Menu Plan Monday

Is it Tuesday already? Wow! the days and weeks go by so fast when you are busy. I need to apologize as I am a day late for my menu plan. Last week was crazy and this week is starting out the same way here at the Herlan household. Company in and out, grandparents day at the school, Going to Shipshawana, IN all day with my sister, visiting relatives, Birthday party ect. It may have been busy but it has been good. Because of unexpected plans and being more busy than usual, some menus got changed and therefor I will try to have this week what I was supposed to have last week. So this is what my menu looks like this week...

MONDAY- fish ( Cod) fire roasted veggies, leftover birthday cake from granddaughter's birthday

TUESDAY-Hubby is bringing home subway subs after work

WEDNESDAY- 15 bean soup, corn bread or homemade bread ( haven't decided)

THURSDAY- out?

FRIDAY- spaghetti, tossed salad

SATURDAY-chicken and rice, butternut squash

SUNDAY- on our own!

Check out more menus at http://orgjunkie.com/ !

Grandparents Day

Today was a special day.Our grandaughter Jasmyne is almost 6 years old and in kindergarten.She invited her Mimi and Papa to grandparents day at school. Yep, my first grandparents day. Papa had to work and couldn't get out of it but Mimi went alone. Children kindergarten through the fifth grade sang and put on a skit for their grandparents. What fun! It was a joyful event. The gym was packed with smiles all around among grandparents and staff members. No one in the audience cared about whether the singing was on key or the words understandable. In fact if prideful beaming could produce energy there would be no need to light the gym today. It was remarkable. No performers have ever been more appreciated. Then there was the trip to the classroom of each grandchild. Jasmyne ran into my arms., so happy to have her Mimi there. She beamed and giggled and couldn't wait to show her Mimi everything from where she sits in class to her artwork posted on the walls. We also had cookies and punch together. Amazing! I cannot believe how much she has grown. What a joy to be there with her. I do not remember my grandparents being around at any of my school functions or my parents being there for my own kids school functions. But, then again, I don't ever remember grandparents day back then. I am glad I was there for Jasmyne and hope to be there for many more.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

She may look cute but, don't let this face fool you! She has attitude!

Planting and growing garlic

I would like to grow some garlic for next year but, the weather here has been cold and rainy every time you turn around ugh! which makes it hard to get anything accomplished outside. I am hoping for a couple of nice days here yet this month to finish cleaning the garden and planting garlic. I love fresh garlic and use it often in recipes. To grow garlic, you first separate individual cloves from the garlic bulb. Leave some of the paper hulls on each. You choose a sunny garden location with rich well drained soil. Dig holes or rows approx 1-2 inches deep and plant cloves root side down, 4-6 inches apart in rows 1 1/2-2 ft. apart. Cover with fine soil. In northern climates you should put down 4-6 inches of mulch for winter protection. Garlic will begin growth in late fall or early spring. It is really easy as you can see. Next spring your garlic will begin top growth as soon as the weather starts to warm. The plants will grow vigorously into early summer and around late June you will notice growth cease and the plant greens will begin to yellow and lean over. This signals that the bulbs are ready for harvesting. Carefully dig up the soil and remove your garlic bulbs. You gently brush off soil. Do not wash the bulbs. Garlic can be stored in a warm room away from sunlight. It can last for many months. That's all there is to it to grow garlic. See I told you it was easy. So, there you have it fresh, delicious healthy garlic!

MENU PLAN MONDAY

Once again its menu plan Monday. This week I am serving good ole comfort foods.. They are typically inexpensive, uncomplicated, easy to prepare, easy to digest and did I mention tasty? I almost always have the ingrediants on hand. DH and I love comfort foods! So, this week on my menu I am having......

MONDAY- tuna noodle casserole, apricots

TUESDAY- ridiculous easy pot roast with potatoes and carrots, homemade bread with apple butter

WEDNESDAY-beef and noodles( made with leftover roast from Tuesday) green beans

THURSDAY-5 bean soup, cornbread, pumpkin pie

FRIDAY-chicken and rice, butternut squash,

SATURDAY-spaghetti, tossed salad

SUNDAY_ on our own!

For more menu ideas check out http://orgjunkie.com Bon Appitite!

Bubblewrap window insulation

As the temperatures turn cooler, I have been thinking about how we can keep our heating bills down.We rent a mobile home so buying new replacement windows is not an option . Heating our little place costs us a fortune every winter.Our windows are those cheap mobile home single paned windows that have storm windows we take down in the spring and put back up in the fall UGH! I have 2 storm windows back up now and 6 more to go. Before I put up the rest, I have found you can use bubble wrap, you know the stuff that is intended for padding for breakables for shipping to stop cold air from creeping in at the windows. Our windows leak like sieves and there is no way to afford replacements even if we didn't rent at this time. I am planning on trying the bubble wrap thing. It is so easy to put up....just cut a piece to fit the size of the window pane, spray the glass with water, and gently press the bubble wrap in place ( bubble side of the wrap against the window) It is pretty effective stuff as they use it in green houses. The water holds the bubble wrap to the window all winter. No need for tape or glue. By placing bubble wrap in the winter it doubles the R value. This could cut the heat loss in half. This is going to be the least expensive and quickest fix to insulate our windows this winter season. You can guess what I'm going to be doing this week.

Applefest 2009

I live a frugal lifestyle and I love it! But, I will be truthful with you, I still waste money....if that's what you like to call it. But, because of DH's and I frugal lifestyle, wasting money, like today at the Apple fest made it all possible. It is a once a year thing DH and I do together. I must say......there is nothing like a full belly, a hot shower and getting into some warm flannel pj's after a cold long rainy drizzling day at the festival. Yes, you heard right a cold drizzling day. But hey, as always we had fun. We go to the apple fest every year! It's our day! and as always we came back home with our bellies bursting full from all that yummy fattening food the festival has to offer. Because everyone knows it all smells so good and you gotta try it all. We ate beef and noodles, ham and beans with corn bread, pork tenderloin sandwich, apple fritters, hot spiced cider, roasted almonds, New Brunswick stew oh yea, caramel apples. Yummmmmm! I think after all this food a diet is in order. Of course the raise a ruckus musical show which is our personal favorite and the wagon ride, cloggers, demonstrations, the magic show. I personally love going through all the craft barns and getting ideas mostly. So, tell me what is your favorite food at festivals? Have you been to any festivals this year?