Welcome to The Jungle!

Happy Monday all!  You might just be shocked to know……..

My thumb is SO GREEN THIS year….check out our garden after ONLY 1 month!

Look MOM ~ I can actually grow more than cactuses

Roma Tomatoes ~ totally trying to give the Cubanella Pepper a boot!

Check out all the tomatoes!

Bully #2 ~ The Zucchini….those leaves are bigger than my head!

Our crookneck squash is even scared, but, still holding it’s own in the jungle!

Have you ever seen cilantro get so big?! It’s insane and I keep cutting it back every week.

This is the FIRST and ONLY time I’ve ever been able to grow basil outside ~ I usually do well indoors, but, this year…..it’s working.

Rosemary.

Lemon Thyme ~ it really does smell like both lemon and thyme.

My one fail ~ I think….curly parsley.

I didn’t feature the other tomato, cucumbers, cherry tomato or pepper plant ~ next time because I forgot to take pics.

JUNGLE!  I wonder what this will look like in another month…it’s so COOL!

I woke up really wanting an egg-wich but we didn’t have any bread.  I bribed The Husband into going with me to Trader Joe’s with the promise of Starbuck’s.

Venti Iced Non-Fat Decaf Latte with caramel drizzle on top (3 points+)

A Brunch-Wich (6 points+)

Melon!

After breakfast, I got ready for our July 4th feast.

I wasn’t really “hungry” for lunch but I was snacky….I can admit it ~ I saw The Husband eating these Sea Salt & Vinegar Pop Chips and I wanted some too. (3 points+)

We picked up a few Annie The Baker Cookies at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday.  I had a "July 4th Version” of her Sugar Cookie ~ my FAVORITE one! (4 points+)

While I was busy in the kitchen, The Husband ran up to Home Depot and came back with a surprise for me.

He said he thought after seeing Tracey’s porch, that ours looked lonely and needed flowers.

So, he bought us flowers, transferred them and put them out in the sunshine on our steps.

LOVE!

Today’s BBQ was all about The Husband and what he wanted.  You see, he has to get a tooth pulled tomorrow (see HIS note on the calendar) and said he NEEDED to eat a lot because he won’t be able to eat much.

Are you all ready for this?! Keep in mind, I made this much food for THREE people (we invited his mom over)…he totally plans on eating it all before his appt tomorrow LOL.

2.2 LBs Tri Tip

I found these Artisan Fresh Chicken & Apple Sausages at Sam’s Club.

4 points+ each.

1 LB Chicken Apple Sausages (a couple caught on fire – oops!)

4.4 LBS Pork Ribs!

This is the first time I’ve ever made ribs with the bone in them.  I have to say, it was pretty easy.

I boiled them for 30 minutes first to get the fat to cook off.  Removed them from the water, dried them off and put this Carolina Rub on them.

I “crisped” them up on the grill by grilling for about 5 minutes per side, then, I started adding BBQ sauce every 5 minutes and flipped them twice doing this.

I LOVE RIBS!  They came right off the bone and it was all meat – no fat!

5 oz ribs = 9 points+

1/2 a sausage ~ 2 points+.  I didn’t love these as much as the ones from Trader Joe’s, but, they are not bad.

1 oz tri tip = 1 points+

1/4 cup Quick & Easy Slow Cooker Baked Beans (2 points+)

1/3 cup Healthier Potato Salad (2 points+)

Salad a la The Husband topped with 1 Tbsp Newman’s Light Lime Vinaigrette (1 points+)

All together with a few pickled veggies on the side.

The nephews are coming over in a few to watch the fireworks show with us…how cute are these Stacker Mallows I got for them to make S’Mores!

Yup, we are totally turning on the BBQ to make our S’mores because it’s what all the cool kids do

HERE IS WHAT IS ON OUR MENU THIS WEEK

* Leftovers, leftovers, leftovers LOL.

* Shrimp & Chickpea Salad (probably when he is having soup!)

* CEiMB ~ Chicken Pepian over cilantro lime brown rice with salad

* Grilled Pizza & salad!

* LUNCHES ~ Vegetable Gyoza with Edamame with Spicy Peanut Slaw

* and I totally want to make these 2 points+ Red, White & Blue Cookies!

Night all!