My Plans for the Week of May 31st

Monday: Grocery Shopping, Laundry, work on Master Bedroom
Tuesday: Take Daughter to spend night with grandparents, Work on Yard Sale Prep
Wednesday: More Yard Sale Prep, Pick up Daughter from grandparents
Thursday: More Yard Sale Prep, Help Daughter Pack for D.C. Trip, Mom's Night Out with Home School Group
Friday: See Daughter Off For D.C. Trip at 6:00 a.m., Clean Main Floor of House, Small Group Over for Fun and Fellowship
Saturday: Neighborhood Yard Sale, Date Night and Concert
Sunday: Church and R & R and Back to Church for Evening Services

Menu for Week of May 31st

You would think we would be grilling out today since it is Memorial Day and cook-outs seem to be the norm. But our grill propane tank went empty and hubby hasn't replaced it yet and we just have too much on our plate right now to fool with it. Maybe we will get to it later in the week. Anywho, this is my plan for feeding my family this week. How about you?

Monday:

Breakfast-Pancakes with Link Sausage
Lunch-Grilled Cheese and Fried Bologna Sammies, Grapes
Dinner-Lil' Cheddar Meatloaves (use turkey or chicken), Green Bean Casserole (A hubby fav!), Cooked Carrots

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Mr. Food's Chicken Kiev, Rice Pilaf and Roasted Asparagus

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Eggs, Bacon and Toast
Lunch-Leftovers and Cantaloupe
Dinner-Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs, Salad, Garlic Toast

Thursday:

Breakfast-Sausage and Cheese Muffins
Lunch-Chicken Nuggets and Tots
Dinner-Hubby and Daughter on their own, I'm going to a Mom's Night Out with the Home school Group

Friday:

Breakfast-Sausage and Cheese Muffins
Lunch-Free Chik-Fil-A Sandwiches
Dinner-Small Group Get Together Here-Menu yet to be decided, but it will be good and fun!

Saturday:

Breakfast-Take-out Breakfast Biscuits (Yard Sale Day)
Lunch-Egg Salad Sandwiches, Chips
Dinner-Beef Taco Bake (recipe below using turkey or chicken), Mexican Rice Casserole (recipe below)

Sunday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal
Lunch-Pizza Casserole (recipe below), Salad, Garlic Bread
Dinner-Leftover Buffet

Beef Taco Bake
1 lb. ground beef (I used turkey)
1 can condensed tomato soup
1 cup salsa
1/2 c. skim milk
6 flour or 8 corn tortillas torn into chunks
1 c. shredded cheddar (used nonfat melted fine)
1. In skillet cook beef--pour off fat.
2. Add soup, salsa, milk, tortillas and HALF the cheese. Spoon into 2 qt.
shallow baking dish. COVER.
3. Bake at 400 for 30 min. until hot. Sprinkle remaining cheese. Says
serves 4 but easily 6 if you make other side dishes.
Mexican Rice Casserole
3 c. cooked Minute Rice
16 oz. sour cream
2-4 oz. cans mild chopped green chilies
½ lb. grated Monterey Jack cheese
Grated cheddar
Mix rice, sour cream, chilies, and Monterey Jack cheese. Pour into greased casserole and top with grated cheddar. Bake 350 degrees 30 minutes. Cover while baking.
Pizza Casserole
1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
½ t. garlic powder
½ lb. sliced pepperoni
4 oz. can mushroom stems and pieces, drained
32 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
3 c. rigatoni or other small pasta cooked and drained
8 oz. Mozzarella cheese
In a large skillet, cook beef, onion, green pepper and garlic powder until meat is browned and vegetables are tender; drain. Stir in pepperoni, mushrooms and spaghetti sauce. Place noodles in greased 13X9X2 inch baking dish. Top with beef mixture; sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered 375 degrees for 35-40 min. or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. 8-10 servings.

He meets all my needs!

To-Do List for Tuesday

Gotta clean out the fridge. I keep moving this task and today, by golly, I'm gonna do it!

Plant vegetables in pots. (done)

Laundry (in progress)

Work in Kitchen (in progress)

Bake Banana Pudding Cake (done)

Work in Master Bedroom (lots of stuff in there that belongs to daughter when we were working in her room and the guest room.) Today that stuff is finally leaving my room! (daughter visiting aunt today and swimming. As she is to help with this task, this task may be moved to tomorrow but will begin on it this evening.)

If I get all these things done today I will be very happy. Then tomorrow I will start a new list with more tasks. Accountability, I needs it! lol

Menu for Week of May 24th

I had a menu already planned out for this week but have to change it as I didn't fix everything I had planned last week. So some items may look familiar.

Monday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal and Yogurt
Lunch-Grilled Cheese, Grapes
Dinner-Crock Pot White Beans and Ham, Super-Moist Cornbread, Banana Pudding Cake (recipe below)

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Coffee Cake, Fruit Salad
Lunch-Easy Chicken Vegetable Soup, Cheese and Crackers
Dinner-Chicken Packets, Squash Casserole and Broccoli Salad

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal and Yogurt
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Polish Sausage Meal, Leftover Cornbread

Thursdays:

Breakfast-Pancakes and Sausage
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Grilled Chicken Burgers, Chips, Fruit

Friday:

Breakfast-Oven Baked Denver Omelet, Toast
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs, Salad, Garlic Bread

Saturday:

Breakfast- Muffins and Yogurt
Lunch-Leftovers or Sammies
Dinner-C's Sausage Casserole, Green Beans, Fried Okra

Sunday:

Breakfast-Toast with Peanut Butter
Lunch-Marinated Garlic Italian Chicken (recipe below), Spaghetti Salad (recipe below), Deviled Eggs
Dinner-Leftover Buffet

Banana Pudding Cake
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant banana pudding mix (I used SF/FF Banana Cream)
4 eggs
1 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup mashed bananas
2 cups confectioners` sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 dash vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
2 In a large bowl, stir together cake mix and pudding mix. Make a well in the center and pour in eggs, water, oil and mashed banana. Beat on low speed until blended. Scrape bowl, and beat 4 minutes on medium speed. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3 Bake in a preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until cake tests done. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
4 To make glaze: In a small bowl, combine confectioners` sugar, milk and vanilla. Whisk until smooth and of a drizzling consistency. When cake is cooled, drizzle icing over cake with a zigzag motion. Sprinkle chopped nuts over wet icing if desired.

This is a very moist cake. I didn't make the glaze and opted to just sprinkle the top with powdered sugar. Hubby went nuts for this so I am making it again this week.

Marinated Italian Garlic Chicken

½ cup Miracle Whip
½ cup Kraft House Italian dressing
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
4 chicken breast halves (@ 2 lb.) skin removed

Mix dressing and seasonings. Pour dressing mixture over chicken. Cover, refrigerate 20 minutes. Drain. Place chicken on grill over medium-hot coals or greased rack of broiler pan. Grill or broil 10-12 min. on each side or until tender. 4 servings.

Spaghetti Salad
16 oz. spaghetti, cooked and drained
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
4 green onions, finely chopped
1 cup prepared Italian dressing
2 tomatoes, peeled and diced
1 cucumber, scored and diced
2 T salad seasoning

In a large bowl combine the spaghetti, red onion, green onions and salad dressing, tossing gently. Cover and chill overnight. Just before serving, add the tomatoes, cucumber, and salad seasoning. 10 servings.

Accountability Time!

I have some things I must get done in the next few days or week so I thought maybe I ought to make a list. That way, it keeps me accountable, and I can check off as I go and feel like I have accomplished something. Here goes:

1. Laundry-catch up and put away clean clothes (done)
2. Kitchen - reboot dw, hand wash dishes, clean out fridge, clean stove, table and counter tops(all dishes done, rebooted dw, more to come)
3. Pick up Dining Room (done)
4. Pick up Den (done)
5. Clean little bath on main
6. Buy groceries (done)
7. Work on yard sale prep
8. Assist daughter with sorting movies and books (outgrown books and movies to be sold to Mckay's)
9. Take books and movies to McKays for cash
10. Practice hospitality by having guests over for a meal

Menu for week of May 17th

I must go to the grocery store, I must, I must!

Here are my plans for this week including all three meals and any new recipes I haven't posted here before. Hey, where's the fruit? I must add more fruit to our diet again. Hmmmm....

Monday:

Breakfast-Muffin and Yogurt (muffins get baked and frozen for quick breakfasts)
Lunch-Leftovers from the weekend
Dinner-Grilled Smoked Turkey Sausage with Onions and Green Peppers, Macaroni and Cheese, Salad

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal and Yogurt
Lunch-Sammies
Dinner-Crockpot White Beans and Ham (gonna use up that ham hock in the freezer!)
Super-Moist Cornbread (recipes below)

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Pancakes and Link Sausage
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Weight Watchers Chicken Pie (it's really good) and more Salad :) (recipe below)

Thursday:

Breakfast-Scrambled Eggs. Bacon, Coffee Cake
Lunch-Leftovers or Sammies or Soup
Dinner-Santa Fe Pizza (another WW recipe that is really good), Veggies and Dip and Chips and Salsa (pizza recipe below)

Friday:

Breakfast-Muffins, Fruit
Lunch-Any leftovers to be found
Dinner-Hamburger Helper using ground chicken or turkey, Green Veggie and Roll

Saturday:

Breakfast-Oven Baked Denver Omelet (recipe below), Biscuits or Toast, Orange Juice
Lunch-Easy Chicken Vegetable Soup (recipe below) and Grilled Cheese
Dinner-Chicken Packets(recipe below), Squash Casserole (recipe below), and Broccoli Salad (recipe below)

Sunday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal, Yogurt
Lunch-Polish Sausage Meal (recipe below), Cornbread (leftovers that were frozen on Tuesday)
Dinner-Whatever you can find! Maybe Breaded Chicken Tenders and Tots from the freezer!

CROCKPOT WHITE BEANS 'N HAM


1 (16oz) package Great Northern White Beans
2 cups cubed ham (I used leftover ham) OR use 1 ham hock
8 cups water
1 carrot, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 teaspoons salt or to your taste
Fresh Ground Pepper

Wash beans and the place in crockpot with all ingredients. Cook on high 4-5 hours.
(I like to soak my beans overnight, rinse and add fresh water)

Super-Moist Cornbread

2 c. S.R. Cornmeal
2 c. buttermilk
1 large egg
1 T sugar
1/3 c. butter

Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Melt butter in 8 inch cast-iron skillet in a 425 degree oven 5 min. Tilt skillet to coat evenly with butter. Pour cornbread batter into the buttered skillet. Bake at 425 deg. For 25 minutes or until golden. Remove cornbread immediately from skillet, and let cool.

Weight Watcher Chicken Pot Pie

2 cans reduced fat cream of chicken soup
2 cups cooked, cubed chicken breast
1 cup lightly cooked carrots
1 cup frozen peas
1 can mushrooms, drained
1 tube crescent rolls (reduced fat)

Mix soup, chicken and vegetables. Place in oblong dish. Top with rolls. Serves 6. 4 pts. each. Bake 350 degrees for 30 min.


Santa Fe Pizza

8 oz. reduced fat crescent rolls
2 t. cornmeal
8 oz. lean ground beef or turkey (I use turkey or chicken)
15 oz. can stewed tomatoes, coarsely chopped and drained (I use diced and not stewed)
1 c. frozen corn, drained
¼ c. chunky salsa
16 oz. can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 T chili seasoning
¾ c. shredded reduced fat Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pat rolls into an ungreased 10 X 15 rimmed baking sheet (I used a pizza pan). Gently press rolls to cover bottom of pan, sealing perforations. Lightly spray crust with butter Pam. Sprinkle dry cornmeal evenly over top. Bake 8-10 minutes. Place pan on wire rack to cool. Meanwhile, brown meat in large skillet sprayed with Pam. Add drained tomatoes, corn, salsa and kidney beans. Mix well to combine. Stir in chili seasoning. Spoon mixture over partially cooked crust. Top with cheese. Bake 10 – 12 minutes. May also top with sour cream when serving.8 servings.
This is a Weight Watchers recipe that is delicious and different. 5 pt. each serving, 237 calories, 9 g. fat, 3 g. fiber.

Oven Baked Denver Omelete (TOH Oct/Nov 98)

8 eggs
½ c. half and half
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 c. finely chopped fully cooked ham
¼ c. finely chopped green pepper
¼ c. finely chopped onion

In a bowl, beat the eggs and cream until light and fluffy. Stir in the cheese, ham, green pepper, and onion. Pour into a greased 9 inch square pan. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 4-6 servings.

Easy Chicken Vegetable Soup

3 cans (14 ½ oz. each) fat free chicken broth
½ t. dried thyme leaves, crushed
¼ t. garlic powder or 2 cloves garlic, minced
2 c. frozen whole kernel corn
2 c. frozen cut green beans
1 cup cut-up canned tomatoes
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey
In large saucepan mix broth, thyme, garlic powder, corn, beans, tomatoes and celery. Over medium-high heat, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add chicken and heat through.
Makes 6 servings. 166 calories each, 2 g. fat, 27 protein, 3 fiber, 575 sodium, 19 carbs, 3 ww points

Chicken Packets

Ingredients for Cooking Day:
* 2 cups cooked chopped chicken
* 1 -3 oz. packet cream cheese
* 1 Tbsp. chopped chives
* 2 Tbsp. milk
* salt to taste
Ingredients for Serving Day:
* 1/2 c. crushed seasoned croutons (I have substituted bread crumbs)
* 2 -8oz. package refrigerated crescent rolls.
* 1/4 cup melted margarine.
Directions for Cooking Day: Mix chicken, cream cheese, chives, milk and salt. Freeze in freezer bag.
Directions for Serving Day: Thaw chicken mixture. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unroll rolls. Make rectangles instead of triangles by sealing the perforations. Place 1/4 c. filling on top of each piece of roll. Fold over and seal. Dip packet in melted butter and roll in crushed croutons. Bake 20 minutes until golden brown.

Squash Casserole

2 pounds yellow squash, sliced
½ onion, chopped
3 eggs
1 pack or tube Ritz crackers, crushed
½ cup milk
2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
salt, pepper to taste
½ stick margarine

Cook squash and onion until tender. Drain. Mix squash with remaining ingredients except margarine. Spoon into greased casserole; dot with margarine pieces. Bake 350 degrees about 30 minutes, until light browned.

Bodacious Broccoli Salad
8 slices bacon
2 bunches broccoli, chopped
1 ½ cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 large red onion, chopped
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/8 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 to 3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Place bacon in a deep skillet and cook over medium high heat until evenly browned. Cool and crumble.
In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, cheese, bacon and onion.
Prepare the dressing by whisking together the red wine vinegar, sugar, pepper, salt, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Add the dressing to the salad, and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

My hubby

I think now is the appropriate time to write a little about how much I love my husband and honor him as my husband. He was dealt a heavy blow last year when the company where he worked for shut down and has been seeking full-time employment ever since. He has stepped out of his comfort zone with some part-time employment and I am very proud of him for wanting to be the provider for his family.

I am so grateful to be married to my husband. I am guilty of dwelling too much on his faults and not on the positives about him that cause me to love him. He is the one the Lord chose to give me and I want to be a good wife to him. Robert continues to grow in his walk in the Lord and it makes me very happy.

My husband may not be perfect, but unfortunately for him, neither and I. He is patient to put up with my house working struggles, my grumblings about daily life, my love of blogging and blog surfing. He is willing to kill those icky spiders or take photos for my blog when I ask him.

He brings in all those heavy bags from the grocery store and hands me the bag with the loaf of bread in it.

He watches HGTV with me and acts interested.

He's very smart.

He's a gentleman.

He's crazy about our daughter and would do anything for her.

He never complains about my cooking.

When I was pregnant, he shaved my legs!

He likes to buy me flowers and jewelry.

He's polite.

He's loyal.

He always kisses me good-bye.

He tells me he loves me every day.

He takes out the garbage. Icky!

He call fall asleep in 10 seconds flat. Impressive!

He loves cats.

He loves coffee and bookstores.

He's a geek and keeps all the family computers up and running.

He uses his geekiness for God and works in the Audio Visual room at church and is on the photo team ministry.

After dating only a few months, I knew he was "the one." We were either together or on the phone together and rarely apart. He made me feel special. He made me feel like I was walking on a cloud.

He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

He bought me the most gorgeous engagement ring ever made. I don't know how I kept from wrecking my car because as I drove down the road, my eyes were not on the road but on my left hand on the steering wheel admiring all that glitters!

He's a couch potato. So am I.

He's my Valentine and he's all mine!

I love you Robert. I thank God for you.

Pam

We are going to home school our daughter

Yep, we are going to be one of those "crazy" families that teach their children at home. Robyn is looking forward to it. Can you believe it? An eleven year old who wants to be home schooled? Anyway, more on that to come later. In the mean time, here are some very encouraging quotes.

" I suppose it is because nearly all children go to school nowadays and have things arranged for them that they seem so forlornly unable to produce their own ideas. "--Agatha Christie

"Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality."-- Beatrix Potter

"Homeschooling and public schooling are as opposite as two sides of a coin. In a homeschooling environment, the teacher need not be certified, but the child MUST learn. In a public school environment, the teacher MUST be certified, but the child need NOT learn."-- Gene Royer

" I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn."-- Albert Einstein

Pray for us as we explore all our homeschooling options.

Pam

Sad News

Hubby isn't teaching the Project Management Class in a couple of weeks. It seems that the university is going to require another teacher to do it. We suspect that they are being hit by the economy as well and some of their professors are having to do double duty. He is very disappointed as he was really looking forward to the class and the income.

I am reminded that the source of your money is never your job. The source of your money is God. He owns it all; He distributes it as he pleases; and He has promised over and over to take care of every need of His children.

I am also reminded of one of my favorite verses, Jeremiah 29:11
For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.

Pam

School is almost over for daughter

Tomorrow she has field day and the last day is a half a day with breakfast at school with parents invited. This year has gone by quicker than all the others for me.

We have decided to homeschool Robyn for 6th grade. We cannot afford to send her to her private Christian school with hubby not having full-time employment. We are going to use a dvd curriculum called Switched On Schoolhouse. Since we are new to homeschooling, this may be the easiest way to ease into homeschooling. Plus Robyn loves computers. She really is looking forward to homeschooling so this made the decision easier for us. We are going to start in June and school three weeks and take off one week each month. This allows her needed down-time and time to visit friends and grandparents. We can be flexible even with that plan. Our goal is for she and I to walk daily, start school at 9:00 a.m. with prayer and Bible and then she can go to her laptop and begin her assignments. We want to include weekly library visits as well as field trips with our local homeschool group. I am really looking forward to spending more time with Robyn.

Advice from homeschooling parents out there is greatly appreciated. I have checked many homeschooling blogs and websites and have found all kinds of help on-line. It would seem awfully lonely, I think, without the web to keep us all connected.

Have a terrific day.

Pam

Census Job

I don't think I mentioned that hubby was doing census work. He has been doing this for a couple of weeks now. It should last a few months. I am thankful for all the prayers for his employment that you all have sent heavenward. He is working for LMU as an adjunct professor and is about to finish up his first Marketing class and then begins teaching Project Management. I hope this part-time work continues. It is one night a week.

Keep praying for him to find a full-time job and that he will get to keep teaching for LMU as well.

We give God all the glory for getting us this far on unemployment. We couldn't have done it without Him.

Pam

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday even though I didn't sleep so well. I have been having bouts of insomnia and I have sleep apnea, but I do use a cpap to help with my sleep. I woke up early, I mean early. Got up, went outside and brought the Sunday paper in, and put on a pot of coffee. The alarm went off upstairs and hubby got up and did his morning ablutions. He had to leave early for church as he was working the AV room. About 8:30, my lack of sleep caught up with me and I had to return to bed. So I missed our wonderful Mother's Day service at church. But after finishing my sleep, I felt so much better.

After church we bought flowers for our mothers and headed to my mom and dad's first and had a nice visit and a yummy KFC lunch. I was surprised by a visit by my Aunt Dessie. She had been to South Carolina to visit her son and daughter-in-love and her two grandsons. She is visiting my mom and dad a couple of days before heading home to Ohio.

Then we went to my mother-in-love's home and we shared some yummy chocolate cake with her. We had a nice visit there and lots of lovin' from her D-O-G, Lacey. Shhh...she doesn't know she's a D-O-G. It was a very nice day. How was your mother's day?

Menu for the Week of May 10th

Monday:

Breakfast-Grandma's Brown Sugar Muffins, (recipe below), Yogurt
Lunch-Grilled Cheese, Watermelon
Dinner-Ham, Roasted Asparagus, Potato Salad, Deviled Eggs

Tuesday:

Breakfast-One Eyed Sailors, Link Sausage, Orange Juice
Lunch-Easy Pastafazool, Cheddar Biscuits (recipes below)
Dinner-Chicken Chow Mein Freezer Meal, Rice, Egg Rolls

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Apple Muffins, (recipe below), Yogurt
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Chicken Salad, Grapes, Cheese

Thursday:

Breakfast-Egg Sammies
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Mexican Chicken Roll-ups (OAMC Freezer Meal), Homemade Refried Beans, Grilled Zucchini

Friday:

Breakfast-Muffin, Yogurt
Lunch-Leftovers or Sandwich
Dinner-Chops in the Crock Pot, Sauteed Cabbage, Macaroni and Cheese, Corn on the Cob

Saturday:

Breakfast-Pancakes and Sausage, Orange Juice
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Homemade Pizza, Veggies and Dip

Sunday:

Breakfast-Eggs, Bacon, Biscuits, Orange Juice
Lunch-Wild Rice and Chicken Dinner (from freezer), Spinach Salad with Strawberries
Dinner-Leftovers

Grandma's Brown Sugar Muffins
1 c. quick oats
½ c. milk
¾ c. brown sugar
1 stick margarine, melted
1 egg
1 c. plain flour
½ c. chopped walnuts
2 t. b. powder

Mix oats, milk and brown sugar. Let stand 5 minutes. Add margarine and egg. Blend well and add remaining ingredients; stirring until moist. Grease 12 muffin tins, fill 2/3 full. Bake 400 degrees 15-20 minutes.

Easy Pastafazool

8 oz. lean turkey or beef
½ cup chopped onion
10 oz. can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
15 oz. can Hunt's chunky tomato sauce
14 ½ oz. can beef broth
1 ¾ cup water
1 1/3 c. uncooked elbow macaroni
2 T chili seasoning
2 T Italian seasoning
¼ c. grated fat free Parmesan cheese

In a large saucepan, sprayed with olive oil Pam, brown meat and onion. Add beans, sauce, broth, water, uncooked macaroni, chili seasoning and Italian seasoning. Mix well to combine. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer 15 min. or until macaroni is tender. Just before serving, stir in cheese. 6 servings.

Good and easy. Robert likes this. 1 ½ cup serving is 3 pts., 184 cal., 4 g. fat, 4 g. fiber.

Apple Muffins

2 cup all purpose flour
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. b. soda
½ t. salt
2 eggs
1 c. oil
1 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla
4 c. apples, peeled and chopped
1 c. chopped nuts (opt.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir flour, cinnamon, b. soda and salt in small bowl. Set aside. In large bowl, beat eggs with beaters until foamy. Beat in oil, sugar and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture; fold in apples and nuts. Spoon mixture into muffin pan or baking cups. Fill half full. Baked 350 degrees 15-20 minutes.

Cheddar Drop Biscuits (like Red Lobster's)

2 cups reduced fat Bisquick
2 oz. shredded reduced fat sharp Cheddar cheese
¾ cup skim milk
Pam
2 T reduced fat margarine, melted
¼ t. garlic powder
½ t. dried parsley flakes, crushed

Combine Bisquick and cheese in a bowl; make a well in center of mix and add milk, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Drop dough by rounded T's 2 inches apart on baking sheet sprayed with Pam. Bake 450 degrees for 8 minutes. Combine margarine, garlic and parsley; brush over biscuits. 12 servings.

These are unbelievably good. They are reduced fat but you don't miss the fat. 2 pts. Each, 106 calories, 3.5 g. fat, 0.3 g. fiber

As always, I'm behind...

Well, so much for doing a load of laundry a day or so. I let it pile up this week. So today I am trying to catch up. Fortunately, my back is doing much better.

One thing I like to do on Mondays is to peruse orgjunkie.com and read other menus for the week. It's also a good way to find new favorite blogs. I also go to oneplace.com and listen to some favorite ministries while looking at the other sites. Sorta killing two birds or three with one stone sort of thing. It's actually quite enjoyable. In between rebooting the laundry I set out food to thaw, load and unload the dishwasher, hand wash dishes, clean the table and counter, pick up clutter, etc. So Mondays aren't so bad after all!

Pam

Menu for week of May 3rd.

Breakfasts will consist of smoothies, muffins, pancakes and sausage, breakfast pizza, etc.

Lunch is usually leftovers or sammies.

Monday: Cheddar Turkey Bake (making extras to freeze) recipe below, Tossed Salad

Tuesday: Cream Cheese Chicken Casserole (making extras to freeze) recipe below , Roasted Asparagus

Wednesday: Chicken Burgers, Chips, Watermelon

Thursday: Lil' Cheddar Meat Loaves, Green Beans with New Potatoes, Salad

Friday: Chicken Chow Mien , Egg Rolls, Brown Rice

Saturday: Ham, Brussels Sprouts, Macaroni and Cheese, Deviled Eggs, Rolls

Sunday: Pizza Casserole (make extra to freeze)recipe below, Salad, Garlic Cheddar Biscuits

Cheddar Turkey Bake
Yield: 2 casseroles (4-6 servings each)
If you prefer, you can use chicken for the turkey and corn instead of peas.

Ingredients
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
4 tsp dried minced onion
2 cups uncooked long grain rice
2 cups frozen peas, thawed
4 cups cubed cooked turkey or chicken
2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
2 cups milk
1 tsp salt
2 cups finely crushed butter flavored crackers (about 60 crackers)
6 TBSP butter or margarine, melted

In a large saucepan, bring the broth, water and onion to a boil. Reduce heat. Add rice; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat; fluff with a fork. Divide rice betweem two greased 9-inch square baking dishes. Sprinkle each with peas and turkey.

In a bowl, combine the soup, milk and salt until smooth; pour over turkey. Toss the cracker crumbs and butter; sprinkle over the top. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months.

If you want to eat one immediately: Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes or until golden brown.

To use frozen casserole: Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees F for 70 minutes until heated through.

Cream Cheese Chicken Casserole

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked
3 cups cooked rice
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 ounce Italian Salad Dressing Mix -- low salt
1 can Condensed Cream of Chicken soup
8 ounces Cream Cheese -- cubed
1 med Onion -- chopped
2 tablespoons butter-- to cook onion
couple shakes of garlic powder

Cook onion in butter. Add soup, salad dressing, salt, pepper and garlic to a sauce pan. Heat to simmer point. Cube cream cheese and add to soup mixture. Stir until cheese is melted. Add rice and cubed, cooked chicken. Mix thoroughly. Pour into a 9x9 pan. There's some left over for lunch the next day! Sprinkle with parsley for color, if you like. I put this in the freezer. Thaw and bake at 350 about 30 minutes, or until heated through.
Okay, I made this and I should have followed the directions and used the reduced salt dressing mix. Hubby couldn't find that at the store. Next time I will just omit the salt and then it should be less salty. Very tasty though and I would make again.

Pizza Casserole

2 pounds ground beef (I use ground turkey or chicken)
2 onions -- chopped
48 oz spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons italian seasonings
10 oz spiral macaroni
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Parmesan cheese

Brown and drain ground beef. Cook and drain pasta. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well. Place in large casserole pan or 2 8x8 pans. Sprinkle
with Parmesan cheese and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Happy May Day!

I remember dancing a May Day Pole dance in elementary school. It could get very confusing if you didn't pay attention. Anyway, Happy May Day to all my blog readers.

Pam