Weekly Menu - It's time to camp again!

Camping just keeps sneaking up on me this year.  Once again, we are getting ready to head out to camping and I had to work on keeping the budget under control yet providing our meals and snacks for camping.  As is always the case when we camp, I focus mostly on our camping menu and the rest of the week we will either eat leftovers or I'll work on putting meals together based on what is in the fridge/freezer/cupboards.

Friday - Chicken Florintine Pasta, and bread

Saturday - Bernie O's Pizza!  This is our all time favorite pizza place and we are so looking forward to getting to enjoy it's wonderful goodness.

Sunday - Hobo Pies.  Last time we camped, I made cinnamon rolls in the Pie Irons and we loved them.  So, this time I thought  it would be fun to make some dinner pies.  Pizza, or Cuban or Monte Cristo's. 

Monday - Steak Kabobs, Crock-Pot Cheesy Potatoes, Fried Zucchini and Mac and Cheese

Tuesday - Chicken Quasidillas, Chips and Cheese, Mexican Rice

Wednesday and Thursday - Leftovers :-)

I'm trying to keep our camp meals simple to limit my work on both cooking and clean-up.  I am still debating our lunches as I know we end up eating out sometimes depending on what we are doing.  The good thing is that we have a favorite little grocery store just a few miles from the campground so I might just pick up what we need each day so we don't have to try and store so much food.

What We are Eating - Fried Zucchini Sticks

Fried Zucchini Sticks
adapted from Pocket Change Gourmet

A few weeks ago, we had a dinner that consisted basically of vegetables.  (I did fry up a slice of ham for some protein though!) We love zucchini but I usually slice it up and cook it with butter and onion in a frying pan.  This time, I tried something different and this recipe did not disappoint.  These little sticks were so yummy that I think I skipped the other veggies I made and just ate these! 

Fried Zucchini Sticks - ready in minutes, coated with gluten-free bread crumbs, parmesan and spices that make them healthier than you think!

Author: PocketChangeGourmet.com

Recipe type: Side Dish

Serves: 32 sticks

Ingredients

• 4 small zucchinis
• 1 cup bread crumbs (we used gluten-free)
• ½ cup fresh parmesan
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 eggs
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Oil for frying
• Fresh chopped parsley for garnish, optional
• Extra parmesan cheese for garnish, optional

Instructions

1. Wash and cut zucchini, cut in half, then cut each half in half and then in half again, making 8 sticks
2. Add eggs to a medium size bowl and whisk
3. Add bread crumbs, cheese and seasoning to medium bowl and mix together
4. Heat oil in large skillet or saucepan to 320-350 degrees
5. Dip zucchini in egg, then in crumb mixture
6. Add to oil and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown
7. Add salt and pepper to taste, sprinkle with parsley and more cheese if desired
8. Serve immediately

 

The Tiny Home Craze

Most of you have probably heard about the whole Tiny Home Craze. When I watch the shows on HGTV I'm always amazed at how people can go from a 2-3000 square foot house and live in 200 square feet with a compost toilet.  I think the whole concept started with people wanting to go "off the grid" (thus the compost toilets) and then it was glamorized and others tried to take on the concept.  I was watching an episode of Tiny Homes the other day and it was a 20 something woman who bought a super tiny home on wheels and parked it in the driveway of her parents 6000 square foot home.  So, she had access to everything she needed yet could claim she lived in that 150 square foot . .. trailer.  HA!

Well, I was recently wasting spending time on Pinterest when I came across this photo.

Isn't it pretty?  It's considered a "Tiny Home."  I laughed out loud as I read the article because this Tiny Home is 1,091 square feet of living space.  Why did I laugh?  Because our living space is . . .1080 square feet HA!  Now, I will give a tiny bit of grace (haha . . tiny . .get it?) because I think they count the porches in that square footage but still.  I had no idea I lived in a tiny house??    It's actually a beautiful home that you can read about over at  Tiny House Town.  I wouldn't mind living in this house, to tell you the truth - it's gorgeous.

So, could you live in a Tiny Home?  I could . . .oh, wait, I already do!!  What I see is that people who live in large homes, think it would be "fun" to live in something tiny whereas those of us who live in small homes, wish for just a little more space.  In reality, I know that we should just be is, content. 

Summer Fun - July 18th

As my boys get older, each summer I want to do more things with them in order to enjoy this amazing age that they are currently at.  Well, this summer has brought some wonderful things for us to do and we are all enjoying it.

Monday - Today started off with swimming lessons again.  Both boys showed marked improvement as they both went completely underwater which is something they both had a hard time with last week. After swim lessons, we picked up lunch and headed to Nana's campsite to eat together.  Following lunch, we all got on swimsuits and headed to the pool.  It was fabulous.  The pool was clean and heated.  Not to mention that both boys were jumping (feet first) into the pool by the end of the afternoon, going fully underwater and even seeing who could stay under the longest.  Nana treated us to dinner at Applebees (1/2 priced burgers!) before the boys headed to TKD.  They were tired.  And sunburned.  But it was fun!

Tuesday - Swimming lessons continued today.  We then hung out at home to recover from our extra amounts of sun-kissed skin.  Nana joined us for dinner before we headed to the Ionia Free Fair.  I'll be honest, we had not planned to go but Josh and Nate talked over and over about how they had waited for a whole year for it to come back to town and they were just devastated that they wouldn't get to go. Well, they said it in front of Nana and the rest was history!  Really, I had hoped to take them so I'm glad it worked out.

Wednesday - Swimming lessons!  The biggest accomplishment today is that Josh jumped off the diving board!  This is a huge thing since a week ago he wouldn't put his head under water.  We hung out at home during the afternoon and the boys played in the sprinkler.  Then we had dinner and pool time at Nana's.  .

Thursday - We wrapped up this round of swimming lessons and then the boys headed to Grandpa and Grandma's for a few days.

Friday - All the fun to be had at Grandpa and Grandma's!

My Playlist - "Trust in you"

The song "Trust in You" by Lauren Daigle has been a favorite of mine since the first time I heard it not long after it came out.  The words speak a powerful truth - the truth that we don't always get what we ask for yet we still have to trust in God.  This became my fight song while my dad was in the hospital and is now a truth a cling to even though I don't understand why God took my dad home to heaven.  I think it's ok to still ask why and to cry out to God  . .. I still trust in God's perfect plan and I know God understands my heart and my hurt.

Family Fun - Bowling Field Trip

 In January, we had the opportunity to go on a field trip with our online school group to a bowling alley in Grand Rapids.  It was a much anticipated event in our house as the boys had recently started playing Wii bowling and were positive they could bowl perfect games :-) 

 Darryl went with us and was able to help the boys with their throws. 

 They both actually caught on pretty quickly and really enjoyed the whole experience.

 They both had fantastic form :-)

 One of the neat things about this field trip was there was a bowling pro there who talked to the kids and helped them out too.  He bowled right next to us and several times, as he would get to his second shot, he would let Josh or Nate take the turn for him and he would work with them on their throw.  It was a great experience for them and created more excitement in them to want to bowl.

It was really a great trip and we look forward to bowling again!

Weekly Menu

Well, get this.  My kids are gone to my in-laws.  I originally thought they weren't going for their "week" with my in-laws until August but their calendar worked for them to come now.  So, you know what that means. . . not a whole lot of cooking going on for a few days!

Friday- Monday - The kids are at the in-laws so I'm giving myself some freedom.  I have a few recipes I "might" try or we "might" eat out/order in  . . .the decision will be made daily :-)

Tuesday - The kids come home today but it will be after my mom and I spend the day at my in-laws too.  So, we will keep it simple with Chili Dogs, Mac and Cheese and Chips.

Wednesday - Waffles and Sausage

Thursday -Beef Drip Sandwiches, Baked Potatoes, and Mac and Cheese.