Last week's meal planning went so well I decided to do it again. It was so nice knowing what I was going to do about dinner when I got home from work. A lot less stress.
This week I decided to go through one of my cookbooks. I chose The Great American Favorite Band Name Cookbook. Here goes:
Sunday: Chicken & Rice Soup (page 78) and Apple Pie
Monday: Santa Fe Casserole (page 283)
Tuesday: Sweet and Sour Pork Chops (page 182)
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Lenita's Pot Roast - This is a recipe given to me by a favorite coworker. We were talking about my menu plans, how Thursday was pot roast day and how I needed more pot roast recipes. She offered this one with cheese soup - yummy!
Friday: Homemade Pizza
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Garden Cheese Soup (page 64) and Cherry Pie
Monday: Tacos in Pasta Shells (page 308)
Tuesday: Thai Chicken (page 211)
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Enchiladas from the freezer
Friday: Baked Ziti from the freezer
Saturday: Homemade Pizza
Friday, January 15, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
What I learned this week: Being a Mom has Given Me New Ways to Get My Point Across
Before becoming a mom I was an advertising account exec. I don't know if it is the ad industry, the industry I was servicing or just the agency I worked for, but I developed quite the potty mouth. The first time they heard me drop the 'F' bomb, my coworkers celebrated. It was all down hill from there and it's something I have been working on since.
So far the only repeated slips have been about those pesky Asian Beetles. My two year old son was at grandma's one night stepping on them saying, "Damn Bugs, Damn Bugs." At least he was using it correctly,right? And they are the most worthless creature ever created. I STILL have them in my house even though it hasn't gotten above freezing since Christmas. But I digress...
Fast forward to last night. I was changing the laundry around and moved funny. The lid came down on the bridge of my nose, right between my eyes. OUCH.
But instead of 'ouch, out came 'holy cats', 'Oh my gosh', 'Son of a fudgicicle,' and a few more I'm not remembering right now. All in a mumbled, garbled voice that sounded much like that of Ralphie's dad from the Christmas Story using the real words. Even though I was talking in code, I must have gotten my point across because hubby kept the kids from coming into the laundry room to check on me.
I didn't realize until last night, I have replaced my naughty words with new words that mean the same to me but won't get me a note home from school. And, they came out under duress.
That's progress, right?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tigress' Can Jam Challenge: January Assignment
I stumbled upon the Tigress' Can Jam Challenge this week. Even though I missed the deadline, she let me join! I am so excited!
The ingredient this month is citrus. I immediately decided to use limes. I googled lime jam recipes and found a couple I would like to try. Recipes like Red Chili and Lime Jam and Mojito Jam.
But I found my inspiration in a martini - a Key Lime Pie Martini to be exact. So in the next couple of weeks I will be drinking martinis and trying to alter and perfect a recipe for Key Lime Martini Jam. Anyone want to be a taste tester?
The ingredient this month is citrus. I immediately decided to use limes. I googled lime jam recipes and found a couple I would like to try. Recipes like Red Chili and Lime Jam and Mojito Jam.
But I found my inspiration in a martini - a Key Lime Pie Martini to be exact. So in the next couple of weeks I will be drinking martinis and trying to alter and perfect a recipe for Key Lime Martini Jam. Anyone want to be a taste tester?
Friday, January 1, 2010
35 before 35
A few years back a friend made a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. It sounded neat but a bit overwhelming.
When I stumbled upon Yes and Yes' blog today and saw her 31 things do do before turning 31 I was intrigued. It seemed much more manageable. Since I am past 31 and my next birthday is just nine months away, I decided to go with a different target. I decided to come up with my own list of the 35 things I would like to do before turning 35 in September 2011.
Hopefully my feelings of accomplishment will override my horror of being closer to 50 than 19.
My list is a work in progress because I would really like the 35 things I choose to be meaningful and attainable. So here goes!
1. Learn how to sew. Start with making an advent garland for each of the kiddos.
2. Make my own Christmas wreaths. Definitely an evergreen wreath but these too:
3. Finish my response to Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma.
4. Actually complete a body cleanse.
5. Travel to Europe, the Provence region of France in particular.
6. Visit the site of the World Trade Center attack in New York City.
6. Visit the site of the World Trade Center attack in New York City.
7. Purchase new filters for our reverse osmosis system.
8. Organize my spice rack in a more sustainable way.
9. Construct a boot rack near my basement door so we are not always swimming in shoes, boots, slippers, and flip flops.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
My January 3-16 Menu
To start the week strong, I decided to spend New Year's Eve drinking wine and planning our menu for the first two weeks of the new year.
Sunday, January 3 - Dirty Risotto
The kids LOVED this!
Monday, January 4 - Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
This was delicous and so easy! I substituted yogart for the sour cream and it was just as tasty! Even better, I divided it into two baking dishes and stashed one in the freezer for a rainy or a least a busy day.
Tuesday, January 5 - Shrimp Pad Thai
I LOVED this. It was super easy, too.
Wednesday, January 6 - Leftovers
I had planned on making the Baked Ziti but we has so much food we did leftovers instead.
Thursday, January 7 - Crock Pot Roast
I paired this with macoroni noodles and green beans. It was very salty, just like I like it!
Since I had the ground beef thawed and the onions chopped, I made the Baked Ziti tonight. I divided it up into two containers to put in the freezer. We will have this on a busy night when I don't have time to cook.
Friday, January 8 - Homemade Pizza
I plan to cook the rest of the bacon and use up the mushrooms left over from the dirty risotto.
Saturday, January 9 -Leftovers
Sunday, January 10 - Swedish Meatballs
Monday, January 11 - Taco Bell Quesadillas, Mexican Rice
Tuesday, January 12 - Pizza Casserole
Wednesday, January 13 - Coconut Curried Chicken
Thursday, January 14 - Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Friday, January 15 - Homemade Pizza
Saturday, January 16 - Leftovers
Sunday, January 3 - Dirty Risotto
The kids LOVED this!
Monday, January 4 - Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
This was delicous and so easy! I substituted yogart for the sour cream and it was just as tasty! Even better, I divided it into two baking dishes and stashed one in the freezer for a rainy or a least a busy day.
Tuesday, January 5 - Shrimp Pad Thai
I LOVED this. It was super easy, too.
Wednesday, January 6 - Leftovers
I had planned on making the Baked Ziti but we has so much food we did leftovers instead.
Thursday, January 7 - Crock Pot Roast
I paired this with macoroni noodles and green beans. It was very salty, just like I like it!
Since I had the ground beef thawed and the onions chopped, I made the Baked Ziti tonight. I divided it up into two containers to put in the freezer. We will have this on a busy night when I don't have time to cook.
Friday, January 8 - Homemade Pizza
I plan to cook the rest of the bacon and use up the mushrooms left over from the dirty risotto.
Saturday, January 9 -Leftovers
Sunday, January 10 - Swedish Meatballs
Monday, January 11 - Taco Bell Quesadillas, Mexican Rice
Tuesday, January 12 - Pizza Casserole
Wednesday, January 13 - Coconut Curried Chicken
Thursday, January 14 - Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Friday, January 15 - Homemade Pizza
Saturday, January 16 - Leftovers
Meet Pete!
Santa surprised us this year with a new puppy! Pete is a 12 week old golden retriever.
We are still adjusting to having a dog and a new baby (the dog) in the house but are doing well. Pete lives in the basement in his crate. He loves the snow and jumping on the kids. Kiddo 2 loves having someone to boss around.
So far Pete can sit, lie down, sit down while he waits to come inside and stay for 5 seconds. Now if we could only get the potty training down.
We still miss Frank. We didn't realize how lucky we were to get a dog that was already so well trained and behaved. He was such a sweetie.
Pete has helped our hearts heal.
We are still adjusting to having a dog and a new baby (the dog) in the house but are doing well. Pete lives in the basement in his crate. He loves the snow and jumping on the kids. Kiddo 2 loves having someone to boss around.
So far Pete can sit, lie down, sit down while he waits to come inside and stay for 5 seconds. Now if we could only get the potty training down.
We still miss Frank. We didn't realize how lucky we were to get a dog that was already so well trained and behaved. He was such a sweetie.
Pete has helped our hearts heal.
A Fresh Start
It's New Year's Eve, another jammy day and I'm feeling a bit reflective.
2009 was a busy year. We did basketball, an indoor waterpark, Mexico, another indoor waterpark, spring soccer, late planting, little league, Vacation Bible School, a garage sale, Indiana shopping, northern Michigan camping, 4-H fair, the Ericson Extravaganza Wiffle Ball Tournament, four wheeling in Bushnell, fall soccer, tackle football, a murder mystery party, Thanksgiving at our house, a late and long harvest, Illinois Farm Bureau Conference and Discussion Meet, a weekend in Chicago, wrapping up my old job, Christmas, new puppy, a new job and two weeks off.
With all that was going on, I was in survival mode much of the time. I didn't realize how much I was in survival mode until this week. I guess clarity comes with two weeks of jammy days.
Being so busy, many important areas of my life were neglected. In the new year I want to do a better job:
1. Meal planning: I hope this will lead to healthier eating, more deliberate grocery shopping, a lower grocery bill, less weekday stress and more family meals. I plan to use some of simplemom's resources to help.
2. Character development in my kids: Too often I just do 'it' so I don't have to fight with anyone, it gets done when I want it done and it's done my way. I need to stop this and set some expectations about the responsibilities associated with being a member of our family, i.e. helping out around the house. This is even more crucial now that Santa brought a new puppy. More on him in another post. Simplemom is going to help here, too.
3. Asking for help: Because my husband is extremely busy in the fall and spring, I get used to being the one who takes care of everything with the kids and house. I need to stop this, ask for help and deal with the grouchiness that comes with asking. I can not do it all while staying sane and gracious.
4. Exercise: I used to run. I used to teach aerobics. I used to be extremely disciplined. Once we moved and I had my second child five years ago, it's been hit or miss. Now, 12 pounds later, I am struggling. This year I plan on enrolling in an exercise program at work. Since I will be starting a new job with a new office location, I'm hoping that starting this new habit will be easier. Also, since I need to take care of the puppy early in the morning, I am hoping that I will take time to exercise after taking him out.
There are a few other areas I would like to work on: my spirituality, not signing my kids up for every activity they want to participate in, cleaning my house, reading for pleasure - but these will have to wait. I need to focus.
2009 was a busy year. We did basketball, an indoor waterpark, Mexico, another indoor waterpark, spring soccer, late planting, little league, Vacation Bible School, a garage sale, Indiana shopping, northern Michigan camping, 4-H fair, the Ericson Extravaganza Wiffle Ball Tournament, four wheeling in Bushnell, fall soccer, tackle football, a murder mystery party, Thanksgiving at our house, a late and long harvest, Illinois Farm Bureau Conference and Discussion Meet, a weekend in Chicago, wrapping up my old job, Christmas, new puppy, a new job and two weeks off.
With all that was going on, I was in survival mode much of the time. I didn't realize how much I was in survival mode until this week. I guess clarity comes with two weeks of jammy days.
Being so busy, many important areas of my life were neglected. In the new year I want to do a better job:
1. Meal planning: I hope this will lead to healthier eating, more deliberate grocery shopping, a lower grocery bill, less weekday stress and more family meals. I plan to use some of simplemom's resources to help.
2. Character development in my kids: Too often I just do 'it' so I don't have to fight with anyone, it gets done when I want it done and it's done my way. I need to stop this and set some expectations about the responsibilities associated with being a member of our family, i.e. helping out around the house. This is even more crucial now that Santa brought a new puppy. More on him in another post. Simplemom is going to help here, too.
3. Asking for help: Because my husband is extremely busy in the fall and spring, I get used to being the one who takes care of everything with the kids and house. I need to stop this, ask for help and deal with the grouchiness that comes with asking. I can not do it all while staying sane and gracious.
4. Exercise: I used to run. I used to teach aerobics. I used to be extremely disciplined. Once we moved and I had my second child five years ago, it's been hit or miss. Now, 12 pounds later, I am struggling. This year I plan on enrolling in an exercise program at work. Since I will be starting a new job with a new office location, I'm hoping that starting this new habit will be easier. Also, since I need to take care of the puppy early in the morning, I am hoping that I will take time to exercise after taking him out.
There are a few other areas I would like to work on: my spirituality, not signing my kids up for every activity they want to participate in, cleaning my house, reading for pleasure - but these will have to wait. I need to focus.
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