This Week's Eats - Menu

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at orgjunkie.com

I'm really looking forward to this week's menu.  Fall is in the air and I feel like cooking is a lot easier when the radiant heat from the stove and oven are welcome warmths.  I'm excited for fall and the soups, stews, and casseroles that are so much easier in cool weather.  They are favourites that often get put on hold during the summer months.

Here's what we're eating this week:

Monday: butter chicken with broccoli

Tuesday: lasagne, using leftover spaghetti sauce from last week

Wednesday: pork tenderloin, roasted potatoes, carrots, and green beans

Thursday:  leftovers

Friday:  pita pizzas (I'm going to try making my own pizza sauce! I'll let you know how it goes.)

Saturday:  chicken pasta with peppers and onions

What're you eating this week?

Super Easy Cucumber Salad Recipe

With last week being so hot all the time, with a history of throwing out the rotten lettuce before I remember to make a "real" salad, without having done groceries in almost a week, and with a desire to eat something cool and light rather than anything that would require turning on the oven, I turned to Google for a cucumber salad recipe.

I needed something that only used ingredients I had on hand - no fancy onions or extra vegetables, no specialty vinegars or sauces.

Here's what I came up with, based on a few different recipes I found:

Ingredients:
1 English cucumber, sliced thinly
4 tsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp white sugar
1/8 tsp salt

Source

Mix vinegar, sugar, and salt - I found it helped to toss it in the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds to help everything dissolve.
Pour over sliced cucumbers. Toss.
Drain excess liquid, so the cukes don't get soggy.

It's the perfect combination of sweet, salty, tart, and crunchy.  A nice light addition to many lunches and dinners in the last week or two.

Enjoy!

This Week's Eats

Happy Labour Day!

We spent the weekend working on the apartment we're "building" for ourselves at my in-law's.

We managed to prime and paint a first coat of the kitchen/living room, started the installation of the kitchen counters, cleared out the bathroom - it's now just about ready for the new countertop and a new sink to be installed.  It feels like some progress is being made, but we still can't get into what will be our master bedroom.  It hasn't been touched - there's still a bed, desk, dresser, two or three night stands, a matress, and a fold-up cot in there, not to mention the surface stuff - clothes and a computer with all the accessories, and papers and books, etc.

Trying not to stress over it, but time is getting shorter and shorter.

Anyway, on to better things -- FOOD.

This week's menu is intended to be as easy as possible, since programs at church start up again this week, there are meetings and appointments and shopping trips to make.  

Monday - Chicken Pasta Salad

Tuesday - Indian Butter Chicken with Broccoli, served over Rice

Wednesday - Macaroni

appointment

Thursday - Baked Chicken Breasts, potatos, green beans

meeting

Friday - Sloppy Joes & Cucumber Salad

church program

Saturday - leftovers

**Menu-Plan-Monday is hosted by Laura of I'm an Organizing Junkie**

This Week's Eats

  

Menu Plan Monday with OrgJunkie 

I think the best part about this week's menu is that absolutely everything I need is either already in my cupboards/fridge/freezer or is on sale at one of the local grocery stores this week.

I love taking an hour on Friday or Saturday to plan out the menu according to what's on sale - it saves me so much money!  Andrew and I listened to a Focus on the Family podcast last week that was all about living frugally, and Andrew learned about "loss leaders" - he's very excited to use his new knowledge, both of the term and of the concept of shopping from those front and back page deals.  You can check out the podcast for FREE on iTunes, too!

Sunday: Canada's Wonderland Day Trip 

(providing Andrew gets home on time and it's not thundering outside)

Monday: Roasted Whole Chicken, corn on the cob

Tuesday: Pork Loin & Roasted Potatoes

Wednesday: Spaghetti

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: chicken pasta

(William's FIRST BIRTHDAY!! - holy cow, this year went fast)

Saturday: planned dinner out with my in-laws to say THANKS for letting us turn their house upside down and move in while we pay off debt and save up funds

This Week's Eats

  

Menu Plan Monday with OrgJunkie

August is the month our budget starts to feel the squeeze, so this week I have $25 plus whatever is in my fridge and cupboards to feed the three of us.  (Asterisks indicate, for my own reference,which meals will need ingredients in addition to what I have on hand.)

Monday: Butter Chicken with broccoli, served over rice 

*Tuesday: Crock Pot Roast, potatoes, garden salad

Wednesday: (Leftover) Roast Beef Sandwiches

*Thursday: BBQ Chicken Breast over veggie pasta, garden salad

*Friday: (potluck birthday party) - Cocoa-Coated Popcorn

Saturday: Self-Serve Dinner

My Favourite C♥♥kies In the World

{photo found here}

This is a recipe passed down from my paternal grandmother.  Her house is always full of a welcoming spirit and fantastic food.  These cookies are called "Gramma Cookies" at our house - her signature treat.

These cookies are great warm, cool, frozen, dunked in milk, nibbled with tea, sandwiched around vanilla ice cream, and even just the dough!  I know I never get as many out of a batch as I should, because I've eaten half of them raw.  

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup hard margarine (we have always used Imperial brand, but I don't know if it makes a difference)
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 - 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

TO PREPARE:
Preheat oven to 350*

Cream margarine and shortening.  Add white sugar, and then brown sugar, mixing until light and fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla extract.  Beat until smooth.
Mix in flour, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
Stir in chocolate chips {I use even a little less than 1 1/2 cups, because I LOVE the taste of the actual cookie part.}

Drop about 1 teaspoon onto greased cookie pan, and bake 6-8 minutes, or until puffy and a golden brown.

Makes approximately 2 dozen cookies.

ENJOY!

{tip junkie}

Oatmeal Bread

I got this recipe from my sister, and tried it yesterday.  Mmmmm.  I didn't expect it to be half as easy or nearly as tasty as it turned out.  And I already had ALL of the ingredients, which is key now that we're down to one car.

It turned out so well, I thought I'd share the recipe:

1 pkg.active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
1/2 cup warm water
1 cup quick oats
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c brown sugar or molasses
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp butter or marg.
2 cups boiling water
5-6 cups of flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water.
In your mixing bowl combine oats, whole wheat flour, sugar, salt and butter and mix well. 

Pour boiling water over and mix well. let cool down to lukewarm.
Stir in yeast.
Mix flour in slowly.  The dough shouldn't be too dry, but not too sticky, either.
Place in a well greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled.  (I turned my oven to its lowest setting while mixing the dough, turned it off, and let the dough rise in the warm oven - it took about 1 1/2 hours).
Punch down bread and shape into 2 loaves.
Place in greassed loaf pans and let rise again. (another hour or so)  

*I did one loaf, since I only have one loaf pan; I rolled the rest into balls, and put them in a muffin tin.  I would do this differently next time - I think I'd put the balls side-by-side in a greased glass pan so that they'd actually look like buns rather than muffins.*
Bake at 350 for 30-40 min. 

Brush crust with a bit of melted butter - this leaves the crust soft (and tastes oh so good!)

Enjoy!  (Please, oh please, eat some of it warm!)

PS: Like my signature?  I learned how at Blue Cricket Design.

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I pray that 2010 is a year full of blessings and grace and growth.

2009 was quite the year - Andrew's and my wedding and relaxing honeymoon in Vancouver, Amy and Dave's wedding, my uncle's wedding in Boston, the birth of our precious baby boy, the birth of 1 nephew and several friends' babies, my Aunt and Uncle's 25th Wedding Anniversary, my grandparents' 50th, and my parents' 25th (between the three of them - 100 years of marriage celebrated this year! What a testament to God's grace.) Andrew and I moved to the 420sqare foot apartment, painted it, and moved out again - into this amazing blessing of a townhouse. 

We have celebrated great things together, and we have endured some hardships - but through all of it, God has shown Himself faithful.  We are so blessed.

Normally, I don't make resolutions when the calendar flips to a new 4-digit date.  This year, though, I'm finding that I need a little extra motivation on some things I've tried and failed to start over the last few months.   And...in order to have just a little bit of accountability on those resolutions, I'm going to list them here. 

I decided to break them into categories, and keep them simple, in hopes that simpler things are more attainable.  We'll see how it goes, I guess.

Personal Health

* exercise 30 min 3x per week

* eat 4 fruits/vegetables each day

* drink 3 glasses of water each day

Spiritual/Intellectual Health

* 15 minutes of devotions each day

* 15 minutes of reading each day - novels, non-fiction, whatever - blogs don't count.

* learn to use my sewing machine effectively

Family Health

* two uninterrupted 15 minute periods of play with William every day

* help William settle into a more stable sleeping routine

* have date-night once per month (probably I will draw heavily from Love, Actually for inspiration)

Hopefully, between categorization, managable time-periods, and a printed copy on the wall, I can achieve all of these. 

What are you hoping to accomplish in 2010?

On the Menu: soft-shell tacos and leftover chicken-fried rice

Gramma Soup

for Anna♥

Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef
2 packages dried vegetable soup mix - I always use the Knorr brand
salt and pepper
nutmeg to taste (but certainly at least a few shakes...this is what makes it taste and smell like Gramma Soup)
vermicelli noodles, broken into 1/2s or 1/3s
Optional
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
1 cube beef boullion

Recipe:
[If using celery and carrots, saute until there's only a little firmess left in 'em - no one likes crunchy soup.]

Fill large soup pot 2/3 with water.  Bring to a boil.
Crumble ground beef into boiling water (careful! it splashes and burns).
Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg, and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Add vegetables and soup mix.  Simmer. 

**At this point, you can freeze the broth in portioned containers for future uses...DO NOT freeze with the noodles already added. Believe me.  Eeww.**

Add vermicelli noodles.  For a full-sized batch of soup, I usually use the amount of noodles that fits between my thumb and first finger, broken in 1/2 so the noodles are less "slurpy"


Serve with Maggi liquid seasoning and (heavily) buttered fresh bread.

Back to Square One

Oh boy.  I suppose they call it a challenge for a reason.  It was challenging.  Many days I thought, "Well, I didn't stick to the challenge at all today.  Maybe tomorrow, but probably not - maybe I should just jump off the wagon altogether, and try to catch the next one that comes around."  Things just didn't go the way I had hoped.

As I finally begin to settle into this new "family life routine", it is getting easier to plan for time set aside, but easier is not easy.  So for November, I'm going to challenge myself again.  But I think I'll start with one thing at a time.

My goal for November is to spend each morning-nap time in Fellowship.  With Jesus and/or with His people.  That means I take at least 15 minutes each day to intentionally get near His heart.  Whether it's through worship and the Word, or praise and laundry, or prayer and conversation, I want to spend 15 solid minutes focussed on HIM.  My sense, then, is that from those 15 minutes, a Day with Jesus will naturally spill forth.  As I make this my habit, may He increase my desire and my committment to our time together.


We are working on getting a Wii.  And then we'll go out and get the Wii Fit.  I am looking forward to having this system to coach me through some exercise, and hopefully have it be a fun challenge.  Exercise will be "Square 2".



On the Menu: Meaty Lasagne  mmmmm.

Second Thoughts

Andrew and I have been planning a major life-shift in the form of a move to the south, towards Burlington/Waterdown/Hamilton.  We would be moving back to my home to be closer to my family.

In the last week I have been having serious second thoughts, though.  Alliston has become my home.  I know my way around Alliston and the surrounding towns.  I am developing friendships with women at church.  We have tons of family support on Andrew's side.  We have a church we feel a part of and we feet at home in.  With Andrew's work uncertainty, we have my teaching job at the Christian School guaranteed for at least one year. 

I think at this point, my greatest hope is just to get out of this teeny tiny apartment with loud neighbours on one side and smokers of illegal substances on the other.  I would love a place with a big enough living space that I can let William down on the floor without moving the coffee table; a place with a big enough kitchen that I could prepare food without having to stack things out of the way first; a place where all of our living room furniture will fit in the living room; somewhere we can actually have people over. 

First we need to find gainful employment that will pay enough to support our family of three.


On The Menu: Whole Chicken in the Crock Pot, potatoes, and green beans. mmmm.

Challenge Update: Day 9

Like Anna, I have been avoiding posting about my progress in The Challenge.  But here we go.  Accountability can be a major motivator.

Eating Healthy: As I mentioned in a previous post, I am learning to bake...and enjoying it.  But I'm also enjoying the eating part.  Although, I did bring the zucchini bread to my parents where I think my Dad ate most of it. :)  I'm finding that my focus on healthier eating has been less about what I eat, and more about how much.  I've been paying attention to portion sizes and reducing the number of scoops of whatever I eat.  Except for those jelly beans last night.  Such a treat, but maybe a few too many.  Thanksgiving is this weekend, with three family dinners.  My goal is to take one of the small plates, and only fill up once.

Time with Jesus: Some days are better than others.  There are days when I struggle to stay awake through the readings - Andrew and I take turns with reading and praying, and if he's reading, my eyes and/or thoughts often drift.  I have made it my practice, though, to spend 30 seconds to a minute in silence before I begin my prayers.  It helps me to focus on Him rather than on the things around me, my family situation, changes we're facing, bills we need to pay, and what to buy for Christmas gifts.  It also allows me to purposefully Listen before, during, and after I pray.
In the past week I have heard only two words, but they have been both a comfort and a command.  Peace and Serve.
In a time of uncertainty about our family's financial state and living space, Peace is a comfort - God says he will never leave us or forsake us.  He has plans to prosper us and not to harm us.  But Peace is also a command.  As the wife/mom I have the ability to shape the atmosphere of my home.  If I become panicked, stressed, upset - my home reflects that.  If I choose to dwell in His Peace, my home will reflect that as well. 
Serve is a harder word for me to hear.  Acts of Kindness is one of my love-languages, but it's more the receiving than the giving that has love written in it for me.  This morning God said simply, "Serve."  At the time, it meant, "Get your butt off the couch and pour the coffee.  Spend some time with your family."  And I didn't want to get my butt off the couch.  I wanted to sit and check emails and update facebook.  But we had coffee together, and it brings us closer.  My name is now "Stewart" - one who serves.  It is not just a name, it is a lifestyle.  One I hope to adopt more and more effectively.

Exercise: Oh boy.  Tuesday was our last appointment at Caring Hands.  My incision is healing "beautifully," according to the midwife.  And exercise is green-lighted.  I'm still sitting in the intersection.  I knew going in that this would be the hardest component of the challenge for me.  I have always hated exercise.  Walking is okay, but it has rained almost every day for the past 2 weeks.  Walking is not the most enjoyable when you're soaked. I'm hoping to do something today.  Maybe I'll start with stretches - it's been a long time since my last significant physical activity. 





On the Menu: Johnny's Pizza - a treat for Andrew, since we haven't had pizza since before we got pregnant - one of those foods I just couldn't stomach.

The Challenge: Day One

Yesterday was the first day of Mel's 30-day challenge to get in shape - body and spirit..  There are about 12 people participating for various reasons - mine has something to do with the 9 pound, 4 ounce bundle of joy that came into our lives 6 weeks ago.  Because I have not yet received the green light on exercise, I am starting out with just two of the three components - 20 minutes with Jesus each day and a commitment to healthier eating.


So...20 minutes with Jesus?  check
I get my 20 minutes with Jesus at the end of the day on my way to bed... I am priveleged enough to be able to share this time with my husband, reading from the Word and praying together.  Currently, we are reading through 1 Samuel and discovering God's justice - His blessing for the faithful and His wrath for those who turn against Him.

And...healthy eating?  half a check?
Thursdays are Date-Night - whether it's going out to dinner, or staying in with a rented DVD - Andrew and I have made a commitment to making sure we pause our busy lives to spend time on and with each other each week.  So last night we finally used our birthday gift of a nice dinner from East Side Mario's.  There isn't a whole lot of really healthy stuff there, but it's not McDonald's, either.  So after at least 1 loaf of bread and a bowl of soup, I only ate about 1/3 of my pasta dish.  And danishes from the grocery store for dessert.  I was doing well until we opened the crinkly plastic container full of pastry and icing.

Maybe a half-success.  BUT His mercies are new every morning.  So today we try again.




On the Menu:  Beef Tacos

Best of Intentions

My old friend Mel had a baby girl 6 days before I had my little man.  Today she started on a "30-Day Challenge" she laid out for herself and whoever would join her.  I am not able to begin the second component right away, because I had a C-Section and have a little more recovery time before I am able to get up and at 'em with any kind of vigor, but I think that I will join her in her attempt.  An accountability system and some external motivation may be just the thing I need.

Mel's challenge has three components:
1.  Spend 20 minutes with Jesus every day, getting into the word, praising, and praying.  Strengthen, deepen, widen, more fully rest in Him.

2. Spend 20 minutes exercising every day.  Getting rid of the "jelly belly" as she calls it.  I have affectionately named mine "mister squishy".

3.  Eat better.  In order to quantify this for myself, I will say I want to include at least 1 serving of vegetables at both lunch and dinner each day.  I will also make healthy menus ahead of time and shop in accordance with the nutritious meals I have planned.  And then I will not ignore the menu and order in instead.


As an additional incentive for me, I am setting up this blog - it is my intention to set aside time to write while I enjoy my morning coffee.