Month: September 2008

  • Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts


    1 to 1 1/2 pounds Brussels Sprouts
    2 to 3 tablespoons
    olive oil
    2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    1/4 cup water
    1/4 cup butter
    1/2 cup chopped pecans (or nuts of your choice)
    Coarse
    salt
    Freshly ground pepper

    Cut the stems from the Brussels Sprouts, and remove any blemished leaves. With a V-shaped cut remove the core (this technique opens the leaves of the sprouts slightly without destroying their integrity, which makes available more area, and more texture, for the added flavorings to hang on to.)

    In a large frying pan (I like to use my cast-iron skillet), heat the olive oil over medium-high heat almost to the smoking point. Saute the sprouts until they just start to brown. Add the balsamic vinegar, turn the heat to low, and cover. After about 2 minutes, remove cover and add 1/4 cup of water. Cover and continue cooking until the sprouts start to soften, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. NOTE: They should be brown but not burned.

    Turn the heat up to high, add butter and pecans. Saute for 1 to 2 minutes or until the pecans are lightly toasted. Remove from heat and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

    Makes 4 to 6 servings.

     

    We made these last night and they were pretty good.  Hubby wants to have them again like this.  So I have to post the recipe so I don't misplace it!!!

    Jen C

  • Menu Plan Monday.....

     In a runt on what to cook???  Head over to Laura's site I'm an Organizing Junkie and see what the many participates on Menu Plan Monday are having this week!!

    greenmpm

    Menu Planning September 27th - Oct 11th

    Sat - 27th - Favorite Meatloaf- Mashed Potatoes - Veggie

    Sun - 28th - Baby Back Ribs - Macaroni Salad - Vegetable

    The ribs are very easy to do-- just place boneless country spare ribs in the crockpot with salt and pepper (no liquid) and cook on low all day. Then, about an hour before you want to eat, drain all the fat and liquid out of the crockpot, and add in your favorite BBQ sauce. (We like a store brand thick and spicy sauce.) Simmer another hour on low, then enjoy!

    Macaroni Salad -(no real recipe - I just throw it together)

    2 cups Elbow Macaroni, cooked
    Thawed Peas to your liking
    1/2 cup or so Cheddar Cheese Cubed
    1/2 cup chopped celery
    1 small onion, chopped
    1/2 cup mayo (approximately)

    Combine the first 5 ingredients into a large bowl.  Stir in enough mayo to coat.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Cover and chill until ready to serve.

     

    Mon - 29th:  Dad's Choice (AKA McDonald's)

    Tues - 30th:   Frozen Pizzas x 3

    Wed - 1:   Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Thurs - 2:      Chicken Breasts – Parmesan Noodles - Vegetable

    Fri - 3:  Taco Bar

    Sat - 4:  Eat At Hotel to Celebrate Erik's Birthday

    Sun - 5:  Crock - Chicken and Rice Casserole - (Crock 6-7 on low) - Vegetable

    Chicken and Rice Casserole

    1 cup long grain rice, uncooked
    3 cups water
    2 tsp chicken bouillon granules (or 3 low sodium cubes)
    10 ¾ ounce cream of chicken soup (I like fat free)
    2 cups cooked chopped chicken
    ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    1 tsp onion salt
    1 cup grated low fat cheddar
    16 ounce bag frozen broccoli (sometimes I use fresh)

    Combine all ingredients except broccoli in slow cooker. One hour before end of cooking time, stir in broccoli. Cook for a total of 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low.

    Mon - 6:   Dad's Choice (AKA McDonald's)

    Tues - 7:  Goulash x 2

    1 lb ground beef
    ½ green bell pepper chopped
    1 medium onion chopped
    2 cloves garlic chopped
    ½ tsp salt
    ½ tsp pepper
    3 tablespoons soy sauce
    1 can tomato soup
    1 can water
    1 cup cheese
    ½ cup rice or elbow macaroni

    Brown beef and drain the fat. Add bell pepper, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. Add soup, water and soy sauce. Put lid on a simmer for 20 minutes. Then add a little more water and either rice or macaroni. Simmer with lid for 15 minutes, stir. Add cheese to the top. Take off stove and keep lid on until cheese melts. Serve with bread and vegetables. Serves 4.

    Wed - 8:  Slow-Cooker Chili & Corn Bread

    Thurs - 9: Breakfast - French Toast, Sausage and Eggs

    Fri - 10:  Make Your Own Sandwiches

    Sat - 11: Teriyaki Chicken/Rice (crockpot) and Veggie

     

  • I am still alive....I Promise.  Life is busy!   I will check in soon!

  • Honey Quick Bread

    2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
    1 t. baking soda
    1/2 t. salt
    1 t. baking powder

    1/4 t. cinnamon
    1/2 c. oil
    1-1/2 c. buttermilk
    1/2 c. honey

    Mix all ingredients together; spoon into a greased and floured 9"x5" loaf pan. Let stand for 20 minutes; bake at 375 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. Makes one loaf.

  • Grocery Shopping...

    I thought I did really well on Grocery Shopping.  I guess I could have done much better, but I saw a number of things that were a good deal, but not on the list.   I still ended significantly under budget.  YEAH!!

    Aldi -  $64.45

    Festival - $30.25

    TOTAL - $94.70 for at least two weeks of groceries.  That is less than $50.00 a week so that is really good. 

    Additional Items from Aldi:

    • 10 lb Russet Potatoes - I was only going to buy a few potatoes, but this was a good deal.  So I am going to change my menu a bit.  I will use my cubed ham to make Scalloped Potatoes and Ham.   - 2.99
    • Enchilada Sauce - 2/ 1.19 for a big bottle.  I will use this to make enchiladas with the frozen seasoned meat.  $2.38
    • Rotisserie Chickens - 1/2 off meat as close to sell date.  I will freeze then for future use!   I bought 4 @ 2.75 each.  - $11.00
    • Uncle Ben Rice - 2 @ 1.19 = 2.38 (quick side dish to have on hand)
    • Colgate Toothpaste - peroxide and baking soda kind i like - never seen it at Aldi before so I bought 2 @ 2.29 - $4.58.
    • Kraft Easy Mac - Box for Erik to make for after school - 6 servings for $1.99
    • Wine Coolers - my monthly treat!! - the four bottles will last me about a month - $3.99

    Not real outrageous purchases, but it is an extra $29.31 at Aldi.   I am going to start keeping track of how much extra I spend that is not on the list. 

    Extra At Festival:

    • Kemps Ice Cream - Gallon Pails - 2 @ $5.49 = $10.98
    • Hershey Syrup for Ice Cream - 1.29
    • Pear Applesauce - Off the Clearance Shelf - 6 x .20 = 1.20
    • Pears - Fresh Fruit for Snacks - 3 for 1.61 (on Sale)

    Extra items not on the list at Festival- $15.08 -Total Extra Spent was $44.39

    YIKES!!  That was almost 1/2 of what I spent.   I hope this will help me to think before I add something extra to the cart.  It all really does add up!  Way more than I thought!!!

     Tonight for supper I make Honey Roasted Pork Loin, it was really good.  Hubby said it was just like eating at a restaurant.  I also make corn on the cob and rice.  

    QUESTION:

    Does anyone have any idea how you keep squirrels from eating your corn???    We only had 3 meals of corn from our garden as the squirrel kept eating it.   And it was SOOOOO good!!!

    Hope you are having a great weekend. 

    Jen C

  • Menu Plan Monday......

    In a runt on what to cook???  Head over to Laura's site I'm an Organizing Junkie and see what the many participates on Menu Plan Monday are having this week!!

    greenmpm

    Menu Planning September 14th - 28th

    Sunday - Honey Roasted Pork Loin (Bake 375 - 60 mins) - Pasta - Veggie - **GOOD ADD TO WEBSITE**

     ***************************************************

    Monday -Dad's Choice (AKA McDonald's)

    Tuesday -  Speedy Taco Soup (10/14) - (Simmer 15 mins)-**GOOD ADD TO WEBSITE**

    Wednesday -      Hot Dogs & Macaroni and Cheese- MADE

    Thursday -        Pork Chops with Famous Dave Sauce – Steak Fries – Beans- MADE

    Friday -     Steak Sandwich **GOOD ADD TO WEBSITE**- Artichoke Dip and Chips  - (Bake 30 mins)- MADE

    Saturday - Chicken and Rice Casserole - (Crock 6-7 on low) - Vegetable

    Chicken and Rice Casserole

    1 cup long grain rice, uncooked
    3 cups water
    2 tsp chicken bouillon granules (or 3 low sodium cubes)
    10 ¾ ounce cream of chicken soup (I like fat free)
    2 cups cooked chopped chicken
    ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    1 tsp onion salt
    1 cup grated low fat cheddar
    16 ounce bag frozen broccoli (sometimes I use fresh)

    Combine all ingredients except broccoli in slow cooker. One hour before end of cooking time, stir in broccoli. Cook for a total of 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low.

    Sunday -    CROCK POT ROTISSERIE CHICKEN (4-6 hours) – Rice - Vegetable - MADE


     ***************************************************

    Monday - Dad's Choice - MADE

    Tuesday - Scalloped Potatoes and Ham - MADE

    Wednesday -     Chicken Breasts – Parmesan Noodles - Vegetable

    Thursday - Goulash

    1 lb ground beef
    ½ green bell pepper chopped
    1 medium onion chopped
    2 cloves garlic chopped
    ½ tsp salt
    ½ tsp pepper
    3 tablespoons soy sauce
    1 can tomato soup
    1 can water
    1 cup cheese
    ½ cup rice or elbow macaroni

    Brown beef and drain the fat. Add bell pepper, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. Add soup, water and soy sauce. Put lid on a simmer for 20 minutes. Then add a little more water and either rice or macaroni. Simmer with lid for 15 minutes, stir. Add cheese to the top. Take off stove and keep lid on until cheese melts. Serve with bread and vegetables. Serves 4.

    Friday - Fish Fillet Sandwiches - Chips

    Saturday - Favorite Meatloaf- Mashed Potatoes - Veggie

    Sunday (Grocery Day) - Baby Back Ribs - Macaroni Salad - Vegetable

    The ribs are very easy to do-- just place boneless country spare ribs in the crockpot with salt and pepper (no liquid) and cook on low all day. Then, about an hour before you want to eat, drain all the fat and liquid out of the crockpot, and add in your favorite BBQ sauce. (We like a store brand thick and spicy sauce.) Simmer another hour on low, then enjoy!

    Macaroni Salad -(no real recipe - I just throw it together)

    2 cups Elbow Macaroni, cooked
    Thawed Peas to your liking
    1/2 cup or so Cheddar Cheese Cubed
    1/2 cup chopped celery
    1 small onion, chopped
    1/2 cup mayo (approximately)

    Combine the first 5 ingredients into a large bowl.  Stir in enough mayo to coat.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Cover and chill until ready to serve.

     


     ***************************************************

     

    BREAKFAST

     

     

    Check out my post on my steps to meal planning.  I used to spend over 150.00 on grocery a week.  I am well below that and my family is eating better as I count less on convenience food.  If you haven't tried planning meals....give it a try.  You don't need to plan new or exciting meals, simple plan what you will make based or your family's normal meals.  

     

    I just went grocery shopping this weekend and as from my post about the shopping trip you can see I still have some room to improve my shopping.  It is hard....especially if I go shopping even the least bit hungry. 

     

    Good Luck!!

     

  • Jen's Steps to Meal Planning....

    1.   I take a notebook and go to the freezer and write down all the meat I have for meals. 

    Currently in our freezer:
    Fish Fillets
    Hot Dogs - 2

    Steak (3 petite)
    Seasoned Enchilada Meat - 1
    Seasoned Cubed Steak - 1
    Hamburger - 1lb pack - 1
    Hamburger - 2 lb pack -1


    Cooked Cubed Chicken - 2 cup bags - 7
    Filled Chicken Breasts - 2
    Whole Chicken - 2
    Drumsticks - 1 bag
    Turkey


    Cubed Ham - 1
    Pork Loin -BBQ - 1
    Bacon - 1
    Pork Country Ribs - 1
    BBQ Back Ribs -1
    Pork Chops -1

    2.  Now I make my menu utilizing the meat on hand.   I make a list of what to make with each item.   I look if there were meals from the last 2 weeks of menu's that I didn't make and reschedule those meals.   I plan on purchasing groceries again on Sept. 28th so I need to plan 14 meals.

    When I need inspiration I go to some of the following websites:

    Organizing Junkie - Host of Menu Plan Monday - last week there were over 300 particpants.  Review their menus and get some ideas!

    Grocery Cart Challenge - Great Blog for Frugal Menu Ideas - Menu Plan Monday Particpant

    Our Online Cookbook - Find family favorites that require the ingredients I have. 

    Menus4Moms - Great site with menus for every week.   I use this one alot!!  (site not currently loading)

    3.  Next I make my menu and assign a day for each meal.  I need easy meals for Tuesday and Wednesdays as we have to be somewhere after supper.  I plan a kid friendly recipe for Friday Night as we usually do Family Movie Night.

    4.  I then go through each recipe and see if I have all the ingredients.  I add any needed items to my shopping list.  I try to buy as much as I can at Aldi.   Any items that aren't available at Aldi, I look for coupons for. 

    5.  I put my list on my clipboard and head off to get my groceries.  I also start shopping at Aldi.  Whatever wasn't available at Aldi I purchase at Festival or Cub Foods. 

    Happy Menu Planning.....

  • Pantry Challenge....

    I almost slept through the night!   I am still tired waking up, but at least I have gotten some sleep.   I want to get alot done around the house this weekend.   I am going to shower and get ready for soccer.  I will work on menu until it is time for soccer. 

    In an effort to save some money, I am going to do a pantry challenge this week.  I am going to make a 2 week menu, but try to use up most of the meat in our freezer.   That does mean that the next shoping time I will need alot of meat, but that is ok.  I will save the left over money.  I just have to make sure there is left over. 

    Time to shower and get ready for soccer.  It is cold and wet...soccer should be fun

    Jen C 

  • HAPPY FRIDAY....

    I am glad the weekend is here....but also is disbelief in how quickly the week went by.   I am very busy at work with 2 placements.  There is always alot of coordinate with a placement.  I have arranged my work schedule so I have Friday monrings off.   I went to tommy's school this morning and volunteered for about an hour.  I then came home and payed bills.  While I was ordering our gift cards for next week, I saw that the script company had a special on a couple of cards.   So I started my Christmas shopping.   Believe it our not, I have Susan and Dawn's families both done.  I am done with my brother and Tommy's teachers.   I also have part of my mom's, sisters and SILs gift.   It was very nice to get started.    I am going to keep an eye on what cards are giving a higher return as it gets closer to Christmas.   I have a feeling I will buying alot of gift cards this year!!  

    This weekend also is beginning to look fairly busy.  I thought it might be quite enough that I  could work on putting the bookcases together in the guest room/office.   Saturday, Tommy has an early morning soccer game.  we have a couple of errands to run and then we are going to a 50th Birthday Party.  

    Tommy would like to get his Halloween costume this weekend.  He wants to be Batman and Noah is going to be the Joker.   I also need to go to Sears and figure out how much my new stovetop will be.  Then I will order gift certificates to pay for it so I can get money back on Tommy's tuition.  

    Sunday after church we will have Brunch at church.  I hope to get groceries after that.  At some point during the weekend I need to make my menu and shopping list.   And of course there is laundry to do!!  Is there ever not???

    Tommy starts swimming lessons this weekend.  I hope they go ok for him!

    Well I better scoot.  I have not been sleeping very well.   I have been having nightmares about some things going on at work.  ARGH!!!   Sure hope I sleep better tonight.  

    Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

    Jen C

  • Books Read and Ratings....

    July

    The Septembers of Shiraz - Dalia Sofer - (4/5)

    The Stone Diaries - Carol Shields - (3.5/5)

    Daughter's Keeper - Ayelet Waldman - (4/5)

     

    August

    Creation in Death - J D Robb - (3/5)

     

    September

    Stalked - Brian Freeman -(4/5)

    Unaccostumed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri - (3/5)