The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!

Happy Holidays -

The Most Wonderful Time of Year! I just love the holidays, everything about them! The Christmas Tree, the Décor, the food, the festivity & FAMILY it truly is the most wonderful time of year. This time of year I get really excited about soups, my recipe palette reflects some hearty soups! Hope everyone has been doing great & getting all their shopping and baking done. Please share some of your favorite baked goodies in comments, I can write up another with Christmas goodies. Next weekend my family is doing our annual baking party so I can plan some tips for shopping and saving. It’s a busy time of year but also a season to reflect upon what we are thankful for and the true meaning of the season. In your shopping ventures pick up a couple extra cans of food and donate to the Lincoln Food Bank, or sponsor a family or senior in the community to give back. If you’re not sure what to do ask around local organizations are doing giving back campaigns everywhere don’t miss out on the reward you and so many others will get from it!  

Weekly Dinner Plans

Sunday – Beef Soup

Monday – Jambalaya & corn bread

Tuesday – Chicken Legs & Veggies   

Wednesday –   Cheesy Hamburger Soup

Thursday – Salisbury Steak & Steamer Bag of Veggies

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Chili and Cinnamon Rolls

Grocery List

·         4 lbs Ground Beef

·         Smoked Sausage Ring

·         Chicken Legs

·         Bag of Potatoes

·         Bag of baby carrots

·         Celery

·         Onion

·         Garlic Clove

·         Beef & Chicken Bouillon cubes (if you don’t have, stock up for winter)

·         Can of French Onion Soup

·         Packet of Chili Mix

·         Bread Crumbs

·         Macaroni Noodles

·         1 Cans of Green Beans

·         1 Can Black Beans

·         2 cans of tomato sauce

·         3 cans large of diced tomato

·         1 Can Stewed Tomato’s  

·         Frozen bag of fajita peppers

·         Steamer Bag of veggies

·         Rice

·         Cheddar Cheese

·         Cinnamon Rolls

·         Jiffy Mix

 

RECIPES

Sunday – Beef Soup with Macaroni

This was a new recipe I tried! It was really good, I did add a can of green beans & frozen corn I had in the freezer and cut up a couple potatoes to make it a little more hearty. You can add or omit what you like.

            http://www.hoteatsandcoolreads.com/2013/11/beefy-tomato-macaroni-soup-recipe-with_11.html

 

Monday – Jambayla & Corn Bread

This is a recipe I make frequently in my house! My friend had a baby and this is what I took them to eat, its so good and super easy and really I just throw everything into the pan and let it simmer. I omit a few things from this recipe: I use the frozen bag of peppers, for the base you can change it up for example instead of diced tomatoes before I have threw in a jar of salsa! Have fun with it, if you are worried about it being kid friendly don’t add the hot sauce & give it as a side so people can add to their own liking!  Prep your chicken meal

            http://www.sweetsugarbean.com/2011/02/cooking-for-my-mama-sausage-and-shrimp.html?m=1

 Tuesday – Chicken Legs and Veggies  

Honestly I found 4 Chicken legs with part of the thigh meat on sale for 1.99, seriously how cheap I wish I would have bought more! I prepped this the night before in the crock. I put the legs in the crock, cut up some potatoes, carrots & celery. Added some seasoning & sherry wine. In the AM put it on low and dinner is ready when you get home. It was so tender and delish!

Wednesday – Cheesy Hamburger Soup

This is a new recipe I found, it is seriously the best thing ever! We love it!!

http://damndelicious.net/2014/03/03/cheeseburger-soup/

 Thursday – Salisbury Steak & Steamer Bag

This is super easy and delish, it reminds me of something my grandmother would make!  

http://tryrecipe.net/showthread.php?tid=764

Friday – TAKE OUT

 

Saturday – Chili, Cinnamon Rolls, & Carrots/Celery.

I just follow the recipe on the back of the chili packet of mix. Usually just the can of tomato sauce, can of diced tomatoes (I also like to throw in stewed tomatoes for a chunky consistency.) & if your family doesn’t like kidney beans, try black beans instead!!

What's in your Freezer ?

How is everyone? I can’t believe we are already in the month of November.  I haven’t been writing as I have been using up food in my freezers. Most years we share a beef with some co-workers. And this year we’ve been debating about buying another beef since the price is so high. Well its so nice to have that supply in the freezer so we have decided to go in on a ¼ beef with some co-workers. Therefore I’ve been wanting to eat up some of the roasts we have leftover before we get a new supply. Its not a bad idea if you like to have some on hand. If you need some names of local butchers let me know. The menus below are some of the menu dishes I used this last week. Same goes with corn and veggies in the summer months, if you stock up you’ll have a generous supply. We always put up sweet corn, one year I had 50 bags of freezer sweet corn.  It lasted us a whole year. My family doesn’t know the term canned corn. Its all fresh Papa Joe NE grown sweet corn.  Another tip to think of; to double up on simple recipe items. So for example if you are getting items for spaghetti get a couple extra noodles and sauce so you have it on hand. Then those blistery cold nights you get off work and just want to pick up your kids and veg out on the couch, you have something in your cabinets to make quick. Think ahead and it saves you time and money! Again remember I haven’t been writing because I have been eating up food in my cabinets which also means lowered grocery expenses too! One week I was just going to the store to get milk, bread, fruit and a few snacks, maybe only a $20 trip!! YAY!

Weekly Dinner Plans

Sunday – Brisket & Mashed Potatoes

Monday – Beef Vegetable Soup

Tuesday – Italian Sausage Spaghetti & salad  

Wednesday –   Enchiladas & Corn

Thursday – Meatloaf & Green Beans

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Oven Ribs and Dill potatoes  

Grocery List

·         Brisket Roast

·         Italian ground sausage

·         2-3 lbs Ground Beef

·         Bag of Potatoes

·         Lettuce

·         Bag of baby carrots

·         Celery

·         Onion

·         Garlic Clove

·         Pillsbury Pizza Crust mix

·         Moz shredded cheese

·          Beef Bouillon cubes

·         2 Cans of Green Beans

·         Spaghetti Sauce

·         Angel hair noodles

·         Enchilada Sauce

·         Soft Tortilla shells

·         Cheddar Cheese

RECIPES

Saturday – Oven Ribs& Potatoes     

While home Saturday ready to watch some football. Throw some ribs to slow cook in the oven! Dice some potatoes and throw in the microwave for about 12 mins. Then butter and throw salt/pepper and dill. So easy and delish! If you have any leftover meat. Shred it off the bone and you can freeze for another meal, I’m doubtful there will be any left but if you do it would make a nice bbq pizza night.

http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-oven-baked-ribs-516009

Remember to take the Brisket out of the freezer for tomorrow crockpot meal.   

 

Sunday – Brisket and Mashed Potatoes

For lunch if you do have the left over rib meat from Saturday night, make a quick BBQ Pizza! Then prep your meal for Brisket for dinner since you have already defrosted the roast overnight, put your fixings on the meat and in the crock and slow cook it all day. Low for 6-8 hrs! You can throw the potatoes in the crock pot to cook, or I like to prep beforehand. Peel and dice and microwave for about 12 minutes then mash them up with your favorite fixings.

            http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-slow-cooker-brisket-and-onions-recipes-from-the-kitchn-45437

Monday – Beef Soup

Take the left over beef and shred the meat. Prep the veggies: cut the carrots, celery, and potatoes. Start your beef stock and throw everything in. This recipe I omitted a few things to make it to our liking. I also like to put some red wine in! Freeze the remaining leftover soup for a day when family is fighting colds and you don’t have energy to cook!

            http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/old-fashioned-beef-vegetable-soup/50dfa431-31dc-42d9-abdc-45794e5999b4

 Tuesday – Italian Spaghetti  

This is so easy, just brown your Italian ground sausage, drain. Add your water pan for the noddles. In the pan with some of the grease still in there sauté some onion and garlic. If you do not have a garlic press, add it to your xmas list it’s the most amazing kitchen tool out there! Love it! After you get those nice and golden throw in your meat and sauce. Finish up your noodles. Then toss a quick salad with the fixings you like.

Wednesday – Enchiladas & Corn

            Ground Beef

            Tortillas

            Enchilada Sauce

            Cheddar Cheese

            Top with your favorites, mine are: Sour Cream / Black Olives

Follow the directions on the El Paso Enchilada Can, its super easy! Heat your corn in the microwave. (Remember in the summer if you put up sweet corn you will have plenty to last through the winter! We do not eat canned corn in this house.)

 Thursday – Meatlof & Green Beans

Follow this recipe you should have everything. I use quick oats instead of breadcrumbs as well. Heat the green beans in the microwave!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-meatloaf/  

Friday – TAKE OUT

 

Fall -

 

Hi Everyone! It’s been awhile, you know how it goes life gets busy I’m not going to beat around the bush with apologies. I’ve been changing poopy diapers, potty training my toddler, (attempting, any tips would be great!) celebrating Birthdays, Husker Ftball, and just loving this weather, it makes me cringe thinking of winter! But the exciting thing is; with the Jack Frost blistery cold will come a whole new menu palette. So let’s get excited! Chili, Cinnamon rolls, Stew to brew, Cookies to bake, and oh yes the holidays! OMG I love the Holidays! Get your grocery shoes on and be rebellious and park in the New Mothers Expecting lot because you deserve it! Even though I’ve been MIA I have been thinking about evening table and all of you! I hope you are all doing well and keeping food plentiful on the table without stress. That is my whole intention of writing the blog, it keeps me accountable for my own family and I can only think it helps another mom out who is going through the same thing! Poopy diapers, poopy diapers, poopy diapers! Now are you hungry! Well here you go friends!

 

Weekly Dinner Plans

Sunday – Chicken Noodle Soup & Muffins

Monday – Chicken Enchilada’s & Side Salad

Tuesday – Country Fried Steak & Potato’s

Wednesday –   Tomato Tortellini & Grilled Cheese

Thursday – Cavatini with Corn

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Steak & Sweet Potato’s

Grocery List

·         Rotisserie Chicken or Chicken Breasts

·         Ground Beef

·         Cube Steak

·          Bullion Cubes

·         Frozen bag of chopped carrots

·         Celery

·         Onion

·         Garlic Clove

·          Spaghetti Sauce

·         Pepperoni

·         Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

·         Shredded Motery Jack Cheese

·         Colby Jack Cheese slices

·         Sour Cream

·         Whipping cream

·         Box of Betty Crocker Muffin Mix

·         Soft Tortilla shells

·         Can of Diced green chilies

·         Frozen Cheese Tortellini

·         Large Can of Tomato soup

·         Can of Diced Tomato’s

 

RECIPES

Sunday – chicken Noodle Soup & Muffins

Throw everything in the pot and let it brew on the stove top! I love to bake some muffins to go with, in which I usually cheat and buy the Betty Crocker box brand, Cinnamon Streusel is really good! Get the kids up helping prep it’s a fun activity!

            http://www.chow.com/recipes/30332-easy-chicken-noodle-soup-leftover-roasted-chicken

 

Monday – Chicken Enchilada’s & Side Salad

Use some of the left over shredded chicken for the enchilada’s, follow recipe below, so delicious and easy. Toss up an easy side salad while its baking in the oven!  

            http://joyfulmommaskitchen.com/white-chicken-enchiladas/

 

 Tuesday – Country Fried Steak and Potatos

This is so easy, all you really need is onion and the cube steak everything else you should have in your cabinets. Skin your potatoes and dice them up, I just throw them in the microwave for 14 minutes or so, mash them up and supper is ready!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/bubbas-country-fried-steak-and-gravy-recipe.html

 

Wednesday – Tomato Tortellini & Grilled Cheese

                16 oz of Chicken Broth (use the bullion cubes and water)

            1 big can of diced tomatoes

            1 big can of tomato soup

            Basil, whipping cream,

Bring all the first 3 ingredients to a boil. Add pasta until it floats, then add the whipping cream to your liking. Prep your grilled cheese while you wait and start to brown.  

 

 Thursday – Cavatini & Corn

                Spaghetti Sauce

                Cavatini noodles

                Ground Beef

                Pepperoni

                Onion/Garlic

                Moz Cheese

                Corn

Brown your meat. Boil noodles. Preheat oven 350. Once meat is done, saute onion and garlic. Add the sauce to the meat, onion, and garlic mix it up. Once the noodles are done. Throw everything into a casserole dish. Top with Moz cheese and put in oven for 30 mins or so. Microwave the corn and you are all set.

Friday – TAKE OUT

 

Saturday – Steak and Sweet Potato’s    

Grill Steaks and Potato’s  

Rhythm

Rhythm -

 

Hey everyone, sorry for the week or two off. It’s been crazy busy and to be honest I totally got out of my rhythm of evening table plans, I didn’t plan, I didn’t go to the store like I normally do. It completely throws everything off, it was a complete mess, I know how ridiculous that sounds but really!! My mornings I was scrounging for what to pack for lunch, so I was late for work, hell I didn’t even have coffee for three days. One day my co-worker caught me eating hot dogs, how embarrassing but seriously that was all I had left in the fridge, and I refused to eat out again. Then after work I was sorting through my cabinets, fridge, & freezer trying to think of what to make for dinner, which ended in a couple disasters. I ruined the chicken wings, omg who puts baking soda on wings, well I did. They were disgusting and went straight to the trash. Then we had to go back to the store to get something else and didn’t eat until 9. That was my moment of revelation. So I spent some time and made my list! It was refreshing and exciting & back out to the store I went and my fridge is overflowing with ideas and food. Oh and I spent $94. I can’t believe how much evening table planning helps me keep my head on straight. Plus it gives me a sense of peace knowing that I’m not allowing the craziness of life to interfere with the one thing that is so important to me, to feed my family and to sit down and eat together as a family. Its so important to get into a rhythm for yourself and trickle that down to your family roots. I can only think someday my boys will say, “Mom always had the best meals on the table growing up. Then as they become men they continue to come home, to eat with us at the table for moms meals. Keep a rhythm friends, your family will appreciate it and so will you!!

Weekly Dinner Plans

Sunday – Meatballs & Cheesy Potato’s

Monday – Philly’s & Ramon Slaw Salad

Tuesday – Polish Sausage, Sauerkraut, & Dumplings

Wednesday –   Tacos & Black Beans

Thursday – Spaghetti & Corn

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Pork Chops & Green Beans

Grocery List

·         3 lbs of Hamburger

·          Pork Chops

·         1 Frozen section pepper jacks philly meat

·         Smoked Sausage

·         Hash Browns

·         Cheddar Cheese

·         Provolone Slices of cheese

·         Sour Cream

·         Evaporated Milk

·         Hoagie Buns

·         Tortilla’s

·         Taco Mix

·         French onion soup

·         Cream of Chix Soup

·         Salsa

·         Sauerkraut

·         Asparagus

·         Corn

·         Black Beans

·         Spaghetti Sauce

·         Spaghetti Noodles

·         Hoagie Buns

RECIPES

Sunday –Meatballs & Cheesy Tators

            Meat Mixture: 1 lb hamburger

                1 Cup Oatmeal

                1 egg

                ½ t. pepper, ½ t. garlic powder, ½ t. salt, ½ t. chili powder

                Chopped Onion

                ½ Cup evaporated milk or milk if you don’t have any!

                SAUCE: 2 Cup ketchup, 1 ½ Brown Sugar, 2 Tbsp. liquid smoke, chopped onion, garlic powder

Mix the meat ingredients. Shape into balls, place in dish. Pour sauce on top. Bake 350 for 45 minutes. Find your favorite Cheesy potato recipe and throw in the oven with the meatballs.

Monday – Philly’s &  French Onion Soup

            Philly Meat

            Hoagie buns

            French onion soup

            Provolone Cheese

Heat up your philly meat on stove top as direct on package, once completed. Place hoagie buns on baking sheet, butter the bread, scoop meat on bun along with cheese. Heat oven to boil. Put in oven but watch closely shouldn’t take but a few minutes. As bread is heating, put your French onion soup in cups (I like to use little tea cups) with a little mozzarella cheese and microwave for a couple minutes. Cut your sandwiches and place French onion soup on plate. Garnish with pickles. Don’t forget to dip your sandwich in soup!! So yummy!!

 Tuesday – Polish Sausage, Sauerkraut, and dumplings

Polish Sausage

Sauerkraut

Simmer the roll of sausage and sauerkraut on stovetop to heat.

Dumplings are super easy this is my Aunt Rita’s recipe. 2 C flour. 2/3 C milk. 1 egg. ¼ t. salt. 2 t. baking powder. Add all the dry ingredients. Add egg, milk, and stir. Knead the dough and start forming nice balls. Boil 2 inches of water, and put the dumplings in cook for 10 minutes but DO NOT LIFT THE LID. After 10 minutes take out and put in with your sauerkraut and meat dish! Who doesn’t love a little ketchup and mustard to go with!

Wednesday – Taco’s & Black Beans

             Ground Beef (Brown 2 lbs of the Hamburger, you’ll use the 1 lb for tomorrow spaghetti)

            Taco Seasoning

            Tortillas

            Salsa

            Cheddar Cheese

            Top with your favorites!

Follow the directions on Taco packet, its super easy! Throw black beans in microwave while cooking. After dinner is finished save the remaining taco meat for tomorrow’s meal!!

 Thursday – Spaghetti & Corn

                Spaghetti Sauce

                Spaghetti noodles

                Meat

                Corn

Throw your meat and sauce to simmer. Boil noodles. Microwave the corn!

Friday – TAKE OUT

Saturday – Pork Chops & Asparagus   

Grill Pork chops & Asparagus