A first for me

Today I had my first colonoscopy. It wasn't bad at all. Now, the saline laxative wasn't so great. I had to drink two bottles over two days. I also had to drink only clear liquids for two days, well actually two and a half by the time I got back home from the hospital. No food. That was the hardest part. I really think my insides were touching each other when I arrived at admissions this morning! My doctor was great. My results were excellent. He told me he doesn't want me to darken his door for 6-7 years. I'm okay with that.

Guess what dear Robert brought me in my recovery room? Dunkin Donuts coffee. He's just the best! I felt fine and drank it right down. I hadn't had coffee either. I was give the Michael Jackson drug and it was fantastic. I highly recommend it for any proceedure that requires sedation. It is called Propofol.

Dd has gone to spend a couple of nights with my parents and it gives me time to recoop and relax before getting back into the swing of things.

My Menu Plan This Week:

Monday:

Breakfast-Sausage and Cheese Muffins from the freezer
Lunch-PB&J Sammies, Apple Slices for me, Bread Fish Fillets and Oven Fries for Family
Dinner-Chicken and Rice, Asparagus

Tuesday:

Breakfast- Pancakes, Link Sausage
Lunch-Egg Sammie, Celery and Dip
Dinner-Rotel Spicy Meatloaf (make extra for freezer), Macaroni and Cheese, Sauteed Cabbage

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Egg McMoms (extras for freezer)
Lunch-Leftovers or Soup
Dinner-Shrimp, Fetticine Alfredo

Thursday:

Breakfast-Cereal and Toast
Lunch-Turkey Sammies, Apple Slices
Dinner-Daddy's Treat???

Friday:

Breakfast-French Toast, Sausage
Lunch-Grilled Cheese, Watermelon
Dinner-Hot dogs in Cornbread, Coleslaw

Saturday:

Breakfast-Sausage Quiche, Fruit
Lunch-Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup, ABM Bread
Dinner-Refried Beans, Cheese Quesadillas

Sunday:

Breakfast-Cereal and Toast
Lunch-Pam's Chicken Dish for the Crock Pot, Sauteed Zucchini, Noodles
Dinner-Any leftovers in the fridge

A New recipe I tried. It's a keeper!

Black Bean, Zucchini and Tomato Quesadillas

1/2 cup chunky salsa plus more for serving
1 c. drained black beans
1 zucchini, shredded
8 flour tortillas
Monterey-Jack Cheese, grated, 2 cups
Sliced grape tomatoes (optional)

Combine salsa, beans and zucchini (tomatoes). Spread over tortilla, top with cheese, cover with another tortilla. Heat pan over medium heat, brown on both sides about 4-5 minutes per side. Can keep warm in 170 degree oven while cooking the rest.

This recipe came from: http://newlyweds.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/zucchini-quesadillas/#comment-5798

Yum-o! Dear hubby swallowed these down with zesto. He really loved 'em. He's been a good sport about all the zucchini lately too. Who knew you could make so many yummy dishes with it?

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

Freezer Cooking

Okay, besides the Sausage and Cheese Muffins I froze yesterday, I froze some Cornbread Muffins (six I think) and today I made stuffed green peppers. I really don't have a recipe for this. I cooked some ground chicken and seasoned to taste with various seasonings. When this was done I added 16 oz. of tomato sauce and about a cup or so of frozen corn. Then I added cooked brown rice. Then I halved the green peppers and stuffed them. After it cooled I individually wrapped the halves and placed them in a container for the freezer. Now all I have to do is just grab how many halves I want to fix and then either bake them or put them in a crock pot or even cook them in a pan on the stove. I probably would throw in a can of diced tomatoes to make a sauce or use spaghetti sauce when I cook them. Easy Peasy!

Oh, I also made the Deep Dish Pizza Casserole that was on my planned menu this week. It was soooo good. I ended up just making a small one for hubby and I and them made 3 more small ones to put in the freezer. I used those 8x8 Glad reusable black pans with the clear lids that you can also bake in. These are not much more expensive than plain old foil throw away pans. So I have 3 of these meals in the freezer for future meals. Yay me!

I haven't posted my menu for the upcoming week yet, but I already have a few things planned to double for the freezer. They are: Chicken and Rice and Rotel Spicy Meatloaf (I like making little loaves). I didn't get around to making the Breakfast Burritos this week so that will be moved to the upcoming week along with some French Toast and possibly some Egg McMoms. These already made breakfast meals will make school day mornings so much nicer. School is just around the corner!

Sausage & Cheese Muffins

This is probably my all time favorite breakfast recipe. I make these all the time to take to my Sunday school class. You can make then in mini muffin pans but most times I just use my regular muffin pan. These freeze well. Today I am making up a double batch so I can put some in the freezer for quick breakfast treats.

Sausage and Cheese Muffins

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

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

I love coffee!!!

I have coffee first thing in the morning. Then I have another cup. That is my usual limit but have been know to have another if I am out at a bookstore or visiting a friend. I like mine with Splenda and Half and Half or a flavored creamer. How about you?

Menu for this week:

Meals this week are incorporating our abundant supply of zucchini from my garden. I am also trying to get more fruit and veggies into our diet. I am making several meatless meals as well as feeding my freezer with breakfast foods and a dinner meal or two. I like to have these things on hand once school starts back up and our lives get really busy. I'm not much of a morning person. Strike that - I'm NOT a morning person at all, so having ready to heat and eat homemade breakfast items in the freezer really helps me out a lot!!!

Monday:

Breakfast- Cereal, Toast, Strawberries
Lunch-PB&J
Dinner-German Supper (Turkey Smoked Sausage, Potatoes and Kraut), Mayonnaise Rolls

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal, Banana
Lunch-Leftovers or Egg Sammie
Dinner-Zucchini Parmesan, Pasta, Salad, Garlic Texas Toast

Wednesday:

Breakfast- Sausage and Cheese Muffins (extras go into freezer), Pineapple
Lunch-Leftovers or a Wrap
Dinner-Black Bean and Zucchini Quesadillas, Chips and Salsa, Cantaloupe

Thursday:

Breakfast-Pancakes (extras for the freezer), Link Sausage
Lunch-Leftovers or PB&J
Dinner-Deep Dish Pizza Casserole (double recipe for freezer meal(s)), Salad, Garlic Texas Toast

Friday:

Breakfast-Cereal and Toast and Cantaloupe
Lunch-Leftovers
Dinner-Bean and Ham Soup, Cornbread Muffins (extras for freezer)

Saturday:

Breakfast-Breakfast Burritos (extras for freezer)
Lunch-Leftovers or Wrap
Dinner-Fish, Popcorn Chicken and Oven Fries, Slaw

Sunday:

Breakfast-Oatmeal or Banana Bread (freezer) and Yogurt
Lunch-Grilled BBQ Chicken, Slaw, Corn on the Cob, Some Yet to be Decided Yummy Dessert!
Dinner-if we are hungry we will scrounge for leftovers or make a sammie