Too Busy

I'm a busy mom.
I've got three kids that I home school and boy do we stay busy. Our school situation is different this year. I am participating in a co-op with another mom and it has certainly blessed my busy schedule. Now, instead of being school teacher/ mom every day of the week I play that role to four of our six kids two days a week. What a gift. I have been given two days a week to plan for teaching, walk with a friend, to write, to work, to catch up on housework and occasionally go on a lunch date with my husband.
However; even on my 'days off' I'm busy, so I told my husband a while back that I needed help. I needed a way to not have to think about planning meals and a grocery list each week.
(**This is NOT a sponsored post**)
In comes eMeals
What a gift this has been in my busy life!
From an app on my phone I can choose our meals for the week and they compile my grocery list for me! Another function they have (that is unfortunately not available where I live) is grocery deliver service. The compiled list can be sent to the store of your choosing and your groceries picked out and delivered. Amazing! So far there have only been a few recipies my family did not like. Most often you can find my kids uttering "Thank you eMeals!" as they gobble up what I have made. It makes me smile.
They offer a free 14 day trial and often times have offers on Groupon so you don't have to pay full price.
If you were to scroll through my blog you'll see that meal planning is of great importance to me. I find it helps my family stick to a budget and eat healthier.
So while it doesn't exactly fit with my creative vibe, maybe another mom out there will relate to this Meal Plan Monday!

Menu Monday

All day yesterday I kept repeating to myself... "It's Menu Monday... I've got to snag a few minutes to post something..."
And yet, here I am on Tuesday morning afternoon, just getting to the task.  "Some days are like that... Even in Australia" (in case you didn't get the reference, it's from THIS book!)
At the farmers market I got all sorts of yummy ideas for dinner and purchased around $40 worth of produce.  I've brought it all home and washed, cut, and prepared a lot of it for use during the week.  However, I feel like I'm in this strange new world, a world in which I have lovely ingredients, but no knowledge base on how to feed them to my family.  It's odd really.  I wish I could just cut everything up and put it on the table as is.  I wish they would eat it that way and say "Wow! Thanks for the yummy dinner mom!"  But let's face it... they're kids, they're used to our typical meat and starched based diet, and it's winter!  If this were summer time and the garden were producing an abundance of their favorites I might have a chance at it!
So dinners this week are limited at best as I struggle to find an ebb and flow to this new routine.
Monday: Shrimp tacos
Tuesday: Zeteo (we'll be eating the leftovers from the teen super bowl party.)
Wednesday: Meat-loaf with our wonderful grass fed beef from this company, and mashed potatoes with purple, gold and red taters!
Thursday: Spaghetti Squash and Brussels sprouts
Friday: Aaron and I are headed to a conference and the kids will be at their Papa & Nini's house.

Menu Monday and the Give Away Winners!

Another Monday is here again, which means that it's time to announce the winners of The What's For Dinner Solution!

Congratulations to Elise (blogging at A Path Made Straight), 
and to another Kathi Lipp fan, Adelle Gabrielson! 
I'll get your books in the mail to you this week!

This week, I'm so very excited to get my first CSA box delivered to my house from Farm Fresh To You.  (If you sign up for this service, please let them know that I referred you.  You'll get a discount and so will I!) This will most certainly change our menu for this week after it arrives, but I'm anxious to get my meals planned out as best I can.

Monday: My wonderful parents are taking us out to dinner (I'm thinking Fresh Choice!)

Tuesday: Seasame Noodles with Shrimp; of course these will be "vegged up" by adding raw carrot spirals, raw broccoli florets, 

Wednesday: Salad, with a side of Brussels Sprouts (I haven't chosen the recipe yet... but it will come from HERE)

Thursday:Curried Potatoes and Chick Peas; I'm excited to see if I can get from the farmers market some of the different types of potatoes mentioned in this cool photo index!  

Friday: Cream of Parsnip Soup; I hope we get some parsnips in our CSA box, so that I can try THIS recipe for dinner! (With some adaptations of course!)

Saturday: Farmer's Market Surprise!
Last week we had spaghetti squash for our Farmer's Market Surprise, and I have to say I'm AMAZED that I've never made this before... what a healthy fun treat for our family.  My MOPS friend mentioned it on Facebook, so I specifically looked for it at the market. YUM!
I'd love to hear from you on your menu ideas this week as well as any suggestions you may have on how to use local in season produce!

Linking today to Menu Monday

Feeling a Little L.O.O.Py!

I've posted previously about L.O.O.Ps and how wonderful it is to "recycle" a meal and use the ingredients from one dinner to help out with a meal later in the week.  I think it's a bit of genius really.  


How wonderful to think of two meals at the same time.  It cuts your work in half and it eliminates the number of containers in the back of your fridge containing the "science experiment" (aka mold) that seems to lurk after forgetting what was in each container!


<------ This never happens in your house right??






Some of my all time favorite loop meals use my crock pot!  Don't you just love the ease of dinner in a crock pot?  Many times I can put an entire chicken in the crock pot and then use the meat for two different meals.  I can feed my family of five by serving half of the chicken "roasted" for round one, and then shredded into chicken and cheese enchiladas for round two!

One of my favorite LOOP meals takes about a month to put together, but oh is it worth it!  The recipe was published in Kathi's book... see?                          ----->
I've always liked Jambalaya, but if you buy all the ingredients at the same time... OUCH! It hurts the grocery budget a bit. I think I only planned this meal once before realizing it was time to come up with a solution.  So here's my Jambalaya plan:  you need to plan a months worth of meals to make this work, but don't worry I've outlined how to do that in yesterday's post! You will need to plan a meal using Italian Sausage, (try this one for stuffed mushrooms!), a meal using chicken, a meal using ham (have you ever tried Hawaiian Haystacks? So yummy, fresh and easy to make!) and then if you choose, a meal that uses shrimp.  Each time you fix one of these meals save out the amount of meat needed for the Jambalaya from your recipe.  So for example, say I make those amazing stuffed mushrooms.  It only uses 1/2 lb. of Italian Sausage.  So I brown the other half pound, and then put it in the freezer bag for my Jambalaya later in the month.  Get it?
At the end of the month, you have all the meats needed to make this amazing dish!  (For a chance to win the book stay tuned later this week!)



But you see, here's my dilemma with today's post.  In the past few weeks we've been eating mostly fresh raw foods.  (I gotta admit it helped that my husband was doing a juice fast for seven days because if something needed to be used he'd just toss it in the blender for his next "smoothie"!)  I'm still trying to figure out this new world of eating raw, so I don't feel like I have a lot of wisdom to impart on the left-overs because we haven't had any!  You see, when you don't cook anything it changes how you think about food and about dinner preparation.  It changes the types of foods you select the variety of what you eat.  


Now I know there are a lot of websites out there dedicated to educating people on the benefits of eat raw.  They are also chocked full of great recipes.  Since we are not changing our diet to be 100% raw the difficulty comes in the balance. I loved how this blogger talks about her happy medium!






So, in the mean time check back over my archives and see if any of my Formica Counter Top recipes work for you and your next attempt at getting a little L.O.O.Py!  


And stay posted here at the Homemaker in Training, because you can be sure that as I learn how to prepare healthy meals for my family I'll be sharing with you as well! (Mondays I post my menu including at least one new recipe each week! ) 

Wait...Where Did Monday Go?

Here I sit at my computer, Sleepy Time Tea steaming in front of me Skittles in a cup to my left and a pile of "To Do's" on my right.  I'm blogging and setting up draft posts for next week when I participate in the Five Day Blogger Challenge with my friend Kathi.  And then it hits me.  It's WEDNESDAY!  I didn't post my menu on Monday, and it's already Wednesday!  This week has been glorious as far as food goes.  I've been very pleased with my selections.  The fact that it didn't even occur to me until tonight that I needed to post them for you kind of disturbs me.

So without further ado or frills, I post for you an almost finished week of meal plans!

Monday: Cheese Enchiladas

Tuesday: Ravioli Soup

Wednesday: Fried Rice and Gyoza

Thursday: Tilapia, Rice and Broccoli (My oldest's favorite meal)

Friday: Family Pizza Night

  The other day my best friend messaged me and asked for my pizza crust recipe. It took me a while to realize that I haven't posted it here yet!  So, here's my recipe for Simple Pizza Crust!

Linking to Menu Plan Monday again this week!

Menu Monday

We are not alone.  (No, I'm not talking about extra terrestrials)
We as home makers, are not alone.  We are among friends as we pursue this beautiful job of making our house a home.  I believe it is a fact that we need to be reminded of often.
In perusing the internet one can find all sorts of magazines, blogs and information about how to organize, clean and decorate your home.  Some of them are helpful and seem a bit far fetched.  I often wonder if it's a real person on the other end of the article or just someone's ideal coming across in well scripted words.  You see, homemaking can some times be a bit messy (and no I'm not talking about cleaning up after a potty training toddler or mopping the floor after a clumsy five year old helps herself to a glass of milk).  There are no pat answers and what works for one family might not work for another. it's the beauty of being surrounded by others who understand.  It's why I want to share my menu each week and in turn read the articles of others who do the same.
I recently came across a blog that hosts "Menu Plan Monday" and I've already found a couple of new recipes to try.  I also came across this Menu Planner and gave it a shot this week.  I had to tweek it enough that I may just end up creating my own printable version of it, but it was nice to have something new to try!

This weeks menu includes:
Monday: Pork Chops (pan fried with a little salt and pepper! Simple, but yummy!)
Tuesday: Eating out at Mama Sue's to support a local charity (Project680)
If you are local, please come join us!! My, oh, my I can't wait for some chicken and waffles and sweet potato pie!!!
Wednesday: Beef Stew (in the crock-pot)
Thursday: "Creative Soup" (this is when I use whatever I have left to make an interesting soup!)
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Snacky Dinner:: the kids love it when we do this because they fee like they're not really eating dinner.  I set out cheese and crackers, veggies and fruits, dips and popcorn.  We have hot chocolate and watch a movie on the wall while we have a carpet picnic!

Our Christmas Dinner: Ham, Hash Brown Casserole, Bacon Green Beans, Carrots, Rolls and Apple Pie for dessert.

I leave you today with a picture from this past weekend when my husband and I had our annual "Fudge Contest", which I won... by half a point!!! We have a family over to enjoy dinner and then to be our official fudge judges...

What's in a Menu?

"What's in a name?  That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell so sweet." - William Shakespear

Ah, another week goes by and dinner must be put on the table.  Are you like me?  Does this every day occurrence often loose the special, unique, and dare I say holy significance among the drudgery of it's frequency?
There are times that I forget how important my job is, times that putting food in front of my children seems like just an extra step. (When I make something they don't like I feel like I should just take the food from the fridge and throw it in the trash rather than take the time to prepare and present and have them decline!)

But on the rare occasion that I stop and think about what I'm doing the depth of meaning causes my heart to constrict.  This isn't just food placed in front of each person.  This is a meal prepared with thoughtfulness and love, and served with joy.  A time when we stop all else, come together as a family, give thanks for our blessings, and participate in community.  We share not only in the joys of flavor but also in the gift of our time together, sharing the good, the bad, the disappointments and joys of our day with one another.  This time truly is holy, set apart of a unique purpose.  When I'm reminded of that simple fact it makes planning for the week's dinners so much easier.

May your tables be blessed this week with good food, good conversation and the love of family and friends!

This Weeks Menu is as follows:
Monday: Beans and Rice, truly inspired by this post I've tried to schedule in simple meals like this to help us learn appreciation for all we have.  We sponsor a child through Christian Relief Fund and it helps us understand the menus of those less fortunate than us.
Tuesday: Pho`
Wednesday: Chicken Spaghetti  (If you haven't tried this one yet, you need to.  I mean you REALLY need to!)
Thursday: Ravioli in Alfredo with broccoli
Friday: Family Pizza Night


Linking this post to Menu Plan Monday!
Feel free to leave your menu or a recipe to share in the comments below!

Menu Madness

I'm so glad it's fall!  There are certain things I look forward to all year long, like the leaves changing color, pomegranates on the neighbors tree, winter vegetables, and Thanksgiving Day!
My menu this week is focused on this glorious holiday...

Monday: Beans and Rice
Tuesday: Pork Roast  <--- I plan on trying this new recipe!
Wednesday: Thanksgiving Dinner with my local family
Thursday: Thanksgiving Dinner with my sister and nephew
           Our Thanksgiving Menu:
           Appetizers: Pomegranates, Vegetable Tray, Crescent rolls with Brie cheese, THIS yummy concoction
            my  sister brings (we eat it with crackers), & my Red Pepper Jelly over cream cheese.  Yep, we like
            our appetizers!
           Dinner:Turkey with dressing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Corn Casserole, & Rolls.
           Dessert: Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Cream Pie

Friday: Leftovers (oh, lovely leftovers!)

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends!




Please feel free to leave a comment linking to your menu this week, or a recipe to share

A Tardy Tuesday Post about Menu Monday...

This week is going to be crazy!
I looked at my calendar on Friday and realized there was almost no point in me planning meals...other than you my dear friends.  I knew that you would want to know what I was fixing regardless of how rushed and harried I may be.
So, here's my week:

Monday-Pastor Ryan's Mexican Lasagna-Which I was missing one ingredient for! It still turned out yummy.
Tuesday-Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup- (This night we have the Jr. High kids over to our place for dinner and devotional so the menu needs to feed a lot, not break the bank and be something they will eat!)
Wednesday-We will be going out for dinner and the kids will be with Papa and Nini. We will be going to hear N.T. Wright speak at Fuller Theological Seminary.  I'm SO very excited to hear this man of God speak!
Thursday-Frito Pie- I will be gone having a Ladies Night Out this night, so I figure whatever they eat has to be quick and easy.  This is Aaron's all time favorite meal, but I never fix it.  (Opening a can of chili, warming it in the microwave then adding Frito's and cheese is not my idea of cooking!) It's reserved for nights like this so that Daddy gets to be the junk food hero!
Friday-The kids will once again be staying over at Papa and Nini's as I will be hosting the Teen Girl's Sleepover at our home.

Whew... what a week huh? I hope you enjoy the Mexican Lasagna, it really was a fun twist on my regular old Mexican dish standbys.

Feel free to leave your menu in the comments this week!

Monday Menu Madness

I am all about planning. 

I believe the saying is true that if you "fail to plan, you plan to fail."  I could be wrong but I think the quote is attributed to Harvey MacKay(?).  When it comes to meal planning however this plan must be FLEXIBLE... Like with any plan, you must take into account the fact that life happens... so you must be prepared for the unexpected!  Already this week I've had to switch around a couple of things, and that's okay because (to quote Christ's principle completely out of context!) the menu was made for man, not man for the menu!!

So, onto this week's menu!

Monday: (The usual Mexican dish, was swapped with the chicken I didn't make on Sunday!) Simply Great Chicken, the link contains the printable recipe!

Tuesday: Lettuce Wraps

Wednesday: Spicy Penne with Alfredo (a family favorite from Sandra Lee's cookbook 20 minute meals) 

Thursday: Meatloaf

Friday: Family Pizza Night  

(Oh, and last week's newest pizza toppings were inspired by our friends in San Jose!  I put olive oil on the crust, added crispy fried bacon, thinly sliced apple, light cheese, green onion and some thin sliced ham...mmmm.) 

Feel free to leave your menu in the comments below!

Menu Madness

If you've read my post on Menu Planning then you know there's a method to my madness.
This is just the bare bones of our menu for this week.  To each meal I add healthy sides of vegetables and fruits that are in season for us.  (For example, I may list "meatloaf" on the menu, but when I put it on the table there is also steamed broccoli, mashed potatoes and pomegranate to balance everything out!)

This week we are having:

Monday- Soup in a Pumpkin
Tuesday- Pho`
Wednesday-Pumpkin Soup (yep you guessed it, made from the leftovers of the pre-baked pumpkin on Monday!)
Thursday-Simply Great Chicken
Friday- This is always our "Family Pizza Night" I usually make our pizza at home and I'm excited about the challenge of trying different types of pizza (like this amazing Mamma!)

 This week's recipe will be the Soup in a Pumpkin (please, oh please help me come up with a better name for it!!)  We've used this recipe two years in a row and it will certainly be a tradition in our family for years to come.  It embodies the season of Autumn with it's warmth and use of the traditional orange pumpkin.


Two years ago my husband's folks sent the kids an ABC's of Halloween book.  It's an adorable holiday book and I love children's books about the alphabet.  I'm not a big fan of Halloween though so the first year we had it the recipe went completely unnoticed by me!
Last year while reading it to my children I realized that the letter X was labeled "eXtra good Alphabet Soup in a Pumpkin" and there was the recipe right there on the page.  I loved the idea of cooking the soup inside the pumpkin and getting selections of pumpkin flesh in the serving of the soup.  So I purchased the ingredients and gave it a try.  It was wonderful!  The only adaptation I made this year was to double the recipe to include some dear friends who came to have dinner with us!

Extra Good Alphabet Soup in a Pumpkin

 (for the printable recipe click here)

1 Medium Pumpkin (cleaned out and set aside)

4 cut up Chicken Breast

3 Tablespoons of Butter

3 sliced Carrots

2 sliced Celery Stalks

½ Cup of Scallions

    
     1 can each of:

 ::Cream of Chicken Soup

 ::Cream of Celery Soup

 ::Chicken Alphabet Soup

1 can of water

⅓ Cup of Sour Cream

½ teaspoon of Nutmeg

Saute chicken in butter until cooked through.  Remove and saute carrots, celery and scallions.  Add the cans of soup.  Stir in 1 can of water (or milk if you prefer), sour cream, and nutmeg.  Mix well and pour into the hollowed out pumpkin. Add chicken and stir.  Top with the pumpkin top.  Place on a baking sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 90 minutes.  Scrape sides of pumpkin while serving.
Makes 8 servings.

"What's For Dinner?"

First let me say that I'm amazed that after blogging for almost 31 Days straight the fact that I want to even open up a "new post" is a good sign. Second, I'm excited to share with you something "hot off the press" today!

So..."What's For Dinner?"

It's the question that plagues even the most organized of mommies, and the want to be Ree Drummonds of the world!  Honestly if you want to be considered "normal" than at some point in your life you will be standing in your kitchen at 5:00 PM, husband due home anytime, kids hitting the "bewitching hour", and no visible plan for what to serve for dinner that night.  Well, in her wisdom Kathi has written this book to help you take a few steps in trying to get you out of the every day occurrence of the above scenario!

It is helpful indeed!  The other thing that I have personally found to be extremely helpful is M.O.M.S.  (Mothers Offering Mothers Support!) Who else understands better than someone in the exact same situation as you?  So with that in mind, here's my plan.

Each week I'm going to post for you my menu plan for the next five days.  I will include at least one recipe each time I post. (This is at the request of my dear friend Yoly!)  If you have a blog and would like to link up to your own recipe sharing please join me.  Or, if you have a recipe you would like to share but do not blog please email me the recipe and I'll do what I can to try it and feature it here on the Homemaker In Training!

Coming Tomorrow: Meals for the first week of November!