Thoughts Along Life's Highway

Menu Plan Monday ~ 28 Feb

March is almost here – and we’re supposed to have some pretty big storms tonight. Wonder if the old phrase “in like a Lion, out like a Lamb” will be true for us? I think we could use the rain, but I am hoping we don’t have any severe weather and that no one suffers any major damage – I’ve seen tornados from the same weather front on the news this morning. Fingers are crossed we escape that.

As I sit here and type this, I’m enjoying the last of the homemade blueberry-lemon scones I made this weekend. They were some of the best scones I think I’ve ever had. Moist, fluffy and so, so good. I’ll post a recipe later this week, so keep watching for it. And then run out to get the ingredients so you can make them for your family next weekend. They will love you for it.

This past weekend was the weekend for making new recipes - We also made a chicken lettuce wrap recipe for dinner on Saturday and chicken & spinach stuffed shells for dinner on Sunday.  I’ll post all the recipes in the next few weeks. They were awesome, even though the lettuce wraps were a lot of work to make.

This week is a short week for cooking for me – we’re headed to the grandparents’ for the weekend so I will help cook down there, but there is nothing specific planned. After all the cooking we did this past weekend, it’ll be a nice break.

 

Here’s what I have planned so far for the week:

• Monday: Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken (this is a new recipe – if we like it, I’ll share it on the blog soon) Saffron rice, veggies
• Tuesday: Beef with egg noodles & gravy
• Wednesday: leftovers
• Thursday: Sandwiches and leftover chicken wraps

Sunday Silliness

Right Now

Outside my window… the sun is rising and the ground is covered in dew. The birds are chirping and it looks to be a beautiful day.

I am thinking…about the changes happening around me – lots of growth and development in so many places… and all good.

I am thankful for…my beautiful girls.

From the kitchen…blueberry scones this morning and a day full of cooking in preparation for guests tomorrow night, but I am excited to have them and looking forward to the fun of preparing food for them.

I am wearing…comfy PJ’s

I am creating…a happy, peaceful home (still trying)

I am going…to try to focus on being the best mom I can be today. Patience, kindness, gentleness with the girls.

I am reading…Five Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter

I am hoping…that we are not going to be hit with a blackberry winter and another snowstorm before the spring really arrives.

I am hearing…Little Bit playing on the computer and someone walking around upstairs.

Around the house…lots of Kleenex

One of my favorite things…good friends

A few plans for the rest of the week… church on Sunday – dinner with friends Sunday night and again on Saturday night next week.

Join us at The Simple Woman’s Daybook and write your own entry.

Bring it on

One year ago today I started my new life -

One year ago today I had my guts rearranged and my life rearranged at the same time.

 

I look back at that girl from a year ago and I can hardly remember her anymore.

The girl I am today is SO MUCH MORE FULL OF LIFE than before.

I feel better.

I look better (but that, believe it or not, is not as important as I thought it would be)

I am SO MUCH HAPPIER.

Now comes the challenge.

Keeping this train going.

Maintaining.

Building life-long habits.

Staying motivated.

But you know what?

I’m ready.

Bring it on.

The new “me” can handle it.

(if you want to read my story about weight loss surgery, you can start here)

Circus (pt 2)

Since I had quite a few pictures to share, I decided to split into two posts. Here are some more from our trip to the Circus last weekend.

They opened with an “All aboard” type of number – reminiscent of the circus trains of yesteryear.  The theme was celebrating the 200th anniversary of PT Barnum’s circus, so it was a retro/modern-themed affair. They did a really good job of paying homage to circuses of the past while incorporating technology and new things into the show.

See the little guy with the yellow vest? He was riding a Segueway without the handles. It was really cool. They had about 30 of them and they rode them all over the place steering with their legs.

Some of our favorite acts:

Of course the elephants. Love them. Didn’t quite get the whole laying down part of the act, and I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to be the poor guy on the bottom here.

These guys, in their motorcycle-sphere-of-death act scared the snot out of me (literally)  I kept holding my breath the entire act waiting for someone to fall and the whole thing come crashing down. Leave it to the mom in me to be worrying about how they would get them all out and how the EMTs would take care of them if they crashed rather than enjoy the act. I was scared to death. 

There were SEVEN motorbikes in there at one time! SEVEN!

And one was a woman! You would think SHE would have had better sense than that.

The high wire guys.  The act was actually a little boring.  But I liked their costumes.

But the acrobats, now they were phenomenal.  These two brothers were just incredible. Not an ounce of fat on their bodies – they were ALL MUSCLE and they had the most amazing control I have ever seen. I was in awe watching them.

And I kept thinking about them at age 10 or 12 practicing - “Get off my head, dude!”

LOL SuperMan and Big Girl were in awe of these gals. They decided they have probably been practicing since they were little bitty girls, too. 

At one point they were all three crammed into a box that was about 3’ x 4’ x 3’.  THAT was amazing. To watch them unwind and come out of there. Made my back hurt just to watch!

And my favorites, the tigers. Although they seemed a little cranky to me. Not really interested in participating in the show.   There was what I think was a mommy/baby pair, too. When the younger one came down, she gave him/her a little lick to reassure him/her that all was OK. Once they finished their part of the act they left and the little guy seemed quite happy to be out of the spotlight. I’m sure it was overwhelming to be out there  And these guys were awesome. See those little sticks they were jumping on? Wow. Just wow.

Easy-Peasy Lasagne

I know you are probably thinking that there is no way that LASAGNE can be easy, right?

I thought the same thing at first. It was always a special treat at our house, something that wasn’t made very often and usually only upon a special request.

But, you see, I love lasagne. Simply love it.

But it’s a lot of work. Cooking the noodles, layering the ingredients… bubble-overs in the oven… it’s yummy but is it worth it for a week-night dinner?

So, when Little Bit announced, during Big Girl’s birthday dinner @ Provino’s (a local Italian eatery) that her friend’s lasagne looked yummy, I was on a quest to figure out a way to make it for my family, and make  it easy for me, too.

Enter my favorite appliance: the crock pot. (Big Daddy, no less)

I did some research online to see what other crock-pot lasagne recipes were out there and then decided to make mine up as I went along, using what I knew from the traditional way of making lasagne (learned from my grandma) and the newfangled crock-cooking methods.

The verdict?

Absolute yumminess.

And I loved the fact that it was all cooked with very little prep time (or work) by me. I think my total prep time was less than 15 minutes.

One secret? I used no-boil lasagne noodles. 

Many of the recipes I researched didn’t use them, so I think you could probably get away with using “regular” lasagne noodles. I just happened to have them in the pantry from another recipe and decided to use them up for this one.  If you did use the “regular” noodles, I’d probably increase the liquid in my sauce just a bit to prevent things from drying out.

Another thing – Ricotta cheese is traditional in lasagne.  I saw as many recipes with cottage cheese as I did ricotta.  What did I use? This time – cottage cheese. But that was mostly because I had it in the fridge and I wanted to use it up.  Ricotta would’ve meant a trip to the store I wasn’t in the mood to make.  I honestly don’t think you can tell a difference once you cook it.

I also used a store-brand 4 Cheese Italian blend because that was what I had on hand, so don’t feel like you have to go out and buy special cheese for this.

The kids loved it as did SuperMan.  Little Bit had it for lunch two days in a row (in a heated thermos) and said it was even better the next day. I have to agree, as it was my lunch the next day as well.

So, if you like lasagne give it a try.  And if you’ve never tried making lasagne before? Give it a try! This one’s easy-peasey.

Easy-Peasey Crock Pot Lasagne

1 box no-boil lasagne noodles
1 pound ground beef (or turkey)
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 onion, diced fine
~1-2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
~1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 large container of Ricotta or Cottage Cheese
2 cups (minimum) Parmesan/Mozzarella cheese (blended)
reserve about 1 cup of this blend for the topping
1-2 Tbsp olive oil

In a large skillet, sauté your onions in olive oil until translucent.
Add the ground beef (or turkey) and cook thoroughly.
Once your meat is browned, add the garlic and cook for approx. 1 minute.
Pour in your tomatoes and heat through.
Depending on how “saucy” you want this, you could also add a can of tomato sauce or some petite diced tomatoes. (I didn’t)

In the crock pot, spray some non-stick spray, being sure to go all the way up the sides.
Ladle about 1/2 cup of sauce onto the bottom of your crock. Be sure you have a light coating on the entire bottom. This will ensure nothing sticks.

Layer:
- noodles (break them up to make a complete layer)
- sauce
- cheese (I alternate the creamy cheese & shredded cheese layers)

Keep layering until you reach the top or run out of ingredients. Try to finish with a layer of sauce and top this with your reserved parmesan/mozzarella blend.

Put your crock on high for about 2 hours and then on low for another 2 hours.

If you are making this on a workday (or when you are not going to be home) set it on low for 4-5 hours.

Serve with garlic bread and salad.

Easy-Peasey!

Circus (pt. 1)

As I mentioned, we went to the circus on Saturday.

It was the last part of Big Girl’s birthday celebration. Her gift, so to speak.

We got there early and were able to join in on the pre-show activities.     Like watching the elephant paint pictures…

And posing with the clowns

Of course, Little Bit and I live with two clowns all the time…

So that wasn’t really a big deal.

Menu Plan Monday ~ 21 February

Slow start today.

SuperMan is off of work for President’s Day. Little Bit is home sick with a bad cold.

I am moving slowly thanks to an early-morning migraine headache.  It’s better now, thanks to Tylenol and a heating pad on the locked-up muscles in my neck and shoulders. 

Poor Big Girl is at school today, although she didn’t seem perturbed about going out in the world today without us. She is probably happy to be back in her routine.

We had a busy but fun weekend.  Circus on Saturday, church and the usual on Sunday. Lots of fun times with friends and exciting adventures.

I’m planning to try a few new recipes again this week – more from my e-mealz subscription.  I have to admit the past two weeks have been challenging to keep to our menu plan. Life has been hectic and we have had a few nights where dinner has been catch-as-catch can.  Thankfully, I have a well-stocked pantry and we have a lot of leftovers from more prepared days.  So, we have been eating well, just not eating what I’d planned.

This week will, hopefully, not be quite so manic.

Here’s what is on the menu:

• Monday: SuperMan will  grill steaks, I’ll make twice-baked potatoes and roasted veggies
• Tuesday: Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken
  (from my old Menu Mailer subscription)
• Wednesday: this is becoming leftover night because SuperMan and Big Girl tend to eat late (after her late dance class) and Little Bit and I eat early.
• Thursday: Lettuce Wraps
  (this will either be from this recipe that my friend shared with me – and cooked for us on Sunday night – SO good, or from my e-Mealz recipe. Most likely, a mash-up of the two! )
• Friday: I’m thinking about trying the Bacon Cheeseburger pizza from e-Mealz or we’ll do our usual Friday Night Mexican deal.

Weekend? probably something quick and easy – maybe some BBQ pulled pork in the crock pot, roasted potato skins, stuff like that. There are quite a few e-Mealz recipes I’m dying to try. Saturday may be a good day to do that.

Sunday we’re hosting our Small Group from church, so I am still trying to decide what to make for that. Maybe SuperMan’s jambalaya, or some soup. Not sure yet. I found this recipe for a Coconut-Lemon loaf cake that looks good and I think I want to make a new chopped salad I invented last week. Beyond that, it’s still up in the air.

What about you?

Sunday Silliness

Simple Woman’s Daybook – 19 Feb 11

FOR TODAY

Outside my window…I am watching the puppies chase the squirrels away from the bird feeder.

I am thinking…about the fact that Big Girl’s jeans are not that much smaller than mine anymore – I have shrunk and she has grown. Scary.

I am thankful for…the beautiful weather we’re having.

From the kitchen…SuperMan is whipping up a Saturday brunch

I am wearing…my too-big nightshirt

I am creating…a happy, peaceful home

I am going…to the circus today – and exploring downtown while we’re there

I am reading…The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

I am hoping…the beautiful weather continues & SuperMan’s side work picks up

I am hearing…my girls playing Barbies

Around the house…laundry, spring decorations and lots of Kleenex

One of my favorite things…lazy Saturday mornings with the family

A few plans for the rest of the week… church on Sunday and on to the usual weekly routine of dance classes, school & work.

Join us at The Simple Woman’s Daybook and write your own entry.

Spring's Tease

It’s been warm here this week.

In the 70’s the last couple days.

It’s been wonderful.

I feel like a bear coming out of hibernation.

I want to sit outside and soak up the sun, feel the breeze on my face and listen to the birdies chirp.

*achoo*

and sneeze.

darn allergies.

But -

as I sit and soak up the rays and revel in the milder temperatures, there is a part of me that wonders if it is all really, truly happening…

or is this just a tease?

Will we have another spring “blizzard” like we did in ‘93 when we were snowed in for a week in April?

One never knows.

I’m kinda thinking we might.

But, until then, I’ll enjoy what we have.

What I'm Reading

I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately. I’ve pretty much given up on night time television.  There’s nothing on that I care about watching – not enough to give up sleep for, anyway!

So, instead of vegging in front of the TV, I’ve been reading. Once the monkeys go to bed, I snuggle up in my chair in our sitting room and read until I can’t focus anymore. Some nights, that’s five minutes, some it’s more.  It just depends.

I’ve been really lucky, too, in that I’ve found some really great books to read.

I think the last one I shared with you was Juliet or maybe it was Septimus Heap?

I thoroughly enjoyed Juliet. It was a really great book. One I would recommend to anyone.

I have taken a break from Septimus Heap because Big Girl is reading it, too, and she wanted to catch up to me in the story so we can talk about it. So, I’ve been reading other books while we get to the same point in the story.

Here are some of the books I’ve read in the past few weeks:

Prayers for Sale
by Sandra Dallas

This was a really, really good book. I gobbled it up in a matter of days, enjoying it like I would a delicious dessert for my mind.  The characters are really well-written and the story consists of an 80-something year old’s reminiscences of her youth in a gold mining camp in the mountains of Colorado and her current relationship with a young, newly-married girl.  I was hooked within the first few pages and couldn’t wait to sit down and read in the evenings. I was sad when the story was over, wishing I could spend more time with the characters (always a good sign, in my mind)

I would highly recommend it to you. Especially if you are in the mood for something a little bit different.

 

The Lace Makers of Glenmara
by Heather Barbieri

This one just captured me from the very beginning.  It is the story of a heartbroken young woman who is traveling through Ireland trying to recover from being jilted by her fiancé (for another woman, of course).

She ends up in a small village that has a lace making group – middle-aged women who each have stories of their own.  The book weaves their stories, and Kate’s (the main character) together beautifully, and the imagery is spectacular.

I finished this one last night and am hoping to find more stories by this author.

Another one I’d highly recommend.

 

Now, I’m starting The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry.

It’s the story of a young psychotherapist, Zee Finch, who is thrown in a tailspin when one of her patients commits suicide.

She travels back to Salem, where she is from, and finds her father in poor health and needing care.

I’m not much further into the book than that, but I loved The Lace Reader, another book by Barry, so I am looking forward to reading this one.

I’ll let you know how it turns out.

 

 

 

And what about you?

What are you reading these days?  Any recommendations?

Some favorites

I thought I’d share some of my favorite (recent) blog posts with you -

There have been quite a few with some really good information in the past couple weeks and I thought I’d pass them on to you.

• How to be a more patient mom in 24 hours on Inspired to Action
• Here’s a recipe I just have to try: Lemon Herb Crockpot Chicken on Crafting Chicks
• Catalog Living – have you seen this before? Funny, funny.
• Homemade Chocolate Pop Tarts on Cheeky Kitchen. Got to try making these.
• Here’s another thing I want to try to make – from Make and Takes
• And another DIY project I want to try before summer.
• More dinner ideas from Cozi. If you haven't tried them you ought to check it out. I love the calendar features and the fact that I can store my grocery list online and access it from my cell phone.

So, if you have a few minutes, take a look around – and I’d love it if you’d share some of your favorite blog posts with me in the comments!

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

I mentioned on Facebook yesterday that I was cooking Chicken & Dumplings last night for dinner. And I did make them. However, I made them a little differently than I normally do.  

Usually, I follow this recipe, which my family loves.

But yesterday, I had a leftover "rotisserie chicken" that was supposed to be Sunday night's dinner and wasn't eaten due to a change in our evening plans. I wanted to make use of that already-cooked chicken, but didn't have the broth that usually is made when I cook my Chicken & Dumplings the "normal" way.

So, here's what I did:

I decided to make use of my old friend, Mr. Crock Pot (the big daddy)

I dropped the deboned, diced chicken in and added a can of cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup (the low fat versions), a chicken boullion cube, some low-salt chicken boullion and about five cans of water.  I diced some celery and carrots, added some onion and garlic, and turned the crock on High for about four hours.

Closer to dinnertime, I made my dumplings and transferred my broth/chicken mixture to a large stock pot and brought it to a rolling boil.   I dropped the dumplings in and let them cook for about 30 minutes.  

SuperMan and the kids loved it. And I loved that it was so easy. I may make my chicken & dumplings this way forever.  So much less to baby-sit and still full of flavor and rich goodness. I can't wait to have some for lunch today.

Here's the recipe:

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

1 whole chicken, cooked, deboned & cubed
1 can cream of mushroom soup (low fat)
1 can cream of chicken soup (low fat)
1 chicken boullion cube
1 low-sodium chicken boullion packet (or another boullion cube)
4-5 cans warm water
1 cup chopped carrot
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
salt/pepper or Houston House Seasoning to taste

Add all ingredients to crock pot and cook on high 4-5 hours (or low 6-8 hours)

About 30 minutes before serving, transfer to a large stockpot & bring to a boil. Make dumplings.

Dumplings:

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup + 2 Tbs milk
more flour for dusting

Mix all ingredients. Allow dough to rest 5-10 minutes. Turn half out onto floured work surface. Roll  to approx 1/2 inch thickness. Cut into strips approx 1/2 inch wide and 1 inch long (or cut with a small cookie cutter) Do the same with the remaining dough.

Drop dumplings into the broth (which should be at a rolling boil). Cook for about 30 minutes. When you drop the dumplings in, they will float to the top and then sink as they cook.  They'll also give your broth a creamy richness.

Stir often while they cook so that they all cook evenly and don't stick to the bottom of your pot. 

Menu Plan Monday ~ 14 February

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I hope you find some time today to spend with the ones you love.

I know I will be working on some special treats for my family. Nothing big, but hopeful that they make them smile.

Here’s what’s on my menu this week – in no particular order. Some are repeats from earlier weeks because we’ve veered off the menu a few times. I also reserve the right to change up a little mid-week because I’ve subscribed to e-Mealz.com and I’m going to give a few of their recipes a whirl. It’s a great program, on the surface. $5 a month gets you a weekly menu and shopping list. What I like are the variety of choices you get – including ones that take advantage of grocery sales for Publix, Kroger, Aldi or WalMart.  There are also Weight Watchers friendly menus. 

I’ll let you know how it goes after we try our first month.

A couple of the items on my menu this week are from the first two menu plans I’ve downloaded, so I’m jumping in right away with some new things to try.

I like mixing it up a bit, while keeping my family favorites in the rotation.

Anyway, here is our menu:

• Sunday night: Crock Pot “Rotisserie” chicken
• Sloppy Joes (made w/ leftovers from the meatloaf)
• Chicken pot pie (with leftover chicken)
• Grilled steaks w/ twice baked potatoes
• Mexican Chicken Salad (from e-Mealz)
• Lettuce Wraps (from e-Mealz)
• Taco night (maybe served w/ Tortilla soup for the grown ups)

For lunches this week:

• Veggie Chili
• Chopped Blue Cheese Salad
• Tortilla soup (if I don’t do the chili)

Check out more menu ideas at orgjunkie.com

Sunday Silliness

Ten years ago…

Ten years ago, I was walking the square in Dahlonega, perusing the shops and enjoying a cold, but sunny Sunday afternoon with SuperMan.

Ten years ago, I was a silly girl who had no idea what was in store for her.

Ten years ago, I was given one of the greatest blessings in my life.

I was given a challenge and a responsibility.

I was given a gift so precious words don’t do it justice.

I was given something I had been longing for for as long as I could remember.

Ten years ago, I became a mom.

Happy Birthday, sweet, sweet girl.

I love you more than you will ever know.

Fast & Easy Chicken Stir Fry

This recipe is adapted from one I’ve linked you to before. The original comes from the Kraft website, but, as I usually do, I modified the recipe for my family.

I added more veggies and left out a few things we don’t care for (like the peanuts the Kraft recipe calls for)

It’s a quick fix for dinner on a busy night. Prep to table in less than 30 minutes.

And my kids (and SuperMan) love it. Which is always a good thing.

I love the leftovers. I think it tastes better the next day.

As I mentioned before, I am working on something cooking-related and I can’t wait to share the details with you… but I want it to be a little further along before I do…

So we’ll both have to be patient, eh?

Here’s the recipe. Let me know how you like it if you try it out.

 

Asian Chicken Stir Fry

---

6 servings

Adapted from Kraft's Speedy Chicken Stir Fry
1 pound chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 pound angel hair pasta
1 can water chestnuts
1 cup shredded carrots
2 cups broccoli
1/2 cup Kraft Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Cook Pasta - in the last 3 minutes of cooking, add broccoli to boiling water.
In a large saucepan, sauté chicken in vegetable oil until lightly browned.
Add garlic & cook for about a minute.
Add dressing, soy sauce, carrots, water chestnuts, stirring to mix together.
Turn heat down to low until pasta and broccoli are cooked.
Drain pasta & broccoli & add to the chicken mixture, tossing to mix everything
Sprinkle sesame seeds on top before serving.

Father/Daughter Dance

The girls had their Father/Daughter Dance last Friday night.

They were super excited.

We had to get new dresses, fix the hair, and even put on a tiny bit of makeup. (that was my idea – they’re not crazy about makeup, thank goodness)

And off they went, to dance the night away with their Daddy… with their SuperMan.

But not before I snapped a few pictures of them.

 

And told them not to come home before the last dance!
(Last year they left early because they were worried I would be lonely at home all alone!)

And they had a blast.

Came home high on candy and fun.

But I AM exercising!