Mealplan Monday #58 with randomness

Last week was so random.  Some good.  Some terrible.  A mish-mash of stuff all crammed into four days off;  not a stand-out day among them.

This jar of Biscoff disappeared.  What IS this stuff?  Jam? Butter? Whatever it is, it's highly addictive and doesn't last long at my house.

 I made beans in the crock pot and turned half of them into fabulous refrieds on Thursday.  Can't think of a better way to cook beans - no soaking required.

 Ugh.  Need to work on the Tech Ladder notebook.  It's like the working woman's version of the term paper.  I am long over college.  No wanna.

 The view from our back door, sans bee hive from hoarder neighbor. 

Monday - Freezer clean out (prob beans and leftover taco meat with buttery cornbread)
Tuesday - Orange Chicken, noodles or rice, veggie
Wednesday - Healthier Smothered Sweet Potatoe Fries, Salad
Thursday - Grilled Easter ham and cheese sammies, some nice soup
Friday - Fish of some sort - Haven't figured this out yet...
Saturday - Dad Grill
Sunday - Freezer meal (prob Lasagna) and a veggie
Dessert this week is Cherry Cobbler a la mode

 A group of sprigs from the neighbor's jasmine I was trying to coax into blooming.  They didn't.

 Chocolate chip pancakes that took the blahs out of a sleepy school morning.

 A visit to my mother followed by a ridiculously good lunch of pasta, Italian meatloaf, and creamy mushroom soup.

 

Babies on my mother's lime tree.  

This week I am hoping for better days, with a touch of of clarity and a lot more happy.  Where did April go?

Gina

Botanical chair pads

I visited my mother yesterday and took her long-awaited birthday (83) present:

 Remember the lovely tablecloth from HomeGoods? $15 and it is spill-proof, which I think will make it perfect for covering chair pads.

 On the left is the fabric, stretched and stapled over the old chair pad. It looks about 100% better than the striped sateen that was on there - and its a lot more practical.

These chairs have some lovely carved detail.  When she told me how much they cost 11 years ago, I was shocked.  Um, its for sure I will never spend that on chairs for my kitchen.

 Goodness they were dirty!

 It took me about an hour and a half to cover all four of them, including cleaning them with Murphy's Oil Soap and water.  Then I vacuumed the kitchen of loose staples and thread strings that her terrier might eat.  Here she waits patiently for me so we can go eat lunch.

The botanical fruit branches with butterflies complement the chairs.  It goes well with the rest of the kitchen, too.  I hope she will enjoy them a nice long time.

 So pretty.  

She assured me that she was thrilled with them.  Now, to pick out a Mother's Day present for her!

Gina

Sheath Cake

A rainy cold day was a good excuse to bake a cake for my peeps.  Even if it was the second dessert we've had in a week.  So much for resolutions...

Sheath Cake (by Marie Cannary)
1 c. sugar
1 c. flour
1/2 stick butter
1/4 c. oil
2 T cocoa powder
1/2 water
1/4 c. buttermilk*
1 egg
1/2 t. each baking soda and vanilla

Heat oven to 400.  Mix flour and sugar in a medium mixing bowl.  In a saucepan heat the butter, oil, cocoa, and water to a boil.  Pour over the flour mixture and stir well.  Add the buttermilk, egg, soda, and vanilla.  Pour into well-greased 8x8 glass pan and bake 20 minutes.  While the cake is baking, make the frosting and apply while cake is hot.
Frosting:
1/2 stick butter
2 t cocoa
3 T milk or buttermilk
Bring to a full boil then remove from heat and add 1 c. powdered sugar, 1/2 t. vanilla, 1/2 c. nuts.  Mix well and spread on cake.  Cool and slice. *Double this recipe for a 13x9, but this size is perfect for 6 people.
*make your own: 1T vinegar added to 1 c.milk.  Let sit at room temp until thickened.

All we seem to do around here is eat - not surprising given the Growing Male population at my house.  Makes it fun to cook for them, though. (:

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Mealplan Monday #57 and a sussie for The Girl

Last week I packaged up a sweet little sussie for The Girl, who is finishing up her 4th semester at Baylor.  How is that possible and why does time fly so fast?!

Monday - Whole wheat pasta with beef and spinach
Tuesday - Sweet and Sour Chicken, rice, snow peas
Wednesday - Mom and Dad out; boys get tacos with the fixin's
Thursday - Empty the Fridge Strata
Friday - Chicken Bacon Subs, celery/carrots
Saturday - Dad grill
Sunday - Eggplant Parmesan, salad
Dessert this week is Lemon Sheet Cake

I packed her a "Sweet Dreams" pillowcase like the one I made her cousin, along with some Gardetto's, beef jerky, cute nail polish, Ritter with hazelnuts, Werther's, and some chocolate chip pancake mix.  Sounds random, but they are all things she enjoys!

Turkey Trot 2012

I miss my girlie.

Gina

Turkey Pesto Meatballs

We had some of the best turkey meatballs I have ever fixed the other night, so I just have to share!

 The  recipe is on the Crumbs and Chaos blog, and I made a  minor change or two. 

Turkey Pesto Meatballs
For the sauce:
1 t. olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 t. salt
1 garlic clove, chopped
2 8 oz. cans of no-salt tomato sauce
1 t. honey
1 package Knorr pesto sauce, prepared

For the meatballs:
1 pound ground turkey
1/4 c. of the prepared pesto sauce
1/4 dry bread crumbs
1/4 c. grated parmesan
1/2 t. salt
 and
Pasta of your choice

Heat the small amount of oil in a saucepan and saute the onion and garlic a few minutes.  Add  3/4 c. of the prepared pesto sauce, the honey, and the tomato sauce.  Cover and simmer on low while you make the meatballs.  Pre-heat the oven to 350.  Mix all of the meatball ingredients and roll into medium size balls - I made two per person (10), which was plenty.  Place in a 13x9 dish, pour the sauce over, cover with foil, and bake  for 20-25 minutes while you cook some pasta al dente and fix a salad.  When the pasta is done, drain it.  Then pour the meatballs and sauce over it hot from the oven, then sprinkle on some more cheese.

It was so very good! 

Gina

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April Thrifting

Most of the "thrifting" I will do in the month of April will be getting clearance and sale items for Firstborn's first apartment.  Yesterday I bought him some soap, shampoo, towels, rug, and a shower curtain.  But recently, I had a fun day shopping with no particular plan in mind.

At Home Goods I found wrapping paper for $1, some scented votives for $5, and this gorgeous tablecloth for $15.  

 

It's not going to stay a tablecloth for long - it's destined to cover the seats of my mother's kitchen chairs.  At the Chinese grocery store I bought Sriracha and my favorite soaps, then visited the cafe next door for Spicy Garlic Eggplant - so good.   And at Salvation Army I found a large canning jar, a like-new silverware tray, and this sweet lidded pottery dish - total spent there was $4 and tax.

A fun day out bopping around, thrifting.  I sure needed that!

Gina

Mealplan Monday #56, faux plants, and a soup recipe

I don't mind faux plants one bit.  Cat proof, require no watering, can be enjoyed for years, can be re-potted and arranged, no problem.  

With a little dusting, they stay pretty. 

Monday - Dopiaza Curry chicken, brown rice, zucchini
Tuesday - Turkey Pesto Meatballs with penne, salad
Wednesday - Clean out the freezer night - smorgasbord!
Thursday -Mom p/u BBQ
Friday - Salmon with Avocado Salsa, black beans 
Saturday - Dad grills
Sunday - Chicken Taco Soup*
Dessert this week is Pear Cake

Chicken Taco Soup Rustown
1 onion, diced
1 can of pinto beans, drained
1 c. leftover black beans from Friday
1 can corn, drained
1 small can tomato sauce
1 cup chicken stock
2 cans Rotel
1 taco seasoning packet (I might just make my own)
Leftover cooked and cut up chicken (from previous grill nights)
 
My plan is to put all of this in a large zip-loc and freeze.  Around 3 p.m. on Sunday, Hubby can pop it into the crock pot frozen and cook it on low 5 hours.

  

Gina

Baked Ziti

This is a good recipe to freeze, it makes a lot, and is very tasty.  Just look at all that cheese!  You could also add mini meatballs or cooked and seasoned ground beef.

Baked Ziti
1/2 pound ziti pasta
16 oz. small curd cottage cheese
3 c. shredded mozzarella
3 c. marinara sauce - homemade or jarred
1/2 c. grated parmesan

Boil ziti in salted water until al dente and drain. Mix it with 1/2 the mozzarella and all of the cottage cheese.  Spray a 13x9 pan (or two 8x8's) with Pam.  Pour 1/2 the sauce into the dish.  Layer in the ziti.  Top with the second half of sauce.  Sprinkle with parmesan and rest of mozzarella.  *Cover with Pam sprayed foil and freeze here*

Admire your handiwork - this is gonna be good!

To cook:  Thaw in fridge.  Uncover and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes 'til bubbly.

Yum.  Cheesy saucy pasta served with a salad and a smile.  (:

Gina

Mealplan Monday #55 with Parmesan Garlic Chicken

It rained here last week. 

Everything is blooming, including the fence!  

 

The oaks are next...

Monday - Korean Beef Tacos, salad items
Tuesday - Freezer Meal - Ziti, spinach
Wednesday - Salmon, asparagus for Mom and Dad, boys get ??
Thursday - Parmesan Garlic Chicken*, corn
Friday - Leftover pinto beans from freezer, cheesy tostadas, pico de gallo
Saturday - Boys go camping/YOYO
Sunday - Ham and Scalloped Potatoes, carrots

Parmesan Garlic Chicken
Mix: 1/2 c. grated Parmesan, 1 packet Good Seasons Italian dressing mix, 1/2 t. garlic.
Moisten 2 lbs. boneless chicken breast halves
Coat chicken with parm/garlic mixture, place in greased and shallow baking dish.
Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes

The crepe myrtle I thought was a gonner sprang back to life as did my fickle fig tree.  Sure signs Spring is here.

Gina

Bacon Jalapeno Popper Quiche

I'm a big fan of quiche, so when I saw this recipe by Stacey of Real House Moms, I knew it was a good reason for me to learn how to make my own pie crust and just do it. Jalapeno poppers are a favorite grill item here, and I knew you couldn't go wrong with cream cheese and bacon!

To start, go here for the quiche recipe.

And here's the best part:  I learned how to make pie crust!  It's by Martha Stewart.

Test Kitchen Pie Crust:
2 sticks unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces, divided
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 t. each salt and sugar
1/2 c. ice water

Lay out 3/4 of the butter cubes on wax paper and freeze.  Combine flour, salt, sugar, and the rest of the butter in food processor and pulse to combine.  Add frozen butter and pulse some more until it looks like coarse meal.  Add ice water and immediately pulse until water is just incorporated.  The dough should hold together.  Divide dough in half, place each half between two sheets of plastic wrap, press into disks.  Roll out the disks to 8 inch rounds - the plastic makes it so easy.  Refrigerate for at least 45 minutes to use, and up to 2 days, or freeze the dough for a month.

I served it with home fries and a salad.

 And the leftovers were so good the next day, cold from the fridge.

Gina

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Storing the kid's school art

Recently I moved all of the furniture in my bedroom to vacuum thoroughly and search for The Girl's sorority pinkie ring that was lost over Winter Break.  Under our bed I found treasure.

 It's a flat empty space, so I store the kids' artwork there.  I know you aren't supposed to hang on to all of this stuff, it's not practical.  I have taken pictures of each of the lovely works of art, threw some out (gasp!), and organized it all.  But I can't throw all of this out, I just can't.  It makes me smile to admire their handiwork.

 

 

I stacked all the portfolios and large artwork neatly in a plastic bag to keep it dust free, and placed it further under the bed to avoid grabbing the edges with the vacuum cleaner in the future.

You wouldn't even know it's under there and I can hang on to it for a little while longer.  Never found the ring, though.  Guess I will have to move furniture and vacuum in the other rooms.

Gina

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