Menu Plan Monday

Time again for my menu plan. I haven’t had one in awhile due to job and spring break, but I am back again. Here we go….

Monday: Breakfast sandwiches-will be making extra for freezing for later in the week.

Tuesday: Potpies and fruit

Wednesday: Orzo salad w/roasted veggies and chicken

Thursday: Sausage ravioli, broccoli and bread

Friday: Soup and salad

Saturday: Marlboro Man’s favorite sandwich, veggies and dip

Sunday: Roasted chicken and twice-baked cauliflower

Be sure to stop by Organizing Junkie hosted by Laura for more menu plans and fun!

Look who’s coming to visit me!

This is Asher. He is my 7 week old grandson. And he is bringing his older sister and parents. I can’t wait.

Proud momma moment…

Last night my son Caleb earned his Arrow of Light award, the highest award in Cub Scouts. He then crossed over into Boy Scouts, joining his brother, Jake, in the local troop. He is so proud and so am I and his father. That boy worked hard! He earned it in about 5 months instead of about 2 years. He was in Webelos I in September but because of issues involving the den leaders and others, he was ready to quit. We got permission for him to join the Webelos II den and move up, since he is 11. It was in that den that he worked like crazy to complete all the requirements to get his AoL award. I will post a picture or two later. I am waiting on some through email from other parents who had cameras. We have yet buy a new one! That is coming soon.

I am loving my new job even though I am still in training. So far it’s easy but lots of headwork. I have to use my brain a lot to work this job. I am still asking myself the questions out loud while I go through a store and all it’s different displays that I have to scan. I think once I get my rhthym down, it will be easier and I won’t be asking all the questions out loud. They will just come natural.

Tomorrow is spring break for the boys. Yippee! No more getting up super early for me! I am not working again till next Thursday. Phil and I are getting away for a few days next week. The boys are visiting Brit and going to help her with the babies for a few days. I know they will love it. Maybe I will post a Thursday Thirteen later. Right now I have to make a snack for Caleb’s class since it’s my turn this month. Green rice krispy treats!

Happy 40th to my best friend…

Phil. He is 40 today. He is my best friend and lover. He is my husband and father to my children. He is everything I ever wanted in a mate and friend. How wonderful it is to enjoy time with him on his special day. His parents sent him a gift card to the Macaroni Grill and we went and had lunch today. I must have the Italian influence on him, as he isn’t Italian! lol…

Here he is with his huge piece of birthday cake, provided by MG. Thanks!

Friday’s feast #16

It’s that time again.

Appetizer

On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how much do you like your own handwriting?

It depends on how fast I am writing, but basically an 8.

Soup

Do you prefer baths or showers?

Showers, unless it’s a big jacuzzi tub!

Salad

What was the last bad movie you watched?

Hmm, Nacho Libre! With Jack Black. Oh my, totally stupid!

Main Course

Name something you are addicted to and describe how it affects your life.

Oh goodness, that is really personal! I guess the computer. I hate to admit it but I am. It gets in the way of my duties around here from time to time and I tune out my family. I need to change that and I am working on it……there I said it publicly!

Dessert

Which instrument is your favorite to listen to?

That’s a toss up between drums and piano and who is playing. But yeah, I like both, especially when a talented person is playing.

Visit Friday’s Feast for more feasting fun!

My apologies…

I have to extend my apologies to the couple sitting in the booth behind us at dinner. My son did not mean to talk all night long. He did not wish to interupt your meal with his outrageous stories of a single player scoring 100 points in a basketball game, or that a boy cracked his bus window, or that his dreams are so real that he wakes up expecting them to be happening. I also hope you don’t think he is really going to kill anyone after his lunchtime discussion with Zach about how someone can kill another person with a rubberband and a paperclip. I hope you aren’t wishing you didn’t pay school taxes!

I am sorry he was loud but he had our attention and that was important to him tonight. I am hoping that he amused you and you think we handled him correctly. Even if you didn’t, that’s ok too because chances are we will never see you again, at least not at Applebee’s.

I hope the waitress didn’t mind our “custom” orders or having to bring the “to-go” box to the talker who managed to only eat half of his burger. We tried to be neat and clean, if nothing else. We tipped you nicely and didn’t demand much, even when I asked for more salad dressing. It was a nice dinner out and no tears from anyone, especially me.

See some families can go out and have a nice time, talking and eating and being “normal”, what ever that might be these days.

Simply Elizabeth…

 (click for a larger view)

Here she is at 14 months.

Stuffed chicken breasts with tarragon sauce

I took a Rachael Ray recipe and converted it to what I had on hand. Yummy.

3 half chicken breasts, sliced in half-butterfly style

6 slices ham

6-12 slices of swiss cheese

3 TBSP EVOO-extra virgin olive oil

2 TBSP butter

2 TBSP flour

1/2 cup white wine

1 cup chicken broth

2 tsp. tarragon leaves or 2 TBSP fresh leaves, chopped.

Heat oil in non-stick skillet, add chicken rolls, brown on all sides, about 10-12 min. total. Chicken will cook fast as it’s thin. Remove to plate. Add butter, melt, then add in flour and cook 1 min.. Whisk in wine and reduce for 1 min.. Add in broth and tarragon, stir. Add in chicken and keep on low heat and simmer till ready to serve. Remove toothpicks and serve whole or sliced.

We had brown rice and used the sauce on that as well. My family loved it!

toothpicks

Lay ham and cheese on each half breast, roll and secure with toothpicks. Set aside.

Menu Plan Monday

Ok, so I am a little late but better late than never! Here we go.

Monday: Stuffed chicken breasts with tarragon sauce, brown rice, corn

Tuesday: Cube steaks and potato ragout, peas

Wednesday:Dinner out-Applebee’s maybe

Thursday: White chicken chili, tortilla strips and fruit

Friday: leftovers or sandwiches or the Fish Fry

Saturday: Burgers and fries, maybe homemade sweetpotato fries. (I need a recipe!)

Sunday: Italian food of some kind

Monday: Phil’s birthday, his choice-grilled chicken ceasar pita sandwiches, chocolate something for dessert!

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner

Wednesday: Same as today but with egg noodles

I planned a longer week due to pay schedules and shopping schedules. Visit Laura at Organizing Junkie for more menus and ideas. Thanks Laura, for hosting!

Testing my new signature.