Hi. It's me.

 Has my last post really been since December?

Since then we've had birthdays, and holidays and one son graduate from college.  We have played basketball and baseball (still).

Everyone is good.  Things are going well.  

I hoped to get back on here and keep updating as this has become a diary of my life, but sometimes life just gets busy.

Yes, one son graduated from college.  I can't believe it.  I started my first blog when he was 4 years old.  And now he's 22.  He's back home and looking for a job (the job market is tough!).  The middle is 20 years old and will be a junior in college in the fall.  And the youngest will be 12 next month and starts middle school in the fall.  I'm not sure how all that is possible since I'm only 30... lol.  Some days I feel 30, some days I feel 80.

Having all 3 home is a blessing.  But also has it's challenges.  It's not easy having all these adults living under one roof.  But I wouldn't have it any other way.  I'm treasuring these times together because I know they are fleeting.  

This is a quick "I'm still here" post.  I promise myself that I will get on here more often.  

XOXO

Slow Cooker Potato Soup

 This is one of our families favorite soups and it is so easy!  Now that the weather is getting colder, it is soup time again.  

Ingredients

1.   1/2 large onion, diced
2.   2 cloves of garlic, minced
3.   32 ounces of chicken stock (I use low sodium)
4.   1 30 ounce bag of frozen shredded hash browns
5.   3 Tbs. of butter
6.   1 Tbs. of flour (we use gluten free)
7.   1 cup of water
8.   1 cup of milk of your choice 
9.   1/4 tsp salt
10. 1/2 tsp of pepper (I don't measure this, I just added it to taste)
11. 1/2 Tbs. of onion powder
12. 1 Tbs. of dried parsley
13. 1/3 of a block of cream cheese, cut into cubes

Toppings:
Shredded cheddar, diced green onion, chives, bacon bits

Directions:

1.  In a small pan on the stove, or directly in your slow cooker, melt the butter.  Once the butter is melted, add in the onion and sauté until slightly softened, approximately 3-4 minutes.
2.  Add in the garlic and sauté  another minute, careful that the garlic doesn't burn.
3.  Add in the 1 Tbs. of flour and sauté   for another minutes.  Remove from heat or turn off the multi-cooker.
4.  Add in the broth, hash browns,  water, milk, and seasonings.  Stir to combine. Add the cubed cream cheese to the top. 
5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

A lot of recipes don't add the cream cheese in during the cooking time, but wait until the soup is done,  You can do that, but I have not had any issues cooking it all at the same time.

Serve with you favorite toppings and enjoy.

Comfort Food!

Fall Decor

 The fall decor has been up for a while.  Halloween decor has been added for about a month, and will be coming down again next week.  Between helping family and friends who are going through health issues, helping at the school (I'm room mom this year), the kids, the hubby, and the house, I have been a tad busy.  Normally by now, I would have Christmas plans starting.  I'm not even there yet.  I'm still trying to find Marshmallow Peep Ghosts for next weeks class party. LOL.  I have to coordinate the party with the room mom for the other class and we just met last week to iron out what we were going to do.  That's fine, but according to the stores, Halloween is over and it's Christmas now.  I will have to plan better from the class Christmas party.  I did buy our Thanksgiving turkeys today.  So I'm ahead on that.  The grocery has turkeys on sell for 79 cents per pound or turkey breasts on sale for 99 cents a pound.  I bought one of each since we usually bake the big turkey (just under 20 pounds) and we fry a small one.  There weren't any small ones for 79 cents per pound.  They were all 18-20 pounds and our turkey fryer won't handle one that big.  The hubby likes to keep them around 8 pounds and 10 pounds at the max.  So I did pick up the 8 pound turkey breast.  If I find a smaller turkey, I will buy that too and save the turkey breast for a later date.  So they are both in my freezer waiting for next month.

Speaking of the freezer, It's loaded.  I keep stock piling things, but I think now is the time to start using some of it.  I got those turkeys in there, but not well.  And I'd like to start buying the fish we use for Christmas Eve (It's not because of supply chain issues.  It's just better to spread the cost out over a few weeks so it's not just one big hit at one time).  It's really just the calamari and the smelts so they don't take up too much room, but I'm afraid things are going to get lost in there and then I'll have to throw them out due to being in there too long.  I have a little experience with that and it's a terrible feeling to throw out food because it's freezer burned.  

I shopped for next week already, not realizing how much is already in the freezer, so I'll start shopping my freezer after that.  

The Halloween mantle 

The Halloween tree

Outside decorations

The squash borer moth killed most of our zucchini and pumpkins, but there two survived

He's a pug for Halloween

Family weekend at the boys college

Trunk or Treat at the little guys school

A trip to the Cleveland aquarium on a day off from school

Mother Nature decorating for fall

The color of the outside leaves with the colors of the inside tree

2023/2024 School Year

 The newly minted 11 year old started school last Wednesday.  He was none too happy about it, but so far he is adjusting ok.  We had grandparents over on Saturday, and we took school friends to the lake yesterday to celebrate his birthday.  It was a beautiful day and I think the boys had a good time.

The big boys go back to college this week.  The oldest is leaving Thursday and the middle will go back on Saturday.  I'm going to miss having them home.  It's not the same without them.  But they have to go and do their thing. Sometimes having big kids is even harder than having little kids.  There tends to be more "pain" involved.  They need you a lot less and there is more coming and going with more going than coming.  No one tells this part about being a parent.  You get tons of advice and stories when you have babies and toddlers, but as they get older the sage advice wears off and people don't share as much information.  And as a parent, you know this time is coming, and even though you brace yourself for it, it comes so fast that you ultimately feel unprepared for it.  This if life.  And all parents go through it.  And some days are easier to let your big kids go more than others.

Sunday in church, there was a small child (I'm thinking toddler but I didn't actually see him) and all through the consecration he was making a loud groaning noise.  It was coming from behind me in the back of the church.  It almost sounded like he was just over mass and was letting out these loud guttural sounds in protest.  I couldn't help but smile because I wondered if that is how I sound to God every time I protest against something he is asking me to do, or asking me not to do and it goes against what I actually want.  Do I sound like this child protesting because I'm not getting my way?  I bet that is exactly how I sound.  So this week when the boys leave, I'm going to put on a big smile, and a bright cheery attitude and thank God for giving me these big kids, and be thankful that I am sending them out into the world and I pray that they are bringing God to others.  I promise I will not groan in protest because I'd rather keep them little and keep them home with me.  I will not promise, however, that I won't ugly cry on the way home after I drop them off.  I am human, after all. 

Sausage, Potato, Pepper Bake

Ingredients:

1. 1 medium onion

2. 6 large baking potatoes

3. 1/2 tsp of salt

4. dash of black pepper

5. 1/2 Tbs. of dried basil

6. 2-3 Tbs of olive oil

7. 2 pounds of mild Italian sausage (hot will work too of that's what you have on hand or prefer)

8. 2 large or 3 small green peppers

9. 3/4 cup of water

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Slice the onion in thin strips

3. Cut the potatoes roughly into 1/4 inch pieces

4.  Layer onion and potatoes on the bottom of a greased baking dish

5. Cut peppers into rings (this time I cut them into slices because the kids prefer that) and place on top of potatoes

6. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and basil (above measurements are approximates.  I season to taste and sometimes add garlic powder and onion powder depending on my mood.  Season the way you like it)

7. Pour oil over veggies and mix, then add the 3/4 cup of water

8. Arrange sausages on top and piece each link with a fork

9. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour

10. Uncover and bake for another 20-30 minutes until sausages are browned and the potatoes are tender

Makes 6-8 servings 

I sometimes serve this with a side salad and rolls or fresh Italian bread.

Enjoy!!
 

Meal Plan 3/24/23 to 3/30/23: Feeding the Family

 Hi Friends!  What a week!  The big boys came home from college and it was such a blessing to have them here.  I'm a lucky mama.  They had a nice spring break.  No, we didn't go anywhere or do much, but we spent time together and they both worked to make some extra money.  They left for school again today, and they are safely there and getting back into school mode. I sort of have a menu for this week.  Kind of. I did a grocery shopping experiment that I will share with you in another post and I went to two salvage stores not far from our house, so I wasn't really sure what I was going to get.  I also went to Aldi (and forgot to buy a pork butt that was going to feed us for two days) and Giant Eagle (which was not my usual Giant Eagle and they did not have the sale items that I anticipated).  But all is well.  We have food and we will eat.

I also have another Meal Train meal with week.  I noticed that since the family went from one meal per week, to two meals per week, the sign ups were not being taken.  Since feeding people is my love language, I've signed up for as many as I can.  During the week of Lent and the week after Easter, I had to skip (the doggie is having surgery and I can't just leave her alone), but after that we are back on track to bless this family with food (and least I hope they feel blessed.  I'm always worried that other families won't like my cooking - lol). 

This weeks menu:

Friday:  Baked Cod and Mrs. T's pierogi (tater tots for the child with a wheat allergy)

Saturday:  Take Out Pizza from our favorite pizza restaurant (to celebrate the boys last night home)

Sunday:  Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Monday: (meatless Monday) Fish, Jacket Potatoes, and Veg (since I don't eat fish, I will have eggs or grilled cheese)

Tuesday:  Pork Chops, Potatoes, and corn

Wednesday:  Hamburger Steak, Asparagus, and Rice

Thursday:  Baked Chicken, Rice, and Veg (Meal Train Meal:  Baked Chicken, Rice, and Veg)

I feel like Mrs. T's has saved my butt this Lent.  They are on sale during Lent, we love them, and they are filling.  My mom and I used to make homemade pierogi, but when I had a child that was anaphylactic to wheat, we stopped.  I'd love to start again, but we need to get her healthy and get her cancer under control.  We are Polish ladies, and we love a homemade pierogi. Please say a prayer for my mama.

We planned on take out pizza on Saturday evening, and it worked out for the best.  We had a crazy wind storm here, and we were out of power.  Luckily the pizza restaurant didn't lose power.  They have safe Gluten Free pizza for my son and he was so looking forward to it.  Power was out Saturday from 2 pm to 3 am Sunday morning.  They gave us 3/27 at noon to get our power back but it did come back early.  Then today they called to tell me that it wouldn't be on again until 3/28 at 4 pm.  Even though our power was back, I was nervous that they might shut us down to get other people back up again.  I did ALL THE LAUNDRY today.  We are ready, but I think we will be ok.  Even our church had no power today.  It was chilly, but I'm so thankful we had mass.

I hope you have a blessed week ahead.  And if you are in an area that is having bad weather, please know that you are in my prayers.  

Meal Planning 3-16-23 to 3-23-23: Feeding the Family

 Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I hope you had a good one.  We did our St. Patrick's Day dinner 3-18-23.  Even though our Bishop gave a dispensation for meat on St. Patrick's Friday in Lent, we decided to keep that Friday meatless.  And I was making a soup for soup supper at church, so I did creamy potato which was meatless too.  The boys came home for spring break on Friday.  It's so nice to have them home.  It's only for a week and I know that week will fly by.  At least we'll get to see them again in a few weeks for Easter.  This week I shopped at Aldi and Marc's.  I spent more than I wanted to, but I have two extra mouths to feed and I had a meal for soup supper.  This week I have a meal train meal for our church family.  I plan on making chili and gluten free corn bread.

This week's menu:

Thursday: Hamburger Casserole

Friday:  Creamy Potato Soup for church soup supper

Saturday:  Corned Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Cabbage, Sauerkraut, Swiss Cheese, and Rye Bread

Sunday:  Turkey Meatloaves, Baked Red Skins, and Vegetable

Monday:  (Meatless Monday for us, but meat for the college boys) Baked Chicken Thighs and Fettuccini Alfredo

Tuesday:  Taco Night (and chili for meal train meal)

Wednesday:  Hamburger, Hot Dogs, and Vegetables

Thursday:  Tater Tot Casserole

I'm going to try to shop at some salvage stores this week for groceries, but the problem with that is that you never know what you are going to get.  There are also some bulk stores by the salvage stores so I may check them out too.  I just really want to get our grocery budget down, but I don't want us to eat garbage either.  

I don't think I ever posted the Lent Tree:

Have a blessed week ahead!!

Meal Planning: 3-9-23 to 3-18-23: Feeding the Family

 Hello Friends!  I hope you are well.  I have been feeling very overwhelmed lately, so blogging went to the back seat.  Meal planning has been going on, and the family has been eating.  All is well here.  I've been busy.  Sometimes during Lent, I think I take on too many things. But I'm moving along and just putting all things into perspective. 

The boys will be coming home from college this Friday.  I.am.so.excited.  Don't tell them that mom misses them, or they will take advantage of that when they come home.  I have been trying so hard to get my grocery budget under control, but with them coming home, it's going to be out of control.  I just have to put it in perspective.  I don't mind spoiling them with good food while they are here (summer break will be a different story, because it will be for several months).  These boys (really men) will not be under my roof much longer, and mama wants to feed them.  Feeding people is my love language.  So I have a meal plan set for when they are home, but I have a meal plan for next week before they come home.

This weeks meal plan:

Fri:  Soup Supper At Church   Our water system broke and we had no water.  I had a repair man come out, and that didn't work, so I spoke with an after hours repair man that helped me get my water working again (and he saved me the $250 emergency fee), but our water is seriously orange (heavy iron content...do not look at my sinks or toilets right now) because we had to by pass our iron filter.  Friends, just know that having well water is not an easy thing.  They will come Monday to try and fix all the things.  We did not make it to soup supper, so Mrs. T's potato and cheese pierogi from the freezer saved our meatless, Friday dinner.  Yay Freezer Stash.

Saturday:  Well this went in a whole other direction.  I planned on One Skillet Creamy Chicken, but the 10 year old had a friend over and by 4 pm they were starving.  I was not home all day and hubby had the kids.  He called me to say they were hungry and M's friend is a super picky eater and wasn't interested in anything he offered ( including potato chips...God Bless You, Kid). So I picked up pizza on my way home and we were just not hungry for dinner.

Sunday:  One Skillet Creamy Chicken.  Chicken thighs, Veggies, and Mushrooms in a cream sauce.  

Monday:  Potage - This is a French Veggie Soup and I will serve it with bread (meatless Monday)

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken Quesadilla 

Wednesday:  Red Beans and Rice With Chicken Sausage

Thursday:  Clean up or Egg Roll in a Bowl

Friday:  Soup Supper (and I'm making Cream of Potato Soup so we HAVE to go).  Yes, it's St. Patricks Day.  Our Bishop gave us a dispensation for eating meat "if you must".  We do not need to eat meat.  It is not a "must" for us, so we will be keeping Meatless Friday.

Saturday:  St. Patricks Day Feast:  Slow Cooker Corned Beef, potatoes, and veggies.  (THIS is the day we will have our St. Pat's meal) - rye bread and Swiss cheese for sandwiches.

This weeks meal plan goes a bit longer because I already know what we will have the next few days.  Thursday 3-9-23 I did a meal train meal of slow cooker corned beef, mashed potatoes, St. Patricks Cheese Soup, and honey glazed carrots for my church family.  Please keep them in your prayers.  Mom is traveling to a specialized clinic Monday and Tuesday and we are praying that they have a plan for her to keep her healthy (ALS is such an insidious disease).

I hope you are having a blessed Lenten season.  I pray that you have a blessed week ahead!!

Meal Plan 2-17-23 to 2-23-17: Feeding The Family

 Happy Soon To Be Lent!  Lent starts Wednesday (although my husband starts today).  We have 3 meatless days this week.  Friday, Monday, and Ash Wednesday (fast and abstinance).  I have my plans for Lent and I will share them in a separate post. 

Valentine's Day was nice.  Since it was Tuesday, we kept it pretty low-key.  Candy was had by all.

One month until the big boys come home for spring break.  My grocery budget is already crying 😢 😂 .  

Wishing you all a happy, fruitful lenten season.

Menu Plan:

Friday: Red and White Mostraccioli from the Food Nanny

Saturday:  Hot Dogs and Hamburgers with frozen fries (tried to be kid friendly for a sleep over the 10 yr old had)

Sunday:  Left Overs

Monday:  Salmon, sweet potato, and Brussels Sprout sheet pan

Tuesday:  BLT's (we normally do Shrove Tuesday, but we just had pancakes for dinner 1.5 weeks ago)

Wednesday:  Crustless veggie quiche and hash browns

Thursday:  Steak Tacos

and I'm throwing Friday on here because I've already got that planned

Friday:  Soup Supper at our church after Stations of the Cross.  I'm bringing slow cooker cream of potato soup and bread.

I love soup supper at our church.  It's a several people who make simple soup and they usually have bread or rolls (and Mac n Cheese for kids).  It's a simple meatless meal for Fridays during Lent and it also helps to bring our church community together.  This is the first time it's back at our parish since Covid.

Have a blessed week ahead!!

Menu Plan 1/20/23 to 1/26/23: Feeding the Family

 The big boys are back at school.  They left in a snow storm on Sunday.  I was stressed for almost 5 hours until they made it there safely.  We miss them, but we are glad that they are back doing their studies and becoming independent adults.  So I'm back to cooking for just the three of us.  My grocery budget will be happy.

This weeks meal plan:

Friday:  Frozen pizza for boys/Mom and Dad date night before we lose our sitters to college

Saturday:  One Skillet Chicken With Green Beans and Mushrooms

Sunday:  Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Monday:  BBQ Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad

Tuesday:  Sesame Chicken and Broccoli

Wednesday: Hamburger Soup

Thursday:  Clean Up Day

I have next weeks meal plan put together and I scheduled a Walmart pick up for it.  I'm really trying to save money.  And my budget is less than when the big boys were home.  But not enough to make me happy.  I KNOW everything is more expensive, but I need to do a better job and saving money.  

Have a Blessed Week ahead!!

Menu Plan 1-13-23 to 1-19-23: Feeding the Family

 Well, all of the Christmas decorations are down, inside and outside.  The house was so dusty.  Yuck.  This is the last week that the big boys will be home until spring break.  They head back to school this weekend.  I am going to miss having them home.  We all will.  Little brother is already getting sad.  They will be home in March, but only for a week.  Then we plan to head to college for Easter since it's not a recognized holiday and they don't get time off.  If you have little kids, cherish that time.  I know how hard having little kids at home can be.  I really do remember.  But I find it harder to have them leave.  It's just so different.  

This weeks menu plan:

Friday: One Pot Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Pasta (I used gluten free pasta and it worked fine)

Saturday:  Homemade pizza (wheat and gluten free)

Sunday:  Saucy Hungarian Red Potato Goulash This was a huge hit!  I used Raddell's Polish sausage

Monday: Slow Cooker Chicken Philly Cheesesteaks

Tuesday:  Tacos

Wednesday: Red beans and rice with chicken sausage

Thursday:  Clean up Day

Saturdays pizza was very good.  I didn't get a photo because the puppy had an allergic reaction to something (we think something outside, but don't know) and we ended up in the emergency pet ER.  She's on Benadryl and they gave her a steroid and she's doing better.

Yes, doggies get hives too

Poor baby with swollen eyes

Daisy and I decided to walk for St. Jude with month.  It's 40 miles for the month of January.  We are up to 29.14 miles.  We didn't walk on Sunday, but I took her back out today and she is feeling better and we were able to get our walk in.  

You can track our progress HERE

Have a blessed week ahead!!

Menu Plan 1-6-23 to 1-13-23: Feeding the Family

 The holidays are sort of behind us.  By sort of, I mean we still have to get together with extended family, now that the house is free of Covid.  School is back in session for the little guy.  The two older boys are still home for this week and next.  I love having them home.  But my grocery budget is crying 😢 .  We have basketball, spelling bee, baseball instruction, hair cut for the little guy, dentist for mom, and travel baseball practice this week.  We also went to visit my parents yesterday.  The week is full, good, but full.

This weeks menu plan:

Friday:  Baked salmon and veggie fried rice (meatless Friday) and pizza for the little guy and his friend.

Saturday:  Baked Chicken (I baked two for left overs), left over rice, and veggies.

Sunday:  Dinner at Grandmas

Monday:  Bacon cheeseburger turkey burgers, baked potatoes

Tuesday:  Baked chicken thigh tacos

Wednesday:  Chicken and veggies fried rice (leftover baked chicken and left over rice)

Thursday:  Slow Cooker Italian Wedding soup and sub sandwiches

All of the Christmas decorations are down except for the big Christmas tree.  It's sort of a process right now.  But the Valentine's tree is up.  There's just so much to do.  I'm getting there.  All in due time, right?

Have a wonderful and blessed week ahead.

Menu Plan 12-2-22 to 12-8-22: Feeding the Family

 My Christmas prep has stalled.  I still haven't put up the tree in the basement.  I'm thinking that I may just leave it until the big boys come home.  They can do it if they want to.  I have a few gifts left to buy and I need to find something to wear to the husbands Christmas party next weekend.  I'm feeling the crunch.  But I've had some medical stuff to deal with (some mine, some other peoples) and I just haven't had the time.  This week's menu if using a lot of what I already have on hand.  And the boys come home at the end of the week so next week's menu will contain more "meat" meals, but I still have to find a way to keep this grocery budget under control.  I swear, money is just flying out of this house.  I am looking forward to them being here, but I'm not looking forward to feeding them - LOL>

Friday:  Baked Cod and French Fries

Saturday:  Homemade Pizza (it was really good, but there's a story behind this involving a face plant.  I'm not sharing here but it took the wind right out of my sails). I made pepperoni and sausage, and a white pizza with sausage, pepperoncini, and ricotta

Sunday:  Baked Chicken, potato or rice, and veg

Monday:  I'm not sure yet.  It's my birthday and I'm assuming that the husband will take care of this, but he hasn't said anything, so if he doesn't, it will be steaks on the grill.

Tuesday:  Slow cooker White Chicken Chili

Wednesday:  Turkey Tacos

Thursday:  Clean up

Second Sunday of Advent:

Have a blessed week ahead!!