Week ending & beginning

These are the painting the kids in my Monday watercolor class did! Aren't they great?

Okay, Okay. So I haven't been all that on target this week. I didn't make it back last night because we took Dalton shopping so he could spend a little of his birthday money. While we were out we ate lunch. When we eat out Tom and I feel so full and to make up for the "bad" parts of eating out, the unhealthy stuff we skip dinner. You know dozens of tortillas I am 100% sure are made of all white flour. Corn chips fried I am sure in soy bean or corn oil. Not to mention the corn in the chips I am sure are not organic. Did you know that if you are going to make some changes in your diet the top 3 things to change are to not eat white flour, use organic corn only, and only organic peanut butter. Then I could go down the list but start there. Anyways dinner last night was cheese and crackers for the boys and Tom and I past. Or fasted if you will. Don't hear to much about fasting these days. I think it needs to be a part of your spiritual life and a part of a healthy life style.

And if not doing a cook along last night was not upsetting enough I am not posting at all next week. We are taking a spring break and going to Michigan. I will give you a preview of the menu I will have for the week we come back though. Just check out the Menu at a Glance section to the right sidebar.

Need dinner plans for tonight? Come to Lake Hills Baptist Church in Schererville. They are having this huge Game Dinner with music! Only $8 per person! Oh yeah, mom stay home and rest, paint, read, watch TV, get your nails done, something because this is for men and boys.

Thursday 3/26

Crab Cakes

Yes really this time. Yes I planned them last week and then again for last night. So here are the ingredients.

Mixing up the patty's.

Fry in canola oil until golden brown. Drain on paper towel.

Steam some carrots and broccoli with butter, salt and lemon pepper.

On the table. Lean and light.

Okay, so if we are being real honest here and I am sure that is what you want. Honesty. It wasn't a favorite. It needed more lump crab meat. The recipe calls for more lump I just tried what I had picked up. So honestly if it had more meat it would be good. But...I probably won't try it even knowing that again.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/glenns-diner--crab-cakes-recipe/index.html

Come back tomorrow night, for the Lasagna Roll Ups!

Wednesday 3/25

So I planned crab cakes. But I have a headache so it will be fried potatoes and eggs. I still feel good about that. And it will be coffee with hubby tonight while the boys are at AWANA. I plan to have a cook along with my new camera every Friday night. Won't that be FUN? Okay remember I am giddy about my new camera. So come back for that. And I might even change what I have planned so I can pick something good and special for the first one.

So on another note. I garden. This past summer we did raised beds. It was okay. I had not planned well enough for the garden to withstand all this wind here in Indiana. So this year we are putting up lattice to help shield it. I am starting tomato and pepper seeds in the house and I need to get out and buy onion sets, they are only here for so long and in early spring. So maybe with coffee in hand we will walk around Alsip's tonight. Which now reminds me we need some grass seed and potting soil...and oh my head aches. But I love the spring. Have fun, try your hand at a container garden if you've never tried gardening.

Celebration

So I may be back tonight, Wednesdays are our busy day. But I wanted to post a picture of my young man. And people I got a new camera! I can now post pictures of the food I cook! Like Pioneer Woman does! You don't know how happy that makes me!!!! I am giddy with happiness. We took Dalton to Oberwise. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's an ice cream shop and the tables are chess boards. We had a great time. He got the banana malt in the cool chilled glass with a cookie straw.

Tuesday 3/24

Dalton is 13 today. An official teenager, and no I don't like that word and try not to even us it. Not because I am afraid though I will talk about that in a moment. I do not agree with the modern culture about the word teenager. I think it is an excuse. The Bible says you are a child and then an adult. You either act like a child or an adult. I will not accept "teenage" behavior because society says it is just a stage, they are trying to find their identity. I understand all that, well the identity part. But that is no excuse for the bad mouths, attitudes, laziness, freedom to do whatever because they have to find out for themselves, rebellion. I want his identity to be WITH his father and I, with his brothers, with his friends that I KNOW, with his youth group, with his church, with his neighborhood friends (under my control). Yes he is 13 but I have high expectations for him. He is serving a High Priest now. He is not just learning to, he is.

I know this has nothing to do with food , though it will, later. As you may know with Chandler's last birthday they choose the meal. But later. I need to get this all out on paper, well...

Afraid. I mentioned that earlier. Dalton went on an overnight youth event to Indy. This was his first trip without us, as a young adult. See doesn't that sound better? Young adult. It even sounds more dignified, like the expectations are already high, respectful. I was worried that the choices I had made to let him go would "cost" to much. What if he got into something there? What if he chose to do something he was not suppose to? Get it? I had low expectations of him before he even went. Or was it really that I had, dare I say it, low expectations of God. Father forgive me. We had studied Psalm 119 in church the previous Sunday and it reminded me of 911. You know Psalm 91:1, if your in danger read that one! His word is so alive and gave me such peace.

91:9-11 If you make the Most High your dwelling- even the LORD who is my refuge- then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways
91:14 Because he loves me, says the LORD, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

I love the Lord. Dalton loves the Lord. When Dalton falls, the Lord will rescue him. I don't have to worry or be afraid. I don't even have to wonder will he be alright. God says so.

Done, worry free. Peace. Happiness. Love for me.

Dinner menu
BBQ chicken breast with no bone or skin
green beans
corn
no birthday cake, apple pie

And shh...Tom and I found on our date night Oberweise. They even have chess tables! That is so Dalton, we are taking him there for dessert! Yes, after apple pie.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALTON. I love who God is making you!

Monday 3/23

I have several vegetables in the freezer so we are having a vegetable and rice dinner.

Brussells Sprouts in butter
Green Beans in Olive Oil and Bragg's Soy Sauce
Brown Rice

Sunday 3/22

A new week. Again. Time is getting away from me. With this weather and the fact that I am looking over the next few months and all we need or should get done with school. My oldest son with be 13 on Tuesday and my head has so many more gray hairs than last year. Time. It makes us wiser but also older. I sat looking at pictures the other night of the boys when they were wee little. I just stare and think oh how I wish I would have kissed them another 20 times. And not that I didn't kiss them but my love has actually grown so much for them and who they are becoming I wish I had more time before the next year comes. Forgetting. It happens all the time. We forget pain, hurts, laughs, vacations, birthdays, even God's love for us. I am amazed how many times we are told to remember in the Bible. How many times we have to remind ourselves of things so simple, so good yet we forget them. Thank God he refreshes our memory in so many ways to so many things. Wishing you all a memory filled week of God's love.


Rotisserie chicken
Roasted potatoes

Saturday 3/21

Crab Cakes

Salad

This recipe is on Food Network. It is from one of those Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episodes. The actual restaurant is in Chicago.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/glenns-diner--crab-cakes-recipe/index.html

Friday 3/20

Lasagna Roll Ups
Brussell Sprouts

• 8 lasagna noodles
• 1 lb. Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 can (18 oz.) tomato paste
• 1 tsp. oregano leaves, crushed
• ½ tsp. basil leaves, crushed
• 1 ctn. (15 oz.) ricotta cheese
• 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp. salt
Directions
1. Cook noodles according to package direction; drain.
2. Cook sausage, onion and garlic in large skillet until meat is done; drain.
3. Stir in tomato paste, 2 cups water, oregano and basil. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, 20 mintues.
4. Combine ricotta cheese, spinach, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, egg and salt.
5. Spread about ½ cup cheese mixture over each noodle; roll up. Place seam side down in 13x9 inch baking dish. Pour sauce over rolls. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
6. Cover and bake in preheated 350°F oven, 35 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Prep and Cook Time: 65 min
Servings: 8

Thursday 3/19

Steak Tips in Mushroom Gravy over Noodles
Steamed Broccoli

I have looked and looked for a recipe that doesn't use a package gravy or jar gravy mix. I couldn't find one. So it is really simple. Mushrooms give the best flavor to the gravy and adding soy sauce gives it that meat flavor.

I use stew meat and then cut in up even smaller. Flour the pieces of meat and brown in vegetable oil or bacon grease. Don't forget to salt and pepper the meat. Move to a plate once done. In the same pan on medium heat cook sliced mushrooms, 1/4 c soy sauce and a chopped onion. When done and soft add about 1/2 c flour. Make a roue. Mix half water and half milk and add this to pan making gravy. Add salt and pepper. Mix meat in gravy.

Add over cooked egg noodles.

Wednesday 3/18

Stuffed French Toast

This is been on my mind now for about a month. A friend of mine and I were going to brunch at this cute little place in Lowell. Well they didn't tell us or anyone actually for that matter they left! Just up and left!

So after my friend told me about what they served, stuffed french toast with cream cheese, strawberries, maple syrup, powdered sugar...warm...ooey...gooey...oh my gosh.... we did go to brunch but it WASN'T that!

I found a recipe from a bed and breakfast site that mixes it all and then you bake it in the oven I am going to try it.

Today!!!

http://virtualcities.com/ons/me/z/mez86011.htm

Tuesday 3/17

Happy St Patrick's Day!

We had lunch at our co-op last week. We studied Ireland and had traditional St Patrick's Day food. I am making it today. I LOVE noodles and cabbage and so do the boys. I could eat it once a week as the main dish.

Get a corned beef roast, it usually comes with the seasoning pack and boil it per directions.

Now to the good stuff! Fry a pound of bacon until crisp. In the same pan and with the grease fry up a big head of cabbage. Cut it in strips. Add an onion chopped up and salt & pepper. Let this fry until cabbage is soft and the onions are brown. Add the crumbled up bacon. Boil egg noddles, drain. Add noodles, cabbage and onion mixture and bacon in a bowl and mix.

Oh man, this is so good!

Monday 3/16

Country Fried Chicken Steak with mashed potatoes & gravy.

Remember the Pampered Chef party I had? Well I got one of those cool meat pounder thingies. It is neat really. One side pounds the meat thin and the other side puts those hole patterns in the meat like country fried steaks have. So get yours out and have fun. Okay if you don't have one you can buy cubed steak and if they don't have it in chicken ask them to run it through their tenderizer or just use beef.

Now double coat it in egg wash and seasoned flour. Fry it in bacon grease, well I am. When done add to the same pan with extra grease if needed, 1/2 c flour or enough to make a roue. Brown it good, add salt and pepper. I then make the gravy with half milk half water. Until it is as thick as you like.

Make your mashed potatoes.

Serve it up with gravy smothering it ALL.

Now go and jog 2 miles, it's okay.

Sunday 3/15

It is March, mid March! As I typed in Sunday 3/15 I was shocked. Time is flying around here. It seems like I am looking at a new weekly menu plan every day! The last 2 weeks I really used up some stock I had here. I like having a stocked pantry. I think I spent $40 last week on a few meat items and used what I had on hand. Last nights dinner was noodles mixed with what ever I had~

1/2 a bag of corn

4 carrots

onion

2 lbs ground beef

2 celery stalks

3 fried potatoes

I just throw it all in a bowl and top it with what ever dressing I have made up.

Good.

Church is doing a new members lunch on Sunday so dinner will be light. Baked potatoes with toppings. I know boring.

But...the rest of the week, look out!

Busy Week and repeats

Good Morning!
I haven't left you. I am here. Busy and repeating last week. BORING... Next week. Now that is a horse of a different color. Come back for ~

Crab Cakes

Stuffed French Toast

Country Fried Steaks

Lasagna

Steak Tips over Noodles

And yes, thanks Tricia, Cabbage and Noodles with Bacon