Menu Plan Monday: Comfort classics

This week I am wanting classic comfort food. (It could be all the snow and ice we have been dealing with!) I am excited to try a new stuffing and chicken recipe...I hope its as yummy as it sounds! Happy eating y'all!! (And stay warm!!)

Monday: Baked chicken and stuffing, green beans, corn

Tuesday: Baked lasagna, tossed salad, garlic bread

Wednesday: Leftover - if its not movin.....

Thursday: Pork roast with sauerkraut, broccoli, mashed potatoes

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Black bean, rice, corn, cheese and chicken grilled wrap, re fried beans

Sunday: meatloaf, twice baked potatoes casserole, mixed veggies

Works for me Wednesday: Start Valentines day off right!

This week WFMW is to share a Valentines Day tip so here is one of mine that both my hubs and kids love!

My love bugs wake up on Valentines day to red heart pancakes!!

I just add some food coloring to my pancake mix and carefully place two blogs together until it forms a heart :) It makes my family feel special and fills their tummy so that works for this mama!!!

For more great WFMW tips visit We are That Family!

Menu Plan Monday: Fishy and Fried

Hey all!!! We all are FINALLY starting to feel better which is a blessing after being sick for so long!!! I think my little kicker inside is hitting a growth spurt because I am eating like a linebacker :) I am craving fish and fried foods so that is how I planned our menu this week. Happy Eating y'all!!!

Monday: Mexican Lasagna , re fried beans, chips and salsa

Tuesday: Talapia in cornflake crumbs, perogies, green beans

Wednesday: Leftover's- if its not movin....

Thursday: Slow cooker meatballs (meatball subs), baked fries, mixed veggies

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Garlic chicken fried chicken, corn, baked beans

Sunday: Beef roast with roasted carrots and mashed potatoes and green beans

$10 dinner kick off !!!

I have been wanting to feature some of my favorite cheap and yummy recipes for a while now! I want to not only share the recipes but to also give you a grocery list and some tips to help stretch your budget a little further.

As you know, different stores have different great deals on a weekly basis. (And sometimes they are not that great of deals :) ) For this reason, I will be featuring whatever store looks the best that week and it will give a good variety since we all share in different places. I will also let you know when the item is on sale in combination with a coupon and provide a link where you can go and print off the coupon. (Thanks Stretching a Buck!!)

Tell me what you like, what you don't like and feel free to share recipes!!

Grocery list at Giant Eagle this week

1 lb of ground beef- on sale $2

1 package of taco seasoning- generic $1

1 can (28 oz) of Red Pack diced tomatoes- on sale and with coupon $.67

1 package of Old El Paso tortillas- on sale $1.25

1 jar of Chi Chi's salsa- on sale and with coupon $1

1 package of Kraft Cheese shreds- on sale (2) with coupon $1.50

Breakstones Sour Cream - on sale and with coupon $.40

1 head of lettuce- (usually can get a head of lettuce for $1)

Total Grocery Bill: $9.82

Total cost for this recipe: $6.24

Mexican Lasagna

1 pound lean ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (14 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes with juice
10 (6 inch) corn tortillas
1 cup prepared salsa
1/2 cup shredded Colby cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, and stir in the taco seasoning and tomatoes.

Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with half the tortillas. Spoon the beef mixture into the dish, then top with the remaining tortillas. Spread salsa over the tortillas and sprinkle with the cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

See the original recipe here.

(You will have 1/2 head of lettuce left, 3/4 jar of salsa, 1/2 container of sour cream, 1/2 can of tomatoes and 3 cups of cheese left)

Use these to make another taco dish, late night superbowl nachos or grab a box of pasta on sale for $1 this week and make a pasta dish and side salad!!

Menu Plan Monday: Back to the Kitchen!

Is it spring yet?!?! We all have had the 10 day flu and we got it 5 days apart! (Meaning someone has been sick in this house for the last three weeks.) I am so ready to be done with sickness, tissues, fevers, chills and anything else sickness related!!! That being said, I need to get back in the kitchen and start cooking some good foods. I have some great recipes I am dying to try...hope they are yummy as they sound!! Happy Eating y'all!!!

Monday: Quick Chicken and noodles, fresh bread, green beans

Tuesday: Johnny Marzetti, salad, garlic bread

Wednesday: Leftover buffet- if its not movin..you can eat it !

Thursday: Chicken fajita quesedillas, refried beans with fresh tortilla chips and salsa

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Make your own baked potato bar with chili, cheese, veggies..you name it!

Sunday: Fra Diavolo Sauce With Pasta, sourdough bread, spinach salad

We interrupt this blog for the flu!

Sorry in the pause in blogging...My house has been struck with the flu. I mean chills, fever and body aches and I am pregnant...no fair!!

Hope to be back this week :(

Works for me Wednesday - house rules!

We have a house rule in our home...well several of them. This has to do with eating dinners together and trying to get our kids to expand their horizons.

I am not into the clean platter club. You stop eating when your full. Period. (My mama used to tell me that my body is not a trashcan and somewhere along the way I forgot that because I continue to eat after I am full! :) ) I will gladly wrap your plate up and stash it away until you are hungry...at which time I will produce the uneaten plate of goodness. I'm sneaky like that....

One thing I am adamant about, however is our rule.

"If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it....BUT YOU HAVE TO TRY IT !!!"

I would say 80% of the time my kids end up liking the item they swore they found totally disgusting and end up asking for seconds. If they don't like it...not a biggie! As long as they tried it, I am happy.

And everyone knows a happy mama works for everyone!

For more great WFMW ideas visit We are That Family!

A GREAT deal at Target this week!

I am slowly moving my daughter in with my son....that means combining toys, books and clothes. No easy feat, I tell ya!

I have had my eye on a toy organizer for her side of the room at Target but absolutely refuse to pay the full price of $69.99!!

This week I found it on sale at my Target for $38 !!!! I found that this is even cheaper than other stores that have similar cheaply made toy bins.

Just wanted to share with my girlfriends in case clutter is creeping up on you too :)

Menu Plan Monday - Around the World in a week!

So I was talking to my girlfriend the other day and she commented about how dinners were totally wearing her out. She was tired of the monotony. She said she was ready to try something new. When I asked her what it was, she said "themed" dinners. Each day of the week, she would have a different themed dinner.

I took her cue and I am trying it this week! Italian, Greek, Mexican, Chinese and of course Polish! I am hoping that it gives my little eaters some new things to try and helps them see there is more to the world than sloppy joes and tater tots. Happy Eating y'all!!

Monday: Johnny Marzetti Casserole, garlic bread, salad

Tuesday: Turkey pitas with fresh veggies, Greek oven roasted potatoes, Greek salad

Wednesday: Leftover buffet- if its not movin, you can eat it...but mama is not cookin!

Thursday: Quick and Easy Mexican chicken, chips and salsa, re fried beans with cheese

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Shrimp fried rice, egg rolls, fortune cookies!

Sunday: Polish meat and potatoes skillet, pierogies with cheese

Enough !!!!

What is enough?

When do you say when?

When are you "filled up"?

When do you get to be content?

These questions have really been on my mind these last couple of months. I think somewhat in part because I am fed up with people and materialism and being pregnant, I am not afraid to say so. (Ooops....did I write that out loud?.....I am blaming the hormones.)

I feel like my eyes have been opened throughout the last six months about how little things, objects and material things really mean.

I have several people I know that continually seek out the next thing.

Bigger. Better. More. They call it ambition.

I call it seeking some things that will never, ever fill you up.

Because the horrible, awful, wonderful truth of the matter is that all of those things will perish and fade and can be lost tomorrow.

Too many times you feel like if you just get to this station in life, if you just have this next thing, you will feel ok. Then you achieve that next thing and you long for the next thing...and then the next. It never ends.

I am here to tell you that God is working on my heart about this very matter. I am reminded by a touch of a little hand or the chipped tooth smile of an angel on earth that what I need to strive after is investing time into my faith, family and friends.

If I were to fall ill tomorrow, I would not have my lovely house, my nice car or my cute clothes to sit by my bed and hold my hand. All the time I spend in trying to get ahead in this world, while missing out on precious moments with my littles is time wasted. I shall never get the moments back of a child simply wanting to spend time with their mama.

I believe in the very depths of my soul that contentment is both a gift and choice. Sometimes, you just need to take a huge step back and choose contentment. The truth is, what we have in this country is unimaginable to most of the rest of the world. What someone wouldn't give for kids that are healthy or not to worry where food is coming from to fill their baby's belly's tonight.

WE ARE BLESSED.

My payer for 2011 is simple. My prayer is that I will choose contentment everyday I am blessed enough to open my eyes and have the great opportunity to see, hear and hug my precious ones.

Please Lord, let me see my blessings in the everyday. Let YOU be enough for this stressed, tired and dare I say.... hormonal mama.

Kids Winter Craft

My mom came up with this one, but my kidlets had so much fun doing them that I just had to share!

It's easy and they love them....

You just need big marshmallows, toothpicks, icing and any other "eyeball" makers you can think of to make Snowmen!!!

(Yes we are a little concerned with our daughters lack of arms and instead putting it through the head. We are keeping an eye on her :) )

A new Feature....

I am excited for a new feature that I have been brainstorming for a couple months now.

I have had several girlfriends ask me how they can cook for less without sacrificing the good things they want to feed their family.

Sooooo......

I will be starting to feature $10 dinner recipes/ ideas. .....woohoo!!!

I am still working out the kinks but I would like for it to be a weekly or bi-weekly feature.

(You can send me any ideas to everythingmom@live.com. )

Stay Tuned........

Menu Plan Monday - Its a new Year!!

Happy New year Y'all!!! Do you know how we are spending the new year? With the stomach flu going through our house very slowly. The glamorous life of a mama!!! Anywho, My hubs has been dying to make a whole chicken. (The Lord gave me a man that not only can cook but likes to...can you say blessed??!! ) With a whole chicken we get 3 meals...which is awesome! Combine that with a large beef roast and I only have to cook 2 meats this week!! WOOHOO!!! I hope your new year is a yummy one!

Monday: Lemon and garlic whole chicken, roasted carrots, spinach salad with hot bacon

dressing.

Tuesday: Beef roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, crescent rolls

Wednesday: Leftover night- If its in the fridge, you can have it...but mama is not cookin!

Thursday: Chicken noodle soup in bread bowels

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Shredded chicken enchiladas, re fried beans, Spanish rice

Sunday: French dip sandwiches, baked fries, salad

Menu plan Monday- Don't you know its Christmas?!

Do y'all see this flour smudge on my face?!?! No??? Well its there because I am on my five hundredth batch of Christmas biscotti. The fan club has grown and now I am actually getting requests for it!! It leaves me with little time to cook from scratch for my family.

So, that being said....we are freezering it this week. I have leftover roast in a thick gravy that will become open face roast beef sandwiches. (Along with Bobs mashed potatoes that can be heated over the stove....yep. I am going there!!) You get the idea. So instead of tasty recipes (because you are a mom that is probably busy this week as well!) I have left you some links for yummy biscotti :) Merry Christmas y'all!!!

Monday: Open faced roast beef sandwiches with mashed potatoes and green beans

Tuesday: Italian wedding soup with sourdough bread

Wednesday: Spaghetti casserole with tossed salad and garlic bread

Thursday: Coney's and baked fries with mixed veggies

Friday: Christmas eve- Family dinner

Saturday: Christmas day- Rejoice!!! A King is born!!!!

Sunday: Pizza Night....hey, who wants to cook after all that present opening!

These Biscotti recipes looked good enough to pass on!!

Chocolate Orange Biscotti

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

Espresso Biscotti

Nutty Pina Colado Biscotti