Monthly Menu January 2016

01  Fri  

02  Sat  Salmon, scalloped potatoes, salad

03  Sun  baked stuffed shells, salad, bread

04  Mon  

05  Tue

06  Wed  

07  Thu  

08  Fri  

09  Sat  Hoppin John, rice

10  Sun  Pot roast, mashed potatoes, peas

11  Mon  Creamy Chicken soup, rolls

12  Tue  Lifeskills Graduation dinner

13  Wed  Grilled cheese, tomato soup

14  Thu  Tacos, corn, cheesy rice
15  Fri  Senor Panchos
16  Sat  Chili, rice, broccoli salad
17  Sun  lasagna, salad
18  Mon fried chicken (KFC), mashed potatoes, corn
19  Tue  Missionary dinner? Tomato Baked Chicken, pasta, salad, bread
20  Wed Youth Night:  Cheesy Vegetable Soup, roast beef sandwiches
21  Thu
22  Fri
23  Sat
24  Sun  hot turkey sandwiches, veggies
25  Mon  pasta
26  Tue  Pantry Taco Soup, quesadillas, broccoli salad
27  Wed  fast food
28  Thu  Turkey Barley Vegetable Soup, rolls
29  Fri  pork roast, mashed potatoes, green beans
30  Sat  veggie pizza
31  Sun  Beef Stew, rolls

Turkey Vegetable Soup

I don't think this is the most appetizing photo - the colors are washed out - but this was really, really GOOD. And everyone liked it (although my youngest picked out the spinach until I made him try it). The recipe comes from RealSimple.com (their photo looks better). I doubled it and increased the veggies even more. Must have with rolls to fill out the dinner.

1 T olive oil

1 lb lean ground turkey

1 large white onion, chopped

4 carrots, sliced

4 celery stalks, chopped

12 C chicken broth

1 C pearl barley or rice

salt and pepper

6 C baby spinach

brown turkey in oil, remove from pot

saute onion, carrot, & celery 3-5 minutes

return turkey to pot, add broth and barley/rice

bring to boil and then simmer until starch is cooked (30-40 minutes)

salt and pepper to taste

stir in spinach

Fruit Water

One

Two

Three

Creamy Chicken Soup

I make chicken soup a lot. As a matter of fact, it is probably my most used recipe (other than pasta with a jar of Ragu, ahem). But every once in awhile, I change it up and make this recipe. And every time I make it, I wonder why I don't make it more often! Everyone liked it, woot!

This comes from one of my favorite cookbooks, Remedies For The "I Don't Cook" Syndrome by Janet Peterson. The only change I made was cutting back on the pepper and garlic powder. The amounts I list here are the amounts that I used.

Hearty Cream of Chicken Soup

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I used thighs because that is what I had on hand)

3 celery stalks, chopped

4 carrots, sliced

1 small onion, chopped

1 bay leaf

1 tsp marjoram

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp thyme

1 tsp sage

1 tsp rosemary

1 tsp parsley

1 tsp salt

2 cans cream of mushroom soup (I used cream of chicken)

2 C cooked noodles (I used a whole 12 oz. package)

Place chicken, celery, carrots, onion, herbs, and seasonings in a large soup pot. 

Cover with about 2 quarts water, bring to a boil, then cook over medium-low heat until chicken is tender (1-2 hours). My chicken was frozen so it cooked for 2 hours. I cooked the chicken alone for the first hour, then added the other ingredients so the vegetables wouldn't be too mushy.

Remove chicken and dice, then add back to the pot.

Stir in cream soup, stir until smooth.

Add cooked noodles.

It says it serves 10-12, but it fed the five of us with no leftovers, so I would cut that number in half.

Happy Homemaker Monday January 11 2016

Good morning and happy Monday! I actually like Mondays, believe it or not. I guess I like fresh starts. We have a whole week ahead of us, full of possibilities. And Sandra has put up her Happy Homemaker Monday post, so I think I will start right here!

The weather

is a little cold, but considering it is January, it could be worse. Right now it is 28 degrees and has actually dropped since early this morning. I think today's high is 35. We haven't had any snow yet, but the next two weekends are supposed to be a wintry mix, as they like to call it, of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Nothing to accumulate but a good reason to stay home with a fire in the fireplace!

Right now I am

laughing at what I wrote above, that I will be starting my day with this post. I have been up for 4 1/2 hours already. I have already taught a scripture study class at my church which is 12.5 miles from my house and brought my son to school. I am watching my other high schooler, who is getting ready to leave the house (he has first period study hall and since he is a senior, he can skip it and go in late). He is such a good kid; I am very blessed.

Thinking

about New Year resolutions and getting healthier. My sister has gone eleven days without sugar. I think I need to join her. Will let you know if I succeed.

On my reading pile

The Old Testament. We are studying Joshua and getting into Judges this week.

On my tv

Downton Abbey started and we missed the first episode! Hopefully we can get it on Roku still. My son has been watching The Office, so I get sucked into that sometimes.

On the menu

Yesterday we had pot roast, (oh, so good!) cooked in the slow cooker so it was easy. Tonight is creamy chicken soup with rolls, we have a graduation dinner Tuesday (for a class my foster son had to take), and the rest of the week will be grilled cheese sandwiches and soup and tacos. I only have up until Thursday planned so far, but I really want to try Sandra's Portuguese Chicken and Rice that she has planned this week. It sounds delicious! My monthly menu (however incomplete) can be found here.

On my to-do list

Today: clean the upstairs bathrooms, update my bookkeeping, and clean my washing machine.

Tuesday: vacuum main floor, clean litter box, wash towels.

Wednesday: pack up stuff to go in attic, continue organizing basement, wash colors

Thursday: dust, wash whites, menu plan

Friday: grocery shop

Looking around the house

I get frustrated. Our toaster oven went, so the old one is sitting on the kitchen island and the box for the new one is sitting on the floor. There are various things sitting around that need to be put away. The rest of the main floor is in good shape, but the kitchen needs attention. My bedroom and the basement are disasters because we have been in the process of purging and rearranging our storage and I STILL have stuff of my daughters that needs to be packed up and put in the attic.

From the camera

I finally made Hoppin John and there is nothing more beautiful in the food world than chopped peppers and onions there is ham in there too).

Devotional
Joshua 24:15  "...choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Have a great week!