Vacations and new job…

Well Phil is leaving his big corporation at the end of May. He will take about 1 month off or more. We plan to take an early 15 anniversary trip by going to the Carribbean!!! Woohoo…I am excited. I have spent oodles of time researching deals and have found some great ones through www.applevacations.com . I had to go and apply for my passport yesterday and hopefully it gets here soon so we can make reservations.

Caleb is dealing with a case of strep throat. He missed school yesterday and that put my work schedule back a day. I forgot that I was helping at another store today but that was changed to Thursday, which was good because I needed today to do some of my own! Tomorrow is going to be a killer if I try to do too much so I might leave a store for Thursday after I help at the other one. I should be done helping early enough that I will have time to go finish my stores. Ugh. I almost thought Jake was staying home today but he got up and Phil drove him in to school. I guess he was on time. Caleb managed to finish all his “make-up” work and his “gifted homework” in school today. Whew, that’s good because tonight is scouts and that means busy.

I did plan a menu out for the week and did some orderly food shopping. I haven’t done that in weeks and it has been hurting us. So tonight is sloppy joes, beans and salad. Wed is breakfast for dinner. Thursday Jake turns 13 and he requested burgers, fries and root beer floats! lol…Friday is undecided but Saturday is pizza and chips and snacks for Jake’s laser tag party. At least I have most of the week done.

I got to chat via the webcam last night with Brit and the babies. Elizabeth is still doing the “I coulda had a V-s” head slap my brother taught her at Easter. Asher can lift his head up when on his tummy. They are just so adorable!

Yesterday, while getting my photos done for my passport, I shopped at Walgreen’s. I bought a Ped-Egg for Phil to give me for Mother’s Day! I requested one and figured I would pick it up for him while I was out. He later told me he had plans to  get one for me. LOL…figures, just when I help him, he has it all under control. I think he and the boys are getting me a bunch of flowers to plant for MD.

Ok that’s it for this week. Busy busy busy. Better get cracking on those homemade sloppy joes.

2 lbs. ground beef or turkey

1/2  vidalia sweet onion, diced

2 cloves of garlic

1 bottle chili sauce

1/2 bottle water

Brown meat, onions and garlic. Drain fat and add chili sauce and water. Simmer for 30 min. or more. You can add in salt and pepper if you like. Or more garlic! Serve on buns w/cheese if you like it like that. Seems like my crew does.

Menu plan monday

Yep, it’s a day late. That’s ok.

Monday: roast chicken and twice baked cauliflower

Tuesday: tacos

Wednesday: Summer sausage w/ peppers, potatoes and onions

Thursday: Sloppy joes, vegges and fruits

Friday: Terriyaki chicken, rice and broccoli

Sat: camp for guys, I will scrounge for food

Sunday: Leftovers

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!

Menu Plan Monday

We have a busy week so the menu is simple and light.

Monday: Burgers and munchies

Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner-play that night

Wednesday: Chili (recipe below) and cornbread

Thursday: Michelle’s Italian chicken, pasta and green beans

Friday: Subs and salads

Saturday: Cub Scout Blue and Gold banquet

Sunday: Clean out the refridgerator.

Visiting Laura at Organizing Junkie for more menus. Thanks to Laura for hosting for so long and inspiring us to plan and be organized.

 My Award Winning Chili

2 lbs ground turkey
1/2 sweet onion chopped
4-5 cloves of garlic, crushed
Brown those 3 together. Drain off fat. Add two 28 ounce cans of tomato sauce, 1 large can of kidney beans, rinsed, and 1 small can of green chilies.Add
3-4 tablespoons chili powder
1-2 teaspoons cumin
1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
salt and pepper

Cook on low in crock pot or on stove top.

I actually didn’t measure this time around so those are approximates. There was probably more garlic cause I let my ds do that part. It’s very spicy though. yummy.

Menu Plan Monday

It’s Monday so that must mean it’s time to plan my menu. I still have to shop for a few things but here is a rundown of my week.

Monday: Taco-Bean bake(recipe below), chips

Tuesday: Chicken and veggies

Wednesday: Soup and salads

Thursday: Pot roast and baked potatoes

Friday: Spaghetti bake, garlic bread

Saturday: It’s just me and Jake so we will go out for something

Sunday: Chinese food-premade from the store cause it was a lot of work last week.

Visit Laura at Organizing Junkie for more menus and to join in on the fun!

Taco Bake

1 package ground turkey (19.5 ounces)

2 cans of refried beans

2 cups cooked rice

1/3 cup salsa

1 cup of shredded mexican blend cheese, divided

1/3 cup sour cream

1 package Chi-Chi’s taco seasoning, not the red kind

Tortilla chips

Hot sauce, cumin, garlic powder

Brown meat and drain off fat. Add taco seasoning, water, sprinkle some garlic powder, ground cumin and hot sauce on the meat. Cook for 5 min. Warm rice or make it fresh. Mix 2 cans of refried beans with sour cream and 1/4 cup of cheese. Spray a 13 X 9 casserole dish with non-stick spray, add chips and crush till you have a crunchy bottom “crust”, not too fine though, you want pieces of chips. Layer the rice over the chips and sprinkle with cumin, garlic powder and any other seasoning you might like. Spread half the beans over the rice, spread the meat, then add the rest of the beans. Cover and bake at 350 for 25 min. Uncover and add the rest of the cheese to the top and bake for 5 min. more until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve with sour cream, chips and salsa. You can add hot sauce, black olives, rotel tomatoes, etc… The possibilities are endless. My husband had seconds and my non-bean eating boy actually ate a serving!

Menu Plan Monday

Thanks to Laura at Organizing Junkie for hosting. And this is just my skeleton. I have to shop tomorrow so the plans may change.

Monday: Oven baked chicken, peas, mashed potatoes

Tuesday: Sandwiches (Scouts and my class night so we have easy meals on Tuesday)

Wednesday: Soup and salad-Ash Wednesday

Thursday: Chinese food

Friday: Pizza, I will be gone

Saturday: Gone, Phil will be cooking

Sunday: Spaghetti and meatballs

Menu Plan Monday

Time for the plan. Last week the beef was bad so I bought new and will keep the stroganoff on for this week. Enjoy.

Monday: Inside out cheeseburgers and chips-  Note: we modified the cheeseburger recipe a bit. We put mushrooms, fresh minced garlic and fresh mozzerella cheese some, mexican blend cheese in one and mushrooms, garlic and mexican blend cheese in the last. Yummy! Try your own combos and be sure to use beef. We used ground turkey and they were missing some flavor.

Tuesday: Turkey tacos

Wednesday: One pot beef stroganoff, peas

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Chicken(need a new recipe), twice baked cauliflower

Saturday: Sub sandwiches

Sunday: Super bowl food!

Thanks to Laura at Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday.

Menu Plan Monday

It’s Monday, so we all know what that means, right? Time for me to rack my brain out trying to plan a few meals. This does help me feel better through busy weeks, but I hate trying to think up new meal ideas. I guess repeats are ok too.

Monday: Spaghetti and salad

Tuesday: Chicken casserole of some sort

Wednesday: Egg salad sandwiches and chicken noodle soup

Thursday: One pot beef stroganoff

Friday: Breakfast for dinner

Saturday:Pinewood derby day so hotdogs and chips at the derby

Sunday: Leftovers or something I whip up quick!

Menu Plan Monday

It’s that time again, menu planning. After a few rather tasty and fattening beef dishes last week, this week we are going to balance things out a bit.

Monday: Chicken salad, rolls, fruit

Tuesday: Beef soup, crackers

Wednesday: Chicken Piccata (frozen from Sam’s club) pasta, salad

Thursday: White chicken chili

Friday: Breakfast for dinner

Saturday: Spaghetti and meatballs

Sunday: ???

Visit Laura at Organizing Junkie for more menu planning help and fun!

Just making an addition to my meal plan. Tonight I threw together some things and made a good dish. So here is what I did.

1 carrot, sliced on the diagonal
1 zucchini, sliced on the diagonal
1/4 med onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups cooked chicken
1/2-1 cup cooked rice
Olive oil

I sauteed the onion and garlic first. Then add in the zucchini and carrots. Stir till color comes out and is bright, no soggy veggies! This was about 5-7 min. or so. I added in some garlic basil dipping oil as well as reg. olive oil. Then add the chicken, stir to warm the chicken. Add rice, stir and cook till warm. Serve. Any seasonings can be added in for your choice of flavors. I loved the tastes this dish had.

Menu Plan Monday

Here we are again, another Monday. This week I have a plan! Take a peek.

Monday:Beef Stew w/ bread

Tuesday: Aldi brand General Tso’s Chicken and Sesame Orange Chicken

Wednesday: Grilled chicken, broccoli and roasted potatoes

Thursday: Tacos, refried beans and mexican rice

Friday: Spaghetti and meatbals, salad

Saturday: Sub sandwiches, chips, veggies and dip

Sunday: Up in the air at this point.

Visit Laura at Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas!