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
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
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!!
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