Quote

Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts.


-- Nikki Giovanni

Menu Plan Monday

First off I made my tweaks with my last week's plan:
On Friday [instead of the crockpot meal] we had seasoned chicken breast, cheddar cauliflower [orange colored cauliflower from the Farmer Market], and brown rice.

Saturday- I got some locally caught salmon and we had salmon with Rub With Love seafood seasoning on it [kind of a curry], cous cous in curry flavor, and half a watermelon- Yum!


Alright this week:

Monday: leftovers for lunch
Hamburger with corn on the cob

Tuesday: Pizza for lunch
Sausage and Lentil Soup

Wednesday: Not sure
Not sure as we have guests coming to town for a visit

Thursday: same as Wednesday

Friday: Lunch out in Salem following my husband's work event
Dinner out- hopefully at McCormick's

For more menu ideas click here

Camera

It has been difficult staying motivated to post in my blog without using pictures that we take. I really, really miss my camera but maybe it is time for bigger and better things... After some researching I have my eye on a Nikon D40, or D50, or even a D60... A thing of beauty. So when my little check from college comes my way- I won't be buying a laptop so I can school anywhere- I'll be getting a camera so I can show you my kids and general life. Snapping away should have me feeling better again :)



Isn't it purty?!!!

Thankfulness

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.


-- Epictetus

Monday Plan Menu

I have to report that the Crockpot Carnitas are out of this world good! I used a dry-rubbed pork butt that was 3.4 lbs from Gartner's and the verde sauce from Trader Joe and it was awesome! We had quesadillas last night using the pork, some pinto beans, and little bit of cheese- Yum!

Monday:
Breakfast- Diy- do it yourself [Solomon had cereal, Cyrus had toast with sunflower butter, and I am having toast with butter]
Lunch- Cheese tortellini with pesto, summer sausage slices, and carrot sticks.
Dinner- Hamburgers for the kids with apple slices and tuna fish sandwich for me [we didn't get to this last week]

Tuesday:
Breakfast- Muffins and fruit smoothie
Lunch- eating out with Pizza
Dinner- Carnitas Quesadillas

Wednesday:
Breakfast- Fruit smoothie with toast
Lunch- No idea yet
Dinner- Open my fridge and make magic happen

Thursday:
Breakfast- Toast with egg
Lunch- Pizza Roll ups from Picky Palate and I will probably add some shredded spinach to the filling.
Dinner- Picnic to take to see Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory at an outdoor theatre at the Washington Park- so excited! I'll be making chicken salad to serve with crackers or on top of a bed of lettuce. We'll see what I get at the Farmers Market for fruits and vegetables. I'll make some cookies too.

Friday:
Breakfast- Waffles with crushed fresh strawberries on top
Lunch- Leftover chicken/chicken salad with some fixins on the side
Dinner- Trying another crockpot recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup [I'll add more vegetables like carrots to the mixture and serve with brown rice to make it less soupy]

* 1 pound shredded, cooked chicken
* 1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
* 1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 2 cups water
* 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
* 1 teaspoon cumin
* 1 teaspoon chili powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 1 bay leaf
* 1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn
* 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
* 7 corn tortillas
* vegetable oil

1. Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chiles, and garlic into a slow cooker. Pour in water and chicken broth, and season with cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir in corn and cilantro. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
3. Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with oil. Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet.
4. Bake in preheated oven until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. To serve, sprinkle tortilla strips over soup.

Saturday:
Breakfast- Waffles with strawberries again
Lunch- leftovers from last night
Dinner- Chicken Biryani and here is a recipe that I found online for it and I am not sure if I will use it exactly as I have some research to do.

Sunday:
Breakfast- I'll have muffins on hand for the guys to fend by themselves with
Lunch- Leftover
Dinner- Steaks with a mushroom sauce, potato, and a salad [need a break from all the chicken and it is Dan's last week away from us]

For more menu plan ideas go here!

Charlie Wilson's War

Dan and I watched this movie and we both really, really enjoyed it. It is all about the beginning of America's [government] involvement with Afghanistan.

*Special note, I am not a fan of Tom Hanks and generally avoid his movies- he really gets into character here and well just see the movie. Dan likes Tom Hanks as an actor and well just see the movie.

Quote

When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.


-- U.S. Grant

Weekly Menu Plan

Another week, another menu plan...

Monday: Mac and Cheese with grilled chicken and a side of cut cucumbers

Tuesday: Back to pizza but the usual deal of $10 for a large pineapple and ham is out because cost is going up so it'll be $12 plus I have a coupon for a free large salad!

Wednesday: Baked chicken with pesto and lightly saute zucchini for the side

Thursday: Burgers for the boys, tuna salad on buns for me, homemade onion rings, and a salad.

Friday: Crockpot Carnitas

1 pork shoulder roast, around 3-4 lbs.
1 16 oz. jar green salsa
garlic powder and pepper to taste
2 bay leaves
1/4 c. water

Put pork roast in crockpot. Sprinkle generously with pepper and garlic powder. Put the two bay leaves on top and then pour the salsa and water in. Cook on low for 10-12 hours. Strain the juice and use only the liquid, discard the rest. Shred the meat with fork and moisten meat with reserved liquid. Serve with tortillas and your choice of toppings (cheese, tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream, etc.)

Happy Birthday E!!!



Hope you have a fun day!

Happy Independence Day!

We're having fun the old-fashioned American way- a BBQ followed by a baseball game: the Portland Beavers verses the Tacoma Rainiers! Go Beavers! We'll have dessert at the baseball game- the rainbow shaved ice are calling out to the boys and the freeze-dried [or whatever it is] ice cream is calling out to me... After the game they do a fireshow there and I am sure we'll be able to catch some glimpse of the fireshow over the river if the tall buildings aren't too much in our way... I'll have to get a disposal camera to capture this.

Have a merry American Holiday!

Ack I forgot to post my Menu Monday

Well I'll just backtrack to catch you up and then tell you my secret future plans:

Sunday June 29: Fish Tacos using Sole locally caught and bought at the Farmer's Market with cilantro and lime coleslaw. I have never been a big fan of Sole- thought I didn't like the texture or taste but it must have been how it was cooked and what sauce it had because this sole was out of this world! I had Dan touch the cold, slimy fish (evil laugh) after I cut it into one inch pieces- first he rubbed some Mandarin Orange Pepper Jelly which I get from our local and fabulous Rose City Pepperheads of which we are seriously addicted to then lightly breaded with panko and my favorite spice: Trader Joe's 21 Salute Seasoning [has no added salt] then cooked in a pan using tiny bit of olive oil. Yummy!

Monday June 30: From Gartner's Meat Market we got Italian Stuffed Pork Tenderloins which I seared then baked with homemade italian sauce. Pour that over some fresh pasta and voila- the family thinks I am a genius. Such adoring fans...

Tuesday July 1: Leftovers- Dan had Pork Tenderloin Pasta, I had fish with coleslaw, and the kids had fresh pasta, cooked vegetables, and pesto sauce with some slices of summer sausage.

Wednesday- Today: Sandwiches. Turkey deli meat from Gartner's, bacon fried up, lettuce, sprouts, and their favorite condiment on bread slices. [Also making a quiche for breakfast]

Thursday- July 3rd: Simple is good with seasoned chicken breast, rice, and a salad.

Friday- Holiday!: We are having a BBQ over at some friends' house- we are bringing the buffalo patties from Gartner's, watermelon, and coleslaw!