Week 8

I'm still so far behind in my posts. I swear I have recipes and pics to post but I just can't seem to find the energy and time to do it among all this baby prep and nesting!

This Weeks Foodie Holidays:
* February 20: National Cherry Pie Day
* February 21: National Sticky Bun Day
* February 22: National Margarita Day
* February 23: National Banana Bread Day
* February 23: Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
* February 24: National Tortilla Chip
Day
* February 25: National
Chocolate-Covered Nuts Day
* February 26: National Pistachio
Day
* February 27: National
Strawberry Day

Menu Plans for this week:
Southwest Avocado Salad with Grilled Steak and Baked Potatoes

Lemon Spinach Pasta with Roasted chicken Breasts

Mozzerella chicken Skillet

Beef Soft Tacos

Ranch bacon Macaroni and Cheese with Garden Salad

I'm also aiming to do extra Taco Meat to freeze for after the baby is born since Steve doesn't cook.

Week 7 Menu and General Randomness

I missed a week. Sometimes, there is just too much in life and the words won't come. Even if the words are a list of meals. Sometimes, plans change to accomdate life. Last week was one of those weeks. Among Dr's appointments, happy moments, sad moments, a lot of time with family, a funeral and a welcoming of my future son, there just wasn't enough time for me to sit down and form the words of a post.

My mind is filled with a million new thoughts and directions and projects and I'm so far behind in projects already started. I have recipes to post and not enough time to post. Pregnancy induced carpal tunnel is keeping me from spending too much time on a computer at night and my swelling feet are keeping me propped in uncomfortable positions on the sofa. Lack of sleep is diminishing me ability to function. Yet, the time is passing by too quickly! I'm rushing head first into birthing this child and there is still so much to do to prepare for his arrival including trying to fix some meals to freeze so I don't have to cook right after he is born! When am I going to find the patience, time and the strength? I will. I still have bursts of energy that I take full advantage of and overwork myself. Plus being slightly OCD and overly organized, my routines such as meal planning and cleaning patterns keep me calm and rational so I can't stop doing it for too long without going crazy anyway. Lucky you.

I have had one request recently and that is to start including prices and budget information into my meal plans/recipes. I am going to slowly start incorporating that info into my work but I haven't quite figured out the best way to do that so bare with me as my format may change a bit.

National Foodie Holidays for this week:
February 13th: national Tortellini Day
Feb. 14th: Valentines Day and National Creme Filled Chocolates Day
Feb. 15th: Gumdrop Day
Feb. 17th. National indian Pudding Day
Feb. 18th: Drink Wine day (isn't that every day as long as you aren't pregnant? LOL)
Feb. 19th: National chocolate Mint Day

Weekly Menu: (side note: I started this post on Sunday with full intention of grocery shopping and finishing it on Monday...then I came down with the flu).

So this week has been basically my husband eating what he can dig up while i puke. Needless to say, I'll menu plan for next week and call this one a bust.

Week 5-One FLU Over the Cookoo's nest

That is what my life has been this past week. NUTS topped off with a healthy dose of manflu. Needless to say, blogging was not a priority in the many grocery store/medicine runs. Towards the end of the week I was doing good to have the energy to Lysol down the house and throw together a salad!

After a weekend of disinfecting and trying to get back to normal I think we have conquered the Flu and so far no signs of me getting sick. whoohhoooo So hopefully this week amidst all the appointments and preperations I have for my upcoming Babyshower and final Ultrasound etc. I can blog my backlog of recipes and add in a few more!

Let's begin with a quick look at a few standout National Foodie Holidays this week:
Sunday 30th: National Croissant Day (since its French shouldn't that be International?)
Wednesday 2nd: Heavenly Hash Day
Thursday 3rd: Carrot Cake Day (I'm totally going to try and take advantage of that one and a big bag of carrots in my fridge!)
Friday: Homemade Soup Day (Leaning towards my Cabbage Soup)
Saturday: Chocolate Fondue Day

For my Menu this week:
Sunday: Subway (it was a necessity, what can I say)

Monday: Green Onion Parmesan Mornay Sauce over Angel Hair Pasta served with Garlic Roasted Chicken and Salad

Tuesday: Lasagna

Wednesday: Ranch baked chicken and Black Bean and Avocado Salad

Thursday: Meatloaf, Greenbean Casserole and Macaroni and Cheese

Friday: Cabbage Soup (and Polish Sausage for Steve)

Saturday: Baked French Toast

Sunday (since its superbowl): Taco Dip, chicken Tender Sandwiches, Scones

2011 Week 4- Lesson in Budgeting

This past week was a very busy week as I knew it would be which is why I had the simple menu plan. I do have three recipes to post but I’m back logged due to limited computer time. I’ll get to them promise.

This week, I was inspired by helping a friend out with her budgeting and menu planning by doing an inventory of what’s on hand and planning around that to limit grocery expenditures. It was fun and something everyone should do periodically. This time of year, it’s typical to feel the need to clean out the stores of food as you prepare for Spring fever and want to get all the heavy holiday leftovers out.

It won’t be long before I’m preparing frozen meals to get us through the first few weeks of being new parents without requiring great effort from me in the kitchen as I just don’t know how well I will recover from the birth. So in order to make room, I need to clean out my freezer anyway. I was surprised at what all I had in there and will be eating out of it with limited purchasing for at least two weeks. This week I’m focusing on getting some of the main ingredients and bags of soups out. This helped reduce my budget since we went a little splurge happy on décor for the nursery anyway. Next week I will focus on supplementing main dishes with sides from the freezer as I have quite a bit of fruits and veggies frozen. I may do some baking too so you can look forward to that. Orange and blueberry scones anyone?

National Foodie Holidays This Week:
National Meat Week as well as National Irish Coffee Week

Sunday: Rhubarb Pie day
Monday: Peanut Butter Day
Tuesday: Irish Coffee Day
Wednesday: Pistachio Day
Thursday: Chocolate Cake Day
Friday: Blueberry Pancake Day
Saturday: Corn Chip Day

Menu:
Beef Stroganoff with a side salad (Uses sour cream, leftover diced tomatoes and salad fixings from Fridge, Egg noodles from pantry, Green Peas from Freezer)

Chicken Mozzarella Skillet (Uses Boneless Skinless chicken from freezer, Rice from Pantry)

Spaghetti (Uses hamburger from freezer, cheese from fridge, noodles from pantry)

Chicken Soup (uses chicken Quarters from the freezer)

Leftovers (as these dishes all make a LOT)

Chili/Bean stuffed baked Potatoes (Uses leftover chili and Bean soup to top fresh baked potatoes)

Purchased ($40.00):
Can of Cream of chicken Soup
1 Bag of Mozzarella
1 Bag of Frozen Broccoli
1 lb beef stew meat
1 lb Macaroni Noodles
Celery
Carrots
Potatoes
Onions
And odd and ends like apples, milk, soft drinks etc.

Week 3 Menu Plans

This week, I'm feeling run down. Pregnancy will do that I hear, and this one is no exception. My son is wound up kicking me at night, keeping me up and then he sleeps during the day while I'm struggling to stay awake at my desk. Since we are also working on painting the nursery, re-organizing etc. I've decided to stick to some tried and true recipes that are easy to fix, provide plenty of leftovers for lunch and do not keep me in the kitchen for long periods of time.

Unfortunately, that means I will only have one or two new recipes to post this week but I do have links to the a few of the others if you haven't seen them before! (See, I'm nice like that.)

So enjoy this third week of the year as you are settling into routines, changing what hasn't worked and even slipping from those New Year's resolutions already. Yea, I know how that goes. ;)

National Foodie Holidays This week:
Sunday 16th: National Fig Newton Day and INTERNATIONAL Hot and Spicy Day
Monday 17th: Hot Buttered Rum Day
Tuesday 18th: Peking Duck Day
Wednesday 19th: National Popcorn Day
Thursday 20th: National Buttercrunch Day and National Cheese Lover's Day
Friday 21th: New England Clam Chowder Day
Saturday 22nd: Blonde Brownie Day

Menu:
Sunday: Turkey Bacon, SW Omelettes and Grits Casserole

Monday: Grilled steaks, Salad with Homemade Ranch Dressing, Baked Potatoes

Tuesday: Momma's Chicken and Dumplins

Wednesday: Momma's Southern Goulash

Thursday: Baked Chicken Nacho's (recipe coming soon)

Friday: Baked French Toast with Homemade Apple Butter

Saturday: Quesidilla's

Week 2-Menu

After last week's failure to complete the menu, I am pleased that this week has fewer National Foodie Days that I am compelled to attempt. I may even catch up on recipes to try from last week.

I did try to simplify the menu a tad this week as I overestimated my time to not only be able to cook the menu but then have time to blog about it daily. Hopefully this week will prove a little less stressful in that area, a little more organized and I won't have to wish for a snow day to catch up with!

National Foodie Week: PIZZA WEEK!

National Foodie Holidays:
Sunday: apricot day
Monday: Bittersweet Chocolate Day
Tuesday: Milk Day!
Saturday: Strawberry Icecream Day (WTF, it's the middle of winter people!)


Sunday: Healthy Shepherd's Pie

Monday: Homemade Pizza

Tuesday: Chicken Mozzerella Skillet (Kraft Family Recipes) with Spinach Salad

Wednesday: Steak, Baked Potatoes, Salad

Thursday: Spinach and Chicken Calzones

Friday: Leftovers or Eat Out

I have not planned all the way through as I need to clean out the freezer of leftovers etc. So I'm leaving one or two options open. The weekends tend to be the time when we blow the menu the most because we are out running errands or working on projects and are too tired to cook. So this week I'm going to play that portion by ear.

I also left plenty of room open to catch up on recipe posting, try some new things for the Foodie Holidays I missed. So I hope, you are getting into the New year with pizzazz, your routines are taking shape and you are sticking to those New year's Resolutions! Bon Apetit!

January Week One

Last year, I tried to keep up with Menu Monday posts but towards the end of the year, I noticed that they were just space fillers. Yes, I continued to PLAN my meals for the week and post them, but I was in a rut and they became repetitive and un-interesting. So really, what was the point of you reading them as I highly doubt they were giving you any inspiration for your own menus?

To mix it up a little bit, I ‘m going to work harder at more descriptive menus, with at least a few new recipes per week which should be pretty easy since I’m following the National Foodie Holidays to help plan. The Holidays for the week will be posted each Monday so that you can participate on those days or just look forward to the recipes. I hope this will not only keep me motivated, inspire you but also add new favorite recipes (and even days!) to my repertoire!

National Foodie Holidays:

Month of January:
National Bread Machine Baking Month
National Candy Month
National Egg Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Meat Month
National Oatmeal Month
National Soup Month
National Wheat Bread Month
(I'm pretty sure there are more but I gave up). LOL


This Week:
Jan 2nd- National Cream Puff Day
Jan 3rd- Chocolate Filled Cherry Day (that must take talent!)
Jan 4th- Spaghetti Day
Jan 5th-Whipped Cream Day
Jan 6th- Bean Day
Shortbread Day
Jan. 8th-English Toffee Day

Meal Plan:
Sunday: I tried out my new Deep Fryer and made a hodgepodge of Finger foods: Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders, Homemade Mozzarella Sticks, served up with Deviled Eggs, Sour cream Bread (fresh baked in the Bread Machine!), and Profiteroles with Chocolate Cream Sauce. (totally not the best for you, but I promise I limited my quantity –except for the Profiteroles which I think I had 4 or 5 they were so good).


Monday: Mustard Parmesan Chicken with an Avocado and Black Bean Salad (both recipes courtesy of Paula Deen.

Tuesday: Chicken Parmesan with Garlic Bread (Courtesy of the current issue of Martha Stewart Living)

Wednesday: Parmigiana Sliders on fresh Brioche bread (Courtesy of the current issue of Martha Stewart Living and the Breadlover’s BreadMachine Cookbook).

Thursday: Bean Sliders (Courtesy of the current issue of Martha Stewart Living) and Shortbread Cookies dipped in Chocolate.

Friday: Tomato Macaroni and Cheese (Courtesy of Paula Deen) with Turkey Meatloaf

Saturday: Chicken Salad Panini with Cole Slaw and English Toffee

In addition to the above Menu, I have a bushel of apples on my counter, with the intent of making Apple Butter and Apple Pumpkin Butter. I need to find the time and energy to take care of that before they go bad. I would love to use my Deep Fryer and Perogie Press (both Christmas presents) to try some Apple Dumplings as well but they may have to wait till next week as it is apparent I will be pretty busy this week!

Christmas Menu Week

This weekend was a flurry of motion and snow flakes. We were trying to get our Christmas shopping done as were a million other people in the midst of swirling snow which thankfully did not stick or cause any driving issues. This IS North Carolina though and if anything white falls from the sky people panic. The swarm the stores for bread and milk and lose all ability to drive. Add to that that during the holiday season the Southern charm and relaxed manners all but disappear, it was an interesting weekend to be out and about to say the least.

Even after a long day of shopping and present wrapping I managed to whip up a divine dinner of the most amazing steaks I’ve ever put in my mouth but that had to be the cut of the beef and nothing to do with me as I seasoned them with garlic, salt and pepper with a dash of Worcester and threw them in the grill pan. Nothing fancy but served up with baked potatoes and a large garden salad, I ate myself sick. (and the scales today prove it!)

So no baking for me but I did get the ingredients to do some this week. Here’s the baking plan and Menu for the week:

Menu:
Baked Spaghetti
Chicken Biscuits
Steak Hoagies
Hamburger Meatloaf with Sweet Potato Casserole and Greenbean Casserole
Chicken Enchiladas and Beef Quesadillas (for Christmas Eve) with a cherry Cheesecake (the no bake kind-don’t ask-its HIS family tradition, not mine!)

Holiday Baking:
Neiman Marcus Cookies
S’mores Cookies
White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
Maple Brown Sugar cookies
White Chocolate Cranberry Gluten Free Cheesecake with a Gingersnap crust
Chocolate Peppermint Layer Cake
Orange Cinnamon Cookies
Orange cinnamon Coffee Cake or Lemon Pound Cake (or both)

Pretty ambitious baking schedule. I don’t think it will all get done needless to say.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Menu Monday-Two Weeks till Christmas

Can you believe that there is only one weekend left till christmas? OMG, I haven't even STARTED the homemade goods, baking etc. Where has the time gone? I was ambitious last night and made several drafts of posts for recipes over the past few weeks WITH pictures (finally right?) but I didn't get the recipe parts done so you will have to wait. Progress has been made though right?

I'm very dissappointed that it doesn't look like I'll be able to try a bunch of new holiday recipes either. I just don't have the time but I will atleast do a mash up of past favorites that I'm making this year.

This week is COOLLLDDDD here in NC (high 30, low 17 with windchills of 12 and below) YIPES!

So for Sunday, I made a big crock pot full of vegetable soup.

I pulled out some of the hamburger and onion cooked in tomato stock to make Beef Enchiladas later in the week.

I also roasted some Chicken Breasts for a Broccoli and Rice Casserole.

I have a Turkey Breast in the Freezer and another pack of Chicken Breasts in the fridge in case the leftover's don't hold out the whole week! LOL I'm hoping by getting a headstart on my meals I can spend a little time on Holiday Goodies and Blogging!

Another Monday

I promise I actually have things to post (like Cracker Barrel's Hasbrown Casserole, Cracked Pepper Fettucine, Steak and Pasta Stew etc.) I'm gearing up to do some Holiday Baking as well but things have been crazy hectic with holiday shopping, cleaning, decorating and doing some "re-decorating."

My darling husband spend most of the weekend painting our master bedroom while I ran errands during our first snow storm! It was an awesome weekend for christmas movies and gift wrapping over hot coffee. Our bedroom looks fabulous!

What it didn't leave a lot of time for was blogging and being even remotely close to the computer much. MY bad.

The good news is I have vacation coming up and will be able to catch up and do a major blogging blitz!

And then there's always the three months in spring that it will be just me, a bundle of joy and a computer. I plan on treating myself with lots of cooking/baking while at home during that time!

Up this week for the menu:
Holiday Dinner for two: Roasted turkey breast, homemade stuffing, sweet potato casserole, stewed apples and collard greens

Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole

cheeseburger Meatloaf with Scalloped Potatoes

Chicken Quesidillas

Spaghetti

And some Holiday Baking but not sure what yet. I'm really wanting to try my hand at Pumpkin Cinnamon rolls with Caramel icing but they may have to wait till a weekend.

Happy Holiday season ya'll!

Post-Thanksgiving Menu

The Thanksgiving food orgy is over. I actually didn’t do too bad. I never got too full, I kept my portions small, but I did major damage to leftover Mac and Cheese and Apple Pie. So needless to say, no matter what, I did damage to my waistline to the tune of 2-3 pounds. (The daily Starbucks didn’t help that any I’m sure) ::sigh::

Over the weekend my mother-in-law purchases some older cook books from a used book store that had some interesting recipes in them. They are on the lighter side or as they claim “Light Comfort Foods.”

So this week, before the Christmas baking begins, I’m going to try and do some cheap light dinners to not only make up for the waist line expansion but the reduction in the wallet from Black Friday shopping.

Creamy Broccoli, Chicken and Rice Casserole

Beef & Pasta Stew

Soft Tacos

Black Pepper Fettuccine with Grilled Chicken Salad

Menu Monday-Thanksgiving Week Edition

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is here! We have been so busy that I didn’t get to do a lot of Holiday experimenting but I am hoping to do some baking/ new recipes for Christmas. This week’s menu is on the sparse side since we have company coming and everything is all about the Thursday meal!

This weekend I journeyed (the whole 45 minute trip….ooooooo…LOL) to my parent's house to do a little Farm shopping for the holidays. Loaded up on fresh from the garden sweet potatoes, Gala Apples right from the tree, collard greens, mixed greens, turnips and eggs (right from the chicken’s butt!). Those will be put to great use as fried greens, stewed turnips, sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs and the apples are incorporated into a big basket of fruit and candy for everyone to snack on.

This week’s menu (of non thanksgiving meals) includes:

Grilled Steaks, rice and collard greens
Fried Chicken tenders, mixed greens, perogies
Baked Spaghetti

I will do a separate post on the Thanksgiving Menu and my holiday tips and preparations.

Menu Monday-Preholidays

Vegetable Soup

Baked Turkey Spaghetti

Roasted Honey Garlic chicken with Scalloped Potatoes and Peas

Chicken Pot Pie

Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Plus One night out (probably subway or Panera) since we will be out and about.

I have tentative plans to bake or try a few new recipes in preparation for Thanksgiving company but with the schedule over the next several days (Dr.’s appointments etc.) I’m not sure if I will have time so we are keeping the menu rather simple and easy.

Next week we will probably do the pre-thanksgiving Fast which means MINIMAL cooking, lots of salads and veggies to counteract the heavy foods (and tons of it) the next weekend.

Menu Monday-It's the Holidays!

This weekend we had a successful Halloween Party full of Chicken Stew, Chili, Chocolate Pumpkin Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Homemade Ranch dip with a veggie tray, a punch fountain and all the trimmings. I will be posting the Cake recipe and pictures of the party soon.

Needless to say, with all the leftovers yesterday, I’m burned out on the heavy fall dishes for a few days. So this weeks menu includes some lighter fare and several new recipes! (aren’t you excited?)

Broccoli Chicken Alfredo

Bacon Cheddar Ranch Turkey Burgers

Cheese Bacon Tart

Honey Garlic Chicken

Beef Stew and Biscuits

I will be munching on flavorful foods while putting away the Halloween décor and preparing the Thanksgiving menu and festivities! Can you believe the Holiday season is here?!

Menu Monday-Halloween

Beef and Cheese Burritos

Salad with Perogies

Scalloped Potatoes, Roast Chicken, Turnip Greens

Beef and hash brown Casserole

Chicken Something

Chili and chicken Stew for Halloween Party plus veggie tray, pumpkin pie and possibly a cake.

I actually can’t remember what is on the menu this week. I got a new cook book all about freezer meals and I’m trying some recipes out from it. They are simple and hardy and if they are tasty will come in handy for neighbors, new moms, etc. not to mention ME!

I’ll post the recipes as I try them. I’m testing two of them this week along with some simple tried and true recipes as I prepare for our annual Halloween shindig.

Birthday Bash-Happy 60th Daddy!

One of the things that has kept me busy of late was throwing my Dad’s 60th Surprise Birthday party on September 25th. We had an amazing time with good food, beautiful weather and an amazing group of family and friends.

I’ve always loved to hostess a party and am usually OCD about making EVERYTHING, doing EVERYTHING and basically a control freak. (I admit it freely.) This time though, I eased back, let other’s do things, paid to have things done and only stressed about cleaning the house and getting the flower beds pretty. LOL

My brother-in-law borrowed a giant barbeque cooker from his uncle who caters and was up at 5am in my backyard putting the pigs on. (I think he did 4 shoulders). He made Barbeque (and me some chicken as I’m allergic to pork), beans, slaw, and potatoes. MrsBeth made a fabulous Chocolate Orange Cake with Butter cream icing decorated in fondant. I provided hors d’ouvres: Veggie tray with my homemade Ranch dip, Cheese platter, and fruit platter. My sister’s Mother-in-law (did you follow that?) made her awesome homemade ice creams: Cherry almond and vanilla.

This was truly a joint effort and my Dad had an awesome time. It’s taught me a lesson as well. I can let go. Just because I don’t make everything, doesn’t mean it won’t be fabulous or that people will think I’ve slacked. Delegation is not a bad thing. I’m totally following this same route with my Halloween Party and for once, I’m not stressed at all. Living up to my own ideas of Perfection are much harder than living up to other people’s expectations. I’m harder on myself than anyone else. So I’m lightening up and it is fabulous! Enjoy a few food pics from the party!

Menu Monday

Our menu plan got blown out of the water this weekend because we were running around taking care of everything so we ate out- a lot. (Pizza Hut veggie pizza, Wendy's, and Panera Bread)

So our menu has some of the same items from last week that I didn't get to fix.

Fried Chicken Salad with French Onion soup

Chicken Pot pie

BBQ Chicken

Spaghetti

Friday I am hosting a Mary Kay party. Menu: Chicken Salad Finger Sandwiches, Pumpkin Dip with Ginger Snaps, Homemade Ranch Dip with veggies, Cheese and Turkey Bacon Tart, Pumpkin Cupcakes.

Menu Monday

I'm definately feeling the Fall season despite the fact that our weather seems to not have gotten the memo. What is with the high 80's? jeesh. In celebration of getting our pool closed this weekend, reducing the time we have to spend on outdoor work, I'm planning a menu that requires a bit of fuss this week.

Fried Chicken Tender Salad and French Onion Soup

Chicken Pot Pie

Filet Mignon with Salad and corn Chowder

Soft Taco's

Barbeque chicken with Scalloped Potatoes and Limas.

Most of this is already on my blog so not many recipes to update but I am on the hunt for a good homemade BBQ recipe so I may have atleast that to share! Don't worry though, my big baking and cooking season is upon us!

Menu Monday-Kickin' off October

If we thought LAST week’s budget was tight, this week we will be pinching the pennies. Bring on PayDay! Fortunately, we don’t need but a few ingredients to complete our menu list this week, so I should just be able to squeeze out those pool chemicals, dog food, gas and groceries.

Don’t you just hate when you have so many things hit you in one pay period? Of course, I’m one of those that refuse to touch savings for anything other than a major emergency even though that’s what its there for. I just do not consider one tight pay period an emergency. I will live off rice and canned beans if I have to to avoid transferring money over even temporarily. It’s a habit you just don’t want to get into my opinion.

Breakfast for Dinner: Biscuits, eggs, turkey bacon, and diced potatoes.

Fried Chicken Tenders and scalloped Potatoes with Greenbeans

Chicken and Veggie Rice Skillet

Spaghetti

Hamburgers with Oven Fries

Fortunately, I do have the ingredients on hand to make an apple pie and/or chocolate chip cookies so this week won’t be a total lesson in tight economics. LOL

Menu errr Wednesday

I know I'm late for posting this week so without fluff and stuff here you go! For a rainy, cooler fall week:

Chicken Noodle Casserole

Potato Soup with Filet Mignon

Pretzel Chicken with broccoli florets smothered in mustard cheese sauce

Creamy Pea Pasta

Hamburgers and fries

chicken something or other that I haven't decided yet.

Apple Pie