Weekly meal 1/31/10

I'm a bit behind on my week. That happens sometimes, even to the 1950's housewife. *smile*
My little (he's 23, so not so little!) brother is here and we've been spending a lot of time together.
I haven't even done my grocery shopping for the week. Bad huh! It would help if I had made up my meal plan before just now. I'll post the recipes and steps for Wed, Thur and Sat's meals. You know it's a good meal plan when you can't wait to make each dish! If you are going to make these and need the shopping list beforehand, just leave a comment or email me and I'll get it out to you.

Monday
Dinner: Vegetarian lasagna* (freezer stash)

Tuesday
Dinner: Peanut Pad Thai Pork with Peanut Butter Slaw (freezer stash)

Wednesday
Dinner: Spicy Garlic Cashew Chicken

Thursday
Dinner: Albondigas soup (Mexican meatball soup)

Friday
Dinner: take out

Saturday
Breakfast: breakfast burritos
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Asparagus pesto stuffed flat iron steak over pasta

Sunday
Linner: (Super bowl party) Ham and Cheese Sliders

*The veggie lasagna was wonderful! Not quite as rich as store or restaurant ones but it was better lighter and packed with way more veggies. The only thing was that it was very watery. I think it because we didn't sauté the veggies first like the recipe called for. We shredded all our veggies so we didn't think they would need the sauté to soften them. Now I see that it probably would have helped lower the water content. This version still tasted great but it would have made a better presentation if the water was removed from the veggies first. I think if you lightly salted the squashes and let them sit in a colander for a bit it would drain just as well and with put the added oil of the sauté.

Simple pleasures

It's really the simple pleasures in life that can make or break a week, day or even "the witching hours." You know, those hours just before dinner, during homework, before dad comes home when your kids seam to need everything done for them, spelled out for them and insist on dancing on your very last nerve. Simple pleasures can be the difference between being this mom:

To this mom:

 This one:

 To this one:

 This one:

 To this one:

Some of a mom's simple pleasures are the same as any woman but some, are uniquely Mom.

A fresh new hip hair cut
New make up
A pedicure
A chance to pee in private
The first successful day of potty training - the end of diapers
The first time your child wipes his/her own butt
A book that holds your childs interest the entire way thru
The tv show or movie that guarantees you a minimum of 10 min.'s peace (see #4)
The meal that every member of your family will eat with out modification per plate.
A hotel for a night - They make the beds for you!!!
A shower with out having to answer questions :"what's that?" "why do you have to shave?" "why do you have hair there?"
Sleeping-in past 6am
Being woken up by a kiss or feelski from your husband vs a slober or pounce from your kids.
A midnight walk to the bathroom without stepping on a Lego, baby doll or that mysterious squishy thing.
Drinking an entire drink without having to share or defend against sharing
Eating an entire meal without having to ponder why the food on mom's plate tastes better than the kids plate despite the fact that it's the SAME meal!
A Starbucks coffee

The list could go on. What are your simple pleasures?

Friday

Ahh Fridays, how I love thee!

No, I've never found my motivation, maybe I should check in the dryer?
I spent yesterday at home spending time with my youngest brother who's in from out of town. We played games, watched movies with the kids and caught up on all those conversations that are so much better face to face than via long distance phone call. One of his favorite meals is fettuccini alfredo so I switched up the meal plan last night and thawed the chicken broccoli alfredo I made last Friday. It thawed perfectly and didn't separate at all. It was just as creamy as the day we made it. We served it over pasta with a small side salad and some easy breadsticks. It was delish! I can't imagine eating the chicken broccoli as a casserole though; it would be like just eating alfredo sauce with a spoon. Ok, well, maybe on the right day I could divulge into a spoon or two, but you get the point. The breadstick recipe comes from another blog I follow mostly for coupons and conversations but she has some great recipes now and then. The recipe is intended as pizza dough but I modified it a bit for breadsticks.

1 1\2 cup warm water
2 tsp yeast
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tbsp garlic salt
3\4 cup butter
3 cups flour

Proof the yeast in the warm water for 1-2 min's. In the mixing bowl add all the ingredients and, using your dough hook on low, mix until dough pulls away from bowl then increase to medium for 2 min's. If you don't have mixer just get your hands in there and kneed until the dough is smooth and elastic. Let the dough rest for 10 min's. then roll out to about 1\8 thickness. Using a pizza cutter or other sharp knife, cut into strips width wise about 1 inch wide. Fold the strip in half and twist. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 400 for 10 min's. Baste with melted butter and garlic salt and bake for 2 min's. more. Remove and serve warm or, cool and freeze for later.

Thanks MyLitter for the great recipe idea


Today I'm headed to the park with the kids and hopefully do some clean up so we start the weekend with fresh house. We're ordering out from Buffalo Wild Wings tonight for dinner and plan on watching a movie together. Ahh how I love Fridays!

At some point this weekend I need to get to the asparagus from Bountiful Baskets. I found this recipe for asparagus pesto when looking for more to do with the asparagus other than blanching it and freezing it. I'm going to make up a batch this weekend and hopefully the family will like it. If so, then I'll probably make up one or two more batches to freeze.

Have a great weekend!

How to stay warm on a cold morning

Me: "Makenna? Makenna, where are you? Come on, we have to go take the big kids to school. Where are you? Kids, help me find Makenna please."

Kids: "I think I hear her down the hall."

Me: "Check the laundry room, she was getting a yougert out earler."

Kids: "Nope, not in here"

Me: "What about the bathroom? Makenna! Where are you?"


Kids: "Nope, not here."

Me: "I'll check her bed, maybe she went back to sleep"

Me: "Nope. Anthony, check your room."

Anthony: "Nope."
Me: "Are you sure you'd be able to find her in there? Did you check the shower?"

Me: "Nope. Ok, Makenna, this isn't funny any more, where are you?!?!"

Hailey: "Mom, she's not in her castle either"
Me: "Did you look in the closet?"

Kids: "MAKENNA!!!"
Me:"MAKENNA LYNN! Where are you?"
Kids: "Kenna, Kenna, Kenna, where are you..."
Me: "Shh....."
Kids: "Kenna, Kenna, Kenna..."
Me: "SHH...."
Kids: Kenna, Kenna, Kenna"
Me: "SHUSH!!!!! I hear her....Makenna? Check the laundry room again."

Kids: "Nope. Oh, wait...."

All together: "Makenna!"

Makenna: "Cold!"

Did you see the Dora book in there with her? She was cold, someone left the dryer open and I'm guessing she thought she'd crawl in with the warm clothes and read. She was mad the light kept shutting off when she closed the door. Ahh, kids, where heart attacks originated!

Lacking the will of the warrior

Has anyone seen my motivation? I seem to have lost it at some point this weekend. I'm blaming the lazy Sunday, I slowed down for a day and can't get reved back up. My house needs some serious deep cleaning again. The dust bunnies are taking over. It's been all my energy just to keep the house picked up and dishes done, let alone do anything more. Ugh! Maybe the motivation fairy will visit me in my sleep tonight. I could really use a day like this.....Wednesday two weeks ago....

15 Bean Soup and Green Chile Corn Bread Recipes

15 Bean Soup

1 sweet onion
4 stocks celery
1/2 bag baby carrots or 3-4 large
Ham Steak or chub of boneless cured ham
Ham hock
Bag 15 bean soup mix
Cilantro
2 bay leaves


Soak beans over night or follow instructions on the bag for quick soak.
Chop onions, celery, carrots and ham to similar cubes. In a sauté pan with a little olive oil, sauté all until the carrots are a bit soft. Chop 1/2 the cilantro bunch, stems are ok. Add everything including your rinsed beans into a crock pot and cover to the top with water. Add pepper to taste. Be very conservative with salt as the ham hock adds a lot. Cook on low 8 hrs. Before serving add the ham flavor packet.
Garnish with extra cilantro, cheese, sour cream or fresh cracked pepper.


Green Chile Corn Bread

2 boxes Jiffy corn bread mix
1 can creamed corn
1 cup frozen corn
2 small cans green chiles
2 eggs
1 cup milk

Combine all the ingredients and let rest for 10 min's. Bake according to the instructions on the box for either Johnny cake or muffins.

Weekly meal plan 1/24/11

This weeks meals are based on what I have in stock:

Monday: Dinner salad with broiled chicken and whole wheat rolls

Tuesday: 15 bean soup with corn bread

Wednesday: Enchilada casserole (freezer stash) with refried beans (left over from the soup)

Thursday: Cranberry pork roast (freezer stash) with brown rice and fresh broccoli

Friday: order in

Saturday:
Breakfast: French toast casserole
Lunch: Tuna sandwiches
Dinner: Hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill with grilled mixed veggies

Reactions

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Lazy Sundays

I love Sundays, especially lazy Sunday's. (Someone remind me of this tomorrow when I'm complaining about all the clean up I have to do!) Last night Brad and I got to go on a late night dinner date and he let me sleep in this morning till noon! The rest of the day was cuddling up with my babies watching tv or playing games. I did sneak Hailey and I out for a quick trip to the grocery store for the weekly staples.

I spent most of my weekly budget this week on our mega cooking day. It cost us $200 total for all the ingredients, which comes out to $8.00 per meal! Considering most of the dishes will feed our entire families plus some for left overs I think we did great! So while I don't plan to deplete my entire freezer this week, we will be relying on it for several meals. I hope to get the weekly meal plan up later tonight.

For dinner tonight we're having the Mediterranean Spinach Strata with bacon, a side salad and phenomenal cinnamon rolls. Yum!

The cinnamon roll recipe is my go-to bread recipe with a smidge more sugar and a splash of vanilla.

Dough:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 egg
3 3/4 cup flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast

Filling:

1/2 cup melted butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon (or more to taste)
1 tbsp flour

I use a bread maker on the dough setting. I combine the milk, water and butter in a measuring cup and heat for 1 min. in the microwave. Add to the bread machine then pile everything in the order listed. Once the machine is done working it's magic, roll out on a floured surface till the dough is about an 1/8 in thick.

Then spread with a 1/2 cup melted butter. In a ziplock bag combine the remaining filling ingredients and shake to combine. Spread over the dough then roll up.

I use a length of thread to cut the dough instead of squishing it with a knife.

Place the rolls in a buttered dish and let rise until doubled.

Bake at 375 for 10-12 min's until golden brown. Top with your favorite icing.

Bountiful Baskets

Have you heard of Bountiful Baskets? If not, you HAVE to check it out. It's co-op for fruits and veggies. I go onto the website and order every two weeks and for $15 I get a laundry basket full of fruits and veggies. This week I got:

2 Romain lettus's
1 Red Kale
4 Cucumbers
2 Bunches Asparagus
5 Roma tomatoes
7 Banannas
3 Ruby Red Grapefruits
4 Asian pears
5 Apples
1 Pineapple

I also got an "extra" order this week of 11 lbs. of Asparagus for $18. I plan on blanching and freezing them for side dishes later in the month.

Check it out, there are pick up sites everywhere! Bountiful Baskets

BIG Cooking day!

We did it! We completed everything we wanted to. My cousin and I started at 10a and just finished, clean up and all, at 7pm. We even got an extra roast done. It was so much fun; we laughed, drank yummy champagne and baked in perfect step together. The only debate was what to eat for dinner for tonight. There was 4 Crockpot’s going, the oven was on constantly and the stove top was in constant rotation of pots and pan's.

I'm off to soak in the bath. My back is killing me!

Here's the Garden-Style Lasagna

Here's the Mediterranean Spinach Strata in process

Enchalada Cassarole pre-cooking:



The Rolls:

Here's the final picture:
4 Mediterranean Spinach Strata's
4 Garden-Style Lasagna's
5 Red Enchalada Casseroles
2 Green Enchalada Casseroles
4 Chicken Broccoli Casseroles (*see note below)
2 Gallon Ziplocks with Cranberry Pork Roast (nick named Cran-pig)
2 Gallon Ziplocks with Pad Thai Peanut Butter Pork Roast (nick named Peanut Pig)
The large crock pot is full of Green Chilli Beef
24 rolls

*The Chicken Broccoli Casserole was strange, it didn't have any rice, bread or pasta in it and was very creamy. It tasted more like an alfredo sauce that should be put over pasta or on baked potatoes, so, that's what we dubbed it: Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

Copycat Zuppa Toscana recipe

This is one of my favorite soups! It is not a sit and simmer soup so it can be made at the last minute. The down side is that it does not keep at all and once completely made it can't be frozen for later. There is a point in the recipe that you can stop and freeze it but truly you're only saving yourself the sauté time so 10 minutes max.

Copycat Zuppa Toscana

1 pkg mild itallian sasuage (bulk or just cut the casings off link ones)
1 large onion
3-4 medium baking potatoes
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
5 knorr chicken bullion cubes
14 cups water
1 pint heavy whipping cream (I use fat free 1/2 instead)
3 cups chopped kale

Sauté The onion and sasuage in A little olive oil until the sasuage is almost done. add the pepper flakes, bullion and water. This is the point you can freeze it if you want. Bring to a boil then back it down to medium. Cut the potatoes, skin on, into 1/2 moons, add to the soup. Cook till the potatoes are just tender, about 15-20 minutes. Finally add the cream and kale. The tempature back to a simmer and serve. Yum!

Thursday and change in the meal plan

I forgot to put the roast in the crock pot last night so the family had spaghetti and meatballs instead so technically I should make the peanut butter roast tonight but I really want to make the olive garden copycat soup. The bummer part is I forgot that I used all my potatoes so I'd have to go to the store and I hate going out for just one thing. On the bright side I made $5 last night selling one of my custom lotions so I could get a starbucks if I go out....humm...

I have to do lots of cleaning today to get ready for our big baking day tomorrow. Did I mention it got moved? Oh well, it's tomorrow and I need to make sure the cabinets and pantries are organized, the fridge is cleaned out and all my Tupperware has matching lids for storage. I also need to plot out cooking times of everything and make a pseudo schedule of the order we need to do things. That also means that we're not having the homemade pizza tomorrow night either becaues there's no way I'm cooking all that food all day tomorrow then busting out the homemade pizza. Sorry, even I have my limits.

I guess going out for a min. will help break up the cleaning and the extra yummy caffeine will boost my non-existent energy level today.

I'll post both the OG soup recipe later today.

My night away

Yea! Tonight is my once monthly Bunco group. It's a group of 12 women all related in one way or another. We eat, drink, laugh and share stories of childhood and motherhood. I look forward to it every month. Not to mention the fact that I leave the house at “the witching hour” and don't return till everyone's long asleep. Brad gets a night to play both mom and dad. But, if you haven't figured this out yet, I'm warped, I leave him a spotless house, home made dinner ready to eat (this is where those frozen meals from big baking/cooking days come in handy especially since I forgot to put the roast in the crock pot this morning!) and the kids are already bathed and jammied. I figure it's a small price to not have to play 20 questions tonight.....
"What’s for dinner?"
"Do I have to eat that?"
"Can I have water instead of milk?"
"Why can’t I sit in the big kid chair?"
"Can we watch TV with dinner?"
"Why not?"
"Why not?"
"Why not?"
"Why not?"
"Why is it night-night time?"
"Do I have to go to bed?"
"Why?"
"Why did you said so?"
......... And on and on it goes....

Grocery shopping on a cash only system

If you haven't had a chance to read the "About Me" section of the blog then you may not be aware that my family operates on a cash only system. In a nutshell it's exactly what it sounds like, we only use cash. We do not have a debit card or check book and only have one very small credit card for emergencies.
Someone asked me recently how I grocery shop on the cash only system and I thought I'd share the answer here.

First, I figure out what our budget is for the week. It ranges from $100-$175 a week depending. When needed, I can shop for my family of five on $75 a week. Then I look at the ads for Frys and Safeway and compare who has the better overall sales. I try to just go to one store but I'm not opposed to going to multiple stores if the sales warrant. I then make my meal plan based on the meats on sale or what I have in the freezer. I use an excel meal planner that has all the meals I make in it and let's me use an organized drop down box to pick a meal. This keeps me from getting stuck in a rut making the same thing over and over again. When ever I make a new recipe I add it into the meal planner. If I can figure out how to share it here I will.

After I have my meals planned I make up my list of needs. Those are the things I have to have for the week. Then I make a list of wants. Those are things that I already have stocked piled in the house but are on good sale this week and I want to keep adding to my stock pile. At any given time I have 3-4 deodorants, body wash, dish soaps, tooth brushes etc... Combining coupons with sales and/or store coupons I often get most of those items for free or at very least less than a dollar. Maintaining my stock pile ensures that I never pay full price for things I know I can get for 50-75% off. I try not to stock more than 5 of any one item due to space and need. At the end of the year I clean out my stock pile and donate items to local food banks or shelters.

Anyways, once my list is complete, I load my purse up with lollie pops, juice boxes and mini books in hopes of keeping the girls entertained while I shop. (You know you're a stay at home mom when you relish the chance to go grocery shopping by yourself!) At the store, I weigh each produce item and tally up the price of everything as I go. I carry a calculator and keep track of the total. I pull my coupons out as I grab the item and deduct the coupon amount plus more if my store doubles. I usually try to go into the check out lane about $10 under my budget just in case I missed adding anything.

I am not always this diligent but doing this has helped me be able to guestimate as I go with out the calculator and tally sheet for the times I can't or just don't want to be exact. The times I don’t spend our budget amount I use the excess to buy things I know we’ll eventually need such as pull-up’s, toilet paper, dog food, etc. Again, this just ensures that I don’t get stuck having to buy those higher price items on a short budget week.

How do you keep yourself on budget for groceries?

Dirty Laundry!

I finally got the Dirty Laundry tab up. Head over and check it out! I probably won't keep it up forever but it was too funny not to share.

http://momsinsidestory.blogspot.com/p/dirty-laundry.html

Cookies!

Morning!
Our weekend was pretty jam packed but I found myself with some extra energy yesterday afternoon and decided to get some baking done. I made Grandma's Perfect Oatmeal Raisin cookies, Chocolate Chip cookies and Butterscotch Pecan cookies. YUM!
I will admit that I do not, and never have, found a perfect recipe for Chocolate Chip cookies, so, I've learned to improvise. I use the Betty Crocker ready to make cookie mix in the cake isle (I usually get them for less than a $1 with coupons) and add a few extras to make them yum. I double the eggs, and add in a good splash of quality vanilla then add 1.5 cups of chips. They bake up perfect every time! Chewy in the middle, crisp edges and just the right amount of sweetness. I used this same recipe for the butterscotch pecans except, obviously, substituted the chocolate chips for butterscotch and added a cup of chopped pecans.
The oatmeal cookies are from my Grandma's recipe. They are the absolute most perfect, yummiest, oatmeal cookies ever. I promise you'll love them!

Grandma's Perfect Oatmeal Cookies

Preheat oven to 375

2c Sugar
2c Oatmeal
2 1/2c Flour
1c Butter flavored shortening
1 1/2 c Raisins
3 Eggs
1tsp Baking Soda
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla

First, measure out your raisins and soak them in very hot water, a dash of cinnamon and a splash of vanilla. Let them soak while you combine the rest of the ingredients. Cream the shortening and sugar together, add the vanilla, eggs, cinnamon then soda. Next, mix in the oatmeal until incorporated then add 2 cups of the flour. Drain your raisins, add them to the cookie mix then add your final 1/2 cup of flour.
Bake on greased cookie sheets for 10 min's or until just barely golden. I flip the top and bottom rack pans at about 4 min's just to ensure that all the cookies bake the same. Cool on the pan for a few min's then switch to a cooling rack.

Friday

Happy Friday to everyone! I spent the day relaxing, playing video games (yes, I know, very un-1950-ish) and running around with the kiddo's. Tonight I'm indulging in a bottle of my favorite wine, a good take out dinner and hopefully a quite movie night.

I'm hoping to get up the Dirty Laundry tab this weekend and start adding in some recipes so check back when you can.

Have a great weekend with your families!

Mega cooking/baking day

I am planning a mega baking day for next Thursday with my cousin. This will be our third one together. The first was focused on apples (sauce, bread, pie, chicken, etc..) the second was Christmas cooking (lasagna, quiche, marinara sauce, meatballs and a crock pot corn dish) and this time we're going to make healthy dinners. I think it's our most ambitious menu yet. Here's our agenda:

4 trays of Mediterranean Spinach Strata
4 trays Garden-Style Lasagna
4 Chicken broccoli Casseroles
4 Enchilada Casserole with ground turkey
4 Green chili shredded beef roasts
48 Whole wheat dinner rolls
48 Whole wheat breadsticks

I'll post the recipes for the Green chili shredded beef and the bread later in the recipie tab as both of those are my recipes and I don't yet have a link for them. My cousin and I split up the grocery list between Costco items and Grocery store items. It usually ends up pretty even that way. We are going to start around 9 and are usually done around 6pm. It’s a lot to do but the two of us work great as a team, cooking, cleaning, chopping, prepping, drinking…..

I’ll post pictures as we go, it’s an amazing sight to see!

Seriously?!?!

Lets play a game.....Which one of these doesn't belong: The calm, occupied children? The toy free, still clean living room? Or is it option 3, The dirty socks discarded off my husbands feet left there last night and still there this morning?

Did you guess option 3?

DING, DING, DING!!!! You are correct!!

See, here's the fundamental flaw in being a 1950's housewife in a modern world. When you pick up and clean everything for those around you all the time, they begin to not even think twice about doing it themselves. They subconsciously expect that you will do it. I say subconsciously because I know, if/when my husband sees this post he will be embarrassed and retort that he is perfectly capable of picking up his dirty socks, he was just very tired (he came home from work at 10pm after going in at 6am) and this morning he didn't see them because he was in a hurry....and....and...and. He would never consciously think, "eh, why pick them up when I know Jen will do it." If I ever believed for a second that the man actually had that thought, I'd be a 1950's scandal story of the divorced mom. But, the fact remains that there are dirty socks right in the middle of the floor in my perfectly clean house.

So, what to do? Leave them until he gets home and either notices that his last night socks are still there; see's this post and comes home to retrieve said socks; or just add todays dirty socks to the floor since obviously, if I wanted them cleaned up I would have done it?

Once again we're back to the fundamental flaw. I can not stand the dirty socks on my floor all day, it killed me to leave them long enough to take the picture. So, the socks are in the proper laundry basket with the rest of yesterdays dirt laundry. So, what has my husband and by association my children learned? If you leave it where it doesn't belong, Mom will take care of it.