Friday, September 9, 2011
The End of the Floor Project
Thank Goodness!! I have every reason to believe that we will be all done with the kitchen floor and have everything clean and ready to go this weekend!! Yay!! I would like to add that we have made it this far with no arguments or me saying a single time, "Well, if you would just do it like this then...". I am very proud of me - and of my hard working husband of course.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Floor Update
Well Tracy is about half done with the actual tiling - and doing a fine job I must say. After the tiling comes the grouting. And the sealing. And the curing. And then the powder room...
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
In Lieu of Menu
So, with my kitchen off limits I'm breaking away from our usual routine and have a list of budget friendly quick dining options for families to share. I can take no credit whatsoever for discovering these options - my friend Leane did the digging and gave the list to me. I may have added one or two but it is her list. My contribution? Sharing it with you and encouraging you to call around and look online to make a list of your own. You never know when your kitchen is going to be wiped out by an improvement project...
Monday - Chick-fil-A on Cherry, one free kids meal for every adult meal purchased
- Red Bowl, kids eat for 99 cents with purchase of adult meal
Tuesday - McCallister's Deli - Kids eat free, even if you are my friend Dani and have 4
Wednesday - Captain Steve's Seafood - Kids eat free
Thursday - Earth Fare - up to 5 free kids meals for every adult purchase of at least $5.00
Friday - Chick-fil-A on Dave Lyle, same as Monday
Saturday and Sunday - Steak and Shake, kids eat free all weekend with adult purchase of $8.00
August - IHOP, kids eat free all month
Monday - Chick-fil-A on Cherry, one free kids meal for every adult meal purchased
- Red Bowl, kids eat for 99 cents with purchase of adult meal
Tuesday - McCallister's Deli - Kids eat free, even if you are my friend Dani and have 4
Wednesday - Captain Steve's Seafood - Kids eat free
Thursday - Earth Fare - up to 5 free kids meals for every adult purchase of at least $5.00
Friday - Chick-fil-A on Dave Lyle, same as Monday
Saturday and Sunday - Steak and Shake, kids eat free all weekend with adult purchase of $8.00
August - IHOP, kids eat free all month
Monday, August 29, 2011
Back Home
We're back home. This past weekend we were out of town making an unscheduled trip to see Tracy's parents. It's times like this that we really wish that we were closer. Like five hours closer. Oh well. God was faithful to provide all we needed to get there and back and kept us safe from accidents so I'll just be grateful. Oh course, we ate all kinds of junk food on the road so now I'm making plans to get us on track again. My obstacle? I still don't have a kitchen floor. Don't blame Tracy, the circumstances that took us to Alabama also kept us too busy last week for him to work on it. So, now I need to plan a menu that we can eat without gathering around the kitchen table to do it. Hmmm...
Monday, August 22, 2011
More Lunch Boxes
We did wraps so now lets talk about sandwiches. Well, not sandwiches so much as bagelwiches. We all love bagels at my house. Here are five ways to make a breakfast favorite into lunch:
1. smear of tomato paste, deli sliced pepperoni and slice fresh mozzarella on white
2. Italian dressing, hard salami, provolone and romaine on onion
3. light mayo, roast beef, cheddar and romaine on sesame
4. ham, Swiss and apple slices on raisin
5. Dijon mustard, turkey, smoked cheddar and romaine on wheat
You can start your bagelwich toasted or just right out of the bag. Caleb likes for me to slice his in half so that it's easier to pick up. We also sometimes use mini versions for a little extra fun. Here's hoping your kids lunch is "untradeable"!!
1. smear of tomato paste, deli sliced pepperoni and slice fresh mozzarella on white
2. Italian dressing, hard salami, provolone and romaine on onion
3. light mayo, roast beef, cheddar and romaine on sesame
4. ham, Swiss and apple slices on raisin
5. Dijon mustard, turkey, smoked cheddar and romaine on wheat
You can start your bagelwich toasted or just right out of the bag. Caleb likes for me to slice his in half so that it's easier to pick up. We also sometimes use mini versions for a little extra fun. Here's hoping your kids lunch is "untradeable"!!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Lunch Box - Again
Ahh, the lunch box. I haven't used Caleb's yet. He is charmed by the novelty of having the option to eat in the school cafeteria. I know it will pass and he'll ask me to pack food from home any minute now. I want to be ready. I've been putting together some ideas for his lunch that won't leave me in a PBJ rut. Not that there is anything wrong with PBJ - I could eat one right now...
Wrap it Up
1. jellied cranberry sauce, thick sliced turkey and apple matchsticks
2. apple butter, ham and raisins
3. BBQ sauce, chicken and carrot matchsticks
4. Caesar dressing, chicken and romaine lettuce
5. spicy mustard, roast beef, romaine lettuce and radish matchsticks
I make all of my wraps with fajita size flour tortillas because they are cheap and work with everything. If you are making lunch for multiple kids you can probably keep more choices on hand and use wheat, spinach, etc. I also store my tortillas in the fridge. They stay fresh longer, but because they are cold I need to warm them for 15 seconds in the microwave to make them flexible enough to roll. All wraps need a spread, a protein and something crispy or crunchy. The options are endless...
Enjoy!!
Wrap it Up
1. jellied cranberry sauce, thick sliced turkey and apple matchsticks
2. apple butter, ham and raisins
3. BBQ sauce, chicken and carrot matchsticks
4. Caesar dressing, chicken and romaine lettuce
5. spicy mustard, roast beef, romaine lettuce and radish matchsticks
I make all of my wraps with fajita size flour tortillas because they are cheap and work with everything. If you are making lunch for multiple kids you can probably keep more choices on hand and use wheat, spinach, etc. I also store my tortillas in the fridge. They stay fresh longer, but because they are cold I need to warm them for 15 seconds in the microwave to make them flexible enough to roll. All wraps need a spread, a protein and something crispy or crunchy. The options are endless...
Enjoy!!
Menu 8/21 - 8/27
Well, it's official. It's back. All of it. Choir, Bible study, school, preschool, ballet...it's all back. I'm thrilled!! I love the fall and all of the new beginnings. I love football season. I love a break from the hot weather. And I love getting everything and everyone back on a schedule. Here is our menu:
Sunday - cinnamon rolls, turkey bacon and orange slices
baked ziti and cloverleaf rolls
leftovers
Monday - crunchy peanut butter toast, bananas and milk
Monday roast, new potatoes, carrots and bread and butter
Tuesday - blueberry muffins, eggs and milk
roast beef sandwiches on white bread, apple slices
Wednesday - cereal and milk, apple juice
Crock Pot chicken and artichokes, rigatoni, green salad
Thursday - cinnamon rolls, yogurt
chili with cornbread, sour cream, cheddar cheese
Friday - beef hash and toast, milk
chili dogs, mixed veggie salad and chips
Saturday - blueberry muffins, fruit smoothies
pizza
leftovers
To make this menu work for me I need to do a Saturday baking. I store fresh baked items in the freezer if I'm not eating them the same or very next day. This supplies my desserts, snacks, dinner breads and breakfast items. I thaw in the microwave right before meal time. I also try to make my Sunday baked ziti on the Friday or Saturday before so that I can pull it out after church and warm it up. Because Saturday is so full of cooking and baking for the rest of the week and because I don't want to miss any Alabama football games, I like to order pizza or have snacks at meal time. For lunches during the week Addie and I eat a lot of sandwiches and left overs. Give it try and marvel at how much extra time you have on weekday evenings and how much money you save. Good luck!!
Sunday - cinnamon rolls, turkey bacon and orange slices
baked ziti and cloverleaf rolls
leftovers
Monday - crunchy peanut butter toast, bananas and milk
Monday roast, new potatoes, carrots and bread and butter
Tuesday - blueberry muffins, eggs and milk
roast beef sandwiches on white bread, apple slices
Wednesday - cereal and milk, apple juice
Crock Pot chicken and artichokes, rigatoni, green salad
Thursday - cinnamon rolls, yogurt
chili with cornbread, sour cream, cheddar cheese
Friday - beef hash and toast, milk
chili dogs, mixed veggie salad and chips
Saturday - blueberry muffins, fruit smoothies
pizza
leftovers
To make this menu work for me I need to do a Saturday baking. I store fresh baked items in the freezer if I'm not eating them the same or very next day. This supplies my desserts, snacks, dinner breads and breakfast items. I thaw in the microwave right before meal time. I also try to make my Sunday baked ziti on the Friday or Saturday before so that I can pull it out after church and warm it up. Because Saturday is so full of cooking and baking for the rest of the week and because I don't want to miss any Alabama football games, I like to order pizza or have snacks at meal time. For lunches during the week Addie and I eat a lot of sandwiches and left overs. Give it try and marvel at how much extra time you have on weekday evenings and how much money you save. Good luck!!
Friday, August 19, 2011
More Crock Pot Makeover
Most of my friends buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts; if you do too I have a new crock pot recipe for you:
Artichoke Chicken
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 cans artichoke hearts, halved
10 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 C dry white wine
1/4 balsamic vinaigrette
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper
1. coat chicken with salt and pepper
2. layer 1/2 artichokes, 1/2 mushrooms, all of the chicken, 1/2 artichokes, 1/2 mushrooms
3. mix wine and dressing and pour over food in crock pot
4. cook 3-4 hours on high
This is great served with a hearty pasta and Parmesan cheese.
Artichoke Chicken
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 cans artichoke hearts, halved
10 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 C dry white wine
1/4 balsamic vinaigrette
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper
1. coat chicken with salt and pepper
2. layer 1/2 artichokes, 1/2 mushrooms, all of the chicken, 1/2 artichokes, 1/2 mushrooms
3. mix wine and dressing and pour over food in crock pot
4. cook 3-4 hours on high
This is great served with a hearty pasta and Parmesan cheese.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
New Floor
We did it!! We did it!!
Tracy and I finally pulled the trigger and bought new flooring for our kitchen. (Do you like how I said "our" there?) I know it's silly but I am giddy over our boxes of ceramic tile stacked in the garage. Pray for us as we plan and execute our installation. Tracy is doing all of the hard work but I'll be unable to use my kitchen...it will be crazy but worth it. I'll tell you more later...
Tracy and I finally pulled the trigger and bought new flooring for our kitchen. (Do you like how I said "our" there?) I know it's silly but I am giddy over our boxes of ceramic tile stacked in the garage. Pray for us as we plan and execute our installation. Tracy is doing all of the hard work but I'll be unable to use my kitchen...it will be crazy but worth it. I'll tell you more later...
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Crock Pot Makeover
With fall schedules ramping up it is time to figure out family meal time. Your mom knew that a crock pot meant that dinner would wait for the family and not the other way around - but she probably didn't serve you this:
BBQ Beef Sandwiches
3 lbs. beef chuck roast
2 T oil
2 C tomato puree
1/2 C molasses
1/4 C apple cider vinegar
1 t salt
1/2 t cumin
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t mustard powder
8 seeded sandwich buns
1. brown your roast in oil on stove top for about 5 minutes per side.
2. mix tomato puree, molasses, vinegar and spices in a medium bowl until well combined.
3. place roast in crock pot and cover with sauce.
4. cook 4-6 hours on high or 8 on low.
5. remove roast to cool on carving board. Let sauce cool for 10 minutes and then skim off fat. Trim fat from beef and shred with forks. Return shredded beef to pot with sauce and heat for 20 minutes.
6. serve on toasted seeded buns
I like this served with oven fries and coleslaw. I'll be adding new crock pot recipes over the next few days so stay tuned!!
BBQ Beef Sandwiches
3 lbs. beef chuck roast
2 T oil
2 C tomato puree
1/2 C molasses
1/4 C apple cider vinegar
1 t salt
1/2 t cumin
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t garlic powder
1/2 t mustard powder
8 seeded sandwich buns
1. brown your roast in oil on stove top for about 5 minutes per side.
2. mix tomato puree, molasses, vinegar and spices in a medium bowl until well combined.
3. place roast in crock pot and cover with sauce.
4. cook 4-6 hours on high or 8 on low.
5. remove roast to cool on carving board. Let sauce cool for 10 minutes and then skim off fat. Trim fat from beef and shred with forks. Return shredded beef to pot with sauce and heat for 20 minutes.
6. serve on toasted seeded buns
I like this served with oven fries and coleslaw. I'll be adding new crock pot recipes over the next few days so stay tuned!!
Friday, July 29, 2011
A Monday Roast
We all have a thousand and one ideas about what to do with chicken but I really prefer beef. It is a little more expensive per pound but I have a 1 roast, 3 meal plan for you that will save you time and money. If you make your roast on Monday you can spread your beef main courses out over the rest of the week.
3-5 lbs. eye of round roast
2T vegetable oil
1T salt
1t Italian seasoning
1/2t pepper
Coat roast on all sides with oil and seasonings. Roast in a shallow pan at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Open oven door and reduce heat to 300. Close door and continue to cook roast in slow oven until desired doneness. I like mine pretty rare so I cook for 30 minutes and then take out to rest under tin foil for another 30. Serve at room temperature.
Meal 1: Roast Beef - 1/4" thick slices with popovers and gravy made from pan drippings
Meal 2: Sandwiches - paper thin slices on sourdough
Meal 3: Hash - chop into cubes and mill in food processor. Add diced raw onion and diced parboiled potatoes and mix well. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container. Heat a little olive oil in a heavy skillet and scoop out mounds of beef mixture. Flatten and fry until a crispy crust forms on both sides.
3-5 lbs. eye of round roast
2T vegetable oil
1T salt
1t Italian seasoning
1/2t pepper
Coat roast on all sides with oil and seasonings. Roast in a shallow pan at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Open oven door and reduce heat to 300. Close door and continue to cook roast in slow oven until desired doneness. I like mine pretty rare so I cook for 30 minutes and then take out to rest under tin foil for another 30. Serve at room temperature.
Meal 1: Roast Beef - 1/4" thick slices with popovers and gravy made from pan drippings
Meal 2: Sandwiches - paper thin slices on sourdough
Meal 3: Hash - chop into cubes and mill in food processor. Add diced raw onion and diced parboiled potatoes and mix well. Store in refrigerator in an airtight container. Heat a little olive oil in a heavy skillet and scoop out mounds of beef mixture. Flatten and fry until a crispy crust forms on both sides.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Kitchen Spruce Up
So I have the home improvement bug; sadly I have no home improvement budget. My husband keeps telling me to save money and prioritize my list so that he can help me accomplish what I want to do. He's right of course, but I want to do things now, now, now!! I have started a coffee can account for new tile floors. This is really a must do because my builder grade vinyl has been pretty well defeated by my two kids and one beagle puppy. Tracy will do all the work himself and I'm planning on doing 12x12 neutral beige. Pretty standard stuff. Less standard is the counter top makeover I'm considering. Rustoleum has a counter top refinishing product that looks like it would change the look and feel of the surface without removing or replacing the counter tops. I'm intrigued and will keep you posted. I also want new knobs and pulls. And a backsplash.
What I'm really curious about is why. Why? Why do I feel this need to upgrade? I am blessed to have all I need to prepare, store and serve food to my family. God is faithful to provide every single day. I have electricity, running hot and cold water, air conditioning and refrigeration. Am I seriously drooling over granite in a home improvement catalog? You know I am. In a matter of a few weeks I will be beginning a Bible study based on the book Radical led by my friend Dani. The Lord knows I need that, too. And He is faithful to provide. And mighty to save. Thank goodness!!
What I'm really curious about is why. Why? Why do I feel this need to upgrade? I am blessed to have all I need to prepare, store and serve food to my family. God is faithful to provide every single day. I have electricity, running hot and cold water, air conditioning and refrigeration. Am I seriously drooling over granite in a home improvement catalog? You know I am. In a matter of a few weeks I will be beginning a Bible study based on the book Radical led by my friend Dani. The Lord knows I need that, too. And He is faithful to provide. And mighty to save. Thank goodness!!
A Saturday Baking
Monday, wash day. Tuesday, ironing. Wednesday, mending. Thursday, errands. Friday, cleaning.
Saturday, baking.
This weekly chore chant has gotten thousands of homemakers on track for hundreds of years. When I need a reboot I sing it to myself and decide again that I am going to get on and stick to a schedule. It usually works until it doesn't anymore and then I find I need another reboot. I am thinking ahead to school starting in a couple of weeks and trying to get on track for the renewal of our busy family schedule. Both my little ones are going this year and I want very much for them to have lunch boxes full of food they would never trade and a dinner that makes them look forward to coming home. Here is a Saturday baking itinerary that will get your ready for your week.
1 basic roll dough - yields 12 clover leaf dinner rolls and 16 raisin cinnamon rolls
1 perfect white bread - yields 2 loaves
1 best ever muffins - yields 12 muffins; we like blueberry or jam
1 biscuit dough - wrap tightly and refrigerate. take out at dinner time, bake, and eat immediately - yields 12-15 biscuits.
1 simple cake - loaf pound cake, pineapple upside-down cake, applesauce cake, etc.
Saturday, baking.
This weekly chore chant has gotten thousands of homemakers on track for hundreds of years. When I need a reboot I sing it to myself and decide again that I am going to get on and stick to a schedule. It usually works until it doesn't anymore and then I find I need another reboot. I am thinking ahead to school starting in a couple of weeks and trying to get on track for the renewal of our busy family schedule. Both my little ones are going this year and I want very much for them to have lunch boxes full of food they would never trade and a dinner that makes them look forward to coming home. Here is a Saturday baking itinerary that will get your ready for your week.
1 basic roll dough - yields 12 clover leaf dinner rolls and 16 raisin cinnamon rolls
1 perfect white bread - yields 2 loaves
1 best ever muffins - yields 12 muffins; we like blueberry or jam
1 biscuit dough - wrap tightly and refrigerate. take out at dinner time, bake, and eat immediately - yields 12-15 biscuits.
1 simple cake - loaf pound cake, pineapple upside-down cake, applesauce cake, etc.
OR
1 pie
AND
2 cookies, bars or mini pies; we like chocolate chip cookies, brownies and apple pies but I like to mix it up.
This sounds like a lot of baking, and well, it is. But if you set aside the time to do it in one day you save a lot of time in cleanup and ingredient gathering. This list should give a family of four like mine 3 breakfasts, 5 desserts, 5 dinner breads, sandwiches and toast, and lunch box and after school snacks for the week.
Mmmm....
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Menu 7/25 - 7/30
Monday - cereal and milk, bananas
pimento cheese sandwiches, orange slices
Italian roast beef, mashed potatoes, carrots, popovers
Tuesday - eggs and grits, orange juice
roast beef sandwiches, sliced apples
pork chops, rice and gravy, broccoli, chocolate pie
Wednesday - peanut butter toast and yogurt
spaghetti O's and cheese cubes
grilled chicken breasts, peas and carrots, tomato slices, cornbread
Thursday - cheese toast and apple slices
grilled chicken salad, corn bread
spaghetti with meat sauce, grissini
Friday - cereal and milk
spaghetti with meat sauce, fruit salad
Chick-fil-A
Saturday - waffles and turkey sausage
burgers and fries
pizza
pimento cheese sandwiches, orange slices
Italian roast beef, mashed potatoes, carrots, popovers
Tuesday - eggs and grits, orange juice
roast beef sandwiches, sliced apples
pork chops, rice and gravy, broccoli, chocolate pie
Wednesday - peanut butter toast and yogurt
spaghetti O's and cheese cubes
grilled chicken breasts, peas and carrots, tomato slices, cornbread
Thursday - cheese toast and apple slices
grilled chicken salad, corn bread
spaghetti with meat sauce, grissini
Friday - cereal and milk
spaghetti with meat sauce, fruit salad
Chick-fil-A
Saturday - waffles and turkey sausage
burgers and fries
pizza
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
After the Ball Game
It was my turn to bring snacks after T'-ball so I pulled out this favorite from my sister in laws collection and made peanut butter bars. I served them with ice cold bottled water and the team gobbled them up. This is also my favorite to bring to dessert socials. Enjoy!!
Peanut Butter Bars
1C flour
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 C softened butter
1/4 t salt
1/2 C peanut butter
1 egg
1 C quick cook oats
9 oz. chocolate chips
1. combine flour, sugars, soda, butter, salt, peanut butter, egg and oats. Mix well.
2. press dough into lightly oiled 13x9x2 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and remove from oven.
3. sprinkle chocolate chips over baked dough and let stand for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate chips to cover evenly.
4. cool completely and cut.
Yummy.
Peanut Butter Bars
1C flour
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 C softened butter
1/4 t salt
1/2 C peanut butter
1 egg
1 C quick cook oats
9 oz. chocolate chips
1. combine flour, sugars, soda, butter, salt, peanut butter, egg and oats. Mix well.
2. press dough into lightly oiled 13x9x2 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and remove from oven.
3. sprinkle chocolate chips over baked dough and let stand for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate chips to cover evenly.
4. cool completely and cut.
Yummy.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Tupperware
That's right folks. Tupperware. In my circle of friends there has been a recent Tupperware explosion. I'm no stranger to the home based business or home shopping party. It is a staple of the Stay-At-Home Mom social network. I love spending time over a cup of coffee swapping stories about children and laundry and how much none of us are like our mothers. I also love to look through the catalogs and samples and dream about the perfect wife/mom/homemaker I could be if only I had the right tools. Then I find an item that I can talk myself into as practical, order my one thing, and get out of there.
http://my2.tupperware.com/tup-html/C/christymiles-welcome.html
Not so with Tupperware. I know that it is not flashy or cool, but I seriously could buy the entire catalog and actually use everything I bought. I don't know when or how we decided that throw away storage containers were better than the classic, lifetime guaranteed, brilliantly engineered products that Tupperware sells but I won't go back again. (and no, I am not going to sign up to sell any) You all know that I love to cook, work on a tight budget and need to store and access many foods. I have found my new Tupperware to be a big help. I also get a little thrill from the neatly lined up, matchy-matchy containers sitting and waiting for me when I open my pantry. I am convinced that my investment in good storage containers will save me money but I will wait until I have evidence from my own experience to share with you before making that claim. For now, I'll just say that they make me happy. And there's nothing wrong with that.
http://my2.tupperware.com/tup-html/C/christymiles-welcome.html
Not so with Tupperware. I know that it is not flashy or cool, but I seriously could buy the entire catalog and actually use everything I bought. I don't know when or how we decided that throw away storage containers were better than the classic, lifetime guaranteed, brilliantly engineered products that Tupperware sells but I won't go back again. (and no, I am not going to sign up to sell any) You all know that I love to cook, work on a tight budget and need to store and access many foods. I have found my new Tupperware to be a big help. I also get a little thrill from the neatly lined up, matchy-matchy containers sitting and waiting for me when I open my pantry. I am convinced that my investment in good storage containers will save me money but I will wait until I have evidence from my own experience to share with you before making that claim. For now, I'll just say that they make me happy. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Strawberry Season
So, in my neck of the woods it is strawberry time. I see strawberries practically lined up along the street at stands on my way to and from Caleb's school, as well as signs posted all over inviting me to come pick my own. If you want to bottle up that delicious smell and beautiful color and enjoy it all year long there is only one thing to do. Make jam. Here is my recipe:
3 lbs. fresh strawberries
3 C sugar
2 lemons
1. clean, hull and slice your berries and add to a large pot over low to medium low heat.
2. add sugar and stir to coat and dissolve
3. add the juice from both lemons and a little of the zest.
4. watch for mixture to boil, stirring occasionally. Once it reaches a full rolling boil the jam should cook for twenty minutes and be stirred every five.
5. test for doneness by placing a glass saucer in the freezer before you get busy with your berries and pulling it out at the twenty minute cook mark, use a spoon to dollop a small amount of jam on the back of the plate and tilt it to see if the jam runs down or seems to have jelled. If jam is still runny, continue to cook testing every five minutes.
6. fill canning jar(s) to within 1/4" of full and close tightly.
Yum..... this jam is delicious and with no fancy jell agents or corn syrup or extra flavoring additives it really concentrates that pure, ripe strawberry flavor. And if you are patient and resist the temptation to turn up the heat you will find this recipe super simple. Enjoy!!
3 lbs. fresh strawberries
3 C sugar
2 lemons
1. clean, hull and slice your berries and add to a large pot over low to medium low heat.
2. add sugar and stir to coat and dissolve
3. add the juice from both lemons and a little of the zest.
4. watch for mixture to boil, stirring occasionally. Once it reaches a full rolling boil the jam should cook for twenty minutes and be stirred every five.
5. test for doneness by placing a glass saucer in the freezer before you get busy with your berries and pulling it out at the twenty minute cook mark, use a spoon to dollop a small amount of jam on the back of the plate and tilt it to see if the jam runs down or seems to have jelled. If jam is still runny, continue to cook testing every five minutes.
6. fill canning jar(s) to within 1/4" of full and close tightly.
Yum..... this jam is delicious and with no fancy jell agents or corn syrup or extra flavoring additives it really concentrates that pure, ripe strawberry flavor. And if you are patient and resist the temptation to turn up the heat you will find this recipe super simple. Enjoy!!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Easter Menu
He is Risen!!!
I love to celebrate Easter. It is a joyful day in my life. It is also a busy day. Unlike Christmas where you have eight weeks to steep in the holiday message, Easter comes and goes in a flash. Just a blur of new dresses and chocolate eggs. I usually host a holiday meal at my home after church and if you do too you know what a strain it can be to get something special on the table after being out all morning. Here is my super simple Easter lunch menu:
Glazed Ham - buy it high quality and fully cooked, heat it through and melt orange marmalade over it. It's yummy at any temperature.
Green Beans with Almonds - rinse and tear off the ends of fresh green beans, boil in salted water until softened, drain and toss in hot pot with olive oil and slivered almonds.
Sliced Carrots - clean and slice into thin discs, boil in salted water until soft, drain and toss in hot pot with butter and salt and pepper.
Parsleyed New Potatoes - wash and boil whole in salted water until cooked through, drain and toss with butter, salt and fresh chopped parsley in hot pot.
Tea Biscuits - cut buttermilk biscuits out with two inch round and bake. Top with melted butter and poppy seeds and pop back into oven for two minutes.
Lemon Squares - make night before and chill. If scratch baking is not your thing I recommend the Krusteaz mix.
These six items on your table with white dishes and you have a pretty, colorful, quick and simple feast. Enjoy!!
I love to celebrate Easter. It is a joyful day in my life. It is also a busy day. Unlike Christmas where you have eight weeks to steep in the holiday message, Easter comes and goes in a flash. Just a blur of new dresses and chocolate eggs. I usually host a holiday meal at my home after church and if you do too you know what a strain it can be to get something special on the table after being out all morning. Here is my super simple Easter lunch menu:
Glazed Ham - buy it high quality and fully cooked, heat it through and melt orange marmalade over it. It's yummy at any temperature.
Green Beans with Almonds - rinse and tear off the ends of fresh green beans, boil in salted water until softened, drain and toss in hot pot with olive oil and slivered almonds.
Sliced Carrots - clean and slice into thin discs, boil in salted water until soft, drain and toss in hot pot with butter and salt and pepper.
Parsleyed New Potatoes - wash and boil whole in salted water until cooked through, drain and toss with butter, salt and fresh chopped parsley in hot pot.
Tea Biscuits - cut buttermilk biscuits out with two inch round and bake. Top with melted butter and poppy seeds and pop back into oven for two minutes.
Lemon Squares - make night before and chill. If scratch baking is not your thing I recommend the Krusteaz mix.
These six items on your table with white dishes and you have a pretty, colorful, quick and simple feast. Enjoy!!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
In the Bag
I'm talking snacks today. In addition to the daily lunch I pack for Caleb, I have to come up with a snack that is portable enough for the playground and tempting enough that he will actually eat it. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Jonah Snack - Stauffer's Whales crackers and Cheerios for life preservers
2. Heard it Through the Grapevine - "Scrabble" Cheez-its and raisins (my kids don't remember the California Raisins but I do so it's a little joke for me)
3. Smores - Teddy Grahams, Annie's Chocolate Bunnies and mini marshmallows
4. Movie Munchie - a ziptop bag of popcorn with about 10 sour patch kids mixed in
5. Gone Fishin' - thin pretzel sticks and Goldfish crackers
6. Tic Tac Toe - wheat thins and dried apricots
7. Monkey Mix - banana chips and yogurt covered raisins
8. Rice Krispie treats
9. Circus Bag - animal crackers and fruit snacks
10. Banana Man - I seriously get my sharpie and draw a funny face on a banana - he loves it.
There are some "junk" ingredients in the some of these; notably the sour patch kids and marshmallows. The key is quantity. If you use some fun items like those as a garnish on an otherwise healthy snack you get to put good whole grain nutrition in your kids body while still filling him up and finding the fun. Caleb really doesn't ask me for Cheetos or Twinkies and I think it is because he looks forward to his special "snack mix". Enjoy!!
1. Jonah Snack - Stauffer's Whales crackers and Cheerios for life preservers
2. Heard it Through the Grapevine - "Scrabble" Cheez-its and raisins (my kids don't remember the California Raisins but I do so it's a little joke for me)
3. Smores - Teddy Grahams, Annie's Chocolate Bunnies and mini marshmallows
4. Movie Munchie - a ziptop bag of popcorn with about 10 sour patch kids mixed in
5. Gone Fishin' - thin pretzel sticks and Goldfish crackers
6. Tic Tac Toe - wheat thins and dried apricots
7. Monkey Mix - banana chips and yogurt covered raisins
8. Rice Krispie treats
9. Circus Bag - animal crackers and fruit snacks
10. Banana Man - I seriously get my sharpie and draw a funny face on a banana - he loves it.
There are some "junk" ingredients in the some of these; notably the sour patch kids and marshmallows. The key is quantity. If you use some fun items like those as a garnish on an otherwise healthy snack you get to put good whole grain nutrition in your kids body while still filling him up and finding the fun. Caleb really doesn't ask me for Cheetos or Twinkies and I think it is because he looks forward to his special "snack mix". Enjoy!!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
What Happened?!!
I have been asking myself this question for a week now. My orderly little house and dependable menus are nowhere to be found. They have been replaced by chaos!! Why? I don't really know. My husband did start a new job this week (Yay!!) and my kids did start spring ball and we have been to birthday parties for the past couple of weekends but really I think I just dropped the ball and then let it roll under the couch and haven't gone to get it. In light of my dilemma here are my suggestions for a quick trip back to normal if you are in chaos too.
1. Sandwiches. Go to your store and get some fresh deli meat and cheese from the counter and stop by the bakery for good bread. Swing by produce and get shredded lettuce, tomatoes, apples, cucumbers, carrots...whatever looks good. Serve this at your table and count the food groups. Also notice that there is nothing fried or frozen. Look at your stove with no dirty dishes on it. Sigh a little sigh of relief.
2. Turn off the TV. Tonight everyone can declutter one room and then get together to read a book or play a game.
3. Pack lunches and lay out clothes because tomorrow is going to be a good day.
4. Take a bath and go to bed early. You've earned it.
1. Sandwiches. Go to your store and get some fresh deli meat and cheese from the counter and stop by the bakery for good bread. Swing by produce and get shredded lettuce, tomatoes, apples, cucumbers, carrots...whatever looks good. Serve this at your table and count the food groups. Also notice that there is nothing fried or frozen. Look at your stove with no dirty dishes on it. Sigh a little sigh of relief.
2. Turn off the TV. Tonight everyone can declutter one room and then get together to read a book or play a game.
3. Pack lunches and lay out clothes because tomorrow is going to be a good day.
4. Take a bath and go to bed early. You've earned it.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Coming Home
A loss in our family put us in our car and on the way to Alabama recently. My kids are so good on trips but Montgomery still feels a long way away. We also ate lots of meals on the road and at the homes of others. The company was wonderful and the meals together were nice. The road food... not so great. Now that we're back I made a back to basics menu and we're spending some time around our table together - just the four of us. Here are some of our meals:
Old fashioned tacos with all the fixins
Roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, bread and butter and peas and carrots
Chicken noodle soup with a cheese and cracker plate
Fried chicken with rice and gravy, corn on the cob and sliced tomatoes. Chocolate chip cookies
Spaghetti with meat sauce and green salad
Pancake breakfast with fruit smoothies
Mmm...it's good to be home. Tracy and I both grew up on no frills food and these simple meals make life feel...well, simple. I hope you'll make one this week and remember how great it is to eat and be at home.
Old fashioned tacos with all the fixins
Roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, bread and butter and peas and carrots
Chicken noodle soup with a cheese and cracker plate
Fried chicken with rice and gravy, corn on the cob and sliced tomatoes. Chocolate chip cookies
Spaghetti with meat sauce and green salad
Pancake breakfast with fruit smoothies
Mmm...it's good to be home. Tracy and I both grew up on no frills food and these simple meals make life feel...well, simple. I hope you'll make one this week and remember how great it is to eat and be at home.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Menu 3/14 - 3/19
I have been away for a few days visiting family in Atlanta and now it is time to get back on track with our meals. We all ate out quite a bit and while it was a nice treat, I think we will all benefit from a week of meals at home. Here is my plan:
Monday - Cereal and milk, banana
Spaghetti and meat sauce, salad
Tuesday - Blueberry muffins and milk
Pot roast, carrots, red potatoes, biscuits
Wednesday - Eggs and biscuits
Dinner at Church
Thursday - Cereal and Milk
Chili Mac
Roast beef sandwiches, fruit salad and pickles
Friday - Fruit Smoothies and turkey bacon
Beef tacos with veggies and beans and rice
Saturday - Pancakes
Chicken kabobs on the grill, grilled veggies and rice
Monday - Cereal and milk, banana
Spaghetti and meat sauce, salad
Tuesday - Blueberry muffins and milk
Pot roast, carrots, red potatoes, biscuits
Wednesday - Eggs and biscuits
Dinner at Church
Thursday - Cereal and Milk
Chili Mac
Roast beef sandwiches, fruit salad and pickles
Friday - Fruit Smoothies and turkey bacon
Beef tacos with veggies and beans and rice
Saturday - Pancakes
Chicken kabobs on the grill, grilled veggies and rice
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Muffins for Lunch
I was soooo grateful to have lunch muffins in the freezer this morning!! I didn't get a good night's sleep last night so my wonderful husband let me sleep in. He woke me up at 7:32 so that I could get Caleb dressed, pack his lunch and check his homework folder by 7:45. Ooops. Now, if I were the SuperMom I always thought I would be this would not have been a problem. SuperMoms always have the lunch packed and clothes, clean and pressed, laid out the night before and the folder is updated and notes to teacher written on the day it arrives home. I am not SuperMom. I jumped out of bed, ran to the dryer and said a little prayer of thanks that there were socks and pants in there. I then shook them out instead of ironing and dressed my son at top speed. Dad had fed the kids their breakfast before waking me so after the teeth brushing, face washing and hair combing I had a full 2.5 minutes to pack lunch. I tossed into Caleb's box a bottle of water, an apple, a yogurt, a rice krispy treat and... corndog muffins. Done. Here's the recipe:
Corndog Muffins
2 C self-rising corn meal mix
1/3 C sugar
1 1/2 C milk
1 egg
1/4 C vegetable oil or melted butter
3 hot dogs, sliced lengthwise and then cut into thin half circles
1. line 12 muffin cups with paper liners and heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. mix milk, egg and oil together with whisk and then add all at once to corn meal mix and sugar. Stir until just moistened. Add hot dog slices and stir to distribute.
3. fill muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes.
4. remove from pan and cool completely. Place two by two into ziptop bags and toss in freezer.
Know what kind of self rising cornmeal you have. Some call for the addition of flour and some already have the flour in them. Just follow your package directions. Also, don't substitute a complete mix. The "just add water" varieties have powdered and sometimes chemically altered milk and egg substitutes. You don't want to eat that. Know your hot dog. For the kids stuff I use a kosher, all beef, low fat variety. You might want to try Hebrew National. You of course can use an all natural chicken or turkey frank if you prefer it to beef.
To thaw my muffins I toss the ziptop bag with two muffins in it into the microwave for 20 seconds at full power and then toss the bag into the lunch box. By lunch the muffins are completely thawed and have no hot spots.
Corn bread also makes a good base for a muffin with breakfast sausage and maple syrup, zucchini and cheddar cheese, or chili. Adding a protein source makes a muffin a great lunch box main course. Enjoy!!
Corndog Muffins
2 C self-rising corn meal mix
1/3 C sugar
1 1/2 C milk
1 egg
1/4 C vegetable oil or melted butter
3 hot dogs, sliced lengthwise and then cut into thin half circles
1. line 12 muffin cups with paper liners and heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. mix milk, egg and oil together with whisk and then add all at once to corn meal mix and sugar. Stir until just moistened. Add hot dog slices and stir to distribute.
3. fill muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes.
4. remove from pan and cool completely. Place two by two into ziptop bags and toss in freezer.
Know what kind of self rising cornmeal you have. Some call for the addition of flour and some already have the flour in them. Just follow your package directions. Also, don't substitute a complete mix. The "just add water" varieties have powdered and sometimes chemically altered milk and egg substitutes. You don't want to eat that. Know your hot dog. For the kids stuff I use a kosher, all beef, low fat variety. You might want to try Hebrew National. You of course can use an all natural chicken or turkey frank if you prefer it to beef.
To thaw my muffins I toss the ziptop bag with two muffins in it into the microwave for 20 seconds at full power and then toss the bag into the lunch box. By lunch the muffins are completely thawed and have no hot spots.
Corn bread also makes a good base for a muffin with breakfast sausage and maple syrup, zucchini and cheddar cheese, or chili. Adding a protein source makes a muffin a great lunch box main course. Enjoy!!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The Month That Flies By
So, apparently in my world March is the month that flies by. I barely knew it had arrived before I was a week in. The only reason I know I'm a week in is that my husband's birthday is the 7th. We went out to eat last night to celebrate but Saturday we did cake and presents so that the kids would have time to be in on the fun. Tracy loves chocolate cake and here is my recipe for the very best one.
Tracy's Chocolate Cake
2C sugar
1 3/4 C all purpose flour
3/4 C unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 t baking soda
1 1/2 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 t instant coffee
2 eggs
1/2 C oil
2 t vanilla
1 C boiling water
1. heat oven to 350 degrees and prepare pans. I like to line mine with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
2. whisk together dry ingredients in large bowl. I use the bowl to my stand mixer. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
3. Stir in boiling water and scrape sides. Mix for another minute. Pour into pans - your batter will be thin.
4. bake 30-35 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from pans, then cool completely.
If you are using one square or rectangular pan instead of two rounds you will need to bake an additional 10 minutes. Use a toothpick to test doneness a little before you think it should be ready.
You should also know that you do not need to add mayonnaise or sour cream or egg whites or pudding mix or any other wacky formulas or ingredients to get a moist and delicious cake. This one will be perfect every time - just don't overcook it and cover it well. I recommend...
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
1/2 C butter
2/3 C cocoa
3 C powdered sugar
1/3 C heavy cream
1 t vanilla
1. melt butter and combine with cocoa. stir until smooth.
2. alternately add sugar and cream, beating on medium speed until spreading consistency.
3. stir in vanilla.
You really do need a stand mixture or high end hand mixer to make good frosting. My little hand held was never quite up to the task. I could smell the motor burning every time I tried to mix it up because good frosting is so thick. If you do not usually have cream on hand you can use milk. You also should feel free to add more powdered sugar or cream to get the consistency just the way you want it. Please make your frosting from scratch at least one time. I promise you won't be disappointed. It is so much better - and pretty easy, too.
Happy Birthday Tracy!!
Tracy's Chocolate Cake
2C sugar
1 3/4 C all purpose flour
3/4 C unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 t baking soda
1 1/2 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 t instant coffee
2 eggs
1/2 C oil
2 t vanilla
1 C boiling water
1. heat oven to 350 degrees and prepare pans. I like to line mine with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
2. whisk together dry ingredients in large bowl. I use the bowl to my stand mixer. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
3. Stir in boiling water and scrape sides. Mix for another minute. Pour into pans - your batter will be thin.
4. bake 30-35 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from pans, then cool completely.
If you are using one square or rectangular pan instead of two rounds you will need to bake an additional 10 minutes. Use a toothpick to test doneness a little before you think it should be ready.
You should also know that you do not need to add mayonnaise or sour cream or egg whites or pudding mix or any other wacky formulas or ingredients to get a moist and delicious cake. This one will be perfect every time - just don't overcook it and cover it well. I recommend...
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
1/2 C butter
2/3 C cocoa
3 C powdered sugar
1/3 C heavy cream
1 t vanilla
1. melt butter and combine with cocoa. stir until smooth.
2. alternately add sugar and cream, beating on medium speed until spreading consistency.
3. stir in vanilla.
You really do need a stand mixture or high end hand mixer to make good frosting. My little hand held was never quite up to the task. I could smell the motor burning every time I tried to mix it up because good frosting is so thick. If you do not usually have cream on hand you can use milk. You also should feel free to add more powdered sugar or cream to get the consistency just the way you want it. Please make your frosting from scratch at least one time. I promise you won't be disappointed. It is so much better - and pretty easy, too.
Happy Birthday Tracy!!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Have a Ball
I love feeding my kids; sitting across the table looking at their beaming faces and hearing their lovely compliments makes my day. Well, it would if it ever happened that way. The truth is my kids begin every meal with a complaint. Whether it is that they have the wrong cup, or their meat is touching their green beans, or they wanted their potatoes mashed, fried, hashed, boiled, baked, roasted or whatever way I didn't make them they have a complaint. Always. Sigh...
In spite of that obstacle I really do like plating up something that I at least have a chance of getting rave reviews for. For whatever reason, my family likes food that rolls... so here are two good ones.
Meatballs
1lb. 85/15 ground beef
2 eggs
1/2 C plain bread crumbs
3T ketchup
1T salt
1t parsley
1/2t pepper
1/2t garlic powder
1. combine all ingredients and form into 12 balls
2. bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until done
These meatballs are not my Italian grandmother's special recipe - you'll have to wait a while for that one - but they are super easy, multipurpose meatballs. My kids eat about two a piece per meal and I can freeze what I'm not using and have a great main dish on hand for them. The secret is in the sauce. You can reheat these meatballs in your favorite marinara, BBQ sauce or gravy and serve them tons of different ways. With marinara they are good over pasta or on a toasted sub roll with melted cheese. With BBQ sauce they are great with macaroni and cheese or cornbread. With gravy you can serve them with roasted potatoes or buttermilk biscuits. If you know you are going to be using them cocktail style you can reduce the size to 1" diameter and cut the cooking time by 10 minutes. You can also sub out the beef for ground chicken and add 1T of olive oil.
Peanut Butter Balls
1/2 C peanut butter
1/2 C honey
2/3 C nonfat dry milk powder
1. combine all ingredients and roll into 18 1" balls
2. chill
We love these sweet treats around here. The "recipe" is so simple that your kids can probably make them without you. The candies are satisfying and made with real food. Not things you can say about all candy. They keep well if refrigerated but get softer as they get warm. The texture should be somewhere between cookie dough and a truffle. I like to roll these in granulated sugar after they are chilled to keep them from sticking to each other. They would also be good rolled in chopped nuts or toasted coconut. Yum. Oh, two is plenty. You really don't want anyone eating the whole batch.
Enjoy!!
In spite of that obstacle I really do like plating up something that I at least have a chance of getting rave reviews for. For whatever reason, my family likes food that rolls... so here are two good ones.
Meatballs
1lb. 85/15 ground beef
2 eggs
1/2 C plain bread crumbs
3T ketchup
1T salt
1t parsley
1/2t pepper
1/2t garlic powder
1. combine all ingredients and form into 12 balls
2. bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until done
These meatballs are not my Italian grandmother's special recipe - you'll have to wait a while for that one - but they are super easy, multipurpose meatballs. My kids eat about two a piece per meal and I can freeze what I'm not using and have a great main dish on hand for them. The secret is in the sauce. You can reheat these meatballs in your favorite marinara, BBQ sauce or gravy and serve them tons of different ways. With marinara they are good over pasta or on a toasted sub roll with melted cheese. With BBQ sauce they are great with macaroni and cheese or cornbread. With gravy you can serve them with roasted potatoes or buttermilk biscuits. If you know you are going to be using them cocktail style you can reduce the size to 1" diameter and cut the cooking time by 10 minutes. You can also sub out the beef for ground chicken and add 1T of olive oil.
Peanut Butter Balls
1/2 C peanut butter
1/2 C honey
2/3 C nonfat dry milk powder
1. combine all ingredients and roll into 18 1" balls
2. chill
We love these sweet treats around here. The "recipe" is so simple that your kids can probably make them without you. The candies are satisfying and made with real food. Not things you can say about all candy. They keep well if refrigerated but get softer as they get warm. The texture should be somewhere between cookie dough and a truffle. I like to roll these in granulated sugar after they are chilled to keep them from sticking to each other. They would also be good rolled in chopped nuts or toasted coconut. Yum. Oh, two is plenty. You really don't want anyone eating the whole batch.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Wholesome Treats for Kids
I have a son in kindergarten who takes his lunch to school everyday. Everyday I try to put things in his lunch that are good for him but won't leave him dissatisfied and envious of his friend with the bag of chips and Hostess cupcake pack.
Here are two go-to choices.
Homemade Cheese Crackers
1/4 C butter
1C shredded cheddar cheese
1C whole wheat flour
1t salt
1/4 t baking powder
4T cold water
1. combine butter salt and cheese. Combine flour and baking powder. Mix together. Add water one T at a time to form a stiff dough.
2. roll out to 1/8" thickness right on your baking sheet. (you need the kind with no sides) Cut into 1" squares.
3. bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Turn off oven and leave crackers in for another 30 minutes or until crisp.
4. store in an airtight container.
The whole wheat flour makes these crackers taste nutty and warm. They keep well, but ours never last very long.
Chocolate Cookies
1C all purpose flour
1/2 C whole wheat flour
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 t baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 C softened butter
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla
1. beat together butter, sugar and brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and mix. Add vanilla and mix.
2. whisk together flours, cocoa, baking powder and salt. At low speed, beat flour mixture into sugar mixture until well combined.
3. drop by tablespoon onto greased cookie sheets spacing about 2" apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until set but not browned.
These cookies are chocolaty and chewy but not too dense or rich. I make them pretty small so that we can have a couple (or three) and still be at a good serving size. This recipe will make about 32 cookies.
Lunch box treats with no hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, artificial colors or flavors or preservatives - Enjoy!!
Here are two go-to choices.
Homemade Cheese Crackers
1/4 C butter
1C shredded cheddar cheese
1C whole wheat flour
1t salt
1/4 t baking powder
4T cold water
1. combine butter salt and cheese. Combine flour and baking powder. Mix together. Add water one T at a time to form a stiff dough.
2. roll out to 1/8" thickness right on your baking sheet. (you need the kind with no sides) Cut into 1" squares.
3. bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Turn off oven and leave crackers in for another 30 minutes or until crisp.
4. store in an airtight container.
The whole wheat flour makes these crackers taste nutty and warm. They keep well, but ours never last very long.
Chocolate Cookies
1C all purpose flour
1/2 C whole wheat flour
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 t baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 C softened butter
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla
1. beat together butter, sugar and brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and mix. Add vanilla and mix.
2. whisk together flours, cocoa, baking powder and salt. At low speed, beat flour mixture into sugar mixture until well combined.
3. drop by tablespoon onto greased cookie sheets spacing about 2" apart. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until set but not browned.
These cookies are chocolaty and chewy but not too dense or rich. I make them pretty small so that we can have a couple (or three) and still be at a good serving size. This recipe will make about 32 cookies.
Lunch box treats with no hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, artificial colors or flavors or preservatives - Enjoy!!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
A Wacky Wednesday Morning
Whew!! I did a little extreme shopping at Harris Teeter this morning. Today kicked off super doubles and I was there with my coupons and shopping list at 6:00am (crazy, I know). I was not alone. The registers do not recognize the daily specials until 7:00am so the other ladies (and yes, it was all ladies) and I trolled the aisles snatching up the best deals and organizing our coupon stacks for an hour and then anxiously stood in line waiting to see who saved the most. (Y'all know it was me, right?) The secret to success? Have a friend who doesn't like wacky Wednesday mornings and borrow her vic card. You can only use 20 coupons per membership per day. (So your husband's won't work unless it is tied to a different address and phone number.) I used 40. I won't take you line by line through my receipts, but I'll give you a general idea of what I got. For a printable list and links to some printable coupons, visit:
http://www.southernsavers.com/
Harris Teeter 02/16
5 Colgate toothpaste, B2G3, reg. price $2.89
2 Pillsbury Simply doughs, reg. price $3.15 and $2.00
10 Pillsbury bread and cookie doughs, BOGO reg. price $2.29 to $2.99 each, special $4.00 off 10
Buitoni pasta, reg. price $4.00
Philly cooking cream. reg. price $3.39
Kraft singles, reg. price $2.79
Polly-O string cheese, reg. price $4.39
Cheerios
5 Mueller pasta
3 Hormel chili
2 Maxwell House coffee
2 frozen broccoli
Kibbles n Bits
2 Horizon Organic half and half, reg. price $2.49 each
Butterball turkey bacon
2 Nestle cookie dough, reg. price $3.39 each
2 Totino pizza, 3/$5.00
Breakstone sour cream
Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce BOGO
2 Simply Lemonade, reg. price $2.99
Total cost: $34.20, Total vic savings: $46.32, Total coupons tendered: $89.10
I wanted to give you the regular price on some of these items so that you can compare the regular price at Harris Teeter to the regular price at a discount store like Walmart. If you shop what is not on special and without coupons you will pay at least 10% and sometimes up to 25% more at HT than your big box store. I only shop the specials. I also did not buy all the normal things I feed my family, for staple menu items I will do a regular shop on Saturday. I was able to get coffee and pasta and cheese and sour cream and vegetables and dog food...but you probably noticed that I also bought a ton of Pillsbury. I will not be feeding all of that stuff to my husband and my kids. After all of the coupons and special prices those items were practically free. I will be sending them to school, bringing them to Sunday school, sharing them with my GA girls and donating to benevolence ministry. My budget is tight so those are not always things I sign up to do every week. Now I'm stocked with lots of things I can give away. Oh, and we will eat the "Simply" items here. They are preservative and artificial flavor free so if I have no problem putting them on my table for a regular meal. I don't usually buy them because you pay such a premium for the convenience, but like I said, Harris Teeter was practically giving them to me today.
If you couldn't get to Harris Teeter this morning, check back on Saturday morning. They have usually restocked their specials by then. Happy Shopping!!
http://www.southernsavers.com/
Harris Teeter 02/16
5 Colgate toothpaste, B2G3, reg. price $2.89
2 Pillsbury Simply doughs, reg. price $3.15 and $2.00
10 Pillsbury bread and cookie doughs, BOGO reg. price $2.29 to $2.99 each, special $4.00 off 10
Buitoni pasta, reg. price $4.00
Philly cooking cream. reg. price $3.39
Kraft singles, reg. price $2.79
Polly-O string cheese, reg. price $4.39
Cheerios
5 Mueller pasta
3 Hormel chili
2 Maxwell House coffee
2 frozen broccoli
Kibbles n Bits
2 Horizon Organic half and half, reg. price $2.49 each
Butterball turkey bacon
2 Nestle cookie dough, reg. price $3.39 each
2 Totino pizza, 3/$5.00
Breakstone sour cream
Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce BOGO
2 Simply Lemonade, reg. price $2.99
Total cost: $34.20, Total vic savings: $46.32, Total coupons tendered: $89.10
I wanted to give you the regular price on some of these items so that you can compare the regular price at Harris Teeter to the regular price at a discount store like Walmart. If you shop what is not on special and without coupons you will pay at least 10% and sometimes up to 25% more at HT than your big box store. I only shop the specials. I also did not buy all the normal things I feed my family, for staple menu items I will do a regular shop on Saturday. I was able to get coffee and pasta and cheese and sour cream and vegetables and dog food...but you probably noticed that I also bought a ton of Pillsbury. I will not be feeding all of that stuff to my husband and my kids. After all of the coupons and special prices those items were practically free. I will be sending them to school, bringing them to Sunday school, sharing them with my GA girls and donating to benevolence ministry. My budget is tight so those are not always things I sign up to do every week. Now I'm stocked with lots of things I can give away. Oh, and we will eat the "Simply" items here. They are preservative and artificial flavor free so if I have no problem putting them on my table for a regular meal. I don't usually buy them because you pay such a premium for the convenience, but like I said, Harris Teeter was practically giving them to me today.
If you couldn't get to Harris Teeter this morning, check back on Saturday morning. They have usually restocked their specials by then. Happy Shopping!!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Grill 'Em All
So, I found a great deal on fresh boneless, skinless chicken breast at Walmart last week. I got 10 breast halves, 6lbs., for just under $10.00. I was then faced with a question. What do I do with that much chicken? I like that it was fresh - I freeze chicken all the time but I can always taste the difference. The breast halves were huge, 2 would easily feed all four of us, so I had way too much for just one or two meals. I decided to grill them all. If you wrap it up tight and store it properly, grilled chicken stays juicy for days. I think the high heat of the grill sears the surface closed or something like that. I don't understand it but I will gladly take advantage of it.
I sent Tracy out to the backyard yesterday with 5 pieces of chicken seasoned with Italian herbs and the other five seasoned with lemon pepper. Last night we ate grilled lemon pepper chicken with cornbread, lima beans, paresleyed potatoes, grape tomatoes and pickles. Next will be grilled chicken Parmesan, Greek chicken pita pockets, and southwestern style grilled chicken salads with black bean and corn salsa. Obviously I had to buy the go withs but let's face it, pasta and potatoes are cheap. Four entrees for four people for less than $10.00? It helped my budget and I hope it helps yours.
I sent Tracy out to the backyard yesterday with 5 pieces of chicken seasoned with Italian herbs and the other five seasoned with lemon pepper. Last night we ate grilled lemon pepper chicken with cornbread, lima beans, paresleyed potatoes, grape tomatoes and pickles. Next will be grilled chicken Parmesan, Greek chicken pita pockets, and southwestern style grilled chicken salads with black bean and corn salsa. Obviously I had to buy the go withs but let's face it, pasta and potatoes are cheap. Four entrees for four people for less than $10.00? It helped my budget and I hope it helps yours.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Dust Off a Classic
Hi, friends!!
It has been a long, sick week for me but I am praying that I am on my way to being well again. I haven't had anything dramatic wrong with me - just a cold - but it really knocked me off my game. I am close enough to well to attend an event with my GA girls tonight so to put myself on track for a stress free evening I dusted off a classic for dinner. We are having pot roast. In the slow cooker.
I'm sure that you all have a crockpot, I don't think you are allowed to get married in this country if someone hasn't given you one as a gift. But I'm curious about how often you use yours. Mine doesn't get a ton of use, about once a month maybe, but I'm grateful for it today. If it's been a while since you've had a good, meaty pot roast I encourage you to go for it. Cheap, easy and delicious is just what the Dr. ordered when you've been sick.
Crockpot Pot Roast
1 yellow onion
1 bag of carrots
4 potatoes
1 rump roast
olive oil
salt
pepper
1. peel vegetables and cut into 2 inch pieces
2. place in bottom of cold crockpot liner and drizzle with 2T olive oil. Add 1T salt and 1t pepper. Mix to coat.
3. mix 1T salt and 1t pepper together and press into roast, covering all sides.
4. place meat, fat side down, on top of vegetables
5. cook on high for 4 - 5 hours or low for 8 - 10.
Cost: $11.02 for 8 servings, $1.38 per serving
I like to serve this with biscuits the first night and on the second night I like to make a brown sauce and serve over rice. Enjoy!!
It has been a long, sick week for me but I am praying that I am on my way to being well again. I haven't had anything dramatic wrong with me - just a cold - but it really knocked me off my game. I am close enough to well to attend an event with my GA girls tonight so to put myself on track for a stress free evening I dusted off a classic for dinner. We are having pot roast. In the slow cooker.
I'm sure that you all have a crockpot, I don't think you are allowed to get married in this country if someone hasn't given you one as a gift. But I'm curious about how often you use yours. Mine doesn't get a ton of use, about once a month maybe, but I'm grateful for it today. If it's been a while since you've had a good, meaty pot roast I encourage you to go for it. Cheap, easy and delicious is just what the Dr. ordered when you've been sick.
Crockpot Pot Roast
1 yellow onion
1 bag of carrots
4 potatoes
1 rump roast
olive oil
salt
pepper
1. peel vegetables and cut into 2 inch pieces
2. place in bottom of cold crockpot liner and drizzle with 2T olive oil. Add 1T salt and 1t pepper. Mix to coat.
3. mix 1T salt and 1t pepper together and press into roast, covering all sides.
4. place meat, fat side down, on top of vegetables
5. cook on high for 4 - 5 hours or low for 8 - 10.
Cost: $11.02 for 8 servings, $1.38 per serving
I like to serve this with biscuits the first night and on the second night I like to make a brown sauce and serve over rice. Enjoy!!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Buttermilk Biscuits
Good morning friends!! My wonderful husband was praising my cooking the other day and going on and on about how much he loved biscuits. Now, this sounds like a great moment for me but Tracy is not really my benchmark for culinary achievement. I love him the most and want him to be happy but sometimes the foods he loves the most; Totino's pizzas, Taco Bell, cheesy popcorn, etc. are not really the things I am most proud to serve. Also, biscuits are the easiest thing I make. Anyone can do it.
That said, I picked up a tube of refrigerated biscuit dough in the grocery store on Friday and stopped reading the ingredient list when I got to the 10th entry. Maybe easy and beloved by my husband is exactly the alternative you need.
Buttermilk Biscuits
2C self rising flour
1/2C shortening
3/4C buttermilk
1. Sift flour into a mixing bowl and cut in cold shortening.
2. Add milk and stir lightly to form a stiff dough.
3. Turn dough onto floured surface and knead.
4. Roll to half inch thickness and cut out.
5. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes
Tips: cold shortening, cold milk and sifted flour make flaky biscuits. You already know this if you read my pie crust recipe. You should also make sure not to twist your cutter when you are cutting out and place your biscuits on your pan with their sides touching - this helps with rise. Finally, I like to take my biscuits out a minute or two before they are done and brush the tops with melted butter. They brown really pretty and taste wonderful.
Enjoy!!
That said, I picked up a tube of refrigerated biscuit dough in the grocery store on Friday and stopped reading the ingredient list when I got to the 10th entry. Maybe easy and beloved by my husband is exactly the alternative you need.
Buttermilk Biscuits
2C self rising flour
1/2C shortening
3/4C buttermilk
1. Sift flour into a mixing bowl and cut in cold shortening.
2. Add milk and stir lightly to form a stiff dough.
3. Turn dough onto floured surface and knead.
4. Roll to half inch thickness and cut out.
5. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes
Tips: cold shortening, cold milk and sifted flour make flaky biscuits. You already know this if you read my pie crust recipe. You should also make sure not to twist your cutter when you are cutting out and place your biscuits on your pan with their sides touching - this helps with rise. Finally, I like to take my biscuits out a minute or two before they are done and brush the tops with melted butter. They brown really pretty and taste wonderful.
Enjoy!!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Mini Shop 01/29
I'm under the weather today and couldn't face my usual shopping marathon this morning. The actual weather isn't helping either. It's cold and drizzly and so wet from the rain yesterday that I have to wade to my car when I go out. I did go to Harris Teeter to take advantage of their one day e-vic specials and get us through the weekend and the big game. Here's what I bought:
chili sauce
lasagna sheets
Rotel tomatoes
tortilla chips
4 lbs. ground chuck (e-vic special $1.98 per pound, limit 2 2lb. packs)
deli turkey (D&W $6.99 per lb.)
bakery sub rolls
French bread
bag of lemons ($1.99 per bag)
1 tomato
bagels (Thomas BOGO, $2.09)
5 containers (48oz.) of ice cream (HT Natural, buy 2 get 3 free makes it $2.07 per)
orange juice
cheese cubes (Kraft, e-vic special for $2 each bag, double coupon made it $0.50)
velveeta
mozzarella
ricotta
2 Greek yogurt ( sale price and doubled coupon made it $0.55 each)
milk
2 packs turkey li'l smokies (Hillshire Farm e-vic special plus doubled coupon makes it $0.24 per pack)
This was a mixed bag for me. I got the supplies I needed for our lasagna and deli sandwiches, stocked up on the ice cream and bought Super Bowl snacks. Velveeta is clearly not on my regular purchase list, but Tracy loves the dip you make when you mix it with Rotel tomatoes. He gets it once a year and this is it. I also paid full price for it which makes me crazy, but I couldn't find it on sale anywhere and didn't have a coupon. I'm sure it would have been less than the $4.19 I paid for it at another store but like I said, I'm sick today and paid for the convenience. The fact that the store practically gave me my li'l smokies certainly makes me feel a little better about it.
Total $56.88
chili sauce
lasagna sheets
Rotel tomatoes
tortilla chips
4 lbs. ground chuck (e-vic special $1.98 per pound, limit 2 2lb. packs)
deli turkey (D&W $6.99 per lb.)
bakery sub rolls
French bread
bag of lemons ($1.99 per bag)
1 tomato
bagels (Thomas BOGO, $2.09)
5 containers (48oz.) of ice cream (HT Natural, buy 2 get 3 free makes it $2.07 per)
orange juice
cheese cubes (Kraft, e-vic special for $2 each bag, double coupon made it $0.50)
velveeta
mozzarella
ricotta
2 Greek yogurt ( sale price and doubled coupon made it $0.55 each)
milk
2 packs turkey li'l smokies (Hillshire Farm e-vic special plus doubled coupon makes it $0.24 per pack)
This was a mixed bag for me. I got the supplies I needed for our lasagna and deli sandwiches, stocked up on the ice cream and bought Super Bowl snacks. Velveeta is clearly not on my regular purchase list, but Tracy loves the dip you make when you mix it with Rotel tomatoes. He gets it once a year and this is it. I also paid full price for it which makes me crazy, but I couldn't find it on sale anywhere and didn't have a coupon. I'm sure it would have been less than the $4.19 I paid for it at another store but like I said, I'm sick today and paid for the convenience. The fact that the store practically gave me my li'l smokies certainly makes me feel a little better about it.
Total $56.88
Friday, February 4, 2011
Rescuing Real Food
Do any of you have a child (or spouse) who loves mac and cheese out of a blue box but won't touch the homemade stuff? I was thinking about this phenomenon last night while I cooked dinner. It seems to me that real food has become an acquired taste.
I know how it happens, I grew up with a working and sometimes single mom who didn't have time to cook. She always put food on the table and we were always happy to have it, but homemade mac and cheese was not on the menu. I grew up eating out of a blue box. Or a red one, or a yellow one, or a can, or the freezer...you get the picture. Mom had a few things she made for special occasions and was justifiably proud of but usually we ate what was cheap and convenient. My kids have had their share of cheap and convenient too. Frozen chicken nuggets were a staple in my freezer for years and still sometimes make an appearance. I have mixed up what is in the blue box. But I would be sad if my children sat down to a scratch prepared dish and turned up their noses because it didn't taste like Kraft or Tyson or Stouffer's or ... McDonald's. Not just because I want my time rewarded and my effort praised (although I do) but because I want them to know real food when they see it. I want them to put wholesome, simple food into their bodies and actually like the way it tastes. That is not going to happen if it is not what I feed them. Kids like what they know.
So, here are two simple foods that I prepared last night that do not taste like the packaged varieties but were a big hit.
Basic Brownies
1/2 C butter
1C sugar
1 t vanilla
2 eggs
2 1 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate squares OR 6T unsweetened cocoa powder and 2T vegetable oil
3/4C flour
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and prepare an 8x8 baking pan.
2. In a medium saucepan melt butter and add chocolate. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Stir in flour.
4. Spread into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.
5. Cool and cut into 16 squares.
These brownies are rich and slightly chewy and delicious. If you like nuts you can add walnuts or pecans with the flour. My family loved them last night. They do not taste like a mix - and I think brownies out of the box are very tasty - but mine have super simple ingredients, no artificial anything and taste like home. Oh, and I mix them right in the pot so I only dirty the pot, the pan and the spoon.
Roasted Chicken
6-7lb. roasting hen
2 lemons
vegetable oil
salt and pepper
1. Remove giblets from chicken cavity. Rinse entire bird and pat dry.
2. Salt and pepper chicken inside and out.
3. Slice lemons in half and put all four halves inside your bird.
4. Put chicken in roasting pan breast side up and brush with oil.
5. Roast in a 350 degree oven for 2-2 1/2 hours.
I have lots of friends who don't roast a whole chicken, ever!! In fact, many of them have never prepared chicken that didn't leave a package boned, breaded and in oven ready pieces or come in a three pack skinless and boneless. If that sounds like you, you are missing the boat and one of the best meal values around. Whole chickens are very inexpensive and super simple to prepare. We ate sliced breast meat last night and have plenty left over for quesadillas on Saturday. Tonight I'm making soup with the wings and thighs and extra breast meat. I paid $8.00 for my chicken and will get three dinners out of it. Best of all, my children know what an actual chicken looks and tastes like. Neither of them asked for the "nugget".
I know how it happens, I grew up with a working and sometimes single mom who didn't have time to cook. She always put food on the table and we were always happy to have it, but homemade mac and cheese was not on the menu. I grew up eating out of a blue box. Or a red one, or a yellow one, or a can, or the freezer...you get the picture. Mom had a few things she made for special occasions and was justifiably proud of but usually we ate what was cheap and convenient. My kids have had their share of cheap and convenient too. Frozen chicken nuggets were a staple in my freezer for years and still sometimes make an appearance. I have mixed up what is in the blue box. But I would be sad if my children sat down to a scratch prepared dish and turned up their noses because it didn't taste like Kraft or Tyson or Stouffer's or ... McDonald's. Not just because I want my time rewarded and my effort praised (although I do) but because I want them to know real food when they see it. I want them to put wholesome, simple food into their bodies and actually like the way it tastes. That is not going to happen if it is not what I feed them. Kids like what they know.
So, here are two simple foods that I prepared last night that do not taste like the packaged varieties but were a big hit.
Basic Brownies
1/2 C butter
1C sugar
1 t vanilla
2 eggs
2 1 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate squares OR 6T unsweetened cocoa powder and 2T vegetable oil
3/4C flour
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and prepare an 8x8 baking pan.
2. In a medium saucepan melt butter and add chocolate. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat.
3. Stir in sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Stir in flour.
4. Spread into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.
5. Cool and cut into 16 squares.
These brownies are rich and slightly chewy and delicious. If you like nuts you can add walnuts or pecans with the flour. My family loved them last night. They do not taste like a mix - and I think brownies out of the box are very tasty - but mine have super simple ingredients, no artificial anything and taste like home. Oh, and I mix them right in the pot so I only dirty the pot, the pan and the spoon.
Roasted Chicken
6-7lb. roasting hen
2 lemons
vegetable oil
salt and pepper
1. Remove giblets from chicken cavity. Rinse entire bird and pat dry.
2. Salt and pepper chicken inside and out.
3. Slice lemons in half and put all four halves inside your bird.
4. Put chicken in roasting pan breast side up and brush with oil.
5. Roast in a 350 degree oven for 2-2 1/2 hours.
I have lots of friends who don't roast a whole chicken, ever!! In fact, many of them have never prepared chicken that didn't leave a package boned, breaded and in oven ready pieces or come in a three pack skinless and boneless. If that sounds like you, you are missing the boat and one of the best meal values around. Whole chickens are very inexpensive and super simple to prepare. We ate sliced breast meat last night and have plenty left over for quesadillas on Saturday. Tonight I'm making soup with the wings and thighs and extra breast meat. I paid $8.00 for my chicken and will get three dinners out of it. Best of all, my children know what an actual chicken looks and tastes like. Neither of them asked for the "nugget".
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Thinking it Through
I've been working this morning on thinking it through. What I mean is, imagining how I'm going to use my food items from start to finish. I bought a pork roast and a large roasting hen on my last shopping trip and both of those items are more than one meal for my family. We all know that we should be saving and eating leftovers but what I'm trying to do is more than that. If you read my menu you will notice that we had roast pork and rice and gravy one night and pork fried rice the next. Not an accident. Tuesdays are busy for me so on Monday I roasted my pork and made two and a half times more rice than I needed. Rice is dirt cheap and keeps well so I always make lots but this time I had a specific plan in mind. Tuesday night all I had to do is pull out my wok and chop my pork and dinner was ready. My chicken will be roasted tomorrow and after we eat all we want I will have enough to shred for quesadillas and bones with dark meat to freeze and then boil for soup. Now, that said, I am just not one of those people who can cook all day on Saturday and have freezer meals for the week. If you are, that's awesome. I'm not. For one thing, my family is not really into casseroles. You will probably notice that there are rarely any on my menu. My husband and my son just don't like their food mixed together. For another, now that Caleb is in school Saturday is really the only day we all have together. I would hate to spend all of it in the kitchen. Besides, we'd starve during football season. What does work for me is taking a little extra time on Monday, Thursday and Friday to help me deal with Tuesday and the weekend. I hope you will look at your family's schedule and pay attention to what nights you have a little extra time and what nights you have no time at all. Getting into the habit of building your menu around the rhythm of your family life will help you stick to your plans. To help you get started, here is a list of things I always double up on and store the difference.
rice
pasta
veggies
biscuit dough
breakfast breads
rolls
Let me know what works for you!!
rice
pasta
veggies
biscuit dough
breakfast breads
rolls
Let me know what works for you!!
Menu 1/31-2/6
Monday -
cranberry orange muffins
chicken fingers and cheese cubes
pork roast, rice and gravy, green beans
Tuesday-
porridge, apple juice
pork fried rice
Wednesday -
eggs and toast, milk
dinner at church
Thursday -
pancakes and bananas
roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, corn and spinach
Friday -
cereal with milk
chicken soup, buttermilk biscuits
Saturday -
peanut butter toast
deli style sandwiches
chicken quesadillas, salsa
Sunday -
eggs and English muffins
lasagna and green salad, yeast rolls
l/o and party snacks
cranberry orange muffins
chicken fingers and cheese cubes
pork roast, rice and gravy, green beans
Tuesday-
porridge, apple juice
pork fried rice
Wednesday -
eggs and toast, milk
dinner at church
Thursday -
pancakes and bananas
roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, corn and spinach
Friday -
cereal with milk
chicken soup, buttermilk biscuits
Saturday -
peanut butter toast
deli style sandwiches
chicken quesadillas, salsa
Sunday -
eggs and English muffins
lasagna and green salad, yeast rolls
l/o and party snacks
Shopping 1/29
I seem to have a lot of meat in the freezer right now so I took this weeks shopping trip as an opportunity to stock up on some other things. I also only visited two stores this week.
Harris Teeter
Wacky Mac 2 for $0.82 each
HT Old Fashioned White Bread 4 for $0.74 each
HT bread crumbs 2 for $0.73 each
HT shredded cheese evic special 2 for $0.99 each
HT butter $1.97
Martha White muffin mix 4 for $0.57 each
Chex Mix 4 for $0.89 each after sale price and doubled coupon
Pop Secret microwave popcorn 4 boxes for $1.32 each after special and doubled coupon
HT Traders orange blossom honey $2.99
HT raisin boxes (for lunches) $1.50
Cheer detergent $2.99 after sale price and coupon
fresh strawberries $2.49
Kraft Homestyle Macaroni and Cheese $1.50 after special price and coupon
HT box chicken broth $1.57
HT canned chicken broth 3 for $2.00 total price
Laughing Cow cheese triangles $2.12
Cooking spray
Total $39.12
I took advantage of some good sales this week. I also used my coupon to try the Kraft Homestyle mac and cheese. I thought that it was terrible. It has the ribbed pasta which is nice, but the process is every bit as time consuming as making from scratch but nowhere near as good. After you boil and drain your pasta you use 2T of butter and their seasoning packet - which looked a lot like flour and salt to me - and make a rue. You then add 1/2C of milk to make a white sauce. Instead of adding real cheese when it thickens you squeeze orange goo out of the cheese packet and stir it in. You mix with pasta, top with bread crumbs and bake until brown and bubbly. Do not try this at home.
Walmart
Ditalini pasta
cheese crackers
half and half
GV yogurt cups
2 spaghetti sauce
mayo
2 gelatin
bologna
tortillas
zip top bags
eggs
Rotel tomatoes
GV tropical fruit salad
pork roast
roasting hen
bananas
pretzels
paper towels
Total: $38.50
Somewhere along the way BiLo ran their milk on special and I bought a couple of gallons so we are good to go. Happy Shopping!!
Harris Teeter
Wacky Mac 2 for $0.82 each
HT Old Fashioned White Bread 4 for $0.74 each
HT bread crumbs 2 for $0.73 each
HT shredded cheese evic special 2 for $0.99 each
HT butter $1.97
Martha White muffin mix 4 for $0.57 each
Chex Mix 4 for $0.89 each after sale price and doubled coupon
Pop Secret microwave popcorn 4 boxes for $1.32 each after special and doubled coupon
HT Traders orange blossom honey $2.99
HT raisin boxes (for lunches) $1.50
Cheer detergent $2.99 after sale price and coupon
fresh strawberries $2.49
Kraft Homestyle Macaroni and Cheese $1.50 after special price and coupon
HT box chicken broth $1.57
HT canned chicken broth 3 for $2.00 total price
Laughing Cow cheese triangles $2.12
Cooking spray
Total $39.12
I took advantage of some good sales this week. I also used my coupon to try the Kraft Homestyle mac and cheese. I thought that it was terrible. It has the ribbed pasta which is nice, but the process is every bit as time consuming as making from scratch but nowhere near as good. After you boil and drain your pasta you use 2T of butter and their seasoning packet - which looked a lot like flour and salt to me - and make a rue. You then add 1/2C of milk to make a white sauce. Instead of adding real cheese when it thickens you squeeze orange goo out of the cheese packet and stir it in. You mix with pasta, top with bread crumbs and bake until brown and bubbly. Do not try this at home.
Walmart
Ditalini pasta
cheese crackers
half and half
GV yogurt cups
2 spaghetti sauce
mayo
2 gelatin
bologna
tortillas
zip top bags
eggs
Rotel tomatoes
GV tropical fruit salad
pork roast
roasting hen
bananas
pretzels
paper towels
Total: $38.50
Somewhere along the way BiLo ran their milk on special and I bought a couple of gallons so we are good to go. Happy Shopping!!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Grocery Shop 1/22
Hi Friends!!
I don't feel like my trip was as organized or productive this week as it sometimes is. We have had a hectic week - I'm sure a lot of you have too - and I was frazzled as I ran around to my three stores yesterday. Anyway, this is what we ended up with and one way or another it is what we will eat.
Harris Teeter
Nathan's hot dogs BOGO ($2.94) I don't skimp on hot dogs. I'm fine skipping them altogether, but if I buy them they are going to be the best quality I can find. Nathan's all beef is one of my favorite.
Honey Bunches of O's and HT brand Oats and More ($2.00 for both, sale price and Buy Theirs Try Ours special)
6 cups Dannon yogurt and 1 cup HT yogurt ($2.00 for all 7, sale price and BTTO special plus double coupon)
HT brand white bread and hot dog rolls
Total: $9.83
BiLo
Dawn dish soap ($1.00)
Dixie Lily quick grits ($0.74)
Thomas English muffins BOGO ($1.74)
Hormel Natural Deli Meat BOGO ($1.24)
All laundry detergent ($3.29 sale price and coupon)
stew meat
Total $13.43
Walmart
romaine hearts, milk, self rising flour, cucumber, bananas, juice boxes, shortening, cheese crackers, croutons, ground round, grape tomatoes, AP flour, pork chops, fruit bowls, pasta, salad dressing, cheese, corn, broccoli, tomato puree, chips, chicken nuggets, pita bread, carrots, green beans and peas
Total $54.58
It was quite a convenience food day for me!! I bought cheese crackers, croutons and chicken nuggets - all of which I can make but won't be this week. I also had to restock Caleb's lunch supplies so I bought juice boxes and little fruit bowls. I have sent him with reusable bowls and bottles with lids for his fruit and drink but he doesn't close them well and I end up with a lunch cooler full of whatever he didn't finish. For now, it is worth the extra money to be spared that clean up. Caleb's school does not have a cafeteria on site and all children bring their lunch and eat in their classrooms. I like to make things as easy on his teacher as possible. Since their is no cafeteria, there is no cafeteria staff to help her.
Whew!! Well, my math says that we spent $77.84 getting ready for this week. Happy shopping!!!
I don't feel like my trip was as organized or productive this week as it sometimes is. We have had a hectic week - I'm sure a lot of you have too - and I was frazzled as I ran around to my three stores yesterday. Anyway, this is what we ended up with and one way or another it is what we will eat.
Harris Teeter
Nathan's hot dogs BOGO ($2.94) I don't skimp on hot dogs. I'm fine skipping them altogether, but if I buy them they are going to be the best quality I can find. Nathan's all beef is one of my favorite.
Honey Bunches of O's and HT brand Oats and More ($2.00 for both, sale price and Buy Theirs Try Ours special)
6 cups Dannon yogurt and 1 cup HT yogurt ($2.00 for all 7, sale price and BTTO special plus double coupon)
HT brand white bread and hot dog rolls
Total: $9.83
BiLo
Dawn dish soap ($1.00)
Dixie Lily quick grits ($0.74)
Thomas English muffins BOGO ($1.74)
Hormel Natural Deli Meat BOGO ($1.24)
All laundry detergent ($3.29 sale price and coupon)
stew meat
Total $13.43
Walmart
romaine hearts, milk, self rising flour, cucumber, bananas, juice boxes, shortening, cheese crackers, croutons, ground round, grape tomatoes, AP flour, pork chops, fruit bowls, pasta, salad dressing, cheese, corn, broccoli, tomato puree, chips, chicken nuggets, pita bread, carrots, green beans and peas
Total $54.58
It was quite a convenience food day for me!! I bought cheese crackers, croutons and chicken nuggets - all of which I can make but won't be this week. I also had to restock Caleb's lunch supplies so I bought juice boxes and little fruit bowls. I have sent him with reusable bowls and bottles with lids for his fruit and drink but he doesn't close them well and I end up with a lunch cooler full of whatever he didn't finish. For now, it is worth the extra money to be spared that clean up. Caleb's school does not have a cafeteria on site and all children bring their lunch and eat in their classrooms. I like to make things as easy on his teacher as possible. Since their is no cafeteria, there is no cafeteria staff to help her.
Whew!! Well, my math says that we spent $77.84 getting ready for this week. Happy shopping!!!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
A Little Bite of Something
So Tuesdays are a little crazy for me. Wonderful, but crazy. I am blessed to be part of a women's Bible study group that gets together every Tuesday morning. We do praise and worship, devotions and great studies. There are also snacks and childcare - so you know I never miss. We meet from 9:00 to 11:30 and it is usually close to noon by the time Addie and I get home. Now that Caleb is in school that is just a couple of hours before we need to turn around and go pick him up. I don't want to spend all of it cooking and cleaning so Addie and I have a little bite of something and call it done.
Today we had cheese quesadillas and salsa. A hot nonstick pan and two 6" tortillas with cheddar inside and we were good to go. I think I made three. We like to cut ours in little wedges and pile them onto one plate to share. Addie thinks it's fun and I think it is one less dish I have to wash. Win win. It also covers three of the four food groups (we use a lot of salsa) which is something I am committed to doing at breakfast and lunch.
I'm so glad my little girl likes to share with me - and that she doesn't care if our meal is fancy.
Today we had cheese quesadillas and salsa. A hot nonstick pan and two 6" tortillas with cheddar inside and we were good to go. I think I made three. We like to cut ours in little wedges and pile them onto one plate to share. Addie thinks it's fun and I think it is one less dish I have to wash. Win win. It also covers three of the four food groups (we use a lot of salsa) which is something I am committed to doing at breakfast and lunch.
I'm so glad my little girl likes to share with me - and that she doesn't care if our meal is fancy.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Perfect Pie Crust
A friend of mine pulled me aside at church tonight and asked me for my pie crust recipe. I thought I would give it to you too. It is quick, easy once you get the hang of it, and considerably less expensive and more tasty than a store bought crust.
2 C all purpose flour
1 t salt
6 T butter
4 T shortening
1/4 - 1/2 C cold water
1. sift together flour and salt
2. cut in very cold butter and shortening to make a coarse, crumbly mixture
3. add just enough ice cold water to bring dough together and form a ball
4. split dough ball in half and make two discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill for 20-30 minutes.
5. flour counter top and roll out each disc to 12" round of uniform thickness
6. line your pie plate with crust, fill, top with second crust and bake as indicated according to your filling. Most of my recipes call for a 425 degree oven for 10-12 minutes and 375 for the remainder of the cooking time.
Tips:
Don't skip the sift. I don't sift anything I don't need to. I don't sift for cookies, cakes, quick breads, yeast breads...or really anything else at all but pie crust and biscuits. In both cases the sifting has a big impact on the texture. It is worth the step. Next, refrigerate your shortening for this recipe. Our butter is always cold but most of us store shortening in the pantry. You want it nice and cold for pie crust. Finally, get a mixing bowl of ice water and dip out your 1/2 C of water from there. Cold tap water is not cold enough.
I use this crust for sweet and savory pies. Don't add sugar or anything else to the dough. If you want a different flavor or appearance for different pies make your changes to the top crust only. You might consider brushing it with milk or an egg wash, topping with kosher salt or crystallized sugar, topping with shredded cheeses, sprinkling a cinnamon and brown sugar mixture...whatever works for you. My favorite? Completely plain.
2 C all purpose flour
1 t salt
6 T butter
4 T shortening
1/4 - 1/2 C cold water
1. sift together flour and salt
2. cut in very cold butter and shortening to make a coarse, crumbly mixture
3. add just enough ice cold water to bring dough together and form a ball
4. split dough ball in half and make two discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill for 20-30 minutes.
5. flour counter top and roll out each disc to 12" round of uniform thickness
6. line your pie plate with crust, fill, top with second crust and bake as indicated according to your filling. Most of my recipes call for a 425 degree oven for 10-12 minutes and 375 for the remainder of the cooking time.
Tips:
Don't skip the sift. I don't sift anything I don't need to. I don't sift for cookies, cakes, quick breads, yeast breads...or really anything else at all but pie crust and biscuits. In both cases the sifting has a big impact on the texture. It is worth the step. Next, refrigerate your shortening for this recipe. Our butter is always cold but most of us store shortening in the pantry. You want it nice and cold for pie crust. Finally, get a mixing bowl of ice water and dip out your 1/2 C of water from there. Cold tap water is not cold enough.
I use this crust for sweet and savory pies. Don't add sugar or anything else to the dough. If you want a different flavor or appearance for different pies make your changes to the top crust only. You might consider brushing it with milk or an egg wash, topping with kosher salt or crystallized sugar, topping with shredded cheeses, sprinkling a cinnamon and brown sugar mixture...whatever works for you. My favorite? Completely plain.
Menu 1/17 - 1/23
I'm getting a date night, I'm getting a date night!! Ahem, please note that on Thursday Tracy and I will be enjoying dinner at a restaurant and feeding the children sandwiches.
Monday
Cereal and milk, bananas
Italian roast beef, garlic roasted potatoes, green beans
Tuesday
Grits and bacon, oranges
l/o roast beef, popovers
Wednesday
Porridge
Dinner at church
Thursday
Eggs and toast, apple sauce
Out
Friday
Banana bread, milk
Pork chops, rice pilaf, carrots and spinach
Saturday
Cereal and milk
BLTs, pasta salad
Vegetable beef soup and cheese biscuits
Sunday
Bagels with peanut butter
Grilled chicken sandwiches, broccoli and cheese sauce
l/o
Monday
Cereal and milk, bananas
Italian roast beef, garlic roasted potatoes, green beans
Tuesday
Grits and bacon, oranges
l/o roast beef, popovers
Wednesday
Porridge
Dinner at church
Thursday
Eggs and toast, apple sauce
Out
Friday
Banana bread, milk
Pork chops, rice pilaf, carrots and spinach
Saturday
Cereal and milk
BLTs, pasta salad
Vegetable beef soup and cheese biscuits
Sunday
Bagels with peanut butter
Grilled chicken sandwiches, broccoli and cheese sauce
l/o
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Grocery Shop 1/14
Hey Friends!! I did my big grocery shop yesterday. Thanks to the snow it was my only grocery shop since last Friday. I think the lesson to be learned is that the less often you get out to the store - the less money you spend. It's funny how that works.
Anyway, I wasn't super excited about the deals available this week and didn't go to BiLo at all. I did hit Harris Teeter and Walmart and here is what I got.
Harris Teeter -
3 giant boxes of Cheerios and 3 boxes of HT brand cereal bars $8.00. (Their big box of Cheerios ring up at $4.55 each but were marked down to 2 for $6.00. The cereal bars were part of HTs buy theirs get ours free so the cereal bars went from $2.50 to nothing. I used a coupon that gave me $1.00 off three boxes of Cheerios.)
2 tubes Colgate toothpaste (Free with doubled coupon and sale price)
HT pasta - $.59 each BOGO
Milk - $2.77 each on special
Peter Pan peanut butter - $.67 (Sale price and doubled coupon)
yeast strip - (Free with doubled coupon and sale price)
Walmart -
sugar, eggs, bread, peas, carrots, green beans, tomato sauce, potatoes, flour, tortillas, Rotel tomatoes, apple juice, shampoo, laundry soap, dryer sheets, paper towels, gummy snacks, pork chops, eye of round roast, apples, cheese slices, 2 cheese blocks, salsa, brown sugar, cucumber and two lemons
$72.95
This was an unusual Walmart trip for me because we needed lots of household stuff like laundry supplies and shampoo and conditioner. I typically use generic brand laundry detergent and dryer sheets and add an oxygen based powder booster. I also buy off brand shampoo and conditioner. My hair is straight and a little oily so I wash it about 5 times a week and don't need any specialized formulas or products - so I don't buy them. It was also an unusual trip because I did not buy the store brand cheese that I usually buy. For whatever reason, Kraft had the better price this week. I usually buy the store brand 16oz. sharp cheddar block for $4.08 when we need cheese. Kraft was selling a new 9oz. size block for $1.98. I bought 2 and spend $3.96 for 18oz. It just proves the point that you shouldn't lock yourself into a shopping pattern. Instead, actively seek the best value.
Happy Shopping!!
Anyway, I wasn't super excited about the deals available this week and didn't go to BiLo at all. I did hit Harris Teeter and Walmart and here is what I got.
Harris Teeter -
3 giant boxes of Cheerios and 3 boxes of HT brand cereal bars $8.00. (Their big box of Cheerios ring up at $4.55 each but were marked down to 2 for $6.00. The cereal bars were part of HTs buy theirs get ours free so the cereal bars went from $2.50 to nothing. I used a coupon that gave me $1.00 off three boxes of Cheerios.)
2 tubes Colgate toothpaste (Free with doubled coupon and sale price)
HT pasta - $.59 each BOGO
Milk - $2.77 each on special
Peter Pan peanut butter - $.67 (Sale price and doubled coupon)
yeast strip - (Free with doubled coupon and sale price)
Walmart -
sugar, eggs, bread, peas, carrots, green beans, tomato sauce, potatoes, flour, tortillas, Rotel tomatoes, apple juice, shampoo, laundry soap, dryer sheets, paper towels, gummy snacks, pork chops, eye of round roast, apples, cheese slices, 2 cheese blocks, salsa, brown sugar, cucumber and two lemons
$72.95
This was an unusual Walmart trip for me because we needed lots of household stuff like laundry supplies and shampoo and conditioner. I typically use generic brand laundry detergent and dryer sheets and add an oxygen based powder booster. I also buy off brand shampoo and conditioner. My hair is straight and a little oily so I wash it about 5 times a week and don't need any specialized formulas or products - so I don't buy them. It was also an unusual trip because I did not buy the store brand cheese that I usually buy. For whatever reason, Kraft had the better price this week. I usually buy the store brand 16oz. sharp cheddar block for $4.08 when we need cheese. Kraft was selling a new 9oz. size block for $1.98. I bought 2 and spend $3.96 for 18oz. It just proves the point that you shouldn't lock yourself into a shopping pattern. Instead, actively seek the best value.
Happy Shopping!!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Winter Wonderland
I live in a region where it doesn't snow. Except that it has every year for the past three years. Go figure!!
Personally, I love the snow. Snow played a major role in my childhood. I lived in North Berwick, Maine for several years and had all the snow a little girl could want. I sledded, built snow forts and dug endless tunnels for three months out of the year every year and it was fantastic. What I did not do in the snow is parent. Parenting in snow is - well - loud. And messy. Caleb has been out of school for three days and Addie and I have not been able to go anywhere that we usually go to keep ourselves busy. To keep everyone happy we did all of the predictable and wonderful snow things that kids do.
And when all of us were so cold we couldn't take it anymore we went in and participated in a less common but hugely satisfying activity. We made macaroni art. The kids loved it and I'm sure yours will too. That's right - you have my blessing to waste food!! Especially if you got your macaroni for free using your doubled coupon. Happy snow day(s)!!
Oh, and in case you are wondering, I let the kids wear their pajamas during our fun - Addie is wearing Ariel jammies under her Spidergirl costume...
Personally, I love the snow. Snow played a major role in my childhood. I lived in North Berwick, Maine for several years and had all the snow a little girl could want. I sledded, built snow forts and dug endless tunnels for three months out of the year every year and it was fantastic. What I did not do in the snow is parent. Parenting in snow is - well - loud. And messy. Caleb has been out of school for three days and Addie and I have not been able to go anywhere that we usually go to keep ourselves busy. To keep everyone happy we did all of the predictable and wonderful snow things that kids do.
And when all of us were so cold we couldn't take it anymore we went in and participated in a less common but hugely satisfying activity. We made macaroni art. The kids loved it and I'm sure yours will too. That's right - you have my blessing to waste food!! Especially if you got your macaroni for free using your doubled coupon. Happy snow day(s)!!
Oh, and in case you are wondering, I let the kids wear their pajamas during our fun - Addie is wearing Ariel jammies under her Spidergirl costume...
Friday, January 7, 2011
Grocery Shopping
Wow!! I had my big shopping day today and could use a nice long nap. Sadly, it is nearly 7:00 in the evening here so any nap I take could very well end at midnight. Not a good plan.
I have been trying to find the balance that is right for me between couponing and shopping at Walmart. I know that the "SuperDouble" deals at Harris Teeter are great and sometimes those BiLo "Meal Deal"s are a really good value. The coupon deals at both stores are fantastic. My issue is that I find the regular prices at Harris Teeter appalling and while Bi-Lo is better in that area, the staples there are still more than I pay for the same item at Walmart. I don't want to go to three stores every week. I really, really don't. I also don't want to load up on frozen and convenience stuff because it is just not as good for us as homemade. All that said - I do want to feed my family for $100.00 or less a week and sometimes taking a little extra help makes a big difference in my day. So, here is what I bought.
Harris Teeter
Quaker Oats (free with doubled coupon)
2 tubes Colgate toothpaste (free with doubled coupon)
Boneless chicken breast ( buy 1 get 2 free) - this item was marked at $9.55 per pack and the same size pack usually costs me $6.79 at Walmart but the free ones made it the better deal
Healthy choice soup cups ( $.99 per cup after sale and coupon) - this I don't usually eat but can donate to my church's food pantry
Special K cereal ( 2 for $5.00 plus double coupon for $1.00 off 3 made it $1.83 per box)
Meal deal: Buy 2 Prego sauces ($6.00) get 1 Harris Teeter pasta, 1 Pepperidge Farm garlic toast, 1 Kraft Parmesan cheese and 1 Pepsi for free.
Bi-Lo
Meal deal: Buy 2 Uno pizzas ($13.50) get Southern Home brand jalapeno poppers, potato skins, pizza bites, Mayfield ice cream and 1 Coke for free.
BOGO free - rice, Sara Lee bread, Kraft cheese block, Thomas bagels, Mueller's pasta
Special - ground beef, 3lbs at $2.50 per lb.
Walmart
vegetable oil, salt, butter, milk, ricotta cheese, egg noodles, bologna (Caleb loves it), pretzels, wheat flour, potatoes, bag salad, canned fruit salad, chocolate chips, pork chops, bananas, corn chips, Rotel tomatoes, lasagna sheets, glue sticks ( for school), beef roast, ziptop bags, flour and cornmeal.
I got all of this with a couple of bucks to spare from my $100.00 budget and it takes us through next weeks menu.
Happy Shopping!!
I have been trying to find the balance that is right for me between couponing and shopping at Walmart. I know that the "SuperDouble" deals at Harris Teeter are great and sometimes those BiLo "Meal Deal"s are a really good value. The coupon deals at both stores are fantastic. My issue is that I find the regular prices at Harris Teeter appalling and while Bi-Lo is better in that area, the staples there are still more than I pay for the same item at Walmart. I don't want to go to three stores every week. I really, really don't. I also don't want to load up on frozen and convenience stuff because it is just not as good for us as homemade. All that said - I do want to feed my family for $100.00 or less a week and sometimes taking a little extra help makes a big difference in my day. So, here is what I bought.
Harris Teeter
Quaker Oats (free with doubled coupon)
2 tubes Colgate toothpaste (free with doubled coupon)
Boneless chicken breast ( buy 1 get 2 free) - this item was marked at $9.55 per pack and the same size pack usually costs me $6.79 at Walmart but the free ones made it the better deal
Healthy choice soup cups ( $.99 per cup after sale and coupon) - this I don't usually eat but can donate to my church's food pantry
Special K cereal ( 2 for $5.00 plus double coupon for $1.00 off 3 made it $1.83 per box)
Meal deal: Buy 2 Prego sauces ($6.00) get 1 Harris Teeter pasta, 1 Pepperidge Farm garlic toast, 1 Kraft Parmesan cheese and 1 Pepsi for free.
Bi-Lo
Meal deal: Buy 2 Uno pizzas ($13.50) get Southern Home brand jalapeno poppers, potato skins, pizza bites, Mayfield ice cream and 1 Coke for free.
BOGO free - rice, Sara Lee bread, Kraft cheese block, Thomas bagels, Mueller's pasta
Special - ground beef, 3lbs at $2.50 per lb.
Walmart
vegetable oil, salt, butter, milk, ricotta cheese, egg noodles, bologna (Caleb loves it), pretzels, wheat flour, potatoes, bag salad, canned fruit salad, chocolate chips, pork chops, bananas, corn chips, Rotel tomatoes, lasagna sheets, glue sticks ( for school), beef roast, ziptop bags, flour and cornmeal.
I got all of this with a couple of bucks to spare from my $100.00 budget and it takes us through next weeks menu.
Happy Shopping!!
Menu 1/10 - 1/16
Monday
Porridge with applesauce, milk
l/o roast beef
Pork chops, hashbrowns, peas and cornbread
Tuesday
Cereal with milk and bananas
Chicken taquitos, rice, green beans and salsa
Wednesday
Peanut butter toast with milk and bananas
Dinner at church
Thursday
Eggs and toast
Spaghetti and meat sauce, garlic bread, olives
Friday
Cheese grits
Pan seared chicken breast, mashed potatoes, lima beans, sourdough bread
Saturday
Sourdough toast and egg sandwiches
Deli style sandwiches
Pizza and ice cream
Sunday
Blueberry muffins
Deli style sandwiches
Chicken pot pie, muffins
Porridge with applesauce, milk
l/o roast beef
Pork chops, hashbrowns, peas and cornbread
Tuesday
Cereal with milk and bananas
Chicken taquitos, rice, green beans and salsa
Wednesday
Peanut butter toast with milk and bananas
Dinner at church
Thursday
Eggs and toast
Spaghetti and meat sauce, garlic bread, olives
Friday
Cheese grits
Pan seared chicken breast, mashed potatoes, lima beans, sourdough bread
Saturday
Sourdough toast and egg sandwiches
Deli style sandwiches
Pizza and ice cream
Sunday
Blueberry muffins
Deli style sandwiches
Chicken pot pie, muffins
Menu 1/3 - 1/9
Monday
Raisin muffins, bacon, milk
Chicken and rice, applesauce
Chili and cornbread
Tuesday
Cereal with milk, bananas
Hot dogs with chili
Grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, carrots
Wednesday
Peanut butter toast, applesauce
Macaroni and cheese, carrots
Dinner at church
Thursday
Porridge
PBJ and apple slices
Turkey sausage, homefries, corn, sourdough bread
Friday
Grits and eggs
l/o
Lasagna, green salad and sourdough bread
Saturday
Waffles and fruit salad
l/o lasagna
Chicken soup, cheese biscuits
Sunday
Waffles
l/o chicken soup
Roast beef, potatoes, carrots and rice
Raisin muffins, bacon, milk
Chicken and rice, applesauce
Chili and cornbread
Tuesday
Cereal with milk, bananas
Hot dogs with chili
Grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, carrots
Wednesday
Peanut butter toast, applesauce
Macaroni and cheese, carrots
Dinner at church
Thursday
Porridge
PBJ and apple slices
Turkey sausage, homefries, corn, sourdough bread
Friday
Grits and eggs
l/o
Lasagna, green salad and sourdough bread
Saturday
Waffles and fruit salad
l/o lasagna
Chicken soup, cheese biscuits
Sunday
Waffles
l/o chicken soup
Roast beef, potatoes, carrots and rice
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Menu 12/27-01/02
Monday - Porridge
Chicken nuggets and macaroni
Pan seared chicken, rice and broccoli with walnuts
Tuesday - Eggs and toast
PBJ and applesauce
Ham fried rice and fruit salad
Wednesday - Ham and grits
Spaghetti and meatballs
l/o spaghetti and green salad
Thursday - Banana bread
Cold cut sandwiches, cheese crackers and apple slices
Pork chops, roasted potatoes and lima beans
Friday - Cereal and milk
Chicken strips, celery sticks, pretzel sticks and soy butter
Pizza Out
Saturday - Chocolate porridge
Blackeyed peas, collard greens and cornbread
l/o
Sunday - Raisin muffins,
BLTs and cheese crackers
Chicken Taquitos, Mexican rice, and avacado salad
Chicken nuggets and macaroni
Pan seared chicken, rice and broccoli with walnuts
Tuesday - Eggs and toast
PBJ and applesauce
Ham fried rice and fruit salad
Wednesday - Ham and grits
Spaghetti and meatballs
l/o spaghetti and green salad
Thursday - Banana bread
Cold cut sandwiches, cheese crackers and apple slices
Pork chops, roasted potatoes and lima beans
Friday - Cereal and milk
Chicken strips, celery sticks, pretzel sticks and soy butter
Pizza Out
Saturday - Chocolate porridge
Blackeyed peas, collard greens and cornbread
l/o
Sunday - Raisin muffins,
BLTs and cheese crackers
Chicken Taquitos, Mexican rice, and avacado salad
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