YOUR HOCKEY MOM QUESTIONS

Your Hockey Mom Questions Answered by Kelly McDavid: Skate to Great and Keeping Kids on the Ice

Nov 2, 2018 by Theresa

Sometimes facilitating the Canadian Hockey Mom Community provides me with some extra-amazing opportunities. This was the case when I talked last week with Kelly McDavid (yes, NHL superstar Connor McDavid’s mom) about important work she is doing with Febreze to eliminate odours and barriers to playing hockey. As they say, “You bring the skates; we’ll take care of the stink”.

For the third time, Kelly has partnered with Febreze and Skate To Great to help get more Canadian kids on the ice. From now until December 3rd, Febreze is collecting gently used hockey skates at select arenas nationwide. Your donation will be sanitized, freshened with Febreze and shared with kids who want to get on the ice!! To find a collection location nearest you, click here.

For many Canadians, the cost of equipment is unaffordable, making participation in certain sports and extracurricular activities difficult. Febreze is committed to not only eliminating that tough hockey stink but also the barriers to participating in Canada’s much-loved sport. #FebrezeHockeyHeroes

I also had a chance to ask Kelly some of your questions about her family’s minor hockey days. I’ve included excerpts from our conversation below. Have a read, you might be surprised by some of her answers!

What were some of your earliest memories of your boys playing hockey?

I met my husband Brian through hockey, my sister was dating someone on the same Junior B team. My family was a skiing family, so I always thought my family would ski, but life turned out differently.

Connor started playing house league at 4 and Cameron at 5. Cameron’s best memories were meeting other players and the relationships that they made, and the relationships that we made with other parents who were the greatest part of hockey. As we all look back at the best part it was certainly the relationships and feeling that you were a family.

What was your typical role in the Hockey Mom madness?

I was more the caregiver I was always worried about their health, eating and sleeping. I was always worried that it was too much. Connor put a lot of pressure on himself and accountability. He would say “I’m tired today I don’t want to shoot my pucks, I’m tired” and I would say “that’s ok listen to your body, you don’t’ have to if you are tired.” Then he would look at me and say, “No, I need to do it because if I don’t I will be mad at myself later.” So he always did it.

That’s a great point, the importance of accountability, especially now with games like Fortnite taking up kids’ attention.

Yes, I didn’t even know what that was until recently, the kids explained it to me. It’s so sad, kids should be doing other things and outside. We were lucky to not have Fortnite.

Let’s talk about the work you are doing with Febreze and Skate to Great.

Febreze has always been a part of my family, I’ve used Febreze Fabric Freshener since the kids were little. I learned quickly that you couldn’t go to a tournament without it. So, I was very excited when they approached me, it was just a natural fit. What we are doing is asking people to donate their gently used skates, and find the Febreze Facebook page, to find the drop-off location closest to you so that kids who don’t’ have skates can get out on the ice.

Do you see hockey as something that is important in a child’s development?

Hockey or any organized sport is important. It builds self- confidence, high management skills, teamwork, time management. Hockey or other sports teaches them so many life lessons that they can carry on into adulthood. There are so many barriers, one is that there is a huge time commitment and huge life commitment. The Febreze and Skate to Great program is trying to keep players on the ice. I know with my boys went through skates so quickly, sometimes my boys wore through two pairs in a season. So let’s get these extra skates to other players and maybe we can find the next great NHL player out there.

How did you handle or help your kids handle homework or school and hockey?

Our kids were very clear if they wanted to play hockey they had to do their homework. I definitely helped with time management, the nagging mother, but Connor was a little bit more scheduled. He was focused to make sure he got his homework done early so that he didn’t’ have to worry about it. Cameron was more last minute so he might have to stay up late but it always got done.

I remember the first time that Cameron made it to a rep team, and I didn’t’ know much about hockey. We were all very excited about the tournament and Brian was out of town so I took him to practice and they handed out the schedule. I noticed that he played on Friday, and I thought to myself “there is no PA day on Friday, why is there a game on Friday?” I went up to the coach and said: “I’m not sure if you know that it’s not a PA day Friday, but there are two games scheduled.” He looked at me like I had two heads, he couldn’t believe that I didn’t know that this was a thing. That was my first introduction to the tournaments and knowing your kids need to miss one day of school. I must have looked like the crazy mom in the dressing room going up and complaining about playing on a Friday.

How did you handle negative comments about your son’s skill?

It was tough. He got called a puck hog, my husband coached and would be accused of playing Connor more but my husband was so aware of how much ice-time he had and would be as equal as he possibly could. When my husband coached Connor was never the captain of any of those teams. Brian would refuse to make him captain because it would have confirmed that my husband was there only for Connor. He was an assistant captain for a couple of years but he never got to be captain. Then there were times when parents would yell, one mother came down to the glass and started giving Connor the finger, I want to say he was 11 and it was a mother whose son was cut by my husband and she thought Connor was trying to fight with her kid, which was totally not the case at all. He was very upset by that and got into the car and asked why she would do this, and I had to explain that some parents are very jealous, but we need to walk away.

Connor comes across as a humble person. Is that something you had to work on or is he that way?

He is that way. We obviously talked about things that would take place in the dressing room or on the ice, but we said that’s part of hockey and you have to let that go. He is who he is, and I often say he’s an old soul in a young body. He’s mature beyond his years and he just gets it and got it at a very young age. He got that “I’m good at this”. He put a lot of pressure on himself, but he never tried to make anyone feel bad if they weren’t or never bragged or boasted. He just loves hockey, he loves the team aspect of it and it’s carried on, to this day he doesn’t like cocky.

How did you handle politics in hockey?

Things hurt sometimes because you feel like people are your family. And when we went from York Simcoe Express to the GTHL, it wasn’t well received. I take it they were hurt and didn’t want us to leave, which was nice, but you are doing what you do for your son. Especially when your husband coaches there is always lots of talk, but you have to try not to get involved in it and take it with a grain of salt.

When you have two children playing how do you manage time and attention with siblings?

Brian was with Connor most of the time because he coached him and Cameron played to Junior A, and I went with Cameron. You just made it work. When we were all at home we tried to spend time together, and spend time with my extended family at their place and all be together there. Those times were special, and we tried to do the best we could, it’s all you can do.

For both your sons what is the greatest adversity and how did you help them get through it?

For Connor, the greatest adversity was the fact that he was so good, and he had to tone it down a bit because he didn’t want to be the one in the limelight. Even still he doesn’t like to be the star of attention. Even though he is who he is he doesn’t feel the attention should be on him it should be on his teammates.

For Cameron, his adversity was making it to AAA, he wanted to, and finally did, and that was constantly encouraging him and making sure that he didn’t’ get down on himself and he eventually made it.

How did I help them? I just supported them. I gave them support and I talked to them. I talk to moms today and I say we were lucky our kids didn’t have cell phones. On our drives to the game, we were talking to each other. Nowadays, kids are on their cell phones all the time, they don’t’ talk as much. That’s all we did was talk.

With toning it down – did you ever worry he wouldn’t go for it? Because to go for it you have to really put yourself out there.

I never thought he wouldn’t go for it, he was very focused and determined and that’s what he was going to do no matter what. For me, I worried that it was too much for him, and I would often talk to him about that and make sure it was ok. When he was quiet I would worry, he’s a very introspective person and he would get quiet and I would be the one to try to make sure that he was ok and make sure he was supported no matter what.

When you look over your hockey mom experience, what was the most important advice you ever received?.

It was actually my husband who got the advice, and he was told don’t ever let anybody come between you and your son. So meaning… there are a lot of people out there, your kids are good and they want to be a part of it, and want to represent your kids or take them on free tournaments where you wouldn’t have to pay, which we never ever did. It just means stay close to your kids. And enjoy it, because it goes so darn fast. Just enjoy it, and stay positive.

What would you like to tell every mom out there?

Enjoy it, stay positive, support your kids, there are ups and downs. There are sacrifices, I know there are sacrifices I sacrificed a lot to have my sons play at a high level but it was worth it. Stay positive.

And finally, a question directly from our moms on Facebook, does that nervous mom question ever go away or does it get easier?

No, I’m always nervous. We don’t go to a lot of games because it’s so far, but I’m watching on TV, and I’m on the edge of my seat and yelling at the TV, and I’m not yelling at other players I’m just yelling to be careful. I worry about injuries more now since he broke his collarbone and I see him racing towards the boards, and that’s when I yell careful. It doesn’t get easier.

I would like to thank Kelly McDavid for taking the time to talk to me and answering some of our CHM questions, and Febreze and Skate to Great for offering such a great program to help all Canadians play hockey.

Want to enter the Giveaway for a Febreze Product?

If you would like to enter to receive one of five Febreze products, go to our Canadian Hockey Moms Facebook Page and tell me your favourite Kelly McDavid answer in the comments.

Be sure to check out the Febreze Hockey Heroes website and find the skate drop-off location closest to you and keep kids in hockey!

Comments? Questions? Email us at contactus@canadianhockeymoms.ca or leave a message on our Facebook Page.

THE REASON FOR HOCKEY MOMS

I started this website when my 7-year-old son had only one shift in an entire game and I didn’t know how to deal with it.

Feb 29, 2020, by Theresa

February 2020 marks the 10^th anniversary of our Hockey Mom community and website (my fourteenth year as a Hockey Mom, but it took me a few years to get going on our community).

Our website, www.canadianhockeymoms.ca is in its third reincarnation. It started as Hockey Mom in Canada, and once the website was large enough and had enough followers, I was contacted by CBC lawyers letting me know I was infringing on their copyright, so change it, or else.

So, we became Canadian Hockey Moms. Fitting really, because I am only one Hockey Mom in Canada, but we are all Canadian (or American, or European) Hockey Moms.

I’ve been asked dozens of times over the years why I started this website, but I’ve never told the full truth. I’ve said some things that weren’t lies; that my children were getting involved in hockey, there were no resources at the time, and that I was interested in using my education and background in community psychology to see if I could build a community of hockey moms online. These reasons are certainly true, but the website itself wasn’t even a thought until a fateful Novice game at our first Silverstick tournament in Wasaga Beach.

The truth is, I started this website when my 7-year-old son had only one shift in an entire game and I didn’t know how to deal with it.

For the record, for a long time, I told no one that was why I started it.

I actually started the website anonymously, as I didn’t want to draw attention to myself or those around me, and I have never talked about that on this website until today. My intention then and now was not to humiliate or blame or rage, my intention was and genuinely has been to try to figure out how to stay sane and rational in an often-irrational hockey world.

I am a rational person who was struggling to make sense of a very strange world. I needed help from others, Hockey Moms who had been through things, to do it.

Those of you who have witnessed the dreaded shortening of the bench for your children may have had a visceral reaction to my statement about one shift by my 7-year-old, meaning you probably FEEL something because you remember what it felt like when it happened to your child. It might be the tightening in your throat, increase in blood pressure, anger, sadness, resignation.

It does not feel good when you know that your child has been chosen as part of a team but is hearing loud and clear,

“You aren’t good enough.”

To be clear, I am well aware that my son wasn’t the first child to go through this, and others have probably experienced even worse. But this was my experience.

My oldest son was a “first-year” novice, he had turned 7 in October and was playing with a very talented team of mostly 8-year-olds. Though I had been around hockey and rinks growing up, it was my first year with a child in competitive hockey (although it was a DD centre, small-town hockey at its core, you can’t get much smaller and still be considered competitive hockey).

My son was learning the defence, younger, and lacked confidence, and was arguably one of the weaker kids on the team at 7 years old. His ice-time reflected that in the first month, and even after being benched for the entire third period in a tournament final two weeks prior, his father and I said nothing, recognizing (we thought) that “this is what happened when you played rep hockey”.

I will say, by the way, that at the time there were not a lot of alternate views on the topic.

We went with it, choosing to use the opportunity to talk to our son about hard work, different roles on the team, and just keep doing your best. That was until we went to a Silverstick tournament and in game 1, watched our son play one 20 second shift in the entire game. His first shift was about 4 minutes into the first period, he got scored on (I recall the turning over of a puck and my son being caught in a 2 on 1), and the rest was history.

The challenge with this is that my son didn’t realize he was never getting back on the ice. So, he would move down the line to the door, get close and have the defence coach push him (gently) by the helmet back to the centre of the bench.

The Quinte Spitfires play for their coach. May 2010.

I remember everything about that day. My new white coat, my favourite boots and jeans, my brown sweater, the snow outside, the smell of the potluck in the hotel hallways, and the sight of my son curled up in a ball on the bed not really understanding why he didn’t play, because, well, he was 7.

Again, his father and I said nothing, until the coaches called us in for a talk the following Saturday because they “knew we were upset”.

At that age, at that level, I think most of us would agree that what happened was wrong. But it was the first time I experienced not knowing how to handle a problem with a coach, worrying about speaking up in case it impacted my son’s future ice time. I was also seriously worried about ruining friendships (all the coaches were friends of ours) and I didn’t want to be “that” parent.

I worried that other parents would think we thought our son was more skilled than he was (I didn’t want to be that parent all) and worrying that they agreed with the coach’s decision. Like many of you, I was concerned we would lose friends (as a side note… this is a very rational concern in hockey, as many of you know).

Mostly I just worried about my son. My biggest fear was that he would become frustrated and abandon hockey, a game that he loved.

At the same time, there was something else completely different taking place on our team.

Juxtaposed with my son’s and our family’s experience, I watched opponent fans scream at our top player who dominated the play. Opposing parents screamed intense, angry things, like PUCK HOG, GET HIM, or TAKE HIM OUT!

The player they were yelling at was eight years old.

That seemed as absurd to me as what happened to my child.

This player was out every other shift and more. I didn’t begrudge him that, but I was disturbed by the behaviour of opposing parents, and had this thought, “I wonder how Trina Crosby dealt with these types of parents”.

And therein lies the greatest contraction in hockey.

One 8-year-old player was yelled at by adults for being too good. I really felt for him, and his parents, and especially his mom listening to the fans yell terrible things at her kid. Meanwhile, my 7-year-old son was benched for an entire game on the same team, and I hurt for him, too.

And there was no help to deal with any of it.

Almost 10 years later, I’m still not convinced we handled the one-shift incident correctly. When the coaches asked to talk to us, we initially said no.

They insisted.

They did not like what we had to say.

I remember two key things from that meeting. One was that one of our key points was the importance of developing all players and fostering a love for hockey, especially at such a young age. We had lost in OT in that tournament, and when the players left the ice, they went to the dressing room and were all in tears, there was no celebration of making it there, it was doom and gloom. They came out of the dressing room feeling even worse when they heard they had not played well.

The second was leaving the meeting with the coaches when we were asked by the coach “remember how you said it was a big accomplishment to get second in the tournament and the kids should have been proud?”

Yes, we remembered.

Then he said it, “Well maybe if your son had played more we wouldn’t’ have done as well.”

That one line has stuck with me over the years. Not only because it was insensitive (and not necessarily true), but because underlying that comment is a larger issue faced all the time in hockey, about team vs. individual success, and when does it become ok to sacrifice players’ self-worth for the “good” of the team.

Surely not Novice DD hockey. But when does it become ok? Atom? Peewee? Competitive? A? AA? AAA?

That was just one of the questions I wanted to ask people who knew more than me.

A researcher through training, I like questions, and I felt that a good way to learn more about how to handle all these situations was to ask Hockey Moms who had been there. And that’s where all of you come in. And that’s why the website was formed.

10 years later, I’ve come a long way,

My three children have now played on a combined 32 teams (from house league to AAA and girls’ hockey) across 6 associations. I’ve managed 17 of the teams, I’ve been on the bench as a trainer, and I’ve been on our minor hockey executive for 6 years, the past three as president.

And, our Canadian Hockey Mom Community has over 40,000 hockey moms across our social media platforms.

I’m now a veteran hockey mom, with three kids still in hockey, and I’m still trying to figure some things out. Having been around for a while, I feel that I’m in a position to give my opinion (but not advice) in a way that I wasn’t 10 years ago, in a way that I sought the opinions of moms who came before me.

So, buckle up! We have a lot in store for you, as we enter this new decade. We have a new website on the way, giveaways, guest blogs, and I’ll even be throwing my opinion out there occasionally, because trust me, I am confident that I know stuff now.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been a part of this community for 10 years, and contributed your thoughts, opinions and made me laugh. I’d also like to thank all the moms who have become part of my hockey family. I learn from you and celebrate your children’s joy in hockey with you.

Thank you, everyone.

Here we go!

Theresa

Comments or questions? Leave a message on our Facebook Page or email me at contactus@canadianhockeymoms.ca

Note: I’m happy to say that my son navigated that issue and every other issue that life and hockey have thrown at him. Today, 10 years later, he’s the assistant captain in his final year of midget headed into the OMHA semi-finals this weekend. I could not be prouder of the young man he has become. XOX

HOCKEY BOOKS FOR KIDS

I’ve listed below a few recommended hockey books for younger children. Perhaps you have some suggestions for other hockey books that your own kids enjoyed (if so, email us at contactus@canadianhockeymoms.com)

Ben and Lucy Play Pond Hockey By Andrew Sherburne, Illustrated by Kevin Cannon
Casey and Derek on the Ice By Marty Sederman, Illustrated by Zachary Pullen
Clancy with the Puck By Chris Mizzoni
Just One Goal By Robert Munsch, Illustrated by Michael Martchenko.
The Hockey Tree By David Ward, Illustrated by Brian Deines
Brady Brady Hockey series by Mary Shaw, Illustrated by Chuck Temple
Dino-Hockey By Lisa Wheeler
The Rocket By Mike Leonetti and Greg Banning
Home Ice: Canada’s 2010 Men’s Olympic Hockey Team Guide By Lorna Schultz Nicholson
Z is for Zambonie By Matt Napier

For hockey lovers and readers of all ages, check out Joe Pelletier’s website www.hockeybookreviews.com

Perhaps you’ll find a good hockey book to keep you company when your hockey player(s) are not on the ice!

ABOUT HOCKEY MOMS

I’m a “Hockey Mom”.

It took me a while to embrace the “Hockey Mom” label due to the bad rap Hockey Moms can get. You know what I’m talking about. Between the “lipstick/pitbull” jokes and all the stereotypes that are out there of Hockey Moms yelling at the refs and pushing our kids around, we are sometimes thought of as over-zealous and far too intense. But I knew better. Hockey Moms are smart, resilient, creative, tireless, compassionate and strong ladies. You have to be all of these things to keep up with a hockey schedule!

I have three hockey-playing children (two boys and a girl) and I started Canadian Hockey Moms in February of 2010 during the Vancouver Winter Olympics. I was in the middle of becoming immersed in my own children’s’ minor hockey career, and yes, encountering some “politics” along the way. Recognizing there was nothing out there to support hockey moms (and families) through probably the busiest time in their lives, I decided to use my community development skills to start talking to moms, taking questions, and sharing ideas. My goal was to reach moms in every province and territory in Canada, and we did it within our first two months. Though most of us are Canadian, we are also followed by moms internationally. By the way, I love our international friends, even during the Olympics! 😉

The Hockey Moms we engage with make me smile every day. There are some witty ladies out there! I love being able to connect moms with ideas and suggestions to each other, or share information that might make someone’s life easier. I also have a Master’s degree in Community Psychology, which definitely contributes to my passion for building engaged and engaging communities. In my spare time, I run a consulting company that focuses on research and evaluation, mainly in community and educational settings. You can check out that side of me at www.synergyrec.info .

I’m always interested in working with new people, brands or organizations that can help hockey parents or players, hearing your questions, and sharing good information. You are always welcome to contact me at contactus@canadianhockeymoms.ca

Be sure to join in on all the fun:

On Facebook: Canadian Hockey Moms

On Twitter: @hockeymomcanada

On Pinterest: cdnhockeymoms

And find me on LinkedIn.

Until we meet in a rink…Happy Hockey!

Theresa Dostaler

Canadian Hockey Mom

JUICY MEATLOAF

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef
1 med. onion
1 can of Campbell’s beef barley vegetable soup
1 egg
spices of your choice

Mix meat, egg soup and spices together in a bowl place in a casserole dish and bake in an oven at 350c for approx. 1 hour. This is not a dry meatloaf.

MACARONI MEAT CASSEROLE

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef (or chicken)
1 onion
1 can of tomato soup
1 can of stewed tomatoes ( I use the petite cut ones)
2 boxes of Kraft dinner
grated cheddar cheese amount of your choice
Spices of your choice

Brown meat in a pan with onion (chopped) drain the meat, add in a can of tomato soup and can of tomatoes and spices of your choice, garlic oregano, basil, Italian seasoning etc. and cook on low while making Kraft dinner. Boil Kraft dinner until noodles are slightly Eldente. DO NOT add milk or butter. Just mix the cheese in dry. In a deep casserole dish add in meat mixture and noodles, sprinkle grated cheddar evenly over top. Bake in the oven at 350c for approx. 15-20 mins or until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling around the sides. This one is easy to make ahead as it only takes a short time in the oven maybe a little longer if it comes out of the fridge!

HASHBROWN PIZZA

Ingredients:

1 package (around 1 1/2 lb) ground beef, chicken or turkey
(you may need two pkgs of turkey)
2 bags of hashbrowns
2 cans of cheddar soup
2 cans of tomato-based soup
1 block of cheese (grated)

Mix the cheddar soup with the hashbrowns until well coated. Press hashbrowns onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until brown and crisp. In the meantime, cook the beef, chicken or turkey until fully cooked (about 10-15 mins). Once the mixture is fully cooked add the tomato soup and stir in until meat is fully coated. Let simmer on medium heat for 10 minutes. Pour meat mixture on top of baked hashbrown “crust”. Top with grated cheese. Broil on high for 5-7 minutes.

Let sit for 5 minutes.

FISH TACOS

3/4 lb halibut or haddock or another white fish
juice of half a lime
juice of half a lemon
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the salsa:

1 beefsteak tomato
1 garlic clove
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 chipotle chile (canned in adobo), diced (optional)
1/4 onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup cilantro leaf, chopped
1 lime, juice of
a dash of chilli powder (in place of chipotle)
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the tacos:
8 corn tortillas

Preparation:
1. Place fish filets in baking dish.
2. Season the fish with pepper to taste.
3. add lemon and lime juice to fish in a dish (it rhymes!!!).
4. Place the halibut in the hot oven – about 350 degrees – until cooked
5. Baste the fish with the citrus juice.
6. Turn the fish and continue to grill until cooked through.
7. Remove the fish from the pan and let cool.
8. Flake the fish and side aside while preparing the salsa.
9. To prepare the salsa: chopped all ingredients and mix together in a bowl (i actually prepared this first so it could sit while fish cooks)
10. Divide the flaked halibut onto the corn tortillas.
11. Spoon the salsa onto the fish.
12. Roll shells and ENJOY!!

SLOPPY JOE SQUARES

This is an easy and fast recipe, a favourite for the kids! Yummy leftovers, too!

Ingredients:

2 pkg refrigerated crescent rolls
1-1.5 lbs lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 c prepared pasta sauce
1 c shredded cheese (our preference is Kraft Tex-Mex blend)
Salt & Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375F. Brown ground beef and onion in a skillet. Add pasta sauce. Simmer until meat is thoroughly cooked. Spray a 9 x 13 in a pan with cooking spray.

Unroll one package of crescent rolls and place them in the bottom of the pan. Press to seal seams.

Add ground beef, onion & sauce mixture on top of crescent roll layer.

Sprinkle with grated cheese.

Unroll the 2^nd package of crescent rolls and add to the top of the meat/cheese mixture.

Bake for 13 minutes. Allow standing for about 5 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.

CHICKEN TACOS

This is one of my “fastest” meals as I can easily have it on the table within 20 minutes.

1 package of ground chicken (or double the recipe for more)
1 package chicken fajita seasoning (I use Old El Paso)
1 cup of water
10-12 whole wheat soft flour tortillas

Condiments:

1 chopped tomato
Shredded lettuce
Sour cream
Salsa
Grated cheese

Cook ground chicken in a skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Add water and fajita seasoning. Let simmer until most of the water has drained out (approximately 8-10 minutes).

In the meantime, chop tomato, grate cheese, shredded lettuce, and add sour cream and salsa to bowls. Once the chicken is finished assemble into chicken tacos (chicken plus condiments). Enjoy!

EASY NOODLE CASSEROLE

Don’t let this recipe fool you, this is a family favourite every time. Even picky children will enjoy it and be asking for more. So simple, and so yummy! Makes enough that you will have leftovers for tomorrow night’s quick supper as well!

1lb lean ground beef

1 onion (diced)

1 can diced tomatoes (drained)

1 can ½ the fat cream of celery soup

1 bag of “No Yolk” egg noodles

Add egg noodles to salted water and cook until tender.

In the meantime, brown ground beef and onion until cooked through.

Drain cooked noodles and return to pot.

Add diced tomatoes, cream of celery soup, and beef and onion to noodles.

Mix well.

Enjoy!

THE “BIG SANDWICH”

A “big sandwich” is a hit when you want something relatively healthy, and that you can make ahead of time and transport.

Get a couple of big loaves of bread (e.g. French Bread, Pumpernickle, etc).
Assorted cold cuts (I like to use three, usually turkey or chicken, ham, and a salami)
Cucumber cut in slices (you can also use alfalfa sprouts if your kids will eat them)
Sliced tomatoes
Grated cheese (use cheddar, or slices of swiss)
Italian dressing.

Slice loaves lengthwise down the middle (like a sub). Add Italian dressing to both top and bottom slices. Add at least one layer of each type of meat, then cucumbers, then tomato. Top with grated cheese, then pile on your top slice of bread. Voila! Big Sandwich!

Cut rectangular loaves in large squares, round loaves can be cut in wedges and serve on a tray

If you are transporting the Big Sandwich in the car or to the arena, assemble the sandwich and place the whole thing back into the bread bag without cutting. Cut the sandwich prior to eating.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI (Sam’s Favourite)

1 lb of extra lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 to 1.5 cups COOKED basmati or jasmine rice (or whatever you usually use)
3-4 med/large-ish zucchini (although I have done it with smaller so that each person gets their OWN whole zucchini – but they are harder to clean out)

Brown ground meat and season LIBERALLY with black pepper; drain put aside to cool a bit. Cut the top off each zucchini and scoop out the white (i put the insides through the food processor and then into the freezer to be added to future soups but otherwise you can toss the insides). Mix cooled rice in with the ground meat; I only use pepper to the season but you can use anything you have. Stuff the hollowed-out zucchini and place it in a large fry pan. Cover with crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce -leftover spaghetti sauce also works well. Cook over low heat for about 15 – 20 mins turning the zucchini’s regularly

Serve with some nice fresh Italian bread!

LAZY LASANGNE

This an easy, prepare- ahead delicious, nutritious dinner …can easily accommodate any number of guests

Ingredients:
ground beef
onion
chopped green and red pepper, celery, fresh garlic and diced zucchini: lightly sauteed
pasta of your choice: cooked, drained
mozzarella: shredded
parmesan to taste
pasta sauce of your choice: store-bought or homecooked

Brown ground beef and onion in skillet and drain. Use a white corning dish that has a lid or any other covered casserole-type baking dish.

Place :
layer sauce on the bottom of the dish
add a small layer of pasta
top with some mozzarella to lightly coat
a small sprinkle of parmesan
add veggie layer
Repeat process :
add sauce layer
add pasta layer
cheese layer
veggies

Repeat until casserole dish is 90% full

Top casserole with mozzarella and parmesan, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge until ready to bake in the oven
or cook right away.

Cooking instructions: bake at 350 F for up to 45 minutes covered if cold from the fridge
if room temperature adjust cooking time to 30 minutes

Remove lid and let top get bubbly and golden and melted. Serve with salad and or fresh bread

Enjoy !!!

Freezes well as a make-ahead meal !!

TURKEY LASAGNE

This is a simple lasagne recipe that I prefer to traditional lasagne, and my kids love it, too.

1 medium onion
a few cloves of garlic (minced)
1 pkg ground turkey
3 or 4 turkey sausages (pork are fine too)
1 can of plain hunts tomato sauce
1 small can of diced tomatoes
4 tbsp fresh basil
1 tbsp oregano (dry)
salt and pepper to taste
mozzarella
parmesan or romano cheese
9-12 lasagne noodles

Cook the onion. Add the turkey and sausage once the onion is soft. After the turkey and sausage are almost cooked add the garlic and cook a bit. Add oregano and half the basil, some salt and pepper too. Add the tomatoes and cook again for ten minutes. Add the tomato sauce and let simmer for half an hour or whatever you have time for! Add the rest of the fresh basil right at the end.

Now just assemble the lasagna. Put a little sauce in the bottom of the pan, add the first layer of noodles, the sauce, some parmesan to cover the sauce and a layer of mozzarella and so on and so on and so on! Typically I make three layers.

BIG BATCH O’ SPAGHETTI SAUCE

THANK YOU TO CANADIAN HOCKEY MOMS https://canadianhockeymoms.ca/

In the winter months, I like to cook this recipe almost every week as it makes enough to easily feed 8 to 10 people. I can make it on a Sunday, and have enough left for a quick supper later in the week. Doubled, this recipe is great to take to a team pot luck.

1 lb of lean ground beef
1 onion
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
2 stalks of celery
1 large carrot
½ zucchini
can of sliced mushrooms
1 can of tomato juice
1 can of diced tomatoes
Marjoram, basil, Italian seasoning, thyme (to taste)
Chilli flakes (add as many as you think you can handle, the first time try 1/2 a teaspoon)
A small handful of brown sugar

Dice vegetables. Add diced vegetables and beef to a large pot. Cook for approximately 5 minutes over medium-high heat. Add all spices to beef and vegetables, cover and cook approximately 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomato juice, tomatoes, mushrooms, chilli flakes, tomato paste, and brown sugar. Simmer for approximately 1 hour (covered). Simmer longer uncovered to thicken sauce if desired. Serve over pasta.

Double the recipe and increase the simmering time by 20 minutes for a super large team-feeding batch of sauce!

BEST EVER BANANA MUFFINS

THANK YOU TO CANADIAN HOCKEY MOMS https://canadianhockeymoms.ca/
3 large bananas
¾ cup white sugar
1 egg
1tsp baking soda
1tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup melted butter
½ bag milk chocolate chips (optional…but man are they good!)

Mash bananas. Add sugar and slightly beaten egg. Add melted butter. Add dry ingredients, mix, and bake at 350-375 degrees Faranheight for approximately 20 minutes.

HOCKEY MOMS EGG “MUFFINS”

Egg “Muffins”

THANK YOU TO CANADIAN HOCKEY MOMS https://canadianhockeymoms.ca/

These are protein-rich and easy to manage on a busy hockey morning. I like to use a square muffin tin because the kids think square eggs are so much cooler than round ones.

Each egg makes approximately one “muffin.” The following recipe is for 6 “egg muffins.”

Six eggs
½ cup of grated cheddar cheese
About 1/3 cup of thawed “frozen” spinach (this is approximately two balls of frozen spinach if you get that kind). Just thaw it out in the microwave and squeeze out excess water.
½ cup of milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add eggs and milk to a large measuring cup or bowl with a spout. Whisk until well combined. Add spinach and cheese, mix well.

Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray (e.g. Pam). Pour egg mixture evenly into 6 of the muffin cups. Bake in oven approximately 20 minutes, check at 15 minutes with a toothpick as ovens vary. Let cool briefly, then flip them out of the tin and watch your kids eat spinach without complaining! These can be quickly wrapped in a napkin or waxed paper and taken “on the road.”