monday menu - on saturday this week

• homemade pizza - using my recipe-finding-place's recipe for the dough and the sauce.
• adobe chicken stew - a recipe i used a lot a few winters ago and forgot to put it back on my menu the next "soup season".
• baked potatoes with steamed broccoli and chili
• hamburger divan skillet - (hamburger cook book pg. 68)
• open-faced hamburger phillies - (hamburger cook book pg. 23)  *NEW*
• cheddar busicuit bbq
• Telcia's soup aka African Bean Soup - it's amazing!  i wasn't even very hungry when i tried it and i STILL loved it.  and... it's healthy.  (i'll post the recipe she gave me, 'cause i know you're all curious what african bean soup would consist of.  you're welcome.)

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31

monday menu. on tuesday.

• white chili  (i'm pretty sure i friday food posted my own recipe... but i didn't find it immediately.  i need to organize my posts and my links so that this is helpful to me.  that is, indeed the reason why i post menus and recipes here.)
• tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches
• chicken/broccoli/rice casserole
• creamy broccoli cheddar soup (new)
• roasted cauliflower soup (new.  gluten AND dairy free.)
• chicken bake
• twice baked potato casserole (new)
• PW's sour cream noodle bake

i was wanting to try some new recipes out, so back to pinterest i gravitated.  they all looked super easy, so that's good.  i've been struggling with my schedule and fitting in "make dinner".  it seems like it's either, "help kids with homework" or "make dinner" and the first one's been winning lately.  there should be a way for both.  i think there is.  it's called crockpot.  we'll see.  that's what i'm using today.

monday menu #12 for 2012

i'm excited for my menu this week.  why?  because i said so.
otter pop and i (mostly he) have been slaving over cleaning out the garage for the past few months.  we're really making progress, and finding things.  i love cleaning and finding things!  yesterday we found all our camping gear!!!  i had packed it all up nicely in a great big huge bin to where spiders couldn't (hopefully... i mean, that was the idea) get all up in it.  in the camping gear, i included this great big 10 quart dutch oven that my sister gave me years ago.  it was still brand new in its box! 
so, i'm excited that now it's a great size for the family we have and i also learned you can use it in your oven at home too.  so, i got out my dutch oven cookbook and ALL my recipes are from the book.  some of them i will use in the crock pot, but wooo hooo!  i'm excited. 

here's the menu:

• beef stew and biscuits
• taco soup
• swiss chicken (crock pot) with green beans
• fried rice with mongolian beef
• russian chicken (crock pot) with corn and rice and cherry soda cobbler
• crown rib roast w/ mashed potatoes and cauliflower...  only thing is i have no idea what a crown rib roast is, so that might put a damper on things.  we'll see...

maybe you could might expect some pictures and recipes for you this week...

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

monday menu #11 for 2012

this week is an exact replica of last week's.  except minus exact because there's one item missing. 

here's what i have: 

• mexican lasagna with perhaps some corn bread muffins on the side
• pulled pork sandwiches with some sort of healthy vegetable.  i'd like coleslaw... but i always get complaints because no one likes it.  even i am just pretending to like it when i eat it.  maybe just a green salad. 
• grilled marinated chicken with grilled veggies (like, but not limited to potatoes, asparagus, green beans...)
• hamburger helper stroganoff without the box's helper, served with green peas.
• swiss steak and homemade fresh bread

i am still finding it hard to budget my dinner-making-time between running 13-year-olds to and from martial arts and 5-year-olds to t-ball practices and games and nursing an 8-week-old.  i realize dinner is a priority, because we have to eat... but MAKING dinner isn't as much of a priority i guess. 
i'm up for any tips that those of you have used.  really.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

monday menu #10 for 2012

i hope a happy mothers day was had by everyone that has a mother. 
now it's monday and i'm up for another menu.  here's what i have: 

• mexican lasagna with perhaps some corn bread muffins on the side
• pulled pork sandwiches with some sort of healthy vegetable.  i'd like coleslaw... but i always get complaints because no one likes it.  even i am just pretending to like it when i eat it.  maybe just a green salad. 
• grilled marinated chicken with grilled veggies (like, but not limited to potatoes, asparagus, green beans...)
• hamburger helper stroganoff without the box's helper, served with green peas.
• swiss steak and homemade fresh bread
• bean with bacon soup (not homemade... i still haven't found a good recipe) and sandwiches

i'm making the grocery list right now and then headin' to town.  how's it sound?!  i think it all sounds pretty darn good.
what's on your menu this week???

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

prep prep prep

so i guess i need to start making preparations for this little one's arrival.  you know, now that she's due to come any minute...
last week i packed my hospital bag and her new little diaper bag i got. 
i have her car seat ready.
i'm making a phone list... if you want to be on it, email me your name and number and i'll call you sometime after she's born.

also, i need to write down a good agenda or "what we do" planner, so that my kids can stay in their routine as much as possible and hopefully nothing gets overlooked (like picking up jones from school each day!)

i never got around to getting to the grocery store peeled my butt off the couch and went grocery shopping this week.  but i was thinking, "man, if i have this baby and someone comes over to take care of the kiddos... they're not going to have any idea what to feed the poor starving children." 
so... on to my next "prep" step.  tonight i'm going to take my menu for the week, go shopping to double most items, hope that i'm able to make them all, and get some food in the freezer.  in case i don't (make it 'till next week), i'm going to post my menu WITH the recipes printed out right next to them for my kid-watch-helper-person.  how's that sound???
now... if that sounds a little too controlling, i need another plan for the next week's menu / grocery run.  what do you suggest?!  i'd love to be able to just completely stock my refrigerator and freezer and pantry... but we live on a budget.  our pantry is stock-able (and usually is stocked fairly well), but what about perishable food?!  whenever i buy just "stuff"... things go to waste and i HATE to waste food!  i need ideas people...

and then, what else?  what else am i forgetting to plan???

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

monday menu #8 for 2012

this week we will plan as well as possible.  i should make doubles of whatever i do make, to re-fill my freezer because last month we ran out of grocery money and had to start digging into those delicious meals i had made for post-baby time.  i've been reassured by friends though that we won't go without food (post-baby)... so i'm not worrying.  however, whether or not i'll actually double the meals... we'll have to just wait and see.

here's my menu for the week:

• meatloaf with sliced bakers and granny green beans
• chicken tortilla soup
• egg salad sandwiches with chips --i've actually never had egg salad sandwhiches before, much less made them, so if you have a great recipe... one that can't be beat... leave it in the comments.  my hubby said he LOVES egg salad sandwiches. 
• sloppy joes (made with my bbq sauce) with green salad or ceasar salad
• yogart chicken bake (tweaked with yogurt instead of mayo) with mashed potaters and ... hm... how about carrots!?!
• cheesy chicken and rice casserole
• 4-ingredient pizza bake

i'm thinking several of those should be VERY easy to double... but the last three items are new ones...  hmph.  maybe i'll just chance it!  like i said, we'll see....  we'll see....


Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

monday menu #7 for 2012

this week's menu is brought to you by the following:  wolfie, binkins, jones, boo, and starboy!  (yes, it was a "what do you guys want for dinner this week" kind of menu...

spaghetti with yummy jones' bread sticks
baked "fried" chicken with french fries
chicken strips with sliced bakers with peas
chicken fettuccine alfredo with steamed broccoli
pork chops with mashed potatoes and green beans
hamburgers with baked beans and corn

sometimes the "what do you guys want" ends up being real easy!!!  sounds pretty good though. 


Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

monday menu #6 for 2012

this week's menu has been brought to you by the following:
http://www.thisweekfordinner.com/  a favorite.  i pretty much always use it.
and
http://www.pinterest.com/ another very useful idea-site.  none of my ideas came from pinterest this week... but i still used it to look for what i was in the mood for.

• lasagna.  i put this on the menu a few weeks ago, but never had it.  it's been a while.  i'm in the mood!  with garlic bread.
• hamburger skillet divan.  a delish and easy meal with ground beef, spaghetti noodles, broccoli, and mushrooms in a creamy yum sauce.  maybe i'll friday food post-it...
• old fashioned oven pot roast with potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery.
• bbq ribs -in my new pressure cooker that i got for valentine's day- rice, and corn.  (with this bbq sauce)
• tomato-basil parmesean soup --now this idea came from pinterest, but some idiot didn't link it to anything, so there was no recipe... just a delicious looking picture.  thankfully i recieved an awesome recipe book from my bible study group leader that has an amazing recipe in it for a soup that i've tried... so i know it's good!  with fresh warm baked bread.
• pasta bar is for dinner tonight at small group.  i'm bringing a sun dried tomato sauce that we had at the ladies fall retreat that i attended in november.  (recipe is in the same book i mentioned in the above meal.)

sorry for the lack of links. 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

monday menu #5 for 2012

we have 3 carry-overs, so i'm only getting groceries for 2 more meals.  we've enjoyed my new blender and are eating lots of fresh fruit!!!
carry-overs:
texas ranch chicken casserole with garlic fries.
crock pot cheesy chicken spaghetti
3-cheese chicken alfredo bake with steamed broccoli.
new ones:
i tried a great recipe for pork chops a while back, but when i went and clicked the link, it's broken!!!  so, now i have to try another one!!!  i think this one is pretty close with mashed potatoes and peas.
meatloaf with baked potatoes and granny green beans.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
WHAT'S ON YOUR MENU???

monday menu #4 for 2012

i can't decide if i should 1.) make a new menu, even though we only made it half way through last weeks... or 2.) wait.
also, i REALLY (and yes, i meant REALLY) liked the new recipes i tried last week.  so much in fact, that while in my indecisive state, i've already picked out another 5-1/2 recipes from pinterest to try on my next menu.  i guess i'll just make a new menu and make sure i use my fresh ingredients first.  we have a birthday coming up this next week, so i need to make sure and get a birthday dinner from her.  the kids are really excited about a cake too... so i hope to use pinterest ideas for that one!
on to the menu:

• lasagna soup with fresh homemade garlic bread.
• texas ranch chicken casserole with these garlic fries otter pop had on his trip at gordon reisch (which i've never even heard of, but might be a mighty famous restaurant chain.  ?) 
• crockpot cheesy chicken spaghetti
• three cheese chicken alfredo bake with steamed broccoli
• creamy broccoli cheddar soup with some warm crusty bread

maybe i am craving...  because this list is filled with chicken, cheese, cream of's and broccoli!  anyway, that's all, so this PLUS our leftovers/roll-overs from last week should carry us through into february.

what's on YOUR menu?!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

monday menu #3 for 2012

on sunday, because otter pop's gone and i'll have to really rush to get groceries tomorrow morning!  here's the menu: 

• tonight is small group and we're having a baked potato bar with broccoli salad.  yum!
• Oma's sour cream chicken with rice with sliced bakers and some cherry tomatoes (because they looked perfect in the sour cream chicken picture.)
• Slow cooker parmesan honey pork roast with mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans.
• Sherry's aussie chicken with french fries.
• goulash with cottage cheese and hopefully some phr's... but i won't count on it.  i never remember to make them!
• mulligan stew w/ fresh baked bread
• lasagna... because i love it and my mr. doesn't.  so i should take advantage of that he's gone.

i'm using new recipes this week (top three are new) that i've found on pinterest and posted to my "dinner recipes" board.  i suppose instead of just FINDING all these great ideas, i should try them out too.  and it's good timing because i was getting into a menu slump.
one of my boards is "sweets" and i'm ashamed to admit that it's (by far) my largest board.  i have a million recipes to try on it.  i hope i don't!  although i've tried several already and not all of them are as delicious as they look. 


Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

monday menu #2 for 2012

how's this for a weekly menu: 
we had taco salad last night at our small group.
tonight we're having the last thing on last week's menu: beef enchiladas with refried beans and rice.
and here are the new items for this week's menu:
binkins is turning 7 on wednesday, so her birthday meal of choice is (drumroll) steak, corn, peas, and fried potatoes
spaghetti with jones' garlic breadsticks (will try to post this recipe)
chili with cornbread muffins (will try to post recipes for these two too)
roasted chicken (or two) with veggies (like potatoes and carrots, onion, and celery)
and lasagna (frozen) with garlic toast (also frozen).

sounds like an easy week... i'll let you know next week.  go ahead and post your menu in the comments.  it'll help you and me!!!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

monday menu #1 for 2012

we got 2 hams for christmas.  i love that.  i never buy hams but i LOVE me a ham dinner!  here's our menu... we've been waiting for it.  i think we've had corn dogs for dinner twice this past week...

• ham with hash brown casserole, pineapple rings, cheesy cauliflower, and gramma's phr's (parker house rolls).
• crock-pot chicken terriaki with fried rice and steamed veggies.
• lori's the best homemade mac'n'cheese with granny green beans.
• homemade bean with bacon soup (note to me: with added cooked/diced carrots.) NEW RECIPE.  *REVIEW IN COMMENTS* and grilled cheese sandwiches.
• beef enchiladas with rice and refried beans.
• gramma's chicken/broccoli/rice casserole

sounds good to me.  fairly simple.  i didn't load it up this week seeming it's the first week of the year...  let's not overload yet!  i've hit a stage in my pregnancy where i really am running out of energy by the end of the day...  really.  so, i might double up some of these recipes for the freezer, but i might not... depending on my energy level and the simplicity of the meal.  i emptied out my freezer last week for christmas company, so now i have room again.  :)

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." .

menu for thanksgiving week

last year i forgot about thanksgiving.  i didn't buy groceries for the grand feast.  i think we still had a traditional thanksgiving dinner, but we might not have... i don't remember for sure.
this year i made my menu and remembered about thanksgiving.  and when i went grocery shopping, i also remembered about thanksgiving.  :)  i'm on top of it!
here's my menu with as many recipes as i could link.

• thanksgiving dinner:  turkey, mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, sweet potatoes (that are actually yams -not from a can- this year.  the "sweet" link is cooking the yams, the "potatoes" link is making them yummy), jellied cranberry sauce (straight from the can to the serving plate), stuffing (that is actually dressing this year, and every year for us.  this year in the crock pot!  ingenious!!!), and rolls (i can't believe i haven't posted this ParkerHouseRolls recipe of gramma's yet!)
• i don't have anything planned for dessert, but if sophie comes over, she'll bring some pies... she always does.  and if she doesn't, that's ok.  we never have room for pies anyway.  i've thought about making this apple pie i ran across on my favorite meal-planning-idea-stealing-blog.  and have been wanting to make a pumpkin roll bread since spring when this blogger posted about them.  but i'm not worried about running out of food...
• vodka creme pasta, with chicken and broccoli
• sloppy joes, using this sauce, with french fries
• crock pot cheeseburger dinner (a throw-it together crock pot meal with things like: hamburger, onion, potatoes, cheese, tomato soup, etc)
• meatloaf, twice baked potatoes, and green beans
• pulled pork sandwiches and corn
• chicken parmesan over spaghetti noodles, and green peas
• basil and garlic chicken (baked chicken thighs sprinkled with lots of dried basil, garlic powder, garlic salt, and seasoned black pepper),with rice pilaf and garlicky granny green beans
• spaghetti and garlic bread sticks (courtesy of jones, he's making them from a recipe he learned at school)

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

i'm SO hungry!!! (menu)

my baby has really grown an appetite lately.  i'm excited to see if he's going to be a boy or a girl... but that's not for another week.  two weeks actually. 
anyway, even with my appetite, i had a really difficult time finding ideas for my menu.  i guess i didn't really have a hard time finding IDEAS, just a hard time DECIDING.  following this post i will link a few idea blogs that i've found helpful.

here's my menu (with lots of new recipes to try):

• spaghetti
• beef stew (tryin' a new recipe and it's a crockpot recipe) with a new homemade bread
• adobe chicken stew with another new homemade bread
• stuffed peppers with garlic toast and macaroni and cheese
• layered chicken and black bean enchilada casserole with rice
• a new recipe for pork chops with mashed potatoes and broccoli
• crock pot hawaiian bbq chicken (new) with rice
• and lastly... apple harvest soup with pork steaks  (we got a half-basketful of fresh picked apples from my brother and sister-i-l this weekend.  i wanted to hoard them all for applesauce and desserts, but thought this soup might be fun to try.)

idea links:
www.thisweekfordinner.com
www.kitchenandkids.com
www.orgjunkie.com
www.stonegable.blogspot.com

wow.  look at all those recipes!  go me!!!  (well, we'll see if i'm really cheering myself on after grocery shopping!)

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

dinner anyone???

last week sucked without a menu.  it didn't actually suck.  we ate every night.  and we enjoyed our meals.  i've just grown accustomed to having a menu up on our fridge so i know what to get out in the morning and what to prep for come about 3pm.  but thankfully i had a friend that really pulled through for me though and gave me a few ideas... :)  (which i wrote down in place of a menu... because that's a lot different...)  and then i finished off the week with a concoction.  --i haven't done that in a LOOOOOONNNNNGGGG time!  but it wasn't bad.  i thought it was pretty good... but when i asked if i should do it again i didn't get a loud "heck yeah!"  (or a quiet one either).  although aleemay, myself, and starboy all had healthy 2nd portions... 
just for reference, i'll tell you what was in it and why it wasn't a hit:  ground beef. red curry lentil soup (that TOTALLY wasn't red!). black beans. corn. chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, garlic salt, minced onion. served with fritos and/or chili cheese fritos, mexican blend shredded cheese, and sour cream.
why it wasn't a hit?  the soup.  it has a very unique flavor.
here's what i've come up with for this week:

• pulled pork sandwiches with this scrumdiddlyumptious-looking recipe of baked beans that i found this last week, cole slaw, and corn on the cob... or not on the cob... aleemay lost her two bottom teeth and they all found out that they like it cut off just as well.  (which is pretty much corn.  so?)
• blt's ---because we haven't had any this year and it's one of me and my hubs MOST FAVORITE fresh yummy meals.  with french fries.
• thai chicken and noodle salad with fried rice... that's homemade... because i know how now!  (and it's easy!!!)
• you know that hamburger stroganoff recipe i posted several several weeks back?  the one that was a hamburger helper stroganoff copycat... i never made it!  so i will this week and i'll still serve it with green beans too.  AND we'll enjoy it!  so there.
• roasted chicken with these carrots i saw being made on america's test kitchen last week, and mashed potatoes.  ---and speaking of america's test kitchen... i really like that show!  it's awesome!!!  i LOVE the recipes [well, most of 'em] and the hints and mostly the reasoning they give behind what they do.  i like reasons.  they help!  i hope that link gets you to the right site.  you have to register to actually see the recipe though i think.
• double layer tacos (or tacos wearing protection, if you will), with refried beans and rice.  (note:  this is the rice i'll have to use to fry up for that thai chicken night.)
• meatloaf with that awesome potato salad that is like no other potato salad you've had.  because it's good. (that is unless you've had this salad before... then it'll be remarkably similar.)  oh.  and more green beans.  we like 'em and they're healthy... what can i say???
• and sorry again about that link.  it's the lamest post i've ever written.  i'll make it better after i make the salad this time.  add pictures... add the actual recipe... etc.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

monday menu -- leftovers all week long!

ok, so not really...  but kinda.  i'm not going grocery shopping and i don't have any roll-overs from last week.  i do have 2 things in the fridge that might last two meals, but we're gonna empty shelves (in the pantry AND the freezer) this week.  let's see what i can come up with.
well, how about I'LL see what i can come up with and YOU tell me what's on YOUR menu this week?!  that should be fun. 
who has a menu to share???  there's some great ideas over at my favorite meal-stealing-idea-site if you need help.  just share here too!  i'd like to freshen up with some new ideas in the upcoming weeks.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

monday's menu (grocery shopping done)

wa hoo (and no, i don't mean ah choo)!  my luvies took me grocery shopping yesterday since we've both been under the weather for a whole week.  i wouldn't say either of us are all better... but we were able to conquer the grocery store TOGETHER! 
... and $500 later ...
but that's what happens when you don't go for weeks, and then weeks...  so, well, anyway... here's the menu for this week:

• floating tacos (i really need to friday food post this, to get my recipe on the internet and more accessible for me and the general public -like you)
• chicken, mashed potatoes, and peas
• grilled hamburgers, baked beans, and our last meal of corn on the cob
• white chili (i need to friday food post this one too, because although i have an internet recipe -the link- i tweak it quite a bit)
• tortilla soup (no need to post any other tortilla soup recipe.  this one's THE BOMB!)

those last two are yummies for the sickies especially.  it may still be hot outside, but dang i'd love some soup!!!

what'll you be havin'?!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

monday menu *even earlier than last week*

i have three roll-overs from last week:
bbq beef sandwiches and tator tots
tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches
beef stroganoff hamburger helper (without the box) with green beans
my other meals will be:
floating tacos
baked chicken with mashed potatoes and peas
leftovers (i made a TON of that chicken salad!  i'm thinking wraps or somethin' fun and fresh and not so hot)

what're you gonna be eatin' this week?

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."