Monday, August 31, 2009

My Menu for this Week:



Monday:

Breakfast-Snickerdoodle Muffins (from the freezer), Yogurt
Lunch-Taco Soup (from the freezer)
Dinner-Pizza Casserole (from the freezer) and Salad
Sounds like a freezer meal day! Whoo Whoo

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Cereal/Toast
Lunch-Homemade Chef Salad
Dinner-Mexican Chicken Roll-up (from the freezer), Refried Beans, Homemade Salsa, Tortilla Chips

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal
Lunch-Quesadillas
Dinner-Hamburger (turkey?) and Cabbage Casserole, Corn Casserole

Thursday:

Breakfast-Pancakes and Sausage
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-White Beans and Ham, leftover Corn Casserole

Friday:

Breakfast-Eggs, Bacon, Orange Rolls (from the can)
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Mexican Chicken Bake, Salad

Saturday:

Breakfast-Sausage and Cheese Muffins, Yogurt
Lunch-leftovers
Dinner-Leftover Buffet or Pizza from the Freezer

Sunday:

Breakfast-Cereal/Toast
Lunch-Chops in a Crock Pot, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Rolls
Dinner-Sammies

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Garden Blessings



Thank God from whom all blessings flow...

Thank you Lord for my humble garden. We have already enjoyed the zucchini beyond measure and now You are blessing us with tomatoes and peppers. I feel some homemade salsa coming on!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

My menu this week:




Monday:

Breakfast-Malt O Meal (chocolate) and Toast for dd; Breakfast Casserole Muffins for dh and I
Lunch-Crockpot Hamburger Soup for dh and I; Turkey Sammie, Carrots and Ranch Dip, Sliced Apple for dd's school lunch
Dinner-Cheesy Chicken Bundles (extras for freezer), Corn on the Cob, Salad

Tuesday:

Breakfast-French Toast, Sausage
Lunch-leftover soup for dh and I; Spaghetti and a Spinach Salad for dd
Dinner-Pinto Beans with Kielbasa, Corn Muffins

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal, Toast
Lunch-Leftovers for dh and I; PB Sammie, Sliced Apple, Rice Cakes for dd
Dinner-Bourbon Chicken (extra for freezer), Brown Rice and Asian vegetables

Thursday:

Breakfast- Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sammie
Lunch-Leftovers for dh and I; dd buying lunch at school
Dinner-Back to the 50's Casserole, Salad

Friday:

Breakfast-Muffins and Yogurt
Lunch-Leftovers for dh and I; Turkey Dawg, Chips, Cookie for dd
Dinner-Garlic Grilled Chicken Skewers, Mexican Rice, Salad

Saturday:

Breakfast-Cinnamon Rolls, Eggs, Bacon
Lunch-BBQ Ranch Salad
Dinner-Hot Dog and Bean Casserole, Slaw

Sunday:

Breakfast-Muffin, Yogurt
Lunch-Crock Pot Ham, Macaroni and Cheese, Brussels Sprouts, Rolls
Dinner-Leftover Buffet

New Recipe I made this week-very economical

Sausage Quiche

1 lb. sausage, browned and drained
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
2 regular pie crust (not deep)

Beat eggs, add cheese, milk and sausage; stir. Divide mixture evenly between pie crusts. Bake 40-50 minutes at 300 degrees. Extra cheese may be sprinkled on after putting mixture in crusts, if desired. Makes 2 pies. Have one now and freeze one for later!

I served this with grapes and crescent rolls this week. My family and guests really enjoyed it.

Try it. I think you'll like it too.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Snickerdoodle Muffins

Not sure where I found this recipe. It is a good one. My house smells like Snickerdoodles today! Just a simple recipe full of simple homemade goodness!


Snickerdoodle Muffins

Topping:
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Batter:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup quick cooking oatmeal, uncooked
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup milk
1 egg, slightly beaten
4 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare 36 mini-muffin pan cups or 12 standard muffin pan cups with nonstick cooking spray or paper liners.

Prepare topping by combining sugar and cinnamon in small bowl and set aside.

Make batter by combining flour, oatmeal, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl. Mix well.

In a small bowl, combine milk, egg, butter and vanilla extract. Blend well. Add to dry ingredients all at once. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Do not over mix. Fill muffin cups two-thirds full. Sprinkle topping evenly over tops of muffins. Bake: 12 to 14 minutes for mini-muffins and 18 to 22 for regular muffins, or until light golden brown. Cool muffins in pan on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pan. Serve warm.

What's on my menu this week:




Monday:

Breakfast-Snickerdoodle Muffins, Chocolate Milk for Robyn
Lunch-Crock Pot Soup
Dinner-Mexican Taco Salad

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Pancakes, Link Sausage, Juice
Lunch-Out, special treat-daughter's first day at school (half-day)
Dinner-Cranberry Chicken, Hot Spinach Salad, Rice Pilaf

Wednesday:

Breakfast-One Eyed Sailors, Bacon, Juice
Lunch-(Robyn's school lunch-Turkey Sammie, Carrots and Dip, Sliced Apple, Milk) Us-leftovers
Dinner-Sausage Quiche (make two-one for freezer), Fruit Salad (canned fruit, grapes, banana), Crescent Rolls

Thursday:

Breakfast-Sausage and Cheese Muffins (freezer meal), Fruit
Lunch-(Robyn's school lunch-Hotdog (in thermos with hot water), Bun, Spinach Salad, Chips, Milk) Us-PB&J Sammies
Dinner-Hamburger Helper (made with chicken or turkey), Green Veggie

Friday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal and Toast, Juice
Lunch-(Robyn's school lunch-Chicken and Noodle Soup, String Cheese, oyster crackers, ice cream day) Us-Grilled Cheese, Fruit
Dinner-Grilled Sesame Chicken (make extras for freezer), Layered Salad, Alfredo Noodles

Saturday:

Breakfast-French Toast (make extra for freezer), Link Sausage, Juice
Lunch-At Mom and Dad's
Dinner-Crock Pot Pork Chops, Baked Beans, Leftover Layered Salad

Sunday:

Breakfast-Muffins (choose from freezer muffins)
Lunch-At Church-Community Guide Training
Dinner-BBQ Ranch Salad, Corn on the Cob, Leftover Baked Beans

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Can you say yum?

Here is a recipe I made this week. It was loved by all including picky daughter!

Chewy Lemon Bars
1 lemon cake mix
1 egg
1/2 cup butter, melted
3-3/4 cups powdered sugar
2 eggs, beaten
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together cake mix, egg and butter. Spread into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan.

In a separate bowl, mix together powdered sugar, beaten eggs, softened cream cheese and vanilla until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over bottom layer.

Bake 30 to 40 minutes until top layer turns a light golden brown.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Getting Ready for School-Breakfast

Do you plan your child's breakfast on school mornings? I like having already prepared foods in the freezer. I am NOT a morning person. I need all the help I can get on school mornings. Here are some of the foods I prepare and freeze. I have included recipes at the end.

Sausage and Cheese Muffins
Breakfast Casserole Muffins
Pancakes
Muffins-Chocolate Chip, Blueberry, etc.
Breakfast Biscuits (prebake biscuits and fill with egg, bacon or ham, sometimes cheese, you know, like Mickey Dee's)
Breakfast Burritos
Ham and Cheese Muffins
French Toast

I buy Eggo's on special and sometimes I will even buy the frozen pancakes, although it is much cheaper to just make those yourself. I like to serve those quick heat and serve sausage links with these. I find a protein rich breakfast sticks with you and a cereal breakfast doesn't. We have bought quite a bit of cereal over the summer with sales and coupons, but we don't really eat it all that often. It seems to become more of a snack rather than a meal. Adding fruit to it does make it more filling.

Other breakfast foods my daughter likes are Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal-very quickly made in the microwave and chocolate Malt-O-Meal.

Sometimes I do take the time to cook fresh eggs, over easy or scrambled with bacon and toast, etc. Sometimes she gets Peanut Butter on Whole Wheat Bread and a time or two, peanut butter on the spoon as she runs out the door! :/

My dd doesn't care for granola or granola bars. She isn't a fan of plain oatmeal either. I know these are healthy for her so I have to sneak her oatmeal into her muffins and other foods.

So, what do you do to make your breakfasts preparation easy for you and you family?

Breakfast Casserole Muffins


1 lb. sausage, browned and drained
6 eggs
1 C. Bisquick
2 C. half-and-half (you can substitute milk)
1/2 Tsp. salt
1/4 Tsp. pepper
2 C. grated cheese

Place drained sausage evenly in muffins tins which have been sprayed with Pam. Mix eggs, Bisquick, half-and-half, salt and pepper together. Pour evenly over the sausage. Top with grated cheese. Bake for 25 minutes in 350 oven. Makes 24 muffins.

Ham and Cheese Muffins

2 c. self rising flour
½ t. b. soda
1 c. milk
½ c. mayonnaise
½ cup finely chopped cooked ham
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large bowl, combine flour and baking soda. Combine remaining ingredients; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased or paper lined muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 425 deg. 16-18 minutes or until muffins test done. 1 dozen

Breakfast Burritos

12 eggs, beaten
sausage, bacon or ham (cooked)
½ cup salsa or picante
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
24 flour tortillas
opt. ingredients:
green pepper
hashbrowns, fried
onion, garlic, tomato

Scramble eggs; stir in meat and cheese and salsa. Warm tortillas in microwave 20-30 seconds. Place ½ cup egg mixture on tortilla; roll up burrito style. Freeze burritos in single layer on lightly greased cookie sheet. When fully frozen, wrap individually; place wrapped burritos in large ziplock freezer bags; refreeze.

To serve: cook in microwave around 2 minutes or thaw, wrap in foil and bake 350 degree for 10 minutes.

Sausage and Cheese Muffins

1 lb. sausage, cooked and drained
2 cups self rising flour
½ stick butter, melted
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 ½ c. Cheddar cheese

Make a well in flour and add butter, egg and milk. Mix until blended. Stir in sausage and cheese. Bake in greased tins 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Breakfast Sandwiches

24 English muffins toasted or biscuits, buttered
2 dozen eggs
cooked bacon, sausage, ham or Canadian bacon
24 thin slices cheddar cheese

Scramble eggs in skillet. Put sandwiches together. Wrap each sandwich individually in a paper towel, and then place several in large ziplock freezer bag and freeze. To serve: microwave 1-2 minutes or thaw, rewrap in foil and bake 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Tip: cook eggs inside greased canning rings to maintain a round shape.

Frozen French Toast

Make, package, and freeze French toast when you have dry bread on hand.

4 eggs, beaten
2 t. sugar
½ t. salt
¼ t. ground nutmeg
¼ t. vanilla
1 ½ c. milk
8 slices day old bread (very dry)
margarine

Combine eggs, sugar, seasonings, vanilla and milk in a large bowl; beat well. Dip each bread slice so it will absorb as much egg mixture as possible. Brown bread on both sides in margarine in skillet over moderate heat. Cool. To freeze: lay slices on greased sheet; put in freezer. When frozen stack slices with foil or freezer paper in between. Wrap, seal and freeze. 2-3 month storage. To serve: thaw in toaster.

Blueberry Oat Muffins
1 ¼ c. flour
1 c. quick oats
½ c. sugar
1 t. b. powder
½ t. b. soda
¼ t. salt
2 egg whites
½ c. water
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

Topping:
2 T sugar
¼ t. ground cinnamon

In a bowl, combine first 6 ingredients. In another bowl, beat egg whites, water and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in blueberries. Fill paper-lined muffin cups or cups sprayed with Pam. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over muffins. Bake 400 degrees 18-22 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack. 177 calories each, 1 ½ starch and 1 fat.

Cream Cheese/Chocolate Chip Muffins

5 tablespoons Butter or Margarine -- melted and cooled
2/3 cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1/4 teaspoon Salt
8 ounces Cream Cheese -- softened
1 Egg
3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
3/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 1/2 cups Flour
3/4 cup Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine butter,
sugar, vanilla, salt, cream cheese, and egg. Mix well. Stir in baking soda
and baking powder. Add flour and stir until well combined. Stir in
chocolate chips. Fill paper-lined or greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake for
18 minutes or until done. Cool.

(These muffins freeze very well. This makes them perfect for those rushed
mornings when you don't have time to make anything. Just pop into the
microwave on defrost for 30 seconds, and you have a great breakfast!)

Blueberry Muffins

2 c. biscuit mix
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. sour cream
1 egg
1 c. blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine biscuit mix, brown sugar, sour cream, egg and blueberries in a large bowl. Fill large muffin cups 2/3 full and bake 20-25 minutes. Made 5/5/09-Robert really liked these.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Menu this week:




Well, I sure didn't do a very good job of blogging this week, did I? I vow to do better this week. Here is my menu plan for this week with a few flow overs from this past week that I didn't make:

Today-Instead of ham we are having: Crock Pot Roasted Chicken, Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy and Yeast Rolls (doesn't this sound like Grandma's house?) All that is missing is apple pie. Hmmm...

Monday:

Breakfast-Pancakes, Link Sausage (make extra pancakes for the freezer)
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Layered Ham Dinner, Salad, Cheesecakes (Atkins-style) with Raspberries

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Cereal and Banana
Lunch-Leftovers or Wrap made with Ham, Grapes
Dinner-Bacon Wrapped Turkey Dawgs, Broccoli Salad, Macaroni and Cheese

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Snickerdoodle Muffins (extra go into freezer)
Lunch-Leftovers or Soup
Dinner-Chicken Casserole, leftover Broccoli Salad

Thursday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal and Raisins
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Pork Chop Packages on the Grill, Salad, Watermelon

Friday:

Breakfast-Eggs and Bacon, Sliced Tomatoes
Lunch-Wraps or Leftovers
Dinner-Crispy Chicken and Rice Casserole (one to eat-one to freeze)

Saturday:

Breakfast-Breakfast Biscuits (freeze leftovers for quick microwave breakfasts)
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Red Snapper and Vegetables on the Grill

Sunday:

Breakfast-Cereal and Banana
Lunch-Potluck with Sunday School Classmates
Dinner-Clean out the fridge!

Feed my Freezer plan this week: Pancakes, Breakfast Casserole Muffins (done), Sausage and Cheese Muffins (done), Snickerdoodle Muffins, Cooked Chicken for future casseroles, Chicken Noodle Soup, Breakfast Biscuits, Crispy Chicken and Rice Casserole.

Meals now in freezer: Chicken Tetrazzini, Pizza Casserole, Stuffed Peppers, Taco Soup, Mexican Chicken Rolls, Shrimp Scampi, Breaded Fish Fillets, Blueberry Muffins, Cornbread Muffins, Breakfast Casserole Muffins and Sausage and Cheese Muffins.

Monday, August 3, 2009

What's Happening?

Last week, one of my bestest friends from high school was passing through town with one of her daughters and her two grandchildren and I got to meet up with them. We ate "Linner" at Famous Daves. It was so good to see her again and meet her grandchildren. It is still hard for me to imagine my friends, my age, having grandchildren. I guess it's because I married and became a mom much later in life. I will be really old, if and when, I become a grandmommy!

Robert is still actively job hunting. Nothing so far. I am considering going back to work myself. If nothing else, to help financially, until he finds a job, and then to rebuild our savings again because we are using it up quickly. I do not look forward to the job hunt and the interviews and everything that goes with it. Ugh...pray for me to see if this is the Lord's will for me and my family at this time. Oh, that reminds me. I need to update and blow the cobwebs off my resume.

Robyn has a dentist appointment today. It's her six month check-up. She had a headache yesterday and tossed her cookies. She seemed to feel much better after that. I am hoping she doesn't have a bug and it was just a "sick" headache like her daddy occasionally gets.

Also, on my agenda today, is to finish the laundry and put it away. Yes, no more searching through the hampers for clean clothes. Ugh, I didn't used to do this. Now, if you can't find it in the closet or drawer, it's "look through the laundry basket!" Are you guilty of this too?

We are going to all go grocery shopping today. I am going to hit all my favorite stores for bargains. Every little bit of savings helps. I enjoy it when my family goes shopping with me. I send them on scavenger hunts to find items. Robyn likes going with a coupon to find the item and get the best price.

Robert is finally getting over his summer cold. I actually let him sleep in bed with me last night. He had been sleeping on the pull out bed or sometimes the recliner in the den. He slept pretty well last night and wasn't coughing. We went to church yesterday, even though he was still feeling pretty rough that morning. Praise the Lord he is better today.

Tomorrow, we will take Robyn up to my mom and dad's for one more visit before school starts again. She will spend a couple of nights with them. She really enjoys my dad's cooking.

We still have some back to school shopping to wrap up. Last week Robert purchased many of her back to school supplies, including a new Tinkerbell backpack and lunch box. She was really excited about those purchases. Anything to get her hyped about going back to school. I always thought new school supplies helped to get me into the back to school mode. We have to take her to get new school uniform polos and maybe some khaki pants. I have ordered her some jeans. They should come this week. Oh, and she needs new athletic shoes and I think that should just about do it. And a haircut. Time to cut it shorter and eliminate all the tangles she gets in her thick head of hair.

Her Grand "mama" and Great Aunt took her shopping last week and bought her some end of summer specials. She will be going on a cruise with them after Christmas and now is the time to buy clothes for that. Can you imagine trying to find summer shorts, bathing suits, skirts, etc. in December? She modeled all her new clothes for me and they were all so cute. I ordered her a pair of capri black leggings to wear under a colorful tunic that she got. It will look really cute with some black flip flops. She is getting excited about the cruise and I am getting excited for her. This will be a first for all of us. I don't know what Robert and I will do with her gone all week on vacation without us! I have six months to get myself prepared for this.

A few years ago, I read through the bible with a daily bible that puts it in chronological order. It's a neat way to read it. So, I've started it again. I just picked up on August lst and am going from there. I'm in Jeremiah. But that's okay. I'll just finish it on July 31st 2010. This is a handy way to read the bible in a year. The one I am using is called the Daily Bible.

Well, enough jabbering about my life for today. What's happening in your world?

Sunday, August 2, 2009

My Menu for this Week:




Monday:


Breakfast-Blueberry Muffins, Yogurt (extra muffins will go into the freezer)
Lunch-Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Dinner-BBQ Wieners, Deviled Eggs, Slaw, Watermelon

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal
Lunch-Salad or Wrap, Grapes
Dinner-Yummy Summer Chicken Marinade (A Julie Sanders Recipe), Leftover Slaw, Deviled Eggs and Watermelon (extra uncooked chicken with marinade will be frozen for another time)

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Eggs, Bacon
Lunch-Salad with Grilled Chicken
Dinner-Layered Ham Dinner, Atkins Cheesecakes with Strawberries

Thursday:

Breakfast-Cereal
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-CP15 Bean Soup (leftover soup will be frozen)

Friday:
Breakfast-Snickerdoodle Muffins, Yogurt (leftover muffins will be frozen)
Lunch-Chef Salad
Dinner-Mexican Chicken Roll-Ups, Broccoli Salad (extra roll-ups will be frozen for another time)

Saturday:
Breakfast-Breakfast Casserole Muffins (extra muffins will be frozen)
Lunch-Taco Soup (from the freezer)
Dinner-Pork Chop Packages on the Grill, Layered Salad

Sunday:

Breakfast-Pancakes, Link Sausage
Lunch-Crock Pot Ham, Green Bean Casserole, Leftover Salad
Dinner-Hmmm...who knows?

I am continuing to "feed" my freezer will yummy foods to make breakfasts and dinners easier and stress-free in my home.