Meal Plan 10/7 to 10/13: Feeding the Family

Well, hopefully last week was the last week of football.  They are playing right now, and if they win, they may go to play offs.  I'm home with the dog since she can't stay home alone that long.  I'm torn.  Part of me hopes they win.  But part of me hopes that football season is over.  Don't tell him that I said that.

This week I tried to do a Walmart pick up.  When it came to my pickup time, I received a text that said my pickup was delayed.  I was already on my way there since I made my pickup time for right after school.  We went anyway since we were almost there, and we waited 45 minutes.  I didn't receive any updates, so I cancelled the order and just headed home.  I could have just gone into Walmart and shopped, except that I had the puppy with me and couldn't just leave her in the car. Yesterday, I shopped at Heinen's instead.  I spent more than I would have at Walmart, but I really do love the selections of produce, meat, and high-end products that Heinen's has.  

This week's menu plan:

Friday:  Mrs. T's Pierogi's and fruit.  These were such a hit a few weeks ago, I thought I'd take the easy way out again.

Saturday:  Pizza Night:  Traditional pepperoni, and white pizza with portabella mushrooms, green pepper, fresh mozzarella, goat cheese, parmigiana, Romano, and asiago cheeses.

Sunday:  Cheesy Chicken with Spinach, roasted veggies, salad, and rolls (chicken recipe from the Food Nanny Saves Dinner Again cookbook)

Monday:  Turkey Tacos

Tuesday:  Slow Cooker Beef Stew.  I was scheduled to make a Meal Train meal for a church family on this day, but the person who was scheduled for last week, requested that we switch due to her having some sick littles at home.  I made my Meal Train slow cooker beef stew last Thursday, but I'll be keeping our schedule for beef stew today.

Wednesday:  Clam Chowder, rolls, and salad.  At least I think this is what we are having.  The recipe is from the Food Nanny Saves Dinner Again cookbook and it only calls for one can of clams.  That doesn't seem enough to me, so I planned on buying two cans.  But the grocery store was completely wiped out of canned clams.  The clams were on the very top shelf and standing on tip toes, I managed to find one can knocked to the very back of the shelf, so I bought it.  I'm just still not convinced that one can will be enough, so we'll see.

Thursday:  Cleanup day or Poor Man's Meal

Have a blessed week ahead!!

XOXO

Menu Plan 9/30 to 10/6: Feeding the Family

 Happy October!!  I cannot believe it's October already.  The "Ber" months seem to go so quickly to me.  I really want to enjoy October and all its beauty.  It's one of my favorite months.  The weather can be cool, or it can be Indian Summer.  The leaves are spectacular.  October usually has the best combination of warm sun and cozy cool.  And on a side note, I saw my first Christmas commercial on October 1st.  It made me laugh.  Too Soon?  Yes, too soon.

I have all of my Halloween decorations up.  I managed to get that done Friday.  I ordered a new Halloween candle Saturday evening and I hope it gets here soon.  I wasn't going to do it, but I just couldn't help myself.  

I know that I said that last week was the final week of the little guy's football, but the joke is on me.  They added another week.  So, THIS week will be the final week of football (at least I hope so). The oldest was home this weekend for a power lifting competition.  He got 3rd in his weight class.  We are very proud of him and all his hard work.  I feel so blessed to have him home.  I miss my big boys. The Middle stayed at school, but then went to Ohio State over the weekend to visit friends and go to the football game.  He seemed to have a good time.  I'm so glad that he is enjoying college.  He's acclimated very well.

 

The following is this week's menu:

Friday:  Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese (from @brunchwithbabs on Instagram) and the rest of the bag of fish sticks from last week.

Saturday:  Hamburgers and turkey dogs on the grill Ore Ida French fries

Sunday:  Pearl's Chili
This chili is fast (only takes an hour from start to finish) but it is so good.  It's from the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook.  I tried to find the recipe online to share with you, but I could only find a half plagiarized one.  I don't specifically follow the THM plan at the moment, but it is really good, and that cookbook is amazing whether you follow the plan or not.  And you can always check it out at the library.

Monday:  Quiche Lorraine and hash browns.
I haven't actually made a quiche for the family before (the middle sons egg allergy made it unsafe).  I really hope they like it.

Tuesday:  Sheet Pan Taco Chicken Fingers

Wednesday:  Grilled footlong turkey and bacon sub and homemade coleslaw

Thursday:  Clean Up Night    Egg Roll In A Bowl and Slow Cooker Beef Stew for a church family

I did another Walmart pick up this week.  It's just too easy.  I wish my area had the delivery option.  I would totally pay for that.  But we are rural, so we don't have that yet.  I took Daisy with me for the first time, and although she doesn't look thrilled in the photo, she actually loved it.

Thank you for checking in!  I hope you have a blessed week ahead.  

January: It's Cold

Yes, I know I live in Ohio.  Yes, I know this weather is typical.  No, I don't care.  I'm not a lover of cold.  I'm just not.
But I'm trying to get better with it.  My favorite form of exercise is walking.  So I'm still trying to get outside and walk a few days a week even when it's cold outside (but not today.  Today I'm sick and it's only 7 degrees outside, so NO WAY).

We've actually been very lucky.  The snow this year has been a minimum and the weather has been warmer than normal.  But of course all that changed at the end of last week.  And as luck would have it, my son had a wrestling tournament in southern Ohio over the weekend when the snow storm hit.  Due to his food allergies, I made sure that I went and took all his safe food for him.  I also ended up being the food lady for the team.  So loaded up with several coolers and my 50 pound suit case (I do not pack lightly), I left the day before the storm and headed to Cincinnati for the tournament.  It's a four hour drive and I was by myself.  I'm not usually an audio book person, but I downloaded an audio book from our library and it really helped make the trip pleasant and made time seem to go quickly.  I love that the library also has audio books and digital books that you can take out at no cost.  That audio book saved me!  I found the book by recommendation on the Simply Luxurious Life blog.  The book is Death at the Chateau Bremont by M.L. Longworth and the mystery was very entertaining.  Some of the reviews for the book mentioned that there were too many details of French cuisine and life in France in general, but I really liked those parts.  I'm interested in French food and French culture so for me, it was an added bonus.  I plan on continuing with the series, but right now, I'm in the middle of two other books, so it will have to wait.

Luckily we missed the second snow storm on the way home too.  I'm a nervous wreck driving in the snow and I prayed to miss it all, and we did.  Prayers answered.

The tournament was good and two of our four guys placed.  My son is a newer wrestler, so it was good experience for him.  But I am glad that it's our only tournament that we have to travel to.

In other news:

In a few weeks, my oldest son turns 18.  How is that even possible?  18?  It's just amazing to me how quickly time goes.  I always want to impress to moms of littles how quickly it goes and to enjoy every minute.  But when you are in the midst of those "littles" years, that is really the last thing you want to hear.  It can be hard.  And tiring.  And you really can't enjoy every moment because in many of those moments, you want to run and hide.  But believe me, those moments ARE hard, but they go by SO quickly, even when it doesn't feel like it.  Even if you can't enjoy every moment, try to take it all in.  Those years are so precious.  I'd suggest starting a diary or an online blog/journal and writing down the daily mundane.  It's sweet to go back and revisit those days.  Before you know it, 18 years will be gone in a blink.

Things I like for January:

Essential Oils for mood (I don't sell oils and I don't buy from one particular company, so I'm not hocking anything here):  Essential Oil for Treating SAD (graphic on Pinterest) I like citrus blends, thieves oil, or a blend of peppermint, lavender, and lemon.

Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea This tea is so cozy and uplifting at the same time.  It's my favorite for this time of year.

Sherpa Throw from Walmart  This blanket is such a great size and it is super warm.  And it's SOFT! The kids fight over who gets to use it.

When I walk outside, I wear these leggings under my heavy sweat pants.  They are fairly warm.  If I were rolling around in the snow, I'd probably want something else, but for walking, these are plenty warm and the price is right.