While You're Waiting.....

I didn't post a meal plan last week because we ate out too much to make a plan necessary. This week I forgot to post it in time.....hopefully, I will get back to blogging soon. In the meanwhile, I've updated my blog roll to the left. Check out the many sites I follow! The crafty sites are great destinations for kids crafts! Later this week, I'll get caught up on sharing a couple of recipes. Plus, I hope to share my new clean closet soon! Thanks for your patience!

Menu Plan Monday March 9, 2009

I planned my menu out this week, went to the grocery store and realized I forgot to plan something for Thursday. My hubby saved me by suggesting we have leftovers for dinner tonight, and move my plan to make potato soup to Thursday! Perfect!

Monday: Chicken Tetrazzini with homemade applesauce, and maybe a carrot/veggie side dish (ideas anyone?)
Tuesday: Home Group. I'll bring carrot cake. I need to use up some crushed pineapple from when I made it last time. (Do you know if crushed pineapple freezes?) This is a great recipe that Ben loves! When I make it, I omit the nuts and instead substitute 1/4 cup dark raisins. This adds extra sweetness, so I reduced the amount of white sugar by 2T. This week, I think I'll reduce it by two more Tblsps.
Wednesday: Church Group. I ended up not using the half of cabbage for ramen noodle salad last week, so I am going to make a simple coleslaw out of it this week.
Thursday: Homemade potato soup with the rest of the apple sauce and salad.
Friday: Sonshine's Saucy Chicken. I know I asked for help last week with a chicken dinner. We ended up not going to our friend's house, so I moved Saturday's meal to Fridays, and we went out with Ben's folks on Saturday! I will serve the chicken with salad, and possibly make an apple crisp for dessert.

FYI, Freddys has a great sale on Bandon cheddar cheese this week: 3.99 for two pounds. You need a coupon.

Please go visit Org. Junkie's Menu Plan Monday for many more great ideas! I really love her site. She posts organizational tips all week long.

Crock Pot Beef Stew

Once again, my beef stew was a hit!! It is so simple and quick to prepare. I found the recipe at Allrecipes.com, but I made a few changes to it.

• I omitted the celery and onion due to preference. (I also forgot the paprika.)
• Like some of the other reviewers, I found 1.5 lbs of stew meet to be plenty.
• I didn't find low sodium beef broth, so I reduced the amount of salt to 1/4 teaspoon.
• I also double the worcestershire sauce.
• During the last 30 minutes, I stirred in about 1/2 cup frozen corn and 1/2 cup peas. (I got that tip from the reviewers too).
• If I want a thicker stew, I find it helps to turn the heat up to high during that time too.
• My stew typically takes 10-11 hours in the slow cooker.
  

Make sure to add a the bay leaf. It adds such a unique taste. I have made this stew 4 times. The third time I forgot the bay leaf, and I figured it probably didn't matter. I had one this past Monday, and it made such a difference!

Let me know if you make it! Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday March 2, 2009

So Here's the Menu for this week....

Monday: Crockpot Beef Stew. This is a delicious and easy beef stew. Plus, it is made without tomatoes if you are avoiding them! I'll post personal notes and pictures soon!
Tuesday: Home Group, bringing Ramen Noodle Salad.....cut up the entire head of cabbage, use half, and save the rest for....
Wednesday: Bible Study, I'll use the other half of the cabbage to make another Ramen Noodle Salad.
Thursday: Chicken Strips and low fat, but tasty, mac n' cheese
Friday: Not sure yet. Maybe a chicken casserole.....we'll see.
Saturday: I received some bacon wrapped beef tenderloins, so I thought I would try and cook those. (If you have hints for how to cook them, please pass it along!) I'll probably serve a salad and maybe an apple crisp for dessert.

I need some suggestions for Friday's meal. I am cooking for friends of ours (this is a weekly get together) and I am looking for a chicken or ham (but not both...) casserole. I thought about Chicken Tetrazzini, but not every one enjoys noodles and I served noodles last week. I'll be reading the other Menu Plan Monday links for ideas, but if you have a great, popular stand by, let me know! I'm always looking for new recipes anyway.

Make sure to visit I'm an Organizing Junkie for many more Menu Plans!

Baby Shower Fun!

I attended a baby shower today for one of my co-workers, and I just had to share some of the decor, games, and food served! Enjoy!

I loved that they used baby clothes as decorations! Plus, the mom-to-be got to keep the clothes.

The host worked hard on these cute baby cupcakes. Look at the little teddy graham bear! (They tasted great too).

I brought the punch, it was quick and yummy: 1 part ginger ale to 2 parts cran-apple.

The ladies enjoyed the games we played too:

Name the Baby: We had to match the baby picture to the guest!

Don't Say Baby: Each guest got a safety pin with a curl of blue ribbon on it (...it's going to be a boy). If a guest was caught saying baby or shower, they had to give up their pin to whoever caught them! Diaper pins also work, but the are hard to find.


Guess the object: Each paper bag contains a baby related item (ex: pacifier, teething ring, rubber ducky). Guests have to feel the bag to guess what the item is.

Measure the Mommy: Mom-to be was comfortable with us playing the common game of using ribbon to guess how big around she was! (I actually won this one!)

What's on My Back? Before the shower, I took note cards and wrote something to do with babies on each one. Each guest had one taped to their back. They had to ask yes or no questions to figure out the item (sample items included rattle, formula, crib, bibs).

(All the games were found at About.com)

Thanks for reading about the shower! I hope you got good ideas. I'll definitely keep the idea of decorating with clothes or fabric in mind....I wonder what other events I could use it for?

Tuesday Morning Humor

Love it!

Menu Plan Monday Feb. 16, 2009

Here is my menu for this week! As you will notice, tacos moved over from last week (hubby talked me into getting a $5 pizza last week....I couldn't say no!) The Roasted Banana Bars from last week were a hit. I will post results soon!

Monday: Meatloaf, cheesy potatoes, applesauce and veggies.
Tuesday: It is my turn to make dinner for our home group. I am making twice baked potatoes with ham. We have some people who are allergic to dairy, so I am making a few diary free. This is a new experiment for me, but I borrowed some rice milk, and bought a little nutritional yeast. Those won't be as creamy, but hopefully still good.
Wednesday: Church group, I'll probably bring cookies for dessert.
Thursday: Taco Night!
Friday: Eat Out.....celebrating a friend's birthday party.
Saturday: Chicken Strips. I cannot think of a side yet. I will probably serve carrot sticks, the rest of the applesauce, and I am debating making low fat mac and cheese to go with it.
Sunday: Leftovers.

Thanks for reading my menu. If you have any good ideas for adding to the dairy free twice baked potatoes, please let me know! For more menu ideas, visit org.junkie.com!