Menu Plan Monday on Wednesday: Easter Edition

Okay, so I had a busy weekend and I've had a weird week. Thus, no menu plan. Oopsie.

I did switch food around in fridges and freezers because I found a good deal on craigslist for a fridge. So there was some stuff to use up.

I had an activity last night with one of my kids, so we had Papa Murphys. Note to self: I do not like their pizza sauce.

 

I asked friends on my Facebook what they are eating this Easter and got some fun responses including eating out or ordering in from Cracker Barrel, Marie Callendars and La Provance. One of my friends listed out almost exactly my menu, sans the Stained Glass Cake. She is going to serve Key Lime Pie for dessert instead.

One friend is going greek (should I capitalize that?) so I imagine she is making lamb. Several friends are making lamb actually. But I can't stand lamb so I did not add it. When I said as much, that same friend, who knows I'd never, ever eat it, suggested rabbit. Of course then we joked about hossenfeffer (sp?).

No can do Mr. Elmer Fudd.

My Menu:(underlined titles are clickable links which will take you to the recipe) 

Tri-Tip Roasts made on Traeger Grill. I am using a delicious and simple recipe from a friend. It’s top secret so I can’t give you the recipe. But do imagine something mouth watering. Because even I love it and I am not a meat lover). We are having company so I will make 2 of these.

Spiral Ham (My family loves leftovers and there will be no tri-tip leftover)

Avocado Strawberry Salad
I got the basic recipe from Frontier Foods and adjusted it with my own preferences and also to include spinach (see very end of post for recipe).

Dilly Rolls with real organic butter (if anyone asks me why organic is important for butter I will post about it later). I have served these for years. I usually make at least a triple batch as my family loves using them to make ham sandwiches with leftover ham. If I am running short on time I will substitute with Costco's Potato Rolls.

Potato Casserole
SHORTCUT: Buy frozen cubed, usually called O'Brien, potatoes at the store rather than peeling and dicing or slicing my own. I add sour cream, cream cheese, ranch dressing mix and cheddar and bake in a casserole dish. For holidays I often buy the disposable aluminum pans for quicker clean up and more enjoyment of the day.

Gravy (because I like to use the juice from the ham and my family loves gravy leftovers)

Tangerine Grilled Asparagus 

I have tried an asparagus and melon dish before. I hate melon but thought it might be good. It tasted like melon. I did not like it. I have also tried a soy and sesame one and I liked it. But I wanted to try something new and this sounded interesting and yummy. We'll see how it goes.

Stained Glass Cake, a family tradition since my big kids were little

Maybe:
Blackberry Jam Cake With Caramel Icing My friend K'lyn suggested this one. She found her recipe via Rachael Ray. But I could not locate that one so my link is one I found by using good ole Google. If I make it, I will use this recipe. It sounds awfully moist and delicious.

Costco Cookies (I love dipping things in my coffee or milk like a raccoon. Prefer homemade but will be at church all morning and don't want to rush around too much the day before)

Other things I considered:

Kouign Aman My friend K'lyn told me about this also. It's one of the things she's thinking about making. I didn't choose it for this time only because it sounds like something I want to practice before I make it for company. But it sure sounds yummy. I hope K makes it so she can tell me how it turns out.

Trifle of some kind. It looks so pretty in the trifle dish. I have made several kinds. I love using fresh berries in summer. But would probably make a chocolate coffee one I made once before. Now that I'm thinking about it I am kinda sad I am not making it.

Do any of you have a special food tradition or something interesting and new you are trying? What are you doing for Holy Day? I love new ideas for recipes and for traditions.

Well, there's lots more I'd like to say about Easter and Passover and my thoughts on them this year. Hopefully I will get to at least one more post this week.

In the meantime, I am hoping each of you has a blessed Holy Day,

STRAWBERRY AVOCADO SALAD:

2 Avocadoes and 2 Oranges, both peeled and cut into bite sized chunks.

2 Cups Strawberries, sliced

2/3 cups Pecans, Toasted

Toss with about 1/3 of dressing (below) or to desired amount

Fill Salad bowl with spinach leaves

Arrange fruit mixture on top of spinach.

Sprinkle with pecans just before serving to keep them crisp

Drizzle with a little more dressing

Serve additional dressing on the side

DRESSING:
1 Cup Plain Yogurt
3 Tablespoons Honey
1/4 plus 1/8 teaspoon cardamom seed powder
1/4 plus 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon powder
3/4 teaspooon dried peppermint leaf, more if fresh

Menu Plan Monday: March 22-28, 2010

Between leftovers, food I discovered that needed to be used from the freezer, the fact that I forgot to include our traditional St. Patty's Day menu last week, and the trays of {delicious} staff leftovers that my oldest son brought home, I only made a couple of my menu items this week. So, needless to say, it was easy to plan this week's menu.


Because things are always changing around here, I do not include my breakfast or lunch menus in my menu plan. But please do stay tuned this week because I am doing more with green smoothies. I am taking a challenge from The Smoothie Queen for 10 days, just to give me more ideas. And I'll be posting my very favorite green smoothie. It has 2 cups of spinach in it but I DON'T EVEN TASTE IT!


Now for my dinner plans for this week:

Monday: Jerky Chicken with Quinoa

Tuesday: Moroccan Root Vegetable Stew over Couscous (cook whole chicken, debone and include chicken in this recipe then use broth for Tortellini Soup)

Wednesday: Basil Tortellini Soup with Homemade Bread

Thursday: Freezer Surprise

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: CONCERT, dinner on the go

Sunday: Eat Out

Have a wonderful First Week Of Spring!

Shakin’ Things Up for St. Patty’s Day

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

My husband’s family comes from Irish-Catholic roots, so we don’t like to let this holiday of Irish-Catholic heritage pass by without at least a nod.

I actually changed my menu plan up a bit because I was able to find some corned beef with no unnatural nitrates added for a *fairly* reasonable price at Trader Joe’s. Another reason to love me some Trader Joe’s. It’ll be a-boilin’ along with some cabbage and potatoes here shortly.

In the meantime, we rustled up that Green Smoothie I was talking about on Menu Plan Monday.

Now, I know we often tell our kids not to play with their food, but that’s because we don’t want them to waste it. And we don’t want to clean up ketchup packet squirts on the ceiling or spaghetti dried on the walls. Because that sort of thing has happened around here a time or two. Not that I’d know, but I can imagine.

But, kids like to be involved in making what they eat. And, as I began laying out the ingredients for the GREEN smoothie, my Mimmy Moo started placing the fruits and veggies into the happy face above. Despite his rather sizeable nose, I think her artistic rendering of St. Patty turned out pretty cute.

You can see that St. Patty is comprised of kale, parsley and mint hair, a pear nose, lime eyes, and a kiwi smile. But wait – there’s even more green around here…

We also added a green apple, at least a cup of spinach and some wheat grass to our tray. And ice. Because we like it cold. GREEN and cold.

Then Mimmy added about a cup of water.

Then she just started right in putting the green stuff in the Vita-Mix.

It usually works best to put the more wet items toward the bottom. And, since we do have a heavy duty, tough as nails machine, I don’t do anything more than cut the hard stuff in quarters. I don’t remove the cores or the peels of most, though I did peel the kiwi.

Yes, sweet girl, ALL of that spinach.

If you are just learning about greeeen smoothies, the trick is to find out how many greens you can add without the veggie taste overpowering the sweet taste of the fruits.

Pile it in there. Stick it upside down and sideways. Squish it in.

Really! Have fun, cuz it just doesn’t matter, as long as those hard working blades can get to them. Now, you can create a log jam of sorts if you cram it in too tightly, you don’t layer, or if you have a standard blender. If you don’t have a mean, green-splitting machine, you will want to cut things into smaller pieces and maybe blend between every few additions. But it’s still easy-peasy and well worth it.

Squirt the juice of about one half of a lime (or to taste). Make sure you don’t get it in your eye.

Notice the log jam I created when I was too lazy forgot to cut the apples and pears into quarters (also known as fourths for the rest of you third graders who are learning about fractions like Mimmy is). I left them in halves and let her pile them in top of each other instead of layering them. It worked out okay, but took longer and created some warmth I usually only want for soup.

More ice please.

Turn that baby on and turn her up as fast as you can. We have to use the tamper that came with our machine.

Then you lick your lips in anticipation.

I TOLD YA --- it is GREEN!

Give it the ole taste test… You can add a little more mint, or a little honey or stevia to sweeten. A banana works well for sweetener too, but banana is strong and likes to take over (which can be a good thing if your kids don’t like the other tastes yet).

… goof around with your brother a little, if you have one of those around. If you don’t, a sister -- or even a parent or grandparent will do. Not as nicely.

But it will work.

CHEERS!

"The Blessing"

(Click on above to hear beautiful song)
In the morning when you rise
I bless the sun, I bless the skies
I bless your lips, I bless your eyes
My blessing goes with you
In the nighttime when you sleep
Oh I bless you while a watch I keep
As you lie in slumber deep
My blessing goes with you
This is my prayer for you
There for you, ever true
Each, every day for you
In everything you do
And when you come to me
And hold me close to you
I bless you
And you bless me, too
When your weary heart is tired
If the world would leave you uninspired
When nothing more of love's desired
My blessing goes with you
When the storms of life are strong
When you're wounded, when you don't belong
When you no longer hear my song
My blessing goes with you
This is my prayer for you
There for you, ever true
Each, every day for you
In everything you do
And when you come to me
And hold me close to you
I bless you
And you bless me, too
I bless you
And you bless me, too

Menu Plan Monday: March 15-21, 2010

I never did go in last week and make my menu any prettier or any more interesting. But I DID get it up there and that helped me stay on track this week. As usual, being purposeful gave me, Ms. Flexibility, something to flex, as I did not make everything -- and certainly not on the nights I had planned them. But a menu gives me a starting point and a safety net when my days get busy or I get distracted, which I do have a tendency to do.

One of my current distractions is that I have started making Green Smoothies the last couple of weeks. I thought maybe I'd be the only one drinking them. I acted very possessive and like I did not want to share. Of course, that made them very desirable. And, whaddaya know? Many mornings I end up sharing. Hmm, how'd that happen? (I know you are exchanging a knowing smile with me right now.)

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I hope to get at least one blog post in this week about Green Smoothies. After all, I am married to an Irish Guy. So, if you are interested, then tell your people to contact my people (i.e. alert your blog reader to alert you when I post) and we'll getcha hooked up.

In the meantime, here's what's for dinner:

Monday: Loaded BBQ Potato Casserole
Tuesday: Freezer Surprise (Thanks for the idea Dragon Musings)
Wednesday: Jerky Chicken
Thursday: Basil Tortellini Soup with Sister's Homemade Bread
Friday: Moroccan Style Chicken and Root Vegetable Stew served over couscous
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Eat Out



Have a healthfully green week!

A,B,C -- Easy As 1, 2, 3 (Alphabet Soup)

In my hastily posted menu plan yesterday, I included a link for Scrabble Soup for Wednesday. Because of mood schedule changes, I often make my menu items on a night other than the one I have planned.

So yep, we had Alphabet Stew tonight. I did not use the Scrabble Soup recipe I linked to but, instead, made up my own. It turned out great, especially with the fabulous bread my daughter makes (by herself other than getting the honey out of the gallon jar) in the bread machine. Everyone, including Mr. Picky Pants, loved it. I am going to attempt to write out the recipe below so I can make it again. If you want to make it also, have at it.

Be forewarned that preparing this soup, or even thinking about it, could bring on your own kitchen performance of ABC, ala Jackson 5.

Off The Cuff Alphabet Soup

Put about 10 cups cold water in a gorgeous pot. Mine is a red Le Creuset 8.5 quart I purchased at Costco with my rebate check a couple years ago.

If the pot is pretty it makes all the difference in the world.

Throw some beef bones in there and add 2+ Tablespoons plain old white vinegar. Vinegar helps extract more nutrition out of those old bones. I say 2+ Tablespoons because I actually really like the tangy flavor it gives so I use more than the recommended amount. Why is it, that when I talk about "those old bones", I keep thinking of myself? Hmm.

Add:

~ 1-2 turnips, peeled and diced

~ 1-2 carrots, sliced thinly

~ Celery stalks and/or leaves and parts, cut up

~ 1-2 cloves garlic

~ 1 onion, sliced

~ Sea Salt, maybe about 2 teaspoons

Now go correct your kid's math, get caught up on laundry, cut up all of the produce you bought yesterday and freeze them on cookie sheets for smoothies later -- or whatever it is that you do all day.

Then pour yourself a glass of wine. We're going to be here awhile.

This is my friend Julie, getting some wine. Not while she made soup. It was at her birthday party. But, still. She was getting some wine and she looks cute in her new dress so I'm leaving it up.

Let those bones and veggies boil for hours and hours, maybe even overnight.

Then, if your family hates the veggies you have included, take them out and blend them up so they don't know they are in there. Then put 'em back in. If they don't have that hatred, well, I'm happy for ya, and just leave them alone.

Remove the bones, strip the little bit of meat that might have still been attached, shred it up and throw it back in the gorgie pot. Add some more veggies of your choice, as many or as few as you'd like.

Add:

~ 1 32 ounce box Beef Broth

~ 1/4 - 1/2 cup onion soup mix (I buy in bulk from Frontier), to taste

~ 1 packet Simply Organic Mushroom Sauce Mix (because I had it, you don't have to)

~ 1 Tablespoon Oregano

~ 1 Tablespoon Dried Basil or fresh to taste

~ Sea Salt to taste

~ 4 Tablespoons Worchestershire Sauce

~ Veggies of your choice (I did not add any additional veggies because I was hoping to slip one over on Mr. Picky Pants, which I did).

~ 1 Pound Cooked Beef of your choice, I used ground

Bring back to boil and add Alphabet Pasta. I found the alphabet pasta for $3.00 through my co-op.

Like, um, a year ago.

So when I cleaned out my pantry and saw I still had it, I decided I better use it. Tomorrow is my co-op order day. I am glad I know how much we like it so I can order more. And it will not be a year before I use it this time.

It is especially fun for little ones who don't like "veg-a-bles". Mine got so distracted with the alphabet and the colors of the pasta that he didn't say a word about the veggies. It helped that the veggies were soft and sort of fell apart in the soup also.

If you want soup, add about 1/2 cup of the ABC pasta. Or, you can be like me, reason that you have had the box for a year, it's time to use it up, and dump the whole thing in, creating a thicker stew.

Whatever. The picture is from my cell phone because my camera is broken. At least now you have a blurry idea of what an alphabet stew might look like.

Serve piping hot, preferably with a slice of homemade bread and a pat of real butter.

Some of us are dippers. This bread is too good to dunk, but the crust can be sacrificed to use as a great dipper.

E-A-T U-P!

Menu Plan Monday: March 8-12, 2010

Please do check back in the next day or so for a much nicer MPM post. I at least want to get this linked at OrgJunkie before I am number 5,846 -- but I am going to add more detail as soon as I have a chance. Have a great week!

Monday: Lentil tacos with Homemade Tortillas
Tuesday:Slow Cooker Enchiladas
Wednesday: Scrabble Soup with bread homemade by my little daughter
Thursday: Basketball Pizza Parties for 2 kids
Friday: Loaded BBQ Potato Casserole
Saturday: Leftover Buffet

Amos' Story

Ohh, I remember the waiting.

We had applied to adopt our daughter and the wait seemed to drag on and on and on.

We hoped for updates frequently. But that is not the way it works. You only get an update if there is something new. Sometimes not even then.

Imagine if you are already waiting, then something unexpected happens.

Like an earthquake perhaps.

This video is a wonderful tribute to those families who know what it is like to wait for their children to come home.