What's baking in my house today.

This is a tried and true recipe. I thought the cooler weather was just speaking to me today to bake something with pumpkin in it. I am going to replace one cup of the sugar with Splenda to lower the sugar content.


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

4 eggs
2 c. sugar
3 c. flour
16 oz. pumpkin
1 ½ c. oil
2 t. soda
2 t. b. powder
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
12 oz. mini chocolate chips

Beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil. Add flour and spices. Mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into 24 greased muffin tins. Bake 400 degrees 15-20 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from tins.

Do you have a favorite(s) pumpkin recipe?

My Menu this week-September 28-October 4

Monday:

Breakfast-Pork Chops and Eggs
Lunch-How about a nap? lol
Dinner-Pigs in Blankets (made with chicken smoked sausage), Veggies and Dip

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Breakfast Burritos (from the freezer)
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Cheesy Chicken Bundles (from the freezer), Corn on the Cob, Slaw

Wednesday:

Breakfast-One Eyed Sailors, Link Sausage
Lunch-Leftovers or Sammies and Slaw
Dinner-Pizza Casserole (from the freezer), Mixed Green Salad

Thursday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal
Lunch-Leftovers or Peanut Butter on Celery with Raisins (ants on a log)
Dinner-Cajun Beans and Sausage

Friday:

Breakfast-Chocolate Chip Muffins (freezer) Yogurt
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Stuffed Peppers, Spaghetti and Sauce

Saturday:

Breakfast-Eggs, Bacon, Biscuits, OJ
Lunch-PB&J Sliced Apples
Dinner-C.O.R.N. (clean out refrigerator night)

Sunday:

Breakfast-Sausage and Cheese Muffins, Fruit
Dinner-Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken, Green Bean Casserole, Salad

Lots of meals from the freezer this week. Yipee!

Nothing new here

You are probably wondering what is going on with my journey to transform my home. Nothing really new here. We have managed to keep the main floor of the home decluttered and picked up. That is because we have a small group that meets here on Monday nights and that helps us to be more intentional in our picking up and putting away. I haven't started on any house cleaning projects yet.

Today, I need to gather dd's old school uniforms and ready them for a consignment sale at school. I need to press some things and put all items on hangers along with tags marking the size, price, etc. This may take some time.

If I get time today, I need to do my grocery shopping. I didn't do any big shopping last week and we just picked up items as needed. I've noticed a trend where I do my bigger shopping every other week. It's been working for us and we spend less money that way.

My nephew is coming over later in the week to help us with some outside chores. We are going to mulch some beds and cut down some trees that haven fallen over in the woods. That will supply us with some wood later on in the winter. We still have wood leftover from the last two winters that will warm our fireplace when the temperatures turn chilly. I love burning a fire. It's so cozy. A mug of hot chocolate, a blanket, a good book, and I'm all set! I just wish our fireplace had a high hearth. Getting up and down from the floor to build a fire is hard on the old knees!

Have a wonderful day!

Pam

Menu for this week:

Monday:

Breakfast-Pancakes for Robyn, Breakfast Burrito for Robert, Protein Shake for me (need to use these babies up)
Lunch-Ham Sammies, Veggies and Dip (Robyn's school lunch-Turkey Sammie, Baked Chips, Sliced Apple, School Milk)
Dinner-Small Group-Snacks. I may make brownies and have coffee and sodas available.

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Protein Shake for me, One Eye Sailors and Sausage for Robert and Robyn
Lunch-PB& J with Sliced Apple; Robyn's Lunch-probably a repeat of yesterday but with Cantaloupe
Dinner-Chicken and Dumplings, Fried Okra, maybe some Pintos

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Protein Shake for me, Chocolate Chip Muffins and Yogurt for Robert and Robyn
Lunch-Leftovers for us (Robyn's school lunch-Pasta and Spaghetti Sauce, Cheese Stick, Grapes, School Milk)
Dinner-Dinner at Church-they are serving breakfast-Yum-o!

Thursday:

Breakfast-Protein Shake for me, Pancakes for Robyn, Breakfast Burrito for Robert
Lunch-Egg Sammies possibly or PB&J for us (Robyn's lunch, Homemade Chicken and Noodle Soup, Cheese Stick, Ritz Crackers, Grapes, School Milk)
Dinner-Hamburger Helper (made with turkey or chicken), Cantaloupe for Robert and Robyn. I'm going to Ladies Night Out and will be eating there.

Friday:

Breakfast-Protein Shake for me, Sausage and Cheese Muffins and Yogurt for Robert and Robyn
Lunch-Lean Pockets and Grapes for Robert and I; (Robyn's lunch-Turkey Rollup,Baked Chips, Sliced Apple, School Milk and School Ice Cream Treat)
Dinner-Quick Chick Trick (old tried and true recipe), Salad, Canned Fruit

Saturday:

Breakfast-Bacon, Eggs, Biscuits, OJ
Lunch-Leftovers or Homemade Soup and Grilled Cheese
Dinner-Baked Pork Chops and Rice, Brussel Sprouts, Mayo Rolls (then out for a date-night, maybe get coffee and a dessert somewhere-hint, hint)

Sunday:

Breakfast-Muffin and Yogurt
Lunch-Slow Cooker Chili, Fritos, Sour Cream and Cheese
Dinner (C.O.R.N) Clean Out Refrigerator Night!

I make up muffins and keep them in the freezer for quick breakfasts. Same with the breakfast burritos. My Chicken and Noodle Soup is already portioned and frozen as well as the Pasta and Spaghetti Sauce. The chicken for the Quick Chick Trick is already cooked and cut up and in the freezer. This will thaw quickly for going into the casserole. The Lean Pockets and Hamburger Helper are here because they were on sale and I had coupons! Yay coupons! By planning my menus around sales I can save a lot of money on my grocery bill. Planning my meals saves us from those quick trips to the store or the drive-through for dinner and spending more than we should.

Quick Chick Trick

4 chicken breasts
8 oz. sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
40 Ritz crackers
1 stick butter

Boil and debone chicken, tear into small pieces and line bottom of dish. Mix together soup and sour cream; heat just until boiling and pour over chicken. Crumble all crackers over mixture. Melt butter and pour over crackers. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.


Baked Pork Chops and Rice

3-6 pork chops
1/3 cup rice, uncooked
1 can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup
1 c. water
½ package dried onion soup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix rice, soup and water. Put in greased 9X13 inch pan. Arrange pork chops on top and cover with dried onion soup. Bake uncovered 1 ½ hours.

Slow Cooker Chili

2 lb. ground beef
2 cans kidney or pinto beans, rinsed and drained or homemade
2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained
8 oz. tomato sauce
2 medium onions, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 T chili powder
2 t. salt
1 t. pepper

In skillet, brown beef, drain. Transfer to crock pot and add remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or high 3-4 hours. Makes 10 servings.

Pam

Crazy Love

Our church does Community Groups or some call them Small Groups. I still want to call them that. Any way, we are hosting one at our home on Monday evenings. We are doing the book, Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It is am awesome book and I highly recommend it. We also watch a few minutes of a DVD where he speaks to us. Here is a quote:

"I urge you to consider and actually live as though each person you come into contact with is Christ."

Crazy Love
by Francis Chan
w/ Danae Yankoski

Can you imagine doing that? I'm gonna try. And I'm gonna start with my family first!

Pam

My menu plan this week

It's flu season around here. So, time for lots of Orange Juice, Fruits and Vitamins!

Monday:

Breakfast-One-Eyed Sailors, Orange Juice
Lunch-Sammies, Veggies and Dip
Dinner-Potato Soup with all the good stuff like Sour Cream, Bacon and Shredded Cheese, Crackers and Sliced Cheese, Cantaloupe and Grapes and Cookies (feeding small group)

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Scrambled Eggs, Blueberry Muffins from the freezer, Orange Juice
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Fried Chicken, Bow tie Pasta Salad, Biscuits

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Pancakes and Sausage, Orange Juice
Lunch-Leftovers or Egg Sammie
Dinner-Grilled Sesame Chicken, Rice, Green Beans, Pears

Thursday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal, Yogurt, Orange Juice
Lunch-Cheese Quesadillas, Fruit
Dinner-Pork and Beans with Polish Sausage, Corn Fritters, leftover Pasta Salad

Friday:

Breakfast-Sausage and Cheese Muffins, Orange Juice
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Chicken and Noodle Casserole, Broccoli with Cheese Sauce, Grapes

Saturday:

Breakfast-Cereal, Toast, Orange Juice
Lunch-Leftovers or Sammies
Dinner-Fresh Green Beans with Potatoes, Sliced Garden Tomatoes, Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, Cornbread, Green Onions

Sunday:

Breakfast-Sausage Crescents, Orange Juice
Lunch-Cajun Chicken, Leftover Sides from yesterday
Dinner-? Maybe C.O.R.N. (clean out refrigerator night)

I'm on a journey-come along!

You may have wondered about the name of my blog-Chaos Cottage. It comes from something I read on Flylady years ago. Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome. Yep, most the time that is the way I feel about my home. You know, please let us know days ahead of time if you are coming for a visit. Arghh...

I struggle with homemaking. I know, I probably shouldn't. I am a stay-at-home mom with 1 daughter who attends a Christian school. My husband is unemployed at the moment and is able to run many errands and take dd to and from school. I have the time and the ability to take extra special care of my family and my home. Excuses? I haven't any, really. Oh, sometimes I think I have the excuses of "I don't feel so well", or "I didn't sleep well", or "my back hurts", and my favorite, "I need a nap." These can all be true some days, but honestly, I have no good excuses most days.

Oh, I have really good intentions. I make plans. I am the queen of list making. It's something I find very relaxing. I always get my menu planning done on Sunday. I look forward to it really. Maybe it is because I love to eat. I don't know. I love looking at other ladies blogs and seeing how much they are accomplishing in their homes and reading their daily schedules. I ooh and aah over their accomplishments. I must admit I do get a little envious sometimes. Then I look at my home and I am sad. Having a list does help me some. But you have to look at it.

I think I know the real reason I always fall short. It is sin in my heart. Yep, I think it is selfishness and rebellion. I do what I WANT to do and housework ain't one of them. Sounds childish, doesn't it?

I am childish, but I am also a child of God. And as a child of God I am very blessed. I don't deserve all the things that the Lord has blessed me with, but He has blessed me just the same. So, I think it is time for confession for sure. But also doing a 180 and making the needed changes in my life to do the job the Lord has asked me to do. Be a wife and a mother. Count it all JOY. Do my work pleasingly as unto the Lord.

So, I'm going on a journey. I want to please the Lord and my family and give them the home they deserve. I hope that you'll stay with me on this journey. And I do ask for your prayers in this area my friends. It means so much to me to know that I have your support! I may even post a before and after photo here and there. That is, if I am not too ashamed to show you the before. Oy!

I 'm just really sad today.

I'm trying not to be. I am usually very upbeat. But lately, I have been feeling a little down. You see, I have several friends, who are going through marital difficulties. It makes me so sad. I value marriage. I am committed to my marriage. Marriage is tough. Sometimes, it is downright hard. But I'm here for the long haul.

God hates divorce. It's no wonder he does. It's a horrible thing. For everyone.

I'm praying for my friends. Won't you join me?

Pam

My Menu for this Week:

Monday: Happy Labor Day!

Breakfast-Bacon, Eggs, Biscuits, O.J., coffee
Lunch-Out
Dinner-Turkey and Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Glazed Carrots, Macaroni and Cheese, Rolls

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Sausage and Cheese Muffins
Lunch-Leftovers or Grilled Cheese Sammie (Robyn's school lunch-Turkey Sammie, Chips, Cantaloupe)
Dinner-Polish Kielbasa Stew, Mayo Rolls

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal, Yogurt
Lunch-Leftovers (Robyn's school lunch-Same as yesterday)
Dinner-Sausage Casserole, Corn Casserole

Thursday:

Breakfast-Pancakes, Link Sausage
Lunch-Leftovers (Robyn buying lunch at school)
Dinner-Spaghetti and Stuffed Green Peppers from the Freezer, Salad, and Garlic Bread Sticks

Friday:

Breakfast-Eggs, Sausage, Blueberry Muffins
Lunch-Meatloaf (from freezer)Sammies
Dinner-Chicken Noodle Casserole, Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Saturday:

Breakfast-Breakfast Burritos (make extras for freezer)
Lunch-Leftovers or Grilled Cheese
Dinner-Fried Chicken, Potato Salad, Cantaloupe

Sunday:

Breakfast-Chocolate Chip Muffins, Yogurt
Lunch-Lazy Day Lasagna (freezer meal), Salad, Garlic Bread Sticks
Dinner-?