Meal Plan Week 2

Okay so I am a TERRIBLE meal planner. I don't plan meals. Well I do but only supper. Who plans breakfast???(well except for you terribly organized moms who I'm pretty sure do it just to make the rest of us look even more unorganized than we already are....) so in Kristin's world of meal planning we only plan supper.

Monday Night supper- Vegetable Pizza (and I must say we do pizza a lot. and this was a REALLY good one) I shoulda taken a picture but I was like, "It's pizza, who hasn't seen a pizza?!?" but I shoulda and I shoulda written it down. Maybe next week. Maybe tonight. I am hungry. and pizza is delish. Especially at night in the quiet while the kids are sleeping and I am blogging. Too bad I'm in my Jammies and feeling particularly lazy.

Tuesday Supper- Beans and Cornbread. Emphasis on the cornbread. YUM.

Wednesday- Chicken Cesar Salad

Thursday- Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, and peas and gravy.

Friday- Tomato Artichoke Pasta

Saturday- Indian (not so politically correct) Tacos (with salsa chicken instead of beef)

Sunday- Chicken Fingers with Sweet Potato Wedges and Veggies and dip.

A year in the life Of

Today is my birthday and since it's pretty close to New Year's I usually spend my birthday reflecting on the year before and the one before me. Last Year was a good year for me. The last two have been really great. There have been some really great things happen to me in regards to my physical environment and also some really great things emotionally and spiritually.

This last year's highlight would of been Penny.
I was content with having two little girls but when we found out that we were expecting another baby it felt right. I'm glad she wasn't planned but a very pleasant surprise. We kept her a secret for a quite a long time (almost 25 weeks) and cherished the quiet excitement in our family. Her birth in the spring gave me an opportunity to know myself in ways that only a crisis can. It was confirmed that my strength is undeniable. I am very good in a crisis. Good in the kind of way that I am the one you want with you. I will hold it together. I am clear headed and focused. I learned that my beliefs are the core of my being. I know the plan of salvation is real. I have always loved my sisters but I learned that I NEED my sisters. I will be forever grateful for them ignoring my instruction to stay away. There was a very long night spent as they were getting ready to transport Penny. My mom and Dusty were spending time with the transport team trying to get all the information together. My sisters sat in my hospital room. Just sat. And after the hospital, Penny has taught me a great number of things this year. Things I didn't think that after having two children I would have to learn. I learned that it doesn't matter what you do, some babies just don't like to sleep. I remember one time in my life wanting to feel like I was the one my babies wanted. Both Ellie and Lucy loved me and liked to cuddle but they were both pretty content to be passed off or spend time by themselves. I learned to be careful what to wish for. After 8 months of having my house in chaos that there ARE more important things than a clean house. But I have also learned to appreciate a clean house. The last month with Penny has seen great changes (crawling) and I actually can get to things like my desk.... and it's lovely.

This year we also bought a camping trailer. We LOVE it. I love it. I have a countdown for spring. Our little family had such a great time last year camping. I left in June and didn't come home until October. Awesome.

The end of last year also saw all the framing and drywalling in our basement. Pretty exciting.

The last couple of years I have become my own woman. I feel long past my teenage no responsibility discovering personality traits time in my life. I feel like the the 20year old something of college and ideologies has been somewhat humbled with the word Compromise that comes with marriage and children. I feel like the clueless zombie stage of motherhood (which was never really my thing) has dissipated and I am left feeling like. I know who I am. I am fine with who I am. I would even go so far to say I like who I am. I feel a little unapologetic and strong. I also know that there is a lot of life in front of me but the woman right now says, "Bring it on."

Menu plan January 3-8th

So I thought it would be a good idea to keep track of the meals I've cooked so that if I'm stuck for a dinner idea one night I can just look and wala inspiration.

Saturday
B- eggs and toast
L- lasagna
S- greek chicken roasted in peppers, onion, mushrooms, garlic, and Greek seasoning, sweet potatoe fries, and Greek salad

Friday
B- omelete
L- meatless taco salad
S- vegetarian lasagna

Thursday
B- granola, yogurt, and peaches
L- (we went out for lunch)
S- shepards pie with peanut and pretzel salad

Wednesday
B- toast
L- fish, rice, and stirfry veggies
S- sheppards pie and cesar salad

Tuesday
B- yogurt and granola and pears
L- stew
S- chick pea patties, rice, stirfry veggies

Monday
S- stew
L- grilled cheese sandwiches
B- cereal

Train Our Dragon Er dog....

So these are a little late..... better late than never though.... right?!?

Vikings at the trick or trunk or the trunk or treat or whatever the heck it was called.

"toothless and Ellie"

Oh Shepard, Where Art Thou?

Not in the field with the lambs... or traditionally in North American the cow pasture.... I found him (or her) in the Lentils.

Okay but for real even if you think I'm NUTS (which most people do at some point... but if we're being honest... who isn't?) you must give this recipe a whirl. We eat Shepard's Pie a fair bit around this house. It's usually my "go-to" meal. It's easy, comforting, and delish. So I swapped out the hamburger to try to make a quick and easy meatless meal.

A Vegetable Eating Shepard's Pie

Ingredients

1 onion

3-4 small celery stalks

3 cloves of garlic

1Tbsp vegetable oil

1 Tbsp butter

Salt

Pepper

1 can of Lentils

1/4- 1/2 cup of flour

1 1/2 cups ish Stock (vegetable, chicken, beef)
(I had homemade beef stock frozen in my freezer so that's what I used)

peas

mashed potatoes

cheese

 Directions:

1) put oil and putter in a deep skillet

2) put in (diced) onions and celery and a little salt and let them cook over medium heat until cooked (they'll turn a bit translucent)

3) add garlic and let that cook for a minute or so.

4) Add in can of lentils (drained)

Let that cook for a minute or two

 5) add flour and give it a mix. The white should be gone and you're left with a goo.

 6) slowly add your stock mixing while you pour.

7)  Once it looks like a gravy then let it cook at a simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

8) Pour into casserole dish (I used a 9x13)

10) Sprinkle with peas (you could use a frozen mixed vegetable)

 11) Cover with mashed potatoes

12) cover top in grated cheese

13) put in the oven and bake at 350 for 1 hour or until the top of the potatoes gets a good crust on top

14) add a bit of Parmesan cheese and waala. Dinner.



Cajun Chick Pea "Burgers"

It's been an interesting week of meals. Dusty is still "complaining" but just in good fun. It has required a bit more thought than normal but honestly, not that much extra. Dusty and the girls and I all really enjoyed these Cajun Chick Pea "burgers". I put them with some brown rice and stirfry veggies. They were super good.


http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2009/02/crispy-cajun-chickpea-cakes.html

INGREDIENTS
Makes 12

- 1 tbsp oil

- 1/4 cup diced onion

- 1/4 cup diced green peppern (I didn't have any so I didn't add any)

- 1 celery stalk, diced

- 1 280z can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

- 1 tsp thyme (I put a clove of garlic in instead)

- 1 tsp paprika

- pinch of cayenne pepper

- 1 tsp hot sauce

- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

- 2 tbsp flour

- 1 tbsp cornstarch

- salt and pepper to taste

- oil for frying


METHOD

1. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Saute onion, green pepper, and celery for 5-7 mins, until softened. Remove from heat.

2. Place chickpeas in a food processor along with the onion mixture. Pulse until chickpeas are no longer whole, but dont process them too much. Place chickpeas in a bowl and add spices, hot sauce, and parsley. Mix well. Add flour and cornstarch and mix well. Place in the fridge for 30 mins.

3. Heat oil in a frying pan over med/med-hi heat (around 350 degrees). Shape chickpea mixture into 12 patties and fry in batches, about 2-3 mins per side, or until crispy and browned. Flip a few times if they are browning too quickly. If you have trouble forming the patties, add some more cornstarch to hold it all together.

So I just sauteed it and then mashed it together with a fork. They seemed fine. They stuck together just fine. Easy peasy and a quick alternative to meatballs....

That time of Year

So I don't make New Year's resolutions.

I never have BUT I feel compelled this year.

I don't know if I just want a good dose of failure for my self-esteem

or if I'm actually on the cusp of an adventure.

Like I said, I am totally caught up in the whole "resolution" thing.

I feel energized and excited about what I hope is a looming adventure.

My blog has sorta takin a back seat. I love to blog but have been feeling rather blah about the mundane things of life (not that Dusty and the girls are mundane but maybe just the routine of it all). So anyways, back to this resolution thing.....

I feel kinda nervous saying it all outloud

like I'm committed to my crazy and radical idea.....

So

We are going meatless.

I can't believe I said it.

Now let me clarify

because if anyone KNOWS Dusty will have just fallen off their chairs.

So this last year I have spent trying to cut out some foods that are really chemically packed...like salad dressings and processed cheeses and well lots of other things.

It's now a cinch not using them or cooking with them.

This year I want to push myself farther.

 I said meatless

but

what I really meant was

1 meal/week made out of red meat,

3 meals either chicken or fish

and 3 meatless.

So it's not very meatless at all

but

 for Dusty this is a HUGE commitment.

I am just happy he agreed (sorta).

He said, "Whatever as long as it's not gross and this is only lasting till summer time".

BAH Wah HAHAHAAHa (evil laugh)....

he clearly hasn't read the fine print.

I am excited to find some new recipes.

and expand my cooking skills.

I am excited to eat healthier.

but I am mostly excited to hear what Dusty says when he bites into his chick pea burger!!!!

Christmas gifts and birthday wishes

Wowzers!!!!!!! So I have never even owned an iPod or mp3 player or anything. I even revolted at the idea of satellite radio. Dusty got me an touch for Christmas and I am hooked. In fact, I am blogging from it. That is rediculous! Our Christmas was fantastic. We stayed home this year and my parents and sister and uncle and cousins came too( and all the pooches.... 5 in total). We have two more christmas' left. I am wiped. I think I may hibernate for the next couple of months ( after my birthday... I think I might ask for am iPhone. Did I mention I'm in love

finding in the Unexpected

I had never found someone the PERFECT gift.

I have found good gifts but never "perfect"."

Maybe that's why I have struggled with the concept of "consumerism" the last 5 or so years.

I have a hard time with the gift giving at Christmas. I have felt like the truly important parts of Christmas are drowned by the need for shopping and buying and finding. The sweet sounds of families spending time with one another are muffled by car horns and ripping wrapping paper.

I have been having a Grinch moment in my life for quite sometime.

I KNOW that Christmas is not about gifts and yet,

in passing conversations that is the focus.

All of the "holiday stress" in my life is about the gifts.

I have really struggled this year.

Tonight, 8 days away from Christmas,

I finally found the perfect gift.

The perfect gift

isn't 

a gift that has been picked up just because they are the last person on your list

or

"it's nice enough"

or

the kind of gift that "will do".

It isn't something that you have to buy so you don't offend someone.

It isn't a gift bought to "beat out" the other gifts.

There is no obligation with the perfect gift.

I found a gift that is simple.

It is beautiful.

It has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the person I am giving it to.

I have never found "Christmas" in a package before.

For me, Christmas is a season of giving.

Giving of time

of hope

of love

of peace

of forgiveness

and every once in a while,

 you have the privilege

of giving

someone

something

 unexpected.

and for me,

this year,

 I got the gift of giving someone I love dearly, a present they will truly enjoy.

1 Kitchen sink coming right up.

Yes Yes I have been a blogging slacker. I just can't help it. It's Christmas. and I am busy with all things Christmas. Making gifts, baking, parties, music, trees, sledding, dresses. It is so awesome and happy. I think I could be an elf. I look fantastic in green and red. But for all those out there who still read this thing (if there is any) then I have a treat for you.....

Cure your Cold and Warm your Soul (or tummy) Soup.

(dusty emailed me from work yesterday and said he was SICK. He hardly ever gets sick (thank goodness- cause he thinks he is going to die) and so I made him soup. Only I had no chicken. Or noodles. So this is what I came up with....

2lbs of ground beef
6 cups of beef broth.
4 cups of water
3 large carrots
1 onion
2 heaping tablespoons of garlic
1 large can of tomatoes
1 can of corn
1/2 head of broccoli
1/2 head of cauliflower
1 can of lentils
1 bag of baby spinach chopped.
pepper.
Parmesan cheese.

Cook the ground beef in the stock. Add the water. Bring to a boil. Put in onion (quartered) and carrots and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes, boiling at medium heat. Add tomatoes and corn and broccoli and cauliflower and lentils and baby spinach. Cook over medium heat for 20 more minutes. This is soup. So the longer it simmers the better... I also throw in the rind of my Parmesan cheese and let it simmer with the soup. I think it adds flavor. Season according to your tastes. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on it. Enjoy.
I did.