April 28, 2014

Happy Homemaker Monday April 28 2014


Good morning! I took a look back to see the last time I participated and it was December! Oh, it's been busy. Now that tax season is over I need to start spring cleaning, so it is time to get back into homemaking mode. Thank you, Sandra, for hosting this every week. See her at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom, she is a huge inspiration to me.

As I Look Outside My Window
The sun is shining! It is still cold around here (38 degrees this morning) - I hope this means we will have a mild summer because it was a looooong winter! It is supposed to get up to 64 degrees today. There are still no buds on the trees, but the flowers are growing and we actually have one that has bloomed. Even though I suffer from pollen allergies, I look forward to the color that will be bursting forth soon.

Right Now I Am
Thinking of my to do list and wishing I could just take a quick nap first...!

Thinking and Pondering
Mostly about our busy week, and how I have to go to the auto parts store to buy a new gas cap for our car. Put gas in it this morning and drove away with it on top of the car. I blame it on not being fully awake - it was 5:15 in the morning after all! We went back to look for it but I didn't see it.

On My Bedside Table
My kindle, always! And I actually read an entire book, start to finish! It is called Opposites Attack and was just a delightful, quick read.

On My TV
We haven't watched it in forever. I want to catch up on Glee, Parenthood, and last season's Mad Men. I cannot even remember the last movie I watched, probably Catching Fire and The Book Thief.

Listening To
Just the clock ticking.

On the Menu for this Week
I have been posting that separately, one month at a time, so just scroll down for that. (I don't plan for a whole month at a time, but just add to it as a plan for the week.)

On My To Do List
Bank, auto parts store, grocery stores, gas for the van, wash towels, and put away one load of clothes that has been in the basket for several days.

Happening This Week
Oh, it's a busy one! All three of my high school students are performing in its production of the musical Grease this weekend! My daughter is Sandy, one son is Kenickie, and another son is Johnny Casino. They will have rehearsals every day this week. Fortunately my daughter drives, so all it means for me is to make sure I have a good dinner on the table for them! Then on Friday and Saturday nights we will be at the school watching the performance! Normally they have other activities as well, but those will be put on hold until the show is over.

My Simple Pleasure
My co-worker just sold his house and is moving out of state. We bought his living room furniture. I am telling you this because my new simple pleasure is reading a good book on his stuffed chair in my living room. It is my new favorite place to be.

Homemaking Tip
Keep a list! I have one near our refrigerator for my grocery list. My kids are older (20-15) and if we run out of something I tell them to write it on the list or do without.

Looking Around the House
My husband just came back from the physical therapist and is at the kitchen sink getting his lunch ready. There is stuff to put away and vacuuming to do.

From the Camera
The first color in our yard


On My Prayer List
My kids, always, and the tornado victims.

Bible Verse
Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

I cannot tell you how much I rely on this scripture. It has been my mantra, if you will, for several years, and is a great comfort to me in these troubled times.

Have a great week!



April 21, 2014

Monthly Menu - April


What happened to mid-March to mid-April?
Work, that's what happened.
And it's been ugly in the homemaking department, let me tell you.
My family hasn't had a home cooked meal in forever.
So now it is time to get back to it!

21  Mon     raviolis, broccoli salad (broccoli & black olives tossed in Italian dressing, garlic bread, milk shakes for dessert (we have to move some furniture, so this has to be a quick dinner)
22  Tue     baked pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans
23  Wed     chicken soup (perhaps for the last time this season!), biscuits
24  Thu     tacos, corn
25  Fri       dinner out, the kids have a talent show at our church
26  Sat      boys fend for themselves, Mom has a woman's event at church and gets fed!
27  Sun     
28  Mon    pasta with meat sauce, salad, Italian bread
29  Tue     pulled chicken, baked beans, macaroni salad
30  Wed    tacos, rice

February 28, 2014

Monthly Menu - March 2014




01 Sat       Slow Cooked Pot Roast, potatoes, carrots
02 Sun      Dinner with in-laws
03 Mon     Cheesy Baked Tortellini, salad, bread (assemble day before)
04 Tue       Slow cooked ham, buttered egg noodles, peas
05 Wed     Leftovers, fast food
06 Thu       Pressure Cooker Minestrone Soup, crusty rolls
07 Fri         Chicken tacos, corn, cauliflower
08 Sat       kids have an activity, so it is dinner out with my husband!
09 Sun     Beef stew
10 Mon     Bubble Pizza, salad
11 Tue      pizza for kids, make your own
12 Wed     fast food
13 Thu      make your own
14 Fri       leftover chili from freezer, rice
15 Sat.     Chicken soup, rolls
16 Sun.    Corned beef and cabbage at Grandma's
17 Mon.   Three Cheese Chicken Penne Bake, spinach salad
18 Tue.    Freezer leftover pork, rice or egg noodles, green beans
19 Wed.    Fast food
20 Thu.     Lentil Sloppy Joes, coleslaw, corn
21 Fri        Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, spinach salad
22 Sat
23 Sun
24 Mon
25 Tue
26 Wed
27 Thu
28 Fri
29 Sat
30 Sun
31 Mon

February 12, 2014

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

I really liked this sauce made from a recipe on DamnDelicious.net. It was really good, although I am not a large enough fan of italian sausage to eat it regularly, so I intend to use this recipe as a base from which I can adapt to different tastes. Next time I intend to use two pounds of ground beef, omit the sausage, and add thyme.

Brown 2 pounds ground meat (beef, sausage, pork, turkey, chicken) in 2 T olive oil (optional) with a minced onion.
Add two minced garlic cloves, cook for about a minute.
Drain meat and add to slow cooker.
Add 3 (14.5 oz) cans chopped tomatoes, 2 (15 oz) cans tomato sauce, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp basil, 3 bay leaves, and salt and pepper to taste.
Stir together and cook on low 10-12 hours.

I did not add any salt and pepper and it was still delicious!

February 3, 2014

Monthly Menu - February 2014

February
marks the start of tax season, and working 4 days a week outside of the home, therefore dinners will be simply made using a slow cooker or pressure cooker as much as possible.

1  Sat      dinner out
2  Sun     Super Bowl - veggie platter, fruit platter, munchies
3  Mon    pasta night - spaghetti with meat sauce
4  Tue     slow cooker bbq pork, baked beans, cole slaw
5  Wed    anticipated snow day - lemon chicken,*must post on sight, it was awesome! rice, green beans
7   Fri     dinner out, leftovers
8   Sat     steak, baked potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower
9   Sun     chicken soup,made with this chicken stock, rolls
10 Mon     pasta with slow cooker meat sauce, salad
11 T         slow cooker pork tenderloin, rice, green beans
12 W     ???
13 Th     split chicken breasts, egg noodles, carrots
14 F      pizza
15 Sa     dinner out
16 Su     Lasagna, salad, bread
17 M      Hamburger soup, leftover bread
18 T       Ham, cabbage, food storage noodles, frozen green beans
19 W     Kielbasi and beans, corn
20 Th     Chicken tacos, broccoli, rice
21 F      Leftovers - every man for himself!
22 Sa     Chili, rice, broccoli salad
23 Su     Ham and potatoes, green beans
24 M     Pasta with meat sauce, salad
25 T      Sophie's chicken - Grandma cooks!
26 W     Hot dogs, kielbasi & beans
27 Th     Smothered Lentils, rice, corn
28 F      pizza

January 14, 2014

New England Chuck Roast




This was really good. I loved the gravy, and I love a recipe that teaches me how to make an easy but tasty gravy. The gravy is so good, I could eat it with a spoon!

1 3lb chuck roast
1 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 onion, sliced
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 celery stalk, cut into 8 pieces
1 bay leaf
1 T vinegar (used apple cider vinegar)
2 C water
1/2 small cabbage, cut into wedges
3 T butter
1 T instant minced onion
2 T flour
2 T prepared horseradish
@ 1 t gravy master

  • sprinkle meat with 1/2 t salt and pepper
  • place onion, carrots, and celery in slow cooker
  • place meat on top of vegetables
  • add water, bay leaf, and vinegar
  • cook on LOW 5-7 hours (I did 7 hours)
  • remove meat
  • turn control to high, add cabbage
  • cook for 20 minutes
  • remove 1 1/2 cups of beef broth
  • melt butter in saucepan
  • stir in minced onion and flour
  • add broth, horseradish and 1/2 t salt
  • stir over low heat until thickened
I made mashed potatoes to go with the the meal and some frozen peas for those who don't like cabbage. Delicious! Must make again soon!

January 1, 2014

Monthly Menu - January

I've come up with a new plan! I often find interesting recipes while web browsing, and my favorites file is a bit cumbersome, so for now on, I am going to try calendaring the recipes I want to try, and putting the link on the assigned day right here on my blog where it will be handy.  So here goes:


January
  1  Wednesday          tacos*, veggie platter (*ground beef with salsa, shredded cheese)
  2  Thursday             red beans & rice (too much cayenne for our taste)
  3  Friday                 baked ziti, garlic bread, salad
  4  Saturday             leftovers

  5  Sunday               creamy chicken soup (I Don't Cook), Pillsbury biscuits
  6  Monday              spaghetti, salad
  7  Tuesday              kielbasi/hot dogs, coleslaw, baked beans, carrot sticks
  8  Wednesday         leftovers
  9  Thursday            fend for yourselves
10  Friday                 Hoppin John

12  Sunday                eggs, hash browns, sausage, biscuits
13  Monday              elbows with sauce & mozzarella, salad
14  Tuesday               pork tenderloin (omit cayenne pepper), green beans, mashed potatoes
15  Wednesday          pizza???
16  Thursday             bbq beans (366 Delicious Ways to Cook Rice, Beans, & Grains pg 234), rice, coleslaw
17  Friday                 graduation party
18  Saturday             chili, rice, broccoli salad

19  Sunday                chicken soup, rolls
20  Monday               elbows with lentil sauce, garlic bread, salad
21  Tuesday              creamy chicken (notes: make chicken ahead in crock pot with butter and garlic, then cook onion in oil and proceed with recipe. use egg noodles)
22  Wednesday          
23  Thursday               Black Beans and Rice, tacos (use meat from freezer)
24  Friday                  slow cooked pork roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy
25  Saturday               chicken soup, grandma's rolls

26  Sunday                 New England chuck roast, egg noodles
27  Monday                 pasta with italian sausage, salad
28  Tuesday                baked herb lemon chicken, crock pot roasted potatoes, green beans
29  Wednesday            bbq pork sandwiches, coleslaw
30  Thursday               grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup
31  Friday                  honey lime tilapia, rice, zucchini