MODIFICATION: So, after reading the recipe for the Goulash over Smashed Red Potatoes, I decided this did not sound very appetizing to me. I like the goulash my mom used to make: with okra and all kinds of vegetables. So, the Latina half of me opted for Beefy Bean Burritos with homemade salsa. We're still using the ground beef that defrosted in the fridge, just in a slightly different way!
Also, when Kate and I were working in the garden this morning, we discovered enough kale to fill a gallon-sized plastic bag. So, we will be having some on Wednesday with our beans. Yum!
I'm home with a sick baby this morning so decided to post our menu plan for the week. I also decided to add breakfast and lunch as well as snacks too. I'm always looking for fresh ideas, especially for lunches and snacks, so feel free to comment and let me know what you serve your kiddos throughout the day.
Breakfast
Oats with blackberries and blueberries
Cinnamon toast with oranges
Breakfast burritos
Eggs and toast
Cereal with bananas
Lunch
Ham sandwiches and fruit
Black bean and cheese quesadillas
Pizza bread and yogurt
Leftovers
Snacks
Granola bars
Yogurt
Fruits & Veggies (I'm lovin' the organic carrots at Kroger...so sweet!...Kate even eats them.)
Cheese & crackers
Dinner
Sunday: Roasted garlic chicken, potato salad, baked beans, biscuits & cantaloupe
Monday: Goulash on smashed red potatoes with sautéed zucchini
Tuesday: Bowtie pasta with chicken sausage and steamed green beans
Wednesday: Northern (white) beans with smoked sausage and corn cakes
Thursday: Chicken and dressing with roasted corn on the cob and broccoli
Friday: Pizza Night!!
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Finer Things Fridays: More Blessings Than I Deserve
And the beat goes on! I love thinking about what I have done this week and praising God for His great blessings in my life. It puts my trials into perspective and reminds me of how much He loves me!
(25) Daniel's 33rd Birthday! What a blessing to have someone in my life who knows how to make me laugh when I desperately need it and keeps me balanced. Plus, CAKE! I made a Boston Cream Pie in celebration.
(26) Cora sleeping through the night for an entire week and both of us getting much-needed rest
(27) Watching Kate share her toy phone with Cora who only wants to chew on it
(28) Seeing the look on Cora's face--her eyes lighting up and grinning from ear to ear--when Kate comes to play with her
(29) Finding tiny lettuce shoots coming up in the garden and knowing it won't be long before we can eat fresh organic greens
(30) Having time to read a lengthy book but also realizing what a literary snob I am
(31) Laughing as Kate dons her orange Home Depot apron and "Olympic" gold medal on our trip to the library and realizing how innocent and cute she is but also, more importantly, that it isn't worth the battle to make her take them off
(32) Having the energy to do some much-needed spring cleaning including washing curtains and rugs--Thank You, God, for the sunshine!
(33) Learning how important it is to LISTEN to God instead of TELLING Him what I need and want
(34) My wonderful parents and their love of serving others and how they have so richly blessed me in their influence
(35) A patient and compassionate Father who never gives up on me!!
(25) Daniel's 33rd Birthday! What a blessing to have someone in my life who knows how to make me laugh when I desperately need it and keeps me balanced. Plus, CAKE! I made a Boston Cream Pie in celebration.
(26) Cora sleeping through the night for an entire week and both of us getting much-needed rest
(27) Watching Kate share her toy phone with Cora who only wants to chew on it
(28) Seeing the look on Cora's face--her eyes lighting up and grinning from ear to ear--when Kate comes to play with her
(29) Finding tiny lettuce shoots coming up in the garden and knowing it won't be long before we can eat fresh organic greens
(30) Having time to read a lengthy book but also realizing what a literary snob I am
(31) Laughing as Kate dons her orange Home Depot apron and "Olympic" gold medal on our trip to the library and realizing how innocent and cute she is but also, more importantly, that it isn't worth the battle to make her take them off
(32) Having the energy to do some much-needed spring cleaning including washing curtains and rugs--Thank You, God, for the sunshine!
(33) Learning how important it is to LISTEN to God instead of TELLING Him what I need and want
(34) My wonderful parents and their love of serving others and how they have so richly blessed me in their influence
(35) A patient and compassionate Father who never gives up on me!!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
A Prayer Request
I'm one of those people who is never happy. Ask my husband and he will quickly agree. I am always wanting more. Not more stuff necessarily but to be more, to do more, to excel. I have always been this way. When I was in school, I worked hard to be in the top of my class. When I got my first job as a paralegal, I couldn't just be a paralegal: I had to take classes at the university and even study and pass the paralegal certification test. When I first started couponing, I couldn't just clip the newspaper coupons: I had to make a price book, pore over all the ads, run to all the stores and get the best deals, and stockpile like there was no tomorrow.
I take pride in my ambition because it opens up new opportunities for me. However, it is also Satan's way of worming into my heart and mind and making me constantly question who I am and what I'm doing. I can't sit still. I have a hard time relaxing and just being because there is always more to do.
My heart is heavy right now because I know God's plan for me is to raise my girls and love and support my husband, and yet I want to do more, to be more. For a while now, I have felt a burden on me to serve others. And while I'm not a great cook like my mom, I do enjoy preparing food for others. There's just something about the feeling you get when you know you have lightened someone's load. When you know that food was the last thing on that person's mind because they have lost a loved one or are taking care of a sick child or a new baby.
I know that God is glorified when we serve others, and I want to serve Him as He has so richly blessed me. My prayer request this week and for the weeks and months to come is for wisdom to see what God wants me to do and for courage and strength to carry out His will. Help me, Lord, to see the opportunities You lay before me to serve Your people that You may be glorified.
If you are a praying person, please pray for me like Paul did for the church at Colosse: "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Colossians 1:9).
I take pride in my ambition because it opens up new opportunities for me. However, it is also Satan's way of worming into my heart and mind and making me constantly question who I am and what I'm doing. I can't sit still. I have a hard time relaxing and just being because there is always more to do.
My heart is heavy right now because I know God's plan for me is to raise my girls and love and support my husband, and yet I want to do more, to be more. For a while now, I have felt a burden on me to serve others. And while I'm not a great cook like my mom, I do enjoy preparing food for others. There's just something about the feeling you get when you know you have lightened someone's load. When you know that food was the last thing on that person's mind because they have lost a loved one or are taking care of a sick child or a new baby.
I know that God is glorified when we serve others, and I want to serve Him as He has so richly blessed me. My prayer request this week and for the weeks and months to come is for wisdom to see what God wants me to do and for courage and strength to carry out His will. Help me, Lord, to see the opportunities You lay before me to serve Your people that You may be glorified.
If you are a praying person, please pray for me like Paul did for the church at Colosse: "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Colossians 1:9).
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Menu Plan for the Week of April 3rd
Tomorrow, April 3rd, is Daniel's birthday. The big 3-3! We're actually going to my parents' house for his birthday dinner after the girls get up from their naps, so my plan is to have my b-day meal for him on Monday since we won't be home until tomorrow afternoon.
Here is my menu plan for the week:
Sunday: Mom's home cooking! Yea, I don't have to cook!!
Monday: Rib-eyes, mac and cheese, green beans, and a special birthday cake
Tuesday: Breakfast for supper (sausage, eggs, fried taters, biscuits and homemade strawberry jam that I made last week)
Wednesday: Black bean tostadas with fresh salsa
Thursday: Chicken Parmesan on whole wheat linguine with steamed broccoli
Friday: Pizza Night!!
Saturday: Leftovers
Here is my menu plan for the week:
Sunday: Mom's home cooking! Yea, I don't have to cook!!
Monday: Rib-eyes, mac and cheese, green beans, and a special birthday cake
Tuesday: Breakfast for supper (sausage, eggs, fried taters, biscuits and homemade strawberry jam that I made last week)
Wednesday: Black bean tostadas with fresh salsa
Thursday: Chicken Parmesan on whole wheat linguine with steamed broccoli
Friday: Pizza Night!!
Saturday: Leftovers
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Finer Things Friday: More Blessings Than I Deserve
Last week for "Finer Things Friday," I posted a list of 12 blessings in my life. Today I would like to continue that list with this week's blessings.
(13) My sweet smiling Cora crawling for the first time this week (She's got to keep up with big sis!)
(14) My too-smart-for-her-own-good Kate recalling from memory FOUR Bible verses that we hadn't practiced for several weeks (post to come!)
(15) Watching netflixed Modern Family episodes with Daniel and laughing hysterically together (well, it's mostly me laughing out loud)
(16) Seeing God's great mercy and love for me in my study of 2 Peter at CBS (Community Bible Study)
(17) Being in the presence of some wonderful Godly women at CBS who encourage and inspire me every week
(18) My wonderful mom taking time out of her busy life to take me to Sam's (and paying for more than she should have!)
(19) The strawberries from Daniel's parents' patch from last year that I used to make 5 pints of jam with
(20) King's Kids: The Mother's Day Out program Kate attends every Tuesday & Thursday for all the Bible songs and stories she is learning and for the much-needed break it affords me
(21) Writing this blog: I know I'm writing to myself for the most part, but I feel blessed to have an outlet to express myself again as well as a space to record our family's milestones
(22) Watching the birds build a nest in the winter wreath still up on our front door (now I have excuse not to take it down!)
(23) The tulips, forsythia, dogwoods and other beautiful flowers and trees in bloom, showing me that Spring is here even if the weather is still reminiscent of winter
(24) Watching my girls grow in love for each other and praying that they will always be the best of friends
How has the Lord blessed you this week? If you sit down and think about all your blessings, could you REALLY be down?
(13) My sweet smiling Cora crawling for the first time this week (She's got to keep up with big sis!)
(14) My too-smart-for-her-own-good Kate recalling from memory FOUR Bible verses that we hadn't practiced for several weeks (post to come!)
(15) Watching netflixed Modern Family episodes with Daniel and laughing hysterically together (well, it's mostly me laughing out loud)
(16) Seeing God's great mercy and love for me in my study of 2 Peter at CBS (Community Bible Study)
(17) Being in the presence of some wonderful Godly women at CBS who encourage and inspire me every week
(18) My wonderful mom taking time out of her busy life to take me to Sam's (and paying for more than she should have!)
(19) The strawberries from Daniel's parents' patch from last year that I used to make 5 pints of jam with
(20) King's Kids: The Mother's Day Out program Kate attends every Tuesday & Thursday for all the Bible songs and stories she is learning and for the much-needed break it affords me
(21) Writing this blog: I know I'm writing to myself for the most part, but I feel blessed to have an outlet to express myself again as well as a space to record our family's milestones
(22) Watching the birds build a nest in the winter wreath still up on our front door (now I have excuse not to take it down!)
(23) The tulips, forsythia, dogwoods and other beautiful flowers and trees in bloom, showing me that Spring is here even if the weather is still reminiscent of winter
(24) Watching my girls grow in love for each other and praying that they will always be the best of friends
How has the Lord blessed you this week? If you sit down and think about all your blessings, could you REALLY be down?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Starting the Garden
Yesterday while Cora napped Kate and I ventured outside and set to work planting the garden. Hoe in hand I made four very crooked rows and then Kate scattered plant food in the rows, around the rows, and everywhere! She wanted to help. Then, we planted about 40 onion bulbs and two rows of bibb and buttercrunch lettuce. Kate picked flowers while I covered the bulbs and seeds with the soft dirt. Then, we both watered the garden: Kate with her watering pail and I with mine. Of course, Kate spilled most of the water on the way from the house to the garden.
Still, hopefully working in the garden together now will develop a love of planting in the future. I remember my parents making my brother and me work in the garden: planting seeds, watering, weeding, and picking vegetables. I didn't like it at the time because I didn't see the point, but now as an adult, I am glad they made me do those things because now I know how to grow my own food. That is a life skill that I want our children to have too.
Next week I plan to fertilize the seeds/bulbs and will take some pictures of the progress. Also, I will transplant the lettuce and onions from the starter pots that I planted last month. Below is a picture of the pitiful looking onions.
Kate threw a fit because she adamantly did NOT want her picture taken. We've already hit the teen years and she's only 2 1/2! So this is all I got, but notice the beautiful lettuce!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Menu Plan for the Week of March 27th
Sunday: Cheese Stuffed Shells with Chicken & Mushroom Sauce with Garden Salad
Monday: Big B Salad (The "Bs" stand for Bacon, Bleu cheese, Black Beans, Blackened chicken Breasts, and Buttermilk herb dressing) with Biscuits
Tuesday: Jambalaya with Smoked Sausage and Steamed Broccoli
Wednesday: Pinto Beans, Roasted Red Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic, and Cornbread
Thursday: Beef Fajitas with Flank Steak, Pico de Gallo, and Refried Beans
Friday: Pizza night!!
Saturday: Chili (with leftover pintos)
Monday: Big B Salad (The "Bs" stand for Bacon, Bleu cheese, Black Beans, Blackened chicken Breasts, and Buttermilk herb dressing) with Biscuits
Tuesday: Jambalaya with Smoked Sausage and Steamed Broccoli
Wednesday: Pinto Beans, Roasted Red Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic, and Cornbread
Thursday: Beef Fajitas with Flank Steak, Pico de Gallo, and Refried Beans
Friday: Pizza night!!
Saturday: Chili (with leftover pintos)
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