Make Valentine's Day not a day about presents but a day of presence!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone! I'm not big into the presents, flowers, and all that jazz but I do love to have a nice meal on Valentine's Day. This year I did a little early homework in finding a sitter and was unsuccessful. It made me realize instead we will have a date night as a family at home! See my meal plan for Saturday I don't think you will want to miss this!! I plan to set up our table pretty with my antique china, (from my mom since her Birthday is on Valentine's day) also I want to set the table with fine linens, flowers, wine glasses, candles and some Rose Mary Clooney playing in the background (I just love old music from the 50's)! I want to teach my boys the importance of making others feel special and starting traditions. Make Valentine's Day not a day about presents but a day of presence! Enjoy!

Also my best friend Cassie who is an outstanding cook, mother, wife, teacher and wonderful friend. She shared a few of her favorite recipes with me, so I featured those on my blog for this week, Chicken Fajita's and Chicken Pot Pie. She started cooking at a young age and I learned so much from her growing up. I remember going to her house when we were kids and we would have adventures in the kitchen. Before our dance classes we would make orange Julius's. Once we failed at an attempt to make lemon meringue pie, and I also remember baking cookies in her moms kitchen. What fun memories can you think of with a friend in the kitchen? I want you all to know you can send me recipes if you have them because I would love to add them to evening table and feature a story about you!! Thanks Cassie Moffitt, Love you!

Weekly Dinner Plans

Sunday – Chili & Cinnamon Rolls

Monday – Chili Dogs & Chips  

Tuesday – Oven Baked Fajitas

Wednesday –   Chicken Pot Pies

Thursday –  Left Overs

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Crab Legs & Baked Potato

Grocery List

Check your List before you go to the store, you may already have some of these items!!!

·         1 lb Ground Beef

·         Hot Dog Package

·        3 lbs Chicken Breast

·         Crab Legs

·         Large Can of Tomato Sauce

·         Large Can of Diced Tomato

·         Cream of Chicken Soup

·         Onion

·         Celery

·         Lettuce

·         Large Potato for Baked Potato's

·         Bag of Frozen Fajita Peppers

·         Bag of Frozen Mixed Veggies

·         Frozen Bag of Sweet Potato's

·         Cinnamon Rolls

·         Garlic Clove

·         Black Beans

·         Packet of Chili Mix

·         Packet of Fajita Mix

·         Lays Wavy Chips

·         Shredded Cheddar Cheese

·         Salted Butter

·         Tortillas

·         Sour Cream

·         Salsa

·         Bisquick

·         Milk

·         Egg

·         1 Cans of Green Beans

·         1 can of corn

·         Bag of favorite Chips

·         Franks Wing Sauce

·         Crab Legs

·         Pillsbury Pie Crust & Favorite Filling & Vanilla Ice Cream!

 

RECIPES

Sunday – Chili & Cinnamon Rolls  

 Brown your Hamburger. Pre-heat oven for Cinnamon Rolls. Start your stock pot and sautéed 1/4 of an onion & 2 garlic cloves chopped. Drain Hamburger. Add the Tomato Sauce, Diced Tomato's, Black Beans, Hamburger, and the seasoning to the pot, then let it simmer for over 20 minutes! Done! Save left overs for Chili Dogs for Tomorrow!

Monday – Chili Dogs & Chips
Heat your left over Chili in microwave. Then heat your hot dogs. In a saucer bowl add one piece of bread, the hot dog, then layer with chili & cheese! You can heat again in the microwave to melt the cheese. I like to add the chips to the side of the bowl to make it look pretty and fun to eat!

Tuesday – Oven Baked Fajitas
Preheat the oven 400, spray glass baking dish, cut chicken into thin strips. Bake 35-40 minutes. While in oven put the frozen peppers in sauté pan to cook, add 1/2 fajita seasoning. When done let cool and shred all the chicken with fork and add 1/3 of chicken to the veggies on stovetop and put in remaining seasoning. The rest of the chicken put in the fridge to use for the next couple nights meals.

Wednesday – Chicken Pot Pie
Preheat oven 400. Take 1/2 of leftover chicken, mix with frozen vegetables, and chicken soup in ungreased pie plate. Then mix up 1 cup bisquick mix, 1/2 cup milk, and egg. And layer on top of meat mixture. Put in oven for 30 minutes.

 

Thursday – Buffalo Chicken Wraps and Sweet Potato Fries
Preheat the oven for the fries, bake in the oven as directed. Then Take 1/2 of leftover chicken mix with 2 TBSP of the Franks Hot sauce, mix all together & heat in microwave. Cut up lettuce, celery, and roll in tortillas to dip in ranch.

 

Friday – Take out Night!!!

 

Saturday – Happy Valentine's Day
Put two baked potato's in the microwave for around 7 minutes then turn and cook for another 7 minutes.This is the pan I use, its pampered chef and I use it all the time for veggies and such, just love it! (http://www.pamperedchef.com/shop/Cookware/Large+Micro-Cooker%C2%AE/2778) I have a friend who sells pampered chef if you need one, let me know! Preheat the oven for your pie as well. I just cheat and use the Pillsbury box dough layer the bottom, throw in your filling and add the dough crust to the top and bake it! Then onto the crab legs, Start boiling a large stock pot 1/2 full with water. Add some salt (or seafood seasoning if you have it) to the water, boil for around 3-5 minutes! Did you know almost all crab legs are cooked on the ships after they are caught at sea? Make sure you use your tongs to remove from the water, and dip in wonderful salted butter. I plan to serve me meal up with a baked potato with all my favorite fixings: sour cream, butter, salt, pepper! So yummy and since its Vday light some candles, and set up your pretty dishes at the table for the whole family! Make it special for the kids too!!

 

Take a Break

This week was a challenge. I guess I will just be honest. It was one of those weeks & weekends. My youngest was sick for 4 days with a fever and only wanted to be held by mom. My arm and back are about to give out. My 3 year old is going bonkers being stuck indoors, he’s acting out and being naughty. Honestly while writing this I put them both down for naps, they are crying and screaming in their rooms but I just need to take a few. Do you have those mommy moments? Are we all going nuts maybe it’s the snow and cabin fever is sinking in.  So I take a few deep breaths, shut my eyes, say a prayer….wait, wait….I’ll wait 5 minutes and check on them. I sit, and drift away, not thinking that this is mean or that I’m a bad mom. I just sit and not really think about anything. So 5 minutes right….here we are, I listen to them slowly getting quieter and quieter…..are they down? I wait a bit longer & guess what…………..they are silent….the moment has come…….. they are sleeping. Thank God! So today I write not to vent my feelings and frustrations about motherhood but to be honest. Some days are not that peachy & filled with sunshine. Its actually more like piles of snow and a blizzard of craziness. Its ok to take a few moments, breathe in breathe out, and just take a break. We all need them. It only makes us better people to realize we are not perfect, we can’t do it all, and we need to take care of ourselves too! I just want to be honest and say it’s hard to be a mom some days I’ll admit it. With facebook and all the social media outlets it’s so easy for everyone to portray this perfect life or perceive everyone else’s is perfect. We all know that’s not true. We can’t truly appreciate life as much until we have “one of those days.” So don’t feel bad, just take a break, you deserve it!!!! Here’s an easy menu for the week, hope it makes your crazy life a little easier!!

 

Weekly Dinner Plans

Sunday – Potato Soup & Homemade Bread

Monday – Sloppy Joes & Veggies  

Tuesday – Chicken Noodle Soup 

Wednesday –   Soup and Sandwiches

Thursday –Runza’s & Green Beans 

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Homemade Pizza & corn

Grocery List

Check your List before you go to the store, you may already have some of these items!!!

·         2 lb Ground Beef

·         Bacon

·         Chicken Thighs (or whatever is on sale)

·         Bag of Potatoes (you should already have some left over from the previous week)

·         Bag of baby carrots

·         Celery

·         Onion

·         Garlic Clove

·         Coleslaw in Bag

·         Chicken Bouillon cubes (if you don’t have)

·         Rhodes Frozen Bread loaf

·         Pillsbury Pizza Crust (2 pkg’s)

·         Pizza Sauce

·         Egg Noodles

·         Tomato paste

·         Worcestershire sauce

·         Brown Sugar

·         Cream of Mushroom soup

·         Pepperoni

·         1 Cans of Green Beans

·         1 can of corn

·         Bag of favorite Chips

·         Cheddar Shredded Cheese

·         Swiss Shredded Cheese

·         Moz Shredded Cheese

·         Provolone Slices

·         Your favorite Deli Meat

·         Bread

·         Hamburger Buns

 

RECIPES

Sunday – Potato Soup

Potato soup is a great treat for a snowy Sunday at home. Usually I always have potatoes that I store in the cool garage and they keep long. I found this recipe which is great because most everything I already had at home. In the morning or Saturday night take out the freezer bread to put in the oven and also the bacon if you have that in the freezer too.

            https://www.pinterest.com/pin/283445370274027273/

Monday – Sloppy Joes & Veggies

I love sloppy Joes because you don’t have to follow a recipe or at least I do not. Brown your hamburger, drain. Then I always leave some remaining grease from the hamburger to sauté the onion/garlic. Throw your hamburger back in & start the mixing. Like I said I do not use measurements, just start throwing in to get the consistency and taste you like. Add Ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, tomato paste, butter, brown sugar, add a little cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Then serve with some baby carrots, celery & chips.

 Tuesday – Chicken Noodle Soup  

Super Savor had 4 Chicken thigh meat on sale for 3.99. I put the chicken in the crock in the am before work. Then when you get home & you have to do is shred up the meat and cut veggies and throw in your stock pot. Reducing the prep time if you have the meat already cooked. I like to double this recipe because its always great to freeze and have on stock or even better leftovers for tomorrow!

Then I used this recipe:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/374502525235473812/

 

Wednesday – Soup and Sandwiches

This is a leftover night. Eat up your leftover soup and make sandwiches! Sometimes it’s a nice treat and easy prep if you have something going on. We just started up swim lessons so Wednesday nights are my quick meal night! Don't Forget: Take out the frozen Rhodes bread out to defrost for tomorrow's meal.

 Thursday – Runza’s & Green Beans 

This is a fun recipe to get the kids involved in helping! Here is the recipe I used so yummy. You will want to fry up 3 lbs of hamburger, reserve about 2 cups for pizza night!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/31525266117913915/

 

Friday – Homemade Pizza Night

Prep your Pillsbury Pizza dough follow directions. (two packages is usually what I use but you can get away with a thinner crust with one.) Then roll out on pizza pan. Add your sauce, meat from fridge. Cheese and pepperoni. Kids love helping with pizza night!   

 

Saturday – TAKE OUT

The Power of NO!

 

Hope everyone had a great week! This week I practiced the art of “No” sometimes its so hard to do this and you worry about what others may think as a result. But it can be so empowering to make a decisions for YOU that works best for yourself, your family and your lifestyle. You just have to pick and choose what will fit into your schedule and what is a priority. So don’t let the word NO scare you, it’s also very invigorating to make a choice and stick to it. I’ve recently practiced the art of NO with my food choices. I downloaded the app called “Lose It” you can track your daily intake, it’s amazing how some of those quick decisions can benefit your health and calories! So practice the art of NO, its so good for you and your diet!

Weekly Dinner Plans

Monday – Philly’s Cheese Steaks & French Onion Soup

Tuesday – Sheppard Pie   

Wednesday –   Taco’s & Black Beans

Thursday – Taco Tator-Tot Casserole

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Chicken Alfredo & Broccoli

Sunday – Chicken Enchilada’s

Grocery List
Check your freezer, cabinets, and fridge for items you may already have to save cost on groceries!
Meats
- Thin Sliced Steak or you can even buy the freezer section of PepperJax brand.
- 4 Chicken Breast
-3 lbs. Ground Beef
Veggies
-Potato’s

-Head of Lettuce

-Tomato’s
Freezer
-Fajita Style Pepper and Onion Frozen veggies

-Frozen Mixed Veggies (carrots, corn, green beans, peas)

-Tator Tots

-Broccoli
Bread
-Hoagie Buns
- 2 bags of Tortillas (Taco size/Burrito Size)

-Linguine Noodles

Seasoning

-2 pck’s Taco Seasoning
Canned
-French Onion Soup

-Black Beans

-Black Olives

-Can of Corn

-Green Chilies

-2 cans Enchilada Sauce

-Alfredo Sauce
Dairy
-Provolone Cheese
- Sour Cream

-2 pck’s Shredded Cheddar

-Heavy Cream

-Cream Cheese

-Parmesan Cheese

RECIPES

Sunday – Philly’s Cheese Steaks & French Onion Soup

With this recipe you can substitute the veggies for frozen to make it easier or the meat I have even bought the PepperJax Brand Freezer Meat, its really easy and quick but never as tasty as the real deal. And with this recipe I just posted for direction. But honestly I don’t even bake them instead I put my oven on Broil Low and cook everything up on the stovetop so really all you are doing is toasting the bread and melting the cheese. Hope that makes sense. Put your Hamburger in the fridge if you have it in the freezer. Heat the French Onion Soup in the Microwave and then dip your sandwiches in it! SO good.

http://www.tablefortwoblog.com/cheesesteak-sandwiches/

Monday – Sheppard Pie

Honestly I had to try and make after going to the local Irish Pub McKinney’s they had a Cottage pie that was so delish and I wanted to try and make something similar at home. This was good.

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/updated-shepherds-pie-69212.aspx?cm_mmc=Social-_-Pinterest-_-Ahalogy-_-69212#_a5y_p=1464950

 Tuesday – Taco’s & Black Beans

Taco’s are such an easy meal. Fry up 2 lbs of the meat. (After you are finished you will save half of the meat mixture for your meal tomorrow. You can follow the recipe on the back of the packet. Just make sure you have ranch and salsa!! Heat the Black Beans in Microwave. Also save about a cup of the black beans & black olives for tomorrow’s meal.

Wednesday – Taco Tator Tot Casserole

This is so great, you can use up the meat from yesterday’s meal. And throw everything into the casserole so delicious and easy. Save some of the green chilies, corn, for Friday’s meal.

http://blogchef.net/taco-tater-tot-bake-recipe/ 

 Thursday – Chicken Alfredo & Broccoli

Cook up all the chicken and other half in the fridge for Friday night! I sometimes just buy the alfredo sauce but if you want to make your own follow the ingredients in the recipe below. A tip when you boil your noodles throw in the broccoli so that will cook at the same time!

http://damndelicious.net/2014/01/24/skinny-fettuccine-alfredo/

Friday – Chix Enchiladas

So here we are the end of the week, a lot of the ingredient you used this week will go into this recipe!

http://www.thespiffycookie.com/2011/07/29/cream-cheese-chicken-enchiladas/

Saturday – Take Out

 

Consistency

Happy New Year Everyone! I can't hardly believe we are mid January already. Have you all made resolutions? I honestly haven't really thought about it until yesterday. How sad, its been so crazy with the hustle and bustle of the holiday, then returning to work, kids and all that jazz you know the gig. I recently attended a workshop called "Creating a Vision" by Deb Payne/life coach. It was amazing being put in a room with other successful & inspirational women and hearing their stories. It inspired me to become consistent with my family, faith, health & career goals! I have a lot I want to work on for 2015, its going to be such an exciting year! I want you all to know one of my goals is to become consistent with my blog posts. I want this to be a place you can rely on and come to make evening time more organized. I realized last week when I received a text from a friend "should the rice go in with the jambalaya or make it separate?" She then ended to thank me for the recipes. So to everyone who is visiting my page reading this, thank you for coming to Evening Table. It truly means so much and I can only hope it makes your busy life a little easier! So I challenge you to make some goals for 2015, what are you going to become consistent about???

Menu for the Week
My menu plan feeds: 2 adults + 1 toddler + 1 infant who is eating table food as well. Double or triple  to feed your hungry mouths!

Saturday - Burgers on the Grill & Waffle Fries
Sunday - Pulled Pork & Slaw
Monday - BBQ Pizza & Corn
Tuesday - Spaghetti, Meatballs, & Salad
Wednesday - Meatball Sandwiches & Green Beans
Thursday - Polish Sausage, Dumplings, & Sauerkraut
Friday - Date Night or Order Take Out!

Grocery List
Check your freezer, cabinets, and fridge for items you may already have to save cost on groceries!

Meats
-1 Pork Loin
-Polish Sausage Package (I usually buy the already cooked ones for this recipe)
-1-2 lbs. Ground Beef
Veggies
-Can Green Beans
-Can of Corn
-Can of Sauerkraut
-Head of Lettuce
-Bag of Slaw
-Onion
-Garlic
-Red Pepper
Freezer
-Frozen Meatballs
-Waffle Fries
Bread
-Hamburger Buns
-Hoagie Buns
-Pillsbury Pizza Crust Mix
-Spaghetti Noodles
-Biscuits to make donuts in deep fryer
Sauce
-BBQ Sauce
-2 cans of Spaghetti Sauce
-Jug of Oil for Deep Fat Fryer
-Cedar Vinegar
Dairy
-Provolone Cheese
-Mozzarella Shredded Cheese
Baking
-Powdered Sugar


Saturday - Burgers & Waffle Fries & dessert is Donuts in Deep fryer!
50 degree weather's got me itching to grill. Burgers on the Grill with Fries in the deep fat fryer!
Make your patties to your liking, prep the deep fat fryer with oil (I always set it up in the garage or outside so it doesn't stink up the house.) Biscuits are for donuts I have been wanting to try to make them in the deep fryer. Throw your patties on the grill, when they are almost done throw on a slice of cheese, and butter the buns and put on the grill for a quick minute! 
Donut Recipe: http://www.cooks.com/recipe/3t5n81dd/french-market-donuts.html Pretty Easy & FUN  Saturday night dinner!
Don't forget to take the pork out of the freezer if you already have a loin in your deep freeze. I always prep the meat the night before if its defrosted otherwise do it Sunday AM.

Sunday - Pulled Pork & Beans
Season both sides of the loin with BBQ seasoning. Then add some liquid BBQ Sauce to top the loin. Put on low for 8-10 hrs or so. After the meat is done grab your cutting board and shred the meat with a fork. Put all the meat back in the crock with the grease left at the bottom it will add flavor along with some BBQ sauce and let it set for another 20 minutes or so. Save about a cup or more in a dish for tomorrow pizza.
Prep your slaw :
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Spiced-Coleslaw/Detail.aspx?evt19=1

Monday - BBQ Pizza & Corn
You will use your pork left over meat, and just follow this simple recipe! Heat the Corn in the Microwave!
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/bbq-pulled-pork-pizza/

Tuesday - Spaghetti, Meatballs, & Salad
This is super easy! Get a large stock pot, sautéed some onion and garlic. Then put the two cans of spaghetti sauce in and your frozen meatballs, heat on medium for anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. I work in a Senior Living community and I asked an Italian Woman what the key to the best Mariana sauce is, she sad, "let the sauce simmer for 3 hours with the meat in so the greases mix into the sauce! (Take out less than half of the meatballs apprx 20 total meatballs with some meat sauce in a dish to put in your fridge for tomorrow meal!) Boil your water for the noodles and prep your salad! So easy and Delish!

Wednesday - Meatball Sandwiches & Green Beans
Grab your meatballs and sauce and heat in microwave to heat. Put the oven on boil LOW. Butter your hoagies, then layer with the meatball, sauce, and top with provolone cheese. Since you already heated the meat sauce really you don't have to boil long you just want to toast and melt the cheese! Heat the green beans in MIC!

Thursday - Polish Sausage, Dumplings, & Sauerkraut
Boil large stock of water. Throw your sausage in. Prep the dumplings (see my Aunt Rita's recipe below)
2 C Flour, 2/3 C Milk, 1 Egg, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 tsp baking powder. Mix & knead all together it will be dough like. Roll into balls. Drop into the boiling water with the sausage. This should be on medium to low, COVER and DO NOT OPEN the lid for 10 minutes and heat the kraut in the MIC!

Friday - Date Night or Order Take Out!
If the sitter is coming before Date night, I usually feed them before or pre-make food, or even easier make PB&J. Don't have the sitter make food for you like Mac and Cheese you can risk your kids getting burned this actually happened to us so be cautious and make it simple!

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!!