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.  Plus, she moved and took all her crap with her.  Glorious.

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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

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 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.

Oh joy.  TAKS last week.

 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.  

If it seems like I am phoning it in from last week - I am.  But this week I am hoping for better days, with a touch of of clarity and a lot more happy.

Where did April go?

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, I was shocked.  Um, its for sure I will never spend that on chairs for my kitchen...and that was 11 years ago!

 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.

I really love the botanical fruit branches with butterflies and how they complement the chairs.  It goes well with the rest of the kitchen, too.

 So pretty.  

I told her I wanted them to be "perfect" and I felt I hadn't done a perfect job.  She assured me that she was thrilled with them.  I hope the fabric holds up and she enjoys them for  quite a while.  Now, to pick out a Mother's Day present for her...

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. (:

Shared with:

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?!

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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

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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.

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 tomatoe 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, sprinkle on some more cheese and call "CHOW CALL!"

It was so very good!  A keeper of a recipe and I made only minor adjustments, such as less turkey meat, a packaged sauce, and light on the salt.  Thanks for sharing this recipe, Megan!

Shared with:

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.  I know some people think of them as too fakey.

With a little dusting, they stay pretty. 
But have you noticed how dang expensive they are now?  I went to Michael's to see about getting a plant for the copper pot below - $30.  On sale. For faux plants?  Joann and Hob Lob weren't any cheaper.  Geez.

I fished around in my decor stash and pull out enough foliage bunches to make my own. Then put a little moss in to disguise that I used pine cones to fill around the base of the plants.  Cost me nothing.

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 water and 1 cube chicken boullion
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.

This week is all about lowering my grocery bill, believe it or not - we have a lot of the ingredients for this menu already on hand.  And gradually, I've managed to limit the rice, potatoes, bread, bacon, and cheese from the menus.

 Recycled flowers from the Fall front door arrangement coordinate with the burgundy on our bedroom,

 some recycled ivy and a bird from Pottery barn are cheery in the kitchen,

 and a little fern from IKEA, wrapped in burlap is sweet in the den bookcase. I like the "natural look" of greenery in the house - and I love that they are low maintenance, too.

Gina

Baked Ziti

This is a good recipe to freeze, it makes a lot, and is very tasty.  Next time I will divide it into two 8x8 pans as I am on an anti-leftovers track here.  Just look at all that cheese!  You could also add mini meatballs or cooked and seasoned ground beef if you aren't into that meatless thing...

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 til 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  (:

Getting prepared - change ahead!

I sat and made a list of all the things I thought Firstborn would need for his new apartment, just to start.  It was mind-boggling.  He only owns the stuff in his bedroom, so I will be scrounging around the house and visiting garage sales, Dollar Tree, and Goodwill to help him out.  And that gave me an excuse to do a once-over of the kitchen, cleaning, straightening, and purging.

Some of these things are destined for the recycle bin, so I didn't end up setting aside as much as I had wanted to.  And there is more kitchen type stuff in the garage that is going with him.  We'll get it all together, it'll be OK.  But he will need a lot of help figuring it all out.  I want to help him as much as I can, just like Hubby's mom did for him.  In fact, we still have some of the stuff from his college apartment!

 Ahh...a clean and good smelling kitchen with organized cabinets was my reward for two hours of work!

Now, on to the bathrooms...

Mealplan Monday #55 with Parmesan Garlic Chicken

It rained here last week.  And while I am happy that it put 3" of water on our city, I was tired of it by Day 2.  I'm not good at being house-bound, and I didn't want to go play in all of the low water crossings in our area.  So, I was severely bored.

Everything is blooming around here, including the fence!  And our oak trees are about to sneeze on our house big time- they are loaded with those little crackly pollen things...

 

I love the trees that shade our house, even if they make a mess out of the back patio.

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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

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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 crape myrtle I thought was a gonner sprang back to life as did my fickle fig tree.  

Sure signs Spring is here.