Monday's Menu . . .

 

One thing that I have been trying to be very diligent about doing, is a monthly menu.  My husband and I have put ourselves on a very strict budget - $200.00 per month for groceries . . . yikes!!!  Seriously, we have been used to more like $400.oo per month or more . . . for two people . . . crazy!!  So far so good, I was able to make a menu for the the month of March, go to the grocery store, and only spend $141.00, and twenty-one of that was for storage,  really, not even kidding!  I still have 60.00 if I really need it to purchase something on a good sale or that I forgot... :0)   Now, keep in mind that this menu does not include anything fancy.  No soft drinks, no chocolate - mercy!  I don't buy snack food.  If we want to munch on something, I make popcorn, or we have an apple or an orange.  I do stock up on meat for my freezer when I find a good sale, and I also buy canned goods at case lot sales, which really helps; you just need to be sure to replenish the pantry when it gets low!   When I make my menu, I shop in my pantry and freezer first to see what I have on hand, and then make my menu.

Since there is just two of us, I have been cutting the recipes in half, even doing that, I have left-overs!

This is doable folks!! 

This is my plan for each week - 

Monday - soup, salad and/or sandwiches.  So many good options!

Tuesday - Pasta - I try to make it healthy. . .

Wednesday - Crock-pot - so many wonderful recipes, and I try not to use canned soup in them.

Thursday - family favorite or leftovers

Friday - pizza, Mexican, Chinese . . . etc. Yummy!

Saturday - something new - there are soooo many good recipes I have yet to try!

Sunday - something easy  - this is the only day we will - maybe - have dessert

This is not written in stone, and I make changes and switch things up as I go along, but I like to use it as a guild to keep me on track, so things don't get boring.

Here goes:

March 4th - 10th

Monday - Potato soup, homemade rolls, carrot sticks

    Tuesday - Lasagna Roll-ups, green salad, rolls
    Wednesday - Bean Pot,  cornbread

      Bean Pot

• 2 - 15 oz. cans pork and beans
• 1 can pinto beans (drained) (lima beans or great northern can be used instead)
• 1 can garbanzo beans (drained)
• 1 lb. hamburger
• 1/2 lb. bacon or diced ham
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 c. catsup
• 1 tsp. salt or to taste
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Brown beef, bacon and onions, drain. Combine garlic, ketchup, brown sugar, salt and vinegar with the beans. Pour all into slow cooker, along with the beef and onion mixture, and mix. Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours.  This is so good with corn bread!

        Thursday - Left overs

        Friday - Pork chops, baked potatoes, green beans

        Saturday - Taco Soup with tortilla chips, grated cheese and sour cream

        Sunday - Omelets, sausage, toast


Hugs,

 

Out of Hibernation!!

I feel like it's been ages since my last post . . . oh wait a minute . . . it has been ages!!  For some reason, it's been really hard for me to blog this winter.  I don't know if I just feel overwhelmed, or maybe it's just the lack of sunshine!  I've had a lot going on, and I sometimes do feel overwhelmed with life in general . . . that sounds like a cop-out, let me re-phrase that.  I sometimes allow myself to get too much on my plate, and then, I don't use my time wisely . . . better.  

Where do I start.  It's been cold here in Idaho, and I really do mean cold.  For almost the entire month of February, we were in the single digits, or below.  I think my body just tried to shut down at that point!  It's slowly warming up, hopefully, we will get a heat wave, and melt the 6 inches of new snow that fell this morning... :0)  Looks kind of cool sliding off of the roof!

Let's see - Valentine's Day.  We were gone that morning, and when I came home, this is what I found on my front steps - my sweet neighbor had given me a "Valentine's Heart Attack", along with delicious chocolate covered blueberries!!  It was so sweet, I almost cried!  I love good neighbors and friends!

That night we out to dinner with some friends, then went to see, "McManus In Love".  It's a one-man comedy, written by Patrick F. McManus, starring Tim Behrens, it was a two hour show, and just hillarious!   This is a long clip - just warning you!  Watch it if you have time.... :0) 




Last Saturday, we discovered a leak in the drain pipe, behind the wall in my kitchen, behind the dishwasher - 2:00 in the morning, it was a lovely find!!   Needless to say, it was a mess!  We called the insurance company on Monday morning, and before we knew it, there were people knocking on our door ready to start working - it was wonderful!!  After days of de-humidifying, and listening to the hepa-filter machine, I was ready to have it over with.  Yesterday, they came and took the siding off of the back of the house, so that the pipe could be fixed.  Bob replaced the pipe, the restoration company fixed and replaced everything that needed replacing, cleaned everything that needed cleaned, replaced the siding, took the machines home - and I have my house back! 

More later - it's good to be back, although, I noticed that some of my favorite people are no longer blogging.   This has been something I have contemplated myself.  But, this is my journal, this is where my family can find out what's happening in my life, and know some of my thoughts . . . think I'll stay a while.  I'm looking forward to checking in and commenting on your blogs!!

Hugs,

  

Thoughtful Spot Sunday . . .

  

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid

 John 14:27:

Christ spoke the simple truth; His peace is not the peace of the world.  It is a deeper peace than the world can offer.  Let me look past the storms that rage all around me, not in the form of lightning, thunder or wind, but of hatred, fear and violence.  Let me understand instead, all the other perils of this life to the reaches of eternity that can be open to me.  Let me trust, today, in that peace which Christ brings to all of His disciples, even in the midst of this storm . . . to me.  Let me be worthy to have that peace enfold me.  Mother Teresa said, "peace begins with a smile!" So today, let me smile!

Hugs,

  

 

Welcome 2013!

 FOR TODAY January 2, 2013 (how hard is that going to be to get used to?!)

Outside my window... Beautiful, bright, sunny, wintery white . . . and freezing cold, 15.2 degrees when I checked a few minutes ago!!  The snow is so pretty - it's been such a soft, light snow that my husband cleared the front porch yesterday with the leaf blower!

I am thinking... The same thing that most people are thinking about today . . . New Year's Resolutions . . . or the lack thereof!  I'm not really a New Year's Resolution girl.  I like the think that through the years I will just . . . evolve . . .  into the person I one day hope to be . . . hehehehehe!!  Actually, my goal is just to be a better person tomorrow, than I am today.  Whew, I will have to work really hard!

I am thankful... My husband was in a car accident on Christmas Day, and I am so thankful that he was not hurt, as it could have been much, much worse than it was . . . tender mercies . . .

In the kitchen... I just got done baking a big winter squash that was taking up space in my kitchen!  I will save some to eat tomorrow, and freeze the rest for later.... yum!

I am wearing... Blue jeans and a brown fleece sweater - oh, I do have on my shoes, it's cold outside!

I am creating... I have actually been thinking about what I want to "create", for Christmas next year!

I am going... Staying home tonight!

I am wondering...I really don't think anyone wants to know my thoughts right now.... :0)

I am reading... I'm not really reading anything right now.  But, I will be reading, The Snow Owl, by Jon Hartling. 

I am hoping...For a wonderful year!

I am looking forward to... Taking down the tree - I love to have it up, but it's time to come down now!

Around the house... I will be taking down the tree tomorrow.

I am pondering... A sweet aunt of mine passed away the day after Christmas - She was the last of my father's siblings to pass.  She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, daughter  and aunt.  She will be missed so greatly by her family and those who loved and treasured her.  I am pondering the reunion that she must have had with her sister (who passed away in November) her husband, her son, her parents, my father,  and her other siblings.  Love you Aunt Lois.

A favorite quote for today...

Every man should be born again on the first day of January.  Start with a fresh page.  Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.  

~Henry Ward Beecher~

One of my favorite things... My Kindle Fire . . . I really love it . . . I am shocked, because I didn't think I needed one . . . silly me!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Tomorrow - take down the tree.  Take the car to the body shop to be repaired.... :0(
Friday & Saturday - Clean up and start making my to-do list.
Sunday - church


HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!


Hugs,

 

Find more fun daybooks HERE .

Merry Christmas!

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, Lying in a manger. - St. Luke 10-12

Blessings, love and peace to all . . . Merry Christmas!

Hugs and Love,