It's been 15 days since I have stepped foot into a store. It's kind of a good feeling, you know? I was amazed that I could stretch the food last week, and now I am working on stretching it as far as I can this week. I have made a menu plan for 5 days so far, and to be honest, needed some more inspiration. So, here is my Menu Plan for this week:
BREAKFASTS
I have seen this via email before, but really wanted to share it today:
ENJOY!
LIFE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone..
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9.. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21.. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Pandora is a free music service that helps you listen to and discover new music. Your friend thought you would be interested in the lyrics to "Unfailing Love" by "Chris Tomlin"
http://www.pandora.com/music/song/chris+tomlin/unfailing+love
Enjoy!
It's Friday and you know what that means! FREE CHOCOLATE!! Just go here to get yours. Limit of one per week, four per household during the promotion period.
I had the menu all laid out for the week...and it would use up what we had in the freezer, fridge, and pantry. I crock potted 2 whole chickens (from our flock) yesterday, and planned on using them for 3-4 meals.
Sooooo did not work!!!
The chickens were too old, and waaaaaay too tough to eat. We tried the first meal, chicken and black bean enchilada casserole. We gagged that down, and decided that we just couldn't eat the rest. So, tonight, I had to improvise. We wound up eating pancakes with peach/strawberry compote. 
Looks yummy, eh?
Tomorrow, we were going to have chicken soup and biscuits for lunch. SO, we are going to have to try something different. I am currently out of ideas...
NOTE TO SELF: chickens older than 2 years are not worth cooking....
Heeeeey...did ya'll know that if you clean the filter on the room A/C unit, that it'll keep up with the rising heat from the oven and the house won't be 1,000 degrees? No? Me, either. Until Hubby said, "Hey, this isn't working well...why not clean the filter?"
Thanks...
Anyway, I got the banana bread and the Ezekiel muffins made. Yeah! Next up, is the pita pockets and the second batch of homemade bread.
Bread on it's second rise:
Pitas about ready to be baked:
I "caught" my older son being nice and cuddling with his little brother yesterday while watching a movie. I love catching that on camera...
I had an entire list of baking projects to complete yesterday for my menu plan. And of course, since it's about 10,000 degrees outside, having my ovens on at 450* each was such a great idea!!!
NOT.
I did manage to get some things done, and I will just do a little bit each day, as needed. Ball games are over for now, at least until traveling teams start, so I don't need to be anywhere for a while.
Here's what I DID get done:
Bagels...
Adapted from Aimee at Under the High Chair, who adapted it from The Breads of France by Bernard Clayton, Jr.taken from The Prudent Homemaker
Makes 16 large bagels
Dough:
3 Cups warm water (between 105-110 degrees F)
4 Tbsp yeast
¼ cup sugar
5 tsp salt
7 cups All-Purpose Flour
Toppings:
Dried onions, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, kosher salt, dried cranberries, etc
Glaze:
1 egg white
1 Tbsp water
In a large mixing bowl, pour water and yeast. Stir to dissolve, and leave for 2-3 minutes until yeast has bubbled.
Stir in sugar and salt. Add flour.
Stir with a wooden spoon to make a thick batter. When it becomes difficult to stir, remove dough from bowl and work with your hands on the counter. Knead dough for about 8 minutes. (If you want to add cranberries, raisins, cinnamon sugar, etc, to all or some of the dough, you can add it to all or part of the dough while kneading. If it is only for some of the bagels, let them rise in a separate bowl.)
Lightly flour bowl. Return dough to bowl. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
While the dough is rising, spray two baking sheets with Pam. Fill a large pot with water and add a Tbsp of sugar to help give the bagels a nice sheen.
Whisk together water and egg white for glaze and set aside.
If you are using dried onions, soak the amount that you want to use in water nd set aside until ready to use.
Preheat oven to 450 F.When dough has finished rising, turn dough out onto a floured counter and push it flat (about 2 inches thick).
Divide the dough into 16 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball. Allow to rest for 3-4 minutes.
With your thumb, press deep into the center of the ball, and tear open a hole with your fingers.
Place formed bagels together on the work surface, cover with a damp towel and leave until dough is slightly raised—about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring your water to a low boil. Gently lift bagels, one at a time, and lower into the hot water. Do not do more than 2 or 3 at a time. Cook for about a minute, then flip them over in the water using a slotted spatula, and cook for another 30 seconds. Lift out with the slotted spatula, and place on your baking sheet.
Repeat with all the bagels. Brush with egg glaze and dress them up with the toppings of your choice before popping them in the oven.
Bake for about 30 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Keep an eye on them so that the bottoms don't burn. Remove from oven and let cool on a rack.
And, from what I am told, you can use thru tomorrow! Just use the code RBXTHXU6
to get your free movie!
We are eating out of the pantry this week to use up some of what we have an abundance of. I am sooo anxious for our first tomatoes, cukes, and zucchini from the garden. The peas, green beans, and corn are also going wild! We have been picking up lettuce and spinach and the occasional broccoli so far, though.
With that in mind, here is my week's plan"
BREAKFAST
scrambled eggs, bagels
baked oatmeal, strawberries
pancakes
breakfast burritos
whole grain coffee cake
cereal
LUNCH
PBJ's, applesauce, carrots
crackers, cheese, strawberries
macaroni and cheese, green beans
chicken noodle soup, biscuits
spinach rice casserole
leftovers
hot dogs, chips, watermelon (at a friend's birthday party)
DINNER
homemade pizza, salad
baked spaghetti, salad, homemade bread
crockpot chicken, noodles, peas, homemade bread
beans and rice, peach cobbler
corn and black bean quesidillas with salsa
chicken enchiladas, salad
ham, green beans, rice
I am also planning a baking day tomorrow to make bread, tortillas, baked oatmeal, and bagels.
Check it out tomorrow to see what is going on here! If you need some menu ideas, check out orgjunkie.com
In Sunday's Smart Source, there were $3/1 John Freida Root Awakening shampoo and conditioner. They are on sale this week at Walgreens for 3/$15 with a $5 RR back. If you use 3 coupons, you would pay $6 OOP and get a $5 RR back for a total of $1 for 3 bottles of this awesome shampooo!!
If you don't have coupons from the Sunday paper, don't despair. The cosmetics counter has $1/1 coupons for you! You would still only pay $7 for 3 bottles of salon quality shampoo, which is still a pretty decent deal!
So I am sitting with my 9 year old son this morning, having breakfast and preparing the days plan. I called a farmer's market to check on cherries and was told that the local cherries won't be in until early next week.
As I explained this to my son, he asked, "What are LOCAL cherries?"
"They are cherries that are grown near here," I said.
The wheels in his head began to turn and turn....
Finally, he asked, "Do other countries buy stuff from us?"
"Yes, they do, but for every 10 items we buy from them, they only will buy 1 from us." (crude explanation, I know, but his attention span requires that I don't do details a lot!)
Again, the wheels turned...
"So, Mom, that would mean that they get our stuff, and most of our money, right?"
"I guess so, if they are selling more to us than we sell to them."
"Well, no wonder the economy is going bad! We need to stop buying from other countries and buy only from Americans!"
Out of the mouths of babes...
For Today...June 15, 2009
Outside my window... beautiful weather, sunny 80's, and pretty puffy clouds.
I am thinking...that I am sooo ready for ball games to be over...I have a permanent indent on my legs/butt from the bleachers! :)
From the learning rooms...summer "vacation"...just reading lots and lots
I am thankful for... our garden that is producing
From the kitchen... easy to make foods that are cool and refreshing
I am wearing... capris and purple shirt
I am reading... need to get to the library and get some new books
I am hoping... that this summer will take forever...they always seem to go fast
I am praying... for my aunt and cousins as my uncle passed away last night
Around the house... back patio is almost done, moving on to the front porch work
One of my favorite things... listening to my children having summer fun swimming, jumping on the trampoline, and swinging.
A few plans for the rest of the week... ball tourneys, finish the back patio, parents coming for visit
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
This really opened my eyes to what I need to be doing...
While most of my readers probably aren't watching the Politics of Hate on MSNBC and other Government Media outlets, chances are your friends and neighbors are. Chances are you will hear them recite the Official Talking Points on every current event.While I would prefer to drop politics and focus on motherhood - which I do when the nations' future isn't at stake in an immediate sort of way - my aim here is to equip you to be knowledgeable enough to challenge common mistaken assumptions about issues that affect our families now and that will affect the world our children will inherit.
To see the rest, click here.
It's Friday and you know what that means! FREE CHOCOLATE!! Just go here to get yours. Limit of one per week, four per household during the promotion period.
I woke to the glistening sun, as it shone in all it's glory, gleaming into my room. I opened my eyelids slowly, as light blasted into my eyes. It was going to be a good day.
Getting dressed has never been a problem for me before, but somehow, the timing of a steamy shower and clean clothing just didn't work out. Offspring came from out of the woodwork, demanding food and attention like a pack of hungry wolverines. I was outnumbered.
After feeding the voracious appetites and cleaning up the troughs, the garden beckoned me like an old friend. Hours were spent on pulling obnoxious weeds, and caring for the tender shoots that will soon become my food.
All this in preparation for the game of the season tonight. My oldest child will play the last game of the season, before the playoffs begin. Tension will build all afternoon in anticipation of this much waited for event. Excitement will show itself as we enter the field, and begin warming up. I can't wait.
Aldi's does it again! The strawberries were only $.49/lb last week, and this week the milk is at an unheard of in a loooong time price of $1.49/gallon! This is supposed to be a nation wide special, but as always, call your local store to see if they are participating.
Hurry and get an additional $5 off your $25 purchase the next two days at Walgreens!
* Valid in Walgreens stores on Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11, 2009 only, during regular store hours. Excludes alcohol, postage stamps, tobacco, prescriptions, prescription copays, gift cards, pre-paid cards, transportation passes, charitable contributions and items prohibited by law. Purchase amount of $25 or more must be before taxes and after all manufacturer and Walgreens coupons and discounts. Limit one coupon per customer per offer. Cash value 1/100¢. No cash back.
It's Friday and you know what that means! FREE CHOCOLATE!! Just go here to get yours. Limit of one per week, four per household during the promotion period.
Sorry that I haven't been around much. I have been at the baseball fields a LOT lately. With three kids in ball this year, there are days that I have been there for 6 hours, and weeks that I am there for 5 days in a row!
Ball season is definitely a full time job for me!
And also, how can I write about how much money I am saving when we are eating at the ball field 2 times a week average? And at the tune of around $15-$20 each time, that is adding up. And I do NOT need to tell you how un-frugal that is, now do I? I didn't think so. And I don't have to tell you how quickly a family can tire of PBJ's or home cooked hot dogs, right? I think that I will need some new ideas for next year!
Fortunately, there is a light at the end of the tunnel...only 2 more weeks, and it's over. Until then, thanks for hanging with me...
