"So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy"
~Colossians 1:10-11

Friday, January 29, 2010

Menus

A couple weeks ago I made a list of 2 weeks worth of dinners to work off of. Here's my list and then below it is what we actually ate :-) I ended up having to change a couple meals around due to unexpected company staying with us, but for the most part I did pretty good. I am going to look over both lists and then compile the next couple weeks menus. I am hoping to get to a point where I have a good 2 week menu and then try rotating thru that menu on a regular basis.

Week 1
Monday - Hamburgers w/ green salad
Tuesday - Enchiladas w/ green salad
Wednesday - Chicken Fajitas
Thursday - Soup w/ bread
Friday - Salmon w/ buttery carrots
Saturday - Pasta Florentine w/ veggies

Week 2
Monday - Beef Stroganoff w/ bread
Tuesday - Chicken, broccoli and rice w/ green salad
Wednesday - Tacos
Friday - Salmon w/ Garlic spinach
Saturday - Pasta Florentine w/ veggies

Note - yes, I left Sunday off intentionally because Sundays tended to either be easy meals or leftovers - I don't typically do a big meal. And we usually do leftovers at least once a week, if not twice so I left room in there to push meals around and use up leftovers.

Several meals are slightly vague - like Pasta Florentine - depending on the week, my mood and the sales this might be Ham Florentine, Chicken Florentine or Salmon Florentine and the veggies may be what was on sale or just what I have stockpiled in the freezer.

The same is with the soup - this might be a simple classic standby I make or maybe I will try and new recipe I found.

Tuesdays tend to be my out and about days - so those days I either plan a meal I can make ahead on Monday and pop in the oven when we get home or one I can put in the crockpot in the morning.

Almost all my meals are the type that can be almost completely prepped ahead of time and just combined/cooked/completed just before dinner or is crockpot-able. I find, especially when pregnant, but even some when not :-) that my energy and motivation is much better in the morning and if I can complete the majority of my mess and work before naptime it makes for a much better evening!

Here's what we ACTUALLY ate the last couple weeks!

Week 1
Sunday - White chicken chili w/ bread and green salad
Monday - Enchiladas w/ leftover green salad and bread
Tuesday - Beef Stroganoff w/ garlic bread
Wednesday - leftovers
Thursday - leftovers
Saturday - Beef and Bean Burritos w/ guacamole, sour cream, etc on the side


Week 2
Sunday - leftovers
Monday - Salmon w/ buttery carrots
Tuesday - Chicken, broccoli and rice in the crockpot
Wednesday - Chicken fajitas
Thursday - Beef Stew w/ bread
Friday - Salmon w/ fingerling potatoes and garlic spinach
Saturday - pizza

I tried to link the meals above to the site or recipe I used, if there is no link, it's my recipe and I will try and post it soon!


Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Chips and Dip

My husband loves his chips and dip. He made up this dip and it's one of our favorites.

8 ounces cream cheese
8 ounces sour cream
1 can chipotle peppers in adobe sauce

Blend the cream cheese and sour cream in a bowl till smooth. I use my hand mixer but a blender works too. Open can of chipotle peppers and very carefully blend till mostly smooth. Depending on the can, they can be very spicy so be carefully when handling and wash your blender good!
Add in chipotle peppers to the cream mixture till blended through. Taste and add more peppers as you like. Again, depending on the can, this might be 1-2 TB of peppers or it might be the whole can. We have done it both ways, just taste it and add more peppers slowly.

This stores wonderfully for a good 7-10 days (maybe even longer) and makes a good addition to taco or fajita night. I love to mix into refried beans and make burritos. Or use in place of sour cream in many dishes.

Unless your kids are really spicy food fanatics, this probably isn't a kid-friendly dish!

Friday, January 15, 2010

treasures

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"

Where is your treasure?
What do you value most?
How can you live your life to reflect better where your treasure is?

As I have been going through a Bible study on contentment I am reminded once again that contentment is not a one-time decision. Just because I was or decided to be content 6 months ago, doesn't mean I am content today. Contentment must be cultivated and worked on. It's not going to happen all by itself! Contentment is not getting to a point in your life where everything is perfect and they way you want it.
It's the perspective you have on where you are today.

Yes, there are things I want and need to be working on in my life. But I am content. I know I am where I am suppose to be. I have 3 beautiful and precious children that I am able to be home with and be investing in their lives. I am continuing to learn and grow and rely on God. Things have not been easy financially recently, as with many, but God has continued to provide. When we have no idea where it will come from, He does and provides when we need it.

".... give me neither poverty or riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me..."
-Prov 30:8

This really struck me as I read it the other day. What a perfect thought.
God provides just what we need when we need it. Feed me with food that is needful
for me. This might look different for different people. But what am I doing with the
knowledge I have. Am I being a good steward with the food and resources I have?

One of my main goals in the next few months is to really tweak and refine our
menus and grocery shopping. Hopefully streamlining to make it efficient and easier for me
to prepare GOOD, REAL food for my family and to be be wise in my time spent
in meal planning and shopping. I am hoping to come up with a good 10 meals and
rotate them thru every 2 weeks or so. As soon as I figure out what I am going to try for
I will share our menu ideas.




Thursday, January 14, 2010

Real Food Face-Off


Want to get to know some other "real food" people? Check out the Real Food Face-Off at Kitchen Stewardship. There will be 2 new bloggers featured on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next month or so!

Here is the link to the first installment! Keep watching and I will let you know again when it's my turn!