Dinner is Served

  This week my meal plans were not complicated. I try to leave the complicated meals to the professionals or a holiday. 

  This week I pulled out the slow cooker, used leftovers and followed the meal plan for the week.

  I find my recipes in a variety of places but this week everything came from the internet.  My biggest goal was to use leftovers items I bought last week.  I succeed. So yeah no waste for me!

Chicken and spinach enchiladas!

Potato soup!

Zucchini Italiano casserole!

Each week I try to make new recipes and not just stick with old tried and true ones.  I have made this soup before but the other two recipes were new.  Two days of leftovers from last week was nice too.  

All of the recipes were easy and everyone liked all the meals.  No complaints means these recipes can go in the rotation to be made again.

  Now the weekend is here and the kitchen is closed.  It's everyone for themselves! Have a great weekend everyone.

Week 3 Recap

  I hit all my goals this week!  Yeah for being so productive but, that doesn't always happen which is why I'm celebrating.  You have to celebrate the small things.  Even if I only completed one thing I would have said good job and rolled over the other items.

1. I finished and start a new book! I am now onto book number 3.

  So far it's starting out good which always makes reading a book easy, right?!

2. My new recipe of the week was Swedish Meatballs. 

They were ok.  I didn't make the meatballs by hand so I cheated a bit but, I wanted a little more flavor so I will try again.


3. I have a few posts figured out for next week.  That's good enough for me.  Having a direction is better then not.

4. The nails did get painted as well.

A little gold for the week!

5. Lastly my fitness goal was met.  I wanted 15 cardio miles.  With inside lap miles, my job, the elliptical and the spin bike my miles were over 40 miles.  For 2 days of cardio machines I did 15 miles alone. 

I'm going to need to up that numbers!

  Overall my goals weren't that hard but not all goals have to be.  Goals just have to be something you work on accomplishing.  The meal was a benefit for my family.  The book, nails, fitness and blog were for me! 

  Maybe I will work on adding goals for specific reasons or people.  A new week is coming and there's nothing else to do but get ready for it.

Weekly Menu 8/21-8/24

  This shrimp plate was from a couple a weeks ago but, I may have to put it on the menu again soon.  Everyone liked it.

  This week I guess pasta is the word of the week.  Although one day I'm going to try to make the Zucchini pasta!  I did a run through of my pantry items think I have my ingredients organized for this week and next but, for some reason I'm second guessing myself so we shall see.  I'm not sure I'm feeling the days I have specified but that's ok. The menu is planned and I can switch the days around because the hard part is over.

Monday
Sausage and pasta
https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/cheesy-sausage-and-penne-casserole/cd8bd617-a2e6-489b-8794-b4a10292e8cc

Tuesday
Meatless
Zucchini pasta
http://www.inspiredtaste.net/29992/garlic-zucchini-pasta-recipe/

Wednesday
Chicken and pasta
http://www.lovebakesgoodcakes.com/2014/04/fiesta-ranch-chicken-pasta-bake.html?m=1

Thursday
http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a53698/shrimp-fried-rice-recipe/

  Happy eating everyone! My dinners are planned now off to plan something else!

  If you could have your favorite meal tonight what would it be? Or where would it be?

Weekly Menu 8/14-8/18

  Last week I made all my planned meals except for the vegetarian chili on Thursday.  I would normally carry over the meal into the next week but I'm missing a few important ingredients too so I'll put that back into the pile.

  This week I'm only making 3 meals because there are enough leftovers in the house to feed us for a couple days.

Monday 8/14
1 pot chili mac
http://damndelicious.net/2014/03/15/one-pot-chili-mac-cheese/

Tuesday 8/15
Meatless
http://www.marthastewart.com/313967/shrimp-with-couscous

Wednesday 8/16
Meatless
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/9401/salmon-patties-i/

Thursday 8/17
Leftovers

Friday 8/18
Leftovers

  I'm looking forward to my short week.  Plus as long as we eat up the leftovers the weekly plan was a success.  If meals get thrown away because it's old or under appreciated it's definitely a sad waste.

  Any meal plans this week for you?  Any dinner out plans?

Ice Krispies

  I want to share with you the best ice cream treat that will not melt.  It's still summer and there are a few hot days sprinkled throughout the week so take advantage of this tasty treat to cool off.

I'll take a chocolate cone please!

A few ingredients

and some creative construction and I have now learned will earn me points with my kids as well as a pretty cute end result.

  Melt your marshmallows down

and prepare the krispie treats as usual.

  I scooped out the tops with an ice cream cone scooper and added the side on by hand to give it an all around "perfect" scoop.

  I added some chocolate topping to the cone.  Melt chocolate chips and dip the cone (carefully) or drizzle/spoon chocolate evenly on the krispies top.

  Top your cone off however you please we went with sprinkles and a cherry on top!

  This is one of the cutest snacks I have made and I will make it again in the future.  I can't wait to change up the flavors maybe strawberry or mint chocolate chip next time.

  This was one of my Pinterest wins.  You can find that and other wins under that board title on Pinterest.

#pinterest
#pinterestwin

Pancakes with strawberries

  It's not a good morning unless you start your morning off right!

  Strawberry is the word of the month so let's just get that out of the way!  This morning we are once again starting out with strawberries.  I might add that they do make breakfast a much better experience!  Today we used them in our pancakes!

  I have made this recipe before so since I'm using and sharing it again take that as a promotion.  I think the last time I made it was for a child's birthday.  It was a hit then and was today.

  Its a nice simple recipe.  You can whip it up in no time on any morning.  You should have all the ingredients on hand and even if you didn't have strawberries we did add chocolate chips to one so anything goes!

  We made some with strawberries and sprinkles,

some with then chocolate chips and plain.

I think with enough strawberries you have enough flavor you don't even need to add syrup.

You will find the recipe here:
http://betterbakingbible.com/

Who Is this Person

  Today it's all about me.  My name is Rose.    I am a mom of 4.  Residing in VA by way of upstate NY and made few pit stops along the way due to the military.  Besides NY I spent time in ND so I know cold weather and snow.  I may not share advice but will share the good, bad and ugly of my family journey.  I will share what worked for us and will learn along the way from my mistakes and your assistance.

  I do homeschool my younger children although due to their ages one is more cooperative than the other. So I just try to sneak in learning to my almost 3 yo when he's not looking.

  I enjoy working out.  I have an injury right now that has me taking a 2 month long break but when I'm done with this temporary lapse I will be back.

  I enjoy exploring.  I have an on going challenge to finish seeing all the state parks of VA.  I frequent local parks and playgrounds with my kids.  We take hikes, ride bikes and rent boats.  We put plenty of miles on our shoes this year.

  I am not a professional chef, baker or cook.  I do however know how to read and whip up recipes at sometimes even a moments notice.  I eagerly share the recipes I look up with you.  Right now I am working through a pumpkin challenge.  Everything in this challenge is not made by me.  I do include a pumpkin donut or latte that I pick up.

              

  Lastly, I review various products, post local specials and share samples and national deals with you as I become aware of them.

  I appreciate your company as I share with you what we are doing, seeing or being.  I am going to challenge myself along the way. Maybe start and complete a few books, some DIY projects and whatever else looks fun.  Misery loves company or happiness is having company.  Either way your always invited to follow my day.

Meal plan 10/26-10/30

  Back again for a new week of meals.  I pull my recipes off the Internet from various sites for my dinners.  This helps me try new things , builds my culinary skills, helps to showcases many people who share their recipes, and provides you with new options without looking to far.

10/26 Monday Chicken Pot pie (to include biscuits posted)
http://wholesomemommy.com/deconstructed-chicken-pot-pie/

10/27 Tuesday Gnocchi (meatless meal)
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/236824/cheesy-baked-gnocchi/

10/28 Wednesday Shepard's Pie (my recipe which may be very basic)

Ingredient:
ground meat (seasoned and browned)
Mashed potatoes (buttered and prepared)
Cream corn (can)
  After the meat and potatoes are done I layer my pan meat first, followed by corn then spread mashed potatoes on top.  I bake it for 20 minutes. (Sometimes I broil it a bit for some color on the top)

10/29 Thursday Parmesan crusted salmon http://allrecipes.com/recipe/21176/baked-dijon-salmon/

So there it is folks! Two days this week are meatless.  No crockpot either!  This will also be the last week for my pumpkin challenge.  I'll miss that.  Just kidding, I will be eating it I'm sure; just not on a daily basis.