Another busy weekend of getting things done around the house planned!   I am a bit behind my normal schedule.  Last weekend I got the younger two boys summer clothes out.  Now I need to focus on stocking the freezer with snacks, and breakfast items for Josh and Erik when they are home.  

I plan on making one batch of cookies this weekend, some mini muffins, pancakes and one snack mix.   This really helps with out grocery bill with both boys home from the summer.  Plus it is easier to bring a snack for daycare!    It all freezes well and they help themselves.   Next weekend I will make some more things and that should be a good start.   Other ideas of things I usually make:

2 other snack mixes
Trail Mix
Granola bars
French toast
McMuffins
Couple of kinds of cookies
Ice Cream Treats
Popsicles

It is great to have some snacks already in the freezer as we jsut grab them out when we are going somewhere or something and they thaw by lunch for our picnic or whatever.   Plus I rather my children eat homemade items than processed, but with me working full-time that isn't always possible.  We need to buy another set of popsicle makers as they have lost alot of the sticks for the one we have.   I like to have 100% juice popsicles in the freezer for them to snack.   Has anyone made pudding or yogurt pops??   I might try those this year.   I bet you could freeze Yo-J.  

Does ayone have any ideas for any other snack or breakfast ideas????  

For lunches I make sure we have lunch meat and bread.   And I usually make a pasta salad for them to have with it and Josh loves when I buy Reese Potato Salad,,,,his favorite. 

Ilovebakedgoods - had some great ideas for portable snacks and picnic ideas that I am going to print as well.    Summer requires I be very organized!  But then having three sons requires me to be very organized anyways.  

BUSY Weekend..... I will need to work on a TO DO List. 

New Recipes added to our Online CookBook

QUICK BAKED COD

CHEESE STRATA

CROCK POT CHICKEN PROVENCAL`

CROCK POT ROAST - MENU MAILER

CHICKEN ENCHILASAGNA

BARBECUED BEEF SANDWICHES

Supper tonight....a winner.....

Child of Chicken Enchilasagna
Serves 6

2 8-oz. cans green enchilada sauce
1 cup salsa
5 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cooked and chopped
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
12 corn tortillas, cut into pieces (like little pizza slices)
1 16-oz. can black beans, drained
1/2 pound low fat Cheddar cheese, shredded

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Lightly grease a 13- x 9-inch pan.

In a saucepan, combine enchilada sauce and salsa; simmer for a couple of minutes, then pull from heat.

In a bowl, add about 1 cup or more of the enchilada/salsa mixture to the chicken, to moisten; Add cumin and garlic. Mix well, then set aside.

On the bottom of the pan, pour enough sauce to cover.

Place chopped corn tortillas on top of the sauce, then a layer of chicken mixture, a layer of beans, a little layer of cheese. Repeat these layers till everything is used up.

Top with remaining sauce and remaining cheese.

Bake, uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes.

Allow it to rest for 10 minutes, then dig in!

Per Serving: 301 Calories; 7g Fat; 27g Protein; 32g Carbohydrate; 6g Dietary Fiber; 49mg Cholesterol; 666mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain (Starch); 3 Lean Meat; 1 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat.

WW POINTS - 6

SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Serve with sauted zucchini and yellow squash. Throw some chopped tomatoes in for good measure and season with garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste.

Home from work......yeah....let the weekend begin.  I will not get to have next Friday off as I am doing a placement in Duluth and need to be there.   I thought todays visit would emilinate my trip up there....but no such luck!  ARGH!!   I wish it as a Friday hubby had off then we could go up together and spend the weekend.   Oh well maybe next month, since I will be going to Duluth a minimum of once every other month.  Did I mention I hate to drive almost as much as I hate to shop!   Good thing for Books on Tape!!!  Off to take a nap.  Later!

Off to Rochester for work......I so don't want to go!!!!

Today is creeping by....I only have one small task left on my TO DO List for today and 2-1/2 hours of work left.  ARGH!!   I guess I could do some filing or other menial task I have been putting off in hopes they will hire clerical worker to do it for me!! 

ANother new case today......never a shortage of work!

Back at work...ready to start another day.   We had a better morning this morning getting out of the house.  It is always a challenge, but as long as I get ot work by 9:00 we are doing fine.   Today I have a ton of paperwork to do and hopefully a little walk over lunch break.  

Tonight I am home early and hubby is working a 15 hour day!   YIKES!!  He at least gets paid overtime so that is nice.  I just figured out out budget for May and we did pretty good.  I paid extra to both of our credit cards and only used 67.00 of our monthly reserves.   I am saving the rest of our monthly reserves for school clothes for Erik and Josh.  We also have been sticking to our Christmas savings plan...so put money into that this month too. We are staying pretty much on track, but it is hard for my hubby.  I don't find it too hard, but I really don't need much spending money.  My hubby likes to have lunch out each day on campus.   I bring my lunch to work each day and don't use the vending machines.   That is a huge money saver for me. 

** EYE OPENER**  If I bought the equivalent of a 12 pack of pop out of the vending machine at work , I would spend $7.80.    I buy a 12 pack somewhere else and store in my office.  I spend only 2.67 or so for a 12 pack, which isn't on sale.   So I save over 5.00 a 12-pak.  I have to use my "fun money" for pop since it isnt' a necessity so I need to save where I can. 

If I drank a can of pop a day......I would save $156.95 in a year by brining my own pop to work!  It really does add up.   NOw if  I could jsut give up pop I would save even more money.!!!

Well back to work......have a great day!