Monday already!!

Can you believe that Osama bin Laden has been found, killed and buried all within 24 hours??

I stayed up last night to watch the President's speech-loved that he ended with portions of the Pledge of Allegiance.

I am just very proud of our American soldiers and the diligence and risks they take everyday for our freedom!

History in the making is amazing!

(no matter your political point of view)

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What's on your menu this week?

Monday-Ghoulash, bread and butter, peas
Tuesday-Chili soup, cheese cubes and crackers, peanut butter and celery (It's cold here-I thought it was May!)
Wednesday-BBQ Chicken and Pineapple skewers, satueed green beans, rice
Thursday-Brother's College Graduation-Quick dinner night-Roast, potatoes and carrots in crock pot, crusty bread, salad
Friday-Gabe has a baseball game-I bet this will be a pizza night!
Saturday-Grilling out!!-haven't picked up what I want us to have, but we are grilling out, because I said so! :)
Sunday-Happy Mother's Day-not for sure of our breakfast, lunch and/or dinner plans yet!

Menu Monday

I hope everyone had open hearts yesterday, letting our Jesus enter them, while celebrating the Easter holiday!

One of my favorite days of the year!

We had an amazing day, and now we are trying to recoup from it!  :)

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Now onto my menu plan for this week!!

Monday-Is there any question that tonight will be leftovers?!?  :)

Tuesday-Going to try out this new recipe for Grilled Chicken Cordon Bleu with a side of roasted potatoes and steamed broccoli.

Wednesday-Herb marinated pork chops, green beans, butter noodles, crescent rolls

Thursday-Taco salad, corn on the cob, chips and salsa and all of the fixings.

Friday-Dinner at the in-laws.

Saturday-Out to eat-either with my boys or just on my own..Chad is having a guy's night. 

Sunday-Dinner at my mom's

Menu Plan Monday

I just found this great new site for fun recipes that I must try!

Our Best Bites

I am loving it!

So, here is my menu plan for this week!

Monday-Sloppy Joes, parsley potatoes, peas

Tuesday-Baked Ziti, garlic bread, salad

Wednesday-Crockpot BBQ Chicken, fried potatoes and onions, green beans

Thursday-Cheesesteak sandwiches, homemade french fries, salad

Friday-Tacos, corn casserole, Spanish rice

Saturday-Cropping the night away, boys are on their own.

Sunday-Dinner at my mom's

Menu Plan Monday

Can't believe it is already the last day of February!

Wow!  Time is just flying by!

Time for another week of menu planning, and I won't be home this coming weekend.

I will be at my annual weekend scrap retreat some amazing girls.

I cannot wait!

Monday-Beef Stroganoff, green beans, bread and butter

Tuesday-WW Chicken Parmesan, steamed spaghetti squash, broccoli, salad, garlic bread

Wednesday-Tacos, Spanish rice, creamed corn

Thursday-WW Salisbury Steak recipe, mashed potatoes, peas

Friday-Scrappy Retreat (the boys are on their own)

Saturday-Scrappy Retreat (the boys are on their own)

Sunday-Dinner at my mom's



grr...

Yes, I am growling...  :)

I woke up with a bit of a scratchy throat, and now it hurts!

I don't want to be sick!!

I just took some meds, and I hope I can kick it before it gets worse.

Moms just don't have time to be sick.

Boo!!

In other news, here is my menu for the week (made before feeling under the weather).

Meals subject to change depending on my level of yuck.

Monday-Turkey brats, parsley potatoes, corn
Tuesday-Italian baked chicken, broccoli, wild rice
Wednesday-Parmesan pork, baked potatoes, sauteed green beans
Thursday-Spaghetti with Homemade sauce, garlic bread, salad
Friday-Chicken Enchiladas, cream corn, chips and salsa
Saturday-Probably dinner out, but not for sure
Sunday-Sunday Dinner at my mom's

Happy Monday!!



My BBQ Pork Recipe

I wish I had a photo to share of this recipe...it is so good and so very easy.
I make the BBQ Sauce recipe below, pour it over a pork loin roast in the crockpot, and cook it for 6-8 hours. 
We eat it as sandwiches, or you could put in in some tortillas with veggies.  You can adjust the BBQ sauce recipe depending on how big of a roast you use.  Let me know if you give it a try!

Barbecue sauce:


1 cup catsup
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 sm. onion (1/2 cup)
3 teaspoons of brown sugar
3 teaspoons of worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Crockpot Love

Welcome Fall!

(I know, I am about a week late.)

With the onset of Fall, the crockpot will become one of my kitchen best friends, and I am using it for tonight's dinner!

Spaghetti with homemade meat sauce, courtesy of my mother-in-law's recipe.

My house smells so delish!

Meat Sauce Recipe:

*2 cans tomato sauce (15 oz each)-You can use Italian flavor if you have it.

*1 can tomato paste (12 oz total)

*1 can water (15 oz)

*1 can mushrooms (4 oz)

*1 pkg Lawry's Dry Spaghetti Sauce Mix

*1 Tbsp sugar

*1 1/2-2lbs of hamburger (I like to use ground round)

*1/4 cup chopped onions

*garlic powder or you can use fresh to use when browning meat

Brown hamburger, onion and garlic-drain grease.  Add all other ingredients with the meat in a crockpot or sauce pan.  Simmer for 1-2 hours on stovetop, or on cook on low in crockpot for at least 2 hours.  The longer the sauce cooks/simmers, the better the flavor.  Serve over pasta of choice or whatever you desire! 



Honey-Pecan Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

For all of you cinnamon lovers who are still trying to eat healthy, I have an awesome WW recipe for them!

Honey-Pecan Cinnamon Rolls (I used almonds instead)
WW points=3pts per serving

1 (1lb) loaf frozen white bread dough
2 T granulated sugar
2 tsp cinnamon (I eyeballed it)
Butter flavored cooking spray
1/3 C honey
1/3 C brown sugar
3 T chopped pecans, toasted (I used untoasted almonds)

1.  Thaw dough in refrigerator for 12 hours; cover and bring to room temp (about an hour).  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon.  (I added a bit of brown sugar to this mixture as well from my 1/3 C measurement).  Roll dough into a 12x8-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. 

Lightly coat with cooking spray.

Sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon mixture.

Lightly spray with cooking spray again.

Beginning at long side, roll up dough tightly, jelly-roll fashion; pinch the seam to seal.

Cut roll crosswise into 12 (1-inch thick) slices.

3. Place honey in microwave safe dish (I used my pie plate that I was cooking the rolls in).  Microwave on HIGH for 20 seconds until it coats the bottom of dish evenly.  Sprinkle brown sugar and nuts on top of honey. 

Place rolls, cut side down, in pan.

Cover and let rise in a warm place (85 degrees), free from draft.

(I let mine rise in the over before preheating it).

**Yes, I made 2 batches as well, but one of them was to share with my brother and sister-in-law.  They loved them!

4.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until lightly browned and fluffy.  Invert rolls immediately onto a platter; cool 5 minutes.  Yield: 1 dozen (serving size is 1 roll)

Recipe Sharing WW style

This is my favorite recipe by far! 

I am a huge salisbury steak fan, and when I decided to try this WW recipe, I fell in love with it!

The hubster and little guys love it too, so that is a win, win for me! 

Healthy and good, you cannot go wrong!

Let me know if you try it out.

Salisbury Steak

1 lb ground round

2/3 C finely chopped onion

1/3 C uncooked instant rice

1/4 tsp pepper

1/8 tsp salt

1 large egg white

Cooking Spray

1 1/4 C presliced fresh mushrooms or 4 oz can (drained)

2 (10.5 ounces) cans beef consomme

1 1/2 T Worcestershire sauce

2 T water

1 1/2 T cornstarch

1.  Combine first six ingredients in a bowl; combine well.  Divide into 4 equal portions (I can usually get 6 out of this). 

2.  Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray.  (I use my electric skilliet).  Place on medium high heat.,  Add patties once skillet is hot.  Cook 5 minutes on each side or until browned.  Remove from skillet; set aside and keep warm.

3.  Recoat skillet with cooking spray.  Add mushrooms and saute over medium-high heat for 3 minutes.  Add consomme and Worcestershire sauce; cook 10 minutes.  Return patties to skillet.  Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. 

4.  Combine water and cornstarch; stir well.  Stir cornstarch mixture into broth mixture in skillet; bring to a boil and cook 1 minute or until thickened.  Stir constantly.  Spoon gravy over patties when serving.

Yield:  4 servings (serving size is 1 patty and 6 tablespoons gravy).

Points:  8

Puppy Chow recipe

I just made this for Gabe's Fall Festival to be used in the bake sale, and it was a huge hit with the kiddos. My boys love it, and I do as well. I was first introduced to it by my scrappy friend Ashley! So, you will find her recipe that I use below. If you've never tried it, you are missing out. Give it a try!

Puppy Chow Recipe:

I'm not sure exactly how much rice chex I use...but it's usually about the whole box...you can start wil 3/4 box, and... if you feel like you need more then just add more:)

Rice Chex

1 cup. peanut butter

1 stick butter

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Vanilla (again, not sure how much I use...but I think around a Tbsp.)

Powdered Sugar

Pour rice chex in big bowl...melt PB, butter, and CC in separate bowl in microwave till completely melted...then add vanilla...coat over chex....I usually pour the chex into a bag and then pour the powdered sugar on until completely coated...I pour a little at a time, then shake until it's all coated. YUMMY!!:) Boy, now I want to make this!!;)

Fruit Salsa

I just wanted to share a snack that is a big hit at our VBS! I hope you enjoy!

1-2 C strawberries
2 apples
1 kiwi
1 orange
2 Tbsp apple jelly or honey
1 pkg flour tortilla shells
cinnamon and sugar

Use food chopper to chop fruit. Add jelly or honey. (You can use whatever fruits you have on hand. I like blueberries and peaches in mine, and I do not usually use an orange).

For Chips: Dampen tortillas (I use spray butter). Sprinkle them with a cinnamon sugar mixture. Cut into triangles. Bake at 400 degrees for 7-10 minutes until lightly browned!