Menu Plan Monday

My hubby is is layed off for the winter now, the weather report sounds cold and nasty for the next few days so eating from the freezer and pantry is a must. No shopping this week! Money is tight for a bit until unemployment benefits start coming in. This makes me so ever thankful for the bit of the stockpile of food at this time and for menu planning. This week our menu goes like this....

MONDAY- tuna melt sandwiches, potato soup, mixed fruit

TUESDAY- fried pork chops, hash browns ,peas

WEDNESDAY-*Layered Mexican bake, corn souffle

THURSDAY- venison and noodles, Harvard beets

FRIDAY- pancakes and sausage, mandarin oranges

SATURDAY- shepherds pie, homemade bread

Be sure to check out organizing junkie for more menu ideas!

* Layered Mexican bake

3/4 lb. lean ground beef

1 onion

1green pepper chopped

2 tsp chili powder

1 1/4 cups thick N chunky salsa

1 pkg ( 10 oz) frozen corn

3 high fiber whole wheat tortillas ( 8 inch)

1/2 cup light sour cream

3/4 cup sharp chedder cheese, divided

Heat oven to 375 degrees

brown meat with onions and peppers in large skillet on medium-high heat. Stir in chili powder; cook 1 min. add salsa and corn; mix well. simmer 5 min.

Spread 1 cup meat sauce onto bottom of 8 or 9 inch square baking dish; top with layers of tortilla, 1/2 cup meat sauce, sour cream, and 1/4 cup cheese. Cover with 1 tortilla, 1 cup of remaining meat sauce and 1/4 cup of remaining cheese; top with remaining tortilla and meat sauce. Cover with foil.

Bake 25 min. or until cassaerole is heated through. Top with remaining cheese; bake uncovered, 5 min. or until melted.

Bethlehem the day after Christ was born

Today my husband and I went to Bethlehem the day after Christ was born. They call it Bethlehem Marketplace. My old church, Fairview Missionary, every year puts this event on. This year marks the 20th year. It's amazing and an awesome reminder of the reason behind the season. We try to never to miss this event.The Styrofoam city and sandy streets come to life with a cast of 200 fairview attenders talking about the exciting news of the birth of a baby boy they call Jesus. In costume everyone portrays what it was like in Bethlehem in the days after Christ was born. While you wait to go thru the streets of Bethlehem you are seated in the Sanctuary where you listen to beautiful Christmas music which is all done from fairview people as well. I believe for some of us, our lives get so hectic and busy with opening presents and visiting family that the whole reason behind the season gets forgotten. There are gifts that are more important than the ones under the Christmas tree. Remembering Christ at Christmas time will make your holiday celebrations so much more meaningful and happy. Take time this Christmas to give thanks for the birth of Jesus Christ who came to us so very simple and the importance of the sacrifice He made in our behalf. Give your heart to Christ. Let him be at the top of your Christmas list.

Club Bing

Have you tried club bing yet? This is a great site if you like to play games and be rewarded. People who know me know I am not one of those people who enjoy spending all day on the computer playing games. It is just not my cup of tea. However, I do enjoy this site. It has many games to choose from to play. I enjoy chicktionary where you unscramble the letters to make words. In turn you get tickets depending on how many answers you get right. Every time you play games you earn tickets ( up to 1000 per day) I started playing awhile back because I needed a new kitchen timer and I am too cheap to go out and buy one. So, when I saw I could win a kitchen aid digital timer from the selection of prizes I went for it. The UPS man came today and I am now a proud owner of a brand new kitchen aid digital timer and it couldn't of came at a better time as my sister and I will be baking cookies this Saturday. This little timer will get some use. If you like playing games I urge you to check out and join club bing It's addictive and there is so many neat prizes to choose from. It didn't cost me anything, just my time. It's free, it's fun.

Tis the season

There is absolutely a relationship between how busy I get and how much I blog. Our family Christmas is in a couple of weeks and I am so unprepared. I have put some things on the back burner and now honestly this has left me feeling exhausted and disorganized. It seems there is so much to do and so little timeand this can be overwhelming. Today, while playing Christmas music over our satellite tv and trying to get into the Christmas spirit of things, I wrapped up some gifts but, I have alot more to do because we have to finish shopping for the kids and grand kids ( this can be hard when you are on a limited income) which is why, I have been making some of my gifts this year. One of these gifts are throw pillows I have been working on and all I need to do now on them is finish stuffing them and sewing them shut. I am also making some gifts in a jar like homemade cappachino mix. I made sand art brownie mix in a jar last year for the girls and they loved it! Sending out Christmas cards to family and friends that live far away is important to me. I try to write a personal note to everyone along with the card. These will get done sometime this week or beginning of next week. Hubby will be hunting this Saturday, this is giving me my no man time to bake Christmas cookies all day with my sister. I am really going to enjoy this time. The house is going to smell soooooo yummy!

Menu Plan Monday

Menu Plan Monday has arrived once more and I have a plan! If you haven't tried menu planning, I encourage you to give it a try. Meal planning makes it easier to prepare healthy economical meals at home thus saving time and money. This is what we will be eating this week..... for more menu ideas visit organized junkie here

MONDAY- pan fried bluegill, roasted potatoes, peas

TUESDAY- chili and cornbread

WEDNESDAY- meatloaf ,corn mashed potatoes

THURSDAY- meatloaf sandwiches, tomato soup, canned pears

FRIDAY- spaghetti, green salad

SATURDAY- steamed cabbage and polish sausage, homemade bread

BEWARE

BEWARE: Possible side effects of eating turkey after one hour of consumption!

Menu Plan Monday

I cannot believe Thanksgiving is upon us so soon. I mean really, where does the time go? It is going to be another busy week here. Almost all the kids and of course the grand kids will be here will be here for Thanksgiving. I am going to make 2 turkeys this year, one stuffed and one not. This however wasn't planned but, the reason behind it is that the hubby and I bought a turkey awhile back when Walmart had them really cheap. Last Friday I was given another turkey, which I am so ever grateful for but, there was this wee problem. I could not fit it in the freezer, between the turkey we bought and all the containers of pumpkin glop I froze, there was no way that turkey was going in! Two turkeys.....Lots of leftovers....That is my favorite part Thanksgiving! My menu looks like this for the week...

MONDAY- Pizza, green salad

TUESDAY- grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, fruit

WEDNESDAY-out!

THANKSGIVING- turkey and dressing,whole wheat dinner rolls, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied sweet potatoes, relish tray with pickles, olives, cheese, carrots, celery and deviled eggs, apple pie and pumpkin pie

FRIDAY-leftovers from Thanksgiving

SATURDAY- leftovers from Thanksgiving

SUNDAY- on our own!

For more menu ideas be sure to check out organizing junkie