Monday, February 28, 2011

MENU PLAN MONDAY 2/28


Whew! I just have to say this has been a strange and frustrating past weekend for me! I feel very fortunate to have my Internet up and running at the moment for it had turned for the worse Saturday. I suppose it is time to step up with technology. For the moment my son fixed this getting online experience by unplugging the modem and plugging it in a different port. I talked with my Internet provider and they actually was more interested in directing me to broadband or DSL...hmmmmmm....I am sure this dial-up thing is phasing out is why they are steering people towards this and away from old school dial-up. After this incident, I feel I have no choice but to move forward that is, if I want to have Internet. I will now have broadband by this Wednesday if all goes well. So now let's talk about the menu....and....be sure to visit organizing junkie for more menus!



MONDAY

spaghetti

tossed green salad

garlic bread



TUESDAY

fried pork chops

brown/wild rice pilaf

steamed cauliflower



WEDNESDAY

macaroni and cheese

green beans



THURSDAY

homemade chicken noodle soup

grilled cheese sandwiches

jello with fruit



FRIDAY

Swiss steak

mashed potatoes

steamed broccoli



SATURDAY

pancakes and sausage



SUNDAY

Defend for ourselves





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Friday, February 25, 2011

We find contentment in the promises of God

The role of money in people's day to day lives is quite amazing when it's put into prospective. The primary reason Americans get up in the morning is so they can go out and make money. Money buys things. Money influences people. Money keeps us alive. Money makes us happy, or does it? Have you ever noticed contentment is an illusive commodity today? In fact, much of the business world works hard to breed discontent so that we will buy their product and keep the economy healthy. They tell us something is new and improved so we will feel that we have less than the best and are somehow "behind the times" so to speak. Gambling institutions (including lottery officials) show us pictures of what we could do with the winnings of the lottery. They are deliberating trying to make us feel dissatisfied with life playing to our greed. They want us to believe that we are not significant if we don't have the best and newest. Let's be honest, It is hard to be content in the difficult times. We look around and see others who seem to be doing better than we are and we feel cheated. It is hard to feel satisfied, confident, joy, when our plans are suddenly changes, when life is not going the way you want it to be going. For me this past 2 weeks has been just that. Living in a rural area can sometimes have its pitfalls especially when it comes to Internet service. Broad band or dial up is our only option. I love my computer. I spend alot of time, maybe too much on it. But, dial up is ....SLOW....! I am so limited on what I can do and trying to do my surveys take forever if I can even do them. I could go on and on and I have to tell you I have done my share of moaning and groaning. If broadband wasn't so expensive and didn't have that up front cost maybe I would have had it by now. DH has given in and agreed to let me set up broad band for my computer., which is exactly what I have done...well...supposedly..One of the providers that I decided on never got back with me after they said they would. I could call them back, but somehow I suddenly do not feel comfortable about this. I have the cash in my hand..I can finally have my "fast" Internet...But why can't I just be content with what I have? This is going to break us for the next two weeks even though this can be done. I mean just because my Internet doesn't do all I want it to do, I still have Internet right? I have been praying about this. One thing I have learned about this world we live in is how fast it is developing. We now have so many technologies that has helped us control places that we might never be. One of the great technologies is the Internet and with only decade ago dial-up Internet was the prevalent form of Internet connection. Today, dial -up is totally irrelevant. Dial-up is already going into extinction. Maybe for the moment, broadband Internet isn't for me. Perhaps later, In God's timing and that's alright with me. I should be content on what I do have. Waiting for God's timing is probably one of the hardest things we have to do, but it's worth it. Too many people believe happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction is found in power, possessions, promotions and pleasure. But, these are roads that lead to dead ends. There is only one road to contentment and it goes through Jesus. Are you content with what you have from the Lord?-not seeking more or complaining of less?
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Monday, February 21, 2011

Menu Plan Monday 2/21


Welcome to yet another edition of Menu Plan Monday. Just when the glimpse of spring begins to make an appearance, it suddenly turns into old man winter again. Well, at least for a little while longer. Here in Indiana you never know what it is going to be like. Last night we got hit with an ice storm. There seems to be more freezing rain coming and then turning to snow up to 5 inches of that white stuff! Winter is not about to loosen it's icy grip! For my menu this week it's all about easy warm and comfort. Be sure to visit organizing junkie for some more amazing menus!


MONDAY

chicken and noodles

tossed green salad

chocolate pudding w/bananas


TUESDAY

pizza/veggie for me


WEDNESDAY

sausage

macaroni and cheese

green beans


THURSDAY

split pea soup

grilled cheese

jello salad of some sort


FRIDAY

garlic butter salmon

brown rice

steamed peas


SATURDAY

spaghetti

garlic bread

small green salad


SUNDAY

on our own/leftovers

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Sunday, February 13, 2011

Menu Plan Monday 2/14




Good Morning and Happy Valentines Day! I am a bit under the weather with a scratchy throat and the general yuk feeling. This is not how I want to start the week off but, there is not much I can do about it. I have taken some meds but, I don't seem to feel any better so I guess it will just have to take it's course.... sigh...! I realized all I have left in meat for this week is hamburger, venison burger and bluegill. I don't feel like spending the money for other meat this week...so guessing this will do. What is nice about hamburger, it is very versatile. There is so much you can do with it. Be sure to visit organizing junkie and while you are there you might want to hook up with her with your own menu plan.






MONDAY



out? I am on strike today!!






TUESDAY



meatloaf



baked potato (for DH) baked sweet potato (for me)



steamed peas






WEDNESDAY



meatloaf sandwiches



potato/broccoli soup






THURSDAY



Spanish rice



bean and cheese burritos






FRIDAY



scrambled eggs



blueberry pancakes






SATURDAY



sloppy joes



baked fries






SUNDAY



defend for ourselves!

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Monday, February 7, 2011

Menu Plan Monday 2/7


You guessed it! It's Monday, time for another round of menu planning for this week. I've got an unusually busy week planned. My dad and I will be getting together for a couple of days to make elderberry/grape jelly. The elderberries and grapes were some we picked this last summer. I put the elderberries in the freezer and my dad made juice from the grapes and put them in his freezer. At the time we thought this was best as dad's hip was really bad and we had so much other canning and freezing in the works. We figured this winter was the best time to make jelly; and together we should have some awesome jelly! At our local Meijer store this past week, they had the Ball brand pectin for 75 cents a box, marked down from $1.50. The expiration date is dated 2013. Between my dad's purchase and my purchases, we should have enough pectin to put up jelly for the next 2 years! This was a good price for sure and couldn't of come at a better time when we needed some for this jelly. My menu for this week looks like this..

MONDAY
chili
homemade bread
yellow cake w/milk chocolate frosting

TUESDAY
veggie omelets
sweeter muffins w/ jelly*
apple sauce

WEDNESDAY
beef sirloin steak w/baby spinach*
glazed carrots
mashed potatoes

THURSDAY
french meat pie*
green beans

FRIDAY
crunchy apple salad
beef pattie melts

SATURDAY
leftovers

SUNDAY
defend for ourselves!

Now, if you go to organizing junkie, you will see many yummy menus for inspiration!

Sweeter Muffins
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil or melted shortening
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Grease bottoms of muffin cups. Beat egg slightly with a fork. Measure and stir in milk and oil. Measure and blend flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add all at once to liquid mixture. Stir just enough to moisten dry ingredients. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Wipe off any spilled batter and place pan in center or preheated 350 degree oven. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. remove to a cooling rack. Serve piping hot. Makes 12 muffins


Beef Sirloin Steak w/baby spinach
prep time 20 min. cook time 20 min. makes 4 servings

2 Tbls. olive oil
1 boneless beef sirloin steak, 3/4: thick (about 1lb), cut into 4 pieces
1 lg onion, sliced
1 small red pepper, chopped
3 cloves, garlic, minced
1 can (103/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup water 2 Tbls balsamic vinegar
1 Tbls chopped fresh rosemary leaves or 1 tsp. dried rosemary leaves crushed
1 bag ( about 7 oz) fresh baby spinach
hot mashed potatoes

Heat 1 Tbls oil in a 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until well browned on both sides. Remove beef from skillet. Pour off fat.
Heat remaining oil in skillet, add onion and pepper and cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally, Add garlic and cook until vegetables are tender crisp, stirring often.
Stir in soup, water, vinegar and rosemary in skillet and heat to a boil. Return beef to skillet. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in spinach. Cover and cook for 2 minutes or until desired doneness. Serve beef and vegetable mixture with potatoes.

French meat pie

2 Tbls. cooking
1 lg onion, thinly sliced
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground pork
1 cup mashed potatoes
2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
pastry for double crust pie (9 inches)
1 egg beaten opt.

In a skillet, heat oil over medium.Saute onion until tender. Remove and set aside. Brown beef and pork together. Drain, Combine onion, meat, potatoes, and seasonings. Line pie plate with pastry. Fill with meat mixture. Top with crust. Seal and flute edges. Make slits in top crust. Brush with egg if desired. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown yield 6-8 servings


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Friday, February 4, 2011

Think Spring.....Think Dandelions

It seems we are all longing for an early Spring. It has been a long cold winter. Coping with Arctic wind chills and snow, lots of snow for some of us; well, most people including myself are fed up with winter period! The good news is that Spring will come in fact early this year. Punxsutawney Phil predicted this by not seeing his shadow. In my eyes, there is still 6 more weeks of winter any way you look at it. But, with the skies so beautiful baby blue and the sun shining ever so bright yesterday and today, and as i was sitting in my chair enjoying the warmth and soaking it all in, I seemed to forget for a moment my winter weather doldrums.
My dad and I love to do much of the same things and try to help each other out with freezing and canning, putting out a big garden. This year we have been talking about dandelions. Yes, that little so called weed with the yellow flower that everyone hates that seems to take over your yard. We plan on digging up a bunch of them this Spring to eat. Mom used to hate it when he would dig up a bunch and had her clean them. Oh! How I used to love eating them! Did you know the dandelion is not native to the United States? It's true! It was brought here by the European settlers for food and medicine. The fresh young leaves and flowers are a great addition to every salad. They are classified as a "bitter" which aids in digestion by helping the pancreas, spleen and stomach. They also increase bile, improve kidney function and contain high amounts of potassium. This can make them helpful for water retention and high blood pressure. Both leaves and root cleanse the blood and kidneys, along with liver and gallbladder functions. The root has been roasted for years and used as a healthy coffee substitute. In the bible it mentions that "they shall eat with unleavened bread and bitter herbs" The dandelion is one of the most common plants in Egypt and Western Asia. It is quite possible that it was eaten at the time of the passover. Chinese herbal practitioners wrote about it's medicinal value in the seventh century. The Roman scholar knew and wrote about it in the first century. How's that for years of testing? So, think about this the next time you get the urge to eradicate that "dandy" weed....maybe it grows in such abundance because we could all use more free food and health benefits that it so devotedly offers. After all, the Creator does not make mistakes.
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Wednesday, February 2, 2011