Monday, May 18, 2009

Menu Planning Monday

This weeks menu plans!!

Monday: Yum Yums! (sloppy joes), green beans, cheese puffs, chocolate cupcakes

Tuesday: Easy Lasagna, lettuce salad, garlic bread

Wednesday: Beef Enchiladas, taco rice, fried ice cream

Thursday: Pigs in a Blanket, chips, fruit

Friday (husbands birthday): Chicken kabobs, dutch apple pie

Saturday: Garden Club Sandwiches, cole slaw

Sunday: homemade pizza, brownies

Check out more Monday menu's at I'm an Organization Junkie!

Garden Club Sanwiches

4 slices whole wheat bread, toasted
2 Tbsp. Mayo
2 large slices tomato
1/4 cup sliced cucumbers
2 lettuce leaves
12 slices deli Shaved Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
6 slices Center Cut Bacon, cooked

TOP 2 toast slices with tomato, cucumber, lettuce, turkey, bacon and second toast slice.

'Fried' Ice Cream Recipe


* 3 cups cinnamon toast crunch cereal, crushed

* 6 scoops vanilla ice cream (1/2 cup each)


1. Place cereal in shallow pan.

2. Quickly roll 1 scoop of ice cream at a time in cereal to coat.

3. Place coated scoops of ice cream in ungreased jelly roll pan, 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 inch.

4. Cover and freeze about 2 hours or until firm.

5. Set oven control to broil.

6. Uncover pan.

7. Broil scoops with tops 6 inches from heat about 30 seconds or until coating is light brown.

Cheesy Meat Lasagna

1 lb. extra lean ground beef

3 cloves garlic, minced

1-1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves

1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce

1 large tomato, chopped

1 egg

1 container (16 oz.) Low Fat Cottage Cheese

1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

9 lasagna noodles, cooked, drained

2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided


HEAT oven to 375°F. Brown meat with garlic and oregano in saucepan. Stir in spaghetti sauce; simmer 5 min., stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in tomatoes.


MIX egg, cottage cheese and Parmesan. Spread 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish. Top with layers of 3 noodles, 1 cup cottage cheese mixture, 1/2 cup mozzarella and 1 cup remaining sauce mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles and remaining sauce mixture. Cover with foil.


BAKE 30 min. or until heated through. Uncover; top with remaining mozzarella. Bake, uncovered, 5 min. or until mozzarella is melted. Let stand 5 min. before serving.


Make Ahead

Assemble lasagna as directed; cover. Refrigerate up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, bake, covered, at 375°F for 40 min. or until heated through.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

These cookies rock!

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday's!

These Reese's Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookies are so good. A double batch disappeared in two days!!





The recipe:

1 stick real butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup ground quick oats (chopped with handi chopper)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 bag Reese's mini baking pieces
1/2 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat butter, shortening and sugars until smooth and creamy. Slowly beat in eggs and vanilla.


2. Combine flour. oats. baking soda, and salt. Slwly add to wet mixture until just combined. Hand stir in Reese's and chocolate chips.


3. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until just golden around edges. Let stand on cookie sheet for 2 minutes.

found at Blessed with Grace.

No Tackle-it Tuesday

I have no tackle-it Tuesday this week because Mollie will be having surgery tomorrow to have her port removed. I have a ton of things to get the other kids ready to be home by themselves for the afternoon! I don't leave them alone often so I'm leaving some detailed notes for them to help out!

We'll tackle-it next Tuesday!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Menu Planning Monday

Here is this week's menu:
[It's a bit goofy because of Mollie's surgery and Sam's birthday!]

Monday: sub sandwiches, chips and ice cream

Tuesday: nacho's, corn and brownies

Wednesday: Mackenzie will be in charge of either frozen pizza or mac and cheese because we won't be back from the hospital in time!

Thursday: mini meatloaf, green beans, mashed potatoes

Friday: Sam's birthday choice (still undecided!)

for more check out I'm and Organization Junkie's menu planning mondays!

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Wordless Wednesday


A new use for silly putty!!

{Sorry picture is a bit fuzzy, but too funny to delete!}

Check out more Wordless Wednesday!



Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Crop for a Cause

Is anyone interested in a scrapbooking retreat that will not only help you get your projects done, but also help a worthwhile cause in Nebraska?

I am helping Make-A-Wish spread the word about their "Crop for a Cause" on June 19-20. The proceeds from this 26-hour long scrapbooking marathon are going to help a little boy named Cole fulfill his "wish" of being a cowboy. Cole is 7 years old and fighting lymphoma and they are working to send him to the Bar W Ranch in Whitefish Montana where he'll be able to rope cattle, sing campfire songs, and see a bank robbery reenactment. Feel good about getting projects done, feel good about helping grant wishes!

A few of the retreat highlights are their raffle prizes and food being provided. Not only can you win a ton of scrapbooking supplies, but you will also have a chance to win an iPod Shuffle, a Cricut Personal, and a Cricut Expression. Or, do you have a husband you will want to thank for letting you have a whole weekend to yourself? Another raffle item is an autographed football and two tickets to Coach Pelini's Big Red Kickoff Dinner. This is a fundraiser the Husker football coaches do for Make-A-Wish each July. All your meals and snacks are also being provided (Panera, Famous Dave's, the Cookie Company, and more!)

So, if you want to get a jump start on the summer, send in your registration for "Crop for a Cause".

A flyer with more information and registration form is attached or visit https://sites.google.com/site/makeawishcropforacause/.

Happy scrapping!

Monday, May 04, 2009

Tackle It Tuesday- Updated

In the spirit of keeping with the mommy blogger's it is time for me to try out Tackle It Tuesday.
I actually have two tackles for Tuesday:

1. I want to be able to see the kitchen counter!!

2. I want to start an exercising streak today.

Wish me luck!!!




Updated picture.





Sunday, May 03, 2009

Menu Planning Monday


Here is what's on the menu for this week (May4th - May 10th):

Monday: Crock-pot Chicken Marsala

Tuesday: Salisbury Steak

Wednesday: Taco Roll

Thursday: breakfast sandwiches (pancake, sausage patty, egg and cheese sandwiches)

Friday: Tim's Choice

Saturday: grilling steak and hot dogs

Sunday: Sausage and Peppers

Join Laura's Menu Planning Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie!!!

Friday, May 01, 2009

I LOVE Alicia's Friday Photo Flashback. I am inspired to dig out my old prom picture (maybe!). In the meantime I have this scanned picture of Mackenzie when she was 14 months old. She was loving eating cheese doodles and drinking from her grandma's water bottle while we enjoyed a summer afternoon by the pool!

Each of our kids carried on the doodle tradition! Mackenzie will be 13 in just over a month...


it makes me sad to see her so grown up, but proud of who she is becoming!

[Alicia says: I started "Friday Photo Flashback" because I have so many pictures from my PRE-digital camera days. I thought it would be fun to scan them and share them here with you. I'm having so much fun doing this, that I would love for you to join me, too! So dig out the photo albums and put your scanner to good use! Be sure to visit her prom picture!!]

Taco Roll

INGREDIENTS:
1/2lb. lean ground beef
1(13.8-oz.) can Pillsbury® refrigerated classic pizza crust
taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheese



DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Brown ground beef in medium skillet over medium-high heat until thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain. Add taco seasoning and simmer. Set aside.

2. Unroll dough; place on sprayed cookie sheet. Starting at center, press out dough with hands to form 12x8-inch rectangle.

3. Place cooked ground beef lengthwise down center, forming 3-inch-wide strip and to within 1/2 inch of short sides. Top with cheese. Fold long sides of dough over filling; press edges to seal.

4. Bake at 400°F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.


Top with extra cheese, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, etc.

Salisbury Steak

Ingredients:

3 egg

1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs

1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

3/4 teaspoon pepper

2-1/4 pounds lean ground beef

1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour,divided

2 tablespoons olive oil

2-1/4 cups water

1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules

3 medium onion, quartered and sliced

3 (4 ounce) cans mushroom stems and pieces, drained


Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine the egg, bread crumbs, garlic powder and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture; mix well. Shape into two patties; dredge in 2 tablespoons flour. In a small skillet, brown patties on both sides in oil; drain. Set patties aside.


2. Add the remaining flour to the skillet; whisk in water until smooth. Stir in the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and bouillon. Add the onion and mushrooms. Bring to a boil. Return patties to the pan. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Serve gravy over patties.