Last week we really got off track, I have a cold so I was basically a low-functioning blob for a great deal of the time. Therefore, on Wednesday we had grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, Friday we ordered pizza and watched "The Widow's Mite" and Saturday Dad and the kids had Chick fil-A or however you spell it. So, Sunday we had the chicken parm sandwiches and fries. Burgers will just have to happen some other time! I'm so glad we've filled the freezer (except now I don't want to eat any of it...I just want to admire all of our hard work!) so next time I feel under the weather, we won't have to resort to sandwiches or fast food. I've decided to have a cooking day each month to add to and replenish our stores. In the words of Scarlet O'Hara, "I shall never go hungry again!".
Monday: Asian Pork Tenderloin (thanks Organizing Junkie for the recipe!), stir fry rice with veggies
Tuesday: Irish Dance performance at Goose's Acre so we'll be eating dinner there!
Wednesday: Chicken and Dumplings
HLSR Rodeo Cook-Off begins...
Thursday: Steak for mom and dad, bulls horns* for kids, baked beans, mac and cheese
Friday: Family Fun Night!
Saturday: Burgers on the grill
Sunday: Irish dance school fundraiser at Dosey Does....eating Irish fare there!
* I got some 'splaining to do about this one...tell you later...
Happy cooking and have a great week!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Fill the Freezer Weekend
Our "Fill the Freezer" weekend is complete...at least in the sense that the weekend is over. Unfortunately, our cooking is not. I came up with an extremely ambitious plan and we accomplished a lot. We cooked all day Friday, and, ironically, ordered pizza for dinner; and worked until about noon on Saturday until the kids had to don their curls and ghillies for another Irish dance performance. Then after everything, our freezer died! So much for saving money! We spent about $450 on groceries (for 2-3 months worth of freezer meals) and have to buy a new freezer. We'll finish up the rest of our plan over the next weekend and enjoy a well deserved night off from cooking!
Here is what we made....
60 chocolate chip pumpkin muffins
53 pumpkin streusel muffins
2 large loaves of banana bread
27 turkey burger patties (check out my recipe...it will change the way you eat turkey burgers forever!)
10 pounds of meatballs
4 meatloaves
4 pans of King Ranch Chicken
4 pans of Macaroni and Cheese
4 pans of hash brown casserole
2 pans of turkey tetrazzini
4 recipes of corn chowder
4 recipes of white chili
1 big bag of diced bell peppers
1 big bag of chopped leeks
and a partridge in a pear tree!!!!
Whew! I have to say, my girls are amazing cooks and helpers. I have been blessed with teenagers who are not eye-rollers or back-talkers and who aren't ashamed to hang out with their old mom. I don't know what I did to deserve them but thank you, God for not giving me a teenager like I was!
Amazing Confetti Turkey Burgers
This turkey burger recipe was actually a crab cake recipe but we don't like crab much and ground turkey is so blah by itself, so I decided to give it a try. It's so yummy and the ingredients are so colorful (hence the confetti portion of the name), you will never look at ground turkey the same way again.
3 tablespoons butter (you can sub olive oil for a little less fat)
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
3 large eggs
1/4 cup sour cream (again, you can use low-fat...it's just fat tastes so good!)
1 pound ground turkey
1 cup pepper jack cheese, grated
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
1/2 cup roasted red pepper, diced
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and celery in butter until soft, about 5 minutes. In a large bowl, hand mix all ingredients together until well combined. This is a great kid job...getting to squish stuff is something our kids fight over. Form into patties of desired thickness (we like 'em thick!). Warm a little olive oil or butter in a skillet and cook burgers until no longer pink in the middle. Rare poultry is not a good thing. You can also bake or grill these burgers or make it into a meatloaf. We serve them on a toasted bun with a sauce made of Miracle Whip and salsa mixed together. They are great with avocado, too.
Here is what we made....
60 chocolate chip pumpkin muffins
53 pumpkin streusel muffins
2 large loaves of banana bread
27 turkey burger patties (check out my recipe...it will change the way you eat turkey burgers forever!)
10 pounds of meatballs
4 meatloaves
4 pans of King Ranch Chicken
4 pans of Macaroni and Cheese
4 pans of hash brown casserole
2 pans of turkey tetrazzini
4 recipes of corn chowder
4 recipes of white chili
1 big bag of diced bell peppers
1 big bag of chopped leeks
and a partridge in a pear tree!!!!
Whew! I have to say, my girls are amazing cooks and helpers. I have been blessed with teenagers who are not eye-rollers or back-talkers and who aren't ashamed to hang out with their old mom. I don't know what I did to deserve them but thank you, God for not giving me a teenager like I was!
Amazing Confetti Turkey Burgers
This turkey burger recipe was actually a crab cake recipe but we don't like crab much and ground turkey is so blah by itself, so I decided to give it a try. It's so yummy and the ingredients are so colorful (hence the confetti portion of the name), you will never look at ground turkey the same way again.
3 tablespoons butter (you can sub olive oil for a little less fat)
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
3 large eggs
1/4 cup sour cream (again, you can use low-fat...it's just fat tastes so good!)
1 pound ground turkey
1 cup pepper jack cheese, grated
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
1/2 cup roasted red pepper, diced
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and celery in butter until soft, about 5 minutes. In a large bowl, hand mix all ingredients together until well combined. This is a great kid job...getting to squish stuff is something our kids fight over. Form into patties of desired thickness (we like 'em thick!). Warm a little olive oil or butter in a skillet and cook burgers until no longer pink in the middle. Rare poultry is not a good thing. You can also bake or grill these burgers or make it into a meatloaf. We serve them on a toasted bun with a sauce made of Miracle Whip and salsa mixed together. They are great with avocado, too.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
My Life Without Cereal
Remember that old Barbara Mandrell song, "I was country when country wasn't cool"? Well, insert the words "Martha Stewart" for "country" and you are describing my mother (except the going to prison part...she didn't do that). She stayed home with my sister and me and, I say this without any sarcasm, was (and is) the most perfect mother and wife. She made everything homemade from all of our school lunches, dinners and birthday cakes to our curtains, clothes and even some of our toys. I swear (sorry, Mother), if that woman could have cobbled shoes she would have. When most of my friend's mothers were conquering the working world, my mother chose to be a living example of a Proverbs 31 woman. I would come home from school to warm homemade chocolate chip cookies, find a new dress she had made on my bed with a matching one for my Barbie along side. Everyone wanted my mom for their own. A lot of my friends never had a home cooked meal around the table with their family. We did this everyday; sometimes two or three times! This left a deep impression on me. Realizing I have a lot to live up to, I attempt, every day, to follow in her footsteps...and, maybe, exceed them if I can (did I mention that I am highly competitive?).
So, long story short (humor me) that is why I am warped....and why I don't buy cereal or packaged cookies or pretty much any prepared food. I feel like I'm cheating. My mom's favorite response to anything I might show her at the store when I was a kid was, "I can make that for half the price". That drove me crazy! But she was right! It's funny how the older you get the smarter your parents become.
I really can't blame the cereal thing on my mom. That started when my husband was diagnosed with type two diabetes. We learned that high fructose corn syrup inhibits the body's production of insulin so we try to avoid buying anything with it in it.
My husband gets frustrated because we don't have anything quick to just grab and snack on (haha! My evil plan is working!). All I buy are ingredients to make things fresh. It really wasn't as hard to make the break as I thought it would be. The kids love "Nanny McPhee breakfast" of scrambled eggs on toast or yogurt parfaits, Belgian waffles, omelets, breakfast tacos or any of the gazillion other meal ideas we've come up with. We make and freeze our own waffles and pancakes, we make our own cookies, bread, birthday cakes, pizza rolls, tamales, chicken nuggets, potato chips and taco seasoning. We make root beer, butter, ice cream, BBQ sauce, ketchup, jam, salsa, laundry soap, glass cleaner, clothes, costumes and home decor.
My daughters are much wiser than I was at that age and already have a great appreciation for all things homemade. Now they say, "Mom, don't buy that I can make it for half!" Maybe they'll learn how to cobble shoes!
Thank you, Mother!
Proverbs 31
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [c] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
So, long story short (humor me) that is why I am warped....and why I don't buy cereal or packaged cookies or pretty much any prepared food. I feel like I'm cheating. My mom's favorite response to anything I might show her at the store when I was a kid was, "I can make that for half the price". That drove me crazy! But she was right! It's funny how the older you get the smarter your parents become.
I really can't blame the cereal thing on my mom. That started when my husband was diagnosed with type two diabetes. We learned that high fructose corn syrup inhibits the body's production of insulin so we try to avoid buying anything with it in it.
My husband gets frustrated because we don't have anything quick to just grab and snack on (haha! My evil plan is working!). All I buy are ingredients to make things fresh. It really wasn't as hard to make the break as I thought it would be. The kids love "Nanny McPhee breakfast" of scrambled eggs on toast or yogurt parfaits, Belgian waffles, omelets, breakfast tacos or any of the gazillion other meal ideas we've come up with. We make and freeze our own waffles and pancakes, we make our own cookies, bread, birthday cakes, pizza rolls, tamales, chicken nuggets, potato chips and taco seasoning. We make root beer, butter, ice cream, BBQ sauce, ketchup, jam, salsa, laundry soap, glass cleaner, clothes, costumes and home decor.
My daughters are much wiser than I was at that age and already have a great appreciation for all things homemade. Now they say, "Mom, don't buy that I can make it for half!" Maybe they'll learn how to cobble shoes!
Thank you, Mother!
Proverbs 31
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [c] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Let's backup for a moment...
In my rush to post my menu this week, I completely forgot to mention Valentine's day! We started a new tradition this year with the kids (I mentioned this before) by setting up a mailbox for each of them on February 1st. Each night Cupid came by and left some little Valentine sentiment in them. The kids couldn't wait to check their boxes each morning! Over the fourteen days they received chocolate hearts, Valentine pencils, a heart-shaped pencil sharpener, sweethearts, a heart shaped tea cake, pink and red M&M's, love notes and on the last night the boys got Valentine Hot Wheels and the big girls got a Valentine charm bracelet and the younger girls got a necklace with a pink heart pendant. For Valentine's day I got .....A COLD! I had grand plans of serving my family an amazing dinner of steak, homemade potato au gratin, wedge salad and chocolate lava cakes with strawberries....well, you know what they say about the best laid plans...
To add insult to injury, I am a world-class germophobe ( even though I prefer to think of it more as an ounce of prevention). I have spent the entire flu season sanitizing light switches and door knobs, upping everyone's vitamin C intake and dousing my children in Purell every time we go out and basically, touch anything. Well, the kids are pictures of health while I am sitting here with a red nose and I'm pretty sure that I am coughing hard enough to dislodge an important internal organ. My four-year old brought out his doctor kit and introduced himself as Dr. Cutiepie (I have to agree...why didn't we think of naming him that when he was born? It makes perfect sense!). After a full examination, Dr. Cutiepie announced that the problem was that my heart wasn't pumping. Oh, is that all...at least now I know the problem. I was given a treatment plan of eating a large meal consisting of plastic play food. I feel much better now!
Despite not being able to breathe, Valentine's day was wonderful and full of love and I wouldn't trade a thing. Here is my Valentine to you...
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To add insult to injury, I am a world-class germophobe ( even though I prefer to think of it more as an ounce of prevention). I have spent the entire flu season sanitizing light switches and door knobs, upping everyone's vitamin C intake and dousing my children in Purell every time we go out and basically, touch anything. Well, the kids are pictures of health while I am sitting here with a red nose and I'm pretty sure that I am coughing hard enough to dislodge an important internal organ. My four-year old brought out his doctor kit and introduced himself as Dr. Cutiepie (I have to agree...why didn't we think of naming him that when he was born? It makes perfect sense!). After a full examination, Dr. Cutiepie announced that the problem was that my heart wasn't pumping. Oh, is that all...at least now I know the problem. I was given a treatment plan of eating a large meal consisting of plastic play food. I feel much better now!
Despite not being able to breathe, Valentine's day was wonderful and full of love and I wouldn't trade a thing. Here is my Valentine to you...
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Sunday, February 14, 2010
Menu Plan Monday Week 7
We are gearing up for our weekend of filling the freezer. This weekend was a little too crazy with sleep-overs and Valentine's Day. I am hoping next weekend will be a little less hectic. My daughters have been making the master shopping list and organizing our coupons. I went ahead and got a few of the things I knew we would need while out shopping this week and $315.00 later am nowhere near ready to begin! That's the only kicker about eating from the pantry for a month...at some point you're going to have to fill it up again! Lest we forget I have 7 kiddos, 3 of whom are boys, we will never be able to eat on $25.00 a week....but I can dream....
We are playing stock up right now and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of ALDI to Texas. In March and April, 29 of these wonderful stores are opening in the Dallas area. A little bit of a drive (3 1/2 hours) but well worth it for the savings. Last time we went to one in Arkansas and spent $150.00 on canned and dry goods that lasted 4+ months. See what I mean?
Here is this week's menu....
Monday: Corn Chowder and cheddar garlic biscuits
Tuesday: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, green beans
Wednesday: Chicken and Dumplings
Thursday: Irish dance performance @ The Children's Museum of Houston = dinner out
Friday: Family Fun Night! I'm not sure what I'm doing for this one yet...
Saturday: Chicken Parmigiana on sourdough Sandwiches
Sunday: Carmelized onion and Swiss burgers, seasoned fries (hold over from last week)
This week I am also trying to have a target room for each day of the week so I can get a head start on Spring cleaning. I am also purposing to start planning breakfasts and lunches starting March 1st and include more recipes! Happy planning and eating!
We are playing stock up right now and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of ALDI to Texas. In March and April, 29 of these wonderful stores are opening in the Dallas area. A little bit of a drive (3 1/2 hours) but well worth it for the savings. Last time we went to one in Arkansas and spent $150.00 on canned and dry goods that lasted 4+ months. See what I mean?
Here is this week's menu....
Monday: Corn Chowder and cheddar garlic biscuits
Tuesday: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, green beans
Wednesday: Chicken and Dumplings
Thursday: Irish dance performance @ The Children's Museum of Houston = dinner out
Friday: Family Fun Night! I'm not sure what I'm doing for this one yet...
Saturday: Chicken Parmigiana on sourdough Sandwiches
Sunday: Carmelized onion and Swiss burgers, seasoned fries (hold over from last week)
This week I am also trying to have a target room for each day of the week so I can get a head start on Spring cleaning. I am also purposing to start planning breakfasts and lunches starting March 1st and include more recipes! Happy planning and eating!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Rain, rain and more rain
This was one wet, cold, fun week! We started out as we always do with Irish dancing lessons but had added excitement when part of the ceiling collapsed under the weight of the rain-soaked tiles. This thrilled the boys. Of course, my youngest thought we were having a hurricane (having been through a major hurricane only a year ago, this is reasonable for a four year old to think). A horrible storm brought us some amazingly cold weather....I have lived in Houston my whole life and can't stand the heat...when it's freezing, I'm happiest. If I didn't have my entire family here, I would have moved to Antarctica a long time ago. As a matter of fact, I have just opened all of the windows so I could comfortably start a fire in the fireplace!
Next, we had three dental appointments in one day for one child. Who knew replacing a filling when you have braces would be such an undertaking! Thank goodness for Dad and his love of driving! Wednesday was the pinnacle of our week with a trip to Brenham for roller skating with our homeschooling friends. What a hoot...several of our kids had never skated before but they just went for it. It was amazing to watch them. Between the ages of about 5 until 14, I was on wheels more than I was on my own feet. Even after I ate the floor on a Friday night roller rink outing when I was twelve and broke my two front teeth, I still couldn't quit skating. Well, let me tell you....the floor is a lot further down than it used to be (and a lot harder, too)! I had my reservations about skating; I broke my arm and suffered severe nerve damage in my knee this past summer; but I just couldn't resist. I had so much fun. I am very rusty but I did find out that I have, indeed, regained much of the feeling I had lost in my injured knee!
We rounded out our week with more dance lessons, more rain, working on our community service project, more rain, a sleepover at Grandma's, Mexican food and sore throats! Now it's that lovely quiet time on Saturday evening where everyone has full tummies, has just been bathed and is a little sleepy. Night is falling and everyone is actually getting along. Time for a snuggle and a story...we're reading The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis, and just be thankful for all God has provided.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
In God's Will
We were doing our homeschool lessons yesterday and began a study on the character quality of alertness (you know...the kids weren't paying attention so I thought we'd try this!). Instead, I began learning a lesson I didn't even know I needed. We started reading about the ways Jesus displayed alertness and it said that He spent hours in prayer and never (yes, NEVER) did anything outside of the will of God. That has just been really eating at me....never is a term that has no loop holes like "sometimes" or "most of the time" or any one of those other terms us parents use to avoid a definite answer (maybe, we'll see, I'll think about it, etc..). Jesus never did anything outside of the will of God. This is something to really think about. I used to get excited when God's will and mine met up every now and then. I thought I was doing good. But never...that word holds so much meaning. My Funk and Wagnalls says, "never: not at any time; not at all, positively not". No maybes, no we'll sees. I want to never be outside of the will of God. How do I do that? Lucky for me I've got this really great instruction book that has the answers to all of these hard questions. A friend of mine wrote it and sure enough, I looked it up and there was the answer....
You should read this book, too. It's called the Bible and it is written by my friend and father, God. He would really like to meet you and become your friend, too. You will be surprised how many of the answers you may be searching for today can be found here. Take the time with me to never be out of the will of God again.
Romans 12:1-21
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
You should read this book, too. It's called the Bible and it is written by my friend and father, God. He would really like to meet you and become your friend, too. You will be surprised how many of the answers you may be searching for today can be found here. Take the time with me to never be out of the will of God again.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Menu Plan Monday Week 6
Col 3:23.......... "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,...
Our weeks are starting to get busier! Two of our dancers were promoted to next level so that means an extra night at the dance studio and rodeo season is starting to really rev up. In addition, we are now volunteering at a clothes closet/food pantry as a family once a week and this week we are going roller skating! Looks like the crock pot is going to get a work out! Last week we traded the leek soup for the pork chops and ended up having a Super Bowl smorgasbord on Sunday. Hopefully, I will be able to stay on track a little better this week.
Monday: Smothered pork chops and cornbread dressing (I've finally made it! A little variation on the planned stuffed pork chops but made in the crock pot)
Tuesday: Homemade macaroni and cheese, salad, homemade bread
Wednesday: Meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, corn
Thursday: Cinnamon pancetta carbona with grilled chicken and peas, salad
Friday: Family Fun Night! Probably leftover Super Bowl food...cheese sticks, chicken nuggets, pizza rolls, fried mushrooms...you know, all that healthy stuff.
Saturday: French dip with onion au jus and pomme frites (French for potato chips but it sounds healthier, huh?)
Sunday: Valentine's Day...can't tell, it's a surprise!
Our weeks are starting to get busier! Two of our dancers were promoted to next level so that means an extra night at the dance studio and rodeo season is starting to really rev up. In addition, we are now volunteering at a clothes closet/food pantry as a family once a week and this week we are going roller skating! Looks like the crock pot is going to get a work out! Last week we traded the leek soup for the pork chops and ended up having a Super Bowl smorgasbord on Sunday. Hopefully, I will be able to stay on track a little better this week.
Monday: Smothered pork chops and cornbread dressing (I've finally made it! A little variation on the planned stuffed pork chops but made in the crock pot)
Tuesday: Homemade macaroni and cheese, salad, homemade bread
Wednesday: Meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes, corn
Thursday: Cinnamon pancetta carbona with grilled chicken and peas, salad
Friday: Family Fun Night! Probably leftover Super Bowl food...cheese sticks, chicken nuggets, pizza rolls, fried mushrooms...you know, all that healthy stuff.
Saturday: French dip with onion au jus and pomme frites (French for potato chips but it sounds healthier, huh?)
Sunday: Valentine's Day...can't tell, it's a surprise!
It's Super Bowl Sunday.....YAWN!
I know A LOT of people are really excited about this game. How do I know? I dared to enter a Wal-Mart around 1:00 pm today, that's how. I felt like a ninja in a mine field...ducking and dodging, leaping over carts, tucking and rolling past hov-a-rounds, bobbing and weaving....all in search of pizza rolls and buffalo nuggets. It was kind of like the day before Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve only, sadly, WORSE! You know how it feels. It's like, even though it occurs every year, no one remembers until the day before or in this case, the day of. The worst part is I am part of this. I have an excuse, though. I don't follow football and didn't even know it was Super Bowl weekend until yesterday. Technically we don't really watch the game (when someone asked my husband who he was rooting for he said "Texas A&M"...only those who know my husband or fellow Ags understand this one)we Tivo it and fast forward to watch the commercials. Hey! Did anyone catch that really long Geritol commercial in the middle of the game...what?!...that was the half-time show? Woops!
Friday, February 5, 2010
February 5 - National Chocolate Fondue Day
It just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it? In honor of this great day, we are having caramel and chocolate fondues to accompany our usual family fun night fare of pizza.
On a darker note, I went on my weekly grocery shopping trip and spent....$178.00! I am soooo ashamed of myself but we are just so hungry! We have eaten our freezer down to nothing so we had to stock up a little on meat. We would have, however, been a little more on track if not for one thing....my husband! I now know why my mother would stare at me through little slitted eyes when I would talk my dad into joining us on our shopping trips when I was a kid. Daddy would fill the cart with all kinds of contraban: cookies, chips, beef jerky, etc...all of the yummy things we lusted after but my mother was sensible enough not to buy. Now, I'm getting paid back. When I go shopping I am armed with a very carefully made list, a near-photographic recall of all current prices for every item in three near-by stores, coupons and a strict self-imposed budget. But when accompanied by my husband, all kinds of things I don't remember needing come parading down the conveyor belt. Some interesting examples include very large containers of sour cream (because we just can't have enough of that), various hot sauces with "cool" names like "Slap ya Mama sauce", chips (which I just try to steer clear of as a general rule), dips and all varieties of canned meats ( can you say Squirrels, Possums and Mice*?). I have resigned myself to enjoy these shopping trips and the unique recipes (think Iron Chef) I am forced to create with the surprise ingredients we aquire. Gotta go...I need to go find a coupon for kimchee....
*Just kidding...we actually have been known to enjoy SPAM and believe it to be made of some type of domestic/barnyard animal.
On a darker note, I went on my weekly grocery shopping trip and spent....$178.00! I am soooo ashamed of myself but we are just so hungry! We have eaten our freezer down to nothing so we had to stock up a little on meat. We would have, however, been a little more on track if not for one thing....my husband! I now know why my mother would stare at me through little slitted eyes when I would talk my dad into joining us on our shopping trips when I was a kid. Daddy would fill the cart with all kinds of contraban: cookies, chips, beef jerky, etc...all of the yummy things we lusted after but my mother was sensible enough not to buy. Now, I'm getting paid back. When I go shopping I am armed with a very carefully made list, a near-photographic recall of all current prices for every item in three near-by stores, coupons and a strict self-imposed budget. But when accompanied by my husband, all kinds of things I don't remember needing come parading down the conveyor belt. Some interesting examples include very large containers of sour cream (because we just can't have enough of that), various hot sauces with "cool" names like "Slap ya Mama sauce", chips (which I just try to steer clear of as a general rule), dips and all varieties of canned meats ( can you say Squirrels, Possums and Mice*?). I have resigned myself to enjoy these shopping trips and the unique recipes (think Iron Chef) I am forced to create with the surprise ingredients we aquire. Gotta go...I need to go find a coupon for kimchee....
*Just kidding...we actually have been known to enjoy SPAM and believe it to be made of some type of domestic/barnyard animal.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
February 4 - National Stuffed Mushroom Day
I just think these official "National day of whatever" are so hilarious. Stuffed mushrooms are certainly good but I couldn't find an appropriate greeting card anywhere! Hallmark is really overlooking a niche here.
Anyway, in the spirit of the occasion, here is my favorite (and frugal) stuffed mushroom recipe from my sister. Try it...today might become your National Day of Yum!
Jill's Stuffed Mushroom Caps
1 pound mushrooms
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
olive oil
Optional : I just can't leave a recipe alone so I also add a little minced garlic and chopped or dried parsley. You can leave these out and they are still super yummy.
Wipe dirt from mushrooms. Cut off mushroom's stems and hollow center; set aside. finely chop mushroom stems, mix with bread crumbs and drizzle with enough olive oil to moisten. Combine gently. Spoon breadcrumb mixture into hollowed out mushroom caps and arrange in a glass baking dish. Drizzle with a little more olive oil and bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serves one hungry mama or is a great appetizer for a party!
Anyway, in the spirit of the occasion, here is my favorite (and frugal) stuffed mushroom recipe from my sister. Try it...today might become your National Day of Yum!
Jill's Stuffed Mushroom Caps
1 pound mushrooms
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
olive oil
Optional : I just can't leave a recipe alone so I also add a little minced garlic and chopped or dried parsley. You can leave these out and they are still super yummy.
Wipe dirt from mushrooms. Cut off mushroom's stems and hollow center; set aside. finely chop mushroom stems, mix with bread crumbs and drizzle with enough olive oil to moisten. Combine gently. Spoon breadcrumb mixture into hollowed out mushroom caps and arrange in a glass baking dish. Drizzle with a little more olive oil and bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serves one hungry mama or is a great appetizer for a party!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Fill the Freezer Plan
Now that we have eaten everything from every little dark corner of the pantry and every frost covered shelf in the freezer, it's time to spend a weekend in the kitchen with my girls (I only say this because the boys are too little...this is not a discriminating statement. I personally think boys should cook everything while I nap, paint my toenails and shop online...I'll have to wait a few more years...)cooking meals so we can start all over again.
Here's the plan.....
Step 1. Long, well-planned shopping trip involving many coupons and a large Diet Coke.
Step 2. Unpack car and sort groceries according to recipes they will participate in.
Step 3. Put on extremely cute apron, delegate recipes...remember, divide and conquer!
Step 4. Exhaustedly (is that even a word?), bask in the glow of a full freezer knowing that soon, I will not have to fret over dinner and really will have time to paint my toenails.
Meals for the freezer:
Meatloaves
King Ranch Chicken
Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
Lasagna
Macaroni and Cheese
Hash Brown Casserole (a couple with crumbled sausage, a couple without)
Tamales
Turkey Tetrazzini
Turkey Burgers
Soups to freeze:
Creamy Onion-Jack Soup
Corn Chowder
Baked Potato Soup
Roasted Garlic Leek Soup
White Chili
Breads to freeze:
Waffles (plain, chocolate chip and blueberry)
Pancakes (plain and peanut butter)
Banana Bread
Buttermilk Biscuits
White Bread
Cinnamon Bread (some with raisins some without)
Cheddar Garlic Bread
Meal elements to freeze:
Diced onions
Diced bell peppers
Browned & crumbled ground beef (some seasoned for tacos, some plain)
Meatballs
Last Night's Dinner Success (Another great crockpot recipe)
Taco soup (adapted from a recipe I found on http://ayearofsimpleabundance.blogspot.com) was a great success even among the picky eaters. YYYAAAAHHHH! I get way too excited when certain children, who-shall-remain-nameless-but-know-who-they-are, eat their dinner. This soup came out kind of chili-like for us and can be adjusted to suit your personal preferences or whatever happens to be on hand in the pantry. Oh, and as usual, we have adapted this to feed 9 (tonight it also fed one hungry grandma). If it's too much for your family, it freezes well.
Taco Soup
2 pounds ground beef
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 16 ounce cans diced tomatoes (we were out and used fresh tomatoes)
1 16 ounce can kidney beans (I soaked dried kidney and black beans overnight and added about two cups worth)
1 16 ounce can corn
1 8 ounce cans tomato sauce
1 package taco seasoning ( I made my own and used about 1/4 cup)
2 tomato bouillon cubes (you can use chicken)
4 cups water
Optional: grated cheese (we used quesadilla cheese), sour cream and cilantro for garnish
In a large skillet over medium heat, brown and crumble ground beef. Add onions and cook til soft. Drain meat and onion mixture and add it and all other ingredients to crockpot. Set crockpot to high heat and cook for 6 hours. Serve with cheese, sour cream and cilantro.
Monday, February 1, 2010
The 14 Days of Valentine's
On the first day of Valentine's my true love gave to me (everybody sing!)....a chocolate heart in a mailbox!
Think twelve days of Christmas only on a much smaller scale. The children woke up this morning to find that Cupid had installed a postal center on our kitchen bar. For the fourteen days leading up to Valentine's Day, they will receive a little treat, note or token reminding them of how much they are loved. Hopefully, no swimming swans or leaping lords will fit...however, at the rate we drink milk a couple of those maids a-milking might be nice!
On a more amazing note, I completed the month of January spending only $348.00 on groceries. I am stunned. Normally we spend between $800 and $1000 (sheerly out of poor planning or lack of planning all together). I saved over half of what I normally spend! WOW! I am planning to "Fill my Freezer" this month and hope to spend only about $200 to do so. After, I am planning to continue careful menu planning, couponing, etc... to maintain a weekly budget of $100 - $125. More to follow....
Have an amazing week!
Isaiah 40:11
"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. "
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