Menu Plan Monday (or thursday!)

Thursday is better than nothing, that's what I have to say :)

And I did actually cook dinner the last two days, I just didn't plan out my week, so it's not as bad as it could have been!!

Monday - doctor's appointments - take out from the local italian place

Tuesday - Pork Shoulder and Betty Crocker Scalloped Potatoes

Wednesday - Grilled Rib Steaks seasoned with shallots and garlic

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Pasta Alfredo

Saturday - Out for the day - going out to eat

Sunday - Picnic/Barbecue after church

Menu Plan Monday Aug 6th - it's been a while!

Well, it's been a while, but I'm actually gonna cook dinner this week!  My LO is 8 weeks old and I'm finally feeling ready to get back in the swing of "normal" life!  Maybe I'll actually get something done if I can quit staring at this sweet face :)

Here's my attempt at getting back in the saddle:

Monday - Returning from out of town - eat on the way home

Tuesday - Cheesy Cornbread Chili Casserole

Wednesday - Marinated Grilled Chicken and Crock-pot Mac 'n' Cheese

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Smoky Skillet Cacciatore

Saturday - Rotisserie Chicken, corn on the cob, and salad

Sunday - Leftovers again or out to eat with friends

Pomegranate Ice Cream

Today I decided to try pomegranate ice cream in my ice cream maker. Mine is only a 1.5 quart maker so I had to keep it about a quart of liquid. Unfortunately I never took a picture of the end product...

I wanted to keep it super simple, so here it is:

1 cup 100% pomegranate juice
1/4 cup lime juice
2 cups half and half
1 cup sugar
1/8 tsp salt

Mix everything together. I measured and mixed in the same bowl.

Add to ice cream maker and churn 20-30 mins.

If you want it to be soft, eat it right now!  Otherwise, spoon it into a freezer safe container and freeze for an hour or two until harder.

I love the tangy-ness of adding the lime juice. Next time I will probably cut down on the sugar. Maybe 3/4 cup.
This might be my favorite of the ice creams that I've made so far!


~~~~~

Coincidence? or Sunshine?

Yesterday was rainy and dark, and I spent the whole day feeling sad, unmotivated, and just down in the dumps!

Today the sun is shining and it is absolutely the perfect temperature out! I went for a walk at lunch time with my hubby. And I just feel happy, and ready for almost anything.

Does the weather really have that much power over my mood? Or does it just so happen that I got enough sleep last night and the previous few nights I had been lacking? I got some exercise, so now I have more energy and motivation?

If it really is the sunshine that inspires happiness and motivation, how do I bottle this and use it on cold and/or rainy days?   I hate feeling so depressed and unmotivated, but I can't seem to figure out what to do about it on days when I feel that way.  And on days when I do have motivation, I can't pinpoint exactly what is different.

I don't need or expect to feel happy all the time.  But when I'm not, I would sure like there to be a good reason for it, and a clear path of how to get back to a place where I can be happy, content, motivated, and actually pleasant to be around ;)

So what do you think...  Coincidence? or Sunshine?


~~♥~~

Menu Plan Oct 17th-22

I've been home alone the last two weeks, so I haven't done much cooking. It's no fun cooking for yourself!! I've had lots of wonderful friends invite me over or go out somewhere with me, but the occasional night I've stayed in has consisted of really exciting dinners such as.... toasted english muffin with peanut butter!  Stunning!

This week I'm finally getting back in the swing of things. I am so happy to have my hubby back home. It's been very lonely without him, especially since I could rarely have any communication with him. I don't know how people do it with their husbands gone for months or years at a time. I was going crazy without having him around, and it was only 2.5 weeks!

Ok, on to the menu for this week!

Monday - Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Pasta and Quick & Easy Alfredo Sauce
 --I love this alfredo sauce! It's quick, it uses ingredients I almost always have around the house, and to me, it tastes amazing. It may not be *quite* as good as REAL alfredo sauce, but I love that it is so easy and pretty much fool-proof to throw together! I always add extra garlic... mmmm

Tuesday - Cheese Steak Sandwiches (crockpot)

Wednesday - Gumbo with Chicken & Italian Sausage  (crockpot)
--I looked for a while to find a good gumbo recipe, and kinda pulled several together to create this one. I think it's exactly what I was looking for! dont' forget to add the roux at the end... gives it that something extra special!

Thursday - leftovers

Friday - Argentinian Pork Tenderloin  (cooking the pork in the crockpot)

Saturday - leftovers again, or out to dinner with friends!


~~~~~~~

Menu Plan Monday Sept 25th

Happy Fall!  It's only 3 months till Christmas!!! Just wanted to throw that out there! :)

Here's my plan for the week...

Monday - Almond Stuffed Chicken
- I am really excited about this one! Every time I look at the recipe, I get hungry and want to make it right now!  I really hope it lives up to my expectations!
**Ok, update... this was amazing! And it really wasn't that hard either. The cheese I got for it was Alouette garlic and herb brie cheese - I kinda splurged on that cuz I love brie so much but oh my goodness this was great! and it looked so fancy! Served it with couscous with some italian seasonings.

Tuesday - Pomegranate Beef in the Crockpot
 - however, I plan on substituting honey for the maple syrup, and leaving out the golden raisins and the cinnamon

Wednesday - dinner with friends

Thursday - leftovers

Friday - Chicken Curry (crockpot)
 - this is one of my favorites!

Saturday - leftovers - whenever I make chicken curry I always have WAY too much!!

Sunday - Argentinian Pork
 - haven't decided if I'll cook this in the crock pot or on the grill... guess it depends on if we get our propane tank refilled! If cooking in the crockpot - cook on low for 4-6 hours, or until the temperature of the pork registers at least 145 degrees.

~~~~~~

Menu Plan Monday

This is one of those weeks were I feel like meal planning is HARD! I'm struggling for motivation. I know that when I do plan meals, everything is way way easier throughout the week, but I still have a hard time encouraging myself to do it!

So... here we go...

Monday - Hamburgers on the grill

Tuesday - Leftovers

Wednesday - Crockpot Baked Ziti - going to brown some italian sausage instead of ground beef, and add some chopped spinach or zucchini or whatever veggies I have laying around.

Thursday - Garlic Lime Chicken - serving with black beans and sweet corn

Friday - Jamaican Salmon

Saturday - Leftovers or dinner out!

PS Coffee buttercream frosting is amazing!!! I made some ghiardelli brownie cupcakes last night for a co-worker's birthday and frosted them with coffee flavored buttercream. YUM I am drooling just remembering them.

I still have a bowl full of the coffee frosting in the fridge... what else can I put it on? or should I just give in to my taste buds and have a few spoonfuls by itself? ;)










Have a great week!