the house with my four-year-old without food.

Even if she’s just eaten.

Sorry About All the Metal in Your Mouth. How About Some Oreo Fluff?

When we got home, I decided we needed a treat.

And what better way to apologize to your children for all the metal that was just installed in their mouths than to make Oreo fluff?

I mean, really.

It’s the least I could do.

If you’re not familiar with Oreo fluff, it’s one of the easiest desserts you can make.

It’s creamy, sweet, full of crushed Oreos, and doesn’t require any baking.

You can put it into a pie crust and serve it as a pie.

Or you can just scoop it into bowls and eat it as a fluffy pudding-like dessert.

Which is what we did.

And because I have five kids, I doubled the recipe.

Naturally.

My Easy Oreo Fluff Recipe

Ingredients — Single Batch

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• A splash of vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• Crushed Oreo cookies, as many as you like

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until completely smooth.
2. Add the heavy whipping cream and continue beating until the mixture becomes thick, fluffy, and holds stiff peaks.
3. Gently fold in the crushed Oreos.
4. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

That’s it.

You can spoon it directly into bowls, use it as a pie filling, or layer it into little dessert cups.

A Few Oreo Fluff Tips

First, I think Oreo fluff is best after it’s had time to sit in the refrigerator.

Ideally, 12–24 hours.

The cookies soften, the flavors come together, and the whole thing turns into this delicious cookies-and-cream dessert.

You can absolutely eat it sooner, but I really like the texture after it’s rested.

Second, you can control how chunky you want the Oreos.

Normally, I don’t mind bigger cookie pieces.

But today, with two boys who had just gotten orthodontic work done, I chopped the Oreos very finely.

I wanted them to soften quickly and be easier to eat.

We’ll let the fluff sit in the refrigerator so those cookie pieces can get nice and soft.

And third, if you’re feeding a crowd, double it.

That’s exactly what I did.

Because a single batch of Oreo fluff doesn’t last very long around here.

One note for anyone making this after dental work: even finely chopped cookies can be uncomfortable with sore teeth or new orthodontic appliances, so make sure the pieces have softened enough and follow your orthodontist’s food restrictions.

A Leftover Flank Steak Salad for Lunch

Once everybody was settled, I finally made myself lunch.

And I was very happy to have leftover flank steak from Saturday night’s bonfire cookout.

Remember that big flank steak I grilled on the Weber and then finished on the Blackstone after we had a little grease flare-up?

Well, we had plenty left over.

So I took some of that steak and diced it into small pieces.

Then I heated a skillet and gave the steak a quick sear.

I love reheating steak this way.

You don’t want to cook it forever, because it’ll get tough.

The Great Cupcake Debate

My mom made these incredible gluten-free, dairy-free cupcakes.

And they are so good.

So I had one after lunch.

And then I had another one later in the day.

Which somehow became a topic of conversation at dinner.

Because Chris was trying to claim that a slice of cake is less than 2 cupcakes.

And I said, excuse me, but I have a very reasonable argument here.

Two cupcakes are equivalent to one slice of cake.

I stand by this.

Think about it.

A slice of cake can be pretty substantial.

Especially if it’s a nice, generous slice with frosting.

Two regular-sized cupcakes?

That seems perfectly comparable to me.

A Little Halloween Costume Repair

This afternoon, I also had a little sewing project to tackle.

Daphne is going to be Elsa for Halloween.

And we’re using a costume we’ve had since my now-11-year-old daughter was about Daphne’s age.

Which I love.

That costume has been around for years, and now another little girl gets to wear it.

But one of the seams near the zipper had ripped.

So I pulled out my sewing machine and got to work.

Now, I’m not a professional seamstress.

Not even close.

But I do know how to use my sewing machine, and I can fix things.

And that’s really all I needed to do today.

Just repair the seam so the zipper would work properly and the costume would hold together.

Thankfully, it was a pretty straightforward fix.

And now Elsa is ready for Halloween.

I love being able to repair something like this instead of having to replace it.

Especially when it’s a costume that already has so many memories attached to it.

Dinner: My Favorite Leftover Protein Stir-Fry

For dinner tonight, I decided to make one of my absolute favorite quick meals.

Leftover protein stir-fry.

I know.

I talk about this all the time.

But I cannot stop making it because it is just so useful.

It’s one of those meals I think everybody should have in their cooking rotation.

Because if you have some cooked protein, a bag of vegetables, and a few basic ingredients for sauce, you can have a really delicious Asian-inspired dinner on the table in about 20 minutes.

And you can make it differently every single time.

The Beauty of a Leftover Stir-Fry

The whole idea is simple….you can click here for the full recipe.

You start with whatever protein you already have.

That could be:

• Grilled chicken
• Cooked ground beef
• Leftover steak
• Pork
• Shrimp, if your household can eat it
• Or even no meat at all

Then you add vegetables.

Fresh vegetables work beautifully.

Frozen vegetables work beautifully.

Leftover cooked vegetables work beautifully.

I don’t care.

Use what you’ve got.

And then you make a quick sauce.

That’s what brings everything together.

My Easy Stir-Fry Sauce

I make a simple sauce using:

• Chicken broth
• Liquid aminos or soy sauce
• Honey
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Rice vinegar
• Sesame oil
• Black pepper
• Cornstarch to thicken

I whisk everything together, then pour it into the pan with the vegetables and protein.

As it heats, the cornstarch thickens the sauce so it coats everything.

You can adjust the sweetness, saltiness, and acidity to your taste.

If you want more tang, add a little rice vinegar.

If you want it sweeter, add a little more honey.

If you want a stronger sesame flavor, add a touch more sesame oil.

It’s incredibly flexible.

Meanwhile, Chris Was Picking Up Wendy’s

But here’s where dinner got even more interesting.

We have an American Express credit card that gives us a $30 Uber Eats credit every month.

And I’ve been experimenting with the best way to use it.

Because I want to get as much value out of that credit as possible.

And I think I’ve found my favorite option.

Wendy’s.

Seriously.

We have a Wendy’s right near our house, so I can place an order through Uber Eats and have Chris pick it up on his way home from work.

No delivery fees.

No waiting around for somebody to bring it to our house.

And the amount of food I can get for that credit is kind of amazing.

Tonight I ordered:

• 6 burgers
• 4 large fries
• 4 Frosties

All for under $30.

I mean, that’s a lot of food.

Especially considering how expensive fast food has gotten.

And because I was using the monthly credit, it felt like a pretty fantastic deal.

I placed the order while Chris was driving home, and he stopped to pick it up.

Then he brought everything home, and we had a combination dinner.