The Homemaker Files: December 2015

December 29, 2015

Monthly Menu December 2015

01 Tue Missionary dinner: tacos, corn, salad

02 Wed Youth Group: chicken and rice soup, rolls

03 Thu red beans and rice, green beans

04 Fri

05 Sat

06 Sun

21 Mon leftover chili

22 Tue birthday party at my sister's house (make macaroni salad)

23 Wed cream of chicken soup, biscuits

24 Thu Christmas Eve at my sister's house (make broccoli casserole, cookies)

25 Fri Christmas Day: rib roast with York shire pudding, mashed potatoes, green beans

26 Sat leftovers

27 Sun pasta

28 Mon take out Chinese food

29 Tue leftover pork from freezer, gravy, rice, kale

30 Wed creamy chicken soup

31 Thu New Year's Eve ham, sweet potatoes, green beans

December 22, 2015

At Christmas?!!! The crazy part of this is, Christmas Eve day is going to be MUGGY with a high of 65-70! Where do we live?! The reality is that my sister is having us over to celebrate her daughter in-law's and granddaughter's birthdays, determined that their birthdays will not be neglected just because of where they fall on the calendar. So, she has asked me to make macaroni salad. My mother in-law makes a delicious macaroni salad, and she taught me how to make it, and I have made it many, many times. However, it is a recipe that is a little of this, more of this, a lot of this, and taste it until it tastes right to you. So, for me at least, it was hit or miss, so I went searching on the internet for a recipe close to my MIL's. This is it, with a couple of tweaks:

Hellman's Macaroni Salad (this is doubled):

1 pound elbow macaroni, cooked until al dente, rinsed in cold water, and drained

lots of carrots (maybe 6), chopped fine* (use your electric chopper and make it easy on yourself)
lots of celery (maybe 6 stalks), chopped fine*
a small onion (optional), chopped fine*
or whatever veggies you want

2 C mayo
1/4 C apple cider vinegar
2 T dijon mustard
1 1/2 t salt
2 t sugar
ground pepper to taste

mix dressing ingredients, allow to blend

mix pasta and veggies, add dressing to desired consistency (you can really halve the dressing, especially if you are using it right away)

*by chopping the veggies fine, kids cannot avoid them when eating the salad, although mine do their best

December 21, 2015

Happy Homemaker Monday December 21 2015

Wow, Christmas is upon us already! We complain (in my house, anyway) about Christmas starting too early and not giving Thanksgiving its proper due, but before you know it, Christmas is less than a week away and I always feel a little panicky that I have run out of time. But then I remind myself that whatever we have and whatever I have to offer is enough, and I let it go. And here we are! I wish you all a very peaceful, joyful Christmas.

The weather outside is

cold but getting warmer. Right now it is 37 degrees and overcast, which I don't mind because then I put on the tree lights and they look beautiful. We are supposed to have rain all this week but I am not complaining because I am not ready for snow yet.

On the breakfast plate

was granola bars with peanut butter. I was going to blend yogurt with frozen berries and add some granola but I was too cold. Maybe for lunch...

As I look outside my window

I see that we are, as usual, behind in our chores. The chairs to the patio set are still on the deck, and there have been two scrub brushes sitting on the patio table for weeks now. My husband is in the process of expanding our shed (instead of getting rid of stuff, he keeps expanding it, I tease him that it will someday be bigger than our house) so he hasn't had time to take care of those things. Meanwhile, I was going to clean out our flower beds and haven't done any of that, so I cannot complain.

Right now I am

sitting at my kitchen table, which is where I always am when at the computer. I'm thinking how I really tried to start the season (which begins the night of Thanksgiving for our family) by reflecting on our Savior and the true meaning of Christmas. But then the gift buying, wrapping, and BAKING take over and I lose it. I haven't read my scriptures for days, until today! So that's a start, I have already read some today.

As I look around the house

I see my clean crock pot still sitting on my counter along with all of my baking paraphernalia, I am done making cookies for my husband to bring to work (36 dozen) and for our church Christmas party. Now I just have baking for my family, which won't be too much. Then my kitchen needs a thorough cleaning before tax season starts as it is covered in flour!

On today's to-do list

towel washing, counter cleaning, gift wrapping, cookie baking, and planning a game day for our seminary class on Wednesday. Dinner is going to be leftover chili, so that's easy.

Happening this week

Tonight is a night at home, thank goodness.

Tuesday - swim meet, birthday party for my nephew's wife and daughter (they are visiting from out of state)

Wednesday - preparing for Christmas

Thursday - Christmas eve at my sister's house

Friday - Christmas day at our house (plans are still up in the air) and Skyping with my missionary daughter!

Saturday - hopefully some house cleaning! game playing, relaxing with the family

Sunday - church, family time

Currently reading

Starting A Christmas Carol this week

On the tv

Christmas movies! We have only watched two so far: Scrooge and The Homecoming.