The week ahead

Today:

• Grass was cut – bagged – and is now being watered – all in hopes of getting aerated and seeded this week.  For all the rain we had this summer…dry as a ding dang bone now….
• Groceries for the week plus purchased (with the exception of a few items I’ll need for Friday)
• Meals planned..I always feel so much better headed into the week when this is done.
• Monday’s dinner is COOKED. Crazy, I know.  But I made LASAGNA and it’s always better when it’s cooked and settled then reheated.  Not sure why that is true…but it is.
• The rest of the week Ill be flexible with the order of the other meals depending on the leftover situation
• Ham (purchased a nice size spiral sliced one from Aldi – my family LOVES a “real” ham.  I’ll do a real mashed potatoes and green beans PLUS another favorite, Crockpot Apples.
• Pot Roast with carrots, celery, potatoes and onions. I’ve got some Trader Joe Pumpkin Bread mix – which is AWESOME so that is a possibility
• White Bean Soup – since I’ve made the Ham – I’ll have a ham bone – and you MUST have a HAM bone to make this soup.  It is a family favorite!!!  Even if I make it and freeze it for later.  It goes great with cornbread – and I have a boxed Jiffy mix on hand.  This is a DFINITE make meal for the week – but might be frozen for later – again – depending on the leftover situation
• Friday night FOR SURE is Providence High School Homecoming BBQ night.  It is so good – we ordered several pounds this year – because it also freezes beautifully.  :0)   I’ll pick up some fresh buns, cole slaw and whip up some baked beans and walla – dinner.

Also on for this coming week…Pootie takes the SAT’s for the first time this coming Saturday.  Very cool.  My baby is growing up. 

Crash has two high school soccer games – one against one of his best buddies tomorrow night.   They have not been on opposing teams for a long time – they will be so cute. 

Sassy Lola girl has started drama production tryout stuff at the middle school.  That is going to add a whole new dynamic to my evening….but so excited for her.  Thank goodness my mom has retired so hopefully she can be my back  up if needed! 

THE BABY- (yes, he is still called the BABY.)  He is LOVING preschool and so far – has not been kicked out!  He is going three days a week and it is so exciting for me to see him so happy.  Even after getting sick the first week….

That’s all for now – enjoy the week….

Happy Fall Ya’ll!

9.24.2013

 

Nineteen years!!!  Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband!!  (We’ve been together for 21)  I, personally, think we’ve aged quite well!!!!  19 years and 4 kids later….I still love him.  And thankfully, he says he still loves me!

This is for you Chedda’!

A long time friend of mine (we’ve called her Cheddar forever) asked me last night about good websites for quick, easy, kid friendly recipes…of course I told her about the site that used to be called RECIPEZAAR.  (It is now called FOOD.com)  and it has long been one of my favorites.

I can sort by what I’m looking for…I HIGHLY recommend it. 

• You can look without creating an account.  I opted long ago to create an account.  It saves things to “my cookbook”…so I can quickly go back to recipes.
• You can filter by ANYTHING – beef, chicken, veggie, sides, casseroles, crock pots, nut free, weight watchers – you name- you can find list after list of recipes!
• AND they have very cool tools to help you plan a menu – for whatever length of time you want – AND it can help you make the grocery list.

I use part of this method and then I also have a spiral notebook that I keep my “lists” in.  So here are my other random TIPS (as they come to me so if it sounds scattered – sue me!)

• Keep something, whether online or tried and true pen and paper, to write down your plan and your shopping list.
• Ask you family WHAT they want to eat.  Ask them what you cook that they like and would want again.  Ask them what they don’t like…Crash and Lola really likes Chicken Parmesan – so they ask for it every dang week…it doesn't happen like that – but I know it makes him happy to I try to work it in there maybe twice a month…Pootie likes beef stroganoff…
• Start small – don’t try to plan a whole month at a time…..start with 5 days or a full week.
• Don’t forget you need to have breakfast and lunch stuff - 
• Decide WHY you want to do this – is the grocery bill out of control?  Do you want them to stop eating cereal for dinner (although ya know, Suzy said it a long time ago, that stuff is fortified with vitamins and minerals... hahaha)
• If you are trying to stop the ridiculous spending that occurs when you “just run into the store” – then think about where you shop.  Think about what’s on sale – consider planning a morning looking at different stores.  I LOVE Aldi for pantry items – and what I can’t get there – I go to BiLo or Walmart – the HT prices are ridiculous and KILL a budget….but they have great sales.
• Give yourself one easy night and then try something higher up on the richter scale for difficulty.
• Make sure you also think about what you have going on that day for that particular meal.  If I know I’m out at the office – I go to casseroles or crock pot….If I’m at home all day “with nothing to do” (which NEVER happens)  I go for the Chicken Parm or something that requires more prep time.  (They are picky picky picky – they want THIN pounded out Chicken…..)
• POST the menu – I have a dry erase board on the fridge and put the week’s dinner plans up there.  Stops everyone from asking me what the heck is for dinner
• If you have something come up – that’s fine –feed them a quick sandwich and move things forward a night.  Or swap nights….
• Here is the most important thing……PLAN FOR EACH DINNER.
• Chicken Parm with pasta and broccoli
• Hot Roast beef sandwiches with bourbon carrots
• Pork Chops with mac and cheese and peas
• After that THEN make your grocery list – if you figure out the whole meal – you eliminate the oh crap what am I gonna fix with that last minute panic.  Sides are easy to swap- but at least you have some idea.
• Keep lists of what worked and what didn’t – I LOVE trying new recipes – but if they don’t like it – it doesn’t get made again…
• Try a breakfast night for dinner – that’s always a hit…
• CROCK POT CROCK POT CROCK POT!!!  I LOVE my CROCK POT!
• Oh another fall and winter favorite is BAKED POTATO BAR! 
• Make sure you plan a leftover night if you are making “extra”…..

That’s it for now…again – these are the things that help me.  I;m here for you sista’!!!  Good luck!!!!!!!!!

Just a reminder

Just how far he’s come