Sunday, December 28, 2008

Meals for the last week of 2008



This is a simple meal plan for the week because I really didn’t know what to serve. I am still recovering from all the holiday festivities. I have no appetite for anything, which makes meal planning difficult. I am just trying to keep it simple, mostly healthy, inexpensive and kid friendly.

Meals for the last week of 2008

Sunday: Pizza and salad with family
Monday: Left over buffet night
Tuesday: Some kind of salad as the main course
Wednesday: Something special for New Year’s Eve. I just don’t know what. Growing up my family would have appetizers all night as we counted down the hours and minutes to the new year.
Thursday: Chicken cacciatore served with brown rice and a dinner salad
Friday: Soup and salad with homemade bread
Saturday: A freezer meal

Friday, December 19, 2008

Sugar Cookie Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!





This has to be one of my favorites. I just love this little number from Grosgrain. It is darling. I bet Big A would love it too. What a wonderful little after Christmas present it would make. Please head on over to Grosgrain and enter to win this little frock for a little girl in your life.

Sugar Cookie Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!




Isn't this adorable? I just love this little dinner party dress from Grosgrain. Please check out her contest at her website. She is amazing and this is a stunning little dress that you could win for a little girl close to you. I would love to see Big A in it. :)

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Recital Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!




Please go over to Grosgrain and checkout her newest give away, this gorgeous little recital dress. I just love her creations. I keep blogging about them, thinking that I will either win one day or get up enough motivation to start sewing myself...neither have happened yet. :) Here is the link.
Recital Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Addicted to Feist Sesame Street 1234

A few days ago we were watching Sesame Street (the greatest kids program on TV) and Feist was on their sing this song. We already loved their original song, but this one was perfect for my daughter to sing, dance and of course count to four to. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have. I am not sure if I pasted this in right, so hopefully it works.




Feist Sesame Street 1234 Lyrics

One, two, three, four
monsters walking 'cross the floor
I love counting, counting to the number four

Oh you counting, counting with me
to one less than five, and one more than three

Oh, Oh, Oh, we're counting to four
Oh, Oh, Oh, let's count some more

One, two, three, four
penguins that went by the door
I love counting, counting to the number four

I see four here, I see four there
favorite number, nothing can compare

Oh, Oh, Oh we're counting to four
Oh, Oh, Oh let's count some more

One, two, three, four
chickens just back from the shore
I love counting, counting to the number four

Oh, Oh, Oh we're counting to four
Oh, Oh, Oh lets count some more

One, two, three, four
chickens just back from the shore

One, two, three, four
penguins that went by the door

One, two, three, four
monsters walking 'cross the floor

balm balm balm balm (repeat 2x)
Ohhh
counting to four
Ohhh (repeat 2x)
counting to four (repeat 3x)

Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!



She has done it again. The blogger Grosgrain has another darling give away for little girls. Isn't this set just too cute for words? I am hoping that I can win it for Big A. I am not sure why I keep trying. I am not really lucky when it comes to these things, but it is still fun to try I guess. Please check it out and enter to win. Even if you don't have a little girl you have to know someone who is between the ages 2 and 4 to give it to. :)
Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Custom Camera Strap GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!


This is an adorable and very usable camera strap from Grosgrain and Shealynn. Check it out. I am hoping that I will win this to make my camera a little more of a chic accessory. We will see. Custom Camera Strap GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Just a little about me...



Thought it would be nice to share a little about me!

I am: a mom, a wife, a teacher, a woman

I think: of everything that can go wrong

I know: that tomorrow will be another day

I want: to simplify life, find contentment

I have: a headache

I dislike: very hot weather

I miss: my family and friends in California

I fear: that someone I love will get hurt, sick or pass away

I feel: rather tired

I smell: nothing which is a good thing with a dog, a cat, a smelly husband and two smelly kids

I crave: other peoples cooking (going out or somewhere I don’t have to cook…this doesn’t have much here)

I cry: a lot when I am pregnant or post partum, I always cry at certain movies

I usually: workout daily

I search: for the perfect outfit every morning with not much success

I wonder: if I will ever wear my pre-pregnancy clothes again

I regret: a lot of things unfortunately

I wish: I was happy/content and others were happy too

I love: my husband and my children

I care: for my hubby, my kids and my students

I always: look for bargains

I am not: my mother

I remember: a simpler life

I believe: in natural consequences

I sing: to my kids and to the Lord

I don't always: have the answers

I argue: (advocate) for my students and my children

I write: in a journal, a writer’s notebook, in baby books, on blogs, letters, scrapbook journaling, cards, poems, books for kids, books on teaching

I win: rarely (not lucky and you may catch it from me so it is best not buy a lottery ticket or gamble when I am around)

I loose: a lot at games or things that I want to win, except this baby weight

I don't understand: why men have to take such a long time in the bathroom several times a day

I can usually be found: with my kids

I need: Me time

I forget: what it is like to be single and have no kids and to buy things for myself

I am happy: when I feel good about me

Menu Plan Monday: Week of November 16th



Well here is this week’s menu plan. I am excited about cooking one large thing and using all of the leftovers for other meals for the week. I bet my family will be tired of eating turkey by then and it won't even be Thanksgiving Day yet. This is only if I get my bum in gear and actually cook the turkey tomorrow. We will see how things go. I am switching my schedule this week; going from working four reduced hour days to three full days a week. We will see how it goes. I am a little nervous about it, but excited. This is what I wanted. I hope it works out for everyone involved. Enjoy your week!

Without further ado here is our meal plan for the week.

Sunday: Thai Green Curried Veggies and Chicken, with brown rice
Monday: Hamburgers, Sweet Potato Fries, Baked Beans
Tuesday: Turkey served with brown rice, salad
Wednesday: Turkey & Veggie Quesadillas with a small salad
Thursday: Turkey Soup with tons of veggies
Friday: Turkey Enchiladas, Spanish rice and salad
Saturday: Turkey Southwestern Salad

Friday, November 14, 2008

SheetLoad's Blog Candy Blow Out



If you love blog candy, check out this load for your sweet tooth. This looks just delish to me. Enter to win a set for yourself by heading over to Sheetload’s Blog and blogging about the contest yourself. I am a sucker for these things, even though I am not lucky I still play the games for the candy. I guess I just have a compulsive sweet tooth, especially for stamping and scrapping stuff. Good luck!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Fabulous Holiday Card Give Away at Skip to My Lou





Skip to My Lou Blog is giving away a photo holiday card jpeg that you can use to print your own holiday cards. It is a fabulous gift. I would personally love the stress relief of not having to worry about creating my own Christmas cards. She is also throwing in some photo stamps to mail your cards in style. Check it out at Skiptomylou.org .

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Depression Post...sorry I have been positive on this blog until now, but I can't be today

I am not a lucky or blessed person. I have known this for quite sometime now. I am under no allusions or delusions. I am unlucky in life and all the games, races and what not that go with it. I still put on a happy face at work and try to be a positive, happy mom to my children. Today something changed; I realized today that my luck is not changing and more than that is not going to change. Although, I have felt unlucky most of my life (until today) I guess I still had hope that my luck would change. I have no hope now. I know that I am unlucky and that I am just going to have deal with it.

Nordic Bo Peep and Long Lost Sheep Costume GIVEAWAY!!!!


So this over the top one the most amazing give aways I have seen in a while. Check out the newest giveaway at Grosgrain. Not one, but both of these costumes are going to be given to some lucky family. I just hope the lucky family is mine. Anyways, please go check it out. This gal is an amazing sewer and she has also opened a new store where she is selling her wonderful creations.

Nordic Bo Peep and Long Lost Sheep Costume GIVEAWAY!!!!

Friday, November 7, 2008

GrosgrainStore.com Grand Opening & Giftcard Giveaway!!!!!!!!




The talented Kathleen at Grosgrain has opened up a store sharing her fabulous kids clothes with everyone. She is offering a giftcard to her store for one lucky winner. Check out her store here GROSGRAINSTORE.COM and enter to win the giftcard here .

GrosgrainStore.com Grand Opening & Giftcard Giveaway!!!!!!!!: "GROSGRAINSTORE.COM so"

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Menu Plan: Sunday November 2-9


Happy Monday Everyone!
Well this week’s meals are pretty basic. I tried something new and asked my husband for input. He actually said he would like to have Taco Salad one night so I added that to the meals this week. I think I might have to try soliciting his input more often on the menu plan.

Well here is our menu this week.
Sunday: Leftovers and My Favorite Salad
Monday: Spinach Frittata with turkey sausage
Tuesday: Taco Salad
Wednesday: Special Casserole Freezer Meal
Thursday: Turkey Burgers, sweet potato fries and salad
Friday: Crock-pot White Chicken Chili
Saturday: Might have company...still in the works

Enjoy your week!

Jen D.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Menu Plan for October 26 through November 1st



This week is another crazy week in the lives of the Davis’s. I am so excited about Halloween on Friday. I have a special menu plan that I have included just for Friday. I was thinking how fun it would be to have pumpkin food all day for Halloween. We will see how the kids and the hubby like that one. We are having lunch at a friends that day so it is only pumpkin for breakfast and dinner. Enjoy a wonderful week.

Menu Plan for October 26 through November 1st

Sunday: Roasted Whole Chicken, chicken brown rice and spinach salad
Monday: Chicken Tortilla Soup (my hubby loves beans in his soup) and a salad
Tuesday: Turkey Meatloaf, special tomatoes avocado salad
Wednesday: A Special Salad inspired by CPK
Thursday: Frozen Chicken Catatore (don’t you love freezer meals)
Friday: Breakfast Pumpkin Chocolate Chip bread (oh who am I kidding, it is cake, just say it) Dinner will be chicken and Penne in a Pumpkin sauce with a salad (obviously, we are not going low carb today.)
Saturday: Veggies and more Veggies…salad…I am thinking that we won’t want any carbs or any fat on Saturday…especially no candy, but I could be wrong. I think a salad sounds good. We will see. This meal is a little up in the air right now, depending upon our week.

Friday, October 24, 2008

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!





Wow! This talented designer is opening up a store. I can't believe our luck. Please check out the store on November 6th and click on the title above to go directly to her blog that started it all. She is giving away these adorable toddler outfits. I only hope that I am able to win for Big A.

GROSGRAIN MINI STORE OPENING NOVEMBER 6!!!!! AND BIG PREVIEW GIVEAWAY!!!!

Jen's List of Eight Things

I typed this out a while ago when someone tagged me and for the life of me I cannot remember who tagged me. It was difficult to come up with eight things for each and on one I just couldn't. :) Enjoy reading a little more about me. I realized that I need to spice up the content of my blog. These days I am just posting things like menu of the week or other bloggers contests. Things have been so busy. It is difficult to make the time to do the things I have to do let alone do things that I enjoy like scrapbooking or blogging. Well I hope everyone is doing well. Happy Friday!

If you have not been tagged...you are it.


Jen's Favorites in Eights



8 Favorite TV Shows
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Brothers & Sisters
3. The Closer
4. Private Practice
5. Bones
6. Dancing with the Stars
7. Find Your Style (HGTV)
8. The New 90210 (yes, I watch it…I admit it…I think it brings me back to being a teenager 



6 Favorite Restaurants This one is difficult…we really don’t get out too much!
1. Wild Ginger
2. Main Street Bistro (back in Cali)
3. The Cheesecake Factory (this has to be my favorite chain)
4. Sushi Zen
5. Great Harvest Bread Company (my second favorite chain )
6. Arnies (a great local place that looks over the sound)



8 Things I did Yesterday
1. Worked
2. Exercised
3. Laughed at my daughter
4. Kissed my kids
5. Snuggled with my hubby
6. Got registration stuff ready for MOPS meeting
7. Spent time with God
8. Cried (read a very moving blog)



8 Things I Love About Fall
1. The leaves changing colors I love this!
2. The crispness in the air
3. Pumpkins
4. Going to the Farm and picking out pumpkins
5. The colors of fall
6. Harvest time
7. Celebrating my anniversary
8. The holidays just around the corner



8 Things I Look Forward To
1. Having no one in diapers (someday,right? Big A is almost there)
2. Kissing my children goodnight
3. Laughing with my friends and family
4. Date night (this needs to happen a lot more regularly)
5. My kids birthdays
6. Simplifying my life…reusing, recycling and repurposing
7. Teaching fulltime and having my own classroom again
8. Living off the land (starting my garden, composting, buying local produce, dairy and meat/poultry)



8 Things I Wish For
1. A cure for cancer…all illness
2. Economic stability/financial stability
3. A simpler, happy life
4. Happy, Healthy, loving children
5. No debt
6. A new body…pregnancy has taken it’s toll on my body and my spirit
7. That I would be able to enjoy the moment, live in the moment

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!



Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Okay first of all this is amazing! I can't believe how talented she is at sewing these amazing creations. What a beauty her daughter Lilly is in the costume. I think Big A would love this costume. She would also look just darling in it, very southern. If you have a little girl who needs a costume or loves to play dress up this gown is up for give away over at grosgrain. Please check it out, or don't and give me a better a chance at winning it for Big A.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Menu Plan Monday: Our Menu for the week of October 19th


Well here it is Sunday and I actually planned our menu this week. We celebrated our five year anniversary this weekend. We even were able to get out without the kiddos. It was so much fun. We ate at a wonderful restaurant and then just dilly dallied home. It had been almost a year since we had been on a date. We both realized how we really need to make date night and with that each other a priority in our relationship.

We took a little hiatus from our diet modification of no bad carbs and have slowly let a few creep back into our diet. This week we are going to go back to limiting our carbs, mainly focusing on eating lots of fresh veggies, low glycemic index fruits, low fat and higher protein foods (i.e. no pasta, potatoes, rice, flour laden foods, all the good stuff like bread). In one or two weeks we will slowly incorporate whole grain carbs back into our diet. We just feel better when we eat lower fat, lower or no sugar and less heavy carbs. It is a matter of healthy, weight loss and just feeling better about ourselves. Anyways, this is why the menu looks like it does. Plus, I scored today at Costco and purchased a 2.5 pound bag of fresh spinach for $3.99. This is why the focus of many of our meals is spinach. I couldn’t resist. I guess sometimes a healthy diet isn’t always more expensive. We really are focusing on just eating healthy. Of course my kids still eat plenty of whole grain carbs and a few white flour carbs, but they are kids. For the most part they also eat pretty healthy.

This week on the menu:
Sunday: Salmon Salad with grilled salmon and fresh spinach
Monday: Grilled Chicken and Spinach Dish (I am still searching for a recipe)
Tuesday: Chopped Salad kind of like California Pizza Kitchen
Wednesday: Turkey Meatloaf with a side of spinach
Thursday: Grilled chicken salad
Friday: Egg, spinach, mushroom, goat cheese frittata
Saturday: Grilled veggies, sausage and a salad

Sunday, October 12, 2008


I have been falling down on the menu planning. I think everything sort just caught up with me the last few weeks. I am finally starting to get in a bit more a groove between going back to work, MOPS stuff and now I am getting my Professional Certification (Don’t ask…it is not a happy topic). I am hoping to stay on top of things a little better, but I have a new motto when it comes to life, “Progress, not perfection.” We had a great speaker at MOPS on Friday and I was encouraged to look at my life and what striving to be perfect is doing to me and others I love. I will never be perfect, but I can strive for excellence in all that I do and progress in what I am aiming for. The Lord has really encouraged me in this area. I am not going to instantly be supper mom or quit trying to be the best I can be, but I will give myself a break, acknowledge the progress that I do make and most of all look to Him to help me with it all with excellence.

My meals this week are once again focused on low carbs, but not no carbs. We have slowly added less refined or processed carbs back into our daily diet. I still try to have a few meals that are really low carb every week, but a few that are just healthy good meals. I am working on just feeding my family healthy, delicious, low fat, easy meals. We will see what I can do. I will be attempting to alter a new recipe this week. We will see how that goes. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Sunday: Turkey Salsa Meatloaf, Coconut rice and Fiesta Veggie Mix (frozen, but it is better than no veggie)
Monday: Freezer meal already made Enchilada casserole (hubby is home with the kiddos without me, I am at my first Pro-cert meeting)
Tuesday: Indian Chicken, Indian Cauliflower and a salad
Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Salad
Thursday: Curry Chickpeas and Veggies, brown rice
Friday Night: Pork Tacos (crock pot), taco fixings, broccoli and Spanish brown rice (company tonight)
Saturday Night: Dinner out! Hubby and I celebrating our 5 year anniversary  The kids are with Granny and Grandpa  This is a different post that I hope I will make time for.

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!




Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Kathleen has been at it again and has created this adorable period dress Halloween costume. It is just gorgeous and I so hope Big A can wear it this year for Halloween...that would mean that I would win this little dress, but you should still enter and see if you can win it for a little girl in your life... go visit grosgrain and see all of her beautiful creations.

This is what the designer has to say about the dress:

The time period of this this costume is set in the 1800s somewhere around the civil war- hence the Shenandoah reference. I used a light olive green taffeta material for the dress. To billow out the bottom the skirt is tiered and I added a crinoline slip. I added black braided trim all around the edges of the skirts and around the sleeves as well as a contrasting white lace trim around the wide pilgrim collar and bodice.shenandoah costume

But what I think makes this so great for Halloween is that the sleeves and skirt are long enough so that you can wear a sweater and jeans in case the temperature drops for the big night (which always seems to happen here in Pennsylvania). The white billowy undershirt is sewn into the dress and the oversleeves are sewn with a wide tapered cut allowing tons of room.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Red Riding Hood Jacket GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!



Red Riding Hood Jacket GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!: "This giveaway is for the jacket only. If you like the sweater dress they are still selling them at the Gap for kids. It's on sale for $30, but I found a better, cheaper one online at Old Navy for $20. I bought the knee highs at Gymboree. Believe it or not, it's hard to come by a pair of knee high socks. It seemed as though they were all a girl could wear when I was growing up."

Grosgrain is at it again. This time she is giving away this lovely jacket. Check it out at her website. I am sure you must know someone who would love a cuddly, soft jacket like this one. :)

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Meals September 14-21st

Meals September 14-21st
Meals this week once again are focused on eating low carb. I am trying to make them very veggie heavy, but still be packed with protein. I am not a happy person not eating the bad carbs. It has definitely taken a toll on me this week and weekend. I just like having a little sugar everyday. I am hoping all this no carb business is worth it and I start see it in the way my clothes fit or ideally hang off my body, or even better when my pre-pregnancy clothes fit. I have not worn my beautiful clothes in three years now. I so miss my clothes. Anyways, back to the subject at hand. Here is our family menu for the week. The kids get plenty of carbs throughout the day so don’t worry about them, plus they usually always have a side of some kind of fruit with each meal. For breakfast they usually have carbs in the form of a oatmeal, a multigrain waffle or whole wheat English Muffin. They also snack on high carbs food too, so they are not being deprived of any food group that they need.

Meal Plan

Sunday: Spinach Salad with mushrooms, ground turkey, cheese (very little), olives, green bell pepper and black beans
Monday: Spinach, squash, mushroom, ground turkey hearty stew
Tuesday: Grilled Salmon, veggies (kids can have rice)
Wednesday: Beef salad of some sort
Thursday: White bean chili with chicken or turkey meat
Friday: BBQ Cheeseburgers (WO buns), grilled veggies
Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Table Cloth Skirt and Dinner Party Top GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!



Oh how I love this little number! Have you ever seen something so little girl, but yet so elegant before? I would love this outfit for Big A. It is just perfect for a dinner party or for pictures. I love the colors. I would love to have Big A's picture taken in this outfit. Well as I wipe the drool from my chin go check out this fabulous outfit at the grosgrain blog. :)


Table Cloth Skirt and Dinner Party Top GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Sleepytime Bear Nightgown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!


Checkout this darling nightgown from the talented grosgrain designer. Wow! I can just picture Big A wearing this. I love the crocheted trim on it. A lot of her creations seem to go back to a simpler time. I like that. What a great Christmas present for a little girl in your life or enter to win the nightgown for my little girl. :)

Sleepytime Bear Nightgown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Menu Plan Monday: September 7-14th


Well this is our second week back at work. We will see if things go a little smoother this week. It was okay last week, nothing crazy, but I think the whole family is adjusting to a new routine. The kids have done well at the sitter’s house, but have been a little extra needy at home. This weekend has been a little challenging as both kiddos have been extra, extra, extra needy, overly tired and both kids have a runny nose (this started on Thursday afternoon). I hope that we start to get into a nice groove here soon and things just start to flow nicely.

This week’s menu is a little different. The hubby and I are cutting out sugar and limiting the bad carbs to see if that helps us to feel better (and I hope it will help me lose some of this baby weight I am still carrying.) I was not one of the lucky many that lost the baby weight right away. My size four and size six clothes have not been worn in three years now (pre-pregnancy). I don’t know why I still hold onto them…maybe just to keep some hope alive. The kids will still have plenty of fruit and carbs, but the hubby and I will try to stick to very few. It is only for two weeks, it should be alright. We are mostly following the South Beach Diet Phase I plan. We will see. We tried once before, but I had to quite because I started to lose my milk supply. This of course was back when I was nursing. I didn’t see any results then, but I hope that I will see more results this time.

Menu Plan This Week

Sunday: Grilled Asian Salmon, Broccoli and rice (for kids only)

Monday: Grilled Chicken, Veggies (fruit and chicken rice for the kids)

Tuesday: Southwestern Chicken Salad (some variation of this for the kiddos) See recipe below

Wednesday: Pan Roasted Steak and onions (see recipe, pasta for the kiddos) with some sort of veggie side dish

Thursday: Egg Oven Omelet full of veggies, a little cheese and some sort of meat

Friday: Southwestern White Chicken Chili (some variation of the recipe below)

Saturday: Some sort of Salad





Southwestern Grilled Chicken Salad

Four main-dish servings. A Healthy Living recipe from www.kraftfoods.com. Total Time 20 min. A good main-dish dinner salad.

8 cups torn mixed salad greens

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast halves, grilled, cut into strips

1 large tomato, cut into wedges

1/2 cup canned black beans, drained, rinsed

1/4 cup sliced green onions

1/2 cup KRAFT Four Cheese Mexican Style Shredded Cheese

Kraft Light Done Right Ranch Reduced Fat Dressing

Taco Bell Home Originals Thick 'N Chunky Salsa

Cover large serving platter with salad greens. Top with chicken, tomato, beans and onions; sprinkle with cheese.

Serve with dressing and salsa. (Mixing the ranch and salsa together gave it a kick.)

Take a Shortcut: Prepare as directed, substituting 1 pkg. (9 oz.) LOUIS RICH Grilled or Southwestern Seasoned Chicken Breast Strips for the grilled fresh chicken strips.


Southwest White Chicken Chili

Two main-dish servings. From www.mccormick.com: “A special spice blend, chicken, Cannelleni beans, and Monterey Jack cheese make this Southwest Chili “white.” Prep time 10 minutes, cook time 25 minutes.

1 teaspoon McCormick garlic powder

1 teaspoon McCormick ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon McCormick oregano leaves

1/2 teaspoon McCormick cilantro leaves

1/8 teaspoon McCormick ground red pepper (cayenne)

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 medium-sized boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1/4 cup chopped onion (I use 1/2 cup)

1 can (or 2 cups) chicken broth

1 can (4.5 ounces) chopped green chilies

1 can (15 ounces) white kidney beans (Cannellini) drained and rinsed

Shredded Monterey Jack cheese and sliced green onions for garnish (optional)

Combine garlic powder, cumin, oregano, cilantro, and red pepper in a small dish and stir until well blended. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken cubes and stir-fry from 5 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Add onions and continue cooking for a few minutes, until onion is translucent. Stir in chicken broth, chilies, and spices. Simmer over low heat 15 minutes.

Stir in beans and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. If soup is too thick, add 1/2 cup to 1 cup water to desired consistency. Pour into serving bowls and top with cheese and sliced green onions.


Pan-Roasted Steak and Onions

Four servings. From allrecipes.com.

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound flank steak

1 tablespoon cracked black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup fat-free chicken broth

1 medium onion, cut into 1/4-inch thick rings

In a large non-aluminum baking dish, combine the oil, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and garlic. Add the steak; turn to coat. Cover; refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight, turning once.

Coat a nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Place over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the steak with the pepper and salt. Brown for 2 minutes per side. Add 1/2 cup of the broth; cook, turning once, for 5 to 6 minutes per side (for medium-rare). Remove the steak from the skillet; cover the steak loosely to keep it warm. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion slices to the skillet and cook until golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Add the remaining broth as needed to prevent the onions from sticking.

Thinly slice the steak across the grain; serve with the onions.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Meal Plan: Back to School Week

Oops the day got away from me and I am posting this menu plan a little late.

The first day of school is Wednesday so I need this week’s menu to be fairly simple. I am hoping to use a few freezer meals. I also have a lot of extra stuff this week to attend. I have stamp club on Thursday night and Friday morning I have a MOPS steering meeting. I have a lot going on with going back to work, volunteering in MOPS and of course taking care of my kiddos and hubby. I am hopeful that the week goes well and I am pleasantly surprised at how things turn out. It has been easier than I thought to go back to work. I miss my kids, but things are a little hectic this time of year at school, so I don't have a lot of extra time to ponder missing them. Well moving onto the subject of this post...the menu.

Menu for September 1-7th

Sunday: Chicken sandwiches, leftover black bean salad and mango salad
Monday: Chicken Enchilada's in white sauce and a side salad, mango for the kids
Tuesday: Potato Veggie Frittata
Wednesday: Chinese Chicken Salad
Thursday Night: Freezer Meal (Stamp Club)
Friday: Crock-pot White Chicken Chili
Saturday: BBQ (we have to enjoy all the BBQ we can before it gets too cold in the Pacific Northwest to BBQ)

Enjoy your week!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Menu Planning Monday:

Well this week I return to work for a few days so my meals need to be quick and definitely planned out. We are going out of town for the holiday so I also included those meals. I have been lagging on going to the grocery store so last weeks meals used a good chunk of my stock pile, although, I was still able to make a little extra in some cases to freeze. This week I am going to try three new recipes. I am not sure if the order here will change, but I hope to make all of these meals. I hope you enjoy your week.

This week’s meals:

Sunday: Three Bean Stew/Chili over brown rice

Monday: Curried Rice and Shrimp (Real Simple Magazine) and an Asian inspired salad

Tuesday: Chicken with creamy spinach (Real Simple Magazine) and chicken rice

Wednesday: Brats, French fries and veggies

Thursday: Egg Frittata with sausage and veggies (something simple because I am making freezer jam with a friend after dinner, plus I have to work all day)

Friday: BBQ, baked beans, grilled veggies (Out of Town)

Saturday: Pork Tacos, Spanish rice with a salad and taco fixings (Out of Town)

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Summer by the Lake Swimsuit GIVEAWAY!!!!



Summer by the Lake Swimsuit GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check out this little swimsuit for your little girl. I don't know how this mom finds time to do everything she does and is so creative and generous at the same time. She truly amazes me.

Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!



Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check out this darling dress. Yes, from the talented designer at Grosgrain. She is amazing. I agree with her that it would be nice to have this little number in an adult size. Well that is when I get back to my pre-pregnancy size. A gal can hope now. Enter the contest for your little garden gal here.