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

Macaroni Salad

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

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. 

On the menu this week

leftover chili tonight. The rest can be found here (not much on it though).

Favorite photo

This came to me by an anonymous missionary mom in Arizona, where my daughter is currently serving. (She is on the right.)

Inspiration

Have a great week and a very merry Christmas!

It's Cookie Time!

Pecan Sandies

Snickerdoodles (recipe to follow)

Gingersnaps (recipe to follow)

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Almond Joy Cookies

White Chocolate and Fresh Cranberry Cookies

Happy Homemaker Monday November 30 2015

It has been a long time since I have participated in HHM. I really have no excuse, Mondays just seem to get away from me I guess. Please see Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for more Happy Homemaker Monday!

Weather:

Winter is just starting to show up in my part of New England. The Friday after Thanksgiving, which is our Christmas decorating day, was a beautiful 65 degrees! It was hard to get into the Christmas spirit, lol. But today it is only 36 degrees and it's 1:37 pm. So, brrr. Cloudy too, but now snow in the forecast, thank heaven!

Out of my window

I see clouds. Also, my 17 year old son is practicing lacrosse in the backyard, and my husband is working on expanding our shed. I prefer to stay in the warm house, but, alas, I do have to venture out to the grocery store.

Right now

I am listening to Christmas music. Friday I took a lot of time uploading all of my Christmas cds onto my computer (had done it before but we lost the hard drive on that one) and then loading them on my mp3. I put it on shuffle and love the random styles that come up. Variety is the spice of life! I am also warming up the car so I can venture out to the grocery stores (one warehouse club and two grocery stores) plus the post office to get a package out to my daughter.

Thinking about

How blessed I am! We all are if we just learn to see it! My daughter is preparing to serve a mission for our church in New Caledonia. It's on the other side of the earth! And warm! She is happy! I know two other girls who are doing the same, but going to different places. And since she has dedicated this time of her life to the Lord our family has been so blessed! Mostly I am grateful for the blessing of my Savior. There is no greater gift, and I would like to keep that foremost in my mind during this holiday season. He is the most important gift!

On my bedside table

My phone (at night), my tablet, a magazine, a pile of books, my glasses, two bottles of water, and a lot of dust!

On my tv

We will be watching Christmas movies, I don't care about anything else right now. We always start off by watching Scrooge, the musical from the 1970s with Albert Finney on Thanksgiving night. I can watch every version of A Christmas Carol ever made (except the muppets), I just love that story. I thank my dad for that. But, I want to start Jesus of Nazareth soon so I can watch all of it during the month.

On the menu

You can find my menu here.

To do list

Post office, grocery shopping, one load of laundry, make dinner, make lunches for hubby for the week.

Happening this week

We are having the missionaries in our area over for dinner Tuesday night, Wednesday is youth night at church, Thursday one son has scouts (until he gets that Eagle project done), Saturday is girls mall day, woot! My mom, sister, and I (and my daughter when she was here) spend the day at the mall, eating out and shopping and laughing a lot.

Simple pleasure

Christmas lights! Right now we have a miniature village on our fireplace mantel with lights in them and candles in our front windows. Love them!

Looking around the house

It got the best cleaning it has had in a long time for Thanksgiving, so it's not too bad. The cat is sleeping on the top of her tower and the vacuum hose is out waiting to be used.

From the camera

Packing up the fall decorations

Inspiration

This was my Facebook profile picture this month

Have a wonderful week!

Monthly Menu November 2015

16  Mon  Kid meal: hot dogs, tater tots, corn

17  Tue  Missionary meal: pasta with homemade sauce, salad, bread

18  Wed Youth Night: creamy chicken soup, biscuits

19  Thu  red beans and rice

20  Fri  fish, rice, mixed veggies

30  Mon  turkey, mashed potatoes, leftover stuffing, veggies

Monthly Menu October 2015

12  Mon  pizza
13  Tue  Tangy Slow Cooker Pork Roast
14  Wed  Split Pea and Ham Soup, crusty bread
15 Thu   Beef Stew
16  Fri  Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
17  Sat
18  Sun  Family dinner: pulled beef, pulled pork, baked beans, macaroni salad
19  Mon  leftovers
20  Tue  chili, rolls
21  Wed
22  Thu  raviolis, garlic bread, broccoli salad
23  Fri
24  Sat
25  Sun
26  Mon  pasta, salad, garlic bread
27  Tue  leftover pulled beef, egg noodles, gravy, peas and carrots
28  Wed  slow cooker ham and potato soup, biscuits
29  Thu  temple trip, fend for yourselves
30  Fri  missionary dinner:
31  Sat