Oct 25-31 Menu

I really need to go to the store but am trying to stretch what I have till next Monday. We shall see.

Last Night(monday) we had: Leftovers (this will be a common occurance this week). Jeff had an evening meeting so he came home & warmed up pork burritos from Sunday & out the door he went.

Tonight (tuesday): Spaghetti, hot bread, veggie, & fruit.

Wednesday...LEFTOVERS, chili, veggie soup, spaghetti,

Thursday:...Leftovers, again...chili, veggie soup, spaghetti, Will this stuff ever go away???

Friday: homemade pizza, garlic pull-apart bread.

So I made a recipe that's kind of like puppy chow today. Its a yummy snack & quick to make.

Chocolate Chow Mein

Place 3 cups each Rice Chex & chow mein noodles in a gallon size zipper bag. Add 1/2 c. chopped peanuts & 1/2 c. raisens(I used dried cherries). Then melt 1/4 chocolate chips, 1/4 c. peanut butter, & 1/4 c. butter in microwave. Pour over dry mixture in bag. Shake & smoosh together. Then add 2 c. powdered sugar to the bag, close & shake & smoosh together. Colton liked it...so it must be good.

Postcards from Pullman

Not only do I like to cook, but I really enjoy reading. This has been the first year in a very long time that I've actually sat down and read. Both boys are in school & I don't head to work until 10:30a.m., so I'm able to get up in the morning & get the boys ready for school, to the bus stop, & usually do a chore b/4 I sit for a bit & read.

I just finished a 3 book series called Postcards from Pullman by Judith McCoy-Miller. The series is set in the 1890's in Pullman, IL. 2 ladies from England head to America for different reasons & end up becoming friends. The books follow Olivia's life from England as a kitchen helper to landing an assistant chef position at an upscale hotel in Pullman. I received the 1st book as a gift & then proceeded to the Wichita public library to find books 2&3. What I really loved about this series, is each book is a continuation of the book b/4 it. I've read quite a few different series in the past few months & they go together but don't focus on on main character. Although I do like them, I prefer the continued character storylines. Anyway, here are the books in the series, In the Company of Secrets bk1, Whispers Along the Rails bk2, & An Uncertain Dream bk3. I wish this story could go on. There were some "supporting" characters that I would like to know how their stories end. Maybe in the future. Who knows?

Week 3 Menu (Tuesday-Sat)

Tues: Tuna Burgers, peas, fruit
1 lg + 1 sm cans albacore tuna in water, add 2 raw eggs, 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped, 1/2 a small onion, chopped, 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese, s&p to taste. Smoosh together & top on your leftover hamburger buns(open faced). Bake till hot & melty.

Wed: Leftover hotdogs from camping w/ veggie chili, chips, & fruit

Thurs: Chili (add 3/4 - 1 lb) ground beef to the veggie chili above, saltine crackers, & salad.

Friday: Appetizers & Movie Night. Mini corndogs, buffalo chicken fingers, pizza pocket slice thingys, & mini chicken tacos. Super healthy...I know.

Sat: sandwiches for lunch b/4 we head to Gaeddert's Corn Maze (www.kansasmaze.com)
Pork roast w/ potatoes, carrots, onions- this will be in the crock pot & ready when we get
home.

I'm a little behind on the menu this week...kind of wingin' it. I don't like winging it. I am a planner, I need a plan for meals. Here's the rest of the week & weekend.

Friday- leftover vegetable soup from earlier this week & grilled cheese sandwiches
We're camping on Sat so we'll be having camping food.

Sat.-cereal b/4 we hit the road to pick up the trailer
Lunch- ham sandwiches/grapes/chips
Supper- hotdogs or hamburgers/ chips/fruit/s'mores. I got the bigges marshmellows I've ever seen a couple weeks ago at Alco. Can't wait to light those babies up for some yummy s'mores!

Sunday breakfast- campers breakfast- sausage/eggs/potatoes sprinkled w/ cheddar cheese. Heart attack on a plate. YUM!

Lunch-if anyone's hungry after breakfast...ham sandwiches or pbj/chips/fruit
Supper- whatever we didn't eat the night b/4. Hamburgers or hotdogs.

Monday breakfast- I cheated...I got premade ham/cheese/egg mcmuffins or cereal.

Lunch- you guessed it...ham sandwich or pbj/chips/fruit

We'll pack up & head home. Piano lessons at 5. Then we'll probably grab a $5 pizza from Little Skeeza's for dinner. Maybe a side salad for me.

Hopefully I'll get the next few weeks of menus planned & grocery list ready so I can do some shopping on Tuesday.

It's been a loooong time!

Hi All, I can't believe it's been since January since my last post. Ok, I can believe it. For me, it is hard to keep up on this blog thing. You know, there's always housework, work, kids, church, & of course, Facebook. I have so much catching up to do, I can't even believe it. So instead of looking back, which I'll do eventually do, I'll look forward to what is ahead of me. Starting with this weeks menu:



Sunday- Meatloaf, cheesy beans, hot rolls, & peaches. Meatloaf recipe below.

Monday- Fried steak, mashed potatoes, white gravy, fresh apples & veggies

Tuesday- Meatloaf sandwiches, veggie & fruit

Wed- crockpot pork roast(one of my favorites), roasted veggies, & fruit

Thurs- BBQ pork sandwiches, chips, apples

Friday- homemade pizza or leftovers



I love this time of year, when it's cool in the morning & evenings are just right for sittin' outside w/ a cup of joe or an occasional glass of wine. It also gets me in the mood for cooking yummy soups, casseroles, & MEATLOAF! I love meatloaf. Here is the best meatloaf recipe I've used. There's nothing fancy to it & there's no wierd stuff in it (like carrots). It's good ol' meat.



All-American Meat Loaf from The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook


2 lbs. ground chuck

3/4 c. uncooked quick-cooking oats

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1/2 c. ketchup

1/4 c. milk

2 large eggs, slightly beaten

1 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

1/2 c. ketchup

3 T. brown sugar

2 t. prepared mustard



*Combine 1st 8 ingred. in a lg bowl, smoosh into a 9x13 pan(or shape into 2- 7 1/2" x 4" loaves). Place on a lightly greased pan. Bake 350 degrees ro 4o mins.



* Combine 1/2 c. ketchup, b.sugar, & mustard, spoon over meatloaf, & bake 15 more minutes or until meat thermometer registers 160 degrees.



Yields: 8 servings 337K, 17.8g Fat, 734 sodium