Well, I took a week off. I didn't mean to; I even had a few posts to put up; but I will admit that I have enjoyed playing some computer games in the evening so I haven't even gotten out the laptop much lately. I do feel like I'm coming out of hibernation as spring is slowing starting to envelope the mid-west. As much as I enjoy winter, I am enjoying the fact that most days the boys can just put on their mud boots and head outside without any need for help me. Flip Flop season is about here and getting out the door becomes so much easier.
I figured the weekly menu post was a good one to start out with again. Last week I must admit that I made some pretty awesome meals so I'll even have some recipes to post again! There really isn't anything major going on this week; Easter is coming but that will be in the next weekly menu. We are throwing around the idea of going to an Easter Brunch after church. I said, after last Easter, that I would not plan Easter dinner again. I was in the kitchen almost the entire day and it was not enjoyable. As a matter of fact, I said we would get KFC for dinner this year. I have two places in mind for reservations - a local hotel restaurant that does an awesome Sunday brunch every week; their Easter brunch is just bigger or The Melting Pot. It could be a fun tradition but I'm afraid the kids might not be quite ready for that one yet.
Anyway, here is the plan for the coming week.
Friday - It's time for tacos. I saw a recipe I would like to try called Barbacoa Slow Cooker Tacos that looks really good. It was posted on a blog where the author loves Tacos as much as I do but agrees that variety is good!
Saturday - We have a family day planned so we'll be eating out.
Sunday - Swiss Steak, Green Beans, Potatoes, Rolls
Monday -Chicken and Asparagus Stirfry over Brown Rice w/ Rolls
Tuesday - We are going to meet my parents for dinner to celebrate my Dad's 17th birthday (Hahaha)
Wednesday - I think it is time to Grill. Probably Chicken because I have some in the freezer and will have some baked potatoes, carrots, and, of course, rolls
Thursday - Beef tips and Noodles with Rolls. This is one of the last winter meals I'll make . . .then we'll shift fully to some summer, less hot stuff!
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Weekly Menu
I survived the Pot-luck. I ended up not making the dessert because, well, the pastor mentioned in a message that they get LOTS of desserts so instead I put together a relish tray (how's that for an 80's concept!). You know, olives and pickles. (Green Olives, Black Olives, Sweet Pickles and Dill Pickles!) It was easy and simple!
Now, I'm starting to shift my mind towards summer cooking, or lack of cooking, and have decided that I need to do some prep work in order to save on the "Honey, stop at Taco Bell" phone calls because it is too hot to cook. I'm putting together some freezer meals - most specifically, crock pot meals. I do not like turning on my oven on warm/hot days since the kitchen is already the hottest room in the house. I'm picking recipes that can be paired with other simple things such as Rice (thanks to the rice cooker), simple salads and veggies (quick stove top cooking) and potatoes - but I want to pick up a second slow cooker to use for "baked" sweet and regular potatoes. Naturally, we will also do grilling but on hot days, it is even too hot to grill! My goal right now is to put together 2-4 meals a week between now and the end of May. I'd even like to cook up a whole bunch of Ground Chuck to use for Tacos and Sloppy Joes. I'm trying to pick crock-pot freezer meals carefully because I want to make 2 of each kind . . .most we have never had and I want to make sure we like them!!
Normally by this time, obviously, my menu is normally written but this week has been a little "off" so I haven't gotten that far . I'm not even sure when I'll go "true" grocery shopping. Crazy, I know. Tonight I have a hair appointment so the hubs and kids will "fend for themselves" and I think I might grab a Subway on the way to eat while I sit with color on my hair for, like, an hour. Friday night we will probably finally do "breakfast for dinner" and Saturday . . .well, the normal (Kids -Mac and Cheese; Adults order in!) Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine right now :-)
Now, I'm starting to shift my mind towards summer cooking, or lack of cooking, and have decided that I need to do some prep work in order to save on the "Honey, stop at Taco Bell" phone calls because it is too hot to cook. I'm putting together some freezer meals - most specifically, crock pot meals. I do not like turning on my oven on warm/hot days since the kitchen is already the hottest room in the house. I'm picking recipes that can be paired with other simple things such as Rice (thanks to the rice cooker), simple salads and veggies (quick stove top cooking) and potatoes - but I want to pick up a second slow cooker to use for "baked" sweet and regular potatoes. Naturally, we will also do grilling but on hot days, it is even too hot to grill! My goal right now is to put together 2-4 meals a week between now and the end of May. I'd even like to cook up a whole bunch of Ground Chuck to use for Tacos and Sloppy Joes. I'm trying to pick crock-pot freezer meals carefully because I want to make 2 of each kind . . .most we have never had and I want to make sure we like them!!
Normally by this time, obviously, my menu is normally written but this week has been a little "off" so I haven't gotten that far . I'm not even sure when I'll go "true" grocery shopping. Crazy, I know. Tonight I have a hair appointment so the hubs and kids will "fend for themselves" and I think I might grab a Subway on the way to eat while I sit with color on my hair for, like, an hour. Friday night we will probably finally do "breakfast for dinner" and Saturday . . .well, the normal (Kids -Mac and Cheese; Adults order in!) Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine right now :-)
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
April Goals/Plans - No Foolin'!
Wow, spring came over night didn't it? March came in like a lion and went out like a lamb. Yesterday my kids were outside without coats on and, at several points, without shoes on (until they left the deck and found the cement to still be VERY cold HA!). Yes, Monday was the nicest day of the week but at least they played outside for h.o.u.r.s.! As much as I love winter, I will be thankful for when the boys can literally run in and out whenever they want - flip flops, no coat and our wonderful magnetic screen that even the dog just walks right through. (I don't even care that we go through 2-3 of those screens a summer, they make my life so much easier!!)
So, April goals. March goals were ok, not great. We've been trapped inside the house a lot and it was starting to wear on all of us, I think. We did go visit the dinosaurs; Darryl and I figured out how to squeeze a date in amongst his "bad days" due to his back, stomach and yes, now his jaw. I even got all of the Christmas lights down and put away since things have thawed out. Our new furniture is here and we know what we want to do, I think, for the rest of the living room but are kind of at a stand still until Darryl's surgery is done. Anyway, back to April goals. Are you ready? They are REALLY easy . . .. spring cleaning. Yes ma'am. I want to "tear" every room apart (ok, not really) and really clean right down to the corners. It's time to clean out some things, clean up some things, and organize. I need to get it all done before it hits 3000 degrees this summer ;-) Depending on the weather, we'd like to start on some outside clean up too. I know this is probably TMI for some of you but I've spend a good hour to hour and a half cleaning up dog poop HA AND to make it worse, I'm not done. I call it "As the snow melts" . .. we have one section in the yard that doesn't get much sun this time of year so the snow sticks around for a very long time - so I think I'll be cleaning up poop until the end of April. We also need to clean up the garage and get the summer stuff out like the swing and chairs. Throw in the fact that all of Darryl's doctor appointments are this month for his teeth/jaw, his back and his stomach. We expect back surgery by the end of April/Beginning of May too. Crazy month of April!
This week is packed busy too. Last night I had choir practice and tonight is the concert - both at a location about 1 1/2 hours from home. Wednesday Darryl is out for the evening and Thursday I have a hair appointment. I'll be ready for Friday when we'll all be home!! Not sure if I'll get a blog post up every day . .. I tend to write more in the evenings and I won't be home many evenings this week!
So, April goals. March goals were ok, not great. We've been trapped inside the house a lot and it was starting to wear on all of us, I think. We did go visit the dinosaurs; Darryl and I figured out how to squeeze a date in amongst his "bad days" due to his back, stomach and yes, now his jaw. I even got all of the Christmas lights down and put away since things have thawed out. Our new furniture is here and we know what we want to do, I think, for the rest of the living room but are kind of at a stand still until Darryl's surgery is done. Anyway, back to April goals. Are you ready? They are REALLY easy . . .. spring cleaning. Yes ma'am. I want to "tear" every room apart (ok, not really) and really clean right down to the corners. It's time to clean out some things, clean up some things, and organize. I need to get it all done before it hits 3000 degrees this summer ;-) Depending on the weather, we'd like to start on some outside clean up too. I know this is probably TMI for some of you but I've spend a good hour to hour and a half cleaning up dog poop HA AND to make it worse, I'm not done. I call it "As the snow melts" . .. we have one section in the yard that doesn't get much sun this time of year so the snow sticks around for a very long time - so I think I'll be cleaning up poop until the end of April. We also need to clean up the garage and get the summer stuff out like the swing and chairs. Throw in the fact that all of Darryl's doctor appointments are this month for his teeth/jaw, his back and his stomach. We expect back surgery by the end of April/Beginning of May too. Crazy month of April!
This week is packed busy too. Last night I had choir practice and tonight is the concert - both at a location about 1 1/2 hours from home. Wednesday Darryl is out for the evening and Thursday I have a hair appointment. I'll be ready for Friday when we'll all be home!! Not sure if I'll get a blog post up every day . .. I tend to write more in the evenings and I won't be home many evenings this week!
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Things My Kids Say
* So I have a routine right now that after all the kids are here/up and have their breakfast, I lay down on my bed for some "quiet time" before the rush of the day. The kids know I do it; I can hear them; they can come and get me and ask me for anything they need so it is not a big deal. Well, Darryl was home one day last week and asked Josh were I was. Josh replied, "She is sleeping. She sleeps in the morning and in the afternoon while we just play.". For real? I lay on my bed for one hour and don't sleep - I just read, read my Bible passage for the day and even pray sometimes. As far as the afternoon, during nap time when the other kids are napping, I usually will sick on my (wonderful new) sofa from about 2-3 pm and relax. Usually I read, sometimes, yes, I kick back and close my eyes for a few. BUT Josh's perception made me laugh out.
* Josh had the flu this week. He was most excited to learn that four of his cousins ALSO were sick at ALMOST the exact time as him. He found it very interesting that so many kids could puke with minutes of each other yet not be in the same house HA!
* Nate loves to "Rhine" words. (Rhyme).
* Josh came out of his room one night to tell me a joke which was, "I Puked on my bed - Just joking". Now, why is that funny? Because he DID puke in his bed. Twice. Recently.
* Josh had the flu this week. He was most excited to learn that four of his cousins ALSO were sick at ALMOST the exact time as him. He found it very interesting that so many kids could puke with minutes of each other yet not be in the same house HA!
* Nate loves to "Rhine" words. (Rhyme).
* Josh came out of his room one night to tell me a joke which was, "I Puked on my bed - Just joking". Now, why is that funny? Because he DID puke in his bed. Twice. Recently.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Saturday
Ten Things I'd like to do on my Saturday:
1) Sleep in . . .. if only my kids would sleep past 7:00! It is a little better now that they are slightly older because, once they have their "Chocolate Milk and Pop tart" for breakfast and the cartoons are on, they are pretty content and only wake me up again "just" as I've drifted back off to sleep. .. every single time for the next hour. Then I give up and get out of bed HA!
2) Get McDonald's Breakfast . . .. the boys and I would do this last summer but now we have one car again and Darryl's working so I'll settle for breakfast at home and am thankful for my Kerig.
3) Stay in Pajama's. Ok, who am I kidding, I do this every Saturday right now HA! Summer is coming though and then, I will NOT want to stay in my PJ's but rather, my most comfy shorts and t-shirt.
4) NOT clean. For Real. But for some reason I always end up cleaning like crazy. I think it is because I don't have the extra kids which means it is much easier to get things done. Plus I always have some cleaning project that needs to get done.
5) Scrapbook. Well, if I didn't clean, I COULD scrapbook!
6) Watch a Movie. Do Cartoons count? Because my kids don't like movies. Uuuggg! I'm looking forward to when we have a DVD player set up in the playroom for the boys with a TV so they can watch stuff in there and THEN maybe I can watch Anne of Green Gables on a cool, rainy Saturday!
7) NOT cook. Ok, I don't. :-) If Darryl is working, as he has been most Saturdays, the boys and I usually have frozen pizza for lunch and then Darryl and I order in for dinner. That all counts as NOT cooking!
8) Take a Nap. HA! I will admit, kicking back on our fabulous new sofa and closing my eyes for just a little bit, listening to my favorite Pandora Station with some headphones is a wonderful treat.
9) Plan a few games with the kids. The boys love to play games and, even though really, it is not my ultimate favorite thing, I do have fun with them and hearing them chatter on and on. So I don't mind playing a few rounds of trouble with them. And sometimes I even win ;-)
10) Prepare for Church. This might seem odd but I find getting everything ready for Sunday is actually refreshing. Having clothes picked out, the bag packed with our Bibles and whatever else we need means that Sunday morning generally runs much smoother.
How do you spend your Saturday?
1) Sleep in . . .. if only my kids would sleep past 7:00! It is a little better now that they are slightly older because, once they have their "Chocolate Milk and Pop tart" for breakfast and the cartoons are on, they are pretty content and only wake me up again "just" as I've drifted back off to sleep. .. every single time for the next hour. Then I give up and get out of bed HA!
2) Get McDonald's Breakfast . . .. the boys and I would do this last summer but now we have one car again and Darryl's working so I'll settle for breakfast at home and am thankful for my Kerig.
3) Stay in Pajama's. Ok, who am I kidding, I do this every Saturday right now HA! Summer is coming though and then, I will NOT want to stay in my PJ's but rather, my most comfy shorts and t-shirt.
4) NOT clean. For Real. But for some reason I always end up cleaning like crazy. I think it is because I don't have the extra kids which means it is much easier to get things done. Plus I always have some cleaning project that needs to get done.
5) Scrapbook. Well, if I didn't clean, I COULD scrapbook!
6) Watch a Movie. Do Cartoons count? Because my kids don't like movies. Uuuggg! I'm looking forward to when we have a DVD player set up in the playroom for the boys with a TV so they can watch stuff in there and THEN maybe I can watch Anne of Green Gables on a cool, rainy Saturday!
7) NOT cook. Ok, I don't. :-) If Darryl is working, as he has been most Saturdays, the boys and I usually have frozen pizza for lunch and then Darryl and I order in for dinner. That all counts as NOT cooking!
8) Take a Nap. HA! I will admit, kicking back on our fabulous new sofa and closing my eyes for just a little bit, listening to my favorite Pandora Station with some headphones is a wonderful treat.
9) Plan a few games with the kids. The boys love to play games and, even though really, it is not my ultimate favorite thing, I do have fun with them and hearing them chatter on and on. So I don't mind playing a few rounds of trouble with them. And sometimes I even win ;-)
10) Prepare for Church. This might seem odd but I find getting everything ready for Sunday is actually refreshing. Having clothes picked out, the bag packed with our Bibles and whatever else we need means that Sunday morning generally runs much smoother.
How do you spend your Saturday?
Friday, March 28, 2014
Food Friday - Perfect Spinach Salad
Perfect Spinach Salad
adapted from The Pioneer Woman
I found my new favorite salad and yes, it is this one. Really, it is just the concept but I have found some ingredients that I really love together and that is what matters, right? Now, if you want The Pioneer Woman's full recipe, click above on the link. I'll be super honest on this one, I did not care for the dressing. It had not a lot of favor and was really just. .. kinda greasy. My "version" is below.
Basic Ingredients:
Spinach (or your favorite salad mix - this week I bought spinach and than mixed greens to use all together)
Hard Boiled Eggs
Bacon (cooked and crumbled)
French Fried Onions (yes, from the can . . .like you use in Green Bean Casserole)
Sweet Vidalia Onion Dressing
(Some cheese would be good on this - I'm thinking crumbled blue cheese!)
(Of course, you can add any veggies you have in your fridge too!)
Combine everything in a big bowl and enjoy.
adapted from The Pioneer Woman
I found my new favorite salad and yes, it is this one. Really, it is just the concept but I have found some ingredients that I really love together and that is what matters, right? Now, if you want The Pioneer Woman's full recipe, click above on the link. I'll be super honest on this one, I did not care for the dressing. It had not a lot of favor and was really just. .. kinda greasy. My "version" is below.
Basic Ingredients:
Spinach (or your favorite salad mix - this week I bought spinach and than mixed greens to use all together)
Hard Boiled Eggs
Bacon (cooked and crumbled)
French Fried Onions (yes, from the can . . .like you use in Green Bean Casserole)
Sweet Vidalia Onion Dressing
(Some cheese would be good on this - I'm thinking crumbled blue cheese!)
(Of course, you can add any veggies you have in your fridge too!)
Combine everything in a big bowl and enjoy.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Weekly Menu - The One with a Potluck
Yes, we had our turkey last week! We won't have another one until Thanksgiving, most likely. It was good - I made it Puerto Rican style and it was just about perfect!
This Sunday, we have a potluck at Church for the end of the missions conference. Lets keep this real, pot luck dinners freak me out. I cannot figure out what to take most of the time. I over think, over plan, over everything and then have a panic attack HA! Well, this time I have to bring a main dish and either a side dish or dessert. It's our "first" pot luck so I'm not really sure how this church does stuff so I want to bring stuff that doesn't need to be kept warm. (Can you see my "freakishness" yet?)
Here's the plan for this week:
Friday - I'm going to a home party tonight so I kept it simple. Spaghetti 4 ways. See, we all eat it differently right now. Nate eats his plain, Josh wants just some jar sauce on it, I eat it with my homemade sauce and Darryl eats his without sauce but with some mixed veggies, diced ham and a little butter.
Saturday - Mac and Cheese for the Kids; Ordering in for the Adults.
Sunday - The "Dreaded" Potluck. (hehehehe). So, my main dish will be Ham Salad Sandwiches. I just picked up some Hawaiian Rolls and deli Ham Salad and made some awesome sandwiches that were simple. I debated between dessert and a side dish for quite awhile. I finally decided on a dessert and made Boston Cream Cupcakes. They look nice and actually look like they took extra effort to make but they are so easy.
Monday - We ended up not having Turkey Noodle Soup last week so I have put it on the menu for tonight. Along with the boys favorite yeast rolls
Tuesday - I have a concert to go to tonight so Darryl and I will be passing ships. I've hotdogs and chips to feed to the natives on the island of "Home" and I plan on doing a drivethru run as I head out of town.
Wednesday - I think it is time for breakfast for dinner. So eggs, ham slices (for something different), hash browns, and toast.
Thursday - Chicken wings (since I have them to use up), mac and cheese (a potato for Darryl), and some sort of veggie from the pantry.
I'm really trying to use some of the last of the "winter" foods in the pantry/freezer. By that I mean 1) Things that heat up the kitchen big time so therefore I won't cook them as it starts to warm up and 2)Things that are, well, at the end of their shelf life. I also really should do some baking and put some stuff in the freezer. My kitchen is so hot in the summer, it is hard to ever bake . .. .. we'll see if I actually do that though!
This Sunday, we have a potluck at Church for the end of the missions conference. Lets keep this real, pot luck dinners freak me out. I cannot figure out what to take most of the time. I over think, over plan, over everything and then have a panic attack HA! Well, this time I have to bring a main dish and either a side dish or dessert. It's our "first" pot luck so I'm not really sure how this church does stuff so I want to bring stuff that doesn't need to be kept warm. (Can you see my "freakishness" yet?)
Here's the plan for this week:
Friday - I'm going to a home party tonight so I kept it simple. Spaghetti 4 ways. See, we all eat it differently right now. Nate eats his plain, Josh wants just some jar sauce on it, I eat it with my homemade sauce and Darryl eats his without sauce but with some mixed veggies, diced ham and a little butter.
Saturday - Mac and Cheese for the Kids; Ordering in for the Adults.
Sunday - The "Dreaded" Potluck. (hehehehe). So, my main dish will be Ham Salad Sandwiches. I just picked up some Hawaiian Rolls and deli Ham Salad and made some awesome sandwiches that were simple. I debated between dessert and a side dish for quite awhile. I finally decided on a dessert and made Boston Cream Cupcakes. They look nice and actually look like they took extra effort to make but they are so easy.
Monday - We ended up not having Turkey Noodle Soup last week so I have put it on the menu for tonight. Along with the boys favorite yeast rolls
Tuesday - I have a concert to go to tonight so Darryl and I will be passing ships. I've hotdogs and chips to feed to the natives on the island of "Home" and I plan on doing a drivethru run as I head out of town.
Wednesday - I think it is time for breakfast for dinner. So eggs, ham slices (for something different), hash browns, and toast.
Thursday - Chicken wings (since I have them to use up), mac and cheese (a potato for Darryl), and some sort of veggie from the pantry.
I'm really trying to use some of the last of the "winter" foods in the pantry/freezer. By that I mean 1) Things that heat up the kitchen big time so therefore I won't cook them as it starts to warm up and 2)Things that are, well, at the end of their shelf life. I also really should do some baking and put some stuff in the freezer. My kitchen is so hot in the summer, it is hard to ever bake . .. .. we'll see if I actually do that though!
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