Chaos Cottage

Scotch Eggs

2012-01-31T11:00:00.001-05:00

Have you ever had Scotch Eggs? I had never heard of them until I married my husband. Back in the day, when we were doing the Atkins diet, I ran across this recipe and my man loves them. They aren't breaded and they aren't fried, but they are Scotch Eggs! Maybe your man would like them too as he is going out the door to work. It's a great way to get protein in your diet and keep the grumblies away until lunchtime!

I'm posting the recipe as I found it (can't remember where) and just letting you know that I don't do a dozen at a time, but four. I divide the sausage roll in half and then each half in half again. Then I have four clumps of sausage to wrap around four hard boiled eggs. After they have cooled, I put them in a baggie or bowl and place them in the fridge. Hubby wraps his in a paper towel and nukes it in the morning.

Scotch Eggs

12 eggs

3 pkg. pork sausage-Jimmy Dean (I use reduced fat-but plan on making homemade turkey sausage soon)

Hard boil the eggs and cool. Divide each pkg. of sausage into 4 equal parts and form patties. Wrap eggs in patties forming them around the eggs evenly. Place on a cookie sheet and bake 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes till done. Slice and eat. Also good cold.

Menu for week of January 30th

2012-01-30T12:38:00.006-05:00

I did fairly well last week with my menu plan. All plans are subject to change with me though depending on what sort of day I've had, if I've gotten to the store yet, or what type of food I might be craving. Are you the same? I still like to have a plan though. I make a grocery list and then I always have the ingredients for the food I plan. If I decide not to make it the night it is scheduled, I still have all the makings and can make it another night, or another week, if I want to.

This week I have a lot of my freezer meals on my menu. This will make dinner time easy and not much clean-up either. Here is my plan for this week:

Monday: Freezer Meal-Chicken and Bows, Spinach Salad, Rolls

Tuesday: Freezer Meal-Chicken Enchiladas, Mexican Rice, and maybe some Vegetarian Refried Beans (canned)

Wednesday: Freezer Meal-Corn Dog Casserole, Spinach Salad

Thursday: Possibly a leftovers buffet or homemade Chicken and Noodle Soup with homemade bread

Friday: Lasagna Roll-Ups (make an extra one for the freezer), Salad, Garlic Bread

Saturday: Freezer Meal-Chicken Roll-Ups, Rice, Broccoli, Peach Cobbler

Sunday: Crock Pot BBQ Chicken, Buns, Baked Beans, Corn on the Cob (later for Super Bowl, Velveeta Dip and Tortilla Chips, No Bake Cookies!)

That's my menu for this week. How about you? Check out Organized Junkie for hundreds of menu plans. It's the highlight of my week to read these plans. I get so many new ideas and recipes from them.

Have a super week and thank you for visiting Chaos Cottage!

Pam

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2012-01-27T12:03:00.006-05:00

In my life this week…well, this week went by quickly! Nothing much to report here. Still pinching myself that hubby got a great job. God is good!

In our homeschool this week…just enjoying teaching my soon-to-be 13 year old! She loves homeschooling so it makes teaching her a joy!

I am inspired by…the calm after the storm. We had some strong winds and rain go through last night and today the sun is shining and it is beautiful outside. God is good!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…going to my MIL's tomorrow and going to play some boardgames, eat some fun snackie things and fellowship.

My favorite thing this week was…listening to daughter's itunes with her. I remember when I was her age and certain songs meant so much to me too.

What’s working/not working for us…believe it or not, I'm getting to bed a bit earlier. I am waking up when hubby does about 4 or 4:30, which is way to early to get up so I usually get on my ipod touch and play solitaire a while and then go back to sleep. I'm still sleeping too late. I think I need to set my alarm clock. But, then again, I may just need the sleep.

Things I’m working on…still working on this house. Well, more like THINKING about all the stuff that needs to get done and then doing NOTHING. Ugh.

I’m reading… my Bible daily and sometimes getting back to Mansfield Park. I haven't been in much of a book mood for weeks. I read a lot online it seems. I spend way too much time on Pinterest! Check out my boards. I have some really neat stuff there.

I’m cooking…yummy meals for my family. Check my menu every Sunday night or Monday morning. I always post my menu for the week. I don't always follow it as written. I often switch things around. I post recipes too.

I’m grateful for…husband's job, God's blessings, friends and family. God is good!

I’m praying for…friends who are unemployed and looking for work, marriages that are crumbling, and one of our pastors who is leaving to be lead pastor at a nearby church. He will be missed.

Thank you for stopping by Second Star Academy at Chaos Cottage. Please come by again!

Pam

Menu for week of January 23rd

2012-01-22T17:51:00.006-05:00

I got to make most everything on my menu last week and planning to do the same this week. I cooked a ham yesterday so I have plans for that this week. I will be incorporating it into this week's meals, including some breakfasts and freezer meals as well as just freezing slices and diced ham for future meals. If we get tired of ham before we get through the week, I will go ahead and make the meals and freeze them anyway and we'll eat something else. I have another ham in the garage fridge. I couldn't pass up the Christmas prices! : )

Here is the plan for this week:

Monday:

Ham and Potato Casserole (double recipe and freeze one pan), Salad

Ham and Potato Casserole

2 pounds hash browns, frozen (cubed)

1 1/2 cups white sauce

2 tablespoons butter -- melted

16 ounces sour cream

2 cups cooked ham -- cubed

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/3 cup green onion -- chopped

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

To assemble for freezer: Combine ingredients in a large bowl or plastic tub and mix well. Place mixture in a 9x13 pan or a Ziploc bag for freezing.

To serve: thaw completely. If desired top with corn flake topping. 2 Cups of corn flakes and 1/4 cup melted margarine mixed together. I omit the cornflake topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or frozen casserole may be baked for 1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees.

NOTES : My notes: I have used shredded has browns and the family likes them as well as cubed has browns if not better.

Tuesday:

Asparagus Ham Roll-ups, Ultra Veg-All Casserole

Asparagus-Ham Roll-Ups

2 Pkg. frozen asparagus -- (10 oz.) (I'm using fresh asparagus as it's on sale this week)

2 Tbsp. flour

1/2 Tsp. dry mustard

6 Thin Slices cooked ham

1 C. processed Cheddar cheese -- (4 oz.) grated

2 Tbsp. butter or margarine

1/4 Tsp. salt

1 C. milk

Cook asparagus until just tender. Melt fat in heavy saucepan. Stir in flour, salt and mustard. Gradually stir in milk. Cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Add cheese and continue stirring until cheese is melted. Divide asparagus into 6 portions. Place asparagus portions on and parallel to narrow end of each ham slice. Roll as for jelly roll with asparagus in the center of each roll-up. Arrange roll-ups in a baking dish with seam side down. Pour sauce over roll-ups. Bake at 350 degrees until sauce is bubbly, about 20 minutes. Note: I always use fresh asparagus in season. And, I use the microwave to cook the asparagus and heat the roll-ups. Cook the prepared roll-ups on medium for 7 to 10 minutes.

Ultra-Super Veg-all Casserole

15 oz. Veg-All, drained

15 oz. whole kernel corn, drained

8 oz. sour cream

½ c. mayo

½ onion, chopped

8 oz. mild cheddar cheese, grated

2 tubes Ritz crackers, crushed

1 stick soft or melted butter

Mix all ingredients together and put in 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Mix crackers and butter and spread over mixture. Cook 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Wednesday:

Goulash (yipee! a break from the ham), Homemade Bread

Goulash

Ingredients for Cooking Day:

* 1 lb. ground beef ( I use ground chicken)

* 1/2 pound Jimmy Dean sausage (I use reduced fat-soon I hope to be using homemade)

* 1 large can tomato sauce - 29 oz.

* 1 can corn (drained)

* 1 cup elbow macaroni

* 1 chopped green pepper

* 1/2 onion chopped

* 1 clove garlic chopped.

Ingredients for Serving Day:

* Parmesan Cheese

Directions for Cooking Day: Cook elbow macaroni al dente. Brown meat and sausage together. Drain. Add bell pepper, onion, garlic and tomato sauce. Simmer for 1 hour. Add cooked macaroni and corn. Cool and freeze in freezer bag.

Directions for Serving Day: Defrost and heat. Serve with Parmesan cheese. (I'm thinking this would heat on low in the crock pot as a freezer to crock pot meal.)

Thursday:

Ham and Macaroni Casserole (make in two pans and freeze one), Broccoli Cornbread

Ham and Macaroni Casserole

16 oz cooked macaroni

1-1/2 cups chopped cooked ham

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 medium onion, chopped

1 cup Velveeta cheese, cut in chunks

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

Spray a freezer/oven safe dish. Combine all ingredients except bread crumbs. Spoon into dish.

To Freeze: Cover dish with foil and freeze.

To Reheat: Top with breadcrumbs. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about an hour or until heated through.

Friday:

Bean and Vegetable Chowder, Leftover Broccoli Cornbread

Bean and Vegetable Chowder

1 pound dry white beans, Great Northern

2 pounds ham hocks or 2 cups chopped ham (using chopped ham this time)

1 cup onion -- chopped

1 cup carrot -- chopped

1/2 green pepper -- chopped

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon mace (I don't have this, but have been told I can substitute nutmeg, not sure if I will, I may just omit this ingredient)

1 quart tomatoes, canned

Soak beans overnight in water to cover by 2 inches. Drain beans. Add water to cover beans by 1 inch. Cook beans with ham hocks (I use a ham bone with some meat) for at least 2 hours on low heat. Remove ham bone from beans and let cool. Add all other ingredients. Remove ham from the bone and return ham to the bean mixture. Cook until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Freezes well.

Saturday:

Freezer Meal-Spaghetti Casserole, Salad, Garlic Bread

Sunday:

Freezer Meal-Cranberry Chicken (crock pot), Rice Almondine, Green Bean Casserole and Peach Cobbler

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2012-01-20T19:28:00.002-05:00

In my life this week…what? It's Friday??? This week has flown by for me. I guess it is because Hubby had Monday off or something. It's just hasn't felt like Friday to me.

In our homeschool this week…plugging along. It's a little scary to be teaching math now that hubby has a job. I may just get his help for a few hours on the weekend. Even though I have a college degree, math is just not my forte. I am very insecure about my ability to teach it. I know I'm not alone here. It is quite common among us homeschooling moms.

I am inspired by…my hubby who got a 100 on his math test at work today. Now you see why I like him to teach our daughter math!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…Robyn went with her grandmother and great aunt to Rockwood today to see her grandfather's grave and mama's old stomping grounds. I took Robyn to the dentist this week for a check up and cleaning and then we went to our favorite book store to hang for a while.

My favorite thing this week was…teaching my daughter and seeing the look of accomplishment on her face when she was acing her quizzes.

What’s working/not working for us…trying to stick to a schedule. I love to plan but boy do I have a hard time sticking to the plan. We are getting to bed earlier though, even though I have a difficult time getting to sleep and I end up rising later than I'd like. One of these days I will get this worked out.

Things I’m working on…self-discipline.

I’m reading…my bible on a daily basis and still reading Mansfield Park.

I’m cooking…made cookies yesterday. Any left today? Not many. See my Monday Menu to see what I feed my family every week.

I’m grateful for…hubby's job. I still want to pinch myself. God is good.

I’m praying for…friends who are unemployed, marriages that need strengthening, and my sleep problems.

Thanks for stopping by Second Star Academy and Chaos Cottage.

Pam

Homemade Sausage

2012-01-16T13:23:00.011-05:00

Have you ever made homemade sausage? I've been worried about all the nitrites and nitrates that we have been ingesting lately. We really eat too much processed foods. I like sausages, lunch meats, hotdogs, etc. We eliminated beef from our diet several years ago with hubby's cousin died of CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). We just decided we didn't want to take any chances, no matter how slim, and we knew that too much beef wasn't good for us anyway. We eat a lot of chicken. A lot. So I found my self buying more and more turkey smoked sausages, pork sausages, ham, etc. to alleviate some of the chicken boredom. But I think we eat way too much of the N/N filled foods.

We have found that Hormel makes a good bacon that is N/N free. I stock up when it is on sale. They also make good N/N turkey and ham lunch meats. I buy it when it is on sale and sometimes I even have a coupon for it. My daughter loves turkey and eats it often as a snack. Just turkey, no bread or anything. I haven't found any bologna or hotdogs in my area that are N/N free. I am sure Earth Fare may have something, but they are very pricy. But I need to check it out anyway. But in the meantime, I thought I might try making my own sausage with ground turkey or chicken. The next time my local grocery has ground chicken or turkey on sale I am going to use this recipe. If you have made your own sausage, will you share your recipe?

TURKEY BREAKFAST SAUSAGE

1 pound ground turkey

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons olive oil

In a large bowl, combine the turkey, salt, sage, thyme, nutmeg and cayenne. Shape into eight patties. In a large skillet, cook patties in oil over medium heat for 5 minutes on each side or until juices run clear. Drain on paper towels.

Menu for week of January 16th

2012-01-15T14:49:00.005-05:00

Monday: Bean Burritos, Scoops and Queso Dip (an easy pantry meal-everything can be kept in the pantry)

Tuesday: Freezer Meal-Chicken Tetrazzini, Salad, French Bread with Butter

Wednesday: Soup Night! Potato Soup (hubby's favorite) and Taco Soup (leftovers will be put in the freezer)

Thursday: Freezer Meal-Cranberry Dump Chicken (crock pot), Mashed Potatoes, Glazed Carrots

Friday: I'm thinking-Lovely Leftovers!

Saturday: Baking a ham (haven't decided what the sides will be yet)

Sunday: Ham and Cheese Sliders (Pinterest recipe) and Creamy Turkey and Wild Rice Soup (leftovers will be put in freezer)

Loving my freezer meals and putting more back in. I call this Feeding the Freezer. I'm planning on slicing and dicing some of the ham and placing in freezer bags to use for future meals as well as making my favorite Ham and Cheese Muffins and Ham Biscuits for quick breakfasts and possibly a few ham casserole type meals for the freezer, yet to be decided. Thank you for stopping by Chaos Cottage.

Pam

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2012-01-13T13:36:00.003-05:00

In my life this week…trying to get back into the groove of things around here. Making lots of plans but having a hard time getting going. There's a lot to get done around here before spring so that we can put our home on the market.

In our homeschool this week…school started back up this week. Trying to get back into the groove here too.

I am inspired by…Extreme Home makeover is down the road and doing their wonderful work for a deserving family. Too bad their show is getting canceled. I always enjoyed the show. I always have a hard time watching the show without crying.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…went grocery shopping yesterday and the store was pretty busy. We received at least one inch of snow and those snow forecasts always bring out the shoppers. LOL It looks like dd is going to get her sleepover with her new friends at her grandmother's house tonight. It had to be cancelled earlier. I think they are going to watch the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie and eat pizza and have a good time. I am hoping for a date night with hubby tonight.

My favorite thing this week was…seeing hubby go off to work. We can't praise our God enough for this awesome opportunity he has given my husband. God is good. Hubs will be working 6:30 to 3:30 pm for a good while while in training. Early mornings and early bedtimes. This will be an adjustment for all of us.

Things I’m working on…I have a to-do list two pages long. Haven't felt quite up to tackling much of it yet. But I'll get around to it.

I’m reading…same thing. I just can't get into the reading groove either. I think I am spending too much time online. Hmmm...something to think about.

I’m cooking…hoping to eat out tonight with a gift card but am planning on making bbq chicken in the crockpot this weekend. Yumm-o!

I’m grateful for…God's provision, family, and our adorable cats! Pets bring such joy to our lives, don't they?

I’m praying for…friends who are unemployed and marriages to be strengthened.

Thanks for stopping by Second Star Academy and Chaos Cottage. Please visit again.

Pam

Menu for week of January 9th

2012-01-08T16:26:00.005-05:00

Going to duplicate some of these meals this week to feed the freezer.

Monday: Lazy Lasagna, Salad, Red Lobster Cheese Biscuits

Tuesday Breakfast for Dinner (I'm thinking pancakes, eggs and ham)

Wednesday: Chicken Roll-ups, Rice Almondine, Green beans, Rolls

Thursday: (Freezer Meal) Lil' Cheddar Meatloaves, Mixed Vegetable Casserole, Rolls

Friday: Date Night

Saturday: Dump BBQ Chicken, Buns, Baked Beans, Veggies and Dip

Sunday Chicken Fried Chops, Scalloped Potatoes, Creamed Corn, Rolls

Chicken Roll-Ups

Tender and freeze well. You can bake half of them and freeze the rest.

8 servings

1 hour 30 mins prep

8 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

8 thin slices deli ham

4 slices provolone cheese or mozzarella cheese, halved

2/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/2 cup grated romano cheese or parmesan cheese

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

1/2 cup milk

1. Flatten chicken to 1/4 in.

2. thickness.

3. Place a slice of ham and cheese on each piece of chicken.

4. Roll up from a short side and tuck in ends; secure with a toothpick.

5. In a shallow bowl, mix crumbs, grated cheese and parsley.

6. Pour milk into another bowl.

7. Dip chicken rolls in milk, then roll in crumb mixture.

8. Wrap and freeze roll-ups for up to 2 months.

9. To use frozen chicken-Completely thaw in the refrigerator.

10. Unwrap roll-ups and place on a greased baking sheet.

11. Spritz with nonstick cooking spray.

12. Bake uncovered, at 425 degrees for 30 minutes or until juices run clear.

(I can add one more piece of chicken and this recipe would make 3 meals for my family of 3.)

Thank you for visiting Chaos Cottage. Please some back again!

Pam

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2012-01-06T14:23:00.005-05:00

In my life this week…last week of winter break before we start up school again. It was just my daughter and I Monday evening through Friday afternoon. Hubby had new employee stuff to do in Chattanooga. We watched the telly and I did a lot of freezer meals.

In our homeschool this week…we were off! It is so nice to have a true winter break. Last year, our first year of homeschooling, it seems we were always playing catch-up. We were always way behind in our work. Not this year. We're homeschooling experts now! LOL Not! But we are so much better.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…I haven't left the house all week. We had a cold front come through and I was busy with all those freezer meals that I just stayed in.

My favorite thing this week was…spending quality and quantity time with my dear daughter.

Things I’m working on…decluttering and deep cleaning the kitchen.

I’m reading…same ole thing.

I’m cooking…up lovely freezer meals for future dinners. I just love being able to pull a meal from the freezer.

I’m grateful for…hubby's new job and God's continual blessings.

I’m praying for…unemployed friends, marriages, and relationships to be restored.

Thanks again for stopping by Second Star Academy. It's real here folks.

Pam

Menu for week of January 2nd

2012-01-02T11:18:00.005-05:00

Monday: Chicken and Bows (freeze one), Salad, Rolls

Chicken and Bows

12 Servings

Prep/Total Time: 25 min.

* 1 package (16 ounces) bow tie pasta

* 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips (I'm using turkey)

* 1 cup chopped sweet red pepper (I'm using green, it's what I have)

* 1/4 cup butter, cubed

* 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

* 2 cups frozen peas

* 1-1/2 cups milk

* 1 teaspoon garlic powder

* 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

* 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

* Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch

oven, cook chicken and red pepper in butter over medium heat for 5-6

minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.

Stir in the soup, peas, milk, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bring

to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1-2 minutes or until

heated through. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Drain pasta; add to chicken

mixture and toss to coat.

Serve half of the mixture immediately. Cool remaining mixture;

transfer to a freezer container. Cover and freeze for up to 3

months.

*edited to add that only hubby and I ate some of this last night. There was so much leftover I was still able to fill up two 8x8 pans for the freezer and I only used a 12 oz. box of bow ties. It was very good. Better than I thought it would be. When reheating it I am thinking I might need to add a little more milk as the bows really soak up the creamy goodness. So we will be eating this again, at least twice, in the next few months.

Tuesday: Chili Corn Dog Casserole (freeze one), more Salad (didn't get to this meal last week-too many leftovers)

Wednesday: Spaghetti Casserole (freeze one), Green Veggie or Salad, French Bread

Thursday: Lil Cheddar Meatloaves (freeze leftovers), Scalloped Potatoes Au Gratin, Fried Apples

Friday: Chicken Roll-ups (freeze meal), Leftover Scalloped Potatoes, Green Veggie

Saturday: Lazy Lasagna (freeze one), Salad, Red Lobster Biscuits

Sunday: Freezer Meal-Chicken Enchiladas, Mexican Rice and Peach Cobbler with Whipped Cream of dessert

This will be a week of feeding the freezer. It's just as easy to double a recipe, or in our case, since we are a family of three to divide the meal into two 8x8 pans and eat one and freeze the other. Makes for easy meals down the road.

Since I cooked a turkey this weekend, I will be feeding the freezer with some of that too. It will be showing up in the Chicken and Bows today as well as the following meals later: Turkey and Biscuit Pie, Chicken Tetrazzini, Chicken Enchiladas, Chicken Gumbo Soup and if there is enough turkey left, Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup. Today I am going to boil the carcass and make broth for the freezer. I already have three containers of stock from the pan when I baked the turkey. I bought some noodles so I'm sure dear daughter will want some noodle soup this week too. I am really stretching that turkey :)

That's what's cooking at my house. Thank you for stopping by. I will be glad to share any recipes with you.

My New Years Resolutions

2012-01-01T19:44:00.007-05:00

I did this last year and updated it at the end of December. I am doing it again this year to help me see how much I will accomplish, with the Lord's help. Here are my thoughts:

Home:

Our home is still in transition. If you have been reading my blog in the last year, you know my hubby has been unemployed for three years and we decided in 2011 to sell the house so we don't have a house payment any longer and buy another house. We have a lot of equity in this home. We began taking things to storage to make our home more presentable for sale. Then hubby was diagnosed with extremely high blood pressure and was given strict instructions to not do anything strenuous. This put a halt to our moving plans. We just had too much to do. Fortunately, and praise the Lord, he was offered a job and his blood pressure began dropping. It was at it's all time lowest on the day of his physical for this job! We agreed with our realtor to wait until spring 2012 to put the house on the market as things slow down so much during the cold weather. That gives us additional time to do all the things we need to do.

So, with that in mind, it has been very hard to stick to any kind of cleaning schedule with the house in chaos. Yet laundry continues, meal preparation and cleaning up goes on, vacuuming up cat hair has to be done. But the house is not fit for visitors on most days. My dining room is full of boxes and it is obvious we are moving.

I want to teach daughter homemaking skills, but that may wait until we are in our new home. But I can teach her some cooking and dish washing skills in the meantime. She is also going to get a few new chores added to her nonexistent official chores, when hubby begins his new job. One is cleaning the litter boxes. I despise litter boxes. The other is taking out trash and recyclables and getting them to the streets on Tuesday evenings as our pick-up day here is Wednesday.

Our garage is still a work in progress. I swear you would never know that anything was taken to storage, but it was. There are still many things in there that need to be sold or given away and stored and thrown away.

We have a small plumbing issue that popped up the other day. My sink in the master bath has started leaking. Our plumber put in new faucets and drain recently and has to come back and fix it. Not a big deal. I am just using husband's sink on his side of the vanity.

We have a kitchen window that needs repaired. It's just the outside wood trim. Which reminds me, hubby did get the wood replaced in the garage door opening that was rotting and caulked and painted that during the summer. I left that off my post in December where I took a look at our resolutions and accomplishments in 2011.

We have the ceiling in the den that still needs repairing. A professional drywall man will have to be hired to do that.

Front door didn't get painted in 2011 but hubby did paint all the trim and the railings and some of the deck's french door trim. I may paint it as well as the interior garage door.

We will need to get the yard professionally done, trimming and mulching, etc. right before listing it in the spring.

I need to pressure wash the porch, walkway, driveway, fence and deck. Then I need to stain the deck.

Paint has to be touched up throughout the house and smudges removed from the walls.

Blog:

Continue to try to post at least three times a week. Add more pictures to my posts. I want to make a household notebook and blog about it and a menu notebook and blog about that. You can find these all over the internet and I have wanted to do these for a long time. I think this is the year for that.

Family:

Faithfully attend church as a family.
Do more things together as a family, like bowling, movies, walks, museums, board games, wii games, picnics with excursions. Dollywood will be on our agenda this year thanks to hubby's aunt who bought us all season passes. We had to forgo those the last few years.
Re institute meal-time devotions and dinner at the kitchen table on most nights.
Eat more fruits and veggies.
Drink more water.
Implement age appropriate chores for daughter.
Do more volunteering at church.

Homeschool:

Include some bible studies that I have purchased into addition to her school curriculum (which already has bible).
Hubby is going to teach daughter about Photoshop and get her into more photography. She has quite the eye.
Daughter has shown an interest in guitar lessons. Check into that.
Take daughter on more field trips.
Teach her some homemaking skills.

Personal:

Take my vitamins daily.
Drink more water.
Exercise (ugh, this is so hard for me)
Daily Bible and prayer time.
Journal more often. (My blog is a journal, but I also hand write in a personal journal)
Get to bed earlier (so hard for us, we are all night owls)
Continue to learn to crochet.
Get back to scrapbooking (just had 100 photos printed this week-great deal at Walgreens, so excited to work on my albums again!)

These are my goals for this year. Most of the ones listed under Home, will get done in the next few months. I am hoping that posting this will help me to be more accountable and I intend to check back and update my progress throughout the year. You can't make resolutions and then never check back. You have to do that after the novelty of the new year wears off.

Pam

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2011-12-30T12:34:00.004-05:00

In my life this week…we had a wonderful Christmas weekend. We spent Saturday with my folks and Sunday at my Mother-In-Love's. Daughter spent two nights this week with my folks and two nights with my MIL. This gave hubby and I some time alone and we rented three movies from Red Box! We have only watched two, but so far Captain America has been my favorite.

In our homeschool this week…we are off school until January 9th!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…met some wonderful folks at my MIL's on Sunday. Daughter made two new friends there. We are already making plans to get them together.

My favorite thing this week was…spending time as a family before hubby begins work and will be out of town for a couple of weeks with new employee training.

Things I’m working on…New Year's Resolutions. Yep, I make them every year.

I’m reading…not a whole lot. But I am still reading Mansfield Park and The House of the Seven Gables. Having trouble getting into a reading mood of late.

I’m cooking…up a turkey this weekend and going to make some turkey freezer meals and feed the freezer.

I’m grateful for…God's providence.

I’m praying for…friends who are unemployed and friends who are having difficulties in their marriages. Safe travel for my hubby during his first few weeks of new employee training.

Thanks for stopping by Second Star Academy. Have a great weekend!

Pam

End of the Year Reflection

2011-12-28T18:20:00.005-05:00

It's nearing the end of 2011 and nearing the beginning of a brand new start with 2012. So I thought I would review my resolutions I made at the beginning of the year and see how we/I did.

Home:

We continued to declutter and take things to our favorite thrift store throughout the year, although, not as much as I would like. More on that a little later.

The bathroom in the basement and the entrance from the garage into the basement got new tiled floors and the bathroom walls got a nice new coat of paint. The new light fixture wasn't installed as we decided to use that one in daughter's bathroom and paint the basement bath light fixture with some oil rubbed bronze paint. So that is going to be moved to the 2012 list.

We didn't have to replace the toilet in the master bath and only had to have it repaired. New faucets were put in our master bath and daughter's bath.

We were able to sell our pub table and four chairs that we used to have in the kitchen. We also gave away our second-hand sectional that was in our den and we received a nice love seat and two big club chairs from my Mother-In-Love to use in their place and they fit much nicer in that room.

We continued throughout the year to declutter our books and take them to McKays for cash or McKays cash which we can turn around and purchase more books with. We haven't used the McKays cash yet, but will probably let daughter pick out books for herself with that.

My house received a nice pressure washing this summer.

We rented a storage unit to put our things in as we make our house less cluttered and more presentable for sale.

We did not place our house on the market. We will do that in the spring of 2012.

Family:

I have seen improvement in my attitude toward my husband. I made a resolution at the beginning of the year to be less nagging. I think I have improved, but you may have to ask my hubby for the truth on that one :). My husband getting employment, beginning January 3rd has definitely lifted my spirits and made me much more pleasurable to be around.

As a family, we have begun praying more together.

We were able to spend two weeks in South Carolina on vacation which was very nice.

Personal:

I have gotten much better with my vitamin/supplement taking, but could still do better.

I am continuing to read God's Word but not really doing much intensive studying of it.

I have read quite a few books this year.

Homeschool:

We are doing much better with home schooling our daughter this year than we did the first year. I love the flexibility of it and daughter is very happy being home schooled, which is always a good thing.

On New Years day, I will post my new goals and resolutions for 2012.

Menu for week of December 26th

2011-12-26T12:39:00.004-05:00

Happy Boxing Day!

It's a new week and it almost feels like the new year. When the holidays are over I feel like a new year has begun. I hope everyone had a wonderful time with their families on Christmas. I know we did! Here is what I plan on feeding my family this week.

Monday: Breakfast-slept in :) ate Christmas junk-Buckeyes, Cranberry Bread, Coffee
Lunch-Hubby and daughter are eating out and I will probably just have a PB&J
Dinner-Macaroni and Ham Cheese Pie (new recipe-if we like it, I will post the recipe tomorrow), Green Veggies

Tuesday: Breakfast-Biscuit Sandwiches (egg-Canadian Bacon on Grands), freeze extras for future.
Lunch-leftovers
Dinner-Chili Corn Dog Casserole (freeze one), Oven Fries, Salad

Chili corn dog casserole

2 cans chili with beans (I use turkey chili)

1 pound hotdogs cut in 1/2 in. pieces

1 can drained cut up canned tomatoes

1 can drained whole kernel corn

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.

2 boxes jiffy brand corn bread.

Mix all ingredients and put in 2 sprayed 8x8 baking pans. Sprinkle 1 cup cheese on each casserole. Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly. Make cornbread according to package directions. (do not bake!) Spread on hot chili mixture. Return to oven and bake about 25-30 minutes or until cornbread is cooked and golden brown.

Wednesday:Breakfast-Ham and Cheese Muffins (freeze extras), scrambled eggs
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Spaghetti Casserole (freeze two extra), Salad, French Bread

Spaghetti Casserole

(Makes 2 casseroles, 6 servings each)

16 oz. pkg. angel hair pasta

1 ½ pound ground beef (I use ground chicken or turkey)

26 oz. jar spaghetti sauce

2 cans (8 oz. each) tomato sauce

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup sour cream

2 c. shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese

Cook pasta. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, over medium heat, cook beef, drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce. Remove from heat. Drain pasta. Combine soup and sour cream. In two 8 inch square baking dishes, layer half of the meat sauce, pasta, soup mixture and cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the remaining casserole 350 degrees 55-65 minutes or until cheese is melted.

To use frozen casserole: Thaw in fridge overnight. Remove from fridge, 30 minutes before baking. Bake as directed.

Thursday: Breakfast-Oatmeal
Lunch-Out
Dinner-Turkey Burgers, Oven Fries

Friday: Breakfast-One Eyed Jacks, Sausage
Lunch-PB&J, Apple
Dinner-Lasagna Roll-ups (freeze extra), Salad, French Bread

Saturday: Breakfast-Pancakes
Lunch-Soup and Grilled Cheese
Dinner-Turkey, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Stuffing, Green Beans, Rolls

Sunday: Banana Oat Muffin (from freezer)
Lunch-Leftover Buffet

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2011-12-22T23:28:00.003-05:00

In my life this week…it's been a week of getting ready for Christmas Eve with my folks and Christmas Day with my hubby's folks. It's been fun, don't get me wrong. I love this time of the year. I love the Christmas programs at churches, the Christmas shows on TV, and all the wonderful Christmas music.

In our homeschool this week…nothing new. Just plugging along. Hubby has been helping with this while I'm cooking and washing dishes, and baking and washing dishes, and doing laundry, and making goodies, and washing dishes, and did I say washing dishes???

I am inspired by…blessings far beyond what I deserve.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…well, we went to the movies on Tuesday and daughter and I saw A Dolphin's Tale. What a wonderful heartwarming movie it was. Hubby saw the new Planet of the Apes movie and he said it was better than he thought it would be. Also this week, we went to dinner with friends from out of town and a couple from our Adult Bible Fellowship. It was a nice time catching up with one another and enjoying a meal at a nice restaurant. We used to be in a small group together. We miss that so much. One couple moved out of state and another out of town.

My favorite thing this week was…probably seeing my friends and having dinner together.

Things I’m working on…finishing up the goodie bags of yumminess for Christmas. Nothing says Lovin' like something from the oven!

I’m reading…Mansfield Park, House of Seven Gables and A Woman's Call to Prayer.

I’m cooking…I've made some yummy things as gifts this year: Ritz Cookies, Mini Pumpkin Breads, Mini Cranberry Breads. Tomorrow I'm making Chai Latte Mix and Buckeyes. I've put some things in the freezer: Dump Cranberry Chicken and Banana Oatmeal Muffins. I've already baked my Sausage and Cheese balls and bagged them up and put them in the fridge for Christmas Eve brunch. I'm making Taco Soup and Dad is making Mexican cornbread from Christmas Eve. I like having something different like that. Christmas Day will be traditional fare at my MIL's and I'm bringing a Broccoli and Rice Casserole, Jalapeno Corn Casserole, a party-size pan of Stouffer's Macaroni and Cheese (delicious!), Wassail and Sweet Southern Tea.

I’m grateful for…family and friends.

I’m praying for…a healthy and happy holiday with family and a nice school break together and our last full days with hubby as he starts work on January 3rd. We want to make the most of these days together. Praying for friends who are unemployed and for marriages that are falling apart.

Thanks for stopping by Second Star Academy. Have a Merry Christmas!

Pam

Reindeer Sodas

2011-12-22T14:11:00.004-05:00

Me and hubby made these yesterday for some "deer" friends of ours. They just loved them and I do too. I'm gonna make some more. Aren't they just the cutest?

I got the idea from Pinterest. I'm telling you, you gotta check it out!

I have a busy day today doing baking and cookie and candy making and other such things. Sweet hubby is being a "deer" and helping with homeschool today and running out to get us lunch. Gotta love him!

Have a terrific Thursday!

Pam

Menu for week of December 19th

2011-12-18T14:05:00.006-05:00

Final week before Christmas. Do you have all your shopping, decorating, card sending, and baking done? No me. But it is all in the works. It will all get done If you haven't joined yet, click on my Pinterest button to the right and join. You will love it too.

Here is what is on my dinner menu plan this week:

Monday-Chicken Enchiladas (freeze a pan), Mexican Rice

Tuesday-Lovely Leftovers-popcorn at the Movies

Wednesday-Spaghetti Casserole (freeze two pans), Salad, French Bread

Thursday-Baked Beans with Smoked Sausage, Buttermilk Cornbread

Friday-Dump Cranberry Chicken (crockpot) (freeze a bag), Mashed Potatoes, Italian Green Beans, French Bread

Saturday-Christmas Eve fun at my parents

Sunday-Christmas day at MIL's home. I'm bringing my Broccoli and Rice Casserole, Jalapeno Corn Casserole, Ginormous Party sized Stouffer's Macaroni and Cheese, and Wassail.

That's my week. How about you. Go to Organized Junkie to read more menus and get some new ideas on how to feed your family.

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2011-12-16T17:15:00.006-05:00

In my life this week…I have just been trying to get things done to get ready for Christmas. Went to our church's Christmas program on Saturday night and to daughter's best friend's church on Sunday night because her "bestie" got to sing a solo. I love Christmas songs! Monday, I went to my Mother-In-Love's house and Hubby put her tree up and daughter helped to decorate it. I made some cute candy cane candelabras that I found on Pinterest. They turned out cute. I left them with MIL but plan on making some for myself as well. Hubby and daughter went back again the next day to help MIL with another tree for another room. We are having Christmas at her house this year.

In our homeschool this week…Didn't do school for a couple of days with all the Christmas decorating at MIL's going on, so we have been catching up AGAIN. Today, Hubby has been doing math with daughter so I can get some baking done.

I am inspired by…love. I love my Hubby more and more every day.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…besides church programs and MIL's we have pretty much stayed home. Going to go grocery shopping tomorrow while Hubby teaches more math.

My favorite thing this week was…our church's Christmas program. What talent God has given those musicians and singers.

Things I’m working on…looking for IBC root beer or any other cute glass sodas and transforming them into Reindeer. Another Pinterest idea. Gotta love it! I will post a photo when I make them.

I’m reading…my Bible and Mansfield Park by Jane Austen and A Woman's Call to Prayer (with workbook) by Elizabeth George.

I’m cooking…at the moment I have mini loaves of pumpkin bread in the oven and apple muffins are going in next. I made a ton of meatless bean burritos for the freezer this week. These will come in handy for Hubby's lunch when he begins work next month.

I’m grateful for…God's unending love.

I’m praying for…family to have a wonderful Christmas this year.

Menu for week of December 12th

2011-12-12T11:57:00.007-05:00

I'm going to try again, like I did last week, and follow up during the week with photos and recipes of certain foods. Mondays can be busy around here and it makes me stick to the menu more and hone my photography and computer skills.

Monday: Pork Chops, Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole, Sweet Potatoes

Tuesday: Taco Chicken Meat (crock pot), all the fixin's

Wednesday: Leftovers or freezer surprise

Thursday: Dump BBQ Chicken (freeze a bag), Corn on the Cob, Salad, Buns

Friday: Sausage Casserole, Salad, Rolls

Saturday: Leftovers or $5 Hot and Ready Pizza or if my hubby gets his wish, a BACON, BACON BACON, pizza from Papa Murphy's

Sunday: Cajun Chicken (crock pot), Mashed Potatoes, Carol's Corn Casserole

I didn't get to the Apple Muffins last week and I'm gonna try to make those and put them into the freezer along with an old favorite, Banana Oat Muffins, if I can get any bananas to stick around long enough for the muffins. Hubby eats one every day!

Breakfast Treats

2011-12-11T15:43:00.004-05:00

I made some seasonal breakfast treats for my classmates at church. Actually it was kinda fun making them and my hubby and daughter joined in. I must admit getting the black gel icing to stick to the powdered donuts was not easy. It kept trying to lift back up. But aren't they cute? I got the idea from Pinterest. I love Pinterest. If you haven't caught the latest addiction, click on my button to the right and join.

Pam

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2011-12-09T21:53:00.006-05:00

In my life this week…

It's good to be back home from South Carolina. Robyn and I left a day early just because we were ready to be home again. Robert joined us after we got there and then had to leave early due to things he had to do for his new job, which starts January 3rd.

In our homeschool this week…

While in South Carolina we didn't do the school we planned on doing due to technical difficulties getting our laptops to work together. So we have been doing extra work since we got home and will continue to do so even on Saturday.

I am inspired by…

my husband's happiness. His mood is so much better knowing he has a job starting next month and that he will be able to support his family once again. It is nice to hear him laugh again.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We spent two weeks in Surfside Beach, SC and had our Thanksgiving meal there. We went out for Black Friday on the night before and my daughter was so overwhelmed with the crowds at Kohls that she was ready to leave. We think she will not be so interested in Black Friday any longer. I'm okay with that :)

My favorite thing this week was…

getting back home and sleeping in my own bed. Love my king size bed.

Things I’m working on…

finishing up my Christmas shopping. I have my Christmas baking left to do and we aren't doing much decorating as most of the Christmas decorations are stored away in preparation of our move.

I’m reading…

Mansfield Park by Jane Austin

I’m cooking…

good homecooked meals. Look at my Monday menu postings and I even posted some photos this week!

I’m grateful for…

God's blessings on my family.

I’m praying for…

husband's new job. He has a January 3rd start date and I'm praying that all goes well.

Yummy No Meat Lunch Burritos

2011-12-08T17:25:00.005-05:00

I found this recipe on the web many years ago. I am not sure where, but I wanted to share it with all of you because these are so good and inexpensive. Keep these in the freezer to send in packed lunches where you have a microwave, or for fast lunches at home.

Yummy No-Meat Lunch Burritos

There is no meat involved, but you don't miss it at all! To make a truly fab meal, serve with sour cream, your favorite salsa and guacamole!"

o 2 cups uncooked brown rice (or whatever rice you have on hand)

o 4 cups water

o 4 (15 ounce) cans black beans

o 2 (15 1/2 ounce) cans pinto beans

o 1 (10 ounce) cans whole kernel corn

o 1 (10 ounce) cans rotel

o 25 (10 inch) flour tortillas ( whole wheat if you want to be healthy!)

o 1 lb shredded monterey jack pepper cheese (or your favorite cheese)

1. Cook rice in water according to package directions.

2. Once done, add drained beans, corn and Rotel to rice.

3. Mix thoroughly.

4. Add cheese.

5. Mix thoroughly again.

6. Divide mix evenly on the tortillas.

7. Fold up to make burritos.

8. Wrap each burrito in plastic wrap then foil.

9. Freeze what won't be used that week.

10. *When ready to use*.

11. Remove foil.

12. Pop in microwave oven for 1 - 1 1/2 min or until center is hot and then carefully remove plastic wrap.

After wrapping in plastic wrap, I just placed mine back in the tortilla zip bag that they came in and then placed them in the freezer.

Goulash

2011-12-07T21:21:00.006-05:00

Goulash

1lb of ground beef (I used ground chicken)

1 onion chopped or diced

1 26oz jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

1 15 oz can of corn

1 cup of shredded cheese

1 12 oz package of your favorite noodles

Prepare the noodles as directed. (I had a package of Wacky Mac bow ties). Brown your ground beef and onion together. (I used 1/2 onion and 1/2 green pepper). I chose to season the meat and the onion with some Italian seasoning and some garlic powder and a little salt and pepper. You can choose whatever you want to kind of kick it up a notch. Drain your ground beef and onion. Toss the noodles, spaghetti sauce, and corn all in with your meat mixture and heat up. If you are going to throw in the cheese you would want to do that now too. If not just heat up the items together and enjoy. This goes great with garlic bread or a salad to top it off. This is a great recipe to have when you are looking for something easy and quick. We also end up with leftovers for a great lunch or dinner the next night.

Chicken Tetrazzini

2011-12-06T15:54:00.003-05:00

I am sure I have posted this recipe before, but here is the picture. It is super easy and super cheap to make. I already had a couple cooked and frozen chicken breasts in the freezer and one boneless frozen breast which I cooked. So I just doubled the recipe, cut up all the cooked chicken and mixed it with the other ingredients except the cheese. I made a pan to go in the freezer for a really easy meal on another day.

Chicken Tetrazzini

8 oz. thin spaghetti, cooked, drained

1 can cream of chicken soup

½ cup milk

2 cups diced cooked chicken

4 oz. can sliced mushrooms

¼ c. grated Parmesan cheese

Place spaghetti in buttered 2 qt. casserole. Mix soup and milk. Add diced chicken and drained mushrooms. Combine chicken mixture with spaghetti. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Enjoy,

Pam

Menu for week of December 5th

2011-12-04T17:26:00.000-05:00

I've been MIA for a couple of weeks, as we were out of town enjoying a little time away before hubby begins his new job. We don't have a start date yet, but it will be soon. Here is my plan on what to feed my family this week. I am also challenging myself to post more often and learn how to take the photos off my camera and put them on my laptop (hubby usually does this) and then I can put more photos in my posts. So look for photos and recipes to follow my menu throughout the week.

Monday:

B- Oatmeal, Orange Juice
L-Our Favorite Chinese Take Out
D-Leftovers

Tuesday:

B-Toaster Strudel
L-Soup and PB&J
D-Chicken Tetrazzini (freeze one), Salad, Rolls (I will post this recipe on Tuesday with a photograph

Wednesday:

B-Breakfast Sammies (make up extras to freeze)
L-Sammies, Carrots and Dip
D-Beef Goulash, Rolls or Garlic Bread (photo of recipe on Wednesday with the recipe)

Thursday:

B-Oatmeal, Sliced Apple
L-Yummy No Meat Lunch Wraps (freeze the remainder) (recipe will be posted Thursday with the recipe)
D-Quick Breaded Chicken Strips (or chicken tenders and fish tenders from the freezer), Oven Fries

Friday:
B-Apple Muffins (freeze remainder) (will post recipe on Friday with a photo)
L-Sammies, Carrots and Dip
D-Navy Beans and Ham, Fried Cabbage, Fried Taters, Cornbread Muffins

Saturday:

B-One Eyed Sailors, Turkey Sausage
L-Leftovers (make pumpkin bread in mini loaves for the freezer)
D-Chicken Helper (I think it's lemon bow-ties or something like that), Salad, Corn, Rolls

Sunday:

B-Oatmeal
L-Crock Pot Baked Beans and Wieners or Smoked Sausage, Salad, Rolls or Cornbread Muffins

Make Chicken Gumbo Soup for the freezer. (will post the recipe on Sunday with a photo)

Thanks for stopping by. Please come back again and again!

Pam

There's no place like home!

2011-12-03T17:09:00.002-05:00

It's feels so good to be back home. Robyn and I pulled into our driveway about 9:10 last night to the arms of my loving hubby and two of our three cats. It felt so good to sleep in my bed last night and again today. Yep, I took a nap. Don't be jealous :) The third cat is still at his grandparents until Monday, being spoiled rotten.

I am tired today. It always takes me a while to get readjusted after a trip that required a long drive. But it was worth it. I don't know when we will have a vacation of two weeks again. We were ready to be home though.

Thank you for the prayers for safe travel. We had an uneventful ride home, no traffic, and no scary accident scenes to look at. Thank you Lord.

Pam

Tuesday in South Carolina

2011-11-29T11:45:00.003-05:00

It's just Robyn and I right now. Hubby is on his way back to Tennessee. Please pray for safe travel for him today. He has an appointment in Chattanooga on Wednesday regarding his job. We are so glad we had both vehicles here with us. Robyn and I are going to leave a day early and come home on Friday and avoid some Saturday traffic.

Today Robyn is going to go swimming in the indoor pool here and then I think we may go do some shopping for new shoes for her and maybe go by our favorite bookstore. We love bookstores. It's what we do! We may watch some educational videos today as well, I'm thinking history!

Tonight we plan on playing some Yahtzee and a new game called Farkel. The reason we have the new game is that we had a dice missing in our Yahtzee box and the Farkel game comes in a cute little travel cup (doesn't take up much room) and comes with dice so we can just use the same dice for both games. That should provide us with some entertainment and take our mind off of our missing hubby/daddy.

Thanks for stopping by.

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2011-11-25T15:25:00.006-05:00

In my life this week…we are in South Carolina this week and next enjoying some timeshare love. We had a week that was going to expire so we just tacked it on back to back with our Thanksgiving week. Only thing is, we have to go to another resort tomorrow to start our second week. We have to pack and unpack again, but we will be visiting a resort where we don't own a timeshare and it will be fun to see the differences.

In our homeschool this week…ha ha ha...what homeschool? Really? We had good intentions of schooling a few days this week but we have just been taking it easy. We will do some work today, I promise.

I am inspired by…I can't stress this enough - prayer! My praying friends and family have gotten us through the last three years. We couldn't have done it without them and our faithful Lord.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…well, we went to Kohl's last night at midnight! Yep, we wanted to give it a try. Daughter was completely overwhelmed. She's not going to want to see those crowds again. Then we went to Denny's and were bad. lol We have gone to a few bookstores this week and of course Wally World for our groceries. Today, daughter and her dad are visiting her favorite bookstores again to get in on the Black Friday specials on some books she has been wanting.

My favorite thing this week was…seeing my husband make it safely to South Carolina after having a physical Monday morning in Alabama and driving to us afterwards. Also, getting the email that he had passed his physical and his background check for the new job! PTL!

Things I’m working on…nothing! I'm on vacation!

I’m reading…books on my ipod touch. I need to update my books I'm reading section here on my blog. I've read several books on queens of England. One was about Elizabeth I and several on Queen Victoria. I haven't gotten back to Seven Gables as I downloaded so many other books that sounded more interesting to me of late.

I’m cooking…yep, even on vacation. Although I did make it easy on me by bringing foods already cooked and frozen that I just need to reheat and things like that. But we have been eating way too much junk. When we get home, it's back to eating better again.

I’m grateful for…a loving Father, a loving father, a husband who is a loving father too!

I’m praying for…safe travels back home next week, fun for our remaining week, and singing praises to God for his wonderful gifts.

Thanks for stopping by Second Star Academy at Chaos Cottage.

Pam

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T12:53:00.003-05:00

A little Thanksgiving humor for you!

We are enjoying our time in South Carolina and are so thankful for God's blessings on us. This will be one of our best Thanksgivings ever as we have so much to thank Him for. God has truly blessed us. After nearly three years of unemployment, my husband was offered a job, a good job. We are so elated. God is so good. It has been a trying time, a testing of our faith, and a growing time in our faith and as a family. We have learned a lot during this time which I will share at another time. But just let it suffice, that we are very thankful today!

We have been sleeping late and getting a lot of rest. I have been pinning on Pinterest. My newest hobby :) We have been reading and enjoying being together as a family. We have not done any homeschooling with our daughter! She is happy with that but we know that we will have to play some catch-up later. We are going to eat our Thanksgiving meal out today at Cracker Barrel. Their food is delicious. We may have to wait a while for a table, but it is worth the wait.

Yesterday, we got out and went to a couple of bookstores. I know, we are so nerdy. But it is what we like to do. We enjoyed some nice cups of coffee and fellowship with one another. We made some plans for our Black Friday and found out about some special sales at the bookstores as well. I want to go to Kohl's and back to the bookstores. Hubby is going out to find a paper and then decide where he would like to shop.

I think it still hasn't hit me that my hubby has a job. In my head I know it is true but I still feel a bit dazed by it. Maybe when I see that first paycheck, it will hit me! Woot woot! LOL

Well, I think I will have a cup of coffee and some toast before getting ready to go out for our Thanksgiving meal. It's so nice to be lazy and let someone else cook for me.

Thanksgiving blessings to all of you!

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2011-11-18T14:29:00.003-05:00

In my life this week…I have had the lazy's this week. This is not good, but I just gave in to it.

In our homeschool this week…didn't get to everything assigned. We will have to make up for that next week.

I am inspired by…answered prayers. Thank you Lord for your blessings on me!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…daughter and I are leaving in the morning to drive to South Carolina for a few weeks. Hubby will be going to Alabama Sunday evening for his physical the next day. Then, he will join us in South Carolina. We will be gone a few weeks. We do have a house sitter, so don't even think about breaking into our house. LOL

My favorite thing this week was…seeing my Mom and Dad again. Dad was sweet and let us borrow his van for the trip. It gets so much better mileage than the old Lexus. Hubby will drive my Mazda which is also good on gas. Thank you Dad.

Things I’m working on…since finding Pinterest, I have found so many ideas for things I want to do in the future. I'm not working on anything at the moment. I have big ideas, but the body isn't willing.

I’m reading…several books this week. I'm still reading the House of Seven Gables on my Ipod. I downloaded several more books. I started on a History of England and a book about Queen Victoria by a Mr. Brown. I'd have to check to get his full name.

I’m cooking…made muffins today with chocolate cake mix and canned pumpkin. My family just loves those and they're so easy to make.

I’m grateful for…friends and family and my husband's good health!

I’m praying for…safe travels for all of us and a blessed Thanksgiving vacation.

That's my week at Second Star Academy and Chaos Cottage. Thank you for stopping by and please come back again.

Menu for week of November 14th

2011-11-13T20:19:00.003-05:00

Monday

B-Apple Muffins (Freeze extras), Banana, Coffee
L-Leftovers and/or Yogurt and Sliced Apple
D-Potato Soup with all the fixin's

Tuesday

B-Oatmeal with Blueberries, Banana, Coffee
L-Celery with Peanut Butter, Yogurt
D-Breakfast for Dinner-Pancakes, Sausage Patties, Fruit Salad

Wednesday

B-Pumpkin Muffins (freeze leftovers), Banana, Coffee
L-Freezer Meal Surprise? ? ? or Leftover Potato Soup, Fruit Salad
D-Lasagna Roll-ups (freeze a pan or two of these), Salad, Texas Toast

Thursday

B-Oatmeal with Blueberries, Banana, Coffee
L-Favorite China Take Out (go to Mom and Dad's to borrow van)
D-Snack Plate-Wheat Thins, Cheese, Fruit, etc.

Friday

B-Oatmeal with Strawberries, Banana, Coffee
L-Celery with Peanut Butter, Sliced Apple, Yogurt?
D-Chicken Fingers (freeze extras), Oven Fried Potato Wedges, Salad or Fruit

Saturday

Daughter and I leaving for out of town trip-woot-woot! Road trip! Treating ourselves to McD's Mocha Fraps and a Biscuit!

That's my week. How about you?

Tennessee Volunteers

2011-11-12T17:57:00.005-05:00

On Monday of this week, we volunteered to serve the seniors lunch at our church. There were over 70 people there and a few employees of the church. These older folks make us younger folks look pitiful. It was amazing how nicely dressed they all were and how happy they were to be there. Some of these seniors had exercised that morning in the church gym and gone home to change to come back for lunch. I wish I had their energy NOW. They are amazing.

They were served ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, bread, and a choice of pumpkin, apple or cherry pie. They also had a small salad bar, tea, coffee, and lemonade. We got to eat after serving them and to also listen to the Scott family sing and play guitar and violin. What a treat.

We really enjoyed doing this. Our church serves lunch once a month for the seniors and it is a nice way for them to socialize. They also had the parish nurse there to take their blood pressure and provide them with information on how to tell the difference between the cold, flu and sinus.

I am hoping we get to volunteer many more times at church. It was a pleasure to do this and our 12 year old enjoyed it too. We love our church.

Pam

2011-11-11T19:15:00.006-05:00

In my life this week…I have been a bit of a couch potato this week. I have big ideas sometimes but following through with them is a weakness of mine. I have put off going grocery shopping several times this week. I must go tomorrow. I must!

In our homeschool this week…we took a few days off as daughter went to her grandparent's house for a few days of visiting.

I am inspired by…God's promises.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…Robyn went to see Puss N Boots with her dad and some friends Friday evening (today). She got in a few days visiting with her grandparents this week as well.

My favorite thing this week was…the call! Hubby heard from a prospective employer and they offered him a job! We were ecstatic and singing and praising God for his blessings on us. More blessings that we deserve.

Things I’m working on…trying to stick to my "to do" list in an attempt to get things done in a timely manner.

I’m reading…my book has been placed on the black burner as I have discovered Pinterest and I can't get enough of it!

I’m cooking…good eats and freezer meals for our vacation. Still need to post some photos and blog about some of these freezer meals that are new to us.

I’m grateful for…my hubby who is happy about his new job and this good news is having a great effect on his blood pressure which is continually coming down closer to normal levels.

I’m praying for…hubby to pass his physical for this new job with flying colors!

That's my week at Second Star Academy at Chaos Cottage. Thanks for stopping by.

Pam

PRAISE THE LORD !!!

2011-11-09T14:27:00.002-05:00

My hubby got a phone call today about the job we have been praying about. Assuming he passes the physical and background check, he will have the job of his dreams!

Thank you all my praying friends. It is a blessing to have family and friends who have interceded for us and we are thanking God for answering those prayers.

Continue to pray for Robert's blood pressure to normalize and that he passes his physical with flying colors!

AMEN,

Pam

Menu for week of November 7th

2011-11-06T15:44:00.006-05:00

I didn't get to everything last week due to too many leftovers to eat and one night we felt the call of Little Caesar's $5.00 pizza, which also makes for lovely leftovers! So, this week you may see a few repeats from last week's menu.

Monday:

Breakfast- Pepperidge Farm's Pumpkin Swirl bread, toasted with butter (couldn't resist this in the bread aisle and wanted to try it before it was out of season), Banana and Coffee

Lunch-Serving Seniors lunch at church-either eat there or a sammie when we get home.

Dinner- Impossible South West Pie and Salad (see last week's menu for this recipe)

Tuesday:

Breakfast- Apple Muffins (freeze leftovers for trip), Yogurt, Coffee

Lunch- Leftovers

Dinner- Husband going to Men's Night Out and they are eating Thanksgiving food so I am making a Corn Casserole and Stuffing for him to take. Daughter is going to her grandparents for several days so I will be all alone for dinner. I may eat more leftovers and go to the bookstore!

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.

Wednesday:

Breakfast- Eggs, Sausage, Toast, Juice and Coffee

Lunch- PB&J and Sliced Apple

Dinner- Chicken Casserole, Corn, Mashed Potatoes (from last week)

Thursday:

Breakfast- Oatmeal and Yogurt, Coffee

Lunch- Lovely leftovers

Dinner- Our favorite Chinese takeout

Friday:

Breakfast- Cream of Wheat and Cinnamon Rolls, Coffee

Lunch- Make Ahead Lunch Wraps (eat a few and freeze the rest for vacation)

Dinner- Lasagna Roll-ups (make a couple of pans for the freezer and to take on vacation), Salad, Texas Toast

Make Ahead Lunch Wraps

"These are a delicious make-ahead lunch to freeze as a handy lunch to bring to work! Just make, freeze, and then heat in the microwave for a very balanced meal." Original recipe yield: 16 wraps.

· 2 cups uncooked brown rice (I'll use white as that is what i have on hand)
· 4 cups water
· 4 (15 ounce) cans black beans
· 2 (15.5 ounce) cans pinto beans
· 1 (10 ounce) can whole kernel corn
· 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles
· 16 (10 inch) flour tortillas
· 1 pound shredded pepperjack cheese (I'll use sharp Cheddar)

Combine rice and water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 35 to 40 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat, and cool.
Place black beans and pinto beans into a colander or strainer, and rinse. Add corn and diced tomatoes with green chilies, and toss to mix. Transfer to a large bowl, and mix in rice and cheese.

Divide the mixture evenly among the tortillas, and roll up. Wrap individually in plastic wrap, place into a large freezer bag, and freeze. Reheat as needed in the microwave for lunch or snacks.

Saturday:

Breakfast- Pancakes, Coffee

Lunch- Chicken Salad Sammies

Dinner- Game Night with church group-eating there I think

Sunday:

Breakfast- Toaster Strudel before church, Coffee

Lunch- Bean Burritos, Mexican Rice, Yum-o!

It's official! I'm a pinhead!

2011-11-04T21:27:00.002-04:00

I just recently joined Pinterest. I am just now figuring all the ins and outs about it and will be creating various boards of the things I like. I think this will be fun. Are you a member? You can go to their website and ask for a membership. Or you can just click on my button below to join.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2011-11-04T12:39:00.007-04:00

In my life this week…post Halloween, lots of candy, no self-control...On the home front, we have made the decision to wait until spring to list the house. Our realtor says the business really slows down in the winter as no one really wants to get out and look at houses. Robert did load up a bunch of our packed things that had been boxed and sitting in the dining room and took them to our storage unit.

In our homeschool this week…Robyn caught up all her projects and we are working ahead so that she can spend a couple nights with her grandparents next week. That is the joy of homeschooling. If she was in regular school, we could not do this.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…I have been nowhere this week folks. Nowhere. But, I am going grocery shopping today. Does that count? Robyn went to lunch with her Aunt on Monday to her favorite restaurant of the moment, Famous Daves. Robert and his discipleship group helped our friends, the Nuebeck's with their Shine group host a Halloween party on Monday and Robert was the bounce house guard.

My favorite thing this week was…was watching a couple of really old movies with daughter and watching her actually enjoy them. One was the Alfred Hitchcock classic, Dial M for Murder and the other was a Sci-Fi classic, Them. Them has giant ants in it and they were really giving her the heebie-jeebies. We all enjoyed both of these movies.

Things I’m working on…still thinking about our two week visit to South Carolina, and everything I need to do to prepare for that. Like make some freezer meals to take with us. Another big grocery trip before that to buy all the ingredients needed to make those meals too. I hate grocery shopping of late. Blah.

I’m reading…didn't do much reading this week. Just a little Bible and maybe a few pages of my latest book, The House of the Seven Gables. I've been playing a lot of solitaire on my I pod before going to sleep. Or surfing Wikipedia.

I’m cooking…still enjoying the pumpkins of the season by making a pumpkin pie this week and pumpkin spice muffins. Still have some in the fridge to use up. Probably will make some pumpkin bread with it.

I’m grateful for…God's forgiveness daily.
.
I’m praying for…Robert's blood pressure. Some days are better than others. Praying that the meds work and he is able to stick to his walking regimen. Praying that he gets a job very soon.

Thanks for visiting Second Star Academy at Chaos Cottage. Please come back.

Pam

Holidays, Schmolidays...

2011-11-03T19:32:00.006-04:00

This year the holidays will be a little weird. First of all, Halloween was weird. Daughter didn't dress up and was visiting her aunt and I had to call her and ask her to come home so she could hand out candy here. My hubby was at another house that was hosting a party for kids from church and he was guarding the bounce house. It was just weird not having him here but he was doing a good deed with his dicipleship group.

Thanksgiving we will be in another state and eating our dinner at Cracker Barrel. I hope to host Thanksgiving again one day in my new home. I like a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings and I must say that Cracker Barrel does a good job, but there is nothing like having this feast at home and getting to enjoy all those leftovers days later.

Christmas. Where do I begin? We have been paring down the house and storing things in a rented storage unit and I had hoped we would be out of this house months ago and the house would be sold or at least listed and on the market. Guess what? That ain't happening. Hubby's health has taken precedent and he isn't supposed to do anything strenuous so we are still storing stuff but things have slowed waaay doown...Hubby thinks most of our Christmas decor is stored away. Ugh. We sold our dining room furniture, so no Christmas dinner in there this year. I am hoping my Mother-In-Love will be hosting Christmas this year. Even so, it won't be feeling much like Christmas around here. My house isn't going to look very festive without the lighted deer in the yard, candles in the windows, Christmas tree twinkling in the window and Christmas decor strewn throughout the house. It is just gonna be kinda weird.

I guess we should just focus on what Thanksgiving and Christmas are really about this year. Daughter is 12 years old and can truly understand the true meanings of these holidays and we should emphasize that this year. I'll get back with you with some ideas later. In the meantime, if you have any ideas, please share.

Giveaway

2011-11-01T13:30:00.014-04:00

A giveway is under way at Between You and Me.

Giveaway is over-winner was chosen.

Menu for week of October 31st

2011-10-30T11:41:00.005-04:00

Monday:

B-Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal
L-Chicken Noodle Soup and Mexican Grilled Cheese
D-Mummies, Tots, Pumpkin Pie

Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

3 cups quick cooking oats
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¾ cup canned pumpkin
¼ cup brown sugar (for the top)

In a large bowl mix together all ingredients except the ¼ cup brown sugar for the top. Spread into a greased 9×13 pan. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup brown sugar on top.
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Serve with milk and enjoy! (new recipe I am trying)

Magic Pumpkin Pie

1 unbaked 9 inch pie shell
16 oz. pumpkin
1 can sweetened condensed milk (I'm using Fat Free)
1 egg
½ t. salt
½ t. nutmeg
½ t. ginger
¾ t. cinnamon

In large size bowl, blend together all ingredients. Turn into shell. Bake 375 degrees 50-55 minutes. Cool. Refrigerate 1 hour.

Tuesday:

B-Baked Doughnuts, Scrambled Eggs, Pears
L-PB&J, Sliced Apple
D-Impossible Southwestern Pie, Salad, Rolls

BAKED DOUGHNUTS
1 can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
3 tablespoons melted butter
1/3 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Separate the dough into 10 biscuits and flatten each into 2 ½-inch rounds. With a 1-inch biscuit cutter, cut a hole in the center of each biscuit round. Dip all surfaces of doughnuts (and holes) in melted butter, then in sugar. Bake 10-to-14 minutes until golden brown.

IMPOSSIBLE SOUTHWESTERN PIE

1 1/2 cups frozen whole kernel corn
8 medium green onions, chopped
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup shredded Cheddar
1/2 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup thick-and-chunky salsa
2 eggs
Additional thick-and-chunky salsa
Heat oven to 400°. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Layer corn, onions and beans in pie plate. Sprinkle with cheese. Stir baking mix, milk, 1/2 cup salsa and the eggs until blended. Pour into pie plate. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Serve with salsa.
Makes 6 servings

Wednesday:

B-Biscuit Sammies made with Ham, Egg and Cheese (freeze extras), OJ
L-Leftovers or Turkey or Ham Sammies
D-Salmon Patties, Macaroni and Cheese, Collards with Diced Turnips, Cornbread

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

4 Tablespoons (1/2 stick) Butter, divided
1/2 cup Bread Crumbs
1/2 lb Large Elbow Macaroni
1/4 teaspoon Garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Ground Mustard
3 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
1 3/4 cups Whole Milk
3/4 cup Chicken Broth
4 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
Salt & Pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt one tablespoon of butter in a small bowl. Mix in the bread crumbs, and set aside.

In a large pot of water, pour in 1/2 tablespoon of salt and boil the macaroni until tender. About 11 minutes. Drain water. Leave macaroni in the strainer. Set aside.

Use the same large pot, and wipe it dry. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, and melt over medium heat.
Stir in the garlic and ground mustard. Cook until fragrant. About 30 seconds or so. Stir in the flour and cook until golden, about a minute. Whisk in milk and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, and continue to cook, whisking often. Cook until mixture has thickened, about 6 minutes.

Remove from heat and add in all the cheese. Stir until cheese has completely melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the macaroni until well combined. Pour into a greased 8x8 baking dish. Sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over the top. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Thursday:

B-Oatmeal and Yogurt
L-Leftovers or PB&J, Sliced Apple
D-Chef Walter's Cabbage with Sausage, Fried Taters, Pintos, Leftover Cornbread

Chef Walter's Cabbage with Sausage

1 T oil
6-8 cups cabbage, finely shredded
1 c. onion, chopped
1 apple, peeled and sliced thin
1 lb. smoked sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces
½ c. water or chicken stock
salt and pepper

Heat oil in skillet or Dutch oven. Add onion and cook until soft and transparent. Stir in cabbage and apple and cook, stirring until cabbage is wilted. Stir in sausage and water and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer and cook 15 minutes until cabbage is tender-crisp. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve at once with Dijon mustard.

Friday:

B-One Eyed Sailors, Ham, OJ
L-Leftovers
D-Homemade Pizza, One BBQ Chicken and One Pepperoni and Cheese, Salad

Saturday:

B-Pancakes and Sausage, OJ
L-Leftovers or Sammies and Fruit
D-Chicken Casserole, Corn, Mashed Potatoes

Hazel's Chicken Casserole

4 large chicken breasts, cooked and boned and diced
1 box Stove Top stuffing
1 can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz. sour cream
1 cup chicken broth

Prepare stuffing. Put stuffing in baking dish. Put the chicken next. Mix soup, sour cream and broth. Pour over chicken. Bake uncovered 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Sunday:

B-Toaster Strudel before church
L-Crock Pot Pork Chops, Peas, Rice Almondine and Rolls
D-Clean Out Refrigerator Night

Crock Pot Pork Chops

Salt and pepper pork chops. Brown on stove top before placing in crock pot. After placing in crock pot, add 1 can undiluted cream of mushroom soup. Cover pot and cook about 4 hours.

Rice Almondine

¼ c. slivered almonds
2 ½ c. chicken broth
1 T parsley flakes
1 c. uncooked long grain or converted rice
1 T margarine

Toast almonds in nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly. In 2 qt. saucepan, combine broth, parsley and margarine. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice. Cover and reduce heat to simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Gently toss in almonds and serve. 6 servings.

Do The Next Thing

2011-10-30T08:24:00.003-04:00

A poem quoted by Elisabeth Elliot

Do The Next Thing

"At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
there came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
like a low inspiration, 'Do the next thing.'

Many a questioning, many a fear,
many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
trust that with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
leave all resultings, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
working or suffering be thy demeanor,
in His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
the light of His countenance, be thy psalm.
Do the next thing."

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2011-10-28T00:19:00.009-04:00

In my life this week…we were pumped this week by hubby's interview on Friday last week. It went well and we are praying he gets the job. We should know something in about a month or so.

In our homeschool this week…we are just plugging along and everything seems to be working out fine. Daughter does have some projects to work on this weekend. I think I might need to add more work as she seems to find most of the SOS work pretty easy. I really want her to read more. I probably ought to just focus on that for more.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…we drove over to the Smoky Mountains yesterday to see the fall colors. We were a bit disappointed. The colors looked brilliant through Gatlinburg but once a couple miles into the park, the colors disappeared. There is some sort of blight or something attacking the trees. So many of them were gray and leafless. It was so sad. We did stop at Krispy Kreme doughnuts in Pigeon Forge on our way back and got coffee and one doughnut apiece. Mine was the pumpkin spice flavor and it was delicious.

My favorite thing this week was…date night with hubby. We went to the cheap movie theater and saw Cowboys and Aliens. It was a goofy movie and I don't recommend it. But it was nice to get out of the house, just the two of us, and enjoy a date.

What’s working/not working for us…
still struggling to get to bed earlier. Hubby is sleeping better and my sleeping is so so. Some nights I can't get to sleep and have to sleep late into the day to get in my sleep quota. Other nights I sleep well. I think it just comes with the season of life I am in. And, I'm just getting old. :(
We also need to walk more. Hubby needs to walk several times a day and I just haven't been going out and walking with him like I should. I need to work on that more.

Things I’m working on…I've already planned our menu for our vacation and I will begin making some of the recipes and freezing foods for this vacation. I'm going shopping tomorrow and will pick up some of the ingredients needed.

I’m reading…The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I'm not far enough into it yet to decide if I like it. It's a classic and I am trying to read more of those.

I’m cooking…I cooked Pork Chops Italiano this week and they were delicious. It was new recipe and it is going into my Tried and True recipes to be made again.

I’m grateful for…friends and family and God's provision.

I’m praying for…employment for my husband and good health. He will be taking a physical if he is offered the job he interviewed for last week and he needs to get that blood pressure down.

Thank you for stopping by Second Star Academy and Chaos Cottage. Please come back again!

Freezer Meals

2011-10-25T19:15:00.006-04:00

How did you like the previous post? I guess all of us feel that way sometimes, don't we? But seriously, we are going to be gone a couple of weeks next month. We have a couple of time shares and our weeks our piling up on us. We haven't been traveling, due to finances and other things and needed to use up a couple of weeks, so we booked them back to back. We thought that was pretty thrifty and a two week vacation can be so relaxing.

To make our mealtimes easier and cheaper, I've decided to prepare some foods ahead of time and freeze them to take with us. We can transport them in a cooler and then just place them in the freezer when we get there. Here is what I am planning:

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins and Apple Muffins (these will be easily heated up as we need them, along with yogurt and fruit for a healthy and easy breakfast.)

Make Ahead Lunch Wraps, Corn Dog Muffins, Tomato Chicken Gumbo (these will supplement our lunches when we don't have leftovers to eat.)

Baked Chicken Fingers, Picnic Chicken, Texas Lasagna, Black Beans with Smoked Sausage and Rice, Lasagna Roll-ups and Slow Cooker Chili.

As I make these to feed our freezer in the next weeks, I will photograph them and post the menus for you.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pam

Labels for Freezer Meals

2011-10-25T19:00:00.002-04:00

I have changed my system for labeling homemade freezer meals. I used to carefully note in large clear letters, "Meatloaf" or "Pot Roast" or "Steak and Vegetables or "Chicken and Dumplings" or "Beef Pot Pie."

However, I used to get very frustrated when I asked my husband what he wanted for dinner because he never asked for any of those things. So, I decided to stock the freezer with what he really likes.

If you look in my freezer now you'll see a whole new set of labels. You'll find dinners with neat, legible tags that say: "Whatever," "Anything," "I Don't Know," "I Don't Care," "Something Good," or "Food." My frustration is reduced because no matter what my husband replies when I ask him what he wants for dinner, I know that it will be there waiting.

Bra ha ha ha...

Menu for week of October 24th

2011-10-24T16:05:00.008-04:00

Monday: Chicken and Dumplings (didn't get to this over the weekend)

Tuesday: Pork Chops Italiano, Pasta, Salad

Pork Chops Italiano

4 chops
1 T olive oil
8 oz. tomato sauce
½ t. oregano
½ t. basil
1 medium onion, sliced
1 small green pepper, sliced
4 slices Mozzarella cheese

Brown chops in oil in large skillet. In small bowl combine sauce, oregano and basil. Pour over chops. Top with onion and green pepper. Cover and cook 30 minutes. Several minutes before serving, top with cheese slices and heat until melted. Serve immediately.

UPDATE: This was so delicious. I used jarred spaghetti sauce in place of the tomato sauce and didn't have to add the spices. I heated the remaining sauce up to pour over angel hair pasta. I will definitely be making this again.

Wednesday: Fish Tenders and Potato Wedges

Thursday: Green Beans, Potatoes and Smoked Turkey Sausage, Cornbread

Friday: Chili from the freezer or make Slow Cooker Chili

Slow Cooker Chili

2 lb. ground beef (I use ground chicken)
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.

Saturday: Cheese Quesas, Refried Beans and Rice

Sunday: Taco Salad (using leftover chili)

That's what I have planned. How about you?

Pam

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2011-10-21T09:55:00.006-04:00

In my life this week…Monday we celebrated my dad's 77th birthday by bringing him Chinese food. Yum it was so good. Dad is doing well, just feeling his age :) Also on Thursday, a good friend popped in just to say hi and bring us some homemade pumpkin muffins. What a sweet surprise.

In our homeschool this week…daughter is enjoying astronomy and history of the United States.

I am inspired by…my husband keeping his spirits up despite his high blood pressure and unemployment.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…going to drive to Rhea County today. It's a couple of counties away. Hubby has a job interview.

My favorite thing this week was…visiting with my folks and eating yummy Chinese food.

What’s working/not working for us…getting to bed earlier has been a challenge. It hasn't been easy. We are all such night owls. Now, by night owls, I don't mean we have energy in the evening. No, we are pretty much couch potatoes and we surf the web and the TV channels. It's just hard to get to bed and fall asleep before midnight anymore it seems.

Things I’m working on…nothing really new on the home front. Same old stuff, laundry, homeschooling, cooking, dishes, vacuuming, herding cats, etc. :) I have been searching for homes on the MLS in other counties, in the event hubby is offered a job in one of them. Just dreaming, really.

I’m reading…I've been persuing a lot of blogs on decorating, homemaking, recipes, etc. It's a favorite past time of mine. Besides some reading in my bible, I haven't picked up a novel this week.

I’m cooking…I'm making my famous chicken and dumplings tomorrow. I haven't made any in a while and it is such a yummy and frugal meal to make.

I’m grateful for…
friends and family who lift our spirits and bless us with their love.

I’m praying for…my hubby's job interview to go well today and praying that this is the job God wants for him.

Thanks for visiting Chaos Cottage and Second Star Academy. Come back again.

Pam

Menu for week of October 17th

2011-10-16T17:41:00.000-04:00

Monday: Little China (our favorite Chinese restaurant in a town north of us)

Tuesday: Chili with Spaghetti, Salad (this will make some lovely leftover lunch the next day)

Chili with Spaghetti
2 lb. ground beef (I use ground chicken or turkey)
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 t. salt
3 cans tomato soup
1 large can tomatoes
4 cans red kidney beans
2 T sugar
½ pkg. spaghetti, cooked
2 T chili powder
Sauté ground beef, pepper and onion until meat loses red color. Add remaining ingredients; simmer slowly 1 hour. 8-10 servings.

Wednesday: BBQ Chicken (CP) on buns, Baked Beans, Slaw (we will eat this again for a lovely leftover lunch tomorrow)

Thursday: Golden Potatoes and Franks, Leftover Slaw, Biscuits

Golden Potatoes and Franks

3 c. hot mashed potatoes
8 oz. jar Cheez Whiz
¼ c. green onion slices
1 T prepared mustard
1 lb. frankfurters, cut in half lengthwise

Combine potatoes, Cheez Whiz, onion and mustard; mix well. In lightly greased 10 x 6 inch baking dish layer half of potatoes mixture and frankfurters; repeat layers. Bake 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Garnish with green onions, if desired. 4-6 servings.

Friday: Chicken Stir-fry, Rice

Chicken Stir Fry
Makes 4 servings
¾ cup Catalina French Dressing
¼ cup soy sauce
½ tsp. garlic powder

1. Heat ingredients in skillet.
2. Stir in one pound boneless/skinless chicken breast, cubed. Cook 8 minutes or until chicken is done.
3. Add 16 oz. frozen mixed vegetables. Stir until cooked. Serve over rice.
Nutrition Information
¼ of recipe (1¼ cup chicken and vegetable) = 245 calories, 2.5 gm fat, 1 gm saturated fat, 65 mg cholesterol, 24 gm protein, 30 gm carbohydrate, 2 gm fiber, 495 mg sodium.
Exchange 3 very lean meat, 1 carbohydrate choice (or starch), 2 vegetables.

Saturday: Chicken and Dumplings, Fried Okra, Country Ham and Corn Casserole (from the freezer)

Sunday: Hoping for good ole leftovers so I don't have to cook today :)

That's my plan. Thanks for stopping by. Come back again!

Pam

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2011-10-14T14:43:00.003-04:00

In my life this week…seems like I've done a lot of laundry this week, a little housework, lots of cooking and eating, a nap here and there, but nothing towards packing and getting the home ready for the market. I'm starting to believe we will be here all winter...

In our homeschool this week…Robyn did a good job of catching up her school work this week so that she could enjoy a few days of fall break.

I am inspired by…my daughter's sense of humor and her ability to mimic people. She's a natural. She now can do the Super nanny and she cracks us all up.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…I've been to the grocery store and that's about it. I told daughter I would take her shopping (she has saved up quite a bit of money), and my back is just not cooperating. Maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day!

My favorite thing this week was…hearing today that hubby has an interview next Friday for a very good job. Pray that they pick him. Pick him, pick him!!!

What’s working/not working for us… still having difficulty getting up early. Now that the cooler days and nights are here, it makes it even harder to get up. I am so not a morning person. I worked 19 years after high school graduation and you would think after all those years I would be use to it. After becoming a stay at home mom, it didn't take me long at all to get use to the later hours and sleeping in.

I’m reading…didn't read much of anything but my Bible this week and the newspaper.

I’m cooking…I made a wonderful crumbly apple pie this week and still have a few slices left. I have enough Granny Smith apples and crumbly topping to make another, but I am just not in the mood. I'm not crazy about apple pie. I like it, but I guess it is just not decadent enough for me :)

I’m grateful for…a loving family, a loving Father, and God's provision for us.

I’m praying for… hubby's blood pressure, my dad's heart, my mil's safe trip, and my hubby's employment.

Thanks for stopping by Chaos Cottage and Second Star Academy. Have a great weekend with your family!

Pam

We now know the breed of our cat.

2011-10-13T18:24:00.020-04:00

We now know that Peyton is a Colorpoint Shorthair. He is a hybrid of a Siamese and a Tabby, which explains his blue eyes and coloring and the striped rings on his tail. I knew when I first held him when he was just a wee lad, that he looked like there might be Siamese in his lineage. I had no idea there was such a hybrid. Now, he's special! Thank you sweet Becky at http://bigyellowcottage.blogspot.com/

We are "princess" sitting this week

2011-10-13T15:41:00.000-04:00

My mother-in-love has gone on a fun cruise into the New England/Canada area and beyond and has given us the responsibility to take care of her girl, Lacy Love, while she is gone. We do not refer to the "D" word when talking to her or about her. I made that mistake another time when we were "princess" sitting and she had to be deprogrammed when she returned home to her mama. Mama was not happy!

She is a cute little Papillon Phalene which means her ears don't stand up nice and perky like a regular Papillon. Daughter likes to dress her up in her little outfits when she is here. Lacy likes any attention, even demoralizing attention. She also likes cornbread. Good thing I am making a pan or two while she is here.

She keeps us company when we walk around the neighborhood too. Today, a woman yelled "hi puppy!" and she just looked at her like she was a goober. She knows she's a princess, not a puppy! Geesh!!!

Thank you Lacy for visiting with us. I know we will enjoy our week together, even if the cats aren't so sure.

Pam

Menu for week of October 10th

2011-10-09T18:00:00.000-04:00

Monday: Tuna Egg Foo Yung, Fried Rice

Tuesday: Bean Burritos, Fruit Salad

Wednesday: Roasted Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Stuffed Baked Potatoes, Rolls

Crock Pot Roasted Chicken

1 whole chicken
salt and pepper, herbs, spices to taste

Scrunch up 3 balls of foil about the size of baseballs. Put them in bottom of crock pot. Wash chicken and place on balls. Add seasoning. Cook on high 1 hour then turn to low for 4 hours. Check for doneness.

Thursday: Chicken Noodle Soup (using yesterday's chicken), Salad, French Bread

Friday: Simple White Chili, Cornbread

Simple White Chili

2 c. cooked diced chicken
1 48 oz. jar of great northern beans (I'll probably just cook dry beans)
1 8 oz. jar salsa
1 8 oz. package of shredded Colby jack or Mexican blend cheese
2 t. cumin

Mix all ingredients and simmer. Can be frozen.

Saturday: Homemade Pizza, Salad

Sunday: Turkey Smoked Sausage, Macaroni and Cheese, Green Beans with Potatoes, Rolls

Thanks for visiting Chaos Cottage,

Pam

Homeschool Mother's Journal

2011-10-07T13:25:00.004-04:00

In my life this week…Daughter had a friend sleep over on Saturday and they had such a good time. This may be the last sleepover in this house. Bittersweet.

In our homeschool this week…Daughter is excited about starting on United States history. I love history so this will be very enjoyable for me.

I am inspired by…family walks through the neighborhood and the neighbors we have been blessed with.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…haven't gone anywhere but the grocery store this week. How exciting!

My favorite thing this week was…walking with my husband.

What’s working/not working for us…trying to get to bed earlier and get up earlier has been a challenge for us. We want to be in bed about 9:30 to read before retiring so that we can get an earlier start on our day. We managed to do this once this week :( We are a work in progress.

Things I’m working on…besides homeschooling, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundering, etc. I'm trying to get things packed up. Seems like I have very little time in my day. Hence, we are trying to get up earlier.

I’m reading…The Last of the Mohicans. Slowly getting through this one.

I’m cooking…today I am going to make apple pie. I bought 7 Granny Smith apples just for this pie.

I’m grateful for…God's provision, doctors who care, and a loving family.

I’m praying for…my husband's blood pressure, his job hunt, my Dad's heart, and various family members.

Thanks for visiting Second Star Academy. Come back again!

Pam

Menu for week of October 3rd

2011-10-02T16:57:00.007-04:00

Monday: Ham and Potato Scallop, Roasted Asparagus

Ham and Scalloped Potatoes

2 lbs ham - chopped into bite sized chunks
6 medium potatoes - peeled and thinly sliced
2 medium onions - peeled and chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cups shredded Colby cheese

Combine ham with potatoes and onions and place in the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour cream of mushroom soup over the top. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. About an hour before serving stir in cheese.

Tuesday: Wild Rice Chicken (putting one in the freezer for another time), Green Beans, Rolls

Wednesday: Smokey BBQ Chicken Pizza, Salad

Thursday: Pigs in Blankets (healthy hotdogs), Oven Fried Potato Wedges, Crumbly Apple Pie

Oven Fried Potato Wedges

6 large potatoes
2 T oil
½ to 1 t. seasoned salt
¼ to ½ t. garlic powder
½ t. paprika
¼ t. pepper

Scrub potatoes well and cut lengthwise into wedges. Put oil and seasonings in large plastic food storage bag. Add potato wedges, close bag tightly and squeeze bag around until all potato surfaces are coated. Spray 2 large baking sheets with Pam Arrange potato wedges on sheets in a single layer. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes until tender.

Friday: Spaghetti Casserole (putting one in the freezer for another time), Salad, Garlic Bread sticks

Saturday: Pinto Beans, Greens, Fried Taters, Ham Cornbread Casserole (freezing leftovers)

Sunday: Chicken Fried Chops (crock pot), Mashed Potatoes, Green Veggie, Rolls or leftover breadsticks

That's my plan. Go to Organized Junkie to read many menu plans.

Pam

Homeschool tag team

2011-09-30T09:00:00.002-04:00

In my life this week…daughter got a couple of shots this week at the health department and didn't flinch. That's always good. My life revolves around homeschooling, laundry, cooking, dishes, sleeping, and thinking about packing and not really having the energy to do it. Where are the moving fairies when you need them?

In our homeschool this week…we are just plugging along. Very happy with daughter's grades and her progress.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…drove husband one and a half hours away for a job interview on Tuesday. We should know something today.

My favorite thing this week was…seeing my husband go through an interview this week and come out of it feeling good about it.

What’s working for us…getting my husband's help with teaching math is wonderful!

Questions/thoughts I have…wondering when my husband will get a job.

I’m reading…I finally finished Uncle Tom's Cabin and have started on The Last of the Mohicans. I'm also reading the first Harry Potter book.

I’m cooking… up good things this week. Check my Monday post.

I’m grateful for…a loving family.

I’m praying for… my husband's health and employment for him. Also my dad has been having chest pains and has recently worn a heart monitor. I am hoping they will find out what is causing the pain and can help him with it.

That's my week at Second Star Academy and Chaos Cottage.

Thanks for visiting,

Pam

Menu for week of September 26th

2011-09-26T10:00:00.004-04:00

Monday: Chicken Shepherd's Pie, Roasted Asparagus, Biscuits

Tuesday: Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, leftover Asparagus and Biscuits

Wednesday: Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole, Green Beans, Sister Schubert Rolls, Sweet Potato Cream Cheese Pie

Sweet Potato Cream Cheese Pie

8 ounces regular or light cream cheese, softened
1 cup mashed sweet potato
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
dash ground nutmeg
dash ground ginger
dash salt
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 prepared "deep dish" graham cracker pie crust, homemade or purchased

Preparation:
Heat oven to 350°.

Combine cream cheese, mashed sweet potato, and sugars until smooth. Blend in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Beat in eggs and vanilla just until blended. Pour the mixture into the pie crust.

Bake 40 minutes or until center is almost set, but still a little wobbly. Cool on a rack. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight to chill thoroughly. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator. Top each serving with with whipped cream.

Thursday: Turkey Burgers, Oven Fried Potato Wedges

Friday: Nacho-Style Chicken and Noodles, Salad

Nacho-Style Chicken & Noodles

1 T. vegetable oil
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into thin strips
1 1/4 c. milk
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups shredded taco cheese
1 can diced green chilies
1 small can sliced black olives (I'm omitting these)
1 package wide egg noodles

In large sauce pan over medium heat oil then add chicken. Cook 5 minutes. Stir in milk and soup. Heat just to boiling. Reduce heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese, olives and chilies. Stir until cheese melts. Cook noodles separate. Toss noodles and sauce. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Saturday: Spaghetti, Salad, Homemade Garlic Bread Sticks, Nutella Smores

Sunday: Hazel's Chicken Casserole, Fried Okra, Corn on the Cob, Sister Schubert Rolls

That's my plan. Thanks for visiting!

Pam

Gooseberry Patch

2011-09-23T13:18:00.002-04:00

Gooseberry Patch

A beautiful way to plan your menus. Menu Planning made easy by Gooseberry Patch. Don't you just love their recipes. I have many of their books. They are full of simple, easy recipes. I also love all the illustrations and helpful hints. Their website if wonderful! Check it out.

Pictures of my nine month old.

2011-09-23T12:40:00.006-04:00

His name is Peyton. He's a cutie and has lovely blue eyes. He is very quite which is a blessing as our other two cats are quite vocal!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

2011-09-23T11:42:00.008-04:00

In my life this week…

In our homeschool this week…we have been playing a little catch-up as I allowed daughter a few days off to spend some time with her "Mama" (grandmother).

I am inspired by…our church's 50th anniversary. We are celebrating Silver and Gold this Sunday. The pastor who started the church 50 years ago will be there along with our pastor who celebrates 25 years as our pastor!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…Hubby and I actually had a "date" this week while daughter was visiting her Mama. We got to see a movie. It had been a while since just the two of us went to see a movie together. While daughter visited her Mama, they went on a field trip to see the Ramsey House, Where the Two Rivers Meet, Fort Dickerson, Medal of Honor display at the World's Fair Park and played in the water fountain there. They had a very fun day and RC's and Moon Pies too!

My favorite thing this week was…walking with my husband. We are trying to walk as a family for our health and to help lower his blood pressure. We are taking it easy-nothing strenuous.

Things I’m working on…same thing-different week.

I’m reading…still trying to finish Uncle Tom's Cabin (nearing the end) and the first Harry Potter book (which is surprisingly interesting to this 50-something Mom).

What I’m cooking…I'e done a lot of cooking of new recipes this week. I really liked the Pimiento Cheese and the Country Ham and Corn Casserole the best.

I’m grateful for…God's provision for us and for my family.

I’m praying for…my husband's blood pressure, stress and job search.

That's what's happening at Second Star Academy. Thanks for visiting and come back again.

Pam

Oh my goodness gracious!

2011-09-19T14:57:00.002-04:00

My Creamy Pimiento Cheese recipe that I posted last week is so delicious. Even my 12 year old who thought "yuck pimientos", said it was very good. You must try it. I added a bit more cheddar cheese to my recipe. Feel free to tweak it to your preferences.

Pam

Menu for week of September 19th

2011-09-18T15:36:00.010-04:00

Monday

B-Eggs, Toasted Sourdough Bread with Jam or Apple Butter, Sliced Ham, Sliced Tomatoes, Juice and Coffee
L-Pimiento Cheese Sammies
D-Sloppy Joe Meatloaf (I'm tweaking the recipe a bit), Green Beans, Salad

Sloppy Joe Meatloaf

2/3 c oatmeal
1/3 c + 1/4c + 1/4c canned sloppy joe sauce
1 egg, slightly beaten
1-lb ground turkey (or beef) ('m using ground chicken and adding a little sausage)
1/4 c minced green bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
optional: shredded carrots, green pepper, or zucchini (I have some carrots that need to be used up so I think I will finely grate some and add these and not tell the daughter!)

* Preheat oven to 350* and spray a loaf pan.
* Combine oats, 1/3cup + 1/4 cup of the sloppy joe sauce, and the egg. Let sit for 3 minutes, so the oats can soften.
* Add meat, onion, and garlic. Mix until well combined.
* Pour meat evenly into prepared loaf pan.
* Spread the remaining 1/4 cup sloppy joe sauce evenly over the top.
* Bake for 30 minutes, until no longer pink.
Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

Tuesday

B-Pancakes and Sausage, Coffee and Juice
L-Meatloaf Sammies
D-Broccoli Chicken Casserole (going to do my best to get my 12 year old to eat this!), Corn on the Cob, Sister Schubert Rolls

Broccoli Chicken Casserole

1 pkg. chicken stuffing mix
2 c. cubed cooked chicken
1 c. frozen broccoli florets, thawed
1 can broccoli-cheese soup
1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

In small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Stir in stuffing mix. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Meanwhile, layer chicken and broccoli in a greased 11x7x2 inch baking dish. Top with soup. Fluff stuffing with a fork, spoon over soup. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

Wednesday

B-Oatmeal, maybe some Toast and Jam, Juice and Coffee
L-Leftovers or Turkey Sammies
D-Country Ham and Corn Casserole, Salad

Country Ham and Corn Casserole
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ready In: 1 hour 15 minutes

2 cups cubed cooked ham
1/2 cup chopped green onions (don't have these so using sweet onions)
1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted
3 eggs, well beaten
1 (15-oz.) can Green Giant® Cream Style Sweet Corn
1 (11-oz.) can Green Giantr Mexicorn® Whole Kernel Corn, Red and Green Peppers, drained
1 (7 to 8 1/2-oz.) pkg. corn muffin mix
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 12x8-inch (2-quart) baking dish. In large bowl, combine all ingredients except cheese. Pour into greased baking dish.

Bake at 350°F. for 45 to 55 minutes or until golden brown and set. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake an additional 1 to 2 minutes to melt cheese. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. To serve, cut into squares.

Thursday

B-Sausage and Cheese Muffins, Scrambled Eggs, Sliced Tomato, Juice and Coffee
L-Leftovers
D-Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce, Salad, Cheese Biscuits

Friday

B-Cereal and Toast with Jam, Juice and Coffee
L-Sammies
D-Chicken Shepherd's Pie, Sister Schubert Rolls

Chicken Shepherd's Pie

* 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
* 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
* 1 cup frozen peas
* 1 can cream of chicken soup
* salt and pepper to taste
* 2-3 cups cooked, chopped chicken
* 3 cups mashed potatoes (I used instant)

Boil carrots in the broth till tender. Stir in peas, cream of chicken soup, salt & pepper and cooked chicken.

Pour into a greased 9×13 casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes. Dot with butter. Bake 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Saturday

B-Eggs, Ham, Fried Taters, Toast, Juice and Coffee
L-Leftovers or PB&J
D-Taco Salad

Mexican Taco Salad

½ lb. ground beef (I'm using ground chicken)
½ cup chopped onion
16 oz. can kidney beans, drained
2 t. chili powder
¼ t. salt
6 c. shredded lettuce
2 c. chopped tomato
4 c. corn or crushed tortilla chips
½ cup Catalina dressing
½ lb. Velvetta, cubed (I'm using cheddar)
Brown meat; drain. Add onion; cook until tender. Add beans and seasonings. Cover and cook over medium heat 10 minutes. Combine remaining ingredients. Add meat mixture. Mix lightly and serve immediately. Serves 6. This always tastes good! If you'd like you can even eat it without the chips and save a few calories.

Sunday

B-Breakfast Bar of some sort, Juice and Coffee
L-Bachelor Bean Bake, Cornbread
D-C.O.R.N. (Clean Out Refrigerator Night)

Now some of you may be thinking we eat a lot of sausage, meats and cheese. We like protein, as it sticks to our ribs and fills us up. I buy my meats on sale and I don't buy any beef products any longer. Even my hotdogs are made without beef. Most of my sausage products are reduced fat or turkey sausages. They now make chicken sausages, and I have coupons, but haven't seen any in my area. We eat a lot of chicken. I try to buy natural lunch meats without nitrates/nitrites when they are on sale and stock up. My daughter likes to snack on turkey, no bread, no crackers, just turkey. I figure that's not so bad. Now, when it comes to cheese, I will use a reduced fat cream cheese, but with most cheeses, I like the real thing. Those reduced fat ones taste so artificial to me. We are not health nuts but have learned to tweak our eating to make it healthier by doing these things. We also eat a lot of salads. I also try to incorporate good veggies. My daughter just hasn't found too many veggies she likes and I am hoping she will soon be brave enough to try new ones. We often have fruit at breakfast and sliced apples for a snack. I have a hard time getting in fruit. I just don't think of fruit when I am hungry and I need to incorporate more of that in my eating plan. And I know dairy is somewhat important for our bones and all, but we are not milk people. I try to incorporate yogurt sometimes and want to try the Greek yogurt as I hear it is higher in protein and lower in fat and is more filling. That's our eating philosophy, how about you?

That's my menu plan. Thanks for stopping by again,

Pam

Pumpkin Spice Latte

2011-09-17T16:36:00.004-04:00

I realize the first day of fall isn't until the 23rd, but I've already had my first cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. I went grocery shopping last night and needed the Cup of Ambition to get me through the store. Or at least that's what I tell myself. :)

I love Fall!

Pam

2011-09-15T20:57:00.009-04:00

In my life this week…

In our homeschool this week…we are playing "catch up" already. Spending Monday at my Mom and Dad's threw me behind. That's my excuse anyway, how about you?

I am inspired by…the cool weather. It's starting to feel like fall, y'all!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…hoping to make it to church this Sunday. I've been having restless nights and I just can't function without my sleep. I really miss church.

My favorite thing this week was…getting some of the furniture out of our house that we will no longer need.

What’s working/not working for us…getting up early. I want to get up early. Really I do. But when morning rolls around and I am still needing sleep, it's just too easy to roll over and sleep more.

Things I’m working on…same stuff-different week.

I’m reading…still moving though Uncle Tom's Cabin at night and the first Harry Potter book.

I’m cooking…everything in the pantry and freezer. I must go to the store. My family is complaining.

I’m grateful for…God's provision through my husband's unemployment.

I’m praying for…my husband's blood pressure issues. It is still high and every one in the family is worried.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…Good mothers have sticky floors, dirty ovens and happy kids!

Thanks for stopping by Second Star Academy at Chaos Cottage. Come again!

Pam

Menu for week of September 12th (Better Late than Never)

2011-09-13T16:33:00.006-04:00

Monday: Papa Murphey's Bacon Bacon Bacon Pizza

Tuesday: I'm in a breakfast kinda mood and am going to make Ham and Cheese Muffins, Scrambled Eggs and Fried Taters. Yum-o!

Wednesday: Bean Burritos, Mexican Pasta Salad

Mexican Pasta Salad

1 box bow tie pasta
1 pint container of cherry tomatoes
1/2 block (approx 4 oz.) of Pepper Jack or Cheddar cheese
3-4 stalks of scallions

Prepare bow tie pasta using box instructions. Strain, rinse to cool and strain pasta again. Chop scallions fine; cut cherry tomatoes into halves (or quarters if they are large) and cut cheese into little 1/4 inch squares.

In a smaller bowl, mix 1/2 cup mayo and 1/3 cup salsa. (If you use a chunky salsa, you may need more).

Combine above dressing with all other ingredients, mixing well.

Chill for a few hours and serve.

Thursday: Quick Chick Trick, leftover Pasta Salad, Green Vegetable, Sister Schubert Rolls

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.

Friday: Date Night with the Hubby

Saturday: Lunch-Quick and Zesty Vegetable Soup Dinner-Frank and Cheese Casserole, Tossed Salad, Mayonnaise Rolls

Quick and Zesty Vegetable Soup

1 lb. lean ground beef (I use ground turkey)
½ cup chopped onion
2 cans Italian style stewed tomatoes
2 cans mixed vegetables
½ cup uncooked medium egg noodles
½ t. oregano

In large pot brown meat with onion. Cook until onion is tender; drain. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until noodles are tender. 8 one cup servings.

Sunday: Lunch: Creamy Pimiento Cheese Sammies, Chips, Fruit Dinner-Chicken Fried Chops, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Brussel's Sprouts, Macaroni and Cheese

Creamy Pimiento Cheese

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 c. (8 oz) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, softened
1/3 c. mayo
dash of garlic powder
4 oz. jar pimiento, drained

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy. Add cheddar cheese and continue beating until light and fluffy. Add mayo, and garlic powder; mix well. Stir in pimiento; cover and chill. Serve at room temperature. Makes 2 ½ cups.

Hopefully, I'll get to make all these meals this week.

Pam

It's been a crazy week!

2011-09-13T16:24:00.005-04:00

I haven't posted my Monday menu yet. We've been sorta busy. First off, Monday morning my mom called to say dad was taken to the emergency room by ambulance for chest pains. We had to rush to her house to be with her as she can barely walk, let alone drive. It's a good forty-five minute drive to her home. Turns out that dad was experiencing some sort of muscle pain but the doctors said his heart was fine. We are so thankful for that. We ended up leaving there after five and took the long way home and drove over Norris Dam and enjoyed the scenery. We picked up a pizza from Papa Murphey's to bake after we got home. It sure was good. It was a Bacon, Bacon, Bacon pizza.

Today, we got rid of our old den furniture, an almost new pub table and four chairs, our dining room suite, a coffee table and our old grill. We are getting a little bit of money to boot for that and it's less furniture to store and since we will more than likely be living in a smaller house we were going to need to get rid of all that anyway.

Hubby's blood pressure is still all over the place and it seems the medicine is just not working. Keep him in your prayers.

We haven't done school in two days. :( As Scarlett said, "tomorrow is another day."

Thanks for visiting,

Pam

The Homeschooling Mother's Journal

2011-09-09T14:24:00.005-04:00

In my life this week…

In our homeschool this week…Robyn is plowing right along. She even did several lessons on her own without my supervision when I needed to run an errand or two and has done a good job reviewing her lessons before her quizzes and tests.

I am inspired by…our cooler temperatures and the ceasing of all the rain. It motivates me to work around the house. Heat just wears me out.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…Been to several doctor's offices this week. Hubby has been seeing his doctor about his high blood pressure, and it is starting to come down some, and if you saw my post about the benign tumor that was removed from the top of his head, we had the stitches taken out of that today. Daughter says she can no longer call him Frankenstein!

My favorite thing this week was…getting "new to us" furniture for our den. It just so happens that my Mother-In-Love was given a gorgeous three piece suite for her den and she gave us her hand-me-downs. It looks perfect for our den and we will take it with us to our next home. We have found a home for our old furniture and it may be leaving our house this weekend.

Things I’m working on…I'm really trying to get in my prayer time and Bible reading on a daily basis. I'm also trying to get to bed earlier.

I’m reading…I'm still reading Uncle Tom's Cabin on my Ipod at night. It is very good. I read a little of it today while in the waiting room at the doctor's office. It was a very sad part and I was trying not to cry. I'm just an emotional gal!

I’m cooking…I'm going to cook Dum Dum Depression Casserole tonight and Cornbread. I've planned this meal before but then didn't fix it so tonight's the night. It's sounds like good country food to me.

I’m grateful for…my Heavenly Father who is seeing my family through this season of life of unemployment, hubby's health issues, homeschooling, and trying to ready this home for sale.

I’m praying for…hubby's blood pressure to continue to lower and get to a healthier pressure, for him to find employment, and for him to feel better so that he can get this house ready for sale. Can you tell I'm ready to do this?

Come back again next week. Thanks for visiting Second Star Academy at the Chaos Cottage,

Pam

2011-09-05T15:49:00.003-04:00

The cyst on the Hubs was getting bigger. It also itched him a lot. We just didn't think we could justify the expense to have it removed. Then he thought it could be distracting prospective employers. So out it went. It was a textbook Lipoma. A benign cyst. Isn't she a beauty! He is no longer turning into a unicorn. Don't let anyone tell you they don't exist. I have the proof. Ha!

Pam

Menu for week of September 4

2011-09-04T09:00:00.001-04:00

Monday:

Breakfast: Pancakes, Turkey Sausage, Low Sodium Bacon, Juice and Coffee
Lunch: Quiche and Strawberries (changed this already, had sammies, Sun chips and strawberries instead of quiche)
Dinner: Wild Rice Chicken, Roasted Asparagus

Wild Rice Chicken
(Freezer Friendly)

1 c. cooked, deboned, diced chicken
8 oz. water chestnuts, sliced, drained
1 c. finely chopped celery
1 c. finely chopped onion
6 ¼ oz. pkg. Uncle Ben's fast-cooking long grain and wild rice
¾ c. mayo (regular or light) used on serving day
1 can cream of mushroom soup, used on serving day

Cook rice. Mix with all ingredients except mayo and soup and freeze. When thawed, place in 11 x 7 inch dish. Stir together mayo and soup. Spread over mixture. Cook covered 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Tuesday:

Breakfast: Free Chick-Fil-A Breakfast
Lunch: Out at Sonic
Dinner: Cajun Beans and Sausage, Cornbread Muffins (using smoked turkey sausage)

Wednesday:

Breakfast: Cereal and Toast, Juice and Coffee
Lunch: Cheese Quesas, Fruit
Dinner: Spaghetti, Salad, Homemade Italian Breadsticks

Thursday:

Breakfast: One Eyed Sailors, Link Sausage, Sliced Tomatoes
Lunch: Chicken Salad Sammies, Carrots and Dip, Sun Chips
Dinner: Chicken Noodle Casserole, Corn on the Cob, Leftover Breadsticks

Friday:

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Toast, Juice and Coffee
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Dum Dum Depression Casserole, Greens, Leftover Cornbread Muffins

Saturday:

Breakfast: Ham and Cheese Muffins, Eggs, Sliced Tomatoes, Juice and Coffee
Lunch: Picnic
Dinner: Leftovers

Sunday:

Breakfast: Muffins
Lunch: Crock Pot Taco Soup, Fritos

Crock Pot Taco Soup

1 pound ground beef (I'm using ground turkey)
1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) can chili beans, with liquid
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans with liquid
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, with liquid
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 cups water
2 (14.5 ounce) cans peeled and diced tomatoes
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chile peppers
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

1. In a medium skillet, cook the ground beef until browned over medium heat. Drain, and set aside.

2. Place the ground beef, onion, chili beans, kidney beans, corn, tomato sauce, water, diced tomatoes, green chile peppers and taco seasoning mix in a slow cooker. Mix to blend, and cook on Low setting for 8 hours.

Dinner: Clean Out Refrigerator Night

2011-09-02T11:29:00.007-04:00

In my life this week…cried my eyes out yesterday watching Where the Red Fern Grows with my daughter. I guess I was just "due" a good cry. Good movie.

In our homeschool this week…we are moving along just fine. Seems like it was an easy week for us.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…may be going to the doctor with hubby today. Waiting on a phone call. He has a cyst on the top of his head to be taken off if his blood pressure issue will allow.

My favorite thing this week was…spending time with family.

Things I’m working on…still decluttering the house to get it ready for the market.

I’m reading…still reading Uncle Tom's Cabin but have also started on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

I’m cooking…I've been cooking some yummy food for my family. Check out my weekly menu posted on Sunday or Monday to see my recipes. My Apple Bread was really good. I wish I had some with my coffee right now!

I’m grateful for…my online friends!

I’m praying for…my husband's blood pressure to lower and for him to find employment.

Lasagna Roll-ups and Italian Bread Sticks

2011-09-02T09:05:00.002-04:00

One of my meals I made for my family this week is a family favorite called Lasagna Roll-ups. Usually I double the recipe and freeze it in my Gladware pan which goes from freezer, to fridge to thaw, to the oven. We are only a family of three and this is perfect for us. But we decided to eat the second pan the next day for lunch and finished off the bread sticks as well. Here are the recipes for these two items.

Italian Bread Sticks

1 1⁄2 cup warm water
1 T. yeast
2 T. sugar
3 1⁄2 c. flour
1⁄2 tsp. salt
2–3 T. butter, margarine, melted, or extra-virgin olive oil
Garlic powder/salt
Parmesan cheese

Add the yeast to the warm water and stir. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until bubbly.

Mix sugar, flour, and salt together. Add the yeast mixture and stir to mix well.

Knead for a few minutes until smooth. Let stand 10 minutes.

Pour melted butter/margarine or olive oil in a 9”x13” baking dish.

Press the dough into the dish, spreading it out to fill it completely.

Cut the dough into strips in the baking dish and sprinkle with garlic and/or Parmesan cheese as desired. (I usually add some extra melted butter or olive oil on top too, but I’m overindulgent like that. You really don’t need to.)

Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

Bake 20 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven until golden brown.

Lasagna Roll Ups

-6 lasagna noodles
-1/2 lb. sausage
-chopped onions
-1 (15.soz) jar spaghetti sauce
-1 (8oz) pkg. shredded pizza blend cheese

-Cook lasagna noodles according to pkg. directions.
-Rinse and drain; set aside.
-In a skillet cook the sausage and onions.
-Drain.
-In a bowl mix 1 cup of the spaghetti sauce and sausage together.
-Spread 1/4 cup of the meat sauce onto each lasagna noodle.
-Top with 1 Tbls. cheese.
-Carefully roll up each noodle and place seam side down in an 8x8 baking dish.
-Spoon remaining sauce over top and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
-Bake @ 350 for 20-30 minutes........

The Lasagna Roll-ups get messy when you are making them. Or is it the cook gets messy. Anyway they are delicious. The bread sticks were very easy to make and boy did they smell yummy.

Happy eating!

Pam

Apple Bread

2011-09-01T14:35:00.003-04:00

I made the most wonderful and easy apple bread the other day. I wish I had taken a picture. I know I will be making it again, so I will try to remember to post a photo later. It is a super easy recipe:

I box Spice Cake Mix
1 can Apple Pie Filling
3 eggs

Beat all this together for three minutes. Pour into two greased bread pans. Bake about 40 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes and pour glaze over top.

Glaze:

2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 T milk
1 t. vanilla

Mix with a whisk until all the lumps are gone.

My oh my was this good. I even used a sugar free (spelenda sweetened) apple pie filling as that is what was in my pantry. It is so good and moist. I had it hot and cold from the fridge. Either way it is delicious!

2011-09-01T13:28:00.001-04:00

I'm asking all my online friends to remember my husband in prayer for his health and employment. His blood pressure has been dangerously high and is being monitored by his doctor and they are tweaking his meds. Also, he needs a job to support his family. He is under a lot of stress to get out of this house and into something paid for and is unable to do much at the moment because he just needs to rest. Pray for him.

Love,
Pam

2nd week of Second Star Academy

2011-08-27T16:57:00.010-04:00

In our homeschool this week…We finished our second week of home schooling and it is coming along just fine. It is amazing how much easier it is when we follow our schedule :)

Robyn is learning how to write reports using the MLA rules and she is working on a project on the meaning of names. I can't wait to read that and see which names of friends and family that she chooses.

In addition to our Switched on Schoolhouse curriculum which covers Bible, Language Arts, History/Geography, General Science and Mathmatics, we are including Bible studies by Kay Arthur and various books of fiction.

My favorite thing this week was…The topic of interest to Robyn at the moment, is Spain. Her great-great Aunt is going to take her and her daddy to Spain. I don't want to go. I know, but that's just me! Anyway, she is having fun looking at maps and learning about Spain before she goes in a few months.

Things I’m working on…still packing up things in the house. Several loads of stuff were taken to our storage unit this week. The vinyl siding on our house got a good scrubbing and pressure washing this week. It looks so good! Also, weeding and bushes trimming was accomplished. It's amazing what these things can do to the appearance of your home.

I’m reading…Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe and it has been very interesting.

I’m cooking…you can read on my weekly menu the meals I cook for my family. On Monday, my menu will have several recipes included.

I’m grateful for…for family and friends who have been so kind to us and keep us in their prayers.

I’m praying for…for my husband's blood pressure which has been extremely high and has everyone worried for his health.

So that's our update on Second Star Academy. I will post more in the weeks to come.

Pam, Teacher at Second Star Academy :)

Menu for week of August 29th

2011-08-27T13:47:00.008-04:00

I stuck to last week's menu pretty well, with just a few changes here and there. I have been trying to eat up food in the pantry and freezer but have had to buy items here and there to round out our meals. Here is what I am planning to feed my family this week.

Monday:

B-Breakfast bars (I have an abundance of granola bars, Nutri-grain Bars, Special K bars, etc. that I have bought on sale and with a coupon. These are not that filling, but it is hard to pass up a good deal. Eat one of these with a banana and a cup of Joe and you feel pretty full.

L-Leftovers from the weekend (sometimes these foods are much tastier as leftovers)

D-Lasagna Roll-ups (using a partial box of lasagna noodles from the pantry and sausage bought on sale a few weeks ago). I also have the spaghetti sauce in the pantry and romaine lettuce in the fridge. I almost always have the makings for cheese biscuits as well.

Lasagna Roll Ups
-6 lasagna noodles
-1/2 lb. sausage
-chopped onions
-1 (15.soz) jar spaghetti sauce
-1 (8oz) pkg. shredded pizza blend cheese (I'll use bits of cheddar and mozzarella that I already have, and maybe some freshly grated parmesan)

-Cook lasagna noodles according to pkg. directions.
-Rinse and drain; set aside.
-In a skillet cook the sausage and onions.
-Drain.
-In a bowl mix 1 cup of the spaghetti sauce and sausage together.
-Spread 1/4 cup of the meat sauce onto each lasagna noodle.
-Top with 1 Tbls. cheese.
-Carefully roll up each noodle and place seam side down in an 8x8 baking dish.
-Spoon remaining sauce over top and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
-Bake @ 350 for 20-30 minutes........

I'll make an extra pan and throw that in the freezer for another meal on another week.

Tuesday:

B-Oatmeal and some sort of fruit (maybe blueberries from the freezer or fresh strawberries)

L-Leftovers more than likely or PB&J with Sliced Apple

D-Bean Burritos (I am going to try this recipe that I found online as it is much cheaper than the canned ones I buy at the store), Blanco Queso (using up the rest of my faux Velvetta cheese) and Tortilla Chips

Crock pot Refried Beans

3 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed
1 onion, peeled and quartered
2 fresh garlic cloves, peeled and quartered
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne power
1/2 tsp of chili powder (optional)
4 cups water

Soak beans overnight in plenty of water.*
Soften the beans by boiling for 10 minutes (or according to package directions) and drain.
Place the onion, boiled beans, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin and cayenne into a slow cooker. Pour in the water and stir to combine.
Cook on High for 4 to 6 hours, adding more water as needed. Note: if more than 1 cup of water has evaporated during cooking, then the temperature is too high.
After cooking remove some water. Smash the beans with a potato masher. Add water back as necessary for desired consistency.
*To skip soaking process by increasing water to 9 cups and cook for an additional 2 to 4 hours on HIGH.
**For smaller batch use 2 cups beans and 3 cups water. You can also cut back a little on the spices.

We use about 1/4 of the batch on the day I make it. I put two jars in the freezer and leave one jar in the refrigerator for use throughout the week.

Wednesday:

B-Cereal (bought on sale and with coupon) and milk, maybe a banana too.

L-Leftovers or some soup from the freezer (I have some mystery containers in there-why didn't I label them???)

D-Chicken or Turkey Sloppy Joes, Oven Fries

Thursday:

B-One Eyed Sailors, Turkey Sausage Links and sliced Grainger Tomatoes.

L-Tortilla Stuffers (bought on sale with a coupon) and Tortillas

D-Cajun Chicken (crockpot), Noodles, Salad or Vegetable

Cajun Chicken

4-6 chicken breasts (boneless/skinless)
1 can of cream of chicken soup
cajun seasoning (to your taste ... a lot if you like it spicy)

Spread cream of chicken soup in the bottom of the crock pot. Place chicken over the top, sprinkle with cajun seasoning and cook.

Friday:

B-Cream of Wheat, Toast with Jam

L-Leftovers or Egg Salad Sammies and Carrots

D-Favorite Beans and Rice

Favorite Beans and Rice

Vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 cups cooked red beans (or 1 can)
2 cups black beans (or 1 can)
1 can diced tomatoes with garlic and onion
1 tsp fresh minced garlic
1 cup frozen corn
1/2 tsp chili powder (use up to 1 tsp if using a mild chili powder)
1/2 tsp ground cumin

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion to soften and add garlic, being careful not to let garlic burn. Add beans (drained) to skillet. Add tomatoes, corn, chili powder and cumin to skillet. Heat through, lower heat to simmer. Serve over hot rice. Sprinkle with shredded cheese if you wish.

Saturday:

B-Pancakes

L-Egg Salad Sammies and Carrots

D-Hamburger Helper meal (bought on sale with coupon, more than likely), (I make it with ground chicken or turkey instead of beef), green veggie or salad, rolls

Sunday:

B-Blueberry Muffins

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.

L-Pam's Chicken Dish for the Crock Pot, Rice, Salad or Veggie, Rolls

Pam's Chicken Dish for the Crock Pot

4-6 chicken breasts, pounded out thin
4-6 pieces of ham
4-6 slices of Swiss or Mozzerella cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup
¼ c. milk
Put ham and cheese on chicken. Roll up and secure with toothpick. Place chicken in crock pot so it looks like a triangle. Layer rest on top. Mix soup and milk. Pour over top of chicken. Cover and cook on low 4 hours or until chicken is no longer pink. Serve over noodles with the sauce it makes.

Menu for week of August 22nd

2011-08-21T13:38:00.003-04:00

In no particular order, these are the dinners I am planning to make this week:

Sausage Casserole, Sauteed Yellow Squash and Sweet Onions, French Bread

Pork Chops, Hash Brown Casserole, Peas, Rolls

Mixed Beans, Turkey Smoked Sausage, Fried Taters and Corn Bread

Baked Chili Mac, Salad

Chicken and Cheese Filled Tortolini, Alfredo Sauce, Salad and Garlic Bread

Crock Pot Chicken Dish, Roasted Asparagus, French Bread

Ham and Vegetables, Fried Okra, Corn Bread

Yummy week! Also, today is my Mom's birthday. She is 80! Happy birthday Mom!

Finished first week of school--check!

2011-08-20T12:08:00.010-04:00

We have one week of homeschooling under our belt and it went perfectly. Robyn and I now have this down pat and are hoping to stick to our assignment schedule and not fall behind. In addition to her Switched on Schoolhouse curriculum we are doing a couple of Kay Arthur Bible studies for kids and I continue to promote reading for pleasure and we are enforcing one hour fun time on the computer a day. Our treadmill is not working so she has been walking in the neighborhood to get exercise and swimming at her aunt's apartment.

She left yesterday afternoon to visit her aunt and to swim and spend the night. Last week her aunt and grandmama went to Blount Mansion for a tour, so she has already been on a field trip this school year!

Robert has taken several loads of boxes and excess furniture to our storage unit and an outdoor swing to his mother's back yard. Boxes are continuing to accumulate all over the house as we declutter, give to charity, and resale books, in our attempt to get this house listing ready. Two houses near us also recently went up for sale. The competition will be good for us, I hope.

On Monday, my mother turns 80! What a miracle she is, having beaten cancer twice in the last 12 years. My dad has been a very good caretaker and he will be 77 in October. It has been difficult watching my parents age but they continue to keep on keeping on and that does my heart good. I am so thankful that Robyn has grandparents. I didn't have any and that is a blessing I missed out on.

Today, I am getting laundry caught up and trying to decide whether to make something homemade to take to Sunday school tomorrow for snacks or just pick something up at the store. I am leaning towards the second one. Hubby an I may try to catch a matinee today while Robyn is visiting her aunt's. Tomorrow after church is a potluck (yum!) and then we are going to spend the rest of the afternoon visiting my parents and wishing my mom a happy birthday.

Have a terrific weekend!

Pam

First day of School!

2011-08-15T08:35:00.004-04:00

Well, homeschooling for us has started back up. It was a shorter break for Robyn than she would have liked but we are going to follow the local school calendar this year and she will have days off the same as her BFF.

I've already made her a cup of iced coffee to help her wake up and get started. I've already had a cup of coffee myself. Wouldn't you know it? When coffee prices go up, my 12 year old decides she likes it iced. That's really my fault for introducing her to the mocha frappes at McDonalds. Aren't those delicious!

Well, off to open up Second Star Academy for the school year and make breakfast for the family. Pray for a good school year for us.

Pam

Menu for the week of August 15th

2011-08-14T15:21:00.005-04:00

Monday: Breakfast-Pancakes and Sausage, Juice Lunch-Leftovers, Dinner-Bachelor Bean Bake, Fresh Corn on the Cob, French Bread, Snack-Grapes

Tuesday: Breakfast-Cereal and Toast, Lunch-Chicken Sloppy Joes and Fries, Dinner-Homemade Pizza (using Turkey Pepperoni and some ham from the freezer) and Spinach Salad (with cukes, tomatoes and onion), Snack-Apples

Wednesday: Breakfast-Eggs, Bacon and Toast, juice, Lunch-Soup, Cheese and Crackers, Dinner-Wild West Baked Chili Mac (recipe below) and Spinach Salad (with cukes, tomatoes and onion), Snack-grapes

Thursday: Breakfast-Cereal Bar or Granola Bar, Milk or Yogurt, Lunch-Leftovers or PB&J with Applesauce or Fat-free Pudding, Dinner-Pam's Chicken Dish for the Crock Pot (recipe below), Green Veggie, Noodles, French Bread, Snack-Cantaloupe

Friday: Breakfast-Oatmeal, Toast and Jam, Lunch-Egg Sammie or Turkey Corn Dog and Cantaloupe, Dinner-Mixed Beans, Fried Taters, Greens and Cornbread, Snack-Apples

Saturday: Breakfast-One Eyed Sailors, Sausage, Juice, Lunch-Tortilla Stuffers, Dinner-CP BBQ Chicken, Baked Beans, Chips, Snack-Ants on a Log

Sunday: Breakfast-Muffins, Milk or Yogurt, Lunch-Potluck at Church, Dinner-Clean Out Refrigerator Night!

Wild West Baked Chili Mac

1 pkg. (24 oz.) Velveeta Shells and Cheese Dinner
2 cans (14.3 oz. each) chili, no beans
1 pkg. (8.5 oz.) cornbread mix, batter prepared as directed on package

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare dinner as directed on package. Stir in chili. Spread into 13x9 inch baking dish. Spread prepared cornbread batter on top of chili mixture to within ½ inch of edges. Bake 25-30 minutes or until cornbread is golden brown and fully risen. Makes 10 servings, 1 cup each.

Pam's Chicken Dish for the Crock Pot

4-6 chicken breasts, pounded out thin
4-6 pieces of ham
4-6 slices of Swiss or Mozzerella cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup
¼ c. milk
Put ham and cheese on chicken. Roll up and secure with toothpick. Place chicken in crock pot so it looks like a triangle. Layer rest on top. Mix soup and milk. Pour over top of chicken. Cover and cook on low 4 hours or until chicken is no longer pink. Serve over noodles with the sauce it makes.

Do you like iced coffee?

2011-08-08T22:32:00.004-04:00

I never thought I would. Just the thought of my hot cup of coffee going cold and then my drinking it is just unheard of. But then, I tried a recipe I found online and tweaked it a bit and oh my is it good. My 12 year old likes it too. Here is what I do.

Seems most days I still have coffee leftover in the carafe. You can refrigerate it and save it until you want to make these iced coffees or you can just use it like it is. I happen to be using vanilla flavored coffee at the moment, but plain coffee will work too. Take your nice big mug or commuter cup and add 1 1/2 Tablespoons of simple syrup. I used Vanlla flavored syrup. The kind you flavor fancy coffees with. DaVinci is the brand. Add 1 1/2 Tablespoons of chocolate syrup and stir both of these together. Now fill your cup about 2/3 full of crushed ice. I use the ice from my ice maker. Now poor your old coffee over this about 2/3 full and top off with half and half and stir. Put a straw in your mug and enjoy!

Don't spend all that hard earned money on the fancy coffee shop iced coffee, when this is just as good!

Pam

Where has this summer gone?

2011-08-08T13:43:00.006-04:00

It sure has been a hot summer here in the south and many parts of our country. It keeps you inside where the air conditioning is nice and cool. I've barely stepped out of doors because of that. I've also done very little around the house as well. I take medication for my back now everyday. Twice a day. It keeps me pain-free. But the side effect is that I am very numb-like, sleepy, tired, and unmotivated to do work that needs to be done. It it's not one thing, it's another! But I am vowing to push through this curtain of sleepyville and make myself do something! I thought I would start with a plan and see if that helps me to accomplish some things. Here is my plan for this week:

Laundry

Clean kitchen (I mean, thoroughly)

Continue to pack things for our storage unit

Read my Bible every morning and maybe, even every night

Continued prayer for my husband to find work

Cook good meals for my family

Continue to pray for and motivate my husband to do the things he needs to do to get his family out of this house and into the lake house so that we can put this one on the market

Attend church

Buy groceries

It's a start. Some of you may be thinking "I do this every week." Well, for me, it has been difficult of late. So, I'm starting with baby steps to get back on the road to life and trying to be a good help meet.

School starts next week. That will take up a good portion of my day and the rest of the day should be spent in feeding my family, doing laundry, and packing more stuff to make our house pretty!

What are your goals? Please share.

Menu for the week of August 8th

2011-08-07T21:05:00.004-04:00

This is the last week before we start home schooling again. I need to get some things done while I can. Here is my menu plan for this week:

Monday, August 8

B-Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
L-Leftovers
D-Sausage Casserole, Green Beans, Rolls

Colleen's Sausage Casserole

1 lb. hot sausage
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 ¼ cup instant rice
8 oz. sharp grated cheese

Crumble sausage in skillet and brown, drain well. Mix sausage, onion, and pepper in a large bowl. Add uncooked rice and then soup. Add cheese last, saving a little to sprinkle on top. Pour into casserole and bake 325 degrees for 1 hour uncovered.

Tuesday, August 9

B-Muffins
L-Soup and Sammies
D-Wiggly Piggly Spaghetti, Salad

Wiggly Piggly Spaghetti

1 pound bacon
1 pound spaghetti
3 cloves garlic, minced
5 T olive oil
salt to taste
pepper to taste
grated Parmesan cheese to taste

Cook bacon until crisp; drain well; crumble. Prepare spaghetti. Process garlic cloves through a garlic press, combine with olive oil.

Toss together spaghetti, bacon, garlic and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cheese. 4-6 servings.

Wednesday, August 10

B-Toast, Eggs, Bacon
L-Leftovers
D-Chicken and Noodle Dish, Rolls

Chicken & Noodle Dish (Feeds six)

Three half boneless chicken breasts cut in bite-sized pieces
1 med. onion chopped
1 tsp. minced garlic
2 T. oil
1 tsp. dry basil
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen corn
8 oz. wide noodles
1 package of chicken gravy which makes 2 cups gravy. (kosher)

In Extra large saucepan, brown onions in oil. Add garlic after onions are transparent. Allow to brown and add chicken. (In separate saucepan fill with water for noodles. Turn to med-hi. When it begins to boil add noodles. Cook 8-10 minutes or until just about done.) Brown meat until it just begins to caramelize. Add peas and corn and basil. Add 1 1/2 cups water. In small bowl add 1 cup water and gravy mix. Now add to Extra large pan with chicken, peas, corn, basil. Next add the noodles and allow to simmer about 15-20 minutes so all ingredients blend. Add pepper to taste. I never salt my food, so you may want to salt after you taste.

Thursday, August 11

B-Cereal and Toast
L-Leftovers
D-Bachelor Bean Bake, Corn Bread Muffins

Bachelor Bean Bake
(Telephone Pioneers of America)

½ c. onion, chopped
2 T butter
2, 16 oz. cans pork and beans
½ pound wieners, cut int ½ inch pieces
1/3 c. ketchup
1 t Worcestershire sauce
½ t. dry mustard

In ½ quart saucepan, over low heat, cook the onions in butter until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients, pour in 1 ½ quart baking dish. Bake 400 degrees 30 minutes or until hot. Stir thoroughly before serving. 4-5 servings.

Friday, August 12

B-One Eyed Sailors, Sausage Links
L-Chicken Chili, Bean and Cheese quesas
D-Homemade Pizza (Ham and Turkey Pepperoni) Salad

Saturday, August 13

B-Oatmeal
L-Leftovers
D-Grilled Chicken Burgers, Veggies and Dip, Cantaloupe

Sunday, August 14

B-Muffins
L-Crock Pot Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread

Crockpot Lasagna
servings | 10
estimated POINTS per serving | 7

1 lb of lean ground turkey
1 onion chopped
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
2-15oz cans tomato sauce
1-6 oz can tomato paste
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. oregano
1-12 oz carton of fat-free cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
12 oz lasagna noodles - uncooked
12 oz shredded non-fat mozzarella cheese

Brown ground turkey and onions in a skillet. Add garlic powder, tomato sauce, tomato paste, salt and oregano. Cook long enough to get it warm.

In a bowl mix the cottage cheese, parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese.

Spoon a layer of meat sauce onto the bottom of the crockpot. Add a double layer of uncooked lasagna noodle (break to fit) and top with cheese mixture (you may have to use a knife to spread it). Repeat layers two more times.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Menu for week of August 1st

2011-07-30T18:49:00.008-04:00

I know I say this a lot, but Geez, it's August. What happened to July, or June??? We will be starting school again in a couple of weeks. We are still in our house and haven't moved to the lake house yet? We need to get busy. It's been hot, and I've had back problems. I took care of that with a new prescription, but it makes me very sleepy and lazy. I think I need to get in more caffeine or something people. Please pray that I get some things done in the next couple of weeks. It seems like when I'm not packing, neither is hubby. We're a great pair, aren't we?

Here's what I plan on feeding my family this week:

Monday: Pancakes and Sausage, Orange Juice
Soup from the freezer, crackers and cheese, fruit
Mixed Beans from the freezer, cabbage and noodles (new recipe), and maybe corn bread

Cabbage and Noodles

1 (16 ounce) package egg noodles
1 stick butter
1 medium head green cabbage, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the egg noodles in the boiling water until the pasta is tender yet firm to the bite, about 5 minutes. Drain.
While the noodles cook, melt the butter in a large skillet over low heat. Add the cabbage to the melted butter; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until the cabbage begins to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir the drained noodles into the cabbage; cook and stir until the noodles begin to brown, about 5 minutes.

Tuesday: Ham and Cheese Muffins, Scrambled Eggs, Juice
Leftovers for lunch
Chicken Tetrazzini, Salad

Chicken Tetrazzini

8 oz. thin spaghetti, cooked, drained
1 can cream of chicken soup
½ cup milk
2 cups diced cooked chicken
4 oz. can sliced mushrooms
¼ c. grated parmesan cheese

Place spaghetti in buttered 2 qt. casserole. Mix soup and milk. Add diced chicken and drained mushrooms. Combine chicken mixture with spaghetti. Sprinkle cheese on top. Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Wednesday: Cream of Wheat, Peanut Butter on Toast
Leftovers for Lunch or Sammies
Cheesy Rice and Ham Casserole, Fruit, French Bread

Cheesy Ham and Rice Casserole

1 ½ cups diced ham (or more if you prefer)
3 cups cooked, lightly seasoned brown rice (I season ours with salt and pepper)
½ bag frozen peas
1 cup chicken broth
½ cup milk
handful shredded cheese
Add the cooked rice, peas, and ham to an 8×11 casserole dish and mix up. Mix up the milk and the chicken broth and pour into dish. Top with cheese.
Bake at 350° for about 30-45 minutes.

Thursday: Eggs, Bacon, Biscuits, Juice
Leftovers for Lunch or Sammies
BBQ Chicken (Crock Pot), Buns, Veggies and Dip

Friday: Cereal and Toast, Juice
Leftover BBQ for Lunch
White Chicken Chili and Cheese Quesadillas

Saturday: Cereal and Toast, Juice
Sammies
Sausage Casserole, Green Beans, Fried Apples

Sunday: Muffins from the Freezer, Juice
Crock Pot Pork Chops, Brussels Sprouts, Macaroni and Cheese, French Bread

Menu for the week of July 25th

2011-07-25T12:18:00.003-04:00

Monday: Chicken and Dumplings, Mixed Beans (from the freezer), Greens

Tuesday: "Out" - date night!

Wednesday: Grilled Smoked Turkey Sausage, Rice, Salad

Thursday: CP BBQ Chicken, Buns, Carrots and Dip, Cantaloupe

Friday: Chicken Shepherds Pie, Biscuits

Saturday: Grilled Chicken Burgers, Carrots and Dip, Salad, Cantaloupe

Sunday: CP Chops, Noodles, Veggies, French Bread

Trying to incorporate more veggies and fruit this week. Hope you have a wonderful week.

Pam

Menu for week of July 18th

2011-07-17T19:26:00.005-04:00

Once again, I didn't get to a couple of planned meals last week, so we will be having them this week. Here is my plan:

Monday: Potato Soup (hub's fav-he likes it topped with bacon, cheese and sour cream)

Tuesday: Taco Salad (I haven't fixed this in a while-this will be good!)

Wednesday: Grilled Turkey Sausage, Wild Rice, Broccoli Salad

Thursday: Mixed Beans from the freezer, Sauteed Cabbage and Sweet Onions, maybe some Fried Taters, and Fried Corn Bread (just pulling that from the freezer too from the last time I made them)

Friday: Grilled Turkey Burgers, Strawberry and Spinach Salad, Corn on the Cob

Saturday: Sausage Casserole, Sauteed Squash and Sweet Onions, Rolls

Sunday: Lunch-Crock Pot Green Beans, Taters and Ham; Supper-Fish and Chips

Have a great week everybody!

Pam

Menu for the week of July 11th

2011-07-10T18:51:00.003-04:00

Monday: Red Beans and Sausage and Rice (didn't make this last week)

Tuesday: Chicken Enchiladas, Spanish Rice (didn't make this last week either-I've been bad)

Wednesday: Visiting parents (taking banana pudding)

Thursday: Chicken Salad, Pasta Salad

Friday: Potato Soup

Saturday: Mixed Beans, Sauteed Cabbage, Fried Taters, Cornbread

Sunday: Leftovers or Pigs in Blankets and Tater Tots

Second Star Academy

2011-07-07T16:09:00.004-04:00

"Second star to the right and straight on til morning..." Peter Pan

and from Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country: Chekov: Course heading, Captain? Kirk: Second star to the right... and straight on till morning.

We finally named our home school. After almost a year, I decided it was about time. Second Star Academy. I really like the name and it fits us to a tee. Daughter is in love with all things "Fairy", so she is a Peter Pan fan. Well, truthfully, a Tinkerbell fan. Husband is a Star Trek fan and the Peter Pan quote was said in their sixth movie. So there it is. We now have a name.

Second Star Academy. I like the sound of it.

Pam

I can rest in that.

2011-07-05T12:52:00.005-04:00

Sometimes, I feel like my life is on hold and it is hard to continue to do the things I need to do. Sometimes, I wish there really was a fairy godmother who would swoosh down and make things right for me with her magic wand. Sometimes, I lack motivation and drive. Sometimes, I just don't care. Sometimes, I feel lost. Sometimes, I just need to rest. Sometimes, I just need to rest in Him.

BUT, there is someone who cares and someone who knows exactly what is going to happen next in my life. You see, I am in a situation that is hard to understand sometimes. I want this unemployment situation of my husband's to just be resolved already! I know that I should feel peace because I know that God already had this situation planned. I don't understand that, but I can rest in the truth that He does.

Psalm 33:11 says The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.

I know His plan is to mold me and to make me like Him. I am changing even when I feel like I am stuck. He is changing me and molding me into His image. His heart is great.

One of my favorite bible verses is this: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.

I have this verse posted in several places in my home. It is a constant reminder to me that everything is in my loving God's hands. Even when I am stuck, not motivated, wallowing in pity and despair, when I just feel like giving up, I can trust in my Lord because He loves me and He holds the plans to my future. He loves me! I can rest in that.

Menu for week of July 4th

2011-07-03T19:32:00.004-04:00

Happy 4th of July. We are celebrating today out at the Lake House! whoo hoo!

I am so glad my first year of homeschooling is over. We do feel like it was a success and are looking forward to starting 7th grade with dd on August 15th. In the mean time it is project "let's get out of this house" in full force. Yes, we are procrastinators. Same story, different day. Anywho...

Here is what I plan on cooking for my family this week:

Monday: Spending the day out at Aunt Pat's lake house and I am taking my Red Velvet Cookies but I am going to make them more festive by rolling the cream filled sides in red white and blue sprinkles! Yum.

Tuesday: Beans and Sausage (this recipe calls for red beans but I have Great Northern Beans in the pantry and I am going to use those), Fried Cornbread (leftover from last week and frozen) and maybe if we are lucky some leftover Red Velvet Cookies.

RED BEANS & SAUSAGE

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 med. diced green pepper
1 med. chopped onion
1 T. oil
2 cans kidney beans, rinse & drained
1 lb. smoked sausage (turkey), sliced
3/4 c. water
1 t. Cajun seasoning
1/8 t. hot pepper sauce
hot cooked rice

Instructions:
In a saucepan, sauté garlic, green pepper & onion in oil until tender, about 5 min.
Add the next five ingredients, bring to a boil Reduce heat; cook for 5 - 7 min. or until the sausage is heated through. Serve over rice if desired

Wednesday: Ranch Chicken (new recipe but sounds easy and yummy), Skillet Beans (it's made with pork and beans which I also have in my pantry), Deviled Eggs and Sliced Watermelon.

Ranch Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 lb.)
¼ c. ranch dressing
1/3 c. seasoned dry bread crumbs
2 T olive or vegetable oil

Dip chicken in dressing, then coat with bread crumbs. Heat oil in 10 inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil 12-15 minutes, turning once, until outside is golden brown and juice is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut.

Skillet Beans

3 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 medium onion, chopped (about ½ cup)
2 -16 oz. cans pork and beans
¼ c. chili sauce
1 t. prepared mustard

Cook and stir bacon and onion in 10 inch skillet until bacon is crisp. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed. 15-20 minutes. 4 servings.

Thursday: Pasta, Salad, and Red Lobster Cheese Biscuits

Friday: Chili Cheese dog Casserole, Salad

Chili Cheese Dog Casserole

Serving Size : 6

1 package cornbread mix
1 can hot dog chili (I'm using turkey chili)
1 package hot dogs -- sliced lengthwise (I use chicken dogs)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
chopped onions -- optional

Preheat oven to 350°.

Prepare corn bread mix according to package directions. Pour half the mix in a greased casserole dish. Place sliced hot dogs, on top of the mix. Pour can of chili over the hot dogs, and sprinkle with cheese. Pour remaining mix over the cheese.
Cook for 1 hour.

Saturday: Chicken Enchiladas (using already cooked chicken from the freezer), Spanish or Mexican Rice and maybe some No Baked Cookies!

Chicken Enchiladas

1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion -- chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 cups cooked chicken -- chopped
1/2 cup Monterey jack and cheddar cheese mix
8 " round flour tortillas --

NOTE: next time try with salsa added to chicken mixture.

Melt butter in skillet, add onion and cook until tender, add chili powder and chicken. In small bowl mix together sour cream and soup. Add 1/4 cup of soup mixture to chicken, you want to make the chicken mixture nice and moist. Fill tortillas with approximately 1/4 to 1/3 cup chicken mixture and roll tightly. Spread a little of soup mix on bottom of pan. Put tortillas in and spread remaining soup mix on top. Sprinkle with cheese. (Can be frozen at this point) Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. For 2 people makes two 8x8 casseroles.

Sunday: Sloppy Joes (made with ground chicken), Oven Fries

Have a terrific week!

Pam

Menu for week of June 27th

2011-06-27T06:00:00.001-04:00

I've been bad, real bad. Last week, I just had the blahs and couldn't get motivated. I finished up homeschooling daughter except for some math that hubby is doing with her. Her grades have to be given to our umbrella school by the end of the month. It seems I couldn't get motivated to do anything around the house because I knew that deadline was looming over my head. Good excuse. I finished at the middle of the week and just said "ahh...I'm done." Knowing I needed to be packing and readying the house for sale, all I could do was sit and veg. Bad excuse. I must be crazy to do this knowing I have so much to do. So this week, I am vowing to get off my fat bottom and get to work.

Oh, and last week's menu didn't do to well. We did have the beans and rice and one night we had pizza delivery. We did the hotdogs and chili and then I even did pigs in blankets with pasta salad. Yes, we love hotdogs. We buy the chicken ones and they are cheap and very tasty. We had Panera bread soup and sammies on Friday night thanks to a gift card for cat sitting and I did grill out the chicken that was planned with the alfredo and pasta but on Saturday. So I was about 50/50 with my menu. I don't know about you, but I don't always fix what I plan, but if I did my grocery shopping, I usually still have the ingredients to fix that meal another night or another week. So here is my plan for this week:

Monday: Making the green beans, potatoes and ham meal planned yesterday, as we had plenty of Alfredo leftovers to eat on Sunday.

Tuesday: Spaghetti, Salad, Sauteed Zucchini and Onions, Red Lobster Cheese Biscuits (see recipe-so easy and yummy!)

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.

Wednesday: Bean Burritos, Rotel Cheese Dip and Tortilla Chips

Thursday: Potato and Ham Scallop, Corn on the Cob, Rolls

Friday: Bachelor Bean Bake, Fried Potatoes or Mashed Potatoes, Corn Muffins

Saturday: Sloppy Joes, Chips or French Fries

Sunday: Leftovers or Sammies

How about you? What are you feeding your family this week? Go to orgjunkie.com to see hundreds of menus.

Pam

Menu for week of June 20th

2011-06-20T12:12:00.004-04:00

Monday: Favorite Beans and Rice, Sauteed Squash and Onion

Tuesday: Going to Mom and Dad's

Wednesday: Franks and Cheese Casserole, Salad, Rolls

Thursday: Chicken Burgers, Pasta Salad

Friday: Grilled Chicken Breast, Alfredo Sauce with Pasta, Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Saturday: Hot Dogs with Chili, Chips

Sunday: Crock Pot Ham, Green Beans and Potatoes, Macaroni and Cheese, Rolls

Go to orgjunkie.com for hundreds of menus.

Pam

Menu for week of June 13th

2011-06-12T23:48:00.004-04:00

MONDAY: Tuna Egg Foo Yung and Fried Rice for Hubby, Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese for me.

TUESDAY: If our gift card to a restaurant in town is still good, the family is going out to eat! Yipee!

WEDNESDAY: If the gift card is good, Hubby and I are going to have a date night and return to said restaurant. Tuesday and Wednesdays, this week only is a buy one get one free deal!

THURSDAY: FM-Grilled Salmon (must be eaten) and Smoked Sausage, Macaroni and Cheese and Sauteed Squash and Onions.

FRIDAY: Chicken and Dumplings, Corn on the Cob and Mixed Beans from the freezer.

SATURDAY: Grilled Chicken, Pasta with Alfredo Sauce, and Tossed Salad

SUNDAY: Father's Day! Crock Pot Pork Chops, Brussels Sprouts, Macaroni and Cheese and Rolls. Making Banana Pudding and No Bake Cookies to take to my Dad.

That's my plan. Let's see how it works out.

Pam

Homeschool year winding down.

2011-05-30T21:37:00.005-04:00

We are nearly done with homeschooling 6th grade. I wanted to be done at the end of May but a few weeks of intense pain in my back has thrown me behind. But a few more weeks ought to do it. I am asking hubby to finish up math for me. I have other things I need to attend to.

We have missed several goals for getting the house listed as well. Hubby has been doing repair jobs around the house and has more to do. It's amazing what you find to mend or paint when you want your home to look spiffy so that you can get top dollar for it.

I have lots of packing to do. I want to sort out stuff I don't want to keep as I go along. That will make the job a little longer and makes it more of a job that only I can do. Who else would know what to keep, what we could sell, and what needs to go to charity. I have had offers of help from many people, but I keep putting them off. Now, when those boxes are all packed, I will gladly accept their help to get them to our storage unit or hauling boxes of items off to our favorite charity. So this week, along with homeschooling, I am making packing up a priority.

So, that's where things stand at this time. And thanks to my doctor and many prayers, my back is doing much, much better.

Blessings,

Pam

Menu for week of May 30th

2011-05-29T23:34:00.003-04:00

Monday: Going to Aunt's house and everyone is bringing food. I'm bringing my spinach and strawberry salad, watermelon, chips and turkey pastrami.

Tuesday: Asparagus and Ham Casserole, Fruit

Wednesday: Grilled Smoked Turkey Sausage, Broccoli and Bacon Salad, Watermelon

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Fried Green Beans, Onions, and Bacon (new recipe-will post if it is good), Stewed Tomatoes, Fried Potatoes and Cornbread

Saturday: Grilled Chicken, Grilled Yellow Squash, any leftovers from Friday

Sunday: Pasta, Red Lobster Cheese Biscuit, Sauteed Squash

Menu for week of May 23rd

2011-05-23T14:24:00.008-04:00

Monday: Mixed Beans cooked with Ham Bone, Turnip Greens (a hubby favorite), Fried Potatoes (we really like Yukon Gold) and Cornbread

Tuesday: (Freezer Meal) Sausage Quiche, Strawberry and Spinach Salad, Biscuits

Wednesday: Franks and Beans, Mashed Potatoes, Mayonnaise Rolls

Thursday: (Freezer Meal) Ziti, Salad, Texas Toast

Friday: Pizza Night, Rice Krispie Treatshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Saturday: Grilled Chicken Tenders, Corn on the Cob, Wacky Mac Pasta Salad, Watermelon

Sunday: Hamburger Helper (made with ground chicken), Corn or Green Veggies, Salad, Rolls

That's my plan and I'm stickin' to it! Go to orgjunkie.com for hundreds of menu ideas.

Pam

Thought on Monday

2011-05-16T17:05:00.003-04:00

We returned from a restful week in Gatlinburg, TN on Friday. It was more restful for me because I didn't move much. My back has been hurting me so much. I went to the store with my hubby so we could eat in the condo and not have to get take-out on Saturday and I rode around the store in one of those motorized carts. It made the shopping so much easier for me. On Tuesday, we drove through the Roaring Fork Trail Way and it was beautiful. I did the driving so that hubby could get out and take photographs along the way. But just sitting in the car seat was very uncomfortable for me. Fortunately, our unit was equipped with not one, but two recliners! That's a first. Normally I find our vacation condo furniture to not be so comfortable. It was nice to sit back and elevate my feet and rest my back. We drove back home this past Friday and I was in horrible pain. I thought I was going to pass out it was so bad. I had a doctors appointment today but had to cancel it due to not having gotten much sleep last night and I just didn't have the energy to shower and dress to go to see him. Please pray for healing for me and sleep. I need it badly.

Hubby is still attacking his to-do list to make the minor repairs around here and get our house on the market. I still am hoping this will happen by the end of the month. No job in site for him and we do not know what the future holds. But He does! I am trusting Him and praying daily for Him to send a job to my husband. Pray with me, won't you?

We did a couple days of school this week, even though, technically we were on vacation. I am still plugging away and hoping to finish up daughter's sixth grade year very soon. Her SAT results came in and she is average to above average in everything and we were very pleased and she was very happy too! It affirmed to us that we were doing okay in our homeschooling and that we were able to teach her. It's our first year and it has been a learning experience for all of us. I have enjoyed it. Daughter likes it too and that makes me happy.

I didn't post a menu last week since we were out of town and this week, I am depending on hubby to do the cooking. I know he can grill out chicken and we will eat that a couple of nights, hot dogs, chicken burgers and the like. I also have a couple of frozen meals in the freezer to eat, such as Sausage Quiche and Baked Ziti. So he should be able to keep us all fed this week while my back heals. We have plenty of cereal and milk and sandwich makings for breakfast and lunch. He even did laundry yesterday, which is something I am very particular about, and even when I am ailing I either let the laundry pile up until I am better, or hobble down there and muddle through it. It's a control thing, and I am learning to let go. He did just fine.

Pam

Thoughts on Tuesday

2011-05-03T16:44:00.003-04:00

Hard to believe that today is May 3rd. Seems like this year has gone by quicker than any previous year. It hasn't been the best year for me. Sore knees and back, sleepless nights, an unemployed husband, first year of homeschooling, etc. But I am trying my best to put a smile on my face and count my blessings. I know I have been blessed and I do trust that God has a future and a hope for my family. Really, I do. It's just been difficult.

I have started packing boxes of things to clear out the dining room of dishes and crystal and all sorts of serving pieces, and that sort of thing. We are going to sell our dining room suite. I am packing up other things to make our house look picture ready for the listing. I don't want visitors who are interested in buying our house to see how we really live. Oh my! They would turn around and just walk right out. I'm not kidding. That's the thing. We live like we want to, most of the time. Prospective buyers need to see a more neutral home so they can visualize themselves living here. Little by little, day by day, it will get done. Repairs that have been on the to-do list for a long time, are slowly getting done and I am seeing progress, finally.

I was blessed this weekend with several families from church who came by early Saturday morning and worked very hard at weeding my beds and pruning my hedges and spreading mulch. It looked just like a professional team had been here. They were awesome. Then, Sunday morning, I walked out to go to church and new flowers were sitting in my flower bed out by the mail box, ready to be planted. And the flower angels came by early Monday morning and planted them for me. I feel so loved. I am so grateful for them all.

Hubby is still working in the garage sorting toys and the like. We have given several items to the little boy next door. We gave several bags of almost new stuffed animals to a friend for a medical mission trip to South America. Little children in the hospital will receive a stuffed animal from the U.S.A. It feels good to know that these pets will be loved by someone else. We still are donating a lot of things to the Knoxville Area Rescue Mission, which is one of our favorite charities. They operate numerous thrift stores in the area and a downtown homeless mission.

On Friday we are going out of town for a little while. It will be good to get away and have a little rest. We have so much to finish when we get back so we really need to appreciate this little get away. My plan is to have my friend list this house before May is over. I keep saying to myself "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."

Say a little prayer for us that we accomplish all these things in a timely manner and that my husband will be blessed with many interviews for employment and that God gives him the job that He wants for him.

Love you all!

Pam

Menu for week of May 2nd

2011-05-01T20:58:00.005-04:00

What? May? When did that happen?

Here is my plan for this week through Thursday. We're going out of town on Friday.

Monday: Chicken Shepherd's Pie

Chicken Shepherd's Pie

* 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
* 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
* 1 cup frozen peas
* 1 can cream of chicken soup
* salt and pepper to taste
* 2-3 cups cooked, chopped chicken
* 3 cups mashed potatoes (I used instant)

Boil carrots in the broth till tender. Stir in peas, cream of chicken soup, salt & pepper and cooked chicken.

Pour into a greased 9×13 casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes. Dot with butter. Bake 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Tuesday: I didn't make the Ham and Asparagus casserole last week because I ended up grilling the asparagus. It was so good. So I'm going to get more asparagus and make that recipe today.

Wednesday: Cajun Beans and Sausage, Collards, Cornbread

Cajun Beans and Sausage

2-15 oz. cans kidney or pinto beans
1 smoked sausage, cut into 2 inch pieces (I use turkey sausage)
2 t. Cajun seasoning

In slow cooker combine all ingredients. Mix well. Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours or high 1 1/2-2 hours. Serve with white rice. 4-6 servings.

Thursday: C.O.R.N. (Clean Out the Refrigerator Night)

See ya next week!

Pam

Menu for the week of April 25th

2011-04-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

It's the last week of April. I can hardly believe it. We have so much to do around here and so little time, it seems. I hope all of you had a blessed Easter weekend and didn't eat too many eggs or chocolate!

Here is my menu for this week:

Monday: Favorite Beans and Rice (This is a frugal and simple recipe that my family loves and we eat quite often. It is good topped with a little grated cheddar and sour cream. You can find the recipe in my recipe section)

Tuesday: Chef Salad (this is a good way to use up leftover Easter Ham)

Wednesday: All In One Quiche (If I still have some Easter ham, I will put that in this), Fruit Salad

ALL-IN-ONE QUICHE

1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. Bisquick mix
3/4 stick butter
3 eggs
Pinch salt
1 c. diced bacon, ham, turkey, chicken, or shrimp
2 green onions, chopped
1 (4 oz.) can sliced mushrooms, drained
1 c. grated sharp Cheddar cheese

Combine the first 5 ingredients in the blender and mix well. Turn into 9 or 10 inch pie plate. Add the remaining ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Thursday: Grilled Chicken Kabobs, Tossed Salad, Fresh Corn on the Cob

Friday: Asparagus and Ham Casserole (the first time I made this I used instant brown rice and it was good), Cantaloupe

Asparagus & Ham Casserole

1 lb fresh asparagus, cut into 1 pieces
2 cup cubed fully cooked ham
3 cup cooked rice
1 cup diced celery
1 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
10 3/4 oz can condensed cream of chicken soup; , undiluted
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1/2 cup bread crumbs

Place asparagus in a large saucepan with enough water to cover. Cook until crisp-tender. Drain well. In a greased 2 1/2 quart casserole, mix asparagus, ham, rice, celery and lemon pepper. In a saucepan, mix
soup and broth. Add cheese and cook until melted. Pour into casserole. Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add crumbs and cook and stir until browned. Sprinkle on top of casserole. Bake at 350º F for 35 minutes. Yield: 6 servings

Saturday: Chicken Helper (last box of this in my pantry-yay!), Asian Veggies, Egg Rolls (from the freezer)

Sunday: Crock Pot Cranberry Dump Chicken, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Green Veggie, Rolls

Menu for Week of April 18th

2011-04-18T13:09:00.005-04:00

Monday: Oriental Tuna (Egg Foo Yung) I have all the fixin's for this in the pantry. It's a hubby favorite. I am going to eat leftovers.

Oriental Tuna (Egg Foo Yung)

1 can tuna (or 1 c. chopped, cooked chicken, shrimp or pork)
3 eggs
1 small onion, chopped
1 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
1 lb. can bean sprouts, drained

Sauce:
¾ c. boiling water
1 t. chicken bouillon
2 t. cornstarch
1 T cold water

Mix tuna ingredients together, stirring 4-5 times. Heat frying pan. Spray with Pam. Scoop 6 spoonfuls into pan. Brown each spoonful 2-4 minutes each side. Serve over steamed rice. Top with sauce.

To make sauce: Stir together boiling water and bouillon until dissolved. Separately stir together cold water and cornstarch. Add to bouillon mixture, cooking and stirring until thick.

Tuesday: Soup and Sammies

Wednesday: Out to eat for Dd's 12th birthday!

Thursday: Breaded Chicken Sammies and Chips

Friday: Hamburger Helper (using ground chicken), Green Veggie or Salad, Rolls

Saturday: Spaghetti, Green Veggie or Salad, Texas Toast

Sunday: Easter Dinner

Menu for the week of April 11th

2011-04-10T21:43:00.006-04:00

Monday: Beans (from the freezer), Broccoli and Rice Casserole, and Cornbread

Tuesday: Roast Chicken, Leftover Broccoli and Rice Casserole, Rolls

Wednesday: Chicken and Dumplings, Veggies, Deviled Eggs

Thursday: Soup and Grilled Cheese (Hubby going to Men's Night Out)

Friday: Bean Burritos, Spanish Rice, Chips with Salsa and Paula Deen's Mason Dixon Dip

Saturday: Hamburger Helper (using ground chicken), Green Veggie or Salad

Sunday: Crock Pot Pork Chops, Green Bean Casserole, Macaroni and Cheese