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

AROMA

Aroma

I love the season changes! Especially from summer to fall. The colors, the cooler weather, football season! Coming with fall also comes the wonderful foods and comforts the season brings. The aroma’s that can fill your home with happiness and love of food! I look forward to my evening table fall meals! Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend! Ok this one is short and sweet. I’m off to get ready for the big Nebraska Husker game today!! GO BIG RED!!!

 

Weekly Dinner Plans

Sunday – Roast

Monday – Roast beef sandwiches & Mac N Cheese broccoli steamer

Tuesday – Spaghetti & Meatballs & Salad

Wednesday –   Meatball Sandwiches & Sweet Corn

Thursday – Rice Bowls

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Fajitas

Grocery List

·         Roast

·          Frozen section bag of Meatballs

·         2 Frozen section pepper jacks philly meat

·         2 Frozen bag of green/red peppers

·         Frozen Mac n Cheese, Broccoli Steamer bag

·         Baby Carrots

·         Head of Lettuce

·         Sweet Corn

·         Bag of Potato’s

·         French onion soup

·         Onion soup mix

·         2 cans Spaghetti Sauce

·         Spaghetti Noodles

·         Hoagie Buns

·         Hamburger Buns

·         Tortillas

·         Fajita mix

·         Mozzarella Cheese

·         Mexican Cheese

RECIPES

Sunday –Roast

            Roast, Carrots, Potato’s, Onion Mix, Water

Around 10 am put your roast, potatoes, carrots and French onion mix in crock with about a cup or two of water, sometimes if you have red wine throw a splash of that too for flavor. Low for 8 hrs. Enjoy the house smelling wonderful. After supper shred up the remaining beef to use for sandwiches tomorrow night.

Monday – Roast Beef Sandwiches and Mac Steamer

            Shredded Beef

            Hamburger buns

            French onion soup

Heat up your shredded beef with French onion soup, simmer until warm! Eat on buns with a little mayo, scoop the juice into a cup for dipping, and microwave the steamer mac & broc! Supper is done!

 Tuesday – Spagetti with Meatballs w/ salad

Bag of meatballs

2 Spaghetti sauce

Spaghetti noodles

Simmer the meatballs with the sauce until cooked, slower cooked the more flavors. Boil noodles. Make salad! Save the remaining meat/sauce mix for tomorrow.

 

Wednesday – Meatball Sandwiches

                Meatball Sauce

                Hoagies

                Moz Cheese

Heat your meatball sauce in microwave until warm, put your oven on broil! Spoon the meat mixture on the hoagies, top with moz cheese and broil for just a few minutes, watch so you don’t burn the bread.

 

 Thursday – Rice Bowls

                Philly Meat

                Pepper Veggies

                Rice

Heat the 2 philly meat as directed on package. Put 2 bag veggies in and simmer until done. Prepare your rice. Serve philly meat and veggie over bed of rice, compliment with salsa and ranch!! Save the remaining for next night meal.            

FRIDAY is TAKE OUT NIGHT!!!!   

Saturday – Fajitas & Guacamole

Heat the philly and pepper mix on stove top to warm, add water and fajita mix. Have with tortilla & Guacamole mix and chips!

Neighbors - Week 5

Well this year I really wanted to plant a garden. I did not for a number of reasons but planted a container tomato plant & she has about 18 fruit, so I’ve been proud of it. This weekend I was showered with vegetable gifts. My neighbor Troy brought us about 6 cucumbers. And my neighbor Scott told me to go pick whatever I would like from their garden and clean out the tomatoes. My little container plant is sad compared to a beautiful garden of juicy plump red tomatoes. So I took advantage & picked a 5 gal bucket full. My neighbor was appreciative he didn’t have to pick more tomatoes & I got ambitious yesterday and canned salsa. I mean you can’t let a huge bucket like that go to waste. It was quite the process though! Ask my husband?! It was exhausting, frustrating, and long. But luckily it made 6 pints of salsa and I felt so accomplished afterwards. I shared a few red beers with my family of fresh tomato juice & it was the best I ever had so that was the prize after the successful project completion!!!!!  (Let me know if you are interested, I can post how I did it!) This week I challenge you to ask your neighbors, friends, & family if they are looking to get rid of some produce! Or if you are one of those folks who did plant a garden and are growing produce out of your ears. Give some to your friends it’s so generous and nice to have some fresh produce in your fridge. Or attempt a Saturday project of canning salsa like I did now I got a few extra items to add to the pantry and to add to my evening table!!!!  

Week Four Dinner Plans

Sunday – Ribs & Cucumber Salad

Monday – Tacos & Corn

Tuesday – Tator Tot Casserole

Wednesday –   Pita Burgers w/ Greek Salad

Thursday – Wings & Celery / Carrots

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Mediterranean Pizza Pitas or Pizza night get other fun toppers for family to create together!!

Grocery List

·         Stack of ribs

·         3 Ib of Ground Beef

·         1 pkg of chicken wings

·         Bag of Frozen Tyson Chopped Chicken

·         Tator Tots

·         Cream of Mush soup

·         2 Cucumber

·         Tomato

·         Red Onion

·         Celery

·         Carrots

·         Lettuce

·         Can of Green Beans

·         Corn

·         Hoisin Sauce (find in Asian isle)

·         Greek Rub seasoning

·         Taco Seasoning

·         2 pkg of pitas

·         Pkg of soft tortillas

·         Cheddar Cheese

·         Feta Cheese

·         Kalamata olives

·         Greek Yogurt

·         Sesame Seeds

·         Large container of vegetable oil (for deep fat frying)

Before you go to the store, please check your pantry & fridge. It will save you money if you
already have the items. Then just cross it off the list before you go shopping!!!

RECIPES

Sunday –Ribs & Cucumber Salad

Click Link for full recipe, Pin to your board on pinterst!

Pampered Chef Chinese-Style Baby Back Ribs

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/227713324881524741/

For the cucumber Salad, just cut up the cucumber, Slice up a little onion, tomato. ½ cup or so of vinegar, T. of sugar, and ½ or so of ranch. Refrigerate until dinner is ready.

 

Monday – Tacos & Corn

            Ground Beef (Brown 2 lbs of the Hamburger)

            Taco Seasoning

            Tortillas

            Salsa

            Cheddar Cheese

            Top with your favorites!

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

 Tuesday – Taco Tator Tot Casserole  

Taco Ground Beef (Saved from Monday night)

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Tator Tots

Cheddar Cheese

Green Beans

Preheat 350. Mix the ground beef with cream of mushroom soup & drained green beans. Layer the bottom of your casserole dish. Then top with tator tots then cheese. 350. 30 mintues.

 

 

Wednesday – Pita Burgers & Greek Salad

 

Click Link for full recipe, Don’t forget to pin to your board on pinterst!

Add to eCookBookLearn more

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pita-burgers

Make a quick salad, lettuce, favorite dressing, use a little of the feta cheese & olives!

 

 Thursday – Wings, Carrots, & Celery

            http://allrecipes.com/recipe/restaurant-style-buffalo-chicken-wings/

 

Friday – Its your night off, order take out or have your hubby prepare dinner!!

 

Saturday – Mediterranean Chicken Pitas or Pizza Creation Night

            Kalamata Olives

            Red Onion

            Garlic

            Tyson Chicken Chopped (prepare as directed

            Small diced up cucumber

            Greek yogurt

            Feta cheese

            6 Flat pita bread rounds

Pre-heat 450. Dice up your veggies & olives, chicken.  Mix yogurt with greek rub a little feta cheese & cucumber. Heat the pita in microwave for 1 minute or less to get it soft. Brush with oil.  Lay on sheet pan. Then layer with your chicken, veggies & feta cheese on top! Throw in oven for about 8 minutes!

Here is another recipe if you want to do family pizza creations.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pita-pizza-2/

 

Back to School - Week 4

Back to School

Hope everyone survived the week back to School. Its such an exciting time for kids to start a new year. But for moms can bring about hectic lifestyle changes, what a better week to plan ahead and relieve some stress. This week I wanted to focus on Savings! I know all you moms were out there buying school supplies, new shoes, registrations, lunch money, sports, and everything else! So I’m challenging you this week to check out your local grocery sales. Grab the paper or even easier look online!! Actually Hyvee is having a BACK TO SCHOOL two day sale, its Friday and Saturday. I planned the menu around those sale items. I went this evening and only spent $84, and that included (2) 8 pks of gaterade, x3 12 pks of pop, and Tide Detergent. So not too bad ladies!!! Hurry up & get out and start shopping and saving! You’ll be happy you’re SAVED BY THE BELL!!!!

Week Five Dinner Plans

Sunday – Chicken Gloria Casserole & Asparagus

Monday – Enchiladas & Sweet Corn 

Tuesday – Jambalaya

Wednesday – BLT Wraps

Thursday – Brats & Pork N Beans

Friday – Favorite Take Out

Saturday – Shrimp Old Bay Boil

Grocery List

·         Hyvee Sale (Split Chicken) Breast (only sale $.99 lb – Friday/Saturday)

·         Ib of Ground Beef (Hyvee sale, only sale $3.99 lb – Friday/Saturday

·         2 Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage (Hyvee sale 2 for $6)

·         Sherry Wine (or if you have white wine at home just use that)

·         Cream of Mush soup

·         Chicken Stock

·         Asparagus

·         Onion

·         Lettuce

·         Tomato

·         Potatoes

·         Mushrooms

·         Sweet Corn (enough for 2 meals, keep in mind one meal you will break the corn in half.) I’m planning to get 8 ears for two adults one toddler.

·         Bag of Frozen green and red peppers

·         Frozen French Fries

·         Can of black beans

·         Can of Diced Tomatoes

·         Tomato Juice (you can buy a single 12 oz can)

·         Large package of soft burrito torillas

·         El Paso Enchilada Sauce

·         Box of White Rice

·         Cheddar Cheese

·         Sour Cream

·         Sliced Black olives

·         Bacon

·         Hyvee Brats (try the apple maple, they are my favorite!!) On sale 4/$5.

·         Buns

·         Pork n Beans

·         Sauerkraut

·         Old Bay Cajun Blend spices


RECIPES

Sunday –Chicken Gloria Casserole & Asparagus

Click Link for full recipe, Pin to your board on pinterst!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/283445370272636930/

I just throw my asparagus in the oven with the casserole. Also boil some water for Rice. Its so yummy to lay over a bed of rice with this dish!!

Monday – Enchiladas & Sweet Corn

            Ground Beef

            Tortillas (Save 4 tortillas for BLT wrap night!)

            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! Boil water for your sweet corn!

 

 Tuesday – Jambalya  

Click Link for full recipe, Pin to your board on pinterst!

This recipe I do modify a bit, I use the frozen bag of pepper veggies, and cut up your sausage. If you want to use a little shrimp throw that in too, just save enough for Saturday shrimp boil. tweek how you like it, you cant mess this up! The hot sauce and spices are the must in my eyes!!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/283445370270789296/

 

Wednesday – BLT Wrap & Fries

Click Link for full recipe, Pin to your board on pinterst!

Add to eCookBookLearn more

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/164311086378642261/

 

 Thursday – Brats & Beans

            • Brats

• Pork N Beans

            • Sauerkraut

Grill the Brats on the grill, sometimes if you want to speed up the grilling boil them before hand for 10-20 minutes. Throw Pork n Beans opened still in the can on the grill with foil on the top will cook outside! Top with your favorites, mine is sauerkraut, mustard, and ketchup!!!

Friday – Its your night off, order take out or have your hubby prepare dinner!!

 

Saturday – Shrimp Boil

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/23151385555263283/