Menus and a recipe

Monday
Barbeque chicken
GF Mac and cheese
Caesar salad
Grapes

Tuesday
Gluten Free Penne with Sausage in Cream sauce

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
• 2/3 cup dry white wine
• 1 14 1/2-ounce can mini diced peeled tomatoes with juices
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning

• 1 pound Gluten free(Ronzoni) penne pasta

• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Melt butter with oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until golden brown and tender, about 7 minutes. Add sausage and sauté until golden brown and cooked through, breaking up with back of spoon, about 7 minutes. Drain any excess drippings from skillet. Add wine to skillet and boil until almost all liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes with juices and simmer
3 minutes. Add cream and simmer until sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Stir in Italian seasoning. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. (Sauce can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Cook GF pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta; transfer to large bowl.
Bring sauce to simmer. Pour sauce over pasta. Add 3/4 cup cheese and toss to coat. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
I freeze half of this and just thaw and warm in the oven.  Delicious.

Wednesday
Beans and rice in the crock pot

Thursday
Tacos with leftover Beans and rice.

Friday
Potato soup and chili in the crock pot.

Here I am again...

It's been awhile.
Life gets busy, so I keep trying to scale back and make it easier.
Starting over with menus:

Monday:
Ginger beef stir fry with broccoli and rice

Tuesday:
Baked Ziti(freezer meal)

Wednesday:New tradition- every Wednesday is beans and rice day
Beans and rice burrito bowls

Thursday:
Potato soup

Friday: left overs or out to eat.

Saturday: Day trip to Lafayette for Aaron's game and to see Amy
Hopefully Pizza since Aaron won't be with us :)

Sunday: Small group

Menus

I am sitting here thinking about how tired I am and how I have no idea what I am making for meals this week.                        hmmmm, I need to get on it!


Monday- staff meeting, hopefully I have time to make the meatballs!
Spaghetti and meatballs
garlic bread

Tuesday
Orange chicken- freezer meal
rice

Wednesday
chili in the crock pot - old stand by for fall and winter.  Since it willbe raining for days on end, Why not !?

 Thursday- Still not sure how this night will work out.  Joe is gone and I have 2 awards events to go to.
Leftovers

Friday-
Pizza

This is the printable I am using for Teacher Appreciation week gifts!

Menus and Smiles

Monday
Free Pizza from Papa Johns

Tuesday
Fish
Asparagus and brussel sprouts
(our house will smell great!)

Wednesday
Lazy cooks BBQ chicken
Broccoli cheese rice

Thursday
Hamburgers on the grill
mac and cheese
salad

 Friday
Chicken caesar salad

This pup makes me smile everyday!

This picture just makes me smile for so many reasons.  This is little Davidson from Haiti.  He was a year old when I was there and malnourished, with red ends to his hair.  He snuggled up to me and fell asleep, I fell in love.  I prayed as I held each of the kiddos, but he took my heart.  Now today he is 2 and has made it through the malnutrition program.  He is as ornery as ever here, walking his uncles dog! It makes my heart happy!

Menus

Ann Voskamp is one of my favorite writers.  Her Holy week devotionals this week are just what I needed.  My favorite quote today is "If my thanksgiving is fickle, then my faith is fickle."  Ouch!  especially after writing my tax checks today and draining our savings account.  I'm just  thankful we have enough to cover it.

Monday
Amy cooks
Spaghetti with meat sauce
garlic breadsticks

Tuesday
Ann cooks
Pigs in a blanket
mac and cheese
caesar salad

Wednesday
Crock pot chicken and dumplings
fruit

Thursday
Crock pot Chili

Friday
Free papa johns pizza

Menus

Monday
Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
New recipe(here)
Garlic bread
salad

Tuesday
Spaghetti and meat sauce
leftover garlic bread

Wednesday
Tacos

Thursday
Chili in crock pot

Friday
Pizza

Menus and a recipe

Monday
Chicken Pot pie
Rolls
Orange jello with mandarin oranges.
Chocolate peanut butter chip cookies

Tuesday
Tortellini casserole
Salad

Wednesday
Chicken quesedillas

Thursday
Spaghetti with meat sauce
garlic bread

Friday
Left overs

I am taking a meal to a friend tonight and thought I would just make 2 and we would eat one tonight too.  It's chicken pot pie, one of our family's favorites.  I started making this recipe before we had kids.  My husband had lived on his own for just one year before we were married.  He survived on Dinty Moore Beef Stew, ramen noodles, banquet pot pies and chunky soups. He still loves all of those meals too.  I'm lucky, I don't have a picky husband.
I thought that since he loved his banquet pot pies so much I would just make some homemade.  It took quite a few recipes to finally come up with this version that is his favorite.

Chicken Pot Pie

2 cans Cream of Potato soup
1 can of mixed vegetables
1/4 cup milk
2 cups cooked, chopped chicken breast
1/2 tsp of each: salt, pepper, thyme
Pastry for a double crust
Mix first 5 ingredients and set aside.  Place one crust in a pie pan, pour the filling in and top with other pie crust. Crimp edges, and cut slits in the top.
Bake for 40 minutes at 350.  Let sit for 10 minutes and serve.

Menus

Monday
Chicken bacon ranch penne pasta(ww recipe)
garlic knots (clearance at grocery)

Tuesday
BBQ chicken shredded
beans and rice

Wednesday
Taco Salad

Thursday
Pumpkin waffles
Bacon

Friday
Chili in the crock pot.

Menus

Monday
Pork chops
fried potatoes with onion
strawberries

Tuesday
Skillet Lasagna-yummy!

Wednesday
Tacos

Thursday
lazy cooks chicken
beans and rice

Friday- game at New Castle
eat out

Menus and a recipe

Monday
Spaghetti and meatballs
garlic knots

Tuesday
Potato soup
strawberries

Wednesday
Taco soup
corn chips

Thursday
Fettuccini Alfredo (Andrew cooking)
Italian dunkers

Friday
pizza

Italian Dunkers (recipe is straight from the school cafeteria)

Old hot dog buns divided
Spread with butter or margarine
Sprinkle with garlic powder
sprinkle with Mozzerella cheese
Broil for 5 minutes until melted and bubbly.
 

Monday Menus

I need an extra day to recover from the weekend.  I guess that is a sign it was a good one :)

We started Saturday with a CC meet 1.5 hours away, and then off to a football game.  We came home for a an hour and then headed out to church.  We ended the day watching ND barely beat my Boilers.

Ann and I, along with my niece and sil drove to Fort Wayne for a a bridal shower for another niece getting married next month. I came home and left with Joe for a surprise date night to the Michael Buble concert.  A sweet parent at school gifted them to me and it was a huge blessing.  Buble puts on an incredible shoe, he is such a talented performer.  It was a nice night out, which we haven't had in probably a year!

Monday
Beef tips in the crock pot
noodles
watermelon

Tuesday
French dip sandwiches
watermelon
mac and cheese

Wednesday
Chicken caesar salad
fruit

Thursday
Tortellini with marinara
italian dunkers

Friday
Chili

Back again

I mainly write on her for accountability to myself.  I haven't been cooking much and I need to get better at making meals.  Especially since I have a freezer full that are already made!  I am also trying to pay down some debt we incurred this past year when finances were crummy and we had a big tax bill due.  Saving money on food and groceries is one way I am trying to do it.  I gave up Starbucks too!  I know, drastic :)

Monday
Goulash- freezer meal from a friend when Joe had surgery!
I didn't like goulash growing up and we ate it A LOT!  It was cheap and German ;)  This recipe is super yummy ( and cheesy), and the kids really like it.

Tuesday
Crock Pot Tortellini Soup recipe here
This is a odd choice for a 95 degree day, but we have a CC meet and a Football game.  Otherwise we will eat junk. 

Wednesday
Warm ham and cheese sandwiches (leftover small group lunch meat)
grapes

Thursday
Hot dogs (leftover from neighborhood picnic)
watermelon
mac and cheese

Friday
Pizza

Here is a sneak peek at Amy's senior pics!

Summer update

Here is an update on what I have completed so far this summer .  I only have 2 weeks until I start back to school.

1. Organize pictures of Amy to prepare for graduation next summer.- haven't started yet.

2. Make a banquette for my kitchen- doubtful this will get done.

3.  Make a shelf for above the fridge, since or cabinet no longer fits there.  It's been 2 years, why rush?- I have priced a new one, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.
4.  Clean and organize garage. - Done (all that I can do)

5.  Work on back porch- carpet cleaned, clock and wreath put up, lamps painted.

6.  Really clean the kids rooms.  We did it last summer, but it has gotten rough again.- done while each was away at camp etc.

7.Clean out my closet- next on my list.

8. Clean basement storage area. Done, whew, that was a big full day job!

9. Cook healthier- somewhat, with Joe gone we eat out more.

10.  Go to Jazzercise more often-yep

11.  Go to lunch with friends more often- yep

12. Relax and enjoy what I have- a work in progress :)

13.  Stay off computer more- yes

14. Clean out cabinets- somewhat

15. Slip cover slipper chairs for girls rooms-nope

16. Work on some new landscaping.- done

17.  Paint family room, which includes patching LOTS of spots in the paneling. grr- done

Summer Goals

I am a list maker.  Maybe if I get this on here it will actually happen :) 
Wishful thinking.  Unless it can be accomplished while driving kids to and from things this summer, I doubt I will have time to get much done .

1. Organize pictures of Amy to prepare for graduation next summer.

2. Make a banquette for my kitchen

3.  Make a shelf for above the fridge, since or cabinet no longer fits there.  It's been 2 years, why rush?
4.  Clean and organize garage.

5.  Work on back porch

6.  Really clean the kids rooms.  We did it last summer, but it has gotten rough again.

7.Clean out my closet

8. Clean basement storage area.

9. Cook healthier

10.  Go to Jazzercise more often

11.  Go to lunch with friends more often

12. Relax and enjoy what I have

13.  Stay off computer more

14. Clean out cabinets

15. Slip cover slipper chairs for girls rooms

16. Work on some new landscaping.

17.  Paint family room, which includes patching LOTS of spots in the paneling. grr

Menus and a recipe

Monday
Crock pot chicken and dumplings(Amy's Birthday choice)

Tuesday
Broccoli and Beef(a new favorite)
strawberries

Wednesday
Spaghetti (carb loading for Friday track meet)
garlic bread

Thursday
Leftover pulled pork
beans
fruit

Friday
Out to eat

Easy Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings

3 large Chicken Breasts, uncooked
2 cans Cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup butter
1 Quart Chicken or Vegetable broth
2 tsp(to taste) all natural seasoning salt (I use tastefully simple)

Throw all ingredients in the crock pot and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Increase to high and add 5-6 frozen biscuits, thawed and cut into fourths.  Cook another 30-45 on high or until biscuits are done

Weekend and Menus

We had a fun weekend, starting with a Conference track meet on Friday night.  Aaron was able to break 2 conference records in the 1600m and the 2400m.  It was extra fun to have his grandparents and cousin John in to watch him.  It is always fun to watch him run, he truly has a gift.

I came down with the stomach flu Sunday and have not been that sick in years.  It makes me so thankful for my health.  All I could think about was a friend going through chemo.  I only have this for a day, she is enduring for months.  I just can't imagine.
Luckily I have a job that is relatively quiet in the mornings.  I can have time to rehydrate and feel less dizzy. I am sooo thankful to be feeling better and that no one else is showing signs of it yet.  I am sure I got it from the little darlings I clean up after every day at school :)

Last weeks menus weren't used much.  It was a busy week and we ate out fast food more than normal(maybe that explains my sickness).  Joe is gone all week again, so who knows if these will get made either, but I will try.

Monday
Beef and Broccoli
rice

Tuesday
Tacos in the crock pot

Wednesday
Chili in the crock pot

Thursday
Leftovers

Friday
pizza?

Menus and a few Pics

It was Prom weekend.  Amy, Cameron, and Haley all looked so beautiful! We all had such a great time, and are still recovering :)  Mom is not used to being up all night anymore though.  Afterprom lasted until 3am, and I got in bed around 4:30. I am still feeling it today!  It was worth it to see all the kids enjoying themselves. 

Here are our menus for the week.
Monday
Nacho Chicken and rice(freezer meal)
strawberries

Tuesday(track meet)
Grilled Chicken
Caesar Salad

Wednesday
Beef and Broccoli(new recipe)

Thursday
Tacos in crock pot (freezer meal)

Friday
County track meet in Lafayette

Menus

Monday
Chicken Parmesan
Salad

Tuesday- Track meet, Soccer practice and meeting
Crock pot Chicken and dumplings

Wednesday
Hamburgers on the grill
vegetable

Thursday
Marinated Chicken on the grill
vegetable
fruit

Friday
Cold again-BOOOO!
Chili

Favorites and Fails Pinterest Pins

Favorites:

Making Mascara last longer- it really works!
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/03/make-your-expensive-or-inexpensive-mascara-last-longer.html

Cinnamon Rolls in the waffle maker!  I think I like them better this way, they're crispy.  http://pinterest.com/pin/547468898421730929/

Tortellini Soup- Yummy and easy.  http://www.the6bennetts.blogspot.com/

Pretzel Choco chip cookies.  http://dessertnowdinnerlater.blogspot.com/2012/12/caramel-pretzel-chocolate-chip-cookies.html

Peanut Butter cookie dough Brownies.  http://thenonpareilbaker.blogspot.com/2011/04/peanut-butter-cookie-dough-brownies.html


Fails:
Homemade shower cleaner.  We have super hard water and no softener.  My hard water stains laughed when I sprayed this on :)
http://www.simpleorganizedliving.com/2012/02/01/homemade-shower-cleaner/

Same with this one, a scrubber with a shower cleaning mixture in it.  Laughable for our house.  http://pinterest.com/pin/44543483786606343

Mexican stuffed shells, not a hit at our house.  Just Ok.  http://thewaytohisheart.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/mexican-stuffed-shells/

Cake mix cookie bars- fail.  Not even close to the picture, actually I ended up throwing them away.  http://parentpretty.com/cake-mix-cookie-bars-recipe/

Monday

Not ready to be back to work!  On top of that, KLove is still having pledge week!  NOOOO!
My Monday didn't start out well at all.  Up at 4, for no reason.  Prayed, cause thats what I do when I awaken at 4am.  Drove Joe's car to school since the muffler is falling off and it.is. LOUD!  The kids were embarrassed to drive it to school and Joe has a job interview this afternoon.  BUT, my keyfob and ID was in the van, so I had to go to the high school anyway. 
It was locked and I had no key.  Oh, the joy! 
My drink then spilled all over my lunch bag which then leaked onto the seat, which then leaked down my pants as I walked into school.  This after I announced my arrival with my muffler, or lack of, and had to wait for someone to come to the door since I had no fob. 
After my pity party for myself and maybe a couple tears, I pulled myself together to laugh at the situation and be thankful for so many things.
#1 that I did not come home from Spring Break to a burned down house, as did a nearby family.
a job
a car, who cares if it's loud!
healthy kids
great friends
family
a husband whose back is feeling better
getting paid while looking for a new job
trusting that there is a new, perfect job out there for us!

On to menus:
Monday
Tacos
salad

Tuesday
Frozen Lasagna

Wednesday
Chicken on the grill
salad

Thursday
Meatloaf

caesar salad

Friday
Chili